## It happened during an Antarctic expedition. A sudden avalanche buried us both. I gave everything I had to save her, pushing her to safety while the snow swallowed me whole. I was left behind, frozen forever in that icy wasteland. When she didn’t see me emerge from the snow, she assumed the worst—that I had abandoned her to save myself. It didn’t take long for her to fall into the arms of another man. “Jason, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived,” she sobbed. “I’m divorcing him. I want to be with you.” Later, our expedition made headlines, earning a Guinness World Record for our achievement. Ironically, my wife’s newfound fame led her to sign on as a guide with an Antarctic research team. But fate has its ways. On her next trip south, another avalanche struck. This time, the snow unearthed my body. The truth came crashing down like the ice that had buried me. She fell to her knees before my frozen corpse, wailing in regret. At the Guinness World Record ceremony, I stood in the shadows, watching her accept the award. My wife—ex-wife now—stood on stage, smiling for the cameras. Our five-person team had accomplished something historic: trekking through the Antarctic during polar night, documenting phenomena no one had recorded before. The achievement filled a gap in human history. It was a feat worth celebrating. But for me, the memory was tainted. The journey had been perilous, every step a gamble with death. Thanks to the route I had meticulously planned, we had made it almost to the end. Almost. Then the avalanche came. I used every ounce of strength to save her, shoving her out of harm’s way. And for that, I paid the ultimate price. Now, I was nothing more than a silent witness. My soul lingered, unseen, as she basked in the glory I’d died for. A reporter asked her a question from the crowd. “Ms. Bennett, you’ve become a global icon for female adventurers. Many young women look up to you as a role model. Do you have any advice for them?” She smiled into the camera, her polished image on full display. “Choose your partners wisely,” she said sweetly. “You really see someone’s true colors in life-or-death situations.” Then, with a deliberate pause, she added, “This expedition also showed me my ex-husband’s true nature. I have to thank Jason for saving me.” Her words twisted the knife in my chest. After I’d saved her, she’d searched for me in the chaos. But Jason, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. He told her I had abandoned her to save myself. He even produced a doctored video of me running during the avalanche, claiming he was the one who had pulled her from the snow. Fueled by anger and betrayal, she had filed for divorce the moment we returned home. Now, a year later, it was finalized. She was single again, free to rewrite the past however she liked. Another reporter jumped in with a provocative question. “Ms. Bennett, you recently finalized your divorce. Do you have any lingering feelings for your ex-husband?” Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. “Feelings? None,” she said coldly. “In fact, I’d like to use this opportunity to send him a message.” She turned to the camera, her voice sharp. “Zach Carter, you left me to die in that avalanche. Then you hid from me for an entire year out of guilt. Now that the court has finalized our divorce, I want to make it clear: we are done. Forever.” The live stream chat erupted with outrage. “Who takes their wife to Antarctica and runs when it gets dangerous? Disgusting!” “Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. This guy’s a coward.” “‘In sickness and in health’ doesn’t mean anything anymore, huh?” The reporter, sensing an opportunity to fan the flames, pressed on. “Ms. Bennett, is it possible your ex-husband didn’t abandon you? Could he have… died in the avalanche?” She shook her head firmly. “First of all, I have video evidence of him running. Second, he was wearing a biometric monitor. I’ve checked—it shows he’s alive and well. He just chose to disappear.” Her words brought a bitter smile to my face. If she had cared enough to look deeper, she would’ve realized I wasn’t hiding. I was gone. Truly gone. The spotlight shifted as Jason walked onto the stage. Under the gaze of the cameras, he dropped to one knee, holding out a ring. “Lia,” he said, his voice full of false sincerity, “let me be the one to protect you from now on. In your darkest moments, I’ll be your light. In your happiest days, I’ll stand by your side. Will you marry me?” The crowd erupted in cheers. Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “From the moment you saved me from that avalanche, I knew—you’re the one I was meant to be with.” And with that, she threw herself into his arms, their kiss fiery and passionate. I stood frozen, my chest tightening as though shards of ice were stabbing my heart. I had given my life for hers. And now, she stood there, kissing the man who had lied to her, who had stolen my sacrifice and called it his own. Fate was cruel, and I was its silent witness.

The proposal was just the start of the event. This wasn’t just a Guinness World Records award ceremony—it was also the official signing for Lia’s upcoming role with the Antarctic Research Team. She had been hired to lead the team across Antarctica, documenting the mysteries of polar night and filming a groundbreaking documentary. The signing went smoothly, and a month later, Lia and Jason arrived to meet the research team. However, as soon as she spotted one of the team members, her smile vanished. She frowned and took a step back. “DylanBlake,” she said sharply, “what are you doing here?” Dylansmirked, his expression cold and defiant. “I’m part of this team too. Why shouldn’t I be here? I’m going to Antarctica to uncover the truth.” His voice grew louder as he took a step toward her. “Lia, for an entire year, you’ve been telling everyone that Zach abandoned you during the avalanche. You claim he’s still alive, that he ran off and is hiding. But I waited for him, too—for a whole year. If he’s alive, why hasn’t he come back to me?” I sighed as I watched the scene unfold. Dylanhad been a close friend of mine. He was the youngest scientist on the Antarctic research team, passionate and brilliant. Before I’d left for Antarctica, he had asked me to collect some samples for one of his research projects. I’d succeeded in gathering the samples, but I never got the chance to deliver them. The avalanche had ended my journey—and my life. If I had any regrets, it was for my friends like Ethan, who had been left behind with no answers. Over the past year, Dylanhad tried repeatedly to reach Lia, desperate to know what had happened to me. But she had shut him out every time. When that didn’t work, she escalated—accusing him of harassment, filing complaints, and nearly costing him his spot on the research team. Now, here he was, standing in front of her, refusing to back down. Jason, ever the smooth talker, stepped in to diffuse the tension. “Ethan,” he said calmly, “the route Lia and I took last time was far too dangerous. We barely survived the avalanche ourselves. That’s why I’ve charted a new route for this expedition. We won’t be going anywhere near the old one.” Ethan’s face turned red with anger. He pointed a finger at Jason, his voice rising. “This isn’t about safety—it’s about hiding the truth! Zach didn’t abandon anyone. He died because of you two!” Lia crossed her arms, her expression icy. “Ethan, you’re a scientist. You’re brilliant when it comes to research. But when it comes to outdoor exploration, you’re out of your depth. Let the professionals handle this.” She glanced at Jason, then back at Ethan. “If Zach had listened to Jason’s advice last time, none of us would’ve been caught in the avalanche. He made reckless decisions, and look where that got him. Do you think you’d fare any better?” Her words cut deep, and I could feel the frustration bubbling inside me. Jason, a so-called “expert,” was actually my protégé. He’d only started learning about outdoor expeditions a year before our trip to Antarctica. If it hadn’t been for Lia insisting he join us, I never would’ve brought him along. His “new” route may have seemed shorter and safer on paper, but in reality, it was riddled with dangers. It passed through wolf-infested mountains and icy rivers prone to flash flooding. Any slip-up along the way could’ve been fatal for the entire team. The route I had planned, on the other hand, had been tested and proven safe. If it hadn’t been for the freak avalanche, nothing would’ve gone wrong. But Lia had ignored my decade of experience and placed her trust in Jason—a rookie who barely knew what he was doing. The irony was almost laughable. Before Dylancould respond, Professor White, another member of the research team, stepped in to calm things down. “Let’s not argue,” the professor said, pulling Dylanback. “We’re all here to work together, and we’ll leave the logistics to the professionals.” He turned to Lia and Jason with a polite nod. “Don’t worry. We’ll follow your route exactly as planned.”

Escorted by helicopters, the research team finally stepped onto the icy terrain of Antarctica. Lia immediately stepped forward, assuming command. “From this moment on, everyone must follow Jason’s and my instructions to the letter. No exceptions. We can’t afford any mistakes out here. Understood?” The team members nodded in agreement, including Ethan, though his expression was heavy with doubt. The First Few Days The first day passed uneventfully, and so did the second. But by the third day, trouble arrived. The team found themselves in the middle of a wolf pack’s hunting grounds. The male team members gripped their rifles tightly, scanning the snow for any movement. At the center of the group, Ethan’s face was grim as he turned to Lia. “This is only the third day, and we’ve already attracted a pack of wolves. Wolves don’t just wander off—they’ll stalk us from a distance until they find an opening. How are we supposed to conduct research like this?” Lia’s face darkened. “This must be a freak occurrence. We couldn’t have known the wolves would migrate to this area.” Behind her, Jason shrank back, hiding behind her like a child, avoiding eye contact with anyone. “Let’s just keep moving,” Lia said, trying to wave it off. “Maybe they’ll lose interest in a few days and leave us alone.” Professor White intervened before the argument could escalate. “It’s a minor setback, Ethan. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and proceed cautiously.” Reluctantly, Dylanlet it go. The Fifth Day By the fifth day, the strain was beginning to show. One of the team members fell ill, weakened by the harsh conditions. It didn’t take long for the wolves to notice. A lone wolf darted out from the shadows, closing in on the vulnerable team member. Bang! Jason fired his rifle, killing the wolf instantly. He turned to Lia, expecting praise for his quick thinking, but instead, the team erupted in anger. “What the hell is wrong with you?” one member shouted. “Do you not know the rules? You can’t just fire a gun out here! What if you trigger an avalanche?” “Not to mention,” Dylanadded coldly, “gunfire doesn’t scare off wolves—it provokes them. Congratulations, you’ve just made things worse.” Jason’s face turned red as he stammered, “I-I was just trying to help!” Lia immediately stepped in, shielding Jason from the team’s criticism. “He was just trying to save someone,” she said defensively. “He didn’t mean to make things worse. Cut him some slack.” From where I stood, watching unseen, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. If this had happened on one of my expeditions, Lia would have torn into me without hesitation, blaming me for everything. But for Jason? She had endless patience. The Argument Ethan’s expression hardened. “Professor White,” he said sharply, “I think we need to call off this expedition. If we keep going, someone’s going to get seriously hurt—or worse. We’re here to conduct research, not throw our lives away because of poor planning.” Professor White hesitated, clearly torn. “The funding for this expedition was enormous. If we pull out now, we’ll waste months of preparation and resources.” “And if we don’t pull out?” Dylanshot back. “What happens when we run into something even more dangerous?” Lia’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Ethan, you’re being ridiculous. A little adversity is part of Antarctic research. If you can’t handle the risks, maybe you shouldn’t have come in the first place.” I knew exactly why Lia was so insistent on continuing. She wasn’t worried about science or safety—she was worried about her reputation. If the expedition failed, it would tarnish her carefully constructed image as a fearless adventurer. Ethan’s face turned red with frustration. “Adversity? You call this a little adversity? Do we need someone to get mauled to death before you admit this was a mistake?” Professor White’s expression wavered, clearly considering Ethan’s point. Sensing that she might lose the argument, Lia clenched her fists. “Oh, I see what this is about. You just want me to go back to his route, don’t you? Fine. Let’s do it.” She turned to Professor White. “Let’s use the route Zach planned before. Does that satisfy you, Ethan?” The professor nodded. “If he charted that route before, it should be safer. Let’s proceed.” Dylandidn’t object. I knew why. He didn’t trust Lia or Jason, but he trusted me. Even when the world had condemned me, accusing me of abandoning my wife, Dylanhad always believed in me. A Safer Path As soon as they switched to my route, the tension began to ease. The wolf pack disappeared by the fifth day, and the team was finally able to set up camp and focus on their research. For the next month, they worked without incident, completing all their objectives. But as the team prepared to move deeper into the frozen wilderness, I couldn’t take my eyes off the snow-covered mountain in the distance. That was where it had happened. That was where I had died. My body was still there, buried beneath layers of ice, hidden from the world. The Avalanche Site “Is this where it happened?” Ethan’s voice broke the silence as he walked up to Lia. Lia crossed her arms, her expression cold. “Yes,” she said flatly. “This is where Zach abandoned me. You wanted to know if he’s dead? Go ahead and look for him. I’d love to see if the man who left me behind is still out there somewhere.” Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Before he could say anything, one of the team members came running over. “Professor White, we’ve spotted something unusual nearby—a seal acting strangely. The area seems unnaturally quiet. It could be a sign of…” The professor’s face darkened. “Everyone, stay close. Keep your weapons ready, but don’t fire unless absolutely necessary. Let’s check it out.” The team moved cautiously, rifles raised, scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. When they reached the seal, they immediately noticed something odd. “There’s something attached to it,” Dylansaid, narrowing his eyes. “Could it belong to someone?” “Catch it,” Lia ordered. “And nobody fire a shot.” Working together, the team managed to capture the seal. When they examined it, they found a small device attached to its back. Ethan’s eyes widened as he recognized it. “Wait a second… This… This is Zach’s tracker from a year ago!”

“That’s it! This tracker belongs to Zach!” Dylanexclaimed, gripping the device tightly in his hand. His voice cracked with emotion as he looked up, glaring at Lia. “This can only mean one thing—Zach is dead. That’s why this device ended up on this seal!” Lia’s face froze, but before she could respond, Jason stepped forward, frowning defensively. “That’s impossible!” he snapped. “I saw him escape with my own eyes. You must be mistaken. Lots of explorers use trackers like this one.” Lia crossed her arms and scoffed. “Exactly. This doesn’t prove anything. The avalanche struck in the north, and we’re in the south now. There’s no way this tracker belongs to him—it must’ve been dropped by someone else.” But Dylanjust laughed bitterly, tears streaking down his face. “Oh, really? Then explain why the initials ‘ZC’ are engraved on the back! Lia, stop lying to everyone—Zach is dead, and you’re responsible for it!” Lia stared at the tracker in shock, her face pale. “That… that has to be a coincidence,” she stammered. Ethan’s voice trembled with fury. “A coincidence? The evidence is right here, and you’re still trying to deny it?!” At that moment, one of the team members called out from a distance. “There’s a body over here!” Everyone froze. The team rushed over and found a frozen corpse, its face unrecognizable from the harsh conditions. But something else caught Ethan’s attention—a small action camera strapped to the body’s chest. Ethan’s eyes lit up with determination as he turned to Lia. “Let’s see what’s on that camera. Once the footage is recovered, I want to hear you explain this!” The atmosphere grew tense as the team worked to recover the video. Finally, the camera flickered to life, but the screen was filled with static, green blurs, and distorted audio. One of the researchers scratched his head. “It looks like the file’s corrupted…” Lia let out a sigh of relief and crossed her arms. “Even if it worked, I’d know if that body was Zach’s. I don’t care if he’s turned to dust—I’d still recognize him. That isn’t him.” Jason nodded quickly, chiming in. “Exactly! Zach ran north when the avalanche hit. Even if he died, his body wouldn’t be here, in the south.” Dylanclenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his bloodshot eyes locked on Lia. Lia sneered, her tone dripping with bitterness. “Zach always claimed to love me. But when it really mattered—when the avalanche hit—I was unconscious, lying there in the snow. “And what did he do? He left me behind! If Jason hadn’t saved me, I’d be dead right now. Zach was nothing but a selfish coward. That body can’t be him!” Her words sent a ripple through the team, their anger and disgust aimed squarely at me. Suddenly, the researcher working on the camera let out a triumphant cry. “I fixed it! Everyone, come take a look!” The team crowded around as the video began to play. Lia glanced at the screen, her expression softening as she explained. “This footage is from two of our teammates who joined us on the last expedition. They were collecting fresh water when the avalanche hit, and we lost contact with them. I prayed they’d survived, but it looks like their bodies have been here all along.” She sighed heavily, her voice tinged with fake sadness. “They must’ve survived the avalanche but lost their equipment and succumbed to the cold. Ethan, they’re not the ones you’re looking for.” I watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart. I remembered those teammates clearly. After the avalanche, I had left the safety of our camp to look for them, knowing the shelter I’d set up had been designed to withstand the snow. That was when Jason had captured the infamous video of me “running,” twisting the truth into a lie that would haunt me even after death. But Dylanwasn’t ready to let it go. “What about the tracker?” he shot back. “How do you explain it, Lia? Did Zach ‘drop’ it while he was supposedly running away?” Lia hesitated, staring down at the device in her hand, her brow furrowed in frustration. Dylanlet out a bitter laugh. “Lia, do you even understand how a tracker works? Human and animal signals are completely different. Are you telling me you never noticed? Did you ever really care about Zach at all?” I flinched at his words. Even though I knew she couldn’t hear me, I whispered softly, “Lia… did you ever care about me?” I shook my head, laughing bitterly at my own foolishness. Of course, she didn’t. But to my surprise, Lia answered, her voice cold and cutting. “Of course I cared.” I froze. Her voice cracked as she continued, “I loved him more than anyone else in this world. I would’ve died for him without hesitation. I thought he was my everything.” Her expression darkened, tears glistening in her eyes. “But what did he do? When I needed him most, he abandoned me. He left me to die in the snow while he saved himself. Ethan, how can I love someone like that? How can I care about a man who ran away and left me behind?” Her voice broke as she shouted, her tears spilling over. I dropped to my knees in the snow, clutching my head. “Lia, I didn’t leave you! I swear I didn’t abandon you!” But all I could hear in response was the howling wind. I turned to Ethan, my last hope, silently begging him to defend me. Dylanclosed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Lia, what if I told you that Zach planned this entire expedition because he wanted to declare his love for you in front of the world?” Lia’s breath hitched, her eyes wide with shock. Dylancontinued, his voice softer now. “He wanted to cross the polar night with you so that when the sun finally rose, he could make you his forever.” “Do you really think someone who planned something like that would abandon you?” Lia stood frozen, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for words but finding none. Suddenly, one of the team members pointed at the camera. “Wait! There’s more footage!” he shouted excitedly.

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## A self-proclaimed rich girl came to our company for an interview today. Her answers were all over the place, yet somehow, she managed to beat out Ivy League graduates. “Oh no, I wasn’t ready earlier. Can we start over?” she said. The panel of interviewers froze, their fake smiles plastered on their faces. And so, the “exclusive” interview began. From morning till evening, it was all about her. By the time the city lights came on, the exhausted interviewers, looking like they’d just aged ten years, announced mandatory overtime for everyone in the company. That night, the rich girl posted a video: “Day 1 of inheriting my family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.” I immediately called my mom. “Spill it. Do you have a secret love child, or am I some swapped-at-birth fake heiress?” A self-proclaimed rich girl came to our company for an interview today. Her answers were all over the place, yet somehow, she managed to beat out Ivy League graduates. “Oh no, I wasn’t ready earlier. Can we start over?” she said. The panel of interviewers froze, their fake smiles plastered on their faces. And so, the “exclusive” interview began. From morning till evening, it was all about her. By the time the city lights came on, the exhausted interviewers, looking like they’d just aged ten years, announced mandatory overtime for everyone in the company. That night, the rich girl posted a video: “Day 1 of inheriting my family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.” I immediately called my mom. “Spill it. Do you have a secret love child, or am I some swapped-at-birth fake heiress?”

Today was interview day at the office. All the candidates had left, but somehow, the interview wasn’t over. “Didn’t the interviews finish already? Why aren’t the managers out yet?” Zach, who needed some signatures, was pacing back and forth, visibly frustrated. “Shh! You don’t know? The boss’s ‘daughter’ is still in there.” “What?!” “Yeah, the heiress. She even posted about it yesterday.” Suddenly, everyone perked up. Whispers spread like wildfire as gossip flooded every group chat. Curious, I clicked on the link in one of the gossip threads. “Tomorrow’s my big interview—what should I wear?” In the video, the enormous walk-in closet looked disturbingly familiar. And in the back corner? My best friend’s gift—a pair of my silk pajamas. My blood boiled. I immediately called the housekeeper. “Uncle Frank, is everything all right at home?” “Uh… yes, Miss Claire. Everything’s fine…” Uncle Frank’s usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found. His hesitation sent a chill down my spine. Something was definitely wrong. “How’s my mom doing? Is she okay? When are you coming back?” he asked, quickly changing the subject. “She’s still in treatment. I’ll be back soon,” I said, keeping my voice steady. I’d been abroad since high school, receiving a top-tier education. Six months ago, when my mom suddenly fell ill, I brought her overseas for treatment. Her condition had stabilized, and I’d just finished my studies. It was time to return and take over the family business, as my mom had requested. To get a clear picture of how things were running, I decided to apply to the company anonymously, just to see what was really going on. A little undercover “work experience,” if you will. But I wasn’t expecting to walk into a scene straight out of a soap opera: a fake heiress playing dress-up in my house and pretending to be me. Staring at the messy pile of clothes and accessories in her video, all of which were mine, I clenched my fists. This was going to cost me, wasn’t it? No matter. I was going to find out who was behind this nonsense. That night, the fake heiress posted another video: “Day 1 of inheriting the family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.”

The next morning, the gossip group chat exploded again. Someone had leaked photos of the fake heiress arriving at work. Wearing oversized sunglasses, “Mia” stepped out of a car—my car. She clutched an Hermès bag—my bag. And from the slightly ill-fitting suit she was wearing? That was my suit too. Of course, it looked a little loose on her, given her short and stocky frame. Before she even made it to the elevator, the fashionistas in the chat had dissected her outfit from head to toe. “She’s the real deal, all right! It’s like she’s wearing a whole mansion on her back!” “I wish I could be friends with a rich girl like that.” “Who wouldn’t want to be her bestie?” But their admiration didn’t last long. On her first day, the fake heiress immediately stole the team leader’s desk, claiming it had better lighting for her videos. The team leader’s polite smile froze on her face. By day two, she outright plagiarized a coworker’s report and passed it off as her own. By day three, she was randomly berating another coworker for “poor performance.” Every day, she updated her followers with videos portraying herself as the ultimate corporate powerhouse. According to her, the bosses were practically begging her to take over. She painted herself as a workplace prodigy, while the rest of us were reduced to her “supporting cast.” Her fans even gave us nicknames: “Useless Coworker #1,” “Useless Coworker #2,” and so on. The managers, spineless and sycophantic, let her do whatever she wanted. My coworkers were furious but too scared to speak up. Watching all of this unfold, my disappointment in the company’s leadership grew. I quietly documented everything in a little notebook, page after page filling up with her misdeeds.

3 It was time for our team’s product presentation. I’d spent several nights working overtime, perfecting the PPT slides. Just as I was about to take the stage, Mia strutted over, holding her phone up for a live stream. “Claire, what are you standing there for? Can’t you see the managers don’t have any water? Go fetch some, now!” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her eyes darting nervously, though she tried to mask it with an air of superiority. “Such a lack of awareness,” she muttered. Turning to her live stream audience, she added in a sickly-sweet voice, “See, my precious fans? I have to be strict with these employees—they’re just too lazy without me!” I squinted at her, pretending to comply, and walked toward the door. But instead of leaving, I stopped just outside, leaning against the wall to listen. Sure enough, Mia had an ulterior motive. She confidently stepped up to the podium, opened the PPT I’d worked so hard on, and adopted a serious expression. “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Mia, and I’ll be presenting today’s product overview.” She turned to the managers and added with fake humility, “I just joined the company, so my presentation might not be perfect. Please give me your feedback.” The team, catching on to her sly move, turned to look at me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement. I crossed my arms and glared. My icy demeanor made them all shrink back a little. To her credit, Mia had a sweet voice, and she read through my slides word-for-word, as if they were her own. The room erupted into applause when she finished, and she flashed a wide, self-satisfied smile at her viewers, even winking at the camera. But then, someone interrupted. “So, what’s the design concept behind this product?” The applause died instantly. Mia froze, the question catching her completely off guard. The room fell silent as everyone turned to me. “Uh, the concept? Well, it’s… um… it’s designed to… increase revenue! Yes, that’s it—revenue!” Her face turned bright red as she stammered out a response. The room stayed quiet for a long, awkward three seconds before the department manager finally stepped in to smooth things over. “Well, at the end of the day, it’s all about contributing to the company’s success!” The audience murmured in agreement, but I felt disgusted. A market manager with no principles? How could this company ever grow? I sighed, frustrated. Later, Mia began to notice the growing dissatisfaction among her coworkers. To win them over, she began bringing in snacks and drinks every afternoon. “I ordered everyone some treats!” she announced, grinning. “Thanks, boss!” someone joked. “Don’t call me that—I am trying to keep a low profile!” Slowly but surely, her “sugar bombs” worked. My coworkers began warming up to her, overlooking her antics. But of course, Mia wasn’t about to let me off easy. “Oh no, Claire, I forgot you were here! I didn’t order anything for you—oops!” Her acting was atrocious, but the result was painfully effective. I was gradually ostracized by the team, left out of conversations and projects.

The company’s mid-year product sales meeting was fast approaching. The team leader assigned me to handle “service work.” “Service work? You mean, like a waiter?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m just kidding,” he replied with a smirk. “But seriously, Claire, make sure everything’s perfect. No mistakes.” Mia covered her mouth, giggling as she exchanged smug glances with the others. The toxic atmosphere in the team was grating on my nerves. The team leader had no control over the chaos Mia stirred up, and I was running out of patience. Still, he had one announcement that caught everyone’s attention: “This time, Mr. Grant from Kingsman Group will be attending the meeting. He’s a key client, and his investment will determine next year’s orders. So, bring your A-game.” “Mr. Grant?” someone whispered. “THE Mr. Grant? The George Clooney of Wall Street?” The room buzzed with excitement. My female coworkers looked ready to faint, their cheeks glowing red. Mia’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. I, on the other hand, groaned inwardly. Why does it have to be him? The company was pulling out all the stops for the sales meeting. To secure Mr. Grant’s investment, everyone had been working overtime for a week, ensuring every detail was flawless. The day of the event, Mia, who wasn’t even part of the reception team, showed up early. “Claire doesn’t have the experience for this kind of high-stakes event,” she declared to the team leader. “I should handle the reception instead.” “This is too important to risk,” the team leader replied flatly. “You don’t have the expertise.” “Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility,” Mia insisted, her tone laced with veiled threats. “And don’t forget—I’m going to inherit this company one day.” The team leader caved, unwilling to argue. I, meanwhile, couldn’t have been happier to avoid dealing with Mr. Grant. As the biggest investor, Mr. Grant arrived last, making an entrance that turned heads. Tall, sharp, and effortlessly charismatic, he strode into the room like he owned the place, his piercing gaze sweeping across the crowd. Mia’s face lit up as she rushed forward, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Mr. Grant, I’m Mia. I’ll be assisting you today,” she said with a forced giggle. He didn’t even glance at her, walking straight past as his eyes scanned the room. “Mr. Grant, you’re so funny!” Mia called after him, mistaking his indifference for teasing. “My dad owns Titan Group. He told me our families go way back.” Mr. Grant stopped abruptly, turning to look at her. His expression darkened, his piercing gaze now cold and scrutinizing. “Excuse me,” he said icily, “but the Grants and the Lee family are not ‘old friends.’” The room went dead silent. In reality, the Grants were close with my family—the Charlestons. Without us, the Lee family was nothing. Mia’s face turned pale as she stumbled back. Quickly, the team leader stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. “Mia, apologize to Mr. Grant. He’s just joking with you!” “Uncle!” Mia whined, her voice trembling, clearly trying to play the victim. Across the room, the other company executives exchanged knowing smirks. No one took Mia seriously anymore—except me. I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me. Titan Group had been built by my grandfather and nurtured by my family for three generations. It was the heart of the Charleston legacy. And I wouldn’t let anyone—least of all Mia—tear it apart.

The product sales meeting was a disaster. As the chaos wound down, Mr. Grant—aka Ethan—shot me a knowing look, raising an eyebrow. I gave him a small nod in return. At the coffee shop downstairs: “Why are you here, Ethan?” I asked, sipping my coffee. “Someone’s been back in town for weeks and didn’t even bother to let me know. What was I supposed to do? Wait for a formal invitation?” He leaned back in his chair, his usual playful grin on full display. “And don’t pretend you didn’t miss me.” Ethan’s casual charm was in full force, complete with exaggerated winks and flirtatious smirks. “Alright, enough. What’s the deal with this Mia?” “Don’t worry,” I said, smirking. “She’ll be handled soon enough.” We hadn’t seen each other in ages, and the conversation flowed so easily that neither of us noticed the pair of angry eyes glaring at us from outside the café window. When I returned to the office, things felt… off. Everyone was staring at me, their expressions a mix of judgment and disdain. “Hmph, does she even know her place? Imagining she could catch Mr. Grant’s eye?” “Exactly. Throwing herself at him during the company event—what a disgrace! She embarrassed all of us.” Two coworkers who used to be friendly with me were now taking turns mocking me in whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. “Claire, how do you even have the nerve to show your face here?” Mia suddenly interjected, pointing a furious finger at me. “You’re shameless! Flirting with Mr. Grant instead of focusing on your work? Do you even want this job?” Her face was flushed with anger, but her tone was laced with triumph. “That’s ridiculous,” I replied calmly. “Ethan and I are just friends.” My words were met with laughter. “Friends? You? With someone like Mr. Grant?” Mia sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. “Yeah,” one of the others chimed in. “If you want to marry into money, maybe try reincarnating into a rich family first!” I glanced around at their mocking faces, keeping my composure. Then, I let a slow, deliberate smile spread across my lips. “Well, since you’re all in such a good mood,” I said, my voice sweet but cold, “you’ll be thrilled to hear the news: because of Mia’s poor performance during the meeting, the entire marketing department’s year-end bonuses have been canceled.” The office fell silent. The laughter stopped instantly, and everyone turned to me, their mouths agape in shock. Just moments earlier, I had contacted the head of the finance department—one of my mother’s most trusted employees. Ever since Mia had joined the company, the marketing department had descended into chaos. The leadership was spineless, the employees were lazy, and everyone spent more time scheming against each other than actually doing their jobs. When things went wrong, no one tried to fix them. Instead, they pointed fingers and gossiped. If they couldn’t self-correct, they deserved to face the consequences.

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## It was a stormy night when my boyfriend called, his voice filled with urgency. “I’ve been in a car accident. It’s bad. Guess how long it’ll take you to get here?” Panicked, I bolted into the pouring rain, my heart racing as I imagined the worst. By the time I arrived, drenched and gasping for breath, the sight that greeted me wasn’t a wrecked car or an injured man. Instead, my ever-practical, romance-challenged boyfriend was wheeling out a massive cake, the centerpiece of a surprise party for Sarah, his assistant. “Luna, it’s my fault,” Sarah said timidly, stepping forward as if to shield him. “I made a bet with Mr. Sterling, and things got out of hand. If you’re upset, you can take it out on me.” Her voice was soft, apologetic, but it was the glint on her wrist that caught my eye—a diamond bracelet identical to the one he had given me. I turned to him, only to meet his cold, indifferent gaze. His brows furrowed in irritation as he said, “It was just a joke. Why are you acting like this? Who are you trying to impress?” The tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Everyone seemed to expect me to explode, to throw a jealous tantrum befitting the “overly possessive girlfriend.” But instead, I smiled, calm and composed. Reaching for Sarah’s hand, I placed it gently in his palm, my voice light and steady. “As long as you two are happy, that’s all that matters.”

“Mr. Sterling lost the bet! The punishment is to pick someone here to drink a cross-arm toast with!” “Come on, Mr. Sterling hasn’t even said who he’s picking, and look—our birthday girl is already blushing! Be a gentleman, Mr. Sterling, make your move!” Hearing that Noah Sterling had been in a car accident, I sped through the pouring rain, my heart pounding as I pushed my car to dangerous speeds. But when I arrived, drenched and disheveled, I was greeted by laughter, bright decorations, and a massive banner reading, “Happy Forever 18th, Sarah!” The man I’d been so worried about, the one I thought might be injured—or worse—stood in the center of it all, perfectly unharmed. Dressed in an immaculate suit and holding a wine glass, he walked toward Sarah with a charming smile. Sarah’s cheeks flushed as their eyes met. Their arms linked together, and they were just about to drink the cross-arm toast when someone spotted me. “Oh my god, Luna!” The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to me. Noah paused mid-motion, his brows furrowing as he turned to the door. His gaze landed on me—soaking wet, pale, with mud splattered across my face and clothes. Before he could say anything, Sarah clung to his shirt like a frightened rabbit, her wide-eyed expression making it seem like I was some vengeful ghost. Noah gently patted her shoulder, his voice soft and reassuring. “It’s fine—it’s just Luna.” Then, his expression shifted, irritation flashing in his eyes as he looked at me. His voice carried a cold edge. “It was just a joke. Why did you make such a spectacle of yourself? Go home. Stop embarrassing me.” I glanced down at myself, taking in the torn, muddy clothes, the blood seeping from scratches on my knees and hands, and my tangled, rain-soaked hair. Yes, I’d embarrassed him. Before I could respond, Sarah stepped forward with a sweet smile, her voice soft and kind. “Luna, I didn’t know you’d come! It’s my birthday, and Mr. Sterling got me the biggest cake! Would you like some? I’ll cut you a piece.” She reached out as if to take my hand but stopped just before touching me. Her expression shifted, and she covered her mouth dramatically, gagging. After a few exaggerated dry heaves, Sarah looked up at me with an apologetic smile. “Oh, Luna, you smell awful. You should clean yourself up. Mr. Sterling and I both have a bit of a germ thing, you know? And this venue—it cost thousands to book. Please don’t get it dirty.” She grabbed a packet of wet wipes, tossing it at me with a loud smack against my face before it fell to the ground. My cheek stung, but I didn’t react. I saw the challenge in her eyes, the smugness she didn’t bother to hide. I glanced around the room. The decorations alone must have cost at least $10,000. In the seven years I’d been with Noah, he’d never spent more than $3,000 on me in total. Even on my birthdays, the cakes he bought were tiny, four-inch specials on sale. “Luna,” he’d always said, “you’re not a little girl anymore. You don’t need all those flashy things.” Back then, I’d thought he just didn’t understand women. Now, I realized he’d simply never cared enough to bother. The room remained silent, everyone watching to see what I’d do. I bent down to pick up the wet wipes, then cleaned my hands methodically. Without a word, I walked toward the towering cake. Everyone stared, confused about my intentions. I grabbed the knife, cut a small slice, and took a bite. The frosting was sweet, almost cloying, masking the bitterness rising in my throat. I smiled and nodded. “The cake’s good. Sarah, happy birthday.” Then, placing the plate down, I took Sarah’s hand and pressed it into Noah’s palm. “Go on. Continue your game. You two enjoy yourselves.” Sarah’s smile froze, her eyes wide with shock. The room buzzed with whispers, but Noah’s expression darkened instantly. He wrenched his hand away from mine, his voice cold and threatening. “Luna, are you trying to test my patience?” Normally, his anger would have made me panic, would have driven me to apologize and beg for forgiveness. But tonight, I simply smiled. “What’s wrong, Noah? Can’t take a joke?” His eyes narrowed, ice seeping into his gaze. Before he could speak, Sarah stepped in, her small frame shielding him as she pleaded. “Mr. Sterling, it’s my fault! Luna’s mad because of the bet we made. Please don’t blame her.” She turned to me, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. “Luna, I didn’t think you’d believe it without checking first! You could’ve called to confirm. I’m so sorry. If you’re upset, take it out on me. You can hit me if it’ll make you feel better.” She raised her arm, her expression one of exaggerated fear. But as she moved, the bracelet on her wrist caught the light—an unmistakable sparkle. It was the diamond bracelet Noah had given me when we first started dating, the most expensive gift he’d ever given me. I’d never worn it, keeping it tucked away like a treasure. Sarah noticed my gaze and quickly stepped back, clutching the bracelet nervously. “I’m sorry, Luna. I just mentioned once how much I loved your bracelet, and Mr. Sterling gave it to me. I’ll return it right away.” She fumbled with the clasp, pretending to struggle before the bracelet fell to the ground. Diamonds scattered across the floor like broken glass. “Oh no!” Sarah gasped, biting her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mr. Sterling, I’m so clumsy. I broke it!” Noah hesitated, glancing at me. His silence spoke volumes—he didn’t know how to defend her without making things worse. The room was suffocatingly quiet. I bent down, picking up the broken bracelet. My voice was calm, almost detached. “It’s fine. I didn’t want it anymore anyway.” Without hesitation, I tossed it into the trash can. The clinking sound echoed in the silent room. Noah’s face darkened further, his anger barely restrained. Sarah glanced at him, then fell to her knees in front of me, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry, Luna! It’s all my fault! Please don’t take it out on Mr. Sterling. He doesn’t understand these things—he’s a man!” Her sobs grew louder as she continued, “I shouldn’t have let him throw me this party. I didn’t realize it would upset you so much.” She bowed her head dramatically, as though preparing to beg for forgiveness, but before she could, Noah moved swiftly, pulling her to her feet. “Why are you apologizing to her?” he snapped. “It’s her fault for ruining the night!” Noah shot me a cold glare. “You can’t even take a harmless joke? And now you’re bullying a sweet girl like Sarah?” His voice turned sharper, dripping with disdain. “Luna, are you just waiting for me to actually get into a car accident and die so you can finally be happy?” I stared at him, barely recognizing the man in front of me. He looked so unfamiliar, so distant, it was almost frightening. It was him who lied about a car accident. Him who ignored my frantic calls. Him who took the bracelet he had given me—the one I had cherished—and gave it to Sarah. I had risked everything to get to him tonight, speeding through dangerous rain-soaked roads with my heart in my throat, terrified for his life. My tires had nearly skidded off the road. And for what? To be met with his accusations, his scorn, and his indifference? In the past, I might have cried. I might have let the tears fall while pleading, trying desperately to make him see how much I cared—how much I was hurting. But now, I felt nothing but exhaustion. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “You’re right. I overreacted. You all enjoy yourselves.” With that, I turned and walked away. As I reached the door, I heard someone hesitantly suggest, “Mr. Sterling, maybe you should go after Luna? She didn’t look… well.” Noah scoffed dismissively, his tone annoyed. “You don’t know Luna. She’s just playing the victim again. Don’t waste your time.” He raised his glass. “It’s Sarah’s birthday tonight. No one’s leaving until we’ve all had our fill!” Cheers erupted behind me, growing louder as I stepped outside. The storm hadn’t let up. Rain poured relentlessly, soaking me to the bone as I trudged back to my car. By the time I climbed into the driver’s seat, my teeth were chattering despite the heater running full blast. My hands trembled, and before I could stop them, tears spilled down my cheeks. But I knew those tears weren’t for Noah. They were for the version of myself who had once loved him so foolishly, so desperately, for so many years. I had loved Noah for seventeen years. From the shy crush I carried in middle school, to the unwavering devotion that lasted through college and beyond. Even his mother had been moved by my persistence, going out of her way to encourage our relationship. That’s how I finally became his girlfriend. Noah had always been distant, his affection lukewarm at best, but I clung to the small moments. I convinced myself that he cared, that deep down, he loved me too. Why? Because he had once said, “Love is about two people living a steady life together, growing old side by side.” I believed him. I gave up a prestigious opportunity to study abroad, choosing instead to stay by his side. I became the woman who took care of him, who managed his meals, his schedules, his life. I told myself I was protecting our relationship. Even when my professor urged me not to waste my potential, I just smiled awkwardly and nodded, feeling guilty for letting her down. “You’re better than this,” she’d said. “Your peers—people who were once your juniors—are now running their own companies or earning doctorates overseas. You should think about what you’re giving up.” But I stayed. For him. Then Sarah joined his company as an assistant. Noah, who had always been so serious, so indifferent, suddenly smiled when her name came up. Even when I told him their closeness made me uncomfortable, he didn’t care. He chose her feelings over mine, every single time. By the time I got home, the rain had stopped. Sitting in the quiet of my apartment, I picked up my phone and dialed my professor. “Professor Carter,” I said, my voice steady. “Are there any opportunities left for me to study abroad?” Her reply came almost immediately. “Luna, I’ve been waiting for this call! I’m leading a research team overseas next week for a three-year program. If you’re interested, you’re more than welcome to join.” My chest tightened, but not with hesitation—with relief. “I’d love to. Thank you.” The next week would give me enough time to close this chapter of my life, to say goodbye to everything that had been holding me back.

I returned home, showered, and was just about to change into my pajamas when Noah suddenly pushed open the bedroom door. For a moment, my instincts told me to turn my back and tell him to leave, but then I stopped myself. What’s the point? He’d seen everything before. So, I calmly slipped on my pajamas and turned around to face him. That’s when I noticed he was holding a glass of milk, which he placed on the nightstand. He looked tired, his expression worn. “Sarah’s birthday party is over,” he said, pausing for a moment before sighing. “You really overreacted tonight.” He hesitated, then added, “After you left, I saw your missed calls. I’ll admit… that was my mistake.” I cut him off, my tone light. “It’s fine. It’s all in the past. As long as you had fun.” Noah froze, his brows furrowed as he stared at me, as though trying to figure out what I was thinking. I smiled slightly. “Is the milk for me?” He nodded. “Thanks.” Still feeling thirsty after my shower, I picked up the glass and downed it in one go. Noah’s gaze shifted, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “You’re… not mad?” “Mad about what?” I replied, genuinely confused. His expression twisted slightly, as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I yawned, covering my mouth. “Anything else? I’m tired. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” Noah stared at me in disbelief, his tone turning sharp. “If you’re upset, just say it.” “I’m not upset,” I said, meeting his eyes with sincerity. Noah’s patience snapped. He grabbed my arm, his grip firm. “You are upset. Stop pretending.” Unfortunately for him, his fingers pressed right into a tender spot where I’d scraped my arm earlier. The pain made me flinch, and I instinctively pushed his hand away. His hand froze in midair, and for a moment, he just stood there, staring at me. Then, without a word, he abruptly stood up, glaring at me with a stormy expression. I ignored him, pulling the blanket over myself and lying down as though he wasn’t even there. He lingered by the bed for a while, his presence heavy and suffocating. Finally, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I knew exactly why he was angry. In Noah’s mind, he’d already extended an olive branch. He expected me to accept it, to “come down” from my imaginary pedestal. But this time, I had no intention of playing along. I slept soundly and didn’t wake up until noon the next day. As I made my way downstairs, Noah approached me, holding a pale yellow dress with the tag still attached. “I noticed your clothes were torn when you came to find me last night. I went out this morning and bought this for you,” he said. “Do you like it?” I glanced at the dress and shook my head politely. “Thanks, but I don’t need it. I have plenty of clothes.” “Try it on,” he insisted, holding the dress up against me. “I even prepared a surprise for you.” As he pressed the dress against me, I felt something small and box-shaped in one of the pockets. Suspicion flickered in my mind, but I didn’t bother to ask. “Just put it aside for now,” I said, brushing past him. “I’m hungry.” Noah stood there, stunned, watching as I walked toward the dining room. He clearly thought that a simple dress would make me light up with excitement, that I’d rush to try it on and post a photo online to show off how much he “cared.” Too bad for him—he was wrong. When I reached the dining table, I noticed takeout containers neatly arranged. Noah must have picked them up earlier. That was new. “Thanks for the food,” I said, sitting down to eat without hesitation. Noah followed me to the table and sat across from me, his gaze fixed on me in silence. I glanced up after a few bites. “What is it?” “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head, though his eyes seemed to hold something unspoken. I ignored him and continued eating, but his stare was impossible to ignore. After a few minutes, I sighed and looked up again. “Why don’t you eat something? The food’s pretty good today.” Noah didn’t move. Instead, his expression darkened slightly. “Aren’t you going to ask about the surprise I mentioned?” I blinked, genuinely surprised. “I figured you’d just show me when you were ready.” His face stiffened, and without another word, he pulled a small, elegant box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside was a diamond bracelet, sparkling under the light. “This is a new design. It’s more expensive than your old one. Consider it yours.” I pushed the box back toward him. “Return it.” Noah’s expression froze. “Things like this are just overpriced luxuries,” I said casually. “You work hard for your money. Don’t waste it.” For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. But I noticed his fists clenching tightly, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to contain his anger. Finally, he spat out through gritted teeth, “Unbelievable.” With that, he stood up abruptly, storming out and slamming the door behind him. I glanced at the table. The food he’d brought remained untouched. The dress and bracelet were tossed carelessly onto the couch, forgotten. Noah didn’t contact me for the rest of the day. He didn’t come home that night, either.

The next day, I finalized my paperwork with my professor. In just two days, I’d be leaving the country. When I returned home to pack, I was surprised to find the house filled with people. The chatter and laughter were almost overwhelming. “Sarah, that dress with the diamond bracelet? You look like a movie star!” “Come on, tell us—who’s the lucky guy who bought it? Is he handsome?” Sarah twirled around in the living room like a butterfly, soaking up the attention as she flaunted her outfit. A small crowd had gathered around her, teasing and admiring her. “Well, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Sarah said with a coy smile. “It’s actually from my boyfriend.” As she spoke, she cast a deliberate glance at Noah, who was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone, pretending not to hear. Seeing that Noah didn’t react, Sarah’s smile grew even brighter. She continued bragging, her voice dripping with pride. “At first, I didn’t even want it. But my boyfriend insisted! He said a woman’s wardrobe reflects her man’s status.” Just then, Sarah spotted me walking in. Her expression shifted immediately to a wide, sugary smile. “Oh, Luna! You’re back!” I knew she had seen me enter long before this. Her entire performance had been for my benefit. She wanted me to hear every word, to see her basking in attention, and to watch me lose my composure. But I didn’t give her the satisfaction. Instead, I walked in with an easy smile and greeted everyone warmly. “Another gathering today? Make yourselves at home! Feel free to enjoy yourselves.” The room fell quiet for a moment, the atmosphere awkward. Clearly, last night’s events were still fresh in everyone’s minds. Noah glanced at me briefly but said nothing, his expression unreadable. I approached Sarah, giving her an appraising look from head to toe. With a nod of approval, I said, “Sarah, your boyfriend has excellent taste. That dress and bracelet suit you perfectly.” I smiled wider. “When’s the wedding? Don’t forget to invite me, okay?” Sarah froze, her confident demeanor faltering for a split second. Noah’s gaze flicked over to me, his phone momentarily forgotten. The others in the room exchanged uneasy glances, likely expecting me to lash out or make a scene. Instead, I beamed at everyone and added, “Don’t you all think Sarah is the most beautiful woman here today?” That seemed to break the tension. The group relaxed, laughing along as if nothing had happened. “Sarah, be honest now. Where’d you find such a wealthy guy?” “That dress and bracelet together? Must’ve cost at least a hundred grand!” “When did you start dating, huh? Keeping secrets from us?” The teasing came from all sides, and Sarah soaked it up, though her gaze kept darting toward Noah, hoping for a response. Seeing that Noah remained indifferent, she gave me a smug little smile before continuing her performance. “Oh, stop it! It’s not time to go public yet. But let’s just say…” She paused for dramatic effect, her tone growing softer and more intimate. “Last night, I spent the whole night with him. This dress and bracelet? Well…” Before she could finish, Noah, who had been silent on the couch this entire time, suddenly spoke. “Take it off.”

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## The guy next door keeps stealing my food deliveries. The man with gout from across the hall has a nasty habit of swiping my takeout. And yet, he still has the audacity to trash-talk me in the neighborhood group chat: “Only prostitute order takeout!” I just smiled coldly at his nonsense and started doing some research. “Foods that people with gout should never eat.” “Which foods spike uric acid levels the most?” If he wants to steal my food so badly, I might as well help him out. The guy next door keeps stealing my food deliveries. The man with gout from across the hall has a nasty habit of swiping my takeout. And yet, he still has the audacity to trash-talk me in the neighborhood group chat: “Only people who don’t know how to cook order takeout!” I just smiled coldly at his nonsense and started doing some research. “Foods that people with gout should never eat.” “Which foods spike uric acid levels the most?” If he wants to steal my food so badly, I might as well help him out. On my way home from work one night, I decided to order some spicy crawfish. The delivery driver arrived a minute before I did, so I told him to leave it by my door. When I got off the elevator, though, the food was gone. Looking around, I noticed a trail of crawfish sauce dripping on the floor, leading straight to my neighbor’s door: Mrs. Jenkins. Well, specifically, to her grandson Jake Jenkins. He’d just moved in a few weeks ago and was apparently… a “character.” I knocked on the door, and a greasy, sweaty guy with pockmarked skin opened it. “Excuse me,” I said politely, “have you seen my food delivery?” He waved me off, annoyed. “I’ve been home all day. Why would I have seen your food?” If it weren’t for the trail of sauce on the floor—and the telltale grease on his lips—I might’ve believed him. Before I could say anything else, he slammed the door in my face. I sighed and shook my head. Maybe I was just too hungry to think straight. But deep down, I knew I’d been right. This wasn’t the first time. I’d lost count of how many deliveries had gone missing. Burgers, milkshakes, donuts—he didn’t discriminate. As long as it was food, he’d take it. But tonight’s timing was suspicious. The delivery driver had barely left before I came back downstairs. It couldn’t have been anyone else. And now that I thought about it, all of this started happening right after Jake moved in. He’d already made a stellar impression when he first joined the neighborhood group chat: “Nowadays women don’t know how to live within their means. Always ordering takeout instead of cooking like real women. Total waste of money!” At the time, I’d just rolled my eyes and ignored him. I thought he was just another internet troll who happened to live next door. But then he doubled down a week later—and even had the nerve to tag me directly. So, of course, I clapped back: “Look, I know you’re not the brightest bulb in the box, but maybe don’t let your mouth bypass your brain next time? And seriously, if you’re so obsessed with other people’s business, why don’t you go sample the septic truck outside to see if it’s salty enough?” After that, Jake gave me death glares every time he saw me. Hungry and furious, I called my best friend to vent. “You’re such an idiot,” she said, exasperated. “Don’t you have a security camera by your door? Just check the footage!” I smacked my forehead. Of course! I’d installed a camera after the last time my food got stolen, but I’d been too hangry to think straight. I opened the app on my phone and rewound the footage. And there he was: Jake Jenkins, in all his glory. The video showed him sneaking out of his apartment, snatching my food from the floor, and running back inside. Crawfish sauce dripped everywhere as he muttered under his breath: “Crawfish? What a spoiled little brat. Must be nice to have the money to waste on food like this. Stupid gold-digger!” I was so angry I could feel steam coming out of my ears. Mrs. Jenkins seemed like such a sweet old lady. How could her grandson be such a nightmare? When I told my best friend what happened, she just shook her head and laughed. “Haven’t you ever heard the saying, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’? Check your footage again—I bet you’ll find something even worse.” I didn’t believe her. But oh, how wrong I was. 2 When Jake opened the door, he casually snatched up my delivery like it was his own. Standing beside him, Mrs. Jenkins, the sweet old lady from across the hall, was on the lookout, her eyes darting left and right. She didn’t look like the kind, grandmotherly woman I knew. Her face twisted with disdain as she spat on the ground. “Takeout again? That little tramp sure loves wasting money. Whoever marries her is gonna have their family rolling in their graves!” Then she crouched down and inspected the flowerpot she’d placed near my door. “Jake, does this thing need new batteries? If it dies, we won’t capture anything useful.” I froze as I zoomed in on the screenshot from my security footage. A chill ran down my spine. The flowerpot had a plum blossom design on it, but hidden in the tree’s trunk was an incredibly tiny hole—just big enough for a pinhole camera. That flowerpot had been a “housewarming gift” from Mrs. Jenkins. When I’d told her I wasn’t great with plants, she’d said, “Don’t worry, just leave it by your door—I’ll help water it when I pass by.” Turns out, it wasn’t about watering at all. It was about surveillance. Jake suddenly cursed, snapping me back to the present. “This stupid chick is such a pain in the ass! I’ve already taken the deposit, and the guys in the group are waiting on something good!” He spat the words out, pacing angrily. “Every day, she goes out dressed like a damn nun. Who does she think she’s fooling?” Then he turned and barked at Mrs. Jenkins, clearly irritated. “Didn’t you say you’d already earned her trust? Why are we still getting nowhere? Get your act together and cozy up to her so we can plant the equipment inside her apartment already. “The guys in the group love her prim-and-proper act. If we catch something juicy, I’ll be rolling in cash once I sell it!” The two of them kept whispering by my door, but I’d heard enough. Jake wasn’t just a petty thief. He was the ringleader of an online group that profited from secretly filming women and selling the footage. And Mrs. Jenkins? She wasn’t just his doting grandmother. She was his accomplice. I shuddered. Thank God I always dressed conservatively when I went out. If I hadn’t, who knows what they might’ve already captured? Their scheme was disturbingly calculated. They used Mrs. Jenkins’ frail, grandmotherly appearance to lower the guard of women living alone. She’d bring over cookies, make small talk, and offer help until she gained their trust. Once inside, they’d install hidden cameras to spy on their victims. If it weren’t for Jake’s habit of stealing my food, I never would’ve discovered what was really going on. Judging by how smoothly they worked together, I was sure I wasn’t their first target. God only knows how many women had already been victimized. As I continued watching the footage, their actions proved even more disgusting. After their whispered conversation, they carefully sliced a small hole into my doormat and installed another hidden camera—this time angled to capture upskirt shots. When they’d finished, Mrs. Jenkins lovingly patted Jake on the head. “My smart boy. You’re gonna make your grandma proud!” Then she laughed cruelly and added: “That little tramp acts so innocent, but I’ve seen through her fake act. Spending $50, $100 on takeout like it’s nothing? She’s definitely making her money the dirty way, probably sleeping around to earn it! “We’re doing her a favor by filming her. If anything, she should be thanking us for helping her… advertise! Who knows, maybe one day she’ll come begging us to film more!” There were only two apartments on this floor, and they clearly hadn’t noticed the hidden position of my security camera. They thought I was an easy target. They thought I wouldn’t fight back. But as the video ended, my blood ran cold—and then boiled with anger. The sweet, grandmotherly Mrs. Jenkins wasn’t just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She was a predator in human skin. It wasn’t too late to stop them. Let’s see who’s really tougher when the fight begins. 3 The next morning, Mrs. Jenkins knocked on my door bright and early. She stood there with her usual sweet smile, holding a trendy preserved flower arrangement in her hands. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice dripping with kindness. “I’ve failed you. I should’ve kept a better eye on things for you. “You mentioned how real flowers are such a hassle to take care of, didn’t you? Well, I heard these preserved flowers are all the rage now. They smell lovely, and you don’t have to water them! Please, take this as my apology for not looking out for you properly.” If I hadn’t seen the security footage, I might’ve genuinely fallen for her act. But if it’s a performance she wants, then I’ll play along. Feigning excitement, I gasped and took the flowers from her hands. “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe this! I’ve wanted one of these forever, but they’re always sold out! Mrs. Jenkins, you’re amazing for finding one. Thank you so much!” The preserved flowers were vibrant and fragrant, radiating charm as they sat in my arms. But all I could think was: Where’s the camera hidden this time? Back inside, I placed the flowers on my dining table. I didn’t want to tip them off just yet. If they wanted to spy on me, fine—I’d give them something to watch. Sitting directly in front of the flowers, I started a mock “mukbang.” I stuffed my face theatrically, smirking at the thought of them getting frustrated on the other side of the camera. Let’s see if watching me eat drives you crazy. As I ate, I replayed everything in my mind, plotting my next move. Letting people like Jake and Mrs. Jenkins get away with this wasn’t an option. My philosophy has always been simple: Never let the wicked walk free. Jake was a disgusting creep, and Mrs. Jenkins was a manipulative old hag. People like them deserved to rot behind bars. But before that, I planned to have a little fun. They needed to understand what it felt like to mess with the wrong person. I was halfway through my “show” when I heard shouting in the hallway. Quietly, I crept to the door and peeked through the peephole. Jake was standing there, his bloated face red with fury as he screamed at Mrs. Jenkins. “You useless old hag! Can’t even cook a decent meal! What the hell are you good for?” He jabbed a finger at her face, his voice dripping with venom. “If it weren’t for you killing my parents, I wouldn’t be stuck in this miserable situation! You screw up one more time, and I swear, I’m kicking you out! I’m done taking care of dead weight!” He slammed his door shut with so much force, it rattled the hallway. Mrs. Jenkins collapsed onto the floor, sobbing loudly. If I hadn’t known better, I might’ve felt sorry for her. An elderly woman, humiliated and berated by her own grandson—it was pitiful. Hell, I might’ve even opened my door, invited her inside, and tried to comfort her. But I knew better. She was cunning, and this was all part of their game. If I let her in, it would only give her more opportunities to worm her way into my life. Still, she committed to the act. Between sobs, she kept glancing toward my door, her eyes darting back and forth. Ah, so this is the plan. A little “pity party” for me to see through the hidden camera. She started wailing even louder, slapping her thighs dramatically. “Why am I still alive? Why hasn’t the good Lord taken me yet?” she cried. “I’m doing this for you, Jake! The doctor said your uric acid is high, and you can’t eat those foods anymore. I’m just trying to help you!” Her words carried a sharp edge of bitterness, as if she were airing her real grievances with Jake while keeping up the charade. I couldn’t help but laugh quietly. The performance was impressive, but painfully transparent. I walked away from the door, leaving her to stew in her fake misery. “Don’t worry,” I thought to myself. “The storm that’s coming for you is already on its way.”

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## Winning $5 million in the lottery was supposed to be a turning point for our family. My husband, Ryan, promised to buy me a beautiful new house—a symbol of our success and a fresh start. But on the very day we moved in, his first love waltzed through the door, clutching her son, tears streaming down her face. She claimed her husband had recently passed away and that she had nowhere else to go. Before I could even react, Ryan’s face filled with pity, and he ushered her and her son into the house without so much as a second thought. And not just anywhere—he moved her into the master bedroom. Yes, our bedroom. Now there were three of us in the house, except one of us happened to be the woman Ryan dated for seven years. When I lost my temper, yelling and demanding an explanation, Ryan didn’t apologize. Instead, he turned on me, full of righteous indignation. “Emily, how could you be so cruel? You know her husband just died! She’s a widow with a child. You want me to throw them out on the street? When did you become so heartless?” Even Ryan’s mom, who had always acted like the sweet, doting grandma, suddenly revealed her true colors. “Look at all those rich men with four or five wives,” she said with a smug smile. “My son’s a millionaire now—it’s only natural he’d take in another woman. And since she was here first, it’s perfectly fair to let you be the second wife. You should consider yourself lucky!” I looked at Ryan, hoping he’d at least argue against his mother’s outrageous claims, but instead, he nodded quietly in agreement. That was it. I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. Ryan assumed I was giving in. He even had the audacity to walk around the house with his ex, Michelle, gleefully showing her the villa as if they were a happy couple buying their dream home. But what Ryan forgot—what Michelle didn’t know—was that the $5 million was my lottery win. And I’d rather donate every last cent to charity than let him spend a dime on his mistress.

I had just hung up the phone with my lawyer when Ryan appeared behind me, his tone full of forced patience, as if I were the one being unreasonable. “Emily, listen,” he began, his voice dripping with condescension. “If I hadn’t been picking you up from work that day years ago, I wouldn’t have missed Michelle’s wedding. She wouldn’t have ended up marrying that jerk, and maybe he wouldn’t have died so young. Now she’s a widow, and she has a kid to take care of. If I don’t help them, who will?” I turned to look at him, stunned by his twisted reasoning. “And moving her into our bedroom? What’s the plan, Ryan—should the three of us all sleep together now? Or would a hotel not work for her? Does she have to live here just to make me uncomfortable?” Ryan’s face darkened with irritation. “Emily, why are you being so irrational? Michelle and I are history, you know that. If her husband hadn’t died suddenly, she wouldn’t even be here. She’s out of options—I’m just doing what any decent person would. Why are you so obsessed with targeting her?” Targeting her? That was rich. Michelle and Ryan had been high school sweethearts, dating all the way through college for seven years until their relationship fell apart because of long-distance jobs. Two months after their breakup, she married an older, wealthy businessman. When I met Ryan, he was drowning his sorrows in a bar, heartbroken and bitter over Michelle’s betrayal. He seemed like a loyal, devoted man, so much so that I actually felt bad for him. We reconnected a few weeks later at work, and I took it as a sign—fate, even. I added him on social media, and over time, we became close. Eventually, he moved on from Michelle and fell for me. We had a whirlwind romance, and just months later, we got married. I still remember our wedding day vividly. Ryan stood in front of all our family and friends, holding my hands as he said I was the one who had saved him, the love of his life, and the reason he believed in happiness again. But now, here he was, willing to make me cry just so Michelle and her son could live in our home. I clutched my chest, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “So, you’re really insisting on letting Michelle move in?” I asked, my voice calm but cold. Ryan hesitated for a moment, then clenched his jaw and said, “It’s not like I’m making her my wife, Emily. Why are you blowing this out of proportion? Her son calls me Uncle Ryan—I have a responsibility to them. And now that we’ve won the lottery, I’m the only one who can give Michelle the life she deserves.” I stared at him, my heart sinking further with every word. “She’s a widow, Emily,” he continued, completely blind to how hurt I was. “How can I leave her out there, alone, struggling to raise her child? And it’s not like we can’t afford it. Michelle even said she’d handle all the housework—cleaning, cooking, taking care of our daughter. What else do you want?” It was clear to me now. Ryan had already decided how this new arrangement would work. He’d play the role of the generous provider, Michelle would be the homemaker, and I—his actual wife—was apparently just a bystander in my own marriage. I remained silent, unable to find the words to express how betrayed I felt. Seeing me hesitate, Ryan’s tone grew sharper, more aggressive. “You know her husband just died!” he snapped. “And you still want to throw her onto the streets? When did you become so cruel, Emily? When did you turn into such a heartless, selfish woman?” I lifted my head to meet his gaze, expecting to see regret or even shame in his eyes. But there was none. Instead, he looked at me with anger and disgust, as if I were the one in the wrong. In that moment, something inside me broke. I felt nothing but emptiness. “Fine,” I said quietly, my voice void of emotion. “She can stay as long as she wants.” Ryan blinked, caught off guard by my sudden change in tone. Then, a triumphant smirk spread across his face. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “If you’d just been reasonable from the start, we wouldn’t have had to argue. Now come help Michelle bring in her bags.” I shook my head and looked him dead in the eye. “Congratulations, Ryan. I hope you and Michelle have a long and happy life together. I’ll be heading back to my parents’ house for now.” His smile disappeared in an instant. He stepped forward, blocking my path, his face dark with anger. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he demanded. “It means,” I said evenly, “that I’m done. With you. With this marriage. With all of it.” I reached for my four-year-old daughter’s hand and started toward the stairs, but before I could make it, Ryan’s mother stormed into the room, her face twisted with fury. “You’re not taking my granddaughter anywhere!” she shrieked. “What will people say if you walk out on my son? Do you want to ruin his reputation? You’ll stay right here where you belong!” I let out a bitter laugh, meeting her glare with one of my own. “Oh, I see,” I said sarcastically. “You want me to stay so I can play maid to your son’s mistress? How thoughtful of you.”

Ryan’s mom stared at me with utter disdain, her voice dripping with mockery. “Who are you calling a mistress? Watch your mouth! If we’re going by who came first, you’re the other woman!” She crossed her arms smugly and continued, “Look at all those casino tycoons with four or five wives. My son’s rich now—what’s so wrong with him taking care of another woman? Michelle’s prettier and better suited to represent the family in public anyway. Why don’t you just stay home, do the chores, and serve us?” Her audacity left me speechless for a moment, then I laughed. “All this over $5 million? You’re comparing yourselves to billionaires? What are you even bringing to the table—your half-baked ideas and your underdeveloped brain?” I laughed louder than I should have, but I didn’t care. “Ah, yes, you’re ugly, but at least you’ve got delusions of grandeur!” That was all it took for Ryan’s mom to lose it. She jabbed her finger in my face, her voice shrill and furious. “How dare you talk to me like that? No manners at all! You’ve been in this new house for weeks, and you still don’t know how to cook! You have no respect for the family. My son must have been cursed in his past life to end up with someone like you!” Ryan, of course, silently took her side, stepping closer to her with a cold glare aimed at me. Like mother, like son. The same rotten attitude. I crossed my arms, my gaze icy as I stood my ground. “Didn’t your new bride promise to handle all the housework? Let her do it!” Michelle must have overheard me, because she immediately appeared in the doorway, tears welling up in her eyes. She let out a pitiful sob and bolted for the kitchen, as if I’d just shattered her fragile world. Seeing this, Ryan instantly panicked. “Can’t you all just stop? I only let Michelle stay here temporarily to help her out! Emily, why do you have to act so jealous and petty? You’re the one I married, and we even have a child together! Do you really think I’d ever go back to her?” He paused, then added with a sneer, “If I couldn’t let her go, do you really think you’d be the one having my kid?” His words hit me like a slap in the face. My chest tightened, and I had to fight the sting of tears. “Fine,” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “Let her settle in as much as she wants. I’m leaving.” Ryan’s mom’s face twisted with fury. “You ungrateful brat! Michelle just moved in yesterday, and her son’s already calling me grandma. She even massaged my legs and shoulders to show her respect. And look at your daughter—what a mute little thing! She can’t even speak properly!” Her words nearly pushed me over the edge. My daughter was not mute. When she was little, Ryan’s mom had taken her out shopping and lost her. I searched for an entire day and night before finally finding her curled up, unconscious, in a filthy dumpster. The police later reviewed the security footage and discovered that my daughter had cleverly hidden there to escape a trafficker who had been trying to snatch her. The trauma left her unable to speak for months. Ryan’s mom had been wracked with guilt back then, spoiling my daughter endlessly to make up for what had happened. She even tore into the neighbor’s kid once for making a silly face at her. But now? Now she was willing to turn on us the moment some “new grandson” came along. I looked at Ryan and his mother, both radiating open disdain for me, and I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Sure, sure,” I said. “Anyone who wants to play the doting grandparent or obedient child can go ahead. It’s got nothing to do with me.” Ryan, sensing that I was softening, tried a different approach. His voice dropped, sounding almost reasonable now. “Emily, think about this. If you take our daughter and go back to your parents’ house, people are going to start talking. They’ll say I’m abusive or cheating on you. Is that what you want? For your husband’s reputation to be ruined? Does that make you happy?” I stared at him, a cold smile curling at the edges of my lips. “Cheating? Ryan, weren’t you already doing that? Why pretend otherwise?” But I didn’t say it out loud. I knew his game too well. Every time I called Michelle what she really was—a mistress—Ryan and his mother would suddenly act like paragons of virtue, scolding me for being “petty” and “unreasonable.” Ryan sighed, pulling out his phone. A moment later, he transferred $10,000 into my account, his tone softening as he handed me his “apology.” “I shouldn’t have said those things earlier,” he said. “I got carried away. But isn’t this what you wanted? Some extra spending money? There, you’ve got it now. Be satisfied and don’t push your luck.” He frowned and added, “And tone down your jealousy, Emily. Next time, I won’t be so forgiving.” Ah, the classic Ryan move: insult me, then throw some money at me and expect everything to be fine. This was how he dealt with every argument—cut me down, then act like the bigger person once he’d tossed me a small bribe. For years, I let it slide. I told myself it wasn’t worth fighting over. But after we got married and had a child, his behavior only got worse, his disrespect more blatant. Now? Now I realized I should’ve stood my ground the first time he crossed the line. Because people like Ryan don’t change—they just keep testing how much you’re willing to tolerate. And I was finally done tolerating him.

Ignoring Ryan completely, I picked up my daughter and headed downstairs. But as I reached the door, Michelle appeared out of nowhere, blocking my path. She had somehow changed into a maid costume—yes, a literal maid costume—that hugged her curves in all the right places. She stood in front of me with a broom in hand, a smug look on her face as if she owned the house. The floor around her? Spotless. Naturally, Ryan’s mom was beyond impressed. She clapped her hands and beamed. “Now this is what a real woman looks like! Michelle is not only beautiful but hardworking too. Not like some people who don’t even know how to use a mop!” Michelle gave Ryan a shy, flirtatious smile and said softly, “Oh, I just have a little thing about cleanliness. I like to keep the house spotless, especially since I want the people I care about to feel happy and comfortable here.” I stared at her, completely unbothered, and shoved her to the side. “Move.” Because honestly, some people kneel so much, they forget how to stand up. Ryan’s mom’s face twisted with anger, her disapproval written all over her. “Emily! Look at Michelle—she’s been cleaning all morning, sweating her heart out to make your house look nice. You should be thanking her for helping you, not insulting her. Honestly, you’re a disgrace to women everywhere!” I snorted, unable to hold back a laugh. “Thank her? For what? She’s been living here rent-free, eating food she didn’t pay for, and now she wants a gold medal for sweeping the floor? Are you out of your mind, or do you just think I’ve lost mine?” The words were barely out of my mouth when Michelle’s big crocodile tears started to fall. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” she whimpered, her voice trembling as she looked at Ryan with watery eyes. “Ryan, maybe I should just leave. I don’t want to ruin your marriage or make your wife misunderstand me.” Ryan’s face immediately darkened, his anger bubbling to the surface. “That’s enough, Emily!” he roared. I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Enough? Are you kidding me? I didn’t invite her here to clean or play house! If she wants to leave, she knows where the door is!” Suddenly, Ryan’s father stormed into the room, snatched the broom out of Michelle’s hands, and threw it to the ground. “Enough with the yelling!” he bellowed. The room fell into an awkward silence, but the tension was suffocating. Michelle, Ryan, and Ryan’s mom stood in a neat little line, their expressions united in their disdain for me, the outsider. Funny, wasn’t it? From the moment Michelle showed up, Ryan’s mom had been throwing snide remarks my way. Ryan had been shouting at me as if I was the problem. And now that I raised my voice for once, that’s when my father-in-law decided to step in and play referee. When we got married, I didn’t ask for a dowry. I even brought a car and a house as part of my dowry. Back then, Ryan’s parents promised me that if their son ever mistreated me, they’d make sure to keep him in line. They told me to treat their home as my own, to do whatever made me happy. But looking at them now, their loyalty was clear. This wasn’t my family—it was theirs. I might as well have been a stranger in their perfect little picture. I let out a bitter laugh and turned to leave, intending to drop my daughter off somewhere safe before dealing with this circus. But before I could take another step, Michelle suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, blocking my path once again. “Please, Emily,” she begged, her voice trembling. “Don’t blame Ryan or his mom. This is all my fault. If I wasn’t so desperate, I never would’ve come here. I’ll leave right now. I’ll take my son and sleep under a bridge if I have to. I don’t want to be the reason your family is falling apart.” Her words might have sounded self-sacrificing, but her body betrayed her. Instead of leaving, she stumbled to her feet and leaned into Ryan, practically collapsing into his arms. Ryan didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as if she were the most fragile thing in the world. “Emily,” he said, his voice dripping with disappointment, “I can’t believe you. Michelle and her son are only staying here temporarily. How can you, as a mother yourself, be so heartless? Do you really want to throw them out onto the streets? If you’re angry, take it out on me, not on a single mom who’s already been through so much!” Michelle, now nestled comfortably in Ryan’s embrace, tilted her head ever so slightly, just enough to give me a smug, triumphant smile. Ryan’s father chimed in, his tone exasperated. “All this arguing is ridiculous! It’s the first day in the new house, and you’re already making a scene. You’re going to scare away the good fortune!” I looked at the three of them—Michelle, Ryan, and my in-laws—all standing together like a united front. And I couldn’t help but wonder: if I hadn’t scratched off that $5 million lottery ticket, if I hadn’t brought this money into their lives, would they still have the nerve to act so smug, so self-satisfied? Would they still stand there, so confident and secure, as if the world owed them everything?

I gave my father-in-law my sweetest, most obedient smile and nodded. “You’re absolutely right, Dad. I don’t want to argue in front of the kids. But since there’s already a new ‘wife’ in the house, I think I’ll take my daughter and spend a few days with my family.” Michelle’s eyes lit up with satisfaction, though she quickly replaced her smug expression with a faux-concerned look. “Emily, you can’t leave! If you go, how will I ever manage to take care of Ryan all by myself?” Ryan frowned, clearly annoyed with me. “What kind of game are you playing now? Don’t you hear your kid’s stomach growling? Go make dinner instead of running off and trying to piss me off!” I rolled my eyes, picked up my daughter, and walked straight to the new car I had just bought. As I opened the door, Michelle turned to Ryan, feigning helplessness. “Ryan, what if she doesn’t come back? Emily loves you so much—how are you just letting her leave like this?” Ryan let out a cold laugh, brushing off her dramatics. “Don’t worry. She’ll come crawling back in less than three days. She’s got nowhere else to go, especially after cutting ties with her family for me.” I couldn’t help but scoff inwardly at how ridiculous he sounded. This was the same man who used to stay by my bedside for hours when I had the flu, worried sick about me. Now? He knew full well I might not even have a place to go, and yet he was standing here, willing to let me walk out the door just so he could keep his ex-girlfriend in the house. This wasn’t love. It was a test—a blatant, shameless test of how much humiliation I’d take before I finally broke. If I stayed, it wouldn’t stop here. Someday, they’d expect me to take care of the mistress, her child, and maybe even the baby she’d eventually have with Ryan. No thanks. When it comes to toxic men, the only solution is to run. I got my daughter settled in the passenger seat, grabbed my suitcase, and started loading it into the trunk. Michelle, of course, couldn’t resist one last jab as she stood in the doorway, pretending to care. “Emily, don’t take this too far. Just apologize to Ryan, and everything will go back to normal. Why embarrass yourself by running back to your parents?” Ryan stood next to her, arms crossed, looking smug. “Emily, think this through. If you grab that suitcase and leave now, you might not even be able to get into your parents’ house. You and the kid might end up wandering the streets. Don’t come crying to me when that happens.” I ignored both of them, not wasting a single word on their nonsense. Michelle, seeing my determined expression, smirked to herself and turned to go back inside, clearly pleased with how things were unfolding. I finished packing, climbed into the driver’s seat, and started the car. But just as I was about to pull out of the driveway, Ryan stepped in front of my car, slamming his hand on the window. His face was dark, his voice low and threatening. “Emily, if you leave now, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’ll regret this.” I let out a cold laugh, slammed the door shut, and drove off, finally leaving him in my rearview mirror. A second later, I heard his phone buzz. Ryan glanced down at the screen, and his expression changed instantly. His eyes widened in panic as he ran toward my car, pounding on the window. “Emily! Wait! Where’s the lottery money? Which account did you transfer it to?”

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I grew up with Nora Shaw in an orphanage. We met, became friends, fell in love, and got married. Shortly after she gave birth to our child, her biological parents found her, and she became the only daughter of the Sanders family. Our son received an elite education from a young age and took on the Sanders surname. Years later, when I handed Nora the divorce papers, She seemed impatient and asked why. I calmly replied: “Because last night, the dinner I made got cold.” Nora Shaw and I grew up together in an orphanage. We met, became friends, fell in love, and got married. Shortly after she gave birth to our son, her biological parents found her. She became the only daughter of the Sanders family. Our son received an elite education from a young age and took on the Sanders surname. Years later, when I handed Nora the divorce papers, she seemed impatient and asked why. I replied calmly, “Because last night, the dinner I made got cold.” “You want to leave with nothing?” Nora asked, her eyes not leaving her phone screen. Her company was about to go public. I used to be proud of her changes, but now all that’s left is a shattered dream. “I’m giving up custody of Zach Sanders,” I said. “Before we got married, I only had that small apartment. That’s all I want to keep.” Mentioning our former cramped living space made Nora’s expression soften slightly. “Are you still upset about Luke Parker driving me home yesterday? He’s just a business associate.” Yeah, a “friend” who knows you’re married but still pursues you relentlessly. I didn’t respond, just looked at Nora. It had been a long time since I had the chance to really look at her. Nora was impeccably dressed, with pink diamond earrings worth several months of our old expenses. In just a few years, everything had changed. Seeing me shake my head, she asked impatiently why I wanted a divorce. I replied calmly, “Because last night, the dinner I made got cold.” Before Nora was found by the Sanders family, I was a full-time novelist, and my only hobby was cooking. Nora studied finance and had a low starting salary. She worked hard and often skipped meals. I would pack food for her every day and bring it to her. She always said it was the best food she’d ever eaten. After Nora was found by the Sanders family, she insisted on keeping her surname and refused to divorce me. I continued to prepare three meals a day for her, just like before. The first year, she told me she wanted to eat my cooking for the rest of her life. But after a few years, she came home drunk, brought back by a suitor. I took her from the man’s shoulder and urged her to eat something to settle her stomach. Looking at the food I had prepared, she said with disgust, “We have professional chefs at home. You don’t need to do this every day.” “Why don’t you go work at the company like I asked? Are you always this idle?” I didn’t like business and didn’t want to get involved with the Sanders family’s enterprises. Zach was very attached to her and only came down to eat when he heard her voice. I handed him the food, but he shook his head. I asked why he wouldn’t eat. Nora thought my tone was too harsh: “He likes gourmet food, not ordinary dishes. What’s the problem?” Feeling emboldened by his mother’s support, Zach pushed the bowl hard. The porcelain bowl shattered, and the hot soup scalded my arm. Nora hugged the child and comforted him softly. Then she turned to me and said, “Just have the maid clean it up. I’m tired.” Looking at Nora’s confused expression, I didn’t bother to explain further. In her eyes, only the flow of millions of dollars in capital mattered now. As for Zach, he couldn’t care less about this situation. He had been exposed to elite education from a young age and had dreamed more than once of having a more impressive father. A man who could dominate the business world, not someone who liked to cook in the kitchen. In the daylight, Nora finally noticed the burn on my arm. She called Zach over: “Dad got hurt last night. Go comfort him.” Zach was eloquent in various speech competitions, but he always disdained to speak in front of me. I never had a father, so I thought that investing enough care would earn my child’s love. But the fact proved that I didn’t have this gift. Zach just looked at me coldly. Apart from the few times he called me “Dad” when he was learning to talk, I never heard him call for me again. “You don’t deserve to be my dad,” he said. Nora lightly tapped Zach’s nose as a form of punishment. “The old apartment is too run-down. It’ll take some time to process the paperwork, so you can still stay here for now,” she said. “Don’t you love the cookware set I gave you? It would be a shame to take it with you.” I had packed my things last night, just one suitcase. “That cookware set can be thrown away if no one uses it,” I replied. Suddenly, I found it amusing. The Sanders family had people specially preparing and delivering meals. If it weren’t for me, this residence wouldn’t even need to consider a kitchen, let alone have an expensive set of cookware. “Are you going back to the old apartment?” Nora asked. “I can have Uncle Wang drive you.” I declined, looking at the mother and son with a smile: “You two are allergic to many things. Remember to have the family doctor check and inform the chefs.” With that, I turned and left, not looking back at the two people I once loved most in this world. I didn’t go straight back to the old apartment. Instead, I went to the orphanage, the place that raised me. Nora and I had talked about coming here together. But the Sanders family probably thought it wasn’t glamorous enough, and the plan was postponed again and again. Over the years, I had been donating part of my writing income to the orphanage. As soon as I entered, the director recognized me. She didn’t know about my divorce from Nora yet, and she reminisced about when we were kids. Nora and I grew up here. She was a year younger than me, and we were both small back then. The director suddenly pointed to the kitchen, saying I used to watch the cook intently, wanting to cook for myself. Nora didn’t like rosemary, and the orphanage’s conditions didn’t allow children to be picky. But later, whenever I cooked, I would secretly leave out the rosemary. The director’s sudden reminiscence sparked my interest, and I took on the task of being the chef for lunch that day. I lit the fire, chopped vegetables, and made soup. Several children gathered around me, chattering: “A brother who can cook is so cool!” “It smells so good! I want to be a chef when I grow up! Give me ten stars, all of you!” Amidst these praises, I remembered the first time I met Nora’s parents. Nora was even more nervous than I was. When they heard that my profession was writing and my hobby was cooking, if it weren’t for their inherent wealthy manners and the guilt of owing their daughter so much, they would have practically written “please leave” on their faces. Mr. Sanders only said, “What use is it for a man to cook?” Word spread quickly in their circle, and suddenly Nora had many more relatives and friends. Every one who came to visit would tease Nora when they saw me cooking: “Your husband is quite rare, he can actually cook.” Luke Parker also frowned and expressed concern: “Nora, doesn’t your husband smell like food? Can you sleep well at night?” After hearing these jokes too many times, Nora couldn’t keep face anymore. But she still cared about my feelings and only told me gently: “When friends come over in the future, let the staff cook.” “The Sanders family can afford to hire chefs.” Zach was also influenced by this: “My dad isn’t just some smelly cook who only knows how to make food.” “You’re so embarrassing. My dad should be a great hero.” I stayed at the orphanage for a few days before returning to my old apartment. Suppressing the memories that seemed to be everywhere, I started clearing things out. When Nora was found by her birth family, the Sanders told us not to bring anything, as they had everything the child would need. All the furnishings in the old house were frozen in time from that day. I thought I had won the lottery, but it turned out to be the moment I woke up from a beautiful dream. After clearing out everything related to Nora, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until noon. I found over a dozen missed calls on my phone, all from Nora. As I was checking my phone, an unknown number called: “Hello, is this Zach Sanders’ father?” “I’m Zach’s homeroom teacher. The child refuses to eat lunch in the cafeteria, saying his father usually packs lunch for him.” The voice paused, then politely asked again: “Did you forget it’s the first day of school?” I frowned, not understanding what Zach was up to. Zach attended the best elementary school in the country, where the cafeteria not only focused on taste but also on nutritional balance. Moreover, the few times I had packed lunch for him, he had brought it back untouched. “Hello, teacher. He doesn’t need my packed lunches. From now on, it should be the family chef taking care of his meals,” I said calmly. I added, “I’m no longer Zach Sanders’ father. For his matters, you can contact his mother directly. There’s no need to bother me anymore.” Perhaps the teacher had me on speakerphone, and Zach was standing right beside her, hearing everything clearly. I heard a sudden exclamation from the other end: “Zach, don’t run!” The teacher quickly apologized to me before hanging up. I thought back to my childhood, wondering if I ever had such an unpredictable adolescence. But Zach’s emotions had always been quite stable, actually. His grandparents didn’t want him to stay with me, so they would take him back every summer vacation. Zach’s attitude towards me grew colder and colder. At first, he would still ask me: “Why do you always do the servants’ work?” “Don’t you feel like you’re wasting your time and value?” “Why can other uncles fly planes, but you only know how to cook at home?” Later, he refused to communicate with me at all. I only learned about his school tasks through the parent group chat. He didn’t care about this at all, and the Sanders elders were happy to see Zach distancing himself from me. I hung up the phone and went shopping at the mall. As I was carefully comparing products, Nora called: “What did you say to Zach? He refuses to eat.” “Can you come back? The child still needs you.” I heard a deep male voice in the background: “Let’s take Zach to my newly opened French restaurant.” Nora seemed to move away from him, and when no one was around, she continued: “That was a business partner. Do you know where my allergy medicine is? The chef didn’t know I’m allergic to carrots.” I heard a hint of grievance in her voice and frowned helplessly: “Nora, if you can’t find something, just order it online or have the staff buy it. It’ll be faster than waiting for my call.” “I told you to have a doctor test you and Zach for allergies to avoid situations like this.” Nora was silent for a moment: “Can you send your recipes to the chef? Great-grandpa really misses your cooking.” “What about Zach’s family assignments? Are you not going to handle them anymore? I’m usually busy at the company.” At the mention of Great-grandpa, my heart immediately softened. He was the only elder in the Sanders family who truly supported me and really liked my cooking. But I didn’t want to get more entangled with the Sanders family: “You can find common home-style recipes online easily.” “Nora, the child never acknowledged me as his father, and you know that very well.” “I need to start my own new life. Don’t bother me anymore, all of you. Take care.”

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My parents got divorced. The court granted my custody to my mom, but I stayed with my dad for the sake of my education. The big house we’re living in now was transferred to my name after my parents reached an agreement. After my dad remarried, my stepmom moved in with her daughter. The little brat started causing trouble and even asked my dad to arrange for her to be in the same class as me, under the pretext of taking care of her. After a fight with my stepmom and her daughter, I changed the password on the smart lock, set the central air conditioning to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and then went to my grandparents’ house in the countryside with all the remote controls for the household appliances. With the summer heat in River City reaching nearly 104 degrees Fahrenheit, they were stuck with the heating on. When they called me, I was sitting in my grandpa’s recliner, munching on ice-cold watermelon. After my dad remarried, my stepmom Lily moved in with her daughter Zoe. We didn’t get along at all. I had always been the apple of my family’s eye, and everything at home revolved around me. But ever since Zoe came to our house, she wanted a share of everything I had, even trying to claim my things as her own. I heard that Zoe’s biological father was a gambling addict who sold everything valuable in their house. He even almost pawned his wife and child to loan sharks. So, she was incredibly envious of how my family doted on me. On her first day at our house, when she saw my bedroom – the largest in the house with the best view, and even its own bathroom and walk-in closet – she clung to my dad with a pitiful look and said, “Dad Jack, I’m so envious of Ava. She gets to live in such a big room. I’ve never had my own room my entire life.” My dad patted her shoulder sympathetically and then turned to me, saying, “Ava, why don’t you let your sister have your room? She’s never lived in such a big house before.” I scoffed, “Is it my fault she’s never lived in a big house? Why should I give up my room for her? Just because she calls you ‘Dad Jack’ doesn’t mean you’re her real father. Why don’t you two get a DNA test? Maybe she really is your biological daughter!” Before my dad could respond, I turned to Zoe and said, “Let me tell you something. This house was bought by my dad and my mom together. Now it’s in my name. It’s already generous of me to let you and your mom live here. If you’re not happy with it, you can leave. Don’t be so picky.” Seeing the tense atmosphere, Lily quickly came over to smooth things over. She laughed awkwardly and said, “No, no, we don’t need to take your room. The guest room is fine too. It’s much bigger than our old place.” Zoe wiped away non-existent tears and nodded, following Lily to the guest room. My parents met in college. My grandparents on my mom’s side were university professors, so naturally, my mom was very accomplished. My dad came from a poor background but studied very hard, so my grandparents approved of their relationship when my parents got together. It wasn’t until after they got married that my mom realized my dad was weak-willed and indecisive, and a total mama’s boy. My mom had received higher education in the city, while my paternal grandmother was uneducated and very traditional, always trying to change my mom’s ways. So, their relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was always tense. My dad always sided with his mother, expecting my mom to give in to grandma in everything. That’s why my mom chose to divorce him. It wasn’t until I was in 11th grade that my dad married Zoe’s mom, and Zoe moved into our house. After the divorce, my mom went abroad to develop her career. My maternal grandparents had always loved rural life, so they returned to their countryside home after retirement. Although I was legally under my mom’s custody, I still lived with my dad for the convenience of schooling. “Ava, Zoe is your sister. You shouldn’t be so harsh to her,” my dad came to lecture me after they went back to their room. I flipped through the book in my hand, not even bothering to look up. “Mom only had me. I don’t have any sister.” Knowing my temperament, my dad could only shake his head helplessly and then said, “Zoe has transferred to your school and should be in your class. You can take care of her a bit, right?” “She’s in my school? Who’s paying for her tuition? You or her dad?” I asked. The high school I attended was a private school with excellent teaching quality and a nice environment, so the tuition wasn’t cheap. Zoe’s dad owed a ton of debt and definitely couldn’t afford the tuition, and as for her mom, she didn’t seem to have a job at the moment. “Your Aunt Lily has found a job and starts tomorrow, so she’ll pay for Zoe’s tuition. I’ll only cover her daily expenses. After all, we’re married now, and it doesn’t feel right to be too calculative about these small matters. Dad hopes you can understand,” my dad replied. I nodded, indicating that I was fine with it. “But my allowance needs to increase.” My dad fondly patted my head and said, “No problem.” Just when I was relieved that this new sister, though a bit annoying at first, seemed okay after a few days of living together, she started causing trouble. Although my mom worked abroad, she still sent me gifts every month, mostly jewelry and clothes. I kept them all carefully in my room. Every time I opened a package, Zoe would come over to look. I had reminded her not to enter my room without permission, and she had obediently agreed. Until one summer day, I accidentally discovered a selfie in her social media posts. She was wearing a dress from a niche luxury brand. It happened to be exactly the same as the birthday gift my mom had sent me last year. When I got home and opened my closet, the dress was indeed missing. During dinner that evening, I pretended to casually mention that I had seen her photo and asked Zoe, “Your dress is very pretty. When did you buy it?” A flash of panic crossed her face as she stammered, “Just… just a while ago. I bought it randomly while shopping.” “Isn’t that dress quite expensive? Since when did you have so much money?” I continued to ask. Unexpectedly, Zoe suddenly got angry and slammed the table. “Why do you keep asking? Can’t I buy clothes? Are you jealous that I have nice things?” “I’m just asking because I just lost a dress exactly like yours,” I explained. “You lost something and you’re questioning me? I’ve never been in your room!” she shouted self-righteously. I nodded, “If you’ve never been in my room, then there must be a thief in the house. The price of the dress I lost is enough to file a police report.” I said as I took out my phone, preparing to call the police. “Why are you calling the police? I… I thought the dress looked nice, so I wanted to borrow it,” Zoe tried to grab my phone but I dodged her. “Borrow? Did you ask me? Did I agree? Taking without asking is stealing!” I retorted. “You’re being too harsh! I just wore it once! I was going to return it to you!” Zoe yelled at me. “Where’s the dress? Give it back to me!” I extended my hand towards her. She reluctantly took out a crumpled dress from her backpack and handed it to me. The brand new dress now had a large tear in it. “I… I accidentally damaged it,” she said, her voice filled with guilt. “I had never worn this dress. It cost $1,280. Pay up,” I said, putting the dress back in her hands. “How can it be over a thousand dollars? Just say you want to extort money from me!” Zoe jumped up angrily when she heard the price. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I went back to my room and found the receipt, then handed it to her. To my surprise, she snatched the receipt and tore it into pieces, then threw it along with the dress into the trash can. She said smugly, “Now there’s no receipt, and your dress is just garbage. I won’t pay for it.” The birthday gift from my mom that I hadn’t even worn myself, she ruined it and called it garbage. Filled with rage, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Zoe was stunned for a few seconds before she started fighting back. Just then, Lily came home from work and saw us wrestling on the floor. She rushed over to pull us apart. On the surface, she was breaking up the fight, but she was actually pinching my soft waist several times. So I simply started fighting both of them indiscriminately. Seeing that I was attacking without discrimination, Lily also began to pull my hair. While fighting, she cursed, “You little bitch, your dad is on a business trip, and no one can protect you now. You’ve been so arrogant towards us. If I don’t beat you to death today, I’m not Lily!” I couldn’t fight both of them alone. Seizing the opportunity, I bit down hard on Lily’s thigh. She screamed, pounding on me to make me let go, but the more she and Zoe hit me, the harder I bit down, until my mouth was filled with the taste of blood. Only when Lily and Zoe let go did I release my bite, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth. While they went to the hospital to get bandaged, I quickly went back to my room to pack my luggage. The next day, I woke up early. While Lily and her daughter were still asleep, I set the central air conditioning temperature to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and packed all the remote controls and keys into my suitcase. Before leaving, I changed the password on the smart lock and locked the door. The smart lock couldn’t be opened from the inside without the password. With the summer heat in River City reaching nearly 104 degrees Fahrenheit, you two can enjoy yourselves at home. After doing all this, I dragged my suitcase out, my hair messy and clothes torn from yesterday’s fight with Lily and her daughter. To exit the community, I had to pass through a small park within the complex. At this time, it was when the elderly residents did their morning exercises. We had lived in this community for a long time. My parents were kind people, and I often tutored the neighborhood kids because of my good grades, so many residents knew me. I walked towards the main gate, crying. Soon, I was stopped by someone. “Oh my, isn’t this the little girl from the Ava’s family? What happened to you?” an old lady asked me. I shook my head, wiping my tears without saying a word. I knew this old lady. Her name was Mrs. Johnson, and she lived in apartment 301 of our building. “Where’s your dad? Who bullied you? Tell me, grandma will stand up for you,” Mrs. Johnson said, holding my hand sympathetically. At the mention of my dad, I cried even louder, saying I missed my parents. Hearing the commotion, people nearby gathered around, asking what had happened. Between sobs, I told them about yesterday’s events. During my story, a kind-hearted aunt, knowing I hadn’t eaten, even gave me two sandwiches. I cried while saying I couldn’t stay in that house anymore and was going to find my grandparents. The aunt who gave me the sandwiches was Mrs. Brown, known in our community for being gossipy but kind-hearted. After hearing my story, Mrs. Brown slapped her thigh and said, “I knew that mother and daughter weren’t good people. When they first moved in, they were so unfriendly when I greeted them. I can’t believe they would bully the child like this when her father is away. They really have no conscience!” “That’s right, no stepmother truly cares for her stepchild. Poor Ava,” someone else chimed in. “She’s a mother herself, how could she do such a thing?” another person added. Mrs. Johnson combed my messy hair while speaking, and Mrs. Brown went home to get some iodine to disinfect the scratches on my neck. After Mrs. Brown finished treating my wounds, I stood up and bowed to thank everyone, saying I was going to stay at my grandparents’ house. As I left the community, I could still hear indignant discussions behind me. You’ve messed with the wrong person. The neighbors’ gossip alone will drown you. Just as I got into the car, Lily’s call came through. I hung up and then turned off my phone.

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A week before our wedding, my fiancée Chloe told me she needed to marry her first love Ryan first, before she could marry me. Apparently, Ryan’s mother had passed away, leaving behind a dying wish for them to get married. “Ryan’s mom always hoped he would settle down. I’m just fulfilling an old lady’s last wish, don’t overthink it,” Chloe explained. But our company had already planned to launch the “True Love” jewelry collection on the day of our grand wedding. She impatiently retorted, “It’s just a billion-dollar project. How can that compare to Ryan’s filial piety? If you’re so keen on making that money, go find someone else to marry.” Faced with her cold words, I understood everything clearly. I turned and dialed home. “Sis, can you help set me up with a new bride?” When I got home, my sister-in-law looked shocked. “You’re calling off the wedding?” “No, she’s marrying someone else.” I gave a bitter smile. To be with Chloe, I had fought tooth and nail against my family’s objections to finally get my parents’ approval. We even scheduled the launch of the “True Love” jewelry collection on our wedding day. But now, it was all for nothing. My sister-in-law was stunned for a long while before saying, “Then I guess Stella is the only option. Her family’s been pressuring her to get married, and she’s been looking for a match recently.” I frowned. Stella was my arch-nemesis. On my engagement day, she had even cursed that my marriage would fall apart. Who knew her words would come true. Time was tight, so I could only say, “Alright, it’s her then. Can you ask about her intentions? If not, I’ll have to find another way.” My sister-in-law spoke quickly, “No need to ask, she’ll definitely agree.” “What?” Before I could ask further, a group of people surrounded me. “Are you Chloe’s fiancé? You’re so handsome!” “Are you here to pick up Chloe after work? You two are so sweet together.” I gripped the steering wheel, lowering my eyes to hide the self-mockery in them. Chloe had introduced me to her colleagues and friends early on. In everyone’s eyes, we were the enviable model couple. But who would have thought, she was about to marry someone else. After saying goodbye to everyone, Chloe got in the car and handed me a toy airplane. “Ryan asked me to give this to you. He said you embarrassed him at the funeral yesterday, so you should apologize when you have time.” The airplane was a miniature version, obviously a freebie that came with buying the real product. I had seen it in Chloe’s shopping cart a couple days ago. I said flatly, “I don’t want it.” Chloe frowned, “What are you upset about now? You barged into the funeral saying I wasn’t his fiancée and embarrassed him. He didn’t hold it against you and even thought to bring you a gift. How can you be so ungrateful?” The Chloe who used to protect me was gone. Now she cherished someone else. Chloe irritably opened the window for some air. After a while, seeing that I wasn’t going to comfort her, she finally said, “Fine, today’s a good day to try on wedding dresses. I won’t argue with you.” This was the first time she had backed down this year. When we arrived at the bridal shop, the attendant greeted us: “Miss Chloe, the 120 custom wedding gowns Mr. Li ordered for you are ready.” But Chloe’s attention wasn’t on the dresses. She was looking down at her phone, her expression slightly urgent. Noticing my gaze, she quickly put away her phone, a hint of apology on her face: “William, something came up with Ryan. I need to rush over there right away. Can you help me pick out a dress? I trust your taste.” With that, she hurriedly hailed a taxi and left, leaving me alone. The attendant came over tentatively and asked, “Mr. Li, will you be selecting the dress yourself?” I looked away and nodded. Of course I would choose a dress. But not for Chloe. After all, there was a new bride now. I drove home, thinking Chloe would be gone all night. But she returned before dinner. She strode over to me, holding a takeout box. “I went all over town to buy this for you – dim sum from Hei Rui’s.” I looked at the box of shrimp dumplings. There were three fewer than usual, and one had a bite mark, clearly eaten by someone. Half an hour ago, I had seen Ryan’s social media post. The photo was of the very meal in front of me. “My wife still remembers to buy me late night snacks. Thanks honey, muah!” I put down my chopsticks with a self-deprecating smile, instantly losing my appetite. “I don’t want it. Throw it away.” Chloe looked at me with displeasure, but held back from lashing out. She sat down next to me and complained: “You have no idea how pitiful Ryan was today. My parents went to his place demanding a bride price. He was so upset he cried.” “Ryan just got back to the country and doesn’t have much money. I was thinking of giving him my bride price first.” She shook my arm, as if trying to act cute. I looked at her sarcastically, “So I’m supposed to pay the bride price for your husband?”

In the past, I cared so much for Chloe that I would give her anything she asked for and do anything for her. But now she had woken me up herself. Thinking back, ever since Ryan returned to the country, everything she did was for him. She had forgotten that I was supposed to be the one spending the rest of my life with her. My response angered Chloe: “What do you mean by that? You’re not willing? You’d better understand this – Ryan is my best friend. You’d better make him happy, or I won’t marry you!” With that, she stormed out, slamming the door. Feeling frustrated, I went down to the park for a run. After just one lap, I got a call from Stella. Thinking of Stella’s perpetual icy expression, I hesitated for two seconds before answering. “Once you’re on my ship, you’re my person. Try to run and I’ll break your legs!” Stella’s first words were a direct hit. I stayed silent, and she continued: “Send me your ID card first so we can get the marriage license.” “I’m afraid you’ll change your mind.” Stella, you’re acting strange. In my mind, I had already imagined thousands of ways she could use this marriage to torment me. In the end, I could only squeeze out, “See you at the wedding, Miss Song.” Just as I finished speaking, Chloe suddenly appeared behind me: “You’re inviting Stella to our wedding? I forbid it!” She glared at me as if facing a formidable enemy: “William, didn’t I tell you not to associate with Stella? Her intentions toward you aren’t pure. If you insist on inviting her to our wedding, don’t blame me for getting upset!” Before I could say a word, she had already laid down her ultimatum. Chloe had always disliked Stella, harboring an inexplicable hostility. When we first got together, she even had a jealous outburst because Stella and I often bantered on social media. After that, I gradually cut off contact with Stella. But she actually said… Stella had impure intentions toward me? I was about to ask further when Ryan suddenly stumbled and leaned against Chloe’s neck. “Chloe, you’re pinching me…” Only then did I notice their intertwined fingers as they walked. Chloe coughed awkwardly twice, but made no move to let go of his hand. Ryan gazed at Chloe tenderly, then turned to me with a helpless expression: “Will, I’m sorry. Chloe and I were just practicing the wedding procedure. Please don’t mind.” “I won’t tell anyone about you hitting me or vandalizing my mother’s grave. But please don’t hurt Chloe. True love can’t withstand tests.” I didn’t want to watch this act, so I turned to leave: “Since you’re so eager, I’ll have someone beat you up tonight and dig up your mom’s grave.” Slap! Chloe slapped me hard across the face. “William, how can you be so vicious?!” Her brows were furrowed, her chest heaving. I’m vicious? She believed someone else’s lies so easily, yet five years of our relationship couldn’t earn me even a shred of her trust. Anger suddenly welled up inside me. I wanted to confront Chloe, but Ryan stepped in front of her: “Will, please. As soon as the wedding’s over, I’ll return Chloe to you.” “Have mercy and don’t hurt the people around me, or Chloe.” As he spoke, he was about to kneel before me. Chloe quickly wrapped her arms around his waist to stop him from kneeling, glaring at me furiously. “William, stop playing your rich boy bullying games!” “You know I hate that the most. If you still want to marry me, stop making trouble!” With that, she warned me not to appear before them again until the wedding. But the very next day, Chloe contacted me herself. She started off with a barrage of scolding: “William, you really went and dug up Mrs. Wood’s grave. I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!” Utterly confused, I called my assistant to investigate, only to uncover a shocking truth. Ryan’s mother… wasn’t dead.

No wonder Ryan could be so heartless as to dig up his own mother’s grave to frame me. It turns out her death was all a scam. I texted Chloe: “Ryan’s mother isn’t dead. The truth is in the email I sent you.” Whether she looked at it or not was no longer my concern. My flight was booked for three days later. Stella had made the reservation herself. When Chloe came back, she saw me packing. Half my clothes were thrown out, with a small portion being shipped to South City. “Why are you packing clothes?” Chloe asked, her expression doubtful. I gave a perfunctory reply: “Moving.” She was silent for a moment, not catching on to anything amiss, and continued on her own: “The Li family company is in South City. We’ll be settling there after we get married, so it’s good to pack early.” Then she fixed me with a harsh stare. “Apologize for Ryan’s mother’s incident as soon as possible. Don’t make things difficult for me. How about on our wedding day?” With that, she tossed down her phone and went to look for her ID. Today was the day she and Ryan were getting their marriage license. She didn’t come back until late that night. I opened my phone to find a message from Ryan pop up. It was a dim photo of a beautiful woman. In the picture, Chloe was wearing a maid outfit, looking at the camera. I closed my eyes, my heart still aching despite myself. I forcefully suppressed that feeling and turned off my phone. Late into the night, the phone by my pillow vibrated every hour. Each time it vibrated, it was Ryan sending me provocative videos of him and Chloe. Until early the next morning, when Stella sent me a message. “Mr. Li, the flowers have bloomed. You may slowly return.” The attached photo showed two red booklets. And a pot of vibrant red peonies. I hadn’t expected her to still be caring for the plant I had casually given her years ago. Inexplicably, a strange feeling welled up in my heart. I replied with a single word: “Okay.” I put down my phone to pack up my work files on the computer. I didn’t notice when Chloe had returned. She was packing her daily necessities: “I’m moving in with Ryan for a few days. He’s too busy preparing for the wedding on his own. Remember to show up on time for the wedding in two days. Don’t be late.” After saying that, she went on a long explanation about how she was just going to help out normally, telling me not to make trouble again. “Mm, I won’t go,” I said, keeping my eyes lowered. After last night, the last bit of affection I had for her had completely dissipated. Seeing my calm demeanor, a nameless panic swept over Chloe. She suddenly hesitated. But thinking of Ryan’s cloying acts of affection, she loosened her grip on her phone. William loved her so much, what could possibly go wrong? Thinking this, she breathed a sigh of relief and stopped arguing with me, disappearing from my sight. I watched her retreating figure and made a phone call. That evening, a helicopter landed in the square. A man walked up to me: “Mr. Li, the helicopter you ordered has arrived. It will safely transport you to South City in half an hour.” I nodded, then handed him an envelope. “Deliver this envelope to the wedding venue tomorrow. It’s my wedding gift for the bride and groom.”

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I confirmed Lucas’s betrayal on Christmas Eve. 28-year-old Lucas was dressed as Santa Claus, entertaining a young woman. I returned home in a daze and sat numbly in the living room for hours. When Lucas finally came home, I asked him, “When are we getting married?” He frowned and replied without hesitation, “Didn’t we agree to discuss this after the company is more stable?” I nodded and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up early and packed my things, ready to leave. Later, I sold my company shares to Lucas’s competitor. When I discovered that Santa was actually Lucas, I wasn’t even angry. Even though he had just flirted with a young woman right under my nose and then kissed her. I simply calmly confirmed the fact of his betrayal. Light snow was still falling from the sky, and a thick layer had already accumulated on the ground. In this weather, staying in a warm room with the heater on would have been so comfortable. Unfortunately, I was out running errands for the company. I had just received a message that my business partner couldn’t make it. Which meant that after waiting for three hours, I had been stood up. Perhaps the cold had numbed me, to the point where even seeing Lucas’s betrayal didn’t stir much emotion in me. I moved my nearly numb legs and decided to take a cab home. When I returned to the home Lucas and I shared, the living room was pitch black. I turned on the lights, and it finally brightened up. On the dining table was the loving breakfast I had made for Lucas before leaving this morning, untouched. Next to it was a sticky note with hearts and smiley faces drawn on it. I froze for a moment, unconsciously picking up the note. Lucas had taught me how to draw these simple doodles back when we were still in the honeymoon phase. He had held my hand and shown me how to draw them. It was just a simple sketch, but he had insisted on being close to me while teaching it. Now, it had been five years already. I suddenly realized Lucas and I had been together for five years. It had been such a long time, no wonder he had fallen for someone else. After a moment of silence, I tore up the note in my hand and threw it in the trash along with the untouched breakfast. It had gone cold anyway, no point in keeping it. Might as well throw it out. Sitting on the couch, I didn’t know what to do for a moment. I was tired today and didn’t want to go to the office. In the past, I would have been excitedly making travel plans at a time like this. So that Lucas and I could go on a trip together when he had time. I loved traveling, but Lucas didn’t enjoy it as much. As a result, out of ten times, Lucas was only willing to accompany me once or twice. And even on those occasions, it was mostly because I had landed a big deal for the company. Thinking of this, I gave a self-deprecating smile. I didn’t know when I had become one of those people I used to look down on. Before getting together with Lucas, I would encounter women who mistreated themselves for love. I always found it incomprehensible. Now that I was in the same situation, I could understand a little. It was just craving some warmth after all. Who doesn’t have some unforgettable memories when they’re in love? I don’t know how much time passed before Lucas came home.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Lucas frowned as soon as he saw me. I couldn’t tell if his words were out of concern or accusation. He used to say this in the past too. Back then, he would follow up with another question. “Is something bothering you?” But now, I waited and waited. And never heard those words. Of course, I had just witnessed his betrayal with my own eyes. Why was I still clinging to these things? I didn’t answer him, just looked up and stared at him intently. “Lucas, when are we getting married?” This was the first time I had asked this question directly. But I had said similar things countless times before. Back then, I would ask: “Lucas, when are you going to marry me?” But the result was always a polite refusal. This time was no exception. “Why are you asking about this again?” “Didn’t I tell you before? We’ll talk about these things after the company is more stable.” I wanted to argue – what exactly counted as stable? The company had already gone public, wasn’t that enough? But I didn’t ask. I just nodded and went to bed. I hadn’t really expected him to agree anyway. I was just asking one last time, for the sake of these five years. The bedroom was very cozy, with warm color tones. It allowed my mind to relax a little whenever I was exhausted from work. Lucas and I had chosen it together. There were still many stuffed animals on the bed, remnants of our honeymoon phase. Back then, he would say: “What guy plays with these things?” While shouting loudly to me: “Baby, come quick, this stuffed animal is so cute!” Those sweet memories flashed through my mind, but ultimately froze on the image of Lucas embracing and kissing that young woman today. I paused, then packed up my things and went to the guest room. As expected, Lucas didn’t ask me a single question. I slept until dawn. When I woke up, there was probably still a smile on my face. Because in my dream, I had seen those beautiful memories from the past. In the dream, 23-year-old Lucas was still holding my hand, loudly promising: “We’ll be together forever!” But when I woke up, I had to face the reality of 28-year-old Lucas’s betrayal. The huge gap left me feeling disoriented.

I decided to move out. When I made this decision, I felt a bit sad. Not for any other reason. But because the house was under Lucas’s name. If it had been under my name, I could have asked Lucas to move out now. Instead of having to leave myself. I realized again that Lucas probably stopped loving me long ago. If it was the Lucas from before, he should have put the house under my name when we bought it last year. For men, where the money goes is where the love goes. No exceptions. As I was packing, I ran into a problem. In the short year since moving in, I had already accumulated many items. Things that seemed insignificant in daily life all needed to be taken when moving. I was packing frantically, not even noticing when Lucas woke up. “What are you doing?” Maybe the dream from this morning still had too much of an effect, because hearing his voice made me feel a bit nauseous. I held my chest, patting it lightly. Before I could speak, he spoke first. “You’re not pregnant, are you?” Pregnant? Realizing my period was late this month, my face instantly turned pale. Although Lucas and I always used protection, what if…? Lucas must have noticed something was off, because he immediately took me to the hospital. The whole way there, Lucas seemed to have returned to how he was before. Asking if I was feeling alright, constantly checking if I was uncomfortable. If I didn’t know about his betrayal, I might have been fooled by this facade. This all lasted until we ran into that young woman at the hospital. “Jasmine, why are you here?” Lucas immediately let go of my arm when he saw her. The worried look on his face was something I hadn’t seen in a long time. I looked at the young woman. Before this, I hadn’t planned on confronting her. Because I had thought that maybe she was tricked by Lucas. That she didn’t know Lucas already had a girlfriend. But it wasn’t until I clearly saw her face that I realized. She and I were actually old acquaintances. Jasmine. Jasmine Lin. The junior I had personally mentored. I stood there, watching them fuss over each other in front of me. After a while, Lucas finally brought Jasmine over. “Senior.” Jasmine greeted me sweetly, not showing any sign of guilt. “Jasmine wasn’t feeling well, and she’s never been to a hospital before, so she’s not familiar with the procedures. I’m going to help her out.” “You’re more familiar with hospitals, and it’s probably nothing serious anyway, so why don’t you go first? I’ll come pick you up when I’m done.” Lucas had some nerve, accompanying an employee to see the doctor while leaving his official girlfriend behind. It was truly laughable. But right now I was anxious to confirm whether I was pregnant or not, so I didn’t have the energy to deal with them. If I wasn’t pregnant, that would be fine. But if I really was pregnant, I’d have to suffer through it. Fortunately, my streak of bad luck didn’t continue. It was just an irregular period. I left the hospital, planning to take a cab home by myself. But then I heard Jasmine’s voice.

Jasmine was sitting in Lucas’s passenger seat, waving at me. Her face was radiant with joy, making her look bright and lively. “Senior, come on!” This made it impossible for me to pretend I hadn’t heard. Might as well take the ride. The whole way, Lucas and Jasmine were chatting and laughing. Making me feel like an outsider. I kept quiet, not intending to interrupt their little world. But Jasmine kept trying to provoke me. “Senior, Lucas is so thoughtful and caring, you must be very happy!” “Senior, you have to treat Lucas well, I’m so envious of you!” “Senior…” “That’s enough, be quiet!” I finally couldn’t stand her constant chatter. I just wanted to get home in peace, was that so hard? “Why are you yelling? Jasmine was just saying a few words.” “When did your temper get so bad? Jasmine is still your junior.” I had only raised my voice a little, but Lucas was already defending her. “She’s my junior, why are you speaking for her?” I couldn’t help but snap back at him. “Jasmine is my employee too, what’s wrong with me saying a few words for her?” “Employee?” I found it laughable. “More like your little mistress, right?” As soon as I said that, the car fell silent. After a while, Lucas coughed awkwardly. “What nonsense are you talking about? Jasmine and I are completely innocent.” Seeing his reaction, I turned to Jasmine. “What, you’re with him but he won’t even give you a proper title?” Jasmine stammered, unable to reply. I gave a cold laugh, not saying anything more. Jasmine got out of the car first. On the way back home, Lucas and I didn’t speak. When we got home, I ignored Lucas behind me. I went straight to finish packing the luggage I hadn’t finished this morning. These were gifts Lucas had given me, I didn’t want them anymore. These were things Lucas and I had bought together while shopping, I didn’t want those either. After clearing things out for a long time, I finally realized that most of the items were related to Lucas in some way. I didn’t want any of it. It’s not like I was short on money anyway. I could just buy new things later. I sorted out some things I particularly liked and some essentials I had to take. As I was about to leave, Lucas finally spoke up. Before that, Lucas had just been quietly watching me. He seemed convinced that I was just putting on an act. “Olivia, are you really leaving?” “There’s nothing going on between Jasmine and me, can you stop being so petty?” “I didn’t say anything when you were out drinking with those businessmen all night for work, I just accompanied her to the hospital once.” “Slap!” Lucas’s words made me tremble with anger. I turned around and slapped him. “Nothing going on between you and Jasmine? You’re still trying to fool me, I saw everything yesterday!” After saying that, I took a deep breath. “Forget about your betrayal, what did you mean by what you just said?” “What do you mean I was out drinking with those men until late?” “If I hadn’t worked so hard to land those big deals, would the company be this successful?” “Now that the company has gone public, you’re using this against me? Where were you when I was drinking until I vomited blood?” I couldn’t believe that the person speaking to me so harshly now was the boyfriend I had loved for five years. The person who used to care for me so tenderly. My throat hurt from yelling earlier. “Lucas.” I couldn’t help it, my voice cracked a little. He was the only person I had ever truly loved. “Let’s end this here.” I left without looking back. Two months ago, I had bought myself a house. Without telling anyone.

Maybe I had already sensed something was wrong back then. It’s too easy for a woman to notice when something’s off with her partner. Not coming home at night, unexplained overtime. Suddenly finding cute little decorations at home that weren’t there before. All these little things, I had long suspected something was wrong. But Lucas had hidden it so well, I just couldn’t find any evidence. Wiping away my tears, I moved my things from the car into my new home. I didn’t have the energy to properly unpack everything, so I just rested for now. Things had gotten to this point with Lucas, and I wasn’t short on money anyway. I still had to go to the company tomorrow. Lucas owned 30% of the company shares, while I owned 21%. There was no reason for him to sit in the office every day while I had to run around for business, putting on fake smiles and drinking until I threw up. The next day when I arrived at the company, I noticed everyone looking at me strangely. Before I could ask, my former assistant quietly told me. Lucas had promoted Jasmine to be his personal secretary. The two of them were openly affectionate at the office, no longer caring about others’ opinions. “Olivia… this…” My assistant felt indignant on my behalf, but I shook my head. “Lucas and I have broken up, his business is none of my concern.” I actually have a very gentle personality. In the past, my friends would call me a pushover. Because I seemed to never get angry, not even knowing how to fight back when bullied. After getting together with Lucas, he would always stand up for me when I was wronged. But now, Lucas was the one bullying me. I didn’t know what to do. I decided to resign. There was no point in staying at this company anymore. I arranged all my work and gave instructions. I had shares in the company, so I didn’t need to worry about money. Now I wanted to travel and relax, not be a workhorse anymore. “Senior, what’s wrong?” I heard Jasmine’s voice as I was giving instructions. The smugness in her tone was about to overflow. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with her and continued delegating tasks. “Senior is resigning? Why not stay on? Even though you broke up with Lucas, if I put in a good word, you could still keep working here.” “After all, our company’s benefits are quite good. Most people wouldn’t want to leave. Don’t you agree, senior?” Jasmine sat down at my desk, crossing her legs and playing with her nails. Seeing her arrogant attitude, I couldn’t imagine how this Jasmine was the same person who had begged me for help before. Back then, she had clung to me, constantly calling me “senior”. Later she said she couldn’t find a job. I pulled some strings to get her into the company, and personally mentored her on how to negotiate deals. But Jasmine couldn’t adapt to running around for business. So I arranged a cushy job for her instead. But now that she had hooked up with Lucas, she came to flaunt her power in front of me. I looked down at her and smiled. “You should stop calling me senior. I don’t have any juniors who are homewreckers.”

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On what should have been my wedding day with Caleb Foster, I ended up being a bridesmaid instead. As I walked down the aisle in the wedding dress Caleb had chosen for me, I realized his gaze wasn’t on me. His eyes looked past me, fixed on Mia Lawson behind me. Just as I was about to ruin the wedding, a message appeared before my eyes. [This woman is really something, clinging to this rotten cabbage and not even glancing at our little tyrant.] [Please, I beg you, turn around and look at Liam! He’s ready to end it all thinking you’re getting married!] Startled, I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t touched in ages. In my panic, I blurted out, “Liam! Didn’t you say you were going to crash the wedding? Why haven’t you come to get me yet?” Mia’s wedding dress was incomparably more luxurious than mine. As she passed by, she looked at me like I was a stray dog. She clearly thought I had lost my mind. After giving me a once-over from head to toe, she let out a small snort and walked on. Caleb, completely indifferent, held Mia’s hand as they walked towards their marital altar. The spotlight shone on them as their vows echoed in my ears. But at that moment, I couldn’t care less about their wedding. The phone remained silent, and I was getting increasingly anxious. One second, two seconds… Just as I was about to tear off the wedding dress and run out, a deep voice came through the phone. “Okay.” The messages before my eyes suddenly changed: [Ah, I’ll spare your life this time, supporting character. You finally showed some conscience!] [But how did she suddenly become so clever? I thought she was going to remain stupid until the end.] [She must be fake. Rejecting the handsome, rich, and loyal childhood friend, and insisting on clinging to this petty man.] [Hope she can stay smart, otherwise Caleb could play her like a fiddle with just a crook of his finger.] Looking at the messages, I slowly pieced together the plot. Apparently, I was the princess of the Knight family, but I fell in love with the bookish Caleb Foster. However, Caleb saw me as a cash cow, using my money to string me along. Even this wedding was paid for with my money! The plot then goes on with the male and female leads labeling me as the vicious third wheel interfering in their love story, posting about me online and subjecting me to cyberbullying. Then their fans track me down in real life and stab me to death? What kind of melodramatic plot is this? As I thought about this, my anger started to boil. Before I could act, I was pulled into a cold embrace. The man’s arms squeezed me tightly, almost painfully, but he just buried his head in the crook of my neck, as if afraid I would run away again. I looked up and saw Liam, who was also my boss. “How did you get here so quickly?” Hearing my question, the man was visibly taken aback. “Aria, I…” His helpless expression made him look like a child who had done something wrong, softening my heart. I spoke up, “I mean, how did you drive here so fast? Weren’t you just at the beach? I can still smell the sea breeze on you.” The man’s rigid face relaxed a bit when he heard the concern in my voice. At this moment, more messages appeared: [She’s changed today? How come she’s speaking nicely?] [Ah, poor Liam. If this supporting character had spoken nicely earlier, there wouldn’t have been so many misunderstandings between them.] Misunderstandings? I made a mental note to ask Liam about this later. Liam looked at the happy couple on stage, his face troubled. He squeezed my hand and asked, “Aria, do you want me to take you away?” Looking at that despicable couple, I curved my lips and walked towards the stage, holding Liam’s hand. As we walked, I said, “Liam, didn’t you say you wanted to marry me?” The floating messages became increasingly frantic: [What is she going to do? What is she going to do! It can’t be what I’m thinking, right?] Liam was also caught off guard by my actions, but he quickly understood. His large, warm hand actively enveloped mine, leading me onto the stage. On stage, Mia was still listening to Caleb’s heartfelt vows, tears and snot running down her face. I snatched the microphone from his hand and said, “Ahem, sorry to interrupt the newlyweds, but do you mind if we join in?” Mia’s mouth twitched as she said, “Are you okay, Aria? Caleb doesn’t like you and won’t marry you. Can you stop making a fool of yourself?” Caleb sneered, “Aria, you’re still as childish as ever. Don’t think this will make me feel sorry for you.” Seeing him ramble on endlessly, I couldn’t help but interrupt, “Stop, stop, stop. So you’re saying you don’t mind, right?” His face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, but he nodded. Great! I turned to Liam with the microphone and said, “For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, do you promise to spend your life with me, never to part?” “I do.” Liam’s voice was hoarse and restrained. I thought that was the end of it, but to my surprise, he pulled out a ring from his pocket and got down on one knee. “Aria, I promise to protect you for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?” Although I had dragged him onto the stage, I never expected him to actually have a ring prepared. After saying this, he pushed the ring deep onto my finger and pulled me into his arms for a passionate kiss. At this moment, more messages floated up: [Ahh, although… Liam finally married the person he’s been pining for!] There were also those mocking Caleb: [Haha, Caleb thought he had Aria wrapped around his finger, didn’t expect this, did you!] Seeing their words, I couldn’t help but glance at the people beside us. Caleb’s mouth was twisted with anger. The next second, my tongue stung as I met those bottomless eyes that seemed to want to pull me in. Messages: [Haha, Liam is jealous~] [You’re in for it now, Liam is actually a huge jealous guy!] I ignored those messages because I no longer had the energy! After the kiss, I nestled in Liam’s arms, panting heavily, while watching the despicable couple gnash their teeth. Messages: [Mia’s eyes are about to fall out looking at that huge diamond on Aria’s hand, aren’t they? How about asking your dear Caleb to buy you one~] [Don’t know if you remember, but this is the one Aria casually mentioned she liked once, and Liam actually went abroad to buy it.] Seeing this message, I couldn’t help but look up at the man beside me, and coincidentally, he was looking at me too. He said softly: “Let’s go home.” I nodded, and he was about to carry me away when Caleb stopped us. “Aria! What the hell are you doing? Come back to me now, and I’ll give you one more chance!” Hearing his words, I struggled to get down from Liam. At the same time, I felt the man’s fingertips start to turn cold. Messages also floated incessantly: [Oh no, she can’t be this love-struck, can she??] [Someone save Liam, he’s about to break!] After I stood firm, I took a deep breath and cursed, “Who do you think you are? You think you can summon me at will? Look at yourself, what part of you is worthy of me?” “You didn’t really think I was head over heels for you, did you? Sorry, I have standards!” “Oh, weren’t you two getting married? Why don’t you continue? Consider the venue rented to you, remember to settle the bill later~” After saying this, I jumped onto Liam’s back and whispered in his ear: “Let’s go~” After witnessing my performance, the man laughed softly. I lay on his back, listening to his deep laughter. Looking at his broad shoulders, I couldn’t help but reflect on how brain-dead I must have been to like Caleb before. Thinking about Caleb’s scrawny figure, I couldn’t help but shake my head. In the blink of an eye, Liam had carried me to the villa he bought, right by the sea with a beautiful view. Walking into the villa, I couldn’t help but marvel that every aspect of the decoration and layout was exactly to my liking. The man followed closely behind me, carefully observing my expression. “This place is so beautiful, Liam. I love it!” I said with a big smile. Liam didn’t speak, but his face looked much better. Messages: [If he had a tail, it would be wagging like crazy, haha.] He handed me a cup of hot tea and slowly said, “Aria, I know you don’t like me, and the wedding just now was just an act.” “But this villa is yours. You can come anytime you want. If you don’t like me, I can leave!” His inexplicable panic made his words come out in a jumble, as if he was pouring out all the thoughts in his head at once. Seeing him like this, I felt a bit sorry for him and gently stroked his head. His hair was soft and fluffy, feeling very much like a small animal. The man under my hand calmed down due to my soothing. Just as he was about to continue speaking, we were interrupted by a phone call. I took out my phone and saw it was Caleb. The contact name still read: “Darling Husband”. Messages: [DarlingHusband, can the supporting character survive tonight?] Feeling the gaze of the man beside me, I felt inexplicably guilty. I was about to hang up, but someone pressed the answer button first. “Aria, I’m home. Iron my clothes, I have an interview tomorrow.” “I want to eat tofu tonight, hurry back and prepare it.” Messages: [Want to eat tofu and asking her to prepare it? Who do you think you are, a king?] Hearing him rattle off orders to me, I couldn’t help but ask, “Um? Didn’t you and Mia get married?” He didn’t expect me to bring this up. After all, if it were the old me, I would probably be rushing to him by now. He stammered, “Aria, how could I possibly marry her? You’re the only one in my heart, always have been!” The messages quickly chimed in: [Don’t believe him, supporting character! Mia is in his arms right now!] Hearing his sweet talk, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and say, “Then why did you marry her at the wedding?” He thought my attitude had softened and immediately said, “I just wanted to make you jealous…” I looked up at Liam, whose face had turned impossibly dark. I was about to speak when suddenly that handsome face came closer and closer. Liam kissed me. But the phone call hadn’t been hung up yet. Messages went crazy: [Oh my god, this is so intense!! As expected of a boss.]

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