My best friend accidentally fell into the raging river, and I risked my life to pull her to shore. But who would have thought my best friend wouldn’t thank me? Instead, she cried to the crowd, accusing me: “This wasn’t an accident, she pushed me!” “Before you all arrived, she kept kicking me further into the water!” “She clearly wanted to kill me!” I was about to explain when my husband rushed over, pointed at me, and started yelling. “Riley, I never knew you could be so wicked!” “Even if I’m your husband, I can’t help you cover up attempted murder!” Ultimately, I was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder. When I got out, I discovered Chloe had moved into my mansion and even had a baby with my husband. A picture-perfect family of three, living in blissful happiness. That’s when I realized, this had all been their elaborate scheme. Just as I was about to confront them, a out-of-control truck slammed into me, killing me instantly. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Chloe fell into the river!

“Help me!” A frantic cry jolted me awake. I stared at my surroundings, utterly stunned. In the turbulent river, Chloe was struggling desperately. Wave after wave crashed over her face, threatening to sweep her away at any moment. “Riley, quick… quick, save me!” Seeing me frozen, Chloe frantically called out again. The familiar scene sent shivers down my spine, finally snapping me back to reality. I had been reborn. Back to the day I was framed. “Riley, what are you standing around for? Go save her!” Seeing me motionless, my husband Liam anxiously pushed me. “The river’s so swift; if we don’t save her now, it’ll be too late!” However, faced with his urgency, I remained unusually calm. In my previous life, the moment I saw Chloe fall into the water, I immediately rushed to save her. But that was the beginning of my tragedy. Not only was I framed and sent to prison, but I also ended up with a ruined family and my own death. Last life, I was blind. I didn’t see the true colors of that wicked duo. This time, I’ll make them both pay. I discreetly started recording on my phone, shaking my head. “I didn’t push her in, so why should I be the one to save her?” Liam froze, stunned. He stared at me in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe I’d say such a thing. But the next moment, he spoke again, his voice urgent. “I know you didn’t push her!” “And I’m not blaming you, either.” “But Chloe is your best friend! You can’t just leave her to drown in the river!” Liam grabbed me and pulled me towards the riverbank, practically begging me to jump in and save her. But after the lesson from my previous life, how could I let him get his way? I shoved his hand away, my voice hardening. “She’s too far away from me. I can’t save her!” “It’s not far! We can go around; it’ll only take thirty seconds to reach where she fell in.” “I’m saying it again… I’m not going!” “If you want to save her, you go yourself!” Liam’s expression froze, then twisted into pure fury. “Riley, I never thought you’d be such a cold, heartless person!” “Have you no conscience?” His words were harsh, giving me no quarter. But my resolve remained firm. I wouldn’t save her! So what if he cursed me to hell? Was that worse than losing my life? While we argued, people who’d heard the commotion started gathering. A crowd stood around, panicking and yelling for help. “Does anyone know how to swim? Quick, save her!” Many cried out anxiously, but no one dared to jump in. The river was swollen and swift with recent floods. For an ordinary person, going in wouldn’t just mean failing to save someone, it would mean losing their own life too. Seeing a well-meaning elderly man, who clearly couldn’t swim, try to enter the water, I quickly stepped forward to stop him. “Everyone, don’t bother!” “The river’s so fast, yet it hasn’t swept her away. Who knows, maybe she’ll just climb out herself in a bit; we don’t even need to save her!” 2. My ill-timed joke instantly ignited the fury of everyone present. “Is this really the time for nonsense? Shut up!” “If it weren’t for the rule of law, I’d slap you twice!” “You uncultured idiot, if you’re just going to talk trash, get lost!” The crowd was enraged, but I remained perfectly calm. Last life, I was too impulsive. Seeing Chloe call for help, I jumped in without a second thought. But now, looking at it calmly, I saw just how terrible her and Liam’s acting was. The river was so swift, yet she showed no signs of being swept away. Clearly, there was a rope holding her underwater. Even if I didn’t save her, she’d be fine. Last time, you ruined my life. This time, you can stay right there in that freezing river. It was winter, and the river water was bone-chilling. Chloe’s face was already pale, and she was shivering uncontrollably. Even her cries for help had grown much weaker. Liam, seeing I still had no intention of saving her, gritted his teeth, then dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud. “Wife, you’re a national swimming athlete. Saving her would be nothing for you, wouldn’t it?” “Chloe is your best friend! You can’t just stand by and watch her die!” At his words, the crowd’s gaze immediately swung back to me. Their angry whispers and curses were completely undisguised. “What? She’s a swimming athlete?” “Oh my God, and the person in the river is her best friend?” “This is truly mind-boggling!” “She won’t save her, and now she’s stopping others? That’s practically murder!” I looked at Liam kneeling before me, a sneer playing on my lips. Trying to use the crowd to pressure me into jumping in? Not a chance! I shook my head calmly, my stance firm. “Husband, the river is so cold. I’d die if I went in!” “Would you really stand by and watch me lose my life?” Liam instantly flared up, pointing at me furiously. “You’re a swimming athlete, how could you die?” “You’re just cold-hearted!” He was right, if I only went in to save her, I probably wouldn’t die. But the problem was, they never intended for me to come out alive. Last time, when I went to save Chloe, as soon as I touched her, she desperately kicked me towards the center of the river. Back then, I thought it was just her panicked, subconscious reaction. Now, looking back, I was too naive. She wanted me to drown, and even with my excellent swimming skills, I wouldn’t last long in that icy water. When that plan failed, they changed their story and accused me of attempted murder. “Believe whatever you want!” With that, I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him anymore and turned to walk away. So what if the crowd cursed my name? As long as I could live, I didn’t care one bit! Just as I sat down nearby, someone who knew how to swim arrived in the crowd. Without a word, they jumped into the river and rescued Chloe. “What a shame!” “If she’d stayed in a little longer, she probably would have crawled out herself!” I muttered to myself, a look of mock regret on my face. But the next moment, Liam and Chloe rushed over to me, Liam’s face contorted in rage as he slapped me. “Riley, do you have any idea how close Chloe was to dying because of you?” “When did you become so wicked?” Before I could speak, Chloe, soaking wet and looking pitiful, also chimed in: “Riley, how could you do this to me?” “Even if we had a disagreement, you shouldn’t have deliberately pushed me into the river!” “Do you know I almost died?” The familiar scene unfolded again. They were ready to frame me. But too bad, I wasn’t the same me from the last life!

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My cousin Chloe had a wild and restless spirit, especially when it came to men. The night before her wedding to Julian Blackwood, heir to a powerful family, she ran off with her lover. I had loved Julian since we were children. So when my cousin fled, I took her place at the wedding. But at the altar, Julian turned and walked away without a word. He abandoned me there, and from that day on, never looked my way again. The Blackwood staff took their cues from Julian’s contempt. My meals dwindled to moldy scraps. His mistress seasoned my wine with poison and slipped a viper into my room. My life was worse than a stray dog’s. Years later, Chloe came back, her wild days behind her. “It was Evie,” she sobbed to Julian. “She’s the one who turned us against each other.” Julian’s heart shattered for Chloe. He believed every word. He took her back and ended every other affair. Then, to comfort her, he had me tortured until my body was a canvas of wounds. “But Evie is still your legal wife, isn’t she, Julian? She’s the rightful Mrs. Blackwood. How can I…” “Then kill her.” Those three words were all it took. His men forced the poison down my throat. As I lay dying, Chloe whispered a secret into my ear. My eyes widened in utter shock, and then, in a wave of agonizing despair, I died. But my spirit refused to fade. The bitterness of my end was so profound that Death grand me a second chance. A voice echoed in the void: “Remake the past, and you will be granted a new beginning.” A flash of white light, and I was back to six years ago, the day Chloe ran away from her wedding. …

The God of Death told me I had three days. If I could change my fate of marrying Julian in someone else’s place, if I could ensure Chloe married Julian, then I could alter my tragic end and set everything back on its destined path. “Evie, you can finally be my Julian’s wife.” Staring at the outstretched hand before me, my blood ran cold, and a shiver of icy dread swept through me. That God of Death was truly unreliable! Couldn’t they have sent me back just one day earlier? Then I could have stopped Chloe Dawson from running off. But there was no time to ponder. If I entered the Blackwood estate, my fate would be sealed again. I took a step back, tearing off the veil that obscured my face. I looked at a stunned Julian. “Julian, I’m Evelyn Reed. Not Chloe Dawson.” Julian’s eyes narrowed. He lunged forward and kicked me hard in the stomach. “It’s you! Where’s Chloe? What kind of trick are you pulling now? Did you hide your cousin away?” “Today is my wedding to Chloe! Are you trying to die by doing this?” The kick knocked the wind right out of me. It felt like my insides had been scrambled. I coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “Chloe… she’s gone. I… I love you, so I thought of impersonating her. I didn’t hide her.” I knelt on the ground, my voice small and pleading. I didn’t dare reveal that Chloe had run off with someone else. For one, I knew he wouldn’t believe me easily. For another, I was terrified Julian might snap, and I’d still end up dead. “Then why are you telling me now? What game are you playing?” “Even though I love you, Chloe is still my family. What if she was kidnapped by someone bad? Wouldn’t I be selfish for hiding it, and harming her?” “Guards! Search the entire house!” Julian snapped, his eyes cold as he glared at me. “If I find out this is some elaborate scheme of yours, I swear I won’t let you get away with it.” The bodyguards surged in and out, turning the villa upside down. I clutched my chest, kneeling on the floor, not daring to move an inch. It was because whenever Chloe and Julian had a disagreement, she would always push the blame onto me afterward, claiming I was the one who provoked them. So, Julian’s attitude towards me was always terrible. Because I admired him, he assumed I was jealous of Chloe and wanted to break them up to take her place, making him despise me even more. “Sir, Miss Dawson is not in the villa.” “I know where she is.” Julian’s eyes narrowed, cold and scrutinizing. “What trick are you pulling now?” It was because of what Chloe herself had told me in my previous life, just before I died. “Evie, do you know? I intentionally ran away from my wedding to let you take my place. I just wanted you to see that the man you love only has eyes for me. Even if you married him, he would only despise you.” “On our wedding day, I was actually having a wild time with Landon at his estate. I’ve had my fun these past few years, and look! As soon as I came back and shed a few tears, he loved me like his life again. And you? You were nothing.” Landon Thorne, he was one of Chloe’s usual admirers. He owned a place called The Orchard Retreat outside of town. She’d even taken me there once to use the hot springs, just to flaunt how she was the undisputed center of attention, adored by so many men. “I’ve seen Landon lurking around suspiciously near here these past few days. He once drunkenly confessed his admiration for Chloe.” “I thought… perhaps he kidnapped her?” “If you don’t believe me, you can have someone go to the Thorne estate and check if Landon is home.” A short while later, Julian’s assistant reported that Landon hadn’t been home since yesterday. Julian’s cold gaze fixed on me. “Tell me, what else do you know?” “I only know Landon has The Orchard Retreat outside of town. He took Chloe and me there once. Maybe you can check there for clues?” Julian ordered his men to tie me up and take me with them. “If I find out this has anything to do with you, I won’t let you off.” He immediately had his bodyguards surround The Orchard Retreat. When we burst into the villa, Chloe was partially dressed, with Landon pressing down on her. Julian’s eyes instantly blazed red. He grabbed a knife from a nearby table, ready to strike. “Landon, I’ll carve you up!” Landon looked back, his face going ashen with fear as he tumbled from the bed. The long blade sliced across his back, leaving a bloody gash, and he cried out in pain. Chloe, on the bed, trembled with fright. Her eyes red, she immediately rushed forward, clutching Julian and sobbing, “Julian, you finally came to save me! He almost… he almost succeeded!” “Landon, he…” Seeing Chloe’s distraught state, Julian grew even more furious. He lunged with the blade again. Landon looked at Chloe in disbelief, his mouth agape. “How could you say that? Didn’t you say you didn’t want to marry Julian, that you didn’t want to be tied down? You asked me to take you away!” Julian froze, looking at Chloe suspiciously. “Is that true? You didn’t want to marry me?” Chloe shook her head, her face innocent. She spoke with feigned indignation. “Julian, you believe him over me? Then I’ll just have to prove my innocence with my death!” With that, she made a show of trying to run headfirst into a pillar. Julian grabbed her, pulling her into his embrace, his eyes filled with guilt. “I’m sorry, I believe you. Don’t do anything foolish.” Chloe cried even harder, as if she would pass out from grief. “You bitch! You clearly told me you loved me! How could you—” But before he could finish, Julian’s blade plunged into Landon’s chest. Landon gasped, then went limp. Seeing that he was dead, Chloe let out a sigh of relief. “Julian, thank you for saving me and believing me. If you hadn’t come, I would have had to die to preserve my honor.” “It’s all thanks to your cousin, Evie. If she hadn’t pointed the way, I would never have found this place.” Chloe suddenly pulled away from Julian’s embrace. To everyone’s shock, she lunged at me and slapped me a dozen times.

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Everyone in our circle knew I was Dean Davies’s untouchable. I was the delicate flower he cherished, held close in his palm. When I was twenty, kidnappers snatched me away. My parents thought I was dead. The police said my chances were slim. But Dean? For three days, he didn’t eat or sleep. Then he just stormed into the wilderness alone and found me. At that moment, I was convinced. No one would ever love me more. Later, our engagement date was set. But right before the ceremony, another girl show up. …. Arlene Hayes POV Everyone in our circle knew I was Dean Davies’s untouchable. I was the delicate flower he cherished, held close in his palm. When I was twenty, kidnappers snatched me away. My parents thought I was dead. The police said my chances were slim. But Dean? For three days, he didn’t eat or sleep. Then he just stormed into the wilderness alone and found me. At that moment, I was convinced. No one would ever love me more. Later, our engagement date was set. But right before the ceremony, another girl appeared by his side. I remember it all. The first day she showed up, Dean fought half-dead in an underground boxing ring just to win a necklace to make her smile. The seventh day she appeared, I couldn’t reach Dean at all. So I called the police, reporting him missing. They found him in a hotel room, and there she was, lying in his arms. The twenty days after she appeared, he brought her into our home – the very home where he had vowed to “spend his life with me.” No one could believe that Dean, who’d once treasured me as his life, would actually bring another woman home. He was quite the playboy back then, I knew that. In the first few years we were together, women often tried to tempt him. But those women vanished like thin air the next day. From then on, I truly believed his heart was only for me. But I was wrong. Today, I came home early from work. The moment I opened the door, I froze. In the living room, he was pressing a woman down on the sofa. She was completely naked, her moans piercing my ears. My breath hitched. I looked around, spotting the coffee pot on the coffee table. I walked over, said nothing, grabbed the pot, and splashed it directly over them. “Ahh!” A scream tore through the air, mingling with the sound of scalding liquid. I saw Dean throw himself in front of her, his body taking the full force of the hot coffee. My heart gave a sickening, visceral wrench. He would go that far for her. “Scarlett, are you okay?” His voice was so gentle it almost made me gag. And the woman, Scarlett Vance, trembled, clutching his arm, softly saying, “I’m fine, but you… does it hurt?” I sneered, “Cut the act. Get out.” Scarlett’s face went pale. But Dean stood in front of her, looking down at me, his voice cold as ice. “Apologize.” The Dean I’d known for seven years had never shown me such a cruel expression before. I clenched the pot in my hand, my knuckles turning white. “Dream on.” I gritted my teeth, squeezing out each word, then turned and walked upstairs. The moment the door closed, tears completely broke free. I never thought he could be so gentle with someone else. He betrayed me, yet he wanted me to apologize. And I caught him, of all days, right here in our home. I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. It read. “I was just over a month pregnant.” That was the report I’d gotten today. I knew he’d been spending a lot of time with that woman lately. But she was just a waitress. I thought he was just messing around. Even if he wasn’t serious, seeing this report, he should understand what truly mattered. But I was horribly wrong. I collapsed onto the bed, clutching the report, tears splattering onto the pillow. I don’t know how long passed. Suddenly, I was roughly pulled up and thrown to the floor. Looking up, Dean’s icy face loomed over me. “What are you doing?” I asked hoarsely. He didn’t answer, just grabbed my shoulders. “The coffee scalded her today. She might have a scar.” I froze, then laughed aloud. “So? Are you going to douse me now?” He was silent for a long time, then sighed, “Arlene, why are you targeting her? I promise you, I’ll still marry you in a month. But for what happened today, you have to apologize to her.” “Dean…” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. He actually poured hot water on me! I gasped, almost laughing through the pain.”You want me to apologize? Never!” His face completely darkened. He grabbed my chin, “Think about your family’s company, think about your parents. Now answer me – are you apologizing or not?” His words hit me like a lightning bolt, tears blurring my vision. “You know exactly what means the most to me, and you’d use my parents against me?” A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, and his tone softened. “Arlene, Scarlett is different from you. She hasn’t had an easy life. Everything you have, she doesn’t. Why do you have to be so petty with her?” “So, I should even give my own man to her?” He paused. “No matter what I do this month, my fiancée will still be you. My wife’s place, your place, will always be yours.” I closed my eyes, my gaze utterly lifeless. “Fine, I’ll apologize.” He dragged me in front of Scarlett, who was still wearing my pajamas. I lunged forward, trying to rip the pajamas off her. “Those are my pajamas!” Dean just said, “It’s just pajamas. I’ll buy you new ones. Hurry up and apologize!” Dean gripped the back of my neck until I apologized. Only then did he release me, satisfied. Watching the smirk on his face, my heart shredded into a million pieces. I thought this whole ordeal was finally over. But the next day, his people escorted me to the hospital. He didn’t even look at me, just said, “Go in.” A cold operating table, blinding lights, an expressionless doctor, a needle glinting coldly. Before I could even understand what was happening, I heard him say from outside – “Scarlett is very upset about the scar on her shoulder. Give her a skin graft.” Before I could even react, my consciousness faded into darkness. When I woke up, the white ceiling swam, making me dizzy. Dean’s friend Evan quickly helped me sit up. “Arlene, you’re awake. I’ll go get the doctor.” Evan hurried off to find a doctor, leaving his phone on the stool. I saw Dean and his friends’ Snapchat group chat pop up on Evan’s phone. “Dean, what’s going on with you and Scarlett? Are you really dumping Arlene? The engagement’s in a month!” “Didn’t say I’m dumping her. But Scarlett’s a type I’ve never seen before. She’s so sweet, so innocent. I just melt whenever I see her.” “What about Arlene, then? She doesn’t tolerate any nonsense.” “Don’t worry. Her family’s company still needs our family’s investment. She won’t leave me.” I clenched the phone, my knuckles white. In that moment, I finally understood. In his eyes, I was just a pawn to be used. I smiled, pulling out my own phone and making a call. “Mrs. Davies, I don’t want to marry Dean anymore.” Dean’s mother on the other end seemed to ask something urgently. I answered softly, my voice strangely calm. “No, it’s not that I don’t want to marry into the Davies family.” “I just… want a different person.” “I want to marry Dean’s older brother, Ryan Davies.”

Arlene Hayes POV I knew my family’s company was on the verge of collapse. If the capital chain broke, my parents’ life’s work would be ruined in my hands. The Davies family’s investment was the only solution. But the Davies family didn’t just have one son. As long as I married into the Davies family, no matter who it was, Hayes Holdings would survive. On the other end of the phone, Mrs. Davies’s voice held surprise and hesitation. “Arlene, are you… sure about this? I know what Dean has done recently has hurt you, but Ryan hasn’t woken up yet. Marriage is for a lifetime; I hope you think it over carefully.” I closed my eyes, my voice calm. “Mrs. Davies, you know me. I’ve never been a generous person. Since Dean likes that woman so much, I might as well make them happy.” A sigh came from the other end. “Since your mind is made up, I can’t persuade you further.” After hanging up, I looked at the sterile white ceiling of the hospital room, a hollow ache in my chest. The door pushed open, and Evan hurried in. “Arlene…” He looked awkward, “I’m really sorry, but there’s no dermatologist on duty right now.” I frowned. “You’re telling me a major hospital like this doesn’t even have a dermatologist?” He scratched his head, avoiding my gaze, mumbling incoherently. Just then, two nurses pushed a medical cart in to change my dressing. They chatted casually as they worked. “Hey, that woman in the next room is so lucky. Just a tiny scar, and Dean Davies actually got every doctor in the hospital to go over.” “Yeah, what a fuss. I thought she was seriously injured, but it was just a little scratch on her shoulder.” I sat on the bed, listening to those airy whispers, and actually laughed. A year ago, I fell hiking and scraped my knee. It was just a little scratch too. Back then, Dean was the same way. He found every dermatologist in the hospital for me, looking anxious, wishing he could feel the pain for me. Then, I found it funny and sweet. But now, he gave that same tenderness to another woman. After the nurses left, Evan seemed to want to say something else. I raised my hand to stop him. “Don’t bother. You can go. My injury isn’t serious, I don’t need care.” He hesitated, then nodded, softly saying, “Then get some rest.” Once I was alone in the room, I propped myself up on the edge of the bed and slowly stood. The anesthesia hadn’t worn off completely; my steps felt light. I’d just reached the bathroom door when I heard Evan’s voice from the hallway. “Dean, why don’t you come see Arlene? She’s all alone, it’s quite pitiful…” “What’s pitiful about her?” Dean’s voice was full of irritation, “Scarlett’s the victim. Arlene’s the aggressor, she deserves this.” I froze, a suffocating tightness in my chest. The next second, I pushed open the bathroom door and locked it. I didn’t want to hear another word from him. I suddenly remembered the night I first met Dean. I was at an upscale lounge to meet a potential investor for my company. The middle-aged man shamelessly slid his hand up my thigh. Furious, I splashed his drink right in his face. Just as he grabbed my hair, ready to hit me, Dean appeared. Without a word, he slammed the man to the ground, punching him repeatedly. The brutality scared me, but it also captivated me. From that day on, I accepted Dean’s help and secured his investment. And I secretly decided in my heart that I would give everything for this man. I knew he liked “innocent, fragile girls.” So I changed my style of dress, my makeup, my way of speaking. I became the “gentle angel” everyone admired, the way he liked me. Finally, I became his girlfriend, just as I wished. But when I saw Scarlett, I finally understood. He didn’t love me. He loved that kind of “vulnerability” that stirred his pity. No matter how much I imitated it, it was just an act. She, on the other hand, was naturally like that. Thinking of this, I laughed. Laughed at myself for knowingly stepping into a trap, yet plunging headfirst into it. Since that was the case, letting go was probably for the best. At least, this time, I was the one who said goodbye first.

Arlene Hayes POV On my seventh day in the hospital, he finally called. “How long are you going to keep this up? It was just a little scratch, are you planning to live in the hospital forever? Scarlett’s already home; aren’t you coming back?” I leaned against the bed, staring at the ceiling and sneering. “Home? Dean, that’s not my home anymore.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, then his tone seemed to soften slightly. “Arlene, stop being difficult, okay? That’s your home, and it’s our future home.” I wasn’t interested in hearing his pretentious lies, so I simply hung up. But the next second, my screen lit up again. “Arlene Hayes, did you just hang up on me?!” His anger was practically seeping through the phone. “Are you done? I’m going to sleep.” I couldn’t be bothered. “If you dare hang up, I’ll pull all the funding.” He gritted out the words, and the smile on my face vanished instantly. “Dean,” I said coldly, “You’re addicted to threatening me, aren’t you?” He was silent for a few seconds. “It’s because you won’t talk to me properly.” I took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger. “What exactly do you want?” “There’s an auction the day after tomorrow. I’ll send you an invitation.” He said, “You have to come. Consider it… my compensation to you.” The word “compensation” from his mouth was so ironic. But I knew it wasn’t time to openly break ties. My family’s company was teetering; if he pulled the funding, everything would be over. So I replied. “Got it. Can I hang up now?” He seemed about to say more, but then Scarlett’s sweet voice came from his end. He quickly hung up. I watched the screen darken, a self-mocking smile on my lips, then turned off my phone. Two days later, Dean sent a dress to the hospital. The moment I opened the box, I froze. It was a white gauze dress, gentle, pure, and dignified. Exactly the “look” Dean liked. I picked up a pair of scissors and, without hesitation, shredded it into pieces, tossing it into the trash. Then I called someone to send over a red strapless gown. Confident, flamboyant, sexy – that was the real me. After applying heavy makeup, I smiled at my reflection. In the years I was with Dean, my clothes were always plain, my makeup barely there. But I never liked plain colors, nor did I like pretending to be docile. Since I’d already decided to leave him, I didn’t need to pretend anymore. The auction house was brightly lit. The moment I walked in, I felt countless eyes on me. That attention gave me a long-lost sense of exhilaration. After all, no one had ever seen me like this. “Isn’t that Arlene Hayes? Why is she dressed like that?” I heard astonished whispers. The moment Dean turned his head, I saw him clearly freeze. My lips curved into a smirk, and I raised my champagne glass, toasting him from afar. His face darkened several shades. Someone nearby joked, “Didn’t you two break up? Does that mean I can pursue her now?” Dean sneered, “We haven’t broken up. She’s probably jealous that I’ve been too close to Scarlett lately, so she’s deliberately dressed like this to win me back.” Win him back? I laughed softly, a laugh more bitter than the wine. He continued to socialize, while I stood with my glass, drinking one after another. Until someone approached me, a hand reeking of alcohol attempting to rest on my shoulder. I frowned in disgust, warning coldly, “Keep your distance.” But the man smirked lewdly, still trying to touch me. I grabbed a wine bottle from the table and smashed it against his shoulder. The shattering glass made ears ring, and he cried out, collapsing to the floor. I looked down at him, my voice cold as ice. “That’s a warning. Try to touch me again, and next time it won’t just be a wine bottle.” Security rushed over and dragged him away. I picked up another glass of wine and continued to socialize. Glass after glass went down, and my awareness began to blur. I stumbled towards the restroom, but the moment I entered, I heard intimate gasps. That sound – I recognized it instantly. It’s Dean. I froze, my fingertips growing cold. He called me here, supposedly to “compensate” me, but then turned around to embrace another woman. How ridiculous. I calmly washed my hands. The heavily made-up face in the mirror was cold and unfamiliar. The place in my heart that used to ache was now just numb. As the auction was about to end, I finally understood his true intention in calling me here. On the table was a thick stack of contracts, all the collaboration projects I wanted. At least tonight, I got what I came for. “Wait for me in the parking lot,” I told my driver. I walked into the elevator and pressed for the basement. The moment the elevator doors opened, I took a step and felt my vision go black – I lost consciousness.

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The night Julian Reed and I got engaged, his eyes were captivated by a stunning, seductive model. Every move she made was pure allure, and she apparently had a keen talent for investment and business. Men always seem to fall for women who are graceful and charming in public, yet also down-to-earth and supportive. But Julian just scoffed, dismissing her with disdain: “Tch. A woman like her is absolutely not wife material. She’s a magnet for male attention, always attracting drama. Good for a fling, maybe, a casual hookup. But I have standards, I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.” His words were dismissive, but his eyes were incredibly honest, glued to the model’s alluring figure. Three days later, the whispers quickly escalated into a full-blown scandal: the scion of a powerful family, Julian Reed, checked into a hotel with a supermodel. The news was everywhere. Finally, he couldn’t hold back. He came to me and said: “Eleanor, I’m sorry, but I’ve decided to formalize things with Chloe. She’ll be my mistress, of course, and you’ll remain my fiancée. How about you both… attend to my needs?” Standing outside the door, watching them entangled in bed, I finally turned away, utterly disillusioned. I would marry Julian Reed’s uncle instead.

“Miss Eleanor, don’t look!” Mrs. Jenkins, our housekeeper, was watching the news. Hearing my heels clicking down the stairs, her face flushed with anger as she fumbled for the remote, trying to switch off the TV. But it was too late. The paparazzi had captured Julian Reed and the famous model, Chloe, walking hand-in-hand into a hotel. “It seems our famously abstinent scion couldn’t resist the captivating Chloe after all. He’s finally landed the CEO known for spoiling his girlfriends…” The commentator’s voice droned on, but in that moment, my ears felt like someone had detonated a bomb inside them. A deafening blast, then a sharp, piercing pain. “Mrs. Jenkins, move.” I pushed past her, my hand reaching out to her blocking body, forcing myself to witness the sight: my fiancé, kissing a supermodel, walking into a hotel. Mrs. Jenkins began to open her mouth, perhaps to offer comfort, but I had already turned and left the living room. I started my Maserati, speeding towards the Reed family estate like a furious leopard. Julian had given me the sports car on my birthday. He’d said, “My Eleanor is so wonderful; she deserves everything I can give.” As I arrived at the Reed estate, all the staff immediately tensed. They tried to block me, their eyes darting with a mix of pity and mocking curiosity, trying to prevent me from going upstairs. Their attempts to stop me only confirmed something was wrong. I swept them with a gaze as cold as ice, completely freezing them in place, none daring to move. Reaching Julian’s room, I heard sounds through the door that made my face burn. I clenched my fists tightly, but ultimately, I pushed the door open. In that moment, my heart plummeted into an icy abyss, tearing me apart with excruciating pain. When I first saw the news, I’d made excuses for him, thinking it was just a mischievous rumor. But now? Julian had brought her right back to his own home. He was acting as if I didn’t exist, grinding my dignity into the dirt. “Julian Reed!” Julian flinched when he heard the desolate sound of my voice, his kiss with Chloe faltering. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go. He kissed her for another three minutes before finally turning his head to look at me. “Well, since you’ve seen everything, it’s probably for the best. I’ll just tell you directly.” “I’ve decided to formalize things with Chloe. She’s still… an innocent, and I can’t let her be wronged. But I can’t lose you either, so listen! You’ll be my primary partner, and she’ll be the woman behind me. You both can attend to my needs, how does that sound?” My heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife, but I couldn’t let Chloe see my distress. “You’re actually making such a shameless demand?” Julian’s face instantly darkened at the word “shameless.” “What do you mean, ‘shameless’? You and I are only engaged. I have every right to decide how to manage you both. Which man in our circles doesn’t have mistresses or affairs? Your father was no different.”

He had no idea how deeply his words cut me. I hated that my father had abandoned my mother for his mistress. Julian knew this; he had even sworn an oath to me once: “I, Julian Reed, will never cheat or take mistresses. I will love and cherish my wife, Eleanor Vance, for life.” The oath still echoed in my ears, yet the man who swore it had changed beyond recognition. “Alright, you’ve always been gentle, understanding, and considerate of me. I know this situation is unfair to you, but I’ll make it up to you later.” “Here’s a card with three million dollars. Go use it.” He tried to appease me, as if I were a beggar. I didn’t say a word. Instead, a sudden clarity washed over me, showing me exactly what I needed to do. Seeing me walk out in silence, Julian assumed I had agreed to his outrageous request. He pulled a smug Chloe closer, resuming their passionate entanglement. I found Mrs. Reed, who was deep in meditation. I waited. After two agonizing hours, I took out the heirloom diamond pendant she had given me and handed it back to her. “Mrs. Reed, I’m afraid I’m not worthy of this pendant. Please take it back.” Mrs. Reed’s gentle face froze in surprise. She looked at me, bewildered, “Eleanor, my dear, what’s wrong?” I answered truthfully: “Julian already has another woman beside him, planning to replace me. He wants to marry her, and she’s in his room right now. So, I hope you’ll give this pendant to her, Mrs. Reed.” “My mother always told me: if your fiancé ever cheats or messes around with other women, you are absolutely not to marry him. I won’t betray her memory, and I certainly won’t betray myself.” Mrs. Reed’s face immediately fell. She slapped the table and stood up. “That scoundrel! How dare he bring some cheap woman from outside back here!” “The alliance between the Vance and Reed families was set when your grandfathers were alive. Our late patriarch insisted that the matriarch of the Reed family must be you. He was a man of great foresight and impeccable judgment, so my daughter-in-law can only be one person, and that is you. He is not to bring a second wife into this house and break our family’s rules.” I looked up at the peach blossoms outside the window, blooming profusely in the spring air. “Mrs. Reed, if we cannot go against Grandfather’s dying wish, then I shall marry someone else. I want to marry Sebastian Reed.” My words stunned Mrs. Reed. She stared at me, unable to compose herself for a long time. She had been observing her spiritual practices for years, and from the first to the fifteenth of each month, she would not leave her meditation room, strictly adhering to her traditions. Otherwise, she would have stormed out to confront Julian. Mrs. Reed twirled her prayer beads, “Eleanor, are you truly determined to marry his uncle? You must think this through. Sebastian is involved in both legitimate and illicit dealings, known for his ruthless and brutal methods. He’s not a tender man.” “Mrs. Reed, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Some people hide their dirty deeds behind a facade of virtue and kindness. Others may appear ruthless and cold, yet they are capable of surprising acts of goodness.” At that moment, the peach blossoms were scattered by the spring breeze, and I seemed to see that cold man patiently comforting children at an orphanage. Just then, Julian violently pushed open the door and stormed in. He grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.

“I knew you’d run to my mother to complain and tattle! Hmph, I truly misjudged you.” His fingers dug deep into my flesh, as if I were his mortal enemy. It took all my strength to wrench my hand free. The lingering scent of Chloe’s perfume on him filled me with disgust. “I didn’t come to complain, I came to—” “You think I believe you? I can tell by Mother’s sudden coldness towards me. You must have been gossiping and twisting things, that’s why she’s looking at me like this.” “I’m not saying I won’t marry you, so what’s the rush? Chloe has already agreed to be the woman behind me. See how generous she is? Not like you, so petty and small-minded, always consumed by jealousy. If you had Chloe’s business acumen, I might actually give you more than a passing glance, and we’d have more to talk about.” He meant I wasn’t as gentle and understanding as Chloe, nor as sharp and brilliant. But Julian, if you had only waited a little longer, you would have discovered my secret. Oddly, hearing his insults, my heart remained calm. Mrs. Reed, however, was furious. But before she could speak, Chloe also entered. Julian, fearing his mother would scold Chloe first, pulled her into his embrace, defensively shielding her. “Mom, I’ve fallen for this understanding woman. Can’t you let her be the woman behind me? She isn’t even trying to snatch Eleanor’s position as the primary partner; she’s being incredibly reasonable.” Hearing that, I actually laughed. The matriarch’s position in the Reed family was a highly coveted prize. Chloe wasn’t snatching it *yet* only because she couldn’t. Once her timing was right, she’d certainly go for it. “Didn’t you say you wanted grandchildren? Chloe and I have real chemistry, that spark a man should feel. With Eleanor, it’s like an old married couple already; there’s no longer that passion.” Chloe pressed herself tightly against Julian, her voice soft and fragile: “Mrs. Reed, I promise I’ll be obedient and won’t cause any trouble. I love Julian, not his money, so I don’t care about property or status. I only care about Julian’s happiness.” Mrs. Reed watched the two of them, so inseparable, she was nearly beside herself with fury. Because what Julian didn’t know was that I had just proposed to marry his younger uncle. Grandfather’s will stipulated that the Matriarch of the Reed family must be Eleanor. Whoever marries Eleanor inherits the entire family fortune. Otherwise, they’ll be stuck with a paltry million a month allowance. Julian had no idea, which was why Mrs. Reed was so anxious. But Julian’s attitude was so unyielding, and my determination to marry Sebastian was just as strong. Mrs. Reed could only sigh and close her eyes, allowing us to make our own decisions. She decided not to interfere, returning to her quiet meditation and prayers. As I walked out the door to get into my car, I was blocked by several bodyguards. “This is what you get for running to my mother to complain.” Julian appeared behind me, embracing Chloe, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me. “That car is a gift from me. You can’t take it.” “I just want you to remember: you need to learn to be agreeable and please me if you want to have a good life. Just like your Vance family.” “I allow you to have a good life, and you will. The same goes for the primary partner position, do you understand?” With that, he took Chloe’s hand and led her to the Maserati, opening the door for her to try out the sports car. “Do you like it? Anything you want, just say the word and it’s yours.” Chloe’s face lit up instantly, and she left a fragrant kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Julian.” The staff looked at me with sympathetic eyes. Julian’s actions were a blatant slap in my face. The fiancée, less valued than a mistress. He was also warning me not to be rebellious, or he would retaliate against my family. I had no choice but to walk away from the Reed estate in my heels. It was a long way from my house, and finding a taxi would be difficult. Watching my humiliated retreat, Chloe was practically ecstatic. She was using her ‘strategic retreat’ to slowly, steadily, take over Julian’s heart. Just as I was still reeling from the shock, a black Lamborghini pulled up in front of me. The door opened, and a deep, pleasant male voice spoke: “Get in.” I lowered my head, meeting his cold, handsome gaze, and slid into the car without hesitation. Neither of us spoke until we reached my house. Only then did Sebastian Reed break the silence.

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At midnight, my high school’s former ‘Banhua’ suddenly called me. “Kira Maxwell, what’s your deal? I’m getting married tomorrow, and everyone else from our class agreed to come. Why are you playing dead in the group chat?” I work for a highly classified agency, and getting cleared to leave is extremely difficult, so I forced myself to stay awake and politely refused. “I’m sorry, but my agency doesn’t grant leave for personal events.” Tiffany Bell’s voice immediately sharpened. “What kind of trash agency doesn’t give you leave?!” “Let me tell you, my fiancé is the richest man in the entire state! You can quit your job, but you *will* come. I want every single one of our old classmates to know that all your good grades meant absolutely nothing. I can live off my looks and still beat you a hundred times over!” “If you don’t show up tomorrow, I’ll tear your house down!” She hung up without waiting for my reply, then sent me a digital invitation via SnapChat. When I saw her fiancé’s picture, I froze. Isn’t this Victor Thorne, the man who only became the richest and most powerful in the state because of the strategic alliance our marriage represented? My sleepiness vanished instantly. I immediately SnapChatted Tiffany back: “Fine. I’ll be there for your wedding tomorrow, right on time.”

The next morning, I received a message from Victor. “My dearest wife, I have an important event today. Too bad you’re not here.” “Remember to come home and see me when you get your vacation. I really miss you.” Due to the sensitive nature of my work, I rarely have contact with the outside world. So, for three years, my marriage to Victor has been mostly long-distance. But he always shared his daily life with me and expressed his longing. I thought he genuinely loved me. Now, thinking back, it all just feels ridiculous. After securing special leave from Director Hayes, I drove my agency’s specially assigned vehicle, which he personally approved for my use, to Tiffany’s hometown, following the wedding location on her digital invitation. From a distance, I could see a huge red banner hanging above Tiffany’s family home. “Warmest welcome to Mr. Victor Thorne, CEO of Thorne Industries, for the groom’s arrival!” Beneath the banner, Tiffany was dressed in a pristine, custom-designed white wedding gown, eagerly awaiting her groom’s arrival. She was surrounded by a group of our old high school classmates. “Tiffany, you kept this quiet! We had no idea your man was the richest person in the state until your wedding!” “Seriously! I heard Mr. Thorne isn’t just wealthy; he wields absolute power, virtually untouchable. You’re truly something, landing such an excellent, top-tier man!” “Tiffany, you’re about to be the richest man’s wife! Don’t forget us old classmates when you’re living large!” Even our high school homeroom teacher, Mr. Harrison, fawned over Tiffany. “Tiffany, the first time I saw you, I knew you’d achieve great things.” “That’s why, even when your grades weren’t the best in high school, I never criticized you. I knew you were destined for a life of luxury and power; you never needed grades to prove yourself!” Bathed in everyone’s compliments, Tiffany’s lips curled into a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with pride and enjoyment. Victor wasn’t actually that capable. If it weren’t for the strategic alliance our marriage provided, keeping his powerful rivals at bay, he would have been completely devoured, leaving no bones behind. He certainly wouldn’t be sitting in the position of the richest man. It was ironic that this was now Tiffany’s capital for showing off and being praised. When they saw me arrive, the classmates who had been enthusiastically flattering Tiffany instantly frowned, looking at me with disdain. Brittany, one of the popular girls’ followers, saw the car behind me and immediately scoffed. “Oh, look, it’s Kira Maxwell, the academic superstar! Haven’t heard from you in ages. I thought you’d be doing so much better, but you’re driving some cheap, junky domestic car?” The others burst into laughter. “Hilarious! I’d rather die than drive such a low-class piece of junk!” “But why does her license plate have those special digits? Those are federal plates, you can’t just buy them!” “It’s clearly a fake plate she bought to show off! How could her old beat-up car have such a plate?” “No wonder she had the nerve to show up; she probably put on a fake plate to try and act important! What a joke!” Facing their insults, I remained expressionless. “The license plate is real.” “And this isn’t a junk car. It’s a specially armored federal vehicle.” The words were barely out of my mouth when Tiffany suddenly strode up to me. She slapped me hard across the face. “Of course, that plate is real! Because it’s my husband’s car!” “I’ve suspected my husband was keeping a mistress, but I never thought it would be you, you tramp!” “You shameless home-wrecker, how dare you drive my husband’s car to my wedding to provoke me, his *real* wife?!”

Tiffany’s words made the classmates’ eyes widen. “Tiffany, this car is your husband’s? Really?” Tiffany looked smug. “What do you mean, really?!” “My husband used to drive this car to pick me up. I even took a few pictures of its unique license plate back then!” With that, she pulled out her phone and showed several photos of her and Victor. There were intimate, cheek-to-cheek selfies taken inside the car, and photos of them leaning against each other on the hood. The car’s interior details and the license plate were clearly visible in the photos. It was identical to my car. Seeing this, everyone instantly gasped. “It really *is* Tiffany’s husband’s car! No wonder it has such a badass plate!” “In that case, Kira Maxwell is definitely the mistress!” Tiffany’s eyebrows shot up in anger, and she spoke with a cold fury. “No wonder you’ve been out of touch all these years; you’ve been busy being a mistress.” Hearing that, the others glared at me. “I can’t believe it! Kira Maxwell looks so prim and proper on the outside, but she’s doing despicable things like being a mistress!” “Exactly! I even thought she was a cool, high-achieving student in high school and wrote her a love letter. Thinking about it now makes me sick!” “Some people act all cold and pure on the surface, but secretly they’re probably just a slut, throwing themselves at any rich guy who looks her way!” “And she even dares to drive her sugar daddy’s car to provoke the official wife! I bet she’s just jealous that Tiffany is marrying well, and she’s here to ruin the wedding on purpose!” Even Mr. Harrison looked at me with disdain, disgust plain on his face. “Kira Maxwell, from now on, don’t ever tell anyone you were my student.” “I’ve never taught such a morally corrupt student!” The crowd’s gossip and accusations drew many onlookers, who pointed fingers at me. Some even took out their phones to photograph and record me, even spitting at me. I took off my jacket and tossed it into a nearby trash can. Then I faced Tiffany directly. “You’re assaulting someone in public before getting the facts straight. You truly have no regard for the law!” Tiffany was arrogant. “So what if I hit you? So what if I have no regard for the law?” “I’m about to be the richest man’s wife; I can do whatever I want in this city!” With that, she looked at the car behind me. “Just thinking about my husband’s car being driven by a cheap hussy like you makes me sick!” “Something that’s been dirtied, I’d rather destroy it than let a low-life like you use it!” Saying that, she picked up a brick from the roadside and started smashing my car with all her might. The windows, headlights, hood—nothing was spared. “Tiffany is about to be the richest man’s wife! We can’t let her be bullied by a low-class mistress like Kira Maxwell!” Someone in the crowd of classmates yelled. Everyone then grabbed whatever they could find and enthusiastically started smashing my car. But my car was bulletproof. They smashed it for a long time, only managing to add a few scratches. There was no other damage. This infuriated them. “What kind of car is this? Why is it so tough?!” I looked at them and warned them seriously. “I advise you to stop. This isn’t just any car. Damaging it isn’t something you can just pay your way out of.” Hearing this, Tiffany grew even angrier. “This is my husband’s car! I’ll smash it if I want to! What’s the big deal?” The next second, she and the others yanked open the car doors, clambered inside, and started wildly slashing at the seats and interior. The originally neat and clean car interior was instantly shredded. Watching this group of lawless lunatics, I silently pulled out my phone and dialed Director Hayes’ number. “Director, the specially assigned vehicle my agency provided me has been vandalized.”

Before the person on the other end of the line could speak, Tiffany’s follower suddenly snatched my phone and smashed it to the ground. “Still trying to tattle? You’re just a mistress who only knows how to seduce men, where do you get off being so arrogant?!” “Are you going to call your sugar daddies to come crush us all? Hahaha!” “Seriously, she’s so addicted to pretending. We’re all old classmates, who doesn’t know what you’re really about?” “Exactly, were you born in a dumpster? So full of trashy pretense?” The old classmates once again burst into arrogant laughter, freely mocking me. I looked at my shattered phone on the ground and said coldly, “I hope you’re all still laughing as happily in a little while.” Hearing that, Tiffany grabbed my collar. “You tramp, still trying to threaten us?” As she spoke, Tiffany suddenly noticed the jade pendant necklace around my neck. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly reached out and yanked it off. “This necklace looks expensive. Did you buy it with my husband’s money too?” Seeing this, my face changed dramatically. “Give me back my necklace!” Noticing my sudden tension, Tiffany smirked at me. “So nervous? This necklace must be worth a fortune, huh?” I was desperate and quickly said, “It’s not worth much money, but it’s very important to me. Give it back now!” With that, I reached out to snatch it. This jade pendant necklace was the only memento my parents left me. They were heroes, and they were my role models. The last time I saw them was the day before my eighteenth birthday. They said that once they completed this mission, they would come back to celebrate my birthday. But I waited and waited at home. I never saw them again. Instead, I only received two urns of ashes and this necklace. Director Hayes told me that before they died, my parents instructed him to give me this necklace. My parents sacrificed their lives for our country. They left this necklace for me. It was their belated birthday gift. And it was my most cherished, deepest vulnerability. I would never allow anyone to destroy it! “The more you want it, the more I’ll destroy it!” Before I could even touch it, Tiffany violently slammed the necklace onto the ground. With a crisp sound, the jade pendant shattered into a million pieces. Pieces scattered everywhere. “No!” Watching the only memento my parents left me shatter like that, my heart twisted in agony, and I found it hard to breathe.

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It had been ten years since I became a replacement bride, and then, my sister suddenly came back. My whole family stared at her in stunned silence. She yawned, casually remarking: “Thirteen countries, I’m absolutely exhausted from all that traveling.” “And where’s Leo? He must be in elementary school by now. Why isn’t he here to greet his real mom?” Leo was my sister Stella’s son. Ten years ago, Stella gave birth, then faked her death on her wedding day, abandoning her son and her fiancé. The Sterling family was old money, part of the city’s elite. My parents didn’t dare offend them, so they decided to package me, fresh out of college, and send me to the wedding. For ten years, I’d been a dutiful wife, a responsible mother. Seeing Stella’s self-righteous demeanor, My parents’ eyes fell on me. I offered a faint smile: “Leo is on a trip to the coast with his dad.” At my words, Stella Reed’s eyebrows knitted together in a frown of displeasure. “Didn’t I tell you I was coming home in advance? Didn’t you tell Julian that I was returning?” I calmly sipped my tea. Years of quiet resilience had transformed me. I was no longer the invisible girl who lived in my sister’s shadow. My silence completely infuriated Stella. She abruptly stood up, her sharp voice piercing the air: “Amelia Reed! What do you mean by this? Don’t forget, I was the one engaged to Julian Sterling! Now I’m back. Do you honestly think you can keep playing the role of Mrs. Sterling?” I glanced at her, a small smile playing on my lips. “Sister, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. My husband and I have a wonderful relationship.” Over these past years, I had accompanied Julian to countless charity galas and business events. Our reputation as a loving, devoted couple spread throughout our social and business circles. Julian’s image as a devoted husband had earned him respect and appreciation from many business partners. Perhaps Julian and I didn’t share passionate romance, but we had a connection far stronger than mere love. It was mutual benefit. That was why I felt so confident. Stella looked utterly incredulous. She pointed at me, shouting: “Amelia Reed! Have you no shame? He’s practically your brother-in-law!” I slowly set my teacup down, my smile unwavering and dignified. “No, we’re legally married.” My gaze was firm. I stood up, unwilling to prolong this charade. My parents stood nearby, looking utterly helpless. Stella suddenly rushed over, grabbing my mother’s sleeve. “Mom, Amelia’s lost her mind! Julian and I were college sweethearts! If it weren’t for me, if it weren’t for the Sterling family, how do you think our company grew so much?” My parents had always favored Stella since we were children. But this time, Mom secretly observed my expression, her voice softening. “But… you ran away from the wedding, and you faked your death. For all these years, we didn’t hear a peep from you.” “There was no bride at the wedding! If it weren’t for your sister, the Sterling family would have been publicly humiliated. They wouldn’t have let it go, and our company would have been ruined!” Stella’s face froze for a moment, then she stammered an explanation: “I… I just wasn’t ready for marriage back then. But I’m back now, aren’t I?” “Besides, you know how arrogant the Sterlings are. They never really thought highly of our family, and I was pregnant out of wedlock. If I had married into their family back then, I would have just been marrying into a life of being looked down upon and mistreated!” My eyes were cold as I asked, “Why are you back?” Stella looked utterly reasonable. “Now that the Sterling family has accepted you, they can certainly accept me too, right? It’s perfect!” “If I marry Julian now, his parents surely won’t treat me too badly. And Leo can finally meet his real mom. It’s good for everyone!” With that, she took a few steps forward, gripped my hand tightly, and looked at me with what she imagined was sincerity. “Amelia, you’re free! You can go find your own happiness now.” I stared expressionlessly into her eyes. In those almond-shaped eyes was the naivete born of a lifetime of pampering and favoritism. Her innocence was almost cruel in its self-centeredness. She genuinely believed that I, her overlooked sister, was meant to sacrifice everything for her.

I pulled my hand away with a cold laugh. “I’m very happy with my life, Stella. It’s time for you to face reality.” With that, I turned and left that emotionally barren house. I don’t know what Stella’s mood was behind me, but I knew it wouldn’t be good. But I also knew that Stella, with her stubborn and capricious nature, wouldn’t give up easily. I dragged my exhausted body back to the Sterling mansion. These past few days, I had been swamped with a project, almost always working late into the night. I walked in, rubbing my temples. An hour earlier, I had received a SnapChat from my parents saying my sister had returned. At the time, my body had frozen. I had always known Stella would come back, but when the day finally arrived, I was still momentarily stunned. I hung my bag on the coat rack and looked down to see a pair of men’s shoes on the floor. I paused for a second, then instantly put on a polite smile. “You’re back?” a gentle voice asked. I turned to see Julian in a simple black silk pajama set. Even in casual wear, his broad shoulders and narrow waist, tall physique, and handsome face were evident. His gentle eyes peered from behind gold-rimmed glasses. He frowned slightly, looking at me with concern. “Why are you so tired? Haven’t you been resting well these past few days?” I smiled. “Work’s been crazy. Did you and Leo have fun these past few days? How is he?” Julian stepped forward and gently pulled me into his arms. His chin rested on my shoulder, his warm breath fanned my neck, and his long, slender fingers gently stroked my back. He whispered: “Leo had a great time, he’s already asleep from exhaustion. The only regret was that you weren’t there. Next time, the three of us will go together.” “I missed you,” he murmured, his voice laced with an intimate undertone. I felt the warmth of his chest, but my heart remained chillingly cold. I felt something soft press against the back of my neck. My body stiffened, my mind replaying Stella’s words from earlier today. I didn’t respond to him like I used to. I subtly pushed against him, creating a small distance between us. “I…” My words trailed off, because I distinctly felt Julian’s body stiffen for a moment. I keenly sensed his displeasure.

After a long pause, Julian smiled and smoothly picked up my thought: “You’ve been too stressed lately. Take a shower and get some good rest.” He had found an excuse for me. Then, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. I nodded and turned to go upstairs. Behind me, the man hidden in the shadows had a darkened, unreadable expression. The air around him seemed to thicken with unspoken tension, his gaze fixed intensely on my preoccupied retreating figure. The next day, I headed to work as usual. Just outside our gated community, I saw a familiar figure. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my brows furrowing. Stella saw my car too. She suddenly darted in front of it, forcing me to stop. The car behind me blared its horn incessantly. It was rush hour. The security guard rushed to pull Stella away. But Stella was relentless. Even as she was being pulled back, she screamed desperately: “Amelia Reed! Don’t play dead! You’re taking my fiancé, have you no shame?!” Her shrill, piercing voice drew everyone’s attention. I pulled my car to the side, ensuring I wasn’t blocking anyone, then stepped out. I watched her with a cold expression. Stella flashed a triumphant smile, running a hand through her messy hair. She chuckled: “What? Embarrassed? Or are you afraid Julian will find out I’m back and ditch you?” My voice was like ice. “Stella Reed, you are severely disrupting my life. This is my final warning: stop coming to find me.” Stella completely ignored my warning. She sported a look of absolute certainty. “Don’t pretend, you’re just scared. After all, you’ve always lived in my shadow, jealous of me, wanting to replace me—it’s only human nature.” She paused for a moment, then took a few steps closer and whispered in my ear: “But a usurper will always be kicked out. I’ll wait here. Once I see Julian, I’ll explain everything. He’ll forgive me, I know it.” “And Leo, he’s *my* child. We have an unbreakable blood bond. You’ll never replace me!” I said nothing, just turned and got back into my car. This time, Stella didn’t stop me. In the rearview mirror, I saw her watching my car, a faint smile playing on her lips. A shiver ran down my spine. Stella had been pampered since childhood. She was impulsive and utterly devoid of self-restraint. If anyone dared to displease her, she’d throw a monumental tantrum, like a spoiled child. I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts away from her. These past years, I had painstakingly built my marriage and my career. If I divorced, it wouldn’t just be me, but Julian too. Our interests would suffer a severe blow. Julian, at least, had a fallback. I had only myself. I sat in my office, my mind drifting far away. In elementary school, every summer and winter break, Stella would run wild like a little tomboy. By the time school started, her homework would be untouched.

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After my thirty-second round of IVF, I was finally pregnant with Julian Thorne’s child. But the very night I told him the good news, he slipped abortion pills into my milk. I collapsed in a pool of blood, my eyes burning as I asked him why. He looked utterly indifferent. “Seraphina is already pregnant with my child through artificial insemination. I owe her too much; her child *has* to be the sole heir to the Thorne family.” I angrily demanded to know why my baby had to die just because Seraphina was pregnant. Julian Thorne sneered. “Whose fault is it that you tried for years and failed to conceive?” “Seraphina was just trying to help me have a child; I can’t betray her good intentions.” “Besides, haven’t I already given you the title of Mrs. Thorne? You have more than enough; you have no right to compete with Seraphina anymore.” My tears ran dry, and I closed my eyes. “If that’s the case, I don’t want the title of Mrs. Thorne either.” “Julian Thorne, let’s get a divorce.”

The words barely left my lips when Julian’s mother, Martha, who had always been so cold towards me, suddenly lunged forward and slapped me across the face. “Divorce? What right do *you*, woman, have to talk about divorce with my son!” “If it weren’t for marrying a barren hen like you, my son wouldn’t be in his thirties without a child!” “I had Seraphina’s baby checked — it’s a boy! Who knows what you even had in your belly; if it was a girl, what right would she have to compete with my grandson for the inheritance!” Martha’s questions came out like a machine gun, leaving me no room to defend myself. In the past, when she bullied me like this, Julian would usually say a few words in my defense. But this time, he just watched me cry with a cold, detached expression. “Clara, you’re becoming increasingly unreasonable. You even dare to talk about divorce.” “Why are you always so emotional? You never think about me.” “Seraphina is much more considerate than you are. She doesn’t even ask for a title, only wants to help me with my worries, and she even offered to let you raise the baby after it’s born, saying it wouldn’t threaten your position.” His tone was so self-righteous, as if everything was my fault. I stared in shock at the man I had loved for over a decade, feeling like he was impossibly distant and unfamiliar. We met in college. Back then, Julian Thorne was a poor student receiving scholarships, while I was the sole heiress of a renowned corporation. From falling in love to getting married, I endured countless whispers and judgments. I poured my money and effort into him, helping him complete his studies, then slowly building a company with him. I grew Thorne Corporation from a small startup into a top-ten enterprise nationwide. He once told me, tears in his eyes, that I had illuminated his once-struggling life, and that he wouldn’t be who he was today without me. When I first started IVF, Julian would accompany me, running around and taking care of me. But after thirty-one consecutive failures, his patience for me dwindled. I don’t know if he was influenced by his mother’s nagging. He came to believe that the responsibility for not conceiving rested solely on me, and that I deserved all the suffering and pain that came with it. During my thirty-second IVF attempt, the doctor saw my abdomen, covered in bruised needle marks, and couldn’t help but tear up. Lying on the operating table that day, I silently swore to myself that if I could successfully have a child, I’d willingly sacrifice ten years of my life. But when I finally had the chance to be a mother, it was snatched away by the man I loved most. I lay in a pool of blood, my voice hoarse as I whispered. “Julian Thorne, that wasn’t just *my* child, it was yours too.” “Don’t you feel any pain abandoning this baby?”

I lay on the cold floor, blood still seeping out from beneath me. Julian Thorne’s gaze fell on my lower abdomen, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as if a flicker of reluctance had crossed him. But that reluctance lasted less than half a second before he looked away, his voice turning cold again. “Clara, it’s not that I’m heartless; you have to think about me.” “Seraphina has been on the operating table three times for this baby. Each egg retrieval was painful enough to make her cry, yet she didn’t ask for a single penny in compensation and even comforted me not to be stressed.” “She’s given up so much, not even asking for a title, so I can’t let her child be wronged, can I?” He knelt down, finally meeting my gaze. “Our Thorne family only has one male heir this generation, and my mom has been longing for a grandson for years. You know that.” “Just be reasonable, stop making a scene, okay?” Reasonable. Those two words pierced my heart like needles. I thought of the past decade and more, how I gave up the chance to study design abroad to stay home and help him manage the company, all for the sake of being “reasonable.” For the sake of being “reasonable,” I bit my tongue and remained silent when Martha insulted me for being barren in front of relatives. For the sake of being “reasonable,” I endured the intense pain of IVF, lying on the operating table again and again. It turned out my “reasonableness” meant nothing to him, only brought out as a bargaining chip when he needed me to compromise. I wanted to laugh, but as my lips twitched, it pulled at the pain in my lower abdomen. The sharp pain made me gasp, and tears welled up again. Seeing me like this, Julian didn’t reach out to help me. Instead, he frowned. “Don’t act so wronged. You’ve always had trouble conceiving, and this was only successful after over thirty attempts. How good could the embryo quality be?” “Last time during the prenatal screening, didn’t the doctor say the risk was high? What if this child was born with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, or developed a congenital heart defect later? Am I supposed to hand over the Thorne Corporation’s legacy to a defective person?” He actually used “defective person” to describe *our* child. All the blood in my body seemed to freeze at that moment. I couldn’t even feel the pain anymore, only a chilling emptiness. I stared at that face, which had once made my heart race countless times, and now it felt terrifyingly alien. He continued to ramble, as if searching for more excuses for his cruelty. “Actually, I’m doing this for your own good. Think about it, your body is so weak, even if you carried this child to term, you might not be able to raise it properly.” “Now it’s fine, you don’t have to suffer the pain of childbirth, and you’ll still have a son to dote on. Seraphina is generous; she won’t mind.” I had lost my own child, but he expected me to accept another woman’s child as my son, and to gratefully accept his charity. I couldn’t take it anymore. Clutching my lower abdomen, I mustered my last ounce of strength to sit up from the floor. The pain persisted, but my heart was already dead. “I used to think that if I just held on a little longer, if I could just get pregnant, you’d go back to being the man I loved.” “Now I know how wrong I was. How incredibly wrong.” I slowly moved to the bedroom and pulled out a divorce agreement from the very bottom of a dusty old box – the one he’d given me when we first got married. Back then, he said that if I ever felt he wasn’t good enough for me, I could use this agreement, which he had already signed, to regain my freedom. I signed my name and placed the agreement in front of him. “We’re done.”

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Celeste faced financial ruin, supposedly owing five million dollars. The day our wedding had to be postponed, she told me she had a serious illness. So, to pay for her medical treatment and settle her ‘debts,’ I started juggling four jobs a day. Until this one day, I got a part-time gig at an amusement park. I heard some rich heiress had rented out the entire park to celebrate her male assistant’s birthday. All I had to do was spend a day in a mascot costume under the scorching sun, and I’d get three hundred bucks. Three hundred bucks – that would cover two days of Celeste’s hospital bills. But the moment I put on the mascot head, I saw Celeste, who was supposed to be in a hospital bed. She was leaning into her male assistant, Tyler, nibbling ice cream from his hand. Just then, the ice cream in Tyler’s hand dropped, splattering onto his shoe. Before I could even process the shock, Celeste waved me over. She pulled out a wad of cash, tossing it at my feet. “Wipe my boyfriend’s shoe clean, and this money is all yours.” Realizing what was happening, my body started to tremble uncontrollably. Watching Tyler’s foot extend towards me, I instinctively wanted to rip off my mascot head and demand an explanation from Celeste. But then, Tyler spoke up: “Sis, you’re celebrating my birthday today, what about Liam? What if he goes back to the hospital and finds you gone?” Hearing that, my hand froze. Celeste leaned in close to him, sticking her tongue out to playfully lick the ice cream from his fingers. “He won’t find out. When he left this morning, he specifically told me he was taking on a part-time job, earning three hundred bucks for the day.” Tyler suddenly burst out laughing. “Three hundred bucks? Sis, how much did you spend to rent this entire amusement park today? Two million?” “More than two million, but as long as you’re happy on your birthday, I don’t care how much it costs.” Celeste said, then stood on her tiptoes and passionately kissed Tyler’s lips. My hands clenched into tight fists inside the mascot costume. For three years with Celeste, she always claimed to be the shy, modest type, never even initiating holding my hand, let alone such a passionate kiss. After the kiss, Tyler wore a smug, sated look. Seeing me standing there, dumbfounded, he kicked my leg. “I gave you such a big tip to clean my shoe. What are you standing there for?” I stumbled and fell. Tyler then wiped his foot on me a few times before taking Celeste’s hand and walking away, high and mighty. I stared blankly at their retreating figures. It took a long time before I finally took off the mascot head, the suffocating pain almost keeping me from getting up. I looked at the scattered bills on the ground. Scattered bills and loose change. One crumpled twenty-dollar bill had a smudged oil stain on it. I remembered that bill. Yesterday, when I was hustling at my street cart, a drunk guy knocked over my produce. He tried to leave, and I stopped him. He sneered, pulled out that twenty-dollar bill, and tossed it onto my stand. I crouched down and picked up all the money. It wasn’t much, just two hundred and sixty-five dollars in total. All cash from my street sales. Yesterday, I’d given that money to Celeste. I knew her credit cards were frozen due to her supposed debts, so I’d saved that cash for her to buy food and drinks when I wasn’t around. “Liam, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you. Once I’m well, we’ll get married.” Yesterday, when she got the money, Celeste was crying her eyes out. But today, she’d casually used that same money as a tip for Tyler to clean his shoes. I wandered the streets in a daze. Clutching those two hundred and sixty-five dollars tightly in my hand. Passing a small diner, I walked in without hesitation. After ordering a few dishes, I devoured them. Since Celeste got ‘sick,’ I’d often bought myself cheap microwave meals to save money for her treatment. In just one year, I’d lost thirty-three pounds. Now I knew it was all an act. If she could spend over two million to rent an entire amusement park just to make Tyler happy on his birthday, how could she be deep in debt? My tears fell into my food. I knew Celeste and I were over. When I returned to her hospital room that evening, Celeste was already back. She lay in bed, looking at me with a serene and innocent expression. A complete contrast to the arrogant and entitled heiress I’d seen that day. Noticing my grim face, she took my hand, gently tracing the calluses and rough patches on my hands, marks from all the odd jobs and hustles I’d taken on. “Are you tired today? You don’t look so good.” Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh. “And you? Were you tired from playing at the amusement park today?” Celeste’s face stiffened. “What amusement park? Did someone tell you something? I’ve been in this room all day because I’m sick…” Before she could finish, I pulled out the two hundred and sixty-five dollars from my pocket. The moment she saw the money, Celeste’s face went utterly pale. After a long pause, she asked, “Was that you in the mascot costume?” “You figured it out?” I nodded. Before I could speak, Celeste quickly said, “Okay, I admit it, I’m not broke, and I’m not sick. But you know my family is very wealthy. Marrying me isn’t easy; you have to pass our family’s test.” “I didn’t mean to deceive you, it’s just that my family wants you to treat me well. They want to see your sincerity.” She looked at me anxiously when she finished. “Actually, you should be happy, right? Knowing I’m not sick means you won’t have to work so hard anymore. I can tell you now, you’ve passed our family’s test. You can marry me.” She flashed me a dazzling, saccharine smile. In the past, hearing her say she wanted to marry me would have thrilled me. But now, I felt our relationship was nothing but lies and deceit. “No need. We’re breaking up.” “And all the medical bills and ‘debts’ I paid for you over the years, you need to pay me back.” Hearing me say that, Celeste panicked. “I can give you the money, but breaking up is absolutely not an option. We’ve been together for so long, and we’re about to get married. How can we break up now? I know you’re upset about this, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” She said, pulling out her phone to transfer money to me. But just then, Tyler’s FaceTime call came in. Almost instantly, Celeste answered. “Sis, I feel awful. Can you come stay with me?” Tyler’s drunken voice came through the phone. Celeste immediately became flustered. She didn’t even care that she was wearing a hospital gown, rolling out of bed. I stopped her, asking, “You said you’d compensate me.” Celeste shot me a disgusted look. “Money, money, money. Is that all you care about? Didn’t you hear Tyler’s drunk? What if something happens to him?” “I don’t think you passed my test at all. You’re just after my family’s money. The test has to continue.” With that, she strode out of the hospital room. I watched her retreating back with a cold smile and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long time. Celeste, what makes you think I can’t live without you? What makes you think I care about your so-called test? 2 After hanging up, I went back to the luxury apartment Celeste and I shared. It was a sprawling two-thousand-square-foot flat, costing four thousand five hundred dollars a month in rent. Before Celeste’s supposed bankruptcy, I owned a three-bedroom house. But after she ‘went broke,’ I sold that house to help her pay off her supposed debts. Originally, I thought we could rent a two-bedroom apartment to save money for her treatment. But she insisted on this large apartment. She said living in a cramped two-bedroom would make her unhappy, and her condition would worsen. Knowing she’d been spoiled rotten since childhood, I gritted my teeth and rented this apartment at four thousand five hundred dollars a month. I hadn’t been home long when the door opened from outside. I looked up to see Celeste helping a drunken Tyler inside. Tyler was completely sloshed, practically hanging off Celeste. Seeing me stare at them, an annoyed expression flashed across Celeste’s face. “What are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to help?” I almost laughed in anger. “Celeste, what is the meaning of this? You’re not even pretending anymore? You’re bringing him directly into our home?” “What are you jealous about? Can’t you see Tyler’s drunk? I remember you can make hangover soup. Go make some for him now.” She said, settling Tyler onto the sofa. Tyler, still drunk, wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed against her chest. “Sis, don’t bother Liam. It’s late, and he’s been busy all day. I’m not that bad. I’ll be happy as long as you’re with me.” Seeing me standing aside, staring at them coldly, Celeste’s face immediately darkened. “Is it so hard for you to make Tyler some hangover soup? How do you expect to pass my test like this? My family would never allow a narrow-minded man like you to marry me.” Hearing that, I let out a low laugh. “Celeste, what makes you think I still want to marry you?” Celeste’s face fell. A moment later, she suddenly burst out laughing. “Liam, there’s a limit to your jealousy. If you didn’t want to be with me, why would you follow me around like a puppy? When I said I was broke, you sold your house to pay my debts. When I said I was seriously ill, you worked four jobs a day for my treatment. Didn’t you do all of that just to marry me and be with me?” “I’m telling you now, if you just make this bowl of hangover soup, I’ll consider you passed my test. How about it?” Celeste looked at me triumphantly, as if she had me completely figured out. But I just sneered. “This apartment is rented in my name. We’ve already broken up. Please take Tyler and get out. Otherwise, I’ll call security to kick you both out.” At that moment, Tyler, lying on the sofa, suddenly chuckled. “Kick us out? Liam, don’t you know this apartment is in my name?” After saying that, he suddenly looked at Celeste somewhat timidly. “Sorry, Sis, I just remembered you didn’t want me to tell Liam.” “Liam, you probably didn’t know? This apartment used to be in Sis’s name. But today, for my birthday, Sis gave it to me. Next time you pay rent, you can just give it to me.” 3 I froze, staring at Celeste in disbelief. Celeste clearly hadn’t expected Tyler to blurt that out. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. I gave a cold laugh. “No wonder you insisted I rent this apartment. Back then, I was paying off your debts and earning money for your medical expenses. The pressure was immense. You *insisted* on living in an apartment with such high monthly rent, Celeste. Do you know? At that time, I even considered selling my blood!” “And now you tell me this apartment was yours all along? Is it really that fun to toy with me like this?” Seeing the sheer brokenness in my eyes, a clear look of distress appeared on Celeste’s face. “Celeste, forget about any ‘tests.’ Did you ever truly love me?” “I…” Celeste was speechless. Tyler, however, stood up. “So what? Liam, isn’t it what you’re supposed to do for a woman you love, suffer for her? Besides, testing you was the Song family’s idea. You’re a poor nobody, but the Song family is an old-money dynasty. If you don’t pass their test, what right do you have to be their trophy son-in-law? Having a chance to marry Sis means fifty fewer years of struggle. What’s not to be satisfied about?” His words made the flicker of distress in Celeste’s eyes vanish. I looked at Tyler, a cold smile on my face. “In that case, that trophy son-in-law position is all yours.” With that, I grabbed my jacket from the sofa and walked straight out the door. Celeste was about to call out to me, but Tyler stopped her. “Sis, I’m still feeling a bit dizzy…” The moment he mentioned dizziness, Celeste’s face immediately filled with worry. Just as I reached the complex gate, a Maybach pulled up in front of me. The driver got out and bowed respectfully. “Young Master, you’ve finally come to your senses and cut ties with that nouveau riche Song family.” “Ms. Lin, your fiancée, will be flying back from Northern Europe tomorrow. I’m just waiting to celebrate your engagement.” Over the next few days, Celeste didn’t contact me. I returned to the Gu family estate and was lectured by Grandfather, who wielded his cane. Years ago, I fell for Celeste at first sight and was determined to pursue her. Grandfather, furious, cut off all my cards, leaving me only with a three-bedroom house. Back then, I’d vowed to win the girl and prove Grandfather’s judgment wrong, but now I had to admit defeat. My meeting with Aurora went smoothly. Both families were eager, so the engagement party was set for three days later. The Lin and Gu families were both top-tier dynasties. On the day of the engagement, many guests arrived. As Aurora and I stood at the entrance greeting them, I suddenly heard Tyler’s voice: “Sis, the Gu Group heir’s name is also Liam? What a world of difference!” “Why are you bringing him up for no reason?” A flicker of annoyance crossed Celeste’s face. “He really hasn’t contacted me all these days.” “Sis, don’t worry. He’ll come back to you eventually. After all, he’s just a gold digger. He spent so much money on you, he’ll definitely come back for it. He’s just playing hard to get right now.” Tyler said, pulling her into a hug to comfort her. “Sis, I’m a man, I understand guys like him and their little games.” Celeste’s expression softened, and she followed Tyler towards us. Aurora knew about my past quarrel with Grandfather over Celeste. She came over, linked her arm through mine, and whispered in my ear: “Is this the girl you gave up the entire Gu family for? She doesn’t seem worth it.” My face darkened. Just then, Tyler saw me. “Liam, what are you doing here?” He eyed me up and down. “What are you wearing? Don’t tell me you’re here working as a server?” Celeste’s gaze, however, was fixed on Aurora beside me. “Liam, what is this supposed to mean? You knew I was coming to this event, so you brought a woman just to spite me? Let me tell you, if you think this will make me jealous, you’re wrong.” Aurora covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She leaned into my ear. “Your ex-girlfriend certainly is interesting.” Seeing our intimate gestures, Celeste clenched her fists hanging at her sides even tighter. From her perspective, I was constantly provoking her. “Is this the kind of place a poor nobody like you can come to? Are you here crashing for free food and drinks, or working as a server? And bringing a woman, too.” Celeste rolled her eyes at Aurora’s long red mermaid dress. “Country bumpkins have no manners, don’t they know what day it is? Wearing a bright red dress? Today is the engagement of the Gu Group heir and the Lin family heiress.” Then she looked at me. “Liam, are you just trying to scam people by claiming to share the same name as the Gu Group heir?” “I think so too. I’ll get the security guards right now and have these two poor nobodies kicked out. Do they really think this place is for just any random person off the street?” Tyler echoed Celeste. In their eyes, I was that pathetic. As if my poverty was a crime. Yet, it was this same person they looked down on so much who, when Celeste lied about being broke, sold his house and worked four jobs a day to help her pay her debts. When a person is pushed to their absolute limit, they truly do laugh. Tyler made good on his word. He grabbed a patrolling security guard, pointing at Aurora and me. “These two don’t have the right to attend the Gu and Lin family engagement party. They might be here to scam people. To ensure the safety of our guests, you should kick them out immediately.” The security guard looked at him as if he were an idiot, then bowed to Aurora and me. “Mr. Gu, Ms. Lin, should we escort this disruptive gentleman out?” I waved my hand. “Since they’re here, they’re guests. They’re just trying to freeload, no need to worry about it.” Hearing me, the security guard eyed Tyler, who had widened his eyes in shock mixed with fear, then respectfully said to me, “Understood, Mr. Gu. If you need anything, please call us immediately.” I nodded, ignoring Tyler’s stunned and somewhat fearful gaze, and turned back to Aurora, only to find she had already extended her hand to Celeste. “Hello, I hear you’re Liam’s ex-girlfriend, right?” “I’m Liam’s fiancée, Aurora Lin.”

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While we were waiting for rescue, a small cub wandered into our camp. Everyone instinctively recoiled from the bear. Only my girlfriend Brittany’s friend, Derek, stepped forward, scooped up the cub, and glared at us with open disdain: “You uninformed fools. Bears are our friends. What are you so scared for?” My girlfriend, Brittany, echoed, “Derek’s got guts. Bears on TV even protect the forest with people!” Seeing Brittany, the CEO’s heiress, speak up, the others eagerly chimed in, sucking up to her. I immediately tried to stop their reckless behavior, even pulling up bloody videos of grizzly bear attacks on humans to try and shake some sense into them. Only because of my insistence did they finally release the cub. After we were rescued, everyone joked about Derek, saying he acted like he knew it all when he clearly didn’t. To prove them wrong, Derek went back to hug a grizzly. He was mauled to death. Brittany was heartbroken. She kicked me out of the car. “It’s all your fault for running your mouth! Otherwise, Derek wouldn’t have died. I want you to die with him!” Ultimately, the grizzly bear caught up to me and tore me to shreds. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back to the day Derek wanted to befriend the grizzly. … “Are you kidding me? You’re calling this adorable little cub vicious?” “You’re not only ignorant, you’re utterly heartless. Anyone with an ounce of human decency wouldn’t use such a word to describe this cute animal.” Derek’s cold mockery rang in my ears, and I jolted awake. I pinched my thigh, the sharp pain confirming that I had indeed been reborn. “Julian, if you don’t know, don’t pretend you do. Is Derek ever wrong?” “And spouting nonsense about a mother bear attacking if we took the cub!” “We’re taking care of its baby, it should be grateful! Why would it attack us?” “Don’t you watch TV? Bears on TV protect the forests with humans. Bears are our friends, don’t you get it?” Brittany’s eyes were blazing with anger, as if disagreeing with Derek was a death sentence. The others, seeing the CEO’s daughter speak, immediately piled on, glowering at me with hostile eyes. I merely smiled. “I was truly shallow just now. You’re right, bears are our friends. They would never harm us.” “This cub wandering into our camp means we’re connected by fate.” “Let’s raise it well. Who knows, its mom might even come to thank us!” Hearing me say that, Brittany’s expression softened considerably. “Good that you realize your ignorance. Otherwise, I’d really want to smack you!” I couldn’t be bothered arguing with these idiots. My mind raced, figuring out how to ditch them and escape on my own. Our trip to this remote mountain region involved two cars and six people. Originally, Brittany and I were in one car, and Derek was in the other with three others. But then Brittany insisted on catching up with Derek and moved to his car. Because of the weight difference, my car was stuck less deeply. If I just cleared some sand, I could drive out. In my previous life, I told them that if there was a cub around, the mother bear had to be nearby, and we couldn’t just wait here to die. I asked them to help me clear the sand, but they were reluctant. They said rescue would arrive soon, and there was no need to work themselves to the bone. Knowing how critical the situation was, I didn’t argue. I cleared the sand pit by myself. They stood by, not only refusing to help but also eating all my emergency rations. The moment I got my car out, the mother bear showed up. Leaving me to escape while hungry and thirsty. This time, I couldn’t care less about these pathetic fools. Let them go befriend the grizzly bears. 2. All I had to do was quietly clear the path for my car while these morons weren’t looking, then drive to the nearest rescue station. That would be my escape. Since this place was so remote, it would take two days to reach the rescue station. To be safe, I activated the specialized GPS tracker my dad had given me and sent him a distress signal. That way, I’d have an extra layer of protection, even if something unexpected happened on the way, I’d have backup. Watching them happily playing with the cub, I prepared to get in my car, grab my tools, and quietly clear the sand from under my wheels. Just as I reached for my tools, Derek came over, cradling the cub. He slapped my trunk, yelling, “The cub’s hungry! Open the trunk and get something out to feed it!” The moment I heard that animal wanted my emergency food, I became instantly wary. I only had three bottles of water and four packs of crackers in my car, barely enough to get me to the rescue station. If that animal took them to feed the cub, my whole plan would be ruined. I put down my shovel, walked over to Derek, and gave him a glacial stare. “I don’t even have enough food for myself. Where would I get food to feed a bear?” Hearing that, Derek’s face twisted in contempt. “You’re seriously heartless! I clearly saw you had a big bag of crackers. How is that not enough for you?” “Are you really going to let this adorable little guy starve?” I smirked. “If you’re so caring, why don’t you feed the cub your own food? Why do you have to take mine?” “If I remember correctly, your car is stocked with enough food and water for five people. Much more than mine.” Just then, Brittany walked over. She held out her hand to me, looking impatient. “Give me your car keys.” I knew she was going to back Derek up again. Though fury raged inside me, I had to suppress it. After all, she was the company’s nominal successor and the financier of this whole trip. If I started a fight, these people would definitely side with her. “Brittany, it’s not that I don’t want to. I truly don’t have much left. I barely have enough for myself…” “I think you’re just selfish and inhumane! The rescue vehicle will be here any minute. Are you really going to be short a few crackers then?” Derek sharply cut me off before I could finish. The others chimed in, echoing him. “This small incident just shows how incredibly selfish Julian is. He’s arguing over a few crackers like this; imagine if there were real conflicts of interest, he’d probably kill us!” “He’s not just selfish, he’s inhumane. The cub is starving, and he won’t even give it a few crackers.” “Besides, are these crackers even his? He’s a leech who lives off women. Every penny he has comes from Brittany’s family!” “If it weren’t for Brittany’s family paying his salary, how would he afford a car, or even crackers? And now that Brittany’s asking for the keys, he’s dragging his feet. What a pathetic jerk!” Me, a leech who lives off women? Every penny I have comes from Brittany? If my dad hadn’t been secretly funding the Hao family, they would have gone bankrupt centuries ago. How else would they have money to pay for these freeloaders to go on vacation? To protect Brittany’s pathetic pride, I lowered myself to work as a junior employee in her company. And they thought I was dependent on her? Fine. Once I get out of here, I’ll show them how miserable they’ll be without this ‘useless’ me. Seeing I had no intention of handing over the keys, Brittany gave them a look. “Since he won’t listen, just take them.” At Brittany’s words, Derek and his three useless friends became even bolder. They lunged at me, trying to grab me. I quickly dodged, warning them with a stern face. “This is robbery! It’s illegal! Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?” Derek scoffed, pointing at the surrounding wilderness with a chilling smirk. “Report me? Take a look at where we are!” “Out here in the middle of nowhere, forget robbing you. I could kill you, and no one would ever know.” Hearing him, his three useless friends became even more reckless, rushing forward and pinning both my arms. 3. Derek sneered as he patted me down and snatched my car keys, muttering curses under his breath. “Such a pathetic jerk, always needing a firm hand.” He opened the trunk, grabbed a bottle of water, twisted it open, and poured it right into the cub’s mouth. Gulp, gulp, gulp… The cub greedily lapped at the water Derek was pouring, but most of it just spilled onto the ground. Seeing my survival supplies being wasted like this, I felt a surge of panic. I struggled to break free and stop that bastard Derek, but his three disgusting friends held my arms in a death grip. After one bottle, he grabbed another, ready to continue. The fury building inside me made me want to tear that animal Derek limb from limb. But my strong will to survive forced me to humble myself and plead. “Derek, that’s my food and water for the next few days. Please, stop feeding it, okay?” “I have no quarrel with you. Why are you making this difficult for me?” Derek stopped, his face twisted into a dark scowl. “No quarrel? If you hadn’t seduced Brittany while I was abroad, she and I would be married by now.” “I was generous enough not to confront you. Now you’re arguing with me over two bottles of water? You’re truly ungrateful!” Me, seducing Brittany while he was abroad? It was him who fled the country and dumped Brittany when her family faced bankruptcy and debt, terrified of being entangled. Now that the Hao family was rich again, he wanted to come back and spend their money, and he was slandering me, claiming I seduced Brittany? Hearing his words, Brittany not only didn’t defend me but even looked smug. As if being fought over by two men was the ultimate validation of her boundless charm. As he spoke, he tore open another pack of crackers and started feeding them to the cub. Watching my escape provisions being wasted by that animal, my anger shot up, and I didn’t care about anything else. Using the two cronies’ support, I flew my leg up and kicked Derek hard in the waist. “Don’t you dare touch my supplies again, or I swear I’ll fight you to the death!” Derek’s face contorted into a vicious snarl, and he raised his fist, ready to punch me in the face. *Howl!* Just then, the howl of a fierce beast echoed from nearby. Derek, who had been looking so ferocious and was about to punch me, stopped dead in his tracks at the sound. Everyone’s gaze snapped towards the source of the noise. A massive, dark-furred creature suddenly appeared on a nearby slope. It bounded towards us. Seeing the grizzly bear charging, Derek shouted excitedly at his two idiotic friends. “Look, everyone! That’s a grizzly bear! Our country’s wild treasure!” At Derek’s shout, the three of them grew excited and unconsciously loosened their grip on me. I already knew how dangerous grizzlies were and immediately ducked into the car. Derek waved at his three foolish friends. “Come closer, I’ll take a picture of you with our national treasure.” The three of them actually walked towards the grizzly. One of them even turned back and shouted at us. “Get a clear shot…” *Splatter!* He didn’t finish his sentence before the grizzly pounced on him, sinking its teeth viciously into his face. His entire face was ripped off in one bite, leaving a gaping, bloody cavity. Seeing this, everyone finally understood the grizzly’s power and scrambled back into the car in terror. Inside the car, we could still clearly hear the man who had been pounced on by the grizzly wailing on the ground. “Help me… it hurts so much…” “It’s eating me! Save me…” After pinning the man down, the bear didn’t continue attacking his head but shifted its target to his stomach. In a few swift movements, it shredded the man’s clothes and buried its head, tearing and biting at his stomach. The man let out a final shriek, then fell silent, likely having passed out from the pain. The grizzly didn’t care, it ripped open his stomach and began gnawing. As we held our breath, watching the grizzly outside the car window, suddenly a “howl” erupted inside the car. Only then did I realize that reckless idiot Derek had actually brought the cub into the car. Wasn’t this just asking for death?! 4. The mother bear, still tearing at its meal, heard the cub’s cry, immediately abandoned its food, and turned to walk towards our car. I knew this was bad and quickly urged Derek. “Let the cub go! Otherwise, the mother bear won’t spare us!” Derek’s face twisted in fury. “Shut your damn mouth, what the hell do you know?” “Do you know how much this cub is worth? I finally caught it; how could I just let it go?” So that animal’s motive for catching the cub wasn’t pure from the start. And he had been spouting so much moralistic nonsense! *Bang! Bang! Bang!* Seeing her cub inside the car, the mother bear began a frenzied attack on the vehicle. Her massive paw slammed onto the car, instantly leaving a huge dent in the body. Luckily, she didn’t hit the glass, or the consequences would have been unthinkable. *Growl, growl, growl…* After the first round of attacks failed, the mother bear growled at the cub inside the car. Her bear eyes fixated on us inside the car. The cub, seeing its mother, yelped in response. Hearing the cub’s cries, the mother bear jumped in agitation, raising her huge paw and smashing it onto the car again. *CRUNCH!* With a resounding *CRUNCH*, a huge crack appeared in the car roof. After this barrage of attacks, Brittany and the others frantically shouted at Derek. “Let the cub go! Otherwise, we’ll all die here!” Derek looked at the cub in his arms, hesitated for a moment, then finally chose to open the car door and let the cub out. The cub ran out, yelping as it pounced on its mother. The mother bear, seeing her cub, affectionately licked its fur, all the ferocity in her eyes melting into maternal tenderness. Just when we thought we could finally breathe a sigh of relief, the mother bear slammed another paw hard onto the car roof. *CLANG!* A huge crack appeared in the car roof. It seemed this mother bear wasn’t going to let us off so easily. Looking at the crack on the car roof, a wave of worry washed over me. If it hit us again, this roof would definitely be totaled. “Someone needs to go out and draw the bear away. Otherwise, we’ll all die here.” Derek said this, his eyes fixed on me with a dark glare. Before I could react, Derek had pulled out a cold knife and pressed it to my throat. “Get out there, now! Draw the bear away, or I’ll kill you right here!” Brittany also chimed in, persuading me, “Julian, you said you’d die for me. Now’s your chance to prove it. Go!” As she spoke, Derek pressed the knife harder against my neck. I felt a cold sensation on my neck, and a trickle of blood ran down my body. “Get out there, now! Or the next cut will be straight through your throat!” I had no choice but to follow his orders and get out of the car. The moment I stepped out, the mother bear lunged straight for me. I dodged with a quick move, and behind me, I heard the violent crash of the mother bear colliding with the vehicle. I didn’t hesitate, bolting straight for the other car, hoping to take refuge inside. Just as I reached for the handle, preparing to open the door, the headlights flashed, and the door locked. Derek’s shout came from behind me, “The car’s locked! Run, hurry! Draw the bear away for me!” I cursed his entire family to hell in my mind, but for now, I couldn’t act on it. My priority now was to escape with my life. I scanned my surroundings. There was no suitable cover anywhere. Trying to run in this situation would basically be a death sentence. So I decided to circle between the two cars and try to outmaneuver the mother bear. After all, it was clumsy due to its size; maybe there was still a sliver of hope. Before I could even steady myself, the mother bear charged at me. Seeing the mother bear lunging for me, Derek and the others, safe inside the car, actually cheered loudly. I used my agility to circle the car, evading the mother bear for several rounds. I actually managed to dodge the mother bear’s attacks several times. Repeatedly outsmarted, the mother bear pounded its chest in frustration. Suddenly, it bent down, lifted the car, and flipped it directly towards me. Too slow to dodge, I was pinned by the car, my leg trapped. Watching the mother bear about to deliver a fatal blow, Derek and the others not only didn’t help but actually cheered loudly from inside the car. Just as I thought I was about to meet my end. The roaring of helicopter blades suddenly echoed overhead, and the entire ground shook from the fierce winds stirred up by the rotors.

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His Gentle Touch, A Cruel Deception Two years into my marriage with Julian, a car accident left me quadriplegic. My parents immediately cut ties with me. My former friends and relatives? They couldn’t distance themselves fast enough. Only Julian remained, steadfastly by my side. An esteemed professor, he began taking on private tutoring gigs and even filming short online comedy skits just to pay for my medical bills. His colleagues and alumni, proud of their Oxford roots, scoffed, calling him a disgrace, saying he’d sacrificed his dignity. He ignored them all, continuing to do my laundry, cook my meals, and clean up after my incontinence. I couldn’t bear to be a burden on his life, so I suggested a divorce. Julian fell silent for a moment, then smiled, gently taking my hand. “We swore an oath when we got married.” “For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, we promised to never leave each other.” “Naomi, I love you, and I will never leave you.” In the years that followed, Julian faithfully kept his promise. And under his devoted care, I miraculously regained sensation. Just as I was about to share this incredible news with Julian, I overheard him talking to a female student. “Julian, I’m pregnant.” “If you don’t take responsibility, I’ll end both my life and our baby’s right in front of you!”

My hand, newly restored with sensation, trembled. Before I knew it, I slipped and fell into a murky puddle in front of me. Foul-smelling muddy water seeped into my nose and mouth. The air in my lungs was cut off at my neck. It was excruciating, agonizing. Instinctively, I wanted to cry out for Julian. But the dirt choked my throat, and no sound escaped. At the last moment, Julian turned and saw me, rigid and lifeless. “Naomi!” He frantically hung up the phone and pulled me back from the brink of death. Then, with shaking hands, he held me close, carefully wiping the grime from my face. Over the years, similar incidents had happened countless times. Julian had grown accustomed to it. And I, too, had long grown numb. The car accident ten years ago had left me quadriplegic. Everything below my neck was utterly devoid of sensation. Every moment, I needed constant care. Julian had hired caregivers and sought out doctors for me. But everyone just shook their heads, helpless. Doctors had given me death notices more than once, declaring I wouldn’t live past three years. Yet Julian refused to give up. He worked himself to the bone, taking on countless side jobs and tutoring classes to earn money for my medical expenses. A man with a meticulous nature, day in and day out, he had to turn me and massage my limbs. He cleaned up after my incontinence, the waste flowing out beyond my control. A man with a brilliant future, he repeatedly sacrificed opportunities for promotions and raises. He carried the burden of my care, relentlessly searching for doctors and experimental treatments. He was only thirty. Yet, gray hairs already speckled his temples. A thin layer of calluses covered his hands. His once tall, upright posture had gradually stooped under the immense weight of his life. More than once, I saw him sighing over his past glories, or shedding tears at the cutting remarks of his peers. When I asked him about it, he would just smile and say, “Naomi, I have no regrets.” “As long as I’m with you, I’ll never regret anything I do.” But at this moment, I regretted it. I regretted living this ugly, undignified existence. I regretted that my momentary desire had burdened Julian’s entire life. I lowered my head, the only part of me I could move, and spoke softly. “I heard everything you and Serena said.” “Julian, let’s get a divorce. You’ve done more than enough for me.”

Julian froze. Large, heavy tears streamed down his face. He gripped my hand tightly, repeating over and over, “Naomi, I won’t divorce you.” “Serena and I, it was just an accident. I love you, only you.” “Please don’t make me leave you…” He explained frantically. There was no real affection between him and Serena. “The boss of that tutoring center forced me to drink last time. I drank too much, and when I woke up, I found myself in Serena’s bed.” “Naomi, please don’t be angry with me. I truly… truly never meant to betray you.” Julian explained, fumbling for words. But he didn’t even notice the profound tenderness in his eyes when he spoke of Serena. Long ago, when we first met. He had looked at me with that same tender, ardent gaze. But after I became paralyzed. Throughout these ten years of torment. The look in Julian’s eyes when he saw me was nothing but deep weariness. He pretended to still love me, pretended he couldn’t leave me. Only then could he convince himself to grit his teeth and carry on. Only then could he prevent his decade of sacrifice from seeming like a joke. Julian thought he was an excellent actor. But he forgot. Before my paralysis, I was an outstanding psychology PhD. I knew better than anyone what he was truly thinking. I sighed softly, speaking in a low voice. “But I’m tired.” “I don’t want to live with this guilt, like an empty shell, devoid of dignity, utterly numb.” “Julian, if you truly love me, then find me a serene, beautiful place, and let me spend my last days in peace.” Julian was reluctant. When I first became paralyzed, Julian had hired many nannies and caregivers for me. The first nanny poured boiling water onto my legs. Although I felt no sensation. My scalded flesh stuck to my clothes, and I almost died from a high fever and infection. The second nanny, worried about me, kept me locked in a dog crate all day. When Julian came home from work and saw this, he nearly broke down. This usually gentle and polite professor lost his temper in public for the first time. “My Naomi is a human being, a person with flesh and blood, dignity, and feelings. How could you treat her like an animal!” The other person scoffed indifferently. And sneered, “Living like that, she’s worse than an animal.” Julian couldn’t endure such humiliation. He fired the nanny on the spot and from then on, took care of everything himself. For ten years, I never developed a single bed sore. That alone was enough to show his dedication. He had done more than enough for me in this lifetime. Our love was utterly drained. I couldn’t selfishly trap him by my side any longer. I started a hunger strike, threatened to end my life. Julian, initially resolute, slowly began to waver and compromise. Finally, he withdrew all his savings and arranged for me to stay in a high-end rehabilitation center. When filling out the admission papers, Julian refused to let go of my hand. He told me again and again. “Naomi, I won’t divorce you, and I’ll never abandon you.” “Just give me some time. There are many excellent medical resources abroad.” “When I return, I’ll come straight away to take you home, and I’ll find a way to cure you.” A quadriplegic patient, abandoned by her family, with no relatives, was left in a rehabilitation center. Her fate was predictable to anyone. Yet Julian and I both tacitly agreed to deceive each other and ourselves. He swore he would come back for me. And I nodded, as he wished. However, on the very night Julian left, another accident occurred.

The patient in the next room, suffering from dementia, accidentally set fire to the curtains in my room during his afternoon nap. I was quadriplegic, unable to move. I could only watch as the intense flames rushed towards me. By the time the caregiver found me, I had extensive burns all over my body, my flesh rotting, with only a breath left in me. Receiving this news, Julian immediately canceled his flight and rushed back to my side overnight. I lay in the intensive care unit, listening to his furious shouts. This man, who had been respectable his whole life, always speaking with a gentle tone. He screamed and yelled like a madman in the hospital corridor. “Is this how you care for my wife?” “She was such a beautiful woman, so fond of her appearance. How can she live like this now?” He tore up the appointment letter from the overseas prestigious university. He stayed by my bedside, not leaving for a moment, expressing his deep regret. I had ruined his life again. But there was nothing I could do. I could only squeeze my eyes shut, pretending not to hear his tormented voice. Until one quiet afternoon, Serena burst into my room. She grabbed my hair and slammed my head viciously against the bed frame. Then she dragged me along, pulling me to stand before a mirror. The grotesque and terrifying face in the mirror startled me. But before I could speak, Serena suddenly broke down in tears. She punched my thigh repeatedly, muttering, “Why aren’t you dead yet? Why are you still alive?” “Why did you call him back at the last minute?” “Julian had already agreed to go abroad with me. Why won’t you just let him go!” “Naomi, how can you be so selfish? Do you know I’ve waited for him for ten whole years!” Julian hadn’t lied to me; his acquaintance with Serena was indeed an accident. But this accident hadn’t happened recently. It was ten years ago. At a dinner party ten years ago, they met for the first time and fell in love. Julian had considered divorcing me and marrying her. But in the end, he chose me over love and responsibility. He told Serena that, according to the doctors’ diagnosis, I wouldn’t live for many years. He had to fulfill his duties as a husband before he could be with Serena with a clear conscience. Serena agreed. But that wait lasted for a full decade. Julian had wasted his years and delayed his future for me. Serena, too, had spent the most beautiful years of her life waiting for him. Her eyes were filled with helplessness and resentment. Her voice became choked with emotion. “Naomi, please, let him go.” “It’s been ten years. Julian and I are not young anymore.” “This one in my belly, it might be the only child we’ll ever have. Can you really bear to see us lose our chance at a family?” “He’s done enough for you over the years.” “I beg you, give him, and give my unborn child, a chance at life.” Serena told me many things. She spoke of the humiliations Julian endured to earn money for my medicine. She spoke of how he fainted several times in his office from overwork. “Three years ago, a client, just to humiliate him, forced him to drink.” “He drank until he had a stomach hemorrhage, and still, enduring the shame and pain, he picked up the scattered payment notes from the floor, one by one.” “Watching his reddened eyes, my heart nearly shattered.” “But he… he said that with that money, he could buy better quality medicine for his wife, so you could sleep peacefully at night.” Serena cried harder as she spoke. Her eyes, as she looked at me, held both jealousy and blame. “Many times, I wished he could be a little crueler, a little less responsible.” “But he just… couldn’t let you go.” “He’s such a proud and brilliant man, and now, because of you, look what he’s become…” A cheating man wanting to bear the responsibility for two women’s lives. In the end, he only brought pain to everyone. I should have hated him. But ironically, I was the one person in the world least qualified to blame him. Julian’s mistake was betrayal. His greater mistake was taking such good care of me. I lowered my head, murmuring, “What do you want me to do?” Serena suddenly stopped crying. She stared straight at me, saying without hesitation, “I want you to die!”

“If you don’t die, Julian will never find peace.” “If you don’t die, none of us will be happy.” With that, Serena grabbed my neck. And said, almost cruelly, “Look at you now, like a monster. What’s the point of living?” “Just die, okay? Die!” Serena’s grip tightened. And in that pain, I actually felt a sliver of release. I slowly closed my eyes, waiting for the nightmare to end. But Julian, once again, saved me. He embraced Serena, holding her tightly. “Serena, are you insane? Why would you do that?” “Do you realize you nearly took a life just now?” “You have such a bright future ahead of you. Is it really worth ruining your life for someone like this?” At that moment, Julian finally, unconsciously, blurted out his true feelings. To sacrifice his entire life for “someone like me.” It wasn’t worth it. He loved Serena. Loved her so much he couldn’t bear to see her destroy her future, ruin her life for “someone like me.” And I, like forgotten trash, Lay quadriplegic on the cold floor. Spying on the happiness that once belonged to me. Tears streamed down my cheeks and into my ears. But I couldn’t even lift a hand to wipe them away. I could only wait for Julian to help me up with his pitying gaze. This time, in front of me, he broke things off with Serena. Serena didn’t try to stop him, she silently got up and left. As if this kind of scene had played out between them a thousand times before. They both knew. Neither of them would truly leave. In the days that followed, Julian and I continued our ‘normal’ lives. He tacitly stopped mentioning going abroad. I, being ‘sensible’, didn’t press him about his relationship with Serena. We carried on just as before. Calmly, deceiving ourselves and each other. But I could see it. Julian was truly exhausted. He dared not leave me with anyone, nor even let me out of his sight. Even when he taught classes, he brought me along. The university, aware of Julian’s situation, didn’t object. But I, more than once, suffered incontinence in front of everyone. In the meeting room, in the classroom. As the foul odor permeated the air, Everyone’s eyes would turn to me, piercing my soul like knives. Julian, however, acted as if he smelled nothing, routinely cleaning and tidying up after me. “Professor Julian is so noble! His wife is like this, and he still doesn’t give up. If it were me, I really couldn’t do it.” “I say Professor Julian and Ms. Serena are a match made in heaven. That woman is like a ghost, clinging to Professor Julian.” “Look at her face, wouldn’t you have nightmares at night?” Facing all these whispers, Julian acted as if he heard nothing, continuing to push me around the campus. Watching the sun dry my urine-soaked clothes. Everyone thought he loved me dearly. But I always felt it was an unspeakable form of revenge. Until one day, our story attracted the attention of reporters. The reporters weren’t interested in anything else, instead digging deep into the complicated relationship between the three of us. Gossip and speculation abounded. Such humiliation was more painful than torture for a proud man like Julian. Serena was the first to break. She had an abortion, went abroad alone, and left Julian’s world forever. Upon receiving the abortion photos, Julian also broke down. His eyes red, he glared at me, furious. “It was you, wasn’t it? You called the reporters?” “Haven’t I been good enough to you? Why, why would you do this to me?” “Even if I owed you in a past life, these ten years should have paid it back, right? Why won’t you just let me go?” “Naomi, I’m truly tired. Serena’s presence was like the last light in my life, my only solace.” “Why, why would you take away even this last bit of hope!” Overwhelmed by emotion, Julian randomly grabbed a handful of sleeping pills and shoved them into his mouth. He then turned on the gas taps in the house, intending to die with me. I smiled helplessly. And as I smiled, tears welled up in my eyes. He didn’t need to do this. My death alone would have been enough. I hadn’t told Julian that my right hand could move. I could control my wheelchair myself. And I could choose whether or not to continue living. As the sleeping pills began to take effect, I bit down on Julian’s collar with my teeth. Maneuvering my wheelchair, I slowly pushed him out. The moment Julian’s body was propelled outside the house, Sparks from the wheelchair’s mechanism instantly triggered the explosion. Raging flames instantly consumed everything. I smiled and closed my eyes. Julian. This time, we both can finally find release. I hope that after I die, you can find the happiness you desire.

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