I was reborn at age twenty, on the night of Ethan’s birthday party. In my previous life, to prove I hadn’t driven Mia away, I stood in the rain until I collapsed. I begged Ethan for one glance. Ethan’s reply? Cold mockery. “Victoria, you make me sick.” This life, I’m done revolving around Ethan. Right in front of him, I left the Hayes family without looking back. He watched helplessly as I stood under the spotlight as the Sinclair family heir. When he knelt before me at the top-tier charity gala, begging me to show mercy and withdraw the investigation into Hayes Corporation, I stood arm-in-arm with my fiancé and sneered: “Ethan, now you’re not even worthy of being my servant.” Victoria POV “Miss Victoria Sinclair, you’re not on the guest list.” The security guard stopped me, his voice dripping with disdain. “Ethan gave specific instructions. Tonight’s a private party. The main entrance doesn’t welcome people who aren’t on the list.” I shuddered, the cold jolting me fully awake. I had been reborn! Back to when I was twenty, on the night of Ethan’s birthday party. In my previous life, to explain that I hadn’t driven Mia abroad, I stood humbly in the pouring rain until I collapsed with a high fever and pneumonia, just begging him to look at me once. What I got in return was Ethan’s cold mockery. “Victoria looks just like a beggar who won’t go away.” I looked up toward the floor-to-ceiling windows on the villa’s second floor. The rain blurred my vision. But I knew that inside sat Ethan and his friends, waiting to watch me kneel and beg for mercy. They were making bets on how long I could last this time. After all, I used to be Ethan’s follower. At age ten, I was brought to the Hayes family as a sponsored child. Ethan took my hand and announced in front of everyone, “Victoria is the most important person to me. From now on, this is her home.” At twelve, when I was sick and mentioned wanting red velvet cake from downtown, he braved a typhoon and searched half the city for it. When he brought it back, the cake box was perfectly protected in his arms, not a drop of rain on it, though he was soaked through. At seventeen, at his birthday party, he made a public wish, saying he hoped that year after year, Victoria would be safe and happy. Back then, his eyes were only for me. But all that warmth ended abruptly one night five years ago. Mia was forcibly sent abroad by Ethan’s grandfather because of my testimony. At the airport, Ethan grabbed my throat, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, “Victoria, you drove away the person I love most. You’ll spend the rest of your life paying for it!” From that day on, the boy who promised to protect me forever disappeared. In his place was the demon before me now, finding every way to humiliate me. “Victoria, Ethan says if you stand in the rain for two hours, you can enter through the side door.” The security guard notified me impatiently. The side door was for garbage workers. In my previous life, I had gratefully waited at the side door. But now, I was completely clear-headed. “No need.” I pulled out a special access card from my bag. To demonstrate their benevolence, the Hayes family had issued identity cards to sponsored girls. In my previous life, I treasured it like gold. The guard froze. “What do you mean?” I walked over to the storm drain by the roadside and loosened my grip. The access card dropped into it. “Standing in the rain and all that. No need. I’m an outsider anyway. It’s time I left.” I looked up toward the floor-to-ceiling window. I could imagine their shocked expressions. My lips curved upward involuntarily. The Hayes family’s threshold was too high. I wasn’t worthy, and I no longer cared to be. I turned and walked into the rain. In this second life, I didn’t need to cross that threshold. When I returned to the Hayes house, I was dripping wet all over. In my previous life, I had lived in the servants’ quarters next to the main villa. My room was at the shadowy end of the second floor. When I opened the window, I faced the passage where garbage trucks went by. I used to think this was character-building, the humble station I had to accept as someone being sponsored. But I remembered when I was little, Ethan had pointed to the large suite across from the master bedroom and said, “When Victoria grows up, she’ll live there. I’ll hang all the stars in the window for you.” Later, that room was occupied by Mia when she returned from abroad. And I spent twenty years having nightmares in that cold room next to the housekeeper’s quarters. I had long since repaid everything I owed for being his assistant all these years.

Victoria POV Mia had a large south-facing suite in the main villa. Even the Hayes family dog had a dedicated climate-controlled room. But I lived in a place where sunlight never reached. I had to leave. Not one more minute. I pulled out my suitcase and packed only important documents and a few old clothes. I left all those designer bags and jewelry in the closet. If I was going to make a clean break, it had to be complete. I was still packing when the door burst open. Ethan’s mother, Rachel, walked in with obvious displeasure on her face. “Victoria, what’s gotten into you? Ethan’s had too much to drink. Instead of helping him handle the work crisis at the party, you run off, and now you won’t even prepare his honey lemon water?” In the past, even if I had a high fever, I would rush anxiously to the kitchen. Because Rachel would say, “The Hayes family sponsors you to help share our burdens, not to play princess.” But now, I didn’t even look up, yanking the zipper of my suitcase closed with force. “The housekeeper’s downstairs. Have her get it.” Rachel froze, as if she hadn’t heard correctly. “What did you say? You ungrateful-” “Since you already say I’m ungrateful,” I looked directly at her, “then perfect. I’ll leave right now and stop dirtying the Hayes house.” Rachel was speechless, unable to get words out for a long moment. Just then, the roar of a car engine came from downstairs. Ethan was back. Rachel seemed to find her confidence, immediately switching to a wronged expression and rushing downstairs. “Ethan, that ungrateful girl is getting out of control!” Hearing those footsteps drawing closer, in the past when I heard that sound, I would immediately check my appearance, afraid of displeasing him in any way. Now I just felt annoyed. I picked up my suitcase and headed for the door. Just as I reached it, Mia’s pitiful face appeared in the doorway. She was supporting a reeking-drunk Ethan. Seeing the suitcase in my hand, she covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Victoria, where are you going?” Her eyes darted around as she said, “Ethan has a terrible headache. Won’t you stay to take care of him? Running away from home this late at night?” I said nothing, simply placing the suitcase horizontally between us. Forcing Mia back half a step. Mia retreated behind Ethan looking wronged. I didn’t even glance at her, looking directly at Ethan behind her instead. The man I had loved for a lifetime in my previous life was now staring at me with sinister eyes. The narrow hallway reeked of alcohol. My phone buzzed with a calendar reminder. [Tomorrow: couples’ island getaway.] This was a surprise I had spent three months preparing. Ethan had casually mentioned wanting to go to the beach, and I had taken it to heart. Ironically, in my previous life, tomorrow he took Mia deep-sea fishing. Leaving me alone at home. I closed the reminder and pulled my suitcase past Ethan toward the stairs. A hand pressed down on my suitcase. “Victoria, are you finished yet?” Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice impatient. “Do you think I’ve been spoiling you too much lately?” I could tell he thought I was scheming, using this method to drive Mia away. “Let go.” I looked at him calmly. “I’m just moving out. Letting you two be together.” “Letting us be together?” Ethan laughed coldly, as if he’d heard the world’s greatest joke. “Where could you go without the Hayes family? Sleep on the streets? Don’t be shameless.” “Victoria, don’t go!” Mia suddenly rushed forward, pretending to mediate but actually grabbing my arm. Her long nails dug cruelly into my flesh, the pain piercing. But her voice was full of tears. “It’s all my fault. Victoria, please don’t be angry with Ethan…” I instinctively jerked my hand away, not using much force at all. But Mia cried out dramatically and fell toward the railing.

Victoria POV “Mia!” Ethan’s expression changed drastically. Without thinking, he shoved me hard. I lost my balance, falling backward with the suitcase. The back of my head slammed hard against the pillar at the stair landing. Searing pain hit me, warm liquid flowing down. The suitcase tumbled down the stairs, its contents scattering everywhere. A sharp cracking sound was particularly jarring. Clutching my bleeding head, I saw the custom gemstone necklace on the floor, broken in two. That was the only token I had when I was brought to the Hayes family, my only clue to my origins. I stared at the broken gemstone pendant on the floor. When I was fifteen, this necklace fell into the lake. Despite his whole family’s objections, Ethan risked diving in himself to retrieve it for me. Soaking wet, he had pressed the necklace into my hand, smiling as he said, “Victoria, even if I lost my own life, I’d protect this for you.” But now, the man who said he’d protect me forever was carefully cradling Mia in his arms. Even seeing the blood on my forehead, his eyes held only disgust. “Victoria, the blood you’re bleeding isn’t worth a fraction of the grievance Mia’s suffered.” Now, he had shattered it with his own hands. The Ethan who would protect me had died in my memories. The one before me was just a thoroughly rotten man. “Stop playing dead. Get up and apologize to Mia!” Ethan roared, not even glancing at me. I endured the intense pain, slowly standing up with the wall’s support. Looking at the broken necklace on the floor, the last bit of affection in my heart shattered along with it. Let it be broken, just like this disgusting relationship. I wiped the blood from my face, didn’t bother with the suitcase. I picked up the gemstone pendant broken in two pieces and walked down the stairs step by step, walking out of the Hayes family’s front door. Behind me came Ethan’s furious roar. “Victoria! If you walk out that door today, don’t ever think about coming back!” I didn’t look back. The late-night streets were empty. I hailed a taxi straight to the hospital. Mild concussion, three stitches. After treating the wound, I used what little money I had left to find a cheap hotel near the hospital. Lying in bed, my head still throbbing, but I felt incredibly light. Even bleeding, I had crawled out of that hell. That night, I slept incredibly well. It was the deepest sleep I’d had in twenty years. When I woke up, I checked my phone and looked at my balance. I had to solve my survival problem immediately. Even if I had to sleep on the streets, I would never go back. After a simple wash, I went to the hospital to change my bandage. The payment window had a long line. When it was my turn, I handed over the supplementary credit card I’d used for five years. The machine beeped an alert. The cashier frowned and swiped it again. “Insufficient balance, or it’s been frozen. Use a different card.” People behind me started getting restless. “Hurry up, what’s the holdup?” I looked at that black card, instantly understanding. This was Ethan’s move. He had frozen my supplementary card, waiting for me to crawl back to him like a dog and beg. The cashier urged impatiently, “Miss, do you have money or not?” I didn’t argue, calmly took back the card. My fingers pressed hard. “Snap.” The card broke in two. I casually tossed it into the nearby trash can. Think freezing my card means I have to go back and kneel? Dream on. “One moment.” I pulled out the few hundred dollars cash I had left, counted out the medical fee, and handed it over. You think stopping my card means I have to go back and grovel? Keep dreaming.

Ethan POV Hayes Corporation headquarters, CEO’s office. I was signing documents, the pen scratching across paper with subtle sounds. My personal assistant Emily carefully reported, “Sir, the bank just sent notification that Victoria’s credit card was declined when paying medical fees.” My pen paused, my lips curving into a smile with no warmth. “Freeze all accounts and supplementary cards under her name.” I didn’t look up, my voice devoid of emotion. “Including the car I gave her access to. Remotely lock everything.” “Understood.” “Penniless,” I closed the folder and tossed it aside on the desk, “I want to see what she can live on in New York. Once she’s suffered enough, she’ll naturally come back and submit.” The next morning at seven, Upper East Side penthouse. I habitually reached for the cufflinks on the nightstand. Came up empty. I frowned, instinctively blurting out, “Victoria.” No response. The bedroom held only the low hum of the central air conditioning. Only then did I remember that woman had left yesterday. A nameless irritation surged up. I grabbed a tie from the walk-in closet at random and went downstairs. On the long dining table sat an elaborate breakfast spread. I picked up the coffee cup beside me and took a sip. Sickeningly sweet, nothing like what I wanted. “Who prepared this coffee?” I set the cup back on the saucer heavily, producing a sharp clink. The housekeeper hurried over from the kitchen direction. “Sir, this is takeout Mia ordered…” Before, all of this was handled personally by Victoria. From the origin and roast of the coffee beans to the water temperature and brown sugar ratio-only she knew my preferences. “Make it again.” I ordered coldly. Did she deliberately mess everything up before leaving? Thinking she could force me to compromise with this childish method? Ridiculous. “Ethan, what’s wrong?” Mia descended the spiral staircase in a light pink silk loungewear set, floating down like a butterfly. Seeing the tie I hadn’t finished knotting, her eyes lit up and she approached attentively. “Let me help? I’ve seen Victoria do it before. Can’t be that hard.” I suppressed my discomfort, not immediately pushing her away. Mia’s fingers fumbled clumsily with the silk fabric. I drew in a sharp breath. Her carefully manicured nail grazed the skin on my neck, leaving an obvious red mark. The Hermès tie also had a pulled thread from her nail. I instinctively stepped back half a step, my expression darkening. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Mia’s eyes immediately reddened, tears appearing on cue. “I just wanted to help… it’s all my fault for being so clumsy…” If it were Victoria, she would never make such a mistake. Looking at that ruined tie, the anger in my chest was barely containable. But I still patiently raised my thumb to wipe the tears from her face, though my tone had completely cooled. “It’s fine. Not your fault.” Getting into the black Maybach waiting at the door, I immediately pulled off the tie Mia had touched and handed it to the driver in the front seat. “Throw it away.” Indeed, some habits and details could only be handled perfectly by that personal assistant who had been with me for three years.

Victoria POV A neighborhood with cheap rent in an old, run-down area. I stood in front of an apartment building with peeling exterior walls. The hallway reeked of damp mildew, large patches of paint flaking off. “Deposit plus first month’s rent, twelve hundred total. Cash only, no transfers.” The landlady was a stocky middle-aged woman, cigarette dangling from her lips, sizing me up and down. Though I wore the most ordinary old T-shirt and jeans, the quality of the fabric seemed to arouse her suspicion. She narrowed her eyes, her tone warning. “You don’t look like you’re from around here. Don’t cause me any trouble, understand?” I had my eye on a single room on the top floor. The room was tiny, less than a hundred square feet, but it had an independent window. “I don’t have enough cash right now.” I was honest, removing a simple pearl earring from my earlobe. This wasn’t from Ethan. I had bought this inexpensive accessory with money from my own part-time jobs. “Hold this as collateral. Give me one day.” The landlady glanced at it disdainfully. “What’s this worth? Flea market junk?” I didn’t back down, looking directly into her eyes. “I’m getting a job right away. This time tomorrow, I’ll have the money.” The landlady seemed taken aback by my gaze. “Fine, one day!” She grumbled impatiently and tossed me a rusty key. “If I don’t see the money this time tomorrow, get out immediately!” Standing in the narrow, dim hallway, I gripped that cold key tightly. As long as I had a place to stay, I could survive. I opened the job search app on my phone. Ethan had definitely spread the word in his circles. I didn’t need to bother with legitimate major companies for now. My finger scrolled across the screen, finally stopping on an inconspicuous job posting: A top-tier private auction house with mysterious backing, hiring part-time authenticators, no background required, only professional ability. I pulled up a photo from my phone’s cloud storage. It was my advanced authentication certification. I had secretly earned it in my previous life to assist Ethan. Once, these eyes were used to verify authenticity for him, to avoid risks. Now, they would be my foundation for survival. Auction house back warehouse. I wore white cotton gloves, carefully holding a porcelain vase, examining it closely under the light for a moment. “The imitation work is very sophisticated,” I set down the vase, my tone calm and certain, “but the details are wrong. It’s a fake.” The shop owner was a thin middle-aged man. He had been leaning back in his chair, but now leaned forward slightly, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Good eye.” He opened a drawer and pushed a kraft paper envelope across the desk. “This is today’s payment.” I accepted the envelope, feeling its thickness with my fingertips. Not much, a few hundred dollars, but this money was clean and solid. This was money that belonged entirely to me, Victoria. On my way home from work, I passed a convenience store and used the money I’d just earned to buy two discounted, near-expiry breads. Just as I walked out of the store, a bright red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing a face with elaborate makeup written all over with mockery. She was from Ethan’s circle, had often joined in ridiculing me before. “Well, if it isn’t our Mr. Hayes’s ‘all-purpose assistant’?” She raised her voice deliberately, drawing the attention of passersby. “How have you fallen to eating this kind of near-expiry bread? Did Ethan kick you out?” She raised her phone, pointing it at me. “Come on, smile for the camera! I’ll post it in the group chat so everyone can crowdfund to buy you a decent dinner, so you don’t starve to death on the street and embarrass Ethan.” I stepped forward, calmly facing her camera. “Get a clear shot.” I took a bite of the bread in my hand, speaking deliberately. “Perfect timing for your friends to see just how peaceful and free my life is without Ethan.” The woman froze, clearly not expecting this reaction. “Also,” I raised my hand and pointed to the traffic surveillance camera above her car, “this is a no-parking zone. The fine and penalty points should arrive at your address very soon. Drive safe. No need to see you off.” “You-!” She was speechless with anger. Behind her, the blocked traffic started honking impatiently. The woman glared at me viciously, rolled up her window, and floored the accelerator to leave. I walked down the street with my bread, eating it carefully, bite by bite. Their mockery and humiliation meant far less to me than this food I had earned myself.

Victoria POV The entire upper-class social circle was buzzing about the upcoming “Metropolitan Charity Night” gala. Only those who received exclusive invitations were qualified to step through those doors. Rumor had it that the notoriously private top billionaire would also attend, making everyone scramble for entry tickets. While organizing materials at the auction house, my boss handed me a special work pass. “The gala organizers urgently need an on-site special consultant appraiser.” The boss looked at me. “I’ve seen your professional performance in the shop. They specifically requested someone sharp-eyed who can command the room. I recommended you.” I accepted the work pass stamped with “Special Expert,” my fingers pausing slightly. I knew Ethan would definitely be there. That was his familiar battlefield, his arena for displaying status. “Not going?” the boss asked. “The compensation is quite generous. Enough to cover half a year of your apartment rent.” “I’ll go.” I hung the work pass around my neck. Why wouldn’t I go? Before, I attended as Ethan’s female companion, needing to read his moods, needing to network for him, needing to worry whether my dress and behavior were “worthy” of him. This time, I was going as a professional to work and earn compensation. Nothing shameful about that. Looking at the clear text on the work pass, I found it far more pleasing than any companion invitation as someone’s accessory. The night of the gala, Midtown Manhattan, the hotel’s red carpet stretched out, camera flashes illuminating the night sky like daylight. I arrived early, heading toward the inconspicuous employee entrance on the side. In my hand was a black briefcase containing professional tools and materials. Card swipe, identity verification, the passage door’s green light illuminated. I pushed through the door expressionlessly. Just as I entered the side door, my peripheral vision caught the end of the red carpet where a black Bentley Mulsanne slowly came to a stop. Ethan emerged in a perfectly tailored suit, followed by Mia in full formal attire taking his arm. She wore a complete set of diamond jewelry, smiling brilliantly for the cameras, as if she’d already won the whole world. Inside the gala hall. I wore a proper black professional suit and white cotton gloves, focused on examining several important lots about to be featured in the designated display area. A slight commotion and deliberately lowered laughter came from nearby. I looked up to see Mia holding Ethan’s arm, standing with several socialites. In front of them was a classical oil painting. Mia seemed eager to show off, her voice carrying clearly. “…The colors are so vibrant, clearly a masterpiece from the peak of Impressionism.” The socialites exchanged meaningful glances. No one responded. The atmosphere grew awkward. Impressionism and Renaissance classicism were worlds apart. This was entry-level knowledge. Ethan’s expression seemed to darken. He discreetly withdrew his arm and said something to Mia before turning to walk away. Mia stood alone, her smile somewhat stiff. After a while, Mia wandered over to my area with a glass of red wine. She spotted me immediately, her eyes first flashing with astonishment, then replaced by a mixture of contempt and excitement. She walked straight over, stopping in front of me, her wrist suddenly tilting. Splash. Half a glass of red wine spilled onto the polished marble floor, a few drops of deep red liquid splashing onto my pant leg. “Waitress,” she raised her voice, finger pointing at me, tone full of mockery, “come clean this up. What, didn’t Ethan give you living expenses? You’ve actually fallen so low as to work as waitstaff here. How utterly humiliating.”

Victoria POV I didn’t even furrow my brow, speaking calmly into the miniature earpiece clipped to my collar. “Guest in Zone C near the display platform accidentally spilled beverages. Cleaning staff needed immediately.” My disregard completely enraged her. She suddenly reached out, trying to grab the work pass on my chest. “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf? A bottom-tier worker pretending to be something here!” I sidestepped smoothly, avoiding her. Her hand grasped empty air, her body swaying from momentum. I raised my eyes, my gaze cold and sharp, then pointed with my white-gloved hand to a crown inside the glass display case behind me. “This diamond crown has a starting bid marked at two million eight hundred thousand dollars.” My voice wasn’t loud, but clear enough. “If it’s damaged, I imagine even Mr. Hayes wouldn’t be happy to shoulder that compensation responsibility for you.” Mia’s hand froze mid-air, her face instantly pale. That figure was like ice water, extinguishing all her arrogance. She looked into my calm, unwavering eyes, seeming to clearly realize for the first time that my gaze had long since moved past her to places she could never reach. Just then, Ethan apparently noticed the commotion here and strode over with a dark expression. His gaze passed over Mia and landed directly on me. I was conversing quietly with two collectors who had arrived early and were interested in the lots, answering some professional questions. Ethan approached, obvious anger on his face. He eventually cornered me in the lounge off the side hall. “Is this your tactic?” Ethan looked down at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Running to my territory to play independent woman?” I straightened my cuffs, my expression indifferent. “Ethan, I’m a consultant hired by the organizers. Your female companion, on the other hand, nearly destroyed an exhibit.” “Shut up.” Ethan didn’t listen to explanations at all. “Are you this desperate for money? So desperate you’d come to this kind of complicated place to show yourself off?” He pulled out a card from inside his jacket and tossed it carelessly onto the table. “Take it. Leave immediately. Stop embarrassing yourself here.” I didn’t even glance at the card. “I don’t need money.” I raised my head, looking directly into Ethan’s eyes. “I thought I had already severed ties with the Hayes family.” Ethan laughed coldly, his eyes sinister. “Severed ties? What do you have that wasn’t given by the Hayes family? Without the Hayes family, you couldn’t even get through this door.” My hand reached into my collar, pulling out the gemstone necklace that had been broken in two and barely repaired. This was something I had before coming to the Hayes family, the only token my biological parents left me. It was also my only spiritual anchor when I suffered grievances in the Hayes family. “This is mine.” My voice was resolute. “Other than this, I didn’t take a single thing from the Hayes family.” Just then, the lounge door was suddenly pushed open. Mia rushed in. Seeing that necklace, her eyes shifted and she shrieked, “Isn’t that the necklace Rachel said was lost? So you stole it!” I gripped the necklace tightly. “What nonsense are you talking! This was left to me by my parents!” “You’re lying!” Mia rushed over, grabbing Ethan’s sleeve, crying like her heart was breaking. “Ethan, last time Rachel was so upset about losing this necklace she ended up hospitalized. Victoria, how could you do this? Stealing is one thing, but using your dead parents as a shield.” Ethan was annoyed by the crying, but he was even more disgusted by my attitude of wanting to settle accounts with him just now. “Hand it over.” Ethan extended his hand. “Ethan, you know perfectly well. ” I looked at him in disbelief. “A broken pendant, and you’d use it as an excuse to lie?” Ethan snatched the gemstone pendant from my hand. That was my last line. I tried to grab it back, but Ethan shoved me away. Ethan strode to the balcony edge. He held up the pendant, his eyes ice cold. “Since it’s stolen goods, no one gets it. This should wake you up and make you recognize your place.” His hand opened.The gemstone pendant traced an arc through the air, disappearing into the pitch-black rainy night. I didn’t scream, didn’t chase after it. I stood there, my blood seeming to freeze. The last glimmer of light in my eyes extinguished. “Let’s go.” Ethan put his arm around the smug Mia, not even glancing at me, turning to leave. As if he’d merely thrown away a piece of garbage. Cold wind rushed into the terrace. I stood there. The downpour soaked half my shoulder. Very cold, but not as cold as my heart at this moment. That necklace was my only clue to finding my biological parents. Now it was gone. Maybe it was for the best. This time we were truly even. Ethan, from now on, we’re enemies.

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I spent four years helping Ethan rebuild after bankruptcy, only to watch him propose to my half-sister Vivian at his victory celebration. He said marriage could only be for Vivian. I was nothing more than his most obedient pawn. Vivian deliberately framed me for causing her miscarriage, then had someone inject me with poison. He witnessed it all with his own eyes, yet he chose to believe her over me. At the engagement party, surveillance footage revealed the truth, exposing her cruelty for all to see. Ethan collapsed in regret, kneeling before me and begging for reconciliation. But I simply took the arm of my new lover, Adrian Luton, and smiled faintly. “Ethan, it’s too late.” Lily’s POV When Ethan Sterling’s family went bankrupt and everyone said the former genius would never rise again, I was the only one who stood by him without hesitation. I believed he could start over. I believed he could make a comeback and reclaim his place at the top, restoring the Sterling name. Four years later, he proved me right. Not only did Ethan pay off all his debts, but he took Sterling Tech to new heights. After four years, he stood at the pinnacle of power once more, his glory unmatched. Everyone marveled at how Ethan truly was a genius, different from ordinary people. “Lily, your suffering has finally paid off,” my friend Sophie called excitedly. “Ethan’s been working himself to death these past years just so he could marry you in style, right? I heard he’s planning to propose tonight at the victory party. Did he give you any hint about this huge event?” Ethan was planning to propose tonight at the victory party? My heart skipped a beat. I knew about the party. It was to celebrate Sterling Tech successfully securing that crucial project. But a proposal… he’d been secretly planning this? “He didn’t tell me. Maybe he wants to surprise me,” I said, unable to hide the smile on my lips. “I have to go. I’m picking up the gift I prepared for him.” After hanging up, I accepted the deep blue velvet box from the clerk. Inside was a pair of cufflinks, platinum settings inlaid with two perfectly cut black diamonds. I’d had these custom-made specifically to celebrate Ethan’s success with this project. But I never expected he would propose at this very party. At the thought, warmth flooded my chest like honey. I tucked away the jewelry box and was about to leave when a familiar voice drifted from behind a marble column nearby. “Is everything ready?” It was Ethan. “All set, Mr. Sterling. This is the ring custom-made according to your design and specifications. Please take a look.” His design? So for tonight’s proposal, he’d even personally designed the ring. He was just like me. We both wanted to surprise each other tonight. My heart grew even sweeter, and I looked forward to the party even more. I was debating whether to go over and greet him when I heard the voice of Ethan’s friend Marcus, tinged with amusement. “Wonder if Vivian will be more happy or surprised when she sees this ring you designed for her?” I felt like I’d been nailed to the spot, my mind suddenly blank. Vivian… my half-sister? Marcus asked curiously, “You specifically invited Vivian to tonight’s party, but I’ll be there too. Aren’t you afraid Lily will see you propose to another woman and make a scene?” The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Then I heard Ethan reply in a tone so calm it was almost indifferent, “She won’t know. I’ll find an excuse to keep her away.” Marcus sighed. “Four years ago when the Sterling family went bankrupt and everyone thought you were finished, only Lily believed in you. She stayed by your side through four years of hardship, even sold the sapphire necklace her grandmother left her to cover project expenses… Does all that still not compare to the girl who saved your life when you were young?” “During the hardest times, Lily was willing to stay with me. She’s been very good to me,” Ethan said after several seconds of silence. “I can give her anything. But marriage… I just can’t.” Marcus sighed heavily. “Fine. Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t say more.” Soon the sound of footsteps faded from behind the column. I leaned against the cold jewelry counter, my fingers trembling, my blood freezing instantly. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. My phone buzzed at that moment. A message from Ethan. “Lily, there’ll be a lot of drinking at tonight’s party, and you’ve been having stomach trouble. You’ve never liked these social events anyway. Stay home and wait for me, okay? I’ll come straight back after the party.” I stared at those words, cold spreading from deep within, a sharp pain stabbing through me. Slowly, I lifted my stiff fingers and typed: “Okay.”

Lily’s POV Perhaps because I still held onto a thread of hope, I couldn’t bring myself to believe Ethan would really propose to another woman. Even less could I believe that woman would be my half-sister. In the end, I still went to the hotel hosting the victory party. I found a server, paid them, and changed into their uniform with a mask. I slipped into the banquet hall without trouble. The hall was crowded. Everyone wore flattering smiles as they raised their glasses to the outstanding man at the center of the crowd. Ethan wore the suit I’d personally ironed that morning. He stood tall, conversing easily, his expression full of confidence and success. The emcee took the stage and made some opening remarks. Then Ethan took the microphone, his magnetic voice carrying clearly through the speakers to every corner. “Thank you all for being here. My company’s success today wouldn’t be possible without your support. But for me personally, there’s something even more important I want to share tonight, and I hope to receive your blessings.” His gaze shifted to the crowd below, landing on Vivian. She wore a silver sequined mermaid gown, her makeup flawless and elegant. Ethan walked toward her, took her hand under everyone’s gaze, and led her to the center of the room. “These past four years, I’ve faced many setbacks, but one person has always supported me and given me strength. Her name is Vivian.” He looked at the woman beside him, her cheeks flushing. “Without her, I might not be standing here today.” In the corner of the hall, my heart sank. Then I watched as Ethan reached into his jacket and pulled out a deep blue box. He opened it. A diamond ring sparkled brilliantly under the lights. The ring’s design was intricate and gorgeous, clearly made with tremendous care. As everyone held their breath, Ethan knelt on one knee before Vivian. “Vivian,” he said with deep emotion, “will you marry me?” Vivian covered her mouth with her hands, tears spilling from her eyes as she nodded emphatically. “Yes!” The room erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. I stood in the shadows, watching the embracing couple, my nails digging deep into my palms. I felt no pain. So these four years, Vivian had been his most important pillar of support? It was Vivian who constantly encouraged him, supporting him until today? Then what about me? What did my years of companionship and sacrifice mean? Was it all just a stupid joke? I tried to smile, but the curve of my lips was bitter. I didn’t rush over screaming to ruin this carefully prepared proposal. Instead, I turned silently and left this ceremony that was never meant for me. The April night wind felt cold. I wandered the streets like a ghost, with no destination. I don’t know how long I walked before a bridal shop window caught my eye. A pristine wedding gown on a mannequin looked beautiful in the warm yellow light, like an unreal dream. Memory’s floodgates suddenly opened. I remembered during our most desperate days, Ethan and I passed by an upscale bridal boutique, and I couldn’t help stealing a few glances. Noticing my longing for the wedding dress, Ethan squeezed my hand tightly and said, “Lily, I’m sorry I can’t give you much right now. But in the future, I’ll personally design you a one-of-a-kind wedding gown and make you the most beautiful, happiest bride in the world.” Back then, the light in his eyes had been so bright and genuine. So I believed him and willingly gave everything for that promise. But now, he’d slipped his personally designed ring onto another woman’s finger. Well, he did say he’d design me a unique wedding gown to make me the happiest bride. He just never said I’d be his bride. My chest ached unbearably again, tears blurring my vision. My trust in him had become one enormous joke. Just then, my phone rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number, but I recognized it. I was about to decline when my finger hovering over the screen suddenly hesitated. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and answered. “Hello.” “Lily, I apologize for calling so late, but I truly admire your talent. Our company sincerely invites you to join us. Whatever conditions you name, I can agree to them. Won’t you reconsider?” They’d called multiple times offering me this opportunity. This time, I suddenly didn’t want to refuse for Ethan’s sake anymore. After a pause, I said, “Alright. I accept your offer.” They were clearly surprised by my decisive answer. “Really?” “Give me some time to handle things on my end.”

Lily’s POV I returned to the penthouse I currently shared with Ethan and left the cufflink box on the shoe cabinet before heading to the bedroom. I barely slept until dawn. The next day, as I was preparing to leave, I noticed the gift box on the cabinet hadn’t moved. Clearly, Ethan hadn’t come home all night. I stared at it quietly for a few seconds, then left it there and headed out. News of Ethan’s proposal had spread throughout the company. “Lily!” The moment I stepped through the company entrance, Sophie rushed over angrily and pulled me into the break room without a word. “What’s going on? How could Ethan propose to Vivian? Has he lost his mind? Who is this Vivian anyway? Where did she come from?” Sophie was a friend from college who’d joined Sterling Tech two years ago. Now we were both friends and colleagues. In the entire company, besides Ethan’s assistant, only Sophie knew about my relationship with Ethan. Just as I opened my mouth to answer, someone knocked on the break room door. Ethan’s assistant stood outside. “Lily, Mr. Sterling would like to see you in his office.” I patted Sophie’s shoulder reassuringly. “I’ll explain later.” Outside the CEO’s office, the assistant announced, “Mr. Sterling, Lily is here.” “Lily.” Ethan immediately rose from behind his desk, walked over in a few strides, took my hand, and led me into the office. His tone was apologetic. “I had too much to drink at the party last night and ended up sleeping at the hotel. I couldn’t come back to be with you. Did you eat breakfast on time? Your stomach’s been bothering you. You’re not mad at me, are you?” I didn’t know if he’d really gotten drunk and slept at the hotel. I didn’t want to ask. I gently withdrew my hand and held out what I’d brought. “If you’re worried I’m angry, just sign this.” “What is it?” Ethan took it curiously. When he saw what I’d handed him, he looked up at me in surprise. “A resignation letter? You’re resigning?” “Yes.” I offered no further explanation. Ethan seemed puzzled by my sudden resignation, but seeing my calm expression, not looking like I was throwing a tantrum, his face relaxed. Something seemed to occur to him. “You’re right. These four years you’ve been with me, you haven’t had a proper day off. Now that the company’s on solid footing with plenty of talented people, it makes sense for you to resign and rest.” He smiled. “After all, I can give you everything now.” He picked up his pen and signed the approval line. “There. Submit this to HR, finish your handover, and you won’t need to come to the office anymore.” He handed back the resignation letter, his tone light. “I’ll take you to lunch. What do you feel like eating?” “Mr. Sterling!” Before I could respond, the assistant rushed in. He approached Ethan and said quietly, “Miss Lynn is here. She says she needs to see you. She’s downstairs.” Ethan’s expression changed. He turned to me. “Lily, something urgent came up. I need to step out.” He didn’t even wait for my response before grabbing his jacket from the chair and hurrying out of the office. Watching his retreating figure, I clutched the resignation letter tighter. Come to think of it, my current career success was all because of him. Because I’d fallen for him at first sight and learned he was a leading figure in artificial intelligence, I’d applied to the same engineering university without hesitation, diving headfirst into boring algorithms and code. Through four years of college, I achieved excellent results, which gave me opportunities to discuss topics with him and get closer to him. Later, when the Sterling family collapsed, I brought all my love and courage to live with him in a shabby little apartment. We crammed into that tiny room, pulling countless all-nighters together, discussing programming algorithms, celebrating every breakthrough with hugs. Those days and nights fighting side by side, built on our combined efforts, ultimately formed the solid foundation of today’s Sterling Tech, allowing the company to transform and return to everyone’s view. I thought after four years together, I’d entered his heart. But in the end, he passionately proposed to another woman. The pain in my chest spread. I took a deep breath and put away the resignation letter. Walking out of the building, the sunlight was a bit harsh. I squinted, and suddenly saw Ethan by the roadside carefully helping Vivian into a car, then quickly moving to the driver’s seat. “Ethan?” Sophie beside me was furious and about to march over. “What does he think he’s doing? What does he take you for? I’m going to ask him.”

Lily’s POV I hurriedly grabbed Sophie before she could rush over. “Don’t. There’s no need to ask him.” “What do you mean, don’t?” Sophie was angry and anxious, her chest heaving. “Lily, after everything you’ve done for him, how can he treat you like this?” I couldn’t answer her. I just smiled faintly. “Come have a drink with me.” Sophie looked at me, knowing that beneath my calm exterior, my heart was shattered. Her anger turned to heartache. “Let’s go! I’ll drink as much as you want today!” In the noisy bar, I drank one glass after another. The harsh liquid burned down my throat, scorching my stomach, but it couldn’t warm my gradually freezing heart. After drinking for who knows how long, I got up to use the restroom. Leaning against the sink, I looked at my disheveled reflection with reddened eyes in the mirror. I tried to smile but couldn’t. As I walked out of the restroom, a figure stumbled toward me, nearly knocking me over. I frowned and stepped back, looking up at the person. It was Kevin, also a friend of Ethan’s. He’d clearly had quite a bit to drink too, his face flushed from alcohol. “Isn’t this Lily?” Kevin squinted, recognizing me, and slapped my shoulder hard. “Looking for Ethan? Come on, he’s inside. I’ll take you to him!” Before I could refuse, Kevin pulled me around the corridor to a private room door. “Ethan, look who I brought!” Kevin pushed open the door with a flourish. The laughter inside stopped abruptly. Everyone’s eyes turned toward us. Seven or eight people sat inside, all Ethan’s close friends. Marcus was there too. Ethan sat in the middle of the sofa, and right beside him, pressed close, was Vivian in an elegant dress. At that moment, Ethan’s hand was still holding Vivian’s. They looked very intimate. Time seemed to freeze. Ethan’s smile stiffened. The others exchanged glances. The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Kevin belatedly realized what he’d done. He slapped his forehead, the alcohol shock sobering him up. “Oh no, wait, that’s not… Lily, I…” Before he could finish, I turned and walked away without a word. “Lily!” Ethan’s expression changed. He quickly stood and chased after me. In the corridor, Ethan grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, forcing me to face him. “Lily, why are you here? And why did you leave as soon as you saw me?” I looked up at him. “If I’d stayed, wouldn’t it have been awkward for everyone?” Ethan was silent for a moment before saying, “Did someone… tell you something?” “Does someone need to tell me?” I smiled. “You proposed to Vivian. All your friends know. It’s all over the company. You never planned to hide it. You’re just waiting for me to leave on my own so you two can get married smoothly, right?” “It’s not what you think!” Ethan interrupted, urgently trying to explain. “Vivian is the heiress to the Lynn family empire. She saved my life before. These four years, she’s used the Lynn family connections to help me secure many resources. She’s made enemies because of it. I owe her too much.” “So what does that have to do with me?” “Her only wish is to marry me. I’m marrying her to repay that debt.” He gripped my shoulders with both hands. “Lily, don’t you know who I’ve had in my heart all these years? As long as you don’t mind her existence, nothing between us will change. We’ll be just like before.” I froze, finding it unbelievable. “So you’re saying you want me to be the mistress in your marriage to someone else?” Ethan’s expression stalled. He wanted to argue, but his words were interrupted by a sudden voice. “Ethan, what are you doing here?” Vivian walked gracefully toward us.

Lily’s POV Hearing her voice, Ethan quickly composed himself and dropped his hands from my shoulders. Noticing this, I couldn’t help but curl my lips mockingly. Reaching us, Vivian’s gaze swept between us before she asked curiously, “Ethan, aren’t you going to introduce us?” Ethan frowned, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He said somewhat unnaturally, “This is… Lily. My work colleague.” Hearing his introduction, I found it absurd and laughable. Four years of shared hardship, four years of unreserved devotion. In his mouth, it all became just “work colleague.” Ethan avoided my gaze and turned to ask Vivian, “Why did you come out?” Vivian said coquettishly, “I saw you run out and thought something happened. I wanted to check on you.” As she spoke, she naturally linked her arm through Ethan’s. Ethan’s body stiffened. He glanced at me hesitantly, his lips moving slightly as if wanting to say something. But I didn’t give him the chance. Without looking back, I turned and left. After leaving the bar, I didn’t return to the penthouse. Instead, I went to the shabby apartment where Ethan and I had lived together for four years. Using my key to open the door, the scent of old times washed over me. This small apartment wasn’t large. Only about 500 square feet, one bedroom and a living room. But it was filled with our difficult yet sweet memories. I remembered once when Ethan hugged me from behind, resting his chin on my head, and said softly, “Lily, I’m sorry you have to live here with me. In the future, I’ll give you the best of everything in the world.” Later, when the AI system we developed together launched and achieved great success in the industry, helping Ethan make his comeback, he asked what reward I wanted. I only asked for this apartment. Because this apartment held special meaning for me. So Ethan bought it, and I kept the key. Now it seemed that meaning was just a mocking joke. I curled up on the small, old sofa in the living room all night. This was my last time reminiscing about our past. The next day, I contacted a real estate agent and listed the apartment. “The price is negotiable. My only requirement is completing the transfer as quickly as possible.” “Understood, Lily.” The agent was efficient and came quickly to photograph and appraise the property. After finishing, I locked the apartment door and came downstairs to see an unexpected figure. Vivian leaned against a white sports car, apparently waiting for some time. I had no desire to see her and was about to leave when Vivian suddenly called out to me. “I heard you and Ethan lived here for four years, so this apartment must mean a lot to you, right?” I stopped and slowly turned to face her. “What do you want?” Vivian lowered her head, gently stroking the ring on her finger. Her expression was triumphant. “Even though you and Ethan went through a lot together, unfortunately, I’m the one he’s marrying. We’ll be starting wedding preparations soon.” “Congratulations then,” I answered coldly. “I wish you both happiness. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.” “Lily, you never expected this, did you? You stayed with him through four years of hardship, but you still lost to me.” My chest ached in waves, but I suddenly laughed. My laughter sounded so cold. “You’ve loved stealing from me since we were children. Stealing my man as an adult. What’s so surprising? After all, you and your mother Jade are alike. You both love stealing other people’s men.” Seeing Vivian’s sudden rage, I found it deeply ironic. Ethan never knew that the Lynn family’s true heir wasn’t Vivian-it was me. After my mother died, my father Victor Lynn brought Vivian and her mother into our home to live with us. Vivian had always loved competing with me for everything, and Victor constantly favored Vivian, forcing me to yield again and again. So when I came of age, I changed my surname, severed ties with the Lynn family, and moved out. “Vivian, picking up my leftovers and being so proud of it-doesn’t that disgust you?” After my sarcastic remark, I turned to leave. “Stop right there! What do you mean, your leftovers?” Vivian, enraged, rushed over and grabbed me. “You couldn’t compete with me-you lost to me!” I looked at her disdainfully. “I lost to you?” Vivian gritted her teeth and suddenly sneered coldly. “This time, I’ll make you lose even more thoroughly!” Suddenly, before I could react, Vivian grabbed my hand and pushed herself backward. Then Vivian stumbled back, her back hitting the stairway steps hard, and she let out a painful scream. To any onlooker, it would clearly appear that I’d violently pushed her to the ground. “Vivian!!!”

Lily’s POV Pain shot through my shoulder as I was shoved back two steps by a man rushing toward us. When I steadied myself, I saw Ethan cradling Vivian in his arms. “Vivian, are you okay? Where does it hurt?” I’d never heard such panic in Ethan’s voice before. “My stomach… my stomach hurts so much…” Vivian looked like she was in terrible pain, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Following her gesture, Ethan looked down and saw dark red blood flowing down from the top of her thighs. I saw it too. That glaring red was like lightning striking my mind, leaving it completely blank. “Ethan, save our baby…” Vivian clutched Ethan’s arm tightly, looking at him through tears. “Please… save our baby…” “Okay, okay, don’t talk. I’m taking you to the hospital!” Ethan scooped Vivian up and rushed toward his car like a madman, not even glancing at me once. I stood there dazed. A baby? They actually… had a child? After hesitating, I still followed them to the hospital. At the hospital, the emergency room doors opened and the doctor walked out, expression grave. Ethan immediately approached. “Doctor, how is she?” “I’m sorry, she’s miscarried. We’ve performed a D&C procedure. She’s not in life-threatening danger and will be transferred to a regular room shortly.” “Miscarried…” Ethan’s tall frame swayed. Then he slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on me in the corner. That look was cold as a knife. As if asking me, why did you do that? I opened my mouth to say something, but just then, rapid footsteps approached from far away. I’d just turned to look when a loud slap landed hard across my face. My cheek exploded in pain, my ears ringing. The force knocked my head to the side, and I tasted blood in my mouth. Seeing this, Ethan rushed over. “Mr. Lynn, what are you doing?” “Stay out of this, Ethan. This is a family matter!” “What?” Facing Ethan’s confusion, Victor didn’t explain. Instead, he turned to me in fury. “Lily, how could you be so vicious? That’s your sister! She was pregnant, and you still went after her!” I covered my swollen face and looked at this man who shared my blood, my biological father.  “I didn’t push her,” I said coldly. “She deliberately fell and framed me.” “How dare you!” Victor trembled with rage. “Vivian has always been kind and considerate. But you! You’ve been selfish since childhood, always competing with Vivian for everything. You’ve hurt her more than once or twice. I think you just can’t stand to see your sister happy!” “I’m selfish? I compete with her? I don’t want her to be happy?” Yes, Victor Lynn was always like this. In his eyes, Vivian was forever kind and considerate. While I, Lily, was forever the unreasonable, petty one. Clearly it was Vivian who loved stealing my things. Clearly it was Vivian who provoked me with her words. But in the end, it was always my fault. He never listened to my explanations, never gave me justice. Jade wailed to Victor, heartbroken. “Vivian lost her baby because of her, and she still wants to make excuses. As their father, shouldn’t you do something for Vivian?” “Since you’re still so vicious, then get back to the Lynn house and face your punishment!” Victor was cold and merciless as he ordered the servants behind him, “Take her back and lock her in the back courtyard. Watch her carefully!” The servants moved to restrain me. I said coldly, “Back off. I’ll walk on my own.” I knew nothing I said would help. No one would believe me. But before the servants took me away, I couldn’t help looking at Ethan. I heard my own hoarse voice ask, “What about you? Do you also not believe I didn’t push her?” Ethan frowned. He said, “I saw you push her with my own eyes. How can I believe you?” I looked at him and suddenly laughed. There was no warmth in my eyes, only the indifference that comes after complete disappointment. Ethan, I really don’t love you anymore.

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I had a top-tier bodyguard, Liam Stone, for ten years. He turned against me with a blade, all for the housekeeper’s daughter. Without a second thought for our history, I ordered his tendons severed, crippling him and exiling him from New York. The comments section nearly exploded: 【Seraphina Shaw is too cruel! Liam protected her for ten years, and the one time he didn’t choose her, she destroys him?】 【Her love is terrifying. If she can’t have it, she’ll ruin it. What’s wrong with Liam saving his beloved?】 【Liam, run! This wicked woman doesn’t deserve your loyalty. Go to Chloe Davis; she’s your salvation!】 Me, cruel? A traitor who backstabbed his master for an outsider, I thought the punishment was too light. I scoffed, publicly tearing up his lifelong employment contract, and had all his belongings burned. Then, I headed to the underground fight club and picked out the craziest, most ruthless psycho I could find. A month later, Liam heard the news and rushed over, fighting his way past all the bodyguards at the entrance. He knelt on the ground, bloodshot eyes fixed on me, clutching the hem of my dress: “Seraphina, what does that tattooed freak have that I don’t?”

A knife pressed against my throat, the blade resting on my carotid artery. One millimeter closer, and I’d be bleeding out on the spot. “Seraphina, Chloe didn’t mean it. She just accidentally entered your study. She had no idea those were top-secret Shaw family files!” Liam’s eyes were bloodshot as he fiercely shielded the trembling woman behind him, looking at me with utter heartbreak. “Why do you have to be so aggressive? Are you only satisfied if you chop off one of her hands?” Chloe Davis, hiding behind him, was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching his clothes tightly: “Liam, don’t talk back to Seraphina for me. It’s all my fault. I’ll give Seraphina my hand…” “Chloe, don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one can touch you today.” Liam’s voice was laced with an almost sickening sweetness. But when he turned to me, his gaze instantly turned cold. “Seraphina, you’re too cold-blooded. Even if she made a mistake, just kick her out. Why resort to such cruel methods?” I lowered my gaze, looking at the blade against my neck, and suddenly found it amusing. Ten years of investment, only to raise an ungrateful dog that bites its owner. “Liam.” I didn’t even lift an eyelid, my voice calm: “Did I ever teach you, as the head bodyguard of the Shaw family, what happens when you point a knife at me?” Liam froze for a moment, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. But feeling Chloe’s trembling behind him, he tightened his grip on the hilt again. “Seraphina, you gave me this life. I’ll give it back to you if I must. But today, I have to take Chloe with me.” He lifted his chin, an air of righteous defiance about him. He thought I’d compromise, as I had in the past, out of consideration for our ten years together. Unfortunately, he miscalculated. I was silent for a long time, then let out a sneer. “Fine.” I took a step back, avoiding the blade, then raised my hand and casually snapped my fingers. Almost instantly, sixteen dark figures emerged like shadows from the corners of the grand hall, surrounding Liam and Chloe. This was the Shaw family’s elite bodyguard unit, every single one of them Liam’s former subordinate. Liam’s face changed drastically; he finally realized something was wrong: “Seraphina, you…” “Since you want to be her knight in shining armor, then return everything the Shaw family gave you.” I stared at him coldly, as if looking at an inanimate object. “Do it. Sever his hand and foot tendons. Cripple him.” The comments section was frantically scrolling, nearly exploding: 【Seraphina Shaw is too cruel! Liam protected her for ten years, and the one time he didn’t choose her, she destroys him?】 【Her love is terrifying. If she can’t have it, she’ll ruin it. What’s wrong with Liam saving his beloved?】 【Liam, run! This wicked woman doesn’t deserve your loyalty. Go to Chloe Davis; she’s your salvation!】 “Seraphina! You’re crazy!” Liam roared in disbelief. But he had no room to resist. To protect Chloe Davis, he was restrained, and in less than three rounds, two bodyguards had him pinned to the ground. “Ah—!” Accompanied by Chloe’s shrill scream, the muffled sound of a blade tearing through flesh rang out. Liam let out an extremely suppressed cry of agony, curling up on the ground in pain, his limbs twitching weakly.

The comments section went absolutely wild: 【How is this any different from treating the male lead like a dog?! This is literally abuse!】 【Liam is so tragic. He sacrificed everything for love, Seraphina Shaw, you’ll regret this!】 Regret? I coldly watched Liam’s face, pale as paper and slick with cold sweat. The butler, quick on the uptake, handed me a document. It was Liam’s lifelong employment contract, representing the highest position within the Shaw family, second only to me. I tore the contract to shreds in front of him, along with his expensive clothes and custom weapons from his room, ordering them all thrown into the outdoor fire pit. Flames shot into the sky, illuminating Liam’s desperate and humiliated face. “Throw him, and the woman behind him, out of the Shaw estate like trash.” I picked up a damp towel nearby and slowly wiped the side of my neck where his knife had rested. “Get out of New York. Don’t defile my territory again.” After Liam was thrown out, all the servants and bodyguards dared not speak, even breathing cautiously. No one had expected that Liam, whom Seraphina had favored for ten years, almost universally assumed to become half the master of the Shaw family, would be crippled and discarded like this. The butler, bracing himself, came forward to ask for instructions: “Seraphina, the head of the bodyguard unit is vacant. Would you like to promote someone from the deputies, or…” “Prepare the car.” I cut him off, tossing the used towel into the tray. “To the city’s underbelly.” The butler was startled: “You want to pick someone yourself?” There could be no vacancy by my side. What’s more, I didn’t like using secondhand goods. The head bodyguard had to be someone I personally selected, an absolutely loyal dog. New York’s underground fight club reeked of blood, cheap tobacco, and sickening sweat. This was the city’s most chaotic, darkest, lawless zone. The club owner, terrified by my presence, scrambled out to greet me, fawningly presenting a roster, recommending a large number of so-called top fighters and retired mercenaries. I coldly watched the people in the iron cages, fighting to a bloody pulp for a few thousand dollars, flipping through more than a dozen pages of the roster without finding anyone suitable. Too weak. None of them were what I wanted. Feeling annoyed, I stood up to leave. Just as I was about to step out of the private box, a bone-cracking sound, so grating it made my teeth ache, suddenly echoed from the octagonal iron cage below. This was followed by a deafening collective gasp from the entire crowd. I turned my head, my gaze falling. Inside the iron cage, a blood-soaked man was like a wild beast, fiercely biting his opponent’s throat. His opponent was a behemoth weighing over two hundred pounds more than him, yet he was locked onto the ground in an incredibly twisted, utterly reckless posture, eyes rolling back, on the verge of asphyxiation. The man’s upper body was bare, his pale skin covered in dense, writhing black thorn tattoos. They extended all the way up his neck, exuding an extreme wickedness and savagery. “Seraphina, don’t look at him,” the owner quickly explained, wiping sweat from his forehead. “That’s just an untamed madman. He doesn’t even have a name, just the codename ‘Wild Dog.’ He bites everyone, doesn’t obey orders at all. He bit a handler to death just last week…” The owner was still rambling, but I raised my wrist, cutting him off. I walked to the edge of the iron cage, observing him. Just then, the bloodthirsty madman seemed to sense something. Under the blinding spotlight, I met a pair of dark, ruthless eyes, filled with an intense, almost obsessive focus. He saw me. In just one second of eye contact, the wild rage in his eyes miraculously subsided. To the incredible astonishment of the entire audience, he crawled to the edge of the wire mesh, kneeling humbly on the ground before my high heels.

His chest heaved violently, guttural gasps escaping his throat. The comments immediately streamed across the screen: 【What the hell? This guy is so disgusting and scary, covered in tattoos like a freak!】 【Seraphina Shaw isn’t going to fall for this monster, is she? Liam might have betrayed her, but at least he’s a cold, handsome guy!】 I ignored the taunting comments, slowly crouching down on the other side of the wire mesh. “Take me with you.” His voice was hoarse. “My name is Ryder Blackwood. Take me with you, and my life is yours.” I raised an eyebrow, looking at those wild, untamed eyes brimming with fervent devotion. “Willing to be my dog?” He nodded frantically, his pupils burning, his breath trembling. I stood up, looking at the stunned owner, and said calmly: “Deal. He’s the one.” After Ryder was brought back to the Shaw estate, he exhibited a terrifying vitality and absolute obedience. I gave him the best medical resources. On the day of his bone-setting surgery, the doctors had prepared general anesthesia, but he gripped the edge of the operating table, stubbornly refusing any anesthetic injections. “Why aren’t you using it?” I asked coldly through the intercom from outside the sterile room. He was drenched in cold sweat, the veins on his neck bulging from the intense pain, but his dark eyes stubbornly gazed at me through the glass: “With the medicine, my mind would be dull. I can’t… I can’t lose consciousness in front of Seraphina.” He was afraid I’d abandon him while he was unconscious. I said nothing, just quietly watched him endure three grueling hours of bone-setting and suturing. Throughout, he bit through his lip, but didn’t utter a single cry of pain, his gaze never leaving me for a second. Less than a week after his injuries healed, I threw him into the Shaw family’s bodyguard training camp. Liam had grown up in the Shaw family, trained systematically, and it took him three full years to pass the ultimate bodyguard leader assessment. Ryder, however, took only half a month. He was like a tireless, pain-immune killing machine, madly absorbing every skill for killing and self-preservation. Combat, firearms, counter-surveillance, extreme off-roading… He grappled in mud and blood. Every time he fell, just hearing my name would inject him with a fervent adrenaline, making him shakily stand up again and pin his opponent fiercely to the ground. The comments section was full of mockery and disdain: 【This isn’t a person at all, it’s a soulless monster, isn’t it?】 【He’s covered in disgusting tattoos and scars. How can he compare to our aloof and noble Liam? Seraphina Shaw is truly blind.】 【A wild dog is just a wild dog, never fit for polite society. Just wait until Liam recovers; he’ll teach him a lesson!】 【Watch out, this mad dog will eventually turn on its master. Seraphina Shaw is playing with fire.】 I looked at these idiotic comments and took a sip of the black coffee on my desk. Aloof and noble? In an arena of death, nobility is the most useless thing. What I needed was an absolutely sharp, unwavering blade, not a bleeding-heart do-gooder. A month later, at New York’s annual elite charity gala. I turned down invitations from other escorts and made a high-profile appearance with a transformed Ryder Blackwood. As soon as we entered the ballroom, the previously bustling venue fell silent for a moment. “Is that the Shaw family’s new bodyguard? His presence is terrifying…” “I heard that the previous one, Liam, was crippled and kicked out. I thought Seraphina would be heartbroken for a while, but I didn’t expect her to replace him so quickly.” “This new guy looks much more ruthless than Liam. Truly Seraphina Shaw’s style…” I picked up a glass of champagne, effortlessly handling the guests who came to make polite conversation. Just then, my peripheral vision caught a commotion in the corner of the hall. I turned my head and met a pair of shocked and humiliated eyes.

Liam Stone was wearing a cheap, ill-fitting suit, like a dutiful security guard, shielding Chloe Davis from the pushing crowd beside him. The moment our eyes met, Liam’s face went white. His gaze was fixed on Ryder Blackwood beside me, watching Ryder stand openly in the spot that had once belonged exclusively to him. The immense sense of loss and humiliation made Liam’s body tremble uncontrollably. Chloe Davis also saw me. Her eyes darted around, and she deliberately pulled Liam, limping over to us. “Seraphina…” Chloe began timidly. “I know you hate me. You threw Liam out of New York; we’ve been struggling so much.” “We only came here today to beg for a job opportunity. Please, have mercy, don’t let anyone blacklist us anymore…” She was feigning helplessness and lying, trying to portray me to the crowd as a bully who ruthlessly persecuted them, while they were star-crossed lovers. Indeed, some strange looks came from the crowd. Liam, seeing Chloe cry, instinctively shielded her behind him: “Seraphina, if you have a problem, come at me. Don’t make it difficult for…” Before he could finish, things took a sudden turn. Ryder Blackwood, who had been silently standing by my side, suddenly took a menacing step forward. He moved with lightning speed; people barely registered his actions, only hearing a loud *bang*! Ryder’s single hand was clamped tightly around Liam’s neck, slamming his entire body violently against the marble wall. The immense impact made Liam groan in pain. He desperately tried to pry Ryder’s fingers off, but found the other man’s arm as hard as steel, unmoving. “Ah! Murder! Let go of Liam!” Chloe shrieked. The entire hall fell silent, everyone stunned by the sudden violence. Ryder tilted his head slightly, his voice chilling: “Who are you to dare address Seraphina by her first name?”

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After three years of marriage, my husband had always treated me with gentle affection, yet I was the one who finally asked for a divorce. That night, he was like a completely different person, backing me into a corner. “Give me a reason.” I was trembling like a leaf. “I… I want to have a baby of my own.” His eyes darkened, and he let out a low, cold laugh. “Are you blaming me for not performing my duties?” 1 Alexander Sterling was always busy. Whenever it got too late, I’d call him, worried. “When are you coming home?” Sometimes it was loud on his end, like he was playing poker or at a loud bar. He’d exchange a few words with his friends, then find a second to answer me. “Don’t wait up. Go to sleep.” I never knew what else to say, so I’d just say okay. Before hanging up, he’d always thoughtfully say goodnight, and I’d politely reply, “Thank you.” I’m a light sleeper. I always knew when he came home, but I pretended to be asleep. Sometimes, I even hoped he would slide over from behind, wrap his arms around me, and show some warmth. But the reality was, every single time, he was as still as a monk, leaving me with a racing heart and a sleepless night. 2 Marrying Alexander was a complete accident. Three years ago, my parents were relentlessly pressuring me to get married. After I rejected blind date after blind date, they started getting aggressive, telling me that if I didn’t find someone soon, all the good men would be taken. I was swamped with work every day. One time, to brush them off, I just blurted out, “Don’t worry, I already have a boyfriend.” Who knew they would take it seriously? They immediately FaceTimed me, demanding to see what he looked like. And right at that moment, Alexander happened to walk past my camera. My parents excitedly yelled, “He’s so handsome! Looks very put-together too. Look at those glutes, I guarantee you two will have three kids in three years.” Even though I spent the next few minutes desperately explaining, “He’s my boss!” My parents had already mentally written an entire “Billionaire CEO Falls for Me” romance novel in their heads. I couldn’t defend myself. What happened next was completely out of my control. I have no idea how my parents managed to contact Alexander, but when I saw him standing in my parents’ living room, I was absolutely stunned. Alexander adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a long, elegant finger, his voice deep. “Your boyfriend?” My parents were smiling warmly at the two of us. I was riding a tiger and couldn’t get off. I figured I might as well double down and placate the old folks first. So, under the table, I tugged on the seam of his pants, signaling him to help me out. Alexander glanced down, raised an eyebrow, and surprisingly played along. “I thought you told them we were planning to get married.” Married??? I couldn’t process this. I kept shooting him looks. Okay, you’ve acted enough, don’t take it too far! Predictably, my parents exploded with joy, hugging each other and crying happy tears. And then, somehow, in a total daze, I ended up at City Hall getting a marriage license with Alexander Sterling. As for our married life… how do I put this? We had plenty of domestic bliss, but zero passion. The Alexander who was a ruthless, decisive CEO at the office was so gentle at home he could drown you in it. But it had been three years. We were husband and wife in name only. We had never actually slept together. 3 Tonight was the company dinner. A new male subordinate kept toasting me. Feeling a bit down, I had a few too many. When I came out of the restroom, the subordinate cornered me. “Claire, are you okay?” “I’m fine.” I waved my hand, but bile was rising in my throat. “Your name is Mason, right?” “You have a great memory, Claire.” Mason had just graduated college. His skin was flawless, his face young and inexperienced, and his eyes practically sparkled. Youth is truly something to envy. “Keep up the good work.” I tried to walk past him, but my legs gave out, and I almost fell. Mason quickly caught me. It was in that moment of support that I realized something was wrong. I immediately pulled away from him. Mason didn’t try to hide it at all. “Claire, you’re really cute when you’re drunk.” A young guy’s intentions aren’t hard to guess, especially when he’s not trying to hide them. I replied, “Even if I am, it has nothing to do with you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, our company has a strict policy against office romances.” After saying that, I headed back to the private room. Halfway down the hall, I ran straight into Alexander. He gave me a look as he walked past and muttered, “Lightweight. You get drunk and then you’re going to cause a scene when we get home.” I usually don’t smoke or drink, but at every company dinner, I love to indulge. I had been drunk quite a few times before, though I always blacked out. I only knew snippets of what happened from what Alexander told me— Like the time I hugged him and called him “Daddy.” Though sometimes, apparently, I also called him “my good boy.” 4 The alcohol hit me hard later. By the time the dinner ended, my feet felt like they were floating on clouds. Since everyone had been drinking, people were either calling designated drivers or Ubers. Someone asked me, “Claire, how are you getting home?” I instinctively glanced over at Alexander out of the corner of my eye. “I’m taking an Uber too.” Everyone said their goodbyes and left. Seeing no one familiar around, I quickly slid into Alexander’s car. The next second, a voice piped up from the back seat. “Claire, you’re heading this way too?” I was shocked. I turned around and saw Mason leaning forward excitedly. I looked at Alexander in bewilderment. Why is this kid here??? Alexander started the car, his tone nonchalant. “One more word and you can crawl home.” Mason snapped his mouth shut. He asked Alexander, “Uncle Alex, can I stay at your place tonight? I really don’t want to stay in a hotel anymore, it doesn’t feel like home at all. My parents don’t even know I sneaked back to the States. You know they just want me to stay in Europe and develop the market there.” Uncle??? Wait, he’s staying at our place? My head was spinning. I felt like throwing up. Mason leaned his head forward worriedly. “Claire, are you not feeling well? Where do you live? Let Uncle Alex drop you off first.” 5 I chose silence. Alexander chose to ignore him. Not long after, I fell asleep. I woke up later to the sound of Mason’s voice. Alexander was carrying me to the bedroom, and Mason was hovering behind him, nervously rambling. “Uncle Alex, is this really okay? We just brought a drunk woman home and put her in your bed… shouldn’t we wake her up and take her home?” I was already awake, but I pretended to be asleep. After all, I had just righteously lectured the kid about “no office romances.” As his direct supervisor, I absolutely could not lose my authority. Alexander placed me on the bed, pulled the covers over me, and turned to leave. Mason quickly backed out of the room as well. My body felt like jelly. I propped myself up and pressed my ear against the crack in the door. Alexander didn’t entertain any nonsense; he just told Mason to take a shower and sleep in the guest room. Mason asked, “Then where are you going to sleep?” Alexander replied, “That’s none of your concern.” Not daring to say another word, Mason obediently went to shower and was back in his room within minutes. I was bursting to pee. I threw open the door and bolted for the bathroom, taking a quick shower while I was at it. When I came out, I saw Alexander leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed. I stopped in my tracks on the way back to my room. What was the point of our marriage to him? We only had a marriage license; no wedding, I’d never met his extended family, and hardly anyone knew about our relationship. I wasn’t rich, and he clearly wasn’t after my body. But I was different. I had agreed to the fake marriage to dodge the endless pressure from my parents, but after three years of living together, I had long since started lusting after him. Whatever, I had the marriage license in hand. Sleeping with him was perfectly legal, right? Taking advantage of the liquid courage still coursing through my veins, I decided to exercise my rights as a wife. 6 My legs gave out, and I practically threw myself at Alexander. He slowly opened his eyes, looking down at me through dark lashes. “What are you trying to do now?” “My head hurts.” I simply rested my head against his chest. “I don’t think I can stand up. Can you carry me to the bedroom?” Alexander raised an eyebrow, the depths of his eyes swirling with an unfathomable emotion. “Are you sure?” I swallowed hard. My hands rebelliously climbed up to the back of his neck, and I leaned in to kiss his lips. The next second, a large hand clamped down over my puckered lips. Alexander warned in a low voice, “We have a guest in the house. Behave yourself tonight.” I leaned closer to his ear, keeping my voice low too. “Don’t you think it’s more exciting because there’s a guest?” Alexander frowned, his gaze locked onto me without blinking. My cheeks were burning. Shamelessly, I pushed further. “Anyway, I’m drunk. I won’t remember a thing tomorrow morning.” “Claire, do you know what you’re saying right now?” Alexander’s tone was stern, his eyes growing darker. The hand restraining my wrists slowly tightened. I whined, “That hurts,” and he let out what sounded like a low chuckle. “That hurts?” His tone was so gentle, yet his eyes were dark and dangerous. I felt a bit scared and tried to pull my hands back, complaining softly, “When I got drunk before, did you always bully me like this?” He didn’t let go, a half-smile on his lips. “Who knows? Maybe I did worse things. After all, you won’t remember anything tomorrow anyway.” He was teasing me. My temper flared, and I challenged him. “Then I can bully you today too.” And then, fueled by the alcohol, I started getting handsy… Alexander tried to stop me, but I was being too chaotic. He was getting a bit flustered. Just as the two of us were tangled together in a mess, the guest room door handle clicked… Almost instantly, Alexander scooped me up into his arms, his long legs striding quickly toward the master bedroom. 7 As soon as Alexander kicked the door shut and locked it, I heard Mason’s voice from the living room. “Uncle Alex?” He called out a few times, then silence. It was eerily quiet outside. Separated only by a thin wooden door, Alexander held me pinned against it, making absolutely no sound. I covered my mouth to muffle a giggle. Alexander looked down at me. “Funny?” I nodded, deliberately teasing him. “Say, if I yelled ‘Help!’ right now, would your nephew come bursting in?” Alexander raised an eyebrow, completely unbothered. “Why not give it a try and see?” Well… Okay, I didn’t dare. He was always like this. It seemed like nothing could threaten him; he was always so perfectly composed. He had no sense of romance. I suddenly lost the mood, slipped out of his arms, and flopped onto the bed in three quick steps, closing my eyes to sleep. Suddenly, a soft blanket landed on my rear end. Alexander looked down at my nightgown. “You’re exposed.” Gee, thanks! “You’re no fun!” I muffled my head in the pillow and mumbled, “I’m starting to think you don’t even like women!” Alexander leaned down, whispering right into my ear, “You don’t need to doubt that. I am 100% not into men.” I was even more annoyed now. I flipped over angrily. “So you’re implying I’m just not attractive enough?!” As soon as the words left my mouth, my face flushed bright red. Alexander’s face was inches from mine, his eyes staring at me with a casual intensity. I awkwardly looked away, kicking myself for losing my nerve at the crucial moment. By my ear, Alexander’s voice was low. “How much did you drink tonight?” “…Not much.” “If you ever drink like this again, I’m going to have to enforce household rules.” I looked at him in surprise. “Household rules?” Since when did we have those? Alexander smirked, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Try drinking like this again and you’ll find out.” I felt a bit intimidated. It sounded serious. I pushed gently against his chest. “Aren’t you going out to sleep?” “No need.” He stood up, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand. “Do you think my nephew is stupid enough not to know where I am right now?” True. I stared at the straight lines of his back, feeling that familiar itch again. Alexander didn’t even turn around. “Don’t even think about it. You’re not getting me tonight.” Damn it! 8 When I woke up the next morning, Alexander was already out of bed. Opening the bedroom door, I saw Mason. He gave me a look—a look that practically screamed he knew exactly what was going on. Alexander made breakfast, and we ate in a very quiet atmosphere. After we got to the office, Mason’s client was still not completely satisfied with the proposal. Mason was new, so he asked me to come along and meet the client to resolve the issue once and for all. On the way there, Mason finally broke the silence. “Our whole family knows you’re married to my uncle.” “Mhm.” I kept my eyes on the road. Mason asked, puzzled, “You don’t mind?” I smiled, checking the traffic. “That’s exactly why I decided to marry him.” “What do you mean?” “I don’t want to deal with complicated mother-in-law dynamics, and I don’t want to have kids. Being completely detached from his family means I don’t have to deal with any of that.” Actually, that was only half true. I really hadn’t wanted to get married or have kids initially. Getting a marriage license with Alexander on a whim was definitely to avoid the endless pressure from my parents, but it was also because I wouldn’t have to interact with his family. My explanation to my parents at the time was that I was marrying Alexander the person, not his family. We weren’t planning on having a wedding, and there was no need for our parents to meet. As long as we lived happily, that was enough. My parents couldn’t convince me otherwise, and since they were incredibly impressed with Alexander, they reluctantly accepted our “modern” views on marriage. But now… All those initial reasons had turned into a massive question mark in my mind. Mason was silent for a moment before speaking up again. “But I don’t think my uncle married you because he loves you.” My heart skipped a beat. I gripped the steering wheel tighter and laughed. “Is it because I’m so irresistible he just couldn’t help himself?” Mason let out a dry laugh. “Claire, you’re slumming it with my uncle.” I clicked my tongue. “Stop calling me Claire. Call me Aunt Claire.” Mason stubbornly looked out the window. “It’s either Claire or your full name. Take your pick.” Wow, this kid… needs a good smack. 9 The point person at the client’s company was a beautiful woman. When she saw Mason, she greeted him familiarly. “Mason, your mom told me yesterday she couldn’t reach you. You still haven’t told them you’re back?” “Rachel, please don’t tell them. I want a few more days of freedom.” “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.” The two seemed to know each other well. Mason introduced us. “Claire, this is Rachel.” I reached out politely. “Hello, Claire Bennett. Nice to meet you.” Rachel gave my hand a weak shake and led Mason toward her office. I understood now. The contract Mason secured was largely due to personal connections. I followed them inside. Just before entering the office, I heard Rachel ask Mason, “Why didn’t your uncle come with you?” 10 I instinctively looked at Rachel. Mason shot me a nervous glance and stammered, “Rachel, my uncle is busy. Claire is my manager. If you need any changes, telling her is the same thing.” Rachel’s lips twisted in a disappointed pout. “I see. Well, let’s wait until your uncle has time then. I’m not in a hurry anyway.” She sank into her leather chair and started chatting with Mason about family matters. She completely ignored my presence. I understood now. Her repeated dissatisfaction with the proposal was just an excuse. What she really wanted was to see Alexander. “Ms. Rachel, I’ll pass your message along to Mr. Sterling. We won’t take up any more of your time today.” I smiled and glanced at Mason. “Let’s go.” With that, I turned and headed for the door. “Mason and I haven’t finished catching up. Mason, you stay. We’ll grab lunch later.” Rachel was very assertive, her tone dripping with arrogance. I stopped in my tracks but didn’t say anything. After a moment, I looked back at Mason. Perhaps intimidated by my glare, Mason shrank back, hurriedly gathered his files, and followed me. “Rachel, I’m going to head out. I’ll… I’ll treat you to lunch some other time.” Rachel frowned in disbelief, shooting a death glare our way. I offered a polite smile in return and walked out with Mason trailing behind me. 11 Mason had been at the company for less than a month, but he definitely knew my temper. On the drive back, I didn’t say a single word. Mason finally came clean. “Rachel is my uncle’s ex-girlfriend. They were childhood sweethearts. Three years ago, they suddenly broke up for some unknown reason. Now Rachel is back from Europe and wants to rekindle things, but they’re both too proud…” “So Rachel was just looking for an excuse to get him to come to her?” “Yes.” I let out a laugh. Grown adults acting this childish. When we got back to the office, Alexander cornered me near the restrooms. “I heard the moment I walked in that you went to Rachel’s company?” “Yeah, I went.” I stood calmly in front of him. Alexander could always see right through me. “You saw Rachel?” “Yeah, I saw her. She’s very pretty.” I turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my arm. “Are you mad?” I didn’t look up. “She didn’t do anything to me. Why would I be mad?” I went back to my desk to keep working. But I never expected that right before the end of the day, the company Slack channel would explode! “Claire, look at the group chat!” Mason alerted me. Surprised, I opened the chat window, and the next second, I was stunned. Someone had secretly taken photos of Alexander and me “arguing” by the restrooms, and posted several pictures of me getting out of Alexander’s car and following him into his apartment building. The chat was dead silent. But everyone was looking at me with thinly veiled mockery. I could hear the whispers— “No wonder she became a department manager at such a young age. She slept her way to the top.” “Always acting so high and mighty. Turns out she’s got the big boss backing her!” “Look at that pathetic, clingy posture. She really knows how to manipulate a man.” I quietly clenched my fists. Mason whispered beside me, trying to comfort me, “Claire, don’t listen to their nonsense. Do you want me to tell them about your relationship with my uncle…?” “Mind your own business.” I continued processing the paperwork in front of me. Mason studied my face. “You’re not mad?” “I’m furious.” I forced a smile, my eyes darkening. “Once I find out who posted this, they’re dead meat.” Mason rested his chin on his hand, looking confused. “Who would do it? And why?” “Don’t worry about who for now. Are you free tonight? Want to grab a few drinks with me?” “With your tolerance? Claire, I’m afraid you’ll say I took advantage of you.” I smiled, narrowing my eyes. “We’ll see who’s taking advantage of who.” 12 After work, I took a cab straight to a bar. Alexander texted me: “Where are you?” I raised an eyebrow and replied, “Going drinking.” “?” He sent a question mark. I bit the inside of my cheek and replied, a bit playfully, “Didn’t you say if I drank again, you’d enforce household rules? I want to see what these household rules look like.” Alexander didn’t reply for a long time. Eventually, he asked: “Address.” I put my phone away, signaled for Mason to get out of the cab, and walked into the bar. After a few rounds, I was pretty buzzed. Just as I was about to pour another drink down my throat, Mason snatched it and downed it in one gulp. “Claire, I really don’t think you need to do this.” He held the empty glass, leaning closer to me. The distance was incredibly intimate, and his eyes were full of a certain… invitation. I poured myself another glass. As I went to drink, he snatched it again. After a few times, he was visibly unsteady. I smiled faintly, running a hand through my messy hair. A flash of youthful impulse crossed Mason’s eyes. The next second, he reached out to grab my waist… I dodged. “You haven’t even been at the company for a month. You like me that much?” Mason licked his lips, not denying it at all. “You’re mature and cute. It’s only natural I’d like you.” “Mhm, true.” I propped my cheek on my hand. “Pretty with a bit of a temper. That’s exactly what attracts young guys like you.” Mason leaned his face closer to mine. “Don’t assume just because I’m younger that you can look down on me. Younger guys have their advantages.” “Such as?” “Stamina.” Ha. Well, that point certainly appealed to me. Kids really do know what older women want. My eyes looked hazy with intoxication as I lined up another row of shots. Ten of them. I ran my fingertip along the rim of the glasses, signaling him to continue. Mason hesitated for a few seconds, then actually drank them one by one. By the time he was done, he looked like he was about to throw up. He barely kept himself upright, getting even bolder as he tried to pull me into an embrace again. I stood up, taking a step back. My eyes instantly cleared up, completely sober. “Young guys really do have great stamina.” Mason realized something was wrong. His pupils constricted. “You’re not drunk?” “Out of all those drinks, I legit had maybe three. I can handle at least that much.” Mason’s lips pressed into a thin, unhappy line, and he dry-heaved a few times. I leaned in, faking sympathy. “Feeling sick? Deal with it, kid. Older women can be a little wicked. This is the lesson you deserve for trying to play me.” “You know?” He didn’t seem surprised. I scoffed. “You insisting I go with you to see the client was just a setup to get Rachel in front of me, wasn’t it? And those photos in the Slack channel. Besides you, I honestly can’t think of anyone else who would just ‘happen’ to see Alexander and me going home together at that exact moment.” “That’s just a theory.” “So is this proof?” The person who posted the photos was an employee currently processing their resignation. I had just messaged him, and with a little pressure, he confessed. The mastermind was Mason. Mason wiped the spilled liquor from his mouth, a crooked smile appearing. “What can I say? I like a wicked woman even more.” I smacked the back of his head. “Mason, I’m warning you. If it wasn’t for the fact that you’re Alexander’s nephew, I wouldn’t let you off this easy. This is just a warning. Next time, see what I do to you.” Mason ground his teeth, looking aggrieved and defiant. “I shouldn’t have to tell you how to handle the mess in the Slack channel, right? Clean up your own garbage!” I turned and walked away. Mason yelled bitterly behind me, “I really don’t get what’s so great about my uncle. It’s a fact that he has another woman in his heart, isn’t it? Rachel wasn’t an actress I hired. You’re going to suffer eventually.” I stopped dead in my tracks. Mason instinctively took a step back. I left him with three words: “None of your business!”

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I have a weird kink: I love being a simp. There is nothing I enjoy more than showering guys with unrequited attention; it adds a little spice to my otherwise boring life. Recently, I locked onto a totally aloof, high-and-mighty guy. I’ve been simping over him for two months, and he barely gives me the time of day. I was very satisfied with this. But I get bored easily, and I quickly found myself a new god to worship. A few days later, the aloof guy reached out to me on his own for the very first time: [You’ve been busy lately?] I was right in the middle of having dinner with my new crush: [I sure am, babe. Work has been crazy lately, I’m still at the office doing overtime.] Aloof guy: [Overtime?] Me: [Yep yep.] Aloof guy: [Then why don’t you look behind you?] 1 My best friend Chloe broke her leg, so I went to visit her at a high-end private hospital. We were gossiping in her room when her attending physician happened to walk in. I looked over, and instantly froze. The man was tall and lean, his crisp white coat fitting perfectly. He had a cold, untouchable aura and an aloof expression. As he went over the medical precautions with Chloe, his voice sounded like a clear, deep mountain spring—crisp, low, and magnetic. Standing to the side, I couldn’t help but stare at his high, straight nose bridge, his thick eyelashes, and those long, knobby, elegant fingers gripping the medical chart. As soon as he left, I exploded. “Give me your doctor’s contact info, right now!” Chloe gave me a deadpan look. “What for?” I kept a completely straight face. “My contact list is missing a cold, unattainable god.” She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck in the back of her head. “Just admit your simp disease is acting up again.” In the end, she still forwarded me his contact card. I quickly sent a friend request. His username was probably his real name: Silas Vance. His profile wasn’t set to private, so I casually scrolled through his feed. It was all shared articles. Medical lectures, disease research, or health science pop-eds. It looked like a purely professional account. It took a long time before Silas accepted my request. Me: [Hi Dr. Vance, I’m the friend of your patient, Chloe. My name is Sloane.] Silas: [Hmm.] Me: [About when will she be discharged?] Silas: [The day after tomorrow.] Me: [Thank you for taking such good care of her.] Silas: [It’s my job.] I was stuck. His strictly-business, ice-cold attitude made me wonder how I was even supposed to start my simping routine. No, I had to establish a presence first. For the next two days, under the guise of taking care of my best friend, I practically lived at the hospital. My makeup was flawless, my outfits dazzling. Chloe looked like she wanted to physically sweep me out of the room. Facts proved that this method was highly effective. The next time I saw Silas, his eyes paused on me for two full seconds before shifting away. Feeling smug, I went back and continued sending him harmless trash-talk on text. At the end of our chat, Silas paused for a moment. Silas: [Ms. Sloane.] Me: [Here, here!] Silas: [The hospital has patients with respiratory diseases. I suggest you wear less perfume.] Me: […] 2 The day Chloe was discharged, I was devastated. Chloe almost beat me to death. “Give it up. I asked the nurses. Silas is apparently a trust fund kid; you absolutely cannot simp your way to him.” I got even more excited. “It’s only fun if I can’t catch him. If I catch him, it’s boring.” Chloe was silent for a few seconds. “I truly cannot understand you.” I smiled. Sometimes, I don’t understand myself either. After Chloe was discharged, I continued to “harass” Silas. Of course, as a simp with professional etiquette, I only picked times when he wasn’t busy. For example, pretending to seek medical advice: [Dr. Vance, my neck has been really stiff lately, when do you work next?] He directly sent me a link to the hospital’s portal: [Book an appointment online.] Or, for example, I’d leave comments under the dry medical articles he shared: [You work so hard!], [So impressive!], [Learned a lot!] He replied to none of them. I suddenly realized a problem. I still didn’t know if he was single. This was a very serious issue, and I decided to ask him in person. On Tuesday afternoon, I booked an outpatient consultation with Silas. The co-pay was expensive, but to continue my happy simping journey, I endured it. Before long, the nurse called my name and led me into Silas’s office. This was my first time alone with Silas. From less than two meters away, I could see the tiny mole on his high nose bridge, his distinct, thick eyelashes, and his perfectly shaped, pale pink lips. He looked up at me. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. He gestured for me to sit and asked me to describe my symptoms. After I stuttered through a description, he asked a few more questions. I had never been this nervous in my life. Silas had very dark pupils, and when he looked at you seriously, there was a deeply focused gentleness to it. It was a stark contrast to his cold, aloof aura. My mind went blank, and I babbled a bunch of nonsense. Silas listened patiently for a long time, and finally gave his advice: “Ms. Sloane, I personally don’t think your cervical spine issue is severe. If you’re still uncomfortable, I can refer you to physical therapy.” I snapped back to reality and shook my head repeatedly. It wasn’t until I walked out of the office that I realized I’d forgotten my main objective. When I turned around to go back, I saw Silas had already left his office and was walking to the end of the hallway. I looked down at my phone; it was already past 5 PM. I had actually held him up from clocking out. I chased after him. “Dr. Vance.” He turned around. “I feel a little dizzy.” He frowned slightly. “Just started?” “Yeah.” “Then let’s get you an MRI first, once we get the scans we’ll…” He didn’t finish his sentence. My vision went black, and I passed out. I lied to Silas. I didn’t have a neck problem. I had hypoglycemia. 3 In a haze, I was still somewhat conscious. I felt someone pick me up. The embrace was broad, firm, and full of a sense of security. Not long after the nurse hooked me up to an IV, I finally forced my heavy eyelids open. Someone was standing beside me. I looked up and saw Silas, his brows furrowed. “If you have a history of low blood sugar, remember to eat your meals on time.” He dropped that sentence, turned around, and prepared to leave. “Silas.” This was the first time I’d called him by his first name. He paused and looked back at me. I finally remembered the purpose of my trip: “Are you single?” A hint of impatience flashed in Silas’s eyes, and he frowned slightly. “Ms. Sloane, if you don’t have anything else…” “Are you?” I asked again. Silas paused for two seconds. “Yes.” He turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm. He looked back again, the displeasure obvious on his face. Acting as if I didn’t see it, I looked up at him and flashed a genuinely sincere smile from the bottom of my heart. “Then… is it okay if I have a crush on you?” After I said that, I clearly saw his dark pupils—which had just been filled with annoyance—tremble twice. 4 I had committed the cardinal sin of simping. Simp Rule #1: Sweet words, cold heart. Never throw a straight pitch. Silas’s previous life had probably been too orderly; he’d never seen someone as brazen and direct as me. One sentence, and I’d scared him away. Leaving the hospital, I fell into deep regret. Now I probably couldn’t even keep my spot on his contacts list. Hesitating for a moment, I tried sending a message: [Are you still alive on my list?] It actually went through. I quickly unsent it. Silas replied with an ellipsis. Silas: [Alive.] Me: […] Crap, he saw it. Me: [Sorry about that, my brain was a bit fuzzy today. I was just talking nonsense.] He didn’t reply. I scrolled through TikTok for a while before a notification finally popped up. Silas: [Hmm.] Died before the battle even began. Revealing my intentions too early made my ensuing path as a simp incredibly difficult. During our next few chats, Silas barely entertained me. Fortunately, I was an experienced simp and knew when to advance and when to retreat. I drastically lowered the frequency of my check-ins and picked the perfect moments. Like saying a harmless “Good work” after he finished a night shift, or asking “Been busy lately?” on his day off. After retreating to a safe, non-invasive distance, Silas would occasionally exchange a few words with me. I never dragged the conversations out, always quitting while I was ahead. After all, I had my own life to live. When I asked, “Off work yet?”, and he replied “Yeah,” I knew he was no longer repulsed by my presence. Suddenly, I really wanted to see him. Picking a slow weekend, I sat in the outpatient lobby waiting for him to get off work. Honestly, I didn’t even know if I’d catch him. But since I didn’t have a strong motive, I treated it as a little spice to my day. If it happens, it happens. Coincidentally, I did see him. And I witnessed quite a dramatic scene. Silas had already changed into his street clothes and was about to leave, but a girl blocked his path. From a distance, I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could see Silas frowning, impatience bleeding into his eyes. It looked exactly like the expression he gave me that day. Probably another relentless pursuer. Sure enough, as I got closer, I heard their conversation. “Ms. Harper, I personally think you’d be better off switching to another doctor.” “Silas, I’m not here to see you as a patient, I…” “Sweetie,” I walked over and cut her off. “Dr. Vance is off the clock. I don’t think he wants to be bothered anymore.” My sudden appearance startled her. Because she was young, she blushed, muttered an “Okay,” and hurried away. Silas frowned and glanced at me. I had no intention of bothering him further. I nodded at him, turned around, and walked away. While I was standing on the curb waiting for an Uber, an SUV pulled up in front of me. The window slowly rolled down. I raised an eyebrow and walked over with interest. “Dr. Vance, do you have something to say to me?” Silas had both hands on the steering wheel, eyes fixed straight ahead, his voice cool. “Sloane.” That was the first time he’d called me by my name. My heart skipped a beat. “Yeah?” “I don’t like being bothered after work.” I paused. Was he referring to that girl’s behavior just now? I looked down and smiled in understanding. “My intentions are different from hers.” Silas turned his head to look at me. The streetlights cast shifting shadows across his face. His dark pupils were filled with suspicion and probing. He scoffed, a bit dismissively. “How is it different?” “I just came to the hospital to sit. If I see you, great; if not, whatever. I don’t demand your response. Whether I like you or not is my own business. If I bothered you, I won’t come around anymore.” The way he looked at me was full of pure confusion. I figured normal people probably couldn’t comprehend my mindset. So I smiled and added, “Silas, the fact that I like you just proves you’re a really outstanding person.” He didn’t respond. I waved at him. “Get home safe. Bye.” 5 After that, I rarely bothered Silas. Simp Rule #2: Quit while you’re ahead. Besides, as a seasoned corporate drone, I long ago lost the time to daydream like a little girl. Occasionally, when I thought of him, I’d send a message. Probably because I had a good sense of boundaries, he always replied. Even though he didn’t say much, he never showed any annoyance. One morning, my calendar popped up with a reminder: Silas’s Birthday. I had dug that up from the hospital’s staff directory back when I first got interested in him. I really was a dedicated simp. If this were in the past, I might have sent a gift. But since I had no plans to intrude on his actual life, I figured a simple text would do. That night, I stayed up late writing a proposal. As soon as the clock struck midnight, I casually texted him: [Happy Birthday.] Silas didn’t reply. Expected. I didn’t think much of it. When I finally finished my proposal and collapsed into bed at 2 AM, my phone lit up. Silas: [Thank you.] I quickly replied: [No problem.] Silas: [Still awake?] Since he was a guy I had simped for, the reflex was still there. I smoothly typed: [Waiting for your reply, obviously.] Me: [Why are you still awake?] He paused for a bit. Silas: [Just got out of surgery.] Me: [You work so hard.] Me: [Wishing you a new year filled with winning the lottery, endless green lights, and always finding the cool side of the pillow.] Me: [But most importantly, stay happy.] “Typing…” appeared for two minutes. Silas: [Hmm.] Silas: [Go to sleep.] I didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about that night’s conversation. After all, nobody hates hearing nice birthday wishes, right? Facts proved me right. After that day, I could clearly feel Silas talking more during our chats. Sometimes he’d even share things happening around him. Of course, from beginning to end, he never initiated a conversation. Still the aloof god. That was fine, I was very satisfied. A month later, Chloe went to the hospital to get her cast off. I happened to be free, so I went with her. Honestly, I didn’t go with the intention of seeing Silas, so when I saw him in the hospital, I was very calm. It was just a normal doctor-patient-family dynamic. But when Silas was talking to Chloe, his gaze landed on me several times. I discreetly sniffed my wrist. Did the perfume I sprayed yesterday last until today? After the cast came off, Chloe’s boyfriend came to pick her up. They invited me to dinner, but I didn’t want to be a third wheel, so I made up an excuse about having plans and told them to go ahead. Walking out to the lobby, I bumped into Silas, who was just getting off work. Afraid he’d think I was waiting for him on purpose, I quickened my pace, trying to leave the hospital before him. Silas suddenly called out: “Sloane.” I slammed on the brakes. He took long strides and stopped in front of me: “Why are you running?” I blinked. “I wasn’t running.” Silas choked on his words. The air grew weirdly silent. The after-hours lobby was dimly lit. Looking up at Silas, I easily recalled the way he frowned at me from inside his car the last time we met. I lowered my head. “Well… have a good night, I’m taking off.” I took two steps past him before he called out again. I turned around. “Want to grab dinner together?” He still had that cold expression; his brows didn’t even twitch. But I could clearly hear my heart accelerate for two seconds. We chose a chain burger joint across from the hospital. It was dinner time, so it was pretty packed. The noisy environment slightly eased the awkwardness. Sitting across from Silas, I suddenly felt completely out of my depth. In all my years of being a simp, I rarely felt this way. When the food arrived, we both kept our heads down and ate without a single word of exchange, like strangers forced to share a table. But my eyes inevitably drifted to him. He sat perfectly straight, chewing almost soundlessly. Paired with his perpetually expressionless face, he looked like a Michelin judge critically evaluating the food. I couldn’t help but blurt out, “Is it good?” Silas looked up. I rubbed my nose. “You look so serious eating it.” The corner of his lips curled up. This was the first time I’d seen Silas smile. Under the warm white lights, his eyes softened, his eyelashes fluttered, and his pale lips curved into a gentle arc. Those dark eyes, now brimming with amusement, looked at me again. I suddenly lost my voice. Honestly, if someone didn’t know Silas, they might not even realize he was smiling. But in my heart, one sentence kept echoing on loop: The fragrance of a high mountain flower is truly an exclusive reward for the brave mountaineer. “Yeah, it’s good,” he said. In the end, Silas drove me home. We barely spoke on the way. When we arrived, I said “Bye,” and he replied “Hmm.” It looked like just two casual friends who happened to grab a bite. But I vaguely felt that something was different now. And that difference made me panic. 6 Ever since I was a teenager, I realized I was a bit different from other girls. I was easily attracted to dazzling, outstanding guys, and could effortlessly harbor crushes, chase them, and express my affection without any emotional baggage. But the moment they reciprocated, all my feelings would vanish into thin air. After it happened a few times, I got tired of it. I forced myself to date a decent guy for a while. In the end, we had an ugly breakup. He pointed a finger in my face and demanded, “Sloane, were you just playing me from the very beginning?” I wanted to tell him no, I really wasn’t. In the beginning, my feelings for him were so genuine and pure, without any ulterior motives, not even demanding a response. I didn’t understand why I was like this. Later on, I simply stopped trying to date and focused on being a simp. If the guy didn’t respond, perfect. If he did, I ran. It satisfied me without hurting anyone else. So, when I sensed a shift in Silas’s attitude, I chose to ice him out. For several days, I didn’t text him. But since I’d spent almost two months on him, I couldn’t bear to delete him. I let him lie quietly in my contact list. A colorful stroke in my history of simping. At the same time, I found a new male god. Our company’s new Creative Director, Liam Sterling. Handsome, highly capable, and extremely polite. Most importantly, he looked like the type who would never fall for me. I was very pleased. At his welcome dinner, I successfully got on his radar and added him on IG. Casually scrolling through his feed, I noticed his favorite restaurant. So, on Friday night, I walked into that $100-a-plate Italian restaurant I probably would never visit otherwise, and faked a very coincidental encounter with Liam, who was dining alone. Acting super familiar, I sat right across from him. He just raised an eyebrow in surprise, showing no signs of disgust. Simp Rule #3: Maintain an atmosphere of push-and-pull. I didn’t immediately act overly eager. Instead, I brought up some light topics to open the conversation. As time passed, we fell into a rhythm. He started talking more, sometimes even actively guiding the conversation. I was incredibly satisfied. Just as we were having a great time, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced down. Silas’s name blared on the screen. Silas: [You’ve been busy lately?] ??? He was actually initiating a text? But unfortunate for him, my affections had already shifted. So, I pulled out my playbook for brushing guys off. Me: [I sure am, babe. Work has been crazy lately, I’m still at the office doing overtime.] To make sure he wouldn’t reply, I even laid it on thick, acting like a total pick-me by calling him “babe.” Yeah, that should be gross enough, right? I had just locked my screen when another message came in. Silas: [Overtime?] He actually replied? Any other time, I’d play along and chat with him. But right now, I was sitting across from my new crush. How could I keep staring at my phone? So I brushed him off: [Yep yep.] He didn’t reply again. I quickly shoved my phone in my pocket and went back to laughing and talking with Liam. Then, my phone buzzed again. I held back for two seconds before pulling it out, intending to turn it on silent. I accidentally glanced at the latest message. Silas: [Then why don’t you look behind you.] 7 My brain exploded with a loud boom. Waves of numbness shot down my spine. Bracing myself, I slowly turned around. Not far behind me, in a corner booth by the window, sat the very iceberg I had been simping over for two months: Silas. He was leaning back, arms crossed, staring at me with an unreadable expression. Is there any situation more horrifying than this? I actually felt the bizarre guilt of being caught cheating. Even though I wasn’t involved with either of these men! I frantically turned back around. Liam noticed my weird behavior and glanced behind me. “Everything okay?” I opened my mouth to explain when another text popped up. Silas: [Having fun?] Me: […] Was this divine punishment for being a serial chaser? Silas: [Come over here.] I looked up at Liam. Me: [Why?] Silas: [Do me a favor.] What favor could he possibly need? Then again, favors were rare, but simping is a long game. I gritted my teeth and excused myself to Liam. “Liam, I just saw a friend I know. I’m gonna go say hi for a bit.” Liam paused but agreed easily. “Sure, go ahead.” I bolted over to Silas’s table. “What do you need help with?” He took a sip of water before looking up at me. “I’m on a blind date.” My face was full of question marks. “Where’s the date?” “Restroom.” No wonder I hadn’t noticed him earlier; he had been blocked by his date. I suddenly realized something. “Wait, you don’t want me to crash your blind date, do you?” He raised an eyebrow. “Yes.” Me: […] What do you mean ‘Yes’?! Do I look like a professional homewrecker? I was about to argue when his date returned. I hijacked her seat. “And this is…?” the gorgeous woman asked, looking at Silas. Amidst the awkward tension, I shot up like my chair was on fire. “Ms. Greene.” Just as I stood up, Silas spoke. My heart clenched tightly. Please don’t tell me he was about to paint me as his crazy stalker ex. “This is my ex-girlfriend.” I froze. Holy crap, I guessed right? “There are still some unresolved feelings between us, so…” Unresolved feelings? I whipped my head to stare at Silas. The woman called Ms. Greene paused, then replied with utmost grace and understanding: “I understand.” And left on her own. That easy? Wait. Since Ms. Greene was so understanding, Silas could have just rejected her directly. Why drag me over for this unnecessary “favor”? Before I could question him, Silas beat me to it. “Overtime?” Me: […] I forced an explanation: “I was working overtime earlier.” Silas let out an “Oh,” and said, “And then came to the restaurant to continue your overtime?” Me: […] Fine. Lying is wrong, I take the L. I pursed my lips and prepared to leave. Silas, probably thinking I was going back to Liam’s table, reminded me deadpan, “He left.” I looked over. He really had left. When I turned back, Silas was staring at me. Those dark eyes were completely unreadable. In a flash, it felt like the night we ate burgers together. I felt that same sudden awkwardness. The air was quiet for a few seconds before he looked away. His voice was hoarse, almost like a sigh. “I’ll take you home.” Sitting in his familiar car, the atmosphere was even colder than last time. Silas maintained his expressionless facade, but through the tight line of his jaw, I could sense his displeasure. I tried to lighten the mood: “That restaurant tonight was pretty good, huh.” Duh, every bite was literally eating money, of course it was good. Silas didn’t reply. The temperature dropped another few degrees. I kept forcing a smile. “I can’t believe someone as amazing as you has to go on blind dates. Ms. Greene seemed lovely, you weren’t into her?” Silas still didn’t reply. …Whatever, silence it is. I looked down, awkwardly rubbing my nose, when he suddenly called my name: “Sloane.” “Yeah?” “Are you always like this?” I didn’t process it at first, turning to him: “Huh?” “Casually liking someone, and then instantly moving on to the next.” I froze completely. He kept his eyes on the road. The streetlights blurred past the window, making it impossible to read his expression. But I could feel the air pressure drop to zero. I swallowed hard. “I told you, I don’t demand a response. Whether I like someone or not is entirely my own business.” The moment the words left my mouth, Silas’s knuckles on the steering wheel turned white. “So why do you have to do it?” His voice was freezing. “Not asking for a response, just blindly expressing affection… aren’t you afraid of burdening the other person?” Of course I was afraid. That’s exactly why I only picked guys who would never fall for me. “As long as they don’t like me back, there’s no burden, right?” Silas paused. We hit a red light. As the car stopped, the neon glow illuminated his clenched jaw and furrowed brow. An indescribable emotion flared up in my chest. Blood rushed to my head, and I blurted out: “Don’t tell me you fell for me?” The light turned green. Silas slammed on the gas. I was thrown back into my seat as I heard his icy reply: “I haven’t.”

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I confessed my love to him in French and even called him my boyfriend. The very next day, I transferred schools. Rumor had it, the school’s most popular guy went crazy looking for me. When we finally crossed paths again, it was at my French professor’s house. He turned out to be my professor’s son!!! The former golden boy gritted his teeth and said, “Long time no see, girlfriend.” 01 I had a secret crush on Noah for two years. Not long after he transferred into our class, I found out I had to transfer to another school. Carrying that regret, on the day I was leaving, I took advantage of the noisy basketball court. Gathering all my courage, I yelled: “Noah, Je t’aime.” It’s French. It means I love you. Noah, who had just sunk a three-pointer, froze. He shot me an inquisitive look. Like a thief, I quickly put away the phone I was using to secretly record him. Pretending to be perfectly calm, I gave him a thumbs-up and mouthed, “Go team!” Noah stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly a smile spread across his face. That smile seemed to possess some kind of magic, as if he saw right through me, making my heart skip a beat with a guilty conscience. 02 Soon, it was halftime. Noah tossed his basketball aside and walked straight over, sitting down right next to me. He leaned back casually, looked at me, and smiled. “What did you just say?” I nervously swallowed a gulp of non-existent saliva and bluffed: “I said, ‘Go team!’” A suspicious gaze landed on my face. He crossed his arms and studied me with a playful arrogance. “That’s not what I heard.” My chest tightened, but I argued back: “It was, I swear. I just said it in French.” There was a moment of silence. I cast a sideways glance at him. He looked thoughtful, a fleeting, barely noticeable glimmer of mischief crossing his face. He smirked. “Sounds nice.” Confused by the sudden compliment, I blinked. “Huh?” His smile deepened, and he slowed his speech. “I said, that French phrase sounds really nice.” Remembering what that French phrase actually meant, my cheeks instantly burned like fireballs. I opened and closed my mouth for a long time, but couldn’t get a single word out. 03 Noah, however, seemed inexplicably delighted, the smile reaching his eyes. He pointed at the basketball court, raising an eyebrow. “Emma, how about this: every time I score a point later, you use that French phrase to cheer for me. Okay?” “What?” My eyes went wide, my brain practically smoking. Every time he scored, I had to yell “I love you”? No, no, no, I still needed to show my face in public. Seeing me speechless, he decided for himself: “Let’s consider it your contribution to class spirit, yeah?” Then, without waiting for an answer: “It’s settled then.” And he jogged back onto the court. I sat there, dumbfounded. Contribution to class spirit, my foot. Right now, I didn’t care about the class at all; I just wished he would miss every shot. After all, I was a timid rule-follower. I only dared to do things secretly, like harboring a crush. I absolutely did not dare to yell it out loud, even in a foreign language. But things rarely go as planned. He hadn’t been back on the court for more than a few minutes before he sank another three-pointer. He smugly waved at me, signaling me to deliver that special “cheer.” My attempt to play dead failed, so I timidly mouthed the words. He didn’t seem satisfied. While dribbling the ball, he ran over to my side of the court. With a wicked grin, he said, “Emma, you haven’t cheered for me yet.” I was riding a tiger and couldn’t get off. I glanced around nervously, then reluctantly muttered in a low voice: “Noah, Je t’aime.” Only then did he jog away, looking incredibly pleased with himself. Leaving me alone, blushing furiously, a complete mess. Noah seemed to have gained some sort of divine power. He played with even more swagger, sinking shot after shot. I shouted “Noah, Je t’aime” so many times I went numb. 04 I barely survived until the end of the game. I grabbed my backpack and bolted. But I had only reached the school gates when Noah caught up to me. He said I worked hard cheering for him, so he absolutely had to buy me boba. He basically dragged me to the boba shop. Thinking about how I wasn’t really “cheering” for him at all, I blushed and pulled out my phone, rushing to pay the bill. But the screen wouldn’t turn on. I realized my phone had died. The embarrassment hit me, and I felt another wave of heat wash over me. Noah chuckled, paid the cashier, and thoughtfully poked the straw into my cup for me. “Since when do girls pay when guys are around?” I awkwardly muttered a thank you. Noah shook his head, lowered his eyes, and looked straight at me. “Emma, we’re friends now, right?” I paused, then raised my boba cup to clink against his. “Of course.” He seemed to think for a moment, then smiled and asked, “So, how do you say ‘guy friend’ and ‘girl friend’ in French?” Guy friend and girl friend? Boyfriend and girlfriend? I chewed on a boba pearl and answered without thinking: “Girlfriend is petite amie. Boyfriend is petit ami.” “Oh.” He looked as if he’d just had a profound realization. His smile vanished, replaced by an earnest, questioning look. “So, you are my petite amie, and I am your petit ami, right?” I choked on a boba pearl and coughed violently, nearly dying right there. The current state of our relationship definitely did not warrant those two words. Those words are exclusively for romantic partners. We were just ordinary friends. I was just about to correct him when a wicked thought flashed through my mind. He didn’t understand anyway, and it perfectly satisfied my unspoken, selfish desire. So, ignoring the loud banging of my own conscience, I nodded. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Noah’s eyes crinkle in a smile. He looked absolutely elated, as if he had just won the lottery. Suppressing my shyness, I couldn’t help but smile along with him. 05 The early autumn wind whistled past, carrying the sweet scent of blooming osmanthus. Under the oak tree by the bus stop, our wind-filled, uniform-clad silhouettes were stretched long by the setting sun. Looking at the shadows merging on the ground, my heart raced. Noah seemed to suddenly remember something. He pulled a notebook from his backpack and handed it to me. “I just jotted some things down. If you need it, take it.” I took a look. It was full of detailed explanations and diagrams for the calculus problems I couldn’t solve. My jaw dropped in surprise. “How did you know I needed this?” I saw the tips of his ears turn bright red. “Uh, just thought it might be useful.” I clutched the notebook to my chest, incredibly grateful. “This is so useful. I love you to death.” I was so excited that the phrase “I love you to death,” which I used constantly at home, just slipped out. We both froze, instantly turning red. “T-that, I misspoke,” I hurriedly explained. “Oh,” Noah replied flatly, his tone unreadable. But when he suddenly turned his head and gave me a smile, I thought I caught a glimpse of deep affection. When the clouds were painted a fiery orange, my bus home finally arrived. Noah walked me to the door of the bus. I sat by the window and waved goodbye. He waved back. “See you Monday, petite amie.” See you Monday, girlfriend. I pressed a hand to my chest to keep my heart from leaping out. I was so nervous I didn’t know where to look. Remembering he didn’t understand anyway, I forced myself to nod calmly. “Oh, okay.” Noah seemed thrilled, a smile lingering on his lips. Honestly, I was thrilled too. As the bus pulled away, I could no longer hide the joy bubbling inside me. In a place he couldn’t see, I broke into a massive, goofy grin. By the time I realized we probably wouldn’t actually be seeing each other on Monday, the bus was already far away. 06 As soon as I got home, I rushed to plug in my phone, thinking I needed to add Noah on Snapchat first. I needed to give him a proper goodbye. But before my phone even turned back on, my mom snatched it away. “Leave it here to charge. Your aunt wants to take us out to a farewell dinner, let’s go.” I reluctantly followed my mom to the restaurant. My parents had always worked out of state. I grew up living with my grandparents. Now, my mom finally got a job transfer back to their home office so she could take care of me, and everyone was celebrating. But I was the only one distracted, my mind entirely on Noah. I ate that meal feeling like a year had passed. I finally made it through the dinner. When we got home, I tried to grab my phone again, but my mom stopped me. “Our flight is at 7 AM tomorrow. We have to be up by 5. Hurry up and get ready for bed.” I was anxious and tried to beg, but it was useless. I had no choice but to angrily comply. It wasn’t until we landed in our new city the next day that I finally got my phone back. But then I discovered… my Snapchat account had been deleted. The phone number I was using was registered under my grandmother’s name. Since I was moving away with my mom, my grandma had canceled that line. Afraid my account might get hacked and used for scams, she was very cautious and had my aunt log in and delete the associated Snapchat account too. My Instagram was also linked to that number, and I always logged in via SMS code. I had completely forgotten the password. Now, everything was gone. … I threw myself onto my bed in despair. “Mom, why did you guys cancel my number without telling me?!” My mom looked innocent. “I wasn’t involved! But Grandma said she already messaged your teachers and confirmed there was nothing important going on, so she felt comfortable canceling it. She also said she posted a goodbye message on your story for you. She said you should just focus on your studies.” I wanted to cry but had no tears left. Gee… thanks, Grandma. Hearing me complain about losing contact with my friends, my mom warned me that academics were the priority, and strictly limited my phone usage. Thinking about how my crush, which was so close to being reciprocated, was crushed in the cradle just like that, I was heartbroken. But I knew my mom was strict, especially about high school dating. I knew resistance was futile, so I helplessly accepted my fate. 07 After that, I was busy adapting to a new school, new teaching styles, and new classmates. I temporarily shelved the idea of contacting Noah. I didn’t have the time, nor the means. When I finally calmed down and thought about it, even if my feelings were reciprocated, it wasn’t the right time to date. Not only were we thousands of miles apart, but we were also in the highly stressful junior year of high school. Everything pointed to the fact that a temporary separation was the best outcome. But naturally, I felt regretful that I couldn’t give him a proper goodbye. However, this was the only way for now. I could only wait until after graduation to contact him again. If possible, then… With a thousand thoughts running through my mind, I sighed and muttered to myself, “Let fate decide.” After moping for a few days, I adjusted my mindset and threw myself entirely into studying. For Christmas that year, I traveled out of state with my mom to reunite with my dad, so we didn’t go back to my hometown. I had essentially lost all contact with Noah and my old friends completely. 08 Six months later, I got into my dream university and finally regained my phone freedom. With my grandmother’s help, I finally managed to contact my old best friend, Maya. After catching up on family gossip and crying over how much we missed each other, Maya brought up Noah. “What did you do to him? He went crazy looking for you. He cornered me every day asking for your contact info. I told him I didn’t have it, but he wouldn’t believe me. Finally, I showed him your deleted Snapchat profile, and he reluctantly accepted it, but he cursed you out, calling you a liar.” I felt a pang of guilt and deep apology. After all, in the internet age, disappearing without even a “goodbye” is pretty messed up. But I was also curious. Was our friendship, built on a single boba tea, really worth him going crazy trying to find me? “Did he mention why he was looking for me?” “No, but he did ask about which colleges you were aiming for. He was pretty depressed for a while. I almost thought you two had dated. Later on, he started dating a girl from another school. Her name is Chloe. He was super into her. I heard he even got custom-made bracelets with her name engraved on them.” My expression froze. The words “Can you help me get his contact info?” died in my throat. I couldn’t hide the disappointment welling up inside me. I gave a flat “Oh.” “Right, Noah told me before that if I ever got your contact info, I should tell him immediately…” “Don’t tell him. We weren’t that close anyway.” He probably only said those things when he didn’t have a girlfriend. Now that he had one, reconnecting with him was pointless. After all, my intentions toward him weren’t pure. I didn’t want to use the excuse of being “just a friend” to peek into someone else’s happiness and just add to my own misery. Since we missed our chance, let it go. Cutting off all contact completely was the smart decision. Even though my heart ached and I envied that girl named Chloe, I was, after all, only Emma. 09 Maya then started talking about her new boyfriend and asked if I was seeing anyone. I answered absentmindedly, “Yeah, a few guys.” Not caring about Maya’s screams on the other end, I made an excuse and hung up. My long-held hopes had fallen through. I sat on the balcony of my dorm, staring blankly. I opened an app and ordered a six-pack of beer, mourning my long-lost crush. While I was half-drunk, my roommate Mia came back. She looked totally lovesick. She grabbed me and started shaking me. “Emma, Emma! I saw the French professor’s son today. He is so handsome. His posture, his face… He should still be in the professor’s office right now. Let me take you to feast your eyes.” She couldn’t stop praising him. I scoffed and slapped her hand away. So what if he’s handsome? Can he be more handsome than Noah? I’ve never seen anyone better looking than him. Seeing that I was unmoved, she finally noticed the empty beer bottles next to me. “What’s wrong with you?” “Heartbreak.” “What?! With who? When?” She fired off three questions in terror. “It was a crush.” I told her about my crush that almost blossomed into a relationship. After listening, she also felt a sense of regret. “You were so close, if only you hadn’t transferred. Sigh… it’s in the past. Crushes are like that, regrets are normal.” As she spoke, she popped open a beer too. “It’s fine, I’ll introduce you to someone else. How about the professor’s son? He is absolutely your type.” I rolled my eyes at her and said sarcastically, “Why don’t you introduce me to the university president’s son, or all the hot, smart guys at our school while you’re at it?” Her eyes lit up. She threw her arm around me and patted her chest, guaranteeing: “I will! I definitely will. Leave it to me.” I let out a “Tch,” not taking her seriously at all, assuming she was just joking. I went about my business, washed up, and went to sleep. 10 The next evening, I went to a meeting for the Translation Club. The upperclassmen kept casting pitying glances at me. After some simple consolations, they started aggressively praising our club president, Liam. Only then did I realize that Mia had gotten totally drunk again. Not only had she spilled the beans about my “heartbreak,” but she had also taken my drunken joke from the night before as my actual standard for a partner, and was actively recruiting boyfriends for me in the club. In the end, everyone agreed that President Liam fit my criteria perfectly, and they started trying to set us up. President Liam was not only the president of our Translation Club, but also the nephew of our French professor. He had great grades and was very handsome. It’s just that his personality was a bit too mature and serious. He always gave off a “parental” vibe. He felt like an elder in my family. I only had respect for him, no sparks whatsoever. So, I rejected the idea without a second thought: “Guys, stop joking around. Liam and I are like brother and sister.” As I spoke, I looked over at Liam, signaling him to back me up. But he didn’t say a word, and he actually blushed. After a few seconds of confusion, I panicked. Could he actually… Seeing Liam’s silence, the crowd got even more excited. “The president is silently agreeing! Little Emma, you should seriously consider the president. We’re waiting for your answer.” “Yeah, yeah! We’re waiting for you to become the club’s First Lady.” My head was pounding. I didn’t know how to defuse the situation, so I just glared at Mia, that drunkard. Just then, there was a knock on the door. The French professor stood outside, smiling brightly. “I’ve been listening for a while. You guys are so lively.” The troublemakers, never ones to shy away from drama, added fuel to the fire: “Professor, you’re just in time! Emma is heartbroken and looking for a boyfriend. We think the president is a great match, so we’re shipping them.” “The president is your nephew! If they get together, Emma will be your niece-in-law, Professor!” Hearing this, the professor chuckled. “That’s a nice thought. I really adore Emma. But you can’t force matters of the heart. Plus, Emma just had her heart broken, so keep the jokes within reason.” The professor heard everything! I felt so humiliated…

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In my Poli-Sci class, the resident “pick-me” girl managed to hook the CEO of Sterling Enterprises. She handed out wedding invitations to the entire class, making a point to deliberately skip me. Yet, on the day of her wedding, the grand reception was delayed for hours. Why? Because the legendary, elusive “Great-Aunt” of the Sterling family hadn’t arrived. Now, she was desperately begging everyone, trying to get just one minute with this Great-Aunt. Meet me? But she was the one who made it explicitly clear she didn’t want me there. 1 As soon as Poli-Sci ended, Chloe Jenkins suddenly stood at the podium and announced to the class that she was getting married. The date was just a week away, and the venue was the ultra-luxurious Plaza Hotel downtown. Honestly, rumors had been swirling for a while. People said Chloe had gotten very close to a wealthy older man, and several classmates had seen her being dropped off at campus in a Rolls-Royce. “Seriously? I heard a single table at the Plaza costs over ten grand. A wedding there has to be in the millions!” “Wow, that’s insane. Who exactly is your fiancé, Chloe?” Though the university allowed students to marry, it was still incredibly rare to see a sophomore tying the knot. Chloe smiled shyly. “You guys might have heard of him. My boyfriend’s name is Liam Sterling. His family is actually pretty normal, he just thinks you only get married once, so he wants to give me a beautiful memory.” “Liam Sterling? That sounds familiar.” “Wait, isn’t that the CEO of Sterling Enterprises, the biggest conglomerate in the city? Please tell me it’s just a coincidence!” Chloe gave a subtle nod, not denying it. “No wonder!” “The Plaza is actually owned by the Sterling family, so it makes sense to host it there. We’re so lucky to get a free meal out of this! I’ve never had five-star hotel food in my life.” “Congratulations, Chloe!” As the classmates showered her with congratulations, Chloe pulled a stack of elegant wedding invitations from her brand-new Louis Vuitton bag. “Because there will be a lot of VIPs there, Liam said we need to strictly enforce the invitations to keep out any… uninvited guests. So please make sure to bring these,” she said sweetly. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep them safe.” Chloe went around handing them out. When she got to my desk, her hands were suddenly empty. I raised an eyebrow. Chloe gave me an exaggerated look of guilt. “Hazel, I’m so sorry. My boyfriend said he accidentally missed you when counting the guest list. The seating chart is already finalized, so we really can’t squeeze you in. I’m so sorry.” She bit her lower lip. “How about I make my boyfriend take you out to a nice dinner next time to make up for it? If I can’t get your blessing, I’ll honestly be devastated.” I looked at her deeply, pretending I didn’t see the smug triumph dancing in her eyes. “No need,” I smiled genuinely. “Happy wedding.” Chloe acted as if she was still overcome with guilt, tears welling up in her eyes. She put on such a show that the rest of the class immediately rushed over to comfort her, telling her it wasn’t her fault and that she shouldn’t let me ruin her mood. She was pretty—delicate features, fragile demeanor—and had been voted the department’s sweetheart the moment she stepped on campus. That frail look made people instinctively want to protect her. My classmates began side-eyeing me, telling me not to be petty, since Chloe clearly didn’t do it on purpose. I hadn’t even said anything negative, yet somehow I was the villain. I stayed in the classroom to read. The others quickly cleared out. A few minutes later, Chloe suddenly strutted back into the room. “Hazel.” “There was no ‘headcount mistake’. I left you out on purpose,” she said, her tone dripping with arrogance. “I know. So?” I asked, genuinely confused. “Are you done? If you’re done, I need to get back to my reading. Who you marry has nothing to do with me. Actually, if you were marrying a pig, I might attend. That would be rare.” Chloe’s face drained of color. “Hazel, stop pretending! You act all high and mighty all day, but behind closed doors, you’re just some rich guy’s sugar baby. Yet you put on this fake ‘good student’ act to make everyone think you’re perfect.” “It’s pathetic.” I didn’t even bother looking up from my book. “Proof?” Chloe scoffed. “Hazel, looking at your hypocritical face makes me sick. Someone like you has no right to attend my wedding. You don’t even deserve the last name Sterling.” I hadn’t planned on engaging with her, but everyone has their limits. I snapped my book shut. “Whether I deserve the last name Sterling or not is none of your business.” “But tell me… you really, truly don’t want me at your wedding?” Chloe froze, unable to guess what I was getting at. After a moment, she let out a loud sneer. “What do you think? Why would I ever want you there?” “You won’t regret this?” I stared straight into her eyes. “Why would I? Because of you? Hazel, you’re not just a hypocrite, you’re a narcissist.” I packed my book into my backpack and said softly, “Understood, Chloe. In that case… I hope you don’t regret this.” 2 When I got back to the dorm from the library, my roommates immediately surrounded me, telling me not to let Chloe get to me. There were six of us in the suite. Chloe had moved out at the beginning of the semester, leaving just the five of us: Harper, Mia, Zoe, Lily, and me. They used to be close to Chloe, but after a few incidents, they saw right through her manipulative tactics. When Harper first started dating her boyfriend, she treated the dorm to dinner. We all agreed not to add her boyfriend on social media out of respect, except Chloe. Chloe added his Snapchat. It started with her “innocently” sharing funny stories about Harper, then evolved into her calling him late at night, constantly dropping hints that Harper didn’t actually love him that much. When Harper and her boyfriend eventually broke up, Chloe acted incredibly supportive, which made Harper deeply grateful. It wasn’t until Harper’s ex accidentally revealed that Chloe had been badmouthing her that the truth came out. That was when everyone saw the real Chloe. She used her fragile, innocent act to manipulate people’s sympathies and gain their trust. “I’m not mad. I don’t have the time to be as bored as her, using a marriage just to flex on other people,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “It’s just stupid.” Speak of the devil. Chloe walked in, a smirk playing on her lips. She looked thrilled, probably thinking her little stunt had genuinely upset me. I didn’t bother explaining. There was no point. The other girls ignored her, turning back to their own desks. Noticing the cold reception, Chloe placed several designer gift bags on the center table. “Mia, Zoe, my fiancé just got back from a business trip to Paris and brought these gifts. See if you like them. If there aren’t enough, I can have my driver bring more.” Harper was in the middle of a video game and snapped, “What, you think we’ve never seen imported goods before? You think we can’t afford anything?” Chloe immediately played defense, saying she didn’t mean it like that. She just felt that these items were very expensive, and as “besties,” she wanted to share them. “I just think friends should share,” Chloe said, looking down. “But if you don’t want them because you hate me, that’s fine. I… I understand.” She looked like she was about to cry. Her acting wasn’t quite up to par today—all thunder, no rain. But if we didn’t take the stuff, she’d probably make enough noise to draw the whole floor into our room to see us “bullying” her. I casually reached out and grabbed one of the boxes. “If it’s for everyone, then there’s one for me, right? Perfect. I’ll flip it on Poshmark. Should cover my groceries for the week.” “It’s hard to find a sucker giving away free money these days. Why say no?” Chloe looked shocked, but seemed pleased that her ultimate goal of showing off was achieved. Zoe put away her laundry and grabbed a box too. “Yeah, free stuff is free stuff. Thanks, Chloe. We really wouldn’t be able to afford this otherwise.” The other girls laughed and took the remaining boxes, turning to me. “Hazel, what’s that app you use? Help us sell these too! We’ll buy you boba with the profits.” Chloe: “…” Ignoring our attitude, Chloe pivoted to her real announcement: “I’ll be moving back into the dorm starting tomorrow until the wedding. I hope we can all get along for these next few days.” None of us wanted her back. We knew exactly why she was doing it—if she didn’t stay in the dorm, how else could she make sure the entire student body saw the fleet of luxury cars picking her up? Honestly, the girl knew how to put on a show. She brought back a ton of extra gifts, handing them out to girls in other dorms whether she knew them or not. Naturally, this won her a ton of envious admirers. Upperclassmen even started coming by our room to network with her, asking if she could hook them up with jobs at Sterling Enterprises. Our dorm usually had a great study environment, but for three days straight, it was packed like a crowded fish market. We couldn’t even breathe. Zoe tried to reason with Chloe, but Chloe just gave her signature helpless look. “I don’t want this either! But they’re our classmates. How can I say no? Just because I’m marrying the CEO of Sterling Enterprises doesn’t mean I should act like a snob. That would hurt their feelings.” Zoe was so mad she chugged an entire bottle of orange juice in one go. “How about we talk to the RA? This is ruining our lives,” Harper sighed heavily. “I can’t even take a nap in here anymore. And Lily is a total introvert—she’s having panic attacks seeing a dozen strangers in our room every day.” “I’ll go talk to her,” Mia volunteered. Less than a minute later, Mia returned, frowning at her phone. “The RA said we just need to endure it. The university is apparently trying to secure a partnership with Sterling Enterprises right now. She told us to ‘be understanding roommates’ and avoid causing unnecessary drama.” “Blatant favoritism.” “At least it’s only a few more days. Once she’s married, there’s no way the Sterling family will let her live in a crusty college dorm.” I had just finished a brutal practice test for my Advanced French exam. I took a sip of water. “Not necessarily. Who knows if something will go wrong at the wedding? She might be forced to keep living here.” Harper laughed and called me a jinx, though she admitted she was torn on whether she wanted Chloe’s wedding to go smoothly or not. Then she paused. “Hazel, your last name is Sterling too. Are you secretly related to Liam Sterling? Don’t tell me you’re actually a secret heiress.” I waved my hand dismissively. “I don’t know Liam Sterling.” Harper groaned. “Ugh! I was hoping you were a secret billionaire who would take us on luxury vacations so we could flex on Chloe. Wait, did she not invite you because she hates us, or does she just hate you?” Chloe returned to the dorm surrounded by her new entourage. We immediately stopped talking and dispersed, either going for a walk or hanging out in other rooms. I put my noise-canceling headphones on and started another practice test, trying to block out the endless fawning over Chloe. This was just obstacle training, I told myself. I absolutely had to pass my Advanced French exam this time! 3 The week flew by. Within that time, practically every student and professor knew about Chloe’s wedding to Liam Sterling. Because she had to attend endless dress fittings and makeup trials, her professors gave her a free pass to skip lectures. Yet, she would purposely show up to class in full bridal makeup and designer gowns, stepping out of a chauffeur-driven car just to “listen to a lecture.” People took photos and posted them to the campus confession page, praising her for being beautiful, rich, and still so dedicated to her studies. A true role model. It was under this circus-like atmosphere that Chloe’s wedding day finally arrived. That morning, a motorcade of over twenty luxury cars—Porsches, Bentleys, Maseratis—pulled onto campus and parked right outside our dorm building. Chloe, accompanied by a flock of bridesmaids, stepped into the lead car like royalty. The students who had caught wind of the spectacle were already crowded outside. They finally got a look at Liam Sterling. He was in his early thirties, looking sharp and professional, maintaining a polished smile while his assistant pulled stacks of red envelopes from the trunk. Three or four boxes of cash envelopes were tossed into the cheering crowd. Some students ripped them open on the spot—the minimum amount inside was two hundred dollars. Occasionally, someone would scream that they got an eight-hundred-dollar envelope. Chloe looked like a princess soaking in the adoration of her subjects. The students who got the cash cheered even louder. The noise was deafening. Chloe was getting married. Today. My classmates had all headed to the hotel reception. I, however, pushed against the crowd and walked back into the empty dorm. From the hallway window, I watched the motorcade slowly inch its way off campus. Harper asked in our dorm group chat if I wanted her to bring me anything back. “If we don’t pack up the leftovers from these rich snobs, it’s a crime against food!” Mia chimed in: “Maybe we shouldn’t even go. Let’s not give Chloe the satisfaction.” My heart warmed, but I texted back: “It’s a five-star hotel, don’t skip a good meal just out of spite. Besides, the Sterling family is paying for it. You have every right to eat it. It has nothing to do with Chloe.” Lily: “What do you mean by that?” “Nothing. I’m going back to my practice tests. I must pass this French exam! If I fail again, I’m doing frog leaps around the track for ten minutes straight!” The others: “Okay, okay, you poor 79-scoring tragic hero.” Ugh! Stop bullying me! Why was French grammar so abusive?! Liam and Chloe’s wedding was excessively lavish. They even had a live stream going. Students back at the dorms who snagged the cash envelopes were watching it online, occasionally screaming about the crystal chandeliers, the dreamy floral arrangements, or the massive diamond necklace around Chloe’s neck. Harper and the girls were bored waiting, so they FaceTimed me, panning the camera around to plan their takeout strategy. They were seated at a table with all the girls from our class, so they didn’t have to be formal. I glanced at the screen. “Skip the king crab, it’s dry. Grab the sliced sea bass over there, the sauce is incredible. Leave the wine, none of us drink that stuff anyway.” “No way, we can sell the wine online,” Lily said seriously. We all burst out laughing. “Lily is out for blood today. The resentment is real.” There were over a hundred tables. The guests included top corporate executives and city officials. Many of my classmates were actively networking, handing out resumes. “Why is this taking so long? If they don’t serve the food soon, it’s gonna get cold.” Mia agreed. “Yeah, I see CEO Sterling talking to his family over there. Shouldn’t the ceremony have started by now?” A giant poster at the entrance said the ceremony would begin at 12:30 PM. It was now past 1:00 PM, and nothing was happening. The MC had been on stage stretching his opening monologue for twenty minutes. Sweating profusely, he finally called up a magician to stall, running over to Liam to ask when they could start. Chloe was standing next to Liam, looking nervously at Eleanor, Liam’s mother. Chloe had gone through all the trouble of setting up a livestream. Making her friends, family, and half the university wait for a delayed wedding was a massive blow to her ego. Her smile was practically twitching. “Absolutely not!” Eleanor Sterling’s voice carried sharply. “Aunt Hazel hasn’t arrived. Serve the food? What are you thinking?” Eleanor wasn’t bothering to keep her voice down, so quite a few people heard her. The Sterling family had a Great-Aunt? People looked around in confusion but saw nothing. Harper whispered into the phone, “Hazel, did you hear that? The Sterling family’s Great-Aunt isn’t here. Chloe’s wedding might literally be stalled.” Mia frowned. “That can’t be right. It’s their wedding. Even if an elder can’t make it, they wouldn’t just cancel the whole thing, right?” A guest at the next table leaned over to gossip. “You don’t understand. The Sterlings are a centuries-old dynasty. They take hierarchy incredibly seriously. I’ve never heard of this Matriarch before, but if she exists, this wedding is on thin ice.” “Oh damn. I guess when you’re that senior, you get to throw your weight around,” Zoe said, worried. “But if the wedding is canceled… does that mean the food is canceled? Are we gonna have to split the bill?!” Our classmates laughed. I looked at the screen, watching Chloe stand awkwardly by the extravagant stage, and said casually, “Maybe it’s not that the Matriarch is throwing her weight around. Maybe she was never invited?” Harper gasped. “Are you insane? Who would dare not invite an elder like that? Honestly, I’m super curious how old this Great-Aunt is. She’s gotta be like, ninety or a hundred, right? If I get a chance, I’m gonna ask her for longevity tips. I wanna live to be a hundred and terrorize six generations of my descendants.” I let out a cold snort. “What are you snorting at?” Harper asked. “I just got three questions wrong on this practice test. Can’t I snort in frustration?” Just then, Liam spoke up on the screen. “Mom, why don’t we just proceed without Aunt Hazel today? We’ll personally visit the estate tomorrow to pay our respects.” Eleanor, a woman with an elegant but imposing aura, sneered. “Have you forgotten the family rules? You want the board of elders to kick you out of the family trust?” “Mom… I mean, Mrs. Sterling, it’s getting so late. Won’t this look bad for the guests?” Chloe said softly, clinging to Liam’s arm. “Stop. Do not call me Mom. If Aunt Hazel doesn’t show, this wedding doesn’t count. If you want to call someone Mom, go out to the street and pick a stranger,” Eleanor glared at Chloe, then turned to the older man beside her. “Uncle Richard, Aunt Hazel still isn’t answering her phone?” Richard sighed heavily. “You know how she is, Eleanor. She never lets us bother her unless it’s an emergency, and she only checks her phone when she feels like it. Should we just drive to the university and look for her?” “The university?” Chloe murmured. “Mrs. Sterling… I’m ranked third in my major, and I’m very close with a lot of the professors,” Chloe offered eagerly. “Should I go ask them to help locate her?” Hearing about her good grades, Eleanor’s expression softened slightly. “I appreciate the thought, but this is a senior family member. We shouldn’t trouble you.” “It’s no trouble at all!” Chloe looked like she was about to cry. Understandably. If this wedding didn’t start soon, she would be a laughingstock. Harper kept the camera pointed at the drama. “Wait, an old professor at our school? Do you guys know any who fit the bill?” After sneezing loudly, I hung up the FaceTime call. A moment later, I pulled out my burner phone from my drawer. I scrolled through dozens of missed calls and finally selected one to call back. I don’t know what Chloe said to Eleanor, but Chloe was the one who answered the phone. Her voice was pitiful and sweet, constantly repeating her name, her major, how good her grades were, and how much she wanted to meet the “Great-Aunt.” “Really?” I said flatly. She paused. “Great-Aunt… your voice sounds so young! Please, if you could just come to my wedding, everything would be perfect. We’re all waiting for you.” After the pleasantries, I got straight to the point. “Is that so?” Chloe said firmly, “Of course! Great-Aunt, should we send a car to pick you up at the university? The hotel is a bit far, we don’t want you to get tired.” I didn’t reply. I changed my shoes, walked downstairs, and called an Uber to the Plaza. I have one major flaw: I’m very easily persuaded. If you don’t invite me, I don’t go. If you beg me to come, I go. I listen to people. Whoever ended up with me was a lucky person. 4 On the way, Harper was giving live updates in our group chat. She said the “Great-Aunt” had agreed to come, and Chloe was acting incredibly smug, taking full credit for saving the day. All traces of her previous panic were gone. “I hope this ancient ancestor has good eyesight and sees right through her ‘pick-me’ act.” “I’m worried the Matriarch is so old she won’t even be able to see straight.” Ugh. Disrespectful. “Hazel, what are you doing? Why aren’t you replying? The MC is doing his opening speech again! I think the wedding is actually starting!” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to reply; I just didn’t want to say anything un-ladylike and ruin our friendship. Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the hotel. The entire ballroom had been rented out by Liam and Chloe. Because I didn’t have an invitation, security stopped me at the door. From fifty feet away, Harper spotted me. “Hazel! Over here!” she yelled, waving wildly. Hearing the noise, Chloe, holding a glass of champagne and looking the picture of elegance, strolled over to the entrance and stopped in front of me. “Hazel, what are you doing here?” I shrugged, feigning helplessness. “I didn’t have a choice. Someone begged me to come.” “Begged you?” Chloe burst out laughing. “Who? Why wasn’t I informed?” Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, dressed in stiff, rented designer clothes, noticed the commotion and came over, looking annoyed. “Classmate of mine,” Chloe explained. “A classmate?” Mr. Jenkins gave me a dismissive once-over. “A freeloader? Just find a seat and sit down. Welcoming the Great-Aunt is the only thing that matters right now. Don’t waste time on useless people.” Mrs. Jenkins nodded vigorously in agreement. Chloe smiled. “Well, Hazel, come on in. Why don’t you sit at that table right by the door? It’s quiet, and no one will notice when you start packing up the leftovers.” “Really? Good thing I brought Tupperware,” I said nonchalantly, pulling a plastic grocery bag out of my purse and giving her a thumbs up. “You’re so generous, Chloe. No wonder you get to marry a CEO.” Mr. Jenkins’s frown deepened. He stood at the door, nervously checking his watch, discussing with his wife if they should go down to the lobby to wait. I sat at the very back table with people I didn’t know and started eating. Twenty minutes passed. Chloe used Eleanor’s phone to call the number again. “Great-Aunt, where are you? Should I come out to meet you?” I stood up from my chair, looked across the massive ballroom at Chloe, and said calmly into my phone, “I’m already here.” Chloe whipped her head around. When she realized it was me, she marched over, her face a mix of shock and rage. “Hazel! Where did you find that phone?! Where is the owner? What did you do to her?!” Wow. The way she was screaming, you’d think I’d kidnapped someone. “This is my phone. Am I not allowed to have a burner?” Chloe looked like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. “Hazel, I know you’re jealous. I know you’re mad that I’m marrying into wealth and you’re not. But you don’t have to resort to this. Tell me where the real owner of this phone is right now, and I’ll write you a check for five thousand dollars.” “Five thousand just to open your mouth? You really have struck it rich, Chloe. Big talk.” Hearing that the phone belonged to the Matriarch, Mr. Jenkins let out a furious roar. “Give me that phone!” He lunged at me, trying to physically rip the phone from my hand. I had trained in Krav Maga; if he wanted a fight, he wasn’t guaranteed to win. But wait. Wasn’t this a wedding? I had to be polite. I let him snatch the phone. But he wasn’t satisfied. “Spit it out! Where is the old lady?! Tell us right now or we’re calling the cops!” Calling the cops on a pre-law student (who was definitely going to pass her French exam)? Trying to talk law with me? I glanced at Chloe and said flatly, “Chloe, do you know what the legal penalty is for strong-arm robbery?” Mr. Jenkins wasn’t deterred at all. Looking at my casual clothes and the plastic grocery bag on the table, he sneered. “You’re trying to talk law to us? Do you even know who my daughter’s husband is?” “I heard your last name is Sterling too? Hah! Good name, wasted on trash. I don’t know how your parents raised you, but today, I’m going to teach you a lesson on their behalf.” … “You think you’re fit to mention my parents?” If I had found this amusing before, now I was just disgusted. Mr. Jenkins sneered. “Why wouldn’t I be? Look at yourself.” He clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore. He reached out to grab my collar to drag me outside. I swiftly blocked his arm, used his momentum against him, and sent him sprawling onto the floor. “You little bitch, you dare hit me?!” Mr. Jenkins cursed as he scrambled up. Harper and the girls, tired of waiting, had walked over. Seeing Mr. Jenkins try to hit me, they immediately exploded. “Who the hell do you think you’re hitting?!” The commotion drew the attention of the entire ballroom. Just as Mr. Jenkins lunged at me again, a loud, panicked voice echoed across the hall. “Aunt Hazel!” Eleanor was practically jogging over from the main stage, looking incredibly distressed. “Aunt Hazel, you’re here! Why didn’t you come straight to me? Are you mad at me?” Her booming voice made my head ring. I covered one ear and sighed. “Eleanor, your voice is still as piercing as ever.” Chloe’s eyes went wide with pure disbelief. “Hazel… you’re the Sterling family’s Great-Aunt?! Holy shit!” Harper screamed, prompting even more guests to stand up in shock. Mr. Jenkins froze entirely, collapsing back onto the floor, his legs trembling. “G-G-Great-Aunt?” I winked at Eleanor, then turned to Chloe. “Great-nephew’s wife… you were asking who invited me earlier. Do you know now?” Chloe’s lips were pressed tight, her face pale and lost. “Great-Aunt… I…” I held up a hand to silence her. I walked toward the front of the stage, Eleanor trailing half a step behind me like an obedient puppy. Along the way, members of the Sterling family looked on in shock or bowed respectfully, murmuring “Aunt Hazel,” “Great-Aunt,” “Matriarch.” To be honest, I hated this. It made me feel ancient. I was a vibrant, beautiful college student! I reached the center of the stage. Someone had already brought out a luxurious high-backed chair. I sat down and said mildly, “Come here, great-nephew’s wife. Let me get a good look at you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “416076”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was at Ethan’s beck and call for six years. I was there whenever he needed me, and I left whenever he told me to. While he was wrapping his arm around another woman’s to drink a toast, I was at the hospital being diagnosed with leukemia. I had three months left to live. Later, he knelt by my hospital bed, crying and begging me to accept a bone marrow transplant. It was hilarious. I never had any intention of living. 1 The moment I got the official diagnosis from the hospital, I called Ethan. Over and over again. No one answered. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears: “It’s leukemia. You need to be admitted immediately. If we aggressively pursue treatment, there is still hope…” I leaned back in the chair, my face blank. “If I don’t get treatment, how long do I have?” “You’re so young, why wouldn’t you want treatment…” “How long?” The doctor looked at me like I was insane. After a long pause, he finally said, “At most… three months.” I gave a grateful smile. “Thank you.” Three months. That was enough. I had barely stepped out of the hospital doors when my phone rang. The caller ID said “Ethan,” but when I answered, it wasn’t his voice. “Hey, Emma, Ethan is wasted. You need to come get him!” Ethan was drinking? My heart instantly seized. “How could you let him drink?!” That could literally kill him! His friend Mike mumbled some excuses, but over the background noise, I heard a woman’s voice. Mia. Ethan’s first love. The one who got away. I almost forgot. Today was the day Mia moved back to the States. The private room at the bar was packed. A group of people crowded together, craning their necks and cheering. Ethan, the star of the night, had his head tilted back, his arm intertwined with Mia’s as they drank a toast. The expression on his face was one of pure, unadulterated satisfaction—a look I had never seen directed at me. Amidst the cheering, I pushed the door open. Only Mike called out, “Emma.” The rest of them just looked at me like they were watching a sideshow. It was pathetic, really. After being by Ethan’s side for all these years, I had never managed to break into his inner circle. It seemed that in their eyes, only a “goddess” like Mia was worthy of him. Mia turned her head, saw me, and gave a completely unbothered smile. “Emma, you’re here…” Smack! Before she could finish her sentence, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Mia clutched her cheek, staring at me in sheer disbelief. The cheering stopped abruptly. The room descended into a dead silence. “Mia, maybe others don’t know, but are you seriously telling me you don’t? You know exactly what his condition is! Can he drink?!” I demanded, my voice sharp. But the next second, a harsh slap landed on my left cheek, knocking my head to the side. It was Ethan. He stepped in front of Mia, his eyes fierce enough to eat me alive. “Emma, have you lost your mind? What gives you the right to hit Mia?” The right? I took a deep breath, trying hard to swallow the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat. Ethan must have forgotten. When he had his heart transplant, I was the one who stayed awake for days by his side. Meanwhile, Mia, fully aware of the massive risks of his surgery, resolutely packed her bags and moved across the country to chase her dreams. And now, I’m the one who doesn’t have the right? “Ethan, all these years I’ve catered to you, protected you, terrified that you’d make a single mistake…” My throat felt so tight I could barely speak. “Because I firmly believed that one day, I would warm that fragile heart of yours.” “But now, I realize I was wrong.” “You don’t have a heart at all.” I closed my eyes, a wave of profound exhaustion washing over me. “Ethan, we’re done.” I pulled off our matching promise ring and set it down in front of him. “You’re free.” A wave of dizziness hit me. I stumbled out of the bar. Using the last ounce of my strength, I hailed a cab and fell into the back seat. In the window glass, I saw my own wretched reflection. I covered my nose. Blood was seeping through my fingers, trailing down my hand. I looked like a ghost. I stared at the window and forced a bitter smile. Emma, you’re hilarious. You still have the energy to worry about Ethan’s heart failing because of alcohol. When the one who’s actually dying… Is you. 2 As soon as I got back to the apartment I shared with Ethan, my phone started ringing incessantly, like a grim reaper knocking at the door. Through the receiver, Ethan’s furious roar pierced my eardrums. “Emma, I don’t care where you are, get your ass to the hospital right now. Half of Mia’s face is swollen because of you. Get over here and apologize to her…” He was sick. I hung up, blocked his number, and deleted his contact in one smooth motion. My nose wouldn’t stop bleeding. I leaned over the bathroom sink, unable to wash it away no matter how much water I splashed on my face. The person in the mirror was emaciated, her cheekbones jutting out, with deep, dark circles under her eyes. She looked like a literal corpse. Mia just had a swollen cheek, but blood was dripping from the corner of my mouth. Ethan’s slap had truly held nothing back. I pulled out a suitcase and started packing my things. But looking around the entire apartment, there was barely anything I actually wanted to take with me. In the end, I chose three things and shoved them into the suitcase. A photo album, a notebook, and a small, worn lucky charm. I casually flipped open the notebook. It was densely packed with precautions and reminders. More detailed than any notes I took in college. Diet Section: “Less high-sodium food, it increases the burden on the heart!” “Avoid spicy and stimulating foods; they cause rapid heartbeat and erratic blood vessel constriction, which is bad for heart disease control!” “Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol or soup!” “Hard-to-digest foods can trigger heart problems!!” Clothing Section: … It was a thick notebook, detailing every minor aspect of his life. Not many people knew Ethan had a heart condition. He didn’t take it seriously himself. But I was neurotic about it, constantly terrified of losing him. I absolutely forbade him from touching greasy or fried foods. I made sure he added layers when it got cold. I wouldn’t let him lounge on the sofa for too long. I made sure he got appropriate exercise, walking six thousand steps every day… I had kept him incredibly healthy for the past six years. Healthy enough that he could now link arms and drink toasts with someone else. I left the notebook on the living room coffee table, right where he couldn’t miss it. I took an Uber to the older, industrial side of the city. Six years ago, I bought a small house here. It was isolated, but the selling point was the quiet. In the front yard stood a massive, towering oak tree that blocked out half the sky. Inside, the walls were covered with photos. I sat there in a daze, staring at them for a long time. Then, I took the photos I brought with me and stuck them one by one into the empty spaces. The seagulls over the bay in San Francisco, looking like a massive cloud blocking out the sun; the sky in Montana, dipping so low it felt like you could touch it; the water in Lake Tahoe, so deep and green it made you dizzy just looking at it. We had good times. The year we went to that historic town in the South, we held hands and wandered through the winding, cobblestone alleys. There were many older women in the alleys offering to braid hair with colorful threads. I sat on a small stool while a woman wove the bright threads into my hair, constantly complimenting my looks. Ethan thought it was amusing and insisted on trying it too. So, I ended up with a few crooked, colorful braids in my hair. When we got back to the Airbnb that night, we found out those specific braids shouldn’t just be worn casually; they were a local superstition associated with mourning a spouse. He didn’t care at all, even teasing me: “What, are you afraid I’m going to die?” Don’t say that, it’s bad luck. I cried and threw a fit, insisting he take them out. He couldn’t win the argument, so we stayed up until the middle of the night undoing them together. Later, I got impatient, grabbed a pair of scissors, and just snipped them all off. My hair looked worse than if a dog had chewed on it. The next day, who knows where he found it, but he brought me a cute beanie to cover it up. I have to admit, it looked pretty good. The day we went to the mountains in Colorado, it happened to be pouring rain. The mountain was just a blur of fog; we couldn’t see a thing. Seeing that I was upset, he comforted me: “No big deal, we’ll come back next year.” But there was no next year. He got busier and busier. Sometimes he would work overtime until one or two in the morning. I couldn’t sleep. Always worried his heart couldn’t handle the late nights, I would sit under the streetlight by the front door and wait for him. There were a lot of mosquitoes in the summer. My legs would get covered in bites, forcing me to hop around in place. But the moment I heard a car honk, I would instantly jump up, running toward him while calling his name loudly. “Ethan! Ethan!” … 3 The shrill ringtone of my phone shattered my dream. My head suddenly pounded with a vicious intensity, and my stomach churned as if a giant hand were twisting my internal organs. I curled into a tight ball. Enduring the pain, I fumbled for the phone under my pillow and answered it. “Emma, where’s my medication?” Ethan’s cold voice came through. I replied instinctively: “First drawer of the nightstand. It’s cold today, wear something thick. The thermal undershirt is in…” I opened my eyes. A damp, stained ceiling met my gaze. Something clicked in my foggy brain. I pulled the phone away and looked at the screen. It was an unknown number. I knew it. I remembered blocking him. “Ethan, we’re over.” My tone turned icy. He sounded exasperated. “Then come get your crap! I’m sick of looking at it!” He probably wanted me to move it so he wouldn’t be annoyed when Mia moved in. I hugged my hot water bottle tighter. “Throw it away. I don’t want it.” He clearly didn’t expect me to say that. He was silent for a long moment, then let out a cold scoff. “Emma, name your price. Otherwise, I won’t feel right about this breakup.” I clenched my jaw, waiting for the wave of pain to recede before speaking slowly. “I don’t want anything.” I don’t want your things. I don’t want your money. And I don’t want you. Before he could react, I hung up the phone. As early as six years ago, Ethan had labeled me a “gold digger.” Back then, he had a sudden heart attack. He was in the hospital, covered in tubes, but his attitude was explosive. To everyone who approached, he had one word: “Get lost!” The private nurses they hired quit one after another. Four of them in total. I was the fifth. He had a terrible temper. If he got slightly annoyed, he’d throw things. The young nurses were terrified of him. I was the only one who wouldn’t leave, no matter how much he hit or cursed me. One time, he suddenly threw a tantrum and slapped the bowl of hot oatmeal out of my hands. The thick, scalding liquid splattered onto the back of my hand, instantly turning the skin a bright, angry red. But I didn’t care about the pain. I was only worried about him. “Are you feeling uncomfortable? Let me go get the doctor, okay?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. He turned his face away. “Why didn’t you dodge?” “If I dodge, who’s going to take care of you?” “Stop pretending, Emma. Don’t think I don’t know. You’re only doing this for the money.” Yes, I was doing it for the money. As long as he was okay, he could say I was doing it for whatever he wanted. Ethan probably didn’t know, but I always loved to carefully press my ear to his chest while he was sleeping, just to listen to his heartbeat. “Ethan,” I would call him affectionately. Hearing the strong thump-thump-thump of his heartbeat, feeling that he was still alive—that made me happier than anything else. In contrast to Ethan’s indifference, his parents actually really liked me. Once, Ethan’s mom teased, “Emma, you’re just too lovable. It would be a blessing if our Ethan could marry a girl like you.” I just smiled shyly. Ethan, meanwhile, glared at me darkly from the side. I knew Ethan didn’t like me. He had a “one that got away” in his heart. I never expected that one day I would actually walk by his side and become his girlfriend. I just wanted, purely and simply, to protect him. That was all. The turning point came during a business trip I took to the West Coast. I heard there was a temple nearby where a master blessed amulets, and they were supposedly incredibly potent. I hiked up that mountain trail several times, finally managing to get one for Ethan. Because of it, I have a scar on my forehead. When I gave it to Ethan that day, his eyes instantly turned red. It looked like he was moved by my gesture. But I knew that a photo was spreading like wildfire in his college group chat. It was Mia, dating a blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy abroad. The two of them were aggressively making out in the middle of the street. Rumor had it they were getting married soon. Ethan was acting a bit unhinged that day. He asked me over and over again: “Emma, are you willing to be with me?” My throat was dry. I nodded over and over. “Of course.” When it came to him, I never hesitated. But in the six years we were together, he never once said he loved me. Not long after Ethan and I moved in together, I asked him for fifty thousand dollars. I bought this little house. I asked him for the money, and he never once questioned what it was for. But the disdain that flashed in his eyes was heartbreaking. In his eyes, I was probably incredibly ugly. 4 I stayed cooped up in the house for half a month. At first, clinging to those beautiful memories, the days weren’t too hard. But gradually, I started experiencing frequent fevers and dizziness. My hair was falling out in clumps. Not to mention the agonizing, needle-like pain that wracked my entire body, torturing me until I wished for death. Painkillers became my only salvation. I went from three pills a day, to six, to twelve… Half a month later, Ethan found me. I was sitting in a tiny, rundown diner, having ordered a few home-style dishes. I didn’t actually have much of an appetite. I just felt this particular diner had a special meaning. Outside the window, a black SUV pulled up to the curb. Someone sat down across from me. “I knew you were here.” I looked up and locked eyes with Ethan. “How did you get so thin?” My hand holding the chopsticks trembled. I didn’t say anything. “How long are you going to hide from me?” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone around us. “Let’s just forget about what happened. Come back with me today, and I won’t hold it against you.” I slammed my chopsticks down, completely losing my appetite. Leaving cash on the table, I stood up and walked out of the diner. But before I could take more than a few steps, Ethan grabbed my wrist. He was furious. “Emma, there’s a limit to throwing a tantrum!” I stumbled, almost falling. My vision went black for a second. People and objects looked pixelated, blurring instantly. But even so, I forced myself to violently shake off his hand. “Ethan, how many times do I have to tell you? We’re over.” I pointed toward the black SUV, where the rear window had rolled down to reveal a woman. “You already have Mia. Please, don’t ever bother me again, okay?” Maybe it was because there was a hint of pleading in my tone, but Ethan’s expression faltered. He looked at me quietly, as if trying to discern whether I was telling the truth or lying. How laughable. From the moment the grim reaper declared I only had three months left, I made my decision. For my final moments, I just want to be quiet, alone. No one has the right to pop up and mess with my emotions. Ethan? He doesn’t deserve it. “Ethan.” Mia hadn’t stepped out of the car; only half of her pale, beautiful face was visible. Through the car window, she called out his name from a distance. Ethan left. Watching the car speed away, I felt a twinge of irony. So, Ethan does know how to be obedient. It just depends on who’s giving the orders. That night, I took a cab to the city hospital, hoping to get a refill on my painkillers. “Emma.” I turned around and saw Dr. Bell. Ethan’s primary cardiologist. Back when Ethan’s condition was unstable, I used to see him constantly. I could rattle off complicated medication names without skipping a beat. He used to tease me: “Relax. You’re more stressed out than Ethan is.” Right now, I was bundled up like a mummy, with my hat pulled low over my eyes, but he still recognized me instantly. “Long time no see. Do you have a minute to talk?” I felt too awkward to refuse. As soon as we sat down, he got straight to the point: “What’s going on with you and Ethan lately?” “Nothing. We’re adults. It wasn’t working out, so we ended it.” Maybe my tone was a bit harsh. He looked at me, choosing his words carefully for a long time before speaking: “I’m not trying to be a peacemaker. But Ethan has been acting out lately, and his mother is very worried.” As he spoke, he handed his phone to me. It was Ethan’s Instagram feed. The newest post was a photo of him and Mia at Disneyland. Behind them was a towering drop ride, and in the distance, the silhouette of a roller coaster. A stuffed Duffy Bear sat between him and Mia, their faces glowing with happy, adorable smiles. The caption read: Trying something thrilling. I couldn’t help but clench my fists. He was literally risking his life. “You’re the person who understands him best. Couldn’t you try to talk some sense into…” “Dr. Bell,” I interrupted him, typing Mia’s phone number into his phone. “From now on, if anything comes up with Ethan, call her.” “She’s the only one who can actually make him listen.” 5 I found a photography studio to take a portrait for my funeral. I hadn’t originally planned to do this. Taking a funeral portrait feels like a prelude to death, something I had instinctively been avoiding. But an accident happened the night before. I got up in the middle of the night for some water and collapsed. I cut my knee on something, and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. It soaked through my pajamas and pooled on the hardwood floor. My limbs ached as if they were being physically torn apart. I couldn’t get up. I could only lie flat on my back on the floor for the entire night. The person in the photos on the wall looked down at me under the dim, yellow light, her eyes seemingly filled with sorrow. I endured until dawn before I finally found the strength to get up and go take the portrait. If it was going to hang on a wall, I vanity wanted to look somewhat presentable. Brushing my teeth resulted in a mouth full of blood, as usual. It was truly bizarre. Even without chemotherapy, my hair was falling out in huge handfuls. I had no eyebrows left. I looked like a skeleton wearing human skin. I applied some light makeup in front of the mirror, but I still looked hideously close to death. When the photographer heard I wanted a funeral portrait, he double-checked: “A funeral portrait? Are you sure?” I nodded. Seeing my emaciated, withered appearance, a touch of pity entered his eyes. He led me into the studio. A shoot was also happening in the studio next door. It seemed like a wedding photoshoot. It was very lively; laughter drifted over constantly, carrying an air of joy. The process was quick. In the photo, the corners of my mouth were turned up, and my eyes held a smile. But I was far too thin, and there was an indescribable exhaustion radiating from the image. The lipstick didn’t help much. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Carrying the photo, I walked out. Passing the studio next door, I couldn’t help but stop. The door wasn’t fully closed, and voices drifted out. “Wow, Mia, you look better in this than the model did. It’s stunning!” “Just wait until Ethan gets here. He’s going to lose his mind!” “We’ve been waiting for almost two hours. Ethan should be here soon.” … Through the crack in the door, I could vaguely see Mia’s silhouette, surrounded by a group of girlfriends. Her makeup was flawless, and she looked incredibly happy. She was wearing a long, flowing wedding gown, twirling in front of the mirror. My legs gave out. I leaned against the wall to steady myself, another wave of nausea rising in my throat. I clutched my lucky charm tightly. Memories instantly transported me back. This photography studio was owned by a friend of Ethan’s. Even though it was in the older part of the city, it had a long history. With skills passed down from father to son, the photographers and makeup artists here were excellent, making it famous throughout the area. Once, I had foolishly hoped that one day I could take my wedding photos here. Back then, I always thought I had plenty of time. Once, by chance, his friend roped him into doing some modeling. A crisp white shirt and black slacks perfectly highlighted his narrow waist and long legs. With his handsome face, his photos were displayed outside the studio to attract customers. It worked incredibly well; the studio was suddenly packed. Later, they needed a model for wedding dresses, and he recommended me. Wearing a wedding dress, I stepped out from behind the curtain, unable to stop complaining: “This is suffocating me. This dress is way too tight…” He had been lazily leaning on the sofa, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought. But at that moment, he shot up. In the giant floor-to-ceiling mirror, he stood tall in a sharp suit, and I stood there in a snow-white wedding gown. Standing face-to-face, we looked like a pair of newlyweds. I remember that afternoon. His gaze was burning, seemingly unable to look away from me. After a long moment, he smiled. “My little bride.” I almost had the illusion… That he was going to cry. Unfortunately, it poured rain that day, and the studio’s equipment malfunctioned. The wedding photoshoot never happened. Perhaps, that was fate. I was destined never to have the luck to wear a wedding dress, hold the hand of the man I loved, and pledge my life to him.

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I transmigrated. The moment I opened my eyes, an insanely hideous guy was looking down at me from his high horse, saying, “Harper, go kiss the ugliest guy in the room, and I’ll unblock you on Snapchat.” Me: ??? Aren’t you the ugliest guy in the room? Following the direction he was pointing, my eyes landed in a dimly lit corner. A tall, broad-shouldered guy in a crisp white button-down sat there, his lips pressed into a cold, stunningly handsome line. It was only later that I realized I had transmigrated into a world where beauty standards were completely reversed. 01 “Harper, go on! Kiss him!” As my soul settled into this new body, the jeers and cheering around me grew deafening. Kiss who? I blinked in confusion as the gloating voices continued. “Brad is brutal for this! Making Harper kiss the ugliest guy here.” “Hahaha, the ugliest guy… that’s definitely…” “This is a killer move. It humiliates that guy and totally messes with Harper.” The guy speaking winked and gestured toward a specific direction. I instinctively followed his gaze. Holy crap! My eyes! My poor eyes! Sitting in the center seat, surrounded by a crowd of flatterers, was a guy so breathtakingly ugly I almost became a living reaction meme. Seeing me look over, he pulled the girl next to him closer, raising an eyebrow impatiently. “Harper, we had a deal. I said the unanimously agreed upon ugliest guy. Don’t try to cheat. Just give him one kiss, and I’ll add you back on Snap right now.” [Insert ‘Bombastic Side-Eye’ Meme Here] Bro, take a look in the mirror. Is there anyone in this zip code uglier than you? And wait, did you get your script flipped? You will unblock me? Is it Opposite Day? The ugly guy—who I now realized was Brad—saw me hesitating and assumed I couldn’t lock onto my target. He jutted his chin to point again. I followed his gaze. And guess what? My eyes, which had just been visually assaulted to the point of near blindness, were instantly cured! In the booth opposite us sat another group of people. But unlike our booth, the guy sitting in their center seat was an absolute, cold-faced god of a man. The moment I saw him, it felt like his sheer attractiveness illuminated the entire dingy club. I didn’t even bother arguing with Brad. I pressed my lips together, my voice actually trembling. “You want me… to kiss him?” “I told you to kiss the ugliest guy in the room.” Brad smiled maliciously, his gaze locked dead onto the opposite booth. I nodded slowly, suddenly feeling a bit of pity for Brad. Not only was he ugly and mean, but he was also legally blind. 02 Hearing the increasingly rowdy cheers from the crowd, I didn’t hesitate anymore. This wasn’t humiliation; this was charity work for my soul. More importantly, it was love at first sight with the hot guy across the room. The people around the hot guy obviously heard the commotion. They glared at me, telling me to get lost. I turned a deaf ear and plopped right down next to him. I caught a flash of inexplicable humiliation in his eyes. I was a little confused. I wasn’t bad-looking myself. Kiss or no kiss, there was no need to feel humiliated. Without overthinking it, I opened my mouth, ready to shoot my shot. Just then, the hot guy glanced over at Brad’s booth and spoke, his voice laced with self-deprecation. “I know I’m hideous, Liam is fully aware. But I still only kiss my girlfriend.” Me: Huh? Handsome, do you hear the words coming out of your mouth? You? Hideous? You’re ugly?! You belong on a Vogue cover! But that wasn’t the focal point. My heart did a backflip. I grabbed his hand and asked, “So, do you have a girlfriend?” Liam paused for a second before saying, “No…” Not giving him the chance to finish, I jumped in. “Well, you do now.” Liam: “…” “Since you’re not speaking, I’ll take that as a yes.” “Now that I’m your girlfriend, can we kiss?” Liam looked at me, let out a self-deprecating chuckle, and leaned back casually against the sofa. “You’re really going all out just for Brad, aren’t you?” That lazy, cynical vibe he gave off practically turned my brain to mush. Knowing he misunderstood, I simply leaned over, pressing my hands against the back of the sofa, trapping him. With our eyes locked, I murmured a compliment about his beautiful eyes, then leaned in and kissed him directly on the lips. Liam stared at me in absolute shock. The soft warmth of his lips made me never want to pull away. The entire club gasped collectively. A second later, Brad’s furious voice cut through the noise. “Harper! What the hell are you doing?!” I wanted to continue “getting to know” Liam. But Brad was being too loud. I turned around, annoyed. “Are you blind? I’m making out with my boyfriend.” Taking the cue, Liam’s hand naturally slipped around my waist. The scene that followed was pure chaos. Brad stormed over to grab me, Liam shielded me, and the two groups broke out into a massive brawl. It was only later I found out that these two were sworn enemies. Brad was just using me to humiliate Liam. 03 On the drive back to my dorm in Liam’s luxury car, I looked up at the legendary starlight headliner, then looked at him. Yep, he was definitely better-looking than the roof. “Why do you keep staring at me?” “Because you’re gorgeous to look at.” The moment the words left my mouth, Liam’s expression became extremely complicated. “Harper, for the sake of us being classmates, I helped you out of that situation today. Don’t push your luck.” What did that mean? Was he backing out? I panicked. “I wasn’t joking! I genuinely want you to be my boyfriend. Please, date me. If I have to endure riding in luxury cars and living in mansions to be with you, I’m willing to make that sacrifice!” Liam laughed, purely out of exasperation. After a long pause, he asked, “Do you really think I’m good-looking?” I nodded furiously. Wasn’t it obvious to anyone with functioning eyeballs? If I wasn’t afraid of scaring him off by moving too fast, I wouldn’t even be going back to my dorm tonight. A barely noticeable smile touched his lips. “If you’re my girlfriend, you can’t have any lingering ties with Brad.” I nodded eagerly. I never thought a two-for-one deal this good would ever fall into my lap. When we arrived at my dorm building, we agreed to meet up the next day. I dawdled, refusing to get out of the car. Liam asked, “Is there something else?” I twiddled my thumbs, shot an awkward glance at his driver, and whispered, “Before a couple says goodnight, aren’t they supposed to do something?” He raised an eyebrow. The driver, taking the hint, stepped out of the car. A few minutes later, I walked into my dorm building with swollen, flushed lips. In the car, Liam watched my retreating back. “Harper, you’d better not be playing me.” 04 The moment I stepped into my dorm, a sarcastic voice greeted me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our dorm’s famous little simp. Why are you back so early? Didn’t have to run errands for Brad tonight?” The speaker was Madison, a roommate who had never gotten along with the original Harper. I couldn’t be bothered with her. I washed up and climbed into bed. I had swapped bodies with the original Harper. We had quickly briefed each other on our respective lives before the switch, but dealing with an unfamiliar roommate didn’t require much explanation. Happily, I picked up my phone to text Liam to see if he got home safely. When I opened Snapchat, I saw a new friend request. It was Brad. He attached a message in a completely condescending tone, saying that since I listened to him, he was graciously allowing me back on his friends list. I rolled my eyes. The original Harper had only told me her crush was named Brad. She didn’t mention that Brad was not only visually offensive but also had the personality of a dumpster fire. I accepted his request, watched the “Typing…” bubble appear, and immediately blocked him. The next morning, my roommates were shocked to see me still in the room. “Aren’t you going to deliver Brad’s breakfast?” I shifted my gaze from my chat with Liam. “Don’t bring up Brad around me anymore. I have a boyfriend.” “What? Seriously? Who?” Before I could answer, Madison sneered. “Give me a break. A boyfriend? The whole campus knows you’re Brad’s ultimate simp. You’re just playing hard to get to grab his attention.” Me: … I didn’t know why, but the way they talked about Brad was so weird. They made it sound like he was some untouchable deity. Before I could ask, someone knocked on our dorm door. “Harper, someone’s downstairs looking for you.” It had to be Liam. Silly guy, he could have just texted me. I skipped all the way downstairs. From a distance, I saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure in a white button-down standing with his back to the door. I launched into a flying leap and hugged him tightly from behind. “I missed you so much after just one night!” The next second, Brad’s smug voice rang out from above me. “Harper, I knew you were just playing hard to get.” I gasped in horror and instantly recoiled. Holy crap, I hugged the wrong guy! Worse yet, I didn’t know when Liam had arrived, but he was standing just a few feet away, watching the entire scene unfold with crystal clarity. 05 Brad looked at Liam with sheer provocation and reached out to pull me back into his arms. I stood up, pulled a Matrix dodge, and bolted to Liam’s side. “Let me explain!” Honestly, it wasn’t my fault. For some inexplicable reason, Brad and Liam had very similar builds and dressing styles. Plus, we had left the club last night and gone straight to Liam’s car. I never really got a good look at him from behind. Thankfully, though Liam’s face was dark, he didn’t immediately turn around and walk away. Before I could continue explaining, Brad’s obnoxious voice echoed again. “Explain what? Harper, you only got close to him to make me jealous, right? Well, I’m here in person now. Before I get mad, tell him to get lost.” The way Brad looked at Liam reeked of some incomprehensible superiority complex. I grabbed Liam’s hand and fired back. “You get lost! Are you mental? What business is it of yours if I’m talking to my boyfriend?” Students walking in and out of the dorm started gathering to watch the drama, whispering words like “Campus Prince” and “That Ugly Guy.” I didn’t pay them any mind. With Liam’s face, he was more than qualified to be Campus Prince. “Boyfriend? Him? Harper, are you insane? Have you even looked at his face?” Brad looked genuinely shocked and disgusted. Liam silently tightened his grip on my hand. He was definitely trying to comfort me. Sob. My boyfriend is so sweet. Damn you, Brad. Liam hasn’t even said a word, and you’re trying to gaslight me? I puffed out my chest. “I am Harper. An honor roll student, an avid reader of classic literature, a participant in multi-million dollar lottery projects, a top-tier Amazon reviewer, and one of the finest residents of this dorm. With a face like his, why wouldn’t I be worthy of him?” A hint of amusement flashed in Liam’s eyes. Brad had kicked an iron plate today. I kept firing. “And you have the nerve to insult his looks? Have you looked in a mirror lately? You literal blockhead, with your beady eyes, flat nose, sausage lips, and Dumbo ears! Looking at you for too long makes me want to call 911! I should be suing you for emotional distress!” As soon as the words left my mouth, Brad’s angry face slowly flushed with a bizarre, shy redness. He bit his lip and muttered, “Harper, I know you like me, but you don’t have to flatter me like that.” I immediately clutched my chest, stumbled three steps back, and collapsed into Liam’s arms. Terrifying. “Liam, we need to leave. He’s actually psychotic!” 06 Sitting in Liam’s car, I patted my chest, still reeling. Brad’s delusional confidence was genuinely frightening. Liam was looking at his phone, texting someone, before finally looking up at me. “I remember saying just last night that you shouldn’t have any lingering ties with Brad.” “That wasn’t my fault!” I quickly explained the mix-up from start to finish. Before Liam could say anything, I added, “I know no matter what, a mistake is a mistake. I won’t make excuses. So, as punishment, can we go somewhere private so you can kiss me?” Liam: “…” The driver was still in the car, so the kiss didn’t happen. Liam said he never wanted to hear the things I said to Brad today ever again. I nodded, thinking he was such a good guy. Brad was such a jerk, yet Liam still wanted to protect Brad’s dignity. Truly a man worthy of my love. Liam booked us a table at a private country club. The environment was elegant and quiet. It was just that the waiters… their looks left a lot to be desired. I leaned close to him and whispered, “The owner here is actually really kindhearted.” Liam looked at me, confused. I covered my mouth and whispered, “I figured private clubs would have strict requirements for how their staff look. I didn’t expect them to be so down-to-earth.” Liam’s eyes flickered. “You think they’re ugly?” I scratched my head, realizing these people made a living on service, not their faces, so I put it delicately. “They just don’t really fit my aesthetic.” I spun the lazy Susan to grab a piece of the truffle steak that had just arrived, completely missing the thoughtful, assessing look on Liam’s face. After lunch, Liam planned to take me golfing. I thought that sounded boring, so I suggested we hit the mall instead. He paused for a second before agreeing. He just wore a face mask the entire time. 07 When Liam dropped me back at the dorm, my hands were full of shopping bags. All afternoon, whenever my eyes lingered on something for more than a second, he’d swipe his black card and buy it. It got to the point where I had to walk looking rigidly straight ahead. “Well, well. Found yourself a sugar daddy?” Madison eyed the bags I dumped on my desk and immediately started her trash talk. Liam definitely had sugar daddy money. There was no denying that. Seeing me stay quiet, Madison rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me this sugar daddy is Liam. I heard all about what happened this morning. You’re so desperate to get Brad’s attention that you’d stoop to hooking up with him?” Me: ??? Was Brad the chosen protagonist of this universe or something? I finally understood where his delusional confidence came from. But it was weird. Brad’s family had money, and Liam’s family clearly wasn’t lacking either, otherwise they wouldn’t be rivals. So why did everyone only worship Brad? I voiced my confusion out loud. Madison’s eyes went wide, and then she burst out laughing. “Harper, is your brain broken? Brad is the Campus Prince. How can you even compare that ugly freak Liam to him?” Huh?! What?? What was she saying? This was some very niche English. Who was the Campus Prince, and who was the ugly freak? In a flash of lightning, all the bizarre details connected in my head. I pointed at my own face and asked Madison, “Tell me. Am I pretty, or am I ugly?” Madison looked at me with mild disgust. “You’re a clown. Super ugly.” Wow. Okay. So I really had transmigrated into a world with reversed beauty standards. I really was the clown now. No wonder I always felt a weird cognitive dissonance around Liam. This explained everything. Knowing the truth of this world, I didn’t act rashly. Under these circumstances, trying to explain it to Liam would just sound like I was mocking him. But every time I looked at his gorgeous face, I felt like I had secretly unearthed a gold mine while the rest of the world was blind. Hehehe. 08 My relationship with Liam hadn’t been broadcasted to the whole school yet. Because of that, most people still thought of me as Brad’s ultimate simp. One day, right as I walked into the lecture hall, someone joked out loud. “Hey, isn’t that Harper? You in the wrong room? Brad is in the building next door today.” Turns out, the original host’s reputation as a simp was legendary across campus. Brad was always late to class and couldn’t get good seats, so the original Harper would save a seat for him, wait until he showed up, and then sprint all the way back to her own class. Sometimes, because of one word from Brad, she even had to save seats for his roommates. She had simped diligently for two years and hadn’t even earned basic human respect. Thinking about this, I waved my hand dismissively. “Who’s Brad? The only person in my eyes right now is my boyfriend.” With that, I walked over and sat right next to Liam, ignoring their shocked stares. “Holy shit, is she serious?” “She has to be doing this just to piss Brad off.” “Honestly, I heard what happened at the club the other night. Is anyone really surprised she finally gave up on him?” As the whispers spread, Liam frowned and glanced backward. The room instantly went dead silent. I hadn’t realized he was so intimidating. I rested my chin on my hand, looking at him with a smile in my eyes. Liam suddenly spoke up. “If you mind the whispers, I can go sit in the back row.” Mind? Mind what? Mind that people are gossiping because my boyfriend is too hot? I leaned in close. “Liam, have you ever heard the saying, ‘A hot boyfriend is a girl’s best accessory’?” Even with my thick skin, I felt a little embarrassed saying it. I tried to save face. “I just mean, you are my glory. A few jealous stares from them? I can handle it.” Liam looked at me and suddenly smiled. It was so dazzling I completely lost my bearings. I didn’t even catch what he muttered under his breath. Then I remembered—this was a world with reversed beauty standards. What I just said probably sounded like passive-aggressive mockery to him. “No, no, no! I mean, my aesthetic is just a little different from the mainstream.” Liam: “…” That didn’t sound right either. “I mean, in my eyes, you are incredibly handsome.” Why did it feel like the more I explained, the worse it sounded? Seeing me panic, the corners of Liam’s lips curled up. He gently tapped my forehead and said softly, “You don’t need to explain. I know.” 09 Before the class was even over, the news of me and Liam dating had spread across the entire campus. Brad tried calling me from several different numbers. I ignored all of them. Madison sneered at me in the dorm. “Some people really have no shame. But then again, every pot has its lid. With your wide eyes, small mouth, and perfectly oval face, you really are only fit for a guy with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high nose bridge.” Hearing that, I couldn’t hold back a laugh. Madison stamped her foot in anger. “What are you laughing at?!” I tried to force my smile down. “Keep insulting me. It’s music to my ears.” Madison: “…” *** Summer brought frequent storms. Shortly after I got back to the dorm, a torrential downpour started outside. I was just texting Liam, celebrating that we didn’t get caught in the rain, when someone outside started screaming my name. I opened the window and looked out. A chill ran down my spine. Holy crap! A swamp monster! Did the creature from the Black Lagoon come to claim my soul?! Standing in the pouring rain below was a guy in a white button-down. The rain had completely soaked through his shirt, and his awkward mid-length hair was plastered flat against his scalp. Seeing me stick my head out, he wiped the water from his face. “Harper! Harper!” I admit, in that moment, I was terrified. I trembled. I shivered and asked my roommates, “Do you guys see that thing down there?” Madison leaned over to look, then instantly covered her mouth. I thought she was scared too, but she turned to me, her eyes brimming with emotion. “It’s Brad!” “He’s so devoted! It’s like a beautiful romance movie!” Me: “…” Honestly, sometimes I really wanted to call the cops on this universe. The reversed beauty standards in this world were absolutely horrifying! Seeing me pull my head back inside, Brad yelled my name even louder. I grabbed my earplugs and lay down on my bed. Rainy days are meant for napping. Madison berated me for being heartless before grabbing an umbrella and rushing downstairs to him. I don’t know how she eventually convinced Brad to leave, but either way, I got several days of peace and quiet. 10 After dating for a while, I realized Liam and I clicked perfectly in every way. Except for the fact that he was a total tease. On the outside, he was this aloof, untouchable god. On the inside? He was sneaky. Whenever we went for walks, if I so much as glanced a second too long at the guys playing basketball on the courts, I’d magically find a subtle, dimly lit mirror selfie of his abs on my Instagram feed that night. And every time I “liked” it, he would delete it seconds later. After a few times, I caught onto his game. The next time he posted a picture, I pretended to casually mention it to my roommates. “Liam’s new Instagram post is really artsy.” Of course it was artsy. It was a seemingly candid shot of him leaning back on a sofa, his collarbone and Adam’s apple peeking out flawlessly from his unbuttoned shirt. “Huh? He posted something?” My roommates looked at their phones in confusion. Madison suddenly chimed in. “Harper… you don’t actually think Liam is good-looking, do you?” Here we go again. “What else would I think?” “His jawline is way too sharp, his brow ridge is too high, his lips are too thin. Besides his good grades, pale skin, and decent vibe, how can he possibly compare to Brad? I think you have psychological body dysmorphia.” She was actually advocating for Brad. You can’t explain ice to a summer bug. I didn’t bother arguing. “You’re right. Based on your worldview, I am psychologically deformed. Because in my eyes, Liam is the hottest guy on the planet.” Madison’s eyes darted around, as if she had just thought of something. She immediately pulled out a bunch of photos and asked me to pick the best-looking ones. The gorgeous men and women I selected were, without exception, deemed hideous by them. My roommates looked at me with deep pity. I just shrugged helplessly. Cognition is impossible to correct when the foundation is built on an error. Just like how a dung beetle genuinely believes feces is the best thing in the world. 11 I was wrong. I shouldn’t have insulted the dung beetles. At least dung beetles don’t commit kidnapping. A few hours ago, Liam finally agreed to take me somewhere private so we could make out. But before my sinful little hands could reach his waist, Madison called, claiming there was an issue with my scholarship application and I needed to go to the counselor’s office immediately. Liam wanted to go with me, but he coincidentally got an urgent phone call at the same time. After leaving the office, I took a sip of the bottled water Madison handed me. When I woke up, I was lying on a couch, my entire body weak and paralyzed. Not far away, Brad was talking to a man in a white doctor’s coat. “Doctor, she must have been traumatized by me earlier. She suddenly developed a fetish for ugly guys. As long as you cure her, I’ll pay whatever it takes.” The doctor nodded and said he needed to prepare some things. Brad walked over and looked down at me. “I knew you wouldn’t just change your feelings for no reason. Turns out you have Cacophilia—a sickness for ugliness. Don’t worry, I’ll have you cured. Once you’re fixed, I’ll forgive you and let you stay by my side.” “I give you an 8.5 out of 10 today, mostly because I’m speechless.” What kind of monumental narcissism is this? If I don’t like him, it means I have a medical condition? Brad flashed a “charming” smirk. “Harper, I admit you’ve successfully caught my attention. You were very smart this time. You know I’ve despised Liam since we were kids. He’s just an ugly freak with a bit of competence. Why does everyone say I’m worse than him in everything except my looks?! I specifically dressed in his style just to humiliate him.” Me: “…” Is it possible that, even based purely on looks, you are lightyears behind him? But this wasn’t the time for that. “This is kidnapping. Aren’t you afraid I’ll call the cops?” Brad reached out and touched my face. “It’s just medical treatment. Once you’re cured, I’ll let you go.” Watching the psychiatrist approach, panic set in. I knew I wasn’t sick, but I was terrified he would force-feed me some random drugs. I tried to fight back, but the sedative hadn’t worn off. I couldn’t move a muscle. As the hypnotic rhythmic sounds began, my consciousness grew cloudy. It felt like an eternity, or maybe just a few minutes. Suddenly, a massive crash rang in my ears. Someone had kicked the door down! When I opened my eyes, Liam, his hair slightly disheveled, appeared in front of me. He was sweating, and he pulled me fiercely into his arms. “Harper, are you okay?” His voice was trembling. I wanted to lift my arms and hug him back, but my body moved on its own, forcefully shoving him away. Then, I heard my own voice speak. She said, “Who are you? Don’t touch me!” Liam’s face instantly went deathly pale. Then, my world went completely black.

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My dad bought me a massive mansion. I thought it was way too flashy and would ruin my image as the down-to-earth, minimalist “campus goddess.” So, after visiting it once, I just left it sitting there empty. A month later, a freshman girl joined our college club. She claimed the mansion was hers. She also claimed her dad was a billionaire. Looking at this tacky, awkward freshman, I fell deep into thought. 1 I am the president of the Art Society at our university. Art is supposed to be about talent. I didn’t want people thinking I was just a rich kid buying my way in. So, I never told anyone that my dad is actually a billionaire. Originally, I planned to keep my identity under wraps, enjoy being the “campus goddess,” and date my handsome, ambitious boyfriend. Then one day, a tacky, awkward freshman walked into the club room, surrounded by a group of eager students. She announced that her dad was a billionaire! My first thought was, Did the Forbes list change overnight? Until she pulled up a photo of my dad, Richard Sterling, on her phone, held it next to her face, smiled sweetly, and said, “I take after my dad.” I was stunned. I immediately called my dad, demanding to know when I got a sister! My dad swore on our ancestors’ graves that I was his one and only daughter, and only then did I believe him. “Your dad is Richard Sterling?” I asked her, sounding skeptical. “That’s right. I’m his only daughter, Chloe Sterling,” she said, without a hint of shame. I felt a surge of anger rising in my chest. Does Richard Sterling know he has a daughter like you? But I decided not to expose her right away. I wanted to see what she was trying to achieve by stealing my identity. “Aria, let Chloe join the club. She said she might let us have a BBQ at her mansion this weekend,” said Liam, a club member, happily shaking Chloe’s arm. “Sure, let me see your student ID so I can register you.” I held my hand out to Chloe. Chloe hesitated for a moment but handed over her ID. I flipped it open and looked at her birthplace. It clearly said: Omaha, Nebraska. I was confused. “Isn’t the billionaire from New York? Why does your ID say Omaha, Nebraska?” Chloe was quick on her feet and smooth: “My family’s roots are in Nebraska, we just live in New York now.” What Nebraska?! Our family has been in New York for generations! She was banking on the fact that no one would actually check, so she felt confident spewing lies. My dad values privacy and has always kept our family’s information strictly confidential, which gave Chloe the perfect opportunity to exploit. “Did you say you’re taking everyone to your mansion for a BBQ this weekend?” I asked, looking up from the registration form. A flash of pride crossed Chloe’s eyes. “Yep. My dad bought me a mansion in Beverly Hills, not far from campus, so I can stay there whenever I want.” A bad feeling flashed through my mind. Could the mansion she was talking about be the one my dad bought me a month ago? I had checked it out once. It was grand, sure, but it was too big. I felt creeped out thinking about living there alone, and the decor was way too ostentatious for my taste, so I just left it empty. How did it suddenly become hers? The club members excitedly crowded around Chloe: “A billionaire’s mansion! Can I really go?” “Chloe, count me in! I want to go too.” … Chloe didn’t turn anyone down, smiling generously: “Anyone who wants to come is welcome.” She was met with unanimous cheers from the club. I sneered internally. The front gate of the mansion requires facial recognition and a fingerprint scan. The system only has my information in it. I’d love to see how Chloe plans to get past the front door. 2 My boyfriend, Ethan, asked me to meet him for lunch at the dining hall. Ethan is the president of the Student Government. He comes from an average background, but he’s handsome, capable, driven, and accommodates me 100%. We’ve been dating for two years. I was incredibly satisfied with him and had decided that after a little more time, I’d bring him home to meet my parents. “Ethan, do you know about Richard Sterling’s daughter?” I was planning to slowly reveal my identity to him. He took a bite of his food and looked at me, surprised: “You mean the freshman, Chloe?” I choked, almost inhaling my food. Ethan quickly patted my back, scolding me affectionately: “Why are you still eating like a kid? You always choke.” I didn’t expect even Ethan to have heard this fake news… This put me in a very passive position. I thought for a few seconds and decided that before exposing Chloe, I shouldn’t reveal that I am Richard Sterling’s daughter, lest Ethan think I’m joking. “Yeah, that Chloe.” “I haven’t interacted with her, I don’t know her well.” I figured as much. Ethan is a straightforward guy, why would he know anything about Chloe? So, I dropped the subject. Ethan was busy and left in a hurry right after eating. I didn’t have anything planned for the afternoon, so I stayed seated, eating slowly. While I was eating, someone suddenly sat down in the seat across from me. I thought it was Ethan coming back. I looked up, and it was Chloe. “Aria, so President Ethan is your boyfriend?” Chloe sat down, offering a haughty smile, and said, “I’ve got my eye on him. You should step aside gracefully. Name your price.” My upbringing told me: keep a low profile, never show off. As the actual daughter of a billionaire, I have never said anything this arrogant in my twenty years of life. Today, I heard it from the mouth of a fraud. I let out a cold laugh, full of malice: “Oh? Tell me, what kind of price can you afford?” Chloe said haughtily: “You’re a junior, right? When you graduate, I can recommend you for a job at Sterling Enterprises.” Chloe held up seven fingers. “Your annual salary will have this many figures.” “That’s it?” I laughed. “So you’re saying you can’t offer anything tangible right now, and you just want to make empty promises?” Chloe didn’t back down. “Aria, I hope you can look at the bigger picture and not just focus on petty, short-term gains.” Her condescending attitude disgusted me. I looked her up and down, scrutinizing her from head to toe, and then said quietly: “You say you’re the heiress of the Sterling family. I don’t believe you.” I saw her pupils contract sharply, but she quickly regained her composure. “Whether I’m the Sterling heiress or not, you’ll see for yourself when I take you to the mansion this weekend.” “Who says having a mansion proves you’re Richard Sterling’s daughter?” I scoffed. “Maybe you rented it.” I stood up, walked behind her, and twirled a strand of her hair. I whispered: “Your hair was just done. You got a gloss treatment, it looks shiny, but your hair texture is actually terrible. You haven’t taken care of it much in the past, have you?” I dragged my index finger across the back of her hand: “You got a manicure, and you even put foundation on your hands to make them look refined. But your fingers are thick, like someone who does manual labor constantly. Does the Sterling heiress usually do heavy lifting?” I pinched her shirt: “Your clothes and jewelry are designer, carefully curated, but they completely clash with your vibe. Your whole look is just awkward. Could it be… you stole these clothes?” Chloe, who was already feeling guilty, completely snapped at the word “stole.” She threw out a “You’re crazy!” and fled without looking back. I laughed. Could she really be a thief? 3 Ethan’s family wasn’t well off. When we first got together, he was skinny and pale. Later, I accompanied him to the gym and took him out to eat better food. I even personally bought his daily necessities, clothes, and accessories. Watching him transform into a suave, handsome guy, mistaken for a rich kid by our classmates, and secretly crushed on by other girls, filled me with a sense of accomplishment. I was confident that Ethan only had eyes for me. Not to mention this fake Chloe was tacky and awkward, and her lies couldn’t stand up to scrutiny. Even if she were the real billionaire’s daughter, I was confident Ethan would choose me over her. Therefore, I didn’t take Chloe’s provocation seriously at all. After all, this clown would be exposed once the weekend arrived. Why bother getting upset? That night, a video of my conversation with Chloe in the dining hall was posted on the campus forum. “Campus Goddess vs. Billionaire Heiress: Cast your vote! Who will win the handsome president?” The post was pinned, and the number of votes skyrocketed in a short period. To my absolute shock, the number of votes for Chloe far exceeded the votes for me. I scrolled through the comments. Someone said, “Given the choice between a beautiful girl and saving 30 years of hard work, I choose the latter.” Another said, “In the face of capital, beauty is worthless.” … Are people really this materialistic? It made hiding my true identity feel incredibly stupid. And are people really this blind? Chloe’s disguise was obviously fake. Why couldn’t anyone see it? I refused to give up and kept scrolling, finally finding a rational comment. ID, Caleb: “Based on Chloe’s age, and calculating the timeline of Mrs. Sterling’s pregnancy, the dates don’t match up at all. Mrs. Sterling’s schedule was packed that year, with photos released year-round, showing no signs of pregnancy.” Attached: “Mrs. Sterling’s Year-Round Photos” A sharp-eyed and logical youth. I immediately hit “like” on his comment. I didn’t care much about the comments from random students. I went to the Student Government office to find Ethan as usual. As soon as I walked in, I saw Ethan being pestered by Chloe. I was genuinely furious. Using my identity to interfere with my relationship. Could Chloe be any more shameless? “Fake heiress, wasn’t playing thief enough for you? Now you want to be a homewrecker?” I swore that was the ugliest thing I had ever said in my life. Chloe was already guilty. The resounding “fake heiress” made her tremble with anger. “Aria! Who are you calling a fake?” Chloe scowled. I scoffed: “Do I need to say it again? You’re tacky and awkward. Who gave you the confidence to pretend to be a rich girl?” I finally said what was on my mind. I thought Ethan was the one being harassed, so I naturally assumed he would stand by my side. I didn’t expect the slap in the face to come so quickly. Ethan stepped in front of Chloe, frowning at me: “Aria, stop it. Chloe isn’t what you think.” Excuse me? During the day he tells me he doesn’t know her, and at night he’s calling her “Chloe”? “She’s not what I think? Then what is she?” I stared into his eyes, demanding an answer. I’m usually a very easygoing person, but in a relationship, I demand blatant favoritism. I need my boyfriend to stand by my side, right or wrong. If he can’t do that, then I’ll kick him to the curb. I was willing to listen to his explanation, but he just kept trying to push me away: “I’ll walk you back to your dorm first. I’ll explain on the way.” I shook off Ethan, pointing at Chloe: “No need. Explain it right here, in front of her. We have plenty of time. Explain.” Ethan stammered, unable to speak. Seeing this, Chloe smiled smugly and grabbed Ethan’s hand: “The truth is, I confessed my feelings to Ethan, and he agreed to give me a chance to pursue him.” Ethan’s face looked terrible, but he didn’t let go of Chloe’s hand. The hand he used to hold Chloe’s was wearing the birthday gift I had given him—a watch I had my cousin bring back from Europe, worth tens of thousands of dollars. 4 To describe how I felt at that moment, “thunderstruck” would be an understatement. It wasn’t that I was deeply in love with Ethan. I just couldn’t accept two things: First, my terrible judgment in picking a spineless opportunist. Second, that this opportunist gave up on me for a clumsy, tacky fraud. He hadn’t even reaped the benefits Chloe promised, yet he defected so easily! If he bothered to check the prices of the gifts I gave him over the past two years, he wouldn’t be acting so smug! I turned and walked away. I knew Ethan and I were done. I have relationship OCD. I cannot accept a scumbag who keeps his options open. Ethan chased after me. On the way, he desperately tried to explain. “Aria, listen to me. When Chloe asked if she could pursue me, what was I supposed to say? I just said it was her freedom, nothing else. Please don’t be mad. I won’t accept her, I only love you.” Ethan pulled on my arm, dragging me all the way from the admin building to the academic building. “Let go! Let go!” I was furious. Did this scumbag think I was in kindergarten? Did he think a few sweet words would trick me into coming back? I yanked my arm, which he was pulling painfully tight, but I couldn’t shake him off. Just then, someone walked out of the academic building. He walked right up to us, grabbed Ethan’s wrist, and with a swift internal rotation, pinned him down. “Ow! Who the hell are you?!” Ethan, pinned and his arm in pain, screamed wildly. The guy didn’t let go. Instead, he turned and asked me: “Are you okay?” Only then did I get a good look at him. He had clean, short hair, wearing a white lab coat over a hoodie. A pre-med student. His face looked familiar. Wasn’t he the guy who defended me on the campus forum? “Caleb!” I blurted out. He paused, seemingly surprised I knew his name. Then he nodded at me, glanced at Ethan pinned under his grip, and asked: “What should we do with him?” I looked at Ethan. Ethan quickly pleaded with me: “Aria, trust me, I’ll explain everything clearly, okay? What happened earlier was really a misunderstanding. Tell him to let me go first!” I felt a deep sense of sorrow. Did this two-faced man always think I was an easy mark? I didn’t plan on letting him off easily. He dared to play me, I’ll make sure he regrets it. I pulled out my phone and recorded Ethan looking pathetic. As I recorded, I said: “Ethan, we’ve been dating for two years, and I still have feelings for you. If you repeat what you just said on camera—say that Chloe is harassing you one-sidedly, that you have no feelings for her, and that you will absolutely never accept her—if you say it, I’ll forgive you.” “Ethan, do you dare say it?” I pushed the phone closer to his face so he could see his humiliated state in the video. His expression went from red to pale, and pale to red. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He was currently pinned down, stripped of all dignity and grace. If he actually said those words, forget about the “billionaire’s daughter,” no girl with any self-respect would ever go near him again. And he didn’t want to miss out on the “billionaire’s daughter.” “Aria! There’s nothing to say.” Ethan looked away. “Let’s break up.” Finally getting the expected result, I scoffed and calmly stopped recording. “Let him go,” I said coldly. Freed, Ethan, probably too ashamed to look at me, kept his head down and ran off. Actually, I wasn’t as calm inside as I looked on the outside. In that moment, I really wanted to rush over and kick him to the ground. And scream at him: Idiot!! I’m the actual heiress you’re trying to climb up to! You were one step away from the opportunity of a lifetime, but now you’ve missed it forever! But I didn’t. My “campus goddess” persona couldn’t shatter. I told myself to look on the bright side. Seeing his true character before my feelings got too deep was a blessing in disguise. I turned around, intending to thank Caleb, but a gust of wind blew sand into my eye. I couldn’t help but rub it. Caleb mistakenly thought I was crying. “Don’t cry, he’s not worth it,” Caleb said suddenly. His voice was slightly hoarse, but inexplicably pleasant to listen to. “He’ll regret losing you.” Heh. I thought to myself, this guy looks cold, but he’s actually quite caring. “I know,” I said. 5 The next day. Ethan and Chloe were officially together. When I ran into them in front of the art building, Chloe was ignoring the gossiping students, clinging tightly to Ethan’s arm. Chloe was acting high and mighty, her smile full of a victor’s smugness: “Aria, we meet again.” I sneered: “A fake heiress and a cheater. A match made in heaven.” Every time I said “fake heiress,” Chloe’s face changed color. I enjoyed watching her face turn pale and asked her: “Fake heiress, have you checked out his family background? Throwing yourself at him so desperately, be careful you don’t end up with nothing.” Chloe subtly glanced at the watch on Ethan’s wrist and curled her lip disdainfully: “You don’t recognize quality, but I do. I know Ethan’s worth better than you.” “Great!” I really wanted to see the look on her face when she realized it was all for nothing. “Then I’ll be looking forward to the mansion trip this weekend.” Chloe wanted to argue more, but an arm suddenly wrapped around my shoulders. A strong arm steered me around and toward the building. I followed the arm. The person holding me was Caleb, who had helped me yesterday. I whispered: “What are you doing here?” Caleb blinked: “Just passing by. Didn’t want to see you lose, so I helped you out.” I understood the subtext. Running into an ex right after a breakup, the more pathetic you look, the worse it is. He was helping me save face. I nodded and said softly: “Thank you!” I let him hold me, walking forward without blushing or my heart skipping a beat, despite the stares from the crowd. Today was the day of the Art Society’s club meeting. A massive crowd of students packed the large lecture hall. I had gathered all the members because I had something very important to announce— Sterling Enterprises’ “Artisan Village” had issued invitations for fifty Art Society members to visit and study at the village for a month. The origin of “Artisan Village” goes back two years. During my freshman year, I ran for and won the presidency of the Art Society. I was so happy I impulsively called my dad to share the good news. To my surprise, that very afternoon, the university received a massive investment from my dad, specifically earmarked for the Art Society. If I hadn’t strongly objected, my dad even wanted to fly a helicopter to the school to present me with a medal of honor. To secure my position as president, my dad invested in a massive cultural and arts hub on the south side of the city, naming it “Artisan Village.” The village brought in over two thousand fashion enterprises and gathered hundreds of top domestic and international designers. Because I didn’t want to reveal my identity, my dad signed a talent acquisition agreement with the university under the company’s name. Publicly, it was billed as: a university-enterprise partnership, driving employment through innovation, and building a talent hub for the fashion industry. Every year, the university regularly sends Art Society members to intern at Artisan Village. Over time, others assumed this was stipulated in the contract. What they didn’t know was that all the spots were directly assigned by me, having nothing to do with the agreement. Seeing that the members had arrived, I began roll call: “Sarah, Jessica, and Emily from the Fine Arts Department… Michael and David from Product Design… In total, 50 students. Tomorrow morning at 10 AM, gather at the school gates to take the university bus to Artisan Village for a one-month internship.” The students whose names were called cheered happily. After all, getting to intern at Artisan Village was a fantastic opportunity for college students, and it would be a powerful advantage when job hunting later. After I finished the roll call, I was about to go over some details. Chloe’s little sidekick, Liam, suddenly jumped out and interrupted me. “Aria, you’re being way too biased! Why did you only choose people you’re close to?” 6 Saying I only chose people I was close to was pure slander! First of all, the most basic requirement for a president is fairness. Otherwise, if these high-achieving college students felt I was being unfair, who would respect me? Secondly, I care about my reputation too. Artisan Village is my family’s business. The higher-ups all know me. If I send a bunch of talentless people just because I’m close to them, it’s my own face that will be lost! I didn’t even need to defend myself; the members did it for me. “What makes you say Aria is being unfair?” “Exactly! Everyone on this list has proven talent, and most of them are seniors who need internship opportunities. You’re a freshman who doesn’t know the rules, what are you babbling about?” The sidekick backed down and immediately pushed Chloe forward. He tugged at Chloe’s sleeve and whispered: “Chloe, this is way too unfair. Why does Aria get to decide everything?” Chloe, who had been simmering with anger after I hit her sore spots repeatedly, took the opportunity to pick a fight: “Liam is right. The Art Society isn’t a dictatorship. I propose we select the candidates again.” I didn’t even bother looking up. “Isn’t Artisan Village owned by Sterling Enterprises? Who gets to intern there is entirely up to the Sterling heiress, isn’t it?” Chloe immediately realized something was wrong and quickly declined: “My dad handles company affairs. I won’t interfere.” “Arranging an internship is hardly interfering, is it?” I said coolly. “Is there anyone else who wants to intern? Just ask the Sterling heiress, wouldn’t that solve everything?” The sidekick’s eyes lit up as he looked at Chloe. I chuckled internally. This is what you call shooting yourself in the foot. Ignoring the scowling Chloe, I went over the details with the interns, announced recent activities and competitions, and then dismissed the meeting. After the meeting, Caleb asked me out to dinner. A woman’s sixth sense told me he was interested in me. After interacting with him twice, I didn’t dislike him. I was hungry anyway, so we went to get sushi near the campus gates. While eating, I waited for him to confess, but he kept rambling about random things, unable to get to the point. I asked: “Do you like me?” Caleb’s face froze. After a moment, he nodded: “I’ve liked you for two years.” I was a bit surprised: “Then why haven’t you ever confessed to me before?” Caleb lowered his head. The usually stoic guy looked a bit forlorn: “When I was getting ready to confess, I found out you already had a boyfriend.” “Oh…” I felt a bit sorry for him. But I had just gone through a breakup and didn’t want to jump into a new relationship so quickly. I was just about to reject him when he suddenly looked up, our eyes meeting. “Don’t reject me yet. Hear me out.” He looked at me and said: “I’m a year older than you, a senior pre-med student. My family’s financial situation is decent, my parents are reasonable people. I know my own feelings, and I’m definitely not acting on impulse. I’ve liked you for two years, and I plan to love you for the rest of my life.” “This…” I didn’t know what to say for a moment. Honestly, hearing him say that, I was quite moved. Maybe the old saying is true: someone who’s just gone through a breakup needs warmth the most. I was very grateful for the warmth he offered. However, I’m sorry, but I still had to decline. “I…” am sorry. Before I could finish, Caleb’s face tightened, and he quickly interrupted me: “You don’t have to decide so quickly. Give me a chance. Let’s try spending some time together first. Is that okay?” I suddenly found him quite endearing. Thinking about it, every time he appeared, I felt pretty happy. If that’s the case, why not give it a try? “Okay.” I smiled: “I’ll give you a chance.”

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