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

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

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

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

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

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Project delays meant I was scrambling onto a plane the very day of my son’s engagement party. Killing time on the flight, I was scrolling through short videos when I accidentally clicked into a live stream from a popular influencer. To my shock, it was the engagement party at my own villa. “So lucky to witness the engagement of a wealthy heir! What an eye-opener!” the streamer gushed. Seeing our familiar mansion, draped in festive red decorations and bustling with activity, I was overwhelmed. Tears welled up. But as I wiped them away, a young man I didn’t recognize appeared on screen. The style of his suit was uncannily familiar—it was clearly the bespoke tux I’d commissioned from a top European tailor, exclusively for my son. Confused, I immediately dialed my son’s cell, but it went straight to voicemail. Frowning, I looked back at the live stream. In a shadowy corner, I saw him – my son, Alex – slumped on the floor. His shirt was stained with blood, and someone was casually using him as a footrest. I was horrified. Just then, the unfamiliar young man on screen helped a middle-aged man onto the stage and announced loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my father, Mr. Peterson, Chairman of the Peterson Group, to say a few words.” My fists clenched, rage boiling inside me. He dared call himself Chairman Peterson? Then who the hell was I, the actual chairman? 1 The moment the plane landed, my secretary greeted me with a bouquet, her face a mask of sycophancy. “Mr. Cao, congratulations on the successful project wrap-up!” I’d barely taken the flowers when a local trending news alert popped up on my phone. I tapped it open. It was some vlogger live-streaming an engagement party – and the location was my villa. Eagerly anticipating my son’s appearance, I instead saw a completely unfamiliar face on screen. Even more shockingly, the man was wearing the high-end, custom-made suit I’d spent a fortune on, the one with the subtle pattern woven with pure gold thread. I’d recognize that unique luxury anywhere. Deeply puzzled, I quickly called my wife. Her voice came through, a noisy din in the background. “Honey, don’t worry about a thing, just focus on your work trip! Everything with Alex is perfectly arranged! That suit you got him? He looks incredibly handsome in it. And all those engagement gifts you prepared, I’ve given them to him. He absolutely loves them! Gotta go, my dear, our daughter-in-law is calling me. Talk later!” Before I could utter a word, she hung up. Staring at the live stream, the pit in my stomach deepened. What on earth was going on? I sent the streamer several large virtual gifts, and sure enough, I soon received an invitation to join their private fan chat. I immediately typed: “Excuse me, who is the young man whose engagement is being live-streamed right now?” The streamer was clearly online, but there was no reply. Impatient, I initiated a voice call, only to be awkwardly refused. “Sorry, this is the Peterson family’s young master’s engagement. I can’t disclose any other information!” It seemed I wouldn’t get answers from the streamer. I switched tactics and called my son’s supervisor. Alex was currently gaining experience at a partner company, reportedly doing very well. I planned to entrust him with the family business in the future. After a long wait, the call finally connected, only to be met with Mr. Wallace’s sneer. “Are you Mr. Cao’s butler? Mr. Cao Sr. was kind enough to give your son a job, and how does he repay him? By being late or leaving early almost every day! So unreliable! Now, look at Chairman Peterson’s son, diligently working at our company, exceptionally capable – miles better than your boy!” With that, he hung up. I gripped my phone, trembling with rage, a tight pain constricting my chest. My own son… when did he become the butler’s son? 2 It didn’t take long for me to get back to the villa. The moment I reached the entrance, the staff member greeting guests saw me, and a look of clear astonishment flashed across his face. “Sir, what… what are you doing back so suddenly?” I gave the assembled crowd a cold, sweeping glance, tossed my suitcase to a servant, and strode into the house. As I stepped inside, Laura rushed towards me, her expression frantic. There was a hidden unease in her eyes as she urgently grabbed my arm, trying to pull me back outside. I stood firm, letting her tug, but my gaze caught a fresh red mark on her neck. Noticing my stare, Laura hastily pulled at her collar, trying to conceal it. Seeing her evasive eyes, I scoffed, “A mosquito bite?” Laura nodded quickly, instinctively touching the red mark, and explained in a low voice, “Alex had me helping with the engagement party preparations lately. I was so exhausted I fell asleep in the yard and a mosquito got me.” I feigned belief, nodding. Then I pulled out my phone and opened the live stream I’d been watching earlier. Though the stream had ended, a familiar profile picture stood out in the streamer’s ‘followed’ list. Clicking on the account, the feed was filled with photos of luxury cars and expensive watches—all gifts I had bought for my son. But the owner of this account wasn’t Alex; it was some young guy I didn’t know. Strangely, he was flaunting these things online, presenting himself as the son of the Cao Group’s chairman. I glanced at Laura and held the phone screen up to her. “Alright then, care to explain why the carefully selected gifts I bought for Alex have ended up in the hands of the butler’s son?” “Or did Alex willingly give them away?” That’s right. The middle-aged man who had taken my place on stage in the live stream was none other than our butler, Jenkins. He was even a distant cousin of mine. I’d only recently learned that his son was the same age as mine. Seeing the video, Laura’s expression turned to panic, and she instinctively took two steps back. She hesitated, glanced at me, then bit her lip and finally spoke in a hushed tone: “Actually, Alex… he wasn’t really interested in the things you bought, so he gave them to Dean.” After all these years with Laura, how could I not know what was going on in her mind? I stepped closer, forcing Laura to meet my gaze. “Then why has Alex been late and leaving early, neglecting his work?” Laura’s eyes darted around, clearly trying to come up with a plausible excuse. After a long pause, she finally said: “Your son just can’t sit still. He never wants to stay put at the company, that’s why he’s always late or ducking out early!” I looked at her deceitful face and couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, pushing her aside. “Don’t even think about trying to fool me. You know the consequences if you do!” My eyes were hard as I said it. I had raised my son, given him a generous allowance every year, and personally taught him how to manage finances. He was no incompetent, spoiled rich kid. After the old butler passed away a few years ago, I specifically brought Jenkins over from my hometown to take his place. Then, I went overseas for business negotiations, leaving Laura to manage domestic affairs temporarily. I never imagined I’d inadvertently nurtured a snake in my own house. But now that I was back, whether they were wolves or tigers, they’d have to heel. 3 I strode into the villa. The engagement party was winding down, and most of the guests had already left. As I entered the living room, I saw my son, Alex, sitting on the sofa and called out directly: “Alex, what are you doing just sitting here?” Alex Cao froze for a moment, then turned to look at me, calling out a soft, timid, “Dad.” I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but it felt like there was an added layer of grievance in his voice when he called me. Even his body couldn’t stop a slight tremble, as if he’d encountered something terrifying. My son was my entire world; I couldn’t tolerate any harm coming to him. With that thought, I hurried over and looked him up and down. But Alex’s gaze darted everywhere, refusing to make eye contact with me. He had clearly lost a lot of weight; his arms were almost fleshless. A pang of distress hit me, and I gently touched his arm and back. Unexpectedly, Alex suddenly turned pale and cried out in fear. My heart clenched. I pulled up his shirt and was horrified to see his body covered in black and blue bruises. Forcing down my fury, I kept my voice low: “Alex, tell Dad clearly, what exactly happened?” Alex cowered, glancing at me cautiously, and was about to speak when a young man suddenly appeared and interrupted. “Alex Cao, you useless piece of crap, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get Sarah’s bathwater ready!” With that, he grabbed my son’s ear and yanked it hard. I saw Alex’s ear turn bright red and angrily demanded: “Who are you? What right do you have to give orders in my house!” If I remembered correctly, during the live stream, he was the one wearing my son’s bespoke suit. The young man glanced at me, sneered contemptuously, and suddenly shoved Alex to the ground. “This is my house. Who are you, some beggar? Get the hell out of here!” “Alex Cao, if you dawdle and annoy me again, you’ll get a taste of my whip later!” As the man spoke, he raised his fist to hit Alex in the face but was stopped in time by the butler. The butler, Jenkins, angrily kicked the young man, then hurried over to me to apologize. “Sir, this useless thing is my son. It’s all my fault for not teaching him better! I’m truly sorry!” With that, he grabbed the young man by the ear and dragged him out. Only after the butler left the room did my son’s complexion improve slightly. He curled himself into a ball, his hands instinctively protecting his vital areas, as if it were a long-ingrained habit. Was he… could he actually be afraid of them? But Alex was supposed to be the master of this house. Seeing my son’s helpless fear, I sighed softly and urged him to go to his room and rest. Alex was born prematurely and had always been frail. I had doted on him and protected him all these years. But it seemed to have made him more timid, unwilling to confide in me even when he was wronged. I stayed in Alex’s room until he fell soundly asleep before getting up to find Sarah Wang. She was the daughter-in-law I had carefully chosen. Now, it seemed perhaps I was getting old, and my judgment wasn’t what it used to be. When I called Sarah to the study, her eyes showed a hint of panic as she looked at me. I drummed my fingers absently on the desk, my expression grave as I fixed my gaze on her and began to question her slowly. “You need to tell me clearly, what exactly happened today? What is your relationship with that man? Who is he, really?” My mind was filled with suspicion. A trace of confusion appeared in Sarah’s eyes. She fell silent, seemingly afraid to look me directly in the eye. But seeing my increasingly stern expression, she finally mustered the courage to confess the whole truth. Only then did I understand the torment and suffering my son had endured after I left home. Not only had I been kept completely in the dark, but I had also indirectly pushed him into an abyss! 4 The star of today’s engagement ceremony wasn’t Alex at all; it was the butler’s son. Before the party even officially began, Alex was pinned to the ground by a group of people and given a brutal beating. When Dean Peterson, the butler’s son, saw the expensive suit Alex was wearing, he didn’t hesitate to strip it off him. Sarah tried to intervene but was viciously kicked twice by Dean. “You two are nothing but animals under my thumb! Alex Cao, you’re not worthy of wearing this suit! And I can ‘enjoy’ your wife for you too!” “Today is my big day. You just lie there on the ground and be my auspicious footstool, soak up some of my good luck!” After his declaration, he immediately ordered his lackeys to hold Alex imóvel on the floor, repeatedly grinding their feet on him. He even brazenly stuck his hand inside Sarah’s clothes, humiliating her publicly. Seeing this, a few of Dean’s cronies joined in, frequently stomping on Alex, adding new injuries to his body. Listening to how that man had treated my son, a cold smile played on my lips. I would retaliate with the harshest methods, to make him understand the price of taking what belongs to others. The next morning, when I got up, Alex was already in the dining room eating breakfast. But when Dean Peterson appeared, Alex began to tremble involuntarily, clearly showing an instinctive fear of him. Jenkins, the butler, noticed the displeasure on my face and immediately urged his son to leave for work. “Hurry up and have the driver take you! You’ll get docked pay if you’re late!” I raised an eyebrow at the butler. He had long since grown accustomed to giving his son all the family’s resources. “You both work at the same company, yet the driver is specifically sent to take an outsider, while the true young master has to make his own way?” “Jenkins, if you can’t distinguish between primary and secondary, then you don’t need to continue working here! I don’t want to see you again when I return!” With that, I arranged for my bodyguard to drive Alex and me to the company. The moment I stepped into the office, I noticed Miller’s employees gossiping about my son. “Look, the bastard son of the mistress actually showed up on time today. And he has the nerve to ride in the legitimate son’s car. Shameless!” “If you ask me, the young master is too lenient with him. Maybe I should teach him a lesson!” Shortly after, one of them deliberately bumped into my son, spilling his iced tea all over him. “Alex Cao, you piece of trash, you got my shoes dirty! What are you standing there for? Get on your knees and bow to me three times, or you won’t get through today!” Witnessing them bully my son, I immediately stepped forward to stop them. “How dare you treat the son of Mr. Cao like this? Are you planning on not working here anymore?” The group glanced at me, sneering. “So you’re the little bastard’s biological father? The one who seduced Mrs. Cao?” “Mr. Cao himself has repeatedly instructed us not to go easy on this little runt!” With that, the crowd burst into laughter. I didn’t argue further. Instead, with a deadpan expression, I called the company owner, Mr. Miller: “Get your ass down here! And see how your people are bullying my son!” The call had just ended when the employees, faces alight with excitement, looked towards the main entrance. “Chairman Cao is here again! He must be here to see his son!” I turned around and saw Jenkins, the butler, dressed in a bespoke suit and wearing the expensive watch I’d bought at auction for millions. My wife, Laura, was by his side, wearing a dress that coordinated with the butler’s attire. As Miller’s people rushed forward to flatter “Chairman Cao” and “Mrs. Cao,” I didn’t hesitate. I dialed 911. “I want to report a crime. Someone is impersonating me! Also, he’s taken my watch, which is worth three million dollars.” Just then, Mr. Miller came downstairs, his face ashen. Seeing the iced tea stain on my son’s clothes, he stammered, “Mr. Cao, please… please give me a chance to explain!”

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My wife, Sarah, was a lifeguard. A deep-sea specialist. After she led me into the depths, she suddenly left me alone. I thrashed desperately in the water, my oxygen running low, frantically mashing the call button on my radio, sending out an S.O.S. Finally, a response, but it was her impatient rebuke: “Have you had your fun yet? Someone’s choking on water, I’m in a rush to save them! You’re spamming the emergency channel, tying up public resources! Obstructing a rescue is a jailable offense!” Over the cacophony in the background, I heard her ex-boyfriend’s choked, emotional voice. “I knew it, Sarah! I knew you still had feelings for me, that you’d come save me.” At death’s door, I didn’t argue. I kept sending out distress signals. The lifeguard who finally answered told me with regret, “Someone’s drowning in the shallows, all the nearest lifeguards have rushed over. I’ve notified HQ to send someone. You have to hold on.” If I remembered correctly, the shallow area was barely five feet deep. I stared down into the abyss below me, my last bit of oxygen depleting in a haze of despair. Before the blackness of suffocation consumed me, I left Sarah one final message. “I’m done making a scene, Sarah. I wish you two happiness.” The sharp pain of suffocation suddenly vanished. I saw my own body, floating in the seawater. My limbs were still contorted in a struggle for life. Fish and shrimp swam past. With a flick of a tail, my body drifted uncontrollably a little further down. The face under the oxygen mask was a ghastly blue-gray, lips swollen and white from the saltwater. So, I was dead. An hour ago. My wife Sarah and I had come here to dive. As a highly skilled deep-sea lifeguard, she led me into the deep-water zone. But shortly after we arrived, she abruptly left on her own. I wasn’t a strong swimmer and couldn’t handle the deep-sea pressure. I simply couldn’t keep up with Sarah’s speed. In the blink of an eye, she vanished without a trace. Relying on tips she’d given me before, I slowly kicked my legs, managing to hold on for a bit, but I barely moved. Then my leg got tangled in seaweed. Panicking, I gasped for air, and the red light on my oxygen mask flashed – the warning that my air was about to run out. I hurriedly pressed the radio, sending a distress signal to Sarah. After all, she knew my location best; it would save precious search time. However, there was no response from the other end. I remembered when she confessed her feelings for me: “Alex, my job is to save people. As soon as I receive a distress signal, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.” “This is your exclusive device.” “Whenever, wherever, if you send a signal, I will cross any distance to be by your side.” I’d thought about setting the signal range to maximum, but decided to keep pressing. Sarah was in charge of this area, and too wide a signal would make pinpointing my location harder. Finally, Sarah’s voice came through, but it was an interrogation. “Alex, what the hell are you doing, mashing the signal button? It’s giving me a headache!” Only then did I realize I’d been pressing too fast, a purely instinctual survival response. I struggled to take a breath to speak, but my throat felt like a rusted pipe; I could only manage a hoarse whisper. My oxygen was nearly gone, but Sarah didn’t seem to notice my distress. When she heard no reply, she grew impatient. I clenched my jaw, forcing out a few words: “Sarah, I’m almost out of air… save me…” But she yelled back, “Have you had your fun yet? Someone’s choking on water, I’m in a rush to save them! You’re spamming the emergency channel, tying up public resources! Obstructing a rescue is a jailable offense!” “And you say you’re out of air? I filled your tank myself, you think I don’t know how much is in it?” “Can you tell the truth for once, instead of just lying?” In the background, I heard her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, his voice thick with emotion. “Sarah, I knew you still had feelings for me, you’d definitely come save me.” Between us, who was the one full of lies? For the past three months, Sarah had often been MIA. Even on dates, if I looked away for a second, she’d be gone. When I asked, she always said a colleague needed her. But I’d clearly seen messages pop up on her phone from a guy – Ryan. My intuition was usually spot on. It cost me a bit, but I found out who he was – her on-again, off-again boyfriend of three years. The woman I was about to marry was still entangled with her ex, running around for him, yet she’d abandoned me in the deep sea and berated me when I called for help. The irony was bitter. The radio let out a piercing shriek as Sarah unilaterally ended the call. Before my oxygen completely ran out, I gritted my teeth and set the distress signal to its maximum range. Finally, a lifeguard responded, but after checking the signal location, he said, as expected, that this area was Sarah’s responsibility and he’d transfer me. “Transfer failed? What’s Captain Sarah doing? How come I can’t reach a single lifeguard in this sector?” “Impossible, Captain Sarah is a trained professional, she wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake!” On the other end of the radio, the lifeguard was discussing it with his colleague. The signal was intermittent, and the suffocation made it hard to hear the rest. I bit my tongue hard, regaining a sliver of consciousness. I heard him say urgently, “Sorry, someone’s drowning in the shallows, all the nearest lifeguards have rushed over. I’ve notified HQ to send someone. You have to hold on.” My vision was already clouding with large black spots. “How long…?” I asked, my voice a mere thread. “I’m… almost out of air…” “We’ll be as quick as possible. Your distress signal is quite far out, making it hard to pinpoint your location, but we’ll reach you and start the rescue within twenty minutes at the latest. You absolutely have to hold on.” He tried to soothe me with words. He even suggested some self-rescue techniques. I looked down at my legs, increasingly tangled in seaweed, trying to breathe steadily, to conserve my minimal energy… I didn’t have the strength to tell him I’d already tried those when I was first abandoned. His words replayed in my mind. “Someone’s drowning in the shallows…” If I remembered correctly, the shallow area was barely five feet deep. Even if a child were drowning, any nearby adult could pull them up, not to mention there were other lifeguards patrolling the beach. But Sarah still went. I remembered a fortnight ago, Sarah missed our wedding. On the dais, to my right, stood my dad, leaning on his cane, his leg still bad. To my left, her parents, looking impatient, constantly checking their phones. Below were our relatives and friends, Sarah’s and mine. Every invitation, Sarah had handwritten and delivered personally. Every step of the reception, she had rehearsed. Even the officiant’s speech, Sarah had meticulously crafted after reading countless books. But after the dry speech ended, when it was time to exchange rings, Sarah’s colleague came up on stage. “Alex, I’m sorry. Captain Sarah had an emergency. Here’s the ring. She said if you put it on, the wedding is complete.” I looked at the wedding ring, so carefully chosen by Sarah. My heart felt like it was submerged in water, sour and swollen. Sarah, did she care about me, or not? After the wedding. Sarah sent a cold, brief thank you. “Alex, thank you for holding the wedding together on your own. I’m sorry about this. Tonight, you can punish me however you want.” Then, in the empty bridal suite, I waited for her all night. The next day, I opened social media and saw Ryan had updated his status. “Your groom wasn’t me, but your wedding night was mine.” Below it was a photo: Sarah, asleep. And Sarah, using her main account, liked it. That evening. Sarah came home for dinner. I sat across the table from her, calmly expressing my views on marriage, on love. I said that since we were married, we had to take on the corresponding responsibilities. But she held her chopsticks in one hand, shoveling food into her mouth, while her other hand was busy replying to messages. She yawned. I stared at her. On the screen, the account labeled “Colleague” sent a message. “You worked hard last night. I won’t be so difficult next time.” The dam of my suppressed anger finally burst. I threw the social media evidence at her, questioning her, arguing with her. She flew into a rage, slammed the door, and left. I looked at the mess on the floor, an endless weariness washing over me. Since Sarah couldn’t make a choice, I would make it for her. I sent her a divorce message and started packing to move out. But Sarah knelt before me in the pouring rain, and right in front of me, blocked all of Ryan’s contact methods. She said, “Alex, I love you. Let’s put the past behind us, start fresh. I messed up the wedding, I’ll make it up to you with a honeymoon, okay?” And then, she took me to the deep sea, and abandoned me again. The lifeguard on the other end of the radio couldn’t hear my response and his tone grew anxious. “Can you still hear me? I’m doing my best to get there, please don’t give up hope.” Just as he said that, the signal cut out due to the distance. I didn’t want to give up hope, but reality didn’t bend to my will. The red light on my oxygen tank blinked faster and faster. I gritted my teeth and thrashed my legs, but I couldn’t break free from the damn seaweed. My consciousness began to fade, my body spasming from oxygen deprivation. In an instant. The light on the oxygen tank stopped blinking. It was completely empty. Many images flashed before my eyes, finally settling on Sarah’s back as she turned and walked away without hesitation. With my last breath, I pressed the distress signal and spoke my final words. Perhaps it was too much regret. My soul drifted higher and higher, following my last words, to Sarah’s side. The shallow area was bustling with people, forming a circle. In the center of the crowd, Ryan and Sarah were playing out a chase scene. Sarah gripped Ryan’s hand tightly, hugging him close. “Ryan, don’t test anyone with your own life. You need to love yourself, understand?” The crowd was just watching the spectacle, but Sarah’s colleagues looked like they were swallowing something bitter. Finally, someone couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed through the crowd. He reminded her, “Captain, we need to go. HQ sent a message twenty minutes ago. Someone’s out of oxygen in the deep-sea zone, ordering us to launch a rescue.” I remembered him; he was the one who brought the ring to the stage at the wedding. His name was Mark. Sarah frowned, bent down to tuck the blanket around Ryan, then turned around impatiently. “I made myself clear. No one is out of oxygen in the deep-sea zone. I just came from there to rescue him. I know better than you!” Mark’s face flushed red. “But HQ keeps pushing. It’s a matter of life and death, we can’t be careless.” Hearing this, Sarah’s face darkened. She felt her authority was challenged and said sarcastically, “What a coincidence, two lives in danger at the same time. Someone must be lying. If you want to question my decision, rush to grab the credit, then get lost. I’m not stopping you!” “It’s a life-or-death situation, how did it become about grabbing credit? Besides, you’re in charge of this area. One order from you, and we all have to come witness your love story with your… partner. You think anyone dares to leave?” Mark was young and fiery, his words dripping with sarcasm. “You!” Sarah’s face turned ashen. She grabbed Mark’s collar. The crowd recoiled in fear, and her colleagues rushed forward. Ryan gently tugged at Sarah’s sleeve, swaying it back and forth. “Sarah, don’t be mad.” “Mark’s not a bad guy, he just wants to save people. I think… we should go.” And just like that, after his two sentences, Sarah let go of Mark. Ryan smiled brightly, turned, and bowed to the crowd. “Thank you all for saving me just now. You’ll all be rewarded. I’ll cherish my life and never trouble anyone again.” With that, he winked at Sarah. He wouldn’t trouble others, but Sarah… she wasn’t “others.” The twenty-minute rescue window HQ had told me about had completely passed. Only then did Sarah and her team set off in the rescue boat. As she buckled her life vest, Sarah muttered impatiently. “Always causing trouble, wasting time.” My smile was bleak. Sarah, I am already asleep beneath the waves. I won’t cause any more trouble. The rescue boat sped across the sea. Sarah helped Ryan adjust his blanket. “Sarah, your radio suddenly went silent earlier. Alex isn’t really in trouble, is he?” Ryan tilted his head, feigning concern. Sarah sneered. “He’s doing it on purpose.” “A perfectly good honeymoon, and he has to make such a drama out of it. Just now on the radio, he was saying something about not making a scene anymore. I don’t get what’s going on in his head.” Hearing this, Ryan lowered his head, a smug smile playing on his lips. But his tone was still soft and weak. “Is it because of the wedding? Sarah, I really didn’t mean to. You know I have depression. How about… you ask Alex to come out, and we can clear things up?” He struck a magnanimous pose, his eyes slightly red. Sarah gently stroked the corner of his eye, shaking her head. “No need. You’re sick. You don’t have to accommodate anyone.” With that, Sarah let go of Ryan, sat to one side, and began to define the search area. She suddenly frowned, tapping her finger twice on a specific location, then took out her radio, trying to reconnect to the distress signal. But it failed. I saw her sigh, take out her phone, open her messaging app. The wallpaper was a photo of me. She opened a chat window labeled “Hubby” and typed: “Alex, life needs a little drama to be exciting. The honeymoon I promised you has just begun. You wanted to see snow, right? We’ll leave tomorrow.” A faint smile unconsciously touched her lips. If we could share the snow, this life would count as growing old together. The rescue boat suddenly stopped. A wave crashed over it, flooding the boat. Sarah, quick as lightning, grabbed Ryan, holding him protectively. The message she’d just typed hadn’t been sent; her phone, soaked, went black. Ryan coughed violently, his arms wrapped tightly around Sarah’s waist. Sarah patted him soothingly, pried his hands off, and stood up from the rescue boat. The lifeguards climbed back in, one by one. The radar was off, but they were still checking for other victims. One lifeguard climbed onto Sarah’s boat, ripped off his oxygen mask, and threw it aside. He panted, questioning her: “Captain Sarah, this is your sector! Lifeguards from further out rushed here, but you were missing! What the hell were you doing?!” My body was pulled out, bloated and grotesque from the seawater. A female lifeguard covered me with her jacket, preserving my last shred of dignity, only my arm hung limply. Sarah’s gaze fell upon me, and when she saw the wedding ring on my ring finger, she froze. The lifeguard was still speaking up for me. “According to the signal trajectory, you were the first to receive the victim’s distress call. Why didn’t you save him? You call yourself a senior lifeguard? Watching a life end right before your eyes! To put it bluntly, this is tantamount to intentional homicide!”

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Julian’s idealized love, Sophia, was kidnapped while filming on location and disappeared for three whole days and nights. Two months later, she called him from a rooftop, crying, “Julian, I’m pregnant! The media is hounding me! I don’t want to live anymore!” He rushed to the rooftop and announced to all the media, “The child is mine.” Overnight, I became the laughingstock of New York’s elite social circles. That night, Julian knelt before me, his eyes red, his voice trembling, “Ava, Sophia has depression. If I don’t help her, something terrible will happen! Once she safely delivers the baby, I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay?” I loved him so desperately, so devoid of dignity, that I could only bite my lip and nod. But the next day, news spread like wildfire online. The woman in the pixelated photo was clearly me. Shaking, I found Julian. He hugged me, his face contorted in pain. “The news is unstoppable… Ava, you rarely appear in public. We’ll have to ask you to take the fall for this.” He reached out to hold me, but his next words chilled me to the bone, “Why don’t you… get an abortion first? We can always have another child later.” In that instant, my heart turned completely cold. I wiped my tears and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long, long time. When the call connected, a man’s deep voice, laced with a dangerous amusement, said, “You finally… came to beg me?” 1 “What did you say?” My voice trembled. “Sophia’s kidnapping can’t be exposed. She just signed a major international brand endorsement. If this gets out, her career is ruined.” Julian’s tone was chillingly calm. “But you’re different. You rarely appear in public. If you admit to this, the gossip will die down quickly.” I stared hard at the man I had loved for years. “Julian, do you even hear yourself?” “Before, you asked me to claim Sophia’s child as mine, and I agreed.” “Now, you want me to take the blame for her being kidnapped, for her being violated?!” His voice was low. “Ava, I’m begging you.” “Begging me?” I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “For her, you want me to destroy my own reputation?” “Sophia can’t handle this kind of blow. She already has depression,” he said urgently. “But you’re different. You’ve always been strong.” “So I deserve to be sacrificed?” I practically spat the words out. “It’s not a sacrifice, just a temporary measure.” He paused, his tone softening. “Ava, could you… could you get an abortion first?” My world shattered. “Julian,” my voice was hoarse, “this is your child too!!!” “I know!” His voice suddenly turned agitated. “But Sophia can’t handle any more stress right now!” My breath hitched. I laughed, tears flowing freely. “Fine, I’ll do it.” He was about to say more when his phone rang. Sobs came from the other end. “Boohoo! Julian, I had a nightmare! I’m so scared! What if they tell everyone about what happened to me?” Sophia’s frail voice whispered. Julian’s tone instantly changed, becoming gentle and soothing. “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He hung up and, without a moment’s hesitation, turned and left. I went to the hospital. The nurse handed me a form, her eyes filled with sympathy. “Mrs. Hayes, are you sure you want to go through with the procedure?” I looked down at the paper. Julian’s name was already signed on it. So, he had arranged everything in advance. I nodded numbly. “Yes.” The doctor adjusted his glasses, his tone neutral. “Your physical condition is unique. This abortion could lead to permanent infertility. Are you sure you want to take this risk?” I looked up sharply. “Permanent infertility?” “Yes, your uterine wall is thin. If we proceed with the abortion, it might be very difficult for you to conceive again…” My fingers trembled slightly. Julian, you knew this, and you still wanted me to abort this child! All for Sophia. I bit my lip hard, until I tasted blood. Suddenly, I felt a strange flutter in my abdomen, like a tiny butterfly gently flapping its wings. I grabbed the doctor’s wrist. “Stop! I’m not doing it!” The doctor frowned. “Mrs. Hayes, your husband specifically instructed…” “I said I’m not doing it!” I shouted, sitting up on the operating table and tearing off the surgical gown. “I’m keeping this baby!” Stepping out of the hospital, the sunlight was blinding. I opened my phone. The top trending news was: #JulianHayesAndSophiaRossSpottedAtLuxuryBabyBoutique# In the accompanying photo, my husband was carefully supporting Sophia’s lower back as she gently caressed her swollen belly. The comment section was full of praise: “Now that’s a power couple! A stunning celebrity and a New York tycoon, a perfect match!” “Sophia’s already showing. How can Julian’s wife still shamelessly cling to her position?” “Heard that woman got pregnant with someone else’s kid after disappearing for a few days. Julian’s too kind for not divorcing her on the spot!” “Who knows if she really disappeared or just snuck off to meet some other guy!” My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. “Don’t be scared, little one,” I whispered, stroking my belly. “Mommy will protect you.” I went straight to a law firm and had divorce papers drawn up. 2 Returning to our townhouse, the front door was ajar. Pushing it open, I saw Sophia lounging on the sofa, Julian’s hand resting on her prominent belly. “Julian, the baby kicked me again!” she giggled, pressing his hand against her stomach. A tenderness I had never seen before appeared on Julian’s face. “It really is moving.” I stood in the entryway, my fists clenched. Julian saw me, and his expression changed slightly. He walked over quickly, lowering his voice. “Ava, Sophia tried to kill herself again today. The doctor said she has prenatal depression. Could you… just give us some space for now?” I sneered, “This is my home.” “She grew up with me. I can’t just abandon her,” his tone softened. “After she has the baby, I’ll find a way to send her and the child away, maybe help her build a career in Hollywood.” I said nothing more and went upstairs. In the bedroom, I could still hear their laughter. “Oh, the baby kicked me!” Sophia’s voice was sickeningly sweet. I curled up on the bed, tears soaking my pillow. Late at night, Julian tiptoed into bed and hugged me from behind. “Ava, I’m sorry,” his voice was hoarse. “We’ll have other children.” I stiffened. He still didn’t know I hadn’t aborted our child. “Ahhh—” A shrill scream suddenly came from the next room. “Don’t touch me! Get away!” “Don’t touch me! Don’t film me!” Julian shot up, not even bothering with slippers, and rushed out. All night, the hallway echoed with his gentle reassurances. Morning. Dragging my exhausted body downstairs, the aroma of frying eggs wafted from the kitchen. Julian stood at the stove. Sophia tiptoed up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his back, smiling sweetly. Seeing me, she immediately let go, her voice timid. “Sis, my head hurts a little. Could you ask Julian to get my hat for me?” Without a word, Julian turned and went upstairs. The apology on Sophia’s face vanished instantly. She leaned closer to me, her red lips curving into a smirk. “Julian said that bastard in your belly should never have been kept.” I jerked my head up, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. She gave a disdainful smile, lowering her voice. “Know the Sterlings? The Sterling family is backing me.” She paused deliberately, enjoying my sudden change in expression. “The Sterlings just have to lift a finger, and this whole city shakes. What do you have to fight me with?” I clenched my fists tightly. The Sterlings were true old money, a dynasty that controlled a significant portion of the nation’s economy. Forget the Hayes family; even all the influential figures in New York combined were like ants before the Sterlings. Suddenly, she stumbled backward, fell to the floor, and screamed, “Ava! I know you hate me for stealing Julian! I’ll just go kill myself!” “Ava Benton!” Julian stormed down the stairs and shoved me hard. I stumbled and hit the coffee table, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. He pulled Sophia into his arms, his eyes icy and piercing. “What did you do to her? Can you stop being so unreasonable!” “I didn’t do anything!” My voice shook. “You’d better not have!” He held Sophia tighter and walked out without looking back. “Sophia, let’s go.” I stood in the living room, my hand unconsciously drifting to my belly. 3 Julian hadn’t been home for two days. I stood in the living room, taking down our wedding photos one by one. The frames landed in the trash can with a dull thud. My phone vibrated, the screen lighting up. “Ava, I’m having someone pick something up. Can you get it for them?” In the walk-in closet, the ten-million-dollar jewelry set lay quietly in a drawer. I remembered when he’d bought it, he’d said, “This is for the most important person in my life.” I stared at the jewelry for a long time, then suddenly smiled. Expressionless, I took out the jewelry, handed it to the driver, then pulled out a set of divorce papers, my voice calm. “Wait, give me a ride. I’ll deliver it myself.” The driver hesitated but let me in the car. The car stopped outside a luxurious estate, brightly lit, with orchestral music drifting out. “Happy birthday, Miss Ross!” Waves of well wishes could be heard. I walked in, and all eyes immediately fell on me. “Isn’t that Julian Hayes’s wife? Why is she dressed like that? So tacky!” “I heard she’s desperately clinging to Julian. So shameless.” “Julian should have dumped her ages ago. Sophia’s pregnant now, why is she still hanging around?” “I heard she deliberately pushed Sophia to keep Julian. What a vicious woman…” I ignored them, walking step by step towards them. Julian saw me, his brow furrowing. “Ava, what are you doing here?” I smiled. “It’s Miss Ross’s birthday. How could I not come?” With that, I handed over the jewelry box. “What you asked for.” Sophia’s eyes lit up. She took it and deliberately opened it in front of me. “Julian, is this for me?” Julian didn’t speak, looking at me with a complicated expression. Sophia cooed, “Will you put it on for me?” He was silent for two seconds, then picked up the necklace, his fingers looping it around her neck. Sophia suddenly stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and planted a heavy kiss on his cheek, looking at me provocatively. I said nothing. Suddenly, she stumbled. “Ah!” Julian darted forward to steady her, then turned to glare at me. “What are you trying to do now?” I silently handed over the file folder. “Sign it.” He was about to speak when Sophia clutched her stomach. “Ah! Julian, my stomach hurts!” Julian immediately panicked, signed his name without even looking, and then swept Sophia into his arms. “I’ll take you to the hospital!” I collected the papers and turned to leave, but someone tripped me hard. I fell heavily, my forehead hitting a metal object on the floor. Warm blood trickled down my cheek. Julian whipped around, instinctively wanting to help me up. “Julian! My stomach hurts so much! Take me to the hospital, quickly!” Sophia clung to him tightly, her voice trembling. He hesitated for a moment, then carried her away without looking back. I lay on the floor, blood blurring my vision. All around me were scornful eyes; no one offered a hand. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up from the ground, only to find my wedding ring missing from my ring finger. It had been loose for a while; I just hadn’t noticed. Ignoring everyone’s stares, I limped out and hailed a cab. “To the hospital.” The driver was startled. “Miss, your head is bleeding!” I wiped my face, my hand covered in red, but I smiled. “It’s fine. I won’t die.” 4 As the doctor bandaged my wound, he frowned. “Mrs. Hayes, you’re still pregnant. How can you treat yourself like this?” Suddenly, a news bulletin interrupted the TV program. “Breaking News! CEO Julian Hayes’s wife faked kidnapping, confirmed affair! Allegedly went to hospital for secret abortion after getting pregnant by another man!” My vision went black. Before I could recover, the door was violently kicked open. Julian’s mother, Mrs. Hayes, rushed in and slapped me across the face. “You tramp! You’ve disgraced the Hayes family!” I stumbled back and, before I could regain my footing, was grabbed by several men in black suits and dragged into what looked like a rarely used, sweltering sunroom at the back of the estate. “Kneel!” Mrs. Hayes shrieked. I struggled, but my knees slammed onto the cold, hard tiles. Mrs. Hayes dialed a number, her voice shrill. “Julian! Look what your wife has done! The whole city is laughing at us!” On the other end, Julian was clearly flustered. “Mom, weren’t you and Dad vacationing in Australia? How did you suddenly…” “What? We can’t come back?” Mrs. Hayes sneered. “Look at the wonderful wife you married!” “You’re just too soft-hearted, letting a woman walk all over you! She cuckolded you, and you still can’t bring yourself to deal with her?” I looked up at the screen, screaming, “Julian! Say something! It was clearly you…” “Ava.” He was silent for a few seconds, his voice low and hoarse. “Just bear with it for now. I’ll make it up to you later.” The sunroom in midsummer felt like a steamer. I knelt on the scorching floor, sweat mixing with the blood from my forehead, trickling down. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and warm liquid flowed down my inner thighs. “The baby… my baby!” I rushed to the door, pounding on it frantically. “Let me out! Save my baby!” Mrs. Hayes’s cold voice came from outside. “Didn’t you say you aborted it? What, the bastard wasn’t completely flushed out?” My nails dug into the doorframe, scratching bloody marks onto the wood. “This is Julian’s child! It’s his! It’s his!” The only answer was the sound of footsteps fading away. I lay in a pool of blood all night. At dawn, the sunroom door finally opened. A man in a black suit looked at me expressão. “Ma’am, we’ll take you to the hospital.” On the operating table, I lay with my eyes open, feeling the life within me slowly ebbing away. My phone vibrated. A message from Julian: “Ava, I’m sorry. You’ve been wronged. I’ll explain everything to Mom later.” My fingers trembled, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. The day I got the divorce certificate, I dialed a number that had been dormant for five years. When the call connected, a man’s deep voice, laced with amusement, said, “Finally decided to call me?” A week later, Sophia, heavily pregnant, made a high-profile appearance at a press conference for her new drama. She clung to Julian’s arm, smiling sweetly at the cameras. “Thank you all for your blessings. After the baby is born, I’ll be heading to Hollywood to pursue my career…” Under the blinding flashes of angoisse, I slowly walked into the venue. The previously bustling scene fell instantly silent. Julian’s face changed रंग. “Ava? What are you doing here?” I calmly walked up to him and placed the divorce certificate in his hand. His pupils contracted. He grabbed my wrist, hissing, “Ava, stop messing around! Didn’t I say I’d make it up to you after all this blows over!” Just then, the main doors burst open. A Rolls-Royce pulled up. The man who stepped out caused an uproar. “It’s James Sterling! The head of Sterling Industries!” Sophia’s eyes lit up. She quickly pushed me aside and hurried to greet him. “Uncle! What are you doing here?” I stood my ground, unmoving, until James Sterling’s gaze fell on me. He extended his hand towards me, and I naturally took his arm. Julian rushed over, his voice trembling. “Ava! Are you crazy? He’s Sophia’s uncle…” James Sterling glanced at Julian and sneered, “This piece of trash is worthy of making my daughter suffer?” The entire room buzzed with whispers. I looked at Julian and said softly, “I forgot to introduce you. This is my father.”

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Beneath the nightclub’s domed ceiling, my heavily pregnant sister was dragged forcibly to the center of the stage. Down below, men, veins bulging on their foreheads, argued fiercely over the paternity of her unborn child. “It’s gotta be mine! I was giving it my all that night!” “Bullshit! I was with her more often, so my chances are naturally higher!” My sister, her face ashen, tearfully questioned the man beside her, “Leo Carter, you’re my fiancé. How could you humiliate me like this?” Leo, an arm around the delicate woman in his embrace, sneered, “The brat in your belly is of questionable origin, and you have the gall to question me?” That woman covered her lips, feigning shyness, but her eyes brimmed with arrogance. I hid in the shadows, a chilling glint in my narrowed eyes. I’d been away for years, and someone dared to bully my family, the Zhangs, to this extent! … My assistant bowed. “Should I summon the nightclub manager, Ethan Lee, to apologize?” I scoffed. “What good would that do? Tell everyone to be on standby!” “Yes, ma’am.” The assistant quietly withdrew. Dare to harm my own sister? Tonight, you will all pay in blood! My sister’s voice trembled. “That night, it was clearly only you! How could I be pregnant with another man’s child?” Scarlett Hayes, the woman in Leo’s arms, chuckled mockingly. “Anna, dear, after you got drunk, you kept shouting ‘one isn’t enough’ and dragged several men into the room. Have you forgotten all about it?” My sister’s body shook violently. “Absolutely not! Only Leo was in the room…” Before she could finish, she froze, staring dagger-eyes at Leo. “It was you… that glass of red wine… you drugged me?” Leo avoided her gaze, pulling out a stack of photos from his pocket and scattering them across the stage. “Place your bets, gentlemen! The winner gets a bonus: explicit footage from that night!” The crowd below erupted. “So graphic! Not a stitch of clothing! Enough to get your blood pumping!” “Hotter than a porn poster! Just a glance makes you sweat!” Scarlett picked up a photo, glanced at it with disgust, and casually tossed it aside. The photo fluttered to my feet. I bent down and picked it up, rage instantly consuming me. Such monstrous behavior! Later, I’ll make every one of you wish you were dead! The men lunged for the photos like starving tigers, the sound of cash slapping on betting tables a constant rhythm, their bloodshot eyes like those at a livestock auction. I caressed my crystal glass, sitting silently in the shadows, coldly observing this grotesque gamble. My assistant hadn’t returned yet; I still needed to endure… “No more bets!” The dealer’s sharp voice cut through the uproar. “Bring in the medics to verify!” Several burly men in white coats rushed onto the stage, gripping my sister’s delicate wrists like iron clamps, the cold tip of a needle aimed straight at her skin. “Insolent!” My sister, usually gentle, suddenly erupted. She struggled free, her nails scratching bloody marks on an assailant’s cheek. “Where is Ethan Lee? If you harm a hair on my head tonight, tomorrow you’ll all be ruined!” My sister shrieked, but the hall was filled with roaring laughter. Scarlett laughed so hard she swayed. “Miss Zhang is still dreaming, isn’t she?” She suddenly grabbed my sister’s hair, whispering in her ear, “Did you know Ethan Lee is my brother? The Zhang family was ruined by him long ago. What makes you think you can still throw your weight around?” I, who had crept to the side of the stage, felt a jolt. Ethan Lee’s sister? The Zhang family fallen? How could I not know? Leo pulled Scarlett back into his embrace. “Why waste your breath on her?” He turned and urged the medics, “Get on with it!” The moment the needle pierced her skin, the dealer suddenly screamed, “Stop!” 2 The entire room was stunned. I, too, momentarily sheathed my killing intent. The dealer, trembling, pulled a jade seal from my sister’s waist, his back soaked in cold sweat. “The… The Cloud-Water Seal?!” In his panic, he pressed the emergency call button. “Mr. Lee, the Cloud-Water Seal has appeared! Please come and verify its authenticity immediately!” Leo’s face turned grim; Scarlett was also silent as a cicada in winter. Ethan Lee was merely my father’s adopted son; by seniority, he should call me ‘elder sister.’ Knowing this was familiar territory, I relaxed slightly, awaiting reinforcements. Soon, Ethan Lee’s confidante, Vivian Cross, arrived gracefully. “Mr. Lee will be here shortly. Allow me to examine the seal first.” Just as her jade-like fingers were about to touch the seal, Scarlett suddenly giggled. “What a coincidence, this worthless stone, I have one too!” The moment the brocade box sprang open, the room was in an uproar. Two Cloud-Water Seals, identical. “Hers has a crack!” Scarlett’s red lips curled. “A fake.” My sister hastily argued, “This was given to me by my own sister! How could it be fake?” “I am Seraphina Zhang’s biological sister!” Before she finished, Scarlett scoffed. “I’ve lived with the Zhangs for ten years and never heard of you having an older sister. You’re full of lies, daring to falsely claim kinship!” Vivian Cross, after examining the seals, respectfully returned Scarlett’s. Then, picking up on my sister’s words, she said, “Seraphina Zhang?” A dismissive look crossed Vivian’s face, as if she’d heard a joke. “I’ve never heard of such a person.” “Since the real Cloud-Water Seal is in Miss Hayes’s possession, we can’t interfere in this Miss Zhang’s affairs. You may continue.” With that, Vivian Cross stepped aside, adopting an air of indifference. The men instantly exploded: “Verify it already! I bet a hundred grand she’s carrying my kid!” “After the test, we’ll all take a turn!” The men buzzed like flies to blood, some even starting to unbuckle their belts: “I’m raising my bet! We’ll get started right after the verification!” The thugs in white coats once again pinned my sister to the prize table. The syringe glinted coldly, aimed straight at her pale skin. My assistant hadn’t returned yet, but I couldn’t wait any longer. “Stop!” I leaped onto the platform, kicking over the metal tray of instruments with a crash. Vivian Cross’s pupils contracted. “Where did this crazy woman come from, daring to wreck Mr. Lee’s place?!” I gave a cold smile. “Zhang family. Seraphina Zhang.” 3 The entire venue fell into dead silence. But the silence lasted only a second. “Hahaha—” The entire hall erupted in deafening laughter; some even laughed until tears streamed down their faces. “Seraphina Zhang? You?” “That’s the legendary figure who could shake the Capital to its core! Haven’t heard anything about her for years, how could she possibly show up here?” Scarlett clutched her stomach, shaking with laughter. “Anna, which acting troupe did you hire this one from? She plays the part quite convincingly!” Leo frowned, his gaze filled with disgust. “Anna, get this imposter out of here. Aren’t you embarrassed enough?” My sister clung to me tightly, her eyes filled with disbelieving excitement. Veins throbbed at my temples as I struggled to suppress my towering rage. “When Ethan Lee arrives, the truth will be clear!” I pulled my sister behind me, my gaze as sharp as a knife. “Until then, whoever dares to touch a hair on her head, I’ll chop off their hand!” Scarlett covered her mouth with a mocking smile. “Oh, she’s quite the actress. If it were really Seraphina Zhang, she’d be surrounded by an entourage. How could it be just you?” My eyes flickered to my team of bodyguards, squeezed into a corner. A cold smirk touched my lips. “Tell Ethan Lee to come out! I want to ask him if he still has any respect for me, his elder sister!” Vivian Cross narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down, a derisive curl on her red lips. “Who do you think you are? Daring to speak Mr. Lee’s name so casually? You really don’t know your place!” She slowly twirled the jade bracelet on her wrist, her voice suddenly dropping. “Men, seize her!” “I want to weigh you myself and see just how much you’re worth!” Hearing this, several burly men grinned lecherously, their voices dripping with malicious glee. “Yes, Miss Cross! I’ll make sure to strip her bare and weigh every inch of her for you, inside and out!” With that, several hands reached for us sisters. I slapped one of the approaching men across the face. “Insolent! Are you looking to die?! Do you know the consequences of touching me?” The man’s head snapped to the side from the force of my slap. His eyes suddenly turned vicious, and he lunged, grabbing my throat. “You bitch, you think you’re something special, huh?” “Today, in front of everyone, I’m gonna teach you some manners!” A wave of jeering laughter erupted around us. Several men, their intentions clear, closed in, some even pulling out their phones to record. My sister cried out, trying to rush over, but Scarlett grabbed her hair and shoved her brutally to the ground. “Anna, where did you find this lunatic? Is she out of her mind, daring to cause trouble here?” “You play the innocent rich girl so well, but who knows whose bastard you’re carrying!” Saying this, Scarlett slapped my sister hard across the face, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth. I kicked out violently at the man beside me, trying to save her, but several strong arms seized me, holding me fast. My bodyguards were blocked by the chaotic crowd, unable to move an inch. “Tsk tsk, the imposter is really getting into her role, isn’t she?” Scarlett, in her high heels, pressed the toe of her shoe against my sister’s chin. “Kneel and kowtow three times, and maybe I’ll convince Vivian to let your fake sister go.” My sister looked at Leo, tears in her eyes, her voice trembling. “Leo, she really is my sister. If you hurt her, you’ll all regret it…” Leo Carter coolly adjusted his cuffs, his eyes looking at her as if she were a pile of trash. “If it weren’t for you, none of this trouble would have happened. Apologize to Scarlett. Now.” “Kowtow! If she doesn’t kowtow now, we’ll strip her clothes off!” Several men sneered, reaching for my collar. “I’ll kowtow!” My sister’s knees slammed heavily onto the marble floor. Her forehead pressed against the cold marble. “Please, I beg you, don’t touch my sister…” I watched her bang her forehead against the ground, again and again. With every kowtow, it felt like a piece of my heart was being gouged out by a sharp knife. My assistant was still not back. The bodyguards at the door were strangely inactive. Something was clearly wrong. Vivian Cross looked at my refined, beautiful face, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. She had, at some point, produced a scalpel. The blade pressed against my cheek. “Such a pretty face. I wonder if Mr. Lee will still recognize you if it’s scarred?” “Don’t touch my sister!” my sister suddenly struggled. “Ethan Lee will make you wish you were never born!” “Still think you’re the high and mighty Miss Zhang? Too bad the Zhang family doesn’t go by Zhang anymore.” Vivian mocked my sister while pressing the blade deeper into my face. Warm blood trickled down my neck. Just as she was about to slash again. The main doors burst open with a thunderous crash. Ethan Lee entered, followed by a team of his men. His eyes swept over my sister’s bloodied forehead and the wound on my face. The atmosphere around him instantly dropped to freezing point. 4 “Ethan!” My sister’s eyes lit up. “Quick, make them release my sister!” Ethan Lee’s grim gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Vivian Cross. “What’s going on?” Vivian immediately put on an aggrieved expression. “Brother Ethan, look at this woman! She’s using a fake seal to impersonate your sister.” Only then did Ethan Lee look at my sister, his eyes filled with disgust. “Anna, how long are you going to keep this up? Scarlett has been patient with you at every turn, yet you push your luck?” “Patient?” My sister trembled with anger. “They humiliated me in public, said my sister’s seal was a fake, and you say I’m pushing my luck?” “You promised my sister you would take care of me! And now you’re helping an outsider bully me?” “Outsider?” Scarlett smugly linked her arm with Ethan Lee’s. “I’m his real sister! Who do you think you are?” My face was covered in blood as I stared coldly at Ethan Lee. He, however, was only focused on comforting Scarlett. My sister, her face urgent, pointed at me and said, “My sister has returned. How will you answer to her now?” Ethan Lee finally looked at me. The moment he saw my face clearly, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly returned to cold indifference. “Anna, your sister died a long time ago. Hiring an imposter to act this out is very boring.” I couldn’t help but sneer. So, the dog my family raised had learned to bite its master when they weren’t looking. “Ethan Lee, you’ve certainly become quite the big shot!” Hearing the familiar voice, Ethan Lee’s pupils dilated violently, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He lifted my chin with a trembling hand, studying my face intently for a long time, his eyes filled with an indecipherable, intense emotion. After a long moment, he gently touched the wound on my face and sighed deeply. “This face… it’s so alike. A pity. If it weren’t for this wound, I might have let you stay by my side.” “But now, you’re useless.” His face held a sorrowful expression, as if through me, he was remembering someone he loved but could not have. “Even if you look so much like her, what’s the use? She’s gone…” After speaking, he closed his eyes. “Vivian, you handle this.” A mocking smile appeared on Vivian Cross’s face, as if she found me a joke. She snapped her fingers, and several burly men immediately ripped open my collar. My sister was roughly pushed onto the poker table, chips scattering everywhere with a clatter. Just then, the grand, gilded doors of the hall crashed inwards with a tremendous bang. My assistant stood silhouetted against the light, a dark tide of men flooding in behind him. His face was bruised. He said apologetically, “My apologies, Miss. There was a… slight delay on the way.”

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A few days before the wedding, I stumbled upon a viral love story online. Under every one of the blogger’s late-night melancholic posts, an anonymous commenter would reply instantly. Each reply brimmed with deep affection for the blogger. Like other netizens, I was completely captivated by this moving romance. Until one day, the blogger posted a beautiful photo, tinged with tears: 【I know it’s you, but it seems impossible for us. I wish you a happy marriage.】 That person still replied in a heartbeat: 【Anyone but you is just settling.】 My heart plummeted. The person in the photo was none other than my fiancé Ethan Sterling’s childhood sweetheart, Clara Finch. 1 My hand trembled, and the last stroke on the wedding invitation went completely askew. I put down the calligraphy pen and clicked on the original post details, only to find it no longer existed. I inadvertently noticed Clara Finch’s username—【LittlePhalaenopsis】. Looking at the Phalaenopsis orchid design printed on our wedding invitations, my heart jolted. The flowers for our wedding were chosen by Ethan; they were Phalaenopsis orchids. In Clara Finch’s follow list, I found an account with a Phalaenopsis orchid as its background. 【My family found a marriage partner for me. I’ll just let her do the laundry, cook, have kids, and bear the risk of her figure changing for you.】 【Marrying her is a task I have to complete, but being with you is my life’s true wish.】 So, what I thought was a marriage материалов for love was just Ethan finding a tool for procreation. If you set aside me, the sacrificed party, their so-called love seemed quite “deep.” I rubbed my sore wrist, gazing at the pile of wedding invitations I’d spent the afternoon handwriting. A sharp pain pierced my chest, and my vision blurred. At seven in the evening, Ethan came home, casually tossing his suit jacket into my arms and asking with a frown: “Why isn’t dinner ready yet?” Due to years of business dinners, Ethan had a sensitive stomach. To take care of him, I quit my job and meticulously prepared stomach-friendly meals every day. Thinking about it now, isn’t that what a housekeeper does? “I didn’t make any,” I replied. “So you want me to eat that garbage takeout? Lila Shaw, do you think just because we’re about to get married and make it official, you can start slacking off?” My voice was hoarse: “About the wedding…” Ethan turned around, annoyed: “I told you to handle it. Can’t you see I’m swamped every day?” I met his impatient gaze, no longer tiptoeing around: “Let’s just forget about the wedding.” It took Ethan a moment to process. He stared at me, puzzled: “Forget it? Weren’t you the one crying and begging for a grand wedding?” I gave a bitter smile: “No wedding, and no need to get married. Let’s break up.” Seeing my swollen eyes, he finally sensed something was wrong. “Are you okay, Lila? You were the one who insisted on marrying me. My parents condescended to meet yours and even specifically allowed your… less well-off relatives to attend. Now everyone knows we’re getting married, and you’re saying forget it. What are you trying to pull now?” Ethan, always cold and arrogant in front of me, would bend over backward to cheer up another woman under her posts. For five years of our relationship, I was always the one actively sharing life’s little joys, while he was like a robot, just replying “Hmm” or “Okay.” Sometimes, if I accidentally sent an emoji, he’d call me childish. Turns out, it wasn’t that he was reserved. Indifference. It was just because he didn’t love me. “I said, I don’t want to get married. You don’t have to force yourself anymore. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on protecting your Phalaenopsis?” Ethan froze, his face instantly darkening: “Two years ago it was a photo in my wallet, last year it was a plane ticket, and now it’s a post? Can you stop making such a fuss!” With that, Ethan walked into the bedroom and slammed the door shut. I felt like all my strength had been drained, and I collapsed onto the sofa. Every year, I’d find new evidence of Ethan’s lack of commitment to our relationship, always trying to salvage it with big fights. I forgot that leaving is the best escape. 2 When I woke up the next day, I found a light blanket covering me. Ethan was sitting nearby, leisurely sipping an Americano. He had a tall, imposing figure and a distinguished air, things that had made my heart flutter countless times. Seeing me awake, he said gently, “Today is Grandpa’s 80th birthday. I took a special day off from the company. Let’s go wish him a happy birthday together.” In the past, to accommodate Ethan’s schedule, the Sterlings always arranged old Mr. Finch’s birthday on a weekend. I clicked on Clara Finch’s account and, sure enough, saw her IP address had changed from Sweden to San Francisco. They called it the old man’s birthday banquet, but it was really just a welcome home party for Clara. Fine. Since the Sterlings would all be there, it was the perfect opportunity for me to announce the cancellation of the wedding. Seeing me start to put on makeup, Ethan frowned: “Haven’t I told you not to wear heavy makeup? Who are you dressing up so beautifully for?” After college, several guys had pursued me. Thinking back, Mr. Sterling had strongly pushed for Ethan and me to get together, probably because he valued my simple family background, my no-makeup-for-work demeanor, and my obedient nature. He figured once I married into the Sterling family, I’d be a contented, non-threatening housewife, focused on husband and children. I finished my makeup, put on high heels I hadn’t worn in ages, and retrieved the handwritten calligraphy birthday gift from the study. It was rare for Ethan to see me in full makeup. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. 3 As we opened the door to the Sterling mansion, I saw Clara Finch laughing and chatting amidst a group of elders. When Ethan arrived, Clara gasped, then skipped over and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. “Ethan, my dearest! I haven’t seen you in years! Did you miss me?” Ethan glanced at me, slightly uneasy. I ignored him and walked straight to old Mr. Finch, presenting the framed calligraphy: “Grandpa, happy 80th birthday.” Clara covered her mouth, feigning surprise: “Lila, you’re giving calligraphy too? Three months ago, I specially flew to England and spent $150,000 to commission a piece from the calligraphy master, Adrian Quillan. Whose work is yours?” “I wrote it myself.” Clara immediately had someone lay both pieces on the table for comparison. “I don’t know much about calligraphy, so I can’t tell good from bad.” Ethan said disdainfully, “How can her amateurish stuff compare to a master’s?” I nodded. “Master Quillan is 76 this year. Everyone in the field knows he stopped writing in cursive after 70 and only does formal script. This cursive piece by Master Quillan is indeed rare.” Clara’s expression changed. “I have a senior fellow apprentice who is Master Quillan’s student. I’ll call him right now and ask.” Clara instantly looked flustered. Ethan slapped my phone out of my hand. He snatched up my calligraphy, tore it into pieces with a few rips, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it hard. “Are a master’s affairs something someone like you can speculate about?” Before I could say anything, Clara started crying pitifully. “It’s all my fault. Why did I have to mention the $150,000? Lila’s probably never even seen that much money in her life.” Ethan pulled Clara into his arms. “There, there, Clara, don’t cry. She’s just unsophisticated and petty. Be good, you won’t be pretty if you keep crying.” Mrs. Sterling said sharply, “Lila, you’ve been here for so long. Why aren’t you in the kitchen yet?” Every time I visited, I would cook a table full of delicious food for them. My filial piety towards the elders was, in their eyes, no different from a housekeeper’s. Mrs. Sterling said gently to Clara, “Clara, dear, tell us what you want to eat. Lila can make it.” Clara pointed at my hands. “No wonder Lila’s hands are so rough. It must be from all the cooking. Not like mine; these hands only know how to play the piano and get manicures.” Ethan smirked. “That’s about all she’s good for.” I crossed my arms. “Sorry, these hands of mine aren’t cooperating. My carpal tunnel is acting up. I can’t serve anyone today.” 4 Mrs. Sterling frowned. “I just thought your cooking was decent and wanted to give you a chance to show off. How did it turn into serving us? What, not even married into the family yet and you’re already trying to pin labels on me?” Mr. Sterling slammed the table: “Enough! Today is Grandpa’s 80th birthday. Why are you all arguing over such a small matter?” Mr. Sterling had always been relatively nice to me. I’d wait until after dinner to bring it up. Even without my cooking, a table full of dishes was quickly laid out. Clara had already taken a seat next to Ethan. I was about to sit further away, but Ethan pulled me back. “Still mad after a few words?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. Clara bit her chopsticks, pouting. “Ethan, dearest, I want some of that fish roe.” Ethan stood up, brought the fish roe over, and thoughtfully placed it in front of Clara. Then, uncharacteristically, he put a large shrimp on my plate. I picked the shrimp off my plate and said coldly, “Don’t you know I’m allergic to shrimp?” Ethan slammed his chopsticks down. “Eat if you want to, leave if you don’t! We’re getting married in a month, what’s all this drama about? You’re such a handful!” My temper flared. “Grandpa, I’m sorry, I really can’t take it anymore. I’ve decided not to marry Ethan Sterling.” “What?!” Mr. and Mrs. Sterling shrieked in unison. Old Mr. Finch walked over unsteadily and grasped my hand. “Why suddenly not getting married? You’re already engaged, how can you not get married?” Ethan’s face was dark; he turned stiffly. “All these elders are here. You need to think before you speak!” “It’s precisely because the elders are here that I need to make things clear.” With that, I pulled out my chair and walked out, feeling a sense of relief. Clara whimpered and ran over to tug at my sleeve. “Lila, Lila, are you angry because I’ve been clinging to Ethan? I just haven’t seen him in years and got a little too excited. Please don’t misunderstand.” Ethan looked like he understood completely, pulling Clara to his side with a smirk. He scoffed mockingly, “Let her throw her tantrum. She does this once a year, like clockwork. We’ve spoiled her! Let’s eat, don’t mind her!” 5 I walked back to the villa, the cold wind hitting my face. In less than an hour, my luggage was packed. As I was buying a plane ticket, a notification for Clara’s post popped up. The picture was of a single, ice-white Phalaenopsis orchid, with two hands clasped in the blurred background. 【Haven’t seen you in years, and you give me white Phalaenopsis again. Besides you, who else still treats me like a child?】 The post blew up again, with a stream of【99】【So jealous】scrolling across the screen. But this time, that “Robert” account didn’t appear in the comments. I casually liked it, then swiped out, quickly bought a ticket for an evening flight, and rushed to the airport with my luggage. While going through security, I received a message from Ethan: 【Clara is planning to come work at my company. Tidy up the guest room on the third floor. Remember, no air freshener; she doesn’t like the smell.】 【Still daring not to reply?】 【Clara’s family and mine are old family friends. Don’t project your dirty thoughts onto us. Do I need to explain what ‘old family friends’ means?】 I didn’t reply. Instead, I opened the chat with my parents and told them I was coming home. Opening the door to my parents’ house, I was greeted by the aroma of hot food and their warm embrace. Ethan was always busy, and to take care of him constantly, I hadn’t been home in years. I told them I wasn’t planning to get married. My parents were surprised for a moment, then quickly accepted it. After all, on the day of our engagement, Ethan’s parents had been so snobbish, looking down their noses and openly mocking the precious local homemade gifts my parents brought, making my parents feel incredibly awkward. 6 Ethan must have gone back to the villa and found me gone, because he started calling. The custom ringtone he’d set for me echoed in my ears, over and over. I pressed the power-off button. Then I pulled out some calligraphy paper from under the cabinet, ground the ink, dipped the brush, and started practicing. Soon, the paper was densely covered with my writing. Satisfied, I turned my phone back on and opened the camera to take pictures. A notification for 99+ missed calls from Ethan popped up. I calmly swiped the notification away. After finding a good angle and taking several photos, I uploaded them to my social media. I woke up to find it had gone viral. There was a familiar profile picture in my DMs. It was Leo Bell, a senior from my hometown who was in the university calligraphy club with me. After a pleasant chat, we agreed to meet up tomorrow to catch up. 7 When I saw Leo Bell, he was holding a bouquet of larkspur, symbolizing freedom. Leo smiled shyly, just like the innocent young man from years ago. “I remember you like larkspur.” A delicate fragrance filled the air, and my heavy heart seemed to skip a beat or two unexpectedly. “You actually remembered.” Leo looked at me, his eyes shining like stars: “I remember a lot of things about you.” I felt a little embarrassed: “What should I give you in return?” Leo thought for a moment: “Well, then write a piece of calligraphy for me.” Leo walked me to my door. I didn’t let him leave, excitedly pulling out calligraphy paper: “What would you like me to write?” Leo picked up the inkstick and began to grind it for me. “May Lila be like the free-flying larkspur, and find her freedom in this life,” Leo said slowly, word by word. My brush paused, and my nose tingled. He looked at me quietly, his eyes holding a universe of stars. Once the characters were dry, he carefully wrapped it up as if it were a priceless treasure. “This wish, I’ll need your help to make it come true.” Under his caring gaze, I nodded vigorously. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. I thought my parents were back. When I opened the door, I saw a haggard-looking Ethan. He had dark circles under his eyes and a short stubble on his chin, looking utterly exhausted. 8 “Lila, why didn’t you tell me you came home…” Ethan’s voice was hoarse. Leo called out from the room: “Is that your aunt and uncle back?” Hearing an unfamiliar male voice, Ethan looked stunned. He gripped my shoulders tightly, demanding sharply: “Who is that man in there? You’ve only been back a few days and you’re already shacking up with a new guy?!”

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