1 When I was eighteen, I was sexually assaulted. But no matter how many times I appealed, the perpetrator, with the help of a mysterious lawyer, always managed to escape justice. My mother, while delivering takeout, consoled me. “Trust me, sweetheart, bad people always get their comeuppance.” Though I was heartbroken, I was grateful for Mom’s presence, so I posted the video of her comforting me online. To my surprise, the video blew up the next day, with comments pouring in. “Isn’t your mom the most famous lawyer in the legal world?” “And you’re saying a lawyer couldn’t help you after being assaulted? Who could ever beat your mom?” Seeing this, I was about to confront Mom when I heard that nightmarish voice from behind her door. “You’re still the best lawyer, never made me set foot in court all these years.” Mom scoffed. “Cut the nonsense. If it weren’t to maintain my undefeated record, why would I be your defense attorney and harm my own daughter?” At the sound, my phone. It clattered to the floor with a bang. … Mom heard the noise and walked towards the door. “Is that Lily outside?” Her voice was as gentle as always, which made it impossible for me to believe that the lawyer hiding behind that man was Mom. The door opened. I looked into Mom’s eyes, my voice trembling. “Mom, what were you just saying?” Mom’s gaze avoided mine. “Nothing, Lily. You should get some rest. Mom needs to go deliver takeout.” I watched her hurried escape, and tears finally slipped from my eyes. I grabbed her clothes, asking, somewhat out of control, “Mom, was it really you?” Mom didn’t turn around, just kept repeating, “Lily, I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Then, she pulled her shirt hem from my grasp. My hands were empty, and so was my heart. I knelt on the floor, self-destructively scrolling through the video comments. “This isn’t really staged by this girl, is it? Her own mother won’t even help her.” “Maybe she provoked him.” “I knew it. Who just randomly assaults someone on the street? It takes two to tango, right?” Tears hit the phone screen, blurring the words and making it impossible for me to read what people were saying. “Ding-ding—” A message popped up on my phone. “Surprise, right? Your mother is my defense attorney. It wasn’t me who pushed you into the abyss, it was the person you loved most.” It was that man, Marcus. His words shattered my last shred of illusion, bluntly telling me that the person who had caused me so much pain for all these years was my beloved mother. I got up from the floor and started packing. I had to leave this place. But the moment I grabbed my suitcase and opened the front door, I regretted it. I wanted to give Mom and me another chance. She raised me, cared for me; I couldn’t believe she felt no love for me at all. I dragged the suitcase back, sat on the sofa, and waited for Mom to come home, to give me an answer. 2 Darkness slowly consumed me as I sat on the sofa. The door opened. Mom walked in, turned on the lights, and seeing me on the sofa, she jumped. “Lily, what are you doing sitting there?” I didn’t speak, just held my phone up to her. Mom’s face slowly reddened as she looked at the comments. “Lily, these people are all lying to you.” Although I had anticipated Mom’s reaction, at that moment, I still couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. I nodded, then put the message that man sent me in front of Mom. “Is this also a lie?” Mom looked at me, her mouth opening and closing, unable to speak. I grabbed her clothes, crying as if my heart was tearing. “Mom, why? You knew everything! Why?!” Mom seemed to be lashing out in anger, or perhaps provoked by my disrespectful demeanor, and shoved me to the ground. “He didn’t have money for a lawyer; the court directly appointed me as his legal counsel! What was I supposed to do?!” I lay on the floor, looking at Mom. I had never seen Mom like this before: agitated, breaking down. She pointed at me. “Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted him to win?! But I had no choice!” I sobbed, my voice choked with tears. “How could you have no choice? You clearly could have… could have given up defending him.” “That would ruin my hundred percent win rate, absolutely not!” Mom’s answer came without a moment’s hesitation. The speech I had prepared in my head was now impossible to deliver. Mom looked at me, head bowed in silence, and her tone softened a little. “Lily, I never intended for you to know about this. Now that you do, don’t appeal again.” I scrambled up from the floor, out of control. “Why! Are you going to strip away my right to appeal too?!” My voice was loud, but the tremor in it was unmistakable. I didn’t understand. In Mom’s eyes, did all my suffering, all this pain, mean less than her hundred percent win rate? Mom sat on the sofa, looking at me, standing in the middle of the living room, my face flushed with anger. “Do you think you can find a lawyer who can beat me? The money I gave you isn’t enough to hire a good lawyer, is it?” Her voice carried a hint of triumph. Triumph that she had long prepared for this very situation. The money she gave me wasn’t much, just enough for basic needs. Whenever I used to ask her for money for a lawyer, she would pull out a few crumpled hundred-dollar bills from her pocket and hand them to me, saying: “This is what Mom earned lately, working tirelessly delivering takeout. Take it and hire a lawyer. Mom will definitely make sure that man goes to jail!” But I would look at her hunched back, and only take a few bills each time. That money was never enough to hire a decent lawyer, but I never blamed her. I truly believed back then that she endured wind and rain every day delivering takeout, and every night I would feel guilty. It turned out it was all a lie. Tears flowed uncontrollably. “Mom, if you promise not to defend him next time, I’ll pretend I never knew any of this, okay?” 3 I pleaded humbly. I knew I should be running out the door right now, or at the very least, cursing her fiercely. But I still chose to beg, because she was my mother, and I knew she loved me. Her tears were real when she found out I had been assaulted. It was real, too, that she held my hand day and night, afraid I might do something drastic and leave her. So I was willing, I was willing to give her another chance. If only she would say yes. I looked at her with desperate hope, but she remained silent. My heart leapt into my throat. “No.” My heart shattered. She looked at my trembling form and said, “Lily, if I win, I can give you a better life. The past is over; let’s not dwell on it.” I don’t know why she thought the past was over for me. I backed away. “Mom, if you’re still going to defend him, then just pretend you never had a daughter like me.” She stood up, slamming the delivery helmet she was holding onto the floor. “How long are you going to keep this up?! Can’t we just live a peaceful life? It’s been years, hasn’t that incident passed in your mind?!” I was startled by her outburst. She actually thought that continuing to appeal was my fault. I didn’t want to talk to her anymore. Perhaps we were destined to cut ties. I pushed my suitcase towards the door. “Mom, I won’t give up. I don’t believe injustice can truly triumph over justice.” I opened the door. One foot had just stepped out when I heard Mom’s voice. “Lily Evans, if you don’t want me as your mother anymore, then leave! Once you go, don’t ever come back!” I didn’t hesitate. My other foot stepped out the door. Mom, you weren’t giving me a chance; I was giving you a chance. You didn’t take it, so now we only have this path. I closed the door, shutting out her voice. Dragging my suitcase downstairs, I suddenly didn’t know where to go. Was I really wrong? Should that incident really be ‘over’ for me? My phone rang again. That man had sent me another message. “Your mom told me you still plan to appeal? Heh, I’ll be waiting.” What followed were more obscene words. He said I wouldn’t win, that my failure would give more people like him confidence, that I would harm more girls. He said he still remembered how I tasted. My hands squeezed the phone tightly. How could it be over?! How could it?! 4 I blocked him. I wanted him to lose, for him and everyone with those vile thoughts to know the consequences of their actions. I took out my phone and filed the lawsuit again. I wouldn’t stop, not until the appeal period ended. But now I needed money. Enough money to hire a better lawyer. I dragged my suitcase, found a random motel, and started a livestream. Because of the video I posted tonight, I had gained quite a few followers. Many people joined as soon as they saw me go live. The comments were mostly about me, but I remained silent, waiting for the viewership to grow. Soon, it surpassed a hundred thousand. I finally began to speak. “Hello everyone. You probably know I’m the girl who was assaulted.” As soon as I said this, the comments section flooded even faster. Most people called me indecent, saying how could I even talk about such a thing on livestream. I ignored them and just told my entire story. Slowly, the speed of the comments slowed down, and my voice began to crack with emotion. I still couldn’t accept that my own mother was the source of my pain. After finishing my story, I paused for a moment, composing myself before continuing. “I’m not saying all this to seek pity. It’s just that I genuinely don’t have money to hire a lawyer right now. Can anyone help me? I can write an IOU and pay you back as soon as I start working.” Suddenly, all sorts of gifts filled my screen. The comments section was filled with people saying I didn’t need to pay them back. I cried and bowed to everyone. But truthfully, there were still many negative comments, which I ignored completely. Just as I was about to end the stream, there was a forceful knock on my door. I walked over and asked. “Who is it?” “Miss Evans… it’s… I’m here to bring you water.” It was the front desk’s voice, but for some reason, her voice was trembling slightly. I opened the door. It was Marcus. He held a knife to the front desk attendant’s throat. When he saw me open the door, he shoved her aside. He stormed in. “Damn you, you bitch! Do you have a death wish?! Who gave you permission to talk about this on stream? Don’t you have any shame?!” I knew why he was so angry. Because I had just directly said his name on the livestream. That little bit of dignity he had desperately tried to maintain, I had ripped it away. “You deserve it! If you hadn’t done those things, what would I have to say? Besides, you’re the one who should feel shame!” He took a few steps forward and grabbed my throat. “You dead woman, I’m going to kill you right now.” I fell backward, not struggling at all. Because I knew his assault would be broadcast completely live. This time, hundreds of thousands of viewers were my witnesses. I didn’t believe I would lose.

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On my sweet wife Alex’s 30th birthday, just before candle lighting, my husband Patrick and my best friend Chloe disappeared. After searching the hotel, captions suddenly appeared before my eyes: “Chloe is sleeping with the male lead to force the wife to find them. Smart.” “Go to the parking lot now! Wait—the car’s air conditioner is on. They might get carbon monoxide poisoning.” “Alex, move! Go save them!” I stood frozen, still processing what I was seeing, when my other friend Vanessa took my hand. “Let’s check the parking lot,” she suggested. The captions sighed in relief. “Good, someone is helping.” “Poisoning isn’t severe unless exposure is long.” I paused at that line—then turned back to the private room. “Let’s not go look for them,” I said. Vanessa’s face changed. “But they’re the most important people in your life. They should be here.” The captions panicked: “Doesn’t Alex adore the male lead? Why won’t she go?” “Without help, prolonged poisoning could kill them…” 1 I watched Vanessa’s expression change repeatedly, then chuckled. “You used to hate Chloe and my husband so much. What’s wrong? Today you’re more concerned about them than I am.” I didn’t know when Vanessa and Chloe had become partners in crime. One was my childhood friend, the other my college classmate, and they had always pretended to dislike each other. However, they were in complete agreement about me marrying right after college and becoming a trophy wife, never working a day in my life; they both thoroughly looked down on it. They also absolutely loathed my second-generation husband, who enjoyed his inherited wealth. Could it be… They wanted to get involved themselves, to save me from this mess? Thinking this, I looked at Vanessa with a grateful expression, silently resolving. I absolutely couldn’t let them fall into this pit of fire with me. I had to stop them, protect them. Vanessa averted her gaze, awkwardly hooked her arm through mine, and spoke softly. “How could I be concerned about them? I’m worried about you. It’s your big day today, and those two are both missing…” She didn’t continue, but her meaning was all too clear. But how could I understand? I just smiled, pulling Vanessa towards the private room. “It’s nothing. They’re adults; what could happen?” “Our friends are still in the room. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.” Vanessa froze for a moment, then forced an awkward laugh. “Well, I… I’ll go to the restroom.” “Remember how we always went to the restroom together in school?” Saying this, I linked arms with Vanessa and walked towards the restroom. As I walked, I calculated in my mind. I had to stick close to Vanessa. What if she tried to contact Chloe, found she couldn’t, and went to the underground parking lot to check the situation? And my other friends, once we returned to the room and cut the cake, the birthday party would be over. If they went to the parking lot and saw Patrick’s car with the engine running, they would definitely approach it. My friends are sacrificing themselves for me; how could I let their reputations be ruined? I absolutely couldn’t let anyone discover them prematurely. I secretly made up my mind, desperately strategizing in my head. My brain isn’t used to this much work. I don’t know if my plan will work, but I have to try. 2 Vanessa emerged from the restroom, her eyes filled with worry, and jumped when she saw me standing by the door. She extinguished her phone screen, pretending to calmly wash her hands. I patiently watched her dry her hands, pick up her phone, and slowly walk out. After just a few steps, she hesitated and spoke. “I suddenly remembered, I prepared a gift for you. I’ll go to the car to get it.” The captions reacted instantly, praising Vanessa frantically. “This is the female lead’s good friend, a master of improvisation! Thankfully, she’s smart and noticed something was wrong.” “What’s wrong with Alex?! Didn’t she reach the point where she was supposed to expose the male and female leads’ affair? Does she know something and is deliberately stalling?” “This woman is truly vicious. Does she want them to die from lack of oxygen?” “Carbon monoxide poisoning for more than an hour or two can cause brain damage, and longer exposure can really be fatal!” “What do I do, what do I do?! I wish I could beat Alex senseless right now.” I grabbed Vanessa’s arm and forcibly dragged her towards the private room. “Are you trying to run away too? Then there really will be no one for my thirtieth birthday candle lighting. A gift is a small matter; staying with me is a big one!” Pushing open the private room door, my friends complained in feigned annoyance. “What’s going on? You left us here, and you both ran off.” “Patrick and Chloe still aren’t back. Oh well, never mind them.” “Quick, quick, birthday girl, everyone’s waiting for you to light the candles!” Saying this, they brought the cake in front of me. I looked at the cake with lit candles, feeling no joy. My friends were beaming, ready to sing, when I spoke softly, my voice dull. “I know everything.” Everyone froze, looking at each other. Only Vanessa’s face flashed with a hint of panic. Everyone asked me, “Know what?” I looked up, my eyes fixed on Vanessa, approaching her step by step. “I know…” “Patrick cheated on me with one of my best friends.” Seeing me approach, Vanessa blinked, her voice rising a few octaves, her tone flustered. “Don’t jump to conclusions just because Patrick and Chloe aren’t here right now. If you’re really suspicious, I’ll go with you to the parking lot to check.” The captions exploded at this point. “What the heck does this dramatic woman mean by saying that? Does she know?” “She definitely doesn’t know. This is clearly a trick to get her friend to confess, but the friend is smart, neither admitting nor denying, and leading Alex to the parking lot. Such a clever friend.” “Is anyone checking on the parking lot? They’ve been unconscious for twenty minutes now.” “It’s okay, the friend has already noticed something is wrong and will definitely go check the situation.” I froze for a moment at the captions. Is that right? She’ll notice something is wrong and go check the situation? That won’t do. I’ll protect my friend’s reputation with my life! 3 I grabbed a glass of red wine from the table and drank it in one gulp. Then, meeting her eyes, I feigned seriousness. “It’s you, isn’t it, Vanessa.” “What?” She looked utterly bewildered by my question. My friends around us gasped, exchanging glances. “I saw the messages Patrick sent. The person on the other end used a burner account, but the messages hinted at being my best friend.” “Who else could it be but you?” Vanessa took a step back, then immediately blurted out. “Chlo…” Slap! Her face snapped to the side instantly. She covered her cheek, looking back at me in disbelief. I frantically apologized in my heart, but no one could hear it. The captions instantly went wild. “This woman is crazy, she actually dared to hit her.” “Oh my god, no wonder the male lead fell for Chloe. Her usual demure wife persona, her gentle and virtuous act, it’s all fake. I can’t stand it.” “What the hell does she want to do, this madwoman.” “Upstairs, you and the friend are both being misled by her! The point isn’t what she wants to do, the point is the male and female leads poisoned and passed out in the car!” “It’s okay, it’s okay. The optimal rescue time is four to six hours. No matter how crazy she gets, she can’t be crazy for six hours, right? The party will eventually end, and once it does, everyone will definitely notice them. There’s still time, there’s still time.” Still time? Ahhh! For my friend’s reputation, I had no other choice. Slap! I slapped Vanessa across the face again. She glared at me, disbelief still in her eyes, but still didn’t retaliate. To be honest, I was still a little confused. Vanessa wasn’t someone who would silently endure being hit. From childhood, she was always the one bullying others. On the contrary, Chloe was the one who suffered bullying in silence. In college, her roommates isolated her because of her poor family background. She remained silent. As class president, I discovered the situation and proactively helped her mediate with her roommates. Later, I also helped her apply for scholarships, find internships, and introduced her to my friends. When her mother forced her to return to her village to marry, I stood up for her and offered financial help. So I was so good to her, and now she and Vanessa were teaming up to rescue me from this pit of fire, which was her way of repaying my kindness. Thinking this, I was even more determined to protect her reputation and safeguard her. Seeing me still, my friends thought I was drunk and came over to mediate. “You’re drunk, Alex. If something’s wrong, talk it out. Don’t resort to violence; it’ll look bad if it gets out of hand…” “Yeah, the situation isn’t clear yet, Alex, wait a minute.” Vanessa, seeing everyone speak up for her, lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes, and hid behind a friend. The next second, a human wall formed in front of me and spoke. “Enough, Alex. You’ve had too much to drink today. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” I looked up at the person blocking my way, a handsome man. It took me a moment to realize it was Liam, Patrick’s good friend. Million-dollar salary, handsome, wealthy family background. No wonder Vanessa was interested. That’s why she hadn’t fought back this whole time, I realized. Actually, I had originally intended to stop there. After all, if I hit her too hard, what if I got arrested? But now. I decided to play the villain thoroughly and give my good friend a boost. My lips curved slightly, and I spoke calmly. “Get lost! Or I’ll hit you too.” Liam froze for a moment. He couldn’t believe I, who usually spoke in such a cutesy voice, could say something like that. I seized the opportunity to slip past him and slapped her again. Vanessa staggered back two steps. I looked at her. Her eyes were filled with hatred, yet she remained unresponsive. I saw my friend’s fragile appearance, and Liam’s disbelief. I secretly rejoiced. It seemed I needed to be even more aggressive. Slap! Another slap landed on her face. The captions were absolutely furious now. “This woman is sick. She keeps hitting people. Can no one stop her?” “Vanessa, stop pretending to be weak. Liam is being held back by this woman’s friends; fight back!” “I’m so mad, I wish I could jump through the screen and slap her back.” I saw her face was already swollen red and was about to raise my hand. She gritted her teeth and spoke. “Alex Miller! Don’t you go too far!” I smiled domineeringly. “I am pushing you too far, what about it?” She looked at Liam, who was being pushed out of the private room by friends, and completely dropped her act, lunging forward to pull my hair. I casually pushed her. And knocked all the leftover food on the table onto her. Clang, crash… She was instantly covered in grease, and leftover food dripped and clung to her white dress. Vanessa’s screams, the clattering of plates in the private room, and my friends’ shouts of dissuasion became a chaotic mess. It was hard not to draw attention. The waiter, seeing the scene, picked up the phone to call the police. My friends, seeing this, tried to stop him. I yelled and smashed two more plates. “Call the police then! I’m not the homewrecker! I’m not the one who should be ashamed.” I wanted the police to come. If the police came, no one would discover them in the underground parking lot. And my friend’s reputation would be saved. Within a few minutes, the police arrived. Vanessa and I, and everyone in our private room. We all got a complimentary trip to the police station. The captions were almost in tears. “What do we do?! Everyone’s been taken away! Is there no one left to discover our poisoned male and female leads?!” “It’s been over an hour already, my male and female leads…” “The male lead is such an idiot! Afraid of the cold, turns on the AC but doesn’t know to leave a window cracked? How did such a dumb person grow up?” “Don’t blame, don’t blame. Don’t be swayed by Alex. The male lead is a rich second-generation music student. It’s normal for him not to know physics, chemistry, and biology.” “I’m crying… My poor, precious female lead, she’s had such a tough first half of her life, and now she’s about to die just as she was about to have a good life?” “It’s okay, there’s still time. Even at the police station, it’ll be resolved in an hour or two at most.” At the police station, before the police could even ask questions, I burst into tears and lamentations. “Officer, it’s my birthday today, and my husband cheated on me with my best friend…” “I didn’t mean to throw a drunken tantrum, but I… I’m so upset. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.” The officer, hearing me say this and seeing my good attitude, softened his originally stern expression. “Even if you’re angry, you can’t hit people or smash things. Do you know they can get an injury report? If it’s serious, you could go to jail.” I nodded frantically. “Officer, you’re right. I’ll compensate the vendor for the damaged items; just give me the bill. As for hitting someone…” “Officer, one is my best friend, and the other is my husband. How could I not be upset? I was absolutely furious.” “I’m so sorry.” The captions instantly went furious, starting to play judge. “Oh my god, this woman is so good at twisting facts and playing innocent for sympathy.” “The police are being fooled by her. It’s okay, Vanessa is injured, she absolutely won’t accept a settlement! Let her rot in jail for ten years. I can’t stand her.” “Exactly, don’t let her off the hook. Send her to jail. Let’s see how she gets out of this one!”

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I’m blind, but my boyfriend, Ben, doesn’t seem to want me to regain my sight. So, without telling him, I secretly had my eyes treated. The day after I regained my sight, I discovered his secret. Behind Ben, dark purple tentacles stretched out. The sticky tentacles cautiously glided along the floor, invisibly wrapping around my ankles. Then, little by little, they turned pink. 1 “He’s hiding something from me.” I sat in a coffee shop, across from my friend and treating physician, Dr. Sam Riley. The “he” I spoke of was my boyfriend, Ben Hastings. “Why do you say that?” “I just feel… he’s been a little strange lately. His business trips are getting more and more frequent.” “And it seems like he doesn’t want me to regain my sight.” Sam dragged his chair closer, making a scraping sound. “Eliza, I think you’re overthinking it. Ben has invested dozens of state-of-the-art equipment in our hospital just to cure your eyes.” “When he’s not on business trips, he personally picks you up and drops you off for every follow-up appointment.” “And our conversations, besides you, are still about you.” Sam’s praises for Ben were endless. Who would have thought that three years ago, he regarded Ben as a monstrous threat? Saying Ben looked like some kind of “dark, brooding type,” and that he was only with me for “money and looks.” “But oh, if you’re talking about something strange, there actually is one thing…” “What are you two talking about?” A familiar scent of ocean breeze suddenly wafted beside me. It was Ben. I finished my coffee and smiled in his direction. “We were talking about when you’d arrive.” “Have you been waiting long?” Ben adjusted my collar, his cool fingertips brushing against the pulsing vein in my neck as he moved. I shook my head. “I just missed you.” Before Ben could respond, Sam first clicked his tongue, a little sickly sweet. “I feel incredibly radiant right now, so I’m out of here.” “Dr. Riley, take care. I’ve already paid the bill.” “Thanks, thanks.” I knew Sam’s perception of Ben must have become even more favorable. Although my perception of him was also very favorable. On the way back, Ben asked, “How were the results of this follow-up?” “Hmm… not very good.” I was lying. “It’s okay, we’ll take our time.” Having dated Ben for three years, I naturally recognized the sound. As he turned, he quietly let out a sigh of relief. 2 The next day, while Ben was at work, I dialed Sam’s number in the bathroom. —This was the only place in the house without surveillance cameras. “What were you trying to say yesterday?” “I heard from a nurse that Ben was seen talking with the new Dr. Carter recently.” “And both of them didn’t look very happy…” “Dr. Carter?” Sam stammered a little. “Yes, he’s a new urologist at our hospital. “But I don’t know much about him. He’s always kept to himself and doesn’t seem to have many acquaintances.” “So I couldn’t really ask him…” Silence. A moment later, Sam hesitantly spoke again. “Your boyfriend isn’t having it easy either…” I hung up the phone, feeling a bit annoyed and ashamed. After all, I was currently unemployed, stuck at home all day. I rested well during the day, so naturally, I was “energetic” at night. But was Ben entirely blameless? Who asked him to have such big chest muscles and such nice abs? It was practically an invitation. But what did this have to do with my eyes? Just as I was pondering, Ben’s call came through. “Did you have breakfast yet?” Whenever I was home alone, if I spent more than five minutes in the bathroom, he would subtly ask what I was doing. I feigned a yawn. “Yeah, just woke up, I’m about to eat. What about you, what are you doing?” “Just finished a meeting, have another one soon.” “So busy, tonight I…” Remembering my conversation with Sam earlier, I swallowed the words “I’ll treat you well.” “Tonight what?” “Tonight, let’s have a nice dinner.” Before Ben could reply, I faintly heard his assistant’s voice from his end of the phone. “Alright, that’s enough. Go to your meeting.” 3 In the evening, I habitually slipped my hand under Ben’s shirt to “warm up.” Less than two seconds later, I pulled my hand back. “Sweetheart?” Ben’s voice held a touch of confusion. He grabbed my hand and pressed it against his abs again. I squeezed. Felt so good. Then I pulled my hand back again. If I could see right now, I would notice Ben pouting, looking on the verge of tears. Sensing the deep sense of hurt emanating from Ben, I fumbled and pressed a heavy kiss on his face. “I’m a little tired. Let’s talk tomorrow, okay?” “Okay…” Ben didn’t press further, just adjusted his position to make me more comfortable. In my dream, I was in a damp rainforest, entangled by countless giant pythons. My calves twitched uncontrollably. The snake’s tongue glided across my skin, making a soft, sighing sound. Waking up the next day, I carefully touched my limbs and waist. They were clean, without a single mark. But was it really just a dream? “Sweetheart, I need to go on a business trip. I’ll be back in three days.” “Okay.” In just half a month, Ben had already been on four business trips. Noticing that I seemed a little down, Ben rested his head on my lap, his arm circling my waist. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. That project has been really busy lately…” “Once it’s over, how about we go on a trip together?” “Is there anywhere you’d like to go?” I thought of last night’s dream, but a different answer slipped out: “The beach.” “The beach?” Ben’s arm tightened. “Yeah, you know, I used to love diving.” “So I want to smell the sea breeze again sometime.” “Alright, the beach it is.” 4 While Ben was away on his business trip, I went to the hospital again. “You’re looking a bit too refreshed, aren’t you?” Sam clicked his tongue lightly. I answered expressionlessly, “I’m sexually frustrated.” Sam cleared his throat, clearly not wanting to continue that topic. “However, all your indicators in today’s check-up are excellent. Congratulations.” “Thank you.” “Aren’t you excited? You’ll be able to see soon.” “Very excited.” “Boring. But I actually thought you’d want Ben to be with you on such a crucial day.” I couldn’t help but rub the corner of my sweater. “I still feel he doesn’t really want me to regain my sight. So please keep it a secret for now.” The world after regaining my sight was somewhat magical. Countless colors vibrated endlessly, and amidst the chaos, gradually connected with the concepts in my mind. Like a puzzle piece, finally falling into its long-awaited empty spot at a certain moment. “Hey, can you see?” Sam’s face enlarged in my vision. To be honest, it was a bit distracting. Why wasn’t it Ben? “Yes.” “That’s great!” I smiled genuinely. “Thank you for your hard work these past four years.” “Oh, we’re friends. Just treat me to a big meal sometime.” “I want to walk around by myself.” Sam gave an understanding smile. “I get it.” I picked up the white cane beside me, let go, but then gripped it again. I tentatively took a step, experiencing the moment my shoe sole touched the ground with my eyes. One step, two steps. Drip. I turned my head and looked out the window. It was raining. 5 Ben and I first met on a rainy day. That day, I suddenly wanted to walk in the rain, so I only brought my white cane. But after walking a short distance, my path was blocked by an electric scooter parked on the tactile paving. Rain hammered around me, and my white cane felt like an oar floating on water, leaving me disoriented. A vast emptiness enveloped me, leaving me adrift. Strangely, I even felt an urge to throw away my white cane. But suddenly, the rain stopped around me. An umbrella shielded my head, followed by a faint scent of ocean breeze. “Hello, um, do you… need help?” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic, but his hesitant, stumbling speech made him sound awkwardly charming. Judging by his voice, he was probably about ten centimeters taller than me. I turned my head, slightly lifting my face, deliberately tilting my rain-drenched face towards him. The man’s breathing softened even more. “Yes, could you… could you take me home?” If you’re a bad guy, could you take me to your home? Lock me up. Or bury me. But he wasn’t. “Alright, um, forgive my intrusion.” He merely carefully circled my forearm with his cool hand, guiding my way. I could feel the glances that occasionally fell on me. Somewhat warm, yet not intrusive. “Here we are.” I stood at the door, tilting my head. “Would you like to come in for a bit?” “Would it be…?” “I’m alone at home, and I’m a little scared.” Even though I hadn’t eaten pork, I had seen many pigs run. In less than fifteen minutes, I had extracted most of Ben’s personal information. “So we live so close to each other, huh?” “Then, if you have time later, would you mind coming over to keep me company?” I changed into a silk nightgown, curled up on the sofa, and asked him. “Alright, yes.” From seeing each other once every half week, it gradually evolved into twice a day. Ben’s methods for pursuing me weren’t sophisticated, but they were heartfelt. Like a loyal dog, he’d offer me everything he thought was best. 6 “Are you… Eliza Shen?” “Unknowingly,” I had walked to the entrance of the Urology Department. The man opposite me was taller than I was, wearing a white lab coat, and I couldn’t clearly read the name on his badge. He wore rimless glasses, and his long hair was tied back. “Hello?” I still pretended to be blind. “My name is Noah Carter. I’m Ben Hastings’s, uh… friend.” It seemed he was the “Dr. Carter.” Seeing my “confused” look, Noah understood. “I’m a doctor here, just started working at this hospital recently.” “Ben and I were neighbors when we were kids, but we weren’t very close.” “So it’s normal that he hasn’t mentioned me to you.” Neighbor. I chewed on those two words in my mind several times. “Hmm… what was Ben like when he was little?” Noah opened his mouth, seeming to ponder his choice of words. We stopped at the hospital entrance. He finally answered my question. “My personal advice… keep your distance from him.” “What are you doing?” I was suddenly pulled into Ben’s embrace. He was still warm, having just gotten out of his car. Noah shrugged. “I only told Ms. Shen what I needed to tell her.” “And I also advise you to agree to our terms as soon as possible.” “Otherwise, more than just you will suffer.” After Noah left, I asked Ben, “Ben, what are you doing here?” “Came back early. Saw no one at home, thought you must be at the hospital.” “Did Noah say anything strange to you just now?” “No. He just started speaking when you arrived.” Seeing Ben’s furrowed brow because of Noah, I felt a little annoyed. I raised my hand and wrapped it around Ben’s waist. “Did you miss me?” Ben’s previously serious expression immediately softened. He gently rubbed his nose against my forehead. “Very, very much.” 7 When I woke up the next day, Ben had already gone to work. I rolled over, snuggled into his side of the bed, and turned on the surveillance footage. Although Ben hadn’t installed cameras in the bathroom, I had. I dragged the timeline to the moment he entered the bathroom. Ben, freshly awake, had slightly messy hair, his mature features looking a bit boyish. I watched him silently, with my headphones on, as he washed up and spaced out. At 6 minutes and 27 seconds, I saw what I wanted to see. A dark purple tentacle emerged from behind Ben, reaching for the bathroom door. Ben met the tentacle’s “gaze” in the mirror, his eyes filled with warning. The tentacle then timidly retreated, leaving behind a noticeable wet stain. Ben sighed in resignation, and began to wipe away the traces it left behind. I repeatedly dragged the progress bar. Watching it over and over. It wasn’t until my newly restored eyes began to shed physiological tears that I reluctantly turned off my phone. So this was Ben’s secret. So when Ben came home from work, I was already sitting on the sofa waiting. While Ben stood in the entryway, bending down to change his slippers, my eyes greedily traced him from top to bottom. Face. Back. Waist. Hips. Legs. If I ignored the tentacles that were already joyfully rolling around in front of me. Unlike the initial dark purple, the tentacles before me were now pink. Was it because they were happy to see me? How cute. 8 “By the way, Ben, I want to take a medicinal bath today.” “Why the sudden urge for a medicinal bath?” Ben approached, kneeling before me, looking up into my eyes. As he drew closer, the tentacles behind him gradually retracted. I lowered my eyes with a hint of regret. “Sweetheart?” Ben’s tone was filled with concern. After all, I usually took a medicinal bath once a month, but I had just taken one two weeks ago. “I just want to relax a bit, okay?” Ben, his ears turning red, agreed. “Okay.” He walked into the kitchen and brought out a glass of milk. “Drink your milk first. I’ll go run the hot water.” I nodded, taking a small sip of milk in front of him. Then, as he entered the bathroom, I poured the remaining milk into the potted plant beside me. Before long, Ben carried me into the bathtub. He tied a black silk ribbon over my eyes, covering my sight. He said it was to prevent the steaming heat of the medicinal bath from getting into my eyes. “Soak for a while first. I’ll gradually add the medicine.” “Mhm.” After a while, a familiar drowsiness crept in. I pretended to lose my strength, letting my entire weight press against Ben. At the same time, I used the movement to loosen the silk ribbon over my eyes. “Sweetheart? Eliza?” I didn’t respond. In the shadowy darkness, water was already overflowing. But I could no longer see below my waist. Pink tentacles crowded the bathtub, writhing continuously. So this was the “medicinal bath”? I slowly sank lower into the water, but a strong pair of hands supported my waist. A soft kiss and a whisper fell beside my ear. “Eliza, I love you.”

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1 After the divorce, I returned to my hometown, a broken man carrying my son’s ashes, and opened a small clinic. It had been ten years since I last saw Seraphina Vance. “Arthur, Leo’s back! I’ve come to take you home!” Her expression was solemn, even more earnest than when she confessed her love to me all those years ago. Leo, clinging to her arm, smirked, a brazen glint in his eyes. “Brother-in-law, I was too reckless back then, running away from home. It made my sister misunderstand you, thinking you forced me to my death.” “But she’s never truly moved on from you all these years. You shouldn’t be holding a grudge, hiding out here.” I stared at Seraphina, my face devoid of emotion. “Now that your beloved foster brother has returned, can I finally have my son back?” … Seraphina frowned, almost imperceptibly. “Arthur, I can apologize for what happened back then.” “You only lost a son and an arm, but Leo nearly had his reputation ruined and suffered out there for a full ten years!” “You need to let it go!” I opened my mouth, but the strength to argue had long left me. “You’re right. I’ve let it go. Please leave, both of you.” Ten years ago, the news that I, a dermatologist, had treated Leo for an STI leaked. In a fit of rage, Seraphina ordered her men to break my arm, destroying my career. “Leo is just a kid! How dare you slander his name, spread rumors that he had a venereal disease?” “Someone as malicious as you doesn’t deserve to be a doctor!” Soon after, she posted a video of me showering online. “Some people are constantly hooking up, can’t even wash off that disgusting stench of depravity!” Her parents, my in-laws, reprimanded her for going too far. Seraphina scoffed, “He slandered Leo and still refuses to admit it! Only by making him experience the pain of being slandered will he realize his mistake!” When it came to Leo, my in-laws remained silent. Overnight, our son was branded “the spawn of a deviant,” tormented at kindergarten, and became severely withdrawn. My reputation was ruined; I was fired from the hospital and vilified online. Frantic, I found the treatment reports, desperate to explain to Seraphina. But she didn’t even bother to glance at them, tossing them casually into the trash. “Still unrepentant, daring to forge evidence and continue to tarnish Leo’s name?” “What did such a pure and kind young man like Leo ever do to you, that you would so meticulously plot against him?” Leo, who had initially tearfully begged me for treatment, claiming he’d been accidentally infected by a promiscuous girlfriend and was filled with regret, now glared at me with venomous eyes. “Brother-in-law, I was only eighteen, still a child! How could you be so cruel to me?” “Do you have any idea how much harm those rumors caused me?” He buried his face in Seraphina’s embrace, sobbing. He claimed that on his way home from school, thugs would harass him, asking how much he charged for a night, and he’d nearly been assaulted by a drunkard… Seraphina’s face darkened instantly. She dragged me to the heart of the city’s bar district. “This trash is free to take!” “Men and women, young and old, no preferences!” “He can’t get pregnant, so no responsibility needed!” Countless drunken patrons, eyes gleaming, leered at me, their faces contorted in lewd smiles. I broke down, desperately clutching Seraphina. “No, you can’t do this to me! I really didn’t…” Her face remained impassive as she kicked my injured arm. The searing pain forced me to release her. “You need to deeply experience the suffering you inflicted on Leo!” “Don’t worry, this is just a small lesson, to make you remember!” “At the critical moment, the bodyguards will intervene!” She gently comforted Leo, walking away step by step. But once her figure disappeared, the drunken crowd surged forward like wild animals, tearing at my clothes. “No, don’t… help me!” I struggled wildly, reaching out to the bodyguards Seraphina had arranged. They merely gave a cold command. “Don’t kill him!” 2 I can’t recall how I ended up in the hospital. I only remember my colleague, tears streaming down her face, as she worked to save me. “How could Seraphina do this to you?” “She used to say you were the person she admired most, back when she was pursuing you.” I wanted to know too. How could the woman who once loved me so deeply inflict such cruelty? Why did she get to treat me this way? Battered and bruised, I was discharged three days later, a shell of my former self. I returned home like a zombie. Only my four-year-old son, seeing me, burrowed into my arms, his voice thick with injustice. “Daddy, all the kids pick on me! They call me the dirty man’s kid, they call my daddy…” I choked back tears, gently comforting him. “Little Ace, they’re lying. Daddy didn’t…” My son looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. “But everyone says you wronged Mommy. Many people saw your pictures from the bar online.” My heart lurched. I stared at Seraphina, disbelief warring with horror. “You… how could you…” I hadn’t been without my doubts. Perhaps, allowing those drunkards to brazenly assault me wasn’t Seraphina’s intention. Maybe Leo had acted on his own, and she was unaware. But now… I could no longer deceive myself. Seraphina frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. “Leo only wanted to vent his anger, so he faked those photos and posted them online.” “Isn’t that what you did to him?” “When it’s your turn to be slandered, you can’t handle it? Then how dare you forge evidence to slander Leo?” I closed my eyes in despair, my heart completely broken. “Forged photos? Do you believe that?” “Do you truly not know what happened to me that night…?” Seraphina roared, cutting me off. “Enough! This matter ends here!” “Leo has decided not to pursue this further with you, so don’t be so petty and cling to it!” Perhaps to placate me, Seraphina sighed, then suddenly embraced me from behind, whispering, “Alright, I know you’re angry, I’ll make it up to you tonight.” “You know, even though Leo isn’t my biological brother, he’s been pampered since childhood and never suffered any hardships.” “As his brother-in-law, you shouldn’t be so petty with a child!” My body stiffened. The nightmare of that night flashed through my mind, making me tremble uncontrollably. I violently pushed Seraphina away, then vomited uncontrollably, retching until I brought up bile. Seraphina’s face turned ashen. “Arthur! What is the meaning of this?” “I haven’t even scorned you, and you dare to sulk and throw a tantrum at me?” “You malicious man, you’re filthy! And to think Leo was even worried you’d be angry, and persuaded me to comfort you…” Another pang of agony shot through my heart. So, her willingness to touch me was merely a task assigned by Leo? No, Leo probably just wanted her to see the scars covering my body, the damage inflicted by those drunkards. I completely lost the will to argue. “Since you detest me so much, let’s get a divorce.” I had married Seraphina with so much hope. Now, I yearned to escape this repulsive marriage with an equal measure of despair. Seraphina’s face grew even darker. “You are utterly irrational!” “All these years, I truly spoiled you rotten!” “Since you remain stubborn and unrepentant, I’ll revoke your privileges and give you time to reflect!” 3 Seraphina canceled my cards. Even though I had never spent a single penny from her black card’s supplementary account. The next morning, Leo beamed at the rows of limited-edition sneakers before him. “Sister, you’re the best!” He excitedly kissed Seraphina’s cheek. Seraphina dotingly ruffled his hair. “You silly child, isn’t it only natural for your sister to be good to you?” “Spending money on you makes me happy. You’re not like some people, who from beginning to end, show no gratitude and don’t know their place!” She curled her lips, her words laced with sarcasm. Then, she cast a cold glance my way. “What, finally admit you were wrong?” I nodded silently. I was indeed wrong, wrong to have loved her. Leo pouted. “Some people don’t admit they’re wrong, they just realize they’re out of money!” I offered no explanation, no rebuttal. Calmly, I produced the divorce papers and the bank card Seraphina had given me. “I have my own salary and savings; I’ve never spent a cent of yours.” “I will leave with nothing, taking not a single thread from the Vance estate.” “My only request is custody of Little Ace.” Seraphina froze instantly. “Arthur, you…” Leo secretly gloated, snatching the divorce papers to glance at them. Then he sighed, “Brother-in-law, why are you doing this? You know sister can’t bear to divorce.” “Even if you revealed your ugly true colors, for the sake of the child, sister would never kick you out.” “What’s the point of this charade?” I shot him a sidelong glance. “Shouldn’t you be happy that Seraphina and I are divorcing?” That way, no one would compete with him for his “good sister.” Leo instantly looked on the verge of tears, appearing utterly helpless. “Brother-in-law, what do you mean by that?” “I merely spoke the truth. How can you be so maliciously suspicious of me?” Seraphina’s face darkened. With a bang, she slammed her hand on the table. “Arthur, apologize to Leo!” I opened my mouth, a thought stirring within me. “Apologize? I can!” “Sign first!” Seraphina grew even angrier, grabbing the divorce papers and tearing them to shreds. “Put away your little tricks!” “Playing hard to get won’t work on me!” “I advise you to give up that fantasy! I will never let you succeed, and I will certainly not entrust my son to a scoundrel like you!” I couldn’t understand why she refused. Because of our son? Yet she herself had labeled Little Ace “the spawn of a deviant.” Because of feelings? Had she ever truly harbored feelings for me? However, since she cared so much for Leo… I took a deep breath, then pulled out a diligently collected file. “This is the evidence of Leo’s illness! And the surveillance video of him crying and begging me for treatment in my office, along with his treatment records…” Seraphina raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to slander Leo again?” I said calmly, “Whether it’s slander or not, the police and the judge will give me justice in court.” “If you refuse to divorce, I don’t mind going to court to sue for divorce.” “Your breaking my arm and utterly destroying me because of his lies is proof that our relationship has fractured.” “A woman as morally bankrupt and ruthless as you doesn’t deserve to be a mother!” Seraphina scoffed. “Go ahead, if you dare. I’d like to see how you continue to lie in court!” However, at that moment, Leo suddenly snatched a fruit knife from the table and lightly cut his wrist. He cried and screamed, raging loudly. “Brother-in-law, are you not satisfied until you’ve forced me to my death?” Seraphina’s face instantly changed. She snatched the fruit knife away and frantically helped Leo up. “Quick, to the hospital!” I could tell at a glance that Leo was faking it. But Seraphina violently pushed me, her eyes filled with murderous intent. “If anything happens to Leo, you will never be forgiven, even in a hundred deaths!”

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1 The first thing my ex-husband did after his “rebirth” was to bring his illegitimate son home, demanding I send our biological daughter to the countryside. Cradling the drooling, developmentally delayed child, his eyes burned with fervor: “This is the hope of our family! He’s a genius who will win the Nobel Prize someday!” “As for that worthless girl, she’ll only divide the inheritance. Get rid of her!” I watched the illegitimate son, still playing in the mud, and calmly signed the divorce papers. My ex-husband didn’t know that in the last life, this illegitimate child only became a genius because I quit my job, slept only three hours a day, spent all our savings visiting renowned doctors, and painstakingly tutored him for twenty years. And my own daughter, neglected and abandoned, ran away from home early, only to become a financial titan controlling the global economy. In this life, since you treasure the “genius” who needs his diapers changed for two decades, then I’ll take my “worthless” daughter and become the mother of a global billionaire. … I swiftly signed the divorce papers. Noah Stone didn’t even glance at me. He snatched the drooling illegitimate child, Adam, into his arms, his eyes burning with fanaticism. In his mind, he saw the colossal headline from the last life’s newspaper: “Chinese-American Scientist Adam Stone Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics.” That was the supreme glory he had missed. In this life, he would never let me steal that honor again! “This is the hope of our family! He’s a genius who will win the Nobel Prize someday!” he declared, almost shouting at me. “As for that worthless girl, she’ll only divide the inheritance. Get rid of her!” I looked at the illegitimate son, still playing in the mud, and snapped the pen cap shut with a crisp click. “My passport, driver’s license, everything’s in my bag. See you at the courthouse tomorrow at nine.” With that, I turned and walked toward our daughter Aurora’s room. Noah scoffed behind me. “Take that worthless girl, you two can starve for all I care.” I didn’t look back. The door had barely closed when my mother-in-law, Clara Stone, burst in, her voice shrill. “Noah Stone! Are you mad? You’re just letting her leave like that? What about Aurora? Aurora is our Stone grandchild!” She moved to rush toward Aurora’s room. Noah stopped her, his tone impatient. “Mom! What are you yelling about! Didn’t you see Adam is sleeping? It’s just a girl, let her go, it’s less trouble.” Clara paused, but her voice didn’t quiet down. “That’s not the same! How can she, Elizabeth Vance, a divorced woman, raise a child properly? Aurora will suffer with her! Make her leave the child!” I pushed the door open, leading Aurora, who was already wearing her coat, by the hand. Aurora’s small face was calm, unlike a five-year-old’s. She just clutched my hand tightly. I looked at Clara. “The child is mine, and I have full custody. The agreement states it clearly.” Clara’s eyes widened. She pointed a finger at me. “Elizabeth! Don’t you dare act ungrateful! Our Stone family supported you for so many years, and now you think you can just fly off? Take our Stone bloodline away? Dream on!” She reached out to grab Aurora. I stepped sideways to block her, shielding Aurora behind me. “Clara, try to touch her again.” She flinched, intimidated by the coldness in my eyes, and retreated half a step. Noah impatiently pulled a card from his wallet and tossed it onto the console by the door. “Alright! Stop yelling! Elizabeth, this is for you. Fifty thousand. It should be enough for you and that girl for a while. Don’t bother me again.” The card slid a short distance on the polished surface, stopping at my feet. Fifty thousand. A pittance for a beggar. I didn’t even bother to bend down. I took Aurora’s hand and walked straight past the card, opened the door, and left without looking back. Behind me, Adam’s cries suddenly escalated, and Noah frantically tried to soothe him. “Don’t cry, baby, don’t cry, my genius…” The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off all sound. Aurora looked up at me, asking softly, “Mommy, where are we going?” I knelt down and tidied her collar. “We’re going to our new home.” Aurora nodded, as if understanding, and said no more, just holding my hand tighter. I took Aurora back to the old house to pack our things. The home that once echoed with our mother-daughter laughter was now eerily silent. In the living room, Noah was awkwardly feeding Adam, spilling formula everywhere. He saw me, his brows furrowing into a knot. “Why are you back again? Just get your things and leave. Don’t disturb me with Adam.” I ignored him, walking straight into the bedroom and pulling out two of the largest suitcases. Clara followed me in, hovering like an overseer. “Elizabeth, I’m telling you, this house belongs to my son. You won’t take anything extra from here.” Her eyes scrutinized every item I packed. I folded Aurora’s and my clothes one by one and placed them in the suitcase. “These were all part of my dowry before we married. This jewelry set was left to me by my mother.” I pointed to a box on the dressing table. Clara immediately pounced, pressing down on the box. “What ‘left to you by your mother’! Once it enters my Stone family’s door, it’s our Stone family’s property! You want to take it? No way!” Her hand gripped the box tightly. I stopped what I was doing, stood up, and watched her silently. She got a little spooked by my stare but still refused to let go. “What are you looking at! Am I wrong? You’re a woman who’s being thrown out; do you really think you can take such valuable things?” I didn’t argue with her. I just quietly took out my phone and started recording. “Say that again. Whose property is this?” Clara froze for a moment, then burst into a tirade. “It’s the Stone family’s! What can you do to me!” I put my phone away, no longer looking at her, and continued packing other things. A picture frame fell to the floor, the glass shattering. Inside was a photo of Aurora and me at the beach. Aurora walked over, carefully trying to pick up the photo. “Don’t touch it; you’ll cut your hand.” I pulled her back. Noah, hearing the sound from the living room, shouted impatiently, “Elizabeth! Can’t you hurry up! You’re dawdling, and if you break something, can you afford to replace it?” I pulled out the photo from the frame, untouched by the shattered glass, and slipped it into my pocket. Then I swept the empty frame and scattered glass into the trash. Clara, seeing that I was ignoring her, started yelling again. “Did you hear that? My son wants you to hurry up and leave! Don’t be an eyesore here!” I zipped up my suitcase with a dull thud. With a suitcase in each hand, and holding Aurora’s hand, I walked toward the door. As I passed the living room, I saw Adam throw his baby bottle on the floor and reach for a set of car keys Noah had forgotten on the coffee table, preparing to put them in his mouth. Noah, oblivious, was still engrossed in a “Genius Early Development Guide.” I walked straight out, not looking left or right. The door slammed shut behind me. I didn’t care if that child swallowed the keys, nor if that man could nurture a genius. I rented a small one-bedroom apartment in the city’s old town. Compared to the spacious, bright riverside apartment at the Stone’s, this place felt like a pigeon coop. Aurora, however, was very composed. She put down her small backpack and carefully surveyed her new “home.” “Mommy, where’s my bed?” I pointed to the small bed by the window, covered with a new cartoon bedspread I’d bought. “That will be your bed from now on.” She nodded, climbed onto it, tested it out, then flashed me a smile. “It’s soft.” My heart softened instantly. It was late by the time we settled in. After I told Aurora a bedtime story, she quickly fell asleep. I sat on the creaky sofa in the living room. My phone vibrated. It was a message from my friend, Lena Hayes. “How are things? Found a place to stay? Do you have enough money?” I replied that everything was fine, and then there was nothing more. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to say more; it was that I didn’t know where to begin. I opened my mobile banking app, looking at the paltry savings in my account, then remembered the card Noah had tossed on the floor. A wave of helplessness washed over me. I had to find a job quickly. Just then, my phone rang. It was Noah. I slid to answer, but didn’t speak. His voice, muffled with suppressed anger, came from the other end. “Elizabeth, did you take the washing machine manual?” I paused. “No.” “Then how do I use this new front-loader? My mom can’t figure it out; she’s getting water everywhere trying to do laundry!” “There’s a QR code on the door. Scan it for the digital manual.” “I don’t have time for that! You come back now and show my mom how to use it!” he ordered, as if it were his right. I was silent. In the last life, it was always like this. No matter where I went, he always found a way to drag me back to deal with the messes he and his mother couldn’t handle. And every single time, I softened and went back. “Noah Stone, we’re divorced.” I said, and hung up. My phone immediately began ringing incessantly. Annoyed, I kept hanging up, eventually just turning it off. I walked into the room, looking at Aurora’s peaceful sleeping face. The last vestiges of helplessness in my heart vanished. In this life, I would only live for her.

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I was the Maddox family’s living good luck charm. If I so much as sneezed, the Maddox Corporation’s giant signboard would fall that very day. If a bracelet dug into my skin while I slept, the Maddox estate’s backyard would mysteriously catch fire that night. So, until I turned eighteen and discovered I was the unknowingly swapped fake heiress, I was cherished by the entire Maddox family, held as if I might melt in their hands, or disappear from their pockets. The Maddox family’s true bloodline was a pair of fraternal twins. On the first day the real heiress and heir returned home, the entire household was in a frenzy. Meanwhile, I was comfortably curled up in a garden swing chair, a premium coffee in my left hand, an ice cream cone in my right, and waved amiably towards their entrance. Helen Maddox caught sight of me, her face instantly darkening. Jane Maddox, seeing this, rushed over and knocked the ice cream from my hand. “A usurper and a fake, you dare to eat our family’s food?” “Now, we are the masters! You should be kneeling to welcome us, then licking that filth off the floor!” I blinked, a little confused. “But Mom and Dad said I never have to do things like that.” Helen viciously pinched my arm. “If you don’t know how, learn! From now on, we make the rules in this house!” As they shoved me towards the cleaning rags, my mother, miles away at the company, felt a sudden pang in her chest, a flicker of inexplicable unease, and turned to my father. “Honey, do you feel… like our company’s stock just shifted?” … “A fake is a fake. Mom and Dad kept you only for the Maddox family’s reputation.” “You stole eighteen years of our lives; making you do some chores is an honor.” Helen sneered in my ear as they shoved me towards the cleaning rags. My steps faltered, but I said nothing. Mom and Dad had specifically warned me before going to the company not to cause any big commotion if I got upset. I was always obedient. Mrs. Higgins, the housekeeper, looked on with a pained expression. “Miss Anna, Miss Helen, Master Jane, Miss Anna is…” “Is what? Do you want to keep your job here?” Jane’s face turned cold. Mrs. Higgins sighed, looking at me. I quietly shook my head at her. Jane’s face only softened when he watched me bend down and meticulously wipe away the ice cream he’d knocked to the floor. He gathered all the servants and announced, “Listen up, now that Helen and I are home, we’re in charge. If anyone dares to speak up for this imposter, Anna, pack your bags and leave immediately!” So, for the entire day, Jane and Helen watched as I poured tea and water, knelt to polish their shoes, and even made me jump into the pool to retrieve a bracelet Helen had deliberately thrown in. “Haven’t you lived in the Maddox house for eighteen years? Can’t you even do this little thing?” I said nothing, merely trembling as I wrapped myself in the towel Mrs. Higgins handed me. Mom and Dad told me that as long as I stayed happy, the “shadow” wouldn’t emerge. By evening, when Mom and Dad returned home, I was still damp, kneeling on the floor, scrubbing. “What’s going on here?” Mom’s voice cut through the silence, and the living room immediately hushed. Dad’s gaze quickly landed on me, his brows slightly furrowed. “Anna, what happened to you?” Before I could speak, Helen rushed forward, hugging Mom and whimpering, “Mommy, does Sister not want us back? Why has she been sulking all day? She even threw a gift I kindly gave her into the pool.” Jane chimed in, “I just asked her to retrieve Helen’s gift, and she acted all high and mighty.” I expected Mom to at least question me, but instead, she pushed Helen’s hands away and quickly walked towards me. “Anna, my sweet girl, you…” Her words trailed off as she spotted the blood seeping from my sleeve. Her face instantly changed. I instinctively tried to hide my hand, but she grasped it firmly, then summoned a servant to bring ointment and bandages, meticulously cleaning my wound. “How did you hurt your hand? Did they bully you?” Helen froze, instinctively retorting, “Mom, it was clearly her!” “Silence!” Dad’s voice was cold. “Before we brought you back, did I not tell you?” “Anna is our lucky star. As long as she’s happy, the Maddox family thrives.” “Anyone who makes Anna unhappy is jeopardizing the Maddox family’s fortune.” Helen’s face went completely white. Jane clenched his fists, emotions churning in his eyes, but he forcibly suppressed them, and was the first to speak to me. “Sister Anna, I’m sorry. Helen and I were wrong.” Helen, seeing Jane speak, quickly apologized to me, her eyes reddening. “I’m sorry…” I nodded, then curled my lips slightly. “It’s alright, I don’t blame you.” After dinner, just as I was about to go to my room to rest, Jane called out to me. “Mom and Dad said to tell you to go up to the attic. It seems they want to give you something special.” I didn’t think much of it and followed him to the attic. I didn’t see Mom or Dad, but he suddenly pushed me inside and locked the door. Jane’s voice, like a spectator, came from outside the door. “Since you’re so important.” “Then I’ll see if the Maddox family can survive without you.” “Jane…” My whole body stiffened, even making a sound was incredibly difficult. The attic was pitch dark, with only a thin sliver of dim light seeping through a narrow crack. The wooden door almost completely blocked out outside sounds, and the air seemed to thin instantly. “You, please open the door, alright?” I tapped lightly on the door, my voice trembling uncontrollably. Jane’s unhurried voice came from outside. “What, scared?” I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself. “I, I have claustrophobia. I was kidnapped as a child, and the doctor said I can’t be in confined spaces.” “Please let me out, alright? I promise I won’t say anything.” Silence fell for a few seconds outside the door. Just as I thought Jane might at least hesitate, he scoffed disdainfully. “Claustrophobia?” “Anna Maddox, you really know how to make things up.” His tone was filled with undisguised annoyance. “Stop with these pathetic tricks to manipulate people.” “I’d like to see if you can really scare yourself to death.” The footsteps gradually receded. I frantically banged on the door, but my throat felt as if it were being choked, my mouth open, yet no sound escaped. My breathing grew increasingly erratic, and my vision began to blacken. I slid to the floor, hugging myself tightly, then completely lost consciousness. When I woke up again, my body felt completely weak. As soon as I opened my eyes, an excited voice reached my ears. “Anna, is that Anna?” Before I could react, a pair of warm hands clasped mine tightly. “Mommy’s here.” Mom’s voice was clearly trembling, her eyes red, as if she was trying hard to suppress some emotion. Dad stood by the bed, his face also grim, but he let out a sigh of relief when he saw me wake up. The doctor beside him said gravely, “Fortunately, we found her in time, otherwise…” “Miss Anna cannot endure any more stress.” I slowly came back to my senses. My gaze shifted, and I saw Helen and Jane kneeling not far away. Mom helped me sit up, then glared at Jane. “Anna, did Jane lock you in? Mommy will make sure he pays.” Helen pouted, her voice very low. “Is it really that big a deal? It was just being locked in the attic for a bit.” “So delicate, it’s just too dramatic.” Jane said nothing, but his expression clearly echoed Helen’s sentiment. Slap! A crisp sound exploded in the room. Helen’s head snapped to the side from the force of the slap; she was completely stunned. Mom’s hand still hung in the air, her gaze coldly fixed on Helen. “Say that again?” Helen clutched her face, looking at her in disbelief. “Mom, I just…” Dad’s voice was heavy with suppressed anger. “Do you two have any idea that Anna almost died?” “If something serious had happened, how would you compensate us?” Jane’s face changed. He couldn’t help but argue. “Dad, isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?” “Anna is perfectly fine, isn’t she? We’re your biological children! Why are you treating me like this for an outsider?” “Besides, all this talk about ‘lucky stars’ is just…” “Enough!” Dad abruptly cut him off, his eyes colder than I had ever seen them. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for locking Anna in the attic.” “Now, kneel properly. Don’t force me to use the family disciplinary rod.” Jane bit his lip, then suddenly scoffed, his tone clearly defiant. “Dad, Mom, don’t you think this is too superstitious?” “She fainted once, and you’re so anxious.” “But the Maddox family is still doing fine, isn’t it? Has anything specific changed?” Dad didn’t speak again. His phone rang. He looked down at the screen, and then his face visibly darkened, inch by inch. “Maddox Corporation’s stock just dropped three points.” At Dad’s words, Jane’s face also changed. “Dad, that’s just a coincidence. How could it be related to Anna?” He instinctively retorted, but his tone lacked its initial certainty. Dad didn’t answer him, merely looking at the butler. “Bring the family rod.” When the butler returned with the wooden rod, Helen burst into tears. “Dad! You’re biased! Anna is perfectly fine, why are you still bringing out the family rod!” She pointed at me, her voice sharp and vicious. “What right does she have!” “Silence! If you insult Anna again, I’ll beat you too!” Helen’s body trembled, and she finally quieted down, merely sobbing into her hands. Just as I was about to get out of bed and say something, Mom pulled me out of the room. “Our Anna can’t bear to see such bloody things.” I sighed, tugging at Mom’s sleeve. “Mom, I’m safe now, and the ‘shadow’ won’t come out. You don’t have to be so…” “That won’t do!” Mom tapped my nose, leading me downstairs. “Mommy got you the new season’s handbags, and your favorite chocolate cake.” I leaned into Mom, rubbing against her. “I knew Mommy was the best to me.” Sounds of the rod hitting flesh, along with Jane’s muffled groans, came from upstairs. Before I could react, Mom quickly placed noise-canceling headphones over my ears. When I saw Jane again, he had already endured the family discipline, being supported by Helen, walking step by agonizing step towards his room. His face was ashen, and his gaze towards me was like poison. From that day on, they indeed quieted down. But I always had a faint feeling that things weren’t that simple. Jane and Helen no longer openly ordered me around or verbally abused me. They even managed to flash me a strained, almost friendly smile when Mom and Dad were present. But this only made me feel more uneasy. Mrs. Higgins secretly took my hand, her face filled with concern. “Miss Anna, be careful. I always feel like the way those two look at you isn’t right.” I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. “Mrs. Higgins, you know, I’ll be fine.” This uncomfortable feeling lingered for several days. Until I went to the conservatory alone for some fresh air. Drifting in and out of sleep, I overheard Jane and Helen’s deliberately hushed conversation. Helen’s voice even had a whimper to it. “Jane, this can’t go on.” “Mom and Dad only have eyes for her now; there’s no place for us in the Maddox family.” After a brief silence, Jane’s low, cold voice replied. “I know.” “As long as Anna Maddox is still here, Mom and Dad will always focus on her. Everything in the Maddox family will revolve around her.” He paused, his tone unwavering. “So.” “Anna Maddox must die.”

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1 On my way home from shopping, a creepy guy blocked my path. As he coldly waited for me to add him on social media, I ran through several potential death scenarios in my head if I refused. So, I forced a smile, clicked “accept,” and turned to walk away. I planned to delete him the moment I got home, but then I stumbled upon a trending post. “Hooked up with a pretty girl on the street today; already got her contact.” “I’m a fast starter, wondering how to get her warmed up quickly?” The comments were a mixed bag, making me frown. Ten seconds prior, the poster had liked a comment. “What’s the big deal? Check her profile, then search her photos across the entire internet!” “Girls love to show off their photos on all platforms. Then you can follow the breadcrumbs, find her other accounts, pinpoint her personal information, and just show up at her door to display your manhood!” Not long after reading that, my phone pinged. “Hey there, beautiful, why’s your profile locked? Unlock it so I can take a look!” … The sender’s profile picture was a blurry, in-your-face selfie, his eyes staring straight ahead, as if trying to pierce through the screen. His name: Mark Jensen. “You’re so gorgeous, I couldn’t get enough of you today. Unlock your profile so I can worship you some more!” My mind exploded! It was this afternoon! I was stopped outside the mall by a man. He wore an ill-fitting T-shirt, his hair greasy and plastered to his scalp, his eyes shifty yet burning with a kind of obsessive fervor. He insisted on getting my contact info. I instinctively refused, but he immediately stepped closer, blocking my way, his voice suddenly rising: “What’s the big deal about giving your number? You look down on me?” In that instant, a news headline flashed wildly in my mind: “Woman Stabbed to Death After Refusing Advances.” A profound sense of alarm shot through me from my feet upwards. I didn’t dare provoke him, so I forced a smile and took out my phone to scan his code. He watched me intently as I clicked “add,” then grinned, revealing a mouth full of crooked yellow teeth, and left, satisfied. At the time, I just felt a wave of bad luck, planning to delete him once I got home. But now, this name, this message, and that chilling post… That poster was him! What did he want to do to me? Follow the breadcrumbs? Pinpoint information? Show up at my door to display his… manhood? My stomach churned instantly. I only felt a slight relief after confirming my profile was private. Suppressing my disgust, my fingers trembled as I typed on the screen. I couldn’t provoke him, but I had to cut ties quickly. “Sorry, my profile isn’t really open.” “And my boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate me adding random strangers. Apologies, but let’s just unmatch each other.” Send. Without waiting for his reply, I immediately clicked his profile picture, then the top right corner: Delete Contact. “Confirm”! Not a second of hesitation! Watching the system notification “You have deleted this contact” on my screen, I exhaled slowly. It was over. But after all that last night, for some inexplicable reason, I reopened that post. The page refreshed. A stark red, angry update abruptly stung my eyes! Poster: “Damn it! That bitch deleted me! Just now, she tried to use some stupid ‘boyfriend’ excuse!” Below was his screenshot. My profile picture, and the two sentences I had just sent, were clear as day, word for word! The comment section instantly erupted. “Hahaha, OP, don’t be so overconfident. She’s politely rejecting you, can’t you tell?” “A toad trying to eat swan meat, she deleted you, serves you right!” “PSA: A girl agreeing to add you doesn’t mean she’s agreed to your marriage proposal. She just didn’t want to embarrass you in person.” Amidst the mockery, Mark Jensen’s replies were particularly twisted, each word reeking of resentment and distortion. “Bullshit! If she wasn’t interested, why would she agree to add me? She clearly has a boyfriend and still added me, isn’t that hinting I can steal her away?!” “She’s testing me! Playing hard to get!” Reading his deranged words, I felt a surge of anger and dread crawl up my spine. This person… he’s a total psychopath, isn’t he? Impossible to reason with. Just as I was about to close the page, a new reply popped up. It was from the ID that had encouraged the poster to “search the internet, stake out her home.” His reply was just a short sentence, but it sent a chill down my spine. “Boyfriend? Buddy, don’t let her fool you.” “I checked for you. All her social media profiles show she’s single.” “That’s a green light, understand? She’s waiting for you to make a move.” The ID immediately posted another reply, filled with malicious instigation. “I’ve seen plenty of women like her; they’re just faking it. They look down on honest guys like you, always putting on airs. Give her a lesson, and she’ll straighten up.” Mark Jensen was predictably ignited. “But she deleted me! I can’t reach her now, damn it!” “Deleted?” The ID scoffed, “Heh, just a little trick. Don’t worry, buddy, I’ve got the skills to dig up her phone number, address, company, all her info for you.” In the thread, Mark Jensen was already ecstatic. “Good buddy! DM me! Quick!” Psycho! A complete and utter psycho! I couldn’t help but curse under my breath, but the image of Mark Jensen’s obsessive, fervent face from this afternoon, and his relentless determination, vividly reappeared before my eyes. What if… he really does show up at my door! 2 Acting on caution, I swiftly took screenshots of all the chat logs and pages. I didn’t even have time to change my jacket. I grabbed my keys and rushed out of the house, heading straight for the nearest police station! “Officer, I want to report something! Someone is doxing me online and threatening my personal safety!” The officer who handled my report was very patient, but after reviewing all my screenshots, he merely frowned. “Madam, this… for now, it’s just online talk. They haven’t caused you any actual harm, so it’s difficult for us to open a case.” “But they want to dig up my information! They want to show up at my door!” I was getting anxious. “How about this,” the officer thought for a moment. “We can contact this Mark Jensen, ask him to come in, and give him a verbal warning, explaining the situation clearly.” Call him in? My whole body stiffened. I couldn’t imagine what a fanatic like Mark Jensen would do after being warned by the police. That would only completely enrage him! “…Then, let’s not bother for now.” I practically gritted my teeth, squeezing out the words. Walking out of the police station, a huge sense of powerlessness swallowed me. Back home, I double-locked all the doors, still feeling uneasy. For some inexplicable reason, I refreshed that post again. The page displayed—”Sorry, this post has been deleted.” Deleted? My heart sank. This was even more terrifying than if it hadn’t been deleted! It meant they had gone underground and started executing their plan! Just then— Thump! Thump! Thump! A knock on the door! The sudden sound scared me out of my wits. My phone clattered to the floor! Who was it?! I even stopped breathing. I tiptoed to the door, my heart pounding as if it would burst from my throat. I didn’t dare make a sound, trembling as I pressed my eye to the peephole. But it was blurry outside. I couldn’t see anything! The peephole seemed to be smeared with something sticky! It hadn’t been like that when I came home! I quickly backed away two steps, rushed to the living room, and opened the home security camera app on my phone. The live feed of the doorway showed the hallway was empty. I immediately brought up the recorded playback. The time: less than five minutes after I got home. A man in a black hoodie, wearing a mask and a cap, appeared on the screen. He stealthily pressed himself against my door, listening for a while, then stepped back, facing my front door, and unzipped his pants. His lower half began to make extremely lewd thrusting motions! A few seconds later, he stopped, and meticulously… used his finger to smear a warm, thick white liquid on my peephole! I clamped my hand over my mouth, barely stopping myself from throwing up. It was him. It was Mark Jensen! Fear, like countless cold hands, instantly gripped my heart. I rushed back to the door, slammed the security chain on, and double-locked every lock I could. After doing all that, my hands still shaking, I dialed 911, and then the building management. “Someone… someone at my door… he…” My voice trembled uncontrollably; I could barely speak a complete sentence. Perhaps my panic was too real; the police and management arrived almost simultaneously. I showed them the security video. The police officer’s face instantly became grave. But the property manager, in her business skirt suit, showed a hint of impatience. “Madam, it’s possible an outsider slipped in. We’ll enhance security. Don’t make too much of it…” “Make too much of it?” I almost exploded. “This is a pervert! This is harassment! He’s threatening my personal safety!” The female manager pursed her lips, muttering in a volume just loud enough for me to hear: “Who knows if you brought this on yourself with some romantic entanglement.” “What did you say?!” “Officer!” The lead police officer sternly reprimanded her. “Watch your words! This is a victim!” The female manager then shut up. The police officer reassured me, stating they would immediately open an investigation, and advised me to be extra careful recently, to contact them anytime if anything happened. After they left, I felt all my strength drained, collapsing onto the sofa. Not long after, the doorbell rang. It was the property management; they said they sent a cleaner to tidy outside my door. I cautiously peered through the peephole. Standing outside was an “auntie” wearing a mask and a cleaning cap. Her figure was quite tall, her broad shoulders almost filling the entire cleaning uniform. But my highly strung nerves were throbbing with a headache, and I didn’t have the energy to think deeper. I just wanted this to be over quickly. I said “thank you” through the door, then retreated to the living room, preparing to lie down in my bedroom. But just then— Beep! Beep! Beep! Alarm! Multiple incorrect password attempts! The electronic lock’s piercing alarm suddenly blared! I shot up from the bed, instinctively pulled open my bedroom door, and peeked out. The front door was actually ajar! The “cleaner” from earlier was standing at the doorway. He slowly, slowly straightened his hunched body. He took off his cap and mask, revealing Mark Jensen’s obsessive and fervent face! He saw me, and instead of running, he grinned, showing his yellow teeth. “Heh heh, I’ve come to… make friends with you.”

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My savings were gone. It had been three days since Olivia’s accident, and she was still in a coma. Desperate, I tried to use her debit card, punching in every anniversary I could remember. Each attempt met with a frustrating ‘incorrect password’ message. “My partner’s parents are out of the country and unreachable,” I pleaded with the bank teller, a young woman with kind eyes. “Is there any other way?” The customer service manager, after checking her system, looked at me with a puzzled expression. “It’s not that complicated, Mr. Reed. You’re Ms. Chen’s legal husband. Just bring your marriage certificate and we can process a guardianship.” The solution was clear, simple. But I froze. Reed wasn’t my name. My girlfriend of eight years, Olivia – when had she gotten married to someone else? 1 I clutched the application form, the unfamiliar name “Ethan Reed” staring back at me, and stumbled out of the bank in a daze. The afternoon sun was blinding, yet a chill ran through me. Back at the hospital, I found Olivia’s phone. The battery was dead. I plugged it in, and soon the screen flickered to life. A local number, unsaved, illuminated the display. Taking a deep breath, I answered. “Olivia! What’s going on? Your phone’s been off for days, no replies to my texts. You’re going to give me a heart attack!” A young man’s voice, thick with tears, spilled from the speaker. My grip tightened on the phone, my fingers icy. “Hello? Say something! Where are you?” “Hello,” I managed, forcing my voice steady. “May I ask who you are to Ms. Chen?” The line went silent for a beat. Then, without hesitation, “I’m her husband. Who are you? Why do you have her phone?” His words pierced through my last shred of hope. My heart plummeted. “This is St. Jude’s Hospital ICU.” My throat ached, a burning lump, as I fought back the overwhelming heat in my eyes. “Your wife, Ms. Olivia Chen, was in a severe car accident three days ago. She’s still in critical condition. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible.” Before he could respond, I hung up. Not long after, a handsome man in a rumpled shirt, stumbled out of the elevator, his eyes wide with panic. He rushed to the ICU observation window. “Honey, what happened to you?! Look at me and our baby!” He pressed his hands against the glass, sobbing uncontrollably. “Wake up! You can’t leave us… You can’t abandon us…” I stood a short distance away, watching another man cry out “honey” to the woman I had loved for eight years. The last flicker of hope in my heart finally died. 2 I wanted to rush over, to shove that bank application form in his face and demand answers. But my gaze fell on the dark circles under his eyes, the visible exhaustion etched on his features. The accusation caught in my throat. He hadn’t slept. If anything happened to him, I couldn’t bear the responsibility. Clutching my phone and that flimsy piece of paper in my pocket, I turned and left the hospital. Like a defeated soldier retreating from battle. Back in the apartment we’d shared for five years, her presence was everywhere. I sat on the sofa, staring at the birthday on Ethan’s application form: 03/15. I typed it into Olivia’s phone. It unlocked. My heart felt like it was being twisted and wrung out. I opened her messaging app and searched for the number that had called earlier. An account labeled “Mobile Customer Service Manager” popped up. I clicked on his profile, scrolling through his posts. Last year, on my birthday, she’d said she had to work late, sending me a gift card to buy whatever I liked. I’d gleefully posted about it. On the same day, Ethan’s social media showed a table laden with homemade food. The caption read: “Someone said they were tired of eating out, insisted on coming home for my pasta.” In a corner of the photo, there was a blurry glimpse of her, head bent, eating. This year, for Valentine’s Day, she’d given me an elegant watch. I loved it so much I wanted to wear it even to sleep. But that very day, Ethan had posted a grid of nine photos: rings, a necklace, shoes, clothes. A complete set of dazzling jewelry and apparel, sparkling in velvet boxes. His caption: “Thanks to Ms. Chen for still spoiling me like a young man.” There were countless other moments. Her back as she made breakfast in the kitchen. Their hands intertwined as she drove. Her sleeping profile. Even the dog we adopted together, the one she told me had run away, now appeared in his photos, curled at his feet. My hands trembled as I scrolled further. My breath hitched when I saw a series of luxurious wedding photos from two years ago. A wedding gown, a toast dress, golden confetti showering down. Olivia, wearing the custom-made gown I’d gifted her, smiled radiantly, arm in arm with the gentle Ethan. Her bridesmaids, clustered around her… Their faces were glaringly familiar. They were Olivia’s closest friends since childhood. Sarah had just eaten dinner at our place last month, even taking home some of the pickled vegetables I’d made. Jessica, two months ago, was short on money for a house, and I’d lent her ten thousand dollars without a second thought. And Michael, Laura’s boyfriend, had just invited me for a game of golf and afternoon tea last weekend. But in the photos, they wore matching bridesmaid dresses, arms slung around each other, smiling into the camera without a trace of shadow. They all knew. And they had all, silently, conspired to keep her secret. Even earlier, Ethan had announced their marriage with a post: “Officially off the market! To the rest of our lives, please advise, @Liv.” I remembered that day vividly. Olivia had told me her company was holding a mandatory training retreat. Turns out, she was with another man, promising him her future. I kept looking, and then, suddenly, I laughed. A low chuckle at first, then my shoulders started to shake, and tears streamed down my face. Eight years. From the innocence of college to the grind of professional life. Every single blueprint for my future included her. Everyone around us had already assumed we were married, just missing the certificate. But that certificate, it turns out, was an insurmountable chasm. She had given it to someone else. I spent eight years of my youth building what I thought was a love nest. Unbeknownst to me, I was merely laying bricks for someone else’s marriage. How utterly ridiculous. How tragic. 3 Three days later, I received a message from a colleague at the hospital: Olivia had woken up. Her vital signs were stable, and she had been moved to a regular room. When I pushed open the door to her room, she was propped up in bed. Ethan sat on the edge of the mattress, his fingers intertwined with hers, his other hand carefully helping her drink water. A picture of deep affection, a couple reunited after facing death. The sound of my footsteps startled them. Olivia’s tender expression froze the moment she saw me. Her hand tightened around Ethan’s. Ethan winced, looking at me suspiciously. “You are…” “Olivia,” I stared at her, “we’ve known each other for eight years. How could I not know you got married and became a mother?” Ethan’s gaze became wary. “Liv, who is he?” Olivia’s face turned from pale to green. She forced a stiff smile. “Ethan, let me introduce you. This is Arthur Hayes, a college acquaintance. He… he works at this hospital. He heard about my accident and just dropped by to check on me.” She spoke quickly, desperately, sending me warning glances. “Acquaintance?” Ethan’s brow didn’t unfurrow. He turned to Olivia, his tone laced with a touch of petulance. “What kind of acquaintance cares this much about you? Besides, what does our marriage have to do with him? Why is he acting like he’s prosecuting you?” Olivia immediately turned to soothe him. “Arthur just has a quick temper. He… well, there might have been some misunderstandings in the past. He’s probably just a bit upset that I’m married now.” Then she turned back to me, her eyes pleading with me to leave. “Arthur, the past is the past. I have my own life now, and I have Ethan. My health isn’t good right now, and I can’t handle stress. You should go do your rounds, don’t neglect your work.” As she spoke, she kept her eyes, once filled with affection, now only with panic and annoyance, fixed on me. She subtly shook her head. I watched the fine sheen of sweat on her forehead. I watched her grip Ethan’s hand, looking as if she faced an enemy. The last spark of warmth in my heart died out. I said nothing, simply turned and pulled open the door, leaving with no hesitation. The door closed behind me, and I vaguely heard Olivia’s sigh of relief, followed by her sickeningly sweet voice telling Ethan, “It’s nothing. Just an insignificant person. Are you tired? Do you want to go rest? The doctor just said you need more quiet time…” The hallway lights were harsh, stinging my eyes. Eight years. Countless days and nights of companionship and support. In her words, it had all been reduced to an “insignificant person.” I knew she wanted to force me into a humiliating retreat. But I would not allow myself to be pushed into such a contemptible position. I tightened my grip on Olivia’s phone in my pocket. It held countless of her secrets. If this was how it would be, then it was time for a complete reckoning. 4 Late that night, during my overnight shift, the office door was quietly pushed open. Olivia slipped in, locking it behind her, and without a word, fell to her knees at my feet. “Arthur, I was wrong.” Her voice was hoarse, her eyes bloodshot. “Please don’t be angry. Let me explain…” “Don’t bother,” I interrupted. “I saw the marriage certificate.” I looked down at her, asking the question that had gnawed at me for days. “Olivia, between him and me, who is the real interloper?” She flinched, her eyes darting away. “He was forced on me by my family.” Olivia swallowed, then spoke with difficulty. “Arthur, I never dared tell you… My mom, she never approved of us being together. She said you, as a doctor, would be too busy to take care of me… And then there’s your mom’s situation. She heard your mom has mental health issues and worried you might inherit something…” My breath hitched, blood rushing to my head. “Don’t you know why my mother became that way?” I was trembling, not from sadness, but from extreme absurdity and fury. “Wasn’t it because my father constantly had other women, driving her to madness?” “You know what I hate most! You know how much I despise people who cheat! Why… why would you do this to me?!” “I know! I know all of it!” She shuffled forward on her knees, desperately gripping my clothes. Tears streamed down her upturned face. “You’re the one I love, Arthur! He’s just a way to appease my family, an act for my mother. I swear! He won’t affect us. You’re the only one in my heart! Everything I have is yours! We can go back to how things were… You two can just stay out of each other’s lives!” Stay out of each other’s lives? I let out a bitter laugh, raising my hand and striking her across the face. “You mean you expect me to live in the shadows forever, to always endure, waiting for you to fulfill your duties as a wife and mother in another home, just to give me a sliver of your time? Olivia, you must be dreaming!” The plea faded from Olivia’s face, replaced by a grim determination. “Arthur Hayes, think carefully.” She stood up, lowering her voice, a subtle threat in her tone. “You and I have eight years. All our friends, colleagues, even your parents, know that you’re mine.” “Our shared plans, the promises we made, the path we walked… don’t these tangible eight years mean more than that piece of paper? As long as you stay quiet and don’t make a scene, I’ll always be yours. That paper, it’s just a formality…” I looked at her, so self-righteous, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity. This face, compared to the nervous, sweaty-palmed girl who awkwardly handed me a hot tea outside the library eight years ago… How could they be the same person? Back then, she had said, “Arthur, I’ll be good to you my whole life.” But now? She had not only cheated, secretly married someone else, but even… I remembered the photos Ethan had posted online. At first, I thought she brought him back to our home when I was away. But on closer inspection, it was clearly their wedding home, a mirror image of ours, replicated detail for detail! All to deceive me when we video-called during my night shifts. None of this deception was spontaneous. It was a calculated, years-long fabrication. I opened the door to the on-call room with disgust, pushing her out with all my strength. “Get out!” Olivia stumbled out the door, then stood outside, softly knocking and pleading. “Arthur, don’t be rash! I really do love you… Please think about it.” A moment later, her phone rang. “Arthur, Ethan woke up. I have to go back quickly. He’s home taking care of the baby…” Her footsteps faded into the distance. I sank to the floor, drained. Tears streamed silently down my face. Eight years, heavy on my heart, suffocating me with pain. How could it not hurt when you’ve loved someone with all your being? But I knew, some paths, you couldn’t take a single wrong step on. The next day, I stopped Ethan outside Olivia’s room. “Ethan, there are some things about Olivia I think you need to know…” I had barely started when he chuckled, his gaze knowing. “Dr. Hayes, don’t bother pretending. I know you and she are more than just old acquaintances, right?” He took a small step closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “I’ve seen the private photo album on her phone. It’s full of your pictures. From college until now—” He paused, savoring my stunned expression. “You’re her boyfriend of eight years, just shy of a marriage certificate.” “And I,” he straightened, a triumphant smirk on his face, “am her legitimate husband.”

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Watching Rupert finish his tenth pineapple, I coldly presented the divorce papers. “Rupert, we’re getting a divorce.” Rupert paused, his hand still reaching for a napkin to wipe his fingers. “Darling, what’s this about now?” “You’ve eaten ten pineapples in three days,” I stated. Rupert chuckled, reaching out to stroke my hair as he always did. “These past few days, the pineapples haven’t been that good, so I didn’t save you any. How about this, to make amends with my princess, I’ll take you shopping for a designer bag tomorrow? What do you say?” I lowered my eyes, a bitter taste in my mouth. In three years of marriage, he had never once lost his temper with me. Even when I threw petty tantrums, he would patiently buy me gifts, apologize, and make amends. But this time, I stepped back, calmly avoiding his hand. “No need. I’m just tired of it.” “Please sign quickly. If we get the divorce papers finalized now, you’ll still make it for your business trip tonight.” After all, the person who made him eat ten pineapples in three days was about to arrive at our doorstep. 1 Rupert’s smile froze. He looked at me, incredulous. “You’re divorcing me because I ate ten pineapples?” I turned and stared at him intently. “Yes, exactly because of that.” Rupert tugged irritably at his tie. “Alice Grey, stop fooling around. This business trip is important. Be a good girl and wait for me to come home.” I looked at him coldly. “I’m not fooling around.” Rupert frowned, about to say something, when the front door beeped with a password entry. Chelsea’s voice drifted in. “Rupert, the car’s downstairs. The CEO for this acquisition is very particular, we need to get there early to prepare the documents… Oh, Alice, you’re home too.” She slipped off her shoes, a pair of matching pink slippers that belonged to Rupert and me, and greeted me with a smile. Seeing Chelsea, Rupert’s brows instantly relaxed. He glanced at me, his tone softening slightly. “Chelsea’s here to pick me up. Alice, let’s talk about whatever it is when I get back from my trip. Don’t let outsiders laugh at us.” Chelsea naturally walked over to Rupert, reaching up to straighten his slightly crooked tie. Her movements were intimate, as practiced as if they were the true owners of this house. “Alice, don’t be mad at Rupert.” Chelsea smiled at me as she adjusted his tie. “Rupert’s been pulling all-nighters for days to rush this project. His appetite hasn’t been good, so he just wanted something sweet and sour.” “I specially arranged for those pineapples to be flown in from the south. I didn’t expect Rupert to like them so much.” She paused, her voice playful. “I accidentally overheard you arguing at the door. Alice, you’re not angry over such a small thing, are you?” I watched Rupert let her fuss over him, showing no intention of maintaining distance. I had brought it up before—Chelsea was the daughter of his grandfather’s war buddy, and his assistant, but there was still a clear line between men and women. What had Rupert said then? He said, “Chelsea lost her parents when she was young. She’s innocent and sees me as a big brother. If I push her away, how heartbroken would she be? Alice, you’re the most generous. Don’t fuss over a young girl.” I was generous for three years. In return, he gave all his patience and boundaries to another woman. “I’m not angry,” I said, looking at them, my voice very soft. “So, let’s get a divorce.” Chelsea’s hand froze. She gasped, covering her mouth. “Divorce? Alice, you’re not serious, are you? Rupert is so good to you. How can you treat marriage as a joke?” Rupert’s face completely darkened. He ripped off his tie, throwing it heavily onto the sofa. “Alice Grey, are you ever going to be done with this?” “In front of Chelsea, you just have to make me lose face, don’t you? I’ve explained it. The pineapples are because my appetite isn’t good, and Chelsea is doing her job. Can’t you be sensible?” The disappointment in his eyes stung my heart. In these three years, the word I heard most often was “sensible.” When Chelsea got a minor cut in the middle of the night, he abandoned me on my birthday to rush to the hospital, telling me to be sensible. When Chelsea had a breakup, he canceled our wedding anniversary trip to comfort her, telling me to be sensible. Now, even when I brought up divorce, he expected me to be sensible for his sake. “Sign the papers, and I’ll be sensible,” I said, handing him the pen. Rupert stared at me for a few seconds, then let out a cold laugh. “Fine, Alice Grey, you’ve really grown up.” He walked away without even glancing at the agreement. “Since that’s how it is, let’s both cool down. I’ll stay at the office for a while. When you’re done with your tantrum, I’ll come back.” Chelsea hurried after him. As she passed me, she paused, whispering in a voice only we could hear, “Alice, some things, if they’re not yours, holding onto them is useless. Pineapples are like that, and people are too.” Then, her heels clicking, she caught up with Rupert. “Rupert, wait for me, you forgot your stomach medicine…” The front door slammed shut. The house fell back into a deathly silence. I looked at the unsigned divorce papers on the coffee table. I didn’t take anything else. I left the house alone. This time, I wanted nothing. And I truly wouldn’t be coming back. I moved back to my parents’ house. In the past three years, I had rarely stayed here, busy taking care of Rupert’s every need. My parents’ expressions shifted from surprise to alarm when they saw me walk in with my suitcase. “Alice, what’s wrong? Did you argue with Rupert?” My mother took my suitcase, cautiously probing. I shook my head, tiredly changing my shoes. “No argument. I just wanted to come back and stay for a few days.” “Did Rupert bully you?” My father slammed down his newspaper. “If that boy dared to treat you badly, I wouldn’t let him get away with it!” “No,” I forced a smile. “He’s on a business trip. I was just bored at home by myself.” I hadn’t figured out how to tell them about the divorce. In my parents’ eyes, Rupert was the ideal son-in-law, a rare gem. Young, accomplished, gentle, and utterly devoted to me. Even during holidays, Rupert was unfailingly polite, charming all our relatives. In everyone’s eyes, marrying him was a step up, a fall into a life of good fortune. I was too tired to explain. I just wanted a good night’s sleep. But even that wish was a luxury. Less than half an hour after lying down, Rupert called. I didn’t want to answer, so I hung up. He called again. I hung up again. By the fifth time, I sighed and answered. “Alice Grey, where are you?” Rupert’s voice on the other end was choked with anger, the background noisy, like a social gathering. “I’m at my parents’ house,” I replied calmly. “Who told you to go back there?” Rupert’s voice rose a few octaves. “I’m only gone for two days on a business trip, and you run back to your parents to complain? How old are you, don’t you have any self-respect?” My fingers tightened slightly around the phone. “I didn’t complain. I just moved out.” “Moved out? What do you mean?” Rupert seemed startled, then his tone became even more impatient. “Are you really going to separate from me over a few measly pineapples? Alice Grey, my patience has limits.” “Mr. King!” Chelsea’s sweet voice came from the other end. “Mr. Thompson is toasting you. Please come over quickly.” Followed by a burst of cheers. “Mr. King is such a busy man, checking in with home even during a business dinner?” “Is the wife checking up on him? Let Assistant Chelsea explain to the wife.” Rupert covered the mouthpiece, his voice lowering slightly. “I’m entertaining right now. I don’t have time for your nonsense. There’s a charity gala tomorrow night. Dress appropriately, and I’ll pick you up. Don’t give me any attitude. This is important.” With that, he hung up without giving me a chance to refuse. Looking at the darkened screen, I felt no ripple of emotion. In the past, even a slightly harsh tone from him would have left me sad for half a day, making me wonder if I had truly done something wrong. Now, I just found it amusing. In his eyes, my departure, my divorce papers, were all just petty attempts to gain attention. All he had to do was offer a small olive branch, and I would gratefully crawl back. Unfortunately, this time he was wrong. The next evening, I didn’t go to the charity gala as he expected. I turned off my phone and went to the cinema alone to watch a film I had long wanted to see. Rupert never liked these art-house films, finding them boring. Every time I wanted to go, I’d end up compromising and watching a commercial blockbuster with him. Or, sometimes, I’d be stood up entirely because of a call from Chelsea. It was already 10 PM when the movie let out. I turned on my phone, and a barrage of missed calls and messages flooded in. Not just from Rupert, but from my parents, and even from Chelsea. Rupert: [Where are you? I’m downstairs at your parents’ house, and no one’s home?] [Alice Grey, are you doing this on purpose? Are you happy to embarrass me in front of my business partners?] [Call me back immediately!] Chelsea: [Alice, you’re too willful. So many CEOs brought their wives tonight. Rupert was all alone and kept getting asked questions. My heart went out to him.] [Luckily, I wore a gown today, so I temporarily filled in as his female companion. Otherwise, Rupert would have been completely humiliated tonight.] [Photo.jpg] In the photo, Rupert, in a black suit, looked handsome and distinguished. Chelsea, arm in arm with him, wore a light blue mermaid gown, her smile radiant. That gown was a custom design I had admired last month, but Rupert had said it was too revealing for me. Now, Chelsea wore it. They stood together, a perfect couple, like a pair made for each other. I looked at the photo, feeling my stomach churn, utterly disgusted. Without replying to any messages, I blocked both of them.

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1 The day my family went bankrupt, I dragged my father back from the rooftop. Turning around, I accepted Lucien’s proposal, but for the dowry, I demanded two million dollars. He was silent for three seconds, then chuckled, “Deal.” Yet, barely half a year into our marriage, he brought his young mistress home. Before I could even react, he tossed our prenuptial agreement in my face. “Don’t get confused about your place. Didn’t you already sell yourself to me back then? That price, it should be enough to buy your subservience for a lifetime, shouldn’t it?” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my flesh, but I was powerless to retort. It wasn’t until I had a threatened miscarriage, and the medical bill was short by exactly fourteen dollars, that I truly broke. Over the phone, his voice was dismissive: “Didn’t I already pay you what I owed before we got married? What, did you get addicted to being a gold-digger?” He then turned around and spent fourteen million dollars on a necklace for his new lover, a gift for her first night with him. Facing the nurse’s urgent prompt, I forced a smile through my tears. “Forget the medicine. Please schedule me for an abortion.” A marriage bought for two million dollars, it was time for it to end. … No sooner had the words left my lips than a bank transfer notification popped up on my phone. Not a cent more, not a cent less—exactly fourteen dollars. The transfer note contained just a few simple words: “Buy your medicine. Don’t disgrace the Reed name.” I tugged at my lips, a bitter, lifeless smile. Fourteen dollars was enough to cover that specific medical bill, but not enough for the abortion procedure. I knew Lucien wouldn’t give me any more money. I had no choice but to swallow my pride and reach out to old friends, hoping to borrow three hundred and seventeen dollars. With that, combined with the money I had and Lucien’s fourteen dollars, it would just cover the cost of a standard abortion. But when the messages were sent, replies quickly came in. “Oh, is the great Ms. Evans short on cash? Did two million dollars run out that fast?” “Tsk, tsk, if you hadn’t haggled like that back then and broken Lucien’s heart, you wouldn’t be shamelessly begging for a few hundred dollars now!” A torrent of mocking messages flooded my screen. But they no longer stung my heart as they once did. In a way, I had become numb, accustomed to it. Accustomed to Lucien treating our marriage as a transaction, and me as an item he’d purchased for two million. Accustomed to his friends’ sneers and sarcastic remarks, finding new ways to call me a gold-digger. Accustomed to the embarrassment of an empty wallet, repeatedly trampling my dignity to beg Lucien for charity. In truth, at first, I thought I had hands and feet, I could surely cover my normal expenses. I might even save two million to repay the money I’d borrowed from Lucien under the guise of a dowry. But Lucien had cut off every path for me to earn money. “I’ve already paid two million to buy out the rest of your life. From now on, your time, your freedom, are mine.” He used the tactic of forcing me to beg him for money to vent his resentment towards me. He hated me for treating our love as a bargaining chip for money, believing I had deceived him for three years, only to reveal my true colors for cash. I had explained many times, but he never had the patience to listen. “What’s the point of so many excuses?” he’d say. “You asked for the money. We’ve become this way, and you only have yourself to blame.” My phone suddenly chimed. Someone had transferred me three hundred and seventy-one dollars, saying it was a “reward” for how satisfying it was to insult me. I wiped the coldness from my face, smiled at the nurse, and said, “I can pay now. Please arrange the procedure for me as soon as possible.” But I didn’t have enough money for a pain pump. I could only lie wide awake on the cold operating table, feeling cold sweat slowly soak my hair and back. I could even clearly feel the instruments entering my body, scraping repeatedly inside. As the tearing pain hit, I thought of Lucien again. He once held me in his arms, gently stroking my head. “After we get married, we can have a child. Boy or girl, I’ll love you both with my life.” But when I actually became pregnant, he said: “Alright, how much money are you going to demand for the child this time?” No more, Lucien. I want nothing more. Money, love, and you—I want none of it. After an unbearable amount of time, the surgery finally ended. As the instruments withdrew, the surrounding sounds gradually returned. The nurse unfastened the restraints on my legs and helped me to an observation bed for half an hour. I stared blankly at the dark sky outside the window, tears falling one by one. Suddenly, a solitary firework shot up, bursting into bloom in the sky. Then, a city-wide display of brilliant fireworks followed. I watched the night sky, bright as day, in a daze. I overheard the envious whispers of a few young nurses: “Did you hear? CEO Reed specially arranged this for his sweetheart! His girlfriend is so lucky!” “Oh, what girlfriend? CEO Reed has a wife! But I heard she’s a gold-digger. She’s doing worse than his household staff now!” On the way home, I dragged my aching lower body, each step a struggle. An empty taxi pulled up in front of me, rolling down its window to ask where I was going. I waved my hand with difficulty. “No need.” I couldn’t afford the fare. So, step by step, I walked towards the house, ten miles away. Along the way, many people were reminiscing and marveling at tonight’s grand firework display. “It was so beautiful! If someone could set off fireworks like that for me, my life would be complete, boohoohoo!” “What are you dreaming about? Do you think everyone is CEO Reed’s girlfriend? Look at that woman, her face is so pale, and no one cares for her either!” I instinctively looked up at the two young girls whispering. They instantly blushed, quickly saying they didn’t mean anything, and asked if I needed help. I shook my head with a smile. What I wanted to say was, I once had fireworks like that too. Once, I had someone who cared. That was the day Lucien proposed to me. He knelt before me, holding a ring in one hand, his eyes red. “Clara, you’re the most special girl I’ve ever met. I’m willing to spend my life cherishing and loving you.” “Will you marry me?” Behind him, fireworks more dazzling than today’s erupted. But at that moment, I had just pulled my despairing father back from the rooftop. Creditors were still besieging my house, threatening my mother and seven-year-old sister if I didn’t pay them back immediately. I had no choice. So I could only say to him, “Lucien, can you… lend me two million dollars?” His expression instantly turned cold, the deep affection in his eyes slowly receding. He slowly stood up, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. “Everyone says you’re with me to climb the social ladder. At first, I didn’t believe it.” “Clara Evans, you’re truly patient. You waited until I proposed to you, until it was public knowledge, to show your true colors.” He scoffed, raising his hand to stop the fireworks. He pulled a check from his pocket and threw it at my face. “Fine, you’re quite cheap, too.” From that day on, our relationship soured. No matter how much I explained, I couldn’t shed the label of “gold-digger.” With Lucien’s tacit approval, I became the most pathetic joke in the entire city’s elite circles. Even his housekeeper earned thirty thousand dollars a month, while I had to beg him for even three dollars. I kept enduring, hoping that one day his anger would subside, and he would listen to my explanation. Until the first time he brought another woman home, I completely lost it. But he merely looked at me indifferently, asking what right I had to be angry with him. He said he had already paid to buy our marriage, and even if he brought a hundred women home, it was my own doing. In that moment, my heart was shredded, yet I couldn’t utter a single word in my own defense. Against the bitter wind of early winter, I walked for six hours, finally arriving home at one AM. Pushing open the front door, the house was filled with comfortable warmth. Just as I was about to use my last bit of strength to walk to the bedroom, I heard a girl’s sweet voice from the sofa. “Sister’s back! Where’s my candy apple?” I looked at the delicate girl in Lucien’s arms, startled, and instinctively asked, “What candy apple?” “Stop playing dumb! Didn’t I message you to buy a candy apple for Maya when you came back?” Lucien sneered, sizing me up. “I spent so much money, and you can’t even fulfill such a small request?” My phone had already died. I bit my lip, forcing out a reply. “Buy your own.” Perhaps my cold attitude angered Lucien. He sprang up from the sofa, looking at me testily. “What, you want money again? Didn’t I just give you fourteen dollars? That’s enough for a candy apple, isn’t it?” “Go buy it right now! If you can’t get one, don’t come back!” I looked at him, incredulous. In the past six months, this wasn’t the first time Lucien had spoken to me in such a tone. I thought I was already numb. But a dull ache spread through my chest, even more devastating than the cramping in my abdomen. Outside, it was only a few degrees, and even through the window, I could hear the howling wind. It was past one AM. Where was I supposed to buy a candy apple? Seeing me frozen in place, Lucien scoffed. “What, still not moving? You want more money?” Lucien mockingly pulled a red bill from his wallet and threw it on the floor without looking. “Is this enough?” He paused, sizing me up as if searching for something. “You asked me for money tonight, saying you needed medicine. Where’s the medicine?” “Clara Evans, you’re truly unscrupulous for money now. Are you lying even about fourteen dollars?” Medicine? The baby was gone, what use was medicine? Before I could speak, Lucien waved over a bodyguard, who roughly pushed me out the door. Through the door, his voice sounded even colder. “If you can’t buy a candy apple, you can stay outside all night.” Then, I heard a light, coquettish female voice, followed by intimate, suggestive sounds. I instinctively wanted to get away from that sound, but I didn’t even have the strength to walk. I could only lean against the door and slowly squat down, sitting on the steps outside. The biting cold wind seeped in through my collar, thoroughly chilling my already lifeless heart. In a daze, I heard the door open behind me. The next second, Lucien’s anxious curse: “Clara Evans, are you crazy?! Can’t you find somewhere warm?!” “What’s the point of playing the victim?!” Then, I seemed to fall into a warm embrace. I thought it must be a hallucination. Lucien hated me so much now, he wouldn’t worry about me. I don’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Lucien’s ashen face. “Finally stopped pretending? It’s just a candy apple. Do you have to put on a show for me?” “What, do you want the world to know you were pregnant and almost froze to death at the Reed’s doorstep, so you can demand more money?” I opened my mouth, wanting to retort. But my throat was dry and painfully scratchy. Lucien looked away, no longer at me, and shouted out the door, “Where’s the family doctor? Why isn’t he here yet?!” “Don’t let her die in my house!” Tears silently streamed from the corners of my eyes. Lucien, what exactly do you want? You’re the one who hated me so much you wished me dead, and now you’re the one who’s afraid I’ll die. I closed my eyes, my voice hoarse and unpleasant: “Lucien, let’s get a divorce.” He spun around, as if he’d heard a joke. “Divorce? Fine. You give me back two million, and I’ll agree to a divorce.” He seemed to remember something suddenly, paused, then scoffed. “I know what it is. You think you can extort more money now that you’re pregnant with my child, don’t you?” “Tell me, how much do you want this time? Two million? Or five million?” I couldn’t hold back the injustice any longer, blurting out, “Our baby is already gone—” However, before I could finish, Maya’s exaggerated retching suddenly came from outside the door. Just then, the family doctor rushed in. After a series of examinations, the doctor hesitated before speaking: “Mr. Reed, Ms. Maya Sterling appears to be pregnant.” Boom! Something seemed to collapse completely at that moment.

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