My best friend was a prankfluencer, and she’d gone viral for humiliating people online. On my birthday, she gave me a giant cake. After I blew out the candles, she reached out, intending to smash my head into it. But instead, it was her eyes that were pierced and blinded by the cake’s support pillars. 1 “Happy birthday, Daisy!” My so-called best friend placed an enormous cake in front of me, and everyone around us gasped at Skylar’s extravagant gesture. I looked up, my face beaming with feigned excitement at Skylar. “Skylar, thank you! You’re just too good to me.” My sugary compliments always worked wonders on Skylar, and she immediately started boasting about her gift to her phone. I subtly glanced at Skylar’s screen from the corner of my eye. The chat was flooded with comments. Of course, she was live-streaming. At everyone’s urging, I closed my eyes to make a wish. The excited chatter of the crowd buzzed around me, each voice a stark reminder that I’d been given a second chance. I made no wish. My mind was consumed by the agonizing memory of my cruel death in the previous life. If I had one wish, it was for Skylar to experience everything I had endured, in excruciating detail. I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and blew out the candles, my gaze fixed on Skylar’s movements. “Alright, everyone, today’s all about Daisy! Don’t hold back, let’s get this party started!” Just as expected, Skylar leaned forward, reaching a hand out towards the back of my head. I seized the moment, ducking down just before her hand could connect. I casually picked up a fork from the floor, feigning mild annoyance. “Oh, darn it. We already have so many people, and now a fork’s on the floor. Not enough to go around!” Then, I watched the scene unfolding before me in feigned shock. “Ah!” With a startled shriek, Skylar, due to her own momentum, tumbled forward, headfirst into the cake. Karma, perhaps, that her face landed right in the center of it. I repeated Skylar’s words from my past life, keeping the upbeat energy going. “Hahaha, looks like Skylar really wanted a piece of that cake, she just dove right in!” The room erupted in laughter, everyone teasing Skylar mercilessly. “Skylar, you’re so greedy! It’s not even your birthday, why are you hogging the cake?” Several hands eagerly pressed Skylar’s head down further, ensuring the cream was spread even more evenly. I glanced at Skylar’s live-streaming phone; the live chat was a sea of ‘LOLs’ and ‘Hahas.’ 2 But Skylar kept her head buried in the cake, not rising. A guy who loved being in the thick of things reached out, grabbed Skylar’s hair, and yanked her upright. This sent a splatter of cream everywhere, making everyone recoil a few steps. Skylar’s face was covered in cake cream, her perfectly applied makeup utterly ruined. But Skylar’s eyes were tightly shut, her whole body swaying precariously. Everyone was still cracking jokes about her appearance when Skylar suddenly snapped her eyes open. Her gaze was unfocused, and her state clearly off. I knew that feeling—she was about to pass out. What was truly horrifying, though, was the fresh blood welling from her left eye. This gruesome sight left the attention-seeking guy frozen in shock. “It wasn’t me! I just tried to pull her out! You all saw it, you have to vouch for me!” The guy immediately let go of Skylar, frantically explaining himself to the onlookers. Deprived of his support, Skylar collapsed onto the table with a thud. Seeing that the spectacle had gone far enough, I urgently spoke up. “Enough chatter! Call an ambulance!” That finally jolted everyone, and they scrambled for their phones to dial 911. I thoughtfully picked up Skylar’s live-streaming phone, turning it to the camera and apologizing to the viewers. “I’m so sorry, everyone, there’s been an accident. The live stream might have to end here. I need to go to the hospital with Skylar.” A stream of concerned comments scrolled by, interspersed with praises for me. “This girl is so sweet! Suddenly feel bad about all those pranks we pulled on her before.” I stared at that comment, a momentary flicker of distraction. Just as I was about to end the stream, the screen was flooded with “DON’T END IT! WE WANT UPDATES!” I mused for a few seconds, then decisively agreed. 3 “Daisy, how are my eyes?” Skylar finally woke up, her left eye wrapped in a thick bandage. My expression grave, eyes brimming with tears, I delivered the devastating news. “I’m so sorry, Skylar. The doctor said your left eye will most likely be permanently blind. The pillar went too deep. It’s a miracle you even survived.” At my words, Skylar froze, utterly stunned. I reached out, wanting to take her hand and comfort her, but she violently flung it away. I let myself fall to the floor with the motion, wrapping my arms around my knees and quietly weeping. “Don’t pretend to care! This is all your fault! If you hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t be blind!” I hung my head in shame, my voice thick with feigned tears, as I apologized. “I’m so sorry, Skylar. If I had known, I’d have rather been blind myself than let this happen to you.” My heartfelt apology seemed to remind Skylar of something, and she suddenly became stiff. I continued my act of misery. “Skylar, don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you find a way to heal your eye.” Skylar, however, abruptly changed the subject, frantically searching for her phone. I pointed to her live-streaming phone in the distance, explaining what had happened. Skylar’s face instantly contorted, and she snapped at me to bring her the phone immediately. “How dare you touch someone else’s things without permission? This is so annoying!” I meekly took the phone from its stand, only to see the comments now fiercely defending me. “What’s wrong with Skylar? Daisy’s been running around for her, handling hospital admission, even lending money for upfront fees, and this is how she repays her? Seriously ungrateful!” “Yeah, what happened to our sweet, adorable Skylar? She’s so snappy now!” “Honestly, I’ve always found her annoying. No sense of boundaries with her pranks.” I fought to keep the triumphant smirk from twisting my lips, then handed the phone to Skylar. Skylar naturally saw the comments too, and her face became a kaleidoscope of conflicting emotions. Skylar quickly smoothed her hair, then turned to the camera, explaining in a syrupy, high-pitched voice. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I just lost control for a moment. Waaah, I’m just so heartbroken…” Her shrill voice and phony demeanor made my stomach churn. 4 No matter how many fans Skylar had, or how much she raked in from endorsements, medical science wasn’t going to bend to her will. On the day she was discharged, Skylar, still in denial, badgered the doctors about her condition, but still received the same grim prognosis: “Highly likely to be permanently blind.” Back in the dorm, it wasn’t a few days after she was discharged that Skylar resumed her pranking antics. These days, Skylar was constantly holding her phone, searching for new content, and I, predictably, was her new target. “Daisy, have you felt anything… different these past few days?” “Daisy, have you washed your hair recently?” She should have looked pitiful with the bandage wrapped around her eye, but all I saw on her face was a chilling delight. I shook my head, feigning complete bewilderment. Skylar’s face fell, just as expected. Then I suddenly spoke up. “Oh, you know, now that you mention it, I have been feeling a bit tired and noticed some hair loss lately.” Skylar’s previously drooping lips instantly curved upwards. “Skylar, why are you so happy about me losing hair? Did you… do something?” 5 Just as she started to stammer out a panicked explanation, I cut her off, blocking her excuse. “Hahaha, you look so flustered! I’m just kidding with you.” Skylar’s expression relaxed. “Hahaha, Skylar, the way you look so relieved makes me even more suspicious now.” I deliberately drew out my words, savoring the wicked pleasure of watching Skylar’s pupils flicker with unease. Then I answered my own question: “Makes you wonder why you’re so easy to trick, hahaha. You’re just too cute!” Skylar’s carefully constructed composure finally shattered under my teasing. A silent, wicked chuckle rose within me. Oh, you want to see hair loss, do you? This time, you’ll get an eyeful. 6 “Argh! Why is so much of my hair falling out?!” Skylar’s shriek shattered the dorm’s peace. The other roommates peered out, curious about the commotion. Skylar stumbled out of the bathroom, clutching a large clump of dark hair in her hand. And the top of her head was now conspicuously bald in patches. The source of that tangled mass of hair in her hand was painfully obvious. “Oh my god, Skylar, I’ve only seen hair loss this bad from cancer online. Maybe you should get checked out at the hospital?” A kind roommate urged Skylar to get medical attention, but Skylar, however, wasn’t grateful in the least. She snapped back, her voice laced with venom. “Who are you wishing cancer on? You have cancer! Your whole family has cancer!” Suddenly, Skylar’s gaze swung to me. “It was you!” Her hateful glare sent a shiver down my spine, but I replied, feigning confusion. “What is it, Skylar? What about me?” Skylar’s lips worked for a few seconds, but she ultimately said nothing, only glaring at me before stomping back into the bathroom. Of course, she wouldn’t say anything. After all, this was her own handiwork; she had no one to blame but herself. Instead, the roommate who had just been attacked by Skylar came over, defending me. “Hmph, what kind of person is that? We were just trying to be nice, and she treats us like this. Seriously ungrateful!” I pitifully defended Skylar, only for my roommates to label me ‘too kind.’ That night, I saw Skylar’s shampoo bottle in the trash. A full bottle, yet it had been discarded. The reason? It wasn’t just shampoo inside that bottle. It was mixed with hair removal cream. And I, well, I had merely swapped our shampoo bottles. In my past life, I had unknowingly used the shampoo a few times, and almost all my hair had fallen out. My best friend, far from comforting me, had filmed my patchy scalp and posted it online. With its bizarre subject matter and funny editing, that video actually made Skylar go viral. Infuriated, I demanded Skylar take down the video and those humiliating photos, but she just casually brushed me off. “Don’t be so petty, Daisy. Why are you so sensitive now?” Petty? Anyone would be furious if their long hair was ruined by patchy baldness. I thought it would end there, but Skylar went further, turning my photos into memes and posting them in the school group chats. My thoughts snapped back to the present, and a new idea for my plan began to form. 7 “Ring! Ring!” Class began. It was a general education lecture, with students from several different departments. I glanced at Skylar, bundled in a hat and wig, then at the fierce wind outside the window. The weather was truly unpleasant today; branches thrashed wildly, yet the sun was blindingly bright. I turned to my classmates. “Should we open the window? I bet the breeze outside would be really refreshing.” Several roommates, eyeing the stuffy classroom, quickly nodded in agreement. Skylar, in particular, was a hundred percent on board. “Daisy, go ahead! Just try not to get yelled at by the professor.” Ever since Skylar had been the victim of her own prank, she’d grown suspicious of me, scrutinizing my every move, finding fault with everything. This time, she wanted someone else to do her dirty work, too lazy to open the window herself, yet desperate to relieve her stifling heat. After all, wearing a wig and hat in this kind of heat was pure torture. Of course, I was happy to oblige. Otherwise, the coming show wouldn’t go on. I opened the window, and a cool breeze immediately rushed into the classroom. Skylar squinted blissfully into the breeze, even lifting her hat to let the air circulate. The other students gave me a thumbs-up, but only Skylar, despite enjoying the coolness, continued to nitpick. “Tsk, tsk. Daisy’s only good for this much, I guess.” 8 “Ah!” Suddenly, a startled cry echoed. I whirled around, just in time to see a hat and wig tumbling through the air. A student in the back row, perhaps not quite seeing what the dark, flying object was, let out a startled yell. “Whoa, what the heck is that?!” Then, someone instinctively snatched it up and flung it even further. Meanwhile, Skylar frantically touched her suddenly bare scalp, terror creeping across her entire face. Seeing this, I immediately shrieked, “Oh no, Skylar’s wig flew off! Everyone, help her catch it!” My words sent Skylar into a complete breakdown, and she bolted after her wig. All I felt was a blur of motion beside me. Now, the entire class turned to stare, eyes glued to Skylar. Even the professor gaped at Skylar’s shiny scalp and the few pathetic strands of hair remaining. A few mischievous students pulled out their phones, snapping photos of Skylar’s head like crazy, and the whole situation spiraled out of control. The professor finally snapped out of it and put a stop to the chaos. But before class even ended, humiliating photos of Skylar were already flooding every campus forum. I looked down at the post on my phone: Campus Confession Page: “To Skylar from the English department: Your gleaming scalp captivates me, your frantic dash enthralls me. Please, grant me the chance to pursue you!” The post included a photo taken from an incredibly awkward angle, perfectly capturing Skylar at her baldest and most enraged. The comments section was a goldmine of hilarious and savage replies. I nearly burst out laughing, masking it with a few feigned coughs. Skylar whirled around, glaring at me, her eyes spitting fire. I flashed a wide smile. “Why are you so petty now? I was just having some fun with everyone. It’s all in jest, no malice intended.” Panting with rage, she buried her head in her arms on the desk, sobbing softly. Cruel, you ask? In my past life, when my hair had almost completely fallen out, what did Skylar do? She “accidentally” knocked my hat off in front of everyone. There were only a few people who saw it then, but Skylar deliberately kicked my hat away, then shouted at the top of her lungs: “Oh my god, Daisy, I’m so sorry! I just wanted to help you pick up your hat! Don’t worry, everyone, I’m sure nobody will laugh. It’s just hair removal cream mistaken for shampoo, right? No big deal!” After that announcement, everyone on the path swarmed around, pointing and snapping photos with their phones. What I didn’t know then was that Skylar was live-streaming the entire time. Tens of thousands witnessed my humiliation, live.

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1 I compiled all my assets into a single document, naming my fiancée, Vivian Lee, as the sole beneficiary. I explicitly instructed Mr. Henderson, my lawyer, to deliver it to her precisely on New Year’s Eve. “Are you not keeping anything for yourself, sir?” Mr. Henderson asked me. I had. I had left Vivian a very special New Year’s gift: All my savings, and my cold, lifeless body. … “Mr. Roberts, are you absolutely certain that Vivian Lee is the only name you wish to list as the beneficiary for all your assets? No portion for yourself?” Mr. Henderson repeated the question twice before my attention drifted back to him. I scrolled through my phone, managing a bitter smile. “I don’t have long to live. There’s no need to keep anything.” He hadn’t anticipated my answer and offered a solemn apology, extending his hand. “You have my word, sir. As per your instructions, I will deliver the document to Ms. Lee on New Year’s Eve.” Stepping out of the law office, the biting cold wind sent a shiver through me, but it was nowhere near as sharp as the pain inflicted by the message on my phone. That afternoon, Vivian had posted a photo on her social media of two hands clinking glasses. The opposing hand had distinct knuckles and was adorned with the newest matching couple’s ring. “Celebrating my dear Ethan’s promotion to attending physician!” That post, without a doubt, had me blocked. I’d liked it from a burner account. “Dear Ethan,” was Vivian’s childhood friend. I used to believe Vivian’s love was exclusively mine. But after our engagement, she seemed burdened, rushing out in the dead of night to meet Ethan, confessing her true feelings. “It was only after getting engaged to Sam Roberts that I realized I don’t feel anything for him anymore. I can’t marry him.” The first night I followed Vivian on my burner account, I lay on the couch and watched for hours. They went to concerts, danced by the ocean, revisited childhood haunts… In the year since Vivian and I got engaged, she had never once truly affirmed her love for me, yet with someone else, her affection overflowed. Unconsciously, I found myself outside Vivian’s pottery studio. The storefront was adorned with cheerful, festive decorations. New Year’s was just over a week away, meaning my planned end was drawing closer. The bell above the door suddenly jingled. It was Vivian, stepping out with a bright smile. “Hello, welcome…” But upon seeing me, her smile faded. “Where have you been? Don’t you know the studio is swamped?” Leading up to the holidays, Vivian’s pottery studio always got hectic. Everyone wanted to make a handmade New Year’s gift, mostly couples or families. Vivian would get overwhelmed with teaching, so she’d call me to help. “I called you tonight, no answer. Texted you, no reply. What were you doing?” Her tone was laced with displeasure. I fabricated a lie. “Something came up at the sports club, I had to go there.” She didn’t doubt me much, or perhaps, she simply didn’t care what I was doing. I demonstrated to a customer by the window how to sculpt the desired shape, but after only a sentence or two, the child burst into loud sobs. “That man’s finger is scary! I don’t want to look at him!” The shriek made customers around us turn, their eyes drawn to my severed index finger, making me feel utterly exposed. I wanted to hide my hand, but seeing Vivian approach, I instinctively blurted out, “Vivian, I didn’t mean to…” The child’s amplified wails grated on everyone’s ears, becoming incredibly annoying. “Owner, tell that man to leave! Don’t scare the children anymore!” “Get his hand away! Is he trying to make the child cry even louder?” My explanation was drowned out by the cacophony of accusations. Vivian heard nothing of it. She shot me a disgusted glare. “Don’t you know your hand looks disgusting? Couldn’t you hide it from the child?” Those words were like nails, hammered into my heart, stinging with excruciating pain. Vivian might have forgotten that this very hand, this disgusting hand, had saved her life. 2 Two years ago, in a car crash, Vivian had lost consciousness in the passenger seat. Terrified of losing her, and with the ambulance taking too long, I cradled her unconscious body and sprinted to the nearest hospital. Only after she was wheeled into the operating room did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. It was then that a young nurse beside me gasped, “Sir, your hand is bleeding!” Only then did I notice my index finger had been pierced by vehicle debris, and the delayed surge of pain overwhelmed my mind. Unfortunately, help arrived too late, and that segment of my finger couldn’t be saved. But at that time, I had Vivian’s wholehearted love. She sat on the hospital bed, wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, and shed tears of relief, of having cheated death. “Sam, the doctor said if we’d been any later, I might have died…” She even gently kissed my bandaged finger, asking softly, “Does it hurt?” I shook my head, saying no. “What are you muttering about? Good thing no customers complained, otherwise, if my studio’s reputation went down, I wouldn’t know who to blame.” Vivian’s complaints, reaching my ears, shattered my memories. She was busy recording a video. That video, of me carrying her to the hospital after the crash, had gone viral, bringing a lot of attention and followers. So Vivian was now a small influencer with a decent fan base. The comments used to be uniformly congratulatory and envious. But times had changed, a new wave of viewers had arrived, and the comments section now held much more noise. “Feel like the influencer’s boyfriend looks kinda average, a bit mismatched.” “Yeah, her boyfriend looks really fierce, kinda worried for her…” Things like that. Vivian had even said, “Can you please just stay out of sight when I’m recording videos from now on? My fans don’t like you on camera.” This time, when she recorded, I hid on the balcony. Vivian and I had been together for five years. I discovered her change of heart a year ago. I’d considered breaking up, but then wondered, why was she hiding it from me? She could have simply told me she didn’t love me anymore and wanted to be with Ethan. But she never confessed. I, too, stubbornly waited for her to speak. As the hurt and disappointment piled up, I gradually grew numb. My phone rang, interrupting my sadness. Mr. Henderson called. “Mr. Roberts, we need to record Ms. Lee’s contact information.” I clearly recited her number. When I hung up and turned back into the room, I noticed Vivian standing behind me. She stared at me suspiciously. “Who did you give my number to?” Seeing her suspicion rise, I forced a smile. “The sports club needed to re-register personal information. They called to ask for my next of kin’s number.” Vivian frowned the moment she heard the words “next of kin.” She told me firmly, “What’s all this ‘next of kin’ talk? We’re not married yet. Couldn’t you have given your own family’s number?” We’d been together for so long; Vivian always knew exactly what to say to twist the knife. My parents divorced, and I’d always lived with my mother. After she passed away two years ago, Vivian became the only family I had left in my heart. She had also promised me countless nights, “Sam, don’t be too sad. I’m your family too.” “Your emergency contact, your next of kin… you can put me down. I’ll be there. Always.” The one who promised forever had pulled away, leaving me trapped forever in past memories. A year of agonizing thought led to only one conclusion: I couldn’t live without Vivian, and I wanted her to remember me forever. 3 Early that afternoon, Vivian was already set to leave. I called out to her. “Vivian, I booked a table at that restaurant for tonight. Let’s have dinner together.” She rejected it without a second thought. “No, Ethan’s family invited me over for dinner tonight. I need to go there.” Before she even finished speaking, she was clicking away on her heels. My only plan for the evening had fallen through. Just as I thought I’d spend the entire evening of this pre-holiday period staring blankly at movies, Coach Davies from the sports club called, inviting me to a team outing. A week after making the audacious decision to end my life on New Year’s Eve, I’d quietly resigned from my coaching job at the club, without telling Vivian. After a few rounds of drinks, the colleagues from the club started talking about me. “Hey Sam, he used to be a provincial athlete, you know? Came to our club to coach. Didn’t his girlfriend get on his case about the low pay?” They laughed and ribbed me, and I just had to play along, not wanting to spoil the fun. In truth, I’d stepped down due to injuries to my legs and hands. And also, being with Vivian had softened my sharp edges; I’d wanted to settle down. But now, it seemed I’d failed on both fronts. They were about to start another round of teasing. I had no choice but to use the restroom as an excuse to slip out for some air. Passing by the private dining room next door, I briefly thought the alcohol was making me see things, but blinking repeatedly didn’t change the fact that Vivian and Ethan were inside. Her face held a tenderness I hadn’t seen in ages. She was leaning against Ethan, her words laced with a playful complaint. “Dear Ethan, you haven’t had time to see me these past few days.” Vivian acted like a little girl, accusing the man beside her. “I’ve been busy since becoming an attending physician. Can’t make any mistakes. Besides, meeting too often, what if Sam gets suspicious?” Ethan brushed his fingers against her nose, their intimacy palpable. Perhaps my name had ruined the mood, for Vivian’s tone sharpened, her voice tinged with anger. “I regret getting engaged to him now. He gave up being a professional athlete to go coach at some small club.” “His job is unstable. Does he expect me to support him forever?” “You don’t know, Ethan, I have to wake up every morning and look at his face. Just thinking about it makes me sick.” As she spoke, she suddenly kissed Ethan’s cheek, her voice sweet and cloying. “Ethan, you’re so much better. Handsome and successful. Sam can’t even compare.” The door was ajar, and I heard every word, my hands gripping my clothes so tightly just to keep myself from collapsing. Perhaps Vivian’s resentment had festered for too long, for she continued relentlessly. “And his broken finger, it makes my skin crawl just looking at it. It’s scared off several customers already, and he treats it like some badge of honor.” Ethan suddenly spoke. “Vivian, you can cut ties with Sam. I’ll always be right behind you.” Vivian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she fell into a long silence, which was finally broken by a phone ringing. She saw the caller ID, and immediate displeasure flooded her face. “Didn’t I say I was at Ethan’s family dinner? What do you want now?” I gently pushed open the half-closed door, saw her startled expression, and spoke into the phone, and to Vivian herself. “You don’t need to lie to me. I’ve seen everything.” A silent standoff stretched between the three of us. My gaze shifted back and forth between them, the alcohol I’d consumed earlier boiling in my stomach. I couldn’t stay. I had to leave. “Sam, where are you going? Can you just let me explain!” Vivian’s anxious shouts were left behind me. I almost thought she was worried about me. It was only when I stepped out and saw everyone in the restaurant staring that I realized. She was only worried about me making a scene and embarrassing her. I vomited until I was dizzy in the public restroom. Passersby just assumed I was a drunken mess. I half-sat on the floor, burying my head in my arms, weeping. I couldn’t comprehend how a love that had come so close to marriage could shatter into so many pieces. When I got home, all the lights were off. I accidentally stepped on something while changing shoes, and a sharp pain shot through the sole of my foot. I squatted down to look. The bottom of my foot had been pierced by a shard, bleeding outwards. Vivian had smashed every decorative item in the house. She was sitting in a corner of the sofa, looking at me coldly. “I ran into your colleagues at the restaurant. They said you quit your job.” Vivian’s voice was devoid of emotion, chilling like a venomous snake. “Sam, why?” I didn’t answer her. Instead, I traced the ceramic shard in my hand, letting it cut thin lines of crimson into my skin. This was a mug Vivian and I had made together on the first day her pottery studio opened. It wasn’t particularly pretty, but she loved it, placing it right in the center of the TV cabinet. “Sam, when we get married, we absolutely have to use this mug for our toast.” Later, that mug gathered dust. The mug Ethan made, however, sat on display at the pottery studio, polished to a shine. Vivian took the shard from my hand and tossed it into the trash can. “I might have thrown a bit of a fit tonight, but I was angry that you’re not taking responsibility for our future. How can you just quit your job like that?” “Sam, Ethan and I had dinner together, but it was just a casual thing. If I were to choose someone to settle down with, I’d still pick you.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, rested her chin on my shoulder, and whispered, “I love you, Sam. So you’ll find a new job, and we’ll have a good life together, okay?” Lie after lie wove a suffocating web, gradually crushing my hope, solidifying my desire to leave completely. “Okay. I’ll look for a job after the New Year.” 4 I planned to die in our marital home, the one my mother had bought for us two years ago. She had always longed for me to settle down early; it was her wish, and that house was purchased with all her savings. I hadn’t told Vivian, always wanting to surprise her. But now, it seemed ‘shock’ would be a more accurate word. While Vivian was at the pottery studio, I wanted to visit the house one last time. But fate had other plans. At a crosswalk, I was hit by a car that appeared out of nowhere. I lay on the ground, my consciousness fading, my knee throbbing with excruciating pain. But more shocking than the pain was seeing Ethan and Vivian emerge from the car. Vivian was crying, seeking refuge in Ethan’s arms. She dared not look, unaware that the person lying on the ground was me. Before I lost consciousness, I could only hear her sobbing. “Dear Ethan, what do we do? We hit someone… Is that Sam?” “It couldn’t be Sam, what are the chances…” When I woke up in the hospital, Vivian was leaning by my hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Feeling me stir, she immediately woke up. “You scared me to death, you know that?!” She choked back tears and lunged to embrace me. It had been so long since I’d seen her worry for me, it felt like another lifetime. “You’re lucky to be alive. It’s just a fractured leg, it’ll heal.” Vivian handed me the water from the bedside table, recounting the terrifying ordeal. “Who hit me?” The words left my lips, and she immediately fell silent. Her face held so many emotions—hesitation, evasion—it was hard to tell which predominated. Then she turned and handed me a piece of paper. “Ethan hit you, but it wasn’t on purpose. The road was slick, no one expected it, and he feels really bad…” I looked at the contents of the paper and understood what it meant. “Let’s just settle this privately. It’s best for everyone. Ethan’s life shouldn’t have a blemish, okay?” The momentary, almost dreamlike concern from earlier evaporated, revealing Vivian’s true colors. I paused for a few seconds, then swiftly signed. Vivian jumped up, beaming, but then caught herself, asking, “Sam, are you okay?” I offered a smile that was uglier than a grimace. “I… I’m just happy to be alive, you know?” She didn’t ask anything further. Perhaps there was a mix of genuine guilt in Vivian’s feigned concern, as she spent some time with me during my week-long hospital stay. A flicker of hope stirred within me: if she stayed by my side on New Year’s Eve, maybe I wouldn’t want to die. But that thought didn’t last long. On the morning of New Year’s Eve, she took a call, quickly hung up, and prepared to leave. “Vivian, we haven’t had New Year’s dinner together yet.” My heart screamed at her not to go, not to leave me alone again. “Ethan’s dealing with a patient dispute turned violent. I have to go.” Seeing me still stubbornly holding onto her, Vivian suddenly yelled. “What if the family gets too emotional? Ethan’s life could be in danger! You’re almost fully recovered, don’t be so selfish!” She tore free from my desperate grasp and quickly walked away. She still chose Ethan, between his life and mine. 5 I chose a quiet way to die, though it was somewhat painful. Before slitting my wrists, I drew myself a bath. Despite the on-duty nurse’s repeated warnings not to let my injured leg touch water, I did it anyway. I wanted Vivian to find me clean. The pain from my wrist was more piercing than that in my knee. My consciousness swam, and I could only watch as the bathtub water turned a deep crimson. When we renovated, I specifically chose this tub because Vivian always complained that bathwater got cold too quickly. I spent extra time finding one that could continuously re-heat water. Now, it was stained red by me. I don’t know when I left my body, but after a period of darkness, I opened my eyes to see myself in the bathtub. Lying in shallow red water, my lips still pursed as I departed. Perhaps phasing through walls is a major skill for ghosts, because I found myself watching Vivian and Ethan intertwined on the bed. Vivian, breathing heavily, playfully scolded the man sprawled on her. “You really thought of a good one, tricking me back here with a ‘patient dispute’ excuse.” She started putting on her clothes. “I still need to go see Sam at the hospital. Such a hassle.” I’d heard that word “hassle” from her many times before. It seemed Vivian really did say it often. Ethan, however, wrapped his arms around her waist on the bed, his voice a tempting murmur. “Why don’t you just stay? I really want to be with you until next year.” Their lustful eyes glowed in the dark. If the phone hadn’t rung, I could have predicted what would happen next. “This number’s called several times. Are you sure you don’t want to answer?” I looked over. It was Mr. Henderson’s number. Vivian frowned, taking the phone from Ethan’s hand. The official voice on the other end sounded like a telemarketer. “Is this Ms. Vivian Lee? Your fiancé left you a New Year’s gift, and he asked me to deliver it to you personally.” This clearly spoiled her mood. She refused without a second thought. “I don’t need it. Just throw it away.” But Mr. Henderson persisted. “I can’t. Mr. Roberts insisted that I deliver it directly to you.” “Sam Roberts, he saved up all this money behind my back?” Vivian repeatedly flipped through the contract, making sure her name was indeed listed as the beneficiary. She signed immediately. I stood opposite her. Her excited expression was exactly what I had imagined seeing when I handed her the deed to our wedding home on our wedding day. But when reality played out, I had no chance to be there beside her. Mr. Henderson, ever diligent, said, “Since you’ve signed, I’ll take you to see Mr. Roberts’ wedding home in the city center.” “I’ll have Sam take me himself. He kept such a big surprise from me.” Mr. Henderson insisted on leading the way. Vivian, meanwhile, hummed happily as she called me. Unfortunately, my phone was by the bathtub and couldn’t be answered. “He’s not answering his phone. Alright, Mr. Henderson, please lead the way.” Vivian hummed all the way to the wedding home. Getting money and a house out of nowhere would only make her happy enough to take photos and post on social media. Aside from me not answering my phone, it was a pretty good New Year for her. Mr. Henderson handed her the keys at the door before leaving. Vivian’s steps were light as she surveyed the house, moving from the entryway to the living room, then into the kitchen. She even nodded in satisfaction at the bedroom layout. She didn’t forget to call me, muttering to herself, “Sam, if you don’t answer your phone, I’m going to get angry…” Suddenly, a jarring phone ring echoed through the house. Vivian looked around, startled, searching for the source of the sound, and finally stopped at the bathroom door. Before I could even register her expression, a piercing shriek cut through the air. “Ah——”

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At the corporate gala, Ryan Albright’s assistant, without any sense of propriety, splashed a glass of wine on an investor and then publicly berated him. To retaliate, the investor demanded Vanessa personally atone for it, or he would withdraw his investment. To ensure the company’s successful public listing, Ryan handed me a drink that he’d spiked, then pushed me forward to smooth things over. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a struggling reluctance. “Vanessa is different from you. She just graduated; she’s pure and innocent.” “Daisy, don’t struggle. I will compensate you once the company successfully goes public.” When I fully came to, I looked at the man across from me, my voice hoarse: “The agreement you mentioned, I’ll sign it.” 1 Arthur Grant closed the file in his hands, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and cast a dismissive glance my way, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Then I wish us a pleasant partnership, Ms. Albright.” I looked at his polished, urbane demeanor, my face pale as I recalled the scene from last night. When the smarmy investor had slung his arm around me, ushering me towards a private room, the elevator doors chimed open. Arthur Grant stood perfectly straight inside, like a divine apparition. Seeing the elevator about to close, I immediately cried out to him for help. The man was then viciously beaten to the ground, his gruesome, blood-soaked image still vivid in my mind. I swallowed hard, unsure if my choice was truly the right one. Pushing down my apprehension, I managed to say to him: “Pleasant partnership.” As I gathered my things and left the hotel, I ran straight into Ryan Albright and Vanessa in the lobby. He had his arm intimately around Vanessa. Upon seeing me, Ryan awkwardly released her. Vanessa, however, excitedly rushed forward, feigning concern, her face a mask of gratitude, but her eyes were full of defiance. “Daisy, are you feeling okay?” “Did that old man… hurt you? I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault for being so foolish. If I had known, I would have just put up with his harassment, and you wouldn’t have been… ruined.” The crowd, catching wind of the gossip, fell silent for a moment, secretly scrutinizing me, their gazes a mix of disdain and pity. Ryan, hearing Vanessa’s words, a subtle flicker of disgust crossed his face. He pulled Vanessa back to his side, reprimanding her. “Put up with what?!” “A woman’s self-preservation is paramount.” Watching him ignore me, a wave of bitterness involuntarily washed over my heart. I stepped forward, looking at him through tear-filled eyes. “Ryan, nothing happened last night.” “Do you believe me?” Ryan’s expression froze for a second, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. Vanessa tugged at his sleeve, her red lips pouted, and she said, sounding troubled: “But Mr. Sterling said he’d withdraw his investment if we didn’t make amends to him, and this morning he called Ryan to say the partnership was continuing.” “I know every woman would choose to run from something like this, unable to accept reality.” “But, Daisy, you can’t lie just to save face!” Hearing that, I clenched my fists, glaring at her with resentment. “You shut your mouth!” Last night, as I was shivering and dazed in an ice-cold bath, Arthur Grant pulled me out, dragged me to the wall, and forced me to listen with my ear pressed against it. On the other side of the thin wall, they were popping champagne, celebrating loudly, preemptively toasting to the company’s certain public listing once this deal was secured. Ryan looked at me with displeasure, faulting me for yelling at his young assistant. “Why are you yelling at her? What did she say that was wrong?” I stared at the man before me, tears gradually welling in my eyes. It seemed my uncharacteristic reaction startled Ryan. He uncharacteristically stepped forward, put his arm around my shoulder, and whispered coaxingly: “Daisy.” “You have to believe your sacrifice is valuable. Once the company goes public, I will truly compensate you.” Seeing that I remained silent, impatience gradually showed in his eyes. His tone hardened, and he grudgingly said: “Don’t you just want to marry me?” “I promise you, as soon as the company goes public, we’ll have our wedding.” “Is that enough?!” Looking at his impatient expression, a wave of self-mockery washed over me. Daisy, this is the man you tirelessly pursued, burning everything to stand by his side. The thought of spending my entire life with him had now utterly vanished. I looked up, held back my tears, and looked at him, saying firmly: “No, I don’t want to marry you anymore.” At my words, Vanessa’s face bore a sneer of triumph, and she immediately cheered: “That’s great! You’re not good enough for Ryan anyway!” But Ryan’s face abruptly darkened, his gaze heavy and fixed on me. He said nothing, trying to force my compliance with his silence. In the past, whenever his face fell silent like that, I would immediately apologize and try everything to appease him. But this time, I didn’t avert his gaze. Each word clear and deliberate for him to hear: “Ryan Albright, I’m serious.” “I.” “Don’t want to marry you anymore.” “This relationship ends here.” “Daisy!” He roared my name. I remained unmoving. After a tense staredown, he sneered. “I’ll wait for the day you regret this.” With that, he abandoned me there, pulling Vanessa away. 2 That evening, as I packed my belongings in my apartment, my phone chimed, signaling a new post from a special contact. I opened TikTok and saw a video of Ryan Albright and Vanessa. They were kissing by the ocean, beneath a spectacular fireworks display. Watching the scene, memories washed over me like a tide. When our love was at its peak, he promised to give me the most romantic fireworks show, proposing to me beneath them. I put my phone away. My packed bags and boxes made my heart feel empty. I always thought I’d spend my entire life with Ryan, and I’d bought so many things to decorate my dream home. But leaving, it turned out, wasn’t as hard as I’d imagined. After sending my luggage away, I went straight back to the office. Walking into my office, I found my belongings scattered haphazardly in a corner. The entire room had been redecorated in pink. I looked outside my door. My colleagues avoided my gaze, pretending to be busy with their tasks, heads down and silent, until an imperious voice broke the quiet. “Quick! Throw that table out too! It’s hideous!” “What outdated taste?!” Vanessa walked in, looking triumphantly at me. “Oh, I’m so sorry, but Ryan said this office is mine starting today.” “I saw you hadn’t come in, so I just… tidied your things up a bit.” “Old woman, you’re not mad, are you?” I merely glanced at her, ignoring her, and instead crouched down in the corner, searching for a trophy that was very important to me, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I looked up, fixing my gaze on Vanessa. “Where did you hide my trophy?” Vanessa pulled out a cylindrical glass trophy from her desk. “Are you talking about this cheap trinket?” I extended my hand towards her. “Give it back.” She looked at me, her eyes filled with malice, her red lips curling scornfully. I had a bad feeling, and I was about to snatch the trophy from her. The next moment, the trophy was violently smashed onto the floor. I froze, staring at the glass shards on the ground. The rage I had suppressed for so long finally erupted, and I shoved her away. “What the hell gives you the right to smash it?!” This trophy was the first National Innovation Award I’d won in college. It was thanks to the success of this project that Ryan Albright’s company was able to get off the ground in its early stages. It was only later, when the company lacked clients, that I abandoned my beloved R&D work and shifted to sales. Since then, the trophy had always sat in the most prominent place, a reminder to myself never to abandon my original aspirations. I had originally planned to ask him to let me step back and return to research and development after we married. I crouched down, picking up the metal base. My name and honors were inscribed on it. Even broken, I would gather the remnants. Behind me, I suddenly heard soft whimpers and Ryan’s enraged voice. “Daisy! What did you do?!” I turned around, my heart pounding. Vanessa flung herself into Ryan’s arms, her face streaming with tears. There was a smear of blood on her elbow, pierced by a shard of glass. “Waaah… it hurts so much, dear Ryan…” Ryan cupped her elbow, tenderly blowing on it, then glared at me, saying angrily: “Daisy, how can you be so vicious? Was your good-girl act all a facade?” “It was my decision to have Vanessa take your place! You don’t have the guts to confront me, so you bully a simple, freshly-graduated girl, taking your anger out on her!” I stood up, looking at them. I thought back. I had indeed pushed Vanessa, but I hadn’t pushed her to the ground. My peripheral vision could still tell if anyone was nearby. “I didn’t do it.” “If you didn’t do it, who did?! Are you going to say you didn’t push her?! Do you think I’m blind?! Still trying to argue when you’re caught red-handed!” The colleagues outside, hearing the commotion, covertly peered in. “Get over here and apologize to Vanessa right now!” “You have no situational awareness whatsoever! How did you ever manage sales all these years?! Your quotas?!” “Was it all by schmoozing clients beyond professional boundaries?!” I clutched the metal base in my hand, the humiliation in my heart surged, and my suppressed indignation uncontrollably spilled out. I was leaving anyway. Better to say my piece now. My eyes blazing with anger, I roared at him: “Ryan Albright, how can you insult me like this? Do you have any conscience left?!” “How much have I sacrificed for this company over the years?! Drinking until my stomach bled! Staying up until dawn to revise proposals! You’re right, you are blind!” “Now you’re not just completely denying all my hard work and achievements! You’re throwing dirt on my name too!” “Who told you this? Vanessa?” “You trust her that much?! You’ve only known her for half a year!” With that, I glared at him. Ryan was speechless for a moment. He hadn’t expected me, usually so compliant, to defy him. His face instantly darkened. He felt utterly humiliated in front of his employees. I didn’t want to deal with them anymore. Just as I was about to leave, Ryan’s hand suddenly grabbed my arm with force. SLAP! A powerful slap landed on my face, and a ringing filled my ears. Everyone froze in shock. “You hurt someone and think you can just run off? There’s no such easy way out in this world!” “Vanessa and I may have only known each other for half a year, but she’s purer and cleaner than you! How could a freshly-graduated person possibly play the games you’ve been navigating in the world of men for years?!” “I trust that she wouldn’t lie to me.” “And right now, she’s injured, while you stand there unharmed!” I clutched my face, staring at him in disbelief, a wave of bitterness washing over me. Even in our worst arguments before, he had never laid a hand on me. Today, for Vanessa, he broke that rule. There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Everything I wanted to say was trapped in my throat. At this point, I no longer wanted to argue. “Dear Ryan, please don’t argue with Daisy over me.” At that moment, Vanessa, who had been feigning fragility in Ryan’s arms, let out a soft, sobbing whimper. “My wrist hurts so much.” Ryan frantically scooped her up. As he left, he glanced at me, issuing three commands. “I’m transferring you to Maplewood County.” “You can come back when you’ve reflected enough.” “Pack your things and get out.” 3 Just as I checked out of the hotel, Mrs. Albright, Ryan’s mother, suddenly contacted me. She was one of the few people here who truly cared for me. “Sweetheart, did you and Ryan have a fight?” “I went to the company yesterday, didn’t see you, and Mikey told me you were transferred to Maplewood County. Tell your Auntie what Ryan did wrong, and I’ll make him fix it.” I gently moved Mrs. Albright’s hand from mine and said solemnly: “Auntie, Ryan and I have broken up.” “I’m leaving today, and I might not come back.” “Broken up!” Mrs. Albright sat up straight in shock, looking at me with concern. “Did Ryan do something wrong?” … “Is it that new assistant he hired?” A flicker of sadness crossed my eyes. “Ryan and I have already cleared things up. Thank you for all your care before.” “My flight is this afternoon, and time is running out, so I won’t bother you any longer.” I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and prepared to leave. Mrs. Albright stopped me, clutching my luggage, refusing to let go. “Sweetheart, listen to Auntie. Men will be men; they all stray sometimes. He just made a mistake any man would make.” “Believe me, as long as you marry Ryan, with me backing you up, those little home-wreckers outside won’t shake your position one bit! I only recognize you as a part of the Albright family!” Just then, a sound came from the doorway. I turned to look, and it was Ryan. Mrs. Albright happily went to meet him. “Sweetheart, look, Ryan’s back! He still cares about you very much. Hurry and clear up this misunderstanding, and you can get married next month.” Ryan’s face abruptly darkened when he heard the word “married.” He stormed towards me with an air of fury. “Daisy! Who gave you the nerve?! You dared to come bother my mother again, making her trick me into coming home?!” “You’re just using my mother’s affection for you, trying to pressure me, aren’t you?” “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to get married when I brought it up before?” As he spoke, a smug expression actually spread across his face, and he looked at me triumphantly. “Regretting it now, aren’t you?” “I knew you couldn’t let me go, that you didn’t want to go to Maplewood County.” “Just beg me, then get on your knees and apologize to Vanessa, and I’ll keep you at the company. How about it?” “As for marriage, since you missed one chance, we’ll see about your performance next time.” Mrs. Albright frowned, immediately sensing something was wrong. She patted Ryan’s arm and said: “How can you talk like that?” “Daisy didn’t seek me out; I sought her out.” “You better promise Daisy you’ll fire that little home-wrecker and never contact her again!” Ryan scoffed. “Well, isn’t this something, Daisy. You’re quite popular with older people, both men and women. You’ve got my mom completely charmed, making her listen to your every word.” I looked at the mother and son, and the last shred of goodwill I had completely vanished. I went along with his words. “Fine. As long as you fire Vanessa and get on your knees to apologize to me, I’ll marry you immediately.” Ryan was taken aback, an “I knew it” expression spreading across his face. “You wish.” Just then, his phone suddenly rang, its distinct ringtone echoing through the room. I remembered. So many times before, when that ringtone sounded, he would avoid me to answer the call. “Hello, Vanessa, what’s wrong?” My dead heart still felt a momentary prick of pain, like a needle. So they had been having an affair all along. “Okay, wait right there for me. I’ll be right there.” Mrs. Albright grabbed his sleeve. “No! You’re not going anywhere today! Apologize properly to Sweetheart! I want Daisy as my daughter-in-law!” “I want a daughter-in-law! I want grandchildren!” Ryan impatiently glared at me. “Mom, stop messing around.” With that, he pushed his mother aside and left without looking back. Mrs. Albright clutched her bruised waist, staring in shock at the empty doorway, slapping her thigh and wailing: “What a disgrace to the family! My son’s forsaking a woman of good fortune to marry a troublemaker!” Then she looked at me, saying pitifully: “Sweetheart, please take Auntie to the hospital. Auntie will definitely make Ryan come to his senses.” I frowned, glancing at my watch. Time was already short. I refused: “I’ll call an ambulance for you.” “Goodbye.” As I left, I heard a chorus of wails and cries from behind me. By the time I boarded my plane, news of Arthur Grant and the Grant family heiress’s engagement had already dominated trending topics. The accompanying photo was a candid shot of Arthur Grant and me at the reception. And my fiancé by contract was already waiting for me at the airport.

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My wealthy roommate, Brittany, despised me for being from a small town, And rallied her clique to ostracize me. Loudly, she’d announce to the dorm that she was inviting everyone to her favorite pop star’s concert. When someone asked if I should come along, She’d sneer: “Look at the clothes she wears, clearly from some discount online store.” “Taking someone like that to my idol’s concert? How embarrassing!” Later, her secret crush wore the very same T-shirt I bought from that discount online store, and confessed his feelings for me at the campus singing competition. 1 “Brittany, you and Ethan are just perfect together!” It was 9PM. I hadn’t even reached the door yet, but I could already hear my roommates’ excited chatter from afar. The moment I opened the door, Brittany’s expression was as if she’d seen something unclean. She immediately hid her poster, scrambled onto her top bunk, clutched her nose, and peered over the edge of her bed, looking at me with undisguised disdain. “Cassie, you stink!” I had just finished my shift at a busy diner, so I probably did have a bit of a scent clinging to me, but I’d already changed into fresh clothes and even brought them bubble tea. “Sorry, Brittany. I’ll shower right away. Here’s the bubble tea I brought for you all.” Olivia, one of my roommates, happily took her tea, murmuring thanks. “Hmph. Such cheap bubble tea. Even a dog wouldn’t drink it.” Brittany said this with her lips curled downwards, looking utterly repulsed. My roommates, seeing her sour expression, quietly returned the bubble tea to me. “Oh, sorry, Cassie! I’m on a diet lately.” “I can’t sleep if I drink bubble tea.” I made $15 an hour from my part-time job, and each bubble tea cost $13. I’d bought three for them, not even indulging myself. I bit back my tears, forced a faint smile, set the bubble tea aside, and headed for the shower. “Her poverty stench is disgusting me. Does anyone have an air freshener?” Listening to their blatant insults, watching my belongings carelessly tossed aside, I hid in the bathroom, crying silently. It had been a year. I had tried to fit in, as my Dean of Students advised. But all I got in return was increasingly aggressive ostracism. Brittany had bought the washing machine, so I understood why she forbade me from using it. But why couldn’t I even hang my clothes on the dorm balcony? They always took half an hour or more to shower, yet they would frantically rush me if I took more than ten minutes. Every night, they’d blast their pop star videos until two or three in the morning, then complain the next day that my early morning class woke them up. … Grin and bear it, and you’ll just get sick. I decided to reject mental self-sabotage. If there was trouble, I’d just go wild. 2 The next day, they skipped all their afternoon classes to get ready for the concert that night. I returned to the dorm after my classes to find my belongings completely ransacked and scattered everywhere. “Cassie, you little thief, give me back my necklace!” Before I could even lose it, Brittany rushed at me like a madwoman. “What necklace?” I looked utterly confused. “Cassie, don’t play innocent! In this dorm, besides you, who would steal something?” Brittany’s loud voice immediately drew the attention of everyone on the floor. “I’ve never seen any necklace of yours, much less stolen it.” The three of them always went everywhere together, never including me. I had no idea she even owned such a thing. The onlookers, eager for drama, all asked what the necklace looked like, curious if anyone had seen it. “It’s a necklace endorsed by Jax, my idol! I bought it specially for tonight’s concert.” Brittany cried as she pulled out her phone, opening her photo gallery. “Brittany, without any proof, don’t keep accusing me of stealing.” I knew I was innocent, but I feared she’d twist the truth and damage my reputation for future scholarship applications. “You’re always secretly using my skincare products when we’re not around, don’t think I don’t know.” Brittany’s baseless accusation infuriated me. Her things were often scattered, and sometimes she didn’t even know if something was lost or misplaced, but whenever she couldn’t find something, she’d imply in the dorm that I had stolen it. “Seriously? Who’d want to use your skincare products? Anyone who uses them ends up with terrible breakouts, okay?” “Fine! Let’s see who ends up with a ruined face from using whose!” As Brittany started railing at me, her clique joined in, launching a full-scale assault. “Cassie, have some boundaries, okay?” “Yeah, it’s disgusting living with someone who’s always shoplifting like you.” “Oh really? Well, today I’m going to see who truly has no boundaries.” With that, I walked straight to their desks and began searching. “Brittany, is this the Fenty eyeshadow palette you accused me of stealing?” “Is this your NARS blush?” “Is this your Dior lipstick?” I placed each found item in front of Brittany, her eyes wide with disbelief. Because she knew, Olivia and Sophia weren’t much better off than me, just regular girls. “Brittany, don’t listen to her, she’s just trying to frame us.” “Yeah, Brittany. She’s just jealous that you’re friends with us and not with her.” Seeing their lies exposed, the two quickly moved to Brittany’s side, gripping her hands. “Brittany, you’re not stupid, are you? Didn’t you ever suspect anything about the makeup they usually wear?” I stood to the side, fanning the flames, thoroughly enjoying the show. “Uh, Brittany, that necklace on your phone… I think I’ve seen Cassie wear something similar.” Harper, a student from the next dorm, catching a glimpse of the photo on Brittany’s phone, suddenly blurted out. 3 “Cassie, it was you after all! A thief crying thief!” Brittany snapped back to reality, yelling that she would tell the Dean of Students. The surrounding students all urged her not to blow things out of proportion. “Cassie, if you took it, just give it back!” “Yeah! If the Dean finds out, you might get a demerit!” “I didn’t.” I stood my ground, unmoving. “You didn’t? Do you dare open your drawer right now, in front of all these students?” Brittany’s makeup was streaked from crying, a clear sign she wasn’t going to let me off easy today. I didn’t argue. I pulled the key from my bag and unlocked my drawer. Brittany roughly shoved me aside and started rummaging through it herself. “What are you doing? Those are my things.” I was about to stop her, but her clique held me back. “What’s this?” After emptying the cabinet, she finally found a necklace and dangled it in front of me. “That’s mine.” I stepped forward, trying to snatch it back, but she sidestepped, making me miss. “You say it’s yours, so tell me, where did you buy it? Do you have the order number? A receipt?” Her questions left me speechless. In reality, someone had forced it around my neck, and I had completely forgotten about it. “What, speechless now? Did I hit a nerve? Feeling guilty?” Brittany laughed triumphantly, like a victor. “Someone gave it to me. I don’t have a receipt, and I don’t have an order number.” “Hmph, then call him out! I’d like to see what kind of person would be interested in you, dressed in cheap discount store clothes.” Brittany’s challenging glare shot straight at me, making me deeply uncomfortable. “He’s busy today, not on campus.” Although a certain someone would drop everything for me, and even wanted me to publicly acknowledge our relationship, I didn’t want to drag him into this and make him witness such ugliness. “Hahahaha, Cassie, do you even hear yourself?!” The surrounding students looked at me with suspicion, tacitly assuming I was the thief, whispering and pointing. Brittany watched my humiliation, her eyes gleaming with cunning and triumph. I seized an opportune moment when she wasn’t paying attention, snatched the necklace back, and held it high, allowing the code on the back of the pendant to clearly show in the light. “This necklace, each one is unique. The code hidden in the pendant contains a vow of love. Just check it, and you’ll know if I’m lying.” “I’ve seen interviews with Jax, and I think there’s something like that.” A few students stepped forward, confirming my statement. “Hmph, I’d like to see what tricks you can pull!” Brittany opened the official website, entered her ID number, and looked up the necklace’s code. Everyone leaned in, their eyes focused on the necklace and the phone. “They really are different, wow.” Brittany’s face instantly changed. She quickly snatched back her phone. “So what if it’s different? That doesn’t mean she didn’t steal it, does it?” “My necklace has a three-digit code. Do you think I’d even care about your eight-digit junk necklace?!” The fewer digits in this necklace’s code, the purer and more exclusive the love it represented; eight-digit codes were for regular, non-limited editions. Luckily, a certain someone’s cheesy romantic lines had some effect. “Could she be… kept? Otherwise, where would a country girl like you get the money to buy something like that?” Brittany’s passive-aggressive tone made me want to punch her. “Does spreading rumors make you feel accomplished? Believe it or not, I’ll call the police right now and charge you with defamation.” “You…” Brittany’s face flushed crimson with anger, and she was speechless. “Brittany, I’m telling you. If you don’t apologize to me, pack up my things, and compensate me for my losses, this isn’t over between us.” Brittany was about to continue arguing, but Olivia pulled her aside. “Brittany, your last disciplinary action hasn’t been lifted yet. It’s not good to blow things up.” “Yeah, if we keep arguing, we’ll be late for the concert too.” Brittany, after a moment of hesitation and thought, took out her phone and transferred ten thousand dollars to me on her banking app. “Cassie, I won’t touch your things, and I won’t apologize to you. Just be smart, take the money, and shut your mouth.” I took out my phone and looked, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. I’m quite fond of money, and since I had the moral high ground, I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. “Thanks! If you have too much money you don’t know what to do with, feel free to pull a few more stunts. I’m more than happy to see them through.” That night, they returned to the dorm after the concert, constantly eyeing me with strange expressions. Brittany deliberately pushed Olivia towards me, subtly trying to get information. “Cassie! What’s your relationship with Noah?” 4 Noah is the heartthrob of the Computer Science department, and also Brittany’s secret crush. “Is something wrong?” After the afternoon’s commotion, the atmosphere in the dorm had become noticeably awkward. “Well, we saw him downstairs near the dorm earlier, and he asked if we knew you. He wanted us to bring you some late-night snacks.” Brittany sat in her chair, occasionally sneaking glances at me, clearly eager for my answer. “Oh, really? So, where are the snacks?” I casually tidied my desk, a little distracted. “Brittany said she didn’t know you, so she didn’t take them.” Olivia scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed. I shrugged, feigning indifference. “So, what’s your relationship with him?” Olivia, under Brittany’s intimidating gaze, nervously pressed on. “Guess.” I let a slight, playful smile play on my lips. “Guess what? How could Noah even like her? A country bumpkin, utterly tasteless.” Brittany leaped from her chair, her face etched with impatience. “No need to guess. The truth is exactly what you’re imagining.” I said this, a faint smile playing on my lips, making it sound like a joke. They stared at me blankly, clearly not believing a word I said. “No, it’s not a joke!” I dropped my playful expression, turning serious. “Hmph! You say it is, then it is? If you’re so brave, video call him right now!” Seeing Brittany’s half-skeptical, half-challenging look, I almost burst out laughing. “Why should I listen to you?” Brittany’s lips pressed into a thin line, her teeth grinding audibly. “Noah is my idol, he’s my guy. I won’t allow you to fabricate a relationship with him.” Watching Brittany seethe with frustration was incredibly satisfying. “In that case, why don’t you ask him?” I paused for a moment, then pursed my lips into a smile, continuing. “Could it be… you don’t even have his number? Oh, how sad.” Brittany, hit by my words, glared at me fiercely, her hands clenched into fists, knuckles white with strain. “Though, you did say you didn’t know me when you were in front of him earlier. Otherwise, I would’ve given you his number.” A subtle, mocking smile played on my lips. Brittany finally couldn’t take it anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes, eventually spilling down her cheeks in crystal drops.

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My husband, David, didn’t love me, and he certainly didn’t love our son. The day Finn was born, David didn’t even glance at him, just thrust him into my arms. Years later, on Finn’s eighth birthday, The man, usually so distant, came home for the first time, completely drunk, and held Finn and me in his arms. I thought the years of frozen indifference were finally melting. But then I heard him, his voice slurred, endlessly murmuring the names of his “sunshine” and her son. And that day was precisely when his “sunshine” had returned from overseas. Finn, with his congenital hearing impairment, still clung to his father’s neck, asking me joyfully: “Mommy, is it because I scored a hundred on my test that Daddy finally likes me?” I knelt, pulling him into my embrace, explaining through reddened eyes: “It’s because the person Daddy loves has returned, so Daddy is very happy.” “But we also need to leave Daddy and live our own lives now.” 1 The next morning, I submitted my resignation at the office. Mr. Davis, my manager, looked at me in surprise: “You’re resigning?” “Mr. Evans just promoted you to department head. Why would you resign now?” Hearing that familiar name, the smile on my face stiffened even further. Mark Evans was my boss, and the father of my child. Nine years ago, I was his personal assistant. One wild night, fueled by alcohol, we had a child. This year marked our eighth year of a hidden marriage. And his eighth year of forbidding our son from calling him “Dad.” Thinking of the hope in Finn’s eyes last night, and the name David had continuously whispered. I used the excuse I’d prepared long ago, telling Mr. Davis: “Finn’s father has settled abroad and called us to join him, so we can finally be a complete family.” Hearing this, Mr. Davis nodded understandingly: “I see. We thought you were a single mom.” A single mom? Hearing that term, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. My eyes were full of unshed tears. I wasn’t a single mom, but I was worse off than one. I had a husband, my son had a father, yet he wouldn’t spare us even a glance. The tears welling in my eyes became impossible to hold back. I quickly thanked Mr. Davis and walked out of the office. In the hallway, David was showing Chloe around the company. The woman walked ahead, a gentle smile on her face. David walked behind her, his eyes never leaving her. A female colleague, Maya, unaware of the truth, pulled me over to watch the spectacle. “Hey, Grace, do you think Mr. Evans is finally thawing out?” I managed a strained smile. An iron tree blooms only after decades. But David… Even if I waited a lifetime, he would never truly look at me. In the fleeting moment we passed, I couldn’t help but call out to him: “Dav…” I’d barely started when David shot me a chilling glare. “Assistant Miller, do you need something?” His distant words held a warning, a warning for me to swallow the words in my mouth. A warning for me to remember my place. I lowered my eyes, using my last bit of strength to hide the redness in their corners. “My apologies, Mr. Evans.” David grunted in acknowledgment, not breaking his stride, as if he were passing a stranger. I laughed at myself, swallowing the news of my resignation I had originally intended to tell him. He wouldn’t care anyway. Sitting back at my desk, I saw a voice message from Finn on his smart watch. “Mommy, I thought about it. Let’s give Daddy three more chances, okay?” “If… he really doesn’t like us, then we’ll leave him forever.” Last night, after I suggested to Finn that we leave David. Finn had been silent for a long time. He didn’t understand why his father didn’t like him. Nor did he understand why his father would give such a precious gift to a child he didn’t like. He just held out the toy in his hand to me. “But Mommy, Daddy just gave me a gift. If he doesn’t like me, why would he give me a gift?” His expression was so eager, so desperate to prove he was a child loved by his father. I parted my lips, but no words came out. He was still small; he didn’t understand the complexities between adults. He couldn’t even clearly hear his father’s murmurs when David held him. He just mistook that name for his own. Mistook that love as a belated gift for himself. I kissed Finn’s forehead, fighting the urge to sob, and said with a smile: “Daddy gave you a gift because you’ve been doing your homework so well lately.” “But, Daddy… he doesn’t like us staying in his house…” “Mommy will take you away, okay?” Finn pulled back his hand, clutching the toy David had given him tightly. He didn’t speak another word all night. Looking at Finn’s request now, I swallowed my tears and answered, “Okay.” David, Finn and I will give you three more chances. After three chances. You and us, we’ll be done. 2 Hearing me agree, Finn excitedly made his first request. He wanted his dad to pick him up from school. Finn had told me before. From kindergarten to elementary, every kid had their dad pick them up from school. Only he didn’t. I knew this was Finn’s hope, so I swallowed my pride and called David. The call was immediately hung up. He sent a text message with just two words. “Busy now.” It was his usual line. But from my desk, I could see him and Chloe in the break room, deep in conversation, looking quite intimate. When someone passed by, he instinctively pulled Chloe closer, his eyes filled with an undeniable tenderness. Pushing down the bitterness in my heart, I sent David another message. “Finn wants you to pick him up from school today. Are you free tonight?” From the break room, I saw David pick up his phone, then put it down less than three seconds later, his expression unchanged. Looking at the chat screen, which remained without a reply, I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I asked Mr. Davis for some time off, planning to leave work early to buy Finn some of his favorite snacks. While snacks couldn’t fully compensate for his dad not being there, I couldn’t let Finn be hurt anymore. But just as I finished checking out at the grocery store, David, as if he’d just seen my message, replied: “Okay.” A surge of surprise instantly filled my heart. I practically couldn’t wait to message Finn: “Finn, be a good boy at the school gate.” “Today, Daddy and Mommy will pick you up from school together!” Without even seeing Finn’s reply, I could already imagine his excited expression. His little hands clapping, showing off his two small canine teeth, burrowing into our embrace, Sweetly calling out “Daddy” and “Mommy.” That was the happiest scene I had imagined in eight years of marriage. At Finn’s school gate, I looked around but didn’t see David. Thinking he might be delayed, I quickly sent him another message, urging him. Soon, Finn’s class emerged. He rushed towards me, just as I’d imagined, full of excitement. But seeing only me, he froze, a little dazed. Finn lowered his head, adjusted his backpack strap, and asked me: “He didn’t want to come, did he?” Then, he smiled, pretending not to care, with an air of maturity beyond his years. “It’s okay. Daddy’s busy, I understand.” Listening to Finn’s understanding words, my chest felt as if it were crushed by a heavy stone. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe. “Finn, it’s okay. Mommy’s here, isn’t she?” “And I bought you lots of your favorite snacks.” “And a Transformer toy, too.” I sniffled, quickly pulling out the gifts I’d prepared for him. But in my haste, I fumbled, and the items in my hand scattered across the ground with a clatter. Finn knelt down, carefully putting everything back into the bag, one by one. He tugged my hand and said: “Mommy, let’s go home.” I nodded, and on the side Finn couldn’t see, I wiped away my tears. I took out my phone, intending to call a car to go home. But as soon as I opened my phone, I saw Chloe’s social media post. In the photo, the usually stern man wore a smile I had never seen before. His arms were open, embracing a strange little boy. And their location was at Finn’s school. I looked up, searching frantically, and then suddenly caught sight of that familiar figure. David was wearing the coat I had given him last year for our wedding anniversary. I suppressed my emotions, picked up Finn, and started walking away. Finn’s voice, suddenly very soft, reached my ear: “Mommy, that looks like Daddy.” I pressed Finn’s forehead to my chest, shielding his view, biting my lip hard. “Silly boy, you’re mistaken. How could that be Daddy?” “Daddy just told Mommy he’s in a meeting.” “When Daddy finishes his meeting, he’ll bring you your favorite cake.” I forced a smile, trying to comfort Finn. I held him even tighter. David, if you knew that you had only two chances left with Finn and me, Would you regret it? 3 David came home the next afternoon. He carried a cake, a rare hint of apology on his face. “Sorry, I was too busy yesterday. Couldn’t pick up Finn. My bad.” He certainly owed an apology, but I wouldn’t accept it. The damage was done; no amount of compensation could cover it. I silently took the cake, And was surprised to find it was truly Finn’s favorite teddy bear cake. In eight years of marriage, David had never remembered Finn’s preferences. For Finn’s last birthday, I was the one who bought the gifts and cake. He merely made an appearance. The gift he gave Finn then was just a freebie from the gift he bought for Chloe’s son. Now, looking at the cake before me, I had a bad feeling. But Finn was overjoyed. He excitedly hugged David and said: “Uncle, thank you.” Watching Finn’s lips, I knew he had meant to say “Daddy.” But in this moment of happiness, he feared David might show any displeasure. And then he wouldn’t like him anymore. Finn’s thoughtfulness and caution made my eyes sting. I was about to say something to David, But he suddenly pulled me aside. As if he had something to say. “I heard from Chloe that Finn’s school is having a parent-child sports day.” “Chloe is alone with her son, and they just moved here. They don’t know anyone.” “I want to attend with them.” Hearing his words, I felt a chill spread through my entire body. My gaze drifted to Finn, who was happily eating cake in the living room. I said nothing. He seemed to sense my mood. He parted his lips, his tone softening unusually: “You can spend whatever you want from the card. Find an excuse, take Finn on a trip abroad.” “Otherwise, he’ll be unhappy if he sees me with someone else.” He said it so easily. But he already knew Chloe’s son and Finn were at the same school. And he knew Finn would be unhappy seeing him play with someone else’s child. Yet he still chose to do this. He’d rather I lie, to deceive our son. Than not accompany Chloe and her son. My nails dug into my palms. I looked at the man I had spent so many years with, And felt like he was a complete stranger. He didn’t know, He had lost another chance. He had only one chance left. “Understood.” “I’ll pack our things as quickly as possible and take Finn away. We won’t disturb you.” Since we were leaving anyway, a little sooner or later made no difference. Seeing my prompt agreement, David was taken aback. “I will compensate you two.” I didn’t look up, just remained silent. After David left, I thought for a moment, then delicately told Finn about it. “Finn, Daddy might not be able to join you for the parent-child sports day this weekend.” “Mommy’s thinking of taking you to Disneyland instead. How does that sound?” Finn’s happy expression from eating cake froze. He asked me, a little confused: “Daddy’s not coming to the sports day, but Mommy can come with me. Why do we have to go to Disneyland?” I clutched my clothes, afraid to meet Finn’s eyes: “Because, Mommy doesn’t want those other kids to laugh at you for not having a daddy anymore.” But Finn calmly opened his arms, embracing me, As if to comfort me: “It’s okay, Mommy. I’m already used to it.” “Don’t be sad.” I froze, tears finally streaming down my face, unstoppable. How could I tell Finn the cruel truth? Should I tell him that his father didn’t want to see him because he was going to play with other children? Or should I tell him that his father didn’t love us, only others and their children? I couldn’t say anything. I could only silently swallow the bitterness and heartache, and as before, protect my child with a sugarcoated truth. I kissed Finn’s forehead, wiping away my tears where he couldn’t see them. This was a mother’s pretense, maintained even in ultimate pain. I knelt down, holding Finn’s small hand, forcing a smile. “Finn…” But before I could finish, Finn spoke first: “Mommy, does Daddy really not want us anymore?” 4 “No, Finn, no.” I shook my head, not wanting Finn to be so sad, desperately trying to deny the truth. I wanted to tell him, Dad still has one more chance. To tell him not to rush. But Finn, instead, took my hand, drawing closer into my embrace. “Mommy, let’s go. I don’t want to give Uncle another chance anymore.” I looked up in disbelief, only to see Finn’s eyes slightly red. My child, so well-behaved, so understanding. All he ever wanted was a tiny bit of affection from his own father. Just a little bit. He used to think his dad disliked him because he wasn’t good at school, which was why he wouldn’t let him call him “Dad.” But he studied so hard, getting perfect scores in every subject, even insisting on going to class when he had a fever. David, still wouldn’t let him say “Dad.” Later, he thought his dad disliked him because of his bad hearing, not being able to understand people. So no matter how painful the surgeries and treatments were, he insisted I take him to the hospital. But now, his hearing was gradually recovering. David had still not given him a single smile. Instead, he whispered another person’s name in his ear. My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Closing my eyes, I agreed to Finn’s request. “Okay.” David, this time, Finn and I, we won’t want you anymore. We started packing our luggage together. Everything David had ever given to Finn and me, we left it all behind in that house. Finn’s face was bright with a radiant smile again. Like a little man, he helped me carry the luggage downstairs. And the day our flight took off, Was also the day David was supposed to attend Chloe’s son’s parent-child sports day. The night before, he had been afraid we would disturb his and Chloe’s family happiness. He made a special trip home to see us. His attitude was unusually gentle. He even took the initiative to hold a gift, wanting to hug Finn. But facing the embrace of the father he had once yearned for, Finn pulled away. He stood to the side, not taking David’s gift, and said: “Thank you, Uncle David. You can just put the gift on the coffee table.” Hearing the title Finn used, A flicker of panic suddenly crossed David’s face. He looked at me in disbelief: “Finn… what did he call me?” I smiled, feeling a bitter irony. “Isn’t this what you always wanted, Mr. Evans?” Eight years of hidden marriage, David not only kept our relationship a secret. He never even let Finn call him “Dad.” The only difference was, Before, he forced Finn to call him “Uncle.” Now, Finn was actively drawing a line between them. David looked at me, his eyes complex: “Is this about the parent-child sports day?” “I can explain it to Finn.” I reminded him: “Then what about Chloe? How will you explain it to her and her son?” David seemed to just realize, reluctantly releasing my hand. I scoffed, and took Finn’s hand, ready to leave. Only then did David notice the packed luggage of Finn and me. He asked, surprised: “You’re going on a trip abroad, do you need to bring this much luggage?” I smiled calmly: “Yes, when a child travels, they need to bring a lot of things.” “Mr. Evans has never taken care of a child, so it’s normal that you wouldn’t know.” In those few short sentences, I clearly articulated David’s indifference to our family over the years. A rare look of apology and panic appeared on his face. He blocked our path to the car and said: “When’s your flight? I’ll drive you.” “Tomorrow.” I said it directly. Because I knew he would absolutely not show up tomorrow. David froze for a moment, saying nothing, only telling us: “Then be careful, you’re traveling alone with the child.” His concerned eyes met ours. But we, we no longer cared. Waking up the next day, I took Finn into the private car bound for the airport. Just as we arrived at the airport, preparing to check in our luggage, I heard a voice behind me: “Grace, Finn!” David, who should have been at the parent-child sports day, came rushing, his face beaming as he looked at us: “Finn, how about Daddy comes with you to Orlando Disney? Are you happy?” This was the first time he had openly acknowledged himself as Finn’s father. But looking at the suitcase in his hand, Finn waved his hand, decisively refusing: “No, thank you, Uncle David. Mommy and I are going to Australia to find my dad.” “Please don’t disturb us anymore.”

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Willow. Her name meant grace, but her reality was anything but. A daily smoky eye, a mouth full of curses, a true rebel kid. The neighbors would say, “Just what you’d expect from a gambling addict’s spawn.” The teachers would say, “She’s ruining the school’s reputation.” Everyone called her a lost cause, mud that wouldn’t stick to a wall. Yet, she was the least of their worries. She left home to work right after high school, and at 20, married out of spite to her own father. But her luck in love was terrible. Far from living happily ever after, She got the whole package deal of misery: cruel, greedy in-laws, a selfish, deceitful husband, and a rebellious, cold daughter. She fell ill and passed away before forty, and her husband openly flirted with another woman at her funeral. It was utterly tragic. And I. I was determined to rewrite her destiny. 1 It all began when I crossed back in time to the year 2000, into the body of someone dying from an incurable illness. No, not dying. Already dead. The girl’s name was Skylar. Though terminally ill, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth; her parents doted on her. In some ways, she was infinitely luckier than me—a person who, though perfectly healthy and full of life, had a dad who didn’t care and a mom who didn’t love her. Alright, I admit there’s a tiny bit of jealousy in that statement. Despite the unscientific event of transmigration, I could feel it: the cancer cells hadn’t slowed their invasion and destruction of this body. I died in a car crash and was reborn, but not completely. “Sky.” The hospital room door pushed open, and a beautiful woman, her face shadowed by a faint veil of sorrow, yet forcing a smile, walked in, followed by five or six household staff. The woman was the mother of the girl whose body I now inhabited. Sky was her nickname. “How are you feeling today? Anywhere uncomfortable?” Honestly, I felt uncomfortable everywhere. Since I’d arrived, it had been less than half a month, and I’d already undergone five rounds of chemotherapy. Each one felt like the agony of being flayed alive. But facing Eleanor, Skylar’s mother, at this moment, I could only put on a brave face. “I think I have a bit more energy than yesterday.” Eleanor’s eyes instantly sparkled with dazzling hope. She rushed to the bedside, scooping up my hand as if it were a fragile piece of porcelain. “Really? Oh, then, do you feel like eating anything, Sky? Mommy made your favorite mini pastries today, they’re still warm! Want a bite?” I truly had no appetite, but for the sake of a mother’s heartfelt kindness, I could manage a bite. But Eleanor still noticed my hesitation and immediately had the pastries taken away. “Sky,” Eleanor forced a smile, “Your eighteenth birthday is coming up soon. Have you thought about how you want to celebrate?” I thought for a moment, then told her what was, for both me and the original Skylar, the greatest desire so far. “Mom, I want to go to school.” 2 The year 2000, Northwood High. If this wasn’t a parallel universe, then… “Hey, hey, move it, pal! Get out of the way, will ya?” A sharp retort interrupted my thoughts, followed by a flash of a girl—her uniform jacket tied at her waist, wearing a short skirt even in the dead of winter—dashing past me. A gust of cold wind followed in her wake. “Miss! That student was so rude! Are you feeling alright? Should we go back to the doctor–” My private nurse, Ben, who was here as a chaperone, nervously rushed over, fussing with concern, afraid I couldn’t handle the sudden draft. “I’m fine.” Cutting off Ben’s incessant chatter, I looked at the distant figure who had already run off, lost in thought. Ben quietly closed his mouth, but began to watch our surroundings constantly. After that incident, he was even more on edge. Thankfully, everything went smoothly afterward. After completing the registration process at the administrative office, our homeroom teacher led us to my new classroom. Senior Year, Class 9. It was silent reading time, but a few students stood haphazardly at the classroom door, all looking utterly blasé. Among them was the girl in the short skirt I’d seen moments ago. She stood out conspicuously among the boys, leaning against the wall, head bowed, her brightly colored hair falling over her face. Seeing the nurse, the hand pushing my wheelchair instinctively tightened. “Miss, isn’t that the one from earlier…” I gave him a cool glance, and Ben immediately shut up, though his face still showed confusion. Hearing the commotion, the students at the classroom door all turned to look. Mr. Finch, the homeroom teacher, looked livid. “You lot again!” Mr. Finch’s gaze, sharp as a knife, sliced across each student, but deliberately skipped over the girl in the short skirt. The boys grinned sheepishly: “Honestly, Mr. Finch, we tried our best today, we were only one minute late!” Mr. Finch looked exasperated. “One minute? Your total tardiness for this semester has already exceeded 72 hours!” The boys wheedled and cajoled Mr. Finch, who, losing his temper, waved them into the classroom. Again, he deliberately skipped over the girl in the short skirt. 3 Perhaps because I didn’t need to study hard, Senior year was far more relaxed than I expected. Of course, arriving at school in a wheelchair, accompanied by a nurse and bodyguards, immediately piqued the curiosity of most students. They speculated about my background, gossiped about my health, and most of their words weren’t very pleasant. Once it was clear the bodyguards wouldn’t easily interfere, my classmates joined the gossip brigade. “Coming to school in a wheelchair, probably just a drama queen.” “And the nurse and bodyguards? Too many melodramatic movies, huh?” “She thinks she’s some kind of star.” A few girls huddled together, whispering. Their seats weren’t far from mine, and I could hear every word clearly. Ben intended to intervene, but I had no desire for a confrontation at school, so I held him back. But then, a second later. Bang! “Ahhh!!!” A loud crash, followed by several screams, erupted. I turned my head, startled, to see the girl in the short skirt, Willow, looking impatient. “Are your mouths permanently stuck on repeat? Non-stop chatter this early. If you love talking so much, maybe try stand-up comedy instead of school. You’d probably ace it.” The overturned desk lay on its side, its contents scattered across the floor like confetti. The girls who had been badmouthing me moments ago huddled together, looking utterly shaken. Willow frustratingly ran a hand through her hair, as if muttering to herself. “Haven’t brushed your teeth in years? Your breath stinks so bad, you’d think this classroom was a sewer.” The girls’ faces turned ashen with anger, but none dared to confront her directly. The previously noisy classroom fell silent in an instant. 4 “Pfft.” Inappropriate time, place, and atmosphere. Inappropriate laughter. The girls who had just been quivering like quail before Willow immediately glared at me, subtly but fiercely. I met their gazes unperturbed. Barely old enough to drive, their collective courage was more fragile than a soap bubble. Within seconds, the girls nervously shifted their eyes away under my cool stare. Willow scoffed, hands in her pockets, and walked out of the classroom. The girls reverted to their old habits, starting to chirp about someone again, but this time, their target was Willow. “Hmph. Deadbeat dad, and a mom who ran off with another man. No idea why she acts so high and mighty all the time!” “My mom said her dad sometimes gets drunk and hits her! On the surface, she looks fine, but she’s bruised black and blue underneath, it’s horrible!” “Serves her right! People like her are just a waste of air.” “Hey, I heard she’s also involved with some sketchy crowd outside of school, I wonder…” The girl didn’t finish her sentence. A few of them suddenly let out knowing giggles. She just stuck up for me, so I couldn’t just sit by, could I? Amidst the girls’ meaningful laughter, I raised my hand and tapped the desk in front of me, sweeping my gaze coolly across them. “Can’t you go a minute without badmouthing someone? ‘Gossip queens’ definitely suits you three.” “You!” One of them, Ruby, with straight-cut bangs, indignantly stood up, as if coming to confront me. I smirked, casually retorting. “Heard who? Your shady friends? If you were so brave, why didn’t you dare say a word earlier?” Ruby sputtered in anger: “Are you effing crazy?! We weren’t talking about you! Stop looking for trouble!” I smiled faintly. “Can’t help it. Guess I’m just a drama queen.” 5 As expected, The girls ran to Mr. Finch to complain, playing the victims. When I was called to his office, The moment I stepped inside, I saw their triumphant expressions, clearly expecting a show. I shook my head inwardly. It was time to give them a little shock. Seeing me enter, Mr. Finch immediately stood up and rushed forward, even taking over from Ben, personally pushing my wheelchair to his desk. He said nothing about the complaint, only fussing over my well-being with eager concern. The previously smug girls looked dumbfounded, standing awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or leave. I glanced at them. Mr. Finch didn’t speak, and neither did I, just leaving them hanging. After a few minutes of polite small talk, someone finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Mr. Finch, Skylar cursed at us for no reason in class! The whole class can vouch for it!” Mr. Finch’s smile instantly froze. He glared at the girl, then turned to me, gently seeking confirmation. “Skylar, is what they’re saying true?” I gave an affirmative answer. “Yes, cursing was indeed a fact.” Mr. Finch, who was clearly ready to defend me, stared blankly, his mouth half-open. The girls immediately became smug again. I chuckled inwardly, then continued: “But I didn’t curse without reason.” “How not?!” Ruby, the one with bangs, blurted out anxiously. I gave her a poker-faced glance, then, mimicking their previous tone precisely, recounted every single one of their nasty comments to Mr. Finch. “Publicly cursing is certainly wrong, but my actions can at most be considered self-defense.” 6 After hearing my recitation, Mr. Finch’s face turned green. The girls immediately started yelling. “You’re lying!” “Stop slandering us! We never talk behind our classmates’ backs!” “You’re just making things up!” It was as if their mouths could hold up the sky. Too lazy to bother with them, I addressed Mr. Finch directly: “Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can do as they say and call the other classmates to confront us face-to-face.” “No need for a confrontation!” Mr. Finch said bluntly: “Skylar, I know you wouldn’t lie about something like this.” Then, he turned to the girls: “Maliciously speculating about others, spreading harmful rumors, and then playing the victim by complaining first! Is this what you’re learning at school?!” The girls were completely dumbfounded. They had probably grown accustomed to using the same tactics against others. Now, faced with Mr. Finch’s sudden reversal, they instantly broke down. “Mr. Finch, you know us! We’ve never wronged or slandered any classmate! It’s her, she’s the one who–” “Alright, alright!” Mr. Finch waved his hand, cutting off their excuses impatiently. “In the past, I turned a blind eye a few times, considering your good grades. But now, Skylar has just transferred to our school, and she’s not well. Instead of helping and looking after a new classmate, you’re brazenly slandering her! It’s completely unacceptable!” Mr. Finch looked utterly righteous. “You three, apologize to Skylar immediately, or I’ll have to call your parents to school for a serious discussion!” “No, Mr. Finch, please don’t call our parents!” The girls cried out in panicked helplessness. The three of them glared at me resentfully. Judging by their furious expressions, they were probably wondering what magic potion I’d given Mr. Finch. Girls who were used to ruling the roost in the ivory tower of high school. This was probably their first encounter with a “pay-to-win player” like me. 7 Ultimately, the girls, unwillingly and grudgingly, were forced by Mr. Finch to apologize to me. Mr. Finch would, of course, side with me. After all, to ensure my comfortable schooling, my parents had, without a second thought, agreed to renovate the school’s athletic fields, donated two academic buildings and a science lab, and, fearing I might not eat well, even arranged for a dozen star chefs for the school cafeteria. Even the ingredient procurement had a dedicated team. Oh, and this morning before heading to school, I heard my parents discussing plans to replace all the school’s desks and chairs with more ergonomic ones. Was I a normal student? Clearly, I was the school’s cherished benefactor. Let alone the homeroom teacher, even if they complained to the grade head, the principal, or even the superintendent. Who among them would dare to say a single bad word about me? On the way back to the classroom from the office, the few girls walked distinctly on the other side. Nearing the door, Ruby suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on me with resentment. “She must have used some underhanded trick to get Mr. Finch on her side! Just you wait, we’re not letting this go!” I shrugged, making no comment on her words. Even if she didn’t let it go, what could she do? Nothing but the usual isolation tactics. As for more severe physical bullying. I wasn’t being presumptuous, but just seeing how two sentences from Willow had silenced them, and how they only dared to complain about me, I knew that even without a nurse and bodyguards, they lacked the guts. The moment I entered the classroom, my gaze happened to meet Willow’s. She scoffed, rolled her eyes, and slumped onto her desk, clearly intending to take a nap. I gestured for Ben to push me over. Ben, though confused, strictly followed my parents’ instructions, always prioritizing me. As I reached Willow’s desk, I boldly tapped on the surface. Willow looked up, her eyes incredibly impatient, but when she saw who it was, surprise flickered across her face. But Willow, determined to maintain her rebel persona, still spoke harshly. “Got a problem?” 8 Facing Willow’s rude remark, I calmly nodded. “Yeah, why else would I be in a wheelchair?” Willow froze, completely dumbfounded. I smiled and leaned in closer: “Hey, thanks for sticking up for me earlier.” The girl, snapping out of her daze, rolled her eyes to cover her embarrassment. “What’s it got to do with you? I cursed them out purely because they were bothering my nap.” I ignored her bad temper, glancing at the English textbook on her desk. “Hey, next period is Mr. Finch’s math class. Even if you want to sleep, you should at least put out your math book, or he’ll find a reason to pick on you.” Willow’s expression grew even more impatient. She raised an eyebrow, sizing me up repeatedly. The class bell suddenly rang. Willow didn’t hesitate to dismiss me: “I’ll put out whatever book I please. No need for you to be nosy. Get lost!” Seeing the uncontrollable annoyance and embarrassment on her young, pretty face, I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Just before Willow could lash out in fury, I gestured for Ben to push me back to my seat. On the way, passing Ruby’s desk, I overheard her nasty comment to her deskmate. “Birds of a feather, I guess. Trash belongs with trash. They’re a match made in hell!” I signaled Ben to stop, then turned to face Ruby with a blank expression. Ruby looked at me warily, warning: “What! I wasn’t talking about you! Don’t jump to conclusions!” I smiled faintly. Then, a second before Mr. Finch walked into the classroom, I quickly grabbed Ruby’s hand, twisted my body, and slammed myself onto the floor. Amidst the rising screams and gasps, I hit the ground hard. 9 For publicly assaulting a sick classmate, Ruby’s parents were called to school by Mr. Finch. Hearing I’d been bullied, Eleanor rushed to the school immediately. Upon seeing me in the infirmary, my arms and legs covered in fresh bruises, Eleanor’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. “Mrs. Albright…” Bypassing the Vice Principal who was trying to schmooze her, Eleanor rushed to my side. “Skylar, Skylar, are you okay? How did you get such serious injuries? It must hurt so much, doesn’t it? Tell me, who bullied you? Mommy won’t let them off easy!” Although I had used a self-inflicted injury to get Ruby a disciplinary record and sent home to reflect, The moment I saw Eleanor’s tears, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I’m sorry, for hurting your daughter’s body. “Mom,” I gently called her, “I’m fine, please don’t be sad…” With outsiders present, Eleanor quickly composed herself. She gently patted my shoulder twice, then stood up and turned to the flustered Vice Principal, her tone sharp and serious. “Vice Principal Miller, the school personally promised me they would create a 100% safe learning environment for Skylar. And since Skylar also expressed interest in attending here, Richard and I ultimately chose to enroll her. But now, less than a week after Skylar’s enrollment, something like this has happened, making me question whether your school can truly deliver on its promises. If not, we will transfer Skylar as soon as possible!” “We can!” The Vice Principal, sweating profusely, terrified of losing the financial backing, stated unequivocally. “Mrs. Albright, I guarantee you, absolutely nothing like this will happen again from now on!” Eleanor said nothing, only giving the man before her a cold, scrutinizing look. The atmosphere in the infirmary suddenly became suffocating. The Vice Principal’s sweat flowed even faster. He frantically wiped his brow while apologizing to Eleanor, swearing repeatedly. Finally, Eleanor glanced around the infirmary and asked, “Where is the student who pushed my daughter?” The Vice Principal quickly replied. “The school has already disciplined that student! Her parents have taken her home to reflect.” Seeing Eleanor frown, he added: “Of course, if you’d like to personally meet that student, we’ll contact her parents immediately and bring her to school!” After a moment of thought, Eleanor waved her hand. “Let’s leave it at this for now. If it happens again…” “No, no, don’t worry! Absolutely it won’t happen again!” 10 After dismissing the Vice Principal, Eleanor returned to the bedside, shedding the assertive demeanor she’d maintained for outsiders. “Skylar.” She gently stroked my hair, her voice trembling with lingering fear: “Do you really have to attend school? Your father and I are so worried your body won’t be able to handle it. Your last check-up report… ” Eleanor couldn’t continue, her eyes suddenly filled with a painful redness, and her hand, as it dropped, trembled uncontrollably. Everyone knew the truth. No matter how much money the Albright family could pour in, Skylar’s body was already at its limit, like a lamp running out of oil. When I first arrived, I saw from Skylar’s memories that, because her illness was congenital, her parents had taken her to countless hospitals since childhood. Domestic and international, they traveled to so many places. But all doctors gave the same exact answer. “Given current medical technology, all we can do is extend her life by a few years.” But no matter how much they extended it, Skylar had no chance of living past 20. “Mom,” I held Eleanor’s hand, trying to speak in a tone as normal as possible: “I know my body better than anyone. Please, just consider this my lifelong wish. I truly don’t want to be confined to a small hospital room until the very end.” Although, given the Albright family’s wealth, the hospital rooms Skylar had stayed in since childhood were more spacious and comfortable than most ordinary people’s homes. But no matter how spacious or luxurious, a hospital room was still just a hospital room. Skylar had suffered from being cooped up for too long; she dreamed of stepping out and seeing the world. She was just too thoughtful, not wanting her parents to worry, so she had always endured and restrained herself, never even taking a single step outside until she finally left this world. I admit that my insistence on attending Northwood High this time was because I had something I absolutely had to accomplish. But wasn’t this also Skylar’s wish? “Mom.” Seeing Eleanor didn’t want to talk about it, I smoothly changed the subject. “I found a really interesting girl at school. I really want to be friends with her, but she doesn’t seem to like me very much.” Sure enough, Eleanor’s attention was quickly diverted, and she listened as I recounted Willow’s story. 11 Clearly, my first interaction with Willow hadn’t fully captured her attention. But I wouldn’t be deterred by that. Even after returning home to recuperate for a few days and then going back to school, I continued my persistent efforts to approach her. “What now?” Under my relentless “harassment,” Willow had finally managed to patiently exchange a few words with me. I rested my crossed arms on her desk, my chin propped up. “Willow, this Saturday is my birthday. Do you want to come to my house to celebrate?” Willow’s tightly furrowed brow looked like it could crush walnuts. She pursed her lips, exasperated. “No, seriously, I don’t think we’re that close, are we? And who gave you permission to call me that?!” To me, her behavior was no different from a kitten throwing a tantrum. So I continued boldly. “But from the time you spoke up for me, I’ve considered you my friend!” I looked at her with eyes crinkled in a smile: “If I could have a friend as smart, pretty, and cute as you, I’d be the happiest girl in the world!” Willow’s eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost. I pretended not to notice, carefully tugging at her oversized school uniform sleeve, begging humbly. “Please, please, come celebrate my birthday!” Willow impatiently ran a hand through her messy dark hair: “Fine, fine, fine! Just stop being crazy, and I’ll do whatever you want!” She’d already said it, how could I not press my advantage? “Okay, then let’s walk home together after school tonight!” Willow: “…” Though she didn’t say anything, just by looking at her expression, I knew she was cursing up a storm. To show my sincerity, I immediately placed several types of pastries, which I’d specifically asked the household cook to make yesterday, on her desk. “Willow, try these! They’re all your favorite flavors!” Willow looked at me suspiciously: “How do you know what flavors I like?” I chuckled mischievously. “Guess! I’ll tell you a secret: I know you better than you think.” Then Willow’s gaze at me turned into: “Are you, like, a total creep?”

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I’d been married to Jared Blackwood for three years, and the whispers in our quiet suburb painted me as a manipulative cling-on, someone who’d even threatened to take my own life to force him into marriage. Furious, I dragged Jared over, demanding he set the record straight. In front of everyone, he simply handed me divorce papers and a blank check. “Rory, don’t make a scene,” he’d said. I’d thought we were high school sweethearts destined for forever, a love story from the classrooms to the altar. But to him, it was just a transaction, a convenient entry ticket to my sister’s inner circle, a pass to fall under her spell. They’d moved like a pair, two halves of a whole, their lips intertwined under the silent, judging moonlight. Then came the anonymous tip, costing me my teaching job because of my past struggle with depression. Catching my husband red-handed had sent Mom into a spiral, leaving me with nothing but shattered pieces. Heartbroken, I stumbled out the door. The roar of a semi-truck filled my ears just before it slammed into me. When I opened my eyes again, I was eighteen-year-old Jared Blackwood. This time, I’d watch that backstabbing jerk lose everything. 1 “Mom, maybe we should just go home.” I stood by the hotel room door, trying to reason with Brenda Miller, but her temper was already blazing. She roughly shrugged off my hand, muttering curses about my lack of backbone. Brenda stood with her hands on her hips, shouting, “Barely a day after the divorce, and he’s already shacked up with someone! I want to see which home-wrecker ruined my daughter’s life!” The words hadn’t even fully left her lips before Brenda kicked open the slightly ajar door. Soft moans and heavy breathing filled the air, two figures tangled beneath a thin sheet. I couldn’t stop her. Brenda whipped off her shoe, aiming it squarely at the heads on the bed. But then a woman’s voice cut through the air, freezing our entire family in place. “Easy there, brother-in-law.” That breathy, coy voice. I’d know it anywhere, even in a different life. It was Skye, my little sister, the girl I’d adored since she was a baby, the princess of the Miller family. Brenda gasped, a disbelieving “Skye Miller?” escaping her lips. Only then did the figures on the bed react. Jared quickly pulled the sheet over the woman, exposing his own bare torso. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes met mine. My body swayed, feeling like it might give out, but Jared didn’t seem to care. “What, did I not pay enough? Aurora, I used to think you were so sensible.” The blatant impatience in his voice struck me like a block of ice. Just three days ago, we’d celebrated our third wedding anniversary. How could everything have fallen apart so completely in so short a time? Brenda wouldn’t stand for it. She lunged, nails extended, aiming for Jared’s face, desperate to rip the sheet off the bed and expose the truth. “Enough!” Jared shoved Brenda to the floor and reached for the hotel phone to call security. I rushed to help Brenda up. Our eyes met, both brimming with unshed tears. There was no doubt about it. It was Skye. But… why? “Skye, was I ever anything but good to you?” The woman under the sheet, now wearing a T-shirt, casually snuggled into Jared’s embrace. “Oh, you were wonderful, sis. The best sister in the world,” Skye scoffed, a cold sneer twisting her lips. “But who needed your ‘goodness’ if it was just to show everyone how compliant and sensible you were? You always got the attention, Mom and Dad, Grandma, Aunt Carol, everyone always sang your praises. You hogged all the favoritism, so what if I took one thing from you?” Before she could finish, Brenda darted forward, her arm swinging, slapping Skye hard across the face. “You disgraceful creature!” Blood welled at the corner of Skye’s mouth, half her face swelling, yet she laughed, a wild, unhinged sound. “You’re so desperate to save face, but look where it got you – nobody wants you!” Brenda’s face went ashen. Without another word, she collapsed to the floor. An ambulance, call an ambulance! My hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone. “Mom!” Skye and I both knelt beside her. Time stretched, each second dragging, as Brenda’s body grew cold beneath our hands. Brenda wasn’t breathing. 2 “How could this happen?” Skye grabbed my throat, her grip tight. “I just wanted to make her mad, wanted her to notice me, why? Why did this happen?” I ripped her hands away, my eyes blazing, delivering her death sentence. “Mom was diagnosed with a serious heart condition last month. She didn’t want to distract you from your big promotion, so she made me keep it quiet…” Skye buried her face in her hands, sobbing, kneeling before Brenda’s lifeless body. Jared stood beside her, his gaze filled with concern and tenderness. So, ten years of silent adoration, from high school crush to husband – it was all a lie. All my own pathetic delusion. What I thought was a love story, a journey from childhood sweethearts to husband and wife, was just a tool for Skye to exact her twisted revenge. My mind cleared. I grabbed the vase from the nearby table, intending to smash it over Skye’s head. You pathetic bitch. Go apologize to Mom, six feet under. But Jared sensed my intent. He kicked me hard in the stomach. I collapsed to the floor, a warm wetness spreading beneath me. Then, a sudden, chilling memory. I’d come here today to tell him something else. I was pregnant. Two months along. But now, it didn’t matter. Jared’s pupils contracted. He instinctively took a step back. A strange, savage sense of satisfaction surged through me. “Your baby. No, wait. It’s just a pool of blood now.” Then, an immense emptiness and regret washed over me. I had brought a wolf into my home. I had ruined myself and killed Brenda. As the hotel security guards dragged me out, Jared remained frozen, stunned. He did, uncharacteristically, mouth a silent instruction to the guards: Be gentle with her. I was cast out of the hotel, the dizzying effects of blood loss making my body sway. Suddenly, a semi-truck barreled around the corner, heading straight for me. In a haze, I heard a familiar shout of “No!” “Aurora!” As my eyes met Jared’s, my consciousness dissolved into a blinding white light. When I opened my eyes again, I saw seventeen-year-old Skye Miller. 3 She clung to my arm, whining, “Please, baby, I hate Aurora. Help me get back at her.” Her entitled demeanor made my body tremble. My cold stare, however, made her uneasy. She tentatively called out, “Jared?” I couldn’t help it. My hand shot out, slapping her across the face and sending her sprawling. Only then did I register the name. Jared? I pulled my phone from my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I froze. I was eighteen-year-old Jared Blackwood. Eighteen. What a perfect age. Nothing had started yet. Everything could still be changed. “Okay.” My smile widened. I blamed my earlier action on an accident. “Skye, you’re not mad at me, are you?” I blinked my clear, innocent eyes, my face full of feigned apology. When she needed something, Skye had always been able to swallow her pride. It was laughable, though. I’d always believed they barely knew each other, just classmates. Before our engagement, Jared had visited my parents. Skye, in a fit of pique with Brenda, had broken things, threatening to run away. Skye had looked Jared up and down, a smile blossoming on her face. “Brother-in-law—” The drawn-out suffix sounded less like a greeting and more like a flirtation. She’d extended her hand. Jared politely shook it. The memory had faded over time, but now it sharpened in my mind. Jared had frozen in that moment. As Skye withdrew her hand, I’d seen a flicker of regret, a reluctance in his eyes. When I snapped back to reality, Skye was already covering her face, turning to leave. As I turned my head, my gaze locked with eighteen-year-old Aurora Miller. “Aurora?” Her tentative question made me realize I wasn’t the only one who had traveled back to eighteen. Jared Blackwood had become eighteen-year-old Aurora Miller. He seemed genuinely worried about me, scanning me for any injuries from being hit by the truck. A visible sigh of relief escaped him when he found none. I couldn’t help but sneer. Now he plays the concerned act. I walked slowly towards Jared, gripped his wrist, and pulled back his long sleeve. “Jared Blackwood, enjoy the world of eighteen-year-old Aurora Miller.” Across his pale arm, four or five fresh cuts crisscrossed over older, unhealed scars. Made with a compass. The more my body hurt, the calmer my anxiety became. 4 Jared didn’t seem to mind that I had occupied his body, yet he wouldn’t stop hounding me, begging me to go easy on Skye. “She’s just a kid, and doesn’t mean any harm. As her older sister, don’t you have a responsibility?” The words hit me with a chilling familiarity, pulling me back to the time we got married. Skye had run away from home then, only to return cradled in Jared’s arms. Rumor had it Jared had spent sleepless nights searching the entire city for her. I’d thought he was simply fulfilling his duty as a brother-in-law, even foolishly telling him to be patient with Skye, that she was just spoiled. Jared had uncharacteristically frowned then. “If a child is raised properly, how could they turn out like this?” His tone had been one of blame, of dissatisfaction. He was defending Skye, wasn’t he? I leaned in, whispering into Jared’s ear, “Now you’re the older sister. You better take responsibility.” “I will, of course.” Jared didn’t try to deny his true identity. He truly began to act like Skye’s doting older sister. He wanted Skye to get everything she desired. I merely shrugged, unconcerned. My only goal was to reclaim everything I’d lost. Skye’s earlier words echoed in my mind. She’d sabotaged the hurdles at the school sports carnival, planning for Aurora to fall flat on her face in front of the entire school. And Jared was supposed to descend like a prince, turning the existing crush into a deep-seated obsession. Turning eighteen-year-old Aurora into Jared’s devoted puppy. If Skye hadn’t brought it up, I would have forgotten that darkest moment. My body screamed in pain, bleeding, utterly exposed on the track. Classmates gawked, but no one dared to help. It was Jared who picked me up and took me to the hospital. “Don’t be scared, Aurora.” “Don’t cry, it won’t hurt for long.” I’d desperately clung to that glimmer of kindness and light, only to discover it was all a deception. In the days that followed, I kept seeing Jared trailing behind Skye. Reminding her to eat breakfast, urging her to study, foolishly trying to reform a black-hearted, ungrateful snake. Compared to what I had done for her before, these efforts were nothing. Skye was a year younger than me. When she was born, Mom and Dad were busy with their business and left her with our grandparents in the countryside. By the time they brought Skye back, she had become lawless, selfish, and willful. My parents felt guilty, so they pampered her endlessly. I, too, poured all my energy into making up for the missing family bond. Anything she wanted, I gave her. I believed we were a loving, harmonious family. 5 “Jared, are you daydreaming?” Skye’s voice cut through my thoughts. She leaned against the railing next to me, her head tilted, a breakfast bag dangling in her hand. She tossed the bag in a perfect arc into a nearby trash can. “Who needs her fake kindness?” She was trying to butter me up, wanting me to stick to her plan. To string Aurora along, then drop her hard. My gaze darkened as I stared at the triumphant Skye. “What if she doesn’t like me?” “Impossible.” Skye was absolutely certain. She’d secretly read Aurora’s diary, the one filled with teenage crushes. “So, you chose me just to get back at her?” The sudden question caught Skye off guard. Her eyes flashed with undeniable panic, and she quickly denied it. The answer was clear as day. My eyes met Jared’s, who was lurking near the wall. He clenched his fists and disappeared. The next day after school, I finally encountered Jared. “You bitch! Always trying to seduce men!” “I’ve had enough of you for a long time!” Jared was cornered, hands shoving him, a fresh bruise blooming around one eye. No, it was Aurora’s body they were hitting. I seemed to see eighteen-year-old Aurora, huddled in the corner like a scared little mouse. No one offered a hand, no one stepped in to help her. She was swallowed by the darkness. And now I had the chance. I could save that innocent girl who was being inexplicably hurt. But I didn’t. Under Jared’s mortified gaze, I coldly walked past the crowd. 6 I didn’t leave. I just watched from the corner. The filthy curses, the cold misunderstandings, the inexplicable hatred – none of it could hurt me. The crowd dispersed. Jared collapsed against the wall. This body’s lack of strength left him defenseless, only inviting harsher retaliation with every attempt to fight back. Jared gasped for breath. Suddenly, the light was blocked. He looked up, his gaze locking with mine. Jared instinctively called out, “Rory.” He used the wall to prop himself up. “I… I didn’t know. I didn’t know what you went through…” Anything he said would have sounded hollow and weak. I simply frowned, making no move. The sympathy in Jared’s voice sickened me. I motioned for Jared to follow me, to witness a good show. We stood on the stairwell. The conversation from the first floor drifted up clearly. Skye was joking around with a group of people, making inane small talk. “Skye, if she ever messes with you again, you have to tell us. We’ll teach her a lesson.” Then came Skye’s soft sniffles, as if she were utterly heartbroken. Jared gripped the railing, his face beet red, about to storm out and confront Skye. After all, it was Aurora who was being bullied. I stood a few steps above Jared. “Feeling sorry for yourself?” Jared’s eyes were red-rimmed. “She shouldn’t be like this.” His rare defense of me made me laugh without reason. I leaned into Jared’s ear. “Honey, have you forgotten? The pain you inflicted on me was a hundred times worse than this.” Watching Jared’s tormented expression, I felt a surge of satisfaction. 7 I walked down the stairs, catching up with Skye. She was walking alone, tears still glistening on her cheeks. Just before I could speak, she threw herself into my arms. “Jared, why does everyone like my sister?” Skye held a report card in her hand. The failing grades made her jealousy towards her older sister swell even more. At family dinners, relatives always loved to discuss my and Skye’s grades, comparing us. Then they’d conclude by telling me to remember them when I became successful. I’d offer an awkward smile, while Skye remained silently sullen. Worried she felt bad, I specifically asked our relatives not to compare us or mention grades. I was protecting Skye’s fragile self-esteem. But she clearly didn’t need it. Skye tore up the report card, then kicked the trash can a few times to vent her frustration. “You know she told Aunt Carol not to bring up grades at dinner? Aunt Carol and the others probably think I’m sensitive, that I’m petty, that I’m a loser.” In Skye’s version of events, her sister had clearly become a manipulative snake. I stared at my shoes, muttering to myself, “Yeah, what a bitch she is!” Skye’s grades weren’t good enough to get into a prestigious prep school. But she had thrown tantrums, so Brenda, out of desperation, pulled strings and paid a hefty fee for a spot for her as a guest student. Yet Skye hadn’t changed. She spent her days with the local troublemakers, neglecting her studies, becoming known as a wild child, a delinquent. She got into brawls, dated prematurely, skipped classes. Later, more and more people started disliking me. I thought it was Skye’s fault, and that as her older sister, I had a duty to pay for her mistakes. She made mistakes, and I, her older sister, was willing to atone for them. So I silently endured, never telling anyone about the bullying or isolation, only finding relief in the pain on my arm late at night. But it was all Skye’s doing, orchestrated by her own hands. “If you had the chance, would you want to switch lives with your sister?” My casual question made Skye’s pupils contract. She remained silent for a long time, as if I had just exposed her deepest, most hidden secret. I hid the dark gleam in my eyes. Few knew that Skye and I had already swapped lives for ten years. But not this time, Skye. You won’t get another chance to take my life.

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1 The last time I confessed my feelings to Liam Blackwood, It ended in total humiliation. The private room was packed. But an eerie silence had fallen, not a single soul uttered a word. Minutes stretched, thick with unspoken tension. Then, Sierra Finch, who sat beside him, finally broke the spell with a forced laugh. “Alright, Liam, don’t be like that. It’s so awkward for Rory.” “She’s just a kid.” From a dark corner, someone scoffed, “A twenty-one-year-old kid, huh.” Scattered chuckles rippled through the room, then blended into a chorus of mocking laughter. I stood my ground, stubborn, refusing to flee in disgrace. Only, my vision of Liam blurred, tears welling. “Rory, how much harsher do I need to make this?” Liam flicked cigarette ash, then stood up. “I made it clear I wasn’t interested the moment you turned sixteen.” I choked back a sob. “But you were so angry when I had that crush back then.” “That’s because you were an adopted daughter of the Blackwood family.” “One wrong step from you would only bring shame to the Blackwood name.” “What about that kiss on my eighteenth birthday?” Liam’s eyes, as he looked at me, flashed with the faintest hint of distaste. “Rory, you were drunk that night, making a complete scene.” “I just wanted to end the chaos as quickly as possible.” A bitter laugh bubbled up. But as I laughed, the tears fell even harder. “Liam Blackwood, you’ve had four girlfriends.” “But every single time, all I had to do was throw a fit, and you’d break up with them.” “All these years, can you honestly say you didn’t feel anything for me?” “That’s because I hadn’t met a woman I truly loved.” Liam reached out, pulling Sierra into his embrace. “Rory, listen closely. I’m only saying this one last time.” “I love Sierra. I’m going to marry her.” “All your little tricks from before? They won’t work this time. Not even a little.” Sierra’s face flushed with shy delight, her eyes adoringly fixed on him. “Liam…” Without a moment’s hesitation, Liam lowered his head and kissed her. Sierra wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her tiptoes to meet him. They kissed, long and passionate, completely oblivious to anyone else. But in that instant, my mind replayed the kiss from my eighteenth birthday. Just as entangled, just as lingering. A dream I’d lived in for four years, unable to wake up. Foolishly believing that deep down, he actually liked me. Liam moved out of the Blackwood family’s ancestral home. He moved in with Sierra. The day he moved, I was at school, buried in my final thesis defense. Choosing that specific day was probably his way of keeping me from making a scene. But this time, I didn’t react like before. I didn’t immediately rush to Liam, crying and causing a fuss. After a faint ripple in my heart, I shook my head, immediately pushing it all out of my mind. That evening, I had a graduation dinner with a few close friends. On my way to the restroom, I bumped into Sierra. “Rory, Liam’s here too. Want to come over?” I shook my head. “I made plans with classmates. I’ll skip it.” Sierra’s eyes suddenly welled up. “Rory, my family isn’t well-off. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood don’t really like me.” “Could you please stop speaking ill of me to them?” I was taken aback, shocked. “Ms. Finch, I’ve never once mentioned you to the elders.” Sierra smiled sadly. “I know you’ve loved Liam for many years.” “I understand it’s hard for you to accept me and him together right now.” “But Rory, we’re both women. It’s best to be kind in how we act, don’t you think?” My temperament is like my mother’s—straightforward and incapable of deceit. Hearing her words, I immediately bristled. “Sierra, don’t you dare slander me with your nonsense…” Before I could finish, Sierra’s legs buckled, and she fell directly to her knees. “Rory, I’m begging you.” I jumped, startled, stepping forward to help her up. But before I could even touch her, she collapsed heavily to the ground. “Rory, what are you doing?!” Liam’s furious voice roared as A tremendous force slammed into me. I was violently shoved, my knee hitting the edge of a wall. The pain was excruciating. “Liam, don’t misunderstand, Rory didn’t mean to…” “You’re still defending her!” “I’ve seen enough of her little tricks, ever since she was a child!” Liam bent down and scooped Sierra into his arms. He stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury. “Rory, apologize.” “Liam Blackwood…” “Shut up. Apologize!” Sierra nestled in his arms, her sobs tiny, pitiable. My knee was bleeding. Bright red blood snaked down my calf to my ankle. Two stark, crimson lines. But Liam seemed to not see them at all. His gaze, fixed on me, made me feel like the most wicked person alive. Suddenly, I let out a self-deprecating laugh, unwilling to argue another word. “I apologize.” Liam seemed to flinch slightly. But then his eyes darkened with even deeper fury. “Not enough.” I straightened up, bowing deeply. “Is this sufficient?” Sierra looked at me, a faint smirk playing on her lips. But quickly, she turned, sniffling, to Liam, gently coaxing, “It’s alright, Liam.” “I don’t deserve such a gesture.” Liam’s heart instantly swelled with tenderness. “Rory, I told you, Sierra is different from the others.” “Bullying her won’t make me break up with her.” “It’ll only make me care for her more and despise you more.” He held Sierra close, turning and walking away. I stood there alone for a long, long time. The pain in my knee was throbbing, relentless. But my heart felt strangely empty, strangely light. I knew it. In that very moment, all those so-called obsessions, that infatuation, Had turned to dust. Vanished without a trace. That night, Sierra posted three times on social media. All of them were screen-shotted by busybodies in our circle and sent to me. Liam’s replies, in particular, were heavily circled. I knew they secretly wanted to see me make a fool of myself. Usually, I’d just act on impulse and rush to Liam, crying and causing a scene. He’d be annoyed, but he’d always give in. This undoubtedly gave me the false impression that he cared. It also made me more persistent. But this time, I ignored it all. Instead, I dialed a number I’d called seven days ago. “Aunt Carol, it’s Rory.” “That matter you mentioned the other day, I’ve thought it over.” My parents died in an accident when I was seven. Mr. Blackwood, who was good friends with my dad, stepped in and took me in. Aunt Carol was my mother’s best friend when they were young. But later, she eloped with her lover and lost touch. By the time she’d wandered half her life and finally settled in San Francisco, My parents were no longer alive. Aunt Carol wanted me to live in San Francisco. She also wanted to fulfill the promise she and my mother made when they were young: For me to marry into the Vance family in San Francisco, to become her daughter-in-law. Seven days ago, I hadn’t agreed. But I was afraid of hurting her feelings, so I just said I’d think about it. But tonight, I suddenly let go of years of obsession. One-sided love is so foolish, so laughable. I didn’t want to be the joke of the social circle anymore. Six months ago, Liam had arranged for me to continue my studies in San Francisco. At the time, I was unwilling and cried bitterly several times. But he never relented. Now, though, I felt it was a good opportunity. Perhaps, in some mysterious way, it was destiny. On the other end of the phone, Aunt Carol’s voice was full of joyous laughter: “Rory, your Ethan is just waiting for your ‘yes’.” “He’s ready to fly to New York and propose to you.” I clutched my phone, my cheeks inexplicably warm. But the joyful laughter in my ear left me feeling strangely dazed. Fifteen years of living together, seven years of loving him. To truly let go, it only took a mere seven days. Liam and Sierra’s engagement day. They specifically chose the day I left for San Francisco. Because of this, not many people came to see me off. When I landed, I turned on my phone. Messages poured in, non-stop. More than half were related to Liam and Sierra’s engagement. I brushed it off with a smile. And promptly deleted and blocked those few contacts. Before coming to San Francisco, I met with Ethan Vance. I didn’t want to create any fuss, nor did I want to draw attention. Ethan respected my wishes. He proposed, and we exchanged rings. We got engaged quietly, without fanfare. Only, my account now had a hundred million dollars in dowry. And on my middle finger, a simple band. As I prepared to get into the Vance family car that came to pick me up, my phone suddenly rang. It was Liam’s cousin, Cassidy Blackwood. “Rory, my cousin’s engagement ceremony is about to start. Where are you?” “I just got to San Francisco.” “Then hurry back! If you leave now, you can still make it!” “Go back for what?” I asked calmly. Cassidy paused. “Rory, have you gone crazy with grief?” “If you don’t come back and make a scene, my cousin will really be someone else’s.” “Why would I go back and make a scene? Isn’t this your cousin’s happy occasion?” “Rory?” Cassidy’s voice suddenly rose. “Are you out of your mind?” I was about to hang up, but the voice on the other end switched to Sierra’s. “Rory, aren’t you coming to my and Liam’s engagement party?” “After all, Liam sees you as a sister, so I’ll be your sister-in-law. I’d really love to have your blessing.” I glanced at Ethan, who was standing not far away. He stood by the car, tall and elegant, his eyes gentle. My heart suddenly felt calm. “Alright then, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, tied together forever.” Liam stood in the garden smoking with a few friends. Occasionally, he would glance at Cassidy and the others not far away. He knew they were tipping Rory off again. Just like countless times before. Whenever a woman appeared by his side, Those women would immediately tell Rory. Then Rory would come running to him, crying and making a fuss. He hated women acting like that; he found it annoying. So, he would simply ditch those companions. This time, it would probably be the same. That’s why he specifically chose the day Rory left for San Francisco. It was just unlucky that the auspicious time for the engagement ceremony was calculated to be six in the evening. Liam was quite frustrated. After all, if Rory got the news, she could just take a plane back. She’d arrive just in time for the start of the engagement. “Liam, what if Rory comes back and makes a scene?” “Yeah, you’re getting engaged to someone else. I bet she’ll go crazy.” “But she’s been pretty quiet lately.” “You and Sierra have been all over each other, and she hasn’t made a peep.” “If this were before, she’d have cried a river by now.” The cigarette between Liam’s fingers had a long column of ash. He forgot to flick it. His mind was consumed by his friends’ last two remarks. Rory had indeed been quiet lately, unnervingly so. But based on his understanding of her, she was never this kind of person. Since childhood, he had rejected her countless times. But she always persevered, never considering backing down. Now that she was a bit older, she seemed to have more self-control than when she was a child. Liam suddenly thought of something. He scoffed lightly, pressing out his cigarette. “Just wait and see. She’s not the type to stay quiet.” “Liam, you mean Rory will come back and cause trouble?” Liam didn’t answer. But in his heart, he was absolutely certain. The girl had been a hopeless romantic since she was little. She’d devoured romance novels during her teenage years. And those absurd tricks were constantly played out on him. He knew, of course. Her quietness these past few days was merely a strategic retreat. He’d bet anything that by the start of the engagement ceremony, at the latest, Rory would appear. “You guys tell security later, keep a close watch.” Liam raised his wrist, checking the time. “Don’t let any unauthorized people in to cause trouble.” No sooner had he spoken than Cassidy Blackwood came running, pulling up her skirt. “Cousin, it’s Rory! Rory’s here! Her car just pulled up outside…” Liam’s heart inexplicably swelled with a strange joy, then his face darkened. “Nonsense! I knew she was incorrigible!” “Cousin, what do we do now? If she makes a scene, the Blackwood family will be humiliated.” Liam’s face was cold and rigid. He turned and strode out. “I’ll go see what tricks she’s planning!” The entire group followed Liam out. But just as they left the garden, Sierra softly called out to him. “Liam.” Sierra wore a beautiful, shimmering satin gown. Her hair was styled in an intricate braid, and her makeup was subtle. The engagement ceremony was at six o’clock. Still a few hours away. Sierra was anxious inside, but outwardly, she showed no hint of it. “What are you doing here?” Liam stopped. His gaze fell on Sierra’s face. Sierra was beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that easily made men feel protective and tender. Unlike Rory’s rebellious nature. Due to her humble background, Sierra’s personality was somewhat timid. She always spoke softly. Around the time he met Sierra, He was constantly annoyed by Rory’s antics. He was easily drawn to Sierra’s gentle calmness. Moreover, unlike his previous girlfriends who had actively pursued him, His acquaintance with Sierra stemmed from a classic damsel-in-distress scenario. Men always have that hero complex. So his feelings for Sierra were very different from the casual flings he’d had before. “I heard Rory’s back…” Sierra’s words trailed off, her eyes already red-rimmed. “I’m a little worried.” Sierra bit her lip, lowering her head. “Liam, will we… will we not be able to have our engagement ceremony today?” “What are you thinking?” Liam raised a hand and gently squeezed Sierra’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll go handle it now.” But Sierra reached out, pulling on Liam’s sleeve. “Liam, I’m scared.” “I’m scared you’ll leave with her…” Tears streamed down Sierra’s face. Fragile and delicate, she stood there, looking as if she might shatter. “How could that happen, Sierra? My cousin doesn’t even like Rory.” Cassidy’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction: “She’s bossy and spoiled, always crying and throwing tantrums. My cousin is utterly sick of her. How could he possibly leave with her?” She genuinely disliked Rory. Ever since Rory was adopted by the Blackwood family, Her uncle and aunt, who had doted on her, started prioritizing Rory. Though they always said that Rory, being an adopted daughter, needed extra care for the sake of the Blackwood name and reputation, Cassidy still detested Rory. So, for years, her favorite thing to do was watch Rory humiliate herself, making a fool of herself. Now, Rory was sent off to study in San Francisco, and hardly anyone from the Blackwood family came to see her off. In fact, half a month ago, all her belongings were already packed and sent to San Francisco. As if they were afraid Rory would cling on and refuse to leave. Cassidy felt utterly delighted now. She’d support anyone as her cousin-in-law, as long as it wasn’t Rory.

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1 “What wedding? Who are you marrying?” “Didn’t I just tell you? I won’t even think about marriage until the company’s stable.” Brooke appeared behind me so silently I didn’t even notice. Her brow was subtly furrowed, and a flush still lingered on her cheeks. “So that’s what you meant by that French phrase?” I asked, my voice flat. “What else? I told you to learn French, but you just wouldn’t listen. If you hate these business dinners so much, just go home. Otherwise, everyone else can’t really let loose.” Brooke’s eyes were slightly glazed, but her voice held an undeniable force, brooking no argument. “Yeah, Alex, if you can’t even handle a single drink, you might as well retreat from the battlefield now,” Kyle chimed in. “As for Brooke, I’ll make sure she gets home in one piece. Don’t worry about her.” Kyle, I realized, had already slung an arm around Brooke’s shoulders. He eyed me, a smirk playing on his lips, his gaze brimming with open challenge. Brooke even chimed in, “Kyle’s right. Your stomach practically stages a rebellion if it even smells alcohol. Just head home, don’t spoil the fun for everyone else.” Listening to the laughter ringing through the private room, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Among the socialites Grandfather had lined up for an arranged marriage, I’d casually picked one. At three A.M., the city was utterly silent. I waited at home until well past three. Only then did I hear movement outside the door. Opening the door, I was met with Kyle, and a flushed, almost radiant, Brooke. “Oh, Alex, you’re still up? Well, since you are, could you do me a favor and clean up my sister for me?” He dangled a set of keys, a victor’s smirk on his face, and turned to leave. Only then did I realize: Brooke had given him a key to our home too! Staring at Brooke, reeking of alcohol, my stomach churned with fury, but I had no choice but to get her settled first. As I laid her on the bed, my gaze snagged on a crimson mark on her chest. The faint, lingering mark made my brows instantly knit together. I had a sickening premonition of what it was. But just as my fingertips brushed her collar, a hand suddenly gripped mine. “Husband…” When I opened my eyes, Brooke was pressed against me. Her eyes were glazed, and her voice, thick with desire, whispered my name. But before I could even reply, I heard her next words. “Kyle, don’t leave me.” Brooke’s voice was laced with a sob, and she slumped heavily against me. The scent of men’s cologne, clinging to her hair, assaulted my nostrils. It was Kyle’s signature scent: Dior Sauvage. My stomach churned violently. I stumbled to the trash can, gagging dryly. But as I straightened up, I saw the crimson mark clearly. My mind buzzed with a deafening roar. In a self-destructive frenzy, I lifted her and plunged her into the bathtub, frantically trying to wash her clean. But the sticky white residue on her underwear screamed the truth. She was utterly tainted, and no amount of washing could make her clean again! Only then did I understand what Kyle had meant by “could you do me a favor and clean up” before he left. That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. When Brooke finally stirred awake, the floor around me was littered with cigarette butts. “Alex, are you insane? I was just celebrating with Kyle and the others! You actually stripped me naked and left me to soak in the tub all night! If you wanted to kill me, you could have just said so!” Her face was contorted with fury, a dark scowl fixed as she stood in the bathroom doorway. The crimson mark on her chest seared my eyes once more. Brooke followed my gaze, her eyes finally landing on the hickey. The fierce glare in her eyes instantly morphed into a flicker of guilt. “What are you staring at? It’s just a mosquito bite.” She stammered an explanation, haphazardly grabbing a bath towel to cover herself. But the truth, now laid bare, couldn’t be hidden. After taking a deep breath, I uttered the words, “It’s over. Let’s break up.” Brooke’s movements froze. She stared at me, dumbfounded. “What did you say? Just because of this little mark, you’re breaking up with me? Have I been too good to you lately? Is that why you’ve gotten so arrogant? Don’t forget, I’m the one who’s been supporting you!” Brooke’s accusations tumbled out, one after another. I simply laughed. Yes, she signed my paychecks. Even the underwear I was wearing was bought with her card. But she seemed to forget: she owed her success today to me, to every single drink I’d downed, to the point of ruining my stomach, to secure her deals! For six years with Brooke, I’d sacrificed a substantial family fortune back home. Ignoring my family’s disapproval, I’d moved across the globe with her to build a business. During our toughest times, we lived in a cramped studio apartment, surviving on stale instant meals. Every night, we’d fall asleep to the sound of our neighbor’s snoring. Even then, our relationship remained as loving as ever. Now that we’d finally achieved success, she was utterly captivated by the allure of late-night indulgence! Why had Kyle, who’d been out of the picture for years, suddenly resurfaced? What was his agenda? Everyone knew, but Brooke was lost in a delusional fantasy. The clothes strewn across the floor were a chaotic mess, mirroring the turmoil in my heart. At this point, it no longer mattered who was right or wrong. I stubbed out my cigarette, then brushed past her. I pulled out my suitcase and began packing my clothes. That single action ignited Brooke’s temper. She ripped the clothes I’d just packed, one by one, out of the suitcase and threw them to the floor. “What do you think you’re doing?! I haven’t agreed! You can’t just break up with me!” She shrieked, her voice raw, looking utterly unhinged, like a banshee. She smashed our matching mugs on the floor, and a shard sliced through my pants leg. I ignored it, merely offering a bitter laugh in return. “You’ve already got someone new. Why are you still clinging to an old flame like me? Do I need to pull out evidence of your romantic rendezvous before you’ll let go? Wouldn’t it be better if we ended things civilly? With some dignity?!” Brooke was red-faced with rage, until I pointed to the floor. Only then did she notice the pink underwear in the corner, a patch of dried white fluid still clinging to it. Brooke’s head snapped towards me, her face utterly drained of color. “Alex, it’s not what you think…” Her mouth hung open, her mind racing to find an explanation. But a ringing phone shattered her desperate thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID, her brow furrowing deeply. After hanging up, she became visibly agitated. “Kyle was in a car accident on his way home. I have to go bail him out now. As for what happened today, I’ll explain when I get back!” With that, Brooke haphazardly threw on a jacket and stormed out the door, abandoning our fight mid-sentence. Watching her hasty retreat, in that moment, I felt like nothing more than a clown. The phone in the living room suddenly rang. It was Grandfather, calling long-distance. “Alex, the arranged marriage is set for five days from now. I’ll handle everything; you just need to show up! And the private jet to pick you up arrives tomorrow morning. If you dare to play games with me again, Alex, I’ll find a new heir for the Hayes empire!” Grandfather’s voice was firm and unwavering. As soon as he hung up, a flight confirmation text came through. I sighed heavily, looking at the time. Originally, I’d planned to leave tonight, but since Grandfather had his own arrangements, I’d follow his lead. It also gave me time to thoroughly clear out the apartment, completely severing all ties with Brooke. That night, Brooke never returned. Only after clearing out all my belongings did I realize my thigh had a deep gash. It must have happened when Brooke was throwing her fit earlier. To prevent infection, I hastily stopped the bleeding, intending to go to the hospital for proper disinfection and bandaging. But when I got to the garage, I found Brooke had taken the car. All that was left in the garage was Brooke’s newly purchased, ice-berry colored Ferrari. I figured I’d temporarily use her car to get to the hospital. To my dismay, the moment I opened the car door, a foul, nauseating stench assaulted me, so strong it nearly choked me! The interior was a chaotic mess, splattered everywhere with an unidentified white fluid! The framed photo that used to hang on the rearview mirror was smashed, casually tossed in a corner. Only then did I understand why Brooke hadn’t taken her own car. I picked up the photo from the floor. In the picture, Brooke stood in front of the Ferrari, one hand resting on the hood, the other wrapped around my waist. Her red lips were parted in a brilliant, beaming smile. We’d taken this when we picked up the car. I remembered her exclaiming then, “I have it all—success and love! I, Brooke, am the happiest woman in the world!” The past replayed. Her excited voice still faintly echoed in my ears. But as the echoes faded, everything had changed irrevocably. On the photo, my face had been ripped off, and my body was marked with a huge ‘X’. I knew this was Kyle’s way of taunting me. But none of that mattered. I was leaving the country tomorrow anyway. From then on, they could be as ‘deeply in love’ as they wanted! The most urgent thing now was to get to the hospital. Seeing the wrecked car, I hesitated to get in. But taxis were impossible to find in the suburbs at 4 AM, and the gauze on my thigh was already starting to bleed through. Left with no choice, I hastily cleared the driver’s seat. Enduring the disgusting smell, I drove all the way. By the time I reached the hospital, dawn was just breaking. I dragged my blood-stained leg, painstakingly climbing the steps, only to run head-on into Brooke, who was helping Kyle out. “What are you doing here?” I asked. Before I could reply, Kyle cowered slightly behind Brooke. He spoke first, quickly. “Alex, you’re not here to catch us, are you? Brooke and I really didn’t do anything. She just saw I was in an accident, so she came to take care of me.” Kyle raised his arm, extending it towards me. His smooth arm had not a single speck of blood, just a few minor scratches at most. “That’s your so-called accident? What, did you crash into a toy car?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm, enduring the throbbing pain in my leg. Kyle, however, acted as if he’d been grievously wronged, tugging on Brooke’s sleeve, his eyes welling with tears. “Brooke, I haven’t even said anything, and look at Alex… he’s being so mean.” Her precious darling’s brow furrowed, and Brooke instantly melted with concern. She quickly explained the origin of my injury to Kyle, telling him to stop talking. “Oh, I see… But how could just a mug leave such a large gash?” Kyle gave me a sly, knowing smile. “Maybe Alex just wants you to feel sorry for him, Brooke, deliberately worsening his injury? It’s a classic sympathy play!” At his words, everyone in the medical room turned to stare at me. But Kyle continued. “Brooke, think about it: how could a mere ceramic shard cause such a huge gash? And it just happened to be the hospital you brought me to? Isn’t that just too convenient? He clearly wanted you to find him! And he even drove that pink Ferrari specifically…” His words seemed to make everything click for Brooke. Her brow furrowed, and the last vestiges of guilt vanished from her eyes. “You’d actually stoop to such manipulation just to gain my favor?! And to think I just apologized, begging for your forgiveness. Alex, you’ve truly disappointed me! From today onward, I’m cutting off all your cards. You can stay home and reflect until you finally understand!” With that, she stood up from her chair, pulling Kyle with her towards the door. Before leaving, Kyle even flipped me off. Seeing this, the onlookers all cast judgmental glances my way. “Times have really changed. Even men are this manipulative now…” They murmured among themselves, but I didn’t care in the slightest. Grandfather’s driver, sent to pick me up for the airport, had arrived. When I exited the hospital, the driver was waiting at the entrance. He stepped out of the car and walked respectfully towards me. Just as he reached for my luggage, he realized I had nothing behind me. “Mr. Hayes, no luggage?” “None, and I don’t need any.” Perhaps sensing my mood, he said nothing more. The moment I stepped onto the private jet, a familiar scent enveloped me. This was the jet Grandfather had gifted me on my tenth birthday. Even the interior decor was exactly as I’d left it. Noticing my leg injury, the flight attendant thoughtfully covered me with a blanket. Just before the jet took off, my phone suddenly rang. It was Brooke. “Alex, what is the meaning of this?! And why did you clear out all your stuff?! What, are you running away from home now?! I already told you, there’s nothing going on with Kyle and me! Stop making a scene, you’re exhausting me…” Outside, clouds drifted lazily, but my weariness remained. After a long pause, I replied, my voice hoarse, “I’m tired too. So, let’s break up. You and Kyle can have a wonderful life. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” With that, I hung up, and didn’t wake until the plane touched down ten hours later. Back home, Grandfather was already waiting at the door, leaning on his cane. The moment he saw me, he delivered a resounding slap across my face. “So, you finally decided to come back! You abandoned an old man like me in the States for three years, all for a woman, completely disregarding me!” The slap was loud, but I felt no pain on my face. I knew Grandfather had held back. After so many years away, he, an old man, was surely seething inside. I bent my knees, dropping to the floor, and bowed deeply, touching my forehead to the ground. “Grandfather, I was wrong. From now on, your grandson will stay by your side, never straying again.” At that bow, Grandfather’s eyes suddenly reddened. He gestured to Mr. Sterling to help me up. “You’re hurt?” He squinted, noticing my unsteady movement as I stood. Seeing my obedient nod, his anger instantly dissipated. With a sweeping gesture, he immediately called for a wheelchair and pressed me into it. “You’re a grown man, but still so reckless! You’re staying in this wheelchair until your leg heals!” Grandfather’s voice was stern, but my nose stung, on the verge of tears. I knew he was worried about me. Mr. Sterling wheeled me back into the house. Three years I’d been gone. My room remained untouched, just as I’d left it. “Master Alex, you don’t know how heartbroken the Patriarch has been these past years without you,” Mr. Sterling continued, his voice thick with emotion. “The year you first left, the Patriarch was so furious he wanted to throw out everything of yours in the house. But after we gathered your things, he made us put everything back exactly where it was. Though he never said it aloud, we all knew he just couldn’t bear to let them go. Later, when you still didn’t return for so long, the Patriarch came here almost every night, just to sit.” Mr. Sterling wiped away a tear. And my own tears, held back for so long, finally broke free. “How has Grandfather’s health been these past few years?” “The Patriarch’s health… it’s been the same, but…” He pressed his lips together, remaining silent for a long moment. I immediately sensed something was wrong. “I’m back now. What can’t you say?” After careful consideration, Mr. Sterling spoke. “Business has been tough these past few years. And those old rivals, it’s said they’ve made a resurgence in the last six months. The Patriarch hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep because of this for a long time.” Only then did it click for me. Grandfather first mentioned the arranged marriage six months ago! “So…” “Yes, Master Alex. You delayed for six months, and the Patriarch simply endured for six months…” Hearing that, a fresh wave of guilt washed over me. I slapped myself, hard, several times. “Master Alex, don’t do that…” Mr. Sterling rushed forward to stop me, gripping my hand, pleading. “Mr. Sterling, don’t stop me. I deserve this! Grandfather raised me single-handedly, yet after I finished my education, I left him, a man in his sixties, to fight alone. I’m utterly despicable!” Thinking this, I wanted to slap myself again, but Grandfather, who had just pushed open the door, stopped me. “Since you’ve been so disobedient, you’ll come with me tomorrow to meet your fiancée! Don’t you dare disappoint me again this time.” Grandfather stood in the doorway, leaning on his cane. His snow-white hair was neatly combed behind his ears. This time, I meekly lowered my head and obeyed. After seeing Grandfather back to his room, I realized my phone was still off. Upon turning it on, a flood of messages deluged me. Texts, missed calls, messenger app notifications… Brooke had apparently tried every single app she could to reach me. The most recent message was from three minutes ago. She’d drafted a lengthy rant, condemning my sudden disappearance. But at that moment, I had no desire to read it. I opened every app, blocking her account one by one. Just as I deleted her last account, a call squeezed its way onto my screen. It was Brooke. After a long hesitation, I answered. The longer you linger in a relationship, the messier it gets. It was better to use this opportunity to sever ties completely. The moment the call connected, Brooke’s distraught voice crackled through the receiver. “Alex! Why did you block all my accounts?! Do you have any idea how frantic I’ve been?! I borrowed everyone’s phone just to reach you!” I remained silent. Brooke took a shaky breath, trying to compose herself. “I know you’re angry about Kyle, but I’ve already told him it’s over, we’re done. Please, come back. I know I messed up. Don’t leave me. I swear, if you come back, we’ll get married!” She pleaded desperately, crying like a helpless little girl. Her usual assertive demeanor vanished, revealing a vulnerable, ‘little woman’ side. But it was too late. My love for her had completely eroded. Now, all I wanted was to ease Grandfather’s burdens, even if it meant sacrificing my own lifelong happiness. “Brooke, I’ve already accepted the arranged marriage my family set up for me. Please, don’t bother me again.” My voice was level, but Brooke shattered. “You’re lying! You said you’d only ever marry me! You said you’d only get married to me! You can’t just go back on your word!” She shrieked, like an unreasonable child. I sighed deeply. “Yes, I did say I’d only marry you. But didn’t you already give me your answer at that celebration party?” Brooke froze, recalling her own words, and instantly stammered. “You… you know French now?” I managed a bitter, twisted smile. “The first time you looked down on me for not understanding French, I went and learned it. You just never bothered to notice the change.” Brooke was instantly speechless. She’d minored in French during her studies in the States. So when I accompanied her to meet her classmates, they all conversed in French. As an economics major, I felt completely out of place among them. That was also the first time Brooke had ever made me feel inadequate. To fit into her social circle, I began teaching myself French. But after that, Brooke never took me to meet her friends again. She said it was for my own good. Because of the language barrier, she was worried I’d feel too awkward as an outsider. I tried to explain, even spoke to her directly in French in front of her. But with a single dismissive comment – ‘just showing off’ – she negated all my efforts. Brooke clearly remembered all that had transpired before. “I really was thinking of you back then. I was worried you’d feel isolated, so I just…” She stammered incoherently, trying to defend herself, but I cut her off with a single sentence. “Enough, Brooke. Just stop. I know you didn’t want me to meet your classmates because of Kyle.” Brooke fell silent once more. I knew about Kyle’s existence from the very beginning. Kyle was Brooke’s classmate from college back home, and he’d also come to the States to study the same major as her. Before she met me, they’d had a passionate, tumultuous romance. Anyone could have found that out with a little digging. Plus, Brooke was terrible at hiding her affection. Even when Kyle simply stood before her, her adoration would spill from her eyes. That’s why, every time I met Kyle, every time we clashed, she’d predictably chosen him every single time. With her deepest secret exposed by me, Brooke finally spoke the truth. “Yes, I like Kyle, but anyone with eyes can see he’s only after my money. So I never considered marrying him. I only ever wanted to marry you. We’ve been together for so many years. You can’t just walk away.” “But that’s no excuse for cheating.” My voice grew colder, tearing away her last shred of pretense. “And you only wanted to marry me because I could make you money, and my family background was the pinnacle you could reach after weighing all your options. But Brooke, love isn’t something you weigh pros and cons against. From now on, I will be the absolute best you’ll ever find, and you will be the absolute lowest standard I’ve ever had in a relationship.” Brooke didn’t reply, but I heard a pounding on her end of the line. It was Kyle. “Brooke, open the door! Don’t ignore me! Alex may not want you, but I still do! You don’t have to be heartbroken over that two-timing jerk! He’s already planning to marry someone else!” The moment I heard Kyle’s voice, my anger flared anew. I hung up, then took out my SIM card and snapped it in two. After all, from this moment on, I wanted no ties to the people or things of my past.

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My girlfriend was one of the top mercenaries in the world. Three years ago, she took on an S-class emergency mission. Before she left, she told me: “The day I return safely is the day I marry you.” I believed her with all my heart. And so, I waited for over a thousand days and nights. Until a month ago, when she finally returned. I thought my three long years of waiting had finally paid off. But just last night, I overheard her conversation with her second-in-command outside the study. “Ma’am, are you really planning to marry Mr. Cole? What about Marcus and Finn? Finn’s already over two, and he’s your own flesh and blood. You can’t hide this forever.” “Back then, you were pregnant with Marcus’s child, so you made up the story about a three-year mission to go have the baby. If Mr. Cole finds out now…” My girlfriend shot her second a sharp glance. “He must never know! He’s the only one I’ll marry! Tell Marcus Vance to keep himself and the kid in line!” Finn? Two years old? Her own flesh and blood? So, while I was eagerly waiting for her to come back and marry me for three years, she already had someone else, and even a child over two years old. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled back to the bedroom and dialed my grandpa’s number. “Grandpa, is the Hayes family’s ‘simple’ eldest daughter still… available? I’m willing to go through with the marriage alliance with the Hayes family.” 1 “What’s wrong, Ethan? Weren’t you set on marrying only her, waiting for three years? What happened?” “Sophia Hayes has never made public appearances because of her… condition. If you don’t want to, Grandpa will fight tooth and nail to protect you, you…” I desperately wanted to confide in Grandpa, but the moment I tried to speak, tears streamed down my face. It was true. Everyone in Seacrest City knew I, Ethan Cole, had fallen in love with my mercenary bodyguard, Raven Blackwood. From eighteen to twenty-three, I had loved her for five whole years. Until three years ago, when she took an S-class emergency mission and promised me before leaving: “When I return, I’ll marry you.” Just that one sentence. I believed it and waited bitterly for three years. During these three years, rumors were rampant. Everyone speculated that Raven must have died on the mission, or had long since fled and wouldn’t be coming back. I turned a deaf ear to these rumors, just counting the days, hoping she would complete her mission soon and return to marry me. Now, everyone in Seacrest City knew that Ethan Cole, the young heir of the Cole family, was decisive and ever-victorious in the business world. His only weakness was my bodyguard, Raven Blackwood. I understood Grandpa’s confusion. Even I hadn’t expected Raven’s three-year mission to be such a colossal lie. Although I said nothing, Grandpa on the other end of the line seemed to sense my mood. After a long silence, he said softly, “If you’ve really thought it through, Grandpa supports you. The Hayes family is incredibly powerful; you won’t be wronged in the future.” “The day after tomorrow, I’ll send a car to pick you up. Get your affairs in order first.” After hanging up, I remained frozen, still holding the phone. The conversation between Raven and her second replayed endlessly in my mind. My heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles, the pain instantly shooting through my whole body, making it almost impossible to breathe. Raven had betrayed me three years ago. She fabricated the lie of a three-year mission just to be with another man and their child. At this thought, I could no longer hold myself up. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. For these three years, because of her special profession and her being on a mission, I couldn’t contact her freely. I could only passively wait for news from her – sometimes for days, sometimes for tens of days. On days without news from her, I often couldn’t sleep at night, both afraid of hearing news about her and afraid of not hearing anything at all. Countless sleepless nights, I relied on the memories of our five-year relationship to get through, until she finally completed her mission and returned to my side. Just as I was lost in despair, Raven walked into the bedroom and saw me sitting on the floor. “Ethan, the floor’s cold. Why are you sitting here? Are you not feeling well?” 2 Raven’s face was full of concern, her beautiful eyes reflecting my image, just like any other day. Whether it was the five years we spent together before she left, or this past month since she returned, Raven had always been good to me. I truly didn’t want to believe this reality. I quietly locked my phone and forced a smile. “Maybe a bit of low blood sugar, I just lost my footing. I’m fine.” Raven breathed a sigh of relief and carefully helped me up. “Let’s go to Hawaii tomorrow. I’ll have my second book the tickets. Don’t you always love the ocean? How about we take our wedding photos by the sea?” Raven was still as considerate as ever, but after what I’d just learned, hearing these words now only made me feel sick to my stomach. “No.” Raven paused for a moment, then gently took my hand. “What’s wrong, Ethan? Why are you unhappy? Didn’t we agree not to hide anything from each other, no matter what?” Hearing her say this, I finally couldn’t hold back any longer. I looked straight into her eyes. “Raven, are you really not hiding anything from me?” Raven flinched, then smiled faintly and spoke softly. “What could I possibly hide from you?” I fought back the stinging in my eyes and nodded lightly. “That’s good then. Let’s go to sleep, Raven. I’m a bit tired.” Early the next morning, Raven and I were awakened by a knock on the door. Raven opened it to find a man with bloodshot eyes standing outside, holding a little boy of about two or three in his arms. “Raven, the kid’s been crying for his mom all night, won’t sleep. You told me not to come find you, but I’m at my wit’s end…” A flash of panic crossed Raven’s face. She instinctively turned to gauge my reaction. “Ethan, don’t misunderstand. This is Marcus Vance, our team medic. His wife was my teammate, and my good friend. She was accidentally injured and died on a mission. I just felt sorry for him and his son, so I…” Before I could reply, Marcus spoke, his voice choked with emotion. “Mr. Cole, I know you two are getting married, and I don’t want to trouble Raven, but the child is still so young, he keeps crying for his mom, I really…” I cut Marcus off, my gaze fixed on Raven. “The boy needs his mother. Raven, are you his mother?” Raven shot Marcus a glare before turning to me to explain. “Of course not, Ethan. This child is over two years old; how could I possibly have a child this big? It’s just that Finn’s mother died saving me. I’ve been looking after him and his father, so he thinks of me as his mother. It’s all a misunderstanding.” I carefully studied the child’s features. Though young, his face bore a striking resemblance to Raven. Grandpa was coming to pick me up tomorrow night. I didn’t want any more complications. I forced down the sharp pain in my heart and nodded. “I believe you. Go ahead and get them settled. I’m going upstairs to sleep a bit more.” I turned and went upstairs, Raven following closely behind me. “Ethan, are you angry? Don’t worry, I definitely won’t let them affect us…” But before Raven could finish, Marcus spoke again, his voice choked and pitiful. “Raven, the month you were gone, the child hasn’t been eating or sleeping well, and he’s developed some health problems. I want to take him to the hospital for a thorough check-up. I don’t know anyone here. Can you take us to the hospital?” “You know, I have nothing left. I only have Finn. If anything happens to him, I really can’t go on living.” I turned to look at Raven. She didn’t answer immediately, but her eyes betrayed her thoughts. She was worried, worried about that child. I nodded slightly. “He’s just a little kid; being sick is a big deal. You should go with them to the hospital. After all, his mother died saving you.” Raven’s face visibly brightened, and even her tone became a bit more cheerful. “Then I’ll go with them to the hospital for the check-up and come right back. Ethan, thank you. Thank you for understanding.” After saying this, Raven turned and walked towards the door, taking the child from Marcus with a practiced ease that was almost too natural. Raven was in such a hurry that she didn’t even change out of her pajamas. I watched the child nestle dependently on Raven’s shoulder, and then watched the three of them, like a family, recede into the distance. My heart felt as if it had been thrown into a bottomless abyss, sinking deeper and deeper, until there was no sound left. 3 It was completely dark by the time Raven and Marcus returned home with the child. I had spent the entire day curled up in bed, not moving an inch. When Raven entered the room, her face was etched with guilt. My heart clenched violently, a bad premonition washing over me. Raven spoke in a heavy voice. “Ethan, the child’s condition isn’t good. The doctor said he needs long-term care, and they don’t know anyone else here.” “Look, this house is so big, could they… stay here?” I closed my eyes tightly, trying hard to suppress the bitterness welling up in my chest. Just this morning, before she left, she had clearly promised that she would never let them affect our lives. But now, she wanted to bring Marcus and his son to live here. When I opened my eyes again, my gaze was clear. I was about to speak when I realized Marcus was already standing at my bedroom door, holding the child’s hand. “Mr. Cole, please don’t blame Raven. She’s just worried about the child’s health. His mother passed away right after he was born. Raven has taken on my wife’s responsibilities since then. It’s normal for the child to be attached to her.” “He’s still young. I can’t explain to him that Raven isn’t his mother. But if you’re really unhappy, I’ll just take the child and leave…” Marcus continued his manipulative sob story, but my attention was caught by the necklace around the child’s neck. My breathing instantly became ragged. My hands gripped the blanket tightly, and tears began to fall uncontrollably. I looked up at Raven, my voice so hoarse it scared even me. “What is that… around the child’s neck?” When I was sixteen, Grandpa hired Raven at a high price to be my personal bodyguard. I wasn’t in any particular danger, but when I was eighteen, Raven was hunted by enemies from her past. At a critical moment, they both fired a shot at each other. In that split second, my body reacted faster than my brain. I lunged forward and took the fatal bullet for Raven. Raven’s enemy died on the spot. Raven survived. And that bullet had missed my heart by only half an inch. When I woke up in the hospital bed, Raven was crying by my side, her eyes swollen and red, her voice choked beyond recognition. “From this day on, my life, Raven Blackwood’s life, belongs to you, Ethan Cole.” “In this lifetime, Raven Blackwood will never betray Ethan Cole.” She had the bullet extracted from my chest made into a necklace. Holding my hand, she kissed the bullet reverently. “From this second on, I will always remember, at every moment, that my life belongs to you.” “This necklace is my good luck charm. As long as I live, this necklace will always be with me.” I don’t know if it was the sincerity in Raven’s tear-filled eyes that day, or the depth of emotion in her kiss on the necklace. All I knew was that on that day, my heart melted into an ocean of tenderness. But now, that very necklace, which Raven claimed would never leave her side unless she was dead, was hanging quietly around the child’s neck. Raven’s lips trembled for a long time, as if she didn’t know how to explain it to me. In the end, she didn’t say a word. But a flicker of triumph flashed in Marcus’s eyes. “Oh, this necklace? The kid was premature when he was born, and the doctor said Finn was in danger. Raven was worried about him, so she gave him this necklace. He’s worn it ever since he was born.” “But you know, this necklace really works. This kid, from childhood to now…” Before Marcus could finish, Raven cut him off, her voice cold. “Enough! Shut up!” 4 Raven grabbed Marcus’s arm and dragged him out. The child, frightened, started wailing. But I no longer had the strength to care, my mind consumed by Marcus’s words. Raven didn’t come back for a long time. I don’t know how much time passed before some suggestive sounds reached my ears. I threw off the covers, got out of bed, and followed the noise out of my room. The sounds were coming from Marcus’s room. A woman’s voice, so seductively soft it could melt your bones. “Don’t be like this, Ethan’s still home. It wouldn’t be good if he heard.” A man’s voice, hoarse with barely restrained desire. “He won’t. I’ve closed the door properly. He won’t hear anything. Come on, Raven, it’s been so long. Don’t you miss me?” What followed was inevitable. Just as the erotic atmosphere in the air reached its peak, Marcus, on top of Raven, turned his head, and his eyes met mine. Looking at Marcus’s slightly provocative gaze, what else was there not to understand? Marcus had done it on purpose. He said he’d closed the door, but it was clearly open. He did it deliberately, deliberately letting me see all this, deliberately letting me discover their relationship. I lowered my eyes and thoughtfully closed the door for them. Early the next morning, when I went downstairs, only Finn was at the dining table. He was dutifully holding a small bowl, spooning food into his mouth. Seeing me come down, he grinned, his eyes crinkling. “Uncle Ethan, you’re awake? Want some porridge? It’s seafood chowder, super yummy…” But before he could finish, he seemed to choke. His little face turned bright red, and clutching his mouth, he fell heavily from his chair. I was stunned by this sudden turn of events and rushed forward to check on him. After all, whatever issues the adults had, the child was innocent. I couldn’t just watch him suffer in front of me. But then, Marcus’s furious roar exploded. “Ethan Cole! What are you doing!” He lunged forward, yanked me away, and frantically called Finn’s name for a while. When Finn didn’t respond, he got up, checked what Finn had just eaten, and then, with bloodshot eyes, roared at me. “Mr. Cole! If you’re unhappy with us being here, we can just leave! Why would you be so cruel to a child? He’s only three! You’ll kill him doing this!” “Finn’s been allergic to seafood since he was little! I never dare give him anything like this! You have such a cruel heart, to actually feed him seafood chowder!” I was stunned by this barrage of accusations, only able to instinctively deny it. “I didn’t, I didn’t feed him…” But Marcus gave me no chance to explain, cutting me off sharply. “You didn’t? Are you going to say Finn ordered this seafood chowder takeout himself? He’s only three! What does he know!” Raven didn’t even glance at me. She strode forward, scooped up the struggling Finn, and headed for the door. “Stop talking. Let’s get the kid to the hospital first.” Raven hadn’t said a word to me, but after five years together, I could clearly feel she was blaming me. As she passed by, I looked at Raven’s profile, grabbed her wrist, and said, word by word. “Raven, it wasn’t me.” Raven paused, a flicker of impatience in her eyes. “Let go. I need to get Finn to the hospital.” As soon as Raven finished speaking, Marcus roughly shoved me aside and walked out the door with her. Marcus’s shove was sudden. Caught off guard, I fell hard, my lower back slamming into the corner of the coffee table. A sudden, sharp pain shot through my entire body, and I couldn’t help but cry out in pain. But Raven, who used to fret if I so much as frowned, now turned a deaf ear to my cries of pain, her eyes and heart solely focused on the child in her arms. As the three of them gradually disappeared from my sight, my phone rang. It was a message from Grandpa. “The car is almost here. Pack up and come out.” I wiped away my tears fiercely, gritted my teeth against the sharp pain in my lower back, and climbed up from the floor, heading into the bedroom. I took nothing but my ID and bank cards and walked out. After getting into the car Grandpa sent, I sent Raven a message. “Let’s break up, Raven.”

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