On a family reality show, my daughter tearfully recounted her childhood filled with “domestic abuse.” “I was just playing, blowing bubbles with dish soap, and you beat me as soon as you got home from work…” “It felt like, in your eyes, even breathing was a mistake.” I quickly cut off her melodramatic pity party. “You were inhaling bug spray.” My daughter stared in disbelief, her eyes wide: “Then what about the time I kindly put lip balm on my cousin, and Dad wanted to hit me too?” I rolled my eyes: “You used Super Glue.” After a minute of silence, still unwilling to give up, my daughter asked: “Well, Grandpa hitting me had no justification, right?” I was exhausted by this conversation. “You grabbed a live eel and swung it around like a lasso. In today’s terms—you were a ‘Monster Child’.” Tired of her endlessly digging up the past, I just kept going, listing everything. “Your grandma spanked you because you stole funeral wreaths, arranged them in a circle on her bed, and lay in the middle.” “Your aunt hit you because you dragged a prop dead baby from a haunted house all the way home.” “As for your uncle—he was driving, and you insisted on playing ‘Guess Who?’ by covering his eyes.” The internet exploded instantly. [Playing dead, fighting the dead, manufacturing the dead.] [Every family has its problems, but Maya Price’s family has 1599 of them!] 1 “Maya, I’ll say this one more time. I don’t have time right now. The board meeting starts in five minutes.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, speaking coldly into my Bluetooth earpiece. The details of a multi-billion dollar cross-border acquisition were spread out on the desk in front of me. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. On the other end of the line, my rapper daughter, using her signature arrogant, drawling voice, stretched out her words. “One month. I promise, for one month, I’ll secretly eat spicy noodles in your bedroom, and I’ll even buy you a brand new set of silk sheets.” I stared at the phone in silence for three seconds, then expressionlessly pressed the intercom button. “Cici, cancel all my afternoon meetings. Also, book me the fastest flight to LA.” Cici’s voice held a hint of panic: “Ms. Vance, what about the meeting with the venture capitalists…” “Let them wait.” … On the premiere day of the family reality show, the live comments almost flooded the screen. My daughter, Maya Price, was the new top-tier rap artist of her generation. With a head of pink dreadlocks, smoky makeup, and ripped jeans, her entire vibe screamed “stay away.” She had gained countless fans with her rebellious, “bad girl” persona, and her haters despised her just as passionately. Because of this, the public was incredibly curious about her family background. Everyone assumed that Maya’s unconventional behavior must stem from a dysfunctional family. They believed it was her parents’ negligence that caused her to develop such a prickly, defensive exterior. So, when I appeared on camera, the live comments instantly exploded. [Here comes the capitalist. Look at that cold face. Maya must have suffered a lot.] [I bet a bag of chips this mom is a total control freak. Otherwise, why would Maya be so rebellious?] [Finally seeing the real deal. The pain of her family background—let’s judge it today.] I swept my gaze over the cameras expressionlessly, as if I were looking at an ordinary financial report. These rumors and gossip couldn’t hurt me in the slightest. After I arrived, the other two groups of guests also showed up. One was the newly minted Best Actor, Ethan Reed, and his mother, Brenda. The other group consisted of a pair of sibling influencers famous for extreme sports documentaries, Sarah and Leo Cole. Ethan’s mother, Brenda, wore a mismatched floral top and pants, with brand new, cheap canvas shoes on her feet. Her eyes darted around with a timid, probing curiosity, looking completely out of place in the glamorous studio. Before the filming even officially started, she proactively came over, plastering a flattering smile on her face. “Miss, you’re so pretty. What kind of work do you do?” I maintained basic politeness, giving a slight nod, and was just about to answer. Actor Ethan Reed quickly walked over, affectionately put his arm around his mother’s shoulder, and answered for me with a smile. “Mom, this is Maya Price’s mother, Ms. Victoria Vance. She runs her own company.” The smile on Brenda’s face stiffened for a second, quickly replaced by a knowing look tinged with contempt as she looked me up and down. “Oh, running a company. Then you must rely on the men in your family, right?” “A woman’s career, no matter how good, is useless. Husbands are unreliable.” “It’s best to be like our Ethan. Relying on your son is the most secure.” The sourness in her tone practically spilled through the screen. It was as if she believed all my designer clothes were earned through some kind of improper relationship. [LMAO, what century is this lady living in? Every time she opens her mouth, it’s so old-fashioned.] [Is the Best Actor’s mom really this ignorant? I’m starting to feel sorry for him.] [For once, I have to defend the capitalist. Ms. Vance’s face says it all: squinting confusedly at phone meme.] Ethan’s face instantly turned beet red, and he apologized to me profusely. “Ms. Vance, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. My mom is from a small town, she doesn’t know how to talk. Please don’t take it to heart.” With that, he half-dragged his mother away quickly. I watched their retreating figures, remaining silent. I had done my research before coming. Rumor had it that Best Actor Ethan Reed started from nothing. His father died when he was young, and he and his mother depended on each other. They were famous in the industry for being a loving, devoted mother and son. Looking at it now, that “devotion” probably wasn’t easy to maintain. At that moment, a flash of pink caught my eye. 2 Maya had her hands in her pockets, chewing gum. She glanced in the direction Ethan and his mother had left, the corners of her mouth turning down, her tone carrying a hint of barely detectable jealousy. “Tsk. Other people’s moms follow them around voluntarily. But you? I have to beg and plead just to get you here.” I heard the awkwardness and envy in her words. This kid was always like this. Clearly wanting something in her heart, but her mouth insisting she didn’t care. I didn’t argue with her. After all, over the years, the time I spent with her could be counted on one hand. I raised my hand, instinctively wanting to pat her head, but was deterred by the prickly dreadlocks. I patted her shoulder instead. “Okay, okay. That was my mistake. I’ll pay more attention next time.” My tone was unusually gentle. Maya seemed a bit stunned, not expecting me to be so agreeable, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Her cheeks puffed out, and she popped a gum bubble with a loud smack. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the sign-in desk. “Let’s go, Your Highness the Little Demon. Let’s see which brave production team dared to invite you to wreak havoc.” As soon as my words fell, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the head director frantically making hand gestures to the cameraman. On the giant screen in the center of the studio, the live comments were rolling continuously. One longer comment stood out conspicuously. [Feeling so sorry for our boy Ethan, having to film a show with a capitalist who reeks of money. I hope the production team protects him and his auntie, don’t let them be corrupted by someone with no class.] I shook my head helplessly. Fame really does bring a lot of trouble. Of course, I was referring to this “boy” Best Actor. The show officially started recording. The studio lights were blinding. The host held his cue cards and announced the start of the first segment with an incredibly hyped-up tone. “Our first segment is called ‘Shout Out Your Love’!” “To all the parents and children here today, if there’s anything you’ve always wanted to say but were too embarrassed to, or if you have any grievances with each other, today, right here, shout it out loud!” I leaned back in the sofa, expressionless. Maya sat next to me, slouching in her seat, boredly picking at the rips in her jeans. The host scanned the room, his gaze finally landing on Ethan. “In terms of seniority, Ethan is a veteran in the industry. Why don’t you start us off, Ethan?” The cameras instantly focused on him. Ethan straightened his back, a perfectly polite, slightly shy smile on his face. He didn’t speak immediately, instead falling into a long silence. The longer he remained silent, the crazier the live comments became. [Awww, look at his expression. You can tell how good his relationship with his mom is.] [Yeah, Ethan’s dad passed away early, and he and his mom went through so much hardship together. How could he have any complaints about her?] [Do you even have to ask? He’s definitely reminiscing about their difficult journey and is too moved to speak.] [Filial, hardworking, zero scandals. This is a true, quality idol!] Amidst the chorus of praise, Ethan finally looked up, faced the camera, and gently shook his head. His eyes were slightly red, his voice carrying a warm hint of a choke. “I don’t have a single complaint about my mother. She gave her all for me, and I only have gratitude.” A perfect answer. Flawless. I could almost hear the director sighing in disappointment backstage. The host, clearly afraid the segment would fall flat and lose ratings, quickly jumped in to smooth things over. “Wow, Ethan truly is a model of filial piety!” “However, the goal of this segment is to encourage more communication within families.” “Sometimes, speaking out about harmless little issues can actually make the relationship stronger!” “After all, you’re family. It’s not like a little friction is going to tear you apart, right?” 3 His words seemed to flip a switch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brenda, who had been sitting nervously on the side, suddenly light up. As if receiving some kind of permission and encouragement, she nodded vigorously and snatched the conversation. “The host is right! That’s exactly what I think!” Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on her. She completely ignored the warning look her son was shooting her, turned her body, and looked straight at Ethan. She paused for two seconds, and then, like a dam breaking, years of accumulated resentment poured out. “Ethan! Tell me the truth. I worked my fingers to the bone to raise you until you were eighteen, and paid for your college. Is that true or not?” Ethan’s face froze, and he could only manage a stiff nod for the cameras. “Yes.” “And now that you’re successful, a big star making all this money, why don’t you know to bring more money home?” “Didn’t your cousin just ask you to help him find a job on a movie set?” “You won’t even help your own uncle’s kids! Where am I supposed to put my face?!” Ethan’s face went from red to white. His lips moved, but he couldn’t get a single word out. Brenda, however, was gaining momentum, completely oblivious to the host sweating profusely and frantically giving her signals. “Also, last time I told you to buy me a gold bracelet, what did you buy me? What brand was it… Tiffany? It was silver!” “With just a tiny, little crushed diamond embedded in it. It was incredibly expensive, but when I wore it out, people thought it was fake!” “I told you I wanted solid gold! Gold holds its value, don’t you understand?” “Are you just embarrassed by your country bumpkin mother? Afraid I’ll make you lose face, is that it?” “You say you’re busy with work. You come home maybe twice a year, stay for one day, and leave before you even unpack.” “I asked you to take me to one of those… those galas, to see the world, and you always say it’s ‘inconvenient’.” “What’s so inconvenient about it? Are you afraid that bringing a mom from a small town will humiliate you?” This rapid-fire string of accusations was like a machine gun going off, plunging the entire studio into a deathly silence. Ethan’s face went from white to a sickly green. His knuckles were white from gripping his knees so tightly. The host had beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his smile barely hanging on. He waved his hands repeatedly, trying to interrupt this out-of-control family trial. “Ma’am, Ma’am, please calm down a little. We’re… we’re mostly talking about small things in life, little things…” “How is this a small thing?” Brenda’s voice grew even louder. “You raise a son so he can take care of you when you’re old! Now his wings are fully grown, and he doesn’t care about his old mother anymore! Is that a small thing?!” The live comments paused for three seconds, and then erupted, covering the entire screen at an explosive rate. [Holy shit? What did I just hear?] [Scripted? This has to be scripted, right? What real mom would say that about her own son in front of a national audience?] [Making him find a job for his cousin? This is the ‘enabling relatives’ 2.0 version. Enabling nephews?] [Complaining that Tiffany is silver… My god. Is this the kind of life the Best Actor has been living?] [I’m shattered. What happened to ‘loving mother and devoted son’? This is completely different from all his PR articles!] [I suddenly feel a bit sorry for Ethan. This mom is too… suffocating.] I watched this farce coldly, picked up the teacup next to me, and gently blew on the hot liquid. Family ties. Sometimes it’s just a messy, confusing ledger. It might look glamorous on the outside, but on the inside, it’s long been corroded and riddled with holes by trivialities, conflicting interests, and resentment. 4 The farce between Ethan and his mother came to an abrupt end. The host used every ounce of his professional skill to steer the conversation back on track, sweating more than Ethan under the spotlights. Clearly terrified of engaging with that mother-son duo again, he quickly shifted his gaze to Maya and me. “Next up, let’s hear the story of our new generation cool girl, Maya, and her mom!” The host forcefully hyped up the atmosphere. “Maya, you always seem so cool and edgy. Is there anything you want to say to your mom?” Maya lazily lifted her eyelids, chewed her bubblegum, blew a pink bubble, and let it pop with a smack. She didn’t look at me, instead speaking directly to the camera: “If we’re talking about complaints, I have a ton. Mostly, I think my mom is way too hypocritical and strict. She totally doesn’t understand kids at all.” The live comments instantly revived. [Here we go! The main event is starting!] [Hypocritical? Tell us more, I love this!] [I knew it. A strong, successful woman like Ms. Vance is definitely super strict with her kids. No warmth at all…] Maya glanced at the screen, the smirk on her face growing wider. “When I was little, I used dish soap to blow bubbles for fun, and my mom gave me a brutal beating as soon as she got home.” “Is our family so broke we can’t even afford dish soap?” The live comments clearly empathized with her immediately. [Do rich families also do the ‘suffering builds character’ kind of parenting?] [My mom is exactly like that. Even now, I feel like breaking a bowl or wasting a little water is the end of the world.] [So annoying. It’s one thing not to buy a bubble machine, but getting yelled at for making homemade ones?] Seeing everyone rallying against me, I searched my memory for this incident. Did that happen? It seems… it actually did! After thinking deeply for a long time, I finally remembered the entire context of the event. I definitely spanked her that day, and I hit her pretty hard. The damn kid had a pair of lungs on her. She cried so loud my hearing was slightly muffled for days afterward, and I constantly had to ask my secretary to repeat things. So, I shot her a look of utter disdain. “You were inhaling bug spray. You passed out, and I had to rush you to the ER to get your stomach pumped.” “…” […] […HUH?????] [WHAT?????] Maya was clearly just as stunned in disbelief. A million grievances choked in her throat. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, unable to make a sound. But she clearly wasn’t ready to give up. After darting her eyes around, she spoke up again: “Then what about the time I kindly put lip balm on my cousin, and Dad wanted to hit me too? My cousin didn’t even complain! You guys just discipline me first!” I rubbed my forehead. “You used Super Glue. How was your cousin supposed to speak?” [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA the cousin really didn’t say anything, because she literally couldn’t!] [Help me! Maya, you need to be seated at the same table as those medical examiners who deal with crazy patients!] After a moment of silence, she still wouldn’t let it go and asked me: “Well, Grandpa hitting me had no justification, right?” I was already feeling exhausted. “You grabbed a live eel and swung it around like a lasso. You hit your grandpa with it, and he got bitten.” Seeing she was about to speak again, I remembered everything and decided to just shut her down entirely. “Your grandma spanked you because you stole funeral wreaths, arranged them in a circle on her bed, and lay in the middle. Your grandma was bedridden for three days after she found out.” “Your aunt hit you because you dragged a prop dead baby from a haunted house all the way home. That bloody blanket it was wrapped in was a limited edition, and it was completely ruined.” “As for your uncle—he was driving, and you insisted on playing ‘Guess Who?’ by covering his eyes.” The live comments, which had been buzzing moments ago, were hit with a pause button, freezing for a full five seconds. Then, an even crazier explosion. [?????? What did I just hear?] [The real Monster Child is right here.] [I take back what I said earlier. This isn’t an evil mother, this is a savior, a bodhisattva!] [If it weren’t for Ms. Vance, Maya might not have lived to see another day.] [And the rest of her family too.] The host was also stunned by this shocking reversal. He turned to Maya, stammering, trying to salvage the situation. “Maya… is what your mom saying… true?” “Why… why is what you remember so different from your mom?” This seemed to snap Maya back to reality. “I… I don’t remember! Everything I said, I wrote it down in my diary when I was little!” Her words didn’t save the situation; instead, they made the atmosphere in the studio even more bizarre. The tone of the live comments shifted from shock to uncontrollable laughter. [Hahahaha I’m sorry, I laughed out loud. A diary?] [Isn’t that what all little kids do when they write in their diaries? ‘Mom hit me today, I hate her.’ They definitely wouldn’t write, ‘Because I almost threw my brother out the window today, Mom hit me.’] [Is this cooking the books? Selective recording, only writing what benefits you.] [LMAO, hammering yourself with your own diary. Maya, you’re a true talent.] [She was too young then. She probably didn’t even know what she did was wrong, she only knew she got hit.] 5 Seeing my daughter so embarrassed she looked ready to crawl into a hole, the annoyance I felt dissipated. This kid had always been sensitive and cared deeply about her pride since she was little. I didn’t press the issue, leaving her with a shred of dignity. Seeing this, the host quickly signaled the director to cut the shot and threw the topic to the final group of guests, the siblings Sarah and Leo. “Alright, alright! It’s normal to have some bumps and friction in a family. It’s good to talk it out!” “Let’s hear from Sarah and Leo. You guys have been voted ‘The Sibling Duo Everyone Wants’ by netizens. Do you have any grievances with each other?” The camera shifted to the siblings. The older sister, Sarah, wore a sleek, functional windbreaker. She had a healthy, tanned complexion and a bright, hearty laugh. The younger brother, Leo, was tall and handsome. His features resembled his sister’s, but with a touch of a sunny, bad-boy charm. The two looked at each other and almost burst out laughing at the same time. Sarah playfully slapped Leo on the shoulder. “Grievances? Of course! Every time this guy goes exploring, he stuffs his dirty socks in my backpack, and then denies it to the death when we get back!” Leo immediately fired back. “You have the nerve to talk about me? Last time we were in the rainforest, who started singing in the middle of the night and attracted the wolves?” “If I wasn’t a fast runner, we would have been wolf snacks!” “What do you know? That’s the power of music!” “Give it a rest. Even a monkey would run for the hills if it heard your singing.” The two bickered back and forth. There was no script, no acting—just the most authentic, natural sibling dynamic. That kind of intimacy and synergy, deeply ingrained in their bones, couldn’t be faked. The live comments were flooded with envious “Hahahaha”s and people wishing they had that kind of relationship. [This is the correct way to do sibling dynamics!] [So jealous. Great relationship, good-looking, and they get to adventure around the world together. What a dream life!] [Compared to the first two families, this is basically a healing anime.] [Having ability and having a loving family—this is true wealth.] Watching them wrap up their segment with playful banter, I actually felt a tinge of envy. I turned my head. Maya was looking down, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. Even her pink dreadlocks seemed to have wilted a little. The farce of the first segment finally concluded. The host wiped his sweat and announced the start of the second segment. “Next up is our cozy segment—’Kitchen of Love’! Each family will work together to complete a dish, and our staff will taste and score them!” As soon as he finished speaking, I raised my hand. The host paused for a second: “Ms. Vance, do you have a question?” “I don’t cook.” I stated the simple truth. “For the safety of everyone here, I’d like to request outside help for this segment.” The live comments started buzzing again. [??? Outside help? This is a family reality show, not a corporate negotiation!] [So precious, too precious. Won’t even cook a meal. How did Maya even grow up?] [Classic capitalist, trying to solve everything with money.] I looked at the scrolling comments, feeling a bit confused. If there’s a better solution, why not use it? A head chef from a five-star hotel is a hundred times better than me, a certified kitchen hazard. However, Maya beside me suddenly stood up, glaring at me fiercely. Her eyes quickly turned red, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion: “I’ve never eaten a meal you cooked.” The aggrieved look on her face made it seem like I had committed some heinous crime. I was a bit speechless: “You did when you were little. The result was that it almost drove me to have a second child.” Maya was choked by my words, tears welling in her eyes, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. [Oh my god, I suddenly feel like Maya’s death-wish genes come from her mom.] [If it was severe enough to make her want a second child, yeah, probably best not to eat it.] 6 Just then, Brenda, who had been closely watching the situation, saw an opportunity and immediately hurried over. She grabbed Maya’s hand, her face plastered with a maternal smile. “Oh, honey, it’s okay! Auntie will cook for you! When Auntie was young, I worked as a prep cook in a restaurant. I’m a great cook!” Maya seemed to have found an outlet. Incredibly moved, she turned and threw herself into Brenda’s arms. Sarah and Leo also walked over with smiles. “Ms. Vance, Maya, my brother and I are pretty good cooks too. Let’s do it together, it’ll be more fun with more people!” “Thank you all so much.” I thanked them sincerely, then turned to the camera crew: “Excuse me, could I have my phone, please?” While I messaged my executive assistant, I watched them head enthusiastically toward the kitchen area prepared by the production team. The kitchen quickly divided into three camps. Brenda, as she claimed, looked the part. But her idea of “knowing how to cook” was very different from my understanding of it. The ingredients provided by the production team were incredibly lavish: fresh Wagyu beef, coral grouper, organic vegetables—everything you could want. She took one look around, clicking her tongue. Then, she swiftly started stuffing the most expensive ingredients—like whole blocks of Wagyu beef, dried scallops, and shiitake mushrooms—into the giant tote bag she brought with her. Ethan looked sick. He stepped forward to stop her quietly. “Mom, what are you doing? These belong to the show…” Brenda smacked his arm, her voice rising uncontrollably. “What do you know! Your Uncle Bob’s kid is going to college and needs money! Your cousin’s husband’s business just went under!” “There are so many mouths to feed at home, and now that you have money, you’re getting a big head? Forgetting your roots?” “Taking these things back will feed them for days!” Ethan, scolded into submission, couldn’t lift his head. He could only silently wash the leftover scraps Brenda had discarded. On the other side, the siblings Sarah and Leo were a completely different picture. They chose a large amount of pork belly, potatoes, and chili peppers, and started clattering away, cooking a dish of potato and braised pork belly that looked like a calorie explosion. Smoke billowed, and the aroma filled the air, perfectly matching their persona as extreme sports influencers. Maya stood nearby, her eyes sparkling, looking so greedy she was about to drool. I looked at that high-fat, high-sodium carb bomb and sighed. Half an hour later, the dishes were brought to the table. Brenda had made a plate of stir-fried greens and a plate of minced meat with green beans. It was a very frugal approach; the minced meat was so sparse it could be ignored, and the greens looked unsalted, sitting limply in a watery puddle on the plate. I took one bite and expressionlessly put down my chopsticks. My cooking was a threat to life; her cooking simply killed any desire to eat. But Sarah and Leo’s plate of potato and braised pork belly was glistening with oil, smelled amazing, and tasted genuinely good. Maya immediately grabbed a huge piece and stuffed it into her mouth, her eyes crinkling in happiness. I warned her: “Eat less, it’s too greasy.” Her face immediately fell, and she slammed her chopsticks on the table. “What do you mean? Sarah and Leo worked so hard to make this. Why are you telling me not to eat it?” “You just don’t respect other people’s hard work!” The live comments echoed her sentiment. [Controlling everything, even what her daughter eats? Suffocating.] [Maya is so pitiful. She finally gets a hot meal, and her own mother ruins the mood.] [Exactly. People kindly cooked for your daughter, and you’re just picking at it.] I couldn’t be bothered to argue further, leaning back: “Suit yourself.” So, Maya happily continued eating with the Cole siblings. Ethan sat there awkwardly, silently eating plain rice, occasionally picking at the watery stir-fry his mother made. A plate of meat quickly disappeared. Maya let out a satisfied burp, then her face suddenly went pale. She covered her mouth and bolted out of the studio. Sarah and Leo were startled and quickly followed her out. Only Brenda and Ethan, and I, were left in the studio. I sat perfectly still, expressionlessly watching the direction Maya disappeared, not even twitching an eyebrow. The live comments went silent for two seconds, and the tide began to turn. […Threw up?] [Look at Ms. Vance’s expression. Total deadpan, like she saw this coming a mile away.] [Could it be… Maya does this often?] [I think I get it now. Some kids just have sensitive stomachs and throw up if they eat something too greasy. Maybe we blamed Ms. Vance wrongly?]

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I was Julian’s ultimate “pick-me” girl. When he skipped class to sleep, I covered for him. When he chased the new transfer student, I delivered his love letters. After high school graduation. The transfer student went to an Ivy League school, and I accompanied Julian to study abroad. In a foreign country, I finally took the main stage and had my fill of him. Until the transfer student also came abroad for grad school. When Julian spent another night out because of her, I let out a sigh of relief. I prepared to return to the States to develop my career. The Vance family gave me money to accompany him abroad; I was just too embarrassed to bring up breaking up myself. 01 The Vance family was the most powerful and influential family in our gated community. And Julian was the king of the kids. I had been following Julian around since we were little. Because he had the best toys and was the best-looking. If it weren’t for the Vance family’s opposition, he would have been scouted and dragged into Hollywood ages ago. Just looking at Julian’s face made me want to eat an extra bowl of rice. Moreover, the closer I was to Julian, the higher my status in my own family became. As we grew older, everyone became more aware of gender differences. The girls stopped hanging out with the boys all day. But not me. I continued to follow Julian around shamelessly. Julian, living up to everyone’s expectations, grew into a handsome young man. With sharp features, a defined jawline, and a roguish, bad-boy vibe that hit you right in the face. And I gradually became known as the ultimate “pick-me” girl to everyone. They mocked me, despised me, and looked down on me. But they didn’t know that I gained the most from it. Julian didn’t like me, but the Vance family trusted me. My family got resources, and I got to follow Julian into classes filled with the children of the elite. 02 High school for the children of the elite wasn’t boring. Their families had already planned their paths; all roads lead to Rome. Even if one road was blocked, they could just pave a new one out of thin air. But I was different; my family could only guarantee I wouldn’t worry about food and clothes, and that I wouldn’t lose points in situations requiring a family background. Therefore. I clung to Julian even tighter. When he skipped class, I covered for him. When he slept, I copied notes for him. Even when he set his sights on a transfer student, I was the one who gathered intel. A stubborn, innocent wallflower who got in on a full scholarship. Countless girls had chased Julian. There were the pure ones, the sexy ones, the daughters of celebrities, the daughters of politicians, but they all failed and retreated. I even suspected Julian didn’t like women. Until the moment Chloe walked up to the podium and introduced herself. It finally clicked for him. He didn’t know how to chase girls, but he clumsily pursued Chloe for three months. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I defeated the other male “pick-mes” and played my biggest role for Julian. Oh, by the way. These male “pick-mes” didn’t call themselves “pick-mes”; they considered themselves Julian’s “bros.” It seemed that because of the difference in gender, my flattery and fawning over Julian made me a “pick-me,” while theirs was just friendship. Hilarious. I bought Chloe breakfast and played tennis with her during P.E. It was the first time Chloe had met someone so nice to her at this private school. She looked at me with eyes full of gratitude and trust. And it was right at that moment. I handed her the love letter I had prepared long ago. Chloe froze in place. She looked at me in disbelief. I hurriedly added: “This is from Julian.” Unsurprisingly, Chloe threw that love letter into the trash can. Julian went to find Chloe, and ended up being called a “spoiled rich kid” by her. Chloe never spoke another word to me. I didn’t care. I was busy comforting a heartbroken Julian. He had always had smooth sailing; this was the first time he’d encountered such a setback. He pretended not to care and drank, getting himself drunk after just two glasses. After getting drunk, he cupped my face and asked me over and over: “Why? Why doesn’t she like me?” I coaxed him softly: “That’s because she has bad taste.” “Julian, I like you.” I saw a flash of clarity in his confused eyes. 03 After being rejected by Chloe. Julian suddenly started acting like some of his “bros,” changing girlfriends very frequently. A new one every week. Sometimes they would last a month. But his eyes still never left Chloe. Soon, it was time for college applications. After graduation. Chloe was accepted into a prestigious Ivy League school. Julian chose to study abroad in the UK. When I went to drop off some desserts my mom made for the Vance family, Mrs. Vance asked me where I was planning to go. I feigned nonchalance and said: “It depends on my scores.” “You know, Mrs. Vance, I’m not very good at studying.” Actually, I was pretty good at it. But all my time in high school was spent taking care of Julian. When he had a fever or a cold, I was the first to contact the Vance family secretary. When he was out partying, I was the one tagging along and reporting back constantly. Mrs. Vance looked thoughtful. That summer, for me, was an extremely long wait. Other people were waiting for their scores, waiting for college acceptance letters, waiting for the semester to start. And I was waiting to be graced by the goddess of fate. Finally. A quiet summer night. Mrs. Vance personally called and invited our family over for a get-together. I still remember how cool the breeze was that night, how crisp the sound of the cicadas was. No one knows how long I had been grounded before that night. I won the bet. My future would be tied to Julian for a very long time. How bright Julian’s future would be, How much grace and favor my future would receive. A month later. I went abroad with Julian. To a world-renowned university. Those “bros” of Julian looked at me with eyes full of jealousy. “Avery, do you really like being a ‘pick-me’ that much?” “Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to get married in the future acting like this? Oh right, you can just suck up to Julian for the rest of your life, dragging your kids along, like a parasite.” Look, look. How ugly the jealousy of men is. 04 After going abroad. Julian’s popularity only increased. His features matured. A mix of boyish charm and young manhood, sharp and sexy, making people itch with desire. I continued to bear the burden of being bossed around by him without complaint. During his first year abroad, Julian completely let loose. He could be in London in the morning and end up in Paris by night. His girlfriends were still changing weekly. During Christmas break. A woman Mr. Vance had been keeping, along with her thirteen-year-old illegitimate son, made a scene in front of Mrs. Vance. Mrs. Vance told Julian not to come home. I stayed with Julian in London for Christmas. While waiting for midnight, he suddenly asked me: “Avery, do people’s feelings change?” I didn’t hesitate much and said: “They do.” Julian laughed and said: “But I realized, I don’t think I like Chloe anymore.” “I can’t even remember what she looks like, even though back then, I felt like I had never liked someone so much…” I felt he was just attracted to someone completely different from himself. How could that be considered love? But if you asked me what love is, I wouldn’t be able to answer either. No one had ever taught us. The fireworks outside the window illuminated Julian’s overly handsome face. Like I was possessed, I pulled Julian’s collar and kissed his perfect lips. Adults move fast. By the time Julian reacted, The arrow had already left the bow. A flash of annoyance crossed his face as he looked at me: “Are you sure about this?” The coursework at this top university was too difficult. I still had to act as Julian’s nanny. I needed to release some energy. Julian, this is your task. This is also the reward I deserve. I traced his eight-pack abs and answered his question. I was eating incredibly well. Julian’s eyes darkened, as if he wanted to swallow me whole. He was spoiled, arrogant, extravagant… full of flaws. But that body was truly a masterpiece. And I got it cheap. I vented the pressure built up over the years on him. That oppressive childhood, the dysfunctional family dynamics, it all felt like I hadn’t had a moment of relief until now. I recklessly squandered it all on Julian’s body. He responded to my passion, seemingly never tiring. “Avery, do you really like me that much?” I nodded wildly. “Avery, don’t regret this.” He stared at me stubbornly, as if trying to pierce through my soul. I had a moment of delusion. Does he actually like me? After that night. Julian and I were together. There was no formal confession, nor was it officially announced. But he stopped seeing other women. Once, an Asian girl clung to him for a long time. He finally said impatiently that he already had a girlfriend. This caused a massive stir. Many people started asking around about who Julian’s girlfriend was. A few days later, I received a call from Mrs. Vance. She asked about my studies and then transferred a seven-figure living expense into my account. Right before she hung up, she said: “Thank you for working so hard to take care of Julian.” Before I could react, the phone had already gone to a dial tone. She knew everything. My position with him was like a concubine serving a young master in ancient times. Julian happened to walk over: “Avery, what are you dawdling for?” I raised my eyes and replied with a smile: “Coming.” 05 For the remaining two years of college, Julian and I lived a shameless life. Mainly, I was the shameless one. Julian had a bunch of ex-girlfriends, but when it came to this sort of thing, he was surprisingly conservative. When I clung to him and threw myself at him, he would still blush. Maybe I had just been under too much pressure these past few years. Julian was completely devoured by me, and sometimes he would tremble when he saw me. Right before graduation and returning to the States. I overheard Julian having an argument with Mrs. Vance on the phone. It seemed to be about an arranged marriage. He finally responded impatiently with an “okay.” That night, he was unexpectedly gentle. I thought that must be our last night. He should be the one to bring up breaking up. I waited for a few days, but everything was the same as usual. I tentatively brought up breaking up with him. He glared at me angrily, his cheeks puffed out like an angry toad. “I don’t agree!” He threw a tantrum, then hugged me and said: “Avery, let’s stay abroad, okay?” “Just the two of us.” In that moment. I almost believed it. Until. Chloe appeared in front of him again. 06 Chloe was still as radiant as ever. Like a little white flower blooming on a cliff face. She got into the university on her own merit, was fought over by professors, and won scholarships. I saw Julian’s eyes glaze over. His gaze never left her. Just like back then, when Chloe first transferred and stood on the podium introducing herself. But unlike back then. This time, Chloe stepped down from her pedestal and walked over. She said gracefully: “Julian, long time no see.” They re-added each other’s contact information. The unpleasantness of the past seemed to have vanished into thin air. Having sailed past a thousand sails, they met again. They had both matured a lot. That day. Happened to be our two-year anniversary. I had prepared for a long time, cooked a whole table of food, and even made a PowerPoint and a short video. Showing the bits and pieces of our time together over the years. Julian said he would be back soon. I waited for three hours. I waited until Chloe called me using his phone, saying: “Avery, Julian is unhappy and drank too much. Can you come pick him up?” I hesitated for a moment, but still went. That night, he passed out drunk through our anniversary. And then, on my birthday, he was called away by a single phone call from Chloe. The streets of London weren’t that safe. Chloe said there was a man following her. Julian went without hesitation. He was so anxious that he even forgot to tell me where he was going. He strode away, and the front door slammed shut in front of me. I was the only one left in the villa. At the same time, I received a text from Chloe. [Avery, did you purposely make me reject Julian back then?] [No matter how much you try to interfere, people who are meant to be together will eventually be together.] Looking at these provocative texts, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She didn’t know I had wanted to break up for a long time. Julian didn’t want to go back to the States. But I did. He’s a rich kid; what can he do if he doesn’t go back? Mrs. Vance had already arranged a position for me. As long as nothing went wrong, I would rise quickly. My future would far surpass my father’s. I would become the person bringing the most honor to my family. And now you’re telling me you’re not going back? If I were still Julian’s girlfriend, how could I go back to the States alone? 07 Chloe sent me her location. I originally didn’t want to bother Julian and Chloe. But I suddenly remembered Mrs. Vance’s warning. Julian could play around outside, but he absolutely couldn’t “create life.” I couldn’t take the Vance family’s money for nothing; I had to act as the gatekeeper for Mrs. Vance. I sent a message to Julian, but he didn’t reply. I grabbed the remaining half box of 0.01s from the house and took an Uber over. Downstairs at the apartment. I saw Chloe hugging Julian and crying. “I was so scared. Good thing you were here, Jul… can I call you that?” Julian was nervous and awkward, not knowing where to put his hands. The independent, strong wallflower showing such a vulnerable side for the first time—Julian couldn’t bear to refuse. His voice was deep as he said: “Whatever you want.” Chloe saw me. She smiled at me, then “whimpered” playfully as they went upstairs, seeming to have sprained her ankle. Julian scooped her up without hesitation. His gaze was on Chloe the entire time; he didn’t look at me once. They quickly went upstairs. I stood downstairs for a while, waiting for the rising and falling emotions to slowly calm down. A few minutes later. I knocked on Chloe’s door. Julian opened the door. Like he was the man of the house. Chloe sat on the sofa, one delicate foot raised, a small first-aid kit by her feet. One of her socks was in Julian’s hand. The moment he saw me, Julian was a bit surprised. “Avery, what are you doing here?” He seemed a bit unhappy that I came to bother him. But I still dutifully stuffed the item into his hand. “Don’t forget this.” As I said that, I even winked at him. Julian looked at the small box in his hand and completely froze in place. “I won’t bother you guys anymore, I’m heading out.”

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My mom is the definition of a trophy wife—sweet, naive, and has never had a real job. When Dad brought his ex back and asked for a divorce, all Mom begged for was to take me with her. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her, trying to knock some sense into her. “Mom! Why do you want me? Demand the money!” “Isn’t it better to take his cash, travel the world, and find yourself a few hot twenty-something boytoys?” “Me? Don’t worry about me.” “I’m going to stay right here, use his money, and take care of you!” 1 In the center of our massive living room sat my father, Richard Sterling. He was the picture of a distinguished, wealthy CEO, sitting straight-backed and serious. Next to him sat the woman who had just returned from a decade abroad, his “one that got away,” Amelia Vance. My mother, Sarah—the reigning naive queen of this gilded cage—was clutching my hand, sobbing like a telenovela star. “Richard, you can take everything. I don’t want a single dime. But Chloe is leaving with me!” Amelia reached out, putting on a show of being gentle and reasonable. “Sarah, darling, think about what’s best for Chloe. Richard can provide her with a secure, elite future here. You need to put her needs first. Don’t be selfish.” My dad shot Amelia a look of pure admiration. God, he was dynamic when it came to her. My mom just cried harder. “But Chloe is all I have! I don’t care about futures! I just…” Before she could agree to walk away with nothing, I grabbed her shoulder, spun her around, and dragged her to a corner out of their earshot. “Mom!” I hissed. “What are you doing? Forget me! Demand the money!” Mom gasped, staring at me with those big, tear-filled, puppy-dog eyes. She was pushing forty but acted like a confused teenager. “Chloe?” I was so frustrated I could scream. “Take Richard Sterling’s assets and his cash. Go on an endless vacation. Find yourself a fleet of cute personal trainers. Tell me that isn’t better than fighting over me!” Her eyes went wide. She looked standardly innocent and naive. “But… what about you?” I began the brainwashing. “Me? Mom, I’m an Ivy League legacy. I’m staying right here to be the Billionaire Heiress. And later? I’ll use his money to take care of you.” Mom was hesitant. “But…” I cut her off, turned back to my father, and plastered a professional fake-smile on my face. “Dad, we need to talk about Mom’s alimony. Specifically, compensation for pain and suffering, loss of potential income, and lifestyle maintenance…” 2 My dad looked surprised that I was talking about standard logistics. He actually took a sip of his whiskey, looking almost amused. “Okay. I’m listening. Let’s hear the details.” Oh, I was not going to be shy. I smiled and started rattling off the demands. “First, the penthouse in Manhattan goes in Mom’s name. Second, five percent of your company’s original stock. That’s not too much, is it? Finally, some liquid cash. Let’s say… ten million. To round it out nicely.” Behind me, my mother gasped. Amelia’s face didn’t look so gentle anymore, but she kept her sweet tone. “Chloe, you’re just a kid, you don’t understand these things. Those demands would seriously impact your father’s company.” I shot her a look. “Miss, my parents are discussing a divorce settlement. Why is a total stranger sticking her nose in?” Her face went bright red. Dad waved her off, signaling her to be quiet. He looked at me with genuine interest. “Five percent stock is too much. The house and the cash are fine.” “No.” I didn’t budge an inch. “The stock is non-negotiable. Mom has been with you for seventeen years. She built this house while you were building your company. Now you’re kicking her out for your ex, you have to give her security. If the word gets out that Richard Sterling is a scumbag who abandoned his wife, your stock price is going to crash harder than that five percent.” He choked on his breath, furious. I met his gaze fearlessly. Was he planning on treating my mother like a used dish rag? No way. After a moment, Richard actually laughed. “Fine. I agree.” He was surprisingly quick to give in. “Stock, house, cash. Your mother gets it all. But I have one condition.” “What?” He pointed at me. “You have to stay.” 3 I knew why he wanted me to stay. I knew him too well. Amelia might have his heart, but in his eyes, I was a qualified heir. Furthermore, Amelia had her own kids back wherever she was coming from. Honestly, his condition played right into my hands. If I stayed, I could continue being the billionaire heiress, spend his money, and take care of my naive mom. Perfect loop. But Sarah, my mother, wasn’t having it. She pulled me behind her, glaring at Richard like a mother hen protecting her chick. “No! Forget the money, I’m taking my daughter!” I was speechless. Mom, get a grip! You’re going to stop me from sending you money! I quickly dragged her to the side for another brainwashing session. “Mom, listen to me. I’m going deep undercover here, got it?” “What?” “Think about it. You take the money and go. You’re free as a bird. I stay here. He feels guilty, so he’ll treat me twice as well. The allowance he gives me? I just transfer it to you. It’s called sustainable milking of the cash cow!” Sarah nodded, looking slightly less confused. I applied the final bit of pressure: “And with me here, I can keep an eye on them. I won’t let him and his ex live too comfortably. I will be a thorn in their side, a constant reminder of the beautiful, kind woman who used to be the lady of this house.” Mom looked moved. She glanced from me to Richard, hesitating. Finally, encouraged by my gaze, she gave a nod that looked both humiliated and tragic. I smiled, satisfied. The agreement was signed quickly. Richard’s lawyers were extremely efficient. As Sarah signed her name with a trembling hand, she officially became a rich woman holding millions in assets. 4 Mom had barely left before Amelia started acting like the new woman of the house. “Chloe, sweetie, we’re a family now.” She smiled gently and actually went into the kitchen to make dinner herself. Four courses. Beautifully presented. “Chloe, try my Sweet and Sour Crispy Fish. It’s my specialty.” She enthusiastically put food on my plate. I stared at the fish, looking perfect on its plate. I had zero appetite. My mom might be naive, but her cooking was next level. I grew up on her food; my palate was spoiled. I put down my fork, pulled out my phone, and opened a food delivery app. “Large deluxe truffle pizza, double cheese, and a full sushi platter…” I ordered delivery right in front of her, slow and deliberate. Amelia’s smile froze on her face. “Chloe, I worked so hard on this dinner…” I cut her off. “Miss Amelia, Dad pays for a professional chef. You don’t need to cook. Besides, I don’t like the food you make.” The rage finally began to show on her face. Dad came out of the study right at that moment. He saw the scene and frowned. “Chloe, is that any way to speak to Amelia?” I didn’t argue. I just shrugged. “If you like it so much, Dad, feel free to eat it all.” Dad naturally felt he had to protect his first love. He picked up his fork and took a bite of the fish. While Amelia watched him hopefully, Dad hesitated. Then he said, trying to be polite, “Amelia, let’s leave the cooking to the chef from now on.” Amelia nodded, looking humiliated, but didn’t dare say a word back. The delivery arrived quickly. I set up the projector and ate my pizza with gusto. Meanwhile, Amelia’s carefully prepared dinner sat there on the table, totally ignored. 5 The next morning, I came downstairs and found Amelia directing the maids. “Change these curtains to beige. It matches the sofa better.” “That vase is too tacky. Get something classier.” “And the study—Mr. Sterling likes it organized. Pack up all these random knick-knacks.” She was putting on a great performance as the lady of the house. Every change she ordered was targeting something my mom had loved. I sneered and walked over. “Sarah, leave the vase there. Don’t touch it.” The maid looked conflicted, glancing between me and Amelia. Amelia walked over, using her softest, sweetest voice on me. “Chloe, the style here is so outdated. A change will put everyone in a better mood.” “My mood is fine.” I ignored her passive-aggressive swipe. Leaning on the banister, I said lazily, “I’m used to my mom’s style. If you don’t like it, you can move out.” “Chloe!” Dad’s voice came from the dining room. A warning. I turned to look at him, throwing my hands up innocently. “Dad, Mom decorated every single corner of this house herself. She just left. Are you guys really that desperate to erase her?” Amelia went over and shook Dad’s sleeve, her voice soft. “Richard, don’t blame Chloe. It was my fault, I didn’t think it through. I just wanted the house to feel warmer…” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. A picture of pure, noble suffering. Dad immediately melted. He patted Amelia’s shoulder comfortingly and turned to me. “Chloe, your Aunt Amelia means well. She’ll be running the house from now on.” I smiled. “Sure. Then can she handle all my affairs, too?” Dad nodded without thinking. That was exactly what I wanted him to say. I pulled out my phone, opened a luxury brand’s website, and pointed at the newest designer bag. “Aunt Amelia, what color do you think I should buy? Or should I just get one of each?” Amelia froze. I continued, completely sincere. “And there’s a charity gala next week. I want to bid on that diamond necklace. Can you help me strategize on when to raise the paddle and how much to bid?” I held the phone in front of her face, smiling like an angel. “Dad said you’re in charge now. So you’re in charge of my spending, too, right?” Amelia’s face instantly turned green. 6 The look on that cheating bastard’s face was priceless. He wanted to play the patriarch, but I blocked his path completely. “Dad, you’re not going back on your word, are you? A promise is a promise, you know.” I looked at him with a sweet smile. My dad took a deep breath, pulled a black American Express card out of his wallet, and handed it to me. “Use this to buy things from now on. The limit is high enough for you to buy ten diamond necklaces.” I took the black card with a satisfied smile, flashing him a sweet grin. “Thanks, Dad. Look, Aunt Amelia, Dad really does love me. “You can just focus on taking care of Dad from now on. You don’t need to worry about my affairs.” I waved the black card in front of her face, then turned and walked upstairs. Behind me was Amelia, her smile twisted with anger. Awesome. From that day on, I embraced the persona of a spoiled, spendthrift heiress. Today, I’d buy a limited-edition designer bag; tomorrow, I’d bid on vintage jewelry; the day after, I’d rent out an entire hotel for a party. The bills flew to my dad’s phone like snowflakes, each one easily six figures. My dad called me a few times. At first, his tone was warning, but eventually, it became numb. “Chloe, tell me the truth, are you doing this to get back at me?” “Dad, what are you talking about?” I immediately sniffled twice. “Compared to that mansion you bought for Aunt Amelia, how much am I really spending? “You know, I’ve never been away from Mom my whole life. Now that Mom’s gone, don’t I even have the right to spend a little money? “It’s true what they say, only a mother’s love is real. A child without a mother is like a weed…” My dad surrendered to my unreasonable logic. “Alright, alright, the company will be yours eventually. Spend whatever you want, just don’t go completely overboard.” I immediately switched to a sweet, high-pitched voice: “Thanks, Daddy!” Hanging up the phone, I smiled at the sales associate. “Hello, please wrap up all the new arrivals and have them delivered to…” I gave them the address of the penthouse my mom now owned. My mom loved the bags from this brand. One day, I was busy swiping the card when I suddenly received a call from my mom. I thought she was calling to cry and complain about how much she missed me, so I quickly cleared my throat, ready with a bellyful of comforting words. As it turned out, what came through the phone was deafening music and the cheers of a group of young men. 7 “Hello? Chloe, the signal here is terrible! Can you hear me?” I was completely dumbfounded. “Mom, where are you?” “I’m at my new club!” My mom’s voice sounded incredibly excited. “Baby, I’m telling you, you’re a genius! Being surrounded by all these hot young guys is amazing!” Me: “???” Did my mom move this fast? I immediately had my driver take me to the location she sent, pulling up to her new business. The sign above the door was almost blinding: “Chiffon’s Sweet Retreat & Lounge”. Pink neon lights, cute fonts, exuding a strong, girly vibe. I pushed the door open and was stunned by what I saw. The inside was nothing like what I had imagined. It was decorated very warmly, with plush pillows and cute decorations everywhere. And the so-called “young guys” were a group of handsome young men dressed in various uniforms. A beautifully dressed wealthy woman was surrounded by two handsome guys; one was feeding her cake, and the other was singing to her. The wealthy woman was giggling hysterically, looking as happy as a child. My mom, Sarah, was wearing a sleek manager’s uniform, holding a small notebook and directing the show. “Joey, Mrs. Walsh at table A said her stocks tanked. Go comfort her and sing her ‘Cheer Up’.” “Leo, Miss Chen at table B just got dumped. Take her to the gaming area to box, and tell her to pretend the punching bag is her ex.” “Landon, Director Liu at table C is stressed out from work. Go build Lego with her, that 10,000-piece Hogwarts castle.” I rubbed my eyes, staring at this woman radiating absolute boss energy. Was this still the naive, clueless mom who only studied recipes and read romance novels? 8 My mom finally noticed me and waved excitedly: “Chloe, you’re here!” I walked over, still a bit dazed: “Mom, this club is…” “A lounge!” My mom proudly tilted her elegant chin. “It’s exclusively for wealthy women with time to kill but who aren’t happy. “Here, you can spend money to buy companionship, someone to listen, and happiness. What do you think? Do I have a good head for business?” I looked at her radiant, energized face and suddenly felt like I had underestimated her. Maybe she was never really a naive fool; maybe she just couldn’t be bothered to show her true colors in front of that cheating bastard. My mom’s lounge became a massive hit. It was more successful than anyone could have anticipated. Those wealthy wives, ignored by their husbands, angered by their kids, or crushed by work, seemed to have found an emotional outlet. They were willing to throw thousands of dollars around here, just to buy a moment of relaxation and joy. Unlike traditional host clubs, my mom, having studied romance novels for years, knew exactly what hit the spot for these wealthy women. She had trained the staff in her club into various archetypes of romance novel male leads. The CEO type, the bad boy, the sweet boy next door, the aloof intellectual, the rugged outdoorsman, the brooding artist… Whatever you wanted, they had it. My mom didn’t skimp on money; the salaries were high, so the young men were fiercely loyal to her. Crucially, the club strictly avoided any illicit physical services. After all, my mom believed that “what you can’t have is always the best.” Sarah, too, went from being a kept woman in a mansion to the emotional guru for wealthy wives. She was even interviewed by a top financial magazine in the city. On the magazine cover, Sarah was wearing a sharp, professional suit, smiling confidently and gracefully. The headline read: Leaving the Mansion Behind: How I Became My Own Queen. I deliberately left the magazine in the most conspicuous spot in the living room. Sure enough, my dad and Amelia saw it as soon as they got home. Amelia looked at the magazine, her expression a mix of conflicting emotions. My dad picked up the magazine, staring at the confident, radiant Sarah on the cover, his eyes filled with complex emotions. A woman who was used to being kept in a cage by him had suddenly broken free and was flying so high. This sense of losing control must have made a chauvinistic man like him very uncomfortable. “Nonsense! Opening a place like this is absurd. It’s a complete disgrace to the Sterling family!” I crossed my legs and said coolly: “Dad, Mom divorced you. What does this have to do with the Sterling family?” My dad choked on his words. Amelia quickly grabbed my dad’s arm: “Richard, don’t be angry. Sarah probably just wants to prove herself. “Chloe, you should talk to your mom. A business like this, after all, is a bit unseemly.” “How is it unseemly?” I scoffed, going on the offensive. “My mom is running a legal business, paying taxes, providing emotional value to a large number of women, and solving employment problems for recent graduates. How is that unseemly? “Aunt Amelia, is it because in your eyes, a woman should just stay at home and raise kids, and isn’t allowed to have her own career?” I threw that heavy accusation at her, and Amelia’s face went pale. “I… I didn’t mean that…” “Oh? Then what did you mean?” I pressed her further. Seeing his “one that got away” about to be brought to tears by me, my dad immediately stepped in to protect her: “That’s enough! Chloe! She is your aunt, watch how you speak to her!” I threw my hands up, putting on a “Oh, I’m so scared” face: “Oh, I see. Then from now on, when Aunt Amelia speaks, I’ll just keep my mouth shut. That way I won’t accidentally tell the truth and make you angry again, Dad. “By the way, Dad, when are you two getting married? I want to be able to call her ‘Stepmom’ officially.” After saying that, I rolled my eyes at them and strolled upstairs. 9 My mom’s club was booming, which naturally made some people jealous. One day, when I came home from school, Amelia was having afternoon tea with a woman who looked just as plain and unassuming as she did. I recognized the woman. Her name was Mary, the ex-wife of Mr. Lee, a pharmaceutical tycoon. Mary pinched a small spoon, looking disdainful: “Amelia, that Sarah really has no shame, opening a place like that, finding a bunch of gigolos… tsk tsk, she’s really dragging Mr. Sterling’s name through the mud.” Amelia sighed softly: “Don’t say that. She might have been forced by circumstances. It’s not easy for a woman to leave a man and live on her own.” I rolled my eyes and was about to go upstairs, but Mary called out to me. “Chloe’s home! You’re getting prettier every day.” She smiled, looking the picture of kindness. “Chloe, you must never go to that kind of place your mom opened. A young girl like you needs to have self-respect and self-love so you can marry into a good family later on.” I stopped, turned to look at her, and smiled innocently: “Aunt Mary, when it comes to marrying well, I definitely don’t have as much experience as you. But I heard that Mr. Lee’s company went public last month. When you got divorced, why did you only ask for three houses? Did you think self-respect and self-love were more important than company shares?” Mary’s face instantly turned green. When she got divorced, she was tricked by her ex-husband into thinking the company was an empty shell, so she only asked for some real estate. As a result, he immediately jumped on the tech boom, and now he’s worth billions. She regrets it so much her intestines are green. My single sentence perfectly hit her sore spot. Amelia quickly scolded me in a low voice: “Chloe, how can you speak to Aunt Mary like that! Apologize right now!” I looked innocent: “Did I say something wrong? Could it be that Aunt Mary actually wanted the shares more?” Mary was so angry her lips were trembling. She couldn’t say a single word. I ignored them and hummed a little tune as I went upstairs. Behind me, I heard Mary lower her voice and viciously say to Amelia: “Amelia, look at them. Like mother, like daughter. Neither of them is any good! One runs a gigolo club, the other is a sharp-tongued brat with no manners! You can’t let them keep acting so smug!” Amelia’s voice was still gentle, but it carried a hint of coldness: “Don’t worry, I have a plan.” I stood behind the slightly ajar door and let out a cold laugh.

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My parents’ marriage was a business arrangement, entirely devoid of love. My mom would make out with her young boy toys right in front of my dad, and my dad brazenly photoshopped his “the one that got away” into our family portrait and used it as his phone’s lock screen. The only reason they didn’t divorce was because they wanted to give me a “complete family.” But recently, the winds have shifted. My dad’s first love moved back to the States. And the high school sweetheart my mom thought was dead? He’s alive. So, they started talking about divorce. But they both wanted full custody of me. In court, my mom pulled out a kitchen knife, threatening to remove her uterus on the spot to prove she wouldn’t have any more kids. My dad pulled out a pair of scissors, threatening to castrate himself. I was incredibly moved by their love for me. 1 When my grandma caught them, I was reading a comic book, and my mom was making out with her new boy toy. My grandma was so furious she immediately called my dad, demanding he come over right away. My mom wasn’t scared in the slightest. She just kept flirting with her new boy toy. I called her new boy toy “Uncle Tommy.” When I got tired of reading my comic book, Uncle Tommy would read it to me. My grandma stood to the side, furious, yelling at my mom. She called her a tramp and said the Sterling family didn’t owe her anything. 2 My mom wasn’t about to back down. Hands on her hips, she started screaming right back. My grandma finally snapped: “Enough! We’ll talk when my son gets here. You two are getting a divorce today!” My mom rolled her eyes: “You better make sure your son actually divorces me.” My parents’ marriage was a corporate merger. When they got married, both families’ businesses were booming. But soon after, my maternal grandparents’ company went bankrupt. The reasons for the collapse were complicated, anyway. My mom had always wanted to divorce my dad. They both had other people they loved. My dad was in love with a poor college student he met years ago. He considered her the love of his life, his “White Moonlight.” He even photoshopped a picture of her into our family portrait and made it his phone background. Originally, he just photoshopped her into a picture of him and me, but I wasn’t happy about it. I wouldn’t allow a picture without my mom in it. So, he photoshopped her into a picture of the three of us instead. 3 My mom was in love with a poor college student too; they were each other’s first loves. But her college sweetheart joined the military and died on a mission. Ever since then, every young guy my mom dated looked a bit like him. I knew she was mourning her first love. Both my parents were very sentimental people. My dad arrived quickly. He walked right over, picked me up, gave me a bunch of kisses, and called me his precious baby. I was super happy too, hugging him and asking for a piggyback ride. My grandma immediately chimed in: “Son, your wife doesn’t even bother hiding her affairs anymore. You have to divorce her! If she doesn’t care about her dignity, we still care about ours.” My dad was furious: “Sarah, are you insane? Cuckolding me in broad daylight!” My mom rolled her eyes: “He’s our daughter’s playmate.” My dad’s attitude instantly softened. He nodded at Uncle Tommy and said, “Thanks for your hard work. Take good care of my daughter, and I’ll give you a raise.” My grandma looked like she was about to explode: “Hudson Sterling, I demand you divorce her!” My dad looked torn: “Mom, if I divorce her, she’ll steal my daughter!” My mom rolled her eyes again: “She’s my daughter to begin with! Why should you get her?” “She’s my daughter too!” “Bullshit! She came out of my body!” “Stop using that as an excuse. After she was born, I was the one changing her diapers and raising her! Now that she’s walking and talking, you want to swoop in and take the credit! And how do you even take care of her? You’re always hiring these ‘playmates.’ Is that how a mother acts?” My mom fired right back: “Oh, so you’re the expert? Then you take care of her! If it weren’t for you never being around, would I have to hire playmates? It’s easy for you to stand there and criticize.” 4 I looked at my dad, then at my mom. I was just about to tell them to stop fighting. But both their phones rang at the exact same time. I saw the caller ID on my dad’s phone: “Vivian.” “Hudson, I’m back in the States,” my dad said, reading the message aloud. “Can you come pick me up at the airport?” Vivian—my dad’s “White Moonlight.” The eternal pain in his heart. My dad was speechless. My mom suddenly choked back a sob: “Arthur, you’re not dead!” Arthur. Arthur Stone. My mom’s first love. Every Memorial Day, she would make me stand in front of his gravestone and call him “Daddy.” My mom’s reasoning was that Mr. Stone died without any children to carry on his legacy, and she was worried he wouldn’t have any money to spend in the afterlife. So, she had me pretend to be his daughter to burn some paper money for him… 5 The sudden silence was the scariest part. My parents looked at each other, then in perfect sync, they looked away. I said: “Mom, Dad, I’m hungry.” My grandma was fuming, yelling at my dad that a piece of burnt toast would be better than him. She insisted they get a divorce. But they decided to take me out to eat first. Uncle Tommy came along to take care of me. He was so quiet you could barely hear him breathe. He smiled apologetically at my dad, acted subserviently to my mom, and took meticulous care of me. At the dinner table, I was the only one actually eating. My parents were both glued to their phones—one second looking devastated, the next sighing heavily, and then looking conflicted. I knew they were both mourning their respective romances. I felt a little bad for them. 6 After eating, I got a “food coma” and drowsily fell asleep. I felt my dad pick me up, and I snuggled comfortably into his arms and slept. I didn’t wake up until the afternoon. I yawned. I climbed out of bed, drank a huge glass of water, and went downstairs. Downstairs, my parents were discussing the divorce. My dad said: “Vivian is back. I have to give her a home.” This time, my mom didn’t mock him. She also looked heartbroken and said: “Arthur isn’t dead. He was undercover all these years, relying on our love to keep him going. I can’t let him down.” They spoke in unison: “Our daughter…” And then they stopped talking again. My dad spoke first: “I’ll give you half my personal assets, and you can take all our joint property. Leave our daughter with me. You’re still young; you can have more kids.” My mom countered: “I’ll leave with nothing, and I’ll pay you twenty thousand a month in child support. You give me our daughter.” They both scoffed at each other simultaneously: “In your dreams! You piece of trash!” 7 The dynamic in the house had completely flipped. Before, they wanted to divorce too. Before, when my mom kissed her boy toys in front of my dad, he would viciously declare he wanted a divorce. When my dad looked at the photos of his first love in front of my mom, looking depressed and saying, “Vivian, I’m so sorry,” my mom would also say she wanted a divorce. But the moment the issue of custody came up, they would both back down. Because they both knew the other was a terrible person, and compromise was absolutely impossible. Now, they were constantly raising the stakes, desperate to get a divorce but equally desperate to win full custody of me. 8 I didn’t know if they were actually going to get divorced. Honestly, deep down, I definitely didn’t want them to. But I knew they didn’t love each other. Sometimes, when my mom went to church, her prayer was always that my dad would get into a car accident and die so she could inherit a massive fortune. My dad was even worse. He actively encouraged my mom to take up extreme sports, promising he would take great care of me if anything happened. They both truly loved the people outside this marriage. When my mom was with her young boy toys, she acted much more delicate and feminine. But when she was with my dad, she was as awful as could be. She acted like a crazy person. Whenever my dad looked at his first love, his eyes were always deep and full of pain. I really wanted them to be happy, not to sacrifice themselves for me. I was getting older now, and I knew I shouldn’t be too selfish. Especially since they loved me so much, I couldn’t be selfish anymore. 9 My dad secretly asked me: “Sweetheart, if Mom and I get a divorce, and the judge asks you who you want to live with, who would you choose?” I said: “I’d choose you, Dad.” He was so moved his eyes instantly turned red. He hugged me tight, and I hugged him back. We had such a deep father-daughter bond. My mom asked me too: “Sweetheart, would you choose to stay with Mom?” I immediately said: “I’ll stay with you, Mom. We’ll never be apart.” My mom started wiping away tears too, swearing she would absolutely never leave me. 10 My mom took me to meet her first love. Mr. Stone was very tall and imposing, completely unlike the young boy toys I had seen before. He was very warm toward me, picking me up to play as soon as he saw me, and even brought me presents. When he looked at me, his gaze was restrained yet full of deep affection. He promised my mom: “Sarah, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll be so good to you and your daughter. I’m never taking another undercover mission again.” My mom said: “Arthur, I’m never having another child in this lifetime. I only have one daughter, and I can’t bear the thought of anyone making her feel unwanted or second best.” I was so moved. This was my mom. “I agree. We already have our little Dumpling, we don’t need any more kids. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer through childbirth anyway.” Mr. Stone said to me: “Precious, hurry up and call me Daddy. I am your daddy. Daddy had to go on a mission back then, which is why I had to leave your mommy. Daddy didn’t know you existed yet.” Me: “…” I distinctly remember my grandma taking my hair and my dad’s hair to do multiple paternity tests. Calling my mom’s first love “Daddy” felt like a bit of a betrayal to my actual dad. But looking at my mom’s expectant eyes, I couldn’t bear to break her heart, just like she couldn’t bear to break mine. I also remembered that I had already been calling him “Dad” in front of his gravestone for years anyway. There was no reason I couldn’t call a living person the same thing. So I steeled myself and called out: “Daddy!” He was so moved tears streamed down his face. His voice trembled as he said: “Daddy knows you used to sweep my grave. From now on, Daddy will stay right by your side and watch you grow up.” My mouth fell open in shock. They hugged me, cuddling together, and started planning our happy future life. 11 Mr. Stone was in the military. They planned that after my mom’s divorce, we would move to the military base housing. Mr. Stone said they had everything there, including lots of other kids for me to play with. My mom said she would cook dinner every day and wait for him to come home. I remembered that my mom couldn’t even fry an egg. Once, my dad had a sudden whim to cook for me. My mom, afraid he would win me over, relentlessly mocked him. My dad was a bit flustered, and a bottle of soy sauce tipped over. My mom didn’t help; she immediately pulled out her phone, started recording a video, and sarcastically commented on how clumsy he was. My dad was busy trying to salvage the burnt beef. I was the one who picked up the soy sauce bottle. Mr. Stone was very moved. I raised my little hand and asked: “Uncle—I mean, Daddy, can we hire a nanny?” Mr. Stone said apologetically: “Sweetheart, there aren’t enough rooms there for a nanny to live with us.” My mom said affectionately: “I don’t want strangers in our house anyway. I just want our family of three to be together.” I fell into deep thought… 12 My dad also took me to meet his “White Moonlight.” Aunt Vivian was incredibly beautiful. She spoke very softly and smelled amazing. Under my dad’s expectant gaze, I hardened my heart and called out: “Mommy!” Aunt Vivian swore to my dad: “Hudson, don’t worry. I will absolutely take good care of Dumpling and be the best stepmother I can be.” My dad was very moved: “Vivian, you’re really lucky. Being with me means you get such a well-behaved, sensible daughter.” I felt Aunt Vivian’s arms stiffen slightly around me. Then my dad continued: “Vivian, I hope that after we get married, you’ll get your tubes tied. I am absolutely forbidding you from having any children. I only have one daughter, and I don’t want anyone making her feel unwanted or second best.” I was so moved. This was my dad. My dad added: “Of course, I’ll get a vasectomy too.” Aunt Vivian completely froze: “You never plan on having any more kids?” My dad looked at me lovingly: “Yes. I have Dumpling. No matter if we had a son or another daughter, she would feel slighted, and I can’t bear that.” My dad then said: “By the way, I hope the structure of our family doesn’t change too much. When Sarah was here, she was a full-time stay-at-home mom.” Speaking of my mom, my dad’s brows furrowed deeply, though he quickly masked it. Obviously, he wasn’t very satisfied with my mom’s parenting performance. My dad smiled and praised my mom: “Look at how well she raised little Dumpling. Vivian, I hope that after we get married, you won’t work either and just focus on taking care of Dumpling. Also, you should get some certifications first—maybe in child psychology and pediatric nursing. You need to be even more familiar with Dumpling’s coursework than she is so you can tutor her.” My dad looked at Aunt Vivian encouragingly: “I know you’re incredibly smart and capable of learning anything. You’ll definitely excel at this. And, of course, I’ll give you a monthly allowance.” My dad had also demanded my mom get certifications and tutor me in piano, horseback riding, golf, English, French, and Spanish. My mom had told him to screw off. Aunt Vivian’s face was stiff, and she said she needed to go to the restroom. When she came back, she was a new woman. She nodded and said: “I will do my best. For you, Hudson, I’m willing to do anything.” My dad said: “Our family of three is going to be incredibly happy.” Me: “…” 13 My parents’ divorce was turning into a massive spectacle. They would negotiate for 5 minutes every day, and then spend the next hour screaming at each other. Sometimes I would sit nearby and watch, even playing the piano for them. When they were calm, I’d play “Mariage d’Amour.” When they started arguing, I’d play “Croatian Rhapsody.” I couldn’t participate in their fights, but I could provide the soundtrack. We were a family, so we should do things together. Including fighting. My kindergarten teacher asked us to draw a picture of our family. I drew three families on one piece of paper. They were all my family. My mom, Mr. Stone, and me. My dad, my mom, and me. My dad, Aunt Vivian, and me. If you did the math on the permutations and combinations, Mr. Stone and Aunt Vivian could also give me a family. I fell into deep thought. My drawing won the “Most Creative Award,” and then my parents were called into the school for a very long talk with the teacher. Afterward, the teacher hugged me and said: “You’ve suffered so much, sweetie. If you ever feel unwanted in the future, come to me. I’ll give you a home.” Me: “…Thank you, Mrs. Smith.” 14 My parents’ divorce was going to court. They wanted a judge to make the most impartial ruling. In the courtroom, I sat in the gallery. Because they wouldn’t let me sit next to the other person, fearing it would influence the judge’s decision. My mom cried bitterly, talking about how hard her life had been, what a scumbag my dad was, and how she was essentially a single mother raising me alone. My dad also started wiping his eyes, talking about how promiscuous my mom was, how she constantly cheated, and he even brought out the notebooks he kept on how to raise a child. My mom pulled out her ultimate move, declaring she would have her uterus removed, swearing she would only ever have me as a child, and begging the judge to grant her custody. My dad pulled out a pair of scissors. The judge jumped in shock, almost diving under the desk. The judge said: “Sir, please calm down.” My dad stood up, glaring viciously at my mom: “Sarah, you crazy bitch! Watch me! I’ll castrate myself right now! I will only ever have Dumpling in this lifetime too!” Saying that, my dad raised the scissors, aiming at his crotch… 15 My mom wasn’t going to be outdone. Unable to find a prop, she dragged Mr. Stone forward. She immediately declared: “Your Honor, since I plan on marrying him, I can’t prove my determination to you right now, but my future husband can!” After saying that, she looked expectantly at Mr. Stone. The judge’s eyes widened in horror, staring at Mr. Stone. Everyone was staring at Mr. Stone. He squeezed his eyes shut and said: “If he castrates himself first, I will too.” My dad immediately froze. He pulled Aunt Vivian up. He told the judge: “Your Honor, this is my future wife, and she is also willing to have her uterus removed!” The judge’s face was a picture of pure, utter confusion. My dad nudged Aunt Vivian, prompting her to state her position. Aunt Vivian closed her eyes too: “I am also willing.” I watched them seriously. These were my family members. Eventually, the bailiffs had to intervene to prevent a bloodbath in the courtroom. 16 My parents, Mr. Stone, and Aunt Vivian agreed to all go to the hospital together tomorrow. Whoever didn’t show up would be admitting defeat. I felt very excited. I looked up at this group of adults with genuine admiration. They were all so cool! My parents were supposed to drive me home. Whenever we went out as a family, we always took the Toyota Sienna minivan. After I climbed in, my mom said to Mr. Stone: “Arthur, come home with me. Spend some time with little Dumpling so she gets used to you.” My dad immediately countered: “Vivian, you come back with me too.” And so, they both got in the car. The silence in the car was terrifying. The driver kept glancing nervously in the rearview mirror. I sat in the back, lowered the tray table, and started doing my homework. I really envied adults. They got to spend all day talking about love and romance, and they never had to do homework. 17 Mr. Stone had a month-long leave this time. So he just moved straight into our house. Aunt Vivian wasn’t working, so she moved in too. I was thrilled. The house was full of people and lively. Mr. Stone had to “talk” with my dad. Aunt Vivian had to “talk” with my mom. I was in the study taking my French lesson. When my lesson was over and I went downstairs, they were already in a full-blown brawl. My grandma happened to walk in at that exact moment. She almost fainted from anger, screaming: “What are you doing! Stop it right now!” My mom’s hair was a rat’s nest, and Aunt Vivian had a massive handprint on her face. My dad had a bruise on his jaw. Mr. Stone had been shielding my mom, so he wasn’t hurt. Truly living up to his reputation as an elite soldier! 18 My grandma was absolutely furious. Upon hearing that the two “guests” in the house were my parents’ future spouses, she practically passed out again. That afternoon, my grandma brought a woman to our house, announcing this was the new wife she had chosen for my dad. My mom, applying lipstick nearby, glanced over and said: “Take a seat. There are two people ahead of you in line. Number one hasn’t divorced him yet, and number two is waiting in the wings.” The woman said directly: “It doesn’t matter. I can compete for the position. I heard things are pretty straightforward here, so let’s cut to the chase. What are the requirements?” Aunt Vivian, sipping tea nearby, said breezily: “Women have to get their uterus removed, and men have to castrate themselves.” The woman’s mouth twitched: “You’re all psychos.” And she ran away. My grandma was livid. She dragged me into my room. She started badmouthing my mom again: “Little Dumpling, when your parents divorce, you absolutely must not go with your mom. Once she gets a new husband, she won’t love you anymore. She’ll have her own new kids.” I said: “My mom said she’s only ever having me. She’s going to get her uterus removed.” I looked at my grandma and continued: “And my dad is going to castrate himself!” My grandma clutched her chest. This time, she searched my room frantically for a long time, finally grabbing a heavy French dictionary, and charged out. I excitedly chased after her.

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I was just being polite to the neighbor: “Your grandson is so cute, I want one too.” When I came home for summer break, my parents had miraculously produced a baby brother for me. “Your wish came true, so he was born. You have to take responsibility for him!” My parents immediately washed their hands of everything, and my brother’s entire life became my burden. From potty training to homework, from his first car to the down payment on his house. Later, because I couldn’t afford to buy him a house, my brother brutally murdered me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I complimented the neighbor’s grandson. “Wow, your grandson is so cute, I want…” My parents exchanged a look, their eyes gleaming with calculation. I paused for a second: “I want a luxury mansion!” “I want a sports car and a yacht!” “I want to study abroad!” “I want a billion dollars in cash!” 1 Our neighbor, Mrs. Davis, brought her little grandson over to play. My mom observed my expression while dropping hints: “Maya, look how cute this little guy is! If you had a cute little brother like this, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams!” I scoffed inwardly. Having lived through this once, I knew perfectly well that this had nothing to do with what I wanted. The “little brother” in my mom’s belly was already well on his way. This “old and young” tag team acting out this little play right in front of me was just a setup. They wanted to trick me into saying, “I want a little brother too,” so they could dump the massive responsibility of raising him squarely onto my shoulders. In my past life, I fell for it completely. Just because I politely said, “Your grandson is so cute, I want a little brother too,” my parents happily abdicated all their responsibilities the moment he was born. They dumped my brother on me, forcing me to handle every aspect of his daily life. As he grew up, I was the one paying for his school, his job hunting, his car, his house. I carried it all alone. If I dared to show even a hint of reluctance, they would immediately start laying on the guilt trips. “Your wish came true, so your brother was born. You must take responsibility for his life!” My wish caused a pregnancy? Their excuses for wanting a son were more creative than my college thesis. But the tragedy was, through their daily brainwashing, my brother actually believed them. When he failed a test, he blamed me for not finding him a good tutor; When he couldn’t find a job, he blamed me for not using my connections; When he couldn’t afford a house, he blamed me for not working hard enough. Even at the very end, as he lunged at me with a knife, he roared: “If you don’t have money, why did you have me born?! It’s all your fault! If it wasn’t for your stupid wish, I wouldn’t have been brought into this hellhole world to suffer! Go to hell!” The brother I raised from childhood raised a knife and brutally murdered me. And my parents? They actually signed a legal waiver pledging not to hold him accountable. I was the only one who suffered in that timeline. In this life, I will absolutely not repeat the same mistakes. Seeing my silence, Mrs. Davis pushed her grandson forward a bit: “Timmy. Quick, call her big sister! Let your big sister hold you.” The kid looked at me blankly. Mrs. Davis struck while the iron was hot: “Maya, look how lovable this little guy is. You should tell your mom to give you a little brother too.” My mom held her breath, staring intently at my mouth. She practically had “Say you want a little brother” written across her forehead. I smiled: “Wow, he’s so cute, I want…” A massive surge of joy erupted in my parents’ eyes; they both instinctively leaned forward. “I want a luxury mansion!” “I want a sports car and a yacht!” “I want to study abroad!” “I want a billion dollars in cash!” The living room fell dead silent. The smile froze on Mrs. Davis’s face. My mom’s jaw dropped in shock. My dad’s hand trembled so much while pouring tea that the hot water splashed all over the coffee table. “You kid, what kind of nonsense are you talking about!” My mom recovered first, her face burning, embarrassed and angry. My dad’s face was dark. He put down the teapot, his voice harsh: “Maya, stop joking around. We’re talking about serious matters.” I blinked innocently: “What serious matters?” “Mrs. Davis asked if you wanted a little brother, what do you think?” I played dumb: “If I want something, I can just have it?” My parents: “Yes, whatever you want, we’ll do everything in our power to give it to you.” Me: “That’s amazing! Like I said, I want a luxury mansion, a sports car, a yacht, to study abroad, and a billion dollars in cash. Which one are you going to give me first?” My parents remained silent. I raised my voice: “I said! I want a luxury mansion! I want a sports car and a yacht…” “Enough!” my mom interrupted shrilly. The fake smiles on their faces completely vanished. 2 Mrs. Davis awkwardly made an excuse and hurried out with her grandson. As soon as the door closed, my mom rushed up to me, pretending to be concerned: “Maya, tell me the truth, do you want a biological little brother?” “No.” I said firmly. “Mom is thinking of your future! With another sibling, you’ll have someone to look out for you later in life.” She tried to paint a beautiful picture of familial bonds. “I have friends, I have a boyfriend. I don’t need a little brother causing trouble.” I kept my face expressionless, casually picking up an apple from the table and taking a bite. My dad chimed in, using his parental authority: “What do you know! When you get married, if you don’t have a brother to back you up, your in-laws will take advantage of you!” “Oh, then I just won’t get married.” I chewed the apple, my voice slightly muffled but perfectly clear. “I’ll just date and never marry. Total freedom.” My mom blurted out: “Even better! Then your brother can take care of you when you’re old!” Heh, there it is. The truth comes out. They didn’t care at all if I had a good life; they just desperately wanted a son. I gave a fake smile: “If I have to rely on a brother to take care of me, I might as well just go die right now.” My parents: “Even if you don’t think about yourself, you have to think about us. A son is like a nuclear weapon; without a son, we’ll get bullied. Your dad and I have been looked down on our whole lives, it’s time we finally held our heads high.” I dismantled their arguments one by one: “Don’t worry, by the time your ‘nuclear weapon’ grows up, you’ll both be in your seventies or eighties. Forget about people bullying you, even if you fell on the street, no one would dare help you up for fear of getting sued!” My dad’s face turned the color of a bruised plum. He slammed his hand on the table: “Insolent! Is this how you speak to your parents? We want a son to carry on the family name, and it’s perfectly natural! As the older sister, helping out your brother is your duty! It’s expected of you!” I threw my hands up: “I can help him, but on one condition: you stop him from being born.” “Our family is dead broke, and you two don’t even have a retirement fund. Bringing a kid into the world now is just setting him up for misery.” Seeing that playing hardball wasn’t working, my mom instantly switched tactics. She cradled her barely showing belly and looked like she was about to cry: “Look, Mom is getting older. The baby in my belly is already four months along. I can feel him kicking. Besides, an abortion is terrible for a woman’s body. Don’t you care about your mom’s health?” “Care?” I sneered, my tone sharp as a knife. “When you were doing the deed, did you think about your health? You didn’t use protection, and now that the fun is over, you suddenly want me to feel bad for your body? You couldn’t keep your pants zipped and created this mess yourself, now figure out how to deal with it. Don’t try to guilt-trip me!” My parents never expected me to be so blunt. Their faces went through a spectacular cycle of colors—green, red, purple. My dad was furious: “We’re keeping this child!” Finally showing their true colors! 3 Looking at their infuriated but helpless faces, I knew the moment had arrived. I whipped out my phone like lightning, switched to video mode, and pointed the camera straight at my stunned parents. “You should have just said you wanted to have a baby in the first place. Why go through all the trouble of trying to blame it on me?” “Future little brother, are you watching? I adamantly opposed Mom and Dad bringing you into this world; they are the ones insisting on it. If your life sucks in the future, take it up with Mom and Dad. It has absolutely nothing to do with your sister.” “Our family doesn’t have an empire for you to inherit, only pots and pans in the kitchen. Once you’re born, you’re just fresh meat for the corporate grinder, a wage slave for the factories, the bottom rung of society, a speck of dust in the universe.” “Mom and Dad are bringing you into this miserable world, but they don’t have the means to lift you up. You’ll only have yourself to rely on in the future.” “Good luck! We’re all just struggling to survive~” I ended the recording, my finger firmly pressing ‘Save’. On the screen, my parents’ faces went from red to green, green to white, and finally settled into a deathly, ashen pallor. “You… you ungrateful, heartless monster!” My dad finally found his voice, screaming in a fit of absolute rage. “If you won’t let us have this baby, we’re having it anyway!” I raised an eyebrow, mocking: “Go ahead, do whatever you want. Just remember what was said today.” I had my video evidence. In my past life, whenever my brother faced the slightest setback, he would take his anger out on me, physically assaulting me. My parents would either pretend not to see it or actively egg him on from the sidelines. “You’re the older sister. You should act like a mother to him and be more forgiving.” “If you hadn’t insisted on a little brother in the first place, he wouldn’t even be here.” “He’s emotional; you should bear the brunt of it.” In this life, when they become the targets of his resentment and his emotional punching bags, I wonder if they’ll be as “forgiving” as they preached. Winter break ended, and the very first thing I did when I got back to college was log my daily steps on Instagram. I finished my final lap with a sprint, checking the stopwatch. My sweat-soaked sports bra clung tightly to my stomach. It was flat and toned, without a single trace of pregnancy. I pointed the camera at my midriff and hit record: “Three miles done for today! Keeping it up tomorrow!” I had to make sure I posted plenty of updates about my body during my mom’s pregnancy. In my past life, because I didn’t know my mom was pregnant, I went home for summer break and was immediately handed a baby brother. When I took the newborn down to the apartment courtyard for some fresh air, a high school classmate happened to walk by. She stared at my puffy dark circles and the crying infant in my arms, and blurted out: “You had a baby in your junior year of college?!” My mom not only didn’t clarify the situation but gave a cryptic, knowing smile: “Oh, well, when we’re out and about, we just tell people he’s her little brother.” She intentionally misled people into thinking the baby was mine. She just wanted everyone to believe my brother was my child. No matter how much I explained, no one believed me. In this life, not only am I posting daily updates on Instagram, but I’m checking in on every single social media platform. I run three miles every day, hike on the weekends, and do crazy amounts of sit-ups in my dorm room at night. My roommates thought I had lost my mind. “Maya, you’re already so skinny and you’re still working out? How are the rest of us supposed to live?” They didn’t know that I was doing all this just to survive. A whole semester flew by. I successfully got abs. Just after I posted a picture showing off my new abs, my dad called. “Summer break started two days ago, why aren’t you home yet?” “I transferred you two hundred bucks. Buy a train ticket and get home tomorrow. It’s mandatory!” Oh, right. They’re in a rush for me to come back and be their unpaid nanny. I accepted his two hundred dollars, then immediately booked a bus ticket heading south. [Dad, I agreed to work at an electronics factory with my classmate for the summer, so I won’t be coming home.] My parents are incredibly cheap. Even if I don’t go home, there is no way they’ll be willing to pay for a postpartum nurse. My dad is the type who refuses to lift a finger around the house. Having him take care of my mom during her postpartum recovery? That house is going to be a warzone. 4 The first few days after my brother was born, my mom’s Facebook feed was like a live broadcast of a perfect life. Close-ups of her son’s tiny pink hands, photos of the happy family of three hugging deeply. She practically posted eight times a day, and her captions were full of arrogant pride. [It really has to be a son! Now that I have a son, even the air smells sweet!] [I’ve finally done right by our ancestors. The Smith family line won’t end with me.] [The happiest family of three!] Unfortunately, their “happy days” didn’t even last a week before descending into total chaos. In the middle of the night, my dad called me, his resentment practically shooting through the phone line. “Your mother is impossible!” “I barely close my eyes for two minutes, and she’s yelling about a headache, a backache, or her bones hurting, demanding I massage her. Who hasn’t had a baby? Back in our day, didn’t every wife get back to work the day after giving birth? “I make her oatmeal, dragging myself out of bed before dawn, and she complains it has no flavor! I buy premium pork trotters to make soup, bring it right to her, and she says it’s too greasy! She’s recovering from childbirth, does she really think she’s a princess?” “She’s constantly whining. I’m done serving her!” My mom sent me voice memos crying hysterically, one after another, accompanied by the sound of a baby wailing in the background. “Your dad is completely useless! Relying on him will literally kill me!” “Your brother cries from hunger, and I tell him to make formula. He uses boiling water, and the powder immediately clumps up! Things even a pig could learn, I tell him a hundred times and he still can’t remember!” “He sleeps like the dead at night. I can’t even shove him awake. When I finally manage to wake him up to change a diaper, he just wipes haphazardly with a wet wipe and shoves the baby into a new diaper while he’s still soaking wet! It’s only been five days! Five days! And the baby has severe diaper rash!” As if they had coordinated it, they both issued the same royal decree to me, one after the other. “Hurry up and come home! We can’t handle it here anymore!” In my past life, I was the one taking care of my mom at home. If I did something slightly not to her liking, she would call me an ungrateful monster. If the water temperature was off by one degree, she called me useless. If the chicken soup was a little cold, she said I was intentionally trying to harm her. When my dad came home, she would add fuel to the fire and complain about me to him. Then, the two of them would tag-team me, yelling and screaming. Now that it was just the two of them, dealing with each other’s “loving care,” they couldn’t even stand each other for a week. I’d rather be a wage slave at the factory than go home and face those three. Go back? Unless I’ve lost my mind. [I’m not going back to add to the chaos! You three living a happy life together is better than anything else!] I really hope they can just forget about me. Stop trying to drag me down. 5 After working at the electronics factory for a day, my phone blew up with messages when I got off my shift. In the extended family group chat, my parents and all my aunts and uncles were putting on a grand show for me. It started with my dad posting a video in the group. In the video, my mom looked pale, curled up on the bed, the mattress beneath her stained with dried blood. Her groans of pain could be heard intermittently. He added a caption full of accusations: [The mother of my child had a C-section, the wound is infected, and she has a 102-degree fever. And her daughter is out there living it up, ignoring us! What a disgrace to the family!] The other relatives immediately piled on, condemning me. Aunt Carol: [Your mother risked her life to give you a sibling, you heartless monster! Hurry up and get your ass back here to take care of her postpartum!] Aunt Susan: [How did you raise such a daughter? You shouldn’t have let her go to college! Women get too wild when they read too many books!] Uncle John: [Hurry back and take care of her! A girl needs to learn how to manage a household and take care of kids. Otherwise, what man will ever want to marry you?] … They’re all so good at moral kidnapping. Well, don’t blame me for airing their dirty laundry in public. [@Aunt Carol, you put Grandma in a nursing home after she was paralyzed and haven’t visited her in three years. Now you’re pretending to be a dutiful daughter?] [@Aunt Susan, your son-in-law is cheating and physically abusive. Do you really have the free time to worry about other people’s families?] [@Uncle John, has your son paid off that $30,000 loan yet? Next time his creditors show up at my door, do you want me to tell them where you’re hiding?] The group chat exploded again. When they couldn’t win the argument, they tried to pull rank. [We are your elders! How dare you speak to your elders like that!] I ignored their moral grandstanding and replied: [Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone here is a living saint, and I’m the only ungrateful monster.] [Since you all care so much about my mom, why don’t you take shifts taking care of her during her recovery?] [Whoever wants to sign up, I’ll pay for your Uber.] The group chat went dead silent. The avatars that were so self-righteous a second ago were suddenly mute. I see these relatives maybe once a year. I wasn’t afraid of offending them. Trying to guilt-trip me? Not a chance! My mom finally popped up, playing the victim: [Mom is begging you. Your brother cries all night, your dad doesn’t even know how to make formula, the family needs you. Please have pity on Mom, my incision hurts so much I want to jump out a window!] Now you know what pain feels like? This is nothing. During the summer break of my past life, I went home and worked like a slave. At 3 AM, I would pace the balcony holding a crying infant, only to be met with my mom’s energetic scolding: “Hold him steady! If you drop your brother, I’ll skin you alive!” I washed my brother’s cloth diapers until my hands were stiff and waterlogged. Every day, I helped my mom out of bed to exercise, exhausted to the bone, my back aching. After a month of non-stop work. My mom emerged from her postpartum recovery looking beautiful, strong, and healthy. I looked haggard, like I had just given birth to octuplets, and developed a chronic joint problem. And all I got in return was: “The pain you’re feeling is just the sweet pain of sacrifice. Your brother will repay you when he grows up!” In this life, she will bear all the pain and suffering of having a child herself. So, I threw her own words right back at her: [It’s supposed to hurt! This is called ‘the sweet pain of sacrifice’! You gave the family a male heir, you’ve brought honor to our ancestors! It’s all worth it! When your son grows up, he’ll definitely repay you!] As for how he’ll repay her? That would be with constant physical and verbal abuse, and eventually, raising a knife against her. Now that’s what I call a heart-piercing pain. 6 Time flew by, and a month later, it was time for my brother’s one-month milestone celebration. In the family group chat, Aunt Carol posted a video. The camera panned across my parents at the dining table. My mom looked like a water balloon ready to burst, swollen and puffy, her face a sallow, exhausted yellow that couldn’t be hidden. My dad, on the other hand, hadn’t changed at all. He still looked greasy-faced and full of energy. In just one month, she had been worn down to this state. My dad definitely deserved all the credit. He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t lift a finger to pick up a fallen bottle of oil in the house. A total slacker. If you asked him to help with chores, he would bombard you with an endless stream of idiotic questions. In my past life, when my mom was recovering, I was overwhelmed and asked him to help me make formula. He hovered around me holding a baby bottle: “Sweetie, does the bottle need to be washed?” “The water should be 110 degrees, right?” “Do I add the formula first or the water first?” “Does the bottle need to be shaken?” “How do I shake it?” … Just answering his stupid questions was more exhausting than doing the work myself. Eventually, I stopped asking for his help, preferring to just spend more time doing it myself. In my past life, because I shouldered the entire burden, my mom looked absolutely radiant at her one-month celebration. Everyone who saw her praised her, asking how she looked even better after having a baby! Little did they know, behind the scenes, I was carrying the weight for her. I remember clearly, she had even maliciously mocked a coworker who had also recently given birth. “Oh my god, how did you let yourself turn into a haggard housewife during your recovery?” “Look at me, I look even fresher after my recovery!” “You must just have bad genes. With my constitution, if I have another one, I might just revert back to an eighteen-year-old!” Well, look at her now. The way she looked in the video, she couldn’t even hold a candle to that haggard coworker. At the end of the video, I distinctly heard Aunt Susan whispering a complaint: “Oh my, look at her after her recovery… her face looks completely ruined…” My mom is a very vain person. She would absolutely never allow herself to stay ugly. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before she reached out to me. “You’re probably not eating well at school, right? How about this: next semester, Mom will rent an apartment near your campus and cook for you every day so you can nourish your body.” Hilarious. I’m starting my junior year. Only now does she realize I might not be eating well at school? I saw right through her little scheme. She just wanted to use the excuse of “taking care of me” to force me to help her take care of the baby, giving her time to recover her health and looks. “No need, Mom. I’m starting an internship soon. I won’t have time to go back to campus, and if you come, you won’t even see me.” “Where are you interning? Mom will go rent an apartment near your company. That’ll be even more convenient for you.” “It’s not finalized yet. Wait until I get the official offer, it won’t be too late for you to come then.” “Okay, it’s a deal then.” Actually, I wasn’t doing an internship at all. I only said that to stall them temporarily. The only way to truly escape this bizarre, bloodsucking family was to study abroad. And I had just secured an exchange student spot from my university. In my past life, I naively shared this good news with my family, expecting them to be proud of me. Instead, they immediately filed for a leave of absence on my behalf, locked me in the house, and destroyed my passport and ID, all just to keep me as their free nanny. In this life, I didn’t tell a soul about the exchange program. Outside of my college classes, I worked like a maniac—tutoring, working as a promoter, taking shifts at the factory—and saved every single penny. I knew they would never give up on the idea of making me help raise the baby. However. By the time they couldn’t wait any longer and came to my campus to find me, they would discover that I had already left the university and was in a foreign country. I was really looking forward to seeing their ridiculous expressions when their scheme fell apart.

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Oliver Sterling suffered from severe anger management issues, and I was his anchor. Everyone around him knew that he would only stay calm and not lash out if I was there. He brought me into his elite social circle, introduced me to his parents, and told everyone I was his best friend. But he didn’t know I harbored an uncontrollable, secret crush on him. However, I also knew he was straight. So, after graduating from college, I quietly disappeared from his life. 01 I hit “decline” on Oliver’s call again. The semester had started a few days ago, and Oliver probably realized by now that I hadn’t shown up for registration. He had been calling me incessantly, but I didn’t dare answer. I knew he must be furious on the other end. After all, we had agreed to attend the same grad school—his alma mater. But I had secretly changed my application, choosing a university all the way in California instead. With his connections, it was easy for him to find out I hadn’t enrolled at his school. Sure enough, right after I declined his call, a barrage of text messages and 60-second voice memos flooded my iMessage. I tapped the very last one. Oliver’s furious, violent voice blasted through the speaker: “Leo, you actually dared to play me. You better tell me exactly where you are right now. I might just give you a chance to redeem yourself and make your death a little less painful. If you keep ignoring my calls and texts, you better pray I never find you. Because if I do, I will absolutely destroy you. Call me back immediately, do you hear me?!” Oliver had never spoken to me with that kind of tone before. My hand instinctively trembled when I heard it, and I accidentally sent a thumbs-up emoji back to him. Once I realized what I had sent, I frantically tried to unsend it, but it was too late. The very next second, Oliver replied. He sounded like he was gritting his teeth, ready to skin me alive: “Leo, you’ve got some nerve, provoking me like this. Fine, just wait and see.” … 02 I met Oliver Sterling during my sophomore year of high school. That year, my parents had made a small fortune from a business venture, so they sent me to a prestigious prep school in New York. The students there all came from powerful backgrounds, but the Sterling family sat firmly at the very top of the pyramid, untouchable. Their family’s influence was unfathomable—deep pockets, massive power, and absolutely no one dared to cross them. But within the walls of that elite school, what everyone knew best was the temper of the Sterling family’s youngest son, Oliver. He was infamous for his explosive anger and being generally terrifying to deal with. Because of his severe anger management issues, he gravitated toward anything that could burn off his excess energy. Boxing, MMA, street racing, bungee jumping—he did it all. But his favorite outlet was street fighting. Before I came along, he practically lived in dive bars, getting into a dozen fights a week. That was the exact setting where I first encountered Oliver Sterling. 03 It was a rainy day. I had been hospitalized with a severe stomach bug during our mandatory outdoor orientation trip and had only just moved into the dorms today. I was walking out of the school gates to find a place to eat nearby when I saw a man stumble out of a dive bar down the street. The man’s clothes were rumpled and covered in muddy footprints. His face was bloodied, and he fell to his knees, begging uncontrollably: “I’m sorry, I was wrong! I swear I didn’t know she was with you, Mr. Sterling.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have touched her even if you gave me a million bucks!” Standing in front of him were seven or eight teenage boys. The one leading them had his eyes cast downward, ignoring the man entirely. He casually flipped open a wildly expensive Zippo lighter and lit a cigarette. The knuckles of his hands were stained with dried blood. His features were cold and distant. Through the haze of cigarette smoke, he looked even more aloof and ruthless. Without even glancing at the man groveling on the ground, he gave a subtle nod to the side. Two bodyguards immediately rushed forward, grabbed the man by the arms, and dragged him toward a dark alley. The man’s agonizing, blood-curdling screams echoed instantly. 04 I wasn’t standing very far away. Maybe the man was just too terrified, but I couldn’t clearly make out what he was saying at first. However, seeing a grown man pale with terror and driven to the brink of madness… I instinctively assumed it was a group of rich, spoiled brats bullying someone. Driven by a strong sense of justice, I marched right over. I stormed up to the boy leading the group and demanded righteously: “Hey, what do you think you’re doing? A whole group beating up one guy? Have you no shame?” The leader frowned and looked at me, a dark hostility rising in his eyes. Everyone around him shut their mouths. Even the man who had been wailing stopped abruptly. A deathly silence fell over the scene. Probably no one had ever spoken to Oliver Sterling like that. Their faces clearly read, “You’re dead meat.” I had no idea who Oliver Sterling was at the time. Although I could sense something was off from the look in their eyes, I didn’t care. I took a few steps forward, looking him dead in the eye, holding my head high, not backing down an inch. We were standing very close—so close I could smell the crisp scent of cedar on him, mixed with a faint trace of tobacco. The moment I stepped closer, the hostility in his eyes vanished completely. He looked up at me, slightly stunned, a flicker of confusion in his gaze. I thought my righteous anger had intimidated him. Just as I was about to tell them to let the man go… Oliver suddenly grabbed me by the collar and yanked me closer. Our faces were mere inches apart. Instinctively thinking he was going to attack me, I didn’t hesitate. I clenched my fist and swung it straight at his face. Oliver casually blocked it with two swift movements, grabbed my arm, and twisted it behind my back. Although I had never had formal training, I grew up in a rough neighborhood and frequently dealt with street thugs, so I knew how to throw a punch. But despite all the fights I’d been in, I had never been manhandled like this—completely subdued in just one move. My heart sank. This guy knew how to fight. 05 Just as I thought I was a goner. Oliver did something that left everyone’s jaws on the floor. He lowered his head slightly, leaning in close, and pressed his nose against my neck. He inhaled my scent brazenly, almost greedily. He was incredibly strong; his grip on my arm was ironclad. I struggled desperately, but he was like a solid rock, unmoving. After a long while, As if satisfied, he let go. I immediately covered my neck, turned around, and glared at him: “What the fuck, are you a pervert?!” Oliver’s friends were carefully watching his expression, terrified he might actually snap my neck. But Oliver wasn’t angry at all. He even seemed to be in a good mood as he explained the situation to me. “He spiked my girlfriend’s drink. Beating him up isn’t an overreaction, is it?” Skeptical, I turned to look at the man slumped on the ground. As if finally snapping out of his daze, the man started bowing repeatedly on the ground, muttering: “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling, I swear I’ll never do it again. Please spare me this once.” It wasn’t until I heard that title that I realized exactly who I had messed with, and worst of all, I was the one in the wrong. I turned back stiffly, forcing an awkward, dry smile: “Just a misunderstanding. I apologize, Mr. Sterling. I was wrong.” Oliver frowned slightly, as if finding it difficult to resolve: “Well, what are we going to do about this? I really hate being misunderstood. Tell me, how should I teach you a lesson?” His tone was casual, as if he were asking what to have for dinner, but a cold sweat broke out all over my body. Sweat rolled down my forehead, only to be gently wiped away by someone. I heard someone gasp: “Doesn’t Oliver have germaphobia?” Then, a deep, magnetic voice spoke right by my ear: “Be my friend, and I’ll forgive you.” 06 Later, I somehow ended up adding Oliver on Snapchat and surprisingly became his roommate. Actually, it wasn’t really a surprise. The prep school never assigned dorms based on grades, but by social class. The high-end dorms were essentially luxury townhouses where everyone had deep political or financial backgrounds. But my background was just “new money.” It was obvious who pulled the strings. The only person capable of breaking a century-old tradition at that school was him. Being Oliver’s friend was actually pretty great. He was incredibly generous. On my birthday, he gave me a watch worth hundreds of thousands. He found out who my favorite musician was and took me to their concert over the holidays. We didn’t just get VIP seats; we even got to go backstage and take photos with them. He brought me into his social circle, introduced me to his parents, and told everyone I was his best friend. When my parents faced difficulties with their business, he stepped in to help. But deep down, I knew that to him, I was just an emotional anchor—a human mood stabilizer. His friends told me that since I started hanging around Oliver, he had stopped going to bars to pick fights. He even smoked a lot less. When I was around, he rarely lost his temper. Even when he was absolutely furious, just catching my scent would calm him down immediately. 07 It was strange. Even though I knew I was just an anchor to him, I couldn’t stop myself from falling for him. To be fair, falling for him wasn’t hard to understand. Oliver was incredibly handsome. His face looked like it had been meticulously sculpted. He had an aggressive, raw, masculine beauty. He could just throw on a simple white t-shirt and walk down the street, instantly drawing everyone’s eyes. He had a great body too—tall, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and with an eight-pack. Of course, it wasn’t just his looks. He was intensely charismatic. He knew everything from global history and local customs to the future prospects of various industries, and he could explain them all in simple, engaging terms. But I knew he didn’t like me. During our four years of college, he had several girlfriends. I knew exactly his type: bright, elegant, and feminine. Not skinny, plain, and definitely not male. So I kept my feelings for him buried deep down. But I also knew I could never stand by and watch Oliver get married and have kids with someone else. So, leaving was inevitable. 08 “Hey, Leo, why are you always staring at your phone lately? Are you waiting for a text from a girl you like?” my roommate Mark asked, a teasing smirk on his face. “No,” I replied flatly, shaking my head. Mark didn’t buy it. He slung an arm around my neck, applying a little pressure: “I don’t believe you. Come on, spill it. Who is it?” I couldn’t say, because there was no girl. I was waiting for a message from a specific guy. Ever since he sent me that one text, there had been absolute radio silence. It was like he vanished into thin air. Living in fear for the past few days hadn’t eased my anxiety; it had only made it worse. Just as I was lost in thought, a sudden commotion erupted near the campus gates. Many students started running in that direction. Mark, who loved drama, immediately dragged me along with the crowd. By the time we got there, a large crowd had already gathered. Mark was tall, making it easy for him to see over the crowd. He suddenly gasped: “Holy shit! Isn’t this the kind of spectacle you only see in romance novels when the billionaire CEO comes to catch his runaway bride?” I was stuck in the back and couldn’t see clearly. I asked him: “What’s going on?” Mark thought for a moment. “More than a dozen top-tier black luxury SUVs, and two men in black suits standing in front of every single one.” He frowned, as if feeling that description didn’t do justice to the scene. He waved his hand dismissively and said: “I can’t even describe it. Come on, I’ll show you.” He grabbed my shoulder and pushed toward the front. Once we reached the front, peering through a few rows of people, I spotted Oliver immediately. He was sitting in the back of a car, his face dark with intense anger and impatience. In the few short days since I last saw him, the aura around him had grown much sharper and more dangerous. He hadn’t seen me. He was turning his head to talk to the bodyguards beside him. I froze in place, involuntarily recalling his threat: You better pray I never find you. Without thinking, I ripped my arm out of Mark’s grasp and started pushing my way back through the crowd. I prayed Oliver wouldn’t look in my direction. But I forgot that finding me, let alone catching me, was child’s play for him. Right now, I didn’t have time to worry about that. However, things never go as planned. Seeing me leave, Mark immediately yelled after me at the top of his lungs: “Leo, why are you leaving?! I finally managed to push us to the front! Hey, why are you walking faster? Wait up!” The moment he yelled my name, I felt a searing gaze lock onto me. I knew Oliver had spotted me, but the crowd was too dense, and I couldn’t squeeze my way out. Moments later, the synchronized sound of approaching footsteps echoed, parting the crowd around me. I looked up at the scene before me. A dozen bodyguards surrounded me completely, trapping me in the center. From behind came that deep, hoarse voice, dripping with ice, sending shivers down my spine. “Found you, Leo.” 09 I was “escorted” into the car by Oliver’s bodyguards. The moment the car door shut, Oliver lunged at me without warning, pinning me against the backseat. Seeing this, the driver up front quietly raised the privacy partition. Oliver buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent greedily and urgently. I could feel his cool lips brushing against the burning skin of my neck, his breath hot against my collarbone. Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, I gave him a weak push. The next second, he grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head. He was very strong, gripping my wrists tightly, intentionally making it hurt. “Don’t move.” His tone was heavy, as if annoyed by the interruption. He reached down and gripped my waist tightly. Oliver was furious about me secretly changing my grad school application. It took a long time for the dark cloud over his face to dissipate, but he still didn’t get off me. He braced himself with one hand by my ear, lifting his upper body slightly, staring straight into my eyes. When he finally spoke, his tone wasn’t as aggressive as before, but it definitely wasn’t pleasant: “Who was that guy hugging you?” I looked at him and couldn’t help but remember our college graduation day. That day, our class hosted a farewell party, and Oliver came with me. I had originally planned to confess my feelings to Oliver that day. But just as I turned a corner in the hallway, I saw a girl blocking his path. Her face was flushed, but she still gathered the courage to speak: “Oliver, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?” Oliver maintained his usual calm, indifferent expression. “I’m sorry, I don’t feel the same way.” Then, I heard the girl ask him: “Is it because of Leo? Ever since Leo transferred here, you haven’t dated anyone. Do you like him?” I hid behind a pillar, my fingers tightening involuntarily out of nervousness, crushing the love letter in my hand. I held my breath, straining my ears to hear his answer. But all I heard was a ruthless scoff, as if he’d just heard a joke: “Why would I like him? He’s a guy. I’m not gay.” But the first question he asked me now wasn’t an interrogation about why I changed my application. It sounded almost like he was jealous, asking about my relationship with Mark. Those hidden feelings in my heart suddenly refused to stay buried. I thought, maybe he did like me a little, but just hadn’t realized it yet. I knew it was just wishful thinking on my part, and it probably sounded ridiculous. But just the sliver of a possibility made my heart race uncontrollably. The urge to tell him how I felt peaked in that moment. I looked up at him intently, a hint of testing in my gaze: “Aren’t you going to ask why I changed schools?” His face darkened instantly: “You have the nerve to ask? Tell me why.” I looked at Oliver with burning intensity: “Because I like you. I didn’t want to watch you date someone else, so I secretly changed my application.” He stared at me for a long time, then suddenly let out a scoff: “Leo, are you a fucking idiot? Do you really think making a joke like that means I’ll forget about you lying to me?” I immediately defended myself: “I’m not joking.” He stared at me for a long time, suddenly curled his lips into a smile, released the hand propping him up by my ear, let his body weight sink heavily onto me, and said casually: “Is that so? Then prove it to me.” I asked him: “How?” He raised an eyebrow, gently tapped his long finger against his own lips, and slowly uttered two words: “Kiss me.” My brain exploded, going completely blank. I was too slow to process it, looking at him in a daze: “What did you say?” His smile widened: “Didn’t you say you like me? What, you don’t even have the guts to kiss me?” I stared at his lips, which were moving as he spoke. Only one thought echoed in my mind: he asked me to kiss him. Did that mean he liked me? “Leo, next time you should find a better…” I lifted my head and gently covered his chattering mouth with mine, staring unblinkingly at Oliver. I saw him freeze slightly, but he didn’t show the slightest hint of disgust. I closed my eyes and deepened the kiss. I gradually allowed myself to sink into it, savoring the sweet taste of him. But before I could fully enjoy it… Suddenly, I was violently shoved away. My back slammed hard against the car door, a sharp, piercing pain shooting up my spine. But what was harder to accept was that when I opened my eyes, I saw Oliver wiping his lips with a look of absolute disgust. He said, “Leo, you are disgusting.” The color drained from my face instantly. Trembling, I didn’t know what to say. He ordered the driver coldly: “Pull over.” The next second, his face dark, he roared at me: “Get the fuck out.”

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The Sterling family’s eccentric third son loved raising snakes and teasing me. Every night, he would bring a cold snake into my room. He’d let it wrap around my ankle, and even if I cried, he refused to take it away. Aside from that, I lived a charmed life, flattered and spoiled by everyone. But later, the Sterlings took in another girl to pay off a debt. Because that girl was afraid of snakes, Vance killed his beloved pet. Looking at the snake’s blood on the floor, I knew my time as his pampered canary was up. Coincidentally, the term of my debt repayment was over. So, clutching my slightly swollen, pregnant belly, I quietly fled the Sterling estate. 01 When I found out my family had gone bankrupt, I was actually thrilled. My dad had eight daughters. I was exactly the eighth. My seven older sisters had all been married off to wealthy tycoons for business alliances. They didn’t get to choose their partners; they had to obey the family’s arrangements. One married a divorced billionaire with kids; another married a sugar daddy thirty years her senior. Each of them was beautiful, but every single marriage was miserable. My dad had picked out a match for me too, and the guy combined all the worst traits of my brothers-in-law. Old, ugly, divorced, with kids. I only took one look from afar and almost threw up. I thought, if I had to marry him, I would waste away to nothing. Because looking at that face, I wouldn’t be able to eat a single bite. When he heard I refused to marry the guy, my dad had me tied up, beaten, and grounded. After all, my sisters had never fought back. He knew exactly how to handle this kind of rebellion. Just when I was on the brink of despair, my dad’s company ran into massive trouble. What made me even happier was that those wealthy brothers-in-law of mine couldn’t lift a finger to help. My dad was finally bankrupt! I joyfully thanked God and my lucky stars. I thought I had dodged a bullet and wouldn’t have to worry about a forced marriage ever again. But I underestimated how ruthless my dad could be. Since the marriage alliance fell through, he actually offered me up as collateral to pay off his debts. 02 When I was brought to the Sterling Estate, I felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. My dad said the Sterlings had three sons, and all I had to do was catch the eye of one of them. If none of them wanted me, he’d send me to another creditor’s house. By then, I had zero expectations for marriage. I figured, rather than being tossed around from man to man, I might as well just go to the Sterlings. As long as the Sterling men weren’t like my former fiancé—five-foot-two, two hundred pounds, and fifty-six years old—I could survive. But a prestigious family like that looked down on my dad’s cheap tactics. The Sterling patriarch righteously rejected him: “We are a respectable family. Don’t try to fool us with these crooked schemes.” So, my dad and I were unceremoniously kicked out. Standing at their gates, he was already making calls to arrange visits to the Smiths, the Joneses, the Davis family… Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, and a man appeared in front of me. He had a razor-sharp jawline, arched brows, and messy hair falling effortlessly over his forehead. His legs, clad in black tailored pants, looked like they went on forever. The moment our eyes met, only one thought crossed my mind. This must be my reward for enduring so many ugly men. But when I took a closer look, my pupils instantly shrank. Wrapped around his arm was a silver snake. It wasn’t a toy. It was a real snake. It was as thick as a baby’s arm. Its black, beady eyes locked onto me, its tongue flicking out, tasting the air. I had been terrified of cold-blooded animals since I was a kid. My scalp went numb. Just as I was about to take a step back, I heard my dad respectfully call out to the man: “Mr. Sterling.” I knew about Vance Sterling, the third son. In a family with strict rules and tradition, he was the sole exception. Rebellious and wild since childhood, he had no hobbies other than raising snakes, and he never even had a woman by his side. Yet, his grandfather favored him deeply and had entrusted half of the family empire to him. Vance ignored my dad. He just tilted his chin at me and asked lazily: “Afraid of snakes?” I was terrified. Deathly afraid. But I fought the urge to step back, forcing a harmless, sweet smile. “Not at all.” He smirked noncommittally, suddenly raised his arm, and thrust the snake right into my face. “Then pet it.” 03 Every fiber of my being was screaming in protest. But I didn’t want to disobey Vance. Compared to those ugly old men, a young, gorgeous guy like him was already the best option I had. I gritted my teeth and cautiously reached out my hand. The silver snake poked its head out, and its cold scales unexpectedly brushed against my palm. Ice-cold and smooth. Oh my god, this is terrifying. I want to cry. But I forced a bright smile, looking at Vance and lying through my teeth: “This… this feels really nice.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the snake suddenly went crazy, opening its jaws at me as if it wanted to take a bite. My hand trembled in fear, and unable to hold back anymore, I stumbled three steps backward. My lie was exposed way too fast. I thought Vance would mock me, but he just looked at me with a half-smile. “What’s your name?” “Harper Miller.” “Want to come with me?” “Huh?” My eyes widened in shock. By the time I processed what was happening, my dad and Vance had already struck a deal. He handed me over to Vance for three years to wipe out a thirty-million-dollar debt. It was a terrible, uncalculated bargain. But to everyone’s surprise, Vance actually agreed. He nodded playfully. “Sure. Deal.” 04 That very night, I moved into Vance’s private mansion. When Vance walked in, he had just taken a shower. He wore a white silk V-neck pajama top, exposing a wide swath of his chest. Water dripped from his damp hair, trailing down his chest and disappearing into the depths of his shirt. I pursed my lips awkwardly, standing perfectly straight, pressed tightly against the wall. “Are you putting yourself in time-out?” He let out a soft scoff, casually grabbing a towel draped over his shoulder to dry his hair. “If you’re not used to sharing a bed with me, you can sleep in another room. There are sixteen bedrooms in this house; take your pick.” My eyes instantly lit up. I didn’t expect him to be so considerate. Just as I was about to nod, a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Though, the other fifteen are snake rooms. Each room has anywhere from five to twenty snakes. You might want to think about which one you prefer.” I froze in place, suddenly stuttering, “N-never mind. This… this is perfectly fine.” He locked the door, leaving just the two of us in our pajamas. Even though Vance was gorgeous and I understood what the job of a “canary” entailed, I was still terrified facing the actual reality of it. After all, my knowledge of this stuff came entirely from reading romance novels. I had zero practical experience. Vance pulled back the covers and got into bed, patting the empty space next to him. “Are you coming over by yourself, or do you need me to carry you?” I hesitated for a second, then slowly shuffled to the edge of the bed. Rumor had it the eccentric billionaire only liked snakes and never let women near him. I didn’t look like a snake, so he probably wouldn’t be interested in me. Thinking this, I slowly crawled under the covers, leaving enough space between us to fit three other people. Vance gave me a meaningful look. I don’t know if he was suddenly hot, but he suddenly lifted the hem of his shirt to fan himself. That one motion exposed eight perfectly sculpted abs. I glanced over, instantly averted my eyes, and asked carefully: “Is the AC set too high? Do you want me to turn it down?” Vance stopped talking. He stared at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if he were suddenly parched. I tried to be helpful again. “Do you want me to get you some water?” The expression on Vance’s face was complicated for a moment. Suddenly he wasn’t thirsty anymore. He reached over, flicked off the lamp, and turned his back to me to sleep. I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he really was just like the rumors—completely uninterested in women. Keeping me around was probably just him taking pity on a girl sold by her own father. I secretly congratulated myself for meeting a good guy who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and happily prepared to drift off. Just as I was half-asleep, a body suddenly pressed against my back. His chest was burning hot, his voice hoarse, but his words were incredibly direct. “Are we doing this?” 05 I take back everything I said. Vance was not a good guy at all. He was wicked. I was too embarrassed to refuse, and he took an inch to take a mile, pushing forward relentlessly. Until I completely fell apart, half-resisting, half-yielding. And if that wasn’t enough, he was a total freak. Who brings a snake into the bedroom for that? With a twisted sense of humor, he brought the snake into the room. It flicked its tongue, its crimson tip licking my ankle, cold scales gliding across my calf. He lowered his head to bite my earlobe, his hot breath brushing against the side of my ear. The contrast of freezing cold and burning heat drove me absolutely insane. For the first year with Vance, I counted down the days, wondering how much longer until I could leave him and his creepy reptiles. By the second year, I realized that spending too much time with a freak makes you a bit of a freak too. I had actually grown addicted to the feeling. By the third year, I suddenly felt that staying with Vance was actually pretty great. He was clean. Besides me, there were no other women in his life. He gave me everything I asked for. The best of everything was delivered straight to my hands. I had massive, flawless diamonds, solid gold bars, and designer bags filling an entire walk-in closet. Everyone knew Vance valued me. They practically treated me as the future Mrs. Sterling. Even my dad bowed and scraped whenever he saw me. I was riding high, showered with praise. I also felt that Vance loved me. Every time he breathed my name, trembling, his eyes reflected nothing but me. So when the three years were up, he didn’t bring up the end of the debt, and I didn’t mention leaving. The day I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant, I was actually thrilled. I couldn’t wait to share the good news with Vance. But as luck would have it, Vance didn’t come home that night. It was the first time in three years. The next day, I found out the Sterlings had taken in a new girl to pay off a debt. 06 When I went looking for Vance, he was at the main estate. The butler told me the new girl’s name was Chloe Bennett. She was incredibly beautiful, the picture of a pure, innocent sweetheart. She was originally meant to pay off a debt to the Sterlings, but a young heir from the Hayes family had also set his sights on her. The two men ended up fighting over it, agreeing that Chloe would belong to the winner. Vance won. But as he walked toward Chloe, the snake he brought that day was feeling restless and suddenly lunged onto her. It wrapped itself around her neck, flicking its tongue, slowly slithering against her cheek. A young girl like her had never seen anything so terrifying. She burst into tears on the spot. By the time I rushed over, the snake was already dead. Its head was severed from its body, a large pool of blood spreading across the floor. I froze. Vance loved his snakes. He practically raised them like children, giving each one a name. He treasured them. He rarely let anyone touch them, and once refused a two-million-dollar offer for just one of his reptiles. After spending so much time with those cold-blooded little creatures, even I had developed a strange affection for them. I never imagined there would come a day when Vance would kill a snake. And all just to comfort a crying girl. I pursed my lips, looking up toward the estate’s grand living room. Vance was inside, leaning lazily against the window with his arms crossed, a casual smirk on his lips as he chatted idly with Chloe. Chloe looked up at him, her delicate frame fragile, her long hair blowing in the breeze. At a glance, she looked a lot like I did three years ago. I was standing right at the door. If Vance just turned his head, he would see me. But he was too focused. His gaze didn’t shift an inch. I suddenly remembered how cold Vance had been toward me over the last two months. He was incredibly fit and usually never tired of tossing me around. Three or four hours a night used to be the norm. But lately, he had become perfunctory, wrapping things up hastily after just one round. So, his boredom with me had warning signs all along. But come to think of it, with a background and status like his, how could he tie his heart to just one woman? Keeping him interested for three years was already a massive achievement. I looked down at my still-flat stomach. I had wanted to tell him we were having a baby, but now, it seemed entirely unnecessary. I didn’t stick around to watch. I hurried back to the mansion. I could break up with Vance, but the gifts he gave me were mine, and I was taking them all. I immediately contacted buyers, liquidating the gold, selling off the designer bags and jewelry. It would take about a week for my bank balance to turn into a glorious, cold, multi-million-dollar safety net. Thinking about this, I lay on the bed, feeling relieved, just wanting the week to be over. The bedroom door clicked open, and the mattress dipped. Vance familiarly pulled me into his arms. I stiffened. “Why are you back?” Shouldn’t he be with Chloe tonight? Vance propped himself up over me with one hand, unbuttoning his shirt with the other. “This is my house. Where else would I go?” Saying that, he cupped the back of my head and crashed his lips onto mine, greedily stealing the air from my lungs. Thinking about what happened at the estate, I reluctantly turned my head away, blurting out a random excuse. “No, you’re sweaty today. You’re dirty.” “Spoiled.” Vance reached out, tapped my nose, and pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean, muscular torso. “I’ll go shower.” He took two steps, then, as if remembering something, turned back and scooped me up into his arms. “Let’s shower together.” Excuse me? The bathroom was steaming hot, the sound of water echoing against the tiles. Vance’s gaze landed on me, his eyes growing dark. His kisses fell like a storm, leaving me breathless and forced to lean against him just to stay standing. But surprisingly, at the crucial moment, Vance let me go. “Be a good girl and go out first. I’ll come find you when I’m done.” I froze for a second, then realization hit me. A man’s energy is finite. Now that he had a new toy, he obviously wouldn’t waste his stamina on his old one. New is always better than the old, after all. I don’t know if it was because I was too exhausted today, but my lower abdomen suddenly started aching slightly. I pulled out my phone to check out local clinics, planning to book an appointment to get rid of the baby the moment I left town. I browsed for a long time. Vance was still in the bathroom, god knows what he was doing in there. I was dead tired and dozed off, my phone still clutched tightly in my hand, the screen unlocked. I was shaken awake by Vance. Half-asleep, I was pulled into his arms. He was staring at me with a half-smile, making me feel inexplicably guilty. “W-what are you doing?” He tilted his head, studying me. “Babe, do you have anything you want to tell me?” I was entirely lost. “No.” “Really?” His fingertips suddenly trailed down, landing on my lower stomach, slowly tracing circles. I glanced at my phone, which was now sitting on the nightstand. A terrible premonition gripped my heart. Did he see my browsing history? Did he notice something? I looked at him hesitantly. His expression was impossible to read. In that split second, my brain was already working in overdrive, trying to come up with an excuse to hide the pregnancy. “I… I just…” “Are you short on cash?” he asked suddenly. My excuse died in my throat. I stared at him blankly. “The guy who buys secondhand designer bags just called. He said you’re trying to sell off all the bags I gave you. Care to explain why you’re liquidating everything?” Oh, so it was about that. I breathed a massive sigh of relief and quickly spun a lie. “Those bags are out of season. They’re just taking up space, so I figured I might as well sell them.” Vance was very good at grasping the core issue. He immediately zeroed in on the key information: “The old bags are out of season, so you need new ones.” “I’ll have my assistant buy every new arrival this season tomorrow. You can wear whatever you like.” Just as I was about to relax, Vance casually dropped another question: “Babe, why were you glancing at your phone while talking to me? Is there some dark secret hiding in there?” “Want to show it to me?” I was terrified. I immediately looked away, wrapped my arms around his neck, nuzzled against the small mole on his nose, and made my voice as soft and sweet as possible. “What could I possibly hide from you?” The silver snake coiled around his shoulder took the opportunity to wrap its tail around my waist, pulling me tight against Vance’s abs. He hummed, satisfied. “Relax, I won’t check your phone. I have that much trust in you.” “Besides, I doubt you’d dare do anything out of line.” I nodded vigorously. Honestly, running away in secret wasn’t that out of line, was it? Just one more week, and I’d be saying goodbye to Vance forever. But I never expected the Sterling family’s intuition to be so sharp. 07 For Grandpa Sterling’s birthday, Vance had to return to the estate. Usually, these were strictly family affairs, and he never brought me along. But this year was the patriarch’s 80th, a massive banquet, and Vance wanted me to attend as his plus-one. Since it was a banquet, I needed a gown. Vance had given me plenty of dresses, but running away with a closet full of evening wear was impractical, so I had already sold them off at a discount. I only had one burgundy dress left. The waist was tiny, bought when I was at my absolute thinnest. Zipping it up was a struggle, and it made my slightly rounded stomach noticeable. I sucked in my gut, praying Vance wouldn’t notice. Everything was going fine until it was time for toasts. A group of kids ran over, playing tag, and one nearly crashed right into my stomach. I jumped back in panic, forgetting to hold my breath. Vance’s little niece ran up to me, pressed her hand against my stomach, and asked in her sweet, baby voice: “Harper, your tummy used to be flat. Why is it all round now?” Vance froze, his gaze immediately dropping to my abdomen. Sucking it back in now would be too obvious. I bent down slightly and explained to the little girl: “Because the food at the party is so yummy, I ate way too much and got stuffed.” But the kid shook her head, telling me with absolute certainty: “Nuh-uh.” “There’s a baby in your tummy.” As soon as the words fell, the surrounding area went dead silent. Everyone turned to look at us. As if afraid people wouldn’t believe her, she raised her voice: “It’s true! I’m not lying!” “The baby in her tummy is moving! It just kicked my hand!” I was panicking internally but kept a beaming smile on my face as I explained, “There’s no baby in my tummy, sweetheart.” “When you eat too much, your stomach has to digest it. Of course my tummy is moving.” The kid wanted to argue, but thankfully her mother grabbed her and pulled her away. The excuse was incredibly flimsy, but I thought I had managed to scrape by. When I turned around, I found Vance staring at me, deep in thought. “Babe, if I remember correctly, you’ve missed your period for three months now, haven’t you?” My money was ready. I was leaving tomorrow. I couldn’t let things go wrong now. I forced myself to stay calm and nodded naturally. “Yeah.” “You know my cycle has never been regular.” Afraid Vance would press further and blow my cover, I faked a burp. “Ugh, I ate way too much. I need to go for a walk and digest.” Vance couldn’t come with me; there was a line of people waiting to toast him. He had to socialize. I wandered the estate gardens alone. As I walked, I noticed a light on. It was a room on the third floor that had always been empty. Tonight, it was brightly lit. Two maids walked by carrying trays of food, gossiping. “Mr. Sterling really cares about that new Miss Bennett. He’s so worried she’ll go hungry, he had the chef make all her favorites.” “A busy man like him actually remembered she’s allergic to seafood. He specifically ordered the kitchen to leave it out.” “With a new girl in the house, does that mean Miss Miller is out of favor?” “Probably. The Bennett girl is only nineteen, a blank slate, the perfect age to mold. Miss Miller is twenty-two. Mr. Sterling has been sleeping with her for years; he’s bound to be bored by now.” I stood behind a sycamore tree. They didn’t see me as they chatted and headed toward the third floor. I sniffled, suddenly feeling incredibly hollow. Vance wasn’t even trying to hide his affection. Even the staff could see he had someone else in his heart. A voice suddenly broke the silence from behind me. “Miss Miller, since Vance has a new favorite, why don’t you come with me?”

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I was standing at the finance desk, trying to file my travel expenses, when the accountant literally shoved my paperwork back in my face. “New company policy,” she snapped. “Lodging is capped at $50 a night. Food is $10 a day. You’re way over budget!” “Linda, are you serious? I was in Manhattan,” I replied, staring at her in disbelief. “Even a flea-ridden motel in Queens costs $200. You want me to sleep under the Brooklyn Bridge for fifty bucks?” “Not my problem. Talk to the CEO. He set the rules.” I looked down at the $7,000 worth of receipts in my hand. I’d spent six months’ worth of savings and maxed out my credit cards just to keep the project moving. If they didn’t reimburse me, I wouldn’t even be able to afford rent, let alone groceries. Thinking about everything I’d done for this firm, I walked into the CEO’s office, expecting him to be reasonable. Instead, he didn’t even look up from his desk. “Policy is policy. My hands are tied.” 01 I had just closed a multi-million dollar contract for the company after months of grueling travel. Now that the work was done, they were refusing to pay the bills. Earlier that month, I’d tried to catch the accountant during a brief trip back to the office. She’d shut me down instantly. “Reimbursements are processed only during the last week of the month.” The problem? During the last week of every month, I was required to be on-site with the client for the project wrap-up. How was I supposed to be in two places at once? I had to fly back early this week just to get the paperwork in, only to be told my lodging and food were “excessive.” Linda, the accountant, sat there with a stone face. She had one mantra: “If the boss signs it, I’ll pay it.” I took the forms to the CEO, Mr. Sterling, and tried to explain. “Mr. Sterling, you can’t find a room for $50 in New York. It’s impossible.” “Did you even try?” he countered. “Or did you just go straight for the Hilton?” “I stayed at a Red Roof Inn forty minutes away for $150. That was the cheap option. Look it up online if you don’t believe me.” He sneered and pulled out his phone. After a few minutes of aggressive scrolling, he found a listing for a hostel in a dangerous part of the Bronx. A bunk bed in a room with twelve strangers for $45. “See? There’s a spot. Want me to book it for your next trip?” “That’s a hostel, sir. Twelve people in one room! I’m working late nights. How am I supposed to protect the company laptop or my own gear in a place like that?” He rolled his eyes and kept scrolling until he found a budget motel in the far reaches of New Jersey. “Look, $55. Just take the bus.” “The client is in midtown. The commute would be three hours each way.” “Then get up earlier,” he snapped. I bit my tongue to keep from cursing him out. “And the $10 food allowance? A deli sandwich in the city is fifteen bucks.” “Look, Leo,” Sterling said, leaning back. “If you weren’t traveling, wouldn’t you be paying for your own dinner anyway? Why should the company foot the bill just because you’re in a different zip code? Giving you ten bucks is a luxury. That’s a couple of McDoubles from the dollar menu. Be grateful.” I was speechless. The company expected me to take a Greyhound bus, sleep in a bunk bed, and eat off the dollar menu while I was closing seven-figure deals. Looking at his smug face, I knew he wasn’t going to budge on the rates. Fine. I’d take the hit. Based on the “official” rates, they still owed me about $5,000. I needed that cash just to survive. But I never imagined that even after I agreed to take the loss, they still wouldn’t give me the money. 02 I went back to my desk, adjusted the totals to match their ridiculous caps, and walked back to the finance window. “Alright, Linda. Just process it at the $50 cap for lodging and $10 for food.” She took the forms, glanced at them for two seconds, and tossed them back. “Can’t do it.” “Why not? I’m following the policy now!” “The receipts don’t match the requested amount.” “Of course they don’t! The receipts are for the actual prices, which are higher. I’m asking for less than what I spent. Any auditor would be fine with that.” “The IRS might be, but the boss isn’t. He requires the receipt amount to be identical to the reimbursement claim.” The blood started to boil in my veins. “Linda, I’ve been fronting the company money for a year. I’ve put five grand of my own money into this business. I’m literally letting you keep a portion of it just so I can get the rest back. Can we please just get this done?” “Talk to the boss, Leo. Get his signature, and I’ll cut the check.” I walked back into Sterling’s office. “The accountant says I need your signature because the receipt amounts are higher than the claim.” Sterling took the paper, saw that the company was “saving” over a thousand dollars, and suddenly he was all smiles. “See, Leo? This is how a big company stays afloat. It’s about the system. I’ll make an exception and sign this for you just this once. Don’t let it happen again.” He scribbled his name. He was stealing over a grand from me; of course he was happy to sign. I ran back to finance. I handed over the signed paper. Linda tossed it back again. “Can’t do it.” I felt like my head was going to explode. 03 “What now?” I hissed. “Company policy states reimbursements are capped at $500 per month. You’ll have to split this into ten separate monthly claims. Go back, re-date them, and bring them back.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “Linda… why couldn’t you tell me all of this the first time?” “The handbook is on the company portal. If you don’t read it, that’s on you.” I looked at the wall. Sure enough, there was a tiny, faded print-out of a “memo” from last month. Who the hell checks the finance wall for updates every day? I lost it. My voice rose until the whole office could hear. “This is money I paid for the company. This is a debt the company owes me! It’s not a bonus or a salary. Why the hell am I being paid back in installments? Are you going to pay me interest?” Linda just gave me that same robotic stare. “It’s the boss’s rule. Get his signature, and I’ll pay it all.” Back to Sterling. Again. “Sir, finance says there’s a $500 monthly cap?” “That’s right. Cash flow management, Leo.” “I’ve been traveling non-stop. I have five thousand dollars in expenses. At this rate, I’ll never be fully paid back because I’m still spending money on the next trips! I’m effectively paying the company to work here!” Sterling didn’t even look up. “Leo, rules are rules. You didn’t file them on time, that’s your problem. I told you, I made one exception today. I’m not making another. Get out.” “I couldn’t file on time because I was on-site for the projects you assigned me!” “You could have mailed the receipts in.” “I did! And Linda sent them back because I didn’t ‘tape them horizontally’ to the paper! They sat in her inbox for three months!” “Then you should have taped them horizontally. It’s about attention to detail, Leo. Maybe that’s why you’re struggling.” He was gaslighting me. He had a million excuses, and every single one ended with me losing money. 04 I left his office fuming. I had no choice. I filed for the first $500. I had credit card bills due and I needed to eat. I was broke because I was subsidizing a millionaire. Finally, on my fourth trip to the window, Linda took the paperwork. “This looks correct. See? You can follow the rules when you try.” I wanted to reach through the glass and strangle her. “When do I get the money?” “It’ll be direct-deposited with your next paycheck.” Next month’s paycheck? That was three weeks away. My rent was due in three days. My bank account was already in the red. “Can I get an advance? I’m literally out of money.” “Standard procedure, Leo. We have to verify the receipts, enter them into the ledger… these things take time.” Standard procedure. The “procedure” designed to screw over the little guy. “Linda, can I at least get an advance on my salary? I can’t afford groceries.” “Get the boss’s signature.” I went back to Sterling. One last time. He actually smiled this time. “Leo, you know that advancing a salary has a financial cost to the company. That money could be sitting in our high-yield account earning interest. But, since I’m a nice guy and I don’t want you to starve… I’ll approve a $500 advance. But we have to account for the lost interest. We’ll take a 5% ‘convenience fee’ out of it. You’ll get $475.” The man knew all about “financial costs” when it was his money, but when he was sitting on five grand of my money for a year, he didn’t mention interest once. I had to take it. I bit my lip and said the hardest words I’ve ever spoken: “Thank you, sir.” “Don’t mention it. Now get back to work. Show some loyalty to the firm.” Loyalty? Oh, he was going to get exactly what he deserved. 05 The next morning, my client in NYC, Mr. Thompson, called me. “Leo, where are you? The project wrap-up meeting is this afternoon.” “Sorry, Mr. Thompson. Company policy requires me to be in the home office for reimbursement processing. I couldn’t make it back to the city. Maybe you should call my boss and ask him to send someone else?” Thompson lost it. “Reimbursement? Are you kidding me? You’re missing a milestone meeting over paperwork? We’re a week away from the final sign-off! Everyone is pulling overtime, and you’re at your home office filing receipts?” “I’m sorry, sir. I haven’t been paid back for six months. I literally don’t have the money for a bus ticket, and I have nowhere to stay.” “I’m calling your boss right now. We’ll see what’s more important—your receipts or this ten-million-dollar contract.” The second phase of Thompson’s project was worth ten million. Sterling wouldn’t dare piss him off. Three minutes later, Sterling came sprinting into my office, screaming. “The project is at the finish line! Why aren’t you on a plane to New York?” “I’d love to go, sir. But I’m broke.” “I just gave you a $500 advance!” “Actually, it was $475. And it went straight to my credit card company to avoid a late fee. I can’t afford a ticket, I can’t afford a hotel, and I certainly can’t afford to eat.” Sterling froze. Then he glared at me. “Are you trying to lose your performance bonus?” “Sir, if I go to New York, I might finish the project, but I’ll be homeless by the time the bonus check clears. I can’t even afford the subway. Maybe I should just take out a payday loan?” “Don’t be dramatic. Just borrow some money.” “You charged me 5% for a three-week advance, sir. If I take a payday loan to cover company expenses, I’ll be working for free. My salary doesn’t cover that kind of interest.” Sterling realized I wasn’t backing down. “Go to finance. Get a $1,000 advance. Go. Now.” “Is there a 5% fee? Because if there is, I can’t afford it.” Sterling choked on his words. “No fee! It’s a travel advance!” I got the signature. Sterling growled, “Don’t let this happen again, Leo. Work comes first. Don’t let a few dollars ruin a project.” A few dollars? Rich, coming from a guy who wouldn’t pay for a sandwich. But I got the cash. I went to the window, Linda processed it instantly, and the money hit my account. I went back to my office, kicked my feet up, and started playing games on my phone. I wasn’t going to New York yet. 06 An hour later, Sterling walked past and saw me still sitting there. He burst in, purple with rage. “Miller! Why are you still here? The meeting is in four hours!” “Well, the thousand dollars went to my other credit card, sir. I still can’t afford the ticket.” Sterling’s face went from purple to bright red. “You’re doing this on purpose!” “The company rules say I have to be here to file. I’m just following the system, sir. My accounts are a mess because of the delays. I’m truly helpless.” His phone rang again. It was Thompson. I could hear him screaming through the receiver from across the room. He told Sterling if I wasn’t there by the afternoon, the Phase 2 contract was going to a competitor. “Do you want this ten-million-dollar deal or not?” Thompson yelled. Sterling hung up, gritting his teeth. “Is your credit card paid off now?” “Still owe about another five grand.” “Fine! Go to finance. Get $10,000. Buy a last-minute flight. Just get there!” He paused. “Actually, forget Linda. I’ll have my assistant book your flight. Go get the cash.” He was desperate. Usually, he forced me to take the six-hour bus ride. Now, he was paying for a last-minute flight—probably $1,200—and his assistant was doing the work. I took the $10k advance. Linda looked at me like I was a bank robber. “Two days and you’ve taken twenty thousand from the company?” “Linda, the company owed me five. This is just a down payment on my loyalty. Technically, I’m still the one getting screwed.” The assistant booked the flight. Sterling even had his private driver take me to the airport. I finally got a taste of the CEO life. But I knew my time here was over. Once this project was signed, Sterling would find a way to fire me. He was only paying me now because he needed the milestone. My 5% commission on the deal—about $200,000—was as good as gone if I stayed. Luckily, I had a plan. 07 Phase 1 was a success. The client was happy. The $4 million final payment for Phase 1 hit the company’s bank account. Predictably, Sterling started the “burn” phase. He handed Phase 2 over to another manager, a corporate suck-up named Sarah, and stopped giving me new assignments. I was being sidelined. He was waiting for me to quit so he wouldn’t have to pay my commission. I didn’t wait. When the monthly pay stub came and my commission was missing, I went straight to Linda. “Where’s my $200,000 commission for the Thompson deal?” Linda didn’t even look up. “If the boss didn’t approve it, it doesn’t exist.” “He signed the contract! It was in my offer letter!” “Talk to him. If he signs a check, I’ll send it.” I felt like I was talking to an AI bot. As I turned to leave, she added, “By the way, the boss put a hold on your remaining expense reimbursements. Don’t bother asking why.” So, he was stealing my commission and the rest of my expenses. Cold. 08 I walked into Sterling’s office. “Linda says you didn’t approve my commission?” “That’s right,” he said, not even bothering to hide his smugness now that the money was in the bank. “We had an agreement. $200,000.” “Well, Leo, after auditing the project, we found it wasn’t as profitable as we hoped. Plus, you missed several ‘internal’ deadlines while you were ‘busy’ in New York. We’ve decided to cancel the commission.” “Not profitable? The client just paid four million in cash!” “Overhead, Leo. Overhead. In fact, the company barely broke even. There’s no money for bonuses. For anyone. Meeting adjourned.” He was trying to bait me. He wanted me to blow up and walk out so he could claim I abandoned my job. “Fine,” I said calmly. “I’ll wait for the audit to finish.” He looked surprised. He expected a fight. He wanted to enjoy the moment he broke me. But I didn’t give it to him. I went back to my office and went back to my games. I had everything I needed.

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I got dumped by my online boyfriend after I finally got accepted into his college. He sent me a picture of my own sister and said: “I’ve fallen for her. I’ll make it up to you.” I laughed. “Well, she can be your main chick and I’ll be your side piece. I just can’t live without you.” He got annoyed. “Silly girl, I cheated on you and I have ED. I’m not good enough for you.” I was just about to tell him the girl in the photo was me. But then he sent me a jaw-droppingly handsome photo. “This is my roommate, the campus heartthrob. His family is rich, he’s never dated, and he’s packing 8 inches. Let me set you up with him, okay?” I swallowed hard. “Fine, but don’t you dare come crawling back to me.” He promised confidently: “Don’t worry. Whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” Later, this usually arrogant, bad-boy type was wearing a leather collar, kneeling at my feet like a dog, crying and begging: “Please, let’s get back together. Or he can be your main guy and I’ll be your side piece. I don’t have ED, I’m a machine in bed.” “Please?” 01 [Babe, let’s break up.] Honestly, this online relationship was more casual than serious for me. But getting a breakup text from Liam out of nowhere still surprised me. I called him to ask why. Liam was very upfront: “I saw a freshman today. She completely fits my aesthetic. It’s like she was custom-made for me.” “I feel like if I can’t be with her, my life will have no meaning.” “So babe, let me go. I’ll compensate you.” I laughed. “You used to say that if you couldn’t be with me, your life would have no meaning.” Liam coughed guiltily. “Guys say all kinds of bullshit when they’re chasing a girl. But this is different. I’m serious about her.” Serious after just seeing her? Yeah, right. Besides, Liam and I had been online dating for a year. He was a high-IQ straight-A student, with sharp, handsome features and slightly upturned eyes that looked like they had hooks in them. He was exactly my favorite type of arrogant bad boy. I wanted to at least taste him before we broke up. I tried to make him stay: “A lot of people say I’m super pretty too. Why don’t you look at me first before you decide?” I opened my photo gallery. “No need. I’ve seen your pictures. I know you’re pretty, but you have that mature, boss-babe vibe. I prefer cute, petite girls.” My photos gave off a boss-babe vibe? “Liam, are you sure? I’m as far from a mature boss-babe as you can get.” Liam sent a photo over. “I lied when I said I didn’t care about looks and never asked for a photo. I actually went through your old profile pictures and saw what you looked like a long time ago.” I looked at the photo he sent. It was a beautiful woman in a black leather jacket, looking incredibly cool, sitting on a motorcycle. I was just about to say that wasn’t me, but my older sister, Chloe. Then Liam sent another photo of me. “Look at my new crush.” “People say you two look a bit alike around the eyes, but your vibes are completely different.” “You’re beautiful and badass, you look cooler than me. If your voice was my type, I actually would have chased you.” “But she’s exactly what I want. Big eyes, small face, and her voice is so sweet. She totally stole my soul.” “Anyway, I’m just showing you her picture to tell you I’m serious. Don’t do anything weird with her photo.” I couldn’t believe Liam liked me this much. I burst out laughing. I decided to mess with him. “Well, she can be your main chick and I’ll be your side piece. I just can’t live without you.” Liam sighed heavily. “Silly girl, I cheated on you and I have ED. I’m not good enough for you.” Liar. He was the captain of the college basketball team, with incredible stamina and crazy long legs. When we talked on the phone, his “solo sessions” lasted at least half an hour. I was just about to tell him the second photo was actually me. When he suddenly sent over a jaw-droppingly handsome photo. “This is my roommate, Cole. The campus heartthrob. His family is rich, he’s never had a girlfriend, and he’s packing 8 inches. Let me set you up with him, okay?” The guy in the photo, Cole, had pale skin, red lips, and a high nose bridge. He was wearing a clean, crisp white button-down shirt. The fingers holding his pen were long and elegant, his nails neatly trimmed. Sitting at a sunlit desk, he looked like a piece of flawless jade. My heart literally skipped a beat. And that skipped beat made me realize something. I didn’t actually have a “favorite type” of handsome guy. I was just thirsty. Besides, I hadn’t met any guys I felt a stronger connection with right now. I might as well try talking to Cole first. But… “Will he really talk to me?” “He will. He and I are best friends. If he doesn’t talk to you, I’ll hold a knife to his neck.” I laughed. “Alright, but don’t you dare come begging for me back.” Liam promised confidently: “Don’t worry, whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” Heh. Did he really think I would beg to get back together? I used to secretly date online because my parents were super strict about my studies. Now that I got accepted into UCLA, my family was fully supportive of me dating. I couldn’t wait to date every hot guy I could find. I would never go back to an ex. “Where are you going to college? I gave your Snapchat to Cole, I’ll tell him to take you out on a date tomorrow.” Before, to surprise Liam, I only told him I was going to college in Los Angeles, but didn’t specify UCLA. But there was no point in hiding it anymore. I was just about to tell him. “Never mind, you guys can figure it out yourselves. I need to go prep for my confession to my little crush tomorrow. Bye.” Liam hung up. Immediately after, I got a friend request from Cole on Snapchat. 02 But I played hard to get and didn’t hit [Accept]. Today was move-in day, and someone took a picture of me and posted it on the campus confession page, making me a minor celebrity. The next day, during freshman orientation, a lot of people came specifically to see me. Among them was Liam. He was holding a massive bouquet of red roses and three highly sought-after Sonny Angel blind boxes, standing right in front of me. He was very direct: “Hi Maya, I’m Liam from the Computer Science department. I’m a junior. I fell in love with you at first sight. Will you be my girlfriend?” I looked up and studied Liam closely. Honestly, he was even better-looking than his photos. The outline of his abs was faintly visible under his black t-shirt, and the muscles and veins on his arms were prominent. He practically oozed sexual tension. The students watching started cheering: “Say yes! Say yes! That’s Liam, the CS god, the face of the school! Usually, it’s girls chasing him to confess!” “I can’t believe I’m seeing the CS god confess his love in my lifetime. He used to stay away from women, always looking so untouchable. I used to think he was wasting his good looks.” The Liam who talked dirty to me online had absolutely nothing to do with “untouchable.” I was amused by the comments from the crowd. Liam mistook my smile for approval. He flashed a confident, winning smile. “Sorry, I don’t want to be your girlfriend.” Liam’s smile froze on his face. The cheering crowd also went silent. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. “Why?” Because last night you broke up with me and introduced me to your roommate. But I wasn’t going to say that. I was waiting for him to figure it out himself. When we first met in an online game, he liked my sweet voice, and I liked his handsome face. To spend more time with him, I pretended to be a bad student and constantly bugged him to tutor me. He was incredibly patient, not only teaching me but also frequently sending me money on Venmo. Total boyfriend material. But I didn’t expect him to change his mind and break up right when we were about to meet in person. Seeing as he didn’t seem too deeply invested in me, I wouldn’t label him a total jerk. “I already have someone I’m interested in.” “So you’re not dating yet? Then give me a chance to pursue you, okay? I promise I’ll treat you better than that guy.” “No thanks, I’m not interested in you.” Liam looked incredibly awkward. There were gasps of disbelief from the crowd. “But I have to have you. I’m not giving up. Just take these gifts for now.” Those Sonny Angels were really cute. But I didn’t want to get tangled up with Liam. I shook my head and refused. Liam tried to force me to take them: “If you don’t take them, I’m throwing them in the trash.” “Then throw them away.” I don’t know if Liam threw them away or not. I linked arms with my roommate, Chloe, and walked away without looking back. Chloe: “You’re so bold, rejecting Liam in front of everyone.” “It’s fine. It’s a good way to use him to warn off other guys who want to confess to me, so I don’t have guys bothering me every day.” “That’s true. I saw a lot of guys on the confession page saying they wanted to come find you.” Speaking of that, I remembered Cole. I accepted his friend request and agreed to have dinner with him. 03 At the restaurant. Cole was sitting by the window. Seeing me sit down across from him, his eyes lit up, then he looked stunned. I smiled at him: “I’m the girlfriend Liam set you up with, Babe.” “Are you wondering why I look different from my photo?” Cole hummed a “yeah,” his voice deep and pleasant. Seeing me staring straight at him, his ears suddenly turned bright red. He drank some water to hide his shyness and nervousness. I was surprised. And a bit conflicted. I didn’t expect to find such an innocent guy these days. I kind of didn’t want to date him anymore. After all, I was in it for a good time, not a serious commitment. But he was really hot. And his lips were red and soft—they looked very kissable. Sigh. I’ll let him choose for himself. “So, do you want to date me, or do you want to date the girl in the photo?” “If it’s the girl in the photo, I can introduce you.” “You.” Cole didn’t hesitate. Well, you can’t blame me then. After all, he might not be that serious about me either. Or, like Liam, he might be serious for a while and then change his mind. So whatever, let’s just enjoy the moment. “Liam said you’re 8 inches, is that true?” “I’m not talking about your shoe size.” I asked bluntly. Cole froze completely. His face turned beet red. He couldn’t speak for a good while. I frowned: “You don’t? If you don’t, then we can’t date.” Cole looked around, then whispered: “I do.” “Can I see?” “R-right now?” “No, wait until we finish eating.” Cole nodded, the blush on his face deepening. He handed me the menu. Seeing it was my first time there, he carefully recommended the restaurant’s specialties. Halfway through the meal, Liam called Cole. The volume was pretty loud, so I heard everything. Liam: “Did you meet Babe?” Cole: “Yeah.” “I didn’t lie, did I? She’s gorgeous, right?” “Yeah.” “Then treat her well, and try to spend all your free time with her. Don’t give her time to think about me. That Maya girl is harder to chase than I thought. I need to focus on figuring out how to win her over, I don’t have the energy to deal with Babe.” “Yeah.” “Thanks, man. You being my friend is a real blessing. I’ll treat you to a big dinner tomorrow.” “No need, I’m eating right now. Hanging up.” “Okay.” Cole put down his phone. I suddenly remembered something: “Do you know my name?” Cole paused for a few seconds: “No.” “My name is…” “Sorry.” Cole suddenly interrupted me. “I need to use the restroom.” Cole walked away pretty quickly after saying that. Like he really couldn’t hold it. I kept eating, and when Cole came back, I forgot to tell him my name. After leaving the restaurant, Cole proactively offered to get a hotel room. Me!! 04 Did I misjudge him? He’s actually that open-minded! Cole seemed to read my thoughts and hurriedly explained: “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not doing this to sleep with you.” “You can inspect the goods first. I didn’t lie to you. I want you to feel secure being my girlfriend.” Oh, I see. But I hadn’t seen that kind of thing before. To suddenly go look at it, it felt super awkward. “Why don’t we wait a few days? Getting a hotel room just to look at it seems like a waste of money.” “It’s only a waste if it doesn’t make you feel secure. Besides, I have plenty of money.” Cole was very insistent. I felt like he was a bit too innocent for his own good. And also incredibly eager to be accommodating. I agreed. Afterward. A blushing Cole looked at a blushing me. “I’m very traditional.” “I showed you my most important thing. If anything happens between us in the future, you can’t break up with me.” My mind was completely occupied with wondering how… Would it really feel that good to use… I didn’t catch a word Cole was saying, just mumbled an “okay.” Cole was thrilled and took me back to campus. As we neared my dorm building, I saw a couple making out in the distance. I stopped and asked Cole: “Can I kiss you?” “Yes.” Cole, ears red, cupped my face and gently kissed my lips. Then quickly pulled away. He seemed very nervous. His fingers were trembling slightly. He looked absolutely adorable. And his lips were so sweet and soft. Just a light touch like that wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy my craving. “Can you kiss me longer? Kiss me harder?” “I’ll try. This is my first time kissing someone. If I hurt you, let me know.” “Mhm.” Cole leaned down and kissed me again. It was better this time. But he didn’t use tongue. Just as I was about to pry his teeth open. Liam’s shocked voice came from behind us. “Cole! Babe?” Cole and I both froze. Cole pulled me into his arms, burying my face in his chest. His hand stroked my face, seemingly trying to hide my identity. But I didn’t have time to think about that. My thoughts were entirely consumed by the frantic pounding of his heart. If his heart raced this fast just from a kiss. Then what if… My mind was swimming in dirty thoughts. Liam walked over step by step, sounding happy: “You brought Babe to visit campus!” Ugh. It seemed Liam had no idea that I, the “scumbag,” was studying here. Cole’s voice was cool: “Why are you here?” “I came to drop something off for Maya.” “Congratulations, you guys got together so fast.” Cole gave a very faint “mhm”. Liam looked at my back and smiled: “Babe, you’ve been hiding in Cole’s arms this whole time. Are you embarrassed I caught you kissing? Aren’t you going to say hi?” I wasn’t embarrassed at all. And I did want to say hi. So I turned around with a wicked grin and flashed Liam a smile. 05 But Liam ran towards my roommate, Chloe. Leaving me with only his tall back. The autumn mosquitoes were numerous and vicious. They bit my bare calves below my skirt, making them itchy and painful. I bent down to scratch my leg. Cole asked: “Did a mosquito bite you?” “Yeah.” “Then you should go upstairs. Liam looks busy and probably won’t have time for us. I’ll tell him later.” I thought he had a point. “Alright then, see you tomorrow.” I walked towards my dorm building. I vaguely heard Cole let out a long sigh of relief. Looking back. He was already walking towards Liam. Not long after I got back to my dorm. I received a friend request from Liam on my burner WeChat account that I used to talk to classmates. The contact was shared via a business card. I guessed Chloe gave it to him. And I was right. As soon as Chloe got back to the dorm, she told me: “That Liam is really going all out to pursue you.” “To get you to accept his gifts, he bought sunscreen, whitening masks, and perfume for everyone in our dorm, plus a ton of snacks, and even bought Pepto-Bismol, saying he was afraid we’d get heatstroke during orientation.” “He was also worried you wouldn’t accept them, so he wanted me to lie and say my family sent them.” “I didn’t want to do it, but he kept begging me. I had no choice, so I gave him your WeChat. You won’t blame me, right?” I smiled: “It’s fine. It would be silly not to accept the stuff, but I haven’t accepted his friend request.” “That’s good. Honestly, Liam is handsome and generous. You’d definitely be happy with him.” “…” Liam really knows how to buy people’s loyalty. I haven’t even accepted his gifts yet, and my roommate is already speaking up for him. Liam called me. “You’re back at school?” “…Yeah.” “I just happened to run into my goddess’s roommate earlier. Next time you come, I’ll show you around properly.” Liam sounded genuine and happy. I deliberately confessed. “I actually go to UCLA.” Liam let out a scoffing laugh. “Can you stop making me laugh? With your grades, you got into UCLA?” “Or are you just blaming me for breaking up with you and trying to mess with me?” “I’m telling you, seriously, don’t do this. Cole is a thousand times better than me. You should just be with him.” I swear, whatever. Let him be a clown if he wants. Besides, speaking of Cole, I had some NSFW topics to discuss. I walked to the balcony and closed the door. “Can you teach Cole a thing or two? I feel like he’s too innocent.” “What do you mean?” “When I talk to him, he blushes. When we walk, he doesn’t even know to hold my hand. When we kiss, he wants me to make the first move, and he doesn’t even know how to use tongue.” Liam laughed: “He’s never had a girlfriend. Isn’t it normal that he doesn’t know these things? What, do you want me to find some porn for him to watch?” That would be great for me. I happily said: “Yes, yes.” Liam was silent for a moment, his voice sounding a bit disappointed: “Why does it feel like you’re not sad at all after we broke up?”

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Ethan drove to pick me up. The man, always known for his aloof and disciplined demeanor. Actually let his new secretary sit in his passenger seat. I knew then, this marriage was over. 01 That day, Ethan drove over to pick me up. When I opened the passenger side door, I froze for a second. A young, pretty girl was sitting in the passenger seat, flashing me a sweet smile. “Hi, Mrs. Hayes!” The girl greeted me very politely. But she made absolutely no move to get up and offer me the seat. I narrowed my eyes and shifted my gaze to Ethan. Ethan was looking down, taking a phone call, completely oblivious to the hidden tension on this side of the car. We had made plans today to go to an auction together. I had been looking forward to this date with him and had dressed up carefully, but I never expected someone else to be sitting in his passenger seat. “Hi, Mrs. Hayes, my name is Chloe. I’m Mr. Hayes’s new assistant.” A warm smile curved on the girl’s lips. The two shallow dimples made her look exceptionally sweet. “I heard you two were going to a private auction tonight, so I begged Mr. Hayes to bring me along to see the world. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t interrupt you guys.” My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I knew the cold, perfect man in front of me too well. He always maintained a sense of distance. He wouldn’t easily let others step into his personal space. We got together through an arranged marriage. After much consideration, we chose each other. Outsiders joked, saying I was practically signing up to be a living widow. But after we made our relationship official. Ethan would hug me with a gentle look in his eyes. In moments of passion, the corners of his eyes would tinge red. He said: “You are my wife. Husband and wife are one entity; naturally, you are different from anyone else to me.” Today, it felt like something had changed. 02 But I wasn’t some delicate flower who would just swallow my anger. I was Audrey, who had never needed to read the room or suppress my temper for anyone. “Get out!” I kicked her out with a cold face, showing no mercy. The girl was stunned for a long moment. She probably didn’t expect that on our very first meeting, I would directly embarrass her. Perhaps because my tone was too harsh and cold. For a moment, the girl actually looked at a loss for what to do. “I-I’m sorry, Mrs. Hayes.” The girl’s voice carried a hint of a sob as she dejectedly moved to the back seat. Ethan just finished his call and looked over at us. He realized I was angry. A look of helpless indulgence washed over his face. The man leaned over and fastened my seatbelt for me. Noticing the seat position had been adjusted by someone else, I readjusted it with extreme impatience. This whole ordeal made me furious. “So annoying! Why would anyone dare to adjust my passenger seat!” The air pressure in the car dropped, and the girl was too scared to speak again. Ethan furrowed his brow slightly, suggesting to me in a calm tone. “If you’re not in a good mood today, let’s just go home.” The woman in the rearview mirror was silently shedding tears. I felt incredibly frustrated. “Chloe, right? I’m not in the mood to go anymore. Call an Uber and go home yourself. Mr. Hayes and I are going home.” The girl’s face turned pale, and she looked weakly at Ethan. The man showed no intention of helping her out of the situation. The girl got out of the car, looking devastated. 03 Ethan would never embarrass me in front of outsiders. He always knew how to control his emotions. So he suggested: go home. If there’s an issue, solve it at home. This was the unspoken understanding we had built over the years. “She’s just a college grad who just entered the workforce. Why are you getting so worked up over this?” Ethan pulled me into his arms. “It’s the first time.” Ethan didn’t understand: “What?” “In all these years, this is the first time you’ve let another woman sit in your passenger seat.” The man didn’t expect that this was what I cared about. Everyone in our circle knew how outstanding Ethan was. The number of women who liked him was innumerable. But he kept his nose clean. Surrounded by temptation, he never let a single leaf stick to him. Ethan smiled faintly and ruffled my hair. “I can’t believe I actually managed to make you jealous for once.” The man leaned down to kiss me, his nose brushing against my cheek. “She is my subordinate, nothing more. “There won’t be any other relationship between her and me.” Ethan cupped my face, staring into my eyes. He made a solemn promise to me in a deep voice. 04 A woman’s intuition is always very accurate. Even though I had only met Chloe once. My intuition told me that this girl definitely had other intentions towards Ethan. I originally thought my show of dominance at our first meeting was enough. But I never expected that the auction necklace that was supposed to be given to me would be worn around the girl’s neck the very next day. Harper, serving as Ethan’s executive assistant, sent me a photo and a screenshot of a Facebook post. In the photo, the crescent moon diamond necklace hung around Chloe’s fair neck, making her look even more delicate and pretty. The girl’s eyes were red and swollen, but a smile played on her lips. She probably went home and cried her eyes out last night. And received a gift from someone. In the screenshot, it was a post Chloe made on Facebook: [The CEO says girls need to be strong even when they feel wronged! [Wiping away my tears. Yes sir, my CEO!] Followed by a few cute emojis of a clenched fist showing determination. Along with a picture of the necklace in its box. At that moment, my blood almost froze. Although it’s hard to admit, I must confess. I was provoked by her to the point where I almost lost my composure. This feeling was terrible; it was like my cherished white silk scarf was stained with a smear of mosquito blood. This feeling was very strange to me. I even wanted to ignore the facts, jump into my yellow Ferrari, drive at 100 mph, and slap that woman twice across the face. But looking at my own hands, I felt that taking a cheap, manipulative girl so seriously was beneath me. I made a phone call to Vivian at Hermès. Vivian’s tone was filled with uncontrollable joy. She assured me over the phone. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hayes. Even if I have to empty out all the stores in the city today, I will gather all the items and guarantee they’re all delivered to you!” And so, that very day. Before the workday even ended. Excluding Chloe, all the assistants to the executives and the girls in the general manager’s office at Hayes Group headquarters, a total of forty-six girls, received a generous gift from the CEO’s wife— A Hermès necklace worth twelve thousand dollars. Although the unit price couldn’t compare to the two-million-dollar auction necklace, the sheer quantity made up for it, effectively leveling the playing field. Harper was tactful in her execution. She required everyone to post on Facebook with the caption— [The CEO’s wife says every girl deserves the best! [Clenching my fist. Yes ma’am, my CEO’s wife!] The girls who received the gifts were naturally happy to cooperate. As assistants and general office staff. They were practically the gossip center of the entire company. Now receiving a gift from the CEO’s wife, which one of them wouldn’t happily and actively post the caption and pictures? There were even some clever ones who added a line to their captions: [The CEO’s wife really knows how to play!] The influence of these directors’ assistants might not be huge, but their ability to spread information across various departments was terrifying. Within half an hour, the whole company knew that the CEO’s wife had gifted everyone a Hermès necklace. As for the reason, the various gossip groups were already buzzing with speculation. Chloe’s face was pale; she seemed to have suffered a great insult. With red-rimmed eyes, she hid in the restroom to take off the diamond necklace. Two colleagues who came in to touch up their makeup saw her and let out two ambiguous scoffs. Chloe felt completely humiliated. She lowered her head and quickly walked out of the restroom, the mocking laughter behind her becoming even more unrestrained. Her cheeks burned as she put the necklace back into the box. She returned it to Ethan exactly as it was. 05 Ethan had just finished a video call with a partner. He saw the girl, who had obviously been crying again, holding the necklace box, looking desolate and staring at her toes. “What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, puzzled. Before Chloe could speak, her tears began to fall. She sobbed quietly, looking pitiful: “Mr. Hayes, please take this necklace back. I don’t dare keep it.” A hint of displeasure appeared on Ethan’s cold, handsome face. His intuition told him that something must have happened. But he didn’t press for details directly. He just quietly watched the person in front of him. Chloe pursed her lips, hesitating repeatedly, and finally took the initiative to speak, recounting everything that happened in the office today in full detail. “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry for always causing you trouble. “I just made a Facebook post to encourage myself. I didn’t know why the Mrs. would find out about it.” Chloe sobbed softly. “I didn’t think the Mrs. would be so angry.” The woman looked as pitiful as a little white rabbit. “Mr. Hayes, I want to go apologize to the Mrs. I can explain everything to her clearly in person.” Ethan never had the habit of checking Facebook. His time was filled with work. But as the CEO of the group, he understood all too well these toxic habits of chasing shadows within the company. His usually stern face grew even colder. “I understand.” The man said in a deep voice. 06 That evening, Ethan brought Chloe home. The girl was meek and submissive, standing behind the man. “I asked Chloe to come over so she can clear things up face-to-face.” Ethan sighed. “Audrey, Chloe is just my secretary. “Because of what happened yesterday, as a gesture of apology, I casually gave her a gift, that’s all.” I stirred my silver spoon, finishing the bird’s nest soup the housekeeper had stewed. “Mrs. Hayes, I’m sorry.” Chloe was sincere in her attitude, bowing to me. Trembling with fear, delicate and weak. “This is the first time I’ve received such an expensive gift. I got dizzy with happiness for a moment. If I did anything to upset you, please tell me, and I will definitely change right away!” I raised an eyebrow: “Chloe, right?” The girl glanced at Ethan, seemingly trying to draw courage from him, and slowly nodded. Looking at the woman acting like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, insisting on challenging me, I only found it amusing. “I’m not your teacher, nor am I your boss. I don’t have the time to teach you how to behave or do things. “But I am Ethan Hayes’s wife. Therefore, whoever dares to act ambiguous with my husband, I will not give her a chance to turn over a new leaf.” This girl had probably never met someone as direct as me in her entire life. Her face, which was trying hard to maintain a facade, was left with nothing but frail vulnerability. “Audrey, Chloe came to apologize to you.” Ethan knew my personality and methods. Even if he didn’t approve of what I did today, he could understand my feelings. So he didn’t argue with me, just agreed to let Chloe come and apologize to me. He had already made a concession, wanting me to let go of the misunderstanding. Everyone here was smart. Even a single look was enough to convey each other’s meaning. “I understand.” I decided to give Ethan a chance. After all, he hadn’t actually cheated. “But there won’t be a next time, no matter who it is.” 07 “You didn’t have to use those methods against a girl.” Before falling asleep, Ethan brought up the topic. “You should have told me first.” I sat at the vanity doing my skincare routine, staring at the handsome man in the mirror. “You knew perfectly well I liked that necklace, yet you gave it to another woman. Shouldn’t I be angry?” I couldn’t imagine if such a perfect person got dirty, whether I would still adore him as before. Ethan unhurriedly went to the bar to pour himself a glass of ice water. “She cried all night because of your misunderstanding. “When I saw how swollen her eyes were this morning, I casually gave her the necklace as an apology.” There wasn’t a single flaw in his explanation. I scrutinized him coldly for a long time. Two million dollars, to us, was just pocket change. Giving it away casually made sense. It just depended on whether the other person was worth it. The man’s fingertips tapped against the quartz countertop. He was waiting for me to think. This was the first time we had a conflict over a third party. Our upbringing and education made us both feel a bit tired of this kind of thing. We were both people who cared about keeping up appearances. “Ethan, I love you.” Ethan’s fingertips paused. He probably didn’t expect me to say this suddenly. “Ethan, I love the pristine, flawless version of you. This is what makes you different from anyone else. “You never let women get close before because you have emotional mysophobia. You wanted a clean marriage. I wasn’t like that before, but your values influenced me. Now, our life goals are the same. “I hope your marriage never has a crossroads.” Ethan said helplessly: “I don’t.” 08 Ethan was a very clear-headed person. He knew I cared, so he wouldn’t give Chloe any more room for fantasies. Without the CEO’s elevation, Chloe, as an intern, could only start from the most basic tasks. Before, she had the opportunity to rotate at the main reception desk. Now, Harper simply didn’t schedule her for shifts. I didn’t signal anyone to ostracize her. Since Ethan knew where to draw the line, I completely trusted him. But this kind of thing didn’t require any instructions from me. There were plenty of people willing to kiss up to the powerful and step on the weak. In less than half a month, this new secretary couldn’t handle the drop in her professional standing and the psychological blow, losing a whole size in weight. The turning point occurred after an important executive meeting ended. That day, Chloe was assigned to clean the small conference room alone. The girl, wearing a skirt suit, knelt on the floor, struggling to scrape chewing gum off the carpet with a razor blade. This scene was witnessed by Ethan, who had returned to retrieve something. Noticing someone behind her, the girl hurriedly stood up in embarrassment. Ethan’s gaze was deep and coldly profound. Such a silent stare stripped Chloe of all her dignity. “Mr. Hayes.” The girl’s tears fell uncontrollably. She wasn’t acting, nor was she pretending. Ethan was originally the sun she admired but couldn’t touch. When she was marginalized, she had almost accepted her fate. Now, being seen by the man in this state. Chloe wished she could push Ethan aside and flee out the door. In just half a month, that originally cheerful and lively girl had become so fragile. This was the first time Ethan lost his temper. He came home and violently smashed the water glass I handed him onto the floor. Water splashed everywhere. “Why do you still refuse to let her go? “Audrey, I respect and love you, tolerating your insults and harm to her time and time again. “Does bullying the weak give you some kind of thrill?” I remembered that during Ethan’s time studying abroad, his younger sister in middle school committed suicide by jumping off a building due to severe school bullying. This became an indelible scar in his heart, causing him to abhor such behavior. “Audrey, I won’t let you use these methods to hurt others again, otherwise I won’t stand idly by!” I stared blankly at the emotionally out-of-control man in front of me. For the first time since our marriage, Ethan lost his reason and blew up in anger for another woman, for something I didn’t even do. This feeling was terrible. Like glass shattering. Like spilled water that can’t be gathered again. 09 Ethan promoted Chloe to his personal assistant. At the same time, he decisively fired Harper. This was the executive assistant who had fought alongside him for seven years. “You need to be clear about exactly who you are working for.” Harper was very stubborn in certain aspects. “I am working for you, Mr. Hayes. “For some matters, I will privately contact the Mrs. “But only regarding personal matters.” The man threw the shift schedule in front of Harper. “Is that so? So righteous? “Then did your professional ethics allow you to abuse your power to bully others?” Harper was speechless. She knew her deliberate mistreatment of Chloe had been discovered, and she showed fear in front of him. Ethan saw right through it. “You have no tolerance for others, you can’t distinguish right from wrong, you suppress colleagues based on personal grudges. What right do you have to hold the position of executive assistant?” Harper walked out of the office, defeated. Outside, several assistants looked sorrowful. “Harper, do you really have to leave?” Before the large tears could roll down her face, Harper quickly wiped them away. “Yeah, I’m leaving. See you all around, ladies.”

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