I am the only girl in my generation on both my mom’s and dad’s sides of the family, so I’ve been completely spoiled my whole life. During the holiday break, I was whining to my grandmother on the phone because I couldn’t book a flight home in time. After comforting me, Grandma remembered my uncle was actually driving back from my college town that very weekend. She told me to catch a ride with him, and I happily texted him to arrange it. So, the next day, I hopped into my uncle’s SUV. But my aunt—who used to be a notoriously trashy party girl back in the day—demanded I pay for the ride the second she saw me… 01 “Mia Sterling, right?” “Your uncle and I drove all the way out here to pick you up, and you’re not even going to show a little gratitude?” “You’re a college student now. How can you be so clueless?” The moment I got in the car and cheerfully greeted them, my aunt’s words completely blindsided me. Yesterday, when I was complaining to Grandma about the sold-out flights, my roommate overheard. She offered me a ride, since her parents were driving her to my hometown of Boston for the holidays anyway. I had initially planned to go with my roommate, not wanting to inconvenience my uncle. But when I texted him last night, he insisted that my campus was right on his way. Since he was family, I figured it would be better than intruding on my roommate’s family road trip. So why was my aunt now acting like they went out of their way just for me? Her snarky remarks made me flush with embarrassment. I instinctively looked at my uncle. He looked a bit torn, like he wanted to say something, but my aunt shot him a dark glare. In the end, he kept his mouth shut and turned his head to look out the window. My heart sank. Instantly, I realized that taking this ride was a huge mistake. But I was stuck. She was his wife, after all, and I didn’t want to make things awkward for my uncle, who had always doted on me when I was little. Reluctantly, I pulled out a velvet box from my bag. It was a solid gold necklace. I had worked a part-time job for months to save up for it, intending to give it to my mom for her upcoming birthday. But I had no cash on me, and no other options. Mom’s gift would just have to wait. “Aunt Brittney, here. Take this gold necklace.” “Consider it a late wedding gift for you and Uncle David.” I forced a polite smile, swallowing the heartache as I handed over the box. Aunt Brittney’s eyes instantly lit up. A flash of pure greed crossed her face. She snatched the box right out of my hands. “Well, that’s more like it. At least you know how things work…” She practically squealed with joy as she fastened the necklace around her neck, admiring herself in the rearview visor mirror. Through it all, my uncle just stared blankly out the window, not saying a word. Once she secured her “gift,” Brittney finally let David start the car. I breathed a sigh of relief, hugging my backpack and shrinking into the corner of the backseat to make myself as invisible as possible. Her behavior left a bad taste in my mouth, but I figured if I could just get home safely, it would be fine. I’d just make sure to never ride with them again. But less than an hour onto the highway, the SUV pulled into a gas station. Aunt Brittney reached back and slapped my arm, jolting me awake from a nap. I jumped, looking at her nervously. “What is it, Aunt Brittney?” Her face, caked in a thick layer of foundation, twisted into an impatient scowl. “Your uncle and I both have dead phones.” “We need gas. You’re going to pay for it.” 02 “Huh?” I was stunned. “What do you mean, ‘huh’? Hand over your phone, the pump is waiting!” “You’re in college and you don’t even know basic etiquette? You’re going to end up as a minimum-wage loser when you graduate!” She rolled her eyes at me. Then, without waiting for an answer, she lunged back and snatched my phone right out of my hand. “Passcode,” she demanded coldly. At this point, she was crossing a massive line. Fuming, I shouted toward the driver’s seat. “Uncle David!” But he pretended he didn’t hear a thing. Muttering, “I need to use the restroom,” he opened the door and walked away. … I was trapped. Since we were family, I didn’t want to cause a massive scene over some gas money. I unlocked the phone and opened my Apple Pay for her. But paying the $80 for a full tank wasn’t enough. Aunt Brittney took my phone right into the convenience store and came out carrying three massive plastic bags. My chest heaved with anger. I finally couldn’t hold it in and yelled: “Are you done yet?! Give me my phone back!” A flash of jealous rage crossed Brittney’s eyes. She threw the phone back at me, hitting me hard in the chest. I rubbed my aching collarbone and immediately checked my bank app. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. On top of the gas, she had spent over $200 on expensive road trip snacks, energy drinks, and even lottery tickets! My heart bled. That was literally all the money I had left from my part-time job! “What the hell did you buy?! How did you spend that much?!” “And what gave you the right to use my money?!” I was so angry that all my respect for my elders vanished. I screamed right in her face. “Stop yelling! Who do you think you’re yelling at?!” “So what if I spent a few of your precious dollars?” “Your uncle treated you so well growing up. As your aunt, I spend a little of your money and you throw a fit?” “You ungrateful little brat!” “Besides, who knows how ‘clean’ this money even is? I should be disgusted to use it!” I was suffocating with rage. “My uncle treated me well, and my parents treated HIM well! My dad literally paid the down payment on this SUV for him! And what is that supposed to mean?! Who are you calling dirty?!” Just then, Uncle David got back into the car. My fury boiled over. I turned my wrath on him. “Uncle David, what is your problem?!” “You offer your own niece a ride home and you charge her for it? If anyone in the family knew about this…” “You’d be the laughingstock of the whole family!” “And you let your wife steal my money and call me dirty?!” “Are you not afraid I’ll tell Grandma and Grandpa?!” Uncle David’s face instantly turned incredibly pale. But before he could say a word, Aunt Brittney reached back and slapped me across the face. I dodged the worst of it, but her fingernails still scraped my cheek. She wasn’t done. Her heavily powdered face couldn’t hide the cruel, bitter lines around her mouth. Looking at me with pure venom, she sneered: “You’re just a spoiled little freeloader. How does a college girl have this much money anyway?” “You think your money is clean?!” “Look at you! You’re a little tramp!” “I bet you don’t even study at that fancy Ivy League school. You probably just spend your days seducing rich men to pay your way!” I was seeing red. I opened my mouth to scream back— “Enough! Stop arguing!” Uncle David roared, finally intervening. “Are you trying to embarrass me?! Get back in your seat!” He pulled Brittney back to the front, slammed the car into drive, and sped out of the gas station. Only then did he look at me through the rearview mirror, his face full of disappointment. “Mia, I treated you so well when you were little.” “Why can’t you show me a little respect now?” 03 The moment he said that, the raging fire in my chest was instantly extinguished by cold, hard reality. I realized it was utterly impossible to communicate with these people. Uncle David used to be a genuinely good guy. I didn’t understand how marriage had turned him into this. Realizing that reasoning with them was pointless, I went completely silent. I didn’t defend myself. I just wanted to get home. I swore to myself I would never, ever get in a car with him again. Seeing that I wasn’t fighting back, Brittney’s words grew even more vicious and bitter. “I really don’t get your family. Why treat a useless girl like she’s royalty?” “David told me you’ve never had to lift a finger at your parents’ or your grandparents’ houses.” “No wonder you grew up to be such a brat!” “A woman needs to learn how to serve a man and manage a household. That’s the real world.” “Who cares about some top-tier degree or high-paying major? It’s all fake anyway!” She didn’t direct this at me directly; she was complaining to David, mocking me loudly. I sat in complete silence, enduring it. I didn’t even plan to tattle to my grandparents. It was family, and making a huge ugly scene would only hurt the older folks. They were getting up there in age. I would just treat this as an early lesson in how awful human nature could be. After she finished her tirade, Brittney stayed quiet for a long time. I checked my phone. We were about an hour away from Boston. The gloom in my chest started to dissipate. But right then, Brittney suddenly spoke up again: “Mia, what’s in that bag by your feet?” Her sudden friendly tone confused me, but it also sent alarm bells ringing in my head. “Those are the health supplements I bought for Grandma and Grandpa. Why?” I emphasized “Grandma and Grandpa.” Even though it was the truth, something felt deeply wrong. Brittney’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s perfect!” I was baffled. But a second later, the SUV suddenly swerved. We weren’t on the highway heading to Boston anymore. We merged onto a strange, rural county road. My anxiety skyrocketed. I immediately asked: “Uncle David, did you take a wrong turn? This isn’t the way home!” Without even looking back, he replied: “We’re stopping at your aunt’s parents’ house first to drop some things off.” I was stunned. “Really?” “Then I need to text my parents so they don’t worry—” Thump! Before I could open my messages, the SUV hit a massive pothole, violently jerking the vehicle. My phone slipped from my hands and flew forward. It landed perfectly between the front seats. I reached forward to grab it, but Uncle David blocked my arm. “I already told your mom and dad.” “You don’t need to text them.” “But my phone—” I started. Brittney grabbed it. With a fake look of clumsiness, she “accidentally” fumbled it right out her open window. “What phone?” She looked back at me, feigning total innocence. Watching this happen, a chill crawled up my spine. What are they trying to do? The thought exploded in my mind. Images from true crime documentaries flashed before my eyes. I pretended to put my head down in silent defeat. But under my sleeve, I was hiding my left wrist. The wrist with my Apple Watch. … 04 By the time we arrived at a desolate, rundown trailer park out in the woods, I had already slipped my Apple Watch off and hidden it deep inside a secret compartment of my backpack. At the exact same time, I had sent a desperate SOS message, sharing my live location to a group chat containing every single adult in my family—except Uncle David. When I stepped out of the car, I watched Brittney take all the expensive supplements I had bought for my grandparents and carry them into the rundown house. I looked at my uncle, who was watching her with a look of silent approval. I put on a terrified, sorrowful face: “Uncle David, what are you doing?” He sighed, shaking his head. “Mia, this is all for your own good.” “Your aunt is right. A girl needs to learn how to serve a man and manage a home to be truly happy.” “All those books you read are useless.” “It just so happens I brought you here today for a blind date.” “The boy is your aunt’s younger brother. It’s a perfect match. We can keep it all in the family!” The chill in my heart turned into absolute ice. My voice dropped all emotion. “Aren’t you afraid my mom will find out? Aren’t you afraid Grandma will find out?” A flash of deep resentment crossed his eyes. But after a moment of silence, he actually smiled. He patted my shoulder. “Mia, once you’re pregnant with his kid, everything will blow over.” “Your parents and your grandparents will understand.” The second the words left his mouth, my fists clenched so hard my nails dug into my palms. I stared at him, my eyes trying to bore a hole straight through his skull. “Oh, is this the little spoiled brat from the Sterling family?” “Look at her, acting all high and mighty.” “It doesn’t matter. Once she’s Travis’s woman, we’ll see how high and mighty she is!” “When the time comes, we can demand a massive dowry from her family. Perfect!” “Brittney, you finally did something useful for once!” A haggard, bitter-looking woman in her fifties walked out of the dilapidated house. She patted Brittney, who was smiling at her obsequiously, and looked me up and down with absolute disgust. Brittney laughed. “Mom, you have no idea how annoying this little bitch is, but luckily I’m smarter than her.” “This little slut is some Ivy League hotshot. She’s the golden child of both the Sterling and Hayes families.” “She’s got a massive trust fund and shares in both family companies. I guess that makes her barely worthy of our Travis.” As they spoke, the front door swung open again. Out walked a morbidly obese, greasy man. He had a sickening, lecherous grin on his face, and he reeked of cheap beer and body odor. The smell was so bad I nearly threw up my breakfast. “Travis, go on and give her a kiss! This is the little wife Mom found for you!” The older woman pushed the man forward, urging him toward me. “Hehehe, wifey. My wifey!” Drooling, the man lunged right at me. But right at that exact second… The deafening roar of engines shattered the silence. Seven massive black SUVs tore into the dirt driveway, kicking up a storm of dust. The doors flew open, and a sea of people poured out— My grandparents from both sides, my parents, my cousins… the entire family was here! 05 Seeing my family finally appear, my tears burst forth like a broken dam. Grandpa Sterling, leaning heavily on his cane, rushed forward faster than I’d ever seen him move. His cloudy eyes were wide with terror and relief as he pulled me behind him. My Apple Watch had a cellular connection. I had initiated a live audio call the second we pulled up. They had heard everything. I didn’t need to explain a thing. Grandpa Hayes was right behind him. Usually a gentle, smiling man, his face was now an absolute mask of frost. He pointed a shaking finger right at Uncle David’s nose, his voice trembling with unbridled rage: “David Hayes! You absolute animal! How did I raise such a monster?!” Both of my grandmothers had red, tear-streaked eyes. They flanked me on the left and right, grabbing my hands. Grandma Hayes’s hands were shaking violently. “Mia, my sweet girl, did they hurt you?” My mom sprinted over and practically tackled me into a hug, burying my face in her shoulder. She was sobbing so hard she couldn’t speak. My dad didn’t say a word. He walked straight up to Uncle David and landed a brutal right hook directly to his jaw. CRACK. “You sick bastard! Are you even human?!” “This is your own niece!” my dad roared. Uncle David stumbled backward, blood instantly leaking from the corner of his mouth. Faced with my dad’s fury, his face drained of all color. My mom held me in a death grip. The smell of her perfume mixed with her salty tears, enveloping me in absolute safety. “Mia! Oh, my Mia! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?!” Her hands frantically patted me down, checking for injuries. When she saw the dirt on my backpack, she cried even harder. Grandma Hayes, who had the most fiery temper of us all, didn’t hold back. She marched right past Uncle David, grabbed Brittney by her cheap hair extensions, and unleashed a flurry of slaps across her face. Smack! Smack! Smack! At first, Brittney screamed and tried to fight back, but soon she was beaten until her lip was split and bleeding. She collapsed onto the dirt, whimpering. “You shameless, wretched woman! How has the Hayes family ever mistreated you?!” “You dare plot against my granddaughter?! I’ll tear your mouth right off your face!” Grandpa Sterling didn’t lift a finger. He just stood there, staring coldly at the redneck family on the porch. Behind him stood five massive men in black suits—the security detail for my dad’s company. On his silent cue, the bodyguards surged forward. They grabbed the gross brother, Travis, and slammed him into the dirt. He was still giggling stupidly until a bodyguard planted a heavy boot into his stomach. He instantly curled up like a shrimp, gasping for air. Brenda, the bitter mother, shrieked and tried to dive onto her son to protect him. My dad kicked her right in the kneecap, sending her crashing onto the wooden porch steps. My dad, usually the most refined, well-mannered man in the world, had a face as dark as thunder. He stepped forward, the heel of his leather shoe pinning her hand to the wood. “What did you think my daughter was? A piece of meat? Your entire family is going to burn for this.” The yard was complete chaos—screams, curses, and the dull thuds of bone connecting with muscle. I huddled in my mom’s arms, watching my grandfather actually beat Uncle David across the back with his walking cane. Suddenly, I felt a morbid sense of irony. When I was little, David used to carry me on his shoulders. He used to tell me he’d make lots of money and buy me all the candy in the world. How did he become this monster? Brittney shrieked and lunged forward to shield him, but Grandma Hayes shoved her hard to the ground. “You toxic parasite! What did we ever do to you?!” Brenda tried to spit and curse at us. My cousin Tyler, who had ridden with my grandpa, kicked her right in the back of the knee. She dropped to the dirt, forced to her knees. Her son, Travis, shrank against the siding of the house, terrified. Two bodyguards hauled him up by his armpits while he babbled incoherently: “My wifey… my…” Grandpa Hayes turned around, slamming his cane hard into the dirt. “David. Explain yourself. Right now.” Uncle David covered his bleeding face, his eyes darting around, too cowardly to look at us. Brittney, however, suddenly started wailing: “Dad! Mom! You can’t be this biased!” “So what if Mia is a college student?!” “Why isn’t our Travis good enough for her? Keeping the bloodlines close is a good thing!” “Besides, she’s sitting on the Hayes family shares! Why should a little brat get all that money?!” “Shut your mouth!” Grandma Hayes roared. “Since when do you get a say in Hayes family business?!” “If David hadn’t begged me on his hands and knees, telling me you were pregnant, do you think I ever would have allowed him to marry you?!” “And those shares? We decided to leave them to Mia! It has absolutely nothing to do with you!” Only then did I realize that Brittney had been pregnant when they got married. But for some reason, she lost the baby. No wonder my grandparents had reluctantly agreed to the marriage back then. 06 Grandpa Hayes gently touched his wife’s arm to calm her down. He walked up to David, his voice eerily calm but radiating absolute authority: “David. I’m going to ask you one more time. Did you agree to this?” Uncle David’s lips trembled. It took him an eternity to squeeze out: “I… I was doing it for Mia’s own good…” The truth was, Brittney had been poisoning his mind for years. He had grown deeply resentful that the family shares were skipping him and going to me. He felt the money was rightfully his. So, he had greenlit Brittney’s psychotic plan. “For her own good?!” Grandma Hayes shook with absolute fury. “For her own good, so you throw her into a living hell?!” “You believe whatever poison Brittney feeds you? Did you forget who raised you?!” “Did you forget who carried you on her back to the hospital when your parents were working late?!” “You treat your own sister’s child like this?! Do you have a soul?!” Brought face-to-face with his past, Uncle David’s face flushed bright red, but he remained stubbornly unrepentant. “Mom, times are different now… Mia is a girl. What’s the point of all those degrees?” “Isn’t it better to just marry her off so she can live a quiet life?” “No, it isn’t!” I finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. My voice shook, but it was fiercely resolute. “I am in charge of my own life. I don’t need anyone dictating my future!” “Uncle David, I never thought you could turn into something so evil.” “When I was little, you used to buy me treats and say you couldn’t wait to see me go to college.” “You said you wanted to watch me succeed… did you forget all of that?” A flicker of genuine guilt crossed his eyes, but it was extinguished the second Brittney glared at him. She jutted her chin out defiantly. “What’s the point of crying about the past? What’s done is done!” “Either Mia stays here and marries Travis, or you pay us five million dollars in damages! Otherwise, this isn’t over!” “Damages?” Cousin Tyler let out a dark, mocking laugh. “You kidnap my sister, and you want us to pay you? You guys are going to rot in prison!” He pulled out his phone and hit play on an audio file. It was the exact conversation Brittney and her mother had just had on the porch, scheming about my dowry and forcing me to get pregnant. When I had sent the SOS, I hadn’t just shared my location. I triggered the emergency recording feature on my Apple Watch. The live audio had been streaming directly to the family group chat. Every single word they had said was recorded in crystal clear HD audio. Brittney’s face turned the color of chalk. She lunged forward to grab the phone, but Tyler effortlessly sidestepped her. Brenda started screaming and thrashing on the ground, but Grandpa ordered the bodyguards to drag her to the side. 07 Dad pulled out his phone and dialed 911. Brittney completely panicked. She threw herself at Uncle David, sobbing hysterically. “David! Say something! Don’t let them call the cops! I gave up everything for you! Did you forget the baby I was carrying?!” “The baby?” My mom let out a razor-sharp sneer. “You actually have the nerve to mention that baby? If you hadn’t insisted on going out clubbing and doing drugs while you were pregnant, would you have miscarried?!” “And now you project your misery onto my daughter?!” Everything clicked. Brittney’s hatred stemmed from losing her own child. The whole family knew the real reason, but out of pity, no one had ever said it out loud. She had a miserable upbringing, ruined her own life, and became insanely jealous of the overwhelming love and support I received. Her mind had warped into extreme resentment, leading her to methodically plot my destruction. Furthermore, because she was raised in a deeply sexist, abusive household, she had internalized it. She had absolutely no ill will toward her disgusting brother, but harbored immense malice toward successful women her own age. Watching me thrive in college, so utterly loved by my family, had completely consumed her fragile sanity. The state troopers arrived quickly. Taking one look at the scene and reviewing the undeniable audio evidence we provided, they slapped handcuffs on Brittney, Brenda, Travis, and Uncle David. Grandpa Hayes’s voice was heavy with ultimate disappointment. “From this day forward, you are no longer a part of the Hayes family. I will pretend the son I raised died years ago.” Uncle David slumped against the side of the police cruiser, finally breaking down into pathetic, ugly sobs. Looking at him, I didn’t feel the thrill of revenge. I just felt an endless, exhausting sadness. The drive back was completely silent. Grandma Hayes held my hand the entire time, sighing softly. Mom kept turning around from the passenger seat, her eyes full of lingering terror and heartache. Dad drove with one hand, using the other to call his legal team, instructing them to immediately seize the house he had bought for Uncle David. “Mia.” Grandpa Sterling suddenly broke the silence. “Don’t carry this in your heart. None of this is your fault.” I shook my head. “I know, Grandpa. It just makes me so sad. How could he become someone like that?” “People… sometimes their hearts get clouded by greed,” Grandpa Hayes murmured from the back. “Especially when envy takes root. They forget family, morality, everything.” “But don’t you worry. Nobody will ever dare touch you again.” 08 When we finally got back to my grandparents’ house, Grandma Sterling rushed to the kitchen and made me a steaming bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. Eating it, a warm, comforting feeling finally settled back into my chest. Mom sat beside me, gently stroking my hair. “Mia, I’m so sorry. We didn’t protect you.” “Mom, it’s not your fault.” I put down my spoon and looked at her seriously. “This whole nightmare taught me a lot. I’ll know how to protect myself from now on.” Dad walked into the dining room holding a sleek rectangular box. “Mia, I bought you a new iPhone. As for your old one…” “I sent a team to retrace the highway route, but even if they find it, it’s probably destroyed.” I took the phone, my eyes welling up. “Thanks, Dad.” “Silly girl, no need to thank me,” Dad smiled gently. “By the way, that necklace you bought for your mom…” Mentioning the necklace made my stomach twist with guilt. Mom reached out and grabbed both my hands. “It’s completely fine. It’s just a necklace. I don’t care if we ever get it back. The only thing that matters is that my daughter is safe.” Grandma Hayes walked out of the hallway holding a small velvet jewelry box. “Mia, this is from me. Think of it as a little something to calm your nerves.” I opened it to find a stunning, delicate platinum and diamond necklace—one far more beautiful and expensive than the one I had bought. “Grandma, this is way too expensive…” “Take it,” Grandpa Hayes insisted gently. “It’s just a token of our love. Remember, no matter what happens, this family is your impenetrable shield.” Right before I went to sleep, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Cousin Tyler. He said his guys had found my old phone on the shoulder of the county road. The screen was shattered, but the motherboard survived. He had already popped the SIM card out and promised to bring it over in the morning. Lying in my own bed, looking at the moonlight filtering through the window, a million emotions swirled in my chest. Today was a literal nightmare. But thank God, I had a family who loved me fiercely.

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I have congenital analgesia, a condition that means I feel no physical pain. My family saw me as a pawn for an advantageous marriage, offering me to Sterling Cumming, a ruthless figure in the business world. Everyone placed bets, knowing I couldn’t feel pain and he felt no pity. What kind of bleak end awaited this marriage? Then, his secretary deliberately spilled hot tea on me, eager to watch me suffer. I merely said, “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.” He immediately blacklisted the secretary from the entire industry. That night, he physically taught me, over and over again: “Darling, not feeling pain doesn’t mean you aren’t injured. Just like now. Even if you don’t utter a sound, you’ll still struggle to walk tomorrow, understood?” 1. I was diagnosed with congenital analgesia when I was a child. My father’s reaction wasn’t worry, but regret. “What a pity, such a good tool for an alliance, but it has a flaw.” My stepmother, however, came up with a brilliant plan. She packaged my analgesia as a supreme virtue: “emotionally stable, always composed.” In family meetings, she’ vehemently pitched to everyone: “Think about it, what socialite’s wife can endure beatings and scolding without crying or making a scene, always maintaining the family’s dignity? This isn’t a defect; this is a perfect wife tailor-made for a prominent family!” And so, the Campbell family finally ascended to the esteemed Cumming family, a height they had always aspired to reach. Surprisingly, Sterling Cumming himself agreed. On our wedding night, Sterling stood alone by the vast floor-to-ceiling window. He didn’t turn to glance at me, leaving only a frigid remark. “From now on, we’ll each get what we need and not interfere with one another.” Having said that, he walked straight to his study. The door clicked shut, separating two worlds. I sat alone on the cold marital bed. There was no sense of loss, no feeling of injustice. I had long grown accustomed to being alone. And so, Sterling and I began our lives as roommates, each in our separate rooms. He left early and returned late; I kept to myself. In the vast mansion, our encounters were rare. Our conversations were shorter than a weather report. Only occasionally, when we happened to cross paths, if he saw me walking barefoot on the floor, he would instinctively frown and ask the housekeeper to bring me slippers. He would watch me, ensuring I put them on before he left. This fragile peace was utterly shattered the first time we returned to the Cumming family estate for a family dinner. Sterling’s relatives sat around, looking at me as if I were a rare animal in a zoo, their whispers sharp and cutting. “Look, that’s the one from the Campbell family. I hear she can’t feel pain.” “What does Sterling see in her? That she won’t cry even if she’s hurt?” “I heard she doesn’t even know when she’s bleeding from an injury. How unlucky to live with someone like that.” These words, like a tide, washed over me, all falling into my ears. I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to get up and go for a walk, an uninvited guest appeared. “Juliet, why are you sitting here all alone? Are you not used to it?” 2. A gentle female voice sounded beside me. I looked up and saw Clara Leigh, Sterling Cumming’s childhood friend. She was originally the destined bride for the Cumming family. Unfortunately, she had wavered between Sterling and another rising entrepreneur. Sterling had seen through her subtle maneuverings. Consequently, he chose the arranged marriage offered by the Campbell family and married me instead. Clara was wearing a pink gown today. Her makeup was exquisite, and her smile radiant, as if she were the hostess here. “Come, don’t be so reserved. We’re family now.” She affectionately linked her arm through mine, feigning to introduce me into the circle of prominent ladies. As we walked, she seemed to suddenly trip on something, her body lurching towards me. I felt something sharply poke my arm. Beyond that, I felt nothing else. I looked down. I saw the ornate diamond brooch on Clara’s gown. The pin had pierced deeply into my forearm. When she pulled it out, a string of bright red blood beads emerged. “Oh dear! I’m so sorry, so sorry! Juliet, are you alright? Does it hurt?” Clara gasped dramatically, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. All eyes were fixed on my bleeding arm and my calm, unruffled face. I shook my head, gently pulling my arm back. I took a handkerchief from my pocket and pressed it against the small, bleeding puncture. “It’s fine.” Seeing my reaction, a hint of triumphant disdain flashed in Clara’s eyes. She then turned to the crowd, chuckling with a pitying, helpless tone: “See, everyone? I told you Juliet is different. Brother Sterling… sigh, he really married a doll who can’t even flirt.” A chorus of knowing chuckles rippled through the room. My expression remained serene. But in their eyes, this was interpreted as numbness, dullness, even stupidity. I had long grown accustomed to such misunderstandings. I had also grown accustomed to hiding my true feelings beneath the guise of congenital analgesia. Just then, a voice so cold it could freeze the air came from behind the crowd. “What are you all laughing at?” It was Sterling. 3. He stood there, unnoticed until now, his face grim. His gaze didn’t linger on anyone. Instead, it cut straight through the crowd, landing on the handkerchief pressing against my wound. Clara’s smile froze. She immediately adopted a wronged and concerned expression, rushing towards him. “Brother Sterling, you’re here!” Sterling didn’t even glance at her. He strode to my side and gently removed my hand from the wound. He stared at the still-seeping pinprick, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. His gaze wasn’t like someone looking at an injury; it was as if he were scrutinizing a cherished item that had been deliberately damaged. For a moment, I wondered if I was hallucinating. The entire ballroom fell into a sudden, hushed silence. “Who did this?” His voice was low, yet carried the oppressive weight of an impending storm. Clara’s face paled, and she stammered, “I accidentally hurt Juliet just now. She…” Sterling finally shifted his gaze from my wound. He turned to her, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Accidentally?” He repeated, a mocking curve to his lips. Having said that, he ignored everyone else. He took my hand and, amidst the startled gazes of the Cumming family, walked straight out of the estate. After the family dinner, Sterling and I spoke even less. For appearances, and perhaps to better “monitor” me, Sterling arranged for me to work at his company as his special assistant. This naturally caused an uproar. And Sterling’s chief secretary, Bethany George, was Clara Leigh’s most loyal informant. She hadn’t given me a pleasant look since my first day. She probably believed Sterling’s marriage to me was merely a whim. He would soon tire of me, this “pain-immune block of wood,” and eventually welcome Clara back. Her mission was to accelerate this process. 4. That afternoon, I was delivering an urgent document to Sterling. As I pushed open the door to the CEO’s office, Bethany was just about to enter, carrying a steaming cup of tea. Seeing me, a flicker of calculation crossed her eyes. She stepped aside to let me go first. Just as I brushed past her, her hand “accidentally” trembled. The entire cup of scalding tea splashed directly onto the back of my hand, the hot liquid soaking into my skin. I paused. I looked at my hand, which was rapidly turning red, even beginning to blister. No expression flickered across my face. Here we go again. Bethany immediately shrieked, her voice, however, filled with schadenfreude and excitement: “Oh dear! Juliet Campbell! Are you alright?” “I’m so sorry, so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” She waited for me to cry, to scream. Or at least, to show a hint of pain. So she could perform a scene of “panicked good Samaritan” in front of Sterling. However, I merely looked up. I calmly met her gaze and said, “It’s fine. I don’t feel any pain.” Bethany’s expression froze. She probably thought, this person can’t even bother to pretend. How utterly boring. Upon seeing Sterling, her thoughts changed. She was just about to exaggerate her complaint to him. But she hadn’t seen Sterling, sitting behind his desk. From the moment the tea splashed on my hand, his face had darkened. “Get out!” Sterling’s voice carried a terrifying malevolence. Bethany’s face lit up. She thought Sterling was angry at me. She was about to reprimand me with feigned righteous indignation. Then she realized Sterling’s icy eyes were fixed on her. “I said…” Sterling articulated each word slowly. Each word struck Bethany’s heart like a heavy hammer. “Bethany George, you, take your things and get out of my company.”

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It was New Year’s Eve, and my brother, Finn, suddenly tagged our parents in the family chat—parents who’d been dead for ten years. “I’ve decided to forgive big brother. You two can stop pretending now!” Right after, Dad’s profile picture, a frowning emoji, popped up: “Finn, didn’t we agree to punish him until you got married? Why the sudden change of heart?” Mom’s angry emoji followed: “If it weren’t for him ten years ago, Finn wouldn’t have been stuck in that wheelchair all this time!” Then she tagged me: “You should be grateful for Finn’s kind heart. That’s why you get to see us so soon and join us for dinner tonight. Come back and thank him properly!” It hit me then. The car crash ten years ago—it was all a charade. A staged death, orchestrated by them, just to punish me because I’d accidentally pushed Finn down the stairs. But they didn’t know. I wouldn’t be making it to their long-awaited family dinner, not after ten years. To pay off their debts and put Finn through school, I’d worked over fifty hours straight. I’d died, slumped over my desk at work. 1. Half an hour passed since Mom’s message, and the chat remained silent on my end. Dad frowned: “Still no reply from the kid. Could he be mad we faked our deaths to punish him?” “Forget him. If it weren’t for him, Finn wouldn’t have broken his leg and still be unable to walk.” Mom emerged from the kitchen, scoffing dismissively as she placed a plate of braised ribs in front of Finn. “Making him raise Finn for ten years was already the lightest punishment.” Finn beamed: “Thanks, Mom, for making my favorite ribs every year.” Dad looked at Finn, a troubled expression on his face. “But we left him with a huge debt. He has to pay five hundred a month, plus taking care of Finn…” Mom smiled faintly, stroking Finn’s hair. Then she glared at Dad: “You’re too soft. If that brute isn’t tempered, he’ll end up in trouble sooner or later. We’re doing this for his own good.” She paused. “Besides, Finn’s leg is a lifelong injury. All that money is in our accounts. Consider it Finn’s future life fund!” Dad’s doubts vanished. “You’re right. If it weren’t for him, Finn would’ve had a happy life. If he’s sulking and doesn’t come back tonight, then we’ll never bother with him again.” But just as he finished speaking, a jarring phone rang. Mom frowned: “It’s New Year’s, why is your office calling again?” Dad didn’t respond, pulling out his phone. It was an unknown number. He answered, and a hurried voice came through. “Is this Elias’s family? Elias suffered a cerebral hemorrhage due to excessive overtime and has been rushed to the ER. Please come to St. Jude’s Hospital immediately!” Before Dad could speak, Mom snatched the phone, her voice impatient: “Is this Elias, that good-for-nothing, putting you up to this? Tell him that he hurt Finn’s leg, and ten years of punishment was already lenient. If he has any conscience left, he’ll come back and apologize to Finn again!” “Otherwise, don’t bother coming back home!” With that, she hung up and blocked the number, all in one swift motion. She tossed the phone back to Dad, scoffing: “That scoundrel is just trying to avoid apologizing to Finn, trying to make us bow down!” She paused. “Don’t answer any more calls like this. I want to see what other tricks he can pull!” She then smiled at Finn: “Finn, Mom will make a few more of your favorite dishes.” With a sway, she walked back into the kitchen. My soul hovered above, witnessing their conversation, finally understanding everything. When I was fifteen, I accidentally knocked my eight-year-old brother, Finn, down the stairs. After a hospital visit, Finn was diagnosed with a comminuted fracture, condemning him to a wheelchair for life. My parents told me it was an accident, that it was okay. They showered me with affection, terrified I’d be scarred by guilt. Two months later, they died in a car crash on their way home from the hospital. In their final moments, they clutched my hand, tears streaming down their faces. “We’re most worried about your brother. He’s only eight and has lost the use of his legs. You must take good care of him.” With those words, they passed away. The day after their funeral, a group of shadowy figures showed up, claiming my parents owed a massive debt. They threatened to kill me and Finn if I didn’t pay up. So, I took on the burden, dropped out of school early, and every month, besides supporting Finn and putting him through school, I had to pay five hundred towards the debt. With no degree, I could only do manual labor, juggling multiple jobs a day. Every evening, I felt half-dead. Finn always said he felt insecure, so apart from the five hundred, I’d transfer all my remaining money to him at the end of the month, reassuring him I’d never abandon him. This went on for ten years. But I never imagined it was all a staged punishment, a twisted game they played to get back at me for Finn. Between seven and eight o’clock that evening, Dad received several more calls from unknown numbers, but he dutifully ignored them, as Mom had instructed. Mom washed her hands, came out, and sat down, a cold smile on her face. “Looks like he’s still not giving up, but he was the one who messed up first. There’s no way we’ll back down!” Dad stammered, “They all sounded really panicked. Could something actually have happened to Elias…” At this, Finn pulled out the last e-gift card I’d sent him an hour ago. “This is the gift Elias just sent me. Dad, the first call you got was around this time too. He called me then and said he’d be home soon. He’s not back yet, so he must be angry with me.” Seeing this, Dad breathed a sigh of relief, then scoffed: “That rotten kid, almost had me fooled!” He paused. “If he’s not coming back, then he shouldn’t. He can rot outside for all I care!” As he wished, I was already dead. 2. At nine o’clock that evening, a knock echoed through the house. Everyone’s heads snapped towards the door. Mom smirked: “That brat. I knew he wouldn’t last long. He’ll come begging for our forgiveness eventually!” Finn spoke up, pleading for me: “When Elias comes back, I don’t need his apology. As long as our family is safe and sound, that’s all that matters.” Dad put down his newspaper, shaking his head. “Finn, you’re too kind. If you forgive him so easily, he’ll only take advantage. Even if the punishment ends, in Mom and Dad’s hearts, he’ll never measure up to you.” With that, Dad opened the door, ready to speak, but found it wasn’t me standing there. “Mom, we’re coming to see you tomorrow. Why are you here so late?” An elderly figure walked in. It was Grandma Rose! Since Mom and Dad’s “deaths” ten years ago, Grandma Rose had done everything she could to help me. And no matter how busy I was, I always made sure to visit her before nine every New Year’s Eve. This year, she must have not seen me, and that worried her. Grandma Rose ignored Dad, her face grim as she entered. Dad quickly poured a glass of water and offered it to her, but she slapped it away. “Mom, you…” Dad started to speak, but Grandma Rose pointed at Finn, her voice icy: “Robert Miller, you’re a piece of work. Just because Elias accidentally hurt him ten years ago, you punished him for a decade! He didn’t mean it! Do you have any idea what Elias went through these past ten years?” She continued, almost to herself. “He was just a kid, a mere child, and so kind…” A heavy stone seemed to press on my heart. She was so old, yet she’d walked miles in the cold to find me, still worried. I truly was despicable! At that moment, Finn wheeled over. “Grandma, please don’t be angry. Mom and Dad were just worried I’d be upset.” But Grandma Rose didn’t even look at him properly. “You upset? Falling down and ending up with a comminuted fracture? I want to see if that leg of yours is truly broken!” With that, Grandma Rose reached out to pull him up, but Mom blocked her. “Mom, I respect you as an elder, but Finn is my most beloved child. If anything happens to him, don’t blame me for being unkind!” Dad shielded them both, looking at Grandma Rose with alert eyes. “Mom, we’ll naturally visit you tomorrow, but Finn isn’t in a good mood today. You should go home early.” Seeing this, Grandma Rose’s eyes welled up. “Fine… fine… I’ll go. I’ll go find Elias. He must be suffering somewhere.” Worried about Grandma Rose, I followed her out, but for some reason, I couldn’t stray too far from Mom and Dad. 3. Luckily, on New Year’s Day morning, I found myself with Mom and Dad, visiting Grandma Rose. She sat by the fire, clutching the old flip phone I’d given her. I knew she was waiting for my call, but none ever came. She must have been in such agony. I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m dead. I can never see you again. Due to Finn’s situation, Mom and Dad didn’t linger. They left after a quick visit. As they visited other elders, many praised my yearly devotion to Grandma Rose. Mom and Dad merely offered casual replies. On the way back, Dad frowned. “Elias has a pretty good reputation with everyone. Maybe we really were biased against him.” He paused. “He hasn’t come back for so long…” Mom didn’t speak, but a hint of worry clouded her face. They rushed home. Seeing them, Finn’s face showed a hint of grievance. “Mom, Dad, Grandma isn’t still mad at me, is she?” He paused. “She must dislike me because you punished Elias. Maybe you should go find him quickly. Although, I just saw his latest post on social media…” At this, Dad immediately grabbed Finn’s shoulder: “What did you say?” He asked. “You said Elias just posted something? Let me see!” Mom’s worried expression also eased a bit. Finn winced in pain. Dad quickly released him: “Finn, I’m sorry, but where’s the photo you mentioned?” Finn smiled and said it was nothing, but as he looked down to find the photo, a shadow of malice flickered in his eyes. Then, he produced a picture. In it, I was drinking with a few friends. The caption read: “New year, time for all the irrelevant people and things to get lost!” Seeing this, Mom’s face immediately contorted in fury. “That rotten kid! He called us irrelevant! If he doesn’t want to come back, then he shouldn’t. He can die outside for all I care!” Dad also scoffed. “A leopard can’t change its spots. Always fooling around outside. I bet those old folks in the village were tricked by his act!” But I saw it clearly. That photo was from last year, when some friends had taken me out to dinner because they thought I was too stressed. And the caption wasn’t that at all! Then, Dad apologized to Finn again. “Finn, I’m sorry. I accidentally hurt you just now. You can tell me anything you want.” Finn rubbed his eyes: “It’s okay. Elias is also Mom and Dad’s child, so it’s right to care about him.” He paused. “But since Dad wants to make it up to me, how about taking me to the amusement park?”

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When I was twenty, I knitted my first scarf and gave it to the person I secretly loved. At Tommy Stark’s birthday party, he accepted the scarf, enduring everyone’s teasing looks. Three days after my brother’s death, I went to withdraw from college. I overheard people in the office, sorting through files, joking around. “Are you really going to throw away that scarf the country bumpkin, Audrey Reed, gave you?” “That thing? It’s nothing compared to the designer coat Elara Chase gave him, or even a hotel towel. Just throw it away.” “I knew Tommy wouldn’t care for something from his little shadow. Might as well give it to me as a foot rag; it’s a shame to throw it away, at least it was hand-stitched.” Elara Chase was the girl he’d grown up with, his childhood sweetheart. Tommy laughed, wadding the scarf in his hand and casually tossing it towards the guy. The guy deftly dodged, and the scarf landed beside a trash can, looking rather pathetic. The moment my eyes met Tommy’s, I silently grabbed my papers and left. I understood in my heart that I had no right to question him. He stood behind me, seemingly saying something, but I didn’t hear it clearly. Six years later, when I returned to the city, I heard rumors. The eldest son of the Stark family had a long-lost “first love.” 1. This trip back to the city was for my clothing boutique’s expansion. On opening day, an old acquaintance walked in. “Audrey Reed?!” I was tidying clothes on a rack. I’d changed my name many years ago. Hearing that name, I froze for a moment. Realizing it was me, I turned, meeting a pair of shocked eyes. The man in front of me looked somewhat unfamiliar, with handsome features and expensive clothing. But I couldn’t recall where I’d seen him. I offered a slightly embarrassed smile: “And you are?” The man instinctively scratched his head. That gesture instantly reminded me who he was. Neil Schmidt. He was Tommy Stark’s friend. And the guy who, six years ago, had joked about using the scarf as a foot rag in the office. A girl stood beside him, her arm linked through his, slender and tall, with a warm smile. In the VIP lounge, while the girl was in the fitting room, Neil surveyed my boutique. “You… this is your store? This brand has been really popular lately, I never expected the owner to be… you.” Neil seemed to remember something, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. “What I said back then was a joke, you absolutely shouldn’t take it to heart. In fact, I’ve wanted to apologize for years, but I couldn’t find you.” He continued, “Where have you been all these years? Why did you suddenly drop out of college? And no word at all…” His voice trailed off. I calmly took a fruit platter from a server and placed it gently on the table. “Nowhere in particular, just went back home for a while.” Went back home, changed my name, restarted my life. He was about to press further when his girlfriend emerged from the fitting room. The dress fit perfectly; the girl was very pleased and immediately bought several other styles. But then, she offered a suggestion. “Your autumn/winter collection isn’t quite complete. Other boutiques promote hats, brooches, shoes, and scarves together. I just tried on some clothes and noticed you don’t have matching scarves. I think that could be improved.” I gently explained, “We don’t plan to make scarves for our clothing lines yet, I apologize. How about I give you a thirty percent discount on these clothes…” Before they left, Neil cautiously began, “Actually, all these years, Tommy Stark has been…” Suddenly, a metallic crashing sound came from inside the store. I turned, seeing the shelf I had just been half-installing come tumbling down. I rubbed my forehead, annoyed. Great, I have to re-install it again. Neil was still talking. I gave him a hurried nod, then turned to instruct a sales associate to handle the mess. He looked overjoyed and promptly pressed an invitation into my hand. “Then it’s settled, Tommy’s birthday is tomorrow, you absolutely have to come!” Before I could refuse, Neil quickly left, not giving me a chance to change my mind. Chloe, my assistant who works with me, stretched and came out from the back. “What was that noise just now? It woke me up. And what’s this… Ju-li-an… Stark?” She stared dazedly at the invitation in my hand. Her outstretched arms, mid-stretch, remained in the air as she exclaimed Tommy Stark’s name. I was a little puzzled. “You know him?” Chloe nodded vigorously, her eyes, previously dull from insomnia, now bright. “Of course! Isn’t he the Stark family’s golden boy? I even saw him at a fashion show not long ago. He was sitting in the front row, tall and handsome. He took over the company right after graduating, and under his leadership, the annual profits have more than doubled…” She gasped, “Hey, this birthday invitation? How did you get it?” My tone was calm. “Neil Schmidt gave it to me.” At this, Chloe’s eyes instantly filled with admiration. 2. “Neil Schmidt!? Oh my gosh, Audrey, how many connections do you have that I don’t know about? First Neil Schmidt, then Tommy Stark… but…” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I heard Tommy Stark has someone he likes. But the person he likes supposedly disappeared. He’s spent so much effort looking for her for years and hasn’t found her. I remember her last name was Reed… What a coincidence, Audrey, you’re a Reed too!” I lowered my gaze, interrupting her fantasies. “Don’t think too much, there are many people named Reed.” “So, are you going to Tommy’s birthday party tomorrow?” “No.” She sounded a bit disappointed by that answer. But she seemed even more interested in my connections. The autumn wind was somewhat bleak, sweeping fallen leaves across the path. I pulled my coat tighter, instinctively raising a hand to touch my slightly cold neck. Under Chloe’s relentless questioning, I finally opened up about a past that I had deliberately sealed away in my heart. “I had a crush on Tommy Stark, during my teenage years. A crush that failed, completely and utterly.” On the first day of college, during self-introductions, as classmates confidently stepped onto the stage, speaking about their interests and hobbies, I suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment and lowered my head. My family was poor. My mother died in childbirth. My father single-handedly bore the burden of the family. When I was in my junior year of high school, my father was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. My brother resolutely dropped out of college to work and earn money. But the high monthly medical bills still suffocated our family. When it was my turn to go on stage, my palms were sweating from nervousness. My stammering introduction successfully drew laughter from the classmates below. “Where did this country bumpkin come from? Still wearing a floral dress, this outfit is so outdated! Can’t she keep up with current trends?” “I saw her at the start of the semester; her family seemed quite struggling. Two wheels were missing from her suitcase, and she hadn’t bothered to get a new one…” “She can’t even give a clear introduction, just get down already, don’t waste our time!” I clutched my skirt hem, my face beet red with helplessness. This dress was bought by my father and brother before college started. I said it was too expensive, not to buy it. But my father chuckled and paid, “It’s fine, don’t worry about the money. Look pretty on your first day, leave a good impression on your classmates.” The dress wasn’t cheap, about two hundred, which was half a month’s living expenses for me. I turned awkwardly, about to step off the stage, when a loud voice rang out from the crowd. “Who said she’s ugly? She’s not ugly; I think she looks quite good.” Following the voice, everyone fell silent. Tommy Stark leaned casually back in his chair, chewing gum. As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on me. In that moment, the world beyond him seemed to lose its color. I could only see the boy’s bright eyes and the smile on his lips. Chloe nodded thoughtfully, shaking my arm excitedly. “So you started crushing on him then? Such a handsome guy, coming to your rescue when you’re in trouble—if it were me, I’d be smitten too.” I calmly took a sip of tea. Actually, no. My truly deep interactions with Tommy began during winter break. I was working part-time at a car wash to earn tuition when a quarrel suddenly approached, growing louder. A car screeched to a halt in front of the car wash. Immediately after, a meticulously wrapped bouquet of flowers was thrown from the car window, landing precisely on my head as I bent over to adjust a machine. “Tommy Stark, what’s with your attitude? I came back to reconcile with you, and this is how you brush me off?” Tommy’s nonchalant scoff came through. “Elara Chase, I picked you up from the airport because I didn’t want to disrespect your parents and make your aunt and uncle uncomfortable. Why do you think I’d be waiting for you to come back?” He continued, “We agreed to apply to the best universities together, but you left the country without a word. What, you have the right to pursue your dreams, but I don’t have the right to pursue love?” Elara was so angry she laughed. “Love? Don’t tell me, Mr. Tommy Stark, that you’ve fallen for someone else.” Tommy turned his head, his gaze meeting mine as I rubbed my head. He suddenly smiled. “Do you still think I can’t live without you? Elara Chase, let me tell you, from now on, anyone but you, I can have.” With that, he immediately got out of the car, pulled a black velvet gift box from his inner pocket, and casually tossed it to me. “It’s yours.” Elara was so furious that tears streamed down her face. “Even a car wash girl?” Tommy answered flippantly. “Yes.” Elara got out of the car crying, disappearing into the crowded streets. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t see Tommy’s gaze, which remained fixed on her retreating back. From that day on, I became Tommy Stark’s little shadow. Because he asked me to play a role with him. As long as I played it well, I would get paid.

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It was the year I had my best shot at winning an Oscar. Suddenly, scandalous photos of me flooded the internet. The Academy said they couldn’t give the award to someone with questionable morals and removed me from the nominations. Only my boyfriend, Ryan, tirelessly defended my name. Later, my reputation was cleared, but I missed out on the Oscar. Ryan pulled me into his arms, comforting me, “It’s okay, Aubrey. Just wait. Next time, you’ll definitely be an Oscar winner.” “Next time, I’ll be there with you. Next Valentine’s Day, we’ll go public.” I’d heard Ryan say “next time” too many times. So this time, I refused. “No need for a ‘next time,’ Ryan. Why did that gossip blog call you for the final payment last night after spreading those pictures of me?” 1 A long silence followed my words. My heart grew heavier and heavier with each passing second. Just as I thought Ryan wouldn’t speak, I heard his strained denial: “Aubrey, you’ve been under too much stress lately. You must have seen things.” I forced a smile, one that must have been dripping with sarcasm. How could I have been mistaken? From the moment I got nominated, that blog relentlessly spread rumors about me—half-truths, half-lies. None of my industry colleagues, who could have easily vouched for me, dared to step forward and clarify. They couldn’t guarantee that on the days we were on set together, I hadn’t somehow become a master of time management, sneaking off for illicit affairs behind their backs. I’d clarify one thing, and another ambiguous rumor would immediately surface. I broke down, even starting to doubt if I had really done those things. It was Ryan who held me then, promising earnestly, “It’s okay, Aubrey. I’m here. I believe you.” His embrace felt so warm and reliable. Ryan looked at me with aching sympathy, swearing, “Aubrey, I will make sure the truth comes out. I won’t let you bear this stigma.” And Ryan delivered. Everyone mourned my missed Oscar. Only I felt lucky to have Ryan. This blissful illusion lasted until that gossip blog called, chasing their final payment. Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face. Yes, who else in Hollywood, besides Ryan, who I saw day in and day out, would know my schedule inside and out? “You’re telling me I saw things? I’m going to press criminal charges against all those blogs.” “No!” Ryan refused without a second thought, his voice sharp and decisive. I scoffed inwardly, knowing he wouldn’t want that. If I pursued it, those blogs, paid to do their dirty work, would surely expose him, thereby affecting the other woman he truly wanted to protect. Seeing my red-rimmed eyes, he sighed. “Lily is still young, just starting out. She needs awards to prove herself.” He paused. “Aubrey, wait for the next time. I promise you, the next Oscar will be yours.” Ten years ago, a younger Aubrey would have willingly waited for another chance. But now, at 29, this was my last opportunity for this age-restricted award. “No!” I rejected him. “This is an award I earned through my talent. Why should I give it to her?!” Ryan’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. “Aubrey, when did you become so unreasonable?” He continued. “I told you before, Lily Sterling’s mother has cancer. Her lifelong wish is to see her daughter succeed, to achieve fame and fortune. Are you unwilling to grant even that wish?” Hearing his self-righteous accusation, I was momentarily stunned, almost disbelieving that these words came from Ryan. Seeing my silence, Ryan assumed I had conceded and said softly, “Now Lily has received the honor and recognition her mother hoped for. You have the talent and skill, and you’re a seasoned veteran in the industry. Whether you win an award or not doesn’t really matter to you, does it? Your scandal has been cleared up. You’re not affected, are you?” Every word he spoke cut into my heart like a knife. I felt as if I’d been split in two. One half was in excruciating pain, the other half quietly asked Ryan, “Does her wish have to be achieved through my sacrifice, through my ruined reputation?” Ryan looked at me with an expression that said, “How are you still not understanding?” His tone gradually lost its patience. “Lily has a proud disposition. If it wasn’t done this way, she would never have accepted it.” Before our argument could continue, my phone suddenly rang. “Aubrey! Are you with Ryan?” The voice on the other end was bright and cheerful. “Ryan insisted on throwing a celebration party for me, and now it’s just the two of you we’re waiting for. We can’t start without you two.” She continued. “You absolutely have to come today! How can the hosts of the party be missing?” Lily Sterling’s voice was full of anticipation. She sounded like a lucky person, completely oblivious, for whom good fortune had suddenly fallen from the sky. I opened my mouth, accusations and sarcasm churning in my throat. A hand reached over from beside me, taking the phone from my grasp. “Yes, we’ll be right there. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves.” Ryan must not have noticed the tenderness and fondness that filled his expression at that moment. I suddenly remembered when Ryan and I first got together; he had looked at me the same way. Back then, I was a struggling extra, a nobody in Hollywood, and Ryan was an unknown production assistant. We shared one meal between two sittings. After eating that cold dinner, we’d lie in our cramped apartment, where the window was smaller than a computer screen, looking at the sky obscured by the city’s smog. We made promises to each other. I said I wanted to win Best Young Actress before I turned thirty. Ryan smiled and said he would work hard too, so he could cast me, the Best Actress, in his film. Back then, we were each other’s support, each other’s refuge. Now, that beautiful dream felt like a melted cake—sticky and nauseating. Lily Sterling, in an elegant white dress, her eyes lit up when she saw us. She was radiant, brimming with joy, and her effervescent presence was like a corrosive poison, eating away at my insides, causing unspeakable pain. “Aubrey, Ryan, you’re finally here! We were just waiting for you.” As I entered, the boisterous party suddenly fell silent. I heard someone whisper, “Why is she here?” “Her sugar daddy scandal is everywhere. How can she still have the nerve to show her face?” Another person scoffed, their voice neither too loud nor too soft. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? That’s ancient history. Didn’t Director Thorne go to great lengths to clarify it was AI?” Low laughter rippled through the room. “Technology’s advanced, so there are more excuses now. If it really was a rumor, why didn’t she sue? Why didn’t she stand up for herself? This was her last year for that award. Maybe she’s guilty and doesn’t dare.” “Some people just can’t even find a sugar daddy correctly. She’s almost an old woman and still can’t win an award. Lily Sterling, on the other hand, has good luck, she’s young and beautiful, and has a benefactor.” Hearing these blatant whispers, I looked at Ryan. I hoped he would say something, anything—even a word of defense or the performative support he’d given online before. Yet, Ryan simply walked past me as if he hadn’t heard a thing, approaching Lily Sterling with gentlemanly tenderness. “You look beautiful today, Lily. That dress suits you perfectly.” “Really? I knew you’d like it!” With that, Lily twirled around, like a happy little songbird. Her joy came to an abrupt halt when she saw me. Lily’s face held a cautious, uneasy expression. “Aubrey, I really didn’t expect you to come. Thank you so much.” She paused. “So many people online are saying I only got this award by fluke, that I have no talent, and that it’s undeserved. I was so sad for a long time. Ryan said you’d attend my celebration party and show your support for me winning the Oscar, and then the public opinion would slowly die down.” A wave of overwhelming absurdity washed over me. I almost lost control then and there. I asked, stunned, “I’m showing public support for your Oscar win? Did you hire paparazzi?” 2. Ryan’s face changed. Before I could truly react, he grabbed my hand, lowering his voice. “Aubrey, don’t make a scene. So many people are at this party. We can talk about everything later.” He paused, then soothed me softly, almost like a reward. “Once we’re home, you can throw whatever tantrum you want.” I abruptly pulled my hand away from him. Ryan’s voice, his touch—at that moment, they filled me with nausea. I almost threw up. Taking out my phone, the headlines were already pushing through: “Aubrey Brooks Misses Award, Publicly Supports New Oscar Winner.” “Aubrey Brooks: She’s wonderful, vibrant, and deserves more opportunities.” My hand, holding the phone, began to tremble uncontrollably. On my verified account, a new post, which I had no recollection of ever making, was prominently displayed. “I had bad luck. A scandal broke during the awards season. Although it was eventually clarified, I understand that personal integrity is tied to awards. I will pay more attention to my personal conduct in the future and not hog public resources.” It continued. “P.S.: Lily Sterling is a wonderful girl. Her award is well-deserved. Everyone should support her.” In the comments section, some lamented my bad luck. Some praised my generosity. Others criticized me, saying that flies don’t bother a sealed egg, asking what I was doing before, and why I was pretending to be generous online now that the truth was out. Ryan had prepared a team to control the comments, and such remarks would quickly be deleted. But constantly silencing people would only make them angrier. My already halved fanbase continued to shrink, with many questioning why I was deleting comments so freely, asking if this was how I treated my fans. The messages in my inbox were even more unbearable; I didn’t even have the courage to open them. “Ryan, what do you take me for?” My eyes were red-rimmed, my face pale. I must have looked like a deranged madwoman at that moment. The controversy surrounding Lily Sterling’s award was too great. So, I, the talented but ‘unlucky’ person who had a scandal before the awards, was brought out to endorse her and act as a shield. Why would Ryan hurt me again and again like this?! A flicker of regret crossed his eyes, but he still insisted, “Lily just became an Oscar winner. She has no background, no strong connections, and unlike you, she hasn’t been struggling for years and isn’t used to these kinds of things.” So, I was supposed to be Lily Sterling’s stepping stone. A tool for Ryan to curry favor with new talent, was that it? I turned and walked away without hesitation, filled with rage. I was going to the press, to a news conference. My reputation, all these years of hard work—they couldn’t be destroyed like this. Ryan called out behind me, but I ignored him. Instead, Lily Sterling caught up faster, her face filled with worry and guilt. “Aubrey, I didn’t realize you cared about this award so much. I’m so sorry that people online are slandering you because of your support for me.” She continued. “If I could, I truly wish none of this had happened. I wouldn’t have gotten this award. But you and Ryan have been through so much over the years. I beg you, please don’t fight with him, okay?” I looked up at this girl who seemed to know nothing, and suddenly I laughed. “Lily Sterling, I have to admit, your acting is truly superb. Even now, you maintain that innocent facade.” I continued. “Tell me, if you truly didn’t know Ryan deliberately spread those compromising photos of me so you could win the award, then why did you specifically ask him if I would really not find out?” Lily Sterling was startled by my fierce gaze and recoiled half a step, her eyes welling with tears. I scoffed, “Oh, and by the way, you claim to be grateful to me, but when your relatives and friends were gossiping, why did you, the host, act deaf and not make any attempt to smooth things over?” I paused. “Also, do you really not know that Ryan bringing me to your celebration party today, and the posts published online, were not of my own free will?” Lily Sterling retorted with some embarrassment, “Ryan said it was fine. You’ve been in the industry for so many years. Getting bashed by netizens for a while won’t affect you.” She continued. “Anyway, you’ve endured it all these years. I never intended to steal Ryan from you. I’m begging you, just pretend none of this ever happened. Just consider it bad luck that you encountered such a situation before the awards. Can’t you do that?” In that instant, I understood why Ryan had fallen for Lily Sterling. Because they were both the same kind of person. “No, I recorded our conversation just now.” I said coldly. “I’m going to hold a press conference and fight for my rights to the very end.” As I turned, a blinding light suddenly appeared on the road. Amidst Lily Sterling’s scream, I was hit by a car and thrown to the ground. A familiar figure emerged from the driver’s seat. He embraced Lily Sterling, reassuring her repeatedly, “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll tell everyone we had an accident while arguing.” Lily Sterling cried, tears streaming down her face. “Ryan, she’s going to hold a press conference. She deliberately tricked me into recording her. She’s going to sue me. What should I do?” Ryan’s voice was soft, but his words were ruthless. “I know. That’s why I hit her. She won’t be able to go.” He said. “I’m here.” I lay on the ground, excruciating pain shooting through my legs and body. Yet, a desolate emptiness filled my heart. How many times had Ryan protected me like this when I encountered predatory producers? He’d once smashed an ashtray over a man’s head, pulled me into his arms, and told me, “It’s okay, Aubrey, it’s okay. I’m here.” Because of that incident, our budding careers instantly froze. When I was consumed with guilt, Ryan comforted me, “Don’t feel guilty for mistakes that aren’t yours.” He continued. “You’re my girlfriend. If I don’t protect you, who will? If I don’t stand up for you, who will?” At that time, tears in my eyes, I asked him, “What if it really was my fault?” Ryan just laughed and said, “Then I’ll commit murder and arson for you.” But I had never done anything so heinous, yet my boyfriend, for the sake of another woman, to prevent me from clearing my name, didn’t hesitate to hit me with his car.

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After my arch-rival stole my project, I found a witch doctor to make a voodoo doll in his likeness, planning to use it to vent my frustration. The moment I held it, a string of comments flashed across my vision. [Heh heh, our girl finally got Holden’s empathy doll! This time, she’s going to make him really feel it.] [You bet! Every prick our girl makes on that doll will be a thrill for Holden. He’ll probably run out of clean underwear tonight!] My hand, holding the doll, froze. Holden Urie and this doll are linked by empathy? Is the witch doctor playing such a high-stakes game? Doubtful, I decided to video call Holden. The moment the call connected, I accurately jabbed the little doll in a… specific spot. Immediately, a muffled groan came from the other end. Watching his face flush scarlet, I couldn’t help but exclaim. “The witch doctor truly didn’t lie! Holden, you’re done for!” 1. After Holden Urie snatched three projects from me, I decided it was time for revenge. I sought out a renowned witch doctor and commissioned a lifelike doll, a scaled-down replica of Holden. My plan was to fight fire with… ancient magic. Before I left, the witch doctor cautioned me: “A little mischief is harmless; too much can be damaging. Everything in excess will backfire. Remember that!” I waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him.” As soon as I got into my car, I eagerly pulled out the replica doll. Before I could even do anything, a string of comments flashed across my vision. [Heh heh, our girl finally got Holden’s empathy doll! This time, she’s going to make him really feel it.] [You bet! Every prick our girl makes on that doll will be a thrill for Holden. He’ll probably run out of clean underwear tonight!] My hand, holding the doll, froze. Holden Urie and this doll are linked by empathy? Is the witch doctor playing such a high-stakes game? Doubtful, I decided to video call Holden. The moment the call connected, I accurately jabbed the little doll in a… specific spot. Immediately, a muffled groan came from the other end. Watching his face flush scarlet, I couldn’t help but exclaim—the comments were actually true! Holden Urie really was linked to this doll! Every time I pricked it, Holden would react. So if I kept pricking it, wouldn’t he be utterly defenseless? Clutching the doll as if it were a treasure, I grinned at the screen, at Holden whose cheeks were now burning. The witch doctor truly didn’t lie! Holden, you’re done for! Holden’s handsome brows furrowed slightly, his voice a little hoarse. “What are you smiling at?” “What I’m smiling at is none of your business. I’m asking you, are you giving me back the drone project?” That project was my blood, sweat, and tears for three months, meant to be a surprise for my boyfriend’s birthday. At the last minute, he snatched it again. It infuriated me. On the video call, he scoffed. “Give it back to you so you can keep trying to please that useless man?” I exploded. “You’re the useless one! He’s just had bad luck; he hasn’t met the right opportunity yet. I forbid you from talking about him like that!” You can insult me, but not my boyfriend. He’s the person who loves me most in the whole world. When I almost drowned while surfing, if he hadn’t risked his life to save me, I would have perished in the ocean right there and then. He even fell into a coma for three months because of it, almost never waking up. In my heart, he’s the second person after my parents who loves me most in the world. He sneered, “What if I don’t give it back?” “If you don’t, I… I’ll…” I picked up the needle, tracing it over the doll’s chest. I suddenly paused. If I pricked it now, would it be too obvious? What if he found out? I couldn’t outwit him. I put the doll down, not daring to act. “What will you do??” He provocatively raised an eyebrow at me. I gritted my teeth. “I’ll curse you to sleepless nights, a life worse than death…” A low chuckle came from the other end of the video. The smile on Holden Urie’s face spread. “I’m so scared!” [Tsk tsk tsk, look at our girl, still too kind. Her curse sounds like flirting; he’s totally enjoying it!] [Don’t be scared, girl! Prick him with that needle! Let him taste your methods!] [Exactly, exactly! Prick him until he’s begging for mercy, until he’s whimpering like a puppy!] I bit my lip, looking at the needle in my hand, but I chickened out. I didn’t dare. 2. After the call ended, I started furiously pricking the little doll, aiming all my attacks at one specific area. The comments section went wild. [Ahhh, Holden’s in the bathroom again!] [Oh no, I think his legs are getting weak; he can’t stand anymore!] [Girl, you need to take it easy! At this rate, Holden’s going to… uh, die from it!] My hand, furiously pricking the doll, instinctively stopped. Holden wouldn’t actually die from my game, would he? No, that wouldn’t do. I hadn’t gotten my project back yet; he couldn’t die. Besides, if people found out he died from something like this, it would be too embarrassing. I should spare him some dignity! I got home, but his call of surrender hadn’t come yet. I picked up the doll and meticulously gave him a full-body spa with the needle. [Oh, girl, do you have to be so elegant? Holden’s practically dying from pleasure!] [Is this punishment for him? This is clearly a reward!] [Girl, harder! Prick him!] My hand, holding the needle, slid from the doll’s chest, moving downwards. Finally, I plunged it in. Less than three seconds later, a video call came through. “Blair Urie, what are you doing?” Looking at him, drenched in sweat on the video call, I raised an eyebrow, satisfied. “Just relaxing! What’s wrong with you?” I asked, feigning innocence. He pressed his lips together, his face undeniably flushed. It seemed he’d exerted a lot of energy. He looked utterly ravaged, making even me swallow. “Did you do something?” “What could I do? Looking at you, could it be that heaven has taken notice, and my curse has come true?” I suppressed my excitement, secretly pricking the doll again. Holden gasped, sweat trickling down his forehead; he seemed to be in considerable discomfort. I guiltily looked away. A few seconds later, he seemed to resign himself. He sighed. “Withdraw your curse, and I’ll give you the project.” “Really?” “But I have a condition.” “What condition?” “You come to my place tomorrow. Say it to my face.” Could it be a trap? Probably not. After all, murder is illegal. “Okay, it’s a deal.” I told him I’d withdraw the curse to his face, secretly retracting the needle. Only then did he hang up. Afterward, I excitedly hugged the doll and spun around several times. Finally, I could give my boyfriend some good news. 3. That night, for some reason, I dreamed of Holden. He held me, gently caressing my lips, which were red from his kisses. “Don’t love your boyfriend anymore. Love me, okay?” I ran my hand over his abs, shaking my head. “No.” “Why?” he sounded a little disappointed. “Because he loves me very much. Without me, he’d die.” He was silent for a long time. His deep eyes held a lingering sadness as he looked at me. “He won’t.” “He will…” I got up, wrapped my arms around his neck, and leaned in close. “You don’t understand. For me, he’d even risk his life. He can’t live without me.” His profound eyes held a deeper sense of melancholy. He said nothing more, only kissed me, working his way over me. When I woke up. “Ugh, what a nightmare!” Of all people to dream about, Holden! And to spend a night of passion with him in a dream. The worst part was, I was still a little too fond of his abs. So despicable! Guilt made me want to slap myself. I raised my hand, then lowered it. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t. “Alright, alright, never again.” I tried to rationalize. To get the project contract quickly, I skipped breakfast and headed straight to Holden’s villa. As I got out of the car, a bright yellow figure emerged from the villa. As I got closer, I realized it was the witch doctor. “Master, you… what are you doing here?” I felt a little flustered. The witch doctor held his ritual implement. “Amitabha, benefactress, we meet again.” I was in such a hurry that I didn’t even bother with formalities. “Holden hasn’t found out, has he? He didn’t specifically ask you to come here to confront me, did he?” The witch doctor smiled kindly. “Benefactress, rest assured, he hasn’t.” Hearing this, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good!” Then, “But… why are you suddenly here?” “I came to see an old friend.” “I see, you scared me to death.” It was good that I hadn’t been exposed. Otherwise, if the project hadn’t been secured and Holden went back on his word, I’d be helpless. Looking at the witch doctor’s retreating back, I confidently rang the doorbell. [Hahaha, our girl is so adorably naive. Doesn’t she realize what’s wrong here?] [She probably got tangled up in it and didn’t even realize the ‘old friend’ the witch doctor mentioned was Holden.] [I wonder if our girl will be scared to death when she sees the gift the witch doctor gave Holden?] [Ahhh, I suddenly really want to see our girl losing her composure in front of Holden! Then it’ll be fireworks, the real juicy stuff!] My body stiffened. At that moment, the front door opened. Holden was playing with a female doll. “You… what are you holding?” 4. Forgetting all decorum, I rushed over and snatched the doll from his hand. I looked down at it. Huh, it didn’t quite look like me. To be precise, it didn’t quite look human. [What’s going on? How did the plot change?] [The doll in Holden’s hand isn’t a female version of our girl?] [So, no juicy scene then? Unhappy!] [No, don’t you think this is even more exciting?] [Exactly, exactly! I wonder how the plot will unfold next! Just thinking about it makes me excited!] My face dropped. Exciting my ass! If you don’t even know the plot, what good are you to me? Holden unhappily pulled the doll away. “What kind of obsession is this, barging into someone else’s house and stealing their things?” I guiltily took a step back, widening the distance between us. I was afraid he’d hit me. “I don’t have obsessions as strong as yours. A grown man still likes playing with dolls?” “Are you really that bothered by me playing with this?” He dangled the doll in his hand. I shivered involuntarily. I wasn’t linked to this thing by empathy, but just watching him touch it, my body felt a strange, inexplicable heat. Embarrassing, and uncomfortable. “Who cares what you play with? I’m just afraid of polluting my eyes.” “Really?” He smiled faintly, turning to sit on the sofa. “Alright, didn’t you say you’d return the project to me? Where’s the contract?” I’d heard they had already discussed the contract details, but it hadn’t been signed yet, so there was still a chance to salvage it. Holden’s gaze towards me turned cold. “So eager to please him?” “None of your damn business! One word: are you giving it to me or not?” “The drone project has already been signed. I can’t give it to you…” “You’re messing with me?” He glared at me. “I’ll give you a different project, but it can’t be signed under your name.” Not under my name? But it could be under Julian’s name! That suited me perfectly. “Okay!” I agreed in an instant. He handed me the contract. The moment I reached for it, his hand suddenly pulled back. Caught off guard, I tumbled into his arms, my hand instinctively reaching down to brace myself. A muffled groan came from above. [Oh my, Holden, you cunning boy! You acted so cool before, but now you’re really enjoying it, aren’t you!] [Haha, this is the content my VIP members should be watching! So juicy!] [Don’t let him off, girl! Get him!] To my surprise, Holden gritted his teeth and said, “Blair, hand, off!” Hand? My hand? Oh! I felt it! My face flushed instantly. I sprang up from him, snatching the contract that had fallen onto the sofa. “You pulled your hand back suddenly; it had nothing to do with me!” Holden, his face red, glared at me, then picked up a cushion and placed it on his lap, changing the subject. “There are a few parts of the contract that need revising. I can’t give it to you just yet…” “You dictate, I’ll revise!” How could I possibly give back a duck that was already in my hand? It was Julian’s birthday tomorrow; this contract had to be mine. He looked up, staring at me, his eyes filled with an indescribable sense of loss. It was exactly like in my dream last night. After a two-minute standoff, he conceded and stood up, his voice cold. “Suit yourself.” [Oh no, Holden’s going to shatter!] [He’s been secretly in love with her for so many years, but he just won’t speak up, won’t confess. He deserves this torment.] [Exactly, people who don’t speak up deserve to be tormented to death.] Holden is secretly in love with me? What a joke. From childhood, he never once let me win at anything, always obsessed with making me cry! He’d pinch my cheeks or my hands, saying I was like a doll and he wanted to attach me to his belt loop, taking me everywhere. He even called me mute when I had vocal cord issues, which infuriated me so much that I pulled down his pants right there, only to be chased and beaten by him again. I’d remember that forever. Faced with the blatant nonsense in the comments, I chose to ignore them. A bunch of gossipy girls who don’t even know the plot can’t be trusted.

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In my last life, my girlfriend’s childhood friend, a trust fund brat, pretended to be a wealthy heir and caused trouble. After I exposed him, he angrily drove his car straight into me. As I lay dying, my girlfriend’s sister knelt and begged her to save my life, but she remained indifferent. “No way. Vance is too high-status to dirty his hands for this insignificant nobody. Don’t think that just because you’re dating me, you can get arrogant. Know your place!” My girlfriend’s sister knelt for three days and three nights, eventually dragged away by the brat, abused, humiliated, and left for dead. Until my heart stopped, my girlfriend was still protecting the brat, covering up his crimes, refusing to believe he had hit someone with his car, and then assaulted her sister. Reborn, I didn’t choose to humbly beg my girlfriend to even look at me. Instead, I first called my eldest brother. “Bro, some jerk is impersonating me and causing trouble. Get someone to handle it.” “Also, the engagement with the Scott family, I want to switch. From Clara Scott to her sister, Elaine.” Over the years, I’d poured huge resources into the Scott family, only to raise a backstabbing ingrate. I wanted to see how Clara and her childhood friend would act so arrogant without me! … “Robert Miller! You made me look like a fool in front of so many people tonight! I’ll make you regret it! You were so arrogant exposing me then, did you ever think you’d face this day?” “You’re just a poor kid. Clara doesn’t even care about you. Even if I flatten you into pulp out here in the middle of nowhere tonight, she’ll still protect me, believe it or not!” Vance Scott’s familiar words reached my ears. Before I could even react, I felt blinding headlights drawing closer, the engine roaring as it ran over me. A searing pain shot through my body. That’s when I realized I had been reborn. I had been reborn to the moment Vance Scott brutally ran me over. My shattered phone beside me had, at some point, dialed my girlfriend Clara’s number. Her cold voice, filled with disdain, came through the receiver. “Robert Miller, stop calling me. I know you’re just jealous of my relationship with Vance, trying to sow discord.” She continued. “Vance wouldn’t hit you with his car. That car cost a fortune; it’s not worth totaling it just to hit you. No matter what you say this time, I won’t believe you!” She fell silent after that, seemingly waiting for my reaction. But unlike in my last life, I didn’t try to explain or plead with her, trying to make her believe Vance’s true colors. Instead, after seeing Vance drive away, I painstakingly reached out and hung up. Using the last bit of my phone’s battery, I made another call. Once it connected, I endured the pain wracking my body and said, “Bro, help me.” My ears were ringing, and I couldn’t clearly hear the reply, but I was certain my eldest brother would come. I was my brother’s favorite, and the future second-in-command of the Miller family. The family’s protection of me was strict. These years of living under an assumed name to date Clara was the limit of their tolerance. If they found out someone dared to harm me, they would torment that person to an inch of their life, repaying it a thousandfold. I was dragging my body towards the edge of the road when I saw Vance suddenly return in his car. The window lowered, and his shadowy eyes fixed on me. “Clara said you weren’t dead. She was right.” My heart sank. If he hit me again, I truly wouldn’t survive. Just as he stomped on the accelerator, on the brink of despair, a red car rushed out from another direction, slamming into Vance’s Maybach. A woman got out of the car and ran towards me, anxiously calling out, “Robert Miller, are you alright?!” It was Clara’s sister, Elaine Scott. Remembering how she had desperately pleaded for someone to save me in my last life, and how she was humiliated and left for dead by Vance at my bedside, my heart was filled with a mix of emotions, but mostly guilt and gratitude. I vowed to protect her this lifetime, never letting her be harmed again. Without time to wonder why she was here, I pushed her away. “Don’t mind me! Go!” But it was too late. Vance suddenly grabbed Elaine by the hair from behind, yanking her over. Before she could even speak, Vance kicked her directly. “You damn bitch! Where did you come from?” He roared. “Do you know who I am, young master? You dare to stop me from teaching this insignificant nobody a lesson? Do you have a death wish?!” Elaine was kicked in the stomach, immediately breaking out in cold sweat from the pain. But she gritted her teeth and bit his hand. Vance hissed in pain, then casually picked up a rock and mercilessly smashed it onto her. Seeing Elaine’s head gushing blood, my heart ached. I yelled, “She’s Clara Scott’s sister! Aren’t you afraid Clara will come after you for hurting her?” Vance froze, but then, seeing her face, he let out a wicked laugh. He slapped her to the ground and began to unbuckle his belt. “What if she’s Clara Scott’s sister? It’s her blessing that I’ve taken an interest in her.” He continued. “Besides, I’m the second young master of the Miller family. The Scott family owes everything to me. If I insist that this young woman was harmed by you, do you think Clara will believe you or me? If she kills you, it has nothing to do with me!” My heart burned with anxiety, but my legs were crushed, unable to move. I could only reveal my true identity. “Enough! I am the true Miller heir! She is under my protection. If you dare to harm her, I will use all of the Miller family’s connections to make your life a living hell!” Vance burst into laughter. “You tell a good lie. But the eldest Miller brother has already personally acknowledged me as his brother! How dare you impersonate me here?” My heart skipped a beat. I knew nothing about this. My parents were devoted to each other, with no other illegitimate children. My eldest brother had also personally vowed to only recognize me as his biological brother in this lifetime. Where did this guy come from? Before I could fully comprehend, Vance, his face sinister, leaned in close to me, raising his foot to kick me. Outside the desolate road was a river; if I rolled in, I would surely die. Just as I precariously propped myself up, trying to save myself, Elaine Scott lunged at him from behind, tightly hugging Vance’s leg. “Robert, run! I’ll hold him off!” She bit down hard on Vance, who was now utterly enraged and about to strike us both when the sound of a helicopter cut through the sky. The Miller family had arrived! The Miller family’s secretary rushed down from the helicopter, rescuing me and Elaine. Vance was knocked unconscious and dragged away. Elaine, however, had fainted from shock. I urgently told them to take her to the hospital for treatment, while I only had my fractured limbs roughly stabilized. I sat outside the emergency room for a long time, until Elaine was safely taken to a private room, and only then did my racing heart calm down. I immediately called my eldest brother to reassure him. Hearing I was injured, my brother slammed his fist on the table in a furious outburst. “Who hurt you? If I wasn’t tied up, I would have flown there with my secretary and had him broken limb by limb, making his life a living hell!” I didn’t want him to blow things out of proportion, so I just said, “Bro, the engagement with the Scott family that was set for next month, I want to change the person.” My brother was startled. “You’re not marrying Clara anymore? You’ve been devoted to her for three years; I thought you wouldn’t marry anyone else.” “Yes, I don’t want that woman anymore. I want Elaine Scott.” I added. “Also, all the resources I’ve invested in Clara Scott over these years, I want them all back!” I had treated Clara as the love of my life, but she treated me like a pathetic lapdog, letting her friends humiliate me. Both in my last life and this one, she fiercely protected that Vance Scott. I was utterly disgusted with her. My brother’s voice was low. “I understand. I’ll do as you say.” He continued. “I have to recall my secretary, but I’ll leave Miller family bodyguards to protect you. You focus on recovering in the hospital.” He paused. “Also, don’t think you can hide your injuries from me. I’ll find out who hurt you. If they touched even one of your fingers, I’ll chop off ten of theirs!” This time, before I could answer, the call ended. I had wanted to ask about Vance Scott, but it seemed I’d have to wait for next time. I turned to walk to Elaine’s room when I heard hurried footsteps in the corridor. I looked up just in time to see Clara Scott’s furious face. She raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to my face, raging, “Robert Miller, have you lost your mind! You actually hired people to bully Vance! He’s the second young master of the Miller family. Haven’t you heard how protective his brother is? You’re not long for this world!” My face was turned sideways from the impact, but I smirked. “He’s a Miller? Then why is his last name Scott?” Clara said, “What do you know? He’s the Miller parents’ child born late in life, the family’s top priority for protection. What’s strange about having him live under an assumed name and keep a low profile for safety? He and I have been friends since childhood. I only just learned his identity. What about you, a country bumpkin with no background?” Just then, I saw Vance Scott, who had been locked in a warehouse and beaten black and blue by the secretary’s men, emerge, trailing behind the Miller family’s head bodyguard. Clara Scott looked at me with schadenfreude, believing I was done for. I was wondering why he had been released when the head bodyguard walked directly towards me. I thought he was going to shield me, but he suddenly grabbed the club from his waist and savagely swung it at me. “What kind of trash are you, daring to bully our young master? You must have a death wish! This is for the young master, a lesson for you!” I was hit, blood streaming down my forehead. My vision turned crimson, my head ringing, almost making me faint. But his eyes, looking at me, had a scarlet gleam, as if he was truly protecting the master behind him. I was instantly bewildered. “You’re crazy! Don’t you recognize me? I’m the second young master of the Miller family!” But the other party spat, his expression fierce. “I think you’re delusional! I’ve worked for the Miller family for almost ten years. I only know of Young Master Vance. What are you, daring to impersonate him!” Vance Scott then emerged from behind the bodyguard, staring coldly at me. I felt his gaze, like I was fish on a chopping block. He turned to Clara and said, “Clara, what do we do about this? Tonight, I just wanted to quietly have a few drinks with friends, but your boyfriend, in front of everyone, claimed I was impersonating the Miller heir.” He continued. “Our Miller family motto has always been discretion, so I tolerated him again and again, even asking someone to politely escort him into a luxury car and send him away.” He finished. “But he slandered me, claiming I ran him over! Ruining the Miller family’s reputation. How should we settle this score?” Everything he said distorted the facts, like something out of a fairy tale. But Clara’s face paled, and she immediately grabbed my collar, yanking me from my wheelchair. Then she kicked my knee, forcing me to kneel heavily on the ground. She ordered someone to press my head down, making me kowtow repeatedly. “Robert Miller, I never thought you’d be such a person! Apologize to Vance immediately! Keep kowtowing until he’s willing to forgive you!”

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My mother, she always favored my sister. All her life. Yet, on her deathbed, she left the only house to me. My sister, the indulged one, only received a worn-out jewelry box. Just as a wave of emotion swelled in me, a pop-up appeared: 【Actually, their mother owed a huge debt. Giving the house to the elder sister was a way to pass on all the debts to her. The sister was eventually forced to jump off a building by the creditors. So tragic.】 【Meanwhile, the younger sister, with the photo hidden in the jewelry box, successfully married the son of a billionaire and lived a life of luxury.】 【Too bad the younger sister started cursing loudly right after hearing the will, causing their mother to die of anger before she could reveal the truth to her.】 I was stunned. That night, I rummaged through a forgotten corner and found the jewelry box my sister had discarded. It led me straight to the billionaire’s mansion. … The moment he saw me, the billionaire froze. I handed him the jewelry box. His hand trembled slightly as he took it, retrieving a photo from a hidden compartment. It was a faded picture of two people, their faces blurred beyond recognition, but he stared at it in silence for a long time. “Where is she?” “My mother passed away.” I lowered my gaze. “She gave me this before she died.” He sighed. “When we parted ways back then, I made her a promise.” “If her daughter ever came to me with this, I would have my son marry her.” He called for his assistant. “Bring Aiden back.” My eyes widened. The comments were actually true. The billionaire was really going to call his son back to marry me. Aiden stormed in, still in his black racing suit, a look of impatience etched on his face. The billionaire pointed at me. “I called you back to discuss your marriage.” Only then did Aiden’s gaze land on me. He scoffed, his disdain clear. “Dad, who did you pick up from some slum? Another woman trying to climb the social ladder with just a pretty face?” “Shut up.” The billionaire glared at him. “You’re always playing those death-defying games. Who knows when you’ll end up dead somewhere. Get married, leave an heir, then you can die however you please.” “No marriage, and all your cards will be frozen, and your racing team blacklisted, starting now.” The billionaire stood up, his stance firm. “Choose.” Father and son locked eyes. Realizing his father was serious this time, Aiden gritted his teeth, then turned to me. “Fine, it’s just a marriage, isn’t it?” The registration took only half an hour. Stepping out of the registry office, I was still dazed, everything feeling like a dream. Aiden snatched my phone. When he returned it, ten million dollars had been added to my account. He warned me, “I’m going racing. You go back on your own. Take the money and keep quiet. Don’t even think about running to my dad.” I opened my mouth to speak. “Actually…” He frowned impatiently. “I knew it. You women are all so greedy. I’ve transferred another ten million. Don’t pester me, and don’t expect me to fall in love with you.” I started to say, “Actually, I don’t need…” My phone chimed again. A third ten million landed in my account. I immediately shut up. “Understood, young master. Have a wonderful time.” After Aiden left, I hailed a cab and went home. The moment I opened the door, someone roughly grabbed my hair, dragging me to the floor. The man, who had done the pulling, blew a smoke ring in my face. “So, you’re the one who forged the will and stole Lily’s house?” My sister, Lily, leaned against him, her eyes red from crying. “Sis, my boyfriend had it appraised. The will is fake. Even if you’re short on cash, you can’t go against Mom’s last wishes.” “If you sign the transfer agreement now and give the house back to me, I won’t call the police.” I slowly got up, my knee throbbing with pain. “Alright, I’ll sign. But there must be a lawyer present to certify that Mom’s house is inherited by you.” Lily’s rich-kid boyfriend made a call, and soon a lawyer arrived with a contract. Seeing me sign my name, Lily snatched the agreement, checked it, and then a smirk played on her lips. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to just listen from the start?” She leaned in close, lowering her voice. “It’s just a crummy house. My boyfriend’s family has plenty, but I just can’t stand to see you happy, you know? You deserve to be a pauper your whole life, a stepping stone for me.” I was trembling with anger. The comments were also furious on my behalf: 【How can this sister be like this? When she made mistakes as a child, their mother only hit the older sister. When the older sister grew up, all the money she earned was taken by their mother and spent on the younger sister. I feel like the older sister isn’t even her biological child.】 【At first, seeing the older sister go to the billionaire with the photo, I thought she was stealing her sister’s life. Now, it seems the younger sister deserves whatever she gets.】 Tears welled in my eyes as I read those words. Just then, my phone rang. It was Aiden. “Didn’t I tell you to go home? Where are you? The butler didn’t see you, and the old man called me again.” I paused. “I went back to my old home.” He clicked his tongue on the other end. “Why are you running around? You have half an hour. Get back to the mansion, fast. The housekeeper made a big dinner, and if you’re not there, he’ll ask me again. It’s annoying as hell.” He hung up, clearly irritated. Immediately, another call came in. “Good evening, Madam. I’m the Hayes family’s driver. Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up and take you home.” I gripped my phone, a strange tremor in my heart. Turns out, I wasn’t utterly alone after all. I gave him the address and went inside to pack my things. Lily leaned against the doorframe, scrutinizing me. “So that’s why you were so cooperative. You found a man to take you in.” “Is it some old man who’s keeping you? Or did you find another broke guy and you’re moving into a rented room with him?” I ignored her, picking up my suitcase. “Excuse me.” “What’s the rush?” She blocked my way. “Call your boyfriend up. Let me see what kind of man would even look at someone like you.” The Hayes family car certainly wasn’t cheap. If Lily saw it… I suddenly smiled. “You’re so interested in my boyfriend. Are you trying to seduce him?” “Then again, you’ve been used to stealing my things since childhood.” Lily froze, then burst out laughing. “Are you crazy? Someone like you, what kind of good catch could you find? Old, ugly, poor — I wouldn’t take him if he was free.” “Willow, I think you’re just embarrassed to show him off.” I pushed her aside and left without looking back. I moved into the Hayes family mansion. The butler had already prepared silk pajamas, jewelry, and a full set of imported skincare products. After eating well and sleeping soundly, my skin even smoothed out a bit. Goodbye to those days of working until three in the morning, saving money by eating instant noodles, being yelled at by clients without daring to talk back, and having my credit stolen by my boss while still having to say thank you. Goodbye, miserable life. Aiden didn’t come home for three days straight. But that didn’t stop him from becoming a figure worthy of respect in my mind, like a sugar daddy. On the third night, my phone rang. “Can you drive? Come pick me up.” It was Aiden’s voice; the background noise was loud. As I walked into the private room in a long dress, several pairs of eyes swung towards me, filled with scrutiny, mockery, and ill intent. Aiden sat in the center, swirling a drink in his hand. “Aiden, is this the one your dad forced on you?” A guy grinned, sizing me up. “She’s pretty obedient, came right when you called.” Aiden looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “It’s all an act. I’ve seen plenty of women like this—innocent on the surface, but secretly plotting something.” I pretended not to hear him, walking to his side. “Time to go home?” “What’s the rush?” He leaned back. “Sit there and wait. We’ll leave when I’ve had my fill.” I walked to a corner sofa and sat down. I ordered an orange juice and sipped it slowly. The lights in the room flashed erratically, and the music pounded. Aiden kept glancing my way while talking to others—once, twice, thrice. I remained quiet and demure, my eyelashes casting shadows on my face, looking like someone anyone could bully. 【LOL, Aiden was suddenly stuck with a wife. The more he thought about it over the past couple of days, the angrier he got, so he decided to call her out to humiliate her.】 【His ‘humiliation’ wouldn’t be just ignoring Willow, would it? Willow used to work twenty hours of overtime to pay for her mother’s medical bills, and she wouldn’t even flinch when her boss threw documents in her face. Sitting on a sofa and spacing out must be a reward for her.】 【Meanwhile, Aiden saw his friends secretly looking at Willow and his face turned dark with anger.】 It wasn’t until a guy came over to talk to me that Aiden suddenly put down his glass, stood up, and walked over. “Let’s go.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me out. In the car, I even thoughtfully buckled his seatbelt for him. He turned to me, frowning. “Don’t you have any temper?” “I do,” I said. “But I don’t have one for you.” Of course, I had no temper for Aiden. He was just a stranger to me. And if a stranger inexplicably transferred thirty million dollars to me, even if they slapped me, I’d still ask them if their hand hurt. Aiden suddenly fell silent. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but his ears seemed a little red. It was two in the morning when we got home. When I came out after my shower, Aiden was standing in the hallway, looking like he was heading to the kitchen. He paused when he saw me. I was only wrapped in a bath towel, my hair still dripping. Aiden’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He averted his gaze, then shifted it back. “You…” He cleared his throat. “Wear proper clothes when you come out from now on.” “This is my room’s doorway.” “This is my house.” He frowned. “Don’t try to seduce me. I’m not interested in you.” “And don’t think acting innocent will make me soft. Just wait, I’ll soon expose your true colors.” I: “?”

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My childhood friend and I joined a dating reality show, aiming to be the ultimate sloths, all for that juicy appearance fee. We’d burst into laughter during tasks, then argue while watching other couples. Even when the surprise guests arrived, we were still just munching on sunflower seeds, enjoying the drama. The next second, my friend’s face went white as he pointed at the big-shot socialite from the city’s elite circles: “Your ex-husband!” I, my hand trembling, pointed at the high-society heiress: “Your ex-wife!” We scrambled to the director, begging to quit. The director just smirked. “Ten times the penalty for breach of contract. Immediate payment.” As Mike and I exchanged a look, we knew. We’d fallen straight into a wolf’s den. 1 Mike and I, we were inseparable, practically grew up in the same sandbox. Our families always joked we were two peas in a pod, destined to cause trouble. Freshmen year of college, a photo of us went viral, and somehow, we tumbled into the entertainment industry. To avoid rumors, and for a ridiculous sense of pride, we agreed to act like strangers, vowing to meet at the top. Turns out, we never made it to the top. We rolled down halfway up the mountain. After years of struggling, we were still nobodies, ridiculed by netizens as “Wooden Beauty” and “Stone-Faced Hunk.” That wasn’t even the worst of it. On New Year’s Eve, with fireworks exploding overhead, we squatted on the curb, crying like heartbroken puppies. We’d both been dumped on the same day. Mike’s nose was running, and he snarled, “I’m never playing lapdog for that woman again!” I used his ridiculously expensive down jacket as a tissue to wipe my tears. “I broke up too! For real this time! Who wants to put up with such an arrogant man anyway? Let someone else do it!” We ended up stumbling home, dead drunk, leaning on each other. Sobering up, we were completely disillusioned. This rotten industry was unbearable. “Let’s just quit.” “Agreed!” Mike was quicker to respond than anyone. We were both graduates from prestigious universities; we weren’t worried about finding work. Just as I was about to contact a lawyer to send out my termination letter, my agent, Jenna, tossed a gig my way. A live-streamed dating show, its main selling point was being “wild.” “Willow, you’re taking this show whether you like it or not. You’re quitting anyway, so you might as well go be a cautionary tale. Be a little crazy, a little dramatic. Infamy is still fame, got it?” Why should I? I was leaving; why should I be a stepping stone for others? I’d just typed out, “Jenna, I’m done. Whoever wants this crap can have it…” when another message from Jenna popped up. “Ten million dollars for the appearance fee.” The finger hovering over the delete key instantly froze. Ten million? I quickly erased my text, replying demurely, “It’s not about the money.” Jenna: “Ten million per episode.” Hiss— I immediately replied, “Jenna, to be honest, I’m quite the wild card in my private life. This gig is perfect for me!” 2 After signing the contract, feeling utterly pleased, I opened my door and bumped right into Mike, who’d come over to scrounge for food. Our eyes met, and a strange, guilty air hung between us. Wait, I was guilty because I’d sold out for money, but what was he guilty about? My parents and Aunt Sarah were chatting animatedly. My mom’s eyes sparkled. “It’s finally happening? I knew those two kids had something going on!” Aunt Sarah was even more excited. “I’ve got the dowry ready; we can propose anytime!” Just as the conversation was veering towards grandchildren, Mike quickly interrupted. “Stop, stop, stop! Willow and I are talking work, purely work!” He dragged me onto the balcony and closed the door. Mike’s gaze darted around. “Uh, have you sent your termination letter yet?” I picked at my fingernails, stammering, “Not yet… I still have a mall appearance event to finish.” I couldn’t very well tell him I was going to a dating show to rake in cash, it would make me seem so spineless. Hearing that, Mike instantly straightened his back. “Coincidentally, I haven’t sent mine either. I still have a cameo to do in a movie.” We exchanged a look, both seeing “like hell you do” in the other’s eyes. But neither of us called the other out. This unspoken understanding stemmed from our shared best friend, Miles. Back in the day, Mike, Miles, and I were the ultimate trio. But since Mike and Miles often bickered, I became the double agent. In front of Mike, I’d denounce Miles: “That Miles is so stingy, let’s not hang out with him!” Mike, pleased, would give all his snacks to me. Then, turning to Miles, I’d sigh: “Actually, Mike’s quite pitiful, just don’t bother with him.” Miles, touched, would treat me to meals all over the city. Until one day, Miles treated me to crab, and Mike gave me two dried persimmons. That night, I ended up in the emergency room. The two “creditors” squared up at my bedside, and my double-agent scheme completely blew up. Miles sneered, “I’m stingy?” Mike gritted his teeth, “I’m pitiful?” I huddled under the blanket, shivering. “The doctor said all that, don’t blame me…” Now, bringing up old times, we both tacitly chose to keep quiet. 3 Three days later, on a secluded island, at the set of the dating show. I walked in a flowing red backless gown, teetering on stilettos, ready to make a grand exit from my showbiz career. According to the script, I was supposed to choose a male guest for a romantic encounter. But when I looked up, I saw Mike, looking absurdly dapper in a suit. The sea breeze ruffled through his hair as the cameras zoomed in frantically. The production team practically wanted to emblazon “FATED ROMANCE” across the screen. I pressed my lips together, desperately trying not to laugh. Mike’s cheeks puffed out, clearly holding back a giggle himself. The moment our fingertips touched, we both burst. “Hahahaha!” Our laughter startled the seagulls and utterly bewildered the viewers watching the live stream. “Are these two crazy?” “Didn’t they say they weren’t close? What’s with this level of synchronicity?” “Can I get a refund? I came here for sweet romance, not a comedy show!” We couldn’t care less. We found a corner and sat down, coasting along. On the surface, we were on our phones, but in reality, we were bombing Miles in our “Anti-Scumbag Alliance” group chat. Me: “Dr. Miles, quick, watch the live stream. How’s Mike and my acting?” Mike: “Miles, isn’t my suit cool?” Miles: “Get lost. I just got off surgery; I don’t have time to watch you two monkeys.” Me: “Don’t be so cold! How about we talk about that time you were chased by a goose as a kid?” Mike: “Or your heroic feat of throwing a firecracker into a cowpat?” Miles: “…It seems you two have really moved on, if you’re still in the mood to tease me.” With that one sentence, the group chat instantly went silent. That familiar pang in my chest returned. Just then, the show provided red wine, and Mike and I drank it down like water, glass after glass. Once the alcohol kicked in, our chatter was unstoppable. We completely forgot about the dozens of hidden cameras around us. Mike’s eyes were red, his voice choked. “Willow, do you think she never loved me? I was so obedient, so good. If she said east, I’d never go west, but she still dumped me.” I banged on the table, even more agitated than him. “What’s that compared to? My ex was the real piece of work! He always had a cold face, like I owed him eight hundred thousand dollars. If I so much as glanced at someone else, he’d accuse me of being unfaithful. Even my breathing was wrong!” The live stream exploded. “Holy crap! Is this paid content?!” “Who are these two nobodies’ exes? This sounds so juicy!” “Mike’s crying makes me want to wipe his tears. Such a puppy!” “Willow’s mouth is amazing, this is genuine!” Just as we were about to drop more bombshells, Miles’s call came through. The ringing was jarring, instantly snapping us awake. Miles roared on the other end of the line, “You two! Do you want to be blacklisted tomorrow?! That’s a live stream! A live stream!” Mike and I exchanged a look, cold sweat instantly breaking out. I gave a dry laugh, giving a thumbs-up to the camera. “Mr. Thompson’s line delivery is amazing! What do you all think of that impromptu performance?” Mike immediately caught on, chiming in, “Ms. Davies isn’t bad either, full of emotion and clearly layered! Come on, let’s continue to discuss that script…” 4 After that night of “madness,” Mike and I actually became popular. Netizens were speculating about who our awful exes could possibly be. We, however, weren’t worried at all. Those two big shots, one a high-and-mighty business tycoon, the other an arrogant heiress from a prominent family, how could they stoop to appear on an entertainment show like this? Unless the sun rose from the west. The next day, the sun shone brightly. Mike and I each grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, squatting in the shade, watching the other guests flirt. “Look at that innocent girl. Her eyes are practically melting. She must have a thing for that movie star.” “Give me a break, that’s acting. I bet fifty cents the movie star likes the sophisticated lady.” The comment section was filled with laughter. “Are these two here to be commentators?” “Never seen such down-to-earth celebrities, I love them.” “They’re like the old folks at the village entrance.” Just as we were engrossed in our snacking, the director’s megaphone blared. “Attention all guests, two mystery guests will be arriving on the island shortly. Please prepare to welcome them.” Mike and I exchanged a glance and continued cracking seeds. “Hope a handsome guy comes, to cleanse my eyes.” “A beautiful woman would be nice too, even if I can’t pursue her, she’d still be pleasing to look at.” The next second, a yacht docked. A man and a woman stepped off the boat. The man was tall and imposing, radiating a powerful aura, his face as cold as if he’d just been pulled from an ice chamber. The woman wore designer clothes, sunglasses concealing her eyes, walking with a confident stride, every movement oozing wealth. The live stream instantly erupted. “Holy crap! Is that Mr. Buckley? The head of the Buckley Group?!” “Is that Ms. Vance next to him? The Vance family’s heiress, just returned from abroad?” “Did the production team sell a kidney? How did they manage to invite these two titans?!” The sunflower seeds in Mike’s and my hands scattered with a clatter. Our smiles froze on our faces, looking worse than crying. I trembled, pointing at the man. “Mike, that’s… your ex-husband…” Mike shivered, pointing at the woman. “Willow, that’s… your ex-wife…” Run! That was the only thought in my head. We both bolted towards the production team. “Director! We want to quit! We’ll pay the penalty! We’ll sell everything we own if we have to!” The director slowly sipped his tea, holding up a single finger. “The penalty is ten times, and it must be paid in cash, immediately.” Mike and I’s legs went limp; we nearly collapsed. We were doomed. This time, we were truly trapped in a setup. Before we could even think of a countermeasure, two familiar, chilling voices sounded from behind us. “Why the rush? Don’t you want to say hello to old friends?”

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I was the Peacock Princess. The year I came of age, every male peacock in the kingdom came seeking my hand. I distinctly chose Carbonell, a noble Green Peacock, yet the child I bore after marriage was a lowly White Peacock. Carbonell, seeing the White Peacock, flew into a rage. He snatched the infant, dashed it to its death, then threw me to be devoured by wild beasts. My sister, who had married a common Blue Peacock, bore a rare Violet Peacock. Her husband, in turn, became the new King of Birds. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose Carbonell as my husband. Before everyone, he rejected me, asking for my sister’s hand instead. I knew then: he had also been reborn. He believed that by marrying my sister, he would father a Violet Peacock. But this time, he wouldn’t even produce the lowliest Black Peacock. … 1 After the Phoenix clan’s demise, we, the Peacocks, ascended as the new rulers of the avian world. Peacocks came in six colors: Obsidian, Violet, Green, Blue, White, and Black. Obsidian was the most mythical; for three million years, no one had seen one, leading many to doubt its existence. Violet Peacocks were exceedingly rare, appearing only once every hundred millennia. Thus, within the Peacock Kingdom, Green Peacocks were the most esteemed, and Black Peacocks the most lowly. In my father’s generation, he sired only female peacocks. To secure the succession, he was forced to seek a son-in-law from outside the royal family. He promised the throne to whoever’s child with his daughter proved to be the noblest peacock. I was Father’s most beloved youngest princess, and his only Green Peacock daughter. So, on my coming-of-age day, every eligible male in the realm gathered outside the palace gates, vying for my hand. After rigorous selection, I chose Carbonell, also a Green Peacock. Father was extremely pleased with Carbonell; he was exceptionally handsome, considered the Peacock Kingdom’s foremost gentleman, and Father’s ideal heir. Father immediately announced his approval of the match, setting a date for our wedding. “Your Majesty, I do not wish to marry Princess Willow. This time, I request to marry Princess Seraphina.” I had just been reborn. Carbonell had released my hand and taken a step back, bowing before Father. A collective gasp swept through the assembled crowd. Even Seraphina looked stunned, though a look of thinly veiled glee quickly spread across her face. Seraphina was ten years my senior and still unmarried. This was because my mother was Father’s only officially wedded Queen, while Seraphina’s mother had been a lady-in-waiting who’d used underhanded tactics to gain Father’s favor. Thus, although Seraphina was also Father’s daughter, few truly treated her as a princess, and no one was willing to marry her. Everyone was perplexed as to why Carbonell, a noble Green Peacock, would choose an ordinary Blue Peacock. Only I knew that Carbonell, too, had been reborn. He chose Seraphina because, in our past life, Seraphina had married a Blue Peacock but had surprisingly borne a rare Violet Peacock. Meanwhile, I had given him a low-tier White Peacock. Faced with Carbonell’s choice, Father’s face darkened. “Nonsense! This is Willow’s royal courtship. If you wish to court Seraphina, you may approach me privately. You came to participate in the selection of a suitor, and Willow chose you, yet you scorn her. Where does that leave my daughter’s honor?” Father, advanced in years, valued his reputation above all else. Carbonell’s actions were undeniably a public slap in the face. Carbonell immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, it is not that I scorn Princess Willow, but because Princess Willow is of ill character. She has concealed her true identity as a Black Peacock and deceived everyone!” He spoke with righteous indignation, pointing accusingly at me. The entire hall fell silent, disbelief etched on every face. “What nonsense are you spouting? My Willow is no Black Peacock!” Before Father could speak, Mother stepped forward. 2 “Oh? If Your Majesty the Queen is so certain, why not let Princess Willow reveal her true form? If Princess Willow is a Green Peacock, then I, Carbonell, will offer my life in atonement.” Carbonell looked at Mother with disdain. “If not, then Princess Willow should offer her life in atonement, how about that?” Mother’s face darkened, her brow furrowed. Father’s expression shifted from shock to suspicion, his face instantly grim. More than reputation, Father valued lineage. He was a Green Peacock, yet his other daughters were merely common Blue Peacocks. So, upon my birth, hearing that my peacock color was noble, he had showered all his affection upon me. Now, hearing Carbonell claim I was the lowest-ranked Black Peacock, he practically crushed the armrest of his chair. Mother remained speechless for a long moment. Carbonell’s expression morphed from disdain to smugness. “It’s just revealing your true form, surely that’s not difficult? Is the Queen’s hesitation because I’m correct?” Mother’s face grew even more distressed. Just as she was about to speak, I stepped directly in front of her, openly admitting, “I am indeed not a Green Peacock.” Mother cried out, “Willow, how could you?” Carbonell was forcing me to reveal my true form precisely because he knew I wasn’t a Green Peacock. In our past life, during childbirth, I had revealed my true form due to complications. That had shocked Carbonell. Because everyone believed I was Father’s only Green Peacock daughter, Carbonell had gone to great lengths to marry me. Peacock eggs match the peacock’s color, so after I laid a white egg, Carbonell was enraged. He not only smashed my egg but also slit the throat of my still-in-true-form self. Not only that, he then tossed my dying body into the back mountains, where numerous wild beasts tore me apart. “Good, good, good!” Carbonell laughed loudly, standing up and unfastening his ceremonial sword, throwing it at my feet. “Since you’ve admitted it, then Princess, please offer your life in atonement.” I said, “But I never claimed to be a Green Peacock. What crime have I committed?” When I was born, there were extraordinary phenomena in the sky. The entire Peacock Kingdom’s sky was filled with a rainbow of colors. Everyone said I was an auspicious omen. Only my mother, who bore me, knew that I was a dull, dark egg. She dismissed everyone and wrapped the egg in cloth. On the day I hatched, only she had seen my true form. From childhood, I had never claimed to be a Green Peacock. In my past life, before marrying Carbonell, I had sought him out and told him I was not actually a Green Peacock. At that time, Carbonell told me he didn’t mind; he loved me for who I was. I was touched by him and happily married him, fulfilling my duties as a wife after marriage. But it was only when I died that I learned. He had thought I was testing him, which was why he said those things. “Even if you never claimed to be a Green Peacock, you also never revealed your true form as a Black Peacock. You’ve enjoyed the royal family’s wealth and glory; this is deceiving the populace.” Although there was no law forbidding Black Peacocks from remaining in the royal family, ever since the third Peacock King, any Black Peacock appearing in the royal family would be banished. Just as I was about to say I wasn’t a Black Peacock either, Father spoke. “Enough, Carbonell. Since you wish to marry Seraphina, I shall grant you both a royal marriage.” Carbonell immediately knelt. “Thank Your Majesty. What about Princess Willow?” “Carbonell, this is my private family matter. How long do you intend to meddle?” Carbonell immediately understood Father’s meaning. “This subject is guilty.” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Carbonell led Seraphina away. As she passed me, Seraphina gave me a meaningful glance. She whispered in my ear, “You have your comeuppance today.” 3 Back at the palace, Father erupted in a furious rage. He demanded to know why Mother and I had deceived him. Just as I was about to tell him that while I wasn’t a Green Peacock, I was certainly not a Black Peacock, Father waved his hand dismissively. “From today forward, I have no daughter named Willow. After Seraphina’s wedding next month, you are to leave the palace.” Father not only banished me but also placed Mother under house arrest. The news spread like wildfire, further solidifying my identity as a Black Peacock. In just one day, I went from being universally adored to universally scorned. My reputation plummeted, and naturally, no man would ever want to marry me. I accepted everything calmly. My days were spent either in my room or in the royal library. That afternoon, the weather was clear, the sun shining brightly. I called for a handmaiden and asked her to watch from below. I transformed into my true form and flew into the sky, momentarily eclipsing the sun. A few moments later, I landed and resumed my human form. “Princess, it’s just as you said! When you spread your wings, your entire body is a rainbow of colors, absolutely stunning!” The handmaiden praised profusely. “You truly are the most beautiful Black Peacock I’ve ever seen.” I smiled faintly. The handmaiden’s words confirmed my suspicion. Just as I was about to ask her to draw my true form, I heard a scoff. “A Black Peacock is still a Black Peacock. No matter how pretty, it’s still the lowest of the Peacock clan.” After the incident, my palace quarters were exceptionally quiet. Only she, it seemed, would bother to come and mock me. I looked up to see Seraphina, resplendent in elegant attire, standing at the doorway. Having caught the eye of Carbonell, the Peacock Kingdom’s foremost gentleman, Seraphina was basking in glory lately. Her clothing and daily provisions were even more luxurious than mine, the once-favored princess. She finally held her head high, parading her authority throughout the palace. I heard several handmaidens from her palace had mysteriously disappeared. “Little sister, how can you still have the nerve to stay in the palace? Father gave you a month’s grace out of respect for Mother. If you were sensible, you’d leave quickly and stop disgracing our royal family.” Seraphina had never liked me, even when I was a child. Only because she envied my favor. I sneered. “Why has my second sister come to my quarters? Are you looking for your handmaidens? Then you’ve come to the wrong place. They’re probably in the maw of the beasts in the back mountains. Aren’t you afraid their spirits will come to take you away if you wander carelessly?” Seraphina’s face paled, and she gritted her teeth. “What are you so proud of? You’re merely a cast-off of the royal family now, while I’m about to marry Carbonell. He’s the most noble Green Peacock, and he said that our union might produce an incredibly noble Violet Peacock.” I gave her a cold glance. “Is that so? Congratulations, congratulations. Then why don’t you hurry and go make babies with Carbonell? Though I should warn you, Carbonell doesn’t look like he can have children.” “How dare you slander my husband? You’re asking for death!” Seraphina raised her hand, aiming to strike me. But she had never been able to beat me in a fight since childhood. This time, she only managed to get hit. Before I could land a few blows, I was pulled away by a great force. Carbonell had appeared. “Who allowed you to bully Seraphina?” Seeing Carbonell, Seraphina instantly transformed into a delicate damsel, leaning into him, pointing at me and saying in a sickly sweet voice, “Carbonell, you’re finally here. She cursed me, saying I wouldn’t be able to bear your child.” “How could that be? You will definitely bear me a perfect Violet Peacock.” Carbonell gently caressed her face. “As for her, I doubt she’ll ever bear even a White Peacock in this lifetime.” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but let out a cynical “Ha!” “I wonder who won’t be able to bear children.” Carbonell’s face turned cold. Carbonell had a secret, known only to me. He was infertile. In my past life, when I learned this, I had wanted to say that having no children was fine; as long as we loved each other, nothing else mattered. Carbonell, however, didn’t see it that way. To secure the throne, he begged me to take the fertility herb, a plant that induces childbirth. That herb, once ingested, would consume one’s inner essence, draining all vital energy. That was why I revealed my true form during childbirth. Not only that, using this herb had severe side effects. Headaches and nausea were minor; the most unbearable symptom was an itch deep in the bones, no matter how much you scratched, it wouldn’t go away. Perhaps fearing I would reveal more, Carbonell quickly led Seraphina away. After they left, the handmaiden came out with the finished drawing. The moment I saw the portrait, my pupils dilated. This painting completely confirmed my suspicions. I had spent these past days in the royal library, poring over ancient texts. Old records stated that Obsidian Peacocks were inherently dark in color, but under sunlight, they displayed a rainbow of hues. An Obsidian Peacock, after consuming the fertility herb, would lay a white egg, and upon hatching, a violet phoenix would emerge. So, I was not a Black Peacock at all. I was the legendary Obsidian Peacock. And my egg was not a White Peacock, but a high-grade Violet Peacock. Because no one had ever seen an Obsidian Peacock, Carbonell simply didn’t recognize its true value. Knowing this, I told no one. Now, everyone condemned me, and even if I spoke, no one would believe me. To prove myself, I would have to lay an egg and hatch it. Who could I find to lay an egg with? My reputation was ruined; no decent peacock would ever mate with me. There was no choice. I had to buy a husband from the black market. After some careful choosing, I finally picked one that was pleasing to the eye. His appearance was remarkably striking, though he was, unfortunately, a multi-colored rooster. No matter. Ancient texts stated that an Obsidian Peacock could mate with any bird and still produce an auspicious offspring of Violet Peacock or higher. As long as my genes were involved, the child would be perfect. The first day I brought the man home, I started stripping his clothes. His ears were beet-red, and he clutched the ties of his clothes tightly. “Pr-princess, don’t we need to… cultivate some feelings before… doing this?” Cultivate feelings? How troublesome. I released my grip, smiling at him. “How do you think we should cultivate them?” “At-at least we should get to know each other first.” “Oh.” I sat back down. “My name is Willow. What’s yours?” “Zach.” Alright. Done getting to know each other, I immediately pounced. Time for business.

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