1 When I was fifteen, I got lost exploring the wilderness and almost met a terrible end, only to be saved by three rough-looking men. Their faces, strikingly similar to the one that haunted my dreams – a seven-tenths resemblance to my moonlit memory – captivated me instantly. My father, at my insistence, brought them back to the Thorne estate as my personal kept men. But over the years, their arrogance grew with my indulgence. They even secretly pledged their lives to Brittany Miller, our housekeeper’s daughter, right under my nose. “Hold on, Brit, just you wait. Once that old man kicks the bucket, the entire Thorne Corporation will be ours. Scarlett Thorne is crazy about me, we’ll just sell her off to some shady establishment where she’d make a good sum, if she didn’t mind the clientele.” Later, at the auction gala, one of them, Ryder, asked me what the mysterious item for today’s auction was. I didn’t answer. The three of them were about to scold me when suddenly, they were leashed, thrown into a dog kennel, and locked up. I smiled. “The auction item? Isn’t it right here?” 2 Watching the two of them exchange affectionate glances, I scoffed and turned away. I went upstairs and found my father. “Dad, I’m tired of these three.” The old man, hunched over his desk, poring over documents, paused and looked up, puzzled. “Tired of them? I thought you were quite fond of Ryder? Why the sudden change of heart?” I curved my lips. “What do you do, Dad, when a pet bites its owner?” My father understood. He waved a dismissive hand. “Get rid of them.” Ryder was the name my father gave him, though he never liked it, insisting on calling himself Ryder. Because of his face, so similar to the one in my memories, I never forced him. As I descended the stairs, I saw Ryder, who had just parted ways with Brittany Miller, the housekeeper’s daughter. “Ryder, what were you just doing?” Ryder, who was about to brush past me, froze, then frowned, a mix of unease and irritation on his face. After all, I always used to call him ‘Ryder, my love.’ “What’s it to you?” I didn’t care about his attitude; after all, I was the one who encouraged him to mimic his cold, detached tone. A cheap imitation, truly. “I saw Brittany Miller with you, just now.” Ryder stiffened, then his face hardened. “Scarlett Thorne, are you having me followed?” The commotion attracted Zane and Knox. Seeing that I had mentioned their little innocent flower, they immediately glared at me with ill intent. “Scarlett Thorne, who we spend our time with is our business. What right do you have to question it?” “Besides, we saved your life back then. You owe us, big time.” The three of them shielded Brittany, who had appeared at the sound of the argument, behind them. They made me feel like some kind of monster from a horror movie. Watching their actions, I was utterly bewildered. “I never said you had to stay by my side. If you liked her, all you had to do was tell me. Did you really think I’d tear you apart?” I kept them around originally because I couldn’t bear to part with Ryder’s face, so similar to my memory. But I never forced anyone; I wouldn’t tie them down to me. Yet these three, while greedily enjoying the wealth and status being by my side afforded them, were carrying on a secret affair with another woman right under my nose. Zane suddenly sneered, mocking, “Who doesn’t know how ruthless Scarlett Thorne is? If we’d told you, there’s no telling if you wouldn’t have had us ‘taken care of’ without a second thought.” I paused, then curved my lips. “That’s a good idea.” The three of them visibly flinched, exchanging uneasy glances. Ryder looked at Brittany behind him, startled and demure. He looked at my sudden change in demeanor, and a knot of irritation seemed to tighten in his chest, refusing to dissipate. Yet he still spoke stubbornly: “Alright, Scarlett, I know you love me. I promise, I won’t leave you, okay? Don’t say such things to upset me. This time, it’s my fault. Don’t make things difficult for anyone else.” The other two looked at him with admiration. Watching the barely concealed smugness on Ryder’s face, I felt sick. How could I have ever compared such a common, low-class man to him? But before I could say anything, I glanced down and noticed Brittany and Ryder’s hands secretly clasped together. A cold glint flashed in my eyes. I could have let them go anytime, but that didn’t mean they could betray me right under my nose. I turned to walk towards Brittany. To my surprise, as soon as I lifted my foot, the three men uniformly blocked my path. They watched me intently, then turned to the petite woman behind them. Ryder frowned. “Scarlett Thorne, that’s enough. I told you I wouldn’t leave you. Why do you have to be so hard on Brittany? She’s just a young girl.” I snapped back to reality, looking at the three men’s wary expressions, finding it both amusing and heartbreaking. Had I not been good enough to them all these years? Clearly, pets are pets. They only learn through discipline. 3 When I was sixteen, Ryder, who had been with me for a year, still hadn’t quite grasped my temper. But he knew that whenever I was angry, if he just took my hand and pressed it to his face, my anger would subside. Later, he took it upon himself to fire our housekeeper of ten years and personally hired a new one, Mrs. Miller. And Brittany Miller, the daughter, moved in with her. He told me, “Scarlett, I think they’re quite pitiful. Why don’t we let her stay too? The Thorne estate is so big, it won’t hurt to have one extra room.” At that time, I was utterly infatuated with that face. I never refused any request Ryder made. Later, during an evening gala, I noticed Brittany didn’t even have a decent dress. I casually took a new one from my wardrobe and gave it to her. It was C-Class haute couture, worth hundreds of thousands. Brittany looked at me with immense gratitude, bowing repeatedly and thanking me. However, that evening, Ryder saw Brittany dressed elegantly and seemed to lose himself, just staring at her next to me. A timid girl always seemed to ignite a man’s protective instincts. Suddenly, the shoulder strap of Brittany’s evening gown, as she stood front and center, unexpectedly snapped. Her slight figure was instantly exposed. Brittany, humiliated, cried and left. After the gala, I intended to go comfort her. After all, it was my dress I had given her. But the three men suddenly blocked my path, their expressions impatient. Ryder furiously demanded to know: “Scarlett Thorne, you’re going too far! How could you deliberately give Brittany a faulty gown?” I was stunned, looking at Brittany, who was bowing her head behind them. I wanted her to explain that I had given her the dress brand new, the packaging box still unopened. But to my surprise, Brittany suddenly tugged on Ryder’s sleeve, tears welling up and spilling down. “It’s okay, Mr. Ryder, I believe Miss Scarlett didn’t mean it. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been spending too much time with you lately, making Miss Scarlett unhappy.” As if that wasn’t enough drama, she pushed past the three men and walked towards me. She slapped herself across the face, her delicate, pale cheek immediately turning red and swollen. Zane, seeing this, pulled Brittany back behind him. “Scarlett, don’t be so excessive! Even if we are just your hired help, it doesn’t mean you can trample on a young girl’s dignity like this!” “Why are you so wicked?” Brittany, seeing this, tugged on Zane’s sleeve. “It’s okay, Mr. Zane, I’m fine.” Seeing the beauty’s distress, Ryder could no longer control himself. He looked at me and commanded in a low voice. “Scarlett, apologize to Brittany!” And at that time, I was naive and almost completely obedient to Ryder. Because I couldn’t bear to see any expression of unhappiness on that face, I actually apologized to Brittany. In the years that followed, I apologized to Brittany, this woman living under my roof, at least ten times. Thinking back now, it’s truly laughable. 4 Looking at Ryder’s hostile expression, my patience had reached its limit. “Don’t flatter yourself. As for Brittany Miller, do what you want with her.” Hearing my suddenly cold tone, Ryder seemed startled and annoyed. Zane, on the other hand, asked Knox uncertainly, “Could she have found out we gave her ‘The Seraphina’?” Even though Zane had lowered his voice, I could read lips. “The Seraphina? You gave The Seraphina to Brittany Miller without my permission?” The Seraphina was the last design manuscript my late mother, a designer, created. This year marked the tenth anniversary of her passing, and I had commissioned the world’s top artisans to painstakingly craft it. It was meant to be a tribute to her on the anniversary of her death. That’s why I had specifically given this task to Ryder six months ago, entrusting him to oversee it and ensure no issues arose. But I never imagined it would now be worn by Brittany Miller! Zane and Knox’s faces froze, looking somewhat flustered. Ryder stepped forward, speaking bluntly. “Yes, I decided to give The Seraphina to Brittany. She had a school gala, and I wanted her to make a grand entrance.” “You, Miss Scarlett, want for nothing. It’s just a dress. Why are you being so petty?” Looking at his self-righteous demeanor, I found it revolting. A strange wave of disgust washed over me. How could this substitute wear that face and make such a repulsive expression? Seeing me staring at him, Ryder’s eyes flickered, a hint of guilt there. But thinking of Brittany behind him, he straightened his back. “Brittany has lived in poverty her whole life. This school gala is very important to her. Do you have no sympathy at all? Do you really want her to be humiliated before you’re satisfied?” My lip twitched, finding it absurd. But Ryder, seeing me not speak, thought he had made his point and became even more smug. “Alright, I told you to stop always targeting her. I will marry you, you know.” The expression on his face, as if I should be eternally grateful, made me think this was his house, not mine. As if I were the pet, not them. Brittany, hearing this, looked at him with tears welling in her eyes. “Mr. Ryder, don’t force yourself to marry Miss Scarlett just to help me. I know you don’t love her. It’s all my fault, please don’t compromise yourself.” I sighed, exasperated. “Ryder, when did I ever say I was going to marry you?” Ryder looked at me, confused. After all, these past few years, I had never interfered with their shenanigans. Especially with Ryder, I had been almost completely compliant. This had given them the false impression that I was deeply, madly in love with him. Then I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. Suddenly, Brittany rushed to my feet, and just like years ago, she started crying and slapping herself. “Miss Scarlett, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have worn your gown without permission, but Ryder is innocent. He just wanted to help me.” “After all these years, you’ve ordered him around like a servant. Ryder is human too, he gets upset, so please don’t blame him, I beg you.” As she spoke, she used both hands, the sound of her slaps echoing through the villa. This Brittany Miller really was ruthless. In barely ten slaps, she managed to draw blood from her own face. Ryder, seeing this, finally reacted and quickly stopped her. He looked at her swollen, red face with pained sympathy, then turned to me, his gaze full of revulsion. “Scarlett Thorne! You’re going too far! It’s just a dress!” “I said I would marry you, and I will. How long are you going to keep throwing these childish tantrums?” Watching their synchronized act, I laughed, infuriated. “Are you deaf? I never said I was going to marry you!” But Ryder just sighed, looking at me as if I were a spoiled doll. “I know you can’t live without me, that you love me to death, but you can’t turn into a jealous woman.” “Alright, as long as you don’t bother Brittany, I’ll forgive you.” I looked at him coldly, wanting nothing more than to rip that skin off his face. He didn’t deserve to wear that face while doing such disgusting things. But I smiled. Letting them go now would be far too easy. The thought of the grand event three days later filled me with excitement. 5 Three days later, at A-City’s most mysterious auction house. Outside, it gleamed with gold, and inside, even the ordinary tables and chairs were made of solid gold. The four people with me looked around, utterly astonished by the sight. Brittany’s eyes swept over the men in the hall, full of raw greed. Ryder’s initial shock had turned into humiliation. After all, no man could stand looking foolish in front of the woman he loved. He could only turn to me, annoyed. “Why didn’t you bring us to such a great place sooner?” I gave him a knowing look, curving my lips without a word. Brittany suddenly linked her arm with mine. “Miss Scarlett, I knew you wouldn’t care about a mere dress. Otherwise, why would you invite me along?” At that moment, many people in the hall noticed my presence. They knew how much I had doted on Ryder over the years. They all, as before, complimented Ryder. “Mr. Ryder is as dashing as ever, handsome and capable. Truly a great asset to the Thorne family.” “Indeed, he and Miss Thorne make such a perfect pair.” I glanced sarcastically at Ryder, who was already lost in the shallow praises. I understood then. No wonder he had become so arrogant so quickly. He had been living this ‘top of the food chain’ lifestyle outside, using my name. When people live that way for too long, they forget they’re just my pets. The manager led me to the center seat. Ryder sat beside me, and the other three sat in the row behind. The auction began. An elegant auctioneer walked onto the stage. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight’s auction items are all sponsored by Miss Scarlett Thorne. And finally, there will be one mysterious item.” With that, priceless, rare treasures were brought out one by one. “Oh my God, isn’t that the ‘Eden Rose’ pink diamond! I remember it was worth over a hundred million! Truly Miss Thorne, her generosity knows no bounds.” “Yes, and these earrings are called ‘Oriental Sunrise.’ Three years ago, they were already being hyped at an exorbitant price and bought by a mysterious buyer. I can’t believe it was Miss Thorne!” Listening to the people around us, Brittany’s eyes blazed with ravenous greed. “Scarlett Thorne, how can you be so lucky! Everything you own will someday be mine!” Beside me, Ryder gasped. Then he looked at me disapprovingly, reprimanding me. “Scarlett, you are far too extravagant. These things aren’t worth this price. Why are you spending so recklessly?” I scoffed. This man probably thought the Thorne family fortune was already his. He had given himself the name Ryder, forgetting he was nothing more than a dog beside Scarlett Thorne. “What’s ‘worth it’ is for me, Scarlett Thorne, to decide. By what right are you questioning me?” Ryder paused, looking at me as if I were a spoiled girlfriend throwing a tantrum. “I know, I will marry you. You don’t need to keep reminding me of our relationship over and over again.” “In the future, when you plan to spend such large sums, you need to tell me beforehand. You can only use the money if I approve.” Then he turned his head away, no longer looking at me. Hearing this, I burst out laughing, unable to control my amusement. Lunatic. The auction proceeded smoothly. Ryder basked in the envious glances from those around him, his head held higher and higher. “Now, we come to our most exciting moment! The final mysterious item, to be unveiled by Miss Scarlett Thorne!” With that, she gestured, and black-suited men carried onto the stage a two-meter diameter object covered by a red cloth. Ryder leaned towards me. “What’s the mysterious item?” I stood up, ignoring him. I smiled at the crowd, then walked forward, gripped the red cloth with one hand, and pulled it down firmly. An empty iron cage was revealed before everyone’s eyes. The crowd looked at me, confused. I nodded to my discreet bodyguards.

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The air in the luxury boutique felt thick with the scent of expensive leather and ambition. I spotted it – a sleek, emerald-green handbag, nestled like a jewel on a display stand. My hand reached for it, just as another hand, impeccably manicured, landed on it from the opposite side. “Get your filthy hands off that!” a shrill voice cut through the hushed elegance. It was the sales associate, her face twisted in a sneer. “That bag is for Ms. Caldwell! Do you seriously think you can compete with her? She’s one of our most exclusive clients!” I froze, my gaze lifting to the woman beside the sales associate. Chloe Caldwell stood there, arms crossed, a look of pure disgust plastered across her face. “Someone like you? Touching a bag like that?” Chloe scoffed, her eyes raking over me dismissively. “Do you even know how much this bag costs just in pre-orders? You clearly can’t afford it, you pauper!” With a flourish, she produced a credit card and strutted towards the cashier. But as she scrawled her signature, a familiar name caught my eye: “Ethan Miller.” And the card in her hand? It was a supplementary card from my husband’s account – the one I’d set up for his personal expenses. My money. A chill snaked down my spine, but my smile remained fixed. “I saw this bag first. Why should I just hand it over?” My words struck both Chloe and the sales associate dumb for a moment. Then, the sales associate strode towards me, her disdain undisguised. “You?” she scoffed, giving me an exaggerated once-over. “You don’t have enough spare change in your pocket to buy one of our shopping bags, let alone a designer purse. Quit bragging and get out! You’re an eyesore for our esteemed clients. Or I’ll call security!” I suppressed a laugh. The woman was clearly new. She didn’t recognize me. I’d been traveling the world with my daughter for the past six months, so it had been a while since my last visit. Before that, the sales associates here would practically sprint to message me whenever a new collection dropped. Just then, my daughter, Lily, darted out from the mall’s play area, throwing herself into my arms with a sweet cry of “Mommy!” I instinctively tightened my grip, wanting to shield her from the ugliness unfolding before us. But Chloe’s sneering voice cut through the air again. “Look at that, a beggar and her little mini-me. There’s no handout station here, so just scram!” Her harsh tone startled Lily, who immediately clung to me, her eyes welling up with tears. I pulled her closer, glaring at Chloe. “Say that again.” Chloe just rolled her eyes. “Oh, I will. You filthy vagrant.” The sales associate chimed in, echoing Chloe’s sentiments. “Is Ms. Caldwell wrong? Her monthly spending here probably outearns your whole family’s income for three generations!” Chloe brandished the card, a triumphant smirk on her face. “Please. My boyfriend told me if I want it, he’ll bring me the stars themselves.” She swept elegantly toward the cashier, ready to swipe the card. I smirked, raising my hand to make a quick call. Sure enough, after Chloe swiped the card, nothing happened. She frowned. “Is your POS machine broken?” A slow smile touched my lips. That card was under my name. One phone call, and I could freeze it instantly. Ethan Miller, my husband, dared to use my money to parade another woman around. I was going to enjoy watching him squirm. Chloe tried another machine, but the result was the same: “Transaction Declined.” Annoyed, she snatched out her phone and dialed. The call connected quickly, and Chloe pressed speakerphone, shooting me a triumphant glance. “Ethan, darling, my card isn’t working! And I really want this bag.” She pouted, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness, a stark contrast to her earlier venomous demeanor. Then, Ethan’s voice crackled through the phone. “What? How can that be? That’s a Black Card, you can spend unlimited on it! Maybe there’s a small hiccup with the bank. Hold on, let me call them.” Lily, still clinging to me, recognized his voice. Her eyes widened. “That’s Dad…” I gently squeezed her hand, shaking my head. “Not yet, sweetheart.” The show was just beginning. Why spoil the surprise now? Moments later, my own phone buzzed. It was Ethan. I answered, and his voice, sharp and laced with ice, cut through the silence. “What’s wrong with the card you gave me? Why isn’t it working? Fix it within thirty minutes. Don’t make me repeat myself.” Before I could reply, he hung up, curt and dismissive. Almost simultaneously, Chloe’s phone rang again. She glanced at me, her eyes gleaming with smug victory, and pressed speakerphone. Ethan’s voice, this time, was as smooth as silk, dripping with tenderness. “Chloe, don’t worry, sweetie. The bank had a tiny glitch, but I’ve handled it. The card will be working in thirty minutes.” His tone was worlds apart from how he’d just spoken to me – one a god, the other dirt. Chloe’s smile blossomed as she listened, then she looked at me, her gaze challenging and filled with arrogance. “Hear that, country bumpkin? My boyfriend always gives me whatever I want!” I scoffed. So, he thought of me as his personal ATM? No, an ATM at least offered interest and respect. And me? Not only was I supporting him, but I was apparently funding his girlfriend too. Ethan’s game was well-played, cunning to the extreme, and heartless. I took a deep breath, pushing down the surge of anger. Ethan Miller, Chloe Caldwell, this bill was about to come due. Leading Lily, I walked over to the lounge area and settled into a plush armchair. I watched Chloe, calm and composed, wondering how she’d react in thirty minutes. Seeing that I hadn’t left, the sales associate marched over, her voice sharp with dismissal. “Why are you still here? What do you want?” She scrutinized me from head to toe, as if I were a speck of dirt. “People like you lingering around here are bad for business.” She pouted, her expression sour. I looked up at her, my voice steady. “What if she can’t buy it in thirty minutes? Then I still can, right? So I’ll wait.” The sales associate rolled her eyes. “As if you could afford it! What a load of hot air. Look at yourself. A toad dreaming of a swan, aren’t you?” On the other side of the lounge, Chloe gracefully took a seat. Seeing this, the sales associate instantly plastered on a fawning smile and scurried over. She poured Chloe tea, brought out exquisite desserts, and even piled several of the newest handbags in front of her for selection. “Ms. Caldwell, please don’t be upset. People like her are just troublemakers, trying to ruin your shopping mood. Don’t worry, Mr. Miller dotes on you so much, he’ll surely have everything sorted out right away.” Chloe took a sip of tea, her posture refined. “My boyfriend has never broken a promise to me.” She lifted her chin, throwing a defiant glance my way. “If you don’t believe me, just wait and see!” The sales associate quickly backed her up. “Exactly, exactly! Ms. Caldwell’s aura is clearly different from these poor folks. They don’t understand your world. Some people just can’t stand to see others succeed. If they can’t have it, they want to make sure no one else can either.” The atmosphere in the lounge grew tense. Thirty minutes. Almost up. Chloe slowly rose and headed towards the POS machine. Still no response. The proud look on her face shattered. She tried another machine, but the result was the same. The sales associate’s obsequious smile also faltered, replaced by an awkward grimace. Chloe pulled out her phone and called Ethan again. Surprisingly, no one picked up, and there was no response. I glanced at my phone. At this time, his company’s daily meeting would be starting. Under my support, Ethan had risen to a high executive position. He was always careful to show up to the office every day, afraid of being called a “kept man.” Unable to reach him, Chloe grew frantic, dialing his number repeatedly, her frustration evident. After a long moment, Chloe finally lifted her head, biting her lip. “My boyfriend must be busy. He probably didn’t have time to text me back.” She paused. “I don’t think I’ll get this bag now. I’ll have him come with me when he’s not so busy.” The sales associate, who had been working hard to please Chloe, looked crestfallen when she heard she wouldn’t buy the bag. But she dared not say anything, only managing a strained smile and a nod. It was then that I stepped forward. “She’s not buying it. Can I?” The sales associate waved her hand at me like shooing a fly. “I don’t have time for your games. Go away! Don’t waste my time when I could be serving other customers!” I chuckled coldly, then placed a platinum membership card on the counter. This was an exclusive ID, given only to clients who spent millions annually at the store. The sales associate froze, her face a mask of disbelief. Chloe, too, recognized the card. She snatched it up, her expression twisting into something grotesque. “You? Impossible! You must have stolen this card!” Chloe shrieked, her voice rising in pitch. “I knew it, you’re not just poor, you’re a thief! I’m calling the police right now and having you arrested!” I simply gave her a disdainful look. “Don’t believe me? Go ahead, check right now.” Chloe and the sales associate exchanged glances, then both rushed to the computer, inputting my details. Their eyes widened, their faces paling, as they saw my multi-million-dollar purchase history, the points accumulated over years. Chloe’s face turned as black as a kettle. The consumption records displayed clearly on the screen, each number a resounding slap across her proud face. The sales associate was utterly terrified. She stood frozen, as if under a spell, her legs trembling uncontrollably. After a moment, she switched back to a fawning, desperate smile. “You buy this bag, and I’ll give you the absolute biggest discount, plus some limited edition gifts from the store, how about it?” She was a completely different person from moments ago, but I remained calm, watching her smile slowly freeze before I finally spoke. “I’ll take the bag.” Before she could rejoice, I added, “However, the commission for this sale will go to Leah.” The sales associate’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing with a mix of incomprehension and resentment. Leah was the kindest sales associate in this store. No matter how a customer was dressed, she always maintained a welcoming smile. She never judged anyone by their appearance, treating every customer with equal respect. “And you,” my gaze returned to the sales associate, who was now slumping. “I’m filing a complaint with corporate.” Her eyes widened further, and her body began to tremble violently. “Until you’re fired,” I added, each word firm, leaving no room for negotiation. The sales associate lifted her head, glaring at me with resentment. “You’re so rich! Why are you bothering with such a small matter? Can’t you be a little understanding?” Her logic struck me as ridiculous. “If I were truly poor today, would I deserve your mockery?” Realizing she had no counter-argument, the sales associate got up, shot me a venomous look, and retreated to the counter. Chloe, having witnessed the entire exchange, looked even more enraged. She glared at me. “Who knows where your money came from anyway? Probably just some old man!” Just then, Ethan called her back. “Chloe, I was in a meeting, what’s wrong?” Hearing Ethan’s voice, Chloe latched onto it like a drowning woman to a life raft. “Ethan, darling, I’ve been so bullied! Someone stole the bag I wanted. Please, come here, quick!” Ethan sounded confused. “Stolen? Why didn’t you just buy it?” “The card still wasn’t working, and I thought the bank might have some complicated procedure, so I had to give up,” Chloe whined, her voice thick with feigned distress. On the other end of the line, Ethan’s voice instantly turned cold. “That’s outrageous! I’m calling her right now!” “Her,” of course, referred to me. “No, don’t! You come here instead, please, and buy it for me yourself! There’s this woman who keeps harassing me!” “Okay, sweetheart, wait for me. I’m on my way.” The call ended. Chloe’s distressed expression vanished, replaced by a smug smirk as she walked towards me, chin held high. She pointed at the bag in my hand. “Put that down. My boyfriend’s coming to buy it for me. That bag is mine now.” Ethan was coming? This was getting interesting. I wondered what kind of face he would make when he saw me. A slow smile played on my lips as I met Chloe’s triumphant gaze. “You said you weren’t buying it. And I’m about to pay for it. Don’t you understand ‘first come, first served’?” “I was here first! I just had a little issue and couldn’t buy it right away. When did it become your turn?” Chloe scoffed, then turned to the sales associate. “Wrap it up for me. The commission for this bag goes to you.” The sales associate looked at me, her expression shifting again. “I’m sorry, Ms. Vance, but Ms. Caldwell was indeed here first. If you want to buy a bag, perhaps you could look at others.” I saw the malicious gleam in her eyes, knowing she was trying to get revenge for my complaint. I merely smiled coldly. “Alright. Then I’ll just wait and see if your boyfriend can buy it for you.” Less than thirty minutes later, Ethan arrived. I was seated behind a decorative screen in the lounge, out of his immediate sight. Chloe spotted him and immediately rushed into his arms. “Ethan!” Ethan’s voice was gentle as he stroked her hair. “Who’s trying to take your bag, sweetheart? I’ll buy it for you.” Chloe gave me a triumphant look, then pointed directly at my hidden spot. “It’s her!” Ethan’s gaze followed her finger. The moment he saw me, his face fractured. Our eyes met, and the color drained from his face instantly. He froze from head to toe. The tender smile he’d offered Chloe solidified, then shattered, replaced by an almost panicked astonishment.

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The moment I saw the diagnosis, my mind went blank. The doctor said I had late-stage colon cancer and needed immediate surgery, or I might only have a few months to live. “Colon cancer treatment is incredibly expensive. I advise you to start gathering funds as soon as possible.” The doctor’s words echoed in my ears, and hot tears streamed down my face. I was only thirty. So young. I didn’t want to die. I was still reeling when my husband, Kevin, called, pulling me out of my daze. “Sarah, do you know what time it is? My mom’s practically starving to death. Why aren’t you home cooking?” The moment I answered, his accusations came pouring out. “My mom already has a huge problem with you being infertile, and now that she’s finally here, can’t you at least be a good wife and take care of her?” “I have colon cancer,” I choked out, tears still flowing. “It’s late-stage. I’m dying.” But Kevin seemed not to hear me, continuing his relentless barrage. “Just get back here and cook for my mom! What’s this colon cancer nonsense? It’s not April Fool’s Day!” His harsh words shattered the fragile calm I’d finally managed to achieve. Sensing my uncontrollable sobs, his tone softened, as if he was explaining himself. “Honey, my mom was listening just now! I might have been a bit harsh, I’m sorry. I’m outside now, so don’t be mad. She’s my mom, after all. She’s getting old, and she just wants grandkids. It’s hard for me to defy her.” He paused, then continued. “Don’t worry, she’s leaving soon. Once she’s gone, I’ll make it up to you! I’ll take you out for a fancy dinner!” Kevin was usually incredibly cheap; he’d rather eat at home than ever go out. “No, that’s not it. I’m not lying.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Kevin, the doctor just told me I have colon cancer. I might not have much time left.” After a brief silence, Kevin started asking for details. “Late-stage colon cancer. The doctor said I need surgery right away, or I might only have a few months to live.” I wiped away my tears and began to explain my plan. “I’m so scared. The doctor said it could be very expensive, so I plan to use all our savings for treatment.” 2 Kevin and I were college sweethearts. We’d been through a lot, on-again, off-again. Besides being a bit stingy, he seemed like a dream guy. When we got married, I told him I wanted to focus on my career before having kids, and he supported me for years, even facing pressure from his parents. That’s why, despite his mom constantly giving me a hard time, I still tried to appease her. But I never expected Kevin’s next response to send a chill down my spine. “Colon cancer, late-stage. Sarah, I just looked up colon cancer. That disease is incurable. No matter how much money you spend, it won’t get better. Why don’t you just give up on treatment?” “What did you say?” “Don’t blame me for being heartless. Colon cancer is incurable. Spending money on treatment will just leave us with nothing and you still gone. It’s better to give up early, leave the money for family, and everyone’s happy.” If I’d initially doubted if I’d misheard him, Kevin’s words now hit me like a sledgehammer. “Colon cancer, it’s a type of cancer. My colleague’s mom had stomach cancer, spent a million bucks, and died two months later. It left them broke, and now their kid can’t even afford tutoring.” “If you insist on treatment, then let’s just get a divorce now! I don’t want to go through all that treatment with you just to end up losing everything!” Coming back to reality, Kevin was still rambling, urging me to give up treatment. My heart completely died. When Kevin was sick before, I nursed him day and night until he recovered. And now… “Give up treatment? Leave the money for family? Everyone’s happy?” “I think you, you scumbag, just want my money! Everyone knows how cheap and selfish you are. How could I have been so blind, to only now see what a heartless jerk you are? I must have been crazy to choose you!” “Divorce? Fine, let’s do it! Right now!” After screaming, I furiously hung up the phone. My adoptive parents always favored my sister, Tiffany, so in my eyes, Kevin was my closest person. He’d always been so good to me. When we were dating, if I wanted a milkshake, he’d run all over town, rain or shine, to get it for me. When I was sick, he’d stay by my bedside day and night. Even now, with his mom constantly giving me a hard time about kids, he’d subtly support me. It wasn’t until I got home, and his mother, Karen’s, torrent of abuse washed over me, that I understood how flimsy Kevin’s “love” really was. “Sarah Evans, do you think you’re some heiress from a wealthy family? Not home till this late? I’m practically starving to death!” “A daughter-in-law who doesn’t respect her mother-in-law like you would have been divorced in my day. And after three years of marriage, you still won’t have kids! How could I have been so blind to let a jinx like you into my house?” I thought, given the bond Kevin and I shared from college through marriage, he’d comfort me and help me figure things out. But his reaction made me feel like a clown, ridiculed by everyone. 2 3 “You have hands and feet, can’t you cook for yourself? Besides, your darling son gets off work at five. Why don’t you make him cook for you?” Unlike my usual meekness, I flung my bag onto the sofa. “Sarah Evans, do you have any semblance of a wife? How dare you speak to your mother-in-law like that?” Kevin’s sister, Stacy, poked her head out of the kitchen, scolding me. “You haven’t forgotten the Williams Family Rules, have you? You’re supposed to speak to your mother-in-law softly. With that shrewish behavior just now, if my brother hadn’t insisted on you, I would have never agreed to let you in!” When I married Kevin, Stacy dragged me into an all-night lesson on the “Williams Family Rules.” In short, it was an ancient, patriarchal book. Everything from needing male heirs to speaking softly to your mother-in-law was covered. “You’re going to make yourselves a laughingstock, still spouting ‘Williams Family Rules’ after all these years! In modern times, people like you should just be laughed out of existence! Oh, wait, Stacy, you weren’t even around back then, were you?” I retorted, raising an eyebrow. “Sarah Evans, let’s get a divorce. You have colon cancer, and you don’t respect our family rules. Our humble home can’t accommodate such a great goddess like you.” Kevin walked out of the bedroom, speaking with a righteous air. He’d never openly defended me when his mom treated me badly. Instead, he’d tell me, “If I defended you in front of my mom, how heartbroken would she be? Honey, you’re in my heart, I stand with you.” Now, it seemed like typical manipulative BS. “Colon cancer?” Karen and Stacy blurted out in unison. Karen shot me a disgusted glance, then waved her hand dismissively. “Sarah, I always told you not to be so harsh with your words. You didn’t listen, and now look, you poisoned yourself right into colon cancer!” Stacy kept glancing at me, her eyes betraying undisguised contempt. “Sarah Evans, we’ve been married for three years. Let’s part amicably. The only joint asset is this house. After the divorce, I’ll take seventy percent, and you’ll take thirty.” Kevin exchanged a look with the two of them, and they immediately started smiling at me, as if hiding a bigger secret. I stared blankly at Kevin, unable to understand him. At our engagement party, I’d witnessed his family’s traditionalist views. But back then, I foolishly thought Kevin was different. In reality, people are products of their environment; it’s impossible to completely escape one’s upbringing. And Kevin, his surroundings had completely corrupted him. “Once the cooling-off period is over, we’re getting a divorce immediately!” I tossed out, then slammed the door. I’d barely walked a few steps when I got a call from the hospital. “Hello, Ms. Sarah Evans? We’re very sorry, but it was our intern’s first day. You actually don’t have colon cancer. It was a misdiagnosis. You have appendicitis.” 4 After hanging up, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. One moment, I was heartbroken that someone close to me had abandoned me. The next, I was overjoyed that fate had opened my eyes to the true nature of that scumbag. A jerk who abandons a woman will always do it again, or he never will. Instead of fantasizing about changing a scumbag, it’s better to cut him out of your life completely. Humming, I skipped all the way home. Even though my relationship with my adoptive parents wasn’t great, I still needed to tell them about the divorce. I didn’t expect them to look at me with suspicious eyes when I walked in. “Mom, Dad, I’m divorcing Kevin.” I didn’t mince words. The moment I spoke, Kevin walked out of the bedroom, supporting my sister, Tiffany. “Dad, why don’t I take Tiffany to her prenatal appointment? You and Mom are getting old, it’s not convenient. Besides, I’m about to marry…” Tiffany looked sweet and charming, leaning against Kevin with a radiant smile. If you didn’t know they were sister and brother-in-law, they’d look like a picture-perfect couple. I felt both amused and angry. Tiffany was already eagerly picking up my discarded trash? Seeing my displeasure, Tiffany pouted. “Sister, I’m pregnant with Kevin’s baby. And you’re practically half-dead from late-stage colon cancer. How could you give my brother-in-law a child? I’m just thinking about him!” She patted her not-yet-showing belly, her eyes never leaving me. I smiled, turning to look at my adoptive parents. “And you two? What do you think?” My adoptive parents couldn’t possibly have been unaware of Kevin and Tiffany’s affair. The only possibility was that they didn’t care about me. They didn’t care if this hurt me at all. They would only endlessly indulge their biological daughter. My adoptive dad scratched his head, looking clueless, but his words were anything but. “Sarah, you’re divorcing Kevin anyway. Who Kevin chooses to be with, that’s his freedom.” And my adoptive mom was even more blunt. “Sarah Evans, you’re late-stage colon cancer anyway, you’re going to die soon, so don’t bother your sister anymore!” I remembered how I worried they’d be heartbroken if I, their “black-haired child,” died before them, their “white-haired parents.” It felt so ironic now. “Sarah Evans, you should stay away from home in the future. Don’t bring bad luck to the baby in my belly. And don’t think Mom and Dad will pay for your treatment later. Getting colon cancer is what you deserve!” Tiffany rolled her eyes, indignant. But Kevin, beside her, whispered something in her ear. She immediately nodded, straightening up. “Sarah Evans, you need to sign a disownment agreement with us. From now on, your life, death, and old age have nothing to do with us. Don’t expect us to give you any money either!” My gaze moved between Kevin and Tiffany. Then, I smiled leisurely. A scumbag and a manipulative woman—they were perfect for each other, truly a match made in hell. “You’re committing infidelity, aren’t you? What do you think your colleagues and the judge will say about your reputation and your money?” I stared at Kevin with interest, then shifted my gaze to my adoptive parents. “As for disowning me, Mom and Dad, is that what you truly want?” My adoptive dad’s scalp tingled under my stare. He shuffled back a few steps, hiding behind my adoptive mom. My adoptive mom, meanwhile, puffed up like an old hen ready for a fight, her posture aggressive. “Sarah Evans, do you have no shame? You’re so young and you got colon cancer, and you haven’t even honored us yet, but you’re already thinking of spending all our money? How could I have an ungrateful daughter like you?!” “Fine, then. Let’s cut ties. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other!” Even though I knew I wasn’t their biological daughter, hearing them abandon me because of a single sentence from Tiffany still made my heart ache. Bitterness, sadness, and sorrow mixed together, a bitter cocktail of emotions. Walking aimlessly down the street, I called the billionaire. “Sarah, your mom and I are coming to pick you up right away. Just stay put for a bit!”

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I’m the real heir, and when they finally found me, my brother gifted me a hairless cat. “Lily, this is my gift to you. Welcome home.” Dad also gave me a gold necklace. “Lily, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. From now on, I’ll make it up to you.” They had no idea I possessed the Second Sight and had been studying the spiritual arts for years under my Master. Housed within that hairless cat was the soul of the fake heir. A soul swap? Interesting! I gazed at the grand mansion before me, my heart stirring. My Master’s need for sacred artifacts finally had a lead! … Seeing me accept the cat, the hairless feline rolled its eyes and sprawled out on the sofa. “Idiot! In exactly forty-nine days, my soul swap will be complete. Then I’ll sell you to a breeding farm and you’ll be used daily!” “Dad and my brother said I’m the real princess of this house. You’re just a vessel!” “Enjoy your little moment in the sun for a couple of days!” Oh? What a splendid idea! I wondered how much a hairless cat would fetch. Quite a lot, I assumed? I looked it up online. A breeding-grade one could go for around fifteen thousand. That’ll cover my Senior Apprentice’s new phone. I glanced at Brooke and settled down next to her. She immediately sprang up, hissing and screeching at me! “Get away! You country hick, stay far away from me!” “You’re reeking of poverty, don’t contaminate me!” I raised an eyebrow, then swung a casual slap across her face! Ryan rushed over, alarmed. “Lily! What did you hit her for?!” He instantly scooped up the cat, yelling at me. I feigned timidity. “Where I come from, untamed brutes need a firm hand, otherwise, they won’t learn manners.” “Brother, are you upset with me?” Ryan’s face darkened, but he quickly softened his tone. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that you two just met today and aren’t familiar yet. You’ll get along once you get to know each other.” He stroked the cat’s head tenderly. “Be a good girl, sweetie. I’ll get you some delicious treats later.” “You’re the best, big brother!” Brooke tilted her head, rubbing against his palm, and I felt a pang of disgust. Her large eyes met mine, full of blatant provocation. I sneered inwardly. A hairless creature, trying to cause trouble! Ryan placed Brooke in her dedicated room, which was decorated like a princess’s chamber, all pink and soft, complete with plush carpets. “Lily, from today onwards, you’ll sleep with her. Our family even owns a pet hospital. You should familiarize yourself with it soon, so you can manage that part of the business.” “Got it, big brother! Leave her to me!” I eagerly picked up Brooke, smiling faintly. “Let’s get along, okay? Otherwise, my temper isn’t very good!” Hearing this, Brooke opened her mouth to bite, but in the next second, I had her by the scruff of her neck, completely restraining her. Whack! Whack! Two quick slaps stunned Brooke. “I told you, if you don’t listen, you get hit!” Ryan’s face turned ashen. He was about to intervene when I said, “Brother, my pet, my rules. Don’t worry, a few hits and she won’t dare to bite people anymore. Animals, you know, they need to have their temper curbed!” Ryan was helpless, forced to endure it as he closed the door. I tossed Brooke onto the floor and pulled out my phone to text my Master, letting him know I was safe. Brooke, fuming, hunkered down in the corner, glaring at me. “You bitch! Just you wait!” “Once that necklace is tainted by your aura, I’ll be able to successfully swap our souls!” I touched the necklace around my neck. It pulsed with a faint, chilling, ethereal energy. But I quickly suppressed it. A mere minor spirit from a foreign land dares to cause trouble! The necklace’s luster immediately dulled. It seems they didn’t enlist anyone truly formidable! My Master quickly replied to my photo: “A wealthy family, indeed. But that hairless cat… she’s a bit unusual!” I explained the situation to him, and the old man immediately grew excited. “I wonder how skilled you are with these foreign dark arts. Maybe we can bind a few and use them for practice!” Just as I expected, Master was interested. I readily agreed. Closing my phone, I looked at Brooke’s eyes and curved my lips into a smile. “Little kitty, want some yummy food?” 2 Brooke hissed at me. Mid-hiss, she suddenly remembered my stinging slaps and immediately shut up, hiding in the corner without a sound. Finding myself bored, I opened the door and went out to explore. Aside from the strange soul swap involving Brooke, this mansion seemed perfectly normal. However, as I reached the third-floor study, I overheard Robert Henderson and Ryan’s conversation. “Dad, what do we do with Lily after the soul swap?” “She’s just a little animal, just toss her out!” “What trouble could she possibly cause? She’s a country bumpkin! If Brooke hadn’t gotten into trouble, I would never have brought her back. Let her enjoy herself for a bit!” “Alright, I’ll go prepare Brooke’s Tomahawk steak. Her favorite fruit was just airlifted in!” I quickly retreated and hid, watching Ryan, who was supposed to be at the company, rush out. I did a quick psychic reading. His romantic stars were aligning, but it was nothing but trouble! It seemed Ryan’s feelings for Brooke truly were extraordinary! I scoffed inwardly. After exploring for a while, I returned to my room. Brooke was nowhere to be seen, but my nose caught a pungent odor of cat urine. I almost laughed. The carpet, the sofa, the bed, and even my wardrobe – all of it was covered in her territorial markings. I walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. A white blur suddenly shot towards my face, claws glinting. I dodged sideways, then landed a kick that sent the cat flying into the corner! She hit the wall hard and fell to the ground. “Ah! You wretched hussy! My brother will kill you when he gets here!” Hearing footsteps approaching the door, I moved quickly, scooping up Brooke. Then, with lightning speed, I pulled off the bedsheet and wrapped her inside. Holding her by the scruff of the neck, I gave her a few swift slaps, then shook her hard until Brooke completely passed out. The next second, the door opened. I said, my voice trembling with feigned tears, “Brother, I don’t know what’s wrong with her! She suddenly just turned like this! Look, is she sick?” Ryan immediately became anxious. He rushed to scoop up Brooke, and was instantly assailed by the strong smell of urine, nearly gagging. “What is this?” “I’m not really sure. When I came in, all my clothes were soaked in urine. Does this cat have some kind of disease? She shouldn’t be making mistakes like this!” “Is there something wrong with her? We should take her to the pet hospital to get checked out!” Ryan grew worried. “I’ll go! Have the maids clean up all this stuff!” “But I don’t have any clothes to change into.” Ryan hesitated for a moment, then pulled out his phone and transferred fifty thousand to me. “Go buy some new clothes right away!” “Thank you, brother.” Fifty thousand dollars, charity money! The ingredients airlifted for the cat alone cost more than that. I turned around, went to a jewelry store, and bought a massive gold pendant for a necklace. Only then did I return. As soon as I got home, I saw a box of ingredients on the table. Besides steak, there was sea urchin. Good heavens, why does one cat need to eat so well?! Without hesitation, I cooked it all. What I couldn’t eat, I fed to the stray dogs. When Ryan returned, he saw the empty food box and his face darkened. “Lily, why did you ruin all the ingredients I bought?” “Brother, you know, I never lived well before. I’ve never seen such delicious food, so…” “Brother, is the cat okay?” Ryan gritted his teeth. “She’s… she’s fine.” I smiled and made to pick her up, but Ryan sidestepped. “Never mind, I’ll handle it myself.” The maids had already cleaned the room, and I took out the large gold pendant and fastened it around Brooke’s neck. “This is a special gold pendant I bought as a welcome gift. I saw other people’s cats wearing these.” 3 Ryan was about to refuse, but Brooke saw the large gold pendant and her eyes immediately lit up. She instantly sat down demurely, admiring it. “Look, brother, she really likes it.” Ryan’s expression softened. “Alright, I’m going to the company for a bit. You be good.” I nodded repeatedly, looking at my phone. My Senior Apprentice had pulled a few strings for me earlier. I figured Mr. Henderson and Ryan wouldn’t have time to bother me. I prepared some steak scraps for Brooke. Brooke immediately changed her attitude! “You little bitch! You feed me leftovers! I’ll tell Dad and my brother to kill you!” I smiled at her. “Behave, or you’ll get a good smack! Don’t expect Ryan to come back anytime soon!” Brooke glared at me, making low growling sounds. I chuckled, then watched as the roar of a car engine faded outside. Both of them were gone. I immediately searched for the nearest animal breeding center. I turned to look at Brooke. She was arching her back, preparing to pounce, but suddenly met my chilling gaze and froze. She then retreated. “Why is this little bitch looking at me like that? What do you want?” Terrified, she turned to run, but I swiftly grabbed her by the scruff of the neck. She tried to fight back, but I squeezed hard, and Brooke passed out. I tossed her into a bag, then hailed a cab directly to the breeding center. “Here’s five hundred dollars. Keep her for three days. This cat is in heat. Mate her with a few strong males. I don’t care about the breed, any of them will do!” Brooke shrieked, “Bitch! How dare you!” The owner smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll be satisfied!” He brought out several burly males, even a twenty-pound Maine Coon! I was very pleased, but Brooke was terrified. “You little hussy, you wouldn’t dare! Dad will kill you when I get back!” I crouched down and looked at her. “Brooke, enjoy your stay!” Her eyes widened in horror. “How do you know?! You did this on purpose! Come back! Come back!” I ignored her, turning to leave. “Have a good time. I’ll be back for you in three days.” Mr. Henderson and Ryan were too preoccupied with company matters to bother with me. By the time they realized something was wrong, it was already the third day. After dinner that evening, Robert Henderson finally noticed the unusual quiet. “Where’s the cat? Why is it so quiet?” “Oh, she was in heat the other day, so I sent her to a breeding center. Found her a few male cats.” Hearing this, Robert Henderson shot up. “What did you say?!” Ryan grew anxious. “Lily, are you out of your mind?! Who authorized you to do that?!” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Cats in heat need to mate, Ryan!” “I asked the vet, and they all said if a cat’s in heat, you either spay her or find some males to mate her. So I just sent her to the breeding center.” Hearing this, Robert Henderson nearly fainted. Ryan grabbed me and demanded, “Address!” I rattled off the address. They rushed off. By the time I arrived, the breeding center owner was already fighting with them. “Where did these lunatics come from? Trying to snatch my cat!” Upon seeing me, the owner immediately waved me over. “Young lady, you’re just in time. These two are crazy, they saw this cat and tried to take her.” “Misunderstanding. They’re my dad and brother. They’re just very fond of this cat and wanted to check on her.” “You should have said so earlier! This cat’s been having quite a time, over a dozen males lined up for her every day!” Ryan exploded. “What did you say?! A dozen?! What did you take her for?!” “What else? A cat in heat, obviously!” Boom! Ryan didn’t explode, but Robert Henderson passed out! I smirked. Already losing it? It’s still too early!

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Six years into my relationship, my fingers brushed against a ring box in my boyfriend Liam Davis’s coat pocket. It was my birthday, and I was buzzing with anticipation. Instead, I scrolled through my social media feed and saw photos of him entering an upscale, romantic restaurant with another girl. I quickly hailed a cab and sped to the restaurant, arriving just in time to see him on one knee, proposing to her. The crowd around them cheered, urging them to seal their fate. After accumulating enough disappointment, I didn’t make a scene like I usually would. Instead, I quietly dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, I’ll agree to the marriage with the Stone family. Let’s start preparing the wedding.” … Hearing my words, Dad was initially stunned, then his voice filled with delight: “My dear girl, you’ve finally come around! When it comes to marriage, it’s all about finding the right match, someone who truly fits our family’s standing. You can sample the appetizers, honey, but you don’t build a life on plain rice!” I softly hummed in agreement, standing alone in the restaurant lobby, watching Liam and the girl embrace amidst the cheers. Everyone was celebrating them. Only I stood like a stiff, motionless puppet. Dad, hearing the celebratory noise from my end, urged me, “So, when are you coming home? You need to meet Ethan Stone. They’ve been pressing for an engagement date for a while now.” “In three days. Once I wrap things up here, I’ll head straight home.” After hanging up, perhaps because I stuck out so starkly from the jubilant crowd, Liam, his hands trembling as he put the ring on the girl’s finger, looked up and saw me. We stood far apart, gazing at each other across the room. Liam seemed a little surprised by my presence. He frowned, then led the girl back to their table. Roses, champagne, a soaring romantic piano melody, and a candlelight dinner… In the six years we’d been together, he had never taken me to a place like this. I turned to leave. Liam’s friends were all there; the photos had been posted by one of them. As I walked away, I could still hear their whistles and applause. “You two are truly made for each other! After all these years, you’ve finally made it official!” “Come on, everyone, let’s raise a toast to the happy couple! To true love!” I smiled bitterly. In the six years I’d spent by Liam’s side, his brothers and friends never knew about us. Yet, they all knew about his connection to that girl. A nameless bitterness welled up inside me. My birthday today. The sweet thrill I’d felt when I first found the ring in his coat pocket now morphed into a soul-crushing poison. After hailing a cab, I returned home. An empty birthday cake box sat by the door, delivered by a food service. The card on top had Liam’s handwriting: Happy Birthday, my darling. May all your wishes come true. The delivery guy smiled at me, a hint of envy in his eyes. “Ma’am, your boyfriend is really good to you. He ordered the most expensive cake in our shop, and he even wrote the card himself!” I pushed open the door and casually placed the cake on the counter. So, he remembered it was my birthday. But what had he done today? I sank weakly onto the sofa, my eyes involuntarily watering in the empty room. Our lives were etched into every corner of this place. But my boyfriend had bought an engagement ring and proposed to another woman. Seeing that cake now, I only felt sick to my stomach. I sat on the sofa for a long time, until I almost lost track of time. Then, the apartment door suddenly opened. Liam returned, looking tired, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. He walked towards me, his face devoid of any guilt or apology. “Riley, I brought you your favorite Lisianthus.” Lisianthus, symbolizing faithful and exclusive love. Now, held in Liam’s hands, they looked like a joke. I took the bouquet. Liam, thinking I had calmed down, finally began to explain. “Chloe Sterling was just diagnosed with bone cancer, and her only wish was to marry me. We grew up together, and I couldn’t let her last wish go unfulfilled. So, I’ll be getting engaged to her in three days.” “You’re always so understanding. You’ll definitely understand, right?” His tone wasn’t an explanation; it was a notification. Engaged to Chloe Sterling in three days, huh? What a coincidence. I was planning to leave in three days too. I nodded silently. In the past, Liam couldn’t stand my temper. He used to say I always made a fuss over small things, constantly seeking his attention, asking again and again if he loved me. Over time, I gradually changed, learning to endure. Now, I wasn’t arguing or demanding to know if he still loved me, and Liam seemed somewhat surprised, glancing at me. “Tomorrow, I’ll be moving in with Chloe. For the next few months, you might have to manage alone.” “Chloe is a patient. Compared to you, she needs me more right now.” I smiled, setting the flowers down. Seeing my lack of opposition, Liam leaned in, trying to touch my face. I subtly pulled away. His shirt collar still had a prominent lipstick stain, and the sickeningly sweet perfume scent wafted into my nose, making me want to gag. Rejected, Liam’s temper flared. He said nothing more and quickly left the apartment. I threw both the flowers and the cake into the trash, then began packing my things. I didn’t want the flowers, and I didn’t want Liam anymore. I had no attachment left to this home I’d lived in for six years. The next day, back at the office, I sat at my desk and printed out my resignation letter. Liam and I had met and fallen in love in college. When he joined this tech company, I followed him, turning down opportunities from my parents to start as a junior employee alongside him. After we got together, I had subtly brought up the idea of marriage. But Liam was always busy with work, saying he hadn’t built his career yet and was afraid my parents wouldn’t want their precious daughter to marry him. “Career before marriage” was his constant refrain. To avoid burdening him, I quietly worked on my parents, never revealing my family background, fearing it would put more pressure on him. Now he was a company VP. The moment I found the ring in his pocket, I’d hoped he had finally decided to propose to me. Turns out, it was all wishful thinking. A colleague walked over and saw my resignation letter on my computer. They looked surprised. “Riley, aren’t you about to be promoted to director? Why are you suddenly quitting?” I smiled. “I’m getting married soon. I might be working for a different company then.” My colleague, Sarah Jenkins, also smiled and congratulated me. “Seems like everyone in our company is getting good news lately! Last night, I also saw VP Davis’s social media post saying he was getting engaged!” “And I have to say, the VP and his girlfriend really do look perfect together. I heard they’re childhood sweethearts who grew up together, each other’s true loves.” The smile on my face suddenly felt strained. I opened my phone to find that Liam had already blocked me on both his main and secondary social media accounts. His main account was for personal use; he had unfriended and blocked me after he left the apartment yesterday. His secondary account was for work. When I opened our chat, all that was left were strictly professional communications. Just then, Liam walked into the office with Chloe Sterling. They stood close together. Chloe’s face was flushed and she had a bright smile, looking nothing like a patient. Liam then introduced her to everyone. “This is our new Director of Technology. Everyone, please get to know her and work together harmoniously.” Sarah’s face showed surprise. Her gaze flickered between me and Chloe, then she bowed slightly and greeted Chloe. “Hello, Director Sterling!” I said nothing, silently clutching my resignation letter. Liam, however, looked at me with displeasure. “Riley Miller, everyone else has greeted the new director. What’s your attitude?” Chloe chuckled lightly and extended her hand to me. “We’ll be working in the same company from now on. Please take good care of me.” Just as I reached out my hand, Liam pulled Chloe’s hand back. “You’re a director. There’s no need to indulge some junior employee. Let’s go, I’ll show you around the new environment.” They left one after another, leaving me standing there, hand still extended, looking like a fool. Sarah pulled me to sit down, gossiping at her desk. “Riley, you saw that, right? That was VP Davis’s fiancée!” “That diamond necklace on her neck? VP Davis gave it to her yesterday. They say it’s worth a fortune!” “But this sudden appointment by the VP is just too obvious! You’ve been here for five years, and your work ability is clear to everyone. And the VP just casually gave your well-deserved position to someone else!” I nodded absently. I had already decided to quit, and Chloe’s sudden arrival only clarified my standing in Liam’s eyes even faster. Gathering my documents and resignation letter, I knocked on Liam’s office door. “Come in,” Liam’s voice was cold. I placed everything down, including the handover documents for my departure. Liam flipped through the papers, his face darkening with each page. Finally, he looked up, staring at me with a sarcastic smile and a hint of disdain. “Riley Miller, yesterday I thought you’d finally straightened up, that you wouldn’t throw tantrums anymore. Looks like you’re showing your true colors today, huh?” Liam finished speaking, then threw the documents at me. I dodged, then lowered my head and picked up the papers scattered on the floor. He continued, “So what if I took your promotion opportunity? Chloe’s major is the same as mine. I trust her abilities, which is why I gave her the Director of Technology position. What right do you have to be upset?” I neatly stacked the papers and placed them in front of him. Calmly, I told him, “I’m not upset. I just want to resign.” Chloe Sterling shares your major, and you know her capabilities. But what about me? I majored in jewelry design in college, but I pursued a dual degree in a different field for Liam. I worked day and night for years to keep up with him. In his eyes, was all my effort truly so worthless? Liam looked down at me from his elevated position. “Don’t you have a grasp of your own competence? I’ve transferred you to Chloe’s team. You can watch and learn from her from now on.” I smiled. “My time is valuable. I won’t bother learning things I dislike anymore.” “Fine! Then leave! Let’s see which company dares to hire you after this!” Liam said, rising from his office chair, his eyes glinting like a menacing ghost ready to devour me. But I simply turned and walked out of the office. Six years with Liam, I considered it a wasted effort. But I would never revolve around him again, let alone Chloe Sterling. At noon, I returned to my desk to pack my belongings. The small asteroid ornament on my desk was a gift from Liam when he graduated. Back then, he swore I was his entire world. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, took one last look, and then packed the ornament away with the rest of my things. Just as I was leaving with my box, Chloe Sterling suddenly entered, her face anxious. “Excuse me, everyone, I seem to have lost my necklace today. Could everyone please cooperate with a routine check?” The other office workers began whispering. “I saw Director Sterling’s necklace when I came in today. The diamond on it was huge, so shiny and brilliant!” “I think Director Sterling is being too polite. It’s entirely possible someone saw that diamond necklace, got greedy, and stole it!” “Oh my gosh! We have a thief in our office? No wonder my snacks always went missing from my desk before!” Liam stood beside Chloe Sterling, had the corporate security block the door, and then began a search of everyone. When it was my turn, I set my box down and cooperated with Liam’s inspection. He clearly saw the asteroid ornament at the very top, hesitated for a second, then instructed them to empty everything out of my box. My belongings clattered to the floor, spilling everywhere. The ornament shattered completely, turning into a pile of trash. Just like my six-year relationship with him – once a crack appeared, it could never heal. Several security guards searched the floor. Suddenly, Chloe Sterling gasped, covering her mouth. “My necklace!” Everyone in the office was drawn to her cry. Their gazes landed on me, and they began pointing and whispering behind my back. “Oh my God! It was Riley Miller who stole the new director’s necklace! If the VP hadn’t brought people to block the office, she probably would have already escaped with it!” “I never thought Riley Miller would be like this. You really can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because the new director came in and took her job, she’s acting so petty!” “Riley Miller is so narrow-minded! She’s actually such a sneaky, dishonest person. Good thing she’s leaving, otherwise I’d be scared to share an office with her!” My face turned pale. I absolutely did not touch Chloe Sterling’s necklace. Someone must have tampered with my things while I was submitting my resignation. Liam’s face was ashen. He picked up the diamond necklace from the pile of scattered items. Holding the necklace, he looked utterly disappointed in me. “Riley Miller—” He yelled my name, and I looked down to see him deliberately stepping on my belongings, grinding his foot into the shards of the asteroid ornament. Just as I looked up, Liam, without a word, slapped me across the face. “Apologize to Chloe! Why did you steal the necklace I gave her?” In that moment, my heart died completely. In his hand, he held the million-dollar necklace he gave to Chloe Sterling, while under his foot, he crushed the cheap trinket he’d given me, not even a fraction of the necklace’s value. Suddenly, tears streamed from my eyes. Being misunderstood by my colleagues in the office hurt less than that single slap from Liam, who I had been with for six years. He actually didn’t believe me? Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, he dragged me in front of Chloe Sterling like a piece of trash. “I told you to apologize! Explain why you stole something!” A flash of triumph flickered in Chloe Sterling’s eyes. Quickly, she feigned concern, frowning and reaching out to pull me up from the cold floor. I swatted her hand away, holding onto my last shred of defiance, and stood up myself. Though my eyes were blurred with tears, I held my back straight. “I didn’t take it! There are security cameras in the office. I want to check the footage to prove my innocence!” “And besides, a mere diamond necklace? I wouldn’t even bother with it!” I stared into Chloe Sterling’s eyes, uttering each word clearly. “Enough! Stop throwing a fit!” Liam clamped his hand over my mouth and dragged me out of the office. The force with which his large hand covered my nose and mouth was so strong, it felt like he was trying to suffocate me. Then, I heard Chloe Sterling smile at the colleagues in the office, magnanimously saying, “Since the item has been found, I haven’t really lost anything. We’re all colleagues, after all, so I won’t press charges! This afternoon, I’ll order afternoon tea for everyone as a thank you!” Liam seemed terrified that I would publicly expose our relationship. He led me to the breakroom. “Tell me, what exactly do you want to do? There’s a limit to how much you can act out.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, seemingly extremely distressed by the situation. I gasped for air, my face bruised where he’d grabbed me. “When did you become like this? It’s a good thing Chloe is so generous and forgave you. Now go apologize to her immediately!” “I won’t apologize. Why should I admit to something I didn’t do!” I glared at him. Liam asked why I had become like this, but I wanted to ask him when he had become so unrecognizable. Chloe Sterling entered the breakroom and poured a cup of hot water for me in a paper cup. “Riley, take a sip of water and calm down. I know you resent me, but you can’t be so impulsive next time.” I didn’t take the cup. Chloe Sterling, however, got scalded by the boiling water in the cup and spilled it on my arm. “Ah! So hot…” Chloe Sterling cried out as a few drops of hot water burned her fingers. Liam quickly pulled her to the faucet to rinse it off. I was wearing a thin chiffon blouse, which was now soaked with boiling water. My arm, scalded by the hot water, felt like it was on fire, white steam rising from it. I went to the restroom alone to treat the burn. My left wrist quickly turned red and blistered. As I returned to my desk, enduring the pain to pack my things, Liam came out and grabbed my hand. “Ouch!” I cried out in pain. Liam froze, then released me. He asked stiffly, “Are you okay?” I found it a bit funny. The slap mark on my face today was his doing, and the burn on my wrist was clearly Chloe Sterling’s intentional act. Liam’s current feigned concern made me nauseous. I shook off his hand and swept the scattered items into the trash can. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he just turned and left, leaving only, “You were too impulsive today.” After cleaning up the mess, I went to the company’s security camera room. I wouldn’t just let them falsely accuse me like this. But in the security room, I was at a stalemate with the staff. I asked to view the office surveillance from this morning, but the staff blocked me, saying that only internal company employees were authorized to view the footage. I saw that my internal employee account had been blocked and deleted, and I understood this was Liam’s doing. Only he in the company could have acted so quickly and had my employee account removed. He was completely siding with Chloe Sterling, having already decided that I was the one who stole the necklace. But soon, remembering that this tech company was also under the Stone family’s name, I decided to rush home and meet with Ethan Stone, the Stone family heir. I returned to the apartment I had lived in for six years. I moved out all my belongings, and just like cleaning out trash, I decisively cleared this relationship from my life. That evening, another delivery person came to the door. Inside the bag was burn cream from a pharmacy. I tossed the burn cream on the table, taking one last look at the empty home before I left. The next day, I booked a flight back to the East Coast, and meticulously handed over all my unfinished work to my successor. On the third day, I carried my suitcase and walked into the airport alone. Before boarding, I sent a breakup message to Liam’s work account for the first time. Of course, like my other colleagues, I wished him and Chloe Sterling a happy engagement. Then, I deleted all of Liam’s contact information.

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In 1983, Liam Reynolds came to live with us. He stood out among his peers, and my heart had already secretly fallen for him. But I had a pronounced limp, and my insecurity kept me from expressing my feelings. The year of my high school finals, Dad lost the use of his legs, and our family was struggling to put food on the table. My parents considered sending Liam away. Instead, Liam got down on his knees before them, begging for help to finish his education, promising to return and marry me once he’d succeeded. I was overjoyed. I willingly gave up my own studies, working odd jobs to earn money for his tuition, just waiting for him to graduate and marry me. I endured from eighteen to twenty-eight. First, he pursued his Master’s, then his Doctorate, and finally, he was going to study abroad. I wanted to see him one last time before he left, but instead, I saw him and Tiffany Chen acting intimately, laughing and talking. They had been married six years ago, sucking our family dry, spending our money, and now they were going to leave the country together. The truth hit me like a physical blow. Overcome with shock and rage, I collapsed in the street, my heart giving out. When I opened my eyes again, I heard Liam making promises to Dad. “Please don’t send me back! Just let me finish school! When I come back, I’ll marry Anya! We’ll take care of both of you for the rest of your lives!” I cut off Liam’s desperate plea. “Who wants you to marry them! You’re not the only one in this family who can study!” 1 Liam stared at me in surprise. I emphasized it again, louder. “Our family is barely getting by right now! Even when I’m resting, I’m out doing farm chores! How can you have the nerve to ask our whole family to pay for your education?” “And marry me? You didn’t even ask if I was willing!” Mom and Dad were also surprised by my attitude. In my past life, they had seen how deeply I felt about Liam. Liam’s family was poor, with twelve brothers. He was the ninth, and at home, they starved more often than not. Getting an education was a luxury. Our family also had the Lin surname, and I was their only child, with a limp. Liam’s parents had actively sought to have him adopted by our family. I was two years younger than Liam and always clung to him when we were little, but I knew he didn’t like me. At least, whenever we were alone, he always kept his distance. But as long as my parents were home, he would sweetly call me “Anya, my little sister.” From a young age, he knew how to charm my parents, eagerly volunteering for chores and farm work. When it was time to actually do them, he’d call me over for help. Then he’d quietly slip away and go wild playing with the other kids in the hills. I bore no resentment because I’d loved him since I was a child. But he used my love as a tool. His grades were already below mine, and after Dad injured his leg, our family fell into hard times. He didn’t think about helping out; instead, he pushed for our whole family to support his studies. I was foolish back then, voluntarily dropping out of school and giving up on my finals to go out and earn money. But with my limp and not even a high school diploma, what factory would hire me? I hobbled with my limp, carrying sandbags at construction sites, picking up discarded vegetables at the market, and gathering coal cinders for warmth and fire, all just to save a few pennies to send to him for his education. All of this, just for that one sentence he uttered: “When I’ve achieved success, I’ll marry Anya!” Over ten years, I’d lost my youthful figure. My parents also suffered greatly and passed away one after another. Liam didn’t even make it back for their funerals. The villagers laughed at me, and some even urged me to stop waiting. He returned three days after my parents were buried. His first words were: “Did your mom and dad leave you anything valuable? My expenses outside were high, and I’m out of money.” Foolishly, I pulled out the four hundred dollars we’d received as funeral gifts. He took the money and left. I didn’t even have time to ask, “Liam, when are you coming back to marry me?” I secretly went to the state capital to find him, only to discover he hadn’t even finished college. His Master’s, Doctorate, and study abroad were all lies he used to extract money from our family. Six years ago, he took the money and quietly married Tiffany Chen from our village. And the so-called “study abroad” was just an excuse for them to go overseas and make a fortune. Overcome with shock and rage, I collapsed in the street and died. In this life, I was going to make Liam Reynolds live my life. 2 “Anya, didn’t you… like me?” Liam Reynolds looked at me in disbelief. “I’m only 18! What do I know about liking or not liking anyone! Don’t you dare spread rumors! The most important thing right now is to get my dad’s leg treated!” In my previous life, my biggest regret was Dad’s leg. It could have been cured, but the untrained village medic messed it up. “Your dad’s leg… the village medic said it couldn’t be fixed.” I snapped at Liam: “Does what some quack says even count? Mom, Dad’s leg can’t wait; we have to go to a real hospital! I’m going to Mayor Thompson’s place right now to borrow his truck!” Mom and Dad hesitated. Ignoring Liam’s attempts to stop me, I rushed Dad to the big hospital. The treatment would cost nearly a thousand dollars, which our family absolutely couldn’t afford. Dad wanted to give up, but I comforted him. “Dad! If we don’t have enough money, I’ll borrow it. At worst, Liam and I can work for a year, and we can still take our finals next year.” Liam, feeling the spotlight on him, also chimed in: “That’s right, Mr. Lin! The doctor said if you rest well for a year, you’ll be just like anyone else. I’ll take care of all the farm work this year!” Mom wiped away tears of relief, praising us both as good kids. Mom stayed in the city to take care of Dad. Liam and I rushed back home. On the way back, Liam asked me: “Are you really going to borrow money? Really going to drop out to work?” “Not just me, it’s us! If you’re not willing to get through this tough time together, then go back to your own family!” Liam fell silent, not answering. His original family was a sore spot for him: a violent father, a silent mother, and a bunch of brothers who fought over food. Just like in my previous life, I went to school to discuss taking a leave of absence, but this time, I brought Liam with me. The teacher’s first reaction was to object. When he heard it was for my father’s treatment, he suggested organizing a fundraiser. In my previous life, Liam handled my leave of absence, and I actually missed out on this fundraiser. My father was always a kind man in our town. Even Mayor Thompson wanted to help our family out. Before long, we had collected over $800. After borrowing a little more from relatives, we wouldn’t even need to take a leave of absence. Helping out around town more often would also allow us to scrape by this year. I was about to call Liam to go to the hospital and deliver the money when I saw him with Tiffany Chen. “Liam! Why are you taking a leave of absence too?” “Anya, that girl, it’s like she’s a different person. If I quit now, I’ll definitely be sent home, and you know what my family’s situation is like.” “Oh, Liam, if my family had fewer brothers, or if you could’ve lived with us back then, you wouldn’t have had to suffer at Anya Lin’s house.” Tiffany sniffled and cried, and Liam tenderly pulled her into a hug. “How can I blame you? But I heard Anya’s doing a fundraiser, probably four or five hundred at least. I’ll steal the money then, and we can run away together.” I stared at the two of them, kissing, my hand gripping the money bag tightly. He knew exactly what that money was for… As soon as Liam got back, he asked me how much I’d collected. I happily told him: “A thousand! Not only is it enough for Dad’s medical bills, but it’s also enough for both of us to keep studying!” Liam eagerly spread his arms to hug me, but I recoiled in disgust. His arms hung in the air for a moment, then dropped heavily. “Anya, give me the money, I’ll take it to Uncle Lin!” “Give it to you? What’s wrong?” His impatience was truly ridiculous. I pointed out the window. “It’s already dark, how are you going to go?” Only then did he realize it was well past nightfall. “Then give me the money, I don’t feel safe with a young girl like you carrying it.” I pulled out a red cloth bundle from under my pillow. I’d sewn it myself, layer upon layer, at least seven or eight layers thick. “Be careful, don’t open it. I’ve sewn it all up tight!” His hand trembled as he took the money, muttering about going to the hospital first thing in the morning. Then he quietly slipped out of the house. 3 Liam Reynolds went straight to Tiffany Chen. Tiffany’s family had three older brothers; she was the only daughter. While not wealthy, her whole family valued her highly, dressing her in good clothes and providing her with nice things. The fact that they sent her to school showed her status in the household. “Are we leaving now?” “Yes! We’ll walk to town and catch the earliest train tomorrow! Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the beach? I’ll take you!” “Wait for me! I’ll pack some clothes!” “Why bother packing? I have money!” Liam rattled the red cloth bundle in his hand. The two of them kissed passionately by the door until a noise came from Tiffany’s house. They panicked and fled. I walked to the spot they had just left and picked up Tiffany’s red hair clip. Knock knock on Tiffany’s family door. “Who is it! So late at night!” It was Tiffany’s mom who opened the door. When she saw it was me, she looked impatient. “What now? I already donated money to your family! Are you here to borrow more? We don’t have any!” I put my hand on the door, preventing her from closing it, my expression anxious. “Auntie! I’m not here to borrow money! Liam’s missing! And all the money from the fundraiser is gone too!” “I found this hair clip in Liam’s room! Take a look, is it Tiffany’s!” There were only a few hair clips like this in the whole school. Tiffany’s mom snatched it, examined it repeatedly, then turned and rushed inside, frantically calling for Tiffany. The entire Chen household was roused. Tiffany’s mom rushed back to the door, asking me: “Anya, when did you say Liam went missing?” “About an hour ago.” Tiffany’s brothers started talking over each other. “That kid’s been too close to our Tiffany! I knew something wasn’t right!” “Stealing the donations? Did they run away together!” “What are we waiting for! Let’s go find them!” The Chen family was a prominent family in our town. In no time, lights went on all over the neighborhood. Mayor Thompson asked me what happened, and I sobbed uncontrollably. “Mayor! I gave all the money to my brother! And my brother ran off with it! Tiffany Chen is missing too, what am I going to do? My dad’s waiting for that money for his surgery!” With just a few words, I linked the money directly to them both. The Mayor tried to comfort me. “Don’t worry, don’t worry! How much did you collect in total?” “Including what the school gave and what I borrowed, it was over a thousand dollars.” A thousand dollars, in that era, was enough for a family to live on for a year! It was no small sum. “Found them! They’re at the edge of town! They were indeed trying to leave!” I hurried along with Tiffany’s mom. The two of them were surrounded. From their expressions, they didn’t know what was happening. Until Tiffany’s mom appeared, grabbing her daughter by the ear. “What are you doing here with this boy so late at night!” “Mom! Mom! We were just taking a walk!” “A walk? Then why were you running! We were calling you to run!” Tiffany’s brothers were panting. “We really were just taking a walk!” Both of them were still stubbornly denying it. I walked out from behind the crowd. Liam looked at me in surprise. “Liam, why did you run off with Dad’s life-saving money?” He looked flustered. “I didn’t run off! I was just taking a walk!” “You were taking a walk with Tiffany Chen so late at night? Do you like her?” Liam didn’t expect me to ask so directly, and he blurted out, “Yes.” Tiffany smiled with satisfaction, while her brothers glared unhappily at Liam. I continued to ask: “Then what did you mean a few days ago, when you proposed to my dad to marry me?” Liam was speechless for a moment, while Tiffany looked utterly shocked. After a long pause, Tiffany suddenly yelled: “Didn’t you say you loved me!” Tiffany’s mom slapped her hand over her mouth, stopping her from talking nonsense. She clearly didn’t think highly of Liam. I had no time for romantic dramas. I held out my hand: “Give me Dad’s life-saving money!” “What life-saving money? I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I smiled. He thought he could get away with denial. I turned to Tiffany: “I refused his offer to live with us, and that’s why he came to you. You were just his backup.” Tiffany was still young and couldn’t handle such provocation. She pushed her mother’s hand away, pointing at Liam. “Who do you actually like! Why did you ask me to run away with you!” The word “run away” caused the nearby villagers to gasp collectively. 4 Tiffany Chen’s family immediately dragged her away, forbidding her from saying anything more. Liam Reynolds hadn’t expected Tiffany to be so useless in this situation. I held out my hand again. “Give me the money! If you didn’t have money, how would you dare to run away? That’s my dad’s life-saving money!” “What money! I don’t understand what you’re saying!” He was still being stubborn. I immediately began to sob, recounting all the good things Dad had done for him. Some of the villagers couldn’t stand it and stepped forward to search him. “If you really didn’t take it, let a few of us search you. This isn’t a small sum.” He couldn’t resist and was held down by the crowd. They searched him repeatedly. And found nothing. Liam mumbled as he put on his jacket. “I don’t know what money you’re talking about! You probably lost it yourself and want to blame it on me!” “I do like Tiffany Chen, and I’m just dating her. We’re both adults, dating is perfectly normal!” At this point, the villagers all looked at me, and I could see a sly smile on Liam’s lips. “Fine! Liam Reynolds, you clearly took the money! I wrapped that money in red cloth seven or eight layers thick, and the cloth I borrowed from Mayor Thompson! Do you dare to swear on it?” Liam froze for half a second. He didn’t swear, but he continued to deny it. I knelt on the ground, bowing my head deeply several times to the crowd. “I’ve troubled you all recently, and I ask all you villagers to bear witness! This Liam Reynolds refuses to admit he stole the money! This money is crucial for my father’s life! I have no desire to be related to such an ungrateful parasite any longer! From today onwards, Liam Reynolds is not allowed to enter my house! My family will have no further ties with Liam Reynolds!” Every word I spoke was filled with grief, and I bowed my head several more times, hard enough to draw blood from my forehead. The villagers rushed forward to help me up. “Maybe it’s a misunderstanding! Do you really have to be so absolute?” I pointed at Liam, my forehead still bearing a blood mark, my voice firm: “This is my dad’s life-saving money! If you don’t return it to me, you will never set foot in my house again!” I bowed to each villager who had donated to my dad, thanking them. Liam stood by, silent. Only after everyone had left did Liam speak. “Are you really going to kick me out?” I extended my hand again. “Give me the money! This is my last chance for you!” He smiled and shrugged. It was the same in this life as in the last: always a self-serving opportunist. “Don’t blame me! A thousand dollars is enough for four years of tuition! I can get away from that family, I can start my own life.” As expected, he never intended to return the money. “Anya, I’ve noticed you’re different from before, but you’re still not smart enough. You came looking for me so openly, did you think I wouldn’t be prepared?” He lifted his chin, his posture like a victor. “I know your family took me in back then because they wanted me to marry into your family. To put it nicely, you have a limp. To put it harshly, you’re disabled. I truly don’t like you~” He spoke cutting words, completely disregarding my feelings, then slowly walked to a tree and pulled out a red cloth bundle from behind it. He triumphantly waved it at me. “You want this, right?” I frowned, and he continued. “Why make things so ugly~ What if you need something from me in the future? You’re really burning bridges~” “Since you’re kicking me out~ then consider this compensation for all the years I ‘suffered’ at your house.” His silhouette vanished into the night. At that moment, I touched the money in my pocket. Every single cent.

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My company was bankrupt, drowning in massive debt. I sat on my penthouse balcony, chugging a bottle of whiskey, and dialed Ethan Chen’s number. “Can you come see me one last time?” He scoffed. “You want me to beg you not to die? Don’t pretend, you’re not the type to give up that easily.” “Oh, and that proposal from yesterday? It’s off. I have no interest in becoming a co-debtor.” In the background, a woman’s sweet voice cooed, “Ethan, focus, darling. Don’t mind that old hag.” I shook my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. Five years I’d nurtured him, only to find him an ungrateful dog. My phone vibrated. A new message. Dad: “Had enough fun? Come back and inherit the family business!” 1 Three minutes later, on board the private jet dispatched by the Sterling Corp. Ethan texted: “Get your stuff out by end of day.” I leaned back in the plush leather seat, my fingertips barely touching the screen as I typed: “Just trash it all.” He instantly replied: “Ordering me around? Still think you’re Harper Lin, the high-and-mighty CEO?” I let out a soft laugh, tossing the phone aside. He’d been my executive assistant for three years. I supposed he’d felt truly wronged. The jet landed on the helipad of a sprawling hillside mansion. Pushing open the heavy front door, I found my clothes and jewelry crammed haphazardly into cheap duffel bags. A few pieces of expensive lace lingerie had been deliberately pulled out and strewn across the floor, soaked in red wine, cigarette burns clearly visible. Several of his friends lounged on the sofas, eyeing me with meaningful, smirking gazes. My hands clenched, trembling as I looked at Ethan. He wore a silk black shirt, collar slightly unbuttoned, his charming eyes now glacial, making him look even more alluringly cruel. Suddenly, he pulled out a thick wad of cash and flung it directly at my face. The bills fluttered down, a few sticking to my cheek, like dirty paper meant for a mockery. Everyone burst into laughter: “Harper just came back from the brink, she needs a good cleanse! What if she loses it again and tries to off herself? Where would we collect our debts then?” “Off herself? She’d never abandon our Ethan!” One of them nudged a lace bra on the floor with his foot. “The tags are still on. Guess she never got to wear it for Ethan.” Ethan sneered, walking closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm: “Harper Lin, how does it feel to be humiliated with money? All these years, what else could you do but throw cash at me? Limited edition cars, yachts, hundreds of designer suits…” “Aside from spending money, do you have any other talent? If you’d shown me even a shred of genuine affection, you wouldn’t be in this position today!” I tugged at the corner of my lips: “Ethan Chen, you missed one thing: this $20 million mansion? I gave you that too.” I remembered our first time, in his cramped apartment. My heart ached for him, and I bought this villa the very next day. Later, anything good I saw, I wanted to give him. Now, that’s considered lack of sincerity? He looked disgusted. “What? You want it back?” I gazed at him, my fingertip lightly tracing his lips: “Considering how hard you worked in bed all these years, it’s yours. I really don’t lose anything.” He slapped my hand away, his face contorted in rage: “Do you know how disgusted I was every time I touched you? Your garish lipstick, your fake moans, even your breathing made me want to gag!” A dull ache swelled in my chest. I had money, looks, and on top of that, I’d tried every way to please him in bed, yet he despised me so much. The onlookers stifled their laughter, their gazes filled with contempt, mockery, and revulsion. Someone shook his phone: “Ethan, that’s not fair, man. Those private pics of Harper you shared in the group… her figure was totally smoking hot.” “Didn’t expect Harper, usually so poised and dignified, to be so wild in private.” “Shut up!” Ethan snapped, cutting him off, then turned to me with a cold smirk, “Even the best body can’t compare to a single strand of Chloe’s hair.” He’d actually shared my private photos with others to admire. My voice was hoarse: “How truly difficult for you, Ethan. Fetching my coffee all day at the office, and then at night having to endure your disgust while ‘servicing’ this ‘old hag.’ If I’d known it was such a burden, I would’ve hired a few more attractive assistants to spare you the effort.” Ethan suddenly clenched my wrist: “Harper Lin, do you have no shame? If you hadn’t bought off Chloe and forced her to leave the country, forced her to break up with me, how would I have ended up with you…?” “I forced her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t play innocent!” He ground his teeth, “If you hadn’t meddled, why would Chloe and I have been apart for five years?” I suddenly remembered five years ago, Chloe Su standing timidly in my office: “Ms. Lin, I, I can let you have Ethan. Could you give me some money for my studies abroad?” At the time, I found it utterly ridiculous. A man Harper Lin wanted? Did I need someone else’s permission? Out of pity, I’d allocated funds from my philanthropic foundation to her. Unexpectedly, that very night, Ethan spent all his savings to book the most exclusive restaurant in town, proposing to me with a diamond ring. Looking at the man now, his face filled with resentment, I suddenly felt a profound sense of weariness. Too lazy to explain, I shook off his hand and walked straight out. “Ms. Lin, long time no see.” A syrupy voice suddenly floated to my ears. 2 Chloe Su glided gracefully toward me on stiletto heels, her Givenchy couture dress accentuating her slender figure. She covered her mouth with a delicate hand, a challenging gleam in her eyes. “Ms. Lin, you’ve maintained yourself so well. You really don’t look thirty at all.” I eyed her coldly. Five years abroad had indeed polished away some of her former tackiness. But her habit of saying nasty things remained unchanged. She intimately linked her arm through Ethan’s. He immediately tenderly smoothed a strand of hair from her temple. I spotted the sapphire necklace around her neck. “Nice necklace,” I drawled, “I have an identical one.” Chloe suddenly stepped forward and embraced me, whispering in my ear: “Ethan said, anything you have, I have to have too. And it has to be better than yours.” She pulled a necklace from her palm, tilting her head, her smile both innocent and venomous: “This one is yours, a cheap imitation worth a few bucks. Mine is the real deal. Look at the wear and tear, Ms. Lin must have worn it often, right?” I stared at the necklace that had accompanied me to countless important events, my fingertips growing cold. The gift I had cherished as a treasure was nothing but a fake. And I had felt sorry for Ethan, always reciprocating his gifts with luxury watches and custom suits worth a hundred times more. Taking a deep breath, I reached up and ripped Chloe’s necklace from her neck, tossing it into a nearby trash can. If I had to wear a fake, why should she get to wear the real thing? Chloe shrieked in shock. The next second, Ethan shoved me hard: “Harper Lin! Are you out of your mind? Desperate for cash, are you? Trying to steal a necklace now?” My back slammed against a stone table, the searing pain making my vision blacken. He grabbed the trash can and dumped its contents over my head: “Pick up the necklace yourself!” Cigarette ash, fruit peels, and foul-smelling liquid cascaded over me. The stench was unbearable. I ripped the cheap fake necklace from my collar and hurled it at him. I gasped, writhing in pain, yet managed a brilliant smile: “Ethan Chen, that cheap trash isn’t even worth me touching.” Ethan’s face twisted, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Harper Lin, even now you’re still so shallow, always measuring everything by money!” He sighed heavily, “We’re clearly not from the same world. Forget it. I was originally planning to give you some emergency money…” I cut him off, contempt and mockery lacing my voice: “No need. I agree, we were never in the same world.” He sneered, “Butler, show her out!” The servants, who had once been so respectful, now herded me toward the door like a stray dog. My bodyguards, waiting outside the main gate, rushed to steady my stumbling form. “Miss, should we deal with this?” I looked back at the two figures embracing inside the mansion, and gently shook my head. How ridiculous. Even after all this, I still couldn’t bring myself to harm him. 3 Back home, my father was leisurely sipping tea. “My girl, that $10 billion tuition fee? Totally worth it!” He said, a smile crinkling his eyes, “Tomorrow, you’ll take over as Chairman.” I collapsed onto the sofa, groaning: “Dad, I just drove a company into bankruptcy. Can’t I get a break?” “Alright,” Dad slowly set down his teacup, “How about a blind date tomorrow then?” I instantly sprang up from the sofa: “No way!” Late that night, a friend request popped up on my phone. I casually accepted it, and out of curiosity, tapped on the sender’s social media profile. The latest post was a photo: Chloe Su in a bikini, lounging in Ethan’s arms, the two of them passionately kissing on a yacht deck. The location showed Hawaii. The date was last month, when Ethan had told me he was going abroad for a business trip. The most ironic part? The luxurious yacht in the background was the very gift I’d commissioned for him, thinking he deserved it after all his hard work. I let out a soft chuckle, then posted a comment: “Truly a match made in hell.” Not long after, Ethan sent a message: “I wired you $100,000 for emergencies.” “Don’t sleep under a bridge, it’s not safe.” I lightly tapped the ‘thumbs up’ emoji, then casually returned the transfer. Next, Chloe eagerly sent a video. In the footage, Ethan was breathing heavily, his voice laced with a vulnerability I’d never heard from him: “Baby, please, don’t ever leave me again. Do you know how I’ve survived all these years?” “Every time I was with Harper Lin, I’d close my eyes and imagine she was you. It was the only way to trick my body and not throw up.” “She clung to me every day, like a persistent fly! Even when she smiled at me, I felt like she was just laughing at my misery.” “Did she really think money could buy love? Buy my body and my dignity? Ridiculous! She’s just a crude, arrogant nouveau riche. How could she ever compare to my baby?” Every word was a poisoned dagger, piercing precisely into my heart. Only then did I belatedly realize, with him, I might have actually fallen. I fiercely wiped away the tears on my face, then carefully applied my flawless makeup. It’s just a man, isn’t it? When have I, Harper Lin, ever been short of them? I changed into the red dress he always loved to see me in, slipped on my high heels, and headed straight to the exclusive club. I picked a male escort who was handsomer and seemed more docile than Ethan, and collapsed into his embrace: “Does my smile really make people hate me?” His eyes were so tender they could melt. “How could it? Ms. Lin, your smile is as captivating as moonlight.” See? This is what a professional does. Not like Ethan, that hypocrite, who wanted my money yet still gave me that condescending sneer. I lightly kissed his lips. “So, will you keep me company tonight?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. He seemed conflicted. My heart suddenly sank. Was it true, as Ethan had said, that I was disgusting? “Harper Lin!” The VIP room door was brutally kicked open. Ethan’s face was grim with fury: “We’ve only been broken up for fifteen hours, and you’re already so desperate you have to come to a place like this? If someone hadn’t sent me the video, I wouldn’t have believed you could sink so low!” 4 Ignoring him, my fingertips traced circles on the male escort’s throat: “A million dollars, just for tonight?” The escort’s breath hitched, clearly tempted by the million. The next second, he smoothly swept me into his arms. Ethan lunged, trying to grab me. “Get down, now!” I tilted my head, looking him over: “What, Ethan? Do you want the million too? Too bad. I’ve already moved on from your model.” Ethan’s face instantly turned ashen: “Harper Lin, you sicken me! Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want my ex-girlfriend buying escorts and becoming a laughingstock in our circle!” “Ex-girlfriend?” I wagged a finger: “Ethan, your memory’s truly terrible. Between us, it was always patron and plaything! And now, the former patron is about to spoil her new favorite.” Ethan scoffed: “Your accounts are probably frozen! You think you can actually pull out a million? I suggest you stop now, before you get sued for skipping out on your bill at a place like this. I’d be embarrassed for you!” Suddenly, the escort looked at me, a handsome smile gracing his features: “Tonight, I’ll be happy to provide complimentary service for Ms. Lin, along with a top-floor suite experience.” Ethan sneered, “Harper Lin! You’re not even ashamed of a man who’s up for sale like that?” “Ashamed?” My fingertip traced the escort’s collar, “It’s better than someone who acts all sincere on the surface but secretly cheats behind your back! At least he’s upfront about his price. No surprises.” Ethan’s gaze darkened abruptly. That familiar, possessive look was back. I rolled my eyes; his clumsy acting no longer fooled me. I urged the escort: “What are you waiting for? Show me what you’ve got.” Ethan glared at us from behind, eyes burning. The escort carried me out, striding confidently, and ran straight into Chloe Su. Seeing the situation, a flicker of jealousy crossed her eyes as she intimately linked arms with Ethan. “Ethan, finding male escorts is Ms. Lin’s personal hobby. We should learn to respect that, shouldn’t we?” She deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of nearby guests. The men stared at me with lecherous gazes, as if appraising an item for sale. The women whispered amongst themselves, occasionally casting scornful or curious glances. I subconsciously looked at Ethan. The disgust in his eyes was almost palpable, as if I were some kind of scarlet woman. I gave Chloe a cold glance: “At least I’m better than Ms. Su. I have no interest in picking up someone else’s used trash.” Chloe’s face went pale. Ethan immediately gritted his teeth, “I’m used trash? Harper Lin, you’re utterly disgusting!” Disgusting? I’d become numb to it. Too lazy to argue with him further, I signaled for the escort to leave. The escort gentlemanly opened the Maybach’s door for me. As the door closed, the car started. “Wait!” I quickly rolled down the window. “Didn’t we say we were going to the suite?” He smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes: “Harper Lin, you really don’t remember me?” He was…? There was no time to think, the car was already moving. I let out a sigh of relief, collapsing back into the seat. I furiously scrubbed at my lips until I tasted blood. Good thing he didn’t get in the car. That act almost fell apart. Ethan’s disgusted face flashed involuntarily in my mind again, and my eyes suddenly grew hot. Damn it! He wasn’t worth a single tear! 5 My father hosted a grand welcome reception to celebrate my official return to the Sterling Corp. I wore a stunning Valentino couture gown, linked arms with my father, and chatted elegantly with various business magnates. When I went to the ladies’ room for a touch-up, Chloe Su was leaning against the hallway wall, studying my gown and jewelry with a mix of envy and disdain. “Ms. Lin, quite the strategy! You certainly latched onto the Sterling Corp. tree quickly.” “Mr. Lin might be a bit older, but he’s got deep pockets. With your skills, becoming Mrs. Lin must be just around the corner, right?” “I heard the Lin family assets are worth hundreds of your old companies combined. When you get tired of servicing the old man, you can always spend money to find male escorts for fun. How enviable!” “I don’t quite understand your pursuits, but congratulations in advance!” I nonchalantly toyed with my perfect manicure. When she finished, I raised my hand and delivered a sharp slap. “That’s to teach you to control your filthy mouth. Say one more word, and I won’t hesitate to have security escort you out.” She dramatically tumbled to the floor, covering her face and whimpering. “Harper Lin! You’re abusing your power! Does having money mean you can just hit people?” “Hitting you doesn’t require power; it’s merely cleaning up trash.” Suddenly, a commotion erupted behind me. Ethan rushed over, his hand raised, and delivered a stinging slap across my face. “That’s for Chloe!” The fiery pain hadn’t even fully subsided when a second slap landed with heavy force. “And that one’s for Chloe’s baby!” My ears buzzed, but I only registered the word “baby.” He had once said he wanted to enjoy our time as a couple, always making sure I took birth control afterward. Despite such caution, I had still accidentally conceived his child once—a tiny life that was gone at just four weeks. My heart felt as if an invisible hand had violently squeezed it, yet I managed a perfect smile: “Ethan Chen, do you really hate me that much?” His eyes flickered for a brief moment, then hardened. “Otherwise?” “Alright, I understand.” I turned to leave, but he roughly grabbed my arm. His voice held a note of disbelief: “Harper Lin, you’re not even arguing? What scheme are you planning now? I’m warning you, if you dare touch a single hair on Chloe’s head, I will make you pay!” I sighed tiredly: “Are you done? Can I go now?” Since childhood, not even my father had ever raised his voice at me, yet today I had received two solid slaps from him. I wasn’t even holding it against him, so why was he throwing a tantrum? Ethan stared at my swollen cheek, frozen in place. But Chloe lunged forward, kicking me hard in the back of my knee. “Harper Lin, I’m not done with you yet!” I buckled, falling to my knees on the marble floor, a piercing pain radiating through my entire body. Chloe seized the opportunity, clutching my long hair and forcing my head back: “Called you Ms. Lin, and you really thought you were someone? A rat fleeing with billions in debt, you think you’re worth anything in front of me?” “Honestly, a useless person like you should’ve jumped off that rooftop yesterday and ended it all!” In my periphery, Ethan’s brows were tightly furrowed, but he made no move to intervene. I slowly curled my lips into a smile: “Chloe Su, this time, you’ve truly messed with the wrong person.” She first froze, then burst into exaggerated laughter: “Oh, Ms. Lin’s getting fierce? I’m so scared.” Around us, snorts of laughter erupted: “Oh, who’s this ‘elite socialite’? Still so defiant even after getting beaten up like that.” “She probably played mistress and got what she deserved from the main woman! Serves her right!” “Dressed like a human, but who knows how depraved she is underneath.” Amidst the cacophony of harsh whispers, a commanding voice boomed like thunder: “I’d like to see who’s tired of living, daring to touch my daughter on Sterling Corp. property!”

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The day of my daughter’s engagement, a city-wide procession of luxury vehicles cleared the way, proclaiming her the happiest bride of 2025. But the trending topic wasn’t about her. Confused, I tapped on the video. It showed a complete stranger, in a painfully familiar wedding gown, sitting in a flower car. The diamond ring on her hand seemed to be the custom-made one I’d given my daughter. My face contorted with disbelief as I rushed to the venue. There, the stranger was graciously greeting the elders with my daughter’s fiancé at her side, formally introducing him to the family. “This is my mother, Eleanor Vance,” she announced proudly. “The billionaire, an international asset magnate with countless resources at her fingertips.” Meanwhile, my own daughter was tossed aside like roadkill, left for dead. Rage boiled within me, my knuckles white as I clenched my phone. “She’s Eleanor Vance, the asset magnate? Then who the hell am I?!” “Well, well, never seen a stray as pretty as you. Looking for a good time, sweetheart, or just want to snuggle up to a real man?” A man whistled, his gaze raking over the girl. Following his leering stare, I instantly roared, cutting him off. In the corner, filthy and disheveled, was my daughter. My bodyguard stepped forward, kicking the man away. “You dare mess with Ms. Vance’s daughter? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” The man’s eyes widened, his voice trembling instantly. “I… I didn’t know she was Ms. Vance’s daughter. I’m blind, I’m getting out of here.” I stared, aghast, at my daughter, huddled and trembling on the ground. She’d only been abroad for half a year. How could she have ended up like this? I moved to embrace her, but then the huge LED screen behind me suddenly lit up. My daughter’s head snapped up, letting out a deafening scream, and she bolted. “Chloe!” I tried to chase her but tripped on my heels. “What are you standing around for? Go after her!” I looked up at the screen. It was my daughter’s engagement announcement. But my daughter’s fiancé was arm-in-arm with another woman. My assistant opened her phone, and that’s when I saw the top trending headline. Today was supposed to be the engagement party for my daughter, Chloe Vance, and her fiancé, Tyler Reed. Instead, Tyler was walking hand-in-hand with another woman, declaring her to be the true Vance heiress. In the video, no one listened to Chloe’s desperate explanations. Shameless tabloids focused their cameras on her, their lenses lingering with predatory intent, violating her privacy and dignity, even suggesting she was mentally unstable. My heart shattered watching my daughter being driven out of her own engagement party like a lunatic. The camera panned, showing the engagement party continuing happily, utterly oblivious to my daughter’s pleas. The stranger, Brittany, still clinging to Tyler Reed, introduced another woman to the guests. “This is my mother, Eleanor Vance, the international asset magnate.” The unfamiliar mother and daughter reveled in the spotlight, triumphant. My brows furrowed. “How interesting. She’s Eleanor Vance? Then who the hell am I?” I scrolled through the various trending videos. On one side, lavish celebrations for the fake Vance heiress’s engagement; on the other, vicious slander and abuse aimed at the real heiress. They even spread death rumors and fabricated vulgar lies about my daughter. My knuckles were white as I squeezed my phone. “Take them down!” “Pull all these videos! Are these media outlets trying to go out of business?!” I sent the message, but those media outlets actually blocked me. “Are you crazy? Another one pretending to be the CEO of Vance Corp. If you’re Eleanor Vance, I’m Eleanor Vance’s mother.” My pupils dilated at the media’s reply. A sudden fire surged within me. Oh, they were good. If they wouldn’t take down the videos, then I’d just shut them down entirely. I coldly instructed my assistant. But it didn’t end there. To ensure my daughter’s engagement party went off without a hitch, I had specifically hired the country’s most renowned emcee. For him to get the bride-to-be wrong was a professional failure. I called him, ready to demand an explanation, but he spoke first. “You’re the cleaning lady from Vance Corp, right? Seriously, what’s the point of pretending to be the CEO?” I asked, bewildered. “What do you mean?” He scoffed, clearly exasperated. “That dog you let loose at the engagement party bit me! You haven’t paid my medical bills yet. If I don’t see that money in my account within half an hour, I’m suing you!” The call disconnected with a beep. I stood there, dumbfounded. Then my assistant handed me a video. After being thrown out like a mental patient, my daughter was in utter despair. And the emcee, desperate not to disrupt the party, had brutally kicked my daughter twice in the stomach. That’s when my daughter, maddened, suddenly bit his hand. My voice tightened, my face turning grim at the sight. I sent the video evidence to the emcee, but he had already blocked me. My body trembled uncontrollably as I stared at the red exclamation mark on the screen, consumed by fury. My hands balled into fists. Fine. Unbelievable. In just half a year, my daughter, the heir of international asset magnate Eleanor Vance, had become a public pariah, branded as mentally ill. How utterly wonderful. If I hadn’t made such an effort to return for her engagement party, I might never have seen this whole charade. I intended to find out exactly what had happened to the Vance family during these past six months!

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1 Hospital Emergency Room. My legs splayed, I lay on the examination bed, my “problem area” completely exposed. “Doctor, I… I accidentally got something stuck inside.” Rubber-gloved fingers probed within… “I’ve developed a new massage technique that can be very soothing for patients with your level of… over-stimulation. Would you like to try it?” Looking up at the handsome face of the doctor under the surgical light, I shyly nodded. … My name is Sarah Miller, I’m 24 years old, and I recently got married. I was born into a wealthy family; my parents were prominent figures in the business world. I was pampered from birth, always had the best of everything, from clothes to creature comforts. My parents never really asked for much from me, as long as I stayed out of trouble with the law, I was free to do whatever made me happy. Luckily, not only did I enjoy such a luxurious life, but I also inherited my mother’s striking beauty. Tall, long-legged, with a full, well-proportioned figure. By sixteen, my bra size was already a C, firm and perfectly shaped. Now, at twenty-four, my figure has developed to its peak, even more enticing than in my adolescence. Ample breasts, full hips, and a waist so slender it could be spanned by a single hand. My features are beautiful and refined; even without makeup, I can captivate countless men. Over the years, I’ve never lacked suitors, but I have high standards; most men just didn’t catch my eye. Eventually, my family thought I was getting older and arranged a blind date, which is how I met my current husband. We came from similarly suitable backgrounds, had a good initial impression, and after getting to know each other for a while, we got married. I was quite satisfied with the marriage. Aside from my husband being quite busy with work, everything else was perfect. Fortunately, I have many friends, so my days are always lively and fun. That day, it was a friend’s birthday, and I drank a bit too much. By the time I got home, I was pleasantly tipsy. Under the influence of alcohol, I suddenly found myself in a mood. My husband was away on a business trip, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. But whether I used it for too long, or the quality of the product was subpar, I hadn’t even started properly when the handle of my little toy snapped off. Realizing what happened, I sobered up considerably and frantically reached for it. The toy had already gone deep, and there was nothing outside to grasp. Even worse, the remote control had stopped working. I was completely terrified and immediately hailed a cab to the hospital. And that led to the current situation. I lay on the hospital bed. The surrounding curtains were drawn, creating a small, enclosed space. The young doctor stood by the bed, his gaze lowered to the medical chart in his hand. I felt awkward, my eyes darting around. I caught a glimpse of the name on his badge: Ethan Cole. “Please remove your pants.” I froze, hesitated for a moment, then, blushing, slid off my jeans. A pair of beautiful legs were exposed under the lights. My skin was fair and translucent, with a faint blush around the knees, gleaming faintly in the light. My calves were straight and slender, my thighs full and shapely, without an ounce of excess fat. My female friends always envied my legs. They said I had “wine-glass legs,” in short, exceptionally sexy. The moment I removed my pants, I noticed Dr. Cole’s gaze lingering on my legs. I felt a surge of secret satisfaction. As expected, no man could resist my beauty. Even if he was a tall, handsome, high-caliber man himself. Ethan’s hands were remarkably attractive—large palms, defined knuckles. His fingers were long and slender, looking incredibly dextrous. If those hands were to… Yet, his demeanor was distinctly cool and detached. His handsome face was framed by black half-rimmed glasses, and his eyes behind the lenses held a cool, distant look. But the colder a man seemed, the more he ignited my competitive spirit. The device inside me was still vibrating uncontrollably. My breathing became uneven, my gaze unconsciously fixed on his face. I imagined his cold eyes blazing with desire. As if sensing my gaze, he subtly quirked the corner of his mouth. I snapped back to reality, abruptly averting my eyes. He reached out, his index finger hovering above my lower abdomen. I looked down at my pink lace, my cheeks slowly turning red, my voice barely a whisper. “This… this too?” Ethan nodded, his expression leaving no room for argument. I kept repeating in my mind, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. To a doctor, a patient is just a patient.” Hypnotizing myself, I steeled my resolve and pulled away the pink lace fabric. Ethan’s breathing visibly hitched for a moment. Even though I deliberately turned my head away, I could feel his scorching gaze locked on me. He slowly put on his gloves, then bent over, seizing one of my calves. The cold touch of the rubber glove sent a jolt through me, and my breathing quickened. He slowly pulled my calf open, folded it upwards, then did the same with the other leg. After placing both legs on the specially designed footrests of the hospital bed, he pressed a switch on the bed’s control panel. With a slight whirring of machinery, my lower body was slowly raised, leaving my intimate area completely exposed. His hands moved up to my lower abdomen, gently stroking a few times before slowly venturing towards the affected area… The cold fingertips probed, their presence impossible to ignore. I could feel his fingers moving, sometimes a gentle caress, sometimes a teasing flick. The nerves there were incredibly sensitive; even such light, shallow movements could ignite intense sensations. Suddenly, he pushed further, sending the small device deeper inside. My brows furrowed, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan. Just when I thought it was about to be removed, he pulled his hand out. His right fingertips were slick with moisture. Ethan spoke, his voice several shades hoarser. “The device is quite deep. It’s not easy to retrieve. You’ll need to bear with it.” I bit my lip and nodded, “Dr. Cole, please be gentle.” This time, I could distinctly feel the pressure of his hand increasing significantly. It was no longer a tentative exploration, but a deeper, more committed penetration. I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let out any undignified sounds. After a long, protracted search, finally, Ethan touched the little device again. I could feel his long, slender fingers gripping it, slowly pulling it out. “Ugh!” During its extraction, intermittent vibrations swept through every inch of me. I really couldn’t hold it in, and a few whimpers escaped my throat. Finally, the stubborn little device that had been stuck for so long was retrieved. Fluid was brought out with it, dampening a small patch of the bed sheet. Both Ethan and I simultaneously exhaled a breath of relief. It was dropped onto a tray beside us, still vibrating incessantly, emitting a faint buzzing sound. My face flushed, and I hung my head low, wishing I could just disappear into the floor. I sat up, about to pull on my pants, when Ethan spoke. “Wait a moment.” I paused, looking at him with some confusion. “What is it, Dr. Cole?” He removed his wet gloves, tossing them into the trash can. His gaze, as it met mine, was dark and unreadable. “The hospital has developed a new massage technique that can be very soothing for patients who have experienced… intense stimulation. Would you be willing to try it?” As he asked this, his gaze lingered on the area between my legs, undeniably invasive. I hesitated. To be honest, at that moment, I was tempted. My mood was already quite heightened that night. But the accident had interrupted my self-satisfaction and landed me in the hospital, and then I’d been subjected to Ethan’s fingers, which had stirred me even further. After all that, the urge wasn’t satisfied; it was even stronger. My body ached with an empty craving. If I had a massage, would it be more comfortable? So, I shyly nodded, accepting Ethan’s offer. “Alright, please lie back down.” I lay back, feeling a strange annoyance at his detached, professional tone. He stood by the bed, looking down at me. Even from this awkward angle, he was undeniably handsome. “Because this is a full-body massage, you’ll need to remove your clothes as well.” I reached to unbutton my shirt, but he gently stopped my hand. “Allow me. You must be tired.” I was wearing a silk blouse that day, with a bow tied at the neckline. He reached out and untied the bow of my collar. I felt like a gift, slowly being unwrapped. Then came the buttons, one by one. Halfway unbuttoned, a large expanse of fair skin was revealed, still wrapped in pink lace. Feeling Ethan’s breathing deepen, I silently chuckled. This guy, no matter how aloof he seemed on the surface, was still a man at heart. And no man could resist a bit of temptation. I felt a playful impulse and subtly pushed my chest forward. Full and voluptuous, quivering slightly. Ethan’s breathing hitched, and the movements of his hands quickened, betraying a hint of impatience. My blouse was pulled off. He reached behind my back to unhook my bra, and his movements were surprisingly clumsy. Seeing him struggle for a moment, I smiled and lent a helping hand. Freed from restraint, my eager breasts sprang out. Ethan’s gaze lingered, and a faint blush touched his earlobes. I found his rare bashfulness intriguing and looked at him through languid, inviting eyes. “Dr. Cole, aren’t you going to start?” Ethan collected himself, clearing his throat as if to cover his embarrassment. At that moment, I still had the energy to tease him, but it soon vanished. His hands pressed against my body. This time, he wasn’t wearing gloves, and I could clearly feel the warmth of his palms. Starting from my neck, his hands kneaded and pressed with varying pressure. To my surprise, his touch genuinely seemed to melt away some of my exhaustion. I involuntarily closed my eyes, sinking into the sensation of comfort. But gradually, that comfort took on a different quality. Starting, perhaps, with my eager breasts. His movements became less forceful, transforming into a subtle, almost teasing caress. His palms cupped them, gently kneading, his fingertips occasionally brushing the peaks. My breathing grew ragged, and the desire within me, which had momentarily calmed, began to churn again. I opened my eyes, meeting his eyes that now held a mischievous gleam. “I knew it,” I thought. “This massage isn’t that simple.” Under his touch, the fire of desire within me grew more intense. My lips parted, and I softly gasped. In the confined space, a sensual aura permeated, occasionally accompanied by faint, liquid sounds. His fingers once again entered, moving deftly, doing as they pleased. I closed my eyes, gradually letting go of everything in my mind, my rationality vanishing. The moment I peaked, bursts of white light exploded behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes, still in the afterglow of pleasure. Only then did I notice that Ethan had, at some point, unbuckled his pants. He propped up one of my legs with his hand, climbed onto the bed, and gazed at me with the hungry eyes of a wolf. He said, his voice raspy, “The final step of the massage, and the most important one.” Looking at his imposing form, my breathing trembled, and an intense craving welled up within me. I hesitated for only a second before intense desire completely consumed me. After all, my husband and I had an arranged marriage, and there wasn’t much genuine affection between us. Ethan positioned himself between my legs.

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The day I turned 55 and officially retired, my husband was hauled away by the cops for embezzling company funds. All that stolen money? Spent on some cheap tramp. The bank card my husband left me had a balance of ten dollars. Staring at the spending records for Frank the cops showed me – one night at the Hilton, $8,800; outlet mall receipts for $65,000. Looking down at my own darned socks, I nearly coughed up blood. I’d scrimped and saved my whole life, while my husband was out there showering his mistress with cash. I was dumber than a box of rocks. The biggest fool in the world. 1 Ring, ring, ring! The phone blared urgently. “Jenna, sis, Frank borrowed two hundred grand from me. If you don’t pay it back, I’m just gonna have to come camp out at your place.” “Jenna, Frank took eighty thousand from me. I borrowed that money from my mother-in-law! If you don’t give it back, she’ll skin me alive!” “Jenna… if I can’t make it, your whole family can forget about living!” Frank’s mountain of debts was crushing me. Seeing Tiffany’s social media posts flaunting her European vacation, surrounded by shopping bags, my heart felt like it was being flayed, piece by piece. The pain was unbearable. Hounded by creditors, I finally snapped. I picked the biggest one, went to his house, and jumped from the roof. I had to. I needed to leave my daughter some kind of way out. Maybe even fate thought I’d had too raw a deal in this life. Because after I jumped, I was somehow reborn. Reborn on the day in 1993 when Frank and I were supposed to get our marriage license. From this, I learned one thing: only those who’ve suffered too much, too miserably, get a do-over. And I’d definitely earned mine. “Jenna, today’s the day you get your license! Get up, quick!” My roommate, Tiffany, was practically vibrating with excitement, urging me on. I wanted to slap her across the face. That’s right. Tiffany. The cheap tramp, the long-time mistress. Of course, back then, she wasn’t old. “Tiff, I’m the one getting married. What are you so worked up about?” Tiffany looked like she hadn’t expected me to say that. She quickly plastered a smile on her face. “Jenna, I’m just happy for you! Frank’s such a great guy, you can’t let him slip away.” Frank’s family was dirt poor. He was the oldest, with a gaggle of younger siblings. My family was infinitely better off than his. My dad was the manager at the town’s main supply store, and my mom was a director at a large manufacturing plant. Let Frank slip away? Ugh, I spat inwardly. How stupid was I back then to fall for Tiffany’s brainwashing? “Jenna, what’s most important is that a man is hardworking and ambitious.” Frank had nothing, so all he had left was ambition. Come to think of it, why did I even notice Frank back then? Tiffany’s brainwashing deserved a lot of the credit. Right. A man as hardworking and great as Frank should definitely end up with Tiffany, the future old mistress. No need to wait thirty years. I’ll create the opportunity for you two right now. Tiffany, you can be the one to struggle alongside Frank in this lifetime. “Tiff, my stomach’s a little upset. Could you do me a favor and tell Frank we’ll go to City Hall another day?” Tiffany looked like she wanted to say something else, but I just lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. A few days later, the gossip mill at the textile plant was buzzing: Frank’s devoted puppy, Jenna, had found someone new. Jenna hadn’t brought Frank his breakfast during his early shift. For several days straight, Jenna hadn’t been seen fawning over Frank. Watching everyone whisper, I strolled nonchalantly through the workshop in my new high heels, confidently heading to my office. That’s right, my job was just answering phones in the office, passing on the plant manager’s instructions. And, of course, relaying any juicy workshop gossip to the manager. When I first got the job, I felt super awkward. I did nothing all day but drink tea, read the paper, and scheme about how to chase Frank, completely wasting all that prime goof-off time. Thank you, my dear mother. Mom, you were so wise, knowing how to just chill even back then. But, you only get one shot from fate. This time, I was going to live differently. I had just sat down at my desk when Frank walked in. “Jenna, why weren’t you there to get the license yesterday?” 2 Thinking back to my past life, how I’d scrimped and saved my entire life for Frank’s business ventures. Not only did I deprive myself, but I was also strict with our daughter, never giving her allowance, making her the poorest kid in her class, all to lighten Frank’s burden. But while I was mistreating myself and our daughter, what was my wonderful husband doing? Out there, lavishing money on his mistress, $8,000 a night for a hotel. Frank, were you even human? The thought made it impossible for me to forgive him. Looking at Frank, thirty years younger, I wanted to rip his heart out and see if it was black or red. Some people really are like that: living in luxury themselves while making their wives forage for wild greens at home. “Frank, if I didn’t show up for the license, it’s because I didn’t want to.” The current me wasn’t about to consider Frank’s feelings. “Jenna, you were the one who wanted to get married, and now you’re the one calling it off! What the hell do you want?” “Nothing much. I just got bored of playing, didn’t want to continue.” Seeing Frank’s face turn ashen, I knew I’d successfully pissed him off. Frank always had a massive ego, and I’d always been the one chasing him. Now, telling him I was just playing around? Of course, he couldn’t take it. “Jenna, don’t you regret this!” With that, Frank stormed off, furious. Regret? Of course, I regretted it. I regretted not seeing your true colors sooner. You could only share hardship, not wealth. Just because I saw you at your lowest, you couldn’t wait to get away from me. Marrying such an ungrateful man, I must have been truly blind. After ditching Frank, I couldn’t wait to go home. In my past life, I’d cut ties with my parents to be with Frank. For over twenty years, I could count the number of times I’d been home on one hand. Later, when things got bad, I was even more ashamed to go back. It’s so good. Oh, fate, you’re so good. If there’s a next life, I’ll burn incense for you three times a day, morning and night, no take-backs. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Mom poked her head out of the kitchen. “How come you’re back? It’s not even the weekend.” Looking at my mom bustling in the kitchen, a wave of emotion hit me. In my past life, after Frank’s embezzlement came to light, creditors came in waves. Tiffany kicked me out of my own house. When Mom found out how I’d ended up, she was so angry she passed away not long after. Before she died, she said if only she could have stopped me one more time. Frank wasn’t just ‘honest’; he was the type to get arrogant once he got a taste of success, and everyone around him suffered for it. “Mom, Frank and I are over.” My mom didn’t even look up. “What kind of drama are you stirring up now?” It seemed my reputation as Frank’s devoted puppy was so ingrained, even my own mother didn’t believe I could break up with him. But a small smile still played on her lips. “Mom, I don’t want to work at the textile mill anymore. I want to change jobs.” My mom didn’t know it yet, but in another two or three years, factories all over the country would be failing, and nearly all the workers would be laid off. The seemingly undesirable government jobs, banks, and similar positions, on the other hand, would thrive. “Such a good job, and you just want to quit? Don’t tell me you and Frank really broke up?” Mom advised while stir-frying. “Even if you broke up, there’s no need to change jobs. You don’t know how many people envy your position.” It seemed Mom didn’t believe that the big state-owned factory was about to collapse. Right now, I had to quickly figure out a new path for myself. A person suddenly popped into my mind: Chris. Chris, the most inconspicuous worker in the workshop. 3 Chris. After the factory went bankrupt, he went into business for himself. First, he did clothing, then later, when he got bigger, he started supermarkets. By the time I died, he was already a well-known entrepreneur. I always felt Chris wasn’t like other businessmen, solely focused on profit. In my previous life, after Frank was arrested, the police notified me to come to the station to understand the situation. While I was waiting outside Officer Miller’s door, I heard someone inside his office. “Can you please not tell her these things?” “Mr. Chen, I’m sorry, she has the right to know, and it’s my duty.” I was pacing outside when Chris walked out of Officer Miller’s office. I recognized him instantly. “Chris?” “Jenna.” Looking at Chris in his well-tailored suit, I could hardly believe it. The once quiet, serious young worker had become the chairman of a publicly listed group. And there I was, disheveled and stressed, dealing with Frank transferring my house to that old mistress. Chris waited until I finished talking with Officer Miller. Sitting in Chris’s car, although I didn’t want to tell him about my miserable situation, he probably already knew about Frank’s affairs. “Jenna, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask me.” Although Chris and I had worked in the same factory, we hadn’t had much interaction. How could I possibly trouble him? “Chris, it’s nothing major, I can handle it. Even though Frank’s in jail, I can still get by.” Chris seemed to want to say more, but I hurriedly got out of the car. Thinking back now, Chris was the only person willing to help me after my family’s crisis. A person like that must be a warm person. With that thought, I bought a box of pastries from a roadside stall and walked into the workshop, holding the warm box. Chris had just started his shift. “Chris, I brought you some pastries.” Chris had one glove on, the other halfway on; both hands just froze in mid-air. “Jenna, you brought me pastries?” “Yeah, for… for… never mind why. I just bought too many and can’t finish them. Thought you could help me out.” Chris’s eyes instantly dimmed. At that moment, I heard the whispers of the workers arriving for their shifts. “What’s up with Miss Jenna? She’s not chasing Frank anymore, switched to Chris?” “Nah, look at how hard she was chasing Frank. She’s probably just playing hard to get.” Just then, Frank also walked in from outside. He saw the pastries in Chris’s hand and walked past as if nothing was wrong. The work bell rang. I smiled at Chris. “I owe you this. Eat them while they’re hot.” I had just gotten to the office when Tiffany came in. “Jenna, Jenna, did you know? The factory is selecting an announcer. You should put my name in!” “The workshop is too tiring. I can’t stay in the workshop long-term. Take this chance and talk to the plant manager for me.” Heaven-sent! Being an announcer, just moving your mouth all day. I hadn’t even thought of it until she mentioned it. Her saying it was practically a reminder. You want to be an announcer? In your next life. Though I thought this inwardly, I said sweetly, “No problem, leave it to me.” Watching Tiffany sashay away, I laughed so hard I snorted like a pig. The announcer list, hehe. I put her name on the list for Textile Workshop Two. Textile Workshop Two, the most exhausting workshop in the entire factory. That old mistress, I’ll work you to the bone. 4 As soon as work ended, I went to the workshop to wait for Chris. Chris didn’t show up, but Frank came out. “Jenna, you have movie tickets. Are we going to the movies? Let’s skip it today. I’ll take you home to meet my mom.” Seeing the two movie tickets in my hand, Frank said, rather begrudgingly. Meet your freaking mom. “Frank, sorry, the movie tickets aren’t for you. Also, I have absolutely no relationship with your mom, so there’s no need to meet.” “Alright, Jenna, I’ve already humbled myself this much. What more do you want?” Frank probably still thought I was just pouting. Heh, look at my ex-husband from my past life. How easy was I to please, how utterly infatuated, to willingly suck up to him for a lifetime. This is what he calls humbling himself? He clearly misunderstands the meaning of humility. “Frank, was I not clear yesterday? I’ll say it again today: I was just playing with you. We’re over.” At that moment, many workers were passing by, and, as luck would have it, they all heard. Frank’s face flushed red. “Jenna, this is your last chance. Are you coming home with me or not?” More and more workers gathered around. Even the plant manager, holding his thermos, strolled out. Everyone looked like they were ready for some drama. Well, a gentleman helps others achieve their aims. Everyone was ready, so I had to cooperate. What could be more crushing to Frank than public humiliation? “Frank, we’re over. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” After saying that, I walked straight up to Chris. “Chris, are you busy tonight? I’d like to take you to a movie.” “No!” Chris blurted out without thinking. “Then let’s go. Shall we grab some chili at that diner downtown first?” “Okay.” Chris looked a little pleased. I glanced back at Frank. His face was ashen, staring intently at Chris and me, as if he couldn’t believe I would leave with Chris. But whatever happened with Frank was none of my business. “Chris, have you ever thought about going into business for yourself?” Chris was currently munching on a sandwich, but I saw a fleeting glint in his eyes. “Jenna, how did you know I wanted to go into business?” “Maybe it’s… like we’re on the same wavelength.” Chris’s face instantly turned red. If I had known earlier that Chris was this reliable and easy to flirt with, I would have fought tooth and nail to be with him in my past life. Looking at Chris across the table, his eyes slightly bright, my heart felt like something had tugged at it too. The key thing was, Chris looked incredibly hot just munching on that sandwich. Is this the legendary “younger, cute guy” appeal? I think this old soul is starting to get it.

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