Five years after leaving the country, I returned to attend Mrs. Sterling’s birthday gala at the Plaza. My former fiancée Sierra Sterling—the childhood sweetheart I’d been engaged to since we were eight—pulled out a custom-designed Tom Ford tuxedo and proposed to me in front of everyone. The ballroom erupted. Gasps. Whispers. Champagne flutes frozen mid-air. They all expected me to fall to my knees in tears of joy. Say yes. Beg her to take me back. After all, I’d loved Sierra Sterling with the kind of desperate, embarrassing devotion that became Manhattan society legend. But they seemed to have forgotten something. Five years ago, at our wedding, she ripped the custom Armani suit off my body in front of three hundred guests. Stomped on it with her Louboutins. For another man. She publicly accused me of academic fraud. Scientific misconduct. Patent theft. The wedding was canceled. I stood there in front of everyone—judged, mocked, destroyed. That day, I left for Europe alone. But now that I’m back, Mrs. Sterling grips my shoulder with her perfectly manicured hand and says: “Ethan, Sierra missed you terribly these past five years. Even after what you did, she never forgot you.” “After you left, she spent a fortune burying those scandals. If you’re willing to give her another chance, the Sterling family will give you an even grander wedding than before.” — “Ethan Quinn, will you marry me?” When I don’t answer, Sierra repeats her proposal. Voice dripping with manufactured emotion. Mrs. Sterling watches me with expectant eyes. Like I’m a charity case who should be grateful. I thought seeing Sierra again would make me angry. But standing here, looking at her holding that tuxedo like a peace offering, I feel… nothing. Absolutely nothing. The ballroom falls silent. Eyes boring into me. Some curious. Most waiting for the drama. When I left New York five years ago, I never came back. They don’t know I’m married. That I have a daughter. So I don’t know if Sierra orchestrated this public proposal herself—or if she’s planning to humiliate me again for sport. A flash of mockery crosses my expression, but I keep my face polite. Detached. “Thank you for the honor, Miss Sterling. I was young and foolish back then. I don’t have those feelings anymore.” The room explodes. “WHAT? He rejected her? Is he insane?” “Didn’t he literally beg her to marry him for years? Now she’s proposing and he said NO?” Everyone stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Because five years ago, I did more than a few foolish things for Sierra Sterling. I made waves that rippled through all of Manhattan’s elite circles. Like the time I spent nine million dollars on fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge. Spelled out “SIERRA STERLING” in the sky for her birthday. Or when I hired drones to fly over Times Square for an entire month, displaying “SIERRA & ETHAN” on continuous loop. Two weeks before our wedding, I bought every digital billboard in Manhattan. Had our engagement photos rotating 24/7. At twenty-five, I loved her like a man possessed. Wanted the whole world to witness our perfect love story. Never imagined she’d betray me. After all, this was Sierra Sterling. My first constant. My childhood promise. She learned my name before she learned most words. Learned how to spell “Ethan” long before she cared about spelling her own. Growing up, she was always just… there. Reminding me to take care of myself. Quietly fixing the things I forgot. Folding my shirts without being asked, like it was simply part of loving me. For twenty years, we were closer than siblings. More in sync than most married couples. Even when I became the notoriously strict Professor Quinn at MIT, with her I was still the little boy who called her “Sierra Bear” and chased her around with flowers. Always tender. Always devoted. Always hers. The year our love burned brightest, we stood at the Love Lock Bridge in Paris and vowed to be together forever. I believed love like ours was eternal. Until one month before the wedding, when Liam Carter was brought into the Sterling household as their ward.

Supposedly he was the orphaned son of Mr. Sterling’s old army buddy. His father had saved Mr. Sterling’s life, so they took Liam in out of obligation. At first, Sierra and I were both kind to him. I even took him to Knicks games and taught him to golf. But somehow, somewhere along the way, Sierra started spending more and more time with Liam. She started bringing him on our dates. Our private dinners for two became dinners for three. On Valentine’s Day, Sierra promised to come with me for the final fitting of the custom tuxedo she’d designed for our wedding. I called her a hundred times. Waited in our penthouse for two hours. All I got was a text: “Something came up. Rain check.” Frustrated, I went to the tailor alone. And found Liam Carter standing there wearing MY custom tuxedo. Sierra adjusting his collar. Her cousins circling him like vultures, calling him “brother-in-law.” Their praise and laughter made it seem like Liam and Sierra were the engaged couple. And I was the outsider. Rage and humiliation burned through me. My vision went red. “Do you even remember I’m your fiancé?” I demanded, voice shaking. Sierra finally looked up from Liam. No guilt. No shame. Just… annoyance. “I told you something came up. Why are you here?” “Can you stop being so paranoid and jealous all the time? You’re acting pathetic. Like a child.” I’m Ethan Quinn. Son of Wall Street legend Marcus Quinn. MIT’s youngest tenured professor. I don’t take disrespect from ANYONE. “Sierra Sterling, who gave you permission to talk to me like that?” “Your ‘something’ was spending time with Liam? Making him wear MY tuxedo?” My voice cracked. By the time I finished speaking, I’d crushed my phone screen in my fist without realizing it. Sierra instinctively grabbed my bleeding hand. But her tone was still accusatory. “Ethan, stop making a scene. You always do this. I’m tired of placating you.” “I just had Liam try on the tux for sizing. Why are you throwing a tantrum over something so small?” I was so shocked I forgot to respond.

Sierra Sterling was lecturing me. Blaming me. For twenty years, no matter what I did, she never said a harsh word to me. Spoiled me rotten. But now she’s calling me unreasonable in front of all these people. Like she’s forgotten that she’s the one who MADE me this way. My silence stretches too long. Sierra’s expression softens with regret. “Ethan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” “But you accused me without knowing the full story. That hurt.” I force myself to stay calm. Decide to hear her explanation. “Then explain. Why did you cancel on me today?” Sierra soothes me by squeezing my fingers. Kisses my cheek. Then launches into her story: “Ethan, didn’t you notice the sapphire cufflinks on the tux came loose? The original technique wasn’t securing them properly, so I switched to a new method. I needed a model to test if they’d hold, but my usual model canceled. So I grabbed Liam as a last-minute substitute.” Her tone is earnest. Gentle. It sounds… reasonable. My anger cools. But I’m still not satisfied. “Then what about your cousins calling him ‘brother-in-law’?” “Oh, Ethan.” Sierra rolls her eyes playfully. “You’re so spoiled. My cousin was talking about getting a tux FOR the brother-in-law—meaning YOU. You’re taking it out of context.” She puts on a wounded expression, teasing me with her eyes. I’m already embarrassed about my outburst. Now I just want to grab her hand and leave. But before I can touch her, Liam steps between us. Trembling. Eyes wide with fake fear. “Ethan… this is all my fault. I offered to be Sierra’s model. Please… hit me if you want. Just don’t be angry at her.” Liam stares at me like a kicked puppy. The people around us glare at me like I’m a monster. Even Sierra reaches out to comfort Liam while gently suggesting I leave. Later, Liam bought me an expensive watch as an apology. Mrs. Sterling came to our penthouse to explain everything personally. But something felt off. They were apologizing to me, sure. But their words were laced with protectiveness toward Liam. “Ethan, you know Liam is the son of the man who saved my husband’s life. His father is gone now, and Liam’s alone. We have to take care of him.” “Besides, the Carter family saved us. Liam is part of our family now. If he gets mistreated here, people will talk.” Sierra nodded along eagerly. “Exactly, Ethan. Liam’s young. We should be looking out for him.” “Plus, you’re about to marry me. You’ll be his brother-in-law soon. Why fight with a family?” What could I say to that? Sierra looked so sincere. I let it go. Sierra smiled. Took an emerald ring from a velvet box and slid it onto my finger. “There. Is Mr. Quinn done being grumpy now?” I felt the warmth of her touch and finally relaxed. I handed her a folder. “Sterling Industries wants to expand into tech, right? This is my latest research from MIT…” Before I could finish, Sierra threw herself into my arms. “Ethan, I love you!” Her enthusiasm made me blush. I was so focused on our future together. I didn’t realize her love wasn’t exclusive. That it was quietly shifting toward Liam Carter.

Her Instagram became a shrine to Liam. Photos of them together every single day. Rumors started spreading through Manhattan’s elite circles: The Quinn-Sterling engagement was off. The Sterling family was planning to marry Sierra to their ward instead. I heard the whispers and wanted to confront the Sterlings immediately. But before I could, Liam showed up at my MIT office. Gone was the scared, timid boy from a week ago. Now his expression dripped with smug satisfaction. “Ethan, you’ve heard the rumors, right? That’s not just the Sterling family’s intention. It’s Sierra’s too.” “If you don’t want to embarrass yourself, cancel the engagement.” I clenched my fists to control my rage. I’d promised Sierra I’d be patient with Liam. But Liam misread my silence as weakness. His smile widened. “Still in denial, Ethan? Don’t worry. You’ll see Sierra’s choice soon enough.” I snapped. My fist connected with his jaw. “Get out.” Liam stumbled backward, shocked that I’d actually hit him. He fled. Furious, I opened my phone and sent Sierra the audio recording of Liam’s taunts. Waited for her to apologize. But instead of apologizing, she questioned me. “Ethan, is there some misunderstanding?” “Liam’s always been kind and thoughtful. He’d never do this. Are you sure someone didn’t trick you?” I stared at the screen in disbelief. Twenty years of history. Audio evidence. And she still chose to believe Liam over me. She doubted ME for a kid she’d known less than a month. I threw my phone across the room. Decided I was done trying. That night, Sierra flew five hours from a conference in London to New York just to smooth things over. When I saw her exhausted face at my door, I couldn’t turn her away. The moment I opened the door, she kissed me. Deep and desperate. We didn’t pull apart until we were both breathless. “Ethan, I only see Liam as a brother. I’d never have feelings for him. You believe me, right?” “But he’s my father’s savior’s son. There are things I can’t control. You understand, don’t you?” “Besides, we’re getting married next week. You wouldn’t abandon me now… would you?” She looked up at me with those wide, pleading eyes. So careful. So vulnerable. My resolve crumbled. I chose to believe her unconditionally. I didn’t know that trust wasn’t mutual. That she was about to push me into hell with her own hands.

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I was about to sign the rejection papers when my wolf’s voice filled my mind. He’s suffering in silence. Every cold word breaks his heart. He loves you more than his own life. Our Alpha loves us! Why can’t you see he’s protecting us? He’s dying inside! His eyes are red. He’s devastated. We’re the only one he’s ever loved. I stared at the papers, then at the man across from me—the Alpha who’d left me and our daughter to die in rogue territory so he could rush his precious Serena back to safety. He was the same man who hadn’t even looked at me since. My wolf whimpered in my mind, defending him as always. Killian’s expression remained cold as ice. He watched me hold the pen without making any move to stop me. “After you sign, I’ll stay at the North Wing. Take your time moving out.” His voice was flat, carrying not even a hint of emotion. This was how he’d been since we mated. He never looked at me and never said he cared. Even when we conceived Lily, it felt like nothing more than Alpha duty. The only person he ever showed emotion for was Serena—the girl who’d been raised as his sister until they discovered she wasn’t blood-related. I’d been ready to sever the bond completely, but then my wolf started screaming at me. In three years of marriage, Killian had looked me in the eye maybe five times. Now my wolf claimed he loved me desperately. It was laughable. When we first mated, I’d loved him and couldn’t help myself. My wolf had been so happy, so certain we’d found our perfect mate. So I decided to try one last time. “Killian, can you just stop putting Serena first? Please?” His jaw tightened in irritation. “Serena is my sister. The pack knows the truth now—that she’s not blood—and they’ve made her life hell. She’s struggling, and she needs support. Why can’t you be more understanding? Why do you have to compete with her?” My heart twisted painfully. With me, Killian was always irritated and impatient. How could someone like this possibly love me? Yesterday we’d gone to the Moon Temple for blessings. Halfway there, Serena had a panic attack. We had no guards nearby, so Killian ordered me and Lily out of the car so he could rush Serena to the pack healer. Lily and I got lost in the rogue wilderness and barely survived the night. When we finally made it back, Lily collapsed with a fever. She still hasn’t woken up. I had decided to give up this relationship. I picked up the pen again to sign the papers. A servant burst through the door, looking panicked. “Alpha! Miss Serena is having nightmares and calling for you! No one can calm her down, and you need to come back!” It was always like this. Serena could summon Killian with the smallest excuse. Since last night, he hadn’t checked on Lily even once. Our daughter sometimes asked me through tears why Daddy didn’t love her. He only does this to protect us, my wolf insisted desperately. If he ignores Serena, the pack will blame us for being jealous. He’s thinking of our reputation. Serena saved his life once. He’s just repaying the debt. He doesn’t love Serena—why can’t you trust our mate? He’s so alone. No one understands him. We have to understand him. “Shut up,” I muttered under my breath. My wolf whined, confused and hurt by my rejection. So this was it? The only place I’d ever hear about Killian’s love was from my own wolf? He never did anything and never said anything. He just left Lily and me alone in empty rooms while the whole pack whispered that the Luna was worthless. Killian glanced at me for barely a second, then followed the servant out. “Serena needs me. We’ll finish this when I get back, Freya.” My wolf howled in protest as he left. Don’t do this! He’s our mate! He loves us! “If this is love,” I whispered, “then I don’t want it.”

I was Killian’s chosen mate. When Killian and I first mated, we weren’t deeply in love, but we treated each other with respect and courtesy. Everything changed after Serena was revealed not to be Alpha Kane’s blood daughter. Serena became sensitive and fragile. If Killian didn’t stay by her side, she would throw tantrums and make scenes. She often came to the pack house to cause trouble for me. Whenever she made things difficult, Killian would sigh and try to placate me instead. “Serena’s going through a hard time right now. She might be a bit much, but don’t hold it against her.” Serena’s suffering wasn’t my fault, yet Killian expected me to endure it again and again. The pack members learned quickly who held power. Behind my back, they whispered that I was petty and couldn’t handle being Luna, that I couldn’t win Alpha Killian’s favor, and that I was pathetic and worthless. One day, when I wasn’t home, Serena played with Lily and fed her pastries laced with silver dust. By the time I returned, Lily’s skin was covered in burns and blisters, and she’d fallen unconscious. I rushed her to the pack healer in a panic. The healer told me that if I’d been even a few minutes later, Lily would have died. When I got back to the pack house, I found Killian gently comforting a tearful Serena. For the first time, I raised my voice at him. My face was filled with fury. “Lily almost died, Killian. I’m not asking you to punish Serena, but she can never come to our house again. Can’t you at least agree to that?” Killian simply patted Serena’s back and responded coldly. “Lily is fine now. Serena didn’t mean to hurt her. She’s been through so much already, and you need to be more patient with her.” He met my hysteria with complete indifference, as if I were the one being unreasonable. But when I thought about this incident later, my wolf defended Killian relentlessly. He’s afraid that if he treats us too well in front of Serena, she’ll retaliate against us. He looks expressionless, but his heart shattered when he saw us cry. At least we can express our emotions. Our Alpha has to keep everything bottled up inside. He loves us so much. We come from a lower pack, so he can’t show favoritism or we’ll become a target for everyone. Why can’t we be more understanding? Our mate is always protecting us silently, and we’ve never done a single thing for him. I’d suffered so much because of Killian’s so-called love, and now my own wolf was blaming me for it. That night, after I’d finished taking care of Lily, I went to Killian’s study to talk to him. I still loved him then. I was foolish enough to think that if I just tried harder, maybe Killian would finally see me. But when I stood outside the study, I saw through a crack in the door that Serena was crying and hugging Killian from behind. “We’re not blood siblings, so why can’t I love you? Please, just love me back a little. I don’t care if we have to hide it forever. I’m willing to do anything.” I bit my lip and silently begged Killian to push her away and scold her. But Killian only sighed and let her hold him. “You’re still so young. Why are you thinking about these things?” I stood outside the door, barely able to keep myself upright. Serena looked at me through the gap and smirked mockingly. My wolf was silent for once, unable to defend what we’d both just witnessed.

“Mama, did Daddy come back yet?” When Lily woke up, it was already evening. I saw the hope in her eyes and couldn’t bear to tell her the truth. Killian was still at Serena’s residence, taking care of her. “It’s okay, Mama. If Daddy doesn’t come back, we can celebrate my birthday together, just the two of us.” Today was Lily’s birthday. Every year on this day, I would give Lily a gift and tell her it was from her father. That was why Lily still believed that Killian cared about her. I made Lily a bowl of noodles. Just as we sat down to eat, Killian walked in and rubbed his temples wearily. “Serena’s condition is getting worse. She needs to stay here at the pack house for a while. Try to be more considerate and don’t provoke her.” Lily didn’t understand what he was saying. She thought Killian had come back to celebrate her birthday, so she excitedly ran up and hugged him. “Daddy, you came back! I knew you wouldn’t forget my birthday!” Killian froze. His face turned pale, and for once he didn’t look as cold and distant as usual. Our mate was so busy dealing with Serena’s problems that he forgot our pup’s birthday. You can’t really blame him for that, my wolf offered weakly. Couldn’t we have reminded him? Why does our Alpha always have to be the one maintaining this relationship? He’s been speaking well of us to Serena this whole time so she won’t target us. He’s already decided that after this is over, he’ll focus on building a good life with us. It was ridiculous. No matter what Killian did, my wolf always made excuses for him. “Lily, I’m sorry. I was too busy today and forgot about your birthday.” Lily lowered her head in disappointment but still tried to comfort him. “It’s okay, Daddy. You always remember my birthday every other year. I’m already really happy about that.” Killian looked at me in surprise, and his expression softened slightly. Our mate is so touched! We gave birthday gifts on his behalf! my wolf said proudly. This is the last time he’ll help Serena. After this, he’ll live happily with us. Killian’s gaze became gentler, and his tone turned warmer. “Serena is only staying here temporarily. She won’t disturb us. I know I’ve neglected you before, but from now on, things will be different. Let’s not talk about rejection anymore.” This world seemed to revolve entirely around Killian’s desires. As long as he was happy, everything was supposedly fine. No one cared what I actually wanted. My wolf kept insisting that Killian loved me so much, but I only felt cold emptiness. Was this really love? The next day, Serena moved into the pack house with great fanfare. She stood in front of my courtyard and clung to Killian’s arm playfully. “Freya, your courtyard is so beautiful. It’s such a shame I can’t live here.” My heart sank. Then I heard Killian say to me. “Freya, I need you to move to the North Wing for now. It’s just temporary.” Don’t misunderstand! Our mate feels even worse about this than we do! my wolf protested. It’s fine. Just endure a little longer, and everything will be sweet soon. This courtyard was something I’d decorated by hand when I first came to the pack house. The wisteria tree in the yard was one Killian had planted for me. He’d even said that as long as the tree stood, our bond would remain strong. Now Serena covered her nose and looked at the tree with disgust. “The flowers are too fragrant. I can’t stand the smell. Can you cut them down for me?” I looked up at them in disbelief. Killian glanced at me with a complicated expression, then ordered the servants to do it. Lily had once had an allergic reaction because of Serena, and Killian had brushed it off with barely a word. But now he was willing to cut down the tree he’d planted himself just to please Serena. I felt my heart growing colder and colder. I clutched the rejection papers tightly in my hand and turned to leave. We’re misunderstanding again. How frustrating. Can’t we try to see things from our mate’s perspective? my wolf pleaded. “No,” I said firmly. “I’m done seeing things from his perspective.”

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The fluorescent lights of City Hall’s Marriage Bureau hummed overhead like a swarm of accusatory wasps. I sat alone on the hard plastic chair, my hands clenched so tight my knuckles had gone white. Seven times. This was the seventh goddamn time. My phone buzzed against my thigh. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know it was Seraphina. Again. The same excuses wrapped in different words, the same poison dripping with honey. The clerk-a middle-aged woman with kind eyes that had seen too many almost-marriages-leaned over her desk. “Mr. Grant? Are we… still proceeding today?” My throat constricted. The words tasted like ash. “Yeah. We’re proceeding.” Just not with who you think. I pulled up my contacts, my thumb hovering over a name I’d been avoiding for weeks. Zara Brooks. My Dude’s sister. The woman who’d proposed the most insane solution to my problems three months ago: a fake marriage. “Come on, Ethan,” she’d said, leather jacket slung over one shoulder, that infuriating smirk playing at her lips. “You need to get your family off your back. I need to shut my parents up about settling down. It’s a win-win.” I’d laughed it off then. Told her I was committed to Seraphina. That we’d work it out. Seven broken promises later, here I was. The call connected on the second ring. “Grant.” Zara’s voice was husky, like she’d just woken up. Or maybe she was mid-cigarette on that death trap motorcycle of hers. “Finally ready to stop being pathetic?” I closed my eyes. “City Hall. Marriage Bureau. How fast can you get here?” A pause. Then I heard the roar of an engine. “Already on my way.”

I’d barely hung up when my phone lit up again. This time, I looked. Seraphina: Babe, I’m SO sorry! Liam twisted his ankle playing basketball. He needs me right now. Can we reschedule? The office will still be there tomorrow! ?? The laugh that escaped my throat was bitter enough to curdle milk. The clerk glanced up, concerned. “You okay, honey?” I wasn’t. I hadn’t been okay for six months. Not since Liam Sterling-Seraphina’s “best friend,” her childhood everything, her eternal excuse-had moved back to town. Before Liam, Seraphina used to look at me like I hung the moon. She’d skip work to bring me lunch when I was drowning in blueprints. She’d memorize my coffee order, my favorite songs, the exact way I liked to be held when the panic attacks came. My fingers moved on autopilot, pulling up Liam’s number-because of course I had it, because Seraphina had insisted we all be “one big happy family.” He answered on the first ring. Seraphina’s voice in the background, fussing over him. “Hey, Ethan.” Liam’s tone was syrupy sweet. “Sorry about today, man. You know how it is. I really needed-” “Tell Seraphina,” I cut him off, my voice dead calm, “that I’m done. Tell her she can spend every single day for the rest of her life taking care of you. Because I’m officially out.” I hung up before he could respond. The roar of a motorcycle shattered the sterile quiet of City Hall’s lobby. Through the glass doors, I watched Zara Brooks dismount her Ducati like she was stepping off a battlefield-all controlled violence and careless grace. She pulled off her helmet, and her dark hair tumbled out in waves that caught the afternoon light. Every head in the waiting area turned. Zara had that effect on people. She pushed through the doors, her leather jacket creaking, her combat boots echoing against the linoleum. When she reached me, she didn’t sit down. Just cocked her hip against the chair beside me, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. “So?” Her voice was low, challenging. “You finally ready to stop letting that blonde leech drain you dry?” I met her eyes-ice blue and unflinching. “I need this. My grandfather…” My voice cracked. Zara’s expression softened, just barely. “I know,” she said quietly. “Leo told me. About the cancer.” Right. Of course Leo had told his sister. My best friend since high school, the guy who’d held me together through my parents’ divorce, through every failed architecture pitch, through Grandpa’s diagnosis. The same guy who’d suggested this crazy scheme in the first place. “Your grandpa wants to see you married before…” Zara didn’t finish. She didn’t have to. “And my parents are threatening to set me up with some trust fund douchebag if I don’t ‘settle down soon.’” She made air quotes with her fingers. “We help each other. Simple transaction.” “Nothing about this is simple.” “Then make it simple.” She held out her hand. “You coming or not, Grant?” I looked at her hand-calloused from working on her bikes, strong, steady. Nothing like Seraphina’s delicate fingers that had pushed me away seven times. I took it.

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After two months away on business, I returned to find my office transformed into a playground for my assistant’s son. Every important document had been turned into drawing paper—the walls, the desk, nothing was spared. I went to confront my wife, but she was the one who got angry. “You’re a grown man picking a fight with a child? Can you be any more petty?” “Do you have any idea how hard it is for Ryan, working while raising a kid as a single father?” I tried to explain, but she cut me off right there, stripped me of my position, and gave my office to Ryan. That evening, Ryan posted on Instagram—a photo of Victoria’s back as she sat at a parent-teacher conference. “Finally found Tyler the mom he deserves. ❤️” I smiled and left a comment. “You three make the perfect family. That’s what matters most.” The next day, Victoria had Ryan take over my key clients. I announced my divorce on the spot. Walking out, I sent a text to my father: “Pull all Westfall investments from VictoriaTech.” I turned off my phone and collapsed on the couch, lighting a cigarette. Five years of marriage. Five years of my parents hoping for grandchildren. But I knew Victoria didn’t like kids—she hated them, actually. I’d fought with my parents countless times because of it. After enough arguments, they’d given up and accepted that the Hayes bloodline would end with me. But today shattered everything I thought I knew. My phone rang. It was Victoria. Was she calling to apologize? Part of me wondered if my comment had been too harsh. But the moment I answered, her voice came through dripping with fury. “Ethan Hayes, has your brain been kicked by a donkey or eaten by a dog? So what if I went to Tyler’s parent-teacher conference?” “Delete that comment and apologize to Ryan right now, or you’ll regret it!” She slammed the phone down before I could respond. My hand froze around the phone. I hadn’t expected an apology—but I definitely hadn’t expected her to call and tear into me. She was playing mother to another man’s child. What right did she have to yell at me? A sharp pain lanced through my stomach. Years of business dinners and drinking had given me chronic gastric bleeding. I checked the time—today was my hospital follow-up appointment. Victoria had promised to come with me. But now… she was probably still busy being a mother to her perfect new son. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead. The pain was making my vision darken. My phone suddenly vibrated non-stop. Ryan had posted in the company group chat. “@Ethan Hayes, I feel terrible about the misunderstanding today. Tyler’s young and didn’t know better—he probably made a mess in your office playing around. I know those files were important. You have every right to be upset. It’s my fault for being a single dad, trying to juggle work and childcare—I just couldn’t keep an eye on him properly. That Instagram post didn’t mean anything bad. I was just thanking Victoria for taking care of Tyler. I used the wrong words and caused this misunderstanding. If you’re still angry, take it out on me. Don’t let this damage your relationship with Victoria.” What a textbook guilt-trip performance. The pain in my stomach made it hard to hold my phone. Before I could respond, Victoria replied almost instantly. “Ryan, you don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who said Tyler could stay in Ethan’s office. Those files are important, but are they more important than a child’s happiness and a single father’s struggles? Drop the petty attitude. This office situation is over. Anyone who brings it up again is crossing me.” With the boss taking that stance, all the yes-men employees jumped in to condemn my pettiness and defend Ryan. Everyone knew Ryan was Victoria’s golden boy now. Who cared about a CEO’s husband in name only? I didn’t bother watching the show unfold. I exited the chat, grabbed my car keys, and headed to the hospital. The stabbing pain eased somewhat during the drive. One of the company employees called me. I frowned but answered anyway. “Ethan Hayes, Ryan has a client dinner tonight but something came up. Victoria says you need to go immediately.” A junior employee calling me by my full name, dropping even the courtesy of “Mr. Hayes.” I laughed bitterly. The lapdog barks when the master points. “I’m not available.” My voice was flat, emotionless. The caller clearly hadn’t expected a refusal. “Victoria said if you don’t go, don’t bother coming back.” “Oh?” I let out a soft acknowledgment. “That’s what Victoria said?” “Yes!” The employee thought they had me scared. “Victoria herself said it! If you don’t go, you’re fired! If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get over there right—” “Perfect.” I cut them off. “Tell Victoria for me…” I paused. “I quit.” I hung up without hesitation. Instant silence. As I stumbled along the wall toward the registration desk, clutching my stomach— A commotion erupted in the hospital lobby. “You quack! What kind of doctor are you? My son’s head is killing him and you examine him for half an hour just to say nothing’s wrong?” It was Victoria.

She was glaring at a middle-aged doctor in glasses who looked exhausted. I’d never seen her this unhinged before. My feet stopped dead, like they’d been nailed to the floor. “Ma’am, please calm down!” The doctor’s voice carried helpless frustration. “We’ve examined your son. His temperature is normal at 98.6°F. Chest and lung sounds are clear. His mental state seems fine. He says his head hurts, but it might be from getting excited earlier or playing too hard. We genuinely haven’t found anything physically wrong. You can’t accuse me of incompetence just because a child is crying—” “Bullshit!” Victoria cut him off viciously. “What do you know? You’re a useless quack! If you delay treating my son, can you handle the consequences? Get me your supervisor. I’m filing a complaint!” “Mommy…” Tyler lifted his head from her arms, his face flushed and healthy-looking—nothing like a sick child. Victoria immediately looked down, her fury melting into tenderness and concern. “Tyler, sweetheart, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here. Mommy will find you a good doctor.” I leaned against the wall, watching this scene, feeling the pain shift from my stomach to my heart. Five years of marriage. Countless careful hints and hopes from my parents, all ending in resigned sighs. Because Victoria didn’t like children. She hated them. To honor that wish, I’d defied my parents again and again, shouldering all the family pressure. I thought that was respect. That was love. But what the hell was this? Here she was with my assistant’s son—a child with no blood relation to her—so anxious she’d lost all composure, screaming at a doctor over a minor complaint. She turned with the child in her arms and spotted me. Her brows immediately knitted together. “Ethan? Are you following me?” I ignored her and kept moving toward my scheduled appointment. “Stop!” She caught up, her tone like she was scolding an employee. “Why didn’t you go to the Anderson dinner? Kevin said you hung up on him? Are you trying to sabotage us?!” I didn’t turn around, my voice ice-cold. “I have a doctor’s appointment. For my stomach.” Silence behind me for a beat. She seemed to remember. “Your stomach? You… today was your follow-up…” Her tone softened slightly. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? Can’t you just tough out the old problem? The Anderson deal is crucial! Ryan can’t make it—you’re the only one who can step in!” Didn’t say something? I’d told her weeks ago. “Can’t you just go to the dinner first and… I’ll come with you tomorrow instead?” The pain had my vision going black. I grabbed the handrail to stay upright. Seeing my condition, she conceded reluctantly. “Fine. Which doctor are you seeing? I’ll come with you to speed things up, then we’ll head straight to the hotel…” Even now—even like this—she still wanted me to go drink for business. Victoria. Do you even have a heart? She took a few steps toward me, Tyler in her arms. “Wahhh!” Tyler suddenly burst into tears, kicking his legs violently. “No! I want to go home! I want Daddy! Mommy, find Daddy!” His crying instantly consumed all of Victoria’s attention. “Tyler, sweetheart, don’t cry!” She stopped immediately, patting him anxiously. “Where does it hurt? Mommy will take you home right now. We’ll find Daddy, okay?” She didn’t spare me another glance. Carrying the crying child, she turned and rushed toward the exit. “Yes, we’ll find Daddy. We’re leaving now! Good boy, Tyler. Mommy will get you something yummy…” She moved fast, her figure disappearing through the door, the crying fading. I caught Tyler making a face at me over her shoulder. The hallway was empty except for me. The stomach pain exploded. Something sweet and metallic rose in my throat. I swallowed it down hard, cold sweat soaking through my shirt. The door opened. The doctor emerged with my results, his face dark as thunder. He slapped the report on the desk, his hand actually trembling. “Look at this yourself. Your ulcer is this severe—you’re almost perforated. And these bleeding spots—if you keep ignoring this, it’ll turn cancerous! How old are you? Do you understand?!” The doctor’s voice rose with anger. “How did you destroy your stomach like this? Do you have a death wish? Drinking like water, aren’t you? Your stomach is worse than an eighty-year-old’s!” I opened my mouth to explain—the business dinners, the sacrifices for her company, for her… But my throat felt blocked. I couldn’t get a single word out. A stranger cared more about me than my own wife did. Seeing me in too much pain to speak, the doctor was both furious and anxious. “Immediate hospitalization. One more incident like this and even God can’t save you. Sign here.” “Doctor… can I delay admission a few days?” I forced the words out through the pain. “I need to… handle my resignation paperwork.” The old doctor’s eyes widened. “You’re in this condition and you’re still thinking about work? What job pays enough to be worth your life? You—” He looked at my pale face and the cold sweat on my forehead. His words caught in his throat, and he let out a heavy sigh. “Delaying a few days… should be manageable. But absolutely no more alcohol.” “Thank you…” My voice came out hoarse. The next day, my stomach still burned like fire, but it was better than yesterday. I forced myself to go to the company. The moment I reached what used to be my VP office, my feet stopped cold.

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At a swimming competition, someone put leeches in my daughter’s swimsuit. When I dragged her out of the swimming pool, her body was covered in bite marks, and the pool ran red with blood. The culprit, meanwhile, was grinning like it was all a joke. He and his daughter slapped me across the face ten times and forced us to get on our knees and apologize. “Some charity case thinks she can compete with the heiress of Kingston’s richest family? This is what you get. One word from me, and you’ll be kicked out of the city.” I raised an eyebrow. “I thought my daughter was the sole heiress of the Grant family. And since when did she become a charity case?” I wiped the blood off the corner of my mouth and dialed my wife’s number. “I heard the Grant family has an illegitimate child. Is that true?” A strange woman answered the call. “Who are you? Some tabloid reporter? Stop pestering Ms. Stone. Or Vista Holdings will sue you into the ground!” I froze for a second. “We’ve known each other for thirty years, and Julia Stone hasn’t even saved my number?” The woman on the phone kept ranting, but my eyes were locked on the emerald pendant resting against the man’s chest. I recognized my family heirloom instantly. And the girl beside him was wearing a pink diamond bracelet. It couldn’t have been more obvious. If I hadn’t come home early this time, I might never have discovered that Julia had been cheating on me. The most ridiculous part? That illegitimate child was the same age as my daughter. So, she’s bored with the comfort I provided. Then I’ll let her learn the cost of betraying me. I hung up without another word. Seeing this, the referee smirked. “What, figured out calling for help won’t work? This is Mr. Wilson Jones, husband of the CEO of Vista Holdings. Be smart, and pull your daughter out of the competition now.” Parents watching nearby chimed in. “He’s right. A kid on financial aid tries to steal the spotlight? Well, everyone knows Kelly Jones is the favorite to win.” “I don’t want my kid to swim in the same pool as Tessa Grant. What if she catches some diseases from her?” They looked at Tess with disgust. She trembled helplessly in my arms and clutched my hand, shaking her head in panic. “Dad, I didn’t do anything wrong. I heard the winner gets a hundred dollars. I just wanted to win so I could buy you a gift. And if I win, I can get into a school for athletes. They cover food and housing, so I won’t have to spend our family’s money anymore.” I stared at her pale face, feeling heartbroken. Three years ago, I went abroad for business. Before leaving, I had explicitly told Julia to give Tess 100 thousand dollars a month as an allowance. And three years later, my daughter was risking her life for a hundred bucks! Before she could finish speaking, a pair of goggles flew straight into her face. Kelly snarled, “Tessa Grant, you knew my mom already booked the most expensive hotel in Kingston for my celebration party, and you still dared to compete with me?” Tess curled up in pain. Wilson exchanged a look with Kelly, and a cruel smile played on his lips. “Since your daughter wants attention so badly. I’ll let her have it.” He signaled with his hand. The reporters behind him immediately raised their cameras and started to snap photos of Tess like crazy. One of them said excitedly, “An elementary school student uses leeches for performance enhancement in a desperate bid for attention. This will make tomorrow’s headlines.” My voice cut through the clicks of the cameras, cold as ice. “If any outlet publishes a single photo, I’ll make sure it disappears from Kingston for good.” Sensing my tone, the reporters froze. Tess was sobbing uncontrollably, desperately covering her private areas. “Daddy, it hurts so much…” Frantically, I pulled up her sleeve. The leeches had burrowed deeper, leaving bleeding holes all over her skin. I could only imagine how unbearable the pain must be in her most sensitive areas. My hands shaking, I made another call. “Madam Chase, Tess is injured. Bring Kingston’s best medical specialists to the aquatic center immediately. Also, freeze all of Julia’s access and bring her to me.” The sound of a car door unlocking came through the phone. “Understood. I’m on my way.”

Before I could put down my phone, Wilson knocked it out of my hand. He lifted his chin arrogantly, eyes full of contempt. “Calling for backup? You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Now get down on your knees and apologize to Kelly. Or you and your daughter aren’t going anywhere today.” I let out a cold laugh. “You hurt my kid, and now you want us to apologize?” Kelly crossed her arms, completely unapologetic. “Everyone at school knows that if you cross me, you’ll have to get on all fours and be my pony while everyone watches.” She turned to Tess and gave her an evil smile. “And your daughter was my favorite pony.” Haunted by the memory. Tess clutched her head, her face twisting in pain. I gently rubbed her back. “It’s okay, sweetie. Daddy’s here. Hang on a little longer. The doctors will be here soon.” Wilson sneered. “Doctors? Well, let me show you what I can do.” At his signal, every road leading to the aquatic center was sealed off. No vehicles could get through. Tess started to spike a fever. Every second we waited, the leeches burrowed deeper. Something inside me finally snapped. I stepped forward and slapped Wilson across the face hard. “You pathetic clown, don’t push your luck. Every major private medical institution in Kingston answers to the Grant family. What gives you the right to stop my daughter from getting help?” Dead silence. I looked around, my voice steady and clear. “I am Felix Grant, the one truly at the helm of Vista Holdings. If there is any medical professional here, please help my daughter. You’ll be rewarded handsomely.” But the crowd seemed glued to their seats. No one moved. Wilson finally snapped out of it, clutching his face and roaring in fury. “Don’t just stand there. Get this bastard!” A dozen burly bodyguards came forward, overpowering me in seconds. Wilson stared at me with pure hatred. “Make him kneel and bow his head.” Bang. Bang. Bang. My head was slammed against the marble floor again and again. Something warm and wet trickled into my eyes, blurring my vision. As he watched me being tormented, Wilson made a phone call. Hearing the panic in his voice, his assistant immediately transferred the call to Julia, who was in a meeting. Wilson said in a wounded tone, “Babe, someone’s picking on us. He said he is…” Before he could finish, Julia exploded. “I don’t care who he is! No one can push my husband around. Do whatever you want to him. I’ll be there to finish the job once my meeting’s over.” The parents watching nearby exchanged gleeful looks. “This Felix put on a good act, but Ms. Stone doesn’t even know who he is.” “He must’ve lost his mind, laying hands on Mr. Jones. Everyone knows Julia worships her husband. This is about to get ugly.” Tess scrambled on her hands and knees to Kelly. “I’m sorry. I’ll be your pony for as long as you want. But please, let my dad go…” Kelly kicked Tess to the ground. Her hard shoe heel ground against Tess’ face. “Begging now?” She sneered. “Too late.” Just then, a voice cut through the chaos. “Stop it!”

An elderly woman with silver hair slowly walked in. Madam Chase had served as the Grant family’s steward since my grandfather’s time. In Kingston, everyone showed her respect. The energy in the room shifted the moment she walked in. When Wilson recognized her, he instinctively stood up and spoke politely. “Madam Chase, what brings you here?” She didn’t even look at him and walked straight up to me. Her eyes were filled with guilt when she saw my injuries. “Mr. Grant, I failed you. I should have sent people to protect you.” Before she could finish, she noticed the bleeding holes on Tess’ arms. The usually composed elderly woman exploded. “Who did this?!” Wilson quietly took a step back. I grabbed Madam Chase’s arm. “Where’s the medical team? Why didn’t they come with you?” Madam Chase hesitated, looking frustrated. “They were held back by Ms. Stone.” She played a recording for me. Julia sounded indifferent. “Madam Chase, the teachers say Tess is doing fine at school. Just stay at the nursing home. We shouldn’t tie up medical staff when there’s no real emergency. I’ll come pick you up in a couple of days, once Felix is back.” Madam Chase is filled with remorse. “In the three years you were abroad, Ms. Stone sent me to a nursing home, using my poor health as an excuse. If I had discovered sooner what was happening to Tess…” My heart sank at her words. Julia hadn’t just kept a boy toy and had a child with him. While I was abroad, she had been undermining my authority in the company. Back then, to protect her pride, I had never revealed her humble beginnings. I stayed in the shadows and encouraged her to build her own career. But she bit the hand that fed her. Seeing my gloomy face, Madam Chase added, “Don’t worry, Mr. Grant. On my way here, I’ve notified the Grant family’s private guards.” That calmed my nerves a little. Anyone they deal with will either surrender, be broken, or die. Just then, a group of doctors came in. Madam Chase’s face lit up. “Looks like Ms. Stone cares about you, after all.” But to everyone’s surprise, the medical team walked straight past us and surrounded Wilson instead. “Mr. Jones, Ms. Stone heard you were injured and sent us here immediately.” Wilson froze for a moment. Then, after seeing the document a doctor handed him, his timidity vanished. He tossed the papers onto the floor in front of us. “Madam Chase, this is the board’s latest decision. You are terminated for calling in a medical team on your own authority.” Madam Chase’s eyes narrowed. She snorted. “You don’t have the authority to make that decision.” Wilson smirked and said with contempt, “Let’s be honest, you’re nothing more than a lapdog. Julia can let you go whenever she likes.” His eyes moved back and forth between Madam Chase and me, and then he started to smirk. “So that’s it,” he sneered. “I was wondering where Felix got his confidence from. Turns out you’re his sugar mommy.” Madam Chase shouted furiously, “Watch your mouth! How dare you spread lies about Mr. Grant!” Wilson let out a sharp laugh. “There’s nothing I can’t do. I can even kick you out of Kingston. No sweat.” The large screen behind him lit up, displaying a photo of Tess. “As long as I put Tessa on the dark net blacklist, her life is over.” I replied calmly, “Is that so? Then try me.”

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One day, a polite yet unsettling call came through from the hotel, alerting me to an outstanding charge. The fee for condoms used the previous night, they said, had already been added to my membership account. I was utterly dumbfounded. I’d worked late the night before and hadn’t set foot inside that hotel at all. Therefore, I confronted my husband, Rex Dillon, the only person who knew my card number, and demanded an explanation. But he only stared at me, his face a mask of confusion. “Honey, that hotel’s over ten thousand a night. I wouldn’t waste that kind of money. It’s got to be a system glitch on their end.” “Probably someone typed in the wrong membership number. I’ll call and complain tomorrow!” I didn’t waste another breath on him. The hotel’s investor was my best friend, Vivien Bowman, so I dialed her directly. “Hey, can you check who Rex brought to the hotel last night? I’m gonna catch them red-handed!” – My husband’s pathetic excuse was almost laughable. The day Vivien became the hotel’s investor, she called me and gifted me a lifetime free-stay VIP card for my birthday. The card was linked exclusively to my personal information, meaning no one else could use it. Yet the hotel had called, claiming I’d checked into the presidential suite the night before and used the condoms in the room. I asked three times to confirm, and the person on the line insisted it was Leila Ruth herself who’d checked in. I couldn’t swallow this humiliation. What made it worse was that once, when I’d mentioned using the card, Rex had looked utterly annoyed and snapped. “Is our home not good enough for you? Why would you rather sleep elsewhere? I’m so sick of your ridiculous spending habits!” I didn’t get it. Why was he so pissed off just because I wanted to use a free card? The angrier I grew, the faster I drove, heading straight for the hotel. The holiday season was approaching, and the lobby was packed with guests checking in. I had to wait nearly half an hour before the receptionist finally looked a little less swamped. “Hello, I’m Leila Ruth. You called me this morning.” I said, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. The receptionist looked up, her face clouding with confusion. “Ms. Ruth? I thought you just went back to your room. You made it clear that no housekeeping service was needed a moment ago.” My face darkened instantly. The receptionist went on. “Just ten minutes ago, Ms. Ruth called and activated the do-not-disturb service.” I was so furious that I trembled all over. That woman had the nerve to check in under my name! Gritting my teeth, I said, “But I am the real Leila Ruth!” The receptionist eyed me up and down impatiently. “Madam, if you don’t have a reservation, please leave. We have many guests today. Please don’t cause a scene here.” “Ms. Ruth arrived with her husband and used the VIP card. Although I’ve never met Ms. Ruth, Mr. Dillon is a regular here. No doubt about that.” It hit me like a bolt of lightning. My husband had become someone else’s husband? The irony was bitter enough to choke on. At that moment, the elevator dinged open. Tiffany Butler stepped out, clad in the latest Chanel suit of the season. The diamond necklace around her neck was the one I’d bought at auction for 1.8 million. As far as I knew, she was just my husband’s newly graduated junior. The receptionist’s face lit up as if she’d spotted a savior. She pointed straight at Tiffany and said to me. “This is the real Ms. Ruth. The rightful one. I suggest you leave immediately and stop making trouble.” Tiffany’s face blanched the second she saw me, but she recovered fast, forcing a sickly sweet smile. “What a coincidence! Are you staying here, too?” I coldly shook off her outstretched hand. “Tiffany, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? Why did you check in under my name? And why were the condoms you used charged to my account?” “Also, why are my shoes on your feet? And when did my husband become yours?” My voice cut through the lobby, and the previously noisy crowd fell dead silent. Every pair of eyes locked onto Tiffany. Tiffany glanced around nervously, then her eyes immediately welled with tears. “What are you talking about? My husband gave me this card because he felt bad about my frequent business trips. And he bought me these shoes as well.” “As for the condoms…” She feigned shyness and lowered her head. “What’s wrong with me using them with my husband?” Suddenly, she lifted her gaze towards me, her expression laced with pity. “Are you upset because your husband doesn’t treat you well? Need my help to get you a psychiatrist?” The moment the words left her mouth, the crowd erupted into murmurs. “Look at her haggard face. Her husband must not want to touch her.” “A card like that starts at 300,000 dollars. She doesn’t seem like someone who could afford it.” “Are they seriously letting in just anyone at such a high-end place?” I was only wearing casual clothes today, hardly the shabby mess they made me out to be. Tuning out their gossip, I turned to Tiffany with a cold, sharp smile. “I never realized you were so good with words.” Then I shifted my gaze to the receptionist. “Did you verify her identity when the co-called ‘Ms. Ruth’ checked in?” The receptionist hesitated, her face flushing. “She said she didn’t have her ID, but Mr. Dillon is a regular, so…” “So you just broke the rules?” I cut her off sharply. “Your hotel’s security is a joke.” The receptionist fell silent. Tiffany immediately slipped back into her sweet, innocent act. “She’s just a receptionist. Why are you picking on her? People stay at hotels they can afford. Don’t make a scene here.” Her words couldn’t have been clearer: I didn’t belong here. At that moment, her phone rang. The word “honey” blazed bright on the screen. “Answer it,” I sneered. “Put it on speaker. Let’s hear how Rex is going to spin this.”

Tiffany answered triumphantly. As she tapped the speaker button, she burst into fake, heaving sobs. “Honey, come to the hotel quick! There’s a crazy woman saying I’m not your wife and trying to kick me out…” She wailed dramatically, and Rex’s furious voice exploded from the phone at once. “A crazy woman? How dare she bully you? Don’t be scared. I’m on my way!” A crazy woman. So that was what I was to him now. The onlookers stared at me with open disdain, some even stepping forward to comfort Tiffany. “Don’t take it to heart. She’s insane.” Tiffany murmured her thanks, then turned to me with a look of feigned concern. “My husband will be here soon. He has a terrible temper. You better leave fast.” “He just gave me that $300,000 VIP card, you know? “ “Shows how much he spoils me. If he gets here… Who knows what he might do to you?” It sounded like a warning, but it was nothing but a slap in the face, a barefaced provocation. I trembled with rage, every fiber of me screaming to tear off her hypocritical mask right then and there. Rex arrived faster than I’d expected. He burst through the hotel doors. The second his eyes landed on me, they turned cold and vicious. He roughly shoved me aside, then pulled Tiffany into a tight, protective embrace. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” The way he gently stroked Tiffany’s hair was so tender it hurt to watch. Pushed by him, I stumbled backward, my waist slamming hard into the sofa arm behind me. If not for the furniture, I would have crashed straight to the ground. Meanwhile, Tiffany stood on tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and the two locked in a long, wet, lingering kiss. “You’re so good to me, honey.” Tiffany panted, her voice thick with coquetry. “You need to set this woman straight. She won’t believe I’m your wife!” Only then did Rex turn his gaze to me. There was no flicker of guilt, only pure disgust. He released Tiffany and strode over, then slapped me hard across the face. “Tiffany! Have you no shame? “ ”Just because I turned you down when you tried to hint for a permanent position, you’ve held a grudge ever since.” “Now you dare to bully my wife in public?” I clapped a hand to my cheek, which flared red, swollen, and burning hot. I stared at him in disbelief. The man before me was a stranger, terrifyingly unfamiliar. Before I’d come to the hotel, he’d feigned ignorance on the phone, using his usual gentle patience to tell me not to overthink. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he could twist the truth without batting an eye and even hurt me. He’d always had two faces, it turned out. Now that I thought back, the signs had been there all along. He’d only lit up at the latest gaming console I’d bought him, but dismissed my painstakingly developed scientific research as nothing but scrap. His so-called concern had always circled back to my bank card. Maybe he’d never loved me. Maybe he’d never even tried to understand the real me.

A strange sense of calm rose from the depths of my chest, drowning out all the anger. I lowered my hand from my face and looked straight at him, my voice shockingly steady, even to myself. “Rex, repeat what you just said.” “Tell me, who am I? And who is she?” A flicker of panic crossed Rex’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by an even more self-righteous, aggressive tone. “You really are crazy! Wasn’t I clear enough? She is my lawfully wedded wife, Leila! And you? You’re just some intern who failed to climb the ladder, Tiffany!” He raked his eyes over me, his voice cold and cruel. “Look at yourself. You’re pushing forty, aren’t you? How could I possibly marry someone like you? Don’t embarrass yourself, okay?” The crowd erupted into more murmurs, sharp and judgmental. “Can’t get a man herself, so she’s jealous of others’ happiness.” “I told you she must be crazy. Didn’t think she’d start having delusions, too. That’s really scary.” “Poor couple. They’re so unlucky to run into a nutjob like this.” I stayed quiet, just watching their little show. Rex was clearly dead-set on protecting Tiffany, even if it meant grinding me into the dirt. But did he really think he could twist the truth with just a few lies? Slowly, I pulled my ID card and marriage certificate out of my bag. “These should be enough to prove who I am.” Rex and Tiffany’s faces froze at once. Tiffany’s eyes went wide with shock, and she tugged nervously at Rex’s sleeve. Rex lunged forward, snatched the ID and marriage certificate out of my hand, and without even glancing at them, hurled them straight out the hotel’s revolving glass door. “Will you just stop?” Veins bulged on his forehead, his act growing more convincing by the second. “Last time you waved a fake ID at me to disgust me, and now this new trick? Forging an ID and a marriage certificate?” “Tiffany, have some shame! Do you think I won’t call the cops and report you for harassment and forging official documents?” The onlookers’ stares shifted from disdain to outright revulsion, and they echoed in unison. “Call the police! Do it now!” His reflexes were impressive. I’d give him that. The second I laid out the proof, he’d branded me a fraud. At that moment, I almost wished the marriage certificate had been fake. Tiffany visibly relaxed at that. She snuggled back into Rex’s arms and spoke to me in a tone that sounded concerned but oozed malice, “You’ve been so abused by your husband that you’ve lost your mind. I can introduce you to a good psychiatrist.And a top divorce lawyer if you need.” She stressed the word “divorce” extra hard. After all, once I was gone, she could step right into the role of Mrs. Dillon. As a response, Rex kissed her forehead, then turned back to me, his eyes as cold as ice. “Get out of here now, or I’m calling the police immediately!” He snapped at the receptionist. “Call security to drive this crazy woman out. Who knows what else she might do? What if she hurts other guests?” The crowd roared, “Kick her out! Or we’ll complain about the hotel!” The receptionist didn’t dare hesitate. She grabbed her walkie-talkie and called for security at once. Two tall guards marched over, grabbed my arms from either side, and began dragging me roughly towards the exit.

I struggled desperately, my elbows throbbing from the rough tugging. Amid the chaos, Tiffany had somehow slipped close to me. Seizing the split second when everyone’s attention was elsewhere, she tripped me. Already off-balance, I crashed hard to the marble floor. “Oops!” Tiffany gasped in feigned innocence. “I just wanted to help you up, and you deliberately fell to blame me. Unbelievable!” My ankle swelled into a painful lump instantly, and a wide patch of skin was scraped raw on my knee, blood seeping out at once. My face paled with agony as I tried to stand, only to collapse back down. Rex stood there, watching coldly, as if I were a total stranger. My heart turned to ice at that moment. Any last shred of hope for him was snuffed out. With trembling hands, I fumbled in my pocket for my phone, desperate to call 911. But the second I unlocked it, Rex lunged forward and snatched it away. “What are you trying to do? Call the police?” he accused me falsely. “Let me tell you, everyone here saw clearly that you fell on purpose. Don’t even think about framing my wife and the hotel!” “I have a bleeding disorder. Call an ambulance, now!” I shouted through the pain. But Rex remained indifferent, instead hurling my phone forcefully across the lobby. The receptionist, fearing trouble, hesitated to act. Left alone, I endured the searing pain, using my uninjured leg to prop myself up and crawl towards my phone. Just then, a delicate high heel stomped down hard on my palm. Tiffany looked down at me condescendingly. “Sign a statement and admit everything today was your fault. Then I’ll call an ambulance for you. Otherwise…” She pressed down harder. The excruciating pain in my hand, mixed with the agony from my knee and ankle, nearly made me black out. I could barely speak, trembling violently from both pain and rage, my consciousness growing hazy. Just as I thought I would pass out, a series of rapid, sharp high-heel clicks echoed from the hotel entrance. My best friend, Vivien, was striding in. “Leila, I’ve found out. Rex really did cheat! “ ”He’s checked into this hotel more times than you have in the past few years.” “He even dared to use the exclusive membership card I gave you with that mistress. I won?t let him get away with this!” My best friend, also the hotel’s investor, had arrived with several hotel executives and security guards in tow. Her voice, however, cut off abruptly the moment she saw me kneeling on the ground in such a miserable state. The receptionist, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, now turned pale, her voice trembling as she timidly called out. “Dir… Director Bowman…”

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I was sleeping soundly under the blanket when suddenly I heard a snap. The light was turned on, and everything went blindingly bright. Startled, I jolted awake and saw a tall figure standing by the door, a cold expression on a handsome face behind silver-framed glasses. I blinked before realizing this was my husband, Norman Geller. His voice was steady, without a trace of emotion. “Why are you sleeping in the guest room?” I sat up wrapped in the blanket and gave a fake smile. “I just got my memory back. I’m not used to it yet.” “Let’s sleep separately for a while so I can adjust.” He nodded indifferently. “Suit yourself.” Then, as if casually, he asked, “You didn’t call me today.” I looked puzzled. “What? I didn’t have anything to talk to you about today. Why would I call you?” He frowned and said, “Before, if I came home after ten, you’d keep calling me.” Thinking of my past behavior made me feel really awkward. “Sorry, I won’t do that anymore.” Looking back at those memories was as embarrassing as public nudity. I was hypnotized into amnesia just because at midnight, I had called one of Norman’s patients. I cursed Celina Baker, called her a slut pretending to be depressed to seduce my husband, told her that if she was really sick, she should take medicine instead of stripping and climbing into a man’s bed. Celina cried hard from my scolding. Norman took the phone, his voice still calm, and told me he’d be back right away. I smugly thought I had chased off the mistress. But when Norman came back, he told me, “I’m taking Celina to live in the forest for three months, to get close to nature and do psychological healing.” Our son Henry raised his hand happily beside him. “I’m going too! I’m going too! Celina gave me candy last time. I also wanna go keep her company!” I couldn’t believe it. “Then what about our anniversary trip? I’ve been preparing for half a month. We agreed to go when Henry has his vacation.” “It’s off the table. Celina’s mental condition is serious. I have to accompany her for treatment.” “I wanna go to the forest, I don’t want to travel with Mom. It’s boring. I like Sis Celina more.” Of course I said no. We fought hysterically. He impatiently shoved me away, and Henry rammed me with his head. A burst of pain, and bright red blood surged from beneath me. I lost the child I had been carrying for half a year. And because he feared I would make more trouble, he forcibly used an immature experimental hypnosis on me, erased my memory, and left me in the hospital. I promised again and again that I would never casually call to harass him anymore. But Norman’s expression only grew darker. After a long while, he said coldly and firmly, “Jane, you’re sulking?” Then he turned and left another sentence behind. “Whatever. Just remember to tidy up my study.” I hesitated, then took out my phone, yawning as I searched for a suitable nanny. I thought to myself, “I can’t do this. I really can’t.” I didn’t know how I made it through. Every morning at six, I would get up to carefully prepare breakfast for my son who had countless allergies, then at seven prepare another breakfast for Norman with his fragile stomach. After hastily eating a little myself, I would start cleaning the entire house, because Norman had a cleanliness obsession and wouldn’t allow any mess, especially in the study, which had to be spotless. Today I tried to copy my past self and nearly fainted from exhaustion. While organizing the study files, I stuffed things randomly. Probably because of this Norman specially came to remind me. I fell asleep groggily. A few minutes later, loud banging on the door woke me up. “Why aren’t you up making breakfast? I’m gonna be late for school!” My son Henry shouted impatiently. It was time to make breakfast. Luckily, I had prepared in advance. “I ordered timed delivery. It’ll arrive soon.” After saying that, I fell back asleep, vaguely hearing Henry angrily kicking the door. “Dad shouldn’t have brought you back. Celina always makes me breakfast. You’re completely useless!” I woke again when Norman roughly dragged me out of bed. “What did you let Henry eat?” I looked completely confused. He dragged me in front of Henry, who was covered in red spots and struggling to breathe. “Even if you’re angry, you shouldn’t take it out on our son. He’s severely allergic. If I’d found this any later, he would’ve suffocated to death.” The ambulance quickly took our son to the hospital. I chased after them, explaining frantically. “I really don’t know why this happened. When I ordered the custom breakfast, I sent all his allergens and confirmed carefully. They promised to be meticulous. I truly didn’t expect Henry to have an allergic reaction.” Norman glanced at me irritably. “Drop your act. You previously chased away the two nutritionists I hired and forcibly controlled Henry’s diet. He was just uncomfortable and said a few words favoring Celina, so you deliberately punished him like this.” “No, that was because…” “Enough. Don’t make me regret restoring your memory.” My explanation was cut off coldly. I had always kept a strict watch of Henry’s diet just because he had a special constitution and he was allergic to so many foods. I couldn’t just let him eat randomly. As for those two nutritionists, they both quit voluntarily after less than a week because it was too troublesome. I just stopped explaining, because he wouldn’t even listen to me. Once the new nanny arrived, these things would no longer concern me.

The doctor said it was a honey allergy. He hadn’t eaten much, so it wasn’t serious. Just one IV drip would make him fine. I called the shop. The manager said it was an extra free gift, clearly marked as an allergen with a warning label. It seemed Henry had eaten it out of greed. He always liked sweets, but he was allergic to honey and chocolate. I Back then, I had kept a strict watch, so nothing ever happened. This time, since I wasn’t there, an accident occurred. “Jane!” Just as I was about to turn and speak to Norman, a soft, warm girl suddenly hugged my leg. “Bella? What are you doing at the hospital?” Surprise washed over me. I crouched down and pulled her into a hug, smiling. She had been my little companion during the time I lost my memory. During that time in the hospital, I was panicked and confused. My heart felt as if a huge hole had been dug out of it. All day I was muddle-headed and dazed, like duckweed battered by wind and rain, not knowing what I should do. I didn’t even understand many basic things. It was Bella who stayed by my side, patiently teaching me, guiding me, almost the way you would a kindergartener, so that in that cold hospital, I no longer felt quite so alone. “She was playing and fell off the swing, hit her head, so we came to the hospital to have it checked.” Bella’s uncle, Jack Thomas, spoke up. When he saw me, his eyes lit up, as if he were a little happy. “Oh dear, are you okay? Does it hurt?” I touched Bella’s little head in a hurry. She hugged me and rubbed her cheek against mine. “It doesn’t hurt. I really miss you, Jane.” “I miss you too.” Jack looked at us gently, and then he frowned. “Why are you in the hospital? What happened? Is it serious?” “I’m fine. My son is here because of an allergy.” He let out a breath and said, “That’s good. Oh, I didn’t mean that. I mean, is your son okay?” I laughed and said, “He’s fine. Just needs an IV drip.” He was about to say something else when Norman’s angry voice rang out. “Jane White!” I turned my head. Norman stopped looking at Jack and found I was actually smiling. Then he frowned and said, “Henry is crying.” I hurriedly turned to Henry. The swelling on his face had gone down by half. Maybe the allergy had been too uncomfortable, so his eyes were full of tears. As he cried, he pointed at Bella, angry and anxious. “Who is she?” “This is Bella. You can take her as your sister. She was the one who accompanied me in the hospital before.” “Don’t cry. Tears will make you more uncomfortable. And as her brother, you should behave and set an example for her.” As soon as I said this, Henry got kinda angry. He cried and shouted, “She’s not my sister! You go away! I don’t want you to take care of me!” He had never liked me, and this wasn’t the first. Seeing him so agitated that blood was flowing back into the IV tube, I hurried out. However, after I left, he cried even harder.

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During our first date after getting back together, my boyfriend, Jake Shaw, and I got caught in an escalator accident at a shopping center. As a firefighter, Jake immediately rushed to his friend Jessica Rane and led her away from the escalator. I, however, tripped over the escalator handrail and fell to the ground. After I was rescued, Jake calmly explained, “You had just stepped onto the escalator, so you had time to step back. I was closer to Jessica, so saving her was the best option…” He listed dozens of reasons for me, but in the end, he looked at me and said helplessly, “Stop sulking, Laura.” I tightened the bandage around my wound and said softly, “Why don’t you go check on Jessica? She’s just next door.” Jake smiled as if he were happy with my reply. He held my hand and said, as if giving a reward, “Didn’t you always want to go see the aurora lights, Laura? I’ll go with you once Jessica fully recovers.” That was a wish I made in front of Jake when we were both 18. But I only got a reply when we were 28. I raised my head and looked Jake in the eyes before nodding my head meaningfully. Seeing that I wasn’t as happy as he expected, Jake furrowed his brows, about to speak, but someone entered the room. He let go of my hand and rushed towards the person who just came into the ward. His voice was gentler than ever. “Shouldn’t you be resting in bed, Jessica? The doctor said that you need to rest for your legs to recover.” Jessica allowed Jake to pull her into his arms and said, “I was afraid that Laura’s going to be mad at you for what happened, so I came to explain things to her for you. Look at how thoughtful I am.” With that said, she turned to me and curved her lips. “Please don’t get the wrong idea, Laura. Jake and I are just good buddies. He chose to save me instead of you this time because he was closer to me. I hope you won’t mind.” I ignored her and unlocked my phone to book a one-way ticket to Iceland. Jake furrowed his brows as if he was unhappy with me remaining silent. “Don’t go too far, Laura.” Jessica clicked her tongue and chuckled. “Looks like Laura’s still mad. Women are so complicated. Looks like it’s better to be friends. Let go of me, Jake. I’ll kneel down and apologize to Laura.” Jake naturally wasn’t going to let Jessica get on her knees. He picked her up in his arms and turned to leave. Before he left, he said, “There should be a limit to your attitude. Looks like I’ve spoiled you for too long.” Jake slammed the door shut, and the sound echoed in the ward as if telling me how angry Jake was. Like countless times before, he pinned the blame on me before I even said anything. Later that day, I saw Jessica’s Twitter post. “Heading off to Iceland to see the aurora lights with my bro!” The post had a picture of a text confirming Jake and Jessica’s flight to Iceland in five days’ time. I liked the post, and it was immediately deleted. In their childhood friends group chat, someone asked, “Why did you delete the post, Jessica? I was just about to comment.” Jessica replied with a crying emoji and said, “I forgot to block a certain someone, and she saw it. She loves competing with others for attention. I’m afraid that she’ll throw another tantrum.” Jake’s friends in the group chat began commenting sarcastically. “Has Jake gotten back together with that drama queen again? Where are his standards? How is she better than Jessica?” “I’ve heard that she’s sulking because Jake saved Jessica first and not her during the escalator accident. It was a good thing that Jake chose to ignore her. It’s bros before hoes after all.” “Who knows? All men probably like women who act weak in front of them. Independent women like Jessica aren’t really the first choice for men.” Members of the group chat were all Jake’s childhood friends. In the past, I would’ve argued with them in the group chat or confronted Jake directly. But now, I just left the group chat and deleted everyone. A short while later, I received a message from Jake. He sent me a picture with a flight number circled. “We’re going to Iceland on this flight in three days’ time. You book your own ticket. Jessica and I have booked ours. I’m only taking you with us because Jessica asked me to. You should really reflect on your own actions, Laura.” I pursed my lips. He could see the messages in the group chat, but he didn’t say anything on my behalf.

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I’ve always had a built-in radar for pick-me girls who hide behind the “one of the guys” act. You could say I’m a walking detector for them. The day my fiancé, Peter Johnson, brought his so-called girl best friend, Abby Smith, home, I sighed. “Fine. You two are the real deal. I’ll sleep outside tonight. The bed is all yours.” Peter stared at me and said, “Are you crazy? Abby is just my bro. I don’t even see her as a girl.” After we went inside, I took out a small notebook and started writing. Peter leaned over curiously. “What are you writing?” “I’m pre-writing how your girl best friend is about to throw herself at you.” “Possibility one. Say she’s hot and strip in front of you.” “Possibility two. Accidentally spill water on your crotch and reach out to wipe it.” “Possibility three…” He swore up and down that his friend didn’t have a manipulative bone in her body and told me to stop assuming the worst. However, later, Abby suddenly screamed, splashed coffee onto his upper thigh, and reached for his pants. “Take them off, quick! We’ve been friends since childhood. Stop feeling awkward already. Let me see if it got burned. I can blow on it for you!” I calmly checked off “spill water on crotch” and shoved the notebook in front of Peter. “Congrats. Bullseye.” Remembering what I said, Peter awkwardly clamped his legs together. “Look at you, overreacting again. She just wanted to help me. There’s nothing between us. Put that notebook away. Don’t let her see it.” Abby still had her hand on Peter’s belt and was smiling. “Kelly, you’re not really mad, right?” “I’ve known Peter for over ten years. When we were kids, I even played with his little thing.” “That’s just how friends look out for each other.” I ignored her and lowered my head to write a new prediction. Peter fastened his belt and frowned at me. “Kelly, is this really necessary? It’s such a small thing. Do you have to make it such a big deal? We’re just friends. Can’t you be more generous?” Abby blinked at me with grievance. “Kelly, if you really mind, I won’t touch him again.” I ignored her and continued writing my new prediction. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, Peter snatched my notebook and slammed it onto the sofa without even looking. “Stop writing! Who are you acting like this?” “Abby is staying tonight. The guest room isn’t ready. She’ll sleep in the master bedroom. We’ll take the second bedroom.” I picked up the notebook and looked at him calmly. “Okay. Wait a moment.” I checked off “taking the master bedroom.” Peter saw the checkmark. His face turned livid. “When did you write that?” I closed the notebook. “When you brought her through the door.” As soon as Abby heard that, her eyes reddened. She grabbed Peter’s sleeve and started crying. “Peter, I told you that she can’t tolerate me.” She pretended to leave, but she moved slowly. She was clearly waiting for Peter to stop her. Sure enough, Peter grabbed her and turned to yell at me. “Kelly! Do you really have to drive her away like that?” “Abby has a waist problem. She can’t sleep on a hard bed. The guest bedroom mattress is too hard. What’s wrong with you putting up with it for a few days?” I looked at the man I was about to marry. For another woman, he was righteously driving his fiancé out of the bridal bedroom. I didn’t argue. I didn’t get angry. I nodded and walked toward the second bedroom with my notebook. Behind me came Abby’s victorious laugh. “Peter, you’re so good to me. I love you!” “Come on. Enough. Go shower. I’ll come in later and scrub your back.” After closing the door to the guest bedroom, I took out my phone and turned on the hidden camera’s recording function. I had installed it before for theft prevention. I didn’t expect it to be used for this. Sitting on the rock-hard bed, I opened my notebook and wrote down tonight’s prediction.

Sure enough, at two in the morning, the guest bedroom door was slammed open. Abby rushed in crying, wearing only Peter’s oversized white shirt. “Peter! That room doesn’t smell like you. I can’t sleep.” She stepped straight past me and threw herself onto Peter, shrinking into his arms and trembling. Peter woke up groggily. He instinctively hugged her tighter and patted her back. “Don’t worry. I got you. Just sleep…” I snapped on the bedside lamp. Under the harsh light, the scene was painfully glaring. Abby was straddling Peter’s waist. Three buttons on her shirt were undone, exposing a large expanse of skin. One of Peter’s hands was on her completely bare thigh. When the light came on, Abby screamed and buried her head in Peter’s neck. “Kelly, I’m sorry. It was instinctive. This is how I used to sleep with Peter before. You won’t mind, right?” Peter was fully awake now. He didn’t push her away. Instead, he yanked the blanket up and wrapped her tightly, then stared at me defensively. “Kelly, what are you doing? You scared her!” I said nothing. With a blank expression, I pulled the notebook out from under my pillow. I checked off “pretends to be scared and crawls into Peter’s bed,” then held the notebook up in front of his face. “Congrats. Another hit.” Peter’s face turned dark red. The humiliation of being predicted made him snap. “Are you insane? Can you stop writing such stuff?” He shouted and hugged Abby in his arms even tighter. “We’re innocent! She’s just my bro! Stop being so jealous. Everything seems filthy to you!” Abby sobbed in his arms. She pretended to get up. The hem of her shirt lifted, and just as I expected, she was wearing nothing underneath. Peter reacted fast and pressed her back down. “Where are you going? It’s thundering outside! You’re sleeping here tonight!” I picked up my notebook and phone, threw off the blanket, and got out of bed. “Wish you a thunder-proof night. May you have kids early.” I closed the door and left. Lying on the living-room sofa, I opened my phone and saved the footage I had just recorded. Then I wrote tomorrow’s preset in my notebook.

I woke up early the next morning to laughter and teasing coming from the kitchen. Abby was wearing that loose shirt. She was pressed against Peter’s back and holding his hands as she taught him how to fry eggs. “Peter, you’re so stupid. Can’t even flip an egg?” “Stop moving around. That tickles.” They laughed and played around, just like newlyweds. I stood at the kitchen doorway, like an unnecessary intruder. When Abby saw me, she exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Kelly, you’re up! Come taste Peter’s loving fried egg.” Peter adjusted his pajamas. “Go wash up. Don’t just stand there.” “Abby specifically told me to make one for you. Don’t be ungrateful.” I walked into the bathroom and saw my toothbrush thrown into the trash can. There were two toothbrushes in the cup. One was Peter’s. The other was a brand-new pink one. The heads of the two toothbrushes leaned against each other, close and intimate. I carried the trash can out. “Explain.” Abby stuck out her tongue and looked innocent. “Oh, sorry, Kelly. I was half asleep this morning. I thought it was my old toothbrush and tossed it without thinking.” “That pink one is new. I bought it to match Peter’s. Pretty, right?” Peter walked over with a plate and frowned impatiently. “It’s just a lousy toothbrush. I’ll transfer some money to you later. Go buy one yourself. Can you not pick a fight so early in the morning?” I took a deep breath and pulled out my notebook. I checked off “throw away my things.” When Peter saw the notebook, he exploded. “Kelly! Are you done yet?” I held the notebook up for him to see. The next prediction was “feeding him personally.” Peter sneered. “No way. I have hands and feet. Why would I let her feed me?” As soon as he finished speaking, Abby picked up a piece of egg. She blew on it and naturally brought it to Peter’s mouth. “Peter, open up. This one’s a bit burnt. Help me taste it and see if it’s edible.” Peter subconsciously opened his mouth and ate it. He chewed twice and suddenly froze. The air went dead silent. I calmly checked off “feeding him personally.” “Good boy.” Peter’s face turned dark red. He couldn’t swallow the egg, and he couldn’t spit it out either. The humiliation of being predicted pushed him over the edge. “Kelly!” Abby seemed to react late. She dropped her chopsticks and burst into tears. “Kelly, why do you keep targeting me?” “I just fed Peter one bite of egg.” “When we were kids, we fed each other every day. Nothing happened.” “Why does it become a crime with you? Why do you have to target me?” She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and moved it toward her wrist. Peter was terrified. He snatched the knife away and pulled Abby tightly into his arms. When he turned to look at me, his eyes were full of disgust and hatred, as if I were some vicious woman beyond redemption. “Kelly, are you satisfied now?” “You really want to push her to death, don’t you?” I looked at Peter in hysterics, and at Abby in his arms, smiling at me in victory. I nodded. “Fine. I’ll go.” When I dragged my suitcase out, Abby was sitting on Peter’s lap and wiping sweat from his forehead. At the door, I stopped. I threw the notebook, packed full of notes, onto the coffee table. “Peter, this notebook is for you. Consider it a wedding gift.” “There’s one last prediction in it. You can see whether it’s accurate.” Peter picked it up with disdain and flipped to the last page. He snorted. “Crazy woman. Delusional!” He tossed the notebook into the trash and didn’t look at me again. He turned back to comfort Abby. I sat in the cafe downstairs and watched the surveillance footage on my phone. Because I knew my predictions about pick-me girls would not be wrong.

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I followed the mob boss, Hector Wayne, for ten years. One day, he told me to protect a girl, Caroline Parker. “You’re used to living and dying beside me,” he said. “Caroline isn’t. She’s… different. She’s innocent.” Then he added, without hesitation: “If you die, it doesn’t matter. I only need her to live.” He once saved my life. I couldn’t refuse his request. But later, when we were ambushed by our rivals, ten years of instinct took over. Without thinking, I stepped in front of him and took the fatal shot meant for his heart. The gunfire sent Caroline into a panic. She ran blindly—straight off a cliff. Her fate unknown. From that moment on, Hector hated me to the bone. When I was kidnapped by enemy forces again, he did something unprecedented. He didn’t come to save me. Instead, he had someone bring me a message. “Fiona, the thing I regret most in my life is saving you back then.” “You owe Caroline. Now you’re gonna pay it back with your life.” My heart completely died. I was tortured to death by the enemy and dumped in the wilderness. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Hector told me to protect that girl. This time, I refused without hesitation. “I can’t protect her. My family is waiting for me to go home and get married.” The life I owed him was repaid in my previous life. In this one, I chose a different path. I would marry someone else, and leave him to chase the regret he carried from before. At my words, a flicker of expression finally crossed Hector Wayne’s usually impassive face. He let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “Fiona Lester. You’ve been with me this long—your reputation’s already worn thin. Who else would want you?” “When I retire and marry Caroline, you can still stay by my side like you do now. Just don’t push it too far. That’s when it stops being fun.” His tone was certain I was bluffing. But he forgot that I have never lied. Years ago, my parents had already arranged everything overseas. They’d found me a suitable man and were simply waiting for me to finish playing at danger and come home to marry. Caroline, dressed in a white dress, walked up to me. Tears filled her eyes as she held my hand. “Fiona, I know you don’t like me. But you shouldn’t embarrass me in front of so many of Hector’s brothers. I heard you used to help Hector take care of many girls before.” She paused, then lifted her eyes. Her gaze turned sharp. “Taking care of me should be easy for you too, shouldn’t it?” There had always been women around Hector. And yes, I had handled more than my share of trouble for him. But they were not Caroline. He cherished her differently. Guarded her differently. I pulled my hand free and met Hector’s assessing stare. “You’re right,” I said evenly. “I’m not young anymore. I can’t keep playing house without a name or a future.” “We’re done.” As soon as the words fell, the entire room went silent. Hector frowned almost imperceptibly. Impatience filled his eyes. Most of the people present were brothers who had once fought impossible battles with Hector and me. The atmosphere grew tense. Someone gave an awkward laugh and tried to smooth things over. “Fiona, don’t mess with us. Boss can’t manage without you. We’ve shared so many years together. There’s no need to make things like this over an outsider.” “Yeah, Fiona. You’ve been with Hector for ten years. We brothers already set aside wedding money for you two. Leaving now really isn’t appropriate…” Before he could finish, Hector casually picked up an ashtray from the table and smashed it at the speaker. After a horrifying dull thud, the man’s head split open and blood poured out. The entire room fell silent. No one dared to speak another word for me. Hector pulled Caroline behind him. His expression was grave. “What do you mean I can’t manage without Fiona? You think you’re all being fed by her?” “The gang can run without anyone. From now on, Caroline will take over Fiona’s position as second-in-command. Don’t you say one more word about it. Let’s see whether my gun’s harder, or your skull is.” I gave a bitter smile. In ten years, Hector had never defended me like this in front of others. Even when the enemy humiliated me, he still didn’t care. To me, he always said one thing. “It’s not like you haven’t been seriously injured before. What’s a few insults? It’s not like you’ll lose a piece of flesh.” Thinking of this, I let out a self-mocking laugh and turned away without hesitation. Hector chased after me and gripped my wrist tightly. “Fiona, think it through. Once you walk out that door, don’t even think about coming back!” When he saw me staring at him without saying a word, he completely lost his temper. “Fine, Fiona. You’ve got guts!” He leaned down close, voice low and edged with fury, every word bitten off: “Since you wanna leave, then go as far away as possible.” His eyes darkened. “Don’t come back and get in my way like you did in the last life!”

I froze for a moment. So he had been reborn too. I hadn’t expected that even with a second life, his hatred for me would remain untouched. No, sharper than before. I stood there in silence, watching him wrap an arm around Caroline and walk out of my sight. Only after he left did his brothers dare to come over and comfort me. “Fiona, Boss just likes something new. You two go way back. There’s no way he’d actually marry some barely-grown girl.” “Yeah, Fiona. Just coax Boss a bit more. He listens to you the most. He can’t seriously let a young girl run the gang. That’s ridiculous.” I walked over to the window and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled around my fingers before the wind tore it apart. “The transition is already handled,” I said calmly. “This is the key to the confidential cabinet. Give it back to Hector when you see him.” I casually handed the key to Nick and turned to leave. “Fiona, so when will you come back?” he called after me. My steps paused. “I’m not coming back.” *** I went back to pack my things at a time when Hector wasn’t home. Ten years left me with very little. The Polaroid we bought together for the first time. The bracelet he bought me after earning his first fortune. The instrument he could never blow properly when he confessed to me. I put them all into a wooden box and burned everything to ashes. When Hector stormed in to find me, I was just stepping out with a pitifully small suitcase. The moment he saw me, he grabbed my neck with deadly force. In an instant, I felt the closeness of death. “Fiona, didn’t I warn you not to harm Caroline? Did you take my words as a joke?” “Who gave you the nerve to poison her?” “If anything happens to her because of you, I don’t mind killing you one more time!” I shook my head desperately and forced out half a sentence. “No, I didn’t…” His rough fingers scraped hard across the edge of my ear, leaving a long, bloody gash. “Fiona, this is the last chance I’m giving you. Get to the hospital, kneel down in front of Caroline, and apologize until she forgives you.” “Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to make your life worse than death.” As soon as he finished speaking, he seized my wrist and shoved me into the car. He drove at full speed all the way to the hospital. In the intensive care unit, I saw Caroline lying on the hospital bed. Her face was so pale it had no color at all. When she saw me come in, she instinctively shrank back. Panic filled her expression. “Fiona, I know I was wrong. Please don’t feed me pesticide again, okay? I’ll be obedient. I’ll stay far away from Hector…” “My life was saved by Hector. Even if you wanna kill me, at least let me see Hector one last time, okay?” I was stunned by the groundless accusation. Hector, however, walked over to Caroline, full of tenderness. He carefully pulled her into his arms and soothed her. “Caroline, don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one can harm you.” “If someone wants to bully you, I’ll bully them back twice as hard.” The next second, his tone turned sharp. He looked at me coldly. “Kneel.” I shook my head with tears in my eyes. “I said it already. I didn’t poison her. Why do you never believe me?” “Fiona, I only care about the result. Caroline almost lost her life because of you. You should atone for it.” He kicked the back of my knee and forced my head down. He smashed it hard against the tiled floor. Dizzy pain exploded through me, unbearable and overwhelming. Again. And again. Hector’s commanding voice came into my ears like a demon’s decree. “Apologize to Caroline. Don’t stop until she forgives you.” Warm tears slid down my cheeks and slammed onto the floor. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” “I’ll never appear in front of you again. I promise I’ll disappear completely and never get in your way again.” When he heard me say I would disappear, Hector’s face darkened. I wiped the blood that had flowed into my eyes and stubbornly lifted my head. “Are you happy now?” Hector frowned and looked at me with a complicated expression. “There’s no need to pretend to be pitiful in front of me. I haven’t forgotten how you caused Caroline’s death in the last life. I already lost her once. I can’t lose her again.” “Since you’ve apologized, get lost now.” He flung me to the ground like a piece of trash. I looked at him one last time. I braced myself against the wall and struggled to stand. With the last of my strength, I pulled open the hospital room door. Then, before I lost consciousness, I completely disappeared from his sight.

While I lay unconscious, memories of my first life drifted back to when I first met Hector Wayne. Back then, I had been running from a marriage my family arranged for me and ended up trapped deep in the mountains. It was eighteen-year-old Hector who appeared like something out of a legend and pulled me out alive. He wore a black T-shirt faded from too many washes, a half-burned cigarette always caught between his fingers. When I insisted on following him, reckless and stubborn, he let out a soft laugh. “I’m just a street thug,” he said. “Some days I eat, some days I don’t. You’re too delicate. There’s no future with me.” I didn’t care. I threw myself into his arms and said, with absolute certainty, “I’m going anywhere you are.” He paused when he was about to push me away. In the end, he pulled me tightly into his embrace. That year, I walked away from the multimillion-dollar career and political marriage my family had prepared for me. Without regret, I moved into a damp basement apartment that cost five hundred a month and called it home with Hector. The place was so run-down that even a light rain would leak through the ceiling. In that air thick with humidity, we clung to each other night after night. Through countless dawns, he lifted me high enough to make the world disappear. And in the heat of it all, he once said he loved me. For ten years, I saw his hands soaked in blood. I also saw him cry late at night. I became an indispensable part of his life. Until the day he brought Caroline in front of me. Caroline looked a lot like me when I was younger. She was stubborn, resilient, pure, and beautiful. Her appearance shattered the fragile balance between Hector and me. When he calmly told me to protect her, my heart clenched with sudden pain. But he had saved my life. I had no reason to refuse him. Later, during the gunfight while we were escaping our enemies, I instinctively used my body to block a fatal shot for him. Caroline was startled by the gunfire. She panicked, lost her footing, and fell off a cliff. None of us knew if she survived. From that moment on, Hector hated me to the bone. So much so that before an enemy’s bullet pierced my forehead, he still had someone pass on a message to me. “Fiona, the thing I regret most in my life is saving you back then.” “What you owe Caroline, you’ll repay with your life.” *** I snapped awake as if from a dream. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Caroline standing by my bed. She was playing with the metal wristwatch I had once given to Hector. Seeing that I was awake, she stopped pretending. “I heard this was some kind of family heirloom. Hector treasured it so much. What a pity. I only mentioned that Happie needed a collar accessory for his birthday, and he gave the watch to me.” She tilted her head, smiling. “Oh right, Happie is the golden retriever Hector and I are raising together. You should feel honored.” She leaned down with a smile and whispered into my ear. “Who he loves is already obvious, isn’t it? Why are you still shamelessly clinging to him?” “Was the lesson you got in your last life not enough?” I stared at her with widened eyes. “You were reborn too?” She laughed so hard and then looked at me with pity. “Fiona, you don’t really think I’m some naive little girl, do you?” “If I hadn’t faked my death once in the last life to make Hector see where his heart truly lay, do you think he would’ve had the resolve to finish you off?” “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too much of an eyesore.” I frowned at her. “But you already have what you wanted. I’ve decided to leave Hector and never come back. Why do you still…” Before I could finish, she cut me off. “That’s far from enough! As long as you’re alive, there will always be a corner of his heart reserved for you. I can never fully have him!” “So you must die!” She picked up the fruit knife from the table and pressed it against my face. The icy touch made every hair on my body stand on end. I looked at her in terror. Her smile only grew more unhinged. The next second, she turned the blade around and stabbed it straight into her own chest. The knife pierced her flesh. Blood soaked through her snow-white dress. She cried and said, “Fiona, I know you hate me. I really didn’t mean to harm you or something. I just wanted to come see you. How could you treat me like this…” I froze. Almost instantly, Hector pushed the door open while carrying a lunch box. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “Fiona, if anything happens to Caroline, I’ll take your life!” He didn’t hold back. The force split my lip and sent blood streaming from my nose. The dark muzzle of his gun pressed against my forehead. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, each word trembling with fury, “Caroline is the one I cherish most. You hurt her—you know the rules.” “This is on you.” The gunshot exploded through the room. A searing pain tore through my left leg. Blood poured out, soaking the floor as agony ripped through my body. I collapsed, stunned, watching as Hector carefully lifted Caroline into his arms and carried her out of my sight. Cradled against his chest, she mouthed two words at me. You lost. My nails dug into my palms until they hurt. I let out a hollow laugh at myself. At my own stupidity, and at how completely I had lost. I had already decided to leave, and yet, somewhere deep down, I had still gambled on one thing. That he might trust me. Even a little. I wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes and made up my mind. This would be the last time. That night, numb, I bandaged my wound. Then, without hesitation, I dialed the number of the man waiting for me across the ocean—the fiancé my family had chosen.

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