The day I was trying on my wedding gown. My sister, Olivia, still bandaged from her car accident, bolted out of the hospital and burst into the bridal salon. “Sophia, you can’t marry Kevin Blackwood!” Olivia clung to my arm, her face a mask of frantic urgency. “Sophia, please believe me. I’ve been reborn. Kevin doesn’t love you at all. The one he truly loves is your best friend. He’s only marrying you to spite Clara Evans.” “Three years from now, he’ll torment you relentlessly to force a divorce, making your life a living hell. Mom, driven by worry, will fall ill and pass away from grief. Dad, trying to protect you, will be beaten into a cripple by Kevin’s bodyguards. And I… I’ll die in a car accident orchestrated by Kevin and Clara!” Olivia cried out, heedless of her surroundings, tears brimming in her eyes. My first thought was that she had lost her mind. Reborn? How could that be? And as for Kevin loving my best friend? They didn’t even know each other. My best friend and I had known each other since high school. After college, she moved abroad. She wouldn’t have returned to the country if she hadn’t heard I was getting married. In fact, her whole reason for coming back was to be my bridesmaid. We had been best friends for five years, and I’d never once heard of any interaction between her and Kevin. “Olivia, darling, did the accident hit your head? You need to go back to the hospital and rest.” I patiently coaxed her, biting back my irritation. Olivia’s grip on my hand loosened, and large tears rolled down her cheeks. “Sophia, given another chance, I won’t let you step into that hellish marriage again.” She was my sister, my own flesh and blood. Even with doubts, I needed to get a clear explanation before dismissing her. So I asked Olivia, “You say you’ve been reborn. Do you have any proof?” Olivia’s gaze darkened. She slowly said, “Sophia, at five o’clock this afternoon, a fire will break out here. Kevin will abandon you to save your best friend, Clara Evans.” My pupils abruptly constricted. I was about to speak, but Clara Evans’ sudden appearance cut me off. “Sophia!” It was Clara, my best friend. She walked over and hugged me tightly. Olivia seemed terrified of Clara. Her face instantly went ashen the moment she saw her. Noticing Olivia’s unusual reaction, I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you feeling unwell?” “Sophia, my head feels a bit dizzy. Could you please call a cab to take me back to the hospital?” Olivia interjected. I nodded. “Of course.” I pulled out my phone and called a cab for Olivia to return to the hospital. After Olivia left. Clara teased me. “Sophia, I can’t believe you’re getting married so soon! Congratulations, finding a fiancé who cherishes and loves you like Kevin does.” I replied, “What about you? All these years abroad, didn’t you find a boyfriend you liked?” Clara chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I’m all alone, a permanent singleton. I doubt anyone will ever love me…” As Clara finished speaking, I was about to offer some comfort. My fiancé, Kevin Blackwood, suddenly emerged from a corner. “Sophia, how’s the wedding dress fitting going?” As he spoke, Kevin came over to me. Dressed in a sharp suit, he exuded an air of elegant handsomeness. Kevin was born into a prominent family; his parents were the CEOs of a publicly traded corporation. He came from a privileged background but lacked the notorious womanizing habits often seen in wealthy families. Kevin and I fell in love at first sight. After we became official, he was incredibly devoted to me, showering me with affection as if he wanted to place the entire world at my feet. Everyone in our circle said Kevin had fallen head over heels for me. Kevin and I had been together for five years, and he had proposed countless times. I only finally said yes to his proposal a month ago. When I accepted, he even cried, telling me, “Sophia, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” Five years of shared life made it impossible for me to believe that the gentle, refined Kevin standing before me would, in the third year of our marriage, torment me to the point of wishing for death. Snapping back to reality, I said to Kevin, “I haven’t tried it on yet…” “Go on, try on your dress, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you in your wedding gown.” Kevin leaned in and kissed my cheek. Today, Kevin was… exceptionally mushy. It wasn’t quite like him; it was almost as if he were deliberately trying to provoke someone. I glanced at my best friend. She stood silently, her gaze lowered. Kevin quickly scanned her, but there was no strange emotion on his face. Was I overthinking this? Just then, Clara also urged me, “Go on, try on your dress. I’m really looking forward to seeing you in your gown too.” With a soft hum, I walked into the bridal shop’s fitting room, both of them watching with anticipation. As I tried on the dress, I deliberately pulled open the curtain to glance outside. Kevin and Clara were standing in separate corners. Kevin was on the phone, while Clara sat lost in thought. They weren’t doing anything suspicious while I was trying on the dress. Maybe I really was imagining things. Closing the curtain, I slipped into the wedding gown I had carefully chosen. The gown was quite intricate to put on, taking a considerable amount of effort. Just as I finished changing and was about to emerge, I pulled back the curtain, and a thick, suffocating smoke billowed in, stinging my eyes shut. It was actually on fire? And it was exactly five o’clock. My heart turned to ice. The thick smoke blurred my vision. Kevin and Clara, who had been waiting outside for me, were nowhere to be seen. “Kevin! Clara!” I cried out, struggling to move through the smoke, dragging the heavy wedding dress as I desperately tried to find the exit. Every step I took, the smoke choked me, sending me into coughing fits. Thankfully, the next moment, I saw Kevin. “Kevin!” Before joy could even register, I heard Clara’s violent coughing. I turned, intending to help her, but someone was faster. Kevin practically slid on his knees to Clara’s side. At the same moment, a blazing timber suddenly plummeted from above, smashing down on me. The searing pain made me gasp, tears blurring my vision. “Hang in there. Don’t be afraid, I’ll get you out!” Kevin acted as if I didn’t exist, his entire focus solely on Clara. Flames licked at his back, his face flushed red from the heat, yet he still shielded Clara protectively. So, my sister had been telling the truth all along. Clara, it turned out, was Kevin’s true love. The fire continued to spread, the thick smoke stinging my eyes, blinding me. All I could do was watch through tears as Kevin carried Clara away, disappearing into the smoke. My leg was pinned under a fallen pillar, leaving me unable to move. I gazed at the doorway, filled with a desperate hope, fantasizing that Kevin, remembering our five years together, would come back for me. But even as I drifted towards unconsciousness, Kevin never reappeared. … When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room. “Sophia, you’re awake.” I opened my eyes to see Kevin’s anxious face, just as it had always been. “Sophia.” Clara also stood by my bedside, calling my name, her voice as gentle as it had been in high school. My head suddenly throbbed with intense pain. The two people I trusted most had abandoned me in a burning building. “Sophia, I can explain what happened in the fire.” Kevin said, seeing my furrowed brow. He saw my tightly furrowed brows and began to explain: “The situation in the fire was incredibly urgent. I saw your best friend was in a much worse condition. I was afraid if something truly happened to her, you’d be heartbroken too.” “So I rescued her first. But when I tried to rush back into the fire for you, the flames were already too intense. I was blocked at the entrance and couldn’t get through. Then, I passed out myself.” “I did want to save you, Sophia.” Kevin looked at me, his face a picture of sincerity. “Yes, the situation was so critical,” Clara echoed, “After Kevin set me down, he turned right back and plunged into the inferno, trying to save you.” “He truly values you more than his own life.” Clara also wore a solemn, heartfelt expression. I was almost swayed by their feigned sincerity. But the image of Kevin carrying Clara away was burned into my mind. Did they really think I was so easily deceived? “I’d like to be alone for a bit.” Using the excuse of needing rest, I sent Kevin and Clara away. “Sophia.” Olivia walked in. “Do you believe me now?” Olivia asked. I softly hummed. “You were right…” Seeing my acceptance, Olivia continued, “Sophia, I want to take you somewhere else.” Olivia brought me to Kevin’s private estate. “Why did you bring me to my own house?” I asked Olivia. This was supposed to be Kevin’s and my marital home. I had never brought Olivia here before. “We’re here.” Olivia stopped in front of a sprawling villa. I immediately recognized Kevin’s car. “Daddy!” A small boy rushed forward and hugged Kevin. Kevin lifted him high, spinning him around. “Leo, did you miss Daddy? It’s been so long, Daddy missed you terribly.” I stood rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered. Daddy? Kevin had a child? Who was the child’s mother? It couldn’t be… “Kevin, you spoil him too much. Didn’t you say you were swamped at the office today? How did you manage to come back?” The familiar voice froze me in place. It was Clara. “I postponed the meeting. Didn’t Leo say he missed Daddy? Of course, Daddy had to come and spend time with you.” Kevin lovingly pinched the little boy’s cheek. Kevin and Clara… they even had a child together? “Then Mommy and Daddy have to sleep together tonight too, okay? Leo will supervise you both.” The child’s innocent voice rang out. Kevin’s expression didn’t change at all; if anything, he smiled even wider. “Of course! We’re a family, so we’ll naturally sleep together.” Kevin’s lips curved into a smile, his gaze fixed intently on Clara. Clara’s face flushed. She feigned a playful scold. “The child’s still here! What are you saying?” Kevin pulled Clara into a fierce embrace, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “What does it matter? Aren’t I just speaking the truth? You’re my wife. What’s wrong with that?” Wife? A bitter, desolate smile twisted my lips. Clara is your wife, then what about me? Kevin had lied to me for five whole years! I trembled with rage. “Once I take everything from the Vance family, I’ll formally bring you and Leo into our home. I’ll give you everything I have.” Kevin looked at Clara, his voice dripping with affection. Everything from the Vance family? My fists clenched uncontrollably, my nails digging into my flesh until crimson blood welled and dripped. The man I had loved for five years had been using me from the very beginning. And he wanted to destroy everything I held dear. It was utterly pathetic. “Sophia, in the third year of your marriage, Clara crippled your hands. She knew what you cherished most. And after my car accident… my legs were crippled too. I became a useless invalid. I couldn’t even avenge you. I truly was useless.” Olivia said, her voice filled with bitter self-reproach. Olivia forced a wry smile. My nose stung. “It’s all my fault. I was a terrible judge of character. I brought ruin upon our family. I won’t make that mistake again, Olivia.” I hugged Olivia tightly, my eyes blazing with a fierce, burning hatred. I would make them pay. …

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Recently, I’d been waking up with various bite marks on my body. My boyfriend said I was simply too tempting, and he couldn’t resist a little nibble at night. But when I looked closely, those tooth marks were clearly from 32 different people. 1. The research project was nearing its end. I carried the cakes and bubble teas I’d ordered for my junior colleagues to the lounge door. From inside, I heard Cathy’s bright, clear laugh. “Senior, this isn’t right, how Sebastian has been treating Evelyn. She’s just a bit harsh, she yelled at me a few times, but you don’t need to do all this just to get back at her. She’ll be furious if she finds out.” Sebastian scoffed. “Furious? What right does she have to be furious? Acting so superior, constantly giving you a hard time just because she’s a senior. Besides, my specially formulated concoction ensures she won’t remember a thing. How would she ever know?” “Exactly, exactly! Cathy, you’re just too soft-hearted. Evelyn Reed, always acting so high and mighty, deserves to be put in her place.” “Yeah, but even if Evelyn’s got a sour face, her body’s incredible. She’s quite the experience.” “Only you would dare, Sebastian.” Sebastian took a swig of his drink, then leaned in, playfully brushing Cathy’s nose. “She said you made 33 mistakes, didn’t she? Well, we’ll see that she’s utterly debased 33 times. Let’s see her hold her head high after that.” The others clapped. “Impressive, Sebastian! So, where’s the final act going to be?” “The lab,” Sebastian sneered. “For the last time, we’ll be ‘kind’ and do it in her most familiar place.” “Oh, brilliant! I’ve always wanted to have my way with her in the lab.” “But Sebastian, if we post the photos on the forum, Evelyn will definitely recognize herself. Won’t she cause a scene?” “Hmph.” Sebastian tossed his phone onto the table. “Afraid of what? Every photo shows a different man. Anyone who sees them will just say she’s promiscuous and shameless. What grounds would she have to confront me? And besides, the photos are still edited to obscure her face. If she dares to make trouble, I’ll blur your faces and upload the videos. I’ll make sure she can’t stay at Crestwood University.” “Whoa! Sebastian, your videos are incredibly clear! If you put those up, she’d be ruined!” “Sebastian, send me a copy of the video, please. It’s the last time. We can still watch her when we miss her.” Cathy picked up the phone, scrolled for a moment, then tossed it back to the speaker. She purred, “Hmph, Sebastian, you’re truly shameless.” The group erupted in laughter, but I felt as if I had fallen into hell. I frantically fumbled with my phone, scrolling through picture after picture of my naked body. My heart truly died then. The air around me felt sucked away, leaving me gasping for breath. I had always believed Sebastian to be thoughtful and attentive, always handing me a cup of perfectly warmed water after each experiment because he cared for me. I often fell asleep in the lab, but it wasn’t from exhaustion. I had been drugged, systematically violated and humiliated by him and others, and they had taken photos and videos. It was sickeningly ironic that each time I woke up sore and aching, he would thoughtfully massage me, telling me not to overdo it. I had been touched by his kindness countless times, only now realizing it was merely to prevent my suspicion. All of this, simply because I had reprimanded his junior sister. I bit down hard on my palms, forcing myself to return to the university. On the way, every glance from a passerby filled me with terror. I felt like a prisoner stripped bare, flayed by the public’s eyes. Back at my dorm, I saw the stuffed animal Sebastian had given me on my desk. My rage ignited instantly. I frantically smashed everything he had given me to pieces. But it was useless! Utterly useless! Even destroying everything couldn’t erase the fact of my humiliation! My roommate returned, startled by the wreckage. “Did you have a fight with your boyfriend? He’s downstairs waiting for you with a bunch of stuff.” She pushed me downstairs. I saw Sebastian waiting. He handed me a few meal containers and a bubble tea. “Cathy brought you dinner and bubble tea. She said she’s sorry for bothering you these past few days and hopes you won’t be angry with her.” Seeing my silence, he gently ruffled my hair, his voice soft. “It’s just that our Evelyn is too brilliant, they can’t keep up with you, so they get flustered and make mistakes. Forgive her, okay?” Seeing me frozen, he brought the bubble tea straw to my lips. “Drink your junior sister’s tea, and this whole thing will be over. Since you have some time now, come to the lab and guide them.” I trembled violently, clutching his sleeve. “I won’t go! I’ll give you all my notes, but I won’t go!” Sebastian paused, then frowned in disapproval. “Evelyn, don’t be so childish! Cathy has already apologized, are you still going to hold a grudge? Besides, they’re clumsy. If they damage your experimental data or samples, how will you graduate?” He gently stroked my face, his voice still soft, yet I detected a hint of threat. “Be a good girl.” Sebastian half-pulled, half-dragged me to the lab. Cathy and the other team members were already waiting. The blatant, lingering stares of the team members slithered over my body, making me feel utterly nauseous. Sebastian looked at them. “Your senior is here, aren’t you going to greet her?” He then pushed me into the center of the group. Suppressing my trembling, I imported all the data to my computer. “I have other things to do, I don’t have time to guide you.” Sebastian pressed his fingers to his temples. “Evelyn, what’s wrong with you? You’re the senior! What’s wrong with guiding your junior colleagues?” He gestured to the others, who surrounded me. Sebastian picked up a glass of water, softening his tone. “Evelyn, I know you’re tired. Drink some water first, it’ll be over soon.” I desperately shook my head, my face filled with horror. “I won’t drink it! Let me go!” Sebastian looked at me like an unruly child. “Evelyn, you’re being too stubborn.” He had the others hold me down, forcing the water down my throat. “Standard procedure. No visible marks.” Listening to his cold voice, I closed my eyes in despair. 2. When I woke again, I was fully dressed, lying on a bed in the lab. The room was empty. Sebastian had sent me a message. “Evelyn, you fell asleep from exhaustion again. Cathy was tired, so we sent her back first. We’ll come pick you up later.” I suddenly remembered a phrase I’d vaguely heard before I passed out: “Should we include some audio recordings this time?” My hands trembling, I fumbled with my phone and opened the university forum. Sure enough, a new audio recording had been posted. It was my voice. The comments below were buzzing. Oh my god! Who is this? So shameless. More than one guy, right? How promiscuous. Wait, doesn’t that voice sound a little familiar? “Ah—” I shrieked, dropping my phone in horror, clutching my head in despair. Last time it was photos, this time it was an audio recording. What about next time? Would it be a video? What was I going to do? What could I possibly do? I swallowed desperately, as if trying to force down my shattered heart along with my breath. Tears streamed down my face. I wished I could just lose consciousness. When I dragged my broken, defiled body back to the dorm, I was met with my belongings strewn in the hallway and my roommate’s disgusted glare. “It was you, wasn’t it?” “Wh-what?” “The person on the forum.” My roommate scrutinized me, as if I were a piece of trash. “The photos last time, the audio recording this time, that was all you, wasn’t it? How disgusting. You always act so pure, but secretly you’re dirtier than anyone. Get out of this dorm with your stuff. Who knows what filth is on it.” I stood in the hallway, engulfed by the scornful gazes of those around me. Message notifications on my phone rang incessantly. Senior, I didn’t know you played around so much! How about me next? Senior, do you charge a fee? Tsk, tsk, tsk, ‘ice queen,’ more like a worn-out plaything. I bent down, picking up my discarded belongings one by one, only to realize that my shattered dignity was scattered across the floor with them. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t pick it up. Finally, enduring everyone’s contempt, I walked out aimlessly. At the university gates, I saw Cathy linking arms with Sebastian in the distance. Cathy saw me first. She blocked Sebastian’s view, then kissed him brazenly in front of me. I saw her whisper something to Sebastian, and he turned and walked away. She walked up to me, her eyes curving into a triumphant smile. “So, Senior, you saw it all?” “Oh, right, Senior.” She pulled down the collar of her shirt. “Is Sebastian always so passionate in bed? Look at all the marks he left on me.” Seeing the glaring red marks on her neck, I almost vomited. It was sickening. How could it be so sickening? My nails dug deep into my palms. The pain made me bend over, sinking wretchedly to the ground. Cathy looked down at me. “What’s wrong with Senior now? So pathetic. You always acted so high and mighty, but you scolded me so harshly for just a few mistakes.” She grabbed my hair, forcing my head up. Then she clucked in mock admiration. “Tsk tsk, Senior, your face is truly enchanting. No wonder all those guys in our lab were seduced by you. You must be so proud, Senior. Do you know how utterly shameless you looked underneath them?” I forced myself to straighten up. “And how shameless are you? Seducing someone else’s boyfriend.” “You’re lying!” she shrieked, clawing at me. “That’s still better than you, a common whore! You’ve been completely used up! You don’t know this, do you? Sebastian always said how disgusting you were whenever he was with me!” With that, she shoved me into the oncoming traffic. A car screeched past my feet, and I fell to the ground. Cathy slapped herself across the face, then ran to help me up. Her eyes were red, feigning tears. “Senior, what are you doing? I told you there’s nothing between Sebastian and me. You can slap me if you want, but running into the street? If you really got hit by a car, would you blame me for it?!” 3. Not far away, Sebastian rushed over, holding two bunny-shaped ice creams. He always said Cathy was like a cute, timid bunny. Cathy looked at him with surprise, then quickly turned her head, covering her face. “Li… Sebastian. Look at Evelyn, she fell down.” Sebastian didn’t even glance at me. He tenderly pulled Cathy’s hand away. Seeing the angry red handprint on her face, his expression immediately turned cold. “Evelyn Reed, you’re too much! You’ve been bullying Cathy all this time, and she’s never once held it against you! But you? You won’t let her go, and now you’re falsely accusing her like this!” Sebastian took Cathy’s hand, looking at me with cold disdain. “If you had even half of Cathy’s kindness and generosity, everyone wouldn’t despise you so much.” “Oh, really?” My hands clenched tighter. A sharp pain shot through my palms, and the haze in my mind cleared for a moment. “Look at her neck. Am I falsely accusing her?” A flicker of guilt crossed Sebastian’s eyes, quickly hardening into defiance. “You’re sick! You see filth in everything.” With that, he pulled Cathy away, walking off. As I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my ankle. My lower abdomen also throbbed faintly. I limped to the hospital, only to be told I was pregnant. The news hit me like a lightning bolt. I frantically pounded my own belly. I didn’t want it! I didn’t want this child. He was my shame! The cold operating table pressed against my trembling spine. I felt like a fish on a chopping block, helpless as the doctor removed a blurry mass of blood and tissue from my body. When I regained consciousness, I saw it: a fetus, not yet fully formed, covered in blood. At that moment, Cathy sent me a video. She and Sebastian were kissing passionately, his breath ragged as he whispered to her. “Cathy, Cathy, you’re so much better. You have no idea, every time I see Evelyn, I just imagine her in others’ arms. She’s so dirty, it makes me sick!” I couldn’t stop myself from vomiting. The dead child, the explicit video, Sebastian’s contempt… Everything was utterly sickening. Pain crushed my heart, and tears mixed with vomit streamed down my face. Escape! Get out! My constricted chest reminded me: if I didn’t find a way out, Sebastian and Cathy would torture me to death! I had fought with all my might to get into Crestwood University, spending sleepless nights in the lab, not to meet Sebastian and be humiliated and violated by him! I thought of my former professor, currently abroad, and desperately reached out for help. “Professor, you once invited me to participate in your project overseas. Is it too late if I want to join now?”

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My twin sister, Genevieve, and I were both daughters of Lord Chancellor Hawthorne. Though our faces were identical, Mother only favored Genevieve, always praising her composure and grace. So, when the royal decree named me Queen, Mother wasn’t merely indifferent; she accused me of blocking Genevieve’s path to the throne. Driven by a chilling ruthlessness, and risking our family’s ruin, she brutally disfigured me with a blade, then orchestrated my death, ensuring my body would never be found. Afterward, she sent Genevieve to the palace, masquerading as me, to claim the crown. While my remains vanished without a trace, Genevieve birthed the Crown Prince and eventually ascended to the Queen Mother’s throne. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back on the very day Lord Chamberlain Thomas came to the Chancellor’s estate, bearing the royal decree. I secretly slipped a hundred gold coins into his palm, urging him to inform His Majesty that the true Elara possessed a distinctive crimson mole just behind her ear. “Mother,” Genevieve fretted, tugging at Lady Eleanor’s sleeve, her voice a delicate whine. “I heard portraits of all the noble daughters are now at court. With so many beautiful ladies, what if the Queen Mother and King Julian don’t choose me?” Lady Eleanor gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Genevieve’s forehead, her gaze soft and reassuring. “They wouldn’t dare, my darling. Our Genevieve is radiant, and accomplished in needlework, music, languages, and the arts. Who could possibly look upon you and not be captivated?” But Genevieve remained unconvinced, a petulant pout on her lips. “If I’m not chosen as Queen, I swear I’ll just die!” Mother shot her a sharp look, though no real anger flickered in her eyes. “Nonsense! If you die, what becomes of your mother? Now, now, darling, just days ago, I spoke with Queen Mother Isolde herself. She spoke of you at length, her interest clear. Rest assured, the crown will be yours, and yours alone. I won’t allow anyone to stand in your way.” I sat quietly to the side, my face carefully blank. Yet, hidden beneath the folds of my sleeve, my hands clenched into tight fists, nails digging into my palms until the skin broke. But that meager physical ache was nothing compared to the searing pain in my heart. For in Mother’s words, “anyone” included me, her own flesh and blood. In my past life, the scene unfolded identically, the same whispered assurances, the same anxious pleas. To soothe Genevieve’s nerves, I, in my naive kindness, offered her a cup of steaming tea. But as she rose, she bumped into me, and a splash of hot liquid landed on her sleeve. Without a word, she shoved me to the ground, then pointed a trembling finger at my face. “Elara, was that deliberate? You’re trying to scald me, disfigure me, so you can go to the palace yourself and become Queen, aren’t you?” Before I could utter a single word of explanation, Mother’s hand connected with my cheek in a resounding slap. “Elara, how could I have such a wicked daughter? Genevieve is your own sister! To try and ruin her face!” I clutched my stinging, swollen cheek, tears blurring my vision as I gazed at Mother. “Mother, I didn’t!” But she wouldn’t hear it. “Silence! Go back to your rooms. You’ll have no supper tonight!” Heartbroken, I retreated to my chambers. From the moment Genevieve and I were born, Mother’s heart had been biased. Simply because Genevieve appeared a little frailer, Mother poured the vast majority of her affection into her. I was taught from childhood that I must always defer to Genevieve. Anything Genevieve desired, I wasn’t even allowed to touch. As we grew, Genevieve’s sweet words and mastery of all refined arts further cemented her place in Mother’s affections. I, on the other hand, found no interest in such pursuits, preferring horsemanship and fencing. Mother saw me as a disgrace, and the meager scrap of motherly love she once offered me was entirely transferred to Genevieve. She cherished Genevieve like a precious jewel, fulfilling her every whim. But for me, there was only harsh words and blows. I once tried to emulate Genevieve, to win Mother’s favor. Yet, the more I tried, the deeper Mother’s disdain became. Eventually, I stopped seeking their company, striving instead to become an invisible presence within our own home. In my past life, when Mother learned I was to be Queen, she repeatedly questioned the Lord Chamberlain, asking if a mistake had been made. When he confirmed the decree, she still refused to believe it. She changed into her finest silks and hurried to the Queen Mother. But the answer remained the same. Genevieve, unable to accept that I would be Queen, attempted to hang herself. That very night, Mother had me bound and dragged to the forgotten storeroom. She disfigured me with a blade, then, to erase all traces of her cruelty, she orchestrated my death, ensuring my body would never be found. Afterward, she sent Genevieve to the palace, masquerading as me, to claim the crown. Even after Genevieve smoothly ascended to the throne, Mother feared I might still be a threat to her darling. So, to ensure no loose ends remained, she had me strangled. To my dying breath, I couldn’t comprehend why, as her own daughter, Mother could be so utterly ruthless. But now, given a second chance, I wouldn’t allow myself to repeat the past, to be Genevieve’s stepping stone. This time, I offered Genevieve no tea, no water. And so, her clothes remained dry. But that didn’t stop Mother from finding fault with me. “Elara, what are you doing just sitting there? Go back to your rooms! Your very presence vexes me!” Hearing Mother’s baseless accusations and undisguised loathing, this time, I felt no sorrow, no regret. Instead, I spoke with a quiet resolve. “Mother, I too wish to see which noble daughter will be named our kingdom’s new Queen.” Mother scoffed, her voice growing colder. “You ungrateful wretch! The Queen’s throne belongs to your sister, and no one else!” I glanced at Genevieve, who sat fidgeting, her anxiety palpable. I said no more. But that single glance was enough for Genevieve. She immediately rushed to my side, her voice rising to a shrill shriek. “Elara, what was that look? Do you doubt I’ll be chosen as Queen? I’m your own sister! How can you be so cold-hearted? If I become Queen, you’ll benefit too, find a good match! Mother’s right, you’re nothing but a viper, ungrateful to the bone!” Hearing Genevieve’s outburst, Mother’s anger flared. She slapped the side table, the sharp crack echoing through the room, about to launch into another tirade against me, when the butler burst in, his face beaming with excitement. “Lady Eleanor, young miss, Lord Chamberlain Thomas from the Queen Mother’s court has arrived! He carries a royal decree!” Genevieve’s face lit up. She assumed it was her proclamation of queenship, and without a second thought, she dashed outside. Mother, too, forgot her anger at me, quickly instructing the butler to prepare a generous gratuity for Lord Chamberlain Thomas. I squeezed the pouch of gold coins I had already prepared, a cold smile touching my lips. In my previous life, when she heard I was to be Queen, she’d given Lord Chamberlain Thomas no gratuity, not even a pleasant expression. Since she wouldn’t pay, I would prepare my own. In the reception hall, when Lord Chamberlain Thomas saw both Genevieve and me, his eyes widened in astonishment. “I’ve long heard tales of the Lord Chancellor’s daughters, beauties blessed by the heavens themselves. To think you are identical twins!” Before Mother could speak, I interjected, “Lord Chamberlain Thomas, my sister and I aren’t entirely identical. I—” Mother shot me a venomous glare, cutting me off abruptly. “Ill-mannered child! Lord Chamberlain Thomas wasn’t speaking to you. You have no business interjecting!” She then forced a saccharine smile as she turned back to him. “Lord Chamberlain, my younger daughter is quite spoiled, I’m afraid. She has no concept of proper etiquette. My elder daughter, Genevieve, is far more sensible!” But Lord Chamberlain Thomas waved a dismissive hand, approaching me with a beaming smile. “You must be Miss Elara, the second daughter?” “Yes, Lord Chamberlain!” He immediately bowed to me. “Congratulations, Miss Elara! His Majesty and the Queen Mother have personally chosen you to be our kingdom’s new Queen!” Silence descended upon the hall. Then, Mother, forgetting all decorum, grabbed Lord Chamberlain Thomas’s sleeve. “Lord Chamberlain, surely there’s been a mistake? I didn’t even send Elara’s portrait to the palace. How could she possibly be Queen?” Hearing Mother’s agitated questioning, Lord Chamberlain Thomas paused, slightly bewildered. By all rights, any daughter being named Queen should be a source of immense pride and honor. But the Lord Chancellor’s wife before him seemed not only displeased but outright furious. Clearly, this new Queen was not held in high regard at home. Subtly, Lord Chamberlain Thomas distanced himself from Mother, the smile on his face fading. “Lady Eleanor, I’m not privy to the matters of portraits. However, the royal writ clearly states that the second daughter of the Lord Chancellor, Elara, is to be crowned Queen. If I, of all people, were mistaken about the identity of our future Queen, I would have no choice but to beg for death. If you still doubt me, Lady Eleanor, please examine the decree yourself.” Mother snatched the writ. Indeed, the name “Elara” was clearly inscribed. Her face contorted with a mixture of disbelief and fury. Seeing this, the butler hesitated, unsure whether to present the gratuity to Lord Chamberlain Thomas. He glanced at Mother, only to meet her chilling, enraged eyes, and quickly shrank back to his original spot. Mother took a deep, shaky breath, then, with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, addressed Lord Chamberlain Thomas. “Thank you for your trouble, Lord Chamberlain. I know your duties keep you busy, so we shan’t keep you for a meal.” The Lord Chamberlain, perceptive as he was, immediately understood the dismissal. His jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by a steely expression. He let out a barely perceptible snort and turned to leave. I watched Mother, a chilling realization dawning on me. Lord Chamberlain Thomas was the Queen Mother’s trusted confidant, a man accorded deference by everyone. Mother’s blatant disrespect was clearly an attempt to make my life in the palace unbearable. While Mother was still trying to comfort a distraught Genevieve, I quietly slipped out of the reception hall. “Lord Chamberlain Thomas, please wait.” I hurried after him. “Mother’s attitude was… regrettable. I hope you’ll be magnanimous enough to overlook it.” As I spoke, I discreetly pressed the prepared money pouch into his hand. It contained almost all my accumulated savings. Lord Chamberlain Thomas weighed the pouch, and his grim expression softened considerably. “Miss Elara, you possess a keen mind and a kind heart. No wonder the Queen Mother and His Majesty hold you in such high regard.” I offered a small smile, leaning in slightly. “Lord Chamberlain, my sister and I bear a striking resemblance. It would be… unfortunate if there were any confusion once I enter the palace. So, I would be deeply grateful if you could inform the Queen Mother and His Majesty of the subtle difference between us…” Lord Chamberlain Thomas bowed respectfully. “Thank you for the thoughtful reminder, young mistress. I shall certainly convey this information to the Queen Mother and His Majesty.” After seeing Lord Chamberlain Thomas off, I returned to the reception hall. Before I even entered, I heard Genevieve’s tearful wails. “Mother, you promised the crown would be mine! Why is it Elara who’s to be Queen? If she ascends the throne, she’ll lord over me! I’d rather die! I don’t care, I must be Queen! If all else fails, just let me take her place. We look so alike!” Mother knew that attempting to substitute the Queen was an act of treason punishable by death for the entire family. So, she didn’t immediately agree to Genevieve’s outrageous suggestion. Yet, her expression softened, a hint of temptation in her eyes. Seeing this, Genevieve pressed her advantage. “Mother, do you truly believe Elara’s temperament is fit to be Queen? If she brings shame upon the crown in the palace, it’s our entire family’s reputation that will be ruined! You yourself said I was blessed by the heavens, while Elara was cursed from birth. If she truly enters the palace, she might bring ruin upon our entire lineage! Mother, you always doted on Genevieve! Please, help me!” Mother gently stroked Genevieve’s face, her eyes filled with boundless affection. “Genevieve, I told you, no one will stand in your way. I will seek an audience with the Queen Mother first. If… if it truly proves impossible to change the decree, then you shall indeed take Elara’s place in the palace. It would be a great sacrifice for my darling Genevieve!” At these words, Genevieve buried her face in Mother’s embrace, her tears transforming into a radiant smile. Standing outside the door, I clenched my fists until my knuckles shone white. A sacrifice? To take my place as Queen was considered a sacrifice for Genevieve? I suppressed the bitter ache in my chest, closed my eyes for a moment, then turned and walked back to my rooms. When Mother returned from the palace, her face remained grim. Not long after, frantic shouts from the maids echoed from Genevieve’s courtyard. Genevieve had tried to hang herself! But she was far too fond of life to truly take her own. This was merely a calculated act to push Mother to make a final, desperate decision. Sure enough, that very night, two burly women burst into my private chambers. They clapped a hand over my mouth, bound me tightly, and dragged me to the dank storeroom. Mother stood before my disheveled form, her gaze devoid of any warmth. “Elara, if you agree to swap places with Genevieve, I will spare you, for old times’ sake. After all, you have no grace, no talent for the arts. You’d only bring shame to the palace. Only a refined lady like Genevieve is fit to be a Queen.” My face set, I challenged her. “Mother, I am your daughter too! How can you be so cruel to me?” Without a word, she slapped me again. “Stop your whining. Just tell me, do you agree or not! I should have strangled you at birth, then we wouldn’t have this trouble today!” My eyes burned, a glacial anger creeping into their depths as I stared at the ruthless woman before me. Yet, I stubbornly refused to agree. At that moment, Mother suddenly drew a dagger from her sleeve and advanced on me, step by chilling step. “If you don’t agree now, I’ll carve up your face with this blade!” The cold, sharp steel pressed against my skin, and my skin prickled with dread. The excruciating pain of a blade tearing through flesh, so vividly remembered from my past life, replayed in my mind, making my body tremble. When Genevieve and I had our fifth birthday, an old seer suddenly appeared at the Chancellor’s estate. He claimed that one of us was marked for greatness, a destined queen, while the other was a cursed soul, a harbinger of ill fortune. Mother, already biased towards Genevieve, and disappointed that I couldn’t excel at the lessons she arranged for me, quickly decided I was the cursed one. From that day forward, my life in the Chancellor’s estate became increasingly difficult. But I never believed I had done anything wrong, nor did I believe I was a curse. So, in my previous life, even as my face was marred and I was beaten to death by Mother, I never agreed to swap places with Genevieve. This time, as the blade hovered precariously close to my skin, I cried out, tears streaming down my face. “Mother, I was wrong! I’ll agree to swap places with my sister!” Mother finally moved the dagger away from my face. She glared at me, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. “Good. You’re finally being sensible.” She then swept out, taking her maids with her. She was no doubt eager to share the ‘good news’ with Genevieve. I, meanwhile, was left in the stifling darkness of the storeroom.

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I learned my son wasn’t biologically mine, yet everyone was convinced I wouldn’t leave. After all, I’d willingly given up my status as the scion of a powerful capital family to move in with her, becoming, in everyone’s eyes, a kept man for seven long years. On our wedding day, my wife abandoned me yet again, choosing instead to join her childhood sweetheart in celebrating our son’s full-month banquet. Amidst the mocking stares of every guest, I didn’t raise a fuss, didn’t scream. I simply, quietly, bought a plane ticket out of the country. 1 It took a full three days for Seraphina’s call to finally come through. Before I could even speak, a man’s voice, smooth and apologetic, cut in. “Arthur, my friend, I’m truly sorry. The past few days marked the anniversary of my late wife and child. I haven’t been in the best state of mind.” His voice dipped with feigned sorrow. “Sera was just too worried about me, so much so that she missed the wedding. I’ve already had a word with her about it.” He paused, a theatrical sigh. “And that social media post? Sera put it up to comfort me. It’s already deleted. Please, don’t take it to heart.” Then, his voice softened, directed at Sera. “Sera, darling, you too. A wedding is such a monumental occasion, how could you just leave? You’re a mother now; you can’t be throwing childish tantrums like when we were kids. I can spoil you rotten forever, but can Arthur?” A pause, a hint of false benevolence. “Be a good girl. Let’s pick a new date to re-do the wedding. I’m much better now. I’ll be fine alone.” His words, seemingly reproachful, were as soft and sickeningly sweet as treacle. My stomach churned. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Seraphina’s voice, laced with a coyness I’d never heard her use for me, purred, “William, if you send me away again, I truly won’t come back! Your mood’s only just improved a little; how could I possibly leave you alone at a time like this?” I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. In front of me, she was always the distant queen, her words like royal decrees. “Seraphina,” I cut in, my voice tight. “Since your William needs your care so much, you don’t need to come back. I’ll prepare the divorce papers and mail them to you.” I couldn’t bear another second of their saccharine flirtation. “Arthur Sterling!” Seraphina’s voice exploded. “How long are you going to blow things out of proportion? Are you never going to stop? Are you really threatening me with divorce again?” Her words tumbled out in a furious torrent. “Didn’t you hear William? The past few days were the anniversary of his wife and child’s death! What’s wrong with me taking our son to comfort him? Can’t you have a little perspective? I’m not some caged bird you can control!” I pressed my lips together. I was used to this. “I’m not your caged bird!” – that was Seraphina’s favorite line. My concern was limiting her freedom. My cautiously offered suggestions were binding her hands and feet. In the past, when she uttered those words, I would immediately begin to reflect. Had I been too controlling? Then, I would humbly apologize, promising to give her all the freedom she desired. But we were husband and wife, living together for seven years. How had concern become a restriction on her freedom? “Seraphina, this time, I’m serious.” This time, on a wedding day I had meticulously planned and eagerly anticipated for so long, the bride had simply vanished. When my son was held in another man’s arms, and my wife nestled happily by his side, I was truly, irrevocably tired. Perhaps sensing the chill in my voice, Seraphina faltered, her tone softening almost imperceptibly. “Arthur, you’re truly overthinking this. The past few days were a difficult time for William. I was worried he might do something drastic, so I took our son to cheer him up. The wedding can be rescheduled anytime. This time, I’ll let you decide everything, okay? And as for that social media post, I’ve already deleted it. It was just a few photos. William is, after all, the baby’s godfather; it’s perfectly natural to take some family photos. Arthur, why do you have so little empathy?” William Vance. Seraphina’s childhood sweetheart. And her first love at sixteen. William’s voice, dripping with false humility, drifted from the phone. “Arthur, every mistake, every fault, is mine. Seraphina was only trying to help me. If only you could forgive us, I would crawl on my knees to your house, prostrate myself every three steps, whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.” Crawl on his knees? Prostrate himself every three steps? He had the nerve to say that. I scoffed. “Go on, then. I won’t ask for both. Just pick one.” My voice was laced with an icy challenge. “You’d better hurry with that apology. The divorce papers will be ready by this afternoon.” My words hung in the air, and silence descended on the other end of the line. William had merely been speaking out of habit, never expecting me to take him up on it. He stammered for a moment before Seraphina snatched the phone. “Arthur Sterling! How can you, a grown man, be so petty and shrewish? William only said that to try and smooth things over, and you’re wicked enough to demand he actually kneel and apologize? Besides, you should be apologizing! I haven’t even brought up your nasty comments under that social media post! Because of your comments, how many people have called me and William these past two days? William was already emotionally fragile, and you just made it worse! And now you have the nerve to bring up divorce? Fine! Divorced it is! Just don’t come crying to me later!” A torrent of accusations, and before I could respond, she hung up. 2 Listening to the cold, impersonal “beep… beep…” from the phone, my heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain. Seven years, over two thousand days and nights. All that devotion, so utterly misplaced. How could it not tear me apart? In truth, the sense of superiority Seraphina wielded over me was entirely my own doing. I met her at a university freshman orientation. She was just a freshman, vibrant and beautiful. Countless young men fell at her feet, and I was no exception. I fell in love at first sight and embarked on three years of relentless, almost pathetic pursuit. Rain or shine, I delivered her breakfast every morning. I did everything in my power to solve her problems, big or small. I painstakingly managed to enroll in the same elective courses as her. For three years, Seraphina’s string of admirers changed countless times, but I, and only I, remained constant. Yet, she was always hot and cold, making it impossible to decipher her true feelings. As university graduation loomed, I finally decided to end my fervent pursuit. The very next morning, the day after I stopped delivering her breakfast, Seraphina appeared below my dorm window for the first time. In her hand, she held a steaming bag of buns and soy milk. “Arthur, I never said it was over. What right do you have to give up?” That day marked the beginning of our relationship. It also completely derailed the life my family had meticulously planned for me. I didn’t return to the capital to take over my father’s company. Instead, I willingly stayed in her sleepy, provincial hometown with her. And because she said she couldn’t bear to leave her parents, I, without a single complaint, moved in with them, becoming a live-in partner. For seven years, the four of us lived in a cramped, rundown apartment. My family pleaded with me countless times. Born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I could have enjoyed a life of immense privilege without lifting a finger. Why choose such hardship? But she was Seraphina. The girl I had fallen in love with at first sight. The woman I wanted to protect with my very life. Because Seraphina claimed to suffer from severe commitment anxiety, we never formally had a wedding. “Arthur, I’m so sorry. I truly want to build a home with you, but I’m just so afraid of marriage. I can’t get past that hurdle in my heart.” Her voice would be soft, filled with remorse. “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t fair to you.” Seraphina had uttered these words to me countless times over those seven years. And each time, I would simply hold her tightly, my heart filled with nothing but tender pity. “It’s alright,” I would reassure her. “As long as we’re together, what does a wedding matter, even if we never have one?” Back then, I naively believed I was the happiest man on earth. Until William Vance returned from abroad. His wife and child had tragically died in an accident, and he had spent six months recovering in the hospital. After his discharge, he chose to return home, leaving behind the painful memories. That’s when Seraphina and he reconnected. Initially, I didn’t pay it much mind. But slowly, things began to shift. • “William isn’t feeling well these past few days. I’m worried about him, so I won’t be coming home tonight.” • “It’s William’s birthday today, and he doesn’t have many friends here. I’m going to have dinner with him, so I won’t be home for supper.” • “William has to travel for work. He’s a man, he can’t possibly take care of himself properly, so I’m going with him for a few days.” Seraphina’s visits home became increasingly rare, and her attitude toward me grew colder with each passing day. William’s name was constantly on her lips. I wasn’t immune to the bitterness. I argued with her, wanting her to keep her distance from him. But the moment I uttered William’s name, Seraphina would flare up, pointing a finger at me and screaming: “William and I have been friends since childhood! He’s been through so much; what’s wrong with me taking care of him a little more now? Arthur, I’m a human being, I have the right to choose my friends! I’m not some caged bird!” And my mother-in-law was always there to chime in. “Arthur, you’re just too suspicious. I’ve watched William grow up; he and Seraphina are like siblings! Besides, William’s career is doing so well now; he can truly help Seraphina. Unlike you – worthless and petty-minded! Honestly, if Seraphina had married William back then, her life would be so much better now!” Worthless? Petty-minded? The words cut like ice. Seraphina, for you, I gave up everything. I left my family, rejected a formidable inheritance. If it weren’t for you, I would have already taken over my family’s company, a multi-millionaire. How could I have ended up like this, serving you and your parents like a mere servant every day? To be ridiculed as worthless just for speaking a few words about another man? What was it all for? It was all because I loved you. Because I loved you, your needs always came first in my heart, surpassing everything else. But time, it seems, truly makes everything fade. Seven years, and Seraphina had forgotten it all, leaving only endless disappointment and relentless criticism for me. But I, too, grew tired. Gradually, I began to accept it all. Between arguing and avoiding, I started choosing the latter. I retreated step by step, enduring in silence. At the beginning of the year, Seraphina became pregnant, and her attitude seemed to shift. She finally suggested we have a wedding. I was overjoyed, ecstatic. Perhaps, I thought, if I just ignored everything, if I was obedient enough, this woman would still be mine. And soon, we would even have our own child. It was only now that I finally realized how wrong I had been. My obedience only made William more brazen, and my standing in Seraphina’s heart diminished further and further. So much so that on our wedding day, she abandoned me for William. And then she took our son to pose for “family photos” with another man. I will never forget the helplessness of standing alone in that hotel lobby, the pitying glances of passersby, the shock of seeing Seraphina’s social media post. Seraphina, this time, I’m truly letting go. 3 Having decided on divorce, I made a long-overdue call to my parents. “Son, if you’ve finally come to your senses, come home.” My father had his secretary book a flight for me to the capital. I returned home to pack my belongings. As I opened the door, I saw Seraphina sitting on the sofa, holding the baby. “Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone. If you’re out of credit, top it up! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?” Her voice was loud, as if she had come to accuse me. The baby, startled, began to wail. “Weren’t you supposed to be with your William? What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice calm. “Arthur Sterling, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!” she retorted. “I explained it to you! The past few days were the anniversary of William’s wife and child’s death, and he has no family or friends here. What’s wrong with me spending a little extra time with him?” She paused, pushing the crying child into my arms. “I’m back to give you the baby. William’s not feeling well; I need to take him to the hospital. I don’t have time to look after the baby!” Her words were a command. She thrust the wailing child into my arms. I was utterly speechless. Once blinded by love, I now saw her for what she was: utterly shameless. To care for another man, she abandoned her own child, her own family. Seeing my silence, she furrowed her brows, a hint of impatience in her voice. “Hurry up! Can’t you see the baby’s crying? Go check if he’s wet! After you change his diaper, make a pork rib soup for William. He likes it tender, so remember to simmer it for a long time. I’ll take it to the hospital with me later!” Despite my extreme disappointment in Seraphina, hearing those words from her lips still brought a pang of bitterness to my heart. For seven years, I had pampered her like a queen. I handled all the housework; she never stepped foot in the kitchen. Even just a few days ago, when I fell down the stairs and injured my leg, she had demanded, “Arthur, I want braised pork hock! Go make it for me now!” And when I tried to explain my injury, “You hurt your leg, not your hand! Hurry, hurry, I want it now!” With my leg in a cast, I was still cooking for her. Back then, I was so naive. I thought Seraphina was simply spoiled by me, incapable of caring for others. But now, I knew. It wasn’t that she couldn’t care; it was that I simply wasn’t the one she wanted to care for. My eyes welled up, tears threatening to spill. Seeing my emotional state, Seraphina, who had been so arrogant moments ago, panicked slightly, her tone softening unconsciously. “Arthur, I know I stood you up on our wedding day, and that was wrong. If you’re upset about it, I apologize.” She sighed, feigning helplessness. “But you know, I truly had an unavoidable reason that day. Look, to make it up to you, for the rescheduled wedding, I’ll let you decide everything. Didn’t you want a destination wedding on an island? Then we’ll go! We have a child now, how can we keep talking about breaking up? Alright, let’s just move past this. Now, go make that pork rib soup.” Seeing my lack of response, Seraphina was about to continue when her phone rang. “William? What? You’re having an allergic reaction?” Her voice was laced with urgent concern. “Don’t worry, I’m coming right away. Ten minutes. Just wait for me, okay?” After hanging up, her expression clearly showed her distress, and her voice became impatient. “Arthur, this is the last time I’m going to humor you. Don’t be ungrateful! Are you really faultless? What exactly were you trying to achieve with that comment on my social media post? Don’t think I don’t know! I haven’t even brought up your fault, and you’re already throwing a tantrum?” Seeing my continued silence, a truly agitated Seraphina finally couldn’t hold back, pointing a furious finger at me and yelling. I looked at the woman before me, a veritable shrew, and calmly stated, “I don’t need you to humor me. We’re done.” Then, holding the baby, I calmly closed the bedroom door. Seraphina was left outside, shouting desperately, “Arthur! You’ll regret this!”

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After five years of a clandestine romance with my best friend’s brother, he announced at dinner that he was bringing his girlfriend to meet us. My heart swelled with anticipation, certain he was finally ready to make us public. But to my shock, he truly did bring another woman. He had his arm around her, a joyful smile lighting his face. “Come, Elara, say hello to your sister-in-law.” After she left, he drove me home as he always did. In the Maybach, where countless absurd nights had unfolded, I asked him, “Jasper, you have a girlfriend now. What about the five years I waited for you?” His hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Wait? Did I ask you to wait?” He spoke dismissively. “Elara, don’t ever love someone with such fierce devotion again. It’s… unsettling.” His words were casual, as if my sacrifice of everything for five years was somehow my fault. Suddenly, I felt a profound sense of futility. I simply smiled and replied, “Alright then, goodbye.” 1 Under the dim streetlights, Jasper leaned against his car, finishing his last cigarette. He ground the stub under his heel. In the span of five minutes, he checked his phone ten times, replying to nine voice messages from the woman on the other end. The last message was to Georgia, my best friend—and his sister—informing her that he had safely brought me home. Jasper lowered his phone, turning to me with a smile. Clearly, his conversation with the other woman had put him in a good mood. His tone with me, too, softened considerably. “Elara, you’re a grown woman now. You understand the concept of a clean break, don’t you?” He ruffled my hair, an intimate gesture that seemed utterly at odds with the serious topic of separation. He had never taken me seriously. Even five years ago, after I’d gotten drunk and ended up in his bed, he had just leaned against the headboard, smoking a cigarette, the wisps of smoke blurring his flippant expression. “You like me?” I nodded frantically, only for him to let out a light chuckle. “Fine then, let’s be together.” He paused, his gaze drifting. “But we can’t tell Georgia. I’m afraid she’d try to kill me if she knew.” He spoke casually, yet I, laughably, took him at his word. From that day forward, I remained by his side like a humble appendage, devoid of any true identity. I believed that with time, he would come to see me differently. But the truth proved how utterly, tragically wrong I was. He continued to circulate among countless women, and I was merely a fleeting amusement when he was bored. I lowered my gaze, my peripheral vision catching Jasper responding to another message on his phone. The woman saved as “Girlfriend” in his contacts had only gotten his number at a bar’s front desk two days ago. I suppressed the bitter ache in my heart, taking several deep breaths before asking the question I had pondered for five years, but never dared to voice. “Jasper, why can anyone be your girlfriend, except me?” Jasper froze, then spoke, a hint of genuine struggle in his voice. “It’s not that you can’t… it’s just that I regretted it the day I agreed to be with you.” His gaze seemed to search my face, a rare seriousness in his eyes. “For these five years, I tried to see you as a normal woman, but I couldn’t. It’s as if… everyone else could be my girlfriend, but never you.” On the silent street, he was more earnest with me than ever before. His eyes, reflecting my figure, held a mixture of tenderness and cold indifference. I quickly averted my gaze, terrified he would see the sudden redness in my eyes. “I understand. Thank you for driving me home tonight, brother.” I used the familiar term, a painful habit. “It’s getting late. I’ll go inside now.” I moved to leave, but he caught my wrist. Jasper gently wiped away my tears, his face etched with a look that said, “Just as I expected.” “Still such a crybaby. Why not try harder to stay by my side?” His voice was laced with a mocking challenge. “Maybe, for Georgia’s sake, I’d even humor you for a while longer.” He spoke playfully, but I couldn’t believe him anymore. In his right jacket pocket, a square shape was visible – the outline of the discreet protection he used with his conquests. I took a step back, forcing my voice to sound calm. “No, brother. Enjoy your night.” Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked straight into the apartment complex. I moved quickly, my ragged breaths misting in the cold night air. I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore, but once I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I looked down from my balcony. Jasper was still standing in the same spot, lost in thought. I knew he was waiting for my room light to turn on, only then would he leave, reassured. But how could he so brazenly hurt me, yet still feel entitled to be kind? I drew the balcony curtains, then sank to the floor, finally letting out the sobs I had been holding back. I cried until my eyes felt dry, weeping out all the grievances and unspoken resentments of the past years. My phone chimed. It was a message from Jasper. [Elara, while you’re young, go out and see the world.] [There are plenty of other fish in the sea. Don’t waste your life on me.] [Also, get some rest.] In the pitch black of the night, the three parallel messages on the screen grew increasingly absurd. Suddenly, I felt a profound emptiness, as if the obsession I had harbored for five years had simply vanished with those three sentences. I wiped away my tears, typed a few words on the screen, and sent them. [Okay, I will.] After a moment of thought, I called my mother. “Hello, Mom. I’ve agreed to the alliance with Alistair Hayes. Seven days from now.” 2 After hanging up with Mother, I collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained. Despite repeatedly telling myself not to dwell on the past, reason could control my mind, but not my heart. I couldn’t help but remember the first time Georgia introduced Jasper to me. I recalled him in a black tracksuit, throwing a three-pointer. Every girl on the basketball court shrieked for him. But he ran straight to me, taking the half-empty water bottle from my hand. He asked Georgia, “Which little sister is this? I haven’t seen her before.” No one could fail to be captivated by such a first encounter. And neither could I. I plunged headfirst into it. For him, I severed ties with my family. For him, I accepted being an unnamed, secret lover for five years. But later, I learned that my supposed romantic first meeting was merely a common occurrence. He had said similar things to every girl. “What? You’re getting married?” Three days after separating from Jasper, Georgia, learning of my breakup, had dragged me out for dinner. She was stunned by my bombshell announcement. She sat beside me, her eyes clouded with worry. “Elara, I don’t know who this jerk you’ve been secretly dating for five years is, but you can’t just pick someone random and marry them because of a scumbag!” I smiled. “I’m not that fragile. Marriage is the result of careful consideration.” I took a sip of my water. “And he’s not just ‘anyone.’ He’s… well, an old family acquaintance. We just haven’t seen each other in a long time.” I wasn’t lying. It wasn’t merely a marriage alliance with Alistair Hayes; it was fulfilling a childhood betrothal arranged by our parents. If I hadn’t met Jasper midway, I suppose I would have been Mrs. Hayes long ago. Georgia’s worry didn’t lessen. She truly cared for me. I pinched her cheek. “Alright, don’t be sad. You’ll be my bridesmaid on the wedding day!” “Bridesmaid for what?” The door to the private room opened, and Jasper strolled in nonchalantly. His female companion had changed again. True to his word, his side was open to anyone, except me. Jasper stopped in the center of the room, his gaze sweeping over the space before landing on me. “Who’s getting married?” I squeezed Georgia’s hand, who was about to answer, and vaguely replied, “Nothing. What are you doing here, brother?” The young woman behind Jasper bounced forward, an innocent look on her face. “I asked Jasper to bring me. I wanted to meet his family and friends.” She offered a sweet smile. “Hello everyone, I’m Luna.” I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but Luna’s gaze felt oddly hostile when it landed on me. Georgia, being guileless, didn’t think much of it and pulled Luna aside to pick songs. Jasper sat beside me. In the dim light, he swirled the wine in his glass. “Are you starting to look for a boyfriend now?” I glanced at him. “Are you so concerned about my love life, brother?” Jasper chuckled, leaning closer, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Isn’t this just follow-up service? If you really can’t find a boyfriend, I can help you find someone. Don’t worry, he’ll be nothing like me. At least he won’t make you deliver contraceptives while you’re running a fever, and he won’t bring so many women in front of you. I guarantee he’ll be devoted to you. How does that sound?” I stiffened, my hand unconsciously tightening around the glass. So, Jasper wasn’t oblivious to how much his actions had hurt me. He simply hadn’t cared, or perhaps, he had seen me as nothing more than entertainment. I drained the wine in my glass, then turned my head, smiling as I looked at him. “No need for that trouble, brother. I’m getting married.” 3 The atmosphere in the private room fell into an eerie silence. Jasper’s brows furrowed tightly, his deep-set eyes tinged with anger. He spoke, his voice stiff. “Elara, I don’t like this kind of joke.” I simply smiled at him, in no hurry to explain. Just then, Luna approached with a glass of wine. Whether intentionally or not, her foot slipped, and the wine in her glass splashed entirely onto me. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, her voice delicate. “Oh dear, I’m such a clumsy oaf! Sister, are you alright?” Jasper’s face darkened. He shot me a cold glance. “What’s it to you? She’s just in the way.” “Brother, what are you saying? What does this have to do with Elara?” Georgia shielded me, her voice indignant. “Aren’t you usually her biggest protector? Why are you acting like a firecracker today, annoyed by everyone?” She was about to say more, but I stopped her. “It’s alright, Georgia. It doesn’t matter.” Without acknowledging Jasper’s sullen expression, I rose and headed to the restroom to clean up. Outside the restroom, I saw Luna’s reflection in the mirror. She stood behind me, her eyes filled with provocation. “You’re the one Jasper called a pathetic cling-on for five years, aren’t you?” Her voice was a low taunt. “Do you know how he described you? He said you were terrifying, like a shadow he couldn’t shake off.” Though I had tried to put the past behind me, hearing such demeaning words made my heart ache. I took a deep breath and turned around. “Is that so? Well, I hope your time by his side lasts longer than mine.” Luna’s triumphant expression stiffened, her pretty face beginning to contort with anger. She suddenly grabbed my hand, a chilling smile on her lips. “It was only five years, wasn’t it? In the end, Jasper kicked you away like a stray dog!” Her voice was sharp, a cruel satisfaction in her eyes. “Elara Sterling, the one who stays with Jasper until the end can only be me!” Jasper arrived just in time to see me slap Luna hard across the face. “Jasper, I just wanted to apologize to Sister, but I don’t know why, she…” Luna clutched her cheek, tears welling in her eyes but not yet falling, a picture of fragile vulnerability. Jasper’s expression was calm. He looked at me, asking only one question. “You hit her?” My palm stung with a dull ache. Luna had truly hit herself hard to frame me. I met Jasper’s gaze. “What if I said no?” Jasper stared at me, silent for a long moment, then suddenly chuckled. “Elara, you’re becoming increasingly naughty.” He shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Lying, and even telling me you’re getting married?” He paused, then leaned in, his voice a low, teasing whisper. “If you’re getting married, does your husband know you’re still jealous over another man, hitting other women?” He seemed to be in a good mood. He raised Luna’s chin with one hand, his thumb tracing her cheek. “Such a pretty face. Wouldn’t want it ruined. Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.” He put his arm around Luna, preparing to leave. “Wait a moment,” I called out, stopping him. Jasper turned, raising an eyebrow at me. I walked up to him and held out my hand. “Give me back the bracelet I gave you.” I pointed to the wooden bracelet on his wrist. The beads were meticulously handcrafted by me when I was young, one by one. Jasper used to wear it everywhere. Jasper’s smile froze, his brows furrowing into a deep frown. He stared at me in silence, the heavy, low pressure around him like the calm before a storm. Luna, too, was too intimidated to speak. Then, Jasper let out a low chuckle. He raised his wrist, feigning confusion. “This old thing? I’ve been meaning to get rid of it anyway.” With a forceful tug, the sturdy red cord cut a red mark on his wrist. He mercilessly flung the bracelet to the floor. The scattered wooden beads bounced and rolled across the floor, making dull thudding sounds. “Pick it up yourself,” Jasper said coldly, before sweeping Luna into his arms and striding away. I lowered my head, looking at the scattered wooden beads on the floor. I had wanted to bring closure to the affection I had harbored in my youth. Now, it seemed, it was no longer necessary. I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and resolutely walked over the broken bracelet.

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My wife’s male assistant left the client waiting in the biting cold for four hours. I managed to salvage the situation, merely cautioning him at the meeting against repeating such a blunder. Yet, Leo Bezos, the assistant, feigned tears and outright slandered me. “Director Bloomberg,” he whimpered, “how can you twist the truth and steal my credit? You were too lazy to get out of bed; it was all thanks to me begging the client on my knees, otherwise the deal would have fallen through long ago.” My wife, Seraphina, fully aware of the truth, not only failed to set things right but promoted him to Vice President, breaking all protocol. Worse, she forced me to hand over the project to him. Every colleague watched, expecting me to flip the table and quit. But I dutifully signed the project transfer agreement. Seraphina thought I had finally learned my place, smiling sweetly as she promised, “Don’t you worry, once this project succeeds and the company goes public, I’ll finally settle down and bear you an heir for the Bloomberg family.” What she didn’t know was that the client’s principal was my former mentor. He overlooked the initial blunder only because he valued my capabilities. Now, with all the company’s capital invested in the project, her breach of contract by arbitrarily changing the lead would not only sink every penny but also expose her to colossal damages. 1 “Arthur Bloomberg, you think handing over the project just makes everything disappear? Not a chance!” Leo Bezos, my wife’s male assistant, had just turned on me, but he wasn’t satisfied. He intended to grind me into the dust, to reclaim the dignity he felt he’d lost at the meeting. The truth was an open secret among the colleagues, but none dared to take a side, their gazes fixed on my wife, Seraphina. Leo, seeing I wouldn’t admit fault, raised an eyebrow. “What? You’re a useless hack, and you don’t like being told?” I turned my head, glancing at Seraphina. We had been secretly married for ten years, a fact she consistently refused to acknowledge publicly. This time, she had entrusted a crucial project to Leo, intending to elevate his standing. But Leo, lazy and overconfident, had overslept, leaving the client waiting in the biting cold for four hours, prompting them to storm out in a fury. This project, however, was critical for the company’s public listing; there was no room for error. Seraphina had approached me, offering a deal: if I could win the project back, she would finally announce our marriage at the meeting. I had been overjoyed. I poured my heart and soul into salvaging the deal, finally regaining the client’s trust. Today, I had expected Seraphina to keep her promise. I even bought a new suit, and tucked away in my pocket was a gold ring I’d saved half a year’s salary for. But I never imagined Seraphina would break her word, condoning Leo twisting the truth and letting him snatch both my credit and the project from me. Leo, seeing me look at Seraphina, pounded the table in a fit of pique. “What are you staring at? If it weren’t for Seraphina, who still values your old ties, you’d have been fired long ago!” Seraphina shot me an apologetic glance, then responded sternly, “The penalty fine can be waived, but the year-end bonus is completely forfeited, Arthur. Be more careful next time; don’t make such elementary mistakes again.” Her words seemed to protect me, but in reality, they cemented the blame squarely upon my head. And of course. She was the boss. Without her tacit approval, how would Leo, a newcomer, dare to challenge me? Listening to the smug, mocking whispers of my colleagues, I didn’t get angry; instead, I let out a cynical laugh and unclipped my ID badge right there. “No need for such trouble. I’ll just resign now.” Seraphina looked at me with displeasure. “Nonsense! If you resign, what about all the projects you’re handling?” I calmly shrugged. “Director Bezos is exceptionally talented. I’m sure he’ll do a far better job than I ever could.” At my words, everyone’s expressions shifted. They knew perfectly well that the company’s current success rested entirely on my shoulders. If I left, all the ongoing projects would likely collapse, and they wouldn’t be able to coast on their commissions anymore. Colleagues who had sided with Leo moments before now rushed to persuade me. “Director Bloomberg, Seraphina was just joking! The company can’t function without you!” Leo, seeing the spotlight snatched from him, spat, “Arthur Bloomberg, are you trying to ruin everyone’s performance? Don’t be so selfish!” Seraphina raised an eyebrow, about to stop Leo from saying more, when he suddenly clutched his chest, sinking to his knees. “Sera, I’m having an attack! Arthur Bloomberg has angered me into one! Please, call an ambulance!” Seraphina immediately panicked. “Arthur, are you a block of wood? Hurry and help!” I took one look. Leo’s face was flushed with health; he kept winking at me provocatively. He was clearly feigning illness again. Seraphina, however, didn’t see through it. She barked orders at everyone to help carry Leo to the car. I turned to leave, but to my surprise, Seraphina, even in her haste, called out to me. “You’re the one who made Leo sick! Where do you think you’re going to hide? Get in the car; you’re coming with me to the hospital.” I didn’t want to go, but I also didn’t want Leo to extort me later, so I followed them. In the back seat, Leo lay in Seraphina’s arms, whimpering and groaning about the pain. “Sera, Director Bloomberg is trying to murder me…” Seraphina was utterly distraught, scolding me angrily. “Don’t you know he has a heart condition? Couldn’t you just talk things out like a normal person?” Seeing her like this, I was long used to it. Over Leo’s issues, Seraphina and I had argued, thrown tantrums, even smashed things. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t change Seraphina’s blatant favoritism towards him. Even this time, Leo had blatantly stolen my credit and project, then openly mocked me. I simply wanted to escape the continuous exploitation by resigning, but she saw it as me throwing a tantrum. If I were my old, hot-headed self, I would have already engaged in a furious debate with her. But in the year since Leo appeared, he had stolen Seraphina’s affection, stolen my share of project profits, and now he was even seizing the hollow victories, the mere illusion of success. I wondered if, given more time, he would try to snatch the very title of ‘husband’ from me. Living like this, I was truly, utterly exhausted. I nodded, vaguely. “Mm, it won’t happen again.” Because there wouldn’t be a next time for us. Seraphina looked at me, surprised, and seemed pleased by my apparent capitulation. She even offered a rare explanation. “I know your heart isn’t bad, it’s just your sharp tongue that gets you into trouble. Leo has a heart condition; I was just worried about him getting too stressed, so I went along with him. Besides, he’s your protégé; don’t you want him to go far?” Yes! Leo was my protégé, and I was the one who personally introduced him to Seraphina. He was a struggling student I had sponsored, covering his university tuition and medical expenses. When he couldn’t find a job after graduation, I arranged an assistant position for him. But he wasn’t content being a mere assistant for life, so he pleaded with me to teach him design. Every day, I would sacrifice three hours of my own rest to teach him hand-in-hand. I knew he had a heart condition, so I asked Seraphina to look after him. But I never expected Seraphina to look after him so excessively. One day, I went to Seraphina’s office to discuss work, only to find them sharing an ice cream. Seeing this, a surge of anger rushed through me, and I confronted them immediately. That was the first time Leo feigned illness, and the first time Seraphina had ever given me a cold shoulder in front of others in all our years of marriage. She anxiously rushed Leo to the hospital, tending to his every need. Watching my own wife carefully care for someone else, my heart twisted. In ten years of marriage, I had never experienced her care. Once, I was doubled over with acute appendicitis, begging her to take me to the hospital, but she simply tossed a painkiller at me, her voice icy. “If you want to slack off, just say so. Don’t pretend. I despise people who feign illness more than anything!” Later, I had to call for an ambulance myself and get surgery. When she found out about my condition, she was still utterly disdainful. “Appendicitis? Everyone gets it. Stop acting like it’s a terminal illness, alright?” I thought she just had a tough exterior, a bark worse than her bite. But then I turned my head and saw Seraphina, a woman with severe germophobia, actually wiping Leo’s brow with her pristine sleeve. She anxiously urged the driver to speed up, as if Leo, not I, were her husband. I smiled bitterly, all my long-held convictions dissolving in that moment. I should have realized long ago. Her every action screamed the truth: she truly loved Leo Bezos, deeply and intensely. And I was merely a passing stranger in her life. I quietly messaged my mentor, telling him I had been cut from the project. He sent back a shocked emoji. [Arthur, come work for me.] I had rejected him countless times in the past. This time, I simply replied, “Okay.” To be with Seraphina, I had sacrificed my own promising future. Now, it wasn’t too late to turn back. I had to fight for myself. The ride to the hospital was silent. We brought Leo to the emergency room; his condition was perfectly fine. Once I received the news, I turned to leave. “Arthur Bloomberg, wait,” Seraphina called out, a sigh of relief escaping her. “I’ll go home with you.” She was about to link her arm with mine when Leo started feigning illness again, clutching his chest and groaning in pain. Seraphina sighed, then simply transferred five hundred dollars to me as compensation. “You go home first. Once the project is successful, I’ll give you the rest of your commission. And once the company goes public, I’ll return to family life. I promise you, I won’t break my word.” I vaguely mumbled “Mm.” I turned to leave, not bothering to collect the money she’d sent. I had no intention of continuing this life with her. My mentor was already preparing the legal documents, ready to sue her. Not only would the contract be terminated, but she would also face colossal damages. 2 On the way home, I received a barrage of taunting messages and videos from Leo Bezos. “Arthur Bloomberg, what good is being her husband when she’d gladly catch my vomit with her bare hands? Have you ever had that kind of treatment?” He was right. I hadn’t. When I was sick, she wouldn’t even pour me a glass of water, let alone care for me. “Arthur Bloomberg, is five hundred dollars enough for you? If not, I can transfer some more. Sera just transferred half a million to me after my ‘illness!’” I looked at the transfer record he sent. Seraphina truly did care for him. But her apologies to me were always grudging and miserly, while she’d casually drip-feed him tens of millions in spending money. I ignored his taunts, simply saving the evidence. Back home, I casually boiled some noodles, ate them, and went to bed. Late that night, Seraphina suddenly returned. She shook me awake. “Don’t sleep anymore. Leo’s sick. I’m letting him move in for a few days so I can look after him. Go clean up the guest room and change the sheets and duvet cover.” Annoyed at being woken, I turned over and continued to sleep. “You clean it yourself. I’m busy.” Leo, hearing my words, stormed in, frowning, and pointed an accusing finger at me. “Director Bloomberg, Sera was going to stay at my place. She only came back here to save your reputation as her husband! I’ve already agreed to impose on your home; Sera has begged you, too. Don’t push your luck!” Seraphina shook her head in disappointment. “You usually enjoy doing chores, don’t you? Are you deliberately targeting Leo right now?” Her voice was sharp. “He even told me he wouldn’t hold a grudge about you making him sick! How can you be so petty compared to your own protégé?” I let out a cynical laugh, not bothering to argue. “Right, right, it’s all my fault. You should definitely go stay at Leo’s place. You can look after him even better there.” Seraphina’s furious tirade stopped abruptly. Her eyes reddened with rage. “Arthur Bloomberg! What kind of husband pushes his wife into another man’s home?” She angrily punched me a few times, then ran out crying. After she left, Leo leisurely strolled in, giving me the middle finger in disdain. “Well, well, Master. I never thought you’d learn my tricks. But you’ll never outmaneuver me. Just you wait.” I didn’t listen closely, burying my head back into the pillow and falling into a deep sleep. The next morning, I woke feeling refreshed. As I walked into the living room, I was met with a rich, savory aroma. A lavish breakfast was laid out on the table. Seraphina, wearing an apron, seemed to have forgotten the previous night’s events. She pressed me into a chair and put a fried egg in my bowl. “Come, come, try this fried egg.” How strange. Seraphina never cooked. Had the sun risen in the west today? I was about to take a bite when I heard her muttering to herself. “Leo’s a picky eater. He won’t touch it if it’s even slightly burnt, and he won’t eat it if it’s too soft. Could you help me taste it…” I immediately put down my chopsticks. I had been a fool, deluding myself. How could she possibly be making breakfast for me? This meal was all thanks to Leo Bezos. Living like this, I was truly, utterly pathetic. I turned and walked into the room, retrieving the prepared divorce papers and handing them to her. Seraphina was busy with her cooking, not even sparing a glance. “The bone broth is still simmering on the stove. I’ll sign later.” I stopped her. “This is quite urgent. Sign it now; it won’t take long.” Seraphina sighed, took the pen, and quickly signed. She suddenly remembered something, casually asking, “Is this a new project you’re working on? I want Leo to join your team. Don’t worry, he won’t take any money; he just needs his name on it.” I carefully put the document away. Seraphina truly loved Leo deeply. She never forgot to seek benefits for him. But this time, she was destined for disappointment. “This isn’t a project. These are divorce papers.” 3 Seraphina froze. She still thought I was joking, as usual. She leaned forward, saw that it was real, and her face changed instantly. “What is the meaning of this? I merely let Leo stay for a few days! Why are you bringing up divorce?” As she spoke, she reached out to snatch the papers. I quickly hid them, looking at her. “Seraphina, wouldn’t it be better if I just let you two be?” Seraphina exploded. “Your thoughts are truly disgusting! I just see him as a little brother, nothing more!” Even now, after everything, she was still trying to deny it. I curled my lips into a cynical smile. “Is that so? There are so many impoverished students out there; how is it that you only ever recognize him as your ‘little brother’? Perhaps you should all swear blood brotherhood together.” My words completely enraged Seraphina. Her face cycled from green to purple, and she shrieked, “Fine! Divorced it is!” Leo, woken by the shouting, emerged from the guest room, wearing my pajamas, feigning concern as he tried to mediate. “Everyone, please stop arguing! If I’m causing problems between you two, I’ll just go die outside and never trouble Sera again.” Seraphina immediately forgot her anger, glaring at me. “Are you a dead man? Quickly, tell him you didn’t mean that! As long as you apologize to Leo, I’ll let everything that happened today go.” She thought I was just saying ‘divorce’ in a fit of pique, unaware that it was a deeply considered decision. I nodded. “Leo Bezos, your understanding is spot-on. That’s exactly what I meant.” Leo never expected me to actually retort. Losing face, he stormed out of the house in a rage, forgetting to even change his shoes. Seraphina’s face was ashen. She swept the entire breakfast table clean. The sandwich I had just pulled from the fridge was snatched from my hand and tossed into the trash. “Divorced, are we? Everything in this house was bought with my money! You don’t deserve to eat it!” Having spewed her venom, she then rushed off, chasing after Leo. Looking at the mess, I couldn’t be bothered to clean it up. Just as I was about to go out for food, my mentor called, inviting me to breakfast. I immediately changed and met him at a diner. “Arthur, how are things with your resignation?” I was about to say that Seraphina wouldn’t let me go when a notification popped up on my phone: my resignation had been successfully processed. “Director,” I said, a faint smile touching my lips. “It’s all sorted.” My mentor didn’t even wait to finish his porridge. He pulled out an employment contract. “Sign quickly! I brought the CEO’s seal with me, just in case you changed your mind!” Seeing his eagerness, I smiled. I didn’t let him down, glancing over the contract before signing it. He carefully put the contract away, then looked at me. “Are you free today? Accompany me to your company, will you?” Since I had nothing else to do, I agreed. After breakfast, I took him there. The moment I stepped into the company, I heard Leo Bezos’s sickly sweet, mocking tone. “Well, well, if it isn’t Arthur Bloomberg, the one who threatened to quit! What, just resigned and already regretting it?” Seraphina, alerted by the commotion, turned to look at me, letting out a cold scoff. “Leo, you don’t understand. Arthur’s old now; no one wants him. He can only come back begging us, otherwise he won’t even be able to afford a meal.” At that moment, the company was celebrating Leo Bezos’s promotion. A large cake sat on a workstation. Leo cut a slice, but instead of offering it to me, he smashed it right in front of me. “Director Bloomberg, since you’re my old mentor, if you lick that cake clean off the floor, I’ll let you come back to the company as a director.” My colleagues chimed in, mocking me. “No way! You can be a director just for eating cake? Director Bezos, why didn’t you offer us such a good deal? You’re clearly still biased towards your old teacher!” Leo chuckled, a sneer on his face. “Of course! Master painstakingly taught me everything; it wasn’t easy. As his protégé, I have to repay him, don’t I?” Seraphina stood by, watching me being humiliated and mocked. She didn’t defend me; instead, she even joined in, stepping on a blob of cream with her shoe. She pointed at the shoe-marked cream on the floor, addressing me. “Arthur Bloomberg, you don’t know this yet, but the company has already invested all its money into this project’s production line. If you eat that, I’ll let you have a share of the project’s profits. This money will be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. I’d like to see whether you choose money, or your dignity.” Looking at Seraphina’s contorted face, I smiled. “Is that so? Are you sure the collaboration can continue?” Seraphina raised an eyebrow, thinking I was bluffing, and let out a cold scoff. “You’re just an old-timer clinging to past glory; I’ve tolerated you for too long. This time, Leo has already ironed out everything with the client. They’re very satisfied. The company no longer needs you.” Leo also stepped forward triumphantly. “Master, you’re old. My abilities surpass yours. Get lost, don’t spoil our celebration!” No wonder. Seraphina had been so resistant to letting me go before, but had suddenly agreed to my resignation. It was because she thought Leo had already learned all my skills. I suddenly smiled and asked, “Director Hayes, are they telling the truth?” My mentor emerged from behind me, pulling off his sunglasses. His voice was a thunderous roar. “Nonsense! I’ve never even seen you before!” Only then did everyone realize that he was the principal client! Leo’s lie was exposed, and his face instantly turned ashen. Seraphina, too, had not expected my relationship with the client to be so close. But her grand pronouncements had already been made. Now, she had no choice but to push through, stubbornly. “Arthur Bloomberg, so what if you have a good relationship with the client? The contract has already been signed! Breach of contract demands five times the penalty fee! I don’t believe for a second he’d lose money just to help you out!” Before I could speak, my mentor scoffed, flipping open the contract to show Seraphina. “Look closely. You arbitrarily changed the lead. You are the one in breach of contract! Prepare five hundred million in funds. We’ll see you in court!”

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1 For seven years, my wife Betty and I lived “poor.” At night, I’d sneak out with our son Leo to collect cans. He always gathered more, then asked hopefully: “Daddy, do we have enough for Mommy to visit the amusement park?” Betty always refused, claiming poverty. But tonight, counting our savings, I finally dragged Leo to the park—only to see Betty on the carousel, laughing with her childhood sweetheart David and his son. “Sorry, sir,” the attendant said. “That lady rented out the entire park.” The cost? Seven figures. My throat burned. “Daddy,” Leo whispered, “is Mommy rich?” Then it hit me: Betty was once a millionaire. After David left, she’d “gone bankrupt” and married me—her loyal shadow. For seven years, her poverty had been an act. Looking at Leo’s faded, shrunken clothes, a wave of sickening realization washed over me, every vein in my body tingling with cold. My heart ached so intensely that my mouth hung open, but no words would come. Leo must have sensed my profound sadness. He forced a brave, dismissive smile. “Maybe Mommy’s busy, Daddy. Let’s just go home for now. Don’t… don’t be sad.” His voice grew softer and softer, almost disappearing by the end. My heart skipped a beat. I cradled his small face in my hands. It was already streaked with tears. I pulled him tightly into my arms, turning away almost desperately. But Leo kept looking back, a full three times, until the image of that “family of three” at the amusement park vanished from sight. Back home, I thought for a long time. Eventually, I consulted a divorce attorney. The old wooden door groaned loudly as Betty returned. I listened quietly from the bedroom. Leo, like a small, eager puppy, ran to greet his mother. Betty still didn’t hug him. Leo didn’t react much; when disappointment becomes routine, you grow accustomed to it. He eagerly held up a picture, asking Betty, “Mommy, can I have this toy?” Betty’s voice was dismissive. “We’ll see.” Usually, if she said that, Leo would immediately back down. But today, he was unusually stubborn, as if trying to prove something. His childish voice carried a desperate defiance. “Why wait?” Why wait? You clearly have money to take other children to play. Why can’t you take me? Am I not your child? But the heartbreaking truth was, even though his voice trembled with sadness, Leo never voiced those unspoken questions. Betty finally agreed. When I finally came to, Leo and I were locked in a hug. Leo chirped excitedly in my ear. “Mommy is so good to me! She promised! She promised!” I shared his joy, too thrilled to sleep that night. But he waited one day, two days, a week. The toy never appeared. Finally, on yet another night when Betty returned empty-handed, he broke down completely. He ran back to his bedroom, crying silently. Betty seemed oblivious. She handed me a packet of herbs. “Brew these according to the recipe. I’ll take it with me tomorrow.” I immediately recognized it: it was a tonic for men. The tightly stretched string in my mind suddenly snapped. By the time I regained my senses, the herbs in my hand had already struck her. 2 Betty froze for a long moment, looking at me with incredulity, as if I were insane. “Arthur Sterling, are you alright?” Though she was the one struck, I felt on the verge of tears. “Where’s Leo’s gift?” A flicker of annoyance crossed Betty’s face. She turned, took off her jacket, and walked towards the bedroom. “What’s the rush? I’ll buy it.” Leo and I had heard those words countless times over the past few years. Wait a little longer. What’s the rush? Don’t pressure me. But I had had enough. I pushed open Leo’s bedroom door, pulled back his blanket, and looked into his tear-filled eyes. “Leo, if Daddy and Mommy get a divorce, who do you want to live with?” Leo froze. The word “divorce” was utterly foreign to him. But he quickly understood, his voice unconsciously tinged with fear. “Daddy, don’t leave me.” My foolish child. How could Daddy ever leave you? I pulled his small body into my arms, my voice raw. “If you stay with Mommy, perhaps things will be very good for you in the future.” Leo’s gaze fell on the picture of the toy. His voice was soft. “Can we wait a little longer, Daddy? Let’s wait… one more week.” I understood. He still hoped his mother would keep her promise, just once. So, I agreed. The next day, after dropping Leo off at school, I went to work as usual. It was a diner, and the food was good, but because I was only part-time, my wages were low. I used to be a top student. My first job after university paid handsomely. But after Betty gave birth, she had no desire to care for the baby. So, I willingly took a four-year hiatus, dedicating myself to raising Leo. When I re-entered the workforce, I found that the world had changed much faster than I could have imagined. And since I was an orphan, with no family to support me, my life had ended up this way. “Arthur Sterling, Table Six has guests. Go tend to them.” My thoughts snapped back from my memories. I acknowledged the order and walked over. But the next second, I met Betty’s gaze across the table. Betty’s face fell for a moment, because beside her sat David Hayes, her childhood sweetheart. He was handsome, refined, exuding the comfortable air of a mature family man. In contrast, I, the same age as him, looked gloomy, exhausted, with perpetual dark circles under my eyes. Yet, I felt no sadness. On the contrary, I was strangely agitated. Because beside her sat the toy that Leo had been yearning for. David looked at the menu, ordering several dishes. I noted each one. As I was about to turn, Betty suddenly called out to me. She looked at David, her voice tinged with helplessness. “You have a cold, don’t you? You can’t eat spicy food.” David smiled wryly. He looked at me. “Doesn’t she meddle a lot? She’s been like this since we were kids.” His words were a complaint, but the tenderness in them was undeniable. My hand tightened around the menu, my face stinging as if slapped. David noticed the change in my expression and asked with concern, like a caring family member. But I turned away in a panic, because I saw the pity in his eyes. He knew who I was! My feet felt unsteady. Distracted, I walked straight into a colleague carrying a tray of food. The next second, the entire plate of food spilled all over me. Before I could react, the boss exploded. “Arthur Sterling, if it weren’t for the child you have to feed, I’d have fired your useless ass long ago!” Betty instantly stood up, frowning, and began walking towards me. But the next second, David suddenly clutched his stomach and cried out. Betty immediately stopped, anxiously helped David up, and began walking out. David clung intimately to her arm, looking over her shoulder to meet my gaze, his expression calm. In this silent battle, I had lost completely. My colleagues knew the boss held a grudge against me for resisting her advances, and she was seizing this opportunity to make an example of me. So, they all looked at me with sympathy. But I no longer cared about anything. After a dizzying afternoon of work, I returned home, covered in stains. 3 Leo’s eyes immediately welled up with tears when he saw me. But I didn’t care about comforting him. Instead, I excitedly scooped him into my arms. I whispered into his ear, “Mommy bought you a present! I saw it!” But there was no joy on Leo’s face. Instead, he kept asking about my injuries. “Daddy, did someone bully you? Does it hurt?” I forced a foolish smile, suppressing the bitterness in my heart. I pretended to be embarrassed. “Daddy was just clumsy himself, I bumped into someone.” Leo’s sad little face finally softened. He opened his mouth, as if to say something more, when the doorknob suddenly rattled. Betty was back. I immediately grew excited. Leo was clearly anticipating her too, his small, tightly clasped hands slightly sweaty. But the next second, Leo and I froze simultaneously. Betty returned empty-handed. My heart plummeted from heaven to hell. I quickly glanced at Leo. The disappointment on his face was fleeting, but he didn’t break down like last time. Yet, I couldn’t stop my eyes from welling up, because it meant he had already lost all expectation of his mother. I suppressed my anger. As I opened my mouth to speak, Betty abruptly pulled me into the bedroom. “Are you alright today? Your shoulder looked like it got hit.” She rummaged through the medicine cabinet, then reached out to unbutton my shirt. I roughly slapped her hand away. “Where’s the toy?” I demanded. Betty froze. “What toy?” Anger surged within me, my voice rising uncontrollably. “The remote-control car you bought for Leo! I saw you buy it today!” Betty’s eyes darted away. She bit her lip, her voice dropping. “I accidentally lost it. I’ll buy him another one tomorrow.” Tomorrow, again. I desperately suppressed the swirling rage and pushed past her, heading into the bathroom. Conscious of saving on the water bill, I showered quickly in a few minutes, then dried myself. My phone suddenly vibrated. A new number had sent me a contact request. I stared at it for two seconds. Something clicked in my mind, and I accepted. It was David Hayes. After adding me, he remained silent. I felt a premonition and clicked into his social media. He had shared glimpses of his day. “Thank you to the most beautiful sister in the world. Leo and I love the gifts.” Beneath the caption were several photos: the remote-control car Leo had longed for, and a watch of a brand I didn’t recognize. My mind went blank for a few seconds. I stared blankly up at the simple rack in the bathroom. On it sat a razor bought from the discount bin, a bar of soap worn to fragments, and Leo’s chipped, rough toys. Grief washed over me like a tidal wave. I could no longer support my heavy body and slid down the wall, crying. I don’t know how long passed. Betty, as if sensing my despair, walked to the door and knocked. “Arthur, why aren’t you coming out?” When I didn’t answer, she simply pushed the door open. I walked out, my face calm, passing through her. Betty immediately noticed my swollen eyes. She froze, then sighed in annoyance. “I’ll buy it tomorrow! It’s just a toy!” No, it wasn’t just a toy anymore, but I said nothing. At the dinner table, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. Betty glanced at me, then at Leo, who remained silent. She paused, then picked up a piece of food and placed it on Leo’s plate. Leo’s eyes instantly brightened, his face showing a bewildered joy. But my heart ached with such bitterness I wanted to weep. A child unloved, even the smallest gesture of kindness felt like a grand blessing. This simple act gave Leo courage. He cautiously glanced at Betty, then slowly began to speak. “Mommy, tomorrow is Mother’s Day. The teacher is holding a competition. Kids bring handmade crafts to enter, and daddies vote. Can you come?” Betty paused. Leo’s overly cautious expression made her recall the confident, cheerful look on David’s son’s face.

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The night after my boyfriend proposed, I discovered he’d already tied the knot with his first love. Heading to pick him up from a guys’ night, I overheard his conversation with his friends. “Gavin, you actually married Serena? What about Ellie? Aren’t you worried she’ll blow a fuse and walk?” Gavin Sterling crossed his legs, perfectly at ease, flicking ash from his cigarette. He spoke with an air of casual indifference: “I only married Serena so her kid could get into Stratford Prep. We’re divorcing in three years.” “Besides, Ellie’s just a doormat. I felt a pang of pity and offered her a ring, but if she dares make a fuss, I’ll call off the wedding, proposal or not.” His friends murmured their agreement, egging him on. “She might even be willing to be your mistress.” “A wife on paper, a girl on the side – sounds like the life!” I couldn’t stand another second of their sick fantasies about living large. I turned away, pulling out my phone to call Mom. “You were right, Mom. He’s no Ross. I… I want to come home.” Mom’s voice burst with joy. “Good! Three days. We’ll bring you home.” 1 “Ellie, get me some hangover tea.” Gavin Sterling loosened his tie, practically throwing his jacket onto the floor before, as usual, barking orders at me the second he walked through the door. I had just hung up with Mom. Seeing him, drunk and red-faced, swaying like a drunken sailor, I felt a stark realization. He was utterly unlike Ross. Ross never drank, never smoked, never bossed me around like this in the dead of night. For the first time, a surge of irritation, cold and sharp, washed over me. “We’re out of honey and lemon. Can’t make it,” I said, my voice flat. “Out? Then go buy some! What do I keep you for? You can’t even handle a simple thing like that. Hurry up, I feel awful.” He tugged at his tie, slumped onto the sofa, and was asleep in the next second, snores rumbling through the quiet apartment. Instead of my usual routine of undressing him, wiping him down, and guiding him to bed, I simply tossed a blanket over him and retreated to my room. My phone chimed with another message from Mom. “Your brother will be here the day after tomorrow. Remember to pick him up.” I replied with a curt ‘Okay,’ then booked a professional cleaning service on my phone before drifting into a deep, dreamless sleep. The next morning, I woke to a jarring crash, the sound of the front door being slammed open with an alarming force, clearly signaling the opener’s rage. “Ellie Vance, you actually let me sleep on the sofa last night! Just because I proposed, you think you can walk all over me? You really think I won’t call off the wedding, ring or not?” He yanked me from the bed, his stale, boozy breath making my head throb. I winced, meeting his gaze squarely. “I believe you,” I stated, flatly. Gavin blinked, releasing me, his eyes narrowed in disbelief. Usually, when he threatened to call off the wedding, I’d dissolve into tears, clutching him, pleading for him to marry me, swearing I’d never marry anyone else. I’d even blame myself, wondering if I wasn’t good enough, until he finally, condescendingly, granted me an engagement party. But now? Now, nothing mattered. I swung my legs out of bed, dressed quickly and efficiently, ignoring Gavin’s presence entirely. He watched my strange behavior, then impatiently grabbed my arm. “Are you really sulking? Just because I had a guys’ night without you?” “I told you, they’re just my buddies. You wouldn’t have anything in common with them, being a woman. Is it really worth getting upset?” “I’m not upset,” I said. He let out a relieved breath, rubbing his throbbing head as his voice softened. “Oh, right. Serena’s coming over today. I’ll get you a hotel room for the night.” 2 I stared at him, dumbfounded. He’d married Serena, yes. But to so brazenly invite her to move in, kicking me out for a hotel? Was he really taking his friends’ advice to make me his mistress? A surge of furious laughter bubbled up, a bitter, sarcastic sound. “Gavin Sterling, you are absolutely shameless!” Gavin, seeing the expression on my face, uncharacteristically offered an explanation. “Serena’s son, Leo, needs to get into Stratford Prep. The principal and teachers do a home visit before enrollment to get a preliminary understanding of each student’s family situation. You know Serena’s a single mother, low income, lives in a remote area. A family like hers? Stratford Prep wouldn’t even consider them for enrollment.” So he’s playing the good Samaritan, not just marrying her, but now kicking me out for her? But it no longer mattered. “Fine,” I said, the word clipped and devoid of emotion. Perhaps my calm bothered him, my usual histrionics absent. Gavin pursed his lips. “I’ll buy you a nice jewelry set to make up for it.” “Mhm,” I mumbled, my emotions unaffected by his proposed compensation. But before I could leave, Serena and her son, Leo, arrived. She swept past me, ignoring me completely, and went straight to Gavin. “Gavin, I heard the principal himself will be at this home visit. Just having Miss Vance leave might not be enough.” “What do you mean?” Gavin asked. Serena didn’t answer him directly, her eyes shifting to me. Then, dramatically, she knelt on the floor before me, tears streaming down her face. “Ellie, you know Leo is my only child. I want him to succeed, and Stratford Prep is his best shot. So, I’m begging you, please grant me one unreasonable request.” She’d already married Gavin. She already had the legitimate claim. Why bother with this theatrical display for me? But to indulge her performance, I asked, “What request?” She seemed to struggle for words. “Ellie, I need you to move all your things out and let me be the lady of this house. The second bedroom needs to become Leo’s room. That’s the only way the principal and others will believe us.” So that was it. Conveniently, I was already planning to move my things out. She was just giving me a perfect reason. Gavin, seeing my silence, spoke before I could. “It’s just redecorating twice, it’s not hard. Anyway, you don’t have anything else to do at home, there’s no need to…” Before he could finish, I smiled, a thin, ironic curve of my lips. “Families should live together, shouldn’t they? I’ll move.” Gavin’s frown deepened, and he started to reach for me, but Leo clutched his hand. “Yay, Daddy! We can live together!” 3 My pre-booked moving crew was already en route, proving eerily convenient. My belongings steadily dwindled, replaced by Serena’s. The house even sported wedding photos of Gavin and Serena – pictures I’d never had with him. Gavin, seeing me staring, uncharacteristically offered an explanation. “Those are all Photoshopped, fake. I never took any photos with her.” “They look good,” I said, not answering his question. Gavin frowned. “Ellie, if you’re upset, just tell me. I can still tell them not to move in.” But if he truly cared about my feelings, he wouldn’t have secretly married Serena. He was merely testing me. I took a deep breath, a faint smile touching my lips. “Helping others is a good thing. I’m not upset.” With that, I turned away from Gavin’s stunned expression and looked at the second bedroom. The balcony of that room housed my favorite potted plants and greenery, along with many of my personal items. Now, the plants lay cruelly tossed onto the ground, my cherished greenery trampled under the workers’ feet. Green sap, sticky and vile, smeared the entire room. Suddenly, the whole house felt utterly repulsive. And the people in it even more so. Serena, standing nearby, offered a flimsy apology. “I’m so sorry, Ellie. Leo’s allergic to these, so they had to be cleared out. Don’t worry, once Leo’s enrollment is sorted, I’ll have everything restored to how it was.” I didn’t dignify that with a response. I merely gestured to the three packed boxes by the door, telling the movers to take them. In an instant, every trace of my presence in that house vanished, systematically replaced by another woman. I smiled, a weary, knowing curve of my lips. Though Gavin and I hadn’t been ‘pure’ in our relationship, we had been intimately intertwined for four years. Truly leaving still felt a little raw, a bit bitter. But it was time to end it. “I’m leaving,” I told Gavin. Gavin, his hand still clutched by Leo, nodded. “A week at most, and I’ll have you back.” But I wouldn’t be coming back. Before I could walk out the door, Serena reached out and called to me. “Ellie, to thank you, I’d like to treat you to dinner tonight. As a token of my gratitude. You absolutely must not refuse, or I’ll be terribly upset.” Seeing her insistence, I could only agree. That evening, I arrived at the restaurant, waiting until past ten, but there was no sign of Gavin, Serena, or Leo. I called. “Oh, Ellie, I’m so sorry,” Serena’s voice cooed. “Leo suddenly got sick. Gavin and I are at the hospital. I completely forgot to tell you. You’re not angry, are you?” Angry? No. Just tired of the childish, pathetic games.

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1 Mid-wedding, the ring bearer, my older sister, Sarah, suddenly collapsed before me, frantically bowing her head to the ground, her voice raw. “Lily, please, give Eddy back to me! I did as you said, I slept with those thirty lowlifes. Please, just let me go!” My fiancé, Eddy Kingston, exploded. He immediately called off the wedding, then had his men drag me to ‘The Pit’ to pay for my sins. For two agonizing months, I was forced to ‘entertain’ clients almost non-stop. My body became a canvas of bruises and cuts, a landscape of agony. My legs… they were utterly broken, twisted in ways they weren’t meant to be, a twisted testament to their cruelty. Then, finally, Eddy remembered me. But I could only lower my head, numb and distant, automatically dropping to my knees at his feet, my trembling fingers already reaching, expertly, for the buttons on his shirt… When I stumbled out of The Pit, my body contorted in unnatural ways, Eddy Kingston was already waiting. My former rival-turned-fiancé, Leo Thorne, was right there beside him, phone held high, live-streaming, capturing every humiliating detail of my soiled, broken form. “Tsk, Lily,” Leo sneered, “finally out? Want to spend a few more months in The Pit? Haven’t paid enough for your sins, have you?” The familiar voice sent a tremor through my frame. I bit down hard, suppressing the metallic taste of blood that surged to my throat, then instinctively, skillfully, dropped to my knees at Eddy’s feet, my trembling fingers already reaching for the buttons on his shirt. Those two months had etched a new reality into my bones. The room had been plastered with Eddy’s photos, his cold, cutting voice looped endlessly, day and night, while nameless faces came and went, a constant, dehumanizing carousel. Eventually, whenever Eddy’s voice pierced the air, my body would instinctively begin to shed my clothes. I’d learned. I’d adapted. This was simply how it was. As my fingers reached the third button, Eddy slapped my hand away. He gripped my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his, a dark fury simmering in his gaze. “Lily Vance, are you out of your mind?!” My body instinctively recoiled, the memory of past beatings for disobedience flashing through my mind. But then I pushed myself back towards him, my voice a broken whisper. “No, please, don’t hit me. I’ll obey. I’ll do whatever you want. I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hurt anyone. I confess…” Eddy stared, a flicker of something in his eyes before it morphed into utter disgust. “What new act is this? Playing the victim? It was just two months in The Pit! With your connections, who would dare touch you? Lily Vance, drop the act!” Leo Thorne, still live-streaming, doubled over in cruel laughter. He maliciously patted my head, then aimed his phone back at my face. “Lily Vance, your acting skills have really improved, haven’t they? You like taking off your clothes, right? Come on, strip for the camera! Let the whole Metropolis get a good look at the little princess’s figure!” The old Lily Vance would have shattered a wine bottle over Leo’s head. But now, I merely turned, a vacant, mechanical smile plastered on my face, and resumed unbuttoning the few remaining fasteners on my clothes, obligingly facing his camera. The proud, defiant Lily Vance had been utterly destroyed in those two months, utterly destroyed by Eddy Kingston’s own hand. When I first entered The Pit, I’d smashed a camera that was filming me. For that, I was beaten for three agonizing days, then tossed into the back alley. My stomach gnawed with hunger, I had to fight stray dogs for scraps, for dead rats. One night, I got lucky. A client fell asleep, and I secretly grabbed his phone to call Eddy, begging him to save me. But his voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “Lily, you’re being disobedient. Compared to what Sarah endured, this is just a minor punishment. You deserve all of it!” I cried until my throat burned, but then I heard a soft, delicate sob from his end. “Eddy, maybe… just let it go. I’m fine, really. I’m already ruined anyway.” Only later did I learn that night, they stayed in a hotel. Countless intimate photos of them were printed and thrown at my face, plastered all over the walls of that cramped room, a constant, mocking reminder that Eddy Kingston never loved me. My fingers reached the final button. Leo’s increasingly lewd laughter filled the air, and I heard him maliciously reading out comments from the live stream. A stinging slap from Eddy snapped me back to painful reality. His face was livid, his eyes dark with a furious, dangerous glint. “Lily Vance! What in God’s name are you doing?! Have you sunk to such a shameless low? Would you willingly strip naked right here, right now?!” “Where’s your temper, Lily?! I only wanted you to learn your lesson, to humble you! You don’t need to put on this sickening act! Where’s your pride?! Where’s your courage to fight back?!” 2 I’d heard those words countless times over the past two months. They meant nothing to me anymore. Eddy, seeing my silence, angrily shoved me into the car and drove me home. When we arrived, Mom, Dad, and Sarah were already at the dinner table. They greeted Eddy warmly, ignoring me completely, as if I were invisible. “Lily, you’re so thin,” Sarah cooed, pulling me into a tight embrace. She pressed hard on the fresh wounds scarring my back. As she leaned in close, her voice dropped, thick with venom. “Haha, weren’t those men I found for you good? Did you enjoy yourself?” I froze, my face instantly draining of color. I instinctively pushed her away, desperate to demand why she was doing this to me. Why she framed me at the wedding! Why she continued to torment me! I was her own sister! But in the next beat, Sarah, with a theatrical stumble, collapsed onto the floor, scraping her arm and knees, the crimson of fresh blood instantly blooming against the pristine tile. “Lily,” she whimpered, her face awash in tears, her eyes wide and broken, “you still hate your sister, don’t you?” “Enough, Lily Vance! I knew you were faking it!” Eddy shoved me away, his eyes blazing. He swept Sarah into his arms, carefully placing her on the sofa. “You play the victim in front of me, but the moment you see Sarah, you turn into a monster! If you think the punishment wasn’t enough, then go right back to The Pit! She’s been ruined because of your actions, and you still refuse to show remorse! How can you be so utterly wicked!” Sarah’s triumphant gaze met mine, but I felt nothing, merely sinking back to my knees, an instinctive response to the furious shouts. Mom and Dad’s faces were grim, their voices cold, alien. “Lily Vance! You have utterly shamed the Vance name! Stripping on a live stream, in front of the entire city – where is the upbringing we gave you?! Who gave you the audacity to torment Sarah, time and time again?!” I numbly raised my head, meeting Mom and Dad’s angry, disgusted gazes, my heart plummeting to a cold, desolate hell. My upbringing, my dignity, they were long gone, stripped away piece by agonizing piece by endless torment and humiliation. All I knew was that if I didn’t comply, I would be beaten, I would starve. The searing pain of my legs being broken and reset… I was utterly terrified. I still was. “Mom, Dad, please don’t blame Lily,” Sarah said, her voice dripping with false concern. “Maybe she just can’t accept it yet. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have been punished. Being forced to… serve… at The Pit, it was indeed too severe a punishment.” Hearing this, Dad, his face contorted in a furious mask, stomped over to me and delivered a brutal slap, the force so great that the metallic tang of blood instantly flooded my mouth. “You disobedient wretch! You ruined your sister and you still have the gall to throw a tantrum?! You will kneel here until you apologize to your sister! Not a moment before!” My body trembled, my face draining of color, inch by agonizing inch. The depraved tastes of The Pit’s clients, the countless times I’d been forced to kneel… those memories flooded back, overwhelming. A wave of raw despair washed over me, and I bit down hard, desperate to stifle any sound. Dad, misinterpreting my silence as defiance, crouched before me, about to speak. But my next actions cut him off. Trembling violently, tears streaming from my vacant eyes, my hands instinctively moved to my chest, unfastening the buttons Eddy had so carefully re-done. “I’m sorry. I’ll be good. I’m so sorry, please let me go. Don’t hit me, okay? I’ll undress faster. You can do whatever you want. I beg you…” 3 The living room fell silent, a chilling, sudden hush. Mom and Dad stared, uncomprehending, at my trembling hands. It was Eddy who snapped back to reality first. He tore off his jacket, roughly wrapping it around me, his face a thundercloud, dark enough to drip ink. “Lily Vance! What in God’s name is wrong with you?! This is your home! Why are you still acting insane?! No one here will hurt you! Can you stop faking it?! Aren’t you the one bullying Sarah?!” But I was lost, trapped in the nightmare. I thrashed, desperate to tear off the jacket, collapsing to my knees, endlessly fumbling for the buttons, a broken, desperate plea escaping my lips. “Please, I’ll unbutton. Don’t hit me, okay? I beg you…” The most terrifying memory flashed before me. One client, in a fit of cruel excitement, had sewn my clothes tightly onto my body, demanding I strip quickly. If I was too slow, a whip with barbs, scalding cigarette butts, or knives heated to a black char awaited me. I was perpetually starved, sleep-deprived, utterly powerless to resist. If my hands couldn’t tear the fabric, I used my teeth. By the time I was naked, my body was a canvas of fresh, bloody wounds. Even now, those scars resurface, phantom pains that never truly heal. After exhausting myself with the struggle, Mom and Dad finally called Dr. Ethan Caldwell, the Kingston family physician. He administered a strong sedative, and only then did a fragile calm finally settle over me. “Miss Vance’s mental state is deeply troubled,” Dr. Caldwell said, his voice grave. “She appears to have suffered profound psychological trauma. I strongly recommend she see a professional psychologist immediately.” He paused, his gaze softening with a flicker of raw concern. “Her condition is critical. She needs to be hospitalized without delay!” Mom’s expression flickered, a momentary shadow of worry crossing her face. But then her eyes fell on Sarah, who looked on the verge of tears, and the fleeting concern vanished, replaced by her usual cold indifference. Eddy stared at me, his gaze contemptuous. “Mental illness? Lily Vance? How can that be? She’s not the type to break down! She’s capable of orchestrating bullying against Sarah, of openly assaulting her – how could she be mentally ill?” “Lily Vance, how long will you keep up this farce? You were a ‘server’ for a couple of months, and now you’re suddenly mentally ill? Are you saving all your defiance for feigning madness?” “Or are you changing tactics now? Pretending to be mentally ill to gain sympathy? Do you think that incident will just disappear so easily? How will you ever repay what you owe Sarah?!” I stared blankly at the ceiling, my eyes vacant, utterly unmoved by Eddy’s mockery. Then Sarah leaned close, a cruel glint flickering in her eyes. “Lily, what’s that on your neck?” she cooed, reaching out to tug my collar down, exposing a constellation of purplish-red marks. “You… you didn’t find yourself a boyfriend, did you? What about Eddy? You’re almost married! How could you do such a thing?” I flinched, shrinking back, curling into a tight ball, tears silently streaming down my face. Eddy froze, his gaze locked onto my neck. After a long, agonizing moment, he finally suppressed his raging fury. He seized me, hauling me off the bed and dragging me downstairs. Only after shoving me into the car did he finally speak, his voice choked with barely suppressed rage. “Lily Vance, who is that man?! Who gave you permission to see someone else, to be with someone else?! Just because I punished you, you deliberately sought this out, didn’t you?! Do you have no heart?!” “Tell me! Who is he?! Are you faking madness because you want to run off with him?! What do you take me for, Lily Vance?! A complete fool?!” I couldn’t bear it any longer. I screamed, covering my ears, frantically shrinking into myself, desperate to escape Eddy’s grip. Sobbing brokenly, I pleaded hoarsely, dropping to my knees before him, frantically bowing my head to the ground. “I beg you, please let me go. It hurts so much, I’ll be good, I don’t need money, please don’t hit me, okay? I can do anything. You can record whatever you want. Just please, don’t hit me. Don’t hit me…”

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At three in the morning, I was jolted awake by the hushed whispers from the beds across the room. My roommates. I flicked on my bedside lamp, the sudden glare cutting through the darkness. “Maya, what in the world are you and Ava Hayes chatting about at this hour?” I snapped, my voice thick with sleep and irritation. “Some of us actually need to sleep!” Maya Thompson, the name barely out of my mouth, practically exploded. “Chloe Miller, what’s gotten into you in the middle of the night? I was sound asleep! Who did I offend?” Her voice was sharp, laced with annoyance. “And who’s Ava Hayes? Are you having delusions or something?” Her words hit me like a splash of ice water, snapping me fully awake. I rubbed my eyes, a cold dread creeping in. The bed next to mine, Ava Hayes’s bed, was empty. Her comforter, her shoes, her toothbrush – even her name on the dorm duty chart – all gone. My fingers tightened around the ten-dollar bill in my pocket, the one Ava had given me earlier that day. I clung to it, fiercely convinced Maya was lying. But Sophia Lee, in the bunk below mine, was staring at me with an eerie, unsettling expression. “Chloe, don’t scare me like that,” Sophia whispered, her voice laced with genuine fear. “There’s no one named Ava Hayes in this entire university.” 1 Our dorm room was a standard quad, just like every other one in the university. From the very first day of freshman year, the four of us had lived together. I could still clearly remember buying Ava Hayes a birthday cake with Maya and Sophia just last Wednesday, celebrating her twentieth birthday. But now Maya and Sophia were telling me there was no such person as Ava Hayes in our university. This wasn’t funny. I grabbed Maya’s arm. “Maya, you’re joking, right? You and Ava were practically inseparable, stuck together every day. How could you possibly not remember Ava?” Maya, clearly fed up with being woken, impatiently yanked her arm free. “You’re the one joking, Chloe! Ava Hayes? Never heard of her, let alone know her. Are you seriously staying up all night just to freak us out? Get a life!” With a frustrated huff, she pulled her comforter over her head, disappearing beneath the covers. I turned to Sophia. She pointed to the chore chart tacked to the wall. “Chloe, you must be sleep-deprived, blurring reality with dreams… Look at our chore chart. Our room has always only had three of us.” I scrutinized her eyes, searching for any flicker of doubt or guilt. There was none. But how could that be? Memories of us going to classes together, eating meals together, were vivid, etched into my mind. I’d be damned if I believed a living, breathing person could just vanish into thin air. I frantically pulled out my phone. “We took a group photo for Ava’s birthday last week! It’s still on my phone. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.” I scrolled through my gallery, picture by picture. Then I found that photo. What I saw made my blood run cold. Ava Hayes, who had been standing between Sophia and me, wearing a birthday hat, had inexplicably transformed into Maya. And Ava Hayes… I scoured my entire phone. Not a single photo of her. Nothing. Sophia, now curious, leaned over my shoulder. “See? I told you there’s no Ava Hayes. Maya was the one who had her birthday last week, and you and I chipped in for the cake, remember?” Of course, I remembered! But aside from the details that aligned, Ava Hayes was simply gone. Yet her presence, to me, felt utterly, undeniably real. I stared at the photo again, the creepiness of it growing with each passing second, and then a new realization struck me. In my memory, Maya had taken that photo of the three of us. If Maya was in the photo… then who had taken the picture? 2 “Oh… the photo? Nancy Chen from the room next door took it for us. If you don’t believe me, go ask her tomorrow morning.” Maya’s explanation was airtight. If I pushed any further, I feared she’d truly believe I was losing my mind. But fueled by a stubborn refusal to accept this absurdity, I sought out Nancy the moment day broke. Nancy glanced at the photo. “Yeah, I took this. And I even had some of Maya’s birthday cake. Is there something wrong with the picture?” Something lodged in my throat. Staring at Nancy’s earnest, unblinking face, I couldn’t utter a single word. When we celebrated Ava Hayes’s birthday, we hadn’t invited Nancy at all. Yet here she was, swearing she’d been part of our celebration. A shiver of utter dread snaked through my body. I gripped her shoulders. “Nancy, you’re our class rep, you can’t lie! Ava Hayes was the one having her birthday that day!” “Ava Hayes? What are you talking about?! There are only three of you in your dorm room, who’s Ava Hayes?” As she spoke, she pulled out our class’s dorm assignment sheet from her backpack. “See for yourself. Is there anyone named Ava Hayes on here?” She pointed to the Section 301 dorm details on the paper. “Our dorm assignments are all based on admission scores, uniformly divided. For your room, it just happened to be three people. You even said you were lucky to have a quad with only three of you, remember?” She was right… Ava Hayes’s name wasn’t on the list. But what if the list itself was fake? The thought had barely formed when Nancy, as if reading my mind, said, “If you don’t believe me, then we’ll just have to go to the Dean.” I agreed without a second thought. A living person had simply vanished without a trace. If I didn’t get to the bottom of this, I’d go mad. The Dean, hearing our purpose, handed me a class roster, complete with everyone’s names and college entrance exam scores. I scanned it, name by name. Every student in our class was listed. Except Ava Hayes. Was my memory truly failing me? But then, how could I explain the ten-dollar bill still clutched in my pocket? I distinctly remembered Ava using my meal card to buy lunch, and then she’d given me that ten-dollar bill. We’d even run into the Dean in the cafeteria that day. Seeing me lost in thought, the Dean patted my shoulder. “Chloe Miller, I know the midterm exams are coming up soon, and you’re under a lot of stress. If you’re not feeling well, I can excuse you from your afternoon classes. Go back to your dorm and get some rest.” I asked other classmates, but as expected, every single one of them had forgotten Ava Hayes existed. I finally accepted the Dean’s advice and returned to my dorm alone. The empty room was eerily silent, a silence that felt oppressive. I powered on my laptop and started browsing the campus online forum. Suddenly, a missing person post caught my eye: “Seeking help: Please help me find a girl named Ava Hayes.” My heart hammered in my chest. If Ava Hayes didn’t exist, why would someone be posting about her? No matter how I looked at it, something was deeply, terribly wrong. I decided to talk to my roommates again. But that evening, when Maya returned to the dorm, she wouldn’t even acknowledge me. She clearly thought I was completely unhinged. Sophia gave me a sympathetic, helpless look. “Maya didn’t get much sleep last night, so she’s still pretty angry. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine by tomorrow.” She was right… If I’d been woken up in the middle of the night by my roommate, I’d be furious too. It seemed that discussing Ava Hayes with them again wasn’t a good idea right now. After turning off the lights, I lay in bed, unable to sleep for a long, long time… I don’t know how much time passed, but in that hazy state between sleep and wakefulness, I was disturbed again by voices. From the bed directly opposite mine. I rubbed my eyes, and the fear in my heart magnified, blooming into full-blown terror. Ava Hayes, who had vanished into thin air during the day, had reappeared! 3 Ava Hayes, clad in pink pajamas, was perched on Maya’s bed, leaning in close, whispering something into Maya’s ear. Maya let out a soft giggle. I rubbed my eyes again, confirming that the two figures before me were indeed Ava Hayes and Maya. A sharp gasp escaped my lips. This time, I kept my wits about me. Without a word, I reached out and gently tapped Sophia’s shoulder, who was in the bunk below me. Still half-asleep, Sophia saw it was me. Suppressing a groan of annoyance, she mumbled, “Chloe, what is it?” I leaned closer to her ear, whispering, “Look at Maya’s bed. Isn’t Ava Hayes whispering to her?” Whether it was my tone that unsettled her, or the very mention of “Ava Hayes” that triggered something, her entire face went pale. After confirming I wasn’t joking, she picked up her glasses and perched them on her nose. Then, cautiously, she peered at the bed across the room. A minute later, she spun back around, glaring at me in exasperation. “Chloe Miller, are you serious?! There’s no one else on Maya’s bed!” I was baffled. “You… you don’t see her?” “See what?! Chloe Miller, you seriously need to see a doctor! This is the second time!” Sophia stared at me as if I’d truly lost my mind. If it had been Maya, she would have started yelling already. Being treated like a lunatic, one after another, ignited a flicker of anger in me. But the moment I flicked on the dorm lights, another shocking sight unfolded. Ava Hayes, on Maya’s bed, was gone. My anger instantly evaporated, replaced by a chilling dread. I rubbed my eyes, disbelieving, but all I saw was Maya, sleeping soundly in her own bed. Now, even I began to wonder if my mind was playing tricks on me. I bit my lip, hesitating, wondering how to apologize, when Maya suddenly stirred. The harsh light made her sit up abruptly, her face a storm cloud. “What in the world are you two doing in the middle of the night?! Are you going to let anyone sleep?!” Sophia shot me a mournful look. “Ask Chloe!” I quickly tried to explain. “Maya, I know I turned on the light, it’s because I saw Ava Hayes on your bed…” “Ava Hayes again?! We’ve told you so many times, there’s no one! No one by that name!” Maya’s voice rose to a furious shout. “Chloe Miller, tell me, have I offended you somehow?! Why are you always picking on me, tormenting me like this?” Her voice broke, laden with frustration. “I’m sick of it! No matter what you say, I’m applying to switch dorms tomorrow!” With that angry declaration, Maya burrowed back under her comforter. I looked at Sophia. Sophia, too, pulled her blanket over her head, ignoring me. I shook my head, making sure I was fully awake, then turned off the light. I peered at Maya’s bed again. This time, nothing seemed out of place. I closed my eyes, and surprisingly, drifted into a deep sleep. The next morning, when I saw Maya’s empty bed, my heart sank. It seemed she really was angry. She’d moved out first thing in the morning. I grabbed Sophia, who had just emerged from the bathroom, fresh from her morning routine. “Sophia, about last night, I’m so sorry. I think my mental state hasn’t been great lately.” I paused. “By the way, do you know which dorm Maya moved to? I want to apologize to her.” Sophia’s brow furrowed slightly, and then she uttered a sentence that sent a shiver of pure terror down my spine: “What are you talking about? Who’s Maya Thompson?”

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