The sixth day after my daughter Lily was born, I developed a fever. But my husband, Derek, had gone to buy diapers, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, was out getting groceries. Neither was back yet. I waited, enduring, drifting in and out of consciousness until Lily’s cries jolted me awake. Only then did I realize I’d either been asleep or had passed out. I quickly tried calling Derek. His phone was off. I called Brenda. Her phone was off too. I had married thousands of miles away from my family, and I had no relatives or friends here. My only option was to call an ambulance. As my fever began to subside, I picked up my phone and saw a message from Derek: “Mom works her fingers to the bone for us, and you still managed to upset her. She’s too fragile for this, so I’m taking her away to clear her head. You really need to think about your behavior.” I stared at the message for a long, long time, until a nurse exclaimed in surprise: “Where’s her family? The IV is backing up with blood, and no one noticed?” I wiped the dampness from my face and said blandly, “My apologies. I’m a single mother. My husband’s family? They’re as good as dead to me.”

The nurse looked at the reddened IV tube, then gave me a sympathetic glance. “Oh, single moms have it rough. By the way, your daughter needs to stay in the NICU for observation.” My heart lurched. “What’s wrong with her? It’s not pneumonia or a cough, is it?” Lily had also developed a fever, and we’d both been rushed to the hospital together. The nurse, while adjusting my IV, comforted me. “Pediatrics said no, it’s probably just a chill.” I breathed a slight sigh of relief. The nurse then asked, “If your husband’s family isn’t around, can your parents come to help out? With both you and your little one hospitalized, it’s inconvenient without family nearby.” Actually, I had thought about calling Mom and Dad when I woke up, but they lived too far away. From the West Coast to the East Coast—it spanned almost the entire country. Even if they rushed, the fastest they could get here would be tomorrow. In that moment, I truly understood what it meant to marry so far away: no family support! Seeing my silence, the nurse didn’t press further. She’d seen this situation countless times in the hospital; there was nothing for her not to understand. As she left, she turned back to remind me, “Even if you’re raising the baby alone, you need to take better care of yourself. Look at your milk ducts, they’re so clogged you waited until they got inflamed. We’ll start with anti-inflammatory and milk-clearing treatments for the next couple of days. If that doesn’t work, you might need surgery to drain them.” I sighed, clutching my chest, which throbbed with needle-like pain. My milk ducts clogged the day after Lily was born. My chest felt hard as a rock, and the pain was unbearable. I told Brenda I needed a bland diet, but yesterday she still cooked a greasy pot of pig trotters soup for me, saying it would help with milk production. I told her I couldn’t drink it, and she immediately started tearing up, complaining to Derek that I was throwing a fit. Derek’s face darkened instantly. He scolded me, saying it was “just clogged milk ducts,” how could I refuse the soup Mom had slaved over? He didn’t even notice I already had a low-grade fever. I was too weak from the pain to argue with him, so I turned away and ignored him. He stood behind me, huffing, “I’m not one of those ungrateful sons who forgets his mother the moment he gets married. You’re a college graduate, and your parents are educated people. Surely you know what it means to respect your elders and be grateful, right?” I had intended to just put up with it, but then he dragged my parents into it, and I was so angry, tears welled up. “Derek, grateful? My milk ducts have been blocked for three days, and your mom still insists I drink that pig trotters soup. If I don’t, she cries and complains to you. What exactly am I supposed to be grateful for?” “If you think my mom isn’t good enough, then you take care of yourself! My mom isn’t a maid to serve a princess!” That really pushed me over the edge. “Derek, my incision hasn’t even healed properly. Are you even listening to yourself? Fine, I guess I’m not destined for the Miller family’s care, I accept that. Have your mom give me the $2,500 for a confinement nurse, and I’ll hire one myself.” “Crazy! Unbelievable!” Derek spun around and stormed out. I had hit a nerve. When I was pregnant, I wanted to hire a confinement nurse. Brenda didn’t want to come take care of me during my postpartum confinement, saying Leo was at a critical time for his exams and couldn’t do without her cooking and care. My mom was a homeroom teacher for a graduating class and couldn’t take such a long leave. She was also afraid I’d suffer, so she offered to pay for me to stay at a luxury postpartum care center. Derek said the money for the center would be better used to upgrade our car, since with a baby, we’d need a bigger one. I suggested we just hire a confinement nurse then. A colleague recommended Aunt Carol, a great confinement nurse she had used. The price was agreed: $2,000 for forty-two days. Brenda heard about it and insisted on coming. She said she’d given birth to two children and knew best how to take care of a baby. Besides, she argued, no outsider would care as much as the baby’s own grandmother. Why pay an outsider when family could earn that money? I disagreed at first. Brenda’s sole focus was always on Leo. Derek tried hard to please her, but Brenda didn’t even seem to like him much. In my eyes, if it weren’t for stringing along Derek just to get money to support Leo, she wouldn’t even bother to humor him. If she didn’t even like her own son, would she like me and the baby? But Derek kept pleading with me: “Chloe, Mom rarely comes to our place. She genuinely wants to take care of you and our baby. Just do it for me, please.” Seeing his hopeful face, I couldn’t bear to refuse and agreed. I never imagined I was setting myself up for such a huge disaster. When I was discharged and returned home, I found that Derek had given the master bedroom to Brenda. Lily and I were relegated to the smaller second bedroom. The tiny room, with a bassinet crammed in, left me barely any space to move. That would have been somewhat bearable. But the second bedroom had no private bathroom, so every time I had to bathe Lily, I had to use the main bathroom. Brenda wouldn’t even properly dry Lily’s hair or body. She’d just haphazardly wrap her in a bath towel and hand her to me to get dressed. I reminded her that the baby could easily catch a cold that way. She immediately complained to Derek, accusing me of nitpicking. Before she came, Derek and I had a pretty good relationship. We never had a serious argument or raised our voices at each other. I remembered when I first came out of the delivery room, he had red-rimmed eyes and gently touched my IV-drip hand, saying, “You worked so hard, my love.” He even held Lily, smiling foolishly and saying how lucky he was to have such a cute daughter. I thought I was so happy then. But after Brenda arrived, within just a few days, Derek was like a different person. “She’s my mom, what do you expect me to do?” “She’s my mom, can’t you just put up with it?” “She’s my mom, can you please stop making a scene?” We argued almost daily. I was utterly fed up. But looking at Lily’s adorable little face, I told myself to just let it go. Brenda would leave once my postpartum confinement was over anyway. As for Derek, my feelings for him had faded. I’d just consider him a roommate to raise our daughter. Endure it! Endure it! I wanted to endure, but Brenda didn’t. The moment Derek left, Brenda walked right in. She went to the window without a word and, *bang*, flung it open. A late autumn chill immediately poured into the room.

I panicked. Lily had just had a bath; her body was still damp, making her highly susceptible to catching a cold. With the wind blowing, she coughed several times. I yelled, “What are you doing opening the window? Close it now!” Brenda pursed her lips and said, smiling sweetly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to follow scientific recovery methods? I specifically learned that bedrooms need ventilation!” I was fuming. “Ventilation means opening the window just a crack during the warm daytime hours. Who opens a window wide open in the dead of a cold night for ventilation?” She was clearly doing it on purpose to provoke me. As soon as I said that, she lowered her head, eyes red-rimmed, and walked out, as if I had subjected her to immense injustice. I quickly braved the cold wind and closed the window. The moment I got back into bed, Derek burst in. “Chloe Miller, can you please stop being so dramatic? I stewed pig trotters soup for your milk supply, and you said it was old-fashioned and unscientific.” “My mom, at her age, specifically went to learn scientific methods for pregnant women, and she ventilated your room, yet you yell at her.” “Can’t you show some manners and be more sensible?” “My mom is fifty years old! She’s trying to help you, and she’s doing it wrong?” Looking at his angry, dark-red face, I suddenly felt like I was looking at a complete stranger. My body felt colder than when the wind had swept through earlier. I tightened my shawl and said coldly, “Derek, don’t let your mom trouble herself with me anymore. Tell her to leave tomorrow.” He clenched his jaw. “Fine! You said it, don’t you dare regret it!” With that, he slammed the door and left. Lily was startled by the door slamming and burst into tears. I could hear Derek comforting Brenda in the living room. No one came to check on Lily. I endured the pain from my C-section incision, picked up Lily, and gently soothed her. Her small head brushed against my chest, and I felt a jolt, a sharp pain radiating up and down my body. I shivered uncontrollably. For the first time, I felt like I’d be better off a widow. Tears silently streamed down my face. In five days of recovery, I shed more tears than I had in my entire twenty-five years combined. Partly due to unstable hormones, but mostly because my heart had died. All night long, not a single person came in to care for Lily. I stayed awake the entire night, completely drained of energy. Early this morning, Lily started crying again. Derek said he was going to buy diapers, and Brenda said she was getting groceries. They both left. My head was spinning, and I didn’t have the energy to argue. I just told myself the argument from yesterday was over. It would just be like this, I had to get through this recovery period, right? I never imagined they were using an excuse to leave, afraid I would stop them. And I certainly never expected them to board a plane for a vacation to clear their heads. No wonder I couldn’t reach them on their phones; they were on a flight. This made me laugh, a bitter, hollow laugh. Did such a man deserve to be a husband, a father? How foolish was I to still treat him like a human being? I tossed my phone aside, pondering what to do next. I couldn’t come up with anything. So I simply cleared my mind and stared at the stark white ceiling. After a long moment, I told myself: Chloe Miller, this cannot go on. Perhaps because half a day had passed, and I hadn’t replied to a single message, Derek felt a bit frustrated and sent two more. “Chloe Miller, I just want you to experience how hard it is to take care of a child, and how much my mom sacrifices. Don’t be ungrateful, not knowing how good you have it.” “Mom is very upset, I’ll go comfort her again. You caused this mess, and I have to clean it up. Why can’t you be more like Vanessa… Never mind, we’re about to board a boat for a sea excursion. You video call Mom tonight and apologize to her.” I barely heard what he said after that. But he mentioned “Vanessa” and paused, and I heard that clearly. Hah! He was still thinking about her. I used to wonder why the less his mom liked him, the harder he tried to please her; and why, even after Vanessa dumped him, he still couldn’t forget her. I thought it was because he lacked love as a child. Now I understood. Wasn’t that just pathetic?

My right hand, pressing the cotton ball, was aching, so I unconsciously shook it a little. The blood at the needle site, which hadn’t clotted, suddenly gushed out. I quickly called for the nurse. The nurse, who happened to be at the doorway, hurried back to help me replace the cotton ball. “Press harder! You bled so much, you need to press longer!” Her voice was a little stern. I weakly nodded. “Okay!” Seeing my poor condition, the nurse softened her tone. “You still have two more bags of IV fluids later, and you don’t seem to have much energy. Maybe hire a caregiver? Not noticing blood returning in the IV can be very dangerous.” “Then please help me find a good caregiver,” I said. In the past, because I wanted a bigger house and a nicer car, I scrimped and saved, not even buying myself a bubble tea. And now, those two were flying to the beach, staying in a five-star hotel, and enjoying a seafood feast. My frugality was an absolute joke. I needed to be good to myself. The next IV bag was scheduled for half an hour later. I endured the pain all over my body and went to the NICU to see Lily. When I arrived, the ward nurse said Lily had just gotten over her fever and was asleep. Because I had a high fever, the doctor wouldn’t let me get close to Lily. I could only watch from a distance. I saw other babies being looked after by entire families, while Lily lay alone in her small crib. Her little face was flushed, and she was breathing with tiny, labored gasps through her small open mouth. She must have sweated from the fever earlier; her short, soft hair was matted to her scalp. My heart ached with a mix of sorrow and pain. I could endure any hardship for myself, but I couldn’t bear to see my daughter suffer. Reluctantly, I still called Derek. He didn’t answer. I called several times, and he hung up each time. I sent a message, telling him Lily was hospitalized and needed someone to stay with her. He sent a voice message much later, his voice full of anger. “Chloe Miller, can you stop being so dramatic? The moment I leave, you have to invent a lie about our daughter being hospitalized?” “I’m just accompanying Mom to clear her head. Can’t you just be calm for a few days?” I looked at his message, and my heart felt like it had swallowed a block of ice. It slowly melted, chilling my entire body bit by bit, to the bone. How foolish was I to still treat him like a human being? All those tangled thoughts suddenly became crystal clear. If Derek truly loved me, he wouldn’t have insisted Brenda come stay with us in the first place. Every time there was a conflict with Brenda, he wouldn’t have simply told me to endure it. He disregarded my feelings for only one reason: he didn’t love me at all. I earned enough money to live a perfectly comfortable life on my own, so why was I staying in a strange city, enduring hardship and being disrespected? Why should I expect others to suddenly show me kindness? There was no reason, absolutely no reason at all! It took me barely a second to make my decision: leave this city, leave that rotten excuse for a human being!

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My wife posted a picture on Ins of an ultrasound and her baby bump. The comments section exploded, tagging me with congratulations. Calmly, I replied: “Not my baby. We’re done.” Moments later, my wife’s furious call came through. “Are you sick?! He’s dying, what’s wrong with me giving him a child? Can’t you be more generous?” I was “generous” enough to fulfill my wife and her first love’s wish, leaving the divorce papers. But then, she regretted it. Briar Thorne had always hated children. She’d say pregnancy and childbirth would ruin her career, and a crying baby would drive her insane. I’d tried to discuss it with her, but she’d instantly explode the moment I brought it up: “Are you trying to kill me?! Do you have any idea about amniotic fluid embolism?!” Her stance on the matter was rock-solid. Two years ago, she demanded I get a vasectomy. She didn’t even enjoy intimacy with me, and we always used contraception anyway. But I thought, what if she wanted a child later? Briar’s face instantly darkened. A pillow slammed into me, and she hissed, “You won’t get a vasectomy, huh? Fine, divorce!” I didn’t want to argue, so I just went along with it. Recently, I’d seen her researching pregnancy tips and buying supplements she used to despise. I thought she’d finally come around, and happily booked a vasectomy reversal surgery. But now, it seems she *can* accept having a baby—just not *my* baby!

Briar came home at eight tonight. Usually, she worked late into the night, and lately, she’d been using “busy with work” as an excuse to not come home at all. I bet she wasn’t busy with work; she was busy trying to conceive with Julian Vance! Briar hugged me from behind. It was the first time she’d initiated affection in ages. Her arms wrapped around my waist, her voice dripping with flattery: “Honey, there’s truly nothing going on between Julian and me. This is just about helping him have a child. You know he’s in the late stages of ALS. I promise, as soon as I’ve seen him through the last chapter of his life, I’ll cut him out of my life for good!” I brushed her hands away, turning to face her, my voice cold and laced with sarcasm: “And then what? So you expect me to be a cuckold, raising your kid with him?” My attitude instantly ignited her displeasure: “I’ve explained everything, what more do you want? Can’t you be a man instead of acting like a lunatic? You’re such a disappointment!” “Didn’t you say you loved me? If you love me, why can’t you accept even this? Besides, you can’t have kids anyway, wouldn’t it be better to just treat our baby as your own?” She rattled on, as if I were the villain tearing them apart. I forced myself to suppress my anger: “I had a vasectomy, but it can be reversed! I’m not infertile!” “And why did I get one in the first place? Because you were frail, and I was worried about an accidental pregnancy causing you suffering!” Briar, enraged and humiliated, slammed the door shut and stormed out. Briar was gone early in the morning. I printed the divorce papers and went to her company, but couldn’t find her. Her assistant said she hadn’t been to work for days. So, she wasn’t out early and back late for work, but to care for Julian. I went to the hospital for my shift as usual. Before heading home, I walked past the OB/GYN department and saw Briar and Julian in the hallway. She was clutching Julian’s arm, her perfectly sculpted brows furrowed. “Are you stalking me?” I looked at Julian beside her. His gaze didn’t waver, meeting mine with a defiant challenge. He even feigned intimacy, playfully rubbing Briar’s earlobe. “Baby, don’t think that about Noah. Why would he stalk us? There’s nothing going on between us. Noah will understand.” I scoffed. Huh, I’d been married to Briar for years, yet she didn’t even know where I worked. “Oh yeah, you two are so innocent. So innocent you ended up in the OB/GYN department.” Seeing me expose their affair, Briar furiously shoved me. “If you weren’t stalking us, why are you here? Are you really so intolerant?!” I’d been so busy all day I hadn’t even had a drop of water, and I’d just finished a four-hour surgery. Feeling dizzy and disoriented, I was unprepared for her push and my body slammed against the corner of a counter behind me. Briar looked momentarily guilty. Julian immediately came over, feigning concern to help me, chiding Briar, but a triumphant smirk played on his lips. I pushed him away in disgust. Unexpectedly, he collapsed directly to the floor. Briar rushed to cradle Julian, looking at me with loathing: “Don’t you know he’s in the late stages of his illness?! If anything happens to Julian, I swear I’ll never forgive you!” I watched helplessly as my wife left with another man.

After work, I returned home, opened my phone, and saw Julian Vance’s Ins post: “So incredibly happy to have such a wonderful woman by my side.” The picture showed Briar holding Julian’s hand. Beneath it were replies from Briar’s friends: “Isn’t this our Briar’s hand? 😉” “Lovers always find their way back to each other, congrats!” “Moved by such unwavering, beautiful love. Blessings!” The next second, I saw Briar’s reply: “Stop stirring things up, Julian is sick, I’m just taking care of him. Do you want to see your brother-in-law and me get divorced?” At her words, Briar’s friends all implicitly responded with an ambiguous “Got it.” Only Chelsea Reed said: “Pfft, who cares about him. You’re already pregnant with your true love’s baby anyway, just get divorced already.” Chelsea was Briar’s best friend. She’d always thought I wasn’t good enough for Briar, that I wasn’t as considerate or sensible as Julian. I opened Ins and posted the signed divorce papers. They were barely up before I got a flood of likes and comments. But not a single one from Briar’s friends. They had tacitly chosen to pretend not to see it. Maybe by now, they were already celebrating Briar’s newfound freedom. I looked around the house. When we first got married, I excitedly discussed with Briar how to decorate our new home. Back then, Briar impatiently waved it off, leaving everything to me. Every single item in this house was meticulously chosen by me. I packed my belongings, tossing all the matching couple items into the trash. Just as I stepped out, I ran into Briar, who was returning. She stomped towards me in high heels, her face seething. “What are you doing? It’s just helping him have a baby, is that really worth a divorce?!” When I loved her, I thought she was adorable no matter what. But now, looking at her face, I realized she was just an ordinary person, even somewhat disgusting. I ignored her, pulling my luggage towards my car. But she ran over and grabbed me. “Are you done yet? Aren’t you just trying to force me? He’s sick, how can you be so vicious?!” How could she say such shameless things so casually? I couldn’t hold back anymore and pushed her away, mindful that she was pregnant, so I held back some strength. It wasn’t that I still had feelings for her; I just wanted her to be tied down with Julian Vance and divorce me quickly. ““Yes, I’m that vicious. So hurry up and sign the papers.” Behind me, Briar’s angry shouts echoed: “Fine, you leave, and don’t you dare regret it!”

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My $5 million wedding, meticulously planned by me, was given to my fiancé Liam’s secretary Chloe’s two puppies. The reception photos I Photoshopped overnight were crossed out and replaced with dog posters. Even the pink roses I had airlifted from France were covered in dog pee, the venue a chaotic mess. All because Chloe said her pet dogs were terminally ill, and she wanted to give them a perfect wedding. Liam even deliberately allowed Chloe to rip off my wedding dress and put it on the dogs. All the guests sneered with contempt. “Stella deserves it. Liam used to spoil her rotten, but she didn’t know what was good for her and pulled out his mother’s oxygen tube.” “That kind of vicious woman deserves to go to hell and be dismembered. She deserves to die!” Crying, I signed to Liam: “I don’t want to marry you anymore. Please let me go, Liam.” Right in front of me, Liam slipped the ring onto Chloe’s finger, then cruelly poured red wine over my head. “I felt the same pain when my mom died. No matter how much you hated her, you shouldn’t have killed her.” “Stella, you’ll never be free in this lifetime.” That night, he emerged from Chloe’s room, covered in suggestive scratches, and pressed a cigarette butt into my palm. “Stella, if you can endure the hundredth wedding, will I forgive you?” I nodded foolishly. His friends, however, burst out laughing. “Where does Stella get the confidence? She killed Liam’s mother and still dreams of making up with him!” I quietly walked out the door. The snow was falling heavily. I clutched the ALS diagnosis report in my hand. What you don’t know, Liam, is that we won’t have a next time.

I went to my mother’s hospital bed and held her hand. “Mom, after your surgery, will you take me to buy a plot at the cemetery? When I die, I’ll be waiting for you to bring me flowers.” My mom’s eyes were red from crying. “My poor child, why do you have to suffer from this disease? Liam used to love you so much, why is he torturing you like this now?” She knew our past better than anyone, and she’d seen how Liam would do anything for me. When others mocked me for being mute, Liam would be the first to beat them black and blue. When I was falsely accused of plagiarism, he rushed to school to defend me, even before his own surgery was finished… I shook my head. “Mom, it’s my bad luck. I accept it.” Ever since Liam’s mother died. Liam hated me to his core. Everyone in New York mocked me as a murderer, trampling me into the dirt. “Stella, aren’t you shameless? Liam was so good to you, yet you still pulled out his mom’s oxygen tube? Do you know Liam didn’t even get to see his mother one last time?” Yes, he was so good to me, how could I kill his mother? No one knew. The day Liam’s mother passed away, she pulled out her own oxygen tube. I cried and rushed to her, but she said: “Child, I don’t want to be a burden to Liam anymore. Just let me go peacefully.” The moment I walked out of the hospital room, I received the news from the doctor that I didn’t have long to live. It hit me like a lightning bolt. Before I could even tell Liam, he came to me with his mother’s suicide note, demanding to know why I had pulled out her oxygen tube. “Stella, my biggest regret in this life was protecting you, falling in love with you.” No matter how I explained, he simply refused to believe I hadn’t killed his mother. For the first wedding, he openly invited young models to a party and made Chloe whip me 99 times, the girl who used to bully me. Watching my heartbroken expression, he laughed with perverse satisfaction. “Can a vicious woman like you even cry?” At the seventy-eighth wedding, he publicly mocked me for being mute. “An unpresentable nobody. I must have been blind to fall for her.” Yet, it was he who, when I was insulted for being mute, bravely shielded me. “What’s wrong with being mute? From now on, I’ll be your voice. I’ll speak for you.” The ninety-eighth wedding was canceled. Liam, drunk, held me and said: “Stella, we’ve tormented each other enough. How about I marry you just this once? I don’t hate you anymore.” I naively believed Liam had finally trusted me, but when he sobered up, he personally shattered my hope. He made me the whole damn city’s laughingstock for the ninety-ninth time. “Stella, you killed my mom. I’ll never marry you, not in this life, not in the next.” “Stop dreaming.” As the red wine poured over my head. I remembered when I was eighteen, Liam promised me under a wisteria waterfall, “Stella, one day I, Liam, will give you a grand wedding. I’ll make you the most beautiful bride!” The boy who once trusted and protected me unconditionally was gone. He didn’t know I was already running out of time. I willingly gave up treatment. Once my mother’s surgery was successful, I would end my own life.

But unexpectedly, the day before my mom’s surgery, something went wrong. News came from the hospital, “Liam, the most powerful man in New York, just had his girlfriend confirmed with leukemia. He took away the bone marrow donor.” I ran to the hospital like a madwoman, groveling before Liam, my mouth uselessly trying to form words. My trembling hands signed, “Liam, please, I beg you, let my mom go. You’ve humiliated me ninety-nine times at our weddings, isn’t that enough?” His eyes were sinister. “No! Of course not, you killed my mom. Now you want to sacrifice my girlfriend’s safety to save your mom?” “This is just my revenge on you. Your mom deserves this; who told her to raise such a heartless, ungrateful daughter?” Crying, I signed: “I didn’t!” Liam’s eyes were red as he roared: “Haven’t you told that lie enough for one lifetime? What makes you think I’ll believe you? Could my mom’s handwritten suicide note possibly be fake?” I sobbed, shaking my head. I didn’t know why Aunt Eleanor would leave such a note. All I knew was that the boy who once kissed my forehead and said, “Stella, no matter what happens, I’ll always stand by you,” had condemned me based on a piece of paper whose authenticity he never questioned. Chloe’s eyes flickered. “Exactly! How could Liam possibly misjudge his mom’s handwriting?” Liam’s gaze at me grew even more hateful. “In school, you slandered Chloe, saying she bullied you. Now, slap yourself eighty-eight times. If it’s not loud enough, then your mom’s life…” I stared at him in disbelief. The facts he saw with his own eyes, how had they become slander? Chloe was my nightmare back in school. She put nails in my shoes, cornered me in the bathroom with a group of girls to cut my hair, calling me a “dead mute.” For my sake, Liam had kicked her out of New York. But now, Liam spent every day being intimate with her in our marital bed. He even threatened me with my mother: “Unwilling? Fine, then your mom’s illness…” I bit my lip in humiliation, slapping myself again and again until blood appeared by my ears. I signed: “Is that enough?” A flicker of indiscernible pain crossed Liam’s eyes, then he sneered. “How could that be enough?” “Is your mom’s life so worthless in your eyes?” A crushing wave of pain and sorrow washed over me. My eyes red, I typed: “What do you want?” “How about you bark like a dog for me? Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot you’re mute. Never mind then.” Liam pulled Chloe into his arms. “You’re right, she’s a cripple after all.” Chloe leaned shyly into his embrace. “You’re so mean! How can you humiliate Stella like that?” “But, if Stella is willing to crawl around the hospital like a dog, maybe I can consider saving her mom first. What do you think, Liam?” Liam dotingly ruffled her nose. “You’re my girlfriend, of course I’ll listen to you.” My blood ran cold. His doting look was so reminiscent of seven years ago. If anyone dared to call me mute, or a cripple, Liam would beat them across New York until they never dared to insult me again. Then he’d ruffle my nose: “You’re my girlfriend, no one gets to bully my precious Stella.” But the person he was protecting had changed. I choked back the tears, telling myself I was going to die anyway. “Okay.” Liam hadn’t expected me to actually crawl like a dog, bowing my head as I went. But after I finished, Chloe went back on her word, still insisting the donor go to her. My eyes red from crying, I signed, asking her why. She said: “Because you can’t speak, you can’t bark to please me, can you?”

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My Dead Best Friend Suddenly Talked to Me in a Dream “Clara! Gold is going to crash next week! Whatever you do, don’t buy it!” My best friend and I had grown up together, and I trusted her completely. So, when everyone else was buying gold, I stubbornly held my parents back, forbidding them from investing. But the next week, gold prices soared. Everyone who bought it made a huge fortune. Dad’s chemotherapy money for his cancer instantly vanished. Mom cried day and night because of it, and in a daze, she got into a car accident. As I scrambled to borrow money for my parents’ medical bills, my best friend contacted me again in a dream. “Clara, I was wrong last time. Trust me again! You absolutely have to buy stocks in that pistol-shooting game! It’s about to skyrocket!” I believed her again, maxing out my loans to buy a million dollars worth of stock. But the moment I bought in, the stock plummeted to rock bottom. I was totally wiped out, yet my best friend contacted me a third time in a dream. “Clara! Go save your dad! He doesn’t want to be a burden, he’s about to jump off the building with your mom!” I rushed to the hospital where my parents were, and sure enough, Dad was preparing to jump. I fought with all my might to pull him back. Just as I sighed in relief and left, Mom suddenly woke up and stabbed Dad to death with a knife. I sobbed, asking Mom why. She only said one thing: “Clara, this is all because of you! You should just die!” Then she stabbed herself and stopped breathing. Overnight, I was saddled with massive debt and even lost my home. In despair, I drank poison and committed suicide. But even as I died, I couldn’t understand why my best friend, who had always treated me like family, would cause my death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my best friend told me not to buy gold.

“Clara! Gold is going to crash next week! Whatever you do, don’t buy it!” I shot up from bed, cold sweat soaking my pajamas. The horrors of my previous life replayed in my mind like a movie. Dad’s blood, Mom’s hatred, the abusive calls from loan sharks—every scene pierced my heart. This time, I would never let any of it happen again! A commotion suddenly broke out outside my bedroom. I hurriedly opened the door and saw several men in bank uniforms. “Robert, your company’s assets aren’t enough to cover the debt. We’re repossessing this house now!” “You have one hour to move out!” Dad’s face went ghost-white in an instant, his voice filled with pleading. “Please, sirs, can you give us a few more days? My daughter is still in school.” “If you take the house now, my child won’t even have a place to live!” The man sneered. “So many people go bankrupt every year. Should we give everyone a few extra days?!” “Don’t drag this out! Move out today!” Mom choked back tears, unable to speak. I walked over, put an arm around her shoulder, and asked softly, “Mom, Dad, where will we live now?” Dad forced a smile, about to speak, when he suddenly clutched his mouth and coughed violently. Beads of blood seeped through his fingers and splattered onto the floor. My heart tightened. In my previous life, Dad was diagnosed with cancer around this time! “Dad, you’re spitting blood! We need to go to the hospital right now!” But he violently shook off my hand, his eyes filled with despair. “Clara, I’ve already been to the hospital. It’s stage two liver cancer… The doctor said I need a ten-thousand-dollar down payment to be admitted.” Mom wiped away her tears, adding, “We originally planned to sell the house to raise money, but now the house is gone too. Don’t worry about these things. Focus on your studies, your mom and I will figure something out.” I cut her off, clenching my jaw. “Mom, Dad, find a hotel to stay in for now. I’ll come find you later. I have a way to get the money!” My parents stared at me, full of surprise and doubt, but finally nodded. I ran back to my room, my hands trembling as I called my classmate. Her dad was a bank president, so she’d definitely know any insider information. “Jessica, please, can you ask your dad if gold prices are going to rise soon? I really need money urgently, otherwise, I’d never bother you.” About ten minutes later, Jessica called back, her voice barely a whisper. “My dad says international gold prices are going to surge soon, but don’t you dare tell anyone else!” My hand gripping the phone tightened abruptly, a flicker of joy in my eyes. “I know, thank you, Jessica. I won’t say anything!” I hung up and immediately called Dad, my voice trembling. “Dad! Do you still have a few thousand dollars? Go buy gold with it right away!” “My friend’s parents are bankers, and they say gold will skyrocket tomorrow!” “If we put all our money into gold, we’ll have enough for your treatment!” Dad’s voice on the other end was shaking with excitement. “Clara, is that really true? But what if we lose it all…?” I said firmly. “Dad, there’s no ‘what if’! This information is absolutely solid!” My parents immediately went out and converted all their money into gold. That night, our family huddled together on the small bed in the hotel, our hands tightly clasped. But I dreamt of Stella again. Her face was grave, filled with worry. “Clara, I told you not to buy gold! The price will crash tomorrow, why won’t you ever listen to me!” I was about to snap back at her when I suddenly woke up. It was daylight, the bed beside me was empty, and even the small bag of gold I’d put on the table was gone.

I rushed out in a panic, only to see Dad return from outside, his face ashen, holding a thin stack of cash. I ran up and grabbed his arm, my voice trembling. “Dad, where’s the gold? Did the price go up?” Dad’s eyes were frighteningly red, his lips trembling, unable to speak. Mom followed behind him, her voice hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing. “Clara, this morning the gold price plummeted to rock bottom. We lost everything!” “How is that possible?!” I couldn’t believe it and pulled out my phone. As soon as I unlocked it, news headlines about “Gold Prices Plunge, Investors Wiped Out” flooded the screen. Even the financial news channel was showing the real-time gold price crash curve. My legs went weak, and I nearly collapsed to the floor. Mom quickly held me, her voice attempting forced comfort. “It’s okay, Clara. You meant well for the family. We don’t blame you…” But I still couldn’t believe it. In my previous life, gold prices had skyrocketed! Before I could even process what happened, Mom frantically went out to borrow money, but she got into a car accident on the way and fell into a coma. Dad and I rushed to the hospital. Looking at the impossibly long ICU bill, Dad’s hands trembled. “Clara, your mom’s rescue is urgent. My illness… I’ll just put it off for now.” I cried out in desperation, “No, Dad, you can’t! You need treatment, and Mom needs to be saved too!” “I’ll find a way to get the money!” That night, I sat on a chair in the hospital corridor all night. My mind raced with how to raise money. In a semi-conscious state in the middle of the night, Stella appeared in my dream again. “My dear Clara, did something happen at home?” “Go buy stocks in that pistol-shooting game immediately. This stock is going to rise! Buy it today, sell it tomorrow, and you’ll have enough money to save them!” Stella disappeared after speaking, but I woke up with a cold expression. In my previous life, I’d never played that game and simply believed whatever Stella said. But now, I needed to ask someone! I thought of my cousin, Mikey. He always loved spending time at gaming lounges playing games. Asking him would be a sure bet! Arriving at my cousin’s house, I quickly knocked on the door. Aunt Sarah, rubbing her eyes, opened the door. Her face darkened when she saw me. “Clara, what are you doing knocking so early in the morning!” “I know your family went bankrupt. Are you here to borrow money from us now? I’m telling you, you won’t get a single cent!” She started to close the door, but I quickly jammed my hand in the way, my voice pleading. “Aunt Sarah, I’m not here to borrow money. I just need to ask Mikey something. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done.” Aunt Sarah frowned, looked at me for a moment, then reluctantly let me in. “Fine! Ask your question and leave, alright!” I thanked her profusely and went into Mikey’s room. Mikey was wearing headphones, playing a game, his dark circles under his eyes, like a raccoon’s. “Clara, what are you doing here so early? I haven’t finished this round yet.” “Mikey, stop playing. I need to ask you something!” I grabbed his headphones. “Tell me about that pistol-shooting game. Did anything happen with it recently? You play it all the time, you must know the inside scoop!” At the mention of the game, Mikey instantly perked up, sitting up straight to discuss it with me. “Clara, you’ve definitely asked the right person!” “The game changed its mechanics a while ago. All those top-tier items players spent tens of thousands on before? Now you can buy them for fifty bucks!” “A lot of people sank hundreds of thousands into it, and now it’s all worthless. Yesterday, someone at the gaming lounge was crying and talking about doing something drastic!” My heart sank. I asked again, “So, do you think their stock could possibly rise?” Mikey looked at me like I’d said something ridiculous, his eyes wide. “My dear Clara, have you lost your mind? The company is in such a state, it’d be a miracle if their stock didn’t get delisted, let alone rise?” “If you want to play the market, why not buy stocks in their rival company? A lot of players have been switching to their game recently, so their stock is bound to go up!” After he finished speaking, the weight in my heart finally lifted. Sure enough, Stella in my previous life had deliberately tricked me. She wanted to push me to my death! I smiled at Mikey. “Thanks, Mikey. My love for you wasn’t wasted!” Leaving my cousin’s house, I didn’t hesitate. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number for a high-interest loan company. I borrowed fifteen thousand dollars, then used Dad’s trading account to buy all the shares in the rival company. Everything Stella said was wrong, so if I did the opposite, it had to work!

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The female crime boss wanted to claim my twin brother. But after he was knocked out and forced into her wedding car, it was me who took his place. My twin brother and I were both eyed by Sera Thorne, the ruthless crime boss of our city. Our parents were too terrified to refuse, forced to agree to this marriage. On their wedding day, I was the one who knocked my brother out and put him into Sera Thorne’s wedding car. Three days later, The crime boss died in an assassination attempt. And I unexpectedly inherited her billions. When my brother found out, He secretly poisoned my food. Then, he tightly wrapped a rope around my neck. “Jax, I’m sorry.” “These billions were always meant to be mine.” “I’m just taking back what’s mine.” After a desperate struggle, My brother strangled me to death! I drew my last breath, filled with despair and resentment. When I opened my eyes again, I was back two days before my brother and the crime boss’s wedding. Looking at my brother’s terrified, desperate face, I suddenly spoke: “I can marry Sera Thorne instead of my brother!”

“Dad, I don’t want to marry Sera Thorne.” “She’s a crime boss, Dad.” “I heard that any man who’s been involved with her…” “They usually end up dead.” “And the lucky few who survive are barely alive.” “If I marry her, I’m a goner for sure.” “I don’t want to die, Dad.” My brother, Leo, looked at Dad with eyes full of terror and a desperate longing to live. It was clear he was absolutely against marrying Sera Thorne. Dad wiped away a tear that slid down his cheek. “Son, it’s my fault for being useless, for not being able to protect you.” Mom’s face was equally etched with despair. “Son, Sera Thorne made it clear.” “Either you marry her willingly,” “Or else…” “Our whole family dies!” “Her influence is too vast, our family… we can’t afford to cross her.” Leo suddenly stood up, his face set in a grim determination. “Mom, Dad, there’s no way I’m marrying that vicious crime boss.” “I’m taking Chloe and we’re getting out of here!” Our parents were stunned. Dad steeled himself. “Alright, you take Chloe and go. Your Mom and I have some savings, put as much distance as possible between yourselves and here.” “I don’t believe Sera Thorne’s influence can stretch across the entire country.” “If things get really bad, you can hide abroad for a few years.” Leo hesitated for a moment, then asked, “If I leave, what about you guys?” “Don’t worry about us. At worst, your Mom and I will get dumped in the river to feed the fish by that woman.” “Even if she’s brutal, she won’t go *that* far.” After a moment’s hesitation, Leo, Hugged Mom and Dad. Then, he knelt before them, bowing his head deeply in a silent plea for forgiveness. “Mom, Dad, I’ve been a terrible son.” “If you both stay safe,” “I promise I’ll give you a good life someday!” Hearing that, I scoffed inwardly. The moment he decided to abandon his parents and family to run off with his girlfriend, It just showed how utterly ruthless he was! No wonder he didn’t hesitate to strangle me in my past life! Just as Leo was about to pack his bags and leave, I suddenly spoke: “I can marry Sera Thorne instead of my brother!”

“Huh?” “Jax, are you serious?” My family stared at me, dumbfounded. I nodded firmly. “Leo and I are twins, after all.” “Aside from slight differences in height and personality,” “We’re pretty much identical.” “That crime boss hasn’t spent much time with Leo.” “If I take his place, she won’t be able to tell the difference.” After hearing my explanation, Leo suddenly walked over, his face flushed with excitement, and grabbed my hand. “Jax, I’m asking you again.” “Are you really willing to marry Sera Thorne in my place?” Seeing the barely concealed excitement in my brother’s eyes, I nodded seriously again. “Brother, Sera Thorne’s influence is too great.” “If we upset her,” “Mom and Dad will be in danger.” “Besides, I don’t have a girlfriend, and she’s beautiful.” “It’s a perfect fit for me to marry her.” Seeing how serious I was, Leo, Whirled around to face our parents. “Mom, Dad, Jax’s suggestion…” “Do you think it’s possible?” Mom and Dad exchanged glances. Both their eyes were filled with deep worry. After all, Sera Thorne had set her sights on my brother, Not me. If Sera Thorne discovered I was a stand-in, Who knew how dire the consequences would be? But the problem before them was also clear. My brother refused to marry her, ready to die rather than comply. He was even packing his bags to run away. The outcomes were almost the same. From that perspective, My suggestion seemed more reliable. “Jax, your Mom and I won’t force you.” “This isn’t something to joke about; you have to be willing.” Dad looked at me with a stern expression. “Dad, don’t worry.” “I’m absolutely willing.” Leo suddenly hugged me tightly. “Jax, thank you.” “You’re my savior!” Mom and Dad hesitated for a moment, but eventually agreed. I suggested Leo take Chloe and leave quickly. Then, I told Mom and Dad to announce to everyone That Jax had died in a car accident. Mom and Dad looked at me, perplexed. I explained, “Sera Thorne is very capable. If we don’t do this, my identity will eventually be exposed.” “Only by making Jax disappear completely from this world,” “Will she not suspect I’m marrying her in my brother’s place.” Mom, Dad, and Leo all agreed after hearing my plan. Mom and Dad busied themselves announcing my death. Leo busied himself contacting Chloe. The two of them, taking the only savings Mom and Dad had, Left the city by car that very night. Three days later, I put on the suit Sera Thorne had sent, and happily got into the crime boss’s wedding car.

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Last life, a wealthy benefactor sponsored me, giving me a bracelet. His daughter, however, used that very bracelet to drain my luck and vitality. When I uncovered the truth, his entire family pushed me down the stairs, leaving me to die on the spot. Reborn, I returned to the day I received that bracelet… The scent of antiseptic stung my nose. The activity room of the orphanage had peeling paint on its white walls. I stood in line, my nails digging into my palms. In front of me was Mr. Donovan Sterling, impeccably dressed in a suit, with his elegantly adorned wife beside him. Behind them, a camera pointed directly at us. “Today is a wonderful day,” Mrs. Charlotte Sterling said, her voice sickly sweet. “We will be sponsoring ten children, from elementary school all the way through college.” The camera panned across the faces of us orphans. My name is Skylar. In my previous life, today was *that* day. I and nine other girls, chosen for being the most presentable and well-behaved, were selected. Mrs. Sterling gave each of us a silver bracelet. It was ice-cold, engraved with an ugly flower. “This is a gift for you,” she said. “When you see it, think of us.” Back then, my eyes were filled only with gratitude. I believed good days were finally coming. I was so incredibly naive it hurt. “Next.” It was my turn. Mrs. Sterling picked up a bracelet, ready to slip it onto my wrist. I sharply stepped back. Everyone froze. The camera hesitated, then focused on me. Mr. Sterling frowned. “Child, what’s wrong?” I lowered my head, my voice trembling, feigning fear. “My… my mom always told me not to take things from strangers.” It was a lie. I had no mom. But the orphanage teachers had taught me: feigned weakness always drew sympathy. Mrs. Sterling’s smile stiffened for a second, then quickly melted back into place. “Auntie isn’t a bad person, dear. This is for your own good.” “But…” I looked up, forcing a few tears into my eyes. “I’m afraid I’ll lose it. It looks too valuable.” Some children around me snickered. They probably thought I was foolish, turning down a good life. Mr. Sterling grew impatient and waved his hand. “Forget it. Next.” I let out a sigh of relief, my back drenched in sweat. The bracelet hadn’t been put on. This life, step one, was a success. After the event, the selected girls surrounded Mrs. Sterling, chattering excitedly. The silver bracelets on their wrists shimmered coldly under the lights. I hid in a corner, watching them. In my previous life, they were just like me. Believing they had grasped a lifeline. And what happened later? Later, our grades plummeted. No matter how hard we studied, the textbooks made no sense. Our health deteriorated, constant minor illnesses plagued us, and our faces were sickly pale. Our looks deteriorated beyond words, becoming plain, even unattractive. The kids at the orphanage who hadn’t been chosen started to mock us. “Are they brain-damaged by money?” “Serves them right for dreaming big.” The cyberbullying against us was even worse. “Typical orphans, no upbringing, just got money and fell apart.” “Growing uglier and meaner, definitely ungrateful.” I was the target of the most vicious online attacks because I used to be the most outstanding. Eventually, I dropped out and became a cleaner. It was while working as a cleaner for the Sterlings that I discovered the truth. That bracelet wasn’t a symbol of sponsorship at all. It was a dark conduit, a tool to steal luck and good fortune. Our intelligence, beauty, and health were all sucked away by that cursed bracelet and transferred to the Sterlings’ frail, dim-witted, and plain-looking daughter—Chloe Sterling. Chloe grew healthier, excelled in school, and became a socialite. And we? We became her sustenance. I tried to expose them, but Mr. Sterling pushed me down the stairs. Before I died, the sound of my bones shattering was clearer than his cold, mocking laughter. “An orphan? Who would believe you?” The injustice. The sheer, burning injustice. I stared intently at the girls wearing the bracelets. Their faces showed innocent longing. Exactly like me, in my past life. “Skylar, are you crazy?!”

A short-haired girl ran over. It was Maya, who hadn’t been chosen. “That’s Mr. Sterling! So many people want to be chosen! How could you run away?” I forced a smile but said nothing. Maya pouted, then ran off to watch the chosen girls, her eyes full of envy. I watched her. In my previous life, Maya, out of jealousy, often bullied us “lucky ones.” But she lived a perfectly normal life, healthy, graduated high school smoothly, and married an ordinary man. Much better than us. The activity room gradually emptied. I saw Mrs. Sterling pull a staff member aside and discreetly slip them an envelope. “That child, Skylar, keep an eye on her.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t let her ruin our plans.” The staff member nodded obsequiously. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Sterling, I understand.” I turned and quickly left. They noticed me. Because I wasn’t wearing the bracelet. This was just the beginning. Sterlings, your good days are numbered. The next day, the orphanage breakfast was watery porridge and pickled vegetables. But the chosen girls had an extra egg in their bowls. “Mr. Sterling specifically arranged it,” the teacher said with a smile. They looked at each other, triumphantly peeling their eggs. I silently ate my porridge. It was the same in my previous life. From that day on, our meals were better than others. Now, I realized it wasn’t a privilege. It was to “fatten us up,” so they could drain us more thoroughly. I saw a girl named Ashley, eating her egg and touching her bracelet, a satisfied smile on her face. In my last life, she was the first to collapse, diagnosed with kidney disease in her second year of high school and forced to drop out. I lowered my head and finished every last drop of my porridge. To take revenge, I had to survive first. And I had to live well. Math class was in the morning. I sat in the back row. The teacher wrote equations on the blackboard. In my previous life, not long after receiving the sponsorship, I couldn’t understand anything. Simple problems would stare back at me blankly for ages. But now, those numbers and symbols were perfectly clear. I picked up my pen and quickly solved the problems. My deskmate, a chubby boy, leaned over when he saw how fast I was writing. “Skylar, you’re so good?” I smiled. “Just guessing.” He grunted and went back to staring at his own paper. When the bell rang, the teacher collected our homework. Seeing my notebook, he paused. “Skylar, did you do all these yourself?” “Yes.” “Good job,” he nodded. “Keep it up.” I noticed that Ashley and the others’ notebooks were mostly empty. They frowned, looking distressed. It was only the first day. Was that bracelet taking effect so quickly? A chill ran down my spine. At noon, Maya came to find me again. “Hey, Skylar, Mrs. Sterling sent some stuff.” She pointed to several large boxes by the activity room door. “For those ten girls, new clothes and school bags.” Maya pouted. “So unfair.” I walked over. Several of the chosen girls were already gathered around the boxes, excitedly rummaging through them. The person Mrs. Sterling sent was a man in a black suit, taking pictures with a camera. “Come on, smile,” he said. “Let Mrs. Sterling see how happy you are.” The girls immediately flashed bright smiles. Only Ashley, while smiling, suddenly clutched her stomach, her face turning pale. “What’s wrong?” another girl next to her asked. “Nothing,” Ashley shook her head. “Just a little pain.” The man frowned, not paying much attention, and continued taking photos. I looked at the silver bracelet on Ashley’s wrist. In the sunlight, the engraved flower seemed to come alive. It was truly sickening.

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When I was five, my parents had a second child, a baby sister. I went to the hospital to visit, and saw with my own eyes someone swap my sister with another infant. I didn’t say anything. Instead, I secretly swapped them back myself. Twenty years later, a young woman rushed to my parents, crying and sobbing: “Mom and Dad, I’m your real daughter!” After a business trip abroad, the atmosphere at home felt really off. Mom and Dad both looked strange, and the house was eerily quiet. I carried the gifts I’d bought for everyone and asked, “Where’s Chloe? Isn’t it the weekend? Hasn’t she come home this week?” Chloe Harrison is my sister, five years younger than me. She’s a sophomore in college, studying locally, and usually, she’d be home every weekend if she had nothing else going on. On the way here, I could already picture her reaction the moment I walked through the door. She’d undoubtedly dash over like a puppy, grab my suitcase, and then excitedly hug me, saying, “Sis, I missed you so much!” But I didn’t see my sister. Only my silent parents. My dad waved me over. ” Luna, come here. Your mom and I have something really important we need to discuss with you.” As the oldest child, I’d already taken over parts of the family business since starting college. The Harrisons were old money, a truly influential dynasty. Our family had a storied legacy, tracing back generations, and built an empire that was known far and wide. In my parents’ generation, all our relatives were living comfortably, too. The family businesses were just waiting for Chloe and me to inherit them. We definitely had the resources. “What’s going on with you two? Why so mysterious?” I walked over, a bit confused. “Chloe wasn’t bullied at school, was she?” My sister, after all, would never be the one to bully someone. “No,” Mom pulled me down to sit, her expression incredibly complex. “It’s much more serious than that.” What? Something more serious than my sister being bullied? “Did our family go bankrupt? Which company?” Our family had its fingers in so many industries; I couldn’t immediately think of which one might be in crisis. “Not that either,” Dad said, his face etched with worry. “Luna, have you ever thought that Chloe isn’t our child?” What? I looked at Mom. “Mom, did you do something wrong when you were young?” Then I got a slap. “What are you thinking, kid?” Dad’s voice grew louder. “I mean, is it possible Chloe isn’t mine, or your mom’s?” “No way,” I stated firmly. After hearing me say that, Mom also chimed in, looking equally troubled. “Exactly. How could the child we’ve raised for twenty years not be ours?” My parents’ behavior was truly bizarre. I crossed my arms, leaned back, and looked at both of them. “What exactly happened? Who said Chloe isn’t our child?”

From my parents, I heard about the absurd things that had happened during my week-long business trip. Just a few days ago, a 20-year-old girl frantically appeared before my mom and dad. Tears and snot streaming down her face, she pitifully clung to my mom’s leg, wailing, “Mom and Dad, I’m your real daughter! Your current younger daughter, Chloe Harrison, she’s fake! Her birth mother swapped us when we were born!” “Some random person shows up, claims to be your biological daughter, and you just believed her?” I felt a headache coming on. “Seriously? Did you actually fall for this obvious scam? Didn’t you even bother to check?” “But she accurately stated your sister’s birth date and time. She even knew the hospital and the doctor who was on duty,” Mom said. “That only means she’s a well-prepared con artist,” I continued. “That kind of information isn’t top-secret. It’s not unheard of for someone to remember it or happen to know.” “Your dad and I didn’t believe it at first, but then she produced the necklace Grandma Lily gave your sister when she was born that year.” Dad chimed in, agreeing. “You were still little then, so I don’t know if you remember, but Grandma Lily specifically had matching necklaces custom-made for you and your sister. The one Chloe has now was a replacement we got later. The original one, Grandma Lily put it in her bassinet the day she was born, but it went missing at some point.” Their words suddenly brought back some distant memories. When our second child was born, I was five. That day, I’d just returned from kindergarten, and only the nanny was home. I cried for Mom and Dad, and the nanny told me they were at the hospital having a little brother or sister. I must have gone to the hospital to see my sister the next evening. By then, Chloe Harrison had been born for over ten hours. I don’t really remember hospital security measures from twenty years ago, but I do remember there were always whispers, horror stories about babies being snatched right out of the nursery. Dad had just taken a call to deal with an urgent company matter, and our relatives, who had been bustling around to see the baby, had left. Mom was too tired and needed to rest, so the hospital room became quiet again. A nanny should have stayed to watch the baby, but I don’t remember why she left the room at that time. I stood on my tiptoes, peering into the bassinet at my sister. She was tiny, soft, and seemed like a fragile thing that would cry if you touched her. But she was cute, like me. I stared at her for so long that I started to get sleepy. The light in the room was dim; Mom and my sister both needed to rest. Sleepiness crept over me. I don’t know what I was thinking at the time. Perhaps I thought Mom’s coat hanging on the rack looked especially warm and comfortable, so I pulled it down, covered myself with it, and leaned against the headboard to sleep. However, a sound from the door soon startled me awake. I thought it was Dad coming back, but quickly realized it wasn’t. A distinctly feminine figure walked into the room. It wasn’t our nanny, nor a relative, nor Mom and Dad’s friend. What she was holding in her arms? A baby. She put that baby down, then picked up my sister, and tiptoed out. Perhaps it was the dim light, or maybe I was small enough then, and I stayed perfectly still in the corner. Mom’s coat still covered me, so the person didn’t notice anyone else in the room besides Mom and my sister. I just watched silently, half-asleep, thinking I was dreaming. But then, as the faint sound of the door closing echoed, I suddenly sat up and tiptoed to look at the bassinet. Even though newborn babies look pretty similar, and the baby was wearing the exact same clothes as my sister, I had stared at my sister for so long—how could I not recognize her? They’d swapped them! Realizing something was wrong, I immediately tried to wake Mom. Her breathing was even, but she wouldn’t stir. I quickly opened the door, just catching a glimpse of the woman before she turned the corner, and immediately followed her. The woman entered another hospital room. I heard her mumbling to herself inside, though I didn’t catch what she said. But I memorized the room number. Not long after, a man came to find her, and the two started arguing in the room. He likely grabbed something and left, and the woman chased after him. This was my chance. I tiptoed open the door, slipped inside, and saw my sister in the bassinet. I was certain that was my sister. So, I carefully picked her up, and carried her back to Mom’s room. Chloe whimpered softly halfway through, but thankfully, she was a good baby and didn’t cry. After bringing my sister back, I carried the unfamiliar infant to that other room. When the nanny returned and saw me fussing with my sister, she was really surprised. Dad heard about it later and scolded me, saying I was being reckless. As for Mom, she woke up a few hours later, perfectly fine, and I was relieved. This incident didn’t leave a deep impression on my memory; in fact, when I recalled it later, I thought it was just a dream.

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My best friend, Chloe Sullivan, handed me a gorgeous silver mask at the Halloween ball. “Wear this,” she said, her voice sugary sweet. “You’ll be the queen of the ball tonight.” But at the stroke of midnight, our identities swapped. She stole my face, my status as an heiress, and my fiancé. Then, with a cruel flick of her wrist, she threw me into a mental asylum, leaving me to be tortured to death. Reborn into this life, she stood before me again, offering that very same mask, her eyes burning with greed. This time I smiled and took it. And then I turned to place it on the face of a female death-row inmate. Sweetie, you want to be a queen? Fine. I’m giving you the life of a condemned woman. As that silver mask was offered to me, the acrid smell of electroshock therapy from the mental asylum suddenly flooded my nostrils. The excruciating pain still lingered around my temples, making me shiver violently. My stomach twisted into knots. “Skylar, what are you spacing out for? Try it on! This is my Halloween gift for you.” My best friend, Chloe Sullivan, held out the very mask that stole my life, smiling sweetly. Yet, in her eyes, I saw only greed and jealousy. It was this mask. This mask stole my entire life and dragged me into hell. In my previous life, I fell for her “I’m doing this for your own good” act. I eagerly put it on, becoming the most dazzling star at the Halloween ball. Even Julian Vance, the scion of one of the city’s most powerful families, was utterly captivated by me. I thought it was the peak of my life. Little did I know, it was the beginning of my descent into the abyss. The clock struck midnight, a strange white light flashed, and everything changed. Chloe Sullivan, my best friend, became me. She inherited everything I had-my family’s fortune, my face, my fiancé. And I? I was forcefully thrust into her body, becoming an ordinary “Chloe Sullivan.” I ran like a madwoman to my parents, screaming, “I’m Skylar! She’s an imposter!” But all they saw was Chloe’s plain, ordinary face contorted in what they perceived as madness. They called for doctors, had me injected with tranquilizers, and personally sent me to a mental asylum. There, I was strapped to a bed, day after day, force-fed unknown drugs, and subjected to forced electroshock “therapy.” The searing pain of electricity coursing through my temples, and the hallucination of my bones being crushed inch by inch, became my only memories. When I died, I was a skeleton of my former self. My soul floated in mid-air, watching Chloe, arm-in-arm with Julian, curl her lips in a sneer as she looked at my death report. That face, which was once mine, displayed a malicious grin I’d never seen before. “A fool like you deserves to rot in a mental asylum.” That hatred, so profound it chilled me to the bone, dragged me back from hell, back to this very moment before the ball began. “Skylar, why are you zoning out? Don’t you like it?” Chloe’s voice held a hint of urgency, a flicker of fear that I might refuse. I pulled myself from those hellish memories, meeting her eyes-seemingly sincere, yet brimming with greed and jealousy. I smiled. “I love it. It’s absolutely beautiful.” I reached out, taking the cold mask with a smile. The chill on my fingertips snapped me back to reality. “You’re so good to me, Chloe.” I drew out the last syllable, my voice cloyingly sweet. Chloe visibly relaxed, practically melting. She immediately hooked her arm through mine, as if we were still inseparable best friends. “Of course! We’re best friends, aren’t we? Tonight, at the ball, I’m going to make sure you’re the most dazzling queen there.” Yes, a queen. In my last life, I was a queen for half a night, only to repay it with an eternity in hell. I lowered my gaze, concealing the murderous intent swirling in my eyes. “Chloe, why don’t you go ahead to the ball? I want to prepare a surprise for you.” “A surprise?” Chloe’s eyes lit up. “You’ll see,” I said, winking mischievously. Then I leaned closer, whispering so only she could hear, “Go see if Julian has arrived for me. Keep a close eye on him, don’t let some other vixen try to steal his attention.” At the mention of Julian, Chloe’s breath hitched. She had always been jealous of my engagement to Julian. In the last life, the first thing she did after stealing my identity was to sleep with him, cementing her status as “Julian’s fiancée.” “Okay!” She agreed almost instantly. “I’ll go grab us a good spot. Hurry up, my Queen.” She smiled, squeezed my cheek, and turned to leave, every step radiating impatience. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Frank, how are things coming along?” A steady male voice answered, “Don’t worry, Miss Maxwell. Everything is arranged. The female inmate has just been transferred from maximum-security prison. The route and time have all been confirmed.”

Frank is our family’s head of security. He’s been with my father for over a decade, a retired soldier, a man of unwavering loyalty and integrity. In my previous life, after I was sent to the mental asylum, everyone thought I was insane. Only he, defying Chloe and my so-called parents’ warnings, secretly came to visit me. Though he was later dismissed by Chloe under false pretenses, every year on the anniversary of my death, he would discreetly visit my grave to pay his respects. I never forgot that kindness. Reborn, he was the only one I could trust. Tonight’s Halloween ball was hosted by a highly exclusive organization comprised of the city’s most influential elite. On the surface, it was a lavish socialite party, but in reality, it featured a truly depraved “after-party spectacle.” They would “invite” a death-row inmate, scheduled for execution soon, to experience a taste of decadent luxury in their final moments. It served as a morbid entertainment and talking point for those twisted elites. In my previous life, I was completely oblivious, playing my part as the queen. This time, I had Frank uncover every detail in advance. Including the chosen female death-row inmate: her file, her photo, and the transport route and handover time. I changed into a form-fitting black catsuit, easy for movement, and put on the most basic black mask. Then I drove to the address Frank had given me. It was an extremely remote, abandoned road. The vehicle transporting the death-row inmate would briefly stop there to hand over the “cargo” to the ball organizers. When I arrived, a black SUV was already waiting. Frank, with two bodyguards in black suits, stood by the car like three immovable giants. “Miss Maxwell.” I nodded, my voice devoid of emotion: “Where is she?” “In the car. As you instructed, we used military-grade tranquilizers. She’ll be out cold for six hours; not even God himself could wake her.” I opened the car door. A stale mix of cheap cigarettes and mildew assaulted my senses. A woman was slumped in the back seat, breathing heavily, clearly in a deep coma. She looked to be in her thirties, with a rough face, but her eyes held the desperate, hardened aura of a true desperado. Her file said her name was Ruby. She was on death row for a crime of passion and home invasion robbery, carrying two murders on her conscience. Her execution was scheduled for three days from now. A perfect substitute. “Do it,” I spat out coldly. Frank’s two men moved swiftly, like handling lifeless cargo, roughly dragging Ruby out of the car. I didn’t waste any time. I retrieved the purple strapless gown and the glinting silver mask I’d prepared from my own car. “Strip her, and put this on her. Remember, be clean about it, leave no traces.” “Yes, ma’am!” While changing Ruby’s clothes, one of the bodyguards pulled a crumpled photo from her tattered pocket. It was a picture of a skinny little boy, smiling innocently at the camera. I glanced at it, my heart utterly unmoved. Pitiable? When she plunged a knife into someone else’s heart, did she ever think about their poor children? When I was frothing at the mouth from electroshock, who pitied me? I personally picked up the silver mask and placed it over Ruby’s weathered face. The opulent gown, paired with the exquisite mask, instantly concealed all her roughness and ruthlessness. A mysterious, regal, and intriguing “queen” was born. I admired my “masterpiece” with satisfaction. “Frank, find a makeup artist. Touch up the exposed skin, so no one can tell the difference. Then, personally ‘escort’ her into the ball, announcing her as the late ‘Skylar Maxwell, the heiress’.” “Yes, Miss Maxwell. I will personally guide her in, ensuring everything is flawless.” I looked at the magnificent mask covering the death-row inmate’s face, my smile icy and cutting. I leaned closer to Frank, giving him my command in a voice only we could hear, every word deliberate: “Remember, before midnight, she is not to remove the mask. She is not to utter a single word.” Frank’s expression hardened: “Don’t worry, Miss Maxwell, I’ll have men watching her like a hawk. But what if she struggles, or something unexpected happens…” I cut him off, my voice devoid of warmth, as if discussing an inanimate object. “Then use industrial-strength adhesive. Glue that mask firmly to her face.”

As I quietly stepped into the ballroom, wearing a white feather mask, nearly everyone’s gaze was fixed on the silver-masked woman in the center of the room. The dazzling light of the crystal chandeliers seemed to dim in comparison to her. She was escorted by Frank, who played the role of a “butler,” and two bodyguards, descending upon the crowd like a true queen. I saw Chloe standing amidst the crowd, her fists clenched, her eyes brimming with jealousy and malice that threatened to spill over. She thought the one commanding all that attention, was me. Just then, the ball’s true star made his entrance. Julian Vance, the heir to the Vance empire. He wore a perfectly tailored black bespoke suit, tall and handsome. His appearance drew gasps from countless socialites. He was my fiancé in the last life, and Chloe’s ultimate target, the man she would stop at nothing to snatch away. Julian’s gaze swept indifferently across the room, ignoring the preening socialites. Finally, it landed precisely on the silver-masked “me.” His eyes flashed with undisguised admiration and intense interest. My hand, holding the wine glass, paused slightly. Indeed, everything was unfolding exactly as it had in my previous life, without a single deviation. Julian walked straight through the crowd, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, approached Ruby. He bowed slightly, performing a perfect invitation to dance, his voice laced with a charming smile. “My beautiful lady, may I have the honor of this first dance?” The entire hall erupted in murmurs. I saw Chloe’s fingernails practically digging into her palms, her face pale and twisted with jealousy. Why! Why did this final glory still belong to Skylar? But the next second, she took a deep breath, and the twisted jealousy on her face slowly morphed into a cold, eerie smile. She looked at the dazzling pair in the center of the dance floor, her eyes filled with schadenfreude, as if watching a play. Dance, my foolish best friend, dance to your heart’s content. Enjoy your last few minutes as Skylar Maxwell. Because at the stroke of midnight, everything you possess-your family, your engagement, even this powerful man before you-will completely belong to me, Chloe Sullivan! She raised a glass of champagne, and across the bustling crowd, she silently made a toasting gesture in the direction of the silver mask. It was like an early celebration for the downfall of a clown. “Dong-dong-dong-” The heavy, resonant chime of midnight echoed through the estate. This was the height of the Halloween revelry, and also… the moment the magic would take effect. In the center of the dance floor, Julian and Ruby’s dance had just ended. He was bending his head, as if about to say something. According to the ball’s tradition, when the midnight bell struck, everyone was to remove their masks and reveal themselves. The lights in the hall abruptly extinguished with the final chime, plunging the room into utter darkness and silence. I could feel an invisible, eerie force rapidly spreading through the air. In the darkness, I could clearly “see” a faint white light emanating from the silver mask on Ruby’s face. It snaked like a living entity, precisely finding Chloe, who was hiding in a corner, filled with eager anticipation. The white light instantly merged into Chloe’s forehead. At the same time, parts of Chloe were forcefully stripped away and injected into Ruby’s body. The midnight bell struck, the identity-swapping magic activated, and my meticulously planned hunt had finally begun…

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Due to my dad’s job, I had to transfer schools. I went to complete the enrollment procedures. After I gave my personal information, the teacher in charge looked at me strangely. “Wait! You said your father is Mr. Harrison, the new board member? But his daughter is already enrolled here.” “His daughter is half a year older than you. You can’t be her.” I froze for a moment, then pulled out my phone and showed her a photo of me and my dad. The teacher glanced at it, then brought up the system interface directly. “Mr. Harrison’s child has been attending our school since the beginning of the semester.” “He even donated a library for her. Here, see the official photos.” In the photo, my dad stood with an unfamiliar student by the school’s bulletin board. The girl looked about my age, and her features were strikingly similar to my dad’s. She even resembled him more than I did! The question pierced through me: if they were father and daughter, then who was I? “Mr. Harrison’s daughter is an excellent student and the student council president. How could you impersonate her?” “Student, I advise you to behave yourself. We’re not accepting you!” The teacher in charge looked annoyed and impatient, as if I was some kind of moral failure. She waved her hand repeatedly, and by the time I reacted, I was already kicked out of the office. Passing students glanced at me being rejected at the door, whispering gossip to each other. But I was only consumed by confusion, my mind filled with that promotional image. That was clearly my dad, but how could he be acting like the perfect father and daughter with another girl? Had my dad betrayed my mom and me, and had a love child outside of our marriage? Furious and bewildered, I immediately called him, ready to confront him. But a robotic voice kept saying, “The person you are calling is currently on another call.” I sent countless messages, but there was no reply. What was going on? Had my dad blocked me? The next second, I remembered he was on a business trip in the next city. That was why I had to come and register alone. My dad told me that his company was at a critical stage recently, and he was constantly on the go, leaving early and coming home late. I hadn’t seen him in ages. Right now, he was probably either in a meeting or on-site inspecting. Unable to reach my dad, I could only postpone my enrollment and wait for him to return. If he really had another family, I would never forgive him! Back home, my dad finally called me back. “Hey, sweetie, your dad just finished an inspection. What’s up?” My dad turned on the video call. He looked exhausted and worn out. “I have another meeting soon. Just use my secondary card if you want to buy anything.” Seeing him working non-stop but still thinking of me, a wave of tenderness washed over me. Just as I was about to ask about his well-being, I instantly remembered what had happened earlier. A knot of anger tightened in my stomach, and I spoke. “There’s nothing I want to buy. I just want to ask you one thing.” “Have you done something to betray our family? Do you have another woman and a child outside?” My dad’s face changed dramatically on screen. One second he was doting, the next his eyes widened in shock. He propped his phone on the table. “Oh, my little queen, how could your dad do such a thing?!” “Besides your mom, I’ve never loved another woman!” “Let alone have any love child!” Seeing my suspicion, he immediately took his phone outside the house, revealing the construction site he had just inspected. “My big girl, see for yourself, I’m so swamped I practically live on this construction site. Look around, where would I find time to mess around?” “Even if I had time, your dad would never mess around. You have to believe me!” My dad was indignant. “Who’s spreading rumors? They’ve even reached my daughter’s ears!” “Is it those clickbait accounts? I’ll go settle scores with them right now!” “Autumn, I swear you’re my only daughter. Don’t believe their nonsense.” Watching him, at his age, swearing solemnly with his hand to his forehead like a teenager, my doubts vanished. My dad had treasured me since I was little. More than my mom, he had taken charge of all my affairs, big and small. From bedtime stories and daily meals to my enrollment ceremonies and coming-of-age rituals, he was involved in everything. He always cared for me meticulously, working hard at the company while taking me everywhere with him. Because I was always by my dad’s side, everyone in the company, big and small, knew me. Some gossips would quietly whisper that I was a “little burden” who hindered my dad’s work. That very day, that person was fired. Even though he was a core technical staff member the company had painstakingly recruited. Later, when I grew up and became more sensible, I didn’t tag along with him as often. He would often pretend to be heartbroken, saying I was already growing distant from him, and what would happen when I got a boyfriend? Then, afraid I’d be tricked by some bad boy, he directly gave me half of the company’s shares. “Unless they’re better than your dad, they shouldn’t even think about stealing you away.” At just ten years old, I became the company’s second-largest shareholder, but it was him who was smug. Later, when I went to a prestigious prep school, he grandly donated millions to fund new buildings and a library, making sure everyone at the school knew I was the precious daughter of Harrison Holdings’ CEO, and no one was to bully me. How could such a doting, even reckless, father have a love child outside? Thinking this, I felt relieved. “Alright, old man, I’ll let you off the hook today. But if I ever find out you have another child, you’re toast!” My dad profusely guaranteed on the other end, bowing and nodding in a way that no one would recognize his usual commanding presence. “Oh, by the way, I had a problem with my enrollment. Wait until you’re back to take me through the procedures.” “You got it, my Queen Autumn. Did that person in charge upset you? I’ll set things right when I get back.” I chuckled, looking at my dad’s dark circles, and decided not to worry him too much. I’d tell him later when he was back. After hanging up, I planned to enjoy a few days off before enrolling, but then I got a call from the new school. The teacher in charge, whom I’d met just that morning, was on the line, telling me to report to school immediately. Was my dad that quick? One call and he sorted it out for me? Fun canceled, school mode activated. I wanted to check out the new school anyway, so I’d just go.

Ms. Jenkins, the teacher in charge, was waiting at the school gate to welcome me. When she saw me, she led me forward without a word. “The welcoming ceremony is ready. All the students are waiting for you in the auditorium. Hurry up.” I was puzzled. “A ceremony specifically for my transfer? That’s not necessary, is it?” No matter how much my dad donated to the school for me, it shouldn’t involve putting me on such a public stage, right? Ms. Jenkins sneered, saying with ill intent. “It’s precisely for you. Didn’t you say you’re Mr. Harrison’s daughter? Oh, Miss Autumn.” Then, without further explanation, she pushed me onto the auditorium stage. The students below began whispering among themselves. “Is that the imposter claiming to be a Harrison? She’s just… average, right?” “She’s not even half as pretty as Skylar, and doesn’t have Skylar’s class at all.” Hearing these comments, I frowned, then composed myself and spoke with poise and confidence. “Thank you all for holding this welcoming ceremony for me. As you can see…” Then I introduced myself. The whispers below grew louder. Suddenly, there was a commotion, and a girl stood up. She stood in the spotlight, looking up. “Autumn, if you’re Mr. Harrison’s daughter, then what am I, Skylar?” Her features were so familiar it gave me a jolt. Wasn’t this the girl in the photo with my dad, the one who looked almost exactly like him? How dared she be so certain, challenging me in front of the entire school? My gaze was drawn to the collar of her school uniform. That light pink shirt, with a tiny embroidered orange stitched on the collar, was incredibly familiar. It was the one I once treasured so much but had lost! My heart clenched with anger. What was going on? “Where did you come from? What is this all about?” My voice, frantic over the mic, turned the entire crowd against me. The air filled with their immediate, roaring accusations. “Skylar is an excellent student here. Everyone knows how much her dad loves her. How could anyone impersonate her?” “No wonder Skylar called everyone to the auditorium. This imposter is shameless. How can Skylar fight her alone?” Skylar smiled triumphantly. She walked onto the auditorium stage. “Everyone knows my dad donated the library for me. He treats me like the apple of his eye. How could he bear to see me sad?” “To whatever sister has appeared, I advise you to stop here. Stop coveting other people’s happiness.” As soon as she finished speaking, her supporters immediately swarmed me like wolves sniffing blood, aggressively confronting me. “I wonder if she’s an orphan, coming here to claim a dad and a mom. Her skin is thicker than a city wall!” “Says she’s a Harrison heiress? Doesn’t she see how Skylar looks exactly like Mr. Harrison? How does she resemble him at all?” “Skylar already said Autumn is only half a year younger than her. Even if Mr. Harrison cheated, Autumn would at most be an illegitimate child, not fit to be seen!” Everything they said was twisting the truth. My blood relationship with my dad was beyond doubt, and he and my mom were legally married. “Do you have any proof for what you’re saying? David Harrison is my biological father. I am his legitimate, biological daughter!” I flipped through all the photos of me and my dad on my phone, displaying them for everyone. They merely scoffed. “Photo editing technology is so advanced these days. I could say I’m Mr. Harrison’s son, and I could photoshop as many pictures as you want.” “Please. Genes don’t lie. Skylar’s identity is practically written on her face. What do you have to show? A paternity test? You’d be lucky to even get to see Mr. Harrison!” Skylar smirked, mocking me. “Who do you think you are, trying to claim my dad with a few photoshopped pictures?” I felt dizzy. I didn’t know what Skylar was relying on, but she was completely turning the tables on me. Seeing her smug, ready-for-anything look, I was beyond furious. “You’re impersonating me and blowing things up this much. What exactly do you want?” Skylar angrily pushed me, saying each word clearly. “To reclaim what’s rightfully mine, of course!”

On the big screen on stage, countless photos of Skylar and David Harrison appeared. From her childhood princess dresses to her current school uniform, they clearly showed their bond as parent and child. A elegantly dressed woman came onto the side of the stage, holding a marriage certificate, showing it to everyone. “This is my marriage certificate with David Harrison. I am Skylar’s mother. We are a family of three!” How was that possible? How could this woman have a marriage certificate with my dad? I wanted to snatch the certificate and examine it, but she projected it onto the big screen. It even had an official seal! I was instantly panicked, remembering that all these years, I had indeed never seen my parents’ marriage certificate… “Look at her. She won’t believe it until it’s staring her in the face. She finally believes it now, right?” No, I didn’t believe it. I called my dad with trembling hands, but it went straight to voicemail. “Why aren’t you answering at a crucial moment? Your daughter is being bullied right now!” “Answer the phone!” My heart hammered, my mind a chaotic mess. I forced myself to calm down. He had just finished work this morning; he should be resting now. All work during his rest time was handled by his assistant. Thinking of this, I immediately called Leo, his assistant. When he picked up, I put it on speaker. “Leo, am I my dad’s biological daughter?” Leo chuckled at my question. “Miss Autumn, you called so urgently just to ask that?” “You’re Mr. Harrison’s only biological daughter. Everyone in the company knows that. Who’s upsetting you?” “Do you want me to wake Mr. Harrison up for you?” Everyone present’s expression changed. I finally let out a sigh of relief. Leo was Harrison Holdings’ PR wizard, and he had even become a minor celebrity in his own right, with more followers than my dad. His words were undeniable. The students below began to doubt. “That’s Leo, right? I listen to his interviews every day. I couldn’t mistake him. Could Autumn be telling the truth?” “But Skylar really looks exactly like Mr. Harrison, and her mom has a marriage certificate. That’s an undeniable fact, right?” A faint smile played on my lips. “There are so many fake documents these days. Who knows if that certificate is real or fake?” “We can get it professionally verified. I have all the time in the world to prove it.” Hearing this, Skylar showed no sign of backing down. Instead, she raised an eyebrow mockingly, a sneer twisting her lips. She took out her phone and video-called my dad. He picked up immediately. That face was all too familiar. He had handed my call off to his assistant but picked up Skylar’s call instantly? Blood rushed to my head. My confidence from a moment ago vanished completely. “Hello? Skylar, isn’t it class time? Why are you calling your dad?” Seeing me stunned in place, Skylar glanced at me triumphantly and said with a smile. “Something happened at school, and Mom is here too.” Victoria walked over and affectionately called out, “Honey.” David Harrison asked with concern. “What happened? Do you want Dad to set things right for you?” Skylar sweet-talked him. “It’s nothing, just a minor thing. I’ll handle it myself. Dad, am I your favorite daughter?” David Harrison laughed heartily, dotingly saying. “Our Harrison family only has one precious gem, and that’s you! Who else could it be?” Skylar’s face crumpled in a pitiful pout, and she whined. “But today, someone came to our school saying she’s your daughter, and even said you and Mom are fake married! I’m so upset!” David Harrison frowned, his entire demeanor consumed by anger. “Where did this imposter come from, daring to cause trouble right in front of you? I think your school doesn’t want to operate anymore. Was that building donated for nothing?” “My only and legal wife is your mom, and my only and beloved daughter is you, Skylar. Don’t be afraid. Fight back! Your dad’s got your back!” After hanging up, Skylar immediately rushed up to me and slapped me hard! “Did you hear that? My dad said it himself! Are you still going to find Leo or some other assistant to argue?” I didn’t have time to react and was slapped to the ground. I loudly retorted. “No, it’s not! That was an AI! I can tell! You’re lying!” “Give me the phone! I know the loophole!”

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For ten years, I lived in a marriage never consummated, yet I was forced to endure over a dozen miscarriages. It was all because my husband had a Womb Transfer System bound to him. As long as he got intimate with a woman, her baby would be transferred into my womb. To better enjoy his intimate moments with his childhood sweetheart, he never bothered with contraception. Meanwhile, I found myself pregnant again and again. Terrified and utterly clueless, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my husband. All I could do was go to the hospital for various check-ups. By the thirteenth time I was hospitalized and hemorrhaging, Dr. Kim finally snapped. She called my husband and demanded he sign the surgical consent forms immediately. “Do you have any idea that sexual activity is forbidden during pregnancy?” she shouted, her voice trembling with fury. “Your ignorance is killing your wife!” But my husband refused to sign, right there in front of everyone. Instead, he publicly accused me of cheating on him throughout our entire marriage. In the end, I bled to death on that hospital bed. My husband inherited everything I owned and built a happy life with his childhood sweetheart. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the time of my very first miscarriage. Gritting my teeth, I dialed a number. “Find me a pregnant sow!”

“Ava, you’ve miscarried!” “Last time, a ruptured corpus luteum cyst. This time, the cause appears to be intercourse during pregnancy. Can’t you and your husband control yourselves?” Dr. Kim’s voice jolted me awake. My eyes snapped open. The sight of the IV drip confirmed it. I had been reborn. I’d been married to Ryan Carter for a decade in a completely sexless marriage. So how in the world could I be pregnant? In my past life, I thought the doctor had misdiagnosed me, and I argued fiercely, demanding an explanation from the hospital. But when the hospital pulled up the surveillance footage of my surgery, and I actually saw them remove that finger-sized embryo from my belly, I finally believed I was pregnant. I had no idea how this could have happened. Fortunately, my husband didn’t blame me. Instead, he hugged me and consoled me. “Honey, I don’t blame you! It’s all my fault! If I weren’t impotent and couldn’t give you happiness, you wouldn’t have looked for other men, right?” I firmly believed I hadn’t cheated, but the pregnancy was an undeniable fact. So, to make it up to my husband, I not only handed over full control of my company to him, but I also agreed to let him bring his childhood sweetheart, Daisy Bell, to live with us permanently. But ever since Daisy moved in, I had a miscarriage every two months due to “intimacy during pregnancy.” In just one year, I had six miscarriages. To figure out what the hell was going on, I took the aborted embryo for a paternity test. The results showed the baby wasn’t mine, but it was my husband’s and Daisy’s! Just as I stormed into Daisy’s room to confront her, I was shocked to find my husband vigorously thrusting on top of her! “Ryan! Weren’t you impotent?! What are you two doing right now?!” Furious, I wanted to confront them, but the next second, a large gush of blood streamed from my lower body. The consequences of their intimacy during pregnancy had once again been transferred to me. I was hemorrhaging and needed Ryan to sign the surgical consent form. But he immediately turned on me, slandering, “Ava! This is your thirteenth miscarriage! Even if you despise me, you can’t cheat this many times!” The curious onlookers, not knowing the truth, assumed I was hemorrhaging because I’d cheated during pregnancy, and they all stopped my husband from signing the consent form. In the end, I died on the hospital bed from excessive blood loss. Before I died, I saw Ryan, with his arm around Daisy, looking at me with a mocking smirk. “Since you’re about to die, I’ll let you die knowing why!” “The reason you kept getting pregnant and miscarrying is because I have a Womb Transfer System bound to me. As long as Daisy and I are intimate, any changes in her womb will be transferred to yours!” Recalling the pain of thirteen miscarriages, I suppressed the surging hatred in my heart. Gritting my teeth, I handed Dr. Kim a bank card and said. “Dr. Kim, please schedule the surgery for me. I want my entire womb removed right now!”

Learning of my miscarriage, Ryan rushed over with Daisy. “Honey, I don’t blame you! It’s all my fault! If I weren’t impotent and couldn’t give you happiness, you wouldn’t have let another man prey on your vulnerability, would you?” He hugged me tightly, his eyes filled with an overwhelming, fake affection. In my past life, I would have been moved to tears by those words, gifting him homes, cars, and even my company. But now, with my head clear from all that romantic nonsense, I realized his words, though seemingly concerned, were actually meant to solidify the lie that I had cheated in everyone’s eyes. I gave Dr. Kim a subtle glance. She immediately clarified for me, “Mr. Carter, you’re mistaken. Your wife isn’t miscarrying; she simply fainted from overwork.” Both of their faces changed. But Ryan’s expression quickly returned to normal. He knew I’d bribed Dr. Kim, but he didn’t expose me. Instead, he pushed Daisy forward. “Honey! If you’re just overworked, why don’t we let Daisy stay at home to take care of you?” “She grew up with me, and she’s not only good at housework but also an excellent cook. And since I’m impotent, you don’t have to worry about anything happening between us.” Hearing his casual demand, I almost laughed in anger. Claiming it was to take care of me, when in reality, it was just to make it easier for them to have their affair. However, this time, I didn’t object. “Sure, let Daisy move in! It would be nice to have some company.” “But before that, she needs to have a full physical exam to make sure she’s healthy. Only then will I feel comfortable having her in my house.” Daisy had no objection. Dr. Kim performed the examination, ensuring 100% accuracy. Looking at the intact womb in the ultrasound image, I couldn’t help but frown. I had my womb removed, yet it had no effect on her. It seemed this transfer system was one-sided. Only Daisy could affect me. But now that I no longer had a womb, she probably couldn’t frame me anymore. My next step was to collect evidence of their affair and ruin their reputations! Before Daisy moved into my house, I had tiny hidden cameras installed in every corner of the villa. Perhaps fearing I’d discover their secret, they were extremely cautious for the first two months, never sharing a room. To make them drop their guard, I lied, saying I was going on a business trip to New York for a few days, then boarded a flight. Once they were certain I was truly gone, they embraced each other like hungry wolves. Watching the disgusting sight of their fiery passion on the security footage, I gritted my teeth and saved all the videos. With this evidence of their affair, I would surely destroy them! But just as I handed the videos to my divorce lawyer, a sharp, piercing pain erupted in my abdomen. Seeing the blood flowing incessantly beneath me, terror instantly swept through my entire body. What in the world was happening? When I woke up again in the hospital bed, I heard the devastating news. “Ava, you’re pregnant.” Impossible! I emotionally grabbed the doctor’s sleeve. “Doctor, you must be mistaken! I had my womb removed; how could I possibly be pregnant?” The doctor calmly replied. “It’s true that you cannot conceive without a womb, but there’s an extremely rare chance of an ectopic pregnancy. Your current situation is an ectopic pregnancy!” “You’re out of danger after the surgery, but I must warn you, if you have another ectopic pregnancy, not even a miracle could save you!”

My world was crashing down. If Daisy got pregnant again, would I die? This time, there was no way I was going to tolerate it. I booked a flight and rushed to the villa. I slapped Daisy across the face. “Are all men dead or something?! Why him? Why my husband?!” Ryan stepped forward to stop me. “Honey, have you misunderstood something?! How could Daisy possibly seduce me? She’s always seen me as a brother.” I slapped him back, hard. “You two having an affair behind my back is bad enough, but why couldn’t you use protection? Why couldn’t you take birth control?!” “Why do I have to bear the consequences of your intimacy during pregnancy?! Do you two really want me dead so badly?!” Seeing that I had exposed everything, Ryan dropped the act. He put his arm around Daisy and mocked me. “Daisy and I were always meant to be together! If it weren’t for your money, do you think I would have married into your family?” “Let me tell you! Lying in the same bed with you every day, it turns my stomach! I don’t even need to pretend to be impotent.Just seeing your face makes me go limp!” Even though I already knew Ryan’s true colors, his words made my old wounds throb with anger. Daisy, arms crossed, slapped me back. “Your body can’t handle much more, can it? If you kneel down and kowtow to me a few times, maybe I can let you die a little later.” Ryan chuckled. “I know you hired a divorce lawyer, but even if you divorce now, it’s useless. I can drag it out and refuse to agree. The next time you hemorrhage, I’ll let you die on the operating table! Then all your assets will be ours!” Listening to their venomous curses, I felt like my head was going to explode. I rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife. “Ryan! I’m going to castrate you right now!” Unfortunately, my strength was no match for a man’s. Ryan effortlessly snatched the knife and pushed me to the floor. Outside, police sirens wailed. My wounds had reopened, and I was back in the hospital. Drowsily, I looked at the examination report Dr. Kim handed me, and my eyes suddenly lit up. I suddenly understood how to break this transfer system. I immediately called my best friend, Chloe, who lived in the countryside. “Chloe, is your sow about to give birth? Can you send her to me?” After arranging everything, I opened the home surveillance video again. The adulterous couple, after showering, had crawled into bed. Ryan didn’t notice Daisy’s suddenly swollen belly. With one big movement, he bumped her up. Then, a pungent spray of blood erupted… After Daisy passed out, Ryan immediately rushed her to the hospital. Seeing Ryan outside the operating room, I couldn’t stop smiling. “Ryan, congratulations! You’re going to be a father.” Ryan grabbed my collar, exasperated. “What the hell did you do to Daisy? How could she be pregnant?” I looked at the slowly opening operating room doors and smiled slightly. “Why don’t you go in and see for yourself?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299397”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #后宫Harem #玄幻Fantasy #校园School