After I fell down the snowy mountain, no one in my family even noticed I was missing. I tried to reach my brother on the walkie-talkie, but he just snapped impatiently. “Do you have to make a scene right now? Luna lost one of her gloves. We need to take her back. Stop trying to play the victim!” Luna. My sister-in-law. I connected to my fiancé, Daniel. His voice was even colder than Alex’s. “Luna lost a glove. I’m not in the mood to deal with your jealousy. “I bet you stole her glove, didn’t you? “If anything happens to her, you and I will be enemies for life!” With my last ounce of strength, I tried to reach Mom and Dad. My parents’ answer was to hurl the walkie-talkie into the abyss. The line went dead forever. A month later, they finally remembered me. “Luna’s fine, she doesn’t need to be so jealous. Tell Summer to come back quickly.” “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Miss Summer’s body has been recovered from the snowy mountain. “She didn’t make it, as she gave her own warm gear to Miss Luna. “She carved this final plea into the ice:” “ In the next life, never be a Harrison.” …

“She’d give her gloves to Luna?” Alex snorted coldly. “If she’d even thought about it, even if she hadn’t actually done it, I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time being her brother!” “It’s true, Mr. Alex! Miss Summer not only gave up her gloves, but she also swapped her down jacket with Miss Thorne! That’s why Miss Summer didn’t make it!” “Enough!” A ceramic cup shattered at Mr. Peterson’s feet. Dad fumed with indignation. “If she just didn’t try to bully my foster daughter, that would be a miracle. How could she swap gear with Luna? Doesn’t she always complain that we only give good things to Luna and not her?” “We gave her the best equipment for this trip. What more could she be unhappy about?” My soul rushed forward, trying to shield Mr. Peterson from the flying shards. But the pieces passed right through me, cutting the back of his hand. Tears welled in my eyes instantly. “Mr. Peterson speaks the truth! Luna said her glove had a hole, so I offered to swap with her! Don’t take this out on him! He’s the one who helped raise your own children!” My sister-in-law Luna’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Peterson, I know Summer’s gloves are the warmest. How could I let her swap them with me?” Luna sighed as she spoke. “I know Summer likes to be jealous, but stealing my gloves on the snowy mountain was really too much.” “You’re lying!” I gritted my teeth so hard they ached. But I was just a ghost. My anguish couldn’t reach anyone’s ears. “But as her sister-in-law, I won’t really blame her. She shouldn’t be playing with her own life like that! “Mr. Peterson, stop getting worked up with her.” “Tell her to come back immediately, I’ll apologize to her.” A voice interrupted her. “Why should you apologize to her?” My soul looked at my fiancé, Daniel Hayes. He stared coldly at Mr. Peterson. “She’d scheme for Luna’s gloves even in minus fifty-degree weather, and now she’s playing the victim? Tell her, we’re not falling for her tricks. If she doesn’t come back today, she should never come back!” I stared at him, stunned, a tear tracing a path down my face. Daniel…even you? Mr. Peterson’s wrinkled face was filled with helplessness. “But… Sir, Ma’am… she is still your daughter. Your sister. Your fiancée.” Mom sneered. “I don’t have a sweet daughter who’s out partying it up while I’m on my deathbed.” “Exactly,” my father cut in. “When my wife was fighting for her life, all she wanted was one last look at her girl. And Where was Summer? It was Luna who stayed by my wife’s side!” Dad added. Alex also snorted. “We raised an ungrateful wretch for all these years!” No… That’s not true! I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Mom, I didn’t know you were in critical condition that day! Luna used Alex’s phone to text me, saying you were perfectly healthy! That’s why I went to celebrate my best friend’s birthday! With a sorrowful sigh, Luna wiped the corner of her eye. “Summer hates me, I know. I won’t stay at home anymore, let her come back. Don’t worry, with her around, I’ll never appear to annoy her.” “Wait!” Mom stopped Luna. She turned to Mr. Peterson. “Daniel is right. In this family, our foster daughter is much more important than our biological daughter. If she can’t come back today, she’ll never be a Harrison again!” My heart seized with a painful spasm. I clutched my hollow chest, gritting my teeth. Don’t worry. I didn’t want to be one anyway. Hadn’t I written it in my own blood before I died? “In the next life, never be a Harrison.”

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In my past life, Liam’s beloved Maya died because of me. Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family’s empire, driving us into ruin. He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building. In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes. “Chloe,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, “if there is another life… if you ever meet me and Maya again… do us all a favor and stay away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day. In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me. Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically. “Chloe! We’re over here!” My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I’d seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran! “Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?” I ignored my classmates’ shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms. The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again. It felt so good! Being alive felt so good! Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain… they were gone. Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies. Healthy, lively, radiant. Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting. From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life. Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me. He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn’t even sure when. Then, during the school’s freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary. From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me. They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about. I slowly became their constant shadow. In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus. Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred. “Chloe Davies, remember this! It’s your fault I’m doing this!” Then, with a resolute leap, she didn’t even give anyone a chance to stop her. She didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind. He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up. “Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?” “This… only you knew about this!” “I…” My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words- “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me.” But no one believed me. Maya’s unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer. Any defense, when faced with the victim’s direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless. As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation. Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student’s eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way. Especially Liam. Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed. It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness. I thought, finally, Liam believed me. Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle. “Chloe, let’s get married.” The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back. Until the Davies family’s confidential information fell into Liam’s hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family’s businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home. Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence. Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me. “Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too.” “Chloe, why don’t you just die? If you die, perhaps… I can forgive you.” As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair. … I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears. The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam’s cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind. “Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life – mine and Maya’s – do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us.” I let out a long, shaky breath. This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya. Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.

“Chloe? Shouldn’t you be in class right now?” As I burst through the door, my mom was sitting in the backyard, leisurely sipping coffee. She looked surprised to see me. My eyes welled up, and I rushed to hug her tightly. In my past life, their life’s work was destroyed, and they were forced out of Westlake by Liam, a boy they had watched grow up. Before I died, I didn’t even get to see them one last time. “You’re so grown up and still clinging to your mom. What will you do when you get married?” My mom’s gentle, complaining voice drifted down from above. But that word, “married,” sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hugged her even tighter. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Dad, looking after the family business, and being a carefree heiress with no ambition beyond enjoying my family’s wealth…” Mom feigned helplessness but her smile deepened. “Oh, is that so? I suppose we’re stuck with our little moocher for life, then.” After a night of trying to compose myself, I went back to school normally the next day. Our driver, Mr. Clark, dropped me off at the school gate. As I got out, I caught a glimpse of Liam and Maya standing at the intersection nearby, laughing and talking. That was our usual meeting spot; they were waiting for me. Fearing they would spot me, I quickly buried my head, clutched my backpack, and hurried into school. The school path, the three of us walking together. My eyes were on Liam, but Liam’s eyes were always on Maya. This unspoken crush, it should have ended long ago. But in my naive youth, I always secretly rejoiced that I could steal another glance at Liam on this path. After school, I dawdled, slowly making my way out. Liam and Maya were waiting at the school gate. There was no escaping them, so I had no choice but to push through. Maya didn’t ask about me running away the day before; she still linked her arm through mine, as affectionate as ever. “Chloe! We waited for you so long at the intersection today, why didn’t you come?” I tried my best to resist, but couldn’t. I subtly pulled my arm away from hers. Maya’s expression froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her smile unwavering. “It’s my birthday today, Chloe. Aren’t you going to celebrate with me?” My heart suddenly trembled. In my past life, it was on Maya’s birthday night that she got drunk, and with teary eyes, we confided in each other. She unintentionally told me about being abused by her stepfather when she was young. This time, how could I dare to listen to her secrets? I avoided looking at Liam, who stood beside her, and stammered, looking down. “I… I have something at home. I can’t go. Happy birthday.” Then, without waiting for Maya’s eyes to instantly redden, I turned and walked away quickly. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. “Chloe Davies.” It was Liam. My heart seized up, and I hurried even faster, head still down. Liam caught up to me in a few strides, blocking my path entirely, his shadow instantly falling over me. “Why are you running?” Finally, for the first time, I lifted my head to look at the just-turned-eighteen Liam. He was wearing the familiar school uniform, his face sharp and chiseled, but the deep, distant look in his eyes, unbefitting his age, was identical to the Liam of my past life. Suddenly, I realized that the eighteen-year-old Liam wouldn’t look at me like that. I was startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces, almost losing my balance. But the Liam before me stepped closer, his shadow following mine. “Chloe, you seem… afraid of me?”

The next second, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always had. “Chloe, are you feeling unwell? Why are you hiding from Maya and me?” “It’s Maya’s birthday today. She’ll be really sad if you don’t come. How about we go celebrate with her, okay?” Liam was smiling, but I detected a hint of suspicion. It made sense; since yesterday, I had been acting completely out of character, avoiding them whenever possible, and not showing Liam the same eagerness as in my past life. If… Liam wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Liam, he would definitely suspect if I was truly the seventeen-year-old Chloe. After three years of marriage, my feelings for Liam had long vanished, replaced by all the mental torment. Now, I both hated and feared Liam. “I… I…” I managed a strained smile, but Liam had already spoken first, addressing Mr. Clark, who was waiting by the road to pick me up: “Mr. Clark, it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’ll take Chloe to celebrate for a bit and then bring her home.” Mr. Clark, aware of the Davies and Hayes families’ close ties, smiled and nodded before driving off. I could only follow silently behind them. In the past, when the three of us were together, I mostly watched Liam and Maya talk and laugh with perfect synchronicity, my heart aching. But now, I simply watched them, my emotions flat. I was even calculating what excuse I could use to leave midway.

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I was locked in the trunk, the scorching air burning my throat. Every breath felt like swallowing a ball of fire, stifling and painful. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have put that blanket on Leo. I pounded on the trunk lid, my palms hitting the burning metal, producing dull thuds and searing pain. “Dad! Mom! I’m sorry! Let me out!” “I’m so hot… Mia knows she was wrong… I’ll never do it again…” But my voice was completely muffled. I remembered when Dad bought the car, he’d proudly shown me: “Look, Mia, the soundproofing on this trunk is amazing. When I drive, your music back here won’t bother me at all!” Back then, I clapped my hands and laughed, thinking Dad was so clever. Now, that proud feature had become my living hell. I screamed and pounded until my palms were raw and my throat hoarse, but I got no response. The car was moving. I could feel the bumps as the tires rolled over gravel, Each jolt sending my head slamming against the cold, hard inner wall. I don’t know how much time passed before the car suddenly stopped. A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. Had Dad finally cooled down? Was he going to let me out? I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound from outside. “Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. Arthur, quick, take some pictures of Leo!” It was Mom’s voice, full of excitement and joy. “Alright, come on, Leo, look at me, smile!” “That’s it, my good boy, you’re so photogenic!” Dad’s voice followed, dripping with affection. I heard the camera’s “click-clack” shutter, and Leo’s happy giggles as they played with him. They hadn’t stopped for me. Only because the roadside scenery was nice. My heart sank, bit by bit. No, they wouldn’t abandon me. They’re just still angry. I pounded harder on the trunk, my nails scratching against the inner wall with an awful screech. In the chaos, my hand brushed against a teddy bear tucked into a corner. It was a birthday gift from Mom, and if you pressed its belly, it would play a recording of my voice. “Mommy, I love you, Mommy is the best mommy in the world!” My clear child’s voice echoed in the cramped space. They must hear it outside! Mom would surely soften if she heard it! Clutching this last hope, I pressed the bear’s belly again and again. Sure enough, Dad’s impatient roar came from outside. “What’s all that noise?! Can’t you even behave in there?!” “Keep it up, and I’ll throw you into these mountains for the wolves to eat! That’ll teach you!” Dad’s voice was like ice water, drenching me from head to toe, extinguishing all my hope. Fear and the heat wave engulfed me, making me dizzy. The car was like a giant oven. My skin was searing, and sweat soaked my dress. My consciousness faded, and hallucinations flickered before my eyes. I saw myself as a tiny girl, Dad lifting me high above his head, through a crowded street. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, and he pointed to the brightest one, telling me: “Mia, you are my brightest star in the night sky, my most precious treasure.” Dad, your treasure is about to be cooked alive. When will you finally turn around and look at me? When I “opened” my eyes again, I found myself floating outside the trunk. The afternoon sun was dazzling. I looked down at myself; my body was semi-transparent. Am I dead? Not far away, Dad and Mom were walking back from a mountain path with Leo. They looked like they’d had a wonderful time. Dad fanned Mom with his hand, and Mom blew a small fan at Leo. Both were sweating profusely, but their faces were beaming with contented smiles. “Mom!” I rushed towards Mom, wanting to hug her like I used to. But my body passed right through her arm. I couldn’t touch anything. They couldn’t see me, couldn’t hear me. Mom walked to the car, opened the door to get some water, and gulped it down. She wiped her mouth, her gaze briefly sweeping over the trunk, and hesitated before speaking: “Arthur, Mia has been in the trunk for so long. What if something happens? It’s so hot…” My heart leaped with joy. Mom remembered me! She still cared about me! I floated beside Mom, looking at her eagerly, silently screaming: Open the trunk! Save me! Dad was wiping sweat from Leo, and at Mom’s words, his face instantly darkened. He snapped: “You feel sorry for her? Have you forgotten Leo almost died because of her?! I think she deserves this lesson!” He glanced at the trunk with disgust: “Let her stew in there! It’ll teach her a lesson! She’ll live. It’s a lesson she needs.” “It’ll stop her from getting any more twisted ideas about harming my son! So young and already trying to hurt my son. I’m being merciful by not breaking her legs!” “Say one more word, and you can join her in there!” Dad’s tone was full of disgust and icy coldness, as if I weren’t his daughter, but some sworn enemy. Mom trembled with fright, immediately shutting her mouth, not daring to utter another word. She just cast another worried glance at the trunk, then turned her head to continue doting on Leo in her arms. They got back in the car, started the engine, and drove towards the mountain villa. Soon, the car stopped at the villa’s entrance. Brenda Evans, my aunt, was already waiting there. As soon as they got out, she greeted them with a wide smile. “Oh, my sweet big nephew,Brenda has missed you so much!” Brenda took Leo from Mom’s arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Then, she squinted at the car and said sarcastically: “Where’s that little troublemaker? You didn’t bring her along, did you?” “Arthur, I’m telling you, you should have gotten rid of that wasteful girl ages ago, she’s nothing but bad luck for our precious Leo!” I knew she was talking about me. From a young age, Aunt Brenda had never given me a kind look. She’d always say, “Girls are just a temporary expense, a placeholder until they marry out. But a son? A son carries on the name, he’s the family’s future, its true legacy.” Dad listened to Brenda and actually laughed, his voice full of agreement: “Leo is so well-behaved. Unlike some ungrateful brats, who after all these years, only harbor jealousy and can’t stand their own brother.” Mom also forced a smile, not daring to refute a single word. “Arthur, Eleanor, come inside quickly, dinner’s ready.” Dad nodded, about to walk towards the trunk, but Brenda grabbed his arm. “Oh, Arthur, it’s so hot outside, you can get the stuff later!” “I’ve made chicken soup, it’s getting cold. Hurry and bring my precious nephew in for soup!” Mom also chimed in: “Yes, Arthur, let’s eat first. We’re all hungry.” Dad looked at Leo, who was giggling in Brenda’s arms and smiling at him, his face filled with doting affection. “Alright, you’re right. Dinner first.” Without looking back, he casually pressed the car key. “Beep-beep,” the car lights flashed, and the doors locked. Dad didn’t spare the car another glance. He, Mom, and Brenda, crowded around Leo, walking happily into the villa as a family. They chatted about the day’s fun, planned tomorrow’s activities, their laughter echoing without end. After dinner, they sat in the living room watching TV. Leo was cuddling with Mom, and Dad was peeling an apple nearby. I floated by the cold car, watching the warm light stream from the door, feeling like a joke abandoned by the whole world. It turned out, without me, they were still a complete family.

That night, I floated into their bedroom. Dad was already fast asleep, even snoring softly. Mom tucked Leo in, kissing his forehead. As she stood up, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the window, towards where the car was parked. My heart leaped into my throat. Mom, did you remember me? But she only stood for a second before reaching out to pull the curtains shut, blocking out all the darkness and cold from outside. All night, I stood by their bed, watching their peaceful sleeping faces. Dad and Mom slept so soundly, as if they had completely forgotten me. The next day, the sun rose as usual. Dad walked into the yard, stretched, and prepared for his morning exercise. Passing by the car, he frowned, sniffing the air. “What’s that smell? So awful. A dead rat?” He muttered in disgust, walked around the car, showing no desire to investigate further. To celebrate Leo’s “recovery,” Brenda and Mom had prepared a lavish lunch. In the living room, Dad and Brenda were chatting on the sofa. “Arthur, I swear, you’re too soft-hearted. For a girl like that, you need tough love!” Brenda proudly shared her wisdom with Dad. “You did the right thing this time. You need to discipline her severely, so she knows who’s in charge in this house. Otherwise, what will happen?” “She’ll think she can run wild in this house!” Dad’s face showed his agreement. “If Leo hadn’t been so lucky this time, I would have broken her legs!” Seeing this, Brenda became even more animated, bringing up things from my childhood. “Exactly! Don’t you remember how she ‘accidentally’ pushed Leo’s bottle off the table when he was little?” “How she ‘accidentally’ put salt in Leo’s porridge?” “I always said, she’s rotten to the core, naturally jealous of our Leo!” In her mouth, I became a malicious older sister, constantly plotting to harm my brother. “I told you before, that girl is cunning, but you wouldn’t believe me.” “See? Now her true colors are showing!” “Thank goodness we found out early, otherwise my precious nephew would have suffered even more!” Dad’s face grew darker and darker. He gripped his wine glass, gritting his teeth as he said: “That ungrateful brat!” “I should have listened to you back then and sent her away! Keeping her around is nothing but trouble!” Mom was sweating profusely in the kitchen, bringing dishes to the table one by one. Dad saw that all the dishes were ready and called out to the kitchen: “Eleanor, stop working, come and eat with us.” Mom came out with the last plate of braised pork, a hint of hesitation on her face. She glanced at the dining table, then towards the door, and whispered: “Arthur… Mia… she hasn’t eaten since yesterday, will she be…?” My heart leaped. Mom, you still remember me, right? “Clack!” Brenda slammed her fork down on the table, cutting Mom off. “Eleanor, what foolishness are you talking about?! She almost killed Leo, and you still feel sorry for her?!” “If we don’t teach her a lesson now, make her feel the pain, she’ll never learn to protect her brother!” “Skipping a few meals won’t kill her! Let her reflect properly!” Brenda turned to Dad, her tone becoming earnest: “Arthur, don’t go soft now. Leo is the only one that matters, the one who’ll carry on the Miller name, your legacy. Mia? She’s just a girl, she’ll marry off and be someone else’s problem. You need to show her who’s boss now, or she’ll ruin Leo, everything you’ve worked for!” Dad glared fiercely at Mom, angrily scolding her: “You’re always making trouble! Always too soft-hearted!” “If you feel sorry for her, then get out there and stay with her now!” “I’d like to see how long your mother-daughter bond lasts!” “If you dare to say one more word for that ungrateful brat, you can leave this house too!” Mom’s face turned ashen, and her hand, holding the bowl, began to tremble. She immediately placed the dish on the table, forcing a smile that was worse than a cry, and dared not mention my name again. Dad and Brenda were drinking and chatting jovially. Mom continuously served food to Leo. They started planning their afternoon activity: a BBQ at a charming local spot. Leo clapped his hands with delight. Dad and Brenda laughed, and Mom joined in their laughter. No one mentioned me again, as if I had never existed. As they prepared to leave for the BBQ, an indescribable, faint stench of decay wafted out the moment the car door opened. Dad frowned deeply, cursing in disgust: “That rotten girl, she must have peed in there! What a nuisance, so dirty and smelly!” He said, opening all the car windows, hoping to air out the smell. The wind rushed through the windows, blowing through my semi-transparent body. How I wished this wind could also carry away my despair and pain. Dad stood outside the car for a while. When he thought the smell had dissipated enough, he got into the driver’s seat. He never opened the trunk again, never even glanced at it. Soon, Mom, holding Leo, and Brenda, carrying snacks, got into the car, chatting and laughing. “Oh, what’s that smell? Don’t let it stink up my precious little one!” Brenda exaggeratedly pinched her nose. “Arthur, whatever you do, don’t open the trunk! If that smell gets out, we won’t be able to enjoy dinner tonight!” “Don’t worry,” Dad impatiently started the car, “I couldn’t care less about her.” And so, the family drove off, taking my lifeless body wit

The third day was the day of my piano recital, which I had looked forward to for half a year. For this recital, I practiced three hours every day after school, my fingertips developing thin calluses. Dad had promised me that if I performed well, he would take the whole family to the mountain villa for a vacation after the recital. Now, we were on vacation, but I had missed the stage forever. At ten in the morning, the recital was about to begin, but I had still not appeared. Ms. Carter, my teacher, called my mother’s phone again and again. Finally, the call connected. “Hello, Mia’s mom? This is Mia’s piano teacher.” On the other end of the line, the background was noisy with the clatter of poker chips and Brenda’s laughter. Mom’s voice carried an unnatural hesitation: “Ms. Carter… is, is something wrong?” Ms. Carter asked anxiously: “Mia’s mom! The recital is about to start! Mia isn’t here yet! We’re waiting for her! Where is she?” Mom paused, then her tone became impatient: “Oh, her? She’s throwing a tantrum, locked herself in her room and won’t come out.” “This child is getting more and more disobedient, we don’t know what to do!” I floated in the living room, watching Mom deal poker chips while lying on the phone, my heart tearing. Just then, Brenda snatched the phone from Mom and yelled into the receiver: “What’s this about a recital? What’s the point of a girl learning all these fancy things? Can she eat it?” “She’s just going to get married and have kids anyway! Our Mia isn’t coming! She won’t be coming anymore! You can just cancel the lessons!” With that, Brenda abruptly hung up the phone. On the other end, Ms. Carter stood frozen, clutching her phone. She felt something was terribly wrong. She knew how much I valued this recital. I could practice a complex musical phrase all afternoon without eating or drinking. How could I possibly be “throwing a tantrum” at the last minute? The more Ms. Carter thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She immediately opened Mom’s social media. She found the name of the villa community and its location. She then clicked on Dad’s social media. Two days ago, Dad had posted a series of scenic photos with the caption: “Mountain air is good, brought Leo out for some fresh air.” Ms. Carter scrolled through the photos, and when she saw the last one, her heart plummeted. Ms. Carter didn’t delay any further. She decisively called the police. “Hello, 911? I need to report something. I suspect a child might be illegally detained in the trunk of a private car!” Upon receiving the report, the police swiftly mobilized. Following the location provided by Ms. Carter, they quickly found Dad’s family playing cards in the villa community’s game room. Facing the sudden appearance of the police, Dad still looked arrogant and dismissive. “Officers, have you made a mistake? Our family is just here playing cards, what law have we broken?” A police officer sternly showed his ID: “We received a report that you might be illegally detaining your daughter. Please, where is your daughter, Mia?” Dad scoffed, disdainfully throwing his poker chips onto the table. “Is it a crime to discipline my own daughter?” He pointed upstairs, saying indifferently: “She’s in her room upstairs, reflecting on her actions!” “Kids throw tantrums, they’re disobedient. You have to ground them for a couple of days, or they’ll get out of control!” Mom sat beside him, her face ashen, clutching the hem of her clothes, not daring to say a single word.

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When the emergency call came in, the dorm manager, Mrs. Peterson, blocked my way. “A man? In the girls’ dorm? Over my dead body!” I was anxious, “In front of medical staff, there’s no distinction between men and women.” I ran as fast as I could and finally saved the girl. But then she tried to extort me. “This unethical doctor didn’t rescue me in time, which is why I have these complications.” “And when he was saving me, his hands weren’t honest; he touched me inappropriately.” Throughout the holidays, my family and I were cyberbullied because of this. Unable to bear the pressure, I jumped from the building. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mrs. Peterson. This time, I wasn’t in a hurry. After all, the person lying upstairs was Mrs. Peterson’s daughter! “I said no, and that’s final. How can a man go up there?” Mrs. Peterson stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, refusing to open it. “You’re all thinking with your dicks, every last one of you! Letting you in would be like letting a creep through the door” I looked at Mrs. Peterson, masking the regret and surprise churning inside me. “Dr. Stone, please think of something! The patient is suffering from respiratory alkalosis,” Chloe, the nurse behind me, urged anxiously. I snapped back to reality. “She won’t let us in. What can we do?” Chloe looked at me, completely taken aback. I knew why she was surprised. This was completely unlike my usual behavior. In my previous life, I had stormed that door with the others, smashed it open, and rushed upstairs to save the girl. I’d snatched the patient back from the jaws of death, but then she’d tried to extort me, leading to my tragic end. Back again, I was determined to avoid that outcome. However, thinking of this family’s true colors, I quietly whispered to Chloe, “Get out your phone, and discreetly record this.” Watching her open her camera, I stepped forward to negotiate. “If we miss the optimal window for rescue, this girl could very likely suffer permanent complications.” Mrs. Peterson looked at me with disdain. “You can talk all you want, but I’m still not letting you into the girls’ dorm!” She scanned us, then pointed at me, spitting, “You don’t look like a good person! Are you some shifty-eyed fraud pretending to be medical staff?” I bit back a sarcastic remark, but my face showed only anxiety. “If we miss the rescue window, can you take responsibility for that?” She said smugly, “That’s just according to school regulations. Her life or death is her own destiny.” Chloe couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “You’re just a glorified doorman! Not letting us up there is practically killing someone!” How could Mrs. Peterson tolerate her authority being challenged? Her eyes narrowed. “Are you his side piece or something, getting all worked up?” “And you look down on me? You’re just a servant yourself!” Our nurses were all new young women, no match for Mrs. Peterson. Hearing her words, Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up. I stepped in front of Chloe. “What ‘side piece’ are you talking about? Just because you’re that kind of person doesn’t mean everyone else is. Let us in, a student upstairs needs urgent care.” Mrs. Peterson’s face turned red, and she started spewing insults. “I’m not letting you up! Do you want to save a student, or just ogle the female students? You’re shameless!” I raised my hands to calm her. “Don’t get excited, just calm down.” Chloe quietly reminded me, “Dr. Stone, time is running out.” I sighed, putting on a conciliatory look. “What exactly will it take for you to let us in?” Mrs. Peterson puffed up her shoulders, munching on sunflower seeds. “You can call the principal. If he agrees, then I will.” I tried to reason. “Then give us the principal’s number.” She simply stopped talking. Chloe and I started contacting everyone we knew, and finally found the number. “Dr. Stone, it’s not going through.” Mrs. Peterson said triumphantly, “Can’t get through, can you? Well, there’s one more way.” I didn’t speak. Chloe urged, “Just tell us!” She pointed at me: “Make this man kneel down and beg me.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to save someone? What’s kneeling down for a life?” Mrs. Peterson pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them. I said in a low voice, “The student upstairs is a fresh, young life.” Chloe was indignant. “You wait. I’m going to report you.” I was secretly pleased; this was a godsend. People like Mrs. Peterson, once they hear “report,” would explode like a powder keg. Sure enough, Mrs. Peterson directly flung sunflower seed shells onto our faces. “I don’t need him to kneel. You kneel for me, and I’ll let you up.” Chloe’s face turned beet red with anger. “You’re just a filthy lowlife!” Mrs. Peterson stomped her foot, sneering, “Aren’t you supposed to be an angel in white? Well, someone’s waiting for you to save them, so why aren’t you doing it? You’re just faking it!” Chloe looked at me helplessly. I subtly shook my head. Mrs. Peterson mocked, “I think all this talk about saving lives is fake. You just want to show off in front of this man.” I was about to say something when a frantic voice interrupted me. A student came flying down the stairs, panting heavily, and stumbled in front of Mrs. Peterson. “Peterson, she’s really not doing well.” Mrs. Peterson pulled her arm away. “Even so, we have to follow the rules.” The student stomped her foot anxiously. “Peterson, the one who’s sick is…” Mrs. Peterson put on a business-like face. “Even if it were my own parents, we’d still have to follow the rules.” The student looked at me with pleading eyes, then rushed to the door. “Doctor, please come in! My roommate is really bad. I’ll open the door for you.” With that, she lunged at the door to open it. Mrs. Peterson grabbed her, gave her a shove, and the young girl’s body hit the ground like a ragdoll. We all gasped. “My hand hurts so much,” the girl’s face was contorted in pain. “Can’t you keep your hands off men? Wanting to open the door for him, you’re truly shameless!” Seeing the pained expression on the student’s face, I felt a pang of pity. The female student struggled to her feet. “Peterson, the one upstairs waiting to be rescued is Hai…” Before she could finish, Mrs. Peterson interrupted her again. “Get back to your room, or I’ll give you a major disciplinary warning!” I couldn’t stand it anymore and shot back, “What authority do you have to give out disciplinary warnings? You’re just a dorm supervisor!” Hearing me, the student plucked up her courage. “Exactly! I’ll tell my parents you pushed me like this! And, the one waiting upstairs is Hailey Peterson!” Mrs. Peterson’s face flushed with anger when she heard the student mention telling her parents. But when she heard that the one needing rescue was Hailey, her face instantly went ashen. “What? Hailey is sick? You silly girl! Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” No more nonsense this time. She immediately flung open the door, glaring fiercely at me. “You’re entering the girls’ dorm, so keep your eyes to yourself. Don’t even think about looking around, or I’ll call the police!” “If Hailey doesn’t make it, I won’t let you get away with it!” There was no elevator in the dorm building, so we had to climb. Mrs. Peterson kept ranting behind us, “Can’t you go any faster?” “You’re a man, and you’re running so slowly? Are you even a man?” I scoffed, “If you hadn’t blocked us, we’d have been treating her already. This is all on you.” “If you really wanted to save her, you would have knelt for me already. You’re not genuinely trying to save anyone, and you still have the nerve to call yourselves doctors and nurses!” The dorm was on the seventh floor. I was already out of breath and didn’t have the energy to deal with someone like her. Good thing her every word and action had been recorded. This time, let’s see how she tries to manipulate public opinion and cyberbully me! The dorm room door was wide open. I quietly reminded Chloe, “Keep the camera rolling.” The girl lying on the ground was still conscious. Hearing the sound, she weakly fluttered her eyes open and looked at me. “Why is it a male doctor? I want a lady doctor.” Chloe tried to reassure her. “Sweetie, your situation is very serious right now.” I said in a deep voice, “In our eyes, there are only patients, not genders.” “But I don’t even have a boyfriend yet! How can a male doctor touch me?” Mrs. Peterson said anxiously, “Oh, daughter, stop talking!” She shoved me. “What are you standing there for? Do something!”

Even knowing what this mother and daughter were like, I was a doctor; I couldn’t just stand by and let a patient die. After a quick examination, I turned to Chloe and said, “Alright, let’s get her onto the ambulance.” Mrs. Peterson trailed right on my heels. “Is Hailey okay? You’ve treated her, so why go to the hospital? You’re not just trying to milk us for money, are you?” I stopped walking. “She’s out of immediate danger, but she needs further observation.” She muttered quietly, “I know your type. You just want us to spend more money.” At the hospital, after further checks, it was confirmed by noon that Hailey Peterson was fine. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a bumpy road, but at least we saved her.” Mrs. Peterson was not happy. “Hailey was fine already! You insisted on dragging her to the hospital just to make us spend more money!” “I’m discharging her!” I subtly signaled to Chloe to keep recording. Only after she nodded did I speak. “Keeping the patient hospitalized is to ensure she’s completely out of danger. If you want to discharge her now, you’ll need to sign a liability waiver for us.” As soon as Mrs. Peterson heard “liability waiver,” she refused point-blank. “A waiver? I’m not signing it!” I was all business. “Then she needs to remain under observation in the hospital for another week.” Mrs. Peterson immediately threw herself onto the floor, wailing loudly, “This hospital is bullying people!” Soon, a crowd gathered. Seeing people arrive, Mrs. Peterson put even more effort into her performance! “This hospital is trying to extort money! Hailey wants to leave, but they won’t let her!” Was I going to let her twist the facts? I looked around and said loudly, “According to regulations, she needs to stay for a full week. This is for the patient’s own good.” Mrs. Peterson scrambled to her feet, lowered her head, and bumped into me. “Bullshit rules! You just want to make money!” I let her bump me, but I didn’t reach out. “You can be discharged, just sign the liability waiver.” The people around us also chimed in, “Yeah, you have to follow the rules! If you don’t sign the waiver and something happens, who’s responsible?” I held the waiver out to Mrs. Peterson, enunciating each word. “Ma’am, aren’t you the one who values rules the most? Sign it.” Mrs. Peterson glared at me, gritting her teeth. She snatched it, tore it into pieces in a flash, and tossed them into the air. “I’m not signing!” With the drama over, the crowd started to disperse. After Chloe sent me the video, she asked worriedly, “Dr. Stone, do you think Mrs. Peterson will pull another stunt?” I smirked sarcastically. “Just wait.” Sure enough, the next day, Chloe rushed to find me. “Dr. Stone, that dorm manager ran off with her daughter!” Nothing these two could do would surprise me. “Were the fees paid?” Chloe checked and said indignantly, “She still owes $500.” I immediately transferred $500. “I’ll cover it for her.” After Chloe completed the transaction, she said sincerely, “Dr. Stone, you’re too kind.” I just smiled faintly and said nothing. It wasn’t that I was stupidly rich; that $500, along with those videos, would all come in handy later! After waiting a few days, this good-for-nothing mother and daughter didn’t show up again. I even thought they wouldn’t reappear. Just as I was lamenting that my prepared videos would go to waste, Chloe rushed in, panting. “Dr. Stone, you need to come out! That dorm manager is causing a scene!” I put down the patient’s chart and ran out, only to see the main lobby packed with people. Mrs. Peterson’s voice could carry for miles. “Hailey was treated by this quack doctor, and now she has complications!”

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The year I started elementary school, a new teacher joined our small-town school. During the first class, my sister made me draw our mom in my notebook, chained up. The next day, squad cars with flashing lights swarmed our place. They restrained my yelling dad and smashed open the rusty padlock on my mom’s bedroom door. I watched Mom take Melanie’s hand and rush towards the impeccably dressed man, a smile on her face I’d never seen before. Dad lay in a pool of blood, eyes closed. I begged Mom to save him. But she just shoved me away. “Don’t call me! If it weren’t for Melanie, why would I have ever given birth to you, you little monster!” I froze. Melanie, didn’t you say if I gave the drawing to the teacher, Mom would finally hug me? Nothing in front of me matched my fantasies. The incredibly distinguished man, whom Mom clutched tightly, stared at me with intense fury. He kicked my unconscious dad several times before turning to me. A large hand shadowed the sunlight, and I quickly shut my eyes in fear. “Don’t…” It was Mom’s voice. She tugged on the man’s sleeve, giving me a complicated look. My heart fluttered with a tiny spark of hope. So Melanie hadn’t lied. Giving the drawing to the teacher would make Mom like me. My sister, Melanie, wriggled out of Mom’s embrace and pointed at me, sobbing. “Mom, it was her! The kidnapper loved her the most!” “He always gave her the best food first, and called her his little treasure!” “Her kidnapper dad made us suffer so much, why shouldn’t we teach her a lesson?” Mom’s body stiffened, and her eyes, fixed on me, hardened instantly. The man, whom Mom was holding back, seemed provoked. His gaze on me was filled with murderous intent. Bang! He kicked me, sending me sprawling to the ground. The hard sole of his shoe slammed into my chest, making me feel like my insides had been scrambled. “Mommy… Mommy…” I cried out for Mom, but she just kept holding Melanie, never once looking back at me. For some reason, hearing me call her Mom seemed to enrage the man even more. He relentlessly punched and kicked my curled-up body. The pain choked me, and my vision blurred. Mom, didn’t you just like me a moment ago? Why don’t you like me anymore? Officers in uniform finally pulled the man away, and I was saved. My dad, covered in blood, was handcuffed and taken away in a squad car with flashing lights. As he passed me, he actually smiled faintly, muttering something I couldn’t quite hear. I knew that those who were handcuffed never came back. Mom and Melanie were also preparing to leave. I screamed and cried, grabbing Mom’s leg, falling to my knees and begging her. “Mom, please don’t leave me. I’ll be good. I promise.” Mom hesitated, but then Melanie started crying. “Mommy, I’m scared. I don’t want to see her again.” Even though Mom and Robert didn’t want to take me, the officers insisted, and they reluctantly brought me into the car. The car seats were soft, but I didn’t dare move, afraid my dirty clothes would stain them, and they’d abandon me again. I gradually felt dizzy, and on a sharp turn, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and bumped into Melanie. Melanie burst into tears. “You bullied me enough before, and now you’re bullying me again! I hate you! I never want to see you!” In the end, they found a thick rope. One end was tied to my wrist, the other fastened to the back of the car. I was dragged along behind their car like trash. By the time the car stopped, I was a bloody mess.

I was confined to the hospital for a full month. Each time the doctor came for rounds, his eyes held deep pity for me. Mom never once appeared. Only Melanie came a few times. Each time, she wore a beautiful frilly dress I’d never seen before, holding delicate snacks. She sat by my hospital bed, eating chips and boasting about her new life. “Lily, Dad bought me a huge toy castle, much bigger than our old house in the village.” “Mom took me to eat French food. The snails were so delicious, I bet you’ve never had them, right?” Her words pierced my heart a little. But I remained silent, just watching her quietly. After my injuries healed, I was brought home. It was called a home, but my room was in the attic, small and stuffy, with only a tiny skylight. They didn’t allow me to step out of the room, let alone go to school. Every day after school, Melanie would come by my room, in her pretty school uniform and cute backpack, just to show off. “Lily, today in art class, our teacher taught us how to draw, it was so much fun.” “Lily, my classmates invited me to the amusement park this weekend, and Mom already said yes.” I really wanted to go to school too, but from bits and pieces of the nanny’s conversations, I vaguely learned about my background. Until one day, Melanie took my hand and led me out of the attic, to Mom. “Mom, let Lily go to school too.” “Those things were all the kidnapper’s fault, they have nothing to do with Lily. We shouldn’t take it out on her.” After Melanie’s repeated pleas, Mom actually relented. “Go if you want, just don’t cause trouble.” Mom didn’t even look at me, coldly dropped those words, and left. Even though Mom still didn’t like me, I could finally go to school. I was transferred into Melanie’s elite private school, and I thought this was the start of a new life. But on my first day, my desk was drenched in black ink. My new textbooks were torn to shreds, paper scraps scattered everywhere. I didn’t dare speak up, silently cleaning it up alone. During break, a group of rich kids cornered me in the restroom. “Small-town hick! Do you even know how to use a proper restroom?” “Look at her clothes, so tacky!” “I heard her dad’s a kidnapper, trash’s kids should just die!” A chubby girl suddenly grabbed my hair and shoved my head into the toilet bowl. I struggled desperately, but I was too weak and choked on mouthfuls of disgusting water. Just then, Melanie appeared. She frowned and yelled, “Don’t you dare bully my sister!” She pulled me out of the toilet. “My sister just came from a small town, she doesn’t know how to use a toilet, don’t laugh at her.” “She was brought back by my mom and dad, even though… even though she doesn’t really look like she belongs in our family, but for my sake, please don’t bully her, okay?” But after she finished, she suddenly covered her nose, looking at me with disgust. “Ugh, what’s that smell? Didn’t you take a shower?” After her “defense,” the group laughed even more wildly. “So she’s Melanie’s charity case!” “Don’t worry, for your sake, we’ll take good ‘care’ of her!” After school, I returned home, filthy. Mom saw my condition and frowned in disgust. “She’s a lowlife, alright. Only good for causing trouble outside.” I said nothing, dragging my exhausted body back to the attic. Closing the door, I took out the paper and pen I’d hidden under my bed. I’d scavenged them from the trash. Lying on the floor, I drew a little girl on the paper. The girl stood on the edge of a cliff, and behind her, countless unseen hands were pushing her into the abyss.

I quickly learned the survival rules of that school. No matter how they insulted me, how they pranked me, I remained expressionless. They didn’t let me study, so I pretended not to listen to anything in class. Then, in the evening, back in the attic, I’d study little by little. Until one day, Melanie tore all my notes to shreds. “Lily, Mom won’t give you money for college anyway. This junk is taking up too much space. I cleared it out for you, no need to thank me.” In that moment, something inside me just snapped. I used all my strength and shoved her hard to the ground. She hadn’t expected me to fight back and fell heavily, hitting her forehead on the corner of a table. Blood started to seep out. “Ah!” Mom and the household staff immediately rushed up. Melanie cried and threw herself into Mom’s arms: “Mommy, Lily hit me! She said I’m a bad person and she wants to kick me out of this house!” Mom looked at the cut on Melanie’s forehead, then at me, her eyes turning instantly vicious. “You ungrateful snake! Melanie has been so good to you, and you dare lay a hand on her!” Her hand came down before I could move. The sting spread across my face, sharp and hot. Robert also rushed over. “You dare hurt Melanie? You’ll pay for this!!” He grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall. My scalp screamed with searing pain. Melanie hid behind Mom, revealing a pair of red-rimmed eyes, “Dad, don’t blame Lily, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have ruined her things…” “What things does she have? A lowlife, eating my food, living in my house, and daring to bully my daughter!” He looked around, then grabbed a leather belt from the wall. The cold gleam of the belt flashed, but Mom’s eyes showed no ripples, instead, she hugged Melanie even tighter. Crack! The belt landed heavily on my back. My clothes instantly ripped, and the burning pain made me curl into a ball. “It wasn’t me…” I could barely speak through the pain, but I still used all my strength to argue, “It was her… she tore up my notes…” “Still talking back! Still slandering Melanie!” Crack! Crack! Crack! The belt struck again and again. My back, my legs, everywhere burned with tearing pain. I looked up at Mom by the door, casting her a final plea. She finally spoke, but it wasn’t the plea I’d hoped for. “Just like your kidnapper father, full of lies, a born bad seed, rotten to the core.” Robert threw down the belt and started kicking my body with the tip of his shoe. My chest, my abdomen, my back… each kick made me feel like my insides were being torn apart. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and my vision began to blur. Before closing my eyes, I saw Melanie peek out from Mom’s embrace, a barely perceptible smirk curling at the corner of her lips.

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My parents were renowned music professors. After having my twin sister and me, they poured all their hopes into nurturing us. I was a prodigy, picking up anything instantly. My sister, Seraphina, on the other hand, struggled with everything. The day I won the National Youth Cello Competition, Seraphina couldn’t handle it. She left a diary and jumped into the sea, supposedly taking her own life. Every single word in that diary was a chilling accusation of my supposed sins. Dad lost it. He smashed my trophy into my mouth. Shards cut deep as he forced me to kneel. Mom, her eyes blazing red, stomped on my hands, breaking all ten of my fingers. Then she shoved me into a cello case, demanding I atone for Seraphina. My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs, as blood seeped out of the case, staining the floor. But all I got in return was: “If it weren’t for you, you wicked child, always trying to steal the spotlight, your sister wouldn’t have died! Your selfishness pushed her to her death. Now you’ll stay in there and truly repent, apologize to her!” Seven days later, Seraphina returned, lively and well, at her own funeral. Mom and Dad were overjoyed, embracing her, crying and laughing. They decided to end my punishment. But when they opened the case, they went completely insane.

“Bang!” Dad kicked open the door, grabbed my hair, and threw me to the floor. “You murderer! You killed your sister! How could I have raised something so cruel?” Mom, her hair disheveled, clutched Seraphina’s diary, sobbing hysterically. That’s when I learned that Seraphina had filled the diary with accusations against me, from childhood up. She wrote that I, her gifted younger sister, always loved to show off in front of her, subtly mocking her as worthless. She claimed I humiliated her, saying she didn’t deserve to be a sister, and cursed her for not getting Mom and Dad’s love. So, she didn’t want to compete anymore. She wanted to leave. I froze on the spot. Why would she lie? All my life, Mom and Dad had clearly favored her, cared more for her, simply because she knew how to read their moods and charm them. I, on the other hand, could only gain a little more attention by constantly practicing my cello. Fearing she’d be sad due to her lack of talent, Mom and Dad would practically move mountains to give her the best of everything. To spare her feelings, they missed every one of my competitions, always staying with Seraphina. Today’s finals were crucial for my future, and after much pleading, they finally agreed to attend. But after I won, they went crazy upon hearing Seraphina had jumped into the sea, abandoning me and rushing out. Now, their eyes held nothing but disgust and hatred for me. “Last night, Seraphina told me, ‘Mom, I might never catch up to Elara. My life is a joke’… How did I not realize what she meant!” Mom suddenly crouched down, her nails digging deep into my chin. “She’s your own sister! Is this how you belittled her, drove her to her death?!” Pain made tears well in my eyes. I struggled to speak, “Mom, no, I didn’t…” Before I could finish, Dad, his face a storm cloud, snatched up my crystal trophy and slammed it hard into my mouth. “Still trying to argue after all this?! You used this mouth to force Seraphina to suicide, didn’t you?!” Blow after blow, the heavy trophy slammed into me. My vision blurred, a warm gush erupted from my nose. Bang! The trophy finally shattered against my lips. Several sharp fragments pierced my mouth, and I nearly passed out from the pain. Blood dripped onto my white dress, blooming red where it touched. As if that wasn’t enough, Dad pressed me down, forcing me to kneel on the shards. My knees screamed in agony, the fragments felt like they were piercing my bones. I wailed. The next second, Dad stormed into my room, dragged out all my awards and certificates, and tore them to shreds in front of me. Even the clay sculpture of our family of four that I’d handmade for his birthday was smashed at his feet. No! Dad, why don’t you believe me…? Tears streaming down my face, I lunged to pick up the pieces, but Mom’s foot came down hard on my hand. “You murderer, give me back my Seraphina! Why wasn’t it you who died instead?!” She was hysterical, her high heel slamming down onto my fingers, one by one. “Ah!” The excruciating pain of breaking bones was too much. I couldn’t hold on, and everything went black.

When I woke again, I found myself lying on a soft bed. My face and hands were bandaged. Mom came in, holding a bowl of chicken soup. She blew on each spoonful, then fed it to me. This was the first time in eighteen years she’d been so gentle with me. My nose stung, and tears fell. “Mom, I really didn’t say those things to Seraphina. Please, believe me?” She mumbled a distracted “Mmm,” told me to rest, and left. I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep, but dimly heard someone talking to Mom and Dad: “Time’s almost up. Lock her away now!” My body was lifted and placed into a confined space. The familiar scent of pine wood brought me back to awareness. I struggled to open my eyes and discovered that Mom and Dad had crammed me into my cello case! Behind them stood a man dressed in flowing robes, looking like some kind of spiritual medium. Seeing the fear in my eyes as I tried to struggle, Dad shoved me back into the case with a vicious glare. “Stay there and atone for your sister! The Seer said Seraphina’s spirit can’t find its way back because you drove it away!” Mom, her hands pressed together, murmured, “Don’t be afraid, Seraphina. Your mom and dad have locked this wicked child away to pay for what she did. Please calm down, come back to us soon, just a visit. Tell us where your body drifted off to…” Julian, the medium, waved a hand, signaling them to seal the lid. “The deceased’s spirit will definitely visit in a dream within seven days. After that, you can let her out!” “No, Mom! I hurt so much, please don’t lock me in!” I struggled in terror, but Mom held me down tightly. Dad, with a grim look, snapped the latches shut. The world plunged into darkness. I desperately heard the cello case being locked. “If it weren’t for you—always showing off, always stealing her light—she’d still be alive.” Mom’s cold voice filtered in. Dad’s voice was full of disgust, “It’s just a few days in the cello case as punishment. Is that really more painful than Seraphina being lost to the sea?” My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs. The wounds on my fingers tore open again, and blood seeped out of the case, soaking the floor. “No… please, I’ll really die in here…” “Hmph! There are air holes in the cello case, and we gave you enough nutrients to last seven days. Don’t you dare try to threaten us with death!” “If only your death, you evil spawn, could bring Seraphina back, how wonderful that would be!” Hearing those last words, I completely gave up struggling. Tears streamed out, stinging the injuries on my face. I started to develop a high fever, my consciousness gradually blurring. I don’t know how much time passed, but then the door to the room where they’d set up Seraphina’s memorial opened. Instantly, my will to survive reignited. Mom, Dad, please save me, I feel terrible… Mom’s anxious voice reached my ears. “The Seer said, as long as we fulfill Seraphina’s wishes from her diary, she’ll definitely visit us in a dream!” “Right, let’s start doing them one by one now!” Dad urged her, and they left again. The door to the memorial room slammed shut with a *bang*. My only hope shattered once more. My body grew colder and colder. My vision began to blur. In the darkness, I seemed to return to my childhood, to a birthday celebration Mom and Dad threw for us. Mom carried a cake glittering with candles, and Dad smiled, clapping his hands. “Happy Birthday to our two adorable little birthday girls!” He smiled, holding out two gifts. “Elara, this is your new sheet music. Seraphina, this is the Barbie doll you wanted…” I smiled, reaching out to take the gift, but their faces instantly twisted. Mom slammed the cake onto the floor. Dad tore the sheet music in his hand to shreds. “You deliberately mocked your sister, forced her to suicide, didn’t you? You murderer!” I cried, shaking my head, “No! I just wanted to tell her, even if she couldn’t follow the path of music, there were so many other possibilities for her future…” “Liar! You killed her! You’ll pay for her life!” I cried, struggled, as if trapped in a long nightmare. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself no longer in that cramped, locked cello case. Instead, I was floating in the air above the memorial room.

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I died on my wedding anniversary. My sister-in-law, Chloe, sent three AI-generated intimate photos of me with a homeless man to our family SnapChat group. “Hey, everyone! Look at these pics. Cassidy must love this stuff” “Check out these juicy pics, everyone! Cassidy loves this kind of thing!” My husband, Liam, called me, his voice frantic: “Cassidy, I know it’s fake! I’m coming home right now!” A piercing screech of brakes ripped through the phone, followed by a sickening thud. He died horribly, crushed under a massive truck. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, stormed into the hospital and slapped me hard. “You evil jinx! You cursed my son to death!” My father-in-law, Richard, watched with cold eyes. “Good riddance. This worthless cuckold wasn’t fit to be my son.” What chilled me even more was my own mother, Sarah, sobbing as she said, “Cassidy, just accept it. We can’t let one person ruin both our families’ reputations.” My father, Robert, angrily shook off my hand. “We don’t have a daughter like you! You’re a disgrace!” On the rooftop, the wind was biting cold. Chloe cheered from below, “Jump! Go join my brother in hell!” I plunged down, the last thing I saw was my husband’s sweet, trusting smile. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back the day before the photos were sent.

My sister-in-law, Chloe, was proudly showing off her edited photo. “Hey, check this out! Not bad, right?” This time, I smiled and complimented her skills. “Cassidy, are you awake? Come on, try the warm milk I just made for you, I even added honey!” Chloe’s sickly sweet voice buzzed in my ear. She held out a cup of milk, her smile innocent and harmless. “Cassidy? Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not really mad at me, are you?” She leaned closer, her tone disgustingly affectionate. “I just thought you were too stressed last night, so I played a joke on you. Who knew you’d get so scared you’d smash your phone?” Last night, while I was showering, she secretly used my phone to post a message in my class SnapChat group: [After being married for so long, I just found out Liam is completely useless in bed. This life of celibacy is killing me. Is there any real man out there who can keep me company?] Followed by a few suggestive emojis! By the time I found out, the message couldn’t be unsent. The group instantly blew up, relatives’ messages flooding the screen. My mother-in-law immediately called, yelling and calling me shameless. My father also texted, accusing me of being disgraceful. I was speechless, unable to defend myself, and in my panic, I dropped and smashed my phone. And Chloe, watching my pathetic state, laughed wildly, saying, “Cassidy, I was just joking! Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Why don’t you just go explain it in the group yourself? Hahahaha…” In my previous life, it was her so-called jokes that slowly pushed me to my breaking point! I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to strangle her right then and there. “Of course not,” I forced a stiff smile, taking the milk. “Chloe’s jokes… why would I be angry?” “Good!” She immediately beamed, plopping down on my bed and affectionately linking her arm through mine. “Sister-in-law, my AI face-swapping skills are super advanced lately!” “I could not only put your face on a homeless man, but I could even swap you with any guy in an adult video, and no one would know the difference!” She giggled, covering her mouth, a cruel glint in her eyes. “Imagine if my brother saw it—he’d totally freak out. Do you think he’d actually believe it?” “Hahaha, that quiet bore would totally lose his mind, right? That scene would be so funny!” Funny? I looked at her twisted smile, my stomach churning. In my previous life, it was this “funny joke” that led to Liam’s tragic death and forced me to jump. “Chloe,” I tried to make my voice sound worried, “let’s not joke like that. Liam… he’s sensitive, he might take it seriously. Plus, Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve.” She laughed, sharp and mean.”Liam ? That boring loser?” “Mom and Dad don’t care about him anyway! He’s like our family’s ATM—except he doesn’t even charge fees!” “My mother said Liam is a loser, so spineless he barely makes a peep. If he couldn’t make money, they would’ve kicked him out years ago! Not like me, I’m their sweet little angel.” As she spoke, she flashed a new, expensive bracelet on her wrist. “Look, Mom made him Venmo me his whole bonus so I could buy this bracelet! Isn’t it pretty? Don’t feel bad for him; he makes money for us to spend!” Then, as if a brilliant idea struck her, her eyes lit up. “Oh, by the way, Cassidy, I found this super cool place today! I’ll take you there this afternoon, okay? It’ll totally blow your mind!” Here it comes. In my last life, she used the excuse of cheering me up to trick me into going near that underpass where the homeless people gathered. That’s where she took the staged photo that would become the base for her AI mischief. My heart pounded, but I kept my face impassive. “What kind of place? I’m a bit tired today, and your brother is coming home for dinner tonight…” “Come on, come on!” She grabbed my arm and shook it, her voice whiny yet forceful. “So what if my brother comes home? Just leave him a note! A guy like him won’t die from missing one meal!” “You’ve been cooped up at home for days! I promise, this place is so… so ‘full of life’! You’ll find it really interesting!” I looked at her, knowing that if I refused, she would only find some other, more extreme way. Better to play along. “…Okay.” I feigned helplessness. “Then wait for me to change.” “Yay!” She jumped up excitedly. “Hurry up, Cassidy! I’ll wait downstairs!” Watching her cheerful back, my eyes turned icy cold. I walked to the vanity table and took out a tiny, high-definition camera disguised as a button, fastening it to the inside of my collar.

That afternoon, Chloe did indeed take me to the place that had haunted my nightmares in my previous life: the dilapidated West Side district, earmarked for future development. The air stank of rot. A few homeless men crouched under the bridge, just shadows in the dark. “Cassidy, look, these homeless people are so pathetic!” Chloe held up her phone, seemingly taking pictures of the scenery, but her lens kept drifting towards me. “They’re all homeless. We should help them, shouldn’t we?” “Mmm,” I replied absently, my gaze vigilantly scanning our surroundings. I knew the homeless man she’d bribed would appear soon. Sure enough, we hadn’t walked far when a disheveled middle-aged man reeking of body odor shambled toward us. His eyes were cloudy, but his target was clear. “Oops!” Chloe suddenly “slipped,” crying out as she lunged directly into me! In my previous life, it was this bump that threw me off balance, making me fall towards the homeless man. She then seized the chance to snap that staged photo of me seemingly falling into his arms. But this time, I was ready. The moment she lurched at me, I subtly shifted my body, deftly avoiding the main force of her push. At the same time, I flicked my wrist, aiming the camera in my collar directly at her. “Chloe! Watch out!” I gasped, reaching out to grab her, but my fingertips just happened to hook onto the phone charm hanging from her chest. “Ah!” she shrieked. To steady herself, her hand instinctively pushed against the homeless man who had just approached us! “Click!” “Click!” I clearly heard her phone rapidly taking pictures. From her angle, the photos would definitely look like *she* was actively falling into the homeless man! And my button camera perfectly recorded everything—including how Chloe accidentally bumped into me, and how she unexpectedly pushed the homeless man. “Get off me! You stink!” After Chloe steadied herself, she immediately shoved the still-dazed homeless man away with disgust, frantically checking her phone. When she saw the photos on the screen, a look of satisfaction spread across her face. She didn’t notice at all that she was the real star of that little accident. “Cassidy, are you okay? You scared me just now!” She put away her phone and immediately adopted a concerned expression. “This place is too chaotic. Let’s go quickly!” “Okay.” I lowered my head, hiding the cold sneer at the corner of my lips. The evidence was in my hands.

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In my past life, my twin sister, Lily, saved a mob boss’ life. In return, he became obsessed with claiming her. Terrified of his violent world, she pushed me, her twin sister, into her place. My biased parents also forced me to comply. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” It was true Lily had given me her bone marrow, and for years, I’d been repaying her, an endless cycle. I was sick and tired of that life. Looking at their cold faces, I nodded. Later, the mob boss went straight for me, establishing a legitimate business empire. I became the glamorous wife of a billionaire. Meanwhile, Lily was scammed out of money and herself by some street punks. In a fit of rage, she plunged a knife into my chest. “You stole the life that should have been mine! If you die, I can take your place and have a good life!” I didn’t struggle. Because what she didn’t know was that the mob boss had a serious obsession, twisted and insane. As for me, I had been tortured to the point where I no longer wanted to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the mob boss was supposed to pick up his bride.

“My poor darling girl, Mom doesn’t want you to be taken by someone like that, but he’s from the underworld, and he’s foreign. He kills people without batting an eye. What are we going to do?” “Lily, if only you hadn’t saved him, it’s your good heart that caused all this trouble. Your life is ruined.” Hearing Mom and Dad’s worried voices, I realized I had been reborn. In my past life, at this very moment, Lily was sobbing dramatically, her eyes intentionally glancing at me. “Why is my fate so cruel? Is being kind my fault? I wouldn’t ignore even a stray animal on the street, and I donated my bone marrow to my sister without a second thought when she was sick. Why do good deeds go unrewarded?” At her ‘reminder,’ Mom and Dad finally noticed me zoning out on the couch. Their eyes immediately lit up. Dad was the first to suggest, “Rose, you and Lily are twins. I sometimes get you confused. Do you think that boss might not be able to tell the difference? After all, he’s only met you once.” Mom understood his meaning. “Are you saying… we should let Rose marry him in Lily’s place?” I immediately refused. “No way!” I had just gotten into my dream university and had my life all planned out. I didn’t want it derailed by one of Lily’s schemes. Lily’s crying suddenly intensified. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair to Rose. Just blame my bad luck!” Mom frowned. “And that’s fair to you?” Then, she glared at me fiercely. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” Dad chimed in, “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” I was speechless. Yes, Lily donating her bone marrow to me was a fact. But all these years, I’d been repaying her, and it felt like it would never end. Anything I owned, if Lily wanted it, she would simply take it. This included, but wasn’t limited to, a limited-edition doll, a dress, and even a boy I had a crush on when I was first discovering love. Whenever I expressed dissatisfaction, she would use the bone marrow incident against me. My parents would side with her, constantly accusing me of being insensible, only knowing how to take and never give back. For years, I’d been suffocated by their expectations. Finally, even my entire life was being thrown away. I knew Mom and Dad’s favoritism stemmed from Lily’s lively and outgoing personality, while I was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t know how to please anyone. So, to end it all, I eventually agreed to sacrifice myself. The ironic part was, I ended up dying by Lily’s hand. But in this life, I wouldn’t obediently comply again. I was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Lily suddenly declared loudly, “It’s fine! I’m willing to marry him! I believe he’ll go straight for me and live a normal life!” Meeting her determined gaze, I realized she had also been reborn, though I didn’t know how she died. Perfect, it saved me the trouble. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Well, congratulations, Lily. No more suffering through school. You’ll marry the boss early and reach the pinnacle of life in one step.”

Lily rolled her eyes at me. “Cut the passive-aggressive act. So what if you’re good at studying and got into a good university? After graduation, you’ll probably make three thousand a month, while I’ll be married to the boss with more money than I can spend. It’s normal for you to be jealous.” Me, jealous? Oh, I was so jealous. I hoped she could still smile after she learned about Lucian’s obsessions. Mom and Dad were bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. “Sweetheart, didn’t you say you didn’t want to marry him? You cried for days, your eyes were swollen. Why the sudden change of heart?” Lily quickly put on a show of being understanding. “Mom, Dad, I’m not like Rose, who’s so good at her studies. If I really let her go in my place, her whole life would be ruined. I can’t be that selfish. Even if… even if my life is over, at least Rose can take care of you in your old age.” Mom and Dad were completely swept away by her ‘sacrifice’, the three of them hugging and crying endlessly, making isolated me feel like an outsider. Though I was used to it, this scene still stung my heart. Even if Lily herself was willing to marry him this time, Mom and Dad still couldn’t help but feel resentment towards me. Even though I hadn’t said a word this lifetime, they still blamed me for not actively shielding Lily from this fate. Instead, Lily’s ‘sacrifice’ for the ‘greater good’ filled them with guilt. In my past life, on the day the boss came to pick up his bride, Lily, terrified of being recognized, hid in her room and didn’t show her face. Mom and Dad also lied, claiming they only had one daughter. This time, Lily began to groom herself before dawn, eagerly anticipating a life where the mob boss would cherish her above all else. Unaware of her true feelings, Mom and Dad hadn’t slept a wink, worried about her leaving. In the morning, Lily came to my room and warned me fiercely, “I’ve already told Mom and Dad to keep quiet, saying we only have one daughter. Don’t get any stupid ideas. Don’t you dare come downstairs and be an eyesore later!” I was more than happy to comply. After everything in my past life, I never wanted to see that man again. “I know. I won’t go out.” But Lily still wasn’t reassured. She stubbornly tied me to a chair. Soon, there was a stir downstairs. He had arrived. My dad ran a small business, and while we weren’t poor, we certainly weren’t wealthy. This townhouse was his big splurge, and to save money on renovations, the soundproofing was… well, let’s just say ‘barely there’. I could hear the conversation downstairs clearly. I thought that after being reborn, I wouldn’t tremble at the sound of his voice again, but when he spoke, I still held my breath. “Miss Henderson, it seems you’re ready.” His voice was deep, laced with an authority that sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t directed at me, but at Lily, yet it echoed the nightmares of my past life, and I couldn’t help but tremble slightly. “Yes, let’s go!” Lily’s voice was jubilant, probably captivated by his appearance. In my past life, it was after she saw Lucian that her hatred and jealousy towards me reached its peak, making her determined to kill me. Lucian, though born and raised abroad, with mixed heritage, was a perfect blend of Eastern and Western features. He was tall and lean, with fair skin and sharp, deep-set features-the dream of countless young women. Just like in my past life, Lucian left Mom and Dad a hefty sum of money for their retirement, enough to astound my small-town dad, who was easily impressed. I prayed for them to leave quickly, to banish the nightmare of my past life far away from me. Suddenly, Lucian asked, “Is she your only daughter?” I froze. Had he asked that question in my past life?

Searching my memories, I found no answer. I wasn’t sure. Lucian couldn’t possibly have been reborn too, could he? A man so careful with his life, so powerful and wealthy-I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to kill him. Mom, Dad, and Lily all said in unison, “Of course. We only have one daughter, and she’s the one who saved you.” “Is that so… Then let’s go.” Lucian’s tone was unreadable. Hearing them leave, I let out a long breath. Soon after, Mom came to untie me. She excitedly told me, “He gave us a check for a hundred million, and it’s US dollars! Can you imagine how much that is in local currency?! Your dad and I can relax for the rest of our lives!” Yet, she had been crying and reluctant to let go of her precious daughter just before Lucian walked in. In my past life, they could have also retired comfortably with this money they got from ‘selling’ me. But Lily, uneducated and irresponsible, got carried away with the money. She spent her days in nightclubs, drinking and partying, and fell in with a group of punks who claimed to be trust fund kids. Whether they were actually rich, I don’t know. But in the end, she was scammed out of money and herself, dragging Mom and Dad back to square one overnight. I forced a smile. “Congratulations.” Mom paused, then changed her tone. “Congratulations for what? Congratulations that your sister was snatched away by a gangster and will never come back? This money is the payment for your sister’s life. Do you even have a heart?” Do I have a heart? I wasn’t the one smiling happily while holding the money. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Anyway, once I started university, I planned to live on campus. I’d walk my own path from then on, wanting no more ties to them. Four years flew by. My university life was unexpectedly smooth and peaceful. I thought I had completely escaped the shadows of my past life, but then, news came that Lily was returning. Lucian had indeed gone straight for her, moving his businesses domestically, but I knew the suffering she had endured behind the scenes. On the day she came home, she made a grand entrance, escorted by luxury cars, covered in designer brands. I knew her; no matter how miserable she was behind closed doors, she always had to appear superior in public. So Mom and Dad didn’t notice anything amiss. They even called to warn me, “Your sister’s back. Don’t come home for a while. We told our son-in-law we only have one daughter, we can’t let him find out.” I laughed. “Mom, I haven’t been home in two years.” The last time was when Mom accidentally broke her leg and called me back to care for her. My words silenced Mom for a moment. Then, she grumbled, “You’re truly useless. In the future, your dad and I will have to rely on your sister and our good son-in-law.” She hung up after that. I shook my head helplessly. I hoped so too. That evening, I had just gotten back to my rental apartment from work when Mom called again. “Come home. Your sister wants to see you.” It was a command, and she hung up before I could refuse. I didn’t want to listen to her, but considering Lily had also been reborn, if she wanted to see me, she would definitely find me. It was better to humor her and see what drama she was planning.

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My mom nearly didn’t make it when I was born, which is why I remained my dad’s only child. So, eighteen years ago, he adopted a poor young boy, raising him as his heir. He wanted someone truly trustworthy by my side in the future, someone who could help safeguard the family business and look out for me. But then, at the peak of his career, my dad suddenly died. I couldn’t handle the shock. I fell terribly ill and spent a whole year recovering abroad. When I returned, I found that the owner of the auction house was now Victor Sterling. All of my dad’s treasured collections had been sold off by him, at rock-bottom prices, to overseas dealers. What he didn’t know, though, was this: My dad adopted more than just him. Victor Sterling twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze cold and distant, devoid of the tenderness I remembered. “Who said you could come in?” He spoke, the coldness in his voice piercing my eardrums. I took two steps forward, glaring at him. “Victor, this is my dad’s auction house.” He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Chloe, her bright crimson nails gleaming, lifted her head from his embrace and playfully tugged at his tie. “Cassidy, get it through your thick skull. This auction house is Victor’s now.” She leaned closer to Victor’s ear, purposely raising her voice. “Some people just don’t know when to quit, do they? Couldn’t hold onto what was theirs, and now they’re crawling back, shamelessly begging.” Victor didn’t push her away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes turning even colder as he looked at me. Seeing them like this, I felt like a vice was squeezing my heart. “Victor, have you forgotten what you promised my dad on his deathbed?” “You said you’d protect the Preston legacy, that you’d treat it like your own business!” “Have you forgotten who entrusted you with all the Preston collections? Who believed in you and made you the head of the auction house?” Victor idly twirled a strand of Chloe’s hair around his finger, not even bothering to lift his gaze. “Cassidy, your sentimental games? I’m so over them.” “Those collections, those promises, they were just your dad’s wishful thinking,” Chloe added, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you really think Victor would hold onto that ‘sentiment’?” I searched Victor’s eyes, hoping to find a hint of the man I once knew. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. “It was a setup from the start, wasn’t it?” “You got close to me, close to the Preston family, all for this auction house, for our collections?” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out. Victor finally looked up at me, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He didn’t answer directly. He reached out and pinched Chloe’s cheek. “See? She’s only just figured it out. Isn’t that a little stupid?” Chloe shook with laughter, a sickening, theatrical sound. I started coughing, the taste of blood rising in my throat. Every word I spoke dripped with hatred. “You owe the Prestons, you owe my dad, and I swear, I’ll make you pay back every single cent, twice over!” But Victor just chuckled as if I’d told a joke. He stood up and walked toward me. He loomed over me, his eyes full of disdain. “Pay back double? Cassidy, you have nothing left. What are you going to fight me with?” “This auction house? I call the shots now.” He then reached out and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, a gesture so dismissive and insulting it made my skin crawl. “I advise you, be smart and leave Starhaven City. Find some quiet place to live your life.” “Otherwise.” “If I can take your dad’s auction house, I can make sure you have no place to stand in Starhaven City at all!” The pain in my chest intensified, yet I started to laugh. “Victor, do you really think you can take all of this?”

The words barely left my mouth when my wrist was suddenly seized. The next second, Victor’s hand clamped down hard on my jaw. The sharp pain in my bones made me wince. “Cassidy, I’ll say it again.” His eyes were menacing, his grip tightening relentlessly. “This auction house is mine now!” “If you dare make another scene here, I won’t hesitate to have you dragged out.” People around us started to gather, their whispers like needles pricking my ears. “Is that Professor Preston’s daughter? I heard she squandered all the family collections.” “She sure did. Now she’s making a fuss here, acting like a total lunatic.” “Mr. Sterling was kind enough to take over the auction house and clean up her mess. And she’s so ungrateful.” I wrenched my hand free from Victor’s grip. “Squandered the collections? Victor, do you dare deny that you sold my dad’s priceless antique books and paintings to overseas dealers?” Those ancient texts were my dad’s life’s work! Victor scoffed, stepping back and pulling Chloe closer by the shoulder. “Easy there, Cassidy. You can’t just throw accusations around.” “You were the one desperate for cash, secretly selling off the collections. Your dad was so furious, it triggered his illness.” “Now, all of Starhaven City knows that Cassidy Preston is an unfilial daughter.” His tone was calm, but every word he uttered was a dagger straight to my heart. At the same time, Chloe pulled a blue-bound notebook from her bag and waved it in front of me. It was my dad’s Personal Appraisal Log, the culmination of thirty years of his painstaking work! “Your dad treated this log like gold. He never let anyone outside the family even glance at it.” “And what did it get him? He raised an ungrateful daughter like you, who couldn’t even protect the family fortune.” “Give it back!” My eyes blazing, I struggled to snatch it. But Victor suddenly stepped forward and kicked me hard in the knee. My balance instantly gave out, and I fell heavily to the floor. My back slammed into a nearby display stand, making a jarring crash. Bang! A delicate antique vase on the stand wobbled, then crashed straight to the ground. Shards flew everywhere, and a sharp piece of porcelain sliced my arm. Blood instantly welled up. Ignoring the pain, I tried to push myself up. But Victor crouched down, pulled a document from his suit pocket, and tossed it in front of me. “This is the collection custody agreement you signed and fingerprinted.” The signature and fingerprint on it were undeniably mine. But I had never signed anything like this! “This is fake!” I crumpled the paper in my hand, my voice filled with despair. Victor raised an eyebrow, looking at the people around us. “Everyone, take a look. Aren’t these Ms. Preston’s signature and fingerprint?” “Looks like it, I’ve seen Ms. Preston’s signature before.” “Maybe she willingly gave them up and now wants to back out?” “How can Professor Preston’s daughter be so shameless?” Accusations rose in a chorus, like a net, trapping me tightly. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The bitter taste of being utterly speechless, with no way to defend myself, stung more than the cut on my arm. “Cassidy, what do you have to say for yourself now?”

“Do you have any conscience at all?” “My dad treated you like his own son, raised you as his heir. Is this how you repay him?” Back then, my dad saw he was alone and not only put him through school but also personally taught him how to appraise collections. He even entrusted him with the core operations of the auction house without reservation. Victor scoffed, tugging at his tie. “His own son? Cassidy, don’t you forget.” “When you secretly sold off collections to pay debts, who helped you keep it from your dad?” “And that time you were cornered in an alley by creditors, who got you out of there?” “It was me!” He emphasized the words, as if taking credit. “But you? You turned around and forgot all my kindness, and now you’re here slandering me!” These twisted lies made my blood run cold, then boiled with fury. Then, I abruptly pushed past the bodyguard next to me and lunged at Chloe. “Give me back my dad’s things!” But Chloe seemed prepared. As I charged, she suddenly recoiled, raising her hand high. Rip. The crisp tearing sound was like a knife plunging straight into my heart. The blue-bound log was torn clean in two. Paper scraps fluttered to the ground, my dad’s thirty years of painstaking work, destroyed just like that. Immediately after, Chloe’s legs gave out, and she clutched her stomach, collapsing to the floor. “Ah! Victor, my stomach hurts…” Victor, quick as a flash, caught her. His eyes, when they turned to me, were instantly filled with murderous rage. “Cassidy! You dare push her?” “I’m telling you, from today onward, I’ll make sure you can’t even get a meal in Starhaven City!” I stared at the shredded fragments of the log on the ground, my mind blank. The surrounding clamor faded, leaving only the sound of my own heavy breathing. My dad’s image, bent over his desk, writing in that log, still flashed vividly before my eyes. He used to say, every word in this log was the root of our Preston family. But now, the root was gone. A wave of pure rage surged from deep within me. I bent down, snatched a ceramic shard from the floor, and lunged toward Chloe. “I’ll kill you!” But after just two steps, security guards rushed up from behind, pinning my arms tightly. I struggled desperately, the ceramic shard in my hand digging deeper into my palm. Its sharp edges bit into my flesh. Blood streamed from between my fingers, dripping onto the floor, blooming into blinding crimson flowers. Victor set Chloe down and slowly walked toward me. His dress shoes crunched on the blood droplets I’d shed, making a sickening, sticky sound. “Do you really think those collections can be recovered?” He leaned down, whispering into my ear, his voice laced with venomous amusement. “I’ve already turned them into luxury cars and mansions, bought jewelry for Chloe.” “Your dad’s life’s work? Now it’s just capital for me to spoil Chloe.” I trembled with rage. “Victor, you ungrateful snake! You beast!” “My dad never should have saved you, never should have pulled you out of that gutter!” “You’ll get your comeuppance! You will!”

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I was watching a show on my husband’s laptop in his office when an AI assistant notification suddenly popped up. “Hey there, handsome boss! Stop working so hard, you need your rest. We’ve got a big night ahead, you know?” I stared at the cutesy font and the screen full of pink hearts, utterly stunned. Clutching the screenshot, I stormed up to him while he was meeting a client. “Are you seeing someone else?” He paused, then chuckled, pinching my cheek. “Silly. That’s just an AI virtual girlfriend our company developed. I’m just personally testing it.” I calmly nodded, then turned and asked someone to investigate. After getting the IP address behind this virtual girlfriend, I immediately posted it in the company SnapChat group. “Come clean now, and I might just spare you some public humiliation.” Taking my money, treating me like a fool – you should be prepared for your life to be utterly destroyed! The bustling company SnapChat group instantly fell silent. Five minutes later, Alex burst through the door, his forehead beaded with sweat, breath ragged, a desperate look on his face. “Tori, it’s really just program testing, you have to believe me!” Several core senior employees followed him in, all rushing to explain. “Ms. Sterling, it’s just a beta version. There’s absolutely no real person operating it.” “The dialogue content is pre-scripted. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.” Mr. Henderson, the Technical Director, pulled out the meeting minutes and handed them to me. “These dialogue templates were designed by the team together. The goal is to boost user engagement and loyalty.” “Mr.Thorne was personally testing it for our team’s project. If you misunderstand him, we’ll all feel terrible.” Their words were earnest, all of them defending Alex. Alex took my hand, his eyes full of sincerity. “Tori, I’m so sorry I upset you. If you don’t like me using this, I’ll never touch it again.” He knew his sincerity always swayed me. Back when he was dirt poor, I saw something in his character and wholeheartedly backed his startup. To achieve success, he worked overtime for half a month straight, not coming home at night. I never doubted him, instead keeping our home perfectly organized, waiting for his return. When he needed funding, I secured investment from my father, agreeing that he’d have full control over the profits for the first five years. In the end, when the business didn’t take off, I didn’t blame him. Instead, I used his “rich experience” as a reason to recommend him for a position at the corporation my father founded. The day he became CEO, at his celebration banquet, he proposed to me a second time. He told me his love for me would always be as pure and passionate as when we first fell in love, and he would only ever love me. Every wedding anniversary after that, he would propose to me again. To prove he stayed true to his original vows. His loyalty to me, by all accounts, should have been unwavering. I wearily pinched the bridge of my nose, waving them off. “I understand. I won’t pursue this any further.” They left the office, relieved. Alex also visibly relaxed and started to walk over to embrace me. I pushed him away. I had already seen Alex’s chat logs with the AI assistant. It messaged him every few dozen minutes. While most of the content was weather alerts or schedule reminders, the language was always ambiguous, even suggestive. There were also custom, faceless emojis, and it was clear they were all from the same person. Even with all my trust in him, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. I had to get to the bottom of this. I still had contacts among the corporation’s technical staff. I excused myself to the restroom and sent the IP address to them. The response came quickly. The user was inside our corporation building. Cross-referencing with HR records, I found her name. Chloe Miller. A new intern in Operations Department Two. My heart suddenly clenched. They kept insisting there was no real person behind it, didn’t they? Now I even had her name and profile. I took the elevator straight downstairs, spotting her the moment I stepped out. Everyone else was engrossed in their work, but her screen was streaming a reality show full-screen. Her desk was cluttered with expensive hand creams and snacks, and a personal humidifier just for her. I walked into the office. She saw me from the corner of her eye, seemingly sensing my presence, and quickly reached out and flipped over a framed photo of them together on her desk.

She slowly paused the show only when I was right beside her desk. My hands clenched discreetly. I wondered if Alex had given her such immense privileges. “Excuse me, but are you watching a show during work hours? Is all your work done?” Chloe Miller glanced at me dismissively. “I’m tired from working, so what if I take a break? Are you here to pick up recycling? Breakroom’s just around the corner.” The employees nearby looked like they didn’t want to get involved, but one still quietly reminded her, “This is Ms. Sterling, the daughter of our corporation’s founder, and Mr. Thorne’s wife.” Chloe Miller looked at me with an innocent expression. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I always imagined the President’s wife would be incredibly elegant and beautiful, so I didn’t recognize you. My apologies.” A surge of anger shot through me. Just as I was about to reprimand her, Chloe Miller glanced elsewhere, and her eyes instantly welled up. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Sterling.I’ll go back to work right away.” “What’s going on?” Alex’s stern voice cut in from behind me. Several employees immediately crowded around, all talking over each other. “Ms. Sterling accused Chloe of not working hard, and the poor intern was crying because of Ms. Sterling.” “Chloe’s work is excellent; her team lead specifically allowed her a break. Ms. Sterling is being too strict.” I was surprised. Just moments ago, these people had been silent, fearful of getting caught in an argument between me and Chloe Miller. But the moment Alex appeared, they suddenly knew which way the wind blew and started defending Chloe Miller relentlessly. “Enough.” Alex pointed at Chloe Miller. “You, come to my office tomorrow to report on your work. I’ll personally review your workload.” Chloe Miller lowered her head and agreed, but a subtle smirk played on her lips. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, a sour, churning feeling in my chest. Was he trying to warn her, or was he just creating an excuse to be alone with her at the office? I composed myself, raising my voice. “I’m not here to supervise. I’m here to announce that the corporation will be upgrading equipment. Starting with your department, all computers will be replaced.” At this news, the employees brightened with surprise. Only Chloe Miller pouted, clearly displeased. “Why so sudden? I’m used to my computer. Can’t I keep it?” “No.” Alex directly rejected her protest, then turned to me with a soft smile. “My wife represents me. All of you will follow her plan!” Chloe Miller looked at him in disbelief, her face flushed red, stifling her annoyance. I couldn’t stand her theatrics anymore. I said a quick goodbye to Alex and went home. Not long after, Alex came home early, looking a bit disheveled as if he’d rushed. He had my favorite cake in his left hand and the bag I’d eyed a few days ago in his right, an apologetic look on his face. “Tori, I’m so sorry. The AI virtual girlfriend testing has been handed over to someone else. I absolutely won’t touch anything that makes you feel neglected ever again.” I took his gifts, calmly saying, “For work, I understand.” He sighed, pulling me into a hug, his voice full of tenderness. “I know I’ve neglected you, I’m sorry. My phone password is your birthday. If you’re worried, you can check it anytime.” I nodded, saying nothing more. That evening, while Alex was showering, I unlocked his phone. It was clean, no suspicious activity at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. “Your hot drink delivery for a female recipient has arrived.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299367”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring