Joey, the guy I was chasing, called me. “My little brother’s back in the country. My family’s throwing a party for him. I’ll take you, introduce you to everyone.” I glanced down at the Alpha currently buried against my scent gland. He lifted his head, gave me a slow wink, and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile. “Oh, we’ve already met.” His voice was a low murmur against my skin. “Stop chasing that scumbag brother of mine. Look at me instead.” “I might be younger than him, but I’m bigger in every other way that matters.” 1 Joey said he was craving Spicy Rabbit Skewers from that one place across town and told me to go get them for him. After waiting in line, I finally got back to the private room, only to hear the conversation drifting from inside. “Joey, man, you’ve been stringing Asher along for a year. You ever gonna actually say yes?” Joey’s voice was lazy, arrogant. “What do you know? I love watching him act like my personal lapdog.” “You think I’d actually get with a low-grade Omega like him? It’d be humiliating.” Someone else chimed in, “True. Who knows if he can even have kids.” Joey continued, “Besides, it’s fun keeping him on the hook.” “Every time he begs me for a temporary mark, he’s exactly like a dog.” Another voice asked, “So after all this time, have you slept with him or not?” “He’s got a temper, sure, but damn, he’s hot.” Joey shot that down. “Nah. A guy like Asher is too much trouble.” “Sleep with him once and I’d never get rid of him.” “But,” he added, a smirk in his voice, “it’s not like the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.” The room erupted in laughter, followed by a stream of crude, disgusting jokes. I stood frozen, unable to move. This wasn’t the Joey I knew. The Joey I knew was… different. He’d told me, “I’ve had insecurity issues since I was a kid. I need you to chase me for a while, to make me feel safe.” So I did. For a whole year. When he gave me a temporary mark, he’d praise me. “Asher, you’re so sexy.” He’d accept my gifts, let me dote on him like it was his birthright. The flirting, the suggestive touches—they were constant. I thought we were already a couple in all but name. All that was missing was a formal confession. I never imagined that in his eyes, I was just a dog he could summon and dismiss at will. That he’d never even considered being with me. What a two-faced bastard. I tossed the Spicy Rabbit Skewers I’d waited half an hour for into the nearest trash can and kicked the door to the room wide open. 2 Everyone inside jumped, startled. “Asher? What the hell? Use the handle, don’t kick the door.” Joey looked at my empty hands, his brow furrowed. “Where are my skewers?” I grabbed the nearest wine bottle and smashed it on the floor. Then I strode forward and slapped Joey hard across the face. “Skewers my ass!” I spat. “You’re the goddamn dog, Joey.” “Remember when your rut was so bad you begged me to release my pheromones? How is that any different from a bitch in heat?” “I’m done playing your games!” Joey’s face turned ashen, the public humiliation stinging him. I turned and walked out. Behind me, their disgusting conversation followed me into the hall. “Dude, you not gonna go after him?” Joey just laughed. “Even a cornered dog will bite back. He’s just blowing off steam.” “Let him. He’ll come crawling back tomorrow, apologizing.” Someone else piped up, “Alright then! Let’s drink.” “Assholes.” I muttered. Like hell I would. Fucking scumbag. I wandered the streets aimlessly. I’m a low-grade Omega with a pheromone disorder. When my heat hits, suppressants don’t work. I need the mark and soothing pheromones of a highly compatible Alpha. Joey and I had a 90% pheromone compatibility. I thought it was fate’s way of making up for all the other shit it had put me through. Joey had even shown interest in me so many times. He’d given me a temporary mark once. I hadn’t even asked; he’d offered. And now, to hear him talk about me like that… Fuck! This wasn’t a blessing. It was a pile of shit. An Omega with my looks could have any top-tier Alpha he wanted. And speak of the devil, one just appeared in front of me. Tall, handsome, wearing a dark gray overcoat and a striped scarf. Straight out of a K-drama. “Hey there,” he said with a charming smile. “Maybe you should consider me instead?” 3 I was already pissed off. “Who are you talking to?” I snapped. “Who are you calling ‘hey there’?” “You, of course,” he said, his tone teasingly intimate. “My name is Liam. I’m Joey’s younger brother.” I scoffed. “Get lost. The sight of anyone with your family name makes me sick.” He put on a wounded expression. “My brother’s a scumbag, but I’m not.” “Is it too late for me to change my last name?” Such a smooth talker. I ignored him and was about to call a cab when a strange heat flared at the back of my neck. Fuck. Of all the damn times. My heat was here. 4 My pheromones flooded the air, uncontrollable. Liam’s expression changed instantly. He whipped off his overcoat and draped it over my shoulders. “I’ll take you home.” I shoved his hand away. “I don’t need your help.” I fumbled for the emergency suppressants and pills I always carried, but I knew they were useless against my disorder. Liam pulled a wallet from his pocket, showing me his IDs. “Asher, I’m really Joey’s brother. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. The most important thing right now is to get you somewhere private.” He was right. The street was crowded. An Omega in heat could cause mass panic. Liam led me to his car. In the enclosed space, the sweet scent of osmanthus bloomed around me, thick and overwhelming. Veins pulsed on Liam’s forehead. I tried to inject another dose of suppressant. “Get out of the car,” I ordered him. He snatched the injector from my hand. “It’s not working. Stop. You’re only going to cause permanent damage to your body. And don’t take the pills either, they’ll ruin your glands.” How did he know so much? As my frustration mounted, another scent entered the air. Pine. Clean and fresh. The ache in my glands instantly subsided. It was working. Liam spoke carefully, “I released a little of my pheromones. Is that helping?” I nodded. It was. But it wasn’t nearly enough. The brief moment of calm gave way to an even more desperate craving. My eyes fixed on Liam’s lips. A primal urge, a raw desire, shattered my reason. I bit my tongue, hard, the coppery taste of blood a fleeting anchor to sanity. It held for a few seconds before the tidal wave of instinct crashed over me again. I must have been out of my mind. I met Liam’s eyes. “Give me a temporary mark.” 5 Turns out, Liam was all talk. He had to confirm with me three times before he dared to lean in. The scents of osmanthus and pine collided, tangling together in the small space of the car. My body went limp. Through a hazy blur, I felt Liam gently wipe a tear from my cheek. When had I started crying? My phone buzzed insistently against my leg. A series of texts from Joey. 【Alright, that’s enough. You really embarrassed me today.】 【Your heat is coming soon, isn’t it? Apologize to me, and I’ll give you a mark.】 I let out a bitter laugh and blocked his number without a second thought. A moment later, his call came through. “My little brother’s back in the country. My family’s throwing a party for him in a few days.” “You should come. I’ll introduce you.” I glanced at the Alpha currently nuzzling my scent gland. He lifted his head, gave me a slow wink, and smirked. “Oh, we’ve already met.” “Stop chasing that scumbag brother of mine. Look at me instead.” “I might be younger than him, but I’m bigger in every other way that matters.” “Oh, and by the way, our pheromone compatibility is one hundred percent.” Joey’s voice crackled from the phone. “Hello? Asher? Who’s that talking to you?” I ignored him and quickly hung up. I looked at Liam with renewed interest. “Is that so? Why don’t you strip and let me see for myself?” Liam’s ears instantly turned bright red. He glanced around nervously. “Here? I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “Asher… maybe we should get a hotel room?” I just stared at him. “You said we have one hundred percent compatibility?” It sounded like a complete lie. But remembering how I’d lost control just moments ago, a seed of doubt was planted. My self-control had never been that weak. I dragged Liam to the hospital. It was the same doctor as before. He held up the report, his eyes wide with amazement. “One hundred percent compatibility! This is a one-in-a-century match! You two are a match made in heaven, soulmates!” I felt nothing. Doctor, if I remember correctly, you said the same thing about my ninety percent match with Joey. Liam, however, beamed, praising the doctor. “You have a way with words, sir.” It was late by the time we left the hospital. “See? I didn’t lie, did I? One hundred percent,” Liam said proudly. “How did you know?” He gave me a mysterious smile. “That’s a secret.” “A man over 25 is basically 60, and my brother is already 24.” “I’m only 20.” “Ninety percent and one hundred percent aren’t even in the same league. You should be with me. I’ll be your medicine, free of charge.” He was rambling, a chaotic mix of boasting and pleading. I was confused. “What’s in it for you?” “I like you. Give me a chance to pursue you.” My eyes darted away, my heart suddenly beating in a strange, erratic rhythm. How could I refuse a cure that had literally fallen from the sky? Liam was taller than Joey, and handsomer. And a one hundred percent match. It would be a crime against nature not to say yes. Fate had slapped me, then offered me a piece of candy. “Okay,” I said. Liam’s face lit up. “Asher, I’ll be your dog from now on.” The word “dog” made my blood boil. “Don’t be disgusting. What’s with all this dog talk? Your brother is the dog.” “Okay, okay!” Liam said quickly. “Then from now on, I’m your cat.” I was speechless. 6 A heat lasts for several days. Since he was my “medicine,” I took him home with me. Liam’s scent filled every corner of my apartment. Looking back, it was the calmest, most comfortable heat I had ever experienced. Once it was over, I kicked him out. As he was leaving, he said, “Asher, even though we’ve already met… I still hope you’ll come to the party.” He looked at me with wide, pleading eyes, as if he’d burst into tears if I said no. In the end, I agreed. The party was held in the garden of his family’s estate. The moment I arrived, I saw Joey and his pack of cronies. When Joey spotted me, he smirked. “See? What did I tell you? He came crawling right back.” I pretended not to hear and let my gaze find Liam, who was dressed in a sharp suit. He started walking towards me, but Joey grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. Joey looked over at me. “Asher, come here. Let me introduce you to my little brother.” “He was studying abroad for the last couple of years. Just got back, he’s a junior now. At our alma mater, actually.” Liam and I shared a small smile. I spoke slowly, “Nice to meet you. You’re much more handsome than your brother.” A grin tugged at Liam’s lips. Joey looked awkward. “Asher, stop being difficult.” He turned back to Liam to introduce me. “Bro, this is a classmate of mine from university. He’s also the one pursuing me.” I immediately corrected him. “Let’s be precise. Formerly pursuing you.” Joey’s arm snaked around my shoulder. “Don’t mind him, he’s been in a mood lately.” I shrugged his arm off. Joey studied me for a moment, then said, “Why do I smell osmanthus on you? Hey, Liam, isn’t your scent osmanthus?” I gave him a half-smile. “Maybe it’s my new cologne.” Joey seemed to relax. I didn’t linger. I was wandering around, bored, when someone pulled me into an empty room. Liam buried his nose in my neck. “You have my brother’s scent on you.” “Yeah? So what?” I asked. “I don’t like it. Let me cover it up.” Before I could react, Liam released his pheromones. As if that wasn’t enough, he wrapped his arms tightly around me. Damn, maybe he really was a dog after all. So territorial. 7 When Liam said he would pursue me, he wasn’t kidding. He sent food, flowers, and expensive gifts every few days. “You don’t have to send me gifts,” I told him. “Where does a college student get this kind of money?” He puffed out his chest. “My dad is rich, and I know how to make money too.” …As a hardworking Omega, I had no comeback for that. With Liam as my personal medicine, my pheromone disorder was no longer an issue. I was more focused and energetic at work than ever. One Friday night, I was curled up at home watching a movie when someone knocked on the door. I opened it to find a drowned little puppy on my doorstep. No, a drowned little kitten. Liam was soaked to the bone. He looked at me with pathetic, pleading eyes. “Asher, can I please stay with you for a bit?” According to his story, he’d gotten into a fight with his roommate. Then he’d had a blowout with his parents at home. Basically, he had nowhere else to go. I was skeptical. Fearing I would say no, he added, “I’m very clean, and quiet. I won’t bother you. Oh, and I can do chores. And cook.” And just like that, I let him stay. I had to admit, the kid could really cook. “How does a rich young master like you know how to cook?” I asked him over dinner. “It’s one of my hobbies.” He peeled a shrimp and placed it in my bowl. Fair enough. After Liam moved in, my life didn’t just remain undisrupted; it actually improved. He had no bad habits and was emotionally stable. The only downside was his tendency to walk around the apartment shirtless, showing off his well-defined muscles. One evening, he came out of the shower, bare-chested as usual. I was about to scold him when I noticed something was off about him. He quickly shut himself in his room. I knocked on the door. “Liam? What’s wrong?” His voice came out strained and broken. “My… rut is here.” I was speechless. Liam took a few days off from school, took suppressants, and locked himself in his room. I went to work as usual. When I got home, I noticed my pillow and a set of my pajamas were missing from my room. I pushed open Liam’s door. All my missing things were piled on his bed. The kid was nesting. A weak-looking Liam lifted his head from my pajamas and pleaded, “Asher… can I have just a little of your scent?” Before I could answer, a loud knocking came from the front door. It was Joey’s voice. “Asher, you home? Open up.”

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The year I presented as an Alpha, I strutted right up to my arch-nemesis, Adrian Starr, to rub it in his face. I was too busy gloating to notice the dark glint that flashed in his eyes. A few days later, Adrian presented. In my room. He presented as an Enigma. His pheromones crushed me, a total, absolute submission. His hand snaked around my waist, and his voice, laced with a chilling pleasure, whispered in my ear. “Good. Alphas are durable.” 1 “Adrian, I’m sorry, okay? Can you please not write me up?” Adrian didn’t stop, his pen scratching my name onto his clipboard. He glanced at me, the corner of his mouth tight, before clicking his pen shut. “Let this be a lesson. Don’t lend your uniform jacket to other people.” I was losing my mind. I grabbed his sleeve, my voice dropping to a desperate whisper. “No, come on! He’s got a disability, I was just being nice… Don’t do this to me. If I get another demerit, my mom is going to actually murder me!” Beside me, Leo, his face pale, tugged on the hem of my shirt. “Gary, it’s okay, I can just give it back…” In the next second, Adrian yanked me forward. He pressed his pen down hard, the sound sharp as he viciously crossed my name off the list. His expression was grim. “Don’t let it happen again.” I grinned, pushing Leo’s wheelchair through the school gates. “See? I told you it’d be fine,” I teased as we rolled along. Leo offered a soft smile, his face a picture of innocence. “Thanks, Gary. So, what’s the deal with you and the student council president?” I snorted. “We’re arch-nemeses.” 2 Adrian and I weren’t always sworn enemies. But when I think about it, the only time I ever beat him at anything was the day we were born—I cried louder. From day one, Adrian was the perfect kid: top grades, impeccable manners. I was the opposite: bad grades and a temper to match. He was also my next-door neighbor, constantly dropping by. When he was little, he was a bit spacey. Someone could shove him, and it would take a full two minutes for the tears to come. My burgeoning hero complex immediately took him under my wing. Yeah, I protected him for a solid two years. But then he started taking kid’s Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and whatever else. My protection became obsolete. And then I started to notice things. The Lego set I’d given up on in frustration? The little genius would have it finished in a few hours. The class bully I couldn’t stand up to? He’d handle them with a mix of quiet threats and unnerving charm. What happened to that timid little kid? The final nail in the coffin came after I shattered my mom’s entire makeup palette. As she surveyed the colorful dust, she pointed a finger at me, then gestured toward Adrian, who was innocently reading on our couch. “Gary Howard! Why can’t you be more like Adrian?” My eight-year-old eyes went wide. From that day forward, Adrian Starr was my mortal enemy. 3 The sun climbed from the branches to the peak of the sky. Something was tickling me… I groggily swatted at the hand on my face. “Adrian, stop it. I’m trying to sleep.” His hand clamped around my wrist, his voice a low rumble. “What were you doing last night?” I rolled over, ignoring him. A second later, I was hauled upright with practiced ease. “Get up. It’s time for lunch.” My eyes flew open. I smacked him hard on the arm. “Nag, nag, nag, I get it!” My mom adored Adrian. Our front door was practically his. There were times I’d forget my own keys and have to get them from him. Adrian’s parents were always busy, so he’d come over to our place whenever he needed a meal. I was used to it. I brushed my teeth and ambled downstairs feeling fresh. Adrian was on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. He put it down the moment he saw me, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Did he find out what I did last night? Sure enough, he beckoned me over. “Come here.” I shuffled my feet, trying to sound nonchalant. “What do you want?” His grip on my wrist was firm, his voice strained with patience. “You were at a hotel party yesterday?” “Who was there?” “Did you drink?” I ran a hand through my messy hair. How did he know everything? “Nobody. And why do you care so much?” Adrian released my wrist, his voice low and threatening. “If you don’t give me the full story after lunch, I’m telling your mom.” I bolted for the dining table. I wasn’t scared of him. Mom beamed, placing a bowl of soup in front of me. “Gary, honey. Arguing with Adrian again?” “Nope,” I mumbled around a mouthful of salted egg yolk chicken wings. She ruffled my hair. “You two shouldn’t fight.” “You know, before you were even born, Adrian’s mom and I made a pact. If you two presented with compatible dynamics, we’d have you get married.” I nearly choked on my soup. Me and Adrian?! I scoffed. “Fine, then I’ll deign to take that T-Rex of an omega off your hands.” The truth was, our pre-presentation reports had come out years ago. I had an eighty percent chance of being an Alpha. Adrian’s was one hundred percent. Adrian let out a soft laugh, slowly peeling off the disposable gloves he’d used for shelling shrimp. “Is that so?” I took the opportunity to snatch the perfectly shelled shrimp from his bowl and drop them into mine. He just watched me, a faint smirk on his lips, not stopping me. I shot him a triumphant smirk. Shrimp stolen from someone else always tastes better. 4 “Andrew, Leo, and Max. That’s it, I swear.” I sat meekly across from Adrian, debriefing him on the previous night. “No drinking, just karaoke. And we weren’t out that late. I was home before three.” Adrian let out a cold laugh. “Not that late, Gary? You’re really asking for it.” I rubbed my nose, feeling a little guilty. How on earth did he find out? As I was wondering, a strange feeling washed over me. My head started to spin, and my face felt hot. “Adrian, I don’t feel so good… Can we just drop it?” The words had barely left my mouth when the world tilted, and I collapsed straight into his arms. Adrian’s face paled. He whipped out his phone and dialed for an ambulance. My vision went black. All I could feel was a searing heat, and an unbearable itch blooming on the back of my neck. I mumbled his name through the haze. “Adrian… my neck… scratch it for me, it itches so bad.” I didn’t hear a reply. I just felt a cool dampness on my skin. He must have gotten a wet cloth to wipe my face. When I opened my eyes again, a bouquet of flowers was shoved in my face. My mom was beaming. “Congratulations, sweetie! You’ve officially presented as an Alpha! You’re a real man now!” I grinned, taking the flowers, my first thought being to find Adrian and show off. Oh, right, where was he? He brought me here, didn’t he? My eyes scanned the room and found him slouched in a chair nearby, legs spread wide, hands clasped as he watched me. Excitedly, I called him over and ripped the inhibitor patch off my newly formed scent gland. “Adrian! See this? I’m a real Alpha now!” My mom rushed over, fumbling to stick it back on. “Gary!” I looked up, utterly confused. What? Adrian stepped forward and ruffled my hair, a small smile on his face. “I see.” Later, my mom explained. “A newly formed gland is like… a private part. And showing it is an invitation. An invitation for someone to bite you.” “Of course, after a while, it’ll mature and recede, so you won’t be able to see it.” I had unknowingly invited Adrian? A wave of heat crept up my neck. It had to be anger. Definitely anger. Mom pinched my cheek. “I don’t care if you skip your other classes, but you need to pay attention in biology!” I nodded frantically. “I know, I know.” 5 Back at school, my friends crowded around my desk. “Gary! Dude! What’s it feel like? Presenting as an Alpha.” Most people present around their eighteenth birthday. Right now, our class was a mix of presented and un-presented. I casually tossed my backpack into my desk, my grin stretching from ear to ear. “What’s it feel like? It feels like I’m invincible.” Max told me to check my desk. I pulled out a handful of love letters. “The news that you presented as an Alpha spread like wildfire yesterday. You’ve already got admirers.” I rubbed my nose. “Well, I’m not really looking to date right now.” I said that, but I still carefully tucked the letters into my bag. Throwing them away would be cruel. A true, gentlemanly Alpha like me would never do something so heartless. Leo limped over on his crutches. “So when are you planning to start dating, Gary?” I crossed my legs, leaning back in my chair. “We’ll see.” Suddenly, one of Leo’s crutches slipped, and he stumbled towards me. I shot up and grabbed his arm to steady him. “Careful.” The movement brought us incredibly close. So close that I could smell the faint, sweet peach scent of his pheromones. I immediately let go and took a few steps back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure flash past the crack in the classroom door. It looked a lot like Adrian. I shrugged it off and went back to goofing around with my friends. I shouldn’t have. After school, Adrian cornered me. He dragged me into an alcove where the shadows were so deep I couldn’t make out his expression. “Gary, do you have any idea about the boundaries between Alphas and Omegas?” So, that was him. I raised an eyebrow, feeling cocky. “Of course I do. But Leo’s not just some random Omega.” Adrian’s voice was flat, but it crackled with a dangerous energy. “Is he an Omega you’re interested in? An Omega you want to claim? Or is he yours already?” A sudden, inexplicable shiver ran down my spine. In the dim light, his eyes seemed to glow with a predatory fire. I felt like prey. I touched the back of my neck. “No, it’s not like that. I don’t like him that way. He’s just one of my best friends.” I added, defensively, “What’s it to you, anyway?” Adrian’s heavy breathing suddenly quieted. “Gary, you need to be more mindful of your actions as an Alpha. If you can’t figure it out, I will be more than happy to teach you.” I mumbled a few incoherent agreements. This version of Adrian felt… dangerous. Best not to provoke him. Before the sky went completely dark, Adrian walked me home. And then he forced his way into my room.

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Of all the cursed years of my life, the one where I, a male fox fey, got stuck with a “Blessed Womb” System had to be the worst. And all because I was carrying the child of a Sword Saint on the Path of Detachment. Naturally, I did the only sensible thing. I ran for the hills. 1 I was being hunted. It was completely unreasonable. I’d only pilfered a few lousy enchanted berries, but did they really need to send a whole pack of sanctimonious clerics after me, chasing me from the heavens to the earth? Still, I was a hundred-year-old fox fey of some renown. I wasn’t about to let them catch me. A frantic voice shrieked in my head. It was Pip. “Host, faint spatial fluctuations detected ahead! It’s a hiding spot, go, go, go!” Just thinking about Pip gave me a headache. It called itself the Blessed Womb System, its grand purpose being to help me “capture superior genetic material” to produce the perfect offspring. Excuse me, I’m a guy. The system was clearly defective. But there was no time to argue. I dove headfirst toward the spot Pip indicated—a seemingly ordinary cliff face. My vision blurred, and a cold so sharp it felt like a thousand needles instantly enveloped me. I shivered, realizing I’d landed in a colossal, frozen pool. The water was surrounded by ever-frost, and the air hummed with a powerful, oppressive energy. My instincts screamed that this place was bad news. Suddenly, Pip let out a cheer. “SSS-grade genetic source detected! Compatibility: 99.999%!” “Procreation protocol forcibly initiated. Binding…” Whoa, hold on. What does that even mean? Panic seized me. It was all sounding a little too real. Could it actually make me pregnant? Just then, the immense energy signature surged closer. The air fluctuated between scorching heat and freezing cold. My head buzzed, and then an impossible, searing heat exploded from the core of my being. My consciousness began to fade, my body no longer my own. I don’t know how much time passed before the chaotic haze in my mind cleared. I found myself lying naked on a massive jade slab, a dull, throbbing ache in a place I’d rather not think about. And next to me lay a man, equally naked. My eyes involuntarily drifted downward, and—holy hell, what is that? My heart leaped into my throat. I snapped my head away, then slowly, cautiously, forced myself to look at the man’s face. It was a face the entire realm knew. Coldly handsome, all sharp angles and unforgiving planes, with a severe sword-shaped mark etched between his brows. Kaelan. Sword Saint of the Path of Detachment, the youngest elder of the Aethelgard Academy. At only two hundred years old, he had already forged a Sword Heart, ascending to the rank of Sword Saint. I was so terrified my heart nearly hammered its way out of my chest. I’m dead. I’m so, so dead. I’d just done the unspeakable with the legendary killing machine himself—a man who had renounced all mortal desires and emotions. They said anyone or anything that dared to taint his sacred path would be obliterated, their very soul sliced from existence by his blade. He was going to kill me. Absolutely. I scrambled to my feet, but my legs gave out, and I stumbled, falling right on top of him. “Oof—” I bit my tongue, frantically trying to push myself up. That was close. I almost planted my face on his icy one. Pip, ever the master of bad timing, chirped excitedly. “La la la, congratulations, Host! Successful acquisition of SSS-grade genetic material! Pregnancy chance: 100%!” “Hee hee, and it’s a two-for-one special!” Seriously? With death breathing down my neck, now is not the time for jokes. Pip’s voice was a grating buzz. “Host, don’t run! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” “Shut up! If we don’t get out of here before he wakes up, we’re both finished.” “Ground to dust, soul scattered to the winds, you get it?” I summoned every ounce of skill I possessed and bolted out of that frozen cavern like my tail was on fire. So long, sucker. Hope we never meet again! 2 I made it out, but a sense of unease lingered. A dozen days later, I found out why. I finally understood what Pip’s “two-for-one special” meant. I was pregnant. With twins. The world tilted on its axis. I wanted to die. “Are all you Blessed Womb Systems this deranged?” I asked, my voice trembling. Pip, completely oblivious to my despair, sounded immensely proud. “Pretty amazing, right? I could get a rock pregnant if I wanted to, hehehe.” “Plus, my fetal protection functions are top-notch! As long as you’re alive, the babies will be just fine!” My vision swam. I was going to faint. I found a small, mortal town to hide in, pretending to be just another person while I fretted over the impossible situation with the kids. One day, the town burst into a frenzy. Apparently, some demons were causing trouble just outside the walls. Curiosity got the better of me, and I squeezed through the crowd to the ramparts to get a look. Wow. A figure in white hung in the air, casually flicking out waves of sword energy that turned the previously arrogant demons to dust. The skill was breathtaking. So cool. And his face… even cooler. Wait. Kaelan? My mind went blank. I nearly dropped to my knees. Why was a powerhouse like him personally descending from his mountain to deal with petty demons? It made no sense. I decided to use the crowd as cover and slip away. I’d barely taken two steps when a gaze as sharp and tangible as a physical blade locked onto me, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart pounded against my ribs, and every hair on my body stood on end. I prayed, begged, pleaded with any deity that would listen that he hadn’t recognized me. But in my panic, my left foot tangled with my right, and I face-planted spectacularly. The bag of hot, freshly roasted chestnuts I’d just bought went flying, scattering across the ground. The next second, an aura of chilling cold washed over me. “It’s you.” No preamble, no context. Just those two words. But I knew exactly what he meant. Game over. It was well and truly over. 3 The fox did not die. “Why did the Master bring someone back? Whoa, it’s a fox fey!” Honestly, death might have been preferable. This was utterly humiliating. Out of sheer terror, my fox ears and tail had popped out, and now I couldn’t get them to go away. My hundred years of suave composure—gone. Wasted. Oh, why did I ever steal those stupid berries? “What did he do to get caught by the Master himself?” “Well, he is a fox fey. Look how handsome he is…” “Shh… don’t gossip about the Master. But yeah, he’s really handsome.” My face was a mask of utter despair, but Pip was celebrating like it was New Year’s. “Host, seize this chance! This man is prime quality, top-tier! I never lie.” Thanks a lot. All I want is to live. I trailed behind Kaelan, my feet dragging, until we arrived at… somewhere. He stopped, and I huddled in a corner like a frightened quail. At this point, my fear was starting to subside. If you really thought about it, I was the one who got the short end of the stick here. Not that I’d ever dare say that out loud. He let out a soft sigh, choosing his words carefully. “You don’t need to be afraid. I just…” Suddenly, his expression shifted. A palpable wave of mana, laced with icy cold, pulsed from him, and the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. His brow furrowed as if he were fighting some immense pain. Strangely, that same bizarre heat I’d felt in the frozen pool began to stir within me again. I found myself pinned against the wall by Kaelan, his eyes clouded and unfocused. Mine were too, apparently. For some reason, his pale lips suddenly looked ridiculously inviting. … When I came to my senses again, I was tangled up with Kaelan, completely naked, my tail wrapped possessively around his waist as if it never wanted to let go. Damn my weakness for beautiful men! I gritted my teeth and tried to inch away. And then Kaelan woke up. He must have been startled, because he jerked away instantly. I heard a sound escape my lips that I couldn’t possibly describe. For a moment, both of us were frozen in a state of mutual, flustered panic. Finally, Kaelan hastily threw on his clothes and fled outside. I let out a long, shaky breath and curled up on the bed, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. We hadn’t even had a proper conversation, and we’d already explored each other… inside and out. What kind of cursed fate was this? Enough. Stop thinking about it. After dressing, I cautiously stepped outside. A sword shot out, its tip hovering inches from my throat. I shrieked in terror. “Ah, don’t kill me!” The blade trembled. Then its owner grasped the sharp edge and pushed the hilt into my hands. “I apologize,” Kaelan said, his voice strained. “I was the one who wronged you. You can kill me or punish me as you see fit.” I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Huh. Well, I guess that’s the kind of integrity you’d expect from someone who forged a Sword Heart. He was certainly… fair. But there was no way I was going to kill him. If I did, the entire world of mages would be after my hide. My life was more important. And besides, it’s not like I didn’t get anything out of it… I lowered the sword and cleared my throat dramatically. “Ahem. Well, I am a magnanimous fox. We’ll just call it even.” “I’ll be going now.” Time to run. Run fast. “Wait,” Kaelan said. 4 So, the fox ended up staying at Aethelgard. Reluctantly. It turned out Kaelan had experienced a mishap in his training, and an icy poison had invaded his body. Coincidentally, my sudden appearance and our… activities… seemed to have caused me to be afflicted by it too. I was baffled. I thought it was an aphrodisiac. I didn’t feel cold at all… As for why those activities happened, Kaelan couldn’t figure it out either. But we couldn’t leave the matter unresolved, so I reluctantly agreed to stay and help him figure it out. It’s not like things could get any worse. Pip, however, was screaming its digital head off. “Host, this is fate! A match made in heaven!” “Why do you think a Blessed Womb System was bound to you? Why did the famous Sword Saint have a mishap at that exact moment? Why did you run into each other while he was just clearing out some random demons? It’s destiny, I tell you! Destiny!” So loud. I think the system has gone insane. I was given a place on Silvermoon Peak. Kaelan said it was quiet, but I wasn’t so sure. The disciples of Aethelgard must have heard rumors, because they were constantly popping up to sneak a peek at me, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for gossip. “The Master is hiding him here. Are they, like, mates?” “He’s so beautiful. I want a fox fey for a mate too.” “But Master Kaelan is on the Path of Detachment… He’s not going to be a deadbeat dad, is he? If he is, I’ll go comfort the little fox. Maybe he’ll fall in love with me!” “Shh, keep your voice down! You’ll be in for it if the Master hears you.” “In for what?” Kaelan’s cold voice cut through the air. The disciples’ faces went sheet-white. They spun around, stammering greetings to Kaelan. “My master wanted to check my homework, Master Kaelan, I have to go.” “I need to practice my sword forms, goodbye, Master!” “My mandrakes… I think they’re about to sprout. Can’t leave them alone. Gotta go, Master!” Their excuses were pathetic, but Kaelan just nodded without a word. Over the past few days, I’d realized that despite his chilling aura, he was actually quite easy to get along with. With one exception. In bed, he somehow became incredibly… fierce. The third time the icy poison acted up, it seemed milder than before, so my mind was much clearer. Kaelan’s restrained expression, however, was driving me crazy. We foxes don’t really do “restraint.” So, I got bold. I licked him. Things spiraled out of control. And I ended up a blubbering mess again. Pip, that shameless system, was providing a running commentary in my head. “Relax, Host. Breathe.” “Sword Saint, an angle adjustment of 15 degrees is recommended for optimal ergonomics.” Me: “…#￥%&!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I begged Kaelan to slow down, but a wave of nausea hit me, and I retched right in front of him. Instantly, the look in Kaelan’s eyes was one of profound hurt. He was filled with self-doubt. “Am I… that bad?” “No, it’s not—blegh—” 5 “Pregnant?” Kaelan’s fingertips trembled. For the first time, his perpetually stoic face was a canvas of emotions: shock, doubt, disbelief, and something else I couldn’t quite decipher. He reached for my wrist, his brow furrowing deeper the longer he held it. Finally, he asked hesitantly, “Are you… actually a girl?” His gaze drifted downward, as if he didn’t quite believe it himself. I shrieked. “Male! Guy! Dude!” As for why I was pregnant, I couldn’t take it anymore. The whole story about Pip came tumbling out in a frantic, jumbled mess. Kaelan looked utterly bewildered, unsure whether to believe me or to assume I’d lost my mind. I called out to Pip. “Can you please say something to him?” Pip was thrilled. “Sure, sure! As long as he doesn’t resist, I can!” Kaelan’s mental defenses were incredibly high, so it took a while, but finally, Pip managed to connect with him. “Sword Saint, sir! I’m Pip!” “I’m the one who helped Finn get pregnant with your babies, hehehe.” “Two of them, by the way.” Kaelan fell silent. The room was so quiet it was terrifying. He just stared at my stomach, his face turning red. I’m pretty sure he wanted to punch the meddling system as much as I did. 6 Ever since he found out I was carrying his cubs, Kaelan had been acting… strange. He had long since transcended the need for food, but I hadn’t. The enchanted food at Aethelgard was plentiful, but the taste was… underwhelming. My cravings were intense, especially for the humans’ stinky tofu. If I didn’t get some, I was convinced I would die today. I was about to sneak out when Kaelan found me. “Where are you going?” I pouted, a wave of petulance washing over me. “What, am I a prisoner now? Do I have to report my every move to you?” Kaelan froze, a flicker of uncharacteristic panic in his calm eyes. “That’s not what I meant. I—I mean… if there’s something you need, I can get it for you.” My eyes lit up. I grabbed his arm. “Oh, that’s perfect! Let me tell you, there’s this stall down in the village…” Kaelan listened intently. When I was done, he said, “Wait here,” and disappeared. I hummed happily as I headed back to my room. Having someone else run your errands was the best. Half an hour later, Kaelan returned. He’d brought back a lot of things. Besides what I’d asked for, there were other snacks too. He cleared his throat, looking at the wall instead of me. “They said pregnant people often crave these things. You can… try them.” And with that, he vanished like a gust of wind. I didn’t think much of it. After stuffing myself, I felt covered in the smell of food and decided to go for a soak in the hot springs. This place was a true treasure. The spring floor was lined with warming jade, and the walls were embedded with purifying pearls. A single soak felt like it could add five hundred years to a fox’s life. And what do you know, Kaelan showed up. Huh? Why was he here? I thought he preferred cold pools. He seemed about to leave when he saw me. I knew he wasn’t one for sharing spaces, but I was in a good mood and really wanted to talk to someone. So, he wasn’t going anywhere. He kept a respectful distance, but I didn’t mind and just started chatting. “So, have you figured out what’s causing that icy poison?” He nodded. “I’m used to training in extremely cold environments. The chill from the ancient frost isn’t like normal cold; it’s much harder to dispel. Over time, it accumulated in my body until it erupted.” Ah, so that’s why he was in the hot spring now. “So… what happened with us was…” Kaelan stiffly turned his head to look at the distant mountains. His voice was soft, gentle. “I found a way to break the curse in an old text.” “The most effective way to counteract the icy poison… is through intimate union with a body of pure solar energy.” 7 A fox is a creature of fire, his fey power the essence of yang. Today, a fox discovered a secret. “Pip, this guy must be fate’s favorite child, right? The moment his poison acts up, I literally fall into his lap to cure him.” “His luck is just off the charts.” Pip had its own take. “He’s a golden ticket, Host! Latch onto the Sword Saint and enjoy life on easy mode. Becoming a great fey lord is just around the corner.” A fey lord! Hehe, does that mean I’ll get nine tails soon? Hehehe… Now, where’s Kaelan? I need to go cuddle with him.

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1. The day I turned eighteen, I climbed to the roof of my apartment building. But someone else was already there, perched on the edge, and a stream of comments floated in the air above her head. [What’s this? Another jumper? Did the supporting character call for backup?] [She’s so dramatic. The heroine’s family gave her a home for ten years, and now she’s acting like this just because they asked for a little heart donation.] [Hey, the new jumper is walking over. What’s she gonna do?] I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around the girl’s waist and pulling her back from the ledge. We tumbled to the rooftop floor in a heap. “Mind if I go first?” I asked. “I’m in a bigger rush.” 2. “Let go of me! Just let me die!” The wind whipped strands of her hair across her face, and fat, hot tears splattered onto my cheek. “I just found out today,” she sobbed, her voice cracking. “To my family, I’m nothing more than a living organ bank for my sister.” Her name was Sophia, and her face was a mess of tears and despair. “The only reason I exist is to be sacrificed for her. Don’t try to talk me out of it. I’ll destroy this body before I let them get what they want!” “I’m not going to talk you out of it,” I said flatly. She stared at me, stunned into silence. “I just saw you taking up the best spot,” I continued, “and you weren’t jumping. So I pulled you down.” I shrugged. “If you need more time to work yourself up to it, let me go first. I’m on a deadline.” Sophia’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. The comments above her head, however, were scrolling frantically. [Seriously? Now there’s a line for jumping off a roof?] [This new girl seems a little unhinged. Hope she doesn’t mess with Sophia’s head. We need her to stay healthy for our heroine.] [Knew it. Sophia is all talk. Who is she trying to scare with all this crying?] Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why are you so desperate to die?” I sat on the edge of the roof, dangling my legs over the side with a carelessness I didn’t feel. “Because my parents told me to.” 3. I was born a monster. I don’t feel emotions. I only know how to mimic them, copying the anger, greed, and sadness I see in others. Because of this, everyone in my life has always despised me. Even my own parents. More than once, they’ve said it to my face. “I regret the day you were born. Why don’t you just die?” They were right. I was a monster who deserved to die. But I still wanted to try. I practiced smiling and crying in the mirror for hours, trying to learn how to blend in, how to be normal. It never worked. Like the time I went to a comedy. I was the only one in the theater roaring with laughter. Everyone else was dabbing their eyes with tissues, staring at me like I was insane. I didn’t get it. It was a comedy. Weren’t you supposed to laugh? Or at a wedding, when the bride’s father gave her away. The guests were all cheering and whistling, but I was standing there with a long face, on the verge of tears. My mother saw me, dragged me outside by the arm, and hissed that I was a walking funeral. I didn’t understand that either. A daughter was leaving the home she grew up in. Wasn’t that sad? Why was everyone celebrating? After that, I became more careful. I learned the rules. When a relative dies, look down, turn the corners of your mouth down thirty degrees. When you receive a gift, widen your eyes, turn your mouth up forty-five degrees. When you see someone crying, furrow your brow and let out a few dry sobs. “Today’s my eighteenth birthday,” I said, my legs still swinging in the open air. “As of today, my parents are no longer legally responsible for me. They gave me some cash and told me not to come home. They’re going to try for another kid.” The wind blew my hair across my face. “See? I tried. But I don’t think I’m cut out for this world.” The comments above Sophia’s head went quiet for a few seconds, then one popped up: [Wait, her symptoms… sounds like some kind of affective agnosia?] [Who cares what she has? If she’s gonna jump, jump! Don’t hold up the life-saving surgery for our heroine!] [Jesus, this girl really isn’t normal. She’s a freak.] Suddenly, Sophia grabbed my hand and yanked me back from the edge with surprising strength. “No… you’re not a monster.” Her voice was still shaky, but her grip was firm. “My adoptive mother always called me an ungrateful snake. She said I didn’t know my place. But I know that’s not who I am.” She looked me straight in the eye. “And neither are you. I can see you’re not a monster. You’re just sick.” I froze. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. They either yelled at me, feared me, or stared at me like some bizarre creature in a zoo. Deep in my chest, the heart they always called “empty” gave a tiny, unfamiliar flutter. Like a stone hitting a frozen lake, cracking the surface. I tried to twist my lips into a sneer. “What good does that do? You can’t save me, and you can’t save yourself.” “At least we won’t have to wait in line to jump,” Sophia said. She sniffled, tears still streaming down her face, but a small, clumsy smile touched her lips. “I’ve been thinking. I’m not going to jump either. They want my heart? They can’t have it. I’m going to live. I’ll live so long they’ll be old and gray, and they’ll have to watch me thriving, and it will drive them insane!” The comments above her went wild. [Is she crazy?! She’s refusing to donate her heart?] [Where is the heroine’s family? Get over here and drag her back!] [Who is this jumper girl? She’s infected Sophia with her insanity!] Sophia didn’t see the words. She was just looking at me. “Please don’t jump, okay? I don’t know how to cure your illness, but… living one more day has to be better, right? What if something good happens tomorrow?” I looked into her bright, tear-filled eyes. I remembered seeing a mother teaching her toddler about fruits at the supermarket yesterday. The kid pointed at a durian and said, “It stinks!” The mother just smiled and said, “You’ll see once you taste it. It just has a tough shell.” Maybe that was me. A tough shell, a strange scent, still waiting for someone willing to crack me open and take a bite. 4. The rooftop door slammed open. A woman in expensive clothes stormed in, flanked by several men in sharp suits. Her gaze fixed on Sophia’s scraped, bleeding knee, and her voice was devoid of emotion. “Sophia, haven’t I told you? Your body isn’t your own. You are not to get hurt when you are out.” A man with sharp, severe features strode toward us. “Sophia, be a good girl and come back with your brother. Chloe is waiting for your heart.” The comments erupted. [Oh, here we go! The male lead is here! She’s not getting away this time!] [So, he’s Sophia’s biological brother, and the Ashworths only adopted him because of her. But his heart belongs to the heroine, Chloe. His real sister doesn’t stand a chance.] [Spoiler alert: After Sophia dies donating her heart, he’ll suddenly remember how great she was, go dark, and torment the heroine. But don’t worry, it’s just their twisted foreplay. They get married and live happily ever after.] “Let’s go.” Ethan Ashworth reached for Sophia’s arm, his movement firm and demanding. Sophia instinctively ducked behind me. “My heart… why should I have to give it to Chloe Ashworth?” “Why?” Ethan’s voice turned to ice. “Because she is the only true heir to the Ashworth family. If they hadn’t taken us in, who knows where we’d be right now. Your life belongs to them. What’s a heart compared to that?” I grabbed Ethan’s wrist. The wind whipped my sleeve around my arm. For the first time, I wasn’t mimicking an expression. I just looked at him. “Don’t force her.” Ethan scowled. “Who the hell are you? Get out of the way.” “Who I am doesn’t matter.” I let go of his wrist and pointed to my own chest. “A live heart donation is a one-for-one trade. You’re asking for her life. Have you asked her if she’s willing to give it?” “I’m not willing!” Sophia screamed. She clutched the back of my shirt, her knuckles white from the force of her grip. Ethan’s face darkened like a thundercloud. “Sophia, stop making a scene. Chloe is waiting in the operating room. Do you want her to die?” “And what about me?” Sophia suddenly lifted her head, her eyes flashing with tears and defiance. “Brother, do you want me to die?” 5. [The supporting character is just a plot device. How dare she talk back now? She’s out of control!] [What is the male lead waiting for? Just grab her and go! The heroine is waiting for you at the hospital!] [This jumper girl is such a busybody. She should just jump off her damn roof instead of playing hero.] “She said no. Are you all deaf?” I took half a step forward, shielding Sophia. “Medically speaking, live heart donation is illegal except in the most extreme circumstances. What you’re doing is called premeditated murder.” My words stunned even the impeccably dressed woman. Ethan was clearly enraged. He shoved me hard. “What gives you the right to meddle in the Ashworths’ business?” I didn’t move, letting his hand slam into my shoulder. “I’m nobody.” I met his furious gaze and slowly raised my phone. A sound wave was actively recording on the screen. “But I know that no one has the right to take another person’s life, not even in the name of gratitude. I started recording the moment you came through that door. If you try to take her today, I’m calling the police.” “Then let them arrest me,” he snarled. “Chloe is the most important person in this family. I’ll do anything to save her.” “But I’m the most important person to me,” Sophia said. She stood up straight. The pain in her knee made her tremble, but she didn’t take another step back. “Ethan, you’re my brother, but you’ve never once treated me like a sister. From this day on, we’re even.” A storm of emotions crossed Ethan’s face—shock, anger, and a flicker of something that looked like panic. He took a deep breath, making his final offer. “One day. I’ll give you one more day.” His voice was low and dangerous. “If you still refuse the surgery, don’t blame me for what happens next.” Sophia grabbed my hand, and we walked toward the stairs. I glanced back; the Ashworths weren’t following. “So where to now?” I asked. “Are we fugitives on the run? Or should we just find another roof?” The comments had told me everything I needed to know. In this world, the hero and heroine were law. The police wouldn’t help. My recording was a bluff. I thought Sophia would have a plan. I never expected what she said next. “First, we find a place to buy a birthday cake.” I stopped in my tracks. My heart, which I thought was just an empty chamber, gave a powerful thud, then another, like a frantic drumbeat. The feeling was completely alien. I looked down at my chest, amazed that this heart of mine could feel so alive. It wasn’t beating to mimic an emotion. It was beating because this girl, who I’d just pulled back from the brink of death, wanted to buy me a birthday cake. “What are you waiting for? Let’s g—” Sophia’s voice caught in her throat. She pointed a trembling finger at my face. “You… you’re smiling.” 6. Before I left, my parents had given me five hundred dollars. I don’t know if they were overconfident in my ability to survive or if they were hoping I’d just die on the street. After buying a cake and getting something to eat, the five hundred had dwindled to fifty. Sophia was completely broke. Ethan had given us a day, but that was generous. We didn’t even have a place to sleep for the night. But I had a backup plan. I decided to make one last trip home. When my grandmother died, she left me a card with a hundred thousand dollars in it. It would be enough for Sophia to get far away. My fingertips trembled as I felt for the house key in my pocket. I had left this morning fully intending to die. I never imagined I’d be coming back. The house was silent when I unlocked the door. Thank God, they weren’t home. I breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Sophia toward my room. The bank card was tucked inside a book in the bottom drawer of my nightstand. Just as my fingers closed around it, I heard a key turning in the front door lock. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and through the crack, I could see my parents taking off their shoes. Their voices cut through the silence like shards of ice. “So it’s all settled with my sister?” That was my father’s voice, hesitant. “Settled,” my mother’s voice was sharp, cold. “She just had a son, and she’s happy to get rid of the girl. Ten thousand dollars, and her daughter is ours.” My fingers tightened around the card, its sharp edge digging into my palm. Sophia frowned and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “But that hundred thousand… Mom left that for our girl,” my father’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Before she passed, she held my hand and told me that money was for her granddaughter’s future, for an emergency.” “An emergency?” My mother scoffed, the sound of her heels clicking harshly on the floor. “Her? Does she deserve it? At Nana’s funeral, everyone was crying their eyes out, and she just stood there like a wooden doll. Not a single tear! Nana wasted all that love on her. This money is better off with a child who knows how to be grateful!” Agitated, my mother threw her purse onto the sofa and spat out a curse. I felt a crushing weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I remembered the day my Nana died. She was lying in the hospital bed, whispering my name, “My sweet girl,” as she held my hand. “Nana can’t take care of you anymore,” she’d said. “From now on, you have to remember to smile and to cry. Don’t always wear such a serious little face; it’s not pretty.” She forced a smile and pulled the card from under her pillow, pressing it into my hand. “Don’t let anyone touch this money. It’s for my sweet girl. If anyone dares to bully you, I’ll come back as a ghost and protect you.” At the funeral, I stood before her black-and-white portrait, her smiling face a blur, my mind completely blank. People nudged me, asking why I wasn’t crying. They sighed and whispered that Nana had raised an ungrateful snake. My parents had sent me to live with Nana when I was little. Other kids would poke me with sticks, throw rotten eggs at me, and call me a monster. Nana was the one who chased them away with a broom, then marched to their houses to demand an apology. The parents would just sneer. “Our kid’s not wrong. Your granddaughter can’t cry, can’t laugh. The way she stares gives you the creeps. What is she, if not a monster?” So Nana got a megaphone and stood in the hallway of our building, blasting her message on a loop. “MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS NOT A MONSTER! SHE’S THE KINDEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILD IN THE WORLD! DID YOU HEAR ME? I’LL SAY IT AGAIN! MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS THE KINDEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILD IN THE WORLD!” The memories were a lump in my throat, but they wouldn’t turn into tears. “She’s a heartless monster!” My mother’s voice screeched from the living room. “Eighteen years of raising her, and for what? I’d rather have a child who knows how to love. I’ve met my sister’s daughter. She’s sweet as can be. A hundred times better than her!” A soft hand rested on mine. I turned to Sophia. In the dim light filtering through the doorway, I could see her eyes were red and shining. She mouthed two silent words: You’re not. In that instant, my heart began to beat, not with the frantic drumming of before, but with a deep, warm thrum. My father sighed. “Let’s find another way to get the money.” “Find what?” my mother snapped. “I know where she keeps the card. I’ll get it right now! It’s not like she’s coming back anyway. For all we know, she’s already…” She trailed off, but her unspoken malice hung in the air, sharp and piercing. Clutching the bank card, I stood up. Sophia tried to pull me back, but I shook my head and pushed the door open. My parents whipped around, their faces masks of shock. I walked toward them, the card held tight in my hand. “You can’t touch this money,” I said. My voice was level, but it carried the warmth of my newly awakened heart. “Nana said it was for an emergency. Well, this is an emergency.”

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My brother lost a bet and used me as collateral, handing me over to his sworn enemy to be his canary. Standing outside the room, separated by a single door, I could hear Leo and his friends’ jeers as clear as day. “A honeypot? More like a trap for the blind. Jason is a lumbering idiot.” “Just wait till his sister gets here. You guys can watch me break her.” “Her, manipulate me? Heh. Not a chance in hell.” The moment I pushed the door open, I lifted my chin. Leo took a sharp breath. “M is for ‘my one and only,’ A is for ‘always and forever,’ N is for ‘nothing can keep us apart’…” “Right, where was I?” 1 A heavy silence fell over the room. I stood frozen in place, my heart pounding like a drum, my brother’s words echoing in my mind— “Chloe, when you get there, you have to be so, so careful. That guy, Leo, he’s ruthless, a total psycho. He’s not even human!” “You have to protect yourself. The second I pay back the money, I’ll come get you!” I remembered my brother, Jason, sitting on a hospital bed, his leg in a cast, his face bruised and swollen, his eyes welling up with tears. The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. But there was a problem. With so many people in the room, which one was “Leo”? My eyes scanned the crowd. A man was lounging in the corner, leaning against the sofa with an air of effortless command. He seemed different from the rest. That must be him, right? I walked over cautiously. “A-are you Leo?” “Hi, I’m Jason’s sister, Chloe,” I said, then offered a tentative, placating smile. “You live up to the reputation, Mr. Leo. You have such a powerful presence.” Someone behind me snorted with laughter. “Luke, she thinks you’re Leo.” Wrong one? I paled, turning to the man who had spoken and apologizing profusely. This one wore gold-rimmed glasses and had the shrewd look of a seasoned strategist. Was he Leo? I pasted on another smile. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Leo. I must be blind to have mistaken you for someone else.” This time, the man laughed even louder. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist. The world spun, and I found myself falling into someone’s lap. His thighs were solid muscle, radiating a powerful heat. I looked up and met a pair of dark, stormy eyes. His face was a mask of displeasure, his voice laced with ice. “Just like your pathetic brother. Annoying from the second you open your mouth.” “You can’t even recognize your own sugar daddy. You got a death wish?” 2 Honestly, my brother wasn’t as useless as Leo made him out to be. He was a good brother. He’d doted on me ever since he started his business from scratch. He just had terrible luck with investments, which is how he ended up losing his entire fortune to Leo. That day, Jason had knelt and begged Leo for a long time, pleading with him to spare our family. He’d even bashed his head on the floor until it bled. But the arrogant heir was merciless. “Can’t pay the money? Then pay with your body.” Jason, terrified, clutched his behind and stammered that he was straight and would need some time to mentally prepare himself. Leo’s face had darkened. He kicked my brother’s leg. “Jason, are you a fucking idiot? What the hell are you thinking?” That one kick broke my brother’s leg. Not only did Leo not pay for the medical bills, he used it as an opportunity to humiliate Jason further, telling him to show up for work at his company the next day as a security guard to work off the debt. But my brother couldn’t even walk. How was he supposed to work? It was an impossible demand. For every day he didn’t show up, the interest would double. Jason was on the verge of a breakdown. I couldn’t just watch him fall apart. Left with no other choice, I had to resort to this. And now, seeing Leo in person, I knew my brother hadn’t been exaggerating. Leo was all looks and no substance, with a temper to match. Dealing with someone this petty was going to require all of my focus. 3 I went home with Leo. The car ride was silent. I assumed he was still angry about what happened earlier. I carefully reached out and tugged on his sleeve. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mistake you for…” “Don’t touch me!” He yanked his sleeve away with a look of pure disgust. Well… It was clear Leo really, truly despised me. The butler, Mr. Peterson, greeted us at the door. “Young Master, and this is?” Leo, a cigarette dangling from his lips, shot me a sideways glance. “A canary. You get it?” Seeing Mr. Peterson’s confused expression, he explained impatiently. “You’re so out of touch, old man. How do you not know what that is?” “It’s like… a toy. A little plaything someone gives you to settle a debt. Understand now?” I stood there, shifting awkwardly on my feet. Mr. Peterson’s expression changed. He leaned in and whispered to Leo. “Sir, this kind of contract isn’t legally enforceable. It infringes on her personal freedom and violates public decency laws…” “Besides, this woman is stunningly beautiful. Aren’t you worried she and her brother are plotting something?” The two of them were whispering as if I wasn’t even there. I quickly waved my hands, trying to explain earnestly. “My brother and I really aren’t plotting anything! We’re genuinely trying to pay back the debt.” Leo narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Peterson, while I don’t agree with your assessment of her looks, you do have a point.” “Get the guest room ready. She can stay in there.” “I want to see exactly what kind of tricks this woman has up her sleeve.” 4 Hearing that I wouldn’t have to share a room with Leo, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. My tightly clenched fists unconsciously relaxed. But Leo caught the subtle movement. He snorted coldly and turned on his heel, walking away. For the next few days, Leo was a ghost. He didn’t give me any tasks, nor did he make any special arrangements for me. For a canary who was supposed to be working off a debt, I was living a life of leisure, getting free room and board. I started to feel restless. Worried that Leo might suddenly find a reason to pick on me, I started looking for things to do myself. One day, I helped Maria with the gardening. The next, I gave Mrs. Davis a hand in the kitchen. I was one step away from asking Mr. Peterson to add me to the official work schedule. Luckily, I fit in quickly. Everyone seemed to like me. Even Mr. Peterson, who had initially been suspicious of me, was now singing my praises. “Miss Chloe is not only beautiful, but she’s also a quick and diligent worker. Never complains.” Maria held my hand and wouldn’t let go. “I heard you studied early childhood education? Do you have a boyfriend? If not, I have a nephew who’s doing his PhD at Stanford. He’s a brilliant young man, you two would be perfect for each other.” They didn’t know about my awkward situation. They just assumed I was another employee, working for a paycheck. Mrs. Davis brought some homemade snacks to my room. “Miss Chloe, you’re five-foot-seven but only a hundred and ten pounds! You’re too thin!” “I made these just for you. Don’t worry, the Young Master will never find out!” I was deeply touched. The anxiety I’d felt when I first arrived melted away. I secretly texted my brother. I told him not to worry. Everyone here, except for Leo, was incredibly kind to me. 5 That evening, Maria’s daughter, Lily, begged me to read her a bedtime story. In the days Leo had been away, she had taken to sneaking into my room to sleep. The little girl even shared half of her gummy bears with me, her big eyes watching me expectantly. My heart melted. We lay on the bed side-by-side, our heads touching as we looked at the storybook together. The summer night was hot and sticky. The silk strap of my slip dress hung loosely on my shoulder, and as I traced the pictures with my finger, it slipped down without me noticing. With every movement, the neckline of my dress dipped lower, revealing more than I intended. Suddenly, the scent of alcohol filled the air. A man’s voice, tight with restrained anger, came from beside me. “Well, look at you, Lily. Getting bold, aren’t you.” “This is my room. Are you going to get out yourself, or do I have to throw you out?” The little girl jumped, startled. She looked at Leo as if she’d seen a ghost, dropped the book, and ran out of the room with a terrified shriek. I scrambled to sit up. Our eyes met, but Leo was the first to look away. “Chloe, the tulips in the garden. Was it your idea to replace them with crabapple blossoms?” “Huh?” I was confused. I only remembered casually mentioning to Maria that crabapple blossoms were considered good luck and looked beautiful when they bloomed. “And another thing—” “I never eat cilantro. Why is that disgusting ingredient in my kitchen?” That was from the wonton soup Mrs. Davis had made for me. It wasn’t meant for him. I didn’t say anything. But Leo knew. He knew all these changes were because of me. His frustration was practically spilling from his eyes. “You’ve only been here a few days, and you’ve already charmed everyone in this house. You really are a manipulative piece of work.” Leo had curly hair and a pair of sad, downturned eyes, with two faint beauty marks under his right eye. When he was angry, he looked like a dog with its fur on end. “I was gone for four whole days, and you didn’t send me a single text… Why aren’t you like the other canaries?” “Did you move in here just to read bedtime stories to Lily?” 6 His words made me feel a pang of guilt. My brother had given me Leo’s contact info. But I’d been so busy running around the house these past few days that I’d completely forgotten about it. “I’m sorry, baby.” I moved closer. The moment my arm touched his, Leo’s body went rigid. I pressed my advantage. I deliberately softened my voice, cooing in a placating tone. “It’s my fault. You’re my creditor. You’re the one I should be focused on pleasing.” Then, I launched into a series of barefaced lies. “I asked Maria to change the flowers so you’d feel refreshed when you came home.” “And I’ve been trying out new recipes because I wanted to cook for you. The cilantro was just for garnish.” “Everything I do, I do it for you. Even when you’re not here, I’m thinking about you, waiting for you to come back every day.” “…Is that what you really think?” “Mhm.” The tension in Leo’s expression finally eased. He lowered his gaze. But his eyes darted away as if he’d been burned. A few words tumbled out of his throat. “That nightgown is hideous. It looks like a dish rag. You have no taste.” I smiled sweetly. “Then next time, I’ll wear the kind you like, okay, baby?” Leo was clearly not expecting that. I didn’t argue at all; I just accepted his criticism. His anger, his nitpicking, it was like punching a pillow. It couldn’t get a rise out of me. Right in front of him, I opened the Amazon app on my phone. The “lingerie” section was filled with all sorts of options. Some had even less fabric, in styles that were far more provocative, from black lace to baby pink. I don’t know if it was from anger or something else, but a faint blush spread from the tips of his ears down to his neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He raised a hand. “Just… just get the bestseller.” 7 The day the package arrived, I sent Leo a text: [Come home early tonight. Dinner’s ready. Waiting for you, kisses~] There was a moment of silence from his end. Then, a barrage of messages flooded my phone: [Chloe, did hell freeze over? You’re actually texting me first.] [Heh. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me.] [What do you mean, ‘come home early’? Are you getting possessive already?] [Well, since you’re trying so hard to please me, I guess I can do you the favor of coming home for dinner tonight.] [By the way, did that nightgown arrive yet?] [Answer me.] [?] [Why aren’t you replying? Playing games with me?] [?????] … I put down my phone and looked at Mr. Peterson with a helpless expression. “Is Leo… always like this with his… canaries?” Mr. Peterson looked shocked. “Of course not! The Young Master has never even…” Realizing he’d said too much, he quickly stopped himself. “The Young Master is a workaholic. He’s rarely home, and when he’s busy, he even forgets his own birthday. He has plenty of admirers, but he’s never brought a woman home before. You’re the first.” Perhaps my good behavior recently had lowered Mr. Peterson’s guard. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. He poured out story after story about Leo’s childhood. “He’s actually a really good person, you know. He just has a sharp tongue.” “You hear him call me ‘old man,’ but he knows I love anime, and he gets me a new collectible figure for my birthday every year.” “Maria and Mrs. Davis get gifts too. Some kind of expensive face cream, I think…” “And he was a business prodigy from a young age. When he was ten, he took advantage of his grandmother’s dementia and tricked her into giving him New Year’s money five times.” “He also has a childhood friend, Ethan. When they were kids, the Young Master loved playing ‘treasure hunt’ at his house. One time, he found Ethan’s parents’ divorce papers…” I… had no words. 8 That evening, when Leo came home, the living room was pitch black. He had night blindness and hated the dark. It made him feel unsafe. “Chloe, where are you?” Silence. He walked further into the living room, a flicker of irritation on his face. “You said you’d be waiting at home…” In an instant, all the lights flashed on. Leo’s words caught in his throat. He saw the floor covered in a sea of deep blue and purple roses. BOOM— At the same moment, the massive floor-to-ceiling windows reflected a dazzling fireworks display exploding in the night sky. Golden sparks rained down like a shower of stars. The brilliant light danced in Leo’s stunned eyes. He stood frozen, his head tilted back, a small, unconscious smile playing on his lips as he watched, mesmerized. I emerged from the shadows, holding a cake. “Happy birthday, Leo.” He noticed me and stiffened for a moment, then quickly composed his expression, trying to look stern. “It’s not my birthday today.” “I know.” “Mr. Peterson told me. You remember everyone else’s birthday, but you always forget your own.” “So, I wanted to give you a proper celebration.” Leo snorted. “…That blabbering old man.” I smiled and took his rigid hand, leading him to the dining room. On the table was a large birthday cake. And several of Leo’s favorite dishes. “You… you made all of this yourself?” I nodded. His eyes lit up, sparkling like their own tiny fireworks show. 9 After dinner, the bathroom door was yanked open. Leo emerged from the steam, toweling his damp, brown curls. His fingers were long and elegant, his tanned arms defined by sharp lines and raised veins. Droplets of water traced paths down the sharp lines of his abs, disappearing under the towel wrapped around his waist. Leo had a very tempting body. Sensing my gaze, the tips of his ears turned red, but his tone remained cool. “What are you staring at?” I walked closer. I gently touched the faint scar on his side. “Does it hurt?” The skin under my fingertips tightened instantly. “Th-that was from when I was a kid. I forgot all about it.” “How did you get it?” He turned his face away, his eyelashes fluttering down unnaturally. “I got kicked by a donkey.” “Was it your stepmother?” “…That old man told you everything, didn’t he.” I looked up at him, my expression serious. “Leo, it’s okay to be vulnerable.” “You can say it when you’re in pain, you can cry when you’re sad, and you can shout it from the rooftops when you like something.” “Why do you always say the opposite of what you mean, pretending you don’t care?” I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the scar. “It’s okay. You can keep up your tough act.” “But I’ll be here to catch all your complicated emotions, until you’re ready to show your true self.” His dark eyes burned into mine, as if my words had struck a chord deep within him. He suddenly pulled me into his arms. I could feel the frantic pounding of his heart, hear his ragged breaths. “Chloe, you’re so annoying.” “…After how I treated your brother, don’t you hate me?” My answer was gentle, but also carefully worded. “My brother’s investment failed because of his own bad luck. Paying back a debt is the right thing to do.” “If he had dealt with someone else, he might have lost more than just the use of his leg.” Leo’s heart beat even faster. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Like a lost puppy in a garden. I opened my arms, stood on my toes, and hugged him tightly. “Do you like it when I hug you like this? I want to hear the truth.” Silence stretched between us, wrapped in the soft, yellow light. After a long moment, he buried his face in my neck and mumbled a soft “yeah.” “…I like it.” “Hmm? I didn’t quite hear that.” “I… I like it when you hug me.” The smile on my face deepened. “What else do you like?” Leo’s gaze dropped to my sheer slip dress, and his eyes suddenly darkened.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394083”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After getting married to—and pregnant by—my sworn enemy, a freak accident sent me hurtling back in time. Back to the year our hatred for each other was at its absolute peak. He handed me a tissue as a sudden wave of nausea hit me, his voice laced with ice. “Whose is it?” “Not telling me? Fine,” he scoffed. “Doesn’t matter.” He lowered his gaze, his long lashes concealing the dark, turbulent emotions in his eyes. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself.” “And when I find him,” he promised, his voice a low, dangerous growl, “I’m going to kill him.” I poked his grim, stormy face. “But Jason,” I said, “the baby is yours.” Jason: “?” 1 The moment I saw Jason, I knew something was off. His shoulders were slightly hunched, the corners of his eyes tilted upwards, and a ghost of a smirk played on his lips. Every word out of his mouth was dripping with sarcasm. “Well, well, Chloe. Fancy seeing you here. But—” He snatched the wine glass from my hand. “Do your parents know?” He continued his one-man show. “I seem to recall they explicitly forbade you from drinking ever again. Should I give them a little reminder? Maybe get them to cancel this credit card, too?” I stared at him, suspicion creeping in. I held his gaze until the tips of his ears turned a faint red. He cleared his throat. “Don’t even try the puppy-dog eyes. It won’t work on me.” A theory started to form in my mind. “Jason, what year is it?” His face darkened, his voice edged with annoyance. “Chloe, I take my eyes off you for five minutes, and you’re already drunk off your ass?” The back of his hand was cool against my cheek. He leaned in, his nose almost touching mine, and I caught the familiar, pleasant scent of cedarwood. “You don’t even smell like alcohol,” he murmured, confused. “How are you…” Jason hadn’t worn cologne since I got pregnant. The scent hit me like a ton of bricks. I clapped a hand over my mouth and bolted for the restroom, heaving until my head spun. As I was rinsing my mouth at the sink, Jason appeared beside me, offering a paper towel. The warm, orange light of the bathroom blurred his features, but his voice was thick with resentment. “Is the sight of me really that repulsive to you? Did you have to throw up?” I wiped my mouth. “Sorry. Can’t help it.” His eyes darkened. He clenched his jaw, forcing the words through his teeth. “…Chloe, do you hate me that much?” Looking at him, it all clicked. The post-marriage Jason would never dare speak to me like this, would never look at me with such open hostility. This dynamic—this was us, years ago. This was back when we couldn’t stand the sight of each other. No love. Pure, unadulterated hate. Seeing his reaction, a mischievous urge took over. “Can’t you tell, Jason?” I said sweetly. “This isn’t disgust. It’s morning sickness.” 2 Jason and I were inseparable as kids. We shared popsicles in the summer and huddled under the same blanket in the winter. Our parents’ favorite joke was that they should just arrange our marriage then and there. But then puberty hit, and Jason turned cold. He walked around with a permanent scowl, acting like he was God’s gift to the world. At that age, the lines between boys and girls were already a minefield. Sensing his hostility, I started to pull away, too. But Jason wouldn’t let me go. He went out of his way to antagonize me, using our childhood friendship as an excuse to control my life. If I so much as went to the library with a male classmate, he’d run to my parents and accuse me of having a secret boyfriend. I once grabbed him by the collar, furious. “Jason, what the hell is your problem? You can’t stand to see me happy, can you? Just because your love life is a train wreck, you have to drag me down with you?” His hair was a mess from my grip, and he bit his lip, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy. I froze, the heat from his skin burning my palm. I dropped my hands as if I’d been scalded. “Ugh, stop faking it, you manipulative jerk,” I spat, before turning and running away. After that day, we became mortal enemies. We fought, we schemed, we were constantly at each other’s throats, locked in a battle to the death. But the outcome was something no one ever saw coming. In the end, after all the fighting, Jason and I got married. 3 Jason snapped out of his shock. “I don’t believe you,” he said immediately. Classic Jason. I didn’t waste time arguing. I dragged him to the hospital and let him watch as I went through a full prenatal check-up. He stared at the damning numbers on the report, unable to deny it any longer. His fingers trembled, his voice like shattered glass. “Whose is it? Does he know?” I tilted my head. “Well, he probably does now.” His face was a thundercloud. He slammed his fist into the hospital wall, muttering a curse under his breath. He took a deep, shuddering breath, then softened his tone. “I won’t tell your parents. You need to rest for the next couple of days. I’ll arrange for a doctor to perform the procedure.” “What procedure?” I asked, feigning innocence. “An abortion.” He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I already spoke with the doctor. It’s still early, so the risk to you is minimal… You’re not going to tell me you want to keep it, are you?” I nodded firmly. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth in front of me. “Chloe, are you out of your mind?! You’re still so young! Do you think this is as simple as getting a puppy? You’re still in college! How are you going to be responsible for another human being?” “You’re overthinking it, Jason,” I said vaguely. “If I can’t handle it, the baby’s father will help out.” Jason just laughed, a cold, bitter sound. The corners of his eyes were unnaturally red. “If that bastard had any sense of responsibility, he wouldn’t have let you get pregnant in the first place. He’s just trying to trap you, tie you down with a baby!” I tried to defend my “baby daddy.” “Don’t talk about him like that. He’s actually a pretty good guy.” Jason’s hands fell to his sides. His gaze was like a snake, coiling around me. Then, he smiled. “You know, Chloe, I never took you for the type to be blinded by love. You like him that much? Enough to throw away your entire future? I’m dying to know who this guy is. Who could possibly make you stoop so low?” I was about to tell him the truth before he completely lost it, but then he started spilling his own secrets like a broken dam. “That senior you had a crush on? I had him sent abroad. That aspiring actor who was hitting on you? His career is over. And that pretty boy who lives next door to you? He’s playing for the other team now. Chloe, I’ve always been watching you. Besides me, who else do you have?” I froze. I remembered all those guys. We’d had brief, flirtatious moments, but then, one by one, they had all disappeared from my life for one reason or another. I had always just chalked it up to my terrible luck with men. “…That was all you?” My feelings were a complicated mess. After we got married, I’d told him about my past relationships, and he had pretended to know nothing. “Jason, you are one seriously messed up individual.” He just smirked. “It’s fine if you don’t tell me. I’ll find out myself.” His expression turned vicious, a vein popping on his forehead. “And Chloe, when I find him, I swear I’m going to kill him.” I sighed. “You really want to know who it is?” Under his intense, scrutinizing gaze, I reached out and poked his stormy face. “It’s you.” The darkness on his face only deepened. “Chloe, you’d really go this far to protect him? You’d even lie to me?” Ugh, this was getting nowhere. I looked at his tightly pressed lips. I remembered his younger brother once telling me that Jason had a secret crush, a “white moonlight,” that he’d been pining over for years. I never said anything, but it had always bothered me. Had he held her? Had he kissed her? The thought always left a bitter taste in my mouth, a frustration I could only relieve by kissing him senseless. But no matter how many times I kissed him, I would never be his first. If my timeline was correct, his “white moonlight” wasn’t even back in the country yet. A wicked idea sparked in my mind. I stood on my toes, hooked my arms around his neck, and pressed my lips against his. His lips were cool, but his mouth was like molten lava. The Jason in front of me was just an inexperienced kid; he was no match for the seasoned woman I had become. When the kiss ended, I winked at him. “So? Do you believe me now?” He looked like a malfunctioning robot, a deep blush spreading from his cheeks all the way down his neck. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words came out. After a long, awkward silence, a look of grim determination settled on his face. “Have the baby,” he said. “I’ll be the father.” … I slapped him across the face. “Get lost.” 4 “Chloe? Nah, my brother’s not here.” I pushed his younger brother, Caleb, into the apartment. “I’m not looking for your brother. I’m looking for you.” The moment I stepped inside, I wrinkled my nose. “Caleb, when was the last time you left this apartment?” I pulled open the curtains, and he shrieked like a goblin exposed to sunlight, scurrying into the shadows. Caleb was Jason’s polar opposite. Jason was the life of the party; Caleb was a hardcore recluse. He wore the same black jacket every day and glasses as thick as Coke bottles. He spent all his time hunched over his computer, doing God knows what. “Chloe, what’s up? Does my brother know you’re here? Maybe I should let him know.” “Tell your brother what?” I glared at him. “You’re not to say a word.” “…It’s nothing, really,” I continued. “Remember how you told me your brother has been hung up on his first love for years?” Caleb was quiet for a moment, thinking. Then he let out a slow, “Ohhh.” “What about her?” I cleared my throat. “She’s coming back to the country soon, isn’t she? Do you know her flight information? I’m just curious. I want to see what the woman who’s had your brother obsessed for so long looks like. No other reason.” No other reason. Yeah, right. Jason had dropped out of college and fled the country because she had rejected him. Even after we were married, I could still feel his lingering affection for her in the careless things he’d say. “It’s fine,” I’d once said, waving a dismissive hand, trying to act magnanimous. “Everyone has an ex. I dated like, seven or eight guys before you.” Jason’s hand on my waist had tightened. “Is that so, darling? You’re quite… experienced, then.” His voice was low and dangerous. “So I guess you won’t mind if we get a little wild tonight?” I’d stuck my chin out. “Of course not!” After that night, I swore I would never try to act tough in front of Jason again. At least, not in bed. 5 Now that I had the chance to go back, I was going to nip their little romance in the bud. Caleb’s expression was even more bewildered. “You mean back in high school?” I prompted. “When he suddenly became all cold and aloof? You told me it was because the girl he had a crush on liked that type, so he was trying to imitate it.” Understanding dawned on his face. His thick glasses hid his eyes, but his tone was laced with a strange, knowing quality. “Ohhh, that.” “Is your brother still in touch with her?” “…I don’t know if I’m allowed to say.” “Hey!” I snapped. “I’m the one who pulled you out of the pool when you were a kid! You used to follow me around calling me ‘sis’! Are you telling me you’re choosing your brother over me? You don’t have to cover for him. I already know who the girl is.” Caleb looked skeptical. “You really know, Chloe?” I remembered back in high school, the only girl Jason was ever close to was the class president, Maya Evans. People were always whispering about them. Then, right after graduation, Maya’s family emigrated. So, she had to be the one. “I’m not asking you to do anything bad,” I said. “Just get me her flight information. I’ll handle the rest.” Caleb’s protests were futile. He sat down at his computer, and a few clicks later, Maya’s flight details were on my phone. I beamed, then noticed his collar was flipped up. I reached out to fix it, and he shot up from his chair as if he’d been electrocuted. My hand froze in mid-air, suddenly awkward. “Ch-Chloe, I can get it myself.” I clicked my tongue. “So jumpy. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.” He clutched his collar like a damsel in distress. “But… this isn’t right. What if my brother sees? He’ll get the wrong idea.” I was speechless. “The wrong idea about what? Caleb, you really need to get out more. Your social skills have completely atrophied. What am I, the scandalous sister-in-law having an affair with her husband’s brother?” He stumbled backward, tripping over his computer tower. My hand was still on him, and I went down with him. My forehead smacked into his chin, and we both lay there, stunned and speechless with pain. When I finally recovered, I saw that his glasses had fallen off. “You know,” I mused, “you’re actually kind of cute without your glasses.” And of course, at that exact moment, the door opened. It was Jason. “Caleb,” he asked, “why is Chloe here? When did you two get so…?” The door swung open, and the first thing Jason saw was me, kneeling on top of his brother, one hand on his chest, the other cupping his chin, while Caleb lay there with his shirt in disarray, teary-eyed, and a suspicious blush on his cheeks. Jason strode over, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me off Caleb. He smiled, but it was a smile that held no warmth. “Well, Chloe,” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “No wonder you wouldn’t tell me. So, you’re carrying my little niece or nephew, are you?” 6 Caleb scrambled to put his glasses back on. “Bro, it’s not what it looks like! The floor was slippery, we fell, that’s why she was on top of me… Stop glaring at me, I’m getting off her, see?” He was only making things worse. “Ugh, Caleb, just stop talking,” I groaned. “Jason, it was an accident… a-and unclench your fist, okay? He’s your only brother, let’s not kill him.” “An accident?” Jason sneered. “Fine. Let’s say this was an accident. What about the pregnancy?” “Pr-pregnancy?” Caleb stammered, his eyes wide. “Who’s pregnant?” Before Jason could say more, I clamped a hand over his mouth and shot Caleb a look that could kill. He took the hint and practically flew out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Jason’s eyes were dark and stormy. “You’re still protecting him? After he’s clearly trying to shirk his responsibility? Don’t stop me, Chloe. I’m cleaning house today.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. I had no doubt he was serious. “What are you talking about? The baby’s not his! Me and Caleb? Do you really think that’s possible? He’s like a little brother to me!” “I’ve already looked into it, Chloe. Besides him, you haven’t been in close contact with any other man recently. The timing fits perfectly. What else am I supposed to think?” Jason’s expression was unreadable, but the trembling of his fingertips betrayed his inner turmoil. “I’ve… I’ve known you longer than he has.” I scratched my head. This whole situation was too bizarre to explain. How could I tell him I was from five years in the future? Then, his words sparked an idea. “But in the past three months, the only other guy I’ve been in close contact with, besides your brother, is you.” Jason looked down, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Chloe, my memory is perfectly fine.” “You don’t remember because you weren’t in your right mind when it happened! Remember two months ago? I snuck out to that bar, lost a drinking game, and you suddenly showed up and took the penalty shot for me? And you only realized after you drank it that the drink was spiked.” I had to rack my brain to remember that old story. At the time, I’d been so grateful to him. I took him to the hospital, stayed by his side, and eventually fell asleep by his bed. I remember thinking that maybe this was our chance to finally call a truce. But then he woke up, yelled at me, and told my parents. He was so harsh, and I was so hurt. It wasn’t my fault; how could I have known those guys had bad intentions? I’d finally snapped. “Jason, who do you think you are? You have no right to tell me what to do! Even if something had happened, it would have been none of your business!” He’d just stared at me, his face pale, his lips pressed together. After that, things between us got even worse. Seeing the flicker of recognition in his eyes, I pressed on. “That night, you were completely out of it, and I’d had a few drinks myself… and well, one thing led to another, and we slept together.” The range of emotions that crossed Jason’s face was truly spectacular. “So, you’re saying…” I puffed out my chest and lifted my chin. “That’s right, Jason. I took advantage of you!”

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The night my wife didn’t come home was the night I ceased to exist. She was with him—the one that got away, her unforgettable first love—and she was ignoring my calls. I sent her a desperate text: 【Please, don’t do this. If you do, I’ll die. I’m not kidding.】 Her reply was to delete all my gaming accounts. Then she sent a threat: 【Still sulking, are we? If you don’t come home right now, I’m getting rid of your precious husky next.】 I was frantic, losing my mind, but there was nothing I could do. The mission had failed. The System had already initiated my complete and utter erasure. The kind where not even a single hair is left behind. 1 My wife’s first love was back in the country. I’d done everything I could to keep the news from her. But she found out anyway. And she went to him behind my back, leaving me a note with a hollow promise: 【We’re just friends now, Ethan. Don’t get the wrong idea.】 I paced the living room, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. A sour, suffocating feeling filled my chest. Lifelong Fidelity. That was the mission The System had assigned me. If my wife betrayed our marriage, I would be erased. For now, I chose to trust her. I had to. I had poured everything I had into this relationship. I couldn’t help myself; I called her. She was drunk, her voice soft and slurring. “Honey…” “You don’t need to pick me up,” she purred. “I know my way home. Don’t worry, sweetie. See you in a bit.” I had no idea where they were, so I got in my car and started searching. I called her again and again. First, she rejected the calls. Then, her phone was off. My mind went into a tailspin. Okay, I was panicking. I started texting her, begging: 【If you can’t let him go, then let’s just get a divorce.】 【Please, whatever you do, don’t cheat on me. It will kill me. I’m telling you, I will actually die.】 … The city lights smeared into a neon blur as I pulled into a deserted alley. A cold, robotic voice echoed in my head: 【Host, I regret to inform you that your conquest mission in this world has failed.】 My brain went blank. My hands clenched into fists, and I slammed them against the steering wheel, over and over. The tiny thread of hope I’d been clinging to finally snapped. But damn it, I wasn’t ready to go. The mechanical voice of The System returned, this time with a stutter, as if it were glitching: 【Your wife has… with him…】 【As per the penalty protocol, you will be erased before dawn.】 I never expected her to come home. And I certainly never expected him to be the one to bring her. 2 The front door opened. Andrew had his arm wrapped around my wife, Claire’s, waist. His voice was laced with a suggestive intimacy. “You must be exhausted. You should get to bed.” A searing pain shot through my heart, and rage burned away my reason. I pushed myself off the sofa, flicked on the living room lights, and cut straight through their charade. “Claire.” “You already slept, didn’t you? What more sleep do you need?” She froze, then straightened up, her expression turning to ice. “Ethan, what the hell is your problem? I had too much to drink, so Andrew gave me a ride home. That’s it.” A ride home? Even if he drove a lap around the entire city, it wouldn’t take three hours. But arguing the details was pointless now. She saw the look on my face and turned it around on me. “When did you become so possessive? You can’t even trust your own wife?” Andrew leaned lazily against the doorframe, a smirk on his face as he watched us fight. I snatched the vase from the coffee table and raised it, ready to hurl it at her. “He’s the one who abandoned you for a career overseas, remember? Have you forgotten that you’ve been my wife for years?” But I couldn’t do it. My arm swerved at the last second, and the vase shattered on the floor near her feet. The explosion of glass seemed to snap her out of her drunken haze. “I… I really did have too much to drink,” she stammered. “And Andrew only came back to say a final goodbye. He’s moving abroad permanently.” “Besides,” she added, her voice rising, “we’ve both moved on! If you were so bothered by our past, you shouldn’t have married me in the first place! Why are you acting like a psycho?” I listened, then let out a low, bitter laugh. I pulled a cigarette from its pack and stuck it between my lips. “Stop pretending,” I said, my voice dripping with scorn. “Own what you did.” The smoke drifted towards her face. She scowled. “Own what? Andrew has been through so much, struggling all alone in another country. What did he do wrong? Can you just leave him alone? I’m begging you!” I shrugged. “Don’t worry. It’s not like you’ll ever have to see me again anyway.” Andrew actually laughed out loud, his lips curled in a mocking grin. “I’ll let you two talk. I’m heading out.” The door clicked shut. Claire’s expression softened. She stepped forward, looping her arms around my neck and rising on her toes to brush her nose against mine. “Honey, are you still jealous?” she whispered. “Don’t worry. You’re the one I love most.” I swept her off her feet, her soft body pliant in my arms. Her warm breath ghosted across my neck, a familiar spark igniting within me. Then the image of her with him flashed through my mind. And I let go. She hit the floor with a thud. I wiped my face where she had touched it, my voice filled with disgust. “You’re filthy.” I punctuated the insult by spitting on the floor beside her. She stared up at me, stunned, the pain on her face too deep for tears. It was a long moment before she scrambled to her feet, her face contorted with fury. She stormed out, slamming the door behind her. “Ethan, you’ll regret humiliating me like this!” she screamed through the door. “If you hadn’t paid Andrew off and threatened him to leave the country, I would have married him! I never would have chosen you!” 3 Back in college, my wife, Claire, was the goddess every guy on campus dreamed of. She had a kind of breathtaking beauty that needed no makeup, no enhancement. Any class she enrolled in was instantly packed, with guys spilling out into the hallways, just to catch a glimpse of her. I was one of them. And everyone knew she never gave any guy the time of day—except Andrew. “You like her too?” Andrew had approached me himself back then. He slid a bank card across the table. “Give me enough money to study abroad, and she’s all yours.” My rival in love was just handing her over. I transferred him the money without a second thought, sending my number one competitor on his way. The System’s mission had activated the moment I first laid eyes on Claire. The initial task was simple: Marry her. I wasn’t stressed; I was thrilled. I was genuinely, deeply in love with her. With Andrew gone, my relentless pursuit finally paid off. The day Claire agreed to marry me, she said: “When I see a rainbow, I want to show it to you. When I hear a beautiful song, I want to sing it for you. When I’m sad, I want you to be the one who understands. I want to share every beautiful thing with you. If you’re slow to reply to my texts, I start to worry that you don’t care about me anymore. I hate this feeling of uncertainty. So, Ethan, let’s get married.” I’ll never forget how fast my heart was beating that day. Or the sweet, triumphant chime from The System, announcing the mission was complete. What I didn’t expect was a second mission: 【Mission: Lifelong Fidelity.】 【If your partner is unfaithful, you will be erased by The System.】 At first, I thought it was just a test of my own resolve. The world is full of temptations, after all. Then I saw Andrew’s name pinned to the top of her chat list. Panic set in. She always managed to soothe my fears with her actions. On stormy nights, with thunder rattling the windows, she would curl up in my arms, her gaze hazy with desire, the air thick with passion. I told her once, with all the seriousness I could muster, “If you ever fall out of love with me and want a divorce, I’ll agree. But please, never, ever betray me. It would kill me.” She’d just laughed, her promise ringing with confidence. “Honey, I’m not that kind of person.” Now, it all feels like a sick joke. Do I regret it? Yes. I should have divorced her the second I realized she still had feelings for Andrew. I could have married a woman in a coma and had a better chance of survival. My company, which I built from the ground up. The millions in my bank accounts. My online buddies in all my gaming guilds. My collection of limited-edition figures, signed memorabilia, and rare sneakers—a collection worth hundreds of thousands. By dawn, it would all be gone. My phone rang. An unknown number. “Ethan. It’s Andrew. She’s with me again. Pathetic, isn’t it? I handed her to you on a silver platter, and you couldn’t even keep her.” 4 “Take me to your hotel.” Andrew hadn’t hung up. He wanted me to hear this. It was Claire’s voice, in his car. “Claire, what’s wrong? You were so insistent on going home just a minute ago.” “He’s acting like a rabid dog. I don’t want to talk about him. I’m tired, and I can’t stand to look at him right now.” I could hear Andrew’s smug chuckle. “But you seemed so sure when you emailed me all those years ago, telling me you were going to marry him. Regretting it now? Maybe it’s time for a change. I was your first love, after all. Haven’t you missed me at all?” Claire’s voice softened. “Stop it, Andrew. Don’t tease me…” The line went dead. I sat there, head in my hands, the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. My time was almost up. I pulled out my phone and called my “brother.” He picked up, his voice thick with sleep. “Dude, what time is it? Waking up this early makes my soul want to leave my body.” We’d grown up together. Our bond was stronger than steel. I needed to tell him my last wishes, but just hearing his voice calmed me down, strangely enough. “Claire cheated on me. I’m going to die.” He didn’t get it. “She would cheat? No freaking way. She doesn’t even look at other guys.” “Andrew’s back.” “Okay, divorce her. Right now!” his voice cracked with anger. “You’re rich, you’re handsome, you can have any woman you want! Once you stop loving her, she’s nothing!” I didn’t answer. I just started reciting my bank account passwords. Before we got married, Claire had insisted on a prenup to prove she wasn’t after my money. I was glad for that now. After I was gone, I’d rather donate my fortune to charity than let her have a cent of it. My friend’s voice turned frantic. “Ethan, are you insane? Don’t do this. I’m coming over right now. We’ll drink until we pass out. There’s nothing you can’t get through! It’s just a woman! Divorce her, make her life hell, make her regret it! Isn’t this the part where she’s supposed to grovel? The whole ‘redemption arc’ trope!” “Listen, man, stay with me,” he pleaded. “I rode my bike all day, my balls are chafed so bad I can’t even shower, isn’t that hilarious? Think about your bank account! You can go stare at the ocean in the Maldives, feed pigeons in London, go diving in Australia! You can heal by traveling the world! If I got my heart broken, I’d just have to be like, ‘Well, this sucks,’ and get on with it. You’re living the dream, man, don’t throw it away!” His voice broke, and he started to cry. He knew I would never joke about something like this. The only one who didn’t know—who refused to believe it—was Claire. No matter how many times I had warned her. I made the bet, and I lost. It was my own damn fault. I printed out the divorce papers, signed them, and prepared to send them to Claire. My last wish was to be free of her. She was still awake. She replied to my message almost instantly. 【Ethan, are you serious about this?】 The first rays of dawn crept through the window, weak and pale. My body began to turn transparent, weightless, floating upwards… So this is what it feels like to die. Claire. If The System wasn’t erasing me, I swear I would have made you pay.

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I’m Richard Whitney’s secretary. And his fiancée. At the office, our relationship was a secret he insisted on keeping. Yet, he had no problem taking me home to meet his parents. That all changed the night I saw him cornering his sister-in-law, his eyes red-rimmed and his voice trembling with a raw, desperate rasp. “Serena, doesn’t it bother you at all?” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “If you don’t come back to me, I’m really going to marry her.” In that single moment, everything clicked into place. I finally understood why, six months ago, when I’d tumbled thirty feet from a ski lift, Richard hadn’t shed a single tear. It wasn’t that he couldn’t cry. He just didn’t waste his tears on someone who didn’t matter. I slipped the ring off my finger. “The wedding,” I said, my voice steady, “is off.” 1 At the firm, only Richard’s personal assistant, Leo, knew about us. No one else had a clue. As the workday was ending, a message from Leo popped up on my screen: 【Sophie, Mr. Whitney says you’re expected at the family estate for dinner tonight.】 I typed back a quick reply: 【OK.】 I waited for an hour in the biting wind beneath our office tower, but Richard never showed. The cold seeped into my bones, and I started to shiver uncontrollably. Finally, I gave in and called him. “Are you on your way?” A woman’s voice, warm and gentle, answered instead. “Hello, Richard’s driving right now. I’ll have him call you back when he can.” I stood there, stunned, before the line went dead with a soft click. I ended up hailing a cab to the Whitney family’s estate. When his parents saw me, their faces broke into wide, welcoming smiles. This wasn’t my first time meeting them. The Whitneys were a prominent family; his father was a business magnate, and his mother a university professor. They were the very definition of old-world class. I remembered how nervous I’d been the first time Richard brought me here, half-expecting a scene from a movie where his parents would offer me a check to disappear from his life. But they were nothing like that. His mother was kind and gracious, never once looking down on my middle-class background or my parents. “Sophie, dear,” Mrs. Whitney said, taking my hand. “Where’s Richard? Didn’t you two come together?” Before I could answer, he walked through the door. And he wasn’t alone. A woman stood beside him, her smile as gentle as the voice I’d heard on the phone. “Mom, Dad,” she said softly. I saw Mrs. Whitney’s eyes flicker between the two of them. A frown creased her brow for a fleeting second before she smoothed it over with a polite smile. “You’re here.” The woman slipped off her wool coat, and Richard caught it in a practiced motion, hanging it on the rack by the door. The gesture was fluid, seamless—a silent choreography they’d performed a thousand times. It was a level of intimacy Richard and I had never managed to achieve in three years together. For a moment, the woman seemed startled that he’d taken her coat. Richard just shrugged, his eyes soft as he looked down at her. “What’s wrong?” She shook her head, her smile returning. “Nothing.” Mrs. Whitney squeezed my hand, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes as she made the introduction. “Sophie, this is Richard’s older brother’s… wife. Her name is Serena.” The moment she said it, Richard’s expression darkened. He was clearly unhappy with that description. “You know,” his mother added quietly, “Richard’s brother passed away.” Later, when Richard and I were alone in the washroom, I finally asked him. “Why didn’t you pick me up tonight?” He kept his head down, slowly washing his long, elegant hands under the running water. His voice was a low murmur. “The office is full of people. Did you really want our colleagues to see?” he asked, glancing at me through the mirror, his gaze cool and distant. Sometimes I felt like Richard and I deserved an Oscar. Three years together, and none of our coworkers had even a whisper of suspicion. Was he that good of an actor, or was I? At the dinner table, Mrs. Whitney brought out a large platter of grilled shrimp and placed it right in front of Serena. “Go on, Serena, eat up.” Serena’s smile faltered, her chopsticks hovering awkwardly in mid-air. Without a word, Richard reached over and moved the platter to the other side of the table. “You’re allergic,” he stated quietly, his tone firm. “You can’t have this.” Mrs. Whitney laughed, a little flustered. “Oh, you’re allergic to shellfish, Serena? I had no idea.” The rest of the meal passed in a heavy silence. 2 I woke in the middle of the night to an empty space beside me. Richard was gone. I padded downstairs for a glass of water, only to freeze at the sight of two figures tangled in the shadows of the living room. The moonlight streaming through the window cast a silvery glow, illuminating Richard’s tall, lean frame. He was advancing on her, step by step, until he had her pinned against the wall, his head bowed as he stared down at her. I dug my nails into my palm, trying to convince myself this was just a nightmare. But the sharp sting of pain was all too real. In the dim light, I could see his face clearly now. The corners of his eyes were glistening, the rims red and raw. He was crying. The woman trapped against the wall was Serena. She looked like she’d been crying, too; a single tear clung to the edge of her eye. Richard raised a hand, his touch impossibly gentle as he brushed it away with his thumb. His voice was a broken, hoarse whisper. “Serena, are you leaving again? Why can’t you just look back at me? If you don’t… I’m really going to marry her.” She didn’t answer directly. Her shoulders trembled as a quiet sob escaped her. “Richard, I’m cold.” Instantly, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Then his eyes fell to her bare feet. He knelt without a second thought, retrieving a pair of plush slippers from the nearby cabinet and sliding them onto her feet. Those were my slippers. The ones I’d brought to the Whitney’s house. A sudden chill ran through me, and I looked down to realize I was barefoot, too. This was the first time I had ever seen Richard cry. Not in three years. Not on the anniversary of his brother’s death, when he’d just sat in silence, downing glass after glass of whiskey. Not when our company was nearly ruined by a traitor from within, which he handled with cold, calculating calm. And not last year, when I’d fallen from a ski lift and broken my leg. He’d rushed to the hospital, a flash of panic in his eyes that was gone as quickly as it came. He’d only stayed for a few hours before he had to leave, a frantic look on his face I’d never seen before. He, the man who was never rattled, had been completely thrown by a single phone call. He’d been in such a hurry that he’d knocked my water glass off the table on his way out. And now, here he was, weeping as he begged Serena to come back to him. I wiped away my own tears, my fingers fumbling for the ring on my hand. I twisted it off and shoved it into my pocket. When I got back to the bedroom, Richard still hadn’t returned. I remembered that Serena and I had exchanged numbers at dinner. I pulled up her social media profile. It was sparse, not like my constant stream of updates. I only ever posted so much in the hopes of catching his attention. I scrolled back, my heart pounding. I knew the exact date of my accident last year—it was my birthday. When I saw Serena had posted on that same day, I zoomed in. Her location was tagged in Mexico City. The caption read: 【Almost got mugged, that was terrifying.】 And in the corner of the photo, just visible, was the sleeve of a man’s suit. Richard’s suits were all custom-made, with his initials stitched into the cuffs. I was sure it was him. So that was it. The reason he’d lost his composure, abandoned me in the hospital on my birthday, and flown halfway across the world was because Serena had almost been robbed. My fingers closed around the cold metal of the ring in my pocket, my heart sinking like a stone. Even our engagement, I realized, was just another move in his desperate game to win her back. 3 I drifted through the night in a haze of restless sleep. When I got to the office the next morning, the receptionists swarmed me. “Sophie, did you see?” one of them whispered excitedly. I followed their gaze out the glass entrance. A sudden snowstorm had descended upon the city, and people were scurrying for cover. Richard’s car pulled up to the curb. He got out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door, instinctively placing a hand on the top of the doorframe to protect the woman’s head as she stepped out. It was Serena. I hadn’t asked Richard for a ride that morning. I knew what he would have said. There are too many people at the office. We agreed to keep it quiet. “Wow, is the queen of the castle finally making an appearance?” another colleague gushed. “Come on, Sophie, spill. Do you have any inside scoop? I heard Mr. Whitney is getting married soon.” I forced a smile. “I guess so.” At the mention of marriage, she turned to me. “Hey, didn’t your boyfriend just propose to you? You posted a picture of the ring. How come you’re not wearing it today?” I glanced at my bare hand. “We called it off.” Her jaw dropped. Across the lobby, Richard’s normally cool, detached expression was alive with warmth, a warmth I now realized he reserved only for Serena. He handed the keys to the valet and opened a large black umbrella, tilting it entirely over her head. The delicate snowflakes began to gather on his own shoulders, a dusting of white against his dark coat. He noticed our huddle and his gaze swept over us, his eyes turning instantly cold—a world away from the look he gave Serena. His expression hardened as he took in the scene. Our eyes met for a long, silent moment. His held nothing. No recognition, no warmth, no emotion at all. “Don’t you have work to do, Ms. Campbell?” he asked, his voice sharp as he glanced at his watch. “You’re ten minutes late. That’s your attendance bonus gone. Meeting in one hour.” The group scattered instantly. One of my colleagues muttered under her breath as she walked away, “It’s true what they say. The richer the man, the more devoted he is.” I lowered my head to my desk and let out a soft, bitter laugh. Right. Pining after his sister-in-law for seven years. How could that not be called devotion? The meeting was in an hour, and I had to prepare. I gathered the materials, confirmed the schedule, and coordinated with the department heads. Once everything was set, I noticed the water cooler was empty. I wrestled the heavy, empty jug off the dispenser. Just as I was about to hoist the new one into place, a hand shot out. Richard was there, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the pale skin and the faint ripple of muscle. “I’ll get it,” he said. Ignoring him, I gritted my teeth, put all my strength into it, and heaved the heavy jug onto the machine myself. He watched me, then gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. Every year, CHE Group restructured its staff. The executive positions were stable, but for everyone else, it was a brutal competition of performance reviews and evaluations. Just as Richard left, I received a notification. I was being put on the spot. In the upcoming meeting, I would have to compete against a new candidate for my position. I couldn’t believe it. I had no time to process it before the meeting began. The topic was one Richard himself had chosen. I took a deep breath and stood before the board table, my hands trembling slightly. After I finished my presentation, Richard fired off a series of sharp, incisive questions that left me fumbling for answers. Serena, on the other hand, was flawless. Her responses were polished, confident, and far more sophisticated than mine. Richard leaned back in his chair, his long legs crossed, his hands clasped loosely in his lap. He narrowed his eyes. “Sophie,” he said, his voice carrying across the silent room, “you’ve been here for three years, and you can’t even outperform a newcomer.” The words were a physical blow. He showed me no mercy. The quiet whispers in the room died instantly. In that moment, I felt like we were from two different worlds. He sat there, a king on his throne, capable of dismantling my entire career with a few careless words. It was just like our relationship. He was always the one in control, both in the boardroom and the bedroom. His words had a way of cutting straight to the bone. I remembered two years ago when I failed my first promotion review. I was a mess, crying and laughing at the same time, desperate for his comfort. All he said was, “Sophie, this is how the world works. If you’re not good enough, you’ll be replaced.” I stopped crying and looked at him. “But I’m your girlfriend. Can’t you pull some strings?” A faint smirk played on his lips, but he said nothing. That was the first lesson he taught me about our relationship. Richard was ruthless in business. He acted with a certain degree of warmth, but it was measured and sparse. He never let emotion cloud his judgment, and he certainly wouldn’t bend the rules just because I was his girlfriend. I took what he taught me and applied it. I worked harder, and eventually, I earned my promotion and raise. 4 This time, after failing the assessment, I didn’t shed a single tear. After the meeting, Leo, Richard’s assistant, introduced us with his usual professional smile. “This is Serena. This is Sophie. Sophie, the competition is fierce this year. Serena just returned from our New York office; she’s a real powerhouse.” Serena extended a hand, her eyes glinting with a confidence that bordered on triumphant. “It’s a pleasure to be competing with you,” she said, her tone syrupy sweet. “You’d better bring your A-game.” That evening, the team organized a welcome party for Serena. After a few drinks, everyone was feeling loose. I stepped out to the restroom and tried calling Richard. The line was busy. I tried again and again, but it never went through. I gave up. From a stall, I could hear Serena’s voice, her words slurred and thick with emotion. She was on the phone, her voice a small, tearful whine. “Why aren’t you here yet? Don’t you want me anymore?” A few minutes later, a black G-Wagon materialized out of the darkness. Richard stepped out and walked toward a tipsy Serena. When she saw him, her expression went from dazed to desperate, and she stumbled into his arms, sobbing. “It’s okay,” he murmured, holding her close. “I’m here now.” As a chorus of whispers and gasps erupted from our colleagues, Richard looked up. Our eyes met across the parking lot. He helped Serena into the car, then turned and strode over to me, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go, Sophie. Get in.” I pulled my arm away and smiled politely. “No, thank you. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

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Liam Thorne and I once had a brief, whirlwind romance. We met when I was studying abroad, and I thought he was just another ordinary international student. He was handsome, with a great body, and on a whim, I decided to pursue him. After six months of a shameless, passionate affair, I discovered he was from a wealthy, powerful family. Not only that, he was notoriously commitment-phobic, a well-known bachelor in his social circle. So, I hid the truth about my pregnancy and broke up with him. After making me confirm my decision three times, he lowered his eyes and nodded. “Fine. From now on, we’re strangers.” But we couldn’t stay strangers. Four years later, we met again. He was the celebrated heir to the Thorne fortune. And I… was his cousin’s fiancée. 1 I met Liam Thorne while I was studying in Melbourne. He was on a trip to the Great Ocean Road with his friends, and I was just sitting on the beach, bored out of my mind, when I saw him. My eyes were instantly glued to him. Liam was ridiculously good-looking. The line of his jaw was clean and sharp, and the curve of his long eyelashes was utterly captivating. The sea breeze lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing a glimpse of his waistline that was so tantalizing I couldn’t look away. This, I thought, must be love at first sight. On a sudden impulse, I jogged up to him and blocked his path. “Interested in making a new friend?” Liam turned, a slight arch to his eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “What for?” he asked. There’s a certain boldness that comes with being a stranger in a strange land. I answered him directly. “To see if we can become something more.” His friends started catcalling and whistling. A faint blush crept up Liam’s neck, and he cleared his throat. He hesitated for a moment when I held out my phone with my contact QR code, but then he scanned it. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s start with getting to know each other.” 2 Liam was not an easy guy to win over. After adding me as a contact, he completely ghosted me. Even when I came up with the most cringe-worthy excuses to message him, all I got in return was a “read” receipt. It slowly dawned on me that he wasn’t interested. He had only added me that day to save me from public embarrassment. So, I gave up. The next time I saw him was at a university mixer. He was standing off to the side, looking cool and aloof in a crisp white shirt. I spotted him right away, but since we weren’t really friends, I didn’t go over to say hi. Throughout the entire event, I trailed after my senior, a guy from my department. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. The feeling intensified when my senior accidentally spilled a drink on my dress and started frantically trying to wipe it off. That’s when I found the source of the stare. It was Liam. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable but definitely not pleased. On my way to the restroom, a hand shot out and pulled me into an alcove. Liam leaned in, his narrow, intense eyes boring into mine. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be more than friends?” he asked, his voice low and laced with an unmistakable annoyance. “Why are you acting like you don’t know me today?” Even angry, his face was unfairly beautiful. The way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke was… distracting. I tilted my head, looking at him with genuine curiosity. “Liam, are you jealous?” He froze for a second, a flicker of something in his eyes. He didn’t deny it. I couldn’t help but laugh. “But you need a reason to be jealous. On what grounds are you feeling jealous right now?” The color drained from his face. He stared at me, his grip on my wrist tightening. I stood on my tiptoes, our noses almost touching, and whispered, “Alright, I’ll give you one more chance. Liam, are you interested in being my boyfriend?” “I’ll give you three seconds to think about it.” “Three… two…” I didn’t even get to “one.” Staring at his lips, so close to mine, I gave in to another impulse and kissed him. It was supposed to be a light peck, but I don’t know which one of us lost control first. Suddenly, his arms were around me, pressing me against the wall, his hand cradling the back of my head as our lips and tongues tangled in a fierce, desperate dance. His answer was a muffled sound against my mouth, lost in our ragged breaths. “Serena,” he murmured. “Let’s be together.” 3 My feelings for Liam were, I think, purely physical. Every time I saw him, I had an irresistible urge to get closer, to touch him, to want more. But Liam was different. He was all self-control and restraint. Even when we traveled together, he would book two separate rooms. If it weren’t for the way he responded when we kissed, I might have thought he had a problem. The day we finally crossed that line was his birthday. I had booked a suite with an ocean view. We were cuddled up on the couch, watching a movie. Halfway through, I slipped off my cardigan, revealing the bunny costume I was wearing underneath. I took his hand and placed it on the fluffy, round tail. I felt his breath catch in his throat. But he didn’t pull away. He just watched me, his eyes dark. Emboldened, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and nibbled on his Adam’s apple. Then, I lifted his shirt and traced the lines of his abs with my fingers. His body was even better than I had imagined. A well-defined chest, hard abs, and those lean, muscular lines that drove me crazy. But his self-control was insane. Even then, with his chest heaving and his skin burning hot, he didn’t move. I looked up at him, the bunny ears on my headband flopping. “If you’re not into this, I’ll just go.” I bit his lower abdomen playfully, then slowly stood up and walked toward the door. Just as my hand touched the doorknob, he finally broke. In two long strides, he was behind me, his strong arms wrapping around me, his teeth grazing my shoulder. “Serena,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Teasing me, then threatening to leave. How can you be so cruel?” That night, Liam finally shed his mask of restraint, and we were tangled together until dawn. We were together like that for six months. We traveled to the pink lakes of Western Australia, Hyde Park in Sydney, and Bruny Island in Tasmania, our bodies trembling in each other’s arms in hotel rooms across the country. I thought he was perfect. But when I happily posted a photo of us on my social media, a single comment made my world come to a screeching halt. “Damn, Serena, you’re good. You actually managed to snag Liam Thorne, the heir to the Thorne fortune.” 4 Being a student abroad can temporarily mask the vast differences in social class. Sure, Liam wore expensive watches and designer clothes, but I just thought he was from a well-off family. I never imagined his family wasn’t just rich, but powerful. The kind of dynasty I’d only read about in novels. And as if that wasn’t enough, he was famously anti-marriage. The day I found this out, I was holding a pregnancy test. It showed two lines. About a month earlier, things had gotten a little too heated, and a condom had broken. I took the morning-after pill right away, but somehow, I still ended up pregnant. I didn’t know if the rumors about him were true, so that night, I decided to test the waters. “Liam,” I said, “I passed a bridal shop today. The dress in the window was beautiful. Speaking of wedding dresses, when do you think you’ll get married?” He clearly didn’t like the topic. His brow furrowed. “I don’t plan on getting married.” “What about kids? You don’t want kids either?” His frown deepened. “No.” Logically, I should have dropped it right there. But I couldn’t. I had to try one more time. “What if someone got pregnant with your child? What would you do?” After a brief hesitation, he told me, “I wouldn’t let anyone get pregnant with my child. And if it happened, they’d get an abortion.” He clearly wanted to change the subject. He pulled me into his arms, his lips brushing against mine, his eyes darkening with a familiar desire. I knew the signs. We were always in sync in bed, but this time, as he lifted me into his arms, I stopped him. “Not tonight.” It wasn’t that I couldn’t. It was that I didn’t want to. I’d been to the doctor. They told me I had a condition that made it extremely difficult to conceive. If I terminated this pregnancy, I would likely never be able to have a child of my own. I had grown up without much family. My parents had passed away when I was young, and I had always longed for a child of my own. Liam was handsome, emotionally stable, and intelligent. He was the perfect father for my child. After a lot of thought, I decided to keep the baby. But my relationship with Liam… if I wanted this child, we would have to break up. I would raise the baby on my own, so it wouldn’t interfere with his life. The day I broke up with him was the day before we were scheduled to fly back home. Liam was packing, planning our itinerary for when we arrived. “It’s so humid in the city in the summer. We can relax at the hotel in the afternoons and go out in the evenings. I’ll take you to the night markets, we can walk through the old town, see the Bell and Drum Towers, and then find a bar with some live music…” I cut him off. The words I’d been holding back for weeks finally came out. “Liam, let’s break up.” He froze, his hands stilling. “What did you say?” “I bought a ticket to a different city for tomorrow. I’m not going with you. And… we’re breaking up.” 5 A guy like Liam had probably never been dumped before. He was insistent, demanding a reason. There were so many. I was pregnant with his child, and he didn’t want children. I was dating with marriage in mind, and he didn’t want to get married. Our families were from two different worlds. We were never going to work. But I couldn’t tell him any of that. Under his relentless questioning, I finally blurted out, “What if I told you I’m just… bored of you? Is that a good enough reason?” “Bored?” I nodded. “Yeah, bored. You were like a perfect, sweet piece of fruit at first. But I’ve had too much. Now, you’re just… too sweet. It’s sickening.” His eyes darkened with anger. His hands gripped my shoulders. “Serena,” he said through gritted teeth, “say that again.” I looked at him, forcing a nonchalant expression. “What? After all this time, you’re telling me you’re not bored of me yet?” He stared at me for a long, long time, as if trying to see into my soul. As the sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, he asked me one more time, “Are you serious?” “I’m serious.” He didn’t say anything else. He just watched me as I packed my bag and grabbed my suitcase. As I reached the door, he let out a short, bitter laugh. “Serena, do you even have a heart? You were the one who said you liked me, and now you’re the one who’s bored. Was I just a toy to you?” He looked down, his eyes red-rimmed, his knuckles white. He looked like he was about to shatter into a million pieces. For a moment, my heart softened. But before I could say anything, he spoke again, his voice cold and deliberate. “Serena, I wish I had never met you. From now on, if we see each other, we’re strangers.” He never once asked me to stay. I bit my lip and nodded. “Okay.” Then I walked out the door and got on the plane back to my hometown. Our breakup was clean. We deleted each other’s contact information. Back in our home country, we were on opposite ends of the continent, separated by thousands of miles. I never heard a single thing about Liam Thorne again. He had completely vanished from my life. Eight months later, I gave birth to Noah. Noah was an easy baby. He rarely cried and was fiercely independent. He had my face shape, but his features, especially his eyes, were all Liam. I raised him quietly, on my own. In my mind, Liam would never know he had a son. But I was wrong. When Noah was three, they met. 6 I had a good friend in my city, a guy I’d known for a few years. He was from the capital, incredibly wealthy, and gay. His family had been pressuring him to get married and have kids. His parents had given him an ultimatum: bring home a girlfriend this year, or be cut off. In a moment of desperation, he came to me. He begged me to pretend to be his girlfriend, and for Noah to pretend to be his son. That way, he could solve both problems at once. “All handsome guys look alike,” he’d argued. “If you look closely, your son kind of looks like me, especially around the eyes. If I say he’s mine, people will probably buy it. We’ll say I moved here for you, and we’ve been so in love that we even had a kid together. And that you didn’t want to deal with in-laws, so I respected your wishes and kept you a secret all this time.” The real reason my friend, Alex, was in my city was to find a boyfriend, which had absolutely nothing to do with me. I wanted no part in his scheme. But then he offered me two hundred thousand dollars to play the part. And I, pathetically, agreed. I had been idealistic in college, but the real world had taught me how hard it was to make a living, especially with a child to support. I couldn’t say no to that kind of money. So, with a silent apology to Alex’s parents, Noah and I flew to the capital. Alex told me all I had to do was meet his parents, have one meal with them, and stay in the city for a week. The demands weren’t outrageous, so I agreed. On the plane, I thought of him. I was scared I would run into him. But then I told myself I was being paranoid. The city was huge. What were the chances of us meeting again? Life wasn’t a movie. Noah sat beside me, listening intently as I explained the plan. “Don’t worry, Mommy,” he said, nodding seriously. “I remember.” I’d told him we were helping Uncle Alex with a play. He was a smart kid, and I wasn’t worried about him slipping up. When we arrived, Alex informed me that his parents were throwing a welcome party and had invited a few relatives and friends. I had imagined a quiet dinner in a private room. I had not imagined that the Thorne family had so many relatives they needed to rent out a grand ballroom. I froze the moment I walked in. The room was dripping with gold and crystal chandeliers. It was a scene straight out of a movie. “I forgot to mention,” Alex whispered, “my family is a little rich. But don’t worry, my parents are just sweet, clueless rich people. Just act your part, and you’ll be fine.” It was too late to back out. I had to see this through. The moment Noah and I entered, we were surrounded. Everyone was talking at once, especially Alex’s parents, who bombarded me with questions. Thankfully, Alex and I had rehearsed, so I managed to answer everything. Later, Alex’s parents were cooing over Noah. “The moment I saw this child, I knew he had Thorne blood,” his mother gushed. “Look at those eyes! He looks just like Alex.” Noah, the little actor, charmed them completely, calling them “Grandma” and “Grandpa” until they were beaming. I was just starting to relax, thinking we had pulled it off, when Alex sent me a text. His cousin, the heir to the family fortune, had decided to grace the party with his presence. He was a big deal, and Alex urged me to go and say hello. So, I powdered my nose and headed back to the ballroom. When I got there, his cousin had already arrived. He was standing with his back to me, talking to Alex, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit. I recognized him instantly. It was Liam. I never, in a million years, would have guessed that Alex’s cousin was Liam. The moment I saw him, my mind went blank. Before I could school my expression, Noah spotted me and waved excitedly. “Mommy! Mommy’s back!” Liam turned at the sound of his voice, and his eyes landed on me. Our gazes met, and for a moment, the world stood still. Alex rushed to my side. “Cousin, this is my girlfriend, Serena,” he announced proudly. “She’s a little shy, that’s why she never wanted to come to the city. I had to beg her to come.” He nudged me. “Serena, what are you doing? Say hi to my cousin.”

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Three years post-college, my ex Lena messaged: “Pathetic loser, come kiss ass at my father-in-law’s gala.” Married into Crestview’s wealthiest family, she never missed a chance to rub it in. I deleted it, indifferent. That evening, my wife Raina tossed a gold-trimmed box aside. “The Fairfaxes sent another ‘priceless’ heirloom,” she sighed. “Too trivial for us, but they’ll only accept your return.” Her lips grazed my ear: “I’ll reward you tonight…” As she left, Lena texted again: “Ethan Place, answer me! Coming or not?!” I eyed the discarded box. “I’ll be there.” 1 We’d gone to bed late, and by the time I woke up, the Fairfax gala was nearly underway. I grabbed the first jacket I could find and headed out the door. The Fairfax estate’s grand ballroom was already buzzing with the low hum of money and power. I skimmed the guest list by the entrance; I’d seen most of these names on the list of people begging for a meeting with my wife, Raina. Old man Fairfax still had some pull, it seemed. Nearly all of Crestview’s movers and shakers were here. But I didn’t recognize a single face. I’ve never been one for the spotlight. Not only did Raina and I keep our marriage quiet, but I rarely ever appeared with her in public. It drove her crazy. Most of the Sterling family fortune was built on my patents, and she was desperate to push me into the limelight, but I had no interest. All I’ve ever needed is a laboratory. Shaking myself from my thoughts, I stepped into the ballroom and immediately spotted my ex, Lena, holding court in the center of a fawning circle. To maximize her audience, she’d invited nearly everyone from our old university department. The class president was clinging to Lena’s hand, her smile dripping with sycophantic praise. ‘Lena, darling, it’s really true what they say: it’s better to marry well than to be born well. I mean, my family has a little money, and I used to flaunt it back in college. I feel so ashamed thinking about it now. You were the one destined for greatness! The scraps your husband lets fall from his table could feed my family for a decade!’ ‘She’s right, Lena! The smartest thing you ever did was dumping that nerd Ethan! He had that pathetic, broke-ass look about him. If you’d stayed with him, you’d probably be starving by now!’ ‘No joke, I swear I saw him the other day in the parking garage at the Crestview Commerce Tower. He was polishing a Bentley! Probably works as a chauffeur for some rich guy now. Pathetic!’ The comment was met with a wave of cruel laughter. This was exactly the kind of atmosphere I wanted to avoid. My plan was simple: find a member of the Fairfax family, drop off the gift, and get the hell out. But a sharp voice cut through the noise from behind me. ‘Well, speak of the devil! Isn’t that Ethan Place right there?!’ In an instant, hundreds of pairs of eyes swiveled in my direction. Lena’s brow furrowed as she strode toward me. She looked me up and down, then pinched the fabric of my coat between two fingers as if it were something foul. She let go with a look of pure disgust. ‘Ethan, you really are a lost cause! What did I tell you yesterday? I said dress like a human being! Look at this garbage you’re wearing! The valet at the door is dressed better than you!’ She threw her hands up in exasperation. ‘How am I supposed to introduce you to anyone when you look like this? Don’t you want to make connections? Don’t you want to climb out of the hole you’re in?!’ My face remained impassive. ‘No. I’m quite content with my life.’ Her words were followed by another eruption of laughter. My former classmates pointed and jeered. ‘Content? You’re content with your chauffeur job? What do they pay you, a couple thousand a month? You seemed pretty focused on that Bentley. Maybe I should talk to your boss, get you a raise?’ ‘Don’t be an idiot, Ethan. Lena’s doing you a favor! This is a huge opportunity, and you’re spitting on it. In the real world, your high grades are worthless. It’s all about who you know! Wake up!’ Lena held up a hand, silencing the crowd. She stepped closer, her expression a mask of contempt. ‘Cut the crap, Ethan. Don’t act all high and mighty. If you didn’t want to network, why did you even come? Don’t tell me you’re here to apply for a job as the new driver.’ A fresh wave of ridicule washed over me. Through the haze of mocking laughter, the patriarch of the Fairfax family, the old man himself, slowly made his way toward our group. ‘Lena, my dear, what’s all the commotion? Have we a guest of honor?’ Lena instantly smoothed her dress and fixed her makeup, then scurried over to take Mr. Fairfax’s arm. ‘Just some stray dog begging for scraps at our door, Dad. Nothing important. It’s drafty out here, let me walk you back inside.’ I ignored her, walked straight up to Mr. Fairfax, and held out the box. ‘Hello. Your family sent this to the Sterlings a while back. We don’t accept unsolicited gifts. Please take it back.’ 2 The moment the words left my mouth, whispers erupted around us. ‘What the hell? Who’s his boss? Rejecting a gift from the Fairfaxes? Does he want to be blacklisted in this city?’ ‘There are maybe three families in all of Crestview Mr. Fairfax would send a gift to, and those are always in return for a favor! I’ve never heard of the Fairfaxes sending the first gift!’ ‘He said… the Sterlings? As in, the Sterlings on the global rich list? No way…’ Mr. Fairfax’s eyes, sharp as daggers, raked over me. I couldn’t be bothered. I shoved the box into his arms and turned to leave. I’d only taken two steps when he called out. ‘Hold on a minute.’ I sighed internally. Rich people always had to make things so complicated. I turned back. ‘I have things to do. I don’t handle business matters, so talking to me is useless—’ ‘You’re saying this is the gift we sent to the Sterlings?’ Mr. Fairfax cut me off, his voice hard. My patience was wearing thin. ‘Yes. Don’t you know who you send gifts to?’ A strange smile played on his lips. ‘Young man, I know you kids are always looking for shortcuts. I’ve seen every trick in the book, but I have to admit, this one is new.’ I had no idea what he was talking about. Suddenly, his tone turned severe. ‘This thing you handed me is not what my family sent to the Sterlings. My assistant just confirmed that the gift for the Sterlings has just been prepared. I was planning on delivering that one myself!’ I stared at the box on the floor, completely bewildered. I pulled out my phone to call Raina and ask what was going on, but before I could dial, a brutal kick landed squarely in my side. The force sent me flying several feet. A mountain of a man, at least six-foot-three and pushing three hundred pounds, stomped toward me. He crushed my phone under his heel, then pinned my head to the floor with his shoe. ‘You son of a bitch!’ he roared. ‘You pull your scams at my father’s birthday gala? I’ve been watching you. You’re that pathetic ex-boyfriend of Lena’s, aren’t you?!’ His foot felt like an iron cudgel. I struggled, but I couldn’t break free. The pressure on my temple was excruciating, making my head spin with pain. Then, Lena’s sickeningly sweet voice cooed from above. ‘Brock, darling, what took you so long? You should have seen how arrogant he was with Dad. I was just about to teach him a lesson for you…’ Brock, her husband, leaned down and noisily kissed her ear before grinding his foot down harder. He hawked and spat right in my face. ‘You little bastard! You think the Fairfax family is someone you can mess with?! Today is my father’s sixtieth birthday. You ruined his mood, and for that, you deserve to die! Now, get on your knees, kowtow to my father three times, call him Grandpa, and I’ll let you crawl out of here. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t survive another day in this city!’ Lena playfully smacked Brock’s fleshy backside, her face a picture of adoration. ‘Oh, honey, you’re so dominant. A shameless, pathetic loser like him needs to be put in his place!’ Her words were the cue for our old classmates to join in the chorus of ridicule. ‘Ethan, you really are hopeless! Lena was trying to help you, give you a chance, and you pull a disgusting stunt like this?’ ‘Exactly! It’s Mr. Fairfax’s gala! And you show up to run a scam? You have no shame! Don’t you ever tell anyone you were my classmate. I’m embarrassed to even know you!’ ‘Yeah! Do what Mr. Fairfax Jr. says! Get on your knees, apologize to his father, and call him Grandpa!’ The air was thick with their jeers. With a final, desperate surge of strength, I managed to shove Brock off me. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed the old man’s sleeve, and lowered my voice, trying to contain the damage. ‘Mr. Fairfax, I am Raina Sterling’s husband. That gift is from your family. There’s been a misunderstanding. If you let me leave now, we can forget this ever happened. But if you insist on this, you will not be able to bear the consequences.’ 3 I deliberately kept my voice low. The last thing I wanted was a scene. But clearly, Mr. Fairfax had other ideas. He shot me a look of utter disdain, then bellowed for the whole room to hear, ‘What did you say? You claim to be Chairman Sterling’s husband?!’ His shout grabbed everyone’s attention. The room erupted in thunderous, incredulous laughter. ‘This kid has some serious balls! Trying to ride Raina Sterling’s coattails! We’ve been in this circle for years and never once heard a peep about her getting married!’ ‘Exactly! If Raina Sterling got married, it would be the wedding of the century! She said so herself at the business summit three years ago!’ Lena pushed her way forward and spat in my face. ‘Ethan, you are absolutely shameless! Look at yourself! You’re a pathetic, broke loser! Forget Chairman Sterling—even her damn poodle wouldn’t give you the time of day!’ ‘Lena, don’t waste your breath on this scum,’ Brock snarled. ‘Just for daring to slander Chairman Sterling’s name, I, Brock Fairfax, am going to destroy him today!’ Before I could say another word, he snatched a heavy steel pipe from a nearby decoration and slammed it into my shin. At the same time, the old man, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. He then turned to his son. ‘Brock, teach this bastard a lesson he’ll never forget. I don’t care if we have to cancel the rest of the party! He needs to learn some respect!’ With his father’s blessing, Brock waved a hand. In seconds, dozens of burly security guards swarmed in, forming a tight circle around me. In that last, desperate moment, I managed to grab a phone again and redial Raina’s number. ‘Come to the Fairfax estate…’ 4 Before I could finish, Brock swung the steel pipe again, this time aiming directly for my hand. CRACK! A blinding, white-hot agony shot up my arm as my wrist shattered. ‘You little shit! Still trying to call for backup?!’ he bellowed, his face inches from mine. ‘Don’t you know where you are? In Crestview, the Fairfax family is God! Anyone who wants to survive here has to call me ancestor!’ He grabbed my collar and hauled me to my feet. ‘Now, get on your knees and beg my father for forgiveness!’ I thrashed wildly in his grip, my eyes burning with rage. ‘You’re the bastard! And your father is a bastard just like you! You want me to apologize to him? Dream on! You’d be better off thinking about how you’re going to get out of the mess you’ve made today!’ Brock was momentarily stunned by my defiance. In that brief pause, Lena sauntered over, a wicked smile on her face. She pulled out her phone and video-called my mother. The call connected almost instantly. ‘Auntie,’ Lena said sweetly to the screen, ‘I hear you haven’t been feeling well lately. Do you miss Ethan? Because he certainly misses you…’ She muted the call and turned her venomous gaze on me. ‘Ethan, if you don’t get on your knees and kowtow to my father-in-law right now, I’m going to let your sick old mother see you like this. If I remember correctly, she just had bypass surgery a few years ago, didn’t she? What do you think will happen to her fragile heart when she sees her precious son beaten to a pulp?’ When Lena and I were dating, my mother treated her better than she treated me. And now this monster was using my mother’s life to threaten me. ‘Lena, dear, I miss him so much,’ my mother’s frail voice crackled through the phone. ‘Is he there with you? Please, let me see him…’ Lena’s eyes were locked on mine, a silent, vicious command in them as she slowly angled the camera toward me. Her lips formed the words silently: Time’s up, Ethan. ‘Lena? Where’s Ethan? Why aren’t you saying anything?’ With a flick of her wrist, she started to turn the phone. In the split second before the camera found me, I stumbled forward and collapsed at Mr. Fairfax’s feet. Thud. I bowed my head and slammed my forehead against the cold marble floor, three times. A triumphant laugh escaped Lena’s lips. She turned back to the phone. ‘Oh, Auntie, Ethan was just here a second ago, but he seems to have wandered off. I’ll go find him for you.’ My mother thanked her profusely as Lena muted the call again and turned back to me, her eyes glittering with malice. ‘You’ve apologized to my father-in-law. But you still haven’t apologized to my husband. This time, you don’t have to kowtow. Just call my husband ‘Dad’.’ ‘Lena!’ I choked out, the word tearing from my throat. ‘My mother was so good to you! How can you do this? Do you have any conscience at all?!’ She just smirked and waggled her phone at me. ‘I’m not interested in your whining. Are you going to say it or not?’ My former classmates were howling with laughter. ‘Say it! Say it! Say it!’ Lena held up five fingers. ‘You have five seconds, Ethan. Five… four… three…’

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