My husband, Julian Vance, and I had been married for ten years. After multiple miscarriages and over a dozen grueling rounds of IVF, we finally had our first baby. But on the exact day our daughter was born, he brought home an 18-year-old high school senior named Crystal Woods. He claimed she was the orphaned daughter of a distant relative and that she was moving in with us to study for her SATs. Then, he forced me to give up the master bedroom to her, leaving me to cram into the tiny guest room with our newborn. At home, Crystal walked around wearing nothing but her underwear. When I complained, Julian snapped, “She’s just a kid! What’s wrong with her being comfortable in her own home?” When they sneaked into bed together in the middle of the night, Julian was completely shameless. “She had a nightmare and needed comfort. She’s a child, Vivian! Why is your mind so filthy?” But after Crystal used sleeping pills to murder my baby girl, I gave them exactly what they wanted—a divorce. And then, I personally dragged them both into a courtroom.

On the day our daughter was born, Julian, who had been missing for a whole month, finally showed up at the hospital. “Julian… look… look at our… our baby… girl…” I was trembling with exhaustion and joy as I tried to hand him our daughter. It had taken nine agonizing rounds of IVF to finally carry her to term. But he just pushed her away with a look of pure disgust. “There’s nothing to look at. Just hope she didn’t inherit your pathetic stutter.” Then, he stepped aside to reveal a pretty young girl standing behind him. “This is Crystal Woods. She’s the daughter of a distant relative who passed away. She’ll be staying with us for the next three months before her college exams so I can tutor her.” “Hi, Vivian. I’m so sorry to put you out,” Crystal said. Her voice sounded sweet and polite, but her eyes were dripping with pure provocation. She was young, radiant, and beautiful. Meanwhile, I had just given birth. I was swollen, weighing 180 pounds, with a pale, exhausted face and greasy hair. Instinctively, a chill ran down my spine. Besides, she looked incredibly familiar. I felt like I had seen her somewhere before, but my exhausted brain couldn’t place it. I tried to refuse. “We… we only have two… two bedrooms. My parents are coming to help with the baby. We don’t… don’t have space…” “Then tell them not to come. You can handle the baby yourself,” Julian said impatiently. But I had just had a C-section. My abdominal incision was fresh, stitched up, and still bleeding. My body had already been ravaged by years of failed IVF treatments. I was incredibly weak. There was no way I could handle a newborn alone. I suggested paying for a hotel room for Crystal instead. Julian flew into a rage. “I’m already swamped with my university work, and now you want me running back and forth to a hotel?” “You have a stutter, Vivian, not a physical disability. You can’t even handle one baby?” “Stop being so dramatic!” He kept berating me until Crystal suddenly pinched her nose. “Oh my god, Julian, do you smell that? Gross! Vivian wet the bed!” Crystal screamed. “It’s bad enough Vivian stutters, but now she’s incontinent? You have to clean up her mess? You poor thing.” I had only leaked because I had just given birth. Embarrassed and desperate, I looked at Julian for help. He pinched his nose, took several steps back in disgust, and sneered, “I’m not touching that. It’s filthy!” Without even looking at his own daughter, he turned and walked out. I stayed in the hospital for seven days. He didn’t show up once. It was my parents who took care of me and the baby. When I finally went home, the apartment was a disaster. Crystal’s things were everywhere, and her luggage had completely taken over our master bedroom. All of my belongings had been thrown into the tiny guest room. It was so cramped I could barely turn around. I protested, saying the small room was too stuffy and hot for a newborn. I refused to swap. Julian looked at me like I was the unreasonable one. “Exactly. It’s too stuffy, which is why Crystal can’t sleep there. She needs to focus on her studies. You and the baby can just deal with it. It’s not going to kill you!” With that, he grabbed Crystal’s hand and pulled her into the master bedroom, shutting the door to “tutor” her. That night, the baby cried relentlessly. I was dizzy from pain, trying to change diapers and breastfeed at the same time. I was completely overwhelmed. I called out to Julian for help over and over, but he ignored me. Once the baby finally fell asleep, I went to find him. Through the crack in the master bedroom door, I saw Crystal resting her head on his shoulder.

“Julian, you’re so smart. You explained that calculus problem in like two seconds. I totally adore you!” “You’re just a smart girl,” Julian said, affectionately pinching her cheek. “By the way, I bought this lingerie for you. See if you like it,” Julian said, his eyes darkening with something sinister. “As long as you like it, that’s all that matters,” Crystal whispered. She placed her hand on his thigh, turned her head toward the door, and gave me a smug, triumphant smirk. I couldn’t watch any longer. I called Julian out. The second he stepped into the hallway, he started complaining that the baby’s crying was distracting Crystal. He actually demanded that I take the baby outside so they could finish their lesson—completely ignoring the fact that a blizzard was raging outside. Remembering the way Crystal had just looked at him, I felt sick. “She’s… she’s not a child… Having her live here and spending so much time alone with her… it’s… it’s not right…” Julian’s eyes flared with anger. “Are you accusing us of something?! Crystal is only eighteen! How can your mind be so disgusting?” “Vivian, you honestly make me sick!” His harsh words left me completely speechless. “Crystal is probably anxious on her first night here. I’m going to go keep her company.” “She has school at seven tomorrow morning. Get up at six and make her breakfast!” “But… but I have to watch the baby…” Julian didn’t care. He slammed the door in my face. The loud slam startled the baby, and she burst into tears again. I had to carry her and pace around the room. My back was throbbing, my arms felt like they were breaking, and my C-section scar was oozing blood. When Julian finally came back to the room later, he saw the blood but didn’t ask how I was. Instead, he yelled at me for ruining the bedsheets. He grabbed a spare blanket, stuffed a pillow over his ears, and went to sleep. The baby cried until five in the morning. The moment I finished dressing my wound and lay down, Julian kicked me awake, ordering me to make breakfast for Crystal. At the breakfast table, they sat incredibly close, laughing and chatting. In our ten years of marriage, he had never smiled at me like that. My throat tightened, and a heavy lump formed in my chest. “Vivian, I heard you majored in English. Can you help me study?” Crystal asked mockingly. Julian let out a cold laugh. “What could a stutterer teach you? Besides, she’s been a housewife for ten years. She probably can’t even recite the alphabet anymore.” Crystal smirked. “I’m never going to end up as useless as Vivian. I’m going to be a top-tier translator.” “Of course you are. I’ll make sure your path is cleared,” Julian said, caressing Crystal’s face, completely ignoring the agony in my eyes. Over the next few days, I had to take care of the baby and act as their maid. I lost five pounds in a single week. Crystal seemed to be doing it on purpose. She left the expensive designer items Julian bought her scattered all over the place, forcing me to clean up after her. Finally, I snapped. “This… this is not your house… I am not… your maid.” “If you… if you don’t like it, why don’t you go… go tell Julian? Why are you yelling at me!” Crystal mocked, mimicking my stutter perfectly. What was worse was that she constantly walked around the house in just her bra and underwear. When I confronted her, she sneered and told me I was just jealous of her youth and her body. “Look at yourself. You’re a 180-pound whale covered in stretch marks. You think you can compete with me?” “Julian obviously prefers someone with curves like mine,” she boasted, puffing out her chest. The way she talked about Julian… My face went pale. “He is… he is fourteen years older than you…” “So what? I like older men.” “You’re just a stuttering, ugly old woman. You think you’re worthy of fighting me for him?” Crystal shoved me hard. But the second she heard Julian’s footsteps, she immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Julian! Vivian said I’m trying to seduce you just because of what I’m wearing. She called me shameless and tried to kick me out…” Julian whirled on me, furious. “Crystal is just a kid! What’s wrong with her wearing what she wants?” “If you have the energy to be jealous of her, go lose some weight.” “You look like a pig. Looking at you makes me want to throw up!”

The humiliation was too much to bear. When I called my mom later, I couldn’t stop myself from sobbing. My mom immediately knew something was wrong. She rushed over to our apartment and started lecturing Crystal about boundaries. But Crystal just shoved my mother violently. “Get out of my face! You’re so annoying!” She gave us a venomous glare. “Just you wait!” She packed her suitcase and stormed out. When Julian came home and saw she was gone, he panicked. He searched for her all night, finally bringing her back the next morning. Crystal was soaking wet from the snow, looking like a pitiful stray. But the look she shot me when Julian wasn’t looking was pure evil. “Mom, Crystal is just a kid! If anything had happened to her out there, could you have lived with the guilt?” Julian yelled at my mother. “What about Vivian? Do you even care about her feelings? Do you know how much she suffered to give you this child?” my mom shot back. “She’s the one who insisted on having a baby, I didn’t force her. Besides, she would have had to get pregnant for any man she married. Don’t act like she did it for me!” Julian said coldly. When my mom tried to defend me, Julian accused her of using her age to bully an innocent young girl. He said both of our minds were toxic and warped. My mom had been a respected schoolteacher for decades. She had never been insulted like this. Her blood pressure spiked, and she clutched her chest, begging me to get a divorce. I froze. During our ten years of marriage, even though Julian looked down on my stutter and treated me coldly, I had never thought about divorce. But after everything that had happened over the past few days, my resolve was shaking. Still, I didn’t want my daughter to grow up without a father. I swallowed my pride and stayed. I tried to have a serious talk with Julian, but he told me he didn’t have the patience to listen to my stuttering. He said the baby’s crying was giving him a headache and demanded we sleep in separate rooms. With tears in my eyes, I grabbed his arm. “You… you think she’s loud? Do you think… I don’t get tired?” “She was born… and you haven’t… held her once! She isn’t just… my baby…” “You’re the one who wanted her, so deal with it!” “Unlike you, who sits at home all day doing nothing, I have a real job!” “Exactly, Vivian. You’re so selfish. You don’t care about Julian’s career at all,” Crystal chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. “You’re a middle-aged woman, yet you’re not even half as mature as Crystal. Aren’t you embarrassed?” Julian shoved my hand off and walked away. In the middle of the night, I got up to get a glass of water. Julian wasn’t on the living room couch. I walked over to the master bedroom and opened the door. He was in bed, holding Crystal in his arms. Furious, I demanded to know what he was doing. Julian sat up, completely unbothered. “So what if we’re sharing a bed? We didn’t do anything!” “You’re constantly paranoid over a child. I am so sick of your drama!” “Yeah, Vivian. I had a nightmare, and Julian was just comforting me…” Crystal snuggled deeper into Julian’s chest, her hand resting on his bare collarbone. She smiled at me with pure triumph. Losing my mind, I raised my hand to slap her. But before my hand could land, Julian grabbed my wrist and threw me hard onto the floor. “Don’t you dare touch her!” “If you harm a single hair on her head, I will make your life a living hell!” Julian dragged me out of the room and slammed the door, locking it from the inside. Tears streamed down my face. I held my crying daughter close, trying to find some comfort, only to realize her body was burning hot. “Julian! Julian, open the door! Our daughter has a fever! We need to go to the hospital!” “Julian! Open the door! Please!” I banged on the door, sobbing hysterically. But no matter how much I begged, the door stayed locked. It was the dead of winter. I had to walk through the freezing snow in my slippers for twenty minutes before I could finally hail a cab. By the time we reached the emergency room, my baby’s temperature had hit 104 degrees. The doctor said if I had arrived any later, she wouldn’t have made it. Seeing me in my pajamas and slippers, shivering with blue lips, the nurse kindly wrapped a warm jacket around my shoulders. “Where is your husband? Why are you alone?” My tears spilled over. During the three days my daughter was hospitalized, Julian never picked up my calls. He eventually blocked my number entirely. Exhausted, I finally brought my baby back home. Before entering the apartment, I moved quietly, opening the door without making a sound.

Inside, Julian was sitting on the couch with Crystal on his lap. Her arms were wrapped around his neck. They weren’t kissing, but their bodies were pressed tightly together. “Julian, your daughter has been in the hospital for days. Aren’t you going to visit her? Aren’t you worried at all?” Crystal asked in a sweet, mocking voice. “Why would I be? I never wanted that kid anyway. Vivian forced it.” “Running to the fertility clinic with her for years almost killed me!” Julian complained. It almost killed *him*? What about me? I was the one who lay on those cold operating tables, undergoing egg retrievals, uterine scrapes, and enduring the agonizing pain of medical instruments over and over again. I was the one who went to every prenatal exam alone, terrified of another miscarriage. What was my physical and mental trauma compared to his minor inconvenience? A bitter pain sliced through my heart. “If you didn’t want her, why did you marry her in the first place?” “Because her dad is the Dean of the University! I had to kiss his ass. Otherwise, why would I have ever pursued a stuttering freak like her?” “I’ve swallowed my pride for ten years just to get to where I am. Once I get promoted to Tenured Full Professor the day after tomorrow, I’m divorcing her.” “By the time you start college, we can finally be together legally,” Julian said, his voice full of anticipation. “Are you sure you actually love me? Or am I just a replacement for my mother?” Crystal asked, her voice dripping with jealousy. A replacement?! Suddenly, it all clicked. Crystal looked exactly like Elena, the female university professor Julian had been obsessed with years ago. No wonder she looked so familiar. A month ago, Elena and her husband had died in a tragic plane crash, leaving behind an only daughter. So, Julian’s sudden disappearance right before my due date… he had gone to find Crystal. Back then, after Elena rejected him, Julian had threatened to commit suicide, creating a massive scandal that ultimately forced her to resign. And now, he was grooming her daughter… A wave of intense nausea washed over me. Julian spoke shamelessly, “Of course I love you. Why else would I bring you into my home just so I could see you every day?” “You have no idea how hard it is to control myself when you walk around in your underwear,” he said, his voice husky. “Well, you could always use Vivian…” Crystal teased. “Don’t ruin my mood by mentioning that fat pig. Just wait until you graduate high school. I’m going to devour you.” Julian gave her hip a hard slap. “Ow, gentle…” Watching them flirt, my blood ran ice cold. I tried to slip back out of the apartment quietly, but the baby in my arms suddenly let out a soft cry, alerting them.

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In our small town of Willow Creek, there was a tradition. When a daughter was born, her family would plant a maple tree in the backyard. When she married, the tree would be cut down and crafted into two large hope chests, filled with wedding gifts, symbolizing a lifetime of love and security. Two weeks before my twin sister Lily and I were set to get married, our brother Ethan came home dragging two beautifully finished wooden chests. He hauled them into the living room, sweating, as Lily gasped in delight. Mom gently stroked Lily’s hair, her eyes shining with tears. “My sweet Lily is getting married. It feels like yesterday you were just a little girl who couldn’t even tie her shoes.” Dad frowned, his voice thick with emotion. “If that guy Ryan ever treats you wrong, Lily, I’ll personally break his neck.” No one noticed anything wrong with the chests. I looked behind Ethan. The hallway was empty. There was nothing else. I asked, “Ethan, where are mine?” Ethan froze, as if only just remembering that I was getting married on the exact same day. “Oh… well, I finished Lily’s first chest and realized we didn’t have enough wood left. So, I had to cut down your tree to finish her second one.” Mom waved her hand dismissively, her tone turning sharp. “Oh, come on, Chloe. It’s just some wood. You can just buy a couple of nice travel suitcases from Target. Why do you always have to make that face and ruin the mood?” I stared at them as they crowded around Lily. My mind flashed back to the conversation Mom and Dad had with Ethan a few months ago. “You have to make the most beautiful chests for our baby girl,” they had told him. “Her entire life’s happiness depends on it.” I guess “their baby girl” never included me. Fine. If that was the case, I didn’t want them in my life anymore either.

“Mom, look! Ethan even carved little maple leaves on the corners of the chests!” Lily squealed. Mom rubbed Lily’s hand, her voice cracking. “My little princess deserves the absolute best. You have to look perfect on your big day, or Ryan’s family will look down on us.” So, Mom did know. She knew that entering a marriage without a proper hope chest would make a bride the subject of gossip. Yet, she didn’t care that I had nothing. Because I was the one who would be laughed at, and she simply didn’t care about me. Dad walked over and ruffled Lily’s hair. “Your mother and I have prepared enough wedding gifts for you. Keep your chin up at Ryan’s house. If you ever feel even a little bit mistreated, you come straight back home.” Just a week ago, Dad had sat me down and told me, “Once you get married, you belong to Justin’s family. If you face any hardships, you just have to endure it. Don’t come crying back to us.” I stood by the living room wall, watching the exquisite floral patterns carved on the brass latches of the chests. My fists clenched and unclenched. I swallowed the words, Aren’t I your daughter too? What was the point of asking? I had asked that question a thousand times growing up. Every single time, the response was a sigh and: “Why do you always have to compete with your sister?” Followed by the same old excuses. “Lily has been weak since she was a baby.” “You’re the older twin, Chloe. You need to let her have it.” Lily and I were twins. When we were born, I was only three ounces heavier than her. Since then, my parents decided I was the one who had to yield. When we were kids and the family could only afford one spot at summer camp, Mom said, “Let Lily go.” In college, I worked three part-time jobs for three months to buy myself a professional DSLR camera. Lily liked it, and Mom said, “Just give it to her.” When I finally set my wedding date, I silently thought to myself: Finally, I get to be the main character for once. After all, a bride is the star of her own wedding. Surely, Lily couldn’t take this away from me. But when Lily found out, she threw a tantrum and insisted on having a double wedding on the exact same day. And just like that, my hope chests were gone. Across the room, Lily was clinging to Mom’s arm, babying her voice. “Mom, can you make spicy Mexican tacos and chili tonight?” Mom smiled, tapping Lily’s nose. “You greedy little thing. Always thinking about food.” Lily had been picking the dinner menu for the past two weeks, claiming she wouldn’t get to eat Mom’s cooking once she moved out. She loved spicy food, so every dish for the past half-month was loaded with chili peppers. But I had severe acid reflux and gastritis. I couldn’t eat spicy food at all. On the first day Lily started choosing the menu, I had quietly asked Mom: “Mom, my stomach has been acting up. Can we make at least one dish that isn’t spicy? Anything is fine.” Mom had thrown her fork onto the table with a loud clatter. “I guess this is my life now. I slave away in this kitchen, and all I get is complaints!” With that single sentence, I became the villain of the house. The glares Dad and Ethan shot me were more painful than any physical slap. After that, I just ate whatever bread I could find, and stopped talking. Suddenly, Ethan glanced at me, his brows furrowed. “Chloe, what are you just standing there for? Go to the grocery store and get the ingredients Mom needs!” In this house, it seemed they only remembered my existence when there was groceries to buy, floors to mop, or trash to take out. I opened my mouth, wanting to say no. But in the end, I just whispered: “I’m going.” That night, Mom made tacos, spicy wings, and a jalapeño salad. The family was chatting and laughing over dinner. Lily suddenly looked at me. “Chloe, why are you only eating the plain lettuce? Why aren’t you touching the meat?” Mom scooped a huge portion of spicy beef into Lily’s plate, then gave me a cold glare. “Leave her alone. She always acts like we owe her a million dollars.” Ethan also looked at me with disgust. “If you have a problem, just say it. Stop walking around with that dead-inside face.” But I had said it. No one listened. After dinner, I washed the dishes as usual. The grease on the plates was thick and red with chili oil. Laughter drifted from the living room. They were looking through old family photo albums. Dad suddenly suggested, “Since Lily is getting married soon, let’s go to the studio tomorrow and get a new family portrait taken.” I happened to walk out of the kitchen just as he said this. My steps halted. “Dad, tomorrow I have my final wedding dress fitting.” Dad didn’t even look up from the album. “Then go to your fitting.” He said it so naturally, but it felt like a heavy blow to my chest. He genuinely believed that a “family portrait” was perfectly complete without me. I turned around, went into my bedroom, and locked the door. My phone buzzed. It was a Snapchat message from Justin. “The venue confirmed we can move our ceremony one day earlier. Did your parents agree to the change?” I typed back: “Yes. Go ahead and sign the relocation paperwork with your company’s Swiss branch. I’m going with you.”

The next day, I came back from my dress fitting to find the living room packed and lively. Lily’s fiancé, Ryan, was there. The coffee table was filled with expensive fruits, and Dad had brought out the fine porcelain tea set he usually kept locked away. They always treated Ryan like royalty. Not because they feared him, but because they wanted him to treat Lily well. As for Justin, my parents only knew his name. They had seen one picture of him, but had never bothered to meet him in person. Every time I suggested our families have dinner, Mom would dismiss it: “You’re getting married anyway. We’ll meet him sooner or later. As long as you like him, it’s fine.” It wasn’t because they were busy. They just didn’t care. And because they didn’t care about me, they couldn’t care less about the man I was marrying. Even Ryan only spared me a brief glance when I walked in, not even bothering to say hello. Even he knew that I was the one in this house who could be treated like dirt. Lily’s eyes lit up when she saw me. “Chloe! You’re back. Perfect, Mom and Dad have something to tell us.” I paused while taking off my shoes, instinctively looking over. Dad cleared his throat. “Since you’re back, and Ryan is here too, let’s settle the wedding gifts today.” He pulled out a house deed and pushed it toward Lily. “Lily, this is the townhouse your mother and I bought for you.” Ethan also tossed a set of car keys onto the table. “And this is the Jeep I got you.” Lily gasped, her eyes wide. She grabbed the keys and the deed, throwing herself into Ryan’s arms with a squeal. “See? This is the backing my family gives me!” “You better treat me like a queen, Ryan!” Ryan laughed, wrapping his arms around her. “Of course, babe. You’ll always be our little princess.” I walked over to the table. Mom finally looked at me. “Chloe, as the older sister, what are you planning to give Lily as a wedding gift?” My hand holding the water glass trembled slightly. “Mom, before that, I want to ask… what is my wedding gift?” The living room fell dead silent. Mom’s eyes darted away, and she remained quiet. Dad spoke up. “Chloe, our family’s finances are limited. We don’t have anything left to give you.” “Besides, Lily can barely hold down a job to feed herself. Your job is much better than hers, and you’ve always been the sensible one. Don’t compare yourself to her.” So, because I was capable of taking care of myself, I deserved nothing. Seeing my silence, Ethan lost his patience. “Come on, Chloe, don’t make a scene in front of Ryan. You’ve been working for two years. You can easily pull out five thousand dollars for Lily, right?” They had given Lily everything they owned, but it still wasn’t enough. They wanted me to bleed for her too. I let out a cold laugh. “Lily has been working for two years too. What is she giving me for my wedding?” At my words, Lily’s face flushed, and her eyes welled with tears. “I know I’m not as smart or successful as you, Chloe… Fine, you don’t have to give me anything…” Mom immediately snapped at me. “Are you seriously demanding a wedding gift from your younger sister? Have you no shame?!” “How about this, you don’t have to give much. Just give her five thousand dollars!” I stared at her hand thrust in my face, and lowered my gaze. “What if I say no?” Perhaps because this was the first time I had ever said no, Mom was stunned. Then, her face darkened instantly. “Then don’t expect us to attend your wedding! Let’s see who will be embarrassed when you have no family standing by you!” It was the middle of summer, but I felt cold to my bones. I suddenly remembered a screenshot Justin had snapchatted me last night. It was a text from his mother, asking him: “Does Chloe like ribeye steak? I learned a new recipe. I keep messaging her, do you think she finds me annoying?” I had saved that screenshot and looked at it for a long time. Not because I was desperate for someone to treat me well, but because I wanted proof that I, too, was worthy of love. “What are you daydreaming about?” Mom waved her hand in front of my face again. “Did you hear me?” “Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll give it to her.” Five thousand dollars to completely cut ties with them. It was a bargain.

A week before the wedding, Mom suddenly said she wanted to meet Justin. Despite myself, a tiny, pathetic shred of hope flickered in my heart. I booked a nice restaurant for lunch the next day and told Justin to dress up. I arrived early at eleven-thirty, ordered a table full of food, and began to wait. Twelve o’clock. One o’clock. Two o’clock. Three o’clock. The restaurant’s customers changed over and over. The bright lunch light faded, and the warm evening lamps flickered on. But no one showed up. My phone screen lit up. It was a message from Mom. “Chloe, something urgent came up today. Let’s do it another time.” At the same time, a notification popped up in our family Snapchat group. It was a photo sent by Lily. “Look! Mom took me to get my wedding nails done. Aren’t they gorgeous?” In the picture, her fingers were covered in delicate diamonds, glittering under the salon lights so brightly that my eyes stung. Ethan immediately replied: “Beautiful! Perfect for our Lily.” Dad added: “Gorgeous. It was worth the hard work, sweetheart.” My hands shook as I set the phone down. So, the “urgent matter” Mom had was accompanying Lily to a nail salon. Oh, Chloe. What were you still hoping for? The more you hope, the more you look like a clown. I locked away all my emotions, looked at Justin, who was staring at me with deep concern, and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Let’s ask the waiter to pack the food.” Justin’s eyes were filled with pain for me. “The day after the wedding, we fly straight to Switzerland. We are never coming back.” I nodded, smiling. “Yeah. Never coming back.” When I got home, the living room was a disaster. The whole family was busy packing. Dad was trying to shove things into Lily’s hope chests, pressing down with all his might, but they were overflowing. Even with both chests packed to the brim, there were still several handmade quilts and flannel sheets left on the floor. “Lily, we’ll have to pack these in separate bags later,” Dad said. Lily turned and saw me. An accusing look instantly flashed in her eyes. “Why are you just getting back? Your wedding is in a few days, and you haven’t prepared anything!” My throat felt tight. “I waited for you guys at the restaurant until four o’clock today.” Mom’s face immediately fell. “I told you I had an urgent matter! I’ve been running around like crazy for your weddings, and I don’t even get a thank you! All I get is your attitude!” “Getting nails done is an urgent matter?” As soon as the words left my mouth, Ethan slammed a box down and stood up, raising his voice. “Chloe! Mom spent the whole afternoon running around buying wedding supplies for both of you! She didn’t rest for a single second! She already packed your gifts and put them in your room!” “Do you have to be so petty over a single lunch? What, is your boyfriend dying? Can’t he wait until after the wedding?” I stared at him, unable to believe that my own brother could say something so vicious about the man I was going to marry. The living room fell dead silent, save for the sound of Mom starting to sob. This scene was so familiar. Once again, I was the villain. In the past, I would have immediately apologized, begging for their forgiveness. But now, I just felt tired. Deeply, utterly exhausted. Without saying another word, I turned and walked into my room. On the edge of my bed lay two cheap, plain bedsheets. I looked around the rest of the room. There was nothing else. This was the “wedding gift” Mom had exhausted herself preparing for me. In the empty room, those two cheap sheets sat like a silent, mocking joke.

Three days before the wedding, the house was a whirlwind of activity. Dad was busy calling every relative and friend, proudly boasting that his precious Lily was getting married. Mom was checking Lily’s wedding gifts over and over again, terrified that her little princess might be missing something. Ethan was at Lily’s beck and call, picking up her friends from the airport, running errands, never complaining once. The house was buzzing with excitement, but not a single person asked me how my preparations were going, or if I needed anything. My gaze fell on the entryway table. There was an elegant wedding invitation resting there. It was mine. For an entire week, it had sat there. No one had opened it. No one had noticed that my wedding date had been moved to a day earlier than Lily’s. They didn’t care about my wedding schedule. They didn’t care if I would be happy. To them, I was just a tag-along bride, a background prop to make Lily look more glorious. I calmly put on my shoes and walked out the door. There were only three days left. Although Justin had told me he didn’t care about traditions and only wanted me, I still wanted to buy him a nice watch as a wedding gift. But when I handed over my card at the jewelry store, the cashier handed it back with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, ma’am. This card has been declined due to insufficient funds.” I froze. A sudden wave of suffocation washed over me. I took the card and drove straight back home. Pushing the door open, I snatched the wedding favors Mom was packing and threw them aside. “Mom, did you spend the ten thousand dollars in my bank account?” Several pairs of eyes immediately shot toward me. Mom casually picked up the favors and continued packing, her tone incredibly defensive. “Yes, I did. I needed to buy Lily a set of designer diamond jewelry so she wouldn’t look cheap in front of Ryan’s family. We were short on cash, so I used yours first.” Seeing her complete lack of remorse, my throat burned with anger. “But that was my entire savings from working two years!” “We are family, why are you drawing lines between your money and ours?” Mom frowned. “Besides, didn’t you agree to give your sister five thousand dollars anyway?” I finally snapped, my voice cracking. “Are you trying to ruin me?” “Am I supposed to show up at my own wedding with absolutely nothing?” “She already has a house and a car! How much more security does she need?!” Tears finally spilled over. “Mom, you can’t do this. This isn’t fair!” Mom froze, but Ethan immediately rushed over and shoved me back. “Chloe, what is wrong with you?!” “It’s just ten thousand dollars! Is it worth throwing a tantrum over? Lily only gets married once in her life. Of course everything has to be perfect for her!” Mom recovered her composure and chimed in, “You have a good job and make good money. You don’t need this little bit of cash. Go back to your room and stop making a scene.” I didn’t say a word. I marched straight toward Lily’s jewelry box on the table, reaching out to grab the diamond set. But before my fingers could touch it, a hand clamped tightly around my wrist. It was Dad. “What do you think you’re doing?” he growled. I fought wildly to pull my wrist free, twenty-three years of suppressed pain and resentment exploding all at once. “I’m taking it back to return it! That is my money!” Lily’s whimpering voice echoed from the side. “Chloe, please don’t be mad. You can have them. I don’t want them anymore…” Seeing Lily cry, Ethan lunged forward and pinned my arms down. “Chloe, have you lost your mind?! Do you have to ruin this family’s peace?!” “I just want what belongs to me!” I screamed at him. The next second, a sharp SLAP echoed through the room. My head snapped to the side. My left cheek instantly burned with excruciating pain, and tears poured down my face. Mom was standing in front of me, panting heavily, her eyes filled with disgust and disappointment. “I raised you for twenty-three years just for you to act like a savage to your family?! Throwing a fit over such a small thing… How did you become so selfish?!” I held my burning cheek, looking at the accusatory glares from the people who shared my blood. For Lily, they could cut down my maple tree and drain my bank account, and it was completely justified. But when I wanted my own money back, I was “selfish.” Dad stepped forward, his face dark. “That’s enough.” “The money is spent, and that’s the end of it. No one is to bring this up again.” With one sentence, he closed the case. I slowly lowered my hand. I didn’t try to reach for the jewelry box again. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I knew I would never win against them. Without looking at any of them, I turned around and walked out of the house, taking nothing with me. I checked into the hotel I had booked for my wedding. For the next two days, I didn’t go back. No one called. No one texted to ask where I was. No one cared about my upcoming wedding. They were too busy revolving around Lily, as if I had never existed in their lives. On the morning of my wedding, the weather was beautiful. The wedding car arrived on time. Justin, looking breathtakingly handsome in his tailored suit, walked toward me with steady, sure steps. “Chloe, I’m here to take you home.” As I fell into his arms, I knew that from this day forward, my old family no longer existed to me.

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I cut my London project short and returned to the States, not telling anyone. I’d planned to pick up my younger sister, Summer, from school and surprise her. But just as I reached the back entrance of the auditorium, I heard some students laughing. “Summer has no shame, does she? The housekeeper’s daughter, only here because the Sterlings pay for her, always acting so superior.” “Seriously, Pearl is so sweet. Her family takes her in, and she’s totally ungrateful.” “I heard Summer even tried to steal Pearl’s spot for the competition. Those charity cases always have some kind of agenda.” Summer is my biological sister. Pearl is my family’s housekeeper’s daughter. And now, the entire school thought Pearl was the Sterling heir, and Summer was a charity case. I pulled out my phone and called a well-known lawyer. “I need you to look into something for me.” “I want to know how my sister’s identity was stolen these past few years I’ve been away.” I looked at the message my sister had sent me two hours ago. “Aubrey, there’s a charity event at school today. I’m going on stage to share my volunteer experience.” I told the driver to change course. “To Sterling Heights Academy.” Sterling Heights was the most exclusive private school in the city. When our parents first enrolled Summer, they specifically arranged for privacy protection. Only the principal’s office and the security department knew her true family background. My dad said kids shouldn’t be defined by their family’s wealth. My mom said it was safer to keep a low profile. The event inside had just ended, and students were leaving in small groups. A few girls were chatting. “The way Summer was standing on stage just now, I swear. Does she really think she’s one of the Sterlings?” “What Sterling? Pearl herself said her mom used to work for the Sterlings, and the family was kind enough to let Summer study here.” “Pearl is truly too kind. If my family had someone like that, they’d be out the door.” Another girl scoffed. “And she dresses so plainly, playing innocent. If it wasn’t for the Sterlings, how would she even get into Sterling Heights?” Just then, a girl in a white jacket emerged from the auditorium. Someone handed her a hot drink. “Pearl, you spoke so well earlier.” She smiled gently. “Oh, not really. I just said a few words on behalf of our family foundation.” “You’re too modest. The Sterlings are always doing charity work. No wonder you’re so well-mannered.” She lowered her eyes, her voice soft. “Don’t say that. Summer might get upset if she hears it.” The expressions on everyone’s faces immediately shifted. “What’s she got to be upset about? Your family’s already done so much for her.” “Exactly, and she always gives you attitude.” “Pearl, you’re just too easy to push around.” Pearl, Mrs. Miller’s daughter. When she was little, she lived with Mrs. Miller in the guest house on the Sterling property. My sister was soft-hearted and shared everything with her. I remember when she first came to the Sterlings, she was timidly hiding behind Mrs. Miller, calling me “Aubrey.” I found Summer in a corner. She was coming out of a different side door, head bowed. I didn’t go over immediately. Summer would definitely panic if she saw me. She hated causing trouble for the family more than anything. I turned and walked to the end of the hallway, stopping a boy who was alone. “Excuse me, I’m visiting from another school. I just heard you mention the Sterling Foundation. Is that Pearl’s family’s foundation?” The boy glanced at me. Perhaps seeing I wasn’t a teacher or a parent, his tone relaxed considerably. “Yeah, she’s like, the Sterling’s younger daughter, right?” I smiled. “Are you sure?” “Why wouldn’t I be sure?” He pointed to the parking area downstairs. “She comes here every day in the Sterling’s car. Her Ins is full of their mansion, parties, drivers, butlers, everything.” He paused, then lowered his voice. “But she’s pretty low-key, never explicitly says anything. If people call her Miss Sterling, she’ll even say ‘don’t be silly.’” “What about Summer?” The boy’s expression became subtle. “Oh, her? I heard Pearl’s family sponsors her. Pearl is super nice and always looks out for her. But Summer’s pretty stubborn, always acting like someone owes her something.” Back in the car, I called my assistant, Jordan. “I need you to look up Pearl’s social media accounts for the past three years, her school forum posts, vehicle access records, and her mother, Mrs. Miller’s, usage records for permissions within our home.” Jordan paused. “Is something wrong?” I looked out the car window. Rainwater slid down the glass. At the auditorium entrance, Summer stood alone under an umbrella. Pearl was surrounded by a group of students, getting into the car our family sent. That car was supposed to pick up Summer today. My voice turned cold. “Nothing’s ‘wrong’.” “Someone’s just gotten too comfortable.”

Pearl was clever; she never explicitly stated anything. She rode in our family car to school. When classmates asked, “Is that your family car?” She’d smile and reply, “The driver just happened to be passing by today.” Everyone then assumed it was her car. She wore Summer’s old cashmere jacket, one Summer had given her. She’d lower her head and adjust the cuffs. “My mom always complains my closet is a mess and says if I don’t wear things, I should donate them.” She’d take photos in the Sterling greenhouse. The caption would read: “Mom rushing me home for dinner.” The photo would intentionally show a corner of the dining room’s crystal chandelier. That chandelier was a one-of-a-kind piece my mom had brought back from Italy. She attended the Sterling Charity Gala. Even though Mrs. Miller only entered with the domestic staff, Pearl found opportunities to stand nearby for photos. The edge of the picture would conveniently show the backs of my dad and the board members talking. Her caption: “Dragged to another one of these boring adult meetings.” The next morning, Jordan sent me the files. I sat in the hotel study, flipping through page after page. On the Sterling Heights forum, an anonymous account had been posting since freshman year. “Isn’t that sponsored girl too fake?” “Just because she lives near her benefactors, she thinks she’s family?” “Let’s expose the girl who got into Sterling Heights on someone else’s dime and then bites the hand that feeds her.” The posts didn’t name anyone directly. But each time, they’d feature a side profile of Summer, her backpack, or her desk. In the comments, someone would ask if it was Summer. The original poster would reply: “I didn’t say it was, IYKYK.” The phone number registered to that account had the same last digits as Pearl’s. There were also class group chat screenshots. Someone wrote: “Pearl, why is your family still sponsoring Summer? She doesn’t seem very grateful.” Pearl posted a ‘woe is me’ emoji. “Don’t say that. Summer isn’t a bad person, just a little sensitive.” “She’s been close with us since childhood, maybe she just wants to fit in too much.” “My mom always says we should be more accommodating with her.” I scrolled to the end and saw Summer’s competition records. Last year, for the National Biology Modeling Competition, Summer had spent three months organizing her notes, which she lent to Pearl to copy. Later, Pearl used those notes to explain problems in class. Classmates praised her for being brilliant. She’d smile and say, “It’s nothing, Summer struggles with the basics, so I often tutor her, and I just happened to organize some notes for her.” That year, Summer had clearly won the preliminary round at school. But the final recommendation spot went to Pearl. The reason given: she had “better overall influence and was more suitable to represent the school.” I stared at that line for a long time. Then I called Summer’s homeroom teacher. “Who is this?” “Hello, I’m Summer’s older sister. I’d like to understand how she’s doing at school.” The teacher’s voice paused for a few seconds, then warmed. “Oh, Summer. Her grades are good, but her personality is a bit introverted. We’ve been trying to guide her, teaching her to be grateful and not always to compete with Pearl.” I let out a small laugh. “Compete?” “Yes,” she sighed. “Pearl’s family has helped her a lot, but Summer sometimes doesn’t understand boundaries. For example, with competitions and club resources, she always feels she deserves the best.” “Why shouldn’t she deserve the best?” My question stunned the teacher. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just that her family situation is unique, and the school certainly hopes she’ll be more stable. Pearl, after all…” She suddenly stopped. I finished her sentence for her. “After all, she seems more like a Sterling child, right?” Silence on the other end of the line. I hung up. Half an hour later, I went to the school apartment where Summer lived. To save her the commute, our parents had arranged a small apartment for her near the school, registered under the foundation’s name. This was another one of our protective measures. But in the mouths of her classmates, it had become “the dorm provided by the Sterlings for a charity student.” The moment the door opened, Summer froze. “Aubrey?” Her eyes immediately reddened. But then, she anxiously looked behind me. “Why are you back? Do Mom and Dad know? Did you go to school? Did anyone see you?” My heart ached, and I hugged her tight. “Summer, tell me first, what are you so afraid of?” She stiffened. After a long moment, she whispered, “I’m not afraid.” I released her and looked into her eyes. “Then tell me, why is Pearl riding in our family’s car?” Her face instantly went pale. “Aubrey…” “Why was your competition spot taken by her?” “Why does the whole school say you’re the housekeeper’s daughter?” Her lips trembled, and tears finally fell. “I tried to explain.” “But no one believed me.”

Summer’s explanation was very jumbled. When they first started high school, she and Pearl still went to school together. Mrs. Miller had been working for the Sterlings for ten years then. My mom, appreciating her dedication and feeling for her raising a daughter alone, arranged for Pearl to transfer to Sterling Heights through a foundation program. Tuition, uniforms, and books – the Sterlings covered everything. Summer was happy at first. She felt that having someone she knew at school would at least keep her from being lonely. Later, when classmates asked about their relationship. Before Summer could speak, Pearl smiled and said, “We grew up together, almost like family.” That sentence wasn’t technically wrong, but those who heard it filled in the blanks themselves. The first time a classmate called her “Miss Sterling,” she didn’t deny it. She just shyly said, “Oh, don’t say that, Summer will be embarrassed.” From then on, the embarrassed one became Summer. Summer wanted to explain. Pearl, in front of others, would grab her hand, her eyes welling up. “Summer, are you upset that I shouldn’t be at Sterling Heights with you? I know you don’t like everyone comparing us.” People nearby would immediately chime in. “Summer, don’t be so sensitive.” “Pearl didn’t say anything bad.” “Someone’s looking out for you, and you’re giving them attitude?” Summer argued a few times. Each time, Pearl cried. Over time, everyone came to believe that Summer was the jealous, difficult, resentful one. After listening, I only asked one question. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Summer kept her head down. “You were busy with the foundation project overseas then, and Mom and Dad were handling the group merger. I thought it was just a misunderstanding among classmates, and it would blow over.” “What happened after that?” She clutched the hem of her jacket. “Later, Mrs. Miller spoke with me.” That day, Mrs. Miller specifically came to the apartment to bring her soup. She sat on the sofa, sighing, “Summer, I know you feel wronged, but Pearl isn’t having it easy either. She never had a father, and she’s always been insecure. People only started respecting her when they mistakenly thought she was a Sterling.” Summer said, “But they’re saying awful things about me.” Mrs. Miller held her hand. “You’ve always been the most sensible, Summer. You have a mom, a dad, and a sister who love you. What does Pearl have? She’s just trying to catch a little break, not steal anything from you.” Summer was silent. Mrs. Miller continued, “Besides, your family always asks to keep things low-key. If you really make a fuss, wouldn’t you be causing trouble for Mr. and Mrs. Sterling?” Summer was most afraid of causing trouble for our family. So she started to endure it. Listening to her, my chest felt like it had a rock pressing down on it. When Summer finished speaking, her voice was very soft. “Aubrey, am I useless?” I reached out and brushed the stray hairs from her forehead. “The useless one isn’t you, it’s me.” If I had asked earlier. If I hadn’t thought keeping a low profile was the best protection. My sister wouldn’t have been trapped in this web of rumors for so long. That evening, I returned to the Sterling mansion. Mrs. Miller wasn’t in the main house. Last year, she’d been moved to manage the guest house storage, but her access permissions hadn’t been fully revoked. I asked Mr. Adams, the butler, to pull up the records from the past three years. His face grew increasingly grim. “Miss Aubrey, I was negligent.” I didn’t scold him; he wasn’t the only one who had been negligent. The Sterling family was too accustomed to treating Mrs. Miller as an old family retainer. “Old family retainer”—sometimes, that’s just an open door for an ungrateful opportunist. At 1 AM, Jordan sent me a new set of documents. Pearl had updated her Ins that night. The photo showed her sitting in the front row of the Sterling Heights auditorium. Caption: “Kindness needs to be cherished. See you then.” Beneath it, someone commented: “Pearl, you’ll definitely be on stage for the Foundation Open House, right?” She replied: “I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.” I looked at the line of text and smiled. She had no idea. On the day of the Foundation Open House, I had a big surprise waiting for her.

The next morning, I contacted Principal Davies of Sterling Heights. “Principal Davies, this is Aubrey Sterling.” The phone line was noticeably silent for a few seconds, then his tone became enthusiastic. “Miss Sterling, you’re back in the States?” “Just got back.” I got straight to the point. “I heard your school has a Foundation Open House next week. I’d like to combine the Sterling Overseas Education Foundation’s charity open day segment with yours on the same day. All faculty and students will attend, and the theme will be ‘Educational Equity and the Boundaries of Sponsorship’.” The principal immediately agreed. I added, “I’ll be announcing a new round of scholarship recipients and also clarifying past sponsorship cases.” Principal Davies chuckled, “Excellent, that will be a wonderful educational experience for the students.” After hanging up, I had Mr. Henderson, my lawyer, contact the school’s legal department to submit a partial disclosure authorization. Summer’s identity information could be disclosed up to the level of kinship. Security details would remain private. Pearl’s sponsorship records could also be made public. Because when she enrolled, she signed a foundation sponsorship agreement which explicitly stated: “Do not impersonate the sponsor for profit, and do not spread false information that damages the reputation of the sponsor or associated parties.” That clause was originally just boilerplate. Now, it would come in handy. That afternoon, Mrs. Miller came to find me. She stood at the living room entrance, carrying a thermos, her face still bearing that meek smile. “Miss Aubrey, you’re back and didn’t say anything? I made your favorite soup.” I stayed seated on the sofa. “Mrs. Miller, you’re very well-informed.” Her smile stiffened slightly. “Everyone in the family is happy, you know.” I looked at her. “Is Pearl doing well at Sterling Heights?” Her eyes flickered. “Very well, thanks to the Sterling family’s care. Otherwise, my daughter and I wouldn’t be where we are today.” “Is that so?” I placed my phone on the table. On the screen was that photo from Pearl’s Ins. Mrs. Miller’s face subtly changed when she saw it. I asked, “Are you aware that she’s been mistaken for the younger Sterling daughter at school?” Mrs. Miller immediately sighed. “Miss Aubrey, I’ve tried to talk to her about it. But she’s just a child, vanity is natural. Besides, she never explicitly said she was a Sterling; it was all just a misunderstanding by her classmates.” “And Summer being called the housekeeper’s daughter, that was also a misunderstanding?” She fell silent. After a while, she said softly, “Summer has a gentle nature and doesn’t like to explain. In a few years, when everyone graduates, no one will remember anyway.” I let out a sarcastic laugh. “So you’re telling them to wait it out until graduation?” Mrs. Miller’s eyes welled up. “Miss Aubrey, I’ve been with the Sterling family for so many years. I’ve given so many years to this family. Pearl never had a father, she’s always been looked down upon. She just wanted a little respect. Is it really so hard for your family, who has everything, to grant her a little dignity?” I stood up. “Dignity isn’t something someone else grants you.” “And stolen dignity isn’t dignity at all.” Her face instantly went pale. I walked up to her. “Mrs. Miller, I’m giving you one chance. By tomorrow, have Pearl publicly clarify and apologize to Summer. Return what needs to be returned, delete what needs to be deleted.” Mrs. Miller bit her lip. “Miss Aubrey, does it have to be this way? She’s still a child…” “She’s three months older than Summer.” Mrs. Miller was speechless. I continued, “And you don’t need to cover for her. The forum account, vehicle records, and guest house inventory records—I have them all.” The thermos in her hand trembled, spilling a few drops of soup. “Miss Aubrey…” “Tomorrow at 9 AM.” I turned. “After that, the offer expires.” Mrs. Miller didn’t agree. Half an hour after she left, Pearl posted a new Ins story. “Some people are born with everything, yet they try to snatch away even a tiny chance for someone else to find a glimmer of light.” The accompanying image was a black background. Underneath, classmates quickly offered comfort. “Don’t be sad, Pearl.” “Is that certain someone acting up again?” “She’s truly disgusting, accepting your family’s help and still bullying you.” I saved the screenshot and sent it to Mr. Henderson. “Add this to the evidence package.”

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I lived with my CEO boyfriend for three years. Every day, I’d make him a homemade lunch and bring it to his company. The young receptionists all knew me. They’d see me and smile, “Here comes Mrs. Blackwood!” I’d smile back, never correcting them. I’d walk toward his office, insulated bag in hand. Passing by the break room, I heard voices. “Ethan, how many times a day should I take this pill?” The woman’s voice was sweet, a little coy. Then came Ethan Blackwood’s voice: “Once a day is enough. Don’t forget.” I stopped dead. The break room door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw the box. Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill. My blood rushed to my head. I pushed the door open hard. Both of them spun around. Ethan saw me and froze. “Skylar, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer him. My gaze fixed on the woman. She looked around twenty-three or twenty-four, with long hair and light makeup. Her features weren’t strikingly beautiful, but put together, they gave her a fragile, delicate air. She saw me, and the smile on her face stiffened for a second before quickly returning to normal. She clutched the pill box in her hand, hiding it behind her back. “I’m Ethan’s secretary, Ashley Miller.” I ignored her. I looked at Ethan. “You bought her emergency contraception?” Ethan’s brows furrowed. “Let me explain.” “Explain what?” I cut him off. “Explain why you’re buying your secretary emergency contraception? Or explain what kind of relationship you two have that requires you to buy her this?” Ashley’s face went white. She took a step forward, her voice soft. “You’ve got it all wrong. My boyfriend is out of state, and I went to see him today. I forgot to bring my pills and was worried, so I asked Ethan to buy them for me.” I looked at her. “Your boyfriend is out of state, and you ask another man to buy you emergency contraception?” Her eyes welled up. “I… I was too embarrassed to let anyone else know…” “But you weren’t embarrassed to let your boss know?” She couldn’t answer. Ethan walked over and grabbed my arm. “Alright, let’s talk outside.” I shook off his hand. “No need to talk outside. Let’s clear things up right here.” I looked at him. “Ethan, I’m asking you, do you know what emergency contraception is for?” He was silent for a moment. “Yes.” “And you still bought it for her?” He frowned, looking like he was in a tough spot. “She begged me, what could I do?” “She begs you, and you just help her?” I laughed. “If she begged you to marry her, would you?” Ethan’s face changed. “Skylar, don’t be so unreasonable.” Unreasonable. Those four words felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head. I looked at him for a long time. Three years. I started dating him at twenty-four, now I’m twenty-seven. The best three years of my life. He failed his startup twice. I stayed with him. My paycheck paid for our rent. I bought him clothes. I treated his business partners to dinner. He finally succeeded with his third startup, and the company was finally stable. Just last week, I went to look at wedding dresses, tried on several, and sent him pictures. He said they looked good, and that he’d go with me to pick one once he wasn’t so busy. But now, for another woman, he was calling me unreasonable. I set the insulated bag on the floor. “If you’re not going to drink the soup, just throw it away.” I turned and walked out. Ethan followed, catching me at the elevator. “Skylar, will you please just listen to me explain?” “You already explained.” My voice was calm. I watched our two reflections in the elevator doors. “You bought her emergency contraception, because she asked you to. That’s it.” “Then why didn’t she buy it herself? Why didn’t she ask a female colleague to buy it for her? Why did she specifically ask you?” He said nothing. The elevator door opened. I stepped inside. He stood outside, looking at me, his mouth opening, but nothing came out. The moment the elevator door closed, I saw Ashley peek her head out of the break room, watching. Back home, I sat on the couch, thinking for a long time. I thought of all the little details from the past six months. His overtime hours grew longer. He answered more and more phone calls. Sometimes he’d smile looking at his phone, and when I asked what he was looking at, he’d say it was just memes from a WhatsApp group. He’d go on business trips, saying he was alone, but his suitcase would be missing two changes of clothes. I told myself not to overthink it, to trust him. After all, we had three years together. After all, we’d been through so much. But today, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. A man willing to buy emergency contraception for a woman. What did that mean? It meant their relationship had reached a point where they could discuss such a thing. It meant that woman felt completely unguarded around him. It meant he implicitly allowed that lack of guard. My phone rang. It was Ethan. I didn’t answer. He sent a SnapChat: “Skylar, pick up the phone, let’s talk properly.” I didn’t reply. He sent another: “She really is just my secretary, don’t overthink it.” I replied: “I’m not overthinking it. You’ve done too much.” He was silent for a long time. Then he sent a message: “Are you breaking up with me?” I stared at the words. Three years. The first thing he asked when he’d upset me wasn’t “Can you forgive me?” or “I’m sorry.” It was “Are you breaking up with me?” In his mind, the end result of this was a breakup. He’d already made up his mind. I replied: “Yes.”

The next day was Saturday. I woke up naturally and made myself breakfast: fried eggs, bacon, toast, and a cup of hot milk. I sat alone at the dining table, eating slowly. Halfway through, the doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole—it was Ethan. He stood at the door, holding a bag, head down, lost in thought. I opened the door. He looked up, saw me, and forced a smile. “Morning.” I didn’t speak. He handed me the bag. “I bought you your favorite bagels. They’re still warm.” I glanced at the bag. That shop was on the east side of the city, a forty-minute drive from here. “You went all the way there this morning?” “Yeah. I was worried you’d be angry and skip breakfast.” I took the bag and placed it on the shoe cabinet by the door. “Come in.” He followed me inside and sat on the couch. I went to the kitchen, poured him a glass of water, and placed it on the coffee table. He looked at me, his eyes bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept well. “Skylar, about yesterday, I’m going to be completely honest with you.” I said nothing, waiting for him to continue. “Ashley Miller is indeed my secretary. She’s been with me for three months. Her boyfriend is out of state, they see each other once a month. Yesterday she asked for time off, saying she was going to see him, and I approved it.” “Later, she called me again, saying she forgot her pills and was worried something might happen, asking if I could help her buy some and deliver them.” “I didn’t think much of it at the time, so I bought them and dropped them off for her. I delivered them to the lobby of her hotel. She came down to get them. I didn’t even step inside the hotel.” He looked at me. “Skylar, I swear, there’s nothing going on between us. It’s just a secretary-boss relationship. If you’re upset about it, I’ll fire her tomorrow.” I looked at him. His expression was sincere, his eyes earnest. If I hadn’t seen what I saw yesterday, I might have believed him. But I remembered. I remembered how close he was to her when he was helping her read the instructions. I remembered that different spark in her eyes when she looked up at him. I remembered how natural his tone was when he said, “Once a day is enough,” as if he’d said it many times before. “Ethan,” I began. “Hmm?” “Why did she ask you to buy them?” He paused. “Didn’t I tell you? She asked me.” “Why did she ask you?” He opened his mouth, but no words came out. “Does she have other friends? Coworkers? Why did she specifically ask you? You’re her boss. Shouldn’t she keep her distance from you?” “Skylar, she’s just a young girl. She didn’t think much of it.” “Ethan.” I cut him off. “Do you think I’m stupid?” His face changed. “Over the past six months, how many times have you worked late? How many business trips have you taken? Who did you go with each time?” “I was really with clients…” “Clients? Or her?” He fell silent. I stood up and walked to him. “Ethan, I’m asking you one last question. Answer me honestly.” He looked at me. “Do you like her?” His eyes flickered. Just for a second. I saw it. He opened his mouth, trying to say something. I waved my hand. “Alright, you don’t have to say it.” I turned and walked toward the bedroom. He followed, grabbing my arm. “Skylar, I don’t know if you’d call it liking her. But she’s different from you. She needs me. She relies on me. She’ll flirt with me. She’ll say, ‘Ethan, you’re so great.’ We just have this… this kind of relationship. It’s not what you think.” I looked at him. “What about me? Don’t I need you?” He said nothing. “I helped you through the toughest times, supported you with my salary, washed your clothes and cooked your meals, stayed up all night when you were sick. Don’t I need you?” His gaze shifted away. “Skylar, I know you’re good to me. But you’re too good. So good that I feel… I feel like I owe you.” I laughed. Owed me. So, in his eyes, my goodness to him was a burden. And that woman’s reliance on him was what he truly wanted. “Ethan, you should go.” “Skylar… I…” “Go.” His face went white. He stood there, looking at me. His lips moved, but nothing came out. Finally, he lowered his head and walked toward the door. At the door, he stopped. “Those bagels, eat them while they’re warm.” The door closed. I stood in the living room, staring at that door for a long time. Then I walked to the shoe cabinet, picked up the bag, and opened it. The bagels were still warm. He’d driven out early to buy them. I took one and bit into it. It tasted good, from my favorite shop. But as I ate, tears started to fall. Not because I missed him. But because I regretted the three years I’d given.

After Ethan left, I packed his things. Clothes, shoes, laptop, books, and all his miscellaneous workout gear. I put them all into boxes and stacked them in the corner of the living room. Then I called him. “Your things are packed. When are you coming to pick them up?” Silence on the other end. “Skylar, are you really sure about this?” “Yes.” “We’ve been together for three years.” “So?” He was silent again. “I’ll come tomorrow.” “Okay.” I hung up the phone and sat on the couch, looking at the stack of boxes. Three years. Three years of my life, packed into these few boxes. Suddenly, I felt so tired. Not physically tired, but emotionally drained. My phone rang. It was my mother. “Sweetie, coming home for dinner this weekend? Your father bought your favorite steak.” “Mom, I’m busy this week. Maybe next week.” “What are you busy with again? You haven’t been back in three weeks.” “Work’s busy.” “No matter how busy work is, you should still come home. Oh, by the way, how are the wedding plans with Ethan going? Maybe you two should just get your marriage license first.” I paused. “Mom, we broke up.” The other end of the line went quiet for a few seconds. “What happened?” “Personality differences.” “Personality differences?” My mother’s voice rose. “You’ve been together for three years, and now you’re saying personality differences?” “Mom, I don’t want to talk about this.” “Sweetie, listen to me. Ethan’s a good guy. Ambitious, and he treats you well. Arguments are normal. Don’t just talk about breaking up at the drop of a hat.” “Mom,” I cut her off. “He bought emergency contraception for his secretary.” The phone line went quiet again. After a long moment, my mother said, “Do you have proof?” “I saw it with my own eyes.” “Did he explain?” “He explained it away. Said his secretary asked him for a favor.” “Well, there you go. He’s just soft-hearted, just helping out. You’ve been home too long and are overthinking things…” “Mom,” I interrupted her. “If it were Dad, what would you think?” She stopped speaking. “Mom, I know you mean well. But this… I can’t get past it.” I hung up the phone. That night, I sat alone on the balcony, watching the city lights for a long time. The city night was bright, full of lights everywhere. Behind every light, there was a home. I had a home too. But in that home, one person was missing. It wasn’t that Ethan had left. It was that I had sent him away.

The day Ethan came to pick up his things, it was drizzling. He stood at the door, his hair damp, looking a bit disheveled. I let him in. He stared at the boxes in the corner of the living room for a moment. “They’re all here?” “Yeah. Check if anything’s missing.” He didn’t check. He just looked at me. “Skylar, I’ve been thinking all week. I know I messed up.” I said nothing. “After that day, I fired Ashley.” Still, I said nothing. “I’m not asking you to forgive me right now. But Skylar, can you give me another chance? Let me prove with my actions that I really want to be with you.” I looked at him. His eyes held sincerity, regret, and something else too. But I couldn’t see it clearly anymore. “Ethan, I have a question for you.” “Ask away.” “If I hadn’t gone to your company that day, would you have told me about this on your own?” He froze. “If she hadn’t asked you to buy the pills, but just flirted with you every day, relied on you, would you have continued to enjoy that feeling?” His face changed. “Do you think that as long as nothing ‘physical’ happened, it’s not cheating?” “Skylar, don’t you trust me?” “Ethan, you bought emergency contraception for a young, pretty secretary. Do you know what that means?” He didn’t speak. “It means in her eyes, you’re someone she can ask for help. It means in your eyes, she’s someone worth helping. Your relationship already went beyond ordinary boss-employee bounds. You just wouldn’t admit it.” His lips moved. I turned, walked to the door, and opened it. “Take your things. Don’t come back.” He stood there, looking at me, and something in his eyes shattered. Finally, he picked up the boxes, carrying them out one by one. When he got to the last one, he stopped. He suddenly said to me, “Skylar, I’m sorry.” The door slowly closed. I leaned against the door, listening to the elevator door open and close. Then I crouched down and buried my head in my knees. I didn’t cry. I just felt it wasn’t worth it for those three years.

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“Look at you, smelling of the kitchen. How can you even compare to my Seraphina? What was I even thinking, getting involved with you?” My husband, Marcus Thorne, threw down his fork, his eyes full of unconcealed disdain. For him, I’d quit my executive position. For six years of marriage, I’d stayed by the stove, trying to recreate his mother’s cooking from his memories. But now, he hated that I smelled of the kitchen. He claimed I wasn’t even fit to polish the shoes of his ex-wife, the “Asia-Pacific Vice President.” I didn’t make a scene. I just opened the drawer in his study. Inside lay the blank authorization documents he’d signed without even looking. He thought I was just a stay-at-home parent who hadn’t even earned an MBA. He never knew that every night after he fell asleep, I spent three hours studying all the company’s financial data. I even understood the proxy ownership structure inside and out. A week later, he sent me photos of the Northern Lights from Iceland, wearing a suit his ex-wife had given him. Meanwhile, I quietly contacted all the investors. After replying with a smile, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “Mr. Hayes, we can go ahead and sign that share transfer agreement for the nominee shares.”

“Look at you, smelling of the kitchen, all you talk about are mundane household matters. How can you even compare to my Seraphina?” Marcus Thorne slammed his fork onto the table, his eyes filled with unconcealed contempt. I glanced down at my loungewear. There was a bit of a sauce stain on my sleeve, and my hair was in a messy bun. I’d just finished up in the kitchen and hadn’t had a chance to change. “Smelling of the kitchen, all you ever discuss is what groceries cost at the market, or how much the HOA fees went up.” “Elara Vance, you weren’t like this before.” I said nothing, just picked up my bowl and continued eating. Seeing my lack of response, his temper flared. “Look at Seraphina Dubois. She’s now the Asia-Pacific Vice President of a multinational corporation, an international elite. You’re not even in her league.” Seraphina Dubois. I’d heard that name at least fifty times in the past three months. Marcus Thorne’s ex-wife. They divorced five years ago, and Seraphina went abroad to advance her career. Three months ago, she returned. Marcus acted like he was under a spell, his entire demeanor changing. “What was I even thinking, getting involved with you?” He stood up and grabbed his jacket. “I’m not going to the company’s annual funding meeting; you handle it.” “You’re not going to the funding meeting?” I looked up at him. “That was your most important schedule item for the year.” “Seraphina’s back; I promised to pick her up from the airport.” He said this as if I’d asked a stupid question, utterly justified. “Picking her up is more important than funding?” “You can handle the funding. Seraphina’s all alone here, no family, no friends. If I don’t pick her up, who will?” He walked to the door, then turned back to look at me, a flicker of condescending pity in his eyes. “If you feel wronged, go get an MBA or something. Don’t just stay at home all day. Look at you, you don’t even have any real friends.” The door closed. I put down my fork, staring at the steak on the table, which he’d barely touched. This was a dish he’d requested for a year, saying his mom used to make it when he was a kid. It took me two full months to perfect the taste he remembered. Now, he hated that I smelled of the kitchen. I picked up my phone and dialed a number. “Mr. Hayes, it’s Elara Vance. That plan you mentioned last time, I’d like to hear the specifics.” Mr. Hayes sounded a little surprised. “Ms. Vance, have you finally come around?” “I have.” I leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. “He told me to get an MBA. I think it’s a great suggestion. But I don’t want to study business management. I want to study share transfer and asset liquidation.” Mr. Hayes was silent for two seconds. “I’ll come see you tomorrow morning.” “No need to come to my house. Let’s meet at a coffee shop near your law firm, two PM.” I hung up, opened my laptop, and logged into the company’s backend system. Marcus was too trusting of me. Or rather, he looked down on me too much. He thought I was just a stay-at-home parent, tied to the stove, never knowing that every night after he fell asleep, I would spend three hours studying all the company’s business lines and financial data. He thought I knew nothing, which is why he confidently left those blank authorization documents in his study, asking me to organize and file them. He didn’t know I’d photographed and saved every single one. It didn’t start three months ago. It started two years ago, the day he first brought home lipstick stains on his shirt after a social event. From that day on, I understood that all the chips I’d put into this marriage, I needed to keep a way out for myself.

The next afternoon, I arrived at the coffee shop ten minutes early. Choosing a spot near Mr. Hayes’ law firm was my idea; it was far from the company and home, making the chance of running into anyone I knew almost zero. I picked a window seat, with my back to the door. It was a habit I’d developed back when I used to accompany Marcus to investor meetings. Mr. Hayes pushed a manila envelope across the table. “Ms. Vance, per your request, I’ve itemized all your and Mr. Thorne’s joint assets. The shares held in your name under the nominee agreement — you have full disposal rights according to the original agreement.” I opened the document, reviewing it page by page. Five years ago, Marcus and I co-founded the current company. He was responsible for external affairs, and I handled internal operations. For ease of management, some shares were held in my name as a nominee, and he signed an authorization agreement. Later, when the company was on track, he asked me to resign from my executive position, saying the family needed a strong foundation, and that while he was out fighting, he needed a stable home base. I believed him. I gave my position to his college friend, turned my office into his lounge, and transformed myself from an executive into a stay-at-home parent, tied to the stove. Then he told me I lacked ambition. “These nominee shares, according to the agreement, I have the right to dispose of them independently, without his signature?” I confirmed. “Yes. Article Six of the agreement clearly states that the nominee shareholder has the right to independently dispose of the shares at a reasonable market price. You insisted on adding this clause back then. Mr. Thorne thought it was unimportant at the time, so he signed it.” I nodded. I insisted on that clause because I’d seen too many cases of co-founding couples falling out. I thought I was leaving myself a backup plan. I never expected to actually use it. “There’s one more thing,” Mr. Hayes lowered his voice. “Mr. Thorne has recently been privately contacting investors, hoping to raise capital under the company’s name. If the funding is successful, he plans to issue new shares, diluting your shareholding percentage.” “I know.” I closed the document. “I’ve seen his pitch deck. The valuation is too high; investors won’t easily bite.” “How did you see it?” “He kept it on a flash drive at home; the password was his birthday. He thought I wouldn’t touch his things.” Mr. Hayes’s gaze shifted, a hint of respect in his eyes. “Ms. Vance, you’ve actually been preparing all along, haven’t you?” I took a sip of coffee, the bitterness spreading on my tongue. “Not preparing, just a habit of always keeping a backup plan.” Marcus and I had been married for six years, from living in a basement apartment during the startup phase to later buying a house and driving luxury cars. I knew this man too well; his love was always conditional. He loved my capabilities, my efforts, my silent support. But when he deemed those things worthless, he could replace me without hesitation. Just as he replaced Seraphina all those years ago. He just forgot that Seraphina was the one he abandoned then, while I held his lifeblood in my hands.

Marcus spent an entire week with Seraphina, never coming home. On the third day, he sent me a message: “Keep an eye on the company, don’t bother me.” I replied with “Okay,” then continued my work. I contacted all the company’s early investors, arranging meetings with them as the nominee shareholder. Those investors were the ones I’d accompanied Marcus to meet, one by one, all those years ago. Every one of them remembered me. “Ms. Vance, are you planning to…” Mr. Thompson, the first person I met, asked cautiously. “Mr. Thompson, do you remember the right of first refusal clause we signed in the investment agreement back then?” Mr. Thompson’s eyes flashed. “I remember. If Mr. Thorne transfers shares, we have the right of first refusal.” “It’s not Mr. Thorne.” I pushed a copy of the nominee agreement across the table. “It’s me. I want to transfer the company shares held in my name as nominee, and you are the first person with the right of first refusal.” Mr. Thompson picked up the agreement and read it carefully. When he looked up, his expression had completely changed. “Ms. Vance, you and Mr. Thorne…” “Household matters,” I smiled. “Mr. Thompson just needs to tell me whether you wish to exercise your right of first refusal.” Mr. Thompson was silent for a long time. “Ms. Vance, honestly, when I invested in this company back then, I valued not just the project, but also the combination of you and Mr. Thorne. You handled internal affairs, he handled external; you worked together very well.” “And now?” “Now…” He sighed. “I hear Mr. Thorne hasn’t been focused on the company lately. He even missed the funding meeting to pick up his ex-wife. Word is all over the industry.” I didn’t speak. “I’ll take your shares.” Mr. Thompson made his decision. “At the highest market price.” “Thank you, Mr. Thompson.” Over the next week, I met with all the early investors. Everyone knew what Marcus had been doing lately, and everyone was shaking their heads. “Ms. Vance, you’ve been wronged.” I heard that sentence at least ten times. Each time, I just smiled and said, “Household matters, let’s not discuss it.” But I knew in my heart that these investors were willing to buy the shares not just because they were optimistic about the company’s future, but more because they no longer trusted Marcus. Who would dare continue to invest in a founder who would stand up an investor meeting? On the seventh day, Marcus finally returned. I was sitting in the living room reading a book when he walked in. He looked to be in a good mood, a smile on his lips, wearing clothes I’d never seen before. “Seraphina picked it out for me, Italian bespoke. What do you think?” He deliberately spun around in front of me. “It’s nice,” I closed my book. “Regarding the funding, a few investors are interested; you need to come back and talk to them personally.” “You handle it,” he waved his hand. “Seraphina and I are going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. We leave next week.” “You don’t want the funding?” “We’ll talk about it when I get back. The Northern Lights aren’t something you can see just any time.” I looked at him, and for the first time, I didn’t try to persuade him. “Fine. Go.” He seemed surprised, apparently not expecting me to be so agreeable. “You’re not going to make a fuss?” “A fuss about what?” I stood up. “You’re right, I’m not qualified to compare myself to Seraphina Dubois. If you want to be with her, go be with her.” He froze, then laughed, a slightly smug laugh. “Elara Vance, you’ve finally come around. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you back a gift.” He went upstairs, his footsteps light as if he were walking on clouds. I stood there, looking down at my phone. Mr. Hayes had sent a message: “All share transfer agreements are ready, just waiting for your signature.” I replied: “He’s going to Iceland next week. I’ll sign then.”

The day Marcus left, I went to the airport to see him off. It wasn’t that I wanted to; he asked me to, saying he wanted Seraphina to see how generous and understanding his wife was. I stood at the arrival gate, watching Seraphina emerge with her suitcase. She truly was different. Dressed in a sharply tailored coat, with exquisite makeup, she exuded an undeniable aura. She saw me, nodded slightly, a hint of condescending scrutiny in her eyes. “Elara Vance, long time no see.” “Long time no see.” Marcus took her suitcase, then turned to me. “You can head back. We’re leaving directly.” “Okay. Have a safe trip.” I turned to leave, and behind me, I heard Seraphina’s voice: “Your wife has such a good temper.” Marcus laughed: “That’s about all she has left.” I didn’t look back. Walking out of the airport terminal, I pulled out my phone and called Mr. Hayes. “He’s gone.” “Ms. Vance, all the documents are ready. The investors have confirmed, and the funds are in place.” “When can we arrange the signing?” “Tomorrow morning at ten, in my law firm’s conference room.” “Good.” I hung up, standing in the parking lot, looking up as a plane streaked across the sky. That was Marcus’s flight. In a dozen hours, he would arrive on the other side of the world, watching the Northern Lights in the icy wilderness. And I would stay here, watching his shares become someone else’s name. I drove home, passing the basement apartment we’d rented when we first started the company. That place had now been converted into a convenience store. I pulled over, went inside, and bought a bottle of water. The young cashier asked me, “Miss, did you used to live around here?” “Yeah, many years ago.” “So, do you ever wish you could go back to the past?” I smiled. “No. There’s nothing good to go back to in the past.” Back home, I opened Marcus’s study. He’d left it quite messy before he left, probably while packing. I tidied things up one by one, picking up the clothes he’d thrown on the floor, neatly stacking the documents he’d carelessly left on the desk. Among these documents, I found an envelope. Opening it, I found a divorce agreement. He’d prepared it long ago, just waiting for my signature. The terms of the agreement were outrageously harsh: I would walk away with nothing, relinquishing all joint property, all company shares, everything. I stared at the agreement for a long time, then picked up a pen and wrote my name in the signature space. Not agreeing. I added a small note next to it: “Marcus Thorne, I’ve already taken care of your shares. As for the divorce, let’s talk after I’m done with my business.” I put the agreement back in its place and locked the study door. Tomorrow, everything would be different.

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The anniversary cake on the wall hadn’t even been cut when he pushed a divorce agreement toward me and said his first love was back, and he wanted me to spend her final six months with her. “When she’s gone, we’ll remarry.” I gripped that thin sheet of paper, my nails digging into my palm. “Ethan Whitmore, what do you take me for?” He sneered. “You were never supposed to be Mrs. Whitmore in the first place.” That night, I called him, curled up on the floor in pain as dark red blood spread beneath me. “I’m bleeding… please come back…” He only gave a mocking laugh. “Addicted to playing the victim now?” Then he hung up. I signed the surgical consent form alone, staring at the pale white ceiling and thinking— So it turned out that even if I dug out my heart and held it in front of someone, in his eyes, it was nothing more than a clump of rotten mud blocking his path. Later, when I stood at the United Nations podium, I heard he had gone mad, clutching an old sofa and calling my name. But so what? Mud belongs where it rots.

Sophia Bennett POV The clock on the wall pointed to midnight. My third wedding anniversary with Ethan Whitmore ended just like that, in a deathly silent wait. The French dinner I had prepared with such care had long gone cold on the table, and the candles in the holders had burned out, leaving only a puddle of hardened wax. At last, the front door made the soft beep of a fingerprint lock opening. Ethan Whitmore walked in carrying the chill of early fall, and his well-tailored black suit still carried the faint scent of hospital disinfectant. I didn’t ask where he had been and simply stood up quietly, carrying the cold dishes into the kitchen. “You’re back. I’ll heat up the food.” “No need.” Ethan’s voice was low, with a trace of exhaustion. He walked to the dining table, did not look at the dishes I had prepared so carefully, and instead took a thin document from his briefcase and pushed it in front of me. Under the cold white light of the living room, I clearly saw the bold black words on the cover, Divorce Agreement. I froze in place, and my mind went blank for a brief moment. “What does this mean?” I heard my own voice trembling. Ethan looked straight into my eyes, his gaze deep but without a trace of warmth. “Vanessa Bennett is back.” Vanessa Bennett. That name was like a poison-coated needle, stabbing hard into my heart. Vanessa was my half sister and also Ethan Whitmore’s childhood sweetheart and first love. Three years ago, Vanessa left without a word on the eve of her engagement to Ethan in order to chase her so-called freedom, then flew far away. For the sake of their reputation, the Whitmore family forced the Bennett family to hand over another daughter as a replacement. That was how I became Vanessa’s stand-in and married Ethan Whitmore. For these three years, I hid every sharp edge of myself and did my best to be the perfect Mrs. Whitmore. I thought more than a thousand days and nights of companionship would eventually warm this stone. But now, Vanessa was back. “She has severe depression, complicated by serious heart failure.” Ethan’s tone was cold and brooked no argument. “The doctors said she has at most half a year left.” I stared hard at the divorce agreement, my nails almost digging into my palm. “So what? She’s sick, so you’re going to use my marriage as her treatment?” “Sophia, calm down.” Ethan frowned, as if he was displeased by my questioning. “Vanessa’s mental state is extremely fragile right now. Her only obsession is that she never got to marry me back then. If we don’t satisfy her, she could kill herself at any time.” “This is only a divorce agreement in name.” His tone softened, as if he was granting me some kind of mercy. “We’ll get divorced first, then I’ll hold a wedding with her and stay with her through these final six months. When she’s gone, we’ll remarry.” “Remarry?” It was as if I had heard the world’s biggest joke, and my eyes instantly turned red. “Ethan Whitmore, what do you take me for? Some object you can summon and dismiss whenever you want?” “Your Bennett family owed me from the start!” Ethan’s patience ran out, and his voice rose sharply. “If Vanessa hadn’t run away from the wedding, you never would have had the chance to become Mrs. Whitmore! You’ve enjoyed everything the Whitmore family’s resources and status brought you for these three years, and now that Vanessa is about to die, you can’t even endure this little bit of grievance?” My whole body went cold, as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. For these three years, I stayed by his side through the hardest power struggle at Whitmore Group, drank at business dinners until my stomach bled to help him, and went an entire month without a proper night’s sleep to care for him when he broke bones in a car accident. In the end, in his eyes, I had only been “enjoying the Whitmore family’s resources.” “What if I don’t sign?” I gritted my teeth and asked each word clearly. Ethan looked down at me from above, and his gaze was so unfamiliar it was terrifying. “Sophia, don’t force me to use other methods. You’re a smart woman, so you should know the consequences of angering me. Sign it, and I’ll give you enough compensation for these six months. The position of Mrs. Whitmore will still be yours in the end.” After saying that, he did not look at me again and turned toward the guest room, slamming the door shut. I stood alone in the empty living room, looking at the divorce agreement on the table. The edge of the paper was sharp, cutting my eyes until they stung. So it turned out that not loving someone simply meant not loving them. Even if I dug out my heart and held it in front of him, it still could not compare to a single tear Vanessa shed.

Sophia Bennett POV Early the next morning, before I had even woken from last night’s daze, the villa’s front door was pushed open. Several movers filed in one after another, carrying suitcases of all sizes into the living room. Vanessa wore a pure white dress, her face pale, looking like a fragile dodder flower as she leaned weakly in Ethan Whitmore’s arms. When she saw me standing at the stairway, Vanessa shrank back, and tears instantly filled her eyes. “Sophia… I’m sorry. I know it’s selfish of me to come back at a time like this, but I’m really so afraid of dying. I just want Ethan to be with me during my final days…” She cried so pitifully, as if she had suffered some terrible injustice. Ethan held her tighter in distress and comforted her softly. “Don’t cry. The doctor said you can’t get emotional. This will be your home from now on, and no one can drive you away.” After saying that, he raised his head and looked at me coldly. “Vanessa’s illness requires plenty of sunlight, and the master bedroom has the best light. Pack up your things today and move to the guest room on the first floor.” I froze in place, looking at him in disbelief. I had designed the master bedroom myself, and every piece of furniture and every painting inside had been carefully chosen over countless days and nights. It was the private space where Ethan and I had lived together for three years. Now, with one casual sentence, he wanted to sweep me out. “Ethan Whitmore, we’re not divorced yet.” My voice tightened, and I gripped the stair railing hard. “Sophia, don’t be mad at Ethan.” Vanessa tugged at Ethan’s sleeve and said considerately, “I can just stay in the guest room. I’m someone who’s about to die anyway, so it doesn’t matter where I stay…” “No!” Ethan cut her off sternly, and his gaze toward me grew even colder. “Sophia, did you ignore everything I said last night? Vanessa’s heart can’t take any stimulation. Will you only be satisfied if you force her to death?” Force her to death? I looked at the faint, barely noticeable smugness that flashed through Vanessa’s eyes and suddenly found it all absurd beyond words. I did not argue anymore and turned back to the master bedroom. I opened the closet and began mechanically stuffing my clothes into a suitcase. Ethan and Vanessa’s voices came from outside the door. “Ethan, I want cheesecake from that place in the East Village.” “Okay, I’ll have my assistant buy it right away.” “But I want you to feed me the cake yourself…” “Anything you want. Anything.” My hand suddenly froze, and a sharp pain spread through my fingertips. I had a serious stomach condition, and whenever it flared up and I had no appetite, Ethan would drive to the East Village to buy that cheesecake, then patiently feed it to me one spoonful at a time. I had once thought that was a tenderness meant only for me. Only now did I know he had simply taken a habit meant for another woman and used it on me in passing. In less than half an hour, my things had been cleared out completely. The movers rudely hung Vanessa’s clothes in the closet, pulled off the bedding I had carefully chosen, and replaced it with the pink lace Vanessa liked. I dragged my suitcase to the guest room on the first floor. The guest room rarely saw sunlight all year round, and it carried a cold, damp smell. I sat on the bare bed board, looked at the gray sky outside the window, and my tears finally fell silently. I had acted in this play called “marriage” for three years and fallen too deeply into the role. But Ethan Whitmore could call it to a stop at any time.

Sophia Bennett POV I was not only Mrs. Whitmore, but also a top-tier simultaneous interpreter in the industry. Next week, the G7 summit would be held in San Francisco. As the officially appointed chief interpreter, I had stayed up for half a month straight for this summit, compiling a thick stack of professional terms and background materials. This was the most important battle of my career. However, three days before the summit began, the director of the State Department’s Language Services Office suddenly called me into his office. “Sophia, the higher-ups have decided to replace the chief interpreter for this summit.” The director’s expression was a little awkward, and he avoided my gaze. I froze. “Replace me? Why? I ranked first in every assessment, and I’ve already finished preparing all the materials.” “It’s… it’s what Whitmore Group wants.” The director sighed. “Whitmore Group is the biggest sponsor of this summit. Mr. Whitmore personally gave the order and specifically requested that Vanessa Bennett serve as chief interpreter.” Vanessa? I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. Vanessa had indeed studied translation in college, but she had not even passed the most basic simultaneous interpretation certification, and she had spent the past three years traveling abroad. How could she possibly handle a summit at this level? “Director, this is an international summit, not a game! Vanessa has no simultaneous interpretation experience at all. If something goes wrong, the entire industry will be humiliated!” I panicked. “Mr. Whitmore said he’ll arrange for you to work as a ‘shadow interpreter’ in the backup booth.” Director Miller spread his hands helplessly. “If Vanessa gets stuck, you immediately cut into the channel and translate for her. Publicly, the credit will be hers. If something goes wrong, Whitmore Group will take responsibility.” All the blood in my body instantly went cold. Shadow interpreter. Ethan Whitmore not only wanted to steal my hard work, but also wanted to trample my dignity under his feet and make me like a ghost who could not be seen, serving as Vanessa’s stepping stone! I rushed straight out of the office and took a cab directly to Whitmore Group headquarters. Inside the CEO’s office, Ethan Whitmore was looking down and reviewing documents. With a bang, I pushed open the door and slammed the materials in my hand onto his desk. “Ethan Whitmore, what gives you the right to replace me?!” My eyes were red, and my chest rose and fell violently. Ethan did not even lift his head, and his tone was as flat as if he were discussing the weather. “The director should have explained it clearly to you. Vanessa’s dream used to be becoming a simultaneous interpreter. She doesn’t have much time left now, so I have to help her fulfill her dream.” “Fulfill her dream? By treating an international conference like some make-believe game?” I was so furious I laughed. “She doesn’t have the ability to sit in that position at all!” “That’s why you’re needed as backup.” Ethan finally raised his head and looked at me coldly. “Sophia, you’re still young. You’ll have plenty of chances to attend summits like this in the future. But Vanessa only has this one chance.” “I won’t go.” I clenched my teeth, my back straight. “My professional ethics do not allow me to be part of this kind of fraud. If you want to promote her, do whatever you want, but I will never be her ghostwriter!” Ethan’s gaze darkened instantly, and a dangerous aura spread around him. He stood up and walked toward me step by step, looking down at me from above. “Sophia, have you forgotten that your father’s company is still surviving on Whitmore Group’s funding?” Ethan’s voice was extremely low, but every word stabbed into my heart. “If you don’t go, Bennett Group will announce bankruptcy tomorrow. Guess whether your money-obsessed father will be so angry that he drops dead because of you.” My pupils suddenly contracted, and all the strength in my body seemed to be drained away in an instant. I looked at the man in front of me in disbelief. To make Vanessa smile, he was actually using my father’s life’s work to threaten me! “Ethan Whitmore… you’re truly despicable.” My voice trembled beyond control. A fleeting emotion flashed through Ethan’s eyes, but it was quickly covered by cruelty. “Say whatever you want.” He turned around, his back to me. “Nine o’clock Friday morning, report to the backup booth on time. Don’t disappoint me.”

Sophia Bennett POV Friday, at the G7 summit venue. Under the spotlight, Vanessa wore a custom business suit and flawless makeup, looking like a dazzling star as she sat inside the main interpreter booth. As for me, I was placed in the backup booth in the darkest corner of the venue, where not even the lights reached. The summit officially began. For the first ten minutes of polite greetings, Vanessa barely managed to get through. But as the meeting deepened and began involving a large number of obscure macroeconomics terms and complex long sentences, Vanessa’s breathing grew rushed, and her voice became halting. “Regarding… regarding under the quantitative easing policy… that…” The voice from the main interpreter booth paused for a full five seconds. Inside the venue, representatives from various countries frowned one after another, taking off their headsets and whispering to each other. Ethan Whitmore sat in the VIP seats in the front row, and his face darkened as well. At that critical moment, I closed my eyes in the backup booth, took a deep breath, and pressed the forced cut-in button. “Regarding the spillover effects of quantitative easing policies on emerging markets…” A cool, steady, flawless, and authentic voice instantly cut into the channel, perfectly bridging the earlier gap. The commotion inside the venue calmed down. For the next two hours, Vanessa was reduced completely to a decoration. She sat in the main booth with a deathly pale face, not even daring to touch the microphone. As for me, inside the dark backup booth, my brain ran at high speed as I translated every word from the speakers with absolute precision. The meeting ended successfully, and thunderous applause broke out across the room. Representatives from various countries gave thumbs-up toward the main interpreter booth, praising the outstanding performance of this “young interpreter.” Vanessa walked out of the interpreter booth with Ethan Whitmore supporting her, and facing the cameras flashing from the media, she lowered her head shyly. “Thank you, everyone. This is what I should have done.” Ethan gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said to the cameras, “Vanessa has always been excellent. I’m proud of her.” The door of the backup booth was pushed open, and I walked out with a pale face. The high-intensity simultaneous interpretation had drained all my energy, and my throat was so dry and hoarse that I could barely make a sound. I stood in the shadows and looked at the two people not far away, surrounded by flowers and applause, and my heart felt as if it had been stuffed with shattered glass, every breath bringing bloody pain. This was the man I had loved for three years. He had snapped my wings with his own hands, plucked off my feathers, and stuck them onto another woman. After the crowd dispersed, Ethan Whitmore walked toward me. He took a check from his suit pocket and handed it to me. “You worked hard today. This is one million dollars, your pay for being the backup today.” Ethan’s tone was strictly business. “Remember, I don’t want any media to know what happened today.” I looked at that light, weightless check and suddenly laughed. I laughed until tears came out, and my thin shoulders shook violently. “Ethan Whitmore, in your eyes, are my dignity and my professional beliefs only worth one million dollars?” I did not take the check and instead looked fixedly at him. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Because I find it disgusting.” I turned around, straightened my back, and walked out of the venue step by step.

Sophia Bennett POV The constant high-pressure work and emotional collapse made my body send out a warning. For several days in a row, I felt nauseous, kept retching, and had no strength at all. After I went to the hospital for an exam, the doctor handed me an ultrasound report with a gentle smile on her face. “Congratulations, Miss Bennett. You’re six weeks pregnant. But your body is very weak, and there are signs of a threatened miscarriage, so you must rest and keep your mood stable.” I was pregnant. I looked at the gestational sac on the ultrasound report, only the size of a soybean, and tears fell without warning. I had waited for this child for three years. On countless intimate nights, Ethan Whitmore had once kissed my earlobe and said, “Sophia, have a child for me, one as beautiful as you.” Now, the child had finally come. A faint, weak hope suddenly appeared in the depths of my dried-up heart. Maybe the arrival of this child could make Ethan Whitmore come to his senses. Maybe, for the sake of the child, he would stop this ridiculous farce. I carefully tucked the ultrasound report close to my body and took a cab back to the villa. When I pushed open the door, the living room was filled with the rich scent of roses. Ethan Whitmore was directing the housekeepers as they decorated the dining room, and expensive red wine and Vanessa’s favorite French desserts were laid out on the table. When he saw me come back, Ethan immediately frowned. “Why are you back? Didn’t I tell you to stay at your parents’ place for the next few days? Vanessa performed very well at the summit today, and I’m celebrating for her. Your being here will affect her mood.” My heart sank little by little, but I still took a deep breath and walked up to him. “Ethan Whitmore, I have something to tell you. It’s very important.” My hand tightly gripped the ultrasound report in my pocket. “Whatever it is, say it tomorrow.” Ethan interrupted me impatiently and glanced at his watch. “Vanessa will be done with her shower and downstairs any minute.” “Just one minute!” I anxiously grabbed his sleeve. “Ethan, I…” “Sophia, are you two arguing?” On the stairs, Vanessa wore a silk nightgown, her face pale as she held onto the railing, looking like she might collapse at any moment. “Vanessa, why did you come down by yourself?” Ethan immediately shook off my hand, strode up the stairs, and scooped Vanessa into his arms. “I heard Sophia’s voice and was afraid she was angry with me…” Vanessa leaned in Ethan’s arms, then suddenly clutched her chest in pain and gasped hard. “Ethan… my chest hurts so much… I can’t breathe…” Ethan’s face changed drastically, and he roared at the housekeepers, “Get her medicine! Bring the car around to go to the hospital!” He rushed downstairs holding Vanessa, and when he passed me, I instinctively blocked him for a moment. “Ethan, listen to me. I’m pregnant…” “Get out of the way!” Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot, and he shoved me away hard. “Sophia, do you even have a heart?! Vanessa is having an episode, and you’re still here fighting for attention out of jealousy! If anything happens to Vanessa, I’ll never let you off!” I stumbled back several steps from the shove and slammed hard into the solid marble coffee table. The ultrasound report fell out of my pocket and drifted to the floor. Ethan did not even glance at it and rushed out the front door like a gust of wind with Vanessa in his arms. His hurried footsteps ruthlessly stepped over that ultrasound report, leaving a dark muddy footprint on it. I collapsed to the floor, and a faint sinking pain spread through my lower abdomen. I stared blankly at the dirty ultrasound report on the floor and suddenly felt that my earlier attempt to use the child to win him back had been so stupid it was laughable.

Sophia Bennett POV A sudden gale rose outside the window, and a rare storm poured down. I held my stomach, cold sweat soaking the clothes on my back. The sinking pain in my abdomen grew more and more intense, as if something was being forcibly torn away from my body. I struggled to get up, found my phone, and called Ethan Whitmore. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered, and the noisy background sounds of the hospital came through from the other end. “What now?” Ethan’s voice carried extreme impatience and exhaustion. “Ethan… my stomach hurts so much…” My voice was so weak it could barely be heard, with a desperate sob in it. “I’m bleeding… please, come back and save me…” The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Immediately after, Vanessa’s weak voice came through. “Ethan, is Sophia angry with me again? Go back and stay with her. I can wait outside the emergency room by myself…” “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not going anywhere.” After comforting Vanessa, Ethan gave a cold laugh into the phone. “Sophia, this pathetic act of yours is terrible. I didn’t use any force when I pushed you just now, so who are you pretending to bleed for?” “I’m not pretending… I really am pregnant…” I curled up on the floor in pain, blood winding down my thighs and staining the white wool carpet red. “Enough!” Ethan snapped harshly. “Vanessa is undergoing heart monitoring right now, and her life could be in danger at any moment. Can you stop your tricks for attention and act like a decent human being?” Beep—beep—beep— The call was mercilessly hung up. I gripped the phone tightly, listened to the cold busy tone, and the last trace of warmth in my heart went out completely. I did not call again. I used the last of my strength and dialed the hospital emergency line. The ambulance struggled forward through the storm, and by the time I arrived at the hospital, I had already fallen into a semi-coma from losing too much blood. Inside the cold operating room, the glaring surgical lights shone on my face. “The patient has a threatened miscarriage, plus extreme emotional distress and an external impact. The fetus can’t be saved. Prepare for a D&C immediately!” Cold instruments entered my body, but that tearing pain was not even one ten-thousandth of the pain in my heart. The next morning after the surgery, I lay alone in the pale hospital room. No family, no company. During rounds, the doctor looked at my bloodless face and could not help sighing. “Ms. Bennett, this has caused serious damage to your fertility. It may be difficult for you to conceive in the future. Where is your husband? Why hasn’t he come to stay with you?” “He’s dead.” I looked at the ceiling, my voice hollow without the slightest rise or fall. The doctor froze for a moment and tactfully did not ask any more questions. I took out my phone, and the screen showed a breaking news notification. Whitmore Group CEO Appears at Hospital Late at Night, Stays by Childhood Sweetheart’s Side, Suspected Wedding Bells Soon. The attached photo showed Ethan Whitmore sitting in front of the hospital bed, tightly holding Vanessa’s hand, his gaze so gentle it seemed it could drip water. I looked at that photo quietly and did not shed a single tear. Something inside my heart had died. When all expectations were crushed into mud, what remained was only bone-deep calm. I pressed the lock screen button and tossed the phone aside. Ethan Whitmore, between us, it was completely over.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446377”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

It was the eighteenth time a street photographer had stopped us. The photographer, as usual, pulled Nathan and my sister, Chloe, to the side, then handed their stuff to me. Chloe looked uncomfortable, pointing at me: “No, my sister and Nathan are the couple.” Nathan wrapped an arm around me. “Then let’s just take the picture, all three of us.” Forty-three photos, and Nathan only picked one. The photographer reminded him, “Your girlfriend closed her eyes in this one…” Nathan said flatly, “She doesn’t mind little things like that.” “Besides, Chloe looks really good in this one.” Later, when I borrowed his laptop, I discovered that picture had become his wallpaper. I had been completely cropped out. The screen showed only him and Chloe, radiating genuine, happy smiles. My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, a SnapChat message from Chloe popped up: “Guess if Mia will be mad when she sees your wallpaper? Bet you an ice cream!” Nathan instantly replied, “No. I told you she’s not that delicate.” Looking at my profile picture, buried deep in Nathan’s WhatsApp chats, it suddenly hit me: he wasn’t bad at replying; he just thought I was too noisy. If that was the case, staying any longer would be impolite.

I calmly closed the laptop. Nathan emerged from the coffee shop at just that moment, holding coffees. “All done?” He pushed the laptop back. I nodded. I didn’t question him, just as he expected. Instead, he looked at me suspiciously. “Are you…?” Before he could ask, Chloe walked over with her bag. Nathan skillfully handed her a cup of coffee, then stuck a straw into his own and started drinking. Chloe took a sip and smiled. “Nathan, you’re amazing. You remembered my favorite flavor just from seeing me order it once. You really are an academic ace.” Nathan’s voice held an unsuppressed chuckle. “Have I ever forgotten anything about you?” Watching them banter back and forth, my heart sank to rock bottom. I spoke in a cold voice, “Nathan, where’s my coffee?” The atmosphere instantly froze. Nathan froze, then smiled, pushing a coffee toward me and ruffling my hair. “Good girl, let’s share one.” I looked at the iced Americano. “I’ve told you many times, I have bad cramps today and can’t drink anything cold.” Nathan frowned. “I’ll go buy you another one.” I gave a bitter smile and shook my head. “No need.” The old Nathan used to remember every single one of my periods. He’d arrange everything without me having to say a word. If love was something I had to ask for, it wasn’t worth keeping. Chloe tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, let’s drop it and get back to our competition project.” Nathan opened his laptop. I quickly lowered my head, pretending to check my phone, avoiding his wallpaper, avoiding the shared glance between him and Chloe, avoiding subjecting myself to that humiliation. Only when he opened the file did I look up. But I found I couldn’t join their conversation. “Once the results of this competition are out, we can apply for grad school at Harvard!” “Then I’ll take you on that trip. Haven’t you wanted to see the ocean for ages?” “Yeah, I’ve pulled so many all-nighters for these competitions! I need a good break then!” “Hopefully, all three of us will be at the same university!” Chloe finished, then looked at me. “Mia, which university do you want to go to for grad school?” Nathan naturally put his arm around me. “She wants to go to Harvard, just like us.” Chloe smiled and nodded. “That’s good. We can’t be missing anyone…” They continued chatting. I avoided Nathan’s hand on my shoulder, my stomach churning. I never wanted to go to Harvard; I wanted to go to Stanford. Before, I used to playfully tell Nathan, “Let’s go to Stanford together, okay?” Nathan would always smile and playfully tap my nose. “Whatever you want.” But I don’t know when it started, His attitude changed, becoming firm. “I want to go to Harvard, Mia. Will you come with me to Harvard? I don’t want to be separated from you.” I thought he valued Harvard’s reputation, but now I realized, It was just Chloe who wanted to go to Harvard. Turns out we were both accommodating one person. I sighed, deleting all the saved information on my phone about Harvard dorms, faculty, campus environment, and routes. My vision suddenly blurred. I blinked, And typed two words into my notes app. Stanford University.

Finally, we submitted the competition project. Nathan took my hand. “Let’s go, time for dinner.” “Didn’t you always want to try that new Japanese place?” I looked at him, surprised. I’d mentioned that restaurant almost daily since it opened, But Nathan always found new excuses to refuse: student council work was too busy, it was too far, he wasn’t hungry… Today, he was actually suggesting it. Chloe patted Nathan’s shoulder. “Nice, nice. I just told you about that place today, and you already thought of going!” Then she turned and winked at me. “You’ve got a good boyfriend there, Mia. You’re really lucky.” Lucky? I opened my TikTok app. He hadn’t replied to a single video I’d shared. He hadn’t taken a single word I’d said to heart. I pulled my hand away from Nathan’s. The rideshare arrived. Nathan opened the car door, gesturing “please” to Chloe. Usually, at this point, I would ask: “Why don’t you invite me first? Aren’t I your girlfriend?” Nathan would always say with a smile: “Why are you even jealous of your own sister?” “Don’t I have to butter up your family first so they’ll trust me with you?” After that, I could only swallow any further dissatisfaction. But now, there was no need. When Nathan turned to call me into the car, I shook my head, And got into the passenger seat. Nathan’s private message came through: [Upset?] My fingers trembled as I prepared to reply. But the next second, the two of them burst into laughter in the backseat. I exited Nathan’s chat, And typed a line of text: [Ethan, did you go to Stanford last year?] [I’d like to ask you something.] At the restaurant, Nathan still sat on the same side as Chloe. They discussed the menu, talked to the waiter, complaining about their tight schedule lately. No one looked up at me, as if I were invisible. Finally, Chloe looked up and asked: “Oh, right, Mia, why haven’t I heard you mention wanting to go to Harvard?” “I have tons of Harvard resources here, I’ll send them to you.” Ten or so files came through in a row. I randomly opened one. The familiar annotation style was Nathan’s. A 99-page document, meticulously detailing Harvard’s campus environment, dorm conditions, surrounding malls, and dining halls. Every dish Chloe liked had two asterisks next to it. I didn’t know how long it took to create all this. I only knew that every time we had a date or traveled, Nathan was always glued to his laptop, collecting information. When I complained he wasn’t spending time with me, he would only say: “I’m doing this to give you a better experience, you know.” But in the end, I never received the files, Instead, every moment we had alone was filled with Chloe. When we left after dinner, I stared blankly at their parallel figures. And still, shamelessly, tears welled up. Suddenly, Nathan stopped. “Dummy, your backpack zipper is open.” Chloe stuck out her tongue, Turning her back to let Nathan zip it up for her. Several acquaintances walked by, saw the scene, and started cheering: “I knew Nathan was too handsome not to have a girlfriend! Turns out he was hiding her!” “Oh, they’re really a perfect match!” Nathan frowned, about to explain, Chloe clasped his hand. He looked down at their intertwined fingers and suddenly fell silent. I turned and exited through the side door, Remembering the old Nathan, who made a big public show of pursuing me. The first day we got together, he announced to the world that I was his girlfriend. I asked him why he was so silly, and he pinched my cheek: “It’d be silly not to tell everyone I have such a beautiful girlfriend.” What made him deny I was his girlfriend now? Nathan caught up behind me. “Mia! Mia!” I wiped my tears and turned around: “Nathan, let’s break up.”

Nathan frowned. “Mia, if something’s bothering you, just say it. There’s no need to threaten me with a breakup.” I met his gaze, and he instinctively looked away. He knew I wasn’t joking. No matter how big the conflict, I wouldn’t easily suggest breaking up, but I couldn’t continue with such an insecure relationship anymore. Nathan sighed and took my hand. “Is it because I’ve been too busy lately? Do you feel neglected?” “Mia, applying for grad school at Harvard is important for both of us. We’ve worked for three years for this. Once we’re accepted, I promise I’ll spend quality time with you.” My hands and feet were icy cold from the evening breeze, but at that moment, I felt no fondness for the warmth of his hand. I scoffed. “Nathan, you don’t have time for me, but you have time for Chloe?” “Her messages get instant replies, mine are always read but ignored? Let’s break up, I’m really tired.” The last shred of tenderness in Nathan’s eyes vanished. Replaced by a chilling gaze. “Mia, I’ve told you many times.” “I’m good to Chloe, good to your family, all because of you.” He hailed a taxi with Chloe, throwing me a parting shot, “You’re not thinking clearly right now. We’ll talk about this when we get to Harvard.” No need to talk. There was no going back. Harvard was 3120 miles from Stanford, and perhaps, we would never see each other again. I hailed a rideshare back to school by myself. When I returned to my dorm, my roommate told me: “Your boyfriend sent you flowers again! So handsome, so smart, and so loyal. We’re all so jealous of you!” I merely hummed in response, looked at the red roses on my desk, and turned to throw them in the trash. My roommate gasped. “What are you doing?!” “These aren’t my favorite flowers.” I looked at the vibrant red roses in the trash. Those were Chloe’s favorite flowers. After that, neither Chloe nor Nathan contacted me, just like before. But sometimes, when I came across a funny video or a cool new spot I wanted to check out, I’d pause, not knowing who to share it with. I told myself, just get through this, and everything will be fine once I get to Stanford. The day the competition results came out, I found my bonus points were lower than both Nathan’s and Chloe’s. I frantically called Nathan, but he hung up each time. On the eleventh call, he finally answered. My breath hitched, and I asked with a trembling voice, “Why is my score the lowest for the team project?” His calm voice came through the receiver: “Chloe said her grades weren’t that high, and she wanted more competition points to make her Harvard application more secure, so I put her name first.” “Is that a problem? Isn’t she your sister? And even if your competition score is low, you can still easily get into Harvard.” Before I could say anything, Nathan hung up. I couldn’t control my anger. Chloe had been slacking off and chatting every time, and I had done most of the work for the team. But Nathan, without consulting me, had directly placed Chloe ahead of me. Stanford’s admission difficulty was much higher than Harvard’s. In the end, it was because of Nathan and Chloe that I missed my closest shot at my dream. I blocked Chloe’s and Nathan’s contact information one by one. I never wanted to see these people again. As I began preparing for exams, I received a message: [Mia, thank you for the materials you shared before. They were incredibly helpful.] [Our competition roster is about to be submitted. If you need it, our team is willing to list you as a member.]

The day I flew to Stanford for my interview, I ran into Nathan at airport security. His laptop had been mixed up with someone else’s, and he was booting it up to check. His wallpaper was clearly another street photo of me from that day. I calmly averted my gaze. Whoever his wallpaper was, or why he had that photo, it had nothing to do with me anymore. Chloe walked over. “Nathan, are you ready…?” Suddenly, she saw me. “Mia! I knew you’d be on this flight! Why didn’t you call us?” Nathan suddenly looked up, fumbling to pack away his laptop. He looked at me with an urgent gaze. I quietly waited for him to speak. But what he said was just as cold. “So you decided to come back?” “We’ve already planned our trip. You can find a hotel and stay there yourself.” Even though I was utterly disappointed in him, hearing the person I once loved say that was still incredibly painful. Nathan, do you think everyone should revolve around you? Who do you think you are? I smiled at them. “You two can go on your trip. It has nothing to do with me.” I pushed my suitcase and turned to leave. Chloe’s voice came from behind. “Mia, Mia! Wait for us, let’s go together! We can look out for each other!” “Enough, Chloe. Leave her be. She’ll come back when she’s done throwing a tantrum. We just spoiled her before.” On the plane, I turned off my phone. For the three-hour flight, I just stared blankly out the window. The clouds kept changing. It felt like I hadn’t looked up at the sky in a long time. The journey to Harvard was shorter than to Stanford. As soon as I turned on my phone, I received a string of messages from Nathan, And 21 missed calls. [Mia, there’s a limit to how much you can joke.] [Where are you? I’m coming to get you.] Another call came in. I hung up again. I dragged my suitcase out of the airport. From now on, I had nothing to do with him.

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My name was Chloe Miller, the most unremarkable middle child in my family. My older sister was a piano prodigy. My younger brother was the family’s golden boy. My existence seemed to be solely for the purpose of highlighting their brilliance. The doctor said I might not live to see my eighteenth birthday. When I got home, Eleanor’s face immediately darkened as she saw me. “What trick are you trying to pull now? Are you deliberately trying to ruin Seraphina’s party?” “Eleanor, I’m sick, very sick. The doctor said I’m dying…” She snatched the paper from my hand and slapped it to the floor. “Dying? I think you’re desperate for attention! How could I have given birth to such a lying daughter!” To punish me, Richard locked me in the storage room. Seven days later. The storage room door was kicked open. Eleanor’s curses filled the air: “Chloe Miller, do I need to beg you? Get out! This cake is even too disgusting for a dog to eat, but it’s yours now!” But Eleanor, the smell of decay was already so strong. Could you truly not smell it? Your daughter was already rotting inside.

Bang! A loud crash, and I stumbled, hitting a wooden crate in the dusty storage room. The dust choked me, making me cough until my chest ached. “Reflect on your actions in here!” Richard glared at me, pointing a finger at my nose. “You can come out when you understand where you went wrong!” “I didn’t do anything wrong! The diagnosis is real! I’m really sick! Richard, believe me!” I braced myself against the wall, trying to argue. “Believe you?” He scoffed. “Eleanor is right. We’ve spoiled you rotten! You’d even make up such lies just to get attention!” “Do you know how much Seraphina has sacrificed for her competition today? The whole family wants her to be happy, and you just have to jump out now and put on a show!” “I’m not putting on a show!” I cried, trying to grab his sleeve. He recoiled in disgust. “Enough! You only ever use this act to gain sympathy!” Seraphina scoffed from outside the door. “Richard, don’t waste your breath on her. The guests are waiting for you downstairs. If we don’t go down soon, they’ll think something scandalous happened in our family.” She paused, her voice dripping with schadenfreude. “Chloe, just stay in there and be your tragic heroine. Whatever you do, don’t come out. You’ll scare the guests with your ghastly appearance.” “Seraphina!” I trembled with rage. “Why are you yelling? Did I say anything wrong?” She chuckled. “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Eleanor already tore up your diagnosis. That kind of trash paper would only dirty our floor.” Seraphina scattered the torn pieces of paper over my head. My heart clenched, the pain making me almost lose my footing. “How could you…” “How could we not?” Eleanor’s voice also rang out. “Chloe Miller, I’m warning you, tonight is Seraphina’s most important day. If you dare make another sound or ruin the atmosphere, you’ll see what I do to you! Stay in there until you learn how to be a daughter who doesn’t embarrass the family!” I looked at Richard desperately. He didn’t look at me, turning instead to Eleanor and Seraphina with a placating smile. “Alright, alright, let’s go downstairs. Don’t let this ruin your mood.” The click of the lock sealed me off from the world. I threw myself against the door, pounding on the wood. “Open up! Let me out! I’m really sick! I’m going to die!” “Richard! Eleanor! Please!” But the only response was the sound of piano music drifting up from downstairs. I slowly slid to the floor, leaning my back against the door. I could hear the guests’ laughter downstairs, Richard’s toast, Eleanor proudly introducing her genius daughter to everyone. “My daughter, Seraphina, she’s been talented since she was little…” “This gold medal is just the beginning, her future is limitless!” No one remembered that there was another me upstairs, a daughter slowly fading away. Waves of pain washed over me, and my consciousness began to blur. I curled up in the corner, hugging myself tightly. The storage room was filled with old family items, each one discarded, just like me. I don’t know how much time passed, but footsteps sounded outside the door. It was my younger brother, Ethan. “Hey, Chloe, are you still alive?” he asked in a childish voice, laced with malice. “Eleanor says you’re a big liar, and you deserve to be locked up.” He kicked the door hard. “Stop making so much noise! Your voice is awful! If you dare to die in there, don’t come haunting me as a ghost!” With that, he skipped away. I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face. The piano music continued. The sound seemed to tell me that this family had nothing to do with me. I was just trash… something that could be thrown away at any moment.

The first day was spent in hunger and intermittent heart palpitations. There was nothing to eat in the storage room, not even water. My lips were cracked and peeling. I didn’t dare to cry out loudly anymore; that would only accelerate the consumption of my already dwindling strength and put more strain on my heart. I could only curl up, trying to keep my breathing shallow. In the darkness, my senses became unusually acute. I could hear the clinking of dishes and forks downstairs, and smell the food. A pang of pain shot through my stomach. I pressed my abdomen hard, burying my head in my knees. Grrr… My stomach growled at an inopportune moment. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. My body wanted to live more than my heart did. Memories surfaced uncontrollably. I was ten that year, Seraphina was twelve, and we both came down with a high fever. Eleanor stayed by Seraphina’s bedside all night, wiping her body with alcohol, repeatedly checking her temperature. I lay in the next room, my face flushed with fever, and called out, “Eleanor, I don’t feel well.” She impatiently poked her head in. “Chloe Miller, how old are you? Can’t you let Seraphina get some quiet rest?” “It’s just a fever, isn’t it? Drink some hot water, sleep it off, don’t be so delicate!” With that, she closed my bedroom door. I made it through that night on my own. The next day, Seraphina’s fever broke. Because I didn’t receive timely care, I developed pneumonia and stayed in the hospital for half a month. The day I was discharged, I cautiously asked Eleanor, “Eleanor, do you like Seraphina more?” She was peeling an apple for Seraphina, answering without looking up. “Seraphina is a star, you’re… well, you’re not. There’s no comparison.” “As long as you’re obedient and don’t cause trouble for Seraphina, that’s your greatest value.” It seemed that love and lack thereof were predetermined from the moment of birth. I snapped out of my memories, and the pain in my heart returned. I fumbled around, trying to find a more comfortable position to lie down. My fingers brushed against a cold object. Using the light from the crack under the door, I made it out. It was a painting trophy I won in elementary school, long since discarded here. My name, Chloe Miller, was engraved on it. Back then, I also thought I could shine. But then Seraphina started learning piano. She needed a piano, she needed the best teachers. The family expenses suddenly increased. Eleanor looked at my easel and paints, frowning. “What’s the use of a girl painting these? It won’t put food on the table, and it costs money.” “Stop painting from now on. Save the money for Seraphina’s tuition.” From that day on, my paintbrushes were broken, my dreams tossed into this storage room, gathering thick dust alongside this trophy. Late at night, the noise from downstairs finally ended. I heard Richard and Eleanor’s footsteps going upstairs. They passed the storage room door, and I held my breath. “Richard, do you think… that girl might actually be in trouble?” It was Eleanor’s voice, hesitant. My heart instantly leaped into my throat. “What trouble could she be in?” Richard’s voice sounded weary. “You still don’t know her? She’s always loved to use these tricks to get our attention. Starve her for a day, and she’ll know she was wrong.” “You’re right.” Eleanor’s voice returned to its usual tone. “Just let her stay in there and teach her a lesson. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble she’ll stir up in the future.” “Alright, let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow we still have to go with Seraphina to pick out a dress for the celebration gala.” Their footsteps faded, and my suspended heart finally sank. I hugged my knees, burying my face, not crying, for my tears had long since dried up. Suddenly, I heard a sound downstairs. I struggled to crawl to the door, peering through the crack in the floor. It was Richard. He walked directly below the storage room and stopped. My heart skipped a beat. “Richard…” I managed to squeeze a tiny sound from my throat, pounding on the floor. He heard it. He stood still, seemingly wrestling with something. One second, two seconds, three seconds… Then he let out a long sigh and turned away.

On the third day, my body was so weak that I was losing the strength to even lift my hand. My world was reduced to darkness, dust, and an increasingly fierce pain. Occasionally, I would hallucinate. I saw steaming hot meals laid before me. I saw Eleanor holding a glass of water, gently telling me, “Chloe, have some water.” I reached out, only to grasp at air. Click. There was a sound outside the door, not the key turning in the lock, but more like someone was there. I laboriously lifted my head. “Chloe Miller, are you still in there?” It was Seraphina. Her voice was very low. I had no strength to answer. “Hey, don’t play dead.” She seemed a little impatient. “I’m telling you, Richard and Eleanor took Ethan to the amusement park today to celebrate my competition success.” Her voice was filled with ill-concealed bragging. “We’re going for a big seafood dinner tonight. I hear that restaurant’s Australian lobster is famous.” “Are you very hungry?” she deliberately slowed her words. “I just ate a piece of tiramisu. Eleanor bought it especially for me. It was so delicious, the cream was fragrant and sweet…” My stomach spasmed, and sour bile rose in my throat. “Too bad you can’t have any.” She changed her tone. “Chloe, don’t blame us. Blame yourself. Why did you have to lie and make Eleanor angry?” “If you just knock on the door now and loudly say, ‘I was wrong, I shouldn’t have lied,’ I might consider bringing you a small piece of bread when I come back.” Her tone was like she was bestowing alms upon a beggar. I leaned against the wall, listening. This was my sister. She hadn’t come to see if I was dead. She had come to savor my misery, to enjoy the feeling of stepping on me. I closed my eyes, too tired to respond with a single word. My silence seemed to enrage her. “Chloe Miller, don’t be ungrateful!” Her voice suddenly rose. “Do you think Richard and Eleanor will soften if you don’t speak? I’m telling you, no way!” “They were even discussing this morning that after my celebration gala, the whole family would go on vacation to the Maldives! No one will be home then, what will you do?!” “You can just starve to death in there!” After her curses, she kicked the door hard, and the sound of her high heels faded into the distance. A vacation… perhaps they wished I would really die in there, so no one would bother them again. I weakly smiled. The pain in my heart grew heavier and heavier. I knew my time was running out. I traced lines on the floor with my finger. I wanted to write Richard, Eleanor, Seraphina, and Ethan’s names. I wanted to ask them, if I truly died, would they feel even a tiny bit of sadness? Even for just one second. But I didn’t even have the strength to finish writing the first letter of a name. My finger went limp, and I collapsed onto the floor. Before I lost consciousness, I thought I saw a small wooden box. It was my treasure chest that I had secretly hidden when I was little. Inside were my first family drawing, the first pencil Richard gave me, and the butterfly hair ribbon Eleanor tied for me. There was also a small note, on which was scrawled, “I wish our family would stay together forever.” Forever… what a sarcastic word. I lay on the floor, my body growing colder and colder. Just as my consciousness completely slipped into darkness, I thought I heard the sound of a door opening. Not the storage room door, but the front door downstairs. They were back from the amusement park. I heard Ethan excitedly shouting, “Eleanor, I want more ice cream!” I heard Eleanor’s doting laugh, “Okay, my sweet boy, I’ll take you again tomorrow.” I struggled to turn my head, pressing my ear to the floor. The light from the living room peeked through the cracks, along with the cheerful laughter of their happy family of three. It sounded so beautiful. Too bad, it no longer concerned me.

Fourth day, fifth day, sixth day. I had lost track of day and night. Hunger and pain no longer existed. I smelled a strange odor emanating from my body. I knew I was dying. Occasionally, when I was lucid, I would hear activity downstairs. Eleanor was instructing the housekeeper to clean, preparing for Seraphina’s second celebration gala. “Here, here needs to be sparkling clean! Seraphina’s guests are very important, we can’t have any oversight!” “Bring out that new set of imported dinnerware, yes, the one I didn’t even dare use for my own birthday.” Richard was on the phone, contacting hotels, confirming venues. “Yes, the banner needs to be prominently displayed, ‘Heartfelt Congratulations to Ms. Seraphina Miller for Winning the Piano Competition Gold Medal!’” “The lighting and music must be the best!” Ethan was running around the living room, loudly reciting a poem he planned to perform at the gala. “My sister, the brightest star in the night sky…” Every one of them was busy for the gala. They had all forgotten about me, forgotten in the storage room on the top floor, or rather, they simply didn’t care. My existence was out of place. My death, too, was destined to be silent. Seventh day. I completely lost control of my body. My soul seemed to float up, and I could look down and see myself, curled up motionless in the corner. My skin had taken on a bluish-gray hue, covered in lividity. So ugly, I thought. Suddenly, a burst of applause and cheers erupted downstairs. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Birthday? I paused. Yes, it was Seraphina’s birthday today. And it was also my eighteenth birthday. The doctor said I wouldn’t live past my eighteenth birthday. I made it, or rather, my body did. “Time to cut the cake!” Ethan’s excited voice carried up. I saw a three-tiered cream cake in the center of the living room. Seraphina stood before the cake in a princess dress, her face beaming. Richard and Eleanor stood beside her, their eyes full of doting affection. This birthday cake, it wasn’t for me. “Seraphina, make a wish quickly!” Eleanor urged. Seraphina closed her eyes, clasped her hands, then blew out all the candles in one breath. Another round of cheers. I heard someone ask, “Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller, how come we don’t see your second daughter?” The air was silent for a moment. Eleanor’s smile stiffened, then quickly returned to normal. “Oh, Chloe isn’t feeling too well, she’s resting upstairs.” She lied without batting an eye. Richard also chimed in, “Yes, that child has always been delicate since she was little, she doesn’t like crowds.” After the party, the guests gradually left, and the house finally grew quiet. Eleanor looked at the haphazardly cut cake, not much left, and seemed to finally remember something. She frowned, a look of disgust on her face. “What a waste.” She picked up a plate of leftovers, cream smeared with saliva, and said to Richard, “I’ll go call that brat downstairs. Let her taste it too, so she can’t say we mistreated her.” Richard nodded, not objecting. So, I watched Eleanor carry the plate of cake and walk up the stairs. Bang, bang, bang! She impatiently kicked the door. “Chloe Miller! Are you done playing dead? Do I need to invite you out?” “Get out! This cake is even too disgusting for a dog to eat, but it’s yours now!” She cursed as she used the key to unlock the padlock. The door was kicked open by her. A foul stench immediately wafted from the room, a smell that even overpowered the cream cake on her plate. “Ugh…” She instinctively gagged, covering her nose. “What’s that smell… Did you… did you go to the bathroom in there? It’s disgusting!” She used the hallway light to peer at the figure huddled in the corner. “Hmph.” She sneered, thinking I was still defying her. She put down the cake, walked in angrily, grabbed my arm, and yanked it up hard. “Don’t you dare pretend…” Her words stopped abruptly. The sensation in her hand made her freeze. It wasn’t the skin of a living person, but an indescribable texture. Something dripped down her fingers. She instinctively looked down, meeting a pair of cloudy, unfocused eyes. Those eyes were staring straight at her. And her hand was gripping a piece of flesh that had already rotted and detached.

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I was the designer behind the show. Vanessa Reed pointed at my secretly married husband and ordered her assistant around like she was picking something off a menu: “That male model, I’m booking him tonight, so tell him to clean himself up and come upstairs with me to shoot a private short film.” Backstage went deathly silent. I almost laughed from anger. My cold, elegant husband was wearing a temporary pass today, and somehow, he had really been mistaken for a male model with a price tag. The staff member’s face turned pale. “Miss Reed, that man isn’t one of our signed models…” “If he’s not a model, why is he standing backstage?” Vanessa Reed sneered. “He’s wearing a pass and wearing the clothes, so what, is he supposed to be the heir of the Blackwood family?” A layer of frost covered Sebastian Blackwood’s eyes, and just as he was about to speak, I stepped in front of him first. “Miss Reed, he isn’t your merchandise, he’s my husband.” Trying to steal my man right in front of me, like I was dead?!

Ava Sterling POV I had been secretly married to the billionaire CEO of Blackwood Group for three years. Backstage at my charity fashion show, Vanessa Reed, the most arrogant socialite in San Francisco, was pointing at my cold, elegant secret husband and ordering her assistant around like she was picking goods at a market. “That male model, I’m booking him tonight, so tell him to clean himself up and come upstairs with me to shoot a private short film.” Backstage went deathly silent. I almost laughed from anger. Sebastian Blackwood was wearing the same black suit as the finale piece today, and to cooperate with me, he had specially put on an ordinary temporary pass. Who would have thought that with those broad shoulders, long legs, and cold, sharp features, he would be mistaken for a male model with a clear price tag? The staff member was so frightened that her face turned pale. “Miss Reed, that man isn’t one of our signed models…” “If he’s not a model, why is he standing backstage?” Vanessa Reed sneered and openly looked Sebastian up and down. “He’s wearing a pass and wearing the clothes, so what, is he supposed to be the young heir of the Blackwood family?” A layer of frost suddenly covered Sebastian’s eyes, and just as he was about to speak, I stepped in front of him first. “Miss Reed, he is not your merchandise.” Vanessa’s gaze landed on my bare neck, and her eyes filled with contempt. “And who are you?” “A designer’s assistant?” “Or some nobody trying to sneak onto the red carpet?” “I’m his wife,” I said calmly. “Pfft.” Vanessa laughed so hard her shoulders shook. “So now women are pretending to be married just to steal male models?” “Then have him call you his wife and see if he agrees.” I was running a show, so why should I prove my marital status to her? Seeing that I stayed silent, Vanessa probably thought I was guilty, so she raised her hand arrogantly and reached straight for the pass on Sebastian’s chest. The next second, her wrist was locked in a grip like an iron clamp. “Show some respect.” Sebastian looked down at Vanessa from above, and his voice was very low, but it carried a chilling pressure. Vanessa frowned in pain and cursed in rage and embarrassment. “You make a living off your face, and you dare act like a diva with me?” “I’m interested in you, and that’s me giving you face!” The bodyguards behind Vanessa immediately closed in around us. The event manager came to my side, sweating heavily, and begged in my ear. “Ms. Sterling, the Reed family is tonight’s biggest buyer, so maybe you could endure this a little and let this gentleman go to the VIP room to avoid the spotlight?” “She is openly trying to take my husband, and you want me to hide?” I swept a cold glance at him, and the manager instantly fell silent. Vanessa completely lost patience and pulled a document from her assistant’s hand before throwing it hard into my arms. “Sign it, and I’ll consider you smart about tonight’s matter!” “A small designer like you shouldn’t ruin your own project over one male model!” On the scattered pages, the words “Private Image Companion Authorization Form” were written in bold. I pinched those pages between my fingers, tore them in half in front of Vanessa, and threw them into the trash. The smile on Vanessa’s face vanished instantly. Sebastian tilted his head and asked softly beside my ear. “Do you want to reveal our identities?” “No.” A cold light flashed through my eyes. Vanessa dared to be this arrogant because she was used to treating people like toys with her power. If I backed down today, then tomorrow, everyone would know that my bottom line could be bought with money. I held Sebastian’s hand in return and said each word clearly. “The show goes on.” “And as for my man, don’t even think about taking a single hair from his head.”

Ava Sterling POV Vanessa laughed from sheer anger. “Fine, I’d love to see how you run this show!” She turned and sharply ordered her assistant. “Pause the finale segment!” “Notify the front hall that I’m not feeling well, and the Reed family’s donation is on hold!” The moment those words came out, the event manager’s legs nearly gave out. The Reed family’s donation made up nearly thirty percent of tonight’s total, and if they withdrew it at the last minute, every major headline tomorrow would say “Ava Sterling’s Project Loses Control” and “Blackwood Foundation Loses Face”! “Ms. Sterling, I’m begging you, please just soften up first, because Miss Reed won’t really do anything to him…” The manager pleaded with me. “What are you using to guarantee that?” Sebastian glanced at the manager coldly, and that one look froze the rest of the manager’s words in his throat. Seeing this, Vanessa grew even more pleased. “Oh, he’s pretty good at protecting his owner, isn’t he?” “How much is she paying to keep you, because I’ll pay double!” I did not even spare her another glance and picked up the walkie-talkie directly, my voice cool and firm. “All departments, pay attention, lighting stays as planned, and activate the backup plan for the finale.” “Put the donor list on screen in the original order, and leave the Reed family’s spot blank!” Everyone backstage sucked in a breath. Vanessa screamed in rage. “You dare remove the Reed family’s name?!” “You were the one who said your donation was on hold.” I looked at her coldly. “Charity is not a bargaining chip you use to threaten others.” Vanessa raised her hand and slapped toward my face! Before she even touched the corner of my clothes, her wrist was once again clamped tightly by Sebastian. The movement was clean and decisive. “Lay another hand on her, and we call the police for assault.” “You dare threaten me?!” Vanessa shook off his hand and arrogantly brought out her trump card. “Do you know who I am?” “My boyfriend is part of the Blackwood family!” “Tonight’s venue and media access were all arranged through him for me!” “If I want someone to go upstairs, he definitely won’t stop me!” Someone from the Blackwood family? Sebastian and I looked at each other. The only heir of the Blackwood family was standing right here being treated like a male model, so where did this Blackwood boyfriend crawl out from? “If he’s part of the Blackwood family, then call him over.” I crossed my arms. “Let him tell me in person whether my husband should go upstairs with you tonight.” “I’ll call him then!” Without hesitation, Vanessa dialed a number saved as “Mr. Blackwood” and deliberately put it on speaker. “Vanessa, what’s wrong?” A gentle male voice came through. Vanessa immediately changed into an aggrieved tone. “I saw a male model I liked backstage, but some woman keeps insisting he’s her husband and even dared to threaten me!” “Hurry and help me teach her a lesson!” The other end paused, and his tone became troubled. “There are too many people backstage, so if you want someone, just have the organizers coordinate it, and don’t bring my name into this.” The chill in Sebastian’s eyes deepened. A true Blackwood would never need to hide behind a woman and cower. I spoke directly toward the phone. “This ‘Mr. Blackwood,’ may I ask which division you are responsible for at Blackwood Group?” The person on the other end instantly froze. “Who are you?” “The person in charge being threatened by your girlfriend with a withdrawn donation, and also the wife of the gentleman she is trying to buy.” The other party fell silent for two seconds and then began stammering. “This is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding.” “Ms. Sterling, Vanessa has been spoiled, so please give me some face.” “What is your name?” I pressed him step by step. The call was directly hung up. Vanessa’s face turned ashen, but she was still forcing herself to hold on. “He… he’s just too busy and doesn’t want to deal with a small fry like you!” Sebastian took out his phone and sent his assistant a message. I ignored the furious Vanessa and gave an order to the whole room. “Start the show!” Music blasted from the front hall. Vanessa glared at me viciously. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll make you lose everything?!” I pointed at the camera overhead with the red light on. “I forgot to tell you that from the moment you said you wanted to buy my husband, the control room has been recording the whole thing.”

Ava Sterling POV After hearing my words, Vanessa’s face turned deathly pale, and she hurriedly rushed toward the corner, trying to unplug the camera cable. After the lighting assistant stopped her, she screamed hysterically at the bodyguards. “Smash that damn machine for me!” Just as the bodyguards were about to move, Sebastian took half a step forward. It was only a simple half step, but the invisible pressure of someone born to command made the two burly bodyguards freeze in place. “Useless!” “Did I pay you to stand here and watch a show?!” Vanessa was furious. I ordered the director. “Save all original footage and send backups to legal.” “Legal?” Vanessa screamed. “Don’t you dare use the law to scare me!” “What you just did clearly counts as coercion, humiliation, and business interference.” “Revoking a donation is your freedom, but using that revocation to trade for my husband’s personal freedom is not a simple dispute.” I replied calmly. Vanessa was left speechless by my rebuttal, and she suddenly turned her attack toward Sebastian. “You’re a grown man, and all you know how to do is hide behind a woman and let her stand up for you?!” Sebastian’s expression was indifferent, but his tone sounded perfectly natural. “I listen to my wife.” Those words appeared to be extremely lethal. Vanessa shook with anger. “You really treat her like a treasure?” “What can one tiny studio give you?” “With me, you can choose any luxury car, mansion, or top-tier resources you want!” Sebastian turned his head to look at me, and there was even a hint of indulgent amusement in his eyes. “Can I laugh now?” I forced down the curve of my lips. “Hold it in a little longer.” Our relaxed interaction completely pierced Vanessa. She suddenly grabbed a brooch from the display table and smashed it hard onto the floor! That was a charity exhibit my team had made together with sick orphans, and it was supposed to be auctioned tonight to raise surgery funds for the children. Crack. A line split through the blue gem embedded in the brooch. The children backstage were so frightened that their eyes turned red. The smile on my face disappeared instantly, and my gaze turned cold and sharp as frost. “Vanessa Reed, apologize.” Vanessa glanced at the brooch on the floor, then casually pulled a checkbook from her bag, wrote a string of numbers, and tossed it at my feet. “Whatever it costs, I can pay for it, so stop acting noble here!” Sebastian bent down and picked up the check. Just as Vanessa thought he had finally been blinded by money, Sebastian tore the check into pieces in front of everyone. Rip. “Compensation will go through legal procedures.” Sebastian’s voice was bone-chillingly cold. “But right now, apologize for insulting the children’s hard work.” “Who do you think you are to lecture me?!” Just then, thunderous applause erupted from the front hall. The first group of charity pieces had successfully debuted, and the short film designed by the children moved the entire audience. Vanessa looked at the broadcast screen and finally panicked. I was not threatened by her at all, and not only had the show not been ruined, the response was surprisingly good! Vanessa knew that if news spread that she had smashed an orphan’s exhibit backstage, the Reed family’s donation withdrawal would become a complete joke! Vanessa lowered her voice. “Ava Sterling, delete the video, and I won’t hold tonight’s matter against you.” I sneered. “What happened will not disappear just because you refuse to admit it.” “You just wait!” Vanessa turned and rushed toward the front hall, clearly intending to find someone in the audience. I was about to follow when Sebastian’s warm palm wrapped around my hand. “I’ll go with you.” I held his hand back, my gaze firm. “This time, don’t stand too far away.” Sebastian lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. “I won’t leave you by even one step.” Tonight, I was going to make Vanessa spit out every bit of arrogance she had swallowed down in front of everyone!

Ava Sterling POV The front hall was bright with dazzling lights and filled with celebrities and socialites. I saw Vanessa sit back in the first row, changing her face faster than turning a page. One second ago, she had been throwing a tantrum backstage, and the next second, in front of the cameras, she had become a dignified and elegant charity socialite, even taking the lead in applauding. Beside the side curtain, I looked at the information my assistant sent over and let out a cold laugh. The all-powerful “Mr. Blackwood” Vanessa talked about was actually named Ethan Vale. He had originally only been a business director at an outsourced company for the Blackwood Foundation, and he had been fired half a year ago for taking kickbacks. Recently, however, he had been using the name of “Blackwood” and a few old group photos to bluff and scam his way through the socialite circle. After all that, Vanessa had been tricked into a fantasy by a fake big shot, and that was why she dared to run wild in front of the real one. “Ethan Vale is here,” Sebastian said in a low voice. Following his gaze, I saw a man in a gray suit and expensive watch hurry in through the side door. The moment Vanessa saw him, she immediately went up to him with an aggrieved expression. “Ethan!” Ethan’s gaze passed over Vanessa and landed on Sebastian not far away. With just that one look, all the color drained from his face. Vanessa did not notice at all and pointed at us with one hand while grabbing Ethan’s sleeve with the other. “It’s them!” “That woman keeps insisting the male model is her husband, and she even dared to threaten me!” “Hurry and get rid of them for me!” Ethan’s entire body stiffened, and he forced out a smile uglier than crying. “Vanessa… there are a lot of media here tonight, so let it go.” “That’s not what you said earlier!” Vanessa refused to back down. Ethan looked like he wanted to cover her mouth and lowered his voice. “This involves Blackwood Group’s image…” “You represent Blackwood Group?” Sebastian walked over slowly, and his indifferent tone made people’s blood run cold. Ethan’s legs trembled, and his Adam’s apple bobbed wildly. “You…” “Why are you wasting words with him?” Vanessa was still shouting. “He’s just a male model hired by someone, but he sure acts like the real thing!” Cold sweat poured from Ethan’s forehead, and he grabbed her. “Shut up!” “Stop talking!” I walked up to them with a faint smile. “Mr. Vale, since you’re here, why not explain this clearly?” “Did you claim to Miss Reed that you were part of the Blackwood family?” Ethan’s face looked like ash. “Ms. Sterling, this is all a misunderstanding…” “Is the misunderstanding that you used Blackwood Group’s name to bring someone backstage, or that you made her think the Blackwood family would clean up after her arrogance?” The guests around us had already sensed something was wrong, and whispers rose everywhere. Vanessa finally realized things had gone off track. “Ethan, what does she mean?” “Didn’t you say the Blackwood family valued you the most?” Ethan opened his mouth, but he could not squeeze out even half a word. Sebastian handed his phone to the assistant behind him and gave a cold order. “Notify legal and pull out every document Ethan Vale signed under Blackwood Group’s name.” “Anything connected to tonight’s event should also be sealed and pursued.” With a thud, Ethan could no longer hold himself up and dropped to his knees in front of the entire room of elites, his voice trembling. “Mr. Blackwood!” “I was wrong!” Mr. Blackwood?! The entire room burst into an uproar. Vanessa looked at Sebastian in disbelief as if she had been struck by lightning. Sebastian did not even give Ethan a glance and only said coldly, “You have three minutes to explain in public everything you did under Blackwood Group’s name.” Vanessa was completely dumbfounded. Her first reaction was not to apologize, but to point at Ethan and scream in rage. “You liar!” “Aren’t you the young master of the Blackwood family?!” “Then who is he?!” I walked to Sebastian’s side and looked at the bloodless Vanessa before speaking calmly, my clear voice spreading through the silent front hall. “He is the male model you insisted on taking away tonight.” “And he is also the CEO of Blackwood Group, Sebastian Blackwood.”

Ava Sterling POV Even after her trump card was exposed, Vanessa’s first reaction was still to throw money at the problem. She forced out a smile. “Mr. Blackwood, I made a mistake earlier.” “I’ll immediately make up the Reed family’s donation and compensate for that brooch, so let’s just forget this, all right?” Sebastian did not even look at her and turned his gaze to me instead. Vanessa nearly ground her teeth to pieces and could only turn to look at me. “Miss Sterling, I’ll pay.” “What about the apology?” I lifted my eyes coldly. Countless cameras around us were pointed this way, and Ethan anxiously persuaded her in a low voice. “Vanessa, apologize first, otherwise Mr. Blackwood…” Slap! Vanessa turned around and slapped him across the face. “Shut up!” “You liar, and you still have the nerve to talk?” After hitting him, she could only take a deep breath and stiffly lower her head. “I shouldn’t have interfered with the project, and I shouldn’t have spoken rudely to you two.” “And her.” I pointed to the little girl beside us whose eyes were red. Vanessa’s face turned livid, and she bent toward the child perfunctorily. “I’m sorry.” The little girl held the box with the broken brooch and said in a clear voice, “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to buy it, but you can’t smash it.” Low mocking sounds rose around us. Vanessa’s face turned dark red, and she retreated to her seat in humiliation. Just as the disturbance settled, my assistant suddenly rushed over with a tablet. “Ms. Sterling, someone bought a trending topic!” “They’re saying we forced the Reed heiress to kneel!” On the screen, gossip accounts had maliciously edited the footage of Vanessa bowing, and the full context had been erased. Sebastian swept one glance over it. “Ethan Vale did it.” “He wants to muddy the waters so he can escape.” Sure enough, Vanessa not far away perked up again and walked over while waving her phone. “Miss Sterling, look, it seems the internet sympathizes more with me, the ‘victim.’” I ignored her and directly turned to my assistant with an order. “Cut the full backstage surveillance into three time points and post them from the official account!” “Start a public livestream of the brooch repair process!” “Don’t add any PR wording, and only show the facts!” Vanessa sneered. “You think a few lousy videos can overpower my family’s PR?” I looked at her. “I don’t need to overpower anyone.” “I only need everyone to see how ugly you looked when you tried to use a withdrawn donation to buy a male model.” As soon as the complete surveillance footage was posted, public opinion reversed instantly. Vanessa, who had still been controlling the comments ten seconds earlier, was drowned in curses the next second: “Private image companion?!” “This woman tried to force-buy the CEO of Blackwood Group to shoot a film?!” The official account released three hard-hitting videos in a row. She pointed at Sebastian and said “I want him,” threatened the organizers by withdrawing the donation, and smashed the orphan’s brooch. Not a single accusatory sentence was added, but Vanessa’s fake victim mask was torn to pieces. Backstage fell into complete chaos. Calls from the Reed family came in wildly to apply pressure, while Vanessa screamed hysterically at Ethan. “How was I supposed to know he was Sebastian Blackwood?!” “You lied to me!” “Stop pretending to be innocent!” Ethan simply tore off the mask. “When you used the title of future Mrs. Blackwood to steal resources, did I ever stop you?!” “When you wanted to forcefully take a male model, did you ever ask me if it was real or fake?!” “You dare talk back?!” “Don’t forget, I kept records of every time you asked me to use Blackwood Group’s name to open doors for you!” The two of them turned on each other in public like dogs fighting dogs. I looked at Sebastian. “Is there enough evidence?” “Enough for Blackwood Group to sue him for extortion, and enough for the Reed family to answer to its board.” Sebastian’s tone was like ice. “As for tonight’s cooperation with the Reed family, Blackwood Group will reassess it.” “Take your people and get out.” Vanessa finally panicked. “Mr. Blackwood, you can’t deny the entire Reed family because of me alone!” “Then weren’t you just about to cut off lifesaving money for dozens of sick children because of your temper alone?” I asked coldly. Vanessa had nothing to say and fled in panic. The farce ended, but the auction reached its climax. The gap left by the Reed family’s withdrawn donation was quickly filled by several entrepreneurs who learned the truth. The urgently repaired “Cracked Brooch” sold for the highest price of the entire night. On stage, the little girl bowed with red eyes. “Thank you, everyone.” Below the stage, my eyes warmed slightly. The final auction item was the “Kite Brooch” I had designed myself. As soon as the host announced the starting price, Sebastian slipped a bidding paddle into my hand and locked his fingers tightly with mine. “Fifty million!” I raised the paddle. Sebastian took the microphone, and his voice spread throughout the room. “Blackwood Foundation will purchase this brooch and add a long-term children’s medical assistance program.” Thunderous applause filled the hall. I looked at the children on stage with bright, sparkling eyes and smiled in relief. Some people wanted to use power to crush kindness underfoot, but I insisted on standing at the highest place and letting the whole world see that kindness.

Ava Sterling POV By the time the charity night ended, it was almost midnight. The guests left one after another, but the media still crowded around the entrance and refused to disperse. I saw that Vanessa did not dare leave through the main entrance and could only hide in the lounge while asking her assistant to arrange a car at the back door. Sebastian told me that Ethan had been kept by Blackwood Group’s legal team in another conference room, and both his phone and computer had been required to be sealed. At first, he still wanted to defend himself, but after hearing the lawyers read out one email and appointment record after another that he had signed under Blackwood Group’s name, he completely collapsed. I did not go to see Ethan’s miserable state. I was busy comforting my team, confirming the children’s cars, handling the repaired works, and dealing with the follow-up donation agreements. When everything finally came to an end, Sebastian was leaning at the end of the hallway waiting for me. He had taken off his jacket, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. The handsomeness that had made him get mistaken for a male model was still there, but now there was also a hint of exhaustion. I walked over and asked softly, “Do you feel wronged?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “You protected me all night, so what is there to feel wronged about?” “Vanessa’s words were pretty ugly.” “I’ve heard worse.” Sebastian held my hand. “But tonight, someone got angry for me.” My heart softened. We had been married for three years, and most of the time, Sebastian was the one protecting me. The outside world said I married into wealth and relied on the Blackwood family for resources, but only Sebastian knew how many shortcuts I had refused and how many nights I had stayed up to make charitable design work. Tonight, when he was humiliated, I strongly realized for the first time that I also wanted to shield him behind me. “Let’s go public in the future,” I said. “That way, no one will treat you like someone they can casually order around again.” Sebastian smiled. “We can go public, but Mrs. Blackwood has to think carefully.” “After we go public, the media will be even more annoying than tonight.” I thought for a moment. “Then we’ll only go public when necessary.” “For example, when someone tries to buy my husband again.” Sebastian laughed softly. Just as his laughter fell, an argument came from the other end of the hallway. Vanessa’s voice was sharp. “What right do you have to stop me from leaving?” “I didn’t break the law!” The Blackwood lawyer’s tone was calm. “Miss Reed, you may leave.” “But regarding the damaged exhibit, business interference, and defamation, we need to confirm your contact information and attorney information.” Vanessa trembled with anger. “Tell Sebastian Blackwood to come talk to me!” Sebastian and I walked over. When Vanessa saw us, her eyes lit up as if she had grabbed her last chance. “Mr. Blackwood, I was wrong tonight, but if this keeps blowing up, it won’t be good for anyone.” “Your wife does charity work, and she also needs support in the circle.” “The Reed family can give money and help her build resources.” I understood. This was a threat in new packaging. If I accepted, it would be the same as admitting that my charity project needed the Reed family’s handouts. If I refused, Vanessa would spread rumors in the circle that I did not know what was good for me. Sebastian did not speak. I looked at Vanessa. “My project needs people who respect the rules, not people who throw money around whenever they want.” Vanessa gritted her teeth. “Are you determined to burn every bridge?” “You narrowed the road yourself.” Vanessa suddenly laughed. “Ava Sterling, do you really think marrying Sebastian Blackwood makes you safe?” “The one thing wealthy wives never lack is replacements.” “You embarrassed me today, and tomorrow, someone will use the same method to embarrass you.” Sebastian’s eyes turned completely cold. But I spoke first. “Then we’ll wait for tomorrow.” Vanessa froze. “Tonight, you settle what you should settle first,” I said. The lawyer handed over the documents, and Vanessa refused to sign them. In the end, a family representative named Michael arrived from the Reed family and accepted them on her behalf with a dark expression. Michael was much more clear-headed than she was, and the moment he saw Sebastian, he apologized first. “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Sterling, Vanessa was spoiled tonight.” “The Reed family will handle this.” Vanessa refused to accept it. “Michael!” Michael cut her off coldly. “Shut up.” “Haven’t you embarrassed the Reed family enough?” This was the first time I saw real panic on Vanessa’s face. It was not anger from being scolded, but the realization that the Reed family would no longer cover for her the way they used to.

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My younger sister got pregnant out of wedlock, gave birth to a baby boy in a shady, unlicensed clinic, and then completely vanished. The doctor tracked down my address from her intake form and dumped the newborn at my doorstep. My parents literally guilt-tripped me on their knees, begging me to adopt him. Just like that, as an unmarried young woman, I took on the burden of raising a child, living a grueling life. With endless struggle, I finally raised the boy. But then, my sister suddenly returned, standing next to a flashy businessman dripping in gold chains. She hugged her son, weeping and accusing me of being jealous of her, claiming I had stolen her baby and kept them apart for years. My adopted son didn’t hesitate to cut ties with me and threw himself into her arms. My parents kicked me out of the house. Drowned in the vicious gossip and accusations of the neighborhood, I fell into utter despair and jumped from a building to end my life. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day my sister gave birth.

Dawn had just broken when a loud, frantic banging on the front door woke me. I sat up, drenched in cold sweat. In my past life, this was the exact moment. The shady clinic doctor had made a massive scene at our door, waking up the entire neighborhood. In front of everyone, he had shoved the baby into my arms, scolding me for being an irresponsible, deadbeat mother. Only later did I find out the baby belonged to my sister, Sienna. My parents had begged me to keep him, arguing that since I had no plans to marry anyway, I should just take him. I agreed. But later, I grew to utterly despise that single choice. Hearing the pounding now, a shiver ran down my spine. I sprang out of bed and threw the door open, coming face-to-face with a very familiar, greasy face. “Chloe! You gave birth and just abandoned your own flesh and blood? You know child abandonment is a felony, right?” The neighbors were already waking up, poking their heads out of their doors to watch the drama unfold. I stared at him. The next second, I ripped off my heavy slipper and slammed it right across his face! “You shameless old fraud! How dare you pull a scam on my doorstep?!” “I don’t even have a boyfriend, let alone a baby! Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth whip someone’s ass like this?” “Do I look like I just popped out a kid to you?” My sudden, violent outburst left the doctor completely speechless. Across the hall, our neighbor, Mrs. Gable, finally reacted. “Wait, that’s true. Chloe goes to work every single day. I’ve never once seen her with a baby bump!” “Is there some kind of mistake?” “Hey, I recognize him! Isn’t he that sketchy unlicensed doctor from the end of the street?” I put my hands on my hips and yelled, “You dirty, illegal medic! Running a shady clinic and now trying to extort me? I’m calling the cops!” Hearing the word “cops,” the doctor panicked. “I—I don’t have time for this!” I grabbed him by his greasy hair. “Oh, you don’t have time? Too bad! You’re not going anywhere!” I pulled out my phone and dialed immediately. “Yes, 911? I’d like to report a case of child trafficking and abandonment!” “Stop lying!” the doctor shrieked. “You can explain that to the police. If you don’t make this clear today, I will personally tear your shady clinic apart!” God had given me a second chance. All the resentment and agony I had bottled up in my past life poured out in this very moment. By the time the police arrived, they found the doctor bruised and battered, clutching a crying baby, while I stood there in my pajamas, holding a slipper and looking absolutely furious. The neighbors had gathered in the hallway. After hearing my side of the story, the police looked at the newborn. The umbilical cord was barely dry. “What is going on here? Speak up!” the officer demanded. “This is the name and address the patient left on her intake form!” the doctor stammered, pulling a crumpled medical chart from his bag. The officer checked it. The address was indeed ours, and the name listed was mine. I crossed my arms. “I have no idea who used my name to give birth. Someone is trying to make me a scapegoat!” Just then, my parents, who had been hiding inside, finally stepped out. “Chloe, since you don’t want to get married anyway, why don’t you just adopt the poor baby?” my mother pleaded. “Mom, Dad, what kind of nonsense is that? How can I just adopt a random baby of unknown origin?” “Who knows what kind of people his parents are? What if they’re drug addicts? Trash genes can be hereditary. I am not raising a viper in my nest!” My parents were completely silenced by my sharp words. The doctor’s face turned pale. He shoved the baby toward me. “This is your family’s baby! I don’t care anymore! Tell Sienna to raise her own son. If I knew your family was this crazy, I would have never come!” Instantly, the hallway erupted into gasps. Everyone now knew—the baby belonged to my younger sister, Sienna!

“Cut the crap!” I snapped, refusing to touch the bundle. “First you said it was my baby, now you say it’s Sienna’s. Do you have actual proof? Without proof, you’re just dumping a random kid on us. Officer, I strongly suspect this man is running a baby-trafficking ring!” With that, I shoved the baby right back into his arms and stepped back, washing my hands of the whole thing. My mother looked shocked. “Chloe!” “Mom, don’t be naive. There are so many scammers out there these days!” Mrs. Gable chimed in from the crowd. “She’s right. You two shouldn’t be so gullible. This doctor first claimed it was Chloe’s, and now he says it’s Sienna’s. His mouth is full of lies!” “Yeah, who knows where he kidnapped that baby from!” The doctor practically jumped out of his skin. “I, Gary Miller, have never lied in my life! My clinic has been open for years. Why would I lie?” “Last night, Sienna literally ran into my clinic, begging me to deliver her baby!” “She even left her phone with me as collateral!” He reached into his bag and pulled out a phone. I took one look—it was definitely Sienna’s. My parents froze. The evidence was irrefutable now. It was Sienna’s baby, without a doubt. The neighbors began whispering frantically. “Sienna had a baby at her age? Who’s the father?” “Who knows? She’s barely been around lately, and she always wore those baggy hoodies. I can’t believe she was pregnant!” “Probably slept with some random street punk and got knocked up.” “Shut your mouths! My daughter is a good girl!” My mother yelled, finally snapping. “Say another word and I’ll tear your face off!” Gary sneered. “Whatever. Sienna told me to bring the baby here right after birth and give him to her older sister to raise. Officer, I even have a letter written in Sienna’s own handwriting!” He fished out a folded piece of paper from his bag. In my past life, there had been no such letter. In fact, when Sienna had returned years later to accuse me, this same Gary had stepped up to back her lies, ultimately driving me to suicide. This man was scum through and through. Gary rolled his eyes. “If I knew this would be such a pain, I wouldn’t have bothered. So unlucky!” The police officer sighed, looking at the mess. “Look, this seems to be a family matter. You guys should resolve this yourselves.” I immediately grabbed the officer’s sleeve. “Officer, this is definitely not just a family matter. Can you really trust a phone and a sketchy letter to prove my sister gave birth and just ran away?” “What if she died in his illegal clinic?” The officer stiffened, realizing the gravity of the situation. He immediately grabbed Gary’s arm to take him back to the clinic for an investigation. My parents quickly followed them. I, on the other hand, went straight back inside and began packing my bags. There was no way in hell I was staying in this house. As I walked out with my suitcase, a neighbor stopped me. “Chloe, where are you going?” “I’m moving out,” I said loudly. “I need to get my own place. If that baby ends up with my parents, they’ll try to force me to raise him.” “Sienna brought this on herself. I shouldn’t have to pay for her mistakes. I’m not even married. If my future in-laws see me with a baby, they’ll think I’m the one with a messy past!” The neighbors nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right, Chloe. You have to look out for yourself. Go on, hurry!” “So sad. But honestly, Sienna is wild. Giving birth and just running off like that!” “Who knows if that shady doctor actually killed her?” “No way, right?” I didn’t care what they gossiped about. I just ran. By the time my parents returned, I was already settled in my company’s dorm. Right on cue, my phone rang. It was my mother. As soon as I picked up, her frantic voice boomed through the receiver. “Chloe! Where did you run off to?” I could hear a baby crying loudly in the background. I replied calmly, “I moved out.” “How could you move out? What about the baby?!”

It seemed my parents had gone to the clinic and confirmed the baby was indeed Sienna’s. Gary had indeed delivered him. But I couldn’t understand why they were so obsessed with forcing the baby onto me. “Mom, what does that baby have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him.” “Your priority should be finding the father. Anyway, I have to work. Bye.” I hung up and went about my day as usual. During lunch, Clara, a senior colleague in my department, slipped over to my desk. “Chloe, are you seeing anyone? Want me to set you up?” My initial instinct was to refuse, but then I paused. “Sure, Clara. Who do you have in mind?” “My nephew. He’s three years older than you, an army veteran, and he runs his own diner now.” “How about lunch today?” I agreed instantly. Clara was thrilled and immediately made the call. In my past life, when I was struggling to raise Sienna’s baby, Clara had felt sorry for me. She had hooked me up with freelance gigs and kept telling me to find a good man. But back then, I was terrified a stepfather would mistreat the boy, so I rejected everyone. Looking back, I had been incredibly foolish. I met Caleb for lunch, and we hit it off. We exchanged numbers, deciding to take things slow and see where it went. When Clara asked me about it later, I nodded with a blush. “He’s really nice. I’d like to keep seeing him.” She was ecstatic. “Trust me, if things work out, he’ll treat you like a queen. I watched that boy grow up; he’s incredibly hardworking!” My cheeks burned. Just like that, Caleb and I started dating. For the next two weeks, my parents didn’t call, and I didn’t bother checking in. But I never expected my mother to show up at my workplace. One afternoon, the security desk called my office. “Chloe, get down here. Your mother just dumped a baby at the security gate and ran! Get this kid out of here, he won’t stop crying.” My brain went numb. “What baby? I’m not even married, I don’t have a son! Don’t talk nonsense!” I deliberately raised my voice so the entire open-plan office could hear me. The security guard sighed. “I don’t know, just get down here and look!” When I hung up, everyone was staring at me. “What’s going on, Chloe?” “I don’t know. Security says some woman claiming to be my mother dumped a baby at the gate and said it was my son!” Clara gasped. “What? That’s insane! Come on, guys, let’s go check it out!” “Yeah, is someone trying to scam her?” “Chloe has a son? I’ve never even seen her pregnant!” “Maybe she had him years ago? Who knows, young people these days can have pretty wild private lives,” a petty coworker whispered. Hearing this, Clara shot me a suspicious look. I played completely dumb, looking utterly baffled. When we reached the gate, there was a tiny infant wrapped in a blanket. Everyone gasped. Clara let out a sigh of relief. “There is no way this is Chloe’s. This baby looks like he’s barely a month old!” “Exactly! Who is this sick person trying to ruin her reputation? If the kid were a few years old, she might not have been able to clear her name!” “This is malicious slander!” I sneered inwardly. The security guard shrugged. “The woman said she was Chloe’s mom. I didn’t know any better.” I immediately asked him to pull up the security footage. The woman who dropped off the baby was a complete stranger. I seized the opportunity. “Call the police. This woman is not my mother, and I have no idea who she is.” When the others hesitated, I threw my hands up. “This is child abandonment. I work in sales, and I hand out my business cards to hundreds of strangers. Who knows who is trying to frame me? I am not raising someone else’s kid!” Everyone agreed. The police were called, and they took the infant away. I made sure to ask, “Where will he go now?” “Since we can’t find his parents, he’ll be taken to the state orphanage,” the officer replied. Hearing that, a massive weight lifted off my chest. In this life, I would never raise that ungrateful brat again!

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