My husband, Ethan Vance, lost everything and his family was gone, and I just walked away. After he’d rebuilt his empire, I’d come knocking every year. The first year, I held our daughter. He threw fifty thousand dollars at me and told me to get lost. The second year, I brought him my late-stage cancer diagnosis report. He didn’t even glance at it, gave me a hundred thousand, and told me to disappear forever. The third and fourth years, I vanished from this world, just as he’d wished. Until the fifth year, he received a call from our daughter. “Mommy, when are you bringing food? I’m hungry.” “Mommy, I’m so hungry.” I watched our daughter, Grace, sneak back home from the orphanage. She found my old phone, charged it, and started calling, just like I used to. When I was terminally ill, I often ordered takeout, and the delivery riders would always deliver my order last. When Grace was hungry, I’d call to rush the rider. So Grace thought if she just made a call, her little tummy would be full. Now, she dialed, just like me, but she called the emergency contact—Ethan Vance. She called again and again. The dimly lit screen illuminated her innocent face. I wanted to stop her, but my hand passed right through her body. A wave of frustration washed over me. It had been three years. How could I keep forgetting I was just a spirit? “Grace, don’t call him. He won’t answer.” He probably still thought I was just some gold-digger. “Go open the small box on the table. There’s money I left for you in there.” Most of the money I got from Ethan, I put into a trust fund for Grace’s future education and living expenses. I left a thousand dollars in the box for any unexpected needs she might have. As if by some sixth sense, Grace picked up that little box. But then, a crisp, cold voice came from the other end of the phone. “Aurora?” I froze, realizing the call had been going on for a minute already. “Didn’t I tell you to go die somewhere?” His tone was calm, emotionless, just as cruel as ever. I twisted my fingers, feeling a pang of shame to be cursed at by her father, right in front of our daughter. Even if they didn’t know each other. His voice was mocking: “Want more money? Fine, come beg me.” Grace stared at the phone, her eyes shining with delight. Her tiny, sweet voice piped up: “Uncle! When are you bringing me food? I’m hungry!” Silence on the other end for a moment. “Let Aurora answer the phone.” “You mean Mommy?” Grace’s face instantly fell: “But she can’t answer the phone anymore.” Ethan’s voice deepened: “What happened to her?” “Mommy said she’s sleeping.” A four-and-a-half-year-old child had no concept of life and death. A scoff echoed from the other end, clearly not buying such a lame excuse. “Is that so? I’d like to see what new scheme she’s cooking up.” I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t. What new scheme could I possibly be cooking up? Even trying to float over and scare him felt beyond my power. After hanging up, Grace curled up in the corner of the sofa, waiting patiently, a slight curve on her lips. But I was pacing frantically. Ethan hated me so much. What would he do to my daughter? An hour later, there was a knock at the door. My heart lurched: “Don’t open the door, Grace!” Grace had already opened it. Outside, there was no food as she’d expected, only a few security guards in suits. They surveyed the room, found no one else, and took Grace away. “No!” I was helpless, forced to watch my daughter being taken. When Ethan opened his door, he saw Grace, tears streaming down her face. He glanced behind her. “Where’s that woman?”

He was talking about me. I lowered my eyes. I didn’t even deserve a name from him anymore. A security guard reported truthfully: “When we arrived, only the little girl was in the house.” Grace broke free from their grasp and hugged Ethan’s leg. “Uncle, bad guys caught me.” I was shocked. Grace had only met Ethan twice before. She didn’t know Ethan was the father who refused to acknowledge her. But blood ran deep, making her instinctively trust him. Ethan seemed uncomfortable with her hug, frowning as he scoffed: “She’s so cruel, pushing her own bastard child out to face my anger.” I shook my head frantically: “No, Grace isn’t a bastard!” She’s our child. He wouldn’t believe it. After Grace was born, I found out she had the Vance family’s hereditary heart condition, and I had sought him out then. Ethan’s words still echoed in my ears. “Aurora, do you think I’m the same Ethan as before? You fooled me once, do you think you can fool me twice?” “Trying to pin a child you had with some other guy on me?” “Get lost. Here’s twenty thousand. Consider it a buy-out for our five years together.” I said, “It’s not enough.” He didn’t want our daughter, but she needed money for her surgery. Ethan gnashed his teeth in anger: “You really are obsessed with money. Fine, here’s fifty thousand. Because that’s all you’re worth.” Five years of love, reduced to a mere transaction. I knew this would make Ethan despise me even more, but it didn’t matter. Grace had her surgery with that money. She would live a healthy life now, and it was worth it. Now, Ethan asked Grace coldly, “Tell me, where is your mother hiding?” Grace looked up, teary-eyed. Her features were strikingly similar to mine. Ethan seemed a little lost in thought. “Mommy sleeps during the day, and at night, she turns into a star.” At her words, Ethan’s expression hardened, and he pulled his leg away. “Now she’s resorting to playing the victim?” Grace tumbled to the floor. I floated over, using all my strength, but I couldn’t catch her, watching her fall right through my embrace. The little box she clutched tightly also fell. Grace, who hadn’t eaten for two days, struggled twice before finally getting back up. A sharp pang twisted in my chest. Ethan watched coldly from the side, his fists inexplicably clenched. Grace hugged the little box, pretending to be brave, and patted her bottom: “Mommy, it doesn’t hurt.” I was startled, thinking she could see me. Then I remembered I was paralyzed in bed with late-stage stomach cancer. She learned to take care of me when she was two, even picking up plastic bottles while I slept. One day, she got into a fight with a stray dog and came back covered in bruises. I was so worried I coughed up blood. She, instead, smiled and comforted me. Saying it didn’t hurt. Hearing her words, Ethan looked around: “Aurora, come out!” The house was dead silent. I was standing right in front of him, but he couldn’t see me. Ethan waited a moment, found no sign of me. He sneered: “How cruel. To even use a child this big.” “Just send her away.” Ethan left those words and walked into his house. The security guards left Grace on the curb of the busy street. It was already dark. Grace stood there for a moment, lost, in the unfamiliar street. She looked bewildered, asking the little box: “Mommy, which way should I go?” My heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I could only pray the orphanage would quickly realize Grace was missing. Grace looked at the moon in the sky. “Mommy, can I find you by following the moon?” She was too hungry to walk and fell twice. She stumbled and found a trash can, discovering half a leftover cake. Her eyes lit up. She picked up the stale, sour-smelling piece of cake and eagerly put it into her mouth. I cried, trying to stop her: “Grace, don’t eat that, you’ll get sick!” She couldn’t hear me, but the cake in her hand was suddenly knocked away.

It was Ethan, who had appeared out of nowhere. I hadn’t even noticed him. He looked at the grubby Grace, gritting his teeth: “Aurora, this is how you treat your daughter, huh?” He led Grace into a car parked nearby. Grace cried and screamed, all affection for him gone: “Why won’t you let me eat? You’re a bad guy!” Then, she tried to lick the crumbs from her fingers. Ethan grabbed her hand, wiping her tiny hand clean with a wet wipe, his face a mix of disgust and gentleness: “Didn’t your mother teach you not to pick up things from the ground and eat them?” His movements were gentle yet meticulous. When we were dating, he always took care of me so attentively. My friends used to call him my ‘dad’ boyfriend—so mature and stable. But Grace was as stubborn as I was. When she pushed him away, her little hand slapped him across the face: “I don’t want you, bad guy, to tell me what to do!” I gasped in fright, looking anxiously at Ethan. I saw that he wasn’t angry. He lowered his eyelashes, threw away the wet wipe, and turned his head to the window, avoiding looking at Grace, whose profile was identical to mine. His tone was mocking: “Just as stubborn as your mother, isn’t she? Good thing she’s not mine.” I smiled bitterly. I’m sorry to disappoint you, then. The little box slipped from Grace’s embrace. He bent down to pick it up. He glanced at the dirty wooden box, finding it vaguely familiar. I instinctively wanted to stop him. If he opened it, he would discover the truth from all those years ago. He would live a lifetime of guilt. Better for him to hate me than to feel guilty. But then I looked at Grace, and I hoped she could live under her father’s protection. I was conflicted and nervous. To my surprise, he tossed the wooden box back into Grace’s arms: “What a piece of junk to pick up.” For a moment, I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Ethan took Grace home. He told Martha, the housekeeper, to cook something for her. He glanced at Grace’s bony frame and added, “Make it something easy to digest.” “I don’t know how that woman raised a child. Thin as a rail. Good thing I never married someone like her.” I nodded. I really was an inadequate mother. Ethan sat at the dining table, watching Grace pick out the carrots. He frowned and instinctively said, “Aurora Hayes, no picky eating.” Both he and I froze. “I’ll keep her right here, under my watch. I don’t believe Aurora won’t come to get you.” With those words, Ethan stood up and went upstairs, his back retreating, as if in a hasty retreat. Grace’s eyes lit up: “Really? Will Mommy come get me?” As night fell, Grace refused to sleep in the guest room, insisting on sleeping on the sofa. Martha tried to persuade her, but it was no use. Ethan seemed a little impatient: “Kids are such a bother. Let her be, she can sleep wherever she wants.” Grace slept on the sofa for three days. Ethan, seeing her curled up in a tiny ball, frowned deeply: “Is your mother that cruel to you? Doesn’t she ever let you sleep in a bed?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy’s on the sofa.” Ethan looked bewildered, but I was crying uncontrollably. Because we only had one sofa at home. When I was gravely ill, I often lay on the sofa, drifting in and out of consciousness. Grace thought I was just sleeping. She would quietly crawl into my arms and hug me. Even at the orphanage, Grace liked to stay on the sofa in the reception area, as if sleeping in my arms. Ethan had been working from home lately, often staring blankly at the door. He watched Grace, who was also looking at the door, and asked: “Hey, what’s your name?” “Grace Hayes.” “Grace, your mother abandoned you too.” Grace instantly became a stubborn little beast: “No way! My mommy would never abandon me!” “Is that so? Then why hasn’t she come to pick you up after a whole week?” Just as he finished speaking. The doorbell rang. Ethan immediately stood up, a knowing smile appearing on his face. “Your mother’s here.” Grace scrambled up from the floor, looking expectantly at the door. The door opened. Both of them froze.

Grace pouted: “Liar, it’s not Mommy at all.” The newcomer was a striking girl in a red dress. I had seen her once before, the second time Grace and Ethan met. That was at the women’s health clinic, right after Grace’s surgery. Ethan had emerged with her, looking very intimate. The girl glanced at Grace, confused: “Where did this child come from?” Ethan replied casually: “Just picked her up off the street.” The girl’s eyes widened: “You’re picking up kids now?” She suddenly remembered something, pointing at the flower bed in the yard, furious: “Who pulled up my roses!” My heart ached inexplicably. So, they were already living together. Ethan glanced at Grace, who barely reached his knee. Grace guiltily averted her gaze and went back to the sofa. Ethan sounded disinterested: “It’s just flowers, we can plant more.” Seeing him say that, the girl didn’t press the issue. She followed Ethan into the house. As soon as she sat on the sofa, she covered her nose with her hand: “What’s that strange smell? Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve been really sensitive to smells.” I looked at her, shocked, at her still flat stomach. Watching Ethan and Grace’s interactions these past few days, I had still hoped that once he discovered Grace was his child, he would treat her well. But now that he had a child with another woman, what would become of my daughter? Ethan also noticed an unusual smell in the air. He looked at Grace on the sofa. He walked over, lifted Grace, and pulled back the sofa cushion. A pile of food wrapped in plastic bags and seven withered flowers were scattered all over the floor. Both of them were dumbfounded. Ethan’s veins throbbed: “Grace, what are you doing?” Grace cried out: “Don’t touch my things! These are all for Mommy!” I remembered my tiny daughter picking through trash outside. Some kind-hearted people, pitying her, would buy her food. She wouldn’t eat a single bite, always bringing it home for me. At the orphanage, the director caught her a few times and taught her. She learned to eat first herself, then save the best things for me. The other children often avoided Grace because of her smell, not wanting to play with her. Ethan’s gaze was complicated: “Why would you do this?” Grace cried sadly: “Mommy never got to eat any of these good things, and you said Mommy would come to pick me up, so I wanted to save them for when I see her.” Ethan tried to sneer, but couldn’t: “Didn’t she go off to live a good life with some rich guy? What hasn’t she eaten?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy always said she wasn’t hungry.” At first, I said I wasn’t hungry so Grace would eat more. Later, when my illness worsened, I truly couldn’t eat. The girl beside Ethan asked: “Why is there an urn on the floor?” It was the little wooden box that had fallen. Ethan stared blankly: “An urn?” No wonder it looked familiar, like he’d seen it somewhere before. A stack of money and a letter fell out of the box. This letter felt like a thousand pounds. Ethan’s trembling hand tried several times before he finally picked it up. On the envelope was his all-too-familiar handwriting: [To my sweet daughter, Grace]. He opened the envelope. In an instant, his eyes turned red.

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On our wedding night, just as Dax and I were about to make love, his secretary, Serena, burst in. She slammed a domestic servitude contract on the table in front of me. “One, no freedom! No days off, available to the mistress 24/7!” “Two, no dignity! You’ll remove the mistress’s shoes, wash her feet, and provide kneeling service every night at the mistress’s bedroom door!” “Three, no shame! You’ll sleep with the master periodically to fulfill his needs!” “…” “Nine, the mistress is afraid of childbirth, so you must bear the master at least one son. The child will call the mistress ‘Mom.’” “Employer: Serena, Employee: Aria.” My mind froze the moment I finished reading. I felt completely numb. Not only did the mistress want to take my place, but she also wanted to hire me as her maid? Had she gone completely insane? “Serena, stop this nonsense!” Dax’s angry shout had barely faded when two burly bodyguards rushed in. “Mr. Dax, our young miss was swapped at birth. She’s just been found today, the true heiress of Silverwood City’s illustrious Silverwood Group.” “The young miss is still willing to marry you; you should be honored.” I was stunned again. Silverwood City’s Silverwood Group? Wasn’t that the company founded by Mr. Harrison Sr., the most powerful among my thirteen sponsors?

“Darling, do you still think I’m making a scene?” I was about to speak, but Dax, who had snapped out of his daze, embraced Serena, trembling with excitement. “No, not at all!” “Absolutely not a scene!” “My precious, I… I’m so madly in love with you!” As he spoke, they completely ignored me, as if I were invisible, and began passionately kissing. My heart felt like it was being slowly tortured, torn to shreds. I had planned a huge surprise for Dax on our wedding night, during our sweetest moment. Instead, I’d been struck by a bolt of lightning that left my mind blank. They grew more and more lost in each other, clothes shedding one by one. Just as they were about to take the final step… “Oh, dear!” Serena purred, pushing him away quickly. Dax paused, then awkwardly scratched his head. “My bad, my bad, I almost lost control. I completely forgot you’re on your period today.” I let out a self-deprecating, utterly desolate laugh. Dax could never remember when his wife, me, was on her period, but he knew hers. It seemed they had been intimate countless times behind my back, in the office, in the car. Serena jutted her chin at me, then added, “It’s fine. If you’re really desperate, isn’t there a ready-made option right in front of you?” Dax looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m about to divorce her. It wouldn’t be right…” “What’s wrong with it?” “The domestic servitude contract clearly states that when I’m unavailable, she’s your personal pleasure girl, there to fulfill your needs!” “Anyway, you’ve used this woman so much she’s practically worn out. I don’t mind you continuing to sleep with her. Better to sleep with your ex-wife than to look for someone random outside, right?” My anger flared. I tore the domestic servitude contract into tiny pieces. “You disgusting couple, I’m not interested in your sick role-playing games.” “Dax, we’re done.” I turned to leave, but the two bodyguards rushed over and held me firmly. “What are you doing? Let me go!” Slap! Serena slapped me, her voice haughty. “My word is law. Since I’ve chosen you as my maid, you have no right to refuse.” “You’ll accept whether you want to or not!” She then ordered the bodyguards to pry open my mouth. From her pocket, she pulled out a small pill and forced me to swallow it. That bitch, she came prepared! Soon, I felt like I was burning up, my cheeks flushed crimson, and my eyes grew hazy. “Darling, have fun tonight.” “Go wild, don’t hold back!” Bang! The bedroom door closed. Dax lunged at me like a madman, pinning me beneath him. He ignored my struggles, my screams, and was even more fervent and violent than ever before. Every previous time, I felt surrounded by happiness. But now, there was only pain. Endless pain! That night felt endlessly long… When I woke up in the morning, Dax was gone. Every cell in my body screamed in agony, as if torn apart. I could barely move an inch. A moment later, Serena pushed the door open. She smiled broadly. “You performed well last night. According to the contract, the ‘sleepover service’ is billed per session, $100,000 a pop.” “You know, many actresses in Hollywood don’t even get that price. You should be ecstatic!” With that, she pulled out a check and threw it at my face. I was instantly overwhelmed by extreme humiliation, feeling like a prostitute who had just finished with a client, utterly filthy! I don’t know how much time passed. After crying until no tears were left, I laboriously picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t touched in ages. “Lilia, spread the word: I’m making a comeback.” “Also, help me organize a sponsors’ meeting. And make it quick!” I hung up, all pain and humiliation vanished from my eyes, replaced by boundless cold fury. The Black Phoenix, who once stirred countless storms in the global investment world, had returned from the ashes. And some misguided relatives, bringing home all sorts of undesirables, it was time for a purge.

The next day, I went to the company to finalize the divorce with Dax. As soon as I reached the lobby, I ran into Serena. “Oh? Well, look at you, resilient! I thought you’d be bedridden for at least three days.” “Where’s Dax? Tell him to come out. We’re finalizing the divorce today.” Serena frowned and snorted. “Who do you think you’re ordering around? Still acting like the boss’s wife?” “Get it straight! Our roles have reversed!” “I’m the master, you’re the maid!” The receptionist looked utterly astonished, clearly unaware of Serena’s new status. She immediately started frantically posting messages in the company’s WhatsApp group. “Oh my god! The boss’s secretary has lost her mind! She’s actually making the boss’s wife her maid!” Seeing more and more curious colleagues gathering, Serena clicked her tongue. “This awful pollution in Newport City is so annoying. My new shoes are dirty after just one day.” With that, she extended one foot toward me. “You, kneel down!” “Use your sleeve to wipe the dust off my shoes.” Seeing everyone stare, gaping in shock, Serena held her head high, a triumphant smirk on her face. I didn’t get angry; instead, I smiled. That bitch, she wanted to use me to establish her authority? As if I’d let her! I immediately stepped forward and stomped hard on her foot. “Ah!” “Aria! You’re dead!” She shrieked and raised her hand to slap me, but I was faster. Slap! I landed a brutal slap across her face and said coldly, “You’re just an employee. What right do you have to strut around in front of me?” “No matter what, I’m still the legitimate boss’s wife.” “Good slap!” “Serena is way too arrogant, she deserved it!” Employees cheered, but the next second, a cold shout suddenly came from the elevator. “Not anymore!” Dax walked out of the elevator, his face cold, and threw a divorce agreement at me. I casually glanced through it. My gaze lingered for a moment on the words ‘leave with nothing,’ then I immediately signed it. I didn’t care about his paltry possessions. Seeing this, the employees became anxious. “Mr. Dax, Serena provoked her first, the boss’s wife did nothing wrong!” “The boss’s wife knew you had stomach problems and brought you lunch every day, without fail.” “She always prepared milk and medicine for you before every business dinner. Even some of the company’s most profitable projects were led by the boss’s wife.” “It’s so unfair for you to treat her like this!” “…” My frozen heart trembled slightly again. All these years, my efforts had been seen by every employee. Only Dax, he never cared. Dax sneered, took Serena’s hand, and declared loudly, “Serena’s true identity is the heiress of the Silverwood Group!” “Now that she’s reunited with her family, I will marry her, and with the strong support of the Silverwood Group, our company will achieve even greater glory!” After a brief, dead silence, the entire hall erupted! “Silverwood Group? The famous conglomerate that set the record for the fastest IPO?” “With the Silverwood Group backing us, our salaries will at least double, right?” Everyone’s expressions instantly changed when they looked at me. The righteous indignation was gone, replaced by cold sarcasm. “What good is a domestic trophy wife, no matter how dutiful? Worthless in front of a wealthy heiress!” “Mr. Dax’s decisive action, that’s the style of a man who gets things done!” “…” Looking at their ugly, greedy faces, I shook my head and scoffed. As I turned to leave, a sharp pain shot through my calf. Thump! Dax kicked me, and I fell to my knees. I twisted my head, staring at him with bloodshot eyes, but he ignored me, pressing my head down to repeatedly bash it against the floor to apologize to Serena. “Serena, are you satisfied?” “No.” Serena pouted. “A mirror isn’t shiny unless you polish it; a wicked servant needs a beating!” “Darling, I want you to make this wretched slave kneel in front of everyone, to break her spirit!” A flicker of reluctance crossed Dax’s eyes. He whispered, “Serena, isn’t that a bit much? She is my ex-wife, after all…” Serena immediately raised an eyebrow. Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed. After reading it, her eyes lit up with fierce ambition, and she became even more arrogant.

“Serena, what’s wrong?” “In two days, Mr. Harrison Sr.’s boss is hosting a high-profile banquet in Silverwood City. Over a dozen of the nation’s top moguls will be attending.” “My dad wants to take you and me to experience it, but it seems you still have lingering feelings for this wretched slave, don’t you?” “I’ll tell my dad not to take you now, and I’ll reconsider our engagement.” As she spoke, she made a move to reply to the message. Dax snatched her phone, his eyes blazing with desire and ambition. “Serena, I think you’re absolutely right!” “This kind of wretched slave really does need a beating! She needs to know her place!” “Guards!” Soon, several security guards bound my hands and hoisted me up. I exploded, “Dax! How dare you!” “I am Serena’s grandfather’s boss!” Before I could finish, my legs were pinned to the ground. Serena glanced at the assembled employees and said, “You all praised her so much for being dutiful before. It seems you know her quite well, don’t you?” “Alright then, now start spilling her dirt!” Dirt? Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Though they all wanted to curry favor with the wealthy heiress, they couldn’t think of a single thing. Seeing their hesitation, Serena publicly pulled out a wad of cash and slammed it on the reception desk. “$10,000 for each piece of dirt, unlimited.” “Get paid on the spot!” Under her ‘power of money,’ the atmosphere instantly became feverish. A female manager, who usually called me “Aria” and even wanted to be my ‘adopted sister,’ was the first to jump out: “I’ll go first! I’ve had enough of her for a long time!” “Before, she used to boss me around like a servant just because she was the boss’s wife. She often made me carry her bags, give her massages, and even feed her dog during work hours!” “She saw I was handsome and said she wanted to make me her sugar baby. When I refused, she slapped me in front of all the employees!” “I had it even worse! She knew my family was struggling, and my parents desperately needed surgery money. She threatened to fire me unless I became her boy toy!” “For my parents, I tearfully accepted, but I never expected her to be a pervert! She tortured me in various ways when I was with her…” “…” Serena giggled, opening a live stream on her phone, pointing the camera at me. She cooed, “Please, dear netizens, tell me what you think.” “Does a person like this deserve a beating?” The live stream comments quickly scrolled wildly. “Absolutely!” “We working people are already struggling enough every day. We serve the boss, and now we have to serve her, the boss’s wife? Does she think we’re animals?” “She’s even sexually harassing her own employees, that shameless bitch! She’s not even trying to hide it anymore!” “She’s the definition of a filthy rich socialite! Can’t your husband satisfy you? Are you that desperate for a man?” Serena contentedly ended the live stream, walked over, and pinched my chin. “Do you realize your mistake?” “Do you know what to do now?” Ptooey! I spit a bloody phlegm onto her face, my voice weak. “Bitch… you’re finished.” “Your father, your grandfather, your entire family will fall with you… I swear it!” “Ah!” “That’s disgusting! You bastard!” Serena snatched a belt and, enraged, splashed coffee all over me. “Still defiant when death is at your doorstep! I’ll teach you to be defiant!” Employees looked away, unable to bear the sight of me in my ragged, pathetic state. Watching Serena’s appreciative gaze, my lips trembled wildly. “You… you’re a psycho…” “You’re a maniac…” “Psycho?” Serena burst into another round of mad laughter. “This is just the beginning. The real madness is yet to come.” With that, she waved her hand. “Tonight, it’s company team-building, and I’m treating everyone to sushi.” “Bring this wretched slave along too. We’ll arrange the sushi on her body. A perfect way to ‘utilize’ her.” My mouth twitched violently. My eyes, filled with rage and disbelief, were like knives, wishing to gouge her out on the spot. “You… you wouldn’t dare?!” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head, and my consciousness plunged into darkness.

When I woke up again, I was lying on a cold, large table. Everyone was gone. Mint leaves, sushi rice, and caviar pearls were scattered haphazardly on my bloodied, naked body. I stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying the humiliating scenes from not long ago. Every second I thought about it, my nerves felt like they were being pierced by venomous needles. The pain was nearly suffocating! I don’t know how long passed. Dressed in a work uniform given to me by a kind server, I returned home. Seeing my mom, Brenda, there, my numb nerves finally found a moment of solace. Then I noticed she was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging a pair of bare feet. My gaze slowly moved upward. It was none other than Serena. Before I could fully process it, I saw my brother, Kevin, running over with a basin of hot water, smiling eagerly. “Miss Serena, I’ll draw your foot bath.” Serena looked utterly delighted, then smugly turned her head to glance at me. “See? You didn’t want to be my servant, but plenty of others do.” “I just offered $200,000 a month, and your mom and brother were scrambling to try out. Tsk tsk… the power of money is truly effective!” I staggered, nearly falling. I couldn’t believe my eyes or my ears. “Mom, Kevin, what have you…” “Do you even know that I divorced Dax because of her!” “All these injuries on my body are also thanks to this disgusting couple. They even… they even made me into a human sushi platter!” Kevin shrugged indifferently. “Yeah, we know. Miss Serena told us everything when she got back.” “You can’t blame Miss Serena and Dax for the divorce. They’re a perfect match. You should have stepped aside a long time ago.” Brenda even admonished me, “You disobeyed Miss Serena earlier, so it’s only right that she taught you a lesson. From now on, you need to serve her diligently.” Then, she handed me a book. The Premium Domestic Service Handbook. Brenda continued, “Aria, you’re not the rich madam you used to be. You’re a nobody now, with no money, no home, no prospects.” “Now Miss Serena is even willing to hire you for $500,000 a month, plus the per-session payment for sleeping with Dax, your monthly income would exceed a million dollars!” “What more could you want? Hurry up and thank Miss Serena!” Listening to Serena’s grating, mad laughter, I gave a desolate smile. The little color left in my face completely drained away, leaving not a trace. As I turned to leave, Brenda shouted again, “Stop!” “If you walk out that door, we’re disowning you!” “Fine.” I replied, and without looking back, I left. Walking out of the complex, the biting night wind made me tremble uncontrollably, and the tears I had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam. “Aria…” “From now on, you have no family.” I murmured to myself, then contacted Lilia, my assistant, to book a flight, flying to Silverwood City overnight. Two days later. The ballroom on the top floor of a five-star hotel in Silverwood City was packed with celebrities and wealthy elites. Serena and Dax were among them, being led by Mr. Davies, weaving through the crowd, toasting. During this, Serena’s gaze kept flicking toward the majestic gilded armchair at the head of the table. “Dad, that chair is so beautiful. I wish I could sit in it.” Mr. Davies jumped in alarm, rebuking her quietly. “That chair is prepared for your grandfather’s boss. It’s beyond your reach.” “Oh, come on, I was just saying!” “But who exactly is grandpa’s boss? Must be over a hundred years old, right?” Mr. Davies’s face filled with admiration at her words. He sighed, “That is a legendary figure in the investment world, the Black Phoenix who once caused countless storms in global finance.” “Your grandpa says she’s quite young, probably around your age.” Serena and Dax secretly gasped. When they looked back at the gilded armchair, they saw someone was already sitting in it. After seeing clearly, both of them gasped in shock. “Aria?!” The next second, Mr. Harrison Sr. and the twelve other most powerful moguls in the room approached me, bowing in unison with faces full of reverence. “Boss!”

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For seven years, I chased Julian. Seven years he pushed me away. Everyone said Myra was obsessed with him, and Julian hated her. But what they didn’t know? Julian worshipped me in bed. Loved me with everything he had. Outside those walls, I gave everything. Got nothing back. Five years after we broke up, we met again at a reunion. My old high school classmate Sarah whispered, “Myra, still after Julian? He’s single. Go for it!” Before I could answer, Julian showed up—looking like a millionaire. “Myra, long time no see. How’ve you been these last five years?” I looked down, smiled cold. “Better without you.” Julian’s spoon clattered to the floor, the sharp sound echoing through the private dining room. His usually unreadable expression finally cracked the moment I smiled and spoke. While the server came to replace the cutlery, he leaned closer to me. “Myra…” I nudged my chair back slightly, putting an arm’s length between us. His beautiful eyes instantly dimmed. “I’ll drive you home after this.” “No thanks.” I refused without a second thought. “It’s raining. You can’t ride your bike.” Outside the window, the rain intensified. He was right, I couldn’t ride my bike. I’d have to call for a ride. “If you’d taken that compensation back then, you wouldn’t be living like this now.” I didn’t know if he meant a severance package or payment for an abortion. After all these years, he owed me more than just a little. Five abortions, just for starters. A wave of annoyance washed over me. I followed his gaze to the stain on my pants leg. That’s when I remembered being splashed by a black Maybach on the way here. So, Julian was the driver. He’d gotten a new car again. Guess he had too much money, buying cars to avoid taxes. “I brought my raincoat. Don’t bother.” Julian scrutinized me for a few moments, then sighed deeply. “Myra, why do you always have to be so stubborn…” “Julian!” A sweet, clear voice interrupted Julian. Everyone turned to look. A woman stood at the doorway, dressed in a light gray business suit, her exquisite makeup highlighting her striking features. Everyone exchanged glances, guessing her identity. I, however, didn’t even lift my head, quietly continuing to eat. I’d been sleeping a lot lately, waking up late in the afternoon. Sarah’s frantic calls had dragged me here before I’d even had a chance to eat. I was starving. “Myra?” Chloe, with an exaggerated gasp of surprise, grabbed my arm. My hand slipped from her grasp. “You’re here too? Julian said it was our high school reunion, and I wondered if you’d show up!” I gave a weak laugh, subtly pulling my arm away. “Who is this?” Sarah, sitting beside me, finally couldn’t resist asking. Everyone looked at Julian. “My fiancée, Chloe.” Julian’s words were brief, devoid of emotion. So, even someone like Julian would openly acknowledge his partner. Seven years of a secret romance, three years of a secret marriage. Ten years of being unacknowledged, reduced to a colossal joke. At first, everyone seemed confused, but then someone blurted out “Congratulations,” and the room buzzed with excitement again. Chloe took a seat next to Julian. They looked like a couple, accepting everyone’s well wishes. “I’m late, so I should chug three drinks. But Julian won’t let me drink these days, so I’ll toast everyone with a soft drink.” Chloe was savvy. Even with Julian staying still, she alone raised her glass and toasted everyone in the room. The atmosphere quickly livened up. Within minutes, everyone was singing her praises. “Oh, right, I heard someone in your class chased Julian for seven years. Who was it?” “I’m so curious, who had that much patience?” Chloe glanced around the room, asking playfully. I kept my head down, the smile gone from my face. No one in the room responded, and no one dared to look at me. They were all afraid I’d flip the table in a fit of rage. Growing up, I was known for my fiery temper and holding grudges. Except for Julian, almost no one could rein me in. That’s why, during the years I chased Julian, hardly any girl dared to talk to him. “She didn’t make it today.” Sarah kindly spoke up for me. “Oh? That’s a shame.” “I was thinking of sending her an invitation…” Chloe feigned regret with a sigh, then laughed and leaned into Julian’s embrace. Sarah’s eyes were wide as saucers, glaring at Chloe. “Seriously, what a brazen woman, right?” Watching Sarah turn her indignation into eating, I chuckled, pouring her a glass of water so she wouldn’t choke. Sarah threw her arms around mine. “Myra, is it really over between you two?” “Can you really not be with Julian?!” Sarah’s jaw dropped so wide, you could’ve fit an elephant in it. Her pupils actually trembled. I turned to Julian, seeking confirmation. “Isn’t that right, Julian?”

Julian’s brow twitched slightly, and he nodded, acknowledging it. “Seriously?!” Sarah instantly jumped up, becoming even more frantic. The whole room was stunned. After all, during the seven years I chased Julian, everyone thought he hated me to death. They even came up with the idea of “visceral disgust.” Chloe’s perpetually smiling face now looked utterly stiff. She hadn’t expected me to reveal my past relationship with Julian, nor had she expected Julian to confirm it. “So, Julian’s ex-girlfriend was Myra! How unexpected!” “Well, then I have even more to thank Myra for. Thank you for stepping aside and giving me a chance to be with Julian.” Chloe said, picking up a glass to offer a toast. A glass of orange juice for her, a glass of wine for me. I pushed the wine away, my face cold. “Sorry, I can’t drink.” “Why can’t you drink?” Chloe wouldn’t let it go, constantly pushing the wine glass closer. “I remember when you were a sales director at the company, you could really hold your liquor.” “Didn’t you even teach me how to train my alcohol tolerance back then?” In our senior year of college, Julian started his own tech company. Back then, for him, I turned down the job my family arranged and went to help him. His startup was struggling, barely surviving. Julian’s inherent pride meant he refused to grovel for money, but I wasn’t. I was the one who had to humble myself. Every contract, every partnership, every round of funding—I fought for them tooth and nail, drinking myself sick at countless business dinners to seal the deals. Julian was undoubtedly grateful to me then. That’s why he proposed. Our seven-year secret romance led to three years of secret marriage. Julian would make me comfort food, hearty broths to soothe my hangovers, and hold me close to lull me to sleep when I was a drunken mess. Even when we didn’t have much money, he’d remember every anniversary and buy me expensive gifts. Aside from refusing to acknowledge me publicly, Julian gave me almost everything. That’s one of the reasons I struggled to forget that relationship. I always felt that, in some ways, he did love me. Later, as the company gradually succeeded, Julian solidified his position with his exceptional talent. The company also started expanding. Chloe was hired around that time. I was the one who recruited her. Julian told me, “I don’t like you going out to negotiate deals. You can find someone else to handle the drinking.” From then on, I gradually retreated to a behind-the-scenes role. Chloe was young and naive, often getting completely wasted at business dinners. I started teaching her how to persuade clients to drink, how to build up her alcohol tolerance, how to close deals at the table. She was a quick study, with a natural talent. And because she was lively, outgoing, and attractive, she quickly secured several major contracts. Julian was very fond of her, a fondness he made no effort to conceal. Besides the well-deserved bonuses, Julian started giving her extra rewards. Expensive clothes, designer bags, jewelry—they flowed into Chloe’s pockets like water. They started entering and leaving the company together, intimately, as if no one else was around. I protested countless times, but it always ended with Julian getting angry and leaving. “Myra, don’t project your sordid thoughts onto other people.” “Myra, if you keep making a scene, there’s no point in us being together.” That relationship, at my expense, almost ruined my life. Looking at the beautiful glass of wine in front of me, I met Chloe’s gaze. “Didn’t I also teach you? Never pressure a woman to drink.” With that, I put down my forks and poured the wine from her glass into Julian’s. “Julian, if you can’t control your woman, don’t bring her out to make a fool of herself.” Julian’s face instantly changed. He grabbed Chloe, pulling her back. “Stop it.” “Sit down and eat. Even if you don’t eat, the baby in your belly needs to.” The moment those words left his mouth, the meal in front of me turned instantly tasteless. A wave of nausea surged through my stomach, and I shot to my feet. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

The moment I stepped out, the cold wind, carrying fine rain, burrowed into my coat, leaving me wet and shivering. I couldn’t help but shudder, and half the nausea dissipated. A baby. They were having a baby. Julian, the man who always claimed he disliked children, was having one with another woman. In ten years, Julian and I had a total of five pregnancies, but without exception, all were lost. Julian had one terrible habit: he hated using protection. Every time, I’d take birth control, and if I got pregnant, I’d have an abortion. The reasons for not having children were simple: we were in the middle of building his career, and he didn’t like kids. Each time I had an abortion, Julian would buy me many gifts to cheer me up. He always said we were still young, and we hadn’t had much time for ourselves during those busy years. Perhaps because I loved him too much, I was always swayed by a few words from him. Because of the drinking and long-term birth control, my body was already under immense strain. During the fifth pregnancy, the doctor said if I lost this one, I might never be able to have children again. On our third wedding anniversary, I prepared a table full of food, wanting to talk to Julian. I wanted to keep this baby. But he never came home. Instead, I found him and Chloe making out on the office sofa. “Myra, who allowed you to come in without knocking?” “Get out!” Julian snatched clothes from the floor and covered Chloe, who looked up at me, innocent as a startled fawn. That day, I fled. I even remembered to close the door behind me. When Julian returned that day, our home was a mess. I’d smashed the food and cake onto the floor, shredded all our photos together, and shattered everything I could. Julian walked past the debris and sat down in front of me. I was the first to speak. I asked him when it had started. “You don’t want to know.” “Myra, why can’t you just be happy as Mrs. Thorne at home?” Julian was as cold as ever, his words like icy blades piercing my heart. I snapped, dialing Chloe’s number right in front of him. Julian snatched my phone, smashing it to pieces. “Are you out of your mind? She doesn’t know anything!” The air instantly solidified. I laughed bitterly, asking him, “Julian, does she really know nothing?” Julian and I were secretly married. But anyone with eyes could see that our relationship was different. Chloe had inquired about Julian and me more than once; even a fool would have understood. “At least I never told her.” Julian’s cold words spilled out, and in that moment, I heard my heart shatter. “Myra, I’m warning you, if you cause her any trouble, we’re getting a divorce!” Over the past three years, whenever I was upset because of Chloe, Julian always threatened me with divorce. Every time, I’d humbly back down. But that one time, I agreed. “Julian, then let’s get a divorce.” Later, during the divorce, Julian made harsh demands to force me to compromise, practically insisting I leave with nothing. I was decisive, signing the divorce papers without hesitation. There was no cooling-off period then, so we finalized the divorce quickly. Outside the courthouse, Julian gritted his teeth, warning me not to regret it. Julian seemed so certain I’d come crawling back, full of regret. But I didn’t. For five years, I barely thought of him. If Sarah hadn’t insisted I come to this reunion, Julian and I would never have met again. A weight settled on my shoulder—a black suit jacket. A familiar, cool scent drifted into my nostrils. It was Julian. “Myra, it’s been five years. I can’t believe you really refused to come back.” Without thinking, I pulled off the jacket and handed it back to him. “Go back and be your mistress? Julian, have you no shame? Are you addicted to cheating?” Julian’s face hardened. He grabbed my wrist, then pulled up my inner shirt. My pale stomach was covered in dense, crisscrossing lines. “Myra, five years ago, did you give birth to my child?”

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Barely a month into our marriage, my wife’s sister ran off with her lover. Just as I pushed open the door, ready to comfort her, Seraphina Thorne handed me a document. “Asher, Ryker Sterling’s vast empire can’t be without an heir. I’ve decided to bear him a child in Mallory’s place.” It hit me like a lightning bolt. I ripped the agreement to shreds, roaring, “Seraphina Thorne, it’s the 21st century! Who treats their marriage like a business deal, offering up their spouse to someone else? What the hell do you think I am?!” Seraphina stared at me, unyielding. “Asher, it’s only for three years. I’ll come back afterward, and I’ll still be your wife.” “If Mom had only given birth to me back then, I would have been the one marrying Ryker Sterling. You wouldn’t even be in the picture.” My heart ached as I looked at the frantic Seraphina. Her familiar face had turned cold. “I’ll allow you to use IVF for a surrogate. That’s my biggest compromise.” Seraphina stood up, silently producing another agreement. “Sterling Holdings’ heir can’t be some cold, sterile product of science. It has to be born of passion.” She looked at me without a hint of shame. “For our families’ alliance, this child must be born. I’m merely informing you, not negotiating.” I clenched my fists, finally giving up completely. “Seraphina, let’s get a divorce.”

Her mother immediately stood up, slamming a slap across my face. “Seraphina has been so good to you, and you dare to suggest divorce? You’re utterly ungrateful!” Inside, the Thorne family relatives began to crowd around, trying to persuade me. “Asher, Seraphina still loves you. Otherwise, if she secretly got pregnant with Ryker Sterling’s child, you wouldn’t even know, would you?” “Exactly! Seraphina is doing this for the Thorne family. If Ryker Sterling gets angry, Thorne Industries will be in danger.” I stared in shock at these elders, spouting such nonsense, then let out a hollow laugh. Seraphina, mortified, yelled, “Stop talking, everyone! Asher will understand!” I scanned the room, looking at the furious relatives. These were the people, this was the company I’d saved, sacrificing a lucrative offer from a Fortune 500 company, pouring my heart and soul into it. A sharp, desolate pain pierced my chest. I lifted my head, forcing back tears, and looked at Seraphina. “Seraphina, we’ve weathered so many storms together. Do you really have to sacrifice our marriage for the future of Thorne Industries?” Seraphina fell silent, then, after a long moment, looked at me pleadingly. “Asher, I’m not trading our marriage for Thorne Industries’ future. No matter what, I’ll always be your wife, the one who loves you most.” “Asher, just think about it. Ryker Sterling is the richest man, his intellect and capabilities are unmatched, and he’s closely connected to several major families in New York. Your health condition,…” I stared at Seraphina in disbelief. She was finally speaking her mind. So, she had always looked down on my poor health, which was why she insisted on contraception throughout our six years together. But who did I drink myself sick for, damaging my liver? Who did I fight tooth and nail for, sacrificing a third of my stomach just to close those deals? A tear splashed onto the back of my hand. I lifted my head, my voice hoarse, and said, “Seraphina, what if I absolutely refuse?” “Asher, I know it’s hard for you to accept right now. It’s okay… I’ll give you time to think it over.” A flicker of guilt crossed Seraphina’s face, then she raised her voice. “A joint heir for the Thorne and Sterling families—I *will* bear this child. It’s for the company. You need to think long-term, don’t throw a tantrum.” I smiled bitterly, tears in my eyes, as I looked at Seraphina. At twenty-six, she was young and beautiful, already exuding the sharp aura of a powerful businesswoman. “You mean, not only are you going to have a child with Ryker Sterling, but this child will also inherit everything we have?” “And I, a cripple, am just a tool for making money, destined to live my entire life without my own children?” Seraphina pressed her lips together, her voice gone, her expression complex as she looked at me. All the relatives shifted their gazes uncomfortably. They stood up, offered a few more words of persuasion, and then quickly left. Seraphina also left indifferently, closing the door behind her. I sat there all night. As a sliver of dawn painted the sky, I wiped away my tears and called the company lawyer. “Please draft a divorce agreement for me. I want a divorce.”

Once the truth was out, Seraphina stopped trying to hide anything, openly beginning to flirt with Ryker Sterling. When the private detective sent me the investigation reports and photos, my hand trembled, and it took all my courage to open them. September 11th, 12 PM: Seraphina delivered chicken soup to Ryker Sterling. They stayed in his executive office until 1:30 PM. That evening, Seraphina waited at the hotel entrance. At 11 PM, she picked up Ryker Sterling and drove him home, not returning herself all night. September 12th, 8 AM: Seraphina spent two hours preparing seafood porridge and delivered it to Ryker Sterling’s office. They spent an hour together. September 13th: The two went shopping. Seraphina bought Ryker Sterling a suit and personally chose and tied a tie for him. September 14th, … Seraphina, who never used social media, posted a romantic photo from a high-end restaurant for the first time. Vibrant roses were presented to a pair of distinctly defined hands, and even the caption radiated boundless happiness: “My luck, being with you.” The clinking wine glasses pricked my eyes. After much thought, I commented below, “Dating another man? What about your husband?” Almost instantly, the comment was deleted. Immediately afterward, Seraphina sent several 60-second voice messages. “What were you doing commenting that nonsense? How do you expect people to react to *him*?” “You’re becoming so petty, getting upset over every little thing. I was just trying to win him over so we could have a child sooner.” Her mother was also furious. She stormed into our house, pointing at me and cursing, “Seraphina is younger than you and understands the importance of the company. You’ve lived thirty years for nothing; no wonder you’re a good-for-nothing!” “My family helped you become Vice President, gave you status and reputation, and you’re still not satisfied? You want to ruin Seraphina’s big plans!” “I’m telling you, if Ryker Sterling rejects Seraphina because of you, I’ll never forgive you!” I stared at her mother in shock. These were the ‘relatives’ I had honored like a mother, now humiliating and berating me with the most vicious words. I finally gave up completely, slowly handing her the divorce agreement. “Since I am so worthless, have Seraphina sign this. I won’t hinder her grand plan to revitalize Thorne Industries.” Her mother saw that I wasn’t just refusing to admit fault, but was even threatening them with divorce. She instantly flew into a rage, grabbing a vase from the coffee table and smashing it onto my head. “Your parents must have been absolute trash, raising such a disrespectful nobody. Today I’ll teach you some manners right now!” She then picked up the ashtray and smashed it on my head again with a *thud*. She glared at me fiercely, then spat on my face. “Such a pauper! Seraphina must have been blind to ever look at you.” I clutched my head, looking coldly at her mother. Ever since Thorne Industries escaped its crisis and got back on track, she had always looked at me with disdain. She always felt that I had climbed too high by marrying Seraphina, otherwise her second daughter could have married a rich young master, an heir to a top fortune, just like her eldest. But she forgot that it was she who had once clasped my hand, telling me how much she appreciated my hard work. She was the one who said I was the Thorne family’s savior, who, with a desperate spirit, helped Thorne Industries overcome its crisis. I had knelt in the bank president’s office, begging for loans. I had waited on a business partner’s father in the hospital, saving lost orders… I finally understood that some people only see profit, never emotion. Apparently, selfishness is hereditary. My heart suddenly calmed, no longer feeling any sorrow. Ignoring her mother’s continued shouting, I grabbed my car keys and rushed to the hospital. As I reached the second floor, I saw Seraphina walking over, clinging shyly to Ryker Sterling’s arm. The moment our eyes met, Seraphina’s face flashed with panic and embarrassment, then she quickly turned away and cleared her throat. “What happened to your head?” Then, with disgust, she added, “Look at you. What are you even capable of? A grown man getting his head covered in blood. If you had even an ounce of Ryker’s capability, I wouldn’t have to work so hard.” My gaze sharpened as I looked at Ryker Sterling beside her. The man’s expression was icy, his eyes dark and unreadable. At that moment, I admitted that I couldn’t compare to him; he was indeed unfathomable. “Alright, go get yourself checked out. Just don’t cause any more trouble.” She then walked away, arm in arm with Ryker Sterling, without a backward glance, as if afraid of touching something dirty. Just as they turned the corner of the staircase, Seraphina’s message arrived. “I’m pregnant. Ryker is throwing a party for me this Wednesday. You absolutely must attend.” “Ryker wants the child to be announced as yours publicly, then given to him after it’s born. Remember, don’t say anything out of line.”

I calmly deleted the message, then looked at the one my lawyer had sent me. “Mr. Vance, if you’re willing to walk away with nothing, the divorce proceedings will be quick. But if you want to divide assets, it will be more complicated, and you’ll have to wait a while.” I looked at the message and replied, “I’m entrusting you to liquidate the assets I’m entitled to. I’m not walking away empty-handed.” From graduating college and joining the failing Thorne Industries, I single-handedly orchestrated a success story, generating over a hundred million in profit in just three months. Why should I meekly walk away with nothing? I would take back what was mine. I’d rather donate my things than let that bastard child benefit from them. On Wednesday, I arrived promptly. Seraphina, arm in arm with Ryker Sterling, moved among the guests, soaking in their flattery. Ryker Sterling, too, smiled and conversed with everyone. I calmly handed my gift to Seraphina. She merely glanced at it, then, to avoid suspicion, stood three feet away. “Ryker has already given me a dozen gifts. You don’t need to join in.” I offered a faint smile. “Fine.” It seemed she already considered Ryker Sterling her husband. My gift, from her actual husband, was just “joining in.” I turned and handed the gift to Mr. Brooks, the family butler. “It’s for your mistress. Please take it back to her.” Mr. Brooks immediately thanked me profusely. “Mr. Vance, you’re too kind. I thank you on her behalf.” He bowed to me. See? Sometimes, a casual kindness to a stranger earns you overwhelming gratitude. But some people, no matter how good you are to them, they just take it for granted, thinking you’re nothing more than a simp, and that your devotion is just their due. Some business acquaintances came up to congratulate me. “Mr. Vance, you’re finally going to be a father! Congratulations!” Then, with a puzzled expression, one added, “Mr. Vance, why aren’t you personally looking after Mrs. Thorne? Why is Mr. Sterling always doing it?” I smiled calmly. “It’s all the same. We’re family. No need to distinguish so clearly.” The people around us looked at me with curiosity, then at Seraphina and Ryker Sterling, who were standing close together. They seemed to understand something, exchanging knowing smiles. Finally, a small voice from a corner piped up, “Mommy, the lady and gentleman look so good together! Their baby must be beautiful.” The grand hall fell silent. Everyone awkwardly looked at each other. Seraphina’s face flushed. Reluctantly, she walked over and linked her arm through mine. Then, with a disgusted whisper, she said, “Can’t you just stand next to me without being told? Do you want people to laugh at me?” I smiled indifferently. “I was wondering if Ryker Sterling would be angry, thinking I was still trying to claim you.” Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Seraphina’s face. “At least you’re sensible enough to know your place. Ryker hates messy situations. From now on, you need to be careful when you see me. For the next three years, I am not your wife, you need to remember that. Don’t do anything to upset Ryker.” I scoffed, saying nothing more, and enthusiastically greeted the guests. Once everyone was happy, Seraphina abruptly let go of my arm, shaking her evening gown as if to remove something unpleasant. “Ryker and I are going home. The housekeeper has prepared nourishing soup for my pregnancy. You can go home on your own.” “I need to be with Ryker and rest for the baby these days. I’m leaving the company to you. Be diligent and don’t let anything go wrong.” With that, she linked her arm through Ryker Sterling’s and walked out. It seemed that, in her heart, Ryker Sterling was already her husband, and the Sterling estate was her home. I smiled and walked out into the night. “Detective Jones, I need you to do something for me. One million up front, and we’ll settle any additional expenses.” I wondered if her own sister, Mallory, would ever return home one day, and if Seraphina would still have a place there.

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After my third miscarriage, some crazy woman barged into my hospital room yelling, “I’ve been with Julian for 13 years! How dare you get pregnant with his baby?” Julian stood by me, shouting, “I don’t even know you! Stop lying about me and my wife!” She kept screaming even as they dragged her away. I thought it was just a freak show— until I found a box of old photos and a massive letter in a safe. Hundreds of pictures of them together over the years. A 5,000-word letter spilling all their dirty secrets. I didn’t cry. Didn’t yell. I just sat frozen for hours. I kept the photos for proof and hid the letter. Then I called Julian. “Care to explain?” Julian, who had just walked in, clearly froze for a second when he saw the photos. Then, his face blank, he sat on the couch. “Explain what?” “What’s your deal with this woman?” He glanced at the photos on the table again, then spoke after a long pause. “We were just friends. She was pursuing me, but I never agreed.” Yet, that letter detailed thirteen years of their intimate relationship. I didn’t tell him about the letter. I was about to speak, using the photos as proof. But he waved his hand, sweeping all the pictures into the fireplace. “If you’re bothered by them, then we don’t need these things.” Before I could say anything, he turned his back to me and lit a cigarette. This was his usual tell when he was hiding something. Just then, his phone rang. Only one name appeared on the screen: Valerie. All his other contacts were saved with full names, except this one. Julian answered calmly. Before he could speak, Valerie’s voice, thick with tears, shrieked from the other end. “Julian, I’ve been with you for so many years. How can you just walk away?” “You only married her for her status, but your heart still belongs to me!” “Julian, stop lying to yourself. I don’t care that you’re married. I just… I love you.” A shock ran through me. Julian’s hand trembled slightly. Then he said, his voice deep. “My wife and I have a great relationship. If you dare spread lies again, I’ll make sure you can never recover.” Without waiting for a reply, he hung up. Then, right in front of me, he deleted and blocked her number. Seamlessly. But after he did all that, he was slightly out of breath. His eyes held an emotion I couldn’t quite read. All these years, he had always been calm and elegant around me. I looked at him and suddenly asked. “Julian, did you marry me for money, or because you love me?” He didn’t hesitate. “Of course, I love you.” Before seeing that letter and the photos, I would have believed him wholeheartedly. Before bed, he came to hug me, but I pulled away. Julian didn’t say anything. As usual, he handed me a warm glass of honey milk and watched me drink it. After finishing it, I surprisingly didn’t sleep soundly. When I opened my phone, I received a message from someone named Valerie Reed. “Skylar Vance, do you know why you haven’t been able to get pregnant all these years?”

“It’s all Julian Hayes’s doing!” “Because he doesn’t want you to have his child at all!” “He’s been putting something in your drinks, ensuring you miscarry every single time!” I froze, looking at the empty nightstand. Julian had already taken the glass. I tiptoed into the kitchen and found the cups and bowls all wiped clean. Julian was a clean freak, so he always made sure things were tidy, and he usually handled the chores. My first instinct was disbelief. The next day, I sent a screenshot of the chat to Julian. Without a word, he contacted his lawyer, sued Valerie Reed, and had her charged with defamation. But within three days, Valerie appeared, red-eyed, outside our company building. “Julian, I knew you couldn’t bear it. I was inside for less than three minutes, and you immediately bailed me out.” “You still care about me, don’t you?” I looked, stunned, at the man beside me. “Julian, is this true?” Julian remained expressionless. “This was just a warning. I won’t tolerate this more than twice. One more time, and you’re done.” Valerie smiled. “See? You still can’t let me go.” She skipped towards Julian, trying to get close, but I slapped her hand away. “Valerie, please have some self-respect.” “Julian is married. He is my husband now.” “If you insist on being a homewrecker, don’t blame me for being unpleasant.” I don’t know which words stung her, but Valerie’s eyes instantly reddened. “What right do you have to marry him? Just because you have a couple of measly bucks? Let me tell you, Skylar Vance, he doesn’t love you at all. You’re the real homewrecker!” Passersby started staring, some even employees from our company. Julian, however, cupped my chin and kissed me. I froze, feeling only a bitter irony. Since our marriage, Julian had kissed me only twice. The first was at our wedding, an act for the crowd. The second was on the street, an act for Valerie Reed. Seeing Valerie’s cries grow louder, Julian pulled me into the car. Valerie chased after us, but he ignored the traffic officer’s warning, speeding all the way home. That night, the usually elegant Julian actually got drunk. When he rolled over and pinned me down, the heavy scent of alcohol sprayed against my ear. It was the first time I’d been kissed so hard I couldn’t breathe. When I tried to push him away, Julian murmured deeply. “Haven’t you always wanted a child with me? Fine, I’ll give you one.” “Julian, are you crazy? I’m pregnant!” He frowned in confusion. “Valerie, stop being a child. Just kissing won’t make you pregnant.” In an instant, my entire body turned to ice. But the man continued rambling, a smile even playing on his lips. “You, you’ve always been so innocent. Let Skylar Vance go through the suffering of pregnancy. That’s enough.” “But I won’t let her have a successful pregnancy. After all, her parents threatened me, forced me to marry her. Of course, I have to make her pay a price!” “For you, I can endure…” Looking at the man I had secretly loved for three years, I suddenly laughed. At the time, all of New York knew I loved Julian enough to give my left arm. Even when my parents introduced him to me, I still thought it was a gift from God. Little did I know, it was Julian’s scheme. After a wave of heartache, I slowly spoke. “Where is the medicine you’ve been using?” His mind was still hazy. “It’s behind the wedding photo in the living room, at the bottom of the velvet box.” That box held a global limited-edition diamond, his confession gift to me. I cherished it like a treasure, never daring to open it casually. Groping my way to the living room in the dark, I opened the box and carefully took out the medicine. Then I threw the box out the window. And with a crash, I smashed our wedding photo.

Julian finally sobered up. He came into the living room, saw the shattered wedding photo, but said nothing. “If you’re not happy with it, we can always take new ones later.” “No need,” I said softly. “You should take wedding photos with the person you love.” Julian looked a little surprised. I simply went to another room to sleep. But the next day, he dragged me to retake a set. Then, he took me to a lavish party. Jewelry covered the tables, and the hall was filled with my favorite pink roses. Julian knelt dramatically. “Today is my wife’s and my three-year anniversary. This is a special surprise I arranged for her.” Guests cheered, but all I felt was the man’s hypocrisy. He was clearly using this as a way to make me pay for his guilt. Just then, a voice spoke up. “Julian, you’re so generous with Skylar!” “Unlike how you used to be with Valerie Reed, so stingy! You even had to share one bowl of beef noodles!” Another drunk guest loudly agreed. “Exactly! You used to live with her in that rundown storage unit. That cramped, narrow bed—you two actually slept there for three years! I really admire your perseverance. No wonder you succeed at everything you do!” Heartbreak mixed with shock. Julian was a clean freak; our home was always spotless. Sometimes, if I accidentally drank from his cup, he’d frown and lecture me afterward. I was about to confront him. “Slap!” A loud slap landed on his face. The entire hall fell silent. It wasn’t me who slapped him, but Valerie Reed, who had emerged from a corner. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but filled with an unyielding defiance. “Julian Hayes, you coward who can’t own up to his actions!” “I walked with you from nothing to everything for seven years. You didn’t end up with me, and I don’t blame you.” “But you disappointed me, and you won’t disappoint Skylar Vance again!” Julian was uncharacteristically silent. A few bystanders shook their heads. “Valerie, you’re really too generous! Julian treated you like that, and you’re still thinking about him!” “It’s truly his loss that he didn’t marry you…” I smiled. “Alright, Julian. We’re getting a divorce.” “I’ll take back all the house and company equity. You can be with the woman you love.” Julian panicked. “Skylar, don’t be angry. They were just joking!” But just then, a server accidentally bumped into the champagne tower. Countless champagne glasses instantly toppled, glass shards flying everywhere. I instinctively protected my stomach, but a sharp pain made my vision blur, and I felt a gush of warmth down below. Before losing consciousness, I heard urgent voices. “Julian, Valerie only has minor injuries, we’ll take care of her! Your wife is having a miscarriage, hurry and get her to the hospital!” But as my eyes closed, I saw Julian rush towards Valerie without hesitation. He carried her into the ambulance. When I opened my eyes again, the doctor looked at me, his gaze full of sympathy. “Ms. Vance, your baby… couldn’t be saved.” “After this miscarriage, it’s likely you won’t be able to have children again.” I touched my empty, faintly aching abdomen. It was just as Valerie Reed said—I could never have Julian’s child. I saved the miscarriage report and placed it with the letter. Just then, I heard the nurses at the door murmuring. “Did you know? Mr. Hayes got a long scar on his back trying to save Ms. Reed!” “He’s not even fully recovered, but he’s rushing to bring Ms. Reed food and soup, constantly taking care of her.” “My goodness, his wife probably doesn’t get that treatment! I heard he and Ms. Reed were a couple before. Could it be that Skylar Vance interfered in their relationship?” I said, my voice heavy, “What are you talking about?” They jumped in fright and awkwardly scurried away. Julian then hurried out of the adjacent room and came to my side. “I’m sorry, you heard it at the party. I owe Valerie… too much.” “This time, let’s just call it even for the past.” Listening to his sickening lies, I calmly handed him a document. “Sign this guarantee, and I’ll forgive you.” Julian didn’t even look at it, quickly signing his name. But if he had bothered to glance, he would have seen that it was actually a divorce agreement. When I was discharged, I wanted to walk out myself, but he insisted on driving me home. I couldn’t argue with him and was forced into the passenger seat. But halfway there, his phone rang. The number he supposedly blocked long ago now displayed on his screen. “Julian, the hospital has a power outage, I’m so scared!” “I remember before, whenever our rental had a power outage, you’d hold me close and comfort me…” Julian was silent for a moment, then turned to me. “Skylar, go home by yourself.” I looked at him, astonished. “But Julian, this is the countryside. You can’t even find a ride here!” Valerie Reed heard my voice and started crying again. “Julian, don’t worry about me. It’s snowing, and it’s raining heavily outside. Skylar will surely have her old injuries flare up if she goes back alone!” “I’ll be fine… alone!” Julian, clearly resolute, forced me out of the car and sped off in the opposite direction of my home. I was left alone in the rain, my body aching. After waiting a day and a night, a kind old man on a three-wheeled bike finally gave me a ride home. I lay in bed, burning with a fever of 100 degrees, yet I saw Valerie Reed’s SnapChat update: 【Thirteen years of deep affection, finally achieved.】 She was holding a man’s hand—a hand still wearing *my* wedding ring. I immediately called him. “Julian Hayes, come back now and divorce me.” “You committed adultery, misused medication, and committed numerous other crimes. I’m reclaiming all the money I invested in you!” There was a several-second pause, no one answered. A moment later, Valerie Reed’s smiling voice came through. “Skylar, why don’t you check the headline news?” You’ve reached a gripping point in the story! Want to find out what explosive news Skylar discovers and how she finally gets her revenge? Unlock the rest of the chapters to continue reading this thrilling tale of betrayal, schemes, and unexpected twists.

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One month after I was taken back into the Sterling family, my private nudes got leaked online. My brother Liam promised whoever was behind it would pay—big time. I showed him the proof that Chloe, the fake heiress, was the one setting me up. But instead of backing me, he slapped me across the face. “You’re shameless, trying to hurt Chloe? How can you be so cruel?” Then he stripped me and locked me in a freezer at minus twenty degrees to ‘make me think about what I’ve done.’ “I wish you weren’t my sister. I’d rather you disappear and never come back.” But in the end, they all came crawling back, begging for forgiveness. The day I left the Sterling family, I was running a high fever. My body was already frail. I’d been running on empty for a week, and then Liam had slapped me. Drained and aching, it was only natural I’d gotten sick. Even as I walked towards the river, Liam’s accusing words echoed in my ears. “Is that you in those pictures?” “Aubrey Sterling, have you really slept with that many men?” “Do you have no shame?!” While he interrogated me, Chloe, the fake heiress, was right there, twisting the knife even deeper. “Liam, you don’t think Aubrey has… you know, one of those diseases? I heard they can be contagious.” Liam’s face darkened, his brows furrowing in displeasure. “Stop spouting nonsense. Go back to your own room, Chloe.” Chloe clicked away on her heels, but Liam just pursed his lips and headed to the bathroom. When he came out, he was wearing gloves, and he meticulously disinfected every surface I’d touched. My pupils trembled. I clenched my fingers, humiliation burning through me. I watched him patiently sanitize the entire villa, then toss the gloves away. Only then did he turn to me, his voice cold. “Have you gotten tested?” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m not sick.” He clearly didn’t believe me, but he wouldn’t discuss it further. His face was a mask of cold fury as he warned me. “Don’t let Mom find out about this. I’ll handle the PR. Just stay home for a while.” As he spoke, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, but didn’t answer. He grabbed his jacket and started to leave. At the door, he paused and added. “Stay in your room.” The front door clicked shut, and a sharp pain squeezed my chest, like it had been slammed shut on my heart. Liam hadn’t yelled at me once. But his silence hurt more than a hundred insults. For the next week, I listened to Liam and didn’t leave my room. I spent all my time in my bedroom, trying to find out who had leaked those photos. Was it someone from the old town? No way. That would be a crime. They wouldn’t. Was it a rival company to Liam’s? Also unlikely. I’d only been back for a month. Many people didn’t even know about me. It couldn’t have been that fast. Finally, I zeroed in on one person. Chloe. Just two days ago, Mom had talked to Liam about sending Chloe back now that I was home. The person who hated me most had to be her. I stayed up day and night, using all the money Liam had given me to hire hackers. Liam, on the other hand, wasn’t idle either. He was swamped, frantically trying to suppress the scandal. But fifty million dollars just vanished into thin air, like water splashed on a stone. Nothing worked. Within three days, the company’s stock crashed, wiping out hundreds of millions. Mom still saw the photos, collapsed on the spot, and was rushed to the hospital. The scandal exploded, becoming the talk of the town. Under the manipulation of malicious individuals, the Sterling family’s reputation and finances suffered immeasurable losses. The internet was filled with vile insults aimed at me. Thankfully, a week later, I found the original ID that leaked the private photos. It was Chloe. I held my phone out to Liam. “She’s the one who leaked them, Liam. You need to make her clarify immediately and cut our losses!” “Just, just say they’re AI-generated. We can still salvage the damage!” I desperately racked my brain for solutions, completely missing the chilling rage that had settled on Liam’s face. He asked, his voice cold, “Isn’t that you in those pictures? Aubrey, are you asking me to lie for you?” I froze. “Right now, the most important thing is to salvage our losses.” “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!” Liam’s face was grim as he cut me off. “Aubrey Sterling, you being swapped at birth was a mistake by the hospital staff.” “But I truly regret ever finding you!” With that, he delivered a brutal slap. And just like that, he shattered what little fragile connection we had.

The river in November was freezing. I walked into the water, shivering uncontrollably, Liam’s words replaying in my mind. But inside, a profound calm began to settle. Maybe I should have died years ago. Back when those monsters crawled all over me, one by one, that’s when I should have just given up and let myself disappear. I used to cling to life, always believing I still had a family. But now, I had nothing. No family left. Liam wouldn’t even listen to my explanation. No one in this world would believe me, would understand me. I forced a bitter smile, letting the icy water engulf my head, my body slowly sinking. But through the haze of suffocation, I heard a raw, tearing cry. “Aubrey!” Then, someone grabbed me. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed. Liam sat beside me, soaked and pale from the cold. Seeing me awake, his voice was a mix of anger and urgency. “How could you jump into the river? If I hadn’t found you in time, you would have died!” “You’re the one who messed up, aren’t you? I just slapped you, and now you’re trying to punish me by taking your own life?” My chest tightened. I suddenly didn’t know what to say. After a long moment, I managed to ask, “Is not wanting to live… wrong?” His brows furrowed. His eyes locked onto mine, scrutinizing me, as if trying to discern if I was telling the truth. Finally, he sighed. “I admit I shouldn’t have hit you. But you really have no self-respect.” “Aubrey Sterling, from now on, you’re not allowed to be involved with any men. When Mom wakes up, apologize to her properly!” I suddenly felt so tired. My gaze drifted emptily to the ceiling, and I stopped talking. Perhaps worried I’d run off again, Liam didn’t leave. His phone rang constantly. He handled work nearby, looking utterly exhausted. We sat there, not exchanging another word, not bothering each other. Two hours later, Chloe pushed open the door and walked in. She was wearing a mask, as if I were some kind of plague. Standing a safe distance from me, she whispered to Liam. “Liam, the photos are still trending. A lot of people are trying to dox Aubrey.” “The company’s lost so much, and Mom isn’t awake yet. What are we going to do?” Liam glanced at her, his fingers still rapidly typing on his phone screen. “You don’t need to worry about any of that. I’ve already arranged to send you away in three days.” Chloe’s eyes widened in shock. She gasped in disbelief. “You still want me to leave? With everything happening, how can I possibly leave?” “Aubrey caused such a huge mess, the family needs me right now!” Liam’s fingers paused. “I know you don’t want to go, but Aubrey is my biological sister. Having you here will always affect her.” “Don’t worry, I’ll still provide for your expenses as before. You won’t be mistreated.” Chloe’s eyes stared, wide with alarm. She instinctively glanced at me, then pleaded urgently. “Liam, I really don’t want to go back! All my family and friends are here. I won’t have anyone to talk to if I go back!” “Can you really bear for me to be alone?” “But Aubrey spent twenty years living like that.” Liam was growing impatient. “That’s where you were supposed to be. She lived your life for twenty years.” Liam’s impartial words made Chloe despair. Her eyes reddened, and after a long moment, she said, “Fine, I’ll go back. But I want to wait until Mom wakes up to say goodbye!” “And the company’s problems still need to be solved. I want to help you!” A flicker of relief passed through Liam’s eyes, and he agreed. “I know you’re caring and sensible. You can stay for now.” With just a few words, she stayed. I watched, expressionless, interrupting the tender moment between them. “Chloe, why did you send those pictures?” “Did you want to kill me, or destroy this family?”

Chloe faltered, then stammered softly. “I… I sent them out by accident.” I scoffed, “Why didn’t you ‘accidentally’ fall off a cliff then?” In her haste, Chloe ripped off her mask, revealing her pale face. “Aubrey, it really was an accident! Someone sent them to me, and I meant to delete them!” “Besides, if you hadn’t actually done those things, how would those pictures even exist?” I stared at her, about to press her further, but Liam cut me off, his voice low and firm. “The priority now is to find a solution. The company’s predicament is a minor issue. The most critical thing is your reputation!” “I believe Chloe wouldn’t do it on purpose. She’s not that kind of person.” “I’ve already discussed it with the PR department. You’ll go live and explain everything. Just tell the truth.” “Say you were young, naive, uneducated, and didn’t understand the seriousness of it all. Issue a public apology.” The words struck me like a physical blow, and the blood in my veins turned to ice. From start to finish, the creation and spread of those photos had made me the victim. But now, the victim was expected to stand before the cameras and apologize to everyone. It was laughable. Utterly, sickeningly laughable! I clenched my fingers, my eyes burning as I asked, “What if I don’t apologize?” Liam’s face turned icy. “Then you’re no longer my sister. The Sterling family cannot have a daughter like you!” I could almost taste blood in my throat, and tears streamed down my face. “Fine. Then I won’t be your sister. I won’t be a Sterling.” He froze, then grew even angrier. “It’s just an apology! Is it really that big a deal?!” “This whole thing is your fault to begin with, and you still want to-” “Yes! It is a big deal! I am not apologizing!” My emotions erupted. I was trembling all over, like a cornered animal. “I didn’t do anything wrong! I’m the victim here! I absolutely will not apologize!” Liam hadn’t expected me to lose it like this. His eyes widened. Chloe, with chilling composure, dropped to her knees. “Aubrey, it was my mistake to accidentally send those photos, but the company is the Sterling family’s lifeblood, and it’s on the brink of collapse. They really need you to step forward.” “I’m begging you. Go live. Apologize!” Her calm demeanor only made me seem more like a lunatic. As Liam’s disappointed gaze fell upon me, I felt a bone-deep sense of powerlessness. My nails dug deeply into my palms, and I heard my own voice, devoid of all hope. “Then let it all burn. I’ll die with the Sterling family.”

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They said I stole the song from the fake heiress, Seraphina. A mob dragged me into an abandoned factory and beat me nearly to death. My parents and brother found the best doctors to save me. But outside the hospital room, I heard their cruel whispers. My dad, Arthur, said, “She deserves to lose her voice. A spoiled little thief.” My brother, Julian, said, “She’s too jealous. She needs a lesson.” The pain hit me hard, tears streaming down my face. I never expected my own family to treat me like this. Seraphina stole my work. I don’t want this family anymore. At the operating room door, the doctor looked pained as he advised, “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, while Willow’s vocal cords are severely damaged, artificial replacement could still save her voice. The injuries to her hands and legs also need immediate attention or she’ll be permanently disabled.” “Willow is a singer. Her career depends on her voice and hands. We need to schedule her surgeries now.” Arthur cut him off. “Just delay it!” My mother Eleanor sounded hesitant. “Arthur, Willow has already received her punishment. She won’t be able to go to the awards ceremony the day after tomorrow. She’s our biological daughter, after all. Do we really want to see her become permanently disabled?” Julian’s voice was full of disdain. “Let her be crippled. A ruined voice means she can’t steal Seraphina’s spotlight. Shattered legs will keep her home. Useless fingers will stop her from copying songs. The Sterling family will feed her. What do we have to fear?” “If she dared copy Seraphina, she should know the consequences. The Golden Music Award is Seraphina’s. She’s our diva. We need to break Willow completely, or she’ll never stop stealing Seraphina’s spotlight.” “No artificial vocal cords. Just give her a dog’s vocal cords; anything that lets her speak will do!” Eleanor sighed and quietly instructed the doctor. “Just give her the strongest painkillers. As for her hand and leg injuries, just keep them from getting worse and make sure she’s not in pain. My daughter has always been afraid of pain…” Hearing those words, I couldn’t stop trembling, and tears gushed out. The vicious attack wasn’t random malice from strangers. It was a calculated move by my own family, designed to remove me, their own blood, from Seraphina’s path. But they never even asked me, simply believing Seraphina’s side of the story. A tearing pain spread from my heart throughout my entire body. I stared blankly at the ceiling. Eleanor, who had just walked into the operating room, noticed my hands, still bleeding and trembling. Her eyes welled up with tears. “Willow, it’s me, Mom! Are you in a lot of pain? Don’t be scared, we’re calling the doctor to save you right away!” Julian, standing by, made a call, his voice cracking with sobs. “You must find the best vocal cords for my sister. Her lifelong dream can’t be destroyed!”

“Willow, don’t worry. I’ll definitely catch those haters and make them experience what it’s like to have their hands and feet broken and their vocal cords ripped out!” Arthur watched me, his eyes filled with guilt. “Willow, the world’s top medical team is already on their way. You have to hold on…” “When you’re better, I’ll personally write a song and sing it with you, telling everyone that you are my most talented daughter!” I watched their flawless performance numbly, painstakingly typing with my palm on my phone. “I really didn’t copy Seraphina.” Blood soaked the screen. Julian quickly took my phone away. “Okay! We all believe you! Just focus on recovering for now!” They nodded, but their eyes refused to meet mine. They didn’t believe me at all, which was why they were so ruthless, letting me become this way. Julian, who found me ten years ago, and Arthur and Eleanor, who hugged me, sobbing, saying they’d spend the rest of their lives making it up to me- They were the ones who personally shattered my dreams and cast me into an inescapable hell. All for the sake of Seraphina, the impostor daughter who had enjoyed all their love and affection. Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t tell who their real daughter and sister were anymore. I could never measure up to Seraphina’s place in their hearts. This family, there was no place in it for me, their biological daughter. The doctor pushed the painkiller into my body. Looking at the horrific blood hole in my neck and my twisted limbs, he looked pained. “Willow, the specialists might be a bit late. Please try to bear it for now.” But no matter how strong the painkiller, it couldn’t stop the agony in my heart. I whimpered, biting my lip hard until my mouth filled with blood. Arthur and Eleanor saw me like this, their eyes red with heartache. Julian put his arm to my mouth. “Go on, Willow. If it hurts too much, bite me. Don’t hurt yourself.” They looked like the most caring family in the world, but all I felt was bone-chilling cold. When I slowly woke up again, it was already the next day. Before the specialists Arthur arranged arrived, I heard Julian and Eleanor talking. “Julian, Willow has already been punished. Do we still need to arrange for those reporters to come to the hospital today and expose her plagiarism? After all, we don’t have concrete evidence…” Julian sighed, his tone resolute. “What’s the harm in exposing her? She’s already lost her voice and her career is over. A little more scandal won’t hurt. This is how we secure the judges’ sympathy for Seraphina and guarantee her the Golden Music Award.” “Seraphina was raised by us. She wouldn’t lie. Even without evidence, I’ll find a way to make people believe it.” Arthur instructed Julian, “When the reporters come, don’t defend Willow. Let this be her lesson in humility.” Julian solemnly agreed. I lay on the hospital bed in despair, my tears long since dried up. Ten years ago, Julian found me because of that video of me singing in the orphanage talent show. They recognized me. After bringing me home, I worked much harder than Seraphina to get into the most prestigious music academy with her. Later, I even created “Moon Under the Sea,” the song nominated for the Golden Music Award. Yet Julian was convinced by Seraphina’s words and intended to give false testimony to ruin my reputation! My heart was being twisted by a knife. If I had known this, I would never have come home with them back then. “Bang!” The hospital room door was violently pushed open, and a crowd of reporters armed with their cameras and microphones swarmed in. I lay on the bed, unable to move, watching them openly slander me. “Willow Sterling, we hear you’re suffering this retribution from haters because you plagiarized your sister’s work. Do you regret it now?”

“We hear they cut out your vocal cords and broke your hands and legs. Are you going to be mute and crippled now?” The furious female reporter in the front row suddenly pulled back her microphone and laughed. “Oh, I almost forgot you can’t speak now. Well, let everyone see then!” She roughly pulled back the blanket covering me, exposing my mangled and twisted hands and feet for all to see. “Now that your hands and feet are broken, you shouldn’t be able to plagiarize your sister’s songs anymore, right?” “You never know. Maybe she’ll become a handicapped but persistent plagiarizing dog! Haven’t you heard of people typing with their tongue?” A male reporter next to her sneered mockingly. Everyone crowded around me, snapping photos relentlessly, their contempt and ridicule like sharp knives piercing my heart. I was utterly humiliated, but couldn’t utter a word in protest, my swollen eyes welling up with tears again. “Willow Sterling, even now, you’re still playing the victim. Aren’t you going to apologize to your sister?” Seeing me like this, the female reporter shoved her camera right into my face, starting a live broadcast. “Renowned singer-songwriter Willow Sterling, left permanently injured by fans seeking revenge for stealing her sister Seraphina’s original song…” Tears blurred my vision. I wanted to hide, but realized even moving was a luxury. Flashbulbs popped continuously, capturing my humiliated and pathetic state for all to see. “This is a private hospital! Who allowed you to trespass into a patient’s room?!” Julian rushed in, roaring and trying to drive them away. Eleanor quickly pulled the blanket back over me, and Arthur yelled at the reporters: “Get out now, or I’ll sue you all! Scram!” “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, as respected pillars of the music industry. Are you really choosing to cover up plagiarism?” “Clearly, your biological daughter matters more than the one you raised, doesn’t she?” The reporters wouldn’t let up. Then, a clear, sweet female voice spoke. “Arthur and Eleanor are both respected pillars of the music industry. I wouldn’t be who I am today without their meticulous nurturing.” “They’ve never played favorites. It’s just that my sister was always jealous of how good they were to me.” Seraphina, dressed exquisitely and looking pure and noble, parted the crowd and walked gracefully towards us. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying for a long time. “Willow, please don’t make one mistake after another. Arthur and Eleanor have already been implicated enough by you, isn’t that enough?” “If you want the Golden Music Award, I’ll give it to you! If you want Arthur and Eleanor’s and Julian’s love, I’ll give you all of that too!” “Please stop doing these foolish things, okay? I really can’t bear to see you like this…” Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees by my bedside. My emotions became agitated, and I painfully typed a line with my palm: “You’re lying! That song was clearly mine. I have proof!” A hush fell over the room, then reporters began snapping photos, but they still didn’t believe my claim. Julian pulled her up, his brows tightly furrowed. “It’s not your fault, Seraphina. Don’t be like this.” He turned, his gaze like steel, and looked at me. “Willow, don’t try to argue anymore. I don’t want to see you go further down the wrong path.” With that, he whispered a few words to Seraphina. Seraphina’s face turned pale, and she bit her lower lip, shaking her head vigorously. “No, Julian, you can’t. That would completely ruin Willow’s reputation…” “It’s come to this, and if you don’t show the evidence, she’ll still be stubborn and refuse to let go!” Julian grew agitated, his voice rising sharply. Everyone understood Seraphina held undeniable proof of my plagiarism. Arthur and Eleanor urged Seraphina to present the evidence immediately.

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The day I was released from the mental hospital, my family watched me with nervous care. “Are you still looking for Lucas?” I widened my eyes in confusion. “Lucas? Who’s that?” Their relief was instant. They threw a welcome home party. They set up blind dates. The tension shattered into forced cheer. Everyone told me Lucas didn’t exist, that I’d fallen in love with someone purely imaginary. I played my part perfectly. Humoring them was the price of my freedom, the key that unlocked the hospital doors. But I knew. Lucas was real. I would find him, then escape. “How’s Summer’s mental state now?” “She’s good, very stable. But doctor, we’re worried she might be faking it, that she hasn’t forgotten that imaginary person. Is there any chance of that?” Over the phone, the doctor’s tone was firm: “Absolutely impossible. I used the most brutal psychological torment. I forced her to forget everything except her family. A fake, imaginary person couldn’t possibly leave any trace.” “But remember, you must not let her encounter any related people or things, or it could awaken some of her memories.” “Understood, thank you, doctor. The payment we agreed on will be transferred to your offshore account tonight.” With that, my brother, Michael, hung up. From behind the door, I heard Michael let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, it’s done.” His footsteps approached the door. I quickly backed away, fumbling my way back to my bedroom in the dark, trying to process everything I’d just heard. It was clear: my family had bribed the doctor and wiped out most of my past. My memory was a blank slate, save for information about my family and a vague recollection of assaulting someone on the street two years ago, being diagnosed with a mental illness, and locked away in a psychiatric hospital. Everyone was lying to me! Only I wouldn’t lie to myself. I had no memory of my treatment in the mental hospital, but on the wall hidden by the desk in my room, I found three lines of small, carved words. “It’s a setup! Summer, your family bribed the doctor, they’re torturing you.” “I’m barely holding on, many memories are fading, but remember this: Lucas is real. Go to New York and find him, that’s your only way to freedom.” “An iPhone, red high heels – these are gifts from Lucas, proof that he exists.” Less than a hundred words, stained with what looked like dried blood. Through the frantic handwriting, I could feel the panic and despair I’d experienced when I’d scratched those messages into the wall. Knock, knock, knock! A sudden knock startled me. Only then did I realize I’d forgotten to turn off my lamp. I quickly went to open the door. “Summer, why are you still awake so late?” It was Michael. His eyes held a look of concern and affection, which made me feel instinctively conflicted, sending a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know their motive for torturing and deceiving me. But Michael was the CEO of a successful corporation, and Mom and Dad, though retired, had extensive connections. I, on the other hand, didn’t even know my own identity. I couldn’t fight them. The only thing I could do was bide my time, cooperate, lower their guard, and look for an opportunity to find Lucas. I forced a faint smile. “Tomorrow’s Mom’s birthday. I was just thinking about what to get her.” “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Michael said, ruffling my hair. “Don’t you know what Mom and Dad really want? They just want you to get married soon. The guy they’ve set you up with for tomorrow’s date is young and accomplished. Just try to be enthusiastic, okay? Don’t resist so much.” The man was named Julian Sterling, the future heir of the Sterling Group. He was cultured, gentle, thoughtful, humorous, and had no bad habits. After a while, I almost fell for him. In front of Mom and Dad, I often brought up Julian, feigning interest. They were overjoyed, saying it was time to pick a good day for both families to meet. No one mentioned Lucas anymore, as if he had truly been forgotten, as if he never existed. Michael also stopped having people constantly watching me like before. At least, when I went out on dates with Julian, there were fewer pairs of eyes following me. On Thanksgiving Eve, both families met for the first time. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. The wedding was set for a lucky day three months later, sealed with a kiss between Julian and me. My eyes sparkled with feigned happiness as I drank myself into a stupor. Michael helped me back to my bedroom. Thinking I was passed out drunk, they celebrated loudly in the living room: “Phew, finally done. He’s completely won Summer over.” “Just three more months, and once the wedding happens, this whole thing will be over!” So. They wanted to use me as a tool for a strategic marriage, which was why they’d used such cruel methods to erase my memory? I reached under my bed, pulled out a storage box, and looked at the iPhone and red high heels inside. My eyes narrowed, my gaze hardening. “Lucas.” “I will find you!”

I couldn’t reveal my true thoughts to anyone, not even Julian. But I loved dating Julian. When I was with him, I could escape Michael’s surveillance. And Julian often had to leave me for a while to attend to company matters. These were my moments of absolute freedom. I wasn’t sure what awaited me after marrying Julian, so I had to execute my escape plan and head to New York before the wedding. I pawned off Julian’s gifts for quick cash. Once I’d saved enough, I planned to buy an untraceable used car and disappear without a trace. A month later, my chance came! While Julian was with me trying on wedding dresses, he took a call, his face instantly changing. “Another problem? Things always go wrong when I’m not there. I’m losing more than I’m making from the Vance family! Wait for me, I’m coming now…” He rushed out and got into his car. Usually, when there was a company emergency, he’d be gone for at least an hour or two. I wasted no time, quickly changed, hailed a cab, and headed to the used car lot I’d scouted beforehand. I paid a fortune for a beat-up clunker that was almost ready for the junkyard. I had no choice. My time was limited, and I couldn’t leave any information that my family could trace. As soon as I got the keys, I threw my phone away and drove towards New York. I had no idea how I’d find Lucas. Once I reached New York, to make a living, I leveraged my looks and got a job as a massage parlor attendant in a run-down part of the city. No ID required, which was perfect. It was strange. I seemed to adapt quickly to this job. I’d serve customers at night, trying to subtly gather any information about Lucas, and sleep in the staff dorm during the day. I dumped the car too, confident that my family wouldn’t find any trace of me. Two weeks later, I got a strange customer. He introduced himself as Julian’s driver, on vacation back home for a wedding, and just wanted a foot rub. But I’d met all of Julian’s drivers, and I had no recollection of this man. I decided to probe. “I heard Mr. Sterling’s fiancée went missing. Are you guys looking for her?” The driver blinked, confused. “What are you talking about? Mr. Sterling’s fiancée is Ms. Davis, from the Davis family. She was just photographed drinking at a nightclub last night. She’s not missing.” He pulled out a photo, claiming it was Julian and Ms. Davis at their engagement party. The room was packed with guests. Michael and Mom and Dad were there too. But the Julian in the photo wasn’t the Julian I knew at all! My scalp prickled. A cold dread seeped into my back. If Julian was also a lie, then my family’s initial plan-to separate Lucas and me through cruel means for a strategic marriage-made no sense. What was the truth then? What did they really want to do to me? In a daze, the door to the private room was kicked open. Michael’s figure abruptly appeared. His face was dark as he charged towards me, grabbing my collar and yanking me up. “You’re really hiding in a massage parlor! Summer, you’re the Vance family heiress! Do you really enjoy this kind of disgusting job?” I didn’t even have time to think. My muddled brain hadn’t even started working before Michael roughly dragged me out and into a car. Mom and Dad were waiting inside. All their past concern and affection for me were now replaced by deep disappointment. “Summer, what do we have to do for you to believe that Lucas doesn’t exist, that he’s fake?” I shook my head frantically, unable to speak. I just kept telling myself in my heart: they’re liars. I can’t believe a single word they say. Soon, Michael’s patience ran out. He grabbed a handful of my hair. “Summer, you’ve only ever had one boyfriend.” “You want to see him, don’t you?” “Fine, I’ll take you to him right now!”

The car sped through the city and stopped at a dilapidated old apartment complex in New York. Michael led me to a door and knocked. A disheveled, one-legged drunkard opened it. Seeing us, he trembled with fear, shrinking back. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Summer!” “I was wrong! I shouldn’t have treated you like that!” “You’ve already punished me! Please, let me go, stop torturing me, okay?” I, too, recoiled, shaking my head frantically. “I don’t know him! He’s not Lucas! He’s definitely not Lucas!” Michael scoffed, a mixture of anger and disbelief on his face. “Then tell me, who is Lucas? What does he look like?” I didn’t know. I couldn’t say. But I knew this depraved drunkard was not the man I had longed for, the man I dreamed of even in my despair within the mental hospital. “Enough, Summer! Can’t you just be clear-headed for once?!” “Lucas isn’t real! Those words you carved in the hospital wall? They were lies you planted yourself, back when you were still sick!” “HE is your only reality. The one who broke you. Your mind just couldn’t handle it, so it invented a perfect savior to escape to!” “Do you know why we found you in that massage parlor?” “Because he forced you to work in a place like that for six months…” The rest of his words faded. A sudden, tearing pain erupted in my brain. A memory was violently forced back into my mind, agonizing me. Then, the memory gradually became fluid, clear. I remembered everything. This pathetic drunkard was Caleb, a con artist. He had faked his identity, manipulated me, exploited my feelings, and then lured me to New York. He drained all my money, forcing me to work in a massage parlor to support him. The parlor owner was his relative. I was held captive for six months before Michael tracked me down and rescued me, punishing Caleb severely with his own methods. No wonder Michael found me. When the carvings in the mental hospital were discovered, he had focused his search on New York. Based on my past experience, he’d searched massage parlor after massage parlor. If this memory was real. Then was Lucas real or fake? I suddenly wavered. I recalled the soul-crushing pain and breakdown after being deceived by Caleb. Such intense suffering could indeed have triggered my mental illness. But my family were also liars! They bribed doctors and subjected me to brutal torment to make me forget everything. Even Julian was a fake. My entire life was a massive lie! “Summer, are you remembering some things?” Seeing my breakdown and fear, Michael clasped my hand, his gaze becoming earnest. “Now can you believe I wasn’t lying to you? We’re family. I don’t understand why you refuse to trust us.” “Come back home with us, and explain things properly to Julian. He still has feelings for you, and with our help, your wedding can still go ahead-” My emotions, at that moment, could no longer be contained. I erupted, yelling, “Enough!” “I don’t know if Lucas is fake, but Julian is fake!” “The man I saw wasn’t the real Julian at all! You’re all liars, you’re trying to deceive me too!” “Michael, please, just tell me the truth! What do you actually want from me?”

Back in the car, Mom, Dad, and Michael showed me many photos and screenshots of chat logs. A flood of information that painted a general picture of the years after I met Caleb. After graduating college, I ignored my family’s objections and went to New York with Caleb, then went completely off the radar. The three of them went frantic, searching everywhere for me. But when they finally found me and rescued me, I was already insane, unable to care for myself. I had forgotten Caleb, fantasizing about a nearly perfect man named Lucas, frantically searching for him, even becoming violent enough to injure someone. “Summer, Dad admits, we bribed the doctor and put you through some pretty harsh treatments to cure you.” “But what else could we do?! Regular medication couldn’t cure you. Only by completely erasing your memories could we help you escape the shadows of your past.” “After you were discharged, to prevent a relapse, we thought about finding you a perfect man, someone as close to the ‘Lucas’ in your imagination as possible. But where in the world does such a man exist? Julian was the best we could find.” “We pleaded with him. He was already engaged, so, desperate, we found someone to impersonate Julian…” Their eyes reddened as they spilled all the truth. Including some information I didn’t know. For example, the person playing Julian was Trevor Vance. Although not the heir of the Sterling family, he was an independent entrepreneur, a young and successful CEO worth millions. He had known the truth all along, helping my family deceive me in exchange for our Vance family’s resources and assistance. Michael swore to me that as long as the Vance family stood, Trevor would always treat me well. He would become the Lucas of my imagination. “Summer, because of you, we haven’t had a single peaceful night’s sleep in years.” “Do we have to tear our hearts out for you to see that we truly mean well?” Their tears seemed genuine. The memory of Caleb in my mind wasn’t fake either. And everything they had done now had a logical explanation that tied together. How could I not believe them? I sobbed uncontrollably, embracing them. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have made you sad. But I lost my memories, and then those lines in the mental hospital… I was so scared, so scared, I couldn’t stop overthinking everything.” “Can you give me a little more time, please? I promise I’ll get through this…” After that, Mom, Dad, and Michael became even kinder to me. And they watched me even more closely. When I went out on dates with Trevor, the Vance family bodyguards didn’t even try to hide, openly shadowing and monitoring me. Occasionally, when I showed discomfort, Trevor would take my hand to soothe me. “Summer, your family is just looking out for you, afraid you might do something foolish again.” “All the misunderstandings have been cleared up, right? Promise me you won’t overthink things anymore, okay?” “We haven’t stopped you these past few days. We’ve been helping you search. Is there even a single trace of Lucas existing in your life?” I nodded silently, squeezing his hand back. “Yes, if Lucas truly existed, he would have left a trace.” “Anyway, thank you for coming with me to New York. It felt good to personally teach Caleb a lesson and get some much-needed revenge.” Behind me, Caleb lay battered, unable to stand. Trevor hadn’t heard what I’d said to Caleb while I was beating him. “If you want to live, help me find that iPhone I took to be repaired in the run-down part of the city.” No one knew I had already found the proof of Lucas’s existence! The iPhone, and those red high heels. I was incredibly thankful that before being discharged, I’d managed to scratch out the third line of text. Otherwise, they would surely have found a plausible explanation for those two items too. A few days later, I feigned waking up from a nightmare. Mom and Dad rushed in immediately, asking what was wrong. I said, “I dreamed of Caleb again.” “Is Trevor free? Can he take me to New York one more time?” I didn’t know what methods they had used to erase all traces of Lucas. But I knew that iPhone must contain information from Lucas, or from me before my amnesia, left for me…

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After the SAT Test, the school belle posted my pregnancy test results in the class SnapChat group. “She’s really desperate for money! Selling herself right after turning eighteen. Do you even remember who the father is? Probably some gross old man.” Everyone else joined in mocking me, and someone even shared a photo of me kneeling in the field, digging up sweet potatoes with my hand on my lower back. Just then, the always aloof wealthy heir from the city’s elite circle said, “I’m the father. Got a problem with that?” 1 A few months ago, my grandma suddenly had heart failure. I couldn’t scrape together enough money, so I took a job as a server at a nightclub. That’s where I ran into Liam, a classmate who had been drugged. His handsome face was flushed red, and he was barely conscious. He grabbed my hand and shoved it under his shirt. I hesitated for a second, then took him back to the staff locker room. All the other staff were on shift, so he and I stayed in the back room, tangled up in passion for most of the night. The next morning, Liam just said, “Here’s fifty grand. Don’t cause any trouble.” I took the money and rushed to the hospital to pay the bills. But in the chaos, I forgot about taking the morning-after pill. By the time I remembered, I realized my period was way overdue. I bought a test kit, saw the two lines, and felt my heart sink. I kept putting off dealing with it, and my belly kept growing. I tied it down with cloth strips to take the SAT Test, but I ended up so exhausted I landed in the hospital. That’s when Bella, the school belle, snapped a photo of me and mocked me in the group chat. Liam showed up at my place the next day. His grandma came with him. Liam’s face was expressionless, his eyes scanning over my stomach. His grandma, though, was kinder. She held my hand and asked how old I was, where my parents were, and if I had any other family. I honestly told her both my parents were dead, and I only had my grandma left. The old woman’s eyes welled up. “What a poor child,” she said. She offered to take me in. I couldn’t leave my paralyzed grandma behind, so she said she’d arrange for her to stay at a nursing home owned by Liam’s family. “To be frank, families like ours don’t usually take in people from your background. But you’re carrying our family’s first grandchild, and you’re Liam’s first woman. We thought it’d be wrong to just leave you out here alone.” On the way back, Liam kept his eyes closed and didn’t say a word. I couldn’t tell if he liked me or hated me. He tossed my clothes on the sofa and told me to sleep there every night. That’s when I knew—he definitely hated me. Liam’s house was huge, with three separate bedrooms just in his wing. He put me in the smallest one, and when I looked up, I saw a bright, elegant photo of a ballet dancer. Liam walked in, hands in his pockets. “Pretty, right? I’ve liked her for a long time.” He said it while glancing at me, a faint disgust in his eyes. I lowered my head but stole another look. So graceful. No wonder he looked down on me. 2 After moving in, we started sharing a room. I couldn’t sleep, so I tilted my head to look at him. Then he said, “Stop moving around when you sleep.” “I wasn’t,” I said. “Yes, you were. Your breathing is too loud.” “Sorry.” Liam went quiet after that and slowly fell asleep. I’d had trouble sleeping for ages, but somehow, I drifted off too. That night, I had those awful nightmares again—Mom’s screams, Dad’s roars, and finally, the bloody knife. When I woke up the next morning, Liam was already up. He didn’t wait for me, so I couldn’t find the bathroom and ended up brushing my teeth and washing my face in his. When I went downstairs, the ballet dancer was sitting at the dining table, elegantly sipping milk. She saw me and smiled sweetly. “Oh, you must be Liam’s fiancée. You’re so pretty.” Angels are angels—even their compliments are kind. I’d spent years under the sun farming, so “pretty” was the last word I’d use for myself. Liam sat next to her, and I found out her name was Chloe, a lead dancer in a famous international ballet company. They’d grown up together, and to everyone else, she was like Liam’s caring older sister. But I knew Liam was in love with her—under the bed in that small room were piles of her photos. It must feel amazing to be loved like that. I couldn’t help the jealousy, but I pushed it down. After breakfast, Liam’s grandma, Eleanor, sat me down to discuss terms for the baby. She said Liam was too young to marry, especially not me. The baby would be raised as his sibling. As the mother, I’d get a huge payout—a villa in the city and ten million in cash. If I wanted, the family would even send me to study in Europe. The catch? I could never see the child again. While Eleanor was talking, Liam was nearby, flicking a lighter, giving me that same faint, mocking smile. I sighed softly and nodded. “Okay, I agree.” Liam’s hand, spinning the lighter, froze. After the exams, we had a long break with nothing to do, so both Liam and I were free. I thought he’d avoid me, but he didn’t seem to care. Besides his morning and evening workouts, he mostly read in his study. But while I was practicing French, he suddenly said, “Your pronunciation is off. The nasal sounds are too heavy—it’ll tire you out.” I stared blankly before realizing he was talking to me. “Huh? Oh, okay.” “Aren’t you tired sitting like that?” Liam pointed at my lower back. “Won’t it… crush the baby?” I followed his gaze. “No, he’s still small.” “Okay.” Liam took a sip of water. I thought he’d leave, but he invited me to study with him in the library. “The room’s big enough, and there’s an extra chair. Come on.” “Don’t crush the baby,” he added, as if worried I’d misunderstand. I grabbed my books and followed him. Liam’s library was ridiculously huge but neatly organized. As he said, he only used one corner. I picked a spot far from him and spread out my books. For hours that afternoon, I focused on studying, even forgetting the bird’s nest soup the nanny brought. Liam frowned, pushed the cup with his finger, and tapped the desk. “Hey. Drink it.” I glanced at him and obediently drank the soup. Then I went back to my book. Liam clicked his tongue. “Ava.” “Yeah?” He ruffled his hair in frustration. “Why aren’t you angry?” 3 “I… I don’t have anything to be angry about.” “Liam, I know I’m not on your level. If it weren’t for that mistake… I wouldn’t have messed up your life.” Before I knew it, tears of frustration were streaming down my face. Liam turned away. “Stop crying!” But his tone wasn’t actually harsh. After Bella posted my pregnancy test results and everyone found out Liam was the father, the class SnapChat group went eerily quiet. But I knew she wouldn’t let me off easily—not after bullying me for so long. Sure enough, a few days later, I saw Bella and her friends in the living room at Liam’s house. They were talking to Eleanor. When Eleanor saw me coming downstairs, she wasn’t as warm as before. Instead, she called a doctor to do an amniocentesis. “Your classmates say you’re always picking up men at clubs. I was careless to believe Liam without verifying first.” Bella and her friends chimed in, “Yeah, Grandma, Ava slept with almost every guy in our class. She’s no good.” “Did you know? When she was nine, her mom stabbed her dad to death and paralyzed her grandma. What kind of family raises a kid like that?” “Don’t let her looks fool you—she’s cheap. Fifty bucks will buy her. I heard several old men in her village have had her.” Bella’s words stabbed at my nerves. All the terrible memories came flooding back. I bit my lip hard, forcing myself to stay calm. I’d survived worse—dark, painful days. I was so close to my goal; I couldn’t ruin it now. I kept my head down, trying to steady my breathing. I didn’t notice Liam watching everything from upstairs. He came down slowly, about to speak, when the doctor arrived. Eleanor had someone hold my arm still for the blood draw. When the needle pierced my skin, I flinched. Liam’s eyes darkened from across the room. After it was done, Eleanor waved me away upstairs. “If you’re lying, I’ll make sure you have nowhere to run.” Rich people are like that—they can’t stand being deceived or slighted. I kept my head low and left, ignoring the laughter behind me. As I passed Liam, he grabbed my arm. “Why didn’t you defend yourself?” I looked at him through tears. “What?” “Why didn’t you argue, get angry, fight back?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Liam, are you kidding? Someone like me has no right to argue.” How could I dare offend his grandma? It was just a DNA test. I knew the baby was Liam’s, so I wasn’t worried about their lies. Bella looked smug, giggling in a fake sweet voice until she saw Liam, then softening her tone. “Liam, you’re so unlucky to be stuck with a shameless girl like her.” Liam didn’t get angry. He watched me for a moment before glaring coldly at her. “Yeah, seeing you is the real misfortune.” 4 That night, Liam finished washing up early and lay in bed on a call. After updating his parents, he hung up. I had headphones on, watching a soap opera. Suddenly, he scooped me up and put me on his bed. I’d been crying over the show, and he lifted my chin. “Why are you crying?” I was annoyed but didn’t dare say it, so I pouted and glared. Liam took my phone and tossed it on the nightstand, then climbed under the covers. “No more crying. Sleep.” What was he doing? Sharing a bed with me? I stared wide-eyed, too shocked to be mad. Liam seemed to realize how it looked, his face flashing with embarrassment before he coughed. “I just don’t want you rolling over and crushing the baby.” He said it so confidently I didn’t push it. Fine, we’d slept together before. I turned over, clinging to the edge, and fell asleep. I had no idea Liam was in and out of the bathroom all night. After that, Liam changed—he became clingy and softer. He insisted we share the bed. He said my belly was growing, and the small bed might hurt the baby. The hospital results came back, and Eleanor was relieved, adding a few million to my payout. The thought of becoming rich after the birth made me giddy. But Liam seemed down lately. He’d complain my French practice was too loud, but when I offered to study in the closet, he refused. He moped around like someone owed him money. I avoided conflict, giving in to keep peace, but it only made him sulkier. One night, he went out for dinner and came back late. He’d been drinking, stumbling a bit. The staff tried to help, but he waved them off. I heard the door click open and saw Liam slumped on the sofa, groaning about feeling sick. I had to help him change and clean up. I thought it’d be hard with him drunk, but when I tugged his collar, he sat up and shrugged off his sleeves. …Not bad for a drunk guy. Liam had a great body—defined abs, pecs, and biceps. And he was restless, grabbing my hand to feel his chest, making my heart race. I pinched him. “Liam, you’re drunk. Let me wash your face.” Eyes closed, he mumbled, “No, don’t.” Nothing like his usual cold self. I teased him, “Then I’ll touch you?” I slid my hand into his pants. Liam’s eyes flew open, and he pulled me into a tight hug. His right arm wrapped around my waist, left under his head. “Ava, you’ve got nerve.” I felt a rush of shame. “Let me go. I won’t do it again.” “No way. I finally caught you not being icy. Why would I let go?” “Unless you kiss me.” Since when did the cold-hearted heir talk like this? I didn’t hesitate, planting a loud kiss. Hey, I’d been craving this too. The physical attraction took over—two young people losing control. Only Liam’s self-restraint kept things gentle, so we didn’t go too far. Before falling asleep, he kissed my forehead, his voice unusually soft. “Sleep well, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.” Liam and I had a rare, warm period together. Like a normal couple, we went everywhere together and slept in each other’s arms. It almost made me forget it was all a transaction. Until the day Liam’s mom, Victoria, walked in, followed by Chloe and Bella. Chloe had lost weight, her foot bandaged. She saw Liam and threw herself into his arms. “Liam, I’ll never dance again.” Turns out Chloe had a car accident in Vancouver, injuring her ankle, ending her dance career. Liam held Chloe, comforting her softly. Bella smugly pushed forward. “Ava, listen up. If I can’t have him, neither can you.” “Liam loves my cousin Chloe, not trash like you. Don’t think a bastard child will get you into the family.” Gotta admit, Bella was spot-on. After just one afternoon with Chloe back, the family started pushing me out. Victoria came to my room, sat on the bed, and frowned at the nightstand. “You’re sleeping together?” I nodded, fighting back tears. Victoria rolled her eyes. “So shameless.” I’d heard insults like that before—I shouldn’t cry. But the baby kicked, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.

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The day I found out my wife had a three-year-old son with another man, I planted explosives in our mansion, ready to end it all with her. But that night, Isabella never came home. As despair consumed me, I heard my ten-month-old daughter call out “Daddy” for the first time. In that moment, I no longer wanted to die. I took the most expensive car from the garage and detonated the bombs outside the mansion. Amid the flames, I drove to the airport. From then on, the man once known as Harbor City’s laughingstock—Isabella’s husband—vanished without a trace. Five years later, we met again at a heritage-town inn. She stared at me as I politely handed her the room key, her expression dazed. “Lucas, you seem… different from before.” I didn’t respond, only smiling as I wished her family of three a pleasant stay. 01 The room key hung in the air, but Isabella made no move to take it. My wrist grew sore, so I spoke again. “Ms. Isabella, your key.” “I’ll take it.” A clear voice cut through the tension from behind her. It was her legally wedded husband, Adrian. My gaze brushed against the glaring wedding band on his finger, then collided with those familiar eyes—the ones that haunted my nightmares. “I told you to wait on the sofa. Why won’t you listen? You worry me.” Isabella instinctively took his belongings and melted into his embrace. She pressed her hand to his forehead, her voice softer than I’d ever heard: “Good, no fever.” “You must be tired. Take our son upstairs to rest. I’ll buy some warm congee.” Adrian nodded gently, his eyes sweeping over me with scrutiny: “Alright, I’ll wait for you.” As they embraced, I looked away—only to see a deliveryman hauling in cat litter. While checking the pickup code, Isabella bent to lift the bags. “Let me help. Where should these go?” “No need.” I reached for the bags, deliberately keeping my distance. Noticing the dust smudges on her dress, I walked to the counter and handed her two bills. “For dry cleaning. I’ll cover the cost.” “Really, it’s fine. I offered to help.” Isabella reached to stop me, her fingers nearly brushing my wrist before I pulled back. Her hand froze mid-air, her voice tinged with unspoken bitterness: “Don’t trouble yourself. I should go.” As she turned, she nearly collided with Chloe, the staff member returning with sugar-roasted chestnuts. Chloe stared at Isabella’s retreating figure, then tugged my sleeve excitedly: “Lucas, wasn’t that Isabella Smith from Harbor City’s Smith Group? She’s stunning! “I’ve seen her interviews—she built her empire from nothing and never stops praising her husband. “Talented and devoted? She’s perfection!” Other guests chimed in: “True! I heard her ex-husband was insane—should’ve been jailed for assault.” “She showed mercy by paying him off, but she finally divorced him after enduring so much.” Hearing these slurs again, I felt nothing—my heart was a stagnant pond. Only the scar on my thumb webbed with a dull throb. 02 Rubbing the centipede-like scar on my thumb, memories surged back. Isabella was never some self-made entrepreneur—she was the bullied scholarship student no one noticed. I found her cornered by rich kids in the freezing wind, forehead bleeding through her faded uniform. I grabbed a wooden pole and fought them off. In the chaos, glass sliced my thumb to the bone—eight stitches to stop the bleeding. Isabella slipped away from the hospital because she couldn’t afford the medical bill. Her father was a drunk; her mother, mentally unstable. After that, I protected her instinctively. She remained quiet but tutored me in math after school. When she aced the high school entrance exam as the city’s top scorer, she couldn’t afford tuition. I begged my dad to fund her education until she started working in college. During her internship, those same rich kids harassed her. My dad brought her into our family company and mentored her himself. Isabella had a gift for business—complex data reports made sense at a glance. I’d sit beside her, chin in hand, admiring her focused profile. My dad saw my feelings. Even knowing Isabella only felt gratitude, he helped her start a company after graduation. Within a year, Isabella built a name in Harbor City. Then my mom fell ill. Dad made reckless decisions trying to save the company. When bankruptcy loomed, Isabella turned things around. Dad always said she was our family’s savior, that she owed us nothing and should live freely. But she knelt before him, swearing with fierce determination: “Lucas, I can never repay your kindness. Please entrust your son to me—I’ll care for him forever, never letting him suffer.” The old scar on my thumb throbbed again. I lowered my gaze to the ugly mark and almost laughed. How naive I was—mistaking gratitude for love. After that, I called myself her husband without any formal title. I lingered at her company, silently staking my claim. Isabella never objected. She even let me choose her personal assistant, noting: “Pick a sharp woman.” But during interviews, Adrian’s resume stood out—not for being divorced, childless, or professing to be “child-free.” It was his eyes—identical to Isabella’s late mother’s. In her lucid moments, Isabella’s mother was her only light in a bleak childhood. So I hired Adrian without question. When Isabella saw him, her eyes reddened with emotion. That night, she held me, trembling through tears, thanking me repeatedly. I pitied her, often inviting Adrian over, creating chances for them to bond. I thought I was helping—never realizing I was digging my own grave. 03 The gossips dispersed. I picked up my daughter’s photo frame, wiping it absently. Chloe nibbled chestnuts and asked casually: “Lucas, why don’t you ever eat these? They’re delicious.” My hand stilled. Painful memories engulfed me. My mom and I loved chestnuts. Dad always brought home a warm bag after work. Mom would peel them, blowing gently before feeding me. But the year Mom was dying, in her final lucid moment, she craved chestnuts. Dad drove to buy them—then got a call that Mom was critical. In his panic, he sped into an oncoming truck and died instantly. The freshly bought chestnuts scattered, stained with his blood. That first snowy winter day, I lost both parents. Chloe’s eyes welled up, flustered. She moved the chestnuts away, voice cautious: “Lucas, don’t be sad. Chloe and Mia will always be here for you. “Mia’s school bus will arrive soon. Let’s explore the heritage town tonight—” She broke off, staring at my daughter’s eyes in the photo, mouth agape. “Lucas, Mia’s missing mother… it’s not…” I nodded confirmation. Chloe hesitated, then asked softly, eyes brimming with pity: “Then… those rumors… Lucas, how much did you suffer?” I froze, nose stinging at her concern—but it passed. I smiled faintly. We did have happy years once. The day my parents died, Isabella proposed. She had lawyers transfer all her company shares to me—no strings attached. Kneeling, she vowed to give me a new family, to care for me forever, begging me to stop crying because it broke her heart. I collapsed from grief. Isabella arranged my parents’ funeral alone. When I recovered, we registered our marriage. No wedding, just college-era promise rings—but I was content, feeling like the luckiest man alive. I poured all my love into Isabella. I knew she was busy, so I never demanded much. I waited up for her in the lit living room when she worked late. I packed my bags to accompany her on business trips. And she didn’t disappoint. At first, Isabella adored me—her obsessive love became Harbor City’s envy. Newspaper headlines and billboards bore her declarations: “I love Lucas”—her public love letter to the city. Just as I healed from losing my parents, news of her affair with Adrian trended online. My “brother” embraced and kissed her in a rooftop garden restaurant. It was my birthday. I’d cooked all Isabella’s favorite dishes, wearing the suit she gifted me, waiting all night. I called repeatedly—she always answered, soothing me gently: “At a work event, be good. I’ll be home soon.” Adrian spent his entire bonus on a luxury watch for me, with a note: “Happy birthday, my best friend.” That night, I thought I had the world. I didn’t know my deepest wounds would come from those I cherished most. 04 Seeing the trending news, I drove off in a rage. Tears blurred my vision—I nearly rear-ended cars twice. But I didn’t care—I needed answers. At the restaurant, I saw Adrian holding the car door for Isabella. I stormed over. Isabella shielded Adrian, her gaze icy, unrepentant: “Lucas, what’s your problem?” Adrian peered over her shoulder, greeting me warmly. Around his pale neck was the Smith family heirloom necklace I’d always loved but never worn. Beside it, a deep red hickey burned my eyes. I lunged at him, fists flying wildly. “Why? I treated you like a brother! Why betray me?” Adrian sobbed dramatically, cowering behind Isabella—but his eyes gleamed with triumph. Isabella shoved me away, fussing over Adrian, soothing his fake tears. I crumpled to the ground, clutching my aching stomach, watching them embrace—heart shattered. When Isabella turned to confront me, she saw blood seeping through my shirt. I was hospitalized. The stab wound I’d taken for her days earlier had reopened because of her. She rushed me to the hospital, staying by my bed, her worried devotion mirroring the past, apologizing repeatedly: “Lucas, I’m sorry. I swear I’ll never hurt you again.” I slapped her, kicked and cursed her, wishing her dead. Isabella took it all, eyes red as she coaxed: “Calm down. Your health matters.” Enraged, I screamed I’d make Adrian pay. Isabella snapped—slapping my face, voice venomous: “Lucas, harm him, and I’ll make your life hell!” Watching her defend her lover, hatred festered in me. After that, Isabella stopped visiting. She flaunted Adrian everywhere. My phone flooded with their bed photos—anonymous taunts. I trashed our home, shredded anything of Isabella’s, burned our wedding album. After recovering, I used my dad’s connections to blacklist Adrian across Harbor City. I exposed their affair publicly. Suddenly, Adrian was a social pariah; Isabella lost major contracts. She retaliated wildly, confining me to a hotel for months, tying me down, forcing herself on me—all recorded. She blurred her image but left mine clear, releasing the video online. Adrian’s scandal faded; I became the joke. Those who once flattered me cut ties overnight. My dad’s failing company lost its last client—bankrupt for good. The day my reputation died, Isabella freed me. Seething with hatred, I stormed her company with a knife. I injured Adrian, cut Isabella’s arm. In my frenzy, she signed papers selling my dad’s company shares for peanuts. His life’s work—destroyed in an instant. I begged on my knees, invoking my dad’s kindness, pleading for her conscience. Isabella looked down, sneering: “Lucas, any debt I owed your family was repaid when I saved your dad’s company.” “Hurt Adrian, and I’ll destroy you slowly.” That day, I saw their son, Ryan. I realized their affair began when I hired Adrian. I had no wedding, no ring—because Isabella feared upsetting Adrian. Even those public love letters were Adrian’s decoys to deceive me, hiding their family. I was their clown for years. My heart felt nothing—only seething hatred. That night, I planted bombs, ready to die with her. That night, my daughter’s voice saved me. I triggered the explosion, faked my death, and vanished from Harbor City. Chloe sobbed uncontrollably. I wiped her tears and went to meet Mia’s school bus. Chloe followed, voice hoarse from cursing Isabella as a monster. But as I held Mia’s hand, I met a familiar gaze. Isabella dropped her congee, pupils dilating as she stared at my daughter: “Whose child… is this?”

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