I crossed over into a novel while doing the deed with my billionaire husband, one of the most powerful men in New York. [Another one trying to conquer the villain? Hilarious.] [And dressing like a slut? The villain likes pure, innocent girls! This is totally going to fail.] [Arthur Sterling will eventually become a ruthless underworld boss who kills without blinking an eye.] I looked at the floating comments drifting past my eyes, then looked down at myself. A black deep-V dress plunging to my navel, the hem so short it barely covered my butt. Arthur begged me to wear this last night. He was on his knees on the bed, his eyes completely red. “Wife, just wear it this once, I’ll transfer ten million to your account.” 1 I reluctantly put it on. And then he tossed me around until midnight. Now look what happened. I wake up, and the Arthur standing before me, fresh out of the shower and wrapped in a towel, looks at me like he’s seen a ghost. “Who are you?” I was furious. What? He pulls his pants up and suddenly doesn’t know me?! “What do you mean who am I! I’m your wife!” The moment the words left my mouth, I was the one who froze. What kind of dump was this? Peeling paint, drafty windows, furniture that looked like it was scavenged from a dumpster. Where was my California King-sized luxury bed? Where was my bathtub that could fit five people? Arthur’s face was right in front of me. No scar on his temple, no weathering from the years on his face—only the cold, sharp alertness of youth. I reached out, cupped his face, and inspected it left and right. “Hubby, did you sneak off and get Thermage done behind my back?” Which clinic did he go to? The results are suspiciously good! Before I knew it, Arthur slapped my hands away, his gaze sharp as a knife. “I’ll ask you one more time—who are you?” 2 I calmed down. I took a closer look at the calendar on the wall. Five years ago. Which meant the guy standing in front of me was Arthur before he made his fortune. The dirt-poor Arthur. I took a deep breath, thinking of the Arthur from five years in the future. How glamorous he was then. Bodyguards followed him everywhere, crowds surrounded him at meetings, but when he came home, he was as obedient as a cat. When I threw tantrums, he coaxed me; when I whined, he spoiled me. If I said I wanted a star from the sky, he’d actually go buy me a meteorite fragment. Such a massive rock, sitting right in the middle of our living room. My heart ached just thinking about how much it cost. “Hubby, how much did this cost?” He was peeling an apple for me, not even looking up: “Not much.” “What does ‘not much’ mean?” He thought about it: “Only about ten million, give or take.” I almost passed out. “Are you crazy, Arthur?” He looked up at me, his eyes innocent. “Didn’t you say you wanted a star?” I was stumped. “I just said that casually!” He smiled, offering the peeled apple to my mouth. “Even if you say it casually, I take it seriously.” I looked at the eighteen-year-old boy in front of me now. I blinked and put on my standard, professional fake smile. “Little boy, let me ask you: how much money do you make a month right now?” 3 Arthur frowned: “None of your damn business.” “Of course it’s my business.” I circled him, looking him up and down. “If you don’t have money in the future, I’m not staying with you.” Arthur let out a cold sneer and turned toward the bathroom. “Psycho.” With lightning reflexes, I grabbed his towel. The towel dropped to the floor. The air froze for three seconds. Arthur’s face turned visibly red all the way to the tips of his ears. “You!” I looked down, nodding in satisfaction. “Mhm, the size checks out. This is definitely my husband.” [???????] [What the hell is this woman doing???] [LMAO, the villain just got completely exposed hahahaha] Arthur scrambled to pick up the towel and wrap it around himself, his eyes looking like he wanted to eat me alive. “What exactly are you trying to do!” I crossed my legs and sat on his creaky, broken bed. “I told you, I’m your wife.” “You don’t believe me? Then let me ask you: do you have a mole on your left butt cheek?” Arthur’s expression shifted. I continued: “You like it when I put my legs on your right shoulder, don’t you? “You love it most when we do it in front of the mirror, and you make me call you ‘hubby,’ and the moment I do, you…” “Enough!” Arthur cut me off, his voice cracking. He stared at me for a long time, finally asking through gritted teeth: “Are… are you really my future wife?” I nodded elegantly: “Mhm-hmm.” “Then tell me, will I have money in the future?” I laughed. Is that even a question? “You’ll be filthy rich.” “How rich?” I thought about it: “Last month, you transferred five million dollars to me just because I said a new handbag looked nice.” Arthur’s eyes lit up. But he quickly masked his expression and let out a cold hmph. “So you only came to me for my money?” I paused. That was a good question. I didn’t answer, instead asking him: “How much do you make a month?” Arthur was silent for a moment. “Five hundred.” I almost laughed out loud. Five hundred? I normally spend more than five hundred just on a single lipstick. I stood up, walked right up to him, and poked him in the chest. “Little boy, right now you make five hundred bucks, and I’m still standing right here. “Tell me, what exactly am I after?” 4 Arthur was stunned. The floating comments went crazy: [Holy shit, this woman knows what she’s doing] [The villain’s heart rate is going up!] [Wait, wasn’t she just acting super disgusted a minute ago???] Arthur was silent for a long time, then he turned his head away, his voice muffled. “You… put some clothes on first.” I looked down at my deep-V dress. “What, feeling shy?” Arthur’s ears were so red they looked like they were bleeding. [Ding— Villain Affection +10. Current Affection: 10] [WTF, what kind of chaotic strategy is this??] [Is this the legendary ‘innocence is worthless in the face of sex appeal’?] [Hah. Men.] I don’t know if Arthur believed me or not, but I stayed anyway. I batted my eyelashes and whined, wearing down all his resistance. Even though this dump didn’t even have heating. Even though this broken bed was so hard it hurt my bones. Even though Arthur left early and came back late every day, leaving me an allowance of only ten dollars. Ten dollars! I held that crumpled bill, lost in thought. The last time I saw a physical ten-dollar bill was in my past life. It had been a long time since I spent such small denominations; it actually felt like a novelty. Before Arthur left, he gave me a look. “Spend it carefully.” I pouted. Carefully? The word ‘careful’ doesn’t exist in Maya Sterling’s dictionary. 5 I went out with the ten dollars, walked around, and bought a boba tea. Seven dollars gone. Then I bought a slice of cake. Three dollars gone. On my way home, I passed by a menswear store and saw a sweater in the display window. I suddenly remembered that five years later, Arthur had an identical one. He bought that sweater himself. Once, I asked him: “When did you buy this one? It looks nice.” He glanced down at it and said casually, “A long time ago. I just couldn’t bear to throw it away.” I didn’t think much of it then. Now I suddenly understood. So this was when he bought it. I stood in front of the window, staring at it for a long time. I patted my pocket and realized I didn’t have my black card. I pulled out my phone to call Arthur, only to remember this was five years ago—he didn’t have my number yet, and I couldn’t use Apple Pay. Whatever. I turned to leave, took two steps, and looked back. That sweater was light grey. Arthur would look really good in it. 6 When Arthur came home that night, I was curled up on the sofa, shivering. The broken house was drafty. Back at the estate, the heating was on throughout the entire mansion, and I could run around barefoot. I hadn’t felt the sting of the cold in a very long time. He looked at the empty table. “You didn’t eat dinner?” “I ate.” “What did you eat?” “Boba and cake.” Arthur’s face darkened. “You call that food?” I was entirely justified. “That’s what I usually eat.” Arthur took a deep breath, turned around, and walked into that cramped, dingy kitchen. … Ten minutes later, he brought out a bowl of noodles. It was just plain broth and noodles, with a fried egg on top. I looked at it with disgust. “That looks terrible. Even a dog wouldn’t eat that.” Arthur slammed the bowl down in front of me. “If you don’t eat it, then starve.” Then he went into the bathroom. I stared at that bowl of noodles for a long time. Finally, I picked it up and ate it anyway. Damn, it’s actually really good. By the time Arthur came out, the bowl was empty. I was curled up on the sofa, pretending to be asleep. He stood there watching me for a while. Then, I felt a piece of clothing, still carrying body heat, draped over me. It was his jacket. A worn-out, faded, but very warm jacket. I secretly peeked open one eye. Arthur had his back to me, standing by the window. The moonlight hit him; his shoulders looked so thin it made my heart ache. [Affection +5. Current Affection: 15] [Conqueror, you actually tricked the villain into giving you his jacket!] [This is rare. The villain is actually softening up!] I ignored the comments. I just made a mental note. When we have money, I’ll buy Arthur ten jackets. No, a hundred. 7 Days passed one by one. Arthur left early and came back late every day, and I had absolutely nothing to do all day. The floating comments started mocking me. [Is this conqueror actually going to do anything, or just lie around the house all day?] [Other conquerors are out there delivering warmth and care; this one just waits for the villain to come home and serve her.] [LMAO, she’s definitely going to fail.] I ignored them. My life goal was to be Arthur’s pampered canary anyway. What’s wrong with lying around? My husband supports me; it’s the natural order of things. But one day, as Arthur was leaving, I casually asked: “Where are you going?” “To work.” “What kind of work?” He paused. “Construction site. Hauling bricks.” I froze. Hauling bricks? I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. But Arthur had already left. That night, he came back very late. His hands were covered in bloody blisters. I saw them, but I didn’t say anything. I just waited until he fell asleep, then secretly got up, dug out his ointment, and carefully applied it for him. As I rubbed it in, I thought of another pair of hands. Five years later, the hands that frequently held mine. The palms were full of calluses, the knuckles thick, but they were dry and warm. Every time I threw a tantrum, he would use those hands to gently hold me. Every time I was sad, he would use those hands to wipe away my tears. Once, I stared at his hands for a long time. “Hubby, why are your hands so rough?” He looked down at them: “From working.” I frowned: “You’re so rich and prestigious, what kind of work made them like this?” He just smiled and didn’t answer. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Now, I suddenly understood. It was from hauling bricks. Those calluses were born from these bloody blisters. As I applied the ointment, my nose suddenly started to sting. 8 I grew up in a single-parent household, moving from place to place with my mom. Because I didn’t have a dad, I was often bullied. So, when I transferred schools, I deliberately built a persona of a wealthy heiress so no one would dare mess with me. Over time, I started deceiving even myself. Vain and materialistic. When Arthur first offered to be my sugar daddy, I agreed very quickly. It was just an exchange: I wanted money, he wanted my looks. Very fair. Compared to going hungry and being bullied, there was nothing to be ashamed of. But I never expected that Arthur wasn’t born a wealthy heir. Arthur’s brow was furrowed; he was sleeping very fitfully. I gently stroked his face. … The next day, when Arthur woke up and saw the ointment applied to his hands, he froze. He shot me a look. I pretended not to notice, continuing to curl up on the sofa and play on my phone. Arthur didn’t say anything. But before he left, he put a twenty-dollar bill on the table. Double the usual amount. [Affection +10. Current Affection: 25] [The villain seems… to care a little about this woman?] I rolled over. Duh. How could my husband not care about me? 9 I started trying to be a bit nicer to Arthur. “Arthur, I bought you a sweater!” I pulled out the gift, looking for praise. Arthur looked at the light grey sweater, then checked the price tag. “Sixty dollars?” “Yeah, looks good, right?” “Where did you get the money?” I was entirely justified: “The living expenses you gave me. I saved it up.” Arthur was silent for a moment. “How long did you save for?” I thought about it: “About a week.” “Then what did you eat for a week?” “The late-night takeout you brought back.” Arthur’s expression was incredibly complicated. Finally, he put the sweater on. It fit perfectly. I nodded in satisfaction: “Looks good.” Arthur looked down at himself, then back at me. “You… why are you being so nice to me?” I looked at the eighteen-year-old Arthur standing in front of me. Wearing the sweater I bought, his ears were red, and his gaze was both awkward and soft. I froze for a second. Why? Because I’m your wife. But as the words reached my lips, I remembered something else. 10 In the first year of our marriage, I caught a fever once. Arthur happened to be out of town on business and couldn’t make it back in time. Over the phone, his voice was frantic: “I’ll have someone take you to the hospital.” “No need, I already took some medicine.” “Are you sure?” “I’m sure. Focus on your work.” He was silent for a moment: “Wife, I’m sorry.” I laughed: “Sorry for what?” “For not being there with you.” “Oh, please, it’s just a fever. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” He was still worried. The next day, I received a massive pile of deliveries. Fever reducers, thermometers, heating pads, and my favorite strawberry cake. He had someone send a whole box of them. Later, I found out he stayed up all night, constantly making calls, trying to find someone to take care of me. I asked him: “Was all that really necessary?” He hugged me: “Yes.” “Anything involving you is necessary.” I suddenly understood a little. The reason he was so good at caring for someone was that he used to have absolutely nothing. Because he never had anything, he treasured what he had even more. I reached out and pinched his cheek. “Because you’re my future husband. “You’re going to be very rich one day. I’m being good to you now, so you can support me later.” Arthur’s expression stiffened. Then he smiled. The smile was a bit bitter. “Okay.” “Then I’ll work hard, to support you later.” [Affection +10. Current Affection: 35] [Wait, why does the villain look a bit hurt?] I didn’t care. I was telling the truth, anyway.

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I was the unattainable first love of a Manhattan elite. When we reunited at my engagement dinner, I found out the man I was marrying was actually his brother. I forced a calm smile and greeted him, “Carter. It’s been a while.” “I’m about to be your sister-in-law.” Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the room, Carter dropped his cigarette and strode right up to me. “Sister-in-law?” He leaned in slightly, his lips brushing my ear. “Do you think becoming my sister-in-law wipes our slate clean?” 1 My engagement dinner with Nolan Davis was meant to be an intimate affair. We only invited our parents and a few important relatives from both sides. We planned to finalize the wedding details over a nice meal. If everything went according to plan, we would go to City Hall to get our marriage license this afternoon, hold the ceremony later, and officially become a family. It was all happening so fast that I felt a little dazed. Nolan, my soon-to-be husband, sat beside me, meticulously peeling shrimp for me. When our relatives teased him for spoiling his future wife, his ears turned red and he just offered a soft chuckle. He placed the peeled shrimp in a small bowl, casually pushed it in front of me, and even mixed a dipping sauce for me. In that moment, just like many times before, I felt so lucky to have met a man as good as him. I was just about to dip a shrimp into the sauce when the private dining room doors were violently shoved open from the outside. Every eye in the room darted toward the door, including mine. But the moment I saw who had walked in, I froze. A second later, I calmly averted my gaze and turned my head away. I heard Nolan’s father speak up. “Carter? What are you doing here?” My first thought was sheer confusion. Why did Mr. Sterling know Carter? Nolan’s family was well-off, sure, but compared to the Sterling family—an old-money dynasty that practically owned the city—they were miles apart. They shouldn’t even run in the same circles. “My son is getting engaged. How could I not be here? Right, Dad?” Carter placed a heavy, venomous emphasis on the word “Dad.” I couldn’t help but look up at Mr. Sterling. Looking closely, the two men actually did share a resemblance. He was Carter’s father? Then that made Nolan… Carter’s brother? After all these years, my life had come full circle, only for me to become my first love’s sister-in-law? It was absurd. While I was still drowning in this unacceptable reality, Mr. Sterling let out an awkward, nervous laugh. He quickly flagged down a waiter to add another chair. “Right, right, right. You should be here.” He was clearly terrified of Carter. The tone and posture he used to speak to him were painfully cautious. “Let me introduce everyone. This is my youngest son, Carter.” The waiter brought a chair, and Mr. Sterling patted the back of it, waving him over. “Carter, come sit.” But Carter was exactly the same as he was years ago. He didn’t give a damn about saving face for anyone. He stood rooted to the spot, his sharp gaze sweeping the room before locking dead onto me. With an unreadable emotion flashing in his eyes, Carter lifted his chin in my direction. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” My stomach dropped. Mr. Sterling opened his mouth to speak, but the man sitting quietly beside me suddenly stood up. Nolan placed a hand on my shoulder, looked at Carter, and said slowly, “Carter, this is my fiancée, Vivian Hayes.” I didn’t know if I was imagining it, but there was a faint trace of provocation in Nolan’s tone. 2 The air pressure in the room plummeted. A scorching gaze pinned me to my seat and refused to look away. Nolan patted my shoulder, signaling me to stand up and say hello. It looked like I couldn’t hide from this. But on second thought, so many years had passed. The young heir of the Sterling empire never lacked beautiful women around him. There was no way he was still hung up on a nobody like me. Thinking this, I stood beside Nolan and greeted him calmly. “Hello, Carter. I’m Vivian Hayes.” His eyes were cold and piercingly direct. I was terrified he was going to say something he shouldn’t. My mother cared deeply about this engagement, and I naturally didn’t want anything to go wrong. “If nothing goes wrong, I’ll be your sister-in-law soon!” I stated my identity clearly, a subtle warning for him not to cause a scene. But I forgot that Carter was a madman. Six years had passed, and he was even crazier now. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the room, Carter dropped his cigarette and strode right up to me with absolute arrogance. “Sister-in-law?” His tone was dripping with blatant mockery. With his hands shoved in his pockets, he completely ignored Nolan standing right beside me. Carter leaned in slightly, his lips brushing my ear. “Do you think becoming my sister-in-law wipes our slate clean?” His voice wasn’t quiet. It was loud enough for every single person in the room to hear clearly. Mr. Sterling was the first to speak. “Vivian, you know Carter?” I gripped the fabric of my dress, my knuckles turning white. I kept a polite smile glued to my face. “We were in high school together.” Hearing the words “high school” fall from my lips, Carter’s eyes turned to ice. Even the mocking smirk on his lips vanished. He narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with danger. “Were we just classmates?” It wasn’t just him; everyone in the room was holding their breath, waiting for my answer. I stared straight into Carter’s eyes. “Just classmates.” Carter’s body went rigid for a split second. He stood up straight, looking down at me from his towering height. He was a tall man, and his gaze always carried a suffocating weight—even more so now, considering the guilt eating me alive. “Vivian Hayes,” Carter said my name suddenly. “Hugging and making out with normal classmates… You were pretty wild in high school, weren’t you?” 3 That single sentence sent a shockwave through the room. The way everyone looked at me instantly changed. Only Nolan acted like he already knew. He grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him protectively. “Carter, the past is in the past. From now on, she will be my wife, and your sister-in-law.” Carter ignored Nolan’s words entirely. His eyes were glued to our intertwined hands. He let out a cold, dark laugh. “You really think you can steal my woman and live long enough to marry her?” “Let me make this perfectly clear. Whoever dares to marry her, I’ll kill him. If you don’t believe me, try it.” He aimed that threat directly at Linda, Nolan’s mother. The effect was immediate. The warmth in Linda’s eyes vanished. She glared at me, blaming me for provoking a monster like Carter. She marched over and physically yanked Nolan away from me. “I’m so sorry, Vivian! But I really don’t think you two are a good match. Let’s just call off this engagement.” I lowered my head, my grip tightening on my now-empty hand. Nolan refused to leave with her. “Mom, what do you mean call it off?! I’m marrying Vivian!” His mother dragged him toward the door. When Nolan resisted, the usually gentle Linda suddenly slapped him hard across the face. “Carter just said he’ll kill whoever marries her! Do you have a death wish?!” “Did you forget that he and his mother are both absolute lunatics?!” Nolan, who had been fighting her off, suddenly went completely still. He let his mother drag him out of the room. My mother rushed out after them. I knew she was going to try to salvage the situation. Eventually, Carter and I were the only ones left in the private room. I stepped around him, preparing to leave. But as I passed him, his hand clamped down on my wrist like a vice. “Vivian, it’s been so long. Do you really have nothing to say to me?” I struggled, but couldn’t break free. He hadn’t changed a bit in six years. I sighed, exasperated. “Carter, stalking me won’t change anything. I said everything I needed to say six years ago.” He still refused to let go, but thankfully, my mother rushed back in at that exact moment. She shoved Carter away, pulling me behind her, eyeing him defensively. Without a word, she dragged me out the door. In the elevator, I expected my mom to interrogate me, but she didn’t ask a single question. Seeing my body trembling uncontrollably, she just wrapped me in a tight hug. “Vivian, Mom won’t let anyone bully you.” She smelled so comforting. I took a deep breath and nodded against her shoulder. But the moment we stepped out of the elevator, she clutched her chest and collapsed forward. My mother suffered from severe heart disease. In the blink of an eye, her face turned a terrifying shade of pale. I screamed for help. Carter, who had just stepped out of the neighboring elevator, saw what happened. He immediately rushed over, scooped my mother up in his arms, and sprinted toward the exit. In that moment, I threw all our past grudges out the window. I only prayed he could get her to a hospital in time. On the frantic ride there, Carter didn’t forget to comfort me. “Don’t be scared. She’ll be fine.” Years ago, in the pitch black, he had said those exact same words to me: “Don’t be scared, Vivian.” 4 Thankfully, we made it in time. The doctors stabilized her and said she was out of danger. When I went to the billing window, I realized I had left my purse behind in the chaos, and my phone was nowhere to be found. Just as I stood there panicking, Carter reached from behind me and handed a sleek black card to the nurse. I looked at him with genuine gratitude. “You saved her today. Thank you! I’ll pay you back later.” “The doctor said she’s going to be okay. You can go home now.” Carter stood silhouetted against the hospital lights. Hearing my words, his body went rigid. He let out a self-deprecating laugh. When he spoke again, his voice was chillingly cold. “Vivian Hayes. You use me when you need me, and you kick me to the curb the second you don’t. Six years ago and today… nothing’s changed, has it?” He wet his lips, leaning in close. “Do you really think I’m going to let you run away so easily this time?” The sweltering afternoon sun poured in from the window at the end of the hallway. Carter’s towering frame cast a heavy shadow over me. Just as I was struggling to find an answer, a sharp, crisp female voice shattered the eerie tension. “Carter.” The clicking of designer heels approached. Carter looked past my shoulder. I didn’t even need to turn around; just hearing that voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “I heard you were here, so I came to check on you.” The woman speaking was Regina Croft—the living nightmare of my youth. She stopped about three feet behind me, scanning me from head to toe before speaking with feigned uncertainty. “Vivian Hayes?” Great. She actually remembered me. I turned to look at Regina. Years had passed, and she was even more radiant and glamorous than before. Usually, beautiful people naturally draw others in, but I felt nothing but pure, visceral disgust for Regina. “I’ll pay you back later. I’m leaving.” Without another word to Carter, I turned on my heel. I didn’t want to spend a single extra second near them. My dismissive attitude clearly pissed Regina off. She called after me. “Vivian Hayes, you actually have the nerve to show your face in this city again?” I was no longer the timid, terrified little girl I used to be. I threw a cold smirk over my shoulder. “Why wouldn’t I? Because a ghoul like you lives here? Regina, we’re adults now. Can you grow up?” Of course, Regina was no longer the explosive, raging bully she used to be either. Everyone had changed. Everyone except Carter, who stubbornly clung to the past. I instinctively glanced at him, then steeled my resolve and walked away quickly. Behind me, I could hear Regina questioning him. “Carter, why are you still entangled with her? Did you forget what she did to you?” “You almost died because of her! And her? Did she even look back at you once?” My footsteps faltered. Was there something I didn’t know about what happened back then? But the past was the past. I had fought so hard to crawl out of that darkness; I didn’t dare stop and look back now. I felt a gaze following me down the hall until I turned the corner. Just before I disappeared, I heard Carter’s voice, cold as ice: “Shut your mouth.” 5 On the way to the hospital, I had been too worried about my mom to notice that Carter had brought us to an ultra-exclusive private hospital in the suburbs. It was impossible to hail a cab out here, and I didn’t have a dime on me. I had no choice but to head back inside to borrow a nurse’s phone to call a friend. But I had barely taken a step when a sleek black Bentley swerved in front of me, blocking my path back to the entrance. The window slowly rolled down. Carter was in the driver’s seat, one hand lazily gripping the steering wheel. “Get in.” I originally had zero intention of humoring him. But when I casually glanced up, I saw Regina standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor, staring down at us. When our eyes met, a flash of memory hit me. Back then, she used to look at me with that exact same expression, right before dumping a tidal wave of abuse on me that I couldn’t endure. Sunlight works in mysterious ways. I felt like this moment mirrored the past perfectly. Suddenly, I smiled right at her, walked over to the Bentley, and slid into the passenger seat. Regina loved Carter. She was obsessed with him. She was back then, and she still was now. From the suburbs to the city center, the starry sky was eventually replaced by the neon glow of Manhattan. “Where do you live?” Carter was the first to break the silence, slowly pulling the car over to the side of the road. I only got into his car to spite Regina. It didn’t mean I wanted anything to do with him. “I’ll get out here. Thank you.” I was reaching for my seatbelt when the car suddenly lurched forward with a violent roar. I froze. I snapped my head to look at him. He was staring straight ahead, his face dark. “When you’re ready to tell me your address, I’ll take you home.” “Carter, stop acting like a child.” I pressed myself against the seat, taking a deep breath. “Don’t make things uglier between us.” The car shot forward again, then slammed to a brutal stop without warning. I thanked God it was late at night and the road was empty. “Did you forget who provoked who first?!” Before my head even stopped spinning from the whiplash, Carter unbuckled his seatbelt, lunged over the center console, and pinned me violently against the passenger seat, his hand gripping the back of my neck. He was so close that even in the dim streetlights, I could see the red rims of his eyes. “Why are things ugly between us? Isn’t this entirely your doing, Vivian?!” His mocking tone cracked, betraying a barely noticeable tremor. “You wouldn’t let me drive you home because you’re terrified I’ll stalk you?” “Vivian, don’t you think you overestimate yourself?” “I am Carter Sterling. What kind of woman can’t I have? Do you honestly think you’re irreplaceable?” He let go of me, threw himself back into the driver’s seat, and stared out his window. “Get out.” The second I stepped out of the car, as if to prove a point, the black Bentley peeled away from me like a rocket. In the blink of an eye, the taillights disappeared into the night. 6 The next morning, I asked my assistant to handle the hospital transfer paperwork for my mom. After work, I immediately drove out to pick her up. Before heading over, I tried calling her, but no one answered. I only relaxed when I peeked through the small window in her hospital room door and saw her sitting safely in her wheelchair, waiting for me. I opened the door and walked in. She whipped her head around, a flash of pure panic in her eyes. It wasn’t until she recognized me that her tension slowly melted away. I frowned, walking over. “Mom, what’s wrong?” “Nothing, I was just… thinking about something. You scared me opening the door so suddenly.” Her eyes darted around as she spoke, and she nervously fiddled with her hair. My heart sank. I knew that was her “tell” when she was lying. As she lifted her hand, the sleeve of her hospital gown slid down, exposing nasty dark bruises on her wrist. I grabbed her arm. “Where did these come from?” She kept stammering, refusing to tell me the truth. I looked around the room. The patient in the neighboring bed had already been moved. It was a massive VIP suite, and my mom was the only one in it. It was way too convenient that everyone else was suddenly “discharged” right after she moved in. I carefully examined her. Aside from her wrists, she had bruises on her back and legs too. I photographed every single one. Then I went to the nurses’ station to demand answers and asked to see the security footage. The nurses wouldn’t look me in the eye either. What started as a suspicion quickly morphed into certainty. When I ran into Regina here the other day, she was wearing a white lab coat. The hospital walls were lined with her accolades: “Genius surgeon,” “Ivy League prodigy,” “Award-winning researcher.” It wasn’t that I was assuming the worst of her; it was that she had been rotten to the core since we were kids. I marched straight to Regina’s office and threw the door open. She wasn’t surprised to see me. “You’re pretty protective of your mother, huh?” She wore a sickeningly fake smile that made me want to rip her face off. “Did you do this to my mom?” She tilted her head back and laughed, utterly unapologetic. “So what if I did? What are you going to do about it? I waited until no one was around, pushed her to the edge of the stairwell, and made sure she took a nice tumble.” “Vivian, I’m admitting it to your face. What are you gonna do? The security footage has already been wiped!” Her absolute fearlessness because of her privilege was probably her only consistent trait. Back in high school, every time she tormented me, she had that same smug look, knowing I was too powerless to fight back. But things were different now. I walked right up to her and slapped her across the face with everything I had. She stumbled backward. Before she could even lift her head, I backhanded her across the other cheek. “You dare hit me?!” I had noticed when I walked in—there were no security cameras in her private office. “Surprised?” I shook my stinging hand. “Did you really think I was scared of you back in school?” I attended an elite Manhattan prep school on a full ride. Not because my family had money. In fact, we were dirt poor. The school waived my tuition and offered a massive stipend. But the condition was that I had to maintain the #1 rank in my grade and couldn’t have a single disciplinary strike on my record. So, when Regina bullied me ruthlessly, I had to swallow my anger and take it. I stepped closer, grabbed a handful of her perfectly styled hair, and yanked her head back so she was forced to look up at me. “I warned you six years ago. Don’t mess with me.” “Did you think I let you off easy back then? Did you forget what I said?” Maybe remembering how unhinged I went back then brought back some trauma, because fear started creeping into her eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her hand creeping toward her phone to make a call. I slapped the phone out of her hand, picked it up, and chucked it out the window. I grabbed a heavy metal pen off her desk, gripping it tightly, and walked slowly toward her. “S-sorry,” Regina suddenly stuttered out an apology. Hearing that, I laughed softly. I stopped, tossing the pen aside. “Since I’m the one who hit you, I should be the one apologizing.” I gave her a perfectly polite, formal bow. “I’m sorry, Regina. I shouldn’t have hit you.” I stood up straight. “Now, it’s your turn to go apologize to my mother.” Regina was frozen stiff by my terrifyingly calm smile. “Regina, you really don’t want anyone seeing you looking like this, do you? Be a good girl and wait right here for me to come back.” Watching her nod frantically, I smiled in satisfaction, turned the doorknob, and prepared to leave. But the moment I opened the door, I looked up and saw Carter standing right outside. Regina saw him too. She looked like a drowning woman spotting a life raft. “Carter, save me! Vivian’s insane, she’s trying to kill me!”

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On the bullet train, a guy with an incredibly clean-cut, handsome vibe sat next to me. Just before I got off, as I was putting on my backpack, he suddenly asked: “Are you still in college? Which school do you go to?” I gave a slight smirk and casually bragged: “Yeah, Columbia University.” The handsome guy’s eyes lit up: “I can give you a ride. It’s on my way. I’m a professor at Columbia.” I froze. Don’t they say you can invent whatever identity you want when you travel? Did he just invent his identity too? I crossed my arms and forced a polite smile: “No thanks, Professor. I’m going to NYU first to meet my boyfriend.” The handsome professor was silent for two seconds, then nodded seriously: “That’s even more on my way. I’m picking someone up at NYU too.” 1 I stood frozen in place, my smile almost slipping off my face. I finally gathered the courage to act a little unhinged, and the universe decided to smack me right back. How could he be a professor? He looked younger than me, and his hairline was flawless. Seeing my dumbfounded expression, he gently pulled a card from his breast pocket. It was blue and white, clearly displaying his ID photo and name. Even on a standard ID photo, he looked more breathtaking than those heavily photoshopped influencers online. Clean vibe, nice name. His name was Liam Reed. Underneath the photo were two small words: Faculty. Goddammit, it seemed his identity wasn’t invented at all. I averted my gaze and nodded, bracing myself: “Well… sorry to trouble you then, Professor Reed.” He gave me a warm, gentle smile and stood up, his tall shadow enveloping me. Long legs, narrow waist, perfect posture—but I was in no mood to drool. When we got off the train, he intentionally walked beside me, thoughtfully reminding me not to get lost in the crowd. His car was parked right at the station—a sleek, understated black Audi A8. The interior was spotless, with a faint, crisp, clean scent in the air. It smelled so good that when he wasn’t looking, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath. I didn’t say a single word the whole ride, terrified he would ask me more questions. I was actually a seasoned corporate drone who had been in the workforce for years. I only got mistaken for a college student because I still dressed like one. And stupidly, my big mouth just had to pretend to be a Columbia overachiever. I just wanted to leave a memorable impression on a handsome guy during a train ride. Now, this was going to be more memorable for me than for him. The car was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat. Liam focused on driving, his tone as natural as if he were dropping off one of his own students: “Which department are you in? What year?” My back stiffened. My brain went into overdrive as I stubbornly kept up the lie: “…Just, uh, regular liberal arts. Senior year.” “I feel so bad making you go out of your way to drop me off. Could you just let me off at the subway station?” He smiled faintly: “It’s on my way. It’s only right for a professor to give a student a ride.” I quietly crumbled inside, burying my head even lower. It might be on your way, but it’s not on mine. The direction I needed to go was the complete opposite of Columbia. Thinking about how I’d have to miserably take the subway all the way across the city later… I wanted to slap my past bragging self in the face. Liam kept his eyes on the road. The sleeves of his dress shirt were casually rolled up to his forearms. His side profile was ridiculously handsome. But I had no mind to admire it; all I could think about was getting out of this car as soon as possible. He suddenly spoke up again: “Aren’t you afraid I’m a fake and I’m going to kidnap you?” 2 Wait, that was actually a possibility. Why did I just blindly get into his car earlier? This was way too dangerous! I suddenly gripped my seatbelt tightly, looked at him nervously, and asked: “Would… would you?” He laughed out loud. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled in a way that was incredibly attractive. “I wouldn’t. My identity is 100% real. You can look me up online.” Since he said that, I decided to actually look him up. I looked down at my phone, searched his name and the university, and his photo actually popped up. In the photo, he was wearing a crisp white dress shirt, standing in front of a campus building. High nose bridge, sharp jawline—not aggressive, but exceptionally good-looking. His eyes and his smile in the photo were exactly the same as the man sitting next to me. The article detailed the various academic achievements he had accomplished at such a young age. I was absolutely stunned reading it. My fingertip hovered over the screen, and it took me a long time to snap back to reality. When I looked up at him again, my heart skipped a beat. He smiled warmly, turning his head to glance at me, but the question he asked was completely devoid of warmth: “You’re a senior, so you’ve already started writing your thesis, right? What topic did you choose?” I felt like my heart had leaped into my throat. My brain short-circuited, going completely blank. Senior? Thesis? Why did I say I was a senior?! How was I supposed to know what topic to pick? I had completely forgotten what my own college thesis was even about. My brain spun at lightning speed, and I stammered for a good while. I haltingly recited the topic of my actual thesis from years ago: “That… the emotional narrative and… audience psychology of… shipping TV couples.” As soon as the words left my mouth, my face turned bright red. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t do anything productive in college except obsess over fictional ships. The hand Liam used to grip the steering wheel paused for a half-second. He turned his head to look at me again, a very faint smile dancing in his eyes. “TV couples? I actually dabble in that area. I could give you some guidance…” I was completely dumbfounded. Thank God the car was already approaching the NYU campus gates. I was practically steaming with anxiety and quickly interrupted him: “Professor Reed, you can just pull over up ahead! My boyfriend should be waiting for me at the gate. I can walk over myself!” He spoke at a leisurely pace: “It’s fine. I’m actually early. I’ll wait until I see your boyfriend pick you up before I leave.” 3 Help. I couldn’t sit still anymore. In broad daylight, where was I going to produce a living, breathing boyfriend to pick me up? Suddenly, I thought of a specific useless man and furiously texted him. “Come to the NYU gate and pick me up. You have FIVE MINUTES! I’ll cover for you at the next family gathering when they bug you about getting married!” Thank goodness my younger uncle owned a vet clinic nearby. It would only take him five minutes to run over. He was only three years older than me; pretending to be my boyfriend shouldn’t be a problem. At that moment, Liam smoothly pulled the car over a short distance from the NYU gate. He patiently turned off the engine. His long, elegant fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel. He even thoughtfully inquired about my “boyfriend’s” studies: “What is your boyfriend majoring in? I might know his advisor.” God, what did my boyfriend major in? God is too clueless, he can’t read minds. I hemmed and hawed for a while, and finally beautified my uncle’s veterinary degree. “Oh, he’s in pre-med.” Liam nodded thoughtfully and said evenly: “That’s very demanding, but he has a bright future.” I let out two dry laughs and didn’t continue the conversation, silently praying for my uncle to appear quickly. Fortunately, he didn’t bring up any more academic topics after that. He just casually asked about my life, acting exactly like a caring, fatherly figure. Adhering to the principle of “the more you say, the more mistakes you make,” I kept my answers as brief as possible. But perhaps because my responses were too cold, Liam’s expression cooled down a bit too. Finally, my uncle appeared. It was literally just a few minutes’ walk, yet he insisted on driving his flashy, obnoxious sports car. He revved the engine and slid to a stop by the curb. The window rolled down, revealing a face topped with blinding, bleached-blonde hair. The clothes he was wearing looked like they were stolen from a homeless shelter, ripped and tattered. I was instantly stunned. I hadn’t seen him in a month. How did he turn himself into this? I shot a mortified glance at Liam. My face was burning; it was so embarrassing. But I couldn’t care about that now. I grabbed the door handle, ready to make my escape. “Um, Professor Reed, my boyfriend is here. I’ll be going now.” But he unhurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his door. His tone was very calm: “As a professor, I need to see you safely into the car.” As the door opened, the wind blowing in felt chilly. 4 Liam followed me to my uncle’s car. Only when I got closer did I realize there was a woman sitting in the passenger seat, sporting an equally eye-searing look. Heavy smoky eye makeup, hair as messy as a bird’s nest. It was my fault for not explaining things clearly to my uncle earlier. This was definitely his new girlfriend. I didn’t have time to care about all that. I bit the bullet and whined to my uncle: “Babe, what took you so long? You made the professor wait with me.” The usual slacker look on my uncle’s face was instantly replaced by terror. He stared at me wide-eyed. I frantically winked and gestured at him with my chin. He instantly understood. But the next second, he received a hard slap on his right cheek. From the woman sitting next to him. “Tyler! You better explain this right now…” She was on the verge of exploding. Tyler quickly covered her mouth. He muttered a few words in her ear, and she finally glared at him and calmed down. I turned around, giving a forced smile as I introduced them to Liam: “Haha, Professor Reed, this is my boyfriend, and… his sister!” Liam paused slightly: “Your boyfriend and his sister… they have quite a unique style.” I continued my forced laughter: “Yeah, their whole family is just so trendy!” Liam’s gaze had been resting on Tyler the whole time, but suddenly he turned back to look at me. His gaze was the kind of shallow, faint look that said, “I don’t understand, but I respect it.” I quickly said goodbye to him: “Professor Reed, thank you for the ride. I’m getting in the car now. Bye.” He didn’t speak, just watched me quietly. His stare gave me the creeps. Just as I turned around, his voice sounded: “How are you going to get in?” I turned back, looking at him in confusion. He smiled warmly and glanced at Tyler’s sports car. Only then did I remember. Tyler’s damn car only has two seats! I glared fiercely at Tyler. He finally realized it too, and muttered a few more words to the woman in the passenger seat. The woman got out of the car looking extremely annoyed, finally freeing up the passenger seat. I lifted my foot, about to get in, when Liam’s clear, calm voice drifted over again. “Aren’t we going to add each other on WeChat? Chloe, we should keep in touch.” I stared blankly at Liam. Growing up, I had never been chased down so relentlessly by a teacher. The words of refusal were on the tip of my tongue, but meeting his smiling eyes… I couldn’t say it. I frantically pulled out my phone, added his WeChat, and then shrank into the car. The moment the car pulled away, Tyler flashed a huge grin and waved at Liam. “Bye, Professor Reed!” 5 I finally let out a sigh of relief. I told Tyler the whole story, and he laughed so hard he couldn’t hold the steering wheel straight. I then asked him why he was dressed like that. He said he was really into the “visual kei” aesthetic recently. Just as the car turned a corner, he slammed on the brakes. “Get out. Remember you owe me one again.” I was shocked: “You bastard, you’re not going to drive me home?” He rolled his eyes at me: “That’s an extra charge. Taking you home costs 20 bucks.” “I’m your niece!” I yelled. His eyes lit up: “Oh wow, I forgot about that! Then it’s 50 bucks!” I slammed his car door and got out, maintaining my dignity. He also showed zero respect and sped off. After all that drama, I had no desire to squeeze onto the subway anymore. So I ordered an Uber. But I waited a long time before a notification finally popped up saying a driver had accepted the ride—and it was an Uber Pool. I glanced at the car model and my eyelid twitched violently. It was another Audi A8. I muttered to myself, today I really had some bad karma with this car model. But it was already rush hour, and it was hard to get a ride, so I couldn’t be picky. After waiting by the curb for a while, a black sedan slowly pulled up. I opened the door, and a faint, crisp, clean scent wafted over me. It felt somewhat familiar, but I didn’t think much of it. Without even looking up, I casually gave my address. After I spoke, the car still didn’t start. Confused, I looked up toward the driver’s seat. That one look almost scared my soul out of my body. Liam was sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat, his fingertips resting on the steering wheel, his posture relaxed. He looked at me through the rearview mirror, a warm smile on his face. “What a coincidence, Chloe. Where’s your boyfriend?” My entire body instantly went rigid, my tongue tying itself in knots: “P-Professor Reed, why is it you…” He gripped the steering wheel, a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips: “My side hustle. Is that a problem?” “What about you? Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?” I clutched my backpack tightly, answering blankly: “Oh, no. I had an emergency at home and needed to go back. He still has class.” Liam let out a low chuckle, started the car, and smoothly merged into traffic. “I see. He drives such a flashy sports car, but he didn’t even offer to drop you off.” I forced a bitter smile: “He’s pre-med. Kinda busy.” He didn’t press further, focusing on driving, his voice soft: “Then sit tight. I’ll take you home.” I was still shaken, and instinctively blurted out: “Professor, weren’t you supposed to pick someone up? Should I just get another Uber!?” 6 Liam, of course, rejected my proposal. He said he got stood up, was heading home anyway, and just conveniently picked up an Uber Pool ride along the way. I was completely speechless. As long as he didn’t talk to me about Columbia, I’d gladly sit on his lap and let him drive me home. So, to avoid awkward small talk on the way, I simply leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. But I didn’t expect to actually fall dead asleep. I really wanted to beg myself to be better. When I opened my eyes again, the car had stopped. We were in an underground parking garage. “We’re here. You can get out.” I groggily replied with a “Mhm”: “Thank you.” Then I opened the door and got out. Suddenly, I jolted awake. Wait, that’s not right. Why did he drive into the underground garage? I turned around and saw Liam had turned off the engine and was getting out of the car with me. My footsteps faltered, and I looked back at him in confusion: “Professor Reed… you really don’t have to. Dropping me off here is fine. I can go up by myself.” I was genuinely panicking. No matter how handsome he was, he couldn’t be a creep stalking a beautiful girl, right? He smoothly locked the car, his gaze sweeping coolly over the garage. The expression on his face remained gentle as jade, his tone utterly natural: “I didn’t say I was walking you up.” I froze for a moment. He looked up toward the elevator bank, a faint smile curving his lips: “My apartment is also in this complex.” My entire body stiffened in place, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. We drove halfway across New York to an apartment complex ridiculously far from Columbia. I never expected him to live here too. He looked at my shocked and disbelieving expression and let out a low chuckle. “I live in Building 7. You don’t live in Building 7 too, do you?” 7 I practically blurted out: “No, no, no, I live in Building 3!” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself. Why did I answer so eagerly? It made it seem like I was terrified of living in the same building as him. Liam’s footsteps paused, a playful glint in his eyes as he drawled: “Oh, what a shame. Since there have been so many coincidences today, I thought it might be even more of a coincidence.” I forced a calm smile: “It is… pretty coincidental.” So coincidental that if you wrote it in a novel, readers would complain it was too contrived. He didn’t reply, just walked with me to the elevator bank for Building 3. The lighting in the underground garage was a warm white, stretching his shadow out long. His shadow occasionally overlapped with mine, then separated. He was half a head taller than me; his gaze could easily sweep over the top of my head. I suddenly felt a knot in my stomach, remembering I hadn’t washed my hair during my two-day business trip. My scalp was definitely greasy and shiny. I subtly put a little more distance between us. He suddenly spoke up: “I didn’t expect you to live in a complex so far away either.” My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly tried to cover my tracks: “Yeah, yeah. We’re probably the only two people in the whole complex who commute from around Columbia.” As soon as I said that, I bit my tongue hard! I really asked for it. Why did I bring up Columbia again on my own initiative? He smiled leisurely: “True. In the future, I can give you a ride to school.” I quickly waved my hands: “No need to go through the trouble! I usually live on campus and rarely come home.” He nodded slightly, stopping in front of the Building 3 elevators, and pressed the button for me: “Go on up. Get some rest.” The elevator doors opened, and I practically fled inside. I turned around and waved at him: “You get some rest too. Good night.” He stood outside the doors, nodded slightly, and his thin lips moved again. “If you want to catch a ride to school, send me a WeChat message.” Absolutely not. The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off his gaze. I let out a long exhale, my heart still pounding wildly. After getting home, I collapsed onto the sofa and, as if possessed, tapped into Liam’s WeChat profile. His profile picture was a bland landscape photo, the kind of picture older management types usually use. Scrolling through his posts, it was all shared articles—either academic updates or industry news. A uniform wall of content I couldn’t understand, like an old-school bureaucrat. Turns out he really was a bureaucrat. A young one now, an old one later. Normally, if I got the contact info of a guy this good-looking. I would absolutely swallow my pride and find a topic to chat him up. But today had been so awkward I could have curled my toes into diamonds. It was too much of a deterrent. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time, but eventually, I quietly closed the chat window. Please, let’s just stay dead in each other’s contact lists like this. Let’s never meet again, and please never think of me again. 8 But I still underestimated the cruel irony of fate. Two weeks later, my supervisor suddenly informed me I needed to help host a visiting scholar. Moving forward, we were going to collaborate on drafting a batch of important documents. I eagerly followed my supervisor downstairs to greet them. A black SUV pulled up smoothly to the lobby entrance. The car door slowly slid open. A pair of clean, long legs stepped out first. A crisp suit, broad shoulders, narrow waist—an elegant aura. I still had a standard, polite, professional smile plastered on my face as I raised my eyes. A fragile little girl died inside me. It was Liam. The moment he appeared, all the young women in the office were stunned, frozen in place. Then, they all collectively lowered their heads. Secretly cursing themselves for wearing the ugliest outfits in their closets to work today. I didn’t have to worry about that. After all, my closet didn’t contain anything that wasn’t ugly. The main issue was that someone who looked like Liam usually only appeared on TV. Who would have thought I’d run into him at my crappy 9-to-5? Liam, however, was completely composed. He reached out to shake my supervisor’s hand, his gaze lightly sweeping over the crowd in front of him. When his eyes landed on me, he paused slightly. Then, a very familiar, warm smile curved his lips. “Chloe, I didn’t expect to see you here too.” I kept my face stiff and used a breathless whisper that only he could hear to quickly spit out one word: “Internship.” My supervisor only heard Liam’s words and chuckled from the side: “Chloe, you know Professor Reed? Then you’ll be responsible for hosting him going forward.” “Professor Reed, you’ll have to show our Chloe the ropes.” I stood rooted to the spot, the corner of my mouth twitching violently. The professional fake smile on my face was barely holding on. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and nod: “Yes, boss. I’ll definitely take good care of Professor Reed.” I figured it out. Ever since I met Liam, I was constantly biting the bullet. If this kept up, I’d develop a skull of steel. Liam stood to the side, holding his briefcase, an unfathomable smile hidden in his eyes. “Chloe must be very reliable at her job, considering she’s from Colum—” My scalp instantly went numb.

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My best friend fell hard for the ultimate campus heartthrob from Alpha U. She spent weeks throwing herself at him, but the guy wouldn’t even spare her a glance. Suddenly, she decided she was too lonely in her pursuit. Her brilliant solution? Push the heartthrob’s best friend onto me—the designated sickly drama queen of our group. I pointed to my pale, colorless lips. “Bestie, are you serious? Look at me. Do I look like I have the energy to chase anyone?” She deadpanned, “Getting a boyfriend is clinically proven to be good for your health. Consider it cardio.” Fine. In the end, we both started chasing. Fast forward a few weeks. The campus heartthrob texts my best friend, his tone utterly defeated: “Look, I’ll agree to go out with you. Just please, tell your best friend to take Alpha out of her block list. My dorm room is currently being flooded by tears.” 01 It only took one audit class at Alpha U for my best friend, Chloe Miller, to fall completely under the spell of their campus king, Hudson Grant. She spent weeks on a kamikaze mission to get his attention. The guy didn’t even give her a courtesy glance. Instead of quitting, she got more obsessed. It was like she was possessed. “That’s exactly the kind of guy I need,” she declared. “If they’re too easy to get, you don’t appreciate them later.” Because I’ve always been in poor health, my parents rented an off-campus apartment for me. Chloe lived with me. It was just after 9:00 PM, and a light rain was falling outside, when Chloe burst back into the apartment, arms loaded with shopping bags and a furious expression on her face. While kicking off her sneakers, she started venting. “Dammit! How can Hudson be so impossible to crack? I literally wore my ‘guaranteed-to-get-lucky’ outfit to see him today, and he still acted like a monk taking a vow of silence. Totally unfazed.” I looked away from the movie on my laptop to stare at her. She was wearing a stunning, tight red tube dress. I said softly, “Since he’s that hard to get, why not look at other guys? Plenty of people are chasing you.” “No, absolutely not.” She grabbed a soda from the fridge, flopped onto the sofa with no regards for elegance, and took a loud swig. “Hudson is different. Just looking at him gives me actual butterflies. And besides…” She covered her mouth, giggling like a complete creep. “His physique is insane. I saw him playing basketball the other day. Those abs, that V-line… he looks exactly like a romance novel cover come to life. Kissing him would definitely be an experience.” I went back to my movie. I couldn’t relate to her obsession. “Hey!” She gave a sly laugh and nudged me. “I got a photo.” Without waiting, she unlocked her phone, opened her photo album, and thrust it in my face. Confused, I took it. A man’s face filled the screen. He had intense, sharp eyes and a rugged, defined jawline. Very striking, but with a definite edge. It looked like a stalker photo she’d nicked from his social media. “So?” “Bestie, do you like what you see?” Chloe and I grew up together. The moment her eyebrows twitched, I knew exactly what kind of chaotic nonsense she was plotting. I pointed to my pale lips. “Bestie, are you asking me to chase someone, too? Look at me.” She blinked her bright, sparkly eyes and grabbed my hand. “Harper, those two guys are joined at the hip every single day. Someone needs to come in and separate them. Besides, I’m too lonely chasing Hudson by myself.” Putting on a pitiful face, she switched to a persuasive, maternal tone. “Just do it for me, to keep me company. Crucially, dating is good for your physical and mental health. Think of it as therapy.” The movie was still playing. On screen, the main character coincidentally said, “I can’t believe I’m listening to this crap!” The next second, my phone dinged. Chloe had text me the contact info for Hudson’s friend. “Trust me, Harper. You need to try this. He… well, he looks a bit scary, but he’s actually a decent guy.” I sighed. “Fine.” “I love you to death!” She leaned in to kiss me, then remembered she still had makeup on and hadn’t showered. “Wait until I shower, then I’m going to kiss you to death. Wait for me, baby!” Me: … While she was in the shower, I went to add him as a friend. I realized I had actually added him before. Huh? I stared down at his profile picture. It was a cartoon character—Bighead from Rocko’s Modern Life. Weird choice for a tough-looking guy. My username was a bit embarrassing, a remnant from middle school: QueenLazy. My profile pic was Patrick Star sleeping. I just wanted to sleep, eat well, and have zero worries. His username was Bighead24. My finger hovered over the screen. I thought: A guy who uses cartoon profile pics probably isn’t a bad person at heart. By the time Chloe came out, I had switched the movie to Spirited Away. I didn’t have many hobbies; anime and movies were among the few. “Harper, did you add him?” She walked out drying her hair, wearing a camisole nightgown. “Mhm.” I was absorbed in the anime, giving a distracted answer. Suddenly, I remembered something. I scratched my head. “Do I need to notify him that I’m chasing him?” “Hmm…” She thought about it. “Text him and ask if he’s single. If he says yes, then you say: ‘Would you mind if I added myself to the list of people who like you?’” “Huh?” I gave her a look of pure disgust. “Why does that sound so incredibly cheesy? Please don’t tell me that’s how you chase people.” “There are too many mind games these days,” she argued. “Only something simple and unadorned like this can make him feel your pure, innocent intentions. Do as I say, it’ll work.” “We call this… the polite approach before the invasion.” Despite feeling it was totally unreliable, I typed into the chat box: “Hi, quick question, do you have a girlfriend?” After hitting send, I figured it would be a long time before I got a reply, so I put the phone down to watch the anime. The next second, my phone buzzed. A message popped up: “?” “What if…” What if he just sends a question mark? What do I do with that? Before I could ask her, another message came through: “No.” I shivered slightly. Chloe leaned over. “Sister, send what I just taught you. I’m going to blow-dry my hair now.” “Fine.” From his end: “What about it?” Me: “Would you mind if I added myself to the list of people who like you?” The moment I sent it, I threw the phone away with a grimace. Too cringey. My phone remained silent for a long time, so I focused on the anime. After Chloe dried her hair, she lay down next to me, took out her phone, and asked, “Well? How’d it go?” I said honestly, “No reply.” She gritted her teeth, thinking. I thought she was reflecting on her dating advice, but instead she said, “It’s fine, totally normal. He didn’t reply to me at first either.” Me: … I wanted to say that maybe it was because my message was too intense, like a lightning bolt that left the other person utterly stunned and paralyzed. Chloe had an online group project meeting, so she started working hard on a PowerPoint presentation and video editing. I picked up my phone casually, and what I saw almost gave me a heart attack. Right then, Chloe mentioned, “By the way, his friend’s name is Austin. Austin Reed.” Austin: “Ugh, what is that supposed to mean? I don’t just accept anyone who decides they like me.” Austin: “I’m not that kind of easy guy.” Austin: “Does your silence mean you don’t like me anymore?” After that message, there was a minute of silence. He was probably waiting for my reply and got nothing. Austin: “Actually, I am pretty easy. Are you still chasing me?” Austin: “I’m actually very easy to get.” Another minute passed. He was panicking: “If you like me, let’s just be together.” Austin: “Sorry, I was just pretending to be cool back there.” Austin: “Are you busy? Can you just reply to me at least?” Austin: “Ten seconds have passed. Are you still busy?” Austin: “I said it wrong before. I should be the one chasing you, you don’t need to chase me. Can you just reply to me please?” Austin: “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pretended to be cool like that. Actually, it’s just because I was too excited. I asked my bro, and he told me to reply that way.” Austin: “He said if I agreed too quickly, you’d get it too easily and wouldn’t appreciate me.” Austin: “Baby, I was wrong. Don’t be mad, okay?” Austin: “Actually baby, I’ve liked you for a really long time, but I didn’t know how to tell you. I never expected you to like me back.” … Me: “…” Chloe asked, “What’s wrong? Did he reply?” I pursed my lips, silent for a moment. I asked her, “Isn’t the other person supposed to reject you when you chase them?” “Yes.” Then what was this? A flash of inspiration hit me. I texted him: “Reject me.” That way, I would have a reason to actually chase him, and I wouldn’t leave my best friend hanging alone. Austin texted back with a crying emoji: “No, I don’t want to reject you.” Austin: “I really messed up. I hate myself for trying to act tough back there.” Austin: “I shouldn’t have pretended, I shouldn’t have listened to my bro. I know I was wrong. You can hit me or yell at me, just don’t make me reject you.” Me: … “No, you reject me, then I chase you.” Austin didn’t reply as fast this time. The status bar at the top kept showing “typing…” After a long while, he carefully sent: “Baby, is this some kind of roleplay kink?” Austin: “You promise you won’t actually leave me.” Austin: “Then how long do you plan on chasing me? You have to tell me so I can get ready.” I glanced at my best friend, who was still working hard, and text back: “Don’t know yet.” Austin: “Then… Baby, I reject you.” Austin: “This sentence is a reply to your previous prompt, not a reply based on my actual feelings.” After reading that, I could finally tell Chloe, “He rejected me.” Chloe leaned over. “It’s fine. We women must have magnanimity. Wait until later, and your sister here will teach you some tricks for the chase.” Then, I watched her with my own eyes as she switched to a high-pitched, cutesy voice and sent Hudson a voice note: “So, are you going to help me and my best friend save seats tomorrow? We want to watch you play basketball from up close!” I quietly went online to search for “how to chase a guy.” A blog listed several points: Master the pull-and-push; don’t be too eager. Be hot and cold; if he’s hot, you’re hot. If he’s cold, ignore him for a while. Establish a good persona; act appropriately innocent. Never become a desperate clinger (a ‘licking dog’). … I asked Chloe, “Did you look up your dating techniques online?” “Ha.” She confidently flipped her hair. “Does your sister look like she needs to copy someone else’s moves?” No wonder she hadn’t succeeded after so long. Turns out she was being taught by a complete amateur. 02 The next afternoon, right after class, Chloe dragged me along her well-worn path over to Alpha U. By the time we arrived at the gym, it was already packed with people. She spotted someone, her fox-like eyes lighting up. She waved at the guy. “Hudson!” I was still searching through the crowd when she pulled me over. The guy was wearing a sleeveless black and white jersey. He looked aloof. I had never actually seen Hudson Grant in person, only on Chloe’s phone. Since I was a kid, due to my health, I didn’t like going out much. “Harper, if you feel unwell at all, tell me immediately. It’s a bit crowded in here, the air might not be circulating well.” She leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Okay.” I gave her a thumbs-up. Just as we were about to walk away, we heard Hudson turn to another guy and ask, “Where’s Austin?” “No idea. Haven’t seen him all day.” The next second, a guy pointed to the entrance, his jaw dropping. “Holy crap. Is that Austin Reed? What is he wearing?” Everyone instinctively looked over. I saw a very tall guy with a stylish American-style blowout haircut. He had a stud in his left ear and looked like a total bad boy. “What… what happened to him? It’s only been one afternoon. Did he seriously go get a whole new hairstyle?” “Who provoked him this time?” From the moment Austin entered, his gaze darted left and right, until he couldn’t help but lock onto a flash of pink in the crowd—me. No, he had to play this right. He started walking straight toward me, but veered off halfway. Just as Chloe was about to pull me along, a girl clapped Hudson on the shoulder from behind. “Hey, Hudson. I thought you said you were saving seats for us?” The girl speaking had shoulder-length hair and was followed by a few other girls. “Who’s that?” I asked. The smile on Chloe’s face faded. “His childhood best friend. They grew up together.” I didn’t like talking to people, but I loved reading novels. Right then, I could smell a strong scent of ‘fake-innocent drama queen’ in the air. A term immediately popped into my head: “The Sister-Zone.” “Ugh…” Austin was still fighting the urge to come over and talk to me, but before he could, Chloe dragged me away. Her mood had gone from sunny to overcast. “Out of sight, out of mind.” I quickly looked back and caughtAustin’s crestfallen expression. He looked exactly like my mom’s Golden Retriever when she wouldn’t give him a treat—utterly pitiful eyes. “Over there… just go sit yourself down…” Hudson lifted his head and pointed out the seats to the girl,宋沫 (Mia). Austin, with a dark expression, walked right past Hudson, deliberately bumping his shoulder. Hudson was stunned for a moment. “Are you on drugs or something?” Austin silently stripped off his outer jacket. Some girls came over to talk to him, but were stopped cold by his glare. … In our seats, I tentatively asked Chloe, “How is he with that girl Mia?” Hearing this, Chloe glanced at me, pursing her lips. “I don’t know how to describe it. But wherever Hudson is, she’s there too.” Speak of the devil, and she appears. Mia and her entourage walked over. Hudson, that idiot, had actually saved a whole row of seats. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them. Sigh. Love is blind. Before the starting buzzer sounded, Austin text me several messages: “Why aren’t you talking to me? Didn’t you say you were chasing me?” “Are you not chasing me anymore? Then can I switch and chase you?” “I’m about to go on court. You have to keep your eyes on me.” I looked down, and coincidence would have it that Austin was looking right up at our section. Beside me, a few girls started whispering: “Austin Reed looked over here. Mia, is he looking at you?” “I’m so jealous that you have two such handsome childhood friends.” Mia’s cheeks flushed slightly, a hint of smugness in her eyes. “Oh stop it, it’s not what you think.” Chloe let out a cold snort next to me. I calmly retracted my gaze. Austin’s uplit grin immediately slumped back into a frown. Once the game started, I got bored because I didn’t understand basketball. My ears were filled with screams and cheers, or the sounds of girls chattering about who was hotter. Suddenly, Austin made a massive three-pointer that set the entire arena on fire. The young man’s face was flushed with the exertion of the game. His exposed arms were defined, muscular, and nice to look at. He instinctively looked up toward us again, causing another round of gasps from the girls near me. “Is his girlfriend here? Why is he looking over here so many times?” From the right came a voice filled with envy: “Mia, if both Hudson and Austin liked you, who would you choose?” “They’re both so hot, it’s such a hard choice!” “Oh stop it, you guys! Just watch the game, don’t talk nonsense!” Sitting next to me, Chloe turned to me and silently mouthed the word: “Fake.” When the game ended, Chloe turned to me. “Harper, you stay sitting right here. I’ll be right back.” With that, I watched her run down with a bottle of water, while Mia on the other side had also disappeared. I sat obediently at the top. The guy wearing the black and white jersey was cutting against the crowd, coming straight up toward me. I watched, unblinking, as Austin Reed walked right up and sat in the empty seat next to me. Seeing this, he laughed. “I thought you said you were chasing me? Where’s my water?” “Sorry, first time chasing someone. No experience.” My voice was soft, but my eyes didn’t show much apology. Austin had just finished playing; he was breathing heavily, his chest heaving slightly. Hearing that, he actually laughed from exasperation. He tilted his head back, taking a swig of water, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He was already the bad boy type, and with his eyes slightly rimmed with red and his face flushed, he looked utterly captivating and alluring right now. He wiped some sweat, seemingly resigned, and leaned his head down close to me. He whispered, “Stop torturing me, baby.” “Let’s just make it official right now, okay?” The male pheromones were too strong. I couldn’t help leaning my whole body backward. “Sit up properly.” I used my finger to poke his chest. I tilted my head and asked him, “You like me?” He immediately sat up straight, nodding with utmost sincerity. “But…” My voice shifted, and I pointed down to where Mia was standing in a sailor-style outfit. “What’s the deal with her? I heard you guys are childhood friends.” Austin looked at me with his pitch-black eyes and explained, “Mia, Hudson, and I did grow up together, but we are strictly just normal friends.” “Really?” My gaze drifted over behind him to Mia, whose expression was priceless. She was gritting her teeth, staring at me. She hissed out, “Austin Reed!” “I was wondering where you went. I looked all over down there for you. Turns out you’re up here abandoning your friends for a girl!” I watched them both without saying a word. Austin pursed his lips and turned away. “I already told you I don’t drink water from just anyone. Only from my girlfriend.” “I… am I just ‘anyone’ to you? We grew up together! What’s wrong with me giving you water? Does having a girlfriend mean we can’t even be friends anymore?” Instantly, Mia’s eyes welled up with red. She gritted her teeth, looking incredibly pitiful. I looked at Austin. He spoke up: “I didn’t say we can’t be friends just because I have a girlfriend. It just means there needs to be some boundaries between us.” Mia looked at me with her red rimmed eyes, her voice shaking with tears. “I didn’t see you just now. I didn’t know you were his girlfriend. I made things awkward. I’m sorry.” Wow. Straight out of the gate she was pinning a ‘jealous girlfriend’ label on me. Spending all my time cooped up at home, I’d only read about these inner palace dramas and female leads battling fake-innocent girls in books. I’d never experienced it in real life. Looks like theory was about to be put into practice. I was ready for battle.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “395070”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I am a capybara who somehow transmigrated into the body of a D-list actress caught in a massive internet scandal. Facing a barrage of online hate. I slowly chewed the cabbage in my mouth: “Sure, whatever.” The internet: … On a reality TV show, a spoiled rich heiress sneaked into my room late at night. “Can I sleep holding you?” I stared blankly and advised against it: “It’s best if you don’t.” The heiress: “I’m going to.” Me: “Alright then.” The entire internet roasted me: [Her emotional stability is too good. I want to date her.] And just like that, I skyrocketed to fame, with the whole internet screaming for me to be their mom. I stared blankly at my phone, ready to type a reply. When an elite New York billionaire gritted his teeth and warned: “If you dare reply with ‘Sure, whatever,’ just try it and see what happens.” 01 My name is Capybara. I am, literally, a capybara. My face is squarer than a guinea pig’s, my body is covered in coarse brown hair, and petting me feels like petting a broom. The daily to-do list for our capybara family consists of: Spacing out. Taking a bath. Spacing out while taking a bath. Eating grass. Spacing out. Spacing out while eating grass. We are the most zen animals in the animal kingdom. Don’t be fooled by our blank expressions; if you actually manage to provoke us… Well, you’re basically punching cotton. We usually can’t be bothered to move, but we are deeply beloved by the rest of the animal kingdom. If the journey is long, Mr. Pelican lets me stand on his back and flies me there. If the journey is short, Ms. Crocodile lets me stand on her back and gives me a ride. When it’s time to eat, we stack up like Jenga blocks on our mom’s back. As the youngest capybara, I lost my footing one time and tumbled down. When I woke up, I had transmigrated into the body of a heavily scandalized D-list actress in the entertainment industry. The system apologized to me: [Sorry, Host. I… I bound to the wrong soul.] I sat up, staring blankly, and responded. [Sure, whatever.] The system: ??? [No, I said I bound to the wrong soul. Aren’t you angry?] [Mhm.] … 02 I thought the bed here was actually quite soft. I wanted to sleep. So, I lay down. It really was very soft. Unexpectedly, the original host’s ringtone blared. Under the system’s panicked prompting, I successfully pressed the answer button. “Chloe, I’m already with Sophia. Stop pestering me. If you dare target Sophia again, I swear I won’t let you get away with it.” “We’re done. Delete my number.” Me: “Sure, whatever.” So, I clumsily deleted the contact saved as “Him” on WeChat. Then I turned over and continued lying on the bed like a corpse, going back to sleep. I slept for two whole days. When I woke up, I was surrounded by a large crowd of people. My manager, Linda, saw I was awake, her eyes wide with shock. “You… you’re not dead?” Next to her stood a police officer and a medical examiner. Outside the door, a few neighbors were secretly pointing their phones at me, live-streaming the scene. I was… hungry. So, I slowly got up, opened the fridge, took out a large handful of cabbage, and started munching on it. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Linda: … “What are you doing?” Me: “Eating.” She glanced at the darkened faces of the police officer and medical examiner, then yelled anxiously: “Weren’t you trying to commit suicide by cutting your wrists? Your neighbors said you hadn’t left your apartment for two days, the place smelled like blood, and your phone was off!” I looked at the blood on my hand. I probably bit myself by accident while sleeping again. We capybaras usually can’t tell what we can and cannot eat, plus we have bad eyesight. No wonder the cabbage in my dream tasted a bit off. Linda frowned, clearly not believing me: “If it wasn’t a suicide attempt, why didn’t you treat the wound?” I had a sudden realization. Oh, right. Linda: “…” The police officer and medical examiner sternly reprimanded Linda: “Please do not waste public resources. Filing a false police report is a crime.” Meanwhile, the neighbors outside the door were gossiping. “Isn’t she the one who pushed Sophia into the water and got blocked by Liam? And then she faked a suicide attempt.” “Now the police have confirmed it was a false alarm.” Photos of the police walking downstairs were posted online by paparazzi. The entire internet was furious: [I am so done with her. Does she think she owns the police department? Faking suicide just because she got blocked, wasting public resources.] [It’s been three years. Has she still not given up? Our Sophia and Liam are a match made in heaven.] [She was the one who pushed Sophia on that show before. Sophia is still in the hospital!] [What’s the point of faking a suicide attempt?] … 03 As soon as the police left, Linda glared at me furiously. “Look at this! Are you complaining that you don’t have enough scandals already?” Her phone screen showed my trending hashtag: #Shocking: Chloe Fakes Suicide and Files False Police Report After Being Blocked by Liam# Below were the netizens’ comments. 9,999 hate comments. Linda looked at me with immense frustration: “Do you even want to survive in Hollywood anymore?” Me: “Whatever works.” She fell silent for a long time, finally covering her face. “Forget it. Let it all burn.” “You have a reality TV show tomorrow. Sophia and Liam will be there too. You went viral today, so your live-stream viewership tomorrow is going to be massive.” “Watch yourself when the time comes. But whatever you do, you’ll get hate anyway. Just… eat more, sleep more, and talk less. You’re not smart, and your emotional intelligence is low.” If it were anyone else, they would have been furious. I obediently nodded: “Okay.” This is our capybara nature: eat more, sleep more, talk less. Hmm, though “not smart” and “low emotional intelligence” was definitely a hate comment. I chose to ignore it. 04 The next day. I dragged the suitcase Linda packed for me to the filming location. The system gave me a last-minute crash course. This was a live-streamed romantic survival reality show. The female lead, Sophia, and the male lead, Liam, were also present. The original host was Liam’s gold-digging ex-girlfriend. After breaking up with a down-on-his-luck Liam, she entered the entertainment industry but never really made it big. Until Liam graduated from college, got discovered by a talent scout, and skyrocketed to become an A-list superstar. The original host repeatedly harassed Liam, looking at him with longing eyes, even blocking him at his dressing room door to talk about the past. Eventually, this disgusted Liam, and netizens dug up her dark history. She became an infamous, universally hated D-list actress. Out of jealousy over Sophia and Liam’s close interactions, she pushed Sophia, completely enraging Liam. In this romantic survival show, she acted as the villain, deepening the bond between the male and female leads. Finally, she successfully got herself killed. After explaining, the system apologized to me. Because, according to the plot, I wouldn’t live much longer. I nodded. Living is fine, dying is pretty good too. The system: … 05 There were eight cast members in total: four men and four women. The male cast members were: Contestant 1, the wealthy CEO heir, Jackson; Contestant 2, the A-list superstar, Liam; Contestant 3, the award-winning actor, Ethan; Contestant 4, the New York elite billionaire, Caleb. The female cast members were: Contestant 1, the popular starlet, Sophia; Contestant 2, the wealthy heiress, Olivia; Contestant 3, the mega-influencer with millions of followers, Mia; Contestant 4… me. The moment we stepped onto the island, we entered the live-streaming zone. The men and women filed into a temporarily constructed thatched hut. We started introducing ourselves. To deepen the intimacy between the cast, the production team asked everyone to call each other by their nicknames. When it was my turn, I said seriously: “Just call me Capybara.” A few people laughed out loud. Even Caleb, standing across from me, had a smile in his eyes. The live chat, however, was flooded at that moment: [LMAO, what a clown. Is she just trying to get my idol’s attention?] [The person above is being ridiculous. Everyone has a nickname. Chloe just said hers, how is that trying to get your idol’s attention?] [Chloe truly has the constitution of someone who gets hated for breathing.] Sophia covered her mouth to hide a smile: “This is the first time I’ve heard Chloe’s nickname.” [See, I told you she was being a clown.] [Our Sophia even calls her ‘sister,’ lol. She debuted earlier than Sophia, but she’s nowhere near as popular.] I didn’t see the chat. I watched the others exchange pleasantries and begin assigning tasks. I sat off to the side, spacing out. So hungry. What’s for lunch? Throughout the show, the production team only communicated with us via a black two-way radio. 06 The final results came out. I was paired with Caleb. We were responsible for searching the forest for food. Sophia and Liam were a team, tasked with gathering firewood for cooking. The heiress Olivia and the CEO heir Jackson were a team, responsible for following clues to find the survival supplies left by the production team. This included drinking water, pots and pans, sleeping bags, etc. The last team was responsible for building some simple bed frames inside the thatched hut. Sophia asked me with concern: “Chloe, you don’t mind, right?” I nodded: “Whatever works for me.” She paused slightly, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. Even Liam had a look of surprise in his eyes. He frowned, seemingly surprised that I didn’t fight to be in the same group as him and Sophia. He had been certain I would throw a fit. But right now, my mind was completely blank. My mouth was slightly open, and I was perfectly still, clearly spacing out. The others felt the atmosphere getting a bit weird and quickly changed the subject. Caleb walked up to me, his hands in his pockets. “Tsk, let’s go.” I nodded and followed him into the forest behind the hut at a leisurely pace. This morning, I wore an outfit Linda put together for me: overalls and a pink t-shirt, paired with matching sneakers. Slung over my shoulder was a small crossbody bag with a fuzzy animal on it—a capybara. Caleb, being a New York elite, was known for his lack of patience. It wasn’t until we reached the edge of the forest that he turned back to glance at me. At that moment, a bird had landed right on top of my head. And a squirrel was perched on my shoulder. I looked utterly ridiculous. He couldn’t help it; the corner of his mouth twitched. I widened my eyes and blinked at him, not knowing what he was laughing at. For us capybaras, isn’t this a common occurrence? [Wait, I suddenly feel like Chloe is kind of cute, a little adorkable.] [Does she have a natural zookeeper aura? That bird has been standing on Chloe’s head the whole way.] [Earlier, the squirrel was climbing on Chloe’s back, and she didn’t even flinch.] [It’s staged, right? Squirrels are usually easily spooked, especially wild ones. Why would they voluntarily approach a human? Did Chloe bring her own pets? Trying to build an animal-lover persona?] … 07 Three minutes later, Caleb and I stood in front of a small lake at the edge of the forest. The lake was surrounded by dense, tall grass. It made people worry that an animal might jump out at any second. After all, this was a deserted island. No one knew if there were any fierce wild animals lurking around. Especially for the women. Furthermore, being on a deserted island with nobody else around made it the perfect setting for romance to bloom. Caleb, however, wasn’t afraid. In his early years, he was thrown into a special training base on the edge of a desert for a few years. The desert had rattlesnakes and wolves at night. When he was young, he was even kidnapped once. He killed the mercenaries holding him hostage and escaped on his own. The production team knew this, which is why they allowed him to bring a tranquilizer gun and a machete onto the island. Of course, before filming began, the production team had thoroughly scouted the island to ensure there were no highly aggressive wild animals before they dared to film. But it was still a deserted island, and no one could guarantee 100% safety. Therefore, the production team sprinkled a lot of sulfur powder around the thatched hut to prevent venomous snakes and insects from getting inside. I followed Caleb’s gaze. Across the lake, there was a large patch of wild kiwi and akebia fruit. Green and purple, bursting open to clearly show the flesh inside. I instinctively stepped forward, wanting to get a closer look, but Caleb shoved me back. Before I could react, I saw him pull out his tranquilizer gun. His voice was incredibly low: “There’s an alligator in the lake.” The fans in the live stream were terrified too. [It’s true. Near the edge of the lake, hidden by the water weeds, a huge alligator just came up.] [It looks like it’s swimming towards Caleb.] [Oh my god, if anything happens, it’s over. Caleb… the director and the production team are totally screwed.] The alligator moved fast. Caleb grabbed my hand and ran toward the woods. We hadn’t taken many steps before the alligator came ashore. Caleb raised the tranquilizer gun and machete, on high alert. His sharp jawline was tight, and his thin lips were pressed into a hard line. I took a look at the alligator. Its large, round eyes were half-closed. It seemed to have caught my scent. It turned its head away with a look of slight disgust. But I clearly heard its voice: “It’s actually a capybara.” “Better not eat it. Eating it might cause… mental retardation.” Me: … Three more birds flew over and continued stacking themselves on my head. I remained perfectly still. Caleb looked at me and sighed: “There’s an alligator here. We can’t get the food.” “We might go hungry for a day.” Me: ??? Hungry? That is absolutely unacceptable. What we capybaras fear most is hunger. After all, our daily routine consists of spacing out, eating, and sleeping. Missing even one of the three is a disaster. So, I took two steps forward, then another two. Step by step, it was the devil’s pace. Oh, frictionless, frictionless. I stood on the back of the 200-pound alligator. Caleb: ? The crucial point was that the alligator knew what I wanted to do. After all, us capybaras have always been very popular and highly regarded in the animal kingdom. However, our image of being gluttonous, sleepy, prone to spacing out, and having intermittent phases of laziness was deeply ingrained in animal minds. Before Caleb could even react, the alligator had already swum into the middle of the lake. [Wait, this girl? What’s going on? Isn’t this a live stream? When did they add CGI?] [Throughout history, there has never been such a shocking existence! Standing on an alligator’s back?] [Chloe is truly stupid. Does she really think the alligator will take her across to pick fruit?] [She’s going to get eaten in the middle of the lake. Oh my god, I can’t watch this anymore.] Caleb’s fingers twitched slightly. He kept the tranquilizer gun aimed at the alligator’s back the entire time, but the alligator had already reached the middle of the lake. I took my time picking the fruit, and then leisurely stepped on the alligator’s head to come back. [This girl… she actually came back.] [Her crossbody bag is bulging. Did she really go pick fruit?] [No way, have alligators gone vegan now?] [Badass.] [Are the birds on this girl’s head playing Jenga? How did it turn into six or seven of them?] [Isn’t her head heavy? Her emotional stability is off the charts.] [Mind-blowing. Even fiction writers wouldn’t dare write something this absurd. Who uses a 200-pound alligator as a boat?] Someone immediately screenshotted the moment I stood on the alligator’s back. They even turned it into a meme and added background music. … 08 Back at the thatched hut. There were a few tents set up outside. Olivia sat on the side, her legs crossed, explaining: “The supplies we found.” “The production team didn’t completely leave us to die. They left a few tents, otherwise, I wouldn’t dare imagine how many people could fit in that hut.” The others nodded in agreement. When Caleb came back, he had even speared a fish by the lake. With the addition of the fruit, dinner for today was settled. After eating her fill, Olivia sat to the side, rubbing her stomach. “I’m still hungry. I want to eat the pork bone ramen my chef makes.” I was shocked: Pork? Bone? Could it be… Sophia, standing nearby, pointed to the tent in the center. “I’m sleeping in this one tonight.” The others frowned but didn’t say anything. Liam chose the tent next to hers. The two of them secretly went into the woods for some romantic interaction. The live stream comments from their shippers were going crazy. I lay in the tent, recalling the days when I used to ride birds and fly. Sighing over my life on the African savanna, watching lionesses fall in love every day. Well, whatever. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Being human isn’t too bad either. … 09 This was a survival romance reality show. Today, only the CEO heir, Jackson, and the influencer, Mia, were left behind to watch the tents and ensure no small animals chewed through them. Everyone else went out to search for food. Hearing Caleb say he encountered an alligator by the lake, no one dared to go there again. We could only explore the woods to see if we could find any wild animals or wild fruits. I watched the small animals eagerly approaching me, stealing glances at Caleb from time to time. He had long noticed the snow-white pelican standing upright and looking at me from across the way. Uh-oh. Remembering how much those damn clippers hurt. I instinctively took a step back in fear, bumping my back into Caleb’s chest. His warm breath fell on the top of my head. “You okay?” I nodded blankly, feeling a bit intimidated by the huge pelican across from us. Pelicans are not very popular in the animal kingdom. The reason is that they want to taste everything. They want to take a bite out of whatever passes by just to see what it tastes like. They have zero sense of boundaries. Even if they don’t know you, they will try to swallow anything in front of them. And once they latch onto you, they’ll keep following you and clipping at you relentlessly. Sophia frowned slightly. The way she looked at me radiated a saintly aura, filled with blame and pity. She comforted me. “Chloe, pelicans don’t eat people. You don’t need to be so afraid. “You scared it.” After saying that, she even walked right up to the pelican and patted its head with a smile. The pelican tilted its head, clearly a bit stunned. I heard its voice. “Hmm? Don’t know what this is, but I want to eat it.” The comment section was full of praise: [See, Chloe’s animal-lover persona is falling apart, isn’t it?] [Pelicans indeed don’t eat people, and they aren’t fierce animals. Why is she so scared? Is she just using this as an excuse to get close to the billionaire?] [Playing the victim, duh. Our Sophia would never do that. Animals don’t lie. Look at the pelican letting Sophia pat its head without resisting at all.] …

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During the annual company meeting, a new intern publicly accused me of embezzling company funds. The entire office stared at me in absolute shock. Flashing a financial statement on the big screen, the intern smirked triumphantly. “The CEO transferred $30,000 to you for office bonuses, yet you only gave us $200 gift cards each?” “There are only forty of us. As the CFO, you pocketed nearly $22,000 for yourself! If you don’t pay this back right now, I’m calling the cops!” The CEO sighed, leaning back in his chair, while my other colleagues remained silent. They all knew something the intern didn’t. That $30,000 transfer wasn’t a bonus fund. It was the annual lease payment for the office space. And I own the building. 01 The conference room was so quiet I could hear the hum of the HVAC system. Chloe stood at the far end of the long mahogany table, gripping her phone. The screen was facing outwards, displaying a screenshot of a bank transfer record. She looked righteously indignant, but I caught the shimmer of excitement in her eyes. It was the thrill of a junior employee who thought she’d caught a C-suite executive red-handed, ready to burn down the old guard. “The boss transferred you thirty grand. Today, you handed out bonuses—two hundred bucks via digital gift cards to each person. You pocketed over twenty-two thousand dollars in the middle!” “Ms. Evans, you’re stealing the hard-earned money of everyday people. How do you sleep at night?” How do I sleep? Usually on high-thread-count sheets that I bought myself. That $30,000 was the annual rent payment from the company to me. According to the actual budget, there were supposed to be no employee bonuses this year. Every dime of that $200 per person came directly out of my own pocket. I just wanted to start the year off on a good note for the team. I’d done this every year for the past five years. Everyone in that room, except Chloe, knew the situation. I raised my eyes to look at my colleagues. The moment our gazes met, they snapped their heads away, looking anywhere but at me. Mark, who had lost a three-million-dollar account last year and cried in my office begging me to save his job, was now staring intently at a blank piece of paper, scribbling nonsense. The junior analysts I had hired and mentored personally for the last year kept their heads low, acting as if they were attending my funeral. My heart went cold in a single instant. Face expressionless, I turned to look at the man sitting in the central power seat: Brandon. “Brandon, what do you have to say?” Brandon Miller was my boyfriend of seven years. However, our relationship had never been disclosed to the company. Five years ago, when we graduated from college, he was obsessed with starting his own firm. I supported him completely. Without hesitation, I handed over the keys to a prime piece of commercial real estate listed under my name for his office. I charged him only 30% of the market rate for rent. Brandon was ambitious and worked brutally hard. He handled the tech; I handled the business operations. We grew the company quickly. For these five years, I had never taken a single dime in salary. Every bit of profit was reinvested into the business. He always said he’d make it up to me once the company stabilized, but currently, I was even paying the office utility bills out of my personal account. Chloe stomped her foot impatiently. “Mr. Miller! I know Ms. Evans is a company veteran, but she can’t be allowed to abuse her position like this. If she dares to steal bonus money, who knows how much she’s skimmed off other projects.” I locked eyes with Brandon. I watched his brows knit tighter and tighter together. Finally, he opened his mouth slowly. “Harper, we can’t let the team lose morale. Just… take care of it. Put the money back and distribute it fairly.” I heard something inside me click. It didn’t break. It detached. It was like letting go of a heavy weight I’d been holding for years. My muscles ached from the effort, but I didn’t have to strain anymore. Five years ago, in the early days of the startup, I developed a bleeding ulcer from drinking too much at a business dinner trying to land a critical contract. Brandon’s eyes had been full of heartache then. He swore he’d give me every cent the company made. He blamed himself for not being strong enough. He said he was the luckiest man alive to have me. Now, with a net worth approaching ten million, he was accusing me of stealing. Chloe looked at me with the smug arrogance of a victor. “Ms. Evans, if you refuse to pay it back, I will personally call the police for you.” She planted her hands on the table, leaning forward, surveying the room like a conquering queen. “Or, you could ask around and see if anyone here is willing to give up their bonus to bail you out.” Absolute silence filled the conference room. You could have heard a pin drop. I glanced at Sarah, sitting across from me. Just yesterday, on the last day of break, she had text me, dropping massive hints about hoping for a good bonus and complaining about how cheap Brandon was. Now, her head was buried lower than anyone’s. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, Chloe seemed to lose patience. “I bet you’ve already spent the other twenty-two grand! Fine, save your explanations for the cops. Twenty-two thousand is grand larceny. That’s good for a few years in a cell, right?” Brandon frowned, looking like he wanted to stop Chloe from going too far. But I spoke first, my voice cutting through the tension. “Don’t bother.” Ignoring Brandon, I looked at Chloe with a blank stare. “I will return the money to the source account. How it gets distributed after that is none of my concern.” I saw a flash of pleasant surprise in Brandon’s eyes. He thought he saw an opportunity to save on future rent. I stood up and walked straight out of the conference room. The moment I was in the hallway, I called a real estate agent and listed the office space for lease. Prime downtown location. Agents were fighting over the listing. “Ms. Evans, a spot like this will rent in a heartbeat. I guarantee I can get you at least $100,000 a year for this floor!” I looked back through the glass wall at Brandon, still sitting smugly in the conference room. “The current tenant’s annual lease is up in ten days,” I told the agent. “Contact them then about renewal. But quote them the full market rate.” “If they make a scene, call the police immediately for trespassing.” Brandon wanted his $30,000 back, but he was about to lose a hundred times that. 02 About half an hour later, the staff filed out of the conference room, chattering excitedly. Mark was practically groveling to Chloe, bringing her water. “Chloe, seriously, thank you so much. I ended up with an extra eight grand!” Sarah shot me a nasty look and began talking loudly to no one in particular. “Wow, I really misjudged someone. I was practically thanking her while she was selling me out. Stealing that much money from us, and we were supposed to be grateful? People are truly wicked.” I felt no emotional ripple inside. If a man I’d loved for seven years could screw me over, what did I care about some random colleagues? I went to the break room, filled my mug with water, and calmly watched the storm they were brewing against me. Brandon materialized beside me. I hadn’t noticed him approach. “Harper, this is all for the good of the company. I’m just being objective. You can’t let personal feelings get in the way of business.” I nodded, agreeing completely. Brandon seemed satisfied with my reaction. “I knew it. You’ve always been rational.” Then he looked over at Chloe, who was laughing amidst a group of people. “Chloe is young. Her methods might be a bit… aggressive, but you can tell the girl has the company’s best interests at heart.” “She’s smart, too.” I looked at Brandon. He was staring at Chloe, a slight smile playing on his lips. I let out a soft laugh and put down my water mug. “You’re right. She sounds like management material.” A flash of surprise registered in Brandon’s eyes. “You think so too?” I nodded. “Young, smart. If you mentor her personally, she’ll be able to run a department on her own in no time.” Brandon’s eyes were practically beaming. I thought the conversation was over, but I had underestimated human greed. Just as I was about to leave, Brandon called out to me. “Harper, haven’t you been saying lately that you’re too tired and want a break? Hand over the Anderson account to Chloe.” I froze. That was the company’s biggest account. Series C financing. It was directly tied to whether the company could successfully expand or go public. I had been preparing for this for over a year. “I know how important this account is,” Brandon continued. “I’ll supervise personally. It’s a great mentoring opportunity for her.” I paused, then smiled. “Okay.” Brandon didn’t know that without me, even if he went in person, that deal would never close. Because the “Mr. Anderson” who was prepared to invest in him was my father. I am the only child of the Anderson family, the sole heir to the Anderson conglomerate. My dad had been nagging me to come back and take over the family business since I graduated. I told him to wait a bit—wait until Brandon’s company was stable, wait until I brought him home to meet the family. Now, there was no need to go home, and there was certainly no need for the investment to continue. 03 Brandon promoted Chloe to be his personal executive assistant. This meteoric rise made Chloe absolutely insufferable. She ditched her old trendy clothes and started wearing tight pencil skirts, black nylons, and red-bottomed heels. She marched around the office all day, clutching files like she owned the place. And of course, her favorite pastime was gloating in front of me. “Ms. Evans, I really have to thank you. Entrusting me with such a massive account for the company.” “Mr. Miller said we need to thank you for your willingness to sacrifice your own position for the sake of the new generation. But don’t you worry, with Mr. Miller mentoring me personally, I will improve so fast I won’t let anyone down.” “Once I successfully close this financing round, I’ll tell Mr. Miller he has to take you out to dinner as a thank you.” Her malice was blatant, like a needle pricking at me. She had no idea that this financing round, which the company had spent a year preparing for, was about to get crushed in her hands. I glanced at the calendar. “It’s in a week. Good luck.” Perhaps my reaction was too calm; it made her look like the one losing her cool. Chloe paused, then spat out furiously, “Keep acting calm! Once I land Mr. Anderson, we’ll see if there’s even a desk left for you in this building!” I smiled, saying nothing. From that day forward, I, the CFO, became a complete pariah. Wherever I walked, people dispersed like scattered birds. If the break room was noisy with chatter, it would go dead silent the second I walked in. People would grab their cups and leave. In the cafeteria, if someone saw me, they would immediately pick up their tray and switch tables, as if I were contagious. I didn’t care. I actually enjoyed the peace and quiet. For once, I didn’t have to work overtime. I left right on time and went straight to Brandon’s house. We had been effectively living together for years. It was almost funny—hanging in his bedroom was the very first contract I had landed five years ago. He had framed it, claiming he would always remember the excitement and passion of that day. I packed up all my belongings. Before leaving, I took one last look at that contract. Some people can share wealth but not hardship. Brandon was the opposite. The next day when I walked into the office, everyone was shooting me weird looks. I walked quickly to my office, only to find all my personal belongings thrown outside the door like trash. Chloe was sitting in my chair. When she turned around, her face was covered in a victorious smirk. “Oh, sorry. Mr. Miller said separate offices should be reserved for employees who actually contribute to the company.” “As of today, this office is mine.” She stood up, smoothing her skirt, and casually pointed to an empty, cramped desk in the far corner of the open-plan floor. “That’s your new spot.” Everyone outside was waiting to watch the show. “Looks like Harper really pissed off the boss. Imagine being bullied like that by an intern who’s only been here three months.” “Well, she stole company money. She deserves it.” Hearing these comments, Chloe leaned close to my ear, her tone dripping with triumph. “Here’s some news for you: Anderson Corp said they are coming in this afternoon to discuss the financing. I’m going to prove to you that without you, this company will only do better!” She was waiting for me to melt down, to scream, to slink away in shame. I completely ignored her and looked down at my phone, replying to my dad’s message. “Harper, Dad is preparing to personally come over to discuss the investment.” “If that boy performs well this time, I’ll start letting him take over some of the family properties.” I smiled at Chloe, then typed back to my dad: “Dad, I want to come back to Anderson Corp. I want to handle this meeting as the heir to Anderson Corp.” My dad replied with multiple excited “Okay” emojis. I smiled. Chloe wouldn’t suspect in her wildest dreams that the client she was about to meet was me. The position she was trying so hard to steal belonged to the owner of the entire building. After returning to my cramped desk, I made a call to the head of my father’s legal team. “Ms. Anderson, what are your instructions?” I looked through the glass wall at the smirk on Chloe’s face. “The preliminary meeting scheduled with the startup today? Cancel it.” 04 Within five minutes, Brandon slammed out of his office. “Chloe! What did you do? Why did Anderson Corp suddenly cancel today’s meeting?” Chloe froze, looking completely lost. Brandon continued yelling, “This financing round is the future of this company! No one is allowed to screw this up!” Every employee looked up. Chloe’s eyes immediately turned red with tears. “Mr. Miller, I swear I didn’t do anything.” Brandon was a workaholic. He drove himself hard and was brutal on his subordinates. Everyone kept their heads down, terrified to speak. But this time, Brandon actually massaged his temples and softened his tone. “I’m not blaming you.” I raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then, I watched him walk straight toward me. To my corner desk—the smallest, crappiest spot on the floor. “Harper, you were the one originally in charge of contacting Anderson Corp. Call them again.” I glanced at my completely empty desk. “All the files regarding Anderson Corp were transferred to your new assistant. I don’t have the contact info anymore.” “You…!” Brandon’s face went dark. He turned, walked back to his office, and slammed the door. Such blatant preferential treatment made everyone look at Chloe with even more reverence. Excellent. Brandon had just cleared the last hurdle for me to let go. Because of this little hiccup, Brandon became obsessed. The Anderson Corp legal team text me almost every day: “Ms. Anderson, that Brandon Miller guy is trying to contact us again. The scheduled site visit for Wednesday… are we still doing that?” Of course. Brandon thought he could ice me out and make me useless. Being sidelined and isolated might have broken someone else. Too bad for him, he picked the wrong person to bully. Two days before the client visit, the entire company went into high-alert combat mode. Tuesday afternoon, Brandon held a four-hour meeting, micro-managing exactly where every employee should be standing on Wednesday. Only I was completely excluded, enjoying my free time. The projector was displaying Anderson Corp’s profile—from my dad’s rags-to-riches story to his investment portfolio from the last three years. “This investment is vital to the company. No one is allowed to make a mistake.” “I heard Mr. Anderson likes Longjing tea. Chloe, make sure you have the best quality ready.” He had done his homework. His research was meticulous regarding the client’s tastes. Unfortunately, he failed to research that Mr. Anderson had a daughter named Harper Evans. After the meeting, Brandon called me aside, his tone unusually soft. “Harper, I didn’t assign you any tasks because I want you to rest.” “Once this busy period is over, I’ll take you on a vacation, okay?” Having been together for seven years, how could I not understand Brandon’s subtext? “Don’t worry. I won’t say a word that day.” Brandon paused, the shadow of anxiety in his eyes fading significantly. Wednesday arrived. Everyone was at their desks thirty minutes early. “The Anderson Corp team arrives at ten! Everyone, get to work!” At 9:50, my dad’s assistant text me. “Ms. Anderson, Mr. Anderson has instructed that you are in full charge of this financing round.” “We are outside. Is it okay to come in?” I glanced at Brandon and Chloe waiting by the elevator doors. “Come on up.” A moment later, Chloe suddenly got excited. “They’re here! They’re here!” A black Maybach slowly pulled up to the curb outside. Brandon took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and strode toward the elevator bay. Chloe jogged to keep up with him, her high heels clicking against the floor like the opening drumroll of a grand performance. The car doors opened. It wasn’t my dad who stepped out. It was his lead assistant. Seeing that my dad hadn’t come personally, Brandon paused for a second, but quickly extended his hand. “Hello, sir. Is Mr. Anderson not…” The assistant completely ignored Brandon. His eyes locked onto me, standing way in the back, in the pariah section. He strode directly toward me…

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To keep myself fed, I posted a thread online: [Private Investigator. Can provide all kinds of tracking services. Price: Just 10 bags of cookies.] Soon, I received my very first order as a cockroach. A girl contacted me, wanting me to secretly investigate her boyfriend. I replied enthusiastically: [Rest assured, client. My tracking skills are top-notch.] The other side seemed a bit worried: [He has a lot of social events outside of work. You’d better get a few more people to tail him.] [Don’t worry, I’ll bring my sisters along to track him.] [Oh? How many sisters are you bringing?] [A hundred and thirty thousand!] 1 The apartment was covered in dust. I had been crawling up and down for half a month and still hadn’t found a single bite to eat. Roach Bro Two was lying flat inside an empty cracker tin. He said weakly: “Stop wasting your energy. No one lives in this apartment. There’s not going to be any food.” “We’re all going to starve to death eventually.” “Oh, mama, I’ve only been alive for two weeks. I really don’t want to die.” I rolled my eyes at him. When other people die, they turn into cats or dogs. Me? I turned into a cockroach. And a cockroach on the verge of starving to death, at that. I sighed at the ceiling. Even turning into a slightly larger bug would have been fine! At least then I wouldn’t have lost so miserably in a fight with that spider in the corner last night. I had forgotten how I died. All I knew was that I was living in a small, unoccupied studio apartment. Hiding in the dark during the day, and hiding in the darker dark at night. In this empty apartment, the only thing left was a smartphone plugged into a charger. In an apartment with no water or electricity shut off, the phone’s battery remained fully charged. Even though I forgot the circumstances of my death. The instinct to hustle and grind for money… That was carved into my very soul. The other cockroaches affectionately called me “Hustle Roach.” I crawled back and forth on the phone a few times. With a tap of my antennae, I successfully traced the unlock pattern. The phone glowed faintly in the darkness. I logged onto Reddit. I rubbed my antennae hard, and a spark of genius hit my tiny, rice-grain-sized brain. I could earn food through the internet! As a top-tier hustler, even if I turned into a cockroach, I still had to work hard to earn my keep, right? Poke, poke, poke went my antennae on the screen. I published a post on a local subreddit: [Private Investigator. Can provide all kinds of tracking services. Price: Just 10 bags of cookies.] Half an hour later, the phone chimed. My first business deal had arrived! 2 I was so excited my antennae were dancing. They flew across the phone screen, a blur of motion. [Throwaway123: Hi, I just met my boyfriend two months ago, but I always feel like he’s hiding something from me. Could you secretly investigate him for me?] [InnocentMamaRoach: No problem! Leave it to me. My tracking skills are top-notch.] [Throwaway123: But… he has a lot of social events, and his social circle is complicated. You’d better get a few more people to tail him.] [InnocentMamaRoach: Don’t worry, I’ll bring my sisters along to track him.] [Throwaway123: Oh? How many sisters are you bringing?] [InnocentMamaRoach: We’ll start with 130,000. If that’s not enough, I’ll call for backup.] The other side went silent. After a long while, a message popped up: [Throwaway123: Bringing that many people… it must be really expensive, right? I… I don’t have much money on me…] [InnocentMamaRoach: It’s not expensive. The price is just ten bags of cookies. Chocolate and strawberry flavors are preferred.] [Throwaway123: That cheap? Thank you so much! How should I address you?] [InnocentMamaRoach: My last name is Roach.] [Throwaway123: ??] [InnocentMamaRoach: Sorry, typo. My last name is Rose.] End of chat. Even though Roach Bro Two was dizzy with hunger, he still wobbled out of the cracker tin. Full of energy: “Let’s go now while it’s the middle of the night! The sooner we finish the investigation for the client, the sooner we get the cookies.” “I’m a roach with refined tastes. I only eat fresh food. I absolutely refuse to look at anything from the garbage can.” A group of cockroaches nodded in agreement. They looked at me with hopeful eyes. Throwaway123 had sent over the address and a photo of the guy. The guy in the photo looked familiar. But I couldn’t remember where I had seen him before. I shook my head. I quickly rallied the troops: “There’s a hole in the window over there. Don’t panic, everyone, crawl out one by one. Tonight, we’re pulling off a big heist!” 3 The man in front of me was currently drinking and boasting with his friends. A massive pile of empty beer bottles covered the table. I squinted, carefully recalling the photo Throwaway123 had given me. I confirmed the man in front of me, Mark Sullivan, was her boyfriend. The room reeked of alcohol. It was a sweltering summer night, and a few shirtless men were flattering him: “Mark, you’re the man! Just a few sweet words and you coaxed your girlfriend into marrying you.” “I wonder how much the engagement ring is going to cost?” Mark downed a glass of beer. A greasy look of triumph spread across his face. “Pfft, what engagement ring? Tomorrow I’ll call her out, and once we sleep together and I get her pregnant, she’ll have to marry me whether she wants to or not.” “By then, not only do I save money on the ring, but I’ll also have someone to pay off my hundred grand gambling debt.” Someone asked doubtfully: “What if she doesn’t agree?” “We’re already officially dating, why wouldn’t she agree? If she doesn’t, I’ll just force it. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend anyway, it’s perfectly natural for that to happen.” “Even if she posts about it online, the bros will still support me.” A second round of flattery erupted. No one noticed the balcony. Roach Bro Two was directing a few large cockroaches carrying a voice recorder. They were crawling inside, panting heavily. “A little to the left… right, right… carefully, everyone. Boss Roach said this thing is super expensive.” I had found this voice recorder in the empty apartment. It was fully charged. I used all my strength to press the record button. It started recording normally. Roach Bro Two looked at me with admiration: “Boss Roach, the first time I saw you, I knew you were different from the other roaches.” “How did you learn to use this high-tech human stuff?” I pinched his mouth shut hard with my antennae: “Shut up and focus on the recording.” “This is the first order we got online. We absolutely cannot mess this up!” The voice recorder was dropped in an inconspicuous corner of the living room. A glowing red light indicated it was working hard. Mark was clearly drunk. The more he talked, the more excited he got. “Once she has the kid, I’ve got to set some strict rules for her. Let me tell you guys, right after a woman has a baby is the best time to train her to be obedient.” “…” The voice recorder worked continuously until the early hours of the morning. After the men in the room had all passed out drunk. Roach Bro Two first crawled onto the dining table, casting a disgusted glance at the leftover food. Then he complained to me: “This stuff is gross. I still think snacks taste the best.” The other cockroaches nodded in agreement. Hopeful eyes all turned towards me. The voice recorder was carried away. I patted my chest with my antennae, guaranteeing: “Don’t worry, once we finish this job, we’ll have cookies to eat immediately.” That night, after I crawled back to our place. I immediately opened the phone and sent all the recordings to Throwaway123. 4 Throwaway123 cried all night. Early the next morning, she sent me a message. [Throwaway123: Rose, thank you for letting me see his true colors. I just broke up with him. By the way, I bought the cookies you wanted. Where should I send them?] [InnocentMamaRoach: Riverside Apartments, Unit 1, Apt 405. Just leave them at the door. Remember to tear open all the packaging.] The packaging nowadays is made too tough. My teeth couldn’t bite through it at all. Around noon. Footsteps sounded at the door. A young woman appeared at the door and knocked gently. Roach Bro Two was so scared he hid back in the empty cracker tin. She knocked on the door for a long time. There was no sound from inside. From the door came the rustling sound of packaging being torn open. Then, the footsteps faded away. Everyone cheered excitedly. They all crawled to the door, working hard to carry the cookies inside the apartment. Roach Bro Two was working especially hard. Finally, he took a huge bite of a strawberry-flavored Oreo. His two antennae stood straight up, as if he’d been electrocuted. “This is the exact flavor! It’s so authentic!” I also nibbled on a cookie. It was so good I squinted my eyes. But after eating my fill, I started to worry again. I was clearly a human, how did I turn into a cockroach? More importantly, how could I change back? I thought about this problem all afternoon but couldn’t figure it out. Around dusk, the phone chimed. I crawled over and unlocked it. It was a message from Throwaway123. But the tone didn’t sound like her at all. [Throwaway123: Motherf***er, you’re the one who stirred the pot and made my girlfriend break up with me, aren’t you? I hate you nosy best friends causing trouble behind my back! Good thing I remembered her Reddit password, otherwise I wouldn’t have found you! I’ve already memorized your address, you just wait for me tonight!] Roach Bro Two couldn’t read. He burped and crawled next to me. “Boss Roach, do we have another order? This time I want to try mango-flavored cookies.” “It’s an enemy coming to seek revenge.” “Huh? Is it the cat next door or that dead rat in the sewer?” “It’s a human.” As soon as I finished speaking. Violent pounding sounded on the door outside. 5 BAM! CRASH! It shook so hard my two antennae trembled. Even Spider Bro, who had been lying motionless in the corner all day, started cursing: “What the hell are you knocking for?! The web I worked so hard to spin just broke in several places.” “Piss me off, and I’ll crawl on his face tonight and spin a web right there.” Roach Bro Two let out another burp: “Should have said so earlier! What’s there to be afraid of with humans? Obviously, they are more afraid of us.” Inside the cabinets, countless cockroaches poked their little heads out. Listening in confusion to the commotion outside. Mark’s furious voice rang out from outside the door: “Open the door! I know you’re in there!” “Won’t open it, huh? I have my ways of getting in!” The sound of a power drill started up. To break down the door, Mark actually brought a power drill. The noise was deafening, making my ears ring. Spider Bro fell from the corner to the floor. Roach Bro Two covered his ears with his antennae: “Boss Roach, what do we do?” Tens of thousands of heads popped out from the corners, waiting for my command. I called out: “When the door opens, everyone fly right at his face.” Tens of thousands of cockroaches nodded in unison. I also gave my wings a shake. I’m a proud Southern cockroach. I can crawl and I can fly, and I’m much bigger and stronger than those tiny Northern ones. The door lock was finally drilled through. Mark kicked the door open. He stood in the darkness, looking like a demon. I furrowed my brow and yelled: “Everyone, get ready—” Mark reached out to feel for the light switch in the entryway. While yelling: “Dead bitch, get the hell out here!” 6 Overwhelming. Airtight. Tens of thousands of cockroaches flapped their tiny wings, crashing into Mark’s face as if their lives depended on it. The arrogance on Mark’s face instantly turned into terror. His throat felt like it was stuffed with a wad of wet cotton. His mouth was wide open. But he couldn’t let out a single word. It wasn’t until the brave leader, Roach Bro Two, landed squarely on the tip of his nose. They made eye contact. Behind Roach Bro Two, there were tens of thousands more eyes. Mark couldn’t hold it in any longer. A blood-curdling scream pierced the quiet night sky. He stumbled and rushed out the door. He tumbled down the stairs. And broke a leg on the spot. Roach Bro Two proudly straightened his antennae: “What did I tell you? Clearly, humans are more afraid of us.” Behind him, the swarm of cockroaches also followed suit, giving their antennae a shake. In the stairwell. Dragging his broken leg, Mark desperately shrank into a corner. While continuously swatting at the cockroaches crawling on his body, his voice practically broke: “Get off! Get off me!” “Ah! Help!” Cockroaches fell to the floor in droves. But a fresh batch of cockroaches continued to crawl on him. There were even a few cockroaches that got crushed by his flailing. And from their bellies crawled out a bunch of even tinier cockroaches. In the end. Dragging his broken leg, Mark limped away and escaped this apartment building. The phone on the table rang. It was sent by my first client, Sarah. [Throwaway123: Rose, Mark logged into my Reddit account, is he going to go cause trouble for you?] [InnocentMamaRoach: He already came by, just escaped dragging a broken leg.] [Throwaway123: ? Wow, Rose, you are so badass!] [InnocentMamaRoach: Thanks for the compliment. If you have any future tracking missions, remember to find me again! Great quality, low prices, and you don’t have to worry about my personal safety.] The cookies Throwaway123 brought were enough for us to eat for a month. Just as I was eager to continue sending messages online to take a second order. Sarah contacted me anxiously again.

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Our breakup six years ago was absolute poison. Back when he loved me more than anything, I took a check for three million dollars from his mother. I ended the pregnancy, destroyed our future, and betrayed him in the worst way possible. I remember him kneeling outside the operating room, begging me through the door not to be so cruel. He told me then that he would hate me for the rest of his life. Now, six years later, fate has brought us back together. He has a gorgeous, high-society fiancée, and they are about to get married. Meanwhile, I’m at rock bottom, forced to swallow my pride and beg him for a loan. Instead of a check, he gave me an ultimatum: attend his wedding. He wants me to watch with my own eyes as he makes another woman his wife. He asked me if I regretted it. What he doesn’t know is that I didn’t end the pregnancy. I’ve been secretly raising our child alone. And now, our son is sick. If I don’t get this money, he’s going to die. 01 Six years after I wrecked his life, ran into Caleb Vance at the absolute lowest point of mine. It was a college reunion. No one expected him to show up. Someone made a joke, asking, “Mr. Vance, you haven’t kept in touch with any of us for years. Did you finally decide to come back because you heard Maya was going to be here?” I was sitting in a dark corner, my entire body going rigid. I looked up and saw Caleb through a cloud of cigarette smoke. He was looking at me, his expression pure ice. Everyone in that room knew how obsessed Caleb used to be with me. He was the scion of a wealthy, powerful family, but he fell for a scholarship kid like me instantly. Back then, he actually cut ties with his family for me. He gave up the trust fund, the connections, everything, just to fight for a life with me. We lived in a tiny, roach-infested studio apartment. We split boxes of ramen and shared cheap coffee. Life was brutal, but we were happy because we were together. During those long, intimate nights, we’d lock fingers and swear we’d never let go. Until I found out I was pregnant. That was when his mother showed up with a check for three million dollars. Her offer was simple: get an abortion, leave Caleb, and never look back. The day I made my choice, Caleb was on his knees outside the clinic, screaming and slamming his fists against the operating room door. Over and over, he begged me, his voice cracking with tears. “Baby, please! I’ll work harder. I’ll make more money. I’ll support us. I swear I’ll make three million dollars a hundred times over just for you to spend, okay?” “I’m begging you, don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to our baby…” I lay on that cold operating table, biting my lip until it bled, forcing myself not to make a sound. Through that thin wooden door, I listened to Caleb scream that he would hate me for eternity. 02 Nobody truly knew how ugly our final breakup got. Someone at the table, thinking they were being funny, nudged me toward Caleb. “Come on, Mr. Vance. You used to love Maya more than life itself. How could you ever let her go?” People started jeering, calling for a reconciliation. One of Caleb’s close friends shot me a contemptuous look and laughed. “Hudson, are you kidding? Caleb can have any woman he wants. Who does Maya Clark think she is, assuming my boy is still hanging onto her?” He announced that Caleb had been with a woman named Serenity for three years. He described her as gentler, more beautiful, and far more suited to Caleb’s status than I ever was. Caleb had been with her for three years. His friends already called her “sister-in-law.” Apparently, they were engaged. The laughter in the room died down instantly. Only Caleb’s friend kept smiling, loudly inviting everyone to make sure they attended the wedding. He flicked an invitation across the table. It hit me in the chest and slid into my lap. Keeping my head down, I opened it. There was Caleb’s name. And right next to it, written in elegant script, was another girl’s name. Serenity Vance. Even her name sounded perfect and gentle. I imagined she must be smart, obedient, and kind. She probably knew how to take care of him and never made him suffer the way I did. Six years apart. Seeing him again only to realize he’s doing incredibly well… that’s enough for me. I forced back the tears that threatened to spill, looked up, and looked Caleb right in the eye. “Congratulations,” I said. My voice was barely a whisper. Caleb stared at me intensely. Hearing my congratulations, a harsh, mocking smile twisted his face. He brutally crushed his cigarette in the ashtray. His voice was clipped and cold. “Actually, Maya, don’t bother coming to the wedding.” “My wife gets uncomfortable when she sees things that don’t belong in her world. If she’s unhappy, it breaks my heart.” I clutched that thin paper invitation, my hand shaking slightly. I forced a smile, nodded, and said softly, “Okay.” 03 That night, everyone left saying that Caleb Sterling was truly, deeply over me. Nobody could have imagined we once loved each other that intensely. But in the end, he was getting married, and I wasn’t the bride. Everyone assumed Caleb would wait for me forever. Now, everyone was curious about this girl, Serenity, wondering who could have captivated and charmed Caleb so completely. I knew Caleb didn’t want to see me, so I slipped out of the reunion early. On my way home, a friend text me a photo of Serenity. She looked pure, innocent. I heard she laughed easily and knew how to be sweet—exactly the type of girl Caleb always said he liked. My friend asked, “Maya, don’t you think Serenity looks a lot like you did back then when she smiles?” “Do you really think Caleb is still in love with you? Is it really over between you two?” I exhaled slowly, watching my breath fog up the cold car window. After a long silence, I text back: “Doesn’t matter. I don’t care anymore.” I didn’t want to drag Caleb back into my chaos. I thought he would never have to know that I lied to everyone. That I kept our baby. A boy who is now very sick. And dying. 04 This year has been my absolute rock bottom. I have been working myself to death, desperate to get the money for the best medications for my son, Leo. I wanted to make sure that when the pain came, it didn’t hurt him so much. For money, I had swallowed my pride and went to that reunion to beg. For money, I was working at a high-end club, playing hostess, drinking until my stomach was bleeding just to get tips from rich scumbags. I assumed that reunion was the last time I’d ever see Caleb in this life. Until a few days later, the girl named Serenity found me. I guess she had heard from others that we looked alike and wanted to see for herself. She showed up at the club with a group of wealthy friends, specifically requesting me as their server. One of her friends sneered, “So you’re Maya? Caleb Sterling’s first love?” Her eyes were filled with scorn, looking at my heavy makeup and revealing work uniform. Her look clearly said: Disgusting trash. I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to react. I couldn’t afford to get fired. I just asked what they wanted to drink. If they weren’t going to order, they were wasting my earning time. Her friend, offended by my lack of subservience, snapped, “What’s with the attitude? I asked you a question, bitch. Don’t act like you’re too good for this.” She pointed to a bottle of expensive, high-proof liquor on the table. “Tell you what, Maya. You love money, right? Chug this entire bottle, right now, and I’ll give you five thousand dollars.” Drinking that whole bottle meant a trip to the ER. Serenity put on a show of being concerned. She faked an anxious tone, trying to dissuade her friend. “Hey, didn’t we agree we just came to look? Don’t make things difficult for Ms. Clark.” “I know everyone says she’s manipulative and that I need to be careful around her. Even Caleb told me I’m too naive and that she would bully me.” “But really, I’m fine.” I listened to Serenity’s passive-aggressive act. I got it. She wanted me to know how much Caleb adored her, and how much he despised me. I smiled, saying nothing to her. I just turned to her friend. “Deal. I drink the bottle, you give me five thousand. Cash.” Then I grabbed the bottle, popped the top, and started chugging. The entire VIP room went silent. No one expected that for a few grand, I would literally risk my life. Serenity grabbed my hand, trying to sound compassionate. “Maya, how can you care about money this much? Why are you trashing yourself like this?” “As women, we need to have some self-respect. I didn’t want to bring this up because I didn’t want to hurt you, but you should know… Caleb hates women like you.” I finished the bottle, ignoring the searing pain in my stomach, and cut her off. “Where’s the money?” “What Caleb likes or hates is none of my business. I just want the five grand you promised.” Serenity frowned, looking at me with feigned disappointment. “Maya, to be honest, five thousand dollars is pocket change to me. I’d gladly throw it away on anyone else, but I absolutely will not give it to you.” “You can blame me if you want, but I’m doing this for your own good. I can’t stand by and watch you sink deeper into this depravity…” Her friend shoved me hard. She laughed in my face. “I was just messing with you. I’m not giving you jack shit. What are you going to do about it?” I stared at her coldly, then matching her smile, I lifted the empty bottle and smashed it against the edge of the table. Glass flew everywhere. A jagged shard sliced right across Serenity’s calf. It wasn’t deep, but blood immediately started soaking through her expensive jeans. Serenity burst into tears. The screeching group of wealthy girls went dead silent, paralyzed with shock. Seconds later, the door to the VIP room slammed open. Caleb stood there, looking at me like I was something scraped off his shoe. I froze. I didn’t dare meet his eyes. The garbage heavy makeup, the cheap uniform, the degrading job… he saw it all. He saw exactly how low I had fallen. Honestly, I didn’t care what anyone else thought of me. But I didn’t want him to know that I lived my life this way. But in the end, I couldn’t even keep that tiny bit of pride. I used every ounce of strength I had to pretend I didn’t care. I forced myself to look up as Caleb rushed over, scooping Serenity into his arms, gently wiping away her tears. Then he looked at me, enunciating every syllable. “Maya Clark. Right in front of me… who do you think you are bullying?” “You want money? Fine. Apologize. On your knees.” I watched Caleb protect Serenity. I remembered a long time ago, when he used to protect me the exact same way. I knew what Caleb wanted. He wanted me to grovel to make Serenity feel good. Fine. For money, I’d do anything. Serenity was hiding in Caleb’s chest, shooting me a triumphant smirk that he couldn’t see. I looked at the cut on her leg. I picked up a sharp piece of broken glass from the floor and, without hesitating, sliced it deep into my own forearm. Then I held out my bleeding hand toward Caleb. My voice was utterly dead. “Give it to me. The five thousand.” Caleb stared at me, and suddenly, his eyes went red. Seeing Caleb’s expression, the smirk on Serenity’s face vanished. She fumbled in her purse, pulled out a thick stack of cash, and threw it at my feet. Her voice was trembling, trying to regain high ground. “Maya, I’m giving you this money today not because I owe you, but because I don’t want to see you make an even bigger spectacle of yourself for a few dollars. It’s pathetic.” I didn’t bother listening to her act. I grabbed the cash and turned to leave, but Caleb grabbed my wrist in a vice grip. He ground his teeth, cursing at me through his lips. “Maya! Are you insane? Do you not feel pain? Are you really going to die without money?” His brows were furrowed tight. He actually looked devastated. I ripped my hand out of his grasp. I spun around, forced a cold laugh, and sneered, “I’ve always loved money more than anything, Caleb. Didn’t you know?” “Mind your own business. Worry about your own woman. Stop screwing with mine.” 05 Caleb glared at me, his eyes terrifyingly cold, like he wanted to snap my neck. My words had clearly triggered memories of the past—how he had given up everything for me, and I had dumped him for a paycheck. My stomach was screaming in agony from the high-proof liquor. I didn’t want to talk to him anymore. I turned to leave, but suddenly my feet lost contact with the floor. Before I knew it, Caleb had hoisted me over his shoulder. He looked like a caveman kidnapping a woman. Cigarette dangling from his lips, holding me tightly as he marched out of the club. Everyone was watching. I struggled desperately, screaming at him to put me down. He slapped my ass hard. “Maya! Damn you! I apparently owed you a debt in a past life, and now you’re going to torture me for eternity!” He threw me into the passenger seat of his car, leaned over, pinned my legs down with his knee, and grabbed my face, cursing at me savagely. “Sometimes, I really just want to kill you.” His expression said he hated my guts, but his eyes… his eyes always looked like they were telling me he still loved me. I was in too much pain to speak. I was breaking out in a cold sweat, just glaring at him. Caleb frowned, opened the glove compartment, popped a blister pack, and shoved a stomach pill into my mouth. As the compartment light flickered, I saw what was inside. In the corner lay an empty tube of lipstick I used to love but couldn’t afford to replace; a broken hair tie; and a ridiculous, cheap pink plastic barrette Caleb had bought me years ago… That compartment held fragments of my entire existence. During the years I was gone, those cheap trinkets had kept him company. Tears blurred my vision instantly. I turned my head away before Caleb could see, wiping them away furiously with the back of my hand. After all these years, he still remembered that I had a bad stomach. Even though I wasn’t in his life, he still kept the habit of having pain medication ready for me. But I forced my heart to be iron. Using every bit of energy in my body, I brutally shoved him away. I forced myself to smile at him. A harsh, cruel laugh. “Caleb, stop obsessed over me. It’s annoying. You really think I care? This whole pining routine is just pathetic.” “There’s something you apparently don’t know. I got married a long time ago. I have a kid.” “Are you still hoping for a reunion? Caleb, don’t be a desperate loser.” He recoiled as if I’d struck him, stumbling back a couple of steps. He just stood there, completely frozen. As I got out of the car to run, he suddenly grabbed me, slammed me against the side of the car, and pinned me there. His hands gripped my shoulders, shaking me, his voice trembling with rage. “Maya Clark, I don’t believe you.” “You better tell me you’re fucking joking right now. Because if you aren’t, I swear to God I will destroy you.” I looked him dead in the eye. My voice was flat. “Fine. I’ll prove it to you.” I drove Caleb to the children’s hospital. It was nine PM, but the inpatient wing was still lit up. I stood outside Leo’s hospital room. Through the observation glass, I pointed to the quiet little boy reading a book inside. I told Caleb, “That’s my son.” His name is Leo. He’s my everything, my entire heart. He looks just like me, but his personality is all Caleb. He’s affectionate, gentle, but possesses a stubborn, defiant streak. He inherited all of Caleb’s best traits. He is such a wonderful little boy. But he is sick. He’s almost six years old, but he’s so thin and small. He’s so brave it breaks my heart. Caleb stared at that little boy through the glass for a long, long time. Then he balled his fist and punched the concrete wall, hard. He dropped his head. I think I saw a tear fall. I had never seen him look so broken. That night, the last thing Caleb said to me was: “Maya Clark, you have a lot of nerve.” He didn’t ask who the father was. He didn’t recognize that the little boy inside was his own son. 06 After that night, Caleb stopped coming around. I heard rumors that he bought Serenity a magnificent wedding dress and a massive diamond ring, and took her home to officially meet his mother again. I heard his mother adored Serenity, and Caleb publicly declared she was the only woman he would ever marry. My old college acquaintances were gossiping: “I’m so jealous of Serenity Vance. To be adored like that by a man like Caleb Vance…” “But Serenity is a sweetheart, honestly. She’s so kind and generous. She heard Maya is completely broke and actually wanted to give her some money to help out.” “A girl that pure and good deserves to be protected forever…” I stared at the group chat on my phone, my stomach churning. I had a horrible, sinking feeling I couldn’t shake. When I finally got to the hospital, the nurse told me Caleb and Serenity had been there to see Leo. The young nurse apologized to me, admitting she had accidentally let it slip to Serenity that Leo had no father listed on his records. I walked toward the room and overheard Serenity talking to Leo inside. “Sweetie, I heard your daddy abandoned you and your mommy. Isn’t that right?” “You know, your mommy is very pathetic. To pay for your hospital bills, she has to go sell herself to all kinds of nasty men every night. It makes her very dirty. Honestly, it makes sense why your daddy wouldn’t want a woman like that…” Leo screamed at her. “You’re lying! You’re the dirty one! We don’t want your money! Get out!” I burst into the room, shaking with rage. Serenity turned and saw me, faking surprise. She frowned. “Maya Clark, look at your son. I was just trying to help him understand how hard you work, and he’s throwing a temper tantrum at me. He is so ill-mannered…” Before Serenity could finish, I lunged forward, grabbed her hair, and slapped her hard across the face, twice. I dragged her to the door and threw her out into the hallway. I pointed a shaking finger at her face. “Serenity Vance, do you have a fucking death wish, coming here to provoke me?” She clutched her red cheek, unable to believe I actually struck her. She immediately switched to her victim role, sobbing. “Maya, I was just trying to help you. I didn’t mean anything by it.” “Caleb didn’t even want to care about you anymore. Luckily, he listens to me, and he knows I have a kind heart. If I didn’t help you, I’d feel guilty.” “I truly wanted to help, but now that you’ve hit me, Caleb is going to be furious with you again…” I stared at Serenity and laughed—a cold, dead sound. So, this was why she came. To gloat. She just couldn’t help herself. She had to make sure I knew Caleb loved her more than he ever loved me. I looked at her pathetic acting. My voice was absolute ice. “Serenity Vance. You want Caleb? He’s just a man. Take him. He’s yours. But you just couldn’t be satisfied with that, could you? You had to come here and mess with me.” I stepped close to her, grabbed her collar, and lowered my voice to a terrifying whisper. “Keep pushing me. I dare you. I will personally congratulate you and Caleb on your happy marriage, and right before you say ‘I do,’ I will tell him that the son I have is his.” “You guess who he’s going to choose then?” Serenity froze. I watched the blood drain from her face, leaving her ghost-white. I ground my teeth at her. “Now, you are going to go inside and apologize to my son. Then, you are going to get the hell out of my sight.” Just as I finished speaking, the door to the room opened and Caleb stepped out. He text me hard, pulling me away from her. I lost my balance and my back slammed hard against the hospital wall. He looked down at me, a cruel smirk on his face. “Maya Clark, I don’t recall asking for your permission on who I marry.” “My wife doesn’t need you to ‘give’ me to her. You assume you’re special, but who the hell do you think you are?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “395064”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was with the A-list movie star, Liam Hayes, for five years. We had a daughter together, yet to him, I remained a secret lover who could never see the light of day. Early one morning, our child fell ill, and we rushed her to the hospital. Suddenly spotting paparazzi, he dumped our daughter in my arms and sprinted away. I was left scrambling, holding my burning-up daughter in the pouring rain. The next day, Liam told the press: “No secret marriage, no girlfriend, and definitely no child…” Looking at his earnest face on the screen, I suddenly felt incredibly tired. I packed my things and left the mansion with our daughter. My daughter asked: “Mommy, aren’t we telling Uncle Liam?” My eyes reddened slightly. My daughter was four years old, and she still couldn’t call Liam “Daddy.” She didn’t even know Liam was her father. “No need.” I wiped my tears. “Uncle Liam is just an uncle. He’s very busy. We shouldn’t bother him.” 1 I drove to my daughter’s preschool for a parent-child activity. The teacher looked behind me: “Is Chloe’s dad not coming again?” I said awkwardly: “He’s… very busy.” Teacher: “This is a once-a-year event.” Me: “I’m so sorry, Chloe’s dad is out of town. He couldn’t make it back.” The teacher walked away. During the event, all the other children had their moms and dads with them. Chloe only had me. I tried my hardest to make her laugh, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic. After the event, on our way home, she looked up with her little face and asked: “Mommy, is Daddy still in Africa?” I said: “Yes, Daddy is in Africa filming elephants.” Chloe looked hopeful: “Then when is he coming back?” I was silent for a moment, then said softly: “In a little while.” Early on, Chloe asked me who her daddy was and where he was. I casually made up a story, saying he was a photographer traveling the world taking pictures of animals. Chloe believed it wholeheartedly. She sat in front of the TV watching nature documentaries every day, asking: “Mommy, did Daddy film this?” I lied to her: “Yes, isn’t Daddy amazing?” Chloe cheered: “Daddy is so amazing!” At 1:00 AM, there was a noise in the house. I groggily opened my eyes. A warm kiss lightly touched my forehead. “You’re awake? Go back to sleep.” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic. The soft light from the nightlight illuminated his sharply defined face. I looked up and met a pair of smiling, dark eyes. After kissing me, Liam leaned over to check on Chloe and kissed her cheek. I couldn’t help but ask: “Didn’t you say you’d be home early today?” Liam stood up to take off his jacket, talking as he did: “I ran into someone I’ve been wanting to meet at the gala. It took some time.” He casually tossed his jacket onto the rug, unbuttoning his dress shirt, revealing a sexy Adam’s apple. “Who?” He smiled, lunging over to hug me: “Don’t worry, it’s a guy. The CEO of the Sterling Group.” I said: “Oh.” I wasn’t surprised. Women couldn’t easily seduce him, but a promising future could. At such an important moment like her school event, he wouldn’t delay seeing his daughter for a woman. But if it could advance his career, he would. This happened so often, I was already used to it. 2 That day, Liam stayed until 4:00 AM before rushing off again. My daughter held the watch he left behind and asked: “Mommy, did Uncle Liam come over last night?” I nodded: “Yeah, he came specifically to celebrate your event, but you were asleep, so he didn’t want to wake you.” My daughter pouted: “Next time, you have to wake me up, Mommy! I won’t sleep, Daddy doesn’t come home, and Uncle Liam works so hard to come keep me company. I want to play with Uncle Liam.” I forced a smile and said: “Okay.” I couldn’t tell her that Uncle Liam was her actual father. I used washing up as an excuse to hide the strange expression on my face. If people knew that an A-list movie star, despite his incredibly busy schedule, came home at 1:00 AM to see his girlfriend and child, only to rush back to work at 4:00 AM, everyone would praise him for being a great guy. Many times, I comforted myself like that too. He was already doing enough; I shouldn’t ask for too much. But the disappointment, emptiness, and bitterness in my heart only grew day by day. After taking care of Chloe’s breakfast and dropping her off at preschool, I drove to my job at a local portrait studio. I held my camera, numbly taking ID photos for people. Repeat, repeat, repeat… They praised my photography skills, and I just smiled, sitting exhausted at my desk to rest. My gaze unconsciously swept over a copy of National Geographic on the desk. Somewhere deep inside, a spot in my heart suddenly gave a sharp, little ache. 3 I met Liam seven years ago. Back then, I was a bright, carefree college senior, full of energy and agility, passionate about the outdoors and photography. My dream was to graduate, become a photographer, and travel the world with my backpack, taking pictures of animals. I never thought I’d ever become a fan girl. Well, not a fan girl. It was love at first sight. At that time, Liam was still a newcomer who had just debuted. He was just starting to make a name for himself in Hollywood, having played the third male lead in a highly popular fantasy series. He came to our university for a promotional event. My friends dragged me along to watch and take photos. Liam stood on stage, shining so brightly you couldn’t take your eyes off him. The host randomly invited an audience member on stage to interact. As if arranged by fate, when I held up my camera and moved toward the front, she picked me. “Hello there.” On stage, Liam, wearing a V-neck white shirt, smiled and extended his hand. His dark eyes curved, looking as approachable as the cute guy sitting at the next desk in class. My heart constricted abruptly. I, usually so confident, was actually sweating from nervousness. I put away my camera, reached out, and stuttered: “H-hello.” The moment our palms touched, it felt like an electric current surged through me. In that unseen moment, I seemed to hear the sound of a flower seed falling into the soil. As for what kind of flower it was… At that time, I didn’t know its shape, nor its name. 4 After the event, I couldn’t wait to dig up all of Liam’s past work. I discovered that his singing and acting skills blew several popular young stars out of the water. Yet a guy like this was still unknown. I felt it was unfair to him. So, I edited clips of his work, created a fan account for him on Twitter, and wrote passionate, detailed analyses of his performances. His small fanbase sought me out and gathered under my tweets. I posted the photos I took, earning praise from everyone. Someone suggested: “Girl, your photos are amazing! You should be a dedicated fan photographer for Liam. We’ll crowdfund you.” Caught up in the atmosphere, I impulsively said: “Sure!” Just like that, for some inexplicable reason, I became Liam’s dedicated fan photographer, chasing his silhouette with my camera. From fan photographer to fan club president, then to super-fan club president, everything progressed naturally. Looking back on it now, it’s hard to understand how it all happened. Before meeting Liam, I never followed celebrities or got involved in fan culture. Within a few short months, I had become his biggest fan club president. Seven months later, Liam’s just-budding career suffered a devastating blow. He was plagued by negative news and scandals. He was blacklisted and shelved by his agency for a year and a half. Fans gradually left. Even those who stayed were secretly stanning other celebrities. Only I remained, steadfast from beginning to end. Originally, it was his manager who communicated with the fan club presidents. During that time, his manager mostly gave up on Liam, so he handed my contact info over to Liam, letting Liam handle communications with me himself. During that difficult year and a half, we chatted often, encouraging each other, slowly transitioning from strangers to friends. I continued updating the fan site relentlessly. To gather material, we met up in private. By then, Liam had dropped his idol persona and didn’t care about interacting with fans privately. I didn’t have much money; the only thing I could offer was my skills. I personally did his makeup, took his photos, edited his videos, and even started hustling for brand deals for him. Although the gigs were small, it was better than nothing. Liam was very grateful. He said: “Maya, you are my emotional pillar. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know how to keep going.” When I was exhausted, a single word of praise from him was like a shot of adrenaline, making me incredibly excited. If a war had broken out, I probably would have grabbed an AK-47 without hesitation to clear the obstacles for him. Back then, I thought I was Liam’s angel, sent specifically to save him. He was so weak and helpless. If even I abandoned him, he would truly have nothing left. A year and a half later, the popular actress who had claimed Liam insulted her was exposed for having numerous dark secrets. Among them was evidence that she had been verbally abusing Liam, and Liam only cursed back after she pushed him to the limit. From then on, Liam’s name was cleared. Fans and the general public flocked to his Twitter to apologize. His agency lifted the ban and gave him resources. He seized the opportunity to pivot to movies, his career taking off like a rocket, unstoppable. After attending an awards ceremony, he came home, shoved his Best Actor trophy into my hands, and said: “Maya, this is our shared glory.” Holding the trophy together, we embraced tightly. 5 During that year and a half, Liam never gave up on his career. He actively hustled for gigs, visiting big shots in the industry. Even when he was rejected time and time again, he never got discouraged. He would only cry in front of me. After crying, he’d continue his visits the next day. Whenever he had time, he’d make me practice acting with him. I’d read lines for him, and he’d act out reactions beside me, asking for my critique. From start to finish, he never accepted any casting couch offers, never abandoned his principles, and never gave up on his dream. My feelings for Liam started with his looks, deepened because of his talent, and were solidified by his character. During those difficult years, his unyielding spirit and his perseverance to get back up after every fall made me like him more and more, until I fell in love with him. We deeply appreciated each other. We did outdoor activities together, we talked about everything under the sun. We fought together, we were sad together, we laughed loudly together. Mutual admiration leading to us getting together was the most natural thing in the world. At that moment, I finally understood that the flower seed that fell the day I met Liam was love. Now the flower had bloomed, fragrant and brilliant. Perhaps it was too dazzling, because the flower’s appearance was covered in a layer of light, not quite clear. The resurgence of Liam’s career brought a new test to our relationship. If he remained unknown, us being together openly wouldn’t be a big deal. But he made a comeback. His career was booming. What’s more unexpected was that he snagged his first Best Actor title so quickly. Bigger investments and networking circles swarmed toward him. He could go further, climb higher. At this moment, me, his ordinary girlfriend with zero background in the industry, became inconvenient. I brought up breaking up, but Liam wouldn’t agree. That period was painful for both of us. Neither of us wanted to let go of the relationship, but practical reasons made it unsuitable for us to be together. The halo around the flower of love faded, revealing its true form. It was a camellia. Pure, beautiful, fragrant, but carrying a faint bitterness. 6 After a period of turmoil, right when we were on the verge of breaking up, I found out I was pregnant. “Please keep this child.” Liam knelt before me, begging. “Maya, I’m begging you.” He pulled out a beautiful diamond ring and proposed: “Marry me.” He said that although he couldn’t give me a legal marriage right now, he swore that in this lifetime, he would only have one woman: me. He spoke with such sincerity and devotion, it was deeply moving. You have to understand, he had just transitioned from a teen idol to a serious actor, and his position wasn’t stable yet. Let alone having a child, even having a girlfriend could be devastating to his career. But he knelt and begged me to have the child. I felt he must love me incredibly deeply. And I loved him too, so I finally nodded and agreed. “This is wonderful, Maya! We’re having a baby!” He picked me up and spun me around in circles. He laughed. I laughed too. Happiness is so simple. Just because we were having a baby, we laughed like two idiots. Back then, I naively thought, I just need to wait a little while. Once his career stabilized, I could step into the light. Because we couldn’t go public with our relationship, I was an unwed mother. At a critical point in his career, he begged me to hide it even from my parents. When my parents found out I was pregnant out of wedlock and insisted on keeping the child, they were furious and threatened to disown me. A series of arguments, tears, and extreme emotional tug-of-war followed. In the end, I remained resolute, pregnant with our child. I moved into Liam’s mansion, becoming his secret lover who couldn’t see the light of day. Liam was very busy. His career grew bigger and bigger, his awards and honors piled up, and he became world-famous. I was proud of him, but also very miserable. For his career, I broke ties with my parents. For his career, he rushed back the day I gave birth, only to leave that same night. I had to pretend not to care and say, “Go ahead, I’m fine.” For his career, I invented a dad for our child who went to Africa, too afraid to tell her that Uncle Liam was her biological father. For his career, I gave up my own dreams, quietly raising our child, being his secret lover. Every time, he would say: “Maya, just wait a little longer. In a little while, we can officially get married, and I want to introduce you to the whole world!” So I waited and waited. One year. Then another. The child was born. The child grew up. The child started preschool. I was tired. 7 On the day of Chloe’s fourth birthday, Liam rushed home at 8:00 PM. We had a small birthday party, a rare moment of our family being together. Chloe rarely saw Uncle Liam. She refused to sleep, fussing until midnight before finally succumbing to exhaustion. At 1:00 AM, Chloe spiked a fever. It just wouldn’t go down. We drove to the hospital. Given the urgency, Liam put on a hat and mask, disguising himself before hurrying to the underground parking garage. A heavy rainstorm was pouring outside, blurring the neon lights of the entire city. Rainwater pooled on the streets, reflecting the faint silhouette of the city. Cars sped past, crushing the light on the ground. I kept comforting the child, anxious and uneasy. We arrived at the hospital’s front entrance. We got out of the car, carrying the child, heading for the ER. Click, flash. Through the sound of the torrential rain came the noise of a camera shutter. It was a sound I had heard countless times in my daily life. Very familiar. Familiar enough that I could hear it even through thunder and lightning. Liam was also very familiar with it. So familiar that he didn’t even turn his head. He just shoved the child straight into my arms. I dropped the umbrella and scrambled to catch her. He rushed back to the car and sped off. Chloe burst into loud wails. I stood in the torrential rain, holding my child. The black umbrella rolled away from me. Lightning tore through the sky, the rain poured down, and my vision was a complete blur. Warm tears mixed with the rainwater, distorting the scene before my eyes. I watched his car get further and further away in the blur… That night was like countless other nights I took the child to the hospital alone. Communicating with the doctors, holding and soothing her, picking up meds, getting her IVs—it was no different. The only difference was that I sat in a corner looking like a drowned rat, my heart aching so much it was hard to breathe. My phone kept ringing. I glanced at the caller ID; I didn’t want to answer. By early morning, the rain had stopped, and the sky was clear. I looked out the window at the crystal-clear blue sky and whispered: “The sky in Africa must be very blue too.” When Chloe woke up, I exhausted took her in a cab back home. My phone was lying in my bag. The screen showed 20 missed calls, all from Liam. The last one was a text he sent. [Maya, how is Chloe? [Did her fever go down? What caused it?] He was constantly worried about Chloe’s condition; his words revealed how anxious he was. But he still didn’t come to the hospital to take a single look. Not even a glance. Finally, he said: [I have to go to the set.] I rubbed my phone for a long time before replying: [Chloe is fine.] Liam is a very dedicated actor. In the dead of winter, if the director asked him to jump into a freezing lake, he wouldn’t hesitate. He was always on time for shoots, even early, and never made others wait. If a scene didn’t go well, he would voluntarily ask for a retake, even if it meant doing it dozens of times. But he was too ambitious, too dedicated. His time was always allocated to his career. The child and I were always at the very bottom of his list. Time after time he broke his promises. Time after time I endured it. I was truly tired. I couldn’t help but send him a message: [Liam, in a while, I’m going to apply to join a National Geographic team as a photographer, to shoot animals, local cultures, that sort of thing. You take care of the kid.] That afternoon, I received Liam’s reply: [You want to go to Africa to shoot animals again? That place is dangerous and exhausting. Why do you want to go? Are you still mad about last night? I can take some time off soon, I’ll come back and spend time with you two… [By the way, try not to go out for the next few days. Anna is going to send people to guard you…]] Looking at the message, I smiled bitterly. Whenever I mentioned going to Africa to take photos, Liam was always opposed to it. But what I was trying to say wasn’t really about going to Africa. It was about fulfilling my dream. Where to go, what to shoot—that could all be negotiated. I needed a platform to exercise my creativity. It didn’t have to be Africa; it could be Europe, South America, or even a small rural town in our own country. He could fulfill his dream, but he made me give up mine to stay home, raise our child, and wait for a man who never came home… Ping. My phone chimed with a news notification. I clicked it. #Liam Hayes Suspected Secret Marriage# was trending at the top of the list. 8 The rumors of Liam’s secret marriage caused a huge uproar. A well-known paparazzi account leaked related information, confidently asserting that Liam was secretly married. They analyzed many clues, suspecting Liam was hiding a beautiful wife, perhaps even a child. One of the accompanying photos was a blurry shot from last night in the pouring rain: Liam holding Chloe out of the car door, and me getting out holding an umbrella. It was just two blurry backs; you really couldn’t tell much. Liam’s reaction had been exactly right. He hadn’t looked back. He shoved the child to me at the first instant and quickly ducked back into the car to leave, preventing them from photographing his face. People in the comments were mocking the paparazzi, saying it was clearly a woman taking her child to the hospital late at night, and she probably just called an Uber and the driver helped carry the kid out. To call that proof of an A-lister’s secret marriage was ridiculous. The netizens didn’t believe it. I breathed a sigh of relief for Liam. But after that sigh of relief, my heart felt incredibly heavy. This had happened so many times. His broken promises, his failure to come home, his abandoning me and the child—he always had a valid reason. I couldn’t even blame him. Blaming him made it seem like I was being unreasonable and demanding the impossible. But I felt awful. More and more awful. I nervously followed the news. The paparazzi account started dropping more “evidence,” producing two photos of me and Liam from a trip abroad, trying to definitively prove it was him. One of the photos showed his back very clearly. His clothes and pants were dug up as having been worn by him at a specific event, using that as proof that the back belonged to him. The situation escalated. That evening, Liam responded on a talk show: “No secret marriage, no wife, and definitely no child. Thank you.” His smile was calm; he was the picture of ease. As if none of it was real. I stared at his face without blinking, trying to find a single clue, a hint of something else. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing. After a sharp pain in my heart, a sudden calmness washed over me. The next day, Anna, the manager Liam mentioned, came to our door. She demanded to station two bodyguards outside and ordered me to stay inside the mansion 24/7. I refused her arrangement. She was furious: “Do you know how much damage your disobedience could cause Liam?” I said: “I want a normal life.” She stared at me for a moment, then sneered: “Don’t think I don’t know. People like you wish you would get photographed by the paparazzi so you can step out of the shadows. Let me tell you, stop dreaming, and behave!” “Mommy.” Chloe hugged my leg, scared. Anna rubbed her temples: “Good lord. Liam, oh Liam. Playing around with women is one thing, but actually producing a child… you’ve really given me a massive headache.” I suppressed my anger and gently told Chloe to go play in her room. Once Chloe was gone, I turned cold: “Even if you really exposed me and the child, would it really have that big of an impact on him?” “Of course!” Anna said, “He signed a bachelor clause! You absolutely cannot be exposed.” I said: “He is a bachelor.” Anna froze for a second. My voice was calm: “From start to finish, he never married me. He has always been single, he hasn’t violated any agreement. He’s very cautious. He doesn’t allow me to call him ‘hubby’, and he doesn’t allow Chloe to call him ‘Daddy’. Chloe doesn’t even know he’s her father.” Anna was silent for a moment, then smiled: “Very good. That’s how it should be.” Yes, how it should be. I wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. I said: “I quit.” That afternoon, I went to the portrait studio to quit. The owner kept trying to get me to stay, but I left resolutely. Anna was satisfied with my tactfulness and told me to behave and not cause trouble for Liam. I said: “Okay.” Then I went to the preschool and unenrolled Chloe. The teacher was very regretful: “Why? Chloe was adapting so well.” I said: “Chloe’s dad settled down in another city. We have to move there.” “I see.” The teacher wished our family a happy reunion. I thanked her. Anna was even more satisfied when she found out Chloe wasn’t even going to preschool anymore. Two days later, Chloe was completely recovered. I packed my things, took off the ring on my hand, and left it on the nightstand. I swept my gaze over this house I had lived in for years. Liam was never stingy materially; every single item was exquisite and luxurious. But this home didn’t belong to me. Chloe asked: “Mommy, aren’t we telling Uncle Liam?” I patted her little head and said: “Uncle Liam is very busy, we shouldn’t bother him.” Chloe: “But… but I’m going to miss Uncle Liam.” I said: “Uncle Liam is just an uncle. We’ve been staying in his house for a long time, it’s time to move out.” Chloe nodded her little head: “Right. We shouldn’t keep bothering other people.” I offered a faint smile and took her little hand: “Let’s go, Chloe.” Chloe said: “Okay.”

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My best friend stole my boyfriend, so I turned around and seduced her ultimate, unattainable crush of ten years—Felix Sterling. Early the next morning, I fled the scene on trembling legs, only to find my ex-boyfriend standing outside the door. He had been there all night. With bloodshot eyes, he looked at me and asked, “Then what was I to you?” I wrenched my hand out of his grasp. “When you were busy betraying me with my best friend, did you ever stop to think about what I was to you?” Behind me, Felix Sterling’s face was a mask of pure, terrifying ice. 1 Felix’s grip was bruising. Instinctively, I pushed against his chest. He hovered over me, his alcohol-flushed eyes locking onto mine. “Do we stop, or keep going?” His low, slightly raspy voice brushed across my skin like rough velvet. The heat radiating from his palms was impossible to ignore. The voice in my head tore at me, flashing a million reasons to back out, but in the end, I gritted my teeth, grabbed Felix’s tie, and pulled him down into a fierce, desperate kiss. As my consciousness began to blur, his lazy, amused voice echoed above me. “Poor thing. You make it look like I’m the one bullying you.” 2 Felix Sterling was truly a force to be reckoned with. I cursed him under my breath, my hands shaking as I slipped my clothes back on. I had to get out of there before he woke up. But the moment I pushed the heavy oak door open on jelly-like legs, I froze. Preston Cole looked up through a cloud of cigarette smoke. His eyes were rimmed red, filled with a heartbroken, resentful agony. The ground around his feet was littered with cigarette butts. He had actually stood out here all night. I clutched my purse tight, pretending I didn’t see him, and turned to walk away. Preston lunged forward, grabbing my arm. “Scarlett, don’t you owe me an explanation?” “An explanation for what?” I frowned, trying to shove his hand off. “You’re hurting me.” “Hurting you? My fucking heart is bleeding, Scarlett!” Preston roared. “You doing this… what the hell am I to you?” I looked at him coldly and let out a harsh laugh. “When you were sleeping with my best friend behind my back, did you stop to think about what I was to you?” He deflated instantly. His eyes watered, and he frowned in agony. “I was drunk! I swear I don’t know how it happened. I don’t even like her, Scarlett. I only love you.” “Scarlett, you can’t use this to get back at me. Do you know you’re just ruining yourself?!” “Enough, Preston.” I ripped my arm out of his grip. “It was only after I slept with Felix that I realized being with you was what was actually ruining me.” He tried to follow me. I spun around and slapped him hard across the face. “Get lost, you piece of trash.” 3 I was so angry I’d put my entire body weight into the slap. The momentum made me stumble backward. I crashed into a solid, muscular chest. A familiar, burning heat wrapped around my waist. Along with that familiar scent came a flood of chaotic, intimate memories. I looked up, caught in Felix’s dark, bottomless eyes, and my face instantly caught fire. I lowered my gaze, embarrassed and guilty, not daring to look at him again. “Felix Sterling!” To Preston, Felix’s appearance was like throwing a match into a powder keg. Preston pulled his fist back and swung wildly at Felix’s face. Felix smoothly pulled me behind him. He blocked Preston’s punch with one hand and drove his foot straight into Preston’s knee. “I’d advise against throwing a tantrum here,” Felix said coldly, glancing at a hotel concierge rushing toward us. I didn’t want to cause a scene. I tried to run, but Preston scrambled up, reaching for my wrist. Felix beat him to it, pulling me tightly against his side. “I’m taking you home.” “Let go of her! Scarlett is my girlfriend!” Preston stood with his fists clenched, desperate to fight but completely outmatched. “Preston, we broke up.” His face contorted, looking utterly devastated. “Scarlett, does it have to be like this?” I didn’t answer. Felix simply dragged me away. 4 “What do you want?” Felix lit a cigarette, his dark eyes looking down at me. “I want you to destroy Preston Cole. He and Tara betrayed me. I want them to suffer.” Felix’s gaze was heavy. “You’ve got the wrong guy.” In the end, he only wrote me a check. For the next month, he vanished completely. Recently, though, his name was plastered all over the news. Every headline was about his upcoming engagement. And his fiancée was none other than my ex-best friend, Tara. After pining for him for a decade, she was finally getting her wish. Ten years ago, our three families were old money equals, closely tied socialites. Unfortunately, my family’s business collapsed. Tara’s family took a minor hit, leaving only the Sterling family at the absolute pinnacle of high society. Countless women threw themselves at the Sterling empire. I have no idea what manipulative tactics Tara’s family used, but they actually got Felix to say yes. A marriage alliance of this magnitude—how could I possibly miss it? The venue was extravagant. The Sterlings had invited the city’s most elite, along with a swarm of media. Perfect. The more people, the better. Up on the grand stage, Tara’s smile was radiant. Felix wore his usual cold, detached expression, looking down at everyone like ants. It was only when his eyes landed on me that a crack appeared in his icy facade. The smile vanished from Tara’s face. She glared at me like a hawk, glanced at Felix, and immediately signaled security to drag me out. But it was too late. The guests and the cameras had already noticed me. I stood right in front of the flashing bulbs, smiled softly, and pulled out an ultrasound printout. “Felix, I brought your child to congratulate you on your engagement.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough. The crowd erupted into absolute chaos, every camera lens zooming in on my flat stomach. “You cheap bitch! You seduced my fiancé! Have you no shame?!” Tara shrieked. “How dare you try to ruin my engagement!” Tara slapped me with everything she had. My ears rang instantly. Amidst the screaming and flashing cameras, Felix grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the ballroom. 5 Felix’s mansion was terrifyingly quiet. For a second, I genuinely thought he was going to strangle me to death and no one would ever know. His grip was brutal. He choked me until I couldn’t speak, leaving me to thrash and push against his chest. Just as I was on the verge of passing out, he let go, throwing me to the floor. “Felix, a dozen cameras watched you drag me out of there. If I die here, you can’t explain it away.” I instinctively curled my arms protectively over my stomach. His frown deepened. He made a call, summoning his private doctor to draw my blood. The results were undeniable. I was pregnant. He couldn’t shake this off. “What do you want?” he asked, the exact same question from a month ago. “You are not allowed to marry Tara. Also, I want you to destroy Preston.” Felix pulled out a cigarette. He was about to light it, but suddenly remembering something, he snapped it in half. His voice dropped an octave. “Scarlett, I already gave you my answer.” “But the stakes are different now.” I stood up, took his hand, and pressed it flat against my lower abdomen. “Felix, don’t you want a real family? I can give you one.” His parents had died when he was young, and his grandfather raised him. Despite possessing infinite wealth and supreme status, deep down, he harbored a desperate craving for family. Felix’s eyes darkened, and he pulled his hand back. “Scarlett, you know I despise being calculated.” “It’s just a child. What makes you think you’re the only one who can give me one?” I tilted my head, kissed the back of his hand, and chuckled softly. “But I’m the only one you gave a chance to, aren’t I?” Over the years, countless women had tried to climb into his bed and use a pregnancy to secure their status. But Felix never gave a single one of them the opportunity. Except me. 6 Felix and Tara’s engagement fell through. Even though he didn’t publicly acknowledge my status, he tacitly allowed me to keep the baby. As part of the deal, he lent me his resources to go after Preston. He wouldn’t do it himself; he just wanted to watch how far I could push Preston on my own. That was fine by me. It gave me plenty of room to operate. Tara tracked me down again. The second she burst through the door, she lunged at me, grabbing my hair and yanking violently. “You bitch! You stole my fiancé! You’re shameless!” “It’s all your fault! He was finally starting to accept me! Why did you have to show up?!” “Shut your mouth!” I slapped her hard across the face. “I only did this because you seduced my boyfriend! If you loved Felix so much, why did you set your sights on Preston? I treated you like my sister all these years, and you played me for a fool.” Tara’s face turned ugly. “We just had too much to drink. I wasn’t trying to steal him from you.” “Oh, really? Tara, you’ve always looked down on me, haven’t you? When my family went bankrupt, you were thrilled.” “You could never beat me at anything. Finally, you found a way to step on my neck. You gave me charity, pretended to be my best friend—it was all just to satisfy your own twisted superiority complex.” “All these years, watching me struggle made you so happy. But then, I found a boyfriend who treated me like a queen, and you couldn’t handle it. You got jealous.” “Do you think Preston is a good guy? Please. He only hooked up with you because he wanted to exploit your family’s resources.” “You two hypocrites. You deserve each other.” “What a shame. Everything you thought you were going to have is being taken away by me.” Tara went absolutely feral. By the time the guards dragged her out, she was screaming a string of vile curses. When Felix heard I was involved in a physical altercation, he rushed home, his face dark, and forcefully dragged me to the hospital for a full workup. “Relax. Your kid is tough as nails,” the doctor assured him. His jaw had been clenched tight the entire time. Only when the tests confirmed the baby was perfectly fine did he finally exhale. Felix genuinely cared about the child in my womb. I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. His movements were stiff, but his expression softened significantly. He looked expectant. “The doctor said the baby needs to feel both mommy and daddy’s presence. They can sense it.” I leaned my head gently against his shoulder. “Can you come over more often? To spend time with me and the baby?” 7 Felix didn’t answer me, but from that day forward, he came over every single day. “You poached Summit Corp’s contract?” I almost choked on my food when he asked. He frowned, handing me a glass of water. “Yes.” Felix had given me executive authority over one of his shell companies. Summit Corp was a subsidiary of Preston’s family empire, where their business interests overlapped. So, I handed him my first gift. “Is that a problem? You promised I could do this.” “You said you only wanted to destroy Preston, but you’re using my name to sabotage the Cole family’s corporate operations. Scarlett, what are you trying to pull?” “I just want to destroy Preston.” His intense gaze made me uncomfortable. I stood up, using nausea as an excuse to leave the table, but he grabbed my wrist. “Is Preston really the only one you want to destroy?” His sharp, penetrating eyes seemed to see right through me. “Just because Preston cheated, you’re taking it to this extreme? Scarlett, I don’t like women who lie to me.” He was squeezing my wrist so hard it bruised. I looked at him with teary eyes, crying out in pain. He loosened his grip slightly, but it was clear that tears weren’t going to get me out of this interrogation. “I want to destroy the entire Cole family, not just Preston.” He watched me, silently demanding I continue. “I was never truly in love with Preston. My plan was to marry him to infiltrate the Cole family. But when Tara pulled her stunt, I used it to pivot to you. I wanted to borrow your power to destroy them.” “Reason?” “The Cole family killed my adoptive parents. Preston’s father killed my adoptive dad in a DUI, then used his money to bury it. When my adoptive mom refused to accept the hush money, his men beat her so badly she suffered severe internal injuries. Without money for treatment, she slowly withered away and died.” “I was too young back then to do anything. But when I ran into Preston years later, it felt like God telling me to get my revenge.” He stared at me in silence. I knelt on the floor in front of him, crying and begging for a long time, until I finally earned his tacit approval. 8 My tactics against the Cole family became increasingly ruthless. From poaching contracts at the start, I escalated to maliciously blocking their supply chains. Rumors that the Sterling empire was targeting the Coles spread like wildfire. Businesses that were allied with the Coles severed ties out of fear of offending Felix. Those who already disliked the Coles took the opportunity to kick them while they were down. Negative press surrounded the Cole family endlessly, and their assets were frozen or targeted. Using the Sterling name, I even coordinated with the banks to cut off the Cole family’s corporate loans, effectively strangling their lifeline. Like a fish on a chopping block, the Cole family was being scaled alive, thrashing desperately in a boiling pot. During one of my prenatal checkups, I ran into Preston. He looked haggard. Through the crowd, his eyes burned with a painful, feverish intensity. “Are you really pregnant with his child?” When his eyes landed on my slightly swelling stomach, his clenched fists began to shake. I smiled. “Weren’t you standing right outside the door that night?” “Why?!” He grabbed my arm in a frantic panic, only to be shoved back immediately by my bodyguards. “Why are you with Felix Sterling? Do you love him? Do you care about him?” “What about me? We were together for so long. Just because I drank too much and made a stupid mistake, we can never go back?” I watched him lose his mind, watched him become hysterical, and asked him only one question: “Since you were standing right outside that night, why didn’t you stop me?” He stared at me, too ashamed to speak. “Because you were terrified of Felix. You were terrified of the Sterling empire. So you abandoned me. Since you did that, why couldn’t I abandon you?” He looked thoroughly humiliated. “So, you never loved me. Are you really out for my family’s blood? Have you been targeting us this whole time? Was that your goal when you approached me, and your goal when you approached Felix?” I looked at him with pity, refusing to offer even a shred of the affection he was so desperate to see. His expression finally twisted into absolute despair. “Scarlett, I have a secret to tell you. Can you make them leave first?” “What secret?” “You’re destroying the Cole family because of what happened to your adoptive parents. But what you don’t know is… the person you actually have a blood feud with is someone else entirely.” He sounded so incredibly serious. After a long moment of thought, I agreed to speak with him alone. My two bodyguards refused. They wanted to intervene, but given my pregnancy, they didn’t dare use force. They could only step back to call Felix. When Preston and I walked to the intersection, he looked like he wanted to say something, but his eyes darted to an approaching van. Before I could react, a sharp pinch hit my neck, and everything went black.

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