The client came all the way from Germany to negotiate a major partnership, but my junior assistant, Chloe, proposed changing the dinner venue from a five-star hotel to a sketchy roadside food stall. I tried to stop her, but when my warnings were ignored, I quietly went behind her back to swap the exotic, sketchy organ dishes on her menu for local comfort foods that would actually suit German tastes. The deal went through smoothly, but Chloe ended up crying to the board, accusing me of playing dirty and intentionally trying to humiliate her. My fiancé blamed me for bullying the “helpless intern,” the board accused me of being arrogant, and the entire staff turned on me like a pack of wolves. I was forced out of the company I built, lost everything overnight, and became a public enemy on social media. After throwing myself off the roof of our headquarters, I woke up. I had traveled back in time. Looking at the intern who was currently pitching her “brilliant” idea in front of me, I smiled and nodded. “Whatever you say, Chloe. We’ll do it your way.”

I snapped my eyes open, a wave of intense dizziness washing over me. “Every time clients visit, we always take them to five-star hotels. It’s so bureaucratic and boring. It leaves absolutely no impression on them.” A soft, whiny voice pulled me back to reality. I looked toward the sound. Sure enough, it was Chloe. She was standing in front of the projector, wearing a smug “I’ve discovered a new world” expression, talking passionately. “We should show them the real, authentic local culture! I suggest we take them to that food alley in the old district for lunch. I guarantee it’ll blow their minds!” A sketchy food alley. I instantly remembered this meeting—the exact moment that had dragged me into hell in my past life. In my previous life, I was the only one who objected. I had calmly pointed out that our German clients might not handle the hygiene and food differences well, and that a loud, chaotic environment would ruin any business conversation. But before I could even finish, Chloe started tearing up. She bit her lip, looking at the head of the table with watery, pleading eyes—at my fiancé, Mason. Mason’s face darkened instantly. He tapped his fingers on the table. “Audrey, Chloe is just trying to be creative and do what’s best for the company. Do you really have to humiliate her in front of everyone?” He paused, looking at Chloe with unconcealed admiration. When he turned back to me, his eyes held nothing but annoyance. “I think Chloe’s idea is great. It’s way better than your boring, traditional, old-school methods!” Back then, I shut up. I didn’t argue. I just secretly modified the menu beforehand, asking the kitchen to prepare clean, standard dishes instead. Later, the deal was saved, but at the celebration party, everyone congratulated Chloe. They praised her, saying, “She handled the international VIPs so well,” and “She’s the real MVP of this project.” My five exhausting trips across the Atlantic and the countless sleepless nights I spent drafting the contract didn’t mean a thing compared to the “exotic experience” she had supposedly arranged. And because I had objected at the start, I became the villain of the company. Mason held the sobbing Chloe in his arms, accusing me of using my power as president to bully a defenseless intern. The executives I had trained myself, people I thought were my partners, immediately jumped on the bandwagon, calling me arrogant and toxic. The employees turned on me online. They fabricated stories about how I “abused” Chloe and posted them on TikTok and Twitter. Overnight, I went from the respected CEO of Aura Group to a hated bully. I was forced to resign from the board and was kicked out of the company I co-founded. To make things worse, when I was at my lowest, Mason handed me a breakup agreement, his eyes as cold as a stranger’s. Left with nothing, I climbed to the top of Aura Group’s headquarters and jumped without a single doubt. “What do you think, President Audrey?” A voice snapped me out of my painful memories. Chloe was looking at me, a subtle spark of defiance in her eyes that I had failed to notice in my past life. I took a deep breath, suppressing the burning hatred inside me and the sheer thrill of being reborn. God gave me a second chance, and I wasn’t going to waste it on the same mistakes. I looked at Mason, the man I had loved with everything I had, who ultimately pushed me to my death. Then I looked at the executives around the table, the ones who couldn’t wait to carve up my shares and step over my corpse. I met Chloe’s gaze and smiled warmly. “I think Chloe’s idea is incredibly creative. Let’s go with it. Whatever you say, Chloe.” Chloe’s expression froze. The words she had prepared to counter my objection got stuck in her throat. She clearly hadn’t expected this reaction. She blinked, stammering, “Oh… thank you, Audrey.” Mason was stunned too, but a satisfied smirk quickly returned to his face. He nodded, sealing the deal. “Then it’s settled. Lunch tomorrow will be at the place Chloe recommended.” Now that the CEO had spoken, the other executives immediately began chiming in. “Chloe, you’re so thoughtful! Amazing job!” “Exactly! Those foreigners are probably sick of steak and fine dining anyway. A change of scenery is perfect!” Amid the sea of praises, Chloe stood tall, beaming with pride. I sat there quietly, watching their fake, smiling faces. Enjoy it while you can. The happier you are now, the harder you’re going to cry later.

Before leaving the conference room, Mason walked up to me and patted my shoulder. “See? This is much better. Team harmony is what matters most.” His voice was still deep and gentle, but it only made me feel physically sick. I didn’t reply. I just subtly stepped away, letting his hand drop. In my past life, I cared too much about this company and too much about him. That was how they manipulated me and ruined my life. But in this life, those feelings would become the very weapons I used to destroy them. Back in my office, I locked the door. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered. “Audrey?” He sounded surprised that I was calling. Liam Vance. In my past life, he was my fiercest competitor in the market, but he was also the only person who tried to throw me a lifeline when I hit rock bottom. When we were competing for this German client in Berlin, he had even voluntarily stepped back to help me secure the deal. Back then, I didn’t understand why. But now I realized—unlike Mason, Liam actually knew how to respect and appreciate my worth. “Liam, are you still trying to get in touch with Dr. Horn, the German client?” Silence fell over the line as he tried to read my intentions. “Why? Are you calling to flex your victory, or are you offering me a second chance?” “Neither,” I said, looking at my reflection in the window. “I’m quitting Aura Group. I want to join Vance Global. And I’ll bring Dr. Horn’s contract with me.” This time, the silence lasted much longer. “Your reason?” he finally asked, direct and sharp. “Aura Group is about to crash and burn, and I don’t plan on going down with the ship. As for my capability, you already know what I can do.” Liam let out a low chuckle. “Name your terms. If you bring the client and the project, what do you want?” “A VP position.” This was a bold move—effectively poaching a major client from my current company to join their rival. Any logical boss would worry about the legal risks and ethics. But Liam wasn’t just any boss. He didn’t hesitate. “As long as you want to come, the doors of Vance Global are always open to you. Name your terms, the resources are yours.” He didn’t ask what happened between Mason and me, nor did he doubt my sincerity. That was Liam. He only cared about true value. After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair and let out a long sigh of relief. My ally was secured. My escape route was paved. Next, I just had to watch them walk straight into the grave they were digging for themselves. My mind drifted back to the night the deal went through in my past life. Mason had thrown a stack of papers onto my desk, coldly ending our relationship. “Audrey, let’s break up. And I need you to step down from the board.” I had stared at him, unable to process his words. “Why, Mason? Just because I didn’t agree with Chloe’s stupid idea?” He frowned, sighing with deep annoyance. “Look at yourself. You’re aggressive, bitter, and paranoid! You’ve made Chloe cry so many times. The company doesn’t need a toxic, dramatic woman running things!” Toxic? Dramatic? I had sacrificed everything for this company, only to be called a toxic drama queen. I had trembled with rage, tears spilling over. “The employees have signed a petition asking you to leave. I have to take action to protect the company. Take care of yourself, Audrey.” With those cold words, Mason had walked out, leaving me with a formal termination notice. The employees who used to smile at me either watched coldly or whispered behind my back. Some even clapped. I shook my head violently and slapped my cheeks to wake myself up. Don’t think about the past. Since I’m back, none of that will happen again.

For the next two days, I did absolutely nothing. Chloe, on the other hand, was full of energy. She took a few interns to scout different sketchy food trucks and local joints. She quickly put together a detailed proposal and presented it at the management meeting. It was exactly the same as in my memory. The three venues she chose were overhyped social media traps. They had a lot of online clout, but the reviews were terrible—complaining about dirty environments, horrible service, and mediocre food. And when I saw Chloe’s customized menu, I almost laughed out loud. It was packed with weird organ meats and exotic street food. “Audrey, do you have any feedback?” Chloe called me out directly. Mason stared at me, his eyes carrying a clear warning. I slowly looked over the menu and spoke up. “Chloe, did you actually check the dietary restrictions and preferences of our German clients beforehand?” Chloe froze, her expression turning slightly defensive. “Of course I did! But we want to give them an authentic experience. This is different from what they usually eat, and who knows? They might actually love it!” I raised an eyebrow. “Are you aware that most German business professionals do not eat pig intestines or tongue? They have very high standards for food hygiene and presentation.” Chloe’s face flushed red, and she snapped. “Audrey, aren’t you being a bit too paranoid? It’s just lunch! If there’s really something they can’t eat, we can just order something else! Why do you have to be such a party pooper and ruin the mood?” “Audrey!” Mason couldn’t help himself. He cut me off sharply. “Chloe has already done a lot of research. Do you have to find fault in everything she does? If you don’t have any spirit of adventure, how are we supposed to break into new markets?” Looking at his desperate attempt to protect his precious intern, I found it hilarious. In my past life, his blind favoritism had driven me to suicide. I smiled, putting my hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You’re right, Mason. Maybe I’m just too old-school.” “Since Chloe is so confident, let’s hand this entire project over to her. She will lead the reception and the following negotiations. It’s a great opportunity for her to show everyone what she can do.” The moment I said this, not only Chloe, but Mason and the other executives were stunned. They probably didn’t expect me to give up my power so easily, especially on such a massive project. Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief, which quickly turned into pure ecstasy. She couldn’t wait to accept. “Thank you for your trust, Audrey! I won’t disappoint you or Mason!” Mason looked at me with a complicated expression, but ultimately just nodded. Seeing this, the other executives quickly put on fake smiles and showered Chloe with praises. “Young people should take on more responsibilities!” “Great job, Chloe! You have a bright future ahead of you!” Yes, praise her. Let her fly high. The higher she climbs, the harder she will fall. Back in my office, I opened the company portal on my laptop. I uploaded my pre-written resignation letter and zipped all my current project files, sending them straight to Mason’s approval inbox. I knew he was too busy celebrating with Chloe to check his emails. By the time he noticed, I would be long gone. Once that was done, I texted Liam: “The deal between Aura Group and the Germans will fall through tomorrow. We can meet them the day after.” Liam replied almost instantly with one word: “Perfect.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446372”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was doing my husband Jack’s laundry when I found a crumpled hotel receipt in his pants pocket. Condoms. Two boxes. Total cost: fifty dollars. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I folded the receipt back up, slipped it into his pocket, and pretended I knew nothing. The next day, I quit my dead-end, $1,500-a-month job. I got a fresh haircut at a high-end salon, and applied to be a janitor at his company. Later, he walked right past me with his female secretary, spat on the floor near my shoes, and said, “Clean that up.” I smiled, knelt down, and let my phone slide from my sleeve into my palm. I quietly aimed the camera at the two of them, who were already passionately kissing in the elevator. But Jack had no idea. The wealthy client, Mr. Vance—the one he had been practically begging on the phone for a contract—was actually my biological brother, William. I was doing my husband Jack’s laundry when I found a crumpled hotel receipt in his pants pocket. Condoms. Two boxes. Total cost: fifty dollars. The receipt was dated yesterday at 3:00 PM. At that exact time, Jack had sent me a Snapchat saying he was in a meeting with a client and told me not to wait up for dinner. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I folded the receipt back up, slipped it into his pocket, and washed and hung his clothes as if nothing had happened. For dinner, I cooked a whole table of his favorite food. He didn’t get home until 10:00 PM. He smelled like body wash. It wasn’t the brand we used at home. “I’m exhausted,” he said, loosening his tie and throwing himself onto the couch. “That client was a total pain in the ass.” I poured him a bowl of soup and handed it to him with a smile. “You’ve been working so hard.” He took it and drank, but his eyes never left his phone screen. While I was clearing the dishes, I caught a glimpse of his Snapchat screen. The contact was saved as “Chloe.” The last message was a blowing-kiss emoji. The next morning, I went to my office and handed in my resignation. My HR supervisor, Mrs. Gable, was surprised. “Sera, you’ve been doing so well here. Why are you leaving?” “Just some family stuff to handle,” I smiled, offering no further explanation. For $1,500 a month, where I had to beg for time off, there was really nothing to regret leaving behind. After leaving the office, I drove straight to the building where Jack worked. Sterling Group was one of the most famous private corporations in the city. Jack was a sales manager there, making $120,000 a year. During our three years of marriage, he always complained about how hard it was to support the household. He told me to save every penny, and I believed him. For three years, I hadn’t bought a single piece of clothing that cost over thirty dollars. I sat in the coffee shop across the street until 4:00 PM. Then, I saw him walk out. A young woman in a tight red dress was walking beside him, holding his arm. They were laughing and talking as they headed into the parking lot. I took a sip of my coffee. It was no longer hot. It was just right. The next day, I passed the interview at Sterling Group. My position: Janitorial Staff. When I went to pick up my uniform, the supervisor, Martha, looked at me. “You look pretty young. Why do you want to do this kind of work?” “I need the cash,” I said. Martha didn’t ask further. She pointed toward the locker room. I put on the dull gray uniform, grabbed my mop and bucket, and started my new job. My husband had no clue. Every day he walked past me, his gaze never staying on me for more than a millisecond. His office was on the twelfth floor. My assigned area was the ground floor lobby and public restrooms, so we rarely crossed paths. But I had my ways. Being a cleaner had one major advantage—nobody paid attention to you. It took me three days to map out all the blind spots of the building’s security cameras. It took me another two days to hide a voice recorder and a tiny pinhole camera inside the twelfth-floor restroom supply closet. On the afternoon of the sixth day, I saw Jack and his secretary in the red dress enter the elevator together. Before the doors closed, he spat on the floor right by my feet. “Hey, cleaner,” he called out, not even looking at my face. “Wipe that up.” I looked up and smiled at him. “Of course, sir.” I knelt down and wiped the spot clean with a rag. The elevator doors slowly shut in front of me. Through the final gap, I saw his hand already sliding down to squeeze the secretary’s waist. Once the elevator went up, I stood up and pulled my phone from my apron pocket. On the screen was the live feed from the elevator. The moment he kissed her was captured in perfect clarity. I saved the video to an encrypted folder. There were already thirty-seven files in there, spanning from six months ago to now. I named the files by date. Who he was with, and on what day—it was all perfectly organized. He had no idea. In his eyes, I was just a clueless housewife making $1,500 a month. A woman with no education, no skills, who couldn’t survive without him. He had no idea about something else, either. Sterling Group’s biggest client was Vance Enterprises. And the legal owner of that company was William Vance. My older brother. And all I was doing now was waiting for the perfect moment to ruin Jack completely.

Life went on as usual. Every morning, I woke up at 6:00 AM, made him breakfast, and laid out his clean clothes for the day. He went to work, and I pretended to go “job hunting.” Then I would change my clothes, enter Sterling Group through the back door, put on my gray uniform, and start my real “work.” Being a cleaner was actually better than I thought. No one noticed you. No one cared about you. You could walk past anyone with a mop, and they wouldn’t give you a second glance. Using this to my advantage, I learned the entire layout of the company inside out. The sales department was on the east side of the twelfth floor. Jack’s office was at the very end, with floor-to-ceiling windows, completely private. Chloe’s desk was right outside his door. She clicked her high heels across the floor all day as she went in and out. After watching them for a week, I noticed a pattern. Every Wednesday afternoon, Jack would have Chloe order a bouquet of flowers to the front desk, signed “To my one and only.” Then, at the end of the day, those flowers would end up in the back seat of his car. After that, he would take some woman to the very same boutique hotel where we had celebrated our anniversary once. In his words, “That place has class. It’s perfect for business discussions.” I didn’t call him out. I just quietly opened my phone and added a few small “gifts” to the public areas of that hotel. During the third week, I discovered something else. The purchasing manager, Marcus Davis, was very close with Jack. The two of them went out for lunch every Friday and always came back smelling like alcohol. Once, while I was resting in the stairwell, I heard them talking on the phone just outside the door. “Don’t worry about that shipment. The quality is fine. I’ll handle the inspection reports on my end.” “Sounds good. Same place tonight. I’ll wire you your share tomorrow.” Their voices faded. I stepped out of the stairwell and looked at my phone. The recording of their conversation was high quality. That night at home, while Jack was showering, his phone lit up on the coffee table. A message. The contact name was “Marcus”: “Tonight’s cut will be in tomorrow. Fifty-fifty as usual.” When Jack came out of the bathroom, I was sitting on the couch watching TV. “Honey, was work exhausting today?” I asked. “It was alright,” he said, drying his hair. He picked up his phone, glanced at it, and a smirk played on his lips. “That’s good.” I handed him a glass of water. He didn’t drink it. His phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, said something came up with the company, and went into the study. The moment the study door clicked shut, I heard him laugh. I didn’t move. I kept watching TV. The news was playing a story about a corporate embezzler who had just been sentenced to fifteen years. I took a sip of my water. It was no longer hot. It was just right. By the fourth week, I started tightening the net. All those videos, voice recordings, and transaction records were organized. I uploaded them to three different cloud drives and backed them up on a USB flash drive. I kept the USB drive on me at all times, hidden in the lining of my bra. I was getting better at my cleaning job. Martha even praised me for being hardworking and gave me a fifty-dollar bonus. As I was signing the logbook, I saw Jack walk past the lobby door. Chloe was holding his arm, and they were laughing. He didn’t even glance at me. I lowered my head and kept signing. On Wednesday of the fifth week. As usual, Jack had Chloe order flowers and left work early. While I was cleaning the glass doors in the lobby, I saw his car pull out of the parking garage. Chloe was in the passenger seat. The car stopped about thirty feet down the street. Chloe got out, and another woman got in. I didn’t recognize her. But that was fine. I would know her by tomorrow. I pointed my phone at the license plate and snapped a picture. Then, I sent it to my brother. “Look up this person for me.” Three minutes later, William replied. “Amber. Model, twenty-four, married. Her husband is currently in prison. Why?” I replied with two words. “Nothing.” Putting my phone away, I watched the car disappear around the corner. Today, they were heading to a different hotel. A hotel I had already visited. There was a fire exit at the end of the hallway, a perfect spot to capture them entering the room. My time was coming.

I had been working as a cleaner at this company for exactly thirty-seven days. In those thirty-seven days, I saw Jack enter the elevator with seven different women. I saw him kissing his secretary in the stairwell. I saw him slip out the back door at 1:00 AM with a drunk female accountant. I captured everything. Stored in my phone, backed up in three places. Jack thought I was busy. Every morning before he left, he would ask me how my job interviews were going. I would list a few random company names, and he would just nod, keeping his eyes on his phone. He had no idea I wasn’t going to any interviews. I was sitting in the coffee shop right across from his office. I would order the cheapest lemonade and sit there all afternoon. From that spot, I had a perfect view of his office window. He rarely drew the blinds. Once, I saw him press Chloe against his desk. I took a sip of my lemonade and snapped a photo. It was a bit blurry, but it was clear enough to show what they were doing. On the thirty-eighth day, there was a small hiccup. I was mopping the twelfth floor as usual. When I reached the men’s restroom, the door suddenly swung open. Jack walked out. Our eyes met. I instinctively lowered my head and kept mopping. He glanced at me, frowned, and pulled out his phone as he walked away, making a call. “Yeah, the shipment is arriving tonight. Pick it up yourself. Don’t let anyone see you.” His voice drifted away. I kept my head down, mopping. But my heart skipped a beat. The shipment. What shipment? That night, while he was in the shower, I went through his briefcase. Inside, I found a crumpled contract tucked into a blue folder. I snapped photos of it and texted them to William. Ten minutes later, William called. “There’s something highly illegal about this shipment,” his voice was dark. “The source is untraceable, the price is ridiculously low, and it’s coming through an underground black-market channel.” “Can we track it?” “Yes,” he paused. “But Sera, think carefully. If this gets out, it won’t just end in a divorce. He will go to prison.” I was silent for three seconds. “Track it.” After hanging up, I put the contract back exactly as I found it and closed the briefcase. When Jack came out of the shower, I was folding laundry. “Why are you so productive today?” he asked casually. “Just had some free time,” I smiled. He grunted, lay down on the couch, and scrolled through Snapchat. I kept folding. My mind was on something else. Today was day thirty-eight. Thirty-eight videos, twenty-three recordings, seventeen documents. With all of this combined, how many years would he get? On the fortieth day, Wednesday. He bought flowers and went out with a woman as usual. But I didn’t follow him. I took half a day off. My excuse was “not feeling well.” Martha approved it and told me to go home and rest. I left the building, got into a cab, and drove to a different place. The local detention center. There was a long line at the entrance, mostly families waiting to drop off items for inmates. I stood in line for half an hour until it was my turn at the window. “Who are you here to see?” the officer asked. “Amber’s husband.” The officer flipped through his logbook. “Visiting hours are over. Come back tomorrow.” I nodded and walked away. Once outside, I called William. “Find out how long Amber’s husband was sentenced for, and what the charges were.” Two days later, the text came. “Fifteen years. Drug trafficking.” I stared at the words on my screen for a long time. Then, I smiled. On the forty-fifth day. The time had come.

On Friday afternoon, Jack texted me saying he had a business dinner and wouldn’t be home. I replied, “Okay.” Then I put on my gray uniform and went to Sterling Group. Today was my last day as a cleaner. Before I left, I wanted to finish my work. By 8:00 PM, the office was nearly empty. I took my mop up to the twelfth floor. His office door was unlocked. I slipped inside, retrieved the hidden camera from the restroom, and checked his desk drawers. I didn’t leave empty-handed. Hidden under a stack of papers at the bottom drawer was a bank book. The account wasn’t in his name. It belonged to a “Leo Gray.” I took pictures of it. The balance wasn’t massive—about $150,000. But for a sales manager, there was no way he could explain where this cash came from. As I closed the drawer, footsteps echoed in the hallway. I quickly hid behind the door. The footsteps stopped right outside his office. The door pushed open. Two people walked in. Chloe. And Marcus, the purchasing manager. “There’s a problem with the shipment,” Marcus’s voice was low. “The buyer is pushing, but the goods won’t pass inspection.” “Delay them for two days,” Chloe’s voice lacked its usual sweet, innocent tone. It was cold and calculating. “I’ve already set Jack up. Once he signs the papers tomorrow, he’ll take the fall.” Jack. My husband. “When is he coming back?” “Tomorrow afternoon,” Chloe paused. “What about his wife? Any suspicion?” “She’s just a clueless housewife. What could she possibly do?” Marcus chuckled. “Jack said she’s incredibly stupid. She believes everything he says.” I stood behind the door, completely still. My fingers gripped my phone. Their footsteps faded, and the door clicked shut. I stood in the darkness for a long time. Then I stepped out, went into the restroom, and saved the recording. Incredibly stupid. Believes everything. I looked at the mirror and smiled. My face looked tired in the gray janitor uniform. I did look like an idiot. On the fiftieth day. I sent everything to William. “It’s time,” I said. William was silent for a few seconds. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “No regrets?” I looked out the window at the city lights. This city was so big. If a man disappeared, no one would even notice. “No regrets.” The next day was Saturday. Jack didn’t go out. He lay on the couch playing on his phone. I was in the kitchen cooking, the sizzle of the pan drowning out the TV. His phone rang. He glanced at it, stood up, and went into the study to answer it. He shut the door. But it didn’t latch completely. I heard him say, “The shipment is here? Fine, I’ll head over right now.” He came out, changed his clothes, and grabbed his car keys. “Something urgent came up at work. I have to go out.” “Will you be back for dinner?” “Not sure,” he was already at the door. “Don’t wait up.” The door slammed shut. I turned off the stove, set the spatula down, and grabbed my phone. On the screen was the real-time location sharing William had sent me. The red dot was moving toward the east side of the city. I changed my clothes and walked out. I hailed a cab and followed the dot. The red dot stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse. I had the driver drop me off a block away, paid the fare, and got out. The warehouse was dimly lit. I crept around the side, climbed over a low brick wall, and found a dirty window to peer through. Jack was there. So were Chloe, Marcus, and a few men I didn’t recognize. Dozens of plastic-wrapped packages were stacked on the floor. One of the men ripped a package open, revealing a white powder. I raised my phone and started recording. My hand was steady. Just then, a voice startled me from behind. “Ma’am, what are you doing here?” I spun around. A security guard with a flashlight was staring at me. His shout alerted the people inside the warehouse. The beam of the flashlight cut through the darkness. I saw Jack’s face look out from the warehouse entrance. And then, he saw me. I would never forget his expression at that moment. First, pure shock. Then, utter disbelief. Finally, a savage glare. His mouth opened, and he yelled to the men inside, “There’s someone here! Grab her!” I turned and bolted. Heavy footsteps pounded behind me. I gripped my phone tightly, running as fast as my legs could carry me. The main road was just ahead. There were headlights. If I could just reach the road, I would be safe. Thirty yards. Twenty yards. Ten yards. Just as I was about to burst onto the asphalt— A hand clamped onto my arm.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446371”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

To lock in a fifty-million-dollar deal, my boss forced me to work through the entire Christmas holiday. He promised me that if the contract was signed, he would pay me ten times my usual overtime rate, plus a two percent bonus on the total deal. I worked non-stop for eight days. I revised the pitch deck dozens of times and practically chased the client down to get his signature. Finally, I closed the deal. My boss was thrilled. But during our Monday morning meeting, he sent me a $10 transfer on Venmo with the note: “10x Holiday Overtime Pay.” He actually had the nerve to say, “Signing a contract only takes one minute. At your rate, ten times that is ten bucks. I’m being extremely generous here.” To top it off, he announced that his sister would be taking over the project. I didn’t argue. I didn’t make a scene. I just packed my bags and walked out. When we met again, he was drowning in debt, begging me to come back. On the first day back from the holiday, my boss, Carter, announced to the entire office that I had secured a $50 million deal. He called it a “magnificent start to the year.” My team cheered. Before they could even congratulate me, Carter pulled out his phone. “To reward our biggest hero, I am going to transfer her ten times her holiday overtime pay right here, right now!” The cheers grew louder. My team members looked at me with sparkling, expectant eyes. I was a bit confused. The holiday had just ended. I hadn’t even submitted my hours or travel expenses on the HR portal yet. Was he just reimbursing me directly? Still, I didn’t think too much of it. I was thrilled. I thanked Carter sincerely and promised my team that once the transfer cleared, I’d take them all out for an expensive dinner to celebrate. Carter smiled warmly, tapping on his phone. “Alright, sent.” Ten times overtime plus travel expenses should have been at least a few thousand dollars. I opened my banking app, waiting for the deposit notification. But after a few minutes, nothing showed up. Confused, I looked up. Carter pointed at his phone. Did he send it personally to save time? I opened Snapchat and saw a Venmo notification. The amount: $10. The memo read, loud and clear: “10x Overtime Pay.” I froze. To secure this contract, I hadn’t slept a wink over the holiday. I had revised the strategy over and over again. The client had taken his family on a trip, and I had practically chased him across the state to get his signature, buying expensive gifts out of my own pocket. And now, Carter was giving me ten dollars? I couldn’t help but snap, “Is this a typo?” Hearing this, a colleague sitting next to me leaned over to look at my screen. She gasped, “Ten dollars?!” Carter cleared his throat, putting on his usual lecturing posture. “Ten times overtime is still too little for you? Go ask around. Which company pays ten times overtime during holidays?” My face turned pale. “I put my own time and money into this project. Even my regular hourly wage is worth more than ten dollars!” Carter sighed, looking disappointed. “Chloe, that’s not how it works. The client already had every intention of renewing the contract with us. All you did was get a signature. Besides, I didn’t ask you to fly out and meet him in person. You insisted on doing that yourself. You could have just emailed him the PDF and had him sign it digitally.” He paused, offering a patronizing smile. “But since you did work hard, I won’t let you leave empty-handed. Let’s say signing a document takes one minute. I value your time at one dollar per minute. Ten times that is ten dollars. I’ve already transferred it. Just accept it.”

The room went dead silent. I felt like I had been slapped hard in the face. Carter knew better than anyone how difficult it had been to get this client to renew. Now that the deal was done, he was throwing me away like garbage. Did he really think that just because the contract was signed, everything was fine and he could just sit back and collect the cash? I stared at him with pure contempt, ignoring the fact that we were in a meeting. “Do you honestly think that signing the contract and getting the initial deposit means you’re safe? Aren’t you afraid of failing to deliver? The breach of contract fees alone will ruin you!” Blowing a fuse, Carter slammed his hands on the table. “Who do you think you are?! You were just a stray dog abandoned by your last company! If my friend hadn’t recommended you, I would have never thrown you a bone. You were a nobody in this industry! Without me, you’d be dumpster diving right now!” My hands shook with rage, but my mind became incredibly clear. “That’s just because you’ve never reached my level. You aren’t even worthy of knowing the people I know. Your little startup is barely staying afloat, and you’re acting like a tech giant. If you hadn’t begged me, I would have never come here. Other companies offered me $150k a year, and you pay me barely enough to cover rent. It’s obvious who the real garbage is.” “Fine! My company is small. If you don’t like it, get the hell out! How I deliver the project is none of your business. Do you think the world revolves around you? Do you think this company can’t survive without you?!” The next second, Carter pointed at my junior assistant. “Ashley, you’re taking over this project. How much have you learned from Chloe?” Ashley stood up gracefully. I noticed she was dressed up exceptionally well today. She nodded solemnly, looking down at me with a smug smile. “Chloe, thank you for your mentorship. If you hadn’t kept me as your assistant, I wouldn’t have learned all your tricks. Thank you for stepping down so I can finally lead.” Looking at her arrogant eyes, I found it hilarious. She had always resented me, thinking I was holding her back by keeping her as an assistant instead of letting her run projects independently. But the truth was, I brought in ninety percent of our clients. Managing the high-level strategy was my job. I had only been at this company for a year, and she had zero experience. Of course I had to train her first. Besides, it wasn’t like I hadn’t given her smaller projects. But what did she do? She played petty games, fabricated data, spent company money on fake traffic, and embezzled funds by overreporting budgets to buy herself designer bags. If I hadn’t caught her early—and if she wasn’t the boss’s sister—I would have let her go and let the police handle her. Yet here she was, mocking me. As soon as Ashley finished speaking, HR posted a company-wide announcement in our WhatsApp group about her new appointment. They didn’t even need time to draft it. What else was there to say? They had planned this all along. “In that case, I wish you the best of luck!” Looking at Ashley’s smug face and Carter’s arrogant smirk, I sighed. Last year, my career hit a bump. My previous company baited me with promises of promotions, but once the project succeeded, a nepotism hire snatched the fruits of my labor. While I was debating whether to accept offers from other top firms or start my own agency, Carter had begged a mutual friend to introduce us. He couldn’t offer a high base salary, but he promised me equity and massive bonuses. I brought the expertise and the clients, he built the operations, and we’d split the profits at the end of the year. Because I valued our mutual friend, and because Carter seemed genuinely sincere, I agreed. I hated dealing with administrative bureaucracy anyway. Using my connections, I quickly brought in several major accounts. But because our startup was so small, clients were hesitant at first. I told my team that as long as we worked hard, our time would come. Back then, Carter seemed decent. He spent money on marketing to build our brand, and it worked. I thought I had finally found a good partnership. Even though working with his spoiled sister was a nightmare, I was content. No job is perfect. Once I started trusting Carter, I brought in bigger clients. This $50 million account was one of them. Our team was so new that the client, Mr. Vance, had expressed deep concern. When we signed, he told me frankly, “If it were just you, Chloe, I’d sign in a heartbeat. But since you aren’t the owner of this company, there’s still a huge risk.” I had to pull every favor in my book to close this deal. I thought my hard work was finally being appreciated. But in the end, it was the same old story. Squeeze out every drop of my value, then bring in a family member to steal the credit. I guess you can’t trust anyone. If you want something done right, you have to be the boss. “Pay me my profit share, and I’ll leave immediately. Let’s see how well this company runs without me!”

“Profit share?” Carter laughed. “Profit sharing only happens after a project is fully completed. You’re quitting voluntarily. There is no profit share. I haven’t even sued you for damages yet!” “What about the projects we wrapped up last year?” I demanded. He continued to sneer. “Those tiny projects barely made any money. I was being nice by not charging you for the overhead losses.” He was flat-out robbing me. “What about my performance bonuses?” I pressed. “None,” he said, waving his hands dismissively. With every “none” he uttered, my team members in the room started whispering nervously. I looked at the people who had pulled all-nighters with me to build the pitch decks. Even during the holiday, they had worked tirelessly because I had promised them a massive bonus. Now, if even I was getting nothing, what would happen to them? My heart sank. I asked, “What about the team’s project bonuses?” Carter glanced at my team. “Anyone who stays and works with me will get their bonuses. Anyone who wants to leave with Chloe is free to go. But you won’t get a single penny of your bonus. You can pack your bags and get the hell out!” Ashley stepped forward right on cue. “I know Chloe trained you guys, and you might feel lost now that she’s leaving. But if you stay and work under me, I promise I’ll treat you well. We’ve worked together for so long. I won’t shortchange your year-end bonuses.” Several team members hesitated. I could understand why. Even though Ashley was a spoiled nightmare to work with, they had spent a whole year grinding. Nobody wanted to throw away their hard-earned money. “How much are we talking about? Our overtime pay won’t be ten bucks like Chloe’s, right?” one of them asked. “Of course not,” Ashley said, throwing me a triumphant look. “As long as you aren’t as foolish as some people—quitting over petty pocket change when the company is about to make millions—you will be taken care of.” I ignored her. I drafted my resignation letter, signed it, and turned to leave. But Ashley blocked my way. “Chloe, you can leave, but you have to leave your contacts behind. You can’t take the clients’ details with you. And you must leave the client Snapchat groups immediately!” I nodded, too exhausted to argue. If they truly believed that having a phone number was enough to manage a client relationship, they were stupider than I thought. I quickly typed a message in the main client group chat: “I have officially resigned. Ashley will be taking over this account.” Ashley checked my phone thoroughly. “Alright. You can go now, Chloe.” The moment I stepped out of the office building, my phone started blowing up with notifications. “Chloe, why did you leave so suddenly? A startup doesn’t deserve you. Come work for me, I’ll start you at a $250k base.” Even Mr. Vance, the client of the $50 million deal, messaged me. He asked me to join his firm and expressed deep concern about the project I had just handed over. I politely declined their job offers but assured them they didn’t need to worry about the transition. I told Mr. Vance that I would personally monitor the project’s quality from the outside as an independent auditor. If Carter’s company did a good job, great. If they messed up, he could withhold payments or sue them for breach of contract. I also mentioned that I was planning to start my own agency soon. If they still wanted to work with me, they could find me there. Did Ashley really think she could just push me out and start printing money? Once I handled the clients, I went straight to my lawyer. I filed a formal complaint with the IRS regarding Carter’s company for tax evasion and wage theft. You want to steal my money? In your dreams.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446370”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

At the dinner table, Julian, the exchange student my wife brought home, suddenly spoke in French. “Serena, you absolutely cannot tell Ethan about the pregnancy. Otherwise, he’ll probably kill me.” My wife, Serena, cut a piece of steak for him and chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him. If I start showing, I’ll just make up an excuse to go on another business trip to France with you. We’ll come back after the baby is born.” Julian grinned. “Perfect. Then I’ll stay here for now and watch our baby grow.” Then Serena switched to English and turned to me. “Ethan, Julian just joined our company’s import-export department. I’m planning to have him stay at our place for a while. He’s been in France all this time and isn’t familiar with the city. Since you’re the head of the department, you should look out for him.” Julian raised his glass to me with a smirk. “Ethan, Serena said you’re amazing at your job but don’t speak any foreign languages. Let’s conquer the market for Serena’s company together.” No foreign languages? I had never told my wife that I actually spoke eight languages fluently. Since they were being this blatant, I didn’t see any reason to be polite.

If it weren’t for the faint, mocking smirk on Julian’s face, I would have doubted my own hearing. I stared at him. He hid his expression quickly. Serena, thinking I was refusing to drink with him, glared at me. “Ethan, where are your manners? Can’t you see Julian is raising a toast to you?!” I sneered. “Just because he toasts me doesn’t mean I have to drink.” “And bringing someone to live in my house without my permission? Do you even respect me as your husband?” Julian immediately put on a pitiful face. “Ethan, I know you mind me staying here, and you mind Serena taking such good care of me.” “But I just graduated and came back. My hometown is so far away, and I don’t know anyone in this city.” “Please don’t worry. Serena is just pitying me. Once I’m settled, I’ll move out.” “Move out? Absolutely not!” “You can stay here as long as you want.” Serena shielded him, turning to snap at me. “Ethan, when did you get so petty?!” “Every time your name comes up when I’m out with friends, I feel so embarrassed!” I gripped my glass, staring at her coldly. “Then tell me, what did you two just say in French?” “We…” A flash of guilt crossed Serena’s eyes, but she quickly found an excuse. “Julian is going to be in charge of our French clients. I was just practicing with him so he doesn’t get rusty.” “Ethan, are you overthinking again? Julian was literally just praising you!” Julian smiled. “Yes, Ethan. I was saying how experienced you are and how much I need to learn from you.” Listening to their blatant lies, my eyes grew colder. But I didn’t expose them on the spot. The price for betraying me shouldn’t be paid so easily. In the past, Serena had brought him home too. Back then, they were just acting a bit flirtatious. If I didn’t understand French, I would have never known they had already reached this disgusting stage. Six years ago. Serena was still struggling with her startup. When the domestic market was tough, I was the one who secured multiple major international clients for her. I was also the one who got her funding from the city’s largest conglomerate, the Sterling Group. Even though I spoke eight languages, I never spoke them in front of her. And what she didn’t know was… The former chairman of the Sterling Group was my grandfather. Before he passed away, his will stated that I could only take over the family empire after I turned thirty. I was thirty-two now. To help Serena with her business, I had delayed my return. Sterling Group had invested heavily in Serena’s company, holding a forty percent share. So, although my official title was just the head of her import-export department… In reality, Serena was working for me. I forced myself to calm down. I spoke quietly. “Since it’s just practice, please, go on.” Hearing this, Julian smiled at Serena. “Serena, I told you Ethan isn’t that petty.” Then, he switched right back to French. “Serena, is he always this easy to fool?” Serena glanced at me and smiled beautifully. “Always.” “Before you graduated, when I brought you here for an internship, he threw a tantrum because we were close.” “But a few sweet words, and he was completely fine.” “Do you remember that time we booked a room at the hotel and bumped right into him?” “I just told him we were booking it for a client, and he bought it instantly.” “At the end of the day, he simply can’t live without me.” Julian looked at me with deep amusement, continuing in French. “Serena, when we were rolling around in your bed at your place, I was so scared he’d suddenly come back.” “But based on what you’re saying, even if he caught us, he’d probably just make up an excuse to believe us, right?” “Most likely.” “When our baby grows up, I’m going to tell him bedtime stories about his clueless cuckold stepdad every single day.” They laughed together, looking at me like I was a clown. They kept flirting in French for a long time. I pretended not to understand a single word. Eventually, they seemed to lose interest. Serena switched to English. “Julian, I’ll take you to see the company this afternoon. You haven’t been back in a while.” Then she told me. “Ethan, go to the supermarket this afternoon and buy some high-end Western toiletries. Julian isn’t used to the cheap stuff we have at home.” With that, the two of them walked out. I calmly took my phone from under the table and stopped the recording. Then, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in a very long time. “Robert, I’m ready to return to Sterling.”

Hearing my voice, the person on the other end got incredibly excited. “Mr. Harrison! You’re finally coming back? When will you arrive?” “In a few days.” “First, help me investigate all of my wife’s travel records in France over the past two years.” “Of course, Mr. Harrison. Since Sterling holds a massive share in her company, she’s practically under our subsidiary. It will be incredibly easy to track her.” Very quickly, Robert sent me a file. “Mr. Harrison, here are all the records of Serena’s business trips to France.” I opened the document, my brows furrowing. Even though I was prepared for it, their shameless behavior still disgusted me. In the past six months alone, they had booked hotel rooms together more than a hundred times. This meant they spent more than half of their time sleeping in the same bed. On top of that, there were Serena’s spending records on Julian. Luxury watches, sports cars, designer clothes… It all added up to over $200,000. You had to realize, the net annual income of Serena’s company was barely a million dollars. “Mr. Harrison, do you want me to draft a divorce agreement?” “With this evidence, we can make sure she leaves with absolutely nothing. And from Sterling’s perspective, we can sue her for every dime she embezzled.” I closed the document and shook my head slowly, my eyes icy. “No rush. Let’s play with them first.” In the afternoon, I went to the store and then returned home. Just as I finished cooking, I heard the front door open. I quietly started the recording on my phone. Serena and Julian walked in laughing, looking at an ultrasound report, chatting in French. “Serena, our baby is so tiny right now. The doctor said he’s only the size of a little bean.” Serena smiled gently. “Then we will patiently wait for him to grow.” “Let’s eat first. We can look at the report later.” But as soon as she sat down, Serena noticed a set of utensils was missing. She frowned and looked at me in the kitchen. “Ethan, there are three of us. Why did you only set two plates?” “Get another fork for Julian!” I replied calmly. “I have no obligation to serve an outsider.” Hearing this, Serena slammed her fork onto the table. “Ethan! I’ve told you a thousand times, Julian is not an outsider!” I let out a cold laugh. “Right. You two spend so much time together, you might as well be sharing a bed already.” Serena’s face flushed with anger. “Enough! When are you going to stop with this pathetic jealousy?!” “Why can’t you learn some tolerance and maturity from Julian?!” I took off my apron and tossed it onto a chair. “Sorry, I can’t learn it, and I don’t want to.” Seeing my attitude, Serena bolted upright. Just as she was about to scream at me, the medical report slipped from her hand. It fluttered right onto the dining table. The words “8 Weeks Pregnant” at the bottom of the page were clear as day. And Serena had just spent the last six months on a business trip in France. The baby obviously wasn’t mine. Serena quickly snatched the paper away. Guilt flashed across her face, assuming I hadn’t seen the name on the report. “Ethan, don’t get any crazy ideas. I just went to check on my severe cramps. This report belongs to another patient. I took it by mistake.” I sneered in my heart, keeping my face blank. “Oh, really?” “But how come I remember your period just came two weeks ago?” She frowned. “It’s because of all the stress at the company lately! And because you keep picking fights with me!” Seeing my cold expression, she snapped. “What? You don’t believe me? Julian can prove it!” Julian quickly chimed in. “Ethan, Serena has never done anything to betray you. I can guarantee that!” I let out a soft laugh. “You?” “Yes, me.” “Who the hell do you think you are to guarantee anything?” Julian’s face turned incredibly ugly. Serena lost her mind completely. She picked up her fork and threw it right at my face. “Ethan, don’t you dare act so ungrateful!” “Don’t forget, every bite of food you eat and every drop of water you drink is paid for by my company!” “Apologize to Julian right now, or you can kiss your monthly bonus goodbye!” Behind her, Julian smirked triumphantly, though he put on a fake, polite voice. “Serena, don’t be mad. I won’t hold it against Ethan.” I wiped a splash of soup from my forehead and smiled with pure disdain. “I don’t give a damn about your bonus.” Without giving her another glance, I walked into the guest room. I unlocked my phone. “Robert, get me a copy of Serena’s medical records from the hospital today.” Within minutes, the file was sent to my Snapchat. The report read: *Serena Crawford.* *Two months pregnant. Fetus is healthy.*

The next morning, I arrived at the office. As soon as I walked into the breakroom, Julian approached me with a fake smile. “Ethan, things got a little heated yesterday. I wanted to apologize.” “After all, we have to work together to grow Serena’s company.” He poured a cup of piping hot coffee and handed it to me. I frowned and reached out to take it. But before my fingers could even touch the mug, Julian let go. The scalding coffee spilled all over my shirt. A burning pain instantly spread across my chest. I stared at Julian coldly. “Did you do that on purpose?” Just then, Serena walked in. Julian immediately looked completely wronged. “Ethan, if you have an issue with me, you can just tell me. I’ll change.” “But you shouldn’t burn yourself just to frame me.” “I know you don’t want me near Serena. I’ll keep my distance from now on.” Hearing this, Serena exploded. “Ethan! Throwing tantrums at home wasn’t enough for you?!” “Now you’re coming to the office and bullying Julian? Do you want to get fired?!” I looked at her. “He let go on purpose to burn me.” But she wouldn’t listen to a single word. “Shut up! Julian would never do something so childish!” “Get back to your desk! If I catch you targeting him again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” As we turned to leave, Julian spoke in French again. “Serena, Ethan seems to hate me so much. Maybe I should just go back to France?” Serena replied in French. “Fine. If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll go back with you. I’ll book our tickets for tomorrow afternoon.” “But what about Ethan? You two are married…” “I stopped loving him a long time ago. If it weren’t for his work capabilities, I would have divorced him ages ago.” I felt a deep sense of disappointment. At this exact moment, the last lingering feeling I had for Serena completely vanished. I sent a text to Robert. “Inform Serena that there will be a shareholder meeting tomorrow.” “Have the legal team prepare all the evidence. I want her to realize just how incredibly foolish she is.”

Since I was planning to lay all my cards on the table, it was time to separate our assets. In the afternoon, I left the office early and went home to pack my things. I took our wedding photo off the wall and threw it straight into the trash can. When Serena came home with Julian after work, she saw my packed suitcases and the empty spot on the wall. Her brow furrowed. She screamed at me while I was cooking. “Ethan, what the hell are you doing?!” I turned around, my voice completely calm. “Serena, starting tomorrow, we are completely over.” “You can be with him.” “But the price you have to pay… you might not be able to afford it.” Serena let out a loud sneer. “So you put on this entire dramatic show just to say that?” “Who do you think you are? The CEO of Sterling Group?” “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. You’re just throwing a tantrum because you don’t want Julian staying here.” “But don’t worry, you won’t have to see him for long anyway.” “Our major shareholder, Sterling Group, just assigned us a one-year project in France. I already bought tickets for tomorrow afternoon. Julian speaks great French, so he’s coming with me.” “Keep crying and being jealous all you want. We don’t care.” “Now, hurry up and finish cooking. We’re hungry.” With that, she casually walked over to the sofa and started whispering in French with Julian again. When I brought the food out, I heard Julian ask. “Serena, once our baby is born, are you going to have to make one with Ethan too?” “If you do, our baby will have to share your love with someone else.” “He’ll get bullied, won’t he?” Serena scoffed. “Him?” “I would never have his baby.” “When I get back from France, I’ll tell him I want us to live a childfree life.” “You’ve been so patient and put up with so much these past two days. I’ll reward you tonight.” “Serena, you’re the best.” “But wait, is it safe to do that while you’re pregnant?” “It’s fine. We’ll just be gentle.” Just then, Serena saw me putting the dishes on the table. Her eyes glared at the food. “Ethan, I told you I hate chicken! Are you deaf?!” She glanced at the empty kitchen. “And why did you only make one dish? What are Julian and I supposed to eat?!” I replied flatly, “I already told you. I am not cooking for you anymore.” “If you’re hungry, figure it out yourselves.” Serena slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “Ethan, what the hell is wrong with you?!” I completely ignored her and sat down to eat my own food. Serena tried to march over and yell at me, but Julian held her back, comforting her in French. “Serena, don’t get angry. Be careful of our baby.” Serena forced her anger down, but she still glared at me coldly. “Ethan, why did you leave the office early without permission today?” “You broke company policy. Your bonus for this month is officially docked.” “Also, I need you to translate all the import-export documents tonight. I need them first thing tomorrow morning.” “Consider it making up for your unauthorized absence today.” In the past, Serena had told me I could come and go as I pleased. Now, she was using it as a weapon. Translating those files would take all night. She was clearly trying to keep me busy and get me out of the way. But I couldn’t be bothered to argue. Because tomorrow, everything would come to an end. “Fine,” I said slowly. I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out the door. Julian’s worried voice echoed behind me. “Serena, is Ethan running away from home?” Serena’s mocking voice followed right after. “He’s just throwing a pathetic fit. Trust me, he will deliver those translated files to me on time tomorrow morning.” “Though, I won’t even need them.” Then, she switched to French. “Now that he’s gone, let’s order some takeout. And then… I’ll give you your reward.” My footsteps paused for a second. With a cold smile, I walked out of the building. I didn’t go back that night. The next morning, I walked straight into the main boardroom of the Sterling Group. Robert stood behind me with a team of elite lawyers. Just then, my phone rang. It was Serena. “Ethan! Where the hell are you?! Where are the translated documents?!” I ignored the call. When she tried calling again, I blocked her number. A text message popped up on my Snapchat. “Ethan, how dare you ignore my calls! I’m going to fire you the second my meeting is over!” A few minutes later, the heavy boardroom doors opened. Serena walked in, smiling and nodding politely to the board members. But the moment her eyes landed on me sitting in the chairman’s seat, her face twisted in rage. “Ethan? I was wondering where you went. Why are you here?” “Is this a place you belong?” I looked at her and spoke in flawless French. “I’m just here to listen to the ‘important project’ Sterling Group supposedly assigned you in France.” “Are you going there to have Julian’s baby?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446369”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

Late at night, the high school alumni Snapchat group suddenly blew up. Someone had too much to drink and started a poll. [If you could bring one high school couple back together, who would it be?] In less than a minute, the votes were almost completely one-sided. [Serena and Ethan] Messages flooded the chat. “It was such a tragedy they broke up.” “If it weren’t for that misunderstanding, they’d probably have a kid in elementary school by now.” “Even after all these years, I still think they are soulmates.” Just then, Serena, who had been silent for years, finally appeared. She replied with only one sentence. “Sometimes, missing someone for a moment means regretting it for a lifetime.” The group chat instantly exploded with teasing emojis. But I slowly put my phone down. Because the man they were calling her “lifetime regret” was currently sleeping right next to me. Ethan Vance. My husband. And a man who had never loved me in our seven years of marriage. The notifications on my screen kept flashing. [Serena, are you staying for good this time?] Serena replied quickly: [Yes, I’m back for good.] That single sentence set the group chat on fire again. [Why isn’t Ethan in this chat? Does anyone know if he has a girlfriend right now???] [He’s a billionaire CEO now. He’s so busy every day, and there’s never been any gossip about him! He definitely doesn’t have a girlfriend!] [Wait, why did they break up in the first place?] [Serena went to Europe to study, and Ethan stayed. He didn’t want a long-distance relationship.] [Oh my god, now Serena came back, does that mean they still have a chance?] Serena didn’t confirm or deny it. A few seconds later, she sent a smiling emoji. [If it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again.] The chat filled up with flower and applause emojis. I quietly exited Snapchat and locked my phone. Beside me, Ethan was fast asleep. In our seven years of marriage, he had always been like this. Calm, restrained, and polite. He remembered every anniversary. He transferred money into our joint account on time every month. He accompanied me to visit my family. But he didn’t love me. Just as I was about to turn off the nightstand lamp. His phone suddenly lit up. A new message popped up on his screen. [I’m back.] There was no contact name saved. But I recognized the sender instantly. It was Serena. I turned my head to look at Ethan. His breathing was steady. He didn’t wake up. His long, elegant hand rested gently on my waist, just like it did every night. The wedding band on his ring finger pressed cold against the back of my hand. It was so cold it made my chest ache. My fingertips hovered over his phone. All I had to do was enter his passcode, and I could see their chat history. But a second later, I pulled my hand back. Ethan never hid his phone from me. Because he knew I would never spy on him. And because I knew. Even if I saw something, it wouldn’t change a thing. Back in high school, I had seen with my own eyes how deeply he loved Serena. Once, a girl from a lower grade secretly handed him a love letter. Serena ignored him for a whole day. After school, he chased her across half the football field. He stuffed his phone into her hands, a helpless smile on his face. “Are you jealous?” “I already rejected her friend request.” “If you don’t believe me, you can check my chats. Delete whoever you want.” Back then, Ethan only had eyes for one person. But now. He had locked all his warmth away. Dawn was just breaking. Before the alarm could ring, Ethan woke up. Almost instinctively, he reached for his phone on the nightstand.

Usually, he would get up early to workout for an hour. But not today. He just leaned against the headboard, staring down at his phone. The screen went bright, then dark, then bright again. It wasn’t until almost eight o’clock that he finally put it down, got up, and started changing. I acted casual and asked, “Are you going to the Alumni Reunion next week?” He paused while buttoning his cuffs. “Yeah.” We never had much to talk about. Despite sharing the same bed, I had only found out about the reunion from the group chat last night. Ethan hesitated for a moment. “Are you going?” I shook my head. To others, high school was a beautiful memory of youth. To me, it was nothing but humiliation I never wanted to recall. He didn’t push it. He just gave a faint nod. “Okay.” He probably didn’t want me there either. The moment the front door closed, I picked up my phone. The alumni group chat had already accumulated over two hundred messages, and they were all about Ethan and Serena. The rebellious billionaire heir and the beautiful, sweet straight-A student. The two of them together had always been the ultimate gossip topic. Serena finally popped up: “Just woke up. See you guys at the reunion next week!” Various members replied instantly: “Can’t wait to see you!” “Does that mean you saw everything we talked about last night? I thought you muted this chat long ago.” “I totally ship you and Ethan!” Serena replied with a cute cat waving emoji. “It’s fine. Actually, it was… pretty interesting to read.” Her words were vague and hard to read. Nobody pushed further. Instead, they moved on to the reunion: [By the way, is Ethan actually coming?] [The news says he’s been traveling abroad for business lately. He probably won’t have time for a high school reunion.] [The boy who used to climb over school walls and skip classes for Serena is now the mature, powerful CEO of the Vance Group.] [Who can even reach him anyway?] The group went silent for a few seconds. Then. Serena sent a message. [He’ll be there.] Someone immediately asked. [How do you know?] She waited a few seconds before replying. [He promised me.]

“Valerie.” Ethan stood at the bedroom door, fastening his cuffs as he reminded me. “Don’t you have plans at nine?” I quickly checked the time. 8:40 AM. I had barely slept last night, and I had actually forgotten to set my alarm. I didn’t have time to look at my phone anymore. I jumped out of bed. Today, I had planned to visit his grandmother at nine to help her with some gardening. I had a strict sense of time and was never late. Except for once in high school. It was a Monday. There was a massive pile-up on the highway, and traffic was deadlocked. I had jumped off the bus halfway and run all the way to the classroom, gasping for breath. The teacher for that class was extremely strict and hated tardiness. There was only one minute left. Ethan was walking ahead, staring at his phone, his pace leisurely. Just one step away from the classroom door, he suddenly stopped. He squatted down and began to tie his shoelaces slowly. It looked like he was waiting for something. He could have easily made it inside, but instead, he got locked out of the classroom with me. It wasn’t until I saw Serena panting as she ran up from behind us that I finally understood. He was waiting for her. In the living room, I looked back at him. Ethan was sitting at the dining table, sipping his coffee. An impulse suddenly took over me, and I wanted him to drive me. “Ethan, I’m running late. Are you busy?” In our seven years of marriage, this was the first time I had ever asked him for a favor like this. If he just said, “I’ll drive you.” I think I would have been happy for a very long time. But he just glanced down at his watch. “I’ll have my driver take you.” I froze for a moment. “Okay. Thank you.” “Thank you” was a phrase we used all the time in our daily lives. Thank you for the gift. Thank you for grabbing my coat. We were as polite as roommates who had lived together for years. We didn’t look like a married couple at all. Thanks to his driver, I wasn’t late. Grandma Evelyn was already waiting for me in the garden. She wore a sun hat, bending over to prune the roses. We had met in a community garden years ago. She loved flowers, but her children and grandchildren were always too busy to keep her company, so she always went alone. I went to that garden often too. She always said that even the most beautiful flowers needed patient care. Slowly, we got to know each other. We became close friends despite the age gap. Back then, I didn’t know she was Ethan’s grandmother. During our casual chats, she would only mention that she had a rebellious, troublesome grandson. Until one day, Ethan came to pick her up. “Valerie,” Grandma Evelyn waved her hand in front of my face. “What’s wrong? You seem distracted today.” I had cut several wrong branches. I snapped out of it and shook my head with a smile. She noticed my unusual behavior and asked, “Did you and Ethan have a fight?” I shook my head. Let alone fighting, we had never even had an argument. “Ethan is a bit emotionally clueless. I’ll give him a piece of my mind later.” Hearing the word “clueless” used to describe Ethan was almost funny. In high school, he was the crush of countless girls. He came from a wealthy family and was incredibly handsome. More than that, he was an absolute romantic. Before the winter formal, he had the entire lobby filled with white roses just because Serena once said they were her favorite. On New Year’s Eve, he didn’t go home just so he could set off fireworks outside the classroom window while she was studying. I had received white roses and watched fireworks before. But it was always because of Serena. My thoughts were a mess. Later, I married him. But I never saw that passionate side of Ethan again. As the breeze swept through the garden, a sudden realization hit me, explaining my unusual behavior since last night— I was afraid.

I had always been good at waiting. When I was a kid, I waited for someone to adopt me. Later, I waited for the last bus after my part-time shift ended. And even later. I waited for a husband who would never proactively come home to me. Out of habit, it felt like I was preparing to wait again. Wait for Ethan to rekindle his old flame with his first love. And then passively accept a divorce. My waiting in the past had always been numb and dull. But this time, I was terrified. A person has to be brave at least once. So, for the first time, I went to Ethan’s office building. On the way, I rehearsed the words in my head a thousand times. “Do you still love Serena?” “Do you plan to divorce me?” But I was stopped right at the lobby. The receptionist wore a polite smile. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Visitors must book an appointment a week in advance.” I wasn’t sure if Ethan wanted everyone to know about our marriage. So, I didn’t reveal my identity. I called Ethan. Just as the phone started ringing, I heard his familiar ringtone echoing from the elevator bank. Ethan was walking at the very front of a group. He looked at his phone, a puzzled expression on his face, seemingly debating whether to answer. I instinctively hung up. He didn’t seem to care much either. He deliberately slowed his pace, occasionally turning back to speak to someone. It wasn’t until he passed within four yards of me that I saw Serena, who had been blocked from my view behind him. Time had left no marks on her face. She still had that pure, innocent first-love face. She looked exactly like she did in the photos on Ethan’s old private Instagram account from eight years ago. She caught up and walked side-by-side with him. Her voice carried a hint of joy. “Oh? You haven’t changed your ringtone after all these years? It’s still my favorite instrumental piece.” Seventeen-year-old Ethan had been incredibly rebellious. He only listened to hip-hop, reggae, rock, and electronic music. But Serena was different. She loved instrumentals. Ethan’s taste in music had changed solely because of her. I suppose that was the mark love had left on him. Even today, the habit remained. Only after they walked away did the receptionist call out to me. “Ma’am, as you can see, Mr. Vance is already in a meeting. If you need to see him, you can make an appointment with the executive office.” I forced a smile. “Thank you. No need.” I felt so exhausted, and my eyes stung with unshed tears. I figured I just needed to go home and sleep it off. But the alumni Snapchat group kept buzzing. [Guess who I just bumped into at a restaurant? Ethan and Serena!] [Oh my god, are they really back together? The high school drama I’ve been shipping is finally getting a happy ending!] [@Serena, come verify this right now!] Serena posted a photo. A window seat, fine dining, and a man. His face wasn’t in the frame, but from the veins on his toned forearm, it was easy to recognize him. She replied: “This restaurant is amazing. Highly recommend.” She didn’t give a direct answer, but anyone with eyes could see it. I zoomed in on the photo, over and over again. Ethan had very beautiful hands, with distinct knuckles. I had held them countless times. I had also slipped his wedding ring onto his finger. My eyes kept drifting back to his left hand. His ring finger was completely bare. He had taken off the wedding ring he always wore.

Ethan came home very early. He didn’t come to our room immediately. Instead, he went to the balcony to smoke a cigarette. He had quit smoking the day we got married. But meeting Serena again seemed to have thrown him off balance. After his shower, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. Aside from when we were in bed, we had never had this kind of physical intimacy. He asked in a low voice, “Should we talk…” Talk about what? The divorce? My breath caught, and my body instinctively went stiff. “Never mind,” he changed the subject. “Why did you call me today?” Our saved phone numbers were practically useless. We only messaged on Snapchat occasionally and never called. I didn’t know what to say. And I didn’t have the energy to say it anyway. “Accidental dial? No wonder you hung up so fast.” He quickly came up with an explanation. That night, his kisses in bed were meticulous and unusually gentle. But I actually preferred his wild, unchecked side. At those moments, I could catch a glimpse of the seventeen-year-old boy he used to be. They say loving someone makes you childish. I had seen him playfully mess up his lover’s hair, laughing freely and wildly. I had also seen him stand up for her, fighting until he was bleeding. But in front of me, he never showed any emotion. He was always quiet and distant. Precisely because I had seen how he loved someone, I knew clearly that Ethan did not love me. I didn’t know what to do. I had no friends or family to confide in. Except Grandma Evelyn. That entire afternoon, I stared at the rose in front of me—the one I had carefully tended to, yet it had still withered. I had watered it, loosened the soil, and cut off the dead leaves. But when some flowers withered, no amount of saving could bring them back. I wondered if marriage followed the same rule. I asked softly, “Grandma, if a flower can’t be saved, what should I do?” She smiled. “Then don’t save it.” “Pull it out and make room for a new one.” She gently patted my hand. “Not everything is worth wasting a lifetime on.” Yes, I should just let it go. Autumn was coming. I didn’t swap out the clothes in my closet for the new season. My body wash was running out. But I didn’t stock up during the big sale like I usually did. I packed many of my clothes into cardboard boxes. Ethan looked at the half-empty closet, confusion in his voice. “Where are your clothes?” “I’m planning to donate them to the foster home.” I lied. I just didn’t want to be in a rush when I left, so I was preparing early. Even the speech to bring up the divorce had been rehearsed hundreds of times in my head. That night, he was working in the study. I stood outside, taking three deep breaths before failing to turn the doorknob. Ethan was sitting at his desk, holding his phone to his ear with one hand while rubbing his temples with the other. He looked exhausted, and his voice sounded incredibly soft. “Serena, I can handle the issues on my end anytime. It’s been too long, and I don’t want to wait anymore…” I didn’t have the courage to hear the rest. I quietly stepped back and gently closed the door. I felt so pathetic. Ethan was more impatient than me, yet he was much better at hiding it. Divorce was something I had to treat with absolute seriousness. I needed to be fully prepared psychologically and bring it up at the right time. But he didn’t care at all. Perhaps he was just waiting for the exact moment he and Serena officially got back together. Then he would notify me of the divorce and “handle” me. I was the one taking it too seriously. I had placed too much weight on this marriage of convenience. That night, I still brought up the divorce. I chose the most abrupt moment, using the most casual tone. As Ethan was passionately kissing my ear, I turned my head away, my face expressionless. “Ethan, let’s get a divorce.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446368”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

Twenty minutes before the Homecoming Gala started, Chloe’s designer dress zipper completely burst. Without hesitation, I swapped my perfect dress for her broken one. Clutching the fabric over my chest, I stumbled out of the backstage dressing room, wearing her ruined gown. Ethan Vance—the school golden boy I had been secretly head over heels for, and Chloe’s step-brother—suddenly took a few quick strides toward me. He draped his jacket over my shoulders. “Don’t move,” he murmured. Even Ryder Hayes, the star quarterback who’d spent half his life teasing me, stepped in front of me with a scowl. “Who did this to you?” I stood there, stunned. For a second, I actually thought they were finally worried about me. Until I looked up. Both of their faces instantly darkened. “Why the hell are you wearing Chloe’s dress?” *** **01** Ryder reached out and yanked the neckline of my dress upward. “Holy crap.” “Since when does a nerd like you try to go for the sexy vibe?” Ryder looked me up and down with an air of dismissive amusement, unable to resist scoffing. “Are you out of your mind? Isn’t this Chloe’s dress?” “How did it end up on you?” “Look, if you wanted a makeover, you should at least see if you can pull it off. But honestly—” He leaned in slightly. Dragging out his words, he mocked, “You look absolutely ridiculous in this, Summer.” I gripped the dress with white knuckles. If I wasn’t busy holding the front of the dress together, I would have punched him right in his perfect jaw. Then. A soft chuckle came from above me. It was a very light sound. As if he had heard a mild joke and was politely laughing along just to keep the atmosphere light. But to me, that chuckle sounded like thunder. It came from Ethan. The crush I had been shamelessly chasing for three months. I kept my eyes glued to the floor, biting my lip so hard it hurt. I forced myself not to snap back at Ryder like I usually did. I didn’t want to completely destroy what little dignity I had left in front of Ethan. But Ryder wasn’t used to my silence. “Whoa, what’s wrong with you today? No sassy comeback?” He reached out, mockingly feeling my forehead. “No fever.” His gaze drifted down. He looked at me with a smirk. “Stop hiding it. There’s nothing to see anyway. It’s not like you’ve got the curves for it.” “Did you honestly think wearing the school queen’s dress would turn you into her?” I trembled with pure rage. Tears blurred my vision. All I could see was a well-sculpted hand suddenly appearing in my line of sight. I slowly looked up. It was Ethan. The boy who usually avoided me like the plague. He reached out and yanked the jacket he had just put on my shoulders right back off. I was too stunned to react. It took me a few seconds to process it. “Wasn’t… wasn’t that for me?” I whispered, looking up at him expectantly. Ethan looked down at me. Seeing my rimmed, watery eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He averted his gaze, his face turning cold and indifferent. “Give this to Chloe,” he said flatly. “I don’t want her catching a cold.” “And—” “I get it,” I interrupted. I took the jacket, feeling utterly humiliated, and ran back into the dressing room. Through the heavy curtain, I could still hear Ryder’s lazy voice asking Ethan: “Hey, didn’t she look hilarious in that dress?” “You should’ve seen her in middle school. Her waist was way thicker than it is now.” “I can’t believe she actually tried to pull off the sexy look today.” I didn’t know what expression Ethan had on his face. But I heard his quiet, indifferent reply: “Yeah.” *** **02** I returned to the backstage dressing room, feeling hollow. When I walked in, I didn’t do what I usually did—rushing to Chloe with a flattering smile, gushing, *“Oh my god, babe, your makeup looks stunning today!”* Instead, I walked quietly to my seat. As usual, Chloe was surrounded by her clique of popular girls. I heard someone ask her: “Chloe, who is more obsessed with you? Your gorgeous step-brother Ethan, or Ryder, the star quarterback?” It was a question she got asked almost every day. She always acted shy and dodged it. But after everyone left, she would usually hold my hand and whisper, *“Don’t listen to them, Summer. My brother looks cold, but he actually listens to everything I say. I know you like him, don’t worry, I’ll help you get close to him!”* But this time, for some reason, I stopped in my tracks. I wanted to hear her real answer. Chloe smiled beautifully, her voice bright and sweet, dripping with playful innocence. “Oh, come on, that’s such a hard question.” “Ethan spoils me so much, but Ryder is also so sweet. It’s so hard to choose.” Someone teased, “But if you had to pick just one?” I stood there, watching Chloe twirl her hair, pretending to be troubled. “But they’re both so good to me!” “Ryder is always so mean to Summer, his own childhood friend… but he’s only ever gentle with me.” “And Ethan? Summer has been practically begging for his attention for three months, and he won’t even look her way… but he treats me so differently.” She sighed deeply, as if carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I can’t help it. I’m his only sister, even if we aren’t blood-related.” “I don’t want to make a choice and hurt either of them…” “As for Summer… well, let her keep running errands for me. She’ll do anything just to get close to Ethan anyway.” Just then, the photographer called for a group photo. Chloe shrugged at the girls, signaling them to head out. The moment her eyes met mine, she pouted slightly in annoyance. “Why are you still here?” “You shouldn’t go on stage looking like that.” “I was actually going to look for—” I tossed Ethan’s jacket onto her vanity. Looking straight ahead, I said coldly, “Take off my dress and give it back.” *** **03** She didn’t notice my change in tone. Assuming I had just been rejected by Ethan again, she gave me a couple of fake, sweet consolations. I ignored her completely. She nudged my arm. “Summer, I have to go to Ryder’s game this afternoon, so I won’t have time to finish my AP History research paper.” “The usual deal. You write it for me, and tomorrow, I’ll set up a study date for you and Ethan at the library.” Chloe smiled at me, confident I would agree. I stood up and said, “No.” “I have my own things to do.” Chloe bolted upright, staring at me in absolute disbelief. “Ryder hasn’t been bothering you lately, so forget him—but this is a private study date with Ethan!” “Summer, don’t tell me you don’t like him anymore?” I thought of the fleeting warmth Ethan had shown me earlier. My chest ached terribly. But the harsh reality of today made me realize, clearer than ever, that he felt absolutely nothing for me. “Yeah. I don’t.” With that, I walked out of the room. I spoke loud enough for her to hear: “I am done chasing Ethan Vance.” “And as for Ryder? I don’t need a single nice word from that jerk ever again.” Just as I reached the exit, Ryder’s mocking voice drifted over. “Wow, Summer. Look at you, talking big.” “Why don’t you go all the way and say you’re unfriending me? And that you’re never riding in my truck again?” “Great idea,” I interrupted, my face blank as I looked him dead in the eye. “Unfriending you sounds perfect.” Before Ryder’s face could transition from smug to furious, I turned and walked away. Not once did I look at Ethan, who was standing right next to him. Behind me, I heard Chloe’s annoyed voice, “Ethan, I’ve called your name three times. What are you staring at?” On my walk home, I realized how long it had been since I had experienced such peace. Usually, I was either busy finding ways to cling to Ethan, or Ryder was driving his pickup next to me, bickering and insulting me all the way. But today, it was quiet. The entire world felt like it belonged to just me. I began to think. Is it possible that my worth doesn’t need to be validated by anyone else? With that thought, my steps became lighter. On my way, I fed the stray cats. I helped the sweet old lady down the street fix her garden fence. I even guided a blind woman with her service dog past a construction zone. But when I reached my front porch, Ryder was standing there waiting for me. *** **04** Tonight was the night the varsity team won the state championship. Chloe had been excitedly talking about throwing a massive victory party for Ryder at the field. Yet, here he was, still wearing his varsity jacket, standing outside my door. He looked at my dirty dress. He instinctively opened his mouth to make a sarcastic comment, but forced himself to swallow it. Clearing his throat, he handed me a paper bag and said awkwardly: “Summer, I got you those loaded fries you love from that diner downtown.” “The line was insanely long.” “Here. Eat up.” The savory scent wafted through the air. Ryder put his hands in his pockets, trying to look cool, but his eyes kept darting to my face. I knew this was his version of an apology. He throws a bone. I take it. And we’re good again. But I didn’t want to play along anymore. Before I could say anything, my phone buzzed. It was Chloe on FaceTime. Her voice was bubbly and loud: “Summer! Did Ryder behave and apologize to you?” I didn’t answer. She continued, sounding playfully annoyed, “That boy almost drove me crazy. I casually mentioned in our group chat that I wanted loaded fries, and the second the post-game interview ended, he rushed to wait in line for them! He even brought them to my house. But my parents were home, so I didn’t dare go out. I told him to take them to you instead! Tell me, is his attitude sincere? If not, I’m ignoring him too!” I ignored her banter and caught the main point. I looked at Ryder. “Group chat?” “What group chat?” “Do the three of you have a separate group chat?” Chloe gasped over the phone, “Oh my god, sorry! My bad. Summer, don’t be mad, it was Ethan’s idea, he—” “It’s fine,” I said coldly, and hung up. Before Ryder’s face could pale further, I took the bag of fries and threw it right into the trash can next to the porch. Then, I slammed the front door in his face. After taking a long shower, I gathered everything related to Ethan into a large cardboard box. I walked out and threw the entire box into the trash bin. Even though I knew it was the right thing to do, my chest still throbbed with a dull ache. After a restless night, I walked out of my house the next morning. Only to find Ethan standing right next to my trash bin. He was frowning, staring blankly at the garbage. I didn’t know what he was thinking, and I wasn’t delusional enough to think he was there for me. I decided to treat him like a stranger and walk right past him. “Summer.” It was the first time he had ever called my name so softly. I stopped. He spoke in his usual calm, collected voice, “Chloe told me last night that you wanted to study with me at the library.” “She said if I didn’t agree, you were going to rally the girls to isolate her.” Ethan casually checked his watch, took a deep breath, and looked at me. “We have time. Let’s go.” My body went stiff. Ethan didn’t notice. He began walking ahead, talking casually. “Chloe is too innocent. She sees the world too simply and doesn’t have a bad bone in her body.” “She isn’t like you. You wear your emotions on your sleeve and say whatever trash comes to your mind.” “So, I hope you stop trying to exclude her. And I hope this is the last time you and I have to hang out alone—” I stared at his tall, straight back. It felt like waking up from a long, stupid dream. I quickly picked up my pace. Like a stranger, I walked right past him, leaving him behind. I thought to myself: My first love. On this ordinary Monday morning. Is officially over.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446367”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

As the roller coaster climbed to its highest peak, I quietly opened my eyes. I wanted to hold my boyfriend Ethan’s hand. Instead, I saw his fingers intertwined with my best friend Maya’s. Ethan was gently rubbing the back of Maya’s hand with his thumb. It was his way of comforting someone. “Ethan, I’m scared,” I whispered. He didn’t look at me. Instead, he gripped Maya’s hand even tighter. Ethan had a hearing impairment. His left ear couldn’t hear clearly. Yet, every time the three of us went out, he always had Maya on his right side. He would lean in, listening closely, answering her every word. Meanwhile, I stood on his left, feeling as if we were a world apart. The roller coaster plunged. I closed my eyes, my heart crashing down as fast as the ride. Ethan, you have no idea. Today is not just my twenty-fifth birthday. It’s also the day you lose me forever. The roller coaster slowly rolled back to the platform. Only then did their hands quietly slip apart. Maya was practically bouncing, her face flushed red. “My heart was beating at 150 back there. That was insane.” Ethan smiled warmly at her. “Mine too.” The two of them laughed and chatted like they always did, talking about how thrilling the ride had been. But listening to them only sent a chill down my spine. Suddenly, Maya looked at me. “Chloe, what about you? I didn’t even hear you scream.” “I…” I froze, not sure what to say. Then, Maya sneezed. It was a very soft sound, but Ethan heard it instantly. He quickly pulled off his jacket and draped it over Maya’s shoulders, fussing over her. “I told you not to wear a short skirt on a roller coaster. Now you’re freezing!” “I don’t care! It was fun!” Maya stared straight at Ethan, giving him a barely noticeable arch of her brow. In the next second, I saw the blush creep up from Ethan’s cheeks to his ears. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. Maybe it was the lingering weightlessness from the ride, or maybe it was the sharp, stabbing pain of betrayal. The scene before me made my head spin. I felt physically sick. “Ethan, my blood sugar is crashing… I feel dizzy.” I crouched down in pain, reaching my hand out to Ethan. There was no response. When I looked up again, Ethan and Maya were already thirty feet ahead of me. Under the bright sun, his shadow stretched long, leaning closer and closer to my best friend, leaving me far behind. A park staff member helped me up and handed me an energy drink. “Are you okay, sweetie? Make sure to take care of yourself if you’re here alone. Hope you have a wonderful day! Happy birthday!” I gave her a bitter smile and touched the birthday badge pinned to my chest. Today was my twenty-fifth birthday. Since entering the park, countless strangers had wished me a happy birthday. Yet, the two people closest to me hadn’t even uttered a single “happy birthday.” My phone buzzed. Ethan had sent me a pin on Snapchat: “Come here quick! We have a surprise for you!” My fingers trembled. After a long hesitation, perhaps still holding onto a tiny shred of hope, I typed back, “Okay.” When I arrived at the location, there were a dozen couples standing on a stage. Ethan and Maya were among them. The sign next to them read: *The Perfect Match Couple’s Trivia Challenge.* Couples? Perfect match? I stared blankly. The host was already asking the first question: “What date does her period start every month?” “The 18th!” Ethan and Maya answered in perfect unison. “Was it love at first sight, or a slow burn?” “Love at first sight!” Again, they gave the exact same answer. … After a few more questions, only three couples remained on stage. The host asked the final question: “What was she wearing the very first time you met?” “A blue and white sundress. It looked like the summer sky,” Ethan said, his eyes filled with warmth as he looked tenderly at Maya. Maya blushed and nodded. “And he was wearing a sweaty black basketball jersey. He had just finished a game and smelled terrible!” Ethan laughed. The host laughed. The audience laughed. But I couldn’t laugh. My heart felt like it was being shredded by a knife. The first time they met was when I had fainted from a severe hypoglycemic attack and cracked my ribs. Standing by my hospital bed, Maya had scolded Ethan: “What kind of boyfriend are you? If you can’t take care of my Chloe, I’ll never forgive you!” Back then, Ethan had held my hand tightly, apologizing over and over with eyes full of guilt. For a whole month, they both took care of me at my bedside, bringing me water, food, and medicine. At that time, despite the physical pain, my heart felt incredibly full and happy. But it turned out… they had fallen in love at first sight right by my sickbed? It turned out my pain was just a stepping stone for their romance? A girl standing next to me nudged my elbow, pulling me back to reality. “Are you here alone too? Man, I’m so jealous of that couple on stage. You can literally see the love in that guy’s eyes!” “So sweet! I wish I could find a boyfriend who looks at me like that.” I looked at my boyfriend and my best friend on stage, forcing a pale smile. “Yeah, it’s sweet. If only that guy weren’t my boyfriend.” “Wait, what?” The girl’s eyes widened. “He’s your boyfriend?! How are you keeping your cool?!” After a long silence, I whispered: “He won’t be for much longer.”

The two on stage finally saw me. Maya waved enthusiastically, jogging over to me. She stuffed the giant plushie she had won into my arms. “Chloe! Happy birthday! This is for you!” “Don’t you dare get jealous! I only pretended to be Ethan’s girlfriend so I could win this prize for you!” For me? Again? I looked down at the plushie. It had a wide, goofy smile, as if mocking my stupidity. They continued to walk ahead of me side-by-side, naturally leaving the spot on Ethan’s left for me. I stepped forward, grabbing the edge of Ethan’s jacket, and said softly, “Let’s break up.” “What?” Ethan didn’t hear me. He leaned down, tilting his left ear toward my face. “I said, let’s break up!” I raised my voice. But Ethan still looked clueless. Just as I was about to say it a third time, Maya piped up, “The fireworks are about to start! We won’t get a good spot if we don’t hurry!” Ethan immediately stood up straight, grabbed Maya’s hand, and started running. I was left standing there alone in the dark, my words choked up in my throat. No one cared. In the distance, under the viewing platform, I saw Ethan lift Maya up onto his back. Brilliant fireworks exploded across the night sky, illuminating the entire park. It was so bright that I clearly saw Maya lean into Ethan’s right ear and kiss him. At that moment, the crowd around me cheered, but my world went completely silent. I placed my hand over my chest. There was no physical wound, yet it felt like a giant, gaping hole. The cold wind rushed right through it. It freezing. I turned around, walked against the crowd, and headed toward the exit. My phone buzzed. It was a text from my mom. “Happy birthday, Chloe! How is your day going? Did Ethan give you a big surprise?” When we first started dating, twenty-year-old Ethan had promised my mom that he would propose to me before I turned twenty-five. Today was my twenty-fifth birthday. There were no flowers, no ring, only a complete, humiliating betrayal. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I typed and erased, typed and erased. In the end, I only sent a few words: “Mom, I don’t want to get married anymore. I want to come home.” On the Uber ride back, I stared blankly out the window at the passing city lights. I wondered how I would explain this to my mom. Should I tell her about his left ear that could never hear me? Or their tightly locked hands? Or their perfect score in the couple’s trivia? Or that kiss under the fireworks? Finally, my mom replied with two simple sentences: “Chloe, whatever you decide, I supports you.” “I clean your room every single day. My baby girl is welcome home anytime.” The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over. I covered my face with both hands and sobbed.

I returned to the apartment Ethan and I had shared for the past year. This was supposed to be our future home, but the curtains were a dark, gloomy black, a color I absolutely hated. The floor was covered in cold grey tiles, not the warm hardwood I had begged for. Even the paintings on the walls were dark, gothic art pieces that made me uneasy. I had brought up how depressing the apartment felt multiple times, asking if we could change the color scheme or at least the decor. Ethan had never answered me. He didn’t even look up. Maybe he didn’t hear me. Or maybe he heard, but simply didn’t care. I didn’t turn on the lights. In the dark, I wrote a quick resignation letter to my boss, bought a one-way ticket back to my hometown, turned off my phone, and went to bed. At 4:00 AM, the front door slammed open. The moment Ethan walked into the bedroom, he flipped on the overhead light. The harsh white light pierced my eyes like a knife. “Chloe, why did you just run off without saying anything? Do you have any idea how worried Maya and I were?” I squinted against the light, my voice hoarse. “So worried that you only came home at dawn?” Ethan paused, his defensive tone wavering. “That… that’s because we were looking for you everywhere. Maya was crying so hard. I had to calm her down before I could come back.” I let out a bitter laugh and held up my phone. “By calming her down like this?” On the screen was an Instagram post of Maya wrapping her arms around Ethan’s neck from behind, whispering intimately against his cheek. The room went dead silent for a few seconds. Ethan cleared his throat, a flash of guilt crossing his eyes. “Maya is petite, and the crowd was blocking her view of the fireworks. I just gave her a piggyback ride. Are you seriously jealous of your own best friend?” “Just” a piggyback ride? I wanted to ask him: Was giving her your jacket “just” a gesture? Was holding her hand “just” an accident? Was that kiss “just” a friendly act? How many “friendly” things had you two done behind my back? But in the end, I just turned over, facing the wall. “Whatever you say. Do whatever you want from now on.” The next morning, his side of the bed was empty. A warm glass of milk sat on the nightstand. I got up and saw Ethan busy in the kitchen. “You’re up! Come eat breakfast. I made your favorite pancakes.” I sat at the dining table, looking at the eggs and pancakes. It felt as if everything from yesterday was just a bad dream. As if… he still loved me. Ethan walked over with a bright smile, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. “Chloe, we don’t need to do those cheesy, dramatic speeches.” He slid a beautiful diamond ring onto my ring finger. Before yesterday, I had dreamed of this moment thousands of times. But now, only a bitter ache spread through my chest, and my eyes welled with tears. Ethan thought I was crying tears of joy. He pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. “Silly Chloe, don’t cry.” When I was twenty, my dad passed away, and my mom fell seriously ill. The sudden tragedy made me break down every single night. It was Ethan who ran around, handling all the stressful arrangements for my family. Every night back then, he would hold me just like this, whispering, “Silly Chloe, don’t cry. I’m here. I will always, always be by your side.” Those memories wrapped around my heart like tight threads, suffocating me. Finally, I couldn’t help but whisper against his ear: “Ethan, why did you fall out of love with me? What does Maya have that I don’t? You loved me first…” “Chloe, what did you say? I couldn’t hear you.” Suddenly, his phone on the marble table lit up. Ethan instantly released me and grabbed his phone. The screen illuminated the subtle smirk on his face. We were less than five inches apart. I saw it clearly. The sender was saved as “Maya,” with a heart emoji. Her chat was pinned at the very top, highlighted in grey. My chat was unpinned, buried underneath. “I need to take care of something. Eat up,” he said, walking into the study without looking back. After a long time, I looked down and tried to spin the ring on my finger. It was a bit too small. It pinched my knuckle, hurting badly. I tried multiple times, but I couldn’t get it off. Looking at my red, swollen finger, I gave up, slumped over the table, and cried.

It wasn’t until I received the flight confirmation email that I finally pulled myself together. I screenshotted the ticket, stood up, and started packing. As I passed the study, I saw Ethan through the crack of the door. He was holding his phone to his right ear, looking incredibly focused, as if he didn’t want to miss a single syllable of Maya’s voice. Once, when I was in a rush and couldn’t type, I had sent Ethan a voice note. That was the first time he had ever yelled at me. “Chloe, you know my hearing is bad! Why are you sending me voice notes? Can you please be a little considerate?!” He gave me the silent treatment for a whole week. Since then, I never dared to send him a voice note again. Yet here he was, playing Maya’s voice notes over and over. “How’s the ring? Does Chloe like it?” “See? I told you! Since Maya and I have the exact same ring size, having me try it on for her would be perfect!” “So, how are you going to thank me?” Ethan was clearly amused by her playful voice, his eyes crinkling with laughter. “In a few days, I’ll need you to try on the wedding dress and walk through the rehearsal with me. I’ll thank you properly then.” Maya paused, then asked in a teasing tone: “Ethan, are you marrying Chloe, or are you marrying me?” Ethan didn’t answer right away. After a long silence, he finally said: “If it were you… at least I’d be genuinely happy.” My eyes stung fiercely. I pressed the back of my hand against my eyes, holding back the heat until it faded. I turned away and stopped looking. I packed my documents and a few clothes into my suitcase. Just as I zipped it shut, Ethan pushed the door open. He froze when he saw the suitcase. “What are you doing?” “Nothing. My company is sending me on a business trip,” I said, keeping my head down. Ethan hesitated, glancing out at the dark, stormy sky outside. “I’ll drive you.” I had no reason to refuse. “Okay.” As the car sped down the highway, Ethan turned on the radio. A smooth jazz song filled the car. It was the same song Maya had shared on her Instagram feed a few days ago. He was humming along perfectly with the melody. When the song started playing for the ninth time, he looked straight ahead and said: “When are you coming back? Text me your flight number.” “I’ll pick you up. Then we need to start finalizing the wedding prep.” I didn’t say anything, just kept twisting the tight ring on my finger. Sensing my lack of enthusiasm, Ethan frowned. “What’s wrong with you lately? Weren’t you the one begging to get married? Why are you suddenly so quiet?” I took a breath and spoke calmly. “Ethan, we…” Before I could finish, Maya’s call flashed on the dashboard screen. “Ethan! I just had a horrible nightmare, and the thunder woke me up. My chest feels so tight, and I can’t breathe. Can you please come over and stay with me?” “I’ll be right there!” Ethan said instantly. He hung up and immediately swung the steering wheel to take the next exit, heading in the opposite direction. “Ethan, I’m going to miss my flight,” I said. He didn’t hear me. I raised my voice, yelling over the rain: “Ethan! If her chest is tight, she needs to go to the ER! You are not a doctor!” Ethan slammed on the brakes, pulling the car abruptly to the shoulder. “And I’m not your personal chauffeur either.” “Get out.” His tone was cold and commanding. Thunder rumbled outside, heavy rain slamming against the windshield. At that exact moment, the tight ring finally slipped off my finger, falling into my palm with a soft clink. I opened the passenger door and stepped out into the pouring rain. The second I pulled my suitcase out of the trunk, he slammed on the gas. The sudden splash of water made me stumble, and I fell right into the muddy puddle. Looking at his taillights disappearing into the stormy night, I laughed. Five years of love, ending in such a pathetic, messy way. But it was good. It completely killed any lingering hope I had left. Goodbye, Ethan. Let’s never meet again.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446366”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My dad is the richest man in Los Angeles, but my monthly allowance is only fifty dollars. My mom always told me that my dad despised me because I was born with a minor physical defect. She said he left a signed divorce agreement and vanished when I was only six years old. From that day on, I never saw him again. That was until I saw him on the news, splurging a hundred million dollars to buy a luxury skyscraper for his new son. For all these years, my heart was filled with nothing but hatred. I was his child too. Why did he treat me like trash? But one day, I ran into my dad’s new son. The very first thing he said to me was: “Where have you been all these years? Dad has been searching everywhere for you.” “Hey, sweetie, your meal card has insufficient funds.” The cafeteria lady, Mrs. Gable, poked her head out after the register beeped loudly. I froze. I had just realized this month had thirty-one days. The money I saved from my part-time job was only enough to cover thirty. I offered an awkward smile. “That’s fine, Mrs. Gable. I’m actually on a diet today. Just the plain rice is fine.” Mrs. Gable saw right through my embarrassment. A look of pure pity softened her face. “Oh, honey, look at you! You’re skin and bones. What diet?” She sighed, scooped a massive ladle of rich savory gravy, and poured it over my rice. “Next time you’re short on cash, just whisper to me. I’ll slide a chicken drumstick under your tray.” Looking at her kind gesture, my throat tightened. Why was it that a complete stranger knew how to show me mercy, while my own biological father had never given me a single thought? My best friend, Price, walked back with his tray. When he saw nothing but plain gravy and rice on my plate, he slammed his fist on the table in frustration. “I’m telling you, Hart, you need to go to your dad’s corporate headquarters and make a scene!” “The guy is the richest man in LA, and his own son is literally starving to death!” “I seriously want the world to see what a hypocrite that ‘philanthropist’ really is behind closed doors!” I was used to this kind of life, but his words still brought a wave of bitterness to my chest. If the university didn’t have a free basic pantry for low-income students, I really would have starved by now. Ever since my parents divorced, my mom had completely fallen apart. She spent her days drinking herself into a stupor at home, burning through what little savings we had left on cheap gin. Once, a neighbor couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to intervene. “Samantha, you can’t keep living like this. Your son is so young. You have to pull yourself together and raise him!” “Look at the boy, he’s so thin a gust of wind could blow him away!” But my mom just slumped on her bed and screamed at the neighbor. “If it weren’t for this mistake of a kid, my husband would have never abandoned me!” “He was born broken! Even a stray dog would look down on him!” “You want me to raise him? In his dreams!” Back then, as a little boy, I didn’t understand why she was so angry. But I could read her expression. The only reason my mom had degenerated into this miserable state was because of me. If I hadn’t been born, or if I had been a perfectly healthy boy, her life would have been beautiful. During the rare moments my mom was sober, she would show me old photographs. “Look how much your father loved me back then. He took me traveling all over the country.” “He wouldn’t let me lift a finger. He did all the cleaning and dishwashing himself!” “Even when he worked until midnight, he’d still come home and cook me gourmet meals. He acted like he never knew what tired meant!” Looking at the happy, loving couple in those faded photos, a seed of guilt was planted deep in my young heart. This was all my fault. I had to do whatever it took to make it up to her. Since the moment I was old enough to walk, I did odd chores for neighbors to earn spare change. They pitied me and often gave me groceries to take home. That was how I managed to grow up, surviving on the charity of kind neighbors. Once I got into college, I worked three part-time jobs a day after classes. But my mom forced me to hand over almost every penny to ‘repay’ her. I was left with only fifty dollars a month for myself.

I barely kept myself alive with the university’s financial aid. I had accepted my reality. That was, until the day I saw the news about my dad on the campus TV. [Vance Enterprises CEO, Phillips Vance, splurges $100 million to build a luxury skyscraper for his six-year-old son, Jackson.] For the first time in my life, a massive sense of unfairness washed over me. With tear-filled eyes, I asked my mom. “Mom, if Dad has so much money… why hasn’t he come back to see me even once?” “Does he really not have a single shred of affection for me?” My mom sneered. “Why do you think? He hates you more than anything in this world.” I quickly shoved the rest of the rice into my mouth. I had to rush to my next gig. I had recently landed a part-time job tutoring an elementary school kid in English and essay writing. The pay was triple what I made washing dishes at the diner, so I absolutely could not be late. Price frowned, his eyes filled with worry. “Hart, can your body even take this?” “Why don’t you take a day off? If you keep going like this, I’m afraid you’re going to collapse…” I didn’t stop. I kept packing my things, coughing as I swallowed the rice too quickly, my face turning red. I pounded my chest to force the food down, then spoke quietly. “I can’t rest, Price. If I stop, how is my mom going to survive?” Hearing this, Price’s anger flared, his voice rising. “Your mother is unbelievably selfish!” “How can she force a college freshman to pay for everything?” “Does she even care about your health?!” I just gave him a helpless, tired smile. “I owe her my life.” For all these years, I had lived in a constant state of self-blame. If it weren’t for me, my mom wouldn’t be living in this misery. So, I had no right to complain. After riding three different buses, I finally arrived at my destination. It was a massive mansion nestled halfway up a private hill in Bel-Air. I had to hike up a steep incline for thirty minutes just to reach the front gate. A middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit—the butler—walked out with a polite smile. “Are you the new tutor?” I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nodded. He led me inside, and the sheer opulence of the estate blew my mind. Even the golden retriever in the yard had its own two-story, air-conditioned dog house. The butler took me into a grand study and handed me a glass of ice water. “Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go fetch the young master.” I pulled out the textbooks I had prepared. Before I could even place them on the desk, a little boy burst into the room. He grinned, showing two adorable dimples. “Hi, Mr. Tutor!” I was relieved. The children of the ultra-rich could actually be this polite. My anxiety melted away. I patted his head gently. “Hi there. You can just call me Hart.” The boy gasped, jumping up and down excitedly. “Hart! My last name is Vance too!” “I’m Jackson Vance!” My smile instantly froze on my face. Jackson. I had heard that name on the news. He was the boy for whom my father had built a $100 million tower. The boy standing in front of me was my father’s new son. This was my father’s house. Panic seized me, and I stood there completely paralyzed, not knowing what to do. My hands shook violently. Years of repressed hatred, sorrow, and abandonment issues rushed to the surface. I wanted to run out of the room, find Phillips Vance, and scream in his face. Why did you treat me like trash? Why did you leave me and Mom to rot?! But my rational mind kicked in. Acting on impulse would only make him despise me more. Plus, I would lose this high-paying tutoring gig. I needed this money to survive. Taking a deep breath, I decided to pretend I knew nothing. I sat down and started the lesson. Two hours flew by. Jackson was incredibly well-behaved and highly intelligent. We got along perfectly, talking like old friends. He didn’t have a single drop of spoiled attitude. As I packed my books and assigned him some homework, Jackson suddenly tugged at my sleeve. He looked around conspiratorially. “Hart, I don’t really have any friends. You’re my only friend!” “Can I tell you a secret?” I blinked. I was surprised that a kid living in a palace had no friends, and even more surprised that he chose to trust me. But I knelt down and patted his head. “Sure. What is it?” Jackson leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I actually have an older brother. Dad has been searching for him for years.” “But he can’t find him. So, when I grow up, I’m going to help Dad find my big brother!” My mind went completely blank. “What… what did you say?”

Searching for me all these years? How is that possible? I couldn’t believe my ears. Jackson didn’t notice my shock and kept chatting. “Yeah! I have a big brother, but I’ve never met him.” “Dad says he was the sweetest baby. But over ten years ago, Dad’s ex-wife took him and ran away.” “Dad has spent so much money looking for him, but we just can’t find him.” My head spun. There were too many contradictions. Why did my dad say my mom ran away with me? Back then, it was my dad who left the divorce papers and disappeared. My mom had spent the last twelve years drinking herself to death because of his abandonment. Who was lying? Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Jackson dragged me to another room down the hall. He pointed at a beautifully decorated bedroom. “This is the room Dad kept for my brother! He said when my brother comes back, he’ll have his own place.” “Dad said my brother’s favorite color is orange, so the whole room is orange!” “I even helped pick out the curtains! Pretty cool, right?” I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped inside. On the desk, there was a slightly faded, framed photograph. It was a picture of my father, looking much younger, holding me as a toddler on a sunny lawn. Suddenly, a warm, gentle voice came from the doorway. “That’s my husband’s son from his first marriage. He was such a beautiful boy, wasn’t he?” “Sigh, it’s a heartbreaking story.” “No matter how much money Phillips wired to his ex-wife, she refused to let him see the boy even once.” “Just last month, Phillips wired another two million dollars to her for the boy’s college fund.” “We don’t know how he is doing now. Phillips hasn’t slept a peaceful night in over ten years.” I turned toward the voice. A kind-faced, elegant woman was standing there. This was Clara, my father’s new wife. My mind reeled. Two million dollars? Last month? If my dad had been sending millions of dollars, why was my mom forcing me to work three jobs? Why did I only have fifty dollars a month for food? I remembered when I had a high fever in high school, and we ‘couldn’t afford’ antibiotics, so I had to sweat it out, shivering in bed for a week. Why did my mother lie to me all these years? I wanted to scream the truth right there—to tell them that I was that lost son. But I had to keep my head. I had to find out what really happened. Why did my mother make my life a living hell? I didn’t reveal my identity. I made an excuse and quickly left the mansion. I requested a week off from my college classes and took the bus straight back to our dingy apartment. The moment I opened the door, the stench of cheap liquor and stale smoke hit my face. My mom was slumped on the couch, surrounded by empty bottles. Seeing me home early, she didn’t hesitate to hurl a beer bottle right at my head. “Why the hell are you home?! Aren’t you supposed to be washing dishes at the diner?!” “Are you trying to starve us next month?!” “If you don’t bring home your check, I’ll kick you out! This is all because of your laziness!” “You remember this: my life is ruined because of you!” “You owe me for the rest of your miserable life!” Normally, I would have quietly cleaned up the broken glass and apologized. But not today. I walked right up to her, staring straight into her bloodshot eyes. “Mom, my meal card ran out of money today.” “Starting next month, can I please keep just ten more dollars of my paycheck for food?” She froze, then exploded in a fury. “Keep ten dollars?! Do you think we’re made of money?!” “We are broke because of you!” “It’s your fault your dad left us!” “If not for you, I’d be living in luxury right now!” “You want ten dollars? In your dreams! Ten dollars is a whole bottle of gin!” “Next month, your allowance is cut to forty!” “If you can’t afford food, go eat the free bread at the shelter! I know your school has free food!” Looking at her twisted, hateful face, the final string of my patience snapped. She always claimed I was ‘disabled’ and ‘broken,’ but my school physicals always showed I was perfectly healthy. She just wanted me to feel worthless.

“Get out and get to work! I don’t want to look at your ugly face!” she screamed, shoving me out the door. The buses back to campus had stopped running. With nowhere to go, I huddled in the cold stairwell, planning to sleep there for the night. But at midnight, I heard our apartment door click open. I peeked through the fire door. My mom was sneaking out, dressed in her best clothes. A bad feeling washed over me. I quietly slipped down the stairs and followed her through the dark streets. She navigated several alleyways before slipping into the back door of a seemingly closed storefront. It was labeled as a private social club, but it was dead quiet inside. No one was around. What was she doing here? I snuck in. The hallway seemed to lead to a dead end, but when I pushed a hidden panel near the floor, a heavy door swung open. It was a loud, smoky underground casino. Dozens of people were gathered around green felt tables, betting thousands. I blended into the crowd and easily spotted my mom at a high-stakes poker table. She had a massive stack of chips in front of her, and the people around her were kissing her feet. “Samantha, you’re on fire tonight! Must be nice having that billionaire ex-husband of yours!” My mom laughed hysterically, tossing a $2,000 chip to a dealer. “That’s pocket change! Phillips just wired me another two million. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with!” “Today, I’m in a good mood. This is on me!” I watched in horror as she threw money around like water. Within an hour, her luck ran out. She lost the entire two million and ended up owing the house another $500,000. A burly, tattooed loan shark stepped up, his face dark. “Pay up, Samantha. Or we’ll start taking fingers.” She didn’t even flinch. “Calm down. I’ll just get more from Phillips. I’ll tell him Hart has leukemia and needs ten million for chemo. He’ll wire it in ten minutes.” My blood ran cold. The millions my dad sent over the years had all been pissed away in this basement. I watched as she actually dialed my dad’s number. When she hung up, she smirked at the enforcer. “See? He’s processing it. Let’s deal another hand! I’m going to win it all back!” Realizing the sheer gravity of her lies, I slipped out of the casino. My hands shook as I dialed the number Jackson had given me. The butler answered. “Vance residence. How can I help you?” “Tell Phillips Vance that his son, Hart Vance, is on the line.” Ten seconds later, my father’s breathless, trembling voice came through. “Hart? Where are you? We need to meet right now.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446365”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

“My mom’s blood pressure is acting up. I’m taking her to Miami for a week to relax. Signal might be bad there, so just WhatsApp me if anything comes up.” My husband, Robert, didn’t even look back as he stuffed some shirts into his suitcase. I was crouching on the floor, searching for his razor. I nodded. “Got it. Did you pack everything Catherine needs?” “Yeah, all set,” he replied quickly. I handed him the razor. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the bottom of his suitcase. It wasn’t Catherine’s blood pressure medication—I had bought that two days ago and left it on the living room table. It was a box of prenatal vitamins. My mind went completely blank. I wasn’t pregnant. We had been trying to conceive for two years. Every time it failed, Robert would comfort me, telling me not to rush and just let nature take its course. So, who was that box of prenatal vitamins for? “Where’s Alice?” he asked, zipping up his suitcase. “In her room, playing with Legos,” I said, standing up. He walked over, kissed our daughter Alice on the forehead, grabbed his suitcase, and walked to the door to change his shoes. “Robert,” I called out. “Yeah?” “Safe travels. Take good care of your mom.” I stepped forward, gently straightening his collar with a warm, gentle smile. “I will. Stop worrying,” he smiled, opened the door, and left. The moment the door clicked shut, my smile vanished. I grabbed my phone and opened my smart home security app. Last night, I had whispered to our smart camera, “Robert, I love you.” The camera had caught the keyword “Robert” and automatically triggered a ten-minute cloud recording. I had stumbled upon this hidden feature a few days ago while playing around with Alice. Last night, thinking I was fast asleep, Robert had made a call in the living room. I tapped on the video. On the screen, Robert spoke in a low voice, his tone filled with a tender affection I had never heard before. “Babe, I’m flying out tomorrow. The yacht party is all set… Her?” “I told her I was taking my mom to a retreat. She bought it. She’s idiotically gullible… Don’t worry.” “Once the company goes public and stabilizes in a couple of years, I’ll divorce her. Then, you and the baby can take your rightful place… What?” “Of course it’s a boy. I had someone check. It’s definitely a son…” The woman on the other end of the screen was Juliet. She was his business partner’s daughter, twenty-two, fresh out of college. At last month’s company gala, she had sauntered over to Robert with a champagne flute in hand. Robert had introduced us: “This is my wife, Angela.” Juliet had looked me up and down, her eyes practically overflowing with contempt and provocation. She had smiled and said, “Angela is so lucky. Robert is a business genius.” Looking back, that wasn’t a provocation. It was a declaration of war. I closed the video, downloaded the footage, and forwarded it to my private email. Once that was done, I walked into Alice’s room. “Alice, do you want to see Grandma and Grandpa?” “Yes!” Alice’s eyes lit up. “Okay, Mommy’s taking you there right now.” I didn’t cry. I didn’t even feel a speck of rage. Robert, you probably think I’ll cry, scream, and call you up to interrogate you like a crazy woman, ruining your peace. You’re dead wrong. The storm you’ve brought upon me—I will return it to you ten times worse. I’m not the one who’s going to exit this stage. You are.

On the way to my parents’ house, I made two calls. The first was to Catherine. “Catherine, it’s Angela.” “Oh, Angela. What is it?” Catherine’s voice was lukewarm. “Nothing much. Just wanted to check on you. How have you been feeling? Is your blood pressure any better?” “Same as usual. You know how it is.” “Oh, then get some rest. Robert said things are crazy at the office this week, so he won’t be able to drop by.” My tone was perfectly casual. “He’s busy? He just WhatsApped me this morning saying he was taking you to Miami for a trip!” Catherine’s voice spiked. I sneered inwardly. Bravo, Robert. Lying to both sides and too lazy to even coordinate the stories. “Oh? Maybe I misremembered,” I said quietly and hung up. My second call was to my college mentor, Coleman, who was now a top forensic accountant. “Hey, Coleman. It’s Angela.” “Angela! Haha, you completely vanished after graduation. What made you think of me today?” “Coleman, I need a favor. I need you to audit a company’s books. FutureCraft.” The other end went silent for a moment. “FutureCraft? Robert’s company? Did… something happen between you two?” Coleman knew that FutureCraft’s seed money had come from me. I had invested $50,000 of my own savings from three years of working, plus another $50,000 from my parents—$100,000 in total—to launch Robert’s dream. Robert was registered as the legal owner, but I held a signed founders’ equity agreement giving me 49% of the shares. But to protect his precious male ego, that agreement had never been made public or officially registered with the state. “Yes,” I uttered a single word. “Understood,” Coleman got it instantly. “Send me everything you have. I’ll get my team on it.” “Don’t worry. If I don’t strip his accounts down to the bone, my name isn’t Coleman.” “Thank you, Coleman.” I hung up. I compiled all of FutureCraft’s documents, bank statements, and my personal suspicions about their business model into an email and sent it over. My degree was in finance. Although I had sacrificed my career for my family, my expertise hadn’t rusted. I had suspected for a while that FutureCraft’s books were off. Some of their profit growth made zero logical sense, but I had chosen to trust him. Now I realized my trust was just the umbrella shielding him while he drained our marital assets. When I arrived at my parents’ place, I handed Alice over to them and locked myself in the guest room. I opened my laptop and logged into our joint investment account. It held $300,000 in cash—our savings from the past few years. Without a second thought, I began transferring the money. I quickly routed half of it—$150,000—through several different channels into an account under my parents’ names. While transferring marital assets during a marriage carries legal risks, Robert’s child with Juliet was practically on the way. I didn’t have time to wait for standard procedures. I had to strike first. The other half, I left untouched. With that done, I fired off an email to Mandy, a fierce divorce attorney. Subject: Divorce Consultation – Request and Preliminary Evidence of Infidelity. Mandy replied almost instantly: “Mrs. Angela, the evidence is preliminary but highly targeted.” “Come to my office tomorrow morning at ten.” “Will do.” I shut my laptop and walked out. My parents were playing with Alice. Seeing me come out, my mom asked worriedly, “Angela, did you and Robert have a fight?” “Mom, I’m getting a divorce,” I said calmly. My parents froze in shock. I told them everything I had found, including the security footage. My mom was shaking with rage. “That absolute pig! I knew he looked untrustworthy from day one!” My dad was calmer. He patted my shoulder. “Angela, don’t be afraid. Your mother and I have your back. What do you need us to do?” “Just take care of Alice. I’ll handle the rest.” I stared out the window. Robert, your seven-day tropical getaway is my seven-day war preparation. When your little yacht party ends, the trial I’ve prepared for you will begin.

The next morning, I showed up at Mandy’s office right on time. Mandy looked over the video and the financial transfer records I brought, her brow furrowing slightly. “Angela, you’re bold, but this was highly risky,” she pointed at the transfer records. “Moving this $150,000 could be used against you in court.” “I know,” I nodded. “But if I didn’t move it, the moment he suspects something, I won’t get a single dime.” “If he can secretly father a child behind my back, he can easily launder all of our money.” Mandy gave me an appreciative look. “You’re incredibly sharp. What are your demands?” “First, a divorce.” “Second, sole custody of Alice.” “Third, the assets.” I pulled out the founders’ equity agreement I had kept locked in my safe for years. “FutureCraft’s starting capital of $100,000 was entirely funded by my pre-marital assets.” “Here is the agreement, signed and thumbprinted by both of us.” “My demand is to reclaim my 49% shares or their equivalent cash value.” “As for our joint marital assets, since he’s the cheating party, I want seventy percent.” Mandy’s eyes lit up as she scanned the agreement. “This agreement… is it authentic?” “Absolutely.” “And what about the dividends Robert paid you over the years?” “None,” I laughed bitterly. “He said the company was in a growth phase and needed capital. He asked me to be understanding.” “I only got a so-called household allowance of $2,000 a month, and I had to show him the receipts.” Mandy’s face darkened. “What a scumbag.” “Angela, with this agreement, we hold a massive upper hand.” “The only hurdle is proving that the initial $100,000 came solely from you, and figuring out how to liquidate that 49% share.” “I kept the bank transfer records from back then,” I said. “As for liquidating… I don’t just want the money. I want the company.” Mandy was stunned. “You want the company?” “Yes,” I said, my gaze steady. “From the core idea to the business model, I designed FutureCraft. He was just the executor. Now that he’s betrayed me, I’m taking back what’s mine.” “That’s going to be hard,” Mandy said. “He’s the legal owner and holds a 51% stake.” “Even if we prove your equity, you’re only the second-largest shareholder. You won’t have decision-making power.” “No,” I shook my head. “He doesn’t just hold 51%.” I opened my phone and showed Mandy the report Coleman’s team had sent me overnight. “To dilute my shares, Robert ran two rounds of funding over the past two years.” “But in reality, the investors were shell companies he registered himself. The money used came from our joint marital savings.” “He used our money to buy shares in our company, making himself a 70% majority shareholder.” Mandy gasped as she read the report. “This man is ruthless. He calculated everything.” “So, Mandy,” I looked at her. “I want to sue him for embezzlement and asset dissipation.” “I want him to spit out every single share he illegally acquired.” “Once he does, I will hold 49%, and he’ll be left with less than 30%. Who do you think will control the company then?” Mandy’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Angela, you are the most brilliant client I have ever represented.” “I am going to win this case for you beautifully.” “I only have one request.” “Go ahead.” “I want to deliver the fatal blow when he least expects it, right at his peak of glory.” Mandy smiled. “Message received.”

Over the next few days, Coleman’s team worked with terrifying efficiency. By the third day, they had delivered a complete forensic report and the entire chain of evidence. Every bank transfer, every shell company’s registered owner—everything was laid bare. Meanwhile, Mandy used this evidence to file for an emergency asset freeze. The court froze all of Robert’s bank accounts, equity, and real estate. Over in Miami, Robert must have realized his credit cards were getting declined and his accounts were locked. I could easily picture him throwing a tantrum. Sure enough, on the fifth day, he finally called me using Juliet’s phone. “Angela! Have you lost your mind? What the hell did you do to me?” The moment I answered, he started screaming. I pulled the phone away from my ear, keeping my voice cold and flat. “Aren’t you supposed to be at a retreat with your mom? How do you have time to call me?” “Cut the crap! Why are my cards frozen? Did you touch our money?” “Our money?” I let out a soft laugh. “Robert, why don’t you calculate how much of ‘our’ money you channeled to your fake investors?” “How much of ‘our’ money did you spend on Juliet’s bags, her car, and that yacht party?” The line went dead silent. After a long pause, he asked in sheer disbelief, “…How do you know about that?” “I don’t just know about that. I know she’s pregnant with your child,” I said, chillingly clear. “Robert, I’m giving you one week to drag yourself back from Miami and sign the divorce papers.” “You walk away empty-handed, and I’ll pretend none of this happened.” “Otherwise, get ready for a court summons and an arrest warrant.” With that, I hung up. I knew he would come back. Because Juliet’s father, Scott—the business partner who treated Robert like a son-in-law—was also on the CC list of the forensic audit report. Right now, Robert was facing a triple threat: his love life, his career, and the law. And this was just the warm-up.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446364”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My dad, Sebastian Miller, was a total “saint.” When I was a kid, he made me give some bread to a homeless man down the street. The man grabbed me and groped me under my clothes. I ran home, sobbing hysterically. But Sebastian just shrugged it off. “So what if he touched you a little? He didn’t mean any harm. He just likes kids.” “We live in a civilized country. What could he possibly do to you?” When I was ten, Sebastian threw his back out. A neighbor came over, asking him to help move some heavy furniture. I felt bad for my dad, so I told the neighbor the truth about his back and politely declined on his behalf. When Sebastian found out, he locked me in my room and beat me with a belt for a whole day. “You ruined my perfect reputation!” “Saying that makes the neighbors think I’m just making up excuses to avoid helping them!” Later, a young thug named Mark Vance moved in next door. Sebastian forced me to cook meals for him and clean his filthy apartment. On my eighteenth birthday, I overheard my dad talking to the other neighbors. “I’m planning to have Kate marry Mark. With his background, he’ll probably never find a wife otherwise.” I confronted him immediately, but Sebastian pointed a finger at me and screamed. “You need to make sacrifices! I’m trying to build good karma for you!” “I’ve raised you for eighteen years! How long are you going to be a parasite?!” He locked me in a room with that thug. During the struggle, Mark drove a paring knife straight into my heart. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day the thug first moved in next door.

The neighbors were gossiping downstairs. “The new kid who just moved in, Mark? He always glares at people with those creepy, shifty eyes. It’s terrifying!” “He smells like a trash can. He’s eighteen, but does he even know how to brush his teeth or wash his face?” “Do you think he’s a criminal hiding out here?” “So scary. I’m staying far away from him.” I woke up with a gasp, cold sweat drenching my back. The horrific memories of my past life flashed vividly before my eyes. After Mark stabbed me to death, my soul hadn’t departed right away. I had to watch as Sebastian and Mark carried my cold body back to my room and forged a suicide note. When the local reporters came to interview him, Sebastian sobbed uncontrollably on camera. “Kate was always a troubled child. She took the tiniest things to heart.” “I raised her all by myself, and she just abandoned me like this. What am I supposed to do now?” People online flooded his comments with sympathy, calling me an ungrateful, selfish daughter. Sebastian seized the opportunity to start a TikTok account. He did daily live streams, crying about his tragic life while selling cheap products. He made a fortune. Thanks to the “saintly” reputation he had built over the years, whenever someone questioned his parenting, the neighbors rushed to defend him. “Sebastian is the sweetest man alive. He deserves every penny!” “What a wonderful father. It’s Kate who didn’t appreciate him.” “She’s gone, so why shouldn’t Sebastian make a living? Let the poor man be happy.” “It’s because of trolls like you that good people don’t dare to do good deeds anymore.” Sebastian didn’t just get incredibly rich; he became a celebrated local hero. My soul hovered beside him, watching it all. I couldn’t understand why my own biological father would cover up for my murderer. Until one day, I saw him whispering to a photograph of a woman. “Maria, don’t worry. I will take good care of your son.” “Not ending up with you is the biggest regret of my life. I will never let you down again.” That was when I realized the truth. Mark was the son of Sebastian’s first love, Maria, and her ex-husband. Maria’s ex-husband had died, and she had remarried into a filthy rich family. Terrified that her new billionaire husband would find out she had an adult son, she dumped Mark onto Sebastian. How utterly hilarious.

“What are you guys gossiping about?” Sebastian walked over, carrying a grocery basket. He smiled warmly. “Don’t talk about the poor boy behind his back. Life hasn’t been easy for him. We should help him out as much as we can.” One neighbor frowned and spoke up. “I’m not getting anywhere near him. The other day, my grandson saw him standing alone in the yard and tried to give him a lollipop.” “Mark literally shoved my grandson to the ground and screamed profanities at him. The kid is mentally unstable!” Sebastian’s smile faded into a disapproval frown. “Don’t say that. He was probably just having a bad day. Teenagers go through rebellious phases.” The neighbor opened her mouth to argue, but shrugged, too embarrassed to keep arguing with the neighborhood “saint.” Another neighbor, Bella, smiled and patted Sebastian on the shoulder. “Hey, Sebastian, my son absolutely loved those fried chicken wings you made last time. When are you making them again?” “What a coincidence!” Sebastian lifted his basket. “I was actually planning on making some today. I’ll send them over to your place later.” Bella nodded, taking his labor for granted. As soon as we walked through our front door, Sebastian tossed the grocery basket at me. “Kate, go fry those wings. Bella is waiting.” I glanced at him and said slowly, “Dad, last time you had me deliver those wings to Bella, she knew immediately that you didn’t cook them.” “I had to make up a bunch of excuses to cover for you. If you keep doing this, what will the neighbors say?” “Your perfect reputation will be ruined.” Sebastian’s eyes widened in panic. He quickly grabbed the basket back. “Fine, don’t worry about it. I’ll do it myself.” “Honestly, you’ve lived with me for so long and you still haven’t learned my recipes. What are you even good for?” I ignored his complaining and went straight to my room. My dad was a “saint” to the world, but his sainthood was entirely built on exploiting me. When I was five, he made me give bread to a homeless man who groped me and tried to pull up my skirt. When I cried and told him, he snapped, “What lies are you telling at your age?” “He just likes children. Why would he do that to you?” “You have a dirty mind to think of a poor man like that.” Whenever neighbors needed help, he agreed instantly. But once the door was closed, he dumped all the work on me while he soaked up their praise. In middle school, I was competing for a scholarship meant for low-income students. He forced me to withdraw my application. “We are poor, yes, but there are students who need that money way more than you do!” Afterward, he complained, “It’s all your fault we’re so broke. If you didn’t have to go to school, I wouldn’t be struggling so much!” Yet, he conveniently forgot that our poverty was entirely his own doing. When my parents got married, my grandfather gave Sebastian five thousand dollars. Back then, that was a small fortune. But to please his so-called “friends,” Sebastian lent the money to whoever asked, without even asking for a receipt. “Sebastian, I want to buy a motorcycle. I’m short five hundred bucks.” “Sebastian, my kid needs a laptop for school. You have to lend me the money!” When my mom found out and went to demand the money back, Sebastian’s friends literally beat her up and threw her out. Instead of defending her, Sebastian slapped her across the face. “You embarrassed me! You made me look cheap!” Later, in a desperate attempt to make the money back, he got hooked on gambling. After losing everything, the other gamblers mocked him. “Sebastian, you have nothing left to bet.” Sebastian grabbed a young me and threw me onto the poker table. “I still have Kate! If I lose again, she’s yours to keep.” My mom couldn’t take it anymore. She packed her bags and left when I was four, never to return. I never blamed her. Sebastian didn’t love her, and he was a terrible husband. She had no reason to stay in this living hell. I started working part-time jobs in middle school to help pay off Sebastian’s debts. I thought that after all these years of surviving together, we had some kind of father-daughter bond. But I was wrong. He didn’t just want to ruin my life; he actively helped Mark murder me.

“Kate! What are you daydreaming for? Answer the door!” A loud, aggressive banging interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door to find Mark standing there, scowling. Sebastian rushed over with a huge grin. “Mark! Come on in. Have you eaten?” Mark rolled his eyes. “Sebastian, my mom told me to come to you if I needed anything.” Sebastian’s face lit up with absolute devotion. “Of course! Whatever you need, I will—” “Give me a thousand bucks. I need it,” Mark interrupted rudely. Sebastian froze. After a brief pause, he turned to me. “Kate, go get that thousand dollars you saved up and give it to Mark.” I scoffed internally. I had been working non-stop, and only managed to clear the last of Sebastian’s debts last year. This year, I had finally saved up a thousand dollars. I was planning to use it for SAT prep classes. And my dad couldn’t wait to hand it over to his lover’s son. I gasped, putting on a shocked expression. “Oh my god, Dad! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I just lent all that money to a friend.” Sebastian pointed a finger at me, screaming, “Kate! What is wrong with you?! How could you lend that much money without asking me first?!” “But Dad, didn’t you always say that people only borrow money when they’re in an emergency? There was no time to ask!” Sebastian choked on his words, his face turning red. I quickly added, “And Dad, my friends were so grateful. They said only a parent as generous as you could raise a daughter so kind-hearted.” “They said you’re a true saint. If I had said no, wouldn’t that make you look bad?” Sebastian’s mouth hung open, his face flushing crimson. Mark snapped impatiently, “Do you have the cash or not? If not, I’m calling my mom.” “Yes, yes, we do!” Sebastian stammered. He reluctantly pulled out his own wallet and started counting bills. Mark snatched the cash right out of his hand. Without a word of thanks, Mark turned to leave. Sebastian yelled after him, “Mark! At least take some sandwiches! You can’t skip meals!” He grabbed two sandwiches and ran after him, glaring back at me like I was a criminal. Just like in my past life, Sebastian started demanding that I cater to Mark’s every whim. His excuses were always the same: “We’re neighbors. You help him now, and he’ll help you in the future.” He knew I used to be soft-hearted, so he constantly tried to make me feel pity for Mark. “Poor Mark, he dropped out of school so young. What kind of future does he have?” “He and I are just men. We don’t have a woman’s touch. Just think of it as helping me out with some chores…” I smiled and nodded. “Sure, Dad.” Then, I took the food Sebastian made for Mark, picked out every single piece of meat, ate it, and left Mark with nothing but cold, plain vegetables. When Sebastian ordered me to clean Mark’s bathroom, I poured half a bottle of body wash all over the tile floor. Every other day, I would hear Mark screaming and cursing from next door after slipping and falling. I even caught some frogs and mice and slid them under his bedsheets. In my past life, I would have been terrified of those creatures. But now, I knew that human hearts were infinitely filthier than any pest. Three days later, Mark came over and kicked our door open. His face was contorted with rage. “Sebastian! If you can’t take care of me, don’t make promises to my mom!” “Is Kate trying to humiliate me on purpose?!” He got more and more worked up, spitting insults. “You useless, pathetic old simp!” That struck a nerve. Sebastian, losing his temper, gave Mark a light shove.

He didn’t expect Mark to completely lose his mind. Mark tackled Sebastian to the ground, pinning him down and punching him repeatedly in the face. Mark’s eyes were bloodshot, his face monstrous. Sebastian was terrified. He looked at me, screaming, “Kate! Help me! Call the police! Do something!” I stood three meters away, screaming in “panic.” “Stop! Please stop hitting him!” But I didn’t take a single step forward, making sure I was completely out of harm’s way. Sebastian’s face was swollen, and he could barely speak. He weakly grabbed Mark’s arm, mumbling, “Stop… stop… I’ll make… I’ll make Kate move into your place. She’ll take care of you twenty-four hours a day…” Hearing this, Mark stopped. He stood up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and stared at me. His eyes ran up and down my body with a disgusting, slimy gaze that made me want to vomit. Sebastian dragged himself up, trying to act like nothing happened as he patted the dust off his shirt. “Kate, starting today, you do whatever Mark tells you to do.” “You have to take care of him perfectly. No slacking off.” “To make sure you do your best, you should start viewing yourself as Mark’s future wife.” “You know how a good wife is supposed to treat her husband, right?” “Be submissive. Take care of his laundry, his cleaning, his meals. Everything.” I burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry, Dad,” I said, dripping with fake regret. “But I just got approved for the school dorms. I’m moving out tomorrow.” His face contorted with anger, but I cut him off before he could yell. “The boarding fee is non-refundable. I already paid it.” “And if I suddenly back out, the school administration will want to know why.” “I can’t exactly tell them that my dad is forcing me to drop out to be a live-in maid for a random eighteen-year-old guy, right?” “If I say that, what would people think of you?” Sebastian’s face turned a violent shade of purple. He pointed a trembling finger at me. “Kate… you… you’re talking back to me now?!” I added with a sweet smile, “Dad, you’ll have to take great care of Mark yourself. To show your ultimate devotion, maybe you should start acting like his real dad.” I meant it as a sarcastic jab, but to my horror, Sebastian froze. A creepy, blissful smile slowly spread across his face, as if he was daydreaming about that exact scenario. I was completely speechless. That very night, I packed my bags and moved straight into the school dorms. As I walked out of the apartment complex, I noticed the door next door was cracked open. In the shadows, Mark’s hostile, snake-like eyes watched my every move. Once I was at school, I threw myself into my studies. I wanted to change my destiny. I put my revenge on hold for a moment. I wanted to build my own strength before destroying them completely. But they just couldn’t wait to deliver themselves to my doorstep. The next week, when the homeroom teacher introduced the new transfer student on the podium, I saw Mark standing there. I knew I couldn’t wait anymore.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “446363”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster