After a heated argument, Lucas stormed out and got into a car accident, losing nearly three years of his memories. He forgot everything about me and reverted to his former playboy self. In an attempt to jog his memory, I kept reminiscing about our past together. But he just irritably shooed me away. Until I saw him passionately kissing Zoe, the girl who used to bully me. I decided I didn’t want him anymore, but he frantically held me and said: “Ava, I’ve regained my memory. You can’t leave me.” I rushed to the hospital, where Lucas’s friends stood at the door, looking at me with hesitation. I didn’t pay much attention to them and burst into the ward. Lucas was laughing and chatting with his friends. I approached him, took his hand, and with teary eyes and a choked voice, I said: “Lucas, I’m sorry. Let’s not fight anymore.” Lucas raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a cocky attitude: “Miss, isn’t it a bit forward to hold hands when we’ve just met?” I froze, staring at Lucas in disbelief. His friend awkwardly spoke up: “Sis, the doctor said Lucas has amnesia. He’s lost the last three years of his memories.” My heart tightened. Three years – that’s exactly how long Lucas and I had known each other and been together. So, he remembered his childhood friends but had forgotten only me. I felt a pang in my heart. If we hadn’t argued that night, he wouldn’t have driven off in anger. Hearing his friends address me, Lucas chuckled: “Don’t tell me you’re my girlfriend? I don’t like girls like you.” I knew that three years ago, Lucas was wild and arrogant, speaking without regard for others’ feelings. I didn’t want to argue with him, planning to settle accounts after he regained his memory. I forced a smile and said: “It’s okay, I’ll help you remember me again.” Lucas’s friends tactfully left the room. I sat on a nearby chair and asked softly: “Are you hungry? Have you eaten?” Lucas looked down at his phone, his tone cold: “No! You can leave if you have nothing else to do.” I blinked and continued, undeterred: “Lucas, do you remember our first anniversary? You made a cake yourself but forgot it was an ice cream cake. When we opened it that night, it had all melted, and you hugged me and cried for a long time.” Lucas smirked at his phone: “Childish.” I pressed my lips together and continued: “And on your birthday, you insisted on hiking to see the sunrise, but a sudden rainstorm trapped us on the mountain for a day and a night. We had no food, and I caught a fever. You were so worried you even thought about how we could die together.” Lucas’s body tensed, then he turned away, ignoring me. I grew a bit annoyed: “Lucas! Even if you’ve lost your memory, I’m still your girlfriend! You should at least show some respect!” Lucas turned his head, lifting his eyelids to glance at me indifferently: “Then let’s break up.” I looked at him, shocked, feeling a bit hurt: “Lucas! You’ll regret this when you regain your memory.” Lucas chuckled twice, then turned away, ignoring me again. I was angry too, and left the room with tears in my eyes. During our first month together, he couldn’t resist going to a bar with friends and staying out all night. When we argued about it, I mentioned breaking up. He, who had been full of anger, immediately hugged me with teary eyes and said pitifully: “Ava, it was so hard for me to win you over, how can you talk about breaking up so casually? I’ll change in the future, please don’t mention breaking up again, okay?” But now, with his memory loss, he casually mentioned breaking up. It seems that Lucas, having lost his memory, had reverted to the person I used to dislike. I walked out of the hospital but ultimately couldn’t bear to leave him. I bought him a bowl of soup and returned to the hospital. Just as I reached the door, I heard him on the phone with his friend, arranging to meet at a bar later. I hurriedly pushed the door open, my brows furrowed and my voice filled with anger: “Lucas! You’re not even healed yet, why are you going to a bar!” Lucas had just changed his clothes and looked at me impatiently: “Why are you so controlling? Didn’t I say we’re breaking up? Don’t you understand?” With that, he pushed past me and walked out, ignoring my attempts to stop him. The hot soup spilled on my hand, instantly causing it to redden and swell. I took a deep breath, constantly reassuring myself: Lucas has lost his memory, he used to treat me well, I can’t give up on him. Worried, I followed him to the bar. By the time I arrived, a woman was already sitting next to Lucas. She was his former type – sexy and alluring. He had one arm around her shoulder and was raising a glass with the other, toasting to his survival. I walked over and stopped his hand as he was about to drink, saying seriously: “Lucas, even if you’ve lost your memory, you should still take care of your health, right?” Lucas irritably ran his fingers through his hair, his tone impatient: “Why are you so annoying? Like a nagging housewife!” His friends looked at each other, not daring to speak. Lucas pulled the woman closer, holding her in his arms, and said with a smirk: “Since you don’t want me to drink, but this bottle is already open, someone has to drink it. How about this – if you finish it, I’ll go back with you.” The sour feeling in my heart was unbearable, and tears welled up in my eyes: “Lucas, I have alcohol intolerance.” In the past, when one of his friends tried to force me to drink at a gathering, he smashed the bottle on that person’s head and protected me as we left. Now Lucas looked at me expressionlessly. I sniffled, picked up the bottle from the table, and gulped it down. Lucas’s eyes darkened, and his palm tightened slightly. After finishing the last sip, I couldn’t help but cough, tears involuntarily flowing. Lucas muttered “boring” and left with his coat. I rubbed the ache in my chest and took a taxi to the hospital for an IV. I spent the whole night on an IV drip, with not a single message from Lucas. Lying on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, I wondered what to do if Lucas never regained his memory. Three years ago, I was being followed on my way home from work late at night. In a moment of crisis, Lucas noticed the suspicious person and rushed over to chase them away. I thanked him, trembling all over, and he took the opportunity to offer to walk me home and asked for my contact information. In the days that followed, Lucas began to pursue me openly. I knew the gap between us and didn’t dare dream of marrying into a wealthy family. But for me, Lucas gradually changed from a wild playboy into a gentle and caring good man. As we spent more time together, I couldn’t help but fall for him. After we got together, Lucas spoiled me to no end.

Early in the morning, I returned home in a daze. Lucas had just finished showering, with a towel around his waist, drinking water in the kitchen. Hearing movement at the door, he glanced at me lightly. I smelled an unfamiliar fragrance in the house and walked into the bedroom with a grim face. In the bedroom, the messy sheets and the intimate atmosphere in the air clearly showed that he hadn’t been alone last night. Lucas leaned against the dining table, raising an eyebrow as he watched me. “Slap!” I walked over and slapped him directly. Lucas’s expression froze for a moment, then he looked at me angrily. I tried hard not to let my tears fall, my voice choked with sobs: “Lucas! I spent the whole night on an IV drip at the hospital. And you brought a woman back here to fool around!” Lucas rubbed his face and sneered coldly: “First, you chose to drink that alcohol yourself. Second, this is my house, I can bring whoever I want back here.” I trembled all over, looking at him in disbelief, unable to believe he would treat me like this. Tears finally broke free, falling one by one, and I couldn’t help but sob. “Lucas! How can you do this to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll really leave you?” I lowered my head, pulling at Lucas’s sleeve, my shoulders shaking violently, my voice breaking: “Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret treating me like this when you regain your memory?” I didn’t notice Lucas’s other hand slightly raised and then quietly lowered again. He pulled his sleeve from my grasp and tilted my chin up indifferently: “If you insist on staying here, you’d better learn to mind your own business and not interfere where you shouldn’t.” With that, he returned to the bedroom and closed the door. I leaned against the wall, slowly crouching down, burying my head and whimpering. Three years ago, Lucas always had women around him. So at that time, I thought he was just temporarily interested in me and didn’t want to get too involved. But to reassure me, he kept his distance from all other women. He basically stopped going to bars and nightclubs. His friends all joked that the player had finally settled down. He would proudly reply: “That’s because I didn’t meet Ava earlier.” In our two years together, he always respected me and never crossed the final line. Now, he had returned to being the player he once was. Lucas, if you regain your memory, will you regret it? After that day, Lucas and I fell into a cold war, and I moved to the guest room. Lucas had already forgotten me, and these days he was even less willing to pay attention to me. I stubbornly shut myself in my room, leaving for work before dawn and only returning after he had gone out. That day, I received a message from an unknown number: “If you want to know the truth about Lucas’s memory loss, come to Moonlight Villa.” I frowned, wondering if there was more to Lucas’s amnesia. I got ready and took a taxi to Moonlight Villa. This was the villa of Lucas’s friend. They liked to throw parties and gatherings here. Before I got close, I could hear the cheers and laughter of men and women coming from the back garden of the villa. I walked over and looked inside through the fence. Lucas was sitting on a lounge chair with a cigarette in his mouth. His friend handed him a bottle of alcohol and said: “Our Lucas is still the best! Pretending to have amnesia and fooling Ava completely.” Lucas took a sip of alcohol, his tone somewhat proud: “I behaved myself for three years for her, what’s wrong with letting loose for a while?” I trembled all over, my throat dry as I stared at Lucas. Pretending… to have amnesia? Of course, this way Lucas could be his old player self without any guilt. After he’s had enough fun, he can still tell me he had amnesia and ask for my forgiveness with a clear conscience. My eyes stung, and everything in front of me began to blur. With a light blink, tears rolled down. “Lucas, aren’t you afraid of taking it too far and Ava really breaking up with you?” Lucas took a deep drag of his cigarette, looking smug: “She won’t leave me. Ava may seem indifferent to everyone, but I know once she’s committed to someone, she won’t easily change her mind. Besides, she’s an orphan, where else could she go without me?” I clutched my chest, tears uncontrollably pouring out, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe. I had shown him my most vulnerable side, and it became the sword he used to attack me. I grew up in an orphanage, longing for someone to love me while also being wary of anyone who got close to me. So when I decided to be with Lucas, I really intended to spend my life with him. But Lucas, since you understand me so well, you should also know that I hate deception the most. At that moment, a girl ran over and hugged Lucas. Lucas picked her up and jumped into the swimming pool, kissing her passionately in the water. The others on the shore kept cheering them on. Lucas released the girl in his arms, panting heavily. When I saw her face clearly, my pupils constricted, and my mind went blank. I stared at the girl, pale-faced and motionless, afraid I had mistaken her identity. How could Lucas do this! He hadn’t lost his memory, he knew that girl! That girl was Zoe, the one who had bullied me in high school. After I started dating Lucas, we accidentally ran into her at a mall once. She came over smiling and greeted us, but her eyes kept drifting towards Lucas. I coldly pulled Lucas away. After we got home, Lucas noticed something was wrong with me and kept asking why. When I told him, he hugged me tenderly, comforting me with a choked voice. Seeing how familiar they were now, they probably had been in contact much earlier. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself for thinking I could really make a player change his ways. Lucas, this time… I really don’t want you anymore. I wiped the tears from my face haphazardly and turned away resolutely.

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The moment I caught Sophia cheating, my world shattered. I thought she might have had her reasons, but it turned out I was just the fool. Later, Sophia realized she had married a monster. She cried, clinging to my legs: “Leo, can we start over?” I looked at her coldly: “Miss Sophia, please have some self-respect. My fiancée wouldn’t like this.” I had been working overtime for a month, all for today’s proposal to my girlfriend, Sophia. Just back from a business trip, I rushed to the store, picked up the pre-ordered flowers and cake, and eagerly pushed open the door. What greeted me was clothes scattered on the floor and intermittent… moans. “Am I better than that loser boyfriend of yours?” “You’re so bad, babe…” My mind went blank. My feet felt like lead, rooting me to the spot. The flowers and cake dropped from my hands without me realizing it. My body suddenly felt hot, blood rushing to my head. I kicked open the bedroom door. The two people engaged in passionate activity on the bed froze. The man reacted first, quickly pulling the blanket to cover his obese body. Sophia was left exposed, her body covered in marks that stung my eyes. Gritting my teeth, I punched the man in the face. As he fell back, I straddled him, venting my anger with my fists. Sophia panicked, trying to pull my arm while yelling, “Leo, stop it! Don’t you dare hit him!” “Please stop, I’m begging you!” “Are you crazy? I’m calling the police!” The man’s face was swollen from my beating. I finally stopped, my eyes bloodshot as I turned to Sophia: “Come out with me.” Sophia hurriedly checked the man’s breathing, relieved to find him still alive. She then followed me to the living room, arms crossed. She sat with her legs crossed, glaring at me angrily: “Since you’ve caught us, I’ll be honest. That man is Nathan, my new boyfriend. Leo, let’s break up.” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “How am I inferior to him?” Sophia didn’t even look up, admiring the sparkling diamond ring on her left hand: “Two years and eleven months, Leo. I don’t want to live in poverty with you anymore.” “You’re poor, he’s rich. That alone is enough for me to choose him without hesitation.” My heart ached. These years, Sophia indeed hadn’t lived very comfortably with me, but I had given her all my monthly salary, offering her everything I had. I softened, pleading with her: “Sophia, do you have some difficulties? Is it just about money? If you tell me, I’m willing to help. I can even overlook this incident.” Time ticked by. After a moment of silence, Sophia finally spoke: “Leo, I’ll be honest with you. Before I was with you, I was already working as a hostess at a club.” “You were good to me, that’s why I chose to be with you. I tried to adapt, but later I realized this wasn’t the life I wanted.” “Those clothes, bags, and jewelry in the room that I told you were fake, they’re all real. And you could never afford these for me.” “Over these years, I’ve been with many men, but none of them wanted to marry me.” She waved her hand, showing me the sparkling diamond ring, “See this? Such a big diamond ring, you could never afford in your lifetime.” As Sophia’s lips moved, my vision blurred. The image of Sophia before me and the memory of the girl I knew rapidly separated. I could hardly recognize her anymore. Sophia and I met in a university club. At that time, I was the vice president of the Astronomy Club, and Sophia joined with her roommate. Back then, Sophia always liked to stick around me, asking all sorts of whimsical questions. I was happy to answer, and gradually we fell for each other. We were like any other college couple, eating together in the cafeteria, walking around the track, cramming in the library together… The campus held so many sweet memories for us. After graduation, I successfully joined a tech company. Sophia said she was socially anxious and didn’t want to enter society too early. I felt for her, so I worked day and night, finally completing a project and getting a bonus. I bought an engagement ring and hid it in her favorite bag. Snapping back to reality, Sophia said coldly: “Leo, for the sake of our years together, just let me go, okay?”

My throat tightened as I grabbed Sophia’s hand: “Are you sure about this?” Before she could answer, there was a rustling sound from the bedroom. Nathan had woken up. Hearing the noise, Sophia turned her head, looking annoyed. She pried my fingers off her hand one by one. The bedroom door opened, and two burly men appeared outside. Nathan, covering his face, looked at me hatefully: “It’s this punk. Beat him to a pulp!” The two men charged at me without a word. At first, I could fend them off, but their assault was too fierce. In a moment of distraction, one of them landed a punch right on my face. I covered my nose, trying to get up, but my head was spinning. I could only lie on the ground as they rained blows on me. Sophia, frightened, cried loudly, hiding behind Nathan and tugging at his sleeve, not daring to look at me. Finally, they pinned my shoulders down, immobilizing me. Nathan walked over, stepping on my right cheek and grinding his foot: “You poor little punk, you dare to mess with me? You must be tired of living.” My mouth was full of blood. I glared at Nathan hatefully but couldn’t utter a word. Nathan was in a good mood. Sophia brought over a first aid kit, tenderly treating his wounds. He looked at me smugly, smiling: “Sophia, you still haven’t answered my question from earlier. Who’s better, me or him?” Sophia smiled flatteringly: “Babe, he never even touched me.” Nathan sneered. Pleased by Sophia’s words, he casually wrapped his arm around her slender waist: “Hurry up and pack your things. We’re leaving.” Sophia nodded obediently and went to the bedroom to pack. Nathan sat on the sofa, smoking and admiring my miserable state: “All these years, you never dared to touch her, and now she’s pregnant with my child. Isn’t that ironic?” “It’s the 21st century, and you’re still playing the pure love game. How outdated.” “To be honest, if she wasn’t pregnant, I wouldn’t want a used goods like her.” “Only you would treat her like a treasure.” … Our rented apartment wasn’t big. Nathan didn’t care that Sophia could hear him packing in the bedroom. To humiliate me, he said all sorts of nasty things. Soon, Sophia finished packing. Dragging her suitcase and carrying her favorite bag, she gave me one last look before swaying her hips and leaving with Nathan. Only after their silhouettes disappeared from sight did the two men release me. I turned over, staring blankly at the ceiling. Countless memories flashed by. Over the years, we had sweet moments and arguments, but I never thought of separating from Sophia. Tears mixed with blood streamed down my face. As night fell, I slowly got up, wiped away my tears, took out my phone, and dialed a number. The call was quickly answered. I bit my lip: “Grandpa, I lost.”

Grandpa is the chairman of Lin Group. In his early years, he caught the wave of private business boom and accumulated a fortune. Since I was little, Grandpa had been very strict with me. He concealed my true identity and didn’t allow me any special privileges. But he also loved me dearly and always respected my decisions. Only on the matter of Sophia did he stand against me for the first time. The day I confirmed my relationship with Sophia, Grandpa called me back home. Grandpa handed me a stack of documents, detailing Sophia’s life experiences and some photos of her entering and exiting clubs. At that time, I was blinded by love. I believed Grandpa was investigating her because of her poor family background, even smearing her name. I had a big fight with Grandpa. I shouted at Grandpa: “All these years, when have I ever disobeyed you? Just this once, I want to make my own choice.” “Sophia isn’t that kind of person. She’s pure and ambitious. It’s normal for young people to go out and have fun occasionally. Even you can’t smear her reputation.” I still remember Grandpa’s disappointed look. He shook his head: “Fine, some paths you have to walk yourself to understand.” “Let’s do this. For the next three years, you can’t tell Sophia about your real family situation. I’ll also stop your cards. For these three years, you’ll be self-reliant. If after three years, your relationship is still as sweet as it is now, I’ll agree to her marrying into the Lin family. Leo, do you dare to take this bet?” I knew this was the compromise Grandpa made out of helplessness. At that time, I firmly believed Sophia and I could make it to the end. I confidently told Grandpa: “Grandpa, in three years, I’ll bring back your granddaughter-in-law.” And so I left. For three years, I didn’t call Grandpa again, only sending greetings during holidays. Grandpa quickly answered the call. He didn’t ask anything, just sighed: “Child, come home. Grandpa is waiting for you.” His voice had aged considerably. Tears welled up again as I thought about how I had argued with Grandpa over Sophia three years ago. I was filled with regret. After returning to the Lin family, I obediently stayed in bed for a month to recover. One day, my phone buzzed. I received a message from my college roommate, Daniel: “Sophia is getting married today. Are you okay?” Hearing the news of her marriage, my heart still rippled a bit: “Yeah, I hope she can be happy.” Daniel quickly replied: “Happy? I don’t think that’s possible. I know this Nathan. He’s nominally the young master of the Chen family, but behind the scenes, the Chen family has long given up on this playboy. He’s nothing but a gambling addict. I’m afraid Sophia’s days ahead won’t be easy.” The Chen family had only started to emerge in recent years. I hadn’t stepped into that circle for these three years, so I indeed hadn’t heard of Nathan. But Sophia had been with me for three years. I couldn’t bear to watch her jump into the fire. After much thought, I decided to go to her wedding venue. At least she had the right to know what kind of person she was about to marry. I asked for the address and rushed to the wedding venue. Luckily, the wedding hadn’t started yet. There was still time. Sophia was sitting alone in the makeup room. Seeing me push the door open, she panicked and quickly locked the door: “What are you doing here? I’m warning you, today is my wedding day. I won’t allow you to cause trouble.” I pressed my lips together: “I’m not here to cause trouble. Just two sentences, and I’ll leave.” At that moment, footsteps were heard outside. She anxiously pushed me behind the curtain, lowering her voice: “Don’t make a sound. If my husband knows you’re here, he’ll be upset.” I grew anxious: “Do you know who you’re marrying? Nathan is…” “Enough, don’t say anymore.” Sophia lost her patience and interrupted me. “Of course I know what kind of person my own husband is. Leo, your clingy behavior is really disgusting.” There was a knock on the door. The lock was turned from the outside but didn’t open. Nathan irritably banged on the door: “Sophia, why did you lock the door? Open up quickly.” Sophia gave me one last warning look, forcefully pulled the curtain to conceal me, and ran to open the door: “Honey, I was just fixing my dress. I was afraid someone might see, so I locked the door.” Through the gap, I saw Nathan grin mischievously and grab Sophia’s bottom before they left the room. Listening to their fading footsteps, I clenched my fists. Disgusting, is it? Sophia, your fate is in your own hands now…

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My name is Jessica, and I’m a dance teacher. “The perfect woman” – that’s how my husband describes me. And what he means by “perfect” is what every man dreams of: wild in bed, but ladylike in public. But ever since my husband went abroad, I’ve been struggling with loneliness… That night, just as I lay down in bed after a shower, my phone buzzed with several messages. “Babe, your peach-shaped butt is gorgeous.” “Have you ever touched a man’s abs?” Along with these messages were several selfies. Some were close-ups, others were mirror shots. Each one exuded strong masculine pheromones. As I scrolled to the last photo, I unconsciously swallowed. All these photos were sent by a man named Zack. Our encounter felt somewhat destined. After my husband left, I had nothing to do, so I started going swimming every day. Once, while I was swimming, my anklet got knocked off by someone nearby. It was Zack who picked it up for me. Afterwards, we sat by the pool chatting and discovered a surprising coincidence – he was actually an ex-boyfriend of one of my juniors from college. So we added each other on SnapChat. To be honest, at that moment, I had a feeling that I might end up sleeping with him. Although I had only been with my husband since getting married, I wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. I told myself, if it happens, it happens. If not, I won’t force it. We chatted casually online, both aware of each other’s intentions, but neither of us dared to take the first step. It was as if whoever spoke first would lose. Until last month, Zack suddenly asked about the small tag on my anklet, wondering why it was engraved with “sex”. I was quite embarrassed and told him it was custom-made by my husband. And just like that, we naturally started talking about sex. I was quite satisfied with this smooth transition, and I guess he was too. He said he wanted to take a closer look at my tag. So I took a photo to show him my ankle, but to my surprise, he immediately sent me a video call request. “Babe, you’re so beautiful,” Zack said, his voice hoarse. He claimed he wanted to see the tag, but he kept complimenting my feet. “Have such beautiful feet ever been kissed?” My head felt dizzy. There was a sense of relief, as if we had finally broken through an invisible barrier. I felt a tingling sensation in my lower back and started thinking about men. In the end, I couldn’t resist his repeated pleas. As if hypnotized, I slowly lifted the neckline of my nightgown, showing him other parts of my body. That night, I lost control of my desires, lost the chastity of my soul, and emotionally cheated. The next day, Zack wanted to meet up. Although I didn’t agree, I knew I was pretty much on the verge of giving in. Perhaps, on the next lonely sleepless night, I would actively ask him out. Like those housewives in adult movies, sneaking around to have an affair while my husband was away. This stalemate continued for half a month, until Zack asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend at a friend’s gathering. I initially refused, but Zack was very persuasive. He even emphasized that there would be many handsome guys there. After hesitating for a while, I finally agreed. I deliberately chose a tight, short dress to show off my figure, determined to help Zack impress his friends. But as I stood in front of the mirror, trying on different outfits, I felt something was missing. It just wasn’t sexy enough. Until I changed into another ultra-short skirt and bent over to check myself out, I realized what was missing! Of course, an ultra-short skirt should be paired with a thong! After spending a long time picking and choosing, I finally settled on two thin pieces of fabric – one on top and one on bottom. I didn’t even wear a bra. Bending over or squatting down would definitely reveal more than intended. With this daring outfit, I headed to the nightclub where the gathering was taking place. Zack, who had received my message, came out to meet me at the entrance. When he saw me, his eyes lit up for a moment. I naturally caught that glimpse of amazement in his eyes, feeling a bit smug. It wasn’t for nothing that I had spent so long getting ready. I swear, although I was mentally prepared to sleep with Zack, I had no intention of seducing his friends. However, when I entered the private room on his arm, I wavered. Zack hadn’t lied to me; his friends were indeed all handsome. “Wow, you’re so beautiful! Zack said he was bringing his girlfriend, but we didn’t believe him. Looks like he really hit the jackpot…” “We were thirsty earlier, so we ordered some drinks.” Looking at the glasses on the table, I felt a bit uneasy. In nightclubs, the most taboo thing is to drink beverages or alcohol handed to you by strangers, or even to leave your drink unattended. If a girl goes to the restroom, it’s best to get a new drink when she comes back, to avoid someone spiking it. This is common sense for girls who frequent nightclubs! Sleeping with someone is one thing, but being drugged is another matter entirely. Who knows what might be in that drink? Men can do crazy things when they’re horny. And what if they recorded a video? Seeing my hesitation, Zack smiled and said, “I’ll drink it for her.” He then picked up the glass in front of me and downed it in one go. He went to the bar himself to get me a cocktail and brought it back. Zack’s normal expression gradually eased my wariness, and I started sipping the drink. After a while, the nightclub’s music started playing. To heat up the atmosphere, some scantily clad girls came out to dance. I finished my drink and joined them on the dance floor. On the dance floor, the music was deafening. You had to get very close to hear each other speak. “Babe, you’re so sexy,” Zack said, hugging me. His hand, originally on my back, moved down to my waist, seemingly trying to explore further. I lowered my head, feeling the man’s body heat, and even enjoyed it a little. Tonight was my 59th day without a man’s touch, and I was starting to feel restless. Just then, I suddenly felt something wasn’t right. A wave of heat seemed to surge through my body, concentrating in my lower abdomen. Even when I was dancing, the friction between my body and clothes sent shivers through me. “What’s going on? Was there something in that drink?” I became alert, but thinking back, I had only had one cocktail since arriving, and Zack had brought it from the bar himself. So I dismissed this possibility in my mind! At this moment, several of Zack’s friends surrounded the dance floor. They started pouring alcohol into my mouth from bottles, and I gulped it down. Zack whispered in my flushed ear, “Babe, you look so alluring when you’re drinking like that. It’s like you’re being loved by a man…” His words made me realize how out of control I was. But being surrounded by these handsome guys made me feel light-headed. I danced wildly, swaying my hips, exuding my charm, gradually losing my rationality. Until I was exhausted and fell into the arms of Zack and his friends. They were so strong, each one more powerful than my husband! I couldn’t help but take a deep breath, and the thick male pheromones immediately made my head spin. Under the influence of alcohol, I completely lost control of myself. I didn’t know whose arms I fell into or who was kissing me. I was kissed until I was dizzy, either from lack of oxygen or from the alcohol. I passed out. I could vaguely feel someone picking me up and then placing me on something soft. As I was drifting in and out of consciousness, I suddenly felt a cool sensation on my body, as if someone was undressing me. I struggled to open my eyes and saw that the ceiling above me was actually a full mirror. In the mirror, I saw myself spread-eagled on the bed, my limbs tied to the bedposts, completely naked! Even worse, five strong, naked men surrounded me…

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The billionaire announced through the media that he was seeking to find 100 children born from his sperm donations. When my best friend discovered she was one of them, she wanted to meet him. I advised her to wait, cautioning that the billionaire was seriously ill and might have ulterior motives. She listened and decided not to go. Later, the billionaire died, and those who recognized him as their father inherited his supposed billion-dollar fortune. My friend blamed me for ruining her chance at wealth and ended my life. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she told me she was the billionaire’s child. I was shaken awake, my body trembling. When I opened my eyes again, my best friend, Luna, was excitedly waking me up by my bedside. “Luna, can you believe it! I’m actually the daughter of the richest man in City W!” I felt disoriented and instinctively recoiled from her. I touched my neck, recalling how in my past life, Luna had stabbed me there, making it hard to breathe. Just like before, Luna animatedly explained how her parents used a sperm donation because her father couldn’t have children. Yesterday, the richest man in City W announced his sperm donation details and expressed a desire to meet his biological children. Each recognized child would inherit his fortune. “My genetic information perfectly matches the billionaire’s! I am his daughter! Luna, do you think I should go meet him?” Luna looked at me, her eyes shining with joy. She always aimed high but never put in the effort. During college, she only wanted to snag a rich guy to enjoy a wealthy life. But, unfortunately, rich guys care about status, and they only played with her. So in my past life, when Luna found out she was the billionaire’s daughter, she wanted to meet him to fulfill her dream of becoming a rich heiress. I learned the billionaire was seriously ill and had over 100 children from sperm donations. Out of concern for her safety, I suggested she not rush into it. “I heard many rich people use sperm donations to create their own mobile blood banks and natural organ donors. Especially since he’s only seeking his children now when he’s seriously ill. Maybe you should wait a bit.” Luna dismissed my concerns at the time until she heard that several recognized children mysteriously disappeared. Then she held my hand fearfully and said, “Thank goodness you warned me, Luna! Otherwise, I’d be doomed! Luna, you’re the best!” But then, after her failed attempt to woo the campus heartthrob, Gideon, and hearing that the recognized children did inherit the fortune after the billionaire’s death, she blamed me for blocking her financial path. On my birthday, she stabbed me in the throat repeatedly in rage: “If it weren’t for you! If you hadn’t stopped me! I would have been a billion-dollar heiress by now! How could Gideon reject me, and how would I be living such a miserable life?” “Luna! It’s all your fault! Go to hell!” But what she didn’t know was, On the day she killed me in my past life, The police had just announced it was a scam. The billionaire’s sperm donation was real, but recognizing the children was a sham. All the recognized children were lab rats for medical experiments. The inheritance was real, but the billionaire’s illness and death were fake. He had already transferred all his assets, waiting for everything to be exposed and then disappear. He left not billions in fortune, but billions in debt. And all these truths, I never had the chance to tell Luna before I died by her hand. The vengeful satisfaction in Luna’s eyes in my memory overlapped with the fervent look of the Luna in front of me. This time, I didn’t advise her. I just smiled slightly: “Congratulations.” Good advice cannot save those who are doomed. I chose to respect others’ destinies.

Luna looked smug as if she could already see her life as a rich heiress: “I’m going to the testing agency the billionaire announced tomorrow for a blood test. When I become the billionaire’s daughter, I’ll move out.” She glanced around the house disdainfully and said, “I’ll have my dad get me a mansion. I won’t have to squeeze into this old, shabby place with you. The environment is bad, hygiene is poor, and the residents are low-class.” I laughed bitterly inside. Luna couldn’t find a job back then and had no income. She shamelessly asked to rent this place with me, and she was not like this then. Moreover, it was supposed to be shared rent, but Luna never paid even a month’s rent, just freeloaded. All the house chores, from sweeping the floor, washing dishes, hanging clothes to taking out the trash, she never lifted a finger. Every time, I had to plead with her to barely get her to do anything, and she called it “helping” me share the burden. Thinking about the past years, being such a pushover, I wanted to slap myself. Her moving out was just perfect, so if anything happened, she couldn’t blame it on me. I quickly nodded and said, “You’re right, this neighborhood isn’t up to your standards. Your rich dad surely wouldn’t want you to be stuck in this small place.” “Of course!” Luna was pleased with my flattery. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to help me. Drive me to the testing agency tomorrow.” I raised an eyebrow and quickly refused: “My car went in for repairs a few days ago. Maybe you can ask your boyfriend to take you. Knowing your true identity, wouldn’t he be devoted to you?” My words hit the nail on the head. Recently, Luna snagged a rich second-generation guy and kept flaunting designer bags. But she knew he looked down on her for not having a background, just playing around. Luna’s unhappy expression immediately turned into a show-off face: “With your crappy hospital job, how much can you earn? You have no sense. Fine, he’s barely a match for me, let him take me, let him see.” She said smugly and went back to her room. In my past life, her rich boyfriend dumped her after playing enough, then married his family’s chosen match, kicking her to the curb. She went to his company to cause trouble, only to be dragged out by his fiancée in public, calling her a toad trying to be Cinderella. At the time, I foolishly consoled her. Little did I know Luna didn’t blame the jerk but blamed me for stopping her from recognizing the billionaire, leading to her abandonment. She believed I ruined her rich life, swearing to fight me to the end. This life, I wouldn’t get involved in this mess. Watching Luna close her door, I quickly messaged my boss to request leave and booked a moving company. While Luna went out the next day, I packed up all my personal belongings except the shared spaces and moved out. As for whether Luna stayed or left after the rental contract expired, It wasn’t my concern. Following the principle of avoiding negativity, when encountering rotten people, don’t get tangled up, just leave immediately!

After a busy morning, finally settling everything in my new place, I got a call from Luna: “Luna, I went for the test today, and they even gave me a pack of medicine, saying I had to finish it before recognizing the billionaire. Aren’t you a med student? Check if this medicine has any issues.” Listening to her commanding tone, I felt a chill in my heart. Luna was always like this, demanding me to help her family cut lines at the hospital and even expecting me to pay for their treatments. Every time I ran around for her family, Luna took it for granted, acting like she deserved it. “This is a job for the testing department, and this medicine is from your dad’s company, Longevity Pharmaceuticals. Detailed testing fees would be thousands.” Hearing this, Luna immediately panicked: “What testing? Aren’t you a doctor! Luna, I thought we were best friends, and you mention money!” I laughed bitterly inside. Luna clearly felt something was off, so she came to me for reassurance. If anything happened, she’d blame it on me. Where’s the fairness in that! On the other end, Luna continued ranting: “You won’t even help with this simple thing! You’ve become so heartless! If it weren’t for me saving you from that fire back then…” Hearing her mention it, I couldn’t help but retort: “Luna, did you really save me back then?” In eighth grade, there was a severe fire in my school building. I fell unconscious. When I woke up, only Luna was beside me. She swore she saved me, claiming I owed her my life, which led to years of being her doormat, repaying her life-saving grace. Until my last life, when I was dying, she told me: “Why should you have a better life than me? I locked you in the classroom on purpose, yet you didn’t die.” “The hospital arranged for us to share a ward. I wanted you to feel this debt for life.” There was silence on the other end. After a while, Luna stammered: “What do you mean, Luna? Who told you such nonsense? If it wasn’t me, who else could it be? I’m not going to argue with you, just help me check this medicine.” Hearing her denial, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. In fact, in my previous life, Luna secretly went to the testing agency to verify her blood and, after getting the medicine, immediately asked me. “Just as the hospital conveniently placed us in the same room, I’ll make sure you feel what it’s like to owe me for a lifetime!” There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. After a moment, Fiona stammered, “What are you talking about, Daphne? Who’s been feeding you this nonsense? If it’s not me, then who could it be? I’m not wasting any more time. Get this drug tested for me now.” Hearing her stubborn denial, I couldn’t help but scoff. In my previous life, Fiona had secretly gone for a blood test at a lab right after receiving the drug. Using my own money, I had it sent to the most reputable and fastest testing center. As expected, I discovered the drug had never undergone any human trials. In short, people like Fiona were being used as guinea pigs for experiments. This was Longevity Pharmaceuticals’ latest project, marketed under the pretense of “blood purification,” claiming to filter harmful substances from the blood. Elderly relatives were injected with blood from younger, genetically related family members, supposedly prolonging life and preventing aging. Many people who acknowledged kinship and took this “blood purification drug” suffered severe blood coagulation issues, leading to organ failure, and many died. Fiona, following my advice, didn’t take the drug and avoided disaster. Later, she believed it was a necessary process for the billionaire to select heirs, thinking those who died from the drug were unhealthy. She was convinced she would be the one to survive and inherit the wealth. Because I repeatedly stopped her, she believed I had ulterior motives and couldn’t bear to see her succeed, causing her to miss the chance to climb the social ladder. This time, I decided to play along with her: “If this drug is tested and the billionaire finds out, could it affect your eligibility for acknowledgment?” “Will it?” Fiona hesitated on the phone. I smiled, calmly preparing to give her another nudge. “After all, the billionaire is your biological father. He wouldn’t harm you, right?”

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This time, as usual, I went out to walk the dog. After returning, just as I was about to lie down in the bedroom to rest, I thought I heard my dog’s thoughts. “How odd, there seems to be a strange odor in the house.” “It smells bad, like the scent of a stranger.” I remembered the dismemberment case my husband had mentioned to me last night, and it sent shivers down my spine. I didn’t care if I was imagining things; staying safe was my top priority. Just as I reached for the leash to head out, there was a knock on the door, and I heard my husband’s voice. “Phoebe, open the door.” Recently, I’ve noticed something unusual about my little dog, Buddy. He keeps sniffing around the house, as if searching for something. But besides me and my husband, there’s no one else here. So, I didn’t think much of it, assuming Buddy might just be restless because he’s entering his mating season. Today, after our usual walk, I planned to grab some clothes and take a shower to wash off the sweat. Just as I loosened the leash and was about to open the bedroom door, I heard a very unfamiliar voice. “Why does it feel like there’s a strange smell in the house? It’s been here all along, so stinky! Mom, can you get rid of that bad guy?” I froze, looking around to find the source of the voice. But in my house, it’s just me and my boyfriend. That wasn’t my boyfriend’s voice, and he wasn’t even home from work yet. Who could it be? While I was hesitating, the voice spoke again. “Why isn’t Mom moving? Does Mom think there’s a strange smell too?” Mom? I looked at my little dog, Buddy, in disbelief. Could it be him talking? But how could a dog talk? I shook my head, wondering if work stress was causing me to hear things. Standing at the bedroom door, my hands on the doorknob, I hesitated for a long time. What if, just what if, it was true?

I decided to test whether I was just imagining things. I quietly took out Buddy’s favorite treat. Placed it in front of him. “Yummy, yummy. Why is Mom suddenly feeding me?” Buddy happily wagged his tail, munching away, and I heard his thoughts again. My heart sank. A dog’s sense of smell is far more acute than a human’s. If Buddy sensed something strange in the house, there had to be. I recalled the home invasion murder case my husband had mentioned a few days ago. What if, by sheer bad luck, I ran into the murderer? I couldn’t help but think of those gruesome home invasion cases. The victims died with open eyes, and some were even more tragic, with their intestines scattered everywhere. These cases hadn’t affected me much before. But coincidentally, our neighborhood hasn’t felt safe lately, with many people’s belongings going missing. Reporting to the police yielded nothing. Unresolved cases are like a sword hanging over my head, never allowing me to relax.

Of all the strategies, fleeing seemed the best. I nervously picked up the leash, planning to escape with Buddy. “Knock, knock, knock—” there was a knock on the door. Then I heard the sound of keys turning, and my boyfriend Kieran entered with a cheerful smile. This guy, still smiling. I considered telling Kieran about the possible intruder. But just as I was about to speak— Buddy spoke again. “Huh? Why does Dad also smell bad? Like that stranger’s smell.” This news felt like falling into an icy abyss. I felt waves of coldness sweeping over me. Could Kieran be connected to that stranger? But he’s my partner, the one I share my life with.

The story of Kieran and me is simple. Kieran is well-known at the academy, not just for his numerous part-time jobs, but also for his outstanding grades. Even though he wore patched clothes, the unyielding determination in his eyes deeply moved me. So I pursued him passionately. I was born into a well-educated family, the only daughter in a first-tier city, with intellectual parents, always living without financial worries. Initially, Kieran wasn’t interested in me. But I persisted, and a year later, our story found its ending. We became a couple. However, this led to a lot of gossip in the academy. They all said Kieran was a poor boy who managed to win over a wealthy, beautiful girl. I even argued with Kieran over this. But later, Kieran didn’t care about these rumors and treated me even better than before. After we graduated from college, we got married. Because he was Kieran, I chose to enter wedded bliss early. I believe our relationship hasn’t reached a point where he would want to harm me.

Out of caution, I held back my words. I treated Kieran with care and attention as usual when he came home. I didn’t want to arouse his suspicion. I also didn’t intend to judge if Kieran had such thoughts. Because I was really scared. I couldn’t risk my life. But how could I leave here without leaving a trace? I looked at the door and discovered something chilling. The door seemed to be double-locked. I couldn’t believe it, so I went over. Gently turned the doorknob. Sure enough, the door was double-locked. Why would Kieran lock the door? A series of questions burst in my head. I didn’t want to think about anything, nor did I dare to. “Phoebe, what are you doing?” Kieran’s voice came from behind me. I was startled but pretended to be calm, asking him in my usual tone. “Why did you lock the door?” I looked at him with genuine confusion. “Phoebe, do you know about the recent home invasion murder case?” Kieran looked at me, a peculiar smile on his face. His gaze made me shiver.

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At dawn, I came across a post online. “What should I do if I like my female tenant? I’ve never liked someone this much before.” Just when I thought it was some sweet story about a secret crush, the more I read, the stranger it felt. The photos this person posted looked like the hallway of my building. The description also matched me perfectly, but I’m not a tenant, I’m the landlord. There were people giving him advice in the comments. “Women are always reserved. Just go for a forceful kiss, and with a bit of push and pull, it’ll work out.” “A persistent man wins the heart of even the toughest woman. Plus, you’re so handsome, blogger. She definitely won’t be able to resist you.” “That’s how I got my wife. Once you sleep with her, she’ll do whatever you say.” The more I read, the stranger it felt. Isn’t this just sexual harassment? But the next second, my tenant John sent me a message. “Are you there? There seems to be a problem with the water pipes in my place. Can you come and take a look?” If I hadn’t seen that post, I might have gone. Because of years of renting out properties, I’m quite handy with things like changing light bulbs, fixing pipes, and unclogging toilets. Within my abilities, I always try to help tenants solve their problems. But now, I’m a bit afraid to go over. Not only is that post enough to give me the creeps, but also, my house was thoroughly checked just a few days ago. The water pressure, pipes, and electrical circuits were all fine. How could there be a problem as soon as he moved in? I looked at the pitch-black sky outside and felt a chill run down my spine. Even though it was summer, it felt like a cold wind had blown up my clothes. I’d better assume the worst about people. With this in mind, my fingers typed out a few words on my phone screen. “I’m not at home today, and I don’t really know how to fix pipes. How about my boyfriend goes to your place to check tomorrow? What time would be convenient for you?” The chat bubble for the apartment immediately showed “typing”, back and forth. The person on the other end seemed to be struggling with how to reply. I didn’t bother waiting and went to wash up. I don’t know if it was psychological, but I felt like there was a pair of eyes watching me from the darkness. I didn’t even take a shower, just rushed into the bedroom. I put a door stopper in the door crack, only then feeling a bit safer. I had just picked up my phone when I saw John’s message. “How about 8 PM then? I’ll be off work by then.” Seeing this, I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe it was just a coincidence. After all, the hallways in city apartment buildings all look similar, and there are countless girls with long black hair who are 1.68m tall like me. Moreover, that person said he liked his female tenant, which is different from my situation. Most importantly, John is quite ordinary looking, forgettable in a crowd. He’s not the handsome type like the poster. As the saying goes, one’s appearance reflects one’s heart. I never thought such a good-looking exterior could hide such a dirty heart. Because just now, I saw the poster liked the comment giving him advice, and replied “DM me”. He clearly has evil intentions. I, like others, bookmarked the post, wanting to see what he would do next. But what about the boyfriend for tomorrow? I’m not in a relationship. Thinking this, I called my good male friend, Ben. I asked him to come tomorrow and pretend to be my boyfriend. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Pretending to have a boyfriend can avoid some unnecessary trouble.

The next day, as I was tidying up and opening the door to go out, I ran into John face to face. The apartment I rented to him is on the floor above mine. The elevator isn’t broken, so he must have been waiting here on purpose. And when I just opened the door, I saw him make a backward movement, indicating he was almost pressed against my door. My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly thought of the many news stories I had seen about single women being harmed while living alone. At that moment, I deeply regretted not asking Ben to come earlier. “Miss Sarah? Weren’t you not at home?” he said. As soon as he said this, cold sweat broke out on my back. He thought I wasn’t home, so why was he waiting at my door? What did he want to do? I suppressed my fear and said coldly, “I came back in the early morning. What are you doing at my door? My boyfriend is about to come back. If you don’t have anything urgent now, he can go to your place earlier.” John scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, and said, “My cat ran out. I just heard cat meowing from your place. Did it hide in your apartment?” As he spoke, he tried to peek into my apartment, his eyes darting around. “I don’t have a cat. Go look elsewhere,” I said. But he not only didn’t listen to me, he took a step forward, wedging his foot in the doorframe. “I’ll just come in and look for a moment. I won’t disturb you. Just let me in.” I instinctively tried to close the door, but my strength was no match for a grown man, even if he was thin. “If you keep this up, I’m calling the police!” I said. Just then, my savior arrived. “Hey! What are you doing?” Ben shouted. With one hand, Ben lifted John up and threw him against the wall on the other side of the hallway. John’s body hit the wall with a thud, and he let out an “Ouch” as he sat on the ground. “Are you trying to break in and rob? I’m calling the police!” Ben said, taking out his phone, looking like he was really about to call. John, ignoring the pain in his body, quickly got up and apologized to Ben. “No, no, no, I was just trying to go in and find my kitten. She just closed the door suddenly, trapping my foot. That’s why I pushed the door. I wasn’t trying to rob anyone, don’t misunderstand.” “It’s not me you should be apologizing to!” Ben said. John then bowed and apologized to me, who was still in shock. I calmed down and wanted to confirm one more thing. “This is my boyfriend. Didn’t you say your water pipes were broken? Let’s go to your place and take a look.” Hearing this, John’s expression changed for a moment, then he said, “The pipes were fixed by myself yesterday. It’s all fine now. Sorry for troubling you.” He turned and left after saying this, not mentioning finding his cat anymore. I didn’t have the heart to go to work anymore. My mind was full of the image of John trying to break down the door. If Ben hadn’t arrived, I daren’t imagine what would have happened today. I sat on the sofa, and Ben brought me a glass of warm water. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I’m fine. How come you came so early?” Ben stuffed a bun into his mouth. “I was terrified when I got your message last night. I came straight here as soon as I got off the plane this morning. Good thing I did.” “How long is your contract with him? Just terminate it. Having someone like that living nearby is like a ticking time bomb.” So I sent John a message directly, saying I wouldn’t rent the apartment to him anymore. He didn’t reply for a long time. But I saw that the love-seeking post had been updated. “The female tenant has a boyfriend, tall, dark, and strong. But I think I still have a good chance. After all, young girls nowadays all like thin, pale boys like me.” “I went to her door today to look for my lost kitten. The girl chatted with me for a few words and even batted her eyelashes at me. Her boyfriend found out and punched me once.” “Now she says she doesn’t want to rent the apartment to me anymore. It must be her boyfriend’s instigation. Can someone tell me what to do?” Now I’m really certain that the poster is John. Even if it was a coincidence before, it couldn’t possibly be another coincidence today. The profile picture must be stolen then. At this point, some netizens in the comments section had also realized. “Homewreckers are despicable.” “Even if you’re handsome, it’s not okay to break up other people’s relationships.” But there were still people who held the principle that looks justify everything. “That girl also batted her eyelashes at him, right? It’s not just the little brother’s one-sided love.” “Oh my god, not only is the little brother good-looking, but he’s also an animal lover. I love him even more.” “I just love this kind of forbidden love.” “Keep pursuing! Maybe she’ll dump her boyfriend and be with you. The female tenant might directly become the landlady.” I forwarded the post to Ben. “Tall, dark, and strong? This is called a healthy tan. I specially went to get tanned, what does he know! Who would like his skinny dog type that gets knocked down with one punch? My lean muscle is what’s most popular now!” Ben’s finger swiped left, clicking into the poster’s profile. “Eh? Wait, this photo.”

“What about the photo?” Ben gloated, pointing at the profile photo. “This guy is our company CEO’s son. He’s usually arrogant and domineering. If he finds out his photo was stolen by John and such comments were posted online, what do you think he’ll do? “Or if the CEO learns that someone is smearing his son’s reputation online, what do you think he’ll do?” Ben chuckled and directly forwarded the post to the company CEO. “Big news, boss! Your son wants to be a homewrecker!” Then he recalled the message after two minutes and fifty seconds. I asked him if he wasn’t afraid of being held accountable by the higher-ups. He shook his head: “The boss isn’t that petty. He might even thank me for telling him about this, to prevent his son from making a bigger mistake.” I could only pray in my heart that the boy wouldn’t be beaten too badly. Sorry about that. John was still replying to comments. “Thank you all for your support. I won’t give up. Even if I have to be the other man, I’ll pursue my female tenant!” Ridiculous. He’s clearly the tenant, yet he pretends to be the landlord. How insecure is he about his identity? He also retorted to those comments calling him a homewrecker. “You don’t know anything. This is called pursuing love!” “I know you’re unhappy in life with no love. Don’t be jealous that I’m good-looking and have several houses collecting rent.” “I’m not blind. I can tell if the female tenant is batting her eyelashes at me or not. She wore a short skirt when she came to view the house. If that’s not seducing me, what is it?” Oh my god, wearing a short skirt is seducing him? Then aren’t all the girls on the street seducing him? Besides, it’s hot summer. If I don’t wear a short skirt, should I wear cotton pants? The more I read, the more disgusted I felt. How can there be such an ordinary yet confident and lying man? That familiar avatar came out to give advice again. The username was “Wild Heart”. “Don’t doubt it. When women wear short skirts, it’s deliberately to seduce men. That’s why I couldn’t resist when my wife wore a short skirt back then. She cried and made a fuss afterward, but after some coaxing, didn’t she end up marrying me? She went from being a country girl to a city woman in one go, now living a life of luxury. You’re still too gentle. When her boyfriend isn’t around, just force yourself on her. Don’t worry, she’ll give in.” Isn’t this instigating others to commit crimes? Do they really think there’s no legal responsibility for what they say online? I saved this person’s comments as evidence and consulted a lawyer, but the lawyer told me that without substantial events occurring, it would be difficult to file a case. Although I was angry, I was helpless. Women in this world really have to experience too many dangers and bear too much malice. Not only will wearing a short skirt be assumed as seduction, but even walking on the street will be “taken in” by someone. It’s really terrifying. Many criticizing comments flooded in under Wild Heart’s comment, but he didn’t care at all. He just blocked whoever scolded him. I clicked into that person’s profile and found that he was just a disgusting man, saying that women being trafficked isn’t a bad thing, it can provide labor for rural development. He also said that women not having children nowadays is because they’ve studied too much, and women studying too much is not conducive to national unity. So he called for shortening compulsory education to increase the birth rate. He’s simply a psychopath. That night, Ben stayed in my spare bedroom. He didn’t even go to work because he was afraid something might happen to me. After hearing about this, my mom also told me to move away quickly. These days, losing money is a small matter, but it’s scary to encounter some desperate people. It’s really unfortunate that I, a landlord, am being forced to move by a tenant. Just as I was packing my luggage, Ben, standing by the window, called out. “Our CEO’s son is coming up with five big guys, carrying baseball bats! His face looks a bit red, maybe he was beaten by the CEO. Now he’s coming to take revenge on John.” Ben and I hid in the stairwell, watching the young man kick John’s door. “Open up!” John didn’t open the door, so the young man directly instructed the people beside him to open the lock. “It was you who impersonated me online and smeared my reputation? Ugly people really do more mischief!”

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My daughter was taken from me. I was sure I had given birth to a girl, but when I woke up, there was a boy instead. My mother-in-law dismissed my concerns, saying I was imagining things because I wanted a daughter so badly. My husband also said I was just seeing things. I began to suspect that they had conspired to switch my child. Right after the delivery, the nurse wanted to take the baby to the incubator. I managed to stay conscious long enough to ask her to show me the baby. She was fair-skinned and chubby, with her eyes still closed, but her long eyelashes were striking. Her tiny face was rosy and cute, instantly lovable. Her right pinky toe was noticeably curved—a family trait. Finally, I relaxed. Soon after, I fell asleep. “How could this happen? My grandson is so unfortunate, suffering right after birth.” My mother-in-law woke me abruptly, her voice sharp: “Did you hide a family disease? The doctor said the baby has a congenital heart defect. With a mother like you, the child is cursed.” “You should sell the house your mother left you to pay for the child’s treatment. If that’s not enough, add the dowry money. No matter the cost, I must save my precious grandson.” Grandson? I know she’s eager for a grandson, but I definitely gave birth to a daughter! “Mom, maybe you misremembered. I had a girl.” My mother-in-law shouted loudly: “How could I be wrong? It’s clearly my precious grandson.” She unwrapped the baby from the blanket. One look, and I was stunned. The fair, chubby, adorable little face had turned wrinkled, dark, and thin. “This isn’t my child!” My mother-in-law glared at me fiercely. “Lydia, what nonsense are you spouting? The baby came from your belly. If it’s not yours, whose is it?” “Mom, I definitely had a girl. I saw her right after she was born. There’s no way I got it wrong.” My mother-in-law rolled her eyes at me: “The baby was taken to the incubator right after birth. You fainted afterward. What you saw was just a dream!” “The one I have here is your child. The doctor mentioned a congenital heart defect. Our family doesn’t have this genetic issue. It must be from your side.” No, no one in my family has heart disease. And I’m sure I had a girl. My mother-in-law was clearly lying earlier. Thinking back to how she and my husband didn’t let me verify the baby’s gender, maybe they planned to switch my baby. But why would they do that? My mother-in-law desperately wants a grandson. She wouldn’t raise someone else’s child. So whose child is she holding? Where did my baby go? Thinking of this, a chill ran down my spine. If my daughter was sold to traffickers, I would regret it my entire life, living in endless pain. The situation was urgent. I needed to buy time for my daughter. While my mother-in-law was distracted, I secretly texted the police. If they really switched the baby, my husband must know. From now on, I can’t trust anyone. “Waa~ waa~” The baby cried out in hunger. I glanced down; this baby was not at all what I expected. He didn’t resemble me at all. Seeing I had no intention of feeding him, my mother-in-law panicked and pointed at me, cursing. “Are you going to let the baby starve? I’ve never seen such a heartless mother. The baby is crying from hunger, yet you won’t feed him.” Knowing this child took my daughter’s place, and my daughter was missing, I didn’t feel any pity. Seeing I wasn’t moving, my mother-in-law came over to unbutton my shirt. Her grip was strong, leaving red marks on my chest. I was too weak, without any strength, watching as the buttons were being undone. I glanced at the table and saw a plastic cup. I grabbed it and threw it at her. My mother-in-law, outraged, raised her hand to hit me. Just then, someone pushed the door open.

My husband Zane came in with breakfast. Behind him was my sister-in-law Nora. They were laughing and chatting, looking very close. My mother-in-law immediately changed her expression. “Son, look at the kind of woman you married!” “She watches the baby starve and won’t feed him at all. Isn’t she trying to starve my grandson to death?” “Oh dear, how can such a heartless woman exist? I’ve never seen a mother like this in my whole life!” I have to admit, my mother-in-law’s acting skills could be taught in acting schools. Just now, she looked like she wanted to tear me apart. Now, in front of her son, she pretends to be pitiful and kind. Before Zane could speak, Nora jumped in: “Sister-in-law, do you despise the baby for having a heart defect and being a burden, so you refuse to feed him?” “You’re so selfish. What kind of mother does this?” Nora’s accusation came first, labeling me as selfish and self-centered. She has always been against me. When Zane and I got married, she insisted I wasn’t good enough for her brother and tried to block me from entering the family. Who her brother marries, and she needs to agree? At the wedding, Nora damaged my wedding dress, nearly embarrassing me in front of everyone. I’ve never understood why she targets me. Before she finished speaking, Zane tugged at her collar, signaling her to shut up. Their little gestures didn’t escape my notice. A terrifying suspicion crossed my mind. Could there be something improper between Nora and Zane? Zane came over to me, saying: “Lydia isn’t like that. You must be mistaken. Nora has been preparing for exams this year, so she’s a bit stressed. Honey, don’t mind her.” Zane placed the breakfast on my bedside. He was clearly siding with Nora. Speaking of exams, Nora had been renting a place to prepare for the civil service exam, especially in the past few months, she never showed up. Could it be that she wasn’t preparing for exams but for pregnancy? Nora was adopted by my mother-in-law from an orphanage. Could the baby’s congenital heart defect be inherited from her? Is Nora rejecting the baby because of the heart defect and switched the babies, making me raise hers? And my baby, who knows where they sent her. I can only hope they still have a conscience, and that my daughter is still alive.

“Honey, the baby may have a defect, but he’s still ours. If we care for him, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” “Why not sell the house your mom left you? It’s just sitting there. The child’s medical bills, drugs, and formula will be costly. I don’t want to lower your quality of life after having a baby.” I have to admit, this family has a well-calculated plan. Not only do they want me to raise Nora’s baby, but they also want me to fund their lifestyle. This greedy and malicious family wants to drain me dry! After knowing them for three years and being married for five, I decided to give Zane one last chance. “Zane, do you trust me?” He smiled and said, “Of course I trust you.” I looked him in the eye and said, word by word: “This is not my child. I gave birth to a daughter. Someone switched the babies.” Zane was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his smile, holding my hand: “Honey, you must be so tired that you’re seeing things. The baby was right there when he was brought out. You had a son.” Though he acted normally, I noticed he was lying. When he lies, his eyes shift to the left, and his left hand clenches. I’m now certain they conspired to switch the babies. I chuckled softly. “This child isn’t mine. I won’t feed him.” “I also won’t sell the house my parents left me to save a child who isn’t related to me.” I said this and provocatively glanced at Nora, who indeed panicked: “Lydia, you’re out of your mind. This is your child. We all saw the nurse take him out of the delivery room.” “You’re a vicious woman, cruel even to a newborn. You think only you have milk? Fine, I’ll just…” Before Nora finished, Zane interrupted: “What nonsense are you saying? I know you care about your nephew and want to make formula for him, but let Mom handle that. You focus on your exam preparation. Let’s aim for success this year.” Seeing Zane rush to explain, I sneered inwardly. Nora was probably about to say she could breastfeed herself. She can’t bear to let her own child go hungry. Zane, afraid Nora might slip up again, hurriedly pulled her away.

“Stop!” They both turned around. Nora rolled her eyes at me impatiently. Zane looked at me for a moment and then smiled knowingly. “Honey, you can’t stand being apart from me, right? I heard women get clingy after giving birth. Looks like it’s true!” “Or are you jealous? Don’t worry, I won’t let her sit in the passenger seat.” I’m disgusted. Enough, please. The police will be here soon, and I don’t want to waste time finding my daughter. To avoid alerting them, I put on a weak front. 4 “Stop right there!” Both of them turned around. Nora gave me an exasperated eye roll. Zane studied me for a moment, then smirked knowingly. “Honey, are you having trouble letting me go? I heard new moms get especially attached. Guess it’s true!” “Or maybe you’re jealous? Don’t worry, she won’t be in the front seat.” That’s nauseating. Spare me. The police will be here soon, and I don’t want to waste time. To keep things calm, I feigned weakness: “Sweetheart, I’m feeling so weak and can’t eat. Could you peel an apple for me? Let’s leave a bit later.” Zane agreed and sat beside me with a fruit knife, ready to feed me piece by piece. Meanwhile, Nora lay resting on another hospital bed, looking even more frail than me. My mother-in-law had just prepared baby formula and was feeding the baby. Soon enough, the police arrived.

A sharp-eyed middle-aged officer walked in. Seeing the police, all three of them panicked, especially my mother-in-law, whose shifty eyes all but screamed, “I’m guilty.” “We got a report. I’m Officer Quentin, handling this case. Who is Ms. Lydia?” I raised my hand and said, “Officer Quentin, I made the call.” “My child is missing. I suspect someone swapped my baby.” Officer Quentin glanced at the child in my mother-in-law’s arms and asked, “Isn’t this your child? Did you have twins?” I quickly explained, “This isn’t my child. I gave birth to a chubby girl. Her right pinky toe is slightly curved—it’s a family trait.” “When I woke up, I found this was not my child, but my husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law are trying to convince me that a boy with a congenital illness is my daughter.” “I suspect this boy’s real mother is my sister-in-law. She claimed she was studying all year but never showed up. I have reasons to believe she was pregnant. She swapped the child to make me sell my house for her child’s treatment.” “Nora has always liked Zane. They’re all in on it, and I suspect this child is Zane’s.” I laid out their misdeeds analytically and calmly. My mother-in-law erupted in rage, rushing over to pull my hair. “You’re falsely accusing us! My daughter is innocent. She focused on her studies and didn’t even have a boyfriend. Not everyone is as shameless as you!” Before she could touch me, Officer Quentin stepped in quickly to stop her. “Stop! Assaulting a new mother in front of an officer? Besides, she’s your daughter-in-law. Your behavior gives me reason to suspect you swapped the child!” My mother-in-law was terrified and immediately behaved. Zane hurried to explain, “Officer, my mom was just emotional. My wife can’t accept that the child has a congenital heart disease. Plus, women are emotionally unstable after childbirth. Don’t listen to her nonsense. This child is indeed hers.” The officer suddenly asked, “Your wife just had a baby, and you don’t seem concerned as a husband.” Zane looked embarrassed.

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When the apocalypse descended, my sister and I activated our latent powers. Lily, without hesitation, chose the flashy and powerful lightning ability. However, unable to endure hardship, she ultimately wasted her talent and barely survived in the base. I, on the other hand, relied on my seemingly useless healing ability to amass vast resources and became sought after by various base leaders. Out of kindness, I saved Lily, but she, consumed by jealousy, led me into a horde of zombies. Given a second chance, this time she snatched the healing ability first. “Now it’s my turn to coast through life and have everything. Emma, it’s your turn to suffer,” she smirked. Looking at the dazzling lightning ability now in my possession, I couldn’t help but smile. This was the power I had desperately wished for in my previous life. I awoke from darkness and searing heat. Lily’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she grinned, “Sister dear, now it’s my turn to relax and enjoy the good life.” Seeing the soft green glow in her hands, I finally snapped out of my daze and looked down at the weak electrical currents flickering in my own palms. Both Lily and I had been reborn. In our previous life, Lily had claimed she was too fragile and needed a powerful ability to protect herself. I had compromised and let her choose the lightning ability first. Little did I know she would refuse to fight zombies, unable to endure hardship, and ultimately waste her powerful gift. In the end, she could only perform simple tasks within the base, barely clinging to life. I, however, chose the seemingly useless healing ability, only to become a prized guest of various base leaders. During one encounter, I saved Lily from the brink of death at the hands of zombies. At that time, the down-on-her-luck Lily could only look up at me, protected by others. Blinded by jealousy, she chose to lead me into a horde of zombies, intending for us to perish together. Given this second chance, Lily rushed to claim the healing ability. Before I could react, chaos erupted around us. When the apocalypse first broke out, Lily and I had fortunately escaped to a large supermarket, where we successfully activated our abilities. Resources were plentiful, but people’s hearts were restless. “From now on, everyone must go out and kill zombies. Otherwise, you’ll be permanently expelled from the supermarket,” announced a young man with fair skin and a gentle voice, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. His name was James, a man of both charisma and capability who had swiftly taken control of the supermarket and established strict rules. “Why should we?!” “This isn’t your property, you have no right to kick us out!” voices of dissent rose from the crowd. James smiled, his eyes crinkling, “Because of this.” He raised his hand, and a loud bang echoed through the air. Everyone froze, suddenly silent. Under the pressure of absolute superiority in combat, people slowly made their way out of the supermarket. Lily approached James delicately, speaking in a soft voice, “I’ve developed healing abilities. I can support your team.” James raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming, “Very well, you can join us.” After speaking, he shifted his gaze to me, standing silently to the side. Noticing this, Lily pointed at me with her dainty hand, “That’s my sister. She’s excellent at killing zombies. You should definitely put her on the front lines.” She looked at me, her eyes full of schadenfreude. I, however, responded with a radiant smile. What Lily didn’t know was that in my previous life, I had envied her. I had dreamed of possessing the lightning ability. Instead of relying on healing powers to become someone else’s caged bird.

Perhaps my smile angered Lily. I was assigned to be the first person to kill zombies. In our previous life, when Lily chose the lightning ability, she was also full of confidence. The reason she wasted her talent was that the ability needed to be upgraded. Initially, the lightning ability could only produce weak electrical sparks, at most causing zombies to pause for a second. She had fully believed she could dominate the battlefield with her ability, unstoppable and invincible. Yet during her first zombie encounter, she ended up in a miserable state. In her panic, she discharged electricity wildly, causing numerous casualties among James’ team, earning his resentment. Countless zombies began moving towards us, like beasts drawn by scent. My hand, gripping the knife, trembled slightly. In my previous life, I had been heavily protected and hadn’t directly confronted zombies for a long time. I stared intently at the nearest zombie, focusing all my attention. I activated my ability precisely, the weak electrical shock causing the zombie to pause for a moment. Seizing that second of opportunity, I plunged the knife deep into the zombie’s brain! Blood sprayed out as I quickly withdrew the blade, stabbing again and again. Before another zombie could approach, I finally finished it off. I swiftly discharged another electrical shock, repeating the process with the next zombie. By the end, my hands were too stiff to lift, my entire body covered in blood and gore. With my ability exhausted, I lay numbly on the ground. “You… you’re quite impressive,” James’ clear voice rang out, a smile in his tone. “You, a woman, single-handedly killed ten zombies.” I opened my tired eyes to see Lily’s face twisted with jealousy. She forced a smile, feigning concern, “Emma, you’re amazing, but with all that blood… you weren’t bitten, were you?” A cold glint flashed in my eyes. James’ smile faltered for a moment as he glanced at Lily, quickly resuming his pleasant expression. “You’re right, we should definitely check thoroughly. We absolutely cannot allow any internal threats to our group.” I lay indifferently on the ground. As long as James saw my value, he wouldn’t easily abandon me. But once he labeled me as “useless,” I’d truly be in trouble. Thinking of this, I turned to look at Lily with a knowing smile. “Shouldn’t you be treating the wounded? Why do you have time to chat here?” Anger flashed in Lily’s eyes, but mindful of James’ presence, she obediently went to tend to the injured. As I watched her walk away, my gaze grew increasingly cold. In our previous life, after Lily and I activated our abilities, she immediately abandoned me. So she didn’t know. Although the lightning ability needed upgrading, it could truly become an excellent weapon against zombies in the later stages. The healing ability, however, had a fatal flaw.

“What’s going on?!” “It hurts so much, damn it! Hurry up and heal me!” Lily stood among a group of bloodied and mangled survivors, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. She mumbled incoherently, “What’s happening? Why isn’t it working? I don’t know, I don’t know…” The relatives of the injured berated her, pushing and shoving her around. Finally, one enraged family member slapped her across the face. “To hell with you!” Lily suddenly exploded with emotion, screaming and looking towards me in the crowd. She shouted hysterically, as if possessed, “It’s you! It’s your fault, isn’t it? You did something to me!” She pushed through the layers of people surrounding her. “What’s really going on?! Isn’t this supposed to be a healing ability?!” Lily grabbed my shoulders tightly, shaking me frantically. “My dear sister, this is what you chose,” I said calmly. Her eyes were full of confusion and bewilderment, as if she couldn’t understand why the candy she had snatched was bitter. Because she had been sickly as a child, our family always told me to “let your sister have her way.” So no matter what, she always took the best things for herself, thinking it was her right. James approached to check on the situation, still wearing his gentle smile. “What’s the matter here?” Lily’s body shrank back slightly. She quickly adjusted her expression. Tucking her hair behind her ear, her eyes reddened, looking pitiful as she said, “I think it’s because I’ve only just activated my ability. I haven’t mastered the technique yet, so I can’t heal them.” James frowned in confusion, “Is that so? Well, I suppose that can’t be helped.” He patted Lily’s shoulder understandingly, speaking earnestly, “The injured can’t control their emotions, and their families are agitated with worry.” “If this happens again, I might not be able to protect you,” James said with a smile, though his words carried an inexplicable chill. I couldn’t help but take a deep breath, remembering the coldness in his eyes from my previous life, as if it could cut me into pieces. Lily’s face showed fear. After James left, I moved close to Lily, whispering in her ear like a demon, “You will never be able to heal others.” “This useless ability can only heal yourself.” I looked at Lily with interest, my tone malicious. “Not only that, it will become a target for everyone to fight over. If they can’t have it… they’ll destroy it!” Her face filled with disbelief, the light in her eyes shattering.

“Impossible! It can’t be!” Lily pushed me away frantically, muttering to herself. “You’re lying to me.” “You’re afraid I’ll become like you in your previous life, gaining the favor of all the strong ones. You’re afraid I’ll take the highest position and then take revenge on you!” Lily’s eyes were full of madness and desire, “If it can only heal oneself, how could you have been so sought after in your previous life?” She pointed at me with her bright red nails. “Emma, do you think I’m as stupid as I was in the last life?” “This time, you’re destined to be trampled under my feet.” The madness disappeared from Lily’s face, replaced by a confident smile. She turned away decisively, though her steps weren’t as steady as she’d like. She was probably half-believing, half-doubting. It didn’t matter; regardless of how much she denied it, facts were facts. In my previous life, after multiple attempts and discovering I could only heal myself, I was thunderstruck. The people who had once treated me kindly suddenly changed their attitudes. James pointed a gun at me, still smiling gently: “How will you compensate us for our losses?” “It seems you can only repay with your body.” That cold gaze and tone still haunt me to this day. No one came to save me then; I had to endure it all on my own. This time, it was Lily’s own choice. She only saw the glamorous surface of my position, ignoring the dirty scars behind the power. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. This time, I will never walk that path again. My gaze was clear, my steps determined. For the next few days, I continued to stand at the forefront, killing zombies. After each blood-soaked battle, I could feel my ability growing stronger within me. Lily’s gaze towards me grew increasingly dark and twisted. After one zombie-killing session, I returned to the supermarket. I was greeted by suspicious and disgusted looks from everyone. Lily’s triumphant expression was mixed in among them. James spoke with an apologetic tone, “Someone reported seeing you bitten by a zombie.” “You have two choices: One, be expelled from the supermarket; Two, strip and let everyone inspect you.” In an instant, it felt like that gun barrel was pointed at me again. Someone jeered, “We should all inspect together! Otherwise, I’ll be too scared.” The lewd joke drew many echoes of agreement. “Don’t kick her out, she might seek revenge on us later. Let’s just hold her down and strip her for inspection!” I lowered my eyes. This was the human nature in the apocalypse, unable to withstand even a bit of provocation. Lily’s eyes filled with tears as she cried out, “This is for everyone’s safety, Emma! It’s the apocalypse now, you can’t let your trivial sense of modesty endanger everyone’s lives!” The atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Everyone was shouting frantically, as if I was prey within their grasp. I quietly took a few steps back, only to find myself surrounded. I frowned deeply. This wasn’t good. My mind raced, thinking of ways to escape. I could run towards the stored gasoline and use my remaining ability to threaten them; or I could go all out, use lightning on those guarding the door, and seize the opportunity to escape… No matter what, I would never submit meekly again in this life. Having made up my mind, I raised my bright eyes. But then I heard a loud bang. Followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the ground. “Murder! Someone’s been killed!!!”

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On the day I turned eighteen, I was kidnapped. The kidnappers called Theo, demanding 60 million as ransom. “The notable second son of the Taylor family, surely you wouldn’t hesitate to spare 60 million for a young girlfriend? Such a pretty girl, it’d be a shame if she were to end up a mess!” I lay there with a dislocated shoulder, crying and begging Theo on the phone to save me. But he just asked the kidnappers with chilling indifference, “What makes her worth 60 million?” Enraged, the kidnappers broke three of my fingers. I could never play the piano I loved again. When I saw him again later, I addressed him politely and distantly as “Mr. Theo.” He cornered me in a room, gently caressed my face, and softly coaxed, “Sound, be good. Call me Third Brother like before, okay?” “Sound, we’re in Seaside City now.” As the plane landed with a slight jolt, the nightmare dragged me into an even darker abyss. Thankfully, my assistant woke me up just in time. I seemed to have dreamt about what happened six years ago again. That feeling of fear, helplessness, and despair brought tears to my eyes once more. Seaside City. A place of decadence, filled with schemes and devoid of warmth. If it weren’t for helping Asher secure resources for his new movie, I wouldn’t have returned here. After leaving the airport, the car my assistant arranged hadn’t arrived yet. Just as I was about to hail a taxi, I heard a hesitant voice behind me, “Miss Fiona?” I turned around, freezing in place. It was Uncle Nolan, Theo’s driver since he was fifteen. Behind him was a Phantom. I immediately noticed the familiar license plate: 1108, November 8th, Theo’s birthday. My heart gave a slight tremor. As the car window slowly lowered, that familiar face appeared before me. “Sound?” Theo sat inside, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a perfectly sculpted collarbone. He no longer had the sharp arrogance from six years ago but seemed more cool and reserved. Under his slanting brows were deep, captivating eyes. Six years had passed, yet he still looked like a delicate ink painting, sending chills through my body. I never expected to run into him on such an ordinary afternoon. “You’re back?” His expression was appropriate and natural, as if I had just been on a trip. He seemed to forget that six years ago, I was in that cold, damp, filthy room, my arms dislocated, crying and begging him to save me. He used the same indifferent tone to tell those kidnappers, “What makes her worth 60 million?” “Little girlfriend? You’re overthinking it. I, Theo, wouldn’t bother to spend 60 million on someone irrelevant. If you want it, ask the Lewis family.” He knew perfectly well how difficult my situation was with the Lewis family. I yelled into the phone, “Third Brother! Consider this 60 million a loan from you. I’ll pay it back! Please, don’t abandon me!” A few seconds later, I heard him sneer, “You’ve been calling me Third Brother for years, and you really think of yourself as part of the Taylor family? Know your place. Stop bothering me, do as you wish.” The last sentence was directed at the kidnappers. I stared blankly as the call ended. It was my only hope. Theo personally snuffed it out. Later, the furious kidnappers broke three of my finger bones. They even considered assaulting me and sending the video to Theo. Fortunately, the leader remembered Theo mentioning I was from the Lewis family. They hesitated, not daring to offend both the Taylor and Lewis families. In the end, it was Phoebe, whom I always looked down on, who, under Mr. Lewis’s orders, paid to have me released. She untied me, then slapped me hard. “Fiona! You’re such a curse!” In the past, I would’ve hit back. Theo would always stand behind me, calmly telling me to retaliate against anyone who bullied me. He was always my biggest support. But now, I owed the Lewis family 60 million. The person who once said he’d be my support for life didn’t even show up. Phoebe mocked me then, “Just an abandoned child the Lewis family doesn’t want, yet you dare to think you can have the Taylor family’s prince? Who gave you the face?!” I calmly retorted, “Just because I can call him Third Brother, and you can’t.” But Phoebe sneered, “You’re just a diversion in Theo’s boring life. Do you really think you’re that important?” She didn’t know that someone as proud as Theo once knelt on one knee to massage my sprained ankle. Thinking back, the confidence I had then only made me feel more ridiculous now.

“Where to? I’ll take you.” Theo’s cool voice pulled me back to the present. The cold, dull pain from my right hand’s three fingers returned. I hid my trembling hand in my pocket, stepping back to increase the distance from him. “Thank you, Mr. Theo, but there’s no need. I’ve called for a car.” He chuckled softly, his voice resonating like a cello. Theo spoke with some helpless reproach, “Been wild for a few years, and you don’t even call me Third Brother anymore?” My nose tingled. I couldn’t help but mock, “How could I dare to call you Third Brother? Mr. Theo, did you forget six years ago when you told me to know my place? I might not have many skills, but my memory is good. One lesson and I’ll never forget. I even have to thank Mr. Theo for such a vivid lesson. Truly benefited greatly.” I regretted it immediately after saying it. I’d held onto that for years, and he knew it as soon as he heard it. Theo looked up at me, a storm brewing in his eyes. After a while, as my palms began to sweat, he finally spoke softly, “…You sly girl, sharp-tongued.” Then he tapped on the car window, “Uncle Nolan, let’s go.” Watching the car drive away, I finally exhaled. Six years. Over two thousand days and nights, and when he appeared before me again, I was utterly defeated. My assistant cautiously watched my expression, hesitantly asking, “Fiona, I heard you call him Mr. Theo? In Seaside City, with the surname Taylor, could it be…?” Seeing me nod, the assistant’s eyes widened. “I heard that Theo’s investing in Asher’s new movie. Since you know Mr. Theo, why go through the trouble of meeting Nolan?” “I’ll never ask Theo for help!” I sharply interrupted the assistant. She shrank back, “I understand.” The car finally arrived. I composed myself, picking up my suitcase. “Call Mr. Nolan’s secretary and tell her we’ve arrived. Please arrange a meeting with Mr. Nolan.” After instructing the assistant, I leaned back in the car’s rear seat, closing my eyes to rest. Our first confrontation left me exhausted. And of course, someone had to add fuel to the fire. Zane’s call was relentless, like a haunting curse. I sighed, admitting defeat. “Hello? You better have a good reason for calling. I just sat through a four-hour flight and I’m very tired.” She laughed. “More tired than dealing with my Third Brother?” “Where are you hiding, watching the show?” Zane “tsk”ed several times, speaking mysteriously. “Today’s a high-level meeting at Quinn Enterprises. My uncle, father, second brother, and fourth brother are all present. It’s the most important meeting of the year for Third Brother, but he’s constantly checking his watch, distracted. As the head of the group, he was eager to leave halfway. Guess why?” I wouldn’t be naive enough to think it was because of me. “Zane, you know I’m not very curious. I have things to do, see you.” Zane shouted anxiously over the phone, “Hey! Sound! My Third Brother…” I decisively hung up the call. With Zane knowing I was back in Seaside City, there’d be no peace. I had a headache. Things needed to move quickly. If this negotiation went well, Asher could achieve significant career advancement with this movie. Although he always said he didn’t mind staying in the second tier, I felt indebted. Asher had helped me so much over the years. I just wanted to repay him. This time, I finally managed to get a chance to talk to Nolan from StarSource Productions. I had to seize this opportunity. In the end, my assistant and Mr. Nolan’s secretary arranged for us to meet for dinner the day after tomorrow. After placing my luggage at the hotel, I decided to visit the Lewis family. Nolan wasn’t someone easy to fool. To get resources from him, I needed something from the Lewis family to boost my worth.

My name is Fiona Lin. I’ve always known my “Lin” comes from the renowned prominent family in Seaside City. But they’ve never acknowledged me. Until I was ten. The Lewis family suddenly came to Oakridge to find Grandma and take me back. I held Grandma’s hand, crying and refusing to go. Grandma, tears flowing, held me tight with her frail hands. “Sound, go! The Lewis family can give you the best education and let you continue piano lessons. Grandma’s useless, can’t give you anything.” I was taken into the Lewis family’s car, my cries echoing against the window. In the back seat, an older man spoke calmly. “Doesn’t your Grandma have kidney disease and can’t afford dialysis? If you come back with me, I’ll ensure she gets it every week.” Later, I found out he was my grandfather, the head of the Lewis family, a man who thrived on manipulating people’s lives. And I was just a ten-year-old child. I returned with him to the Lewis household. As I stood in the grand hall, people around me pointed and mocked with disdain. “Did she pick that outfit from the trash? Goodness, it even has patches!” “Her shoes are filthy. I can smell the stench from here.” “Born from filth, what else would you expect from the likes of her?” The harshest words came from Phoebe’s mother. She despised me. My mother, a bar pianist, fell in love with my father at first sight, and soon after, I was born. But a family like the Lewis’s would never accept her. My father loved her deeply, so much that he renounced his status as a Lewis to be with her in Oakridge. If only the story ended there. But life is never that serene. Grandpa threatened my father with my mother’s safety, forcing him back to the Lewis family to marry Phoebe’s mother. My mother fell into a deep depression and died shortly after giving birth to me. When my father heard of her passing, he went to her grave in Oakridge and took his own life. At that time, Phoebe’s mother was six months pregnant. In his farewell note, he wrote that he had fulfilled his obligations to the Lewis family. That poor woman went mad, transforming from a graceful lady to a bitter, spiteful woman. She hated my father, hated my mother, and hated me. But they were gone, so she unleashed her hatred on me. Someone had to bear her torment and share her pain. Hatred needs an outlet. Otherwise, how could she combat the solitude that crept into her bones at night? But what was my fault? I was just an infant, my mother gone, my father choosing death over raising me. Where could I vent my grievances? Moreover, she knew full well that my father had my mother and me before her. She also knew my father didn’t love her, yet she followed her family’s arrangement to marry him for an alliance. Life is about choices. No one else is to blame. When Grandpa declared that I would stay with the Lewis family, she lost her last shred of dignity. “Dad! You promised me you’d never give this wretched child a single dime! And now you’re bringing her into our home, isn’t that a slap in the face?” Grandpa coughed heavily, “Declan is at a critical juncture. If it’s discovered that we abandoned our own flesh and blood, how would Declan continue his path?” That’s my Grandpa for you. Every step he takes is calculated and strategic. “Declan, Declan! He’s all you care about! I’ve been a widow in this house for almost ten years! Ten years!” Watching the hysterical woman before me, I quietly picked up my luggage and stood aside. I’m not foolish. Grandma’s dialysis costs depended on the Lewis family. Ten years of hardship taught me to be adaptable. What does it matter if I’m scolded or hated? Grandma’s illness is the most important. In Oakridge, each dialysis session costs five hundred. She needs at least two sessions a week. I don’t have the luxury to turn away from harsh words with flair. In this world, everything has a price. Including pride and dignity. And that’s when Theo entered my life.

Phoebe’s mom hurled the vilest insults at me, calling me a lowly tramp like my mom, saying I should have died with my parents, rotting in the mud. Grandpa couldn’t stop her. I pretended not to hear. Go on, curse all you want. I’m staying with the Lewis family anyway. The more you curse, the longer Grandma lives. Until someone chuckled from the corner of the sofa. Everyone’s eyes turned to him. He stood up lazily, straightening his wrinkled shirt. “Mr. Lewis, your house is quite lively today. I see you have a lot to handle, let’s reschedule our meeting about the land in East City.” Grandpa was startled, having forgotten there was an outsider in the mansion. “Theo, sorry for the oversight. You should head back today; I’ll invite you to the garden for tea another day.” He strode over to me. “Excuse me, your bag is in my way.” Oh, sorry. I obediently moved my luggage aside. He gave me a meaningful look, muttering softly, “Let’s see how long you can keep this up…” Then he turned to Grandpa with a smile, “I heard Declan is about to get promoted. Congratulations in advance. A scandal wouldn’t be good right now. Mr. Lewis, you should keep an eye on your backyard.” Grandpa’s face turned dark as he saw him out. Turning back, he slammed his tiger-head cane on the ground and pointed at Phoebe’s mom, scolding her. “You’re a disgrace! Embarrassing us in front of the Taylor family, get inside!” She wanted to retort but was silenced by Grandpa’s fierce glare, reluctantly taking Phoebe with her. “Wait,” Grandpa stopped her, rubbing his temples tiredly. “I know this is hard on you, but we can’t let anything jeopardize Declan. Haven’t you always wanted that Rongxi Jewelry under my name? I’ll transfer it to you the day after tomorrow.” Her expression softened. “Thank you, Dad.” I secretly rolled my eyes. See, in this world, everything has a price. With that jewelry store, Phoebe’s mom was appeased and would mostly ignore me. But Phoebe never knew when to quit. Even at a young age, she had a knack for making people’s lives difficult. She’d pour water on my bedding, dump my tests in the toilet, and let the Lewis family dog drink from my cup. Once, she tossed an expensive hairpin into my coat pocket and then told Grandpa it was stolen. When they found it in my coat, her face was smug and arrogant. Everyone could see her framing me, but no one would blame her. She told everyone I was a thief. People in their circle all hated me. Except Theo. When Phoebe tried to slander me, he’d laugh, “If I were her, I’d steal money instead of some worthless hairpin. That’d be brainless.” The Taylor and Lewis families had a long-standing relationship. He was very respected in their circle. Phoebe always clung to Theo, but he found her too young to hang out with. His defense of me fueled her resentment. Grandpa enrolled me in top-notch piano lessons, and the teacher was very strict about punctuality. If a student was late, they wouldn’t be accepted, no matter who vouched for them. So when Phoebe got my schedule, she deliberately sabotaged all the car tires at home when I had class. The Lewis mansion was over ten kilometers from the piano teacher’s studio in the city center. I bit my lip, ready to run the distance. Just then, Theo, finishing his business at the Lewis’s, saw me. He called out to me. “You’ll be late even if you run till your legs give out. My car’s by the riverside, I’ll take you.” I turned back, surprised. Phoebe cried, “Third Brother, why do you always help her?” Theo glanced at her, his tone cold, “Third Brother? Who said you could call me that?” She was startled, sobbing quietly. He walked over to me, frowning, “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” His presence was intimidating; I shrank back, quickly following, thanking him as I went. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.” “…Stop babbling.” He suddenly spoke from the back seat. “The softest fruit gets squeezed first. Do you want to be trampled forever?” I saw his disapproving eyes in the rearview mirror. Only then did I realize his annoyance was because I didn’t fight back. “Thank you, Mr. Theo.” “…Stop rambling.” Even though he’s only twenty, he’s already experienced in negotiations alongside his father. That’s why I address him as Mr. Theo. It seems like a respectful title, but he still looks displeased. Feeling defeated, I opened the passenger door and got in. From the back seat, he unexpectedly said, “The weakest get trampled on first. Do you want to be walked over your whole life?” I caught his frustrated expression in the rearview mirror. It dawned on me that his annoyance was because I hadn’t stood up for myself earlier.

Once I got involved with Theo, Cora began to dislike me even more. She would deliberately stop the staff from saving me dinner when I practiced piano and would secretly take or tear up my homework. At school, she teamed up with other wealthy kids to bully me, splashing dirty mop water on me and then strutting past with their noses in the air. I complained to Grandpa. But he just shrugged it off, saying, “It’s just Cora being playful. You’re older, you should let her.” He forgot that I’m only a year older. Besides, she has friends to share with, a mother to spoil her, and a grandpa to back her up. I have nothing here. I could only endure it and hope she’d tire of her pranks soon. But continually giving in only encourages a bully. At thirteen, I signed up for the Seaside City Piano Competition. The night before the contest, she shredded the dress I was supposed to wear and poured laxatives into my milk. I caught her in the act. For this competition, I’d practiced until 1 or 2 AM every night. The gold prize came with a reward of 30,000 yuan. I wanted to give it to Grandma. When I saw Cora showing no shame despite being caught, I lost my temper for the first time. I pushed her hard and scolded her, “The Lewis family has raised you with such poor manners!” She was shocked that I dared to retaliate and lunged at me, trying to pull my hair. I grabbed her hands, turned my back, and threw her over my shoulder, slamming her to the ground. In Oakridge, I used to carry dozens of pounds of waste, so dealing with a pampered girl was no challenge. “Cora, is bullying the weak your idea of pride? Do you think I won’t hit you back? I don’t punish you because I pity you for not having a father, just like me! Remember, I owe nothing to your mom or you! From today, I won’t tolerate you anymore. You better behave!” Cora noticed the cup of milk on the table. Milk splashed all over her head and face, leaving her in a mess. She froze for a moment, then covered her face and started crying. I turned to leave. When I looked back, Theo was watching me with interest. “Oh, the new little wildcat finally showed her claws? Pretty sharp ones too.” He’s known for being rebellious and unpredictable. Although he had hinted I should fight back, he’s known Cora for years. Surely, he wouldn’t hit me for her sake. I stiffened and walked past him without looking, trying to keep my face calm. I hoped my composure would intimidate him a bit. As I passed, he chuckled and called out, “Hey, your walk is off.” “…” He crossed his arms and said from behind, “Well done. That’s how you do it. Fight back if someone bullies you.” In the Lewis family, rare acts of kindness came from him. A fleeting sadness crossed his face, disappearing almost instantly. Later, I learned he had a similar childhood. With no one to protect him, he stumbled and grew into someone nobody dared to mess with. “You have to stand tall so everyone looks up to you rather than looking down.” Watching him walk away, it felt like something hit my chest. That night, a brand-new dress appeared in my room. The card read: [Good luck tomorrow, wildcat with the funny walk.] I pressed the card to my heart and had the sweetest sleep. The next day, after the competition, I stood on stage with the gold trophy, enviously watching other winners receive flowers and blessings from family and friends, feeling a sense of loneliness. As I exited the venue, Theo stood at the bottom of the long stairs, smiling and waving at me. “Fiona, come over here to your third brother.” His words left me dazed. Theo was third in the Taylor family. Everyone knew only those he approved of could call him “third brother.” The trunk of his car was filled with flowers. Among them was a small cake. On top, it read [TO: Fiona]. The cake was small, the words scrawled crookedly. Yet, my eyes welled up, and I hugged my trophy, sobbing.

Later, Theo told me back then, he was at a loss. The little wildcat’s sharp claws were intriguing, but when she hid them and showed vulnerability, it made his heart inexplicably nervous. When I received the prize money, Theo took me back to Oakridge. I placed the newspaper-wrapped 30,000 yuan in front of Grandma. She was shocked at the amount, then stuffed it back into my school bag. “Fiona, Grandma has money. You need it more at the Lewis family.” “Grandma, keep it! I’ll earn more in the future! Right, third brother?” Theo smiled warmly. “Yes, Grandma, it’s Fiona’s hard-earned reward from winning the piano competition.” On the way back, I was in high spirits. I hopped all the way from the Seaside City riverside to the Lewis family mansion because I realized I could earn money without relying on them. I’d really grown some skills. A whole 30,000 yuan! If I participated in more competitions, I could soon save enough for Grandma’s kidney transplant. After I taught Cora a lesson, she never troubled me again. She even awkwardly asked if I had piano lessons and if I needed dinner saved for me. The young girl entering puberty started showing some softness. The future held a bit of hope. Lost in my happy thoughts, I didn’t notice and missed a step. Theo caught me. His angelic face was only eight inches away from mine. My heart pounded wildly in my chest. The unfamiliar sensation scared me, and I pushed him away. But as soon as my foot hit the ground, a sharp pain shot through me. I fell. Theo frowned, lifted my ankle, and said, “How old are you? How can you sprain your foot on a road like this?” He knelt, scolding me while carefully removing my sock and gently massaging my ankle. “Bear with it, don’t cry, it will get better.” The skin on my ankle inexplicably heated. I stared blankly at the top of his head and his slightly red ears. A girl’s heart fluttered like cherry blossoms in March, disturbing the spring water. Before I could think, the confession slipped out. “Third brother, I like you.” He rolled his eyes. “Young girl, what do you know about liking?” Liking doesn’t have an age limit. I was certain of my feelings at that moment. I’m not a reserved girl. If I like someone, I’ll say it. At first, he treated it as a joke. Later, he looked at me helplessly. “Fiona, I’m eight years older than you. You’re young and don’t understand real liking.” Again with the age thing. I began to compete with him over this. That year on my birthday, Theo asked what I wished for. I lay on the table, grinning at him. “I wish the third brother would like me too.” He facepalmed speechlessly. Every birthday after that, I would ask him, “Third brother, I’m a year older now. Can you like me?” His silence grew longer each year, but his refusal remained unchanged. “Fiona, you’re still young.” I didn’t mind and blew out the candles, going about my business. I’d grow up someday. By the sixth year, I no longer needed to confess.

I still remember my 18th birthday was a perfectly clear day. Seaside City in June was unbearably hot. The cicadas’ cries marked the start of the SATs. Over the years, thanks to Theo’s special treatment, I slowly became accepted in their circle. His cousin Zane even became a good friend. Except for Cora. Our relationship, which had improved slightly, fractured again as Theo and I grew closer. I knew she had liked Theo since childhood. She scolded me for being so high-profile, saying I’d end up crying one day. I didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just jealous talk from a girl unable to get what she wanted. But I forgot she’d been in this circle much longer than me. She saw the looming crisis more clearly. Theo had mentioned he’d give me an unforgettable birthday this year. I already had a vague idea of what he planned to do. I’ve known since childhood that she’s had a crush on Theo. She scolded me, saying that someone with my status shouldn’t make such a big deal out of a confession. “Fiona Lin, nobody in our circle dares to treat Theo like that. With your high-profile antics, you’re bound to end up crying one day!” I didn’t pay it any mind, thinking it was just jealousy from a girl who couldn’t have what she wanted. But I forgot that she’d been part of this world much longer than I had and could see the hidden dangers more clearly. Theo had already told me that this year, he was going to make my birthday unforgettable. I had a hunch about what he was planning. Last year, when I confessed, he turned me down with “You’re still young,” but now it had shifted to “Let’s talk when you’re older.” When people mentioned me in his presence, they’d tease him with, “Your Fiona.” He would just smile without further explanation. His behavior seemed to announce one thing: I was no longer just admiring him from afar. So, this year, I started looking forward to my birthday days in advance. On that day, I wore the brightest yellow sundress in my wardrobe, applied a bit of lipstick, and left home in high spirits. Theo had been busy with a deal for his company, Jing’an International, so I didn’t ask him to pick me up. Instead, the Lewis family driver took me to our meeting place. But as soon as the car got onto the Seaside City Bridge, two vans blocked us. The driver slammed on the brakes, nearly throwing me forward. Before I could grasp what was happening, five or six men rushed out of the vans, yanked open my car door, and dragged me out. They looked fierce and menacing, and fear gripped my heart. Then, a handkerchief with a strong medicinal smell covered my face. I heard one of them say, “Grab this girl’s phone and call Theo. See if he wants this gift.” My heart sank. I knew the acquisition he was working on was challenging, and the other party had even roped in some shady characters to deal with him. If my guess was right, they planned to use me to force Theo to abandon the acquisition. “Hey, Fiona—” I managed to call out “third brother” before I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up, it was pitch dark. Several unfamiliar faces were smirking at me. I struggled wildly, my wrists chafed painfully by the ropes. One of them cursed, walked over, pinned me to the ground, and twisted my shoulders harshly. My screams echoed in the dilapidated house. My dislocated arms hung limply, and I lost the strength to struggle. The kidnappers picked up my phone and called Theo again, demanding 60 million in ransom. If he chose to save me, the 60 million shortfall would force him to abandon the acquisition, affecting Jing’an’s future and his business empire. I was lost in thought when I heard a response on the other end of the line. Theo’s voice was distant and cold, “60 million?” Then there was a long, dead silence. My heart turned cold inch by inch. “Third brother…” I murmured. Did I overestimate my importance? Would he really exchange part of his business empire for me? The kidnappers lost patience. “I heard this girl is a piano prodigy? Heh, Mr. Theo, what do you say if a pianist loses her hands?” I saw him press down on my hand and raise a hammer high. It hurt so much. It really did. I curled up, convulsing in pain. The sound of bones breaking and flesh being crushed echoed in my ears. Cold sweat soaked my dress. I screamed in agony. The kidnapper laughed into the phone, “Mr. Theo, does it sound good? If you don’t speak, I’ll hit again!” I cried to Theo on the phone, “Third brother, I beg you to save me! They’ll really cripple my hands!” The kidnapper taunted, “Come on, the prominent second son of the Taylor family, won’t you even spare 60 million for your little girlfriend?” Theo laughed. “Little girlfriend? You’re thinking too much. Everyone knows that we Taylors always marry into the Carter family. If my fiancée hears this, I’ll be in trouble.”

The three kidnappers were stunned. “Boss, did we grab the wrong person?” The leader scowled, “Impossible! I saw the photo. It’s this girl!” “But didn’t Theo just say he’s marrying into the Carter family?” “The Taylors are masters at playing with people’s hearts. You believe him? Theo, if you don’t pay, this girl’s other fingers won’t be safe!” I lay on the ground, waves of excruciating pain washing over me. I couldn’t help but beg him again. “Third brother, consider this 60 million a loan from you. I’ll definitely pay you back! Please, don’t leave me!” Theo was silent for a few seconds, then chuckled. “You’ve been calling me third brother for years, and you really think you’re a Taylor? You don’t even know your place. You’re just a plaything I use to amuse myself when I’m bored, no different from a cat or a dog. 60 million? Are you worth it? Alright, everyone, I have things to do. Do as you please. If you want money, go to the Lewis family. Don’t bother me again.” Listening to the busy tone on the phone, I felt utterly hopeless. After hanging up, the enraged kidnappers broke two more of my finger bones. I curled up in agony, my dress bunched up to my waist. One of them leered, tossing aside the hammer and moving to undress me. “Since this girl isn’t Theo’s woman, I might as well have some fun!” The sound of ripping fabric was clear. His rough fingers trailed across my chest. I was completely desperate. I glared at the man in front of me. Even if I were to die, I would take one down with me! He buried his face in my neck, biting randomly. I turned my head and bit his ear hard. “Ah! You bitch! You want to die!” He punched my chest and stomach, making my vision go dark, but I kept my bite until his ear bled profusely. He finally broke free, then kicked my ribs hard. I heard a crisp crack. The man raised the hammer high, aiming at my head. I closed my eyes. The leader suddenly stopped him. “Wait! What did Theo just say? Go to the Lewis family for money? What does this girl have to do with the Lewis family? We caught her near the Seaside City Bridge, by the Lewis mansion! Girl, are you from the Lewis family?” I spat out blood, my voice faint, “Didn’t you… do any research before kidnapping someone? My grandfather is Mr. Lewis. Can you really afford to offend both the Taylors and the Lewis family?” The kidnapper leader stared at me darkly. After a while, he said, “Keep an eye on her. I’ll make a call.” I breathed a sigh of relief. At least my life was spared for now. I never imagined that, in Theo’s heart, I meant nothing. My hands, my life, he didn’t care at all. I had been in Seaside City for eight years, and he was the one who had given me the most warmth and protection. I trusted him too much. For many years after, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Theo had chosen to save me. I would have been eternally grateful to him. My simple affection would have turned into a god-like dependence and love. With the power of the Lewis and Taylor families, they could have found the best doctors in the world to heal my fingers. I would still be the dazzling Fiona Lin. But Theo abandoned me. Once, Phoebe told me I was just a surprise, an interlude in Theo’s otherwise monotonous life. Vibrant, lively, interesting. But that was all. I foolishly hoped he would love me. This was the punishment given by fate. Three broken fingers taught me a harsh truth.

Later, I didn’t know how the kidnappers contacted the Lewis family. When I woke up again, Phoebe had brought several bodyguards to rescue me. The kidnappers were nowhere to be seen. As soon as she saw me, she slapped me hard. “Fiona Lin! You’re such a disaster! Didn’t I warn you not to be so high-profile in this circle? Did you listen?!” She untied my ropes, her tears falling onto me. “I don’t want to be picking up your body next time!” I smiled at Phoebe from the back of a bodyguard. “I owe you my life, sister.” Blood is thicker than water, after all. However, when I returned to the Lewis family, Grandpa just gave me a cold glance and sent me back to Oakridge. “Fiona, everyone knows you’ve been kidnapped for three days. You’re a girl, you know what people will think. Your third uncle has already drawn enough attention because of this case, and it’s not good for the Lewis family. Our family is already in turmoil and can’t afford any more gossip.” Even Phoebe couldn’t stand it. “Grandpa! What gossip could be more important than family health and safety? Besides, sending her away now only confirms those nasty rumors!” “Fiona, everyone knows you were held captive for three days. As a young woman, you’re aware of the assumptions people will make.” “Your uncle has already been under intense scrutiny because of this incident. This is not beneficial for the Lewis family. Our family is already on shaky ground, and we cannot withstand any more rumors.” Phoebe finally couldn’t stay silent. “Grandpa! What rumors could be more important than the safety and well-being of our own family? Plus, sending her away now would only validate those terrible rumors!” His response was a stern reprimand. “What do you kids know? I have my own arrangements. Focus on your studies; that’s what truly matters!” He took a deep breath and turned to me. “Return to Oakridge. With your grandma looking after you, I’ll be more at ease.” I let out a bitter chuckle. I was well aware of Grandpa’s indifference. What I didn’t foresee was that he wouldn’t even bother to help treat my dislocated finger. My belongings were hastily packed and placed by the front gate. Grandpa arranged for two bodyguards to escort me back to Oakridge overnight. I didn’t go straight home. In this condition, I would frighten Grandma. I borrowed a phone from one of the bodyguards and called Asher. Even though he immediately took me to the best hospital in Oakridge, my finger was not treated in time due to the delay. Now, it shakes uncontrollably. It doesn’t significantly impact my daily activities, but it’s not as agile as before. I know that from now on, I can no longer play the piano.

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In those years when I had been constantly pursuing my uncle, Samuel Whitman, he tried his best to avoid me. It was not until shortly before my death that I learned he was an immortal being who could live for a thousand years. When I died in despair in the fire, he was holding a grand wedding with his beloved. After being reborn, I treated Samuel with great respect everywhere. I restrained my feelings and even took the initiative to match him with the person who was said to be his beloved. However, Samuel seemed possessed. This time, he became the one who pestered me relentlessly. He asked, “Why are you avoiding me?” When the fire completely engulfed me, I despairingly thought that if I had a chance to start over, I would never fall in love with Samuel Whitman again. Perhaps my obsession had been too deep. After my death, my soul hadn’t dissipated immediately. Instead, I had been reluctant to leave the mortal world, or rather, I hadn’t wanted to leave Samuel. Chasing after Samuel had been my habit for more than ten years. I coldly watched as Samuel married his long-time lover the day I died. When the two of them toasted hand in hand at the wedding, anyone who saw them would have praised them as a perfect match. But I was not one of them. I had thought I wouldn’t feel anything after death. But seeing Samuel and Janet Hall smiling and chatting merrily, my heart still ached. When Samuel was handling my funeral, I followed right behind him. Samuel had been an immortal who could live for a thousand years. More than ten years passed, and Samuel’s face remained the same as ever. However, when he looked at my tombstone indifferently, it was as if he was looking at a stranger. I finally realized that Samuel and I were destined to be strangers. Before my soul wholly dissipated, I made a wish that I would never meet Samuel again. However, things hadn’t gone as I wished. Unexpectedly, when I opened my eyes again, I was back at the time when the Scholastic Assessment Test had just ended. Looking around the familiar room, I covered my face and couldn’t stop crying. I had never thought that God really gave me a chance to start over. At this time, my relationship with Samuel hadn’t been too bad yet. It was not long after I confessed my love to Samuel that our relationship deteriorated utterly. But this time, I didn’t make the same mistake again. “Cynthia.” Samuel’s voice sounded, and I instinctively took two steps back. I asked, “What’s the matter, Uncle Samuel?” Samuel opened the door of my room, and there seemed to be complex emotions in his eyes that I couldn’t understand. “What’s the matter, Uncle Samuel?” I felt creepy being stared at by Samuel’s complicated eyes. Could he tell that I was reborn? No, that was impossible. Samuel seemed to wake up from a dream. He touched his nose a little awkwardly. “It’s time for dinner, Cynthia.” I replied, “Oh, I see. I will go right away.” The meal was eerily quiet. In my past life, I had always been worried about losing things. When Samuel first adopted me, I was afraid of being abandoned by him, so I always unconsciously tried to please him. Later, after I fell in love with Samuel, I wanted to stick to him and be by his side all the time. For this reason, I got a lot of disgust from Samuel. Keeping a distance from Samuel like that was the first time in both my past and present lives. Samuel said, “Cynthia.” My hand holding the fork tightened instinctively. “Uncle Samuel, you taught me that we shouldn’t talk while eating.” Samuel smiled, just like the first time I saw him in my past life. At that time, a handsome and elegant young man gently reached out his hand to me and asked if I would like to go home with him. “Cynthia, why are you so distant from me now?” There seemed to be a bit of pain in Samuel’s eyes. I almost thought I was hallucinating. In my past life, Samuel had hated it the most when I interfered in his life under the pretext of being family. Why was he showing this attitude now? I said, “I’m not.” Samuel reached out and touched my head. “Cynthia, no matter what, I will always be with you and always by your side.” I lowered my head, and tears fell uncontrollably. Samuel was such a big liar. I would never believe a word Samuel said again.

I keenly sensed that Samuel’s attitude towards me seemed to have changed. In my past life, Samuel always kept a distance from me and lectured me in the manner of an elder. But now, something was off about Samuel. However, before I could figure it out, an unexpected guest arrived at our house. I silently poured coffee for Janet, not wanting to get too involved with her. “Uncle Samuel is having a meeting in the study. Ms. Hall, please wait for a while.” Janet sized me up and down, and her gaze made me feel highly uncomfortable. She said, “Cynthia, the Scholastic Assessment Test is over, right? You’re an adult now. You should keep a distance from your uncle. By the way, which university are you planning to apply to?” “I’ll take care of such matters for Cynthia. It’s none of an outsider’s concern,” said Samuel with a sullen face and an unfriendly tone. Janet’s expression immediately turned unpleasant. She forced a smile and said, “Samuel, how could I be an outsider? Anyway, I’m her elder.” I stood aside, remaining silent. Logically speaking, Samuel shouldn’t have been so cold towards Janet. At this time in my past life, Samuel and Janet had even reached the stage of discussing the details of their wedding. I stole a glance at Samuel, only to meet his eyes directly. “Cynthia has only me as her elder,” Samuel said in a calm voice. “I’ll take care of her affairs for a lifetime.” Janet’s expression froze, and she gave me a fierce glare. “Of course.” I bit my lip, feeling awkward in this strange atmosphere. I said, “Uncle Samuel, Ms. Hall is right. I’m already an adult, but you still haven’t gotten married. Ms. Hall is very nice. You two…” My voice grew lower because the way Samuel was staring at me was as if he would devour me. I was very confused. Sensing that the atmosphere was weird, Janet left quickly, leaving only me and Samuel in the living room. I rubbed my fingers, trying to keep my tone calm. “Uncle Samuel, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to my room.” Samuel nodded. Then, as if he had thought of something, he asked, “Cynthia, do you really want me to get married?” I stopped in my tracks. Of course, I didn’t want Samuel to get married. But did my opinion matter? I said helplessly, “Of course. Uncle Samuel, you’ve taken care of me for so long. I want you to be happy.” The next second, Samuel’s breath came from above my head, instantly enveloping me. “Is this your true feeling?” Samuel grabbed my wrist and rubbed it, forcing me to look up and meet his gaze. “Cynthia, tell me. Is this your true feeling?” I looked away guiltily. “Uncle Samuel, you’re hurting me.” Samuel seemed to wake up from a dream and suddenly let go of my hand. “I’m sorry, Cynthia. But you never used to be so distant from me before.” Perhaps because the sense of desolation in Samuel’s tone was too obvious, I couldn’t help but look at him. In both my past and present lives, I had never seen such an expression on Samuel’s face, as if he had lost something dear to him and was heartbroken. I shivered. Could Samuel have known that I was reborn?

The mere thought of this possibility sent a chill through my body. If it were true, what was Samuel up to with this attitude? Didn’t he dislike me and was eager to get rid of me to be with Janet as soon as possible? Memories of my past life came crashing down on me like a tidal wave, and a sharp pain shot through my head. Just then, Samuel happened to bring me a glass of milk. Seeing my state, he rushed to my side in a panic. “What’s wrong, Cynthia?” I leaned weakly against Samuel. “Uncle Samuel, my head hurts…” Samuel looked extremely worried. “Are you okay? I’ll take you to the hospital.” A flood of memories was rampaging through my mind, and all I wanted to do was rest. “Don’t.” Perhaps the memories of my past life overlapped with the Samuel in front of me, and my tone was rather willful. “Samuel, I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Samuel seemed a bit taken aback. But then, he smiled, “Why aren’t you calling me Uncle Samuel anymore? Silly girl, if you don’t want to go to the hospital, we won’t go.” Samuel touched my forehead to check my temperature and then held my hand. The warmth of Samuel spread from his palm into my body. It was the warmth I had been longing for. I closed my eyes, and the pain was pressing down on my eyelids. “I’ll be fine after lying down for a while.” “Cynthia, were the words you said today sincere?” Samuel’s soft voice reached my ears, almost like a bewitchment. He continued, “Cynthia is so naughty. As soon as you become an adult, you can’t wait to push me away.” In a daze, I shook my head vigorously to deny it. I wanted to say, “I didn’t. Samuel, it was you who didn’t want me. From the beginning to the end, it was you who pushed me away.” Samuel said, “Cynthia, Janet isn’t a good person. Trust me. Don’t have too much contact with her. If you have anything, just tell me.” I seemed to be trapped in the nightmare of my past life. I could only hear Samuel’s voice but couldn’t make any response. The fire was licking every inch of my skin, filling me with despair. I shouted in my heart, “Samuel, save me! Save me!” “Cynthia? Are you listening to me? Cynthia?” Samuel’s anxious voice sounded. Like a drowning person, I suddenly opened my eyes and gasped for air. The next second, Samuel hugged me tightly, stroking my back as if confirming something precious. He said, “Cynthia, are you okay? Don’t scare me, Cynthia.” I stiffened all over under Samuel’s touch. His scorching warmth seemed to spread through every inch of my body from my back, awakening my longing for Samuel. I took a deep breath and pushed Samuel away. “I’m fine. Uncle Samuel, please behave yourself.” Samuel’s hand froze in mid-air. After a long time, he reached out and pulled me back into his arms. He said, “Cynthia, be good. Let me hold you a little longer. I don’t know why, but I feel like I haven’t seen you for a long time.” I was a bit stunned. The warmth belonging to Samuel seeped into my body bit by bit. Samuel smiled self-deprecatingly, “I never thought about it before, but I just want to hold you tight now.” Staring into my eyes, Samuel said, “Cynthia, did I ever tell you? I don’t like Janet.” I seemed to be bewitched by his intense eyes and slowly shook my head. Samuel continued, “Aren’t you going to ask me who I like? Cynthia…” I suddenly came to my senses. “Uncle Samuel, how would I know who you like?” Samuel gently stroked my hair, his voice low. “You.”

Even long after Samuel left, I still couldn’t snap out of it and stared blankly at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face. By now, I was almost certain that Samuel knew I had been reborn. The Samuel from my past life would never have been so affectionate towards me. But this time, I didn’t want to chase after Samuel anymore. In my past life, I had clung to Samuel, pestering him relentlessly. When I was in college, I often interned at Samuel’s company. It was both to see Samuel and to keep an eye on other women around him. The first time I saw Janet in Samuel’s office, I almost went crazy. I cornered Samuel in his office and tearfully demanded to know who Janet was. He just stared at me blankly and asked, “What does this have to do with you?” The tears in the corners of my eyes instantly turned into a joke, and I could still remember the feeling of humiliation I felt at that moment. I asked, “What do you mean? Samuel, don’t play dumb. I don’t believe you don’t know that I like you.” Like a madwoman, I pressed Samuel’s hand against my heart, letting him feel every beat for him. I said, “Samuel, my heart has belonged to you for a long time. You can’t treat me like this.” Samuel just pushed me away and said coldly, “I’m your uncle.” That day, I didn’t know how I stumbled out of the company in a daze. Later, news spread that Samuel and Janet were engaged, and I was the last one to find out. Looking at Janet’s Instagram, I was almost consumed by jealousy and even privately sought out Janet to threaten her. The flames of jealousy burned through my heart, blinding me to how Janet fell and how Samuel rushed her to the hospital. I could only remember the look of disgust and hatred Samuel gave me as he picked Janet up. He said, “Cynthia, you make me sick.” These words later became a recurring nightmare that haunted me in my dreams, tormenting me over and over again. I hugged myself, trying to control my trembling body. In a daze, I recalled that Samuel still couldn’t get rid of me. I became the fastest-promoted employee in his company. Even though everyone knew my relationship with Samuel, they couldn’t fault my performance. But later… Things got a bit blurry in my memory. Later, I stayed up for weeks on end and secured a big deal for the company. At the celebration party, I was almost drunk out of my mind. I took the contract and threw it at Samuel, saying, “Samuel, look! I’m not a child. I’m capable. Look at me. I’m no worse than Janet.” I stared at Samuel’s face, the man who had haunted my dreams for so many years. “Can’t you love me a little bit?” That day, everything fell apart. I bit Samuel’s lips fiercely as if trying to release all the grievances of these years. Samuel also lost control and kissed me back even more furiously, with a hint of punishment. That night, my love was shattered into pieces. But when I woke up the next day, I was happy and didn’t regret it. However, I never expected that Samuel still didn’t cancel his engagement to Janet. “Why?” I asked, my eyes filled with unwillingness. “Samuel, why?” Samuel sneered coldly and looked at me with a gaze that sent shivers down my spine. He said, “Cynthia, do you really think that I’ll marry you just because we slept together for one night? Using such despicable means only makes me loathe you even more.”

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