I caught my wife’s assistant cutting corners on the project. When he realized I’d found out, he tried to silence me by pushing me off a construction building. My wife, always the law-abiding one, actually tried to cover for him. She erased all the evidence, and when she held my hand by my hospital bed, she pleaded with me. “Edgar told me he was just scared and panicked. He didn’t really mean to hurt you. “You’re fine, right? So, for my sake, let’s just pretend this never happened. Please?” I nodded, handing her a document. All she had to do was sign it, and I’d let everything go. She thought it was the project approval form and signed it with a smile, praising me for being more understanding. She promised me that once things calmed down, we’d have a child and live a happy life. What she didn’t know was that she had just signed our divorce papers. “Don’t worry, Edgar, we’ll vouch for you. Philip fell on his own.” A voice rang out from outside the room. I glanced at my wife, Eva, who was sitting by my bed, as her assistant, Edgar, entered with the construction crew. Before they even stepped inside, I could hear the flattery echoing through the hallway. “Edgar, you and Ms. Biles should really set a wedding date soon. Look at how her suitors are causing such a fuss. Don’t you think it’s time to put an end to their foolishness?” “Exactly. Look at Philip. He’s a useless mess, and he dares to have feelings for Ms. Biles?” Edgar’s voice came through, lighthearted but firm. “Alright, alright, we’re here to visit the patient. Let’s keep it down. “That said, Eva and I will be setting our wedding date soon. We’ll be sending out invitations, so be sure to join us for the celebration.” The teasing and cheers outside were deafening. I glanced up at Eva, who was peeling an apple for me, her expression unchanged. “Ms. Biles, you’re getting married? Congratulations,” I said mockingly. Eva shot me a reproachful glance. She was just about to speak when Edgar and the crew walked in. She swallowed her words, clearly unwilling to contradict Edgar in front of everyone. After all, she’d rather keep the fact that we had been married for seven years a secret. She stood by, letting them mock me without intervention, simply a passive observer. Edgar, basking in the adulation, couldn’t help but sneak a few smug glances at me. “Philip, I’ll send you an invitation. You should come.” At that moment, every eye turned toward me. Edgar was five years younger than I was, yet these people were treating him like he was a figure of authority. It was enough to make me laugh. I smiled, my expression calm. “Sure, when’s the wedding? I’ll be there.” For the first time, Edgar was at a loss for words. As he fumbled for a response, Eva couldn’t hold back anymore. “Enough! Stop it. Don’t forget why you’re here, Edgar. Apologize to Philip.” Edgar, usually indulged by Eva, sulked, clearly displeased by her sharp tone. He crossed his arms, muttering in resentment. Eva’s rare show of protection made me feel… nothing. Because I knew she wasn’t defending me out of guilt. She was just afraid that I might press charges against Edgar for attempted murder, and she was putting on a show for my benefit. Just as Eva was about to demand an apology from him, the workers outside interrupted, their voices rising in protest. “Philip, you have no shame! You’re the one who tried to seduce Ms. Biles and deliberately fell down the stairs to cause trouble between them. Now you have the nerve to ask Edgar to apologize?” “Yeah, you’ve ruined everything. You’re the one who caused the delay in the project. We rely on this work for a living. You owe us money!” “Exactly! You must compensate us. You knew exactly where to fall. Otherwise, how did you survive such a high fall?” The workers shouted at me, demanding compensation, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. They all knew it was Edgar who pushed me. I was lucky I landed on the scaffolding, or I would’ve been dead. And yet here they were, twisting the truth right in front of me. The one who was shouting the loudest, I knew him well. His daughter was critically ill and needed money for treatment. Last month, he came to me, asking for an advance on his salary. I told him the company didn’t have a policy for advances, but I still gave him five thousand of my own money. Now, seeing him groveling before Edgar, I didn’t blame him because only he had the decency to tell me the truth. When I woke up from the coma, the first thing I did was report Edgar for attempted murder. But when the police arrived, everyone had changed their story. They all said I jumped on my own. Eva even had a fake medical record made up, labeling me with a delusional disorder. I couldn’t believe it. I screamed, asking them why they were betraying me when I had always treated them kindly. No one answered. They just said that my fate was my own doing, that I deserved it. Only that man, with guilt in his eyes, pulled me aside and whispered the truth. Eva gave each of them a large sum of money to silence them. To save his daughter’s life, he could only accept it. Now, when I saw him accusing me furiously, I thought about how he had persuaded me the other day. “Mr. Duncan, Edgar is Ms. Biles’ boyfriend, and he’s going to be the future head of the company. “We’re just ordinary people. How can we fight against them? “You should just accept the money and settle it. That way, everyone can move on.” I was silent for a long time, but I didn’t tell him that I was Eva’s husband. Her first pot of gold came from me. The company’s success relied on my connections, and I willingly gave up my position as CEO for her. Now, the woman I had slept beside for seven years was using our shared wealth to protect the man who tried to kill me. She was even pretending to be loving, trying to convince me to drop the charges. Once the workers had finished their tirade, Eva feigned authority and dismissed everyone, citing that I needed rest. She shooed Edgar out with a curt wave, and the promised apology was swept under the rug. I had to admit that Eva really doted on Edgar. No matter how badly he messed up, she would always go to great lengths to cover for him. She was even afraid he’d be upset about apologizing. Once everyone had left, Eva turned to me, her voice soft and tender. She urged me to rest, adding with a hint of guilt, “I’ve been neglecting you because of work. I’ll make more time for you from now on.” Her gentle demeanor almost fooled me. If I didn’t know the truth, I might have been swayed. But now, I had no illusions left. I wasn’t just going to divorce her. I was going to make sure she and Edgar paid for what they did.

Not long after she spoke, Edgar stormed back in, fuming with anger as he slammed the door open. “Philip, you’re despicable! You went behind my back and exposed everything online! Now everyone’s calling me a murderer!” He said this with a frantic glance at Eva. “Eva, what if the police start investigating again?” Eva furrowed her brows and shot a reproachful glance at me, her tone filled with complaint. “This is such a small matter. We should’ve dealt with it privately. Why did you have to make it public? Now, the company’s stock price has plummeted. Are you satisfied now?” Watching Eva’s expression change so suddenly, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t blaming Edgar, the one who had pushed me, but she was blaming me, the victim? Edgar, emboldened, continued to complain boldly in front of me, “Philip, the company is, after all, ours as a couple. I was just trying to help save costs for you guys. But in the end, I’m stuck in the middle. “Eva, I’m really hurt.” He spoke in such a sanctimonious tone, but I knew full well that the money they “saved” through improper methods had all ended up in Edgar’s pocket. And Eva, frequently transferring money to him under the guise of him having a hard time, had even allocated company bonuses to him as though they were her own. Now, seeing Edgar spout lies in front of me, Eva, who knew the truth, didn’t expose him. Instead, she gently comforted him. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.” Then, I watched her make a call to the PR department, instructing them step by step to spread rumors about me. They accused me of being a bad seed, claiming that everything I did was out of jealousy. My purpose was to smear Edgar’s name. She even claimed that the police had already investigated and denied murder. She deftly ordered everything to be done, and only then did she realize I was watching her. But there was no panic in her eyes. There was only calmness. She said, “Edgar is still young. You wouldn’t want him to ruin his career, right?” I looked at her with a sneer. “So, you’re willing to sacrifice my reputation for his career?” The promises Eva once made, vowing to love me forever when we first got together, now felt like a joke. But Eva didn’t get angry. She still gazed at me with affectionate eyes, yet her words pierced through me like ice. “Darling, I’m doing this for the good of the company. You should understand. “Besides, I’m doing it right in front of you, which means I have nothing to hide.” Edgar chimed in, grinning, “Yeah, with Eva’s skills, if she wanted to frame you without anyone knowing, it’d be easy. “Philip, just admit to the false charges at the press conference for Eva’s sake.” Eva’s eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly. “Edgar, you’re so smart. If the person involved clears things up on-site, the netizens won’t have much to say.” With that, she turned to me with a composed look. “Darling, since you’re the one who exposed all this, it’s only fair for you to take responsibility and clean up the mess, don’t you think?” Everyone knew that if I admitted to these fabricated charges, I’d be subjected to terrifying online attacks. Yet, the wife I had loved for seven years, knowing full well the truth, had pushed me into this abyss. As I looked back on the past, remembering all the good times, I could feel my heart freeze with each passing second. I nodded reluctantly, suppressing my disgust. At the press conference, I would personally give them the “gift” they so deserved.

Today was the day I was discharged from the hospital, and Eva came to pick me up. The entire way home, Edgar drove, telling jokes in his usual humorous style, making Eva laugh uncontrollably. Once we reached the neighborhood, Edgar, under the pretense of helping with the bags, followed us upstairs. As soon as the door opened, he shoved me aside, put on a pair of men’s slippers, and seeing only women’s slippers left in the shoe cabinet, he feigned innocence, saying, “Sorry, Philip. While you were sick, I was temporarily staying here to take care of a heartbroken Eva. “I was going to tidy up, but I accidentally threw away your slippers. Hope you don’t mind.” He apologized, but his face was full of smugness as if waiting for me to get jealous and cause a scene. But I didn’t take it to heart. “It’s fine. It’s just a pair of slippers. If it’s lost, then it’s lost.” I didn’t even care about the slippers. After all, I had already lost everything else. I put on the disposable slippers meant for guests and walked into the house. The changes inside were stark. The most noticeable was that the photos of Eva and me had all been replaced with pictures of her and Edgar. Even the wall that used to display our wedding photos was now filled with photos of them at the amusement park, their oversized selfies. Eva’s previously calm expression instantly turned sour. Edgar quickly apologized, “Sorry, Eva. You told me to put these away, but I rushed out and forgot.” Eva glared at him and warned, “What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever say you could put these up? Take them down, now!” Edgar pretended to be wronged as he took the photos down, but his eyes met mine with a provocative look. I ignored their little drama and walked over to the fish tank. I noticed the goldfish we’d kept for seven years, the one that witnessed the love between Eva and me, was gone. But I didn’t mind too much. Goldfish could only live for about four to seven years, maybe up to 10 at most. It had lived long enough. However, before I could say a word, Edgar quickly scampered over to apologize again. “Sorry, my cat got a little too playful. I wasn’t paying attention, and it ate your goldfish. “How much was it? I’ll compensate you.” I took a closer look and noticed a lot of cat toys scattered around the house, and there was cat hair on the floor. Eva coughed dismissively and said, “It’s fine. The fish was probably close to dying anyway. Giving it to the cat for a feast just completes the circle.” She used to cherish that fish so much, but now, she didn’t even care that it was dead. Edgar awkwardly added, “Eva, you’re allergic to cat hair, and yet you let me keep a cat here. I really can’t thank you enough.” Eva waved him off, saying it didn’t bother her. She didn’t even realize that Edgar was deliberately showing off how well she treated him. I saw through it, but I couldn’t be bothered. After tomorrow’s press conference, everything would be over. The entire evening, Edgar kept showing off how much Eva pampered him, and I pretended not to notice. Eva probably thought I wasn’t jealous anymore. Early the next morning, she picked out a nice outfit for me and tied my tie for me. “Sorry for making you go through this today.” I waved my hand. “It’s fine. It’s all for the company.” Eva smiled contentedly and sent Edgar to start the car. By the time the three of us arrived at the press conference, reporters had already gathered in a crowd. She deliberately kept some distance from me, then stepped onto the stage. “Today, I brought Mr. Philip Duncan with me. He has already apologized to us and expressed his deep regret for falsely accusing Edgar. “Nobody’s perfect. I hope everyone can show him some understanding.” She finished, then stepped back to push me onto the stage. Suddenly, we saw some police officers approaching from a distance. Eva and Edgar immediately became flustered and asked, “Who called the police?” I quietly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I invited the officers to come and clarify everything. It’ll make the scene feel more realistic.” Upon hearing this, she relaxed and praised me for being so smart, then immediately invited the officers to approach. The police were about to ask the reporters to leave, but Eva waved her hand. “Officers, just tell them the truth.” The police pulled out handcuffs and immediately cuffed both Eva and Edgar. “You are both under suspicion of deliberately attempting to murder Philip Duncan. Please come with us.” At this moment, Eva couldn’t hold her composure anymore. She no longer cared about our secret marriage and immediately shouted at the police. “What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t you already investigate? He fell on his own. “Besides, he is my husband. How could I ever want to kill him?” She then shot me a look and winked. “Darling, you need to clear this up. Tell them it was all just a misunderstanding.” I coldly pulled out a divorce agreement. “Eva, we’re already divorced. Just cut your act and admit your guilt.”

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I opened my email to check the exhibition details that the gallery assistant had organized for me. Just then, a Facebook Messenger window popped up in the top right corner. The avatar was of Theo Carr, from years ago. [Natasha, I miss you.] [For all these years, I’ve been waiting for a chance to walk back into your life.] My heart skipped a beat. These were the exact words Theo had confessed to me when we were 20. But since we moved abroad, his Messenger account had been deactivated. I was stunned. After a moment, I replied: [Walk back in? Are you sure it’s not just to hurt me again?] He responded quickly: [Who are you?] 1 [You’re not Natasha. She went to a painting lecture.] [Who are you? Why are you saying these things?] [Is there some misunderstanding?] The messages kept flashing on the screen. Just then, the studio door creaked open, and Theo walked in, carrying the faint scent of ink. It was the smell I used to know so well. Today was the day before the exhibition we’d been preparing for together. But just yesterday, at an art event, I saw him acting closely with the daughter of a famous art critic. As I looked at him, memories of all those late nights we spent creating art together rushed back. I wanted to ask him about the girl, but the words wouldn’t come out. Maybe I was just overthinking it. I’d dressed carefully, wearing an elegant dress, hoping he’d explain things on his own. I wanted to give him and us a chance. He quickly looked away and walked past me toward the easel, picking up a painting to inspect. He said, “I’m just checking this painting to get ready for tomorrow’s setup.” He didn’t notice my outfit or the way I’d styled my hair. Meanwhile, the messages kept flashing. [Do you know Natasha? You have to keep this a secret.] The sound of him adjusting the easel echoed through the studio, and it pierced my heart. I lowered my head to hide my disappointment. A month ago, I’d found a delicate box in his desk drawer. Inside was a unique necklace, with a card that said: [To my Muse.] For five years, I’d put my artistic dreams aside to support his career, barely buying myself any expensive jewelry. He’d kept it hidden so carefully that I thought it was a surprise for me. I’d carefully returned the box to its place and made sure everything was tidied up, not leaving a trace. Since then, I hadn’t mentioned anything about special occasions, afraid to ruin whatever he had planned. But he never acted like he was preparing a surprise. Theo set the easel down and started to leave. I instinctively called out, “Theo.” “Hm?” He turned, looking impatient. “Today…” I started. He cut me off, “I’m taking Kate to pick out decorations for the exhibition. She’s better at this kind of thing.” The door slammed shut behind him. It was like the final blow to any hope I had left. He didn’t care about us at all. I walked into the studio, opened the drawer, and saw the necklace box was gone. The messages kept coming. [You want Natasha to be happy too, right? I’m going to love her for the rest of my life and give her all the good things.] I thought back to the time when we were 20. Back then, Theo would go all over the city’s museums and galleries to help me find inspiration, and when I was feeling down, he’d sit with me by the Lake all night. I had once been loved so purely. But now, everything had changed. I watched him drive away from the window. Kate Hardy sat in the passenger seat, holding a bouquet and smiling brightly. Another message popped up. [I want to surprise Natasha. You understand, don’t you?] The sky darkened, and clouds gathered, almost like a bad omen. In a hopeless daze, I typed on the keyboard: [Natasha is already heartbroken. Theo doesn’t love her anymore. Nothing can go back.] [No way.] [Who are you?] I closed Messenger, and tears flooded my eyes. Then my phone buzzed with a gossip notification from the art world. [Famous artist Theo seen with Kate, an art critic’s daughter, suspected romance.] [Theo’s new relationship sparks debate. Could it be related to art resources?] [Is the five-year relationship between Natasha and Theo about to end?] The photos showed Theo and Kate interacting intimately at the art event. In one picture, she was wearing the bracelet that Theo had promised to give me last year for my birthday. I scrolled through the messages numbly. Each photo and each comment felt like a needle stabbing my heart. I stayed in the studio until late, watching the city’s lights go out one by one. Then I got a photo from a friend on WhatsApp. In it, Theo and Kate were asleep in each other’s arms in a luxurious hotel suite.

I gave a bitter smile. I had always thought the necklace was for me, but it was meant for Kate. The bracelet he promised me was now on her wrist. I signed the statement about withdrawing from the art exhibition, took off the pendant Theo had given me, and placed it on top. It was from our first year together. He sold his first painting and used the money to buy me the pendant. Back then, we both had dreams of becoming artists. Life was tough, but we were hopeful. I practiced drawing day and night to improve my skills. Theo would grind away at his work beside me, encouraging me. He ran around submitting his work everywhere, facing rejection after rejection, but never giving up. Finally, a small gallery selected one of his paintings for display. When it sold, he was so excited that he bought me the pendant. Tired but thrilled, he placed it in my hand. “Natasha,” he said, “this pendant is like our love. It’s warm and lasting. Things will get better and better.” I nodded, tears welling up. He hugged me tightly, his voice firm. “Natasha, I’ll love you forever. We’ll achieve our dreams together.” “Password incorrect.” “Natasha, open the door,” Theo called out, interrupting my thoughts. I opened the door and he staggered in, reeking of alcohol. He muttered, “Natasha, the art exhibition is going great. We’re going to make it. I’m going to buy you a huge studio so you can create freely.” I helped him to the sofa, watching him mumble. “Natasha, are you happy?” A bitter feeling rose in me. He already had resources and fame, but our relationship had long since changed. Since he met Kate, he’d been attending higher-end events and meeting more influential people. He’d go to art gatherings with her, creating special works just for her, while I was left alone in the studio. I dealt with creative blocks alone, faced criticism from peers myself, and spent countless nights waiting for him to come home. I was tired. No matter how much love I had, I couldn’t handle this anymore. “Natasha, I feel terrible,” Theo mumbled, tugging at his collar. I reached to undo the button for him. Suddenly, I saw a tattoo on the inside of his wrist. My name was on it. But Theo had never gotten a tattoo. A strange memory rushed in. Back in college, a classmate had whispered to me, “Theo went to a tattoo shop. Guess what he got? He tattooed your name on his wrist. He said he wanted everyone to know how much he loves you and that his love for you is unique.” The two memories tangled in my mind. I suddenly dropped his hand and rushed back to my computer. I opened Messenger and saw a message: [Theo will never stop loving Natasha. I’ll prove it to you.] There was a picture of him getting a tattoo. The timestamp was from last night. The one typing on the other end seemed to be the 20-year-old Theo. And he could change things in the present. I slumped in the chair, my heart a mix of emotions.

The person on the other side was really the 20-year-old Theo, the boy who once loved me with his whole heart. [Who are you really, and why are you saying this? I’ll get to the bottom of this.] I could almost picture him frowning. Tears blurred my vision, and my mind drifted back to those days when we were 20. Back then, Theo would scrimp and save for months just to buy me a set of limited-edition paints. He would watch me anxiously from the sidelines at art competitions, more excited than I was. For my birthday, he’d carefully planned a solo exhibition just for the two of us, showing only the paintings he’d made for me. The boy was passionate and sincere, loving me with everything he had. But now, he had hurt me deeply. My hands shook as I typed: [I’m Natasha, 25-year-old Natasha.] There was silence from the other side. I knew he probably didn’t believe it. [I know you don’t believe me. This afternoon, Natasha will faint in the studio from overwork.] He didn’t reply. After I passed out, Theo would take good care of me. He’d make nourishing soups, encourage me to rest, and tell me not to give up on painting. I sat up in the studio, not having slept a wink all night. The morning came, and I got ready to go back to work. But suddenly, dizziness overwhelmed me, and I collapsed to the ground. I hadn’t been resting properly for the exhibition, and my body had finally given out. In the bedroom, Theo’s phone rang. His soft voice came over. “Babe, how was the meeting yesterday? What do you want to eat today? I’ll have it delivered to you. Don’t overwork yourself. Take care. Okay, I’ll come find you after I’m done here.” I saw a candy on the floor, the one Caleb Burke had left when he came to visit. I struggled to reach it and popped it in my mouth, tasting the sweetness mixed with a hint of sourness. A little while later, I regained some strength, sitting up. My hair was messy, and I looked a mess. Theo walked out of the bedroom. He asked, “Natasha, what’s going on? You’re being so careless.” Before I could respond, he continued, “Kate wants a painting related to the exhibition theme. Can you make time to do it today? I’ll pick it up tonight.” I stared at him, incredulous. “I almost passed out just now, and all you care about is Kate’s painting?” Theo sighed impatiently, “Don’t overreact. It’s not the first time you’ve fainted. Get to work and don’t waste time.” His words hit me like a knife. I said, “Theo, we’re done.”

Theo frowned. “What are you talking about? Just because I asked you to draw a picture?” I picked up the resignation statement on the table and handed it to him. I said, “Sign it. Once you do, you can be with Kate without any worries.” He retorted, “When did I say I wanted to be with Kate? We’re just work partners. Stop being unreasonable.” Theo snatched the statement, crumpling it into a ball and throwing it to the ground. He huffed, “Can you grow up a little and stop overthinking everything? Kate has been a huge help in promoting our art exhibition. You should understand that.” I looked at him, feeling nothing but cold sorrow. I countered, “Understand? Should I understand you attending events with her and giving her all the care that was supposed to be mine? I gave up my creative work for our exhibition, and this is how you treat me.” Theo averted his gaze. His phone beeped with a text message. He glanced at it, his expression shifting. He said, “I have something to do. We’ll talk about this later.” With that, he hurried out. As the door closed, it felt like my heart closed too. I opened WhatsApp and sent a message to the gallery owner. [Mr. Ross, I’m sorry, but I can’t continue with the exhibition preparation. Sorry for the trouble.] After handling that, I went home, lay on my bed, and let silent tears fall. Just then, the Messenger notification sounded. [Are you really Natasha, the Natasha from the future?] I sat up, staring at the computer screen. [Yes.] He began to type: [In the future, do I really hurt you?] I could feel his pain and disbelief. [Yes.] He typed again: [I’m sorry.] Tears streamed down my face. I: [No need to apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong yet.] Theo: [Can you tell me what I did? Or is there anything I can do for you?] I stared at the screen, a thought forming. I wondered if the 20-year-old Theo could change everything. I remembered the accident that caused me to lose my unborn child, leaving me unable to have children. With trembling fingers, I typed: [There is.] [Stay away from me. Don’t appear in my life again.]

There was a long silence. I thought he wouldn’t reply anymore. “Natasha.” The door burst open suddenly, and Theo stormed in angrily. “You really want to quit the exhibition preparation? And you told Mr. Ross about it?” He grabbed my shoulders tightly, his eyes full of fury. I noticed the tattoo on his wrist had faded a lot, clearly from removal treatment. “You got rid of the tattoo?” I asked in surprise. Theo released me, looking uncomfortable. “Tattoos are childish. Besides, Kate might misunderstand.” “Misunderstand? In your eyes, I’m that insignificant?” I sneered. “I just thought the tattoo wasn’t appropriate. Don’t overthink it,” Theo tried to explain. I shouted, “Enough! Theo, you attended events with Kate, gave her gifts, and even spent our anniversary with her. And you think I’m overthinking? When I lost the baby, where were you? At an art gala with her.” Theo’s face turned pale. He was lost for words. His phone rang again. He glanced at it and grew anxious. He said, “Natasha, I have an emergency. We’ll talk when I get back.” He hurried out again. I watched him leave, feeling nothing but despair. On Messenger, 20-year-old Theo sent a message. [Natasha, I can’t forgive the future me. Don’t forgive him either. I’ll find a way to make things right.] I started packing my things, ready to leave this place filled with memories. Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Caleb. [Natasha, I’m back in the country. Can we meet?] I hesitated, then replied: [Okay.] We arranged to meet at a coffee shop. The moment I walked in, the fragrance of coffee beans filled the air. The café was adorned with wooden furniture and paintings. Caleb still had that artistic vibe, though his eyes held more maturity now. “Natasha, I’ve always been thinking of you, knowing you weren’t doing well,” he said with concern. “It’s all in the past,” I smiled bitterly. “Actually, I’ve always had feelings for you. That hasn’t changed,” Caleb said sincerely. I was taken aback, looking at him with mixed emotions. Memories of the time we spent together discussing art flooded back. He had always offered unique insights that inspired me, but my eyes had only been on Theo. “I know I realized too late that you weren’t happy. But I still hope you’ll give me a chance to take care of you.” Caleb held my hand. I looked at him, feeling a slight warmth in my heart. Just then, the Messenger notification sounded. I opened it to see a message from the 20-year-old Theo. [Natasha, I did it. I’ve changed everything.]

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My husband transferred nearly a million dollars to his secretary. That money, which should have been part of our joint assets, became a “gift” to his mistress. The woman even flaunted it on social media with a screenshot. When I left a single comment: [Some people should know how to avoid suspicion.] I was promptly blocked by her. My so-called husband then called to threaten me not to spread nonsense. The next day, she posted another screenshot of a one-million-dollar transfer. I knew this was her declaration of war against me. But this time, I didn’t care anymore. I appeared to have a happy marriage, but at that moment, I was surrounded by unease and doubt. My fingers idly swiped across my phone screen when a notification caught my eye. It was Maggie Bell, the woman who always maintained a professional presence in my life. She was my husband Jeremy Sisto’s secretary. Her post wasn’t about trivial matters; it was a screenshot of a bank transfer. The numbers were like sharp blades stabbing into my heart. “How ironic,” I murmured to myself, emotions churning inside me. What I once believed was an unbreakable marriage now seemed fragile in the face of those cold numbers. But my fingers had a mind of their own. They clicked into the comments section, where I left the remark: [Some people should know to avoid suspicion.] My warning made no waves. It was swiftly deleted by Maggie, and moments later, a harsh notification confirmed that she had blocked me. At that moment, anger and humiliation surged within me. I could almost hear the sound of my teeth grinding. “What gives her the right? How can she blatantly destroy someone else’s family like this?” Just as my emotions were about to collapse, my phone rang suddenly. Jeremy’s name lit up on the screen, and my heart clenched tightly as I answered the call. “Darlene, what are you doing? Why are you spreading nonsense online?” His voice was filled with anger and disbelief as if I were the one at fault. “Spreading nonsense? Jeremy, do you even know what she posted?” I nearly shouted, holding the phone to my ear. But all I got in return was silence. “Darlene, calm down. This is between us. Don’t drag others into it.” His tone softened slightly, but the implied defense of her cut through me like a knife. “Between us? What is there between us that can’t see the light of day? What do you call sending her so much money?” My voice trembled as I confronted him. “Enough! Darlene, your unreasonable behavior has gone too far. I’m not going to argue with you anymore.” With that, the line went dead. When I tried calling him back, a cold mechanical voice informed me that his phone was off. Soon after, I saw that he’d blocked me on messaging apps as well. I laughed bitterly, a laugh-filled with despair and irony. [Jeremy, don’t regret this.] I sent him the text message, even though I knew he might never see it. That night, I tossed and turned, my pillow soaked with tears. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, I opened my eyes. What greeted me wasn’t hope for a new day but a harsher reality. My phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Opening it, I found countless messages from friends, all sharing screenshots. Maggie had once again flaunted a transfer, this time an even more staggering sum—one million dollars. “Is this her way of declaring war?” A surge of unprecedented anger and sorrow rose within me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

A week earlier, I had walked out of the hospital doors. The sunlight was bright, but it couldn’t warm the darkness in my heart. The doctor’s words echoed in my ears, a cold rain of reality reminding me of my body’s frailty and limits. But stubbornness lingered within me. Shaking my head, I rejected the doctor’s advice and decided to go home. Two months ago, a sudden accident swept through my life like a storm, tearing away all my happiness and expectations. Losing my child drained all color from my world. Jeremy’s indifference and distance were like knives, repeatedly cutting new wounds into my heart. Despite everything, I tried to use love and determination to build one last defense for our marriage. At home, I put on carefully selected clothes, each piece carrying my love and hope for Jeremy and our family. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I forced a small smile, attempting to hide the exhaustion and sorrow in my eyes. I reminded myself that today marked our fifth wedding anniversary, a day meant to be full of warmth and sweetness. I sent Jeremy a message, full of anticipation. But it was like a stone sinking into the sea, no reply. As night fell, he finally stumbled through the door, reeking of alcohol. His gaze was vacant, blind to the dinner I had meticulously prepared and the effort I had put into my appearance. “Here, for you. Cake.” He tossed a delicately packaged box onto the table. Inside was a blueberry cake, once our favorite. Now, it felt like an insult. Inside the box, the cake was missing a small triangular piece. I froze because just hours ago, I had seen this exact cake on Maggie’s social media. She had smiled so brightly in the photo. And now, this piece of cake had become the cruelest joke in my marriage. “Jeremy, what’s the meaning of this?” My voice shook, anger and heartbreak surging within me. He frowned, irritation flashing across his face. “It’s just a cake. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Just a cake? Maggie had this first, and you brought it to me? This is how you celebrate our anniversary?” My voice rose, tears brimming in my eyes. “Darlene, you’re being unreasonable!” He snapped back, his tone full of disdain. “Do you regret marrying me?” I froze, tears finally falling. Regret? Perhaps. But more than that, I felt pain and resentment. I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt blocked, leaving me silent. We stared at each other, the air heavy with despair. Eventually, I chose silence. I knew any further confrontation would be pointless. Turning away, I retreated to our bedroom and began packing my belongings. I needed to buy some medicine and personal items, but when I mentioned it, Jeremy’s indifference and impatience shattered my last shred of hope. I ventured out alone into the pouring rain. The downpour felt as though the heavens themselves were crying for me. I trudged through the slippery streets, each step feeling like walking on knives. By the time I returned home, I was drenched to the bone, but my heart felt colder than my body. Sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the dark night outside, I made a decision. I knew this marriage had reached its end. Picking up my phone, I began drafting the divorce agreement. At that moment, I felt no hesitation, only resolve.

A few days later, a mutual friend from the company sent me a message. [Darlene, why didn’t you attend the company’s celebration party? Without you there, Maggie, that witch, looked so smug…] I sat alone in front of the computer. The glow of the screen illuminated my pale face as a torrent of emotions surged through me. The video of Jeremy’s company celebration felt like a sharp needle, piercing through the fragile calm I had desperately tried to maintain. In the video, he smiled so brightly, clinking glasses with his employees. That hearty laugh, that confident demeanor of a leader, I used to be so proud of him. But now, it all felt unbearable to watch. Especially, the moment he shielded Maggie from drinking too much, my heart took a crushing blow, leaving me gasping for air. I still vividly remember that suit. It was the one I carefully picked out for him on our wedding anniversary, brimming with joy, believing it symbolized our love. Now, that very suit on his body had turned into evidence of his closeness with another woman. I closed my eyes, trying to erase those images from my mind, but tears betrayed me, slipping silently onto the cold keyboard. I opened Maggie’s social media. Her posts were filled with gratitude toward Jeremy. There was also that photo of him and Maggie together. Maggie was closely leaning against him, her head resting on Jeremy’s shoulder, while Jeremy’s hand was gently placed on Maggie’s waist. Both of them had happy smiles on their faces. But to me, it was so glaringly painful. At that moment, I seemed to see the truth of our marriage. He was no longer my rock but had become someone else’s safe harbor. My heart turned completely cold. Taking a deep breath, I resolved not to run away anymore. I reached out to a divorce lawyer and scheduled a consultation. I knew this would be the hardest step of my life. But I had to take it, for myself, and for the person I once was, the one who had once dreamed of love with such hope. As I was lost in thought about the impending divorce, the phone suddenly rang, breaking my trance. The screen lit up with Jeremy’s name, surprising and confusing me. “Why is he calling now?” I thought. “Jeremy?” I answered, trying to keep my voice calm. “Darlene, we’re having a company retreat, and I’d like you to join.” His tone carried a faint trace of tenderness as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened between us. “A company retreat?” I paused, then let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Sisto, I don’t think there’s any need for me to attend such events anymore, is there?” “Darlene, I know there have been some misunderstandings between us. I hope this retreat can give us a chance to talk.” His voice sounded unusually sincere. I hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed. Perhaps this would be the last chance to understand his heart and let myself finally give up. On the day of the company retreat, I dressed up intentionally. Not for him, but for myself. When I walked into the venue, all eyes turned to me, including Jeremy’s. He walked over and introduced me openly as his wife. At that moment, I felt like I was back in the past, but the cracks in my heart could no longer be mended. During the game, he tried to get me involved. But Maggie’s appearance shattered all the harmony. She purposely lost the game, then provocatively looked at me and demanded that I drink. I knew this was her tactic, her provocation.

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I found myself and my sister Nora inside a fantasy novel, tasked with selecting our husbands. In her previous life, Nora, having read ahead, chose the novel’s protagonist, the Tentacle Monster. I was left with the supporting character, the Vampire. Unexpectedly, the Tentacle Monster fell in battle due to a lack of Mental Strength, while the Vampire I picked grew powerful and became the new lord. When I woke up again, Nora had already chosen the dashing Vampire. “I’ll be the Vampire Lord’s wife in your place,” she declared. I tried to hide my smile. If she wanted to be a Blood Pack and endure the depraved Vampire’s torment, I wouldn’t stop her. When Nora took the Spirit Clan’s blood-purifying technique, I realized she had reincarnated as well. Previously, she unhesitatingly chose to marry into the Tentacle Clan, knowing they’d eventually triumph. However, my blood turned out to be crucial for enhancing Declan’s powers, allowing him to counter the silver light waves created by the Tentacle Monster Clan and even increase his attack speed. After we won the war, Declan openly showed affection for me, making others envious. But as victory was within reach, jealousy turned Nora’s eyes red, and she stabbed me with a silver knife. I watched as blood gushed from my chest, and my vision faded. Later, she turned me into a “Human Swine,” trapping my soul for a century, often mocking me, “I am the Spirit Clan Heiress. How dare you compete with me?” Upon waking again, Nora looked down at me after stealing the technique to enhance blood purity. “Sister, only I can be the Vampire Lord’s wife.” Seeing her smug face, I knew she hadn’t realized I had reincarnated too. I nodded obediently, letting her decide everything. Our father, the Clan Leader, spoke with a heavy heart, “Fiona, as the Heiress, you should marry into the Tentacle Monster Clan. You can’t endure the hardships of marrying a Vampire.” I laughed coldly inside. Father always treated us differently. If Nora couldn’t endure the hardship, why should I? The Tentacle Monster Clan had suppressed the Vampires until they were confined to darkness. Eventually, both sides made peace. Our Spirit Clan had techniques to enhance both clans. To survive in this chaotic world, the Clan Leader’s daughter had to be sent for a Political Marriage. We all knew that after the marriage, a new war would begin. On the surface, we remained neutral, but Father leaned towards a Tentacle Monster victory. This Political Marriage was bound to be unfair. Nora quickly reassured Father, “Don’t worry, Father. As the Spirit Clan Heiress, I’ll be fine.” Father resentfully scolded me, “Thank your sister for her concession. Otherwise, how could a concubine’s daughter like you receive such protection?” I could no longer hold back and coldly asked, “I didn’t ask for it. Why should I thank her?” Fiona yelled at me, pulling out a whip and lashing it at me, “Who do you think you are, daring to speak to Father like that? Kneel and apologize immediately!” My back burned, and warm liquid oozed out. Growing up, she would beat or scold me at the slightest conflict, and my father always turned a blind eye. Father pointed at me, cursing, “You’re just like your lowborn mother! If you weren’t useful for the marriage, I’d have killed you long ago!” I bit my lip and stayed silent. Nora, you probably don’t know how much I suffered in my past life. Since you’re willing to endure hardship, I’ll let you. Nora only saw Declan’s public kindness towards me, not realizing he used me to gain the Spirit Clan’s trust. He forced me to cultivate the Spirit Clan’s blood technique, making me produce blood endlessly. He even made my blood into Blood Packs for his generals, successfully destroying many Tentacle Monster bases.

Moreover, Declan was extremely sinister. When in a bad mood, he would lock me in the dark, dreary basement of the Castle to torture and vent his anger. In this life, since Nora chose Declan for me, I was finally free. The next day, the wedding entourage arrived. The Vampire Clan brought a flying carriage, surrounded by a sea of flowers, to welcome Nora. Declan stood imposingly in front of the carriage. In a flash, he teleported to Nora, looking like a perfect couple. Declan’s alluring, pale face and deep features were indeed captivating. “A Vampire loves only once in their lifetime. I, Declan, promise the Spirit Clan I will never marry again.” Amidst the cheers, Nora looked at me triumphantly, gripping Declan’s hand tightly. “Cora, you must be so jealous of me.” I looked at Fiona expressionlessly. She had no idea her hard days were just beginning… I closed my eyes, recalling the days when a slight offense would lead to a beating. The dungeon filled with torture tools had pierced my fingers and knees. If I hadn’t seen his true nature in my past life, I might have been fooled by Declan’s pretense. Fortunately, later on, I refined my blood to the purest level, benefiting the entire Vampire Clan, so they dared not torture me anymore. Refining that technique required sleeping on an ice bed daily. Nora, pampered since childhood, would never work so hard. The Tentacle Monster Clan only had a simple Spaceship. I was summoned inside without any ceremony. In the dark spaceship cabin, eight black tentacles spread out like a giant flower with shiny black nodules. I screamed in fear. The tentacles quickly retracted, revealing a man’s strong, handsome features. His black, bright eyes studied me. “Did I scare you? I’ll keep the tentacles away in the future.” I looked at Asher. His gaze was icy, completely different from Declan’s sinister nature, but his eyes held no emotion. It seemed true that the Tentacle Clan didn’t understand love. I shook my head quickly, “It’s okay. Do whatever makes you comfortable. No need to accommodate me.” The tentacles weren’t that scary. I was just nervous about boarding the spaceship. Looking at Asher’s handsome features, I wondered why Nora always called him ugly in the past life. Maybe she only saw his tentacle side. “Leader, let’s perform the Soul Contract ceremony.” Asher nodded, extending a tentacle towards me among the clan members. I shrank back in fear, warily watching him. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt much.” I obediently closed my eyes, feeling Asher’s tentacle slide into my clothes, wrapping tightly around my waist, smooth and slippery. Another tentacle explored my chest. Finally, the tentacle adhered to the soft part of my chest, causing a tingling sensation. A strong white light shone from my chest, and the clan members exclaimed, “This girl’s Mental Strength is so strong! A rare talent in a thousand years!” “Yes, with her, our victory is assured.” The tingling made my legs weak, and I collapsed, but Asher’s strong arms caught me securely. His eyes were as deep as a pool, unreadable, but he gently carried me to the rest cabin, preparing Spirit Clan food for me. If you need anything, just call me. “Bad news! Clan Leader, the Vampire Clan broke the peace treaty and attacked multiple bases during the Political Marriage!” I knew the events from the previous life were unfolding early, and Fiona must have revealed the Tentacle Clan’s plans. In the original story, Declan’s sneak attack severely damaged the Tentacle Monster bases, and Asher nearly died in the battle. Luckily, Asher survived, biding his time, growing stronger, and eventually conquering the Vampire Clan. However, after we entered the story, my blood helped the Vampires resist the silver light, making them invincible. Thinking of this, I grabbed Asher’s hand, “I have Spirit Stones to help you. Let me go with you.” Asher glanced at my hand holding his, nodded slightly, pulling me into the transporter, and we arrived at a base. The base was swarming with bat minions from the Vampires, feasting on the Tentacle Clan. The Tentacle Clan members were turning to stone due to lack of Mental Strength. I tried using the Spirit Stones but couldn’t activate them. “I suddenly can’t use my power!” I shouted anxiously to Asher, who seemed to sense my mental state. But Asher had already joined the battle with his eight tentacles. I watched him worriedly. Though the Tentacle Clan had strong combat abilities, they heavily consumed Mental Strength. Without my support, he wouldn’t last long. Sure enough, he soon fell due to lack of Mental Strength. He was captured by the Vampires, and I was tied up too. We were taken back to the Castle, where Fiona lay seductively by Declan’s side, enjoying the scene. She looked at me smugly, “Sister, how do you like the effect of the Spirit Dissolving Powder I gave you? It’s your own fault for being careless, deciding the outcome from the start.” I remembered the time Fiona tampered with the Spirit Stone while I chose the technique. But only Father had the Spirit Dissolving Powder, so was he involved too? My heart sank, feeling betrayed by Father. I saw Asher’s worried gaze. Was he concerned about me? Perhaps our Soul Contract made him empathetic towards me. Declan studied me, sniffing my neck, smirking, “How about you both serve me?” Fiona quickly cooed, “Isn’t having me enough, my Lord? I am the Spirit Clan Heiress!” I recalled the moment I was selecting a cultivation method, and it struck me that Fiona had meddled with the Spirit Stone. However, only my father possessed the Spirit Dissolving Powder. Could he be a part of this conspiracy too? My heart sank, as if I had plunged into an abyss of cold despair. I couldn’t fathom that my father would scheme against me this way. Looking up, I caught Asher’s gaze filled with concern. Was he worried about me? Perhaps our Soul Contract allowed him to share in my emotions. Declan hovered close, a smirk on his lips, “How about both of you serve me?” Fiona quickly feigned innocence, “Isn’t having me enough, Lord? After all, I am the Spirit Clan Heiress!” I knew she wasn’t trying to help me; she was simply afraid I’d take the position of the Lord’s wife from her. Declan laughed fiercely, pulling Fiona close and biting her neck. She whimpered in pain, and he pushed her aside with disinterest, wiping his mouth. “Maybe Cora’s blood is more to my liking?” Fiona hurried to defend herself, “I’m the Spirit Clan Heiress, with a pure bloodline. Cora’s blood is a mess and would weaken your power.” Declan raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, and carried Fiona into the bedroom. Soon after, sounds of passion echoed from within. Declan imprisoned us beneath the Dungeon, waiting for his chance to develop a weapon against the Tentacle Clan. In a past life, Declan was aware that the Tentacle Clan couldn’t be killed, only sent into a dormant state. Once revived by sufficient Mental Strength, their resurgence would be inevitable. But back then, Fiona refused to sacrifice herself as the book instructed to revive the Tentacle Clan, insisting on returning home. “I am the Spirit Clan Heiress; how could I become exhausted and frail?” Asher fought to grant Fiona her freedom, only for her new lover to extract information from her and betray the Tentacle Clan’s base location, leading to its downfall. The Tentacle Clan often remained in stasis pods, making the base’s secrecy vital. While I was confined in the Dungeon, I discovered a massive ice bed filled with girls from my Spirit Clan. Fiona had incited Declan to capture my people to practice this cultivation method for her gain. I shook my head with a bitter laugh. Oh, Fiona, don’t you realize? Our ancestors branded this cultivation method, and only those of royal blood could master it. Every glory demands a price. So why do you, as the Heiress, believe you are inherently noble? Declan visited the Dungeon one day, ordered my clanswomen to be cut for their blood, but spat it out in disgust. He called Fiona over and kicked her face with his foot. “Didn’t you claim this method would purify the blood? Why is it still the same?” Fiona frowned, inspecting my clanspeople like livestock, muttering that it couldn’t be true. Watching this betrayal filled me with trembling rage. I always thought she was merely spoiled and willful, but I never expected her to betray her race in this manner. As fury consumed me, a pair of warm hands enveloped mine. I looked up to meet Asher’s compassionate eyes. It felt as though he was silently reassuring me, “Cora, don’t worry, I’ll get you out soon.” I was taken aback. His Mental Strength was depleted; how could he save me? Fortunately, as I channeled my power, I realized my Spirit Power had recovered by eighty percent. Even without a Spirit Stone, my strong Mental Strength could support Asher in our escape. Sadly, the other girls couldn’t be saved. After they left, Asher seized his moment, using all his strength to unfurl black tentacles, wrapping around me to break through the siege. He intended to sacrifice himself to help me escape, warming my heart. In a past life, Nora manipulated his innocence to lead him to his demise. I must protect his pure heart this time. I seized the moment, quickly cutting my finger, letting blood drip onto the Spirit Stone. The Spirit Stone instantly emitted a dazzling light, flying toward Asher. He immediately became agile, his tentacles powerful, slaying enemies left and right. My Mental Strength was formidable due to my Heaven Clan bloodline, more potent than the pure Spirit Clan, capable of maximizing the Spirit Stone’s power. Yet, the Spirit Clan always valued pure lineage as the noble standard. Asher glanced back gratefully at me, then plunged into battle. I steeled myself, cutting my wrist, letting more blood flow to the Spirit Stone. Asher could then fight ten at once, sweeping through the enemies. I watched him with relief but fainted from overexertion. In my daze, I felt someone securely catch me.

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I had a confrontation with the aloof campus heartthrob, and in the heat of the moment, I punched him. Then, something strange happened—I could hear his thoughts. [I’m breathless. She’s so adorable, that punch was amazing! I want to kiss her until she faints!] I yanked his tie and murmured a warning: “You creep, if you follow me again, I’ll tie you to a post and beat you up!” The guy was taken aback, his eyes unexpectedly filled with anticipation. [Tie me up? Could things get any better?] After that day, I went out of my way to avoid this weirdo. Until one night, he sneaked into my bed and covered my eyes from behind. “I’ve given you my heart, why can’t you love me a little?” Every time I walked back to my dorm after class, I felt someone trailing me, keeping their distance. I sped up, my heart racing. This shadow had been following me for a while. I reported it to the campus security, but they dismissed it as stress-induced paranoia, assuring me there couldn’t be a stalker. “Does something terrible need to happen before you take action? I’ll report your negligence!” After seeing my frustration, they reluctantly checked the surveillance. But they found nothing. Strangely, the stalker didn’t rob or harass me. He just silently followed. Later, pretending to tie my shoelaces, I finally saw the person hiding behind a tree. He wore a dark hoodie and a baseball cap, tall and lean. He actually… looked kind of handsome. I swallowed hard, a slight smile creeping up. Things were suddenly getting interesting. However, I sensed this person was different from the previous stalker. Every day after school felt like a game of hide-and-seek. Until one day, I hid around the corner of the lab building, ready to uncover this peeper’s identity. I gripped my pepper spray. If he was a handsome guy, maybe I was the creep. I’d drag him back to my place to repay him for scaring me all this time. If he was a creepy guy, I’d take him straight to the police station for questioning. But before I could act, a large hand covered my eyes, pulling me backward. My back slammed into a solid, warm chest. The familiar scent of pine and snow filled my nostrils. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. “Logan, what are you up to? Let go.” The man behind me seemed a bit surprised. “You recognized me so quickly?” I stomped on his foot, breaking free in his moment of pain. “Are you crazy? Following me after school every day, are you some kind of psycho?” Logan remained as cold as ever, hands in his pockets, looking like he deserved another punch. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just headed to the music room to practice piano, and it just so happened to align with your schedule.” Could it really be a coincidence every single day? I knew he was getting back at me. For accidentally spilling soup dumplings on his piano! “If you keep following me, I’ll…” He moved closer, his eyes indifferent. Trapping me against the wall, he looked down at me. “What will you do?” The patience I tried to maintain crumbled in his presence. I flexed my wrist and threw a punch. “Bang!” Logan turned his head, a slight bleed at the corner of his mouth. Seeing him like that, my reason returned, and I pulled back my hand, feeling guilty. Oops, I was impulsive. What if this shameless guy clung to me? Logan licked his lip. I didn’t dare look at him, focusing on my shoes. But he forced me to meet his icy eyes by tilting my head up. Logan smirked, teasing me. “Is that all the strength you have? Didn’t eat enough?” I regretted feeling guilty. I should have hit him harder! Right now, Logan’s gaze was cold, his grip on my cheek firm and chilling. He leaned in, whispering in my ear. Like a snake waiting to strike, cold and slimy. But then I heard a strange voice. [Awww, Sweetie is so cute, that punch felt great! I want to kiss her until she faints!] What the heck? Who’s talking? Logan clearly didn’t open his mouth? Am I hearing his inner thoughts? This creep is calling me Sweetie? His mushy words gave me goosebumps. Ignoring that voice, I grabbed his collar and threatened: “If you follow me again, I’ll tie you to a post and beat you!” He was stunned, unable to hide the expectation in his eyes. [Tie me up? Is there such a good thing?] Turns out he’s not just a stalker, but maybe a masochist too. He put on a cold front, but his inner drama was intense. After his inner excitement, Logan’s face returned to its indifferent calm, graciously explaining to me. “You’re overthinking it. I wasn’t following you.” “If I really wanted to scare you, I’d just put the spiders you’re afraid of in your backpack. Why go through the trouble?” Though I wanted to hit him, I had to admit, he made sense. I could feel it recently; it was indeed Logan following me. But as for who was stalking me earlier, I had no idea. “Forget it, I can’t be bothered with you. Don’t let me catch you following me again.” I pushed him away and left without looking back. [Is Logan mad at me again?] [But she’s so cool and fierce, I love her. I want to be Logan’s dog!] Hearing these thoughts, I covered my flushed face, awkwardly quickening my pace. Damn Logan, what nonsense is he thinking?

Back at the dorm, my aunt’s video call came in. Lately, she’s been calling me non-stop. She seemed particularly worried about me. I adjusted my emotions before answering the call. After chatting about trivial matters, my aunt tentatively asked, “Logan, have you encountered anything strange at school recently?” My heart skipped a beat. Could my aunt know that I was being followed? I immediately told her everything that had happened. “So that person isn’t following you anymore?” I nodded, it seemed that way. The previous stalker wasn’t as tall as Logan and was slimmer. Recently, it’s just been that annoying Logan. I thought the stalkers were working together, but it turned out the later one was Logan. My aunt’s tense expression finally relaxed. She laughed and said, “Good thing I found the right person to have Logan protect you. That kid is reliable.” Huh? I almost choked on my water. “Aunt, you mean you had Logan follow me?” She nodded matter-of-factly. “Yes, you have classes at night, and your school’s security isn’t strict. I was worried, so I asked Logan to watch over you.” “You two grew up together and are at the same school; having him protect you gives me peace of mind.” I felt guilty. If my aunt knew that not only did I scold Logan, but I also punched him hard enough to make his mouth bleed, would she scold me? After ending the video call, I couldn’t stop thinking about it while showering. It seems the previous stalker was taken care of by Logan. But I misunderstood his good intentions. He was protecting me, but I mistook him for a stalker and even hit him. Should I apologize? After all, that punch numbed my hand. I hope I didn’t loosen his teeth. After getting out of the shower, I changed into my nightgown, slightly dried my hair, and ran downstairs to the boys’ dorm. I thought about sending him a message, but after editing it, I couldn’t bring myself to hit send. That damn Logan, a year older than me. Our families are neighbors, so he’s sort of my childhood friend. But he always wore an expressionless face, speaking with an air of superiority. I’ve always found him annoying. Now, apologizing to him is something I just can’t do. Just as I hesitated, Logan walked out of the dorm. He wore a loose gray jacket, jeans, and carried a bag of trash. Seeing me, he stopped, giving me a puzzled look as if asking what I wanted. I awkwardly greeted him. “Haha, still up this late?” Logan slowly threw away the trash, speaking elegantly: “Yeah.” The next second, his inner voice echoed: [Of course, I’m still up. I knew you’d come to apologize, so I waited at the door. Baby is so cute, kissing, kissing, kissing.] I was speechless, but he remained calm. Such a scheming guy. It must be hard for him to act so proper. Logan’s haughty gaze finally landed on me. Seeing my nightgown, he immediately frowned. Without a word, he took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Yan Logan, showing up in a nightgown at the boys’ dorm, do you want people to think I have a girlfriend?” I looked down at my nightgown. It was knee-length and perfectly normal, not suggestive at all. Just as I was about to retort, I heard his inner voice again. [Sweetie just showered, so soft and white, too cute. Those guys better not look at my wife.] [Her legs are so slender and white. If she kicked me hard, it’d feel amazing. Ah, I’m dead.] His inner voice spoke right in my ear, the content so embarrassing it made my toes curl. Damn creep, taking advantage of me not hearing to say all this flirty nonsense in his head. “Cora Harper, sneaking into the boys’ dorm at night dressed like that, trying to make people think I’ve got a girlfriend?” I glanced down at my nightgown. It was knee-length, perfectly innocent. I was about to fire back when I caught a glimpse of his inner thoughts. [Sweetie just got out of the shower, all soft and fair, so adorable. Those guys better not stare at my girl.] [Her calves are so slender and pale. If she kicked me, it’d probably feel amazing. Ah, I’m done for.] His voice echoed in my mind, and the embarrassing content made my toes curl. What a creep. Just because he thinks I can’t hear him, he lets his mind run wild. I touched my flushed face and turned away from him. “I’m here to apologize. I mistook you for a stalker today; my Aunt explained everything.” With that, I turned to leave. But he caught my wrist and said nonchalantly, “Is this your idea of an apology? I don’t see any sincerity.” He’s really pushing it! I’ve come to apologize, and now he’s being picky? Next time, I’ll hide his piano and see how arrogant he gets without it! [If she could just give me a kiss, I’d die happy!] “You shameless jerk, don’t even think about it. Absolutely not!” I was stunned as soon as the words left my mouth. I accidentally replied to his inner thoughts. Logan looked at me, puzzled. “What’s impossible?” Afraid of revealing that I could hear his thoughts, I quickly covered up. “I mean, for sincerity, I’ll give you a box of chocolate milk later. How’s that for sincerity?” It was from last year when a classmate visited me after I sprained my ankle. Not sure if it’s still good. [Does Sweetie like chocolate milk?] No, I don’t. Logan’s gaze drifted as if lost in thought again. Sometimes, I really wonder what’s going on in his head. Always thinking about random things. I went back to my dorm and grabbed the box of chocolate milk, even wiping the dust off with a tissue. When I returned, Logan was waiting for me by the gazebo next to the boys’ dorm. He seemed warm, his collar open as he drank water. Droplets slid down his chin and disappeared into his shirt. I found myself captivated. Previously, when Logan was voted campus heartthrob every year, I scoffed, thinking people were shallow for not seeing what a jerk he really was. But now, I realized I was just pretending to be above it all. Logan does have some charm. Once I snapped out of it, I quickly shoved the chocolate milk into his arms. “Here, my apology gift. We’re even now.” Afraid of hearing more of his shameless thoughts, I turned and ran toward the girls’ dorm. [She’s so cute, I just want to hold her and kiss her breathless.] I almost slipped. Is he crazy or what? Ever since I could hear Logan’s thoughts, I’ve been avoiding him. I’m such a mess. Usually, I can’t stand his cold face. But when I don’t see him for a few days, it feels like something’s missing. Did that jerk put a spell on me? With no classes on the weekend and feeling restless, I decided to stay at my apartment for a day. I drank too much coffee while working on my paper, making it hard to sleep that night. At 1 AM, as I was about to get up for a drink of water, I suddenly heard the balcony door sliding open. Cold sweat broke out on my back instantly. A thief? Or that stalker again? Time seemed to stretch, and I could hear my own breathing and heartbeat clearly. Creak. The balcony door was fully opened.

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My wife’s childhood friend passed away, but she showed no reaction when she found out. She continued to follow the doctor’s advice and went to the hospital for prenatal checkups, while I accompanied her and prepared things for the baby’s arrival. Just when I thought our family of two would become a happy family of three after the child’s birth, my wife threw our newborn daughter into a fire. She gripped a kitchen knife in her hand and vengefully stabbed me in the abdomen. “This is all your fault!” “He’s loved me since we were kids. What’s wrong with him wanting to be with me?” “If your lab hadn’t had an accident, I wouldn’t have stayed at the company with you and missed his last phone call before he died!” “I don’t want a child with your blood running through her veins. She deserves to die, just like you!” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of the lab accident. As I regained consciousness, I saw thick smoke rising in the distance. I realized I had returned to the day of the lab accident. Just like in my previous life, cries for help echoed beneath the billowing smoke. “Help! Is anyone there? Save us!” “I’m going to burn to death! Someone, please!” Hearing these desperate pleas, I quickly pulled out my phone to call 911. But just as the call connected, someone snatched the phone from behind. I turned around in surprise to see Lily glaring at me resentfully. Yet her words contradicted her expression: “Please hurry to the bridge downtown! Someone’s about to jump! You must save him, he’s the most important person to me!” “Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll make sure he’s safe,” the operator assured her. Once she confirmed emergency services were on their way, Lily threw the phone to the ground. “This time, I won’t let Noah leave me!” she hissed venomously. “Jack, you and your company can just disappear!” Hearing her curse, I realized she had also been reborn. I watched her turn to leave, my fists clenching slowly. But seeing the fire growing more intense, I pushed aside my conflicted emotions. I picked up the phone and quickly dialed 911 again. “Sir, don’t worry. We’ll be there right away!” After hanging up, I didn’t just stand by waiting for help. I connected a fire hose to a nearby hydrant and, without any protective gear, charged into the building. The thick smoke stung my eyes and made me cough uncontrollably. But human lives were at stake! I pushed through the discomfort, dragging the hose towards the heart of the flames. The scorching heat singed my hair. Embers landed on my shoulders, searing my skin. Gritting my teeth, I continued aiming the hose at the fire before me. In my previous life, without Lily’s interference, everyone in the lab building had been rescued. This time, I was determined to save them all again! When I finally heard the sirens of the fire trucks, my tense nerves instantly relaxed. I inhaled a lungful of smoke, choking as I gasped for air. Then everything went black. The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed. The doctor examining me let out a sigh of relief when he saw me awake. “Mr. Wilson, you’ve been unconscious for days. Thank goodness you’re finally awake!” The balding doctor complained, “Mr. Wilson, we tried calling your wife using your phone, but couldn’t reach her. We couldn’t even get anyone to sign your critical condition notice!” “The other patients admitted with you have all been discharged, leaving just you here without even paying the hospital fees.” “Luckily, we’re a hospital with a conscience. Otherwise, after saving your life, we might have just sent you out!” I forced a smile and repeatedly thanked him: “Thank you so much! I’ll pay the hospital fees as soon as I regain some strength.” The doctor nodded: “You should contact your wife quickly so she can come take care of you.” Hearing this, I felt a bitter laugh rising in my heart. My wife had already thrown herself into another man’s arms. How could she possibly spare a thought for me? Looking at the empty hospital room, I struggled to sit up. I found my phone in the bedside drawer and checked the messages I’d received during my coma. When I opened my social media, I saw a photo Lily had posted three days ago of two people embracing. The caption read: “Thank heaven for giving me a chance to be with the one I love again!” The man’s back in the photo was unmistakably Noah, who had committed suicide in my previous life. My lawfully wedded wife, indifferent to me, was caring for another man while pregnant with my child!

When words fail, all you can do is laugh bitterly! The laughter erupting from my throat made my entire body ache! Oh Lily, what a wonderful wife you are! I placed the phone on my stomach, trying to calm myself, when I received several payment notification messages. Each of these notifications showed amounts of tens of thousands of dollars. As I was puzzling over the source of these charges, I happened to see a new post from Lily. The photo showed several luxury brand shopping bags and two intertwined hands. The caption read: “So happy to buy clothes for the man I love!” Seeing this photo, a surge of anger instantly welled up from the depths of my heart. I found Lily’s number in my contacts and immediately called her. But after several attempts, she kept hanging up. Five minutes later, she finally answered impatiently: “Jack, make it quick! I’m not in the mood to talk to you!” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “Did you just use my credit card?” Lily replied defiantly, “Yes, I used your credit card. So what?” “As your wife, am I not allowed to spend your money?” I laughed coldly, “Oh, so you still remember you’re my wife! What kind of wife acts like you do?” “Not taking care of her husband lying in a hospital bed, but instead caring for another man!” I demanded, “Did you spend two hundred thousand dollars on luxury goods for Noah?” Lily’s self-righteous voice came through the phone: “So what if I did? You owe him this!” “He died because of you in the last life. Spending some of your money on him now is only right!” Hearing this, I retorted, “That was his choice to jump off the bridge. It had nothing to do with me!” Lily shouted angrily, “How can you say it had nothing to do with you? If I hadn’t been pregnant with your child, he wouldn’t have gotten jealous and climbed onto that bridge to kill himself!” “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t forced your way into my life, I wouldn’t have married you, and Noah wouldn’t have committed suicide in the previous life!” Lily’s words became increasingly irrational. She seemed to have forgotten that she was the one who had actively applied for a job at the company. She was the one who eagerly brought coffee to my office every day. She was the one who deliberately got me drunk and wouldn’t let me leave when I was intoxicated, taking off all her clothes and clinging to me. She was also the one who, wearing a wedding dress and holding a bouquet, proposed to me in front of all the company employees. And she was the one who arranged for her childhood sweetheart to work at the company. Now, the words coming out of her mouth made it sound like I had forced her! Back then, believing Lily’s words, I had entrusted most of the company’s business to Noah, helping him quickly establish himself in the company. Noah became overconfident. Without any training, he entered the research lab on his own! Noah’s actions completely disregarded the lab’s management protocols. Using his limited knowledge of experiments, he mixed two chemicals together. Seeing the flames ignite in the test tube, he boasted about his knowledge on social media. After leaving the lab, he completely failed to extinguish the growing flames. This negligence led to the massive fire! Fearing I would hold him accountable, he staged a suicide attempt. In my previous life, worried that knowing the truth would upset the pregnant Lily and affect our unborn child, I didn’t tell her the truth. Unexpectedly, she resented me for this. She narcissistically believed Noah had climbed onto the bridge to commit suicide because he wanted to be with her. She even threw our newborn child into a fire and stabbed me to death with a kitchen knife! Two lives lost for nothing! Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was!

I said coldly, “Lily, I’m giving you until nightfall to return all the money you spent on Noah to my bank account. Otherwise, I’m going to the police.” “Two hundred thousand dollars is no small sum. The police will definitely investigate.” Lily’s voice carried a hint of anger: “Jack, are you threatening me?” “Well, let me tell you now, it’s right for me to spend your money on Noah, and I absolutely won’t pay you back!” “Then you’ll face the consequences,” I said, and hung up the phone. What little strength I had left my body after that call. My eyelids closed, and I immediately fell into a deep sleep. When I regained consciousness, the sky outside had turned dark. Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, rapidly approaching my hospital room. I had just sat up in bed when the door was suddenly kicked open from outside. Lily stormed up to me, her face full of rage: “Jack, I’m not paying you back! I want to see what you can do about it!” Noah, dressed in luxury brands from head to toe, hid behind Lily, secretly gauging my expression. These two held hands tightly right in front of me. “Lily, you’re right. I can’t do anything to you, but I’m a man of my word.” “If you don’t return the money, I’m calling the police right now!” I pulled out my phone, about to dial those three numbers. Seeing this, Lily quickly snatched my phone away. She shouted, “Jack, have you gone crazy?” “It’s just two hundred thousand dollars! You have so much money, what’s wrong with spending some on Noah?” “He was just rescued from the bridge. Why can’t we spend some money to comfort his wounded heart?” I laughed coldly, “Did I force him to attempt suicide?” “What does his sudden desire to end his life have to do with me?” “Why should I spend money on someone who’s constantly trying to cheat on me?” Lily looked at me with a sad expression: “Noah just wants to be with me. He has no ill intentions!” “How can you be so heartless? I was blind to have fallen for you back then!” Hearing these words, the last bit of lingering affection I had for Lily vanished into thin air. I said icily, “Since you regret it so much, let’s get a divorce!” A wife whose entire heart belongs to another man isn’t worth keeping anyway! Seeing the serious expression on my face, Lily was shocked. She cried out in disbelief, “Jack, have you gone mad?” “Don’t forget, I’m still carrying your child!” “If you push me too far, don’t you believe I’ll abort this baby right now?” My expression changed: “Are you threatening me?” “It’s not like you haven’t done something like this before.” Rather than having the child burned alive after birth, it would be better for her to disappear from this world before she can feel pain. Lily caught the deeper meaning in my words. Her expression changed, and she pulled Noah, preparing to leave my hospital room. I called out to Lily’s retreating back: “Wait.” Lily raised an eyebrow triumphantly: “What? Are you going to apologize for what you just said?” “You wish,” I replied. “I wanted to tell you, for the sake of our marriage, if you don’t return the money you spent within three days, I really will go to the police.” Lily glared at me angrily and slammed the door shut. Three days later, the money Lily had spent on Noah still hadn’t been returned to my account. Instead, a news story appeared across major media outlets: “Irresponsible Chemical Company CEO’s Mismanagement Leads to Lab Fire.” The comment section below was filled with tens of thousands of comments and shares, all condemning me as a corporate manager. There was even a social media account fabricating false information, claiming that I often forced employees to work overtime and produce substandard products. It misled the public into believing that this fire was caused by my careless placement of chemical reagents. They even posted photos of company documents, making their posts seem more credible. Suddenly, all major mainstream media were full of criticism against me.

Just as I was pondering who could have fabricated these false news stories, my phone suddenly received a call from an unknown number. Noah’s smug voice came through: “Jack, I assume you’ve seen the news online by now.” “If you want the news taken down, you can’t pursue the money Lily spent on me anymore.” “Moreover, you need to transfer all your shares to me and obey my every command!” I said sternly, “You’re dreaming!” Noah arrogantly replied, “Fine! Since you don’t agree, I’ll destroy the company you’ve built over years!” “When you come begging me for mercy later, it’ll be too late!” Noah threatened viciously. “Don’t worry, I’ll never beg a scumbag like you for mercy!” After I hung up the phone, suddenly many reporters flooded into the room. They pointed their intimidating cameras directly at my face. These reporters, with righteous expressions, held their microphones up to me: “Mr. Wilson, is the information circulating online true?” “Are you prepared to face legal consequences for the aftermath of this fire?” All the reporters before me were asking about the false information online. Lily stood behind them, satisfied with the uncomfortable look on my face. The cacophony of voices made my barely recovered body feel short of breath again. Suddenly, a young woman carrying a bouquet of flowers walked into the hospital room. Her face flushed red as she shouted, “The lab fire had nothing to do with the boss!” “If he hadn’t rushed in to save me, I would have died in there!” She looked at me with reddened eyes and handed me the bouquet she was holding. “Boss, thank you for saving my life.” The girl’s words instantly silenced the hospital room.

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**1.** On the first day of filming at the new location, I texted my boyfriend: “Hey, how’s the new set?” To my surprise, the usually reserved him shared: “The new leading actress is pretty clumsy.” “We just rehearsed a scene, and she was so clumsy it gave me a headache.” “Haha, but she’s kind of cute. We’re doing a variety show together next week, so that should be fun.” I looked at my phone with a bitter smile. Trying to sound casual, I replied: “What a coincidence, I fell on set today. The second male lead saw me hurt, and his eyes turned red with worry. He practically carried me to the medical station.” “He wouldn’t leave, afraid I might have broken something, and insisted on going to the hospital with me. It took a lot to convince him otherwise.” “Are all actors this gentle and caring?” He was silent for a long time. Then, he called me frantically: “Hey, I’m sorry. I thought you didn’t care about me anymore. My friends suggested this might make you jealous and care more.” “I made it all up. You did too, right?” Me: “……” Oops, I wasn’t making it up. **2.** On the first day of shooting the new series, Liam led the entire crew to Hengdian World Studios. I habitually texted him: “Hey, how’s the new set?” Honestly, I didn’t expect much of a response. After all, my famous director boyfriend is always so reserved. No matter what I ask, his replies are usually short: “Mm.” “Oh.” “Okay.” When he’s busy, he might just reply with a “1.” But this time, he broke his usual cold demeanor. He sent me a long message: “The new leading actress is quite clumsy.” “We just rehearsed a scene, and she was so clumsy it gave me a headache.” “Haha, but she’s kind of cute. We’re doing a variety show together next week, so that should be fun.” His words were filled with unexpected joy. I never thought I’d hear him call someone cute. Especially another actress. My heart ached, and I felt like crying. **3.** I’ve been pursuing Liam for five years. And doting on him for five years as well. Late nights on set, I brought him hot boxed lunches; When he was overwhelmed with work, I stood by him with coffee near the monitors; Even when he had a fever while editing, I delivered medicine to him. Every time he prepared for a new film, I was the first to audition, even for the smallest extra role. He said he wanted to create a film that would change the landscape of Chinese cinema. So, I pushed myself to the limit, taking on roles back-to-back, improving my acting skills, and finally became the first Chinese Best Actress at an international film festival. Everyone knew I liked Liam. Except him. Until last year, at the company annual meeting, after a few drinks, I gathered the courage to confess. He coldly replied, “Mm.” But that indifferent word excited me for the whole night. I naively thought that once we were official, he’d be more gentle and proactive. Reality slapped me hard. He remained distant. But he’d start sending me bubble tea, bring me food when the film crew’s meals didn’t suit me, and occasionally pick me up after work. I kept telling myself not to ask for too much. That’s just Liam’s nature, and these gestures were already a lot from him. But today, I realized. He isn’t inherently cold; he just hasn’t met someone worth his warmth. I even doubted if he ever liked me. I really like Liam. But I also have self-respect. The year I graduated, my social media account was hacked once. A self-proclaimed “gossip columnist” promotional account screenshotted everything I wrote about my admiration for Liam on my private account and posted it, tagging all mainstream media in the comments section. My secret infatuation was edited into a melodramatic script, paired with exaggerated expressions. Promotional accounts swarmed, reposting it. My comments section was filled with mockery: “An 18th-tier nobody like you thinks you’re worthy of Liam? Look at yourself, he’s a rising director.” “That’s hilarious, Director Liam’s new film attracts top actors for auditions. Your acting hasn’t even started; what are you thinking?” “Give up, Liam would never like someone like you, a pretty face.” Humiliated, I wanted the promotional account to delete the post. But they pushed further, fabricating stories about me buying followers and riding on fame. Public opinion spiraled out of control, and I thought my budding career was over. That day, Liam, at his press conference, tore up that promotional account’s work badge right in front of the cameras. He then looked at the media present, his voice cold: “You think such despicable behavior is professional? I’ve seen enough disgusting tricks.” “And, I fully recognize Olivia’s acting skills and attitude. She’ll become a great actress.” **4.** Since that press conference, no one in the industry dared to target me openly. And because of Liam’s action, I liked him even more. But he was so hard to pursue. I had countless moments of wanting to give up, but he would give me hope just when I was about to. I was like a dog, led on by him, falling for it every time. But today, his different attitude towards another woman became the last straw that broke me. I’m tired. And I’m at peace. With a vengeful sense of sarcasm, I replied with a smile: “What a coincidence, I fell on set today. The second male lead saw me hurt, and his eyes turned red with worry. He practically carried me to the medical station.” “He wouldn’t leave, afraid I might have broken something, and insisted on going to the hospital with me. It took a lot to convince him otherwise.” “Are all actors this gentle and caring?” He was silent for a long time. So long that the smile on my lips began to stiffen. I even began to wonder what he’d reply. Would it be another “1”? After all, he really liked to reply with

Those short ten minutes felt like an eternity to me. Forget it. It’s pointless. I sent him another message: “Liam, let’s break up.” The next second, Liam’s call came in. I just picked up. Before I could speak, I heard his urgent breathing. Then came Liam’s series of anxious explanations: “Hey, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tested you like this.” “Lately, you haven’t visited the set. I thought you didn’t care or love me anymore. My friends suggested this might make you jealous and care more.” “I made it all up. You did too, right?” Me: “……” Oops, I wasn’t making it up. **5.** That morning, I was filming a group fight scene. I lost my balance during a turn and fell. The injury wasn’t serious. Just some scrapes on my elbow and knee, a little blood. I was about to get up when a boy rushed over. Looking up, it was Ethan, who just finished another scene. He saw the wound on my knee, and his eyes instantly turned red. He carefully helped me up, urgently asking: “Olivia, does it hurt?” “It looks serious. Let me take you to the medical station.” I moved my arm to test it. Just as I was about to say it’s fine, I saw tears on Ethan’s long eyelashes, looking as if he might cry. I was stunned. My gaze involuntarily fell on his face. Ethan’s features were extremely delicate, with fair skin that seemed to glow, and his deep-set eyes hinted at a mixed-race heritage. When his bright eyes turned red, he looked innocent and pitiful, his thin lips pressed tight, making one want to tease him. With him crying, I couldn’t refuse. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly reassured him: “Then, thank you, Ethan.” Before I finished speaking, he picked me up. He jogged all the way, asking if I felt uncomfortable elsewhere. After chatting a bit, I found out we graduated from the same university, him being two years below me. Coincidentally, we attended the same high school too. At the medical station, the doctor said it was just a surface wound and needed disinfecting and bandaging. The doctor had other things to do, so he handed the medicine to Ethan and left. Before I could reach for it, Ethan was already kneeling in front of me. He gently blew on the wound and carefully applied the medicine. Afraid to hurt me, he was very gentle. After finishing, I sat at the medical station to let it dry while he went out. When he returned, he was sweating profusely. Only then did I realize he was worried about delaying the shooting schedule, so he communicated with the director and producer and rearranged today’s shooting sequence for me. He even brought me a hot boxed lunch from outside the set. I was genuinely touched. All along, I’ve been the one chasing after Liam, taking care of others, with few caring for me. I gripped my phone tightly. Intending to exchange contacts and invite him for a meal another day. He didn’t decline, and we added each other on SnapChat. When he raised his hand, I noticed bloodstains on his jacket. It must’ve been from when he held me earlier. I recently discovered that he was worried about delaying the filming schedule, so he took the initiative to talk to the director and producer and even helped me rearrange today’s shooting sequence. He also went out of his way to bring me a warm meal from outside the set—a gesture that deeply moved me. I’ve been the one running after Liam all this time, while juggling my family responsibilities, and rarely receiving such care from others. I clutched my phone, contemplating adding him on social media to perhaps invite him for dinner another day. He didn’t hesitate and added me on SnapChat. As he lifted his arm, I noticed bloodstains on his jacket, likely from holding me earlier. I felt a sense of obligation. Most of our filming outfits are brand-sponsored and quite expensive, so when he escorted me back to the makeup room, I offered to have his clothes dry-cleaned. He agreed promptly, but his smile seemed to carry a hidden meaning. 5. Reflecting on Ethan’s knowing smile and Liam’s puzzled tone on the phone, I felt at a loss. Liam said I had been distant. For the past two months, I’ve deliberately kept my distance. I used to want to be around him every day, but he seldom responded. I’m just a person, and I get tired too. I thought about giving up, but I couldn’t bear to. So, I devised a plan. I mirrored his behavior, gradually cooling off and holding back my concern for him. I stopped staying on set every day, ceased keeping tabs on his social media, and focused on improving my acting and social skills. That way, it wouldn’t hurt as much if I ever decided to break up. But now Liam claims his indifference was all an act, and I couldn’t believe it. I told him so directly. The phone went silent for a moment: “It’s okay if you don’t believe me. I’m downstairs at your hotel—can you come down? I’ll explain in person.” After heading downstairs, he immediately handed me his phone, looking somewhat helpless as he explained: “I wasn’t lying. I’ve actually liked you since you were in the theater club. But I didn’t know how to pursue you, so I followed an industry-famous relationship blogger. He promised that for $998, he could create a custom plan to win you over, guaranteeing success or a full refund if it failed.” “He told me that girls today prefer mature, steady, quiet, and aloof men. They dislike hot-tempered directors like me, so I tried to change. I’m sorry, baby.” “I just didn’t want you to dislike me.” I glanced through his chat history and was at a loss for words. Liam: “How do you act mature and steady?” WarmHerAllDay: “Talk less, keep each sentence under two words, ideally just say 1.” Liam: “Are you serious? Won’t that seem arrogant?” WarmHerAllDay: “What do you know? Mature men are like that. Do you still want to pursue her or not?” Scrolling to the latest conversation, unsurprisingly, it was: Liam: “My baby has been so cold to me lately, what should I do, blogger?! Help me!” WarmHerAllDay: “Send her this message directly. Guaranteed to reconcile.” Me: …… 6. No wonder Liam always felt off to me. When I first fell for him, he wasn’t like this. The reason I fell for him is quite cliché. He’s a renowned genius director, and I was just an ordinary theater club member, not even an extra. Logically, we should never have crossed paths. But one day, I went for an audition at a small, remote theater. I realized things were off only after I arrived, but there was no turning back. A group claiming to be agents targeted girls like me aspiring to break into the industry. If you didn’t sign their unfair contracts, you’d get beaten. I had no other options, so I agreed to hand over most of my income to them monthly. Until one day, I couldn’t pay. After an audition, when I only handed over half the money, the leader’s demeanor shifted immediately. I still remember him holding the cash, snapping it against my face, eyeing me with ill intentions. “I just realized you’re quite a catch. How about this, spend a night with our producer, and we’ll wipe the penalty fee clean. You might even get some good opportunities?” I was terrified and wanted to escape, but they surrounded me. I said I could find a way to borrow money. They didn’t relent, and their gazes grew more unscrupulous. Just when I was in despair, Liam appeared. Without a word, he took on five of them, knocked them down, called the police, and recorded evidence of their crimes. Afterward, he scolded me angrily: “Don’t you know these small theaters aren’t safe?” “In the future, don’t go to auditions alone. It’s not safe.” Later, during a month of auditions, I would always see a figure watching from afar. He wouldn’t speak or show his face. When I looked back, he’d hide. But I knew, with no assistant or friends, I had to go alone. He wasn’t at ease and was protecting me. To thank him, I would leave a strawberry lollipop on the corner stone pillar every time. When I met him on set later, I’d proactively greet him. Back then, he seemed a bit prideful. He’d act reluctant, but his cheeks and ears would turn red as if about to drip blood. He’d even have his assistant bring me food and coffee. Unfortunately, that phase didn’t last long. He said he wanted to aim for international film festivals, and he became cold. After being cold for a long time, I almost forgot that Liam originally had an impulsive and explosive personality. 7. After learning the truth, I felt a bit confused. That’s when Ethan suddenly showed up. He handed me a box of desserts and sweetly called me “Olivia.” Liam immediately became wary. His eyes darted between me and Ethan, his voice impatient: “What are you doing here?” Ethan ignored him and instead tugged at my sleeve, sounding pitiful: “Olivia, is he your boyfriend?” “He’s so fierce. Will he hit me?” I instinctively shielded him behind me. While rummaging through my bag for the script, I reassured him: “It’s okay, he just has a bit of a temper.” When I retrieved his jacket, I realized his room key was still in the pocket. We had arranged for him to pick it up in the evening, but we ran into each other here. Seeing me protect Ethan, Liam’s face darkened even more. He tried to divert my attention by taking his phone from me. “Baby, I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, I’ll message that relationship blogger again.” Then, just as the message was sent, Ethan’s phone rang.

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It was a rainy night when a couple came to our house seeking shelter. My mom, Helen, warmly welcomed them. That night, my brother Jack led a group of men from the village into the couple’s room. The next day, a large cauldron was set up in our yard. I silently added firewood under the cauldron. Our yard was bustling with activity, everyone’s face beaming with smiles as if it were a holiday celebration. Jack emerged from the warehouse, adjusting his pants with a lewd grin. “Tom, you’re up next.” “Alright!” A tall, skinny man eagerly stood up and entered the barn. I watched them coldly, cursing them silently in my mind. Noticing my gaze, Jack’s expression darkened. He walked over and kicked me to the ground. “What the hell are you looking at? Keep the fire going, you little bitch. I’ll sell you off one of these days.” I lay on the ground, expressionless, brushing off the dirt before sitting up again. Seemingly satisfied with my reaction, Jack sneered and went off to drink with his buddies. Soon after, the tall skinny man came out, a satisfied smile on his face. My mom, Helen, handed me a bowl of food with a cold expression. “Go feed that whore. If she dies, the men in the village will have nothing to play with.” I nodded, not daring to say anything, and limped towards the woman’s room. As I pushed aside the curtain and entered, a nauseating stench hit me. The woman lay naked on the floor, covered in filth, her eyes filled with despair. She was truly beautiful, yet now reduced to such a pitiful state. My heart ached as I slowly approached her. “Sister, please eat something.” Seeing a young girl enter, a glimmer of hope flashed in the woman’s eyes. She struggled to sit up and knelt before me, sobbing uncontrollably. “Little girl, please, I beg you to let me go. I’m pregnant.” My heart clenched painfully. “I’m sorry, I can’t,” I said with a bitter smile, pointing at my injured leg. “If I let you go, they’ll kill me.” “Then do you know where my husband is?” she asked desperately. “Do you smell the barbecue outside?” I tilted my head, unable to look at her. “There’s a large cauldron in our yard right now.” The woman’s face turned even paler. She let out a heart-wrenching scream, pushing away the food I offered, and frantically tugged at the rope around her neck. “You monsters! You’ll all rot in hell! I’ll haunt you even after I’m dead!” I froze in fear. Hearing the woman’s screams, my mom and Jack rushed in. Seeing the wailing woman, Helen slapped her hard across the face. “Shut up, you whore! You should be grateful my son and the others even look at you. You don’t look like a decent woman anyway, so stop pretending!” The woman collapsed on the floor, her body shaking violently. Helen pinched her harshly. “Cry again, and I’ll cut out your tongue.” Jack laughed lecherously, patting Helen’s shoulder. “No need for that, Mom. I’ll shut her up myself.” He began to unzip his pants. Helen chuckled and kicked me. “Get out, don’t interrupt your brother.” I glanced at the poor woman, who was also looking at me. Her bloodshot, desperate eyes pierced my heart. But I couldn’t even save myself, let alone her. I could only lower my head and walk out. Outside, the special “barbecue party” was in full swing. Men, women, old and young, everyone held a bowl of meat soup, their faces beaming with joy. The village had held countless such parties, and I had become numb to them. I never ate the meat from that cauldron. In fact, I wasn’t even allowed to. As I sat lost in thought, a dry, bony hand landed on my shoulder. I jumped in fright. Turning around, I saw Old Pete, a lecherous old man with yellow teeth, eyeing me greedily. I let out a small cry and backed away. “Uncle Pete, what’s the matter?” Pete wiped his drool, grinning. “Oh my, Lucy, you’re getting prettier by the day. Let Uncle Pete check if you’re developing properly.” I retreated in horror, bumping into someone behind me. It was my mom, her face dark with anger. “Mom, I…” Before I could finish, she slapped me hard across the face. “Pete, what are you doing?” “Helen, I really like this girl. Why don’t you sell her to me?” “Pete, it’s not that I won’t sell her. She’s still too young. Wait until she’s a bit older, then you can have her.” The old man’s face darkened. He muttered under his breath, “What do you mean ‘wait’? It’s just that the price isn’t right, isn’t it?” He cast one last longing look at me before shuffling away. “You little slut, seducing men at such a young age. I’ll sell you off sooner or later,” Helen hissed, pinching my arm hard before going off to entertain other guests. I didn’t dare make a sound. I turned back to see men still going in and out of the woman’s room.

The next day, the woman was dead. She had stabbed her neck with a small wooden stick, her death gruesome and terrifying. Even more horrifying was the eerie smile on her lips. The yard was once again crowded with people. The men sighed repeatedly, lamenting the loss of their plaything. Helen’s face was grim. She had planned to make money off this woman. “That bitch,” she cursed softly, turning to the men beside her. “You know the drill. Throw her in the big pit.” Jack frowned. “What a waste.” “No, don’t throw her away!” Just as the men were about to lift the woman’s body, a voice rang out from our doorway. Everyone turned to look. It was Crazy Joe, the village idiot. He danced around, singing off-key. “You’ll die, you’ll all die! The whole village will die!” Everyone looked at him with disgust. “You idiot, what nonsense are you spouting? Want me to beat you up?” Jack rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit Crazy Joe, but was stopped by an old man. Jack was about to curse when he realized it was Mayor Thompson. He immediately fell silent. “How many bodies are in that pit now?” the mayor asked. The villagers looked at each other, shaking their heads. “Can’t remember, but it must be dozens.” Mayor Thompson closed his eyes, thinking for a moment, then let out a sigh of relief. “It’s okay, this is the 99th body. We’re still one short.” He slowly opened his eyes. “It’s fine, throw her in the pit. But from today on, we can’t do this anymore.” The villagers murmured among themselves. Although they weren’t happy about it, they had to agree due to the mayor’s authority. “No, don’t throw her! If you do, everyone will go to heaven!” Crazy Joe fell to his knees in front of the mayor, wailing. The mayor frowned and kicked him away. “You beast, I’ll eat you one day.” With that, he walked away, hands behind his back. I sat silently, suddenly realizing something. But I didn’t speak up, just watched as the woman’s body was carried away. Late that night, I snuck out of the house to find Crazy Joe. He usually slept in the abandoned cemetery, any hole in the ground was his home. “Brother Joe, wake up,” I whispered. Crazy Joe opened his eyes groggily. Seeing me, he suddenly smiled and clapped his hands. “Lucy, good person! Lucy, good person!” I quickly covered his mouth, looking around warily. “Brother Joe, do you know something? What’s going to happen to the village?” Crazy Joe suddenly became very excited. He stood up, gesticulating wildly. “They’re coming back! They’ll all come back! Everyone will hug together and go to heaven!” I listened, confused, but a chill ran down my spine. The mayor had specifically checked the number of bodies in the pit today, only allowing them to throw in the body when he knew it was the 99th. This meant that once there were 100 bodies, something would happen. And now, there were exactly 100 bodies in the pit. They didn’t know that the woman had been pregnant. With the fetus, it made exactly 100. As I was lost in thought, Crazy Joe seemed to hear something. He suddenly stood up. “Hehe, my mom is calling me. Everyone hugging together, how nice.” I froze, staring at him blankly. Then, with empty eyes, he started walking towards the back mountain. I knew that’s where the pit was located. The silver moonlight spilled onto the ground, casting an eerie glow over everything. After a moment’s hesitation, I gritted my teeth and followed him. Even from hundreds of meters away, an unbearable stench assaulted my nostrils. Fighting back nausea and fear, I slowly approached the pit. One glance was enough to nearly break my mind. The village had been doing this for decades, claiming countless victims. Dozens of bodies lay haphazardly in the pit, dismembered limbs everywhere. Rain and decomposition had caused the bodies to fuse together, forming a mountain of corpses covered in a sickly green fluid. I stumbled backward, accidentally bumping into something. I turned around to see the woman who had died yesterday. Her head was tilted at an unnatural angle, a sinister smile on her face. Blood still oozed from her mangled neck. She put her hand on my shoulder and spoke in a chilling voice: “Why didn’t you save me?” I let out a scream and ran as fast as I could.

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After my sister broke up with her boyfriend, she moved into my place. The day after her boyfriend came to apologize and beg for reconciliation, a terrifying heatwave hit. That night, she used the excuse that her boyfriend said the spare room was too hot without air conditioning, so she made me move to the spare room. The next day, she said the weather was too hot and people were dying outside, so they needed to stay for a few more days. Her boyfriend took advantage when she wasn’t paying attention and started touching me inappropriately. I told my sister, but she angrily said it was because I was wearing too little and deliberately trying to seduce him. As the food in the house became scarcer, my sister pushed me out the door, saying this way they could eat a bit less. I died from the heat outside. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment when my sister was crying to me on the phone. “Emma, Derek was flirting with other women behind my back, and he hit me. I’m breaking up with him,” Lily’s sobbing voice came through the phone, startling me awake. “No matter how much he begs this time, I won’t get back together with him.” “He’s been hanging around outside my apartment every day. Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?” My sister’s tearful voice jolted me. A strong, unshakeable thirst spread through my entire body. The suffocating heat that felt like it was evaporating my very being made me gulp down several large glasses of ice water. When I couldn’t drink anymore, I realized I had been reborn. I had returned to my previous life, to the day when my sister called crying about breaking up. That was indeed the last time I heard her say she wanted to break up in my previous life. Because not long after, a global heatwave was coming. It was an unprecedented, abnormal heatwave. Many people would lose their lives in this event. I was one of them. It was this phone call that led to my death in the subsequent events. My sister, Lily, had dropped out of high school for a man and had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with her dropout boyfriend for years. Every time it was all talk and no action. When she called me, she could hardly speak a sentence without mentioning that man of hers. Every time, she would be cursing her scumbag boyfriend one second, swearing to break up, and the next second she’d be happily posting lovey-dovey content on social media. “Love is about breaking up and getting back together, and in the end, not being able to live without each other,” she’d write, with heart emojis. I remember once asking her why she got back together with him again, wasn’t she breaking up with that jerk? Unexpectedly, she got angry and slapped me. “Emma, what kind of sister are you? Are you jealous of my happiness? Are you cursing me? I gave up my chance to go to college for you, and this is how you repay me?” “You’re worse than an ungrateful wretch.” She berated me as if every breakup was my fault. I angrily turned and left, not talking to her for a long time. A few days later, she called to apologize, then asked to borrow money, saying she was planning to marry Derek and needed to buy a new house. “Emma, I’m not as educated as you, and I don’t earn as much as you do.” “Your sister has finally found someone she wants to spend her life with. Don’t you want me to be happy?” She spoke while crying, implying that I owed her because I got an education and she didn’t. I’ve grown tired of hearing these words over the years. I told her directly that this was the last time, and she shouldn’t use this to guilt-trip me anymore. So when she asked for $200,000, I gritted my teeth and gave it to her. This was money I had saved up through hard work, day and night. It wasn’t the first time I had given her money, but she had never paid me back. After our parents died, she was my only relative left. They always said that Lily had a low education and it wasn’t easy for her to make money outside, so they told me to help her if I could. I never hesitated when she needed something. She had taken nearly $300,000 from me over time, with reasons ranging from buying a house to losing her job due to her low education level. The real reason was that her boyfriend was a lazy good-for-nothing who had racked up a mountain of debt, and she was happily following behind, cleaning up his messes. That night, I had an acute appendicitis attack. The pain was excruciating. I managed to drag myself to the hospital for surgery. The surgery cost 5,000,butaftergivingherthemoney,Ionlyhad5,000,butaftergivingherthemoney,Ionlyhad2,000 left. I called her asking for $3,000 for the surgery, but she cried and repeated her old excuses. “Emma, you know your sister didn’t go to school and doesn’t have many skills…” I hung up before she could say more and borrowed the money from a colleague. The night after the surgery, I was tossing and turning in bed, feeling awful. I opened social media and saw my sister had posted about having a candlelit dinner with Derek in an elegantly decorated restaurant. I turned off my phone, feeling a chill run through me. I was in agony from surgery, and my own sister wouldn’t give me a penny, but she was enjoying a candlelit dinner with my money. For two weeks after the surgery, she didn’t call me once. From then on, I never answered her calls again. Until this morning, when I received photos she sent of her being abused by Derek. The handprint on her face was obvious, and the bruises on her thighs and arms were particularly noticeable. She looked like she had been badly beaten. I instinctively became worried. After all, she was my only relative left, and I couldn’t ignore her. I called her back, and just like now, she was sobbing and talking about breaking up. They had broken up and gotten back together before, but it had never been this serious. Afraid she might be abused, I agreed to let her stay with me for a couple of days. Little did I know that as soon as she arrived, Derek would show up too. I angrily tried to kick Derek out, but she cried and begged me, saying Derek owed loan sharks money and would be beaten to death if I kicked him out. She asked me to help her one more time, let them hide for a few days, saying it was too hot to find a new place now. I softened once again, telling myself this would be the last time. But I never expected that this time, they would shamelessly move in with me. Complaining that the spare room was too hot without air conditioning, saying they might get heatstroke, they made me move to the spare room. I was so hot I was only wearing a t-shirt and shorts when Derek suddenly barged into my room, his eyes roving over me lecherously. I screamed in fright. But my sister angrily accused me of trying to seduce her boyfriend. Finally, using the excuse that there wasn’t enough food, they said they were guests and told me to go out and buy groceries. They pushed me out the door. It was so hot outside that it was unbearable. I knocked on the door, begging my sister to let me in, but she said there wasn’t enough food for three people anymore, and with one less person, they could last a few more days. Better for one to die than all three. No matter how much I knocked, she wouldn’t open the door. I kept knocking persistently, but she remained coldly indifferent and never opened up. In the end, I slowly died of dehydration, feeling utterly heartbroken. “The weather bureau reports that today’s highest temperature will be 111°F. High temperatures will persist for the next week. Please take precautions against heatstroke and minimize going outdoors…” The familiar weather forecast was playing on the TV, and my sister’s sobbing came through the phone again. “Emma, Derek hit me. You won’t abandon your sister, will you?” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lily quietly asked.

In my previous life, that feeling of thirst so intense it made my heart race, yet also chilling to the bone, rose up again. I gulped down another large glass of ice water to suppress it. Not hearing me speak, Lily’s crying grew louder, and her tone suddenly became sharp. “Emma, if I had been the one to go to college back then, would I have to beg you like this? Have you forgotten what you promised Mom and Dad?” “I’m your only sister. How can you be so heartless, watching me get beaten?” “Do you want me to make a scene every day at your home and office, telling everyone how ungrateful and inhumane you are?” Here we go again. She seems to only know how to repeat this one line over and over. I’ve helped her so much more over the years. Whenever things don’t go her way, she takes out her frustrations on me with baseless accusations. She has never shown any gratitude. Even when disaster struck in my previous life, she coldly pushed me out to die. Remembering the desperation and suffocation I felt before dying in my previous life, Lily’s cold face kept flashing before my eyes. Gripping the phone tightly, I spoke softly, “Do you really want to come stay with me?” Sensing an opportunity, Lily quickly nodded, her voice taking on a hint of joy. “He owes a ton of money and keeps hitting me. There’s no way I can keep living like this.” “Emma, I knew you were my dear sister. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.” A smile played on my lips as I spoke again, “Sis, are you absolutely sure about this?” She seemed surprised that I hadn’t rushed out to help her like before. Her tone started to become impatient: “Emma, are you done?” I took a deep breath and finally said to let her move in three days later, as I was currently away on a business trip. She quickly agreed. In my previous life, Lily had also come over three days later. Thinking carefully about her personality, she probably wanted to rush over immediately. Even if I said I was away on a business trip, she would likely camp out in front of my building waiting for me. If I guessed correctly, Derek probably got into a fight over the money he owed and was now being held at the police station. Derek owed a ton of debt and had assaulted someone, so he was on the run hiding everywhere. Lily was waiting at home for three days for him to be released, then planning to occupy my place long-term. Since she wanted to come, let her come then.

Thinking about the unprecedented and brutal heatwave that was about to hit, I felt a chill. Most people would lose their lives in this natural disaster. Besides the food shortage, there would also be insufficient water and electricity supply in high-rise buildings, and heatstroke would be rampant. Since heaven had given me another chance, I needed to use these three days to make thorough preparations. This time, I was going to take good care of myself. First, I rented a large villa with a basement nearby. I had looked at these villas when I was house hunting before. They all came with basements. The basement temperature was cool and perfect for avoiding the heat. At the time, I thought the first floor was too dark, needing lights on day and night, so I didn’t go for it. Now in this weather, it was perfect to rent it, in case of sudden power outages later when air conditioners and fans couldn’t run normally. Also, the villa was far from others, which would draw less attention, making it convenient for me to store supplies later. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt the coolness hit me. I took out the jacket I had prepared and put it on. The male realtor who had brought me here involuntarily shivered and hugged himself, then smiled and introduced the place. “Ma’am, this is the villa with a basement you requested. Except for the poor lighting on the first floor, how do you like the rest?” He trailed off, looking at me strangely. After all, young people nowadays prefer houses with good lighting and bright rooms when renting. While I was oddly looking for a place where you couldn’t see the sun even in broad daylight and needed to turn on lights as soon as you entered. Although the weather was indeed very hot now, everyone had air conditioning at home. I paid him the money and, seeing he seemed nice, started chatting with him. “The weather is so hot. Several elderly people back home got sick with heatstroke after being outside too long. They can’t even go out to buy vegetables. This house is cool and cheap, so I can save some money too.” I’m not sure if he understood my meaning, and I couldn’t be too obvious about it. After finding the house, I continued shopping for the supplies I needed. I borrowed a small tricycle and spent most of the day going to a wholesale market about ten miles away. I bought dozens of boxes of instant noodles and canned food, and brought them home to store. Then I went to other places further away to buy some vacuum-packed vegetables and fruits. I put all these things in the basement, and finally ordered several super large refrigerators online. I also went to buy several boxes of wholesale ice cream, snacks, and so on. After staying in the basement for a while, I couldn’t help but shiver. Suddenly inspired, I bought a set of hot pot cookware. Then I went to other places to buy ingredients for hot pot, like beef, chicken, and so on. I bought quite a lot and stuffed it all into my big refrigerator, filling it to the brim. Thinking about how unpredictable people can be during disasters, for safety and self-defense, I also went to a knife shop to buy some weapons for protection, and picked up a bag of mouse traps while I was at it. Finally, thinking about the possibility of water and power outages, I bought several large water storage tanks with purifiers. I also learned online how to make a solar power panel. In addition, I stocked up on plenty of backup medicine to prevent heatstroke, just in case. Of course, I was very cautious while doing all this, afraid of drawing attention. I dressed inconspicuously and wore a baseball cap. By the time I finished all of this, three days had passed. Looking at the room full of supplies I had stockpiled, I was very satisfied. It would be enough to last half a year. In my previous life, experts on TV said the extreme heat would end in two months at most. I had stayed home eating and drinking with them for half a month, until food became scarce and I was pushed out. At this point, Lily’s call came in.

“Emma, I’m already at your door. You’re still not back?” Her breathing was a bit heavy as she spoke, likely because it was indeed very hot outside. I sat leisurely on the couch enjoying the air conditioning, and said slowly, “Sis, my car won’t arrive until tonight. Why don’t you find a coffee shop to rest in…” Before I could finish, she hung up. It was getting dark outside. I ate dinner, called a cab, and headed home. Lily was standing in the hallway outside my apartment, empty-handed. The bruises on her face hadn’t faded, and you could still see clear handprints. I didn’t rush to show concern like I used to. She brushed back her sweaty, matted hair and glared at me with fiery eyes. “Why are you only getting back now? I’ve been here for so long.” Before I could speak, she snatched my bag, took out the keys, and opened the door. She kept complaining, “I told you to make me a copy of the key.” Once inside, she immediately turned on the air conditioning and started rummaging through my fridge. She took out a large, unpeeled durian. “At least you had the decency to buy this for me.” I looked at the durian in her hands, inwardly frustrated that I had forgotten about it. I could only watch as Lily opened it up. She set aside one large, intact piece of flesh and hastily devoured the smaller pieces. When she had eaten her fill, she picked up the large piece and looked at me warily: “Emma, I’m saving this. Don’t you dare touch it.”

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I died on my way to see Jasper. The reason? He posted a photo with the woman he’s always loved but never had on Snapchat. And we were supposed to get married tomorrow. I thought death would bring me peace. But unexpectedly, my spirit now shadows Jasper and his long-lost love. “Jasper, will Lydia really show up if you post that picture?” In the dim bar, I sat idly on the sofa, watching Hazel, who seemed boneless, snuggle into my boyfriend’s arms. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes hazy, clearly very drunk. Jasper gently asked the waiter to bring Hazel a glass of honey water and nodded, “She will definitely come!” Yes, I’m already here. But none of you can see me! I waved my hand in front of Jasper’s face. He didn’t notice, focused on adjusting the temperature of the honey water for Hazel. I felt like I was being pricked by countless needles. When Jasper and I were together, I was the one who took care of him. “Good, if she doesn’t come, you’re picking up the tab!” Hazel snuggled even closer. Jasper didn’t speak, just looked at his phone. I have to say, Jasper knows me well. He made the right bet; I would come. Because I saw the always aloof Jasper post a status. The picture showed two wine glasses, with Hazel’s signature tattoo on the hand in the lower right corner. I wanted to ask why. Why did my decade-long love become a joke as soon as she appeared? On my way there, a car accident took my life. A mysterious force drew me to Jasper’s side, wanting to see him one last time. Only to discover, it was just a bet to flaunt his charm. To test if I was truly at his beck and call. How tragic. I looked at Jasper, momentarily lost. Jasper and I had been entangled for nearly ten years. Only this year did we decide to get married. A month before the wedding, Hazel returned home after a divorce. Jasper wanted to postpone the wedding to take care of her, and I went crazy. “Jasper, why should you, her ex, take care of her just because she’s depressed from domestic abuse? Doesn’t she have any family?!” “Why do you want to postpone the wedding as soon as she’s back? You know I’ve been waiting for ten years!” “Ten years! A whole ten years! How many ten years do I have in my life!” “You want to postpone the wedding! Unless I’m dead!” Well, now I’m really dead. I circled around Jasper. He fiddled with his phone, head down. Curious, I leaned closer to see what he was looking at.

I boldly moved forward and saw that the phone was open to our chat. The last message was me asking where the bar was. Jasper didn’t say anything, just sent a location. It was less than a half-hour drive from our wedding house. Now, an hour had passed, and I still hadn’t arrived, nor sent any messages. Did he lose the bet and feel disappointed? I won’t arrive. I will never arrive. You killed me. I screamed, my voice loud, but no one heard. After a few rounds of drinks, Hazel was out cold. Jasper carried her home, stumbling. When I saw the specific door number, I screamed to stop Jasper. “Jasper, no! You can’t bring her to our wedding house!” I shouted desperately, but it changed nothing. I watched helplessly as Jasper laid the drunken Hazel on the sofa, wiping her hands with a warm towel. His gentle actions made it seem like she was the treasure in his hands. I numbly raised my hand to my chest. Can the dead still feel heartache? Hazel clung to Jasper, whining, “Jasper, I feel awful, I want some hot soup.” Jasper chuckled, gently coaxing her to sleep in the bedroom. I watched Jasper walk into the kitchen, skillfully chopping vegetables, lighting the stove… In no time, he brought out a bowl of hangover soup. He softly coaxed Hazel, “Here, drink some soup, your headache will go away.” Hazel refused to drink herself, so Jasper fed her spoonful by spoonful. The atmosphere was intimate and warm, my heart felt like it was being squeezed, breathing was difficult. Memories overlapped with the current scene. That year, Jasper’s family had a sudden change, and Hazel went abroad and got married. Jasper became despondent, drinking, fighting, self-harming… I stayed with him, enduring those dark times. Later, he started his own business, and I accompanied him, navigating social gatherings. Jasper saw how I suffered from hangovers and learned to make this hangover soup out of concern. Maybe those who are favored become fearless. I thought Jasper loved me, and I would tug on his sleeve and pout. “Will you only ever make it for me?” He laughed softly: “Sure, I’ll only make it for you.” The sweet and sour taste mixed with Jasper’s gentle laughter reached my heart. But now, it turns out, I wasn’t the one who was favored. Hazel was the one who had all of Jasper’s sweetness. I couldn’t bear to see Jasper be good to others, especially Hazel. Instinctively, I wanted to escape. I ran desperately towards the door, only to be pulled back by an unseen force each time. The tearing pain spread through my body. After several attempts, I was exhausted and finally realized I couldn’t leave Jasper. I blankly watched the two of them, my boyfriend carefully tending to his lost and found treasure. “Jasper, all these years I’ve never forgotten you. I’m divorced now, can we be together?” Hazel confessed directly. Jasper stared into her eyes for a few seconds, and I held my breath. “So do I.” He replied deeply. Hazel smiled immediately, but her smile faded as if she remembered something. “What about Lydia? She’s been with you for so many years.”

Jasper stiffened, his face complex. Hazel sensed his change, pursed her lips, saying nothing. The intimate atmosphere vanished without a trace. “You only feel gratitude and guilt towards her, you don’t love her, right?” Hazel pressed urgently. “Yes.” As Hazel was about to ask more, Jasper silenced her with a kiss. She wrapped her arms around Jasper’s neck, face flushed, breathing heavily. I felt like throwing up, tears welling up from sheer disgust. Jasper, how dare you! In our wedding house, doing such disgusting things with another woman! I felt like my soul was being torn apart. The home I had painstakingly built with anticipation was being defiled. Hazel, lost in passion, reached to unbutton Jasper’s shirt. Just as they were about to go further, a cat’s meow interrupted them. It was Whiskers. The cat Jasper and I had raised for many years. When we first started our business, we didn’t have much money. We lived in a rundown apartment infested with mice and bugs. I picked up the stray and brought it home. Soon, it became an expert at catching mice and bugs. One winter, when it was especially cold, Jasper and I almost got poisoned by a fire pit. Whiskers knocked it over and yowled, bringing neighbors to save us. If I had known I’d die a wrongful death, I would have taken it with me. Whiskers circled Jasper, meowing. Hazel complained to Jasper about being interrupted by a cat. “Jasper, you know I’m allergic to cat hair, right? Throw it out tomorrow!” Jasper said nothing, just locked Whiskers in the cage. With the mood spoiled, Hazel wanted to continue, but Jasper had lost interest. He urged Hazel to sleep. Jasper stood on the balcony for over half an hour, his phone constantly locking and unlocking. The screen’s light made his face appear more solemn. Perhaps hearing Whiskers’ hoarse cries, worried about disturbing the person inside, he silently unlocked the cage. Whiskers, now free, searched the house and stopped in my direction. Whiskers can see me! This discovery made me both cry and laugh! I waved at it, Whiskers ran over and rubbed against me, though confused when it couldn’t touch me, it was quickly entertained. The kitten couldn’t speak, but it understood everything. Jasper ignored Whiskers’ strange actions, opened the fridge, and took out the beef sauce I made but didn’t finish. I watched him expressionlessly cook noodles, cool them, add the sauce, and stir. Finally, he topped it with scallions and served it. Just like the bowl of noodles I once served him. He ate intently, watching Whiskers jump around, for once a smile appeared on his lips.

Was Jasper thinking of me? Or did he remember my grandma? Beef sauce noodles were my grandma’s specialty. After Jasper’s family crisis, grandma often invited him over for meals. Before she passed, she took his hand, trembling, entrusting me to him. I cried in Jasper’s arms until I couldn’t speak: “Jasper, I only have you now, only you.” Jasper held me tightly, eyes red: “I won’t leave you. We’ll always be together.” From that day, Jasper and I became each other’s support. This dish, therefore, had special meaning. Whenever we argued, I would make him a bowl of noodles. After eating, we’d calm down and reconcile. After Jasper’s family faced a crisis, Grandma often invited him over for meals. Before she passed away, Grandma held his hand with a trembling grip and entrusted me to him. I clung to Jasper, sobbing uncontrollably. “Jasper, from now on, it’s just you and me, only you.” With tears in his eyes, Jasper hugged me tightly. “I won’t leave you. We’ll always be together.” From that day forward, Jasper and I became each other’s lifeline. This dish took on a special significance for us. Whenever we argued, I’d make him a bowl of noodle salad. After eating, we’d both calm down, reflect, and make up. Just like when Grandma was around, soothing us when we were upset, “Once you’ve eaten together, there’s no reason to stay mad.” Grandma, look. So many years have passed, and I’ve lost both you and Jasper. We were so lost in thought that neither of us noticed Hazel sitting at the table. “What are we eating? It smells strange,” she said, picking up a jar to inspect it. “Beef sauce noodles,” Jasper replied mechanically. “Oh, so this was your secret weapon for making peace? That’s quite amusing.” Jasper paused, slightly taken aback. “Yeah, it’s kind of funny.” Hearing that felt like a devastating blow. This was a private secret between Jasper and me, and while I cherished it, he had already shared it with someone else. Together, they had trampled on it. I shook my head, tears streaming down, feeling it was unfair to both me and Grandma. The glass jar slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor, startling Whiskers. “Sorry, Jasper, it slipped,” Hazel quickly apologized. “I’ll get you a new one. I’ll make even better food for you.” Jasper’s knuckles whitened slightly, but he said indifferently, “It’s fine, Lydia will make it again when she’s back.” His words pierced through me like a knife. The things I treasured most meant nothing to him. There won’t be any more! Everyone who knew how to make that dish is gone! We sat in silence until a sudden phone call interrupted.

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