Just because my 5-year-old daughter delayed my husband from picking up his old flame from the airport. In a fit of rage, he locked our daughter in an unfinished utility shaft in the villa. A faint cry for help echoed from within the load-bearing wall. I desperately smashed at the wall to save my child, but he shoved me to the ground. The blood from my palm soaked the flowers he’d bought for his old flame, enraging Ethan further: “You’re just a glorified nanny in this Grant family! What right do you have to touch anything meant for Chloe and her daughter?” “If you hadn’t schemed your way into my bed back then, forcing my hand with the pregnancy, I never would have missed my chance with Chloe. She never would have suffered that horrific assault!” I froze, staring at Ethan in disbelief. He gently took Chloe’s hand, then picked up her daughter, his eyes filled with tenderness: “I’ll make up for everything I owe you and your daughter.” Later, when Chloe’s daughter snuggled into Ethan’s arms, calling him “Daddy” with a triumphant look. My own daughter lay cold in my embrace, forever silent. Ethan, as you wished, I’m returning the title of Mrs. Grant to you. … The light above the operating room went out. The doctor shook his head, sighing: “Mrs. Grant, we did everything we could. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Lily, so full of life just moments ago, now lay peacefully on the bed, as if asleep. “Lily… don’t sleep yet, sweetie. Mommy bought your favorite strawberry cake. You still need to make a wish.” My fingers trembled as I tried to place the cake fork in her small hand, only to touch icy coldness. In that instant, a heart-wrenching pain tore through me. Tears dripped onto my daughter’s hand. An hour earlier, when I found her in the narrow space within the concrete wall of the villa, she was already stiff. Lily died from an asthma attack. But why was my usually obedient, sweet Lily inside a concrete wall? Using a cotton swab dipped in saline, I carefully cleaned away the dried cement from between her fingers. When I finally pried open Lily’s bluish fingers and saw the crumpled chocolate wrapper clutched in her palm, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. The chocolate wrapper bore the Grant Enterprises logo. Ethan had given her the candy. My hand shook as I dialed his number, a bitter twist on my lips: “Ethan… did you see Lily today?” His voice on the other end was impatient: “Sarah, can’t you think of any other way to tie me down besides using the kid?” I was about to explain. A clear, bright “Daddy!” cut through the line, interrupting me: “I love this Mickey Mouse doll, and this sunflower dress, and I love this room! Can I live here?” Daddy? My daughter wasn’t even cold yet, and Ethan was already so eager to move Chloe and her daughter in? Six years of bottled-up grievances erupted. I screamed into the phone: “Ethan, that’s my daughter’s room! I won’t let anyone set foot in it! Get Chloe and her daughter out of my house, now!” A moment of silence on the other end. Then, Ethan scoffed and ordered the housekeeper beside him: “Move Lily’s things into the guest room. Redecorate this room according to Zoe’s preferences.” Zoe’s cheers followed, along with Chloe’s feigned reproachful tone: “Ethan, you can’t spoil Zoe like this. She’s already so happy just to see her daddy. How can she take Lily’s room?” Ethan soothed Chloe: “That Lily is a wild child, just like her mother, no good. It’ll be good for her to learn from Zoe how to be a good girl…” Their family-of-three voices weren’t loud, but they grated on my ears. So, Ethan could be doting. It was just a shame that warmth never extended to Lily. A bitter taste filled my mouth: “Ethan, today is Lily’s birthday. We’re waiting for you at Mercy General Hospital.” “Sarah, what kind of game are you playing now?” Suppressing my emotions, I took a deep breath and said, word by word: “Come say your last goodbye to Lily.” 2 A deathly silence followed. “What do you want now?” Ethan’s cold laugh broke the silence. “Teaching your daughter to fake asthma attacks wasn’t enough? Now you’re even using death to scheme?” His laughter died, his tone chillingly cold: “How could Lily have a mother like you? She’s my daughter. You dare curse her, just try it.” Chloe’s coquettish voice came through: “Zoe and I don’t want Sarah to misunderstand. You should go to the hospital and see Lily. We’ll wait for you at home.” Ethan seemed to have a sudden thought, a flicker of panic in his voice, as he forced out a few words: “Tell Lily to wait for me. I’ll be there in half an hour.” The call ended abruptly. Putting the phone away, I stroked Lily’s face, whispering softly: “See, sweetie? Daddy cares about you. He’s coming to celebrate your birthday soon.” Once, he had knelt before his grandfather’s sickbed and sworn: “As long as Sarah gives birth to a Grant heir, I will cherish the child as my own.” But he broke his promise. From the day Lily was born until now, Ethan had never truly looked at her. Lily had once asked me, crestfallen, why Daddy didn’t love her. I had woven lies in Ethan’s stead, building up a perfect father figure in Lily’s mind. “Ding—” A WeChat notification. It was the security guard, sending the villa’s surveillance footage. The footage held the secret of how Lily got into the wall. My fingers trembled as I opened it. Seeing Lily’s small form, my eyes welled up again. Ethan had lied. He had seen Lily today. Why did he deny it repeatedly? In the video, the moment Ethan stepped out of the house, Lily clung to his leg, cautiously trying to please him: “Daddy, please, just one minute. Wait for Mommy to get the cake, and you can blow out the candles with me…” Lily desperately wanted a birthday present from her father, but when she spoke, she only dared to ask him to blow out the candles. Ethan’s face was etched with impatience. He pulled a chocolate from his pocket and tossed it into the villa garden: “Daddy’s going to play hide-and-seek with Lily.” He pried her small hands from his suit jacket, pointing to a dark opening of an unfinished utility shaft: “You go find the chocolate first, then hide. If you’re good, Daddy will definitely celebrate your birthday with you.” My heart clenched. Lily was only five. She was not only afraid of the dark but also had severe asthma and was allergic to dust mites and particulate matter. “Daddy… I’m scared.” The only response Lily got was Ethan’s cold, retreating back. She clenched her small fists, mustered her courage, and tiptoed towards the dark opening in the garden… I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to watch anymore, my mind drifting back to three hours ago. When I realized Lily was missing, I immediately tried to call Ethan for help, but his phone was unreachable. In desperation, my phone picked up a signal from Lily’s kids’ smartwatch. “Lily, where are you?” I followed the signal, tears streaming down my face, my voice trembling and distorted. A faint breathing sound came from the other end, mixed with the rustle of a plastic candy wrapper. “Mommy…” Lily’s hoarse voice made my blood run cold. Her voice grew weaker, her breathing more labored, and the signal became intermittent: “I found the chocolate Daddy hid, but… it’s so dark in here…” I scanned my surroundings, my gaze locking onto the newly built sunroom in the garden. Grabbing tools, I headed straight for the sunroom. Almost simultaneously, the main gate was pushed open from the outside. Ethan walked in with a pretty woman and a little girl who looked about six. The moment I saw Ethan, my eyes lit up: “Ethan, Lily’s missing! Do you know where she went?” 3 Ethan expertly took the woman’s coat, set down her luggage, and without looking up, said: “Haven’t seen her.” The next second, he turned to stare at the tools in my hand, his brow furrowed deeply: “Chloe is a light sleeper and can’t stand noise. Keep it down around the house, don’t disturb her rest, understand?” I froze, staring at him in confusion. Ethan ignored my reaction. As he passed me, he reminded me in a barely audible whisper: “Sarah, you’ve gotten more than enough. Don’t be greedy. All of this should have been Chloe’s.” Chloe. Ethan’s first love, the unattainable one that got away. The one the housekeeper said Ethan had self-harmed over multiple times after she left. A heavy ache filled my chest, and a mist clouded my vision. Ethan reached for the tools in my hand. I clutched them to my chest: “Lily… I heard Lily’s voice… She’s here in the villa.” I pointed towards the newly built sunroom: “Ethan, Lily’s in the sunroom! Please, break down that wall!” Ethan didn’t believe me: “Sarah, are you crazy? That’s a load-bearing wall, freshly poured concrete!” “Lily is in the wall! Why don’t you believe me!” I pushed him, but he didn’t budge. I cried, almost in despair: “In your eyes, Lily being missing for a few hours is no big deal because you’ve never been there for her. But I’m different. Lily has never left my side. She’s been gone for three whole hours! Why don’t you trust a mother’s intuition?” I pounded on Ethan’s chest: “It’s just a sunroom wall! Why won’t you let me break it?” Ethan grabbed my shoulders and shoved me back. Stumbling, I tripped over something, and the back of my head hit a metal scaffold. After a dull thud, warm liquid trickled down the back of my head. In a daze, I felt Chloe’s daughter step on the back of my hand: “Bad auntie! The sunroom is my mommy’s! You can’t touch it!” As she spoke, a doll’s button fell near my feet. I slowly looked up, my eyes fixing on the doll in the little girl’s arms. She was holding the limited-edition Barbie doll I had flown to Japan specifically to buy. It was the birthday present Lily had been begging for for three months. In that instant, everything clicked. Why Ethan insisted on building a sunroom, even though I was allergic to pollen; Why Ethan had a gift box with him when he left the house earlier… So that was it. It was all for Chloe and her daughter. I gave a bitter laugh, gritted my teeth against the pain, and struggled to my feet, inching towards the garden. Chloe’s voice drifted over, laced with insinuation: “Sarah, darling, surely you didn’t hide the child just to get Ethan’s attention?” My steps faltered. I looked up and met Ethan’s furious gaze. He ground his teeth, his words dripping with contempt: “You’re just a glorified nanny in this Grant family! What right do you have to touch anything meant for Chloe and her daughter?” 4 My phone alarm blared, jolting me from my memories. Thirty minutes had passed, and still no sign of Ethan. It was too late; Lily was about to be taken to the morgue. I started a video call with Ethan, hoping only to fulfill Lily’s birthday wish. When the video connected, Zoe’s face appeared. She was wearing Lily’s favorite sunflower dress. The phone camera pointed towards the guest bedroom, and she pushed the door open: “Daddy, we’re going to be late for the art competition!” As the door opened, Chloe, flustered, clutched the blanket to her shoulders, her face flushed as she Say angrily as if pretending : “Zoe!” Ethan smirked, tying a black bow tie around his neck, adjusting his shirt cuffs as he said: “If you can’t get out of bed, just rest at home. I’ll take Zoe to the competition.” The phone camera panned across the messy carpet. Amidst the scattered clothes, two used condoms lay in a corner. I numbly ended the video call, a wave of nausea washing over me. My daughter and I had waited for him in the morgue for 30 minutes. And him? He was entangled with his lover, taking their illegitimate daughter to a competition. Ethan, he didn’t deserve to be a father! Putting the phone away, I accompanied Lily on her final journey. Everyone said I married up by wedding Ethan, but this wealthy family felt more like a cage to me. I once believed that feelings could be cultivated, but I never imagined Ethan had never felt anything for me. Later, we had Lily. She was so bright for her age. Because of her, my mother-in-law, who had previously made things difficult for me, started to praise me more. Apart from coming home three times a month on a fixed schedule, Ethan was mostly absent. Lily was my constant companion. She would wrap her small arms around me and vow to take me traveling around the world when she grew up. She would also kiss my cheek after Ethan belittled me, sweetly saying, “Don’t be scared, Mommy, Lily loves you…” With Lily, I had a home. With Lily gone, the home should fall apart. After leaving Lily’s grave, I made up my mind to leave Ethan for good. “Mr. Vance, I’ve signed the divorce papers. As for Ethan… I’ll get him to sign as soon as possible.” The divorce agreement, which had been lying in the nightstand drawer for five years, finally had a use. On our wedding night, five years ago, Ethan, reeking of alcohol, had taken out his anger on my body while simultaneously slamming the divorce papers onto my face: “Give birth to the child in your belly, take the money, and get lost!” After sobering up, he never brought up divorce again. But I had kept those papers hidden in the nightstand. My thoughts snapped back to the present. The lawyer tentatively asked: “Ma’am, how should the assets be divided?” Ethan was generous enough; the agreement gave me forty percent of Grant Enterprises’ shares. But now, money meant nothing to me. “I voluntarily waive…” “Boom!” A sudden burst of fireworks and the sight of a drone near the seaside cemetery cut me off. I was drawn to the fireworks. Because next to the dazzling display, a drone formation spelled out a message: 【CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DARLING ZOE FOR WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL IN PAINTING】 As the fireworks exploded across the sky, I recognized Ethan. He was leaning down, kissing away a tear from the corner of Chloe’s eye. In that instant, I changed my mind: 【We’ll stick to the agreement. I want what’s mine.】 5 As the fireworks faded, I called Ethan, demanding to know where he was. He glanced at Chloe and Zoe, then lowered his voice to explain: “Sarah, just give me another 30 minutes. I’ll be there soon.” “Don’t bother.” I hung up and appeared before Ethan. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your family gathering, but please give me back Lily’s clothes.” Ethan’s face darkened: “Sarah, are you ever going to stop? Can you not project your own filthy thoughts onto others?” I had no intention of arguing with him. I walked straight up to Zoe and gently touched the dress: “This was Lily’s favorite dress. You’ve stained it with your paint. She’ll be upset.” Before the words were even out, I reached out to pull the dress off Zoe. “Waaah!” Zoe burst into tears: “This dress is mine! I’m not giving it to you, no! Everything in the house is mine – the house, the cars, even Daddy! They’re all mine!” Chloe, standing nearby, pulled Zoe behind her: “Didn’t you hear? This is Zoe’s dress!” “Smack!” I raised my hand and slapped Chloe across the face: “It’s not just Ethan that’s yours. The word ‘shameless’ belongs to you and your daughter too.” She froze for a moment, instantly silenced. “Sarah, do you have to pick today to cause a scene?” Ethan said, pulling Zoe into his arms protectively. “It’s Zoe’s birthday. Can’t this wait until we get home?” I stared at Ethan’s face and laughed. As I laughed, tears started to fall. Today was also the anniversary of Lily’s death. But Ethan, you didn’t deserve to know. The sea breeze tugged at my collar. As I turned to leave, Chloe blocked my path. She grabbed my sleeve, yanking at the black armband I wore, her eyes wide with anger: “Sarah, you’re a mother too! How could you do something so malicious?” She ripped off the black band, tears streaming down her face: “Today is Zoe’s birthday, and the day she won her award! It was supposed to be a happy occasion! What do you mean by wearing a black armband? Are you here to curse my Zoe?” Her tears fell like broken pearls, her voice rising in a sob: “Your child went missing because you were negligent! You’re using these twisted methods to curse my child! I’m not done with you today!” The black armband, a tribute to Lily, was torn to shreds by Chloe, scattering in the wind. “Sarah, apologize to Zoe!” Ethan stepped forward to support the swaying Chloe, who promptly collapsed against him. “Today is Zoe’s 6th birthday. Her only birthday wish was for a fireworks display…” “Ethan, do you know what Lily’s birthday wish was?” I cut him off with a bitter laugh. Ethan’s eyes darkened: “…” “Zoe’s wish was a fireworks display. But do you know, my Lily never dared to hope for a grand fireworks show. Yesterday was Lily’s 5th birthday. Her only wish was for her daddy to blow out her candles with her.” Ethan stared intently at me. I gave a wry smile. I pressed the chocolate wrapper Lily had clutched in her hand into Ethan’s. His pupils contracted, his lips moved: “Lily…” “She has something to say to her daddy.” As I finished speaking, I played the last voice recording Lily made before she died: “Mommy, I want Daddy to celebrate my birthday with us. He promised he’d come back for me. Please don’t blame Daddy…” Hearing this, Ethan’s face turned deathly pale. He gripped my shoulders, his voice filled with extreme terror: “Tell me, Lily… where is she?” “She’s at…” My eyes were unreadable as I pointed towards the seaside cemetery. “Zoe, don’t scare Mommy! Ethan! Quick, take Zoe to the hospital!” Before I could finish, Chloe shrieked from behind me. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ethan scooped up the fainted Zoe and ran off. As he passed me, I grabbed his arm, trying to contain my anger as I reminded him: “There’s a document you need to sign. It concerns Lily and me…” “What time is it to be worrying about that! Are you still thinking about your allowance!” He actually thought the document was a contract for me to demand living expenses from him. I let out a bitter laugh and played along: “Yes. As long as you sign it, I’ll never stop you from taking care of Chloe and her daughter again.” The look Ethan gave me was utterly cold. “Fine!” He clenched his jaw, pulled out his phone, and without any hesitation, signed the divorce agreement before leaving with Zoe in his arms. The lawyer was extremely efficient. By the time I was on the plane to Japan, fifty million had been deposited into my bank account. Before turning off my phone, I scheduled Lily’s memorial photo to be sent to Ethan in three days. Then, I threw away my SIM card. Looking out the window at the shrinking city of Seaview, I felt a wave of emotions. This nightmare was finally over. I was about to start a new life.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392581”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Ever since I can remember, my parents’ relationship was like a pile of loose sand. They argued and later, they just started living apart. Christmas, a time that should have been for family, came and went, but Mom never showed up. The next day, a lawyer knocked on our door with divorce papers. I don’t know what was written on them, but I saw Grandpa and Grandma fly into a rage over it. In the biting winter cold, they bluntly shut the door in the lawyer’s face. That polite lawyer stood in the freezing wind for ten minutes, finally just saying, “Well then, I’ll see you in court.” Those words cast a depressing shadow over the entire holiday season. I was never the favorite in this house anyway, so I just took on all the chores, treading carefully, terrified of upsetting anyone. Dad pulled a fat envelope of cash from his pocket, grinning as he handed it to my younger brother: “Ethan, Merry Christmas!” Ethan took the money and gave Dad a sweet kiss on the cheek. Dad dotingly pinched Ethan’s little face, his eyes full of love. That scene filled me with envy. After finishing the chores, my heart pounding, I pulled my report card from my backpack and handed it to Dad, hoping to see him smile. Who knew that the moment he saw it, his face would change, and he’d snatch it and rip it to shreds. He looked down at me, his voice full of reproach: “Do you know how hard I work for money? And you have the nerve to ask for Christmas money with this!” Grandma, always quick to read the room, immediately chimed in: “Just like your mother, ungrateful!” Before the words were even out, she raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face several times: “Hurry up and clean this mess, you little jinx, can’t even let people have a peaceful holiday!” I was dizzy from the blows and stumbled to the ground. When I came to my senses, the room was empty. I knew clearly that in this family, I was just an extra. I was eight that year, and it was also the last Christmas I spent in our old town. The day of departure drew near. Dad was taking Ethan to the city. Before leaving, Grandma shoved me into the car with a look of disgust: “Let her go take care of Ethan; someone needs to do the work around the house.” Dad hadn’t wanted to take me, but hearing that, he reluctantly agreed. Deep down, I understood. Grandma and Dad had already discussed it—after the divorce, one child each. They were determined to keep Ethan, and I was just being temporarily taken to look after him. When the time was right, I’d be dumped with Mom. I could only console myself that maybe, with Mom, things would get better. In court, my parents fought tooth and nail for custody of Ethan, while I could only sit silently on the bench, awaiting my fate. When Mom walked out of the courtroom, devastated, I knew the answer. Before the hearing, the lawyer had softly asked me, “Little girl, do you want to live with your dad, or your mom?” I looked out the window at the birds hovering in the cold winter air, as lost and alone as I was. “Who would want me?” My heart was bitter. I originally wanted to say, “I’ll go with whoever wants me,” but the reality was, it seemed no one wanted me. I wore a drab dress, just like my life, a shade of gray. That day, I went back to Dad’s place to pack my things, just as he brought some friends home. They ate, drank, and partied for a long time, finally leaving me to clean up their mess. Someone pointed at me and asked, “Whose kid is this? Haven’t seen her before.” Dad, with his arm around Ethan, glanced at me casually, “Kid from our old town. Her mom’s coming to pick her up later.” I stood frozen, the broom in my hand feeling like it weighed a ton. When the agreed time came, Dad sent me downstairs early. He uncharacteristically stuffed an envelope of money into my hand: “Don’t come back unless it’s important.” He paused, then added, “And don’t come back even if it is.” I didn’t reach for the money, not because I didn’t want it, but because it was too cold that day. My hands were already frozen stiff, and my heart had turned to ice. I stared hard at the man before me—he was clearly my father, so why did he detest me so much? He stubbornly shoved the envelope into my coat and walked into the elevator without a backward glance. The Christmas cheer hadn’t faded yet; kids on the street corner were happily setting off fireworks and firecrackers with their fathers, their laughter crisp and clear. My heart full of grievance, I slammed the envelope on the ground and stomped on it several times. I didn’t want the money; I just wanted my dad’s love. Thinking this, tears welled up, and I burst out crying, hoping so much that Dad could hear my heart. But I knew he wouldn’t turn back. Tired from crying, I stubbornly stared at the street corner, hoping Mom would come for me—I still had Mom, didn’t I? I waited alone in the cold wind, from day to night, until every house had turned off its lights and gone to sleep. Finally, a beam of a flashlight cut through the darkness, and a distant call came: “Ella?” The light shone on me, warmth chasing away the chill. I ran over, and the person’s face gradually became clear—it was Grandma, that kind-faced old woman. Mom had married far away, and Grandma rarely visited us. The last time I’d seen her was four years ago when Ethan was born. Full of anticipation, I looked behind her, about to ask about Mom. She pulled a steaming hot pastry from her pocket and stuffed it into my mouth. I had been hungry for so long, and the savory aroma filled my mouth. I wolfed it down, and then I heard her say, “You’ll stay with me for a few days. Your mom went to earn some money.” I nodded. A thought crossed my mind: Mom was having such a hard time. I had to help her take good care of Grandma. But Grandma was lying. Mom didn’t want me either. I waited for three years. My mom never came back, never even called me. At first, I would eagerly pester Grandma, “Why doesn’t Mom call me? Is Mom coming back for the holidays this year?” Grandma would mysteriously pull out a bag of snacks. “Your mom sent these. She knows you love them.” Not long after, as if by magic, she’d pull out a brand-new dress from behind her back. “Look, it’s your favorite color.” Again and again. Every so often, Grandma would pull out [a gift from Mom]. It wasn’t until later. I discovered Grandma would sneak out at night, rummaging through trash cans, picking up bottle after bottle, can after can. Her small, thin frame carried that huge bag of recyclables, moving step by step, carefully searching, afraid to miss a single one. This was her secret. That night I cried for a very, very long time. The next day, my eyes were so swollen I could barely open them. She, instead, asked me, “Are you missing your mom?” I rushed into her arms and shook my head, hugging her very, very tightly. Later on, she asked me if there was anything I liked recently; she would call my mom. My eyes instantly reddened, and I held back tears, afraid she’d notice. “There’s nothing I like, Mom… has it too hard.” I didn’t want Mom anymore; having Grandma was good enough. Even though I said that, Grandma still went out every night under the cover of darkness. Worried, I followed her from a distance. The putrid smell from the trash cans drifted on the wind, making me want to gag. When she found me, a flicker of embarrassment crossed her face. “You child, coming out without wearing more clothes!” She took off her thick coat and put it on me, not forgetting to explain, “I can’t sleep at night, so I come out to move around a bit. You have school tomorrow, hurry back!” My nose tingled, my eyes welled up, and I took the bag from her hand. “Grandma, let’s go home.” “I can’t sleep without you by my side.” Grandma paused, then her face broke into a smile. When I first came to the countryside, I slept far away from her, curled up in a corner, shivering from the cold but too scared to make a sound. After that court case, when I saw her again, I was already eleven. Mom was getting remarried and came back to invite Grandma to the wedding. She pulled a few clothes out of her suitcase, saying she bought them especially for me. She pressed them into my hands, smiling, “Hurry and try them on. You’ve never seen such nice clothes, have you?” When I took the dress, the smile froze on my face. The dress had shiny sequins and cheap lace trim. Not only was it several sizes too small, but it was also something far too childish for my age. Three years apart, I had grown taller. But I forgot, she didn’t know. Or perhaps, she never knew, not then, not now. I laughed self-deprecatingly, wondering what I was even expecting. In the end, I put that dress at the very bottom of my closet, out of sight, out of mind. I went to the city with Grandma for her wedding. The scenery outside the car window flew by: paved roads, tall buildings, and at night, rows of bright streetlights. Grandma’s eyes sparkled with excitement: “If only you could study here.” I stubbornly shook my head. I just wanted to be with Grandma; even if life was a bit harder, it didn’t matter. I just needed to work hard. That night, we stayed in the city. Grandma and I felt awkward and out of place in the fancy apartment. My mom pointed at Grandma’s feet with a frown, “Mom, you’re filthy. Go wash up.” A look of embarrassment and helplessness flashed across Grandma’s face, and she quickly nodded. She had barely taken a few steps when she turned back to ask where the faucet was. My mom rolled her eyes in exasperation, sighed deeply, and said, “I shouldn’t have brought you. You’re such a bother.” I shot up, stood protectively in front of Grandma, pulled her into the bathroom, and washed her feet for her. “We’re going back tomorrow!” When I woke up, Grandma was gone. I frantically searched the entire apartment, calling her name several times, but only echoes answered me. I stood there, cold sweat breaking out all over my body. Gradually, I found it hard to breathe and collapsed weakly to the floor. Last night, Grandma told me Mom wanted me to stay in the city to study; everything in the city was the best. But I knew it was she who had begged Mom for a long time. She even took out all her savings from selling recyclables. Only then did Mom reluctantly agree. Grandma had tricked me again. This time, I decided to follow her wishes, study hard, and never disappoint her. Later, I secretly called Grandma, sobbing for a long time before I could speak: “Grandma, I’ll work hard to get into Northwood High. Will you come see me then?” Her voice thick with emotion, she answered, “Okay.” Mom’s new family was wealthy, so her status at home wasn’t very high. Taking me in to study in the city seemed to have created a rift between her and Mr. Davis. To live here peacefully, I carefully tried to please everyone. Including Gavin. Gavin was Mr. Davis’s son. When I first came to the house. I habitually tried to be nice, giving him half of the cake Mom rarely bought for me. Gavin threw it on the floor and said flatly, “Disgusting.” All I got in return was him bullying me even more. My grades couldn’t keep up with the city’s pace. During midterms, the school called for a parent-teacher conference. Mom lost face and slapped me in front of everyone in the classroom. Because I was third from the bottom, and Gavin was last. “It’s bad enough your own grades are terrible, but you’re also a bad influence on your brother!” It was clearly Gavin who had locked me in the girls’ bathroom, making me late. But she didn’t even ask why. I finally understood she was trying to suck up to the Davis family; even if it meant me getting hit, as long as Gavin was happy, it was fine. I half-covered my face, tears welling up, biting my lip to keep them from falling. In that moment, I really, really missed Grandma. I wanted to get into Northwood High, to keep my promise to Grandma, so I endured it. As soon as I got home, Gavin was kicking a tattered piece of cloth around by the door. I recognized it instantly—it was the vest Grandma had knitted for me! He wasn’t satisfied with just stomping it; he deliberately tore it. I knew he did all this on purpose, just to drive me away. I used all my strength to push him down hard, my eyes red as I screamed, “If you’re so tough, go pick on your dad! What kind of is it to bully me!” Gavin set the torn vest on the ground on fire. He glared at me: “So what if I bully you? Who asked you to come to my house! This is my house!” My feelings were the same as his; I hated this so-called blended family. Everyone faked harmony on the surface, but in reality, they all despised each other. But Gavin would only take it out on me. I looked down on him. The emotions I had suppressed for so long finally boiled over. I fought with Gavin. Mr. Davis came home from work and saw this. He picked me up and threw me hard to the side. “You dare bully my son in my house!” “I give you food, I pay for your school, and instead of being grateful, you’re this arrogant!” I got up, wincing in pain, tears uncontrollably welling in my eyes. “He started it, he’s always…” He pointed to the front door and yelled at me, “Get out of my house now, get out!” My gaze followed his pointing finger to the doorway, where my mom was standing, witnessing everything. She frowned at me without saying a word, showing no intention of speaking up for me. Clinging to hope, I pulled on my mom’s sleeve, my voice hoarse as I pleaded, “Mom, can I stay?” “Grandma is still waiting for me to get into Northwood High. I promised her.” I don’t know which words were wrong, but she slapped me across the face. “You troublesome thing, why don’t you just die? You just keep dragging me down!” This was the second time she told me to die. Even though when she gave birth to me, she had risked her life. But why give birth to me only to tell me to die? What did I do wrong? Before I could recover from my shock, she had already rushed over to Gavin, anxiously checking his injuries. I stood alone at the door, unable to go in or out. Just standing there. Watching the happy, harmonious family of three. From beginning to end, I was just an outsider. My mom threw all my things out the door, her eyes filled with disgust: “Take your trash and get out. Don’t be an eyesore here.” After saying that, she didn’t even glance at me before slamming the door shut. Shutting me out. I left the Davis house. I would never come back. That day, I don’t know how long I walked. Until my legs were sore and numb, until the soles of my shoes wore thin. With every step, a little closer to home. I don’t know how long I walked, my heels gradually aching and swelling. Until I stood before that door. Suddenly, I wanted to cry again. I took a deep breath but didn’t have the courage to knock. I was afraid to see Grandma’s worried expression, afraid to see her disappointment. In the end, I squatted by the door, quietly waiting for dawn, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace. I was home. Grandma was startled when she opened the door in the morning, surprised and overjoyed to see me. “Why are you back!” My eyes reddened, and I pursed my lips, unable to say a word. I was afraid if I spoke, I would break down crying, so I could only silently hold it in. I carefully observed the expression on her face, worried if Grandma would blame me for being difficult. She glanced at my feet and secretly wiped away a tear. I followed her gaze; my socks were soaked with blood, and the soles of my shoes were worn through. Only now did it start to hurt. “It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back.” Her voice was very soft. I couldn’t tell if she was talking to me or to herself.

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“I played the part of the perfect, submissive wife to Logan Crestmore for four years. Four years ago, after the video of Sienna Vance running down my sister, Clara, surfaced, my then-boyfriend, Ethan Cole, hired a top-tier legal team for Sienna, helping her evade justice. I was alone, desperate, when Sienna’s stepbrother, Logan, stepped up, seemingly choosing righteousness over family. He hired lawyers for me, scoured for evidence, and ultimately, Sienna was sent to prison. When it was all over, Logan proposed. I accepted. In our fourth year of marriage, I found an email in Logan’s inbox. It was a birthday message from Sienna. Attached was a happy selfie of her on a beach, the date in the bottom right corner: yesterday. 【Happy Birthday, bro!】 【Clara’s heart has been doing great in me for four years now, no issues at all. Thanks to you and Ethan, I got a new lease on life.】 【It’s just tough on you, having to stick with Lyla to keep her from making trouble.】 Logan had replied: 【As long as you’re happy, brother will do anything.】 Reading it, I actually laughed, a wild, unrestrained sound. These three murderers thought they deserved happiness? Four years. Their reckoning was finally here. … I carefully saved screenshots of Logan and Sienna’s exchange, then quickly left the study. Wouldn’t you know it, I bumped right into Logan as I opened the door. Logan’s brow furrowed instantly. “What are you doing in my study?” Married for four years, he’d lavished affection on me, even involved me in the Crestmore family business, but two places were strictly off-limits: the study at home, and one specific room in his corporate office. Before he could finish, I threw myself into his arms, feigning terror, my voice choked with tears. “Logan, I had that nightmare again… Clara, all covered in blood when she… I was so scared. I looked everywhere for you, even in the study…” The iciness in Logan’s demeanor melted away. One arm wrapped around my waist, the other gently patted my back. “Shhh, I’m here, baby. Don’t be scared.” “I know Clara’s death is still a raw wound for you, but the person responsible paid the price. We need to move forward.” I trembled in his embrace, a pretense masking the inferno of hatred inside me. Logan had no idea I’d long known he was complicit in my sister’s death, even if Sienna was the only one publicly named. Our marriage was a sham, a performance to help his beloved stepsister escape true punishment. Thinking this, I fought back a wave of nausea and cried harder into his chest. Logan dropped everything, patiently comforting me for a long time. Once I’d calmed down, he began, somewhat hesitantly, “Honey, there’s something I need to tell you… Sienna’s been released. She’s coming back tomorrow.” Seeing me freeze, he rushed to explain, “I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but she is family, after all. Even if she made a mistake, she has to come home. I was worried…” This usually decisive CEO’s voice trailed off, laced with apprehension. Asking a victim’s family to welcome the perpetrator home was cruel, especially since I was his wife. But I just wiped my tears, managed a gentle smile, and said calmly, “I understand your position. I’m okay.” I looked up, softly caressing his face. “You’ve done so much for me, even turning against your own family. It’s time I let go too.” At my words, Logan’s arm tightened around me fiercely, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Lyla, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I laughed, pushing him away playfully. “We’ve been married this long, and you’re still so cheesy.” “Since Sienna’s coming back, we should throw a welcome home party, you know, clear the air. Let me handle it.” Logan breathed a sigh of relief, holding me tighter, his eyes filled with guilt. “Lyla, my sweet Lyla, you’re so understanding. I’ll never let you go.” I leaned against his shoulder, a smirk playing on my lips, unseen by him. Oh, really? Let’s just see how “understanding” I can truly be. 2 For these four years, I wasn’t just the respected Mrs. Crestmore; I was a key player in Crestmore Industries. Many profitable projects were my initiatives, and I’d fought for numerous employee benefits. Two years ago, Logan said the company was facing a downturn and urgently needed to partner with Cole Enterprises. I agreed without hesitation. Ethan Cole was my ex-boyfriend, the one who abandoned me when I was seeking justice for my sister, choosing instead to help Sienna. But for Logan’s company, I’d buried the hatchet with Ethan without a second thought. Now, again for Logan, I was offering to throw a welcome party for my sister’s killer. How could he not be moved by such “devotion”? And how could our social circle, those who knew the barest, twisted version of the story, not praise my magnanimity? The welcome home party was a who’s who of Harborview’s elite. Sienna made her entrance in a stunning red gown, arm-in-arm with Ethan, looking every bit the poised socialite. Her confident air and arrogant demeanor bore no resemblance to someone just released from prison. She looked more like she’d just returned from a luxurious overseas vacation. Which, of course, she had. Logan himself had picked her up from the airport. Sienna spotted Logan by my side immediately. She practically ran over, throwing herself into his arms. “Logan, I missed you so much! Four years in that awful place for nothing, but we can finally see each other again!” Then, her gaze, sharp as daggers, landed on me, followed by a possessive, coquettish whine to Logan: “This party is gorgeous! Did you do all this for me, big brother? I love it!” Logan chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Actually, Lyla planned all of this. Come on, say hello to your sister-in-law.” Sienna’s smile froze on her face. Her eyes shifted to me, and she forced a saccharine smile, murmuring a hello. The party officially began, and Sienna flitted through the crowd like a social butterfly, her witty banter drawing peals of laughter. But I could feel her gaze, subtle yet persistent, following me. Finally, when Logan stepped away to the restroom, Sienna approached. I was taking a breather in a quiet corner of the ballroom. Without a word, she flung a glass of red wine in my face. “Oh my god, I am so sorry, Lyla! I just wanted to come over and toast you, thank you for throwing such an amazing party for me. My hand just slipped, and it went all over you.” “Are you okay? Do you need me to help you clean up?” She said the words, but she just stood there, a mocking smile on her face, making no move to assist. I pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing at the wine on my face, and offered a calm smile. “It’s fine, Sienna. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll just freshen up.” My nonchalant demeanor, however, seemed to ignite her fury. She slammed her empty glass onto a nearby table, abandoning all pretense of civility. “Lyla, who do you think you’re fooling with this saint act? Don’t think I don’t see your little games. Trying to look pitiful so my brother will feel sorry for you? You’re pathetic!” Her eyes darted to a point behind me, then she leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper. “What do you think? Will my brother let someone who bullies his little sister stay his wife?” With that, she raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Logan was there in a flash, protectively scooping up a seemingly fragile Sienna. “Sienna, what happened?” Sienna burrowed into Logan’s embrace, her lip trembling, fat tears rolling down her cheeks like broken pearls. “I just wanted to offer Lyla a drink, and she… she called me shameless, slapped me, and then grabbed my wine and threw it on herself to make it look like I attacked her!” Logan’s gaze immediately shot to me, taking in my wine-stained face and the reddened fabric of my dress. “Brother, I don’t understand why Lyla would do this to me. Is it still because of that car accident?” “But I swear, it wasn’t on purpose! I even did four years for it. Why won’t she just let it go…?” Logan’s face darkened instantly, but not at me. It was at Sienna. 3 His brow furrowed deeply. He immediately released Sienna and snapped, “Nobody is bringing up what happened back then! Why are you obsessing over it?” Sienna’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Logan. I stepped forward, playing the mediator. “It’s okay, Logan. I’m sure Sienna didn’t mean any harm. I’m fine.” “Today’s supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not spoil it over something so small.” Logan’s expression remained grim. He coldly pulled Sienna away. The curious onlookers dispersed, and the party resumed. I, however, discreetly followed them. In a secluded corner on the second floor, Sienna finally yanked her arm free from Logan’s grasp, her voice a petulant whine. “Logan, you’re hurting me! And why won’t you believe me? Why are you siding with an outsider over me?” Seeing Sienna’s distress, Logan sighed heavily, his tone softening. “We both know the truth of what happened, Sienna. Lyla’s been through enough. Can’t you just let it be?” Sienna’s eyes widened as if she were seeing a stranger. “What are you talking about? Bro, don’t tell me you actually see Lyla as your wife. You only married her to help me get off the hook!” “That whole thing was years ago, and I’ve done my ‘time.’ It’s time for you to dump her!” Logan shook his head. “We owe her too much. I’ve already resigned myself to spending the rest of my life making it up to her.” But as he turned to leave, Sienna threw her arms around his waist from behind. “I don’t believe you! Logan, you love me, don’t you? We’re not blood-related! I know you love me, otherwise, why would you do so much for me?” Logan froze as if her words had struck a nerve, his hands trembling slightly. Finally, succumbing to his desires, he spun around, cupped Sienna’s face, and kissed her with a desperate ferocity. I silently stopped the recording, saved the video, and turned to leave the second floor. By the time Logan and Sienna came downstairs, the party was winding down. He couldn’t find me anywhere. It wasn’t until he got home that he discovered me, crying in the utility closet. Hearing the door open, I pretended not to notice, my sobs growing louder. “Lyla!” Logan rushed over and pulled me into his arms, his brow creased with concern. “I was looking all over for you. What happened? Why are you crying like this?” I quickly turned my head away, frantically wiping my tears with my sleeve, then forced a smile as I faced him. “I’m fine. I just twisted my ankle tidying up and didn’t want you to laugh at me, so I hid in here…” Logan stared at me, his eyes filled with an aching tenderness. “Lyla, don’t you know your smile is the most strained when you’re lying? I can see right through it.” “I…” I flitted my gaze away, flustered. He gently brushed away a tear threatening to fall. “Tell me, why are you hiding in here crying?” I bit my lip, trying to hold back, but the next moment, I threw my arms around his neck, the dam of my tears finally breaking. “At the party… Sienna mentioned Clara… and I just started thinking, if Clara were still alive, she’d be about Sienna’s age…” “But I’ll never get to see her grow up.” At the mention of my sister, a flicker of panic crossed Logan’s eyes, quickly replaced by guilt. His grip on my waist tightened, his voice laced with self-reproach. “It’s all my fault. I was so caught up with the party, I neglected your feelings. Tell me, honey, what can I do to make you feel better?” I lowered my gaze, shaking my head. “You don’t need to do anything. Just… just let me see you more often.” “Logan, can I… can I come to your office more? I’ve been having these awful nightmares lately, dreaming that you leave me. I… maybe if we could have lunch together, talk more, maybe they’ll stop.” Logan frowned, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He’d always kept me away from his office. Because it held so many secrets he didn’t want me to know. I pulled my hands back, forcing a lighthearted laugh. “If you’re busy, it’s okay. It was just a thought.” “Lying again,” he tapped my forehead gently, his smile tender. “Of course, I can do that for you. Such a small request.” My face lit up, and I leaned in to kiss his cheek. “You’re the best, husband!” The surprise on his face seemed genuine, a spark igniting in his eyes. Logan joyfully swept me up in a princess carry. I shyly buried my face in his neck. Just barely… managed to hide the disgust in my eyes. 4 For the next two weeks, I became a frequent fixture in Logan’s office. Not only did I bring homemade lunches for us to share there, but I often waited for him to finish work so we could go home together. Sienna, having returned, also worked at the company. Initially, she was openly resentful of my constant presence around Logan, making snide remarks both overtly and covertly. But after Logan reprimanded her a few times, she toned it down considerably. Today, I was waiting for Logan to finish up so we could have lunch, as usual. I ran into Sienna right outside the company breakroom. She seemed to be in a foul mood today. Upon seeing me, her eyes narrowed, ready to launch into a sarcastic tirade. But the next second, snippets of conversation drifted from the breakroom: “Mrs. Crestmore and the CEO are seen together so often! And he really dotes on her. They’re so cute together!” “Totally! Mrs. Crestmore is beautiful and has such a gentle personality. She and the CEO are a match made in heaven. Not like… that one…” “Hahaha, you mean Sienna, right? I’ve been sick of her for ages.” “Sure, she’s technically the CEO’s sister, but anyone can see she’s got a thing for him, right?” “Seriously, it’s laughable. Does she even think she’s worthy? No talent, and such a horrible temper. She can’t even compare to a single strand of Mrs. Crestmore’s hair!” I watched as Sienna’s face contorted into a mask of pure fury. She stormed into the breakroom, slamming her mug onto the floor with a deafening crash. “You goddamn gossips! Talking about me behind my back! You want me to have my brother fire all of you right now?” “And you think Lyla is so great? My brother only married her for my sake!” As Sienna ranted, her brow suddenly furrowed, and she clutched her chest, sinking to the ground in apparent pain. Just then, Logan rushed over in a panic and swept Sienna into his arms. As he carried Sienna past me, he was still anxiously cautioning her, “Sienna, calm down, take deep breaths. Your heart can’t take this kind of stress.” After they left, I immediately took the elevator to the top floor, to Logan’s office. He always had his trusted secretary, Alex, guard it when he wasn’t there. Normally, Logan would be in his office at this time, but Sienna’s little episode had disrupted things. And Alex, as it happened, had something else on his schedule. I slipped into the office with surprising ease. In his haste to leave, Logan hadn’t locked his computer. I quickly found traces of Sienna everywhere. Logan had saved photos of Sienna all over his computer, so he could see her image at any moment. Even when he claimed to be on business trips abroad, he was actually vacationing and taking pictures with Sienna, who was hiding out overseas. A humorless laugh bubbled up from within me. Logan’s affections were truly a fickle thing. Suddenly, my eyes landed on a folder. Its name was ordinary, but it was marked with the highest level of security. A voice inside me whispered, this is it. For security, three incorrect password attempts would trigger an alarm. I suppressed the turmoil in my chest, my fingers trembling as I typed in Sienna’s birthday. 【Incorrect Password】 I tried my own birthday. Still the same: 【Incorrect Password】 Then, a string of numbers flashed in my mind. I carefully typed them in. Just as I moved the mouse to click ‘confirm,’ I heard Alex’s voice from outside the door: “Mr. Crestmore, you’re back.””

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After Jenna postponed our wedding for the tenth time, I decided to give her back her freedom. My friend’s second baby was having his one-month party; I sent my congratulations early and skipped it. My buddies invited me on a camping trip; if she showed up, I was prepared to leave immediately. My company wanted to assign me to her company to oversee a project; I resigned on the spot. Even when her parents came to my door, begging, I refused to see them. I destroyed every photo I had of her, severed all social media ties. I deleted the social media account where I’d documented our relationship, completely erasing every trace of her from my life. We’d known each other for twenty-five years, been in love for five. I used to believe we were destined to be together. Until the tenth wedding plan fell through, and I finally woke up— Love yourself before you love others. “Ethan, give me ten minutes, I’m almost there.” Jenna hung up before I could reply. I looked sheepishly at the hotel staff. “My fiancée will be here any minute. Could you give us a little more time? Once she’s here, we’ll run through the rehearsal değişiklikler.” The staffer offered a professional smile but looked troubled. “I’m sorry, sir, but your booked time slot for the venue is already fifteen minutes over. The next couple is waiting for their rehearsal.” Over his shoulder, I saw the anxious faces of the other couple. I forced a grim smile. “Our apologies for the delay. We’ll leave now.” The wedding planner walked out of the hotel with me. “Mr. Hudson, even though the rehearsal wasn’t completed, the deposit is still non-refundable.” I managed a bitter smile. “It’s fine. I’m the one who broke the contract.” This wedding planning company was top-tier in Bay City, their schedule always packed. I’d paid double the deposit just to get them to work with us ten times. “You’re already one of our VIP clients, sir. Feel free to contact us anytime for your next rehearsal.” His words made my face burn. I practically fled the scene. This was the tenth time Jenna had missed a wedding rehearsal. The previous nine times, she’d used “emergency business trip” as an excuse to postpone the wedding. Even though the invitations had to be reprinted nine times, I’d caved every single time. But this time, I was curious to hear what new excuse she could possibly come up with. I leaned against a birch tree across from the hotel, waiting from dusk until nightfall before she finally sauntered over. “The company called an emergency board meeting. I floored it to get here. Can we still make the rehearsal?” She was still catching her breath, her form-fitting denim skirt carrying the fresh scent of shower gel. “It’s too late.” Jenna, who had started to pull me towards the hotel, stopped dead in her tracks. She put on an apologetic look. “The company’s huge, and as CEO, I’m just spread too thin. We’ll make up the rehearsal next time, okay?” I stared at her in silence, waiting for the familiar lines. Sure enough, she frowned and sighed. “I have business talks in Europe next week. Can we postpone the wedding again?” Seeing the pain in my eyes, she cooed softly, “Don’t be sad. Next time, it’ll definitely happen. I’ll even get a psychic to pick a lucky day.” “First, come with me to try on suits. I had a new Savile Row suit custom-made for you.” Every time she postponed the wedding, she’d try to smooth things over with an expensive suit. Ten such custom suits were already gathering dust in my closet. I wasn’t about to accept an eleventh. I pulled up a photo of an order on my phone. “You should remind Leo to pick up his custom suit.” Jenna’s expression flickered, then she quickly composed herself. “It’s for the company anniversary, to reward outstanding employees. Leo, my assistant, has worked incredibly hard…” I nodded, then opened a social media post she’d accidentally shared half an hour earlier—a photo from a candlelight dinner, her fingers intertwined with Leo’s. “Does Ms. Yang care to explain?” Her face turned livid. “Ethan Hudson, are you actually accusing me of cheating? I was wining and dining a client to close a deal! You think everyone can just bum around like you? If I miss one day of work, the company loses millions!” I let out a short laugh. “We’re childhood sweethearts, Jenna. Both our families are well-off. If you hadn’t said that me taking over my family’s company would mean neglecting you, why would I be stuck in a dead-end job at some small firm?” Her face turned a ghastly mix of pale and red. “Fine! So I’m the one holding you back from your grand ambitions! Let’s just go our separate ways then!” I smiled and turned away, but my chest felt like a knife was twisting inside. My phone vibrated. A text from Leo popped up: [Sorry to have delayed your rehearsal, Mr. Hudson. Next time, I’ll be sure to steer clear of your eleventh wedding attempt.] Every word was a poisoned barb, making it hard to breathe. She was on a date with her assistant, and she told me she was with a client. What a joke! Jenna and I were childhood sweethearts. Our parents were old friends too. Ever since we were little, our parents would tease us: “You two are the same age, practically grew up together, and you’re always stuck to each other. Why don’t you just get married when you grow up?” Back then, I was little and didn’t know what marriage really meant. All I knew was that if we got married, Jenna would always be around to play games with me. So I’d clap my hands and cheer, “Yes, yes! I want to marry Jenna!” I even mimicked what I saw on TV and wrote her a promise note, saying I’d definitely marry her when I grew up. So, naturally, after I actually understood the meaning of marriage, my parents always used that promise note to tease me. I was thin-skinned back then, and the teasing made me flustered and a bit angry, so I started intentionally avoiding Jenna. When she noticed, she cornered me and burst into tears, demanding to know what she’d done to make me give her the cold shoulder. Those tears melted my heart, and for the first time, I felt a stir of romance. That was the day I realized I was in love with her. We finally broke through the “just friends” barrier when we were twenty and started dating. In the years that followed, I proposed, she accepted, and then she postponed the wedding ten times. By then, her star assistant, Leo, was already a fixture by her side. They spent far more time together day in and day out than she and I did. I kept telling myself their closeness was just for work. But today, I wasn’t willing to lie to myself anymore. The constant buzzing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. I composed myself and answered, “Hello? Mike, what’s up?” “Good news! My second kid’s one-month party is this Saturday. Bring your fiancée and come grab some food.” I was about to say I’d go alone, but then I remembered: Mike was my boy, but his wife, Emily, was Jenna’s best friend. “Has Emily told Jenna yet?” “They’re on the phone right now. What, you and Jenna aren’t together? You finished rehearsal and went your separate ways? You’d pass up a perfect chance to get close, buddy?” Mike sounded puzzled. I gave a bitter smile. Everyone knew I was whipped for Jenna; that’s why they’d assume that. I mumbled an affirmation, said I’d be there, and hung up. To “celebrate” tonight, I’d arranged for a bottle of rare vintage wine through a friend. I went to the wine shop, picked it up, and drank the entire bottle by myself. The live feed from the security camera on my phone showed Jenna. She’d hired movers and was in the process of moving her things out of our place. Maybe she realized I was watching, because she looked right at the camera and said, “What, spying on me? Afraid I’ll steal your stuff?” I chuckled and switched to voice. “You misunderstood. I just wanted to remind you to take those suits you got me, the ones in the bedroom, with you too.” Jenna gritted her teeth, furious. I closed the video feed and answered Mike’s call. Before I could say anything, he asked coldly, “Did Jenna postpone the wedding again? She didn’t show up for the rehearsal today either, did she!” When I stayed silent, he got even more agitated. “You’re getting screwed over and you don’t even fight back! Just wait, I’m gonna go teach Leo a lesson!” It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to fight back; I’d just completely given up on her and didn’t want to get dragged into any more drama. It took a lot of convincing and reassurance before Mike finally calmed down. “It’s probably for the best that you and Jenna are done. I’ve seen for a while that her heart wasn’t in it with you. I just didn’t say anything because we’re all so close.” I chuckled. “Just don’t let our mess affect your relationship with Emily.” “No way. Me and my wife? We’re solid.” After hanging up, I stumbled home. Looking at the empty apartment, the weight in my chest finally lifted a little. I did a walkthrough, found a photo album and a bottle of perfume she’d left behind, and tossed them out the window. Then I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. To avoid Jenna at the one-month party, I took Friday off and went over to Mike’s place early. Mike opened the door, put a finger to his lips for silence, and pulled me into his small backyard. Jenna was there, dangling a toy for the baby, chatting with Emily. “I moved all my stuff out this time. I dare Ethan Hudson to yell at me again after this. He really needs a reality check, acting like he’s hot stuff! He’s gotten way too big for his britches!” For years, I’d been submissive and coddled Jenna’s princess tantrums. I never thought it would give her the mistaken impression that I was naturally timid. Mike frowned, looking even angrier than I felt. I patted his shoulder and gave a helpless smile. Jenna’s phone rang, interrupting their conversation. She answered with a smile, nodded to Emily, and hurried towards the front gate of the house. Mike and I quickly ducked out of sight. Once she was gone, I followed her. “Leo, didn’t I tell you to take the day off? Why aren’t you resting?” Leo, without a care for who might see, pulled her into his arms. “I missed you. Thinking about how you kept postponing your wedding with Ethan for me… it just drives me wild. I can’t stand being away from you.” Jenna playfully tapped his chest. “Well, it was your idea, wasn’t it? You’re so naughty.” My blood ran cold. Even though I’d suspected this was the case, hearing it directly from the two of them still sent a pang through my heart. Leo pinched her cheek. “You still like me, even if I’m a little naughty. Besides, you were the one who told me you didn’t want to marry him. I just came up with the plan. You agreed to it.” An intimate vibe flowed between them. If they weren’t right at Mike’s front gate, I swear those two would’ve started an R-rated scene right then and there. It took all my strength to hold Mike back from rushing out. Only when we heard an engine start and the car drive off did he finally explode, cursing me for being a pushover. “Why are you taking this crap! Just go deck him!” I shook my head, my face pale. “There’s no point anymore. It’s over, and that’s good enough.” The next day, Saturday, I didn’t show up for the party. Around lunchtime, Jenna called me. “Ethan Hudson, is this how you treat your friends? Skipping their big celebration? You have no class!” I knew she was just trying to get a rise out of me, so I didn’t say anything. After a moment, she continued. “I forgot a limited-edition perfume. Don’t even think about keeping it to mope over me. Bring it to me right now.” “Threw it out.” I hung up on her. I thought she’d be furious, but a second later, I got a text from her. [Playing hard to get, are we? Pathetic! Fine, throw it out! I don’t want it anymore! And don’t you dare come looking for me again!] Saturday night, Leo, to thank everyone for attending the baby’s party, suggested a group hike for Sunday. Everyone in the group chat was enthusiastic. I was about to decline when I saw Jenna post that she had something on Sunday and couldn’t make it. Only then did I agree to go. The next day was bright and sunny. I was by the stream, grilling skewers, sunglasses on. A few of Jenna’s close friends sidled up to me, their expressions disdainful, and asked slyly, “Valentine’s Day is coming up, Mr. Big Shot Ethan. I bet you’ve got another ridiculously expensive gift for our Jenna, right? What is it? Show us, let us girls take a look.” They didn’t know Jenna and I had broken up. They still thought I was the same old simp, free for them to tease. I ignored them, deliberately fanning the charcoal to make the fire hotter. The smoke got to them, and they ran off, cursing. The skewers were almost done. I was about to sprinkle on some cumin and take them to the table, then I remembered Jenna and I were over. Why should I care about her preferences anymore? I went back and loaded them up with chili powder. I had just put the skewers on the table when I saw Jenna approaching. I took off my apron and turned to leave. At the same time, I heard a friend’s voice behind me, talking to her: “You’re late, so you have to chug one as punishment! Oh right, I forgot you don’t drink beer. Get Ethan over here to drink it for you.” Then my friend called out my name from behind. Without looking back, I said flatly, “I don’t make a habit of drinking for strangers.” Jenna’s hand, reaching for a glass, froze mid-air. She narrowed her eyes, her gaze dark and unreadable as she watched me walk away. I took a personal day on Monday and went back to the office on Tuesday. I’d barely clocked in with the facial recognition scanner when my boss clapped me on the shoulder and led me to his office. Standing in front of his desk, I listened to him spin a fantastic tale of opportunity for me. Goosebumps rose on my skin. I had no idea what scheme this old exploiter was cooking up now, but I was sure it wasn’t anything good. His next words confirmed my suspicions. Somehow, he’d heard that my fiancée was Jenna, and he claimed he wanted to give me an opportunity for an “office romance” by assigning me to her company to oversee a project. Nice words, but this rinky-dink company had no collaborative projects with Yang Corp. The Yang Corporation was a major player in Bay City, a real heavyweight. They wouldn’t even look twice at a small enterprise like mine. He was just saying that because he wanted me to use my connections to bring in a project for him. I refused. The boss, still not giving up, kept trying to brainwash me. I was about to tell him off when Jenna’s call, unbelievably, came through to his phone. The boss answered, all smiles and bows. After hanging up, he said to me, “Ms. Yang says there’s a small project she wants to collaborate with our company on, and she specifically requested you to be the liaison.” I let out a cold laugh, ripped off my ID badge, and slammed it on his desk. “I’m done! I quit!” I turned off my phone and went out of state to clear my head. I only turned it back on a week later. The sheer volume of text messages almost crashed it. A quick glance showed they were all from Jenna. I opened the most recent one: [Ethan Hudson, I give up, okay? Turn on your phone and call me back!] I hit “delete all.” The next second, her call came through again. “Ethan Hudson, you finally decided to turn on your phone! Do you have any idea I’ve been going crazy trying to find you these past few days?!” “Where are you right now? Send me your address immediately!”

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The employee with the worst sales figures at our company had to do a walk of shame wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “Ultimate Loser.” This time, the bottom spot belonged to my wife’s old flame, but she swapped my sales champion numbers with his. Everyone stared, jaws dropped, when they saw I was the one branded the loser. Her golden boy, Spencer, just smirked, tossing the shirt at me. “A bet’s a bet. You’re not gonna chicken out, are ya?” My wife, Chloe, secretly texted me: “Do me a favor, Liam. Spencer’s sensitive; a stunt like this could mess him up psychologically. You’re different. You’re the sales king, thick-skinned. This is nothing for you. If you do this, I’ll finally agree to have a baby with you.” I didn’t respond. She got impatient, stood up, and slammed her hand on the table. “This rule was set a long time ago! Either wear it or expect your pay and bonus to be docked. Your money or your pride, your choice.” A grin spread across my face as I tossed my employee ID on the table. “Sorry, I choose to quit. I’m done with you, and I’m done with this company.” 1 The moment I said it, the entire room went into shock. Everyone knew I’d been the sales champion for five years straight. I’d brought in almost all the company’s business. Me leaving was like cutting off the company’s lifeblood; the whole place would probably collapse. An employee immediately spoke up for me: “Ms. Lin, Liam’s been our top seller for so many years. It’s just one slip-up. Does he really need to be punished like this?” My wife, Chloe Lin, kept a stern face, her fingers flying across her phone, texting me. But I just placed my phone face down on the table, not even glancing at it. An older colleague I was close to got anxious, giving me a look that screamed, “Just apologize, man!” “Liam, if you two want to fight, do it at home. Don’t bring your drama to work.” But he didn’t get it. This time, I was dead serious. I’d helped Chloe build this company from the ground up. I’d hustled for every single client. But I barely saw any of the money, and after seven years of work, closing countless major deals, I was still just a junior manager. Every time a promotion came up, she’d talk about retaining talent and then give the supervisor position to someone else. “Honey, we’re married. What’s mine is yours. It’s just a title; we don’t need that.” I believed her. I watched her go through ten supervisors in five years, none of them me. This was our seventh year of marriage. On our anniversary, she got drunk and excitedly promised: “Honey, if you’re the sales champion one more time, the supervisor position is yours.” I worked like a man possessed, fueled by adrenaline, and secured first place by a landslide. I thought it was a sure thing this time. But then her old flame, Spencer Thorne, was suddenly parachuted in, taking the position that should have been mine. I confronted her. She explained: “Spencer has a Ph.D. from overseas. I paid a fortune to recruit him. He’s better suited to manage the company than you are.” She urged me to prioritize the company’s interests. Seeing Spencer’s fancy degree, I gritted my teeth and swallowed it. But what happened? A quarter later, Spencer, the whiz kid she had such high hopes for, was at the bottom of the performance chart, doing worse than a newbie who’d only been there for half a month. This time, I’d planned to use his failure as an opportunity to reclaim the supervisor role. I never imagined Chloe would abuse her power to swap our numbers just to protect Spencer, even trying to force me into this humiliating public display. This was just too much! The atmosphere in the conference room was incredibly awkward. No one dared to speak. Chloe, seeing I wasn’t replying to her messages, was getting anxious and was about to say something. Spencer, mimicking me, took off his ID badge and, feigning distress, said: “Forget it, I’ll be the one to leave. It’s all my fault for insisting on following the rules and upsetting everyone.” “Liam was the former sales champ, and he’s Ms. Lin’s husband. I really should have shown him more respect.” “It’s all my mistake. I’ll apologize to him right now.” With that, he raised his hand and slapped himself across the face. The crisp sound of the slap echoed, stunning everyone. My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating. Watching Chloe fuss over Spencer, comforting him, I curiously opened my phone. A small group chat was buzzing with activity. “There goes Spencer, the drama king, with his little act again. I really don’t get why Ms. Lin made him a supervisor. No talent, but so arrogant.” “Last time, Ms. Lin snatched my deal and gave it to him. He was so high and mighty, not only did he piss off the client, but he also blew the deal.” “And Ms. Lin didn’t even blame him! She called me in and chewed me out for half an hour, saying my clients were low-class and if I brought in any more like them, I’d be fired.” Suddenly, a cough was heard, and the chat went silent. Clearly, someone realized I was in the group and clammed up. I raised an eyebrow. Chloe had previously asked me to introduce my clients to Spencer, which I’d refused. I hadn’t realized she’d actually stoop to pressuring employees to hand over their clients to help Spencer boost his numbers. This was her “highly educated talent”? This was her idea of fairness and justice? Her bias was so blatant, yet she still talked to me about what was best for the company, for our family. As I saw it, she was only doing what was best for her love life! Chloe, still unaware of this, spent a good while whispering sweet nothings to calm Spencer down. Then she turned to me, her voice sharp: “Who hasn’t been the ‘Ultimate Loser’ at some point?” “You weren’t born a sales champion either. Back in the day, you were fine doing frog jumps on the street wearing the ‘Ultimate Loser’ shirt. What’s wrong now?” “I think you’ve gotten a big head now that you’re older.” She criticized me mercilessly in front of our colleagues, assuming I’d cave like before, out of respect for our marriage and to save her face. Little did she know, I had a temper too. She was the one who broke faith first; she couldn’t blame me for not playing along. I smirked and threw down the printouts of the real data I’d prepared. They clearly showed my performance miles ahead in first place, while Spencer was the one at the bottom. I said calmly: “If I had lost, I’d own up to it. But I will not take the fall for someone else.” “Everyone, take a good look. Who’s the real ‘Ultimate Loser’ here?” 2 Sheets of paper fluttered through the air. Everyone present saw the contents and their mouths fell open in shock. They hadn’t expected Chloe’s favoritism towards Spencer to go this far. Many shot me sympathetic glances. Realizing the truth was out, Chloe’s face changed. She slammed the papers onto her secretary’s face, fuming: “Are you blind? I asked you to print some data, and you managed to screw it up this badly?” “Pack your things and get out now!” The secretary was stunned. “Ms. Lin, it wasn’t me, I didn’t…” She started crying, but before she could even explain, HR dragged her out to be fired. But everyone knew Chloe was just putting on a show, scapegoating the secretary. Seeing Chloe about to dismiss the meeting, I held up the “Ultimate Loser” T-shirt. “Hang on, the shirt hasn’t been worn yet. Where’s everyone going?” Spencer’s face was ashen; he looked like he was about to bite his lip until it bled. But I wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “What’s wrong? Now that it’s your turn, Supervisor Spencer isn’t so keen on following procedure?” The downtrodden employees’ eyes lit up, and they chimed in: “Come on, Spencer, it’s just a T-shirt. No big deal.” “Yeah, we’ve all worn it. You need to set an example, Supervisor Thorne.” Seeing Spencer cornered, Chloe’s face fell, her concern obvious. She slammed her phone down on the table. She seemed to be yelling at the employees, but her words were clearly meant for me: “Have you made your calls? Done your client follow-ups? All you do all day is engage in this infighting. If you have this much energy, why not go close a few more deals?” “Meeting adjourned!” She really was protective of Spencer. Back when Spencer’s cronies were ganging up on me, she said internal competition was a good thing. Now that Spencer was the one being cornered, she sang a different tune. Seven years of marriage, ending up like this. It was utterly pointless. All eyes were on me. I led the way out of the conference room but didn’t go back to my desk. Instead, I walked straight out of the company. Chloe saw this and, ignoring the strange looks from everyone, rushed after me. When we were alone, she grabbed my arm, her tone softening. “I’m sorry, honey. I was wrong.” “You know, Spencer is a supervisor I personally promoted. If he seems incompetent, the employees will question my judgment, won’t they?” “I was afraid they’d badmouth me, so I just had a moment of foolishness. Can you give me another chance?” It was always like this. In public, she played the strict boss; in private, she was the gentle wife, cooing and apologizing, making me give in time and time again. But after this, I would never believe her lies again. “Don’t say any more. I…” I started to speak, intending to refuse, but was cut off by a ringing phone. She answered it, then hurriedly thrust a card into my hand. “Honey, here’s your debit card back. I won’t control your finances anymore.” “Take some time off to rest. Don’t worry, I’ve got things covered at the company.” She rushed back into the company building. I didn’t get a chance to tell her that this time, I was really leaving and wouldn’t be giving her another chance. I drafted my resignation letter, and just as I was about to send it, a client called. His father was sick, and he was out of town and couldn’t get back. I immediately drove to his house, took his father to the hospital, got him water, and ran errands. Chloe thought a fancy degree was all it took to close deals. She didn’t understand that we were in a service industry. Clients could take their projects anywhere. What they valued most was the personal connection, the emotional labor. I had deep, life-long bonds with my clients. These were connections no one else could poach. I stayed at the hospital until the client’s family arrived, then left. After a busy day, I randomly stopped at a mall, planning to grab a bite. And there I saw Chloe and Spencer, arm in arm, shopping. Spencer’s friends were teasing him. “Spencer, you landed a rich and beautiful girlfriend! Why’d you wait so long to introduce us?” Chloe shyly lowered her head. “Work’s been so busy. My treat today, to make it up to everyone. Don’t hold back, eat up!” As she finished speaking and was about to lead them into a restaurant, her eyes suddenly met mine. She flinched and instantly let go of Spencer’s arm. 3 “So sorry, something came up. Let’s do this another time.” Chloe quickly apologized and had Spencer send his friends away. Once everyone was gone, she followed me into the restaurant and sat down opposite me, explaining: “Honey, don’t misunderstand. I was thinking about how you were wronged today, so I wanted to buy you some new clothes to make up for it.” “I was worried I’d pick something you wouldn’t like, so I asked Spencer to help me choose.” Saying this, she handed me the bag she was holding. “Didn’t you say your clothes were too low quality? See, I bought you something nice.” I opened it and looked at the tag. Over $1,500. Expensive, indeed. But it wasn’t my size. A men’s small. Only someone with Spencer’s lanky build could fit into it. This was clearly bought for Spencer. She buys me $9.99 T-shirts but shells out over a grand for Spencer. What a great wife. I couldn’t be bothered with her and called the waiter to order. Chloe interjected, “Let me handle small things like this.” She rattled off a list of dishes, all my favorites. Then she came behind me, massaging my shoulders, gently pouring me wine. She even blew on a piece of freshly cooked pork belly to cool it before placing it in my bowl. The waiter serving us remarked, “Your wife is so thoughtful.” But I just found it laughable. It was only when I closed a big deal, or when she needed something from me, that I received this kind of meticulous care. I used to find this public-private contrast of hers rather charming, quite interesting. But thinking about it now, she was just incredibly utilitarian. Perhaps she never loved me at all. She was with me only for what I could provide. I opened my mouth, “Chloe, we…” The word “divorce” was still on my lips when she stuffed a piece of cantaloupe into my mouth. “This melon is so sweet, you have to try it.” Spencer, waiting on the side, was getting antsy. He kept making faces at Chloe. “Chloe, isn’t there something you forgot to say?” Chloe paused, her tone softening even more. “Honey, you’ve been so tired lately. It’s time for you to take a break. While you’re resting, let Spencer handle your clients.” “Don’t worry, the commission will still be yours. You won’t lose out.” I put down my chopsticks. Sure enough, when someone’s too nice for no reason, they’re usually up to no good. I knew it. Every bit of kindness she showed me came with strings attached. Seeing my expression darken, Chloe meekly peeled an orange for me, coaxing, “As a senior employee, you should also give the newcomers a chance to learn and grow, right?” I sneered, “Sure.” Chloe was overjoyed, thinking I’d agreed. I spread my hands. “Once I resign, all my clients will be his anyway.” With that, I immediately typed up my resignation announcement and posted it on my professional networking site. Less than ten seconds after I posted it, my phone started buzzing like crazy. 4 “Are you insane? I haven’t approved your resignation! How could you just post it online?” Chloe was instantly furious. Before she could even scold me, her own phone exploded with notifications. She scrambled to reply to each one: “So sorry, just a little spat between husband and wife. Don’t mind us.” “Resign? No way. He might leave the company, but he wouldn’t leave his family, would he?” “He’s just throwing a bit of a tantrum. I’ll talk him around.” I didn’t give her any face. I turned and walked out. Chloe wanted to chase after me but was stopped by the waiter to pay the bill. By the time she got outside, I was long gone. Chloe completely panicked. She called me 99 times. I didn’t answer. Then came a flood of apology texts. “Honey, I was just spitballing. You could have just said no.” “Please, please reply. Don’t give me the silent treatment, okay?” I hung up on her call again. But then, I unexpectedly received a message from Spencer. Curious, I opened it. It was a log of his chats with Chloe. Chloe, who with me couldn’t go three sentences without talking about work, was chatting with him daily about food, drinks, and everyday life. Just as I finished reading, Spencer sent more: photos of them on vacation together, and expensive gifts Chloe had bought him. “Liam, you didn’t know, did you? Chloe and I never really broke up.” “She even paid for my studies abroad.” “Speaking of which, I should thank you for working so hard. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” No wonder Chloe was always “traveling for business” to the US in previous years. Turns out she was going on dates with Spencer. I checked the balance on the debit card she’d “returned” to me. Only a few hundred bucks left. I then checked the transaction history. It was full of large transfers and charges from romantic restaurants. Clearly, she’d been using my money to support Spencer, and then had the gall to use his education to put me down. I didn’t respond to Spencer’s provocations. Instead, I forwarded the records to my lawyer. Then I replied to my clients, one by one: “Yes, I’ve resigned. And I’m planning to get a divorce.” A woman like that? Good riddance. After replying, a major client tipped me off: “Is Spencer Thorne from your company? Liam, old buddy, you’ve really fallen on hard times if even a greenhorn like him dares to try and poach your clients.” To help Spencer, Chloe actually dared to use my client list, to steal my deals. She’d truly shed her last shred of dignity. Since that was the case, I decided to play along and see who would be the real winner in the end. The moment I had the client pretend to agree to her advances, Chloe’s calls and messages trying to win me back stopped. The next day, Chloe messaged me directly, telling me to come to the company to process my resignation. I didn’t say much, just hailed a cab and went. In the office area, Chloe was popping champagne. “A major client is renewing their contract today! This is all thanks to Spencer. Therefore, I’ve decided to promote Spencer to Director, effective immediately.” Chloe led the applause. But most people just looked at me, heads down, and the applause was sparse and reluctant. Seeing me arrive, Chloe raised an eyebrow, her demeanor changing. She looked down at me condescendingly. “Liam, let me tell you, without this company, you’re nothing.” “You see now, anything you can do, Spencer can do too.” “I advise you to just swallow your pride, apologize, admit you were wrong. If I’m feeling generous, I might even let you come back.” Spencer jumped in to smooth things over, laughing. “Liam is your husband, after all, and he’s worked diligently for so many years. It really isn’t fair that he’s been stuck as a junior manager.” “How about we give him a supervisor position? He can work under me. I’ll be sure to mentor him.” Chloe smiled and clapped, praising Spencer’s generosity, then threw a contract in front of me with a 90/10 split. “From now on, for any deal you close, he gets ninety percent, you get ten.” “Sign it, and the supervisor position is yours. If you don’t agree, then you can just resign.” Two documents lay before me. She thought I would compromise. Instead, I picked up the resignation form and signed it. “Please expedite the processing, make it urgent.” Chloe’s face turned utterly ugly. She was about to yell at me when the major client arrived. She glared at me. “Liam, when all your clients have been poached by Spencer, we’ll see what leverage you have left to be so arrogant with me.” She and Spencer went forward, all smiles, to shake hands. “Mr. Peterson, you’re here to renew your contract, right? This way, please.” The major client walked over to me and smiled. “Actually, I’m here to terminate our contract.” “Oh, and by the way, 56 other clients have authorized me to terminate their contracts as well.”

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To test if their new custom alloy arrowheads could pierce a human skull. My wife’s old flame’s daughter, Hailey, used the pretense of getting my wife, Evelyn, to come home and reconcile with me. She lured my special needs daughter, Lily, to an abandoned construction site on the edge of town. She made her balance an apple on her head, a living target. When I followed Lily’s GPS tracker watch and found her, The alloy arrow shaft had already pierced her scalp. Part of it was embedded deep in her skull. I frantically rushed Lily to the general hospital our family owns. I begged Evelyn, a leading neurosurgeon, to save our daughter. Over the phone. Evelyn’s voice was cold: “Hailey was an archery champion at five.” “Did you think all children are as slow as that… that thing you fathered?” “If you want to scam me for sympathy money, at least work on your Photoshop skills.” “Why bother saving her when she’s like that! She’s a lost cause!” After hanging up. Evelyn had me and Lily thrown out of the hospital without another word. She even told all her colleagues in the city not to treat us. To prevent “scammers” like us from wasting medical resources. Later. Evelyn would brutally sever one of her own fingers. But she never managed to win me back. 1. After being turned away by the last specialty hospital in the city. I sat with Lily on a small flowerbed planter by the hospital entrance. Light snow drifted from the sky. The alloy arrow shaft had already pierced her scalp. Part of it was embedded deep in her skull. Snowflakes landed sparsely on Lily’s face; the chill made her weak eyelids flutter. She opened her eyes and managed a difficult smile at me. “Daddy, is Mommy home?” I fumbled to wipe away my tears and nodded quickly. “She’s home, she’s home, Mommy’s already home!” “Really? That’s great, Daddy. You won’t have to work so hard all alone anymore…” Hearing this. The child in my arms smiled, her eyes crinkling with joy. But as she smiled, the twenty-five-inch alloy-fletched arrow lodged in her head wobbled. It made her already pale face look even more broken under the warm yellow lamplight. “Really, of course, it’s real, my Lily is the best girl!” I said. “Sweetheart, rest against Daddy for a little longer. Mommy will be here soon, and when she comes, we’ll take Lily to the amusement park.” I wrapped my scarf tighter around her. My numb fingers kept swiping across the screen of my old phone. Dialing the number saved as “Wife” over and over. The call connected, then was disconnected, again and again. The child in my arms probably sensed something. She fought to keep her eyes open. Just staring at the streetlight glow, muttering to herself. “Daddy, I was so brave today, I didn’t dodge even once…” “It hurt a little, but Hailey said if I didn’t dodge, she’d make Mommy come home to us…” “Daddy, when Mommy comes back, can we go to the amusement park together?” “I don’t want anything, I’ll be good and listen…” Besides the arrow in her head. Lily’s whole body was covered in wounds. Without exception, all were from arrows piercing her and then being forcibly pulled out. I couldn’t even imagine. This child, who was afraid of pain, afraid of the cold, afraid of the dark. How did she endure being pierced by arrows time after time, and still stand back up through the pain? Because of Evelyn’s orders. Every specialty hospital in the city had turned me and my child away. I could only swallow my pride and beg a nearby pharmacy for a few band-aids and two rolls of gauze to try and stop the bleeding. This superficial treatment. Still allowed blood to seep through her down jacket onto me. I could clearly feel it. My child’s life was ebbing away with the unstoppable flow of blood. I wanted to coax her to sleep for a while. But that cold arrow shaft prevented her from lying on her side or her back. Even the slightest movement sent agony coursing through her nerves, a heart-wrenching pain. Countless times, I held my child and wanted to rush into the hospital. To beg them to save her. But every time. I was stopped by the unyielding security guards at the entrance. “Director Hayes already called, Mr. Miller. You really shouldn’t be pulling these childish stunts!” “Don’t you know how strained medical resources are right now?” “People like you, trying to use connections to jump the queue for a minor injury, only tarnish the entire medical system!” 2. “Daddy, I’m so cold.” My daughter’s sudden murmur from my arms broke my thoughts. “Daddy, isn’t Mommy here yet? I think I might have to sleep soon…” I looked down at her. Her lips moved faintly, her voice growing weaker. “Daddy, please ask Mommy not to be mad at me, okay? When she comes, I’ll definitely wake up…” I wanted to comfort her. But the words caught in my throat, choked by sobs. I fought back the agony, finally managing to squeeze out some words. “Lily, be good, don’t sleep yet! Mommy’s coming right now! Right now!” Under my relentless barrage of calls. Evelyn finally answered. I hurriedly put the phone on speaker. And turned up the volume, holding it to Lily’s ear. Wanting her, in her final moments. To hear the voice of the mother she longed for. But the next second after the call connected. Evelyn’s voice, a torrent of abuse, blasted through the speaker. “Ethan Miller! You’re really getting into this act, aren’t you! Calling and texting over and over!” “That idiot you fathered—I wouldn’t care if she really died!” “Since you love playing the victim so much! Then today, I’ll let you know what real misery is!” Before Evelyn could spell out my punishment. I heard the clear, bright voice of Mark Evans, her old flame. “Evelyn, come quick! Hailey’s competition broadcast is starting! We’re just waiting for you to watch!” “Yeah! Auntie Evelyn! I promise Lily is fine! I was playing with her earlier today!” Hailey chirped. “You said you wouldn’t take any calls today and only spend time with Hailey!” “Okay, okay, only with Hailey. Auntie Evelyn is all yours today!” Evelyn cooed. 3. Click. Evelyn’s gentle voice cut off abruptly. The line went dead, filled with a long, persistent dial tone. Beeep, beeep, beeep… The hand with which Lily had been tightly gripping my shirt fell limp at the same moment. “Lily…” I whispered her name. The child in my arms showed no reaction. My hand trembled as I reached out to check her breathing. The tears I’d held back for so long finally burst forth. In that moment. I hated myself so much. Why did I have to make that call? My child. Even at the moment of her death, she received no concern from her mother. What she heard. Was her mother’s abuse towards her father, her disgust for her, and her affection for another child. For so many years. Lily had desperately craved her mother’s love. But Evelyn, a highly educated professional, had always despised her existence. Yet she seemed to forget. My Lily was originally a very bright child. If it weren’t for that year when I had to handle the funerals of my parents, who died in the line of duty. And left our two-year-old solely in Evelyn’s care. By the time I returned. My Lily had suffered brain damage from a high fever. Her intellect forever frozen at the age of two. Evelyn said it was because I hadn’t fulfilled my duties as a father. It was much later that I found out. That time, right after I left. Evelyn, to pick up her old flame returning from abroad. Left our feverish daughter home alone for a day and a night. But back then. I had lost my parents, lost my support. With a disabled child, I couldn’t find work. I didn’t even have the standing to question Evelyn. Now. My child was gone. Everything was over. 4. I opened my phone. Wanting to inform Evelyn of our child’s death. Only to find I had been completely blocked. All supplementary credit cards were deactivated. Bank card PINs all changed. Even our fingerprints were deleted from the house’s smart lock. So, this was the punishment Evelyn mentioned on the phone? To leave me and my child penniless and stranded on the streets in the dead of winter. My heart was already too numb to feel. I even felt a strange urge to laugh. I calmly carried my child’s body back to the hospital entrance. The security guard, not yet off his shift, still spoke with disdain: “Mr. Miller, still haven’t given up after all this time?” “I told you, the emergency room here won’t be open to you.” “No…” I shook my head. “I’m here to get a death certificate for my child.” The guard looked at the completely still child in my arms. The disdain in his eyes turned to panic. “Mr., Mr. Miller, please come in with me. I’ll notify Director Hayes for you right away!” The guard hurried. Leading me through all the procedures as quickly as possible. Receiving the death certificate. The doctor who handled the paperwork looked at me with an apologetic expression. “Mr. Miller, please accept my condolences.” “I’m truly sorry, I don’t know why, but none of us could reach Director Hayes today…” I nodded, my face remaining frighteningly calm. With the help of the hospital staff. I used up the last bit of cash I had on me. To arrange for Lily’s final affairs. The child who, just the night before last, was snuggled in my arms, begging me to tell her a story. This morning, had become a light handful of ashes. Evelyn’s phone was still unreachable. Probably to ensure no one disturbed her time with Hailey Evans. So, she had blocked everyone, including me. But it didn’t matter. What came next would be the same, with or without her. 5. After interring Lily’s ashes. I found myself inexplicably drawn back to the abandoned construction site where I had found her injured the day before. Like a zombie, I operated Lily’s bloodstained, cracked smartwatch. In Lily’s voice, I sent a few messages to the main culprit, Hailey Evans. Asking her to meet here again to play. After that, I picked up a discarded piece of rebar from the site. Then, I pressed it against a drab concrete wall, scraping it again and again. As if trying to sharpen its edges. Until my hands were raw and bleeding, the pain finally bringing a sliver of sanity back to me. Coming to my senses. I was surprised to find myself there, scraping rebar like a madman. But what surprised me even more. Was that just ten minutes ago, Hailey had cheerfully replied to my message. Saying she’d be there soon. As if nothing from yesterday had ever happened. Hailey wasn’t lying. Just a few minutes after I regained my composure. She appeared before me, alone, with her little backpack. The first moment our eyes met. There was no guilt, no nervousness, only a deep, unsettling amusement. That look, a mixture of innocence and knowing playfulness. Sent a chill down my spine. It was hard to believe that look belonged to a pampered thirteen-year-old girl. Before I could even ask. Hailey spoke. “Hey, loser. I know why you asked me here.” “You want to know how that retard you fathered died, right?” “Here, I filmed it all yesterday. See for yourself!” With that. The smartwatch in my hand buzzed. A video, nearly an hour long, was transmitted. My fingers trembled as I tapped play. On the screen. Four or five girls, around Hailey’s age, surrounded Lily. Lily was first led around on all fours like a dog, then ridden like a horse. Then they started pulling out bows and arrows. Chasing Lily like she was prey in a hunt. One girl suggested tying Lily up. So they could shoot more accurately. But Hailey shook her head, pulled the terrified Lily close, and whispered in a seductive tone. “You want your mommy to come home? If you do, then stand right here and don’t move!” “As long as we hit the apple on your head, I’ll make your mommy come home to you!” Lily nodded, dazed. And she really stood there, not moving even when she wet herself in fear. One arrow, two arrows, three arrows. Lily was hit and fell. Then shakily stood up again. Letting those girls rip the arrows, flesh and all, from her body. Finally, Hailey aimed her arrow at the apple on Lily’s head. The arrow didn’t hit the apple. Instead, it pierced Lily’s scalp and lodged in her skull. At that moment. Lily was still alive. The girls scrambled to take photos with Lily. Ignoring Lily, who was coughing up mouthfuls of blood in pain, they used her longing for her “good mommy Evelyn” as leverage. Forcing her to smile for the camera. Having watched the whole thing. My heart felt like it had been torn apart and crushed. I looked up. And forced three words through gritted teeth at Hailey: “Why?” Hailey clapped her hands. “Why? What other reason? Because it was fun, of course!” “Besides, what’s so precious about that retard you fathered? She’s dumber than a dog! If she’s dead, she’s dead!” “If she dies, Auntie Evelyn will divorce you! She dies! Auntie Evelyn will be mine and Daddy’s!” “You little bitch!!! Go to hell!!!” My barely recovered sanity shattered again. I grabbed the rebar I’d been sharpening and lunged at Hailey, aiming for her head. Completely oblivious to the blaring sirens approaching rapidly. “Help! Help! Mr. Miller’s trying to kill me!” “Help! Daddy, Auntie Evelyn, save me!” Hailey screamed, not forgetting to snatch the smartwatch from my hand and smash it violently on the ground. In an instant. A bullet tore through my arm. I collapsed. Evelyn rushed towards me, kicking me repeatedly in the stomach. “Ethan Miller, I never knew you were this vile! How dare you kidnap Hailey and bring her here! If it weren’t for Hailey’s phone having GPS!” Having not eaten for a day and a night, I was kicked until I was half-dead. Vomiting mouthfuls of stomach acid. Without even a chance to offer a single word of defense. Only able to listen as that natural-born evil, Hailey, sobbed theatrically in Mark Evans’ arms. “Daddy, Mr. Miller’s gone crazy. He killed Lily, and now he wants to kill me… Daddy, save me…” Mark Evans, hearing this, couldn’t help but sigh, “Evelyn, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.” “It was me and my daughter who took up too much of your time, that’s why Ethan got so angry! You’re his woman, not mine. I overstepped…” “Ethan, I know you hate me! I hope you can vent your hatred on me, just spare my child!” “No! Evelyn! It’s not your fault! It’s this madman’s fault! His fault!” “He harmed my daughter, and now he wants to harm Hailey. I must make him pay the price!” Evelyn said, then nodded to the accompanying police officers and stated gravely, “Officers, please take him away and interrogate him thoroughly! Preferably, ensure he can never endanger public safety again!” The gunshot wound and the beating left my limbs weak. As the police lifted me from the ground, I clearly saw. The smartwatch, its screen already smashed black, flickered back to life. And automatically forwarded the video Hailey had previously sent me to my wife’s phone.

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On the day of the court hearing, my fiancée, Jessica Thorne, urged me to drop my not-guilty plea and sign a confession. “I know you’re innocent, Liam, but Ryan is so frail. I can’t let him go to prison.” She gripped my hand, sobbing. “Liam, this is all for your own good.” I decisively signed my name on the plea deal. In my past life, I’d stubbornly refused to take the fall for Ryan Hill. Not only did I end up in jail, but an enraged Jessica had also arranged for me to be tortured with cold, hard instruments until I lost the ability to have children. Reborn into this life, I chose to go along with her wishes. The next day, news of me allegedly stealing trade secrets flooded the internet. Ryan even testified as an eyewitness in court: “Yes, that’s him! I saw him sneak into V-Corp with my own eyes!” However, during the afternoon session, the plaintiff, Vivian Sterling, suddenly withdrew her lawsuit. To everyone’s astonishment, she pulled out a diamond ring, knelt on one knee, and asked: “Liam Foster, will you marry me in this life?” 1 The moment I signed the plea deal, a flicker of cunning crossed Jessica’s eyes. Noticing my gaze, she immediately put on a heartbroken expression. “Liam, I’ll definitely hire the best lawyers for you.” “Once you’re in prison, I’ll pull some strings to get you paroled as soon as possible.” I fought back a sneer, my tone indifferent. “No need.” She instantly feigned anxiety. “Liam! I know you’re devastated right now, but you can’t just give up!” “If you throw in the towel, your parents…” She continued to babble, feigning “concern.” If not for my past life’s experiences, I might have actually believed her. In my previous life, after I refused to take the blame, she dropped her facade. Not only did she fabricate evidence to send me to prison, but she also bribed inmates to use those cruel instruments, brutally stripping me of my right to be a father. I was filled with hatred—she was clearly the one who instructed Ryan to steal V-Corp’s secrets, so why was innocent me the one to suffer such a terrible fate? “Liam?” Jessica’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Why do you look so pale?” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “It’s nothing.” I managed a weak smile. “Just a bit terrified at the thought of prison.” Jessica tried to take my hand, but I subtly avoided her touch. She paused for a moment but the elation of securing the plea deal quickly overwhelmed her. She carefully placed the document into her briefcase. “The hearing is in three days. I’ll submit this agreement in court.” She promised solemnly, “I’ll keep this a secret for the next few days.” I nodded coldly. After signing, I was granted bail. Stepping out of the courthouse, Jessica, as considerate as ever, opened the car door for me, her palm hovering protectively over my head—a gesture repeated thousands of times over the past three years. But I knew, with chilling certainty, that everything had already been turned upside down. She was still playing the role of a devoted partner, her gaze on me soft as water. “Liam, I’ll take you home.” Home? I scoffed inwardly. That villa, once filled with memories, probably had no place for me anymore. Sure enough, the moment I pushed open the villa’s main door, a strong wave of men’s cologne hit me. All the furnishings were unrecognizable; my beloved minimalist style had been replaced by lavish decorations. The wedding photo that once hung prominently in the living room was now piled in the storage room like trash, covered in cobwebs. Seeing me stare at the wedding photo, Jessica’s face flashed with embarrassment, quickly replaced by a look of deep affection. “Liam, this was all Ryan’s idea…” “He’s bedridden now, his mood is very unstable…” 2 I indifferently shifted my gaze and walked straight to the bedroom. Pushing the door open, I was met with such a pungent perfume smell that I wrinkled my nose— The bed was a mess of brightly colored lingerie that wasn’t mine, and the nightstand displayed an intimate photo of Ryan and Jessica. “You’ve been sleeping together in my bed?” I turned, glaring at her coldly. Jessica hastily tried to explain: “It was just temporary! As soon as Ryan recovers, I’ll make him move out immediately…” “No need.” I cut her off. “I’m just here to pick up some old things today.” I quickly opened the wardrobe, only to find it full of Ryan’s designer suits. My clothes had been haphazardly stuffed into a suitcase, abandoned in a corner. “Liam, don’t be like this…” Jessica tried to grab my wrist. “I know your heart is breaking…” I shook off her hand, about to grab the suitcase and leave, when my phone suddenly buzzed with explosive trending news: 【SHOCKING SCANDAL! FOSTER HEIR CONFESSES, ADMITS TO STEALING V-CORP’S CORE SECRETS!】 The comment section erupted: “OMG! The golden boy of the Foster family turned out to be a corporate spy?” “I thought he was taking the fall for Ryan Hill, but it turns out he was the real culprit!” “That scumbag deserves to rot in prison!” My pupils contracted. I whipped my head up to glare at Jessica. I had clearly signed the plea deal as she asked, yet she couldn’t even be bothered to keep up appearances. Jessica glanced at my phone, a flustered look on her face. “This… Liam, let me explain…” “I… I really did intend to keep it a secret for you, but you know, Ryan is sick, and he’s also a suspect in this. To protect him from being implicated, so…” Utter disappointment led to a strange calm. “It doesn’t matter.” I masked the emotion in my eyes and put away my phone. “The hearing is in three days anyway.” Jessica visibly relaxed, taking my hand with false sincerity. “Liam, I’m glad you understand. Don’t worry, after you go to prison, I’ll take good care of your parents.” I fought back a wave of nausea and pulled my hand away, choosing another room to stay in. Late at night, when all was quiet, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in ages. When the call connected, I took a deep breath. “Ms. Sterling, this is Liam Foster. There are some things I’d like to discuss with you in person.” 3 The next morning, I woke up early and got ready. But just as I was about to leave, I ran into Jessica in the hallway. Seeing me dressed and ready to go out, she frowned. “Where are you going so early?” “Out to run some errands.” I looked down, tying my shoes, avoiding her gaze. Jessica suddenly reached out and pressed her hand on the doorknob, her voice hardening. “This is a critical time. You’d better not be wandering around.” “You’re out on bail. What if someone recognizes you…” I didn’t want to argue with her and spoke coldly. “Move.” Jessica’s expression instantly darkened. She grabbed my wrist, her grip so tight it hurt. “Liam Foster, you better recognize your situation!” I struggled hard, but she dragged me upstairs. Her sharp nails dug into my flesh like iron pincers. “It seems I’ve been too lenient with you…” She abruptly let go of me, clapped her hands, and two men in black suits immediately appeared beside her. “Tie him up and lock him in the basement. Don’t let him out before the trial!” Jessica ordered, and the two men immediately bound me. I thrashed violently but to no avail, forced to glare at Jessica and raise my voice. “Jessica Thorne, are you trying to imprison me?!” The woman’s eyes were dark. “Liam, don’t blame me. You forced my hand.” The basement was cold and damp, the only light source a dim, yellowing bulb. Jessica stood at the doorway, her expression unreadable in the backlight. Her tone was icy. “You’ll stay here until the trial.” As her words fell, her men pushed me inside. I stumbled, crashing into the wall, a sharp pain shooting through my shoulder. “Ugh—” I let out a muffled groan from the pain, looking up at her with resentment. The woman’s gaze flickered for a moment, and she ordered them to untie my ropes. She took out a diamond-studded watch from her pocket. “Liam…” Her voice held a hint of guilt. “I had this watch custom-made for you. Consider it compensation.” She held the watch out to me, the diamonds glinting harshly in the dim light. I looked at her coldly, not reaching out. “What, afraid I’ll run away, so you’re trying to appease me with this?” Jessica’s expression stiffened, then she sighed. “I just want you to know, I still have feelings for you.” I let out a derisive laugh. “Jessica Thorne, your ‘feelings’ involve making me take the fall for your lover, then locking me in a basement?” The woman’s expression froze. Before she could speak, Ryan’s voice suddenly came from the stairs. He hurried down, snatching the box. “What a beautiful watch!” “Jessica, is this for me?” Jessica was clearly taken aback. “Ryan, this is for…” “I don’t care, I want this one!” Ryan fastened the watch onto his wrist, speaking with dissatisfaction. “He’s going to jail soon anyway. It’s a waste for him to wear such a nice watch.” Jessica looked at me, then at Ryan, and finally relented with a doting expression. “Alright, if you like it, take it.” Ryan, having gotten his way, still wasn’t satisfied. He frowned. “But if you give his gift to me, what about him? How about…” He paused, a smirk playing on his lips, then casually pulled off the old watch on his other wrist and held it out to me. “How about you take this watch as your gift?” Jessica feigned ignorance of his malicious behavior and said to me, “Liam, see how much Ryan thinks of you? I believe you two will get along well in the future.” I stared at the cheap watch glinting dully in the light and gave a sarcastic smile. Jessica continued: “By the way, Liam, considering Ryan’s poor health, and you…” She paused. “The doctor said it’s very difficult for you to have children. I’ve decided to cancel our engagement and marry Ryan.” Despite being mentally prepared, those words still stabbed into my heart like a knife. “But don’t worry, I’m not that heartless.” “After you get out of prison, I’ll arrange a place for you to live and a job. After all, we were once…” I cut her off with a cold laugh. “Jessica Thorne, do you really think I’ll believe your bullshit?” Ryan put his arm around Jessica’s waist, looking at me with contempt. “Don’t be ungrateful.” “Jessica is pitying you. Who else would want a man like you who can’t have children?” I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug deep into my palms. The pain kept me lucid, reminding me not to act rashly. It wasn’t time to strike back yet. 4 Late at night, the basement door suddenly opened. I frowned and looked up to see Ryan walk in. Ryan entered the basement, looking down at me with a triumphant smirk. “Tsk tsk, I really envy infertile men like you. You can live anywhere.” “Unlike me, I can only sleep on high-end velvet.” I looked at him coldly. “Get out.” But he smiled even more brightly, his eyes holding a hint of sinister cruelty. “Did you know? The reason you could never get Jessica pregnant wasn’t because of your body.” My heart sank. “What do you mean?” “Jessica has been adding birth control pills to your food. The dosage was enough to make you permanently infertile.” He leaned closer to my ear, whispering, “She planned it all along. Once you lost your fertility, she could justifiably ditch you, take your money, and marry me.” So that was it. No wonder we never had children! Anger erupted like a volcano. I shot up and slapped him hard across the face. “You despicable pair!” Ryan staggered a few steps from my blow but then suddenly laughed strangely. He backed up a few steps, then threw himself heavily to the ground, letting out a piercing scream. “Ah—! What are you doing?!” The basement door was violently kicked open, and Jessica rushed in with several men in black. “Ryan!” She hurriedly helped Ryan up, and her face contorted in fury when she saw his swollen cheek. “Liam Foster! What did you do to him?!” Ryan threw himself into Jessica’s arms, crying pitifully. “Jessica, he… he tried to kill me!” I retorted sharply, “You’re lying! You fell on your own!” Jessica didn’t listen to my explanation at all, her eyes fixed on me with a sinister glare. “Men, tie him up!” The men in black immediately advanced, roughly pressing me against the wall and binding my hands with ropes. “Jessica Thorne! You monster!” I struggled desperately. “You’ve been drugging me all along, making me infertile, haven’t you?!” Her face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her cold composure. “So what if I did? A man like you doesn’t deserve to get me pregnant!” She turned and took a leather whip from the wall. “Since you dared to hurt Ryan, you’ll pay the price.” She sneered, raising the whip and bringing it down hard. “Ah—!” The excruciating pain made me scream. The first lash left a bloody welt on my back. “This one is for Ryan!” “Crack!” The second lash followed immediately. The whip fell like rain. I soon lost consciousness from the pain, only to be jolted awake with cold water and tortured further. After a full ninety-nine lashes, I was covered in blood,on the floor, barely breathing. Jessica threw down the blood-stained whip. “Drag him to the courthouse. He must confess today!” I was roughly dragged out of the basement and shoved into a car. My wounds grated against the rough seats, the pain nearly making me pass out. By the time we reached the courthouse, it was already light out. Thanks to Jessica’s “financial clout,” the case was being heard ahead of schedule. The moment I was dragged into the courtroom, Jessica’s lawyer eagerly stood up. “Your Honor, my client voluntarily pleads guilty. Please proceed with sentencing.” Just as the judge was about to announce the verdict, the courtroom doors suddenly burst open. Everyone turned to see Vivian Sterling walking in with her lawyer and a medical team. She wore a designer suit, every movement exuding the authority of a leader, yet her eyes, when they met mine, were filled with unbearable pain. “As the plaintiff in this case, I request to withdraw the lawsuit.” “At the same time, I request immediate medical attention for my fiancé, Mr. Foster!”

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“Ma’am, perhaps it’s best if you don’t finalize this today…” We were at City Hall, about to get our marriage license, when Ethan’s phone buzzed. A picture of a pregnancy test report from his precious ‘mentee,’ Ella, flashed onto the screen. Without a shred of hesitation, he ditched me right there, rushing off to take her home so she could “rest and take care of the pregnancy.” Not long after, a cozy photo of them appeared on social media. The familiar background? Our bedroom—the one that was supposed to be ours. Then, Ethan’s message popped up: “I had too much to drink at the success party that night. Ella’s pregnant, and I need to be there for her. She wanted to keep it from me, have the baby, and raise it alone, but she’s so young, with a future as a top cardiothoracic surgeon… I can’t ruin her, and I can’t abandon an innocent life.” When I didn’t reply, he added: “Didn’t you want a baby soon? After she gives birth, I’ll send her abroad for advanced studies. You can raise the child. It will only ever know you as its mother.” He even remembered to say: “About the license, we’ll probably have to reschedule after Ella has the baby.” I stared at my phone, my eyes burning, but a laugh escaped me. Did he really think that I, Sarah Sterling, the only daughter of the Northwood Sterlings, couldn’t live without him? Without a second thought, I dialed Jason Jiang’s number. “Marriage license. You in?” … When Jason showed up at City Hall, cursing under his breath, I knew I’d really put him out this time. I heard he was at the airport, about to fly to Italy for a crucial business conference, only to be dragged here by my call. Seeing him grind his teeth, a wave of guilt washed over me. “Sarah Sterling, what in God’s name did I do to deserve you? I chase you for eight damn years, you barely give me the time of day, and now you suddenly want to get married, just like that?” I glanced at the time. “They’re about to close. Are you in or out?” He deflated instantly. “In! I’ve got my papers, rescheduled my flight, and my parents already know. Might as well, right?” Ethan must have finally noticed my silence because he called, his voice tight with an urgency he couldn’t hide. “Sarah, don’t overthink this. You’re the only one for me. What I feel for Ella is just admiration, pure and simple. That night was a genuine accident.” “Mm, I get it,” I said, my voice as flat and lifeless as a stagnant pond. “Men, you know? These things happen.” Silence on his end. After a moment, I heard him take a sharp breath. “Where are you? I’ll send a driver. Ella’s having some morning sickness, and I really can’t leave her…” I cut him off. “Don’t bother.” His tone chilled instantly. “Sarah, are you throwing a tantrum? I’ve explained everything. Ella will leave after the baby is born. What more do you want from me?” A dull ache spread through my chest. I instinctively clutched the brand-new marriage certificate in my hand, forcing myself to stay calm. “Ethan, let’s break up.” He was stunned for a second, then let out a cold, sarcastic laugh. “You know damn well how I’ve treated you all these years, don’t you? Yes, I made a mistake, but what man doesn’t? I’m already trying to make up for it. Do you have to be so aggressive?” I bit my lip, saying nothing. My continued silence made him lose his patience completely. “Fine! Have it your way! Break up then! You’ll come crying back to me in less than half an hour!” The call ended abruptly, leaving only a harsh dial tone ringing in my ear. I took a cab back to our—my former—home. Not to reconcile, but to pack my things and leave for good. The scene that greeted me as I opened the door was a stab to the eyes: Ethan, wearing an apron, a table laden with exquisite dishes. He and Ella were sitting across from each other, laughing and talking. He gently placed food on her plate, even carefully feeding her a bite. That adoring expression, I once thought, was reserved only for me. I remembered how, when I used to cook for him, he’d always hug me from behind, whispering in my ear, “My poor baby, working so hard.” But in five years, he hadn’t so much as poured me a glass of hot water. His excuse was always, “A surgeon’s hands are for operating; they must be protected.” Even holding hands was a careful affair. Now, he was willing to roll up his sleeves and cook for Ella. When Ethan saw me, he shot me a disdainful look that screamed, “See? I knew it.” Ella, on the other hand, greeted me with a sickeningly sweet smile, “Oh, Sarah, you’re back! Want to join us for dinner?” I walked straight past her, heading for the bedroom. “Stop!” Ethan shot up, his face dark. “Ella’s talking to you. Have the decency to respond. Have you lost all your manners?” I turned slowly, a cold laugh escaping me. “How do you want me to respond? Thank her for eagerly volunteering to have my fiancé’s baby so I can be a mother douleur-free? Or should I march over there, slap her, and call her a cheap homewrecker?” “You!” Veins pulsed on Ethan’s temples, he was so angry. Just then, Ella suddenly covered her mouth, gagging, tears welling in her eyes. Ethan immediately rushed to her side. “Ella, what’s wrong? Are you feeling awful?” “Ethan, darling, I’m okay…” She clutched his sleeve, her voice trembling, but directed her tearful accusation at me. “Sarah, it’s all my fault. I didn’t want to live in your house either, but I truly have nowhere else to go. I… I’ll leave as soon as the baby is born. I’ll never bother you and Ethan again…” Then, stroking her belly, she sobbed, “Baby, I’m so sorry. Mommy doesn’t want to leave you, but Mommy did something bad, so she has to accept the punishment… I’m sorry…” She started gagging violently again, collapsing into Ethan’s arms. The look Ethan gave me was filled with loathing, as if I’d committed some heinous crime. “Are you satisfied now?” I scoffed and turned to leave. My attitude completely enraged Ethan. He snatched a glass from the table and hurled it at me. A sharp pain exploded in the back of my head, followed by the sound of shattering glass. I stumbled and fell hard onto the stairs. The piercing pain brought a cold sweat to my brow; for a moment, I couldn’t even get up. “Stop faking it! Get up!” Ethan barked impatiently from behind me. Ella approached, feigning concern. “Sarah, you… you should be okay, right? I think the glass just grazed your shoulder…” “Shut up!” I bit out, gritting my teeth and forcing myself to stand. Seeing me treat Ella so harshly, Ethan’s eyes turned icy. “Ella’s lost her appetite. Go make her your specialty, that fish soup with tofu. And remember, no onions. She doesn’t like them.” “I’m not doing it,” I refused without hesitation. “That’s an order!” Ethan’s face was terrifyingly dark. “Sarah, do you think you have a choice?” I clenched my fists, looking him straight in the eye. “I’m just not doing it. What are you going to do about it?” A dangerous glint flashed in Ethan’s eyes. He strode forward, roughly grabbed my arm, and shoved me hard into the kitchen. Slam! The door was slammed shut. “Don’t even think about coming out until that soup is made!” “Ethan, you’re insane!” I pounded on the door, screaming “Let me out!” at the top of my lungs, but was met only with dead silence. My palms were red and throbbing. Finally, I slid down, defeated, leaning against the cold door. Through the door, I could hear their voices clearly. Ella, in a soft, gentle voice: “Ethan, darling, isn’t this a bit too harsh on Sarah? If she doesn’t want to make it, then don’t force her. I’m fine without the soup.” Ethan sighed. “Ella, she’s just been spoiled by the Sterlings all these years. I have to break her of that princess attitude. If she’s going to marry into the Miller family, she has to follow Miller family rules. Otherwise, how will she be a good mother to our child?” “The Millers are a medical family; we’ve always valued kindness and good relations. But she’s too blunt… My mom never really liked her.” Ella asked, puzzled, “Ethan, honey, then why don’t you just break up with her?” Silence fell outside. I held my breath, motionless, leaning against the door. Yes, if I was so unbearable in his eyes, why did he put up with me? The silence stretched on for a long time. Ella prompted cautiously, “Ethan?” Ethan’s calm voice, like a knife, pierced my heart: “The Sterling family’s influence in Northwood is second to none. They’ve been a huge help to my career over the years…” I clutched my chest, tears finally breaking free. So that was it. All these years, he’d valued the Sterling family, not me. In a daze, I remembered the year my grandfather had a sudden heart attack. It was Ethan’s bold surgical plan that saved his life. I was instantly smitten with this young, accomplished, and skilled doctor. I only sent a commendation plaque to express my gratitude, never expecting him to start pursuing me so intensely. He never actively asked for the Sterling family’s help; all those behind-the-scenes maneuvers were arranged by me, without his knowledge. How laughable. I’d even worried he’d refuse it if he found out. The kitchen door opened. Ethan was visibly startled when he saw me, then frowned. “You cry this much just making soup? Get out, you’re annoying to look at!” I fought back a wave of dizziness and stood up, stumbling towards the bedroom. The moment I pushed open the door, a chill ran down my spine. The bedsheets had been changed to a pink lace set I detested. My photo on the nightstand was replaced with a picture of an unfamiliar baby. In the closet, not a single piece of my clothing remained. Ethan’s voice came from behind me: “The guest room is too small. It’s inconvenient for Ella with her big belly. She needs to stay in the master bedroom for now.” Ella added timidly, “Sarah, you… you wouldn’t mind, would you? Don’t worry, as soon as the baby is born, I’ll…” “Oh,” I cut her off. “Where are my things?” Ethan looked away. “I had the maid move them to the storage room. The nearest guest room is being converted into a nursery. You can pick another guest room.” I was silent for a long moment, then nodded. “Fine.” In the storage room, my couture gowns were carelessly tossed on the floor. My jewelry was scattered in a grimy corner, like unwanted trash. I took a deep breath and looked sarcastically at Ella, who had followed me in. “Couldn’t wait, could you? Couldn’t even wait for me to leave?” A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face before she put on an innocent expression. “Sarah, what are you talking about? Ethan asked the maid to pack these. I didn’t do anything.” I scoffed, pointing at a shoe print on one of my gowns. “Did the maid do this too?” “So what if I did?” She suddenly lowered her voice, a venomous glint in her eyes, yet she feigned fear and backed away. “Sarah, I’m begging you, please let me go!” With that, she let out a sudden shriek and pretended to fall backward. Ethan rushed in just in time to catch her. Ella immediately clutched her stomach, sobbing. “Ethan, darling, I didn’t do anything! Why would Sarah push me… Thank goodness you came, otherwise the baby…” “I didn’t push her!” My throat tightened, and I explained instinctively. Rage flared in Ethan’s eyes. He grabbed my neck, slamming me against the wall. “You think I’ll believe you? That Ella would use her child to frame you? When did you become so vicious!” His grip was terrifyingly strong. I could barely breathe, desperately struggling to force out a few words. “I really… didn’t…” “Enough! I don’t want to hear your excuses!” He laughed, a chilling, furious sound, then shoved me to the floor. “Go back to the Sterlings and be your precious little princess! Don’t come back until you’ve learned your lesson!” I stumbled to my feet, looking at him in disbelief. Eleven o’clock at night, and he was kicking me out? I remembered how, in the past, he would insist on accompanying me even if I just wanted to take a walk at night. But now, his chin was high, and he wouldn’t even spare me a glance. My nose suddenly stung. How many times had he lost his temper with me today because of Ella? No matter what I said or did, in his eyes, I was wrong. And today… today was supposed to be our wedding day. I closed my eyes, didn’t even grab any clothes, and fled that suffocating place without a backward glance. … I had just gotten back to the Sterling mansion when my phone vibrated. It was a video from Ella. I knew I shouldn’t open it, but my finger pressed play uncontrollably. In the video, Ethan was gently holding Ella, his eyes closed as he softly kissed her forehead, his face a mask of bliss and tenderness. His voice carried a hint of regret: “Ella, if I had met you sooner, I wouldn’t have ended up with Sarah. You’re so talented in medicine, so pure and driven. And her? She just throws her weight around because of the Sterling family’s backing, doing nothing productive all day.” “The Miller family has been in medicine for generations. If I really married her, our reputation would be ruined sooner or later.” Every word was like a poisoned needle, precisely striking my most vulnerable spots. Ella, using her family’s connections in the medical field, had easily become his personally mentored student, his ‘little sister.’ That was his definition of “talented.” And I, who had given up family resources to start from the bottom and climb my way up to Director of Investments at Sterling Corp… In his eyes, I was “doing nothing productive.” So, in his heart, I had always been worthless. How could he have ever genuinely loved me? I put down my phone, tears soaking my pillow. I tossed and turned all night. Just as dawn was breaking, Jason called. “Morning, wifey. Sleep well?” His voice was practically buzzing with unconcealed joy. “Just landed in Milan. I was too excited to sleep a wink on the plane—that was over ten hours. I still can’t believe you actually married me.” His tone suddenly softened. “Wifey, I’m already missing you. Do you miss me?” Wifey? The word jolted me awake. Only then did I remember: yesterday, in a fit of anger, I had married Jason Jiang. “Wifey? Why aren’t you saying anything? You… you don’t regret it, do you?” His voice was filled with a mountain of hurt. “No,” I answered softly. Jason and I had grown up together. While I wasn’t sure if he truly loved me, at least we knew each other inside out. The Jiang family was a good match for mine; he was indeed a suitable husband. He audibly sighed in relief on the other end, his energy returning. “I’ll be back tomorrow! We’re going to pick out wedding rings! Even though getting the license was rushed, the proposal, the wedding ceremony—we’re not skipping a single thing!” “You just focus on being the most beautiful bride. Leave everything else to me.” I couldn’t help but chuckle softly, agreeing to his plans. That was Jason. With him, he’d arrange everything. I only ever needed to follow. And Ethan… My memories were always of his retreating back. Even getting married was something I had to bring up. At the time, he’d frowned and said, “It’s only been five years. Isn’t it too soon to get married?” The difference between being loved and not being loved… it was so painfully clear. For an entire day, there was no word from Ethan. His mother, however, eagerly called, her tone dripping with condescending superiority: “You know about Ethan and Ella, don’t you? Now that Ella is carrying the Miller family’s first grandchild, we certainly won’t let her be wronged. We’ll make sure Ethan marries her. It’s a good thing Ethan didn’t get the license with you yesterday. This is fate!” “I told you long ago you two weren’t suitable. The Sterlings have been in business for three generations, while the Millers have been doctors for generations. Our family legacies simply don’t match, don’t you agree?” I let out a cold laugh. “Mrs. Miller, Ethan and I have already broken up. In the future, please don’t contact me unless it’s something important.” She was clearly stunned, probably not expecting me, usually so docile, to talk back like that. Just as she was about to fly into a rage, I decisively hung up. She immediately called back several times. I blocked her number without hesitation, then proceeded to block all of Ethan’s contact methods as well. I deleted all our photos together. Five years of love dissipated along with them. The next day, while I was at a jewelry store picking out wedding rings, I unexpectedly ran into Ethan and Ella. He was excitedly helping Ella pick out an expensive set of jewelry and had even ordered a custom baby charm for their unborn child. Seeing me trying on rings, Ethan’s face instantly darkened. “Sarah! I told you to go home and reflect on your actions, and instead, you’re out buying wedding rings? You think I’ll still marry you with this attitude?” He roughly grabbed my hand, forcibly took off the ring, and handed it back to the salesclerk. “We’re not buying this ring, thank you.” The edge of the diamond scratched my finger, and blood welled up immediately. The clerk hurried to tend to my wound, but Ethan stopped her coldly. “It’s just a scratch, don’t bother.” I ignored him. Wiping away the blood, I told the clerk, “Please get me that other ring.” Ethan seized my wrist, roaring, “Didn’t I make myself clear? You’re not buying any rings today!” Customers around us started whispering: “That pregnant woman must be his wife, right? This other woman is pretty brazen, daring to pick out wedding rings so openly.” “Shameless. Being the other woman and still wanting a title. See, her man just shut her down.” Seeing this, Ella feigned conciliation. “Sarah, please stop making a scene. It’s embarrassing with so many people watching. How about I give you the ring Ethan just bought me? See if you like it?” The salesclerk also chimed in, “Ma’am, if you keep this up, we can’t do business.” Ethan’s grip tightened, and he was about to drag me away forcefully. I wrenched my hand free. “Ethan, what business is it of yours if I buy a wedding ring? Please mind your own damn business!” “None of my business? Fine! I’m officially calling off our engagement! You’ll never need to buy a wedding ring now!” With that, he shoved me hard. Just as I stumbled and was about to fall, a pair of strong hands caught me. Jason’s voice sounded by my ear, “Honey, sorry I’m late.”

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My sister Eliza’s most treasured cat passed away. I went to great lengths to find a little ginger kitten that looked almost identical, hoping to give her a wonderful surprise. But just as I was about to present this heartfelt gift, I stumbled upon my stepbrother, Leo, scissors in hand, snipping the kitten’s ears until they were a bloody mess. He even used a lighter to scorch its tail. I lunged forward, my heart pounding in panic, but he suddenly threw himself into the icy swimming pool. Eliza, who witnessed the scene, didn’t hesitate. She locked me inside the sterilization cabinet, ignoring my agonized screams as the temperature soared. She even ordered the bodyguards to secure the door with a heavy chain, as thick as a man’s wrist. Seven days later, my flesh and blood had fused with the cabinet’s inner walls, impossible to separate. And Eliza, at first, actually thought that horrifying, putrid mess was just another one of my elaborate pranks… 1 After Eliza locked me in the sterilization cabinet, she took Leo on an outing. When she returned a week later, a bodyguard spoke with a flustered expression, “Miss Sterling, Mr. Thompson… I think he’s still locked in there.” Eliza’s fingers, flicking through her phone, froze. A flicker of unease crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “He’s a boy. A little hardship will do him good.” The bodyguard’s face stiffened. He hesitated, then tried again, “There hasn’t been any sound from inside for a while. Don’t you want to open it and check?” Eliza shot him a cold glare. “I said no! He’s just trying to get attention. If I go look, he’ll just start playing the victim again.” The bodyguard swallowed the words he was about to say. Just then, Leo ran in from outside, affectionately linking his arm with Eliza’s. “Eliza, you’re the best.” Eliza smiled, ruffling his curly hair. “You silly boy. You’re my favorite little brother.” Leo blinked his innocent, wide eyes. “I’ll grow up fast, and then I’ll protect you, Eliza.” “Good boy. You’re worth spoiling.” Leo suddenly sighed. “It’s all my fault. Ethan must think I’ve stolen your affection, that’s why he hates me so much…” Eliza patted his shoulder. “He’s just petty. It has nothing to do with you.” “Eliza, it’s been a week. Maybe we should let Ethan out. He must have learned his lesson by now.” If this were before, hearing those insincere words, I would have rushed to expose his true colors, only to be met with Eliza’s reprimand. But now, my heart was like dead ashes—because at this moment, I had already become a lost soul, drifting aimlessly in the room. In the final moments of being scorched by the high heat, my soul finally broke free from that mangled, bloody body. I watched as my skin inside the sterilization cabinet blistered and rotted in large patches, the flesh gradually charring and curling, while outside the cabinet door, layers of chains were tightly wound, the heavy lock glinting coldly. At first, I frantically slammed against the cabinet door. When I realized it was futile, I could only curl up in a corner, trying to escape the intense heat. But the UV rays inside the sterilization cabinet were inescapable, and my skin soon began to ulcerate and peel. The excruciating pain nearly drove me to collapse. I screamed and begged for mercy, my voice hoarse, “Eliza! I really didn’t do anything!” But Eliza’s icy voice came from outside, “Can’t take it anymore? Leo jumped into the pool because you bullied him! He had a high fever and almost died! Today, I have to teach you a lesson!” I could only keep apologizing, even for those baseless accusations, just begging her to open the door. Until my flesh melted in the high heat, sliding down the inner walls of the cabinet, my arm exposing stark white bone. Before my consciousness faded, I heard her viciously command the bodyguard, “Tighten the chains! No one opens it without my order!” 2 “Go let Ethan Lin out,” Eliza instructed casually. “Tell him to come apologize to Leo and stop messing around.” The bodyguard looked like he wanted to say something but ultimately turned and left. Leo swung Eliza’s arm, saying “thoughtfully,” “Eliza, once Ethan apologizes, let’s just put this behind us. If he really leaves, you’ll only have me left as family…” A flicker of contempt crossed Eliza’s eyes, but she still gently stroked his head. “It’d be better if he left. Someone with such a foul mouth and no manners doesn’t deserve to be my brother. If he hadn’t bullied you, you wouldn’t have gotten so sick.” Rage flared in her eyes, but it instantly softened when she looked at Leo. I thought death would mean no more pain, but seeing this, tears still streamed uncontrollably down my face. A week ago, on Eliza’s birthday, I came home full of joy with the little ginger kitten, only to see Leo sadistically burning the kitten’s tail with a lighter… He taunted me, “Don’t think buying a cat that looks like her old one will steal Eliza away from me!” Furious, I stood in front of the kitten and yelled at Leo. Eliza happened to overhear. He immediately turned and jumped into the fountain behind him. It was the dead of winter, and he had deliberately worn water-absorbent cotton clothes, sinking deep to the bottom of the pool. When he was pulled out, his face was pale, and he was barely breathing. He whispered, his voice a thread: “Eliza, since Ethan can’t accept my presence, if he wants me to die, then I’ll go.” “It’s just a shame I won’t get to protect you in this life. Eliza, you have to take care of yourself. I want to be your brother in the next life too.” That day. Eliza put all her work on hold. She carried Leo all the way to the hospital, not even bothering with an umbrella. The rain soaked her clothes, and she shivered from the cold. In the end, Leo was diagnosed with an acute cold. I stood at the door of the hospital room. Watching her hold Leo’s hand, begging him over and over: “Leo, please, get better quickly.” “Please don’t leave your sister all alone…” I found it ridiculous. My own sister, related by blood. A powerhouse in the business world. Yet, because of a simple cold, she was holding a stranger’s hand, enacting a life-and-death drama. But when Eliza grabbed my neck. And shoved me into the sterilization cabinet. I finally understood that in her heart, Leo was her only brother, and I— I was nothing. “How could I have such a foul-mouthed, ill-mannered brother like you!” “Leo almost developed pneumonia! Even if he recovers, he’ll be weak for a long time.” “Ethan Lin, let me tell you, don’t think just because we share the same blood, you can do whatever you want!” “You’ll stay in there for every day Leo isn’t well, until you admit you’re wrong!” To teach me a profound lesson, she ordered the bodyguards to use a heavy lock. And now. Leo was in a better mood, so she magnanimously decided to let me out. She didn’t know. I couldn’t come out anymore. “Miss Sterling! Miss Sterling, it’s terrible!” “Mr. Ethan… he’s… he’s fused with the sterilization cabinet! We can’t open it!” Eliza froze. I drifted closer to her, wanting to see her reaction to the news. But I was disappointed again. She just chuckled coldly: “The sterilization cabinet uses UV light, there’s no fire. How could he fuse with it?” “If it won’t open, he must be holding the door from the inside, just being stubborn.” “Give the order: throw the cabinet in the junkyard. If he likes being in there so much, he can stay there forever!” The bodyguard stood there, uneasy, not responding for a long time. The silence stretched. Eliza snorted, her tone patronizing: “Go tell him, if he keeps this up, it won’t be just simple sterilization next time. If he doesn’t want a severe punishment, he should know when to quit.” The bodyguard didn’t move. Eliza completely lost her patience. “What are you standing there for? Go!” Turning to Leo, her voice softened. “Leo, when Ethan comes over later, don’t believe anything he says.” “I plan to make him kneel for three hours. Let’s see if he’s truly learned his lesson this time.” “This is a test for him. You can’t be soft-hearted and tell him.” Leo gently massaged Eliza’s shoulders, looking obedient and sensible. “I’ll listen to whatever you say, Eliza…” I suddenly felt exhausted, not wanting to stay any longer. But my soul seemed to be shackled by blood ties, unable to leave Eliza’s side. I could only watch, as if torturing myself, as she cherished Leo and trampled me into the mud. 3 Eliza is eight years older than me. When I was born, she was already the leader of the neighborhood kids, doting on me and protecting me alongside our parents. She even gave me my name, Ethan. Because her name, Eliza, held a certain grace, she hoped we siblings could always be close, like “E and E,” always together. Our parents died suddenly in a car accident, and shareholders coveted the family assets they left behind. Eliza, facing a crisis, took over Lin Industries. She forgot, she was only twenty at the time. I often thought she was cold and heartless, and I said many harsh things. Until one argument, I accidentally missed a step and tumbled down the stairs, falling into a coma. When I woke up, I saw her red, swollen eyes. She held my hand tightly, her voice trembling as she asked: “Ethan, Mom and Dad are gone. Are you going to leave your sister too?” Suddenly, I understood. Eliza wasn’t incapable of sadness; the burden on her shoulders was too heavy, not allowing her to be vulnerable. From then on, I learned to grow up. I stopped being a picky eater, exercised regularly, and studied finance diligently, all to one day help share her burden. Later, she was too busy with work and worried I’d be lonely, so she brought a boy back from a children’s home to keep me company. At first, I treated Leo like a real brother. He said he’d never had peanut butter fudge, so I braved a downpour to buy some for him, even scraping my leg badly in the process. But after eating it, he had an allergic reaction and had to be rushed to the hospital for an IV drip, completely exhausted. Because of that, Eliza yelled at me for the first time. After that. Similar incidents happened frequently. The way she looked at me grew colder and colder. All the warmth and care she once had for me were now directed at someone else. Strange. My heart wasn’t even beating anymore, so why did I still feel such pain? It was as if I had died all over again in my memories. Time ticked by, and Eliza’s expression grew so dark it looked like it could drip water. “It’s been five minutes, and he still won’t come out!” “Ethan Lin, it looks like you’re determined to defy me to the end.” The speed at which she fiddled with her bracelet increased, her brow furrowed, a strong sense of unease already spreading within her. “Leo, Ethan is being too ungrateful.” “The bodyguards don’t dare lay a hand on him. I’ll go myself! You sit here quietly and wait for me to bring him to kneel and apologize to you.” Eliza stood up and left, her strides large. She looked somewhat flustered. As soon as she reached the kitchen, she saw the trembling bodyguard and said, displeased, “What are you shaking for?” “Miss Sterling, I… I…” The bodyguard couldn’t utter a complete sentence, his clothes soaked with cold sweat. I stood to the side, unsure how to feel about this scene. Perhaps the pain was too great, I couldn’t remember what my own corpse looked like, but it certainly wasn’t pretty. Eliza impatiently pushed the bodyguard aside and approached the sterilization cabinet. The chain, thick as a bowl, lay discarded to the side, the cabinet’s power cord unplugged. A corner of the cabinet door was pried open. Some red liquid trickled from the edge. Eliza frowned in disgust, her voice cold: “Ethan Lin, the door’s open. Why aren’t you out yet? Do you like it in there that much?” I gave a bitter smile. The burning pain inside, the flesh splitting open, how could anyone like it? But I had tried so hard to get out, to escape that agonizing prison. It was my own sister who locked the door. Now. My body had melted, stuck to the cabinet, unable to ever come out. “Are you done with your tantrum! Do you really think I’ll indulge you like before?” She pulled at the cabinet door, meeting some resistance. Then she kicked it angrily. “If you’re not dead, then get out!” Perhaps out of extreme anger, she kicked the cabinet so hard it toppled over. With a loud bang, the reactive force flung the door open. Exposing everything inside.

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Five years together, and my CEO girlfriend, Sarah, was “away on business” again for our anniversary. Then I saw it on her childhood best friend Leo’s social media feed: Sarah, in a wedding dress, getting engaged to him, her assistant. The caption read: “The parents adore their new daughter-in-law. Acceptance gift of eleven thousand.” A cold laugh escaped me. I coolly liked it and commented, “Congrats on the happy union!” Sarah called, frantic, immediately launching into accusations: “What’s the meaning of that comment? The whole company’s seen it! How is Leo supposed to face anyone now!” “Leo’s parents are old; they just wanted a ceremony. You, with no parents, how could you understand!” “Delete the comment, quick. I’ll deal with you when I’m less busy.” Hearing her dismissive, cold words, I scoffed, “No need.” This relationship was already rotten. I should have left long ago. The moment Sarah hung up, Leo specifically @mentioned me in the work group chat. A string of mocking emojis accompanied a completely insincere voice message apology: “Alex, my bad, man. Just a joke, don’t take it to heart!” He even added a laugh-cry emoji at the end. How could Sarah not see through such blatant sarcasm and provocation? She was just taking his side, obviously. “Why apologize? Mr. Leo and Ms. CEO’s bond is beyond us mere mortals.” “Grow up, man. Such a big deal over nothing, and you call yourself a man.” “Alex, be the bigger person. Why make a mountain out of a molehill?” The group chat flooded with jeers. Colleagues who used to be friendly with me had all turned into suck-ups, ever since Leo, the CEO’s childhood pal, parachuted in. He’d been with the company for half a year, and Sarah had already handed him all the key projects. The core team I’d personally mentored was pushed out. Sarah chimed in coldly in the group: “So petty, jumping to conclusions. Ridiculous.” That fanned the flames, and everyone piled on with veiled insults. I had no interest in watching. I drove home and pulled out the property settlement agreement I’d already signed. I remembered last month— When she signed the papers before her trip with Leo, I still had a sliver of hope she’d realize the truth and ask me to stay. But she just flipped to the last page, signed it, and casually said, “What could be so important? Just another sales contract.” We built the company from scratch. Once it was on its feet, she sidelined me. When I questioned her, all I got was: “It’s for your own good. Isn’t it nice to have less to do?” With a deep sigh, I started packing. The door burst open. Sarah stood there, her face grim. “Why didn’t you delete the comment? Do you know how embarrassing it was for Leo? Apologize now, or don’t expect me to forgive you!” I looked at her calmly. “What did I do wrong?” She glanced at my luggage and sneered, “Playing the ‘running away from home’ card? Quite the tough guy. If you walk out that door today, don’t ever come back.” “The engagement? Off. Indefinitely.” She always knew how much I wanted to get married and used it to make me back down. In our past arguments, it was always my fault. Six months ago, I found Leo in my pajamas, on my bed. After the ensuing fight, she gave me the silent treatment. When I had a perforated ulcer during a meeting, she coldly threatened, “Apologize, then I’ll call an ambulance.” Remembering this, I managed a tearful, bitter smile. “Fine, I’ll go.” Her voice was icy. “Really? You’d rather spite Leo and take it this far?” “It’s not about spite.” Before I could finish, Leo’s smooth voice drifted in. “Alex, bro, where are you off to so late? We’re family, why get so worked up?” Family? How could this twisted triangle be called a family? Sarah crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me. “If you leave today, you forfeit this month’s salary, and don’t even think about getting a dime of allowance!” I clenched my fists. Ever since the company got on track, she’d told finance they didn’t need to pay me a salary. But the money coming into the company never landed in my hands either. Every month, she only gave me a basic thousand bucks. And I had to practically beg for that every time. She’d say, “Men turn bad with money.” Yet, she could buy Leo a luxury car and book out all the city’s drones for his birthday celebration. While I was away on business, Sarah flaunted her relationship with Leo, with poolside PDA and intimate photoshoots. When I got back, she even turned it around on me, complaining I wasn’t capable enough at work and that no one was there to take care of her while I was gone for so many days. I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave. Sarah frowned. “Do you even realize you’re wrong?” “Yeah, I was wrong. Dead wrong.” Wrong about who I trusted, wrong to spend five years groveling for love, only to end up scarred before finally letting go. Hearing me say that, a smile spread across Sarah’s face. “Good that you know. Tomorrow, Leo and I are visiting his hometown. Make sure you handle his projects.” I smiled. “Got it.” For the past six months, I’d cleaned up countless messes Leo made. He was supposedly a top graduate from a prestigious overseas university. Truth was, he hadn’t gotten into college here, so he went abroad to get a gilded resume. His family wasn’t well-off; most of the money for his overseas studies was borrowed. This time, I wasn’t going to do such meaningless, thankless work anymore. I walked out of the apartment complex. In one more week, she and I would be completely done. The next morning, I went to the company to hand in my resignation. HR glanced at me and said flatly, “You never even signed an employment contract with the company. What resignation are you talking about?” It hit me then. Right. How ironically laughable. I never signed an employment contract. I nodded. “Understood.” Back at my desk, I started packing my things. Beside my computer was a photo of Sarah looking up at me. It was from our early startup days, the day we made our relationship official. She looked at me with such love and joy, telling me about her four-year crush that had finally blossomed. The early days of the company were tough, but our relationship grew stronger, incredibly sweet. This photo was my most cherished, and Sarah’s favorite too. We had two copies printed, framed them, and each kept one on our desk. Whenever we were tired, a glance at it would give us strength. But now, while my photo was still there, Sarah’s desk already featured a picture of her and Leo. I tossed the photo into the trash. After packing up, I was ready to leave. HR saw me moving quickly and said with a smirk, “Mr. Alex, if you walk out that door, it won’t be so easy to come back.” “Yeah, I don’t plan on coming back.” Colleagues gathered around, seeing me prepare to leave, and started talking loudly. “Alex, isn’t this ‘playing hard to get’ charade a bit much?” “You know the CEO is with Leo visiting his hometown today. You just want her to drop everything and come running after you, don’t you?” “So pathetic. As a man, you should be more magnanimous.” I’d never bothered with their comments before, always pretending not to hear them. But today, I said mockingly, “Oh really? Well, I hope you all find a girlfriend like Sarah, complete with a devoted childhood friend.” One colleague couldn’t take it anymore and picked up a water cup to throw at my face. Thankfully, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. I dodged it and, grabbing a nearby cup, splashed him right back in the face. The water was a bit hot. I heard pig-like squeals and curses behind me, but I ignored them all. These people disrespected me because they were watching Sarah’s cues. I used to put up with it. Not anymore. The next morning, I received an email from a company in the next city over: I’d passed the first interview. Three months ago, I’d already prepared to resign and started sending out resumes. This company was the one I’d dreamed of joining when I was younger. Thinking back to when we started our business, funds were tight. It was my loans and round-the-clock work that stabilized the company. But it was all just to pave the way for someone else. Sarah even bought Leo a house this year. When I found out, she just said, “Renting is definitely not comfortable, and his parents are old. What’s wrong with me helping him out?” I really couldn’t understand it. We had a huge fight, but it ended without any resolution. On the third day, I flew to the next city for the interview. It went very smoothly. I was set to start in a week, with a salary of $120,000 a year. The company had independent dorms, and after a year, I could apply for housing assistance. I didn’t rush back. I spent two days familiarizing myself with the city before heading home. During this time, Sarah hadn’t sent me a single message. Leo’s social media, however, was updated frequently. They took wedding photos in his hometown. Sarah, usually so proud, was even kneeling on a dirty floor, shyly calling out, “Mom, Dad.” To prop Leo up and teach a lesson to the neighbors who looked down on them, she’d generously thrown a three-day feast for the whole village. After landing, I remembered I still had some things at that apartment. Since I’d decided to leave, I needed to clear everything out. I thought Sarah wouldn’t be home, but just as I stepped out of the elevator, I heard her cheerful laughter. “Mom, Dad, have some tea. I had a friend bring this back specially.” Sarah’s parents had passed away long ago. The “Mom and Dad” she was referring to were Leo’s parents. An old woman’s voice chimed in, “Oh, such a wonderful daughter-in-law, you can’t find one like her even if you search high and low! Leo is so lucky.” “Yes, if we could hold a grandchild before we close our eyes, that would be just perfect.” So, these old folks had no idea their son was the homewrecker. They also didn’t know that Sarah actually had me, her boyfriend. Or maybe they did know and were just playing dumb. A chill went down my spine. It turned out I was the one who couldn’t be seen in public. Leo’s mom’s voice came again, “When are you two planning to get married? When are you having kids?” Sarah said shyly, “We’re not in a hurry yet, let’s wait a bit.” The woman I could never warm up to is now ready to have kids with another man. Hilarious. Back then, I put in the money and effort, even gave Sarah the whole company, elevating her to her current position. I never would have imagined this outcome. I didn’t linger. I pushed the door open. The three people sitting on the sofa all turned their gazes to me. A flicker of guilt crossed Sarah’s face, then she feigned composure. “It’s working hours. What are you doing home instead of at the company? And why is there still no news on the project I assigned you?” I said mockingly, “I’m not an employee of the company anymore. I’ve already left.” She’d been busy with her engagement, hardly having time to think about me. If she’d paid even a little attention, how could she not know my situation? If Leo so much as sneezed, she’d notice immediately. I’d been gone for five days, and she was completely unaware. Leo’s mom asked in surprise, “Who’s this?” Sarah hesitated, then said, “An employee from our company, currently having a bit of a tantrum with me.” Leo’s dad stubbed out his cigarette, looking at me disdainfully. “Daughter-in-law, you’re a CEO, for crying out loud. How can you let an employee push you around like this? Just kick this type of person out.” I ignored them and looked at Sarah. Just as she was about to speak, Leo walked out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel. “Alex, bro, why’d you suddenly quit?” Seeing him half-naked, so at ease in the apartment, I didn’t even feel angry anymore. The outcome was already obvious. Sarah said guiltily, “Leo’s old place was rather small, and his parents are elderly; they should live somewhere more comfortable.” Leo shot me a provocative look. “Yeah, we’re all family now.” “Oh, by the way, before my parents came, they packed some local specialties. Take some home and try them.” I looked at the bag of what were clearly leftovers and actually laughed out of anger. “What, your leftovers for me?” Sarah immediately yelled at me, “What nonsense are you talking about? Auntie Shi made this food specially! Don’t you have any respect for elders at all?” “This is Leo’s kind gesture.” Leo lowered his head, looking aggrieved. “Sarah, it’s okay. We’re just country folk. It’s normal for Alex to look down on us.” Leo’s mom shrieked curses at me, “You’re just an employee! What right do you have to talk to my son like that? Leo is your boss’s future husband!” Leo’s dad stared at me fiercely, his face cold. “You barge in here like this and try to bully our family? I’m calling the police right now!” I’d never met people who could turn things upside down, twist black into white, and still say it with such confidence. I walked into the bedroom, grabbed my remaining things, and prepared to leave. Leo’s mom blocked my way, looking like a shrew. “What did you take from the room? Don’t you have any manners?” “Sarah, aren’t you going to do something about him?” She walked up to me, took a deep breath. “Alex, apologize to Leo first. Then, find somewhere else to stay for a bit. I’ll talk to you about these things later.” I frowned, cutting her off before she could continue. “Sarah, in what capacity are you speaking to me?”

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