The CEO, well-known in the entertainment industry, is said to have a significant love interest abroad, and rumors suggest that the painting in the group’s lobby is her creation. “Honestly, the painting is mediocre and should have been replaced ages ago,” I remarked offhandedly, sparking widespread ridicule online. A fellow female guest on the show openly questioned my taste. “It’s surprising that you’re a Media Studies student who studied abroad, yet you seem to lack taste and make such bold comments.” I typed out a question mark slowly. Wait, is the painting I did at 13 really that impressive? — “Ms. Hazel, are you okay?” The producer assigned to me for the show eyed me cautiously. She was worried I might not handle the flood of online criticism and might leave the show. After all, this online reality show initially invited eight Media Academy students to intern at an entertainment company. They were competing for the sole position available. The budget was minimal, and they hadn’t expected it to gain traction. Now it’s trending at the top. I relaxed in a beanbag chair, taking calls and shrugging off the situation. Most of the trending topics were criticisms aimed at me. “Who knew such an arrogant person existed? Who does she think she is?” “Doesn’t she know who Ezra Carter is? How dare she say something like that?” “Replying to the poster: Haven’t you seen her resume? She just returned from studying abroad. She probably thinks she’s amazing now and dares to comment freely!” There were even people who didn’t know the backstory asking what had happened. Ezra Carter’s fans swiftly posted two video comparisons. One was from an early interview with Ezra Carter, where he was asked why the company lobby features a large painting. He wore a black suit and white shirt, looking cool and indifferent. But when answering the question, his expression turned serious and solemn. “This is a piece I cherish deeply, and it holds significant meaning for me.” The other video was a segment from the online reality show. The production team introduced us to several major entertainment companies in the country. With a small budget, they could only leverage the popularity of these large companies. When mentioning the country’s leading Carter Entertainment Group— Everyone was amazed by the giant painting hanging from the 10-meter-high ceiling of the star-rated lobby. And I, an unknown amateur, regretfully shook my head, seemingly unimpressed, commenting that the painting was average. Seeing these two video comparisons, all the bystanders had a unified thought— Wow, girl, who are you to act so cocky? Daring to criticize Mr. Wesley’s taste? — So, even before the show aired, it went viral. I hadn’t even done anything yet and was already drowning in criticism. On the phone, my assistant handling the painting ownership in the country pulled my attention back. “I’ll bring all the documents for the paintings under your name for you to sign if you visit Carter Entertainment Group.” “Including those bought by Mr. Wesley, you still need to authorize them, as it’s part of the process.” I agreed absentmindedly, hanging up. I turned my gaze back to the producer. “Producer, do you honestly think that painting is that good?” I asked incredulously. The way the entire internet criticized me made it seem like I was dismissing Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night.’ The producer hesitantly chose her words. “Well, how should I put it? It is Mr. Wesley’s beloved painting. You might not know this abroad, but Mr. Wesley is the top eligible bachelor in entertainment. Not only is he handsome, but he also invests and does a lot of charity!” “I believe Mr. Wesley’s taste is impeccable,” she said with admiration. “Look at the painting, the dark tone with large white feathers, and the bleeding heart at the center—” “Isn’t it romantic! It’s the representation of Mr. Wesley’s inner self! Both dark and light, devil and angel.” “But his heart is as sincere as a child’s.” I was dumbfounded. Wasn’t this just a realistic piece I painted at 13 after witnessing a chicken being slaughtered at home, leaving me with a psychological shadow? Yet it’s interpreted like this?! — Perhaps my stare was too shocked, as the producer awkwardly composed herself and returned to the main topic. “The director thinks we should capitalize on the current buzz with you and Phoebe Taylor. We should record and broadcast simultaneously to capture this wave of attention.” Besides me, the current hot topic online was Phoebe Taylor. Because after my “disrespectful” comment on the painting, she stood up to challenge me. “The most important thing is to be humble, especially since we’re also going to intern at Carter Entertainment Group. At least show some respect,” Phoebe said, tall and with tightly furrowed brows. “Which eye of yours saw me being disrespectful? Can’t a painting be criticized?” Her hostility towards me was baffling. All participants in this job experience show were amateurs, never having been on a show, and were somewhat timid in front of the camera. The remaining guests exchanged glances, watching the tension between us. Who knew our conflict would be so intense? “Don’t you know this is the most cherished painting of Carter Entertainment’s CEO? By saying that, you’re implying Mr. Wesley has bad taste,” she retorted without backing down. “Who are you to him to speak for him like this?” I countered. I intended to mock her, but Phoebe blushed and fell silent upon hearing my words. Oh? Is there really something going on? Wesley Carter and I grew up together, and I know everything about him, even if a mosquito flies by. Where did this woman come from? — Open conflicts like these are rare in the entertainment industry, especially with Phoebe hinting at an ambiguous relationship with Carter Entertainment’s CEO. The show’s director immediately saw this as a goldmine and quickly released a teaser. Sure enough, the buzz skyrocketed. There’s no way to back out now. I joined this show only because Wesley Carter had to make an urgent trip abroad for a business deal. According to the original plan, this small segment would be recorded within a week. I thought it would be boring, so when a talent scout approached me at the airport, I agreed immediately. Little did I know it would cause such a big misunderstanding. Due to high online discussion, the production team fully embraced the hype. Today’s recording session was directly changed to a visit to Carter Entertainment. After a few days without shooting, when we met again, Phoebe was surrounded like a star. I boarded the bus for departure, and as soon as she saw me, her voice grew louder. “I just can’t stand some people who arrogantly judge others, thinking they’re something special because they studied Media Studies abroad!” “Better than coming from a no-name school, right?” I retorted. She was the least educated among us. I wasn’t one to take insults lying down, plus her hinting at a relationship with Wesley Carter annoyed me. The bus staff immediately started whispering: “Seems like Hazel Wood has a bit of a temper, and she was really arrogant when she judged that painting.” “Maybe she’s just a spoiled rich girl. Haven’t you noticed she’s wearing all designer clothes?” “Even if her family is wealthy, she shouldn’t be so rude!” I ignored the chatter, finding a seat to sit alone. Phoebe, flushed from my retort, was defended by another amateur guest, Adeline. “Phoebe was kindly reminding you. Don’t forget Chinese humility just because you went abroad.” “How am I not humble? That painting is—” I turned to say it was mine, but Phoebe cut me off. “Forget it, Adeline, don’t bother. I don’t want to cause trouble for Brother Ezra.” What? Brother Ezra? Not just me, everyone caught that title. I kept silent, watching her with interest. I wanted to see what she was up to. “I actually didn’t want to say this.” Under the persistent questioning of everyone, Phoebe blushed. “We’ve known each other since we were very young. He’s helped me a lot over the years, and I’m very grateful to him.” “So when someone insults him, I couldn’t help but defend him.” She glanced at me as if I forced her to get angry. Adeline echoed, “Known each other since childhood… really?” She seemed to remember something, “Could it be, are you the childhood sweetheart of Mr. Wesley?!” Wesley Carter has only ever acknowledged a childhood sweetheart. It’s rumored that the painting in the lobby was also created by this childhood sweetheart. But no one knows what she looks like. Phoebe neither denied nor confirmed it, simply tucking her hair behind her ear. Isn’t that as good as admitting it? Well, why don’t you just say you’re me! I couldn’t help but mock, “Does Wesley Carter even know you? Do you know which elementary, middle, and high school he went to?” “Do you know?” Phoebe smirked, “Or are all your actions just to get his attention?” Phoebe’s words were like a bombshell, and the crew immediately started discussing. “Isn’t Mr. Wesley rumored to be marrying his childhood sweetheart?” This isn’t just an assumption, right? Fine, why don’t you just claim to be me and be done with it? I couldn’t help but mock, “Does Wesley Carter even know you? Do you know which schools he attended in elementary, middle, and high school?” Phoebe Taylor shot back with a sardonic smile, “Do you know? Or maybe everything you’ve done was just to get his attention?” Phoebe’s words were like a spark, igniting a flurry of discussion among the staff present. “Isn’t there a rumor that Mr. Wesley is going to marry his childhood sweetheart?” “The show hit the jackpot! Let’s get this clip out immediately!” “We’re going to make a fortune! This is definitely going viral!” The director was so thrilled he couldn’t contain his excitement, his grin almost splitting his face. “Phoebe, we’re visiting Carter Entertainment Group today. Could you help us out? If we could film a show there, it would be amazing—” Phoebe seemed a bit hesitant. “I’m not sure if Brother Ezra is around today. The company has its procedures, so the chances aren’t high. I’ll try my best.” Her words were carefully crafted, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “Oh, you’re such a great help! Truly a blessing!” The director exuberantly shook Phoebe’s hand. After getting off the bus, the group headed straight to the reception desk at Carter Entertainment Group, all eyes eagerly on Phoebe Taylor. Hoping she could somehow get the production team access to film directly at Carter. She cleared her throat and stepped forward under everyone’s watchful gaze. I stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching her with a cool detachment. As expected, the receptionist denied her request. “We have a specific department for such matters. If you want to apply, you’ll need to contact our event planning department.” Phoebe was refused on the spot, her embarrassment evident. The nearby producer began to whisper. “Didn’t she claim to be Wesley Carter’s childhood sweetheart? Why wouldn’t the receptionist show her some respect?” “Maybe the receptionist doesn’t recognize her?” Phoebe cleared her throat, snapping at the receptionist with a touch of arrogance, “I don’t blame you for not understanding! Where’s your supervisor? Get them here!” Adeline tried to smooth things over beside her, “They really can’t read the room. Do they think we’re just an ordinary production team?” Phoebe managed to regain some composure, smiling as she attempted to reclaim her dignity. Ms. Cao, the reception supervisor, came out and listened to the receptionist’s report. Afterward, she turned to Phoebe and said, “I’m sorry, but we can’t help you with this. I can refer you to our event planning department…” Ms. Cao’s gaze met mine as I stood behind her. She abruptly stopped mid-sentence, “Miss…” She swallowed the rest of her words before she could exclaim. Following my request, my relationship with Wesley Carter was kept well-hidden from the public. If she let it slip, she’d really be risking her job. “One moment.” She immediately reported to her superiors with her headset. I figured she was unsure why I came with a group and was likely contacting Wesley Carter’s assistant. Ms. Cao hung up and gave a professional smile, “I’ve reported it. Mr. Wesley’s assistant will come to meet you soon, and you can discuss the details with him.” The crowd’s view of Phoebe instantly shifted to admiration. “Phoebe! You really do know Mr. Wesley!” Adeline exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and joy, holding Phoebe’s hand with excitement. Even Phoebe seemed surprised but steadied herself, managing a pleased smile. “So he really remembers me…” she murmured. Yeah right, I rolled my eyes. I’m not curious anymore about what kind of person she is. I’m more interested in seeing how she’ll cover up her lies in the end! Everyone started fawning over Phoebe. “Phoebe, there’s a rumor that the painting in the lobby was done by Mr. Wesley’s childhood sweetheart. Was it really you?” Phoebe smugly twirled her hair, “You said it’s a rumor, so of course, it’s not true.” They all realized they’d just learned a piece of gossip unknown to others. We might even get to shoot the show at Carter! Phoebe singlehandedly occupied two cameras for filming. I chuckled coldly, “It’s better to be honest. If someone exposes you have no connection with Wesley Carter, that lie’s gonna be huge.” Phoebe gritted her teeth. At this point, there was no way she’d admit it. “If you’re jealous, just say so. Apologize to me, and I’ll let your comments about the painting slide.” I suppressed the urge to slap her, shaking my head speechlessly. Remy, Wesley Carter’s assistant, came running over to us, out of breath. Seeing such a large group, and my stern face, he was unsure what was going on. He spoke as if to everyone but was really addressing me, “Mr. Wesley has returned from his overseas trip early, but it’ll be a bit longer. Why don’t we wait in his office?” Wesley Carter came back early? I hadn’t had a chance to react before I heard the staff’s excited chatter. The director was incredulous, “Is Mr. Wesley inviting us? What an honor!” “Going to his office? Oh my gosh, am I dreaming?” “Phoebe Taylor really is Mr. Wesley’s childhood sweetheart!” Everyone looked at Phoebe with even more admiration, practically ready to worship her. Phoebe herself was surprised it was so easy. She hesitated, “Wouldn’t it be too much of a bother?” “What, scared?” I mocked. “Or are you worried your lies will be exposed when you see Wesley Carter?” “Of course not!” she snapped back. “Why would I be scared? Besides, isn’t everyone getting to go to his office because of me?” I raised an eyebrow, “Good, I hope you stay bold until the end. Don’t cry and beg when you’re proven wrong.” “You should worry about yourself! Don’t you know how many people online are criticizing you?” “Then please, show them the way up.” I turned to Remy with a cold smile. The group made their way to Wesley Carter’s office on the top floor. As soon as they entered, they were all stunned by the office’s luxury. The office was filled with large paintings, more mature in style than the one in the lobby. I casually sat on the sofa, familiar with the place, while the others marveled at the luxurious office. Suddenly, a producer let out a short shriek, “Our video from Carter is already online! In just one minute, it has over ten thousand views!” Everyone was instantly excited. Carter Entertainment Group’s popularity was indeed impressive! “Everyone’s asking what Phoebe’s relationship with Mr. Wesley is. Phoebe, you have to give our show the exclusive!” “The comments are all praising Phoebe and criticizing Hazel Wood for being rude and jealous.” “She totally deserves it, she brought it on herself!” Phoebe basked in the compliments from the producers, casting a smug look at me. “You all sit tight, Mr. Wesley will be here soon.” The assistant glanced at my expression, not stopping the group’s activities. Once he left, a producer snuck a photo of Wesley Carter’s office and posted it online. Comments flooded in from Wesley Carter’s fans. “Is this really Wesley Carter’s office? The production team is amazing!” “Phoebe’s connection? Is she really Wesley Carter’s childhood sweetheart?” “Seems like it. Wesley Carter has never let anyone into his office before.” A staff member found a photo of Wesley Carter as a child with a girl on his desk. “Hey, come look! A photo of Mr. Wesley as a kid with a girl!” Everyone crowded around. I glanced at it, surprised he kept our childhood photo on his desk. Back then, I was taller than him, one arm around him like a boss, making a peace sign with the other. Wesley looked at me with something like admiration. That day, I had just fought off some boys who teased him for being girly, earning his full admiration. I smiled, feeling nostalgic. The director exclaimed, “Celeste! This photo you sent of your childhood looks just like the girl in this picture! Is this you as a kid?” My smile froze. Could this get any more ridiculous? The production team quickly pulled up a childhood photo of Celeste and zoomed in. As a kid, I was always out playing, darker and smaller, with some resemblance to Phoebe Taylor. The place erupted again. “Mr. Wesley has a photo with Phoebe Taylor on his desk?” “This can’t be fake; they must know each other!” The guests immediately praised her, “Celeste was cute as a kid too!” “What’s cute about that,” I snorted. “Besides, is this even you?” “If it’s not me, is it you?” Phoebe’s face darkened, “Hazel Wood, you’ve been mocking me non-stop. Do you really think I don’t have a temper?” I smirked sarcastically, “I just can’t stand liars barking around like dogs, pretending to be something they’re not.” At this point, a producer defended Phoebe, unable to tolerate my words. “They’re definitely involved. There’s no way this is fake!” The guests quickly chimed in with praise, “Celeste was really pretty as a child too!” “Pretty? What’s so pretty about it?” I sneered. “Besides, is that even you?” “If it’s not me, then is it you?” Phoebe Taylor’s expression soured. “Hazel Wood, you’ve been mocking me non-stop. Do you really think I won’t get upset?” I gave a sardonic smile. “I just can’t stand liars barking like dogs, pretending to be people.” At this point, a producer couldn’t ignore my remarks and came to Phoebe Taylor’s defense. “Hazel, last time you critiqued a painting, we thought it might be deliberate, but this time? You’re clearly doing it on purpose.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295242”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #后宫Harem

On a reality TV show, the guests were assigned to feed animals at the zoo. I was supposed to feed the monkeys. I held a small bucket and extended a banana in a friendly manner. The monkey yelled at me, “Get lost, you idiot!” I ate the banana myself and engaged in a heated argument with the monkey for two hours. Bystanders were stunned, the director was shocked, and so were the viewers watching the live stream. My name is Eloise Quinn. In my junior year of college, I was spotted by a talent scout and filmed a commercial. Among a group of beautiful girls with oval faces, I quickly stood out with my distinctively round face. The internet made me, and I became the so-called national sweetheart. The internet also ruined me, as I was falsely accused of being a two-faced bitch and a homewrecker. The reason was simply that Luke Young, a male actor I had worked with, drunkenly confessed his love for me in public, which was caught by paparazzi. The actor’s girlfriend was Wendy Sullivan, the daughter of Sullivan Group. She relentlessly pursued me, spreading rumors, throwing dirt, and launching an online bullying campaign. I’m sorry, I’m useless, I’m weak, I couldn’t bear the overwhelming malice. Under pressure from Sullivan Group, I was shelved by my company, Millennium Entertainment, and stripped of my right to speak on the internet… I chose to plan a grand finale with my death.

Standing on the 20th-floor rooftop of Sullivan Group, I held an amplified megaphone. “Bastards! You’re all bastards! You’re trying to drive me to death!” It was the peak of rush hour, and soon a crowd gathered below. “I’m Eloise Quinn, I’m not a homewrecker! I’m not a two-faced bitch!” The crowd below was in chaos, seemingly shouting something. I couldn’t hear them. They didn’t have megaphones. The wind on the rooftop was strong. I opened my mouth wide and roared. The wind rushed into my mouth, making me feel a bit nauseous. I cried and retched at the same time. Paparazzi, alerted by the commotion, set up their cameras. The flashes were dazzling, even in broad daylight. “Ugh— You’re all bullying me! I swear to God! I’ve never done anything wrong. Those who hurt me recklessly, I curse you with my life, may you all die a horrible death— ugh—” Soon, police cars arrived with their sirens blaring. They set up an air cushion below, but jumping from the 20th floor, even an air cushion wouldn’t help. If the posture was wrong, death was inevitable. People from Sullivan Group emerged behind me. A man in a suit extended his hand: “Miss Quinn, please calm down. We can negotiate whatever you want.” I recognized him, the head of the marketing department of Sullivan Group. He was the one who led the online attacks against me. He was afraid I would die here. “Scum! Bastard! Sullivan Group, you’ll go bankrupt sooner or later!” I shouted into the megaphone, my saliva splattering on it in excitement. “Ah, don’t come closer, don’t push me! Help—” I stared cruelly at the marketing head with a smile, then leaped off. You’re good at throwing dirt? I’ll cover you in dirt even with my death!

Death is a long moment of stillness. The first twenty-three years of my life unfurled before me like a scroll. “How pathetic, my descendant is such a disgrace.” An old, sighing voice sounded. A red-haired old man in a crimson robe appeared before me. Calling him an old man didn’t seem quite right; his face was weathered, but his muscles were well-developed, resembling King Kong. “I am the Wild Boar Spirit. In past ages, I was the one who cursed others. How times have changed, for my descendant to be cursed like this by others.” The muscular old man snorted coldly at me, “Well, I’ll pass on my ultimate skill to you. Don’t waste it.” With that, a red light shot into my forehead.

When I opened my eyes again, I smelled the pungent odor of disinfectant. It was a hospital. Accompanied by nurses’ screams of “She’s alive! She’s actually alive!”, a bunch of doctors in white coats rushed into the ward. “It’s a medical miracle! Her heart stopped for five minutes, and she’s still alive!” “Quick, hook her up to the machines! I need to write an eight-thousand-word report on this.” “Dr. Li, please calm down, take it easy.” Following a young doctor’s words, an elderly man with graying hair excitedly stared at the machines, fiddling with them. He announced: everything was normal. Then, he himself fainted. Later I learned that Dr. Lee, in his sixties, had worked tirelessly for sixteen hours without sleep to save me. Life is so precious in the eyes of these medical staff, yet I had taken it lightly. I regretted it, I felt ashamed. However, more than that was anger. If anger could turn into flames, it would surely burn the entire Sullivan Group to ashes.

Soon after I woke up, the hallway outside my room was surrounded by reporters. I mustered up my courage, put on a “dying but still persevering” makeup, and opened the door. “Hello, Miss Quinn, what do you think about making the front page of the social news?” “Miss Quinn, are you putting on a show or making threats?” “Miss Quinn, do you have a secret relationship with Luke Young? Are you a homewrecker?” The more you say, the more mistakes you make. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you make. Say nothing, and you make no mistakes. I fell headfirst onto the nearest reporter’s DSLR camera – the one who had been shouting the loudest insults. She was startled and hurriedly protected her camera. But other reporters caught this on camera, and the next day, an unreliable tabloid reported: “Shocking! Eloise Quinn Faints in Public, Look What Happened to Her!” The cover photo was of the reporter pushing me away to protect her camera. An eye for an eye, I’ll get my revenge and be done with it.

After recovering, I returned to my apartment to recuperate, only to find a middle-aged couple standing at the door of the small room rented by my company. They were hunched over. The man was holding a mud-stained sack, and the woman was holding a familiar thermos. It was my parents. I threw myself into their arms and burst into tears. Since the incident, I hadn’t shed a single tear, but seeing them, my tears broke through the dam. “Child, how could you do such a thing!” My parents cried while scolding me. I felt a bit wronged and was about to explain that I wasn’t a homewrecker, that I hadn’t done anything wrong, when Mom gently tugged at my ear: “Why did you want to end your life? It’s better to live a hard life than to die.” “Your mom is right! If you can’t make it in the city, you can always come back home and inherit our small supermarket at the village entrance!” Dad put the sack down at the entrance and started taking things out. “You’re so foolish!” “Your mom is right! Honey, give the child that ginseng soup before you scold her.”

After eating, my parents said they wanted to take me back to our hometown. I said no, I wasn’t ready to give up. I wasn’t ready to leave with this identity, bearing this kind of infamy. “Don’t worry, I have a plan,” I said. Dad said we need to use magic to defeat magic. We need to use capital to defeat capital.

I was invited to the CEO’s office of Blue Corp, Sullivan Group’s arch-rival. Sitting across from me was an elegant lady in her thirties. She thoughtfully had her secretary bring some stomach-soothing tea. “I’m sorry, Miss Quinn. My mother has a weak stomach, so my office always keeps stomach-soothing tea on hand.” This person is decent, I quickly concluded. People who are good to their parents are usually not bad people. “Shall we cooperate?” Ms. Blue smiled at me, not looking like someone in her thirties at all, but more like a mischievous little fox. Smart people don’t need to talk in detail. I firmly shook her hand: “Let’s cooperate.” She would give me resources and help me speak out, while I would expose all the bad things Sullivan Group had done. This was a win-win situation.

I was sent to participate in a challenging reality show that was live-streamed across the internet. The show had five guests, covering five areas: music, stand-up comedy, acting, internet celebrity, and ordinary person. Luke Young as a singer and Wendy Sullivan as an ordinary person also participated. As soon as the guests appeared, the bullet comments exploded. [What kind of large-scale drama is this?] [Isn’t Eloise Quinn a homewrecker? How dare a tainted artist come?] [The one above is outdated. Eloise Quinn has clarified, it was on the front page of social news. She might really have been slandered.] [This sister is brave, isn’t she here to fight?] [Homewreckers must die, right?] [I’m here to see the sweet love between the male artist and the rich daughter, I’m satisfied.] Luke Young secretly glanced at me twice, then lowered his head. Wendy Sullivan glared at me fiercely, but restrained herself due to the cameras. She stepped forward, effectively separating me from Luke Young. The host arrived fashionably late, holding a handful of task cards. She waved them at us: “Come and draw your task cards, everyone.” She took the opportunity to advertise: “Hello, dear audience. Thanks to our generous sponsors, choose your favorite guest and vote for them!” “Today we’ve come to the zoo, where our guests will spend a delightful day with the adorable animals.” I looked at the task card in my hand and fell into deep thought. Task One: Feed the monkeys.

I ran to Monkey Hill with a basket of fruits and vegetables. A golden-haired monkey with a red face shouted at me from behind the fence. The strange thing was, I could understand what it was saying! Had I gone crazy, or had the world gone mad, or had the monkey gone insane? It said: “Another ugly, hairless human is here.” I stared at the cameraman in surprise, but he showed no strange reaction. Instead, I saw dense bullet comments flooding the screen. [Hahaha, they actually let a beauty feed the monkeys.] [Are these the monkeys from Mount Emei? They look fierce.] [Just quietly watching what tricks the homewrecker will pull.] [What are you pretending for, with that two-faced look? Is feeding monkeys beneath you?] Responses echoed from Monkey Hill. “We can tease humans again.” “This time I’m going to hit a human’s nose hard.” “I’m going to steal the human’s bag and give it to Sasha.” Me: ??? Trembling heart, Parkinson’s hands. I extended a banana, trembling and trying to be friendly. The largest monkey in the group roared: “Get lost, you idiot.” That set me off. I peeled the banana and shoved it into my mouth in three seconds, letting the monkey curse at me for two hours. “If you don’t eat it, I will!” I shouted at the monkey. The monkey group exploded. Although to others, they were just making meaningless howls; to me, they were cursing very dirty. As expected of those who slipped through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education, they had no manners at all. The largest monkey king was so excited that his saliva almost sprayed on my face, while the other monkeys even wanted to rush out and beat me. I gloated: “Come on, come and hit me if you can. You can’t reach me.” “What do you mean by ugly, hairless humans? Those with hair are ugly, you’re the ugly ones!” The more I spoke, the angrier I got. I put down the fruit basket, put my hands on my hips, and argued with a group of monkeys opposite me. “Don’t you have a mirror to look at yourself? What? You don’t know what a mirror is? It’s something invented by great and intelligent humans, your IQ probably isn’t enough to understand it, right?” “So monkeys all like to eat shit, no wonder your mouths are full of crap!” This isn’t right, my mouth has a mind of its own, my mouth is out of control! I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing! After arguing for two hours, I battled the group of monkeys verbally, undefeated. Suddenly, the monkey king let out a mournful cry to the sky and respectfully bent his back. “You win. From today on, you are the new monkey king of our group.” Me: ???

I glanced at the bullet comments, which were full of “Hahaha”. The atmosphere had changed from “What is this woman thinking? Arguing with monkeys? Is she trying to create some strange persona?” to “Is Eloise Quinn here to be funny? Can someone really argue with monkeys?” Now, the bullet comments were developing in a strange direction. [This Eloise Quinn woman has got something.] [Look, the monkeys are bowing to her.] [Live version of ‘The Birth of the Monkey King’.] [I’m honored to witness the birth of the Monkey King, all hail the Monkey King!] [Hahaha this woman is killing me.] [For those who don’t understand and are asking, are those people calling Eloise Quinn a two-faced bitch using it as a compliment for her fighting ability?] [I may be a two-faced bitch but I can argue with monkeys for two hours and become the new Monkey King.]

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please bestow food upon us.” Voices rose from the monkey group. I hesitantly threw a few fruits in. The monkeys excitedly went to catch them. Half a day passed, and all the vegetables and fruits were fed. The atmosphere was peaceful and quiet. The zoo director came over and excitedly shook my hand: “Miss Quinn, would you be willing to work at our zoo?” “Good benefits, good treatment, five insurances and one fund, and a permanent position,” he added. Thanks for the invitation. Later I found out that this group of monkeys were wild monkeys from Mount Emei. They usually bullied the keepers and even dared to beat up tourists. They had a bad reputation, but were also second-class protected animals.

I’m dumbfounded. I originally wanted to participate in a live reality show to directly expose the scumbag with evidence on the show, but unexpectedly I went viral? And in such a strange way. I don’t know why I can suddenly understand monkey language. Is it because of the muscular old man who appeared in front of me on the day I jumped off the building?

The first episode has been recorded, and I took some time to catch up on the bullet comments. After feeding the monkeys, my second task was to bathe them. For me, who had already become the Monkey King, it was of course a piece of cake. Under my orderly command, each monkey washed itself clean. I led the cameraman into Monkey Hill and enjoyed the treatment of a king. When I sat at the highest point of Monkey Hill, looking down on everything, the bullet comments were saying: [Are you King Kong?] [King Kong, go fight Godzilla!] In just one day, I made three trending topics. Actually, it’s not that I’m amazing, it’s mainly due to the contrast with my peers. Wendy Sullivan and Luke Young’s performances were too controversial. Wendy Sullivan clung to Luke Young the whole time, acting coquettish and asking for hugs. However, this is reality, not an idol drama. Wendy Sullivan became the new representative of “cringeworthy behavior”. “Brother, I don’t want to feed the peacocks. I’m afraid of birds with sharp beaks,” Wendy Sullivan clung to Luke Young’s neck. The bullet comments were a mess. [So cringy.] [I came to watch their love story, not to watch them get it on.] [This is a zoo! Not a bedroom!] [Don’t say that, I’m a stray dog and I love to watch, bring it on!] [Everyone go to Eloise Quinn’s live stream! She’s become the Monkey King!] Whoosh, a large chunk of bullet comments disappeared. Probably all gone to my live stream.

“Miss Quinn, I really didn’t expect to see this side of you on the internet,” Ms. Blue said. I lowered my head embarrassedly. The development of events had exceeded my expectations. “I have a question, can you really understand what the monkeys are saying?” Ms. Blue asked. I instinctively shook my head. Being able to understand animal speech and all that, I was afraid of being taken away as a specimen. Ms. Blue shook her head disappointedly, but her eyes were fixed on me: “Ah, I thought I had met a kindred spirit, like someone who had awakened a beast bloodline or something.” My heart shook, and I blurted out: “You too?” Ms. Blue smiled: “Good vigilance. It’s not me, it’s my brother.” As soon as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and a young man walked in. I looked up and was immediately captivated by a pair of eyes. What bewitching eyes they were, slightly upturned at the corners, with a hint of red. The pitch-black pupils were like whirlpools, with deep blue oil-like light dancing inside. I suddenly jolted: “What a fox spirit!” Then I came to my senses. Standing in front of me was a young man. To describe this man as handsome would be an insult. “How did you know?” He was startled and took a small step back. What did I know? I thought back, fox spirit? “Hello, my name is Silas Lewis. I’ve awakened the bloodline of the nine-tailed fox beast,” the young man glanced at me. How to describe this glance? One glance for a thousand years. With this glance, I had the illusion that I had known him for tens of thousands of years. I’ve already decided where we’ll be buried together in this life.

Ms. Blue left the office to me and Silas, and very thoughtfully closed the door. “What beast bloodline did you awaken?” Silas asked. I answered honestly, it was a wild boar. He gave me a comforting smile. “That’s good,” he said. Don’t think I didn’t see that! You were secretly laughing just now, weren’t you! “I awakened when I was ten, so I’ve done some research on awakening,” Silas explained. “Actually, many humans carry gene fragments of these beasts in their genes, but most people’s special genes won’t be expressed.” “The expression of these genes is what we call ‘awakening’. Those who awaken will possess a special ability, which I call ‘skills’ and ‘passives’.” I thought for a moment: “It sounds like a game.” “Exactly, but unfortunately the sample size is too small. In all these years, besides myself, you’re the only awakened person I’ve met.” His eyes looked at me intensely, like a fox staring at its prey. I fled in panic.

To figure out what my “skill” and “passive” were, I went to a pet store. Strangely, I couldn’t understand the meows and barks of cats and dogs. But when I passed a dog cage, a dog barked at me loudly: “What are you looking at! Human! Watch out or I’ll scratch you.” Suddenly, I had a bold guess: it seems that I can only understand other creatures when they’re cursing at me. Just as I was lost in thought, my mouth went out of control: “Just looking at you, come out and scratch me if you dare!” I hurriedly covered my mouth and stepped back. Well, I think I know my “passive” now: I can never lose an argument. Why does Silas’s skill allow him to charm any creature, with a passive of uncontrollably charming any creature, while mine is arguing with others?

During the second episode, the location was set at Sullivan Group. Before the broadcast started, Wendy Sullivan blocked my way and gave me a malicious smile: “Eloise Quinn, what do you have to fight against me!” How dare she speak to the Monkey King like this! In my eyes, Wendy Sullivan was just a spoiled and stupid elementary school student. Arguing with her was both meaningless and a waste of time. But my mouth wouldn’t back down: “I’ll fight you with my life. If you push me too far, I’ll drag you down with me.” I approached Wendy Sullivan and pulled a creepy smile. “You… you psycho.” Wendy Sullivan stepped back in fear. “I’m going to tell my daddy!” See, I told you she’s an elementary school student. Go ahead and tell. Someday, your dad won’t be able to protect you anymore. You’ll have to pay a painful price for your mistakes eventually.

The theme of the second episode was office workers, and the guests had to complete various tasks assigned by the boss. I was assigned to the sales department. While others were sitting in the office, I couldn’t help but look up at the cameraman and give an apologetic smile: “I’m sorry, you’ll have to run around with me again today.” The cameraman gave me an “OK” hand sign, then shook his camera. A flood of bullet comments poured in. [Up close, Eloise Quinn’s face really can withstand high-definition cameras!] [Is it just me, or does sister Eloise seem so sad and wronged?] [She must have been targeted by a certain rich girl. Everyone else gets to sit in the office, while she has to run around.] [I don’t know if anyone noticed, but Eloise is wearing the high heels provided by the show. She has to run around all day, just thinking about it is scary.] There were those who sympathized with me, and of course, those who disliked me. [Not everyone is born a princess like Wendy.] [Being poor is a sin, who told you to offend the capitalists?] [A homewrecker, coming to the territory of the rightful girlfriend, still prancing around?] [Eloise Quinn is really playing the moral high ground card. Does she think jumping off a building can cover up the fact that she’s a homewrecker?] The harsher they curse now, the more I’ll make them regret it in the future.

After getting ready, I arrived at the sales office and changed into the sales uniform. Soon, a customer came – a muscular, tattooed guy. The other salespeople quickly pushed the customer towards me. I enthusiastically went to greet him. After looking at the house plans, I was about to take the keys to show the guy around. Unexpectedly, a thin, small girl walked over and pinched the tattooed guy hard: “You said you came to look at houses, but you’re here to look at pretty girls, aren’t you!” Then she stared at me with hostility. “You must be Mrs. Gold? Hello.” I confidently went up to her. “Mr. Gold just looked at many house plans, I have them all here. Would you like to take a look now?” You can’t judge people by their appearance. Although the man looked fierce and the woman was petite, based on my experience, the one in charge at home must be the woman. “Mrs. Gold, look, these two houses are quite nice. They face the sun on three sides and have large balconies…” The tattooed guy was left alone on the side. The other salesgirls nearby had a look of watching a good show, seemingly waiting for the tattooed guy to explode. Unexpectedly, the tattooed guy looked at his wife adoringly, without saying a word. After a while, as if bored, he gruffly said to the other salesgirls in the distance: “Bring two glasses of water.” Soon, two glasses of warm water were brought over tremblingly. “Mrs. Gold, your husband is really gentle and considerate,” I whispered to the girl. She immediately blushed: “You’re the first one to say that. Everyone around us was against us being together. We’ve been married for eight years now, and he’s always been very good to me.” Their eyes met, and the tattooed guy pursed his lips, looking even fiercer, enough to make a child cry: “You’re my woman, of course I’m good to you.” If it weren’t for his ears turning red, I might have been scared too. “Let’s go take a look at the house,” I took Mrs. Gold’s hand. On the way, Mrs. Gold asked me happily: “Are you filming a show? Why is someone always filming you? Are you a celebrity?” I nodded. “You’re so pretty, and so nice. You must be very famous. I can’t believe I just got out of the hospital and met a big star.” I patted her hand and mouthed to her, avoiding the camera: “I will be in the future.” Five minutes later, we sat in a tour car to the new house. It was a large flat, 240 square meters, luxuriously decorated. I took the couple around, and the cameraman also did close-ups of the house. Mrs. Gold said with a smile: “It looks suitable, I’ll buy it. The commission should go to you, right?” The tattooed guy frowned but didn’t say anything. I said: “Don’t buy it. This is my first time seeing this house too, and it’s not good.” Hearing this, Mrs. Gold looked at me puzzled, and the tattooed guy was also a bit surprised. “This house was terrible,” I said.

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It all started when I had a few extra bites of the cake made by the housekeeper. My mother suddenly snapped and ruined my birthday party. “Just like your father. Can’t resist a little indulgence. “You like her, huh? Well, let her be your mother then. “I don’t want you anymore.” I was left speechless, terrified, crying as I begged her to forgive me, but in a fit of rage, she pushed me. I hit my head on the edge of the table, blood pouring out. In my dazed state, I heard her thoughts. “You’ll regret this. Just wait. Anyone who throws away my love deserves to suffer. That heartless man and his brat of a daughter… they must be regretting everything now.” She felt smug, her heart filled with satisfaction, but not a trace of concern or love for me. But if she truly loved someone, how could she bear to let them get hurt? “You like cake, don’t you? Well, have all you want.” When Mom suddenly grabbed an entire piece of cake and slammed it into my face, the once-boisterous living room fell dead silent. Her sharp voice cut through the stillness, hanging in the air like a blade. She wiped the cake off her fingers with a napkin, then shot a disgusted look at Maeve, our housekeeper. “Avery, you really are your father’s child. You two sure do have the same taste. “Well, since you like her so much, why don’t you just let her be your mother?” I glanced at my mom, then at Maeve’s worn-out face. At an age when I didn’t even fully understand what absurdity meant, I suddenly realized what it felt like without anyone telling me. It was all my fault and Dad’s. We always made Mom misunderstand us, and that was why she was so angry. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong.” My voice faltered, and I lowered my head, trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes. The cream on my face felt sticky and gross. I didn’t dare go wash it off or change clothes. I was too scared. If I made one wrong move, Mom might really leave. But my apology didn’t soften her at all. She looked at me coldly, her gaze sharp, like she was searching for something on my face. “Well? What exactly did you do wrong?” she demanded. I twisted the hem of my shirt in my hands, desperately trying to think back to what I had done to upset her, but nothing came to mind. Singing the birthday song, blowing out the candles, cutting the cake, eating the cake… wasn’t that just the usual birthday stuff? I hadn’t misbehaved. I hadn’t done anything wrong. I dug my nails into my palm in frustration, tears threatening to spill over. As I hesitated, unable to answer, Mom’s face darkened further. Finally, her patience snapped. She grabbed the cake from the table and hurled it to the floor, along with the gifts beside it. They crashed to the ground with a loud bang. “Your dad likes a woman like Maeve? He must be starving for attention. “When I cook, you two always pick at everything. “But when she makes cake, you can’t get enough, huh? “Fine, Avery, you get your wish. I don’t need you anymore. “From now on, you’ll have no mother.” Maeve stood there, frozen, her face pale with shock. She couldn’t understand how, after all her hard work, cooking and cleaning every day, she was now the one accused of breaking up the marriage. I was trembling with fear, too scared to care about the cream still smeared on me. I rushed over, throwing my arms around Mom’s legs. “Mom, I’m sorry! I won’t eat cake anymore. Please… don’t leave me.” My sobs only seemed to annoy her, and the sticky sweetness of the cream on my face made her even more disgusted. “My new dress!” She shoved me away, eyes burning as she looked at the white splatters of cream on her dress, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “Go find Maeve. I don’t want to be your mother anymore.” The force of her shove sent me stumbling, and with the floor covered in cake, I lost my balance and fell hard. My forehead hit the edge of the table with a sickening thud. For a moment, everything went blurry, and a warm liquid started to spill from my head. Before I passed out, all I saw was red. Whether it was blood or just the red of Mom’s dress, I couldn’t tell. “Mom, don’t go…” A cold fear gripped my heart, a desperate, bone-deep terror that Mom might actually leave me.

I woke up in a hospital bed. “Mom!” Panic surged through me as I frantically searched for her. My heart didn’t settle until I spotted her sitting in the corner of the room, casually scrolling through her phone. She was still here. Relief washed over me like a wave, though I couldn’t take my eyes off her, afraid she might vanish if I so much as blinked. Then my dad’s name popped up on her phone screen. Mom let out an annoyed huff and declined the call. But Dad didn’t give up. He called again and again. By the tenth attempt, Mom finally picked up, her voice sharp with irritation. “Clayton, stop calling me. I told you, I’m done. This time, I mean it. I want a divorce. “Go back to your little harem. Enjoy your life with them. “Don’t expect anyone to cook for you anymore. Don’t expect anyone to stay up all night waiting for you to come home. “Losing me is your problem, not mine.” A heavy silence followed. Dad didn’t say a word, but as I stared at Mom, I could almost hear her thoughts, like they were being broadcast straight into my head. “You’ll regret this. Just wait. Anyone who throws away my love deserves to suffer. That heartless man and his brat of a daughter… they must be regretting everything now.” Her tone in my head was full of smug satisfaction, even triumph, but not a shred of it sounded like love or concern for me. I didn’t understand. Why would she say things like that? What did I or Dad ever do to deserve this? I looked at her, my chest tightening with a sadness I couldn’t shake. I wasn’t heartless. I loved her and I always had. But that didn’t seem to matter. A crushing exhaustion settled over me, as if I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Why had it come to this? Was it really because I couldn’t resist having a few extra pieces of cake that Maeve made? Tears blurred my vision and dripped onto the blanket, leaving dark, wet patches. “Beatrix.” Dad’s voice sounded tired, his frustration barely concealed. “Can’t we just talk this out like adults? Don’t take this out on Avery. She’s just a kid. “And honestly, you’ve got some nerve bringing up cooking. You nearly poisoned me with yours!” Before he could finish, Mom interrupted him with a cold laugh. “A kid? Please. She’s smarter than you think. I bet she already knows Maeve will be her stepmom one day. That’s why she’s bending over backward to cozy up to her. “But here’s the thing. Stepmothers don’t care about their stepdaughters. I’ll be waiting for the day you regret this.” She threw me a pointed look with those last words, her eyes brimming with something cruel. It was as if she couldn’t wait to see me suffer under Maeve’s care. “You’re unbelievable,” Dad said, his voice turning icy. Then the line went dead. “You’ll be begging me to come back one day,” Mom thought to herself, her anger morphing into a twisted kind of satisfaction. She sat there for a moment, stewing in the fantasy of Dad pleading for her return, before finally grabbing her bag and striding toward the door. “I’m not your mother anymore, so don’t expect me to take care of you,” she said, her tone indifferent. “Stay here and see if Maeve will come get you.” This time, I didn’t try to stop her. I curled into myself, clutching my knees, trying desperately to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. In my mind, I cried out in anguish, “Mom, you always said people who betray your love deserve to be punished. But if you really loved me, how could you stand to see me hurt?”

Maeve never showed up at the hospital to take care of me as she had quit. For someone hardworking and skilled like her, finding a new job wasn’t a problem. There was no reason for her to stay in a house full of drama and risk ruining her reputation. That day, I sat alone in the hospital from morning till night. I didn’t eat or drink, and I felt like I was drifting in and out of a fog. Eventually, one of the nurses took pity on me. She brought me a meal from the cafeteria and called my dad. When he found out Mom had abandoned me at the hospital, he rushed back overnight from out of town. The moment he walked into the room, I blurted out, “If I disappeared one day, do you think Mom would regret it?” I’d been staring at the hospital’s towering buildings all day, and a dark thought had crept into my mind. If I jumped from up there and disappeared forever, would she finally regret it? Would she cry and beg for me to come back, the way I’d begged her on my birthday? “No,” Dad said, his voice firm and unyielding, not even pausing to think. “Avery, people who love you would never want to see you hurt. “People who don’t love you wouldn’t care, no matter how much pain you’re in. “Hurting yourself to make someone feel guilty or regretful? That’s just a stupid game you play with yourself. It won’t get you love or respect. “If you don’t believe me, let’s bet on it.” Not long after, my parents’ divorce became official. Mom took the house and a sizable amount of money but didn’t want me. Her new place was just next door. Whenever I missed her, I’d sit outside her door, hoping to see her. If I got lucky, I’d catch her leaving or coming home. But she never spoke to me. No matter how much I tried to get her attention, she ignored me completely. Then one day, she brought home a little boy. I overheard her calling him Jasper. That was the first thing she said to me since the divorce. “Avery, this is my son, Jasper. “You’d better not bully him. Otherwise…” She didn’t finish her sentence and just gave me a cold, knowing look, as if she was certain I’d hurt him. A few days later, a good-looking man moved in with her. Mom had no problem kissing him right outside the door where everyone could see. Dad came home early a few times and caught them in the act. His face darkened as he tried to talk to her. “If you want to kiss, do it inside your house. Don’t do it in the hallway where the kids can see.” Mom didn’t take him seriously. She just smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Since when do I need your permission? Or what, are you mad you’re not the one kissing me anymore?” After that, she only got bolder. She loved putting on shows of affection with Jasper too. “Sweetheart, come here. Let me fix your collar. “I made your lunch myself. Make sure you eat it, okay?” I stood there, lingering in the doorway, hoping for even the tiniest bit of attention. But her gaze never once landed on me. When she finally closed the door behind her, I stared at the lunchbox in Jasper’s hands. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I stop him? But before I could say a word, Jasper’s face darkened. Misreading my hesitation, he charged at me, ready for a fight.

Jasper blocked my way, his voice sharp and mocking. “Move it, you motherless stray.” He was built like a young bull, tall and strong. “Don’t even think about touching my lunch.” I could’ve stepped aside. I should’ve. But my bet with Dad played on a loop in my mind. So, I stood firm. Pain exploded in my stomach as Jasper charged, slamming into me. I hit the ground hard, my hands and knees scraping against the rough concrete. Blood welled up from the torn skin, hot and stinging. “Mom!” The word tore from my throat, raw and desperate. My chest tightened with a mix of humiliation and longing, and before I knew it, tears poured down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Jasper froze, his bravado cracking. “It’s not my fault! You fell on your own!” he stammered, his guilt barely concealed. The noise must have carried into the house because the door swung open, and there she was, my mom. I cried harder, louder, willing her to come to me, to pick me up, to care. “Mom! Jasper pushed me!” The words spilled out between hiccupping sobs. For a moment, guilt twisted in my chest. Was I wrong to complain? Was I being petty? But I was desperate, starved for even a shred of her attention. Her reaction left me cold. She walked right past me and crouched down beside Jasper, brushing the hair from his face with a tenderness I’d never known. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Did she scare you? Don’t worry, I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I stared at her, the lump in my throat tightening. She had never, not once, spoken to me like that. When she finally turned to me, her eyes were hard, her voice sharp. “Avery, I warned you not to bully Jasper. “Stop this nonsense. No matter what you do, I’m not coming back. “I’ve told you before. I’m not your mother anymore. From now on, I only have one child, and that’s Jasper.” Her voice was dripping with contempt, but beneath it, there was a glimmer of satisfaction, a silent victory she wasn’t bothering to hide. In her mind, she thought, “Regret it now? Too late. All the suffering I endured because of you and your dad… it’s time you felt it too.” “Mom,” I said quietly. “Aren’t you even going to ask if I’m okay?” Her frown deepened, a flicker of unease crossing her face before she forced it back into indifference. “Why would I? Whether you’re hurt or not has nothing to do with me.” And there it was. The truth was stark and undeniable. Dad was right. She didn’t love me. That was why she didn’t care. I stood up and wiped my face with my sleeve, looking her straight in the eye. “Actually, I could’ve dodged him. “But I didn’t. I wanted to see if you’d feel guilty if I got hurt. “And you? Was this your plan all along?” In that moment, it all became clear, like the constant guilt I felt around Mom, the reason she left without hesitation, and why Dad stood by, letting it happen without a fight. Her face flushed red, anger flashing in her eyes. She grabbed Jasper’s hand, pulling him toward the house. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she did. I saw it in the way her steps quickened, in the tight line of her mouth. She understood exactly what I meant. And it scared her.

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Because I caused my sister’s death, I was the one my parents loathe the most. “You’re so cruel. Why wasn’t you who died instead?” “Don’t call me Mom! From this moment on, I’m not your mother. You have no parents anymore. Get out!” They threw me out of the house and welcomed a girl they had been supporting financially for years. A few years later, that girl developed kidney failure. To save her, my mother, an unflinching internal medicine doctor, took one of my kidneys without hesitation. My father, a high-ranking executive assistant, refused to cover my medical expenses. After the surgery, I was forced to leave the hospital alone, weak and in pain. Just hours after the procedure, my brain tumor acted up. I collapsed in a filthy garbage dump, abandoned and forgotten. That was where I died, helpless, unnoticed, and erased from their lives. I was dead, yet the pain in my lower back continued to grip my soul like a vice. My spirit drifted helplessly back to the hospital. Inside, my mother, Holly Bailey, and father, Neil Bailey, were at Melody Carter’s bedside, their faces full of worry. They had never looked at me like that. When they looked at me, their expressions were always cold and filled with disdain. “You’re so annoying. Can’t you just get lost? Don’t come looking for me again. I’ve already done enough for you.” As I was dragged out of the house, I heard Holly’s voice behind me. “Good thing Yvette’s kidney was a match for Melly. It’s the only useful thing that waste of space ever did.” Three hours earlier, Holly had taken my kidney with her own hands. She hadn’t allowed anesthesia, calling it punishment. Machines pinned me to the operating table, leaving me with no way to escape. The pain tore through me, leaving me writhing helplessly. Holly spoke, her words sharp and merciless. “This is what you get for killing your sister, Coral. You deserve this. It is the price you must pay.” Neil stood by, watching in silence as he handed her the scalpel. For years, I had believed I was the one responsible for my sister’s death. But as the agony of losing my kidney consumed me, a missing memory surfaced. I had not pushed Coral into the water. It had been Melody, the girl my parents had supported all those years.

Sometimes, I thought the truth might not matter. My parents hated me, and that seemed to be enough. Even so, I forced myself to make a call to Neil. My voice trembled as I told him the truth. When he heard, he laughed coldly, his voice dripping with mockery. “Liar. Do you really think I would believe something like that? How could I have a daughter like you? Melly is perfect. She would never do something like that. Only you could.” People’s biases were like mountains. They were unmovable. The mountain of hatred in Neil’s heart had been there for years. When I asked for help with my hospital bills, he refused. “Dad, I don’t have any money,” I said, my voice weak. “You’re lying again. Don’t you work part-time jobs? You just don’t want to spend your own money.” He didn’t know, or maybe he didn’t care, that all my money had gone to medicine. Years of malnutrition and stress had given me stomach cancer. I didn’t have long to live anyway. When I showed him my medical report, hoping he would finally understand, he glanced at it, frowned, and tore it into pieces. “Do you think I have time for these stupid tricks? I’m busy. I don’t get sick, so why would you? Did you fake this? If you really have stomach cancer, then go die.” Now I was dead. In the end, it wasn’t cancer that killed me. It was the infection from the surgery. When I told him I had spent all my money, his only response was, “Then go sell your body.”

The nurse called Holly to inform her that I was missing. “Yvette is gone. She was supposed to be in her hospital bed, but she’s nowhere to be found.” Holly frowned, her tone dismissive. “If she’s gone, she’s gone. What do you expect me to do about it?” When Melody had gone missing once, Holly had turned the entire world upside down to find her. This time, she did not care because I did not matter. Jack Scott, a doctor too, who was nearby, seemed concerned. “Why was she even in the hospital? The last time I saw her, she didn’t look well at all. Her lips were pale. How could you, as her mother, not notice?” Even strangers sometimes defended me. Holly cut him off before he could continue. “Do you even know what she’s done? My husband and I disowned her a long time ago. If she’s missing, it’s just another one of her games to get our attention. It’s all she knows how to do.” Their neglect had pushed me deeper into depression. I had often thought about leaving this world completely. Sometimes, I disappeared for days, wanting to sever every connection to anyone who cared. I had tried to jump or harm myself, but every time, teachers or classmates found me and brought me back. I had felt guilty for troubling them. That wouldn’t happen again. Jack seemed furious this time. “She’s just a child. How can you be so indifferent? Every time she comes to find you, she waits outside your office for hours, afraid to disturb you.” “I don’t want to see her,” Holly said coldly. “Even if she’s upset, she can’t have gone far. Are you going to look for her or not? Not unless she’s dead, and I need to bury her body.” Jack looked at her in disbelief. “I thought doctors were supposed to have compassion, but if this is how you treat your own daughter, then I can only imagine how little you care about your patients.” “This is not the same thing,” Holly snapped. Jack stormed out, his anger obvious. I felt guilty for causing their argument. They wouldn’t have fought if it weren’t for me. After Neil refused to pay my hospital bills, the nurses tried to reassure me. “No parents would abandon their child. Stay here. They’ll help you eventually.” But I knew they wouldn’t. I understood my parents better than anyone. To avoid causing trouble for the hospital, I staggered out of the ward on my own. I could hear the nurse calling after me. “Wait. You’re still bleeding. When did this patient even have surgery? It’s not on the schedule.” Now I was gone. I wouldn’t bother anyone again.

They waited outside the room, anxious and uneasy. Holly looked nervous, which was rare for her. “I performed the surgery myself. What if something goes wrong?” Neil reassured her as best he could. “Everything will be fine. Melly is a lucky girl.” Floating above them, I saw Melody sleeping peacefully under a neatly folded blanket. Her wound had been stitched with care. She had been raised with love and attention, but I had not. When Holly stitched my wound, it had been rushed and careless, as if spending any more time on me was a waste. A nurse approached hesitantly. “Dr. Bailey, there are still patients waiting to see you.” “Cancel them all,” Holly said. “I need to focus on Melly. Nothing else matters right now.” “But some of them traveled from far away,” the nurse protested. “Then let them wait. Or see someone else. I don’t care.” Holly rarely showed this level of emotion. She was usually the perfect professional, responding to patients like a machine. But when Melody was sick, she lost all composure. The nurse eventually gave up and left. Holly asked about me as if I were an afterthought. Neil casually mentioned that he had not paid my bills. “Good,” Holly replied. They began planning how to spend the money they had saved. They ordered gifts for Melody: flowers, toys, and dolls. The packages arrived quickly and piled up in a colorful heap, enough to fulfill any child’s dreams. But all I could think about was sitting by the garbage dump. I remembered seeing a little girl tossing her old teddy bear into the trash. She had glanced at me with disgust as she walked away. I had never owned a toy. For a moment, I wanted to crawl over and hug that bear. But I stopped myself. The bear’s fur was torn and dirty, but its eyes were still bright. Someone like me did not deserve something so beautiful.

They were still brainstorming what else Melody might like. Finally, Neil clapped his hands, his face lighting up with an idea. “Melly has always wanted to be our real daughter. Why don’t we make it official and adopt her?” Holly immediately praised the idea, urging him to hurry home and grab the necessary documents. Just as Neil left, a nurse rushed over, visibly flustered. “Dr. Bailey, Yvette isn’t playing a trick this time. Several people saw her leaving on her own. She just had surgery. Where could she have gone? There’s blood everywhere, too. The cleaning crew is scrubbing it up right now.” From the third-floor railing, the trail of blood was clearly visible. It stretched all the way from the hospital to the street outside. The cleaning crew worked tirelessly, hunched over as they tried to scrub the mess away. I felt guilty for causing them so much trouble. But I couldn’t stop the blood from pouring out of me. It just kept flowing and flowing, soaking into the floor. Even I felt scared as if my body was losing every drop it had ever held. Holly waved off the nurse impatiently, her expression full of irritation. “Don’t tell me about her anymore! This is ridiculous. Why is everyone so concerned about her? It would be better for everyone if she just died already. The world would finally be peaceful. Am I her mother, or are you? Don’t you think I know her better than anyone? It’s just another one of her stupid performances.” The nurse hesitated but eventually turned and left. Jack appeared moments later, striding down the hallway with anger etched across his face. He stopped in front of Holly, holding a stack of papers in his hands, disbelief evident in his voice. “You took your own daughter’s kidney to save your foster daughter?” He waved the papers at her. “If I hadn’t checked the operating room logs and noticed the discrepancies, I wouldn’t have figured it out. Do you realize it’s illegal to remove someone’s organ without proper authorization? Not to mention, she’s your daughter. Where is your humanity?” Jack had reviewed the security footage, where he saw me writhing in pain during the surgery. The memory seemed to weigh heavily on him, his anger mixing with genuine sorrow. He truly felt sorry for me. Holly, visibly flustered, regained her composure quickly and pulled out a signed organ donation agreement. “This was Yvette’s decision. She signed it herself. I didn’t force her.” She wasn’t lying. She had thrown the blank document in front of me and said, “Melody needs a kidney, and yours is a match. If you have any conscience left, you’ll know what to do.” I stared at the bold letters on the form, trembling as I instinctively touched my lower back. My hesitation lasted only a moment before Holly let out a cold laugh. “Of course, you’re just as heartless as I thought. Killing your sister wasn’t enough; now you want to watch your younger sister die, too? It’s just a kidney. You still have another one. Nobody’s asking you to give your life. I should never have had any hope for you.” The disappointment in her eyes cut me like knives, each word stabbing deeper until I felt like my heart had been torn apart. She hadn’t forced me to sign the document or press my thumbprint, but the weight of her expectations crushed me like a storm. Jack’s voice rose, trembling with fury. “You’re her mother. How could she possibly refuse you? Even if she signed the agreement, where is the hospital record of it? Did anyone here authorize this? And performing surgery on your own family member without proper approval violates medical ethics.” Holly faltered, her confidence wavering. She avoided his gaze but quickly found an excuse. “There’s an exchange conference next week, and the hospital is sending me as the representative. I have an internal medicine paper being published soon as well. Do you think the hospital can afford to lose me right now?” Jack’s eyes widened with shock. Holly sensed her advantage and softened her tone. “Let me make a deal with you. Once Melly wakes up, I’ll go look for Yvette. She wouldn’t want her mother to lose her job, would she?” Jack clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His anger erupted as he stomped the ground in frustration. “I regret ever being your teacher.” He turned and stormed away. For a moment, something flickered in Holly’s eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly. She frowned in irritation and muttered under her breath. “That old fool really thinks he’s important.” She shook her head and sighed, her voice filled with disdain. “And Yvette Bailey, always making my life harder.”

Meanwhile, Neil returned home to grab the adoption documents. On his way back, he passed by the garbage dump and hesitated for a moment as if something had caught his attention. He frowned and made a call, dialing my number. When I didn’t answer, he angrily sent a text message. Neil: [Yvette, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Come back already. Isn’t this all just about money? Fine, I’ll pay your hospital bill. For someone your age, you’re unbelievably manipulative.] He still thought I was just throwing a tantrum. If he had taken even a moment to sift through the trash, he would have found my body. It was right there, buried in the heap before him. I could see my foot sticking out, hidden beneath a crumpled bag of chips. Instead, he spit on the ground in frustration and walked away. When he returned to the hospital, Melody had already woken up. She lay on the bed, pale but smiling softly. Neil’s face lit up, and he rushed to her side. Holly placed a pile of toys and flowers around her bed. Melody’s face brightened with joy as she exclaimed, “Thank you so much!” Neil smiled and said, “We have an even bigger surprise for you.” He pulled out the documents and asked gently, “Would you like to become our daughter officially? You can call us Mom and Dad from now on.” For a man who had faced countless high-pressure situations as an executive assistant, he looked uncharacteristically nervous. Even Holly appeared anxious. “Melly, you don’t think we’re unworthy, do you?” Tears filled Melody’s eyes as she choked out her reply. “No, I just feel… so happy.” The three of them hugged tightly, their faces glowing with warmth and joy. I watched from above, feeling a hollow ache in my chest. Blood ties were supposed to be the strongest bonds in the world, but for me, they had only left me wounded and bleeding. If I hadn’t been their child, perhaps I could have run far away, free from the chains of my family. Holly mentioned that the hospital room was too shabby and suggested transferring Melody to a high-class suite. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from the garbage dump below. “There’s a body!” “It’s a corpse!” They were too far away to hear it. A nurse rushed over to my parents and said urgently, “We found Yvette. She was in the garbage dump. The body they discovered is hers.”

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My childhood friend Robin Moore’s girlfriend stormed into my house and slapped me across the face. She even smashed my most expensive set of cups. “Rebecca, are you out of your mind? Don’t you have a man of your own? Publicly flirting with someone else’s husband—don’t you have any shame?” Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, she looked innocent. “I just care about Robin! You’re not holding a grudge against me, are you?” I laughed. “Of course not!” I was the type to settle scores right away. So, I returned her slap and demanded compensation for my broken cups. A week later, she started flirting with my husband. One night, while Logan Ridley and I were deep in sleep, his phone suddenly rang. He was dead to the world, so I kicked him a few times, but he didn’t budge. I groggily reached for his phone, answered it on speaker, and held it to his ear. Logan mumbled a sleepy “Hmm.” I was still half-asleep when a sweet voice broke through the haze. “Hey, Logan!” That voice jolted me awake. “Logan, I just started my period, and I feel awful. Can you bring me some pads?” I flipped on the light with a snap, and Logan shot up in bed, panic written all over his face. He instinctively reached for his phone, but I shot him a look that said, “Not a chance.” I spoke into the phone, “Logan doesn’t know anything about that! Just tell me what you need! What brand do you like? Regular or overnight? Cotton or breathable? I’ll bring it right over!” There was a long silence on the other end. Then the girl giggled. “Oh, it’s you, Rebecca!” I recognized her voice now. “Snow Lane?” “Yep, it’s me! Hi, Rebecca and Logan!” Logan and I exchanged glances. Just a moment ago, I was ready to bury him six feet under. But now, I wanted to believe in his moral compass. After all, Snow was Robin Moore’s girlfriend, and Robin was one of our childhood friends. “Have you been drinking?” I asked. Snow laughed. “Rebecca, you’re sharp! I can see why even Logan is scared of you at the dinner table!” Before I could decipher if there was a hidden meaning in her words, she changed the subject. “I was playing Truth or Dare with my friends, and I lost, so I called Logan for help. Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, Rebecca! You’re not mad at me, are you?” I replied smoothly, “Not at all! But calling Logan was quite the risk, considering he’s a married man. If I had lost my temper and said something nasty, that would’ve been pretty embarrassing for you, right?” “A married man? Ah, I’ve learned something new! Let’s keep that in mind, Rebecca! Alright, Logan and Rebecca, goodnight!” And just like that, the call dropped.

I clearly didn’t handle the confrontation well and stood there, feeling like a fishbone stuck in my throat. I couldn’t stay silent any longer! “Are you okay, babe?” Logan asked cautiously, eyeing me with concern. “Is she insulting me?” I asked, my face darkening. “Uh…” “She is! What’s this nonsense about ‘Let’s keep that in mind’? Is she implying that I’m not being faithful?” “Okay, okay, just calm down!” Logan wrapped his arms around me, trying to soothe my rising anger. “She’s just a drunken mess—don’t pay her any mind!” I pulled away from him, my frustration bubbling over. “I haven’t even asked you yet—why did she call you in the first place?” Logan raised his hands in surrender. “I swear, I have no idea! Look at my phone—I don’t even have her number saved! I’ve never contacted her! You can check my call log; it’s completely clean!” I shot him a skeptical glance and snatched his phone from his hands. He chuckled nervously. “You’re really going to check?” I smirked. “What? Afraid of what I’ll find?” Logan sighed in resignation. “Fine, fine, check away!” I hummed in acknowledgment and scrolled through the call history, finding nothing suspicious. Then I decided to check WhatsApp. But Logan suddenly hesitated. “Uh, do you really need to look at that too?” I instantly sensed something was off. “Logan!” He looked like he was about to fall to his knees. “Go ahead, look! But you have to believe me, no matter what you see… I swear, I haven’t done anything wrong! If I did, may lightning strike me!” It didn’t take long for me to understand why Logan looked so terrified. Compared to the barren call log, his chat window was buzzing with activity. The most glaring entry was from someone named Snow, with the nickname “Summer’s Snow.” “Oh, ‘Summer’s Snow’? Your snow?” That’s right—Logan’s nickname was “Summer”. He’d chosen it because that was the summer we got together. Logan clasped his hands together, looking pitiful. “Babe, it’s a misunderstanding, just a coincidence! I swear it has nothing to do with me!” I shot him a cold glance and began scrolling through the chat history. The most recent message was from just yesterday: [Logan, I brought you some delicious snacks! I’ll save one for you!] Attached was a selfie of Snow biting into the snack. I could only describe it in one word—innocent! I scrolled up to three days ago. Summer’s Snow said: [Logan, how much longer until you arrive?] Summer replied: [About ten minutes. You all go ahead and eat without me.] Summer’s Snow said: [Okay, no rush! Just drive safe!] Summer’s Snow said: [Logan, could you bring me a milkshake? The usual!] Summer replied: [Sure thing.] Summer’s Snow said: [Love you lots, mwah!] Further up, a week ago. Summer’s Snow said: [Logan, drive safely home alone. Text me when you get there so we don’t worry!] Summer replied: [Okay.] Summer’s Snow said: [Get some rest, Logan. Goodnight!] The earliest message read: [Logan, this is Snow. Looking forward to getting to know you better!]

“Logan, grow up! You don’t expect me to believe you didn’t notice the clingy vibes, do you?” I said, my voice eerily calm as my fury brewed. Logan knew better than to mess around when I got like this. He put away his joking attitude. “At first, I really didn’t notice. “When Robin first introduced her to us for dinner, she was all about adding friends and wanting us to spill Robin’s embarrassing secrets. “Ryan and I didn’t feel right saying no, so I agreed. “She even sent that message right in front of Robin, to both Ryan and me. “Later chats, now I realize, might have been her own doing. But back then, I genuinely thought Robin put her up to it. I kept my responses short when necessary and ignored the ones I could. It wasn’t until she sent me her selfie that I realized something was off—too flirty, so I ignored her completely! I was planning to have a talk with Robin…” But before he could, she had stirred up trouble on my end. “Honey, I’m sorry, I’ll delete her right now!” Logan hastily said, his voice pleading. “Wait! Keep her for now. Call Robin!” I interrupted. “Why?” Logan asked, confused. “We’re going to pick up his little girlfriend together,” I explained. I didn’t do grudges; if someone wronged me, I settled it then and there, or I couldn’t sleep. Like last time when she slapped me, I slapped her back.

A week ago, I returned from a business trip and decided to throw a dinner party at home. Ryan Watson and Amelia Jones arrived early, followed shortly by Robin. “Where’s your little girlfriend?” I asked Robin. “She just finished class; she’ll be here soon,” he replied. We left the door open, waiting for her. Meanwhile, Ryan was getting bored and insisted Logan play cards with him to pass the time. Amelia was busy editing videos on her phone. Robin had pushed Logan aside so he could make me coffee while chatting about the design of his new apartment. I had never met a more particular client than him. Honestly, if we weren’t childhood friends, I wouldn’t have taken on the job. He shared several ideas with me, and while they were all great, I was at my wit’s end. I exclaimed, “It’s over budget! Seriously, there’s just not enough money!” He waved his hand dismissively. “No big deal; I’ll just ask my dad for more.” I shook my head vehemently. “Absolutely not! He told me not to listen to you!” “Then you can cut me some slack,” he said with a grin. “How about I just add a little help?” I suggested. “Is that for real?” he asked, intrigued. Feeling cornered, I decided to redirect my frustration. “Why not ask Ryan and Logan to help you with the tiling? That would save you some cash for the entrance.” Robin’s eyes lit up, but Ryan and Logan looked less than pleased. Amelia was off to the side, laughing and giving me a thumbs-up. Just then, Snow burst through the door, strides heavy and purposeful. “You…” Before Robin could even get up, she rushed over to me and slapped my face. Everyone froze, including me. It was the first time I had ever been hit, and my ears were ringing. The next second, Snow unleashed a tirade. “Rebecca, are you serious? Don’t you have a man of your own? Acting all chummy with someone else’s husband in front of everyone—have you no shame?” Logan dashed over to wrap his arms around me, his face stormy, full of concern. “Are you okay?” Amelia moved quickly, fetching ice from the freezer and wrapping it in a towel to place against my cheek. “Yikes!” Robin grabbed Snow, yet she was still struggling to reach me, hurling insults like a pro. This delicate girl could curse like a sailor. “Enough!” Logan’s voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. But Snow sounded like she was on the verge of a breakdown. “You’re all defending her! She’s the one who’s misbehaving, and you’re blaming me!” At that moment, she picked up the coffee set from the table and launched it to the ground. “Stop!” “No!” The sharp sound of shattering wasn’t just the coffee set; it felt like my heart was breaking. I stood there in shock, gazing at the mess on the floor. Robin shouted, “Snow, are you done? What the hell is wrong with you?” But Snow just wailed, breaking into tears. Between sobs, she stammered that she had come in to find Robin and me kissing, which had sent her into a frenzy. I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Amelia chimed in, “So, are we all just ghosts here? Why didn’t we see that?” I said, “Let’s check the security footage. If we can gather evidence, it’s better than pointless arguing. Not everyone deserves a rational discussion.” When faced with the truth, Snow fell silent. But she was clearly resilient. She reached out to Robin, clutching his arm with faux vulnerability. “Robin, I’m so sorry! I was just acting out of jealousy. Rebecca, you won’t hold this against me, right?” What a classic case of emotional manipulation! I nodded earnestly. “Of course not!” In truth, I never held grudges. I preferred to settle scores on the spot. With everyone distracted, I stepped forward, raised my hand, and slapped her back hard. “Whoa!” Amelia shouted, clearly loving the drama unfolding. Ryan quickly covered her mouth, trying to keep things under control. “You!” Snow glared at me, fury etched across her face. Robin stepped in to restrain her, holding her back as I sensed a storm brewing. “Alright, now that we’ve dealt with the slap, let’s talk compensation!” I declared. Snow blinked in confusion. “Compensation for what?” I gestured to the shards strewn across the floor. “That little incident cost 120 thousand. But for you, I’ll cut you a deal—100 thousand!” “One hundred thousand for a bunch of broken cups? Are you out of your mind?” she scoffed, disbelief filling her eyes. I raised my chin defiantly. “Ask your Robin; he knows quality when he sees it.” After all, he was the kind of guy who would pay 80 thousand for a single cup. Robin, keeping a straight face, nodded in agreement. Snow’s eyes widened in shock. “I don’t believe this! You’re all in cahoots, trying to gang up on me!” With that, she stormed off in tears, her footsteps echoing the panic in her soul. Robin turned to me, ready to offer me the 120 thousand, but I shook my head. “No way. You’ll pay me when you two tie the knot. Until then, it doesn’t count.” I thought, “If she plays nice, I can forget this ever happened. But if she keeps looking for trouble, then she’s got another thing coming. After all, as Amelia put it, that slap was way too calculated!” Logan called Robin. “Wait, so am I being cheated on?” Robin asked, bewilderment lacing his voice. Logan inhaled sharply. “I have a family, don’t talk nonsense!” The two men fell into an uncomfortable silence. When we found Snow, she was crouching pitifully at the edge of the road. Upon spotting Robin, she stretched out her arms. “Robin, hug me!” I couldn’t help but twitch my mouth and suppress a grimace. “What’s wrong?” Logan asked me, concerned. “Just a toothache!” I replied. “Oh, hey! Logan and Rebecca are here! Sorry for dragging you guys into this mess!”

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Henry Johnson organized a lavish birthday party for me, and I assumed it was also to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. But then he announced, “Let’s get a divorce.” With all our close friends and family gathered, Henry declared his intention to divorce, leaving no doubt about his resolve. I was taken completely by surprise, having no idea why he wanted this. He said, “I’m exhausted. Being under your thumb every day makes me feel suffocated. I want to live freely on my own. Can you let me go?” The conversations around us seemed to place the blame on me, suggesting I was too controlling for any man to handle. I was at a loss for words. I never even checked his phone or knew his password. I stared blankly at Henry, only to hear his best friend say, “Sister-in-law, do a good deed and let him go. You’ve been too strict. The woman he’s seeing is already pregnant and has no status.” I was completely unaware that my husband had someone else, and his best friend chose to reveal it in front of everyone. Henry was enraged and punched Perseus, exclaiming, “Have you lost your mind? What lies are you spreading? Whose side are you on?” Perseus took the punch without flinching and replied, “Henry, I’ve had enough of your antics. Every time we go to the karaoke bar, you bring her along, then act all lovey-dovey with Ottilie at home. Sister-in-law, you think he’s working late? No, he’s playing with us at karaoke! He comes home late because he spends time with her after work. He even bought her a house right across from yours.” My birthday party turned into a complete farce. Surprisingly, I wasn’t the most humiliated one—Henry was. He never expected his best friend to betray him like that. As everyone left, some felt sorry for me, some laughed at me, some cursed Henry as a jerk, and others called Perseus disloyal. Perseus boldly responded, “How am I disloyal? Henry announced the divorce in front of everyone. Is that fair? Blaming his wife, making it look like she suffocated him. If this happens to you, would you want your husband’s friend to lie to you too?” His words echoed loudly, silencing everyone. Henry, seething with anger, clenched his fists, ready to fight Perseus again. The room fell into a dead silence. I asked Henry, “How long?” I was clueless. Henry replied, “Two years. She’s still in school. Don’t make it hard for her. She’s from the countryside; it’s tough for her.” “Ottilie, you’re not like her. You can thrive on your own, but she can’t. She has no family, only me. Without me, she can’t survive.” I laughed bitterly. “So I should be abandoned, betrayed, and cheated on? If it weren’t for Perseus, I’d still be blamed for controlling you too much and forcing you to divorce on my birthday. How disgusting.” “I’m sorry. She’s pregnant. I need to provide her with security. She’s still in school. If I didn’t push for this, you wouldn’t agree to a divorce.” I chuckled bitterly, tears streaming down as I laughed. “What do you take me for? You want a divorce, and expect me to beg you not to? Just tell me you have someone else and want a divorce. Do you think I’d cling to you?” Henry said nothing more, just apologized and left. Today, I discovered Henry had another home outside, right across from ours. He even bought her a house. I locked myself in my room for three days, not going to work. I saw gossip about me in the work group chat. “Ottilie’s husband cheated! He has a mistress! I thought her Instagram was full of travel photos with her husband! They’re always together. How did he find the time to cheat?” “Think small. I’ve seen husbands sneak off to hotels while picking up their kids!” “They’ve been together since college, eight years now. They got married right after graduation. Ottilie bought the house they live in. When they got together, he was broke. She paid the living expenses. Now that things are better, he’s getting flirty.” “Do you think she’ll divorce him? Just let that dog man off so easily?” I closed the group chat, not wanting to read more gossip. I opened Instagram and deleted every post about Henry. I used to be the perfect woman with a successful career and a loving husband. Everyone envied me, both at work and at home. Even back in my hometown, relatives praised me for having it all: good grades, a good university, a successful career, and a good husband. They said I had foresight, investing in potential, and helped my husband rise to where he is now. He forgot the hardships he went through, the poverty, and the embarrassment of having no money to buy me a birthday gift back then. Three days later, Henry’s lawyer called, asking me to sign the divorce agreement. The division of assets was fifty-fifty, except for the house and company. The house was mine, so he wouldn’t take it. The three hundred thousand startup fund for his company was from my parents, and he’d repay it with interest, so I couldn’t claim the company. He thought it was fair. “I won’t sign unless he leaves with nothing.” “Ottilie, you should know the law doesn’t support leaving with nothing. As a woman, I sympathize and understand you. Henry feels guilty now and is willing to split things fairly. Once his guilt passes, you might not get as much. The sooner you divorce, the sooner you can start anew. Why drag it out?” I chuckled. “He started a new life without divorcing. Why can’t I? If he leaves with nothing, I’ll divorce.” The lawyer smirked and stood up. “Ottilie, you’re just stalling. Your demands won’t be supported in court. If you’re insistent, see you in court.” I went back to work. My boss already knew and offered me a month off. But I didn’t need it. If I lost my marriage, I’d focus on my work. I went about my routine as if nothing had happened. Colleagues thought I’d choose to endure and coexist with the mistress. It was common, especially since Henry was wealthy now. Divorcing him would benefit the cheating couple. Even senior colleagues advised me on marriage. “Any smart person would learn to be soft with their husband. Especially when he’s wealthy and attractive. So many women are eyeing him. You need to lower your head, turn a blind eye, and life goes on. The woman outside fascinates him because she acts weak and soft. You shouldn’t focus solely on your career. Give Henry a child. Your child is legitimate; the one outside is an illegitimate child.” I couldn’t understand their marriage advice. Finding out your husband cheated, yet rushing to have a child to secure your position as the main wife. Even my parents advised me similarly, saying Henry wasn’t the poor boy he once was. He’s a CEO now, and his company is facing financing, preparing to go public. Leaving him now would just benefit someone else. It’s strange. Everyone advised me as if it were up to me whether to divorce. Henry insisted on divorce to give the other woman a name. My dad said, “So, just soften up. You’ve shared so much together. If you soften, he’ll surely feel soft-hearted. Men at his position want to be admired and protect the weak.” I went home for dinner, hearing all this. If he wants to protect the weak, he should do charity. Plenty of weak people need protection. I was about to leave when Henry arrived. “Mom! Dad!” Seeing me, Henry paused. “Ottilie, you’re here too.” “What a coincidence! We didn’t know Ottilie was coming for dinner today! You two should talk, have a good chat! Ottilie has much to say to you!” My parents quickly left. Henry sat on the sofa, adjusting his clothes, and said, “The trial is soon. There’s nothing much to discuss. The sooner you sign the divorce agreement, the sooner we can divorce. It’s good for both of us.” “I know you don’t want to divorce me, but I’ve fallen for someone else. There’s no going back, Ottilie. We’ve shared so many years. Let’s part amicably.” I said, “You’re overthinking. I didn’t know my parents invited you too. Henry, when my dad gave you 300,000 for your startup, without it, you wouldn’t have today. Just returning 300,000 and expecting me to divorce? Keep dreaming.” “I understand that you don’t want a divorce, but I’ve fallen for someone else, and there’s no going back, Qianxun. We’ve shared many years together; let’s part on good terms.” I said, “You’re overthinking this. I didn’t know my parents invited you today. Henry, my father invested 3 million in your startup. Without that money, you wouldn’t be in your current position. Do you think you can just repay the 3 million and expect me to agree to a divorce? Keep dreaming.” Henry was visibly upset. “Ottilie! When did you become so pragmatic and materialistic? Yes, the 3 million came from my father-in-law, but I also worked hard to build this company! If you had invested elsewhere, you might have seen nothing in return! Now I’m repaying you with interest, and you’re still not satisfied?” “You think I’ll walk away with nothing? You’ve read too many novels! Is that even possible? You’re just wasting your time and youth by prolonging this divorce! I no longer love you. Why do you insist on staying with me? What’s the point?” As I watched Henry’s agitation, I remembered the time when he received the 3 million. He was so happy, holding me and making promises. “Ottilie, trust me. When I succeed with the company, I will repay you a hundred or a thousand times over! I’ll always remember your and your father’s kindness. I’ll love you forever and treat you well! Darling, I love you, I love you!” He meant it back then when he said he loved me. Now, with his career flourishing and someone else in his life, his words of no longer loving me are true too. My parents realized Henry was determined to divorce me, so they advised me to do it quickly, start anew, and not waste time on meaningless things. I declared, “I want him to leave with nothing.” My parents thought I was being unrealistic because it seemed impossible. Especially with Henry’s financial means, he had the time and ability to contest it in court. I also found a lawyer, Henry’s former close friend, Perseus. After the incident at my birthday party, they had a falling out. I repeated, “I want him to leave with nothing.” I thought Perseus would laugh at me like everyone else, “Stop dreaming! That’s impossible!” But Perseus said, “Alright! Let’s make him leave with nothing!” At that moment, I laughed. Then, as I laughed, tears streamed down my face. I said, “There’s dust in my eyes from the construction outside your law firm’s entrance.” Perseus handed me a tissue, “Why is there a sand pile at my doorstep? I’ll have someone clear it!” And then, someone really came with an excavator to clear the sand. At that moment, I cried even louder. The operator, not knowing what had upset me, revved the machine and sped off. Seeing the excavator run so fast, I laughed again. I looked ridiculous, crying and laughing. Perseus suddenly hugged me tightly. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Listening to his heartbeat calmed me down. Perseus and I grew up together in the same neighborhood. He was raised by his grandparents while his parents were abroad. He was taken abroad during high school. He only returned in the past two years for work, which led him to Henry’s company, and they became good friends. That day, I received a friend request from a stranger. From the profile picture, I had a suspicion. I accepted the request. Then, they sent a series of photos. Photos of her with Henry, her sneaking a kiss while he slept on the sofa. Pictures of them cuddling in bed. Even explicit videos. “Your husband doesn’t love you anymore. Can’t you let him go with some dignity?” “Henry has always been careful, worried you’d hurt me. But I know you’re kind. If your husband cheats, you’d blame him, not me. After all, if not me, it’d be someone else, right?” “You know I live across from your neighborhood, and you haven’t caused me trouble. I knew you were a good person. Let go, let me and the child’s father be together. I truly love him, and he loves me too.” “I’ll ask him to give you more money. You’re still young; you can find someone who loves you.” “…” She sent a lot, but I didn’t read it all. She provided me with all the evidence of Henry’s affair, all taken by her, making it perfectly legal. I forwarded them to Perseus. Perseus laughed, “Why did she hand over such crucial evidence? We’re one step closer to that scumbag leaving with nothing. Let’s celebrate with a late-night snack!” “I’m on my way!” Her name is Jessica. She’s a junior at Harvard, from a poor family. By chance, she received sponsorship from Henry and became his sponsored student. Perseus sent me all of Jessica’s information, including school contacts and her advisor’s contact. While eating grilled skewers, Perseus casually said, “Send the chat logs she gave you to the school. They’ll handle it. She thinks you’re kind and won’t mess with her.” “Of course, I also think you’re kind and won’t make things difficult for her.” Then Perseus reminded me, “But her being a mistress is a personal and moral issue. The school usually won’t expel her, just mainly criticize her for education.”

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My name is Mia Lane, and this is the night my life took a turn I never saw coming. It all started with my daughter, Aimee, who was only five years old. She had been battling a severe illness for months, her body growing weaker by the day. We were desperate, clinging to the hope that a blood transfusion from her father, Logan Wesley, might save her. But Logan, my husband, wasn’t there when we needed him most. Instead, he was with Louisa Queen, the woman he’d been seeing behind my back, the one who had stolen his attention away from his own family. I had tried to reach him, begged him to come, but his cold responses and cruel words made it clear: Aimee’s life was of no importance to him. That night, Aimee collapsed. It was Aimee, my sweet, fragile child, gasping for breath as her fever spiked. I was already used to the constant worry, but tonight was different. The moment I saw her eyes flutter shut, I knew it was too late. I didn’t cry. I just… acted. The scene that followed was a blur of rushing to the hospital, frantic phone calls, and hospital staff demanding someone to sign for Aimee’s immediate treatment. I stood at the emergency entrance, numb and shaking, holding my daughter in my arms. Then, the cold truth hit me. “Who’s the immediate family member?” A nurse called out, her voice sharp as she glanced at me, waiting for an answer. “I’m her mother. I’m here to sign,” I said, trying to steady my voice. But she ignored me, turning to Ryan Wesley, Logan’s cousin, who had arrived just moments before. “I’m her uncle,” Ryan said, his voice firm. “Where’s her father?” I could feel the eyes of the hospital staff on me, waiting. I knew they were all wondering why Logan wasn’t here—why the father of the child wasn’t rushing to her side. “Please,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “We need to begin the transfusion immediately. I’ll contact Logan—he’s just—” I trailed off, knowing my words were futile. I pulled out my phone, trembling. The numbers dialed one after another, but the calls went unanswered. Each rejection felt like a knife twisting in my chest. The first call went straight to voicemail. The second one rang only to be abruptly cut off. On the third attempt, I heard Logan’s voice crackle through the speaker. “What do you want, Mia?” His voice was cold, distant, as if I were a stranger. “You couldn’t handle this without me?” I felt my heart shatter at the words, but I kept my tone steady. “Logan, Aimee needs you. She’s dying—please, we need a blood transfusion. You have to come!” Instead of an apology or even a hint of concern, he laughed bitterly. “I’m busy, Mia. You know what? Maybe this is just payback for how you’ve always been. You think I’ll drop everything for you and that little brat?” The words hit harder than any punch. I didn’t say another word. I couldn’t. Before I could even react, a faint, trembling voice spoke from the background. Louisa. “Logan, I’m scared… Please, don’t go. You promised me…” The voice wavered with feigned innocence, and Logan’s response was a soft, dismissive murmur. He hung up without another word. I stood there, phone still in hand, my heart sinking into a void. Ryan, who had been watching in disbelief, exploded in anger. “I can’t believe this! No way am I going to let this man put his woman above his own child!” He grabbed my arm, urging me to follow him as he stormed toward the emergency room. The hospital staff was still waiting, clearly frustrated, but I just nodded silently. I couldn’t even bring myself to speak anymore. The nurse, seeing the tension, tried once more to get in touch with Logan. But after several failed attempts, she finally looked at me with sympathy and then at Ryan. “I’m sorry, but we need a direct family member. We can’t proceed without authorization.” I slumped into a nearby chair, my mind racing, feeling utterly alone. I could still hear Logan’s voice in my head, and the cruel words he’d spoken. He had chosen Louisa over Aimee. He had chosen her over the life of his own daughter. And now, I was left with nothing but empty promises and a child slipping further away with each passing second.

Ryan ran a hand through his hair and shouted, “Damn it!” Then, he pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Logan’s number. I looked up at him, my expression filled with gratitude. The call connected quickly, and as soon as it did, Ryan’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Logan, I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing! Get your ass to the hospital right now!” I could hear a cacophony of noise on the other end, as if he were in a crowded place. “Ryan? Mia is something else. She’s got you wrapped around her finger, playing this little game! I can’t believe you’re going along with her nonsense! I’ve got real issues to deal with here! Every time I come to Louisa’s, she pulls this stunt, trying to find excuses to get me back! And now you’re in on it too? Can’t she handle things on her own? I’m busy, so I’m hanging up!” Ryan opened his mouth to respond, but Logan hung up without a second thought. Frustrated, Ryan stared at his phone before dialing again and again, but all he got was the cold, mechanical voice of voicemail. His anger shifted to helplessness and then to disappointment. Finally, Logan blocked Ryan’s number altogether. Unable to contain his fury, Ryan shouted at the phone, cursing into the void. I wiped my tears away, covering my face with my hands as silent sobs wracked my body. Honestly, I was afraid I might start laughing at the absurdity of it all. The nurse at the station sighed, looking at me with pity, and handed me her phone. “Use mine. This is a matter of life and death.” I took the phone, grateful for her kindness. After dialing, it didn’t take long for the call to connect. But as soon as Logan heard my voice, he exploded with rage. “What the hell do you want? If you want to die, just go ahead! Can’t you live without me? Just hearing your voice makes me sick! When I get back, I’m filing for divorce. I can’t take this anymore, you idiot!” With that, he hung up, leaving me reeling. The sympathy I had received moments ago turned into anger from those around me. “What good is a father if he can’t even be there for his own child in critical condition? He’s off with his mistress!” “Men like that are a disgrace, seriously!” People could swallow a lot of pain when no one was watching, but when someone showed a little concern, it all came spilling out. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t help but let my mouth turn down in despair as I wiped at my eyes. A woman who had been watching the whole scene handed me a tissue and a business card. I looked closely—it was from a divorce lawyer named Fiona West. I took the tissue to dry my tears and slipped the card into my pocket, trying to keep my composure. I didn’t know how long we waited, but finally, the operating room light went out. A doctor stepped out, weary and removing his mask, shaking his head at Ryan and me in resignation. “She’s gone. We did everything we could.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving us in stunned silence. Aimee’s funeral was supposed to be led by Logan, but Ryan was adamant about not contacting him. “That ungrateful bastard doesn’t deserve to be her father. It’s a shame Aimee loved that man, only to be abandoned in her last moments!” Ryan’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury as he spoke. He was the most educated and capable member of the family, so his words held weight, and no one dared to argue with him. So, Ryan and I arranged the funeral services, and just when I thought Logan wouldn’t show up, he did. Today was Aimee’s burial day. Everyone was getting ready to pay their last respects when we heard Logan’s furious voice from outside. “Mia! Get out here! Who the hell told you to do this? You’re trying to trick me back, aren’t you? Teaming up with everyone to pull this stunt? Well, you’ve really outdone yourself!” The moment I laid eyes on Logan, a wave of fear washed over me, the kind that had haunted me in my previous life when death was just a breath away. Clutching Aimee’s will, I trembled uncontrollably, tears spilling from my eyes in a physiological response to the overwhelming stress. “Are you done making a scene? When we tried to reach you, you wouldn’t listen! You were too busy with that shameless woman to even hear us out! Now you come back and act like this? Get lost! The Wesley family has no room for scum like you! Just get out!” It was the first time I had ever seen Ryan this furious. “Ryan, Mia’s filled your head with some kind of nonsense! You’re all in on this to deceive me! No way, I’m going to find Aimee and get to the bottom of this. What does she think about playing along with Mia’s little charade?” As he shouted Aimee’s name, Logan frantically searched for her, his eyes darting around. Ryan closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. He carefully placed Aimee’s urn on the altar before striding over to Logan and yanking him toward the urn.

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My mother opened a high-end boutique specializing in silk sleepwear. The prices were astronomical-2,000 for a short set and 4,000 for a long one. Yet, female customers flocked to the store in droves. They claimed that my mother’s sleepwear was made of the finest silk, promising to make their skin silky smooth and give them a youthful glow. However, when my sister wanted to try one on, Mother wouldn’t allow it. My sister, feeling defiant, decided to sneak into the warehouse and steal one for herself. In the middle of the night, I heard my sister’s voice coming from the warehouse. My mother opened a small boutique next to a beauty salon, selling only women’s sleepwear. The catch? It was only available for a limited time each night, with just ten pieces sold per day. One evening, a group of pretty young women arrived, nervously pushing and shoving each other at the store entrance, their faces flushed with embarrassment. “Hello, beautiful ladies! Won’t you come in?” I peeked out from behind my mother, greeting the girls. The most attractive and mature-looking woman among them spotted me. With a toss of her flowing hair, she giggled and pushed her shy, blushing friend towards my mother. “Mrs. Liu, do you still have any stock left? Could you pick out a sleepwear set for my friend here?” She leaned in close to my mother’s ear, whispering conspiratorially. “We want the longest, most form-fitting one you’ve got!” “Oh, and one more thing,” she added, a pretty blush creeping across her cheeks. “I accidentally damaged the one I bought before. Could you pick out another one for me, Mrs. Liu?” Upon hearing this, my mother’s previously warm smile faded. “How many times have I told you? The silk for our sleepwear is incredibly precious and rare. Once you buy a piece, you must treat it with the utmost care! How could you have damaged it?” “It’s just that the fabric felt so good against my skin, I couldn’t help myself and… Oh, please, just pick out another one for me. I promise I’ll be more careful this time! I’ll pay whatever you ask, I’m begging you, Mrs. Liu.” “Alright, fine,” my mother finally relented after the young woman clung to her arm, pleading for quite some time. “Short sets are 2, 000, long sets are 4,000.” She gave the young woman a once-over, frowning at her excited, almost manic expression. “For you, this time, it’ll be double – $8,000! And you can only try it on in the store, you can’t take it home.” “Deal!” The young woman exclaimed happily, stamping her high heels in excitement, her face blooming like a flower. “$8,000?!” Her friend gasped in shock. She looked at my mother with a worried expression, then whispered to the excited woman, “Sis, is the sleepwear here really that good? Is it really worth several thousand dollars? That’s $8,000! Do you know how many hours we’d have to work at the salon to earn that much?” “Don’t worry, Mrs. Liu’s silk sleepwear is the best I’ve ever worn. After wearing it…” Her smile suddenly turned shy. “Let’s just say, Mrs. Liu’s sleepwear is magical! Once you wear her sleepwear, you won’t have to worry about attracting men anymore. Just trust your big sister on this one.” The younger girl nodded hesitantly. “Mrs. Liu, remember what I said, pick out the longest, most form-fitting one for her!” The woman emphasized again. My mother ran her hand along the girl’s waist, measuring her up, then flashed a strange smile. “Don’t worry, we have a full range today. Long ones, short ones, whatever style you want, we’ve got it.” Mother led the two girls to the warehouse in the backyard and slowly opened a hidden door. “Why… why do we need to go to the basement just to choose sleepwear?” The younger girl asked nervously, eyeing the dark staircase leading down. Mother gave her a meaningful look. “This isn’t just any sleepwear. It needs to fit perfectly – the right size, the right length – for you to sleep comfortably at night.” Before the girl could say anything more, her friend eagerly pulled her inside. The hidden door slowly closed in front of me. I sat on the ground, bored, waiting for them to return. Mother never let me enter that door, saying children shouldn’t see what’s inside – it wasn’t good for them. But I was grown up now. Pouting in dissatisfaction, I pressed my ear against the door, trying to hear what was happening inside. The sounds coming from behind the door were strange – rustling noises mixed with occasional startled cries. Had the sisters started fighting over the same piece of sleepwear? I wondered to myself. After more than two hours, several loud shouts suddenly came from inside. I knew this meant they had finished choosing, so I stood up, brushing the dirt off my legs. Sure enough, moments later, the basement door opened from the inside, and Mother emerged with the two sisters. The girls’ faces were flushed red, the younger one’s legs even trembling slightly. The older sister wore a short one-piece dress, while the younger had on a form-fitting nightgown. But they don’t look that long to me, I thought, confused. They did look more beautiful, though. When the other girls waiting outside the store saw the transformation, their eyes went wide. “Oh my god, your complexions look so much rosier!” “It’s not just that, even Silkworm’s skin looks better!” The girl called Silkworm touched her blushing face shyly, hiding behind her sister. Mother smiled proudly as she helped the two girls out the door. “This is just the immediate effect of putting it on. It’s quite noticeable at first. The longer you wear it, the better the results. We only accept customers recommended by our regulars. When you’ve saved up enough money, you can all come buy sleepwear from me.” “But remember one thing,” Mother’s expression turned strange. “The fabric for these sleepwear sets is extremely precious. You must remember to wear them carefully.” “Whatever you do, don’t damage them again.” One day, my sister came home crying hysterically. It turned out her boyfriend of four years had dumped her, and the reason was unbearable for her. He said she was ugly. “Mom! I can’t go on living! My sister and I are both your daughters, so why are you so beautiful while we’re so ugly? Are we really your biological children?” Mother’s gaze shifted uncomfortably as she avoided the question: “Well, that’s because your father had bad genes and passed them on to you.” But we’ve never even seen our father! “I don’t care! Mom, everyone says wearing the sleepwear you make can make you beautiful! I want to wear your silk sleepwear too. I want to become beautiful like those girls at the salon! I’ll make Chad regret dumping me!” My sister clamored to wear the silk sleepwear to become beautiful, but Mother wouldn’t allow it. She didn’t give a reason, just kept saying it was for her own good. Of course, my sister wasn’t having it. That night, she yanked me out of bed, insisting I help her steal some sleepwear. “I know where Mom hides the silk sleepwear – in the basement of the warehouse. Once I steal some and put it on, I’ll become as beautiful as Mom, with a gorgeous face and figure. Then Chad will definitely come crawling back to me!” My sister cupped her flushed cheeks, daydreaming about her future with her boyfriend. I was afraid Mother would catch us, so I kept trying to push her away. The warehouse at night looked even scarier than during the day. When we opened the hidden door, the narrow corridor was pitch black. We stared into the darkness of the basement, looking at each other hesitantly, neither of us daring to go down. After a long while, my sister finally couldn’t resist the temptation of becoming beautiful. She felt her way along the wall, taking small steps down into the darkness. She kept looking back at me, her face pale with fear, as if there was an invisible monster lurking in the depths, waiting to devour her. I also felt something wasn’t quite right. I had seen how other people made clothes before. They usually hung the fabric out in the open to air it out and let it catch some sunlight, to prevent any musty smells. So why did Mother keep her silk sleepwear hidden away in such a dark and creepy basement? Suddenly, I heard a loud “bang” from the basement that made me jump. Worried something had happened to my sister, I was about to go down when she called out to stop me. “Mei, don’t come in yet! This place… Ah!” “What’s wrong? Jia! Did you fall?” I heard my sister cry out in surprise and was about to rush in. But then she suddenly exclaimed excitedly that she was about to become beautiful and told me not to come in. “Mei, don’t- don’t come in! I’ve found Mom’s sleepwear! Wait for me, I’ll- I’ll put it on and come right out!” She asked me to keep watch outside the basement and make sure Mom didn’t catch us. Then she quickly ran to the door and locked it from the inside. She stayed locked in there for over an hour. I was getting anxious. Does it really take this long to steal a piece of sleepwear? It was almost dawn, and Mom always woke up early. If she caught us, she’d have my head! “Jia! Hurry up!” I whispered urgently, knocking on the door. My sister didn’t answer, but the strange noises from inside were getting louder. I could faintly hear what sounded like a girl crying. What was going on? Had she gotten hurt in the basement? “Jia? Are you okay? Why does your voice sound so strange?” Scared and worried, I knocked on the door again, calling out softly. My sister’s voice suddenly stopped. After a long moment, she finally let out a sound that seemed like she couldn’t hold it in anymore, but still didn’t answer my question. A long time passed before my sister’s voice came through again, broken and halting. “I’m fine, it’s just… the sleepwear I chose is too long… it’s hard to put on. Don’t come in, no matter what!” My sister kept insisting I shouldn’t come in, but her voice sounded weak and strained, not at all like someone who was “fine.” I couldn’t help but grow curious. What exactly was my sister doing in there? I found a crack in the wooden door and peeked through. But the basement was so dark I couldn’t see a thing. I watched for a long time, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, before I could finally make out a vague outline.

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My husband’s mother worked as a waitress in a high-end hotel and pulled a used condom out of the trash, left behind by the wealthiest man in town. After undergoing artificial insemination, she successfully got pregnant. She fantasized about marrying the billionaire and becoming the envy of all as a rich wife. I tried to persuade her to abort the child, given that the father’s identity was unknown. But she mistook my advice for jealousy, and with the help of my husband, they plotted to kill me. She told him, “We’re about to be filthy rich. Once this is all over, I’ll find you a young, pretty, and rich wife.” Later, the child she gave birth to turned out to be Black. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day my mother-in-law was gleefully announcing that she was carrying the billionaire’s child. “Alex! I’m pregnant with the richest man’s child!” My mother-in-law, Nancy Reid, looked like she’d won the lottery, tears of joy practically streaming down her face. My husband, Alex Reid, froze for a moment before lunging forward to hug her. “Mom! Are you serious? You’re really pregnant?!” Nancy nodded so fast it was a wonder her head didn’t fall off. The two clung to each other, bursting with excitement. “This is incredible! Mom, you have to take extra care of yourself, okay? If you can have a boy, even better! Illegitimate kids get inheritance rights too these days. Who knows? Maybe this one will end up inheriting the richest man’s entire fortune!” Alex’s eyes sparkled as he stared at her stomach like it was a treasure chest. “Mom, from now on, you’re the most important person in this family. Even Elaine’s got nothing on you. She can’t even get pregnant.” The two of them were so caught up in their euphoria they didn’t even notice my expression harden. In my previous life, this was the moment everything spiraled out of control. Nancy found out she was pregnant, made a huge scene, and started dreaming about becoming some billionaire’s wife. She actually believed the richest man alive would marry a woman her age. Back then, I was worried about her health as pregnancy at her age was risky, and I was suspicious about the baby’s true father. So, I suggested she get an abortion. She, of course, accused me of being jealous, bitter that she could have a son when I couldn’t. Our argument turned violent. Nancy grabbed me by the throat, and before I could fight back, she and Alex killed me. As I lay on the floor, barely breathing, Nancy had the audacity to turn to Alex and say, “We’re about to be filthy rich. Once this is all over, I’ll find you a young, pretty, and rich wife.” The memory still sent chills down my spine. This time, though, things would be different. I forced a smile. “You’re right, Mom. You should definitely take care of yourself. This baby is very important.” If only she knew what kind of surprise that child would bring her. When Nancy noticed my smile, her giddy expression shifted into a scowl. “What are you grinning at? Stop standing around and get me some food! Are you trying to starve my precious baby?” Alex shot me an annoyed glance. “Didn’t you hear her? Go cook something! Mom’s hungry!” I stood there for a moment, staring at the pair of them. It was hard to believe I’d once thought this man was worth marrying. Turns out, he was worse than a monster. Without a word, I turned and walked into the kitchen, moving slowly and methodically. I rinsed the fresh chicken under the faucet, my mind racing. I couldn’t confront them directly yet. I needed Alex to be the one to suggest a divorce. As I prepared the ingredients, my eyes drifted to a small pile of bird droppings on the windowsill. A wicked thought crept into my mind. Picking up a fork, I scooped up the droppings and casually dropped them into the pot. The corners of my mouth lifted as I stirred the soup and replaced the lid. When the chicken soup was ready, I carried it to the table. Nancy didn’t waste a second before announcing, “I’m feeling weak lately. And since Alex’s the breadwinner, he needs to stay healthy. You don’t get any.” I smiled sweetly, my voice light and agreeable. “Of course, Mom. It’s all for you.” In my mind, I murmured, “Enjoy your special chicken soup. I hope it’s everything you deserve.”

Since Nancy got pregnant, it was like she thought she was carrying royalty, and Alex acted like the king. They treated me like a servant, bossing me around. I pretended to be all cheerful about it, but secretly, I was spicing up their meals with a little extra, making sure their clothes got splashed with dirt and even dunking Alex’s stinky socks into the water dispenser. Meanwhile, in the living room, Nancy could barely move without Alex by her side, practically waiting on her hand and foot. They looked like the perfect couple, him doting on her like a king and her acting like the queen, waiting eagerly for their little prince to arrive. I hid in the bathroom, using their toothbrushes to scrub the toilet, listening carefully to what they were saying. Nancy’s voice rang out, sharp and smug. “See? Alex, this is why she’s been so nice lately. It’s because I’m carrying the richest man’s child. She’s probably just trying to get a piece of the fortune.” Alex’s voice turned cold as he replied, “I think it’s time we get this divorce settled. I’ll do it soon.” Nancy, sounding satisfied, said, “Don’t worry. I’ll find you a rich and beautiful wife once this is over.” Alex’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Mom, you really are the best!” He leaned down and pressed his ear to her stomach. “When will the baby start kicking?” Nancy giggled, clearly enjoying herself. “In a few months, maybe!” The room felt so warm and perfect, like I was the outsider looking in. I couldn’t help but give a sneer. I wanted nothing more than for Alex to ask for a divorce already. What I hadn’t told him, though, was that he couldn’t have children. I’d kept it a secret for so long, trying to protect his fragile pride. I hid the test results and took all the blame on myself, telling him it was me who couldn’t have kids. I slapped my forehead, feeling stupid for trying to protect him all this time. I casually put their toothbrushes back in the cup and walked out of the bathroom like nothing happened. Alex caught my eye for a second, and I saw a brief flicker of guilt before it was gone. “Elaine, go throw out the flowerpots on the balcony. I’m allergic to flowers, and it’s messing with my chances of having a son!” Nancy snapped, glaring at me. I nodded, barely hiding my annoyance. “Sure.” Before I left, I casually said, “Nancy, I heard that to have a son, you should take some supplements to keep everything stable.” Nancy shot me a glare, her voice rising sharply. “Shut your mouth! I’m carrying a son! Even if I don’t take anything, it’ll still be a son!” Alex, looking flustered, snapped, “Elaine! Can you just stop making Mom angry? She’s pregnant, for crying out loud!” I lowered my head, pretending to be submissive. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” But I could tell that Nancy, eager for a son, had really absorbed what I said. I’d been married to Alex for two years, and in that time, Nancy had forced me to take a ton of medicine, claiming it was for my health. Now, I was going to get my revenge. What I didn’t expect was how far Nancy’s madness would go. She handed me a massive bag of herbs, cradling her belly like some royalty. “Make sure you brew these up. My son needs to get all the nutrients.” I grabbed the bag, feeling the strange weight of it. When I felt the contents, I immediately knew something was wrong. I opened the bag and nearly gagged. Inside were the remains of a fetus, about four or five months along. I masked my disgust and forced out a calm tone. “Should I make soup with this?” Nancy looked at me like I was stupid. “What else? All the nutrition is in the soup!” I couldn’t stomach it. I immediately tossed it in the trash. There was no way I was using that. It was too disgusting, and I feared the karma it would bring. Instead, I made her chicken soup, but I wasn’t done yet. I added my own special ingredient, Alex’s toenail clippings. He was always tossing them around the house, and I couldn’t stand it. I’d tried asking him to clean up, but he never listened. So, I decided to put them to use. I dropped the toenail clippings into the soup and let them soak, then removed them with care, making sure there were no traces left. When Nancy picked up the bowl, she wrinkled her nose at the bitter smell. I took the chance to say, “Drink it while it’s hot, or it won’t work as well.” She grimaced but forced herself to swallow, her face twisting from the bitterness. “Mom, you should have this again tomorrow.” Alex’s words almost made Nancy faint from the shock. “That’s way too bitter,” she complained. Alex waved it off casually. “Of course, it’s medicine. It’s good for you.” Then he handed her a candy to sweeten the deal. Nancy, now happily sucking on the candy, rubbed her belly with a satisfied smile. “I can feel it! It’s definitely a son.” I smiled and chimed in, “Definitely a son.” Nancy rolled her eyes at me but couldn’t hide her smug smile. “You, who can’t even get pregnant, should just keep quiet.” Still, when I echoed her, her face lit up with satisfaction. She was convinced I was just jealous of her having a son. I didn’t argue, but my jaw nearly hit the floor when Nancy suddenly said, “Alex, you should sleep with me tonight. Your little brother will be so happy.” I froze for a second and instinctively turned to Alex. Without a second thought, he nodded and said, “Sure, with me here, he will definitely be cheerful.” I felt like the world was crashing down on me. I was so stunned and couldn’t even process what was happening.

Alex actually shared a room with Nancy. I couldn’t be happier. At least I didn’t have to sleep next to him. In the dead of night, Nancy knocked on my door, her voice loud and demanding. “I’m starving! Make me some pancakes!” I rubbed my eyes and, without saying a word, got up to cook for her. Meanwhile, her darling son was snoring away in the other room, oblivious. Nancy watched me bustle around the kitchen, a satisfied grin spreading across her face. It was clear she enjoyed the sight of me waiting on her hand and foot. What she didn’t know was that I’d added a little extra from the toilet brush to her food. I brought the pancakes over, and as soon as Nancy caught the strange smell, her stomach lurched. “What’s wrong, Nancy?” I asked, pretending I had no idea. Before she could answer, she was already dry-heaving. I raised an eyebrow, trying to sound sweet. “Nancy, you have to eat. Don’t you want to make sure the baby gets enough nutrition?” Her face twisted in disgust as she took a bite, forcing herself to swallow. She couldn’t even finish one bite before gagging again. “What did you do to this? It tastes awful!” she snapped, her patience running thin. I shrugged, acting innocent. “Maybe it’s because you’re carrying a son. I heard your sense of smell gets sharper when you’re pregnant with a boy.” That did the trick. Nancy’s face lit up at the mention of her son, and she stroked her small belly with pride. “My son must be here to repay me.” So, despite her disgust, she managed to finish the pancakes, smiling like it was the best thing she’d ever eaten. A bitter smile tugged at my lips, my eyes cold with intent. This was just the beginning of my revenge. For the past few days, I’d been secretly brewing her soup, each batch more vile than the last. Every time she came close to quitting, I’d whisper, “It’s for the baby.” As her belly began to show, Nancy couldn’t help but brag to her friends about her pregnancy, casually dropping the bomb that the father was some rich tycoon, and soon, she’d be swimming in money. That was when Martha Hayes, one of her closest friends, showed up, eager to help until the baby arrived. I knew what she was really after. She wanted a piece of whatever fortune Nancy would inherit. But the real surprise came when Martha introduced her daughter. “This is my daughter, Brianna,” she said, pushing her forward. “Say hello to Alex.” Brianna shyly tugged at her skirt, greeting sweetly, “Hello.” Alex didn’t even blink, his eyes fixed on her. “Nice to meet you.” The air between them was thick with unspoken chemistry. I realized then that Martha was trying to set her daughter up with Alex. Inside, I was nearly bursting with laughter. This couldn’t have been better timing. I’d been waiting for Alex to finally bring up the divorce. With his ego, if I brought it up first, it would drag on forever. Nancy would have already had the baby, and it would be too late.

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I’m going to meet my girlfriend’s family. To my surprise, her entire family consists of my ex-girlfriends… Her older sister, younger sister, and even her aunt. And yes, her mom too. They were all women I used to idolize. Now that I’ve moved on, they’re the ones who seem anxious. My girlfriend’s younger sister, sporting a ponytail, playfully tugged on my sleeve and asked, “I’m just eighteen, brother-in-law. Can I date you?” Her elder sister, wearing a stern expression, cornered me against the wall and said, “If you break up with my sister, you’ll be the one in charge… for all of us.” My girlfriend’s wealthy mom opened a drawer filled with property deeds and car keys, throwing them at me, saying, “Thirty million, leave my daughter and be with me.” Surrounded by my ex-girlfriends at my girlfriend’s house, I feel overwhelmed. The former me, the hopeless romantic, feels like giving up. “Don’t be nervous, my family is really nice. They’ll definitely like you,” Grace reassured me as we stepped out of the car. She noticed my sweaty back and gave me a comforting kiss. I muttered a vague response, trying to appear calm, but inside I was a mess. To be honest, I used to be quite the hopeless romantic. Before Grace, there were five women I admired: a wealthy woman, a girl with a ponytail, a mature woman with glasses, a girl who played innocent, and Grace herself, who was the pure-hearted one. Last night, in a drunken haze, I accepted Grace’s confession and agreed to meet her family for the New Year. I heard her siblings were all orphans adopted by a wealthy widow. The thought of being surrounded by women in her house made my scalp tingle. So, I messaged the other four overnight: “Goodbye, I’m done being a pushover!” I blocked and deleted them, feeling refreshed. The phone buzzed again. I secretly opened it to find the ponytail girl crying and pleading, “Brother, brother,” begging me not to delete her. It’s crazy; when I was chasing her, she barely acknowledged me. Now that I’ve stopped, she’s chasing after me. I quickly turned off the phone. “Let’s go, my family is eager to meet you,” Grace said, taking my hand and knocking on the villa door. “So, do your family have any customs for first meetings like bowing? Should I call them Auntie or…?” Before I could finish, a woman opened the door, and Grace called her mom. I forced a smile, looked up, and felt my vision darken, my knees went weak, and I collapsed to the ground. Grace was startled and quickly helped me up: “Milo, we don’t have such formalities at home, you don’t need to bow like that…” My legs felt glued to the ground, and I couldn’t get up. I even felt like kowtowing to the woman in front of me. Sophia. Isn’t this the wealthy woman I used to admire? My idol is actually my current girlfriend’s mom? The former me, the hopeless romantic, feels like giving up.

“Mom, Milo is just really shy. He’s too nervous meeting you for the first time, please don’t blame him,” Grace explained as she tried to pull me up but couldn’t. “Oh, Milo, is it? If you hadn’t said, I would’ve thought your name was David,” Sophia said with a hint of gritted teeth. That’s right, the fake name I gave her was David. No one uses their real name when they’re trying to impress someone. “Milo, why don’t you dare to look up? Are you ashamed?” “I…I…I…my neck hurts, I need to see a doctor…” “Then get up first.” “I…I…I…got athlete’s foot, can’t get up, I need to see a doctor…” “Grace, call Dr. Brown to come over and check on Mr. Milo.” I had no choice but to shakily get up. Grace wanted to support me, but her mom gave her a fierce glare. This woman has a possessive streak. At a previous banquet, a female manager glanced at my behind a few times, and she got fired that night. I even heard she got roughed up on her way home, and Sophia gave her two million to leave the city. “A…Auntie, hi,” I said, nearly in tears. “We’re family, no need to be so formal, call me Mom.” She looked like she was in her early thirties, leaning against the door, smiling, but her eyes carried a murderous intent. She even kindly wiped off Grace’s lipstick from my face with her well-maintained hands and then pinched me hard with her nails. “Milo, I told you my family would like you!” Grace was grinning like a fool, “Don’t be nervous, just listen to Mom.” Please, just stop talking!!! “Mom…” I weakly called. Sophia nodded in satisfaction. Grace was smiling like a happy puppy. Then came the sound of something being smashed inside, followed by a girl’s crying. “Is that…Maggie?” Grace was puzzled, “Why is she crying?” “Got deceived by a man.” After Sophia said that, she seemed to remember something, and her face turned sour. “Little Maggie, always with her head in the clouds…” Grace shook her head, “How much did she get cheated out of this time?” “This time, nothing.” Sophia punched the door, “But it’s worse than losing money! Such a disgrace!” “Huh?” “She’s been in an online relationship with a guy for months, and last night he told her he’s in his forties, divorced with three kids…” My heart stopped for a second. This…sounds just like the excuse I used last night to break up with the ponytail girl? “…” Grace awkwardly comforted, “Little Maggie is young, it’s normal for her to be tricked by such a sly old man. Now that she understands, after a couple of days of crying, it’ll pass, don’t be angry, Mom.” The sly old man was getting more anxious listening. Clearly, she looked down on me while taking photos with various men for Instagram every day. Now it sounds like I’m the jerk? However, it’s almost a half online relationship. The name I gave the ponytail girl wasn’t real, and she didn’t see my face clearly, so there shouldn’t be any problem. I felt relieved. “You think it’s that simple! She’s hired private detectives nationwide to catch that guy!” “It seems they’ve already located him, somewhere in this area.” Sophia clenched her fist, “It’s good if they find him, daring to disgrace our family, I’ll personally sell that old man to Myanmar!” The old man dropped to his knees again. Grace panicked: “Milo, what’s hurting now?” Tears streamed down my face: “My kidney hurts.”

Grace rushed to have the French chef make grilled lamb kidneys for me, saying that eating what hurts will help. She wanted to help me, but Sophia glared at her again. “My mom has a strict personality, don’t mind her,” Grace whispered, “But she really likes you, I’ve never seen her smile so happily.” Please just stop talking. She smiled the same way when she beat that person into the hospital! I saw it clearly! I wanted to escape, but couldn’t. Because Sophia locked the door with eighteen turns. Clearly not wanting me to leave alive. Her face was icy, walking beside me, her eyes kept glancing at my butt. I recently had hemorrhoid surgery, so my walk isn’t quite normal. Haven’t worked out in a while, muscles are a bit loose. Oh right, she likes men with good physiques. To keep my abs and butt, if I secretly ate a cake, she’d nag me like my mom for two weeks. When taking me to banquets, she’d have me change a hundred times, and finally make a face and say, “Forget it, just like that.” She’s a bit of a feminist. Of course, I wouldn’t dare say that, since she gives so much. Uh…wait, seeing me like this, shouldn’t she be disgusted? Why are her eyes red? Before I could think it through, a vase flew towards my head. Alright! I can justifiably play dead! I stuck out my big forehead to meet it. Sophia panicked, stepped in front of me, and the vase shattered on her head. This darn girlfriend…mother-in-law strength. “Trying to play dead?” Sophia whispered near my shoulder, her breath like orchids, “I’ll deal with you tonight.” Then, without caring for her swollen forehead, she stormed into the living room, angrily scolding the crying girl: “Enough with the tantrum! Aren’t you ashamed enough?” The girl was pinned to the ground, crying and fussing, completely ignoring Sophia’s scolding. “I don’t care! I’ve decided on Little Bob for life! Let me out! I want to find him!” Sophia looked around angrily, grabbed the belt from my waist, and wrapped it around her hand: “Say it again?” “I…” Before she could finish, the belt lashed out. A long red mark appeared on her porcelain-like face. “You might as well kill me, or I’ll definitely go find Little Bob!” The girl looked soft and cute, but unexpectedly stubborn. “Fine! Get out! If you leave today, I’ll consider you not my daughter!” My heart skipped a beat. If you let her out, with so many private detectives, what if they find me??? Or…maybe just beat her to death… Seeing the girl head straight for the door, I quickly rushed to block her. “Maggie, right? Listen to your brother-in-law, have you considered that he might be ugly, which is why he doesn’t dare meet you?” “I don’t mind, I like ugly.” “Uh…brother-in-law will introduce you to someone even uglier.” “I don’t care, he’s the ugliest.” I smiled, really wanting Sophia to give her a few more lashes. But when she looked up, her round face, with those crying almond eyes, looked like a pitiful little puppy. How about… you just knock some sense into her… Seeing the girl heading out without hesitation, I quickly intercepted her. “Maggie, right? Listen to your brother-in-law. Have you considered that maybe he doesn’t want to meet you because he thinks he’s too unattractive?” “I don’t mind, I actually like the unattractive ones.” “Um… well, how about I introduce you to someone even more unattractive?” “I don’t care, he’s the most unattractive.” I smiled, almost thinking Grace should give her a few more warnings. But then she looked up, her little round face with those almond eyes red from crying, resembling a pitiful puppy. Her previously fair cheeks had a sunset-like red mark, making her even more endearing. I softened. From my years of being a ‘nice guy,’ I know that with someone this love-struck, harsh words or actions won’t work. You have to be gentle. “What if he suddenly tells you he’s divorced with three kids? Have you thought about why that might be?” I gently tousled her hair. “He must have his reasons. Chasing him around like this, do you realize how much pressure that puts on him?” Pressure that could make him not want to live anymore! “So just give him some time, trust your brother-in-law. When he sorts things out, he’ll come back to you.” If not, after a few days, he might change his life entirely, maybe even become a monk to escape all you former goddesses! Maggie listened, obediently nuzzling her head against my hand like a cute puppy. “Brother-in-law, listening to you makes me feel better.” She looked up, wiping her big teary eyes. “It feels like talking to Little Bobby.” Girl, you really shouldn’t say that! “Yeah, I’ll listen to you and wait a bit before looking for Little Bobby again.” I breathed a sigh of relief, almost wanting to hug her tightly. “So, while I’m calm these days, can brother-in-law date me?” Me: ??? Grace: ??? Xena: ??? I walked up to Grace, took a deep breath: “May I borrow your belt? I swear I’ll knock some sense into this lovesick brain!” In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Grace had someone bring a rope to tie up Maggie, to keep her from running off impulsively. She was pinned to the ground, struggling non-stop, her wrists and ankles marked red, looking so pitiful. “Let me do it.” I felt sorry for her. She stopped struggling when she heard my voice. Obediently letting me tie her up. “Brother…” She raised her face, her eyes like the gentle rain in Jiangnan, like a little kitten caught in the rain. Just like the night I met her. That night, she was sitting on the railing by the bridge, with the river rolling below. She held a lighter, awkwardly trying to light the cigarette in her mouth. The wind was strong on the river, and she couldn’t light it after several attempts. The fleeting light lit up her innocent face, tears rolling down like big marbles. Like a broken porcelain doll. That moment of vulnerability moved me. “Need a light?” I stopped in front of her, lighting a cigarette. In the dark, there was rustling, her blurry little face coming closer, carrying a sweet scent. It reminded me of the Wong Lo Kat milk drink I had as a child. I held the cigarette in my mouth, bringing the lit end to her cigarette. I couldn’t see her face, but the warmth told me she was blushing. “Inhale,” I instructed her. She was clearly new to this, just staying close to me for a while. Realizing it, she clumsily took a puff, almost choking, nearly falling into the river. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her back. “Jumping into the river?” Her shoes were off, and her bare feet were red from the cold. “My brother, whom I like, is getting married…” she mumbled, crying. “Not my business.” I cut her off. Some people are forced by life into corners, while others, living a privileged life, want to die for some ridiculous love. I don’t get it. “To jump, you do it like this.” I climbed the railing, leaping off. The winter river water was icy cold. She was shocked: “Why did you… why did you jump!” She hesitated for a long time, then there was a splash, and she was still yelling: “Don’t worry, I’m coming to save you… glug glug glug…” Me: … You can’t swim, sis?? I just wanted to scare her, who knew she’d try to save me. Seeing her sink, I sighed and swam over. Drowning people are more unpredictable than the rushing river. I watched her flailing arms and legs, not daring to get close, finding an opening, and punched her in the temple. She quieted down, sinking straight down. I dived, holding her, almost sinking with her. But thinking about becoming a gossip topic with a title like “Lovesick Woman’s Midnight Rendezvous” made me hold my breath and drag her ashore. I sighed, ready to leave, but heard her mumbling in her sleep: “Brother… don’t worry… I’m here to save you…” In the end, I spent a few cents calling 911 for her. They asked if she had any injuries besides drowning. I hesitated, then said: “Her right temple seems naturally more swollen than the left.” She was soaked, her newly developed body curled up in the cold wind. I covered her with her clothes, holding her to warm her up. She instinctively snuggled into my arms. Like a little octopus. Finally, hearing the ambulance, I pushed her back onto the ground. And slipped her wallet into my pocket, calling it a life-saving fee, so we’re even. Then I turned to leave. Who knew she’d stick to me. She got my number from 911, wanting me to call her Maggie, calling me “savior brother” every day, wanting to treat me to a meal to thank me. I dared not agree, what if she asked me to pay back the money. Later, seeing I ignored her, she started transferring thousands to me, saying she just wanted to talk. I didn’t take it. Though I love money, I don’t deceive fools. Instead, she clung even more, saying I was different from the other brothers she knew, who only treated her well when she gave them money. Turns out, you’re a suicidal ATM. Ignoring her, she’d call crying, sobbing pitifully, breaking my heart. I thought it would be annoying, but I found a new fascination. Why does her crying sound so good? My heart felt like it was being tickled by a little kitten, itchy and soft, even her rambling became pleasant. She cried about being an orphan, how she was adopted, how she was called dumb, how she couldn’t compare to her two non-blood-related sisters. She cried about how her ex-brothers treated her like an idiot. Classic case of lacking love. But her whimpering really touched me. Oh well, better she gets fooled by me, a nice guy, than by those jerks. At least I wouldn’t drive her to jump into the river. It’s for her own good. Kind of like rescuing a troubled girl, right? That’s how I justified it to myself, then continued to enjoy her sobbing. Later, she subtly hinted about being with me, but I didn’t agree. What a joke, giving up my great nice guy career for a little love-struck girl, no way! She seemed to relapse, starting to post photos with this brother and that brother on Instagram, tagging me. What on earth, I’m not a cuckold. Luckily it was too dark that night, she couldn’t recognize me. “Okay, that’s enough.” I finished tying up Maggie, exhaled deeply, and stood up. Then I saw Xena and Grace staring at me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295233”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #后宫Harem