I decided to give up on Beckett. It all started with something trivial. During our research group meeting, Lily brought in some soy milk and buns. Beckett, always protective of the younger girls, covered for her: “Lily’s still young and likes to eat. Let’s cut her some slack.” Everyone teased her, their eyes occasionally darting towards me. Only my roommate, who was close to me, stood up for me: “Beckett, aren’t you being biased? When Zoe had a stomach ache and wanted to eat something, you didn’t allow it!” The room fell silent for a moment. Beckett’s face darkened. “Zoe, what are you up to now? There’s a time and place for your tantrums. No one here is going to indulge you!” “Yeah, she’s just seeking attention,” I heard someone mutter. For some reason, I sighed inwardly. It all felt so pointless. I took off my name tag and looked up at Beckett. “I want to leave the research group.” As soon as I said this, the senior girls tried to calm me down. After all, if you made some achievements in the research group, you had a chance for guaranteed admission to graduate school. “It’s fine. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll go explain the situation to the professor later.” “Are you throwing another tantrum? Do you need everyone to revolve around you? It’s just letting Lily have breakfast, do you have to be so petty?” Beckett’s tone was cold and slightly impatient. I looked at Beckett seriously and explained, “I’m not throwing a tantrum. It’s just…” I pointed at some people. “She, he, she, these people all got in through Lily’s connections. They do the least work and like to gossip. I don’t like this research environment.” It’s quite tiring, playing along with them day after day. As soon as I said this, the people I pointed at all turned pale, lowering their heads guiltily. The other seniors didn’t say anything, but Lily started crying: “What did I ever do to you, senior? Why are you publicly humiliating me like this…” “These are all my classmates. If they don’t get some credits from the research group, they’ll fail their courses. I was just trying to help them, and Beckett agreed.” I nodded. “Mm-hmm, but the research group doesn’t belong to you alone. You’re being kind on your own, so everyone else has to bear the consequences? Is that your robber’s logic?” “Enough! Zoe, don’t you think you’re acting like a lunatic right now? I’m willing to cover for her, what’s it to you?” Beckett’s words felt like a hard slap across my face, making me blush and feel a bit strange. Was he still the Beckett I remembered, the one who always protected me? His next words pushed me into an abyss. “Zoe has a mental illness. She sometimes becomes unstable and has episodes. Lily, don’t take what she says to heart.” Beckett took out a tissue and gently wiped Lily’s tears. “Really? She doesn’t look like it.” Lily glanced at me, full of curiosity and disdain. “It’s true. I even have her diagnosis here.” My heart, which had been lifted high, was now heavily smashed down. In a daze, I remembered how seven-year-old Beckett had chased away the bullies and wiped my tears, telling me he would always stand by my side. Now he was cruelly exposing my wounds, just to comfort another girl.

The application to leave the group was a bit troublesome. The professor said he was busy and wanted me to stay for a while longer. I had no choice but to agree. I just made sure to go when Beckett wasn’t around. But deep down, I was still hoping Beckett would notice something was wrong and come find me. After all, habits formed over so many years aren’t easy to let go of. One day, as I was walking back to the dorm after finishing an experiment, A tall figure was standing in the middle of the path. I turned to take another route, but Beckett caught up with me. “Zoe!” He grabbed my hand. “Why have you been avoiding me lately?” I tried to break free with some force. Beckett directly put his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to turn around. He lowered his head, his gaze soft. “Are you angry with me?” I turned my head, not wanting to deal with him. He laughed a little. “Zoe, are you jealous? I didn’t mean to protect Lily. It’s just that her dad is our biggest investor, and I don’t want to offend her. I can only go along with her a bit. How about this, I’ll let you eat breakfast in the meeting room from now on too?” I finally looked at him directly. “Beckett, it’s not about the breakfast.” He knew that due to certain things, I had a period where I couldn’t sleep for days and nights, leading to some mental instability, but it wasn’t the mental illness he described. Yet he just brought it up as a topic of conversation. Did he ever consider my feelings? His eyes shifted a bit, probably realizing what I was referring to. Then he reached into his pocket and slipped something onto my hand. In the light from the street lamps, I could see clearly. It was a finely crafted silver bracelet. “Zoe, you’ve always envied how other girls’ parents buy them silver bracelets, right? I saved up to buy you one too. But a silver bracelet is too cheap for my Zoe. So I bought a gold one and plated it with silver.” Indeed, people are often imprisoned for life by the things they couldn’t have in their youth. At that moment, when I saw the bracelet, I ultimately softened. From childhood to adulthood, Beckett had always been by my side. He played the roles of friend and older brother, and I had developed some feelings for him that I shouldn’t have. Besides him, I had no one else to rely on. Maybe I should forgive him? Back in the dorm, after thinking for a long time, I finally sent him an emoji. Beckett also sent an emoji back in sync, And sent me a ticket to the swimming pool, asking if I wanted to go swimming tomorrow. The smile on my face froze for a moment. Had he forgotten? Tomorrow was my period.

The next day, I still decided to keep the appointment. I put on some light makeup but didn’t wear a swimsuit. I thought Beckett must have been too busy lately and didn’t pay attention to when my period was. I could just watch him swim from the side. When I arrived at the swimming pool, I found a group of people gathered at the entrance, both men and women, with Lily among them. Seeing me arrive, the group of guys flashed a look of mockery: “How boring, those with bad figures really don’t dare to show off. So this is all the campus beauty amounts to? I still prefer girls who are more open and confident.” I frowned. Lily covered her mouth and laughed lightly, “Can’t be helped, some people are just petty. I don’t know why Beckett even invited her.” Beckett’s face didn’t look too good either, probably feeling a bit embarrassed. “Didn’t I tell you to wear a swimsuit? How are you going to swim in a short-sleeved shirt and long pants?” “I’m on my period.” So he really had forgotten. Beckett’s brow flashed a hint of displeasure. “Why did it have to be today? But swimming during your period should be fine, right?” Seeing that I didn’t say anything, he seemed to realize his words were inappropriate and tugged at the hem of my shirt, pleading: “Come on, Zoe, I’m not a girl, forgive me for not knowing. Please?” Then he suddenly turned around and said, “Last time Zoe publicly embarrassed Lily, so I specially called her out today for Zoe to apologize to you, Lily.” I looked back at him in disbelief. “Why should I?” Why should I apologize? It was Lily who brought in people through connections, how did this become my fault? Beckett pulled me aside and whispered in my ear: “Think of the bigger picture, Zoe. I need this research achievement to get my foot in the door at a renowned company. You don’t want to be poor with me forever, do you?” I keenly caught the key point: “Poor with you forever?” “Yes.” He turned to face me, his expression bland, but if you looked closely, there was a hint of disdain in his eyes: “Zoe, I know you’ve always liked me, and I like you too. If you apologize to Lily now, I’ll agree to be with you. Otherwise, I’ll agree to be with Lily.” As he spoke, for some reason he suddenly became haughty: “After all, we have over a decade of feelings between us, I can’t bear to let you go. As long as you apologize and stay in the research group to help me, I’ll be with you.” I took a few steps back, looking Beckett up and down carefully, and finally shook my head: “You’re really so confident, aren’t you?” “What?” He didn’t quite hear clearly. Habit is a terrifying thing. Beckett and I could be considered childhood sweethearts. From elementary school, middle school, high school, to now in university, we’ve always been in the same school. For so long, I got used to him, relied on him, and fell in love with him. Beckett is a year older than me. Since I was little, I was fostered at my uncle’s house, and Beckett was the next-door neighbor. When I was young, children’s emotions were very obvious. As long as my cousin disliked me, everyone living in that area would isolate me. Only Beckett was different. He always included me, bringing food for me and letting me join in games. You could say that the little warmth in my childhood all came from Beckett. He could indeed manipulate me. I always did whatever he said. But for some reason, starting from that breakfast incident, I really felt so tired of dealing with him. I even thought that if he liked someone else, he should just go ahead, and stop bothering me. During this standoff, the swimming coach came over. “Those of you who are swimming, be careful.” The coach suddenly produced a chair from the side and gave it to me: “I see you’ve been holding your stomach. You must be on your period, right? My daughter is just like you every time she has her period, looking so uncomfortable.” I unconsciously touched my face. Was it that obvious? If even a stranger could notice, how could Beckett not know?

“Alright. Think about it carefully.” With that, Beckett went towards Lily. “Oh right, we’re going out for dinner after swimming. Remember to book the restaurant.” I didn’t move, watching as Beckett took out a bag of water bottles, giving the only uniquely packaged one to Lily. The ones he gave to others were all the same. Lily looked a bit shy, and everyone else teased them. I suddenly remembered that when we were kids playing house, Beckett did the same thing. He bought a bunch of lollipops, giving the only special one to the prettiest girl, asking her to play his wife, while distributing the identical ones to the rest of us. He won our hearts while achieving his goal. Everyone ate their lollipops on the spot, but I kept mine, hiding it away, too precious to eat. Because it was the first time I had gotten a snack that was just for me. Later, when Beckett found out, he bought me a few similar ones, but never gave me that special one again. I couldn’t help but laugh. Even though I knew he was just using the most common way to win people over, I was the one he had won over most successfully, Without any complaints. I was never his special treatment, Just one of the willing victims in his wide net. On the way to dinner, I carried bags for Beckett and his group as usual, walking a bit slower. By the time Beckett reached the private room I had booked, he messaged me saying they had already ordered, While I was still halfway there. Maybe because I had been following behind Beckett since I was little, I was used to him walking in front, with me slowly following behind alone. When I reached the door of the private room, I could hear Lily’s voice from inside, “Beckett, can you really make Zoe apologize to me? She’s known as the ice queen, doesn’t care about anyone.” “Don’t worry. You saw just now, I asked her to carry our bags and she didn’t say anything. Just an apology, what’s the big deal? She’s been following me like a dog since she was little, give her a little treat and she’ll come along. Besides, apart from me, she has no one else she can trust.” A few guys were also flattering him, putting me down. My hand that was about to knock on the door paused. I put down the bags and quietly listened at the door. “Beckett is really something! But Beckett, what kind of love potion did you give Zoe to make her so devoted to you?” “Yeah, yeah! Beckett is so lucky, with Zoe on one side and Lily on the other.” I heard Beckett sneer, “What love potion? She’s just too starved for love. Show her a little kindness and she’ll be willing to die for you. Don’t talk nonsense, I only like Lily. As for Zoe… she’s too eager, a bit cheap.” There was laughter inside. Strangely, I felt nothing in my heart. I even found it a bit boring, as if I had locked myself in a room, quietly waiting for it to crumble and collapse into ruins. Slowly, I finally saw the light of day again. I put down the bags and went to eat a bowl of noodles by myself, then bought some pastries I liked. My whole body felt warm and cozy. Then I took some time to block and delete all of Beckett’s contact information, And found a campus errand runner to return all the gifts Beckett had given me, including that silver bracelet. Actually, that bracelet wasn’t even pure silver, let alone gold. I knew as soon as I put it on. I’m not an idiot, I just used to be willing to play along with Beckett’s act, deceiving myself.

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My husband excels at giving me the cold shoulder. Whenever he’s slightly unhappy, he slams the door and disappears for days or weeks. I’ve grown accustomed to putting on a brave face and caring for our son with a smile. Until I saw my son’s wish while helping him with homework. “I hope Mom disappears. She looks so scary when she goes crazy at Dad.” In that moment, I finally woke up. Sunday evenings are always the hardest. My procrastinating son cries as he rushes to finish homework due tomorrow, while my emotionally distant husband wears headphones, engrossed in his video game. Neither of them wants anything to do with me. My son glares at me resentfully after I scolded him to tears. My husband finds me annoying and pretends not to see me. I stand by the dining table clearing away leftovers, silently convincing myself this is all my own doing. But my heart aches unbearably. As night falls, Kevin retreats to the study to rest. Tommy falls asleep with tears still clinging to his lashes. I stand in the bathroom staring at my own bitter face. This marks the third month of Kevin’s cold shoulder treatment. A full three months – so long I’ve nearly forgotten the reason for our cold war. Under the same roof, he hasn’t spoken a word to me. I’ve stubbornly waged war against him too. He’s in the wrong, so I won’t apologize. But I can’t sleep. I walk to Tommy’s room to pack his schoolbag. I look down and notice the new notebook I bought him. In the “Rewards” column, childish handwriting reads: “I hope Mom disappears.”

I rubbed my eyes, my first reaction being that I must have misread. I pick up the notebook and walk to the living room. I read that line again. “I hope Mom disappears. She looks so scary when she goes crazy at Dad. She drove Dad away.” I collapse onto the sofa, experiencing for the first time a pain so intense it numbs me. The study light comes on. Kevin emerges, beaming. The moment he sees me, his face instantly reverts to its usual coldness. He says nothing, picking up the car keys from the coffee table. As he passes by me, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It’s the scent of gardenia. This cologne – I chose it for him when we were dating in college. Back then, he was just a nerdy engineering student who wore black-rimmed glasses and plain t-shirts with shorts, clueless about fashion. I gradually updated his style and picked out my favorite cologne for him. “Wearing cologne when meeting girls will make a good impression,” I told him. He said he’d cherish everything I chose for him. He’s used it ever since. The familiar scent begins to soften my heart, memories of happier times flooding back. I think of our ridiculous war, of our beloved son. The pain Tommy has caused makes me desperately seek a lifeline. Once again, I swallow my pride and try to make peace with Kevin. I can’t help but stand up from the sofa, grabbing his arm tightly. “Kevin, let’s talk.” I cry silently behind him. He shakes off my hand. I notice his phone shows an ongoing call. Who has he been talking to so late at night, and why did he put on cologne to meet them? “Kevin, have you left yet? I’m waiting downstairs. I’ve been craving BBQ for ages~” A girl’s coquettish voice comes through the phone. The soft, delicate voice suddenly reminds me why he’s been giving me the cold shoulder this time. I quickly turn away. But Kevin grabs my arm. He raises an eyebrow, smirking: “If you beg me, I’ll stay and keep you and Tommy company.” Kevin has always enjoyed seeing me tamed, begging for his mercy. Especially now, when another young girl is vying for his attention. His offer to stay feels like a condescending act of charity.

I can’t help but laugh bitterly: “Beg you? Was Tommy naturally conceived by me alone? Aren’t you his father too? “Is caring for our child solely my responsibility? Don’t you have any? “Do you have any idea how psychologically damaged our son has become?” Kevin frowns again, pressing his lips together. He grabs his coat and storms out, slamming the door, as if I’m some crazy shrew. The notebook where Tommy wrote about wanting me to disappear still lies on the sofa. Kevin left the study light on too. It’s always like this. Whenever there’s a problem to solve, he either says one careless word to set me off, watching me lose it. Or he simply turns his back and walks away, slamming the door. Tommy is woken by the slamming door. He walks out barefoot, standing in the doorway staring in the direction his dad left. He comes to my side, picks up the notebook I tossed on the sofa. He shows no concern that I might have seen what he wrote. He just frowns and accuses me: “Mom, why did you make Dad angry again?” I ignore him. The sound of a car starting comes from downstairs. After a few revs, a black sedan speeds away. Looks like I’ll have to bike Tommy to school again tomorrow. I look at the notebook clutched in his hand. And those eyes that look just like his father’s. For the first time, I deeply realize how trapped I’ve been by him all this time.

I force myself to walk to the bedroom and lie down. When I close my eyes, the words “Mom disappear” appear before me in big letters. To be fair, I’ve never had a hysterical meltdown in front of Tommy. To avoid conflict, I’ve even gone to great lengths to please Kevin, sacrificing my dignity. I beg Kevin to come home, beg him to hug our child. I can’t fall asleep. My phone on the nightstand lights up. It’s a message from my neighbor Sarah. “I heard your husband slam the door and leave. Did you two fight again? Are you okay?” Sarah is a friend I made when selling handmade crafts on eBay. Back then Kevin was giving me the cold shoulder. To force me to give in, he cut off my living expenses. I really had no income, so I tried my best to do odd jobs here and there to earn money. We discovered we were neighbors after chatting a bit. She even bought some of my stuff to support my business and showed concern for me. I hear Tommy closing his door. I reply: “Thanks Sarah, I’m fine.” The next morning when I get up, I feel weak all over. My eyes are swollen. Kevin is back, the gardenia scent overpowered by the smell of alcohol. He notices me, his eyes lingering on my face for just a moment before quickly looking away. This time it’s not the cold shoulder. He frowns as he walks into the bathroom, making a snide remark. “Looking like that, who are you trying to scare?” I know he’s waiting for me to fight back, to watch me have a meltdown before coldly leaving again. But I’m tired. I say nothing. He looks at me with surprise, a strange emotion flashing in his eyes. He walks into Tommy’s room affectionately. “Come on, sweetie. Daddy will take you to school today.” Two completely different attitudes, one after the other, as if he’s two different people. Father and son hold hands intimately, exchanging loving words. No one spares me a single word of concern. It’s like two knives stabbing into my chest.

When I open the door to take out the trash, I happen to run into Sarah. She sees me and insistently leads me into her apartment. She gently rolls an egg over my swollen eyes, her own eyes brimming with tears as she asks with furrowed brows: “Does it hurt?” Her concern reminds me of Kevin when we first got married. Back then, Kevin and I had no money. A-City is an expensive place, so we could only afford to rent a basement apartment in a remote area. We squeezed onto a small bed, sharing a bathroom and kitchen with others. The kitchen was quite far from our room. One time I cooked a meal in the kitchen and was carrying it back to our room when I collided head-on with someone rushing by. I instinctively turned the hot dish towards myself, burning a large patch of skin off my hand. When Kevin got home from work, I didn’t want him to worry so I deliberately wore gloves. But he still noticed. I quickly smiled and pulled my hand away saying it didn’t hurt at all. Kevin looked at my hand, frantically applying medicine. He cried just like Sarah is now. Tears falling endlessly, it seemed. I even teased him about how a grown man could cry so much. He rubbed his eyes through his tears: “Haley, I promise I’ll give you the best life in the world someday!” That night, he held me and talked all night long. “Haley, I’ll never let you get hurt again.” To this day, I still believe he truly loved me then. But when did he change? Now he and I are like two ticking time bombs tied together. Ready to explode at the slightest friction. Of course, Kevin is a dud – silent. He just spreads terrifying smoke, seeping into every corner of the air. Making me afraid, making me scream myself hoarse. When I get home, they’ve already left. The kitchen is cold, wet clothes Tommy changed out of are strewn on the bathroom floor. There are several dirty shoe prints in the living room. I sit on the sofa and open my laptop. I start drafting a divorce agreement. My educational background is no worse than Kevin’s. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I also graduated from a top university, passed the bar exam, got my license, and worked as a practicing lawyer for two years. I once earned a high salary, won many cases for clients, and had a brilliant career. Until I got pregnant. Kevin convinced me to quit my job and stay home with the baby. At first he said: “After your postpartum recovery period, when the baby’s a bit older, we’ll hire a full-time nanny. You can go back to work then.” Later he changed his tune: “The baby’s used to you now. My career is taking off too. If you go back to work, we’d have to hire a nanny. A nanny’s salary would be much higher than yours – it doesn’t make sense for our family. Let’s wait till our son is a bit older.” Tommy clung to me, babbling “Mama.” I softened. It’s my fault for not insisting. Looking back, Kevin’s emotional neglect started appearing bit by bit from that time.

By the time I finish drafting the agreement, it’s nearly evening. Kevin still hasn’t brought Tommy home. I habitually start to worry about Tommy’s homework, then raise my hand and slap myself hard. “Mom, you have to be cruel, just like his dad.” I get a call from Kevin. The female voice from that night is on the other end. “Sister-in-law, it’s me. Kevin’s too drunk to get home on his own. Could you come pick him up?” “Why don’t you take him? Aren’t you two close?” I glance at the divorce agreement on the table and change my mind. “Never mind, I’ll come get him.” I hang up and rush to the private room as fast as I can. The room is filled with men and women of all sorts. Besides the girl who called me, whom I’ve seen before, the rest are unfamiliar faces. But they all look at me with accusing eyes, as if I’ve failed as a housewife. Kevin sits in the main seat, face flushed red, still raising an empty glass to drink. Tommy sits beside him. His backpack is thrown on the floor. A scantily-clad woman holds him in her arms, talking to him. So this is how he takes care of our son. No wonder my years of hard work raising Tommy at home can’t compare to his occasional outings. Before I even enter, Tommy screams. “Dad, I don’t want to go home with Mom! Mom’s going to make me do homework again.” Tommy scrambles around trying to escape as if he’s seen a ghost. Kevin finally pretends to open his eyes. “Son, don’t be afraid. Daddy’s here.” Then others in the room try to reason with me: “Sister-in-law, don’t be mad at Kevin anymore. He’s been hiding out at my place for almost two months because of you.” “Same here, Kevin crashed at my place for nearly a month. My wife was getting upset.” The girl standing guard by Kevin speaks up too: “Sister-in-law, Kevin often mentions you and Tommy when we chat. He really cares about you both.” I finally realize this call wasn’t about picking up Kevin at all. They want me to cry and beg on my knees for Kevin to come home. I laugh coldly: “You keep talking about how hard it is for him. Can’t he come home on his own? Doesn’t he have legs? “I’m not suffering while taking care of our son at home, but he slams the door and leaves at the slightest disagreement and suddenly he’s the one suffering. “If being out having fun is suffering, why don’t we switch places? Kevin, stop pretending to be drunk. “Do you want me to discuss what you’ve done in private or right here in front of everyone?” The girl snuggling up to him suddenly changes expression. “Sister-in-law, it’s all just a misunderstanding.” Misunderstanding? He nearly had drunk sex with someone else and I caught him. When I asked a few questions he couldn’t answer, so he gave me the cold shoulder. Kevin is silent again, his face dark. He glances at Tommy, who dejectedly walks towards me. As he comes over, he keeps looking back longingly at Kevin, hoping his dad will call him back. That way he can keep playing and never have to study again. This is also an indirect way of asking me to leave. Let me take the kid and go, so he can stay here and keep partying. Why does it always have to be this way? I’ve had enough too. I stand my ground and take out the divorce agreement.

“Kevin, let’s get divorced.” The noisy room suddenly falls silent. Kevin finally looks up at me. His eyes show predictable clarity. In seven years of marriage, no matter how badly we fought, I had never mentioned divorce. Kevin knows my personality – once I’ve made up my mind about something, I won’t back down. He anxiously stands up from the leather sofa in the room. He walks a few steps to stand in front of me. “Are you serious?” He’s finally willing to look me in the eye and speak to me normally. He looks down at Tommy and smirks: “Haley, if you want a divorce, you’re not getting custody of our son. He’d rather stay with me anyway. Don’t be ridiculous.” Kevin is certain I’ll fight for custody. He’s not blind – he knows how much I’ve endured and suffered for our child over the years. Tommy clings tightly to his dad, glaring at me resentfully as if terrified I’ll snatch him away. “Mom I don’t want you, I want Dad.” That girl walks over too, smiling mockingly as she advises me: “Sis, at your age with no house or job, you really can’t get custody of the child. Why don’t you take the kid home? Couples shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.” I clench my teeth, gripping the agreement tightly. I knew what I’d face coming here, but seeing everyone’s disgust and disapproval of me in person still makes me falter. But I can’t. I pinch myself hard. Reminding myself: Woman, be cruel. Don’t cry. Tears are magic to those who love you, but only a joke to those who don’t. “Kevin, don’t worry. I don’t want the kid or the house in the divorce.”

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After five years of marriage, my wife Vera returned from a six-month trip abroad, bringing her first love Nolan back home with her. Vera was already three months pregnant, and Nolan, with a thick skin, said he was worried I couldn’t take good care of Vera and wanted to temporarily stay at our house. I refused, and Vera cursed me for being ungrateful. She glared at me with disgust, seemingly forgetting that I was the one who let her live in the lap of luxury, spending money like water. Did this shameless family think they could ride on my neck and become the masters? This time, I’ll let them feel what it’s like to fall from cloud nine! I smiled and called my secretary, “Draft a divorce agreement immediately. I want to make the pretty boy and the gold digger leave empty-handed.” My wife, who had been traveling for half a year, told me last night that she was coming back. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night. Early in the morning, I asked Mrs. Lee to prepare a table full of Vera’s favorite dishes. The front door was pulled open from the inside, and Vera was carefully held by the man beside her as they swaggered in front of me. I looked at the two overly intimate people in shock, my gaze falling on Vera’s slightly protruding belly. “Honey, you’ve become more handsome in the half year we haven’t seen each other.” I stared at her with a dark face, anger rising. Vera seemed to sense my angry emotions and immediately let go of the man’s hand. She hurriedly came to my side and acted coquettishly, “Honey, you know you can’t perform in that area, right?” “Nolan is a top graduate with a good background. Most importantly, we know each other well, so the child born will be reassuring, right?” “You wouldn’t want me to suffer through IVF treatment, would you?” Vera’s words made me choke with anger. She actually made cheating on me sound so fresh and innocent. I clenched my fists tightly, wanting to punch Vera in the face. Nolan, who had been standing behind her, rushed forward with concern, pulling Vera behind him. He smiled sycophantically at me, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about your situation from Vera. It’s not shameful.” “Vera and I have known each other since childhood. Even if the three of us live together in the future, I can accept it.” I was burning with anger, but Vera looked at Nolan with tender affection, “Nolan is always so considerate.” Hearing Vera’s tender voice, I stood there stunned. In our five years of marriage, when had she ever been like this to me? Vera nestled into Nolan’s arms like a little bird, pointing at the room upstairs, “We’ll live there from now on.” Watching the two of them go upstairs, I clenched my fists tightly. Soon, the driver came in carrying three large suitcases. Close behind them were Vera’s parents. They walked past me with cold faces, as if they hadn’t seen me, and quickly went upstairs. Since it was so lively upstairs, I decided to go take a look too. I saw Vera caressing her belly and acting coquettishly with her parents, “I could have kept it from you, but you’re not supposed to tell anyone during the first three months of pregnancy. Nolan was also concerned about my safety.” Seeing Vera’s behavior, my heart ached terribly. In our five years of marriage, whenever I had disagreements with her parents, she always stood on their side, complaining that her parents were old and couldn’t get angry, asking me to be more tolerant. I always thought that was just her nature. Women are delicate, it’s nothing. Until this moment, seeing her protecting Nolan, I realized I had always been a clown. Nolan naturally took Vera’s mother’s hand, “Auntie, you know I’ve liked Vera since we were kids.” “My feelings for Vera are genuine. I hope Uncle and Auntie can understand.” Vera’s mother’s face relaxed a bit, then she turned to look at me with a frown. I knew she was hesitating, weighing me against Nolan. In the five years of my marriage to Vera, I had replaced her family’s old house with a villa, and I transferred money to her parents’ card every month for their living expenses. Seeing Vera’s mother’s hesitant look, my heart instantly sank to the bottom. Vera, as my wife, not only got pregnant with someone else’s child without telling me in advance, but she also brazenly brought the man back to humiliate me. Did she really think that because I loved her, I could unconditionally tolerate everything she did, including her cheating on me? Seeing the tense atmosphere, Vera suddenly burst into tears, “The child in my belly is innocent. No matter how much you scold me, I will give birth to it.” Vera cried pitifully, and Nolan, seeing this, suddenly knelt down in front of us, “Auntie, the child in Vera’s belly is your own grandchild.” “If it weren’t for Vera not being able to conceive for five years and fearing blame from the An family, she wouldn’t have done this…” Vera’s parents had been urging Vera to have a child to secure her position since the day we got married. But after five years of marriage, Vera’s belly had never shown any movement. After a check-up, we found out it was my problem. I had consulted doctors. Although I couldn’t conceive naturally, IVF treatment was not a problem. Because of this, Vera’s parents had never had a good attitude towards me, blaming me for making Vera suffer criticism. I knew all this and had always been compensating Vera. But how could she do such a thing? “Since you’re pregnant, give birth to it. No matter whose child it is, you’re still its mother.” After Vera’s father finished speaking, he turned to look at me again, “This matter is settled.” I couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “Settled?” “What right do you have to settle it?” Vera frowned at me, “Everything has been said. What are you dissatisfied with?” I laughed in extreme anger. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for her to go out and have fun, and she not only brought back a child but also a man. What right did she have to be imperious towards me? Nolan looked at me with difficulty and said hypocritically, “I know it’s because of me. I can leave, but you must take good care of Vera.” As soon as Vera’s mother heard this, she immediately became displeased, “How can you leave? Vera is in a good mood when she sees you, and moreover, with the child’s father around, the child will grow better.” Vera glared at me fiercely, “If you insist on making Nolan leave, then I’ll leave too.” Vera’s mother carefully protected Vera, “That won’t do. You both stay. In this house, I, as the mother-in-law, have the final say.” Nolan looked at Vera’s mother pleadingly, smiling smugly. Seeing their harmonious appearance, I could no longer stay and turned to leave. I stayed in the study for the whole afternoon. Occasional laughter could be heard from the living room. After dinner, Mrs. Lee came to see me, “Nolan originally wanted to occupy your study, but he was stopped by Madam’s mother.” “She said that after all, you are the CEO of the An Group, and all the expenses of the family, big and small, depend on you. They can’t completely break ties with you, so he should behave himself.” Mrs. Lee has been taking care of me since I was a child, and she knows my temper. She looked up at me, and seeing no reaction from me, she continued, “They said all the expenses after Madam’s pregnancy should still be borne by you. Since you can’t have children anyway, letting you experience the joy of being a father is not bad.” At this point, I could no longer maintain a good face and clenched my fists, asking, “Anything else?” Mrs. Lee continued, “They said since you have no children to inherit the An family, this child will be adopted under your name in the future, and the An family’s property will…” I laughed coldly. Vera’s family really knew how to calculate. Since they were so shameless, I would play along with them. In the evening, hearing the sound of cars starting outside, memories from five years ago kept forcing their way into my head. Back then, I insisted on marrying Vera, no matter how my parents tried to persuade me. At that time, my parents had already expressed their intention of an alliance marriage to the Shen family, and the Shen family was very agreeable. After all, both the An and Shen families were at the top of the pyramid in Ning City. Who wouldn’t agree to such a strong alliance? But I had no interest in the Shen family’s daughter and only saw her as a sister. Since I met Vera, my whole heart was set on her, and I had even less interest in Miss Shen. I always told my parents that Vera was different from ordinary girls, hoping they would give her a chance to meet her. They would surely like her. But my parents said that I had given Miss Shen hope, which was why she kept coming to our house to “accidentally” meet me. At that time, I didn’t care what Miss Shen thought. I just wanted to marry Vera quickly. The day I met Vera, it was raining heavily. She was wearing a white dress, standing under a tree to shelter from the rain. Her hair was wet from the rain and stuck to her face. Her big eyes were as pitiful as a little deer’s. Ignoring my roommate’s mockery, I ran over with an umbrella, wanting to “be helpful,” and very gentlemanly sent her back to her dormitory. She said she wanted to thank me, but I shamelessly asked for her SnapChat. That night, I added her on SnapChat. After I introduced myself, she immediately sent me a voice message. Her voice was as crisp as a silver bell, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about you before.” From that day on, I deliberately “accidentally” met Vera under her dormitory building. I even forced myself to attend 8 am classes, which I never liked, just to have more contact with her. Love at first sight. That’s how I willingly became Vera’s devoted knight. After marriage, Vera said she didn’t want to be just an idle wife and wanted to enter the company to help me, even if it was just as a small employee. How could I let her be a small employee? I directly made her my secretary. Vera was very smart and quickly learned and mastered everything. Soon, with my help, she achieved some success in investment. She said she wanted to do bigger things and walk side by side with me. I felt I should help her, but my parents and brothers thought I should think it through. Before the wedding, my parents had repeatedly reminded me that Vera wasn’t good enough for me. But I didn’t care. I only wanted her to love me. After marrying me, Vera’s parents lived an enviable and comfortable life. They quit their jobs that didn’t make much money and lived off the living expenses I gave them every month, enjoying an early retirement life. They often boasted that Vera was the vice president of the An Group and would soon become the CEO. Relatives of Vera’s family who hadn’t been in contact for generations came to ask for Vera’s help. Vera was thin-skinned and couldn’t refuse, so I did my best to help her handle everything. Even for weddings and funerals, people came to find Vera. Facing these poor relatives of Vera’s family, I didn’t feel there was anything wrong. After all, with the strength of my An family, this little help was nothing. But Vera didn’t know that a few days before our wedding, Miss Shen came to see me. She wanted to transfer her 10% of shares to me and said that if I ever regretted it, she would wait for me no matter when I turned back. I laughed at her for thinking too much. I’ve always had good taste since I was young and had never misjudged. I believed I wouldn’t misjudge Vera either. I didn’t expect to be slapped in the face so quickly. Everyone could see Vera’s true face clearly, except for my blind self. After marriage, even when I tried to go along with her, she would find all kinds of faults. She said I didn’t know how to do housework, she hated me drinking and smoking, complained that I always worked overtime, and that I wasn’t as considerate and gentle as other husbands in her social media circle. At that time, I was completely devoted to Vera. If she told me to die, I wouldn’t hesitate. So, I quit smoking and drinking, and immediately went home after work without accepting any social engagements. To please her, I even hired chefs from various countries to cook for her in different ways. My good friend Ryan always teased me, saying I had been trained by Vera into a 24-hour loyal dog. Vera’s parents had nothing but praise for me, telling everyone they met that Vera was lucky to have married me. But even though I was so good, Vera could still find faults with me. I always thought I wasn’t doing well enough, but now I realize she was just using me as a stepping stone on her path to success. She didn’t love me. No matter what I did, she would never be satisfied. They didn’t care about my opinion at all and let Nolan move into my house. In the evening, Nolan personally knocked on my door to ask me to come down for dinner. After I refused several times, he started that worthless green tea act again. He blamed himself loudly, “Mr. An, are you still blaming me?” “We’re all doing this for Vera’s sake. If you really hate me, I won’t appear in front of you in the future, okay?” I frowned and opened the door unhappily. Nolan had a bitter face as if he had been wronged. Vera came up holding the handrail, looking at Nolan with concern and comforting him, “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to act like you owe him anything.” “You go down and eat first.” Nolan refused to leave and took out a watch from his pocket, “This is a watch I modified myself. I know Mr. An has seen a lot and won’t think much of this watch.” “But I don’t have anything presentable to give. This is just a gift for you. Can we get along peacefully for Vera’s sake in the future?” I snorted coldly, “If you can’t give something presentable, then don’t give anything. How shabby.” Vera angrily slapped me in the face. “Andrew, Nolan has already lowered himself so much, yet you still humiliate him.” “I’m telling you, I’m pregnant and can’t get emotional. If you keep giving Nolan a hard time, it’s like you want to anger me to death!” Vera looked as if I was a heinous criminal. This slap broke all my lingering affection for her. I stared at the dog couple in front of me and raised my hand to slap Nolan twice in the face. I used all my strength, and soon blood flowed from the corner of Nolan’s mouth. Vera looked at me in disbelief and screamed, “You actually dared to hit Nolan!” I snorted coldly, “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re pregnant, this slap would have landed on your face.” “I, the CEO of the An Group, am not someone you can cuckold as you please.” Vera’s mother heard the commotion and immediately ran up to mediate, “Andrew, Vera is pregnant and got a bit emotional. Don’t take it to heart.” Seeing that I didn’t say anything, Vera’s mother immediately pulled Vera’s sleeve, “Vera, apologize to Andrew. What you just said was too harsh.” Vera pouted and stared at me. It had always been me apologizing to her. How could it be her turn to apologize to me? She turned her face away, unwilling to give in. “Vera!” Vera’s mother lightly slapped her, knowing that if they continued like this, they definitely wouldn’t get any benefits. “Apologize!” Vera unwillingly stared at me, “It was my bad mood. I shouldn’t have hit you, but you shouldn’t have hit Nolan either.” This wasn’t an apology at all. She was just accusing me. My heart was completely cold. I couldn’t eat dinner either. I stayed in the study all night, unwilling to go out. In the end, it was Mrs. Lee who felt sorry for me and brought me dinner. The next day, I slept until noon before waking up. Seeing them preparing lunch, I turned and left without looking back. The company secretary told me that somehow everyone knew that Vera had gone out to play for half a year and came back pregnant. There was a lot of unpleasant gossip about me in the company. Soon after I left, Vera sent me a message asking me to come back and bring her some supplements. She also wanted me to buy her the new bag that came out the day before yesterday to make her happy. Through the text on the screen, I seemed to see Vera’s high and mighty, imperious appearance. In the past, I would have granted her every request. But now, who was she to me? I quickly replied, “Let the child’s father buy it for you. That would be more reassuring.” As soon as the message was sent, Mrs. Lee told me that Nolan had snatched away all the supplements my mother had just sent over, saying it was good for the child in Vera’s belly. “What else did they say?” I asked. Mrs. Lee snorted angrily, “Vera’s parents didn’t blame Nolan at all. They were even pleased, saying that as long as it was something Vera could eat, they shouldn’t be polite and should just take it.” Because of my poor health, my mother would send some nourishing supplements every now and then. I never expected that my mother’s love for me would be taken advantage of by these bastards. Even Vera’s mother, who usually knew her manners, acquiesced to this. Since they were so shameless, I had no need to give them face anymore. I went directly to the company, called a high-level meeting, rearranged the work, deployed staff positions, and directly removed Vera from the position of vice president. “From today on, Manager Vera will no longer hold any position in the company. She is not allowed to set foot in the company.”

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In the seventh year of marriage, my wife, Savannah, came to our home flaunting her pregnant belly and brought her “new partner,” Kyle, her personal assistant, with her. Kyle carefully shielded her belly, sneering, “You’ve been married to Lila for seven years without giving her a child. Now that she’s carrying mine, isn’t it time you step aside?” My wife leaned proudly into Kyle’s arms, adding, “Yeah, you’ve freeloaded here long enough. Time to go.” Looking at Kyle’s naive confidence, I decided to oblige them—and turned the tables by making sure it was she who walked away empty-handed. Eventually, Savannah and Kyle got married, and it was only during their wedding that Kyle discovered Savannah was merely a trophy wife. The real wealth and status belonged to me. Content 1， “Go get me the best Bird’s Nest Soup and Ginseng Tonic.” “I’ll be the new boss here soon, and if any of you don’t start sucking up now, I’ll make sure Lila and I let you go the moment we’re married.” I hadn’t even stepped through the door, and Kyle’s self-satisfied tone hit me hard. Sitting on the couch with a smug grin, he made my stomach twist painfully. Lila and I had been together for ten years—three dating, seven married. We never argued, and she always kept me updated on her whereabouts. If I ever missed a text, she’d get annoyed. Friends even joked she was hopelessly loyal, saying that even if all the men in the world cheated, she wouldn’t. And now, here she was, not only cheating but parading her new partner, challenging me right here in my own house. Just as I was about to speak, Auntie Sue came over, her face a mix of worry and relief, “Sir, thank goodness you’re home.” “Auntie Sue,” I addressed her firmly, “you’ve served the Lane Family loyally, so I’ll show you respect. But don’t overstep—you need to recognize who the real head of this household is.” Auntie Sue glared at Kyle, but before she could say anything, I gently held her arm. “Did Lila ask you to let him move in here?” Feigning surprise, Kyle stood up from the couch, looking at me with a raised eyebrow, “Oh, hey there! Just setting some rules for the staff.” “Not to sound harsh, but you’ve clearly got no clue about running a household of this caliber.” “Just look how lax you’ve been with the staff! That’s not going to work here.” Kyle covered his mouth, chuckling with a calculating gleam in his eye. Without responding, I had the driver bring in some of the special supplements my parents had sent. Kyle was on them in a heartbeat, pulling several boxes toward himself. “Even though it’s all Lila’s money, I should thank you for thinking of us.” Lila’s money? These were luxuries she could never afford alone. Ignoring him, I casually leaned back on the couch as Auntie Sue poured me tea. I took a few sips, then pointed to one of the boxes, “That one’s for, uh, certain ‘performance’ issues. You don’t need that, right?” “Oh, and that one’s for infertility. You’re not…infertile, are you?” Kyle’s smile froze, then returned in full force, full of pride. Leaning in like he was letting me in on a joke, he gloated, “You’ve been married to Lila for seven years, and she never got pregnant, but she’s having my child. Time for you to move aside, don’t you think?” I tightened my grip on the teacup, smirking. “Well, she’d better have a son, then.” Kyle tipped his head arrogantly. “My genes guarantee a son.” He lowered his gaze to me, still smirking. “As soon as our son is born, Lila’s divorcing you.” 2， Divorce me? For this guy? I remembered when Lila wanted us to be together. She stood outside my dorm with roses for a hundred days straight. She saved every dollar to buy a ring and propose, even taking extra jobs. One night, she fell from a scaffolding out of sheer exhaustion, got a concussion, and was unconscious for a week. The moment she woke up, she pulled herself out of bed to propose. She even signed a prenuptial agreement, swearing she’d never touch a dime of mine and swearing by the moon to be left with nothing if she ever betrayed me. And now, she had betrayed me—for him. Kyle’s grin grew even cockier as I stayed silent. “You and Lila have been married for seven years without a child. She’s sick of it.” “Lila told me that even if you knew about us, you’d never do a thing about it, because…” Kyle looked at me, venom in his eyes. “Because someone like Lila has an inheritance to consider. If you can’t give her a child, there are plenty of men who can.” Seeing this “homewrecker” flaunting his victory, I clenched my jaw and asked coldly, “So Lila told you she’s tired of me? And that I’d never have the guts to confront you both?” Kyle’s gaze lowered mockingly. “Exactly.” “She said you’re clueless and a deadbeat. If you hadn’t been careless and lost her first baby, she would’ve been a mom by now…” At that, my heart clenched, and a chill ran through my veins. Almost no one knew about that incident, not even my parents. Lila had promised it would stay between us. But here she was, sharing my most painful secret with this arrogant man. My fists tightened, rage boiling over. Without thinking, I swung and hit him hard across the face. 3， Kyle looked at me, stunned, his face darkening. After a few seconds, he launched himself at me. “Are you crazy?!” “You dare hit me?” “You, a nobody freeloading off the Lane Family, think you can lay a hand on me? If Lila hears about this, she’ll make you pay.” He rolled up his sleeves, looking every bit like a thug, “I’m gonna break your hand so you never try that again.” Just as his hand reached for my shirt, I stepped back quickly, making him stumble onto the couch. Furious, he pointed at the staff, shouting, “What are you all standing there for? Pin this bastard down and beat him!” Seeing that none of the staff took his side, he slumped back, panting. “Lila’s the one paying you all. Soon, she’ll kick him out, and when I’m in charge, every one of you who didn’t back me will be out of a job!” Auntie Sue stepped forward, frowning, and whispered to me, “Sir, should I have him thrown out? If he dies here, it could ruin your reputation.” Looking at Kyle’s pale, shaken expression, I pulled out my phone and called Lila. The instigator himself was here; there was no reason for her to hide anymore. But the call went unanswered. Before, Lila had set a special ringtone just for me, making sure she’d never miss my call, no matter what she was doing. But lately, her phone was always silent, always busy, always out of reach when I called. It seemed almost like a deliberate act to ignore me. Kyle’s grin widened smugly when he saw I hadn’t reached her. “When Lila’s in meetings, I’m the only one who can reach her.” “She set up a special alert just for me, promised she’d always pick up right away…” I looked down, bitterly amused. Turning to Auntie Sue, I instructed, “Please, go to Lila’s office. Tell her if she doesn’t come home, her child’s father might die.” Auntie Sue nodded and made her way out. Kyle’s face paled as he bolted up, grabbing Auntie Sue in a panic, “Don’t go!” Auntie Sue shook his hand off. “I only listen to Mr. Lane. Who do you think you are?” “You’re young; you could be doing anything. Why ruin someone else’s family?” “If I were your mother, I’d have dumped you in a toilet rather than raise you to shame us like this.” Auntie Sue, civil as she was, had a way with words that could cut deep without a single curse. Kyle, shaking with rage, slapped her hard across the face. “How dare a servant speak to me like that?” “You’re fired. Get out now!” Seeing Auntie Sue hurt, I grabbed Kyle’s hand as he tried to swing again. “Enough. I’m still the head of this house.” Kyle sneered, his fist clenched as he pushed against my face. “Victor, I suggest you get smart and divorce Lila, or I’ll make sure your life’s a living hell.” Just then, the sound of cars pulling up outside made Kyle’s expression shift. His posture went slack, and he let himself fall back onto the floor. “Victor, why did you push me…” 4， “Victor Lane, have you lost your mind? How could you push Chris Walters like that?” Helen Turner leaped out of her car, her strides quick and confident. She reached Chris’s side in a few steps, her face full of concern as she helped him up. “Are you hurt?” The way Helen doted on Chris, it was obvious she knew about his affair with Lila. Without shame, Chris leaned into her arms, even managing to force out a tear. “Mom, I just came to check on Victor, knowing that Lila’s due any day now. But he thought my gift was too cheap and actually hit me, saying he’d kill Lila’s baby if he got the chance.” “I wouldn’t have texted you if I hadn’t been afraid he’d beat me to death…” I scoffed under my breath. So that’s why Helen showed up so suddenly. Chris had secretly summoned her for support. Ever since Lila took over the company, Helen had almost disappeared from my life. She claimed she was getting too old to stay active and needed more rest. In reality, she just no longer saw the need to butter me up. Helen patted Chris’s hand and cast me a disapproving look, though her tone remained somewhat tempered. “Victor, whatever you may feel, Chris is still the father of Lila’s baby. Wasn’t that a bit much?” Now emboldened, Chris’s expression turned more pitiful. “Victor, I know I shouldn’t have been with Lila, but we genuinely love each other.” “She told me long ago she didn’t love you, that she kept you around out of sentimentality. I don’t mind if she still takes care of you after we’re married.” “All I want is a proper family for Lila’s child…” Chris started sniffling again, and Helen gently squeezed his hand. “Poor boy, don’t sit on the cold ground; you’ll catch your death. You’ll need your strength for all the future babies with Lila.” “Victor’s a reasonable man. Let’s talk it out and find a way to make this work.” Chris’s eyes sparkled, and he threw himself into Helen’s arms, adding with a sly grin, “Or maybe you don’t want to lose him as a son-in-law?” Helen frowned, clearly uncomfortable, trying to defuse the situation. “Both of you mean the world to me. Let’s wait until Lila gets here and settle this like adults.” I chuckled, lowering my gaze. “All right, Mom. Why don’t you go ahead and give Lila a call? Whatever she decides, I’ll accept it.” Helen hesitated, but finally took out her phone. Just as she was about to dial, Chris’s face went pale. “Mom, I’m not feeling well. Maybe…maybe you should take me to the hospital.” I rolled my eyes at Chris’s poor acting and gave Auntie Sue a slight nod. She slipped through the crowd and said, “No need to make a fuss. There’s a family doctor right here.” Chris’s face turned sour, and he clutched Helen’s arm even tighter, his voice growing louder. “Mom, I’m scared. Victor’s been out to get Lila’s baby all along. I…” Helen’s expression grew more troubled, her gaze shifting toward me. “Victor, should I just take him to the hospital?” I smiled at her calmly. “Mom, don’t you trust me?” Helen looked conflicted. Although Lila was now independent and running her own affairs, Helen wasn’t about to completely sever ties with me, especially not before hearing Lila’s side of things. Unsure of how to proceed, she finally turned to Chris. “Our family doctor’s as good as any hospital. Just sit tight.” Chris opened his mouth to protest but was silenced by the look on Helen’s face. Defeated, he submitted to the doctor’s examination. After confirming that Chris was unharmed, Helen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Foiled, Chris grabbed Helen’s hand again, pouting. Just then, a sharp voice from the doorway interrupted us. “Who said you could make a scene here?!”

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My Wife Swapped Our Baby to Inherit My Billion-Dollar Fortune My wife swapped our daughter with my brother-in-law’s daughter to ensure her family would inherit my billion-dollar fortune. I pretended not to know. I watched as my “niece” was mistreated and starved into a skeletal state at my brother-in-law’s house. Meanwhile, my “daughter” was raised by my wife to be rosy-cheeked, adorable, and blessed. On the day of my daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, just after I had transferred company shares to her, my brother-in-law’s family burst in with my niece and a DNA test report. “The hospital mixed up the babies back then, brother-in-law. It’s time to switch them back!” Amid their triumphant gazes, I smiled through tears: “Sure.” “Zane! My water broke!” I was out of town closing a deal with a client when I received this message from my wife, Emily. The moment I saw those words, I immediately canceled all my upcoming tasks and replied: “Honey, I’m coming right away.” As I anxiously opened my phone to contact my assistant about available tickets, Emily sent another message. “Don’t worry, darling. No need to rush. My brother and sister-in-law are here. You focus on making money, and come back when you’re done. It’s fine.” I said okay, but the urge to return grew stronger by the minute. Just then, my assistant called. Her voice was full of apology. “Mr. Wilson, I’m so sorry. Due to the recent extreme weather, the airport is closed, and there are no train tickets available.” I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel, not understanding why my heart was racing uncontrollably. But deep down, I had a feeling that I absolutely had to go back. “Sarah, what about a taxi? If I take a taxi back, how many hours would it take?” The assistant on the other end of the line paused for a moment, then responded professionally. “Mr. Wilson, if you take a ride-sharing service, it would take about six hours to get back.” I nodded in agreement and asked her to book one for me immediately. The taxi sped onto the highway through the heavy rain into the dark night. Even after getting in the car, that ominous feeling hadn’t dissipated. I could only ask the driver to go as fast as possible within the legal limits. On the way, I tried calling Emily, but there was no answer. Thinking it was probably because she was exhausted from giving birth, I rationalized that the bad feeling was probably just empathy for Emily’s pain during labor. At this point, I still thought I was in sync with Emily, and even wanted to give her a surprise, so I didn’t tell her I was coming. By the time I arrived at the hospital, it was already late at night. There weren’t many people around, just a few nurses dozing off here and there. I asked for Emily’s room number, and when I got there, I saw that she had indeed given birth and was sleeping, her face pale. Seeing her like that made my heart ache. I felt she had been through so much, and didn’t want to disturb her. Instead, I asked a nurse where the nursery was and headed there alone. There weren’t many people on the nursery floor at this hour. I remembered the number and walked to the door of one of the rooms. Just as my hand gripped the doorknob, I heard familiar voices whispering inside. “Honey, are we really going to do this?” I frowned as I listened carefully. It was the voice of my sister-in-law, Lily. If that was her husband, it must be Emily’s brother, Ryan. Sure enough, the next moment I heard my brother-in-law Ryan’s voice, with a hint of resolute determination. “Of course. We’ve come this far, do you want all our plans to go to waste?!” “But… but what if we get caught swapping the babies? And… that’s our daughter…” Lily’s voice was choked with sobs, clearly very reluctant. Ryan cursed her under his breath: “This is why women can’t get things done! Didn’t we agree to switch them from the start? This way, all of Zane Wilson’s money will belong to our family! Why are you crying now? Do you still want the money or not?!” “…I do,” Lily’s timid voice came after a while. Then the two of them opened the door to the inner sterilization room. They seemed about to come out, so I quickly retreated to the stairwell corner. I saw them sneak out, looking around cautiously before leaving. I stood there frozen, chilled to the bone. After a long while, I seemed to regain the warmth in my body. Then I also entered the nursery. After searching carefully, I found the incubator with Ryan and Lily’s names on it, separated by a few from the one with Emily’s and my names. Although the name on this incubator was Chloe Parker, the moment I saw the baby, I felt an instant connection. I immediately switched the babies back. As I was going downstairs, I passed by Emily’s room. She seemed to have woken up, and I could faintly hear her talking with Ryan and Lily. I stood to the side and eavesdropped. “Sis, I’ve switched the babies as you instructed.” I heard Ryan, barely able to contain his excitement. Then Emily’s weak voice came from the bed. “Thank you, Ryan. I promise I’ll take good care of your child and won’t let her suffer at all. Everything we’re doing now is so that we can ultimately get all of Zane’s assets.” Hearing this, I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. It was even more heartbreaking than discovering Ryan’s actions earlier. I had thought it was just Ryan and Lily’s malicious scheme, but now I discovered my own wife was involved. She was my partner, the person I shared my bed with! Then I heard very low sobbing from the room. “But… but I carried her for ten months, and now we’re just switching…” That was Lily, unable to part with her own flesh and blood. “What are you crying for?! She’s going to have a better life! Could we afford to raise her? Zane will raise her, she’ll get a better education and resources! What are you crying about?!” Ryan immediately scolded her. Lily could no longer hold back her tears and began to weep openly. “Lily, I understand. After all, it’s the child you carried. Anyone would be reluctant and heartbroken. But this is the only way now,” Emily sighed softly, seemingly holding Lily’s hand before continuing to comfort her. “When the child comes to our side, I can’t guarantee everything, but I can assure you she’ll want for nothing. In the future, no matter how well she does in school, even if she’s not very smart, it doesn’t matter. Zane will give her a good future. Can you provide that?” Lily sobbed and shook her head, finally giving in. “Alright, sis. We just came to let you know it’s done. You just gave birth, so get some rest,” Ryan’s voice came from inside. Seeing that the two were about to leave, I quickly hid in the nearby stairwell. The stairwell was dark. Outside, the heavy rain had just cleared, revealing a cold, round moon through the window. I looked at the moon, and tears suddenly fell. Emily and I met in college. Her family wasn’t well-off, and she worked part-time during university. I met her during a volunteer event. Back then, she was a shy girl who would politely greet me as “senior.” It was her shyness and the innocent look in her eyes when she looked up at me that made me start pursuing her. Dating during college was incredibly sweet. Emily came from a poor background, and I always felt sorry for her. So I took her to experience many things she had never experienced before. As for food and clothes, I never let her want for anything. She also seemed to love me very much, making me believe we would get married and spend our lives together. And we did get married. I proposed to her right after graduation, disregarding our difference in status and marrying her directly. I remember my family was against it at the time, saying there weren’t that many good girls in the world and warning me not to be deceived again. But they could see I really liked her, so in the end, they allowed the marriage. My married life with Emily seemed happy. I believed I treated her extremely well, but I didn’t notice that she was the first to change. After years of marriage, what I got in return wasn’t her love, but her scheme for my assets. And my brother-in-law, who could only afford to buy a house and get married because of me, would bow and scrape in front of me, but behind my back, he was plotting with Emily like this. No wonder I had that inexplicable urge to rush to the hospital. Fortunately, I made it back. I wanted to see what kind of trouble they could stir up! I didn’t go directly to Emily’s room that day. Instead, I found a place to stay near the hospital and only appeared before them the next day, pretending to be anxious. “Honey! How are you? I bought the earliest flight back, but I was still late!” I pushed open the door to the ward, my face deliberately showing signs of a hasty journey. Emily, seeing me arrive, immediately tried to sit up, smiling at me with an exhausted but happy expression. “Darling, you’re here?” “Brother-in-law is here!” “Brother-in-law.” Ryan and Lily, who were on another bed, seemed guilty and immediately stood up to greet me. Everyone was all smiles. “Lily, don’t move. You just gave birth a few days ago too, right? Don’t get up. Honey, how are you feeling now? It’s all my fault, I couldn’t get the fastest ticket back.” I sat by Emily’s bed, playing along with them, looking at Emily with apparent concern, but my heart was ice-cold. Because in this short interaction, I couldn’t detect any other intentions from them. Indeed, the Parker family were all actors, smiling tigers. “Brother-in-law, sister gave birth to an 8-pound little princess yesterday. Congratulations!” Ryan, seeing the situation, immediately chimed in with sweet words. “8 pounds? That’s quite heavy. It’s truly a joyous occasion,” I said, letting a hint of delight flash across my face, while coldly thinking to myself: If I had really come back this morning, I would have been completely fooled by you all. Just then, a nurse pushed in two babies. She placed each baby next to their mother’s bed before leaving. I hurriedly looked at the baby next to Emily. “Brother-in-law is so eager,” Ryan laughed, smoothing things over. Emily also smiled helplessly, seemingly amused by my boyish impatience. Everyone thought I was anxious to see my own daughter, but that wasn’t the case. After carefully examining the baby, I felt a weight lift from my heart. In my haste last night, I only had time to mark the baby’s leg with a dot using my pen as identification. Now I saw they hadn’t noticed anything amiss. The setup of the two cribs was vastly different. The one next to Emily was extremely luxurious, while the one on their side was quite simple. The cribs weren’t provided by the hospital. We had bought all the best baby products, both domestic and international, months in advance. Looking at the clearly hastily bought, makeshift crib on my sister-in-law’s side, I couldn’t help but ask with confusion: “Is using this crib…” “Oh, brother-in-law, our family is different from yours. We don’t need to use such good things for everything. This is good enough. I didn’t even have a crib when I was little,” Ryan waved his hand and laughed it off when he saw me asking. “You should still be careful with children’s things. They’re just born and have low immunity,” I only advised a couple of sentences. After all, it wasn’t my child. But I was grateful in my heart. If they had really switched the babies, my daughter would now be in a crib that was about to fall apart. I didn’t know how many hardships she would have to endure with them in the future. Looking at Emily, who was showering the baby beside her with love, I once again felt how heartless she was. How could she bear to give her own child to the other side, to that environment and those parents?! “Honey, why don’t you name her?” Emily looked up at me with a face full of happiness. I smiled back and responded: “Poppy Wilson.” After resting for a while longer, we were discharged from the hospital. Before parting, Ryan and Lily were reluctant to leave my daughter, with Lily on the verge of tears several times. “Brother-in-law, bring your niece to visit often.” “I will,” I responded outwardly, while inwardly sneering as I looked at their daughter, whom they couldn’t even be bothered to hold. You reap what you sow! I wanted to see exactly how they planned to get my assets by swapping the children! And I was even more eager to see their disappointed and devastated expressions when they found out their baby-swapping plan had failed!

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My fiancé fell for the girl who saved his life—a mute—and now he wants to call off our engagement. I offered him some advice: “The Holt family isn’t easy to get into; she might want to think it over.” The girl took offense and poisoned herself. Ten years later, after taking over the Holt Group, Nick’s first order of business was to ruin my family and come for my life. “This is what you owe Ella.” I open my eyes again and find myself back at my 23rd birthday party. Mr. Theodore Holt asks what my birthday wish is. “If Nick Jr. and Ella truly love each other, then let’s make them the perfect match.” Content I died on one of the coldest winter nights. I thought I could hold on until spring, but Nick didn’t want to wait. With no anesthesia, he sliced open my chest, his scalpel cutting in bit by bit, and my blood poured out like a fountain. It still didn’t satisfy him. Raising his arm, he drove the cold blade right into my heart. The pain nearly made me pass out. I struggled to ask, “Why?” I really couldn’t understand. Nick and I were childhood friends, our families inseparable. My father had supported the Holt Group all these years, helping Nick rise to the top. Even after he took over the company, we never took advantage of our connection. And yet he manipulated the market, spread scandals, and drove my family, the Jensens, to ruin. “Why, Nick?” I gasped, gripping his tie with all my strength. Nick stared into my eyes, as if I’d somehow betrayed him, even though he was the one killing me. “This is what you owe Ella,” he said, his cold voice more frigid than the wind outside. Ella? Ella Snow? The name stirred an old memory, and slowly, her fragile, tear-streaked face came to mind. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. It had been ten years. So Nick had never forgotten her. He actually blamed her death on me, on the entire Jensen family. “Nick, you really are a—” Idiot! I didn’t get to finish. He yanked out the scalpel, and scarlet blood sprayed, clouding my vision. The pain was unbearable.

“Miss, is your headache acting up again?” There was no icy basement, no howling wind. Instead, the room was warm, the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. Neon lights flickered outside, with cars streaming down the streets below. I was standing on the balcony of the Lexington Grand Hotel, looking out over the city that never sleeps. It was my 23rd birthday party. I’d come back to life. Not only was I alive and well, but I was five years in the past. This was the year the Jensen Group completed a major international merger and went public. And this was the year I hadn’t yet become Nick’s wife. “Oh, what a headache.” Behind me, I heard a bitter whisper. “Nick Jr. has been on every major media channel for three days straight, declaring that he wants to cancel his engagement with the Jensen family.” I stopped Rachel, my assistant, from responding. This was more than just canceling an engagement. This was the year Nick had been in a car accident while visiting a rural project, and a local girl had saved him after he fell off a cliff. The girl was delicate and beautiful, and in her desperation to help him, she’d eaten an herb that damaged her voice. Nick had been so moved that he’d brought her back to the Holt Mansion. For three days, he’d been making public statements. He was going to marry her—only her. He was determined to make her the future Mrs. Holt, wife of the Holt Group’s CEO. “Miss, don’t believe all that nonsense. You and Nick Jr. have known each other since childhood. All these years of friendship…” I shook my head, gently refusing Rachel’s comfort. I knew exactly what she was going to say. Three days ago, I’d woken up at the Jensen Estate. Three days was all I needed to piece together everything, both past and present. “Miss,” Rachel said softly, looking excited, “Nick Jr. just arrived.”

I turned and saw Nick approaching, wearing a crisp suit and surrounded by a crowd. The whispers around us went silent in an instant. Nick and I had grown up together. Our engagement had been arranged early on by our families to cement our business alliance. Anytime someone spoke ill of me, he was the first to stand up for me. Anytime he got into trouble at home, I’d be the first to help smooth things over for him. Until now, everyone had assumed I was Nick’s only love—the future Mrs. Holt, without question. Yet here, at my 23rd birthday party, he brought another woman with him. Ella Snow was draped in a fancy dress and perfectly made up, though it looked like she was wearing someone else’s skin. She clung to Nick’s arm, practically hiding behind him for protection. Nick leaned down and whispered something to her, his eyes filled with affection. Ella looked at me, her expression quickly shifting to one of uneasy fear. She stepped forward. With a soft thud, she dropped to her knees in front of me.

How familiar this scene was. Even the tear at the corner of her eye, ready to fall, was the same. In my previous life, her frail, helpless look had deceived me. I’d actually been willing to help her and Nick figure things out. As a Jensen heiress, I certainly didn’t need Nick. Yes, her presence had stung, but it hadn’t made me lose my composure. When Nick wanted to break off our engagement, I didn’t cause a scene. Out of respect for our history, I sincerely offered him a few words of advice: “Miss Snow is new in Lexington and has lost her voice, even though she saved you. But as for making her the next Mrs. Holt? Even if you convinced every board member, I don’t think Mr. Holt would approve. It’d just make things harder for her.” “Nick, maybe you should take a step back. Why not let her start as an intern at the company, and then, down the road…” My words had a double meaning: “After all, can’t you do whatever you want in the future?” That little suggestion saved her from immediate trouble but landed me in endless torment.

Slap! Slap! Slap! In my previous life, the moment Ella knelt, I rushed to help her. This time, I just watched as she gave herself three loud, sharp slaps. Rachel tugged at my sleeve. The room was filled with guests, and many had already pulled out their phones, aiming them in our direction. Rachel wanted to intervene, but I held her back. What was the rush? “Ella!” Nick’s expression was starting to sour. Within seconds, Ella’s cheeks had reddened and swollen. Tears brimmed in her eyes, adding to her pitiful look. She looked from Nick to me, bit her lip, and kept hitting herself. I took a calm sip of champagne. I was curious—how far would she take this performance?

Yes, it was all an act. Her muteness was an act, her delicate “damsel” persona was an act, and even her “suicide” in my past life was an act. Outside a secluded club lounge, I’d overheard her distinct, delicate voice pleading with a doctor: “Doctor, I’m just a poor girl with nowhere to go. If I don’t play the sympathy card, how could I ever get through the Holts’ front door?” “Please give me some medication that’ll put me in a brief state of shock!” “Doctor, I really love Nick Jr. With my background, being his lover is already reaching too high, but since he’s promised to marry me, I need to make sure he feels guilty for me forever.” “Please, just help me! If I fake my death once, he’ll always remember he owes me.” What a scheme. She’d fooled Nick, she’d fooled me, and she’d fooled every high-society figure in Lexington. I’d once asked Nick why he was so taken with Ella. “I was born a Holt heir. Everyone treats me with respect, but only because of my title. Even you, Mila—if I weren’t the Holt heir, would you have cared about me?” At the time, I didn’t know how to answer. If he hadn’t been the Holt heir, there wouldn’t have been any engagement, no shared childhood, no question of love. “Only Ella was willing to give her life for me without knowing my identity. How could I not be moved by such pure love?” He almost had me convinced. As a high-society heiress, I’d always been cautious and thoughtful. I had to consider my parents, my family—I wouldn’t just give my life for someone. We’d all overlooked another possibility. Even if Nick had been unconscious after the car crash, his tailored suit and Patek Philippe watch would’ve made it clear he came from wealth. Whether he was the rich son of an elite family, a business mogul, or a group heir, Ella had known from the start. She’d planned to climb the social ladder from day one.

“Enough!” Nick’s sharp voice cut through the crowd. The room went silent. Ella flinched, slowly raising her head, her eyes wide and pleading as she looked at me. Her message was unmistakable: she’d broken off my engagement and turned me into the town’s laughingstock, and she felt deeply remorseful about it. If I didn’t step in, she wouldn’t stop. Perfect. I lifted an eyebrow and took a leisurely sip of my champagne. Ella clenched her teeth, bowing her head as if she was about to slap herself again. Then, with a loud smack, Nick strode over and slapped the champagne glass from my hand. “Camilla Jensen, you’ve gone too far!”

“Camilla, do you even know what decency is anymore?” Nick’s cold eyes narrowed, his voice simmering with anger. He turned and helped Ella up, gently brushing his hand over her swollen cheek. “Camilla, apologize,” he commanded. “Do it now in front of everyone, and we’ll call it even. I won’t hold it against you.” I almost burst out laughing. How naïve I’d been back then. After uncovering Ella’s scheme, I’d messaged Nick to tell him everything I’d overheard. I even asked him to keep an eye on her. The next day, Ella took her own life by poisoning—not a staged attempt but the real thing. The media had a field day, speculating she’d ended her life over the relentless public pressure. Nick left me a voice message after it happened: “Thanks for the heads-up, Ms. Jensen. Those who betray me will always be punished.” And that was it. For years, I’d thought he confronted her, forcing her to take real poison. I thought he was the same unforgiving Nick I’d always known. I never realized, not until the end, that when he said, “those who betray me,” he was talking about me. Camilla Jensen, did you hear me?” “Ella didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who insisted on marrying her. It’s me, Nick Holt, who’s calling off our engagement.” I stared at him, and a bitter smile tugged at my lips. I’d really been blind. I’d actually thought he was a clear-headed business genius. “Rachel,” I turned to my assistant, “aren’t all the heads of the Big Four here on the top floor?” Rachel blinked, stunned, then nodded. Gathering up my gown, I made my way to the elevator. Nick followed me. “What are you trying to do?” “The old man made a private visit tonight,” he said, clearly nervous. “He didn’t make a big announcement about being here.” I knew that already. After all, a birthday party for a “rising star” in business like myself wouldn’t usually draw the heads of the four most powerful families in the city.

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In the dead of night, I got pulled into the County Jailhouse on a misunderstanding while selling goods on the street. The officer looked at my ID and, with a strange expression, said, “Wait, you graduated from Washington Ivy College. What are you doing selling things on the street at this hour?” I realized with a shock—the ID number on the file was mine, but the photo wasn’t. It was Claire Bright’s. Twenty years ago, I had been accepted into Washington Ivy! I stumbled back home, dazed, only to overhear my husband Damon Everett on the phone saying, “Claire, don’t worry about Callie Reid bothering you. You just go ahead and move overseas.” It was him! Damon Everett had helped Claire Bright take over my life! My stomach churned. I turned to confront him and reveal the truth, but Damon caught me off guard, strangling me to death with his belt. His last words rang out coldly, “Sorry, Callie, but you can’t get in the way of Claire’s future.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in high school, right in the classroom as my teacher handed out the college application forms. This time, I’m taking my life back. Content

“Callie, have you decided where you want to apply yet?” I snapped out of the pain-filled memories and turned to my desk mate. His young face seemed so strange and innocent. That’s when I realized: I’d been given a second chance. “Callie, what’s up with you?” he asked, worried. I smiled and shook my head to reassure him, a burst of joy flaring inside me. Our teacher—Mr. Everett, Damon’s father—began speaking. “Go ahead and fill out your forms so I can get an idea of your plans,” he said. I fixed my eyes on Mr. Everett. It struck me now—he was helping Damon scout out prospects for Claire. We already knew our test scores, so there was no reason to gather in class to fill out paper forms. But he was calling everyone here, probably just to pick out the best for Claire. I clenched my fists, remembering how Damon had started pursuing me around this same time in my last life. I filled out the form randomly, ignoring his instructions. When I glanced up, I caught Mr. Everett watching me with a look I couldn’t quite read. Sure enough, after I turned in the form, Mr. Everett called out, “Callie Reid, come to my office.” He took my form and walked off without another word. “You scored the highest in the class this time, Callie. You’re definitely going to Washington Ivy,” my desk mate said. I had scored 702 points, the highest in class, and still didn’t get in last time. I had gone to Mr. Everett so many times, desperate to know why, and he had blamed my rejection on overreaching, saying I’d aimed too high with his recommendation for the Pre-Law Program. I glanced over at Damon, who was napping in the corner. I nodded to my desk mate. No way would I fall for this twice. I pushed open the office door, and Mr. Everett looked up. “Callie, you scored very well. Why did you choose these schools?” I had listed community colleges, one after another. “High employment rate,” I answered, spacing out each word. Mr. Everett went silent, then softened his tone. “You don’t need to aim low, Callie. It’s better for a young woman to study law.” He opened his laptop, pulling up the application portal for me. I stared at the screen, holding back a sarcastic laugh. He thought he could push me into filling it out his way? Did he think I’d willingly pave the way for Claire again? “No thanks, Mr. Everett. I’d rather drive a tractor,” I said, and turned to go, nearly bumping into Damon in the doorway. “Callie Reid, if you need help with the applications, just let me know. I’ve always wanted to study law.” Hearing this, I felt a spark of suspicion. So that’s it—they’re both trying to steer me toward law, hoping I’ll fall into their trap. “No, thanks,” I said calmly. “I already know what I want.” Damon gave a faint smile. “Alright, then.” I left the office in a hurry, catching Damon as he closed the door and leaned against it to eavesdrop. “Dad, if Callie doesn’t cooperate, can’t we just pick someone else?” I froze. Damon was willing to ruin someone else’s life too if I didn’t go along with it? “Callie’s got the highest score. She’s the safest bet,” Mr. Everett replied in a cold tone. “We owe Claire this chance. You know that.” I walked away, shaking my head. Owe Claire? So now my future’s the currency they’re paying with?

In my past life, I gave up everything for Damon, putting in endless hours to retake the college exams. Damon said he’d register me but later claimed he couldn’t because of some new regulations. I believed him. Later, I wanted to try for the adult college exam, but he said it was pointless. I decided to take it anyway, but on the test day, my alarm didn’t go off. I confronted him, and he insisted he’d turned it off to let me sleep. I was furious, but he held me close, saying, “Callie, let’s just get married. I’ll love you whether or not you go to college.” I cried in his arms, dreams of my future slipping away. But he was happy to let them. Damon later claimed he’d racked up debt from a work project, so I took on three, four jobs a day to help him repay it. Looking back, he must have seen me as an obstacle in Claire’s path, something to be controlled. Back in the classroom, I packed my things and headed home, ignoring a message from my desk mate saying Damon had been looking for me. He wasn’t giving up. My parents worked out of town, and when they heard about my score, they sent me some money and ordered a cake for me, though they wouldn’t be back until next month. I understood them—they were out there working construction jobs, every day on the job meaning one more day’s pay. I wasn’t in any rush to submit my college preferences; there were still two days left. But some people were getting antsy. That night, I went for a walk and ran into Damon. “Fancy meeting you here, Callie.” “Don’t you live on the west side?” I asked, already annoyed. Damon shrugged. “I had some errands over here. Want some company?” “No,” I said icily. “Stay away from me.” Damon looked stunned, then hurt. “Do you…hate me?” I stared at him. “Yes. So stay away from me.” Damon took a sharp breath. With his looks and popularity, he probably couldn’t fathom why I’d hate him so much. If it wasn’t illegal, I’d have knifed him already and been done with it. “Callie, if you hate me, at least tell me why.” Damon’s voice was low, his gaze intense. It was true—Damon was handsome. Otherwise, how would he have had me wrapped around his finger before? A voice called from nearby. “Damon, what are you doing here?” Claire Bright ran over and clung to his arm. I saw him tense up, just barely, but I noticed. It was my first close look at the woman who stole my future. “Who’s this?” Claire’s eyes narrowed at me. I smiled. “Callie Reid, Damon’s classmate.” Claire’s face shifted slightly. “Didn’t you say you were going to get me some snacks?” So, they’d just happened to bump into each other. Damon smoothly replied, “I forgot. You go home; I’ve got something to handle here.” Claire’s voice sharpened. “Damon, what do you mean?” He ushered her off, then turned back to me, his expression serious. “She’s just my mom’s friend’s daughter.” “Why tell me?” I asked. Damon’s tone was earnest. “I like you. I don’t want you to misunderstand.” I felt a wave of revulsion. Here we go again. “Well, I don’t like you,” I shot back. “You make me sick.” Damon’s face paled as he clenched his fists. “What did I do wrong?” “Your face is ugly,” I snapped, starting to walk away. “Callie Reid!” he shouted after me. “I’m not giving up!” I laughed coldly to myself. Only two days left. What could he possibly do?

The next day, I got home after school to find dozens of roses outside my door. Damon stood in the hallway, his tall figure cutting an impressive silhouette. “Callie, I know my confession was rushed yesterday. I want to do it properly this time.” “No matter how ‘proper’ you make it, I’ll never like you,” I replied coldly. “Well, who do you like then?” His voice was almost desperate. “Is there anyone better looking than me?” I fished out my keys, ignoring him. “Damon, I don’t like you, and I never will. You’re trash.” “Callie, you don’t have to be so harsh,” he said, trying to control his temper. I stared him down, saying nothing. “If you’re serious about law, you should submit your application soon.” I smirked, feeling a wicked sense of mischief. “Nah. I think I’d rather drive a tractor.” I watched as a vein throbbed in Damon’s temple. I unlocked the door, swinging it closed so forcefully that it nearly hit him in the nose. The next day, I got flooded with messages. Word had spread that “the heartthrob” had confessed to me, and everyone knew. Of course, Damon was the one spreading it. Mr. Everett called me multiple times, and after I ignored him, he finally got through. “Callie, you’re a good kid. I have no problem with you dating Damon.” He hadn’t minded in my past life either. Back then, I’d been happy he didn’t hold it against me that I hadn’t gotten into college. “My son has always wanted to study law and become a top lawyer. I’d love it if you could join him in that effort.” I smiled, a spark lighting up my eyes. “Sure.” Mr. Everett hesitated, then chuckled. “You agreeing is fantastic news.” I hung up and laughed. Playing along with them was going to be fun. Without me, Claire Bright would have no hope. I’d make sure no one else fell into their trap. Damon heard I’d agreed to be with him and rushed over. “Did you submit your application yet?” he asked immediately. “Not yet. Tomorrow.” Damon relaxed, looking relieved. “Want to come out with me?” Damon asked. “My friends are having a little get-together.” I nodded. “Sure.” Damon studied me, clearly thrown off by my sudden change in attitude. But that didn’t matter. He was the one with a time limit now, not me. Claire Bright was there too, and when she spotted me, she shot a dramatic eye-roll in my direction. I looked straight at her. “Claire, you got something wrong with your eye?” “What?” Claire blinked, caught off guard. “Why’re you rolling your eyes at me? Do it again, and I’ll poke them out for you.” Claire jerked to her feet, fuming, but Damon pushed her back down. “Claire, have some manners.” Her face turned red with anger. “Damon, I can’t believe you’d talk to me like that!” I raised my hand and slapped her across the face. Everyone froze, shocked. Claire cupped her cheek, and Damon’s expression changed immediately. “Callie Reid! How dare you hit me!”

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I dragged Lyra Linwood from the twisted wreck of the car, putting everything I had into pulling her free. The flames behind us shot thick, choking smoke into the air as I carried her, stumbling to the side of the road where I set her down under the old sycamore tree. Blood was soaking through my clothes and pooling around me, a slick, snaking trail stretching farther and farther from my body. The screams around us grew faint as my strength waned. I reached up, touching Lyra’s face, and asked, “After twenty years, did you ever love me?” Pressing her hands against my wounds, Lyra’s face remained cool, her tone sharp as ever. “Don’t talk. The ambulance is on its way.” I forced a weak smile. Such a shame. I was going to die without hearing her say, “I love you.” Everything went dark. When I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t believe it—I’d gone back twenty years. Given another chance. If fate would let me choose again, then I’d choose to stay far, far away from Lyra Linwood. But there she was, standing on the rooftop with her arms spread wide, looking out over the city we’d lived in for two decades. Her hair flowed in the wind, her smile as bright as the colors of sunset. “Reece Dawson,” she called out to me. “Do you want to know what it feels like to watch the one you love die in your arms?” Content

I jolted awake, finding myself at my desk, my fingers lightly touching the keyboard. It wasn’t a dream. I’d been given a second chance. Maybe my last life’s bitter death was pitiful enough that fate decided to throw me a bone. Great. I’d take it. Lyra Linwood—she’d be nothing more than a memory. I’d leave her so far behind, she’d never see me again. I opened my computer, ready to write a resignation letter. But I hesitated. It had only been two years since I started this job, and things were tight at home. Dad was taking on every odd job he could to pay off debts, and Mom’s health meant she was always on medication. Leaving now would only make things worse. Lost in thought, I jumped when someone clapped a hand on my shoulder. It was a coworker, who asked dully, “What are you getting the boss for her birthday tonight?” My heart dropped. I grabbed my phone, checked the date, and went cold. It was today—today was the day that set the whole mess in motion. Tonight’s gathering was where I’d gotten entangled with Lyra, dragging myself into two decades of misery. Lyra’s father, a major shareholder at Linwood Corporation, had her take on a CEO role at the Regional Office right after she graduated. Young, gorgeous, and rich, she had everyone in the company worked up. I hadn’t been any different. But she hardly ever showed up, and when she did, her cold expression kept everyone at a distance. It just happened that this was her birthday, and for once, she’d invited everyone to celebrate. A party was one thing, but somehow, a “genius” coworker had spotted her at the airport with Aiden Brooks, her childhood friend. By the time they got back, they were spreading the story that Lyra had invited us because she’d just broken up with him. They said she was lonely and didn’t want to be alone for her birthday. The thought had struck me back then: those who seem cold on the outside must need warmth the most. So, I bought her a childish stuffed bear. And just like that, I won her “love.” I felt like a lottery winner who’d hit the jackpot out of nowhere. Every morning, I woke up, half-convinced I was dreaming, shocked that Lyra Linwood was my girlfriend. That disbelief blinded me to how she really treated me. All the way through our wedding, I was convinced that marrying her was some divine reward. But after twenty years, I finally understood: being married to someone who doesn’t love you is a cage of agony. I never saw her smile, never felt her warmth. Everything was cold, no matter how hard I tried. Loving her felt like talking to a mirror—nothing but my own reflection staring back. That’s why, as I lay dying, I had to ask her if she’d ever loved me. And I still never heard an answer. I took a long breath, cleared my thoughts, and held back the tears. Sorry, Lyra Linwood. This time, I’m leaving you. The grand ballroom gleamed, and Lyra sat at the center, as striking as a star in the night sky. Just one look, and my heart twisted, so I turned away, clapping along with my coworkers. We waited as she blew out the candles, each of us ready to present our gifts. Lyra thanked everyone in turn, a polite smile on her face—one that probably took her considerable effort, considering her usual icy demeanor. When it was my turn, I handed her a small box. No stuffed bear this time. Just a cheap bracelet I’d picked up off a street vendor for three bucks, complete with a freebie. She wouldn’t like it, I thought. But in front of everyone, Lyra put the other gifts aside, picked up mine, and opened it. She looked down at the bracelet, stunned. I thought she’d toss it aside, but instead, she slipped it on and looked up at me with a smile—a real one. One I’d never seen in twenty years. “Thank you. I love it.”

I was sure I’d misheard her. Lyra had always lived in luxury, with cabinets full of jade and porcelain. Nothing I could afford would ever impress her. Last time around, when I could finally afford high-end bags and jewelry, she’d taken one look and tossed them aside. Luxuries like that were “intelligence tax”—nothing worth her time. She had to know this bracelet was glass. Yet here she was, smiling at me. And for a moment, I felt like I’d been transported to a different world, one where she wasn’t the Lyra Linwood I’d known. Trying to shrug it off, I replied, “No problem,” and quickly walked away. I didn’t care which version of Lyra Linwood she was. I wasn’t betting my future on her loving me. Those twenty years were a prison of silent agony, the kind that chokes you until you’re numb with pain. Just thinking about it scared me. The party ended without incident, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Yet beneath it, there was an odd sense of disappointment. As if, somehow, she’d forgotten me. The next day, I dragged myself to the office. Most people were off on summer vacation. If I wasn’t short on cash, I wouldn’t be there either. I walked in to find everyone working away like their lives depended on it, a sharp contrast from the zombie-like scene just days before. Confused, I soon realized why. Lyra had come to the office. While everyone else scrambled to put on a show, I decided to keep my head down and follow along. Then Lyra walked straight over to my desk, tapped her finger on it, and said, “Reece, follow me.” My mind reeled. She was the CEO; I was a lowly employee. What did she want with me? But I followed her, too stunned to think. She led me into a remodeled office next to hers, complete with sleek mahogany furniture, a plush sofa, even flowers and a fish tank. The whole place smelled faintly of sycamore blossoms. She looked around and then pointed. “From now on, you’re my personal assistant. You’ll work here.” I was stunned. Lyra was the classic rich girl, but she was always professional. Last time, I’d earned my way up to manager on my own merit. She’d never given me special treatment at the company, even while we were dating. But now she was making me her assistant? Meaning I’d see her every day? I didn’t want to relive that nightmare, so I replied coldly, “Sorry, Ms. Linwood. I’m not qualified for this role. If that’s all, I’ll get back to my work.” She didn’t even hesitate. “Salary’s tripled.” My steps faltered, my heart betraying me with a quickened beat. Three times my current salary! I barely made six thousand a month now, but with a tripled salary, I could make nearly two grand. Even after taxes, it’d be a good amount. That money would ease Dad’s burden, pay down our debts, cover Mom’s medical costs, and maybe even leave enough to buy her some nice things. I hesitated, recalling those twenty years of silence, the feeling of being locked in a cage. But then I thought of Dad, hunched under the weight of hard labor, his skin sunburned and peeling, while I sat in an air-conditioned office. His back, bent under the load of our family’s struggles, seemed to whisper, “Hang in there.” I clenched my jaw. “Alright.”

I moved my stuff into the new office, one trip at a time. My coworkers were all gawking, probably thinking I’d been fired. When they heard I’d been made Lyra Linwood’s personal assistant, their jaws practically hit the floor. One of the guys who used to sit next to me leaned over, grinning slyly. “Hey, I just saw Ms. Linwood wearing that bracelet you gave her. Now she’s got you working right by her side, huh? Man, you’re on your way up!” I shot him a look. “Yeah, and where’s your girlfriend, big shot?” Inside, though, I was bitterly laughing. Just like before, everyone saw me as some big winner in life. Nobody knew the kind of life I actually lived. It was nothing but a cold face, constant orders, and no room for my opinion. Lyra made all the rules, and I was like her puppet, doing whatever she wanted. Once, I even thought about divorce. But what did Lyra do? She held our child in her arms, her eyes wild as she told me, “Leave, and I’ll end him.” I’d never seen that kind of craziness in her eyes before. I stayed, fearing what she’d do. She was back to her usual ice-cold self in no time, but the message was clear. Years later, when our child grew up and could manage on his own, I planned to leave her. But I never got the chance—there was a massive pileup on the highway, an oil tanker explosion that sent flames into the sky. I’d managed to pull her out but died myself, full of regret. If those coworkers knew half my life had felt like a prison sentence, would they still envy me? After moving my things, I checked to see if Lyra was still around. She was gone, and I felt a wave of relief as I sat down and started organizing files. This time, I had no plans to get tangled up in her life again. All I wanted was to give my parents a break and eventually find a woman who truly loved me. That was going to take money. And if Lyra was willing to pay, I’d play along. Besides, I knew how to keep things professional. But then, she surprised me again. Lyra walked in not long after and didn’t even look my way as she pulled out her makeup kit, touching up her face, taking off her earrings. She went through her entire routine, even taking off her shoes and lying down on the sofa. I stared, dumbfounded. I’d spent twenty years with her and never seen her care for herself this meticulously. Still, as long as she didn’t bother me, I figured I’d just ignore her. I turned back to the computer to start working, but I could see her out of the corner of my eye, lying right there, making it impossible to focus. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Ms. Linwood, it’s work hours. People might talk if they see you sleeping here.” She didn’t even open her eyes. “I bought this sofa specifically for naps. Now stop talking and get back to work.” Her words made me feel that old, suffocating resentment. In my last life, she’d told me to be quiet and follow orders until my dying breath. Was she expecting me to do it again? No way. I shut my laptop, grabbed my bag, and stood to leave. Lyra opened her eyes. “Where are you going?” “To see some clients,” I said coolly. “I still have open accounts to close.” Lyra looked at me for several long moments, then smiled. Twice in two days. I felt like I was seeing things. “You’re my assistant now,” she said. “No more running around. Just stay here. I’ll tell you what to do when I need you.” It was like she knew I hated those words and said them just to rile me up. I told myself to stay calm—losing my temper wouldn’t help. As long as I could hold on, my mom wouldn’t have to tell me she felt like a burden, and my dad could ease up a little. I kept my tone as steady as possible. “Sorry, Ms. Linwood, but the company policy on account responsibility says I have to finish my own work.” I left before she could respond. Out in the summer heat, I felt a rush of freedom. Last time, I’d fallen into her trap and spent two decades shackled to her. I wasn’t sure how I’d survived it. Now, she wanted to rope me in all over again. At least I could separate work and personal life. As long as I didn’t get involved with her outside of the office, I’d be fine. The whole day passed with me working outside, meeting clients, and closing deals. When I finally sneaked back into the office to clock out, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Lyra was right there, out of nowhere, holding an ice cream cone in one hand and a blueberry sundae in the other. “This is for you,” she said. “Looked like you could use it in this heat.” I glanced out the door to see my coworkers craning their necks, grinning like fools, looking ready to start gossiping. Clearly, one of those idiots had told her blueberry was my favorite flavor. I shot them a glare, shut the door, and looked back at Lyra. “Ms. Linwood, I appreciate the gesture, but please don’t do things like this. It’s easy to get the wrong idea. I know you’ve just gone through a breakup with Aiden Brooks and probably need someone to lean on, but I’m just a lowly employee, and you’re the CEO. We don’t have a future together. Whether you believe it or not, I swear on everything—I can promise you, you’re not going to love me in this lifetime.” I put my files away and clocked out on my phone. If I didn’t set things straight now, there’d only be more problems later. I knew that the one she really loved was Aiden; I was nothing more than a stand-in, like the stuffed bear I’d given her in my last life. This time, I wouldn’t throw my life away for someone who didn’t love me. I wanted someone who loved me, someone who had eyes only for me, not a memory. If I’d misjudged things and she wasn’t after anything romantic, then fine—I’d only have embarrassed myself, no big deal. I could always apologize later. Just as I turned to leave, Lyra grabbed my arm, smiling as she said, “Come with me for a minute.” Was she out of her mind? I’d practically laid everything out, and she hadn’t reacted at all. In my last life, she would’ve exploded. Even delaying her orders was enough to send her into an ice-cold rage. But here she was, calm as ever. Puzzled, I followed her to the elevator. She led me up to the rooftop, where the sunset filled the sky with streaks of gold and red. Standing against the glowing horizon, Lyra looked at me and smiled. “I never liked sycamore trees,” she said. “But do you know why I filled your office with sycamore sachets?” “Because the last time I saw you was under the sycamore tree,” she continued, her words hitting me like a punch to the gut. Lyra had also come back to the past. I stared, speechless, as she walked over to the edge of the rooftop, stretching her arms out to the city. The wind caught her hair, her smile as bright as the evening sun. “Reece Dawson, would you like to feel what it’s like to watch the one you love die in your arms?”

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On our wedding night, my husband didn’t touch me. He claimed he was too exhausted and told me to give it some time. But every night, like clockwork, he slips quietly down to the basement. He returns needing a shower, with this strange smell lingering on him. When I asked what he was doing, he said he was working out. Working out in the middle of the night? Finally, one night, I couldn’t hold back and went down to the basement to see for myself. He caught me and, grabbing my nightgown, yelled furiously: “Get upstairs! You are NOT allowed in the basement! Otherwise, we’re getting divorced!” Content I gripped the railing, shaking with anger. My parents spent their life savings on this cottage to be our wedding home. This is my house! So why shouldn’t I be allowed in the basement? And as my husband, why does he have to speak to me so cruelly? Taking a deep breath to control my anger, I asked, “Evan Marshall, is this how you talk to me?” Evan still had a firm hold on my nightgown. “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll explain in the bedroom.” “Can’t you just tell me here?” I pointed down at the pitch-black basement stairs. “Why can’t I go down? Don’t I have that right?” “I told you—I work out down there, and I’ve got some things that you can’t see yet.” Evan stepped down a few stairs, blocking my way. “Why?” I demanded. “Because it’s not the right time yet,” he replied. “When it’s time, I promise you’ll see.” My stomach churned with frustration. I took another deep breath to control my emotions. “And did you really have to say it in such an ugly way when you caught me?” “I was just worked up, okay? You know me—sharp tongue, soft heart.” I laughed bitterly and turned to go back upstairs. Sharp tongue, soft heart? Right. Fine then. Tomorrow, when he’s at work, I’ll have a look for myself. … Back in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Something suspicious is definitely in that basement, and it’s got to be big. Was Evan hiding some kind of dark secret? I glanced over at him. He wasn’t asleep either, staring at the ceiling like he was lost in some secret worry. In the moonlight, his features looked sharp and handsome, his build even more rugged and alluring. Back when he was chasing me, I’d been flattered and didn’t dare believe it. He was so attractive, while I’m just… ordinary. Why did he like me? He said he liked my gentleness, my calm nature, something unique about me. And I’d believed him. But if that’s true, why hasn’t he wanted me at night? I’m his young bride, after all; we haven’t even finished our honeymoon yet. Is this normal? Unable to resist, I reached out and touched his face gently. “What are you doing?” he hissed, jerking away as if he’d been shocked, glaring at me with disgust. The look was the same one people give to stray dogs or beggars on the street. Anger filled me as I turned away. Why did he pursue me if he had no interest in me? Why stay with me? Suddenly, I turned back and glared at him. “You told me you’re sick, and that’s why we can’t be together for now. I accepted that. But why such a strong reaction when I touch you?” “I’ve told you a hundred times, it’s a psychological issue. I’m seeing a therapist for it. You just need to be patient.” Evan tapped my shoulder lightly with his phone instead of his hand. “Just give it six months, okay? After that, I promise I’ll love you right.” Too “dirty” to touch, but clean enough for marriage? Could I really believe him? For now, I had no choice but to wait. I sighed, frustrated, and turned away. Honestly, I’d given him everything since we started dating. He said he liked watches, so I got him one worth a fortune. He wanted to travel, so I went around the world with him. He wanted to invest, so I loaned him the money. Anything I had, he could ask for, and I’d give it freely. And now, just after our wedding, this is what I get in return. It’s that basement causing all this! I hate that basement. I’ll tear it apart if I have to, just to get to the bottom of it.

Morning came. Like usual, I made breakfast—the kind Evan likes. He ate in silence, keeping his usual indifferent expression. It felt as though I were his maid, not his wife. After breakfast, I drove him to work. We both worked in sales at Eden Fragrances. I parked, watched him disappear inside, and then told a coworker a few things before quickly leaving. Without my car, I caught a taxi straight back home. Once there, I rushed inside, heading straight for the basement. But when I got there, I was stunned. The door had been replaced! I had no idea when he’d done it, but now there was a steel security door with a keypad lock. Without the code, I couldn’t even get close. I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the door, thinking of finding out if these doors had any universal keys. “What do you think you’re doing?” Evan’s voice boomed from the top of the stairs. He’d actually followed me home! In three quick steps, he was at the bottom, his face dark with rage. He slapped me hard across the face. “How many times have I told you?!” “You hit me?” I put my phone away, glaring. He kept shouting, “How many times have I told you?!” I shouted back, “This is my house! Don’t I have the right to go down there? And if you changed the door, shouldn’t you have told me?” “You need to wait until I have time to tell you!” he barked, raising his hand as if to strike again. I leaned back, dodging his hand, and pulled out my phone. “I’m calling the police.” My cheek stung from the slap, my anger burning through me. Barely married and already he was hitting me? Where would this lead? Panic crossed Evan’s face as he grabbed my hand. “Why are you calling the cops?” “This is my house. Why can’t I go down to my own basement? Why did you hit me? Can’t I call the cops?” I stood firm, ready to dial. “Lily, calm down,” he said, his tone softening. “I… I just lost my temper.” “Oh, so that means you can hit your wife?” I pulled my hand free, saying, “Let go! I am calling the police!” Once again, he grabbed my hand. “Lily, it’s really not a big deal. If you feel we can’t get along, then maybe we should get a divorce.” Divorce? I took a step back, silent. Things were bad, but I didn’t think they were that bad. My parents had high hopes for our marriage; they’d want grandkids soon. And if we divorced, this cottage would be split in half, and my parents would lose out. I couldn’t let that happen. “If you want a divorce, then the house stays with me,” Evan said. “Otherwise, we keep things as they are. Now, go back to work.” After a long look, I turned and left. I couldn’t let him take away my parents’ hard-earned money. “Hey! Get back here!” I stopped and turned. “Don’t you think you owe me an apology after everything?” Tears welled up in my eyes, and I slammed my fist onto the railing, feeling the sting as my knuckles split. Blood ran down my hand. After a glare at him, I walked away. … “Lily, what’s wrong? You look awful,” my coworker Megan Blake asked when I got back to the office. “I’m fine,” I replied, sitting down and opening my laptop. I’d bandaged my hand but kept it hidden under the desk so she wouldn’t see. “Hey!” Megan slid into the chair next to me, giving my shoulder a nudge. “Your honeymoon must be wild. You look like you’re about to pass out!” I forced a smile. If only she knew what a mess things were. “Tomorrow’s Saturday,” she reminded me. “Company’s doing that family team-building event, so partners are supposed to come. If you don’t go, they’ll fine you.” I didn’t care about the outing, but I didn’t want the fine. Evan always loved these company outings and had never missed one before. “If Evan goes, then I’ll go,” I said. “I already asked him. He said he’s not going. Without him, you two lose the monthly bonus,” she added. “I’ll go talk to him.” I went over to his department. He was sitting with two male coworkers, laughing and gossiping about something. I overheard them talking about a hit-and-run accident outside Eden’s office a couple of months ago. Some woman had hit three employees and fled, and they still hadn’t found her. I walked up and asked quietly, “You’re not going to the company outing?” “No,” he replied, as cold as ever. “If you don’t go, we’ll be fined.” “Then let them fine us,” he shot back. “I just think we don’t need to—” “Could you stop nagging?” he suddenly shouted, loud enough for the entire office to hear. The room fell into an awkward silence, my face burning. Here he was, my new husband, yelling at me in front of everyone. What was there left to say? I just lowered my head and walked away. Any illusions I’d held about Evan vanished in that moment. “Lily, I’m sorry for pushing you earlier,” Megan said quietly when I got back to my desk, giving my shoulder a supportive squeeze. “It’s fine.” I suddenly remembered something, took out my phone, and sent her a photo. “Megan, you’re my go-to. Can you find out if there’s a universal key for this kind of keypad lock?” Megan checked the picture, nodded thoughtfully. “Sure thing. I know someone who sells these doors. I’ll ask around for you.”

It was evening again, and as I prepared dinner, I checked the home monitoring system on my phone. Still broken, just like that morning. Was Evan messing with it on purpose? I finished cooking and set the table. A few minutes later, Evan came home carrying a cake. He hid it quickly in the storage room, but I caught a glimpse—it was a fancy French mousse cake, artfully made. I froze for a moment. It wasn’t his birthday, and it wasn’t mine either. What was he up to? He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t ask. At dinner, we barely spoke. He ate as though he were a customer at a restaurant, and I was his waitress. Later, as I replaced the bandage on my hand, Evan broke the silence. “So, Lily, have you thought it over?” I looked up. “Thought what over?” “About the divorce. Have you made up your mind?” he asked, his tone casual, as if we were discussing dinner plans. I let out a cold laugh. Was his only goal with this marriage to get the cottage? “What do you want?” I challenged. “Do you actually want a divorce?” He didn’t answer. “If you’re not happy with me, feel free to ask for a divorce,” I said calmly. “I won’t stand in the way of your happiness.” He shot me a hard look and turned away. “Just go to sleep.” I pressed him again, “You told me to give you time. You said once you got better, things would be different. Isn’t that right?” “Can we just drop it?” he snapped, annoyed. “I’m exhausted. Go to sleep!” After changing my bandage, I turned off the light and lay down. There we were, side by side, but worlds apart. Living like this was torturous, but I had no choice but to endure it for now. Eventually, I fell asleep. It might have been instinct or some inner sense, but in the middle of the night, I woke up. Moonlight spilled into the room, faint but enough to see clearly. Evan wasn’t there. He must have gone to the basement to “work out” again. This time, I was determined to see what he was really doing. But as I shifted to get up, my wrist suddenly felt weighed down. I pulled, and a cold shock ran through me. I was handcuffed to the bedpost with a thick silver chain. I tugged hard, but it wouldn’t budge, and the strain made my wrist burn. Furious, I whispered, “This is too much!”

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Rena and I had been together for seven years but still hadn’t married. Meanwhile, she secretly got engaged to some stranger. When I got to the ceremony, I saw him down on one knee, handing her a rose, making the whole moment feel grand for her. The moment Rena saw me, she just lifted a brow and said casually, “I’m just helping him fulfill his engagement dream; it’s not real.” I said nothing and turned away. She thought I’d definitely come back to her until she saw my Instagram post showing two engagement rings. Rena lost it and came pounding on my door. When I opened it, a woman behind me wrapped her arms around my waist and taunted, “Too late, Miss Hart.” Content It was a grand engagement party, with guests mingling and offering their congratulations. Rena was all dressed up in a white gown, looking shy and blushing, while the guy knelt on one knee, holding out a rose. Quite the grand gesture. I just stood there, staring at the two of them up on that stage until Rena’s little brother, Evan, ran over and tugged my hand. “Hey, why is my sister getting engaged to someone else?” Before I could answer, Rena’s best friend, Sammy, hurried over, grabbed Evan, and awkwardly tried to brush it off. “Hey, kiddo, you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t say that.” Around us, people started to notice me, and the room’s vibe went tense. Ignoring the stares, I walked toward Rena, and the guy in the suit anxiously held her hand. Rena’s expression didn’t change—no embarrassment, not even surprise. She just raised an eyebrow and held his hand a little tighter, saying indifferently, “I’m just making Grant’s wish come true. Don’t worry, I’ll still marry you.” Seven years together, and she’d never accepted my proposal. Everyone knew she had a thing for freedom and hated the idea of being “tied down” by marriage. I didn’t respond. Instead, I just smiled and slipped a beaded charm bracelet off her wrist. I’d given it to her as a token when we first got together, something I’d picked up from Red Oaks Chapel for protection, and I’d told her to keep it on always, as our little promise to each other. And she did. But her heart wasn’t with me. I looked at the bracelet, turning it over in my hands, then said, “It was a gift from me, so I can take it back.” My voice was steady and calm. Rena looked stunned for a second, then laughed, “Tyler, you’re going this far just to get me to settle down? I thought you said I had to wear this.” I could tell she didn’t believe I’d actually do it, but I snapped the bracelet in half, and the beads spilled onto the floor. “Don’t look for me again.” Her face changed, and she blurted out, “Tyler, are you out of your mind?” Her little brother ran over, taking my hand again. “Did you fight with my sister?” Sammy, sensing something was wrong, rushed over, trying to calm things down. “Tyler, don’t be mad. Rena’s just playing around; she didn’t mean it.” I looked down at Evan, his eyes already getting red. “Little Ev, I’m not your brother-in-law anymore. Next time you see me, just call me ‘Tyler.’” I gently pulled my hand away and walked out without looking back. I watched as my girlfriend—my now ex—threw this huge engagement party for someone else, but I didn’t lose it. I didn’t scream or cry. I only heard Evan’s quiet voice, crying as he pleaded for his sister to come after me. “I want my brother-in-law.” But Rena didn’t budge, just coolly saying, “What does a kid know? He’ll come back in a few days.” Sammy shook her head. “Rena, are you serious? You’d rather throw an engagement for a stranger than say yes to Tyler. You better fix this before it’s too late, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Grant, still in his tux, leaned in and tugged her arm gently, saying, “It’s okay, Rena. I have one just like his.”

Leaving The Whitfield, I grabbed a cab back home, but I stopped by Benny’s Market to pick up a handful of random drinks. The cashier eyed me suspiciously. I’d forgotten I’d agreed to hit up the karaoke bar with Jake tonight. With my phone on silent, I’d missed all his messages and calls. It wasn’t long before my door opened. Jake must’ve figured something was up, so he let himself in. He looked at me closely and asked quietly, “You and Rena had a fight? Or did she start messing around with some other guy again?” Hearing her name caught me off guard, and, embarrassingly, a tear slipped out before I wiped it away. “She got engaged today,” I mumbled, explaining the whole ordeal. Jake grabbed a beer bottle, ready to head over to find Rena, but I stopped him. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” “Alright then, let’s find you someone who’s not like that. Get yourself cleaned up, and let’s go have some fun.” On our way to the Skyline Lounge, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Jake raised an eyebrow, grinning. “See? I’ve lined some options up for you. Go ahead, pick one.” I read through his messages: “5’7” dance major.” “Med student, D cup.” Then I scrolled down to a familiar name, “Eliza Caldwell, gorgeous, no drama, wealthy.” I was taken aback. Eliza? Why’d she add me? When we arrived, I hadn’t even made it to the booth when I spotted Eliza, leaning against the wall. She caught my eye, and I walked over. She looked up at me and smirked, “Split up, did you?” I nodded, and she actually laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t rub it in.” Eliza’s voice had a bit of a mischievous edge. I took her drink, had a sip, and then grabbed her collar and kissed her. After a moment, she pulled away, grinning as she said, “Not here.” That threw me off. Rumor had it Eliza liked women, not men. I just wanted to mess with her, but clearly, that rumor was wrong.

She leaned close, whispering, “My place?” I nodded and texted Jake, then headed to her apartment, where we quickly ended up against the wall, kissing. After a while, I looked down at her, noticing the hint of red around her eyes. I chuckled softly, “Eliza, I think you’ve got to work on your endurance.” A lesson learned: teasing can backfire. I didn’t know how I fell asleep, just that when I drifted off, Eliza was still awake. I woke up late the next day, my phone ringing. Without even checking who it was, I picked up. On the other end was Rena’s voice, dripping with sarcasm. “Didn’t you say you’d never see me again? Why are you still harassing Grant?” Hearing her voice jolted me awake. “What did you just say?” I growled, my voice rough. Right then, Eliza handed me a glass of water, smiling. “My bad, I had no self-control last night.” Rena, overhearing her, fell silent before her voice turned shrill. “Who are you with, Tyler?” I snapped, “None of your business,” and hung up. On her end, Rena’s friends egged her on. “Wow, he hung up on you? First time ever, Rena.” “Come on, don’t worry. Tyler’s definitely just playing hard-to-get,” they told her, each chiming in with some scheme, convinced this was a ploy to make her chase me.

It wasn’t even late, but I felt exhausted. Eliza noticed, gave me a look, and went out, returning with some of my favorite takeout. “How’d you know I like these?” I asked, surprised. Eliza grinned, tapping my head. “What, you’re not hungry? That’d be weird after all that.” “Rena never noticed, did she? In seven years, she never knew what you like to eat. But she knows what her new guy likes.” I hesitated, sensing Eliza was trying to tell me something. Then she lit a cigarette, smoke curling around us. “Think about it, Tyler. I’ve got more to offer you than she ever did.” “Why me? You could have anyone.” “You’re worth it, Tyler. You’re just missing a little boost, and I can give you that.” I put down my chopsticks, reached out a hand. “Alright. Let’s get engaged.” Eliza grinned, “Good. Three days from now, then.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “Plus, you’ve got the Caldwell Corporation behind you now. Go after what you want.”

The hotel was decked out in elegant décor, and I could hear people’s voices mingling as they shared congratulations. The main event was for me. I was still in the back changing into my suit when my phone started buzzing non-stop. After I finished, I glanced at my phone—dozens of messages had flooded in. “Mr. Marsh, the gown is ready for pickup.” “Mr. Marsh, the rings are set.” “Mr. Marsh, the hotel booking is confirmed.” “Mr. Marsh, the roses have been delivered.” I stared at my phone in confusion. This couldn’t be some internet prank, could it? Then, Rena called. She sounded flustered and even a bit angry. “Where are you? You’re not at the office, you’re not at home. I texted you, but you blocked me. You don’t pick up calls. Tyler, what are you doing?” I sighed, my tone not exactly friendly. “Miss Hart, we’re not together anymore. Whatever I’m doing isn’t your business.” She ignored that and got right to her point. “You’re still mad because I threw Grant that engagement party, right? Well, I set one up for you, too. I’ve picked a date, invited the relatives; whatever extras you want, just tell the coordinator, and they’ll set it up.” I laughed, caught off guard. “You’re kidding, right?” Rena’s voice shot up. “Tyler, quit making a scene! If you keep this up, I’ll cancel it. But you only get one more chance. Don’t blow it.” I took a long breath. This was just so Rena, always convinced she was right, whatever the situation. “If you need help, go get it. Don’t drag me into this. We’re done.” Rena was so mad she stumbled over her words, barely managing to say, “Tyler, you’re going to regret this.” I hung up with a quick laugh. Just as I was ready, I spotted Eliza at the door in a red dress, watching me. “Rena called again?” “Yeah.” Seeing the matching rings in her hand, I put one on myself, then slid hers onto her finger. We laced our hands together and snapped a picture. After slipping the rings back, I said, “Alright, let’s go.” Eliza chuckled, and I held her hand as we walked into the hall together. I even spotted her parents sitting in the audience. I glanced at Eliza’s profile, her expression set. She was serious about this. After the ceremony, we went around, clinking glasses with the guests, each offering heartfelt congratulations. I even got a generous gift from Eliza’s parents.

That night, Jake took me out. He looked like he had something to say but was holding back. Finally, I couldn’t stand it. “What’s with the look?” Jake hesitated, took a swig of his beer, and blurted, “Ty, don’t get down over this. That girl Rena? She’s messed up.” He paused, then continued, “I saw the video of her celebrating Grant’s birthday. It went viral—she didn’t even think about you. It’s infuriating.” Jake got worked up, coughing after his rant, before taking another drink. I patted his back, calm as ever. Once he was breathing easy, I said, “Doesn’t matter. I’m engaged, too.” Then I remembered—I’d forgotten to post the engagement photos to my Instagram. After sharing it, I held up my hand to Jake. “Eliza Caldwell is my fiancée.” Jake looked stunned, slowly processing what I’d just said before finally blurting out, “Isn’t Eliza into girls?” Grabbing my hand in sudden concern, he added, “Ty, don’t throw away your life just to get back at Rena.” I laughed. “Jake, Eliza isn’t into women.” Realizing the truth, Jake practically jumped with excitement. “That’s awesome, Ty. You’re finally done with that girl. We need to celebrate!” He was beaming, saying, “I’m looking forward to being your best man.” But as soon as we got to the restaurant, there was Rena with her friends—and, of course, Grant, holding her around the waist like they were made for each other. Sammy, her best friend, spotted me first. She stepped in front of Grant, putting on a friendly smile. “Tyler, join us?” Jake was ready to snap back, but I held him off. “I’m not your brother-in-law, so stop calling me that.” Sammy fell silent, thinking I was just angry. “Look, I’ll make sure Rena apologizes to you. She knows she messed up.” She hadn’t even finished when Rena and Grant started kissing. Sammy, looking completely embarrassed, rushed over and whispered to Rena, “Hey, Tyler’s here. Maybe go talk to him?” Rena snorted. “We broke up. Why’s he here?” “Don’t do this. He hasn’t spoken to you in two months. You don’t want to push him away.” Another friend chimed in, “So what if it’s been two months? He still came running when he heard she was celebrating someone else’s birthday.” Rena sighed, rolling her eyes. “Birthdays come every year. He can get lost.” Grant, ever the gentleman, tugged her arm gently, saying, “It’s okay, Rena. Tyler’s more important.” Right then, my phone rang. I put it on speaker. A woman’s voice floated over the line, “Baby, when are you coming home? I miss you.” Rena stiffened, recognizing the voice. It was the same one she’d heard on the phone last time.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295072”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #校园School #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic