In the restaurant, my husband Keith Beltran’s good friend spoke to him in a foreign language. “Isn’t Mildred you’re keeping pregnant? I bet Cynthia doesn’t know about it.” Keith shook his head lightly, his expression unchanged. “Cynthia said she wouldn’t accept betrayal. “If she ever finds out, she’ll vanish from my life forever, so I’ve kept it well hidden.” What he didn’t know was that not only had I learned foreign languages, but I was also planning to leave him. In just one month, I would disappear completely from his world. Keith chatted away with his friend in a fluent foreign language while carefully feeding fruit to me. He didn’t notice my slightly swollen, red eyes. He thought I couldn’t understand foreign languages, which was why he felt free to discuss his affairs right in front of me. What he didn’t know was that, over the years, I had learned multiple languages and was fluent in five of them. Even his casual conversations with his mistress, Mildred Clayton, always in another language, were all within my understanding. He’d been deceiving me for so long, but I had kept one secret from him, too. One month from now, I would erase all my information and leave for another country with a completely new identity. By then, no matter what methods Keith used, he would never find me. I looked coldly at the man I had loved for ten years. His face was the same, his features unchanged, but to me, he had become a stranger. Suddenly, everything felt so pointless. I didn’t want to play along anymore. I made an excuse to go home and rest. Just as I stood up, Keith did the same, saying. “You all have fun. I’m leaving, need to take my wife home to rest.” His friends sighed, clearly dissatisfied. “We’ve barely started, and now you’re leaving? This is no fun.” I let go of his hand, coolly replying, “Just have the driver take me home. Just stay and enjoy yourself.” Without giving him a chance to respond, I turned and walked out.

Outside the restaurant, the driver had been waiting for a while. As I got in, I realized that Keith’s coat was still draped over my shoulders. I told the driver to turn around. When we got back to the restaurant, a familiar figure appeared before me. It was Mildred, the woman Keith had been keeping for the past six months. She was wearing a black, tight-fitting dress that highlighted her curves, her high heels clicking as she swayed her hips toward the restaurant. My breath caught in my throat, and my heart tightened in pain. She walked into the private room and immediately sat down on Keith’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and speaking in a playful tone. “As soon as I got your call, I rushed over. I missed you so much.” Then, she pressed her lips to Keith’s, a brief, teasing kiss. Keith smirked, and his eyes were full of desire. He cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer as he kissed her with an intensity that seemed to want to consume her completely. Laughter erupted from the group. “That’s why Keith keeps a mistress. Mildred’s the perfect type, innocent yet so tempting. Who could resist her?” I stood outside the door, coldly watching the scene before me, my heart slowly numbing. They all knew about this, and they played along with Keith to deceive me. Meanwhile, I had been desperately trying to fit into their world, hoping to bond with them. In the end, I was just a fool. In my panic, Mildred had already climbed off Keith’s lap. She raised her glass, toasting the group with a drink, acting carefree as she downed it. A friend joked, “Keith, you sure know how to live. We’re all jealous of you. “I thought you’d stay faithful to Cynthia, but seems like even the innocent guy couldn’t resist Mildred at all.” When he heard my name, Keith’s smile faded, replaced by a cold expression. His tone turned sharp, carrying an unspoken warning. “I hope this stays between us. If it reaches Cynthia, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. A friend slapped his chest and reassured him, “Keith, don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Cynthia will never find out.” “Yeah, don’t worry. As long as you’re careful, she won’t notice. Women are easy to deceive.” Their chatter made Keith’s furrowed brow relax a little. Trying to lighten the mood, Mildred suggested they play a game of truth or dare. The bottle spun, and whoever it pointed to had to tell the truth. After several rounds, it was finally Mildred’s turn. With a mischievous grin, a friend asked, “When was the last time you…?” Mildred playfully pouted and answered, “Yesterday, in Keith’s office.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, the room erupted in laughter and praise for Mildred’s boldness. Outside the door, I gripped the hem of my dress, my body trembling. Yesterday was our five-year wedding anniversary. I had cooked all of Keith’s favorite dishes myself. I heated the food again and again, only to get the message that he had to stay late for a meeting. To keep me from suspecting, he even arranged for his secretary to pretend to be with him. I remembered the day five years ago when he married me. He had raised my hand high, tears in his eyes, and loudly announced to the world, “I married Cynthia! She is my wife!” That day, he laughed and cried as if he had finally achieved his long-awaited dream. But in just five years, the boy who had made me feel like I had won the world now made me feel like I had lost everything. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore, so I turned and left. As I turned, I bumped into the waiter who was bringing the next dish. I signaled for him to stay quiet. “I don’t want anyone in there to know I was here.” Afraid he might blurt something out and ruin my plan, I slipped a few bills into his hand, feeling relieved once he took them. I wiped away the tears from my eyes and composed myself before walking out. The driver noticed Keith’s jacket still draped over me and looked puzzled. “Mrs. Beltran, haven’t you seen Mr. Beltran? You can wait in the car. I will take it to him. You look a bit pale.” I waved him off and tossed the jacket into the car. “He’s too hot right now for that jacket. I’ll take it back later. You can drive another car. I need to use this one.” I started the engine and drove toward the university, where Keith and I had spent our wonderful college years. For a moment, I could almost see that young, ambitious man again, holding my face in his hands, making a promise for a lifetime. He had said, “I’ll only love Cynthia in this life.” He had said, “Cynthia, I can’t live without you.” Keith, the one who broke his promise, deserved to swallow ten thousand needles. So, I would punish him. After a month, he would never see me again.

I sat alone on a bench by the lake for a long time until the night quietly settled in, and I snapped back to reality. Having been with Keith for five years, married for another five, ten years of love, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t heartbroken. But now, I felt strangely indifferent, no longer stirred by any emotion. Time was the best medicine. I stood up, ready to head back, but was suddenly hit by an electric bike. The intense pain made me lose consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. I had an IV drip attached to my hand, which helped reduce the pain in my body. When the nurse saw that I was awake, she spoke to me while changing my bandages. “Mrs. Beltran, you were hit by an electric scooter. Luckily, it’s not serious, just some minor injuries. A period of rest, and you’ll be fine. “Mr. Beltran is outside the room. I’ll go get him for you. When he heard about the accident, he was so worried his voice was shaking. He really cares about you.” As she said that, she started to head toward the door. I stopped her. “No need. Let him finish whatever he’s doing first.” The nurse nodded, didn’t say more, and left. The room was quiet except for my breathing. Even though Keith tried to lower his voice outside, I could still hear his conversation. “Is that true? I’ll be there right away.” His voice faded as he walked away. Struggling, I got out of bed, yanked the IV needle from my hand, slipped on my shoes, and followed Keith. He walked briskly, and in no time, we were at the obstetrics and gynecology department. Mildred, with her slightly swollen belly, rested contentedly in Keith’s arms, her face glowing with the happiness of expecting a child. Both of them radiated the joy of becoming parents for the first time. In the second year of our marriage, I told Keith I wanted a child, but he refused. He said he couldn’t bear to see me suffer through the pain of pregnancy and childbirth. He said he didn’t want anyone else to take away his love for me, that he wanted to love me with all his heart. But now, I could clearly see the joy on his face. He did want a child. He wanted to be a father. I couldn’t understand his conflicting feelings. At that moment, I even felt relieved that we didn’t have any children between us.

Keith finally saw me two minutes later. His smile immediately froze, and he hurriedly pushed Mildred aside. “Cynthia, what… what are you doing out here? How do you feel? Does it still hurt?” I looked at him steadily, trying to find a trace of the man I once knew on his face, but there was nothing. Now, he was mature and composed, no longer the passionate man who once loved me deeply. I shook my head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Just some minor injuries, nothing serious. The doctor said I just need to rest at home.” Keith seemed to sigh in relief and casually introduced the woman next to him. “Mildred is my business partner. She happened to be here for a checkup, so I came to visit her.” My eyes lingered on Mildred’s baby bump. “You’re pregnant? Why isn’t your husband here with you?” Mildred gently touched her belly and smiled, looking very happy. “My baby’s father couldn’t come today because he’s busy, but he loves me so much. He bought me a villa and even designed a special blue firework show for me. It will be launched all over the city to celebrate my pregnancy.” I smiled faintly. “Really? You’re so lucky.” Mildred became even more pleased with herself. “Mrs. Beltran, would you join us for dinner and watch the fireworks together?” At that, Keith’s voice turned low and cold, like ice. “There’s no need. My wife needs to rest.” With that, he wrapped his arm around my waist and carried me out of the room. Behind us, Mildred’s smile froze, and her eyes burned with venom as she stared at me.

Keith brought me home and took care of me carefully, though he seemed distant. I was too tired to face him, so I pretended to sleep. He seemed distracted all day. When he saw that I was asleep, he immediately went into his study. Suddenly, I received a text from an unknown number. It was from Mildred. [You’ve probably figured out that the baby in my belly is Keith’s, right? Why do you still cling to him? He doesn’t love you anymore. He’s with me on every important holiday. Everywhere you look, you’ll find traces of me in your life. Your man completely belongs to me now, so leave him. I will love him more than you ever did.] I let out a cold laugh and turned off my phone. At that moment, the sky was lit up with brilliant blue fireworks. It was the blue I once loved the most. Keith rushed in, covering my ears. “I’m afraid the sound of the fireworks will scare you.” I pushed his hand away and looked up at the sky full of fireworks. “These blue fireworks are so beautiful.” Keith gently patted my head. “If you like them, I’ll make sure they set off even bigger and more beautiful fireworks for you tomorrow. How about it?” I shook my head. “No need. I find things other people have used dirty.” Though I was clearly talking about the fireworks, a hint of panic flashed across Keith’s face. He held me tightly in his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll design a unique firework just for you, one that’s only yours.” In the following days, Keith kept coming home late, using work as an excuse. I didn’t ask about his whereabouts, but Mildred’s messages never stopped. There were photos of Keith personally making soup for her. There were videos of Keith playing the guitar and singing for her during her pregnancy. There were pictures of Keith spending a fortune on collectibles just to make her smile. Each message seemed to flaunt the deep love Keith had for her. I never replied, pretending I hadn’t seen them. I had more important things to focus on, clearing all traces of myself from this home. On the first day, when Keith was busy making soup for Mildred, I shredded the nutrition plan he’d personally written for me. On the second day, after Keith bought a collectible for Mildred, I took off the necklace he had designed for me, the one with the crescent moon, and sent it to the auction house. On the third day, when Keith and Mildred shared a kiss under the moonlight, I burned all the love letters between us. On the day I left, Keith stood by my bed, his face tired. “Cynthia, why did you send the necklace I gave you to the auction?” I looked at him, my tone flat. “I grew tired of it. I don’t like it anymore.” He looked down and gently placed the necklace back around my neck. “Just wear it for now. When I have time, I’ll design a new one for you. That way, you won’t get bored of it.” As he spoke, my phone received a message. Keith asked, “Successful cancellation?” My heart skipped a beat at his words.

I grabbed my phone, quickly turned the screen down, and put it on the bed. Luckily, I had changed the password, so Keith could only see a few words. I pretended nothing had happened and casually said, “Nothing. I just canceled my membership at a dessert shop. Their products have been getting worse lately, not to my taste, so I decided to stop going.” Keith seemed to relax and pulled me into his arms, gently asking, “Cynthia, guess what I brought back for you?” I paused for a moment and replied faintly, “A cake.” Keith’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. “How did you know?” How could I not know? Back in college, whenever Keith made me angry, he would drive to a popular tourist spot to wait in line for two hours just to get me a cake. That shop was really popular, so it took him ages to get through the line. He never asked anyone else to do it. He would stand in line himself, just for me. When he appeared in front of me, holding that sweet, delicious cake, I couldn’t help but soften. Keith teased, “You are so easy to please, you don’t care for designer bags, just love cakes.” I pretended to be angry and lightly poked his forehead. “It’s not that I’m easy to please. It’s because I love you, and I’m willing to let you off the hook. “If one day I stop loving you, even if you kneel in front of me, I won’t even look at you.” Now, he still thought the same old tricks would soften my heart. But I no longer wanted to give him that chance. Keith carefully took out the box of pastries from behind him and placed it in front of me, like a treasure, his voice soft with affection. “I knew nothing could get past you. Your sharp nose catches every scent, doesn’t it?” I gave a wry smile. “You really can’t hide anything from me.” He looked down as if my words hit a nerve. He looked a little flustered. “Cynthia, I…” Seeing his panic, I couldn’t help but find it amusing. I took the pastries he handed me, placed them on the bedside table, and then got up to wash my face in the bathroom. When I came out, I noticed that Keith’s face had darkened. “Cynthia, are you still mad at me? I’ve been so busy lately, and I know I’ve been neglecting you. I haven’t spent enough time with you, but once I get through this, I’ll make it up to you, okay?” I stayed silent, and he grew more anxious. “Next month, I’ll take you to Dathia for a while. Don’t you want to see the ocean?” Next month? Keith, we wouldn’t have a next month.

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In my previous life, my mother suffered a massive hemorrhage after a car accident. I desperately pleaded with my brother to bring my adopted sister to the hospital for a blood transfusion to save her since they both had the rare blood type. But after the transfusion, my sister slipped away in the night and drowned herself in the sea. She left a note accusing our family of treating her like a human blood bank. My brother managed her funeral with an unsettling calm and assured me not to feel guilty. However, on my birthday, he forcibly took me to the hospital rooftop. “You’re so cruel. You caused her depression and even convinced Mom to go along with your act.” “You killed Bella. You should die to make amends for her.” Then he pushed me off the rooftop. I died with unresolved regrets. When I opened my eyes again, it was the day of the car accident. The loud crash brought my drifting consciousness back. I opened my eyes to see my mother shielding me with her body. My eyes immediately welled up with tears. This scene was so heartbreakingly familiar. In my last life, my mom protected me the same way, leading to her severe blood loss. “Mom, are you okay?” “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” But I could clearly see the blood gushing from her abdomen. How could she be okay? I held back my tears, pulled out my phone, and called for an ambulance. Then I pressed on my mom’s wound with trembling hands, trying to slow the bleeding. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my reflection in the shattered car window, a face full of determination. This was unlike the helpless me from before. In my last life, I was so scared and lost, only thinking to call my brother for help. He didn’t believe me at first and took a long time to come and take my mom to the hospital, causing her to miss the optimal rescue time. Although she survived, she was paralyzed from the waist down and had to rely on a wheelchair. The ambulance arrived quickly, and I went with my mom to the hospital. At the hospital, doctors rushed her into surgery. I waited outside, staring intently at the closed door. Before the doctor could say anything, I hurriedly posted a help request online, asking those with the rare blood type to come forward. I couldn’t rely on my brother and adopted sister anymore. The more avenues, the more hope. I still called my brother. “Mom had a car accident. She urgently needs the rare blood type. Bring sister…” “Are you still pretending? Are you so vicious that you can’t let her have a peaceful birthday?” My heart sank. “No, it’s true, Mom, she…” “Shut up! Mom is not seriously injured, and the hospital isn’t short of blood.” His voice was cold on the other end. “This time, I will protect Bella. I won’t let you bully her anymore!” At this moment, the doctor came out. He told me the blood bank’s rare blood type stock was insufficient and the situation was critical. My brother heard it too. He sneered. “Oh, you got other actors to join your show?” I was frantic. “Mom is in a massive hemorrhage now. It’s critical. She urgently needs the rare blood type. Bring sister to the hospital!” My voice was sharp with urgency, almost crying. “Sister, do you like bullying me so much? Can’t you let me have a good birthday?” I heard my adopted sister’s voice on the phone, full of doubt and feigned innocence. My heart sank further. “Still using Mom as an excuse? You just have to stir things up on her birthday.” My brother’s tone was cold and certain, convinced I was deliberately causing trouble. “Brother, I’m really not lying to you.” I was so anxious that tears welled up in my eyes, my voice trembling. “Enough!” my brother roared. “Do you think I’ll be fooled by you like before? You’re always like this, jealous of Bella, trying every way to trouble her. I’ll tell you, I won’t let you succeed again.” He hung up, leaving me holding the phone, listening to the cold busy tone, tears streaming down my face.

I leaned against the hospital wall, overwhelmed by a mixture of despair and anger. Just as I was about to lose hope, a message appeared in our support group chat. “Is it the city hospital? I have a rare blood type, and I’m nearby.” I wiped my tears and quickly responded. “Yes, yes.” “All right, I’m heading over now.” But five minutes later, I received several voice messages. When I listened to them, I heard the furious voice of a middle-aged man. “Are you kidding? Sending out false information just to compete with your sister?” “Do you think people have time for this nonsense? It’s insane.” “…” The rest of the messages were harsh criticisms aimed at me. I felt like I had been plunged into a deep freeze. How could this happen? Why would he… It must be my brother! It has to be him! Then came the scorn and ridicule from others in the group. “What kind of person jokes in a hospital support group?” “Kick her out immediately.” My body trembled uncontrollably. Anger, despair, and helplessness swirled within me, threatening to consume me. I stared at the phone screen, watching the relentless flow of accusations. My nails dug into my palms, yet I felt no pain. I hurriedly replied. “No, the patient is truly experiencing massive hemorrhage.” I also sent the hospital’s medical report. “It’s the city hospital; please believe me.” “I’m begging you, please come and save my mom.” For a moment, the group fell silent. Then different voices began to emerge. “Is anyone near the hospital? Can someone check it out? What if it’s true?” “Yeah, the medical report doesn’t look fake.” The middle-aged man with the rare blood type messaged again. “I’ll head over once more, hoping it’s not a trick.” I finally breathed a sigh of relief and thanked them repeatedly. While waiting for the middle-aged man, I kept searching my contacts for anyone who might help. Even if there’s just a sliver of hope, I wouldn’t give up. But after a series of calls, all I got were disappointing responses. Either they didn’t have the rare blood type, or they were too far away. I could only place my hopes on that middle-aged man. Who would’ve thought, hope would shatter again. He sent another barrage of voice messages. “I swear, I really want to kill someone. Is it fun to deceive me this many times?” I quickly replied, “No, I’m right at the emergency room door. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the doctor. It happened on Wall Street.” “You’re still lying. I just asked the doctor.” The man’s voice grew more agitated. “The doctor told me the Wall Street accident was minor, just superficial injuries, no need for a transfusion.” “No, that doctor is lying to you; he’s deceiving you.” As soon as I sent that message, I was kicked out of the group. I kept trying to rejoin, but the admin denied my requests. I tried several times, all denied. I couldn’t bear it anymore and collapsed, sobbing. That’s when Dr. Blair called. He’s a friend of my brother’s. “Stop causing trouble. I already asked the admin to kick you out.” “Your brother was right; you’ve been spoiled by your mom, resorting to such underhanded tactics just for jealousy.” “Your adopted sister is pitiful; please stop targeting her and let her have a nice birthday.” All my words caught in my throat, and I cried silently.

I was completely in despair until Dr. Blair hung up. Yet, my brother couldn’t let it go. “Alice Johnson, you never change, do you? Still spreading lies in the help group?” “If something happens to Mom, I won’t forgive you or Bella.” My voice, hoarse with resentment, barely managed to come out. On the other end, my brother paused for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh. “Really? After Bella’s birthday, I’ll take her back. This time, I’ll make sure Mom sets you straight.” “You’re so jealous; you should just move out. I don’t feel safe with Bella living under the same roof as you.” I listened numbly, unsure if the voice on the other end was truly my brother’s or some demon wearing his skin. He used to care so deeply for me, his little sister. But everything changed when Bella was adopted. Mom was always busy, jetting around the world for work. My brother took on the role of looking after both me and Bella. Whenever Bella shed a tear, he assumed I was the one bullying her. It happened so often that he began to dislike me more and more. Initially, I tried hard to explain myself. But my efforts only led to harsher scoldings and increased protection for my adopted sister. Now, with Mom’s life hanging in the balance in the operating room, my brother’s thoughts are on Bella’s birthday and pushing me out of the house. My hatred grew stronger. I hated my brother’s inability to see the truth, Bella’s deceitful nature, and my own past weakness… The light in the operating room remained on, each passing second pounding heavily on my heart. Just as I was about to succumb to despair, a call from an unknown number came through. I hesitated but answered it. “Hello, are you looking for someone with a rare blood type to save your mother? I’m a nurse at the city hospital and just saw your message in the group.” “Yes, yes, I’m looking for someone.” My voice was tearful. “Don’t cry, little sister. I found a former patient in the hospital records with a rare blood type. I’ll give you his contact info. Try reaching out to him.” Hearing this was like grabbing a lifeline. I quickly thanked the nurse and dialed the number she gave me. When the call connected, I urgently explained the situation through my tears. The person on the other end was silent for a moment before saying, “I can donate blood, but I need some compensation. After all, donating blood isn’t a small matter.” “I need a million dollars.” I agreed to his demand without hesitation. As long as it saved Mom, I would accept any condition. Ten minutes later, the person willing to donate blood showed up. I hurried with him to find the doctor, only to be suddenly stopped by Dr. Blair. “What are you up to now? Why are you causing a scene in the hospital?” The donor looked at me, confused. I told him to go to the blood center first, “The patient is Eliza. Tell the doctor you’re donating for her.” He nodded, a bit skeptical, and turned to leave. But Dr. Blair tried to stop him again. I wouldn’t let him block my way to saving Mom. Driven by desperation, I lunged at Dr. Blair, hitting him. Like my brother, he was used to hearing only one side. If it weren’t for his interference, Mom could have been saved by now. I hated him. My hateful gaze made Dr. Blair pause, momentarily forgetting to fight back until hospital security guards came to pull me away. More and more people gathered, including the hospital director. “What’s going on?” “Director, she’s the sister of a friend of mine. She’s just throwing a fit at the hospital to spite her family.” I wanted to punch him again, but the guards held me back. “Cora, you’re such a fool. If I wanted to spite them, why wouldn’t I crash Bella’s birthday party instead?”

Cora was momentarily taken aback but then continued with a defiant tone. “Your brother said your aunt had a car accident, and you used that opportunity to bring Bella over for a blood transfusion.” “It’s like you’re making Bella think she’s just a walking blood bank for the family.” “She’s already struggling with depression, and you’re trying to push her over the edge.” I let out a bitter laugh, tears forming in my eyes. I turned to the director and said, “You heard it yourselves. Dr. Blair at your hospital has been endangering patients’ lives and repeatedly obstructing my efforts to save someone.” “My mom was in a car accident and urgently needs a rare blood type, yet he misled the willing donors and even got the group admin to kick me out.” Dr. Blair insisted, “You’re a fraud. It’s not like I just met you yesterday. I’ve been to your house several times, and each time you were mistreating Bella.” The director was more composed. He quickly consulted with other doctors and nurses. A nurse quietly explained, “Director, this young lady’s mom indeed had a car accident with significant blood loss and needs a rare blood type. She’s currently in the emergency room.” Cora turned pale, murmuring, “Impossible, impossible…” The director stopped listening to his excuses and led the way to the emergency room. Cora followed behind. … The red light outside the operating room was still on, a stark reminder that this battle for life wasn’t over yet. I sat on the bench, finally able to catch my breath. Cora was so shocked that he was trembling, looking at me in disbelief. “How could this be… but your brother and Bella…” I ignored him, keeping my eyes fixed on the emergency room door. Cora, overwhelmed and in pain, kicked the trash can and kept trying to call his brother. After a long wait, the call finally connected. “What’s going on?” “Danielle, your mom is really in trouble.” “Heh, so even you were manipulated by Alice Johnson?” Cora punched the wall in frustration, “I’m in big trouble because of you. You’re celebrating your birthday at a time like this.” “Alright, I’m done talking. I’m going to cut Bella’s cake.” “You…” The call ended abruptly. Cora turned to me, looking defeated. His eyes were filled with regret. “Alice, I’m sorry. I was misled by your brother.” “I’ll add you back to the support group, and I’ll help clear your name.” I stared at him intently, “It’s too late. No matter what you do, I will see this through to the end. Your career is over.” “Cora, you’re a disgrace to the medical profession.” Cora froze, his face drained of color. In the past life, Cora wasn’t innocent either. He liked Bella and often aided her in hurting me. It was partly due to his help that my brother lured me to the hospital rooftop in the previous life. Just before I was pushed off, the hospital security happened to pass by. It was Cora who sent the guard away. I want them to face the consequences of their actions. I also want Mom to see the true nature of my brother and Bella. Two hours later, the operating room doors opened. “Congratulations, the surgery was a great success.” I finally smiled through my tears. Mom was moved to a private room, and she slowly woke up around nine in the evening. “Mom.” “Don’t cry, my daughter, as long as you’re okay.” “Mom, about my brother and them…” Mom raised her hand and gently caressed my cheek. “Don’t worry, this time, Mom will protect you.” “I’m sorry, my daughter, for not taking good care of you and letting you suffer for so many years.”

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The prettiest girl in our class, Vanessa Harper, sent a letter of complaint to the principal’s office, accusing me of embezzling class funds. The school immediately dispatched an inspection team and demanded that I hand over the funds. Even the counselor, Caroline Blake, tried to convince me to confess for a lighter sentence. I nodded and agreed to hold a class meeting to admit my actions. As I looked at Vanessa standing in the front of the room, I grabbed the microphone and spoke firmly. “You say I embezzled funds? Where’s the evidence?” I held a USB drive filled with payment screenshots, watching as a look of panic flashed across Vanessa’s face. Ever since I saw my father, who worked as an accountant, take the fall for his boss, I had understood one thing. When money was involved, you must keep records. It was this very lesson my father learned the hard way when he ended up in prison. From then on, for every single penny that passed through my hands, I made sure to keep meticulous records. My USB drive was full of dense Excel files, down to the exact minute and second. I could say that even a dog walking out of my USB drive would have its exact number of hairs accounted for. The reason for this meticulousness? I didn’t want to meet the same fate as my father. Little did I know that this caution would come in handy at this very moment. When the counselor called me into her office, I was still in the dorm room eating spicy snacks. Since I was the class president, going into her office was nothing new for me. So, I assumed it was just a routine matter. But when I entered, I found everyone with strange expressions on their faces. I thought something serious must have happened. In the past, whenever a student jumped from a building or attempted suicide, the teachers in the office looked about the same way. I had just walked up to the counselor’s desk when she slammed several books down with a loud thud. “Bertha, why did you embezzle the class funds?!”

Usually, I managed the class expenses. As a computer science major, sometimes the class would win prize money from competitions, and I would keep that as well. The goal was to ensure the class had enough funds for future events. Over time, the total accumulated amount reached tens of thousands of dollars. Caroline turned toward me, her face showing blatant disappointment. “Your classmates trusted you so much, and yet you did something so heartless. “Now, you’re going with me to the school’s inspection team to confess your wrongdoings.” Without waiting for my reaction, Caroline physically pushed me into the meeting room, the same one used for meeting parents. Just as the door was closing, the class teacher took a seat in the corner of the room. I looked up and saw the leaders sitting at the table. As I expected, they began by accusing me of embezzling public funds and lacking class pride and public morals. Then they lectured me about being honest and trustworthy. One of the leaders on the right pulled out a document and handed it to me, asking me to sign an apology letter. I looked around the room, finally breaking my silence. “I’m willing to confess, but it must be in the form of a class meeting.”

The school’s efficiency was faster than I had expected. In less than half an hour, they had quickly gathered all the students from my class. I stood at the podium, looking around. The students below were whispering among themselves. “Why is Bertha standing up there? Why is there a class meeting today? This is so annoying. I haven’t finished watching my TV show yet.” “Didn’t you hear? I heard Bertha embezzled the class funds and spent it all on herself!” “What! Embezzling is terrible! I haven’t stolen anything, so why should she get to?” “Being class president is the best. You can spend the class’ money however you want.” “I told you not to elect Bertha as class president. She has a scheming look. If it were me, I’d have picked Vanessa. She definitely wouldn’t embezzle!” When I saw Vanessa sitting eagerly in her chair, I finally figured out who had reported me. It could only be her. She had run against me for class president and lost with only half the votes I received. Since then, she had been making trouble for me. For example, at class meals, she would deliberately sit at the same table as me, then enthusiastically mingle with the other students, either serving food or toasting, all while bossing around. Or in class, she would always sit right in front of me, as close to the teacher as possible, trying to show off her studious nature while overshadowing me. The most memorable instance was during gym class when she would choose a spot at a comfortable distance from me, chatting with the boys around her. Thanks to her looks, the boys quickly gathered around her. Vanessa seemed like a victorious peacock, strutting past me proudly. My roommate saw this and whispered to me, “Why does she look like a turkey, sticking out her butt all high and mighty?” While I understood Vanessa’s almost twisted sense of victory, that didn’t mean I had to accept it. I tapped the microphone to check the sound. The class quickly fell silent, clearly curious about what I would say. “Today, one of my classmates reported me for embezzling public funds. “Normally, I would need to prove my innocence. “But according to Article 67 of the Civil Procedure Law, the person making a claim must provide evidence. That means whoever makes the claim must prove it. “You say I embezzled, but where’s the evidence? Vanessa?” A wave of murmurs spread throughout the class. I watched Vanessa’s face flash with a hint of panic, and I couldn’t help but sneer.

Vanessa clearly hadn’t expected me to call her out in front of the entire class. After receiving curious looks from the surrounding students, she stood up and met my gaze. After a brief moment of fluster, Vanessa quickly regained her composure. She tilted her chin, acting unfazed. “What evidence? All the students here are my witnesses. Don’t think you can fool us by quoting the law. “Bertha, the money is in your hands. You spend it however you want. Over the past two years, our class has won plenty of competition prizes, but I’ve never seen where that money went. “You say you didn’t steal, but who’s going to believe that?” Her tone became more and more certain as if she had personally witnessed me spending the class funds. Other students, who didn’t know the full story, were taken aback by what she said. Soon, whispers filled the room. “Don’t you think Vanessa might be right? Our class has a lot of money. Who knows where it all went?” “Yeah, the whereabouts of the money haven’t been revealed in two years. I didn’t really pay attention. I didn’t expect Bertha, of all people, to steal class funds.” “It’s not necessarily true, though. Vanessa is just speculating. No one knows if the money was actually spent like that.” If this were anyone else in this situation, they might be afraid of being misunderstood by their classmates. But not me. I scanned the room, making eye contact with every student below me. Finally, my eyes landed on Vanessa. “Vanessa, I said ‘show me the evidence,’ not tell me your opinions. “You’re not giving an award speech. You need to provide real evidence of my embezzlement. Understand? “If you didn’t hear me clearly, I don’t mind repeating it again.” Vanessa’s beautiful face cracked with frustration, and she nearly lost her composure. She raised her voice instinctively. “If you didn’t steal the class funds, then where did you get the money to buy designer shoes and bags?” “We’re all students, so we can’t possibly afford that with our living allowance.” Vanessa said this with a smug look on her face, completely oblivious to the awkward expressions of some of the students around her, who found her comment strange. Though everyone’s living allowances were about the same, not everyone had the same family background. Vanessa couldn’t blame the others for living off their parents just because she couldn’t do the same. As for me, I was waiting for exactly this moment. I lowered my head, leaning toward the microphone. “Vanessa, did you actually see me use the class funds to buy designer bags and shoes?” Her question caught Vanessa off guard, but she refused to let go of the opportunity to put me down. She responded confidently, “I didn’t see it, but that money definitely wasn’t yours.” At that moment, I almost burst out laughing at Vanessa’s stupidity. If it weren’t for being on stage, I would’ve applauded her. There was no evidence, just wild assumptions. When questioned, she had no idea about anything, but she reported me without hesitation. Such a beautiful face, yet such a foolish mind. I held back my laughter and quickly turned on the computer. Then, I pulled a USB drive from my pocket and plugged it into the computer. Soon, a bunch of folders appeared on the screen. The students below gasped in surprise. “What the hell? What am I seeing? There are hundreds of Excel files! Even a pro wouldn’t produce this many!” “Bertha always seemed quiet. Who could have imagined that she’s secretly a workaholic?” “Aren’t you curious what’s in there? I’m dying to know.” I bypassed the Excel files and opened a folder labeled “Video Files,” which contained the footage from the part-time jobs I had done. When I worked part-time, I was afraid the boss might exploit me and not pay, so I always filmed videos as proof. “Today is September 8, 2023. I’m at Star Zoo cleaning up parrot poop. The parrot is small, but it poops a lot.” “Today is November 30, 2023. I’m at New Century Amusement Park as a mascot, preparing to hug any handsome guy I see.” “Today is December 16, 2023. I’m in Movie Town playing a side role. Just stuck on a fake beard, ready to harass tourists.” And so on. After playing several videos, I opened up the screenshots of the payments I received for those jobs, including the name of the boss, hours worked, and other details. I ignored the class’ stunned silence and directly questioned Vanessa. “You want to know where my money came from? Well, time to take a good look.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the entire class erupted into laughter. “Oh my God, Bertha looks all quiet and reserved, but she’s really out here living it up with side gigs!” “Who even keeps such a meticulous record of their transactions in Excel?!” “Did Bertha predict that someone would try to slander her? This looks like it was planned.” “Well, Vanessa definitely seems like she’s just making stuff up. Bertha doesn’t look guilty at all.” The room buzzed with excitement as everyone discussed my side jobs. Meanwhile, Vanessa stood up, visibly out of place. Seeing all the attention shift toward me, Vanessa’s face went from pale to a shade of deep red. She clearly hadn’t anticipated that I would have taken on such a variety of side jobs during my free time, nor that I would have kept detailed records, even taking videos of my work and screenshots of every payment. She quickly regained her composure and was about to speak up, but I didn’t give her the chance. “Vanessa, you’re claiming I used class funds to buy luxury shoes and bags,” I continued, “But the truth is, I earned the money myself.” I paused, giving her a pointed look. “Even if I didn’t have side jobs, my family could support me. Does buying expensive items mean I must have stolen or misused funds?” The students who had previously looked uneasy at Vanessa’s remarks suddenly started clapping. “Exactly! Just because someone doesn’t have money doesn’t mean they should assume others are stealing! “What a loser. Always thinking that the others are as filthy as her.” My roommate was among the clappers. I’ve introduced her to several part-time jobs, and she wasn’t going to stay silent now that Vanessa had slandered me. Afterward, she gave me a wink of encouragement. Vanessa, unable to handle the backlash, started to lose her cool. Typically, she liked to maintain a soft, agreeable image in front of the class. She made sure to be overly friendly, especially during events, so that she could earn a reputation as being approachable. This had led her to believe that she was the center of attention. Now, with her true nature exposed in front of everyone, she couldn’t contain her anger any longer. “Stop making wild accusations!” she yelled. “You have no idea what kind of person I am! Do you think I’m just going to let you slander me like this? “Even if Bertha did work to earn money for luxury goods, that doesn’t prove she didn’t use class funds. The money’s all in her hands, and she can say whatever she wants. “Do you even know where our money is?” Her voice, raised in frustration, echoed throughout the room. The students winced, clearly disturbed by her outburst. After a moment of silence, they started exchanging looks. Some seemed to think Vanessa had a point because the class funds had never been accounted for. Others still felt something didn’t add up and wanted more clarity. But the majority seemed to be waiting for me to explain. After all, Caroline was present, along with a few department leaders. This class meeting had a formal tone, and the stakes were higher than usual. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Caroline stepped in. It seemed that the evidence I’d presented had swayed the room in my favor, as Caroline’s tone was more measured now. “Bertha, as a class officer, you set an example for everyone. Now that a classmate has raised doubts, it’s your responsibility to present evidence for everyone to see. “Whether or not there has been any misappropriation of funds, justice will prevail. I’ll never wrong any innocent student.” Caroline then turned to Vanessa. “Vanessa, calm down. If Bertha really misused class funds, I will not condone it. We will take appropriate action, as we cannot tolerate any improper behavior in this class.”

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Ave was streaming a movie on the TV when she went to the bathroom and forgot to turn it off. On the screen, Ave was chatting with a man. The man: [Today is my birthday. I bought you a bunny girl outfit. Want to try it on tonight?] Ave: [Wait for me, I’ll be there soon.] I forced myself to stay calm. I picked up my phone and recorded their chat. The sound of the bathroom door opening reached me. Quickly, I turned off the TV. “Daniel, my best friend’s birthday is tonight, so I won’t be home for dinner.” I forced a smile. “Okay, have fun.” After Ave left, I picked up the recording and watched it over and over. The man had sent Ave the delivery code, revealing his phone number. I searched for him on social media. The latest post was a short video. It showed Ave, wearing a very short skirt, being kissed on the head by a man at the beach during sunset. Because of the lighting, I couldn’t make out the man’s face. My hands trembled as I kept scrolling. The man posted a picture of an expensive phone. The caption read: [She loves me so much.] The dazzling light from the phone hurt my eyes. Further down, there was a collage photo. The top half showed a pregnancy test, with Ave’s name written on it. The bottom half showed the man pressing his face against Ave’s belly. The caption: [She only has one body, but two heartbeats.] At that moment, it was as if I had been struck by a cold wave. I shook uncontrollably. We had been married for five years, and I had always wanted to have a child with Ave. A month ago, she grabbed my hand excitedly and told me she was pregnant. I was so moved that tears welled up in my eyes, and I spun her around in my arms. Since that day, I had been extra careful with her, always on edge. I suggested she quit her job. She said she didn’t want to be a parasite and wanted to be a modern woman. I couldn’t argue with her, so I made her nutritious meals every day. Worried she’d be anxious during the pregnancy, I turned down work to take her on trips to relax. If she craved cake in the middle of the night, I’d drive across half the city to get her favorite kind. I thought, even if I had to die for her, I would. But I never expected this. She had an affair! And the child might not even be mine. I suddenly laughed, but it wasn’t out of sadness. Was it wrong for her to seek excitement? Where did she go wrong? The mistake was choosing to indulge while still being married to me! Love, that luxury, only existed in novels. In real life, it was best to just forget about it. I tried to use Ave’s computer. I tried both our birthdays, but neither worked. Then I remembered the man had said today was his birthday. Being nervous, I typed it in, and it opened. Pain suddenly gripped my chest. I clicked on a folder named [Hawke.] Images of explicit photos appeared on the screen. The same man, but never showing his face. The most recent photo was taken two days ago. Ave and the man were embracing, naked. That day, she was supposed to be on a business trip. I opened Ave’s shopping app. There were chat records between her and the man. “This new phone looks nice.” “I’ve ordered it for you, love you.” I checked her purchase history. Sexy lingerie, limited-edition running shoes, several men’s outfits, and even some adult items made my heart race just from reading the titles. The delivery address was always the same. The neighboring community. Ave had never bought me a gift. She always said that since we were married, giving gifts was too formal. I had always thought she was someone who couldn’t show affection. At that moment, I realized I didn’t know her at all. I deleted all the browsing history, put the computer back in place, and wiped off any fingerprints. After finishing all of that, the man updated his social media. It was a picture of a woman in bunny girl lingerie, kneeling on a bed. Though her face wasn’t visible, I recognized Ave immediately. My fingers clenched the phone so tightly they turned white, but I didn’t feel a thing. I wanted to tear these two apart. I wanted them to be ruined. But I knew I had to hold back, plan carefully, and act when the time was right.

The next day, I installed a few hidden cameras around the house. Ave came back in the afternoon, carrying a large bouquet of roses. As soon as she saw me, she panicked and said, “Daniel, why aren’t you at work today?” I smiled and looked at her. I said, “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, so I’m packing my luggage today. “That bouquet… is it for me?” It gave her an easy out. Ave handed me the flowers. “These are from my best friend. She congratulated me on becoming a mom. “I’m giving them to you. Congratulations on becoming a dad.” How disgusting. Would a best friend really give champagne roses, which symbolize love? And the one becoming a dad was probably someone else. I suppressed my disgust. I took the flowers and played along with her act. Ave sighed in relief and quietly tossed the card into the trash can. I saw everything but didn’t expose her. Once Ave went into the bathroom, I picked up the card. It read: [Ave, I will always love you.] No signature. But the handwriting seemed familiar. When Ave came out, I pretended to be packing my luggage. “Daniel, when will you be back?” I stopped what I was doing and said with regret, “Maybe one or two months. This project is important.” “Such a long time?” she said, pretending to be reluctant. I turned and hugged her, trying to test the waters. “How about I cancel the project and stay home with you? You’re pregnant, and I’m worried about you.” But Ave suddenly pushed me away. “That’s not possible.” She came back to comfort me realizing she had overreacted. “What I meant is, if you don’t work, how will you support me and the baby? “Don’t worry, my best friend will be here with me.” She watched me carefully and was afraid I’d change my mind. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I turned away and smiled. I thought, “The trap was set. Ave, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

The next day, I took my suitcase and checked into a nearby hotel. In the hotel room, I cast the surveillance footage onto the TV. I lay on the sofa, reflecting on our past. My marriage to Ave was purely accidental. At the time, I had just started my business. To be closer to the studio, I rented a place in an old community for convenience. Then the unexpected pandemic trapped me at home. I signed up to be a volunteer. Ave was one of them. We were assigned to the same group to distribute supplies. Ave was kind-hearted and gentle. For three months, we stayed together. As time passed, we grew closer and eventually became a couple. She worked as an employee at a small company. Despite her tough work schedule, she always made meals for me when I came home. Her meager salary was mostly sent back home to her family. Even so, her mother, Sarah was never satisfied. She forced Ave to send all the money to buy a house for her brother. I felt heartbroken for Ave, seeing how hard her life had been. I wanted to pull her out of that abyss. So, when we got married, I gave her family two million dollars as a wedding gift. The condition was that they would no longer interfere in Ave’s life. After marriage, I gave her fifty thousand dollars every month for living expenses, so she wouldn’t have to suffer the hardships she’d endured as a child. Her life did improve. She often went shopping or out to parties with friends. She even went to music festivals and concerts by herself. I thought that with enough love and money, I could erase the shadow of her family’s past. But I never imagined that the money would make her more beautiful and sophisticated, and also lead her down a path of decadence. At that moment, Ave appeared on the monitor. She picked up the phone and called me. “Daniel, where are you?” “I took an early flight today, and I’m already at the workplace.” “Take care of yourself. I won’t bother you.” She hurriedly hung up the phone and immediately called someone else. “Hurry up, he’s gone.” She really couldn’t wait. A few moments later, a person, fully covered up, entered the house. My mind buzzed when he removed his hat and mask. I recognized him immediately. He was James Hawke, a rapper from one of the shows my company created. He was someone Ave had recommended to me. Ave told me he was a rising rap star, who had performed at bars and attended many music festivals. He had a large following on social media. She suggested having him on the show, claiming it would boost the ratings. At the time, I joked with her, asking if she was only pushing him because she liked him. I never expected that one casual joke would inadvertently reveal the truth. I turned down the volume. Then I called my assistant, asking her to send me James’ profile.

James took off his hat and mask and swaggered into the living room. He sat comfortably on the sofa as if it was his home. “Perfect timing, with Daniel on a business trip. I don’t have any performances these days.” Ave jumped into his arms, giggling. “So coincidental, huh? Well, you better spend some time with me.” “How long is Daniel gone? Hope he doesn’t come back suddenly…” he whispered ambiguously in Ave’s ear. “Don’t worry, he’ll be gone for one or two months.” James grinned and pulled Ave closer. “Great, then I’ll take good care of you.” Their conversation hurt my heart, but I forced myself to keep recording. “Remember, no one touches you except me!” “You’re so possessive.” I thought they’d quickly get to the point, but they just sat there on the sofa. Ave sat on James’ lap, their fingers intertwined, looking like a couple deeply in love. James asked, “Ave, do you love me?” “If I didn’t love you, why would I be carrying your child?” They cuddled and flirted for a while. Three minutes later, my assistant sent me James’ profile. James came from an ordinary, even somewhat poor family. He dropped out of school early and worked various jobs. Waiter, delivery man, and factory worker. Later, he started performing as a bar singer. His good looks attracted many female fans. Once he became famous, he was invited to many music festivals. I took a closer look. Ave had been to the bar where James performed. She and her friends stayed out late one night, and I went to pick her up. Ave had been to most of the music festivals James attended as well. I froze, staring at the profile, my eyes bloodshot. It turned out they had already known each other at the bar. I suddenly recalled that during the recording of the show, Ave insisted on attending the rehearsal. When James came on stage, he looked in our direction during his self-introduction. He said he wanted to thank the important people in his life. Then he smiled at me. Looking back, that smile was full of provocation and mockery. The funny thing was, I actually thought he was thanking me for giving him the opportunity. Sitting on the sofa, I stared at James’ profile, and a plan began to form in my mind.

I first created a new account on social media. Under James’ posts, which had millions of followers, I left a comment: [James seduces married women and willingly plays the third wheel.] Soon, some of his crazy fans began attacking me. [Who is this? How shameless, trying to gain attention by mentioning James.] [Some people have no bottom line just to get famous.] [He is gentle, handsome, and well-mannered, how could he possibly fall for a married woman?] [James, quickly deny this and crush the haters!] Everyone tagged James, but unfortunately, he was busy enjoying his time with Ave. I ignored the fans. Because I knew, the higher the expectation, the happier I would be in the end. These were just bait. I sent all the materials I had collected about James and Ave’s affair, including her pregnancy, to the paparazzi. I didn’t ask for a single penny, just one request. I wanted to make sure this news would hit the trending list. While waiting, I thought of Ave’s parents. At the time of our marriage, I had set a condition to give a large wedding gift, with the stipulation that they would no longer harass Ave. But after marriage, over the years, I still sent them a little living allowance each month, as a favor to Ave. Her father, Evan, and her mother, Sarah constantly boasted about how their daughter had found such a wealthy husband. Their relatives would flatter them all the time. But in reality, they were incredibly envious. They would tell their daughter to learn from Ave. So, I decided to send these materials to the Taylor family’s group chat. Soon, the chat exploded. [Daniel, what is this that you’ve sent?] Ave’s cousin was the first to see it. He was always the first to respond whenever I posted something in the group. But after reading it, he was speechless. Ave’s aunt was the first to react. [Oh my, this is too dirty! Ave, this girl is too… bold.] [Such bad behavior, what a disgrace!] [Exactly, to reject such a good husband and go behind his back.] [You’ve completely embarrassed our family.] [If this gets out, I won’t be able to face anyone.] [Don’t be sad, Daniel, we have many good girls in the Taylor family besides Ave.] [My daughter is great, too. She has excellent grades, and graduated from a good university…] Aunties from the Taylor family with daughters stood up to recommend their daughters. “What are you doing? Trying to steal from our family?” Sarah spoke up, and the chat group fell silent. “Daniel, where did you get this video from? It must be some jealous person trying to smear Ave. “You can’t fall for this trick! “Ave has always been well-behaved and thoughtful, she would never do something so disgraceful. “Isn’t it common for things online to be doctored? This must be fake.” Sarah, who couldn’t type, sent dozens of voice messages in a panic.

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Jacqueline once again missed my birthday party for assistant Eric Burch, which led me, Lawrence Gentry, to voluntarily apply for a three-year overseas assignment. She casually came across the application form and scoffed at it without much thought. “Trying to make me jealous with these tricks again? Can you stop acting like a child? You’re an adult, for heaven’s sake. “I’ve told you before, we have nothing between us. I’m just worried that Eric, a fresh graduate, might feel out of place, so I’m going to keep him company. “I’ll come and keep you company in a few days.” She tore the application form up and tossed it in the trash, then suggested that we take wedding photos as compensation for her absence. But it was already too late. On the day of the shoot, I was already sitting on a plane heading abroad. However, I heard that Jacqueline, usually cold and distant, went a little crazy. Dressed in a wedding gown, she hysterically screamed my name over and over at the airport. “Lawrence, I can’t believe you’re still playing these petty tricks. If it weren’t for Debra Hanna from HR telling me about this, I might have actually believed it. “Don’t you know? Someone who really wants to leave wouldn’t make it such a public spectacle.” Jacqueline snorted, then tore up the overseas assignment application form in a few quick moves and threw it into the trash without even blinking. I remained silent, but inwardly, I found it a bit amusing. Tearing it up didn’t matter to me. It had already been submitted. She had signed it herself last night. But at the time, she had been out dining with Eric, probably not paying attention. When she was with Eric, she was always completely absorbed in him. Debra from HR was just a kind soul, and she was probably trying to help by informing her of this. She probably thought I was trying to threaten her, but that wasn’t the case. At the time, she wanted me to stay in the city with her, so I missed out on many overseas opportunities. Now that her heart belonged to someone else, I wasn’t planning to waste away by her side anymore. Just as I was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Jacqueline ignored me and turned to open it. “Jacqueline.” Eric smiled, standing in the doorway, and greeted her. Then his gaze shifted to me, and his smile grew wider. “Oh, Lawrence is here too. Sorry, I would’ve stayed downstairs if I’d known. Didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.” His tone seemed sincere, but I could hear the underlying provocation. After all, once I discovered the unusual relationship between Jacqueline and him, I confronted her many times. But every time, she shrugged it off and continued as if nothing had happened. The worst incident was when she spent the night with Eric. I couldn’t take it anymore and asked her about it. Jacqueline slapped me hard and called me dirty-minded, demanding that I publicly apologize to both her and Eric. That was the moment I finally gave up on her. I stopped caring, but she and Eric thought I had just matured and treated the whole thing as a rebellious phase of mine. I ignored them and turned to go back to my room. But Jacqueline, unusually, stopped me and softly said, “Eric’s parents are coming in a couple of days. He’s worried his room might be too shabby, so I’m going to help him get it ready. “You know, these young guys can’t take care of themselves. If I can help, I will.” I was a bit surprised. It took me a moment to realize that Jacqueline was trying to explain herself to me. She used to never do that. I would always have to ask her, and she’d get annoyed with me for being so curious. But now, I no longer cared about what they were going to do. “Oh.” I nodded. I originally wanted to remind her to stay safe, but then I realized she wouldn’t listen even if I did. So, I swallowed the words back down. “Lawrence, why don’t you come with us? It’d make us feel better.” Eric spoke up at that moment. I looked at the smile on his face, clearly knowing he was doing it on purpose. He had suggested this before. But every time he did, it only made Jacqueline dislike me more. Even though I didn’t care about her opinion anymore, I wasn’t going to make things uncomfortable for myself before leaving. Just as I was about to refuse, unexpectedly, Jacqueline paused for a while and nodded. Eric’s smile faltered for a moment. But it didn’t last long. His smile returned, even brighter than before. “Alright then,” Jacqueline said. “At least you can help carry some things. We bought so much. Eric might not be able to carry it all.” I found it amusing, with a sense of realization. “No, I have things to do later. You guys go ahead.” I answered softly, my tone devoid of any emotion. Jacqueline didn’t care, giving me a disdainful glance before saying, “I gave you a chance, but you disappointed me,” then she left with Eric. Eric looked smug, waving at me as he left. “Lawrence, I’ll leave with Jacqueline.” His words were clearly annoying to me. But Jacqueline seemed completely unaware, resting her arm on his shoulder. She laughed lightly with him, asking how he was going to take her out for a meal after she had helped him so much. Their closeness no longer stirred anything in me. I had known since Eric joined the company that this day would eventually come. Back then, Jacqueline made an exception to hire him and brought him as her assistant. Over the past two years, he had made many mistakes and caused the company to lose millions of dollars, yet every time, Jacqueline would point the blame at me without hesitation. I couldn’t hold back any longer and argued with her, but she remained unshaken. “Lawrence, don’t you think he’s a lot like the old you? “You worked so hard to get to your position, now that you see a young guy just like you, shouldn’t you help him out?” It wasn’t until later that I realized, after that moment, that no matter what I said, it was all in vain. Jacqueline’s heart had already changed. My phone rang. I checked it and saw a message from HR. [The list for overseas assignments is confirmed. Please come to your post in three days.]

Along with the message came a list of instructions. I read through everything carefully, then started packing up my things at home. Since I had to leave anyway, it was better to handle it myself than let Jacqueline and Eric throw everything out. I took out the custom-made guitar I hadn’t touched in years, tested the strings, and found it still in perfect condition. Jacqueline knew I loved playing instruments. We actually got close because of a performance at a university event. Back then, I would often play songs she liked for her, and we would travel together, strolling through the mountains and fields. But as time passed, reality became harsher, and the pressure of life grew. Jacqueline no longer wanted to hear me play, so I put everything away and focused on work. Later on, our life became more comfortable, but she drifted farther and farther away from me. I once invited her to travel with me, but she was clearly annoyed. “Lawrence, how old are you? Can you stop acting like a child? Focus on your career, okay?” But later, I found out that she and Eric, using business trips as an excuse, went to arcades to play claw machines, to internet cafés to game, and even went boating on the lake. So it wasn’t that she thought we were too old. She just thought I was too old. I dug out all my old instruments and contacted a friend who had always wanted them. When he heard I was giving them to him, he was surprised. “Seriously? You wouldn’t even sell them to me for a high price before. What made you change your mind?” I gave a simple explanation. “I’m going abroad. These things are too much to take with me.” “Going abroad?” He was shocked. “Are you going with Jacqueline?” “No, just me.” I briefly told him about my overseas assignment, but my friend was still a bit confused. In the end, he said he wanted to meet up for a meal and catch up. I didn’t turn him down. After hanging up, I continued sorting through my things at home. Jacqueline had always wanted to take down the photo wall. She disliked the childish couple figurines, the couple sofa, the matching couple rings… Before I knew it, it was already evening. Even though I didn’t have many things, after living here for five years, I still didn’t manage to finish in just one afternoon. Jacqueline still hadn’t returned. I didn’t cook dinner and wait for her like I used to, asking when she’d be home. Instead, I took my things and went to meet my friends. There were three or four of them, and we hadn’t seen each other in nearly a year. They were all shocked when they saw me. “Are you losing weight? You look even thinner than the last time we saw you.” I smiled but didn’t explain. After a few drinks, everyone loosened up, and the conversation flowed. When the topic of my departure came up, one of my drunken friends angrily spoke up in my defense. “Lawrence, I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a long time. You should’ve left Jacqueline ages ago. Just look at you now. How much has she tortured you? “If she hadn’t taken your research, you’d be way better off now. Your company doesn’t even have her position anymore! All of us have been telling you, but you wouldn’t listen.” The other friends quickly tried to quiet him down. “He’s drunk. Don’t take it personally,” one of them said, covering his mouth while explaining to me. I understood why he was reacting this way. After all, I used to defend Jacqueline without question. We hadn’t seen each other in so long because they had once criticized Jacqueline in front of me. At that time, I didn’t believe it and left angrily. But it was also that moment that made me realize how badly Jacqueline had been playing me. “It’s alright. Jacqueline and I are about to split.” Saying that I raised my glass amidst everyone’s shocked stares. “Thanks to you guys for trying to convince me. I’ll drink to that.” At first, my friends were worried I was hurt and tried to say more, but when they saw my calm expression, they finally relaxed. After the gathering, I returned home and was about to unlock the door when it suddenly opened from the inside. Jacqueline stood there, leaning against the wall, looking a little off.

“Did you go out for drinks? “I called you so many times. Why didn’t you answer?” I took out my phone and realized Jacqueline had tried to call me several times. I guessed the place was probably too noisy earlier, so I hadn’t heard the calls. I told her the truth, and her expression softened a little, but she was still a bit annoyed as she muttered. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? “Come back and make me something to eat. I’m starving.” I was a bit surprised. Whenever she went out with Eric before, she would always say she’d be back soon, but every time, they ended up eating out together. I’d wait until it was late until the meal that I’d carefully made had gone cold, then reheated it, only for it to get cold again. Eating the cold food made my heart feel just as cold. But when I expressed my frustration, she would get impatient. “Why are you waiting for me? I’m not a kid. Can’t I take care of myself?” I snapped back to reality and smiled faintly. “You’re not a kid. If you’re hungry, just figure it out yourself.” “I figure it out myself? Then what do I need you for?” Jacqueline scoffed, retorting. But maybe because she had fun this afternoon, she didn’t really care about my words. “Fine, since you were drinking, I won’t make you cook a full meal. “Just make some soup to warm up my stomach. “Eric’s stomach problems are acting up again. He took medicine but it didn’t help. I remember the soup you made before worked really well. Can you make some for him now?” It was only then that I realized why she had come back. Her stomach had been bad for a while, and I had taken a class to learn how to make warming soups for her. I even experimented with improving the taste so she would want to eat. I had intended to take care of her, but now, I had become nothing more than a free caretaker, making soup for another man. I couldn’t help but sneer. “I can’t make it. “If he’s sick, he should see a doctor. What if something goes wrong? Who’s going to take responsibility?” I used to make lunch for Jacqueline every day, but eventually, she started sharing it with Eric. That afternoon, when Eric wasn’t feeling well, it was obvious it was because he had stayed up too late, but Jacqueline blamed me. She said the food I made wasn’t clean and docked my pay to give it to Eric instead. Jacqueline seemed to recall this, and her face became a bit awkward. She was about to say something, but I walked past her and went into the bedroom. Jacqueline quickly followed me. “Lawrence, I get it. Are you mad about what happened this afternoon with me and Eric? “Just say what you need to say. Why are you being so sarcastic?” It was always the same. Whenever she couldn’t argue with me, she’d accuse me of overthinking and complain that I didn’t communicate with her. But I had talked to her seriously many times, yet each time, she would explode, think I was being unreasonable, and then refuse to continue the conversation. Seeing that she was about to enter the room, I locked the bedroom door. That completely annoyed Jacqueline, and she started banging on the door. “Jacqueline, stop making a scene. Just go to bed.” After saying that, I ignored her, washed up, and went to bed. In the middle of the night, I woke up feeling thirsty. When I got up to get some water, I noticed my phone screen was lit up. I unlocked it and saw several messages from Eric. [Lawrence, Jacqueline’s at my place. She came to take care of me because my stomach was acting up.] Then there were a few pictures. The background was Eric’s rental place, and Jacqueline was wearing pajamas and an apron, standing in the kitchen with a focused look on her face. It was only then that I realized Jacqueline hadn’t been resting in the bedroom. Instead, she went to take care of Eric in the middle of the night. I felt a pang of heartache. I’d never asked her to cook for me, but now, she was willingly doing it for another man. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. And I knew exactly what Eric was doing. He was trying to provoke me. This kind of thing had happened too many times before. It didn’t really matter anymore. After two days, I would no longer have anything to do with them. I turned off my phone and went back to sleep, soon drifting off into a dreamless slumber. The next morning when I woke up, Jacqueline had already gone home. She was sitting on the couch, holding a tablet, looking a little tired after staying up all night. Back when she used to stay up talking with Eric, she would look just as worn out. I wanted to ask if she was okay, but she’d gotten angry and snapped at me for nitpicking. I didn’t feel like getting into an argument, so I ignored it, washed up, and casually greeted her as usual. She seemed distracted, muttering to herself. “Why does it feel like something’s missing around here?” I didn’t respond. The things that were lost were things she never really cared about before. So, she noticed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. I didn’t pay it any mind and was about to leave when Jacqueline suddenly called out to me. “Lawrence, why is there a ticket charge in your account’s payment details?” It dawned on me then. The tablet was logged into my account so she could see some of my purchases. I paused, about to say something, but just then, the phone rang. Jacqueline glanced at the caller ID, her eyes lit up, and she got up to go to the bedroom to answer it, no longer concerned about me. I let out a scoff, but I was already used to it. A few minutes later, she came back out of the bedroom, grabbed her coat from the hanger, and spoke to me in a commanding tone. “Eric’s parents are here. I need to go pick them up. When you get to the office, help us ask for some time off.” I smiled faintly. “I’m not going to the office today. “I’ll be dispatched abroad tomorrow, and that flight ticket is for tomorrow.”

She froze for a moment, her hands still on her shoes. After a beat, she seemed to realize something, then suddenly laughed. “What are you talking about? I’ve already withdrawn your transfer request. You’re not going anywhere.” I was about to explain, but her tone suddenly turned cold. “Lawrence, you were doing fine a while ago. What happened? Why are you acting up now? “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do. Once was enough, but if you keep having trouble like this, I’m going to get fed up. “Well, I have to admit, this time you’ve been convincing. You even went ahead and bought a plane ticket to fool me.” I didn’t say anything more. She didn’t believe I would leave, so no matter what I said, she wouldn’t believe it. If that was the case, then there was no point in arguing. I stayed silent, but in Jacqueline’s eyes, my silence looked like guilt. She was more convinced than ever that I was doing this on purpose. With a cold snort, she grabbed her bag and was about to leave. After walking a couple of steps, she suddenly seemed to remember something, stopped, and turned back to look at me. With a resigned sigh, she said, “Lawrence, I know why you’re acting like this, but I really have to go this time. I promised Eric the other day, and I can’t break my word. “Be good and stop causing trouble, okay? “After today, I’ll listen to you and cut back on my contact with him. “By the way, you wanted to get married, right? Once all this is settled, I’ll go with you to take wedding photos, and we can talk about the wedding details. How about it?” As she spoke, she reached out and gently patted my head as if trying to calm a well-behaved puppy. I found it a bit funny. She said she couldn’t break her promises, but for Eric, she’d canceled on me more than once, leaving me waiting by myself. She said she’d reduce contact with Eric, but that agreement was made a long time ago. Yet, she still broke her word more than once. Every time, her ace in the hole was taking wedding photos with me. I kept believing her, time after time, and getting disappointed again and again. She thought this method of controlling me, like a dog with a carrot and stick, worked perfectly for me. But what she didn’t know was it was only because I still had hope in her. Now, after not loving her anymore, I suddenly realized how laughable all those promises had been from the very beginning. But I didn’t expose the truth. I just nodded. “Okay.” Jacqueline was pleased, smiling brightly. “Lawrence, it looks like you finally understand that threatening me won’t get you anywhere. “Only if we both try to understand each other can we go further together. “Stay home and wait for me. I’m making an appointment now. Tomorrow, we’ll go take wedding photos.” With that, she turned and headed downstairs. I watched Jacqueline’s back as she disappeared around the corner, then went back to my room and threw everything I didn’t need into the trash can downstairs. Soon, the room was spotless, with no trace left of my presence. As soon as Jacqueline returned, she would discover the truth. But she didn’t. All night long, Jacqueline sent me photos of herself with Eric and his parents. She sent pictures of the scenery and of the restaurants they went to together. She said some of the places had great views, perfect for wedding photos. I didn’t understand what she was trying to do. But I still went along with it. Anyway, it was the last time. I probably wouldn’t hear from her again. The next morning, after replying to Jacqueline and telling her to get some rest, I grabbed my suitcase and took a taxi to the airport. Just as I was about to board the plane, I received a call from the wedding company, confirming the wedding photo shoot schedule. It turned out Jacqueline was serious this time. But I didn’t want to do it anymore. “I’m sorry, but the shoot is canceled.” After apologizing, I hung up. I took one last look at the city I’d lived in for five years. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I walked up the stairs to the plane. From now on, Jacqueline and I would have no future together. I just wondered, when she found out that she was the one left waiting this time, what kind of expression she would have.

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To save my girlfriend Irene Kemp, who was injured in a car accident, I, Antonio Henson, ended up blind and hospitalized. Irene bought me a watch worth over a hundred million dollars, but her old flame, Jason Evans, replaced it with a fake right in front of me. He even mouthed to Irene. “After all, he’s blind and can’t see. What’s the difference between real and fake?” Irene, who had always loved me deeply, didn’t stop him. She personally put the cheap fake watch on my wrist and comforted me, saying. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you. On the 15th of next month, we’ll get married. I’ve invited the media. The whole world will witness our happiness.” I smiled without saying a word. What she didn’t know was that I had already restored my sight with the help of a system and had applied for a way back. At the wedding next month, what she would be waiting for would be nothing but my cold, lifeless body. “Mr. Henson, you’re truly fortunate to have such a loving wife.” In the hospital room, the nurse, who had witnessed everything, was insincerely flattering me. But I stayed silent. The whole world knew that my wife, Irene, loved me deeply. As the heiress to a wealthy family, she humbled herself to be with me. She had openly pursued me for seven years before finally winning my heart. Our love story was well-known and envied by many. I still remember that one time I had fallen into a deep sleep and missed her call. She got so frantic that she mobilized the entire national media to find me, making a huge scene that everyone knew about. When she found me, she rushed into my arms, crying and panicking, ordering me not to leave her sight or else she would go crazy. Everyone said that the Kemp family’s heiress was a woman of deep love. At the time, I believed the same and was deeply moved by her affection. To repay her, as someone who had crossed over from another world, I chose not to take the reward and go home after completing my mission. Instead, I stayed by her side, helping her take control of her family’s fortune and rise to the top. I even became her personal bodyguard, stepping in whenever she faced danger. Even after I went blind, I didn’t care. But to better care for and protect her, I made a deal with the system, exchanging twenty years of my life for my sight. Before I could even tell her this good news, I saw Jason, whom she once loved, standing right next to her. During the three months I couldn’t see, he had been by Irene’s side every day, even swapping out the gift in front of me. What I couldn’t understand even more was that Irene, who had witnessed everything, actually allowed his actions… As I was lost in thought, Irene’s best friend pushed open the door, glanced at me lying in bed, and said with a smile. “Irene really loves you. She’s already asked me to hurry up and transfer the shares to you.” She tossed the documents in my direction casually, but then her expression changed as she exchanged words with Irene through lip reading, her face filled with disdain. “Irene, you don’t really want to marry this blind man, do you?” “Everyone in the circle knows that you’ve been chasing after him so hard just to make Jason come back to you. “Now that Jason is back by your side, how long do you plan to play this game? Are you planning to have your cake and eat it too?” Upon hearing this, Irene’s face turned a little pale, and she mouthed back angrily. “A missed opportunity is gone for good. I’ve really fallen in love with Antonio, and he is the only man I will ever consider my husband. “Don’t bring up this nonsense again. If you do and he finds out the truth, you, the Hardin family, will be out of the picture.” Her friend fell silent, too afraid to say anything more. The Kemp family was powerful, and with my help, Irene had taken control of the family business. Her best friend’s family was nothing more than a beggar, relying on the Kemp family for scraps. They didn’t dare to act out of line. Jason, standing to the side, glanced at us with a flicker of regret in his eyes, then quickly tried to change the subject. “Enough. If it stays too quiet, Antonio might catch on. What should we do then?” Irene paused for a moment, gathering her emotions. She squeezed my hand and, as always, spoke softly. “Antonio, do you like the gift?” The 5% equity transfer document was something I had received when I was being transferred to a new hospital. Irene had promised it in front of the media during an interview. At the time, I was confused. She had given me many things over the years, but the one thing she never dared to give me was money. When I asked her about it, she simply smiled and said she was afraid that if I had money, I might change. When she promised me the shares, I teased her, asking. “Are you not afraid I’ll turn bad now, Ms. Kemp?” Irene pulled me closer, hugged me tightly, and whispered, “Silly, you’d be willing to give up your life for me. What could I possibly be afraid of?” At that moment, my heart raced, full of excitement and happiness. I thought Irene’s love for me had grown deeper, and I was determined to stay by her side forever. But now, as I opened the contract, I saw that while it did indeed transfer 5% of the Kemp Group’s shares, the beneficiary listed at the bottom was Jason’s name. I let go of the contract with a bitter smile. It turned out that the perfect love I thought I had was nothing but a lie. The money was a lie, and so was her love. Seeing my lack of interest, Irene assumed it was because I couldn’t accept the unseen truth. As usual, she pinched my cheek and softly comforted me. “Don’t be sad. You’ll be discharged today, and I’ll take you to try on your wedding dress. “At the wedding in fifteen days, I’ll make sure you become famous.” For the first time, I didn’t respond enthusiastically. Instead, I calmly took off my fake watch. I silently submitted a request to the system to return home.

The system quickly came online with a reply. “Dear host, since you’ve missed the best time to leave this world, if you wish to leave now, you must die a tragic death to do so.” Without hesitation, I agreed. Even though there was nothing in this world worth staying for, I didn’t want to face Irene’s fake smile again. The system notified me that I could return in fifteen days. I couldn’t help but reflect on the coincidence of the timing. Just then, Irene spoke anxiously. “If you don’t like the watch, I can get you something else.” Something else fake, perhaps? I shook my head and politely declined. “No, I don’t need anything.” Irene’s heart skipped a beat, and she had a strange, uneasy feeling that what I said was about the watch, but maybe not. She anxiously pulled me into her arms, greedily seeking my warmth. Jason watched the scene, his eyes turning red with envy. He spoke up to remind her. “Ms. Kemp, the staff has been waiting for a while. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll be late.” Reluctantly, Irene let me go and started packing up to take me out of the hospital. But as she comforted me and chatted, she managed to hold Jason’s hand with one free hand. I turned numbly toward the window. It turned out that Irene’s heart was big enough to divide between two people. The car ride was silent. Because of my eyesight, Irene had to arrange for the wedding to take place downstairs in her villa. Though the wedding setup was still in its early stages, it was clear that Irene had put a lot of thought into it. The staff was waiting, ready to guide us through the process. Irene led me onto the stage, with Jason standing between us, holding the microphone as the emcee. “Mr. Henson, do you take Ms. Kemp to be your wife, for richer or for poorer…” He passionately finished reading the vows and, along with everyone else in the audience, waited for me to say the words. “I do.” But I didn’t speak. Irene tugged at my sleeve, and even the staff was about to step in to hurry me. Then, the stage suddenly collapsed. “Watch out!” Irene shouted and pushed me toward the area where the stage was falling while she rushed to shield Jason. I was hit on the head, blood spilling everywhere, while Jason was unharmed. Jason stared at Irene, who had risked her life to protect him in that dangerous moment. Emotions surged in his eyes, and he could no longer hold back. He shouted at her. “You clearly love me more, so why won’t you give me another chance?”

The loud shout snapped Irene back to reality. She quickly shook off Jason’s hand and rushed to my side, her face full of worry as she asked, “Antonio, are you okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” She helped the staff lift me up, and when she saw the wound on my head, she angrily scolded them, making them look down in shame. Once she was done scolding, Irene held me tightly, her voice trembling as she said, “It’s okay now. I’ll never let you get hurt again.” If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would’ve believed through her voice that she held nothing but concern for me. But now, seeing her hypocritical face, I just felt disgusted. I would’ve died for her, yet she pushed me, the blind one, into danger to save Jason. There was indeed a safety hazard on stage, but if Irene hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have been injured. Thankfully, the frame wasn’t heavy. I only scraped my skin a little, so there was no major harm. Irene took me inside and grabbed the first aid kit. Her gaze stayed fixed on me, and when she saw I hadn’t brought up Jason’s words, she awkwardly smiled faintly and explained, “Someone must have forgotten to turn off their phone during the short play. That line was really embarrassing.” I silently watched her lie, too tired to expose it. She quickly cleaned my wound and apologized, “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of you. You just got out of the hospital, and now you’re hurt again. I’ll go make you some nourishing soup.” She left, and not long after, a dark shadow loomed over me. I looked up and met Jason’s troubled eyes. He stared into my eyes for a long time. Finally, he spoke. “Antonio… your eyes aren’t really blind, are they?” I froze for a moment, instinctively looking at him again, a hint of confusion in my gaze. Jason let out a cold laugh as if he’d figured it out. “You’ve been showing me a lot of clues that you can see. For example, when you received the fake watch, your eyes dimmed. When you saw my name on the contract, I saw a flash of hurt in your eyes. When the stage collapsed, you instinctively raised your hand to block… “All of that didn’t escape me.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. The truth was, I hadn’t even tried to hide it. But Irene, who always claimed to love me deeply, never noticed. Instead, it was Jason, someone who didn’t know me well, who saw through it first. I didn’t respond. Yet Jason kept murmuring to himself, confusion written all over his face. “Wait… Irene deliberately staged this accident just to have your corneas transplanted to me. “I really regained my sight because of it, but how can you see?” I stood there, stunned, a chill creeping down my spine. No wonder… I remembered only faintly injuring myself and losing consciousness, never damaging my eyeball. So why couldn’t I see? It turned out that Irene, the one I trusted most, had secretly given my eyes to Jason. Even though my heart had already grown numb, the pain still hit me all at once. All the love I had poured out, in the end, was wasted. Jason hadn’t stopped there. He kept saying. “Antonio, since you’ve seen it all, you know Irene has always loved me. “Don’t be fooled by her pretending to care about you. It’s all just to make me turn back to her. “I only said I needed a cornea, and she gave you up for me. “If you know what’s good for you, stay out of the way. She isn’t someone a guy like you can ever match.” He said his cruel words and left, smugly satisfied. What he didn’t know was that the recorder in my pocket had been running the whole time, capturing everything he said.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, fifteen days passed. The wedding day arrived. Many guests had gathered. Both Irene’s and my parents had passed away, so her relatives were the ones hosting the ceremony. She pulled me to the entrance to greet the guests. But everyone could see that Irene and Jason were dressed in matching wedding outfits, while I was only wearing a plain suit. The guests gave me scornful looks yet still spoke their blessings. “Congratulations, wishing you a lifetime of happiness and many children.” Before I could say a word, Jason walked right past me to thank them. “Thank you, please come in.” The atmosphere froze. Irene turned to glare at him, silently mouthing words. “Jason, I already agreed to have a wedding with you first. If you push your luck any further, get out now.” Jason quickly apologized, claiming he had made a mistake and wouldn’t do it again. But he cast a smug glance my way, flaunting how Irene was tolerating him. I stayed silent. Irene, worried I wasn’t feeling well, asked someone to help me upstairs to rest. I lay down for only a short while. The music changed to a more festive tune. The caregiver, who should have been by my side, had gone off to join the excitement. I got up, walked to the window, and looked down at the grand wedding banquet below. The venue was decorated beautifully, with flower girls scattering petals as the stunning bride walked down the aisle. A helicopter hovered above, dropping a huge, eye-catching banner that made the crowd below scream in excitement. The banner displayed Irene and Jason’s wedding photo, with their names clearly written underneath. The emcee didn’t even take the microphone but simply pointed to a giant screen on the side. Everyone turned to look, and the screen showed a slideshow of their sweet and happy photos together. Once the photos ended, their wedding vows silently scrolled across the screen, and the ceremony continued. Irene, with tears in her eyes, silently responded, “I do.” She extended her hand, and Jason slid the wedding ring onto her finger. They exchanged a brief, light kiss. The guests below erupted in applause, their faces all beaming with joy, though not a single sound came from them. Even though I had expected this, I still couldn’t help but clench my fists. The woman who once claimed to love me the most married another man right in front of me. When their wedding ceremony finally came to an end, Jason, still clearly enjoying himself, took the microphone and assumed the role of the host. He spotted me watching from the window and, with a teasing smile, shouted loudly, “Please welcome the groom!” At that moment, everyone suddenly looked up and realized that I had witnessed the entire scene. Irene froze for a moment, her heart racing, but quickly remembered that I couldn’t possibly see her. She sighed in relief, then scolded, “Where did everyone go? How could they leave the groom standing by the window alone? It’s dangerous! Go help him!” The servants, who had been watching the show, immediately rushed over to me. I stepped forward, feeling the breeze, spread my arms wide, and leaped from the top of the building, about 32 feet high. Just then, my head hit the ground with a sickening thud.

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My boyfriend died in a plane crash. I missed his last call before he died. He left me a voicemail. “Harriet, they said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” Because of this, I made a deal with the system. I entered endless cycles in worlds and died 99 times. In return, I gained the chance to turn back time. This time, I saved him. But I never expected he only faked his death for his first love. I sat on the sofa, breathing heavily. My mind was blank. “Harriet, the plane is about to take off. I have to go now,” Bradley Moore said. He stood by the door, dragging his suitcase while putting on his shoes. I snapped out of my daze and looked at him. In an instant, my mind became clear. I shouted, “Don’t go.” Bradley flinched in surprise. “You scared me. Stop messing around. I’ll be late.” Ignoring my words, he opened the door to leave. I jumped up and rushed to block the door. I would not let him leave no matter what. Bradley’s expression turned anxious. He tried to move my hands away. He said, “Harriet, stop joking. That performance is very important. I can’t be late.” I shook my head and gripped the door handle tightly. Bradley paced in front of the door, growing more frustrated. Time passed slowly. He kept making phone calls, while I looked at him intently. “I can’t leave the house right now. I don’t know what is going on with her today,” he said over the phone, glancing at me. I didn’t register a word he said. I just focused on stopping him. When the clock struck noon, I finally exhaled in relief. Bradley slammed his suitcase on the ground. “Great! The plane has taken off. Are you happy now?” he huffed. I leaned against the wall, exhausted but relieved. I had succeeded. I had saved him. Bradley clenched his fists, snorted, and walked away. After he left, I collapsed on the sofa. My legs were weak, but I smiled. I had saved him. Those 99 deaths in the small worlds were not in vain. Bradley stayed in his study all day. At night, I made his favorite dishes and went to the study door. Just as I was about to knock, I heard voices inside. “What should we do now?” Bradley asked. “I was ready to fake my death in the plane crash and disappear. Everything was set. But that crazy woman wouldn’t let me leave the house.” The person on the other end of the phone said something to calm him down. Bradley’s voice softened. “I can’t wait to be with you, Amber.” I couldn’t hear the rest. My mind was blank, replaying his words. He talked about faking his death. It sounded like he hadn’t died from the crash in the last life. I wondered if that was his plan to be with Amber Shaw. My blood ran cold. The truth hit me hard. I covered my mouth with my right hand, afraid I’d scream. My left hand dug into my palm, the pain keeping me conscious. Staggering, I turned to leave. “Who’s there?” Bradley called out.

I hid in the bedroom. Bradley quickly walked over and pushed the door open. His tone showed clear anxiety. He asked, “Harriet, did you hear me talking outside just now?” I shook my head. “No, did you talk to me?” I instinctively covered up the fact that I had heard him. Bradley sighed in relief. He said, “Next time, remember to knock when you come into my study.” “Okay.” I nodded. “I made the dishes you like. Let’s eat.” Bradley hesitated for a moment, then looked at me apologetically. He said, “I’m sorry, but Amber needs me for something. I have to go.” He came over and kissed me. I stiffly looked up at him. His face was calm, and his expression serene. I nodded. “Today is our fifth anniversary.” Bradley froze in place. His mouth opened and closed several times. “I really can’t stay,” he said. “We’ll celebrate it next time.” He took the car keys and left. I sat there, stunned. After a long time, I dragged my tired body and my confused mind to the dining table. I numbly shoved the food into my mouth. I was still in a daze from what I had just heard. I thought back to this same day in my past life. It was also our fifth anniversary. At that time, Bradley told me, “Harriet, I have a performance abroad.” I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was just a normal performance. But I didn’t expect that once Bradley left, he never came back. When the plane started to hit turbulence, he tried to call me. But I was angry because he wasn’t with me for the anniversary, so I rejected his call. In the end, I only received one last message from him. “They said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” I couldn’t accept that reality. I was so sad, I even thought about dying with him. It was then that the system approached me. I made a deal with it. I went to those collapsing worlds, dying again and again. Finally, after the 99th death, I was given the chance to reverse time. But reality slapped me hard in the face. Bradley wasn’t dead at all. It was all part of his scheme to be with Amber. I felt a deep sorrow in my heart. Everything I had done for him was meaningless. It was all my own wishful thinking. At the same time, Amber updated her social media. It was a picture of a dog. [Let’s wish my little dog a happy fifth birthday.] In the corner of the photo was a pair of men’s hands. The wrist was wearing the watch I had given him. At midnight, Bradley still hadn’t come home. I got up from the living room and walked to the bedroom, diving into the cold bed. In the past, Bradley would warm the bed for me. He wouldn’t let me feel even a hint of cold. The next day, I sat in the dining room eating breakfast. Bradley pushed the door open and entered, holding a bouquet of obviously withered flowers. When he saw me, he handed me a box. Inside was a chain. I looked up at him in disbelief. This was clearly the chain taken off Amber’s dog yesterday. It wasn’t even good enough to be considered scrap. He said, “Anniversary gift. I was in a hurry. I didn’t buy anything expensive. “I’ll buy you something better next time.” His expression was calm, without any hint of guilt. I silently accepted it. He seemed a bit surprised by my reaction, glancing at me several times. I bypassed him, ready to leave for work. I picked up a blue hat hanging on the door, ready to put it on. Bradley’s angry voice came from behind. “That hat isn’t for you.”

I turned to look at him, holding the hat with confusion. Bradley’s face was full of anger as he quickly walked over and snatched the blue hat from my hand. His face showed deep affection, as if the hat in his hand was the most precious treasure. After a moment, he looked back at me. Maybe he realized his actions had been too impulsive. He awkwardly spoke. “Harriet, this hat isn’t for you. If you want one, I’ll buy you another.” I looked at the hat. The stitching was obviously done by hand. As for who it was made for, his actions spoke for themselves. “Okay,” I said, turning to leave. Once I got to the company, I received a picture from Amber. In the photo, she was wearing that same blue hat. Even though I already knew the truth, my heart still ached for a moment. I honestly had no idea how to face them. All I could do was keep avoiding it. It seemed like as long as I pretended not to know, nothing would have happened. After work, I followed my colleague to a concert. When I arrived, I found out it was Bradley’s performance. I sat in the audience. It wasn’t until an hour later that it was his turn to go on stage, but he was with a familiar figure. It was Amber. They performed a wonderful duet. Even their outfits were couple-themed. I clenched the edge of my clothes tightly, trying to suppress the urge to rush onto the stage. After the performance, the two of them took a bow. Bradley suddenly pulled out a flower and knelt in front of Amber. He said, “Amber, this is our third year together. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I had fallen for you. “I’ve thought about it for a long time and finally decided to confess today. “Amber, I like you. I hope you’ll be my girlfriend.” He spoke with such sincerity. His hand holding the flower trembled, and his eyes were filled with tears. But his confession was the same one he said to me five years ago. He once told me that he had fallen for me. It turned out these words weren’t just for me. He could say them to someone else too. Amber covered her face with both hands, nodding eagerly. She said, “Yes.” They hugged on stage and cried. The audience cheered for them to kiss. And I, the real girlfriend, could only watch numbly. Then something happened. The beam above the stage collapsed, and the theater was thrown into chaos. In the crowd, I was knocked to the ground. Through the gaps, I saw Bradley protecting Amber as they ran out. When they passed by me, he even pushed me aside roughly, telling me not to block the way. I cried out in pain, “Bradley.” Bradley looked back at me in disbelief and panic. But the next second, he firmly protected Amber and ran out without hesitation. About ten minutes later, I was rescued. I was taken to the hospital. Bradley just disappeared. He didn’t send a single message. Instead, I received a message from Amber. It was an ultrasound report.

I received a message from Amber. [Harriet, I’m sorry, I sent it to the wrong person. I meant to send it to Bradley.] [I’ll withdraw it now.] But even after half a minute, she didn’t withdraw it. I stared at the ultrasound picture for a long time. My eyes stung, and tears fell uncontrollably. She was already two months pregnant. Two months ago, Bradley had just proposed to me. He said we would get married at the end of the year. I turned off my phone screen. I didn’t want to see these upsetting things anymore. After dealing with the wound on my calf, I got discharged and went home. When I arrived, I saw Bradley busy in the kitchen. A delicious aroma filled the air. It smelled like soup. I went to the kitchen and saw him putting soup into a thermal bottle, obviously about to go out. I thought of the photo Amber had just sent me. I immediately knew the soup was for her. When Bradley turned around with the thermal bottle and saw me, he froze. He looked at my leg with guilt. He said, “Amber is alone in the hospital. I’m worried about her, so I’m going to check on her. “Oh, I made some soup for you. Try it.” I looked at the pot. It was just leftovers and scraps. I asked, “I was at the scene today too. Did you see me?” As expected, his face turned pale. He stammered, “No. I didn’t see you.” I watched his clumsy acting and suddenly felt tired. I turned and walked to the bedroom. “Then forget it,” I said. I didn’t know when Bradley left or when he came back. After he returned, he seemed like a different person. He took care of me meticulously. Half a month later, Bradley suggested a road trip to Teburn. I agreed. When I saw Amber in the car, I wasn’t surprised at all. Bradley, however, looked flustered. He hurriedly explained, “Harriet, let me explain. Amber said she hadn’t been to Teburn and wanted to go. I thought it would be safer to bring her along.” He looked at me anxiously, worried that I wouldn’t believe him. I nodded calmly. From the passenger seat, Amber shot me a smug look. Throughout the trip, Amber caused trouble constantly. Bradley would only say she was just a young girl, asking me to be patient with her, even though I wasn’t much older than her. As we approached our destination, Amber insisted on seeing the sunrise from the mountaintop. Bradley, unable to resist her pleas, went with her. I was left alone in the inn. That night, an earthquake hit Teburn. Trapped under the rubble, I suddenly had a thought. “System, are you there?” I called out to the system that hadn’t appeared for a long time. A moment later, it responded, “Host, I’m here. Do you need help?” The mission was over, and the system had promised to grant one request. I hadn’t used it yet. Now I wanted to use it. I said, “I want to leave. Can you help me fake my death?”

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On our wedding night, my wife wore a carefully chosen nightgown, waiting for me in bed. I grabbed my robe and quickly finished my shower. But then, on the bathroom shelf, I noticed her phone ringing. Driven by curiosity, I picked it up. A pinned group chat with seven members immediately caught my eye. The latest message, sent by my wife just five minutes ago, was a photo of her in the shower. [Although I’m married now, you’re all still my darlings. As usual, here’s a little treat for you to enjoy.] The replies from six different men in the group flooded the screen with gloating and cheers. Monday: [Ellie’s figure is looking better and better!] Tuesday: [Ellie still loves us so much!] Wednesday: [Tonight was supposed to be my turn with Ellie. That lucky bastard stole it from me!] Thursday: [Ellie, did you miss me today?] Friday: [Ellie, see you Friday at the usual spot!] Saturday: [Ellie, let your husband take Sundays, okay? One day each! How generous of us!] The disgusting messages flooded my vision, yet a strange sense of exhilaration rose in my chest. The wife I had personally chosen didn’t disappoint me at all!

I slipped her phone into my pajama pocket and quietly walked into the bedroom. On the newly made bed, covered with a fresh wedding bedding set, my wife, Eleanor Dixon, lay on her side against the bed sheets. Her legs were exposed. “Honey, come on! I’ve been waiting for you!” I said nothing, my brows tightly furrowed. Eleanor didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about my expression. She playfully urged me to hurry over, her face brimming with impatience. “You know we’re married now, hurry up! “What are you standing there for? Honey, it’s our wedding night! Every second of tonight is precious!” I stared at Eleanor, barely containing the fury boiling within me. So she did remember it was our wedding night. And yet, she still found time to send “treats” to her group of male admirers. Eleanor sat up on the bed, her pretty face quickly showing irritation. “Keith, it’s our wedding night. Why the long face? You’re being ridiculous!” Her audacious tone pushed me over the edge. “Ridiculous? Me? “Can you explain who those men in the group chat are? And those photos you personally sent?” As I spoke, I pulled the phone out of my pocket and tossed it onto the bed. Eleanor’s face visibly froze. She quickly grabbed her phone and opened WhatsApp. Sure enough, she saw the replies from the other members. “Keith, you went through my phone?” She didn’t address my questions. Instead, she threw another accusation at me. I laughed bitterly to myself. My wife was always like this. The moment she got caught red-handed, she would immediately try to shift the blame, as if that could erase her wrongdoing. I glanced at the wedding photo on the bedside table. Those celebratory images now felt painfully ironic. Everything screamed “happily ever after” and “a lifetime of bliss,” but to me, it all seemed like a façade covering something unspeakably ugly. “Ellie, as a normal man, I can’t just sit back and watch my wife’s naked photos being commented on by other men! “It’s late tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll get a divorce.” At the mention of divorce, Eleanor rushed over and hugged me. “Honey, we just got married today, how can we get divorced tomorrow? “What would our friends and family think? “I can explain those group messages. “Honey, you know how exhausting my work is. I’m always swamped with company matters. “Last week, at my friend’s birthday party, I just happened to add a few waiters to my contacts. “Those guys in the group are just joking around. Don’t take it seriously. I swear there’s nothing going on. Please trust me, okay?” I tried to push her arms away, but she clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. With our height difference, I looked down at her tear-streaked, delicate face. For a moment, I felt a pang of pity. “Jokes? Since when do jokes involve sending naked photos to a group chat?” “Honey, I was confused for a moment and didn’t think it through. It’s my fault. Please don’t divorce me. “I’ll delete the group chat right now and never talk to them again!” She picked up her phone and exited the pinned group chat on her own. “Honey, I love you so, so much. Please forgive me this once. Don’t divorce me, okay?”

Eleanor’s voice was choked with sobs as she buried her face in my chest, much like a pitiful, wronged kitten. I could feel a distinct warmth spreading across my chest. I knew her tears had soaked through my pajama top. I raised my hand to wipe the tears from her face. Some of my anger subsided, and my tone softened noticeably. “Alright, Ellie, stop crying.” “Then you won’t divorce me, right?” Her tearful, wide eyes gazed up at me, perfectly angled for maximum effect. Of course, I knew this was all part of her carefully calculated performance. After a long pause, I finally said the word she had been waiting for. “Alright.” After freshening up again, Eleanor became even more proactive, inviting me to consummate our marriage. However, her enthusiasm was quickly interrupted by a work-related call I pretended to receive. Using overtime as an excuse, I spent the entire night in the study instead. The next morning, Eleanor seemed to feel a pang of guilt. My bank account received an extra one hundred thousand dollars. She was fond of using money as an apology, and I, naturally, was happy to accept it. In the following days, Eleanor tried her best to please me. She would either prepare breakfast early in the morning or bring back gifts after work. One evening, I came home late due to work. As soon as I entered, I saw Eleanor’s busy figure in the kitchen. She had prepared an entire feast. Seeing me, she affectionately asked me to wash my hands and join her for dinner. Normally, such tasks were left to the housekeeper. But now, in an effort to win me over, she had taken it upon herself to cook. At the dinner table, Eleanor kept adding food to my plate and even suggested making up for our wedding night. “Honey, don’t sleep in the study tonight, okay?” I silently calculated the timing in my head and agreed. After dinner, I carried Eleanor back to the bedroom. The room was filled with a pleasant aroma from a lit scented candle, and flower petals were scattered across the bed. Eleanor had meticulously prepared everything, determined to win me over. The atmosphere grew heated as I leaned over Eleanor, my hand trailing along her waist and moving downward. Suddenly, a warm, wet sensation spread across my hand. Eleanor’s period had arrived. She seemed to realize it too and hurried to the bathroom. After a while, she came out of the bathroom, wrapping her slender arms around mine and speaking in a voice as soft as water. “Honey, my period came.” I affectionately patted her head and got up to make her some hot cocoa in the kitchen. In the kitchen, I dropped a sleeping pill into her cup. After drinking the cocoa, Eleanor quickly fell asleep. I tucked her in and casually picked up her phone from the bedside table. When I opened WhatsApp, the group chat I had seen before was indeed gone. Her contact list now had me pinned at the top, while the rest of the messages were all work-related. Switching seamlessly to her secondary WhatsApp account, I found the familiar seven-person group chat again. The latest message had been sent that morning. In it, Eleanor reminded the group. [I’ve been busy pacifying my husband. Once tonight is over, I’ll be yours again!]

Eleanor clearly couldn’t bear to part with her six lovers. Feigning ignorance, I put her phone back where I found it. The next morning, I packed a few essentials into a suitcase and prepared to leave the house. Eleanor stopped me at the door, calling out to my retreating figure. “Honey, why are you packing your suitcase?” I turned back and looked at her, my tone calm. “I’ve taken on a new project and might be on a business trip for a week.” Eleanor’s gaze was filled with reluctant affection as she spoke softly. “Then, honey, make sure to bring me back a gift when you return, okay? I’ll be waiting for you!” I nodded and left with my suitcase. Inwardly, I promised her a very special gift. Leaving the house, I hailed a cab and went straight to a hotel. At the front desk, the receptionist asked for my driver’s license to check me in. As I handed over my license from my wallet, an old photograph inside accidentally fell out. The receptionist returned both my license and the photo after processing my details. “Sir, you dropped this photo.” I took the photo and thanked her politely. “Sir, you and the lady in the photo make a beautiful couple.” I didn’t respond, turning instead to the elevator to head to my room. After a week at the hotel, I picked up my spare phone and sent a message to a familiar contact. [It’s time.] Before long, my computer screen lit up with a live mirror of Eleanor’s WhatsApp account. The seven-person group chat was still pinned at the top. The man labeled “Monday” was the first to speak. [Ellie hasn’t contacted us in a week. Don’t you miss us?] [Ellie, did you forget about us?] Eleanor’s reply came almost instantly. [You’re all my darlings. Of course, I missed you!] The other men quickly chimed in. Tuesday: [But it’s been ages since you sent us anything nice, let alone met us. Did you forget about us?] Eleanor: [I didn’t! Don’t worry. I’ll see you all tomorrow.] Wednesday: [But tomorrow’s Sunday. Ellie, who are you meeting? You promised your husband gets Sundays!] Eleanor: [My husband’s on a business trip. He won’t be back anytime soon. Don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow.] Friday: [Ellie, can we all meet tomorrow? After all, if you see just one of us, the rest will get jealous. Why not make it a group gathering?] The group echoed their agreement enthusiastically. Eleanor finally relented and sent the time and hotel name in the chat. It was the very hotel I was currently staying at.

The next morning at 9 a.m., Eleanor posted a picture of her outfit in the group chat. She was wearing a tight black pencil skirt, with a hint of cleavage peeking out from her top. Paired with black stockings and red-bottomed heels, her seductive figure was fully on display. Then, Eleanor shared what she had brought in her bag. Two boxes of 16 condoms. The group chat exploded with excitement. Monday: [Ellie, still spoiling us as always!] Tuesday: [Don’t worry, Ellie, we’ll make sure to take good care of you today. You’ll have no complaints.] Wednesday: [I still don’t understand why you married that useless husband of yours. We’re the ones who truly love you.] Eleanor: [Of course, you guys are my true loves. The marriage was just to deal with my mom, so she’ll give me more money for my babies!] Eleanor: [But honestly, the husband I picked turned out to be a good choice. Even if he finds out about you guys, so what? I’ll shed a couple of tears, act cute, and that dumb fool will forgive me.] Eleanor: [I could tell right away how obsessed he was with me. I knew he was a simp!] Friday: [It’s still all about Ellie’s charm!] Friday: [Let’s not mention Ellie’s simp of a husband. We’ll head to the hotel and wait for Ellie!] Twenty minutes later, someone posted a room number in the chat. [Crescent Hotel, Room 502.] I couldn’t help but laugh as I saw the room number. What a coincidence, it was next door. Not long after, I heard shuffling noises from the adjacent room. Then, the distinct sound of high heels echoed. It was Eleanor’s footsteps. At the hotel room door, Eleanor casually told the others to wait while she took off her high heels and left them outside the room. Once she entered, loud voices from the next room filled the air. I picked up my phone, found her contact, and called her, but she didn’t pick up. I tried calling her on WhatsApp, but after a few rings, there was still no answer. The noises from the neighboring room quieted down, so I stopped calling Eleanor. Instead, I flipped through my contact list and dialed Eleanor’s mother, Claire Avery’s number. When she picked up, I urgently said into the phone, “I think Ellie’s in danger. You need to come to the hotel with your relatives. “I suspect she’s being threatened by someone and might be trapped!” There was a brief silence on the other end before Claire started to panic. “Keith, what are you talking about? What happened to Ellie? Explain clearly!” “Now is not the time to explain! You need to hurry over with the relatives. The sooner, the better! I’m going to Crescent Hotel Room 502, so hurry!” Without giving Claire a chance to respond, I quickly hung up. I opened the door, and sure enough, I found Eleanor’s high heels in front of the neighboring room. She always couldn’t wait. From inside the room, bursts of laughter, followed by moaning, crying, and pleas for mercy, could be heard. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard Eleanor shout, “Daddy!” But my wife’s father had been dead for years. I looked at the high heels at the door and, without hesitation, dialed the phone number. “Hello, I’d like to report something! There’s prostitution going on at Crescent Hotel, Room 502!”

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Arnold finally agreed to my proposal for marriage. He specifically asked me to dress beautifully, saying he had a surprise for me. But when I arrived in full attire, there was no groom at the wedding. Arnold turned to Esther beside him and smiled. “You’ve always said weddings are tedious and boring. Today, let me show you how interesting a wedding can be. How does that sound?” My brother, Peter, loudly announced, “Wedding paused!” My childhood friend, Tyler, even pulled down a water balloon, soaking me completely. Arnold mischievously raised an eyebrow at me. “Sara, it’s just a joke. You didn’t really think I was going to marry you, did you?” This wedding was nothing but a farce, created by them to amuse my depressed stepsister. Seeing me silent, Arnold laughed again. “If you’re really so desperate to get married, just pick someone from the guests and marry them.” But when I actually walked out with my groom, they panicked. Peter finished reading the vows on stage, but the groom still hadn’t arrived. The guests below whispered amongst themselves. I realized this was yet another attempt to embarrass me. Sure enough, Arnold below nonchalantly fiddled with the ring in his hand and turned to Esther with a smile. “Esther, didn’t you say weddings are all tedious and boring? Just a couple of vows and a ring and it’s over,” he said. “Today, let me show you what a wedding can be like.” Peter immediately caught on and loudly announced, “Wedding paused!” Tyler shouted, “Esther! Look!” The water balloon above my head fell suddenly. Even though I quickly tried to dodge, it still hit me when I least expected it. My hair stuck to my face, drenched, and water dripped from my wedding dress. I gripped the sides of my dress tightly. Finally, Esther couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Arnold slowly walked over, pretending to care, but his tone was indifferent. “What’s wrong, Sara? Aren’t you happy?” He turned and jokingly punched Tyler. “You went this far? Didn’t you think about how Sara is the bride today?” When I thought he might actually realize the joke had gone too far, he handed me the ring, still in its box, that should have been on my finger. “You wanted to get married, right? You wanted to be a bride? I’ve made it happen. I even got the officiant, best man, and guests ready for you.” Meeting my cold gaze, he sneered. “You really thought I was going to marry you? I’m just helping you fulfill your wish. I never said I’d marry you.” Then, he added with a mocking tone, “Make sure you keep the wedding ring safe. You wouldn’t want to lose it, or your groom can’t put it on for you. He then added, “Oh, wait, I forgot. There’s no groom at this wedding.” “Oh, no! There’s no groom at this wedding?” Tyler laughed openly, not even trying to hide the sarcasm. “But I think Sara is ready to marry you! Look how formal she looks!” His words drew everyone’s attention to my soaked wedding dress. If this had been before, I would have held back tears, begging Arnold not to humiliate me in front of everyone. But now, I simply wiped the water from my face, trying not to ruin my makeup. I calmly thanked him. “Thank you all for walking me through the wedding. I was a little nervous, but now I feel better. Hopefully, the real wedding will go more smoothly.” Arnold stared at me, then laughed loudly. “Are you really that stupid or just pretending? You still thought I’d marry you? “Can’t you see? I’m just trying to make Esther laugh! “Women who throw themselves at men are too cheap!” He didn’t even try to hide his teasing expression, showing no concern for how much his words would hurt me. Even Esther and the others laughed happily along. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a heavy hand, twisted and crushed. I had known for a long time that Arnold, my brother Peter, and my childhood friend Tyler were planning to humiliate me. A few days ago, Arnold had called me. “Sara, you want to get married, right? You want to be a bride? The venue you picked is ready. Let’s meet there.” My heart skipped a beat. He knew what I wanted. I’d always wanted to get married. After my mother passed, I had been living with my grandmother, and now she was very sick, gravely ill. Her only wish was to see me married. I had already booked the wedding venue long ago, and I had begged Arnold to marry me, even if it was just a fake wedding, to put my grandmother’s mind at ease. His phone call left me in a state of turmoil. I wanted to go to the study and talk to Peter about it, but I overheard them eagerly discussing how to stage this farce on the day of the wedding.

Arnold laughed loudly and said, “I just called Sara to get her to prepare the wedding details. Guess what? She really thought I was going to marry her! “She’s dumb as hell, isn’t she?” Peter said, “She has no idea. The drama can only happen if we catch her off guard. It’s only fun if Sara makes a fool of herself. That’s what Esther will find entertaining.” I covered my mouth in disbelief. Even my half-brother, I didn’t know when, had chosen Esther’s side. Tyler immediately chimed in, “How about we swap the confetti over her head with water balloons? That’ll drench her and make her look like a drowned rat. “Just make sure Esther doesn’t find out ahead of time. Otherwise, it’ll be no fun.” They all seemed thrilled with their plan to prank me. Their faces showed that they were sure of their success. I stood frozen at the door, unable to move. The wedding I had so eagerly anticipated was nothing more than a farce to amuse Esther. The three people who once ran all over town just to buy me my favorite cake to make me happy… Where had they gone? When had they changed so much? In my memories, Peter, Arnold, and Tyler were the ones who cared the most about me. But ever since Esther came into this family, everything changed. Her depression was severe. So severe that just seeing me would bring her down, and every time she had an episode, she’d beg them to stay with her. At first, they were dismissive, thinking it was all an act. But gradually, their focus shifted from me to Esther. Arnold was the man I’d loved for seven years; Peter and Tyler had always been by my side. Now, they were willing to turn my wedding into a joke just to get a smile out of Esther. Making Esther happy had become their biggest goal even if it meant exchanging my humiliation for that. They tiptoed around Esther but showed no concern for how they turned me into the laughingstock. The thought sent a numbing pain to my heart. Today, I was indeed getting married. Just not to Arnold. I fixed my hair, trying to look presentable, and lifted the microphone to announce to everyone, “What just happened was a small interlude. Please be patient for just a moment.” Then I took my dampened, heavy wedding dress and added, “I’ll go change into another dress, or I won’t have time to change when my husband arrives.” Thankfully, I had predicted how things would go today and hadn’t worn my favorite dress. To my surprise, Arnold stared at me like I was some kind of clown. “Sara, are you insane because I’m not marrying you?” he suddenly asked. “I told you, this wedding was all a trick. There’s no groom!” Peter added with mocking laughter, “Sara, even if you’re embarrassed, there’s no need to lie! “And by the way, I know exactly whether anyone wants you or not. As your brother, I’m pretty sure I’d know.” His words drew laughter from everyone. For all these years, it was a well-known fact that I had chased after Arnold. Tyler pretended to ponder for a while. Then, he said, “Could it be that you’re trying to make Arnold jealous on purpose? “Such a low-level trick. Sara, don’t you find it hilarious?” Esther softly intervened and turned to persuade me, “Sara, this whole farce was just them trying to make me happy. I’m really touched that you’re willing to play along and entertain me. “I know you’ve liked Arnold for a long time, but love is a two-person thing… “A girl should value herself. Mom and Dad are down there, and there are so many guests. Don’t drag this out any longer.” She looked at me, her tone gentle, but her words implicitly criticized me for embarrassing myself. I turned to see my father in the audience, his face dark, constantly explaining to the guests. I took a deep breath and emphasized, “This is really my wedding, and my groom is on his way.” With that, I picked up my phone and dialed the top contact.

But the phone line kept buzzing with a busy signal, and after several minutes, no one answered. My heart sank, and I felt a little anxious. After all, we had only met once. Arnold watched me with a mocking tone. “Sara, I used to think you were just a little shameless, but now I think you’re really good at fooling yourself.” Peter sneered. “Sara, you should really stop with these pointless efforts.” Esther looked at me with a false air of understanding and turned to Arnold. “Arnold, it seems like Sara really wants to get married. “Why don’t you just pretend to go along with her for the sake of completing this charade? I think she looks pretty pitiful.” Arnold didn’t hesitate to refuse, saying decisively, “I’m just trying to make you laugh. I have no intention of marrying Sara.” He took a step back, distancing himself from me as if making it clear that he wanted no part in this and was afraid I might cling to him. Esther then turned to Tyler. Tyler also quickly declined, “This is way too embarrassing. I’m not doing it!” Watching them both hurriedly refuse, pledging their loyalty to Esther, I vaguely recalled the time when they were eighteen. They’d both fought to invite me as their partner for their coming-of-age dance. They’d competed to plant roses for me, just to win my favor. Now, my heart had grown numb. I didn’t want to watch Esther’s hypocritical act anymore. I said coldly, “Don’t worry. I won’t marry either of you scumbags. I’ve had enough of you. My groom is someone else.” My father seemed to have had enough. He yelled at me. “Sara! What are you playing at? Are you trying to ruin my reputation? “Why can’t you be more like Esther? Do you really want everyone to know you’re a desperate, unmarriageable loser?” I was stuck on stage, unable to leave, while all he cared about was his face. But my grandmother held my hand and stood firmly by my side. She gave me a comforting smile. “Sara never lies! Please, everyone, just wait a little longer.” At that moment, my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up. The voice on the other end was urgent but had a soothing, reassuring tone. “Sorry, honey, there’s some traffic, but I’m on my way.” I reminded him to be careful on the road. Tyler sneered and stared at me, “You’re really good at pretending. Did you hire an actor on the fly or something? “Sara, you’ll do anything to preserve your pathetic little pride, won’t you? “You’re so desperate to get married. Why don’t you just pick a man from the guests and get married right here?” Arnold pretended to be kind and suggested, but I knew he was doing it on purpose, trying to force me into a corner. The next second, he grabbed the microphone and spoke to the audience. “We’re having a live wedding here for Sara! Any man can sign up to participate. If someone catches her eye, we’ll just hold the wedding right here.” He continued with a sneer, “Anyone willing to try? Sara is loyal and devoted, and she’s been chasing after me for years.”

The guests started murmuring, some even taking out their phones to take pictures. I felt my face burn with humiliation as I bit my lip. Yes, I had chased after him for many years, but he had always accepted my kindness and given me vague, non-committal replies. Again and again, he trampled on my genuine feelings. A cold wind blew through the room. I felt cold both inside and out. There were actually people in the audience who seemed to agree with Arnold, wanting to marry me. Arnold led a man up to the stage, a man in his forties or fifties who looked even older than my father. He grinned, exposing yellow teeth and flashing a lewd smile. “What a beauty,” he commented. Tyler and Peter pushed me roughly in front of him. I felt disgusted and couldn’t bring myself to speak. Peter, seeing I wasn’t playing along, snapped, “Isn’t this faster than bringing in an actor? Hurry up and marry him. Stop embarrassing us all.” Esther chimed in, “Sara, just stop the act. We’ve already chosen the best one for you. What else could you possibly want?” I stared at these sanctimonious people, clenching my fists. “My wedding is not something for you to decide!” Then it hit me. I had just registered my marriage yesterday. At this very moment, my marriage certificate was in my bag. I took a few steps forward, grabbed the bag, and pulled out the marriage certificate. Then, I opened it and slammed it in front of them. “This is my marriage certificate, with my husband’s name on it. Like I said, he’s just not here yet.” Peter froze for a moment, his expression odd, before he burst into laughter. “Sara, you really went all out with the drama! “Do you even know who this man is? How dare you photoshop him into your husband?” Arnold took a quick look at the certificate, too. The room erupted into laughter. “Which shady place did you get this fake certificate from? You didn’t even bother to make it look convincing. Mr. Jerome Emmerson? I just asked him to meet up with me yesterday about a partnership. “He said he had just gotten married and was busy spending time with his wife! “You say this is your husband? Stop making a fool of yourself!” I remembered that Jerome had indeed spent the whole day with me trying on wedding dresses. His phone kept ringing, so I kindly told him to go ahead with his work, only for him to insist on staying and finishing the fitting. Esther looked at me with pity in her eyes. “Sara, it’s not your fault that you can’t have the one you love. But to force yourself to play out a charade like this just makes you look like a clown.” My father couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me off the stage. “Enough, Sara. Are you not done yet?” But Arnold held onto my hand, preventing me from leaving. “Didn’t you say he was almost here? “Aren’t you going to let us meet this so-called husband? You’re not leaving without showing him off, are you?” Peter and Tyler also grabbed me, preventing me from leaving. In the chaos, I almost lost my balance and tripped down the stairs. Just when I thought I was about to fall flat on my face, losing what little dignity I had left, a man caught me tightly in his arms, and the fresh, calming scent of pine wrapped around me. “Sorry, honey, I’m late.”

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In the fifth year after my suicide, Samuel got himself another woman. Everyone said that she was somewhat like me, both in personality and appearance. But I didn’t think so. I wouldn’t tie Samuel’s tie, and I certainly wouldn’t celebrate his birthday. I only knew how to make his life difficult. Seeing him be upset, I felt happy. Everyone in Lyrendale knew that Samuel hated me. My mother was a high-end masseuse before moving into the Everett Manor. His mother, on the other hand, was the daughter of the Hawke Group’s CEO. He was born into wealth and nobility, completely different from me. From the moment he laid eyes on me, he gritted his teeth and wanted to destroy me. I couldn’t care less about adult matters, but I didn’t owe him anything. In return, I often went out of my way to oppose him. He was bad with words, unable to retort to me, and bound by gentlemanly etiquette, unable to lay a hand on me. So, he would simply grit his teeth and storm off. We continued arguing. My mother and his father passed away. I lost my last support. Finally, he tore off his mask. As soon as I irritated him, he locked me in a small dark room. How could a street kid like me be afraid of the dark? I would shout insults at him through the door, calling him every name under the sun. Maybe he really was angry this time. He pinned me to the door and tore my white dress apart. I struggled to get up from the floor and slapped him hard. He grabbed my wrist, glaring at me with fury. “You’re just like your mother, cheap.” I didn’t cry, nor did my face show any emotion. I stood there, looking down at him. “Samuel, do you think you’re so noble? You’re just a bastard. Bah!” Samuel wasn’t actually a legitimate child of the Everett family. He was the product of his mother’s affair with another man. He didn’t know how I knew. His anger flared, and he grabbed my neck, his eyes bloodshot. “If you say another word, I’ll strangle you.” I could hardly breathe, my face turning red from lack of oxygen. I wasn’t scared at all. In fact, I almost wished he wouldn’t let go. The veins on my neck stood out, and I smiled, my grin was strange. “A bastard…” From behind the door, the sound of things falling and muffled groans echoed. The butler and the servants were used to it, no one paid attention. When the moon was high in the sky, Samuel finally slammed the door and left. I licked my lips. There was a strong, metallic taste of blood. It was Samuel’s. I dragged myself up and barefooted, walked back to my room. The butler was already waiting by my door. She was in her fifties, looking quite kind, but she was completely loyal to Samuel. Such a waste. She handed me a pill and some water. Without even looking at it, I popped the pill into my mouth and swallowed it dry. Her gaze flickered slightly. Holding the water cup, she left. The next day was the Everett Group’s banquet, and both Samuel and I had to attend. My body ached all over. I had slept the whole day and still couldn’t get out of bed. Samuel never knocks. He kicked open my door and leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. “If you don’t want me to go after your friends, get downstairs in thirty minutes.” I threw a pillow at him. “Get lost.” He dodged, casting me a cold look. “Twenty-nine minutes left.”

I eventually got into the car with him. The Everett Group was one of the top corporations in Lyrendale, with businesses spanning tourism, education, real estate, and more. Samuel was very clever, and ruthless when needed, but also skilled at winning people over. As the first heir, he had already entered the company when his father was still alive, eventually becoming the vice president and, naturally, the CEO. Tonight was about promoting his newly launched entertainment company. We entered the venue one after the other. Samuel wore a black suit and gold-framed glasses, standing on stage looking every bit the model businessman, giving a speech. Below, a crowd of well-dressed celebrities and wealthy heirs ogled him like lovesick fans. I felt nauseous, rolled my eyes, and walked toward the outskirts of the venue. The banquet was held at a large estate, which supposedly housed some exotic animals you could only find in a zoo. I wandered for quite a while but still couldn’t find them. “Ms. Parker, are you lost?” I looked up to see a man in a dark green suit looking at me curiously. He was really pale, paler than me. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a faint smile. “Do you know me?” “You’re Mr. Everett’s stepsister. No one in Lyrendale doesn’t know you.” “Are you married?” He was caught off guard, clearly nervous. “No.” I folded my arms, casually walked up to him, and stared at him with a sincere expression. “Marry me. Be my husband. What do you say?” His face instantly turned red, and I bit my lip, holding back my laughter. This guy was amusing. He was pretending to be all pure now. Samuel hated me, yet there were plenty of people rushing to marry me. After all, I was his stepsister and a small shareholder in the Everett Group. I reached out and touched his burning red cheek, continuing my playful invitation. “How about we get a marriage certificate tomorrow? Then I’ll move into your place.” “Sophia!” How boring. Samuel had arrived. The bodyguards behind him escorted the man in the green suit away. Samuel glared at me with disdain and disgust. “Are you that desperate? That’s the second son of the Grayson family, a useless coward. You like him?” I couldn’t be bothered to speak to him. Just as I was about to leave, he grabbed my arm and jerked me toward him with force. His grip was strong enough that I stumbled, almost falling. I broke free, glaring at him. Then I laughed and wrapped my hands around his neck, gazing at him mischievously. “Samuel, are you jealous?” He was instantly enraged. He grabbed my chin tightly, his strength so intense that I thought my bones might crack. “You’re despicable.” That’s all he ever said. It had become so repetitive it was like background noise. Later that night, he locked me in the small dark room again. In the darkness, he couldn’t see my gloomy expression, nor could he see how fragile my heart was. I left several bite marks on his shoulder, and I guess they were painful, because the next day, when I saw him raise his arm, he winced. I was pleased and grabbed my bag, ready to go out and have some fun. The world was small. I bumped into that man again. He was sitting in a booth, holding a woman in his arms and feeding her alcohol. The woman looked like a good girl, someone who wasn’t from our kind of world. I sat down casually, smiling brightly at him. “Hubby, didn’t we agree to get our marriage certificate today? Why didn’t you show up?” The whole room went silent. Lucas was so shocked that he dropped his wine glass, shattering it across the floor into pieces. “Ms. Parker, you… You’re…” I nodded, acting casual. “Yes, we’ll hold a wedding soon. Everyone’s invited, including you, Miss.” The woman bolted, and later I found out that she was a student Lucas had tricked into coming. She was only nineteen, and when I found out, I made sure someone beat him up. He didn’t get out of bed for a month. As Samuel found out, his face was expressionless as he watched me. “You even hit your own husband?” “What’s wrong? Jealous? Do you want to get hit, too?” He puffed out his chest and scowled, calling me despicable again. I raised my hand and poured a glass of water over his head. “My mother was properly married into your father’s family. Got it? If you keep insulting me, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

The newly established entertainment company under the Everett Group produced a dark horse. A young actress in her twenties. Her name I didn’t catch, but she was quite good-looking. My friend said she kind of resembled me. I nearly choked on my coffee at the thought. “Well, that was fine until you said that. You might have ruined her future.” “You and Samuel are still at odds, huh?” “When have we ever reconciled?” She sighed, clearly helpless. That evening, the butler told me Samuel wouldn’t be back for dinner. I was thrilled and ate two large bowls of food, still not satisfied before heading upstairs. In the middle of the night, Samuel stumbled into my room. He must have been drunk. I could smell the alcohol on him. Annoyed, I pulled the blanket tighter and told him to get lost. After a while, when no sound came from beside me, I turned around to find he had actually left. It was strange. He actually followed what I said. The next day, the butler informed me Samuel was sick, with a high fever. I was focused on painting my nails. “Get a doctor if he’s sick. What do you want me to do about it? I’m not a doctor.” I wasn’t concerned about his well-being. I still went out to find some fun. A week later, he returned from the hospital. They say people look a little more haggard after getting sick, but he didn’t look any different. His complexion was still perfect, his gaze still cold. He saw me painting and scoffed, “You have no artistic talent in your genes, so stop pretending to be sophisticated. It’s just a waste of time.” “You’re right, I am wasting time. Who told the bar to be closed during the day?” “You go to bars often?” This time, it was my turn to scoff. I put down my brush and turned to look at him. “Aren’t you the one who sends people to follow me every day? How come you didn’t know I go to bars? Your employees are terrible. You should fire them.” He was holding a cup of coffee, but with the other hand, he pulled out his phone and actually fired someone. I continued painting, satisfied. That evening, I wore a very revealing dress and went to the most chaotic bar, the kind where you could find all sorts of shady characters. I found the most conspicuous spot and sat down. It didn’t take long before a thug came over to strike up a conversation. His outfit was hard to describe, but I didn’t mind. I happily drank with him, one cup after another. Then, I dizzily stumbled into his arms. He happily held me, one arm around me while he pulled out some loose change to pay. Afterward, he led me to a small alley behind the bar. My feet slipped, and I nearly fell a few times, but he kept lifting me up. “Handsome… Where are we going?” “Of course, to the next round.” I grinned foolishly and cheered, “Next round, yay!” He put me against a wall. My vision blurred, and I looked up at him. He started undressing, but clearly, the quality wasn’t great. His zipper got stuck, and he was so impatient that he tore it open. I winced as if feeling sorry for him. “Your clothes are broken.” “Clothes are nothing compared to you. It’s fine!” He lunged at me. I stared at the streetlight above, my mind calm. Suddenly, the man stopped moving. I instinctively glanced to the side. My heart sank. Samuel strode over, his bodyguards pulling the unconscious man away. I sat against the wall, watching him. “You really know how to ruin my fun.” My self-destructive demeanor infuriated him. He violently yanked me up, and I struggled, hitting him with my hands and feet. “Let go! Damn it, let me go!” My hair had come undone, and the straps of my dress were nearly falling off, exposing a large part of my shoulder. Samuel took off his suit jacket and draped it over me, his gaze sharp. “You’re the daughter of the Everett Group. Don’t be like your mother!” I slapped him across the face. “Samuel, didn’t I tell you never to mention my mother again?” I slapped him with all my strength, and his head jerked to the side. He touched the side of his face where I had slapped him and suddenly smiled. Then, with a quick motion, he slapped me back. My balance faltered, and I stumbled backward, crashing into a trash can before falling to the ground. How the hell did this bastard grow up? He really had some strength. He hit me so hard that I couldn’t get back up.

The next time I woke up again, I was in the hospital. After asking the nurse, I found out that I had been unconscious for three days. No wonder I was so hungry. Samuel, with dark circles under his eyes, pushed open the door and walked in, looking a bit haggard. Just seeing him annoyed me, so I turned my head, not wanting to pay him any attention. After all, I was a patient now, and I’d lose in a fight. He stood by the bed, staring at my back. “Did you do this on purpose? “Sophia, was this intentional? Say something! “If you don’t speak up, I’ll have someone dig up your mother’s ashes and scatter them.” I shot up, pointing at his nose, cursing him as everything from calling him inhumane to worse came out. He wasn’t angry, still asking if it was on purpose. What the hell was he talking about? “You’re pregnant. Two months along.” I wasn’t surprised at all. I slowly replied, “You know? I bet you’re happy now. You’re going to be an uncle.” His expression was awkward and carried an element that was hard to decipher. “Do you even know what you’re saying?” I sighed, didn’t say anything, and lay back down, pretending I wanted to rest. Samuel sat down on the sofa. He said coldly, “I’ve fired those old servants and replaced them with new ones. You’ll stay there from now on, and you’re not allowed to leave.” I sat up again, holding back the urge to curse him. “Are you out of your mind? Since when can you arrange my life? You really think you’re the uncle now?” “You know exactly who I am to him.” He stared at me deeply, still full of disdain and contempt. The day I was discharged from the hospital, Samuel came to pick me up himself. I shoved his hand away when he tried to open the car door for me and got in from the other side. At the manor, just like he said, there wasn’t a single familiar face left, including the butler. He had also stationed a few bodyguards around the house. I cursed him incessantly, feeling like a prisoner. As time passed, the actress who looked like me officially announced she was dating Samuel. Watching the smiling girl on TV made me feel sorry for her. Samuel, that bastard, really? Later, Samuel had to stay abroad because of the company’s overseas branch issues. I was so happy that I could dance. That night, I couldn’t sleep, so I threw on a coat and decided to go outside to watch the stars. It was deep into the night, and as I slipped and thought I was about to fall on the lawn, a strong arm suddenly caught me. In the darkness, his eyes were so bright. He didn’t look that old, with a fresh and innocent face. I adjusted my clothes and looked him over. “Who are you? I didn’t see you during the day.” “Ms. Parker, my name is Ethan James. I’m on the night shift.” I really didn’t expect bodyguards to have different shifts. “Do night shifts pay more?” Ethan shook his head, looking sincere. “I’m not sure, actually.” He was much more interesting than the day shift bodyguards, at least he could talk like a normal person and didn’t look at me like I owed him money. After that, I started chatting with him from time to time. One day, we were talking happily when Samuel’s call came in. He used my mom to threaten me to pick up the phone. I suppressed my disgust and answered the call. Samuel seemed to be holding back his anger. “I found out, you didn’t take the medicine, did you?” I instinctively didn’t want Ethan to hear this, so I moved a little further away. “What medicine are you talking about?” “Sophia! You know exactly what I mean.” I looked up at the bright moon. It was just as bright as the first night I stayed in the manor. I smiled lightly, “Mr. Everett, don’t you think it’s a bit too late to realize this?” Samuel must have been furious. He was always the one scheming against others. Who dared to scheme against him? “Let’s make a deal. You let me go, and I’ll never appear in front of you again. You can stay the high and mighty, untouchable Mr. Everett.” “What if I don’t agree?” “Well, I think many media outlets might be very interested in Mr. Everett’s personal life.” “Sophia, you really are disgusting!”

Disgusting? I just wanted to leave. Was my mother disgusting? She just wanted to earn a living. I was only seven years old at that time. My mother was still working as a masseuse. It wasn’t exactly a clean profession, but she made a living with her hands. Samuel’s father came and happened to see my mother. He said my mother resembled his first love, and whether my mother agreed or not, he forcefully brought her into his manor. My father came looking for her, he died in a car accident on the way back. I became a child without a father, unable to find my mother, and wandered the streets every day. Later, my mother agreed to all of his father’s demands, on the condition that I be brought over. His father, happy, immediately sent someone to find me and bring me to my mother. I lay on a lounge chair, looking at the stars, not knowing which star was my father or my mother. The night wind was so cold, and I began to cry. Ethan stood beside me and said nothing, handing me a handkerchief. I looked at the handkerchief and let out a laugh. I thought, “What era is this, and there are still people using handkerchiefs? Ridiculous.” I held the handkerchief and wiped away my tears, suddenly remembering that my mother used to like using handkerchiefs, too. She said it was convenient and clean. I looked up at Ethan. He was still the same, not looking at me, standing upright, his appearance youthful. Samuel had been gone for more than a month. One day, the butler took me to the hospital for an examination. I asked Ethan to come along, and he hesitated, seemingly thinking it wasn’t in line with the schedule. I gave him a look. “Come on, I’m the employer. You should listen to me, not the schedule.” He thought for a moment and then followed me into the car. Honestly, I hadn’t seen such a silly person in a long time. The results of the examination were normal, and during the process, I received a call from a friend. She asked me to go out and have fun, and I lied, saying I was abroad. She scolded me for not being a good friend because I went out to have fun without inviting her. I didn’t know how to explain, so I hung up in a hurry. I hadn’t been out for a long time, and the world outside seemed so much more exciting. There was a café next to the hospital, and despite the butler’s objections, I went in for a cup of coffee. Coincidentally, I ran into Samuel’s girlfriend. She must have recognized me, and when she saw me, she smiled brightly and walked toward me. “Ms. Parker, I didn’t expect to see you here.” I was very thin, and with the loose clothes I was wearing, no one could tell I was pregnant. I nodded at her, not wanting to engage in any conversation. She seemed oblivious to my attitude and followed me, Ethan blocking her. She looked at me in confusion, looking a bit pitiful. “Ms. Parker, may I have a word with you?” I reluctantly let her sit across from me. She really talked a lot, and I was dizzy from listening. I got up to go to the bathroom to calm down, and when I came back, she looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Parker. Have I talked too much?” I politely shook my head. Her face looked pale, and she seemed quite nervous. “I thought you might find me annoying.” I drank my coffee in one go, stood up, and excused myself. Getting into the car, I felt a dull pain in my lower abdomen. At first, it was just a simple ache, but soon it felt like something heavy was pressing down on me, pulling my whole body downward. It hurt so much that I started to sweat cold beads on my forehead. “Ethan…” He didn’t respond. I thought, “Right, he’s a bodyguard, how could he sit with me?” The driver in front was also separated from me by a soundproof curtain. I curled up in the seat like a shrimp and then rolled onto the floor. I held my abdomen, my hand trembling uncontrollably, the pain so intense that I couldn’t utter a single word. Then I realized something sticky was constantly coming out from my body. I touched it, and it was blood. A lot… of blood. I never knew I could bleed this much, nor did I know how much longer I had left. Would I die like this? Maybe that would be for the best. I’d already had enough of life.

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