I was reborn. Brought back to the exact moment the hospital laboratory went up in flames. Fire devoured everything in sight. Christian and I were trapped inside the burning room. Then Stella appeared. She was my girlfriend. But without a single second of hesitation, she chose to save Christian first, treating me like I was completely invisible. I did not stop her. I did not beg. Because the memories of my past life were still burned into my brain. Back then, I revealed my secret identity as the hospital director’s son, using her career to force her to save me. Christian was left behind in that inferno forever. Afterward, she weaponized my guilt, slowly draining every single cent of my family’s wealth. In the end, she locked me inside a lab and set the room on fire. As I begged for my life in sheer despair, she flashed a twisted, demonic smile. “Rowan! If you hadn’t used your family’s power to threaten me, Christian would never have died that horrible death!” “Every ounce of pain he felt in those flames, I am going to make you pay back a thousand times over!” This time, I chose to let her have exactly what she wanted. And in doing so, I would save myself. … 01 A deafening crash shook the room. The heavy steel cabinet slammed into my body, the agonizing pain instantly snapping me fully awake. Ignoring the blinding agony, I desperately tried to make sense of my surroundings. Thick, toxic smoke forced my eyes shut. I could only cover my mouth, coughing so hard my lungs felt like they were bleeding. A dull, throbbing pain radiated from my right leg. I instinctively threw my arms over my head to protect myself. “No!” But my arms, which had been charred to the bone in my past life, were perfectly intact. How was this possible? Before my brain could process anything, a frantic, desperate voice pierced through the roar of the flames. “Christian! Christian! Are you okay?!” Why did that voice sound so agonizingly familiar? A second later, Christian’s weak, pathetic voice drifted over. “Stella… please help me…” I forced my head up in total disbelief. Through the haze, I saw Stella kneeling next to Christian, frantically shoving a fallen desk off his body. Watching the two of them, I literally couldn’t catch my breath. Wait. Wasn’t I just locked in a lab, burning to a crisp while Stella laughed at me? The realization hit me so hard I curled into a ball, my entire body violently shaking. From the lab doorway, my best friend Ben screamed until his voice cracked. “Stella! Are you completely out of your mind?! Save Rowan! He is your boyfriend!” The raw heat on my skin and the smoke stinging my eyes made it undeniably real. This wasn’t a nightmare. I was reborn. Brought back to the very day Christian, the hospital’s golden boy, and I were trapped in the fire. With a loud scrape of metal, Stella finally pushed the desk away. Without so much as a glance in my direction, she hauled Christian up and dragged him toward the exit. A bitter, mocking laugh escaped my throat. In my last life, this was exactly what she did. I was supposed to be the man she loved, but her eyes only ever saw him. It made sense. Christian was gorgeous. He was practically worshipped by the staff, and rumors constantly swirled that he was the sole heir to the Harrington Medical Empire. Even if Stella wasn’t single, she had probably fallen for him a long time ago. I struggled to stand, but the steel cabinet had my leg pinned to the floor. Shards of broken glass had sliced my calf open, and blood was pooling beneath me. I couldn’t move an inch. Stella finally seemed to notice I existed. But there was zero concern in her eyes. Only pure annoyance. She wrinkled her nose. “Christian is the sole heir to the Harrington family. If he dies here, this entire hospital goes down with him!” “I am looking at the bigger picture!” “Your injuries aren’t even that bad. Once I get Christian to safety, I will come back for you.” I laughed again. If I hadn’t already lived through this hell once, I might have actually believed her garbage excuse about “the bigger picture.” I was covered in my own blood, yet to her, my injuries “weren’t that bad.” Ben didn’t hesitate. He tried to charge straight into the fire, but a group of panicked nurses dragged him back. “Ben! Stop! The lab is full of combustible chemicals! It’s going to blow!” They were right. In my memory, this room had roughly fifteen minutes before it detonated. In my past life, after I was dragged out, I immediately screamed for everyone to evacuate, saving dozens of lives. Stella had actually wanted to run back in for Christian, but the flames grew too wild, and she chickened out. So why the hell would I ever believe she was coming back for me this time? I knew she wouldn’t. But I refused to drag the people who actually cared about me down into the grave. I propped myself up on my bloody elbows, screaming at the door with everything I had. “Ben, stay back! It’s going to blow! All of you, run!” Hearing the word “blow,” Stella froze in her tracks. She snapped her head back, glaring at me with eyes so cold she looked like a total stranger. “Rowan, since when did you become such a manipulative liar?!” “The fire department will be here in half an hour to contain this. If you scream about explosions, what are all the colleagues outside going to think of me?!” “Can’t you be a little more like Christian and show some actual basic human decency?!” Her absolute hypocrisy made my blood boil. “You didn’t call me manipulative when you were in my bed!” Hearing that, Christian weakly tugged at Stella’s collar, his voice trembling. “Stella, it hurts so much…” The moment Christian spoke, Stella immediately broke eye contact with me, her gaze softening entirely. “Hold on, Christian. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” And just like that, she practically carried him out the door. She never looked back. 02 I gritted my teeth and pushed against the crushing weight of the cabinet. A blinding, drilling pain shot up my spine. But compared to being burned alive in my past life, this was absolutely nothing. Watching Stella abandon me, Ben collapsed to his knees in the hallway, his face pale with disbelief. “Stella! You are sick in the head!” “The Chief of Medicine is going to ruin you for this!” Ben was the only person in the entire hospital who knew my real identity. But his threat only earned a cruel, mocking sneer from Stella. “The Chief is going to ruin me? Hilarious.” “Christian is the only son of the Harrington Medical group! If he dies, the Chief will be the one begging for mercy!” I dragged my bleeding body through the narrow gap beneath the cabinet. The jagged edges tore my wound open further, soaking my clothes in fresh blood. But I didn’t care. I needed to live. Seeing the clock ticking down, I screamed at Ben. “Stop talking to her! Get out of here!” I would never forget the look in Stella’s eyes when she poured gasoline over my head in my past life. There was no love left. Only absolute, psychotic hatred. She ignored my begging. She ignored our years together. She just struck the match. That was when I realized she had blamed me for Christian’s death every single day since the fire. She despised me. Before I could fully shake off that agonizing memory, Ben broke through the crowd and charged straight into the burning room. “Rowan! Stay with me!” Toxic smoke filled my lungs, blurring my vision. The only clear thing in the world was Ben’s figure pushing through the orange flames. “Are you insane?! Get out!” I roared. Ben ignored me. He gritted his teeth, hoisted half my weight onto his shoulder, and began dragging me toward the exit. The blistering heat scorched our skin. I watched a lock of his hair catch fire, glowing with orange embers, but he acted like he couldn’t feel a thing. He just kept pulling. Looking at his soot-stained face, a massive wave of guilt crashed over me. I weakly lifted my arm to check my watch. Time was up. If we didn’t move now, we were dead. I took a deep, ragged breath and screamed in his ear. “Listen to me! I am going to count down from three. When I hit one, we dive for the door. Do not look back at me, do you understand?!” Ben didn’t even turn his head. “Keep screaming! I am not letting go of you!” A knot of emotion tightened in my throat. I stopped arguing and locked my eyes on the doorway. Our only way out. Three! Two! One! “Jump!” I roared with every ounce of strength left in my broken body, dragging Ben with me as we launched ourselves through the door. Boom! The exact second we cleared the threshold, a catastrophic explosion detonated behind us. The massive shockwave blasted us across the hallway. My eardrums felt like they had ruptured. My vision went completely white. I couldn’t see, I couldn’t hear. Just a high-pitched, endless ringing echoing in my skull. “Rowan! Rowan! Can you hear me?!” I don’t know how long I blacked out, but Ben’s panicked voice eventually broke through the static. I forced my eyes open. “I’m fine… just my leg…” Ben followed my gaze down. His face instantly drained of color. “It’s bad. Don’t look at it. Just… wait right here!” He scrambled to his feet and sprinted down the hall. A few minutes later, Ben returned with a team of colleagues carrying a stretcher. When they saw the state of my leg, every single one of them gasped. One of the male nurses covered his mouth. “Oh my god… how many stitches is that going to take?!” My entire body felt shattered, but my mind was violently clear. As they wheeled me past the emergency triage, I saw Stella. She had her arms wrapped tenderly around Christian’s shoulders, whispering sweet comfort into his ear, acting like the horrors of the last twenty minutes never happened. Acting like I didn’t exist. The head nurse, who had always treated me well, began examining my wounds. She shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “Rowan… what kind of karma is this? You have so many fractured bones. It’s going to take at least a year of physical therapy to walk right…” Her voice cracked into a sob. “Thank God your right hand is safe. Once you heal, you can still operate.” I managed a weak, bloodstained smile, wanting to comfort her, but the pain robbed me of my voice. The head nurse lowered her voice, glancing nervously toward the triage bay. “That Christian guy… I heard it’s just a few minor scratches! And look at Dr. Stella treating him like he’s dying. Disgusting…” Hearing that, Ben completely snapped. He marched right up to triage, pointing a shaking finger directly at Stella’s face. “Stella! You make me sick to my stomach!” Before Ben could even finish his sentence, Christian let out a pathetic, breathy cough. “Stella… I’m feeling really weak…” Stella immediately went into panic mode, stroking his hair. “Just hold on, Christian. The specialists will be here any second.” Then, she slowly looked up, glaring daggers at Ben. “Rowan is fine, isn’t he?!” “Rowan is my boyfriend. Whatever happens between us is our business. Why do you always have to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong?!” I stared at Stella’s repulsive, self-righteous face from my stretcher. My voice was hoarse, but it cut through the room like a knife. “We are done.” “We are breaking up.” Ben nodded aggressively. “Good! No point reasoning with trash!” Stella froze. She clearly hadn’t expected me to drop the hammer in front of everyone. Her brow furrowed in deep annoyance. “Rowan, what is your problem now? Are you playing games with me?” I let out a cold, raspy laugh. “Playing games? You aren’t worth the effort.” I forced the tears back, staring dead at Christian hiding behind her. “You would rather save another man than save my life. And you have the nerve to call yourself my girlfriend?!” Christian, a grown man, immediately forced tears into his eyes like a victim. “Rowan… how could you say that to her?” “She just knows you’re stronger than me. She believed in you. She simply chose to save the person who needed her the most…” The ER erupted into chaotic whispers. Stella’s aggressive defense and Christian’s pathetic weeping drew a massive crowd of onlookers. “Well, the golden boy has a point. He’s so fragile, obviously he needed help first!” “Exactly. Dr. Stella was just making the logical choice. Why is Dr. Rowan being so incredibly bitter?” “No kidding. Christian is the heir to the Harrington Empire. Saving him is objectively more important!” Just then, my father rushed into the ER, having caught the first flight back from his overseas conference. Seeing him, Stella instantly dropped her defensive attitude and rushed over, putting on a professional, respectful face. “Chief Thomas! The lab exploded, and I… I risked my life to pull Christian out of the flames.” “Christian just promised me he would have Harrington Medical double their funding for our hospital!” My dad’s face was completely black. “Where is Rowan?!” Assuming the Chief was looking for someone to blame, Stella eagerly threw me to the wolves. “Sir, it was just Rowan and Christian in the lab. Christian is flawless with his protocols, so this incident is entirely Rowan’s fault.” “They just pulled him out. His injuries aren’t severe. But honestly, I strongly recommend banning him from the research labs going forward. Christian is more than capable of leading the projects alone.” My father’s expression turned murderous. Lying on the stretcher, I just smiled coldly to myself. Just wait, Stella. Once I am out of the picture, your life is going to become a living hell. Before I could even see my dad’s reaction, the darkness pulled me under, and I passed out cold. When I woke up, it was already dusk the following day. My arms and legs were encased in heavy plaster and bandages. I couldn’t move, but breathing the sterile hospital air, I felt completely reborn. “Rowan!” Ben walked up to my bed, looking exhausted but incredibly relieved. I tried to lift my hand to greet him, but a sharp spike of pain forced me to stop. Seeing me wince, Ben lost his composure. “You absolute idiot! Do you have any idea how close you were to dying?!” I offered a weak smile. “At least… I’m still breathing…” In this life, I didn’t owe Stella a damn thing. And neither my dad nor I were going to die. “Man,” Ben sighed heavily, pulling up a chair. “I already told your dad exactly what happened. He was so furious he called an emergency disciplinary board meeting for tomorrow morning!” Hearing about my dad, hot tears finally spilled over my eyelashes. In my past life, my blind trust in Stella eventually led to my father’s tragic death. “Ben…” I took a shaky breath, steadying my voice. “I need you to do one last thing for me.” “Name it.” “The security cameras… inside my private lab. I need you to pull the footage from right before the fire…” Ben grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Already on it, brother.” “We hit a small firewall, but don’t worry. I completely bypassed it. We have the video.” Looking at him, a tidal wave of guilt practically crushed my chest. In my past life, Stella had brainwashed me into believing Ben was jealous of me. She convinced me he was trying to sabotage my career. I got into a massive screaming match with him, cut him out of my life, and died before I ever had the chance to apologize. I was so blind. I threw away gold for a piece of trash. I was just about to close my eyes and rest when the door swung open. Stella walked in. And of course, Christian was trailing right behind her. He stood there looking absolutely flawless, adjusting the collar of his designer shirt, drawing the admiring eyes of the passing nurses. Then there was me. Mummified in plaster, broken on a hospital bed.

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I have been feeling like there is a pair of eyes rummaging through my brain lately. It feels exactly like someone flipping through my private diary in the dead of night. Memories that should be carved into my bones are slipping away. My apartment passcode, my parents’ phone numbers, even my own name feels blurry sometimes. It all started when our new coworker, Erik, showed up. He wears crisp, tailored suits and a textbook perfect smile that makes my stomach turn. The most terrifying part happened during our project pitch. I suddenly blanked on the core algorithm steps, and he recited them word for word, exactly as I had conceptualized them in my head. “You have been a bit forgetful lately, Rainey,” he said with fake concern. “Am I?” I stared dead into his eyes. “Then how do you know the exact ideas I have never told a single soul about?” He panicked, averted his gaze, and practically ran out of the conference room. I finally understood. He was using some kind of neural interface to hack my mind. My three years of blood, sweat, and tears were being siphoned away drop by drop. This monster in a tailored suit was using my intellect as a stepping stone to climb the corporate ladder. But he didn’t know one crucial detail. Memory transfer is a two-way street. While he was digging through my head for secrets, I caught a glimpse of his own filthy skeletons. 01 Erik parachuted into the company three months ago. He is tall, maybe six foot two, always rocking a perfectly pressed suit and flashing that blinding, rehearsed smile. The girls in the office swooned over him, gossiping about his relationship status by the water cooler. But he rubbed me the wrong way from day one. It was a subtle feeling. The way he looked at me wasn’t friendly. He looked at me like I was a commodity on a shelf, calculating my exact market value. I never thought it would get this bad. I got booted from the core engineering team and tossed onto a dead-end project. Meanwhile, Erik, a guy who hadn’t even been here a hundred days, took over the exact project I had poured three years of my life into. I dragged my heavy feet home tonight, only to realize I couldn’t even remember my own front door code. I had to pull up my phone notes just to get inside. The second the door clicked shut, I collapsed onto my bed, tears spilling out uncontrollably. I unlocked my phone to call my parents and vent, but my mind drew a complete blank on their numbers. I scrolled through my contacts, realizing with absolute horror that I couldn’t even tell which number belonged to my dad and which to my mom. It was terrifying. I grabbed a notebook and frantically started scribbling down the day’s events. “April 12. Project pitch failed. Severe memory glitches.” “Erik knew things only I could possibly know. I suspect he has something to do with my missing memories.” I ripped the page out and taped it right above my pillow. Starting tomorrow, I was going to document every single anomaly. My phone buzzed. It was Maggie from HR. “Rainey, are you okay? That meeting today was rough.” “Maggie, I think I am losing my mind.” I spilled everything about my memory gaps. The line went dead quiet for a few seconds. “You need to see a neurologist. I will go with you.” “It is not a medical issue.” I pulled at my hair in frustration. “I swear it is Erik. He knows what is inside my head.” “Are you saying he snooped through your files?” “No. He knows ideas I haven’t written down anywhere. It is like he literally stole my memories.” Maggie stayed silent for a much longer time. “Rainey, listen to yourself. That is completely impossible.” “I know it sounds insane, but I need you to trust me. Just do a deep background check on Erik, please?” “I will see what I can do. But you seriously need to see a doctor.” I hung up and started tearing my apartment apart. I dug up every single old work journal and reviewed every project detail, absolutely terrified I would wake up tomorrow and forget something crucial again. That night, I had a bizarre dream. I was standing in a strange, high-end apartment, staring at a monitor filled with code. My fingers were flying across the keyboard, tweaking a predictive algorithm. But it didn’t feel like my hands. They were the hands of a man. Then I walked into the bathroom. The face staring back at me in the mirror was Erik. 02 The next morning, I showed up at the office two hours early and made a beeline for the main conference room. I had an epiphany last night. If my memories were really bleeding into Erik’s brain, he should be able to answer a question only I knew the answer to. I needed to test this crazy theory. I grabbed a marker and drew a complex math equation on the whiteboard. It was a personal shorthand system I invented back in college. Absolutely nobody else could decipher it. I snapped a quick photo on my phone and erased it spotless. At exactly nine o’clock, Erik strolled into the bullpen, looking sharp and wearing his signature fake smile. “Morning, Rainey.” He gave a polite nod, his tone dripping with a winner’s superiority. “Morning, Erik.” I squeezed out a smile faker than his. “Thanks for bailing me out in the meeting yesterday.” “Anytime.” He stopped by the espresso machine. “You have been looking pretty exhausted lately, though. Memory loss is usually the first sign of severe burnout.” He heavily emphasized the words “memory loss”, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. “Maybe.” I kept my voice casual. “Hey, by the way, what do you make of this formula?” I held up the photo I just took. Erik glanced at the screen, and his face instantly tightened. “That is your custom shorthand for the core predictive logic. You have been using that exact syntax since your sophomore year of college.” My stomach dropped to the floor. There was zero chance he could know that. Unless… “How do you know that?” My voice actually shook. He narrowed his eyes. “You must have mentioned it to me at some point.” He quickly turned on his heel and walked away, his stiff posture betraying his panic. I immediately pulled out my pocket notebook and logged the interaction. A horrifying reality was taking shape in my mind. My memories were genuinely being hijacked. At noon, Maggie dragged me to a quiet coffee shop down the street. “I dug up some dirt,” she whispered, leaning over the table. “His resume is completely cooked.” “He claimed he spent five years at Google, but I reached out to a buddy in their HR. He was there for two years, tops.” “And he left his last startup incredibly abruptly. Word on the street is he caused a massive disaster on a classified project.” “What kind of project?” I asked. “No idea. They scrubbed the data clean,” Maggie frowned. “But here is the real kicker. His graduate research at MIT wasn’t in Artificial Intelligence. His thesis was on Neural Interfaces and Memory Storage.” The ceramic mug nearly slipped out of my hand. “There is more,” Maggie continued. “I pulled the security logs for the building. For the past month, he has been staying late almost every single night. He usually doesn’t badge out until three or four in the morning.” I flipped open my notebook, matching the dates of my memory glitches. A perfect match. Every single time I woke up with a mental fog, Erik had been alone in the office until the early hours of the morning. “Maggie, do you believe me now? About the memories?” She hesitated. “I don’t know if the sci-fi stuff is possible. But I know you wouldn’t get this paranoid over nothing.” “If your gut says he is dirty, then he is dirty.” “I need hard proof. I am staying late tonight to see exactly what he is doing in the dark.” 03 That night, I packed my bag and pretended to leave for the day, but I actually just camped out at a diner across the street. By ten-thirty, the entire building was mostly dark. I slipped back in through the loading dock, using a spare keycard I borrowed from Gary, the night shift security guard. Gary was a sweet older guy who always appreciated the donuts I brought him on Fridays. “Rainey? Burning the midnight oil again?” “Yeah, tight deadline. Hey, is the new director still up there?” “Oh yeah. Guy practically lives here.” Gary lowered his voice. “He is a weird one. Always locks himself in the back lab and refuses to let the cleaning crew inside.” “The lab? What is he even doing in there?” “Beats me. Claims it is highly classified.” My suspicion deepened. The lab was supposed to be a shared testing space. Who gave Erik the right to claim it as his personal fortress? I took the service elevator up and crept barefoot toward my cubicle. The main floor was pitch black, except for a sliver of blue light spilling from under the lab door at the far end of the hall. I tiptoed closer, holding my breath, and peeked through the frosted glass panel. Erik had his back to the door. He was tinkering with a massive piece of hardware I had never seen before. It looked like a sleek, metallic helmet, wired directly into a stack of high-powered servers. The main monitor displayed a dizzying stream of raw data flowing into a glowing 3D model of a human brain. I pulled out my phone and quietly snapped a few photos. Suddenly, Erik spun around. I threw myself flat against the wall, but I was a second too slow. “Who is out there?” he snapped. I pressed my hands over my mouth, my heart hammering violently against my ribs. His heavy footsteps echoed as he marched toward the door. Just as the handle clicked, a voice called out from the opposite end of the corridor. “Mr. Mercer? Your food delivery is downstairs.” It was Gary. The footsteps stopped, then pivoted away. I seized the window and bolted into the women’s restroom, shaking uncontrollably. Once the coast was clear, I snuck out of the building and ran all the way to my apartment, too terrified to even look over my shoulder. Safe inside, I immediately checked my camera roll. Most of the shots were blurry garbage, but one captured the main monitor perfectly. I zoomed in. Right above the glowing 3D brain model was a distinct file name. Target: Rainey Woods. My phone hit the floor. I was right. Erik was literally hacking into my mind. But how was he doing it without touching me? And why me? My hands shook as I grabbed my notebook. I logged everything I saw, then set three aggressive alarms, absolutely terrified of what I might forget by morning. Right before I shut my eyes, I made a desperate move. I wrote a message on the last page, ripped it out, and shoved it under my mattress. “If you are reading this, remember. Erik is stealing your memories. The proof is in your photo gallery.” 04 I woke up feeling groggy. I couldn’t remember my dreams, but one specific visual was burned into my mind. I was in a dark, unfamiliar room, staring at a computer screen, editing a highly encrypted file. The document title was “Rainey Woods Memory Extraction Progress”. I bolted upright in bed, grabbed my notebook, and read the entry from last night. Seeing the photos on my phone brought the entire nightmare crashing back. I called Maggie immediately. “Maggie, I need a massive favor. Dig up everything you can find on Erik’s MIT research. Neural interfaces, memory extraction. Leave no stone unturned.” “What happened? You sound like you are about to have a panic attack.” “I saw him in the lab last night. He has this insane rig, and my name was literally on the monitor.” “I am completely positive he is using experimental tech to download my brain.” She went quiet. “Are you sure you didn’t just see a project file?” “Maggie, please. Just find the files.” “Okay. I will look. Just watch your back.” Hanging up, I made a solid decision. I was going to play the clueless victim today, but I was setting a lethal trap. When I got to work, I took a deliberate detour past Erik’s office. He wasn’t at his desk. His workspace was sterile, wiped completely clean. The only personal item was a heavy, biometric briefcase. I was just debating if I should risk touching it when a smooth voice echoed behind me. “Looking for something, Rainey?” I spun around, keeping my face perfectly neutral. “Oh, hey Erik. I brought over the weekly metrics, but I wasn’t sure if I should just leave them on your chair.” He took the invisible “metrics” from my empty hand with a knowing, condescending smirk. “Thanks. But maybe knock next time.” “Of course. Sorry for intruding.” I turned to walk away. “Hold on,” he called out. “Sleep well last night? Have any… vivid dreams?” My heart skipped a beat, but I forced a look of pure confusion. “Not really. Slept like a rock. Why?” “Just making conversation.” That slick, fake smile made me want to punch him. Back at my desk, I executed my plan. I opened my code editor and created a massive file named “Core Algorithm Final Build”. I stuffed it with thousands of lines of incredibly complex, totally useless garbage code. I pretended to review it obsessively, waiting to see if he would take the bait. At lunch, I faked a bathroom trip and looped past his glass office. Sure enough, he was glued to his monitors, typing frantically with a disgustingly smug look on his face. At three o’clock, our CEO, Mr. Harrison, called the engineering heads into the boardroom. Erik sat at the right hand of the boss, practically glowing with confidence. He shot me a smug glance across the table. “Alright team,” Mr. Harrison started. “We pitch the algorithm prototype to the venture capitalists next week.” “Erik, where do we stand?” Erik stood up, buttoning his suit jacket, and projected his laptop to the big screen. “We are in perfect shape. I just finished optimizing the final core logic, and the efficiency metrics are blowing our projections out of the water.” He began flipping through a deck of complex diagrams and data sets. It was word-for-word the garbage data I had planted in my fake file that morning. I clenched my fists under the mahogany table. He took the bait. The second the meeting wrapped, I texted Maggie. “Massive breakthrough. Meet me after work.” She replied instantly. “I have something huge too. See you at six.” At seven, Maggie drove us to a run-down diner on the edge of town, making sure nobody from the office could track us. “I pulled some serious strings,” she said, sliding a thick manila folder across the sticky table. “His MIT project was called ‘Cognitive Extraction and Transfer Protocols’. The university shut it down three years ago for severe ethical violations.” “His lead professor testified that the tech violated basic human rights and had terrifying potential for corporate espionage.” “I knew it!” I flipped through the classified documents, my pulse racing. “He is using that exact tech to strip-mine my brain!” “It gets worse.” Maggie pointed at a redacted NDA form. “His last employer? Horizon Dynamics. Our biggest market rival.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “He is a corporate rat.” “Exactly. I talked to my industry contacts. Horizon has been trying to launch a predictive model just like ours.” “But their backend is years behind us. If he steals your technical knowledge…” “He hands them the keys to crush us,” I finished her sentence. “And the dead-end project I am on right now? It actually houses the foundational architecture for our entire ecosystem.” “We have to take this to Mr. Harrison.” I shook my head. “Without hard proof, Harrison will laugh us out of the room. He thinks Erik walks on water.” “Then what do we do?” I stared at my cold coffee. “I have a plan.” “If he wants to dig around in my head, I am going to serve him something incredibly toxic.”

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1 I woke up on the cold, filthy floor of an abandoned kennel, my head throbbing. Harsh lights revealed dozens of Shiba Inus with sickly green eyes behind fences. Victoria stood a few yards away, her gaze icy. Beside her, Felix filmed me with a smirk. “Since you love dogs so much,” Victoria said flatly, “stay with them. They haven’t eaten in a week.” Felix chimed in with fake pity. “A saint like you wouldn’t fight back, even as they chew you to the bone.” Bitterness filled my mouth. My wife was trying to have me killed to avenge Felix—her secretary whose career I’d ruined days ago. I’d caught him torturing a stray, stepped in, and the video went viral. He was fired, and I was called a hero. Victoria hadn’t argued. She’d even agreed that keeping someone so cruel was a liability. Believing she’d finally seen the truth, I relaxed. Over a celebratory dinner, she handed me wine. One sip, and everything went black—landing me here. 2 Victoria scoffed, looking down at me like I was a bad joke. “Are you threatening me, Arthur? Don’t forget you brought this entirely on yourself.” She crossed her arms, her designer heels clicking on the metal grating of the catwalk above me. “You just had to play the hero, didn’t you? Felix was just blowing off some steam, messing around with a mutt. You blew it way out of proportion. Because of you, he got cyberbullied, lost his career, and can’t even walk down the street without getting harassed. And you? You didn’t feel an ounce of guilt. You just sat there soaking up the praise. You’re a snake, Arthur. And tonight, you’re going to learn your lesson.” She gestured to the cages. “You love animals so much? Look at them. They’ve been starved for seven days. Let’s see if you can keep up that saintly persona when they’re tearing chunks out of your legs.” I glanced at the massive monitor set up behind them, showing my own disheveled reflection on the live feed. A bitter laugh escaped my throat. Felix was a two-faced sociopath. I saw him with my own eyes, pressing a lit cigarette into that stray dog’s open wound just to get a sick kick out of it. I stopped him because it was the right thing to do. I didn’t ask anyone to film it, nor did I ask for it to go viral. But I didn’t regret a single second of it. Trash like him deserved to be dragged out into the light. I just never expected my own wife to be so utterly blind, throwing away her morals just to coddle him. Seeing me stay silent, Felix leaned over the railing, his face practically glowing with malice. “Did the big tough guy get scared speechless?” He turned to Victoria, putting on his best puppy-dog eyes. “Boss, do you think he’ll hold a grudge if we do this? Maybe we should just let it go. If he just gets on his knees, begs for my forgiveness on the live stream, and admits he framed me, we can let him walk.” Victoria looked at me with pure disgust. “You see that, Arthur? You’re not even half the man Felix is. Look how forgiving he is. He’s still thinking about your wellbeing.” She pointed a manicured finger at me. “Kneel. Apologize to the camera. Tell the world you orchestrated the whole thing. Tell them you faked the abuse to weaponize the internet against him. Do that, and I’ll open the door.” On the big screen, the viewer count was skyrocketing. The chat box was moving at lightspeed, filled with comments reacting to Victoria’s narrative. “Wait, so Arthur set the whole thing up because he was jealous? That’s sick.” “I can vouch for Felix! We went to college together. He wouldn’t hurt a bug. It had to be a deepfake or heavily edited!” “I work with Felix too! Arthur always used his status as the CEO’s husband to bully him and steal his accounts. Arthur is the real psycho!” I didn’t even need to guess. Felix had clearly bought a massive bot farm and paid off trolls to steer the narrative. Led by the fake accounts, the real viewers were starting to turn on me. “Cancel this guy immediately.” “Stop wasting time and release the hounds! Teach this manipulative loser a lesson. He’s an embarrassment to men everywhere.” My jaw clenched. I looked dead into Victoria’s eyes, my voice dripping with absolute defiance. “I will never apologize to a piece of trash.” Felix’s lips twitched upward, exactly as he had planned. Victoria’s face hardened, shocked that I would actually refuse her in front of thousands. She raised her right hand. “Then I’ll let the dogs keep you company.” 3 The heavy metal latches clacked open. The feral Shibas poured out of the cages. These weren’t the cute internet meme dogs. These were starving, desperate animals. Their ribs poked through their coats, saliva dripping from their bared teeth as their glowing eyes locked onto me. I backed up, my heart hammering against my ribs. Up on the catwalk, Felix was laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach, while Victoria watched with terrifying indifference, as if my life meant absolutely nothing to her. In a split second of distraction, the lead dog lunged. I threw my arm up on pure instinct. Jaws clamped down hard. I violently shoved the dog away, but a sickening rip echoed through the room as a chunk of my flesh went with it. “Ah!” I yelled, stumbling back as warm blood instantly soaked my sleeve. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. The pain was blinding, but the adrenaline cut through it. If I didn’t fight back right now, this pack was going to strip me to the bone. Spotting a rusted iron pipe near a support pillar, I sprinted for it. Another dog leaped at my throat. I swung the pipe like a baseball bat. The heavy metal connected with a brutal crunch. The dog hit the floor, yelping and thrashing before it finally stopped moving, a pool of dark blood pooling beneath its head. The rest of the pack flinched, barking frantically as they saw one of their own go down. They didn’t retreat, but they stopped charging, circling me slowly, waiting for my legs to give out. My palms were incredibly slick with sweat and blood, but I gripped the pipe tighter. I had to stay sharp. Buy time. On the screen above, the chat was absolutely losing its mind. “We finally see his true colors! If he really loved animals, he’d let them bite him. He just beat a dog to death!” “Dogs have rights too! They’re just hungry! How could he kill it just to save his own skin?” “His nice-guy act is completely shattered. What a monster.” The sheer stupidity of the internet was almost laughable. If I didn’t swing that pipe, I would be dead. I wasn’t some kind of martyr, and I didn’t plan on dying for a PR stunt. I just wanted to survive. Was that a crime now? Victoria’s voice boomed through the speakers again. “Kneel, Arthur! Apologize right now and I’ll pull them back!” I glared up at her, my eyes bloodshot. “In your dreams.” “You!” Victoria’s chest heaved with rage, her tone turning nasty. “You love playing the animal rights activist! Are you really going to slaughter these innocent dogs just to save yourself? You killed one. Are you going to kill a second? A third? Is this your so-called compassion?” I couldn’t believe the absolute mental gymnastics she was doing. She set this death trap up, yet she was lecturing me about morals? I let out a harsh laugh. “Tell me, Victoria! What exactly did I do to make you want me dead?” For a fraction of a second, she froze, unable to answer. But before she could find her words, a vicious glint flashed in Felix’s eyes. With a fake gasp, Felix tossed a handful of dried beef strips directly over the railing. They landed right at my boots. The scent of the meat hit the starving pack. Any hesitation they had vanished. They went completely rabid and swarmed. 4 I swung the pipe with everything I had, but there were simply too many of them. They came in waves, driven mad by the hunger. A set of teeth sank into my calf. Another clamped onto my waist. I staggered, losing my footing, and a heavy weight slammed into my back, jaws locking onto my shoulder blade. I was going down. The sea of fur and teeth was swallowing me whole. I gritted my teeth and let out a raw, guttural roar. “Ahhhh!” I thrashed violently, spinning and cracking the iron pipe blindly. I managed to shake off the dogs, but the cost was horrific. Flesh tore away with their teeth. I stumbled backward, my shredded shirt completely soaked in crimson. Sensing I was running on fumes, the Shibas scraped their claws against the concrete, preparing for the final leap. Up on the platform, Victoria finally realized this wasn’t a game. She gasped, her eyes going wide with panic. She grabbed the collar of her security chief. “You told me these dogs were well-fed and trained! You said they wouldn’t actually hurt him!” “I just wanted to scare him!” Her voice cracked. “Why are they attacking for real? Look at how much he’s bleeding! Arthur can’t handle pain like this. Make them stop! Tell them to stop right now!” The bodyguards exchanged nervous glances. Felix’s expression darkened for a second before he smoothly wrapped his arms around Victoria’s waist, burying his face in her neck. “He’s still your husband, huh? You still feel sorry for him? But he hasn’t even apologized to me yet.” He gently touched his bandaged forearm. “The trainers said the dogs just nip. It looks worse than it is, it’s just surface scratches. Does it really not matter what Arthur did to me? Because I’m just a nobody, I deserve to be ruined, right?” He forced a tear to roll down his cheek. “Even if the internet drove me to the brink of suicide, you still side with him.” Victoria melted instantly. She cupped his face, wiping the tear away. “No, baby, no. You’re the most important thing to me.” “Then let him fight them off for just a little longer,” Felix whispered softly. “Just until you’re not angry anymore. Please?” A sickeningly satisfied smile crept onto his face. The microphone picked up every word. I heard it all. The absolute betrayal carved a hole in my chest deeper than the bite marks. My wife knew I was in mortal danger, yet one fake tear from this parasite was all it took for her to let me bleed out. Victoria caught me looking at her and looked away guiltily. “You brought this on yourself, Arthur! It’s just a few scratches anyway. Compared to the mental torture Felix went through, this is nothing!” The chat was eating it up. “Oh, so it’s just a prank to scare him! Victoria is too nice. RIP to the dog that got killed though.” “Not gonna lie, Arthur’s acting is Oscar-worthy. I actually thought he was dying.” “Sit back and enjoy the show, guys. Let’s see what else this manipulative crybaby tries to pull.” My cuts were deep enough to see bone. I was painted in my own blood. Anyone with eyes could see these dogs were trying to rip my throat out. But Victoria was so brainwashed she genuinely believed I was just dealing with a few scrapes. Fine. If that’s how it was going to be, I had nothing left to hold back. I checked the shattered face of my watch. It was time. I made my choice. 5 Dropping my defensive stance, I let out a battle cry and charged headfirst directly into the thickest part of the pack. To the viewers, it looked like suicide. They thought I had lost my mind. Victoria slammed her hands on the railing, absolute terror washing over her. “Arthur, what are you doing?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” “They won’t kill you, but you’re making them crazy! Stop it! You’re insane!” I gave her one last, cold smirk before the wave of dogs overtook me. The camera could only capture a frantic blur of snarling muzzles, tearing fabric, and my muffled shouts. Victoria completely lost it. She screamed at her men, “Get down there! Cage them! He’s actually going to die!” The mood in the live chat suddenly shifted as reality set in. “Hold up… those don’t look like trained guard dogs. Trained dogs bite and hold. These things are shredding him.” “Look at the blood on the floor! That’s not a scratch, he just lost a chunk of his shoulder!” “Wait a minute… is this stream hijacked? The people defending Felix sound like literal bots. Who paid for this?” Victoria saw the comments turning. She glared at Felix, but there was no time to argue. She shoved her bodyguards toward the stairs. But the security chief was pale, his hands shaking. He wouldn’t move. “What is going on?!” Victoria shrieked. “Why are they so aggressive? Talk, or I’ll throw you in there myself!” The guard swallowed hard. “Ma’am… they’re not trained. They’re feral. They haven’t been fed in a week. Anyone who goes down there is going to get eaten alive.” Victoria stumbled back, her heels catching on the grating. “What are you talking about?” The guard looked nervously at Felix. The pieces finally clicked in Victoria’s head. Felix immediately turned on the waterworks, his eyes wide and innocent. “I just wanted to teach him a lesson! I told the kennel to skip their meals, but I didn’t know they would get this violent! Boss, I swear I didn’t mean to actually kill him!” Seeing his panicked, tear-stained face, Victoria’s anger evaporated. “I’m not blaming you… I just…” “Forget it,” she sighed, rubbing her temples. “You were just hurt. It’s not your fault.” Laying on the concrete, feeling teeth rake across my ribs, I heard every single word of her forgiveness. I didn’t even feel angry anymore. Just a cold, heavy numbness. My body was riddled with punctures. My fingers lost their grip, and the iron pipe clattered loudly against the floor. Just as my vision started to fade to black, the blaring wail of police sirens pierced the air outside the warehouse. The dogs pinned me down, snapping at my face, but I managed a bloody, savage smile. My ride was finally here.

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I was riding my bike near the campus gates to grab some afternoon takeout when a Porsche suddenly gunned its engine, speeding right at me. I swerved desperately, dodging once, twice, but the car was relentless. With a sickening crunch, both my bike and I were sent flying onto the pavement. The driver stepped out. My jaw clenched. It was Lexi, my gorgeous, popular college roommate. Instead of apologizing, she pointed a manicured finger at me and sneered. “Have you completely lost your mind, Sienna? You saw a luxury car and decided to throw yourself at it for an insurance payout?” My blood boiled. I reached for my phone, ready to dial the cops. Seeing this, she let out a loud scoff. In front of the gathering crowd of students, she pulled out an exclusive black credit card and threw it at my feet. “Consider it my bad luck running into a broke loser like you.” “The money on this card is enough to buy your life,” she mocked. “My boyfriend is the heir to Vanguard Industries. He runs this city. You pull a stunt like this again, and he will make sure you get kicked out of this university for good.” I picked up the sleek black card and examined it, a sharp, cynical laugh escaping my lips. This was absolutely hilarious. That Porsche? It was the exact one I had lent my boyfriend. This black card? Also mine. And the CEO of Vanguard Industries? He only had one child. Me. 1 I was just trying to grab a quick dinner on my bike when that Porsche purposely chased me down. I dodged a few times, but it clipped my back wheel, sending me crashing onto the curb. Luckily, I wasn’t badly hurt. But the driver seemed to hold a massive grudge against me. She reversed and drove over my fallen bike repeatedly until the carbon fiber frame was completely crushed into an unrecognizable heap. Furious and limping, I walked over and slammed my fist on her window. “Who the hell taught you how to drive? You did that on purpose.” The tinted window rolled down at a painfully slow pace, revealing a face I knew all too well. It was my roommate, Lexi, the reigning campus queen. She rolled her eyes, looking at me with pure disgust. “What is your problem, Sienna? You saw me driving a nice car and suddenly remembered you were out of grocery money? Don’t think I don’t know you threw yourself at my bumper.” I was genuinely speechless. She ran me over, crushed my property, and hadn’t even bothered to step out of the vehicle. I grabbed her designer blouse through the open window, yanking her toward me. “Get out of the car and look at what you did. Look at my bleeding leg. Look at my crushed bike. And you think I need your dirty money?” Lexi shoved my hands away, stepping out of the car with a dramatic sigh. She crossed her arms, looking me up and down. “You ride a piece of trash, yet you claim you aren’t broke. Who are you kidding? Open your eyes, peasant. This is a Porsche.” It was the first time in my life someone had called my ride a piece of trash. I chuckled darkly. “That ‘piece of trash’ is a custom Trek Butterfly. Even if you sold your soul, you couldn’t afford to replace it.” Lexi pouted her lips in mockery. “I don’t care if it’s a butterfly or a moth. It’s a stupid bicycle. How much could it possibly cost?” “Listen to yourself,” she sneered, projecting her voice. “All you care about is money. And you claim this isn’t a scam.” She dug into her designer purse, pulled out a couple of crisp hundred-dollar bills, and slapped them against my chest. “Take it. Consider it my charity for the week. Two hundred bucks should cover your cheap cafeteria meals for a while.” She shoved my shoulder hard, turning back to grab her door handle. “Now get lost. I have a date with my boyfriend, and I’m already late.” I slammed the car door shut right in her face, blocking her path. “Lexi, you are not leaving here until you give me a proper apology.” A sleek Porsche parked sideways at the campus gates naturally drew a massive crowd. Students were already filming on their phones. Instead of backing down, Lexi played the victim. She turned to the crowd, putting on a flawless distressed expression. “You guys have to help me. Sienna is totally out of her mind. She saw my car, deliberately threw herself at it, and now she is trying to extort me for cash! How does someone this trashy even go to our school?” I wiped a trickle of blood from my scraped knee, glaring daggers at her. “You deliberately ran me off the road. Are you blind?” “And drop the whole ‘luxury car’ act,” I shot back. “I have the exact same model.” The bystanders, swayed by Lexi’s flashy arrival and designer clothes, immediately took her side. Whispers and snickers broke out around me. “Everyone knows Sienna is on a work-study program. What a joke. She owns a Porsche? She is definitely trying to squeeze Lexi for cash.” My blood boiled. I worked at my own family’s corporation to gain experience, and somehow that got twisted into me being a charity case? And even if I were broke, how did that excuse her trying to run me over? Before I could defend myself, Lexi cut me off with a triumphant smirk. “Just because you sat in one doesn’t mean you own it, honey. I know you used to ride shotgun in Tristan’s Porsche.” She leaned against the car door, her eyes gleaming with malice. “But guess what? Tristan is my boyfriend now. And he told me he must have been blind to ever date someone like you.” Tristan. The guy who always acted so sweet, so obedient, so totally devoted to me. Lexi and I were never close. We lived in the same dorm, but we barely spoke. That was until two months ago when I started dating Tristan. Suddenly, she was always hovering, asking weirdly specific questions. “Tristan drives a Porsche? Is his family loaded?” “How did a guy like him fall for you? I am obviously way prettier.” I had brushed her off back then, trusting Tristan implicitly. I thought we had something real. I trusted him so much that I let him borrow my car and even gave him my black card to cover his expenses. And this was how he repaid me? By sleeping with my vain, shallow roommate? I glanced down at the license plate. The numbers matched perfectly. It was literally my car. He didn’t just cheat on me. He gave my car to his sidepiece to flaunt. The betrayal snapped something inside me. I raised my hand and slapped Lexi so hard the sound echoed across the street. “You steal another girl’s boyfriend and you parade around like you own the place. Who gave you the audacity?” Lexi gasped, clutching her stinging, red cheek. She glared at me like a cornered viper. “You can’t blame him for upgrading, Sienna. Have you never heard the saying? The one who isn’t loved is the real third wheel. And honestly? He never loved you.” She pulled out her phone, tapping the screen to play an audio message. Tristan’s voice blasted through the speakers. “I’m so sick of Sienna. She is so plain, she has zero fashion sense, and she is boring as hell. You are a million times hotter, baby.” “I never even liked her. She practically threw herself at me. I only said yes out of pity.” A cold chill washed over me. That was how he talked about me behind my back? After everything I did for him? The crowd of students gasped, their whispers growing louder and meaner. “Oh my god. Tristan is insanely rich. I can’t believe he actually dated someone as basic as Sienna.” “The heir to Vanguard Industries dating a broke, boring girl? She must have manipulated him somehow.” “Thank god they broke up. Lexi is way more his type.” I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. Tristan was dead to me. I would handle him later. Right now, I had to deal with the girl standing in front of me, driving my car, who had just used it as a weapon. I pointed a finger right at Lexi’s nose. “Keep that cheating garbage. You two deserve each other. But the fact that you hit me with this car? I am not letting that go.” Lexi casually inspected her manicured nails, utterly unbothered. “Please. You threw yourself at my car. Broke students like you love playing the victim for a quick payday.” “It is past six. I am already late for my date. You wasted my time, and you are going to apologize to me right now.” The crowd started jeering, backing her up. “Come on, Sienna. Lexi is rich and pretty. She has no reason to target you.” “I hate people who play the victim card. Just apologize and get it over with.” I gritted my teeth, pulling out my own phone. “Whether I am running a scam or not isn’t up to you, Lexi. And it isn’t up to these idiots either.” I pointed straight up at the security camera mounted on the campus gate. “We have HD footage right there. When the cops arrive, we will let them decide who is telling the truth.” I dialed emergency services right in front of her. For the first time, a flicker of panic crossed Lexi’s face. She stepped forward, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Sienna, I am warning you. A police record will ruin your future. You better think this through.” I let out a sharp scoff. “I am the victim here. Why would I worry about my record? You should be worrying about yours.” Lexi stomped her designer heel on the pavement. “Fine. I am not scared of you. My boyfriend is the heir to Vanguard. He practically owns this city. You cross him, and your life here is completely over.” I ignored her threats entirely and told the dispatcher our location. The police arrived quickly. They reviewed the security footage and immediately turned to reprimand Lexi. “What is wrong with you? A public street is not your personal playground.” They determined Lexi was completely at fault and ordered her to fully compensate me for the damages. Lexi crossed her arms, throwing a tantrum. “Why should I pay her? Do you know who my boyfriend is? If you mess with Tristan, you will all lose your badges.” The older officer rubbed his temples, completely unimpressed. “I don’t care if you are dating the president. You hit a pedestrian. You pay the fine.” Seeing her intimidation tactics fail, Lexi huffed, pulling out her designer wallet. She looked at me with absolute disdain. “Fine. How much do you want?” I glanced down at my scraped knees. The physical injuries were minor. I held up two fingers. Lexi burst into laughter. “Is that it? Two thousand dollars is what my boyfriend spends on a single pair of sneakers.” I nodded slowly. “I want two thousand for the medical expenses.” Lexi and the crowd erupted into fresh giggles. “This is pathetic. She finally hooks a rich guy and she doesn’t even know how to properly extort him.” “Two grand is probably a fortune to her. If she asked for more, Lexi’s boyfriend would probably sue her into oblivion anyway.” Lexi whipped out her phone and transferred the money to me instantly. “There. You have your precious money. Now stop obsessing over me.” “Running into a broke loser like you is seriously ruining my vibe.” She turned her back to me, reaching for the car door again. I stepped in front of her, my gaze icy. “Hold on. You haven’t paid for my bike yet.” Lexi rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “How much?” I held up three fingers. She didn’t hesitate, immediately wiring me three thousand dollars. “Done. Now back off, Sienna. If I ever see your ugly face on campus again, I will make you regret it.” I looked at the transfer receipt on my screen and smiled a genuine, chilling smile. I shook my head slowly. “Not three thousand, Lexi. Three million.”

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After three grueling years of fertility treatment in a Swiss clinic, I finally conceived. Overjoyed, I flew straight back to New York, eager to surprise Alexander. Society friends had warned me that in my absence, he’d grown close to a spoiled young secretary. I ignored them—Alexander used to dismiss anyone who displeased me with just a frown. But when I reached our Hamptons estate, the gate code had been changed. As I tried our anniversary date, the door swung open. A woman stood there wearing my silk robe, her gaze sharp and arrogant. “Where did this trash come from?” she shouted. “Get out, or I’ll set the dogs on you!” I laughed bitterly, chin raised. “Bring Alexander here. I want to ask my husband when he started bringing strays into our home—” And whether he still wanted the baby inside me, the heir he once begged for. 1 The massive Rottweilers behind the iron gate sensed her hostility and began barking viciously at me, emboldened by their master. Amber rolled her eyes, her lips curling in disgust. “Who do you think you are, lady? You think our CEO just sees anyone who wanders in off the street?” She looked me up and down, taking in my understated, unbranded travel clothes. “What the hell is estate security doing? Letting a beggar in cheap rags wander into an exclusive neighborhood!” My skin had always been painfully sensitive. Synthetic fabrics broke me out in terrible rashes. Because of this, Alexander used to commission a private tailor in Lake Como to handcraft all my garments from the softest, pure natural silks and cottons. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be humiliated for not wearing flashy designer logos. I nearly laughed out of pure fury. In all our years together, this was the very first time someone had dared to block me from seeing Alexander. I reached into my bag for my phone, ready to call my husband and demand an explanation. But as I pulled it out, the black screen stared back at me. It had died during the long flight. Without missing a beat, I held out my hand and ordered Amber to hand over her phone. “If you delay his business, you know exactly what the consequences will be.” My icy tone caught her off guard. For a split second, she froze, and I snatched the sleek phone right out of her manicured fingers. I dialed the number etched into my memory. Just as I was about to unleash my anger, Alexander’s deep, gentle chuckle came through the speaker, cutting me off. “I didn’t text you back for two minutes, and you’re already calling? Miss me that much?” His voice was like velvet. “I’m in a board meeting, babe. I’ll be home the second it’s over.” My hand trembled, and every word I wanted to say piled up in my throat, choking me. That tender, indulgent tone. If I wasn’t holding Amber’s phone, I would have sworn he was talking to me. In a flash, Amber snatched the device back, her voice instantly melting into a sickeningly sweet whine. “Then hurry up and come home! I want to eat the dinner you promised to cook for me!” She deliberately tapped the speakerphone button, making sure I heard every word. Listening to them flirt so effortlessly, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming. “Alexander, get back here this instant!” There was a brief pause on the line. Alexander’s voice shifted, sounding mildly confused. “Amber, is there someone else there with you?” Amber glared at me, her eyes venomous. “Just some crazy homeless woman. Don’t worry, I’m having her thrown out right now.” Alexander sighed dismissively. “Alright. Just keep it quiet. The company is in the middle of a massive merger, and a public scene is the last thing we need.” His utter indifference felt like a bucket of ice water crashing over my head. Just last month, he had flown all the way to Europe to hold my hand through the treatments, yet right now, he didn’t even recognize the sound of his own wife’s voice! I couldn’t hold back anymore. My voice cracked as I screamed into the receiver. “Alexander! You don’t want me anymore? Do you not even want your own child?” 2 The atmosphere plummeted into a freezing chill. When Alexander finally spoke, his tone was laced with absolute venom. “You have a lot of nerve, trying to pull a scam on me.” His voice was a razor blade. “That bastard is absolutely not mine. Amber, handle it. Get rid of her.” He still didn’t recognize me. A hollow, self-deprecating laugh escaped my chest. “If that’s how it is, then there is no reason for this baby to exist.” Alexander remained completely unbothered. “Some random stray’s kid. Do whatever you want, you’d be doing the world a favor.” My fingernails dug so hard into my palms that they broke the skin. I never thought the man who promised me the world would casually refer to his own flesh and blood as a stray. He had no idea that the child growing inside my womb was the only legacy he would ever have. Alexander suffered from severe sterility. For five agonizing years of marriage, we had tried and failed. The Kensingtons were a proud, old-fashioned family, desperate for a male heir. When the diagnosis came out, his parents were beside themselves with grief. It was only after their relentless, tearful begging that I agreed to go into isolation in Europe. I endured three years of needles, hormones, and heartbreak before finally securing this one viable pregnancy. I thought coming home would be the greatest joy of his life. Instead, the surprise he gave me was fatal. Just as I resolved to call my lawyers and draft a divorce settlement, Amber hit the end call button with a sharp click. Her eyes blazed with malice. Without warning, her hand flew out, slapping me across the face so hard my head snapped to the side. “I knew you were just a gold-digging whore! Trying to pin your filthy bastard on the CEO!” I had been born into unimaginable wealth. From the day I took my first breath, nobody had ever dared to lay a finger on me. Shaking with pure rage, I stepped back and slammed my fist into the emergency security terminal mounted on the brick pillar. Amber didn’t even try to stop me. She just crossed her arms and smirked. “You stupid bitch. You clearly haven’t done your research on what the Kensington name means in New York.” “Forget one slap. Even if I beat you to death right here on the driveway, nobody would dare say a word!” I stared at her, my eyes cold and dead. The Kensingtons had money, sure. But my family was an institution. Marrying Alexander was considered a massive step down for a Armitage. Every single successful corporate bid, every open door in his career, was paved with my family’s influence. Even the head of security for this very estate was someone I had personally promoted because of his diligent service. Within three minutes, a golf cart roared up the driveway. A squad of security guards jumped out. I scanned their faces, my brow furrowing. Mr. Davis, the man I knew, wasn’t among them. Before I could demand to see him, Amber immediately threw herself at the lead guard, her voice taking on a sickening, whiny pitch. “Brando! It’s this disgusting woman! She dragged her pregnant belly here, screaming that the baby belongs to the CEO! I can’t get her to leave!” Disgusted by her pathetic act, I spoke up, my voice dripping with authority. “Call your manager, Mr. Davis, right now. Have him come down here and confirm whether or not I am Mrs. Kensington!” The burly guard paused, looking confused. “Mr. Davis is out of state for a convention. How do you know him?” Amber spat on the ground near my feet. “No wonder you managed to sneak past the gates! You’ve been sleeping with the security manager! I bet the bastard in your belly belongs to him!” One of the younger guards muttered under his breath. “Doesn’t Mr. Davis have a wife?” Amber cackled loudly. “So she’s a habitual homewrecker! Used up and thrown away, so now she’s trying to find a billionaire to foot the bill!” My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. I tried to speak over the noise. “I am not a mistress. I am Serena Armitage, the woman Alexander begged on his knees to marry!” But the gathering crowd of staff and guards only exchanged mocking glances. “Pretty face, but absolute trash on the inside.” “She actually picked a fight with Miss Amber? That’s a death wish. Everyone knows the CEO treats Miss Amber like royalty.” “He literally moved her into the master suite. They’re basically practically married. This crazy ex-fling must have found out and came to throw a tantrum!” Hearing the crowd validate her status, Amber’s expression twisted into pure, arrogant malice. She lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of my hair and delivering several brutal slaps across my face. “You filthy whore! I knew you were here to ruin my life!” 3 Her long, sharp acrylic nails dragged down my cheek, tearing the skin. Warm blood pooled in the corner of my eye, turning my vision into a hazy, crimson nightmare. Still not satisfied, Amber reached down and unclipped the heavy leather leashes. “They haven’t had their dinner yet. Let’s see how you taste!” The moment the restraints fell away, the massive Rottweilers lunged. A horrifying set of jaws snapped open right in front of my face. I threw my arm up instinctively, and razor-sharp teeth sank deep into my flesh, tearing through muscle. Amidst the blinding agony and terror, a sharp, terrifying cramp ripped through my lower abdomen. The pregnancy had always been high-risk. The specialists had warned me that the slightest trauma or stress could cause a miscarriage. In that terrifying moment, I felt the sickening warmth of blood pooling between my legs. Seeing the blood, one of the guards panicked and stepped in. “Hey, don’t kill her on the property. Let’s just drag her out to the curb.” Amber scoffed loudly, and immediately, another guard tried to kiss up to her. “What are you scared of? Miss Amber is the boss’s true love. Last week, some socialite outbid her for a necklace, and the next morning that same woman was on her knees begging Miss Amber for forgiveness!” “Even if this trash dies, the CEO will cover it up. You have nothing to worry about!” The lead guard, Brando, stepped forward, grabbing my good arm and violently dragging me toward the estate gates. “Amber is my cousin, which makes the CEO practically family! A homewrecking slut like you deserves to be taught a permanent lesson!” My scalp burned in agony as Amber followed closely, staring at my bleeding face with a sick, jealous glimmer in her eyes. “His actual wife couldn’t even keep him, what makes a cheap hooker like you think you stand a chance?” I froze, the physical pain momentarily eclipsed by shock. “You know he’s married?” Amber laughed, a shrill, ugly sound. “Some aging, miserable housewife he got bored of years ago! Why else do you think he shipped her off to Europe?” Alexander had never even told her. He never mentioned that his wife went away to endure endless medical torture just to give him the family he wanted. Before I could form a sentence, a dark, murderous shadow crossed Amber’s face. “You really thought you could use a baby to secure a bag! I’m telling you right now, you don’t have the luck for it!” She drew her leg back and kicked me squarely in the stomach. The impact sent me collapsing to the pavement. A wave of indescribable agony crashed over me, and I felt the fragile spark of life inside me rapidly fading away. Panic seized my throat. “The baby is Alexander’s! I swear to God! Call an ambulance! If this baby dies, he will ruin every single one of you!” Seeing the sheer amount of blood staining the concrete, the crowd murmured nervously. Brando turned back and roared at them. “This is Kensington family business! If anyone pulls out a phone to call the cops, you’re dead!” He shoved my face hard against the rough asphalt, pinning me down. He looked up at Amber with a pathetic grin. “Take your time, cousin. Have fun.” A relentless rain of blows fell upon my head and back. My face was numb, battered completely out of shape. Amber’s eyes shone with a manic, sadistic thrill. She turned to the terrified onlookers, her voice echoing over the manicured lawns. “This is what happens when you try to seduce the CEO! If I catch anyone else looking his way, they’ll end up worse than this bitch!” Panting heavily, she pointed a manicured finger at Brando. “Strip her. Rip her clothes off and throw her out on the main road! Since she loves acting like a whore, let her show it all off!” I gripped the collar of my torn shirt with trembling, bloodied fingers, using the absolute last ounce of my strength to fight back. “Don’t touch me! I am not a mistress!” Realizing I was about to be dragged completely out of the gated community, I desperately screamed a phone number at the surrounding crowd. “Call this number! Tell them what’s happening here! Whoever makes the call gets a million dollars in cash!” 4 Someone in the back of the crowd clicked their tongue. “Is she seriously trying to call for backup?” The onlookers burst into cruel laughter. “Backup? Who the hell is going to show up? Who in this city has more power than the Kensingtons?” Amber sneered, digging the toe of her designer heel into my ribs. “You stupid bitch, you just can’t drop the act, can you? Look at the rags you’re wearing. Who exactly are you going to summon?” Ignoring the searing pain, I stared wildly at the hesitant faces in the crowd and doubled the stakes. “Ten million! Whoever makes that call gets ten million dollars!” Before the words fully left my mouth, Amber delivered a brutal kick to my jaw. My vision spun wildly into a blur of dark colors, and I spat out a mouthful of blood and a broken tooth. “Keep lying! Your entire miserable life isn’t even worth a hundred bucks!” “Tear her clothes off! Now!” Brando and his goons wore sickening, predatory grins as they reached down, their rough hands grabbing at my ruined garments. Someone in the crowd had even pulled out their phone, starting a live stream, loudly bragging that the internet was about to see how homewreckers were dealt with in high society. Just as the fabric of my shirt began to tear, a sleek black Maybach glided smoothly to a halt right at the neighborhood entrance. A refined, distinctly cold voice drifted through the air, carrying a trace of weary indulgence. “Didn’t I tell you to keep this quiet?” Alexander stood by the open car door, his bespoke suit immaculate. He only had to slightly furrow his brow for the entire crowd to instantly hold their breath in terrified silence. Amber’s entire demeanor flipped. Like a frightened little bird, she rushed over and clung to his arm, burying her face in his shoulder. “Alexander, this woman was being so disgusting! She was screaming awful things, ruining your reputation in front of all these people! I only did it to protect you!” Alexander’s cold expression instantly softened into complete adoration. He reached out, gently stroking her hair. “You, always with that fiery temper. You just know I’ll always clean up your messes, don’t you?” His tone of absolute indulgence struck me like a physical blow to the heart. Years ago, I was known in our social circles as the untouchable, fiery Armitage heiress. Back then, Alexander had protected me exactly like this. He had always been the one to stand behind me, smoothing over my reckless moments. He once stood in a ballroom full of elites and declared to the world: “If anyone wrongs you, you hit them back twice as hard. Let’s see who dares to touch you.” Everyone in the city knew that offending the ruthless Alexander Kensington was dangerous, but crossing the Armitage heiress was a true death sentence. I never imagined that the fierce, unconditional protection that once belonged solely to me would be handed so freely to another woman. The last ember of hope inside me turned to ash. Whatever lingering love I held for Alexander evaporated into thin air. Alexander finally cast a brief, annoyed glance in my direction. “Is this the crazy woman you were talking about?” My face was swollen and mangled almost beyond recognition. My clothes were soaked in blood and dirt. In that brief, dismissive glance, he didn’t recognize his own wife. Seeing Alexander look at me for more than a second, Amber quickly tugged at his sleeve to reclaim his attention. “Yes! That’s the bitch! I was just about to go live and show the world what happens to trash like her!” Alexander looked away from me, entirely indifferent. “Let the security handle the trash. Don’t dirty your own hands.” Amber beamed with triumphant joy, clinging to him tighter. “She’s so crazy, she actually told everyone she was Mrs. Kensington!” The air around Alexander instantly turned lethal. “Serena is the only woman who holds the title of Mrs. Kensington. Anyone who dares to drag my wife’s name through the mud is asking to die.” Seeing his sudden, terrifying rage over my name, a flash of twisted jealousy crossed Amber’s face. She hastily changed the subject. “I know, I know, I was just so mad. Come on, let’s go inside. Didn’t you say you were going to cook for me?” As she turned away, she shot a quick, meaningful glare at the guards. Taking the cue, the men immediately lunged at me again, grabbing at my torn clothes. I thrashed violently against the pavement, a hoarse, broken sob tearing from my ruined throat. Alexander walked right past me, his arm wrapped tightly around Amber’s waist. He didn’t spare me a single backward glance. I curled into a fetal position, my trembling hands hovering over my flat, aching stomach. Bitter, agonizing tears carved tracks through the dirt and blood on my face. I’m so sorry, my baby. I’m sorry your mother was blind enough to choose a man with such a hollow heart. Perhaps it is a mercy that you never have to see this cruel world. Just as the fabric of my skirt ripped with a sickening sound, a massive convoy of imposing, midnight-black vehicles aggressively boxed in the entrance. The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs. “Who is that? That convoy costs more than the Kensington estate!” “That custom silver Rolls-Royce… there’s only one in the entire state! And that vintage license plate, you can’t just buy that kind of old money!” Alexander stopped dead in his tracks. Watching the figure step out of the lead vehicle, the color completely drained from his face. He instinctively dropped Amber’s arm and hurried forward, his posture submissive. “Mother Armitage, what brings you…” SMACK! A vicious, echoing slap struck Alexander across the face. The entire street plunged into dead silence.

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Lenore and I had a deal: a child-free marriage. For ten years, that was our truth. Then she came home with mixed-race twins. “It’s for the company, Noah. They belong to an overseas partner,” she said calmly. The betrayal cut deep. “How could you?” “What’s a small sacrifice for my career?” she replied, a cold smile on her lips. “Be honored to contribute.” Her parents, our friends, even my lawyer turned against me: “You’re being selfish.” “Be the bigger man.” “Without that pact, she’d have never married you.” “Just cut ties with them, Lenore. I don’t want a divorce,” I pleaded. She slid off her wedding ring and set it on the table. “They’re my flesh and blood. You’ve never understood me.” Her gaze was icy, detached. “If you force me, I’ll leave.” I looked at the ring, then at her. “Fine,” I said, the word raw. “Let’s get a divorce.” … “Noah, search your conscience,” her father sneered, his voice cutting through the tense air of the living room. “What have you ever truly contributed to this family, to the company? Now we ask for one small sacrifice, and you fall apart?” “Noah, just calm down,” Mark, my supposed friend, muttered, clapping a hand on my shoulder. Her father piled on, his voice dripping with contempt. “This is a strategic alliance, don’t you get it? Most men would kill for this kind of opportunity! And here you are, throwing a tantrum.” “Noah, I know this is hard for you,” Lenore said, her voice a practiced performance of distress. “But I had no choice. When the news leaked that you were sterile, the company’s stock plummeted. I had to do something.” I squeezed my eyes shut, the scene feeling like a surreal nightmare. Ten years ago, it was Lenore with tears in her eyes. “Noah, I can’t live without you, but my career… it’s everything to me. Can we just… not have kids? Please?” Back then, I had a promotion on the table, a fast-track position at headquarters. My boss told me my potential was limitless. But that night, Lenore wrapped her arms around me, her voice a soft, manipulative whisper. “Noah, that promotion… could you let Richards have it? The company is at a critical stage. I need you here, by my side.” To help her solidify Knightwood Industries’ position in Westwood, I gave up my future. For ten years, I became her shadow, her support system. I cooked, I cleaned, I ran our home like a well-oiled machine so she could conquer the world. I was her rock. I endured the constant jabs from her parents without a single complaint. “For God’s sake, Noah, show some ambition! You spend all day in the kitchen like some… househusband!” “Can’t you get a real career? This aimless act is pathetic!” They’d say these things right at my own dinner table, and Lenore would just watch, a silent observer, never once defending me. Back then, I told myself that as long as her career was thriving, their opinions didn’t matter. Five years ago, their attitude shifted. The insults stopped, replaced by a sudden, cloying warmth. I was naive enough to think they had finally seen my worth, my sacrifice. The truth was far uglier. Lenore had already started sleeping with someone else. The company was already on its way to becoming an industry titan. And the man she was sleeping with? It was Richards. The same man she’d asked me to step aside for, all those years ago. “You have to accept this, Noah. For the children, and for the company,” Lenore delivered her final ultimatum, her voice absolute, leaving no room for argument. At the emergency board meeting, she stood at the head of the long, polished table, a picture of power and control. “To deepen our partnership with the André Group, I have decided to bring on two new strategic partners,” she announced, her red lips forming the words with chilling precision. The projector flared to life. Two faces, the faces of mixed-race children, filled the screen. Those eyes… they were a mirror of Lenore’s. “They are Mr. André’s children, Ryan and Lily,” she continued, her voice unwavering. “From this day forward, they will officially join the Knightwood family.” The doors flew open with a bang that made everyone jump. Lenore turned, her brow furrowing in annoyance when she saw me. There was no surprise in her eyes, only impatience. “What are you doing here?” “Lenore, you tell me what the hell is going on with those kids!” She coolly set down the remote and looked at me, her expression a mask of indifference. Her lips parted. “They are my children.” I stumbled back, my legs threatening to give out. She repeated it, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. “Five years ago, the company was on the brink of collapse. I went overseas to ask André for help. He saved us.” “So you just… you betrayed our marriage? Our vows?” “Betrayed you?” She let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Noah, I’ve kept you in a gilded cage since the day we were married, making sure you never wanted for anything. Don’t you dare accuse me of betrayal.” Seeing my stunned silence, her expression softened, a calculated shift into practiced tenderness. “Noah, I know this is a shock. But you have to believe me, I did all of this for us. For our home. For the future of the company.” She moved toward me, reaching for my hand. I flinched away as if her touch would burn me. “Noah, don’t be angry, okay? Look how adorable the children are. They’re your family now, too.” Her voice was laced with a coying sweetness that turned my stomach. Family? Her children with another man were now my family? I was the only one in this room who was truly an outsider. “Lenore’s right, Noah. Don’t be so stubborn,” one of the board members chimed in, his face a mask of condescending sympathy. “Mr. André is an international powerhouse. This partnership is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Knightwood Industries! As Lenore’s husband, you should be supporting her, not making a scene!” another one added, patting my arm as if I were a child. “Yeah, Noah, you can’t be this selfish!” “What’s a little personal drama compared to the success of the company?” “Look at everything Lenore has sacrificed! And you’re still not satisfied?” One by one, they turned on me. These same men who had always greeted me with forced smiles and fawning respect were now sneering, their words like stones. I suddenly remembered them using the exact same tone ten years ago, urging me to “think of the bigger picture,” to “make a small sacrifice for the greater good” when I gave up my promotion. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to a friend. The second the divorce is final, I’m back in the game. Just then, the doors opened again. André stood there, flanked by the two smiling twins. “Thank you all for coming to witness this special day for my two children,” André said in perfect, unaccented English. He lavished praise on Lenore, calling her a “magnificent mother.” Her parents were beaming, fussing over André as if he were a king. The way they looked at me? With disgust. Contempt. Like I was a piece of trash spoiling their perfect family portrait. “Ryan, Lily, say hello to Grandpa and Grandma,” Lenore prompted gently. “Grandpa! Grandma!” The two sweet, childish voices were like daggers in my heart. They had a grandpa and grandma. What about me? What was I? A joke to be thrown out with the garbage? A failure abandoned by his wife, his in-laws, by everyone? André stood beside Lenore, his arm possessively around her shoulders, watching the happy scene unfold. “Ryan, Lily, do you like it here? This is your new home now!” her mother cooed, stroking the children’s hair with a loving smile. “We love it! Grandpa and Grandma are the best!” Ryan chirped, and her parents melted. “You know, Noah, Lenore and Mr. André make such a handsome couple,” a relative whispered loudly nearby, their voice dripping with sycophantic praise. “They really do! A true power couple!” “Honestly, this is how it should have been all along. Strength attracts strength!” “Shh, keep your voice down, Noah might hear you…” “So what if he does? What’s a freeloader like him going to do about it?” I turned, needing to escape the suffocating room. “Noah, where are you going?” Lenore’s voice called after me, thick with false concern. “It’s stuffy in here. I’m just stepping out for some air. I’ll be back.” When I returned, I overheard Lenore’s announcement. “…and to show my gratitude for Mr. André’s unwavering support, and to secure a bright future for Ryan and Lily…” “…I have decided to transfer 50% of my personal shares in Knightwood Industries. 20% will go to Ryan, and 20% to Lily.” Just like that. With a few careless words, she erased everything I had ever worked for. “Furthermore, I will be gifting an additional 10% to Mr. André himself. May our two companies grow and prosper together!” Her parents’ faces were masks of pure, unadulterated greed. The board members erupted in cheerful congratulations, falling over themselves to praise André and Lenore. “Mr. André and Lenore, a match made in heaven! This is a true merger of titans!” “Congratulations, Mr. André! And to Lenore, for her beautiful children and her business acumen!” André tightened his grip on Lenore’s waist, basking in the adoration. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for your generosity, my dear. I assure you, the André Group will give Knightwood its full and unconditional support.” My nails dug into my palms, the sharp pain grounding me. A piece of those shares was mine. I had earned them through sleepless nights, endless revisions of business plans, and thankless grunt work. And she was giving them away like party favors. The relatives swarmed me, their faces plastered with fake smiles. “You see, a real man is decisive, a man of action. Like Mr. André!” I grabbed a glass of whiskey and downed it in one gulp. Then another. And another. “Well, well, if it isn’t Mr. CEO-in-waiting,” a slimy voice slurred next to me. “Drinking all alone?” It was Richards. The same man who used to trail after me like a puppy, calling me “boss” with sickening sweetness. “Here,” he said, raising his glass. “Let me propose a toast. To you… finding a new meal ticket soon!” He drained his glass, his eyes mocking me. The sight of his smug face made my stomach churn. I shoved him aside and stumbled out of the banquet hall, gasping for fresh air. My phone buzzed. It was Lenore. “Noah, where are you? Let me come get you.” Her voice was the same gentle purr it had always been. She found me slumped on a park bench down the street. “Noah, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me take you home.” She was still in her stunning evening gown, her makeup flawless. The contrast between her elegance and my disheveled state was a cruel joke. “Don’t touch me!” I spat, pulling my arm away like she was poison. Lenore froze for a second, then quickly rearranged her features into a mask of concern. “Noah, I know you’re hurting, but what’s done is done. We have to…” “We?” I cut her off, my voice a raw whisper. “There is no ‘we’ anymore, Lenore. What’s left between us? Tell me!” She opened her mouth, then closed it again. I looked at her, and my mind flashed back to the early days. The company was just a startup, bleeding money. To support her dream, I gave up my own and worked alongside her, chasing clients, begging for investments. I remembered one time, we pulled three all-nighters in a row to land a major contract. I was so exhausted I could barely see straight, but I kept brewing coffee and organizing her files. “Lenore, you should get some sleep. I’ll finish up,” I had mumbled. She had looked at me with such tenderness then, shaking her head. “I can’t. I’ll stay with you.” Back then, I was her entire world. I grabbed her shoulders, my grip desperate. “Lenore, let’s try again. I’ll reverse the vasectomy. We can have our own child, a real family!” I stared into her eyes, searching for a flicker of the woman I once knew. But she just gently pushed my hands away, her face a carefully constructed mask of pity. “Noah, don’t be silly. I can’t have children anymore. Just accept Ryan and Lily. They can be your children, too…” She paused, her gaze shifting away for a fraction of a second. Her voice dropped. “Besides… what can you really offer me now? What can you bring to Knightwood Industries? I… I can’t afford to wait any longer.” The air went still. She turned to the two security guards standing behind her. “Take him home.” The next day, Lenore brought Ryan and Lily to the house. She said it was to help them “bond” with me, but the children looked at me like I was something they’d scraped off their shoe. “This is our new house? It’s so small! André’s house has a pool bigger than this,” Lily whined, her pretty face twisted in a sneer. Ryan was even more direct. He crossed his arms and looked down his nose at me. “So, Mom, is this the… ‘dad’ you were talking about?” He dragged out the word with theatrical disdain. Lenore forced a laugh. “Ryan, Lily, this is your… Uncle Noah.” “Uncle?” Ryan scoffed. “Didn’t you say he wouldn’t be part of our family for much longer?” I turned and walked away, heading for the sanctuary of my study. But when I pushed open the door, my world shattered. Bookshelves were overturned, my collection of years scattered across the floor like garbage. An ink bottle had been smashed, its black contents splattered across the walls and floor in grotesque, spiderweb patterns. And in the middle of the wreckage stood Ryan and Lily, not a hint of remorse on their faces. “What are you doing?!” I roared, my voice raw with disbelief. Lily jutted her chin out. “We’re helping you clean! This junk should have been thrown out years ago!” Ryan took it a step further. He picked up one of my most prized possessions, a rare first-edition novel, and deliberately ripped a page out. He crumpled it into a ball and threw it at me. “You’re an old relic, just like this trash. What’s the point of any of it? Can it make you a man again?” “Get out!” I pointed a trembling finger at the door. “GET OUT!” Lenore rushed in at the sound of my shouting. The instant she appeared, Ryan and Lily burst into crocodile tears. “Mommy, he’s a mean man! He yelled at us! We want to go see Uncle André!” “Noah, how dare you raise your voice to children!” Lenore snapped, pulling the two sobbing kids into a protective embrace. “This is their home now. If anyone should get out, it’s you!” She swept out of the room with them. I stared at the empty, cavernous house. I walked over to my desk, pulled out the divorce papers, and signed my name. Then, I opened my phone and blocked her number. “Mark,” I said into the phone, my voice steady for the first time in days. “Get the jet ready. I’m on my way.”

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When I opened my eyes, I was back—back to the day my brother Ian was about to sign up for the international boxing tournament. This time, I snatched the form and wrote my own name over his. In my past life, Ian had a system that let him transfer all his pain to me. Every blow he took, I felt. It made him a $25 million-per-fight champion, while I became a walking case of chronic pain, covered in bruises no one could see. My family dismissed my suffering. When I told them the truth, they said I was just jealous, cracking under pressure. “Pain transfer? If that were real, cancer patients wouldn’t need morphine,” they’d say. Each of his fights was my hell. Once, the agony sent me to the ER with a cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors were baffled; they thought I was self-harming. It ended the day Ian, drunk on fame, took on five opponents at once. He won—spectacularly. But I was the one who paid. My body gave out, my skull fractured, and I died right there in the crowd. 1 Just before he was supposed to register, Ian spammed the family group chat with videos of his training sessions. As I watched, a phantom bruise bloomed around my left eye, and a deep, bloating pain radiated from my stomach. It was Saturday morning. I had just woken up, planning to go downstairs for a quiet breakfast. Even reborn, it seemed, my fate was still tethered to his. Anytime he got hurt, the wounds and the agony manifested on me. A tremor ran through me, my scalp prickling with dread. In the group chat, Ian kept posting. There he was, in a workout tank, eyes feral as he unleashed a flurry of blows on a punching bag. He looked like a god of war. [Dad, Mom, I was born for this. One opponent is a joke. Watch me show you what I can really do.] He followed up with more arrogant texts. My aunt immediately chimed in, fawning like a groupie. [Ian, you’re incredible! If my son were half as driven as you, I’d be living the high life by now.] Then came a photo: Ian, holding the boxing registration form to his chest, boasting that he was about to spar with two opponents at once. I threw on my clothes and raced to his training gym. If he kept this up, I was a dead man walking. In the car, I pulled up the news on the international tournament. Reborn, I wouldn’t let myself be a victim again. And I would uncover the truth behind my death. When I walked into the gym, my parents were already there, their faces glowing with pride as they cheered Ian on. The moment their eyes met mine, their expressions curdled into contempt. “Alex, we told you not to bother your brother while he’s training,” my father snarled. “You’re just a paper-pusher with a dead-end job. You’re not even in the same league as him. Get out.” 2 “Your brother has a major competition coming up,” my mother added, her voice sharp as glass. “This is the most critical time for his training. If you distract him, I swear I’ll have your hide!” In my past life, after Ian graduated from the sports academy, my parents pinned all their hopes on him. They secretly transferred my entire life savings, thirty thousand dollars, to his account. He needed it, they said, for “proper nutrition” to fuel his grueling training. When I demanded my money back, my father slapped me across the face. “Your brother is making this family proud! So he used your thirty grand? If he wins this fight, the prize is twenty-five million dollars! What’s your pathetic savings compared to that?” Back then, Ian’s training videos were all over social media and the family chat. Even if I tried to ignore them, I couldn’t escape. But then things got strange. After every match, every sparring session, my body would erupt in crippling pain. Sometimes I couldn’t even walk. Then came the cerebral hemorrhage. The doctors told me it was the kind of injury caused by a severe impact, and they warned me to avoid all strenuous activity. I tried talking to my parents again. They just rolled their eyes, convinced I was consumed by jealousy. They had become his managers, negotiating his contracts and appearance fees. They were terrified I would sabotage their cash cow. More than once, I collapsed at home, convulsing in agony, only to be found by a neighbor who rushed me to the hospital. The doctors would lecture me, assuming I was some fitness fanatic who was pushing my body to its breaking point. It all culminated in that final fight. Ian, in a fit of showboating, demanded to fight five opponents simultaneously. The referee agreed, announcing that a victory would double his prize money. That day, my body was pulverized. My soul drifted upwards, and I watched as my parents embraced Ian, tears of joy streaming down their faces. He was the world champion. They moved into a mansion, draped themselves in gold, and lived a life of luxury. They never even bothered to claim my body, letting it be disposed of in an unmarked grave. Back then, I couldn’t understand what I had done to deserve such a fate. But now, I didn’t care. He wanted my life? Fine. I’d drag him to hell with me. I stormed into the training room, ripped the registration form from his hand, and tore off my shirt, throwing it to the ground. “Ian,” I said, my voice thick with false emotion, “you’re my brother. Seeing you work this hard for the competition… it breaks my heart. I’ve decided I’ll fight in your place. I’ll take on all the hardship. You just stay home and enjoy your life.” Ian froze, his fist hovering in mid-air. He stared at me, bewildered. “Alex, the fight is next month. I’m training. This isn’t some game. You, fight for me? Are you trying to be funny?” I ignored him and strutted in front of his coach. My well-defined eight-pack immediately caught his eye. I’d always been a gym rat, and my physique was naturally more imposing than Ian’s—taller, with leaner, more powerful muscles. And frankly, I was better looking. At this point, Ian was only a local gym hero, hyped up by family and friends. The coach’s eyes, however, were on me now. He nodded slowly, a look of appreciation on his face. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” 3 Ian respected his coach too much to argue. He stepped out of the ring, giving me the floor. I tossed aside the headgear, the gloves, the mouthguard, and the groin protector—all the gear Ian never fought without. I was all in. I needed to know if this system worked both ways. If I took a beating, would the marks appear on him? I started sparring with one of the guys and quickly gained the upper hand. The coach clapped, impressed. “You’re not a pro, but your form is solid. You’ve got real potential.” I shot Ian a smug look. “See? Even your coach thinks so. I bet I can win this thing. And if I do, you can have all the prize money. How about it?” My parents had invited all our relatives to watch. Now, their attention was entirely on me. Ian’s face darkened with humiliation. I studied him, looking for any sign of pain from the punch I had just taken. Nothing. He was just glaring at me, looking like he wanted to rip my head off. Was it because one punch wasn’t enough? “Let’s get the other three guys in here,” I announced. “I’m ready for all of them.” Ian panicked. “Alex, what if you get killed?” “How about this,” I proposed, “You and I fight. Winner takes all. The loser quits boxing for life.” He started to put on his headgear and climb into the ring, but I pushed him back down. “Ian, I’m doing this for you,” I said, my voice dripping with concern. “Mom and Dad love you. You’re my baby brother. What would they do if you got seriously hurt? Haven’t you seen what happens to boxers? Guys go blind, some even die in the ring. It’s brutal.” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, secretly pinching my own thigh hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. “Boxing can be your hobby, but I can’t let it destroy you.” The relatives were moved. Some of them were actually crying. They applauded me, calling me a wonderful, caring brother. They told Ian to sit down and let me take his place. Ian pleaded with our parents, but they had already heard the coach mention the possibility of “double the prize money.” Their eyes were gleaming with greed. All they cared about was the payout. Who actually fought didn’t matter. The fact that I, the “failure,” had more potential than their professional son was just an unexpected bonus. But after a few rounds, I was getting dizzy from the blows. I glanced over at Ian. He was just standing there, face a mask of fury, showing no signs of discomfort. This wasn’t right. I was taking a beating, and he was completely fine. So, it was a one-way street. My injuries didn’t affect him at all. Only the pain he was supposed to feel transferred to me. Once I was thoroughly exhausted, I called a stop to the session. “That was a great training session, guys. Thanks for your cooperation. That last hook taught me a lot about my defensive reflexes. Let’s call it a day and pick this up tomorrow.” With that, I made a quick exit. As soon as I was out of sight, I collapsed in an alley, gasping for breath. 4 It was three in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. If I didn’t figure this out, I was going to die, and I wouldn’t even know how. On my way to the bathroom, it felt like a sledgehammer slammed into my head. Stars exploded behind my eyes. I steadied myself against the wall, only for a nauseating pain to erupt in my stomach. My temples throbbed, and it felt like a dull knife was twisting between my bones, tugging at my organs with every movement. I fumbled for the painkillers and swallowed two, but the familiar relief never came. Instead, the pain crashed over me in a fresh wave, more intense than before. A sickening feeling washed over me. I unlocked my phone, and the first thing I saw was Ian’s latest social media post. It was a picture of him in front of a bar, his foot planted triumphantly on the chest of a one-eyed man. The caption read: [Just doing my civic duty. Can’t stand bullies who prey on the weak, especially when they’re harassing women!] He then started a video call in the family group chat. On the screen, the one-eyed man broke free and lunged at Ian, plunging a knife into his shoulder. I screamed, the pain so blinding I nearly passed out. My hands shaking, I furiously typed in the chat. [Are you an idiot? See a hero, be a hero, but know your limits! Call the cops! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!] My warning did nothing. Ian just rolled up his sleeves, smashed his fist into the man’s face, and ripped the knife out of his own shoulder, throwing it aside. [I’m not just taking him down. I saw his wallet. It’s full of pictures of abused young women. These guys are traffickers. I’m going to take down their whole operation and put them all behind bars!] As he spoke, a group of muscular men surrounded him. They were skilled fighters. They beat him to the ground. I felt every blow, my body screaming in agony, feeling like it was about to tear itself apart. [RUN! You’re the one getting hit, but I’M the one in pain! Do you have a death wish?!] [JUST RUN! I ALREADY CALLED THE POLICE FOR YOU!] I sent message after message, but Ian didn’t move. He just stayed there, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he stared into the camera. A heavy, pounding sensation hammered at my skull, a sharp, explosive pain wrapped in a dull ache. My vision blurred into a sea of red. I managed to dial 911. “Help me…” I choked out, before my consciousness faded to black. Just like in my last life, I was rushed to the hospital for a massive cerebral hemorrhage. The doctors pleaded with me to avoid any and all strenuous activity. As they examined me, one of them shook his head in disbelief. “This is bizarre. You said you were home all day, but your injuries are severe. Bruises and internal bleeding all over, two broken ribs… what happened to you?” I said nothing. Later that night, I snuck out of the hospital and went home. I was going to make Ian pay. The moment I walked in the door, I pulled out a knife and pressed it to his throat. “Alex, are you crazy? I’m your brother!” I gritted my teeth, a murderous rage boiling inside me. “Cut the crap. Tell me the truth. Why is it that when you get hit, I’m the one who feels the pain?” He blinked, his face a mask of perfect innocence. “Bro, are you delirious? What are you talking about?” I pressed the blade deeper into his skin. “Still playing dumb? You really want to die, don’t you?” A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. “No, bro, don’t! Okay, okay, I’ll tell you everything I know.” But the moment I let my guard down, he shoved me aside and sprinted upstairs. “Mom! Dad! Alex has lost his mind! He’s trying to kill me!”

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My fiancée, Dr. Audrey O’Bryan, had just been promoted to Head of Department. To celebrate, I’d picked out a Hermès bag I knew she’d love, a little surprise to mark the occasion. But as I stepped into her office at the hospital, a young resident shot me a hostile glare. “This is the department head’s office,” he snapped, his brow furrowed. “Outsiders aren’t allowed in.” I managed a smile, explaining that I was Dr. O’Bryan’s fiancé. His eyes, however, were glued to the luxury shopping bag in my hand. I rarely came to the hospital, but being sized up like this felt…unpleasant. Suddenly, a strange smirk crossed his face. He turned, announcing he would go get Dr. O’Bryan. While he was gone, I noticed a half-eaten container of takeout on her desk. A pang of sympathy hit me—she was working so hard. I decided to tidy up for her. The moment my fingers closed around the plastic container, the resident burst back in, two burly security guards in tow. “That’s him!” he yelled, pointing a trembling finger at me. “He’s the one trying to bribe Dr. O’Bryan right here in her office!” The guards lunged forward. The gift, the takeout box—everything nearly crashed to the floor. 1. Before I could process what was happening, two massive security guards had my arms twisted behind my back. The resident, a man named Chase according to the ID clipped to his scrubs, noticed me staring at his name tag. He ripped it off and shoved it in my face. “What, you want to file a complaint?” he sneered. “Go ahead! But you’ll have to wait until you’re out of a jail cell.” He puffed out his chest. “I’m Dr. O’Bryan’s assistant. I will not allow a social parasite like you to tarnish her reputation!” A social parasite? That was a heavy accusation. I knew the relationship between doctors and the public could be tense, but this was City Central Hospital. It was founded nearly a century ago by a renowned philanthropist, a place famous for its integrity. It had never been associated with scandal. “I’m family!” I protested, my voice rising. “I’m Dr. O’Bryan’s fiancé! What right do you have to accuse me of anything?” “Fiancé? Ha! More like a gold digger. I don’t know how you found out Dr. O’Bryan is in charge of procuring new medical equipment, but you picked the wrong person to bribe.” He jabbed a finger toward the door. “Get out of this hospital now, or I’m calling the police.” The guards tightened their grip, their fingers digging deep into my biceps. Through the open door, I could see patients peering in, their faces a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. I gritted my teeth against the pain. “You’ve got this all wrong. I really am her fiancé. Think about it—if I were trying to bribe her, would I do it in broad daylight, in her office?” Chase laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “See? The fox shows its tail! So you admit you’re here to bribe her!” “You wish you could have met her in private, don’t you? Too bad for you, she’s too important to meet with scum like you. So you got desperate and tried this stunt!” I was starting to lose my temper. This guy’s imagination was working overtime. “Whether I’m her fiancé or some medical supplier, you’ll find out the truth when Dr. O’Bryan gets here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “You have no proof. On what grounds are you having me detained?” “Proof?” Chase glanced around, then snatched the shopping bag from Audrey’s desk. With a dramatic flourish, he dumped the contents onto the floor. The luxurious leather bag landed with a soft thud. “This is your proof!” he declared, his voice ringing with triumph. “I’ve seen this exact bag on their website. It’s priced at fifty thousand dollars.” He smirked. “How does fifteen years in a federal prison sound?” He waved a dismissive hand at the guards. “What are you waiting for? Take him away!” They shoved me out of the office. I struggled, but their grip was like iron. The onlookers in the hallway parted like the Red Sea, their whispers following me like a swarm of angry bees. “Disgusting! Trying to bribe a doctor!” “A fifty-thousand-dollar bag… how many lives did that cost?” “People like that deserve to get sick and have no one to treat them!” “Good on City Central for not tolerating this kind of corruption!” A few men looked like they were ready to physically attack me. “You’ve got it all wrong!” I yelled, desperate. “That bag is a gift for my fiancée, Dr. Audrey O’Bryan! Her picture is on the wall outside her office. Please, someone just get her!” I pleaded with the crowd, then turned back to Chase. “Just let me make one phone call! She’ll clear this all up!” He gave me a condescending look but signaled for one of the guards to release my hand. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. No answer. I tried again. It went straight to voicemail. The crowd’s murmurs shifted from curiosity back to open hostility. Chase’s laugh was laced with scorn. “You say you’re her fiancé, but she won’t even answer your call?” Then I remembered the half-eaten takeout on her desk. “She’s in surgery, isn’t she? You can’t take phones into the operating room!” I said, a sliver of hope returning. “I’ll wait right here until she’s finished.” Chase just shook his head. A guard shoved me forward, and I stumbled, crashing into a chair. The back of it slammed into my stomach, and I doubled over, nausea churning in my gut. “Still won’t give up, huh? You’re determined to frame Dr. O’Bryan?” he said, his voice dripping with contempt. “Don’t think I’ll tell you her whereabouts! I just need to take you to one person to expose your little charade!” 2. Chase led the way, the two guards marching me behind him. We entered the inpatient ward and stopped at room 308. An elderly woman, probably in her sixties, was resting in the bed by the window. She opened her eyes as we entered. “Mrs. Lee, are you resting well?” Chase said, his voice suddenly warm and friendly. “You have a visitor!” He gestured toward me. “Who is this?” the woman asked, her eyes clouded with confusion. I was just as lost. Why had they brought me to see this old woman? “Hello,” I said, out of politeness. “Young man, do I know you?” Chase chuckled. “Of course you don’t. That’s the point. This man claims to be Dr. O’Bryan’s fiancé.” He turned to me, his eyes gleaming with malicious triumph. “If you’re really Dr. O’Bryan’s fiancé, how is it that you don’t recognize her own mother?” The world tilted on its axis. My mouth fell open. That was impossible. Audrey’s mother was dead. I was there. It was her mother’s death that had caused Audrey to collapse from grief. I had taken care of her in the hospital for a week, and that’s when our love story began… Chase misinterpreted my stunned silence as guilt. “The evidence is all here,” he declared. “What else can you possibly say for yourself?” “Take him to security! Don’t let him disturb the patients.” I snapped out of my daze. Just as the guards were about to push me out of the room, I broke free and lunged toward the old woman’s bed. “Are you really Audrey’s mother? But… she’s dead!” The woman erupted in a violent coughing fit. “What an insolent young man, cursing me to be dead!” she gasped between coughs. “Security! Security!” A guard kicked me hard. I was so close to the bed that my forehead slammed against the metal frame with a loud crack. The bed shuddered, and I crumpled to the floor, blood streaming from a gash on my head. The patient in the next bed screamed. “He’s killing her! Someone’s going to die!” “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Lee, I’m so sorry!” Chase said, rushing to the woman’s side. He shot a venomous glare at me. “It’s all this fraud’s fault. He tried to bribe Dr. O’Bryan, and then had the audacity to impersonate her fiancé. I had to bring him here for you to identify him.” Mrs. Lee finally caught her breath and gave Chase a disapproving look. “How can you be Audrey’s assistant and not even know what her fiancé looks like?” “Yes, yes, you’re right,” Chase stammered, bowing his head. “It’s all this con man’s fault. He’s so devious!” “Audrey told me,” I said, my voice hoarse, “that her family favored sons over daughters. Her original name was a boy’s name, and she changed it herself in college. Is that true?” I stared at Mrs. Lee, searching her face for any flicker of deceit. There was none. “What nonsense are you spouting!” she exclaimed. “My daughter’s name has always been Audrey! Her father wanted her to be an inventor, like Edison!” Her voice rose in anger. “First you curse me to be dead, and now you’re spreading lies to ruin my daughter’s reputation, our family’s good name!” “I…” She clutched her chest, gasping for air. Chase quickly administered oxygen and shot the guards a look. They moved to drag me away. I wiped the blood from my face and roared, “I’m not leaving! I want to see Audrey, face to face!” I clung to the leg of the bed, refusing to let go. “You!” the old woman wheezed. “Call her! Call Audrey and tell her to get back here!” Chase glared at me and stepped out of the room to make the call. Once she had calmed down a bit, Mrs. Lee beckoned me closer. “Come here, young man.” The woman in the next bed leaned in, curious. Mrs. Lee pulled out her phone and swiped through her photo album. There were several pictures of her and Audrey, smiling together. Then she played a short video. Someone else was filming as Audrey sang “Happy Birthday” to her, and Mrs. Lee beamed with joy. My heart turned to stone. This woman was undoubtedly Audrey’s mother. Why had Audrey lied to me? 3. About half an hour later, the door opened. Chase walked in, but Audrey wasn’t with him. Instead, a young man in a sharp suit, his hair perfectly coiffed, followed him in, carrying a bouquet of carnations. “Mom, I’m so sorry you were frightened,” he said to Mrs. Lee, his voice smooth and apologetic. He then turned to me. “Let’s go to Audrey’s office. We shouldn’t disturb the elderly.” “Where’s Audrey?” I demanded. “I need to see her!” “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue now that the real fiancé is here?” he said with a mocking smile. “Or are you just scared of what I might do to you?” “You say you’re Audrey’s fiancé. Prove it.” He burst out laughing, a loud, booming sound that filled the small room. “Prove it? Hahahaha…” Chase looked at me like I was an idiot. “Did you hit your head too hard? Are you trying to scam the hospital?” “This is Dr. O’Bryan’s mother!” he sneered. “And he just called her ‘Mom’! She’s already acknowledged him as her son-in-law. What more proof do you need? A moron like you probably wouldn’t even believe a marriage certificate!” He gave me another contemptuous look. “Besides, his name is Evans.” I didn’t get it. What was so special about the name Evans? “He’s the director’s nephew,” Chase explained, his voice dripping with admiration. “And the second son of the Winston Group, the largest medical equipment conglomerate in the state. Mr. Julian Evans.” “Our Dr. O’Bryan is from a good family, she’s beautiful, and she’s a brilliant doctor. She’s not for just anyone,” he continued, his tone condescending. “A wealthy, handsome man like Mr. Evans is a perfect match for her. You?” He scoffed. “I bet that bag wiped out your entire savings. A small-time company like yours can’t compete with a giant like the Winston Group.” The guards dragged me away. As we walked down the hall, I could hear the whispers of the nurses and patients. “Did you hear? Some medical supplier tried to bribe Dr. O’Bryan by pretending to be her fiancé. And her real fiancé caught him in the act!” “Dr. O’Bryan is the youngest department head in the hospital’s history. It’s true what they say, success breeds jealousy.” “I heard about that incident in orthopedics last year. A surgical robot malfunctioned, and the patient’s family raised hell for three days straight. The hospital had to pay out over a million dollars!” “These shady medical suppliers should be drawn and quartered!” … The Hermès bag was still on the floor of Audrey’s office. Julian Evans propped his feet up on her desk, his expensive leather shoe resting right on top of it. I bit back my anger. “It’s rude to put your feet on someone else’s gift.” He grabbed a pen holder from the desk and threw it at me, then kicked the bag across the floor. “Who the hell do you think you are, lecturing me about manners?” he sneered. “Tell me, which pathetic little company do you work for? You think a fifty-thousand-dollar bag is enough to buy your way in here?” “Not talking? Don’t worry, I have my ways of making people talk.” The guards forced me to my knees. I looked him straight in the eye. “This is a hospital. We live in a civilized society. Are you really going to resort to torture?” Julian raised an eyebrow. “Scared? Then start talking. I want to know which third-rate company is trying to steal business from the Winston Group.” “I told you, I’m not here to bribe anyone. I’m Audrey’s fiancé. Here, these are our engagement rings.” I struggled to my feet and retrieved the two rings from the bag. Our initials were engraved on the inside of each band. Julian’s lips curved into a wry smile. “Interesting. I’ve never seen a bribe come with engagement rings before.” He made a phone call. Less than five minutes later, Audrey walked in. “Honey,” Julian said, a lazy drawl in his voice, “this man insists he’s your fiancé.” Audrey gave me a cold, dismissive look. “He’s just some rich kid who’s been chasing me for years,” she said, her voice devoid of any emotion. “Leo, if I ever gave you the wrong impression, if I ever made you think I was interested, then I apologize. But please, stop harassing me.” The wrong impression? Hah. So our five-year relationship was all in my head. “The wrong impression? Was it the wrong impression when I went with you to scatter your mother’s ashes at sea? Or when you told me you came from a poor, rural family that didn’t value daughters? Or is the mole on your back just my imagination?” I hated to reveal something so private, but her heartless betrayal left me no choice.

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When I opened my eyes, I was holding the pale, frail wyrmling. Without a second thought, I flung it into the dirt. Ten years ago, my sister Kelen and I found two baby wyrmlings in the woods. One was black, scales etched with ancient runes. It wound around Kelen’s wrist, pulsing with power. The other was a weak white wyrmling. I took it home out of pity, beginning a decade of tiresome care. Within a year, the black wyrmling took human form as Ronan, a man who treated Kelen like a queen. I, meanwhile, worked grueling jobs just to feed myself and the useless white wyrmling. By dating age, every guy in Silverpine avoided me—they said to ditch the snake, then they’d take me out. I threw them all off the porch. I used to stroke the wyrmling’s head, promising I’d never abandon it, even if it never took human form. Then a flash flood changed everything. The wyrmling I’d nurtured ten years suddenly transformed into a radiant Celestial Dragon. As I thrashed in the floodwaters, I reached for its tail—but it swam past me, gently lifting Kelen to safety. It had only ever had eyes for my sister, and had learned to take human form long before Ronan, hiding it from me all along. 1 Kelen placed the white wyrmling in my palm. She told me to look at its pristine scales, claiming it would definitely evolve into a dragon one day and treat me like a queen. She reminded me about Old Mrs. Higgins from the next town over, who picked up a similar creature and got blessed with endless fortune when it ascended. She playfully told me not to forget her when I hit the big time. A few locals walking by overheard and immediately got defensive. They praised Kelen for her sweet heart, noting that white wyrmlings were statistically more likely to ascend than black ones. They insisted that since I lacked Kelen’s gentle nature and gorgeous looks, the white wyrmling belonged with her. Kelen’s face flashed with fake hurt before she forced a brave smile, claiming she was the older sister and it was her job to let me have the best things. I frowned, staring down at the creature. Anyone with half a brain could see the white wyrmling was barely breathing. The black one, however, had eyes burning with vitality, its obsidian scales reflecting a mesmerizing, iridescent light. The townsfolk were clueless, but Kelen definitely knew the black one was the true prize. In my past life, I did not call out her bluff. The white wyrmling was covered in blood and looked too pathetic to abandon. But now, looking at the tiny creature bearing its fangs at me from my palm, I only felt pure disgust. Why had I never noticed before? He wasn’t acting out of trauma. He bared his fangs because he absolutely hated me. Smack! I chucked the white wyrmling straight onto a jagged rock, adjusted the strap of my gathering basket, and turned on my heel. Kelen gasped, dropping to her knees to scoop the creature up. She screamed at me, asking how I could be so cruel to a living breathing thing. I told her fate decides who lives and dies, and if it dies today, that is simply its destiny. Kelen yelled my name, her voice trembling. She called me cold-blooded, asking if I was really just going to stand there and watch it die. The surrounding villagers glared at me with open disgust. Whispers echoed around the dirt road. People muttered that I was rotten to the core. They praised Kelen’s beauty and kind heart, comparing me to background noise and calling me evil. I gripped the woven straps of my basket. Looking back, I saw Kelen wiping away fake tears, begging the crowd not to be so hard on me, which naturally only made them pity her more. She always pulled this stunt. She would paint a target on my back and then play the tragic peacemaker, acting like she was the one constantly bearing the burden of my supposed cruelty. I let out a dry laugh and told her that since she was so overflowing with kindness, she should just take both of them. Kelen froze, her eyes darting nervously. She stammered, claiming she couldn’t possibly hog such high-quality magical creatures all to herself. I waved my hand dismissively. I told her to take him, adding that I wanted absolutely no part of his glorious ascension. That shut her up. The white wyrmling was severely injured, and saving it would require a massive drain of time and money. But the villagers, having thoroughly judged me, turned to Kelen with hopeful, expectant eyes. They told her I was completely devoid of empathy and that she deserved all the blessings. They urged her to stop worrying about a selfish brat like me. Kelen stumbled over her words, pointing out how badly the creature was wounded. Suddenly, a blinding flash of white light erupted. Everyone gasped, shielding their eyes. I whipped my head around. A man in pristine white robes stood there, looking like a literal god descended from the heavens. A thin trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth only made his breathtaking, otherworldly beauty more striking. Several women in the crowd completely forgot how to breathe. I stood frozen in my tracks. The white wyrmling had just taken human form. 2 I tightened my grip on my basket. I had honestly believed he only figured out how to shift after I spent years nursing him back to health. Turns out, he could do it from day one. For an entire decade, he sat back and watched the entire town ridicule me for carrying around a useless, unshifted familiar, and he never lifted a single finger to help. Yet right now, in his most vulnerable and weakened state, he forced his transformation just to impress Kelen. Kelen immediately changed her tune, boldly declaring that his injuries did not matter and that she would take full responsibility for him. Shifting meant he was incredibly close to ascending to full dragonhood. The locals were utterly hypnotized by his divine appearance. Seeing me standing there in a daze, Kelen subtly stepped in front of him, blocking my view. She put on a sugary voice, telling me that since I explicitly threw him away and refused to listen to reason, she had no choice but to take him home. The villagers rallied behind her. They told Kelen she didn’t need to explain herself, insisting I had surrendered my rights and would be a joke if I tried to take him back. Kelen blushed perfectly, whispering that her sister wasn’t that kind of person. I stared coldly at the man. He peered over the crowd, his gaze locking onto mine. His desperate, forced transformation. That deep, complicated look in his eyes. I knew right then. He had reincarnated too. When I turned and walked away without a single ounce of hesitation or regret, a flash of pure confusion and shock rippled across his face. By nightfall, the entire town of Silverpine was gossiping about how I fumbled the greatest magical familiar in history. His celestial aura had everyone on their knees. No one doubted he would become a legendary Elder Dragon. They laughed at my stupidity and praised Kelen for her good karma. Everyone assumed I would be drowning in regret, crawling back to beg for his favor. But to their absolute shock, I didn’t even spare him a second glance once I got home. Finally, as we crossed paths in the hallway a few days later, a cold hand clamped down on my wrist. I yanked my arm, but his grip was like iron. He stared down at me, his brows furrowed in a silent, demanding question. He looked deeply dissatisfied. Was he wondering why I wasn’t obsessing over him this time around? Was he really that oblivious? Unable to break free, I brought my other hand up and shoved hard against his forearm, peeling his fingers off my skin one by one. I massaged my bruised wrist, muttered a few choice curses, and slammed my bedroom door in his face. Gabriel looked down at his empty hand, then stared at my closed door, his eyes flashing with a faint reddish tint. When someone is smothered in unconditional love for too long, they start feeling entitled to it. The second I pulled that love away, he probably felt like I was the one betraying him. Thinking about my past life, how I dragged him through storms and broke my back to keep him safe, I really thought we had a profound bond. Ripping that away so suddenly did make my chest ache a little. But later that night, I woke up parched. While heading to the kitchen for water, I heard hushed voices coming from the guest room. Someone was whispering, asking their Lord if he felt guilty about the younger sister, suggesting he become her familiar instead. I peeked through the crack in the door. Gabriel stood with his hands behind his back, bathed in moonlight, looking every bit the divine being he was. His voice was like striking crystal. He stated that since fate granted him a second chance, he was going to fix his biggest regret. A shadowy figure kneeling behind him asked about his older brother, pointing out that Ronan had already chosen Kelen. Gabriel glanced back, his usually cold eyes burning with a fierce, terrifying obsession. He declared he came back entirely for Kelen, and nothing in the realms would stop him from having her. He swore he wouldn’t back down, even if he had to fight his own brother. The sheer delusion of it made my ears ring, and I turned to leave. But before I could step away, the shadowy guard asked why the Celestial Lord was so madly in love with a mortal girl. Gabriel’s eyes softened under the moonlight. He spoke of a time he fell from the heavens and crashed at Dragon’s Cove. He swore he would never forget the girl who scooped his broken body up with her bare hands and guarded him for forty nine days straight. He admitted that without her, his divine trial would have failed, and his bones would have rotted in the dirt. Dragon’s Cove?! I froze dead in my tracks. My hands began to shake uncontrollably. That was the exact place I found a dying white wyrmling years ago. I kept him hidden in a cave, fiercely protecting him for forty nine days before he stabilized enough for me to carry him back to town. I had never told a single living soul about that. So the dying wyrmling at the cove and the magical familiar I raised were the exact same entity! My fingernails dug into my palms. A dark, bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat. Gabriel, you absolute, monumental idiot. I had zero intention of correcting him. In this new life, my ambitions lay far beyond playing nursemaid to a blind god. 3 I drastically cut down my foraging trips into the woods. Instead, I spent almost every waking hour locked in my room, burying myself in advanced spellbooks and federal law texts. This routine lasted until the annual Spring Equinox Gala. Kelen practically kicked my door down and dragged me out of my chair. She whined that it was the biggest festival of the year, warning me that if I didn’t attend, the Spring Goddess wouldn’t bless me. I glanced back at my worn out copy of the Arcane Codex. Figuring I needed a break anyway, I gave a brief nod. Kelen shoved a shopping bag into my hands. She told me she bought me a beautiful new dress and threw out all my old, ragged clothes, insisting I had to look presentable. I read through another chapter before finally opening the bag that evening. The supposed beautiful dress was a hideous, blinding neon pink gown covered in cheap lime green floral patterns. The atrocious color clash would make anyone look like an absolute clown. I rummaged through my closet for something else, only to find it completely empty. She really had thrown everything away. Starving and exhausted from studying all day, I gritted my teeth, put the monstrosity on, and headed out to grab some food. The second I stepped onto the festival grounds, I ran straight into Kelen and her entourage. She was draped in elegant, ethereal white silk. Her friends gasped the moment they saw me. One mocked me, asking if I honestly thought I looked good. Another laughed, calling me an ugly attention seeker. She joked that I was trying way too hard to fit the floral theme, saying I just ended up looking like a tacky weed trying to steal the spotlight from Kelen, the reigning festival queen. They giggled, saying I definitely succeeded at stealing the show, just as the town jester. Someone pointed out that Kelen’s dress was woven from magical silk gifted by the great Lord Gabriel, sneering that a peasant in a clown suit like me didn’t belong in their presence. Kelen immediately put her hands up, begging everyone to stop. Her expensive perfume hit my nose like a physical blow. She grabbed both my arms, her eyes wide with fabricated shock. She asked why on earth I would wear something like this in public, immediately taking the blame and crying that it was her fault for not picking out something better suited for me. Tears welled up in her eyes on command. The crowd rushed to comfort her. They insisted it wasn’t her fault, saying I simply lacked the grace to pull anything off. They praised Kelen for being an angel, pointing out that the same outfit would look stunning on her, and begged her to stop beating herself up. Another girl chimed in, saying she refused to believe this was my only option. She blamed me for making my own choices just to embarrass Kelen. Kelen dabbed her eyes delicately, whispering that it broke her heart to see her own sister acting out like this. I looked right at her and asked her if she was done putting on a show. That single sentence silenced the entire group. I stepped right up to the girl who claimed I had other options. I challenged Kelen to tell everyone exactly who cleared out my entire closet. Kelen choked on her words. In the past, I would have just swallowed my pride and walked away, too exhausted to deal with their high school drama. But this time, I wasn’t letting her off the hook. I pointed at Kelen’s gorgeous gown. I noted that even if Gabriel provided the silk, the elegant design clearly came from her own refined taste. I asked her point blank why someone with such an immaculate eye for fashion would specifically choose a clown suit for me. Kelen covered her mouth, gasping dramatically. She accused me of suspecting her of sabotage. I swatted her hands away, telling her to drop the victim act. I asked if it didn’t get exhausting playing the innocent martyr all the time. I told her if she was truly innocent, we could all march back to our house right now and see exactly where my clothes were hidden. All the color drained from Kelen’s face. I turned around to lead the way. Kelen panicked, lunging forward to grab my arm, but I violently shoved her back. Kelen let her tears fall freely, crying out that regardless of whether she hid the clothes or not, my aggressive behavior was tearing our sisterhood apart. I told her we could talk about sisterhood after we searched her room. Just as I took another step, a sharp, piercing pain struck my wrist. I looked down. Two tiny puncture wounds. Snake bites. Suddenly, my mouth opened against my will. My vocal cords hijacked my brain. I began screaming that the pink dress was amazing, that I was way prettier than Kelen, and that I was going to prove to everyone she was a hideous monster. I yelled that even if I framed her by throwing the clothes in her room, everyone would still take my side! I clamped both hands over my mouth in pure horror. The crowd stared at me like I was a literal demon. One of Kelen’s friends shrieked, calling me a calculating psycho, and slapped me hard across the face. The mob descended. Hands grabbed my hair, slapped my cheeks, and tore at my clothes. They screamed that I should be grateful I even had rags to wear and that I didn’t deserve Kelen’s kindness. Shoved and beaten, I stumbled backward and had no choice but to break into a sprint, fleeing the festival grounds. Right before I turned the corner, I saw Gabriel materialize beside Kelen. He pulled her safely into his chest, shooting me a glare of absolute freezing contempt. Kelen buried her face in his shirt, perfectly masking the vicious, triumphant smirk on her lips. Remembering that flash of white light right before the venom hit my veins, I ground my teeth so hard my jaw popped. 4 While I was locked in my room nursing my bruises, Gabriel actually had the audacity to walk through my door. I slapped the bowl of medicine right out of his hands. Ceramic shattered, spilling dark liquid across the floorboards. He looked at me, his expression an unreadable mix of frustration and pity. He pulled a small pill from his pocket, grabbed my jaw with a vice-like grip, and forced the antidote down my throat. He warned me that if I spat it out, the venom would kill me. Glaring into his cold, threatening eyes, I swallowed the bitter pill. The uncontrollable urge to spout nonsense finally faded. He stood there for a few minutes, making sure I wasn’t having any secondary reactions, before turning to leave. Right as his hand hit the doorknob, he paused. He asked if I really didn’t have anything to say to him. He wasn’t stupid. He definitely realized I had reincarnated too. Yet, since the moment I woke up in this life, I had not spoken a single word to him. I closed my eyes, leaning back against the headboard, and told him no. He gave me one last, piercing look before shutting the door. After that incident, my reputation in Silverpine was permanently destroyed. Every time I stepped outside, people openly called me the ugly, manipulative psycho. I disappeared from the public eye for a few weeks. The rumor mill decided I had run away out of pure shame. But shortly after, I walked right back into town. Under Gabriel’s divine care, Kelen was practically glowing. Her beauty had taken on an unnatural, mesmerizing quality. Seeing me walk through the front door, she patronizingly patted my shoulder. She told me she knew I was bitter, but that part of growing up was accepting my own flaws. She lectured me about publicly framing her, calling it a toxic trait. She told me I couldn’t covet things that didn’t belong to me, explicitly stating that Gabriel’s love for her was out of my control. I grabbed her wrist and shoved her back. Kelen let out a delicate gasp, conveniently tripping right into Gabriel’s arms just as he walked into the foyer. Her eyes instantly filled with tears. She sobbed, asking why I couldn’t just accept her attempts to welcome me home. Gabriel’s face darkened. He pulled her firmly behind his back, acting like a knight defending his maiden, and ordered me to apologize. I just stood there and laughed in his face. His expression turned incredibly hostile. He told me that if I had a problem, I should take it out on him. He said romantic feelings couldn’t be forced, and that choosing Kelen was his decision alone. He warned me to stop pretending I didn’t care while secretly plotting against her. Before I could tell him where to shove his ego, a loud commotion erupted outside our window. A convoy of sleek black SUVs pulled into our driveway. A highly decorated official from the Federal Arcane Council stepped out, holding a gilded folder and grinning from ear to ear. He marched up to our porch and announced congratulations for Miss Morgan. He declared I had scored perfectly on the National Arcane Trials, catching the attention of the Supreme Magus himself, who was officially summoning me to the Capitol. Kelen screamed. She asked how a nobody like me could have secretly taken the highest magical exams in the country. 5 I smirked, looking her up and down. I pointed out that while she was busy engineering petty high school drama, she completely missed the federal mandate opening the exams to independent scholars. I walked past Gabriel, letting a cold smile touch my lips. I told him he was dead wrong. I told him he was never my endgame, and throwing him away was the easiest thing I had ever done. I whispered that compared to carving out a legendary legacy, his little romance meant absolutely nothing to me. Gabriel stopped breathing. He stared at me in pure, unfiltered shock. In our past life, I had rejected every wealthy suitor in the state just to keep him by my side. Now, I was dropping him like a bad habit without breaking a sweat. His brain couldn’t process it. But I wasn’t going to waste another second catering to his fragile ego. As I reached out to accept the official decree, Kelen moved forward out of pure jealousy, trying to touch the gilded folder. I swiftly stepped aside, dodging her hand. I asked her if she forgot her place. The Council official’s friendly demeanor instantly vanished. He glared at Kelen with lethal authority. He barked that a federal decree touched by the Supreme Magus was not meant for the filthy hands of an unranked civilian, and ordered her to bow her head immediately. Kelen’s eyes burned bright red. Under the crushing magical pressure of a federal enforcer, she humiliatingly sank to her knees. The official turned back to me, his face melting back into a sycophantic smile. He practically begged me to arrive at the Capitol by the seventh of next month, promising the government would cover all travel expenses. He gushed that shaking up the entire Council on my first try meant I was destined for a seat on the High Board, and begged me not to forget the little guys when I made it big. He pressed a heavy velvet bag filled with solid gold coins into my hands. The entire neighborhood watched this unfold in stunned silence. A few of the locals who had insulted me actually slapped themselves across the face, terrified I would use my new federal authority to wipe them out.

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A fever had me in a daze, my head thick and heavy, when the doorbell suddenly rang. The delivery guy’s voice came through the door, announcing a delivery for a Mr. Cole. I took the bag and thanked him, a small smile playing on my lips. I’d only told Cole about my fever before bed, and here he was, already sending medicine. But when I opened the bag, I froze. Inside were condoms, lube, and a toy that made my head spin. I had just pulled out my phone to demand an explanation when a new text message popped up. It was from the Disneyland Resort, confirming Mr. Cole’s reservation at the Pixar Place Hotel. 1 My heart clenched. Staring at the confirmation, I numbly opened my text thread with Cole. Just half an hour ago, he’d sent me a video to check in. “Babe, even when you’re not here, I’m being a good boy for you.” “Miss you, babe.” “Babe, this is the hotel I’m staying in tonight. I’ll bring you back a present when I’m home tomorrow.” I hadn’t watched the video then, but now my fingers trembled as I pressed play. My heart pounded like a drum, the seconds ticking by as Cole panned the camera around the hotel room, showing me every corner. His voice, laced with a smile, floated from the speaker. “It’s a king-sized bed tonight, babe. But if you were here, I’d definitely have gotten us a suite…” I paused the video. Zooming in on the image, my eyes caught a glimpse of a heating pad on the nightstand. Disbelief washed over me. I took a screenshot and ran an image search on Amazon. The exact same one popped up. And just like that, I shattered. I sank onto the rug, my gaze hollow as I stared at the home we’d built, at the condoms and the sex toy on the coffee table. I remembered him complaining right before he left for his business trip, “I hate traveling for work. All I want to do is cuddle with my wife.” I remembered his video call right after his plane landed, whining, “The food on the plane was terrible, not nearly as good as yours.” I’d laughed at how childish he was, how the cutthroat CEO I knew from the business world turned into a big kid in front of me. He’d just smiled and said, “Around you, I get to be a kid again.” But that same man, my Cole… He was cheating on me. Numbly, I dialed his number. He picked up almost instantly, his voice carrying the heavy breathlessness of someone who had just been… exerting himself. “Babe, what’s wrong?” His tone was as gentle as ever, no different from any other day. But tears were already streaming down my face. “Cole,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “Would you ever betray me?” I choked back a sob, forcing the question out again. “Would you ever betray me?” The tears fell freely now. I could hear a rustling sound in the background on his end, the unmistakable sound of someone else moving. Before Cole could answer, I heard him let out a low groan—a sound I knew all too well. It was the sound of arousal. An overwhelming wave of betrayal crashed over me. A violent nausea churned in my stomach, and I lurched to my feet, barely making it to the bathroom before I started retching. The mere thought of that scene was suffocating. Through my own heaving, I could hear Cole trying to mask his own state, his voice now a concerned, husky whisper. “Babe, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” “Are you still feeling sick?” After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done here tomorrow. Don’t worry, okay? I’ve got to run, something just came up.” The sound of the toilet flushing drowned out the end of his sentence. By the time I wiped the tears from my face, he had already hung up. I stared at our chat history, then at the box on the coffee table, its contents a searing indictment. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Then, laughing through my tears, I called my best friend. “Jess? Don’t you have a friend who works at Disneyland?” I cut straight to the chase. “Cole’s cheating on me.” “He’s at Disneyland,” I told her, my voice flat. “I need to know what kind of person he’d throw away ten years of marriage for.” I hung up the phone. I sat in the living room all night. I didn’t sleep a wink. Finally, a message from Jess came through. At the exact same moment, another one arrived from Cole: “Babe, I booked a flight for tonight. I’ll be home to make you some soup. Take care of yourself!” Below it was an emoji: [love you.] Then, I opened the file Jess had sent. It was a picture, taken this morning, of Cole and a young woman leaving a hotel together. Another photo showed them at the park, using a VIP entrance. Jess was furious in her message. “That bastard is actually cheating! Is he even human? Where would he be without you?!” I couldn’t process her words. I just stared at the picture of the girl, a strange sense of familiarity creeping over me. My heart skipped a beat. I frantically scrolled through my contacts, my eyes landing on a familiar selfie. I tapped open the chat. There was only one message, from six months ago. The girl had added me and sent me a small amount of money with a note: [This is for your troubles, miss.] I froze. I clicked on her social media profile and saw a new post from today. [My crush is treating me like a princess!] The photo was of her holding a bouquet of balloons, her smile radiant. It was a well-taken shot; the photographer had captured her perfectly. I scrolled down. A post from last night: a picture from inside a hotel room, of her cuddling up to a man’s arm, winking playfully at the camera. [He told me he’s loved me all along.] Further down. [He said yes! Officially mine! Congrats to me, hehe.] The picture was of their hands, fingers intertwined. And then, I scrolled further. The date stamp was from the day I miscarried. [My crush said nothing is more important than me. I’ll always be his number one priority.] The photo was of her on an IV drip, a man’s hand clutching hers tightly. Every post was a monument to their sweet, budding romance. But that hand… I had looked at that hand for nearly a decade. The scar on the back of it was too distinct. A scar he got because of me. If it weren’t for that. The stabbing pain in my heart was unbearable. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that Cole and I had come to this. A video from Jess’s friend came through with a message: “Should I keep following them?” I was already in the car, on my way to the airport to meet Jess. I told her friend to stay on them. Of course, I had to see. I had to know why the trip to Disneyland I’d been asking for, the one Cole never had time for, was suddenly possible for someone else. On the plane, my mind raced. I imagined storming up to them and slapping him. I imagined a screaming match with the girl, forcing Cole to choose. I imagined calmly walking up to him and telling him I wanted a divorce. In the end, I did none of those things. Jess’s friend got me through a side entrance, and I found myself standing near the carousel. And there he was. Cole, holding a camera, a gentle smile on his face as he filmed the girl. She blew him a heart-shaped kiss, and he, in turn, made the same gesture back—a gesture he’d never once made for me. The girl, sitting atop a white horse, shouted, “Cole, I love you!” She yelled, “I love you more than anyone in this world!” And I heard Cole’s voice, clear as day, call back. “I’ll love you too. Always.” I stood there, hidden behind sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, less than three feet away from them. I felt like a thief, spying on someone else’s happiness, listening to the man who had shared my bed for a decade declare his undying love for another woman. And I was nothing but an outsider. My fingers trembled until they were numb, the feeling spreading to my chest, where it felt as if a dull blade was being forced into my heart, twisting and tearing until all the warmth bled out, leaving only a dry, gaping wound. Tears blurred my vision. My body was shaking uncontrollably. Just as Jess was about to charge at them, I grabbed her arm and dialed Cole’s number. I watched him pull out his phone, glance at the screen, and then look back at the girl who was now getting off the carousel. He declined the call. Once. Twice. A third time. The girl walked over to him. “Who was that?” Then, she saw my name on the screen and her face soured. “Aren’t you ever going to divorce her?” she pouted. “If you don’t, I’ll always be the other woman, hiding in the shadows. Cole, I don’t want to be a mistress. I don’t!” Her voice rose to a whine. I watched Cole decline my call again, then pull the girl into a hug. “Okay, okay, my little princess. How could you ever be a mistress? You’re the treasure of my heart.” “Then what is she?” Cole fell silent, and my own heart squeezed tight. Yes, what was I? I held my breath, waiting. Then I heard Cole’s voice, dismissive and casual. “We’ve been together for ten years. There’s been nothing between us for a long time. It’s just… obligation. And after she lost the baby, I felt guilty.” “But I promise you,” Cole said, his voice firm. “Before your birthday, I will be in your social media posts, officially. How does that sound?” The girl beamed, throwing her arms around him and planting a loud, wet kiss on his cheek. The sound hit me like a sledgehammer, crushing the last sliver of hope I had for him. As they were leaving, Cole sent me a text to explain himself: [Babe, I’m still in a meeting. I’ll call you back when I’m done.] Then I watched him put his phone away and follow the girl back to their hotel. A little while later, she posted again, truly a princess in her castle. The photo was of her wearing a tiara, holding out her hand as a man kissed the back of it. Even without his face showing, the sweetness was palpable. Her caption read: [My crush promised me the most amazing birthday party ever… He’s going to make me a real princess!] I looked at her post and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. Then I took a picture of the Disneyland castle and posted it myself. [Ten years together, and you’re still the one by my side.] The picture was of me and Jess, smiling together. It didn’t even take a minute. Cole’s call came through. He sounded frantic. “Babe, you’re in L.A.? Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice was tight with anxiety. When I didn’t answer, he grew more agitated, his eyes darting around as if he was terrified of spotting me. He was testing the waters. “I thought we were going to come to Disneyland together. Why did you go by yourself?” I found it hilarious. I had asked him to take me at least five times, and every time, he had an excuse, always leaving me with a vague, “Later,” or “Some other time.” He always said, “Babe, we have all the time in the world. I want to work hard now while we’re young, to build a better future for us.” And I actually believed he loved me. Maybe he did, once. But love can curdle. Over time, it can collect filth and rot, spawning uncertainties that lead to days like today. “Babe,” Cole said, so preoccupied that he ignored the girl who was tugging at his arm. He walked out of the hotel, scanning the area. “Why aren’t you talking to me?” “Babe, do you want me to come pick you up?” I watched him scurry around like an ant on a hot pan, savoring the sight for a moment before I calmly told him, “No, that’s not necessary.” I didn’t tell him when I was coming back, like I usually would have. I didn’t ask when he was coming home, either. He was the one to ask. “So, are you coming home today?” The panic in his voice was unmistakable. “Or are you staying in L.A. for the night?” I glanced at him from my vantage point and said with a small smile, “We’ll see.” I hung up and watched as Cole, visibly on edge, bundled the girl into a car and drove off. I was in a car right behind them. The taxi I was in wasn’t a coincidence; it was my arrangement. I had a clear view of the girl throwing a tantrum in the passenger seat. “You’re still scared of her, aren’t you?” “So what if she’s here? Is she going to eat us?” Cole didn’t know he was being watched. He simply silenced her with a kiss. After they landed, I followed them. He dropped the girl off at an apartment, and I realized with a jolt that it was a property we had bought right after we got married. It had been sitting empty all this time, or so I thought. I never knew he was using it as a love nest. I watched Cole return to our home. He sat in the living room, staring blankly at the box of condoms I hadn’t moved. Then, as if remembering something, a look of horror crossed his face. He snatched his phone and frantically dialed the girl’s number. Through the security camera feed on my phone, I watched him interrogating her. I heard her sobbing on the other end, and I heard Cole’s voice soften as he tried to comfort her. “Even if she knows, it doesn’t matter. We were going to have to face it sooner or later.” He was right. Sooner or later, we would have to face it. So when Cole called me, I was at a hotel, finalizing plans.

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