I am the child of a mistress. The year I turned seventeen, my biological father died. At his funeral, wearing my school uniform, I stood before a room full of business magnates, brilliant young scientists, and A-list actresses, trembling as I said: “I… I’m here to fight for my inheritance…” Before I could finish, the legitimate children all stared at me. I burst into tears from fear. “If… if you don’t want to give me any, that’s fine too…” The actress’s eyes lit up: “A little sister? A soft, squishy little sister?” The scientist spread out paper and pen: “A high school senior? Come here and solve this calculus problem so I can see where you’re at.” The billionaire pulled out a black card: “What’s there to want from the old man’s measly savings? Call me ‘brother’, and I’ll give you ten times as much.” 1 My mother was a high-level manipulator, a “canary” kept by a rich man. Originally, the deal was simple: the sugar daddy provided the money, she provided her looks, a fair exchange with no strings attached. But when you live the good life for too long, greed easily takes root. She got pregnant, and relying on her pregnant belly, she staged a classic “canary runs away with the baby” trope. Before running away, she broadcasted her address all over her social media. Terrified that people wouldn’t be able to find her. She fantasized that her sugar daddy would lock down the entire city just for her, embarking on a domineering pursuit of love. That his wife would break down from an inferiority complex and willingly step aside. Unfortunately. She played herself. The sugar daddy didn’t even bother looking. He didn’t want her, or the baby. How could she accept this? Heavily pregnant and nearing her due date, she blocked the entrance to the sugar daddy’s mansion. Two bodyguards dragged her out and threw her by the garbage dump. They also passed on a message from the sugar daddy’s wife: “If you have the capability to take my husband, go ahead. Give birth to the child and give it to me to raise. Money? You won’t get a single cent!” After her relentless pestering proved fruitless, she finally gave up. But it was too late for an abortion. Harboring resentment, she gave birth to me and raised me haphazardly. Not out of love, but for money. The sentence she said to me the most was: “You are his seed, does he get to just say he won’t give us anything and that’s it?” “Dream on! Even if he dies, you’re entitled to a share of his estate!” And so, as she wished, the year I turned seventeen, my biological father kicked the bucket. Upon hearing the news, she swiftly dumped me at the funeral home. “Chloe Smith, remember this! Including you, your dad only has four kids! You get a quarter of his estate!” “Today is your last chance. If you don’t get the money, don’t bother coming back to see me!” Her contorted features terrified me. “Mom, don’t leave me here, I’m scared…” “Scared, scared, all you know is being scared. What did I raise you for? To make money!” “For over a decade, you’ve eaten my food, used my things, and delayed me finding a new man. Shouldn’t you compensate me?” “Get that inheritance, give it to me, and after that, I’ll still be your mom!” She walked a few quick steps, then suddenly stopped. She turned back, rummaged through my pockets, and took away the only ten dollars I had. I was stunned. Without money, I couldn’t take the bus. This funeral home was halfway up a mountain. Relying on my own two legs, I wouldn’t be able to walk back even by nightfall. She shoved me hard: “Only by cutting off your retreat will you work hard!” “If you get the money, you can take a taxi back. If you don’t…” She casually pointed to the surrounding mountains. “This whole area is a graveyard. You can just stay here and keep the ghosts company!” 2 The cold wind in the mountains blew, sending shivers down my spine. It felt like every little mound of earth in the deep mountains had eyes staring at me. I braced myself and walked into the funeral home. The funeral service had ended, and the guests were all gone. The room was empty except for the sugar daddy’s three legitimate children, discussing the final wrap-up with the lawyer. “According to Mr. Vance’s dying wishes, his estate, totaling two hundred million, will be divided equally among the three of you.” Two hundred million! So much money! No wonder my mom was so crazy. Jumping up and down for over a decade just to get a piece of the pie. And what I had to do today was try to get a quarter of that two hundred million. Fifty million! My palms were sweating with nervousness. With so much money, who would be willing to let a mistress’s child take it away? It looked like I was definitely going to get a beating. I just hoped they’d go easy on me when they hit me. I have an exam tomorrow, and I still need my hands to write… While I was thinking this, the division of assets over there had already begun. Sitting at the head of the table was the eldest sister, Mia Vance, a wildly popular A-list actress who had just swept the top domestic film awards. A simple black dress couldn’t hide her breathtaking beauty. Her soft, slender fingers took the document, glanced at it, and casually tossed it to the second brother. “Just this? Is it even worth wasting my time?” The second brother, Ethan Vance, dressed in black and white, wore silver-rimmed glasses that added a touch of maturity to his delicate, baby face. He kept typing on his laptop, not even looking at the piece of paper worth two hundred million. “Money is useless to me.” I had heard of him, the most brilliant young scientist in the country, a trailblazer in cutting-edge tech. It was true he didn’t need money; everything he needed was provided by the state. That piece of paper fluttered into the hands of the third brother, Liam Vance. He pinched it with his prominent knuckles, then casually tore it to shreds. “Two hundred million is worth a will? Just donate it.” Liam carried an aura of casual ruthlessness. For him, a regular on the Forbes rich list, two hundred million wasn’t worth his time. The eldest sister and second brother raised their eyebrows, neither having any objections. Seeing that the lawyer was about to draft a donation agreement instead, I weakly raised my hand. “Um… excuse me…” As soon as I spoke, the three legitimate children and the top lawyer—four pairs of eyes—all stared straight at me. My scalp tingled. The lawyer asked: “May I ask what business you have here?” I swallowed hard, speaking carefully: “I’m sorry, I… I’m here to fight for my inheritance…” 3 By the time I came back to my senses, I was already surrounded. The three legitimate siblings were tall, strikingly attractive, and possessed extraordinary auras. Compared to them, in my school uniform, I looked like a scrawny bean sprout in the corner. I was on the verge of crying from fear. Even though they didn’t treat money like money, it didn’t mean they were willing to throw it at a mistress! I shivered: “If… if you don’t want to give me any, that’s fine too…” Could you just lend me two dollars… So I can take the bus? I sneakily glanced up, terrified by their overwhelming presence, my whole body trembling. Forget it, forget it, it’s only a twenty-mile mountain road. Walking is fine too… I quietly shuffled toward the exit. I had barely taken a few steps when Mia grabbed the collar of my shirt and hauled me back. “Tsk, too light. She’s all bones.” Mia inspected me from top to bottom, her beautiful face full of disgust. “First, gain twenty pounds. She needs some meat on her bones to be healthy.” “Her hair is dry and has split ends, needs treatment. Her face is sunburned, needs repairing.” “Her uniform is frayed, her shoes don’t fit, the zipper on her backpack is broken.” “Change, change, change, everything must be changed!” She pulled out her phone and called her stylist: “Height 5’3″, weight 88 lbs. Prepare a full outfit from head to toe.” “Who is it for?” Mia’s tone became light and cheerful: “For my little sister, of course!” 4 I felt terribly awkward and uneasy: “Do… do you know who I am?” Mia threw an arm around my waist, her aloof face animated with excitement: “I know, the old man’s illegitimate daughter, right~” She pointed at her brilliant scientist brother and her billionaire brother, complaining to me: “Ethan here has been a prodigy since childhood. Memorized vocabulary at three, did advanced math at five. Take him out to play, and within five minutes he’s pulling out test papers to solve problems. Boring as hell!” “Liam is shrewd and cunning, full of schemes from head to toe. Started digging traps for me as soon as he could talk, and researching how to charter racing teams as soon as he could go out. Completely immune to being cute!” “Being the eldest sister is just an empty title, I have zero real authority.” “Now that I’ve finally caught a normal human sister, I don’t care about anything else, let me just enjoy the thrill of being a big sister first!” Mia said this while opening her makeup bag, getting ready to wash my face and do skincare. Ethan pushed her aside with his hip. He pulled out a pen and paper, an excited gleam shining from behind his silver glasses. “Little sister is a senior in high school? How are your grades?” “Come, solve this calculus problem first so I can see where you’re at!” Looking at the block of English letters on the paper, I went numb. “I… I don’t know how…” I’m a senior in high school, not a senior in college. Who learns calculus in high school? Ethan scratched his head in confusion: “That shouldn’t be. Even the dumbest person should have figured it out by seventeen, right?” Liam sneered, shoved him aside, and leaned in close to me. “You said you were here to fight for your inheritance?” That one sentence brought us back to the main topic. I looked at Liam nervously. This is it, this is it, finally time to talk about money and get beaten up, right? Liam pulled out a black card, his sharp features softening. “How much could the old man possibly have? Be a good girl, call me ‘brother’, and I’ll give you ten times as much.” Their enthusiasm made me feel a bit uneasy. This was completely different from what my mom had told me. Before I came, she repeatedly instructed me: “The richer people are, the stingier they are! If they don’t give it to you, just throw a tantrum on the floor!” “Getting beaten is even better! The harder they hit, the more money you can demand!” She said the Vance family were our sworn enemies. But the way these “enemies” looked at me… was a little warm? 5 I kept feeling like they were playing a simulation game with me. Like right now. I was brought back to the Vance family’s old mansion. Mia canceled all her recent schedules and hovered around me all day. On the first day home, she ordered a truckload of beef, lamb, fish, and seafood, and exquisite dishes were served one after another. I was overwhelmed by the favor. To not waste food, I kept my head down and ate until I was ready to throw up. Mia was shocked. She stopped me: “You’re going to make yourself sick like this.” “We made all these dishes just to see what you like. You don’t have to eat what you don’t like.” I was a bit confused. Did she mean I was allowed to be a picky eater? But my mom said being a picky eater was bad. When I was three, she brought back some leftover spicy stir-fried pork. I took one bite and cried from the spice, pushing it away with tears in my eyes. She got angry, grabbed me, and hit me: “So young and already picky? Want to eat well? Do you have the destiny for that?” But it was really too spicy, it hurt my mouth just eating it. I cried and only ate plain rice, staying far away from that dish. But she still wasn’t satisfied with that. She said I was being dramatic and that this bad habit must be broken. That plate of spicy pork was saved for the next meal if I didn’t eat it, and saved for three days if I didn’t eat it for two. I couldn’t eat new food until I finished it. I starved for three whole days and finally, crying, choked down that spoiled spicy pork. That night, I ran a high fever. After the fever broke, she stood next to me and lectured: “Being picky is bad. Mom is teaching you this for your own good, do you remember?” I remembered. So facing a table full of food, I ate with all my might. Hoping to finish it before it went bad. Preferences? Favorites? There were none. I had no right to be picky. Mia couldn’t stand watching anymore. She snatched my chopsticks, softened her tone, and said: “Chloe, don’t be afraid. You’re still a child, you can eat only what you like.” A wave of grievance suddenly welled up inside me. It felt like my three-year-old self, forced to eat chili peppers, was being hugged, a gentle voice comforting me: Did the peppers hurt your mouth? Be a good girl, we won’t eat it, we’ll eat something else! I gathered my courage and said in a low voice: “I… I can’t eat spicy food…” With a wave of Mia’s hand, several maids stepped forward and quickly removed all the dishes with chili peppers. And that wasn’t all. From that day on, I never saw another chili pepper on the dining table. So this is what it feels like to be favored. One sentence of “I don’t like it” could make that thing disappear from my world entirely. Under her meticulous care, I quickly filled out, gaining healthy weight like a balloon. My hair also visibly became dark and shiny. She was very satisfied, constantly showing off her results to her two younger brothers. 6 Not to be outdone, after doing a comprehensive assessment of all my subjects, Ethan was shocked that my grades were so abysmal. I’m already a senior in high school! I don’t understand Fourier transforms in math, I know nothing of quantum mechanics in physics, and I’m clueless about supramolecular chemistry. Tsk! How could someone be this dumb! He stopped going to his lab, took me to my high school to request a long leave of absence, and planned to personally create a customized tutoring curriculum for me. His car stopped at the school gate, attracting a massive amount of attention. Even though it was the most low-profile car the Vance family owned, it was still the most eye-catching presence on the street. He opened the door and carefully shielded my head from the frame. Just as I stepped out, I ran into my classmates. “Oh~ isn’t this ‘Mistress’ Chloe? Haven’t seen you for a few days, hooked a rich guy?” “What’s so surprising about that? A mistress’s daughter naturally becomes a mistress, it’s perfectly logical!” The group of them burst into loud laughter. My face burned hotly, and I opened my mouth to defend myself: “No, he’s my brother!” Isabella retorted rudely: “Oh, please! Who doesn’t know your mistress mom only had you? You’re so shameless, claiming relatives out of thin air!” “Hey big bro, you might want to stay away from Chloe, or her mom will latch onto you and fleece you alive!” The classmates nodded in agreement. Actually, they weren’t like this at first. Even though they knew I was an illegitimate child, they didn’t discriminate against me. Isabella, seeing my tattered clothes, even begged her mom to give me her old clothes to wear. We became good friends. But the good times didn’t last. One weekend, I went home happily wearing a red dress Isabella gave me. My mom grabbed the dress like a madwoman and interrogated me: “Who bought this for you?” I trembled as I explained that a classmate gave it to me. She launched into a frenzied tirade: “Are you that desperate? Accepting any piece of trash?” “Do you have any taste? You are a Miss of the Vance family! Not a beggar begging on the street!” She took scissors and cut the red dress into shreds. My heart ached terribly. I’d rather be a beggar on the street! At least beggars don’t have crazy mothers like mine! She dragged me to the school, caused a huge scene, and insisted Isabella was bullying me and insulting me with old clothes. I tried hard to defend Isabella, but she wouldn’t listen at all. She threw a tantrum in front of the school administration, demanding Isabella’s parents pay me compensation for emotional distress. Out of options, the school administration made Isabella apologize to me face-to-face. The way Isabella looked at me changed. From that day on, all my classmates knew that not only was I an illegitimate child, but I also had a greedy, money-grubbing mistress mother. They gave me the nickname “Mistress,” and no one ever wanted to speak to me again. Ethan patted my shoulder and stood in front of me: “Isabella? I’ve heard of you, the girl who helped our Chloe before. Thank you!” Isabella was dumbfounded, blushing and stammering: “I-I-I spoke to Chloe like that, wh-wh-why are you thanking me?” Ethan started to laugh, making him even more approachable. At this moment, the homeroom teacher arrived after hearing the news. He hurriedly invited him into the classroom and proudly introduced him: “Ethan Vance, the valedictorian of the city’s high school entrance exam, national champion in physics and chemistry olympiads, and a genius from Capitol University’s gifted youth program!” 7 Gasps erupted throughout the classroom. Among the students in the city, who didn’t know Ethan’s famous name? He was practically the synonym for a study god! Oh my god, a god-like figure like this is Chloe’s biological brother? The classmates secretly observed me, their previous disdain replaced entirely by surprise and envy. I quietly straightened my back. Having a brother like this, I’m really awesome! Upon learning that Ethan took a leave of absence for me to personally tutor me, the classmates couldn’t sit still anymore. One by one, they came up to add me as a friend and pull me into group chats. “Chloe, could you share some study materials?” “Chloe, can I study with you when you’re free?” “Chloe, my house is nearby, come over sometime~” “Chloe…” I was overwhelmed by the sudden attention, but I also knew it was all directed at Ethan. I asked for his opinion. He ruffled the hair on top of my head and said: “Why so cautious? Being an older brother means letting your little sister boss you around!” The satisfaction in my heart was about to overflow. In this class where I had spent over two years. After being pitied, humiliated, and isolated, this was the first time I truly integrated with my classmates. 8 If Mia was nourishing my body, and Ethan was nurturing my grades. Then Liam was much more straightforward and crude—he was fattening my wallet. After getting me a custom-made, pink “Princess” card, his performance began. First, he took me to the biggest mall in the city. Those stores I usually only dared to peek at through the glass were cleared out just for me. He sat on the sofa: “Pick whatever you want~” I recognized these brands. They were the things my mom dreamed of, the things she could only look at repeatedly in magazines. “Once you get the old man’s inheritance, I’ll buy all these new collections!” “My bags, my jewelry, my clothes, they will all be mine!” She had also possessed these things once. During the years she was a kept woman, my biological father was very generous to her. But she was never satisfied. Given regular leather, she wanted exotic skin; given silver hardware, she wanted diamond-encrusted. Eventually, she even thought about kicking out the lawful wife to take the position herself, having a child to abuse the legitimate heirs. Unfortunately, she gambled away her good life. The bags and jewelry she had accumulated were also gradually sold off and the money spent. I sneaked a peek at Liam, who was sitting on the sofa controlling the entire scene, and then looked at myself. There was no comparison at all. “What are you spacing out for? Pick.” I shook my head: “Third Brother, there’s no need. I’ve already troubled you guys enough.” Liam frowned slightly and lectured me: “A girl shouldn’t be so petty. Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson.” Anything I glanced at for more than a second was immediately wrapped up. Bags, watches, bracelets, haute couture—it was blinding. By the time we left, a whole bunch of sales associates behind us had their arms full. When he swiped the card, the price was longer than my lifespan. I jumped anxiously: “Third Brother, I’m still in school, I don’t need any of these things at all.” Liam said carelessly: “Oh, can’t use them, right? Let’s go, we’ll go sell them.” He turned around and took me to the nearest luxury consignment store. Without even opening the packaging, he threw everything on the counter: “Don’t want it anymore, calculate the total.” The sales associate was only stunned for a second before her fingers flew across the calculator in a blur. After the final tally, in and out, in just half a day, we lost six million dollars. My heart ached so much my jaw almost dropped. Seeing me like this, Liam smiled slightly: “Don’t feel bad, all the shops on this street are mine.” I shook my head. That’s not how accounting works! One thing is one thing. Even if it’s the family business, this six million was a real, tangible loss. Liam raised an eyebrow: “Don’t rush~” A few minutes later, over a dozen reporters rushed in with their cameras and microphones. Liam shielded my face, letting the reporters take photos. In less than half an hour, the reports were out and quickly climbed the trending charts. [Vance Group CEO Spends Millions on Mysterious Woman] A few minutes later, several related trending topics popped up: [Filthy Rich! Why is the Vance Family So Wealthy?] [Deep Dive into the Wealthy Vance Family: Assets Include…] [The Legendary Business Journey of Liam Vance, Head of the Vance Family] Liam opened the stock page to show me. Half an hour after the news broke, the Vance Group’s stock hit its daily limit up. With this single move, their market value saw a net increase of many hundreds of millions. He played with his phone, sitting in the car, and said to me: “Although this saying is vulgar, it’s common sense.” “The best way to demystify something is to own it. Your mom wants money but can’t wait, forcing you to fight and snatch it, which easily gives you a misguided desire for money.” “The best way to correct this is to spend money, making you the master of money, not its slave.” He waved his phone, adding: “Ultimately, you must become the invisible hand that manipulates money.” In a very good mood, he transferred money to my Princess card, saying it was pocket money and telling me to spend it however I liked. Looking at the balance on it, I felt a bit like I was in another lifetime. I don’t know if I got my dad’s inheritance or not, but anyway, my pocket money was already over five hundred million.

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My older sister secretly gave birth to a child and then went abroad to study. My mom told me to adopt the baby. “Don’t go to college. You raise her. Mom will help out, and in the future, she’ll be your support.” I took a deep breath, just about to unleash a string of curses, when lines of text suddenly appeared in mid-air: 【The female lead is so smart, dumping the kid on the supporting female character to raise while she shines alone. When she comes back successful and glamorous, the kid will still be hers!】 【I can’t wait to see the truth revealed five years later, and the infertile young master of the Hayes family groveling to win his wife back! Hmph! Today you ignore me, tomorrow I’ll be out of your league.】 【The ‘running away with the baby’ trope is cliché, but we really love watching it!】 I sneered. The Hayes family, right? I picked up the baby and marched straight to the Hayes mansion, kicking the door open. “Either marry me, or give me money! I gave birth to your son’s seed!!” Mrs. Hayes was stunned for a moment. “Alright then, I’ll have them prepare for a wedding.” Me: “…” Wait, there was another option. Aren’t you going to consider it? 1 Early one morning, my mom sneakily brought home a baby girl. “Chloe, Mom found a baby abandoned at our doorstep! Look at her, she’s so pitiful!” I peeked over. The baby was wrapped in a brand-new, light pink swaddle. Her little face was rosy and fair, and she was sleeping soundly. Only an idiot would believe she was picked up off the street! A week ago, my mom and my older sister, Claire, had been acting incredibly secretive, not coming home for several days. I secretly followed them. I saw them with my own eyes going into the maternity ward of a hospital. Honestly, I always thought my sister, Claire, thought too highly of herself. I never expected she would secretly have a child for some man. Seeing I wasn’t saying anything, my mom said anxiously: “This child has a connection with our family, let’s keep her. You raise her, Mom will help, and she’ll be grown up in no time.” I was trembling with anger, and I sneered: “Mom, are you out of your mind? It’s bad enough you’re not paying for me to go to college. It’s bad enough you secretly sold our other house to pay for Claire to study abroad! What makes you think you can make me raise a child of unknown origin?!” “What exactly am I to you in your heart?!” 2 Since we were little, my mom always favored Claire. In her eyes, Claire was smarter and prettier than me. She was destined to stand out and bring glory to the family. So she directed all the family’s resources toward Claire. If there was only one piece of candy, it was Claire’s. A new pair of leather shoes? Definitely Claire’s. When my dad was alive, he barely managed to keep a balance so I wouldn’t suffer too much. But after my dad died, my mom slowly went crazy. Now look at this! All the money was given to Claire. Not only was she not paying for my college, but she was also making me raise Claire’s illegitimate daughter. It was truly despicable! I finally saw the true face of my family of origin! Seeing my fierce expression, my mom’s face changed slightly: “Chloe, it’s not like that. Look how cute this baby is. It’s so pitiful to be born without anyone.” “Listen to Mom, the old saying goes, it’s wicked to abandon a child left at your door!” “Don’t worry, your grades aren’t as good as your sister’s anyway, it doesn’t matter if you go to that second-tier college or not. If you raise this child well, she’ll be your support in the future!” I sneered: “Oh, abandoning a child at the door is wicked? I think you have it backward. Having a child and not raising it is what’s wicked!” “I’m only nineteen. If I don’t go to college, don’t work, and raise a child, will I even be able to get married in the future? What will people say about me?! Have you thought about that?” My mom was determined to pin this child on me. She was ruthless! Seeing I was unyielding, my mom yelled: “I’m doing this for your own good! Why are you so ungrateful!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Actually, I had already packed my bags. Leaving this wolf’s den, I have hands and feet, I can survive somehow! But just then, lines of text suddenly appeared in mid-air: 【The female lead is so smart, dumping the kid on the supporting female character and the mom to raise while she shines alone. When she comes back successful and glamorous, the kid will still be hers!】 【I can’t wait to see the truth revealed five years later, and the infertile young master of the Hayes family groveling to win his wife back! Hmph! Today you ignore me, tomorrow I’ll be out of your league.】 【The ‘running away with the baby’ trope is cliché, but we really love watching it!】 Seeing these words clearly, I stopped in my tracks. 3 So that’s how it was. I remembered about a year ago, it seemed my sister had started dating someone. Rumor had it he was a wealthy young master named Julian Hayes. My mom was over the moon. Dreaming every day of my sister marrying into a billionaire family. Then she would rise in status along with her, enjoying wealth and prestige. But half a year ago, my sister’s attitude suddenly grew cold again. She walked around with a long face all day, acting like someone owed her a million dollars. After that, she stopped coming home. Occasionally when we met, she wore lots of layers, looked noticeably heavier, and acted secretive. I actually thought she had been dumped. I was secretly happy for a few days. Turns out, she was planning to run away with the baby! Just then, the baby suddenly started crying. My mom frantically shoved the baby into my arms and went to mix formula. The floating comments started rolling again: 【Speaking of which, the plot is pretty melodramatic. The male lead, Julian, got into a car accident drag racing for the female lead… Not only did he get amnesia, but he’s paralyzed from the waist down… But the female lead just abandoned the child and went abroad…】 【The female lead did the right thing! The kid is still young and won’t remember anything. When she grows up, she’ll be close to whoever gives her money!】 【Exactly! It’s completely normal for the female lead to reject the male lead looking like a ghost right now. When the male lead recovers in the future and the female lead comes back, won’t a family reunion be perfect?!】 4 After reading these morally bankrupt, bullshit comments. A brilliant plan popped into my head. The reason my mom and sister kept this child. Was actually hoarding a rare commodity. Because they knew Julian was crippled. The Hayes family would definitely want this child in the future. So when my sister returns in glory. This child would be her bargaining chip to legitimately marry into the wealthy family. But the prerequisite was sacrificing my education, my career, and my youth. It was easy to imagine that once my mom and sister struck it rich, I would be tossed aside. Then why shouldn’t I go to the Hayes family ahead of time? And take the share that belongs to me?! I really am smart. Next, I pretended to accept my mom’s arrangement. Then I asked around, got the address of the Hayes mansion, and verified what exactly had happened to the Hayes family. Luckily, the people in those comments weren’t lying. So, one morning. I sent my mom out to buy formula. Then I carried the baby, hailed a cab, and headed straight for the Hayes mansion. 5 Arriving at the Hayes estate. Mrs. Hayes received me gently. “You are… my son’s friend? It’s rare for someone to still want to visit him at a time like this…” I tilted my chin up, sat down brazenly on the sofa, and declared boldly: “I gave birth to your son’s seed!!” “Either marry me, or give me money!” I had thought this through beforehand. If I just asked for money, the Hayes family would definitely try to haggle. But if I used the threat of marrying in. They would definitely be more willing to just give me money. I understood how these tropes worked! Mrs. Hayes was dumbfounded. It took her five minutes to recover. “This child… is Julian’s?” I nodded firmly: “Don’t try to deny it, DNA technology exists now!” Mrs. Hayes took a deep breath. She carefully examined the baby’s features. A moment later, she covered her face and wept: “She looks exactly like Julian when he was little…” Me: “…” Her reaction was a bit different from what I expected. Next, Mrs. Hayes said: “I’ll have someone do a DNA test right now. If the child is really Julian’s, then we’ll prepare for a wedding! We will definitely take responsibility!” “At a time like this, the fact that you haven’t abandoned him… I won’t mistreat you!” Me: “…” Wait, there’s another option. Aren’t you going to consider it? Take the kid. Give me the money!! Comments scrolled wildly across the sky: 【What is the supporting female character doing! If she runs to the Hayes family and spills everything now, what will the female lead do in the future!】 【That damn supporting character, she’s trying to impersonate the female lead to become a rich wife! It won’t be that easy!】 【Don’t worry everyone, when she gets exposed in the future, she’ll die a miserable death!】 I shot a cold glare at the air. Hmph! The more you don’t want me to marry in, the more I will! Once I’ve milked enough money, I won’t care about any of this!! 6 After settling into the guest room. I thought things over calmly. I was only nineteen. I had no degree and no real-world experience. Taking the money and running right now wasn’t the optimal solution. Even if I got the money in my hands. Whether I could keep it was another story. The comments said my sister wouldn’t return for five years. Then these next few years would be the perfect time for me to comfortably study and improve myself while living with the Hayes family. Once I graduate from college and have milked enough money… I’ll naturally just walk away! A perfect plan! 7 Because the baby and I had vanished. My mom frantically called me. “Where the hell did you go!! And the baby?!” I picked my ear and said impatiently: “The baby was picked up off the street, so naturally I gave her away. Don’t worry, I gave her to a wealthy family.” This child didn’t even have a birth certificate. She was an undocumented citizen. Even if my mom called the cops, she wouldn’t be able to explain it. She was instantly dumbfounded: “You… how could you be so cruel! Where are you? I’ll come find you, you bring that child back to me right now!” I said coldly: “Mom, is there a problem with giving a foundling to someone who needs her?” My mom lost it: “That’s your sister’s… That child looks so much like your sister, how could you do such a thing! Bring the child back, or I’m calling the police! I’ll sue you for kidnapping! I’ll send you to jail!” I snorted coldly: “Mom, stop trying to fool me! This child is Claire’s, isn’t she?” “I’m not going to raise her anyway, and you don’t have the ability to raise her alone. Isn’t giving her away a good thing?” “If you dare call the police, I swear I’ll make Claire’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy known to everyone, and I’ll never tell you where the child went!!” My mom froze, trembling as she spoke: “Chloe… how did you become like this?” Wasn’t it because of you pushing me?! I roared: “Your favoritism is your business, but I won’t play along! When Claire comes back in the future, I can tell you where the child is. But if you insist on making a scene now, then let’s both go down in flames!” After saying that, I hung up the phone. I knew my mom wouldn’t make a scene. First, she insisted on dumping the child on me because she had no confidence in raising a baby herself. To her, this child was a burden. She didn’t want to raise it. Second, Claire was her life’s masterpiece. She wouldn’t allow a single blemish on Claire’s reputation. Sure enough, she quieted down after that. She didn’t even ask if I had money to live on. I took this opportunity to completely cut contact with her. 8 The next day, the DNA report came out. As expected of a wealthy family. The report came out so fast. Mrs. Hayes was thanking her lucky stars. “This is wonderful, my son has an heir… and a wedding to plan… Once things get moving, everything will get better…” Following that. Under my persuasion, we held a low-key, intimate wedding at home. Because I hadn’t reached the legal marrying age yet. So we couldn’t register the marriage officially. Mrs. Hayes promised me. When the time came, she would definitely give me legal status. On the day of the wedding. I finally met Julian for the first time. To be honest, I kind of understood why my sister ran away. Julian sat despondently in his wheelchair. His eyes were sunken, and he was skin and bones. His hair and beard were so overgrown you couldn’t even see his original face. If you put him on the street. He would look exactly like a homeless person. He looked at me and the baby. His eyes were completely dead. After the wedding, Mrs. Hayes set three ground rules with me. She was willing to pay for my college education and give me a monthly allowance of fifty thousand dollars. After some haggling, I bumped it up to a hundred thousand. There were maids and nurses at home. I didn’t have to do chores, look after the baby full-time, or help Julian with his physical therapy. But apparently, he was very uncooperative. Mrs. Hayes hoped I wouldn’t live on campus, and that after school every day, I would spend an hour interacting with Julian and the baby. Truly the heart of a loving mother. I agreed.

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After my best friend finally got together with her crush, she introduced me to her crush’s young uncle. I had been single my entire life, accustomed to living alone, and originally wanted to refuse. But when I saw this usually bright, moon-like man sitting by the pool, dead drunk and vulnerable, my heart softened. I walked over, held out my hand, and said, “I’m just short of graduation credits. Want to go get a marriage certificate?” The man was stunned for a moment, but eventually placed his hand in mine. On an impulse, we got our marriage certificate and became husband and wife. For seven years, we treated each other with respect, to the envy of everyone. But only I knew. I never managed to touch the heart of this older man. So much so that after he died, he left his entire fortune to my best friend. And I, the one who should have been the rightful heir, got absolutely nothing. So, given a second chance at life, I no longer want to be the star trying to save the moon. I’m letting Arthur go, and I’m letting myself go. 1 “I’m sorry, but I already have someone I like.” As soon as the words left my mouth, a momentary dead silence fell over the dining table. Arthur paused in cutting Olivia’s steak, and Olivia herself looked up at me in shock. “Chloe, since when do you have someone you like? How come I didn’t know?” I set down my knife and fork, curling my lips into a smile: “I don’t really like talking about things that aren’t certain yet.” “I don’t believe you. You’re definitely just making up an excuse to get out of this.” Olivia immediately drew a conclusion. “Chloe, I’m not trying to put you down, but look, you’re twenty this year and still a virgin. Even though you are quite average-looking, once the lights are off and you’re in bed, everyone is the same.” “But you still don’t have a boyfriend. Do you know why?” She spoke softly, as if she were genuinely trying to analyze my situation. In my past life, I was too stupid to hear that while some words seemed well-intentioned, they were actually meant to belittle and mock me. But I still played along and asked, “Why?” “Because your standards are too high, of course!” “Look at my young uncle. He graduated from a top university and is now the CEO of the Vance Group. Who wouldn’t want to be his wife?” “If you weren’t my best friend, why would I ever set you up with my young uncle?” Her expression was triumphant. Arthur, sitting next to her, also smiled, a trace of helpless indulgence flashing in his eyes. “Are you that eager to find me an aunt?” Olivia huffed, “Don’t think I don’t know that the uncles and aunts want you to enter an arranged marriage. So I thought, rather than having a stranger be my young aunt, I’d rather it be my best friend.” “Why give the advantage to an outsider?” She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Arthur raised an eyebrow, seemingly acquiescing to Olivia’s behavior. And finally, he deigned to shift his gaze to me. To be honest, Arthur was the man I’ve seen wear a black sweater with the most ascetic restraint. The long sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, a Submariner watch on his wrist. I remembered it. It was a gift Olivia had bought for her boyfriend. When her boyfriend didn’t want it, she gave it to Arthur. Something someone else discarded, yet he held onto it longingly until the moment he died. Sometimes, I even marveled at his deep affection. “Chloe, what do you think?” he asked me. I took the last sip of my red wine and said softly: “I believe I said, I already have someone I like.” Arthur remained noncommittal. His long fingers picked up the knife and fork again, cut a piece of steak, and naturally fed it to Olivia. Only then did he continue leisurely: “But I don’t think I lack any competitive edge.” “As Olivia said, there are many who want to be Mrs. Vance. And if you choose me, there are only benefits for you, no drawbacks.” “As for this ‘liking’ you speak of—” He paused, “Chloe, how much do you think ‘liking’ someone is worth?” Courtesy before force. Arthur’s usual tactic in the business world. Unfortunately, I was no longer the Chloe from my past life, the one who took the initiative to walk towards him. After a moment, I raised the corners of my lips and smiled: “You’re right, ‘liking’ isn’t worth much.” “But there is one more thing. I’m sorry, Mr. Vance, but you are not my type.” 2 I didn’t stay to see Arthur’s final expression. After setting down my wine glass, I stood up and left. On my phone, Olivia’s messages kept pouring in. [Chloe, why were you acting crazy just now?] [You should be burning incense in gratitude that my uncle is willing to marry you. Have you looked in the mirror lately?] [I treated you as my best friend, and you? Is this how you repay me?!] I didn’t reply; I just blocked her. But surprisingly, this time Arthur took the initiative to add me. [I’m willing to marry you only because of Olivia. It doesn’t mean I actually have feelings for you.] [After we get married, I won’t interfere with your private life.] Staring at those words. A mocking curve appeared on my lips. Arthur really would compromise in any way possible for his little niece. But I had already served as their fig leaf for a lifetime, so this time, they could play by themselves. I shoved the phone back into my pocket. I hailed a cab back to the university. … In the office, my counselor handed me the application form for an internship at the border, his expression complex: “Chloe, are you really sure?” “The border isn’t like Capitol City. You should know how dangerous it is there. Your parents…” His voice trailed off. I took the application form and nodded: “I know, but I’ve already made my decision and won’t change it.” In my past life, my life was altered because of Arthur. God favored me and gave me a chance to choose again. Of course, I had to correct my mistakes. And walk the path I was meant to walk. The counselor looked at me, finally let out a soft sigh, and patted my shoulder: “In that case, I won’t say any more.” “Chloe, you are just like your parents, very outstanding.” I smiled back. My parents passed away five years ago. At that time, there was a sudden earthquake at the border. My parents were the most famous doctors in Capitol City. Upon receiving the call for support, they immediately rushed to the border. I saw them off at the door as usual, waiting for them to return. But in the end, I only waited for two urns of ashes. I was fifteen that year. My parents died in the aftershocks, becoming heroes, and I became an orphan. Actually, no one knows that I met Arthur before I met Olivia. When I was eighteen, I worked odd jobs to earn living expenses, occasionally delivering takeout for the small shop downstairs. The day I met Arthur, the first heavy rain fell in Capitol City. The road was misty, and I accidentally rear-ended a luxury car. I was thrown from my bike, my arms scraped, suffering multiple fractures. The pain made me unable to get up from the ground. More and more onlookers gathered on the road. No one was willing to help me up, and the driver of the luxury car didn’t get out either. Only Arthur reached out his hand to me and asked, “Does it hurt?” In that moment, my eyes instantly reddened. I cried uncontrollably. Because since I was fifteen, it had been a long time since anyone cared if I was hurting or tired. Arthur was the first, and also the last in my previous life. So, do I hate Arthur? I should. But I’m too tired to even love him anymore. 3 Back in my dorm, I started packing for my trip to the border in three days. Another intern traveling with me was named Liam Thorne. A friend request popped up. I sighed silently. Whether in Capitol City or later at the border, I always seemed unable to escape people related to Olivia. Olivia’s current boyfriend, her future fiancé, was Liam’s older brother, Julian Thorne. Julian was a notorious playboy. When he accepted Olivia’s confession and married her, many people in their circle didn’t believe it. A playboy settling down? Impossible. The countless speculations later on were all because Olivia had a good background. The Thorne and Vance families had been family friends for a century. Even just out of respect for Arthur, Julian would give Olivia some face. Not to mention, to pave the way for Olivia, Arthur’s dowry for her was exorbitant—shares, real estate, and luxury goods worth a billion dollars. Yet Julian still cheated. But the marriage was already a done deal. Olivia didn’t want a divorce, so she ran to Arthur every day crying. Arthur lost his temper once and put Julian in the hospital, but in return, Olivia gave him the cold shoulder for three days. The funny thing was, in the end, Arthur came to beg me. He asked me to put in a good word for him with Olivia. He loved Olivia so much, how lowly did he become? So lowly that one day he actually said: “Chloe, if you can get Olivia to forgive me, I can sleep with you and give you a child.” At that time, I really wanted to say, I don’t need a child. But I couldn’t say a word. That was the third year of our marriage, but in the end, we still didn’t sleep together. Because Olivia came over again. As soon as the doorbell rang, the usually composed Arthur ran to open the door in a panic. Olivia threw herself directly into his arms, burying her face in the crook of his neck, crying until her shoulders shook: “Uncle, Julian said he wants to divorce me.” “He’s a bastard!” Arthur’s eyes were red with heartache. Back then, I actually thought about asking Olivia, did you know Arthur likes you? But I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Afraid of ruining our best friend bond. Because I guessed she knew, but was just playing dumb. Including having me marry Arthur, she knew exactly what she was doing. I had an ordinary background, much easier to manipulate than those socialites. Otherwise, how else could she commit all sorts of ambiguous acts under the guise of being a little niece? She drifted between Julian and Arthur. One she liked, and one who liked her. A true winner in life. And I was just the fig leaf. And a willing one at that. Back then, when I first met Liam, that’s what he said. His tone was cutting and merciless. I accepted Liam’s friend request. He sent me the itinerary for three days later, and added one last instruction: “Three days from now, 10 AM, at the school gate. I won’t wait if you’re late.” I replied: “OK.” He didn’t send any more messages. 4 The next day, I didn’t expect Arthur to actually come looking for me. A Rolls-Royce was parked at the school gate. He stood by the car in a black trench coat, his face cold, his deep eyes showing no emotion, exuding an aura of detachment. Passing schoolmates couldn’t help but look at him. I initially pretended not to see him, but as I was about to walk past him, Arthur spoke up. “I don’t understand why you are so stubborn, why you resist marrying me so much.” “But Chloe, you’re an adult now.” “You should be able to distinguish what is most beneficial for you.” I sneered, stopped walking, and glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. “And I don’t understand why it has to be me.” “Just because Olivia wants it?” So he disregarded others’ wishes and tried every means to achieve it. But why? “Arthur, I don’t want to be involved in whatever is going on between you and Olivia at all.” “I just want you two to stay far away from me.” With that, I lifted my foot to leave. Arthur raised his hand and blocked me again, then pulled a check from his pocket: “A business deal that falls through just means the chips aren’t high enough.” “Chloe, agree to marry me, and these three hundred million are yours.” I lowered my eyes and smiled silently. Three hundred million. In my past life, Arthur only spent eighty thousand to marry me. Why eighty thousand? Because Olivia said: “Uncle, Chloe is my best friend, just a token amount is enough.” “Anyway, she’ll be living and eating on your dime in the future. Having too much money on her isn’t safe.” My material desires were low, and I was used to earning my own living. If I hadn’t met Arthur, that eighty thousand would probably have been enough for a normal person’s bride price. So I didn’t think much of it. But now, I only felt mocked. Things obtained too easily are never cherished. Only when they are unattainable do people rack their brains. Just like Arthur with Olivia. He gave everything he had, gave away all his wealth. His dying wish when he passed away from late-stage stomach cancer was to see Olivia one last time. But where was Olivia then? She was busy trying to please Julian. By unconditionally revealing all of the Vance Group’s projects to Julian. “Mr. Vance is generous.” “Unfortunately, I don’t want to make a deal with you.” … After Chloe left, Arthur didn’t move. He stood rooted to the spot, his chest inexplicably feeling a bit tight. He put the check back into his pocket. He hadn’t expected Chloe to refuse. After all, it was three hundred million. If this person were smart, she could even achieve a leap in social class instantly. But Chloe’s actions puzzled him. Marrying him, was it really such an unacceptable thing? At first, when Olivia wanted to introduce him to Chloe, he refused. But when he saw her photo. For some reason, he felt like he had seen her somewhere before. Today was his second time meeting Chloe. Chloe was too rational, too clear-headed. When she looked at him, there were no ripples in her eyes. He thought to himself that it should be like this. But what should it be like? He couldn’t figure it out, only his chest felt more and more uncomfortable. A thought urged him to go grab Chloe, whether for Olivia, or for himself. After a long while, Olivia sent a message: [Uncle, why don’t you just sleep with Chloe and make it a done deal.] [I can even secretly record a video and then threaten her! She’ll definitely agree then!] Seeing these two sentences, Arthur frowned slightly. He felt even more uncomfortable. 5 The night before my departure, I was double-checking my documents to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. Bang, the dorm door was kicked open. I looked up in shock, meeting Arthur’s dark, gloomy eyes. He strode forward and grabbed my wrist. Before I had time to say a word. He dragged me out, opened the car door, and shoved me inside. “Are you crazy?!” Arthur didn’t answer me, but slammed the car door shut with a bang. He started the car and sped away. Soon, Arthur brought me to a nightclub. “Get out,” he said coldly. I instinctively shrank back: “What exactly do you want to do?!” “Don’t you know what I want to do?” Arthur shot back, his anger undiminished. I frowned. The next second, Arthur dragged me out of the car again. He was rough. As I got out, I twisted my left leg, a piercing, bone-deep pain. I couldn’t help but gasp. Arthur frowned, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but it was ultimately covered by his anger. “Stop acting, you’re overdoing it.” I fell silent. It wasn’t until Arthur pushed open the VIP private room that I understood what he meant. The crystal chandelier in the private room cast ambiguous halos, neon lights swirling in the hazy smoke. In the center of the sofa sat a noble-looking man, casually biting a cigarette, while Olivia sat on one side, clothes disheveled, crying with red eyes. Besides them, three men were kneeling on the floor. Begging for mercy non-stop, their heads bruised and bleeding. I didn’t need to guess to know what roughly happened. But what did this have to do with me? I looked at Olivia. Olivia guiltily glanced at me, then sniffled and choked out: “Chloe, I know you don’t like me interfering in your love life, but you…” “After years of being best friends, you didn’t have to find someone to humiliate me, right?” Hearing this, my pupils shrank slightly in disbelief. “You’re saying I found someone to humiliate you?” “Didn’t you send me a message asking me to come here?!” Olivia stood up excitedly, then tossed her phone onto the glass table. On it was clearly a message sent from my number. At this moment, Arthur’s gaze also fell on me. Only I suddenly became calm. Because my WeChat account had been logged into Olivia’s phone before. So it was entirely possible she sent the message to herself. And on my end, there were no messages at all. Try to prove my innocence? Arthur would only think I deleted the message. But actually, whether there was evidence or not didn’t matter. Arthur would only choose to believe what he wanted to believe. “I privately hoped it wasn’t you, but Chloe, you’ve disappointed me greatly.” After a long while, Arthur spoke. I just smiled mockingly. Then I saw him walk over to Olivia, bend down and pick her up, then say to the man who had been silent for a long time: “Julian, I’ll leave this to you. I’m taking Olivia away first.” The man called Julian raised an eyebrow in agreement. As Arthur walked past me, a look of disgust appeared on his face, and he finally spat out four words: “Reap what you sow.” He left without looking back. The moment the door closed, the three men kneeling on the floor all looked up at me simultaneously. Greedy, malicious, emitting a foul stench. “Miss Chloe, sorry about this.” 6 Julian’s voice was still careless. I raised my eyes calmly, took out my phone, and placed it on the table. Julian lifted his eyelids. Seeing the “911” dialed on the screen, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes: “Underestimated you.” I walked out of the nightclub. It was already midnight. The night wind was slightly cool. Julian followed behind me: “Miss Chloe, today’s setup actually wasn’t very clever.” “When Olivia came asking for my help, I only took a spectator’s attitude and didn’t want to intervene.” “Just now, I only wanted to test you, to see how far you would go.” The corners of my lips curled into a mocking smile, and I didn’t answer him. I hailed a cab, and just as I was getting in. Julian said lazily again: “Liam asked me to remind you not to be late tomorrow.” “Have a safe trip, both of you.” I was stunned for a moment. When I looked back, I only saw Julian’s back. I didn’t know much about him. Only that he was a playboy who loved women. As for his relationship with Liam, I didn’t know. But it seemed they were on good terms. But that didn’t matter to me anymore. From now on, I would have no further contact with anything related to Olivia or Arthur. … Arthur sat by the bed and coaxed Olivia all night. It wasn’t until daylight broke that he quietly walked out of her room. Then he went downstairs and instructed the butler to make something Olivia liked to eat. Then he finally let out a sigh of relief. He returned to his own room. He pulled off his tie, threw it casually onto the bed, and his long fingers were unbuttoning his shirt. Suddenly, certain images flashed through his mind. “Chloe, come here, help me unbutton this.” “Chloe, I have a headache, pour me a glass of honey water.” “Chloe…” The tone was relaxed, familiar. Arthur’s movements visibly froze. The scene in his mind was too clear. Chloe’s figure moved skillfully around the room. Their relationship seemed intimate yet unfamiliar. Chloe always responded to his greetings quietly and gently. But why would he be thinking of Chloe? These memories… where did they come from? He wearily pinched his brow, reaching out to grab his phone. Suddenly, he remembered leaving Chloe with Julian last night, and panic gripped his heart for a moment. Yesterday he was just too angry. He didn’t really want anyone to ruin Chloe. But Julian, that guy… He immediately called Julian, and the other party quickly answered. “Yo, Uncle, calling to ask for the results?” “I was just about to—” “What did you do to Chloe?” Arthur asked coldly. The other side went completely silent. After two minutes, he mocked: “Arthur, do you have amnesia?” “Yesterday you were the one who asked me to clean up someone for you. Why is it that as soon as you wake up today, it’s me who wants to do something to someone?” Julian’s words were merciless. He acted erratically and didn’t care what Arthur would do to him. Arthur didn’t dare, and he wouldn’t. What lay between the Thorne and Vance families wasn’t just Olivia, but also family interests. “Where is she? Send me the address.” Arthur spoke directly and then hung up the phone. Listening to Julian’s words. What was supposed to happen probably already did. Holding anyone accountable was useless, and this was originally Chloe’s own doing. He only hoped that after being punished, she would learn her lesson. With the Vance family’s power, protecting one Chloe was more than enough. As long as she was obedient, the position of Mrs. Vance might still be hers. Anyway, it was impossible for him to be with Olivia. So whoever it was didn’t matter. 7 Julian’s message still hadn’t arrived. Arthur grew a bit impatient. Just as he was about to dial Julian’s number again, Olivia woke up. She walked down the stairs, her face carrying the haziness of having just woken up. As soon as she reached the living room, she threw herself directly into Arthur’s arms. “Uncle, you’re up so early?” “I didn’t see you just now, I thought you left.” Her voice was whiny. Arthur chuckled helplessly. He reached out, about to stroke Olivia’s head. Another image flashed through his mind. Chloe stood by the sofa, envy in her eyes, but when he looked up, she hid that emotion away. “What’s wrong, Uncle?” Olivia looked up in confusion, saw his hand stopped in mid-air, and habitually tried to nuzzle it. But this time, Arthur pulled his hand back. Olivia was stunned for a moment, looking at him blankly. “Uncle…” And he didn’t understand it himself either. Finally, Arthur sighed softly: “It’s nothing, probably just didn’t sleep well last night.” “Then I’ll accompany you to sleep a bit more!” Olivia smiled brightly, reaching to take Arthur’s arm and pull him up. Arthur refused again. This was the second time. Olivia had never been refused by him, and she immediately got angry. “Uncle! What is wrong with you?” “You’ve never refused me anything before, but today you’ve refused me twice!” She stood up, looking down at Arthur in displeasure. Arthur sat in the sofa. Normally, he would have rushed to coax Olivia, but today he suddenly felt very annoyed. His temples were throbbing. Chloe’s figure kept appearing in his mind from time to time, as if he was hallucinating. “Olivia, can you be a bit more sensible?” “I’m already annoyed enough.” Olivia had long been spoiled. Hearing him say this, she got even angrier, immediately grabbed a nearby throw pillow, and threw it at him: “What are you annoyed about? What do you have to be annoyed about? You’re just annoyed by me!” “Arthur, if you find me annoying, I’ll just leave, okay?!” “I’ll go find Julian, I’ll go find someone else. I will absolutely never take the initiative to look for you again!” Throwing down those words, she stormed off. But actually, she only walked as far as the entryway. Arthur knew what she was waiting for: waiting for him to proactively coax her, to give her a way out. However, right now he had absolutely no desire to do so. He even thought. Why couldn’t Olivia be as sensible as Chloe? As soon as this thought emerged, he was completely stunned. It felt as if he knew Chloe so well, but in reality, they had only met three times in total. Olivia ultimately left. The door was slammed shut with a bang. The butler hurried over: “Mr. Vance, the young miss she—” “Let her throw her tantrum, leave her be.” Arthur waved his hand. The next second, Julian’s message finally arrived: [No need to look for her anymore, she already left.] [Oh right, one more thing, those guys yesterday were actors hired by your little niece.] [Chloe is the victim here.] Arthur froze.

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Dad said he was taking me to see the tigers, but he kicked me out of the car right inside the tiger enclosure. My stepmom in the car pretended to scream, but she held her phone up the whole time, recording. The tigers yawned and slowly walked toward me. “Roar—These two humans are terrible actors!” “Throwing a cub outside while hiding in a metal shell, are they trying to frame us for eating a human?” “This kid looks like she doesn’t even have a pound of meat on her, not even enough to get stuck between my teeth.” I stood in the freezing wind, listening to the tigers talk, tears and snot running down my face. Just then, the biggest tiger walked over and nudged me so hard with its massive head that I fell on my butt. “Roar—Kid, do you want a new dad?” “The new zookeeper is a rich kid experiencing life. Come with me, I’ll let you be a wealthy heiress.” 1 The first snow of winter. The wind blew against my face, stinging like a knife. Dad said he was taking me to the zoo to see the tigers. But as soon as we entered the tiger enclosure, he stopped the car, turned his head, stared at me, and urged me urgently: “Chloe, Dad’s car is broken. Get out and give it a push. Just a little push and Dad will let you back in.” I was an obedient child. I thought, as long as I pushed the car like a good girl, Dad wouldn’t lock me in the pitch-black basement like he did at home. But the moment I stepped out of the car, the door locked with a click. The car clearly wasn’t broken. Dad slammed on the gas, and the car instantly slid away dozens of feet, leaving me far behind. I panicked, chasing after it on my freezing, stiff little legs. “Dad! Dad, wait for Chloe!” “Chloe is cold! Chloe is scared!” The car stopped. But not to pick me up. In the back seat, my mom—my stepmom—was holding her phone, pointing it at me. Through the glass, I saw her exaggeratedly covering her mouth, as if she were screaming, but her eyes were clearly smiling. This was the free-roaming area of the tiger enclosure. Several enormous Siberian tigers were stepping through the snow, slowly walking toward me. Terrified, I slumped into the snow, trembling all over. I thought I was going to die. But right then, I heard the lead tiger sigh. It shook the snow off its body, its whiskers twitching. “Roar—These two humans are terrible actors!” “Throwing a cub outside while hiding in a metal shell, are they trying to frame us for eating a human?” “This kid looks like she doesn’t even have a pound of meat on her, not even enough to get stuck between my teeth.” The tigress next to him agreed, casting a disgusted look at the SUV. “Roar—What is that woman waving that shiny thing around for? It’s blinding.” “Probably wants to record the cub being eaten by us. Humans are disgusting.” I was stunned. The cold wind blew down my collar, but I forgot to cry. They… weren’t going to eat me? Seeing me standing there dumbfounded, the lead tiger even rolled its eyes. It took a few steps and stood right in front of me. A giant shadow cast over me. I smelled a faint, musky scent from it, along with an indescribable warmth. It lowered its head and nudged my shoulder with its massive head. It was a bit strong. I immediately plopped down onto the ground, landing on my butt. “Roar—Kid, do you want a new dad?” Its huge face was extremely close, its golden pupils reflecting my disheveled figure. “The new zookeeper is a rich kid experiencing life. He’s dumb, rich, and has a good heart. Come with me, I’ll let you be a wealthy heiress?” 2 I stared at it blankly. A new dad? “I have a dad…” I mumbled softly, instinctively looking toward that black SUV in the distance. That was my dad. Even though he didn’t let me eat at the table, even though he always whipped my calves with a cane, even though he only let me wear a thin, old school uniform in the winter. He was still my dad. The big tiger snorted a breath of hot air, blowing a cloud of white mist into my face. “Roar—That piece of trash who threw you into a tiger’s mouth to scam insurance money?” “Don’t be silly, cub, that’s murder.” “I was walking by the car earlier and heard them. The man said he bought a million-dollar accident insurance policy on you.” A million dollars? I knew that was a lot, a lot of money. It could buy countless steaming hot meat buns, it could buy Dad a new car, it could make my stepmom stop calling me a money-losing burden. So, I was worth that much money. But I had to die for that money to become real. Tears immediately welled up, scalding hot, falling onto the snow and melting little pits. The big tiger got anxious. It stuck out its rough tongue, wanting to lick my face, but afraid the barbs would scratch me, it only used its paw to gently bat at my cotton jacket. “Roar—Don’t cry! Tigers hate it most when cubs cry!” “Come on, come on, let’s go find that sucker zookeeper. He just finished cutting our beef and is probably bored out of his mind right now.” In the distance, Dad’s car window rolled down a crack again. He seemed very dissatisfied that the tigers were only circling me and hadn’t lunged to tear me apart. He honked the horn twice. The sharp honking was exceptionally grating in the empty, snowy field; he was trying to anger the tigers. The big tiger’s ears flattened, a low growl rumbling in its throat. “Roar—You got a death wish, don’t you?” It turned around, faced the SUV, and let out an earth-shattering roar. “ROAR—!!!” The sound shook the snow off the tree branches, sending it rustling down. The two people in the car were clearly terrified. The car jerked violently, then, as if running for its life, the driver slammed on the gas and it shot forward, disappearing around the bend. They really left. Leaving me all alone with a group of fierce beasts. I had completely become a child without a father. The big tiger turned back, its tail gently sweeping across the back of my hand. “Roar—Alright, the trash has been taken out. Get on, Tiger Lord will carry you to the good life.” It lowered its massive body, gesturing for me to climb onto its back. I sniffled, my freezing fingers grabbing onto its thick fur. So warm. Warmer than my bed at home. 3 The big tiger carried me on its back, familiarly navigating around a rockery and squeezing through a hidden iron gate. Walking down a long corridor, a glass room with heating appeared ahead. It was the zookeeper’s break room. A young man was lying back in a rocking chair with his legs crossed, holding a game controller, fighting intensely on the TV screen. The room was very warm and smelled of braised beef noodles. The big tiger pushed the door open with its head. The man didn’t even turn his head, his voice lazy. “Rex, didn’t I just feed you? Here to mooch some heat again? How many times have I told you, no turning into a mythical spirit after the park closes. Opening doors yourself, what’s that about?” The big tiger ignored him, walking straight to the rocking chair and tilting its body. I slid off its back and fell onto an expensive-looking rug. The man was right at a critical moment in his game when he caught a glimpse of a dirty shadow out of the corner of his eye. His hand shook, and a massive “GAME OVER” appeared on the screen. “Holy shit!” He sprang up from the rocking chair, staring wide-eyed at me, then looked at the big tiger, who put on a completely innocent face. “Rex, you… turning into a mythical spirit is one thing, but how the hell did you start child trafficking?” He crouched down, his line of sight level with mine. This older brother was really handsome; his eyes were like peach blossoms, bright and clear. But he looked a bit fierce, his brow furrowed tightly. “Kid, who are you? How did you get in here?” I shrank my neck, wanting to hide behind the big tiger. But the big tiger used its tail to block my retreat, pushing me toward the man. “Roar—Lucas, catch! This is the daughter I found for you!” “Roar—This kid has had a hard life, her own dad tried to feed her to us tigers. Isn’t your family rich? Raising a cub won’t be any trouble for you.” Of course, the man couldn’t understand tiger talk. He only saw this tiger, usually aloof to the point of death, now acting like a salesman, shoving a child as dirty as a little mud monkey into his arms. I kept my head down, looking at my canvas shoes with holes in them, my voice as quiet as a mosquito. “Hello, Uncle… My name is Chloe.” “My dad… left me behind.” Lucas’s frown deepened. He reached out and pinched my chin, forcing me to look up. His fingers were long and warm, smelling nicely of soap. “Left you behind?” He glanced at my face, purple from the freezing cold, and the faint blue and purple bruises on my neck. His eyes instantly darkened. “Left you in the tiger enclosure?” I nodded, the tears unable to stop falling again. “Dad said the car broke down, told me to push it… and then he left.” Lucas took a deep breath, swearing under his breath. But he quickly reined in his hostility. He turned, grabbed the braised beef noodles from the table, thought for a second, and put them back down. He rummaged through the cabinets, found an expensive box of imported milk and a bag of chocolate cookies, and shoved them into my hands. “Eat something first.” “I fucking hate animals like that the most.” He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, his tone becoming incredibly cold. “Hey, old man, stop rushing me to come home.” “I’ve run into a situation. Someone just tried to murder a child right under my nose.” “Pull the park’s security footage for me, and also, contact the Chief of Police. I need to report a crime.” 4 Lucas was no ordinary zookeeper. Rex told me that. Rex was lying on the rug, licking his paws while “gossiping” with me. “Roar—This kid’s name is Lucas Hayes, he’s just here because he’s bored out of his mind. The corporation his family owns could probably buy ten zoos like this.” “Last time the zoo director saw him, he was bowing and scraping.” “Stick with him, and you’ll be eating the finest food from now on, meat buns every day.” I hugged the warm milk, taking small sips. My stomach felt warm, and my body felt warm too. Lucas took off his expensive-looking down jacket and wrapped me up like a burrito. He was sitting in front of the monitors, replaying the footage over and over. On the screen, Dad’s car sped away, my tiny figure fell into the snow, surrounded by tigers slowly closing in. Even knowing the tigers hadn’t planned to eat me, watching it on the monitor was still heart-stopping. Lucas’s fists cracked as he clenched them. “Is this something a fucking human does?” He looked back at me, his eyes carrying a bit more pity, no longer as fierce as before. “Kid, don’t be afraid.” “Since Rex brought you back, I’m taking charge of this.” Just then, a commotion came from the door. There were the sounds of a man and a woman crying hysterically, mixed with police sirens. “Officers! Please save my daughter!” “My daughter is still in there! If she gets eaten by tigers, I won’t want to live anymore!” It was my stepmom’s voice. She cried so loudly, it sounded like she was truly heartbroken. My dad’s voice chimed in too, full of anxiety and remorse. “It’s all my fault! The car suddenly lost control! How could I just leave Chloe all alone!” “My Chloe!” Hearing their voices, my body instinctively trembled. That was fear carved into my bones. Rex immediately stood up, a threatening low growl rumbling in his throat. Lucas put a hand on Rex’s head, a cold sneer curving his lips. “Quite the performance.” He stood up, scooped me off the floor in one fluid motion, and settled me in his arms. His embrace was broad and tall. I had never been held like this before. “Let’s go watch a show.” Carrying me, he strode out of the break room. Rex followed closely behind us like a majestic bodyguard. A crowd had gathered at the entrance to the tiger enclosure. My dad and stepmom were kneeling on the ground, crying their eyes out to several police officers, surrounded by tourists holding up their phones to record. When they saw Lucas come out carrying me, with a massive, unchained tiger walking beside him. The crowd instantly fell silent, erupting in gasps of terror. My dad and stepmom’s crying abruptly stopped. They stared wide-eyed at me, like they were looking at a ghost. My stepmom’s expression froze for a second, then immediately morphed into an exaggerated look of tears of joy as she lunged toward me. “Chloe! Oh my god! You’re still alive!” “You scared Mom to death! Come let Mom hug you!” She reached out her hands—hands with bright red nail polish that had pinched my arms countless times in the past. I instinctively shrank back into Lucas’s arms. Lucas turned his body slightly, dodging my stepmom’s hands. He looked down at the two of them from his towering height, his eyes looking at them like two piles of garbage. “Lady, save the acting. The Oscars owe you a golden statue.” My stepmom’s hands froze mid-air, her face turning red and white. My dad stood up, pointing angrily at Lucas. “Who are you? Give me back my daughter!” “I need to take her to the hospital for a checkup! She must have been terrified! I’m suing your zoo for compensation!” Lucas let out a light laugh, dripping with utter contempt. “Compensation?” “We definitely need to settle the score.” He looked down at me in his arms, his voice suddenly turning gentle. “Chloe, tell the police officers, what just happened?” “Don’t be afraid. With me and this big cat here, no one dares to touch you.” All eyes were focused on me. My dad’s eyes were full of warning and threats, hinting that if I spoke out of turn, I’d pay for it when we got home. My stepmom’s hand secretly reached into her bag, as if trying to grab something. Just then, the usually silent Rex suddenly took a step forward and let out a low roar toward my stepmom’s bag. “Roar—The stun baton is in that bad woman’s bag!” I jerked my head up, looking at my stepmom’s bag. Only I could understand Rex’s words, but to everyone else, it looked like a tiger getting angry. Terrified, my stepmom’s hand shook, and the bag dropped to the ground. Clatter. A black anti-wolf stun baton rolled out of the bag, still sparking with a faint electric current. The crowd erupted in an uproar. Lucas’s eyes instantly turned as sharp as a knife. Holding me, he took a step toward my dad and stepmom. “Carrying a stun baton to a zoo?” “Or is it… something you use specifically to terrorize a child?” “Want to take the child back? Sure.” Lucas pulled a black, gold-embossed business card from his pocket and threw it at my dad’s face. “I am Lucas Hayes of the Hayes Group, and I am protecting this child.” “If you want to take her, ask my legal team first, and then ask…” He patted the head of Rex beside him. “If he agrees.” Rex cooperatively opened his massive jaws, revealing a mouthful of fangs. “Roar—Dare to try and snatch the daughter I’ve chosen? I’ll bite you to death!” My dad’s face instantly went deathly pale, not because of the tiger, but because of the words “Hayes Group.” Around here, the Hayes Group was a force that could cover the sky with one hand. My destiny changed from that very moment. 5 The police quickly brought the situation under control. But my dad was clearly a seasoned operator. He quickly adjusted his expression, looking aggrieved. “Mr. Hayes, right? Even if you’re rich, you have to be reasonable.” “The stun baton is for my wife’s self-defense.” “As for leaving the child behind, that was a pure accident! The car malfunctioned and suddenly accelerated, we couldn’t control it!” “We love our child! I am her biological father, would I harm her?” He wept tearfully, even pulling out his phone to show the lock screen, a picture of our “happy” family. That picture was taken under duress; my smile in the photo was incredibly stiff. The onlookers wavered a bit. After all, the concept that “there are no bad parents in the world” is deeply rooted in many people’s minds. “Right, maybe it really was a misunderstanding?” “The child isn’t hurt, and the parents look so anxious.” Lucas watched coldly, not saying a word, only tightening his grip on me. He seemed to be waiting for something. Just then, Rex suddenly paced anxiously in a circle, his tail whipping the ground. He nudged my leg with his head, a rapid rumbling coming from his throat. “Roar—Cub! There’s something else in that car!” “Before that guy got out of the car earlier, he pulled the memory card from the dashcam and stuffed it into the crack under the passenger seat!” “That card has the evidence of them discussing murdering you for the insurance payout!” My heart jolted violently. I grabbed Lucas’s collar, summoned all my courage, and whispered into his ear: “Uncle Lucas…” “Dad hid the dashcam memory card under the passenger seat.” Lucas’s eyes lit up fiercely. He didn’t need to ask how I knew; he chose to trust me unconditionally. “Officers!” Lucas shouted loudly. “Since this father claims the car malfunctioned, it just so happens I know a thing or two about cars.” “To prove your innocence and find the cause of the malfunction, would it be too much to ask you to open the car door and let us inspect the dashcam?” My dad’s face instantly went pale, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. “That… that’s not necessary…” “Why isn’t it necessary?” Lucas pressed closer. “Or is it because you have a guilty conscience?” The police also sensed something was wrong. “Sir, please cooperate with the investigation.” Under the firm demands of the police, the car door was opened. My dad was still making a last-ditch effort, “The dashcam broke earlier, it didn’t record anything…” But Lucas headed straight for the passenger side, reached his long arm down, and precisely pulled out a black memory card from the seat crevice. He held the card up, waving it at my dad, whose face had turned ash-gray. “Broken? Then what is this tightly hidden card?” “How about we play it right now so everyone can hear?” My dad’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. My stepmom screamed, trying to lunge forward and snatch it, but was firmly pinned down by the police. Lucas didn’t immediately hand the card over to the police; instead, he looked at me first. His gaze was gentle yet firm, as if injecting me with strength. “Chloe, do you want to listen? Listen to what they actually said.” I looked at my dad slumped on the ground; right now, he looked like a beaten dog. I shook my head. I knew what was on it. Nothing more than “how much money we can get if this kid dies,” or “why hasn’t she been eaten yet,” things like that. I didn’t need to confirm it anymore. “I don’t want to hear it.” I looked at Lucas and offered a faint smile. “Uncle, I don’t want him to be my dad anymore.” “I want to go with you.” Lucas smiled. That smile was warmer than the winter sun. “Okay.” “From today on, you are my, Lucas Hayes’s, daughter.” “If anyone dares to touch a hair on your head, I’ll make them regret ever being born.” Rex snorted loudly in satisfaction beside us. “Roar—That’s right! Finding a good dad saves you twenty years of hardship!” “From now on, just say you’re my goddaughter! The monkeys, bears, and lions in this park will all be your underlings!” Resting on Lucas’s shoulder, I watched the police load my dad and stepmom into the police car. The wind and snow seemed to have stopped. This winter didn’t seem so cold anymore. 6 Lucas brought me to a villa near the zoo. The villa was massive, like a small castle, but it was empty inside, with only a few simple pieces of furniture. “This is a place I stay occasionally; it’s relatively quiet.” He placed me on a soft sofa and cranked the heat up to maximum. “Rest here for a bit while I go get you something to eat.” He turned into the kitchen, and soon, a cacophony of clattering sounds emerged from within. I sat on the sofa, hugging my knees, feeling a bit lost. It was so big here, so quiet, and… so unfamiliar. Rex couldn’t follow us out, and I didn’t have a single soul to talk to. I wondered if this handsome uncle would also suddenly change his face, just like my dad. After a while, Lucas came out holding a bowl of… something black and mushy. He looked a bit embarrassed. “Um… I’m not very good at cooking. How about we order takeout?” He pulled out his phone, expertly opened a delivery app, and handed the phone to me. “Order whatever you want to eat.” The screen was filled with dazzling pictures of food: burgers, fried chicken, pizza, strawberry cake… These were all things I had only seen on TV. I swallowed hard but didn’t dare reach out to tap. Dad used to say these were junk foods, and only disobedient children ate them. Besides, they must be very expensive. I shook my head and pushed the phone back. “I’m not hungry.” Lucas looked at me, his frown returning. He didn’t impatiently call me “picky” like Dad did. Instead, he sighed and put the phone away. He sat next to me, his voice very soft. “Chloe, listen to me.” “From now on, this is your home. You can eat what you want, play with what you want, do what you want.” “You don’t need to walk on eggshells around anyone, including me.” “You are my daughter, and providing for you is my natural duty.” He ruffled my hair; his movements were clumsy but very warm. “So, tell me now, what do you want to eat? Uncle… no, Dad will buy it for you.” The word “Dad,” coming from his mouth, felt entirely different from when my biological father said it. My nose stung, and my tears fell again. I pointed at the prettiest picture on the screen and whispered. “I want to eat… that cake with strawberries.” “Okay.” Lucas placed the order immediately, ordering three different flavors all at once. That night, I had sweet buttercream cake for the first time. Lucas sat across from me, watching me eat, not taking a single bite himself. He seemed even happier than I was. At night, he took me to a bedroom on the second floor. The room was pink, with a giant princess bed piled high with all sorts of stuffed animals. “This will be your room from now on.” “Just make do for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to buy the things you like.” I lay on the bed, which was so soft I sank into it, covered with a quilt that smelled like sunshine. Lucas didn’t leave immediately. He moved a chair to the side of the bed and told me a story. He told me the story of “The Little Mermaid.” His voice was very nice, very gentle. Listening to him, I fell asleep. It was the most peaceful sleep I’ve had since I could remember. 7 The next day, Lucas really did take me shopping at the mall. It was my first time in such a beautiful place. There were sparkling lights everywhere, and it smelled wonderful. Holding my hand, Lucas walked straight into a children’s clothing store. The clothes in the store were as pretty as princess dresses. The sales associate was very enthusiastic and brought me several dresses to try on. I put on a pink tulle dress and stood in front of the mirror, scarcely believing it was me. The little girl in the mirror was still thin and small, but she looked clean and pretty, no longer that dusty little mud monkey. Lucas leaned against the doorway, looking at me, his eyes filled with a smile. “Beautiful.” He took out that black card and said to the sales associate. “This entire row, plus the ones she just tried on, wrap them all up.” The sales associate’s eyes lit up, looking at Lucas with admiration. I was startled and quickly grabbed the hem of Lucas’s jacket. “Dad… that’s too much… it’ll be very expensive…” At home, my stepmom always called me a money-losing burden. I was afraid Lucas would also resent me for spending money. Lucas crouched down, bringing his eye level to mine. He looked seriously into my eyes and said, word by word. “Chloe, remember, you are my daughter, not a money-losing burden.” “You deserve the best things in the world; no amount of money is too much.” “From now on, you are not allowed to say the word ‘expensive’ again, do you hear me?” His expression was very serious, but I wasn’t scared at all. My heart felt warm, as if it had been filled with something. That day, Lucas truly bought me a mountain of things. Beautiful dresses, cute shoes, all sorts of toys and snacks, filling up the trunk. Back at the villa, he piled everything in the living room and let me open the presents myself. I sat among the pile of gifts, opening box after box, feeling like I was in a dream. Lucas sat nearby, watching me and smiling. His phone buzzed. He picked it up, glanced at it, and his face suddenly darkened. “You play for a bit, Dad has to step outside to take a call.” He walked into the yard, and I could see him through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His expression was very cold, completely different from his usual self. I felt a little scared and quietly walked over to the window. In the yard, a sparrow was perched on a branch, preening its feathers. I heard it complaining in its chirpy voice. “Chirp! That man looks so scary!” “Chirp, chirp! He just said on the phone, ‘No one touches my people’, so fierce!” “Chirp! Looks like his grandmother is coming? Sounds like a very formidable old lady!” Old lady? My heart leaped into my throat. Is it Lucas’s grandmother? Is she… going to dislike me?

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After I confessed my love to Arthur, a family friend I had grown up calling “Uncle,” he brought a girl in a wheelchair to meet me. Her name was Evelyn, and she was his future partner. Arthur said Evelyn lost her legs and her dreams to save him, and he had to take responsibility for her. I didn’t understand. Does someone saving your life mean you have to dedicate your life to them in return? He didn’t answer my question. In my past life, I refused to believe Arthur didn’t love me, constantly testing his bottom line. Until the day he watched his rivals snap my ten fingers one by one, listening to my agonizing screams, without so much as furrowing a brow. My heart died that day. Later, because the damage to my hands was too severe, I could never stand at an operating table again. Ultimately, consumed by depression, I slit my wrists and killed myself. When I woke up again. Without a moment’s hesitation, I submitted my application to Doctors Without Borders. I stepped back into my place as a mere “niece.” 01 When my application was approved, I finally let out a sigh of relief. My fingertips wouldn’t stop trembling, and my eyes grew red without me even realizing it. No one knew I had been reborn. I was twenty-one again. A split second before I was about to confess my love to Arthur. That day, I was wearing a custom-made gown he had spent a fortune on, and I had rented out the most luxurious hotel in New York. I invited many friends to witness the beginning of our love story. Arthur had been by my side since I could remember. My parents were Doctors Without Borders, constantly traveling. I rarely saw them throughout the year. Almost the entire first half of my life was spent with Arthur. The happy moments, the sad moments. Everyone in our circle assumed I was basically raised to be his wife. In my past life, a few close friends who knew I was going to confess gave me a lot of ideas, making me blush furiously. I secretly looked forward to it in my heart. But no one expected Arthur to reject me. Just like he did in my past life. Arthur seemed to have guessed what I was going to do. His brow furrowed slightly, he rubbed two fingers together, clearly formulating his rejection. His eyes were unreadable. At the time, I thought Arthur was just worried I was too young to distinguish between familial affection and romantic love. So I smiled and said, “Arthur, I like you. It means my heart beats faster involuntarily when I see you.” “It means I miss you crazily when I can’t see you, an emotion I can’t suppress no matter what.” “I’m very sure what I feel for you is love.” The bystanders cheered, but it ultimately ended in a messy anti-climax. And today, I was still smiling, but the smile didn’t reach my eyes. Just as he was about to speak, I beat him to it: “Arthur, I successfully concluded a year-long research project last week.” “I’m so happy, so I wanted to celebrate.” Arthur stood frozen in shock. My friends exchanged glances, about to speak up. I cast a faint glance over them. They gave awkward smiles and silently hid the “Say Yes, Say Yes” banner they were holding behind their backs. A confession ended before it began. After the party dispersed, Arthur and his friends were smoking in the hallway. He leaned against the wall, his long, elegant fingers playing with a gold-embossed lighter. The flame flickered. His friend teased with a laugh, “With that setup today, I thought Chloe was going to confess to you.” “Didn’t expect it to be a fake-out.” Arthur closed his eyes slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “She’s just a little girl, don’t overthink her intentions.” “I don’t have any other feelings for Chloe. I only take care of her because of my ties with her family.” His friend didn’t buy it. “You’re just blind to what’s right in front of you. Look at the way your girl looks at you. You think we’re stupid?” “If you’re really so innocent, why did you go warn off that boy who confessed to her back then?” “Acting exactly like a boyfriend.” Arthur fell silent. I didn’t listen any further, retreating into the darkness. In my past life, Arthur was exactly like this. His kindness towards me had long crossed the line, yet he stubbornly refused to admit it. After returning home. I submitted my application to Doctors Without Borders. After my parents died one after another in war zones, I wanted to inherit their legacy. But in my past life, before it could even begin, it was already over. Fortunately. God took pity on me and gave me a chance to start over. 02 I looked at the report date, then glanced at the calendar next to it. I took a pen and silently marked the date. Coincidentally, that day was Arthur’s birthday. Suddenly, there was a knock on my bedroom door. It was Arthur. He had a habit of knocking twice before entering, but this time, there was a girl following behind him. The girl sat in a wheelchair, wearing a white dress. There wasn’t a trace of color on her face, and her eyes carried a faint melancholy. She looked incredibly frail. “Chloe, come here,” he said to me. I didn’t move, just glanced at the girl. She was Evelyn. I had assumed that without my confession, Arthur wouldn’t bring her in front of me. I didn’t expect that what was meant to happen would happen anyway. “Chloe.” Arthur frowned, calling my name again. Seeing my detached expression, Evelyn lowered her eyes and said softly, “Arthur, it’s okay. It’s perfectly normal for Ms. Davis to not like me upon our first meeting.” “If she minds my presence, I can just go back to the suburban villa. I don’t have legs, I can’t go anywhere anyway. Anywhere is fine.” “I don’t have to stay here.” As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She looked exactly like a delicate little flower, pretending to be strong. Arthur’s frown deepened, and his gaze towards me carried a hint of disappointment. “Chloe—” “Arthur, you can arrange for whoever you want to live in the villa. There’s really no need to tell me.” “You’re the master of this house.” My voice was flat, revealing absolutely nothing. But falling on Arthur’s ears, it was full of thorns. He thought I was throwing a tantrum. “Chloe, there’s no need to use that tone with me.” “I brought Evelyn to meet you today so you could meet your future aunt.” “Three years ago, she lost her legs to save me in an earthquake. I need to take responsibility for her. If you want to continue living properly in this house…” “…Put away your spoiled princess temper, and don’t make trouble for Evelyn.” He swept a warning glare over me. I wanted to speak, but ultimately remained silent. Actually, I couldn’t blame him. I used to be extremely possessive of Arthur. Growing up, I wanted his eyes only on me, and for me to be his only female companion. Because of that, he hadn’t had a single romantic scandal over the years. Even if a woman dared to try and get close to him, I would deal with her. All his favoritism and exceptions were for me. So in my past life, when he decided to marry Evelyn, I broke down. Does saving a life mean you have to dedicate your life in return? I thought about it for a very, very long time. It cost me my life. I still couldn’t figure it out. But now I did. Some things just don’t make sense. 03 Evelyn was going to stay. In the room next to Arthur’s, which used to be mine. Back when Arthur moved me in, he secretly sought advice from his friends, then personally drew up the blueprints to completely renovate the room. He turned it into a beautiful pink princess room. He even bought many limited-edition dolls and placed them by my bed. He raised me like a princess. Since childhood. He always said, “As long as it’s something Chloe likes, something that makes Chloe happy, I will do it.” “I hope our Chloe grows up healthy and becomes a happy little princess.” Back then, his eyes were full of tender, lingering affection. Making me fall for him. Yet from the very beginning to the end, he kept himself detached. In the room, Arthur leaned against the doorframe. After shooting me a cold glance, he said: “I had Martha prepare the guest room on the first floor. You’ll stay there for the time being.” I didn’t say anything, just folded all my clothes into my suitcase. As I stood up and instinctively reached for the dolls by the bed… My hand paused. Arthur’s gaze had followed mine to the dolls. Seeing I hadn’t moved for a long time, he said: “I’ll bring the dolls down for you later.” I took a deep breath, looked away, and forced a smile: “No need, give them to her.” I didn’t even want Arthur anymore. What did a few dolls matter? In the past, it was genuine. Now, it meant nothing. “Chloe, are you still mad at me?” Arthur asked coldly. “Why would I be mad at you?” I retorted. “You have your own life too. Now you have someone you like, someone you want to protect. I should be happy for you, shouldn’t I?” Arthur’s eyes darkened. His thin lips moved, but he didn’t make a sound for a long time. When I left with my suitcase. Evelyn was not far outside the door. Her gaze towards me carried a hint of mockery. Just like in my past life, no matter how much of an innocent white lotus she pretended to be on the surface, in reality, she targeted me at every turn, crying at the slightest disagreement. The tears of the weak easily garner sympathy. “Ms. Davis, I’m sorry to put you out.” “If it wasn’t inconvenient for me, Arthur wouldn’t have done this.” My grip on the suitcase handle tightened. Just as I was about to walk past her, she suddenly grabbed my wrist. My reflexes kicked in, and I threw her hand off. “Ah—!!” Evelyn’s wheelchair rolled uncontrollably towards the stairs. A scream echoed, and the maids in the villa rushed over. “Arthur, save me, save me—” Hearing this, Arthur ran out of his room in a panic, shoving me out of the way. He lunged and grabbed the handrail, stopping the wheelchair from rolling further down. I stood frozen in place, my throat tightening: “It wasn’t me.” The wheelchair was stuck on the stairs, and a few maids blocked the way. Arthur hurriedly scooped Evelyn up into his arms and walked over to me. The maids coordinated to move the wheelchair over. “Arthur, it scared me to death.” “I thought I was going to die…” Her eyes were completely red, and the terror in her eyes couldn’t be faked. After soothing Evelyn, Arthur looked at me furiously. “Chloe, are you crazy?!” “If something had really happened to Evelyn, you would be investigated for murder, do you know that?!” 04 I bit my lower lip, my stomach full of grievances, my nose stinging: “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me, she suddenly grabbed my hand, I just shook it off.” Hearing this, Evelyn said with a tearful voice: “It’s my fault, Arthur, you shouldn’t blame Ms. Davis.” “It’s my fault for not locking the wheelchair earlier, that’s why this happened.” “Evelyn, you don’t need to speak up for Chloe anymore.” Arthur said coldly: “I know exactly what her temper is like.” “Over the years, any woman who got close to me was driven away by her petty tricks.” I couldn’t help but laugh, tears in the corners of my eyes: “So Arthur, you don’t believe me?” “Do you deserve to be believed?” he retorted. “Right, I don’t deserve it.” “Only Evelyn deserves it. Whatever she says, you believe.” As my words fell, I pulled my suitcase to leave. But Arthur had the maids block me. He said: “Apologize.” I turned back to look at him in disbelief. He repeated: “Evelyn suffered for no reason. You should apologize.” “And if I don’t?” I asked, tears in my eyes. I thought facing this scenario again, I would be able to handle it with breezy indifference. But I overestimated myself. When all the past favoritism turned into a sharp sword pointed at me… It really hurt. “You know my methods.” Arthur said coldly. He looked at the maids behind me. The maids exchanged glances, just as they were about to step forward and press down on my shoulders. I let out a self-deprecating scoff. Releasing my grip on the suitcase, I bowed to Evelyn and apologized: “I was wrong about what happened today. I shouldn’t have shaken you off when you grabbed my hand.” “I’m sorry I almost caused you to fall.” Evelyn was stunned for two seconds, and Arthur’s expression also grew heavy. I stood up and looked at Arthur: “Is that okay?” “If not, I can kneel.” I said. Arthur’s eyes were filled with complex emotions, but ultimately he said nothing. I pulled my suitcase downstairs. Just as I reached the first floor, Martha said: “Mr. Sterling is probably just in a bad mood today.” “Miss, you shouldn’t hold this against him. Over the years, everyone can see how much he cares for you.” While speaking up for him, she tried to take my suitcase. I just smiled. In the past, whenever I fought with Arthur, Martha would always act as the peacemaker. After all these years, Martha was the same as always. But Arthur and I could never go back to the way things were. “Miss, aren’t you going to the guest room?” she asked in surprise. I shook my head: “No.” “But Mr. Sterling…” “Please tell Arthur for me, thank you for taking care of me all this time, and I won’t bother him ever again.” In this life, ending it here is enough. I don’t want to endure the pain of my past life again. 05 After settling Evelyn in, Arthur called Martha in and pulled up the security footage from the hallway. When Martha came over, she hesitated to speak. Actually, he believed Chloe. Over the years, although she would use petty tricks to keep other women away from him, they were all harmless. She knew where the line was. So when the footage showed Evelyn provoking Chloe first, he didn’t react much. He owed Evelyn a life. As long as Evelyn didn’t go overboard, he would let her do whatever she wanted. “I knew it, how could Miss hurt anyone?” Martha said indignantly. Arthur rubbed his temples: “Make something Chloe likes to eat tonight.” “But Miss has already left.” Arthur froze instantly: “What?” “Miss asked me to tell you, thank you for taking care of her all this time, and she won’t bother you ever again.” Martha’s tone was a bit passive-aggressive. Arthur didn’t blame her, just let out an exhausted sigh. “Chloe just has that temper, she can’t stand being wronged even a little bit.” After he told Martha to leave and prepare dinner, he called Chloe. But she didn’t answer any of his calls. The more he called, the more irritable he became. He finally threw his phone on the desk. Actually, starting half a month ago, from the day he thought Chloe was going to confess to him. He started feeling an inexplicable irritability. Especially when facing Chloe’s eyes, and hearing her flat tone. He constantly felt like something was slipping out of his control. And now. It seemed all the answers were about to surface. 06 That Arthur could find me didn’t surprise me. With 7 days left before I had to report, I had returned to my own home after leaving the villa. Arthur stood outside the courtyard, the cherry of a cigarette flickering between his fingers, his brow tightly furrowed. I saw him just as I returned from the hospital. “Off work.” I nodded, not saying much. The surroundings suddenly fell into dead silence. He was waiting for me to continue speaking, but I honestly had nothing left to say. Until his phone rang. It was a call from Evelyn. Arthur didn’t avoid me, swiping to answer it right there. Her weak sobs carried over from the other end: “Arthur, I had a nightmare.” “I dreamt of the earthquake, I dreamt I couldn’t save you, could you… come back and keep me company?” She pleaded carefully. Arthur subconsciously looked at me. It was already dark. I lowered my eyes to look at the elongated shadows on the ground, my expression flat. After a long while, I heard him say: “I’ll be right back.” The call disconnected. Arthur naturally reached to hold my hand, but I frowned and avoided it. His movement halted. When he looked at me, there was a bit more confusion in his eyes. He probably forgot. Our previous intimacy was because I treated him as the one I loved. “Arthur, you have a partner now.” “We shouldn’t cross the line anymore.” My tone was flat. Arthur let out a scoff, retracted his hand, and deliberately casually put it in his pocket. “I know you can’t accept me and Evelyn right away.” “But it’s okay, I can wait until you can accept it before I get engaged to her.” “For now, just think of it as you two getting familiar and adapting to each other.” I didn’t say anything, just remained silent. In my past life, ever since Evelyn appeared, Arthur and I never had a single day where we spoke properly. We fought every time we met. He scolded me for being shameless, for liking my own “Uncle.” He also said I couldn’t distinguish between familial love and romantic love. He pushed me away step by step, yet I pushed forward relentlessly, like an iron wall. Even when I was covered in bruises from all the vicious words. My friends. His friends. All advised me: “Arthur doesn’t like you, why won’t you believe it?” “The one he likes is Evelyn.” Every time, I would cry and say, “No, Arthur loves me.” On the day I turned eighteen, he thought I was asleep and secretly kissed me. He said he would marry me after I turned twenty-two. I firmly believed Arthur only wanted to marry Evelyn out of gratitude. Until that day. The rival family tried to take me away from a bar. I had no contact with them, and I didn’t understand why they wanted to grab me. Until their second son said their patriarch had suffered a brain infarction. It suddenly dawned on me. Arthur once said people from that family had looked for me. He said their hands were dirty and told me to keep my distance from them. But I never knew they were looking for me because of their patriarch. They sincerely wanted to ask me to perform the surgery. I cried and refused to go, my white knuckles gripping Arthur’s coat tightly. But he coldly said: “Let go.” He stood by coldly, watching me being dragged away, watching them violently snap my fingers one by one while I was wide awake. Listening to my agonizing screams. Without so much as furrowing a brow. At that moment, I finally confirmed it: Arthur didn’t love me. 07 “What are you thinking about?” Arthur’s voice sounded, pulling my thoughts back. “You’ve thrown enough of a tantrum these past few days. Let’s just consider the last incident over.” “Chloe, you’re not a child anymore.” As his words fell, he opened the passenger side door and looked at me. I stood rooted to the spot, forcing an ugly smile onto my face. I suddenly really wanted to ask the Arthur from my past life. How could he be so cruel, watching me be tortured, watching me fall into depression, and die a slow death. Even if he didn’t love me, I was still the “niece” he had raised since childhood. “Arthur, you were right that day.” “Over the years, any woman who appeared by your side was driven away by my petty tricks.” “So for Evelyn’s safety, I won’t go back.” Arthur frowned. “Chloe—” “Arthur, you know I liked you, right?” I calmly interrupted Arthur. His pupils suddenly contracted. Over the years, I never hid my affection. Anyone who wasn’t blind would know. I believe Arthur knew too. “Chloe.” He looked at me with difficulty. “Don’t worry, Arthur, I won’t anymore.” “I was ignorant before, mistaking familial love for romantic love, and made a lot of embarrassing mistakes.” “Now I guess I’m cutting my losses in time.” “I hope you’ll forgive me.” After speaking, I smiled again. But Arthur looked as if his soul had been sucked out, standing blankly in place. As if those few sentences I just said were incredibly difficult to understand. He opened his lips, about to speak. The phone in his pocket rang again. It was exceptionally jarring in the quiet night, ringing continuously. He still seemed unable to recover his senses. But I had already taken two steps back, turned, and walked away.

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In the spring of the fifth year after our divorce. Arthur and I unexpectedly crossed paths at a tattoo studio. He was there to touch up the color of his beloved’s name tattooed on his chest. I was there to cover up the old scars on my wrist. After five years of separation, we looked at each other in silence. After a moment of silence, Arthur was just about to speak when a pair of small hands grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Daddy.” The little boy looked at me curiously: “Who is she?” 1 The island breeze rustled the wind chimes hanging from the porch, breaking the long silence. “I’m a customer,” I said. “Just like your daddy, I’m here to get a tattoo.” The little boy tilted his head: “Do you know my daddy?” “Leo.” Arthur’s tone held a hint of sternness. The little boy pouted and stopped talking. “I don’t know him,” I answered anyway. “A stranger.” Arthur’s face darkened. The shop owner tapped the counter, his gaze shifting between me and him: “Who’s first?” Arthur, who had been leaning against the counter, stood up straight, his eyes fixed on me: “She is.” The man was wearing a white linen shirt paired with silver-gray dress pants. The collar was unbuttoned casually, revealing a good portion of his toned chest. On his left chest, there was an English tattoo, half-hidden so it wasn’t very clear, but I knew whose name it was. Even when we divorced, that name had never appeared on Arthur’s chest. “First come, first served,” I said with polite formality. “Please go ahead, sir.” Before Arthur could reply, his phone vibrated. By chance, I saw “Wife” displayed on the screen. He pressed the screen off and immediately looked at me. I turned and walked toward the lounge booth. From behind, I heard the little boy ask excitedly: “Is Mom calling?” 2 Arthur’s voice was naturally cold, and when he coaxed people, he tended to lower his voice. His voice was warm and husky, matching the cello music playing in the shop perfectly. I lowered my eyes and gently stirred my coffee, suddenly hearing a childish “Auntie” by my ear. Turning my head, the little boy from earlier was leaning on the armrest looking at me. He was exquisitely handsome, with a refined, scholarly look; he was truly adorable. So adorable that even knowing whose child he was, I couldn’t feel any resistance. “I’ll tell you a secret, you look so much like my mom,” the little boy said, as if sharing a secret. “She’s a super pretty big star.” “Then you must look a lot like her.” The little boy’s eyes instantly lit up, and he seemed about to lean closer to me when a large hand pressed down on his head. Arthur patted the boy’s head: “Go back to the car with Uncle Chen first.” I raised an eyebrow and turned to see a middle-aged man who had followed Arthur for many years standing behind him. Our eyes met, and he was shocked, trying to hide a hint of faint awkwardness: “… Miss Chloe.” I nodded calmly, my tone carrying a bit of feigned sigh at our reunion: “Secretary Chen.” As Arthur scooped the boy into his arm, a flash of silver on his wrist caught my eye. It was the dial of his watch, a Patek Philippe, a style he would absolutely never have chosen in the past. On his long ring finger, there was a plain ring, low-key yet luxurious. During our two years of marriage, Arthur never wore a wedding ring. True love is true love, I thought as I took a sip of coffee. Married for so many years, and she still hasn’t become just a ‘mosquito blood smear’ on the wall. (Translator’s note: The ‘mosquito blood smear’ refers to a famous quote by Eileen Chang, suggesting that over time, even a passionate love can fade into something annoying or insignificant.) 3 The boy was taken away by Secretary Chen, but Arthur remained standing in front of the booth. “Chloe,” the man spoke. “How have you been these past few years?” Halfway through my coffee, I set down the cup: “Not bad, thanks for asking.” After a moment of silence, the shadow above my head disappeared as Arthur followed the owner up to the second floor. The cello music faded into a slow, calm piano piece, mirroring my current state of mind. The studio owner was an internationally renowned tattoo artist; his custom designs were highly sought after, and he only took two clients a day. It just so happened to be this coincidental today. My eyes slid over the designs on the wall, suddenly stopping on the centerpiece. It depicted a red lip tattoo on the inner thigh of a man. The man sat on the floor with one leg bent, wearing black briefs under a bathrobe, with a light pink lip print ambiguously placed. The lip shape was beautiful, the lines clean, creating a dark, surging tension against the bronze skin. This was the mark a woman left between a man’s legs. “Miss Chloe,” the owner’s voice behind me pulled me back. “This way, please.” I turned and saw Arthur coming down from the spiral staircase, his shirt collar buttoned up tight. I asked: “Done so quickly?” “He lost his nerve and decided not to touch it up,” the owner, who was very familiar with Arthur, said. “Go on up to the second floor.” Arthur stopped at the foot of the stairs, unmoving, one hand tucked into his suit pocket, expressionless. He looked down at me from his elevated position, his eyes dark and heavy. We stared at each other in silence, but what came to my mind was our very last intimate encounter. After kissing and getting into bed, I saw the red lip tattoo on his inner thigh. 4 The clock on the wall struck the hour, and I grabbed my bag and headed for the stairs. As I brushed past Arthur, he grabbed my wrist, gripping it so hard the watch dug into my skin, causing a sharp pain. “Chloe,” Arthur’s voice was hoarse. “Must you pretend to be strangers?” I didn’t struggle, looking into his eyes without a ripple of emotion: “Pretending to be strangers is the only courtesy I can extend to you.” He paused, released my hand, rubbed his thumb, and his emotions eased: “I know you still hate me.” Arthur just had this ability to hold onto control at all times, to never be embarrassed in any situation. Just like when photos of him and Mia kissing went viral, he faced me with this exact same demeanor. Only back then, I was hysterical, acting like a madwoman who had lost her reason in the face of her husband’s calm attitude. “You’re overthinking it,” I walked up a few steps, my tone distant. “With our current relationship, there is no hate to speak of.” Arthur seemed to want to say something more, but I didn’t care and turned to walk upstairs. The studio’s decor was very personalized, post-modern style, spacious, and quiet. The owner confirmed my tattoo design on the computer, and the assistant prepped my skin. I took off the watch on my right wrist. The leather strap had a unique design, wrapping around three times. Once removed, the pink, jagged scars on my wrist were exposed. “The wrist is a very painful area,” the owner said, unfazed. “Be mentally prepared.” I smiled: “It probably won’t hurt as much as when I cut my wrist back then.” 5 Two scars, one deeper than the other. After the numbing cream took effect, before transferring the stencil, the owner confirmed the tattoo design with me one last time. A blue butterfly, wings spread, clean and sharp. “This is a tricky spot, and you’ll need touch-ups later,” the owner put on his mask. “I guarantee the scars will be perfectly covered.” “Do all tattoos need touch-ups?” “No, Arthur’s is because of his skin type,” the owner didn’t hide that he knew Arthur. “So tattooing him is really bad for my reputation.” I didn’t say anything. Having been married to Arthur for two years, of course, I knew about his special skin type. Back then, Arthur didn’t really like me leaving marks on him when we were intimate. But now, even though it meant the hassle of frequent touch-ups, he still tattooed Mia’s name on his chest. And even had Mia’s lip print tattooed on his inner thigh. As the first needle touched my wrist, I inevitably frowned at the sharp pain. The owner suddenly said: “Tell me the story behind your scars.” I was slightly taken aback, then laughed: “What, do tattoo artists have this hobby too?” In current public opinion, Arthur was considered a winner in life. His career was expanding rapidly, riding the wind of success; in love, he was mutually devoted to a popular actress, with a perfect family. “When I met Arthur, he was already married to Mia,” the owner said. “And Mia looks very much like you.” I smiled, pulled a pack of cigarettes from my bag: “Do you mind?” The owner shook his head. I blew out a smoke ring, thought for a moment, and said slowly: “I’m Arthur’s ex-wife.” 6 I met Arthur in college. As a senior in the same major, he recruited me when he started his own business. Today, Aegis Tech is practically an industry leader, but when it first started, there were only two people. Arthur’s standards were incredibly high. He was a prominent figure on campus, and countless people submitted resumes during recruitment. “But I was the only one who stayed.” Amidst the swirling smoke, I narrowed my eyes: “The Arthur back then was extremely arrogant, looking down on everyone. I was the last interviewee.” No one held any hope. I thought he was too aloof; he interviewed all day and thought everyone was an idiot, including me. “But we talked for a whole night. By dawn, he reached out his hand to me and said, ‘Happy working together’.” “Our philosophies aligned, our goals were the same. Arthur’s ambitions were huge.” I flicked the ash off my cigarette. “Coincidentally, my ambitions weren’t small either.” During the first two years of starting Aegis Tech, Arthur and I rented a place off-campus together; we ran business together, and secured investments together. Arthur was my mentor. He unreservedly taught me everything about networking and professional knowledge. On my twenty-second birthday, after pulling an all-nighter writing code with Arthur, as the sky began to lighten, he leaned against the window and lit a cigarette. “He asked me,” I took a drag of my cigarette, “if I wanted a smoke?” Curious, I leaned over, only to choke until tears streamed down my face. Arthur started laughing, pulled me into his chest, and leaned down to kiss me. When the kiss ended, he asked if I wanted to marry him. The vibration on my wrist stopped for a moment. The owner said: “Asking like that, shouldn’t he have asked if you wanted to be his girlfriend?” I laughed too, as if telling someone else’s story, with the calm detachment of an observer watching a fire from across the river. “I said yes. That was also the day we got our first round of funding.” “Riding the wave of AI, Aegis Tech soared, making a name for itself in the industry in just one year.” “The day the core team of Aegis Tech was established, I took the position of CEO, and Arthur took me home.” “Only then did I know that his ‘Vance’ was the Vance family, the shipping tycoons of Ocean City.” 7 The Vance family built their fortune in shipping, accumulating profound heritage over three generations, making them a top-tier wealthy family in Ocean City. This marriage was naturally met with obstruction, but since Arthur had the courage to break away from the family and start his own business, his marriage couldn’t be easily controlled. “Arthur fought it for two years, stubbornly enduring until Old Mr. Vance put him in the hospital, not compromising despite the pressure from countless elders.” The ash fell silently. I watched it for a long while before saying softly: “During Aegis Tech’s first round of financing, I married him.” “We had a simple wedding on a small island, which Arthur later bought in my name and called ‘Zephyr Isle’.” The owner stopped his outlining entirely. I nodded: “It’s the island we are on right now.” “Before we married, Arthur signed an agreement. Besides my original founder shares in Aegis Tech, he transferred all his available cash flow and set up a trust for me.” “He said he hoped Aegis Tech would become my strongest backing.” “Back then, everyone sighed in admiration, saying Arthur loved me deeply, binding our interests so deeply, leaving no room for divorce.” “I used to think so too.” The cigarette was half-burnt, and I crushed it out in the ashtray. “Until the first year after we married, he personally chose Mia as the spokesperson for Aegis products.” I once asked Arthur why he chose an unknown actress. “Don’t you think,” Arthur pointed at the massive billboard of Mia at the time, “she looks very much like you did in college?” “She captures eighty percent of your charm,” before I could answer, Arthur chuckled first, “but she’s empty-headed, just a pretty face.” “Mia rose to fame very quickly.” The owner’s words pulled me out of my memories. “If I remember correctly, she became famous when she was nineteen.” “Yes.” I remembered something, “Less than a year after becoming the spokesperson, she was famous all over the country.” “The day she won the Best Newcomer Award was Arthur’s twenty-fifth birthday. We had agreed to have dinner together.” “But I waited two hours and he still hadn’t come back. I couldn’t reach him on the phone, nor could I reach Secretary Chen.” “Until eight o’clock that night, a trending topic suddenly dropped from the sky: Mia passionately kissing a mysterious man.” “I clicked on it.” I looked up at the owner and smiled, “The mysterious man was my husband.” 8 They kissed so passionately, pressing Mia against the front of the car, even the car shook. The usually calm and arrogant Arthur, upon discovering the cameras, his first reaction was to press the slender Mia into his arms. The video paused at the moment Arthur glared fiercely at the camera. I masochistically watched it again and again, my tears dropping onto the screen, landing right on Mia’s profile as she buried herself in Arthur’s chest. She looked almost exactly like I did in college. I found out the whole truth. Mia was being given a hard time at a dinner party, and it was Arthur who bailed her out. From then on, Mia’s career skyrocketed, with countless top-tier resources handed to her on a silver platter. When I slammed the evidence in front of Arthur, he offered no explanation and showed no panic. He lit a cigarette and asked: “What do you want to do?” “Shares or new projects?” Arthur said. “Everything is negotiable, just don’t drag Mia into this. It wasn’t easy for her to get to where she is today.” Arthur’s calm attitude turned me into a madwoman. I grew up missing a father figure, and to me, Arthur filled the role of an older mentor. He was my teacher first, before becoming my husband. During the years Aegis Tech was developing, I was strapped for cash and lacked experience; it was Arthur who guided me step by step behind the scenes. To ensure I had security when I married him, he built a solid, high wall for me using the most tangible benefits. I never thought this wall would come crashing down, and in such a disgraceful way. “So you used all the connections at your disposal to have Mia blacklisted,” the owner said. “But it failed.” “Failed spectacularly, at that.” I laughed self-deprecatingly: “Deep down, I still harbored a sliver of hope back then.” “Thinking Arthur was just playing around, or made a mistake in a moment of weakness.” “Don’t look at me like that.” I looked at the owner. “I was too young back then.” But Arthur’s counterattack was a slap in the face. He forcefully suppressed the trending topics and saved Mia’s career. A week later, the blacklisted Mia triumphantly became the lead actress in a major director’s movie. 9 The first pink, fleshy scar became the lower wing line of the butterfly, so blue. The stinging in my wrist grew numb. I stared at it for a long while: “That’s how the first scar came about.” “Mia found me, using a face exactly like mine in college, and begged me to let her and Arthur be together.” “You see, being loved can make a person stupid.” I sighed. “She actually had the nerve to say that the unloved one is the mistress.” So I launched a second round of retaliation against Mia, buying off numerous marketing accounts to expose her true face as a homewrecker. The atmosphere grew quiet, only the vibration of the tattoo gun could be heard. It had been five years, and no matter how much love and hate there was, it had been worn away by the river of time, except for this one thing— “Arthur used Aegis Tech to threaten me.” My tone became heavy: “He used the lifeblood we built together to control me.” Founding Aegis was due to Arthur’s inherent pride; he didn’t want to rely on his family’s shadow for everything. Aegis was built from nothing. Only he and I truly knew the hardships involved. I controlled the core product and tech team, yet Arthur was willing to let Aegis Tech fall apart for Mia. “You only have Aegis, but I still have the Vance family.” Even when things were at their ugliest, Arthur remained calm: “Chloe, everything you have today, I gave you, including Aegis.” “I was really too young back then.” I sighed for the umpteenth time. “When the news of Arthur and Mia getting a hotel room broke, it was exactly our one-year anniversary.” “I saw that red lip tattoo on Arthur’s inner thigh, and that’s when the first scar on my wrist appeared.” When I woke up in the hospital, Arthur was by my side. With red eyes, he pulled me into his arms. For the first time, I chose to compromise. Because I was pregnant, three months along.

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For the three years I was with Liam, I was known in his circle as the absolute perfect, obedient girlfriend. I never checked his phone, never cared how many other women he flirted with, and never fought with him no matter how late he stayed out. Liam was always very smug about it, bragging to his friends about how much I loved him. Until one day, by chance, he saw an old social media account documenting my relationship with my first love. The me in those videos was petty, jealous, and completely lacked the “emotional stability” I had now. In the video, my first love smiled helplessly and asked me: “Why is your temper so bad?” I answered self-righteously: “I only get mad because I love you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t care at all.” Liam was stunned. 1 When I bumped into Liam at the bar, there was a beautiful girl in a spaghetti-strap top and hot pants sitting on his lap. Her slender, pale arms were wrapped around his neck, and the lips smiling down at him were coated in glittering lip gloss. The few friends in the booth who were married or had serious girlfriends had already stood up, laughing apologetically at Liam. “Sorry about this, Liam. The wife runs a tight ship, she’s called a few times already to rush me. If I don’t go back now, I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.” Liam let the girl take the cigarette from his mouth and place it between her own lips, scoffing: “You’re all useless. Letting a woman control you like that.” The other single guys started cheering: “We should all learn from Liam! No matter what time he goes back, his girl never dares to check up on him. Tell us your secrets, bro. Teach us how you trained her!” The girl sitting in his lap giggled, leaning her upper body against Liam. “Yeah, Liam, if you act like this with me, aren’t you afraid your girlfriend will see and get mad?” Liam played with his lighter, a look of boastful pride rising on his face: “She loves me to death. She does whatever I tell her to do. In the three years we’ve been together, she’s never fought with me once.” “Damn! Liam is the man!” The guys next to him all laughed, looking envious. “All these years Liam’s been playing around, and his girl hasn’t dared to say a single word. That’s a real man right there—” His words cut off abruptly as he saw me standing nearby, completely expressionless. Liam saw me too. There wasn’t a trace of panic on his face. He simply pushed the girl off his lap, raised an eyebrow, and waved me over. “What are you doing here?” I paused for a second, then walked over, saying calmly: “I came with some friends.” The girl who had been pushed away looked annoyed. She looked me up and down, forcing a strained smile. “Hey, Sarah.” Only when I got closer did I recognize her. She was the new junior secretary at Liam’s company. I think her name was Chloe. She went to a mediocre state college, but Liam had personally approved her hiring after seeing her resume photo. I didn’t expect him to hook up with her so quickly. I ignored her. Liam looked like he had drank quite a bit. His beautiful, expressive eyes were misty, looking devastatingly handsome in the blurred lighting. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. “You came out to play and didn’t even tell me. Give me a kiss.” He leaned toward the corner of my mouth. I instinctively dodged him. I didn’t know if he had just kissed Chloe or not. I thought it was dirty. Liam’s expression changed, the smile slowly fading from his lips. Even though he was the one sitting, the way he looked at me felt like he was looking down from a great height. “Sarah, what’s that supposed to mean?” I turned my head and said softly: “You’re drunk.” “You think I’m dirty?” Probably because I embarrassed him in front of his friends, Liam’s eyes turned icy. He suddenly grabbed Chloe, who was standing nearby, pulled her onto his lap, and held the back of her head. Chloe looked thrilled and submissively accepted his kiss. The two of them exchanged a wet, deep kiss right in front of me. When Chloe pulled away panting ten seconds later, a silver thread of saliva still connected their lips. She glanced at me, a smug smile playing on her lips. Liam looked at me provocatively. His other friends all fell silent, their eyes fixing on me. No woman could tolerate her boyfriend kissing another woman right in front of her. They probably thought I was finally going to snap. I just met Liam’s gaze and said flatly, “You’re drunk. I’m leaving.” As I walked away, I heard the stunned murmurs of Liam’s friends. “Damn, her emotional stability is insane! She’s not even mad!” “Liam really has her under control. She doesn’t dare get mad at him, probably afraid of getting dumped.” “She loves him too much. I heard she chased Liam for a whole year. She obeys his every command, she’s in way too deep!” Liam let out a laugh, laced with contempt. “She can’t live without me. She doesn’t dare get mad at me.” The deep winter weather felt like knives. I didn’t know when it started, but it was snowing outside. The flurries drifted down, illuminated red by passing taillights one moment, then turning a murky yellow under the streetlamps the next. I pulled my scarf tighter, leaned against the wall, and lit a cigarette. The mint-flavored smoke mixed with the freezing air, stinging my lungs as I inhaled. This was my first love’s favorite cigarette. When we were together, I used to constantly pester him to let me smoke one, and he would scold me every time: “Sarah, what’s wrong with you? If I catch you smoking, I’ll break your legs!” On the day we broke up, I bought a pack myself, coughing as I smoked it. After that, there was no one to manage me, so I just kept smoking. I rarely smoke these days. But sometimes, when my emotions flare up, I still can’t control it. Watching Liam kiss someone else, I really wasn’t angry. Because I simply didn’t love him. 2 I was the one who pursued Liam. The first time I saw him was at a newly opened bar. He was there as an investor. The table in front of his booth was covered in expensive liquor, and the beautiful women around him were giggling at his jokes. That face attracted the gaze of every girl in the room. I remember a lot of people went up to ask for his number that night. I did too. Many people liked Liam, but I was the one who persisted the longest. For a year, I was at his beck and call. Just one word from him, and no matter how far away I was, I would appear in front of him. Liam’s playboy lifestyle was famous in our circle. There was never a shortage of women around him. Even if he had just finished fooling around with some girl, I would go pick him up with just one phone call. I wouldn’t ask anything, wouldn’t say anything, I’d just make him a pot of hangover soup. Everyone thought I was madly in love with him. They all said the Davis family was a disgrace. It was bad enough that my family went bankrupt, but for the only daughter to be so infatuated with the young Mr. Sterling that she insisted on acting like his lapdog? The catalyst for us getting together was a night we both drank too much and ended up rolling into the same bed in a hazy stupor. I only remember Liam being particularly rough that night. I cried a lot, holding onto him and crying the whole time. When we woke up in the morning, Liam looked at the marks all over my body and my swollen, teary eyes. Maybe he felt a rare moment of softness. He lit a cigarette and asked me very casually: “Do you want to be with me?” “Let’s get one thing straight,” he lit his cigarette, biting the filter. “From now on, don’t try to manage me. I hate women who try to manage me.” I stared at the blanket covering my chest, zoning out for a moment, then said: “Okay.” Liam always thought my tears that day were tears of joy. He didn’t know that that day was my first love’s birthday. His side profile looked very much like my first love’s. At that banquet, I spotted him in the crowd with a single glance. Under the dim lighting that night, for just a fleeting moment, I felt like that person had returned to my side. … I was with Julian from the time I was seventeen until I was twenty-five. Almost ten years. He was the only student on financial aid at our elite private school, specially recruited for his top grades. I heard his family used to be very wealthy, but later his father was betrayed by a business partner. Unable to handle the blow of bankruptcy, his father committed suicide. His mother was already in poor health and passed away from grief shortly after. Overnight, he went from a pampered young master to a penniless orphan. But Julian recovered quickly. He was never subservient or arrogant. Even in a private school full of rich kids, he maintained the number one spot in academics and was even elected student body president. Who wouldn’t like someone like that? I confessed to him many times and was rejected every time. But I never gave up; I just kept liking him. Many girls liked him, but slowly gave up after his repeated rejections. Only I was relentlessly persistent. Finally, right before graduation, when I confessed for the sixth time, he asked me helplessly: “What exactly do you like about me?” My face was flushed, tears welling in my eyes as I looked at him stubbornly. I didn’t know if I was angry or sad. I just knew I liked Julian. There’s no reason. Liking something is inherently unreasonable sometimes. “I just like you. I like everything about you!” Julian’s expression was complex. After a long time, he said softly: “But I have nothing. I can’t give you anything. A guy like me… do you still like me?” I said loudly: “Yes! Julian, even though I like you, I have a bottom line too! If you don’t agree this time, I’m never going to ask you again!” Julian looked at me for a long time, then let out a long breath. It looked like exasperation, but also like surrender. After a long time, he gently hugged me. “You really are an idiot.” My eyes widened. My heart skipped a beat, then started pounding violently. That was the first time I understood the feeling of my heart bursting with joy. It turns out when people are happy, fireworks really do go off in their hearts. After that, Julian and I were together. He had great grades; mine weren’t as good. To be with me, he intentionally skipped two major questions on the college entrance exams so he could apply to the same university as me. When I found out, I cried my eyes out. He just held me and laughed. “Idiot, why are you crying? All universities are pretty much the same. Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t let you suffer.” He didn’t make promises lightly. Starting his sophomore year, Julian began his own startup. He and a group of friends launched a company and made their first pot of gold. By the year we graduated, he had already bought a luxury penthouse in the city center. He renovated it in my favorite style, planning to use it as our marital home. Everything was going smoothly. In our plans for the future, there was only each other. Neither of us ever doubted we would make it to the end. Until after graduation, when I brought him home to meet my parents. And then I saw my dad’s face drastically change. Julian’s body swayed, the color draining from his face inch by inch. Later, I found out my dad was the business partner who betrayed Julian’s father, destroying his family. The world is absurd like that. Because my dad was constantly traveling for business, Liam had never seen him before. None of us could have predicted this possibility. That day, my dad asked my mom and me to leave so he could talk to Julian alone. Not long after, Julian left without saying goodbye and went abroad. He didn’t leave me a single word. He said nothing to me. The man who, because of one sentence from me saying I missed him, would cross half the campus to keep me company; the man who promised to love me forever; the man who knelt on one knee with red eyes asking me to marry him, saying that with me he finally had a home… just abandoned me like that. And I couldn’t even hate him. Because it was my dad who ruined him. Who wouldn’t harbor hatred? If it were me, I would hate him too. I don’t know if it was karma, but after that, my dad’s investments failed, he committed suicide, and my family went bankrupt. Julian, on the other hand, thrived abroad. He had a great eye for investments, caught the right market trends, and in just a few years, his company went public on NASDAQ. He became a famous tech billionaire. The tables had turned. Our paths never crossed again. And it was impossible for them to ever cross again. So when I saw Liam, I felt my long-dead heart seemingly start beating again for the first time in a long while. To me, what difference did it make who I was with? The fact that Liam looked so much like Julian was already a blessing from above. For the sake of his face, I had been utterly obedient and at his beck and call these past few years. Whenever he needed me, I was always there. No matter how late he stayed out playing, one phone call and I would get out of bed to go pick him up from another woman’s hands. My birthday, our anniversary—he remembered none of them. On my birthday, he didn’t even come home; he was out having a blast with a girl he just met. Liam had always been a notorious playboy in our circle. He loved to play and knew how to play. The women around him changed faster than his clothes. Before my family went bankrupt, I had heard of his reputation. After getting together with me, he didn’t dial it back at all. Several times, women even came directly to confront me. I could tell several times that he wanted to break up with me, trying to use those incidents as an excuse to start a fight. But I never got jealous, and I never fought with him. Over time, he slowly got used to my presence. He and his friends all thought I loved him to my very core, loved him so much I was pathetic. But the truth is, I genuinely didn’t care. I just wanted to be able to look at that face occasionally in the dead of night. To fantasize that Julian was still by my side. Relying on that, I could keep going. 3 It was a friend of Liam’s birthday. They invited people from our circle to dinner, and everyone brought their plus-ones. Liam brought me along too. But I didn’t expect Chloe to be there as well, naturally taking the seat right next to Liam. She even asked me: “Sarah, you don’t mind if I sit here, do you?” Liam glanced at me. I didn’t say anything. His smile gradually faded, and with a cold scoff, he put his arm around Chloe. Chloe seemed genuinely infatuated with Liam. Throughout the meal, she constantly toasted him, even pressing close to him whispering who-knows-what, occasionally laughing uncontrollably and leaning against him when he teased her. I wasn’t angry in the slightest, sitting quietly to the side eating my food. Liam’s friends clicked their tongues in envy, saying to their own girlfriends: “Look how magnanimous she is. Not like you, getting jealous over every little thing. Learn from her!” His girlfriend had had a bit too much to drink, and scoffed dismissively: “She only cares if she likes you. If she doesn’t like you, she won’t care at all!” I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but after she said that, the entire room went quiet. Liam clearly heard it too. The smile remained on his face, but the hand gripping his glass tightened until the veins popped. His friend froze, immediately trying to smooth things over with an apologetic smile: “Sorry, Liam, my girl had too much to drink. She didn’t mean it.” His girlfriend also started apologizing. Liam didn’t say anything, but his gaze fell on me. I turned my head, avoiding his eyes. He suddenly asked me: “You really aren’t angry at all?” “What is there to be angry about?” I was confused. “Isn’t this the freedom you wanted?” I got to look at that face every day. And he got the freedom he wanted. We both got what we wanted. What was wrong with that? After all, when Liam first agreed to be with me, he warned me not to manage him. These past few years, his side flings never stopped. I thought this was the arrangement he liked. But Liam seemed unhappy. He got even closer to Chloe. Chloe was practically sitting on his lap, and the two of them exchanged a wet kiss right in front of me. Completely ignoring me, his girlfriend. The others were used to it, though a few looked at me with sympathetic expressions. I was scrolling through my phone’s photo album to kill time, waiting for the dinner to end so I could go home. After a few more rounds of drinks, Chloe started feeling buzzed. Perhaps she finally couldn’t hold back her ambition to usurp my position, she eyed me a few times and started picking a fight: “What year is it, and you’re still using an iPhone 12? Pretty retro, huh.” I ignored her, but she got even more aggressive. “I’ve forgotten what an iPhone 12 even looks like. It’s an antique by now. I’m actually a bit curious. Sis, why don’t you let me see your phone?” “No,” I tightened my grip on my phone. “Liam~ tell Sarah to let me see it. It’s just a phone, what’s there to hide?” Seeing I wasn’t speaking, Liam frowned: “She wants to see it, just let her see it.” “No.” I refused again. “Liam~” Chloe grabbed his arm, whining. Probably feeling embarrassed that I rejected him, Liam’s face turned cold as he held his hand out to me: “Phone.” I remained silent. “What’s in the phone anyway?” Chloe added fuel to the fire. “It couldn’t be something inappropriate, could it?” Liam’s eyes darkened, and he reached over to snatch my phone. “What are you doing?!” I was startled. The phone slipped during the struggle. I instinctively shoved Liam away to catch it. His lower back hit the corner of the table, and he let out a muffled groan of pain, cursing at me: “Are you psycho, Sarah?! It’s just a stupid phone! If it breaks, I’ll buy you a new one—” The next second, looking at the video playing on the lit screen, all his words stopped abruptly. The video I had just been watching on my phone started playing again. It was from when I was still with Julian. I was on his back. Not knowing he was recording me, I was pouting and lecturing him. “Why were you talking to that girl for so long today?!” Julian sounded helpless: “She’s the vice president of the student council. We were talking about official business. Look at you, how can you be so jealous every day? Are you the reincarnation of a vinegar jar?” I got even angrier: “I’m jealous because I like you! If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t care if you dropped dead!” Julian just laughed, hiking me higher up on his back. “Okay, okay, okay, you like me, I get it. So I should be happy then?” I poked him in the back: “From now on, you’re not allowed to talk to other girls, you’re not allowed to add their contacts, and you’re not allowed to like anyone else!” “Okay, whatever you say. Where did you get such a bad temper…” The video continued playing. I picked up the phone and turned it off. Liam maintained his posture from a moment ago, completely motionless. No one expected things to develop this way. They fell silent, their eyes fixed on us. The next second, Liam suddenly snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it violently onto the floor! Instinctively, I slapped Liam across the face, then bent down in a panic to pick up the phone. This was the last memento Julian had left me. The phone was smashed beyond recognition, the screen completely black. I grabbed the phone, finally realizing what I had done, and turned to look at Liam. That slap wasn’t that hard. But Liam was stunned. He didn’t even cover his face. He just stood there blankly, looking at me. He seemed somewhat lost, as if he didn’t recognize me anymore. Everyone was shocked. Not a single person dared to make a sound. You could hear a pin drop in the room. I regretted it a little, but somehow, inexplicably, I also felt a sense of relief. I didn’t actually want to hit Liam; it was just a reflex. But since things had come to this, I knew it was over between Liam and me. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and left. As I walked out the door, I sent Liam one last message. “Let’s break up.” 4 I walked aimlessly down the street, but suddenly spotted a familiar silhouette at the corner! In that instant, the sounds of the traffic all vanished. All I could hear was my heart skipping a beat before roaring back to life! That silhouette looked exactly like Julian. But by the time I rushed over, he had already disappeared into the sea of people, impossible to find again. I stood there in a daze, completely devastated, until the cars behind me honked to rush me. Only then did I turn away blankly. It seemed to snow especially heavily this winter. After sitting in a park for a while, I felt a slight chill on my eyelashes. Only then did I belatedly realize everything around me had turned completely white. I slowly curled up, not wanting to leave. I didn’t know where to go. After my dad died, my mom quickly remarried and moved abroad. I didn’t have a home anymore. Julian once gave me a home, but then he left me all alone. With Liam? That was even less of a home. I had places to stay, but I didn’t have a home to return to. Tears slid down my cheeks. I wiped them away gently and was about to stand up when a shadow suddenly fell over me. I thought it was Liam coming out to find me, but when I looked up, my breathing instantly stopped. That face that had appeared in my dreams countless times had crossed the boundary between fantasy and reality, appearing right in front of my eyes. And I couldn’t tell dream from reality. My fingers began to tremble, but I didn’t dare touch him. Snow clung to Julian’s eyelashes, slowly melting. For a moment, I thought the man from my memories who loved me had returned. He said gently: “I’m back.” … I forgot how I ended up back at Julian’s apartment with him. I only remember crying non-stop, clinging to him tightly, refusing to let go, until he helplessly held me as we lay on the bed, patting my back. “Stop crying, I’m not going anywhere. If you keep crying, you’ll get a headache.” I couldn’t even speak properly, lifting my head and sobbing brokenly: “When did you come back?” “A few months ago.” I paused for a second, then cried even louder: “Then why did it take you so long to come find me?!” Julian looked down, his eyes filled with complex emotions I couldn’t read. “I heard you were dating someone. I didn’t know if I should bother you.” “Then why did you come now?” “I couldn’t help it.” He seemed to finally admit defeat: “I couldn’t forget you, Sarah. I couldn’t let you go.” “I missed you so much it was killing me. I admit defeat. I have no other choice.” My hand paused. I sat up. Julian leaned down. On that freezing winter night, with heavy snow falling, this kiss that was delayed for far too long was scorching hot. Neither of us said another word. We had been together for so long, our mutual understanding was too profound. Neither of us needed to say anything more. We didn’t even have a brief moment of unfamiliarity; we knew each other’s bodies far too well. It wasn’t just about lust; it was about longing and possession. When my brow furrowed, I held onto him with an almost fearful grip, terrified this was just a dream. Then I realized, he was holding me even tighter. In a trembling embrace bordering on pain, we finally re-confirmed each other’s existence. When I woke up, it was broad daylight. The snow outside was still falling, the dark clouds pressing down heavily, casting a hazy gloom over everything. The bed beside me was empty. I panicked. Clutching my chest, I stumbled out of bed, about to run out the door, but crashed straight into Julian, who had just returned. The light in the room was dim. Shadows fell across his sharp features. Probably because of our intense activities, his M-shaped lips were flushed a deep red. He looked devastatingly handsome. I let out a sigh of relief and grabbed his forearm. “I thought…” I thought I was dreaming. During the years we were apart, I had too many dreams about him. But the happier the dreams were, the more devastated I felt when I woke up. After leaning against his chest for a long time, I finally mustered the courage: “Are you leaving again this time? About my dad…” Julian rested his chin on my head. After a long silence, he finally spoke: “At the time, I just couldn’t accept it. I didn’t know what to do. I truly hated him, and I couldn’t help but hate you too. All these years abroad, I was hating you while loving you at the same time. It was driving me insane. I saw a therapist, but I couldn’t help it.” “I kept dreaming about you,” he held my hand, his voice very soft. “I dreamt of you crying, asking me, ‘Julian, why don’t you want me anymore?’ My heart hurt so much. I’d wake up and smoke all night. I didn’t know what to do. Sarah, what did you expect me to do?” “Later, I slowly figured it out. Your dad is your dad, and you are you. What your dad did has nothing to do with you. And now your dad isn’t here anymore either. I’m willing to let it go. We can start over.” He slowly hugged me tighter: “I’m not leaving. I’m never leaving again. That apartment wasn’t good anyway. I bought a new house. We can decorate it from scratch together, okay?” My eyes stung and slowly blurred. I hugged his arm tight. “Okay.” The sunlight broke through the clouds. I didn’t know when, but the snow had stopped. My sky had finally cleared up, too.

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When the college entrance exam results were released, Arthur took the top spot in the state. Meanwhile, I, who had consistently maintained the number one rank in our grade, didn’t even make the cut-off for a bachelor’s degree. Arthur smiled, a brazen and reckless expression on his face. “Chloe, a bet is a bet. You are my girlfriend now.” I walked up to him and shoved him off the roof. Everything around me began to play backward like a rewinding movie. Time rewound to the day Arthur transferred to our school. Staring at that annoying face on the podium, I tightened my grip on my pen. It doesn’t matter. I will eliminate this obstacle of a male lead, time and time again. 1 The first time I realized I was the female lead in a sweet campus romance novel, The story had already ended a long time ago. I had been married to Arthur for eight years, and our son was six. He was a highly anticipated rising star in the tech world, while I held a token position in his company. My main responsibility was staying home and taking care of our child. It was our eighth wedding anniversary. Arthur was in a car accident. By the time I rushed to the hospital, he had just come out of surgery. The doctor said he needed a family member to stay and observe him for 72 hours post-operation. I sat by the hospital bed, looking at Arthur. His head was wrapped in bandages, one leg in a cast suspended in the air. His breathing was faint under the oxygen mask. Secretary Sullivan stood at the door of the hospital room, her eyes red, looking pitiful and delicate. “Mrs. Vance, I’m so sorry. If it weren’t for me, Mr. Vance wouldn’t be hurt so badly.” She covered her mouth, choking back sobs. My son, who was on the sofa, immediately ran over and took her hand. “Don’t cry, Miss Sullivan. Daddy will be fine!” That scene was particularly glaring. My own flesh and blood, after his father’s car accident, Was comforting his secretary, not me. “Leo,” I said, my voice terribly hoarse. “Come to Mommy.” My son turned to look at me with undisguised disgust. “Can’t you see Miss Sullivan is crying?” “Mom, you’re not a kid anymore. Stop making a scene.” Secretary Sullivan hurriedly wiped her tears. “Be a good boy, Leo. Go to your mom. I’m fine.” That’s what she said, but she didn’t let go of the child’s hand. 2 I looked away and turned my gaze back to Arthur on the bed. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the blinds, Casting alternating stripes of light and shadow on his face. I had looked at this face for thirteen years. From seventeen to thirty. From our school days to walking down the aisle. Why did it feel increasingly unfamiliar to me? I thought of this morning. While chopping vegetables in the kitchen, I accidentally cut my hand. Blood gushed out for quite a while before I reacted and looked for a Band-Aid. Enduring the pain, I finished cooking three dishes and a soup. I rushed to deliver it to Arthur’s company before twelve. When the two young girls at the front desk saw me, they exchanged a knowing look. “Mrs. Vance, here to deliver lunch again? Mr. Vance is in a meeting.” “I’ll wait for him.” “Maybe you should just leave the food here. Mr. Vance has been quite busy lately, he might not have time.” “I’ll wait for him,” I stubbornly repeated. They curled their lips and ignored me. An hour later, Arthur finally stepped out of the elevator, Surrounded by a group of people in suits. Seeing me, he frowned and walked over. “Why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you to get a good rest at home?” He had a smile on his face, but his tone carried a faint hint of impatience. “I made your favorite crab-roe pork meatballs…” Arthur took the insulated bag and put his arm around my shoulder. “What happened to your hand?” He noticed the Band-Aid on my finger. “I accidentally cut it while chopping vegetables.” Arthur’s voice dropped: “You can’t even do such a simple thing right…” Noticing the gazes from the people around us, he immediately switched to a gentle tone: “You’ve worked hard, honey. You must be more careful in the future, okay?” At that moment, I felt very strange. I felt like an exhibit. Used to showcase Arthur’s “loving husband” persona to the public. 3 We ate lunch in Arthur’s office. He took a few bites and put down his chopsticks. “The meatballs are too mushy, the ribs are dry, and the asparagus is overcooked.” I nervously rubbed the hem of my shirt. “I’m sorry, I’ll pay more attention next time.” “It’s not about paying attention,” Arthur pulled a tissue and wiped his mouth. “It’s an attitude problem. I’m so busy with work every day. Is it too much to ask for a decent meal when I come home? Maya pulls all-nighters for projects, working non-stop, coordinating domestically and internationally. You just stay at home and do this little bit, and you can’t even do it right?” Maya. Maya Sullivan. It’s her again. My son had said something similar to me yesterday. I was tutoring him in math, but no matter how I explained it, I couldn’t make it clear. I was sweating profusely from anxiety. “Mom, you’re so stupid.” My son sneered and pushed the workbook away. “Last time Miss Sullivan explained a problem to me, I understood it immediately.” “Dad is right. You’re just not as smart as Miss Sullivan.” The words of a six-year-old child cut like a knife. When did this start? It seemed to be after Leo was born. My brain felt like it was getting worse and worse. Papers that I used to memorize after one read, I now had to read over and over again, and I would still forget them right after. Math problems that I used to solve effortlessly, I now stared at for ages without a clear line of thought. The doctor said this was due to hormonal fluctuations postpartum, a normal phenomenon. Arthur said I was just too anxious and needed to rest more. But I knew that wasn’t it. Something had been extracted from my body a long time ago. “The patient needs to rest. One family member is enough to stay and observe.” The nurse’s voice pulled me back to reality. Secretary Sullivan had already stood up, holding my son’s hand. “Mrs. Vance, I’ll take Leo to get something to eat first.” “You look terrible. Do you need me to order some food for you?” “I’m not hungry.” “Then we’ll be going now. Remember to let me know when Mr. Vance wakes up.” She gave me a deep look, unable to hide the smugness at the corner of her lips. “If Mr. Vance hadn’t shielded me immediately, I would be the one lying there.” I looked at Maya, this woman who thrived in Arthur’s company like a fish in water. Young, beautiful, smart, and capable. Everything I once possessed but now lost. She had it all. 4 The door closed, leaving only me and the unconscious Arthur. I stared at the ECG monitor, my mind beginning to wander. After failing the college entrance exam, my college applications were a complete mess. Eventually, I ended up at a local community college. Arthur went to a top university in New York. We started a long-distance relationship. He called me every week. In his words, he casually mentioned how heavy his coursework in New York was. How outstanding his peers were, and then he would change the subject: “But you wouldn’t understand this anyway.” “By the way, did you eat on time today? Don’t forget because of studying. That school of yours, there’s not much point in studying anyway.” During my three years of college, no matter how hard I tried, My grades remained mediocre. It felt like I had really become stupid. Later, Arthur successfully launched his startup. After graduation, I naturally joined his company. I held a token position as an administrative assistant. He said it would be easier to take care of me this way, saying my current state wasn’t suitable for a high-pressure job. Marriage, having a child, becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom. Eight years. I looked at the cut on my finger. The edge of the Band-Aid was already peeling up slightly, Revealing the pale flesh underneath. If the seventeen-year-old me saw the thirty-year-old me now, what would she say? That girl who once dreamed of joining the astrophysics department. Would she recognize this housewife who couldn’t even explain an elementary school math problem, Who was despised as stupid by her son, whose cooking was criticized by her husband, and who was looked down upon by his secretary? The ECG monitor suddenly emitted a low alarm. Arthur’s fingers twitched, his brow furrowed; it seemed he was about to wake up. In that moment, a sudden surge of hatred rose from the bottom of my heart. Like a trapped beast discovering it had been imprisoned for eight whole years. Discovering its claws and fangs had been pulled out one by one. Discovering its pride had been ground away little by little. Just to become an auxiliary piece that fit the “loving husband male lead” persona. My hand reached toward Arthur’s face, pausing in mid-air. Then, moving downward. Past his eyes, the bridge of his nose, his jaw. And gripped that oxygen tube. 5 “Arthur, do you remember when you transferred to our school in junior year?” “On the first monthly exam, you scored a 32 in math, and the teacher asked me to tutor you.” Arthur’s eyelids fluttered; he seemed to hear me. “I explained the problems to you, but your mind was elsewhere.” “You said, what’s the point of girls reading so many books? They’ll end up getting married anyway.” “At the time, I thought you were so shallow, so ridiculous.” My fingers tightened. “Now I understand, the ridiculous one was me.” I gave a hard yank. The oxygen tube disconnected. Arthur’s breathing suddenly became rapid, his chest heaving violently. The ECG monitor blared a piercing alarm. I watched Arthur struggle. Watched his face turn purple from oxygen deprivation. Watched his mouth unconsciously open and close. There was no fear, no regret, only a strange sense of satisfaction. It felt like I had finally pulled out a thorn that had been stuck in my throat for eight years, pulling it out with flesh and blood. The ECG line eventually flatlined. The walls of the hospital room began to distort, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling stretching into blurred bands of light. Time began to rewind. The smell of disinfectant was replaced by a faint, milky scent. 6 I sat on the bed in my bedroom, holding a soft infant in my arms. The baby had just finished feeding, his tiny hands tightly grasping my collar, sleeping soundly. This was when Leo had just turned one month old. The bedroom door was pushed open, and Arthur walked in holding a cigarette. It made me cough. “Don’t smoke in the house, the baby is still small.” Arthur clicked his tongue impatiently but still crushed the cigarette out in the ashtray on the nightstand. “My mom called today, said she wants to come over and help with the baby. I told her there’s no need, you’re just at home doing nothing anyway.” I looked down at the baby in my arms, my voice very soft: “I want to wait until Leo is six months old, wean him, and go back to work.” “Work?” Arthur looked as if he had heard a joke. “What can you do in your current state? Your memory is so bad. Last time I asked you to get a document from the company, you got the wrong one.” “Staying at home and taking good care of the baby is your most important job right now.” He lit another cigarette, this time sitting directly on the edge of the bed to smoke. The smoke billowed toward me. Little Leo squirmed uneasily in my arms, whimpering softly. Arthur blew out a puff of smoke, looking at me through the haze. “Is the money I make not enough to support you? Why must you go out and show your face in public?” “Do you know how fierce the competition is out there now? With your current condition, what kind of job could you possibly do well?” Ash fell onto the bedsheet, burning a tiny black hole. I watched that black hole expand continuously. Like a trapped beast, opening its massive maw. Wait, I remember I killed Arthur. In the hospital room, I pulled his oxygen tube. And then I returned here. “I’m talking to you, did you hear me?” Arthur frowned, reaching out to touch my face. “Postpartum depression still hasn’t cleared up? Should we go see the doctor again?” His hand froze in mid-air. I had already raised that ashtray. With all my strength, I smashed it viciously against his temple. 7 Arthur’s expression froze, his eyes widening in shock. He seemed entirely unable to comprehend what had happened. Blood flowed from his temple, Down over his eyebrow, into his eye. He opened his mouth but made no sound. His body fell backward, crashing heavily onto the floor, a large pool of fresh blood spreading. The world began to twist and spin again. The baby’s cries faded, the weight in my arms disappeared. The smell of blood was replaced by the fragrance of flowers. I stood in the middle of a lawn, wearing a pristine white wedding dress. Holding a bouquet of fragrant, blooming flowers. Time had rewound again. The young and handsome Arthur, dressed in a suit and tie, held the rings, a brilliant smile on his face. The officiant asked: “Miss Chloe, do you take Mr. Arthur Vance to be your wedded husband, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?” The eyes of all the guests were focused on me. Everyone’s face radiated with blessings and smiles. It was a perfect wedding scene. But the hand holding my bouquet was trembling. Not out of fear, but out of excitement. The pervasive sense of confinement that had followed me like a shadow for eight years—making me increasingly dull, increasingly submissive—was vanishing. My mind was clearer than it had ever been. Like a dense fog dispersed by a gale, I clearly remembered everything. How I had securely held the number one rank in my grade for three years of high school. I remembered the gold medal in the national physics olympiad. I remembered the dreams of the stars and the sea written in my notebooks. I remembered the absurd failure on the day the college entrance exam results were announced. I remembered the day Arthur transferred to our school. Speaking carelessly to me: “You’re the top student? You don’t look like much.” This wasn’t a love story. It was a meticulously planned theft. My life, my talent, my future. They were all altered by an invisible force, And grafted onto Arthur. The meaning of my existence was merely to serve as a footnote in his perfect life. To make the readers sigh: “Look, even the most outstanding, top-student female lead fell for him, willing to give up everything to support her husband and raise their child.” All the charm bestowed upon him was to gild his mediocre essence. 8 “I do not.” My voice echoed through the microphone to everyone’s ears. The smile on Arthur’s face froze. A collective gasp echoed from the guest seating. Arthur’s parents stood up abruptly, their faces extremely ugly. The officiant hurriedly tried to smooth things over: “The bride is too nervous and misspoke. It’s okay, let’s do it again…” “I do not want to marry Arthur.” I interrupted the officiant, articulating every word with absolute clarity. “Not today, not tomorrow, not in this lifetime.” Arthur reacted, stepping forward and grabbing my wrist. His grip was strong enough to crush my wrist bones. He forced a smile on his face. “Chloe, stop making a scene. So many people are watching.” “Let go,” I said. “Do you know what you are doing?” Arthur’s voice was very low, carrying a threat: “Hurry up and finish the ceremony. Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it when we get back!” The murmurs from the crowd grew louder. I looked at Arthur’s face, twisted with anger and embarrassment. And suddenly smiled. “Arthur, do you know why you were able to become the top scorer in the college entrance exam?” He froze. I leaned close to him. And said in a voice only the two of us could hear: “Because there was a thief.” “A thief who stole what was mine and stuffed it into your empty brain.” Arthur’s pupils shrank abruptly. The next second, I grabbed his tie backhandedly. And with all my might, I slammed him into the champagne tower next to us. Amidst the sound of shattering glass, the back of Arthur’s head hit the corner of the table hard. Blood and golden champagne mixed and flowed everywhere. Screams rose and fell around me. But I could no longer hear them. The world spun and inverted. The pristine white wedding dress was replaced by a blue and white school uniform. Time had rewound to the day the college entrance exam results were announced. 9 I stood on the roof of the high school building. The hot summer wind blew the hem of my shirt. A red banner hung at the school gate: “Congratulations to our student Arthur Vance for securing the top spot in the state sciences!” The sports field was buzzing with voices. Everyone was marveling at Arthur being a dark horse, a genius. The protagonist of their conversations stood opposite me, leaning against the roof railing, smiling brazenly. “Chloe, a bet is a bet. You are my girlfriend now.” He opened his arms to me, waiting for me to throw myself into his embrace with tears of gratitude. I looked at Arthur. Looking at this idiot forcibly elevated to the altar by the rules of the plot. Every ounce of his charm was built upon my plundered life. Arthur judged from on high: “You girls are all like this, lacking stamina. No matter how hard you try, you can’t compare to a boy putting in just a little effort.” “Look, I just casually studied and easily defeated you.” How ridiculous, how unscientific, how shameless. “Arthur.” I spoke calmly: “Do you believe in karma?” He tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled, “What?” “Things stolen must be returned one day.” I took a step forward. Arthur instinctively stepped back, his back hitting the roof railing. I reached out, but not to hold his hand. Instead, I pressed against his chest and shoved hard. Arthur’s smile vanished, replaced by pure terror. He flailed his arms wildly in the air, trying to grab something. But only air passed through his fingers. “Chloe, are you cra—” The voice abruptly stopped. The speed of the fall was very fast, so fast I could barely hear his shout. Immediately following were shrieks of horror exploding from below. I had already turned and left the roof. The world disintegrated behind me. The school building collapsed like a sandcastle, the sky shattered into pieces. Revealing the void of darkness behind it. Then, light flooded back in.

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My best friend’s brother was discharged from the military. Word was he got injured during a mission and lost his ability to have children. My best friend was sighing non-stop: “I’m happily child-free, and now my brother got injured. Looks like the mighty Hayes bloodline is going to die out with us! What a tragedy!” A few days later, I finally met this legendary tough guy. I was completely stunned. How does he look exactly like the guy I slept with a few years ago—the father of my child?! 1 “I blame my dad for giving us such unlucky names. I’m Hope Hayes, and my brother’s name is Hunter Hayes. With names like that, we were doomed to be hopeless hunters of love!” At the barbecue joint, my best friend Hope was hugging a beer bottle, howling like a banshee. “Originally, I was hoping he’d come back so I could set you two up, and my goddaughter Lily could officially become my niece.” “But what good is a man who can’t have kids? He’s basically useless. We’re such good friends, I could never do that to you!” Just as she was speaking, her phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Hunter. Hope was already passed out on the table, completely oblivious. I hesitated for a moment, but when the impatient ringtone sounded for the third time, I answered it for her. “Mom says if you aren’t dead, drag your ass home.” The voice was deep. Surprisingly pleasant. I pinched my inexplicably warm earlobe. “Hello, I’m Hope’s friend.” “We’re at a barbecue place. Do you have time to come pick her up?” Looking at my best friend’s state, it was going to be a struggle for her to get home on her own. I had drank quite a bit myself. It would definitely be easier if someone came to pick her up. Before the person on the other end could respond, my supposedly passed-out best friend suddenly sprang back to life. “Oh, my poor brother! Went to the military academy so young, he’s practically an old man now and still a virgin! And with his condition now, I’m afraid nobody will ever want him…” An eerie silence fell over the other end of the line. The sheer awkwardness made me sober up a bit: “She’s… really had a lot to drink.” “Address.” “South Loop, Number 8.” The call disconnected. 2 I had heard about Hope’s brother before. A tough guy with a will of iron. He had been her idol since childhood. But when we first met, her brother was already deployed on missions. I had never met him. It wasn’t until a week ago, when he was discharged, that I learned he had been severely injured. Seeing it was about time, I supported Hope and waited at the entrance. From a distance, I saw a black car approaching. A tall man stepped out. He was wearing sleek cargo pants, with broad shoulders and long legs. I couldn’t see his face clearly, only catching a glimpse of his sharp silhouette. At that exact moment, a video call came in. “Is it Lily?” Hope glanced blearily at my phone screen. “Calling this late… hope nothing’s wrong.” “You answer it, my brother is already here.” Saying that, she waved at the man approaching in the distance. I was a bit worried about my daughter, too. Not having time to greet the man, I quickly stepped to the side to answer the video call as he got closer. Almost instantly. Lily’s little face appeared on the screen. “Mommy!” Seeing the little girl smiling brightly, I finally let out a sigh of relief. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “I missed Mommy!” Then, my mom’s voice came through the phone. “I took her to the countryside to catch shrimp today, and she had too much fun. Refuses to sleep, insisting on video calling you. You’re still out? Why aren’t you home yet?” “I’m out hanging with Hope.” My mom took the kid back to our hometown for a few days, so I finally had some rare free time. “Is Auntie Hope there too?” Lily’s little face squeezed back into view: “Mommy, I want to talk to Auntie Hope!” I turned to look at the main entrance. Hope was already slung over the tall man’s shoulder, tossed like a sack of potatoes directly into the SUV parked nearby. Yes. Tossed. My mouth twitched. He really does have… the tough guy style. 3 Having Lily was an accident. Four years ago, I had just gone through a breakup. I went to a bar to drink my sorrows away and met a man. He was sexy and restrained. Every breath he took hit my aesthetic sweet spot perfectly. Riding the buzz of the alcohol, I slept with him. Surprisingly, we clicked incredibly well that night. Even now, I remember the slight shivers caused by his rough, large hands brushing over me. At the time, I thought maybe starting a relationship wouldn’t be so bad. I didn’t expect that when I opened my eyes the next morning, he answered a phone call and his expression instantly turned deadly serious. “Copy that. I’m on my way.” He quickly got up and got dressed. He jotted down a string of numbers on a piece of paper: “I have an emergency mission right now. You can reach me at this number.” Throughout the entire thing, I didn’t even know his name. I originally thought our paths would never cross again, but a month later, I found out I was pregnant. Out of sheer desperation, I called that number. No one answered, several times. I figured I had been scammed. He probably wasn’t interested, made up an excuse to leave, and gave me a fake number so I wouldn’t cling to him. Due to health reasons, I ended up keeping the baby. But I never regretted that decision. Lily is sweet and smart, and I’m incredibly grateful for her company all these years. Early the next morning, my best friend sobered up and called me to complain. “My brother is so rough, he bruised my arm! Let me tell you, never look for a guy like him, he definitely has violent tendencies…” Before she could finish, a deep, warning voice came from her end: “Hope.” Hope immediately shut up, then, remembering something, her voice turned sycophantic: “Brooo, are you free this afternoon? Want to help my friend move some inventory?” “No.” “Awesome!” Hope completely ignored what her brother said, telling me, “I found you some muscle! He’ll help you move your stuff this afternoon.” “No, no, it’s fine. I can handle it myself this afternoon.” “We’re basically sisters, don’t be shy! He’s just sitting at home all day doing nothing anyway.” I originally thought my best friend was just joking. I didn’t expect her to actually show up that afternoon. Followed by a tall man. 4 I run a women’s lingerie boutique downtown. I’ve been managing it for years, and business is pretty good. I never hired any employees; I handle everything inside and out myself. Sometimes when it gets too busy, Hope comes over to help out. I was doing inventory in the afternoon when I heard people arguing outside. “The inventory you want me to move is women’s lingerie?” “So what if it’s lingerie? Do you go out without wearing underwear, Hunter? If you keep acting like this, I’m telling Dad you’re sexist!” “You feel like you haven’t been disciplined enough, don’t you?” The man’s tone was clearly impatient. “Are you saying you’d hit a woman? I’ll tell the whole world!” Seeing that the two of them were about to start fighting, I hurried outside. “It’s okay, it’s okay! There isn’t that much inventory, I don’t need this much help.” I looked up to apologize to my best friend’s brother: “I’m so sorry, Hope didn’t explain what kind of store this was and just dragged you over here. I…” Before I could finish, I got a clear look at his face. Chiseled features, handsome and sharp. A wave of pure testosterone hit me, rolling off his dark brown jacket. I completely forgot what I was going to say. The memories from four years ago came rushing back like a tidal wave. Fingers tangled in my hair, veins popping on his forearms, the heavy, forceful panting. I was shocked that I remembered every single detail so vividly. “Forget it, forget it. If you don’t want to help, then leave. Don’t stand there with a sour face acting like we’re begging you!” Hope rolled her eyes and linked her arm through mine. “Don’t apologize to him. He hasn’t been back in years, and now he doesn’t have an ounce of gentlemanly manners!” “Hold on.” The man blocked our path. His gaze was locked firmly on me. I suppressed the storm raging in my heart and pretended to look back calmly. He coughed lightly: “Where’s the stuff?” “What stuff?” “Didn’t you say you needed help moving inventory? Where is it?” 5 Hunter took off his jacket, revealing a plain black T-shirt underneath. He was incredibly strong. The heavy boxes looked like toys in his hands. He carried four or five boxes at a time. With him there, Hope and I instantly became beautiful, useless decorations. Hope stood to the side, sipping milk tea and scrolling on her phone. Commanding her own brother to do manual labor with absolute peace of mind. I hid in the storage room, pretending to be busy doing inventory. My heart was a complete mess. I never expected Lily’s biological father to be my best friend’s brother. So… does he remember me? He probably doesn’t, right? After all, it’s been so long… While my mind was racing, a male voice suddenly called out. “Everything outside is moved in.” “Ah, thank you!” The already cramped storage room felt even more crowded with a man inside. I instinctively took a half-step back, accidentally knocking over something next to me. The man bent down and picked it up before I could. “You dropped this.” In his hand was a black, bunny-ear lace bra. The thin straps dangled from his fingertips, creating a bizarre contrast with his stark, masculine presence. I remembered that night, what I was wearing seemed to be… My face instantly turned beet red, and the man’s dark eyes grew deeper as he stared at me. He suddenly leaned in close: “You seem very afraid of me. Why?” My breathing quickened, our gazes tangled together. With nowhere to hide, my brain short-circuited, and I suddenly blurted out: “Hope said you hit women!” Without waiting for his reaction, I squeezed through the gap beside him and rushed out. Hope, hearing the commotion outside, walked over. “Hit women?” “Which son of a bitch dares to hit women?!” Hunter’s face grew even darker. “If you say one more word, I might actually hit you.” Thanks to Hunter, the moving process sped up dramatically. A job that was supposed to take until seven or eight o’clock was completely finished by four. Hope didn’t want to bother me further and dragged Hunter to leave. The tall, muscular man stood steadily in the middle of aisles filled with lingerie. “Is Boss Sarah so stingy she won’t even buy me a meal?” My cheeks flushed slightly: “I will! What do you guys want to eat?” Hope’s eyes widened in shock. “Hunter, how could you be so shameless? Making my friend pay for dinner, are you even human?” “You guys pick the place, I’m paying.” “That’s more like it!” My best friend was finally satisfied. She hooked my arm and lowered her voice. “My brother actually has quite a bit of money. It’s rare for him to bleed cash. Think hard about what you want to eat, and absolutely do not hold back!” I don’t know if it was intentional or not. But the place they finally chose. Was right next to the bar where Hunter and I first met. Both Hunter and I aren’t very talkative. Thank god my best friend was there to liven up the atmosphere, so it wasn’t too awkward. But I could constantly feel Hunter’s gaze, subtle but present, resting on me. With an undisguised, burning intensity. Suddenly, my phone rang. My best friend immediately leaned over to look at the screen: “Is it Lily? I haven’t seen her in so long, I miss her so much!” The expression of the man across the table instantly became incredibly weird. It wasn’t until I stepped outside to answer the phone that I heard his deep voice. “She’s… married?” 6 Hunter’s words immediately triggered a backlash from my best friend: “What do you mean by that? Can’t someone have a kid without getting married? You’re such an old-fashioned boomer!” “Not married, huh?” Hunter’s posture returned to its original relaxed state. He leaned back in his chair, took a sip of tea, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “That’s good. Have you met the guy? What’s his background?” My best friend stared at him, her expression slowly turning weird. “Bro, honestly, your secret joy is a bit too obvious. Just because you can’t have happiness anymore, doesn’t mean you can’t stand seeing other people happy, right?” Hunter: ? My best friend continued: “When Sarah gets back later, absolutely do not bring up Lily’s dad. I suspect the reason she hasn’t dated anyone in all these years is because she still hasn’t gotten over that scumbag.” Hearing this, the smile on Hunter’s face slowly vanished. It wasn’t until the siblings finished their loud gossip that I found an appropriate moment to sit back down. I had never told Hope the details about Lily’s dad. First, because when we met, Lily was already born. Second, because I felt I would never see him again, so there was no need to talk about it. I just vaguely said that after I got pregnant, I lost contact with the father. But Hope must have misunderstood. She assumed he was a massive scumbag who abandoned me. Out of consideration for my feelings, she never explicitly asked about it. And now, things were awkward. Although lying to my best friend isn’t great, I didn’t dare casually reveal Lily’s parentage to them right now. After all, I didn’t know Hunter. If things went south, it would ruin my friendship with Hope as well. That night, Hope and I drank. Hunter voluntarily took on the role of designated driver. As the car headed north, Hope pressed her face against the window: “Wrong way, wrong way! Sarah’s house isn’t in this direction!” “I’m dropping you off first. I have somewhere to go later, I’m not going home.” Hearing this, Hope got annoyed and muttered: “If I knew you weren’t going home, I wouldn’t have let you drive us. Sarah and I could have found another spot to keep drinking.” Hunter glanced at her but didn’t say anything. The car stopped smoothly at the Hayes residence. Hope got out reluctantly. I felt awkward being alone with Hunter, so I also prepared to get out. “It’s not far from my place from here. I can just take a cab. Since you have things to do, I won’t bother you…” “It’s no bother. It’s on my way.” My best friend nodded: “Exactly! Just let him drop you off. It’s not like whatever he’s doing this late at night is anything important anyway!” Declining again would seem too deliberate, so I could only gladly accept his offer. “Where to?” “Happy Road Apartments.” The man glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes holding a smile: “Don’t want to keep drinking? I can take you now.” “No, no, Hope was just joking earlier.” I thanked him politely. “Thank you both so much for today. I really troubled you.” “Being so polite, treating me like a stranger?” I didn’t expect him to ask so directly, and my breathing instantly quickened. Before I could answer, he stated confidently: “You remember.” “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Liar.” The man lowered his voice. “Didn’t Hope tell you what I used to do? I’m best at analyzing emotional states by listening to breathing.” Hearing this, I instinctively held my breath. He ended up laughing out loud: “I made that up.” “Hunter!” “That’s more like you. You were acting way too tense when you saw me today.” Afraid of giving anything else away, I didn’t dare say another word for the rest of the ride. 7 Thankfully, Hunter didn’t tease me anymore on the way. After getting home, I played a round of games with Hope online. Only then did I slowly take a shower. While hanging up my laundry, I accidentally glanced out the window and noticed the SUV that dropped me off was still parked in the exact same spot downstairs. After debating for a long time, I threw on a coat and went down. The car was still running. I tapped on the window. “Hunter?” The window rolled down, revealing the man’s resolute face. “Did the car break down?” “No.” “Then why haven’t you left? Didn’t you say you had plans to meet friends later?” “I don’t have plans. It was just an excuse to drop you off alone.” The air stilled, and I pursed my lips. I don’t know why, but a long-hidden anger rushed to my head: “Do you just really like making up excuses?” “What do you mean?” “You know exactly what I mean.” After saying that, I turned to leave. He frowned and grabbed my hand: “Explain yourself.” “Emergency mission.” Only then did he remember the words he said to me years ago. His voice was raspy: “I didn’t lie to you. It really was an emergency notification that time. I had just gotten home on leave when a sudden disaster occurred. I was out doing relief work the entire time.” “What about the phone number? No one answered that number at all!” “During missions, our phones are all confiscated…” Before he could finish, he realized: “You tried to find me?” I turned my head away, unwilling to admit it at this moment. “You really tried to find me.” A look of intense regret flashed across Hunter’s face. “I didn’t expect the mission to last that long. I should have proactively asked for your contact info.” The past is the past. There’s no point in arguing about it now. “Since you’re fine, I’m heading back up.” “Don’t go yet.” Hunter pulled me back, his large hand completely enveloping mine. “Hope said you still haven’t forgotten him?” “Who?” “That scumbag.” It took me a while to realize he was talking about Lily’s dad. My expression grew complicated, and I vaguely replied: “It’s not what you guys think. Actually… he’s not that bad.” As soon as I finished speaking, his brows instantly furrowed into a straight line. “As expected, you’re still defending him even now.” “I’m not.” “Forget him. From now on… there will be someone who treats you well.” I wanted to say something else, but he squeezed my hand firmly and then let go. “I don’t want to push you. It just feels a bit surreal running into you again, I need a moment to process it.” “It’s getting late, go back and rest.” I opened my mouth but ultimately didn’t say anything. I dreamt again that night. I dreamt of being held in Hunter’s arms, his teeth gently grazing the base of my ear. In the dream, I was like a small boat, rising and falling with the turbulent waves. I don’t know how much time passed, but my phone vibrated a few times. I blearily glanced at the screen and realized it was already late morning. Opening the chat, I saw a string of messages from my best friend. 【Extra, extra! My brother didn’t come home last night!】 【My mom is already burning incense to the Buddha, praying that he spent the night at a woman’s house.】 【Did the ancient iron tree finally blossom? Tsk tsk, do you think the other person knows he’s a barren fig tree?!】 What iron tree, what fig tree? I hadn’t fully processed it yet. More messages came in. 【I think I already guessed whose house my brother stayed at.】 I suddenly grew tense. 【Who?】 【Chloe.】 The unfamiliar name made me breathe a sigh of relief, but also left me stunned. Hope explained: 【A classmate from his combat training class back in the day. She’s incredibly badass; her combat skills are on par with my brother’s.】 【You don’t know this, but even though my brother looks rebellious, he actually has a moral cleanliness obsession. I’ve never seen him get close to any girl. The only one he hung out with was Chloe!】 【Since he got back, he’s only been in touch with her. If it’s not her, who else could it be?!】 Last night he said he had no plans. And now he stayed out all night. And suddenly a female classmate with shared interests pops up beside him. I couldn’t describe what I was feeling right now. It felt like someone had grabbed my heart and squeezed it hard, but there was also a sense of relief, like surviving a disaster. Good thing I didn’t tell him about Lily’s parentage, otherwise it really would have just added unnecessary trouble.

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During the year my boyfriend was at his absolute poorest, I broke up with him. Later, he achieved success and fame, and used every means possible to marry me. Everyone said I was the love of his life, his most cherished wife. Until later, when he brought a different woman home every night, breaking my heart, turning me into a laughingstock in our circle. And I neither cried nor made a scene, quietly staying in the study, never disturbing his affairs. He went mad with anger, kissing my lips fiercely, asking in a low voice: “Aren’t you jealous?” He didn’t know I was sick. Every day he sought his crazy revenge on me, I was silently counting down how many days I had left to live. 1. In the third year of my marriage to Arthur, he took a young, beautiful college student as his mistress. The girl’s name was Mia, she looked pure and cute, exactly the type Arthur liked a lot. Arthur kept her for over half a year. Besides me, she was the woman Arthur kept by his side the longest. Friends advised me to be careful. They all said Arthur seemed to have developed real feelings for Mia. The first time I met Mia was on my birthday. I had been having nosebleeds since morning. I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said I would probably only live until next spring. I nodded gently and whispered, it’s okay. I wasn’t afraid of dying, but I was a little afraid of pain. I heard there was a very expensive medicine that could make me live a bit more comfortably. There wasn’t enough money in my bank account, so I went to Arthur’s company to find him. I happened to run into Mia there; she had just graduated and was working as Arthur’s secretary. Arthur was in a meeting, so I sat outside waiting. Mia kept staring at me, secretly whispering to the colleagues around her: “Is that the boss’s wife? She’s so ugly, all dried up, looking like she’s about to die.” “You all say I look like her, where’s the resemblance? I’m way prettier than her.” The bright glass reflected my image: no makeup, bundled in a bulky down jacket. I really wasn’t pretty, and I really was about to die. A colleague pulled Mia back and whispered, “That’s just because she isn’t dressed up. If she put on some makeup, ten of you combined wouldn’t be as pretty as her.” “Also, don’t provoke her just because the boss spoils you.” “You don’t know how much the boss loves her. If you make her unhappy, be careful the boss doesn’t kill you.” 2. Hearing that Arthur loved me very much, Mia pouted unconvinced and rolled her eyes at me. She brought me a cup of tea, asking in a soft, delicate voice: “Chloe, how could the boss bear to make you wait this long?” “So strange. Before, whenever I came to see him, no matter how busy he was, he would always keep me company first. He said I was the most important.” “I thought he was this considerate to other women too…” She curved her eyes and smiled sweetly; the way she smiled looked very much like me when I was younger. I thought about it, Arthur and Mia were indeed different. He had countless mistresses, using them as tools to spite me, bringing a different woman home every night, testing my reaction time and time again. Arthur never tangled with them for long, maybe a day or two, maybe a couple of weeks, he always got bored quickly. Only Mia, Arthur kept her on the outside, accompanying her to dinner, shopping, and movies. They were like an ordinary, loving couple. Arthur gave her money, and also gave her love. I looked at Mia, smiled at her, and gently asked: “Since you are so important, how can Arthur bear to make you a shameful mistress?” “You should talk him into divorcing me sooner and marrying you.” Mia’s face instantly changed. Angered out of embarrassment, she cursed me in a low voice: “The unloved one is the mistress, you are the redundant one!” “Aren’t you just relying on having met Mr. Vance a few years earlier than me? But look at you now, old and ugly, what do you have to compete with me…” Her colleague was probably afraid I would get angry, and quickly came over to grab her arm, trying to pull her away. Actually, I was fine with it. I had long ago promised myself that I wouldn’t get angry for Arthur, nor would I be sad for him. Even less would I fight with other women out of jealousy over him. He wasn’t worth it. 3. Mia was yanked back by someone, lost her balance, and fell to the ground. The teacup in her hand shattered, leaving a deep gash on her palm, blood spilling all over the floor. Through the glass of the conference room, Arthur saw the injured Mia. With everyone watching, he threw down the documents in his hand, pushed the door open, walked over, and scooped Mia into his arms. He cursed coldly: “Who the fuck hurt her?” The well-meaning colleague backed away two steps, pale with fear. I sneered and said: “I did it, and she deserved it.” Mia glared at me through her tears, shouting loudly: “Yes, I deserved it! Who asked me to fall in love with someone I shouldn’t have, getting cursed at as a homewrecker and a mistress.” “But Mr. Vance, as long as you love me too, I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life. No one can separate us.” She cried so adorably, even saying such absurd things seemed brave and resolute. Arthur was amused by her, raised his hand to wipe away her tears, coaxing her: “Be good, you’ve cried so much you look like a little kitten.” He really treated her differently. I lowered my eyelids, too lazy to look anymore, and only said to Arthur: “For my birthday this year, I want fifty thousand.” It sounds funny, we were husband and wife, yet we didn’t even have each other’s contact information. Except for asking for money, I never sought him out on my own. Before we got married, we had an agreement. He wanted my person, I wanted his money. Arthur always hated that I was a gold digger. But in the past, whenever I asked, no matter how much money, he would give it to me, always more, never less. Only this once, he looked at me with a smile, smiled very coldly, and said slowly: “You want money, sure.” “But, Chloe, lower your noble head first and say sorry to Mia.” Arthur wanted to use two hundred thousand to buy my pride and buy an apology for Mia. This was the first time he humiliated me with money for another woman. I slowly clenched my fists and smiled softly. Enduring the sudden surge of pain in my body, I turned and walked away. The money, I don’t want it anymore. I’m suddenly very curious, Arthur. If one day, you knew this money could have let me live a little longer, knew how much I suffered before I died. What expression would you have? 4. I went home alone, curled up painfully under the covers, sweating cold sweat from the pain. Taking some sleeping pills, I lied to myself. Once I fall asleep, it won’t hurt anymore. In a groggy state, I had a dream. I dreamt of when I was twenty, Arthur was very poor, but he loved me very much. That year on my birthday, passing by a cafe, I saw a couple sitting by the glass window. The girl held a pristine white little cake in her hand, looking very delicate, very delicious, and also very expensive. I still remember, it was snowing heavily that day. I held a small pile of snow, smiled at Arthur, and asked him: “Arthur, look at this pile of snow, does it look like a cake?” Arthur gritted his teeth, reached out to hug me tightly, not letting me see his secretly reddened eyes. Three days later, he appeared downstairs at my dorm holding a large cake. Buying a whole cake cost $35. And he stood on the wind-blown, snowy street, handing out three thousand flyers, just to earn $15. I looked at the chilblains on his fingers and cried uselessly. Looking up at him, I yelled: “Arthur, your hands can be used for reading, for writing, but you ruin them just to make me happy.” I said, I was completely unworthy of such an expensive cake… Arthur frowned and immediately refuted me. He said: “Chloe, you are the best girl in the world. You deserve all the good things in this world.” That day, I cried while eating the whole cake. It’s been a long time, I can’t even remember its taste anymore. I only know that since that day, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a cake that tasted better than it. I slept for a long time. Groggily, I heard my phone ringing. Answering the call, I heard Arthur calling me from the other end: “Chloe.” I smiled softly and called him sweetly: “Arthur, it’s snowing heavily, I want to eat cake.” Without waiting for him to speak, I rolled over and fell back into a deep sleep. 5. I slept all the way until midnight when I was woken up by hunger. I went to the living room to find something to eat, only to discover Arthur had actually come back. He had bought a large house for Mia. They lived there together. Mia would cook for him, make him happy, and wait for him to come home. Arthur was doing very well, he hadn’t come home in a long time. He leaned lazily against the floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette in his mouth, staring intently at me. With downcast eyes, I walked past him, only to be grabbed by him. He frowned, asking me softly: “How did you lose so much weight?” His tone was gentle, as if he still loved me very much. I froze for a moment, shook off his hand hard, and cursed him: “Arthur, are you crazy?” He looked at his empty hand, his face slowly turning cold. When I walked over to the dining table and saw a cake covered in candles, I realized that the phone call hadn’t been a dream. I said I wanted to eat cake, and Arthur went and bought it. What was this? Suing for peace? But I was already dying. I didn’t need a cake anymore, and I didn’t need Arthur anymore. I grabbed the cake and threw it into the trash can. Arthur gritted his back teeth, reached out, and pinned me against the wall. He cursed viciously: “Chloe, are you fucking playing me?” I smiled and admitted it: “Arthur, I am playing you, so what?” “I say I want cake, and you go buy cake. Why are you still as pathetic as before?” I deliberately stabbed at his heart, watching Arthur’s face turn completely cold. He ruthlessly put out his cigarette, dragged me into the bedroom, and threw me onto the bed. Arthur was probably mad with anger. He acted like an out-of-control beast, roughly tearing open my nightgown. I was scared, clenching my fists to hit him: “Arthur, you bastard! Don’t touch me! You disgust me!” He pinned my legs down to stop me from struggling, lowered his head, and bit my neck, the pain bringing tears to my eyes. He pressed against my ear and cursed me: “Chloe, would it kill you to soften up to me?” “Do you know how many years I’ve waited for you to coax me?” “Do you know how happy I was when you told me you wanted cake?” “And then you fucking treat me like a fool?” He looked up, staring at me with bloodshot eyes. I held back my tears and glared back. In the dim room, neither of us spoke, neither willing to admit defeat first. Arthur leaned down, getting closer and closer to me. Just as he was about to kiss my lips, his phone suddenly rang. It was Mia calling. Arthur paused but still answered it. I heard Mia crying and asking him: “Mr. Vance, are you really not wanting me anymore because of Chloe? You clearly like me.” “I’m at a bar right now, I drank a lot, and a man is harassing me…” “I’m so scared. Come pick me up and take me home quickly, okay?” Arthur didn’t speak. He just stared at me, smiling coldly, and softly commanded me: “Chloe, beg me.” “Beg me to stay. As long as you beg me, I won’t go.” He seemed to have forgotten. A long time ago, I had also put down my pride and begged him: “Arthur, can we have a calm and peaceful talk?” “Can we stop fighting?” “Can we just be good to each other?” “Can you treat me a little better?” That day, Arthur stared at me coldly, smiled, and said: “Chloe, you don’t deserve it.” Those three words had always pierced my heart. Until today, I could finally return them verbatim. I grabbed his collar, enunciating each word clearly: “Arthur, you don’t deserve it.” Arthur was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly. He brought the phone to his ear and told Mia: “Wait for me to take you home.” Without sparing me another glance, he got up, slammed the door, and left. 6. The next day, photos of Arthur getting into a fight with another man over Mia spread through our circle. This was the first time his affairs with other women became widely known. Several reporters were waiting at my door. When I went out, they harassed me with endless questions. Arthur’s company had grown rapidly in recent years, gaining a lot of influence in Capitol City circles. He was young, wealthy, and handsome, very famous online, and frequently trended. A girl asked me: “Mrs. Vance, what do you have to say about the incident between Mr. Vance and Mia?” I kept walking, not even turning my head as I asked her back: “One is a man who cheated during his marriage, and the other is a woman who knowingly became a mistress. What do you expect me to say?” The girl chased after me, continuing to ask: “But I heard that when Mr. Vance was at his poorest, you dumped him for money.” “Later, when he became successful, you emotionally blackmailed him and used every means to marry him…” “Now that Mr. Vance has found true love, and he and Mia are a perfect match, it’s you who insists on occupying the position of Mrs. Vance, and you even call her a mistress.” “Don’t you think you’re bullying people?” I stopped, looked back with a sneer, and grabbed the press badge on the girl’s chest. She was an intern reporter, and the back of her badge holder also had a student ID from South Mountain University. I calmly asked her: “You’re Mia’s friend, right?” “Back then, Arthur used unscrupulous means to marry me. Did you really think I wanted to marry him?” “Everyone in our circle knows this. Are you telling me you don’t? Or did you come here specifically to sling mud at me just to help your little friend take my place?” Her expression changed. She snatched her badge back nervously and defended herself righteously: “I am her friend, but I am a reporter, and everything I say is objective and fair.” “If you really didn’t want to marry Mr. Vance, and now he loves someone else, why don’t you divorce him?” I smiled, just about to speak, when my nose suddenly started bleeding again, making me look a mess. Someone laughed at me, saying: “Mrs. Vance says she doesn’t care and was forced to marry Mr. Vance, so why are you so anxious and angry that your nose is bleeding?” I reached out a fingertip and wiped away the blood that had fallen on my lip. I said calmly: “I’m not angry, I’m just sick. I’m dying. I’ve been getting nosebleeds a lot lately.” The crowd suddenly went quiet, and everyone stopped laughing. Only that girl continued: “Stop pretending. You get a nosebleed and start playing sick and playing the victim.” “I really can’t stand women like you. Fighting over a man all day, threatening suicide, using all sorts of shameless tricks. You’re a disgrace to women.” After saying that, she tossed her ponytail and walked away. Her back, just like Mia’s, was infuriating. 7. The video of me being surrounded and interviewed by reporters quickly started trending. Arthur responded directly. He said: “I will never get a divorce. Stop bothering my wife.” That afternoon, Mia’s reporter friend was fired. Many netizens cursed me: “This woman is so disgusting. If she doesn’t want to be married, then don’t be. Acting like someone held a knife to her neck to force her, pretending to have no choice.” “She even claims to be Boss Vance’s one true love. I think she’s just a manipulative ‘white lotus’.” “Boss Vance defends her so much, I’m getting jealous…” “And this woman dumped CEO Vance for money in the past, and now married him for money.” “Her saying she doesn’t want to is just playing hard to get, being a hypocrite.” Suddenly, a netizen interjected: “Keep your mouths clean. If you don’t know the truth, then shut the fuck up.” Everyone started chasing him, asking, what is the truth? The truth, when told, is actually quite cliché. That year, my mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The doctor said the genetic probability of this disease was very high. Not only could I be struck by serious illness at any time, but if I married and had children, my kids would probably also face the risk of getting sick. The day my mom got sick, she bled a whole basin of nosebleeds. She lost too much blood and was in a coma for three days. After she woke up, she told me to break up with Arthur. I stared at her blankly, whispering: “Mom, he won’t despise me.” It was as if I was saying it for my mom to hear, but also for myself. My mom gently held my hand, nodded, and said: “Mom knows, he’s a good boy.” She paused, smiling as she said: “You two have been dating since high school. He rides his bike to wait for you at the alley entrance every morning, did you think I didn’t know?” “Once I saw him buy a meat bun for your breakfast.” “He only had a dollar twenty in his pocket. The meat bun cost a dollar, and with the remaining twenty cents, he bought two cups of soy milk. One for him, one for you.” “You were so greedy and clueless then. He lied and said he had already eaten, and you believed him, happily eating the meat bun.” “Little Arthur was so pitiful back then. His parents divorced, no one wanted him, and they only gave him a tiny bit of living expenses every month. He lived like an orphan.” “A dollar twenty was probably his living expenses for the whole day. He didn’t even think about it, just spent it all on you.” “At the time, I felt my daughter was so lucky to have found such a good boy.” “He’s a good student, a good person, good in every way.” “It’s precisely because he’s so good that Mom’s heart aches for him.” That year, Arthur’s grandmother also fell ill and was hospitalized. He grew up with his grandmother and they were very close. To pay for his grandmother’s medical treatment, he was overwhelmed with busyness every day. My mom said Arthur’s wings were too thin. Carrying his grandmother, and then carrying me, he wouldn’t be able to fly. I pinched my palms, and after a long time, my voice trembling, I managed to say: “Mom… I can’t bear to let him go.” One sentence of “can’t bear to let go”, and tears fell like rain. 8. Things from ten years ago still make my heart ache when I think of them now. I bought persimmons, which were my mom’s favorite, preparing to go to the cemetery to see her one last time. I’m going to die soon, I need to tell her, and then, I won’t come again. Before going, I went to Arthur’s company first to get something from him. When my mom was still alive, she always liked Arthur. That year, before she got sick, Arthur and I still deeply loved each other. My mom went to the temple to pray and got two lucky dolls. Inside a boy lucky doll was Arthur’s birthdate, and inside a girl lucky doll was my birthdate. To protect our safety, health, and ensure that the two people in love could be together forever. My mom told me to give the dolls to Arthur. Arthur didn’t want his doll, insisting on taking mine. He said the girl doll with the red cheeks looked just like me, ugly-cute. He said looking at her was like looking at me. He liked looking at me. That lucky doll was still sitting on Arthur’s office desk to this day. I was afraid that after I died, Arthur would throw it away like trash. That was bought for me by my mom, I had to bring it back, put it in front of her tombstone, and let it keep her company for me. When I arrived at the company, Arthur was watching my video from this morning. In the video, I had a bloody nose and was saying I was dying. Seeing me, he tossed his phone aside, saying nothing, asking nothing. I looked at his desk; the spot where the lucky doll used to be was empty. Frowning, I asked him: “Where’s my lucky doll?” 9. Mia chased after me. Hearing me ask for the item, she said with a smile: “A couple of days ago I pricked my finger, and Mr. Vance felt very bad. He said he couldn’t bear to see me hurt, so he gave me that lucky doll.” “He also said that doll looks a lot like me, kind of clumsy, but he really likes it.” “Chloe, do you think he’s talking nonsense? I’m so pretty, I don’t look like that ugly doll at all…” I clenched my fists fiercely, glaring at Arthur, demanding: “What right do you have to give my things to someone else?” “That’s what my mom prayed for for me. What right do you have to give it to someone else!” He smiled, acting like a bastard to anger me: “That lucky doll was yours? Sorry, I forgot. I thought it was just some worthless junk…” Before he could finish, I picked up the ashtray on the desk and threw it at him. Arthur didn’t dodge. The crystal ashtray hit his forehead, drawing blood. Mia screamed and scolded me: “Are you crazy? Hitting someone over a broken doll!” She turned and ran out, returning quickly, clutching my lucky doll in her hand. She threw the doll at me, yelling: “Your thing, have it back!” “It’s a cheap piece of junk that no one cares about even if it’s thrown away. Did you think I’d covet it?” “Stop acting crazy, take your things and get out!” The ceramic lucky doll fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. I saw my name and my birthdate broken into several pieces, just like my life, probably never to be repaired. I suddenly felt that I really was going to die. But I didn’t want to die yet, I hadn’t seen my mom yet. I was afraid that if she didn’t see me, she would keep waiting for me. My head buzzed. I raised my hand and slapped Mia, screaming like a madwoman: “That’s my mom’s thing! It hurts me! My heart hurts!” Before I could finish, my tears fell. I reached out to grab Mia, but Arthur grabbed my wrist and stopped me. My eyes burned. Staring fixedly at him, crying and crying, I started to laugh. I scolded him: “You know I’m dying, and you still bully me. Arthur, you really are a piece of work.” He raised his hand to wipe away my tears, asking in return: “First the cake, now you’re dying. Chloe, is playing me for a fool really that fun for you?” “You don’t need to cry for me to see, I won’t feel sorry for you anymore…” Before he could finish his sentence, a drop of blood suddenly fell, landing on the back of his hand. I got a nosebleed again. This time, it was worse than before. My legs went weak, my whole body aching so much I couldn’t stand, and I fell straight down. Arthur caught me, shouting: “Call an ambulance!” He was powerless, only able to watch as my blood flowed more and more, staining his white shirt red.

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