While I was unboxing the packages I had ordered during Black Friday, I stumbled across something unexpected—Conrad had bought a luxury gift for his college sweetheart. The boxes in front of me were filled with discounted household goods: cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other mundane necessities. It hit me like a ton of bricks—my husband wasn’t clueless about romance, nor was he strapped for cash. He had the ability to pick out an expensive designer handbag worth half a month’s living expenses for me and our child. The handbag, nestled in a box of red roses, exuded a regal charm, while my thrifted canvas tote lay dirty and forgotten on the floor, a glaring contrast between royalty and rags. As I stared at the scene, lost in thought, Conrad walked in. His gaze landed on the mountain of delivery boxes, and his face darkened. With one swift kick, he sent them tumbling to the floor. “All you know is how to spend money! Is there anything else you’re good at?” he snarled. I stumbled back and fell awkwardly to the ground, staring up at the man who stood over me, yelling and pointing at my face. My vision blurred. Was this my life? Was I only ever meant to be the woman clutching a thrift store tote? Content

“Let’s get a divorce.” I struggled to push myself off the floor. Though Conrad’s kick hadn’t landed directly on me, the impact left me with a twinge in my lower back—a lingering pain from years of standing by him through thick and thin. Conrad looked down at me coldly, his eyes brimming with disdain. When he heard the word “divorce,” his lips curled into a mocking sneer. “You want a divorce over some kicked boxes?” I steadied myself, brushed off my clothes, and nodded firmly. “Yes. I want a divorce.” Perhaps it was my unprecedented determination, but the smirk disappeared from Conrad’s face. His tone softened, almost conciliatory. “Don’t be dramatic. We’ve been married five years, we have a five-year-old son. You want a divorce over something so trivial? What will people say?” It was precisely those five years of marriage that made me realize how much I’d endured. Time and again, I had swallowed my grievances for the sake of our family. My mom and Mrs. Mildred Whittaker often advised me to be patient, to understand how hard Conrad worked to provide for us. I treated their advice as gospel. Today, I realized it had only led to my unhappiness. “So what if people talk?” I shot back. “What they say doesn’t matter. But, Conrad, do you even see what’s in these boxes? Is there a single thing you bought for me?” Hearing that, Conrad glanced at the scattered packages. Men’s underwear, orthopedic supports, a foot spa for his mom—everything I bought had been for the family. Not a single item for myself, not even socks. He looked slightly embarrassed and reached out to steady me, but I brushed him off. After a few attempts to pacify me, his patience wore thin. “Fine. I was wrong to yell at you, but I’ve got reasons. Work has been a nightmare. I’ve got my boss breathing down my neck, endless overtime. Can’t you cut me some slack?” “If everyone divorced over small things like this, my parents would’ve split up a hundred times by now!” I remained unmoved. “Your parents are your parents. We’re not them. Yes, work is tough, but is being home, taking care of Landon, your mother, and this household any easier for me?” My voice wavered, and I fought back tears. But Conrad didn’t care. His face grew impatient, even annoyed. “You have no idea how hard it is to make money. I’d like to see how you’ll survive after a divorce.” With that, he stormed into the bedroom and emerged with a box filled with receipts and bills—water bills, HOA fees, school tuition, mortgage payments. “Look at this,” he declared, dumping the contents onto the floor like falling snow. “This is everything I’ve paid for. Do you see how much you’ve spent over the years? And now you want to leave me?” I stared at the pile of receipts with a calm that seemed to unnerve him. “Did I have our child alone? Did you not need a place to live and water to drink before we got married?” Conrad switched to his usual tactic—playing the victim. “You’re the one who wants a divorce, so we need to settle accounts. Or are you just some freeloader, using me for a free ride?” Anger surged through me. My hands trembled as I pulled the luxury handbag out from under a pile of delivery boxes and tossed it at him. “What about this? Is that in your ledger?”

The sight of the handbag drained the color from Conrad’s face. He snatched the box from me, carefully dusting it off as if the bag were a sacred relic. “Who gave you permission to touch this? Is it yours?” he barked. I let out a cold laugh. “You’ve admitted it’s not mine. You bought this ridiculously expensive handbag for someone else, not your wife. Aren’t you afraid of people laughing at you, Conrad?” His face alternated between red and white, his emotions shifting until anger finally took over. He pointed at me, yelling, “I can give it to anyone I want—anyone but you! Look at yourself. You don’t even bother to make yourself presentable. You make me sick.” Smack! My hand flew across his face. Instead of reflecting on his betrayal, he blamed me for everything. “Don’t know how to dress up? Really?” I scoffed. “It’s easy to spend money when you have it. But, Conrad, do you even give me enough to buy the scraps left over from that bag?” He rubbed his cheek where my slap had landed, anger flashing in his eyes. He lunged at me, hand outstretched to grab my hair, but the door creaked open before he could reach me. Landon stood in the doorway, frowning as his eyes darted between the mess in the room. “Dad, Mom, what’s going on here?”

When Landon walked in, Conrad immediately dropped his raised hand. He let out a derisive snort, turned on his heel, and slammed the bedroom door behind him with a loud bang. I sank to the floor, feeling utterly drained. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spinning in fear and helplessness. Landon wandered over, glanced at the scattered delivery boxes, and muttered in an annoyed tone, “Mom, what are you throwing a fit about now?” As my heart rate began to slow, his words hit me like a hammer. I nearly lost my balance trying to stand up. Looking at him, I suddenly realized how much Landon resembled his father. “Who taught you to speak to me like that?” I asked sharply. Seeing my stern expression, Landon quickly shifted gears. He came over to steady me, guiding me to the couch and even bringing me a glass of water like a little adult. “Dad might have a bad temper,” he said as he handed me the glass, “but it’s because he’s so busy with work.” “Think about it—everything you bought with those packages came from Dad’s money, right? You two have been married forever, so why are you always fighting?” “And when you argue, everyone in the neighborhood hears. Do you know how embarrassing that is for me? The other kids will laugh at me!” I gripped the glass of water tightly, but my heart grew colder than the liquid inside. He was only five, yet he already spoke with such conviction, completely siding with his father. How much of this was his grandmother’s influence? I didn’t dare think about it too much. Placing the glass on the table, I walked straight into the bathroom without a word.

When Mrs. Mildred Whittaker returned, the kitchen was cold, the living room was a mess, and Landon was still in his jacket, playing with the dirty delivery boxes on the floor. She was furious. Storming into the bedroom, she yelled, “What are you doing in there?! No dinner, no care for your kid—is this how you plan to live?” But when she opened the door and saw Conrad lying on the bed scrolling through his phone, her demeanor changed instantly. “Oh, it’s you, son. Where’s Emily?” Mildred was always a sweet, doting mother in front of Conrad and a loving grandmother to Landon. But to me? She called me by my first name as if I were the hired help bound by some unspoken contract. Conrad shrugged. “She’s in the bathroom. I kicked over her delivery boxes, and now she’s talking about divorce.” Mildred’s face twisted with alarm. She marched toward the bathroom, ready to drag me out for a scolding. But before she could knock, Landon called out, “Grandma, I’m hungry.” At the sound of her precious grandson’s voice, Mildred’s anger vanished. She shuffled over to Landon, her wrinkled face breaking into a smile. “Grandma will make you something right away, sweetheart.” As she passed the bathroom, she couldn’t resist shouting through the door, “As if anyone cares for your cooking! You’re fighting over nothing, and it’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ve never seen such a petty wife in my life!” Inside, I paid no attention to her. My phone screen displayed pages of lawyer reviews and job listings. Half an hour later, I stepped out of the bathroom to find the family sitting around the dining table, their plates filled with unrecognizable dishes. Clearly, this was Mildred’s attempt at cooking. Her skills hadn’t improved since I married into the family. In fact, they’d gotten worse now that she assumed I’d always take care of everything. Landon, who was used to my carefully prepared meals, looked at the clumps of burnt food on his plate and scrunched up his nose in disgust. “I don’t want this! I want good food!” Mildred’s smile faltered. She picked up a forkful of food and tried to coax him. “This is good food, sweetheart. Grandma made it for you.” But Landon wouldn’t budge. He clutched his plate and moved away, his face lighting up when he saw me. He ran over and clung to my leg. “Mommy, Mommy, I’m hungry.” I smiled faintly and, for the first time, refused him. “Mommy has to go out. I won’t be cooking tonight.” “Are you serious?” Conrad shot up from his seat, glaring at me. “All this over a couple of boxes? Trying to starve everyone?” He turned to Landon, scooping him up. “Don’t bother with her. Dad’s taking you to Chick-fil-A.” I watched Landon cheer as he clung to Conrad’s neck. Mildred and Conrad both glared at me. Ignoring them, I checked my phone. A single unread message popped up: “I’m nearby. Do you need a ride?”

Marcy Caldwell brought me straight to Haven Dance Studio. After showing me around the space, she led me to the lounge downstairs, where she handed me a cup of coffee. “Emily, let’s be honest,” Marcy began. “We need a good dance instructor, and I know you’ve got the skills. But right now… your image isn’t quite there. Here’s what I can do. I’ll start you on a basic salary for two months. Once you’ve proven yourself, I’ll make sure you get top pay.” Taking a deep breath, I nodded. Five thousand dollars wasn’t much, but it was the best I could find at the moment. “One more thing,” I said hesitantly. When I returned home, the living room was eerily quiet. The boxes still lay scattered, untouched. I stepped over the mess and made myself dinner in the kitchen. That night marked a turning point. I no longer cooked for the family, no matter if they made their own meals or ordered takeout. I only prepared food for myself, Landon included. Conrad continued his routine of leaving early and returning late. Mildred, left to care for Landon, soon began to crack under the pressure. After a few days, she exploded, demanding that Conrad handle the morning school drop-offs and evening pick-ups. “Mom, how can I? If I take him to school, I’ll be late for work. And after work, where’s he supposed to wait for me?” Conrad snapped. For the first time in five years, he and Mildred clashed. I sat in the living room, deaf to their shouting match. The laundry had piled up in the bathroom, untouched. Late at night, Conrad crouched by the bathroom door, looking lost. When I walked by, he called out softly, “Emily, I don’t have any clean clothes left.” When I stopped, he launched into a pitiful tirade. “I can’t do this anymore. Three takeout meals a day—it’s disgusting. I can’t sleep without you beside me. I messed up, I know. Please, just give me another chance.” I turned to him, my voice firm and resolute. “I’ve already spoken to a lawyer and prepared the divorce papers. Just sign them.”

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When Zach Carrington paid off a $500,000 gambling debt for Sophia Delaney’s father, he didn’t bother consulting me, his wife. Outraged, I confronted him, only to be met with indifference: “I earned that money, so I’ll spend it however I want. I don’t need your permission.” I didn’t argue. I simply walked into the home office. That night, I transferred the last $400,000 from our shared account and left a divorce agreement on his desk. The next day, I booked an appointment to terminate my pregnancy. Content I first heard that Zach Carrington had fallen from a building through a friend while I was confined to bed, trying to stabilize my pregnancy. Despite being three months along and in a fragile state, I panicked and rushed to Bluegrass Regional Medical Center. I was so anxious that I tripped and fell on the way. By the time I reached the hospital room, out of breath and disheveled, I heard a woman’s muffled sobs through the door. Edging closer, I peeked in to see Sophia Delaney curled up next to Zach, her tear-streaked face pressed against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Zach. This is all my fault,” she choked out. Pale and haggard, Zach sat propped up in bed, his left arm in a cast. Gently, he pulled her into his embrace with a tenderness I had never witnessed before. “Don’t be silly. You’re okay, and that’s all that matters. This? This is nothing.” I froze in the doorway, my bedraggled appearance making me feel like an utter fool. Ignoring the dull ache in my abdomen, I turned and walked away. The urgency I had felt moments ago now seemed laughable. Returning to the empty expanse of our house, I sat in silence until nightfall. It was in the dead of night that I started bleeding. Sharp pains wracked my stomach as I fumbled to call 911. By dawn, I was in the hospital. Thankfully, the baby was safe. For the sake of the pregnancy, I stayed in the hospital. My room was only a floor below Zach’s, but the distance felt like an unbridgeable chasm. While hooked up to an IV, I scrolled through my phone and stumbled upon a news alert: “Yesterday afternoon, a woman on South Main Street attempted to jump from a building after a family dispute. Her boyfriend, trying to save her, fell alongside her. Both landed on safety cushions.” The accompanying photo showed a tall man cradling a fragile woman as they fell, their pose evoking an image of unwavering devotion. It was Zach and Sophia. To the world, they looked like the perfect couple. I stared at the screen, numb, before closing the article with a bitter laugh.

On the fourth day of my hospital stay, Zach called me. His voice was cold, laced with reproach. “Celia, do you even know I’m in the hospital? It’s been days, and you haven’t bothered to visit. Do I even matter to you as a husband?” Unmoved, I replied flatly, “I’ve been busy.” His anger flared. “Busy? You’re a housewife. What could you possibly be busy with? You just don’t care about me. If I’d known how heartless you are, I never would’ve married you!” The line went dead as he slammed the phone down. The busy signal hummed in my ear as I sat, lost in thought. We had been married for five years. In the beginning, we were courteous, even affectionate. Now, every interaction felt like a battle. Looking back, the cracks had appeared long before. When Zach started working late and staying out overnight, claiming he had to work overtime, our marriage became little more than a hollow shell. Even trying to conceive had been an uphill battle. I had begged him for months before he reluctantly agreed. Whenever we were intimate, he treated it like a chore, devoid of affection. After I became pregnant, I went to every appointment alone. He didn’t even know that I had been put on bed rest due to low progesterone. To him, Sophia Delaney was the center of the universe. I stayed in the hospital for two weeks without a single call from Zach. When I was discharged, I returned home at dusk, only to find Zach had also been released. The dimly lit living room was eerily quiet. He sat on the couch, his left arm still in a sling, his face unreadable. “Where have you been?” he asked, his voice cutting through the silence like frost. “I’ve been home for two days, and you’ve been nowhere to be found. What were you doing?” I sat down at the dining table, my tone indifferent. “Just needed some time to clear my head.” “Clear your head?” His voice rose, frustration flickering in his expression. “I’ve been hospitalized for weeks, and you’re out clearing your head? While I’m injured?” I glanced at him, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sophia seemed to be taking good care of you. What could I possibly add?” Zach’s eyes darkened. “That’s right. You’ll never be as attentive as Sophia! She’s been running herself ragged for me while you haven’t lifted a finger. You’ve failed as a wife!” His righteousness ignited a flicker of anger in me. “If she’s so good, why don’t we just get a divorce? Let her have the title of Mrs. Carrington.” For a moment, he was stunned, but his face quickly twisted into anger. “Celia, stop being ridiculous. I’ve told you a hundred times—Sophia and I are just friends!” “Friends?” I scoffed. “Since when do friends risk their lives for each other?” “She’s been through so much,” Zach retorted. “Her father’s a gambler who abuses her when he loses. She almost ended her life, Celia. What was I supposed to do? Let her die? I’ve known her my entire life. How could I abandon her?” “And yet, you expect me to believe you’re just friends?” I countered, my voice sharp. “If she’s that important, why didn’t you marry her instead of me?” Zach faltered, his confidence wavering. After a pause, he glared at me and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. In the echo of his departure, I sat alone, the weight of his absence crushing yet strangely freeing.

This wasn’t the first time Zach Carrington and I fought because of Sophia Delaney. Sophia grew up in the same neighborhood as Zach. Her mother passed away when she was young, and her father was not only a compulsive gambler but also an alcoholic. Whenever her father lost money gambling, he’d drink himself into a rage and take it out on her with verbal and physical abuse. By the time she was 16, Sophia had dropped out of school to work odd jobs. Perhaps her tragic circumstances triggered Zach’s protective instincts because he had always looked out for her. They even dated once. At 20, Zach and Sophia were briefly together. But Margaret Carrington, Zach’s mother, vehemently opposed their relationship. Sophia’s lack of education and her father’s addiction made her entirely unsuitable in Margaret’s eyes. Not long after, under Margaret’s relentless interference, the two broke up. After their breakup, Sophia left Lexington and moved to another city for work. As for Zach, it wasn’t long before he met me through mutual friends. According to Zach, it was love at first sight. He pursued me tirelessly for two years, and eventually, I fell for his unwavering dedication. We dated, got engaged, and then married—it all fell into place so seamlessly. At first, our marriage was stable and harmonious, filled with mutual respect and care. But last year, Sophia came back into the picture. Sophia returned to Lexington because her grandmother was gravely ill. It wasn’t long before she and Zach reconnected. One night, after being beaten by her father during one of his drunken outbursts, Sophia called Zach, sobbing into the phone. Hearing her tearful voice, Zach rushed to her side. Their contact became increasingly frequent after that. Sometimes, Zach skipped my birthday or our anniversary to comfort Sophia. I fought with him about it countless times. But over time, the fights wore us down, and cracks began forming in our relationship. Around then, Margaret suggested, “Celia, why don’t you two have a child? A baby will strengthen your bond and make your marriage more stable. External influences won’t shake you so easily.” I listened to her advice and convinced Zach to try for a baby. Now, I regret that decision more than anything. This child should never have come into existence. 4 After slamming the door, Zach didn’t come home that night. The next day, Riley Hart called me, her voice hesitant. “Celia, I saw Zach last night…” she began cautiously. “He… he went to a hotel with Sophia.” “Oh,” I responded flatly, my tone devoid of emotion. “Got it.” “Got it?!” Riley’s anger exploded. “Celia, he’s probably cheating on you! What kind of man does this while his wife is pregnant? He’s scum!” Her anger on my behalf brought a wave of emotion crashing over me. Tears welled up as I choked out, “Riley… I almost miscarried recently. But Zach doesn’t care about me or the baby. All he cares about is Sophia.” “That bastard!” Riley swore furiously. “If anything happens to you or the baby, I’ll make them pay!” Fueled by righteous fury, Riley ranted about Zach and Sophia for the next half hour. I didn’t expect her to take matters into her own hands after we hung up. She confronted Sophia in person and tore into her mercilessly. Later that evening, my phone buzzed as I was brewing herbal tea for my pregnancy. It was Sophia. Her voice quivered as she began crying over the line, “Celia, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to come between you and Zach. He’s just an old friend. We grew up together, so we’re naturally close. Please don’t misunderstand…” “Enough!” I interrupted, my patience snapping. “I don’t care about whatever’s going on between you two. Just don’t call me again.” I ended the call without hesitation. Minutes later, my phone rang again. This time, it was Zach. Without so much as a greeting, he launched into a tirade. “Celia, why are you making things difficult for Sophia? She’s been through enough already! Can’t you be a little more understanding?” His audacity enraged me. “Where were you last night?” I demanded. “Sophia was upset,” he replied calmly. “I was keeping her company.” “Oh, keeping her company? Does that require booking a hotel room for the entire night?” Zach’s voice hardened. “Her dad was drunk and violent again. She had nowhere else to go. What was I supposed to do? Bring her home? Celia, stop being so petty. You weren’t like this before.” At that moment, exhaustion washed over me. I hung up before he could finish his excuses. Whatever we once had, it was gone. 5 That night, Zach’s bank account suddenly showed a $500,000 transfer. Since his account was linked to my phone number, I received the notification immediately. Despite our cold war, I couldn’t ignore such a significant amount. I dialed his number at once. It took several tries before he picked up. His tone was curt and impatient. “What now?” “What did you do with $500,000?” I asked directly. There was a pause before he admitted, his voice unsteady, “Sophia’s dad owed $500,000 in gambling debts. I paid it off for him.” “You what?!” My voice rose in disbelief. “Zach, have you lost your mind? Five hundred thousand dollars?” Rather than showing any remorse, Zach sounded self-righteous. “If I hadn’t paid, they would’ve taken Sophia to settle the debt. She would’ve been forced to marry some older man. She’s only 27! I couldn’t just stand by and let her life be ruined!” I felt my chest tighten as rage and despair surged through me. After a long moment of silence, I forced myself to speak calmly. “Something like this—you should’ve discussed it with me first.” Zach scoffed. “I earned that money. I’ll spend it however I see fit. Money can be replaced, but Sophia’s life can’t.” I had no words left. I hung up, utterly drained. Yes, the money was his, but I had been there during the early days of his business, working alongside him late into the night. That money represented years of effort—our effort. We had been saving to buy a bigger house, but now… That was the moment I knew our marriage was truly over. Without tears or anger, I walked into the home office. I drafted a divorce agreement, transferred the remaining $400,000 in his account to my brother, and packed my things. Late that night, I drove away from the house we had shared for five years. Our five-year marriage ended in silence and finality. 6 The next day, I walked into the clinic for the procedure. As the cold instruments invaded my body, I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. They flowed uncontrollably. I had fought so hard to keep this child, but now I was the one ending his life. The pain was searing as if a piece of my soul was being ripped away. But no matter how much it hurt, I had to stay resolute. I couldn’t bring this child into a broken, single-parent household. Nor could I let him become a pawn for Zach Carrington to manipulate and bind me to him forever. If I was going to end this, it had to be clean and final. As they removed my child, an ache sharper than any physical pain spread through my chest. I didn’t regret ending my marriage, but I deeply regretted allowing this child to come into my life only to take it away. After the procedure, I forced myself to leave the clinic alone, ignoring the discomfort radiating. In the hospital lobby, I ran into Zach and Sophia. Sophia’s face bore faint bruises, evidence of some recent injury. Zach’s left arm was still in a sling, and his right arm was draped protectively around Sophia’s shoulder as they walked together, his expression gentle as ever. When they saw me, both froze. “Celia?” Zach asked. He subtly removed his arm from around Sophia and frowned. “What are you doing here? A check-up?” I looked him over coldly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Caught red-handed, Zach? Feeling guilty?” His face darkened immediately. “What nonsense are you spouting now?” “Am I wrong?” Zach’s expression grew stiff, but he held his temper because of Sophia’s presence. “Sophia’s dad hit her again a couple of days ago. Her arm hurt, so I brought her here for an X-ray. It’s not what you think.” How laughable. Sophia gets a sore arm, and Zach treats it like a crisis. Meanwhile, his wife nearly miscarried, and he couldn’t care less. I couldn’t bring myself to engage further. I turned to leave, but Zach grabbed my wrist. “What’s going on, Celia? Why do you look so pale? What are you doing at the hospital?” I yanked my hand away and spat out the words with icy precision. “Getting an abortion.” “What?” Zach’s face went blank, and after two stunned seconds, he practically shouted, “You aborted the baby?!” His shock sent a cruel, vindictive satisfaction through me. “Yes,” I said, forcing myself to smile. “Almost four months along. It was a boy, too. Looked just like you. Such a shame your mother won’t get a grandson now.” “Celia Winters!” Zach’s voice boomed through the lobby, his face contorted with rage. “Are you out of your mind?!”

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After seven years of marriage, Hudson Johnson removed the video of our wedding announcement from his streaming platform. He insisted, “To reassure my sweetheart, let me clarify once more: Sorry, I’ve always been single.” Meanwhile, his assistant’s account shared a photo with the caption: “Mom and Dad are really looking forward to your arrival.” In the photo, a man’s hand gently caresses her belly, as if it were fragile. I noticed the black mole on the man’s ring finger and pulled my daughter into my arms. “Sweetie, how about I find you a new dad?” My daughter nodded and then took the phone to comment: [Auntie, since my dad has a new baby, I should have a new dad too.] After typing, Stella turned around and hugged me, her small body warming me. “Mom, I’m here, I’ll always be with you.” Before I could even settle my emotions, Hudson Johnson called, ready to berate me. “Avery Johnson, haven’t you had enough? What are you teaching Stella this time?” “I’ve told you countless times, the relationship with Scarlett Lee is for the company’s image. When will you stop?” “Besides, you’re a mother now, still competing and being jealous every day. Do you really think you’re still young? Avery Johnson, you’re disgusting.” As soon as I answered, Hudson Johnson’s accusations came crashing down. I tightened my grip on the phone, a mocking look in my eyes. After seven years of marriage with Hudson Johnson, I know him too well. The louder he talks, the angrier he seems, the guiltier he actually is. I took a deep breath and asked, “Does your company need to fabricate a relationship to the point of causing a real-life scandal?” It was just a simple question, but on the other end, a woman’s sobbing came through. “Brother Johnson, you don’t need to explain for me anymore. If Sister Avery doesn’t like me, I’ll resign now.” Scarlett Lee’s pitiful act made Hudson Johnson instantly angry, “Don’t worry about her, you’re my assistant. Without my consent, let’s see who dares to fire you!” “Avery, if you keep involving Stella in your antics, don’t blame me for being harsh.” With that, without waiting for me to respond, Hudson abruptly hung up the phone. His cold voice still echoed in the room, scaring Stella. As I looked at the phone’s dark screen, my heart was calm. In the past, I would have made a scene at Hudson Johnson’s company, forcing him to fire Scarlett Lee. But now, there’s no need. Just like Stella said, if Hudson Johnson can have another child, then I, Avery Johnson, can find another partner. After all, my first love, Mason Carter, has returned to the country.

In the evening, after his streaming session, Hudson Johnson came back. Seeing Stella and me eating, he went to the kitchen as usual but didn’t find the soup I used to make for him. “Avery, where’s my soup?” Without looking up, I gave Stella a piece of meat and told her to eat quickly. Seeing my indifference, Hudson Johnson’s face darkened, “Avery, you know my stomach isn’t good!” Hearing this, I paused, showing a bit of sarcasm. Yes, I know he has a sensitive stomach, and with his streaming job, he can’t eat on time, so for seven years, I’ve made him a pot of nourishing soup every day. But what did he do? He gave my carefully prepared soup to Scarlett Lee, saying next time not to make it so salty because she doesn’t like it. “So what?” I lifted my eyelids and said calmly, “If your stomach isn’t good, take care of it. If you want soup, cook it yourself. I’m not your nanny.” After speaking, I began cleaning up the dishes, heading to the kitchen. Unexpectedly, as I passed Hudson Johnson, he grabbed my wrist, full of impatience. “Avery, what do you really want? Even mischief should have its limits!” I broke free from his grip, a cold smile on my lips, and said calmly: “I want a divorce.” Hudson Johnson’s hand froze for a moment, a trace of panic on his face, but he quickly returned to normal, releasing me with a sneer: “You’ve got some nerve now, daring to threaten me with divorce. Divorce, are you sure?” “Avery, do you really think you’re still young? You have a 5-year-old child, who would want you after divorcing me?” So, this is his reason for cheating? He figured I, having married and had a child, couldn’t remarry and could only depend on him. It’s absurd. I gave Hudson Johnson a deep look, then took Stella and turned to leave. Perhaps angered by me, Hudson Johnson didn’t come home for a week. This has always been his method after I upset him, using silent treatment to force me to comply. In the past, I would’ve been tormented, unable to sleep, calling to apologize tirelessly, sending gifts in his streaming room, humbly begging for forgiveness. But now, I’m busy moving into a new home, buying furniture, indifferent to whether he comes home or not. After all, I can’t still live in his house after divorcing him. At the furniture store. I was feeling the texture of a sofa when a familiar female voice reached my ears. “Oh, I’m so grateful to Brother Johnson for being here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do.” “What is everyone saying? What new couple buying furniture? I haven’t even confessed to Brother Johnson yet. Stop it, everyone, Scarlett’s shy~” It’s a small world.

Hearing Scarlett Lee’s pretentious voice, I frowned. Stella quickly ran over. “Stella, what are you doing here?” Turning around, I met Hudson Johnson’s face full of disgust. He frowned, grabbed Stella’s collar, and pushed her toward me, his tone full of disdain. “Avery, is it fun to stalk with Stella?” I steadied the stumbling Stella without explaining. A dirty heart sees everything as filthy. Hudson Johnson is sure I’d do such a low thing, so how could he listen to my explanation? I gave him a cold glance and asked: “Is it fun for you to avoid home and shop with another woman?” Hudson Johnson didn’t expect my usual silent obedience to turn into defiance, his eyes flickered. “Scarlett rented a new place. She’s a young girl who can’t choose furniture. As her boss, taking care of her and helping her pick furniture isn’t a big deal, right?” I looked at their interlocked fingers, my expression calm, and asked lightly: “So holding hands is necessary?” Hearing this, Hudson Johnson was stunned, hurriedly releasing their hands. His eyes flickered, his tone urgent, “It’s not what you think.” “Scarlett isn’t like you. Her health isn’t good, so with all the people around, I had to hold her hand to prevent her from getting hurt.” It’s not poor health, but pregnant, right? Looking at Hudson Johnson, who was cautiously watching me, I didn’t react as he expected, just chuckled softly. “You’re right; Scarlett Lee’s health is important.” Seeing me so calm, Hudson Johnson looked surprised. He seemed to want to explain more, but I interrupted, “Go ahead and pick your furniture. Don’t keep Scarlett waiting.” With that, I took Stella and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Scarlett Lee followed with a streaming phone. She gently caressed her belly with her left hand, smiling softly, her eyes showing a hint of triumph. Scarlett Lee squatted down, placing Stella’s hand on her belly. “Stella, do you want to see your little brother?” I darkened my expression, pulling Stella back, “She doesn’t have a brother.” “Really?” Scarlett Lee smiled faintly, leaning closer, “But I’m also carrying Hudson Johnson’s child.” Sensing something wrong, I wanted to back away, but Scarlett Lee had already retreated, sitting on the floor. Before I could react, a slap struck my face, my head hitting the corner of a solid wood display table, making me black out. Hudson Johnson rushed over, carefully helping Scarlett Lee up, yelling at me: “Avery Johnson, when will you stop your madness!”

“Mom!” Faced with this sudden change, Stella turned pale, rushing over to cover my forehead. Seeing the blood on her hand, her small hands trembled with anger, her little face taut as she looked at Hudson Johnson, “Apologize to Mom!” Hudson Johnson sneered, his eyes full of indifference, “Apologize? Your mom Avery is the one who should apologize. If anything happens to Scarlett, I won’t forgive her.” Scarlett Lee’s face was tear-streaked, looking considerate, a fleeting hint of smugness in her eyes, but she said: “Brother Johnson, don’t say that. I’m sure Sister didn’t mean to push me. Don’t be mad at her because of me…” “But, Brother, our child…” Hearing Scarlett Lee’s sobs, Hudson Johnson became even angrier, glaring at me. I felt his hatred, but my vision was still blurry, my chest tight and breathless. Stella couldn’t stand my humiliation, knowing the truth, she rushed over and pointed at Scarlett Lee to argue. “You’re lying, I saw it all. You fell by yourself.” “Liar, I hate you…” Before she could finish, I saw Hudson Johnson clench his fist. My heart tightened, and I used all my strength, my voice hoarse:

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My childhood friend’s girlfriend barged into my house and slapped me across the face. She even smashed my most expensive tea set. “Manly, you shameless homewrecker! Don’t you have a man of your own? How dare you flirt with someone else’s boyfriend in public? Have you no shame?” she screamed. After the misunderstanding was cleared up, she put on an innocent face and said, “I only did it because I care about Tyler so much! Manly, you won’t hold a grudge against me, will you?” I smiled and said, “Of course not!” I’m the type of person who gets even immediately. So I slapped her back and made her pay for the damages. A week later, she started trying to seduce my husband. It was the middle of the night, and Chris and I were both sound asleep when his phone suddenly rang. He was sleeping like a log, not moving even after I kicked him a few times. I reluctantly reached for the phone, answered it, and put it on speaker next to his ear. Chris mumbled a sleepy “Mmm.” I was also about to drift off again. Suddenly, a sweet girl’s voice came through: “Hello, Uncle Chris!” That voice was an instant wake-up call. I was wide awake in a second. “Uncle Chris, I’m on my period and feeling awful. Could you bring me some sanitary pads?” I turned on the light with a snap, and Chris shot up in bed the next second. He looked at me with terror in his eyes. He tried to grab the phone. I stopped him with a single glare. “Your uncle doesn’t know anything about these things! Come on, tell Auntie what you need! What brand do you like? Day or night use? With wings or without? Auntie will bring them to you!” There was silence on the other end of the line. After a while, the girl let out a light chuckle. “Oh, it’s Manly!” I finally recognized her voice. “Snow?” “Yes, it’s me. Good evening, Manly and Uncle Chris!” Chris and I looked at each other in disbelief. A moment ago, I was already planning where to bury Chris. But now, I was willing to believe in his moral integrity. After all, Snow was Tyler’s girlfriend. And Tyler was our childhood friend. “Have you been drinking?” I asked. Snow giggled, “Manly, you’re so sharp! No wonder even Uncle Chris is afraid of you at drinking parties!” Before I could figure out if there was any hidden meaning in her words, Snow changed the subject: “I was playing Truth or Dare with my friends. I lost, so I had to call Uncle Chris as a dare. Sorry, Manly, for disturbing you and Uncle Chris while you were sleeping. You won’t be mad at me, right?” I replied calmly, “Of course not! But calling Chris was quite a risky dare. After all, he’s a married man. If I hadn’t kept my temper in check and said something nasty, wouldn’t that have been embarrassing for you?” “Married man? Oh, I see. I learned something new. Well, I’ll keep that in mind, Manly! Alright, Manly and Uncle Chris, bye-bye!” The call ended abruptly. I didn’t even have time to respond before I was left stunned. It felt like something was stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t spit it out or swallow it. “Honey, are you okay?” Chris asked cautiously, looking at me. “Was she insulting me?” I asked with a dark expression. “Uh…” “It’s okay, don’t get upset!” Chris hugged me, trying to comfort me and calm me down. “She was just drunk and talking nonsense. Don’t pay attention to her!” I pushed Chris away, “I haven’t even asked you yet, why did she call you?” Chris swore to heaven, “I don’t know, I really don’t know! Look at my phone, I don’t even have her number saved. I’ve never contacted her before!” “You can check my call history if you don’t believe me. It’s completely clean!” I gave him a look and snatched his phone. He laughed helplessly, “You’re really going to check?” I snorted, “What? Are you afraid?” Chris sighed resignedly, “Fine, fine, check all you want!” I made a sound of disapproval and casually looked through the call history. There really weren’t any other calls. Then I was about to exit and check his WhatsApp. But Chris suddenly hesitated, “Uh, you want to check that too?” I immediately sensed something was off. “Chris!” Chris almost got down on his knees. “Look, check whatever you want! But honey, you have to believe me, no matter what you see… I absolutely didn’t do anything wrong! I swear, if I did anything to hurt you, may lightning strike me down!” I soon understood why Chris looked so scared! Compared to the empty call history, their chat window was quite lively. The most eye-catching thing was Snow’s nickname: S’s Snow. “Huh, S’s Snow? Your Snow?” I asked coldly. That’s right, Chris’s nickname was S, the first letter of his name. Chris used this nickname because we started dating in the summer. Chris put his hands together and looked at me pitifully. “Honey, it’s a misunderstanding, a coincidence, it has nothing to do with me, really!” I glared at him coldly and started checking the chat history. The most recent message was from yesterday: “Uncle Chris, I got some delicious ice cream. Should I bring one for you too?” Below was a selfie of Snow biting into an ice cream cone. To describe it in one word: seductive! Looking further up, three days ago: S’s Snow: “Uncle Chris, how long until you arrive?” S: “About ten minutes. You guys start eating, don’t wait for me.” S’s Snow: “Okay, okay. No rush, Uncle Chris. Drive safely!” S’s Snow: “Uncle Chris, can you bring me a bubble tea? The usual!” S: “OK.” S’s Snow: “Love you, muah!” Going back further, a week ago: S’s Snow: “Uncle Chris, be careful driving home alone. Let us know when you get home safely, don’t make us worry.” S: “OK.” S’s Snow: “Then get some rest early, Uncle Chris. Good night!” The earliest message: “Uncle Chris, I’m Snow. Looking forward to getting to know you better!” This screen full of “Uncle” made me almost forget what the word meant. “Chris, you’re a grown man. You’re not going to tell me you didn’t notice how clingy these messages are, are you?” The angrier I got, the calmer I became. Chris knew this. He stopped trying to make excuses. “I really didn’t notice at first.” “The first time Tyler brought her to have dinner with us, she insisted on adding us as friends, asking us to tell her embarrassing stories about Tyler. Frank and I couldn’t refuse, so I agreed.” “This first message was sent to both Frank and me in front of Tyler.” “The later chats, thinking about it now, might have been her own idea. But at the time, I really thought Tyler had asked her to send them.” “I always replied briefly when I had to, and didn’t respond at all when I could avoid it.” “It wasn’t until she sent me that selfie that I realized something was off. It was too flirtatious, so I ignored her!” “I was planning to find a chance to talk to Tyler about it…” But she stirred up a hornet’s nest with me first. “Honey, I was wrong. I’ll delete her right now!” “Wait!” I interrupted him. “Keep everything. Call Tyler!” “Why?” “We’re going to pick up his little girlfriend together.” I’m the type of person who gets even immediately, or I can’t sleep. Just like last time, when she slapped me, I slapped her back. A week ago, I had just returned from a business trip and hosted a small gathering at home. Frank and Olivia arrived early, and Tyler showed up shortly after. “Where’s your little girlfriend?” I asked. “She just got out of class. She’ll be here soon.” So we left the door open, waiting for her. Frank got bored and found a deck of cards, insisting that Chris play with him. Olivia was busy editing a video on her phone. Tyler pushed Chris aside and started brewing tea for me while discussing the design of his new house. He was the pickiest client I had ever met. Honestly, if he wasn’t a childhood friend, I would never have taken on his project. He shared a few ideas with me. The ideas were good, but I was exasperated! “Bro, it’s over budget! Really, there’s not enough money!” He waved his hand dismissively, “No problem, I’ll ask my dad.” I shook my head repeatedly, “No way, your dad told me not to listen to you!” “Then you can earn a little less!” “How about I pay you to do it?” I said sarcastically. “Really?” he asked eagerly. Just then, Snow burst in. Her footsteps were loud and forceful. “You…” Before Tyler could even stand up, she had already rushed in front of me. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “Slap!” Everyone was stunned, including me. It was the first time I had ever been hit. My ears were ringing. The next second, Snow started cursing, “Manly, you shameless homewrecker! Don’t you have a man of your own? How dare you flirt with someone else’s boyfriend in public? Have you no shame?” Chris rushed over and hugged me. His face was dark with anger, his eyes full of concern. “Does it hurt?” Olivia moved quickly, finding some ice from the fridge and wrapping it in a towel to press against my face. “Ouch!” Tyler was holding Snow back, but she was still trying to lunge at me. She struggled and cursed. The sweet little girl from before was now spewing the foulest language. “Enough! Everyone shut up!” Chris shouted. But Snow acted as if she had been greatly wronged, “You’re all protecting her, even though she’s the one behaving inappropriately. And you’re scolding me!” Saying this, she grabbed the tea set from the table and smashed it on the ground! “Stop!” “No!” “Ouch!” “Crash!” That crisp shattering sound wasn’t just the tea set, it was my heart. I stared blankly at the ground. Tyler roared, “Snow, have you had enough? What’s wrong with you?” But Snow? She burst into tears. Then she explained brokenly that when she came in, she saw Tyler and me hugging and kissing, which was why she got so angry. I laughed bitterly. Olivia commented from the side, “So, we’re all invisible?” “Let’s check the security footage,” I said. It’s better to have evidence than to argue pointlessly. After all, not everyone deserves a rational discussion. Facts speak louder than words. Snow fell silent. But she clearly had thick skin. She pitifully grabbed Tyler’s hand. “I’m sorry! But I only did it because I care about you so much! Manly, you won’t hold a grudge against me, will you?” Ha, moral blackmail? I nodded, “Of course not!” I never hold grudges. Because I always get even immediately. Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, I stepped forward and slapped her across the face. “Slap!” “Whoa!” That was Olivia’s exclamation, enjoying the drama. Frank quickly covered her mouth. “You!” Snow glared at me fiercely. Tyler held her back. She was about to cry, but I stopped her. This was far from over! “The slap debt is settled. Now let’s talk about compensation!” Snow was stunned, “What compensation?” I pointed at the shattered pieces on the floor, “Original price was 12 , 000.

�� l l g i v e y o u a f r i e n d d i s c o u n t , 12,000.I ′ llgiveyouafrienddiscount,10,000!” “A few broken cups for $12,000? Are you crazy about money?” I raised my chin, “Ask your boyfriend. He knows the value.” After all, he’s the kind of person who would pay $8,000 for a single tea cup. Tyler nodded gravely. Snow’s eyes widened. “I don’t believe it. You’re all in this together, ganging up on me!” With that, she ran away crying. Her footsteps clearly showed her panic. In the end, Tyler wanted to give me the $12,000, but I didn’t take it. “When you two get married, I’ll put this on your tab.” I thought that if she behaved herself, I’d let it go. But if she caused trouble for me again, she’d better watch out. After all, as Olivia said, that slap of hers seemed too deliberate! Chris called Tyler. Tyler asked the million-dollar question: “So, I’ve been cheated on?” Chris gasped, “I’m a married man, don’t talk nonsense!” Both men fell silent. When we found Snow, she was crouching pitifully by the roadside. Seeing Tyler, she reached out her arms, “Hug me!” I winced and hissed. Chris asked me what was wrong. I said my tooth hurt! “Oh, Uncle Chris and Manly are here too. I’m sorry for causing you trouble!”

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Husband was tormented by a brain tumor, enduring terrible pain. Before the surgery, he tenderly held my hand and said: “The house in Coastal City and 500,000 in savings are all for you. You and our son can have a good life in the future.” I thought he was confused from his illness, mistaking our child for a daughter. Besides, our family was already deep in debt from his medical expenses. How could we possibly have a house and 500,000? Then, a look of longing appeared on his face, one I had never seen before, as he earnestly said: “Sophie, I loved you in this life. I have no regrets in death.” The nurse wheeled him into the operating room, and the red light turned on. I repeated his words, dazed, and collapsed to the ground. Sophie wasn’t even my name. After the surgery, my husband suffered from cognitive confusion. In simple terms, he mistook me for Sophie. 1. The corridor outside the operating room was filled with families of patients. An elderly lady kindly helped me up. “Child, that white dress must be expensive, don’t get it dirty.” It was then I realized I was wearing the dress Daniel had given me. We had been married for eight years, and this was the only piece of clothing he had ever given me. I had always hesitated to wear it. This morning, in a flurry, I had randomly grabbed something from the closet, not expecting it to be this. My daughter told me that Dad, who usually disliked shopping, had searched the entire shopping street to pick out this dress. When he gave it to me a few days later, he looked downcast, as if handing me a piece of cabbage. I thought he just struggled to express himself and didn’t pay much attention. Although it was a bit short and the waist was loose, I still treasured it dearly. I thanked the elderly lady and found a spot to sit down, but my mind was filled with Sophie’s name. Sophie was Daniel’s college classmate. In the graduation photo, she stood in front of him, both smiling brightly. That graduation photo was framed and placed beside our wedding photo on the bedside. Daniel often stared at the photo, lost in thought. I never knew if he was looking at me in my wedding dress or someone else. I had never met Sophie. I only heard her name mentioned at a gathering for Daniel’s classmates, where everyone looked at him knowingly and laughed. Perhaps they had a passionate romance during college, which is why he subconsciously said such things before the surgery. But what about the house and savings? To buy the house we currently lived in, we had spent all our savings. Even the 150,000 surgery fee was something I had borrowed 80,000 from my parents to gather. Why did Daniel say there was another house in Coastal City, along with 500,000 in savings? Was he confused and imagining things, or did it actually exist? I sat there dazed for six hours until the nurse pushed Daniel out after the surgery. The doctor informed me that the tumor had severely invaded the brain tissue, and there might be some aftereffects. “We can’t accurately judge the specific symptoms. You need to be with him 24/7 to prevent any accidents.” The anesthesia still hadn’t worn off completely. Daniel lay peacefully on the hospital bed, a faint smile on his lips, as if he saw something beautiful. To care for Daniel, I had taken a week off in advance, and our daughter was already sent to her grandparents. According to the doctor, what he said before entering the operating room might have just been ramblings from brain damage. Thinking this way, much of my unease faded away. Although Daniel lacked affection, he handed over his entire monthly salary, making him a responsible husband and father. Even if he mentioned Sophie, that was all in the past. Just then, Daniel’s phone pinged with a message. A contact named Teacher Harris said there would be a parent-teacher meeting for sixth-grade class two tomorrow at 2 PM, hoping parents would attend on time. Sixth grade? But our daughter was clearly only in fourth grade, and her homeroom teacher’s last name was Hill, not Harris. I wanted to open the message to ask what was going on. Though we had met through introductions, after all these years of marriage, we had been respectful toward each other. I never thought to check his phone. But this was different; the teacher’s message couldn’t have been sent in error. To unlock it, I tried his birthday, our daughter’s birthday, and finally my birthday, along with our wedding anniversary. None of them worked. The input box on the screen trembled, and the phone locked me out. After the lock period, I attempted to unlock it using his fingerprint. But he hadn’t set up a fingerprint password, only facial recognition. I was too exhausted to stand, so I leaned against the chair beside the bed. The person on the bed had an utterly ordinary face, and life seemed to hold no special elements. Had he truly betrayed me? Was he having an affair with Sophie? Was that sixth grader his and Sophie’s child? Overcome by both physical and mental exhaustion, I leaned back in the chair and fell asleep. When I woke up, Daniel was gradually coming to. Seeing me, his eyes lit up, and his smile widened. “Sophie, you finally wore the dress I gave you. It looks beautiful.” 2. I was momentarily at a loss for how to react, my body stiff as I sat there. But Daniel’s joy was evident; his gaze never left me. “Sophie, I just had a long dream. In the dream, we got married and had a child.” “I was afraid it was fake and couldn’t dare to open my eyes.” “But now you are right in front of me, wearing that white dress like before.” Daniel’s tone grew more excited, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He struggled to move his left hand, placing it over mine. Upon feeling my skin and warmth, he trembled with excitement. “It’s real; everything is real.” The nurse saw Daniel wake up and called the doctor to check on his recovery. Daniel still remembered the doctor’s last name was Lin and the nurse’s name. Dr. Nelson asked him a few questions about what happened before the surgery, and Daniel recalled everything clearly. Finally, the doctor glanced at me and casually asked, “What about Grace White? Do you still remember Grace White?” To the doctor, it seemed like a simple question. But Daniel frowned, as if he had never heard of her. “Grace White? Who is she?” Dr. Nelson paused writing the medical record, looking at me with a complex expression. “Think carefully again.” After hearing the doctor, Daniel looked at the ceiling, as if trying hard to search his brain for something. A few seconds later, he finally found the answer but looked at me with apology first. “Sophie, don’t mind me.” Daniel answered Dr. Nelson in a very small voice: “Grace White was my blind date from eight years ago.” He hurriedly explained: “It was arranged by the elders, and I couldn’t refuse. I only had dinner with her once and never contacted her again.” Before the surgery, Dr. Nelson had told me that some patients with damaged brain nerves might activate a self-protection mechanism. To alleviate their pain, they would treat their most desired subconscious things as reality. And those things that had once hurt them and caused them torment would miraculously disappear. It turned out that our eight years of marriage had been the things Daniel wanted to forget the most. The nurse silently handed me a tissue. Only then did I realize that my face was already covered in tears. Daniel grew anxious, ignoring the doctor’s obstruction, trying to sit up to wipe my tears. “Sophie, don’t be sad.” “I swear, that Grace whatever is not even a fraction of you. I have no connection to her at all.” “If I had known it would hurt you, I would have never met her.” It felt as if someone had injected poison into my heart. My chest tightened, and I couldn’t breathe. The concern on Daniel’s face was something I had never seen before. Even when I had a severe hemorrhage during childbirth, he had remained calm as if he were an outsider. It turned out he wasn’t calm but indifferent. “Sophie… Sophie…” Daniel broke free from the nurse and sat up frantically, and the bandage on his head began to ooze blood. I raised his phone, pointing it at his face. The moment it unlocked, I snatched the phone back and rushed out of the hospital room. The house in Coastal City, 500,000 in savings, and that sixth-grade son. For eight years, Daniel had treated me like a fool, keeping me in the dark. Today, I had to uncover the truth. 3. I stood in the corridor between two buildings and opened Teacher Harris’s chat. Scrolling through the history messages, I learned that that sixth-grade boy was named Kevin Garcia. In addition to various notifications, there were also transaction records for clothing fees and material fees that Daniel had paid for Kevin Garcia. Daniel was very concerned about Kevin Garcia’s academics. Every time exam results came out, he would chat with Teacher Harris at length. But he hardly ever worried about our daughter, Garcia. I continued searching for Kevin Garcia’s name in his Snapchat, and a profile picture of a snowy mountain popped up. Daniel hadn’t saved her contact, and the chat box displayed her name: Jade Snow. Their exchanges about Kevin had thousands of messages. Jade Snow mentioned that Kevin had a fever, and Daniel replied that he would drive over immediately. Kevin wanted to go to the amusement park, and Daniel explained he would take a day off tomorrow to accompany him. These times, Daniel had told me were for overtime work and socializing, and he couldn’t return home. Jade Snow often showed concern for Daniel’s health, urging him not to eat greasy food and to take walks more often. Daniel would send some photos for her to comment on. Their conversations were more intimate and casual than that of an average couple. Daniel Wilson didn’t save her contact. The chat window showed her Snapchat name, Jade Snow. They mentioned that Kevin Garcia’s chat history had over ten thousand messages. Jade Snow said Kevin had a fever, and Daniel replied that he would drive over right away. Kevin wanted to go to the amusement park, and Daniel said he would take a day off tomorrow to take him. In Daniel’s words, this time was for overtime work and socializing, so he couldn’t go home. Jade Snow often checked in on Daniel’s health, reminding him not to eat greasy food and to go out for walks. Daniel would send her some photos for her feedback. Their conversation was even more intimate than that of an average couple. There were countless messages from Daniel transferring money to Jade Snow, with each amount in the thousands. He handed over his salary to me every month, so how could he have so much money? I found his bank card linked to Snapchat, and indeed, there were two cards I had never known about. No wonder Daniel had been with the company for ten years, earning a salary of 6,000 that had never increased. It turned out bonuses and performance pay were being used for something else. All these years, he had always complained about being poor in front of me. I never had the heart to blame him and even left him 2,000 for living expenses. All household expenses were deducted from my salary first; he wouldn’t even spare money to buy a bottle of toner. Going through his chat records with Jade Snow, Daniel never mentioned his brain tumor, and he rarely even talked about headaches. The most recent chat was from yesterday. He said he would be very busy these days and asked Sophie to take care of herself and Kevin. “The house is yours. The quarterly bonus from the company is about to arrive, so keep an eye out for it.” That was the last message Daniel sent. Opening Jade Snow’s Moments, she was either practicing yoga or traveling, seemingly not needing to work, enjoying a leisurely and comfortable life. Her face looked almost unchanged compared to her graduation photo. An absurd thought struck me. Daniel and Sophie were the real loving couple, while I was merely his live-in housekeeper, and I even had to contribute living expenses. Eight years of tolerance and endurance, eight years of time and energy, had resulted in Daniel forgetting and resenting me. What’s more ridiculous is that he even treated me like Sophie, putting on that nauseating display of affection. After enduring ten minutes of cold wind, a nurse finally found me. She said that aside from not recognizing me, Daniel was fine. “Dr. Nelson was afraid of agitating the patient, so he didn’t tell him you are Grace White.” “Ms. White, if you don’t want to stay in the hospital, I suggest you find a 24-hour caregiver. The patient is still very weak and needs someone around.” The nurse seemed to predict that I wouldn’t take care of Daniel personally anymore. I saw my reflection in the glass window. My long hair was messily tied back, and my thin face had particularly prominent dark circles. The ill-fitting white dress made me look even more fatigued and ridiculous. For the past six months, I had been running between the hospital and the company to treat Daniel’s illness, hardly having time to eat. I thought that once he recovered, we would return to being a simple but stable family. Unfortunately, Daniel didn’t think so. Eight years of effort were like Daniel’s brain tumor, already removed and discarded.

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Three months before our wedding, my fiancé Ryan posted on Instagram – photos of his marriage certificate with my adopted sister Chloe, along with pictures of her pregnant belly. The caption read: “Legally welcoming our little bundle of joy.” Chloe commented with a shy emoji. My mom liked the post, commenting: “Once the baby is born, I’ll take care of it so you two can enjoy your time together.” I couldn’t help but reply with a question mark. The next moment, Ryan’s harsh rebuke came at me like a slap in the face. “She’s only borrowing my name for a year of marriage. Once the baby is born, I’ll be back with you.” “Don’t be so petty. My mom also said we should only get our marriage license after you give birth to a son. It works out perfectly – we can have the wedding first and get the license later.” I gave a faint “Mm” in response, then deleted all Instagram posts related to Ryan before posting a new one: “Need a new groom. Who wants to marry me?” Ryan was the first to reply. [Aria Young, are you out of your mind? I’m just marrying her on paper, why are you making such a big deal out of it?] [You don’t seriously think posting on Instagram will make me jealous, do you? That’s laughable. I’m warning you, stop causing trouble over nothing, and don’t you dare give Chloe a hard time.] Chloe quickly followed up on Ryan’s comment. [Sis, Ryan is just trying to help our baby be born legally. I won’t steal him away from you. After you and Ryan get married, my child can call you mom too.] My mom scolded me for being ungrateful. [You get to have a child without going through the pain of childbirth. Chloe is doing you such a huge favor, shouldn’t you be thanking her?] Several comments followed from Ryan’s buddies, all chiming in. [You and Chloe are sisters, so it doesn’t matter which of you Ryan marries, you’re all family anyway. How about Chloe gets him Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and you get Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday!] Everyone was joking and laughing at my expense. I stared at the screen in shock, tears welling up and spilling over onto my phone. They were clearly in the wrong. Yet they had the audacity to turn around and blame me. How ridiculous. These people weren’t worth my tears. I wiped my eyes forcefully and scrolled through the mess of comments. One stood out from the rest. It was from Sean White: “Can I be your new groom?” Sean and I grew up together. After college graduation, I stayed in the city while he chose to study abroad. We’d avoided each other since I started dating Ryan in college. It had been years since we last spoke. As I pondered this, Sean called me directly. “Aria, I’ve liked you for a long time.” “You know I’ve always hated your adopted sister, so I would never have anything to do with her. I don’t have a bunch of shady friends either. These past few years, I’ve been focused on my career and haven’t dated anyone.” As he spoke, I suddenly received a contract. When I opened it, I saw it was the transfer of rights to all his assets and shares. While I was still in shock, Sean nervously said: “Aria, this is all the sincerity I have to offer. Will you give me a chance?” My nose stung with emotion. Suddenly, I remembered when we were kids. Our teacher rewarded us with two candies that Sean loved. He was clearly craving them, but he didn’t eat a single one. He saved both for me. He had always given me his utmost sincerity. I choked up a bit as I said: “I will.” Love had always seemed so elusive. I tried to grasp it, only to end up hurt and scarred. I had thought… I had thought being alone would be fine. But my grandmother’s dying wish was to see me married, to know someone would take care of me after she was gone. Ryan wasn’t worthy. But if the groom was Sean, I think Grandma would be truly at ease. Sean’s voice was full of joy. “Then I’ll wrap things up at work and come back to marry you within two weeks.” “Aria, you’ll wait for me and won’t change your mind, right?” His tone held a hint of pitiful pleading. It reminded me of when we were kids and I promised to be his bride when we grew up. I made a sound of agreement. Suddenly I felt the urge to cry. “Sean, let’s pinky swear on it.” After hanging up, my mom pushed open my bedroom door. “Where’s that sapphire necklace your father left you before he died?” I remained silent, not answering. Mom frowned in displeasure. “What’s with that attitude? Your sister just thought it was pretty and wanted to borrow it for a few days. Hurry up and get it out, don’t be so stingy!” Chloe hung on Mom’s arm, saying dejectedly: “It’s okay, Mom. Sis has never seen me as real family. If she doesn’t want to lend it, I won’t force her.” “She wouldn’t dare refuse! That necklace belonged to my husband, your father. I’m making the decision to give it to you today.” Mom hugged Chloe and glared sternly at me. “If you don’t hand it over, don’t blame me for having people search your room.” I stared at her blankly, my smile more painful than crying. The once gentle and loving mother in my memories. Had ultimately transformed into this harsh, scolding face in reality. But I was about to leave this place forever anyway. I no longer had the heart to argue pointlessly with her. Silently, I took the sapphire necklace out of its velvet box and handed it to her. Mom smiled with satisfaction. “That’s more like it. Chloe is your sister, so you as the older one should let her have the nice things.” After Mom left, Chloe put on the necklace right in front of me. “Sis, don’t blame Mom for favoring me. To be honest, this necklace looks better on me anyway.” “Just like how Ryan is more suitable as my boyfriend.” “What belongs to me, others can never have.” Seeing Chloe’s smug expression, I didn’t say a word. People like her – the more you engage, the more they push it. I picked up my purse and walked past her down the stairs, ignoring her completely. “Ah! Sis, why did you push me…” Chloe suddenly darted in front of me, pretending I had shoved her as she stumbled towards the stairs. I may despise her, but I instinctively reached out to grab her. After all, falling down over 20 steps was no joke. “Aria Young, you vicious woman!” Ryan violently smacked away my hand that was steadying Chloe’s arm. My hand slammed into the railing with a loud “THUD.” The pain instantly brought cold sweat to my brow. “Ryan, thank goodness you came in time, or else I…” Chloe hid in Ryan’s arms, her face streaked with tears and fear. “It’s okay, don’t be scared. I’m here.” Ryan stroked Chloe’s head, comforting her softly. “I won’t let anyone bully you.” I looked at my own hand, already bruising and swollen from the impact. Then I looked at Chloe, who had only gotten a little scare but was being held tight and fussed over by Ryan. Suddenly it all felt so ironic. The boy who once showered me with love and promised to treat me well forever. The man who was supposed to marry me in just three months. How could he have changed his heart so suddenly? After soothing Chloe, Ryan glared at me darkly. “I know you’ve been unhappy about me marrying her and having a baby behind your back. You can take it out on me if you want, since I didn’t tell you beforehand.” “But you can’t hurt Chloe. Her health is fragile, she’s pitiful enough as it is.” “All she wanted was a chance to be a mother. What’s wrong with that? Why should she bear the brunt of your anger?” He pointed at me angrily. “You have to apologize to Chloe today!” I struggled to control my trembling body. Through gritted teeth I asked: “Then what did I do wrong?” “What exactly did I do wrong?” Ryan stared at my reddened eyes, taken aback for a moment. “Never mind, Ryan. Even though I almost fell to my death…” “I don’t blame Sis, and I don’t need her to apologize.” “You two are still getting married in the future. I don’t want you to fight because of me.” Chloe cried pitifully. Ryan sighed, looking at her with tender affection. “Chloe, sometimes your kindness breaks my heart.” He turned to me with cold eyes. “At the end of the day, you’re just jealous of Chloe. You can’t stand to see her doing better than you.” “I’ll let it slide this time since Chloe spoke up for you. But if you dare hurt her again, I won’t go easy on you.” He picked Chloe up in his arms. Before leaving, he looked at me with disappointment and said: “You don’t measure up to your sister at all.” Only I remained in the silent living room. I stared blankly at the withered leaves drifting outside the window. Finally unable to hold back, I crouched down and sobbed into my hands. One last time… This was the last time I would cry over Ryan. That afternoon, Ryan posted on Instagram. It was a 9-photo collage. The photos showed different corners of a house. The caption read: “Every room, every piece of furniture, every decoration here was carefully chosen by me. I just want to give my baby a warm and comfortable home.” Many people offered congratulations in the comments. “Congrats to Mr. Brown on becoming a father so soon!” “So you and Aria are having a shotgun wedding! Congratulations!” “The bride is so lucky to have such a good husband in Ryan. So envious!” “I wouldn’t miss your wedding in three months for a billion-dollar deal.” Just as the comment section was buzzing with well-wishes, Chloe suddenly chimed in: “Please don’t misunderstand, everyone. This isn’t Ryan’s marital home, it’s my house.” The comments section instantly fell into awkward silence. I was the first to break it, posting: “Three’s a crowd. I’m out. Wishing you two happiness.” With that, I couldn’t be bothered to see what else they might say. I directly deleted Ryan and Chloe from my friends list. Within minutes, Ryan called me. “Aria Young, have you had enough of this tantrum?” I calmly replied: “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” Ryan fumed. “That comment you left on my Instagram was clearly trying to smear dirt on Chloe.” “Do you have to paint her as the other woman to be satisfied?” “If you keep slandering her, we can just call off the wedding!” I listened to his cold, heartless accusations, my heart as still as dead water, unmoved. “Ryan Brown, what makes you think I’d still want someone’s sloppy seconds?” I hung up the phone. Perhaps the words “sloppy seconds” stung him. He called me countless times after that. When the calls wouldn’t go through, he bombarded me with messages. I ignored them all. In ten days I would be marrying Sean. These people would all become part of my past. I had hoped to spend the remaining days coexisting peacefully with them, but I never expected Chloe to knock over my father’s urn. The ashes scattered on the floor. Not only did she show no remorse, she even let her pet cat urinate on them. Then she looked at me with glee. “Sis, look! The ashes can even be used as kitty litter for my cat!” In that moment, the grief and rage I had been suppressing exploded. I snatched up the baseball bat by the door and swung it viciously at Chloe. She took one hit and ran away screaming, her face pale. “Aria Young! You’ve really gone too far! How dare you hit your sister!” Mom’s appearance made Chloe feel like she’d found a savior. She hid behind Mom, trembling. Sobbing, she said: “Mom, I’m scared. Sis tried to kill me!” Mom shielded Chloe like a mother hen protecting her chick. She berated me harshly: “I’ve let your bullying of your sister slide before, treating it as harmless squabbling. But this time you’ve gone too far.” She was my mother, yet she always stood against me, defending an adopted daughter with no blood relation to her. Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. I stared at Mom through tear-filled eyes. “She knocked over Dad’s urn!” “That was Dad! My Dad! Why? Why!” Why did they have to destroy the last memento Dad left me, even though I had already been so tolerant? Why didn’t my own mother love me?

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Late at night, I had a car accident while taking the child to the hospital. In a daze, I heard Lucas’s voice. “I used to think she was weak and cold. I loved her so much that I wished I could give her my heart.” “Now, she’s older, her emotions are extremely unstable, and she’s even more difficult than young women like you.” In the haze, I saw a woman standing beside him. That woman is the reason for our constant arguments these days. For nine years, I have been drowning in the past. But I forgot that he is ultimately not the same person. The night before I decided to leave, I burned everything that belonged to the past. I will no longer be obsessed with what has come before. My emotions can be stable too. Later, he crazily questioned me: “Tell me! Who is it that you really love?” I felt confused and detached: “Sir, could you please calm down a little?” 0 When I became conscious, I was still not clear-headed. Lucas’s voice continued to echo in my ears. “The child has such a serious fever; I really don’t know how she cares for him!” “I have never seen such an irresponsible mother.” A few seconds later, I heard a gentle female voice. “Lucas, no matter what, Lina is still Liam’s mother. There isn’t a mother in the world who doesn’t love her child.” “It’s all because of me that you have become like this.” “Now even the child has been affected; you should explain to her that we are not what she thinks we are…” Lucas coldly snorted: “Not all mothers love their children. If she loved her child, would she have gotten into a car accident?” “If she loved her child, would he be burning with fever in the middle of the night?” “She fills her mind with nothing but love and affection, completely neglecting the child.” My consciousness gradually cleared. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Susan. She was back-to-back with Lucas, gathered around Liam’s hospital bed, as if they were a family. My heart suddenly felt a sharp pain. They have long been a family. I am the outsider. When did they get together? Probably three years ago, when Lucas was always abroad. I always thought he was busy with work overseas. Until I saw the chat history between him and Susan on Lucas’s phone. Only then did I realize that they had so much to talk about. Susan is Zach’s ex-girlfriend. My relationship with her is neither good nor bad. It is the kind of relationship where we can exchange a few words when we meet, but if we don’t, we become estranged. Susan loved Zach so intensely that she nearly fell apart when they broke up. I never thought that she and Lucas could get together. I never thought Lucas’s heart could change so easily. Once a person falls into the haze of the past, they become paranoid. I didn’t speak or ask, pretending everything was normal. But emotions that have been suppressed for too long will eventually erupt. In the last year, we started to argue frequently. During our most intense fights, I acted like a madwoman, red-eyed, hitting him, scolding him, questioning him. When emotions surged, I was filled with negative energy. Even when Susan came to explain, I would scold her mercilessly. Susan sent Lucas the screenshots of our chats where I scolded her. Lucas protected Susan as if he were defending his own mother. He was afraid that Susan would suffer even a little grievance from me. For the past month, we haven’t said a word to each other. It seemed calm between us, but there was a silent war brewing beneath the surface. At this moment, the war finally ignited. All my obsessions were obliterated on this battlefield of life and death. I finally recognized the truth. He is no longer the same person. At this moment, Susan coughed a few times. Lucas immediately became very worried: “You just finished your IV; your cough isn’t better yet. I’ll take you back to rest.” Susan replied, “I’m fine. You two have made such a fuss because of me and Lina. I should at least come and explain a bit.” “If she had half your understanding, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” “Lina just loves you too much; her heart is always gentle and kind.” “Now she doesn’t even love the child; her heart has turned cruel.” “I’ll take you back first; don’t let her delay your rest.” I thought he came to the hospital because of Liam. It turns out he came to accompany Susan, who was sick, and happened to check on his son. He is so angry now, not because he is worried about his son. It is simply because I and the child have caused him trouble. A father who has reached this point is truly something else. He still has the nerve to blame me. I was just about to speak and tell them to get lost. But I heard my son’s weak voice: “Dad, my mom loves me very much.” My throat suddenly tightened. I have become a clown in my marriage. Everyone seems to want to drive me crazy. The one defending me is such a small child. 0

Tears welled up in my eyes. I really feel useless. Isn’t it just a man? What can’t I afford to lose? “Lucas, don’t fight with Lina for a divorce; divorce will only hurt the child.” Lucas coldly sneered: “Having a mother like her around Liam is harming him.” Susan interjected: “This is indeed too much of a psychological burden on the child. Liam has a fever; maybe it’s Lina trying to win you back. She really loves you. Don’t make the child suffer; he’s too pitiful.” “Besides, the Lina Family has just gone bankrupt. If you divorce her now, it’s like stabbing a knife into her heart. You should try to live well with her and don’t let it be because of me…” Lucas interrupted her: “Did you forget how she scolded you before, how she made you depressed?” Susan fell silent for a moment and sighed: “It’s all in the past. She just loved you too much, which made her act so extreme.” “I am indeed a pretty disgusting person. To provoke Zach, I deliberately got close to you. When I was sad and in pain, I always confided in you. It was my fault to play both sides between you and Zach; it has nothing to do with Lina.” Lucas responded, “Susan, you’re not wrong. I willingly became your tool. It’s Lina who is unreasonable and lacks compassion, which is why you became so severely depressed.” Susan shed tears, her voice choked: “I became depressed because of Zach’s ruthlessness; it has nothing to do with Lina. Lucas, don’t blame her.” Lucas sighed. “At this point, you’re still helping her? Does she understand your kindness?” “Don’t cry; it’s not good for your eyes. I’ll take you back.” In a moment, their voices gradually faded away. I slowly opened my eyes, looking at their backs. Lucas half-hugged Susan, tenderly wiping her tears. Their retreating footsteps felt like sharp blades, piercing directly at me. My head suddenly throbbed with intense and rapid pain, as if it wanted to tear me apart. This pain had appeared not long ago, leading to my car accident. I curled up, unable to tell whether it was physical pain or psychological pain. I just felt that the pain made me wish to die and subconsciously shouted Lucas’s name. Just like a drowning person nearing death, instinctively trying to grab a lifeline. Lucas’s footsteps paused. But he didn’t look back at me for even a glance. Susan wanted to turn back but was pulled away by Lucas. My last bit of hope was completely shattered. Darkness instantly enveloped me. The last bit of light disappeared from my vision. Just before I fell into a coma again, I saw someone rushing towards me. I tried hard to open my eyes wide, wanting to see his face clearly, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see clearly. 0

“Lina…” His voice was so distant. As if it came from another world. But when it reached my ears, it was deafening. “Don’t look back; I’m not here…” For nine years, I finally accepted a fact. The person who once turned everything upside down for me had long died that bleak winter day. I looked at my rotting, irreparable self. Finally understood. I can no longer see the past. Everything should come to an end. The person who loved me as if his life depended on it. I will never see him again. 0

When I opened my eyes again. Liam was lying by my hospital bed, fast asleep. I raised my hand and gently stroked his hair. He is not the biological child of Lucas and me. In the first two years of marriage to Lucas, we didn’t have any children. I went to the hospital for a check-up, but it was my problem. The doctor said it would be very difficult for me to get pregnant, perhaps I would never be able to have children in this life. The Lu family initially maintained a superficial harmony. Slowly, they began to become dissatisfied with me. They would tell everyone that I couldn’t bear children, that I didn’t deserve to be a woman. They openly and secretly looked for new marriage candidates for Lucas. Lucas is the only son of the Lu family; he cannot have no children. I didn’t want to delay him, nor did I want us to eventually grow to dislike each other. So I took the initiative to propose a divorce. I thought my fate with him would end here. I went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor informed me that I had fertility issues, suggesting that I might never have children in this lifetime. At first, the Lu family maintained a facade of harmony. Gradually, however, their dissatisfaction with me grew. They openly and covertly sought new marriage prospects for Lucas, the only son of the Lu family, who certainly wanted children. I didn’t want to hold him back, nor did I want us to end up resenting each other. So, I took the initiative to propose a divorce, thinking that my relationship with him would come to an end there. But Lucas firmly chose me, insisting that his love wouldn’t waver just because we couldn’t have children. He bravely faced family pressure and we adopted a child together, naming him Liam—combining our surnames. He publicly declared his love for me. If I had to pinpoint when I completely fell for Lucas, it would probably be the moment he brought Liam home. Looking at the five-year-old Liam before me, I suddenly felt a rush of emotion. Three years ago, during the ordeal with Susan and Lucas, I tried my hardest to be accommodating and to heal myself. Every time I thought about giving up on our relationship, seeing Liam made me choose silence, asking nothing and saying nothing. All these years, I’ve been moving forward piece by piece. I always believed this couldn’t be our ending. Yet, the conclusion seemed already written; no matter how I tried to navigate it, I was destined for a dead end. A familiar pain began to throb in my head, and my heart ached as well. I glanced at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face once again. At that moment, someone walked in. “Don’t cry just yet. Although there’s a shadow in your brain, it’s not malignant; surgery can fix it,” said Zach, Susan’s devoted ex, now in a white coat, standing by my hospital bed with a teasing tone. A group of interns followed him, laughing at his words. Their laughter echoed around me, creating a chaotic noise. I numbly joined in their laughter. What could be more important than life and death? My joys and sorrows, my fleeting love seemed so trivial at that moment. 0

The commotion in the ward woke Liam up. He blinked sleepily, then looked at me with confusion. “Mom, you’re awake?” His little face was filled with delight. He was about to leap into my arms when Zach caught him, saying, “Your mom needs to rest.” He checked his watch. “Just in time to get off work; Uncle will take you to eat.” Glancing out the window, I realized it was already evening. I had been unconscious for so long. Yet, I still had no one to care for me. Liam was reluctant to leave with Zach. He broke free and ran toward me, leaning against the bed and looking up at me with his bright eyes. “Mom, I want to stay with you; I won’t disturb your rest.” His gaze was so pure, filled with expectation yet cautious. My heart ached, and I gently hugged him. “Alin, why don’t you go eat with Uncle?” Liam shook his head. “No.” “Why not?” “Everyone has someone with them, but Mom has no one; I want to stay with Mom.” His simple words weighed heavily on my heart. He was so small, yet so understanding. Yet, in the Lu family, no one loved him. I rested my chin on his little shoulder, and in the blink of an eye, tears fell. Though he wasn’t my biological child, he had long been a part of my life. “Mom, are you feeling unwell?” “Mom is fine.” “Don’t be afraid, Mom; I can take care of you; I can do it.” I nodded, tears streaming down like rain. After a long moment, I swallowed my sobs and tried to sound relaxed. “Is it okay to go eat with Uncle?” Liam was silent for a moment before nodding. “Okay.” He lifted his head and kissed my face. “Mom, don’t cry; I love you, I really love you.” I didn’t want to cry in front of him, but his understanding touched me deeply. Liam took a tissue and carefully wiped my tears, comforting me like an adult. “Mom is fine; I’m here for everything.” I held him close, shaking my head repeatedly. “I’m sorry; Mom will manage her emotions better in the future.” 0

When Zach brought the food over, I sat in a daze, my mind swirling with memories of the past years. It wasn’t until Zach waved his hand in front of my eyes that I snapped back to reality. He opened the small table on the hospital bed and placed the food on it. While opening the thermal container, he said, “I’ve sent Liam to a house near my hospital; someone is taking care of him, so don’t worry.” Zach was always cautious and responsible in his work. Leaving Liam with him was far more reassuring than leaving him with Lucas. I nodded. “Thank you.” Zach handed me chopsticks. “It’s nothing.” I took the chopsticks, but I had no appetite and only ate a couple of bites before losing interest. I looked up at Zach. “Aren’t you going back?” Zach joked, “I couldn’t stand seeing you look so pitiful, so I came to keep you company.” On the surface, he was joking, but I could tell he genuinely felt sorry for me. My father favored my brother, and my mother preferred my sister. They were a happy family of four, while I was just an outsider. Now, my family had gone bankrupt, and my parents jumped off a building together. They had long arranged an escape route for themselves, leaving my brother and sister to flee smoothly. Only I was left behind, abandoned with no one caring. Those relatives and friends from the past either took advantage of my misfortune or distanced themselves, showing no warmth. Now, I was facing Lucas’s blatant betrayal, alone in the hospital when I needed support the most. Who could witness this and not feel pity? But none of this mattered to me. I smiled. “I’m not pitiful at all.” Zach shook his head, looking down at my barely touched food, somewhat dissatisfied. “I made this myself, and you’ve only eaten a few bites?” I was surprised. “You can cook?” Zach replied, “What do you think?” I lowered my gaze. In the past, when I simply had a cold and lacked appetite, Lucas would personally cook to coax me into eating. He would notice my slightest change in mood. But ever since he got involved with Susan, he stopped caring about my feelings. Now, after nearly dying in this car accident, he remained indifferent. Entangled for two years, married for seven—nine years didn’t compare to a single Susan. Now we felt like strangers; it was truly laughable. Probably sensing that I was off, Zach tilted his head to look at me. “What’s wrong?” When no one asked me, I felt that everything was bearable. But at that moment, when Zach inquired, my eyes suddenly stung. Zach sighed, sat by the hospital bed, and wiped my tears again. “Please don’t cry; I can’t stand seeing women cry.” I pushed his hand away and took a bite of rice, eating silently. Zach watched me for a few moments before saying seriously, “It’s just a man; is it really worth it?” I swallowed my food. “I know it’s not worth it.” “You don’t understand; he’s done this to you, and you haven’t even considered giving up.” I poked at the rice in my bowl. “People aren’t lifeless; feelings don’t just vanish; there’s a process to letting go.” “I never believed someone like Susan could be more important than me.” “Now, it all seems irrelevant.” Zach didn’t respond, and I didn’t press further. Susan was his ex, and no matter what, she would always hold a more significant place in his heart than I did. Why should I make things harder for myself? 0

In the midst of the awkward silence, there was suddenly commotion outside the door. I looked up and saw Lucas walking in, holding Susan in his arms. It felt strange. In the past, the slightest sight of him with her would send my emotions into a whirlwind. But now, I felt surprisingly calm. I even thought their arrival alleviated the tension between Zach and me. I lowered my eyes and continued eating, ignoring Susan’s chatter. It was Zach who spoke first. “Isn’t it quite enjoyable to meddle in someone else’s marriage?” Susan broke free from Lucas’s grasp and hurriedly explained, “Lucas and I have nothing; Zach, you know who I love the most, right?” Zach smiled and nodded. “Yes, it’s because you love me so much that you hooked up with Lucas to find out about my situation, to comfort yourself.” Susan’s eyes turned slightly red. “So, you’ve always known my condition was bad? How much I wanted you, how much I loved you…” Zach stood up, interrupting her with a sneer. “You’re indeed in a bad state, bad enough to call Lucas ‘husband.’” “I really want to know, what does it mean to call my good brother ‘husband’?” As soon as Zach finished speaking, both Lucas and Susan turned their gazes toward me. Zach nodded with a hint of humor. “Right, you love me too much, so you flirted with Lucas just to find out how I’ve been doing and to comfort yourself.” Susan’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “So, you always knew I was in a bad place? How much I miss you, how much I love you, to the point of… Ṱŭ̀⁵…” Zach stood up, interrupting her mockingly. “You’re in such bad shape that you’re calling Lucas ‘husband.’” “I’m curious, what do you mean by calling my close friend ‘husband’?” As soon as Zach said that, both Lucas and Susan turned their gazes towards me. I had secretly looked at Lucas’s phone and seen those chat histories. They must have assumed this was information I shared with Zach. But I had never told anyone. Because revealing such things would make me look ridiculous. Susan cried out, “Zach, you know that was just to provoke you! I…” Zach retorted, “Are you about to go and play the victim again to win Lucas’s sympathy?” Susan’s face went pale. “What?” “Is this amusing to you, Susan?” “I was just joking around, and you took it seriously?” “No matter what you and Lucas have going on, I couldn’t care less. I actually think you’re beneath me.” Staggering slightly, Susan weakly insisted, “I really have nothing with Lucas…” Zach sneered. “You really do talk like a rogue.” “You’ve turned into the other woman, yet you still claim to love me.” “Is this some twisted version of love?” “If you have nothing better to do, maybe you should go see a psychiatrist instead of living in your own fantasies all day.” Susan was left speechless by Zach’s words. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly said, “You like Lina.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement of certainty. I paused slightly, then laughed. To play along with Susan’s comment, I said lightly, “Zach, your cooking is too bland.” As I said this, I set my chopsticks down and looked faintly at Susan. Zach kept his head down, ignoring my comment. Seeing that Zach didn’t refute her, Susan got furious and pointed at my face, scolding me, “You really have no shame! You’ll do anything to get back at me; have you never seen a man in your life?” “No wonder your parents never loved you; a person like you doesn’t deserve love.” “You deliberately told Zach about my chat history with Lucas just to stir up trouble, didn’t you?” “With that kind of vengeful spirit, it’s no wonder Lucas doesn’t love you! What man would want someone like you?!” “You can’t stand it when others are happy; your heart is truly poisonous!” Not everyone in this world possesses self-awareness. Many accuse others of their own faults. I scoffed. “To be honest, if I hadn’t looked at those chat histories, I wouldn’t have known how flirty you are with men behind the scenes.” “It’s no surprise Zach doesn’t want you; someone like you is simply unappealing.” “Only Lucas wouldn’t be picky and would settle for someone as cheap and pretentious as you.” Struck at a sore point, Susan’s lips quivered with rage. She raised her hand, about to slap me. I grabbed a bowl and threw it directly at her, hitting her hand and splattering rice all over her face. Susan instantly looked disheveled, her expression twisted as she lunged to hit me. But Zach intercepted her. “That’s enough, Susan!” Saying this, he forcibly pulled the frantic Susan out of the room. Her crazed curses echoed outside the hospital room. It took a while for the noise to finally die down. The hospital room became quiet at last. In that moment, I noticed Lucas had been standing there the whole time. He hadn’t left, hadn’t spoken, nor made any movement. Only his gaze was cold, filled with anger. “You looked at my phone; I won’t hold it against you, but then you went and told Zach the details. Lina, how bored are you?” “Flirting with Zach? Do you think you can get revenge this way?” “The Zhou family won’t look at someone like you, a leech from a bankrupt family, and Zach definitely won’t want second-hand goods.” I snorted. “Of course Zach wouldn’t want second-hand goods; only you would.” Seeing my indifference, Lucas slowly approached me. The anger in his eyes was almost palpable. “Lina, I wouldn’t even consider you second-hand; think about how terrible you’ve become.” “Look at you now; what part of you could interest a man?” “A woman like you is truly hopeless.” His words struck me hard. All those unresolved past grievances hit me like a torrential summer rain. Dousing any remaining passion I had. For nine years, I had been drowning in the past. I had given Lucas a soul he never possessed. I just forgot; he ultimately isn’t who I thought he was. I gazed out at the myriad lights beyond the window. In that moment, all my obsessions slipped away. “Lucas, let’s get a divorce.” 0

Lucas probably never thought I would one day bring up divorce. He knows me too well. I’m someone who finds it hard to adapt to anything at first, but once adapted, I can’t let go. Feelings are the same. In the beginning, I didn’t accept him, but once I did, I wouldn’t leave. Over the years, he hurt me time and again. But I never turned against him, nor did I show any signs of wanting to leave. Now, however, I casually said the word divorce. He looked displeased, his expression darkening. “Divorce? Do you think I, Lucas, am someone you can just marry and divorce at will?” Lucas gently pinched my chin, forcefully turning my face to make me look at him. “Lina, I told you before, marry me, and you can forget about leaving for the rest of your life.” After saying this, he let go of my face. He turned and walked away. As if he was escaping, or perhaps utterly annoyed. He knows me well. And how could I not know him? I am the one he spent so much time and energy pursuing. His feelings were once all invested in me. I never doubted his love for me. But nine years is simply too long. Now I’m to him tasteless, but a pity to discard. He wouldn’t divorce me, but he also wouldn’t love me like before. Now, my family is bankrupt, and I have lost everything. At the moment I most needed to rely on him, I proposed divorce. This must have insulted Lucas. He is such a proud person; how could he tolerate me proposing divorce as someone he looks down upon? But I went ahead and proposed it; how could he not be angry? Once the decision is made, I won’t look back. Just like when I decided to marry him, I never thought of leaving. I got up and opened the window, letting the cold air surround me. A black car came into view. Lucas was leaning against it, smoking. But after only a few puffs, he clutched his chest, bent over, and collapsed to the ground. From a distance, his gaze turned towards me, motionless. The distance was too far; I couldn’t see his expression clearly. Just as I couldn’t grasp the complexities between us. 0

I watched the medical staff below hurry to gather. Then they pushed Lucas into the hospital. I thought I would forgive everything again and immediately rush to his side. After all, that heart had been cared for by me for nine years. That was the only remnant left by a deceased person in this world. But I didn’t move. Nine years. The seasons cycle, everything renews. Everything is no longer as it used to be. That heart no longer has his spirit. Lucas didn’t even have a rejection reaction. It had long become a part of Lucas’s body. It had his essence. It wouldn’t hurt because of my sadness. It wouldn’t only beat for me. So, I wouldn’t want it anymore. When I saw Susan crying as she followed Lucas’s moving bed, I could even tease and take a photo to send to Zach. “Your ex is crying so sadly; did you hurt her heart again?” “Lucas is going to heartbrokenly comfort your ex again.” It took Zach a while to respond. “Don’t send me these.” “I don’t want to see them, nor am I interested.” I: “?” “There won’t be anything between Lucas and her.” “The reason you and Lucas have come to this point lies within yourselves.” “If Lucas really loved you, he wouldn’t have entangled with other women.” “You don’t need to blame everything on her.” “And don’t use me to provoke anyone.” “I don’t want to be a part of your drama.” I was stunned for a long time. Before I understood what Zach was saying. I have to admit, Susan is quite powerful. Not only can she charm Lucas with just a few words, but she can also pull Zach into her camp in an instant.

The next day, Lucas was sent back to my side. Zach did not show up. Even the doctor in charge of me was changed. I tried to call to ask about the situation, but found I had been blocked by Zach. WeChat was also deleted. Looking at the red exclamation mark on the screen, I sighed softly and dejectedly put down my phone. A sudden wave of indescribable loss welled up in my heart. People always overestimate their importance in others’ hearts. He and Lucas are childhood friends, brothers. He and Susan are old loves, red dust… What do I count for? The next day, Liam was sent back to my side. Zach didn’t show up. Even the doctor in charge of my care was changed. When I called to inquire about what was happening, I discovered that I had been blocked by Zach. SnapChat had also been deleted. I stared at the red exclamation mark on my screen. With a soft sigh, I dejectedly set my phone down. An indescribable sense of loss suddenly surged in my heart. People often overestimate their significance in the lives of others. He and Lu Tinghan are childhood friends, like brothers. He and Susan are old flames, past loves… What do I count as? I’m not even a true friend to him. He truly only feels pity for me. That’s why he shows me that meager kindness. A heavy weight settled in my chest; I ultimately couldn’t remain detached. Since my birth, only two people have steadfastly stood by my side. One is him from my memories, and the other is Lu Tinghan. And now, I only have Liam. Only Liam remains. I glanced at the time; it was close to when Liam got out of school. Although I had arranged everything well for him, with someone specifically taking care of him, I truly missed him now. I changed clothes and went to pick up Liam from school. As I passed by a hospital room, I overheard the voices of the Lu family. “If you really like that Susan, then marry her.” “Your dad and I don’t care so much anymore, we just hope you’re happy.” “I told you long ago, without a biological child between two people, living together won’t work, but you wouldn’t believe it!” “If she can’t have children, she can’t understand the true feelings of being a mother; how much can a woman who hasn’t even had a child love you?” “Liam is not your biological child; how can the Lu family’s century-old foundation be handed over to an outsider?” “Listen, Lucas, if Lina is causing this scene now, and Liam is protecting her, when you’re old, will the Lu family still value your opinion?” “A child must be biological to be valuable, understand?” Although the Lu family has long looked down on me, hoping for me to divorce Lu Tinghan, I didn’t expect they could even accept Susan. Susan is Zach’s ex, and the Zach family looks down on her. Zach doesn’t think much of Susan either. The most image-conscious Mrs. Lu is actually willing to accept someone even the Zach family disregards. This shows how far they are willing to compromise for a grandchild. VIP hospital rooms are scarce. My room isn’t far from Lu Tinghan’s. But not a single person from the Lu family has come to see me. One can only imagine how much they detest my presence. I think that even if I had died in that car accident, no one would mourn for me; they would even applaud. At night, I waited at the entrance of the Lu family home for Mr. and Mrs. Lu. They seemed surprised to see me. But soon, their faces shifted to contempt. To them, people like me have always been beneath notice. Moreover, currently, their son doesn’t regard me favorably. They wouldn’t bother to give me a proper look. Mr. and Mrs. Lu had no intention of acknowledging me and walked straight into the house. I didn’t care about their attitude and calmly spoke: “I want a divorce.” Hearing the word “divorce,” Mrs. Lu immediately stopped, looking at me in shock. “What?” I met her gaze: “I said, I want a divorce.” Compared to Mrs. Lu’s shock, Mr. Lu’s reaction was more subdued. Mr. Lu said in a deep voice: “What are the conditions?” As expected from someone experienced in high-pressure situations, he remained calm and direct. I didn’t beat around the bush: “With your power, it shouldn’t be difficult to obtain the divorce certificate directly without going through Lu Tinghan, right?” Mr. Lu frowned, thought for a moment, and replied: “Lu Tinghan’s condition is unstable now; I can’t risk triggering him.” I laughed. “If you don’t agree, I have a thousand ways to provoke him.” “Don’t forget, I’m also a doctor; I understand the psychological state of patients very well.” “Especially Lu Tinghan’s condition.” Mr. Lu’s emotions wavered slightly; he glared at me angrily: “If something happens to Lu Tinghan, I won’t let you off easily.” I replied calmly: “Those without shoes don’t fear those wearing them. Mr. Lu, my patience is limited. Within three days, I want the divorce certificate and the assets I deserve.” “Otherwise, I won’t let Lu Tinghan have it easy.” “His heart was replaced by me, and I personally cared for it. I can easily make him wish he were dead.” After saying that, I turned to leave. The cold night wind swept in, and the moon hung high against the dark sky. I looked up at the deep, silent night sky of the villa neighborhood. Everything was quiet, like the conclusion of my life. Mr. and Mrs. Lu’s efficiency in handling things was impressive. Two days later, the divorce certificate was delivered to me. A sum of money also entered my account, enough for Liam and me to live without worries for the rest of our lives. Their only requirement was to keep it confidential and not let Lu Tinghan know about it in the short term. I agreed. As long as I could escape this marriage, it didn’t matter how. On the day of my discharge, I passed by Lu Tinghan’s hospital room. I saw Susan crying again. Lu Tinghan, as always, gently comforted her. “Don’t cry, Susan; I won’t divorce Lina. She just wants to be with Zach; it’s just a dream.” “Zach will always be yours.” “Zach can find anyone, but it can’t be Lina.” “When I’m better, I will make Lina apologize to you.” Susan cried so hard she could barely speak. “Zach has blocked all my contact information.” “He won’t have anything with Lina, but he doesn’t want me either.” “He’s just such a rational, clear-headed, and cold person.” “He keeps others’ matters at a distance, while handling his own decisively.” “His heart is both cold and hard; he won’t love me anymore…” So, it turns out, Zach cut all ties. Not just blocking me. I always thought he was a cold exterior but warm inside kind of person. Now it seems he’s cold inside and out. Now, the only thing Susan can hold onto is Lu Tinghan. Even if she doesn’t love him. With Lu Tinghan’s affection, she will live carefree for a lifetime. I was once someone who was cherished by Lu Tinghan. I know how intense his affection can be. Susan’s character is softer than mine, better at capturing a man’s heart, and more emotionally stable than I am. Lu Tinghan probably will never tire of her. I quietly exit the scene, allowing him and Susan to be together. This can be seen as a kindness, a good deed. After all, I have treated him as a stand-in for so many years; I’m not a good person either. Why should I make myself appear to be the victim? Just as Zach said, the fact that Lu Tinghan and I have come to this point is due to our own choices. Even if those reasons are unknown to others, they are indeed unrelated to Susan. I looked at the hospital’s stark white corridor. Slowly, I stepped away. In the deep night, I returned to the West River Moon villa. This is where Lu Tinghan and I became intimate; it is our home. A gust of wind blew, bringing the scent of medicine to my face. Not far away, the medicinal herbs I planted with my own hands swayed in the wind. These are what I used to make medicinal meals for Lu Tinghan. Nine years ago, I personally performed a heart transplant for him. From being a hospital doctor to becoming his private doctor, and finally his wife. I know his physical condition very well. I even went out of my way to learn about traditional Chinese medicine, consulting experts about the precautions for medicinal meals. As long as he is in the country, I basically cook his three meals a day. Over the years, under my careful care, his heart has remained very healthy. Even when Susan appeared, I didn’t mind. I thought I could continue, but I ultimately overestimated my tolerance. I still remember that day. I saw he looked unwell, so I made him medicinal meals to bring over. When I arrived at his company, he was in a meeting. I waited for him in his office. By the time I fell asleep, he still hadn’t shown up. As dusk approached, I groggily woke up. But the room was still empty. I sent him a message, but it sank without a trace. I went downstairs to prepare to leave but saw Lu Tinghan just getting out of the car not far away. And in the front passenger seat, Susan got out. Susan’s eyes were red, draped in his suit jacket. She looked particularly pitiful and weak. Lu Tinghan didn’t see me, half-embracing Susan as they walked toward the company. I hid in the cool night wind, the medicinal meal in my hand had long since turned cold. My heart also froze at that moment. I suddenly laughed. It’s no wonder Lu Tinghan would change his heart; over the years, I’ve cared for him like a servant, which is really dull. I picked up a shovel and completely destroyed all the medicinal herbs. Then, I went inside and cleared out everything related to me. I piled them on top of the destroyed herbs. After carefully checking that nothing was missed, I took out a lighter and set it on fire. The fire ignited with a whoosh. Burning brighter and brighter, as if it wanted to burn the past to ashes. I took out that red divorce certificate. Threw it into the raging fire. Everything is over. I came here with high hopes. Leaving with a heart like dead ashes. In the firelight, I took out my phone and blocked and deleted everyone’s contact information. Then, I entered the house and cleared out everything related to me. It was piled on top of the ruined medicinal materials. After carefully checking to ensure nothing was overlooked, I took out a lighter and lit it. The fire ignited with a whoosh. It grew larger and larger, as if it wanted to completely burn away the past. I took out the red divorce certificate. I tossed it into the roaring flames. Everything was over. When I arrived, I was filled with hope. When I left, my heart felt like cold ashes. In the flickering light of the fire, I pulled out my phone and deleted all of my contacts. I walked step by step out of this place where I had lived for many years. Finally, I also walked away from my unspoken obsession. — Late at night. Southern City Cemetery. I stood in front of Gavin’s tombstone for what felt like an eternity. In the photo on the tombstone, he still looked handsome and full of life. Time flies so quickly; in the blink of an eye, it had been nine years. I never imagined I would leave after marrying Lucas. I wanted to stay like this for a lifetime. Even if he changed his heart, even if he didn’t come home every day. As long as I could be by his side, that was enough. I don’t know when I started to become emotionally unstable. I also don’t know when I began to feel like a neurotic. At this moment, facing Gavin’s tombstone, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and melancholy. My heart had long ceased to be pure. I couldn’t even tell if I loved Gavin or Lucas. If it was Gavin, what would the ending have been? Memories of the past seemed to find a gap at this moment, flashing scenes of him before my eyes. “I don’t need you to be overly kind; just don’t be a bad person, and that’s enough.” “I’m here; I will always be here.” “Unless I die, I will love you forever.” “Even if I die, I will donate my heart so that it can beat for you forever.” His clear yet fragile voice echoed from a distant memory. I slowly sat down on the ground, resting my head against his tombstone. Memory is strange. All the moments between me and Gavin felt as vivid as if they had happened just yesterday. Yet the nine years I spent with Lucas felt faint and dull, as if a hundred years had passed. But I clearly hadn’t thought about the past in a long time. That dark chapter of my life was peeled away in my memory. I am the lost daughter of the Lina Family. In their grief, my parents adopted a girl named Lindsay to comfort the pain of losing their daughter. I was found when I was already fifteen years old. Though I am the legitimate daughter of the Lina Family, it was Lindsay they raised. Fifteen years is not fifteen days. Their feelings for Lindsay had long been deeply rooted. My parents, my brother. They all loved Lindsay, even though she wasn’t a member of the Lina Family. My return severely affected Lindsay. Lindsay hated me; she thought if I hadn’t come back, she would be the only daughter of the Lina Family, never knowing she was adopted. She could enjoy everything from the Lina Family without question. The Lina Family pampered Lindsay, treating her like their own daughter since she was little, never telling her the truth about her background, fearing it would affect her growth. But because of my arrival, all that beauty was shattered. Lindsay fell from being a rich young lady to being an adopted daughter. Many people laughed at her. She didn’t dare to speak out or act out; she just hid away and cried in secret. When the Lina Family saw her cry, they felt very sorry for her, taking her on trips to cheer her up, buying her gifts, and even publicly announcing that she would receive five percent of the Lina Family shares. Seeing that her family still spoiled her, Lindsay felt no affection for me, the biological daughter. So she began to plot against me. She made the Lina Family hate me more and more. I often heard my mom say to my dad: “It would have been better if she had died outside when she was little; then I would always remember her. Now that she has come back, we’re strangers, and we can never become a family. Her personality is so strange and annoying; no one wants to care for her.” “How can I love her? Just seeing her is enough; every cell in my body hates her existence.” “Just standing there annoys people.” They only knew I had a strange personality. But they didn’t know why I formed such a character. If everyone could grow up like Lindsay, surrounded by love, I think anyone would be gentle and likable. I thought that when I could be self-sufficient, I would completely leave the Lina Family. However, Lindsay could not wait for me to leave on my own. She was always afraid of being replaced by me. When I was in university, Lindsay bribed a human trafficker to sell me abroad. — Abroad, I experienced unprecedented torment. I was nearly dying there. But my parents did not come to rescue me. With a determination to die, I escaped from the compound, not knowing how many bones I broke when I jumped down from the high wall. When I was caught and brought back, I didn’t know how many organs were injured. I never thought about retreating unscathed. Even if I was injured, even if I was disabled, even if I was half dead, I still wanted to escape. I tried to escape time and time again, only to be caught again. Just when I was despairing to the point of dying. On a night when heavy snow was falling. In my dark life, a savior appeared. Gavin; at this moment, he still shone brightly in my memory. He saved me, cooperating with international police to take down the compound’s lair. I returned safely to my country. I had too many injuries on my body, and it took a long time to recover. However, I could no longer be a mother. This was something trivial to me. I never thought about marriage or having children; I had no expectations at all for marriage. I just didn’t expect that Gavin would like such a broken version of me. He picked up my pieces, bit by bit. He walked into the depths of my heart. He said it didn’t matter that there were no children; having me as his baby was enough. He understood my indifference and also understood my sincerity. He knew my disguise and understood my fragility. He not only treated me well but also understood my soul. All my dark sides could be laid bare in the sunlight before him. He would not despise me, nor would he make me change; he said all I needed was not to be a bad person. My heart, which felt like dead ashes, began to revive, like a white poplar tree in spring, slowly sprouting green buds. I began to love this world and learned to love and be loved. But heaven is always cruel. Just when I thought I would finally touch the beauty of this world. While he was on a mission, something happened. Before he died, he held my hand and told me to live well. The tender buds of the leaves had just begun to sprout when the tree was cut off at the waist, never to flourish again. How am I supposed to live… My heart was being torn back and forth, faintly burning. The images of losing him were tearing at the boundaries of the old past in my memory. Those heavy nightmares broke through the surface effortlessly. For so many years, I obediently lived on. Striving to make myself ordinary. I hadn’t deliberately remembered him, yet I had never forgotten him. Lucas was not like him. But he was the second person in the world who treated me well. I slowly sealed off the past. At the moment Lucas brought Liam back, the withered tree deep in my heart met spring again. However, the light of spring was too short. When Susan appeared, it quickly turned into a cold winter day, desolate and lifeless. In the end, Lucas and I were left with nothing. A cold wind blew by, and I sniffed. Cold fingers gently brushed against the face on the tombstone. “I’m leaving; maybe I will never come back.” “Take care.” — Three days after I arrived in a foreign country with Liam, a strange number sent me a flurry of messages.

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After getting married, my husband Ethan William and I have always kept our finances very transparent. He once told his friends, “Ella is independent and capable; she never relies on a man. What I love most is her confident demeanor.” Later, his secretary shared on social media, “I wanted him to set up a more personal payment arrangement, but instead he gave me an unlimited supplementary card. What should I do? The Princess has already fallen for the Dragon Slayer.” The pride of the Little Girl practically radiates from the screen. I sighed as I looked at the joyful posts about her finances every day: “How can I reclaim my share of this marital property? I just wonder if Ethan’s Little Girl will end up in tears.” I looked at the photos Mia posted on SnapChat: a Hermès handbag worth over a hundred thousand, a necklace from G Brand, and clothes and shoes from various luxury brands—each piece was exquisite. The comments below were filled with envy: “Mia, your boyfriend treats you so well!” “Truly, boyfriends like that never disappoint.” “Mia, when will you bring him out for us to meet?” Mia quickly posted another photo. In it, the young and charming Mia, wearing a sexy camisole, was hugging a man’s neck, only his chin visible. A dark red lip mark adorned his Adam’s apple—everyone knew what that meant. Mia captioned it: “My hero wants only me to see him; he’s mine.” The comments continued to brim with envy, but only I recognized the man as Ethan, identifiable by the scar on the side of his chin. That scar was from a winter night in college when we were working part-time. He had ridden a bicycle with me through the snow and, to protect me during a fall, injured his chin. Every time he teased me, he would say, “This is the medal of a hero; our Ella must repay me with her body.” I’d blush and bury my face in his embrace. But now, this boy who once protected me had become someone else’s Dragon Slayer, equally brave and captivating. I liked every one of Mia’s posts and commented on their group photo: “What a happy girl! I envy you for having an unlimited secondary card. When will your hero show his face?” I then selected a few of Mia’s photos and sent them to Ethan: “This style of bag and those clothes are too extravagant; they don’t suit your girl.” When Ethan came home, he bore a look of helplessness as he tore off his tie and sank tiredly onto the sofa. “Why are you competing with a girl? She’s just going to a class reunion, afraid others will look down on her, so she borrowed my secondary card for a photo.” What a flimsy excuse; it felt like a lie. I knew Mia didn’t come from a privileged background; she took out loans for university and only had two work outfits when she joined the company. Yet, her youth shone through—a simple white shirt could keep anyone’s eyes glued to her. But it was this girl who had captured Ethan’s heart. Known in the business world for his integrity, he had fallen into the web of affection spun by her, unable to escape. He continued to explain, “Those things were rewards for her hard work, but her posts were somewhat misleading. I’ve already talked to her about it; I’ll make sure she pays attention next time.” I fixed my gaze on his eyes, and when he looked away, I pointed at the photo and asked, “Ethan, how generous you are! A secretary’s hard work earns her a handbag worth over a hundred thousand and a bracelet worth over ten thousand. If this gets out, applicants will be breaking down the door to Gu’s; you truly are a good boss.” Ethan straightened up, frowning at me. “Ella, enough. I said it’s just a misunderstanding. You don’t need to read too much into it; you know I haven’t betrayed you.” “Your comment on her SnapChat today was excessive.” A sharp pain shot through my heart; he was sitting with a girl, the kiss mark still visible on her neck, and he dared to say I was excessive? I thought back to when we had just married; Ethan had said, “Ella, I will always treat you well, and we will grow old together.” That vow, made just a few years ago, had already scattered like leaves in the wind. I handed him a mirror. “Look at the kiss mark on your Adam’s apple, then tell me you haven’t betrayed me? Ethan, you’ve really disappointed me.” He panicked for a moment, knocking the mirror away, shattering it on the ground. “I felt a bit uncomfortable and pressed on it myself, leaving a mark. Don’t be suspicious, Ella. You’ve always been different from other women; why have you changed now?” He stood up, ignoring my questions, and turned to sleep in the guest room. “I don’t want to argue; you should calm down.” The next day, as soon as I arrived at work, Mia walked in with red eyes and a large bag. In front of all the colleagues, she dumped its contents onto my desk. “I’m sorry, Sister Ella. It’s my fault for being thoughtless and posting those things on SnapChat, which made you misunderstand.” “I shouldn’t have let Ethan’s rewards go to my head and posted those random things on SnapChat; I’m truly sorry.” The colleagues watching had no idea what was happening, whispering and pointing outside. I picked up a G Brand bag and smiled, asking, “What great contribution have you made to the company? A reward of over a hundred thousand? Ask those standing outside; they work hard—have they ever received such rewards?” I tossed the bag lightly onto the ground, landing at her feet. “And a jacket worth several thousand?” “A bracelet worth over ten thousand? Mia, how many good deeds have you done to earn daily rewards?” Mia’s face turned pale, tears welling in her eyes. “I… I work hard; how can you doubt me?” The people outside stared at the luxury items on the ground, murmuring louder: “Yeah, why does she deserve that?” “Didn’t you see her SnapChat? She said her boyfriend bought it!” “Is it her boyfriend who bought it, or is it Ethan’s reward? I’m confused.” “Are you stupid? Ethan’s wife has already spoken; what kind of relationship do you think it is? Isn’t that just a mistress?” The mocking laughter from outside reached Mia’s ears; she bit her lip, looking aggrieved. “What are you all doing? Don’t you need to work?” Ethan entered. Mia looked over, and the tears that had been threatening to fall finally rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at her Dragon Slayer with red eyes: “Ethan.” Her voice was pitiful. Ethan glared at me, looking at the items on the ground. “Ella, I told you yesterday it was just a misunderstanding. What’s the point of making things difficult for a girl?” “You scared her; she came here to apologize early in the morning, and now everything is here. Do you feel particularly imposing and proud, outshining everyone as Mrs. William?”

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My sister-in-law and I were pregnant at the same time. After giving birth, she constantly borrowed baby supplies from me. I advised her that every baby is different and needs individual care, but she mocked me for being stingy. Later, she unknowingly took some baby food from me that contained peanuts. Her child had a severe allergic reaction, with throat swelling leading to suffocation and death. In her grief-stricken state, she stabbed me to death. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I gave birth. “Snow, where did you put that pregnancy oil?” My husband had just returned home with a bag when Amber, my sister-in-law, barged in uninvited. Seeing her rummaging through my room, I instinctively shrank back. Just ten minutes ago, I had died at Amber’s hands. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in the late stages of pregnancy. When we first found out we were pregnant, my mother-in-law was grinning from ear to ear, clapping her hands and saying it was a double blessing. Only after reliving this life did I realize that this was the beginning of all misfortune. “Snow, come on, help me look for it!” Amber urged impatiently, searching through my things as if she were in her own home. Taking things from me had become her habit. My nails dug into my palms as I suppressed the hatred welling up inside me, trying to keep my voice calm. “Amber, we’re out of pregnancy oil. If you like it, I can send you the link to buy it later.” She paused and turned to look at me, her tone dissatisfied: “I’m worried about the safety of that pregnancy oil, so I’m just trying to test it out for you. We’re family, why are you being so defensive?” “Besides, you’ve already bought it, why should I buy another one? Isn’t that a waste of money?” This was the excuse she always used when taking things from me. She claimed she was kindly testing things for me, but when something actually went wrong, she took my life without hesitation. Living this life again, I didn’t want to lose my life because of her penny-pinching habits. I tried to reason with her politely: “I just ran out, actually. I feel like my stretch marks have faded quite a bit lately, so I’m not buying any more for now.” Amber’s face changed, a hint of anger in her voice: “If you’re not buying any, what am I supposed to use? Surely Kevin’s not so tight on money?” I feigned confusion: “Can’t you just buy your own? Didn’t Eric just buy a BMW last week? Surely he can afford a bottle of oil.” Hearing this, Amber turned to face me, her tone boastful: “My husband can afford a BMW because I’m frugal and save money wherever I can. Not like you, spending over a hundred dollars on a bottle of oil.” I laughed inwardly. So taking things from me was your way of saving money.

Just as she finished speaking, Kevin came out of the bathroom and opened the door, catching the end of Amber’s words. Acting as if he hadn’t seen her, he handed me the bag he was carrying. A hint of tenderness spread across his face as he kissed my forehead: “You’ve been working hard, honey. I noticed you ran out of oil yesterday, so I stopped by the mall after work and bought you a new bottle. I’ll help you apply it later.” My eyes welled up, and I nuzzled against him affectionately. Actually, Kevin had never supported Amber taking things from me. It was just that I was too soft-hearted and could never refuse Amber’s requests. Kevin never blamed me for it. Instead, he started buying two of everything, worried that I wouldn’t have anything left after Amber took things. A few times when he forgot, Amber would mock him with cold sarcasm, saying he had no sense of responsibility. Causing both families to go without. Kevin was an upright person who wouldn’t argue with a woman, let alone gossip about his brother. He was left red-faced and embarrassed several times by her scolding. Even though it was Amber who was taking things from us, she made both of us hang our heads in shame. The losses I suffered in my previous life, I would pay back in full this time around. Amber had been staring intently at the shopping bag since Kevin entered. Hearing his words, she chimed in again inappropriately: “So you did buy a new one? Kevin’s so generous, willing to spend money on you.” “Let me help you open it.” She started walking towards me. I quickly covered the bag in my hands: “Actually, this is a gift for one of Kevin’s big clients. His wife is pregnant, and Kevin just closed a deal with him, so it’s a bit of a personal favor.” I winked at Kevin: “Right, honey?” Kevin immediately understood my meaning and nodded repeatedly. “That’s right, I was able to meet my target this quarter thanks to that client.” Amber frowned: “What a coincidence?” “How come when I ask to borrow something, you say it’s a gift? You’re not just trying to avoid lending it to me, are you?” I raised my voice, pretending to be angry: “Amber, how can you think that of me? When have I ever refused to give you something you asked for? How about this: I’ll give you this bottle of oil, and if Kevin doesn’t meet his sales target next quarter and doesn’t get his bonus, we’ll just borrow some money from Eric to pay the mortgage. How’s that?” Hearing that we might ask to borrow money from her family, Amber withdrew her outstretched hand. “Forget it, I’m not the kind of person who takes advantage of others.” With that, she hurriedly left, afraid we might ask to borrow money the next second. Hearing the front door close, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Getting rid of her once doesn’t mean getting rid of her for life. Maybe it was due to pregnancy hormones, but after being reborn, I kept having nightmares. The fear of dying under a barrage of knife strikes in my previous life turned into an abyss pulling at my body every night. “Honey, wake up.” I escaped from the nightmare, cold sweat streaming down my body. Kevin’s face gradually came into focus under the bedside lamp, and I finally broke down in tears. I’m not a strong-willed person. Even after being reborn, I could only cautiously deal with Amber. So I spilled everything about my previous life to Kevin. Kevin patted my back soothingly. I cried for a long time before lifting my head from his embrace. “Do you believe me?” Rebirth is such an absurd thing to talk about, I wasn’t sure if Kevin would look at me strangely. Kevin sighed and wiped the sweat from my forehead. “The branch in Sun City has sent transfer orders several times. I’ve been refusing because I was worried about you traveling while pregnant.” “Since that’s the case, let’s move!” The next day, Amber came knocking on our door early in the morning. I opened the door groggily to see Amber reaching out her hand to me. “Give me your car keys. My brother says he wants to go on a road trip.” “Oh, and the gas tank is full, right?” I was still a bit dazed from just waking up. Seeing no response from me, Amber walked right in and sat on our couch, shoes and all. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and give them to me.” I suddenly remembered that in my previous life, Amber had borrowed my car too. Her brother had just graduated from college and was clamoring to go on a road trip to Xinjiang with his classmates. Because I was pregnant and didn’t have much chance to drive, I simply lent it to her. But I never expected Amber to be so presumptuous. Not only did she make me fill up the gas tank, but she also repeatedly asked me to transfer money to her brother for gas during the trip, threatening to abandon the car on the road and make her brother take the high-speed rail back if I didn’t. The car was a wedding gift from my family, so I couldn’t possibly let her abandon it on the road. I had no choice but to give in and send money for gas. When her brother returned, the car was filthy and the seats were badly damaged. When I sent it to the repair shop, Amber disappeared. The next time we met, she didn’t mention compensation at all. I calmly replied: “Didn’t Eric just buy a new car?” “My husband’s car is too expensive to lend to my brother for such a long trip. Your car isn’t worth much, so it’s perfect for him to practice with.” “Don’t you have your own car?” “I need my car too. If I lend it to him, what am I supposed to drive?” I almost laughed at her words. Amber really knew how to be generous with other people’s possessions. “I can’t lend you the car. I’m planning to sell it at the used car dealership tomorrow.” This was true. After discussing moving with Kevin, I had decided to sell the car. Amber was stunned, her tone agitated: “Why are you selling the car?” She looked as if I was selling her car. “The economy’s been tough this year, and our income has dropped. I want to help lighten Kevin’s burden a bit.” “How about this then: wait until my brother gets back from his road trip before you sell it? It won’t make much difference to wait a bit longer.” She spoke reasonably, but I hadn’t forgotten. The sorry state of the car after lending it to her in my previous life meant I would have to sell it at a huge discount even if I could sell it. An idea came to me: “How about this: if your brother really needs a car urgently, I can sell it to him at a discount. What do you think?” “I bought this car for 188,000, and it only has about 10,000 miles on it. I’ll give you a friendly price of 160,000.” Amber fell silent, muttering: “Forget it, forget it. Can’t count on you for anything.” Then she turned and left our house. I watched her retreating back, feeling a sense of satisfaction welling up inside me. It turns out that refusing unreasonable requests from others feels so good!

When Kevin came home that evening, he told me he had accepted the company’s transfer order. In half a month, after handing over his work, we could leave this place. Originally, it would have been most stable for Kevin to stay local. If it weren’t for my constant yielding, it wouldn’t have fueled Amber’s arrogant behavior. From the time we first got married, when she proposed sharing the wedding venue to save money. But she used the venue I had carefully selected to hold her ceremony first. By the time Kevin and I walked down the aisle, the guests had already started to leave. Later, when I was pregnant and bought a lot of supplements due to my poor health, she naturally took some away. Time and time again, taking things from me became a matter of course. If I hadn’t been reborn, I probably would have continued to give in. The next day, just as I was about to drive the car to the used car dealership, I found several deep scratches on the body, as if made by some sharp object. A large patch of paint had also fallen off the surface. I looked around and noticed that the security camera facing the parking spot was blocked by a balloon. It was clearly planned by someone. Just yesterday I said I was going to sell the car, and today this happened. I steadied myself, holding my belly, trying to stay calm. Just as I was about to call the insurance company to report it, Amber came running from afar. When she saw the car, a flash of satisfaction crossed her eyes. “Snow, what happened to your car?” “I don’t know, someone scratched it.” She smirked, her eyes fixed on the car body: “How careless. With the car scratched like this, can you even sell it today?” Seeing her like this, I suddenly wasn’t angry anymore. I waved my hand at her: “It’s fine. Kevin installed a dashcam for safety when I got pregnant. This is clearly malicious damage. Once I send the dashcam footage to the insurance company, they’ll easily find the culprit.” Amber froze. Seeing that I was about to make a call, she panicked and pressed down on my hand: “Snow, don’t be so hasty to call the insurance company. The scratches don’t look that deep. You can just touch up the paint yourself.” I pretended to be angry and raised my voice: “Amber, what are you saying? Malicious damage to someone else’s property is a crime. It could even lead to jail time. How can I let someone like that continue to commit crimes? Besides, with the car scratched like this, I probably can’t get a good price even if I sell it.” Hearing me mention crime, Amber’s face turned even paler:

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My sister has always been strange. She often tells me that her future self has called her on the phone. Everyone thinks she’s gone mad. Only I understand that she’s not lying. 0 In elementary school, my sister was the tallest in her class, so she often helped the teacher maintain discipline. One day, a new student transferred to their class. His name was “Stinky”. The teacher publicly instructed the class, saying that Stinky had been in a car accident and suffered brain damage that hadn’t fully healed. She encouraged everyone to take extra care of him. The students all chorused “Okay,” but undercurrents were already stirring beneath the surface. The teacher’s well-intentioned instructions had fully activated the “evil” in some people’s hearts. Now everyone knew that Stinky was a mentally challenged child. From then on, he was subjected to all sorts of “special care”. Some people secretly poured urine into his water bottle and tricked him into drinking it; Others dragged him into a group of girls and publicly pulled down his pants; Some spread Super Glue on paper and stuck it to his back, with “I’m a retard” written in red ink. Perhaps Stinky really was mentally challenged. In the face of these personal insults, he seemed as if nothing had happened and still came to school happily every day. My sister, being righteous, saw how terribly Stinky was being bullied and used her height advantage to stand up for him multiple times. Little did she know that after that, it was as if she had opened Pandora’s box. 0

Sewing needles were stuffed into the apple flesh of the apple my sister kept in her desk drawer; When she opened her backpack, a nest of live cockroaches crawled out from the lining; A bloody sanitary pad appeared in her lunchbox; From time to time, she received notes written in red ink, filled with obscenities. My sister completely broke down. When the teacher found out about the situation, she was furious and didn’t hesitate to suspend classes to investigate the truth. But the whole class remained silent, and the investigation reached a deadlock. Later, the class president came up with an idea to use anonymous voting to let everyone report the culprit. The voting results came out, and Stinky received almost all the votes. The teacher opened his pencil case on the spot and found a whole pack of sewing needles inside. There was a nest of cockroaches kept in a plastic box in his backpack, two unopened packages of sanitary pads, and several pornographic magazines. After Stinky was caught, the classmates began to discuss his other dirty behaviors. Someone revealed that during morning exercises, Stinky would secretly run back to the classroom and lick my sister’s cup. Someone else said that after school, Stinky would secretly suck on my sister’s chair. Even worse, she saw Stinky staring at my sister and drooling during nap time, while touching himself down there. After hearing this news, my sister ran to the bathroom and couldn’t stop retching. For a whole month after that, my sister stayed at home and wouldn’t go anywhere, especially refusing to go to school. The homeroom teacher brought several class officers to visit my sister and told her that the school had seriously dealt with Stinky. Stinky’s parents had already transferred him to another school, and similar incidents would never happen again. After much comfort and assurance from various parties, my sister decided to return to class. Stinky was indeed gone, and life seemed to return to normal. But the psychological trauma left on my sister never healed. She often described to us what happened in her dreams. My sister always dreamed that in a pitch-black tunnel, there was a pair of men’s eyes staring at her intently. She ran forward with all her might, never reaching the end, and never escaping those eyes. Because of this dream, my sister never dared to wear attractive clothes, never dared to go out after dark, and even feared boys. But life is full of unexpected turns, and an incident during her sophomore year of high school changed her life forever. 0

That day, a typhoon suddenly hit, with dark clouds rolling and thunder booming. At five o’clock, it was as dark as midnight. As usual, dad drove to pick up my sister. But halfway there, he encountered flooding, and the car stalled. My sister waited at the school gate for a long time, and a hurried passerby knocked her phone into a puddle. The phone fell into the water and immediately went black. As it got later and later, fewer and fewer people were around. After much consideration, my sister opened her umbrella and decided to walk home by herself. The branches along the road rustled loudly, and there were fewer and fewer people on the street. My sister kept her eyes and ears open, trying to avoid any danger. Usually, my sister would take a narrow shortcut, but this time she didn’t. She chose to take the long way on the main road, wanting to avoid all possible dangers. But even so, what was meant to happen couldn’t be avoided. A man appeared behind my sister. He was about thirty meters behind her, seemingly deliberately maintaining this distance. In the reflection of a store window, my sister saw that he was wearing an all-black hooded windbreaker. He was also wearing a mask, so his face couldn’t be seen. When my sister walked forward, he also walked forward; When my sister stopped to pretend to tie her shoelaces, he also stopped and didn’t move. By then, there was no one else on the street. My sister was scared out of her wits, her limbs trembling. Around that time, there had been a series of rape and murder cases near my sister’s school, all occurring during stormy weather, with the perpetrator still at large. My sister tried to suppress her fear and keep walking, but suddenly the man sped up, and the distance between them grew shorter and shorter. Driven by a strong survival instinct, my sister mustered all her strength and ran towards a fruit store at the corner. Closing her eyes, my sister crashed through the door with her shoulder. The store owner, an old man with silver hair, was almost scared into a heart attack. My sister fell to her knees, gasping for breath. In a hoarse voice, she shouted to the old man: “Someone is following me.” The silver-haired old man’s expression immediately became serious. He got up to look outside and indeed saw a man in black, like a ghost. The old man shouted angrily at the man in black: “If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the police!” The man hesitated for a moment, then turned and left. The store owner poured my sister a cup of hot water and called to contact her family. Perhaps because of the typhoon, all communication in the area was down, and the call couldn’t go through. Seeing that my sister had calmed down somewhat, the old man offered to take her home. Who could have guessed that they would encounter an accident on the way. At another intersection, the old man suggested taking a shortcut. Before my sister could consider it, a dark figure rushed out from the side, knocking them both to the ground. My sister opened her eyes through the pain, but the dark figure had already run far away. As she turned her gaze, my sister’s body and mind instantly froze. The old man was lying on the ground, both hands clutching his throat, blood spurting between his fingers. A bolt of lightning split the sky, turning everything as bright as day. The old man’s mouth was wide open, his eyes staring fixedly at my sister, but his pupils had already dilated. My sister said she would never forget that scene. 0

After that day, my sister was admitted to the psychiatric ward. She couldn’t take the SAT, and the killer was never found. Even after my sister was discharged from the hospital, this knot in her heart remained untied. Our family wanted my sister to try going back to school, but after just two weeks, she chose to drop out. She cried and begged our parents not to make her go to school. As soon as she entered the school, she was reminded of Stinky from before, and that terrifying typhoon night. Our parents had no choice but to let my sister rest at home. But my sister’s psychological issues didn’t improve. Whenever it was windy and rainy, she would curl up in a corner wrapped in a blanket, saying strange things. Everyone thought she was talking nonsense, but only I was willing to listen to her carefully. My sister told me that she had waited for 5 years, just to make everything happen again. My sister said that in three days, there would be a typhoon and heavy rain. This typhoon would be as big as the one 5 years ago. I didn’t really believe it at first, but who would have thought that three days later, a typhoon really did hit, with dark clouds rolling and thunder booming outside. I looked at her in disbelief, asking how she knew. She told me that on this day 5 years ago, she had received a phone call. At that time, she was standing at the school gate, waiting for dad to pick her up by car. The surroundings were noisy, with the sound of the fierce wind unceasing. The phone signal was also terribly poor. A woman’s voice came through the receiver, telling my sister: “You’re going to be in danger, find someone to help you right now!” The next second, my sister’s phone was knocked into a puddle by a passerby and immediately went black. She thought it was just a prank call and didn’t take it seriously, still waiting for dad to pick her up. It got later and later, and there were fewer and fewer people. After much consideration, my sister opened her umbrella and decided to walk home by herself. Then she was followed by the man in black, then hid in the fruit store, met the old man… and then, everything that happened afterward. So… I listened quietly to her description, then asked her: “Who was the woman who called you?” “Myself,” my sister replied calmly. 0

“I can’t forget that number, it’s exactly the same as our home landline number.” I looked at the old landline phone on the wooden cabinet, several of its buttons already broken. Mom and dad had wanted to throw it away long ago, but only my sister insisted on keeping it. “If anyone dares to touch this phone again, I’ll kill myself right away!” My sister had become hysterical many times over this old phone, and our parents could only give in. I never understood why she was like this, but now I know. Maybe she had been waiting for this day all along. “If I’m not mistaken, after I make this call, I can change everything.” My sister’s hands trembled as she picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Hello, the situation is urgent now, you must do as I say!” My sister’s tone was unprecedentedly serious. “A passerby is about to rush over, hold onto your phone tightly!” “Don’t ask! Just do it!” I watched my sister’s actions from the side, not daring to breathe. My sister still looked solemn. “Good, now hold onto your phone, don’t hang up.” “What I’m about to say next is crucial, you must…” Before she could finish, my sister stopped and cursed: “Idiot!” I asked her what happened. My sister told me that her past self didn’t believe her and hung up the phone. My sister, who was angry just now, suddenly closed her eyes, as if lost in memories. The next moment, my sister suddenly looked up at me, excitedly grabbing my shoulders. I was startled by my sister’s behavior. “It changed, it really changed!” my sister said excitedly. “What happened?” “Because the phone wasn’t knocked into the puddle by the passerby 5 years ago, I called dad.” “He said the car had stalled and he couldn’t pick me up, so I didn’t wait any longer and went home with a classmate instead.” My sister rarely showed a relaxed smile. “Is that so! Then everything afterward changed too, right?” After hearing my question, my sister closed her eyes again, lost in memories. When she opened her eyes again, the smile on her face had completely disappeared. 0

“I met my best friend Nora at the school gate, she was just about to go home alone.” “Nora and I live in the same direction, she didn’t bring an umbrella, so we shared one umbrella and went home together.” “Because we didn’t have the warning from that initial phone call, we weren’t alert to our surroundings, we only remember passing by that fruit store, the old man was reading a newspaper.” “Did that old man survive later?” I asked, though I couldn’t quite understand, I still followed my sister’s train of thought. “He survived,” my sister said. I breathed a sigh of relief. But at this moment, my sister started crying. I instantly felt that things weren’t as simple as I had imagined. “Not long after passing the fruit store, Nora took another road.” “That day, the killer’s next target was Nora.” My sister’s tears kept falling. “What happened to the killer?” “They didn’t find him, it became a cold case.” Suddenly, my sister’s body shook, her eyes staring at some unknown place: “The killer was Stinky.” That elementary school classmate, the man who had plunged my sister into nightmares. After Stinky transferred schools that year, he disappeared without a trace. But the scary incidents didn’t stop. The lockers in my sister’s school changing room were often broken into, and then urine was poured inside; On the classroom windows, skull heads were drawn with red paint, it was terrifying. Everyone thought it was Stinky, only he would be psychotic enough to do these things. Every day when they entered the school, everyone was on edge. There were even rumors that Stinky had been killed and turned into a vengeful ghost to get revenge on everyone. Those who had bullied him before now had chills running down their spines. Although my sister hadn’t bullied Stinky, she was still a girl and was particularly afraid of “ghost stories”. So dad would personally pick her up and drop her off every day. After entering junior high, everyone thought they had escaped from Stinky. But after just one month of peace, something happened. According to the boarding students at the time, a lot of girls’ underwear was stolen in large quantities; There were also girls who were always followed by someone when walking on the road at night… The discipline teacher led a group of teachers to investigate collectively, but they could never find the result. Later, strange rumors appeared again: “Stinky actually didn’t die. He just completely became mentally ill, specifically following young girls, stealing their underwear, and then stalking and molesting them.” Rumors are just rumors, even if everyone was a bit scared, they still didn’t really believe it rationally. Who could have guessed that Stinky really appeared later. 0

At a corner of an alley near the school, Stinky beat someone until their head was bleeding profusely. The boy who was beaten was someone who had bullied Stinky in elementary school. The subsequent perverted rumors about Stinky were all spread by him. By the time the parents found the beaten boy, Stinky had long disappeared. The beaten boy perhaps knew he was in the wrong, and in the end didn’t report it to the police. But Stinky’s reappearance undoubtedly became a nightmare for the girls nearby. Especially for my sister. Because that day, at the corner of the alley, my sister had encountered him. At that time, his hands were covered in blood, his eyes were also blood-red, his whole body filled with killing intent. When their gazes met, both of them were stunned for a moment. Then Stinky suddenly rushed over and forcefully kissed my sister’s forehead. My sister remembered that he kissed very hard, and she smelled a strong stench of blood. Stinky didn’t really harm my sister, after kissing her he ran away without saying a word. My sister was scared half to death on the spot, stood there dazed for a long time before she reacted, then she collapsed to the ground and cried loudly. At the front of the alley corner, that boy beaten by Stinky was lying motionless on the ground, almost like he was dead. My sister told me that she would never forget those scenes. That night, my sister had nightmares repeatedly. The content of the dreams always involved a dark tunnel, being stared at fixedly by a man in black, no matter how she ran she couldn’t shake him off. My sister endured through these nightmares until her second year of junior high, and in that year, the infamous rape and murder cases happened here. A 13-year-old junior high school girl was brutally raped and murdered on her way home from school. As soon as the incident was reported, everyone thought it was Stinky who did it. That period was also the most torturous time for my sister. No matter where she went, wherever she was, she always felt a pair of eyes staring at her. My sister described to me that the feeling those eyes gave her was none other than Stinky. Wherever my sister went, there was Stinky! Fortunately, a month later, the case was solved, the culprit was an unemployed vagrant who committed the crime on impulse after seeing the girl. But my sister’s pain didn’t disappear. From then on, Stinky had become an inescapable nightmare for my sister. 0

In the room, my sister looked up at the wall clock: “There’s still time!” Then she dialed another phone call. “Hello! Listen, I’m you from five years in the future. Your best friend Nora will die in 30 minutes, only you can save her!” My sister seemed to be listening to the other side speak, paused for a moment and then continued: “In a few more steps, you need to be alert to the man in black behind you.” “That person is Stinky, your elementary school classmate.” “He’s going to commit a crime against you, you must run!” After saying this, a bolt of lightning flashed outside, and the room was as bright as day. My sister put down the phone dejectedly. I asked my sister what happened. She said the signal on the other side was cut off. Then, my sister closed her eyes again, her brows furrowed, obviously in extreme pain. I hurriedly asked, “What changes happened this time?” My sister answered me: “That day, not long after Nora and I left the school gate, a man in black indeed appeared behind us. When we passed by that fruit store, we specifically asked the old man for help. The old man was very kind and personally escorted us home.” “On the way, he also chatted with us, saying that his granddaughter was studying in another city, about the same age as us, with excellent grades, always in the top three of her grade.” “He also talked about how when he was young, conditions were poor and he had no chance to go to school, entering society early and always staying at the bottom. Now having such a good granddaughter was truly a blessing from heaven.” “When the old man said these things, his face was full of kindness.” “But in the blink of an eye, we had walked to the corner of the alley, and a dark figure suddenly jumped out from somewhere, thin in build but particularly tall.” “Under the dim streetlight, he pulled out a knife and slashed it across the old man’s throat.” “The movement was clean and swift, blood spraying two meters away.” “Nora was so scared she lost her soul, and I instinctively called out his name.” “Stinky!” “The man in black was startled and turned his head.” “Just then, a bolt of lightning struck, and I saw his face clearly.” “Cold and weathered, full of killing intent.” “It was Stinky!” “Even though we hadn’t seen each other for many years, I was still certain it was him.” “Then he forcefully kissed my forehead, so hard it seemed he wanted to suck out my brain marrow.” “I was so scared by this kiss that I forgot to resist, but Nora was the first to come to her senses, picking up her thermos and heavily smashing it against Stinky’s head.” “Perhaps Stinky was disoriented by the blow, or maybe he was afraid the commotion would attract passersby. Stinky didn’t harm us further and ran away.” “But after that day, Nora was deeply traumatized and unable to continue studying. Later she developed schizophrenia and was sent to a mental hospital by her family.” 0

At this moment, my sister’s expression was full of sadness and loss. That wasn’t the kind of world-weariness a young woman should have. I fell silent because I didn’t know what to say. Outside, the typhoon was still howling, and it had started pouring rain. The occasional flashes of lightning made the atmosphere in the room even more eerie. “Sis… are you going to call again?” I asked. My sister bit her lip, hesitating. So far, it seemed that each call was making things worse. I didn’t know if she dared to make another call. After a while, my sister said she wanted a Coke. I quickly got up and fetched a can of cold Coke from the fridge. “Hello, listen carefully, no matter what, you can’t hang up this call!” my sister said into the phone. I stood nearby holding the Coke, not daring to make a sound. “In five minutes, when you pass by the fruit store, you’ll see the store owner reading a newspaper.” “You need to run over quickly and tell him that there’s a killer outside, he must close the door and hide in the store immediately, don’t go out!” “Then you and Nora turn back and run to the nearest police station to report the case.” “Tell the police that Stinky is the serial rapist and murderer.” “Remember! Take the main road and run to the police station as fast as you can!” My sister kept the phone to her ear, her face full of anxiety. I slowly sat down, still not daring to interrupt. Suddenly my sister’s brows furrowed even tighter, she shouted into the phone: “Put the old man on, I’ll tell him!” I guessed that the fruit store owner didn’t believe this phone call. “Grandpa, listen to me first. You have a granddaughter with excellent grades, always in the top three of her grade.” “When you were young, conditions were poor and you had no chance to study. You feel you’ve never made anything of yourself. Your granddaughter is heaven’s blessing to you.” “Please believe me, I really am from five years in the future.” “The serial killer is nearby, everyone present will be in danger!” “Please close the door and hide in the fruit store, don’t come out. Nora and I will go to the police station to report the case immediately.” “But… this way you’ll be in danger too!” I saw my sister’s expression become troubled. After a moment of silence, my sister seemed to have made a decision. “If that’s the case, thank you then.” I asked my sister if the old man did as she said. My sister told me that the old man obviously believed her, and even actively offered to protect them all the way to the police station. The wind and rain were fierce along the way, making it very difficult to walk. The three of them walked very slowly. My sister kept reminding them to take the main road and be careful of what’s behind them. But the old man seemed fearless. He didn’t seem afraid of the so-called serial killer at all. Compared to the immediate danger, he was more interested in the world five years later. He asked several times about how advanced technology would be in five years, whether the serial killer would be caught, and whether more sophisticated forensic methods would emerge. Although my sister found it strange, she answered as best she could. Finally, the three of them came to the corner of the alley again, that nightmare corner.

The old man suggested taking a shortcut because the weather was too bad, and the sooner they got to the police station, the sooner they’d be safe. The shortcut was to turn into a deep, dark alley where all the streetlights were broken, pitch black. As they hesitated, the phone cut off. I saw my sister freeze there again, not coming back to her senses for a long time. “Sis? Sis? Did something happen again?” I asked, both worried and scared. The wind outside was still howling, but it had lessened somewhat, and the rain was gradually stopping. Perhaps the typhoon was about to pass. My sister woke up as if from a big dream and started dialing the phone frantically. She tried four or five times in a row, but couldn’t get through. My sister’s eyes were full of despair. “It’s over, everything’s over.” “What exactly happened?” I was concerned about my sister’s state, and also curious about what happened next. My sister’s voice was weak, but her logic was very clear. At that time, the phone was actively hung up by the old man, who turned it off before giving it back to my sister, saying it wasn’t safe to use phones during a thunderstorm. Then, the three of them took the shortcut, turning into that pitch-black alley. The small road was full of potholes, and my sister’s shoes and socks were already soaked through. The three of them continued deeper, as if walking into the throat of a giant beast. At this point, the old man’s pace became slower and slower. My sister had a bad feeling, always feeling that something was about to happen. She instinctively turned on her phone, ready to call for help at any time, while the old man had completely stopped walking. Another bolt of lightning struck, and the old man’s usual kindness was gone, replaced by a sinister expression. “Give me the phone.” The old man’s voice was eerie and terrifying, as if coming from hell. My sister was about to run away, but the old man snatched the phone first, then smashed it hard on the ground, shattering it to pieces. It turned out that when the old man turned off the phone earlier, he intentionally cut off the connection with the future. This way, what was supposed to happen in the past wouldn’t change. And naturally, no one could stop the crime he was about to commit. The old man’s sudden change of face caught my sister and Nora off guard. He pulled out red ropes from his pocket and tightly bound my sister’s hands and feet. Later, after repeatedly recalling, my sister realized that those ropes weren’t originally red, they were covered in dried blood. It was the blood of the girls who had been raped and murdered before!

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