My daughter pointed to a photo on Instagram and asked me, “Mommy, why is Daddy kissing Uncle Leo?” I didn’t think much of it, figuring it was just a behind-the-scenes pic from Ethan’s new movie. He’d told me he was shooting a film with an LGBTQ+ storyline. But the next day, I saw the footage from the security camera in our bedroom. Ethan and that man were passionately kissing on my bed, our wedding photo hanging on the wall behind them. And that man… was wearing my pajamas. 1 “Mommy, why is Daddy kissing Uncle Leo?” My daughter, Lily, looked up at me, her face a picture of innocence, pointing at a photo on her tablet. I was just plating the last dish for dinner and glanced over. It was a picture of Ethan kissing another man. The headline screamed: “Paparazzi Catch A-List Actor Ethan Cheating with Young Heartthrob!” I brushed it off. Tabloids these days have no shame. Ethan was currently filming an indie gay romance, and the man he was kissing was his co-star, Leo. Leo and Ethan had been best friends for years. When I was in labor with Lily, Ethan was out of town and couldn’t make it back, so Leo was the one who stayed with me at the hospital. That’s why Lily called him Uncle Leo and saw him as her godfather. So, I stroked my daughter’s hair. “Because Daddy needs to earn money to take care of Lily. This is just work for him and Uncle Leo. You can’t believe those nasty things people write to hurt them, okay?” Lily nodded vigorously. “I know, Mommy! I won’t believe those bad people.” “Mommy, when is Daddy coming home? The cake can’t wait much longer to be eaten by me!” “You little rascal,” I said, gently pinching her chubby cheek. “Daddy said he’ll be home right after work to celebrate Lily’s birthday. Can Lily wait just a little bit longer?” Ethan’s current film set was close to home. We’d agreed yesterday that he’d come back with Leo after shooting wrapped to celebrate Lily’s birthday. However, the minutes ticked by, and the food grew cold, but Ethan still hadn’t returned. The third time I called him, the phone finally picked up. A low, husky voice came through. “Eleanor? They added a last-minute night shoot. Ethan’s probably going to be tied up all night.” It was Leo. I felt a little uneasy. Ethan never let anyone touch his phone. Once, when he was in the shower, I answered a call for him. He blew up at me—the only time he’d ever really yelled—and we had a huge fight. After that, he never let his phone out of his sight, not even when he went to the bathroom. But he never seemed to mind Leo using his phone. Still, I couldn’t really say anything to Leo, so I just said, “Okay, well, please remind him he promised to take Lily to the amusement park tomorrow.” After hanging up, I put the birthday hat on Lily’s head, coaxing her disappointed little face back into a smile. Ethan didn’t come home that night. It wasn’t until the next morning that he dragged himself through the door, looking utterly exhausted. I knew filming was tough, so I didn’t mention him missing the party. I just ran him a hot bath and heated up breakfast. “Ethan, you must be exhausted. Go take a hot shower, have some breakfast. You can take Lily out later.” Ethan rested his head on my shoulder and took a deep breath. “Ellie, what would I do without you?” “Oh, stop it,” I said, smiling and patting his head. “Go get cleaned up.” “Alright,” Ethan mumbled, shuffling tiredly towards the bathroom, stripping off his clothes as he went. I sighed, resigned, and bent down to pick them up. That’s when I glanced up and, by chance, saw it: a bright red bite mark on his bare inner thigh. 2 By the time Ethan finished his shower, the oatmeal was ready. I brought out the sandwiches and oatmeal and casually asked, “Why the sudden night shoot yesterday? Didn’t you say you’d already talked to the director about finishing early?” “It’s all that idiot Leo’s fault. He messed up a simple water scene like twenty times. I had to stay late with him because of it.” “If it weren’t for our history, I wouldn’t even bother with him. Ellie, you have no idea, I was running lines with him all night, barely got any sleep. I feel like death!” Ethan was practically radiating frustration. He and Leo had signed with the same agency and debuted around the same time, slogging it out in showbiz for over a decade. It was just that Leo wasn’t as talented. After more than ten years in the business, he was still a D-list actor, barely on anyone’s radar. Ethan, on the other hand, was already a multiple award-winning A-lister. He’d taken this gay romance film partly to tap into market trends and partly to give Leo a leg up, hoping to boost his popularity. Ethan really was exceptionally good to Leo. Just like now. Even though he was complaining, there was an undercurrent of helpless fondness in his voice. I used to think Ethan just saw Leo as a younger brother, but now… I pushed down the swirling thoughts in my mind and smiled, trying to soothe him. “Alright, alright. He’s been your friend for so many years. Don’t be too hard on him.” “Hmph. For your sake, Ellie, I’ll forgive him this time.” I looked at the untouched sandwich in front of him and the nearly empty bowl of oatmeal, feeling a little quiet. Ethan wasn’t usually a big fan of oatmeal, but today he was acting completely out of character. I smiled. “Is my cooking extra good today? Looks like you’re about to finish all the oatmeal.” Ethan looked at me earnestly. “Ellie, your cooking gets better every single day. This oatmeal is heavenly.” I paused, a warmth spreading through my chest. I silently cursed myself for being so soft. After all these years, his words could still move me. Ethan looked at me, his face slightly flushed, just like the day he proposed. When I met Ethan seven years ago, he wasn’t an A-list actor yet, just a little-known performer. We didn’t have some dramatic, rollercoaster love story, no earth-shattering vows of eternal love. We met on a blind date set up by mutual friends. Everything just flowed naturally, falling into place. On our first anniversary, he showed up with a bouquet of roses. “Eleanor, will you walk with me through all of life’s seasons, for a lifetime?” After we got married, Ethan was gentle and considerate. We had our lovely daughter. Even if he often… had trouble performing in some areas and needed medication, the good far outweighed the bad. He was a good husband. No matter how busy he was, he never forgot a single holiday. Even if he was out of town, he’d send a gift and a loving message. He even converted all his earnings into gold bars, locked in a safe at home, and gave me the key. This was his way of giving me security, and I never once doubted he would betray me. 3 I reached out to touch his face and felt how hot it was. “You’re burning up!” Ethan blinked. “Am I?” “How can you not even know you have a fever? And you went and took a shower.” I was about to rush him to the hospital, but he stopped me. “It’s nothing serious. I’ll just take a fever reducer and sweat it out. But Lily… I promised to take her to the amusement park today.” “But you can’t take her out when you have a fever.” “How about this, Ellie? You take her first. If my fever breaks, I’ll meet you guys there. I already missed her birthday last night. I don’t want to disappoint her again.” “Please, Ellie?” Ethan put his hands together, looking at me with puppy-dog eyes, just like Lily did. I caved and nodded. Ethan happily kissed me. I playfully pushed him away. “Careful, you’ll make me sick.” When Lily found out Daddy was bailing on her again, her lip pouted so much you could hang a bottle on it. But once we got to the amusement park, she forgot all about it. The little tyke was bursting with energy. Chasing her around on this crisp October day had me breaking a sweat. I was worried about Ethan. He hadn’t answered two of my calls, so I opened the home security camera app on my phone to check on him. What I saw sent a chill straight through me, like I’d been plunged into an ice cave. In my bedroom, Ethan was pinned underneath Leo, who was kissing and biting him. Our wedding photo hung on the wall. And Leo… was wearing my pajamas. My hands trembled as I fumbled for my earbuds, jabbing the connector into my phone several times before it finally went in. I heard Ethan’s broken moans. “Don’t… not here. What if Ellie… comes back and sees?” “Eleanor took Lily out. They won’t be back anytime soon.” “Ethan, baby, they say it’s even better when you have a fever. Don’t you want to try?” “Mmm… uh… okay, but be quick.” 4 It was a bright, sunny day, but I felt like I was trapped in the dead of winter. I stood there, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm myself. Then, without hesitation, I dropped Lily off at my parents’ place and sped home, pushing the speed limit. But the scene at home wasn’t quite what I’d imagined. Ethan was lying in bed, looking weak, while Leo, fully dressed, sat on the sofa nearby, playing on his phone. When he saw me, he immediately stood up. “Eleanor, you’re back.” Ethan also looked at me, confused. “Ellie, why are you back so early?” “Lily got tired.” “Oh, Leo’s here? Why didn’t you call ahead?” I smiled at Leo. “I heard Ethan was sick, so I came to see him. After all, if it wasn’t for being up all night running lines with me, he probably wouldn’t have gotten this fever.” Leo’s voice was full of apology. I secretly sized him up but didn’t see anything unusual. He really did seem like he was just there to visit a sick Ethan. So normal, in fact, that I almost thought the scene I’d witnessed on the camera feed was a dream. I glanced at the security camera on top of the wardrobe. We’d just installed it last month, originally to keep a better eye on Lily. Never thought Lily wouldn’t need it, but Ethan would give me a “surprise” with it first. “Is that so?” I stared at Leo, a half-smile on my face. He seemed a bit unnerved by my gaze and swallowed hard. “Eleanor, what’s wrong?” I walked past him, opened the wardrobe, and pulled out the set of pajamas I’d seen in the video, handing them to him. “Leo, I just bought these earlier this year. Pure silk, incredibly smooth. I’ve barely worn them. They’re yours now.” Leo’s face instantly turned deathly pale. “Eleanor, I… I don’t understand what you mean.” “Then take these pajamas home and think about it. I won’t see you out.” 5 After Leo left, I finally turned to Ethan, who was cowering like a scared rabbit. “Honey, be honest with me. How long has this been going on?” Ethan scrambled off the bed and knelt before me. “Ellie, he seduced me! You know I’ve been shooting that kind of movie with Leo lately. I only just found out he… he’s always been in love with me.” “That night, I was drunk, and he used the excuse of filming to confess to me. I just got too into character and lost control for a moment. Ellie, please believe me, my heart only has you and our family. I swear, as soon as this movie wraps, I’ll never see him again.” “Ellie, just forgive me this once. Give me one more chance, please?” Ethan clutched at my clothes, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing him like this, I felt my resolve soften. After all, we’d been married for so many years, and we had Lily. “Ellie,” Ethan slapped himself hard across the face. “Even if not for me, think about Lily! She’s so young. Can you really bear to let her grow up without a father?” “I swear, if I ever do anything to wrong you again, may I drop dead! Just forgive me this once, please? Please?” Fine. I sighed and pulled his hands away. “No next time.” After getting Ethan’s repeated assurances, I felt a little more at ease. Maybe he really had just had a moment of weakness. With such a big upheaval, I didn’t bring Lily back home immediately. I needed time to adjust. That night, I lay in bed with my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. Ethan wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Ellie.” His breathing grew heavier. Normally, I would have hugged him back, enjoying some rare time alone together. But now, I just felt… disgusted. I broke free from his embrace and asked coldly, “Did you take your pills again?” Ethan froze, then stammered an explanation. “I… I just wanted to make you happy.” “Do you need to take them when you’re with him?” Ethan mumbled, “Ellie, it’s not what you think.” “If you can’t, don’t force yourself. I don’t need it.” I grabbed my pillow and went to sleep in the guest room. I didn’t sleep a wink. Forgiveness is easy to say, but hard to do. 6 Ethan did behave himself for a while, just as he’d promised. After finishing that movie, he didn’t contact Leo again. But it wasn’t even a month before he showed his true colors again, getting caught by the paparazzi and ending up trending online. That day, just like last time, he knelt on the floor, slapping himself and begging for my forgiveness. But this time, I didn’t soften. I threw him out. It’s true what they say online: cheating is either zero times or countless times. All that talk about a “moment of weakness.” The truth was, he’d been gay from the start. I should have realized it the first time he took those pills. But for all these years, even when I caught him red-handed, I kept deceiving myself: he still had me in his heart. Now, I finally couldn’t lie to myself anymore. My tears vanished into the darkness. I thought this was the lowest point of my life. But I didn’t expect an even crueler truth was waiting for me. Last month, when I went to pick up Lily, I gave the gold bracelet Ethan had given me to my mom. Only to be told it was fake. Mom was worried we’d been scammed and even sent me a report from a jewelry appraiser. “Ellie, honey, this fake is incredibly well-made. If your Aunt Sarah wasn’t an expert, we’d have been completely fooled.” “I know you two aren’t short on money, but you can’t let people cheat you like this. You need to be more careful in the future, okay?” “Okay, Mom. Thanks.” After hanging up, a chill spread through me. I suddenly remembered the gold bars in the safe at home. All these years, Ethan had claimed gold was a good investment and converted all his income into gold bars, storing them in our home safe. And I had the key. I quickly took out two bars and sent them for testing. The result was something I could never have imagined. All this gold… it was all fake! Ethan had been lying to me all along! Not just the gold; all the jewelry he’d ever given me was fake. Even my wedding diamond was glass. I clenched my jaw, my fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. I was shaking all over, my eyes bloodshot. The hatred reached its peak in that moment.

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My dad believed in a tough-love, trial-by-fire kind of upbringing. Even though he was a billionaire, he threw me into the slums from the time I was little, left to suffer all sorts of humiliation. The person he sent to “take care” of me pocketed most of the money, feeding me nothing but plain bread and pickles every day. Constant malnutrition and oppression made me timid and insecure. Unable to take the bullying anymore, I jumped from the roof of a building. And after I died, my dad just gave my corpse a cold glance, completely unfazed. “This character build is a wash. Time to start a new one.” But what he didn’t know was, the new character was still me. I opened my eyes in a chaotic void, a warm sensation surrounding me. Memories flooded in like a tidal wave. The excruciating pain of my skull being crushed, bones shattered in my previous life, jolted me awake. I shot up in surprise. Had I been reborn? “Oh, honey, the baby’s kicking! So strong! Definitely going to be someone important someday.” “Of course. How could Rex Thorne’s kid be anything less?” Familiar voices drifted through a muffled barrier. I looked at my newly formed hands and feet and finally confirmed the truth. I had become Rex Thorne’s second experiment. Rex Thorne had clawed his way up from being the kingpin of his old, rough neighborhood. Dirt poor, he’d fought his way to notoriety. In his early years, he’d amassed wealth through sheer brutality, and with a stroke of luck on a few investments, he quickly became a billionaire. After his success, he rebranded himself as a renowned philanthropic entrepreneur, an inspirational legend for countless people struggling at the bottom, a symbol of someone who’d transcended their class. This also cemented his belief that only hardship could forge true talent. So, he’d tossed me, barely weaned, into the slums, assigning only a lazy, gluttonous caretaker named Brenda Lee to look after me. My biological mother had been forced by him to have me in the first place; she had no say in anything. Later, unable to bear Rex Thorne’s abuse, she chose a sunny day to overdose on pills and died. And all of this, Rex Thorne had viciously told me on the day I died, just before I breathed my last. “Useless thing. Your mother was useless, and you’re even more useless.” “Can’t even handle a little hardship. Good riddance. You would’ve just been a waste of space anyway.” With that, he’d turned and left without a shred of sentiment, rushing off with his mistress to start his “new character.” He left my body to rot, exposed and forgotten. But fate has a way of turning, and karma’s a bitch. What he never expected was that the “new character” he had such high hopes for was still me. And this time, I was going to make him pay a hundredfold. 2 The woman carrying me now was named Crystal Summers. Though her name sounded sweet, she was anything but. She’d climbed into Rex Thorne’s bed even before my first mom had taken those pills. She was a master of flattery, but Rex, despite being a total scumbag, was obsessed with his public image. Even with a string of women on the side, he only recognized my first mother as his legitimate wife. He wouldn’t give anyone else that official status until she was dead. Because of this, Crystal Summers resented my first mom, constantly scheming against her, both openly and secretly, causing her mental state to deteriorate until she finally killed herself. She even sent many of the people who bullied me, wanting me dead and out of the way. Thinking of this, rage boiled up inside me. Push-ups, backflips – I thrashed around in Crystal Summers’s womb, using the umbilical cord as a jump rope, putting on a full acrobatic display. I kicked out, and my tiny foot made a sharp bulge on her belly. She writhed on the bed in pain, wailing and crying out while simultaneously praising how “robust” I was. “Ouch, it hurts so much! Woo-hoo, ha-ha-ha, my baby’s little foot is so strong! It’s amazing, it’s going to kick right through Mommy’s tummy! Aaaah, ouch, you little rascal, it hurts so much!” Thanks to my relentless torment, Crystal Summers was practically half-dead throughout her pregnancy. On the day of delivery, I clawed and kicked my way out, ensuring maximum tearing for her. Blood pooled on the floor before I finally emerged. Her nether regions were a mangled mess. After that, Rex Thorne never entered her room again. When I opened my eyes, I saw the face that made me clench my teeth in hatred. Rex Thorne, seeing the sturdy physique I’d developed from torturing Crystal, beamed, his face wrinkling up like a Shar-Pei’s. “Wow, look at these strong little arms! And these thigh muscles! Just like his old man back in the day!” I gave a wicked little smile, wrapped my tiny hands tightly around his neck, and with all my might, started slapping his face, left and right. “Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!” Rex Thorne had specifically invited the media to film this “tender” moment, wanting to project the image of a great, loving father. And this “loving” scene was, of course, clearly recorded by dozens of cameras with their long lenses and flashes. The reporters all had awkward, forced smiles. Rex Thorne, his face swelling up, tried to play it cool, his grin looking more pained than a sob. “Ha-ha-ha-ha, oof, see? This kid… loves me so much, ouch, ha-ha-ha, so strong.” 3 Later, I displayed astonishing linguistic and athletic talents. I was speaking fluently at eight months, even becoming a linguistic prodigy seemingly overnight, and by ten months, I was walking steadily, even able to jog a little. Because of this, Rex Thorne doted on me. In my previous life, I was thrown into the slums before I was even five. But this time, I was almost six, and he still hadn’t made a move, constantly clinging to me, which I found incredibly annoying. So, I escalated my kicks and punches, yet he’d just stare at me with stars in his eyes. I never knew Rex Thorne had a bit of a masochistic streak. “This is my boy!” “That good-for-nothing first one deserved to die! Should’ve died sooner! If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have such a smart and adorable kid now!” Crystal Summers beamed, rushing over to hug Rex Thorne intimately. “That’s right, darling. The baby takes after you, a real chip off the old block.” Thanks to me, Crystal Summers hadn’t rested well at all during her postpartum recovery. Her face was sallow and waxy. Rex Thorne pinched his nose and disgustedly pulled away, muttering as he walked towards the bathroom. “Jesus, you stink! How long has it been since you showered?” His words hit Crystal Summers like a ton of bricks. A wave of shame and anger washed over her face. Because I constantly demanded her attention, she hadn’t even had time to shower. If she tried to hand me over to the maternity nurse, I’d scream bloody murder. She was barely hanging on by a thread after childbirth. Just then, I “accidentally” pulled out the phone I’d swiped from Rex Thorne’s pocket while he was holding me. The screen was vibrating non-stop. Flirtatious messages and risqué photos from various side pieces brazenly appeared right before Crystal Summers’s eyes. She puffed up like an angry mother hen. “You bastard, Rex Thorne! I just had your baby, and you’re already out wining and dining other women! I’ll kill you!” Clutching the phone, she stormed towards Rex Thorne. But before she could even utter her accusations, he sent her flying with a vicious backhand. 4 “Who the hell gave you the nerve to go through my phone?! Trying to control me? Who do you think you are?” “Take a look at yourself! I can’t even eat looking at that face of yours! I’ve only been putting up with you for our baby boy’s sake. Don’t push your luck!” Crystal Summers was stunned by the slap, covering her face, looking at him helplessly, her large eyes welling with tears. Rex Thorne couldn’t be bothered with her. He hastily scrolled through his phone and bolted out the door as if his butt was on fire. I watched this woman – tears streaming down her face, milk leaking from her breasts, blood from below – with cold indifference. I felt no sympathy. She who lives by screwing others over, gets screwed over. Serves her right. But as Crystal Summers sat on the floor crying, she suddenly burst into loud laughter. I thought she’d had a mental breakdown that quickly and was starting to feel bored, but then Crystal slowly stood up, a smile on her face. “You old bastard, you’re a real piece of work, but I’m no pushover either.” “You really think Rocky is your kid? Ha-ha-ha-ha, you old fossil, you’ve been shooting blanks for years! Dream on!” My eyes widened. So, Thorne Junior Number Two wasn’t even his biological child. The irony was, Rex Thorne, who valued blood lineage above all else, had personally killed the only true bloodline he had in this world. Pathetic and laughable. Since that was the case, I decided to give him another little push. While Crystal Summers was lost in her own main-character revenge fantasy, I grabbed her phone, unlocked it in a jiffy, and typed in some relevant information. Then I started wailing to get Crystal’s attention. Sure enough, she quickly looked over, annoyed. With Rex Thorne gone, Crystal didn’t bother pretending to be a virtuous wife and mother. She was about to wave for the maternity nurse to come soothe me when she inadvertently glanced at the phone screen. Her eyes instantly lit up.

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When I got into the car accident, my husband, Ethan, was on a business trip overseas. It took him a week to finally wrap things up and rush back. Seeing how badly I was injured, his eyes filled with tears, and he said he’d cancel all his work to take care of me, heart and soul. Everyone in the hospital room envied me for finding such a successful man who clearly adored me. Only I, picturing the two of them kissing passionately under the Northern Lights, felt a daze wash over me. Looking up again at his feigned deep affection, I just felt sick to my stomach. 1 The moment Ethan landed, he came straight to the hospital, not even stopping by home. He was lugging two large suitcases, looking completely exhausted from his travels. He grabbed the first doctor he saw, desperate to know about my injuries. The doctor was evasive, telling him to ask me directly. At that moment, my legs were in casts, and my head was wrapped up like a mummy. Luckily, my arms were still free, so I could scroll through my phone. When Ethan saw me, his eyes instantly reddened, and his hand trembled as he held mine. “Honey, you… you’ve suffered so much. It’s all my fault, I was too busy with work. For something this huge to happen to you, and I couldn’t even be here with you right away…” A tear landed on the back of my hand, shockingly hot. I felt a bit uneasy and tried to sit up. “Actually, I’m not that badly hurt, it just looks scary…” Ethan panicked, gently pushing me back down. “You’re seriously injured, don’t move around. You could hurt yourself again.” I chuckled weakly and lay back down obediently. Once Ethan calmed down, he started opening his suitcases, pulling out gifts for me one by one. There was food, clothes, jewelry – they filled the empty hospital bed next to mine, but Ethan still felt it wasn’t enough. “Honey, is there anything else you want? Or anything you’re craving to eat? I’ll go buy it for you later, or I can even make it.” Ethan mentioning it actually made me crave his cooking. “Then how about you make a few of your specialty dishes?” Ethan stroked my head, calling me his “little foodie” with a fond smile, and then left. When he returned, besides the dishes I’d asked for, he’d also bought a ton of fruit and snacks, handing them out to everyone in the hospital room. People couldn’t stop praising him, saying how handsome and thoughtful he was, and they all told me how lucky I was to have found such a great guy. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug, a mix of shy and proud. Ethan, basking in the compliments, was all smiles and even wanted to feed me. You know, the last time he’d fed me was during the playful antics on our wedding night. Naturally, I refused. “It’s my legs and head that are hurt, not my arms and hands. I can eat by myself.” But Ethan insisted. “Honey, I wasn’t by your side when you just had the accident. Now that I’m back, please give me a chance to make it up to you.” Amidst our gentle pushing and pulling, the room filled with pink, fluffy romance and knowing smiles from the onlookers. That’s when Veronica burst in. 2 It was as if she didn’t even see Ethan and me. She launched straight into urgent, business-like talk. “Mr. Hamilton, there’s an issue with the Southside project. The partners are all at the company raising hell. You need to get back there quickly.” Ethan’s face instantly frosted over. “What could possibly be so urgent that I have to go back? Is everyone else at the company just for show? Can’t you see I’m with my wife?” “Whatever it is, it can wait until I’m in the office tomorrow.” Veronica bit her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes. “But Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Peterson said if you don’t come back with me, then I don’t need to come back either.” Mr. Peterson was a company old-timer, who’d always had it out for Ethan and was known for using his seniority to bully Ethan’s assistants. Several of Ethan’s previous assistants had quit because they couldn’t stand Mr. Peterson constantly making their lives difficult. Veronica had lasted the longest. Seeing this, I gently squeezed Ethan’s arm and gave him a look. “The Southside project is a big deal, after all. Maybe you should go, huh?” Ethan looked at me quietly for a moment, then stroked my head. “Okay. Whatever you say.” Ethan left with Veronica. But five minutes later, Veronica came back by herself, bold as brass, and sat right down on the edge of my bed, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked at me. I inexplicably felt a prickle on my back and frowned at her. “Do you… need something from me?” Veronica smiled, took out her phone, and pulled up a photo. “Just as expected from someone Mr. Hamilton once liked. You’re much smarter than I thought, sis.” “So, smarty-pants, do you recognize this person?” The photo showed a couple kissing. The woman was clearly Veronica. But the man, even though I could only see the back of his head, looked disturbingly familiar. My frown deepened. Veronica’s smile widened, her lips curling upwards, her voice like a siren’s song. “If I said this was Mr. Hamilton, would you believe me, sis?” Before I could answer, the hospital room door was suddenly kicked open. Ethan rushed in, grabbed Veronica by the arm, and started dragging her out. “What did you say to her? Who told you to come back and see her?” Only when he reached the doorway did he seem to remember I was there. He turned back to explain. “Veronica forgot something, she just came back to get it. Honey, I’m just going to pop into the office for a second, I’ll be right back.” I glanced at Ethan. His expression was normal, showing no cracks. I just waved dismissively and went back to pondering the photo and Veronica’s words. Because of that, I didn’t see the look of relief flash across Ethan’s face as I looked down, nor the challenging, resentful glint in Veronica’s eyes. 3 Honestly, the man in the photo really did look like Ethan from behind. But Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts. People came and went in our lives, but we had always been steadfastly by each other’s side. I really didn’t want to doubt him unless I absolutely had to. But subconsciously, I started replaying every little interaction between Ethan and Veronica, analyzing the possibility of them being together. Veronica had joined Ethan’s company five years ago. A girl from a small town, she didn’t know how to dress, wasn’t good at socializing, and consequently, her work was a mess. Several times, Ethan had called her while I was there and chewed her out so badly she was probably in tears. The worst time, he directly asked her if she’d even gone to school, if she was an idiot, and said if she couldn’t hack it, she should just go clean toilets or be a security guard instead of taking up space and collecting a paycheck. It was me who persuaded him back then, saying it wasn’t easy for a young girl to make it in the big city, that he should give her more patience and let her grow. That’s how I talked him out of firing her. Three years ago, when Ethan and I got married, Veronica came to the ceremony with the other company employees. By then, she had gradually become more competent. She wore a simple, elegant white dress, had light makeup on, and exuded an air of intelligence and capability. After she caught the bridal bouquet, people around her joked about who would be lucky enough to marry such a beautiful and capable girl. Ethan had sneered coldly. “So plain, and can’t even do her job right. Whoever marries you must have had some seriously bad karma.” Veronica had covered her face and ran out crying. At the time, I even blamed Ethan for being so harsh to a young woman. A year ago, I found a very cute stuffed animal in Ethan’s study. Later, I saw the same one on Veronica’s bag and casually mentioned it to Ethan, saying they’d been around each other so long their tastes were becoming similar. Not long after, Ethan’s company HR department bought a whole batch of those stuffed animals and gave one to everyone in the company. Two months ago, I suddenly sprained my ankle at work and had to ask Ethan to pick me up. At the time, Veronica was sitting in Ethan’s passenger seat, claiming she got carsick in the back. … Incident after incident. A tangled mess, impossible to unravel. Suddenly, the man’s cufflinks in the photo flashed in my mind – a blue sapphire four-leaf clover with a chipped corner. Ethan had a pair just like it. So, if Ethan’s cufflinks were intact, did that mean the man in the photo wasn’t him? I picked up my phone, about to make up an excuse to get Ethan to bring those cufflinks over, when I happened to see a message from him. “Honey, I bought you those little wontons from that place you always liked. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Looking at the time, twenty-five minutes had already passed. I quickly got out of bed, thought for a moment, grabbed my crutches, and slowly made my way to the door. Instead of guessing wildly, isn’t being direct faster? 4 I just didn’t expect Ethan and Veronica’s “directness” to be much faster than mine. Around the corner of the hallway, before I could even move, I heard familiar voices. “Mr. Hamilton, when your wife had her car accident, you were still in Iceland with me, chasing the Northern Lights. How did you explain that to her?” Ethan chuckled smugly. “I told her I was busy with work, of course.” “And she believed such a flimsy lie?” “That fool Olivia, she always believes whatever I tell her.” Ethan paused for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled Veronica in by the waist, letting her soft curves press against his chest. “Speaking of which, I took such a huge risk for you. How are you planning to compensate me?” Veronica lowered her head shyly. “How do you want me to compensate you?” Ethan bent down and nibbled on Veronica’s earlobe, blowing gently on her pale neck. “That new cosplay outfit we bought last time…” Veronica suddenly looked up, playfully pounding his chest with her small fists. “Mr. Hamilton, you… you’re terrible.” The next second, her gaze unexpectedly met mine in mid-air. Veronica froze for a moment, then a provocative smile spread across her lips. Then, she wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck and kissed him forcefully on the lips. Ethan, caught off guard but with a beautiful woman offering herself, naturally saw no reason to refuse. He pressed the back of Veronica’s head, instantly taking control, kissing her with abandon. A nurse suddenly appeared and gasped. “Ms. Hayes, what are you doing out here?” I fought to control the trembling in my body and managed a weak smile. “My husband will be here soon, I just came out to meet him.” Before I figured out my next move, I absolutely couldn’t let them see what I knew. Ethan, hearing a familiar voice from around the corner, broke out in a cold sweat. He abruptly pushed Veronica away, quickly straightened his clothes, and turned to walk towards me. When I looked up, I saw Ethan with a face full of surprise and concern. “Honey, why are you out here? Your legs, can they support you?” I leaned against the wall, pretending to be weak, and lowered my head, conveniently hiding the fury in my eyes. “Actually, I… I am feeling a bit unsteady.” Ethan paused for a second, then swept me up into his arms. “Don’t push yourself if you can’t manage. Come on, I’ll carry you back.” Behind him, I saw Veronica’s face, contorted with a hatred so intense she looked like she wanted to kill me, yet she didn’t dare make a move. I smirked. Want to play games with me? Bring it on. 5 Back in the hospital room, Ethan had just placed me on the bed when Veronica eagerly tried to get him to leave. “Mr. Hamilton, those gifts you brought for your wife earlier, I think you forgot them in the trunk.” Ethan smacked his forehead, looking at me a bit apologetically. “Look at my memory. Honey, wait for me a minute, I’ll be right back.” The moment Ethan left, Veronica immediately dropped her careful, fawning expression and circled me several times. “Sis, to be so calm after catching your husband cheating red-handed, I’m actually a little impressed.” “I know, you and Mr. Hamilton are childhood sweethearts with deep feelings. It’s normal that you can’t make up your mind right away. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” Veronica played a video on her phone and held it in front of me. In the video, Ethan and Veronica were trapped in a car, surrounded by a vast expanse of white – it looked like a snowstorm. Veronica looked ahead, her gaze melancholic. “Mr. Hamilton, are we really going to die here?” Ethan was fiddling with his phone, his voice as calm as if they were just stuck in traffic. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you die.” Veronica suddenly turned, climbed over the center console, and wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, looking at him seriously. “Mr. Hamilton, actually, I think it would be nice to die like this. At least, right now, you’re completely mine.” Ethan tried to push her hands away. “Don’t be ridiculous.” But Veronica held on tighter. “I’m serious. It’s just a bit regrettable that I couldn’t have your baby.” Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly; his expression was clearly moved. Veronica noticed this too. Her hand slid down Ethan’s abs, further down, and then she squeezed. “Mr. Hamilton, give me a chance, I beg you.” Ethan’s body jolted, and a storm quickly gathered in his eyes. Then, he lunged, pressing down on her. The seat reclined, the temperature inside the car rapidly climbed, and sounds that would make anyone blush filled the air. After it was over, Veronica lay on Ethan’s chest, tracing circles with her finger. “Mr. Hamilton, I heard Olivia had a car accident. With us like this… will she be very sad? Do you still love her?” Ethan smirked. “Love? It’s not about love between us anymore, it’s habit.” “I’ve already asked about her accident. It’s not serious, she’ll be fine with some rest. Not a big deal.” The video ended abruptly there. Veronica put her phone away. “Well? Sis, a man like this, do you still want him?” I looked at her silently, not saying a word. Veronica stood up on her own. “If I were you, and my husband cheated, I’d immediately collect evidence, fight for what I deserve, and avoid ending up with nothing – no man, no money. Sis, think about it carefully.” Ethan walked in right on cue. “What are you two talking about?” 6 I asked Veronica to go buy me some dessert, keeping Ethan behind. “Come here, I have something interesting for you to listen to.”

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Today is Christmas, and it’s also Peter’s and my wedding anniversary. To make sure Peter got a special dinner, I went out to buy groceries. But what I never expected was that while I was out, I’d get mugged and pushed to the ground, and my husband? He was busy helping his assistant put up Christmas decorations. Weakly, I listened to the voices on the other end of the phone. “Peter, look at this Christmas tree, does it look good here?” “So, do you prefer the fishnets or… I’ll wear them for you tonight~” I lay on the ground, my heart like dead ashes. Later, I decided I didn’t want him anymore. But then he was willing to get beaten to a pulp, just to kneel before me and beg for forgiveness. “Mug—” Before I could even get the word “mugging” out, a motorcycle roared past, snatching my bag. Then, a practiced hand shoved me backward. It all happened in an instant; my body, caught off guard, was violently pushed aside. As I fell, a sharp, intense pain shot through my abdomen. I cried out instinctively. When I opened my eyes, I saw I’d landed stomach-first against the edge of a roadside planter. My heart sank. A wave of pain washed over me, and I couldn’t stop shaking. At that moment, I couldn’t even care about my stolen purse. “My baby… my baby…” I gasped, clutching my stomach, my other hand fumbling for my phone. Without even looking, I dialed Peter. Beep… beep… After an agonizing silence, the call connected. Peter’s voice, distracted and indifferent, came through. “What is it? I’m swamped at work. If it’s important, spit it out!” “Peter… I…” The pain was so bad I could barely speak; my voice was pathetically weak. But he clearly wasn’t paying attention. I heard the conversation on his end. It was quiet where he was, so the voices came through with an unnerving clarity. A woman’s voice, lively and playful, suddenly piped up. “Peter, look at this Christmas tree, does it look good here?” Sweat beaded on my forehead from the pain. Hearing that voice, I froze. My heart sank further, a terrible premonition washing over me. Sure enough, Peter replied a moment later. “Looks great. Anything you arrange looks good. I like it all.” The girl on the other end sounded pleased, then lowered her voice. “So, do you prefer the fishnets or… I’ll wear them for you tonight~” Hearing that, lying there on the ground, I couldn’t believe it. Tears streamed down my face. I never thought Peter could lie so easily. Just then, another searing pain shot through my abdomen. I couldn’t help but moan, gasping for breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Peter, listen to me, I was just mugged—” “Grace, can you just stop making trouble! Pulling this kind of stunt in broad daylight, trying to be all seductive!” My cry of pain finally got Peter’s attention, but he was completely dismissive. Before I could respond, amidst the continued flirtatious conversation on his end, the call was abruptly disconnected. At that moment, passersby finally noticed me. They rushed over, helped me up, and called an ambulance. In my last moments of consciousness, I wondered what I had done wrong to be treated like this by Peter. I even wondered if I hadn’t been good enough. But then, recalling how I’d poured my heart and soul into our relationship over the years, I finally understood: it wasn’t my fault. It was because Peter himself was just a rotten person. I had just been unlucky, misjudged his character. When I opened my eyes again, the smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils. The beeping of machines surrounded me. It took me a moment to realize I was in the hospital. “Ms. Chen, you’re awake.” Only then did I notice someone standing by my bed. The doctor looked at me, hesitating for a long moment before speaking carefully. “I’m very sorry to tell you, Ms. Chen, but because the baby was too small and due to the external impact, it… you miscarried.” Hearing her words, I closed my eyes, tears silently streaming down my face. I couldn’t say a word. I took out my phone and checked the time. It was already evening, and Peter hadn’t sent me any messages. I knew he hadn’t come home; otherwise, he would have noticed I wasn’t there and called to hurry me back to make dinner. At that moment, I felt I should tell him about losing the baby. So, I called him again. The phone rang for a long time before he answered. Along with his voice came the sound of Peter’s heavy breathing. I froze. “…What do you want?” 2 I knew that sound all too well. I instantly understood what he was doing. My voice choked up again, and I repeated his name several times, each word like a drop of blood from my heart. “…Peter, Peter! Do you know where I am right now? The baby is… is already…” When I got to the part about the baby, the grief was overwhelming. I broke into sobs, unable to finish the sentence. “What is it now? Can you stop talking to me like some whiny nag? If it’s nothing important, I’m hanging up.” Peter was extremely impatient, complaining with a terrible attitude before hanging up the phone. “The baby’s gone.” Putting down the phone, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer and burst into tears, wailing. Peter and I met in college, fell in love, and spent our youngest years together. We’d been married for four years now. Right after graduation, I decisively took all the money my parents left me after they passed away and, without hesitation, helped him start his business. Peter had sworn to me, promised he would never let me down, that he would buy me a big house, and never forget the support I gave him when he was just starting out. During our poorest times, we ate nothing but cheap bread and pickles; we went months without meat. But now that our lives had improved, he had changed. My constitution wasn’t the type to get pregnant easily. We had tried many things over the years, all sorts of doctors, traditional and modern medicine, but there was never any news of a pregnancy. Peter had started to become more and more distant. Actually, I knew he was having some kind of affair with that assistant, Lauren. But every time I asked him seriously, Peter would adamantly deny it. Then, I unexpectedly got pregnant, and Peter changed back into the loving man he once was, constantly fussing over me. He would even drive miles out of his way to buy food from a specific little place I was craving. He’d pull me into his arms in the middle of the night when my hands and feet were cold. And as for holidays, big or small, the gifts had been non-stop since then. But later, conflicts arose again because his desires were strong, and my pregnancy couldn’t satisfy him. As the baby bump became slightly noticeable, he gradually grew indifferent again. Until today, the Christmas dinner for our anniversary, which we had planned, he completely forgot about it. It wasn’t just the dinner he didn’t care about; clearly, he didn’t care about me either. From the moment he started treating me coldly, I should have known: some people can only share hardship, not good fortune. I should have realized long ago that he was no good. During those poorest years, it probably wasn’t me he loved, but rather that I was the highest ‘class’ he could reach. Thinking this, my tears dried up, and I fell asleep. Who knew that the next day, I would be woken up by Peter. “Grace? So, you’re here! You just disappeared without a word! If it weren’t for phone tracking, I wouldn’t have known you came to the hospital!” I groggily opened my eyes and looked at Peter, his face etched with impatience. My heart died completely. I didn’t say a word. Only then did Peter seem to notice my pale face. He frowned and asked, “What are you doing at the hospital?” I looked at the face I had loved since I was young, but now I couldn’t find any trace of that old feeling. I could only answer in a hoarse voice. “Peter, the baby’s gone.” “…The baby’s gone?” As Peter voiced his confusion, his first reaction wasn’t concern for me, but an outright roar of anger. “Are you crazy, Grace?! Just because I didn’t answer your call and said a few things to you on the phone, you went and got an abortion?!” 3 “…What?” I gasped in shock, but Peter started ranting. “Are you that petty?! Just because of that, you didn’t want the baby anymore? What do you take me for? I never should have married you! Your dead parents spoiled you rotten!” Peter verbally abused me, and I couldn’t believe that the man I once loved so deeply would one day insult me so freely, even using my parents’ deaths to hurt me. “Peter, calm down.” Just then, a woman’s voice came from outside the door, identical to the one on the phone yesterday. It was Peter’s assistant, Lauren. I watched as she very naturally placed a fruit basket she’d casually bought on my bedside table, then spoke with a reproachful look. “Grace, it’s no wonder Peter’s so angry. What you did was really too reckless. How could you get an abortion so easily? Anyone would be angry.” I looked at her feigned concern and just wanted to vomit. My medical report was right there on the bedside table, but they didn’t even glance at it, just jumped to the conclusion that I’d had an abortion myself. “What on earth are you talking about?” Just then, my doctor came in. Since Peter had been yelling at me in the room with the door open for a while, a crowd of doctors and nurses had intermittently gathered around. “What ‘easily got an abortion’? Wasn’t it a miscarriage caused by external trauma?” My doctor frowned as she entered. She had seen me on the phone and crying yesterday, so she immediately had no patience for Peter. “What external trauma?! Is that what they call abortions these days, all professional-sounding?” Peter, seeing the doctor was hostile, visibly scowled. The doctor’s next words were even blunter. “If you don’t understand, can’t you ask? You’ve been in here indiscriminately yelling at my patient for ages. She lost her child, don’t you think she’s upset? External trauma means her abdomen was struck by a blunt object, causing the miscarriage.” As the doctor explained, both Peter and Lauren were stunned. Then Peter snapped back to reality and sneered. “Her abdomen just happened to be hit by a blunt object? There aren’t that many coincidences. Grace must have paid you a lot, right? You two are in cahoots, trying to clear her name after she deliberately had an abortion.” “You…!” The doctor had clearly never met someone so unreasonable. She glared at him. Seeing her speechless, Peter felt his suspicions were confirmed and turned to me. “Grace, you’ve wanted to leave me for a while, haven’t you?” Hearing his accusations, I met his eyes and immediately roared. “Peter! How can you say something so monstrous, that I deliberately aborted our child?! You ungrateful bastard! All I did for you was for nothing! I should have fed that money to the dogs!” Suddenly, my temper flared, and I started arguing fiercely with him. Peter seemed to have never seen me this angry before and yelled back just as loudly. “You’re blaming me?! You have the nerve to blame me! You venomous snake! You could even get rid of your own child! Is there anything you, Grace, wouldn’t do?!” I almost scoffed out loud, my demeanor not backing down an inch. “I’m a venomous snake? That’s still better than you abandoning your wife and cheating!” At these words, Peter froze, and even Lauren looked momentarily stunned. “Who are you calling a cheater?! It’s probably you who cheated and are trying to frame me!” Peter, of course, denied it. He even got angry, as if I’d stepped on his tail, not even waiting for my response. “And stop fucking arguing with me, Grace! You just want a divorce, don’t you?! Fine, let’s get a divorce!” Hearing him shout those two words, I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them, my resolve firm. “Fine by me!” “Everyone, calm down! Stop arguing!” Just then, our argument was abruptly interrupted by a voice. We looked towards the door, and two police officers entered the room. They looked at me, then took an evidence bag from their own bag and handed it over. “Ms. Chen, your stolen purse from yesterday has been found. The suspect has been apprehended and has confessed to snatching your bag and deliberately pushing you, which led to your hospitalization.” Silence fell. Peter was utterly stunned. I numbly took the bag. One of the officers then produced a stack of papers and addressed Peter. “You’re the victim’s husband, right? Please sign here to confirm.” Peter was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected that I really had been mugged, and that I really had miscarried because I was pushed. He didn’t take the papers from the officer immediately but turned to me, his voice cracking in disbelief. “You… you really fell?!” Looking into Peter’s incredulous eyes, I repeated, word by word. “Di-vorce!” 4 This time, when I brought it up, Peter fell silent almost instantly. He seemed to suddenly realize what those two phone calls I made to him yesterday were really about. And in both those calls, all he’d shown me was impatience. Peter didn’t mention divorce again. Seeing I was still agitated, he even saw me about to pick up the fruit basket Lauren had brought and throw it at him. In a flash, his expression softened. “Grace, you… you just calm down first. Put the fruit basket down, cool off. I’ll give you some time alone.” Then, without waiting for my response, he reached out, took Lauren’s hand, and left. I watched his hand-holding gesture, so practiced and smooth, yet my heart felt surprisingly little. Perhaps he felt a moment of panic too, and acted on instinct. Afterward, the doctor and police also left, leaving me alone in the hospital room. I wasn’t actually that agitated, at least not hysterical. I was just annoyed by their shocked expressions. Now that it was quiet, I immediately took out my phone and made a call. “…Hello? Mark? Yes, it’s me. Listen, I wanted to ask you about some divorce matters.” … After calling my lawyer friend and explaining the situation, I asked him to help draft a divorce agreement. Just then, there was a knock on the door. I thought it was a nurse and said, “Come in.” Who knew it would be Peter. Peter looked awkwardly embarrassed, holding a takeout container. He hesitated for a long moment before speaking. “You haven’t eaten since this morning, right? This is a nutritious meal I prepared for you. At least eat something.” I didn’t respond. I watched him open the container himself. The moment I saw the food, I knew he hadn’t prepared this meal. Because on top was half a container of plain boiled shrimp, and I am severely allergic to shrimp. I found it utterly ridiculous and then asked, “Peter, you didn’t make these shrimp, did you?” Peter, caught in his lie, was suddenly. He seemed surprised I’d figured it out, then rubbed his nose. “Ah, Lauren made the shrimp. Yesterday when you called, I was with her at the office putting up holiday decorations, right? She feels bad about what happened. She knows you’re sick and can’t eat anything too greasy, so she hopes you’ll accept it.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “Peter, even if she doesn’t know, don’t you know? I’m allergic to shrimp.” After hearing this, Peter actually picked up a shrimp and offered it to me. “Just try one. What’s one bite going to do? Just one taste. I tried it, it’s really good.” Looking at Peter, his voice full of smug pride, I thought about all the meals I had cooked for him that were never treated this way. A wave of nausea washed over me. I slapped his hand away and, without hesitation, knocked the food container over. “…Grace, are you insane?!” The soup splashed everywhere, drenching Peter. He couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer, his anger flaring up. This act of mine made our relationship deteriorate further. That day ended with another huge fight, and Peter stormed out, smashing things. And I didn’t see him again until I was discharged from the hospital. But he did post on his social media to provoke me: either eating at a fancy Western restaurant or at some all-you-can-eat Wagyu place. Of course, the woman with him was almost always Lauren. Though she wasn’t directly in the pictures, an occasional wrist with a tell-tale bracelet said a lot. And the most recent photo was a plate of braised shrimp. Peter had specifically taken a high-definition picture, then cryptically remarked that I didn’t appreciate good food and was too picky, missing out on so much joy. At that time, I had just returned home. Looking at the empty house, I couldn’t be bothered to think about where Peter was. Instead, I just packed my things, leaving only a divorce agreement on the coffee table. Then, without hesitation, I turned and left, not looking back.

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The year Ethan broke his leg, I disappeared. But he didn’t know that for five years, I was trafficked and violated while trying to raise money for his wheelchair. His “perfect girl,” Sophia, framed me for prostitution and got me thrown in jail for two years. After I got out, I cried and begged Ethan to listen to my explanation. He just coldly crushed my life-saving pills under his foot. “Chloe, your sob stories are pathetic.” But he didn’t know those were my last two pills. So, on the day of his wedding, I died in the apartment we used to share. 1 “Renowned dancer Ethan set to marry dance partner Sophia. Ethan has won consecutive global championships in the past two years, becoming the youngest dance…” I was taking shelter from the snow in a convenience store. Hearing Ethan’s name made me freeze. Then, hearing “wedding,” I whipped my head around to look at the clerk. The clerk was watching news on his phone. I snatched his phone, my eyes glued to the screen. “Are you nuts? Give me back my phone! This is a new model, can you even afford to replace it?!” The clerk’s angry voice buzzed in my ear, but I couldn’t hear him. I just kept staring at the news headline. “Oh, so you’re stealing phones now, huh? Tank, come here and deal with her!” The phone was suddenly ripped from my grasp, and the guy called Tank roughly shoved me out of the convenience store. “Is this woman crazy? She just grabbed my phone and wouldn’t let go!” I coughed a couple of times, struggling to my feet. The snow was so cold, it made my heart ache. Ethan was going to marry my enemy… I couldn’t believe that in the five years I was gone, he had fallen in love with the woman who had ruined my life. I knelt in the snow, a terrifying cold seeping into my heart. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I tried to stand. But my weak legs gave out, and I stumbled. The clerk and Tank came out. Just as they were about to rough me up, a sweet voice called out. “Ethan, is that Chloe?” 2. Hearing that voice, my mind instantly flashed back to the darkness of five years ago, the despair of two years ago. Five years ago, Sophia tricked me into going to a shady agency. She told me she knew the owner there. That they could get the best and cheapest wheelchair for Ethan. I was broke back then, so I believed her. But she tricked me and had me taken to a remote place in the mountains. I was trapped there for three years. Three years later, the police found the place. I thought I was finally free, but then I heard Sophia accusing me of voluntarily prostituting myself. I spent another two years in jail. Enduring the pain of my illness flaring up, I went to see Sophia. She was affectionately clinging to Ethan’s arm. Ethan was standing. His leg was healed. I got up, wanting to hug him, but was met with his cold, indifferent gaze. “Chloe, have you really stooped this low?” “You look disgusting.” I froze, staring at him, dumbfounded. “Ethan, I’m back. Do you know these past five…” Before I could finish, Sophia interrupted me. “Chloe, honey, I shouldn’t have told you back then that Ethan’s leg wouldn’t heal. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone abroad.” Abroad? What abroad? I rushed forward to grab Ethan. “Ethan, I didn’t go abroad! I… I was trafficked by Sophia!” I glared at Sophia, but she remained perfectly composed. Ethan touched my hand, and for a moment, I thought he believed me. But then he yanked his hand away. His voice was so cold it made me shiver. “Chloe, are you really capable of making up such vicious lies now?” 3. “I didn’t… I really was trafficked by Sophia, Ethan!” “Trafficked, or were you doing that kind of thing overseas?” I stared at him, stunned. He thought I’d been selling myself abroad. Ethan’s eyes were as cold as a stranger’s. I unconsciously took two steps back. Sophia walked over and put her hand on my arm. “Chloe, honey, I know you had a tough time abroad these past few years, but Ethan hasn’t had it easy either. You have no idea what he…” “Sophia, don’t waste your breath on her!” Sophia. What an intimate way to call her. The moment Sophia got close, I started to tremble, just like five years ago when she stepped on my hand and said viciously, “Chloe, what do you think Ethan would do if I told him you ran off?” The fear of years of beatings was seared into my bones. I screamed in terror. “Please, let me go… Ah, please, Ethan, save me!” Seeing me like this, Ethan clenched his fists. “Chloe, your sob stories are pathetic.” “I don’t want to see you ever again.” They left, disappearing into the snowy night. And I was abandoned by them in the snow. Trembling, curling up, screaming. Like a madwoman. 4. When I woke up, I saw two pairs of worried, curious eyes looking at me. It was the convenience store clerk and the guy named Tank. Seeing I was awake, they sighed and introduced themselves. “I’m Gus, and this is my younger brother, Tank.” “Kiddo, I figured it out. You’re a poor soul, aren’t ya?” I looked at Gus silently. He patted my shoulder. “You were trafficked, weren’t you? You don’t look like the type to just abandon someone. Lord knows how you survived.” For the first time since getting out of prison, I cried. I sobbed as I explained I didn’t have a phone, I just wanted to see the news. And Gus was the first person to believe me. I wailed, wanting to cry out all the grievances of the past years. Gus and Tank kept comforting me. Before I left, they told me to come by and chat whenever I felt like it. I nodded, determined to find a job. I went back to the apartment Ethan and I used to rent. It had been bought now. I knew Ethan would despise this place. He wouldn’t want to set foot in it. So I got the key from the old hiding spot and tidied up the apartment. After cleaning, I went looking for work. I went from place to place, trying my luck, but no one wanted me. I used to be Ethan’s dance partner. We relied on each other, a win-win. It took so much effort to go from unknown to somewhat famous. Then Ethan unexpectedly injured his leg. I composed myself, trying not to dwell on the past. Seeing the last dance company on my list, I resolutely walked in. During the audition, I specifically performed the dance Ethan and I had done countless times. The judges’ eyes showed an admiration that brought back the feeling of those old days. When I finished, the judges praised me one after another, saying I “still had it.” “Congratulations, Ms. Chloe…” Suddenly, someone burst in and whispered something to the head judge. 5. I saw his expression gradually turn awkward, then icy. The judge who had initially praised me frowned and said, “Ms. Chloe, due to a stain on your personal character, we cannot offer you a position.” I stared blankly as they left one by one, leaving me alone under the spotlight. A stain. One stain had ruined my life. I laughed hysterically. I turned to see Sophia’s smug, triumphant smirk and Ethan’s expressionless face as he watched. They walked over. “Chloe, honey, I didn’t expect your ‘stain’ to be like this. Maybe I should have a word with them…” “Sophia, you don’t need to be so kind. She deserves all of this.” I lowered my head, listening to Ethan’s piercing words. Every sentence stabbed at my heart. I slowly walked closer to Ethan, looking up at him. “Ethan, why don’t you believe me?” He saw my tears but just tightened his grip on Sophia’s hand. “How can I believe you, Chloe? Who was by my side for five years? It was Sophia. My Chloe died the day she ran off!” Tears streamed down my face as I tried to explain it wasn’t like that, but Ethan had already left… I hate you, Ethan! A little while later, Sophia came back to find me. She held out a business card, her face feigning concern. “Chloe, honey, Ethan felt sorry for you and found you a job. He said this is the last time he’ll help you.” I looked at Sophia woodenly, as if she were a corpse. She seemed startled and loosened her grip. “Chloe, honey, why are you looking at me like that?” I took the business card, too drained to argue with Sophia. After I left, I could still hear Sophia shouting. “This is the last shred of dignity Ethan is giving you! Find a job and don’t come back.” 6. I stayed in the apartment for a few days. Looking at the familiar photos, the furniture, but the person who was once so close was no longer the same. Before Grandma died, she tearfully begged Ethan to take good care of me. I only remember him kneeling, kowtowing to my grandma so hard his forehead bled. He swore the most solemn oath to marry me. Only then did Grandma pass away in tears. Looking at that business card, I decided to give it a try. I went to a lounge based on the address on the card. A vague unease settled in my heart. I calmed my racing pulse and walked in. A manager bustled over, clearly busy. He said to me hurriedly, “You’re the server Sophia recommended, right? Go, go, hurry up and change into your uniform, then go serve drinks.” “Serve drinks?” “Yeah, quick, go.” He rushed me, and I had no choice but to change into the server’s uniform. But the outfit was strangely revealing. I nervously carried a tray, going from private room to private room delivering drinks. It seemed like an upscale, fancy lounge. The patrons were dressed impeccably. I delivered the drinks and left immediately. In the last private room, I walked in with my head down. I heard several men’s flattering voices. “Mr. Hayes, could you see if you can let this young actress off the hook? She really didn’t mean it.” “I’ll apologize to Sophia on her behalf. How about I drink three penalty shots?” Hearing the familiar name “Sophia,” I jerked my head up and met Ethan’s sharp, discerning eyes. “Server! Pour the drinks!” I flusteredly handed them the drinks, but one of the men grabbed my hand. I was scared and tried to pull away; the bottle suddenly shattered. “You bitch, what good can come from someone serving drinks here!” A sudden slap made my head ring. “Let go.” Ethan spoke. He kicked the man away and forcefully pulled me out. He looked at my drink-stained clothes, his expression strained. “Chloe, are you really this cheap?” “What, wasn’t doing that stuff abroad enough for you? Now you’re back doing it here!” “Did a dog eat your damn dignity?” Tears welled in my eyes, and I shook my head repeatedly. “It’s not like that. I just wanted a job.” “I have no money. I need treatment…” I saw Ethan’s eyes gradually redden. He angrily shook off my hand. “No money? All those years abroad, you must have made tens of thousands each time, right? And now you’re talking about no money? You think I’ll believe you?” He left again, leaving me there. “Ethan! I’ll say it again, I, Chloe, have never lied to you!” He paused for a moment, then walked straight away. Endless pain gnawed at my heart, dense and overwhelming. Please, Ethan, don’t go… 7. I went back to the apartment and picked up my last bottle of medication. Those five years had left me with severe depression. The doctor in prison only gave me one bottle of pills. This medicine was to alleviate the pain and impulses when my illness flared up. I looked at the last few pills. Maybe I really was going to die. But I still wanted to live, to see Ethan a little longer. I went to Ethan’s dance studio. We used to practice here. Even when we were dirt poor, we never gave up. And now, it had become the place where he and Sophia danced together. I suppressed the pain in my heart, thumping my chest as if that could stop it. After one dance ended, I walked over. He saw me and frowned. “What are you doing here?” “Ethan, I want my grandma’s bracelet back.” He didn’t speak, but I caught sight of the jade bracelet on Sophia’s wrist. That… that was what my grandma gave me. How could it be on her hand? My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at Ethan. He gave it to her, didn’t he? I only ever gave the jade bracelet to him. I couldn’t control my emotions and rushed forward, grabbing Sophia’s hand. “That’s my grandma’s jade bracelet! Give it back to me, it’s mine!” Sophia screamed in fear, “Chloe, honey, you’re mistaken! Let go of me, it hurts!” Ethan quickly tried to pull me away. I desperately clawed at Sophia’s hand and arm. Bloody scratches appeared. “It’s my grandma’s! Ethan, how could you give it to her!” I cried, questioning Ethan. He roared at me in a low voice, “Have you had enough, Chloe? Look at what you’ve become!” He shoved me away and helped Sophia up from the floor. Watching me lose control so calmly. The sudden force made my head throb, and the pain in my heart intensified, making me frantic. My medicine bottle was knocked to the ground by Ethan. “Medicine… give me my medicine!” But Ethan stepped on my medicine bottle, and the pills inside instantly turned to powder. My heart shattered along with them. “Chloe, you’re a really great actress, aren’t you? Is it fun trying to get sympathy?” My chest was so tight I couldn’t breathe, and I coughed incessantly. A thousand voices screamed in my head, “Go die!” I collapsed to my knees, letting out a piercing shriek. And Ethan, holding Sophia, walked away. 8. I dragged my failing body back to the apartment. As soon as I entered, I stumbled and fell to the floor. “Ethan… Ethan, save me.” My chest was tight, my heart pounded; I felt like I was being pushed into the ocean, sinking deeper and deeper. “Ethan! It was for you that I was trafficked for five years! Five years! How could you do this to me!” I cried and coughed, spitting up blood before passing out. I slept heavily. A day passed, and I was still on the floor. I had no strength to get up. The suicidal thoughts grew stronger. I fought to control myself. Ethan was still out there. I couldn’t die. Just as I firmed my resolve, I suddenly heard a broadcast from outside the window. “Today is the grand wedding of renowned dancer Ethan and Sophia…” The last straw supporting my will broke. I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged my heavy body and reached for the knife on the table. Every cut drew blood, but there was no pain. I only felt relief. On the wedding day of the famous dancer Ethan, I died in the apartment we once shared.

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This time around. Ethan Vance decided to stay in the countryside to be with his childhood sweetheart. Without a moment’s hesitation, I packed my bags and headed back to the city. He said he wanted to establish his career before settling down. I turned around and agreed to my parents’ arrangements, marrying the man they set me up with. Later, He proposed that if I helped his childhood sweetheart find a job, he would marry me. And I, pregnant with my child, happened to run into him while accompanying my fiancé on an inspection trip to that same countryside. In that moment, His eyes reddened again, and he repeatedly demanded, “Didn’t you say you’d wait for me?” Wait? How absurd. A legacy kid like me, why on earth should I wait for a man who was a nobody? 1. “Mom, Dad, I plan to return to the city in a week, and I’m willing to marry David Sherman.” There was a distinct pause on the other end of the line. Then came a cheer filled with surprised joy. “Chloe, honey, is it true? Did you really change your mind, no longer having anything to do with that broke kid Ethan Vance? Are you really willing to come back to the city, back to your parents, and build a relationship with David?” I nodded affirmatively. And emphasized, “David is an outstanding man. There’s no need to consider anyone else. I’ve decided to marry him.” In my past life. When I was framed and left for dead by Ethan Vance and his childhood sweetheart. It was David Sherman who comforted my parents. It was he who handled my affairs and cleared my name. And it was he who took care of my parents for the rest of their lives. Such kindness, even bearing his children, could hardly repay it fully. Besides, we shared a deep bond cultivated since childhood. Choosing to marry him, I was completely willing. “Wonderful, just wonderful! I’ll book your bus ticket right away, inform the Shermans immediately, and start preparing for your wedding…” Mom’s voice was filled with unconcealable excitement and emotion. Dad’s heartfelt sighs also reached my ears. I understood. They had always been worried about me. Worried I’d suffer from unrequited love, worried I’d be mistreated by Ethan, worried I couldn’t endure the hardships of country life. I was the one who had been wrong. In my past life, I had neglected my loving parents for a man. “Mom, Dad, from now on, I’ll listen to your guidance, stay by your side, and be a good daughter! This life, I will definitely be happy!” I definitely will! 2. “I’ve already made it clear to Chloe Miller. If she can’t get you a transfer to the city, I won’t go back with her either. She should be trying to pull some strings for you right now.” I had just returned to the teacher’s housing from the payphone. And I overheard Ethan Vance speaking softly to Jenny Carter in their quarters. “Ethan, you’ve really gone through a lot. Chloe might argue with you again over this, and you two just made up…” Jenny’s eyes were slightly red, looking pitifully delicate. Ethan shook his head, comforting her, “Your parents passed away early. We grew up together. I’ve long considered you my own sister. It’s only natural for a brother to do these things for his sister. Chloe should be more understanding.” Hearing the word “sister,” a flicker of disappointment inevitably crossed Jenny’s eyes. But she quickly regained her usual cheerfulness. “If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to return to the city with the other young teachers in about a week. These next few days, we should say goodbye to my students and colleagues.” “Yeah, Chloe’s parents are influential. If Chloe speaks up, getting back to the city shouldn’t be too difficult. We’ve received a lot of support from everyone here these three years; we really should bid them farewell, or it’ll seem like we’re ungrateful.” Jenny Carter proposed an idea. She planned to host a small dinner on her birthday to treat the teachers from the office, as a farewell. Ethan Vance was very supportive of this idea. “It’s just that I’m a bit tight on cash right now. Ethan, could you lend me some money first?” Before Ethan could answer. Jenny tapped her forehead lightly. “Oh dear, I almost forgot, Ethan, you used all of last month’s paycheck to help those students from low-income families. This is really embarrassing…” Ethan thought for a moment, then said, “It’s okay, Chloe should still have some. I’ll ask her for a bit to give to you.” Jenny smiled gratefully, “Okay, thank you so much, Ethan. Sorry to trouble you and Chloe again.” Ethan gently patted Jenny’s head, his eyes full of affection. And it was at this inopportune moment that I walked into the women’s staff dormitory. “Chloe, you’re back.” Jenny Carter greeted me, but I didn’t respond. Ethan frowned. Unlike usual, he didn’t scold me for my rudeness but extended his hand and said, “Chloe, it’s Jenny’s birthday in a few days. We want to throw a birthday dinner and also say goodbye to the school administrators and teachers. We’re a little short on cash. Do you have any extra money?” As I packed my luggage, I replied coldly, “No.” Ethan’s mouth twitched. “How can you not have any? Didn’t you just get paid?” I looked up at him. “Already spent it. Just like you two, spent it however I wanted.” Ethan pressed his lips together tightly. Jenny’s eyes darted. She walked over to me, took my arm, and wheedled, “Chloe, aren’t the three of us about to go back to the city? So we wanted to use my birthday as an excuse for a farewell dinner, a way to show appreciation to colleagues we’ve worked with for three years. Ethan and I used our paychecks to help those needy students, so we had to come to you…” How ridiculous. Why use Jenny Carter’s birthday as an excuse for a farewell dinner? A farewell dinner is just a farewell dinner; why tie it to her birthday? If you don’t have the funds, don’t sponsor needy students. No funds, yet you want to throw a lavish banquet to show off. I responded calmly, “Actually, it’s not a bother.” Seeing me relent, Jenny’s face lit up with obvious joy. “Since you say so, Chloe, then our return to the city should be settled.” Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll go to Rosie’s Diner later to book a private room. This afternoon, I’ll go to the office and let the principal and colleagues know. Including the three of us, about twenty people in total, thirty bucks should be enough.” Ethan specifically looked at me when he said this, as if asking if I could produce thirty dollars. Seeing no particular reaction from me, Jenny added, “Most of the twenty people are male colleagues, so there will inevitably be drinking. Thirty bucks might not be enough. Chloe, with sixty, everyone could eat much better…” I nodded along with her words. The smile on her face grew even brighter. Ethan felt something was off but didn’t comment. I added, “Since it’s a birthday celebration, it’s best to have a cake, don’t you think…” Ethan immediately objected, “A cake is too expensive, forget it. Besides, they don’t sell cakes in this backwater town.” Jenny’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Don’t be like that, Ethan. I’ve never tasted cake in my life. Since Chloe said she can get me a cake, she must have a way. I want to try it…” Ethan looked at me, troubled again. I said calmly, “Of course, there’s a way. I have the contact information for a cake baker in the city. One call, and he should be able to deliver it.” Jenny was so excited she almost jumped. Seeing her so happy, Ethan no longer considered the price of a cake or the cost of delivering it from the city to the countryside. Finally. When Ethan left the women’s staff dormitory, he even said to me gently, “Chloe, it feels like you’ve matured a lot overnight. I’m very happy you can treat Jenny this way. I’ll talk to my mom later and arrange for our parents to meet as soon as possible.” I shook my head. “No need.” He said earnestly, “Although my mom doesn’t think highly of you, I hope you can change her opinion. I’ll work hard with you.” I chuckled, truly not understanding how Ethan’s chronically ill, illiterate mother had any right to look down on me! “You go back and talk to your parents too. Try to be as humble as possible in front of my mom, so our two families can sit down and discuss our marriage properly.” My parents were principled people who had stood tall their whole lives; why should they bow down to Ethan Vance’s mother! 3. When I arrived at the office in the afternoon, Ethan had already announced the party to be held in two days to everyone. Everyone’s faces were beaming with joy. Jenny also eagerly urged me to use the school’s communal phone to call the cake baker in the city. I did not disappoint her. During a class break, I contacted the baker. “The biggest size you have, enough for twenty people. The decorations should be as elaborate as possible. We need candles and plates. Write ‘Happy 23rd Birthday Jenny Carter’ on it. And also get one of those little music boxes that plays ‘Happy Birthday.’ Deliver it to Rosie’s Diner on Main Street in Redwater Creek, at 6:30 PM. Tell the hostess, someone will come to pick up the cake.” Jenny listened beside me to the requests I made to the baker, her eyes filled with excitement. After the call. Jenny held my hand, her eyes a little moist. “Chloe, you’re so wonderful! This birthday dinner will surely be perfect!” I said nothing. I let her be moved by her own emotions there. “Chloe, after you and Ethan get married, can you also introduce me to a good match? Does that Mr. Sherman who visited your house last time have a girlfriend? I heard his family is also a military family. If there’s a chance… I’d love to see you every day, Chloe.” I smiled faintly. I truly didn’t know where she got such confidence. Just then, the school bell rang. Jenny and I went to our respective classrooms. Two days later, it was Jenny Carter’s birthday. Disregarding the critical time when her students were about to face mid-term exams, she took leave from the school administration. She made a special trip to the county town to buy a new dress, got her hair done, and put on exquisite makeup. At six-thirty, our group set off from the school and saw her standing at the restaurant entrance to greet us. Seeing the school principal, she greeted him enthusiastically. “You look so beautiful today, happy birthday.” Some thoughtful female colleagues had even prepared small gifts for Jenny. Jenny accepted the gifts, smiling very happily. Everyone entered the restaurant in a lively mood. Ethan acted like the host of the banquet, calling the waiter to start serving the dishes. Platters of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Bowls of steaming hot soup. Everyone ate with great relish. Jenny and Ethan controlled the rhythm of the entire gathering, and others chimed in, creating a warm atmosphere. While celebrating Jenny’s birthday, they also announced their decision to leave the school soon. In the small private room, voices clamored. I sat among them, silently eating my food, quietly waiting for things to unfold. Ms. Peterson, sitting next to me, felt indignant on my behalf. “You and Ethan have argued so many times, yet he’s still so close to Jenny. Have you given up now? Are you planning to just live with the two of them like this?” I shook my head. Ms. Peterson expressed her doubt. “This meal must cost at least over a hundred dollars. Jenny dresses so flashily every day; her meager salary is all spent on clothes. She definitely can’t afford this. Ethan also has a sick old mother at home. Even if he helps Jenny out, over a hundred dollars is no small sum for him. So, I’ve been thinking, it can only be you paying. Can you really tolerate this?” Ms. Peterson was a bit older than me. She had divorced early in life due to her husband’s infidelity. She always had a keen insight into the entanglements between men and women. Perhaps she didn’t want me to follow in her footsteps, to fall into an emotional predicament, which is why she said these things to me. I smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, it’s not like I don’t understand things.” Ms. Peterson raised her eyebrows. “You still don’t understand? Bringing one Ethan Vance back to the city is already very difficult, and now there’s Jenny Carter too. Who knows if your parents have had to go groveling to the relevant departments for your sake!” I said softly, “They won’t have to. I won’t be that thoughtless. Jenny can’t go to the city, and of course, Ethan can’t either!” Ms. Peterson was stunned for a moment. Just then, the waiter pushed open the door and came in. “Excuse me, who ordered the cake from the city? The delivery guy is waiting outside.” Hearing this, Jenny jumped up excitedly. “I ordered it! I’ll go get the cake and share it with everyone!” Cake was a rarity here. Among those present, few had ever tasted it. Now, hearing there was cake, everyone’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “What a treat, I actually get to taste cake today.” “I’ve never seen a real cake in my life, I’m so lucky!” “I’ll eat a little less later and bring a piece back for my kid, he’s been clamoring for it…” The waiter hadn’t seen a cake in person either. Hearing these comments, he chimed in, “The cake is huge! Not only will you not be able to finish it, even if you do, there’ll be enough for everyone to take a piece home.” “Such a big cake!” “It must be very expensive, right?” “Jenny’s birthday is really something special!” Jenny Carter walked out of the private room, elated. Ethan followed closely behind. “The cake is too big, I’m afraid Jenny can’t carry it alone, I’ll go lend a hand.” The two main characters left. The atmosphere in the private room relaxed. Ms. Peterson looked at me, seemingly with more to say. After a short while, Ethan returned and walked over to me, whispering, “Chloe, come out for a second. The cake delivery guy says the person who ordered the cake needs to sign for it.” I sat in my seat, motionless. “Didn’t Jenny order the cake? Let her sign for it.” Ethan’s face turned a little ugly. “Didn’t you order that cake over the phone? The delivery guy is still waiting outside. Don’t waste time, hurry up and go out.” I snorted contemptuously. “Although I made the call, Jenny was the one who wanted the cake. Isn’t it inappropriate for me to sign?” Ethan pressed his lips together tightly, saying nothing. Jenny also returned to the private room, her face a bit pale. “Chloe, hurry up and go out, sign for the cake and bring it in for everyone to share. It’s rare for us to gather like this.” I sat firmly in my chair and replied, “That’s right, you hurry up and bring the cake in for everyone. Nobody here has tasted cake before, they can’t wait.” Ms. Peterson was a sharp woman. She immediately understood what was happening. She said bluntly, “Jenny, you’re not thinking of making Chloe go out and pay for you, are you? Usually, you pay when the cake is delivered. But today is your birthday, why should Chloe pay?” Jenny’s face instantly became very awkward. “No, I just wanted to…” Ethan defended Jenny, “Chloe Miller, didn’t you promise Jenny a birthday cake? Now the cake is here, how can you go back on your word?” I feigned surprise. “Oh, did I promise to buy Jenny a cake? A cake costs at least two hundred dollars, and my monthly salary is less than thirty… How can I afford such an expensive cake!” Ms. Peterson sneered, “How amusing! Inviting people for cake, only to have someone else foot the bill in the end.” The faces of the others also turned sour. The cake delivery guy waiting outside grew impatient and walked in. He looked annoyed. “Who ordered the cake? Is anyone going to pay? The total is two hundred and thirty-one dollars. I drove two hours from the city. Don’t make me run this errand for nothing!” 4. Jenny was on the verge of tears, pulling my hand, pleading, “Chloe, didn’t we agree? Why are you only now saying you don’t have money…” I also put on a troubled expression. “I always thought you had the money to buy it yourself. I didn’t expect you wanted me to buy it for you…” I quickly checked my wallet. I emptied out all my change and then counted it carefully. “I only have three dollars and sixty-five cents here…” I turned to the others, “Why don’t we all chip in, pay for the cake first, and not embarrass Jenny? After all, it’s her birthday, she definitely wants to be happy…” Before I could finish my sentence.

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My mom met a 27-year-old woman at the Serenity Center. She was on the phone with this woman constantly, sending her money, booking hotels for her, picking her up from the airport. We didn’t approve, but to keep Mom from getting upset, we let her be. Chalked it up to charity. But I was only away on a business trip for three days. When I came home, there was a tanned, petite woman calling me “big sister.” The more my brother and I looked at her, the more we thought she was a con artist. So we gave her a few thousand dollars and told her to get a hotel room. But she tearfully hid behind my mom, timidly saying, “Mom, do my big sister and brother not like me? Maybe I should just go back to the Center…” Mom’s face hardened as she looked at us. “She is the reincarnation of my daughter! Who dares to send her away!” … My mom went to a well-known Serenity Center in the city every week to meditate for an afternoon. Usually, my brother Leo and I would take turns going with her. This week, as luck would have it, I had an urgent meeting, and Leo’s girlfriend, Lily, was in the hospital. So Mom went by herself. She’s in her fifties, healthy, and there’s a police station near the Center. We felt okay letting her go alone. But I never expected that one trip would lead to three sleepless nights for her. In the middle of the night, I got up to use the bathroom. And I heard Mom’s voice. Her tone was so gentle. Just like when I had appendicitis and was hospitalized, and she stayed by my bedside, comforting me. I was curious. Who was she talking to on the phone? I instinctively lightened my steps and hid behind the wall to listen. “Sweetie, don’t be scared. I’ll come be with you tomorrow.” “You said I’m like a mother to you, how could I possibly leave you there all alone?” “What would you like to eat? I’ll make it and bring it over.” Through the reflection in a mirror, I saw Mom grinning from ear to ear, like she’d eaten honey. Something wasn’t right. Seeing she was about to get up, I quickly ducked back into my room. After she got up, she didn’t go back to her bedroom but went to the kitchen and started kneading dough. I was floored. Who on earth was on the other end of that call? Mom hadn’t cooked in over ten years! Usually, Dad did all the cooking. Unless Leo or I were sick, she wouldn’t set foot in the kitchen. Her strange behavior shocked me. In my shock, I didn’t even realize I’d walked into the living room. “Mom, what are you doing up so late?” My brother, Leo, suddenly came out of the bathroom, rubbing his eyes, startling both Mom and me. Mom slipped off her slipper and whacked him with it. “You little rascal! You scared me to death!” Done, she turned back to the dough in her hands, that same smile reappearing on her face. I inexplicably shivered. “What’s it to you what I’m doing? Get back to bed!” “Do I need to report to you if I want to bake some cinnamon rolls for myself?” Mom loves pastries, which is why we always have flour at home. Leo bought it. I quickly pulled him into his room. “You need to keep an eye on Mom. She was just on the phone with someone, and whoever it was said they wanted cinnamon rolls!” “Whoa! No way! Is Mom… got a secret admirer or something?!” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but smack him too. “Dad’s not dead yet!” “Anyway, just pay attention. I’m busy lately.” He’s a novelist, so he’s usually at home. Seeing my serious expression, he nodded repeatedly, promising to keep an eye out. The next day at noon, my phone started blowing up with calls from him. “Sarah! Something’s really up with Mom! She went to the Serenity Center again today!” “And she was carrying three large food containers!” “And she was muttering something like, ‘You poor thing, you finally found me. I’ll take good care of you!’” Leo’s voice was trembling; he sounded genuinely freaked out. After all, nothing ever changed Mom’s rule of going to the Center once a week. Even if she were bedridden, she’d make us take her. Never early, never late. I instantly connected this to how she’d been giggling at her phone for the past three days. “Follow her. See who she’s meeting.” “Best if you can get a picture.” My mom met a 27-year-old woman at the Serenity Center. She was on the phone with this woman constantly, sending her money, booking hotels for her, picking her up from the airport. We didn’t approve, but to keep Mom from getting upset, we let her be. Chalked it up to charity. But I was only away on a business trip for three days. When I came home, there was a tanned, petite woman calling me “big sister.” The more my brother and I looked at her, the more we thought she was a con artist. So we gave her a few thousand dollars and told her to get a hotel room. But she tearfully hid behind my mom, timidly saying, “Mom, do my big sister and brother not like me? Maybe I should just go back to the Center…” Mom’s face hardened as she looked at us. “She is the reincarnation of my daughter! Who dares to send her away!” 1 My mom went to a well-known Serenity Center in the city every week to meditate for an afternoon. Usually, my brother Leo and I would take turns going with her. This week, as luck would have it, I had an urgent meeting, and Leo’s girlfriend, Lily, was in the hospital. So Mom went by herself. She’s in her fifties, healthy, and there’s a police station near the Center. We felt okay letting her go alone. But I never expected that one trip would lead to three sleepless nights for her. In the middle of the night, I got up to use the bathroom. And I heard Mom’s voice. Her tone was so gentle. Just like when I had appendicitis and was hospitalized, and she stayed by my bedside, comforting me. I was curious. Who was she talking to on the phone? I instinctively lightened my steps and hid behind the wall to listen. “Sweetie, don’t be scared. I’ll come be with you tomorrow.” “You said I’m like a mother to you, how could I possibly leave you there all alone?” “What would you like to eat? I’ll make it and bring it over.” Through the reflection in a mirror, I saw Mom grinning from ear to ear, like she’d eaten honey. Something wasn’t right. Seeing she was about to get up, I quickly ducked back into my room. After she got up, she didn’t go back to her bedroom but went to the kitchen and started kneading dough. I was floored. Who on earth was on the other end of that call? Mom hadn’t cooked in over ten years! Usually, Dad did all the cooking. Unless Leo or I were sick, she wouldn’t set foot in the kitchen. Her strange behavior shocked me. In my shock, I didn’t even realize I’d walked into the living room. “Mom, what are you doing up so late?” My brother, Leo, suddenly came out of the bathroom, rubbing his eyes, startling both Mom and me. Mom slipped off her slipper and whacked him with it. “You little rascal! You scared me to death!” Done, she turned back to the dough in her hands, that same smile reappearing on her face. I inexplicably shivered. “What’s it to you what I’m doing? Get back to bed!” “Do I need to report to you if I want to bake some cinnamon rolls for myself?” Mom loves pastries, which is why we always have flour at home. Leo bought it. I quickly pulled him into his room. “You need to keep an eye on Mom. She was just on the phone with someone, and whoever it was said they wanted cinnamon rolls!” “Whoa! No way! Is Mom… got a secret admirer or something?!” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but smack him too. “Dad’s not dead yet!” “Anyway, just pay attention. I’m busy lately.” He’s a novelist, so he’s usually at home. Seeing my serious expression, he nodded repeatedly, promising to keep an eye out. The next day at noon, my phone started blowing up with calls from him. “Sarah! Something’s really up with Mom! She went to the Serenity Center again today!” “And she was carrying three large food containers!” “And she was muttering something like, ‘You poor thing, you finally found me. I’ll take good care of you!’” Leo’s voice was trembling; he sounded genuinely freaked out. After all, nothing ever changed Mom’s rule of going to the Center once a week. Even if she were bedridden, she’d make us take her. Never early, never late. I instantly connected this to how she’d been giggling at her phone for the past three days. “Follow her. See who she’s meeting.” “Best if you can get a picture.” Not only was she going to the Serenity Center every day, but she was also frequently transferring money to that person. Day and night, she was glued to her phone, chatting with them, staying up past 3 a.m. for several nights. She wouldn’t listen to anyone. The worst time, she argued with Dad and almost packed her suitcase to go find that woman. We understood her feelings. When she was pregnant with that child, she had severe morning sickness. On top of that, my grandparents didn’t want the baby and even said if she had it, they wouldn’t help her during her recovery period. She had no choice but to terminate the pregnancy. In reality, she felt immense guilt about that child. That’s why this woman could so easily prey on her weakness. This day, Mom didn’t even eat. She grabbed her phone and rushed out. It was the weekend, so our whole family got in the car and followed her, all the way to the airport. Unexpectedly, she was prepared, deliberately walking through crowded areas. Five minutes later, we lost her. Dad was furious. “Someone definitely coached her! When did she get so smart?” We had no choice but to go home and wait for her return. We waited until ten o’clock at night. Dad was so angry he couldn’t eat a bite. When Mom came back looking thrilled, he was trembling with rage. “You fool! One day you’ll be sold and still be happily counting the money!” Mom didn’t care at all, smugly waving her phone in our faces. Huge letters: 【CashApp: $1,500 Received.】 “Honestly, some people always think the worst of others!” “I told you, my Chrissy isn’t a liar. Not only did she transfer back all the money I gave her before, but she even added a little extra!” “Told me to buy myself something to build up my strength!” This person was either genuinely good, as Mom said, or a very skilled con artist! Dad’s face was dark. “Then what were you doing at the airport today?”

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After the car crash, my girlfriend, Chelsea, pushed through the crowd and rushed towards her uninjured ex-husband, Jason, like he was a precious treasure. Ambulance sirens wailed, everyone trying to rescue me, pinned under the car. But Chelsea, for the man at the core of her heart, was frantically looking for a first-aid kit. Her college sweetheart, the one she’d married—he was unforgettable, I guess. The newcomer winning out? A total joke. Out of surgery, I gritted my teeth against the searing pain and called my father, whom I’d been giving the cold shoulder to for years. “Dad, I’ll go abroad. Someone else can take over the company. I just want to get out of here.” Even though next month was the wedding I’d waited seven years for, practically begged Chelsea for. This time, I wouldn’t be a fool again. … While my bones were mending, I saw no one except the temp caregiver I hired. Back then, Chelsea had said, “Stay away from your deadbeat friends!” and I’d dropped everyone, moving with her to a secluded house where it was just the two of us. I thought it would be just the two of us, forever, and that would be fine. But after the crash, my ‘other half’ just sent a text: “Busy with stuff here. Take care.” How ironic. I’d doted on her for seven years. Headaches, fevers—I always insisted on top doctors, terrified that too much medication would harm her. Now, hospitalized after a car crash, I couldn’t even get a sincere “how are you?” But she was the one who came onto me first. When my career was just starting, she’d cooed about saving enough to retire early together. When work got too hectic, she was the one constantly reminding me to eat proper meals, not to smoke or drink too much. Even if I said I wanted to see the ocean at 3 AM, she’d race out with me without a complaint. She said she’d married young and foolishly, to the wrong person. She said meeting me made her realize what it truly felt like to want to marry someone. But if Jason just beckoned, she’d drop everything to follow him, leaving me in the dust. I thought I was immune by now. But the physical pain, the stark loneliness… everything screamed at me who the real “wrong person” was. The fracture ached so bad I could barely breathe, but I still reached for my phone. Social media, e-invites, reception bookings… one by one, I canceled and deleted everything related to Chelsea. I just never expected Chelsea could always push me from the brink of collapse right into a full-blown meltdown. Coming home from the hospital, everything had changed. The decor I’d chosen to suit her taste was replaced with weird Goth stuff. She knew I had pollen allergies, but now there was a mountain of flowers piled by the door. Facing the nosy neighbors and their fake congratulations, I just nodded blankly and used my spare key to unlock the door. I didn’t even need to try; I knew Chelsea would have changed the passcode. Whenever Jason showed up, this house stopped being our house. It became his and her art studio, a prerequisite for their “soulful connection.” To keep the peace, I always had to retreat to the small cabin behind the main house. Thinking about it now, it’s laughable. It was my house. Why the hell should I accommodate those two scumbags? An image of them all lovey-dovey flashed in my mind, and I instinctively slammed my fist against the door. I never expected the disgusting scene that greeted me. Jason, shirtless, holding a leather whip. Teasingly, flippantly, he tapped Chelsea with it, now and then. And Chelsea was clearly enjoying it, half-kneeling at his feet, nuzzling his heel with her cheek. “Master, you get me. He has zero charm as a man, just a loser.” He? Who else could she mean but me? Seeing the red silk I’d carefully arranged in the room now wrapped around them like props… I couldn’t control myself. This was my home, our marital home! What the hell were they doing?! 2 “Alex! Why did you come home without a word? When did you get in? Were you eavesdropping on us?!” I saw panic in Chelsea’s eyes, but all I heard were accusations. Yeah, even caught red-handed, she was unreasonable as ever, blaming me first. I looked down and laughed self-deprecatingly. Then Jason’s lazy voice drifted over, “Perfect timing, I’m thirsty. Alex, did you bring back anything to drink?” That question stabbed me in the heart, making me realize how pathetic I’d been. “This is my house. Jason, can’t you even afford a motel room?” Without waiting to see their ugly expressions, I grabbed my ID and left. But Chelsea suddenly chased after me, grabbing my arm. “What do you mean, ‘motel room’? How can your mind be so dirty?” “I don’t care! Alex! You have to apologize to us today!” I spun around, furious, my eyes practically bloodshot in an instant. “Me, dirty? When you were on the floor acting like someone’s pet, did you ever think about your fiancé who almost died in a car crash?” Hearing “car crash,” Chelsea flinched guiltily, but then she quickly became indignant again. “I saw the bank records, you hired a caregiver. I don’t know how to do anything, so I wouldn’t have been any help if I went. Besides…” What kind of twisted logic was that? I didn’t want to hear another word. I just sneered, “So, by your logic, I should just date people? Why bother getting married or making any serious commitments?” “Alex!” Chelsea shrieked at me, incredulous. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. Shouting “You’re unbelievable!” she rushed back to the room to seek comfort from Jason. Looking at the closed door, and the wound on my arm she’d torn open in her fit of rage… I once again realized how wrong this relationship was. Chelsea… she never loved me, did she? There was no point staying in this house anymore. Stone-faced, I started destroying every testament to our supposed love. The sound of smashing china and glass echoed through the living room. The two in the room must have come out at some point. They just stood on the landing, silently watching my rampage, looking down on my humiliation and pain. Until I picked up the coffee mug Chelsea had handmade for me. She got so agitated she almost leaped from the second floor. “You can’t break that one!” She cradled that mug like a new mother with her baby. Even though we’d never once used it or even thought about it all these years. I wanted to say, “You don’t have to act.” But then my gaze fell on her bleeding foot, cut by a shard of glass, and I changed my tune. “I don’t drink coffee. It’s useless to keep it.” Chelsea’s eyes dimmed, seeming very reluctant to part with it. “But this was the first gift I ever made by hand…” I pressed my lips together, unsure how to respond, when someone pushed me. Jason sauntered over to Chelsea, eyes narrowed in a half-smile. “Good thing I love coffee. Since Alex doesn’t cherish it, I guess I’ll have to protect ‘Little Chelsy’s’ heartfelt gift.” A few words, and he’d completely invalidated my feelings for Chelsea. And she clearly bought it, handing the mug over to him almost without a second thought. Watching them get all touchy-feely again without a care in the world, I really didn’t want to say another word. “Canceling the marriage license appointment requires both our consent. Remember to confirm it.” Chelsea, lost in her sweet moment, didn’t seem to hear. Her faint voice drifted from behind me, “What? Go get the license this afternoon, right? I remember!” She remembered. But I never said I was going. 3 “Alex, I need to see you! Open up, quick!” The urgent shouts echoed around the small cabin. In a daze, it felt like a lifetime ago. I almost instinctively went to open the door and ask Chelsea, “What’s wrong, babe?” But the discomfort from my injuries forced me to face reality. The moment I cracked the door open, she impatiently barged in, dragging Jason with her. “Jason has a sculpture exhibit this afternoon, and I really want to go!” “Alex, can you cancel the marriage license appointment? We can go in a couple of days, it’s not a big deal~” Her wheedling tone was soft and drawn out, but her body kept leaning towards Jason. She didn’t even glance at me while speaking, as if she were just informing me. Seeing the tense atmosphere, Jason feigned a slight reprimand to Chelsea. “Little Chelsy, you’re about to be a wife. How can you still be so willful?” “But this exhibit has been in the works for a long time, and I was really hoping you could make it…” Ha, talk about trying to have it both ways, I thought. But Chelsea seemed completely oblivious to the undertones in Jason’s words. She anxiously grabbed Jason’s hand, then looked at me with a troubled expression. “Can’t you just be understanding? You know how much people in his line of work need support from family and friends…” Understanding again. I’d lost count of how many times I’d “understood” them over the past seven years. I scoffed. “So, an art show is more important than getting married? Then why don’t the authorities set up a special fund to support these ‘struggling artists’?” Chelsea jumped up like an ant on a hot pan. “What are you doing?! Don’t you know how to respect people? So what if you have a little money? You’re just a hick from the sticks yourself, what right do you have to insult Jason like that?” “Yeah, I’m from the sticks. So whose money paid for all those designer bags, luxury cars, and the house all these years?” “Alex! You!” Watching Chelsea’s face turn beet red, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction. I’d never once contradicted her before. I’d even agreed without a second thought when she said she wanted Jason to sit at the head table, like he was on the bride’s side of the family. But now, the wedding was off. Who cared about the license? Perhaps the atmosphere was too weird, because Jason, for once, tried to smooth things over. He laughed and patted my shoulder. “Alex isn’t really mad, is he? It’s fine! You two go get your license.” How could Chelsea bear to see him “suffer” like that? Her expression shifted multiple times. Finally, she just grabbed Jason and stormed off without a backward glance. “I’m going to that exhibit today, period! We can deal with the license the day before the reception. It’s not like the world’s ending tomorrow, I don’t know what you’re in such a hurry for!” Speeding off, complaining all the way. The commotion at the house had already drawn the neighbors out to watch. But watching Jason drive off with my fiancée half in his arms, in the car I bought… What was there for me to hide for her anymore? “Yeah, I got cheated on. Royally cheated on.” After saying that, I threw my head back and laughed freely a few times. If I was destined to be miserable, might as well own it. And then, expose the seven years of those two scumbags’ sordid affair to the public. As the wedding date approached, the information I leaked became more and more detailed. Suggestive photos with faces artfully obscured, love poems and letters overflowing with deep affection. Each and every one a testament to their affair. Chelsea did try to contact me during this time, but she only had eyes for Jason. “The exhibit was a huge success! We’re going out to celebrate for a few days, we can talk when we get back!” “Moon Lake is so beautiful! Jason said it’s like an early honeymoon preview, he’s so thoughtful for us!” “I know the wedding is tomorrow, the plane will definitely land by early morning! I didn’t want a delay… If you don’t believe me, I’ll have Jason tell you!” But they seemed too wrapped up in themselves. Amidst the noisy background, all I could hear was the sound of their passionate, unending kisses. I hit pause on the recording, looked at the wedding photo poster being dismantled in the hotel lobby, and just let time pass. Until a banner reading “Congratulations Chelsea and Jason on your Remarriage! Forever and Always!” was hung in the lobby. Videos and photos of those two scumbags played on a loop on the big screen. My (would-be) parents-in-law’s expressions went from overjoyed to looking like they’d attended a funeral. Chelsea’s face, surrounded by her bridesmaids, instantly fell. Only then did I truly breathe a sigh of relief, boarding the private jet my father had arranged, and left in style.

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My boyfriend had a female “buddy.” The moment she met me, this girl, Brooke, enthusiastically called me “sis,” said she was a total girl’s girl, and jokingly asked how I could have been so blind to fall for Alex. But that very night, I saw their chat history. She said her boyfriend didn’t want kids, her parents were pressuring her, and she asked my boyfriend, Alex, to be a sperm donor. 【Don’t worry, if you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, nobody will ever know.】 【Didn’t you always want one before?】 My boyfriend didn’t reply. He told me he had to work late on Valentine’s Day and couldn’t be with me. But then a message came from an unknown number. I looked closely—it was a picture of the two of them together. 1 My boyfriend, Alex, had this super close female “buddy” named Brooke. Sun-kissed skin, a lean build, loved outdoor sports, and was really warm and friendly to everyone. I heard they’d known each other since they were kids, and their bond was incredibly tight. When I first found out about Brooke, I’ll admit, I was a little annoyed, even a bit jealous. I’ve never really bought into the whole “men and women can be just friends” thing, but the moment I met Brooke, I relaxed. It was simple: when she looked at my boyfriend, Alex, her eyes were open and clear, without a hint of romance. Alex, on the other hand, seemed a bit… murky, hard to read. Back then, I didn’t see any red flags. I was head over heels in love, and Brooke’s enthusiasm kind of drew me in too. The moment she saw me, she chirped happily: “Mia’s here! Mia, you look so great today!” Alex, standing nearby, pretended to pout and teased, “How come you’re never this excited to see me? Why all the fuss for Mia?” Brooke winked playfully, came over, and linked her arm through mine. “Because I’m a girl’s girl!” she said. “Mia’s way too gorgeous for you, it’s a shame.” The two of them started goofing around. Watching them, I felt a pang of envy. They really were like a brother and sister. The indulgent look in Alex’s eyes made my heart ache a little, but I told myself I was overthinking. There was clearly nothing going on. And Alex was good to me; I saw that clearly. Alex and I met in high school, went to the same college, and then, naturally, we got together. Brooke was abroad at the time. Alex had barely ever mentioned her to me. Later, I heard from mutual friends that they were childhood sweethearts. I asked him about it, a little jealous, but he just brushed it off. But after that first meeting, I believed they were just friends. After that, whenever we had small get-togethers with friends, they always kept a respectful distance. Brooke had a boyfriend too, Liam. He used to be Alex’s classmate and good buddy. The four of us often hung out together. For Brooke’s birthday, Alex gave her a watch. But at a later party, I noticed Liam wearing that same watch. The moment Alex saw it, he looked a little pissed, but he quickly got it under control. He casually asked Liam, “You like this watch too? Maybe I should get you one?” Liam glanced up lazily. “Matching ones?” Neither of them said anything else, but I definitely saw sparks fly when their eyes met. Alex was clearly unhappy, but Liam had this look I couldn’t decipher. Brooke and I quickly tried to smooth things over. “Liam, come on, give it back. It’s one thing to like it, but don’t provoke him,” Brooke said. I added, “He didn’t mean anything by it, maybe he just really likes it. Don’t be mad, Alex.” Those two never really got along, and I never understood why. But I found out later. Alex had always been secretly in love with Brooke. But he knew Brooke didn’t like him back, so he carefully buried that love deep down. If it couldn’t be Brooke, then anyone else would do. I just got lucky and became his girlfriend. He said yes when I confessed my feelings. I remember being overjoyed for so long. However happy I was then, that’s how miserable I am now. How did I find out? I stumbled upon Alex’s burner account on some social media site. That account was filled with his repressed love for her, dating back years, almost to when the platform first started. He’d been documenting it all. Why was he so furious that day about the watch? Because he’d had that watch custom-made. He’d spent almost three months’ salary on it, just to get Brooke a birthday present. It suddenly hit me that for my birthday a few months earlier, he’d casually bought me a box of lipsticks. All shades I didn’t like. But I was thrilled. I couldn’t bring myself to use them, so I kept them on my vanity, looking at them every day. Thinking back now, I guess in his heart, I wasn’t worthy of his effort. Only Brooke was. 2 My parents always favored my brother. After my brother died in a car accident, my parents seemed to age overnight; their spirits were never the same. My father had an accident at his construction job—he missed a step, they got a small compensation, and then he was gone too. My mom got seriously ill. I was only in college then, working several jobs a day, trying to earn money to save my mom. But it wasn’t enough. Far from it. If Alex hadn’t helped me out, I might not have made it. If he hadn’t pulled me back, I would have jumped from that rooftop. Come to think of it, I really have no right to ask anything of him. My mom told me, with my brother gone, I was all she had. She didn’t want to die; she wanted to live. She said I had to take care of her. But that woman, who always favored him, eventually died from the torment of cancer. What she left me with was all debt. I owed Alex the most. But the person who pulled me from despair was also the one who pushed me back into the abyss. 3 This secret should have stayed buried deep inside me. If I hadn’t seen that message, this fragile peace wouldn’t have been shattered. Alex went to take a shower. His phone was on the table. The moment he stepped in, the screen lit up. I thought it might be an important message and was about to hand him the phone, but I accidentally saw the content. The profile picture was very familiar. The contact name was “Brookie.” I froze. The message content appeared before my eyes, catching me completely off guard: “Don’t worry, if you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, nobody will ever know.” “Didn’t you always want one before?” As if possessed, I scrolled up. “My parents are pressuring me, and Liam doesn’t want to have kids.” “How about… you help me out?” For a moment, my mind went completely blank. “What are you doing?!” Alex, realizing he hadn’t taken his phone into the bathroom, opened the door and saw me holding it, staring blankly. His skin crawled. Before I could even react, he started yelling at me, “Mia! Who said you could look at my phone!” “I didn’t…” My lips trembled, my face pale. “Didn’t what! Can’t you give me some privacy!” He snatched the phone, saw what was on the screen, froze for a second, then turned his head away, clearly not wanting to talk about it. “You and Brooke…” “There’s nothing going on between us. Don’t overthink it.” “Nothing? If there’s nothing, why is she asking you to be a sperm donor?!” My emotions just snapped, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking. I’ve always been the weaker one in this relationship. But now, I was on the verge of being cheated on in the most bizarre way, and I just couldn’t hold it in. “Don’t you dare slander us! Brooke isn’t like that!” My trembling hand dropped, and I clenched my sleeve. “Then let’s just break up. I’ll make room for her…” “Break up?” He seemed shocked that I’d be so decisive. He gritted his teeth. “Don’t even think about it!” He never would have imagined that I, who always did whatever he said, would be the one to suggest breaking up. “You still owe me so much money, and now you want to break up? You wish!” “If you leave me, who’s going to treat you this well, huh? Your family’s gone. You can only rely on me. Don’t do anything rash, Mia. I’ll handle this…” He seemed to say more, but I couldn’t hear it clearly. He had lit a lamp for me in the darkness, but he could also extinguish my only light with his own hands. He’d been with me through so much; he knew my fears better than anyone. He understood perfectly. That knife plunged into my chest, and even now, it still aches. 4 After that incident, the rift between us never really closed. Having never been favored as a child, I thought meeting Alex was fate’s way of compensating me. Later, I realized the only person who could save me was myself. I was going to break up with him, but not yet. I needed to find the right time, find concrete proof. Soon enough, my chance came. On Valentine’s Day, Alex told me he had to work late at the office. But suddenly, an unknown number added me on a chat app. I accepted the request, and they sent me a picture. I looked closely—it was a photo of Alex and Brooke together. They were incredibly close, looking like they were about to kiss. My heart pounded. The person sent an address, and I rushed over there without a second thought. When I got there, it was a restaurant. I went inside and immediately spotted Brooke and Alex. They both looked stunned when they saw me. Then Brooke smiled graciously, naturally took my arm, and had me sit down. Alex, however, was frowning hard. He muttered, “What are you doing here?” I raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you supposed to be working late?” “So this is…” “Enough! Mia, haven’t you made enough of a scene!” “Alex, how can you talk to Mia like that!” Brooke, seeing things were escalating, interjected, “They’re here now, it’s not appropriate for you to yell.” I looked up. Alex’s mom had arrived, and with her was an unfamiliar middle-aged woman. It must have been Brooke’s mother. I had no idea what was going on and felt completely on edge. Alex’s mom never liked me. She thought I wasn’t good enough for Alex, that I was marrying up. That was pretty standard. Her ideal daughter-in-law was Brooke. The moment she saw me there, her face fell. “This is a family dinner. What are you doing here?” She tilted her chin up haughtily, looking down her nose at me. “Auntie, Mia’s here, so she’s here. The more the merrier,” Brooke said, trying to smooth things over and giving me a subtle look. As soon as Alex’s mom saw Brooke, her expression relaxed instantly, and they started chatting warmly. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought Brooke was Alex’s girlfriend. I felt completely out of place, so I made an excuse and went to the restroom. 5 “Mia, there’s really nothing between me and Alex,” Brooke started to say as she followed me. “What are you telling her?” Alex had followed too, cutting her off. “What are you telling me?” I looked at the well-matched pair, tears streaming down my face. “Asking anyone else would have been one thing, but you? You think I don’t know what that means? Why don’t you two just be together and let me go, okay?” “Alex, stop trying to have it all. I’ll pay you back every cent I owe you.” “What?” Brooke looked completely baffled, staring at us in confusion. I sneered inwardly. Still pretending? You cheating scumbags! “Haven’t you made enough of a scene!” Alex grabbed my arm tightly, but I violently shook him off. “You still don’t know?” I looked at Brooke. Might as well let it all out now. “Him, Alex, he’s been secretly in love with you! For who knows how long!” “Every single day and night he’s been with me, he’s been thinking about you!” “He even has a secret account, it’s all about you! That watch of yours? Do you know why he was so mad that day? He spent three months’ salary on it for you!” Brooke stumbled back in disbelief. “I rejected him…” “Rejected what? Who was it asking him on the phone to be a sperm donor?” “What nonsense are you spouting!” Alex lunged forward, grabbing my face. I couldn’t break free. His face was contorted with rage, utterly furious. The secret he’d hidden for so long, I’d just blurted it all out. You couldn’t blame me. For all I knew, they’d been sneaking around behind my back for ages. “Don’t you slander us! You want to break up? No way!” He shoved me away hard and turned to explain to Brooke. But to everyone’s surprise, Brooke, looking completely distraught, backed away, then slowly helped me up from the floor where I’d been thrown. Her eyes were wide with disbelief, filled with utter disappointment and panic. “Mia… believe me…”

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My husband bought his secretary an apartment. That apartment was built on the land where our first home, the one that got demolished, used to stand. From its window, you could look out and see the little bungalow where we first started our business. The day I had my car accident, he was with his secretary, celebrating her housewarming. I called him sixty-five times. All I got in return was: “Luna, I’m busy. Don’t bother me.” 1 I found out Alex was cheating because his secretary “accidentally” messaged me. Alex and I had matching profile pictures; she must have sent it to the wrong person. “Boss, how come your old lady didn’t bring you lunch today?” Alex had a sensitive stomach, so I went to his office every day at noon to bring him food. I’d kept up this habit for fifteen years. Our company had gone from that little bungalow to a towering high-rise. Every time I came to the office, he’d hug me and whisper his thanks: “Luna, marrying you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Two minutes passed. The message wasn’t deleted. Then she sent another: “Oh, I’m so sorry, Luna. Sent that to the wrong person. My bad.” It felt like a taunt. I stood downstairs from his office building, holding a thermos of hot chicken soup, feeling a chill creep over me. It was as if the past fifteen years were all a joke. Just then, Alex called: “Honey, I’m starving. Why haven’t you brought my lunch yet?” His voice was still so gentle. But my hands wouldn’t stop trembling. I frantically clicked on his secretary’s social media profile, searching for any clue, any trace. I didn’t have to look hard. Pinned at the top of her feed was a picture of a pair of hands holding a bouquet of roses. On the inner side of the fingers of one hand, the letters ‘LU’ were tattooed. The tattoo was faded, a bit blurry. I recognized Alex’s hand instantly. I tried to remember the last time he’d given me flowers. It must have been over ten years ago. 2 Alex came downstairs to find me. He slung an arm around my shoulder and took the thermos of soup. “Honey, your cooking is the best…” He didn’t finish. His gaze froze on my phone screen. The words caught in his throat. After a moment, he managed to croak out: “Lu, you’ve misunderstood.” “That was a company event. I gave flowers to all the employees.” I hadn’t even said anything, and he was already making excuses. He was clearly feeling guilty. I knew this secretary of his. In a way, we had a history. A few years ago, before I became a full-time homemaker, I was the HR manager at the company. She was a fresh college grad, very sweet, always smiling. Her resume was too thin; I hadn’t planned on keeping it. But Alex happened to come looking for me that day, saw her, and told me to give young people more chances. He said she reminded him of me when I was younger. Her name was Lucy. Even her name was similar to mine. Alex had those charming eyes that always seemed to hold a deep affection, no matter who he was looking at. Back then, the way he looked at Lucy and the way he looked at me – there was no difference. I was still lost in thought when a warm embrace enveloped me. Alex always hugged me when he wanted to comfort me. He whispered in my ear: “Honey, there’s really nothing between her and me.” “If you don’t trust me, don’t you trust our fifteen years together?” Fifteen years. From a twenty-year-old girl. To thirty-five, with wrinkles forming at the corners of my eyes. After my parents died unexpectedly, I dropped out of college and started the business with Alex. I taught myself accounting, HR, IT… For our work. I studied so hard I got severe conjunctivitis. All our business partners praised me, called me an iron lady in the workplace. But now, I didn’t have the courage to question our relationship. “Alex, can you honestly say you haven’t wronged me?” I asked him. Alex clumsily opened the thermos and started gulping down the chicken soup. Then he coughed, choking on it. “Cough… Honey, I really didn’t cheat. Believe me.” His way of showing affection was always a bit awkward. In that moment, I didn’t want to dig deeper. He repeatedly promised it wouldn’t happen again. He even called Lucy down to apologize to me in person. Lucy was thinner than when I’d last seen her a few years ago, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses. She looked less like an office worker and more like a student. She apologized sincerely: “Luna, I was just joking around with someone else and accidentally sent it to you. Please don’t misunderstand.” She was so earnest. It made me look like I was the one being unreasonable. Standing on the street, I felt utterly alone. Suddenly, I didn’t love him anymore. Our marriage felt like a beautiful silk brocade. In that instant, it was suddenly crawling with maggots. For all these years, my life had revolved around another person. I didn’t know where I could go if I left him. I said to him gravely, “Alex, I’ll trust you this one time.” 3 My trust crumbled faster than I thought. That night, when I got home, I found a used lip gloss stick on the nightstand. A sheer watermelon pink, a color I would never touch. I didn’t cry. I just let out a short, sharp laugh. I felt ridiculous. Maybe it was time to end it. When Alex came home, I had already packed my bags. He had just loosened his tie when he saw me dressed in a sweatsuit. “Honey, where are you going?” He froze, his brow deeply furrowed. “Just going out to clear my head.” I smiled and greeted him. Like any other ordinary evening. He sensed something was wrong and blocked my way: “Honey, are you still mad about what happened today?” “Lucy’s young and doesn’t know any better. You don’t need to be so petty.” I looked at him seriously. In our marriage, I had always been the understanding and tolerant one. I always believed that unless it was a matter of fundamental choices, there was no need for us to fight. Later, I read in a psychology book. The real breakdown of a relationship isn’t arguing. It’s indifference. Maybe I hadn’t loved him for a long time. I just hadn’t realized it yet. “Alex, you brought her into our home. Why are you still pretending to be so devoted?” I pointed to the lip gloss on the nightstand, my voice mocking. Alex’s face darkened, and his hand instinctively went to his stomach. He always got stomach pains when he was nervous. It was his tell-tale sign of guilt. “After all these years, let’s at least give each other some dignity.” He didn’t speak. He gripped my shoulders, trying to snatch the suitcase from my hand. I couldn’t match a man’s strength. He pulled me back into the house. He left a bright red five-fingered mark on my arm. The air in the room still smelled faintly of chicken soup. I had made the soup at noon to his liking, waking up early to buy a fresh, organic chicken. I had lived this day-to-day life for so long. He finally lost his temper, shouting at me irritably: “Luna, that’s enough! Stop being unreasonable!” “Look at you, acting like a crazy woman! I give you all the money I earn, can’t you be a little more rational!” Was I the one in the wrong? I stared straight at him. Until he flinched. Rewind fifteen years. No, not even that long. Just five years ago, before I quit my job. He would never have said those five words to me: “that’s enough.” I smiled and pushed his hand away. “You slept with her in this bed, didn’t you? I’m tired, Alex.” His eyes were bloodshot. “Honey, I love you so much!” “Please… don’t leave me! I just had a moment of weakness. She looks so much like you when you were young. I just love you!” Such a noble-sounding love. I told him, “But I don’t love you anymore.” 4 I drove away from home. Alex’s car followed me the whole way. When I pulled over at the bungalow on the outskirts of town, he got out too. He’d worked all day and was exhausted, dizzy. “Honey, stop this nonsense. Where would you go if you left me?” “These past few years, apart from Lucy, I haven’t done anything to wrong you. Can’t you just cut me some slack?” I took a deep breath. I tried hard to control my emotions and said to him: “Alex, I am an independent person, not a pet you keep. Is that so hard to understand?” Hearing my words, he actually laughed. “Alright, honey, I promise I’ll fire Lucy tomorrow. You’ll always be the lady of this house.” Even at this point, he still thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Hopeless. Before I could say anything, his phone rang. He glanced at it and quickly silenced it. I knew. It was Lucy’s call. Seeing she couldn’t reach Alex, Lucy started messaging me on social media. I waved my phone at him. “Want to see this together?” Alex’s face was pale. He shook his head instinctively. I opened the chat. She hadn’t sent any text. Just over a dozen pictures. From a few years ago when she first joined the company, to becoming Alex’s secretary. Her, snuggled against Alex’s shoulder as he slept. Them, out shopping, Alex buying her a necklace. Documenting their happiness in photos. Alex’s charming eyes still looked so full of affection. Five years. Right under my nose, Alex had been cheating on me for five years. I pressed my hand to my chest. My heart was beating furiously beneath it. This heart, no longer young, was heaving under a tide of despair. Alex still loved me. He’d worry about me being in danger, tailing my car for half an hour in the dead of night. He loved Lucy too. His heart was broken in two, given to different people. I looked up. The sky was overcast; it looked like it was about to rain. Alex didn’t say anything, just took an umbrella from the car door and held it over my head. He was always so considerate. My phone pinged. It was from Lucy. She said: “Luna, I think we need to talk.” 5 In the diner, she sat across from me. The wife and the other woman, sitting together calmly. Quite a strange scene. She cried as she spoke to me: “Luna, I didn’t want to ruin your relationship. I just really like him.” Liking someone else’s husband? Not exactly a commendable habit. I looked at her, amused. “What do you like about him?” She hesitated for a moment, then spoke timidly. “The boss, he’s rich, and handsome. And actually, he’s a good person. Apart from me, he hasn’t been with anyone else.” Handsome and rich? I almost laughed out loud. I couldn’t help but remember when I first met Alex, years ago. He’d pulled several all-nighters trying to get his startup off the ground, looking disheveled, slumped over his desk. I made him congee, and he forgot to eat it even after it cooled. Finally, he was so tired he practically passed out into the bowl. Would Lucy like that version of him? She tried to persuade me: “Men, you know, they all like younger women. Luna, I’m not asking you to forgive me, and I don’t want to take anything from you. I’ll leave your lives. I just hope you can forgive the boss.” I shook my head and told her, “I’ve already prepared the divorce papers. I hope you and he can be happy.” Her eyes flickered. She bit her lower lip, as if wanting to say something. “Luna, I truly want the boss to be happy.” What had Alex done to deserve such devotion from a young girl like her? “I can feel that the boss still loves you.” “Luna, who in this life isn’t just settling, just getting by?” She had a look of someone facing death with resolve. Lucy really was a lot like me. From her features to her demeanor, even her love for Alex. So much like the me of years ago. I asked her, “So what are you planning to do? If you don’t work at Alex’s company anymore, where will you go?” She blushed: “Luna, I won’t hide it from you. The boss bought me an apartment. I can do some freelance projects on my own. I can manage to live alone in the future.” An apartment?

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