I dated him for five years. Only on the night he proposed did I discover he was the heir to a vast fortune. The next day, his grandfather shoved a check into my hand. “Take the money and disappear, or I’ll cut off your brother’s medication!” I was forced to leave. Four years later, he came into power. The first thing he did was divorce, search the world for me, and beg me tearfully to come back. I thought this was a story of deep love, until I discovered he used my brother’s ventilator to save the son he had with his ex-wife. My brother died. I wiped away my tears, turned around, and took his sworn enemy’s arm. “Tristan Ashford, let’s get married.” Wendy POV I dated Lucas Sterling for five years. Only when he pulled out an astronomically expensive engagement ring did I learn he was the heir to the renowned Sterling Group. That same night, Lucas’s grandfather came to my door personally and threatened me with a check. “The Sterling family will never allow someone of your background through our doors. I’ve already found a suitable marriage match for Lucas. You’d better be smart. Take the money and disappear, or I’ll have the hospital cut off your comatose brother’s medication!” When I was forced to leave with the check, Lucas tried desperately to stop me, but his grandfather had him forcibly dragged back and married off. Four years passed. Lucas’s grandfather died of a sudden heart attack, and Lucas became the family’s most powerful figure. The first thing he did was resolutely divorce his arranged wife, mobilize all his connections, and search the entire world for me. On the day we reunited after so long, this man who never showed his emotions had red-rimmed eyes. “Wendy…” He held me tightly, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. “I didn’t have the power to keep you before, but things are different now. Come home with me.” After we reconciled, he seemed determined to make up for all four lost years. He not only arranged for my comatose brother to stay in the city’s best private hospital, but also transferred half of his shares in Sterling Group to me. He gave me the grandest wedding and wanted to stick to me twenty-four hours a day, frequently taking me to various high society social events. He said, “I want everyone to know that you, Wendy Clarke, are my wife, the only woman I’ll ever love in this lifetime.” In our second year of marriage, I got pregnant. I held the test results, wanting to surprise him, but at the private club he frequently visited, through the deafening music from the private room, I heard familiar laughter. “Lucas, didn’t you say you couldn’t stand that spoiled and willful Miss Sinclair? Said if it weren’t for her, you and Wendy wouldn’t have been forced apart all those years ago? You finally outlasted your grandfather, divorced Melody Sinclair as you wished, and got Wendy back. So how come you’ve been getting all cozy with Melody on the side?” My footsteps halted, my body freezing in place. Melody Sinclair… Lucas’s ex-wife from the arranged marriage? Amid the crisp sound of clinking glasses, Lucas’s voice came through, tinged with laughter and alcohol. “Annoying? Sure. But Melody’s wild enough, exciting enough, like a rose with thorns. Wendy, on the other hand… her personality is just too gentle and quiet. Gets a bit boring after a while.” “Oh? So Melody’s more your type?” “I heard last week you dropped fifty million dollars at an auction just to get her a necklace?” “I also heard that when Wendy was hospitalized with a fever, you said you were going to Europe for an acquisition deal, but someone saw you on Melody’s yacht for a full seven days. Is that true?” “Those seven days alone together on the yacht. You and Melody must have had quite the spectacular time, huh?” Hearing this, I felt like ice water had been poured down my spine. I remembered that time when I was hospitalized with a high fever and Lucas had to go on a business trip, but he sent me caring messages almost every day at set times. So his so-called business trip was actually seven spectacular days on a yacht with another woman? I desperately hoped to hear him deny it. But instead I heard Lucas say lazily, “Don’t go spreading these things around. I don’t want Wendy finding out and making a scene. I finally got her back. I don’t want to lose her again.” “Got it. Melody’s got a fiery temperament, you just want to change things up occasionally, but the one at home is your true love. We all understand, we definitely won’t spread it around.” Someone probed, “But what if Wendy finds out? Aren’t you afraid she’ll divorce you?” After a brief silence, Lucas said with casual certainty, “Her comatose brother is still lying in the private hospital I arranged. Even if she finds out, she’ll make a fuss at most. She won’t dare actually divorce me.” “True! Without you, who’d take care of that burden of a brother? With her comatose brother as leverage, no matter what happens, a nobody Cinderella like her is completely at your mercy.” Amid the roar of laughter, I felt a chill race from my feet to my scalp. The ultrasound printout in my hand suddenly felt scorching hot. I wanted to burst in and furiously demand why Lucas was still entangled with Melody after their divorce. But my legs refused to move. What was there to demand? Wasn’t the answer perfectly clear? Because I was too gentle and quiet, making me boring to him, while Melody was wild enough, exciting enough. Like a rose with thorns, perfectly suited to his taste. He even had my psychology completely figured out, not the least bit worried I’d divorce him after learning the truth. After all, my brother was the last family I had left in this world.

Wendy POV In the end, I withdrew my hand from the door handle and stumbled out of the club. A wave of nausea hit me. I couldn’t help crouching by the roadside and dry heaving as tears spilled from my eyes. My mind couldn’t help replaying that day after four years apart when Lucas found me at any cost. He held me tightly, begging me over and over to come back with him. He said, “These four years without you, I’ve lived a fate worse than death.” He said, “I was forced by my grandfather into that arranged marriage with the Sinclair family. Melody and I were just going through the motions. There were no feelings. Now she and I have nothing to do with each other.” He also said, “The person I love, from beginning to end, has been you. The Mrs. Sterling I want has only ever been you.” I believed him, so I softened and went back with him. But it turned out he was coaxing me while getting cozy with Melody on the side? This was the man who said life without me was worse than death? This was his love? Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Lucas. “Darling, there’s an urgent project I need to handle out of town. Be good and wait for me to come back. Remember to miss me.” After the message was a transfer of a hundred thousand dollars. Looking at it, I couldn’t help recalling every word from that private room. A sharp pain shot through my heart, along with icy mockery. I immediately opened my contacts and dialed a number with no name saved. “You contacted me before wanting to buy my Sterling Group shares at a premium. Is that offer still good?” The male voice on the phone said teasingly, “But didn’t you refuse before?” “I’ve thought it through now. I want to make this deal with you, but I don’t want money.” “Oh? Then what do you want?” I pressed my lips together. “I want you to help me contact the best private hospital abroad, secretly transfer my brother out of the country, and help me prepare a completely new identity so Lucas can never find us.” The man on the other end seemed to understand something and asked curiously, “Didn’t I hear Lucas loves you so much he can’t live without you? Are you really willing to leave him?” Latching onto a big tree? But I never wanted to latch onto Lucas or climb any social ladder. Back then, Lucas fell for me at first sight and pursued me intensely. I agreed to be with him and dated him for five years without knowing he was the famous Sterling heir. It wasn’t until four years ago when Lucas finally revealed his true identity and his grandfather came to humiliate and threaten me that I realized the chasm between Lucas and me. If Lucas hadn’t been so sincere and earnest when he found me again, making me believe he truly couldn’t live without me and loved me deeply, I never would have been moved enough to return to his side. I gripped my phone. “That’s my business, nothing to do with you. Just tell me, are you making this deal or not?” “Fine. Deal.” I was straightforward, and so was he. “But I’m not in the country right now. It’ll take time to arrange secretly transferring your brother abroad. Two weeks at most. Wait for my message.” I agreed and ended the call. The shock from earlier left my mind in a haze. Going down the stairs, I missed a step and fell heavily to the ground. Blood immediately pooled beneath me. In the hospital operating room. The doctor sighed at me. “Miss Clarke, I’m very sorry. We couldn’t save your baby.” I lay on the operating table, touching my now-flat abdomen. I remembered just yesterday when I first learned I was pregnant, full of joy, eager to share the good news with Lucas. But now I was lying here. Tears streamed down my face. “I understand.” I didn’t want a man who wasn’t faithful in relationships. And this child that belonged to them wasn’t meant to be born. After the surgery, I woke from the anesthesia. Supporting myself against the wall as I walked down the hospital corridor, I suddenly heard a passing nurse say, “People nowadays really don’t know when to stop. Actually ruptured a corpus luteum because sex was too rough and bled…” “Who?” “Who else? That Miss Sinclair in the VIP ward who was just brought to the hospital. But the one who came to the hospital with her… seems to be Mr. Sterling?” Miss Sinclair? Mr. Sterling? I froze in place, thinking it might just be a coincidence. However, the moment I turned and looked up, my eyes met Lucas’s as he stood at the other end of the corridor talking on his phone.

Wendy POV The second our eyes met, surprise flashed in Lucas’s gaze. He immediately cut off the call, shoved his phone into his suit pocket, and strode quickly toward me. “Wendy? What are you doing at the hospital?” “I wasn’t feeling well, came for a checkup.” My gaze fixed on his face. “What about you? Why are you at the hospital?” A flash of guilt passed through Lucas’s eyes, too quick to catch. Then he smiled naturally. “Brought a friend over.” “A friend?” I looked toward the VIP ward area behind him. “Really just brought a friend to the hospital?” Lucas’s expression didn’t change. He even showed a hint of helpless amusement. “What else? Who do you think it is? Just an ordinary friend. Don’t overthink it.” I looked at him. After knowing him all these years, I only now discovered how seamlessly he could lie. Lucas turned to show concern. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well? Are you done with the checkup? What did the doctor say? Is it serious?” I lowered my eyes. “Just a small issue. Already taken care of.” “That’s good.” Lucas seemed relieved. He glanced at my face. “Since you’re done, let me take you home to rest. You look so pale. You shouldn’t have come to the hospital alone.” I said with hidden mockery, “Don’t you need to stay with your friend?” “No need. I already called someone else to keep her company.” He stepped forward and supported my arm. “Let’s go. Let’s go home.” So I didn’t refuse, letting him support me superficially as we left the hospital and got the car. On the road, halfway through the drive, an abrupt phone ringtone broke the silence. Lucas glanced at the caller ID, then reflexively looked at me. I had my eyes closed, resting. Lucas didn’t hesitate and hung up directly. The ringing stopped abruptly. The car interior returned to quiet. Lucas explained casually, “Unknown number. Probably a telemarketer.” I kept my eyes closed, showing no reaction. Only my fingers resting on my knees curled slightly. The car pulled into the villa’s garage. Lucas came around and opened the door for me. Seeing me move slowly as I got out, he scooped me up in his arms. I instinctively tried to break free. “I can walk on my own.” “Don’t be stubborn.” Lucas carried me toward the house, his brows furrowed. “Your face is this pale. What exactly did the checkup find? Where’s the medicine the doctor prescribed?” I said darkly, “Just a small issue. It’s nothing now.” If he knew that at the same time he and Melody were sent to the hospital, I had terminated their child, what would he feel? Lucas looked down at me, as if trying to read something on my face. But I had already closed my eyes. He ultimately didn’t press further and carried me straight upstairs to the bedroom, gently laying me on the bed and pulling the covers over me. “Rest well.” He leaned down, seemingly wanting to kiss my forehead. I turned my head away. Lucas’s movement froze, but he quickly straightened up, his tone unchanged. “I’ll have the housekeeper bring dinner up. I still have some things at the company. I’ll come back later to keep you company.” He turned and left, gently closing the door behind him. The bedroom fell completely silent. I opened my eyes. A dull ache came from my lower abdomen, but it was nothing compared to the tearing pain in my chest. Then I pulled out my phone and finally made up my mind to contact a divorce lawyer. After resting at the villa for two days, I went out to get the divorce papers, then headed to Sterling Group. The receptionist and secretaries all recognized me. I made it all the way to the CEO’s office door without obstruction and knocked. Lucas was sitting behind his desk. Looking up and seeing it was me, his face immediately lit up with a smile as he rose to greet me. “Wendy? What brings you here?” He took my hand and led me to the lounge area. I handed him the document. “There’s something I need you to sign.” Lucas glanced at the ordinary document envelope and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? A property contract, or do you want to buy some jewelry?” I was thinking about what excuse to use to get him to sign when the office door was suddenly pushed open. “Mr. Sterling! Something’s wrong!” His assistant Sam rushed in breathlessly. “Miss Sinclair didn’t make an appointment and came straight up! We couldn’t stop her. She’s already at the elevators!”

Wendy POV Before Sam finished speaking, Lucas’s brows furrowed tightly. He didn’t even look at what document I was trying to hand him. He grabbed his pen and scrawled his signature with a few quick strokes. “Wendy, wait for me in the office.” After shoving the document back into my hands, Lucas said with barely concealed urgency, “I need to handle something outside. I’ll be right back.” With that, he strode toward the door. Passing by me, he even bumped my shoulder without noticing. The impact made me stagger two steps to the side, my waist hitting hard against the corner of the desk. Immediately, sharp pain shot through my waist. I let out a muffled groan, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Lucas seemed completely oblivious. He didn’t even turn his head. The moment he pulled open the office door, a bold, bright female voice full of anger came crashing down. “Lucas Sterling! What’s your problem? You put me in that condition and sent me to the hospital, then just left me there alone without a word? You don’t answer calls, don’t reply to messages. Do you think I’m that easy to brush off?!” In the doorway, Melody wore a haute couture dress from the current season, her makeup flawless, but her anger made her features especially vivid and sharp. She tried to rush in regardless, but Lucas extended his arm to firmly block her outside. Lucas’s face was dark as he warned in a low voice, “Melody, what are you trying to pull? This isn’t a place you should be. Leave. Now.” Blocked by him, Melody stood on her toes to see me standing inside the office. She paused, then seemed to understand something. Her red lips curved into a mocking, knowing arc. “Oh…” She drew out the syllable, her gaze moving between Lucas’s tense face and me, saying sarcastically, “I see why you won’t let me in. The current Mrs. Sterling is here.” “Shut up! Get out now!” But Melody wouldn’t comply. Instead, she raised her chin. “Lucas, you’re something else. Got yourself a new wife, so you don’t care if the old one lives or dies. But what about Liam? You don’t plan to care about him either? He keeps asking for his daddy!” The word “daddy” hit me like a thunderbolt. The pain in my waist immediately forgotten, I jerked my head up to look at the man whose back had gone rigid. “Who’s Liam?” Satisfaction flashed across Melody’s face. She was about to speak. “Melody!” Lucas suddenly erupted with a low roar. “You’d better stop while you’re ahead. Don’t spout nonsense here!” “What nonsense am I spouting? What I said is clearly…” “Get out!” Cutting her off, his face looked terrifyingly dark. He gave Melody no more chance to speak, grabbing her wrist in one motion. “Wendy, just wait in the office. Don’t go anywhere! When I get back, I’ll explain everything to you!” After tossing out that line, Lucas forcibly dragged Melody away, leaving me alone. Liam… clearly a child’s name. Lucas and Melody have a child? My body and mind trembled. I could hardly believe this reality. Lucas never told me he and Melody had a child. I stayed in the office, waiting for a very long time. But an entire day passed, and Lucas never returned. He didn’t even send a single message or make a single call. I pulled at the corners of my mouth, wanting to laugh. Waiting here like this, I really was an idiot. Just as idiotic as when I believed how much this man loved me and agreed to return to his side. Then I stopped waiting and quietly left the CEO’s office. I went to the law office, handed the lawyer the divorce papers Lucas had signed, and asked the lawyer to process everything as quickly as possible. Only then did I take a car back to the villa. Lucas didn’t return until late at night. He’d just taken off his suit jacket and hadn’t had time to hang it up when he spotted me sitting quietly on the living room sofa. “Wendy?” His movements paused as he walked closer. “Why aren’t you asleep? What are you doing sitting here? Were you waiting for me?” Sitting beside me, he reached to put his arm around my shoulders. “Sorry, a project had some issues this afternoon that I had to handle. When I got back to the office, Sam told me you’d already left.” Before he could touch me, I shifted away slightly. This subtle movement left Lucas’s arm frozen in mid-air. “Lucas.” I slowly turned my head to look at him. “Don’t you have something you should explain to me?” “Like who Liam is? He’s your and Melody’s child, isn’t he?”

Wendy POV An eerie silence spread through the space, seemingly lasting an entire century. Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Finally, he slowly forced out a single word. “…Yes.” Though I’d already guessed, hearing him admit it in this moment still felt like an invisible hand viciously squeezing my heart. Suffocating pain instantly swept through my entire body. The crisp sound of a slap suddenly echoed through the living room. Lucas’s face turned to the side, a clear handprint quickly appearing on his cheek. “Why?” Extreme anger and absurdity made my voice shake terribly. “Lucas, tell me why? You and Melody have a child, but you never mentioned it to me.Not one word! What do you take me for? A complete and utter fool?!” Lucas frantically grabbed my wrists. “Wendy, listen to me! I didn’t mean to hide it from you! I… I was just too afraid that if you knew about this, you couldn’t accept it and would leave me!” He looked at me, a pained redness showing in his eyes. “I lost you once. I’ve tasted what that’s like. I never want to go through it a second time. That’s why I chose to hide it!” Love? Hearing that word, I almost laughed out loud. His love was built on deception and concealment? His love meant using my brother as leverage while getting cozy with his ex-wife on the side? My eyes reddened. “Didn’t you say you and Melody were just going through the motions? Then how did this child come about?” Avoiding my sharp gaze, Lucas’s brows furrowed tightly. “It was during a business dinner. Someone slipped something into my drink… Melody happened to be there too. When I woke up, it had already happened.” “Grandfather was still alive then. He wouldn’t allow Sterling family blood to be terminated. I had no choice.” He paused, then gripped my hand with restless anxiety. “But Wendy, believe me, it really was just an accident! Melody’s been raising that child at the Sinclair house all along. Whether they exist or not doesn’t affect our relationship or marriage!” His sincere, urgent defense. If this were before, I might have actually believed his explanation. I suddenly felt a deep exhaustion surge up, engulfing my entire body. It turned out that when heartache and disappointment reached their extreme, the heart would actually calm down. Whether what he said was true or false, what was the point of arguing about it now? After all, we’d be divorcing soon. He and I would have nothing to do with each other anymore. Seeing me slowly close my eyes, Lucas took my silence as a sign of softening. He quickly pulled out a deep blue velvet jewelry box from his inner suit pocket. Inside was a rare pink diamond that shimmered brilliantly under the lights, displaying its considerable value. “Wendy, look. I specially prepared this for you.” He took out the necklace and put it on me, his tone ingratiating. “I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hidden things from you. Forgive me, okay? I promise I’ll never hide anything from you again.” The cool touch of the pink diamond against my skin made me wonder. Would every time he did something wrong in the future, he’d just throw money or something expensive at me to smooth things over? But clearly, during those five years we were together before, he wasn’t like this. Back then, he never made me angry, never hid things… No, the Lucas of that time did hide things from me too. He hid the fact that he was the Sterling heir. Perhaps after knowing him all these years, I never truly understood him. Over the next few days, Lucas was unusually attentive. He pushed aside many unnecessary social engagements, came home on time to have dinner with me, tried everything to make me happy, begging me not to dwell on those matters. I said nothing, only grew increasingly silent. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Sterling family’s quarterly banquet. At this kind of occasion, whether willing or not, Lucas had to attend, and as the current Mrs. Sterling, I naturally had to as well. Sterling Manor. Lucas and I had just arrived when suddenly, a young boy’s clear, cheerful voice came from the entrance. “Daddy!” My fingers trembled. I slowly turned around. I saw Melody wearing an eye-catching red gown, her makeup radiant, holding the hand of a little boy as they walked in.

Wendy POV Seeing the mother and son, Lucas strode over with sharp steps. “What are you doing bringing the child to the Sterling house?” “Liam is a Sterling.” Melody raised her chin, her red lips curving into a provocative smile. “The Sterling family has a banquet every three months. There’s no reason we shouldn’t attend, is there?” As she spoke, her fingers traced up Lucas’s chest, the movement suggestive. Leaning close to his ear, she lowered her volume. “You talk about caring so much about her, but a few days ago when you had me pinned on the bed, I didn’t see you hesitate. Now in front of her, you don’t even dare acknowledge us?” Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, the lines of his profile taut with tension. He grabbed Melody’s wrist, his gaze sharp with warning. “Don’t make trouble.” Melody laughed lightly, as if she’d heard something amusing. She stopped paying attention to Lucas and led the child straight toward the Sterling family members. “I brought Liam to see you all. Liam, say hello to Grandpa and Grandma.” The little boy called out obediently. “Oh my, it’s Liam! Haven’t seen you in months and you’ve grown so much!” Lucas’s mother beamed, reaching out to pull the child close and examine him carefully. “Look at those features. Just like Lucas when he was little!” Though Lucas’s father said nothing, his gaze on the child held a measure of warmth. “Melody, it’s been a while since you came by.” Lucas’s mother then warmly took Melody’s hand. “Still so beautiful and elegant. Unlike some people…” She then glanced at me standing to the side, her meaning pointed. “Some people, even if they squeeze into this circle, ultimately don’t belong to it.” “Exactly. Melody is a proper Sinclair heiress, not like those from ordinary families who, even dressed in gold and jewels, can’t hide that petit bourgeois air.” The people around chimed in, their expressions showing unconcealed contempt. My fingers at my sides curled slightly. “Enough.” Lucas’s voice was cold and heavy as he cut them off with displeasure. He walked to my side and tried to take my hand, his face full of apology. “Wendy, I didn’t know she’d bring the child. Otherwise I…” “Daddy!” Before he could finish, a small figure suddenly ran over and tugged at his sleeve. Liam looked up at him expectantly. “Will you come play with me in the garden?” Lucas hesitated, looking at me. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something. I spoke up. “Go ahead.” “But you…” “I’m fine. You don’t need to stay with me.” “Wendy, thank you.” Lucas breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes showing gratitude. “I knew it. You’re the most understanding person. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done with him.” Watching Lucas walk away holding the child’s hand, I mocked silently in my heart. Understanding? I wasn’t being understanding. I just didn’t care. I wasn’t in love anymore. This banquet lasted from afternoon into evening. Lucas was occupied with the child’s games and play. The rest of the Sterling family practically revolved around Melody. The vast manor filled with warm laughter and cheer. Only I was like a ghost, ignored from beginning to end. To this, my heart remained utterly indifferent. I even felt like laughing. I knew what Melody wanted to demonstrate by bringing the child today. But what she didn’t know was that to me, this banquet was nothing more than a perfunctory show before leaving, one that wouldn’t alert Lucas. Before the banquet ended, knowing full well the entire Sterling family disliked me, I went to the upstairs balcony for some peace and quiet.Suddenly, an angry boy’s voice came from behind me. “Bad woman!” I froze, then turned around to see Liam glaring at me with hatred. I frowned with displeasure. “Why are you calling me a bad woman?” “Because you broke up my daddy and mommy! My mommy said it’s because of you that Daddy can’t live with us! You’re a bad person!” I broke them up? But clearly I was the one who’d been deceived, lied to, and even cheated on during marriage. I wanted to argue my case, but the words reached my lips before I reconsidered. What was the point of arguing with a child? Even if I explained, this child wouldn’t necessarily understand. So I swallowed my words, stopped looking at Liam, and planned to walk past him and leave. However, just as I reached the staircase preparing to go down, someone shoved me hard from behind. “Bad woman, go die!” I had no defense. I lost my balance completely and tumbled down the spiral staircase.

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Before my best friend Joel’s wedding, I gave him a box of intimate toys as a gift. He laughed and asked me, “Aren’t you worried the bride won’t be able to handle it tonight?” My girlfriend Kelly stood nearby, forcing an awkward smile. After Joel left, Kelly confessed to me: “Actually, the one marrying him today is me.” Seeing my stunned expression, she quickly explained with a smile, “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake marriage. I’ll explain everything after the ceremony.” Later, I stood in the groomsman’s position, watching the two people I loved most exchange rings. I’m letting you go, but there’s no longer a place for either of you in my world. I’d imagined countless endings for Kelly and me, but never this one. After she completed the wedding ceremony, with kiss marks still visible on her collarbone, kneeling at my feet begging for forgiveness— I suddenly remembered that year. The stubborn way she half-knelt to confess her feelings to me, refusing to get up until I agreed. Ten years. I spent ten years helping her overcome autism. In the end, she kicked me out of her life in the cruelest way possible. The door pushed open. Joel walked in. He said nothing, but I could read the victorious gleam in his eyes. “When did this start?” I asked. “Joel’s fiancée ran away, so I’m just going through the motions with him. He’d already sent out all the invitations, and his parents came all the way to Los Angeles. They couldn’t handle the shock…” So I guess my parents and I deserve to bear it instead. “Wallace, we’re best friends. Just help me out this once… Kelly and I aren’t really together.” Joel clutched at my pant leg, eyes reddening as he pleaded in a low voice, playing the role of the humble subordinate to perfection. I ignored his words and scrolled through his social media on my own. [Thank you Miss Kelly for joining me…] The attached photo showed two silhouettes embracing while bungee jumping—taken during the days I was recovering from my car accident, when she claimed to be on a business trip. Scrolling further down, I found photos of candles and red wine, along with two hands clasped together. Kelly hadn’t even bothered to remove my engagement ring first. My finger kept swiping. Countless posts pieced together a Kelly I didn’t recognize. Bubble tea, trendy restaurants, chocolate desserts—with me, she’d always frowned and said, “I don’t like those things.” But behind my back, she’d tried them all with Joel. She who was always obsessively clean and protective of her hands had even put on an apron and cooked for Joel herself. I stared at the food in those photos, feeling sick inside. Two years ago, when I had a terrible flu and couldn’t get out of bed, I’d asked her to cook for me. She’d said: “Wallace, I’m a doctor. My hands can’t go in the kitchen. Just order takeout.” Over these ten years, I’d grown accustomed to her obsessive care for her hands, her cold indifference. I’d huddled under the covers, listening to her talk on the phone in the study, her tone gentle and careful. At the time I thought the fever had made me delirious. Looking back now, I was such a fool. The shock had long faded, leaving only the hollow numbness of exposed truth. I held those social media posts up to Joel’s face. “You also said we were best friends. Is this how you repay me?” Before he could answer, I turned my head to stare at the woman before me. “Since you two are together now, I’ll step aside.”

Ignoring Kelly’s shouts, I left first. My phone kept buzzing nonstop, blending with the sound of rain outside the taxi. Like a hammer, shattering all the strength I’d struggled to maintain. Years ago, Kelly’s grandmother Sommerville had given my family a large sum of money, saving us from bankruptcy. I’d known from a very young age that I needed to repay Kelly. So during those years when she rejected me, I always put on a smile and stayed close to her: “I won’t leave. I promised Sommerville I’d always be with you.” But now, I couldn’t continue anymore. [Wallace, I’ve already explained. What more do you want?] [Stop being mad, okay? You’ve always wanted to get married—let’s go get our marriage license tomorrow.] The sourness hit faster than any other emotion, instantly moistening my eyes. Actually, Kelly’s autism had completely healed in the later years. She could see patients, perform surgeries, bury her hot breath in my neck in the middle of the night, and prepare gifts for me. Feeling like I’d finally gotten some response, I’d kept pestering her about marriage. [Let’s wait a bit longer. My family are medical professionals—I want to become Chief of Cardiac Surgery like my father.] [I’m up for promotion to Chief Physician this year. I’m swamped—where would I find time for a wedding? Let’s talk about it next year.] She’d even shaken my shoulders with a tone of disappointment: “Joel is your good friend. He’s single-mindedly focused on advanced studies and research, wanting to make achievements in medicine. Why are you only thinking about marriage?” At the time, I hadn’t thought it strange that these two people who’d never gotten along suddenly appreciated each other. I’d even stupidly told her: “Joel comes from a difficult background. Take care of him for me.” She hadn’t responded then, but privately she’d taken care of him in every possible way. In just two years, Joel not only got promoted quickly but also bought property in Los Angeles’s expensive commercial district. I’d even brought a bottle of wine and dragged Kelly over to congratulate him. So stupid. Really stupid! I scrubbed at my face desperately. Trying to wipe away the tears on my face along with the memories of all those years. Then I sent Sommerville a text message. “I’ve repaid your family’s debt. I’m breaking up with Kelly.” When I got home, Kelly was already sitting on the sofa with a diamond ring beside her. Our eyes met, and she stood up with a light sigh: “Wallace, Joel is at a critical point in his career evaluation. Let’s get our license right away—I even prepared the ring… Stop making a fuss.” Not “marry me,” but “stop making a fuss.” Even the ring in her palm was a custom design that had appeared in Joel’s photos. All I got was an afterthought. I looked at her, at that face I’d traced a thousand times over, the face I’d kept in my heart since I was eighteen. I smiled softly: “I’m not making a fuss. I won’t interfere with his career evaluation either. And I don’t want to get a marriage license with you. Please leave.” Kelly heard the first two sentences and automatically ignored the last two. She came forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my back. Her voice carried a hint of laughter and certainty. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, post something on social media to explain things for Joel.” I paused slightly: “Explain what?” Her arms didn’t loosen, but her brow furrowed as if deep in thought. “Just say that Joel and I were lovers all along, and you were the third party who came between us. That way it won’t affect his reputation…” My heart trembled. I stared at her in shock. Those red lips had kissed me countless times and whispered heart-wrenching sweet nothings to me in the dead of night. But now, every word she spoke was a knife stabbing into my chest. I held back my tears and pushed her away. “What about my reputation? Don’t you care about that?” She paused, as if unaccustomed to my rejection or only just now thinking of this point. Then she laughed. “Joel’s different from you. He came from the bottom, he’s an orphan—it wasn’t easy for him to get where he is today. You’re his friend—you should consider his position more.” Should? Why should I? When he couldn’t pay his tuition and was turned away by security, I was the one who covered the balance. Senior year, when thugs from off-campus kept harassing him, I was the one who provided people and resources, protecting him at every turn. I’d often bring him home, telling everyone “This is my brother.” After graduation, when no hospital would hire him due to his weak foundation, I was the one who begged Kelly to make an exception and hire him. Joel had red-rimmed eyes that day, hugging me and crying his heart out: “Wallace, you’ve been so good to me. I’ll spend my whole life repaying you.” But I never expected his repayment would be sleeping with my woman. I exhaled the stale air from my chest, raised my head, and looked the woman straight in the eye. “Kelly! I don’t owe you, and I don’t owe Joel. Not exposing you two is already my limit. You want me to admit I’m the third party? Impossible!”

After speaking, I turned to leave, but was frozen in place by one sentence. “Think about those photos. Do you want them to see the light of day?” I froze for a moment before turning back. Looking at Kelly’s cold, indifferent face. Suddenly I remembered her at nineteen, holding my marked body, crying until her whole body shook. Back then, her autism was severe. I chased after her three meals a day to feed her food and medicine. Annoyed, she’d slip away and hide. I chased her to a street corner and was dragged into an alley. My mouth and nose were covered, my vulnerable parts violated. I couldn’t see light or count how many people there were. When she found me, she’d completely lost it. Stubbornly apologizing, saying she’d take care of everything. Later, she gripped my hand, stared into my eyes and swore that those people had been dealt with, those photos destroyed, and that her entire life from then on would be mine. But now, for Joel’s sake, she was threatening me with my own trauma. Seeing my dazed expression, Kelly suppressed the reluctance in her eyes. She coaxed softly, as if making a promise: “Just post one statement on social media, and leave the rest to me. We’ll get our license, get married, have children—I’ll still be your wife…” “And if I refuse?” “Think about your parents. Your father has a bad heart…” Though she didn’t finish the sentence, it said everything. That night, we both fell silent. She knew I’d compromise, just like she knew that every time we fought, I’d always be the one to come crawling back. The next day when I turned on my phone, the screen was full of headlines screaming that Joel was a knowing third party, two-timing both of us. Before I could react, Kelly kicked the door open. “Wallace, Joel is your friend! How could you bear to slander him? To ruin his reputation!” Her eyes were bloodshot. Without letting me explain a single word, she dragged me to the city hospital. Getting out of the car, my knee hit the door. I cried out in pain. She didn’t pause for even a moment. Watching her urgent, retreating figure, I suddenly wanted to laugh. The hand that gripped mine was so tight, so warm, yet I felt like I was falling into an abyss. The lobby had already been set up as a press conference venue. Joel sat on the platform without speaking, shoulders hunched, eyes slightly red. Kelly felt terrible for him. She shoved me toward the reporters and rushed over to him. Countless microphones thrust toward me. [Mr. Wallace, Dr. Joel says you were molested by a pedophile in your youth, which twisted your psychology. Is that why you stormed out yesterday?] [We heard you’ve been obsessively pursuing Dr. Kelly, knowing full well she and Dr. Joel were in love, yet still trying to seduce her, attempting to become the knowing third party?] [You and Dr. Joel are friends as close as brothers. To steal his woman like this—do you have no shame at all, Mr. Wallace?] My blood felt like it had caught fire, burning all the way to my head. I stared at Kelly in shock. She’d promised never to leak a word about that incident. Why did Joel know? Before I could figure it out, the friend who’d said he’d repay me properly suddenly smiled at me. The next second, the large screen behind us suddenly lit up. It showed my pale teenage face and my body covered in bruises.

The venue exploded. My ears filled with discussion and the clicking of camera shutters. [Wallace has been completely ruined by those people. Relying on his family background to keep harassing Dr. Kelly—how disgusting.] [If he hadn’t smashed that wine bottle yesterday and ruined the wedding, Dr. Joel, who’d been in an underground relationship, probably wouldn’t have exposed this.] My throat felt like it was burning. I struggled but couldn’t speak a word. Couldn’t speak the truth. Couldn’t say that the one in an underground relationship was actually me. Kelly appeared beside me at some point, speaking lightly: “Things have come to this. Just apologize.” “Since your reputation is already ruined, at least protect Joel. I keep my promises.” I paused for a long moment before forcing out a voice: “He deliberately leaked my photos and destroyed my reputation, and you still want me to apologize?” Kelly shook her head disapprovingly: “Joel was just protecting himself. What did he do wrong?” “Besides, these things are all true. It’s not like he made them up. If you want to blame someone, blame your own bad luck.” Anger, humiliation, and an indescribable hatred churned in my chest. I could barely stand. Just as I was about to argue back, a cold voice stopped me. “Wallace, is what they’re saying true? Have you been coming between Dr. Joel and Kelly all this time?” Before finishing the sentence, Dad clutched his chest. Like someone had pulled out his bones, his expression twisted in pain as he collapsed. Mom screamed: “Benjamin!” I couldn’t care about anything else. I rushed over, but before I could get close, a slap left me dazed. My mom pointed at me with a trembling finger: “This is all your fault! If not for you, how would your father have an attack!” After cursing at me, she turned and desperately grabbed Kelly’s pant leg: “Kelly! Kelly! Please, save Benjamin!” Kelly didn’t move or speak. She just stared at me quietly. Joel deliberately added: “Forget it, Kelly. I won’t hold Wallace’s foolish actions against him. Just save Benjamin.” Kelly looked at him, her tone gentle: “No. Wallace must publicly apologize and admit he’s the third party, or else your reputation and future will be ruined. I can’t bear that.” She couldn’t bear to see his reputation tarnished but was willing to personally push me into hell. “Wallace, what are you waiting for? Wait any longer and your father will be gone.” Mom seemed suddenly awakened by those words. She grabbed my hair, trying to force me to apologize. “Say it! Are you really going to watch your father die?” Looking at Dad’s pale, bluish face, I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. I swallowed the metallic taste in my throat and forced out the words through gritted teeth: “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have destroyed someone else’s relationship.” As soon as I spoke, someone loudly objected. “You caused Dr. Joel to be cyberbullied, and you think one ‘sorry’ is enough? If you’re sincere, get on your knees and slap yourself!” The surrounding people echoed in agreement. Kelly said nothing, as if giving permission. Mom was beside herself with anxiety. Seeing me motionless, she kicked me and slapped me hard twice. “Get on your knees! Hit yourself! Your father’s life depends on you!” She hit me while wiping away tears, her voice shaking terribly. I looked at her, then at my father foaming at the mouth. Slowly I closed my eyes, raised my hand, and slapped myself again and again. My face and heart were numb. I felt no pain. Only ice-cold liquid fell at my feet, dripping. The next second, a dragon-headed cane suddenly fell from mid-air, hitting Kelly square on the head. A cold, authoritative voice suddenly rang out: “Kelly! Get out of this hospital with your lover! Get out of this family!” “From today on, Wallace is my grandson and the heir to my estate!”

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My wife Rachel had just given birth not long ago, and she was rushing off to the gym. “I ruined my body giving you a child, and you won’t even let me go to the gym?” Ignoring my attempts to stop her, Rachel slammed the door and left. I was only worried about her being weak after just giving birth. I knew Rachel was a fitness fanatic, but I couldn’t just let her do whatever she wanted right after delivery. As it happened, I had business to discuss with the gym owner, so I could drop by and check on her. Who would have thought I’d see Rachel through the window, dressed provocatively and nestled in some young man’s arms. “I’ve missed you so much these past few months.” “You just gave birth and you’re already here to see me. Does your husband know?” “So what if he knows? I told him I’m here to work out. He has no idea. Let’s keep going with our session.” The two were in an intimate position, their movements full of desire. With a cold expression, I dialed Rachel’s number. The phone rang for a long time before she answered. I stood outside the gym’s floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Rachel lean into that young trainer’s embrace, laughing happily. One of his hands wrapped around her waist, while the other roamed inappropriately over her post-pregnancy belly that hadn’t yet recovered. “Scott, I’ve missed you so much these past few months.” “Rachel, you just gave birth and you’re already here to see me. Does your husband really know?” “So what if he knows? I told him I’m here to work out. He doesn’t know I came to see you.” The two acted as if no one else existed. She wore a sports bra and tight yoga pants, practically draping her entire body over him. Yet just a month ago, she had been holding my hand in the delivery room, saying childbirth was too hard and painful. This was my eighth time calling. She finally pulled out her phone from her bag, glanced at it, and frowned impatiently. The trainer reached out to decline the call for her, but she stopped him. “Don’t. It’s him.” “Your husband?” He sneered. “Great timing. What a buzzkill.” She raised her index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, then answered the call, her voice instantly switching to sweet and soft mode. “Hey, did you miss me?” I stared at her familiar face through the glass window, my throat tightening as I asked. “Where are you?” “At the gym, silly. I told you I had an extra session today.” As she spoke, she traced circles on Scott’s chest with her finger. “I was so into my workout, I didn’t hear the phone.” “Are you alone?” “The gym’s pretty empty today, but a female trainer is with me. Don’t worry.” She gestured toward empty air as if indicating a female trainer. Scott stifled his laughter and leaned in to kiss her earlobe. “Oh, the trainer’s calling me. I missed so much because of the pregnancy, I need to make up for it today. Gotta go. Love you!” Before I could respond, the line went dead. Then I watched as the second she hung up, she turned around, hooked her arms around Scott’s neck, and they kissed passionately. Her hands threaded through his hair, his palms slipped under her sports bra. I headed straight for the gym entrance. “Oh my! Mr. Gonzalez! We’ve been waiting for you!” The gym owner, Guillermo, rushed out to greet me, enthusiastically grabbing my hand. “For someone of your stature to visit our humble establishment—it’s truly an honor!” I had to stop in my tracks as Guillermo launched into a monologue about their business philosophy, membership growth rates, and equipment upgrade plans. But I didn’t hear a single word. My gaze remained fixed over his shoulder on those two people through the glass. Guillermo finally noticed something was wrong with my expression and followed my line of sight. His smile froze on his face. Guillermo coughed awkwardly. “Mr. Gonzalez, please excuse this. Our gym has strict policies—we absolutely prohibit inappropriate relationships between trainers and clients. Please wait a moment, I’ll handle this right away.” He strode into the gym. Even through the glass, I could hear him shouting. “What are you two doing?! Put your clothes back on!” The two jumped apart in a panic, scrambling to separate. When Guillermo got closer and saw who they were, his anger flared even more. “You two again? Didn’t I just warn you last week?” Scott sheepishly straightened his clothes while Rachel kept her head down, adjusting her bra straps. Guillermo spoke in a low voice. “Both of you better behave. There’s a big shot coming to inspect today. If you mess up this investment, you’re both fired.” Scott froze. “Big shot—is it that investor you always mention, Mr. Gonzalez?” Guillermo nodded. “Yes, he’s right outside.” Scott became excited, grabbing Rachel’s hand. “Let us meet him! This is such a rare opportunity—we want to broaden our horizons too!”

After Guillermo went inside, I walked to the street corner and lit a cigarette. The passionate scene kept replaying in my mind. I felt dizzy. Behind me, I heard the gym door open. “Where is this big shot?” Guillermo sounded confused. “He was just out here. How did he leave so quickly?” I didn’t turn around, standing under the tree with my back to them. I heard Rachel’s voice. “Oh no, did he leave? That’s such a shame.” As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly cried out. “Ah!” The sound cut off abruptly. I heard the gym door open and close again. Scott asked, puzzled. “What’s wrong with you?” “It’s nothing! Don’t ask!” Scott laughed. “You couldn’t possibly think that guy smoking with his back to us is your husband, could you? That’s ridiculous. Didn’t you say your husband’s just a broke loser? Look at that guy’s back carefully—look at what he’s wearing. There’s no way that’s him.” I exhaled a puff of smoke, just listening to them talk. “If it really were your husband, he would’ve rushed in to catch us. Would he just stand there smoking? What kind of nerves would that take?” Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, her voice returning to normal. “You’re right. He’s probably at home taking care of the baby right now.” “Exactly.” Scott lowered his voice, but I could still hear him clearly. “Your husband probably has no idea to this day that the precious baby he’s taking care of so diligently at home is actually ours.” The two of them laughed. I crushed the cigarette in my hand. Guillermo didn’t laugh. He stood at the door looking at these two people, his eyes full of contempt. “Can you two have some shame? Her husband’s at home taking care of the baby, and you’re here messing around with someone else. Have you no conscience?” Rachel pursed her lips without responding. Guillermo shook his head. “I don’t know which poor bastard married you and is raising another man’s kid.” I turned my back to them, tossed the crushed cigarette into the trash, and drove away. Guillermo didn’t know that poor bastard was standing ten meters in front of him. “Alright, alright, get back inside. You two scared the boss away.” “So he left. Big deal.” Scott put his arm around Rachel as they walked back inside. “It’s not that important anyway.” The two chatted and laughed as they returned to the gym. Guillermo stood at the door sighing, looking around trying to find me. I didn’t give him the chance. I turned and left. When I got home, the baby was sleeping soundly in the cradle. I looked at that little face, remembering Scott’s words—that the child I was caring for at home was actually theirs. I’d been raising this couple’s bastard child for a month. Then I pulled out my phone and called my mother. “Mom.” “What’s wrong? You don’t sound good. Isn’t Rachel with you?” “No, she’s at the gym right now.” “How can she go to the gym right after giving birth? She’s not taking care of her body at all. That’s not acceptable.” I gathered my courage. “Mom, forget about that. She’s been cheating on me. I’m getting a divorce.” My mother sighed. Her voice didn’t sound too surprised. “Gonzalez, I always thought Rachel’s character was questionable. Looking back, having you hide your identity was the right call. Otherwise, if she’d come after you for money, it would be even more troublesome.” “I know. I’ve got it figured out.” “Gonzalez, how do you want to handle this?” I suddenly smiled. “Let me handle it myself. I’ll make that cheating couple pay the price. This definitely won’t end like this.”

On the way back, I called a top lawyer and explained the situation. He asked me. “Mr. Gonzalez, I understand the situation. How would you like to proceed?” “I want her to leave with nothing. Not a single penny. That’s the baseline.” “Evidence is key.” That night I contacted the best private investigation team in the city. Money wasn’t an issue—the issue was speed and accuracy. Three days later, a file folder landed on my office desk. The photos were comprehensive: intertwined figures in gym corners, kissing profiles in underground parking garages, even records of them entering and leaving hotels. Turns out they were college sweethearts who broke up after graduation and married other people. Who knew that after Rachel married me, she’d run into him again at this very gym. The investigation report stated: Scott, unmarried fitness trainer, specializing in servicing high-end female clients. Rachel contacted him on the third day after giving birth and met him for the first time on the fifth day. I laughed coldly. The baby was still nursing, and she was already in another man’s bed. Of course, the child wasn’t mine either. That evening, Rachel came home with an abnormal flush on her face, satisfaction written in the corners of her eyes and brows. I could tell at a glance—that was what she looked like after having sex with someone else. But I had no interest in exposing her yet. She used to give me a hug every time she came home. Back then, I felt sweetness in my heart. Now as she opened her arms to rush toward me, I stepped aside and casually picked up a cup from the coffee table. She froze for a moment and asked. “Gonzalez, you didn’t come to the gym looking for me today, did you?” “No.” I lowered my head to drink water, my voice calm. “Why? Is something wrong?” She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Nothing, I was just worried you missed me too much.” She headed toward the bedroom. “I’m going to nurse the baby. Oh, by the way, there’s a college reunion tomorrow. Will you come with me?” I looked up at her expectant eyes. Only one thought crossed my mind: I’ll play along. “Sure, let’s go together.” The next evening, Rachel fussed in front of the mirror for two hours. She wore a tight dress, put on elaborate makeup, and changed her jewelry several times. I leaned against the doorframe watching her, remembering how in all our years of marriage, she never dressed up when going out with me. She was always bare-faced. Turns out it wasn’t that she didn’t care about beauty—I just wasn’t worth beautifying herself for. “Let’s go.” She picked up her bag and took my arm. The reunion was at an upscale restaurant downtown. The private room was large, with a round table seating a dozen or so people. The moment I walked in, I saw the person sitting in the seat of honor—Scott. Today he was dressed up in a shirt, looking presentable as he chatted and laughed with the people next to him. When he saw us enter, his eyes swept over me, then landed on Rachel’s face with a smile. I understood instantly. Sneaking around behind people’s backs wasn’t enough—they wanted to use this reunion to humiliate me in front of everyone. Rachel let go of my arm and practically skipped over, plopping down in the empty seat next to Scott. I moved to sit beside her, but just as I took a step, Scott raised his hand to stop me. “Sorry about this, Gonzalez, but this seat’s reserved.” He deliberately put on an apologetic expression and pointed to the last seat. “You sit over there. The view’s better from that end.” The room fell silent for a moment. Someone started snickering. Rachel kept her head down, fiddling with her phone, pretending not to hear. I looked at that last seat, then at this cheating couple, and then I smiled too. “Fine, no problem. A seat’s a seat.” I walked to the last seat, sat down, and poured myself some tea. Alright then, let’s play this game.

The banquet began. Inside the private room, glasses clinked as Scott sat in the seat of honor, acting like the host, greeting everyone to eat and drink. I sat at the far end, calmly picking at my food, just watching them perform. After a few rounds of drinks, Scott finally steered the conversation to me. “Gonzalez, I never got a chance to ask—where are you working these days?” The room fell quiet. A dozen pairs of eyes turned toward me. I set down my utensils and smiled sheepishly. “Working is too generous a word. I just do odd jobs here and there. Don’t make much money. Basically unemployed.” As soon as I finished speaking, whispers filled the room. “No way? Rachel was the beauty queen of our department. How did she end up marrying an unemployed guy?” “That’s so tragic. How does Rachel even get by?” “What do you know? She and Scott were the perfect couple back then—handsome guy, beautiful girl, such a perfect match. Who knows what Rachel was thinking back then. She must have been blind.” I heard these comments but kept a humble smile on my face. Scott beamed with joy, raising his glass toward me. “Gonzalez has such a good attitude. Come on, a toast to you.” Rachel, sitting beside him, never said a single word in my defense. Not only that, but she picked up her knife and fork and attentively served food to Scott, doing it so naturally and skillfully. Scott ate with his head down, occasionally looking up at me, his eyes practically overflowing with provocation. I raised my teacup, took a sip, and continued watching them perform. After a while, Rachel suddenly stood up with a smile. “This meal’s on me. Everyone eat your fill—after all, it’s rare for all us classmates to gather like this.” Everyone cheered about how generous Rachel was. She turned to look at me, her tone matter-of-fact. “Gonzalez, go pay the bill in a bit.” I looked at her smiling face and suddenly laughed. “Sure, I’ll pay.” I stood up and headed out. As soon as I closed the door to the private room, I heard Scott’s triumphant laughter inside. “See that? I told you he’s a pathetic loser! Does whatever you tell him to!” Rachel’s voice came through, with a hint of mock reproach. “Keep your voice down. What if he hears?” Scott laughed even louder. “So what if he hears? Does he dare come in and hit me? With that pathetic look of his, even if you gave him ten times the courage!” I didn’t keep listening. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “You can start now.” The person on the other end acknowledged. I stood in the hallway and lit a cigarette. I’d barely taken a puff when screams erupted from inside the room. I pushed the door open to see the massive TV wall in the private room playing photos on a loop. Intertwined figures in gym corners, kissing profiles in underground parking garages, backs embracing as they entered hotel doors. Every single one in high definition, every single one clear enough to see both people’s faces. Rachel rushed to the TV like a madwoman, futilely trying to cover the screen with her hands. “Turn it off!” The door to the private room stood wide open. Guests from other rooms came over at the commotion. Some pulled out phones to take pictures, others excitedly shouted how exciting this was. Scott’s face had gone white. In his fury, he rushed over to grab my collar. “You did this, you pathetic loser! I’m going to kill you today!” His hand never touched me. Another hand grabbed his wrist. Guillermo appeared at the door out of nowhere, gripping Scott’s hand tightly. “Scott, behave yourself! You’re in serious trouble.” Scott was stunned. “Boss, what are you doing here?” Guillermo ignored him, turning to face me with an ingratiating expression. “Mr. Gonzalez, what a coincidence running into you here for dinner. I really had no idea you were Rachel’s husband. I apologize for any previous offenses—please don’t take it to heart. About that investment we discussed…” I didn’t respond. Behind me came Rachel’s trembling voice. “What investment? You’re that investor?” I didn’t answer Rachel’s question. I simply walked to the seat of honor, the chair that had belonged to Scott, and sat down. Guillermo immediately followed, bending over to pour me tea. “Mr. Gonzalez, have some tea. Calm down.” The entire room fell silent.

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I was pale from menstrual cramps. The moment I asked for leave, my department supervisor Lydia Rivers threw a stack of adult diapers at me. “Who are you putting on this dying act for? Are you actually dead from the pain right now?” “Put on the diapers and get back to work. Don’t use your period as an excuse to slack off.” Before I could react, she launched into another tirade. “You clearly said you were healthy and could handle the work when you joined. Are you faking this just to take advantage of the company’s menstrual leave policy?” After saying this, she took a photo of me and posted it in the company group chat. “Don’t use your period as an excuse to slack off! Everyone, please take note!” Lydia Rivers slammed a stack of adult diapers onto my desk. “Sophia, what are you standing there for? Waiting for me to change them for you?” Before I could process what was happening, she half-dragged, half-pulled me into the restroom. The overwhelming stench hit me. My stomach churned violently. The janitor had clearly cleaned the bathroom thoroughly. But the intense discomfort from my cramps made my senses unbearably sensitive. I rushed to the toilet and threw up everything. “Oh my, putting on quite a show, aren’t we?” Lydia leaned against the doorframe, waving her hand in front of her nose in disgust. “Is it really necessary? It’s just a period! What’s with the fake vomiting? Your acting skills are wasted not being a Hollywood star.” My coworkers slowly gathered around. “So dramatic. There are so many women in this company, and I’ve never heard of anyone needing time off for cramps.” “Come on! Once you’re done with your performance, hurry up and put them on. Not everyone gets Miss Rivers’ special care.” “Back when I had cramps, no supervisor personally came to check on me. You’re really blessed.” Blessed? I’d never seen someone treat harassment as a benefit. What era is this to still be pulling workplace bullying tactics? Everyone experiences pain differently to begin with. Otherwise, the company wouldn’t have humanely given women two days of menstrual leave each month. Now I was in so much pain I couldn’t straighten my back, and I just wanted one day off. What was wrong with that? I said coldly, “If this is such a blessing, do you want it?” My coworkers were about to snap back at me. Lydia stepped forward, waving her hand and deliberately raising her voice several octaves. “Alright, alright. She doesn’t know any better, but as a supervisor, I can’t be petty.” “I won’t deduct the cost of the diapers from your paycheck. Consider it my personal sponsorship.” The coworkers sitting on the outskirts of the group stood up and applauded at these words. “See that? Our supervisor Lydia is so considerate. Tell me, what company supervisor pays out of their own pocket for employees?” “Unlike some people who don’t know how good they have it!” Lydia smugly adjusted her collar, chin held high. “As long as it improves company efficiency, spending a little of my own money is nothing.” “Sophia, I won’t hold it against you for slacking off in the bathroom this time, but don’t let it happen again.” “Now go put on those diapers. Don’t delay everyone’s project progress.” Lydia blocked the bathroom door, forcing me to put on the adult diapers. The familiar cramping and nausea hit me again. I turned and threw up once more. A loud noise startled me. Lydia was holding a megaphone, shouting into the bathroom. “Sophia! You’ve been in the bathroom for three minutes! Are you done yet?” “Do you need me to come in and help you?” The entire floor went silent. Then suppressed laughter erupted. I pushed open the door and walked out. The anger I was suppressing and my physical pain made my whole body tremble. When Lydia saw me come out, she immediately grabbed at my pants. My white underwear was exposed in front of everyone. I was furious and humiliated. “If you want to talk, then talk. What gives you the right to pull at my pants?” Lydia didn’t get angry, but her eyes turned cold. “You didn’t change them? Looks like you’re determined to defy me.” She grabbed a thick stack of archived documents and slammed them down hard next to the copy machine. “Since you don’t want to wear them, stand here and make copies. Don’t talk to me again until you’ve printed all one thousand of these.” “Standing while you work will improve blood circulation and the pain will stop. You can’t possibly expect to lie down on the job, can you?”

The surrounding coworkers chimed in with approval. “This is exactly right. The rest of us are working ourselves to death here. Why should she get to slack off just because she has her period?” They went back and forth, completely forgetting that I was the one who had just been publicly humiliated. Lydia was getting a bit carried away by their praise. She turned to me with a friendly expression. “You finish copying all of these, and you can leave an hour early today. How’s that?” “I’ve already given you special treatment. I’m not mistreating you, am I?” “Show me which other female employee gets this kind of treatment when she has her period.” I looked at the mountain of documents piled up. And laughed. These files would take at least three days to copy, even working non-stop. What special treatment indeed! But right now I didn’t feel like wasting another word on her. I’d gotten too worked up earlier, and the cramping in my abdomen became even more severe. My body felt unbearably uncomfortable now, and cold sweat was pouring out. I gritted my teeth and moved to the copy machine. Mechanically repeating the motions: lift the lid, place paper, press the button. A bone-breaking ache spread through my lower back. The pain in my lower abdomen felt like knives churning, with a heavy pressure constantly pushing downward. Cold sweat soaked through my underwear, and the double vision before my eyes grew worse. Five hours later, I couldn’t hold on anymore and slid into a chair beside the copy machine. “Slacking off again?” Lydia appeared behind me like a ghost. She even reached directly into my pocket and pulled out my phone. “Looks like I can’t control you anymore. Fine! Let your mother teach you what workplace rules mean.” She grabbed my finger and unlocked my phone. Then dialed my mother’s number. The second the call connected, she put it on speaker. “Hello, is this Sophia’s mother? I’m her supervisor at work.” I tried to grab the phone back. But the moment I stood up abruptly, everything went black and I fell back into the chair. “Please educate Sophia better. She fakes being sick at work. Do you know how much work she’s delaying for us?” “Your daughter is really something—using her period as an excuse just to take advantage of the company’s leave policy?” “Does she think we won’t do anything about it?” “They say children learn from their parents. Were you this delicate when you were young too?” In her matter-of-fact tone, there was a perverse pleasure in destroying someone. She kept saying I was delaying company progress. But in reality, I hadn’t delayed any of the work I was responsible for. When I asked for leave, I had already worked overtime to complete my assigned tasks. At the end of the day, wasn’t she just jealous that my salary was a thousand dollars more than hers? If she’s so capable, she should take on assignments from headquarters too! My mother’s labored breathing came through the phone. Lydia wasn’t planning to stop. “The company has decided to fire her. We can’t afford to keep such a delicate princess.” Then came the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floor. “Mom! Mom, don’t listen to her nonsense!” I lunged forward frantically to grab the phone. But Lydia dodged nimbly. The call disconnected. “My mother has a heart condition. Didn’t you hear that she just collapsed?” “I need to go home…” I pushed past Lydia and ran toward the exit, but she blocked me firmly at the door. “Want to leave? Fine, but first sign this agreement voluntarily waiving menstrual leave.” “The two days you take off will be deducted from your pay as personal leave!” She threw several sheets of paper in my face, blocking the only way out. “I won’t sign!” I pushed past her through the pain. Then rushed into the elevator. I called for an ambulance while rushing home. Watching my mother, pale-faced, being wheeled into the emergency room, I sat on the bench with palms full of cold sweat. My phone was vibrating frantically in my pocket—all messages from Lydia. “If you’re not back at the company in five minutes, you’ll be marked as absent without leave.” “Sophia, don’t be ungrateful. Get your ass back here right now and write a self-criticism.”

I stared at those cold words and directly blocked her. Not long after, an unfamiliar number called. It was Rachel Greene, the deputy director of HR. “Sophia, due to your serious violation of company regulations and insubordination to your superior, we are formally notifying you that you have been terminated.” “Don’t even think about any compensation. The company will also pursue damages for losses caused by your absence.” I hung up directly. It wasn’t until half an hour later, when my mother was wheeled out of the emergency room, that my heart finally settled. The doctor said if we’d arrived any later, it would have been too late. The anger that had been building up for so long finally erupted. I dialed the internal hotline for the company’s senior management oversight department. I explained everything that had just happened in detail. And sent over the recordings of Lydia humiliating me, along with all the surveillance footage from above the copy machine. I thought with such solid evidence, I could at least get some justice. But what awaited me was a trap that had been set up long ago. They called me to the conference room. Sitting across from me was Rachel Greene, with Lydia standing behind her, her face unable to hide her smugness. She threw my complaint materials on the table. “You’ve got some nerve, accessing company surveillance directly?” “And these recordings—they were all made without Supervisor Rivers’ permission, weren’t they?” I was stunned. “I just wanted to keep evidence to prove I was being bullied.” Rachel gave a cold laugh. “Evidence? I think you’re trying to steal company secrets and sell them to competitors!” This accusation was too serious. I couldn’t bear it. “I didn’t!” Rachel slammed the table and stood up. “You recorded all this audio and blatantly distributed our company’s surveillance footage. If it’s not to leak information about our company’s internal operations, then what’s it for?” I fell silent for a moment. Because I knew she didn’t want to hear my explanation. She just wanted to pin the crime on me directly. Seeing me say nothing, she had HR post an announcement in the company-wide group chat. [Sophia, for stealing company trade secrets, the company has decided to terminate her employment and will never rehire her.] [The company has reported this to the police. Let this be a warning to everyone.] The group chat exploded instantly. “Oh my God, you never really know people. Sophia is actually this kind of person!” “So scary. And to think we sympathized with her.” “Exactly. I always said she looked sketchy, so disobedient. Turns out she was up to no good all along!” At this moment, my coworkers jumped out one after another to distance themselves from me. They even started rumors to curry favor with Lydia, claiming I was promiscuous and that my cramps were because I’d been sleeping around with men. So I had developed gynecological diseases. Lydia sent me a private message with a laugh. “See that? Idiot! You want to fight me? You’re still too green.” I looked at those vile words on my phone. An indescribable sense of injustice welled up inside me. Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and two uniformed police officers walked in. “Who is Sophia? Come with us. Someone has reported you for suspected theft of trade secrets.” Lydia was overjoyed and immediately pointed in my direction. “Here, here!” She leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Going to the station looking like this saves me the diaper money after all.” My rationality snapped completely at that moment. I slapped her hard across the face. “You!” But the next second, my wrist was seized by the police officer. The officer’s face was cold. “A young woman doing this kind of thing—don’t you have any shame?” Just as I was being led away, a new message suddenly popped up in the company group chat. It was from the CEO’s secretary. “Attention all members: Mr. Lancaster is arriving at the company shortly. All department heads, please report to the main conference room.” Various smaller group chats went crazy with messages. “Mr. Lancaster?” “That legendary elusive boss of the conglomerate, Adrian Lancaster?” “What’s he doing here?” Lydia immediately perked up. “Officers, please wait a moment. Let this criminal meet our Mr. Lancaster first.” I was pushed to the front row of the conference room. Rachel stood on stage and began her commendation speech. “Everyone, look! This is the evidence!” The video had been maliciously edited, showing only the footage of me arguing with Lydia. Rachel pointed at me on the screen, her voice booming. “This Sophia not only used her period to gain sympathy, but also stole internal company footage with the intent to sell it to competitors!” “I hereby declare that Sophia is immediately terminated, and the company will pursue five million dollars in damages for reputational harm!” Applause broke out across the room, and Lydia was laughing so hard she could barely stand. Five million dollars. What a bold demand! I just wondered if Adrian Lancaster would be willing to pay that amount. Rachel scurried down from the stage. “Mr. Lancaster! Does our handling of this bad apple meet your approval…” Adrian Lancaster didn’t give them even a glance. He walked straight up to me. “I’m sorry I’m late.” Adrian took my ice-cold hand and gripped it tightly, then turned to face everyone and picked up the microphone. His gaze swept over Lydia and Rachel like a blade. “She—Sophia—is my legal wife, Adrian Lancaster’s wife.” “What you just slandered her for, what you forced her to sign an agreement to waive—those are the rights that belong to the wife of the Lancaster Group CEO!” “Menstrual leave is also written into company policy, so does this mean you’re refusing to implement it?”

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My husband’s mistress bonded with a Heartthrob System. It attracted countless powerful men to fall for her. Just because she said she liked kids, my husband made the child I had through three years of IVF call her “Mom.” I broke down and rushed over to demand an explanation. Only to have my brother slap me hard across the face. “She rarely likes anything. Why are you fighting her for this?” “It’s just a kid. You can have another one.” Fiona basked proudly in everyone’s adoration. She leaned close to my ear with a soft laugh. “I have the Heartthrob System. What do you have to compete with me?” In my despair, I awakened the system that had been dormant in my body for years. “You claim to be the main system, right? Can you handle her system?” After a long silence, a scornful laugh echoed in my mind. “Heartthrob System? Nothing but a failed, defective product.” I actually detected a hint of disdain in the system’s cold mechanical voice. It seemed to particularly look down on this so-called Heartthrob System. 【It’s just a defective product that was manufactured. It has many inherent safety hazards.】 【There’s no need to deal with it. After the host uses it a few more times, the side effects will emerge.】 Hearing the system’s words, I instinctively looked toward Fiona. At this moment, she was nestled in my husband’s arms, playing with my son. The three of them looked so harmonious together, like a real family. My hands clenched at my sides, nails digging deep into my palms until a sharp pain brought me back to my senses. When I looked up, I saw my husband and the others glaring at me with rage. The child in Fiona’s arms was reaching toward me, crying hysterically. His little face turned purple as if he might pass out the next second. My heart clenched painfully. I reached out to grab the child, but Liam Mitchell shoved me away hard. “Sarah, can you stop being such an eyesore?” “As long as you keep hanging around, how is the baby supposed to accept Fiona as his mom?” The child’s heart-wrenching cries filled my ears. My heart twisted with anxiety as I shouted angrily: “This is MY child! I’m still alive and well, and you’re making him call someone else Mom? You bunch of bastards…” Before I could finish, a slap came flying at me. I clutched my reddened, swollen face and looked at my brother in disbelief. This person who had cherished me since childhood, who had always shielded me from danger, was now glaring at me with fury. He still held his hand extended from the slap. When our eyes met—mine full of hurt—a flicker of confusion crossed his face. But the next second, he returned to that disgusted expression. “Fiona’s health is fragile. How could she endure the pain of childbirth?” “You can have kids anyway. Just give this child to Fiona and have another one.” The words came out of his mouth so lightly, yet they weighed a thousand pounds. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I said in a trembling voice: “Why should my child call her Mom?” The next second, Fiona tugged at my brother’s sleeve with fake concern, looking pitiful. “If Sarah doesn’t want to, then forget it. I really liked this child though. What a shame…” She made a show of wiping away nonexistent tears from her eyes. She shrank into Liam’s arms looking wronged. I was about to mock her terrible acting when Liam suddenly kicked me hard in the abdomen. Instant pain shot through my belly. My face went deathly pale. When my back slammed into the wall, I couldn’t suppress the cry of pain that escaped my throat. “Stop wasting words on her. I have a share in this kid too.” “I’ve given Fiona so many expensive jewels and she didn’t like any of them. It’s rare for her to be interested in something—just give it to her.” With that, he strode toward me, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me toward the basement. “As long as she’s not hanging around the baby all the time, it won’t take more than a couple days before he stops recognizing her as his mother.” The basement was dark and damp, full of scurrying rats and bugs. Liam released my hand in disgust and threw me to the floor. “Stay here obediently. When the baby finally forgets about you, then you can appear in front of him again.”

Watching the basement door close in front of me, I broke down and pounded on it, shouting until my voice went hoarse. But no one came down. I don’t know how much time passed before someone kicked the basement door hard from outside. “Shut up already! Miss Fiona has a terrible headache right now. If you make another sound and disturb her rest, you’ll regret it.” The basement’s confined environment already made it hard to breathe. The loud noise startled me. The servants’ low voices drifted from the doorway, their words full of contempt. “I really don’t know what the boss sees in her. She’s not as beautiful as Miss Fiona, and her personality isn’t as likable either.” “If Miss Fiona were our mistress, who knows how wonderful this household would be.” “Such a shame. I really like Miss Fiona.” I numbly withdrew my blood-stained hands, my heart filled with bitterness. This Heartthrob System’s effects were truly astonishing—even the servants had fallen for her. Countless bugs crawled around my feet, and many started climbing up my body. My consciousness gradually faded. Just as I was about to slip into unconsciousness, the basement door suddenly pushed open from outside. Liam’s panicked voice sounded in my ears. “Sarah! She’s burning up. Get her upstairs first.” When I woke up again, I’d been settled in bed. Liam sat by the bedside with a complicated expression. Seeing me awake, he sighed deeply. Perhaps because Fiona wasn’t here, he could temporarily break free from the Heartthrob System’s restrictions and regain some clarity. Seeing this, I quickly seized the opportunity and pleaded. “The baby just finished nursing. He’s never been away from me. I’m begging you—please give him back to me.” His gaze fell on my red, swollen palms, and emotion flickered in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a female voice from the doorway interrupted. “Liam, look at our son! He’s so attached to me!” The child in her arms clutched her hand tightly, grinning and giggling. My heart ached at the sight. I hadn’t expected even my son to be deceived by this system. The moment Liam saw her again, it was like he’d become a different person. His face full of adoration as he gathered them both into his arms affectionately. “This little guy is usually so mischievous, but he’s so well-behaved with you. Clearly, you two are meant to be.” Then Fiona seemed to just notice me. Her eyes shifted as she smiled and said: “Oh, Sarah’s been let out?” “Perfect timing. This child smells terrible—I think he soiled himself. Hurry up and clean him.” Hearing this, I immediately panicked and snatched the child from her arms. When I felt the bulging diaper between his legs, I was instantly furious. “The baby soiled himself and you didn’t change his diaper? Leaving him like this will give him a rash!” Fiona rolled her eyes dramatically and covered her nose in disgust. “So dirty. You expect me to change it? Wouldn’t want to dirty my hands.” Then she turned to Liam, acting coy. “This child is too filthy. He got dirt all over me. I don’t want to change him.” As her words fell, confusion flashed in Liam’s eyes. The next second he glared at me furiously. “Fiona’s hands aren’t meant for changing your son’s diapers. Your own son—you don’t care for him and expect others to? What kind of mother are you?” I ignored him. My gaze locked on Fiona’s face. Several small, barely noticeable pimples had appeared on her previously flawless face. At first glance, they seriously affected her appearance. I understood immediately—this must be the side effects the system mentioned. Each time she used the Heartthrob System, it damaged her looks. I just wondered what her face would look like in the end.

The moment my son came into my arms, he cried inconsolably. His eyes desperately seeking Fiona, reaching toward her with whimpers, wanting her to hold him. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, repeatedly reassuring myself that this was just the system’s deceptive effect. He was the child I carried for ten months. How could he not be close to me? But when I saw the red rash on my son’s bottom from being left in a soiled diaper, my anger flared. “How many days has it been since you changed his diaper? Two more days and his skin would’ve been raw!” Fiona rolled her eyes impatiently, grabbed Liam’s hand, and turned to leave. “Liam, I want to get my nails done. This time I’m thinking of having gold embedded in them.” Watching their retreating figures, I wiped the tears from my eyes and hurried to take the baby to the hospital. When the doctor saw the rash on his body, he scolded me thoroughly. “What kind of mother are you? How did you let a perfectly good child end up like this? Are you deliberately abusing him?” I couldn’t defend myself and could only silently endure the doctor’s reprimands. After my son’s wounds were treated and bandaged, my brother suddenly called. “Fiona and Liam are at a hotel. She said the condom broke and needs you to bring another box.” “I’m busy with work and can’t get away. You go deliver it. You know Liam’s size, I’m sure.” I froze, never expecting he could say something like this. “Ethan Williams, are you insane? Don’t you like Fiona? You’re actually okay with watching her with another man? And that man is my husband—your brother-in-law!” Facing my heartbroken screams, he was silent for a moment before speaking with bitterness in his voice. “What choice do I have? Fiona likes Liam. All I can do is try my best to protect her safety.” “She doesn’t want children, so we need to be careful with protection. Hurry up and bring them a box.” My grip tightened on the phone. I laughed coldly and refused. “Impossible. If you want to be a lapdog, go deliver it yourself. I won’t…” Before I could finish, a scoff came through the phone. “Sarah, I’m not asking you.” “You can’t count on anyone right now. Don’t you even want to go back to your family home?” My whole body stiffened. I let my hand drop helplessly. Following his instructions, I went to the pharmacy, bought protection, and found the hotel using the address he sent. Just as I reached the door, I heard laughter spilling out from inside. I took a deep breath and knocked. The door opened quickly. Liam stood there bare-chested with a cigarette in his mouth. Seeing it was me, he frowned and muttered: “Why is it you?” Then Fiona leaned against his back, deliberately revealing the red marks on her neck, and smiled. “Thanks, Sarah. I’m surprised you still remember Liam’s size.” “You two haven’t been together in so many years—I thought you’d forgotten what size he wears.” I said nothing. My gaze fell on the scratch marks across Liam’s chest. A wave of nausea hit me. I couldn’t help but lean against the wall and vomit violently. Panic flashed in Liam’s eyes and he instinctively reached toward me. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” But the next second I slapped his hand away hard. His body reeked of Fiona’s perfume—I could smell it just getting close. It made me sick. Liam’s outstretched hand froze. He snorted coldly and pulled it back. “You have time to wander around out here—I see you’re just too idle.” “Get home and take care of the baby. And stay away from Fiona from now on.” With that, the door closed in my face. Listening to the flirtatious laughter from inside, I turned and left numbly.

I don’t know how I made it home. My heart had already died the moment I saw Liam and Fiona together. Fiona was the mistress he kept on the side—I’d always known this. Over the years we’d fought countless times about it. Just when I’d finally made up my mind to divorce him, I unexpectedly got pregnant with the baby. I’d naively hoped this child could win back his heart. Never imagining that nothing could surpass Fiona’s place in his heart. Not just Liam—every man who’d seen Fiona fell for her without exception. Even knowing she had other men, they still threw themselves at her willingly, ready to go through fire and water for her. They’d risk everything, even if it meant losing their families. It turned out all of this was because of that Heartthrob System. Without Fiona around, my baby finally smiled at me. Looking at the child I’d carried for ten months, endless bitterness filled my heart. I’d been too stubborn, bringing him into this world to suffer. That evening, Liam finally came home. But the first thing he did upon seeing me was rush over and start tearing at my clothes. I struggled desperately, trying to break free from his grasp. “Liam! Have you lost your mind?” “Isn’t Fiona enough for you? Don’t touch me!” I couldn’t take it anymore and slapped him hard across the face. Taking advantage of his stunned moment, I clutched my torn clothes and backed away. He touched his reddened face in disbelief and spat: “You think I want to touch you? Fiona said the baby’s too old now—he won’t bond properly. A newborn would develop better maternal feelings.” “Have another child. When it’s born, we’ll send it straight to Fiona.” I never imagined they could come up with something so absurd. I screamed at him in despair: “What do you think I am? A breeding tool?” A breeding tool to have children for another woman! Seeing I wouldn’t cooperate, Liam’s expression darkened completely. He grabbed my hand and dragged me outside. “If you won’t listen to reason, don’t blame me for using force.” I struggled with all my might but couldn’t break free from his grip. I could only let him drag me to the hospital. My brother was already waiting at the operating room entrance. Seeing Liam dragging me over, understanding flashed in his eyes. “Just as I thought—she wouldn’t cooperate willingly.” My back went stiff. This was a trap they’d set together? “Do IVF. Save time. When the baby’s born, don’t let her see it—take it straight to Fiona.” In just a few words, the two of them decided my fate, pulling me toward the operating room. I struggled desperately, crying out hoarsely. “Are you even human? Why should I have a child for her?” “Ethan Williams, I’m your sister!” Suddenly, soft laughter came from behind. Fiona stood not far away, mockingly enjoying my humiliation. I froze at her appearance, shocked at how obvious the system’s side effects were. She’d gained a whole size and showed signs of continuing to gain weight. But she seemed completely unaware, still affectedly playing with her hair. “Sarah, you’re not as charming as me. What else can you do besides have babies?” “Even your own brother won’t side with you. How pathetic.” She gave me a mocking glance and continued urging the two men. “Hurry up and push her in. Oh, and I want a son. Make sure she has a boy.” But as her words fell, neither my brother nor Liam reacted. They were no longer following her every command like before. Both looked bewildered, staring at Fiona with unfamiliar eyes. And under our gaze, her figure visibly expanded horizontally. Her facial skin became pitted and bumpy. She looked exactly like a toad. After staring in shock for a long while, they finally managed to say: “Holy crap, who’s this ugly toad?”

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I was an orphan saved by Ethan Reed. He cherished me, adored me, made me the most envied girl in the city—yet he never married me. That day, I overheard him talking to his best friend about me. His tone was indifferent. “She’s just an orphan with no status. How could I possibly marry her?” At his grand wedding to a high-society woman, my uncle arranged for me to marry far away. I got into the car leaving town. That day, he abandoned everything and chased after me, just to tell me—he regretted it. “Clara, I promise you. I’ll marry him.” When I calmly made this decision, Clara froze. She gripped my hand tightly. “Sophia, are you sure about this?” I nodded gently. “It’s what I want. I’m not planning to marry Ethan Reed anymore.” I understood why Clara was shocked. I’d been frail and sickly since childhood. William and Clara took pity on me and kept me by their side, never pressuring me about marriage. But now I was almost twenty-five. In this city, if I couldn’t marry my childhood sweetheart Ethan Reed, everyone would see me as a spinster who’d aimed too high and ended up with nothing. But after how he treated me publicly, not only would no one in the entire city dare marry me—I’d become a laughingstock behind closed doors. Leaving this city was the only dignified way out. I lowered my head, accidentally cutting my finger on a piece of fruit. Blood dripped onto the floor, a dull ache spreading. Clara sighed. “If Ethan Reed isn’t the right man, then we won’t marry him.” My thoughts drifted. Was Ethan Reed really not the right man? No. He just wasn’t the right man for me. That year, my father and brother died on duty. My mother followed them in grief. William and Clara took me in. They never touched my family’s death benefits or inheritance—they only hoped to find me a good future. One day, I went out alone to choose a birthday gift for Clara. A criminal dragged me into a dead-end alley. At that critical moment, Ethan Reed happened to be on leave from the military. He drove past the alley entrance and rescued me from the criminal just in time, subduing him. “Miss, are you okay?” I’ll never forget that day. The young man reached out his hand to my terrified self, a smile slowly spreading across his eyes. Ethan Reed fixed my disheveled hair and personally took me home. “Sophia, from now on, I’ll be by your side. No one will dare bully you again.” He pitied me for losing both parents and being sickly. From that day on, he often stayed by my side, bringing me all kinds of novel gifts, making me happy. On my fourteenth birthday, he personally gave me a necklace he designed himself. The pendant was engraved with both our names. The seeds of young love quietly sprouted day by day. I even took it for granted that Ethan Reed was my destined person. I once tentatively asked him what would happen if I couldn’t find the right person when I came of age. He answered without hesitation. “So what? I’ll just marry you then.” I believed him. I kept those words in my heart. Under Ethan Reed’s protection, he pampered me into the most enviable girl in the city. After I came of age, I had plenty of suitors, but William politely declined them all. At a family banquet, William turned away those who came asking about me. “My Sophia is still young and doesn’t understand anything. Please forgive us.” Ethan Reed, usually casual and easygoing, laughed heartily. “Not at all. Didn’t Sophia just make that kind of joke in front of me the other day?” The whole table fell silent. I gripped my fork tightly, my face burning. That time when we were alone together, I’d blurted out something flirtatious without thinking. That kind of private joke was now being aired publicly at the dinner table. A girl from a scholarly family leaving such a frivolous impression—everyone assumed Ethan Reed would definitely marry me. Gradually no one came asking anymore. Even William almost tacitly approved of this marriage, allowing him in and out of the house like family. I kept waiting. The first year, he was new to the military. He promised to propose to my parents once he achieved something. The second year, he became an officer. He promised to give me the best of everything once he was stable. The third year, he received his military rank. He said when he returned, he’d marry me as his only wife. By the sixth year, that young man who once fixed my hair had grown into a valiant, distinguished soldier. He was stationed at the border year-round on missions. Each time he returned, he’d come see me first. But after returning from the border that time, there was no word from him for ages. I waited joyfully for him to fulfill his promise, but he never came. Until Isabella Sullivan appeared. On a bridge by the lake on a drizzly day, I witnessed Ethan Reed personally fastening a pendant to her bag. The next moment, he took the woman’s hand of his own accord.

My mind went hot. I rushed forward without thinking. “What are you doing?” I angrily snatched the object from his hand. The pendant fell to the ground. In an instant, it shattered to pieces. Isabella Sullivan looked shocked, staring at the fragments on the ground with heartache. “Sophia, I know you’re upset. I wouldn’t have minded if you wanted this pendant for yourself, but why did you have to smash it?” On the crowded bridge, many people stopped to watch. Ethan Reed’s face instantly stiffened. “Ethan Reed, you said you’d marry me.” My voice trembled, gradually taking on a tearful tone. “That you’d only be good to me.” But Ethan Reed looked at me with unfamiliar eyes, frowning. “What man would dare want a woman as tactless as you!” I stood frozen, watching helplessly as he left with Isabella Sullivan in his arms. The crowd murmured among themselves. “Didn’t Ethan Reed say he’d marry Sophia? How can he humiliate her publicly like this?” “What else? Ethan Reed has a bright future. Sophia was obviously the one throwing herself at him this whole time.” “Tsk tsk, but Sophia’s nearly an old maid now. If Ethan Reed doesn’t want her, probably only divorced men would marry her.” In that moment, my whole body trembled. The buzzing murmurs around me felt like sharp knives stabbing into my heart, one after another. I ran home crying. I fell while running and scraped my arm. That Ethan Reed who once said he’d always protect me had become the very person who hurt me. When my best friend found me at the alley entrance that day, she said I looked completely lost, unsteady on my feet, and it terrified her. She cried tears of heartache. “Ethan Reed used to care about you so much… how did it come to this?” But I was like a walking corpse then—where would my soul be? I had a high fever and fell seriously ill. When I woke up, the first thing I did was ask through blurred, teary eyes: “Did he come?” While I was unconscious, Ethan Reed had come once but was turned away at the door. He only said he’d wronged me and would come apologize properly once I recovered. My best friend hesitated a long time before telling me. It turned out he’d already sought his superior’s approval and would soon marry the daughter of a high-ranking official—Isabella Sullivan. They’d known each other since university. Even their professors praised their relationship. Word had spread throughout the social circle. No one envied me anymore. Everyone praised what a perfect match they were. As for me, there was only pity or mockery—just a pathetic fool who’d loved in vain. During that time, one of William’s old friends from out of town came to visit and heard about my situation. That friend was well-off. His son Ryan Ford was young and accomplished, having taken over the family business with considerable assets in this area. William told me privately that Ryan Ford had seen my photo and felt we’d get along well. If I didn’t mind, we could get to know each other. If we got along, we could date. If not, no pressure. William sighed. “Sophia, if you’re unwilling, next month you’ll probably have to marry just anyone. I’m afraid you’ll end up with the wrong person.” I clenched my hands slightly. I’d thought about leaving this city, but going to a strange place alone to start over—I didn’t know if I could even stand on my own feet. Besides, William’s family had sheltered me as I grew up. I couldn’t let them keep worrying about me. “I’ll follow William’s decision.” And so, with the arrangement of both families, Ryan Ford made a special trip from out of town to meet me. We met a few times. He didn’t talk much, but he was sincere and dependable in his actions. He said there was no rush—to take my time considering. I didn’t need long to agree. Not because I particularly liked him, but because I was tired. I didn’t want to wait anymore. On the day I was leaving, I looked at the roomful of jewelry, clothes, and ornate wedding garments, yet felt nothing. I’d imagined countless times what I’d look like in a wedding dress, marrying Ethan Reed. Only now did I understand it had all been a foolish dream. Leaving here, perhaps this heartbreak would finally end.

On this day, Ethan Reed brought Isabella Sullivan to apologize in person, bringing many expensive gifts. William coldly refused and had someone throw those gifts out. “Ethan Reed, are you bullying Sophia because she’s alone in the world? Or do you think there’s no one behind her?” Ethan Reed lowered his head. “I apologize.” Then, in front of everyone, he said to me directly: “Sophia, we’ve been childhood friends for years. When we were young and naive, we mistakenly thought we could promise each other forever. Now I understand it was just sibling affection.” “From now on, I’ll still treat you as a sister. Let’s end those childhood promises here.” I stopped William, who was about to lose his temper. I walked step by step to Ethan Reed, without the tears everyone expected. Instead, I took a glass of wine for myself and handed him one. It was fruit wine we’d brewed together before. That time he said we’d drink it together when he returned. I never thought I’d wait years. “Ethan Reed, after we drink this wine, our promise is canceled. Our childhood friendship ends here too. I wish you success in all things and happiness.” His expression was complex. He took the wine glass and drained it, saying quietly: “Thank you. I hope Sophia also finds the right person soon and a better future.” Perhaps he was thanking me for not clinging to him, thanking me for letting him go. Back in my room, my best friend couldn’t help but tear up. “Sophia, how can you accept Ethan Reed’s change of heart so easily? You loved him so much…” Because I’d been obsessed too, had fantasies too. In the end, I knew his heart had changed. Since I knew the outcome, better to let go with pain and keep what dignity remained. “I’m the one who doesn’t want him anymore.” I looked toward the falling yellow leaves outside the window, my vision gradually blurring. At the banquet, William sighed deeply. “No matter what, I watched you and Sophia grow up together. This is the last drink. Once you’re married, don’t keep in contact anymore.” “Thank you, William, for understanding.” Ethan Reed brought me a food box. He wanted to open it himself, but after hesitating, he stopped. Isabella Sullivan beside him took it over. “I remember you loves cake. I had Isabella Sullivan make some specially for you.” He used to know I loved all kinds of pastries. He’d always find different shops and bring them to me like treasures. I never told him that eating too many gave me toothaches. I’d secretly endure it, carefully storing those sweet-as-honey pastries in a box. With that storage, I’d hidden away the only sweetness of half my life. Isabella Sullivan picked up a piece and held it to me, her smile meaningful. “Sophia ate pastries from Ethan Reed for so many years. You won’t be able to anymore, so you should get used to new flavors. Try my cooking.” I couldn’t refuse. I politely took it and bit down. But the filling was unbearably sour and bitter, hard to swallow. I knew she was making a point. “Is it good?” Isabella Sullivan asked with a smile. I forced down the sourness in my throat and shook my head gently. “Sweets hurt the stomach. I was ignorant and greedy as a child. I stopped liking them long ago.”

Hearing me say this, Isabella Sullivan affectionately took my hand. “Sophia’s reached marriageable age. When there’s time, I’ll take you to parties to look around. Pick any excellent young man you like, so you won’t be so narrow-minded, fixating on just one person.” Ethan Reed only glanced at me indifferently. “No rush. Sophia deserves better. Take your time choosing.” After several rounds of drinks, I sat restlessly and quietly left the table. The last pool of lotus flowers in the back garden had withered. Autumn rain on faded lotuses looked especially desolate and beautiful. In the past, every autumn, the dead leaves would all be pulled out. Once when Ethan Reed came, he stopped this, smiling and saying to me: “Why pull them all out so cleanly?” I remembered every word he said. From then on, the lotus flowers in my pool bloomed every year and faded in autumn. I never let anyone remove them. This time, my best friend asked me, “Sophia, should we keep these dead leaves?” I shook my head. “No need to keep them anymore.” After all, the person who listened to the rain and admired the lotuses with me was already gone. As I stared lost in thought, Isabella Sullivan had quietly walked up behind me. “Is Sophia using the scenery to express her feelings and ease her grievances?” “But I must remind you—Ethan doesn’t love you at all.” “In this world, only feelings cannot be forced.” I looked at her smugness and shook my head gently. “I have no intention of competing with you. Ethan Reed and I have nothing to do with each other anymore.” Isabella Sullivan’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Really? But only by making him detest you will you truly be free.” She suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered: “That day you broke my love token. Today I’ll show you the price you have to pay.” Isabella Sullivan grabbed my wrist and used my strength to push hard. The pool water in early autumn carried threads of cold air. Isabella Sullivan fell in with a splash. I stood there at a loss. At that moment, Ethan Reed happened to come out from the front hall and saw this scene. He jumped in without hesitation, desperately pulling Isabella Sullivan out. He lifted his dripping face, furious. “Sophia, haven’t you made enough of a scene?” “Even if I weren’t marrying Isabella, I could never marry you. Stop having foolish fantasies!” As clever as he was, how could he not distinguish Isabella Sullivan’s clumsy trick? But no matter how I tried to explain, he only believed what he wanted to believe. My best friend’s voice changed pitch in her anxiety: “Isabella Sullivan was the one who went crazy and jumped in the water herself! Why are you blaming our Sophia?” Ethan Reed only said coldly: “You’re her best friend. Of course you’d speak for her.” He ordered someone to call a doctor. When he lowered his head and pressed his forehead tightly against Isabella Sullivan’s, everything went quiet. The thread I’d held onto for so long quietly snapped. I thought when I saw all this with my own eyes, it wouldn’t hurt anymore. In reality, it wasn’t up to me at all. The pain was still sharp. When everyone rushed anxiously to check on Isabella Sullivan, I gripped my best friend’s hand. “Sophia, how can they all not believe you?” “It doesn’t matter anymore. Did you pack up all my things?” My best friend nodded vigorously. I took all the things Ethan Reed had given me, sprinkled them with powder, and personally burned them in the back garden. In the flickering firelight, I watched the flames devour the paper kites and paintings, smiling with relief. Ethan Reed, I don’t have to love you anymore. By coincidence, Ethan Reed and Isabella Sullivan’s wedding was also set for the third of next month. The entire city was lively with celebration. On their wedding day, I got into Ryan Ford’s car that came to pick me up and quietly left the city. I looked at the streets behind me, red silk everywhere, and rolled down the window.

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My brother didn’t do well on his high school entrance exams, and the out-of-district enrollment fee was $10,000. My biological mom came to me for help: “Maya, your brother is at the age where he needs a good education, and Mom has no other way. “It just so happens there’s cash in the register at the supermarket where I work. I’ll bring the money home after my shift today. You just say you stole it, and I’ll call the cops to take you away. “When your Uncle Bob finds out, he’ll definitely bring the money to bail you out. Once the money is paid back, you’ll be fine, and your brother will have his enrollment fee.” I never imagined she could be this shameless, and I flat-out refused. But she kept crying to me about how hard life was for her and my dad, begging me to help them just this once. I had finally had enough. “Why should I help? If your life is hard, is it my fault?” “Looks to me like you guys have it pretty easy having kids! If you have nothing better to do, why don’t you watch more TV?” 1 My health has been poor since I was born. Getting sick twice a month, with one illness lasting fifteen days. My mom’s payday and my dad’s payday were basically the trigger buttons for my illnesses. My Uncle Bob always joked, “This one’s a lucky charm.” My parents, however, scoffed at that, especially when they found out my mom was pregnant again. Because having a second child meant a hefty fine back then, and they simply couldn’t afford it. I don’t know who gave my mom the awful idea, but she threw all my clothes into a tattered backpack and dumped me on Uncle Bob’s doorstep. Before leaving, she repeatedly warned me: “Your Uncle Bob always says you’re a lucky charm. Today, I’m giving that luck to him. “Your Aunt Sarah is a barren hen who can’t lay eggs. If I give her a child, shouldn’t she be eternally grateful? “Be a good girl. Your Uncle Bob married into her family; he doesn’t have much say or status in that house. “You need to know your place and read the room. Don’t act like you’re still at home, completely oblivious.” “Just stay there and get fed. Don’t forget to come home during winter and summer breaks. Once your brother is born, you can help me out.” After dropping those words, she took off running. She looked like the devil himself was chasing her. The door was shut tight, and because the eaves were small, there wasn’t a sliver of shade on the porch. I was baking under the blazing sun for four hours. By the time Uncle Bob and Aunt Sarah came home, I was barely breathing. From afar, I heard a gasp: “Bob, what’s lying on our porch?” Then came Uncle Bob’s voice: “Looks like a little kid.” Aunt Sarah’s voice sounded a bit resentful: “You must be going crazy wanting a kid, right? Whose kid is as thin as a reed?” Uncle Bob didn’t argue back, and I secretly thought to myself: “Uncle Bob really doesn’t have any status in this house. I definitely can’t cause him any trouble. He always seemed to like me so much.” My consciousness grew increasingly blurry, and finally, all I could hear was a buzzing sound in my ears. 2 When I woke up, I felt a cool sensation underneath me. I looked closely and realized it was a bamboo cooling mat. This was a rare luxury for us back then; my parents had talked about buying one for two years but couldn’t bring themselves to spend the money. I remembered what my mom had said: “Your Uncle Bob really hit the jackpot marrying into her family. He might not have the pride of being the head of the household, but he definitely has the perks. “Every time he brings gifts, they’re the newest and most expensive things on the market.” What reached my ears was the sound of an argument. The voices weren’t loud, and the words weren’t overly heated, but every sentence insisted that the child had to be sent back. “What is going on with your older brother and sister-in-law? They ignore us for a century, and even when we go back and bring gifts, they don’t even look us in the eye. “Now they just dump a kid on our doorstep. If you accept this, you’re a complete pushover! “Other people might not know what’s going on, but do you think we don’t? “When we went back for Christmas, your sister-in-law’s belly couldn’t be hidden anymore. She kept telling me she just gained weight. They can’t even afford a decent meal in that house! “Now she’s probably about to give birth! I heard the fine for having another kid is thousands of dollars now. “Your brother and sister-in-law definitely don’t want to pay that, so they kicked Maya out and sent her to you!” Uncle Bob said: “Keep your voice down, don’t wake the child.” “Am I not speaking quietly enough? Everyone knows I, Sarah Davis, have a loud voice! I’m restraining myself as much as I can. “I don’t care. First thing tomorrow morning, you’re sending her back. I’m not going to vaguely raise someone else’s kid!” When people feel sad, they usually miss home a little bit. But all that came to my mind was my dad’s drunken stupors and my mom’s complaints and angry scolding. I touched the bamboo mat beneath me, thinking: Just let me enjoy this cool, sweet dream from tonight until dawn. 3 Early the next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, something was stuffed into my mouth. Aunt Sarah was watching me from the side, so I didn’t dare spit it out. Just as I was about to swallow, she patted me: “Are you silly? It’s a chewy candy, you have to chew it. “If you swallow it whole and choke to death, your mom will come looking for me for compensation, won’t she?” I hurriedly wanted to say no, but because the candy in my mouth was too big, I couldn’t get a word out and instead drooled a few drops. Aunt Sarah probably found me disgusting, stepped back a bit, and tossed a few more candies my way: “If you feel dizzy, eat one.” She pointed to a tin can behind her: “They’re all in there. Put two in your pocket before you leave.” It was a deep red tin box with a beautiful holiday design on it. It was a famous brand, the kind families usually only bought during the holidays. My mom bought a box one year. I would sneak one every few days, sneak one every few days. Before the holidays even arrived, it was empty, and my mom gave me a good beating for it. After that, we never bought them again. I only remembered the mouth-watering sweetness. I chewed hard a few times. It was still just as fragrant and sweet. It felt like all my worries were just being chewed up and tossed to the back of my mind. Right before lunchtime, I heard Uncle Bob say: “After lunch, I’m going to my brother’s house.” Was he going to send me back? But Mom said that wasn’t my home anymore, otherwise, my little brother wouldn’t be able to be born. I couldn’t help but look at the candy tin again, wondering if I could grab two more before I left? Aunt Sarah was probably just being polite; nobody likes a greedy kid. Sure enough, Uncle Bob said: “Maya, why are you still chewing candy right before lunch?” I thought he was going to scold me, but then he said: “It’s fine if it’s right before lunch, but remember to brush your teeth after eating candy next time. Cavities hurt like crazy.” 4 I nervously finished my lunch that day. I thought I would lose my appetite from worrying, but the sweet and sour ribs were just too good. Even though the flavor was strong, it was different from what I remembered. I ate four or five pieces in a row. By the time I remembered my mom’s instruction to “eat less when you’re at someone else’s house,” it was too late. Aunt Sarah clicked her tongue, and I quickly put down my chopsticks. But then she said to Uncle Bob: “Bob, your brother’s family lives way too rough. Don’t they ever feed the kid meat?” “The kid has been sick a lot. Our Maya has a weak constitution, and they can’t save much money.” Aunt Sarah rolled her eyes: “How much does a cold or a fever cost? You just listen to their excuses; they just want to get money out of you. “The kid can eat this much, how bad can her health be? They’re saving up to have a son, how could they not have money saved? “Just wait and see, they’ll build a new house within two years.” Uncle Bob glanced at me and said to Aunt Sarah: “Don’t talk nonsense in front of the child. Eat up, Maya. Isn’t your Aunt Sarah’s cooking just okay? “Next time, Uncle Bob will show you his skills; you won’t even want to look at these ribs!” Aunt Sarah ignored him: “I’m not talking nonsense. Only you treat kids like idiots; they know exactly what’s going on. “Hurry up and finish eating and get out of here. Don’t come back until things are sorted. It annoys me just looking at you Smiths.” Since my last name was also Smith, I quickly scarfed down the food in my bowl. Uncle Bob, also a Smith, was even faster than me. He threw his chopsticks down and said to us: “Wait here, I’ll be right back. Don’t cook dinner; it’s a waste of food.” 5 I watched longingly as Uncle Bob hopped on his bike and sped away. I only had one thought in my head: Did he forget to take me with him? Aunt Sarah tapped the table and asked me: “Is the sweet and sour pork bitter?” I nodded honestly: “It’s bitter, but the meat is very savory.” Aunt Sarah also threw down her chopsticks, with the exact same expression as Uncle Bob: “Wait here. Your Uncle Bob will be right back. When he gets back, I’ll make you a fresh batch.” I watched her stand up to clear the table, about to dump the remaining ribs into the trash. I quickly, with lightning speed, scraped them all into my bowl. “Aunt Sarah, I can still eat it. I think it’s delicious.” While clearing the bowls, Aunt Sarah muttered: “How did that bad apple of a family produce such a clever kid? Why does our Bob always get the short end of the stick when he’s such a good guy!” That afternoon, Aunt Sarah and I didn’t do anything. We just sat on the porch without eaves, waiting for Uncle Bob all afternoon. The weather was cooperating; it wasn’t a blazing sun like the day before. Instead, there was a gentle breeze from time to time, which was quite pleasant. I cautiously asked Aunt Sarah: “Are there crops in the field? I can help plant and harvest.” I raised my arm to her: “Don’t let my skinny arms and legs fool you; I’m really strong and I’m great at chores.” Just then, someone walked by the door carrying soybean stalks, and I immediately added: “I know how to shell soybeans too. I’m fast and good at it. I’m not afraid of the itch, and I’m not afraid of the fuzzy caterpillars.” Aunt Sarah didn’t say anything, just kept staring straight ahead until a figure appeared at the end of the road. It was Uncle Bob pedaling his bike back! He was holding something up in his hand, shouting towards us: “It’s done!” 6 I didn’t know what he meant by “it’s done,” but he looked very excited, and even Aunt Sarah couldn’t help but smile, her eyes crinkling. She tucked a reddish-brown booklet into her pocket and said: “Let’s have lamb hotpot for dinner tonight. My dad bought a sheep from the market, had it butchered, and told us to come pick it up.” Uncle Bob laughed, walked up to me, and ruffled my hair: “Let’s go. I’ll take Maya to Dad’s place and tell him the news.” I was still in a state of confusion, completely unaware of what had happened, standing there blankly without reacting. Aunt Sarah said from the side: “We can’t call her Maya anymore; it sounds terrible. Maya, Maya, Maya… I think their miserable lives are because of this name!” Uncle Bob laughed good-naturedly: “The name on the family register is the one you picked before.” After saying this, he patted my head: “Then let’s call you Stella. Bright and shining. From now on, the three of us will live a beautiful life.” Stella? What a beautiful, bright name. When my mom called my name before, I didn’t think there was anything weird about it. But after I started school and learned phonetics, I realized she was mispronouncing it. I corrected her many times, but she never changed it. Sometimes she would impatiently snap at me: “That’s just my accent, I can’t change it. Stop bothering me with such trivial things.” When Aunt Sarah opened the family register to show me my name, she suddenly froze. Before I could see what was wrong, she said to Uncle Bob: “Didn’t we agree yesterday to only change her first name and not her last name?” Uncle Bob was still smiling: “I married into your family. It’s so hard for us to have a child; of course, she has to take your last name. “Besides, I think Davis sounds better than Smith. Stella Davis, what a bright name.” That day, Aunt Sarah kept staring at Uncle Bob, her eyes brighter than the stars outside. 7 That night, I went to Aunt Sarah’s childhood home. It sounds far, but in reality, it was just one wall away. Usually, if you spoke a little louder, you could hear everything perfectly from the back. We had just finished talking about going to get the lamb when a shout came from over there: “What do you mean ‘pick it up’? I’ll just cook it here and you guys can come over and eat!” The tone of voice was exactly like Aunt Sarah’s. As soon as we walked in the door, the energetic grandpa said: “Little girl is so shy, not even greeting anyone?” I hurriedly called out “Grandpa.” He seemed quite happy and magically pulled a red envelope from his pocket: “Here, a welcome gift.” I froze, and Uncle Bob was equally surprised: “Dad, when did you prepare this?” “With you two yelling so loud, I could hear you from two miles away. Did you bring the family register? Let me see.” Uncle Bob immediately turned around and left. Aunt Sarah didn’t stop him; she just pulled the reddish-brown booklet from her pocket and handed it to Grandpa. The old man’s eyes instantly welled up: “This is great. This is a good name too. You two finally have a child. Now you can really enjoy life.” I still didn’t have a strong sense of reality. I didn’t quite understand what the family register meant for me until Grandpa said: “From now on, you’ll live with your Uncle Bob and Aunt Sarah, and you’ll take care of them when they’re old, understand?” I nodded quickly, and Aunt Sarah waved her hand dismissively: “I’m not expecting that. Did you keep me around just so I could take care of you in your old age?” Grandpa glared, his beard puffing out: “Is that the same thing? You can’t have kids, and your health isn’t good. “If I didn’t keep you close, you’d be tortured to death by your in-laws!” “Exactly. My personality is just like yours. Raising a child isn’t just an insurance policy for old age; I just love kids.” When Uncle Bob ran back in, groaning, “Oh no,” and saying he seemed to have lost the newly issued family register, the few of us couldn’t help but laugh together. 8 The lamb hotpot was so incredibly delicious. I dreamed of eating it for days afterward, smacking my lips every morning when I woke up. Seeing how much I craved it, Aunt Sarah had Grandpa make me a bowl of lamb noodle soup. I was sitting in the living room, eagerly devouring it, when my mom walked in. Her eyes were sharp; they lit up instantly, and she called out to me. “Maya, Mom wasn’t wrong, was she? Sending you here was for you to enjoy life. Looks to me like you’re eating better here than at home.” I moved the noodle bowl away from her. She seemed unable to stand the smell and almost gagged. I quickly moved the noodles further away, afraid she would contaminate my food. “Mom’s due date is approaching, you need to come back with Mom. It’s summer vacation, so you can take care of Mom during her postpartum recovery, and also help turn the soil in the fields. “You can come back when school starts. After all, your Uncle Bob and Aunt Sarah both have to work; they’re factory workers and don’t have time to take care of you. It’s boring for you here anyway.” Just as I was at a loss for what to do, a vigorous shout came from next door: “Is Stella home?” I immediately answered “Yes,” which also answered my mom’s blurted question, “Who is Stella?” Under her astonished gaze, I hurried outside. When I returned, I was holding freshly made cornbread and stir-fried vegetables. My mom found it even more unbelievable: “Didn’t you just eat noodles? How can you still eat all this cornbread?” I whispered: “Aunt Sarah and Grandpa both said growing kids get hungry fast.” My mom scoffed: “Must have too much money to burn! Hurry up and pack your clothes to leave with Mom. My stomach is starting to hurt; if we wait any longer, I’m afraid I’ll give birth on the road.” “Your Aunt Sarah keeps this place clean and tidy, and gives you good food. If I don’t come get you soon, you probably won’t even know where your real home is.” For once, I talked back: “This is my home. Aunt Sarah said people on the same family register are one family.”

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I woke up with a baby in a swaddle right next to me. A mechanical voice, buzzing with excitement, echoed in my head. “You must abandon her! Leave her to her alcoholic, abusive father. She will grow up through endless hardship. Then, like a resilient wildflower blooming in adversity, she will catch the eye of the heir to the Sterling Group. Once they get married, you can return to acknowledge her as your daughter, and you will live the rest of your life in absolute wealth and luxury!” I stared at the baby, who was currently giggling at me, and remained silent for a long time. “What if I don’t abandon her?” The System froze, seemingly shocked that anyone would even ask that question. Quickly, its tone turned mocking: “Then she will become the most ordinary, average person. She will go to a normal college, get a normal job, and she will never attract the attention of a billionaire CEO.” I smiled. “That sounds like a pretty good life, doesn’t it?” If the only purpose of her suffering was to attract the attention of some man… Then avoiding all that suffering was a much better deal, wasn’t it? 01 I kept Lily. No, maybe I should call her Aurora now. Ignoring the System’s protests, I changed her original, cliché novel name. She now shares my last name. I hated how in those romance novels, the female leads could never escape those repetitive, overly sweet names—always something delicate, soft, or weak. Meanwhile, the male leads always had names carefully selected by the author to sound powerful, profound, and dominant. I liked the name Aurora. Dawn’s light, standing strong and facing the sun. I wanted my daughter to escape the fate of depending on others. I wanted her to live independently and freely. 02 When Aurora was seven, she started elementary school. She had a bright and cheerful personality, loved by both her teachers and classmates. Until one day, she came home crying. The pigtails I had carefully braided for her were messy and undone. I asked her what happened. She sobbed, “Tommy keeps pulling my hair during class.” I knew Tommy. He was the boy who sat right behind her. I had seen him at the parent-teacher conference. He was a scrawny, overly energetic kid. I frowned. “Did you tell the teacher?” Aurora nodded. “I did, but…” She hesitated. “But the teacher said Tommy only pulls my hair because he has a crush on me.” I didn’t lose my temper in front of my daughter. Instead, I knelt down gently and said to her: “Let’s go talk to Ms. Patterson together, okay?” In the classroom, the teacher, wearing thick red-rimmed glasses, looked up from her lesson plans with a teasing smile. She pointed her chin toward my daughter, whom I had seated a short distance away. “Aurora is a very pretty girl. A lot of the little boys in class have a crush on her. You know how it is—boys at this age don’t know how to express their feelings, so they act out. They tease her a bit, pull her hair a bit.” She seemed to want to use that subtle, knowing smile to group us into the same category. A category of women who had experienced the same “affectionate harassment” and were supposed to feel flattered by it. But in the face of my stony silence, her smile slowly froze. I said flatly, “I don’t understand. All I know is that my daughter is being harassed. This is school bullying.” The teacher seemed taken aback, as if the severity of the word “bullying” had offended her. She set her thermos down with a thud and sat up straight. “Aurora’s mom, you’re being a bit unreasonable. They’re just little kids, what do they know about bullying? They’re just playing around.” “Playing around?” I repeated her words. “If it’s just ‘playing around,’ then how about we move Tommy to sit right behind your daughter?” It was an open secret that Ms. Patterson’s daughter was also in this class. The teacher, who had been arguing so righteously just a second ago, suddenly went mute. I understood perfectly. It wasn’t that she didn’t know this behavior was wrong. It was just that she couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. Just like so many unspoken rules in our society. We all know it’s wrong, but for hundreds of years, no one has ever stood up and said “No.” Because breaking the mold is infinitely more troublesome than just conforming to it. It’s so much easier to wave it off as “just playing around” than to put in the immense effort required to teach little boys to respect women from a young age. But I was going to break the mold. For my daughter. And for the countless girls in the future who would get their hair pulled. To tell them: This is not a crush. This is harassment. This is bullying. “Ms. Patterson,” I snapped her back to reality. “You have two choices right now. First, move Tommy to sit behind your daughter. Second, separate my daughter and Tommy immediately, and teach the boys in your class that the correct way to show you like someone is never to bully them, but to respect and care for them.” The teacher deflated like a popped balloon. “I’ll choose the second option.” I took my daughter’s hand and walked out, satisfied. As we reached the door, Ms. Patterson couldn’t resist calling out bitterly, “Aurora’s mom, interfering this much is going to affect your child’s normal socialization with her peers.” I didn’t even turn my head. My tone was absolute. “That is none of your concern.” On the way home, I shared my concerns with Aurora. “Sweetie, if Tommy refuses to play with you anymore because of what Mommy did today, will you be sad?” Over the years, my daughter and I had an agreement: we always spoke our minds and never kept things bottled up. Aurora thought for a moment, then asked timidly, “Does that mean Tommy will never pull my hair again?” I nodded. “That’s right.” My daughter instantly threw her arms around me, her eyes sparkling. “Then you are the best mommy in the whole wide world!” Wrapped in her warm, soft little arms, all my doubts vanished instantly. I thought, This is truly the greatest compliment in the world. 03 That night, after my daughter fell asleep, the System popped up. Ever since I unilaterally decided to keep Aurora, it had rarely shown itself. It was its form of silent protest against my actions. But to ensure we completed our overarching mission, it would occasionally pop up to remind me. Like today— “Host, our ultimate goal is to get the Female Lead’s Happiness Meter to 100%. You really need to step it up.” I was suddenly curious. “According to the original plot, when exactly does her Happiness Meter hit 100%?” System: “When she marries the heir to the Sterling Group, obviously.” I asked again: “And what about after the wedding? What is her happiness level then? Did your creators ever check?” The System suddenly went silent. I knew it. They never checked. It’s just like the end of a fairy tale: it always stops at “and the Prince and Princess lived happily ever after.” But what happens next? Does the Princess ever get homesick? When she’s forced to learn suffocating royal etiquette, does she miss the days she ran free in the forest? Does she get dragged down by in-law drama? Does the Prince ever fall in love with someone else? All of this… no one cares. If happiness is fragile and constantly at risk of being lost, it cannot be called true happiness. Because something fleeting cannot support a lifetime. I asked again, “What is Aurora’s Happiness Meter at right now? Can you check?” I wasn’t asking out of a player’s ambition, but out of a mother’s genuine curiosity. My daughter… is she happy right now? The System disappeared for a moment, probably checking the data. A few seconds later, it returned, its mechanical voice glitching and screeching in disbelief. “54%… How is this possible?! This is the level of happiness she’s only supposed to reach after enduring unimaginable suffering and being saved by Arthur Sterling during their first encounter! What on earth did you do?!” I looked down at my sleeping daughter and smiled. “I just did what a mother is supposed to do.” Facts prove that the one who saves the Princess isn’t always the Prince. It can also be the Queen. And I believe that in the near future, the one who saves the Princess… will be the Princess herself. 04 A few years later, Aurora entered high school. Her grades were excellent, especially in STEM subjects, where she showed incredible talent. She was almost always ranked number one in her grade for math. But one day, she came home looking incredibly defeated, not saying a word. I immediately sensed something was wrong and asked: “Are you upset about your scores on the midterms?” Her voice instantly cracked. “A new transfer student came to our class. He took first place on the very first midterm. Even in math.” I understood her frustration. It’s a terrible feeling to be beaten by someone in the very field you excel at. So I asked gently, “How many students are in your grade?” Aurora thought for a second. “Six hundred and forty-five.” I smiled. “See? You didn’t lose to one person. You beat six hundred and forty-three other people. That is incredibly impressive.” Hearing my comfort, her mood visibly lifted. But she still looked a bit down. “Mom, our math teacher said that girls just aren’t naturally good at STEM. Even if my grades are good now, once we hit senior year, the boys will eventually overtake me.” I kept my smile and asked, “And which teacher made that brilliant deduction?” Again. Which. Teacher. My daughter sighed. “Our math teacher. He’s also the Vice Principal.” The System chimed in my head, gloating. “Uh-oh. This one isn’t going to be so easy to deal with.” I ignored it and thought for a moment. “Sweetie, do you want to transfer to a better private school?” Private schools have exorbitant tuition fees, but the upgrade in educational resources is undeniable. Most importantly, instead of treating students just as students, they treat students (and their parents) as clients. If anyone dared to say “girls aren’t suited for STEM” there, I would have the absolute leverage to demand they be fired. But to my surprise, the one who reacted most violently wasn’t Aurora, but the System. It screamed in my head: “Absolutely NOT!!!” I closed my eyes in exasperation. “Why are you freaking out?” The System frantically explained: “That transfer student is the Male Lead #2! He is a literal genius. He takes first place without even trying. At first, the Female Lead is crushed by this, but eventually, she starts looking up to him as a role model, and their relationship slowly heats up!” I was genuinely confused. “And?” The System sounded like it was pulling its hair out. “Do you not get it? He’s supposed to be the beacon of inspiration on her path forward!” I maintained my confused tone. “Using your rival as motivation is just good sportsmanship. That just means my daughter has a great mindset. What does the specific identity of the rival have to do with anything?” The System seemed to choke. “But… but…” It stammered for a long time but couldn’t form a coherent argument. I continued calmly: “Making the Female Lead suffer setbacks just so she can ‘grow’ isn’t loving the Female Lead. On the contrary, it’s just a cheap plot device to give Male Lead #2 a chance to show off. The underlying logic is still heavily male-centric. “True love means paving a smooth road for her, allowing her to step on everyone else as she climbs to the top.” The System fell silent for a long time before finally saying weakly, “But in all the missions I’ve overseen, the plots are always like this. The Female Lead must be misunderstood, framed by villains, and endure every possible hardship before she can rise from the ashes and truly find happiness.” I shook my head, pointing out the glaring flaw: “Then think back to the Male Leads in those stories. Don’t they always come from generational wealth? The greatest hardship they ever experience in their entire lives is a mild stomach ulcer. The Female Lead’s entire happiness relies solely on his love. What happens if he withdraws that love? She is left with absolutely nothing.” I concluded: “These stories are categorized as female romance, but at their core, they are just male power fantasies.” The System finally stopped arguing. It had been completely dismantled by my logic. After a while, it sighed. “But if she leaves Male Lead #2, that’s another plot point missed that could have raised her Happiness Meter. How is the story supposed to progress now…” I didn’t answer it. Because right at that moment, Aurora had finished thinking. Her eyes were dancing with excitement, though she hesitated. “Really? Can we really? But private school tuition is so expensive.” I smiled and ruffled her hair. “Of course we can! Mommy has made quite a bit of money over the years.” Over the years, aside from raising my daughter, I had been diligently running my own business. I hadn’t just sat around waiting for my daughter to marry a billionaire so I could ride her coattails, like in the original plot. Aurora’s eyes grew red, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She hugged me tightly. “Thank you, Mom. I know you’re doing this to give me a better environment. I promise I will study so hard. I won’t let you down!” In that moment, I thought: My daughter has truly grown up. In the past, I’d seen parents who loved “hardship education,” constantly reminding their kids how hard they worked and how much they sacrificed for them. But what’s the point? It just breeds unnecessary guilt. If you genuinely care for your child, they will naturally feel it. I wrapped my arms around Aurora. “Mommy’s biggest hope isn’t that you get perfect grades. It’s that you are truly happy.” 05 The transfer process went incredibly smoothly. With the dark cloud lifted from her mind, she became even more focused on her studies. I also hired a private math tutor for her. She was a female instructor who had graduated from the math department at MIT. Perhaps, currently, there are relatively fewer women who reach the absolute pinnacle in STEM fields. But that doesn’t mean “women are naturally unsuited for STEM.” On the contrary, it’s precisely because there are so many voices of doubt on this path that girls become increasingly discouraged. More than just tutoring, my main goal in hiring this specific instructor was to provide a role model. Even if very few people walk this path, as long as someone has walked it, it proves the path is viable. If someone else can do it, I believe my daughter can do it too. Because she is so brilliant and so resilient. … The day Aurora finished her SATs and college applications, my company was officially incorporated. Standing outside the testing center waiting for her, I asked the System: “Can you check Aurora’s current Happiness Meter?” The System replied: “One moment.” A few seconds later, it gasped in shock: “76%!” I didn’t understand. “Is that high?” The System’s voice was practically trembling. “Very high! Out of all the hosts who started missions at the same time as us, your score is the highest!” Just then, Aurora came skipping out of the testing center. She grabbed my arm, beaming. “Mom! The exams went so well! I’m confident—I guarantee you’ll be getting an acceptance call from MIT!” I smiled and took her backpack. “Oh my goodness! Then I really am riding my little Aurora’s coattails.” In the original novel, the Female Lead had to work multiple part-time jobs just to scrape together tuition while attending college. Despite working incredibly hard, she was still inevitably dragged down by external drama. In the end, she only managed to get into an average state college. In this life, I cleared every obstacle in her path so she could study in peace. And she was able to unleash her full potential, securing a spot at the most prestigious university in the country. The path of her life visibly widened. Even if she never married into a billionaire family, she now had the power to build her own empire. The System sighed in my head. “Host, perhaps your choice was correct. You really did change the trajectory of her life, and you changed my perspective too.” I smirked slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. 06 Aurora was accepted into the math department at MIT, just as she hoped. She was invited back to her high school to give a speech. On the auditorium stage, Aurora was radiant. After sharing her study tips, she concluded: “…And finally, I want to say this to all the girls here today. If a teacher ever tells you, ‘Girls aren’t suited for STEM,’ or ‘The boys will eventually overtake you,’ please, absolutely do not believe them. “I am standing here today hoping that in the future, when you start to doubt yourselves or your abilities, you might think of me. Think of the person who got accepted into MIT’s math program. And remember… she was a girl, too.” When she finished, the auditorium erupted in thunderous applause. I saw with my own eyes several girls who had been staring at the floor with bored expressions suddenly snap their heads up, their eyes shining with a fierce light. I also saw the Vice Principal who had once belittled my daughter. His face was a sickly shade of green. The Principal standing next to him suddenly looked like he had an epiphany. As if he finally understood why, no matter how hard he tried to convince us to stay, he couldn’t change my daughter’s determination to leave. I don’t know, nor do I care, how furious that Principal must have been at losing a brilliant student destined for MIT. Because we had already crossed mountains and sailed far beyond them. 07 After Aurora went to college, I fully dedicated myself to my business. We were both fighting hard in our respective fields. Some nosy acquaintances would tell me: “Why are you working so hard? You have a daughter, not a son. It’s not like you have to buy her a house or pay for a wedding.” I would just smile faintly. “Then it must suck to be your daughter. My daughter is lucky. The harder I work now, the less she has to suffer in the future. Everything I have is hers, and it’s definitely not going to be limited to just a house or a measly wedding fund.” The person’s face would sour, and they’d quickly shut up. After they left, the System asked me: “Host, I don’t really understand human emotions. Did she say that because she has a son?” I shook my head. “No. She has a daughter too. An only child.” The System was surprised. “Then why did she say that to you? Does she not love her own daughter?” I fell silent for a long time, unsure how to explain the complexities of human nature to a machine. “Maybe she does love her. But clearly, even though she gave birth to a daughter, she still values sons more.” The belief that you have to grind and hustle if you have a son, but you can kick back and relax if you have a daughter… It’s an insidious form of deeply ingrained sexism. In their hearts, they probably hold more affection for the imaginary son they never had. And because of that, they project those feelings onto sons-in-law or nephews. So, is it love? Maybe it’s love, but it’s a very conditional love. After all, “put your money where your mouth is” is the eternal, unchanging truth.

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I woke up in the middle of the night, starving and unable to sleep, so I gave in and ordered some delivery. Because I was pregnant, I specifically added a note: [Pregnant and really craving pickles. Please add extra, thank you!] Not long after, there was a relentless knocking at my apartment door. Annoyed, I messaged the Dasher: [Just leave it at the door. Please don’t knock.] The Dasher replied: [I like knocking. What are you going to do about it?] The knocking continued for almost ten minutes. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and decided to go out and confront the driver. Just as I reached the door, a few lines of text floated across my vision: [This pregnant woman has no idea, does she? That’s not a person outside at all! It’s a black cat that’s turned into a monster. If she goes out, it’s going to rip her stomach open and she’ll die a horrible death!] [It’s purposely trying to lure the woman out. After all, a fetus is the most tender meat, perfect for it to feed on.] [Ugh, targeting pregnant women. She has it the worst; she’s the first victim.] 1 My whole body trembled, and the hand I had reached out to the doorknob fell back to my side. A black cat turned monster? That sounded completely absurd! But… I suddenly remembered something. I took a few steps back, pulled out my phone, and scrolled through the neighborhood Facebook group chat from a few days ago. Someone in the group had posted a “Lost Cat” flyer. They said their black cat had suddenly gone missing and asked everyone to keep an eye out for it. I remembered when I tapped on the photo in the chat, it had actually startled me. Because the cat was twice the size of a normal cat. And while its body and limbs were black, its face was much paler. Even worse… The cat’s facial features were incredibly eerie. Looking closely, it almost looked human. The cat in the photo seemed to be smiling. The more I looked at it, the creepier it got. I immediately closed the group chat. More text floated across my vision like comments on a livestream: [Why hasn’t she opened the door yet? I remember the first victim opened it without hesitating.] [Did she realize something?] [No way. Animals that turn into monsters look almost identical to normal humans from the outside. How could she tell?] [I can’t watch this part. Her stomach gets ripped open while she’s still alive!] These words filled me with panic. Meanwhile, the knocking at the door hadn’t stopped. I instinctively rubbed my belly and called my husband. He answered quickly. I stayed silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and kept my voice very low so whoever was outside wouldn’t hear: “Honey, when are you getting off work? I’m scared. There’s a delivery guy at the door who won’t stop knocking.” My husband replied, “It’s just a delivery guy! What’s there to be scared of? I’ll be home in 5 minutes! If he’s still there, I’ll chase him off.” I said urgently: “No, no, honey, do you remember what I told you? The black cat that apartment 501 lost, the one with the human-like face. I suspect the thing outside our door is that black cat, and it’s turned into a monster! It wants to eat our baby!” My husband suddenly burst out laughing: “Hahahaha, they say pregnancy makes you lose your mind, and you haven’t even had the baby yet but you’re already talking crazy! They found the cat from 501 ages ago. You’re overthinking things. If you’re scared, just stay put and wait for me to get home.” I wanted to say more, but he had already hung up. I slapped my forehead. He was right. If someone told me an animal had turned into a monster to hurt people, I’d just think they were running a fever. But right now, I was truly seeing these words hovering in the air. For my husband’s safety, I had to lie: [This delivery guy looks like he knows how to fight! Bring the security guard with you. One person might not be able to handle him!] Seeing my husband reply “okay,” I finally let out a sigh of relief. The comments: [She actually figured it out! But this cat monster just transformed and desperately needs nutrients. She definitely won’t escape.] [Ugh, she’s just minor cannon fodder. If she doesn’t die, how does the plot move forward?] [Yeah, there are no security cameras in this old apartment building. When she opens the door, the cat monster will rush in, bite her so she can’t move, and when her husband gets home, he’ll only find an empty stomach and his dead wife. Because the only evidence left will be cat prints, it’s too bizarre, so the FBI’s paranormal division gets involved, and the real story begins.] I finally grasped the gist of what these comments were saying. My death was just a plot device to introduce the paranormal division and get the case solved. So I was just the blurred-out corpse at the beginning of a crime show! I closed my eyes, trying hard to accept this reality. Suddenly, everything grew unusually quiet. I swallowed hard. The relentless knocking had stopped. I slowly stood up and walked to the door, wanting to see if the person outside had given up and left because I wasn’t answering. But when I pressed my eye to the peephole. All I could see was pitch black. That was weird. This peephole had night vision. Even if the hallway was dark, it shouldn’t be this black! Just as I was feeling confused, a voice sent a chill down my spine: “Ma’am, you’re pregnant, right? I was just joking with you earlier. Hehe, did I scare you?” 2 The person outside continued: “I hope I didn’t scare the baby. If the baby wants extra pickles, you should definitely eat more. I left the food at the door, come out and get it. I’m leaving now, got another delivery to make.” I heard clear footsteps walking away from my door. Once the footsteps faded away, I checked the peephole again. Still pitch black. The comments suddenly flooded in: [So scary! A cat’s pupils fully dilate when it’s excited or stimulated! She’s staring right into the cat’s pupil!] [So creepy! Cats really are liquid. Even after taking human form, it’s still so flexible.] [The cat monster’s head is pressed against the peephole, but its body is walking backward! Its neck is stretched out so long!] [What a smart monster. It even knows how to fake footsteps to trick the pregnant woman into coming out.] [This thing’s teeth and claws are incredibly sharp!] My eyes widened in terror. I shot back, getting as far away from the door as possible. My palms were drenched in sweat, and my heart was pounding furiously. A skritch, scratch sound came from outside the door. That thing was scratching at the door! Thinking about the comments saying the cat could stretch its neck, all the hair on my body stood on end. I kept telling myself to stay calm, preparing to dial 911 so the police could handle this. [Give it up, calling the cops is useless. They’ll just think it’s a prank call and won’t come.] [Look! It’s scratched deep gouges into the door! It’s getting impatient!] [Looks like it’s going to try a different way to get to the pregnant woman!] 3 I swallowed hard. A different way? What way? I was terrified and anxious. Why couldn’t the comments be more specific! Tap, tap, tap, tap. A hurried sound of footsteps suddenly appeared outside. I gathered my courage and moved closer to the door. If what the comments said was true and the black cat had other ways to get me, would I be safer if I took the opportunity while it was away from the door to escape outside the apartment building? After all, there were several BBQ places open downstairs. It was late, but there were still a lot of customers. But this time, I still wasn’t sure if those footsteps were meant to trick me… Just as I was thinking, I suddenly heard my husband’s voice: “Honey, open the door quickly! Your food is getting cold. Why didn’t you bring it inside?” My heart skipped a beat. I cautiously asked: “Did you see the delivery guy at the door? Did he leave? Also, didn’t I tell you to come up with the security guard? Where is he?” There was a few seconds of silence outside: “I didn’t see a delivery guy! He probably left a long time ago. I didn’t bring the security guard because I didn’t think it was necessary. Your husband is a big, strong man! What’s there to be afraid of?” I carefully checked the peephole. It was indeed my husband outside. Could those footsteps earlier have been him? I pressed my husband: “FaceTime me on WhatsApp right now. Show me that there’s no danger outside, and then pan the camera from your head to your toes.” I wasn’t going to overlook even the slightest abnormality with him. I quickly checked my messages, waiting for my husband to report back. My husband suddenly sighed: “Maya, what is going on with you the past few days? First you said someone else’s cat looked like a human, and now you’re saying a cat turned into a monster! Can you stop being so paranoid all the time?! I ask you to open the door, and you’re dragging your feet.” Before I could fully process this. I heard the sound of a key turning the lock on the front door. The comments floated by: [That should be her husband, right? I saw the cat crawl away when her husband showed up.] [That thing is way too fast. If a cat doesn’t want to make a sound, its footsteps are super light. It was gone before I could even see it clearly!] [Regardless, the pregnant woman is still in the most danger. She better hide. The black cat monster is definitely not interested in her husband.] Seeing the lock turning. I quickly ran into the bedroom, locked the door, and hid inside the closet. I covered my mouth, feeling my heart pounding violently. Whether my husband believed me or not. I had to make sure I was safe. Through the closet door, I heard my husband washing up while complaining about how I didn’t appreciate him. Listening to his voice. I gradually calmed down inside the closet. I even started to doubt myself a little. Was there really something wrong with my brain? I hadn’t seen the black cat with my own eyes. And the comments had vanished again. I had run away in such a panic earlier that I forgot to grab the spare bedroom key from the living room. I clung to a sliver of hope. Maybe it really was because my morning sickness had been so bad lately, causing me extreme anxiety, which led to hallucinations. When I saw my husband later, if there was nothing wrong with him, I would apologize to him. Not long after. My husband knocked on the bedroom door impatiently, then went to find the key to open it. I left a tiny crack in the closet doors, focusing all my attention on observing the outside. The door opened. Seeing nothing unusual behind my husband, I patted my chest, jokingly thinking to myself that maybe I really did need to see a doctor. I reached out, intending to push the closet door open and get out. A few comments flashed by: [You guys are so heartless! I can’t watch this! Don’t go out! That black cat followed your husband in!] [To the person above, didn’t we agree not to say anything? What’s wrong with you? Everyone else is discussing it elsewhere. That woman can probably see the comments.] [Exactly, we said the monster was looking through the peephole, and she backed away. We said she better hide, and she actually did!] My face went deathly pale. Because at this very moment, I saw a bizarre figure behind my husband. That thing clearly had human facial features, but its expression was vacant, and its limbs were twisted. Every time my husband took a step, it would crawl one step behind him, matching his footsteps perfectly. 4 If you didn’t listen carefully, you’d have no idea there was a second set of sounds in the house! I almost screamed out loud. My husband walked into the bedroom, still calling out for me: “Maya? What’s wrong? Where are you?” I didn’t dare answer him directly. Instead, I used my phone to warn him: [Don’t move! That thing really did turn into a monster!] [It’s right behind you! Don’t come near the closet, it’s looking for me!] [Take a few steps back, and it will step back with you. About three steps. After three steps, it’ll be outside the bedroom. Lock the door immediately!] The notification sound dinged a few times in my husband’s pocket. He pulled out his phone. He rolled his eyes in an exasperated way, then turned around. Then, a blood-curdling scream pierced my ears. I was so terrified tears streamed down my face. My husband is 6’0″. But when that thing locked eyes with him, it let out a bizarre cat yowl, then lunged, landing squarely on his back and latching onto his neck in a death grip. I originally wanted to go out and help him! But in that split second of hesitation and fear, my husband couldn’t break free. A chunk of flesh was torn from the right side of his neck. He clutched his neck, collapsing heavily onto the floor, blood gushing out. His eyes stared blankly at the closet, unmoving, as if accusing me of not saving him. My entire body shook uncontrollably. All I could do was watch helplessly as the monster used its claws to slice open his stomach. It was rooting around for his internal organs. What do I do? What do I do? Why did I have to encounter this kind of monster! I pinched my thigh hard. It hurt. It wasn’t a dream. I wanted so badly to escape, but my husband was lying dead right at the bedroom doorway, and the monster was chewing right next to him. [It’s over! Is this a dead end? Now she can only wait to die!] [Only the people from the paranormal division have the skills to subdue the monster. She definitely has no way of contacting them.] [It took the division a long time to figure out this was actually a house cat.] [This black cat monster is starving. Plus, since the guy saw its face, it wanted him dead. Sigh, if the pregnant woman had just waited to die obediently, her husband wouldn’t have died. Add her to the mix, and that’s three lives lost!] I bit my finger, forcing my eyes away from my husband’s torn stomach, and quickly typed out an emergency text to 911. To make the police believe me, I said a murderer had broken into my house and I was about to be killed. I had been misled by the comments earlier. Why would calling the police be useless? If the police witness what this monster looks like, it will trigger the paranormal division’s involvement. As soon as the text went through, a few messages popped up in the neighborhood Facebook group chat. It was the woman from 501: [Has anyone seen my cat?] [He snuck out to play and hasn’t come back for a long time. I’m worried he was taken by cat stealers. Please let me know if you see him! Thank you!] This message gave me a flash of inspiration. The comments said the paranormal division took a long time to realize the black cat was a pet. Could it be that the black cat monster, in order to better hunt for food, deliberately avoided exposing itself in front of its owner? I immediately messaged 501 privately: [The cat ran into my apartment! And it refuses to leave! Hurry up and come get it!] 501 showed as typing. I was burning with anxiety. Hurry up! Why is she typing so slowly! I urged her again: [Someone in my house is allergic to cats! Please hurry!] After sending the message, I looked up. Through the crack in the closet doors, I met a pair of entirely black eyes. It stared at me dead on, still chewing on something. My gaze shifted slightly downwards. I saw a piece of intestine dangling from its mouth. 5 My attention had been entirely on my phone. I hadn’t noticed it discovering me at all. My mouth fell open involuntarily, taking huge, greedy breaths of air, trying to make myself less afraid. But it was useless! I watched as it reached out and pried open the closet door. I pushed off with my feet and sprinted out as fast as I could. Before I could take more than a few steps, the thing had crawled right in front of me. It advanced on me step by step, continuously letting out a “meow, meow” sound. This cat’s meow was completely different from a normal cat’s. It sounded drawn out and chilling. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and started screaming at the top of my lungs. The “meow, meow” sounds grew more frequent. I took a step back, lost my footing, and slipped hard onto the floor. My stomach hurt terribly, but I had no time to worry about that. I tried to push myself up, but my hands slipped again. My hands were covered in bloody water… The monster had crawled onto me. I could even feel its breath. I turned my head away, unwilling to look. But my eyes met my husband’s. He still had a faint trace of life left. He moved his eyes to stare at me. I was so terrified I whipped my head back around. The next second, a gaping maw, dripping with blood, lunged at my neck. I fought back desperately, trying to pull the monster off. But I never expected this monster to be so incredibly strong. I couldn’t move it an inch. In the end, I could only watch as it ripped my stomach open. I was suffocating from the pain. Using the last ounce of my willpower, I uttered my final sentence: “No, don’t… please, spare my baby.” The agonizing pain made my eyelids heavy. Soon, everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I heard the relentless knocking at the apartment door. My phone also displayed a reply: [I like knocking. What are you going to do about it?]

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My childhood best friend and high school crush, Mason, loved to put me down. He told me for the millionth time that I was too loud, too annoying, and not “girly” enough. He said no guy would ever actually like me. He told me to look at Chloe, the most popular girl in school. She was soft, elegant, and quiet. But little did he know, that same popular girl was currently staring at my mouth with deep contemplation. “I heard you talk so much you could make a mute person speak?” She offered me a grand to go harass her younger brother, who was on the autism spectrum, and get him to say just one sentence. Chloe was too naive. Unconventional problems require unconventional solutions. I walked to the very back of the classroom and lightly tapped on the quiet boy’s desk. “Aren’t you going to explain to everyone? What happened last night when you snuck into my room and licked my feet while I was sleeping?” His eyes flew open, and his icy facade shattered completely. “I did not.” I turned around confidently and flashed a brilliant smile at the popular girl. “Pay up.” 01 “Aren’t you going to explain to everyone? What happened last night when you snuck into my room and licked my feet while I was sleeping?” The moment the words left my mouth, the entire classroom descended into a deathly silence. The gloomy boy, who was always looking down in the corner, slowly widened his eyes. The icy mask on his face cracked. “I did not.” Chloe crossed the room in three quick strides. There was no disgust in her eyes, only utter, unadulterated admiration. I thought she was just joking around before, but she transferred the money to my CashApp without a second thought. As she sent the money, the famously aloof and beautiful popular girl’s hands were actually trembling. She grabbed my arm like I was her last lifeline. “Master, please, save my brother.” She told me her parents had taken Ezra to see every top psychologist in the state, and they all gave the same answer. “The best solution is to find someone his age to help him experience the joy of being a teenager.” But Ezra despised anyone coming near him, except for his family. At our age, kids care too much about their pride. Nobody wanted to deal with a grumpy, silent guy who rejected everyone. “If you keep bothering him, I’ll give you an extra thousand for every sentence you get him to say.” Chloe held my hands, looking at me like I was her savior. I held her hands, looking at the thousand dollars, feeling like I was looking at a living, breathing ATM. It’s just bothering someone, right? I was an expert at that. Since elementary school, in the eyes of every teacher, I was the reincarnation of a buzzing fly. In middle school, just to get me to shut up, my homeroom teacher made me sit next to a student who was hard of hearing. Eventually, I learned sign language and secretly chatted with my deskmate under the desk. My hands flew so fast it looked like I was casting ninja hand signs. It was terrifying. When my deskmate got excited, his fingers almost cramped up. The teacher called my mom and told her I could strike up a conversation with a stray dog on the street, suggesting she take me to see a doctor. This job was practically tailor-made for me. Plus, Ezra was gorgeous. I turned to look at Ezra. After saying those three words, he had already lowered his head again. He seemed annoyed with himself for instinctively speaking up, and was currently presenting me and his sister with the top of his dark hair. Mason, my childhood friend who had been completely ignored, stubbornly leaned over. Seeing me accept Chloe’s money, he reached out to snatch my phone without a word. “Avery, we should be focusing on studying right now. Stop messing around with shady people.” The popular girl, who he had just been calling a goddess a minute ago, turned around. Her eyes went cold, returning to her usual aloof demeanor. “Who are you calling shady?” Mason choked, suddenly at a loss for words, and I shook off his arm. I never realized before how much of a coward Mason was—only tough when he thought he had the upper hand. Mason wanted to say something else, but the bell rang, and I skipped back to my seat. That very day, Chloe used the power of money to get me seated right next to Ezra. “Mr. Davis, my brother’s special needs mean the main reason he’s here is to make friends. Avery is the perfect person to be his friend.” “It’s getting hotter, I really think the school should install some AC units.” The teacher shut his mouth. When I moved next to Ezra, he was still sleeping with his head on the desk. Mason turned his head from the side to look at me, his glare so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through me. I stared at Ezra’s neck for an entire period. He was clearly awake; he just wouldn’t lift his head to avoid dealing with me as his deskmate. How interesting. 02 During the break after the second period, I leaned in close to his ear and muttered. “Ezra, did you know your neck is so pale? It looks like a peeled hard-boiled egg… I kind of want to take a bite…” Maybe I got too close. Ezra jolted and whipped his head up, looking at me in horror. I pulled out my phone, snapped a picture of his face, and sent it to his sister. How does this look like a kid with autism? Isn’t this pretty entertaining? His little expressions were even more animated than mine. But over the next few periods, I learned just how difficult Ezra could be. No matter what I said, he sat there like a log, completely motionless. By the time the final bell rang, my mouth was dry, but I was thoroughly amused. Because no one had ever listened to me talk this much without calling me an annoying idiot. Even if I wasn’t getting paid for this, I felt like I had found a soulmate. I watched Ezra slowly close his textbook with his pale, slender fingers and let out a scoff. “What were you pretending for during that English class?” Ezra’s fingers stiffened. He glanced at me sideways and turned to walk out the door. I grabbed my backpack and hurried after him. His sister told me during the break that their family driver was taking me home today. Someone violently yanked my backpack. I was choked so hard my eyes rolled back. I turned around to see Mason standing behind me with a dark scowl. “Can’t you see he doesn’t want anything to do with you? Avery, have you no shame?” This was the second time. The second time today. Even though he was the guy I’d had a crush on for years, I couldn’t tolerate him constantly insulting me. I swung my backpack up and smashed it hard into his face. Mason looked at me in shock, my chest heaving. “What is wrong with you? When I hung around you, you said I had no shame. When I hang around someone else, you still say I have no shame.” “What did you say this morning? You said it’s shameless for a girl to always make dirty jokes.” I laughed bitterly. I didn’t even want to bring this up with him. He was the one who used to laugh hysterically when I made dirty jokes on our walk home every day. I thought he liked that kind of humor. I stayed up all night studying pickup lines and dirty jokes just to get him to talk to me more. And I ended up becoming the biggest simp in school, known for my dirty mouth. He was so hard to please. He could go to hell for all I cared. I shook off his arm and, seeing Ezra about to disappear from view, quickly chased after him. “Ezra, why didn’t you wait for me?” I tilted my head and asked him. Of course, Ezra didn’t answer. I turned to look at a nearby convenience store and ordered him. “Stand here. Don’t move.” I was amazed to find that he actually stood right there. I walked up and circled him once. “Wait for me. I’m going to buy something. If you leave, I’ll tell your sister you secretly kissed me.” Ezra looked up at me. This time, he clearly wasn’t as shocked as he was this morning, but his dark eyes still stared at me in confusion. When I came out of the convenience store with popsicles, I immediately spotted Ezra standing obediently by the trash can. Tsk. I narrowed my eyes. I always thought I liked the sunny, athletic type like Mason. How come a gloomy, obedient puppy like Ezra was so damn cute too? I thought about it while licking my popsicle. And finally came to a conclusion. It’s not that I have a specific “type.” I’m just purely shallow and like hot guys. 03 I shoved a popsicle into his hand. Ezra didn’t grab it, and it fell to the ground with a splat. He kept walking forward, ignoring me. I picked up the popsicle, ran after him, and shoved it back into his hand. It fell to the ground again. I was getting annoyed. This brat. I caught up to him in three strides and yanked his collar open. Ezra finally lost his cool. He clutched his collar and took two steps back, looking at me in shock. I grinned mischievously and handed the popsicle back. He took it. We walked side-by-side, but Ezra just held the popsicle, not eating it. So I leaned in close and whispered to him. “Don’t be shy. I won’t tell anyone you like pink…” Ezra snapped the popsicle in half and shoved it into his mouth, speeding up his pace. See? When people are embarrassed, they always pretend to be busy. If they have water, they drink; if they have a popsicle, they suck on it. I watched Ezra slowly licking the popsicle and giggled. “Ezra, did you know that popsicles can be used to cool down? When it’s hot, you just shove it up a cow’s…” Ezra stopped eating. He lowered the popsicle, his lips flushed red from the cold, and just stared at me quietly. Looks like he was out of options against me. I felt a little awkward; maybe that topic was a bit too gross. I was about to change the subject when Ezra spoke his second sentence of the day. “Pig.” I froze, then was overcome with ecstatic joy. “Right! It’s a pig’s behind! I remembered it wrong!” “Ezra!! We have so much in common! You watch those trashy low-budget videos too!” I thought the autistic kid Ezra didn’t use the internet, but it turns out he was a seasoned netizen. I cheered happily. I had truly found my soulmate. Getting out of the luxury car, I waved goodbye enthusiastically to the popular girl. When I turned around, I almost had a heart attack. Mason was standing at the entrance to my apartment building, his eyes icy. “Does your mom know? That you’re hanging out with a guy who’s sick in the head.” I pushed past him. “Are you sick in the head?” Mason’s expression relaxed slightly. He reached out as if to grab my arm, but still didn’t stop lecturing me. “A guy like Ezra clearly has mental issues. You think everyone has a temper as good as mine? You’ve been noisy since we were kids, and if you keep annoying him…” I squeezed the melted popsicle in my hand hard, squirting the sticky juice right into his face. He let out a yell and stumbled backward, triggering the motion-sensor lights in the stairwell. Mason glared at me, the sweet, sticky juice dripping down his face. “Are you crazy?!” I pulled out a tissue, wiped my fingers, and walked past him. “You call other people sick, but I think you’re the sickest one of all.” Mason turned his head. I had already turned and was walking up the stairs. The next day, during a break, I asked for Ezra’s Snapchat. He actually responded to me. “No.” I picked up my phone to take a picture of him. He frowned and swatted it away. I reached out to snatch his phone from his pocket. Ezra reacted with horror, as if I was trying to grab his crotch, and instantly took two steps back. While we were messing around, Mason knocked on my desk. “Avery, I won’t hold yesterday against you. My mom made sweet and sour ribs tonight. Let’s walk home together after school.” I stopped tormenting Ezra and gave Mason a side-eye. Is he crazy? Did he not understand what I said yesterday? I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. I turned my head and saw that Ezra had already stood up and walked out the classroom door. I took a deep breath, turned, and chased after him. Ezra was standing outside the classroom, stiff as a board like an idiot. I guessed he wanted to avoid me, but didn’t know where to go, so his brain short-circuited. I found it amusing and reached out to poke him. “Hey, you really won’t add me?” He didn’t speak, just stood there stiffly until the bell rang. “Hey, the teacher’s here.” I tugged his sleeve, but Ezra didn’t move an inch. “You two, what are you doing standing out here?” The music teacher frowned. I looked at Ezra standing there like a block of wood, then looked at the music teacher. “Mr. Smith, Ezra has a… stomachache.” 04 Ezra’s pupils trembled slightly, surprised by my casual lie. The teacher waved his hand, telling me to take him to the nurse’s office. I’m tone-deaf. My ability to escape music class relied entirely on Ezra being a good student in the teacher’s eyes. He let me drag him forward like a rock. Passing by the window, I saw Mason looking out with a dark expression. “Ezra, you’ve never skipped class before, have you?” I pried his hand open. The boy’s palm was warm. A flutter went through my heart, and I shamelessly shoved my own hand into his. He didn’t shake me off. I pulled him through the small alleyway across from the school gates and found my favorite diner. The owner cheerfully brought over a bowl of noodles. “Brought a friend, huh? Isn’t it class time right now?” I smiled brightly. “Yeah, we skipped class to come here.” Ezra’s breathing stopped. He raised his hand to cover my mouth, looking horrified, wishing he could force the words back down my throat. I was giggling uncontrollably. Ezra was so expressive, so cute. He totally hit all my weak spots. I brought over two small bowls. “Half for you, half for me, besties forever we’ll be.” Ezra frowned at the bowl of noodles and didn’t say anything. I thought he was grossed out by me, but he surprisingly handed his phone over. I understood what he meant. He was saying he had money and could buy two bowls. But the truth was, I just couldn’t finish it all. I had eaten breakfast, how could I possibly eat a whole bowl of noodles? I took the opportunity to grab his phone and added my own Snapchat. Ezra’s hand paused, but he didn’t stop me. Ezra ate very quietly. Even the most ordinary bowl of noodles looked elegant when he ate it. When we finished, I wiped my mouth, grabbed his hand, and ran. Ezra was confused. He stumbled after me until we were out of the alley, and I turned around. The boy’s eyes were terrifyingly bright. It seemed he had never done anything so rebellious before. His heart was beating fast; even standing face-to-face, I could hear it. He grabbed me and tried to walk back, his eyes determined. I shook off his hand. “We already dined and dashed. Going back now would be so embarrassing.” Ezra pursed his lips, looking at me silently. He wasn’t angry; his eyes were full of helpless indulgence, but also a firm sense of bottom-line principles. I grinned at him. “If you go back, you have to tell the owner, ‘I’m sorry, boss… we came to pay,’ and then I’ll go back.” Ezra stood at the entrance of the alley. He agonized for a full five minutes before finally resigning himself to his fate, grabbing my hand and walking back. The owner was wiping tables. Seeing us standing at the door like statues, she froze. I nudged him. “Speak.” Ezra’s palms were sweating profusely, gripping my hand so hard it turned red. The tips of his ears were startlingly red too. I thought he was going to give up. But the next second, I heard Ezra’s clear, cold voice, stuttering slightly. “I’m sorry, ma’am… we’re here to pay.” 05 The owner was stunned. She took the rag and wiped her hands, looking at me in confusion: “What?” I finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, bending over. I had the owner on Venmo, and I always paid her directly through the app. Including the homeroom teacher, I had also texted him to excuse Ezra. But he was so gullible, he believed whatever I said. Ezra looked a bit unhappy. His lips moved, and without another word, he turned and walked away. I chased after him, chattering non-stop: “Oh my god, I’m sorry! I just wanted to get you to say a few more words!” “Ezra, your voice is really nice, you should talk more.” “Ezra, repeat after me: Avery is so pretty, I like Avery.” Ezra’s ears turned even redder. He stopped abruptly. I crashed into his back, caught off guard. He turned his head, looked at me for two seconds, and spat out two words: “Shameless.” I burst out laughing. “Ezra, you sound so cute when you talk.” He clearly wanted to scold me for being shameless like Mason did, but he phrased it so politely. Even though he said that, I was still laughing happily. He had probably never met a girl as thick-skinned as me in his life. Ezra simply ignored me and kept walking forward with a huff. That evening, the popular girl transferred $10,000 to me. “Ezra spoke at home today! He asked me: ‘Why do Dad’s shoes smell so bad?’” “Master, you are the lucky star of our whole family!” I fell back on my bed laughing, imagining Ezra’s frowning face. It was almost too cute. I pulled out my phone to text Ezra. But my ringtone went off. I hung up in annoyance—it was Mason again. After I blocked his number and Snapchat, he started calling me from his mom’s phone. I lived across from Mason, and his mom was really nice to me. She and my mom were good friends. No matter how rebellious I was, I couldn’t bring myself to block an elder. I rubbed my temples in frustration and tossed the phone aside. What is wrong with this guy? Since we were kids, I chased after him, and he never called me once. I was always the one bothering him. I swiped open my chat history with Mason. It was almost entirely my one-sided output, while he would only reply with a “yeah” or “oh” after hundreds of messages. As I backed out, I noticed a message from Ezra. I thought he would be as cold online as he was in person, but ever since we added each other on Snapchat, he replied to every message I sent. Even if it was just a simple one or two words, I felt unprecedented emotional validation. He even started stealing my emojis to reply to me. Though he stopped after I sent him a particularly inappropriate one. But it turns out the autistic kid Ezra was just quiet in person; he was quite enthusiastic on the internet. … “Good morning, Ezra!” I greeted him with a bright smile. The aloof boy didn’t speak, just glanced up at me. I felt a bit strange. Was he being a bit too quiet today? The next second, I saw the breakfast on my desk: “You brought this for me?” I asked in surprise. Ezra nodded, then shook his head: “My sister.” He still spoke very little, but I understood. “Well, thank your sister for me! The soup dumplings from this place are super hard to get.” I was eating, my mouth greasy, and Ezra handed me a tissue. Mason walked over, glaring at me with annoyance: “How long are you going to keep this up? You don’t answer my calls, you don’t reply to my texts.” “We live so close, but you act like a rabbit, I can’t even catch a glimpse of you.” I put away the dumplings on my desk: “Since you know I’m avoiding you, then stop showing up in front of me.” Mason’s chest heaved with anger: “Do you really think a rich kid like him would ever actually fall for you?” I paused mid-chew. Ezra also stopped pulling out a tissue. He looked up at Mason blankly. I slammed my hand on the desk and stood up. “Mason! We’re all students. Your mind is way too dirty!” “All you think about is romance and dating. Is that what a high school student should be like? As a classmate, not only do you not help others, you actually try to stir up drama!” Mason opened his mouth, but I immediately shut him down. “Or maybe, you’re the one who’s dating, which is why your head is full of these thoughts?” Mason was fuming: “Avery! I’m only saying this because I consider you a good friend! A guy from Ezra’s background can have any girl he wants—” Before he could finish, the homeroom teacher’s icy voice rang out behind him. “Mason, come to my office right now!” I was dying of laughter. But when I turned my head, I saw Ezra staring intently at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. Before I could speak, he pursed his lips and turned his head away. I rubbed my forehead. Great, the little prince is mad again. “You really don’t need my help. I misspoke. I’m the one—I need your help! Could you let me copy your homework?” Ezra ignored me, so I tugged on his sleeve and shook it. “That abstract meme video you shared with me yesterday, I can’t find it. Could you send it to me again?” He still ignored me. I sighed and resignedly laid my head on the desk. Not two minutes later, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my desk cubby and saw a Venmo transfer from Ezra. [Keep helping me. I have money. Don’t talk to him, I hate him.] A direct, sweet puppy like this, who also uses the power of money, who wouldn’t fall for that? I clutched my heart and accepted the money without a second thought. The popular girl said she wanted to treat me to dinner, saying her parents wanted to thank me in person. Ezra had been talking more and more at home recently. Although it was just brief sentences, it gave them hope. I waved my hand: “No problem at all.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “407070”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel