The imposter daughter exposed her identity to bring me back, only to make me marry her crippled fiance. She put on a show in front of the whole family, trying to sow discord between me and them. But what she didn’t know was that we could all hear her thoughts. When she slashed her palm with a fruit knife to frame me, she was secretly thinking, “Why isn’t that useless father of mine hitting her yet?” When she tumbled down the stairs and accused me, she was cursing in her mind, “Stupid old hag, why don’t you teach her a lesson?” And when she snuggled up to my brother in feigned innocence, she was thinking, “You’re really a loyal dog, my dear brother.” The expressions on the faces of the three of them shifted in an instant, their anger rising to the point of madness. I just smiled faintly and turned away, ignoring her, only wanting to get this “special” task over with as quickly as possible. When Kendra Miles found me, I was fishing by the river under the blazing sun. She grabbed my hand with joy, tears welling up in her eyes. “Sis, I finally found you.” Before I could react, a group of people rudely yanked me off the fishing boat and shoved me into a Rolls-Royce Phantom. As soon as the car door slammed shut, Kendra’s smile vanished, and her icy gaze shot at me like an arrow. Her lips didn’t move, but I could clearly hear her cursing in her mind. “How infuriating! This unlucky fool is actually so good-looking. What good is being pretty? She’s destined to be my stand-in and marry that cripple! “It’s all my useless mother’s fault. She couldn’t even get rid of the engagement. If it weren’t for that, I would never let this freak come back! “Even if she returns to the Miles family, I won’t let her live a day in peace.” Half an hour later, we boarded a private plane and arrived at the top of the most luxurious skyscraper in Priemon before nightfall. The place was lit up like a dazzling star, hosting a grand banquet. Kendra led me through a side door to a luxurious suite. Before entering, she pulled a fruit knife out from somewhere, the blade glinting menacingly. She raised an eyebrow at me, and the next moment, blood started flowing from her palm, and I found the knife in my hand. She slammed open the door, threw her arms wide, and threw herself into a noblewoman’s embrace, screaming, “Dad! Mom! Leonard! Help!” Blood trickled down her arm as the people in the room rushed to her, their eyes filled with shock and sympathy. Leonard Miles quickly ripped off his handkerchief to wrap her wound. “Aurelia… Aurelia is trying to kill me! “Aurelia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to steal your life. Why don’t you believe me?” Her biological parents and brother, who had never met me before, gathered around Kendra, all frowning in unison. They looked at me with clear disdain. I stared at the united front of this family, a faint sorrow tugging at my heart, before I calmly said, “She hurt herself. It has nothing to do with me.” My so-called brother clenched his fist. “The weapon is in your hand, and you still dare to argue? Just like the private investigator said. You’re truly malicious!” They had hired a private investigator to look into me? How did I not notice? My elegant and dignified mother, clutching the sobbing Kendra, comforted her gently before turning to glare at me. “Even though we know you have a bad nature, Kendra still begged us to find you, worried that you’d suffer out there. How could you be so heartless to hurt her?” My successful father sighed in deep disappointment. “If you want to return to the Miles family, you must kneel and apologize to Kendra. We don’t have ungrateful, knife-wielding scum in this family. Kneel!” Kendra raised her chin smugly, her eyes full of provocation. I had imagined the scene of meeting my biological parents, but I never expected it to unfold like this. I stood still, staring at them without moving. “Leonard, if she doesn’t kneel and apologize to Kendra, break her legs!” Leonard stepped forward, closing the distance. I gazed at him with cold eyes, fingers flexing, the fruit knife twirling between my fingertips as I watched them wide-eyed. With a snap of my fingers, the fruit knife flew through the air, and when it fell, I caught the blade steady, then flicked my wrist. The knife whistled through the air, grazing Leonard’s head and embedding itself in the wall. I slowly walked into the room, my voice frigid. “I don’t leave anyone alive if I strike. But since you’re my family, I’ll overlook this. Remember, never again.” Leonard stiffly shut his mouth, swallowing hard. My father instinctively pulled my mother closer, his eyes full of panic. At that moment, Kendra’s thoughts echoed in my mind. “Go ahead, stupid dog, you’re already scared? Didn’t I tell you she’s learned acrobatics? That was all to trick you idiots. “Are you just standing there brewing shit? Aren’t you the ones who claim to love me the most, unwilling to let me suffer a bit? Why don’t you teach her a lesson?” The three of them froze in place, their gazes unintentionally shifting toward Kendra, the tension in the room thickening. I gave a slight smile. She probably still didn’t know that we could all hear her thoughts. With Kendra in the picture, this whole mission just got a lot more interesting.

“Mom, I believe Aurelia didn’t hurt me on purpose. Once she marries into the Anders family, she might stop making things difficult for me,” Kendra said, tears streaming down her face. But her thoughts betrayed her. “Stupid old woman. Why is she not making a move? Hurry up and get rid of her!” My mother, as though gripped by a poisonous snake, suddenly shoved Kendra away, her voice sharp. “What… What did you just say?” She was trembling with anger, her face darkening. She pointed a shaking finger at Kendra, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if she were about to faint. Kendra collapsed to the floor, her face full of feigned innocence. “Mom, what… what’s wrong with you?” Her expression was desperate, but her thoughts revealed her true nature. “What the hell is this crazy bitch doing? Has she gone mad and about to die? Oh, that’s great. Those two loyal dogs will be much easier to control.” My mother’s chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot from the fury boiling inside her. Before I could enjoy more of the drama, someone suddenly knocked on the door, and a servant informed us it was time to go to the banquet hall. Leonard stepped forward, helping my mother catch her breath. My father pointed to a set of high-end formal wear on the sofa bed, his tone reluctant. “Change into this dress and join us in the banquet hall. Remember, your name is Aurelia Miles.” Only then did I realize I was still wearing my black fishing outfit. Once they left, two beautiful ladies came in to help me. One quickly touched up my makeup while the other helped me into the formal gown. After the preparations, I was escorted into the banquet hall, where my parents and brother were already mingling. On the way here, from Kendra’s thoughts, I learned that this banquet was supposedly my engagement to the son of the richest man in Priemon. However, the heir had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident five years ago, unable to walk. Originally, Kendra had been the one promised to him, but she refused to marry a cripple. Not to mention that her husband’s mother, Regina Anders, had a notorious reputation for being ruthless. This heir wasn’t a first-time groom; he had two previous fiancées, both of whom had mysteriously died not long after their engagements. Kendra always suspected that Regina was behind their untimely deaths. So, rather than marry a cripple, Kendra had chosen to expose her identity and find me to take her place. Coincidentally, my mission was here in Priemon. Since she had found me, I had to play along. The banquet hall was packed with Priemon’s most influential figures. Now, I needed to find the man with a wolf-head tattoo on his wrist. I casually picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant’s tray, staying alert as I moved gracefully through the crowd, my eyes scanning every corner. Suddenly, a group of exquisitely dressed women, whose cheap airs were unmistakable, closed in on me, sizing me up with condescending glances. “You must be Kendra’s sister, Aurelia?” The ringleader was one of Kendra’s closest friends, Monty. “Kendra told us that when she found you, you were fishing in the river.” Monty laughed out loud, a high-pitched giggle escaping her lips as she dramatically covered her mouth with her hand. “You still smell like fish! So foul! You’ve completely ruined this beautiful banquet.” The others immediately stepped back, sneering as they fanned their noses and exaggeratedly sniffed the air. Kendra, hiding among the crowd, watched from a distance, clearly enjoying the spectacle. As they spoke, I was herded away, pushed into a secluded corner of the hall.

I slowly scanned the crowd, unhurriedly correcting Monty. “That’s a kind of sturgeon, known as a living fossil. It’s a level-one protected species. Its cartilage and spinal cord contain anticancer factors, making it of great academic and economic value. I’d say none of you here are worth as much as it is.” The socialites flinched as though I’d struck a nerve, glaring at me with fury. “Hmph, daring to catch a national protected species? Bet you’re just trying to make a living by selling it. How pathetic you are.” “Your return doesn’t mean you and Kendra are at the same level. The social ladder is not that easy to climb. You’ll never be better than Kendra.” “Exactly. It was Kendra’s kindness and generosity that saved you from the slums. You should be on your knees thanking her.” At that, a few of them came over to push down on my shoulders. I seized their wrists, shifting my body down, and with a swift move, I knocked them both to the floor. Since they liked kneeling so much, I thought I’d give them a bit more practice. Everyone froze, mouths hanging open, wide-eyed. “What? Never seen someone who knows martial arts?” I shook my head in exasperation. “I don’t argue with mediocrity. While you all may be shallow and ill-mannered, I’ll kindly offer some advice.” I turned to Monty, my voice measured. “Look at your face. It’s a clear sign of overindulgence. You shouldn’t be so frequent with your… activities.” “And you,” I said, turning to another one, “your face is swollen, your skin’s turning purple, and your fingertips are thick. Your heart’s in bad shape. Go get yourself checked before it’s too late.” I turned to another girl, raising an eyebrow. “The bad breath… Doesn’t anyone tell you?” The group turned bright red, both humiliated and angry, gnashing their teeth but unable to retaliate. Seeing the situation unfold, Kendra quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. “My sister is from the countryside,” she said, offering a sheepish smile. “She’s used to speaking harshly. Please don’t take her words too seriously. “Monty, you wanted that Lady Dior bag, right? I just got one today and brought it for you. And here’s your Pandora bracelet. Don’t worry. Everyone’s got something.” Monty clutched her bag to her chest, jumping up and down with excitement, her eyes sparkling. As she and the others prepared to shower Kendra with praise and flattery, their faces suddenly froze. They had overheard Kendra’s inner thoughts. “No wonder they’re so good at flattering me. Just a few knockoffs, and they’ve got them spinning. “Ugh, I can’t believe I brought them into this prestigious banquet to show them a bit of the high life. What are they even wearing? I’m embarrassed just standing next to them. “Monty’s such a slut. How does she even get such a handsome boyfriend? I’ve tried so many times and failed. She’s obviously blind. “What are they still standing there for? Why haven’t they come to worship me yet? Are they really that happy to see me?” I nearly burst out laughing. Monty and the others were so furious their faces twisted, looking like they could kill Kendra on the spot. But they couldn’t dare to make a move, not with the Miles family’s power behind Kendra. Just then, the glittering golden doors opened, and a woman with a cold, aloof aura entered, pushing a handsome man in a wheelchair. I narrowed my eyes. The man in the wheelchair… It was him! Free Point

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When my husband’s mother, Sarah Brown, was hospitalized due to illness, I took care of her around the clock, never leaving her side. After Sarah’s condition finally stabilized, Rita Brown, the wife of my husband’s brother, finally showed up, appearing at the door of the hospital room. Though she arrived empty-handed, Sarah couldn’t stop praising her for her devotion, showering her with compliments. I rolled my eyes in frustration and quietly left the room, feeling a mix of emotions in my heart. Once Sarah was discharged and recovered, I suggested that she stay with Rita for a while so that Rita and her family could have the chance to show their filial piety to her. I couldn’t help but smile coldly when I saw Rita hesitating and reluctantly trying to avoid my suggestion. She had to experience some things herself. “Cynthia Brown, what kind of food did you bring me? Is there anything here that I actually like?” Sarah’s angry shout suddenly rang out, and at the same time, food splashed all over me. The metal lunch box hit my abdomen hard, making me feel a sharp, dull pain. I looked down at the food all over the floor and then at my wet clothes. The sticky feeling was unpleasant and uncomfortable. Not wanting to disturb others’ rest and to maintain my own dignity, I chose to remain silent. With a sigh, I began cleaning up the mess. Once the mess was cleaned up, I changed into fresh clothes before explaining to Sarah. “Sarah, the doctor said you shouldn’t eat greasy food right now, so I made you some light soup and vegetables.” Even though my tone was full of helplessness, Sarah stubbornly turned her head away and kept yelling at me. Knowing that further communication with Sarah was pointless, I quietly reminded her to follow the doctor’s advice before shutting my mouth. Sarah huffed disdainfully and turned away, no longer paying me any attention. It was nearly noon, and everyone else had gone out for lunch. The room was left with only Sarah and me. An oppressive silence filled the air, so thick that even the sound of a falling needle would have seemed loud. I was about to step out of the room for some fresh air when suddenly, I heard the sound of a woman crying uncontrollably. Before I could react, a figure quickly rushed toward Sarah’s bed. “Sarah, how are you feeling? Is there anything else bothering you? I’ve been so worried these past few days. I can’t even sleep at night thinking about your suffering in the hospital…” A stream of concerned words poured out like rapid fire. I looked up and saw that it was none other than Rita Brown, the wife of my husband’s brother, who was sobbing as she clung to Sarah. Seeing her fake display of concern, I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. Just a month ago, Sarah’s chronic condition flared up again, and this time it was quite serious. I rushed Sarah to the hospital and called my husband, Jeffrey Brown. Because it was an emergency, I had no choice but to sign the surgery consent form as the doctor advised. By the time Jeffrey arrived, sweating and panicked, Sarah had already been wheeled into the operating room. We hadn’t even had a chance to inform Jeffrey’s brother, Earl Brown, about the situation yet. And now, Rita, like a latecomer, appeared to lament how much she cared about Sarah. Her insincerity left me feeling completely contemptuous.

Although the doctors had clearly told us that the chances of success for the surgery were quite high, Jeffrey and I still paced nervously outside the operating room, our minds filled with worry about the unknown outcome, fearing any unexpected complications. Luckily, our fears turned out to be unnecessary. When we saw Sarah safely wheeled out of the operating room, the heavy weight that had been hanging over me finally lifted. Though the surgery was a success, the doctors recommended that Sarah stay in the hospital for a month to rest to monitor her recovery closely. I had no objections to the doctor’s advice and readily agreed. However, the reality of the situation presented a challenge. We had a young child at home to care for, and both Jeffrey and I had demanding jobs, making it hard to find enough time to stay with Sarah. After giving it some thought, I called Rita, hoping we could work out a shift plan to help care for Sarah so we could all share the load. Unfortunately, as soon as I mentioned that Sarah was in the hospital, Rita quickly ended the call, citing the busyness of her own household. I tried calling several more times, but no one answered. It was clear that Rita didn’t want to be involved in caring for Sarah. Faced with this reality, we had no choice but to take on the responsibility ourselves. Since Jeffrey worked in sales and was currently in his peak season, his hours were unpredictable, though his income had increased significantly as a result. After weighing the options, I decided to take a month’s leave from work to devote myself entirely to taking care of Sarah in the hospital until she fully recovered. At the same time, considering that Jeffrey couldn’t manage the children, I used my lunch breaks to drop our child off at my mother’s house for her to look after. Despite all my efforts, I never earned Sarah’s full approval. She often criticized my work, either pointing out something I hadn’t done well enough or complaining about things I had done wrong. I tried to bear her criticisms, but what hurt the most was how often she would say that if Rita were taking care of her, she would do a much better job than I did.

I had countless moments when I wanted to directly tell Sarah that Rita, upon hearing the news of her hospitalization, had coldly hung up the phone and, over the past few days, neither showed up nor even bothered to call and check on her. But each time I saw Sarah’s pale face, weakened by her illness, my impulse to say that was quickly suppressed, as I didn’t want to upset her and risk interfering with her recovery. Honestly, I could understand why Sarah might not like me; conflicts in family life were nothing new. What I found hard to accept, though, was Sarah’s clear favoritism toward Rita. Over the past ten years, since Jeffrey and I got married, Sarah has lived under the same roof with us. Our child, Keith Brown, was already seven years old now. I had done my best to show filial piety, but I had never earned Sarah’s genuine affection in return. My thoughts drifted back to the time when Jeffrey and I got married. Both our families were ordinary, living simple lives. When we discussed our wedding, I only symbolically proposed an engagement gift of sixty-six thousand dollars, and after the wedding, I brought it all back as start-up money for our little family. However, when Earl and Rita got married, she immediately asked for an engagement gift of two hundred eighty thousand dollars. As far as I know, this money ended up in her brother’s hands, and it was used to buy property. Not only did she not bring back a penny, but she also often moved things from her home to her parent’s place. So, whenever I saw Sarah’s preference for Rita, a deep sense of injustice would rise in my heart. At that moment, Rita sat on the hospital bed, her eyes full of tears as she expressed her concern for Sarah. Sarah, equally emotional, tightly grasped Rita’s hand, tears streaming down her face in response. Seeing this scene, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Rita’s hypocritical face any longer. I rolled my eyes and turned, walking out of the room. I wasn’t surprised at all by Rita’s sudden appearance at the hospital today. Yesterday, the doctor informed Jeffrey and me that Sarah was recovering well and would be discharged soon. Hearing the news, I was genuinely happy. Even though Sarah had always been cold towards me, I sincerely wished for her to be healthy and free from illness. Jeffrey was also glad. Although he held a grudge against Rita’s family for their indifference, the bond of brotherhood was not so easily broken. After thinking it over, he still decided to share the good news with his brother, Earl.

As for why Rita showed up today, I was well aware. She probably thought that since Sarah’s condition had improved, they no longer needed to pretend to care for her. So, she rushed over to act as the good wife and good son in front of Sarah. After all, when she came, I made sure to glance a few times. She didn’t even bother bringing a box of supplements or anything. She showed up empty-handed. I sat outside for a long while, watching as the evening sky grew darker. It wasn’t until I realized how late it had gotten that I slowly walked back into the hospital. However, when I returned to the room, I found that neither Sarah nor Rita were there. Since Sarah wasn’t due for discharge yet, and with it being so late, where could Rita have taken her? With this question in mind, I quickly pulled out my phone to call Rita. But before I could dial, Joan Arnold, who was in the bed next to Sarah’s, suddenly looked at me. “Cynthia, Rita gave Sarah something to eat a while ago. Not long after, she started vomiting. They’ve taken her to the emergency room…” Joan’s words froze me in place. But as soon as I snapped back to my senses, I widened my eyes and rushed towards the ER, not even bothering to thank Joan. By the time I reached the emergency room, I saw Rita sitting on a chair outside. But I had no time to question her. Instead, I focused on calming myself down and waited anxiously at the door. Fortunately, the panic didn’t last long. The doctor came out quickly. He removed his mask and calmly spoke to me, “We just induced vomiting in the patient. She’s fine now. But you need to follow the doctor’s advice on what to feed her. Don’t give her anything random. She’s elderly and can’t handle this kind of stress repeatedly.” The doctor’s tone held a hint of reproach, but once I heard that Sarah was okay, my worried heart finally eased. Not bothering with further explanation, I kept nodding and thanking the doctor. After the doctor left, I let out a long breath and turned to glare at Rita. “What did you give Sarah to eat just now? What happened? Don’t you know that she’s elderly? If something serious had happened, it would have been too late by then!” As I looked at Rita’s careless attitude, my voice was filled with unmistakable reproach. “Sarah told me you didn’t feed her, and she was hungry. So, I ordered sandwiches and fried chicken for her. You know how much Sarah loves this kind of food.” I noticed her pouting as if she was in the right, which made me even more frustrated. “Even if she loves it, she should consider when it’s appropriate. Sarah’s in the hospital, and she needs to eat lighter to help with her recovery. Sandwiches are hard to digest, and with all the condiments, it’s basically just going to upset her stomach. She’s still taking medicine; how can her body handle such irritating food? And by the way, do you see anyone else eating like this in the hospital?” Before I could finish my scolding, I heard Rita mumbling. “I didn’t come here to take care of her, how should I know? Besides, isn’t she fine now? Do you really have to talk to me like this? Like I’m some kind of villain.” Her words instantly set my anger off. So now, her family didn’t come to take care of Sarah, and yet they still had the nerve to complain? Was I just supposed to suffer through this? Day and night, taking care of her? Just as I was about to completely lose it and confront Rita, Sarah suddenly spoke up. “Cynthia, that’s enough. The doctor said everything was fine. And Rita didn’t mean to, how could she know what Sarah can and can’t eat? But I know in my heart, she’s a good kid. She even remembers what I like to eat.” After saying this, Sarah looked at Rita with a loving gaze. I couldn’t help but think back to how, every time Sarah looked at me, there was nothing but cold indifference and disdain in her eyes. When I saw this, the anger that had been building up inside me suddenly dissipated. If even Sarah, the one involved, wasn’t bothered, why was I so worked up over it? Realizing this, I quietly sat down on a chair beside the bed, not saying another word.

However, the brief calm was soon interrupted by the doctor’s arrival. After everything that had just happened, the doctor suggested we stay a few more days for observation before discharging Sarah, just to make sure everything was truly fine. We nodded in agreement with the doctor’s advice. But as soon as the doctor left, Rita was already at Sarah’s side, looking guilty. “Sarah, you know how busy Earl and I have been with work. We just couldn’t find the time… You’re not mad at me, are you?” Before Rita could finish, Sarah immediately patted her hand and took over the conversation. “Rita, I understand. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your work. As long as I know you’re thinking of me, that’s enough. Besides, Cynthia’s here, right? She can take care of me. Though she’s not my first choice, she’ll do… so don’t stress, okay?” When I looked at Rita’s fake expression and saw Sarah openly criticize and disdain me in front of her, a deep sadness spread in my heart. I had never imagined that, after all these years of carefully managing our family and serving Sarah with respect, I would be seen as so unworthy in her eyes. Just as I was about to give up and refuse to take anymore, suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind, and it quickly took shape. Given the current situation, it was clear that Sarah had figured out I would continue taking care of her. If I outright refused, with Rita’s persistent personality, who knew what kind of trouble she might cause? So, instead of refusing directly, I decided to go with the flow and keep this last bit of duty intact. Once Sarah was discharged, I could carry out my next plan without anyone being able to find fault with me. With that thought, I immediately switched gears, turning to Rita with a bright, reassuring smile. “Rita, don’t worry about it. Go ahead. I’ve got this. I was just a bit hasty earlier and said some harsh words. Don’t take it to heart, just let it go. There’s no need to argue with me.” Free Point

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I, Louise Keller, and my boyfriend, Billy Jordan, went to a supermarket near the mall to buy some snacks. The store owner, Susan Adams, was a woman in her fifties, and I was a regular there. She immediately said the total was 196 dollars. I was confused, but I still paid. When I got home, even if I overestimated the price of the ice cream, it still didn’t add up to that amount. I told Billy the price was wrong and that I was going back to ask. Billy frowned. “It’s not like it’s a huge difference. She’s not having an easy time either.” I was stunned. Was my money just blowing in from the wind? I went shopping at the small supermarket I often visit. It was located near the college. When I was checking out, Susan fiddled with the register for a long time. She wasn’t just inputting numbers one by one, either. The machine made sounds like “20 minus 3,” leaving me even more confused. “Total is 196 dollars.” I was about to ask how much each ice cream cost, but Billy impatiently said, “I’ll wait for you outside.” With a line of people waiting to check out, I didn’t want to take up too much of their time. I went back to my rented apartment, feeling down, and put the ice cream in the fridge. As I took them out one by one, my face grew darker. Even if I overpriced the ice cream, the total still didn’t reach 196 dollars. I’d picked the cheaper ones, too. Billy saw me sitting on the floor for a while and frowned. “What’s wrong?” I pointed to the neatly arranged ice creams and asked, “You heard the price, right? Susan said the total was 196 dollars.” Billy just lay on the sofa when he came in, absentmindedly saying, “Yeah, well, how could she possibly charge you less? Hurry up and cook something.” I pieced the whole thing together and thought that Susan might have overcharged me, which made me feel frustrated. “I’m going to go back and ask Susan if she charged me too much.” I started getting dressed, but Billy was still lying on the couch, unmoved. When he saw I’d put on my shoes, he finally slowly got up. Billy furrowed his brow and tossed his phone onto the couch. “It’s not like it’s a huge difference. She’s not having an easy time either.” I was stunned again. Was my money just blowing in from the wind? “She took extra money from me. Is it wrong for me to ask about it as a customer?” Billy pressed his lips. “If it’s just ten or twenty bucks, do you really need to make a big deal out of it? We’ll be going there again, and we don’t want to offend her.” I immediately lost my temper. Billy wasn’t defending me and was actually defending her. “Is she your mother or something? Why are you protecting her? When you need something, you never think about things from my perspective.” Billy saw I was really angry, so he gave me an awkward smile. “I was just saying it casually, no big deal. I’ll go with you.” I naively thought Billy would help me gain some courage by going with me. But little did I know, he was just making things worse.

I took the bag of things I bought and went downstairs to grab a taxi to the supermarket. There were still quite a few people in the store. As soon as I walked in, I knew I was right. Susan immediately avoided my gaze and quickly unlocked her phone, making a million tiny movements in a second. Every single movement screamed guilt. And at the critical moment, Billy went silent. As soon as we walked in, he shut down and left everything to me. I wasn’t about to let it slide. I slammed the plastic bag onto the counter. The sound echoed loudly. A few customers looked over. I got straight to the point. “Susan, can you recalculate how much the items cost? You might have made a mistake.” Only then did Susan slowly put her phone down, glance at the items, and reluctantly stand up. “You young folks are always in a hurry. I wouldn’t cheat you out of a few dollars.” I stared at her, my eyes sharp. As winter was settling in, a bead of sweat appeared on her forehead. I could tell she was just brushing me off. She pressed a couple of buttons on the calculator, then casually said, “I have a record on my calculator. I remember you two. It should be 169 dollars.” My anger flared up immediately. I raised my voice. “You told us it was 196 dollars, you never mentioned 169 dollars.” Susan frowned and countered, “So how much did you actually pay? You are just talking, I can tell exactly how much you paid.” I pulled up the payment record on my phone and showed the number 196 dollars. She quickly switched her tone and gave a sheepish laugh. “Oh, you must have misheard me. I said 169 dollars. If you didn’t catch it, it’s not my fault.” Her nonchalant attitude pushed me over the edge. She had even asked me to help promote her supermarket in the school group before. I had gladly shared the posts, and now I was being taken advantage of. Her scheme was clear to me. She probably thought she could take advantage of a college student, assuming I wouldn’t notice or wouldn’t make a fuss. I pointed to the security camera footage nearby, my voice full of anger. “Then check the footage, and see what you actually said. If I misheard, fine. But two people mishearing? Come on.” “It may not seem like a big deal, but the way you’re dodging responsibility, do you think I’m that easy to fool?” “Or do you think I’m stupid and won’t come back to you when I’ve been scammed?” Customers in the store had stopped to watch, making it so that others couldn’t even come up to the counter to check out. They had cleared the counter space for us. Susan froze for a moment, glancing at the footage. “What’s wrong with you? It’s just a little over twenty bucks, and you’re making it into such a big deal. I will just refund you, and it’ll be over. “Why do you need to watch the footage? This supermarket is busy. If everyone were like you, the store would be out of business. “Learn some respect for your elders, kid. I’m around the same age as your mom. You should be polite when you speak to me. Twenty bucks is nothing, but you are messing up my business!” The customers gathered closer, their eyes on us, making Billy feel uneasy. He tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Enough, okay? Susan already said she’ll refund you. Stop making a scene. “There are so many people watching, this is so embarrassing.” I stared at him, my heart sinking. As my boyfriend, he wasn’t standing up for me, and now he was accusing me of making a fuss. Wasn’t I the one losing out here? I took a deep breath, pulling my arm away from Billy. “Is this really just about the money? I come to your store every week. You don’t even have a scanner. How can I know if you’ve overcharged me a dollar or two? Isn’t it you who’s stubborn and won’t admit you overcharged me? “Just show me the footage and clear this up. It’ll be better for both of us. “Unless you’re lying, and you know you deliberately overcharged us, too scared to let us see the footage.” The customers seemed to have caught on to the situation, and they began discussing it in a flurry of voices. “That makes sense. Last time, I bought one big and one small bucket of instant pasta, and she charged me at the large one’s price.” “I knew something didn’t add up. I felt like I hadn’t bought much, but the total was still high. So, it was the ice cream that got me.” “If that’s how it’s gonna be, I won’t come back next time. I thought Susan was nice, handling the cash register at her age, but turns out she’s been treating us college students like fools.” At these words, Susan’s ears turned red, and she hurriedly responded, “Don’t make up lies. The worst thing that happened was that I forgot, but you must have been a competitor sent to cause trouble. “I’m so mad, my chest hurts.” Susan clutched her chest and sat down. I glanced over, and some customers had already pulled out their phones to record her. I did the same, just in case I needed evidence later. Seeing that I wasn’t scared, Susan’s pained expression quickly faded. She picked up the plastic bag and, with a feigned look of regret, said, “I won’t take the money, I’ll give it back to you!” I wasn’t about to take it. Who knew how she might try to pin the blame on me later? “No, just refund the difference, and be more careful next time.” Reluctantly, Susan transferred the difference back to me. Billy, who had been waiting, rushed out faster than I did. Before I left, I glanced back at Susan, muttering to herself. I could tell from her lips that she was saying it was an accident.

When we got home, Billy was in a bad mood. He rolled his eyes, moved the sofa around on purpose, and made noise as if he were throwing a tantrum. Annoyed, I asked, “What’s your problem? I was the one dealing with Susan the whole time, and you barely said anything to help. “You’re still mad after we get home?” Billy stormed toward me. I was a little scared he might get physical, so I stepped back. “You’re just bullying her, aren’t you? “For just a little over twenty bucks, you had to go to the store? By the time I get to eat, it’ll be seven-thirty. What’s the point of all that? “Maybe she really just made a mistake. Didn’t your parents teach you that sometimes it’s good to take a loss?” I felt a little dizzy. Now, I had to listen to Billy complain even after I got home. Did I do something wrong? Just because I was kind, did that mean I deserved to be taken advantage of? I answered firmly, “Just because she’s having a hard time doesn’t give her the right to scam people. There are plenty of people with tougher lives than hers! “We walked into the store, and she was clearly avoiding eye contact. With all her shady actions, how could you not see that? And you’re blaming me? “Talking about not being able to eat, can’t you make your own meals? After you scold me, I’m the one who still has to cook dinner for you. How pathetic am I?” Billy had pulled this kind of thing more than once. These past two years, I kept asking myself, what was it about Billy that made me fall for him? Before we started dating, he would bring me food, and when it rained, he’d make sure to give me his umbrella. His careful attention was what made me fall for him. But once we were officially together, all that was gone. Outrageous things kept happening. On my birthday, he went off to play games with his buddies. His TikTok was full of suggestive content featuring young women. The worst part was when we argued. He went out to drink with friends, then shamelessly asked me to pick him up and pay for it. All these past memories flooded back. But since Billy was my first love, I somehow healed from all the mistreatment. “Billy, let’s break up.” Billy’s eyes went wide, and his mouth hung open for a few seconds before he finally spoke, “Are you serious? Can you stop taking it out on me just because you’re mad?” He waved his hands repeatedly. “Next time, I’ll speak up for you. Don’t be so petty. It’s not like you never let it go before. Did Aunt Flo visit early this month?” I smiled faintly, my gaze cold. This month, Aunt Flo had just left. “No need, just go. The house is rented under my name.” Billy immediately flew into a rage. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you understand the principle of compromising for happiness? I’m doing this for your own good!” We stared at each other in silence for over a minute, and when Billy saw I wasn’t giving him an out, he angrily put on his clothes, breathing heavily, trying to act as though he was in pain. But even as he opened the door, I chose to ignore him completely. “Fine, Louise. Just wait and regret it later.” That night, it felt like a double celebration for me. My mind was clear, and for the first time, I felt at peace. However, what I didn’t expect was that the supermarket incident would bring me huge trouble.

I had just woken up when my roommate, Dorothy Clarke, sent me a video. I clicked on it, and all the sleepiness disappeared instantly. Someone uploaded a video of me confronting the supermarket yesterday. The account name was the supermarket’s own. But the video wasn’t complete. My face had been blurred, and the footage mainly focused on me arguing my case. It had been edited, leaving out the backstory. The video made it look like I was bullying them, while Susan came off as the victim. Even worse, the supermarket had labeled the prices of the ice cream in the freezer. No matter how people looked at it, I didn’t seem like I was standing up for my rights. I looked more like I was picking a fight. The person who made the video was clearly an expert. The title was: [Do Older People Just Deserve to Be Bullied?] A group of outraged netizens flooded the comments, attacking me. Comment 1: [Who raised this lady? Your supermarket’s too kind. The blur is unnecessary. Just show her face!] Comment 2: [Someone checks if she’s a student nearby. We should tag the nearby universities. We can’t let one bad apple ruin a whole generation. This kind of person should publicly apologize!] Comment 3: [She’s a setback to society, but I sincerely hope people won’t overdo it with the online bullying. If we do, we’ll be no different from her.] As the shares went viral, the comments kept coming in, and one comment was pinned to the top. The person made up a story. They said I had bought ice cream without checking the price, then got upset and blamed Susan for everything. I made my mistake but made someone else pay for it. Their version of events sounded so convincing, like they were eyewitnesses. They corrected the one error, the price was clearly marked. In the video, I had no argument at all. The nearby universities were all tagged, and it seemed like there was an invisible hand stirring the pot behind the scenes. I gritted my teeth and immediately received a call. It was Paul Butler, the agent who handles my family’s business affairs. The year was ending, and rent collection was coming up. “Miss, are the rents for those stores the same as last year?” I answered flatly. “Everything’s the same, except for the supermarket. They don’t need to rent anymore.” Sometimes, people really couldn’t afford to be too kind. Free Point

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My wife, Jacqueline Hampton, was hiding a secret. Her first love, Gerald Andersen, had been in a car accident and urgently needed a kidney transplant. She took me to the hospital for a checkup, claiming it was just a routine exam, but the real reason was to see if I was a match for Gerald. When the results came out, Jacqueline was overjoyed and tricked me into signing a consent form. “Matthew Hampton, it’s just a kidney. You won’t die without it. Why are you being so dramatic? “I promise you, if you help Gerald survive this, I’ll have children with you!” I smirked bitterly, “Children? You’ve got to be kidding. Only my wife can bear my children. Who are you?” “Why the sudden need to take the whole family for a checkup?” I turned to look out the window, my face expressionless, as Jacqueline, holding my hand, awkwardly smiled at me. “I’m just worried about my parents’ health and about you too. You’ve been working late for years, and your health is getting worse. I just want to make sure everything’s okay. “You’re the pillar of our family. If you fall, what will happen to us?” Sitting in the backseat, my parents nodded in agreement with Jacqueline, adding, “Matthew, Jacqueline really cares about you. You should listen to her.” I turned to look into her eyes, and Jacqueline nervously looked down, her grip on my hand tightening. “Darling, do you think I would harm you?” I said nothing, just quietly stared at her. Despite Jacqueline’s calm demeanor, I could tell from her body language that she was lying. Earlier, when I looked out the window, I noticed several cars following us. No legitimate hospital would perform a transplant without the patient’s consent. Judging by the situation, Jacqueline must have gone to a black-market hospital where she could pay to get anything done. I tried calming myself and spoke slowly, “Jacqueline, I know what’s happening. “You brought us to the hospital under the guise of a checkup, but it’s not really a checkup, is it? The real reason is to see if we’re a match for Gerald’s kidney, right?” The mention of Gerald’s name struck Jacqueline like a lightning bolt straight to her heart. In the next moment, I clearly felt a thin layer of sweat forming on her palm. “Matthew, what are you talking about? Since marrying you, I haven’t thought about any other man.” “Really?” I asked, “A week ago, Gerald had a car accident. Didn’t you hear? “I heard he was seriously injured, his kidney was damaged, and without a matching donor, it will fail, and he doesn’t have much time left.” As soon as I finished speaking, Jacqueline let go of my hand, her face filled with guilt. She didn’t argue, and my heart sank. “Matthew, I would never hurt you. Please don’t think that. “This accident was a tragedy. Gerald was just an innocent victim, and I won’t let him suffer, nor will I let you suffer.” I watched her eyes fill with sorrow, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed, aching to the point I could barely breathe. “Gerald is a race car driver. How many families has he ruined over the years by ignoring traffic laws and speeding? “Even this accident was his fault. If not for his family’s connections, he would’ve…” “Matthew!” Jacqueline interrupted me sharply, her eyes red. She looked up at me, her gaze unwavering. “It’s not like that…” “He’s a race car driver. He loves speed. That’s his passion. You can’t say that about him! “Besides, I’m just asking you to get a checkup. Even if you’re a match, donating one kidney won’t affect your normal life. “Please, just do it for me. Help him, and I’ll have children with you!” Jacqueline looked at me with pleading eyes. What I hadn’t expected was that the woman who once refused to have a child with me, terrified of how her body might change, was now using it as a bargaining chip to make demands in exchange for Gerald’s recovery. “Jacqueline, you never used to say things like this,” I said, my voice filled with disappointment. Jacqueline must have sensed it because she clutched the sleeve of my shirt tightly. From the moment she had me get into the car, I knew Gerald was the one who truly mattered to her. No matter how much I did, how much I sacrificed, it could never compare to him. For the next few hours, I didn’t say a word. The car behind us stayed too close, and my parents were still in Jacqueline’s hands. There was no way to escape. Regardless of what the test results showed, my marriage with Jacqueline was already over. The driver brought us to a rundown iron gate. The moment we got out of the car, a group of people surrounded us. “We’ll take him first. Remember to pay the balance,” one of them said. Jacqueline stood there, silent. My parents were trapped inside the car, and if I dared to resist, there was a real chance I’d end up dead. The only hope left was that the test results wouldn’t match Gerald’s. I was quickly taken to an underground operating room, where the environment was dirty and chaotic. From the medical box next to me, which was filled with medical cotton swabs, I could even hear the squeaky sounds of mice. As the doctor took my blood, he glanced at me and couldn’t help but mock, “I’ve been in this business for years, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone send their husband here. “She is ruthless. Afraid you might run, so she brought your parents along.” I didn’t respond. Every word from the doctor felt like a knife cutting into me. When the thick needle went into my skin, my face turned pale from the pain. About two hours later, the test results came out. My kidney matched Gerald’s perfectly. Hearing this, Jacqueline was ecstatic. She eagerly grabbed the doctor’s hand, urging them to take my kidney. I stared at the woman who had been by my side for five years, and at that moment, my heart completely broke.

“Jacqueline! After all these years, Matthew has been good to you, and this is how you repay him?” At that moment, my mother suddenly rushed out of the car, but the bodyguards inside yanked her by the hair and stopped her from moving. “Let go of my mom!” I shouted in panic, but my cries were useless. My hands and feet were bound, and they dragged me toward the underground operating room. From start to finish, Jacqueline stood aside, cold and indifferent. “Matthew, I’m sorry. If your kidney didn’t match, I wouldn’t make things difficult for you. But now the doctor says your kidney can save Gerald, and I can’t let him die in front of me. “The surgery will be quick. Don’t worry. I’ve asked the doctor. Even if you lose a kidney, it won’t kill you! “Honey, don’t blame me. I love you so much. Once Gerald’s out of danger, I’ll fulfill all your wishes.” As I heard Jacqueline’s words, my heart ached like never before. “No need. Once Gerald is out of danger, we’ll get a divorce.” As soon as I said this, Jacqueline froze. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she stood there in front of me. “Honey, I know you’re angry. I made this decision on my own, but I had no other choice. “Don’t say things in anger. We’ll live a good life together once Gerald and you are both well. “You always wanted kids, right? I’ll have them for you. You can have as many as you want. Is that okay?” Jacqueline’s voice grew more frantic, her hands trembling as she clutched mine. The doctor, standing nearby, hurried us along. “Are we going to do this surgery or not?” “Yes! Of course!” Jacqueline didn’t hesitate for a second. A few minutes later, I was dragged into the operating room. The anesthesia the doctor gave me didn’t seem to be enough. I could clearly feel a knife cutting through my skin, layer by layer. They were using their fingers, stirring around in my belly. I wanted to scream, but my body was too weak, no strength at all. For a moment, I even felt like my illness had reached its end. I didn’t wake up until three days later. I woke up in pain. Since Jacqueline had used improper means to take my kidney, she didn’t let me stay in the hospital for fear that her actions would be exposed. Only the doctor who performed the surgery came to see me regularly, changing my bandages on schedule. The servants brought me food during the day for the past few days, and the doctor checked my wound at night. Jacqueline didn’t show up once. I lay in bed, looking at the crooked scar on my stomach. The stitches were ugly, and there was no skill involved at all. Suddenly, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw a message from Gerald. [How’s your health? Jacqueline told me you volunteered to donate a kidney to save me.] [When I woke up, I wanted to come see you first, but Jacqueline wouldn’t allow it. She insisted I wait until I’m fully recovered before I get out of bed.] [Since Jacqueline isn’t with you these days, you need to take care of yourself. I’ll take good care of her for you.] Gerald even sent a photo of Jacqueline sleeping in his hospital bed. Actually, this wasn’t the first time I had received a photo like this. The first time was a year ago when Jacqueline’s company was working with Gerald’s. At the time, her boss somehow found out that Jacqueline and Gerald were close, so he sent her to handle the cooperation talks. Jacqueline came home late every day during that period. Gerald would send me a photo of her sleeping, taken from the side, every night. At first, I tried to fool myself, telling myself she must have been so tired from work. I started driving her to and from work every day. But Jacqueline got mad at me, saying I didn’t trust her. That was the first time we had the biggest argument in our five years of marriage. She was so angry that she moved into the company. In the end, I had to beg her to come home. Thinking back on it, I let out a bitter smile. It was the same old trick. Maybe it seemed fresh the first time, but it lost its effect when it was used too many times. I blocked Gerald without a second thought, then slammed my phone onto the nightstand. I was just about to lie down and sleep when Jacqueline called me. “Matthew, there’s a limit to how much you can fool around. It’s just a kidney, you won’t die without it. Why are you being so dramatic?”

I was stunned by Jacqueline’s harsh words. I couldn’t understand why she was so angry. “Gerald just wanted to thank you. Why did you block him? “You better unblock him and apologize. Then we can just forget about it.” I almost laughed at her unreasonable tantrum. She took my kidney, he showed off pictures of Jacqueline sleeping next to him, and now they wanted me to apologize. It was completely backward! “Why should I apologize? Gerald sent me a photo of you late at night, and I blocked him. What’s wrong with that? “Do you think I shouldn’t have blocked him? Should I have gone over to ask him if he’s dating you now, like some fool?” “Matthew!” Jacqueline was incredibly angry with me at my words. Even though we were talking on the phone, I could feel her rage clearly. “Do you even know what you’re saying? “I know you’re still upset. I stayed at the hospital taking care of Gerald and didn’t go back to give you time to calm down. I’ve told you many times that I’m your wife, and I would never betray you! “Gerald and I are just friends!” If it weren’t for Gerald’s parents strongly opposing their relationship back then, thinking Jacqueline’s family background didn’t match his, maybe they would have been together already. For all these years, Jacqueline often hid alone in the study, secretly scrolling through her phone, reading every piece of news about Gerald. I couldn’t understand. Why did she marry me if she was so unwilling to let go of Gerald? “Friends? Jacqueline, do you really believe that?” There was silence over the phone for a long moment. I guessed that silence was the answer. “It doesn’t matter.” No matter how hard one side tried, a marriage without any feelings couldn’t be sustained. Maybe because I was silent for too long after she said, “It doesn’t matter,” Jacqueline couldn’t hold back any longer. “We can’t resolve this over the phone. I’ll come back and talk to you face-to-face. “Matthew, please don’t be mad at me. I wanted to live a good life with you from the moment I married you. Do you remember what I said to you before the surgery? “I know it’s been five years, and you’ve always wanted a child of your own. Once your wound heals, I’ll make that wish come true.” Jacqueline’s tone even carried a hint of excitement. It was as if, by agreeing to have a child for my family, she expected me to be grateful and forgive all her actions. Five years! Five whole years of effort and companionship! Hearing her say those words made me feel completely disgusted. How disgusting! “Child? Jacqueline, you’ve got it all wrong. Only my wife can give me a child. Who do you think you are? “Do you even deserve to say that?” Free Point

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I was diagnosed with acute leukemia the moment I found out York was dating another girl Winnie. My world shattered, and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, his uncle appeared. On their wedding day, Winnie whispered something strange to me. After the wedding, York’s true face emerged. Yet, the truth ignited something fierce within me. I couldn’t stand by, not even at the cost of my life. I would fight, using every ounce of strength to save him from his own lies. And in my final moments, I realized—York had always been there, hidden in the shadows, loving me in his own twisted way. Even as I bled out, I knew—he had always been there. In my quest for revenge, I married my boyfriend’s uncle. I’m Zenobia Smith, and I met York Wales five years ago. It was a typical college day when I first saw him—standing under the sun in a crisp white shirt. His clean, perfect image struck me, but it was his eyes—so clear and untainted—that held me. His family was wealthy, and they had already arranged a marriage for him. But York, in defiance, ran away from his world and chose me. We struggled after college. No jobs, no money. But we always had each other. Then, things started to change. A company hired us, and York, after a year and a half, left to start his own business. Despite the hardships, we made it. For five years, we were inseparable. I believed we’d walk down the aisle one day. Then came the diagnosis. Acute leukemia. “I can’t afford the treatment, York. My family… they can’t help. I’m… I’m too far gone,” my voice breaking. York’s face twisted in agony. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Zenobia. I’m not losing you. I’ll find the money, I swear.” But nothing was enough. The bills piled up, and we were drowning. Then came the anonymous envelope, the one with money. I read the handwritten note over and over again, desperately clinging to it like it was my lifeline. As the pain from treatment consumed me, York stayed by my side. He was my rock. But soon, I started noticing the change in him. His phone would ring, and he’d quickly shove it away, muttering about spam. “York, who was that?” I asked one evening, my voice fragile. “It’s nothing, Zenobia. Just… just some junk mail,” he replied, forcing a smile. I could feel it in my bones. Something was off. One day, when he stepped out of the room. I unlocked his phone. The message was clear. “Tonight at 8, Doya Hotel, Room 203, waiting for you.” My heart stopped. The name on the message sent a chill through me—Winnie. His ex-fiancée. The woman his family had chosen for him. I could hardly breathe. My entire world was crashing down around me. “York… How could you?” York had never turned his back on me during my sickness, but maybe the pressure was too much for him. Maybe he needed an outlet—or maybe he just had normal human needs? I tried to rationalize it, to make excuses for him. But as the days passed, my mood soured. My treatment stopped going as smoothly, and I couldn’t hide my anger every time he glanced at his phone. Finally, one day, I exploded. He didn’t argue with me. He just calmly walked out of the room—and he never came back.

I began to resist treatment on purpose, refusing to take my medicine. My former doctors and nurses were at their wit’s end. At that moment, I just wanted to wait for death. Then, my new doctor—Woodruff Jenkins—walked into my world. “Hello, I’m your new doctor, Woodruff Jenkins. Forty-two years old, Cancer sign, no bad habits, I own a house and a car, and after work, I just go home,” he introduced himself, his voice casual yet confident. I thought, What is he doing, giving me his personal details like we’re on a blind date? But I couldn’t help but notice that his introduction caught my attention. “I’ve reviewed your case. There’s hope for you. Don’t worry, no patient of mine has ever given up on themselves,” he said with a reassuring smile like a ray of light cutting through the darkness of my life. I stared at him, and something about his smile—his eyes—reminded me of York. They were just as clear, just as innocent. “Medicine is great, but nothing beats the sunshine. Let’s go for a walk,” his tone gentle but unyielding. “I’m tired,” Before I could respond, he signaled the nurse to bring over a wheelchair. Then, without warning, he swept me into his arms in a princess carry and placed me in the wheelchair. I was stunned by his suddenness but didn’t push him away. I couldn’t help it—there was something about him that reminded me of York. I began cooperating with my treatment. Dr. Jenkins would accompany me on walks whenever he had time, and soon, I found myself eagerly awaiting his rounds. My health improved, and as our bond grew beyond the doctor-patient relationship. One day, as we sat together, he took my hand and said softly, “I think it’s time we take things to the next level. Next week, there’s a family gathering. I want to bring you along.” I froze. Is this happening so fast? Five years with York, and he never once took me to meet his family. But with Woodruff, just three months in, and I was going to meet his parents? The day of the gathering, Woodruff took me shopping for a red dress. The moment I put it on, I felt like a new person—healthier, more alive. I was worried about what his family would think if they knew I was sick, but Woodruff had once said, “A firm choice is more important than any romance.” I wasn’t sure if I believed in fate, but in that moment, I understood what he meant. When we arrived at Woodruff’s home, my anxiety only grew. The large garden, the mansion, the servants—everything screamed wealth. I walked in with him, my heart pounding. “The others aren’t here yet, we’ve arrived first. Let’s wait for them,” Woodruff said, his hand gently guiding me. “Okay,” I whispered, trying to steady myself. “Sit here. I’ll go grab you some fresh juice,” he walked toward the kitchen. As I waited, I noticed the family photos on the mantle above the fireplace. I ran my fingers over them, one by one, until I reached a photo of Woodruff as a child. He looked so innocent. But then, my eyes froze on one particular picture. It was a photo of Woodruff with someone else. York. My heart skipped a beat. Before I could process the shock, Woodruff came back with the juice. He saw the blood on my hands, and panic flashed across his face. “Zenobia! You’re bleeding,” . He rushed me to the car and sped back to the hospital. On the way there,my mind racing. How could I have missed this? Woodruff glanced at me, concern written all over his face. “We’ll be at the hospital soon. Where are you hurting?” “Pull over,” I ordered suddenly. “Zenobia, what’s wrong?” “Stop the car,” Woodruff pulled over and reached out to touch my head. “What’s happening?” “Why… why do you have a picture with York?” “He’s my nephew. I’m his uncle.” I was stunned. “You knew about York and me all along?” “No, not at first,” his brow furrowed. “I didn’t know, but then his father mentioned you to me. I felt for you and wanted to help, but I never expected to fall for you. I’m so sorry, Zenobia. I never meant to hide it from you.” He pulled me into an embrace. “And York… I’m sure you’ve figured out what happened. He and Winnie, they’ve been in contact for a while. They were still meeting, going to hotels together…” His words sliced through me like a knife. They’d been together all along. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. But at that moment, I could feel Woodruff’s arms around me—comforting, gentle. He wasn’t York. He never would be. Yet, even in his warmth, I could still see York’s face, his eyes, his smile. I wanted to confess my feelings to Woodruff, but every time I saw the care he gave me, my words got stuck. He was the light in my life now, and I couldn’t bear to hurt him.

It was valentine day, and a nurse walked in with a bouquet of flowers, smiling brightly. “Dr. White is in surgery, but the flowers he ordered for you have arrived.” Yes, he was always so thoughtful. I placed the flowers in a vase and gazed out at the cars passing below the hospital, each car seemingly carrying a pair of lovers. Last year’s Valentine was spent with York, but this year, everything had changed. “Do you like the flowers?” Suddenly, a pair of large hands wrapped around my waist from behind. It was Woodruff. “I do,” “How about we go out for dinner tonight? I’ve reserved a table at a fancy restaurant,” Woodruff whispered, nibbling at my neck. “Sounds good,” At 8 PM, I changed out of my hospital gown and joined Woodruff at the restaurant. As expected, it was a high-end place. The decor suggested the food might be expensive, though I couldn’t tell if it was any good, but I could already taste the wealth in the air. Sure enough, the dishes that arrived were Michelin-level. Woodruff clearly paid great attention to me. Amid our light conversation, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind. “Uncle.” I turned, and my heart nearly shattered. It was York. “York, Winnie is here too,” Woodruff responded. I quickly turned away, not wanting to meet his gaze, though I could tell York was equally stunned. “I was just checking in on my patient,” Woodruff tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere. “Well, since Uncle’s friend is here, we won’t stay. Let’s go, York,” Winnie said, pulling York away. York walked slowly, struggling, probably because he couldn’t understand the situation—his uncle was sitting across from his ex, who hadn’t officially broken up with him yet. As York and Winnie sat down nearby, I lowered my head and tried to eat, but the food had lost all its taste. A wave of resentment and jealousy surged inside me. “Marry me,” Woodruff suddenly said. My mind was still reeling from the shock of seeing York, the man who had betrayed me and left me when I was sick. I stared at Woodruff for a moment and then answered, “Yes.” Woodruff’s excitement was palpable. “What? You said yes?” “Mm,” “Wait here,” Woodruff stood and walked toward the front desk, speaking briefly with the manager before returning to my side, grabbing my hand. The manager approached, pushing a cart with wine and flowers, followed by a violinist. Woodruff knelt beside me, pulling a ring from his pocket. As the violinist began to play, we became the center of attention. In front of everyone, Woodruff slipped the ring onto my finger. The room erupted in applause, offering us their blessings. But York, seated nearby, wore a shocked and worried expression. Less than a year after breaking up with York, I was marrying his uncle. Woodruff rushed to plan our wedding as if afraid I would disappear if we slowed down. We began writing invitations, and since Woodruff was York’s uncle, I knew he would come. I quickly wrote York’s name on the invitation, imagining how he would regret his actions when he saw me on my wedding day. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was York. I froze for a second, thinking, Could he already regret it? “Hello, what’s up?” There was a brief silence on the other end before he spoke. “Don’t marry my uncle.” Does he regret it already? “Don’t you want me to live long?” “No, you can hate me, but don’t marry my uncle. You have to trust me. We were together for five years. Have I ever lied to you?” His voice shook. “Did you lie to me? What about you and Winnie?” “It’s not what you think. We didn’t do anything,” he hurriedly explained. “I saw your phone.” I cut him off. There was silence on the other end. “No one stays a fool forever. I have to finish writing wedding invitations. Goodbye.” Before he could say more, I hung up. The more he suffered, the better I felt. It felt like all the pain from the past was finally being repaid. I deleted York’s contact information and blocked him. “You deserve it. This is the price of betrayal.” “Are you done?” Woodruff’s voice startled me. I hadn’t realized he was standing behind me. “Almost,” I quickly closed my phone. “Who was that?” Woodruff asked, noticing my unease. “Telemarketer,” I lied. Woodruff paused, “Let’s go to the marriage registration office today.” “I thought we were doing that after the wedding?” I asked, surprised. We had previously agreed to register after the ceremony. “Maybe I just want you so much. I’m afraid someone might steal you away,” “Okay, let’s go to the registration office this afternoon,” I replied.

In the afternoon, we left the civil affairs bureau and took a car back to Woodruff’s house. Along the way, Woodruff suddenly became much quieter than usua. To break the silence, I spoke first, “My condition is much more stable now.” Normally, if I mentioned my illness before, he would go into a detailed analysis, but today he only replied with a cold “mm.” Perhaps he was tired from juggling work and wedding preparations. I decided not to push for a conversation and let the silence linger. But then I noticed we weren’t heading to the hospital or his house; instead, we were going to a resort in the suburbs. “The house is a bit chaotic with the wedding preparations, so you’ll stay here for now,” Woodruff said. His thoughtfulness moved me, and for a moment, I thought I had found the right person. But once again, reality shattered my hopeful dreams … Soon, the wedding day arrived. We had decided to hold the ceremony in Woodruff’s small villa. To keep things simple and not tire me out, we only invited family and close friends. York and Winnie were also present. winnie approached me to congratulate me and gave me a gift. York didn’t speak to me; he went straight to Woodruff, and I caught a glimpse of their expressions. Woodruff wore his professional, fake smile, while York looked visibly displeased.”If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have left first.” Woodruff glanced over at me, and when he saw Winnie and I talking, he ignored York and came over to us. Winnie, upon seeing him, suddenly hugged me and whispered “York asked me to tell you not to sign any papers Woodruff gives you, and don’t let him know what I told you.” Before I could ask her what she meant, she quickly greeted Woodruff. “Uncle, congratulations.” Woodruff gave her a quick glance before turning to me, “Not tired, are you?” I nodded. Just then, Woodruff’s boss arrived, and he quickly took me away from Winnie to greet him. As the wedding party carried on, a frail, disheveled old woman, around 70 years old, burst into the room, grabbing Woodruff by the collar and shouting like a madwoman, “Give me back my daughter, you killed her…” Everyone was shocked, but only Winnie and York remained calm. At first, Woodruff was a bit stunned, but he quickly composed himself, silently instructing the servants to remove the woman. He adjusted his tie and glanced deeply at York, then ordered the servants to call the police. Was this York’s revenge? Sending an old woman to disrupt my most important moment? It was his betrayal that started this, and now he was trying to ruin my wedding. Five years of my life wasted. I stormed up to York and slapped him across the face. I hated this man in front of me with all my heart. Winnie gasped and immediately pushed me away. I then slapped her, the mistress in my relationship, leaving her stunned. She screamed, “Are you crazy?” Yes, I was crazy. These two had driven me mad. York didn’t try to explain himself; he just looked at me with sad eyes. “Please leave. You’re not welcome here,” As they were leaving, Winnie said, “Zenobia, all the suffering you’ll endure from now on, you deserve it.” All the pain I’ve suffered has come from these two people.

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My husband’s mistress deliberately burned my daughter to death. Fearing I’d make trouble, he sent me to a mental hospital. On Christmas Eve, Antonio Carlson’s secretary’s daughter, Miria Carlson, set off fireworks and intentionally burned my daughter, Amy Carlson, to death. I tried to call the police, but he smashed my phone. Then he scolded me, “Julia didn’t do it on purpose, why pick on a child?” Afraid I would cause trouble for Evelyn and Julia; Antonio forcefully sent me to the mental hospital. Later, when Julia fell seriously ill and was hospitalized, Antonio worried so much that he turned gray overnight. With no other choice, he finally let me out. “Amy is dead, don’t keep dwelling on the past. “You’re good at medicine, I trust your skill.” I didn’t speak, but a trace of hatred flickered in my eyes. His mistake was thinking he could reason with a mentally ill person. I didn’t like Julia. At such a young age, she lied all the time, was hypocritical and jealous, and often bullied Amy behind my back. Whenever I complained to Antonio, he would always lecture me in return. “You’re too shallow. You look down on Julia because she’s from a single-parent family. “Her mother may be my secretary, but everyone is equal. No one is more important than anyone else, so stop bullying her.” I was furious and frustrated, feeling helpless. Every time Julia bullied Amy, she would always be the first to play the victim. Before Amy even cried, Julia and Evelyn were already acting like they were wronged. This made Antonio feel so sorry for them. He’d even give anything to Evelyn and Julia. Even though Antonio believed Julia was innocent, I still tried to keep Amy away from her. But on Christmas Eve, when I came back from my shift at the hospital, Amy had an accident. Holding Amy’s burnt, disfigured body, I wanted to rip Julia apart. “Miria, Antonio, it wasn’t me. “I warned Amy about playing with fire, but she didn’t listen and even pushed me.” Julia hid behind Evelyn, looking innocent, showing us a scratch on her hand. Her tearful eyes almost broke Antonio’s heart. “Mrs. Carlson, Amy was your precious child, but Julia is my treasure too. “She has no father, she’s naturally timid, and she couldn’t have intentionally set fire to kill.” Evelyn kept Amy hidden behind her. Her shoulders trembled slightly, making it hard not to feel sorry for her. Something in her words must’ve been triggered, Antonio. He immediately grabbed the first-aid kit to treat Julia’s injury. And without missing a beat, he scolded me. “Don’t make baseless accusations. Didn’t you see that Julia was scared by you?” I slammed on the table in anger. I pulled up the footage from the security camera at the door. To prevent Julia from doing something like this again, I had secretly installed a tiny camera outside a few days ago. The footage showed Julia’s actions clearly. Antonio froze. Julia panicked, pinching her own thigh, tears streaming down her face. “It’s not my fault. Amy said her clothes looked better than mine and even called me a kid with no dad. I just wanted to burn her clothes, I never meant to kill her.” “Poor child, I believe you.” Antonio softened his expression, quickly picking her up and comforting her. But when Julia noticed Evelyn’s subtle glance, she understood and pushed him away. She smiled, pretending to be obedient and understanding. “Antonio, I won’t blame Miria. She’s only so heartbroken because of Amy’s death. “Miria, don’t be sad.” Suddenly, Julia turned and jogged over to hug me. A strange smile appeared on her youthful face as she whispered in my ear. “Too bad your surveillance can’t pick up sound. Amy cried so pitifully when she died. From now on, I’m going to take Amy’s place as Antonio’s daughter and enjoy everything she had, including the shares Antonio left for her.” “You wish! “I’ll call the police and have you arrested for your dirty tricks, brat!” Furious, I pushed her away and slapped her hard. “Julia!” Evelyn, holding Julia, screamed in agony. Her eyes burned with resentment as she glared at me. “Mrs. Carlson, I know you look down on us. You blame everything on Julia whenever something happens, but she’s still just a child. You can’t bully her just because we have no one to rely on. “Since Amy’s death, Julia has been feeling guilty and terrified. Didn’t you see how scared she was? Her heart disease almost came back.” I glanced coldly at Julia’s pale face. I sneered and took out my phone to call the police. The next second, Antonio knocked the phone from my hand. He looked at Julia with deep concern. His expression turned dark as he looked at me. “Enough. Amy is already dead. Holding Julia accountable, what’s the point? Will it bring her back? “Besides, Julia didn’t mean to do this. Let it go, show some mercy.”

“She did not mean it? So, Amy deserved to die? “Antonio, Amy was burned to death by her. How could you say such heartless words?” I had never hated him more than at that moment. Ignoring his objections, I picked up the phone and called the police. When the police arrived, I knew it wouldn’t matter. The officer in charge was one of Antonio’s friends. They didn’t give me a chance to speak. After a brief conversation with Antonio, the police left. I completely lost control and began punching and kicking him in frustration. “How could you? Amy is dead, and you’re protecting the real culprit. Amy is watching from heaven; how can you live with peace?” Antonio, knowing he was in the wrong, let me vent my anger. When I finally exhausted myself, he patted me on the shoulder and tried to comfort me. “The mortuary van is here. You should handle Amy’s funeral. Julia’s frightened, so I’ll take her to the hospital for a check-up.” He didn’t hesitate for a second. He walked past Amy’s body, holding Julia, stopping only briefly before walking away with long strides. I stared at his retreating figure in disbelief. Julia and Evelyn turned back to smirk at me. I gritted my teeth in hatred, wanting nothing more than to rush over and take them down with me. But right now, I had to make sure Amy was laid to rest properly. As for the rest, I would deal with them later! By the third day, Amy’s body was about to be cremated. Antonio hadn’t shown up at all, nor did he even call. I held back my anger and called him. “Sorry, babe, Julia’s heart condition is worsening, and Evelyn can’t handle it alone. You’ll have to take care of Amy’s arrangements on your own.” I hung up the phone immediately. I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him. After burying Amy’s ashes, I came home. I noticed Amy’s room had been rummaged through. My anger flared up, and I stormed into the living room, grabbing Julia and demanding loudly, “Did you go into Amy’s room? Did you take her necklace?” As I spoke, I noticed the gemstone bracelet on her wrist. A bad feeling immediately crept into my chest. “Miria, you scared me! Antonio, help!” Julia panicked and tried to cover the bracelet. But my grip on her wrist was firm, and all she could do was helplessly scream. Antonio and Evelyn rushed out of the study, still looking a bit disheveled. When they saw my dark expression, Antonio quickly pulled Julia behind him and started shouting at me. “Miria Carlson, that’s enough! You haven’t even figured out what’s going on, and you’re acting like a madwoman, accusing her. “Amy’s room isn’t even being used. What’s the big deal if Julia went in and played with some things? “You scared her! The fortune-teller said that would harm Amy’s luck, so I had a bracelet made for Julia using Amy’s necklace. It’s for Amy’s own good, to help her gather good fortune for her next life.” Antonio spoke as though it was the most reasonable thing in the world as if I was the one being unreasonable. “That’s nonsense! No one can take Amy’s things!” I snapped. I let my emotions take over, yanking the bracelet off Julia’s wrist in a frenzy. Her wrist turned bright red from my grip. “It hurts, Miria, please stop hitting me!” Julia’s acting was nowhere near as convincing as Evelyn’s. She cried and screamed for a long time, but no tears came. Evelyn, on the other hand, was much more skilled. In front of Antonio, she threw herself against the wall. “I can’t live like this. Mrs. Carlson, if you want someone to pay for Amy’s death, take my life instead.” “Evelyn, don’t do this!” Antonio’s eyes widened in shock. His face turned pale, and he rushed over to hold her. The house was filled with wailing, and all I could feel was my anger burning hotter. “Stop pretending! If you’re going to die, just do it already!” I grabbed a vase, ready to smash it at them. Evelyn and Julia huddled together, clearly terrified. Antonio was quicker than me. He snatched the vase from my hands and swung a wooden chair at my head. “You are crazy!” The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Antonio’s furious face, his teeth gritted as he cursed at me. When I woke up, I found myself strapped to a bed in a psychiatric hospital. The gemstone bracelet was gone. He looked down at me, sighing in helpless resignation. “The only way to ensure Evelyn and Julia’s safety is to lock you up here. Don’t blame me.” I didn’t look at him again until his figure disappeared through the door. I smirked inwardly. I knew he would come back to beg me to get out.

During my time in the psychiatric hospital, I obediently followed all the rules. But secretly, I would spit out my medication. Not only did I avoid suffering, but I also ended up with some unexpected gains. Finally, by the second month, Antonio came. It had been a while since we last saw each other. His hair had turned completely gray, and his face was lined with fine wrinkles and exhaustion. For the first time, he lowered his usual proud stance in front of me, his voice carrying a tone of pleading. “Miria, Julia’s heart disease has worsened. The doctor says she needs open-heart surgery. The risks are extremely high, but you’re the only one who can perform it. “Saving her will bring good fortune. Please, let go of any personal grudges and think of it as helping Amy accumulate some blessings for her next life.” I stayed silent for a long time. Just as Antonio thought I wouldn’t agree and was about to try again, the nurse came in with the medication. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I immediately started trembling, pretending to be terrified and hid behind Antonio. “I agree. Please, tell them to leave. I don’t want to take the medication.” Antonio’s eyes flickered, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. He had no suspicions about me. That same day, he arranged for my discharge. When I got back home, Amy’s room had been redecorated. Everything in it was Julia’s. I suppressed the hatred in my heart, hesitating before speaking. “But I have a psychiatric record. I can’t do the operation right now.” “That’s easy. I’ll have someone get you a new ID. You can use that to operate on Julia. “Just send your personal details to this person, and they’ll handle it.” Seeing that I wasn’t causing a scene, Antonio confidently sent me the contact information for the person who would help me get the new ID. He didn’t know that this would become the biggest regret of his life. In the days leading up to the surgery, I noticed that Antonio had started openly appearing with Evelyn at work. Everyone could see it clearly now. Evelyn had already taken on the role of the company’s lady boss. She used to act like she didn’t, but now, she didn’t bother pretending anymore. Right in front of me, she whispered in Antonio’s ear. “Antonio, I’m still worried. Miria wants Julia dead. Do you really think she will do that for her?” Antonio looked at me thoughtfully when he heard this. On the day of the surgery, not only did he put on his surgical scrubs to watch the procedure, but he also hired several experts to supervise me. Their concerns weren’t unfounded. After all, I hated Julia and wouldn’t think twice about letting her die. But with my psychiatric record, I wasn’t afraid of anything, even if it went all the way to the police. So, I secretly hid a scalpel in my sleeve. When the surgery reached its most critical point, I stabbed Julia’s still-beating heart with all my might… Antonio and the experts froze in shock at my sudden move. But I only made a feint, then continued with the surgery as if nothing had happened. The surgery went smoothly after that. Antonio let out a sigh of relief and smiled at me gratefully. But when it came time to stitch up the wound, Julia died from a heart rupture. “Miria, you must have held a grudge and deliberately killed Julia! I’m calling the police!” As soon as we left the operating room, Evelyn lunged at me with a fierce expression. I quickly grabbed her, pointed to Antonio behind me, and smiled coldly. “It wasn’t me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him. “I may have wanted Julia dead, but I never had the chance to actually do it, right?” Antonio held Julia’s lifeless body, tears falling from his eyes. He stared at me with a complicated look for a long time, but in the end, he called the police himself. The police set up a special investigation team. Although they found the scalpel in my sleeve, it had no blood on it. And Julia’s autopsy confirmed that the heart rupture wasn’t caused by the scalpel. In the end, I was released without charge. The moment I left the police station, I went straight to the crematorium. Evelyn was sitting alone on a stone bench. Her delicate makeup couldn’t hide the sorrow on her face. I slowly walked over to her and smiled. “Do you know that when Amy died, the anesthesia had just worn off? She even frowned before her heart ruptured. Tell me, how much pain do you think she was in?” “Is it really you?” Evelyn snapped back to reality, her eyes filled with rage and hatred as if they could pierce me. At the same time, Antonio rushed over in a panic. “Something’s wrong. Julia’s body is missing.” When he saw me, he froze for a moment. Then, he grabbed my throat, squeezing tightly. “Miria, it was you, wasn’t it?” “No, it wasn’t me.” I struggled to break free from his grip. Taking deep breaths, I smiled provocatively. “It wasn’t me, but if you don’t look for her, you won’t be able to keep her body anymore.” “What?” At my words, their faces went pale, their eyes widening in fear. Free Point

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My wife, Amelia Johnson, and I had been childless by choice for seven years. She decided to be a surrogate for her best friend, Michael Harris. I watched her sweetly smile as she talked on the phone. “The child will inherit all of Charlie’s fortune. We won’t even need to raise them.” Then she texted me: [Honey, surrogacy isn’t cheating. He’s gay! What are you worried about?] When I suggested terminating the pregnancy, she responded with divorce papers. Amelia told me not to have regrets, and her words cut deep. I crumpled up my kidney cancer diagnosis in my hand. Who would be the one with regrets now? After seven blissful years of marriage with Amelia, I was blindsided on our anniversary with the news that she’d agreed to be a surrogate for her male best friend. I had always desperately wanted a child of my own. Yet I’d gotten a vasectomy out of concern for her health. And now here she was, willingly enduring IVF treatments to have a baby for her best friend? What did that make me? “I know you don’t like kids. Once the baby’s born, I’ll hand it straight over to him. He’s gay and can’t have kids of his own. Isn’t that tragic enough?” Amelia stated with absolute conviction. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. As an orphan, I’d always dreamed of having my own family. How could she think I didn’t want children? Sure, I was married, but Amelia was having someone’s baby. How did that give me the family I longed for? Just then, a nurse interrupted our conversation. “Mr. Charlie Jones, the results from your wife’s specially ordered medical examination are ready.” “Go get the reports from the nurse,” Amelia quickly told me, pressing her thermos into my palm. “You rushed out this morning without breakfast, so I made some chicken soup. I was worried about your stomach.” The medical staff nearby made appreciative noises. Those little gestures that once felt so sweet now just made me uncomfortable and tense. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d accidentally overheard earlier when I arrived early at the entrance. “The child will inherit all of Charlie’s fortune. We won’t even need to raise them.” Those words kept echoing in my mind, each repetition like a bell tolling numbly against my heart. The nurse kept chattering in my ear. “Your wife really takes such good care of you, sir. Some of these specialist appointments have a six-month waiting list. Seven years of checkups. She’s really devoted to you.” “Is that so?” I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. After collecting all the medical reports, I frowned deeply at the final page. I rushed to the obstetrics department, only to learn Amelia had already left. My phone buzzed with over a dozen messages from her, fussing about the cold weather and saying she’d asked my secretary to bring me a scarf. She wrote that I hadn’t been sleeping well lately, so she’d gone ahead to handle some company business for me. She mentioned she had a big surprise planned for our seventh anniversary. The messages kept coming, one after another, each seemingly showing how much she cared. Through the rearview mirror, the cab driver grinned and teased, “Must be your wife, huh? She can’t bear to be apart from you. Your phone’s blowing up with messages.” The radio volume in the car gradually increased as the female host read cheerfully, “Today marks the seventh anniversary of Mrs. Jones, wife of the Jones Group CEO. On this special day, she wants to tell him…” The driver clicked his tongue and remarked, “Now that’s what I call hitting the jackpot. A self-made man marries a rich wife! She even changed her company name for him, and she’s totally devoted. Wonder how he pulled that off.” I could only manage a bitter smile. As I pushed open the car door and entered the company, reaching my office floor, party poppers exploded in the air. The entire floor was decorated with baby-themed ornaments. The employees joyfully congratulated me on having a son. Candles and roses created a pathway, and at the end stood Amelia, smiling at me. My phone buzzed with a notification, and I hesitantly opened the video. Her so-called “best friend” was tangled intimately with her on our marriage bed. Did she ever truly love me?

I didn’t know if someone’s love could be a facade for seven years. The videos I saw and the conversations I overheard at the hospital, combined with all these baby decorations in front of me, made my stomach churn and my face turn pale. Amelia came over and affectionately took my hand. The swelling in her hands and feet and the backache from pregnancy were noticeable now. Just standing for a moment made cold sweat break out on her forehead and nose. My assistant Alex Wills whispered that Amelia had put up all these decorations herself, saying she didn’t want anyone else touching our seventh-anniversary preparations. Amelia pulled me into the office, where her male best friend had already prepared a cup of hot water for her. “Tonight’s family dinner. Dad finally agreed to let me bring you!” That was her surprise. “Don’t be mad that I announced at work that the baby is ours. How else could we fool Dad? It is perfect! We can use the little one to get his approval finally.” As a poor guy who married a rich man’s daughter, I’d gotten nothing but cold shoulders from her family for seven years. Amelia had been caught in the middle, and thinking about that made my heart soften a bit. Michael leaned in with a grin, arm around her shoulders. “Hey, you should be thanking your friendly sperm donor here. Charlie’s shooting blanks, after all.” My supposed infertility was just a lie we made up when Amelia was afraid of having kids, and I got a vasectomy to back up the story. Before I could object, Amelia glared at him and pointed her finger in his face, demanding he apologize to me. “How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me? I’m a germaphobe! Anyone but my husband makes my skin crawl!” Michael quickly threw up his hands in surrender. This act had been performed hundreds, thousands of times in front of me over the past seven years. I truly believed they were just best friends, never seeing anything wrong with it. Now, it just makes my eyes ache to think about it. I could finally hear the challenge hidden beneath his playful tone. Amelia excitedly told me, “I really took one for the team this time! You wanted that land in the south district, right? Well, he said he’d give it to us directly. And about that bidding process, you’ve been stressing over. I’ll sweet-talk him tonight. With this baby, my dad will definitely help you out.” Over these two weeks, she’d traveled across half of the country for me, compiling detailed market research, leaving nothing out. Michael made a snide comment about her taking care of herself, “Some people, hmph, they’re so eager to help their husband that they ignore their morning sickness. Wonder who was throwing up bile the other day?” I kept my eyes down, unsure how to react. “Get rid of it,” I suddenly said. “The infertility certificate was fake. On our wedding day, you cried and told me your mother died on the operating table during childbirth. So I got a vasectomy and made up that lie. Your body isn’t suited for pregnancy. Please terminate it.” Amelia clutched her stomach, shaking her head repeatedly. I started to pull out the medical report from my pocket. But then I heard her say sadly, “Michael has kidney cancer. It is his only chance to have a child. Honey, can’t we just help him out?”

I felt pretty helpless about the whole thing. Her love for me had seemed so passionate and intense, yet she was afraid of getting pregnant with me while wanting to give Michael an heir. She claimed to be a germaphobe, wincing whenever others touched her. Yet there she was, intimately entangled with her “best friend” in our marital bed. Michael saw me covering my face and sneered, “You better not claim you have cancer, too. She checked your electronic medical records right away. They were clean.” I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I did have a cancer report in my hand, but it wasn’t mine. Suddenly, the lights went dark, and a group of people emerged singing with a cake. Turns out this was another birthday surprise. “By the way, today is also Mr. Harris’ birthday. Perfect timing to celebrate together.” The employees thought it was quite a coincidence, but my smile became strained as my heart sank. Every year, Amelia made such a huge deal of this anniversary, even bringing Michael along. Now I could see clearly who the real celebration was for. The employees gathered around, chattering excitedly about how Amelia had made this three-tiered cake herself despite being pregnant and how she’d specifically chosen flavors she knew I liked. “Mr. Jones likes strawberries but not strawberry-flavored cake! Mrs. Jones really pays attention to every little detail about Mr. Jones.” Several younger employees squealed dramatically, “She’s so in love with Mr. Jones!” “They’re making us single people jealous again, doing this every year.” As I cut the cake surrounded by everyone, my feelings were a complicated mess. After the crowd dispersed and my emotions settled, I realized I didn’t dare to bring up our marriage issues just yet. I just wanted to give us both time to think things through. But as soon as I started to leave, Amelia came running after me in panic, hugging me so tightly that the cuts on her fingers began bleeding again. “I was too rushed making your chicken soup this morning,” she said. Her hands, once as smooth as pearl, were now covered in scars from seven years of cooking for me. My heart softened. She’d grown up pampered by her father, yet here she was, cooking meals for a poor guy like me. “I just need some time to clear my head.” I tried to reassure her. “Charlie!” she cried out, clutching my arm with tear-filled eyes. Her emotions were so intense that she doubled over, holding her belly and sobbing, “Charlie, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry.” Then she slowly sank to the ground and passed out. Following our family doctor’s advice, I took her home to rest. Suddenly, the nurse on the phone apologized to me. “We sent you the wrong electronic report today. I accidentally recorded the cancer diagnosis on your health check report. Please refer to the paper version instead and bring your wife in for an examination as soon as possible.” After hanging up, I received screenshots from the nurse on my phone. On the electronic report she sent today, it was written in black and white that I had terminal cancer. No wonder, no wonder they could ask so precisely whether I had cancer, too. No wonder they could produce a fake report so quickly. The cold wind from the balcony chilled me to the bone as I opened my other phone, which was connected to the listening device in the room. I heard Amelia, who was supposed to be unconscious, speaking softly to someone else. “Don’t you want to know what it feels like to be pregnant?” In the end, a bitter smile crept across my lips.

At that moment, I hated that I wasn’t a woman. I should’ve stormed in there screaming and scratching their faces like a madwoman. Instead, I had to hold back, worried about upsetting Amelia with her pregnancy and cancer diagnosis. Even as I stood there, a complete fool, my eye caught something in the trash. It was a takeout receipt. When I checked it, it was for chicken soup from this morning. Suddenly, everything clicked. With trembling hands, I searched through the delivery app, finding every single “loving lunch” I’d eaten over the years from that same restaurant. I quickly pulled up our work group photos, and in the corner of one, I spotted a cake decoration that led me straight to the bakery. So it was all fake. The cat’s pitiful yowl from atop the fridge snapped me out of my gloomy thoughts. It had gotten itself stuck up there. When I went to help it down, it thanked me with a vicious swipe, its claws raking my hand deep enough to tear the skin. I yelped in pain and chased after it, only to watch this cat. It was untameable after seven years, curling up in Michael’s arms like a pampered kitten, purring and nuzzling. Amelia’s face was flushed, her lips still glistening, her eyes darting around, but she hadn’t even noticed my injury. “I probably can’t make it to the family dinner tonight. I need to get this checked out at the hospital.” “No hospitals!” Her knee-jerk reaction stunned me. She still thought I had cancer, not knowing about the medical records mix-up. “Why waste time at the hospital? It’s bad luck. Besides, it’s just a house cat. It’s fine. Don’t you want my dad’s approval? You can’t skip the family dinner.” That knot in my chest just wouldn’t loosen. On the way to Amelia’s father, Andrew Johnson’s dinner party, I asked her if keeping the baby was necessary. “You’ve always been terrified of having kids. Now you’re willing to risk everything for his child? What does that make our marriage? The moment Michael chose to be with men, he should have given up this obsession with having children.” Amelia bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. I asked her one last time, “Did this baby really come from IVF?” SLAP! Her hand struck my cheek. Then she reached out with trembling fingers to touch my face, but I turned away. “Charlie, how could you doubt my love for you?” The rest of the ride was silent, and before I knew it, we arrived at her father, Andrew Johnson’s, villa. Andrew, who’d always looked down his nose at me, gave his daughter a quick hug and ushered her inside. I trailed behind them, silently carrying the gifts. Then I spotted Michael, who had already made himself entirely at home here. “Michael is my godson now. He’s living with us! Got a problem with that?” Andrew snapped when he caught me staring. What right did I have to object? Even though I’d saved the company from bankruptcy, I was still just a nobody from the wrong side of the tracks. What did it matter if I’d bought this villa? I still couldn’t set foot in it like I belonged. I’d been played like a fool by this father and daughter. My phone buzzed with another message. After the video Michael sent last time, now he’d sent me a property deed. The villa had been transferred to his name. I turned off my phone and took a deep breath. “If you love me, if you’re loyal to our marriage, then terminate this pregnancy.” The happy trio suddenly fell silent. I could see the contempt in Andrew and Michael’s eyes. My last shred of hope disappeared as she hesitated until there was nothing left. “Let’s get a divorce.” Free Point

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I was sold off for ten dollars by my parents and had a child at an early age. My husband had a strange temper and would beat me every day. I had three miscarriages, all because of the abuse. During the limited time I could see my son, I desperately tried to teach him, urging him to strive for a better life, to become a good person, and not to end up like his father. But when he reached the same age I was sold off, he brought home a girl who was already six months pregnant. I watched helplessly as the girl went through everything I had experienced—becoming a mother at an age when she barely understood anything, enduring abuse, and then being abandoned by my son. She, just like me, was locked away in a dark, windowless hut, suffering humiliation. At that time, I fully understood that my son was just like his father. They would never change. The only person I could ever hope for was myself. So, one bitterly cold night, while my husband and son were fast asleep, I quietly broke the door to their bedroom. I reached out my hand to the girl who always curled up in the corner, trembling. I said, “I’ll take you to live a better life. Will you come with me?”

I was sold off for ten dollars by my parents because my brother was about to marry, and they needed the money to pay for the wedding gift. It was hard to say how I felt at the time. I only remember the day before I left, my mother gave me a boiled egg, muttering as she handed it to me, “If you can do something for your brother, at least you won’t have come into this world in vain.” So, it was hard to tell if I should feel sad or, like she said, feel lucky to be the family’s benefactor. The place I married was far from home. It would take more than fifty hours on a train to get there. The only thing I took with me was a dress my mother had made for herself the year before. She said that since I was married, I should at least look decent. The train ticket was too expensive, and they were afraid I might run away, so my father had to accompany me. It just so happened that the new school year was starting, and a girl sat next to me on the train. Seeing that we were about the same age, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation. She asked, “Are you going to register for college? How lucky! Your father is even sending you off to school. “Actually, I think I’m quite fortunate too. Girls my age back home are all married. My parents may be poor, but they didn’t just pick any man for me to marry. I’m really thankful to them. We’re going to school now, and we’ll definitely see a bigger world in the future.” Her energy was infectious, but unfortunately, I wasn’t the kind of person she spoke about, someone who could go out and explore the world. I just gave a faint smile and didn’t respond. My father remained silent, staring out the window. I was just a pigeon that had been let out of a cage, and after a brief breath of freedom, I would soon be trapped in another dark cage. When the train stopped at a shared station, most of the passengers got off. I watched her grab her bag and stand up, and when she saw that I hadn’t moved, her expression turned puzzled. I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye. After passing by each other, we were heading toward two entirely different worlds. I had merely exchanged a brief encounter with a future, capable woman. Yet, at that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope. I may have ended up like this, but I prayed that my child would be able to walk out into the world just like her. Maybe, one day, they could take me with them.

My husband was over ten years older than me, named John, and he was a man with a limp, unable to move easily. He didn’t talk much and often examined me with eyes that were hard to describe, making me feel an inexplicable sense of fear. It would be a lie to say I didn’t resent it, but I also accepted it. After all, for a woman like me, walking down this path was inevitable. It was just a matter of when my family would need me and which family could offer enough money to satisfy my parents. What troubled me most was that I didn’t even get the smallest bit of dignity from John, living like an animal. The day my father sent me to him was our wedding day. Many people came to his home, mostly single men from the village. After getting drunk, some of them boldly said to me, “John is really lucky. He actually managed to find such a beautiful wife. If I had spoken up earlier, maybe I’d be the one getting married today!” “Do you have any younger sisters? I’ll pay a bit more, and you can send her to me!” I pretended to be shy and didn’t respond, but I felt afraid of their inappropriate jokes and touches. John stood off to the side, smoking a cheap cigarette and blowing the smoke towards me, causing me to cough uncontrollably. I didn’t dare to look at him, but I could feel his gaze on me, even though he didn’t say a word. At the time, I didn’t understand that this was a sign of his anger, a prelude to the emotional storm that I couldn’t handle. That night, I was tortured by him, feeling as if I were dying. No one had ever taught me what was right or wrong. I just cried until exhaustion set in, numbly staring through the window at the moonlight. I couldn’t help but think of that girl, feeling a deep sense of envy. I envied her for not being treated this way by strange men. I envied her even more because she could sleep peacefully in a place where the future still seemed possible. One cannot be exposed to too many good things, or else longing and yearning arise. Then, when faced with the harsh reality, all that remains is unbearable pain. Before dawn, John slapped me awake, dragging me naked into the hut without saying a word. The early morning wind was chilly, seeping through the cracks in the walls, making me shiver uncontrollably. When the whip struck my skin, I screamed in pain, and the burning wounds became even more excruciating as the cold air touched them. I kept trying to pull away, unable to understand what I had done wrong. John, clearly enraged by my movements, grabbed my hair and slapped me again. Breathing heavily, he cursed, “Already trying to flirt with men? What’s the difference between you and an animal in heat? “I bought you! You’re just an object, and I can treat you however I want!” I didn’t dare to defend myself. If I raised my voice, he would just hit me harder, and tears flowed endlessly from my eyes. I saw the bloodshot gleam in his eyes, a twisted kind of excitement. The sound of the whip against my flesh mixed with the distant crowing of a rooster as if the soundtrack of my life had become this brutal moment, offering a glimpse into a future full of injuries.

After that day, I never saw anyone else. John locked me in the hut, where I ate and slept. I could only leave when he needed to release his desires. Perhaps because of his limp, John had never received fair treatment and had a particularly volatile temper. When he was in a bad mood, he would hit me to vent his frustration, usually after drinking, and then hold me, crying, “I’ve always been like this, but I don’t want to be like this! Why do they all laugh at me? Why don’t they respect me?” He longed for respect, but when faced with someone weaker than him, someone like me, he resorted to even more cruel methods. I was angry with him, but I didn’t dare to hate him. My mother had always said, “When you marry, you follow your husband.” And she also had been beaten by my father, so I thought this was normal. Luckily, I didn’t endure these beatings for long because I became pregnant. That was the first time I saw John smile at me and the first time I was able to sit at the table and eat. He became much more patient with me, asking me to sleep in the same bed and gently touching my belly, saying, “Make sure you give me a son!” Truth be told, I had always wanted a daughter. When I was younger, I imagined having a little girl and dressing her up like a little princess. But now, I didn’t mind having a son. If I had a daughter, she would suffer with me, and I wouldn’t be able to protect her. But if it was a son, I hoped he could protect me when John hit me. With this thought, I eagerly awaited his arrival. Whenever I sat outside in the sun and saw people walking by with bundles, I would quietly rub my belly and whisper, “Hurry up and grow, and one day, like them, you’ll take me away.”

I gave birth to Adam when I was still under twenty, and John was extremely happy. He even killed a chicken to take care of me and help me regain my strength. I thought that with Adam’s presence, I could have a normal married life with him. I didn’t ask for much from him. I only hoped that, for the sake of the son I had given him, he wouldn’t beat me anymore. I didn’t want to go back to that hut. It was dark and oppressive as if my whole life would be buried there. But my hope was in vain. When Adam turned one, John invited many people to our house. He wanted to show off his son but didn’t want me to be seen. However, a one-year-old child is very clingy, and when he couldn’t find me, he cried loudly. I couldn’t bear to hear him cry, and seeing that John had been relatively kinder to me recently, I couldn’t resist. I quickly came out and held the child to comfort him. But it was a huge mistake. And that mistake would ruin me forever. After soothing Adam to sleep in front of everyone, I thought it was over, but drunken John suddenly stormed in. He dragged me out of the bedroom, stripped me in front of everyone, and then picked up the whip that had been hanging on the wall for days, striking me with it fiercely. He laughed as he beat me, laughing wildly and provocatively at the people who had come. He said, “You all want to see her? She’s nothing more than a bitch to me! Today, if you want to see, you can look all you want!” I had never felt so hopeless. He truly treated me like a dog, crushing the last bit of dignity I had as a human. I was locked back in that room, running a high fever, delirious, and dreaming that I was once again on that train. But this time, when the train stopped, it was me who got off with a backpack.

The days I was pregnant felt like a dream. When I woke up, I had to return to the life that John had planned for me. Fortunately, John allowed me to see Adam every couple of days. Though my time with him was limited, as he grew older, he started to look more and more like his father, a painful truth I couldn’t change. It seemed like he was well cared for by John and had a gentle temperament, unlike his father. This gave me a glimmer of hope to keep going. But life always seemed to strike me down. I miscarried when Adam was six. This was the fourth child I had lost after Adam. The first two had been lost due to malnutrition, combined with years of beatings from John. I held a deep hope for this pregnancy. I prayed every day that this baby would grow safely and come into this world. But just because John kicked me, it was gone. It was the first time in all these years that I broke down completely. The blood-soaked straw mat beneath me, and John simply called a midwife from the village to take care of things. I heard Adam asking him from outside, “Mom’s bleeding. I saw Jack bleeding before, and his parents took him to the hospital. Aren’t we taking Mom to the hospital?” “Why bother? That dog out front had a leg so bad you could see the bone, and now it’s still hopping around. Your mom’s just like that dog!” “I get it. Women aren’t worth it, right? I heard Jack’s dad say that!” John laughed heartily. Both of them entered the room, and not a single person came to see me. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony I felt at that moment. My son hadn’t come to protect me when I was desperate, and instead, he was learning things I didn’t want him to learn. He was quickly picking up all of his father’s bad habits.

Even so, I kept lying to myself. He was just a six-year-old child, after all. He didn’t understand anything, so I thought I should educate him well. Whenever I could see him, I usually just watched him play silently. But from that day forward, I became obsessed. Every day, I told him, “Adam, you have to study hard. You have to get out of this place.” At the time, I didn’t understand what the real problem was. I simply told him to leave. I naively believed that if he could just escape his father, if he could leave here, he would become the person I hoped for. I never told him that his mother was not like a dog. I deserved respect, just like any other human being. So he never learned to respect me, nor did he learn how to respect the thousands of women in this world. I thought my advice was working because I saw his grades improve. I often heard John say that his teachers praised him, and he would often share with me what he did in town. I was happy, thinking that this was his first step to getting out. But I never imagined that when he left, it wasn’t to escape. It was to hurt another unfortunate woman.

The first time I saw Sarah, she was already six months pregnant. When I asked her age, I almost couldn’t hold back my tears. She was younger than I was back then. She was even younger than I was… I lifted her clothes, and her body was covered in bruises. “Why are you here? Didn’t Adam say he went out to work?” The last shred of hope in my heart was collapsing, fearing the words she might say would tear me apart, but the truth was right there in front of me, ready to shred me to pieces. “I don’t know… Adam said he would bring me back to live a good life… I didn’t know…” The girl’s mental state was already disoriented. As she sensed my approach, she covered her ears and backed away, just like I did back then. This was the stress response from being tortured for too long. Adam walked in and saw me, and he smiled brightly, “Mom, she’s carrying your grandson. Can you help me take care of her?” Fear and despair spread throughout my body. Taking care of her? What good life could we have in this house? If he really wanted to take care of her, why would he torture her like this? “You tell me, what have you been doing outside? What did you do to this girl?” Tears filled my eyes, and Adam stood in front of me, his whole figure blurry to me. He just sneered and casually said, Free Point

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When the real daughter of my Alpha dad came back, I was furious. I’d been the shining pearl of this family as the adopted son, and now—suddenly—she’s back to steal my spotlight? But here’s the kicker: the real daughter… was the girl I’d been chasing for two years. And to make it worse, my parents—my parents—are arranging for her to sleep with me. Is this some twisted test? I wanted her to be my mate, not my sister! ChapterMy mother suddenly told me she had found the long-lost daughter we’d been separated from for years. My heart skipped a beat, and my eyes fixated on the photo she held out. I pointed toward the corner, my voice cold. “Then move my things out. ” She pushed my hand away gently. “Leo, what’s going through your head? Even if your sister is back, you’re still my little cub.” I bit back a growl. She’s just trying to hold me back. She wants to keep her perfect family together, even if it means putting me aside for that stranger. “Fine, but I want a new car. Otherwise, forget it.” Mom shot me a strange look but didn’t argue. “Do whatever you want,” she said, dismissively. What? She wouldn’t even give me that? She was so eager to embrace her biological daughter, but couldn’t spare a damn car for me? Dad had just gone to pick up my sister. She was downstairs, and I was about to make my entrance. I put on my most dazzling watch and headed down the stairs, determined to make her feel out of place. Mom and my brother were already waiting by the door. And there she was—my sister. I froze. The woman standing with Dad was elegant, graceful, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. Sunlight caught her, casting an ethereal glow around her, her presence calm but undeniable. She exuded an aura of quiet authority, as if the world had always bent to her will. That’s my sister? I could feel the wolf inside me clawing. I gripped my bag tightly, my smile twisting into something more bitter. But then she turned, and our eyes locked. For a split second, I saw surprise in her gaze, then a small, knowing smile played at the corners of her lips. She stepped forward, stopping right in front of me. “Leo,” she said, her voice smooth, almost teasing. “I hear you’re wearing my favorite watch?” I froze. Was she… mocking me? I swallowed the frustration that rose in my throat. “It’s just a watch,” She raised an eyebrow. “It’s not just any watch, is it? It’s your watch. A little too much, don’t you think?” I hated that she was so effortlessly in control. Mom watched from the side, a soft smile on her face, almost amused by the exchange. “You two really are alike,” she said with a chuckle. “So meticulous, so aware of every little detail. It’s like you’ve been born to clash with each other.” “Yeah,” I said, voice tight. “Guess we’ll have to get used to each other.” Chapter

My sister was brought into the house. I watched as Dad carried her luggage, and to my shock, he walked straight into my room. I rushed forward, blocking the doorway. “Why are you putting her things in my room when we have so many empty rooms?” Dad raised an eyebrow. “We’ve only had you as a son. Of course, you should share a room with your sister.” Mom nodded from behind him. “She’s been away for so long; she can’t stay in the guest room. You two are the best fit.” I stared at them, unable to find the words to argue. They seemed so sure, so… certain. Reluctantly, I stepped aside. “Fine. If you insist, I’ll just take the guest room.” But the thought gnawed at me. What if I couldn’t control myself? It felt too risky. Just as I was about to walk away, my sister spoke up, her voice soft but with a hint of a playful laugh. “If Leo doesn’t like it, I’ll take the guest room. After all, you’re the most important in the family.” Her voice was like silk, almost making me lose my mind. Watching her reach for the luggage, an impulse shot through me. I grabbed her wrist, my fingers tight. “It’s not that I don’t like it. Fine, we’ll share a room.” The sound of the water running in the bathroom made my heart race. Her eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite grasp, and my face burned like fire. And then it hit me: everything had just become more complicated. The girl I’d been chasing for two years was now my sister—my name-only sister. No chance left to pursue her. Chapter

The bathroom door creaked open, and my sister stepped out, wrapped in a white towel. Her damp hair clung to her neck, droplets of water tracing down her face, her lashes glistening with tiny pearls of water. Every step she took felt like it echoed right into my heart. I couldn’t help but stare, my pulse racing, my eyes fixed on her as if I couldn’t look away. Amelia noticed my gaze and smiled. “Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong with me?” Of course, there was something wrong—my heart was racing for her. I snapped back to reality, my face flushing. “Nothing… nothing! It’s late, you should rest,” I stammered. She didn’t seem to notice my unease, giving a light laugh before heading to the bed. I forced myself to look away, but my wolf senses were on high alert, and my gaze kept drifting back to her. I had fallen for Amelia the moment I saw her. Two years ago, I saw her in the park, guitar in hand, sunlight glinting off her hair. The melody she played seemed to fill the air, and I couldn’t help but stop and listen. She caught my eye, her gaze clear, almost familiar. That moment… it felt like I had known her forever. “Do you like music? If you want, you can sit and listen.” I was too stunned to answer, my heart pounding in my chest. But I nodded, and in that moment, I felt like I had been drawn into her world. And that’s when I realized—her eyes, her smile—they weren’t just familiar. They felt like they belonged to someone I had known in another life, someone who had always been mine. She loves me. She must love me. So, I began my relentless pursuit. One day, I sat in a café, talking to my friend Sally, trying to sort through my chaotic emotions. I asked her, “If someone stood outside your door every day with a megaphone, singing and dancing like a clown, what would you do?” Sally raised an eyebrow, laughing bitterly. “I’d think they were insane.” I nodded seriously. “Exactly! I just haven’t been crazy enough. If I want to win her over, I need to do something that will make her notice me—something wild. Something she won’t forget.” Sally sighed, clearly not understanding my madness. Chapter

It was late at night, and I lay awake in bed, unable to sleep. A faint scent lingered in the air, as if it were drawing me in. Suddenly, my sister shifted and leaned closer. Her cheek brushed my shoulder, her warm breath sending a jolt through my body. “What’s wrong with you today? You’ve been so quiet,” . I froze, wanting to respond but unable to find the right words. She was so close that my breath became shallow, my pulse quickening. “I’m fine. Just can’t sleep,” I said quickly, trying to sound calm. Her eyes fluttered open slightly, and she smiled softly. “You’ve always been like this, saying nothing but somehow making everyone see it.” Her gaze lingered on me, searching. I clenched the blankets, my heart in chaos. Her hand gently rested on mine, . “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. Just sleep.” Her words calmed me for a moment, but there was a storm brewing inside me. She closed her eyes, settling down into deep sleep, while I lay still, my body frozen, as if bound by an invisible force. The next morning, I couldn’t get up. She had stayed up with me all night, and by the time I finally fell asleep, the sun was rising. She, on the other hand, had gotten up early, looking refreshed as she went off to meet clients. I didn’t get out of bed until the afternoon. Mom, sipping her afternoon tea, looked up at me, eyes narrowing as she saw my disheveled state. “You need to take better care of yourself. Look at you.” I was confused. What had I done wrong? Had she finally grown tired of me after bringing her real daughter back? I realized then. “Buy me a car,” I said, my voice steady but sharp. “I’ll leave this house and never come back, if that’s what you want.” Mom pushed my hand away, her eyes soft but firm. “I’ve told you a thousand times, you’re my little treasure. Don’t say such hurtful things again.” I knew there was no money to be had from her. So, I turned to my alpha father. “Hey, big bro,” I said, my voice dripping with feigned innocence. “Now that your real daughter is back, shouldn’t you do something for me?” I needed him to give me money, so I could leave this place and get out of their lives. Alpha Steven, adjusting his glasses, smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, you’ll always be my little brat.” “But she’s been gone for so many years,” I pressed. “I’ve taken her place. Isn’t it wrong for me to stay here?” He furrowed his brow in confusion. “Why would you think that,Leo? Fate brought you into this family, and I will always take care of you.” Chapter

When my sister returned from work, Dad made a big announcement at the dinner table. “We’ll be holding a banquet next month to publicly announce Amelia as the Alpha’s daughter,” he declared. The food in my mouth suddenly lost its taste. “No way!” Everyone turned to look at me, and Dad asked, “Leo, do you have concerns? Don’t worry, even after we reveal Amelia’s identity, you’ll always be my little darling.” That made it worse. How could I possibly chase after my sister if everyone knew she was the Alpha’s daughter? “Fine, then this house can have her and not me!” I immediately regretted my words. Would my sister hate me for that? I stole a glance at Amelia, only to see her smile gently at me, then tilt her head when she caught me looking. I quickly averted my gaze, feeling embarrassed. Then, her voice, calm and soothing, reached my ears. “Dad, I’m grateful just to be acknowledged. But the banquet… I don’t like large crowds.” I felt an overwhelming wave of guilt. “No! The banquet must go on!” I insisted. “The Alpha’s daughter deserves to walk under the sun with pride!” Mom, clearly fed up, yanked off her slipper, ready to smack me. “Leo! Do you want to be beaten today or what? First you’re fine with it, then you’re not!” That night, lying in bed, my stomach started growling. Earlier, I’d avoided a beating by running off, but now I had to accept hunger. I heard Amelia get up, then she walked out. A short while later, she returned with a plate of pasta. “I knew you’d be hungry tonight,” she said, setting it down in front of me. I was so touched I almost cried. I stole another look at her, only for her to suddenly lean closer. My heart raced as I froze, holding my fork mid-air. At that moment, she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, her laugh light and teasing. “Why do you look so dazed?” Just then, a man I couldn’t stand appeared—my rival, someone I deeply disliked. The Riverside Pack and our Pumpkin Pack were long-time allies, often visiting each other. Today, he had come as a representative of Riverside. The moment he saw Amelia on the couch, he froze. “Amelia? What are you doing here?” He looked at me, sensing the hostility in my gaze, and his eyes narrowed. “Leo tricked you into coming back home?” “Amelia, listen to me—Leo’s no good, don’t let him fool you, he—” “Stop! Just stop!” I quickly interrupted him, as he was about to drag up some embarrassing stories from my childhood. He fell silent, glaring at me. I couldn’t stand him. “Why don’t you just leave already?” Amelia, sensing my frustration, pulled me into her arms and glared coldly at Shran. “Shran, you’ve crossed a line. Leo is my brother, and that will never change.” I was floored. Did she just say I was her brother? Looking at Shran’s smug face, my heart shattered.

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I stared at the marriage certificate in front of me, as excited as if I’d struck gold. Not because I loved my new husband, but because if we stayed married for a year, he’d give me a million dollars! As soon as we left the registry office, I received a $200,000 deposit – more than I could earn in a year writing novels. Ryan walked quickly ahead of me, clearly wishing he could grow two extra legs to leave me far behind. I jogged to catch up and get in the car. As soon as the door closed, he started lecturing me: “Wear a mask in public from now on. Don’t let the paparazzi photograph you.” “Your clothes are too plain. Learn how to dress properly.” “Wear makeup every day. You look awful without it.” I clenched my fists, reminding myself not to jeopardize my million dollars. Ha! Some people market him as the “Ice King” actor, but he’s really just a jerk who can’t keep his mouth shut. “Anything else I need to improve? I’m all ears,” I said sarcastically. “Keep up that humble attitude.” … The car pulled into an underground garage. Ryan suddenly put on sunglasses and a mask, even pulling up his hoodie. Poor guy, having to bundle up like that in July. I was about to get out when he grabbed my arm, forcibly disguising me as well. “There’s a paparazzo behind that pillar. I don’t want to make headlines.” He walked ahead to draw attention, suddenly acting every bit the aloof celebrity with his hands in his pockets, strolling casually. I watched him get in the elevator. Sure enough, a figure crouching low scurried in that direction. Celebrities really do have a sixth sense for cameras! I waited until the coast was clear before opening the car door. But I was caught red-handed – a camera was suddenly shoved in my face, snapping away. Thinking quickly, I shoved the photographer aside and smashed the camera on the ground. Back home, I immediately told Ryan what happened. He actually asked if the camera was expensive. I snapped back, “Is that the point? You kept stressing how I need to be prepared when going out and not let my full face be seen. Now you’re worried about a camera?” The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became. “Unless… you set this up?!” A chill ran down my spine. This guy was too crafty. Ryan gave me an approving look. “Your method wasn’t very smart, but you accidentally passed the test.” He went to the computer desk and opened a set of photos, gesturing for me to come look. Sure enough, there were the close-up shots from earlier. I tried to delete them, but he took the laptop away. Marrying him was like being a secret agent. I felt I more than earned this money – he could even pay me more.

Speaking of marriage, our arrangement was more dramatic than an online novel. At first I thought it would be the classic “arrogant celebrity falls for ordinary girl” plot. He took me to an upscale restaurant, even booking a private room. Then he slapped down a contract. “Sign this. The payment is one million dollars.” I was overjoyed. This kind of windfall finally happened to me! I asked why he chose me. He took off his sunglasses, revealing those soulful eyes that could melt any woman’s heart. But his words were far from romantic: “Because you’re my anti-fan. That way you won’t fall in love with me.” “I don’t want any messy emotional entanglements when we divorce.” His arrogant attitude quickly killed any fantasies I had. It was true – I was his infamous anti-fan, even trending on social media once for criticizing him. He’d have to be crazy to actually fall for me. At 10 PM, when I’d normally be watching soap operas, I was instead cramming information from a stack of documents, feeling overwhelmed. They were about my “assignment” – Ryan’s love interests. I wondered why he didn’t just pick a wife from the entertainment industry. There were plenty of beautiful, well-connected women to choose from. But what the young master wanted to do was none of my business. I was just here to do a job and get paid. He needed a wife who could keep up appearances in public. I needed a large sum of money urgently. We both got what we wanted and reached an agreement happily. I had just opened the refrigerator when suddenly a hand slammed it shut, pressing firmly. The billion-dollar box office star was being stingy at home. Not only did he not eat properly himself, he wouldn’t let others eat either. I tried to reason with him: “The contract didn’t say I can’t eat after 10 PM, did it?” “You need to maintain your figure. Eating like this, you’ll gain at least 4 pounds in a month.” “Do you want me to explain to people why I suddenly have a different wife in 6 months?” After a week of interaction, my impression of Ryan as a man of few words who kept people at arm’s length was completely shattered. In private, this man was insufferable. His cold, lofty image was all an act. He was afraid I’d sneak food in my room, so he dragged me to rehearse our script. One minute he’d pick me up and spin me around, the next he’d put me down and shake me. My brain felt scrambled. By the 10,086th time I cursed him in my mind, he finally put me down. Then he started quizzing me seriously. “Let me test you. Who is Olivia?” “The daughter of your mom’s classmate. She likes to call you ‘big brother’ on set to stir up rumors.” “She’ll be on set tomorrow. Be prepared.” … Before bed, I habitually scrolled through my phone and was shocked to find I was trending again – at #1 no less! The last time I trended was for criticizing Ryan. I had a bad feeling about this…

I clicked on the trending topic and saw it was full of people criticizing me. “She’s so calculating, riding coattails again.” “Wasn’t she his anti-fan before? Did Ryan get brainwashed or something?” “Acting so much, is she trying to use Ryan to break into showbiz?” “That face must have cost a pretty penny!” The internet moves so fast. Ryan and I just got our marriage certificate today and it’s already been exposed, with my face clearly visible. But we specifically chose a time when there would be few people around. How did we get photographed? I scrolled down and saw Ryan’s pinned Weibo post: “Let me introduce you all to my wife @FlowerFairy” Below was a photo of our marriage certificate with my ID photo clearly visible, no blurring. Damn it, backstabbed by my own teammate again. Ryan really can’t stand to see me have it too easy. I ran to pound on his bedroom door. After a few minutes he leisurely opened it, the picture of calm compared to my agitation. He even looked a bit smug. “Of course I had to announce my marriage. Otherwise wouldn’t I be deceiving my fans?” “I’m helping you. Didn’t you see you gained 100,000 followers?” I understood the logic, but did he realize how powerful his fanbase was? I’d be torn to shreds. I had been worried about how to face off against Olivia while keeping the marriage secret. Now I didn’t need to worry – I was already dead and buried. I tossed and turned all night. At breakfast I kept yawning, exhausted. This million dollars was really hard-earned. In contrast, Ryan looked refreshed and in a great mood. He even peeled an egg for me. I had to admit, there was a reason he had so many fangirls. Putting aside his acting skills, he was handsome with a great body. When he kept his mouth shut, he was quite pleasing to look at. As soon as we arrived at the filming location, I saw a group of fans waiting outside holding Ryan’s banners. I had to say, these fans had incredible mental fortitude. Just yesterday there was a huge uproar, but today they still came to support him. Maybe they only hated me, and were even more enamored with Ryan for being a “responsible man.” We reached Ryan’s rest area on set. I had just sat down when I saw someone walking towards me in the distance. An assistant carrying bags followed behind her. She had the aura of the main wife confronting the mistress. The female lead had finally arrived.

Olivia plopped down in the seat next to me and immediately launched into a tirade before I could say anything. “Ryan is just playing with you. He’ll come back to me eventually.” “He hasn’t introduced you to his parents yet, has he? His mom has always seen me as her daughter-in-law.” “If you want money, I can give it to you. Just leave him.” What an unoriginal opening. She really was a pampered young miss. I latched onto her last sentence, looking at her expectantly. “How much can you give me?” She was clearly taken aback, probably expecting me to nobly refuse and say love conquers all or some nonsense. The next moment she disdainfully tossed out a card. “There’s 500,000 on this.” I laughed. So even rich people could be stingy. I glanced to the side and saw Ryan, who should have been filming, standing not far away. He must have come to check on things during a break. I put on my brightest smile, went over to link arms with him, and called out loudly on purpose: “Honey, did you come looking for me after being apart for just a little while?” Ryan stared at me blankly, probably not expecting to have to act too. I directly dragged him in front of Olivia. “I’m so sorry, Miss Olivia. Our Ryan is quite clingy.” I looked up into his eyes. “Can you give me 500,000?” He handed me his phone. “Transfer however much you want yourself.” Olivia’s face turned pale after watching this scene. I handed her back the card on the table, patted her shoulder, and whispered in her ear: “Did you see? He’ll give me however much money I want.” “You want to be the other woman for love, but Ryan’s not interested in you.” Olivia stormed off, bumping into me resentfully as she left. First battle, victory! It wasn’t in vain that I’d watched so many idol dramas. Rich girls really do like to humiliate people with money. If she’d offered more, I might have accepted. After this incident, rumors spread that I had made Olivia cry. I successfully gained the label of “Ryan’s wife.”

After the marriage announcement, Ryan received many variety show invitations for married couples. He refused them all. I had ulterior motives – I wanted to use variety shows to improve my image, since in the public’s mind I was still his anti-fan. When we divorced in the future, wouldn’t I be cyberbullied by his fans? After he rejected the 8th olive branch, I carefully considered how to phrase it in a way he’d accept. “Actually, I think we could accept. You’ve never been on variety shows before – your first appearance would gain a lot of fans.” “People always see you in dramas. They must be curious what you’re like in private.” “Creating a loving husband image would increase your value even more.” After my coaxing, he signed a contract with a travel show. The show was called “A Different Journey” and featured 5 celebrity couples traveling together, with 24-hour footage of the guests’ lives. While promoting tourism, it also revealed how celebrity couples interacted. When the lineup was announced, it caused a stir online. I took this show very seriously – it was my chance for redemption. I watched many similar variety shows in advance to ensure I wouldn’t mess up. Ryan seemed much more relaxed. Although it was his variety show debut, he didn’t seem to care at all. After wrapping up his last drama, he spent every day at home eating and drinking as usual. On the day of filming, the show’s car came to pick us up at home. Apparently they wanted to start capturing footage from the moment we left. I got in the car and took a deep breath with my eyes closed. When I opened them, I found a plastic bag in front of me. I looked at Ryan’s outstretched hand in confusion. “Don’t you get carsick easily? Take this.” This guy had done his research. But I was too embarrassed to say it was just nerves, so I silently tucked the bag in my pocket.

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