My husband died in the bushes along the park strip. The police’s initial assessment was that he froze to death while drunk. They asked me to identify the body. I recognized his face instantly. I turned and shook the officer’s hand. “Sorry to trouble you all!” The officer said they needed to confirm the exact cause of death further. I assured them I would cooperate fully. Leaving the police station, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I tightened the scarf around my neck and gave a silent nod toward the frozen corpse inside the station. “Rick Hanson… Rick Hanson, you finally did something good!” 1 Middle-aged, a well-behaved daughter, financially independent, and now, the eyesore of a husband finally gone. A happy life was beckoning. Feeling cheerful, I quickly called my brother-in-law to let them know. No more excuses to keep my in-laws living with me. In a few days, I’d send them packing over to his place. Armed with Rick’s ID, I went to the bank and checked all the accounts solely in his name. Just as I expected: wiped clean. Practically penniless, from my perspective. Looking at the bank statements, seeing the regular transfers to that one specific account, I managed a small smile. He always claimed he and his mistress were soulmates. I suppose I agreed. Why else would he constantly try to drain me dry to support her? Gathering all the paperwork, I hummed a tune on my way home. Just as I reached my front door, I saw Rick’s precious little darling, Monica Vance. Even in the dead of winter, she was rocking a tight dress and thigh-high boots. Honestly, Monica was quite attractive; if I were a man, I’d probably fall for her too. Such a waste for her to be the other woman, though. Monica saw me, her face a mask of disdain. “Hey, where’s Rick?” “What do you want him for?” She probably thought I was still the same jealous, easily angered Sarah Miller. Smugly, she announced, “Rick promised me ten thousand dollars to open my shop. I’m here to collect!” I almost couldn’t contain my smile. Clearing my throat, I said, “Well, sorry, but I’m afraid you won’t be getting that money.” “You think he listens to you? Don’t overestimate yourself!” Monica retorted, still full of arrogance. “Oh, he certainly doesn’t listen to me anymore. But he won’t be hearing you either.” “Because Rick… he’s dead.” “I just got back from identifying his body at the police station.” 2 Monica barely reacted to the news of Rick’s death. I thought she’d at least put on a show, maybe squeeze out a tear or two. Instead, after a brief moment of surprise, she snapped, “I don’t care if he’s dead or not! He promised me ten grand, and he even wrote me an IOU. I want the money!” I inwardly scoffed at Rick. This was the woman you called your true love? She doesn’t even care that you’re dead; she just wants your cash. She thrust the IOU in my face. I took it, examined it carefully, then casually handed it back. “This thing barely says anything specific. You expect this to hold up? Isn’t this just some lovey-dovey ‘promise’ you coaxed out of him when things were hot and heavy?” I couldn’t be bothered with her. Monica got desperate. “I’ve already talked to the landlord for the shop space, even paid the deposit! Now that he’s dead, I’m going to lose a ton of money! You have to give me this money, or I’ll call the cops!” I laughed out loud. Talk about Rick dying at the perfect time! “Go ahead, call the cops. But let me remind you: as far as I know, you don’t have a job, so there’s no way you had money to lend Rick in the first place. This IOU is basically fake. You think the police will take you seriously?” “Besides,” I continued, “I have records of all the money he transferred to you over the past few years, photos of you two checking into hotels, receipts for things he bought you… it’s all right here. Every cent he spent on you was clearly marital property, and I have the right to demand it back!” I slapped a stack of papers and photos onto the table, looking at her like she was an idiot. Her expression shifted several times – anger, resentment – before she finally stomped her foot and stormed out. She didn’t even close the door behind her. So rude. I disinfected the spot where she’d stood, mopping it twice. Monica wasn’t Rick’s only affair. Just thinking about it made me feel dirty. Just as I was about to close the door, a large man squeezed his way in, a fake smile plastered on his face. “Hey, Sarah. Heard Rick ain’t around anymore?” 3 I recognized him immediately: “Fat Tony” Morelli, the owner of the bar where Rick ran up his gambling debts. No doubt about it, he was here to collect. Look at his professional dedication – always keeping tabs on his debtors. I’d barely finished identifying the body, and he’d already gotten the news and shown up at my door. I silently applauded his business acumen. I didn’t even bother pretending to be grieving. “Yeah, he’s gone. What can I do for you?” “Heh heh, well, Rick owed me a little something. Thought maybe you’d wanna settle up, you know? Save me the trouble of comin’ around too often.” That forced smile was sickening. And he was threatening me. “Tony, when Rick was alive, his debts were between you and him. Now that he’s dead, they still have nothing to do with me. I told you this before.” About a month ago, after paying off Rick’s gambling debts for the last time, I went to Fat Tony’s place and told him point-blank: any money Rick borrowed from then on was his problem. If they lent him more money to gamble, I wouldn’t be responsible for paying it back. At the time, they – including Rick – all thought I was just blowing hot air. Nobody paid any attention. Now he’s dead, and they expect me to pay? Not a chance. “You two were married! He dies, you pay his debts! Can’t afford it? Sell the house! Otherwise, I’ll have guys over here makin’ noise every single day!” The moment I refused, Fat Tony’s face hardened, his expression turning menacing. “The money he owed was for gambling. I didn’t know about it, it wasn’t spent on our family, and it doesn’t qualify as marital debt. I’m not paying it. As for the house, it’s in my name, bought before the marriage. If you try to force me to sell it, I’ll call the police.” With that, I pushed him towards the door. All these years, Rick took money to gamble, lost it, and then forced me to pay it back. Fat Tony and his cronies took my hard-earned money, yet they looked down on me for being a pushover. Fat Tony wouldn’t give up, bracing himself against the doorframe, cursing loudly in the hallway. “What’s going on here?” Two police officers appeared outside the door. Running an illegal gambling operation is, well, illegal. Under the officers’ stern gaze, Fat Tony mumbled something unintelligible and quickly scurried away. I invited the officers in, but one said, “No need for formalities, Ma’am. We need you to come back to the station with us.” “Rick Hanson’s parents have filed a report, accusing you of murdering him.”

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On my wedding day, my fiancé got a call from his old flame. “If you don’t come right now, I’ll jump off this roof!” He replied coldly, “Oh? Then go ahead and jump!” But I saw it clearly. As he said those words, his face went deathly pale, and his hands were shaking. In the end, he still bolted out the door. I lifted my veil. “Sorry, everyone. The wedding’s canceled.” 1 Wedding day. I clutched my bouquet tightly, my smile frozen as I watched my fiancé, Ethan Cole. He was staring at his phone, brow furrowed. The video call ringtone on the screen chimed over and over again. But he didn’t answer, nor did he hang up. The initial laughter and cheers from the guests below had died down, replaced by whispers and murmurs. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I reached over and swiped the screen, answering the call for him. When the video connected, the face that appeared was his ex-girlfriend of seven years, Jessica Bell. In the video, Jessica wore a white, gauzy dress. She was standing on the rooftop terrace, looking like a flower about to wilt at any moment. I recognized it as the rooftop of our wedding hotel. For a second, my mind spun. What was she trying to do? “Ethan, congratulations on your wedding day. I know I shouldn’t bother you, but before I leave this world, I wanted to see you one last time.” Ethan’s hand holding the phone trembled slightly, but his face maintained a mask of indifference. “Jessica, you and I are over! Don’t think this stunt will make me give in!” On the other end of the video, Jessica’s face was ghostly white. “Ethan, how can you be so cruel to me? If you don’t come, I’ll jump from here right now!” Ethan was clearly panicked, his face drained of color, his eyes frantic, yet he forced himself to sound cold. “Oh? Then go ahead and jump!” I stared at Ethan in shock. What the hell was he saying?! Seeing Jessica about to take that step, I panicked! Ignoring the shocked faces of the guests, I ripped off my veil and kicked him hard. “Get up there and talk her down! I don’t want to be blamed for someone’s death!” As I spoke, I pulled out my own phone and dialed 911 and the fire department. “Hello? Someone’s threatening to jump from the roof of the Grand Astoria Hotel! Please send help immediately!” 2 The police and firefighters arrived quickly. The crowds around the hotel were dispersed, and an inflatable air cushion was set up below. Dragging the heavy skirt of my wedding dress, I followed the police up to the roof. Ethan rushed ahead frantically, leaving me behind. Firefighters were on the floor below, ready to climb up and grab Jessica. Jessica sat on the edge of the rooftop, her thin figure looking like it could be blown away by the wind at any moment. “Jessica, what trick are you playing now?” “Ethan, you finally came to see me!” Hearing Ethan’s voice, Jessica turned her head, her face lighting up with surprise. “I knew it! You still care about me!” Ethan glanced at me, then turned back to Jessica. “Jessica, get down from there. We broke up. I don’t love you anymore. Stop threatening me with your life!” His tone was cold, but as he spoke, his hands, clenched into fists at his sides, were subtly trembling. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Jessica was filled with restrained, agonizing pity. But that very look provoked Jessica. “Liar! You obviously still love me!” Jessica became agitated, her eyes suddenly fixing on me standing nearby. “Is it you? Did you force him? Otherwise, how could he possibly ignore me!” Watching her teetering on the edge, emotionally distraught, my heart leaped into my throat. “Jessica, don’t get upset! Please, come down first! We can talk about anything, just talk calmly.” I tried my best to soothe her, but Jessica, consumed by her breakdown, couldn’t hear anything. “You shut up! Let Ethan talk to me!” “Ethan, you’re married now. You must be happy, right?” Ethan didn’t speak, just stared intently at her. “Ethan, I met you first. I’ve loved you for ten years.” “Back in school, you were the one who chased away the bullies. You asked me to be your desk partner. You were the one who asked me out.” “To keep up with you, I changed my college major choice to go to the same city as you.” “To be worthy of you, I accepted your mom’s help and went to study abroad.” “You promised me we’d get married when I came back.” “So why did you get together with Vivian?” “Is it just because Vivian is prettier than me? Her family is better off?” Jessica looked at Ethan, her eyes blurry with tears. “Ethan, I’m asking you one last time, do you love me or not!” I looked at Ethan beside me. His eyes were filled with panic and worry, but even so, he still hesitated, refusing to answer. Jessica, having waited in vain for Ethan’s response, was utterly disappointed. She gave a bitter smile, her white dress whipping in the wind. “So, it was just me fooling myself all along! Ethan Cole, I want you to never forget me!” With that, she fell downwards like a broken butterfly. “No!” Ethan’s face changed drastically, and he scrambled forward! 3 In the nick of time, Ethan grabbed Jessica’s arm. Simultaneously, a firefighter who had been waiting nearby leaped forward and caught Jessica as she fell. Through their combined efforts, Jessica was pulled back to safety. Ethan held Jessica tightly, his face etched with fear and heartache. “How could you be so foolish? It’s so high up, imagine how much it would hurt if you fell…” And Jessica, in Ethan’s arms, cried tears of joy mixed with relief. “I knew it, you still love me…” They clung to each other, filled with the relief and affection of surviving a near-tragedy. I couldn’t even process the sight of them embracing so openly, ignoring everyone else. The breath I had been holding rushed out, and I felt all strength leave my body, collapsing onto the ground… Thank God, she was saved. If Jessica had died in front of me, I would have carried that guilt for the rest of my life! My mind was filled only with relief that Jessica was safe. I didn’t even notice the pitying looks the police officers and firefighters were giving me… 4 Amidst the chaos, Ethan took Jessica to the hospital. I returned alone to the reception hall where our wedding was supposed to happen. The guests hadn’t left yet. They were clustered together, buzzing with gossip about what had just happened. “Can this wedding even go on?” “Probably not, right? His ex-girlfriend called threatening suicide…” “What a disaster for a wedding. How could he just leave the bride here alone…” The room was noisy, with my name and Ethan’s popping up frequently. I reapplied my makeup, took a deep breath, gathered my skirt, and walked onto the stage, picking up the microphone. Amidst my parents’ pained expressions and Ethan’s parents’ grim faces, I looked out at the friends and family below. Composing myself, I said, “I sincerely apologize for taking up your valuable time. Due to an emergency involving the groom, this wedding is canceled. Any wedding gifts received will be returned shortly…” After speaking, I felt drained, a dull, pulling ache starting in my chest. I fought hard to keep the tears from falling. The Sterling family couldn’t become a laughingstock. Vivian Sterling couldn’t become a laughingstock. My parents came up to the stage, looking heartbroken, and escorted me away. The wedding finally ended amidst sighs and whispers from the crowd. 5 After seeing off the guests, I took out the wedding ring and the engagement gifts Ethan had given me and handed them all back to his parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Cole, it seems Ethan and I weren’t meant to be. Please take these back. I hope Ethan finds a girl he truly loves in the future.” Once I calmed down, my main feeling was relief that things had been so hectic I hadn’t gotten around to signing the marriage license. No property division issues to deal with. Ethan’s parents refused to take the items back. Mrs. Cole tried to apologize on his behalf. “Vivian, dear, what Ethan did was wrong. But from another perspective, Ethan is innocent too. He had no idea that girl would threaten to jump!” “I apologize to you on his behalf. Our family has wronged you. Can you please forgive him just this once?” I shook my head. Jessica had escalated to using her own life to threaten Ethan. If there was a first time, who could say there wouldn’t be a second, a third… As long as Ethan and I were together, Jessica would always be a ticking time bomb between us. Ethan would just exhaust himself caught in this toxic dynamic. I didn’t want to play this twisted game of drama and heartache anymore. 6 News of the canceled wedding spread like wildfire. It blew up online. #ColeIndustriesCEOWeddingDisruptedByExSuicideAttempt# #VivianSterlingJilted# #PowerOfTheOldFlame# I looked at these trending hashtags, sighed deeply, and made calls to get them taken down. It wasn’t until evening, after dealing with everything, that I finally got a call from Ethan. “Vivian, why did you cancel the wedding!” I didn’t answer. He knew the answer better than anyone. Seeing my silence, Ethan softened his tone slightly. “Vivian, please don’t be mad, okay? You saw the situation. Jessica was threatening to jump. Besides, you were the one who told me to go talk her down.” “It was a life at stake, after all. I just took her to the hospital. Why couldn’t you wait for me? How could you just announce the wedding was canceled on your own?” Ethan said this with such self-righteousness, as if canceling the wedding was entirely my fault. “Vivian, since the wedding’s canceled, I won’t blame you. Let’s reschedule, okay? I really do love you.” Ethan said he loved me? But not once, all day long, had Ethan asked how I was doing! I was the one who dealt with the trending topics online. My parents and I were the ones explaining things to all the relatives and friends. This huge mess, and Cole Industries hadn’t issued a single statement! Suddenly, my mind filled with images of Ethan abandoning me for Jessica before. Of Jessica in her white dress falling in front of me. Of Ethan’s face, trying so hard to hide his obvious concern and pain. And the picture of the two of them clinging together in relief after she was saved. A delayed, dull ache gripped my heart fiercely. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Yet I had almost become the person responsible for Jessica’s death. “Stop talking.” My voice was cold. “Ethan, I’m sorry. We’re not right for each other.” Ethan’s breath hitched. His tone became stiff. “Vivian, you can’t just sentence me like this. It’s not fair to me.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Ethan, I can’t bear the weight of a human life.” On the other end of the line, Ethan fell silent. Only his faint breathing could be heard. The air instantly grew quiet. My heart, which had been in turmoil since the wedding started, slowly began to calm down. After a long moment, Ethan’s hoarse voice spoke again. “Vivian, I didn’t handle my relationship with her properly. Believe me, I will handle it this time. She will never bother us again!” “I really love you. Please, please don’t leave me, okay?” “We were so close, just one step away, and you would have been my wife!” By the end, his voice actually held a trace of a sob. My heart jolted violently. Memories of Ethan’s kindness during our honeymoon phase flooded my mind. And today, Ethan hadn’t wanted to deal with Jessica. It was me, afraid someone would die, who pushed him to go. Had I made a mistake? For a moment, my mind was a tangled mess. But then, from the other end of the phone, a soft, feminine voice suddenly drifted through. “Ethan, who are you talking to?” “No… nobody… Jessie, are you feeling better?” Ethan sounded flustered, quickly hanging up the phone. In an instant, all the bitterness, doubt, and sadness I had just felt turned into a cruel joke. 7 That night, I dreamed about the day Ethan proposed to me. Ethan was in a sea of roses, holding a vibrant bouquet in one hand and a ring in the other, kneeling on one knee. “Vivian, will you marry me?” Ethan’s eyes were brimming with love. Around us, our friends were cheering. “Say yes! Say yes!” Shyly, I accepted the ring and his proposal. We kissed amidst the flowers, surrounded by happiness… But then the scene abruptly changed. It became Jessica’s face. She was still so beautiful. Wearing that white dress, she gave a tragic smile towards something behind me. Then, before my horrified eyes, she resolutely jumped from the rooftop. She fell like a broken butterfly, tumbling unsteadily to the ground. Dark red blood spread out from her body, blooming like vivid roses… “No!” I desperately reached out, trying to grab her. But my foot missed its step, and I fell into endless darkness. The intense feeling of falling jolted me awake. Sunlight streamed through the window, stinging my eyes. Cold sweat had soaked through my clothes. It took a long while for my frantically beating heart to slowly calm down. 8 I stared blankly at the man who had somehow appeared in my room, my fingers slowly clenching into fists. “Vivian, had a nightmare?” Ethan came over to my side, gently wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me into his embrace. “It’s my fault. I promise, Jessica Bell will never appear in our lives to bother us again!” “Vivian, just forgive me one more time, okay?” His voice was naturally deep, and when he was coaxing someone, it always carried a hint of pleading. Back when we were deeply in love, whenever he coaxed me like this, it always worked. But right now, I just felt so tired. Slowly, deliberately, I pried his hand off my waist. “Ethan, admit it. You can’t let Jessica go. We’re not suitable for each other.” “Vivian, this is between the two of us. You can’t just condemn me at the drop of a hat. That’s not fair to me!” “Jessica and I are ancient history. The person I love now is you. The person I want to spend the rest of my life with is you…” I took a soft breath. “Ethan, I’m really scared.” “My nightmares are filled with Jessica falling from that rooftop right in front of me.” “I’m terrified that if I hadn’t called 911 that day, if you hadn’t caught her, she would have died right there.” “I would have lived with regret and guilt for the rest of my life.” “I really can’t handle the weight of a human life.” “Ethan, this isn’t the first time you’ve chosen her over me. It won’t be the last, right?” “You still care about her, your heart still aches for her, doesn’t it?” “Let me go, Ethan. You can’t be so cruel to me. That’s not fair to me either!” As I spoke, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, until I was sobbing. Ethan’s lips moved, but he said nothing, silently wiping away my tears. I looked at him silently, not throwing a tantrum like I usually would have. This quiet version of me seemed to make him even more unsure of what to do. In the silence, his phone vibrated. It was a text from Jessica. “Ethan, where are you? I woke up and didn’t see you. I’m scared.” He glanced at it, then looked at me, his expression conflicted. I closed my eyes and said fiercely, “Get lost, Ethan!” “I’m sorry, Vivian. Wait for me to handle this!” He grabbed his jacket from nearby and left in a hurry. Clack. The door slowly shut… I felt like my heart had shut just like that door. 9 During the three years Ethan and I dated, we had sweet times too. He used to cherish me, hold me in the palm of his hand. He’d prepare little surprises for every special occasion. He’d drop work to take care of me when I was sick. He’d patiently soothe me when I threw tantrums. He’d warm my cold hands and feet in the winter. He’d even ditch his busy schedule to drive thirty miles across town just to buy those roasted chestnuts from that street vendor I loved. After delivering the chestnuts, he’d sit beside me, peeling them one by one. Peel one, pop it in my mouth. My best friend once teased me, “Don’t tell me you fell for the great Ethan Cole just because he peeled a few chestnuts for you!” When someone grows up wealthy, never worrying about money, they can be surprisingly moved by small, everyday gestures. Simply put: lots of people gave me jewelry, but only Ethan gave me jewelry and peeled chestnuts for me. In his day-to-day attention to detail, I was captured by these small tokens of his affection. We were like any other couple. We hugged in crowded places. We kissed under fireworks. I fell into his overwhelming love, lost in the beautiful dream he wove for me. Until Jessica Bell showed up. At first, Ethan told me Jessica was just an old friend. Then came the first time he ditched me for her. After he came back that night, I threw a massive fit. It was Valentine’s Day. We were having dinner when Ethan got a call from a bar saying Jessica was drinking alone and completely wasted. Ignoring the stares of people around us, he left me alone in the restaurant and drove to the bar to pick Jessica up. When Ethan got home, I immediately told him we were breaking up. It was only after his endless apologies and promises that it would never happen again that I forgave him. At the time, I thought, Jessica is the past. I’m his girlfriend now. Why should I let her have Ethan? So I forgave him. But I never expected that a first time would lead to a second, a third… That initial unwillingness to give up led me to endure endless hurt in the relationship that followed. Ethan started ditching me for Jessica frequently. Jessica was sick. Jessica was upset. Jessica was in danger. Jessica’s power went out and she was afraid of the dark. In this twisted relationship, Jessica tested Ethan’s feelings for her through his compromises, while Ethan, relying on my feelings for him, pushed me to compromise again and again. Jessica kept pushing Ethan’s boundaries, and Ethan kept pushing mine. My final breaking point came during the New Year. That day, Ethan and I were returning from a business trip together. On the road, he got news that Jessica had been in a car accident. Ethan immediately turned the car around, leaving me stranded alone on the highway overpass. That day, I waited in the freezing snow until my best friend finally arrived to pick me up. Meanwhile, on Jessica’s social media, there was a picture of her and Ethan holding hands. The caption read: “I knew you’d always be by my side, no matter what.” I hid out at my parents’ house through the New Year. When I finally went back, I told Ethan we were done. I grabbed a golf club and went berserk, smashing everything I could in his apartment. My reflection in the shattered mirrors showed a distorted, furious face, completely unlike the bright, cheerful girl I used to be. Ethan knelt before me, letting me hit him. Until I was exhausted. He begged me desperately for forgiveness, transferred 5% of Cole Industries stock to me on the spot, and quickly arranged for Jessica to be sent abroad. Do you know about the sunk cost fallacy? I had invested too much in my relationship with Ethan. I held onto my pride, refusing to give up easily. I was like a desperate gambler, always thinking I could win it all back on the last hand. So, I forgave Ethan once again. In the following months, Jessica really didn’t bother us anymore. So when Ethan proposed, I said yes. Ethan was overjoyed. He handled everything for the wedding. From the big things like the hotel decor and my dress, down to the small details like the invitations and guest favors. We decided to have the wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day, and then sign the marriage license on the anniversary of when we got together. We planned our honeymoon trip to Finland – skiing, seeing the Northern Lights, enjoying snowy sunsets and starry skies just for us. Right up until the wedding day, I was still dreaming that my gamble had paid off. Until Jessica appeared, delivering a stunning blow, making me realize that gamblers are destined to lose in the end. 10 When I finally composed myself and left my room, my parents were waiting for me at the dining table. It was spread with all my favorite breakfast foods. My father looked at my dejected face and spoke earnestly. “Vivian, you are a Sterling. You never have to compromise yourself for any man. We will always be your strongest support.” My parents’ aging faces were full of concern for me. My mother didn’t speak, just came forward and hugged me tightly, just like when I was little. Feeling the warmth of my mother’s embrace, a wave of warmth flowed through me. “Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I’m not planning on going back.”

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My daughter was basically born bad. A real bad seed. Skipping school, fighting, bullying classmates – she did it all. She even started sexting with a guy ten years older than her and planned to run off with him. I rushed to the train station, got into an argument with the guy, and fell onto the tracks. I died instantly. But my daughter told everyone I jumped on purpose. Then I opened my eyes. I was back six months earlier. My daughter was standing there, eyes red, accusing me of being too strict. I looked at her coldly. “Fine. From now on, I’m done managing you.” 1 Senior year, first major exams, and my daughter, Ashley, skipped them again. Her homeroom teacher called just as I was leaving work. “Sarah, if Ashley keeps this up, she’s likely going to be expelled before graduation.” I gave a calm, small laugh. After a moment’s thought, I said, “It’s okay, Mrs. Davison. If she gets expelled, she gets expelled. As long as it doesn’t cause problems for you or the school.” In my previous life, I got this same call. Back then, I immediately rushed to the school, begging and pleading with everyone to give her another chance. Then I caught her skipping school, playing online games with friends. In front of everyone, I swore up and down she’d never skip again, that she’d make it to graduation. But the truth was, her life was ruined before the second semester even started. Smoking, drinking, dating… that was nothing. The day I received the wedding invitation from my husband, explicit videos and photos of her were already going viral online. When I found out and confronted her, she just shrugged it off. “Mom, what do you know? What’s the point of having a good body if you don’t show it off?” “Besides,” she added, “bad press is still press. Maybe I’ll become an influencer or something.” Thinking back on that, I repeated firmly to the teacher, “From now on, please don’t call me about Ashley’s issues. I can’t control her anymore. I’m done trying.” With that, I hung up and walked away. 2 That evening, I was lounging on the sofa watching TV when the front door flew open and slammed shut. Ashley stood before me, face like thunder. She was wearing a skimpy black outfit, way too mature for her age, complete with fishnets. A cigarette dangled from her left hand, a bottle of liquor in her right. She glared at me, furious. “Old woman, did you cancel my credit card? You trying to force me home with cheap tricks like that? Are you asking for it?” “Go reactivate the card right now, or I’m running away from home, and you’ll never find me.” “No need,” I said calmly. “Go wherever you want. I won’t try to manage you anymore.” “Are you kidding me?” Seeing her just standing there, I kindly opened the front door for her, practically gesturing for her to leave. My change in attitude clearly stunned her. Her eyes darted around, then she awkwardly tried to save face. “Whatever. I know you can’t bear to let me go. Dad already ditched you. So you won’t end up a lonely old woman, I guess I can consider staying. But…” She plopped down on the sofa, grabbing an apple and taking a bite. “First, reactivate the credit card. Then, transfer the house and car titles to my name. And up my allowance to five thousand dollars a month.” … I shook my head wearily. “I’m serious, Ashley. Didn’t you say I was too controlling? That I made you anxious and depressed?” “From now on, skipping school, dating, whatever – those are your choices.” I sighed. “You’re almost eighteen. I can’t control you anymore.” I wasn’t saying this out of spite or trying to be tough. From the moment she became my daughter, I gave her everything, catered to her every whim. Bought her the prettiest dresses, the best Barbie dolls. Because my own childhood was poor, I was terrified of her suffering, so I planned out her entire future. Top schools, study abroad programs, even lining up a respectable job for after graduation. But all my careful planning, in her eyes, was just my manipulative tactics to trap and control her. And in the end? I met a violent end, and she actually lied for the real culprit, letting him escape justice. If that’s how it is, then I don’t need to knock myself out planning for her anymore. “You’re wrong.” I shook my head again, feeling exhausted. “Mom is just really tired. I can’t manage you anymore.” “Bullshit! You’re plotting something. I’m warning you, don’t try anything funny, or I’ll make your life hell!” Furious, Ashley swept everything off the coffee table, sending mugs and clutter crashing to the floor, then slammed the door and stormed out. She still thought I was just bluffing. 3 Not long after Ashley left, my husband, Mark, showed up. Well, “husband” – we’d been separated for six months, just needing the final divorce papers. In my past life, I endured everything for Ashley’s sake, even turning a blind eye to Mark’s cheating. But this time around, I just wanted this scumbag as far away from me as possible. “Ashley called me. What kind of mother are you?” He started right in with the accusations, perfectly fitting his “doting father” persona he’d maintained for years. “It’s normal for teenagers to be rebellious. Yelling at her is one thing, but kicking her out? Poor Ashley, having a mother like you.” I let out a cold laugh, resisting the urge to applaud him sarcastically. “Don’t worry, it’s not too late. Haven’t you already found her a new mom?” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Mark’s face. Before he could counter, I pulled out the divorce agreement I’d already prepared. “Let’s cut the crap. Sign this.” Mark’s eyes widened in surprise, then a flash of delight. “You’ve finally come to your senses?” “What’s there to ‘come to senses’ about? The deal is, you get the kid, I get the house and car.” His joyful expression lasted about two seconds before his face fell. “What? Sarah, don’t push it.” “Me, push it?” This house was bought with my family’s money, and the car payments always came out of my account. Mark contributed less to this household than the cleaning lady I hired. “You don’t contribute a dime, you run around with other women, you’re the party at fault. I should be suing you. And you dare argue about assets? Fine. You want to make this ugly? Bring it on.” Mark clearly didn’t expect such firmness from me. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Then, he pulled out his phone. “Ashley, honey, Dad tried his best. Your mom’s gone completely crazy, there’s nothing I can do. You need to come home right away.” Ashley’s hysterical yelling came through the phone. “What? That bitch won’t give us money? Dad, don’t worry. Just watch how I handle her.” 4 Ashley rushed home and, ignoring her father’s half-hearted attempts to “stop” her, proceeded to smash everything she could get her hands on. I watched it all happen. Initial anger faded into a strange calm. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. Compared to the last life, when she pushed me out of the car and fractured my spine, this was nothing. “Done smashing things? If not, feel free. Your computer and tablet in your room are still intact. Why not destroy them all at once?” Ashley spun around, glaring at me, the hatred in her eyes practically lethal. “You bitch. Say that again, I dare you.” Mark knew his daughter’s temper. He made a show of trying to calm her down but conveniently stepped aside. “I won’t repeat myself. Go ahead, smash everything you want. Just don’t disturb my rest.” I yawned and, under the stunned gazes of the father and daughter, calmly walked back to my bedroom and locked the door. Just as I expected… without me as an audience, the commotion in the living room quickly died down. A moment later, I heard the front door slam shut hard. I couldn’t help but smirk. I lay back on the bed and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, just after I woke up, I got a frantic phone call from a coworker. “Sarah, you need to get down to the office, quick!” 5 Downstairs from the Apex Corp office building, Ashley stood at the main entrance in some outlandish outfit, handing out flyers to the arriving office workers. Even from a distance, I could vaguely hear what she was saying. “Yeah, she’s an executive upstairs at Apex Corp! Not just cheating, she’s fooling around with multiple clients – men and women!” “What? Seriously?” It wasn’t quite time for work yet, so a small crowd had gathered, munching on bagels and listening to her performance while looking at the flyer featuring a blown-up photo of me. “Of course, it’s true! Look at these bruises!” she cried, showing imaginary marks. “She comes home after hooking up and takes it out on me! Shoved my head in the toilet, drugged my dad with sleeping pills, almost killed him!” She told her story vividly, and some onlookers grew outraged, looking like they wanted to drag me out for public shaming. “What kind of mother is that? So vicious!” “Seriously, if you can’t raise them right, don’t have them. She’s just hurting everyone.” “Glad she’s not my boss. Who knows what you’d have to do working under someone like that.” I stood there, unmoving, calmly listening to all her slander. Ashley saw me, but there wasn’t a hint of guilt in her eyes. “There she is! That’s my mom!” All eyes snapped towards me. I spoke immediately, my voice carrying. “Don’t you all have work to do? It’s almost nine o’clock!” No office worker truly has time for someone else’s family drama. The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving just Ashley and me. Looking at this young, defiant girl before me, I sighed. “Ashley, this is my final warning, and my advice: stop digging your own grave. Go back to school. It’s not too late to turn things around. I can give you one more chance.” But Ashley just sneered, completely missing the warning in my tone. She practically spat at my feet. “Tsk! I don’t need chances from you. I’m your only daughter, you really gonna abandon me? I’ll give you one last chance. Give me money, and sign over a house to me. I promised Rick we’d get married after graduation.” Any last shred of affection I had for her died with those words. She acts this way because she thinks she can get away with anything, being my only flesh and blood, right? What would happen if she found out she wasn’t actually my biological daughter? The thought was… quite intriguing. 6 Back in the office, curious glances darted away the moment they saw me. Throughout the morning, I remained calm and composed, handling my work and meeting with clients as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until the lunch break that I finally got a moment to breathe. “So, do you think Sarah’s really like that?” “Hard to say. Seems pretty straight-laced, but maybe she’s wild behind closed doors.” “Yeah, well, how else does a woman get to be a general manager? Probably slept her way up.” I stood outside the break room door, my hand tightening on the handle, my blood running cold for a second. Not because of those few whispered words. But because it hit me again how, even now, sexism is so deeply ingrained in the workplace. Any woman who achieves even moderate success is suspected of sleeping her way there. No one considers her actual abilities, and no one knows she likely had to work ten times harder than a man to get there. And the root of all this suspicion is simply her gender. It’s ridiculous. Just as I was about to push the door open, a clear female voice spoke up. “You shouldn’t talk like that. I know Sarah isn’t that kind of person.” I recognized the voice. It was Maria, who’d started working here a few months ago. “Mind your own business, cleaner. Who do you think you are, butting in?” a male voice grumbled. “I just know! Sarah works incredibly hard. I’ve seen her working late lots of times when everyone else has gone home. Stop spreading rumors. It’s disgusting to slander women like that.” “What did you say? You wanna say that again…” Before the man could retort, I pushed the door open, a polite smile fixed on my face. “Quite lively in here. Not resting during your break? Guess the morning wasn’t busy enough.”

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The son I’d raised for years told me to drop dead. Then, a speeding car really did send me flying. Three months later, my son found me, sobbing hysterically as he clutched my half-rotted body. But he didn’t have a mom anymore. 1 “The victim was beyond saving the moment the speeding car hit. It’s a traffic accident.” I floated in the air, watching the cops and the medical examiner gather around my corpse. The street was decked out for New Year’s Eve, festive red lanterns hanging from the lampposts. It was supposed to be a night for families to be together. Because of me, these officers had to work overtime. I whispered an apology, though they couldn’t hear me. The ME carefully cradled my head. “This is the victim’s head. The other half of the body is over there…” Seeing the state I was in, even a veteran cop had to quietly turn away and retch. My body was smashed to pieces. Even I found it disgusting. After more than three hours of work, the police managed to collect my body fragments into a body bag. I followed the patrol car to the hospital morgue. “No ID on the body. The security cameras on Gold Street were down, so we can’t trace her movements. We’ll have to wait for her family to report her missing.” “Such a shame, dying on New Year’s Eve.” “Her family might still be waiting for her to celebrate. How heartbreaking must that be?” Hearing the officers, my vision dimmed, and I lowered my head, feeling dejected. The cops placed the body bag in the morgue and then walked right through me. I was the only “person” left in the morgue. No, I guess I’m not really a person anymore. The police said they were waiting for my family to file a report, but I didn’t know if my son would even notice I was gone. I sighed. If only I hadn’t gone out to buy meat. My son and daughter-in-law suddenly showed up from out of town on New Year’s Eve, and the fridge was empty. Living alone, I usually ate simple, vegetarian meals. When my son finally came back, I didn’t think twice before heading out to get some meat. Up north, you have to have dumplings for the New Year. But no butcher shops were open on the holiday. I searched for over an hour. As I crossed the street, a speeding Audi hit me… I stared at my own corpse. When would my son find out I was dead? 2 I floated back home. It was an unremarkable old apartment building, seven stories high. My legs weren’t what they used to be, so I lived on the first floor. My son, Kevin, was on the couch, making a call. I saw the number he dialed – it was my old flip phone. But I was dead. How could a dead person answer the phone? “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…” “Damn old woman! Not picking up again!” Kevin slammed the phone down on the coffee table, his face, which resembled mine in some ways, contorted with anger. His wife, Tiffany, shrugged nonchalantly. “Why bother with her? The real reason we came today is to find the deed to the house.” Kevin stared darkly at the phone, then after a moment, grunted, “You’re right.” Kevin and Tiffany started rummaging through my apartment, quickly turning the neat and tidy place into a chaotic mess. Tiffany, sweating, cursed under her breath, “Damn old woman! Where the hell did she hide the deed?” Kevin, panting, looked at the photo of us hanging on the wall. Suddenly, he punched it hard! His fist landed right on my face in the picture. “Damn old woman! Just hurry up and die!” Even though I was already dead, hearing my son say that still shattered my heart. Ever since he was little, I did everything I could to give him whatever he wanted. Now, I really was dead. His wish would soon come true. I gazed at Kevin’s sullen profile, my nose stinging, and rubbed my burning eyes. 3 Kevin hated my guts. He thought I was responsible for his father’s death. When I was twenty, I met a handsome man who knew how to charm girls. Naturally, I fell head over heels. His family was poor, so the next year, he moved in with my family – essentially marrying into it. Soon, we had our little bundle of joy, Kevin. Gradually, I realized the man never loved me. He loved my family’s financial stability, our money. From a young age, he poisoned Kevin’s mind against me, teaching him to dislike and hate me, driving a wedge between us. I thought about divorce countless times, but looking at Kevin, I always chose to endure it. When my parents passed away, the man didn’t shed a single tear. My parents left me an apartment building, but when the lawyer read the will, the man was nowhere to be found. I searched frantically, finally finding him in a hotel bed. With a beautiful young woman beside him… The woman they caught me with seemed to have no sense of shame, smiling provocatively at me. “What do you have besides rich parents? Now that they’re dead, this is karma!” I trembled with rage. For the first time, I firmly uttered the word “divorce.” The man visibly panicked! He died chasing after me, hit by falling steel bars from a construction site. Rescuers couldn’t save him. From that day on, Kevin started hating me. He blamed everything on me, shouting, “Why did you have to divorce Dad? Dad was the backbone of this family! If you hadn’t divorced him, he wouldn’t have died!” I faced my hate-filled son, feeling helpless and lost, opening my mouth but unable to find the words. I couldn’t just tell him that the father he’d worshipped since childhood was a cheat and a leech… I tried carefully to protect his young heart. But he was convinced that all the family money came from his father’s hard work. He saw me as a greedy, high-and-mighty parasite. Selfish and cruel. Kevin had always been a good student, but after his father died, he studied even harder. “Sooner or later, I’ll get into a top university out of state, and then I’ll get far away from you!” he spat at me viciously. I didn’t know whether to feel proud or heartbroken. Every night, Kevin would study until two or three in the morning. He desperately wanted to succeed, to prove to me that I was wrong! What he didn’t know was that every night, after he fell asleep, I would quietly tuck him back in after he kicked off his blanket. Kevin envied his classmates’ brand-name clothes and shoes, staring intently at the TV commercials. I secretly measured his height and size, then bought him the clothes he wanted. He wouldn’t accept gifts from me, so I asked his aunt – my cousin – to give them to him. I secretly nurtured him with gentle motherly love, wanting him to thrive. Kevin was ambitious; his grades shot up like a rocket. Every time he did well on a test, he’d brag to me: “Just wait! I’ll prove I can do fine without you! I’ll get into a great university! After graduation, I’ll get a job and make millions a year!” I smiled silently. I never particularly hoped for Kevin to achieve great fame and fortune. Every year when I went hiking or visited temples, I only prayed for his lifelong happiness and safety. 4 Kevin and Tiffany, tired from searching for the deed, sat down on the couch to rest. The New Year’s Eve TV special was on, featuring a comedy sketch about motherly love. Tiffany wasn’t paying attention to the show at all, asking irritably, “Where could the old woman have hidden the deed?” Rumors had been circulating that my building was slated for demolition and redevelopment. I hadn’t expected Kevin and Tiffany’s New Year visit to be solely about the deed. I felt a pang of sadness. If only he had asked, I would have given it to him without a second thought. Kevin now worked for a large corporation, earning a yearly salary. Tiffany was an elementary school teacher. They met in college, fell in love, and finally got married this past spring. I remember on Kevin’s wedding day, we had a massive fight. He hadn’t invited me to the wedding; I found out from his aunt. Unable to contain my complicated feelings, I went to the venue alone. The moment Kevin saw me, veins bulged on his forehead. He roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the exit! “I explicitly didn’t invite you! Get out! Get the hell out!” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be my mother! And you definitely don’t deserve to be at my wedding!” In the struggle, I fell hard! I landed on the ground, unable to move, tears welling up as I looked at Kevin, reaching out a trembling hand. “Mom just wanted to see you…” Kevin kicked my shoulder and spat! He turned and left without looking back, instructing the venue security not to let me in under any circumstances. I lay there at the entrance, my whole body feeling like it had fallen apart, completely unable to get up. Passersby stared at me strangely. I was drenched in cold sweat. When the wind blew, a bone-chilling coldness washed over me. Some kind soul took me to the hospital. The diagnosis: a fractured left femur and a fractured right shoulder… Because of my age, my recovery took much longer than usual. I stayed in the hospital for half a month. Kevin came to see me, holding a bouquet of flowers. I was so thrilled I didn’t know what to do. But then, he violently threw the flowers in my face! “Damn old woman! Now everyone at the company says I beat you up and broke your bones! I had to switch to another company, and my salary is half of what it was!” “Are you satisfied now? Wasn’t killing Dad enough for you? You won’t be happy until you’ve ruined me too, right?” I stared blankly at my furious son, not understanding what he was talking about. “I didn’t…” “Shut up!” He grabbed my collar forcefully, choking me until I could barely breathe. “From now on, I never want to see your old face again!” Kevin stormed out, leaving red petals scattered all over the bed, looking like blood spilled from my body. 5 It was almost midnight. Sporadic fireworks started popping outside. The doorbell rang— Kevin opened the door, his gloomy face instantly replaced with a beaming smile. “Aunt Judy, you’re here?” The woman, dressed in expensive designer clothes, had long, curly hair. Though wrinkles creased the corners of her eyes, you could still see she was attractive in her youth. My chest felt like it had been struck by a hammer! The pain was overwhelming! How could it be her! Judy Roth was my husband’s first love; they grew up in the same small town. After we married, they continued their entanglement. After I found out, Judy repeatedly provoked and humiliated me… Tiffany brought out two luxury brand shopping bags and handed them over respectfully. “This is a little something to show our respect.” Judy’s still-charming eyes crinkled into a smile as she chided them gently, “You newlyweds are just starting out. You need to learn to save money, don’t spend it on things like this.” She accepted the luxury goods while adopting the posture of an elder. Judy was naturally skilled at reading people, knowing exactly what to say to whom. When she was young, she clung to my husband. Now that she was older, who knows when she started getting close to my son! I glared at Judy, filled with resentment. Judy slipped on slippers and walked into the room, giving Kevin and Tiffany each a symbolic red envelope. “Wishing you two a harmonious and beautiful new year.” I saw the envelopes contained maybe two hundred dollars in total – utterly pathetic. Yet Kevin, accepting the envelope, beamed with a happiness and respect I had never seen him show me. “Thanks, Aunt Judy!” It was almost midnight, the start of a new year. Tiffany had prepared several dishes, placing them on the table one by one, filling the air with delicious aromas. I watched Kevin, Tiffany, and Judy interact warmly, looking like a real family of three. Judy glanced at the time and stood up. “It’s getting late, I should go.” Kevin urged her to stay. “Don’t go, Aunt Judy. Stay and celebrate the New Year with us.” Judy shook her head. “This is your mother’s house, after all. It wouldn’t be good if she walked in on us.” “What’s not good about it!” Kevin retorted. “Let her see! Aunt Judy, please sit down. We’ve spent the last few New Years together, this year should be no exception.” Spending New Year together… Ever since Kevin went to college, he never came home for New Year’s, not even a phone call. Every year, every day… I guarded this house alone, lonely, watching the lively scenes outside. So, Kevin had met Judy during his first year of college. After he started dating Tiffany, the three of them often spent New Year’s together. Judy hesitated for a moment, then pretended to reluctantly sit back down. Ha. We’re both women. Who doesn’t understand the other? Judy said she wanted to leave quickly, but her eyes greedily scanned my house, touching this and that. Judy asked, “I hear this building is in a good school district? The buyout for demolition is three times that of a regular residential building.” Kevin nodded. Judy sighed. “Your dad had a good eye, picking this building to buy back then.” I wanted to laugh scornfully. This building was left to me by my parents from the start. What did it have to do with anyone else? Judy pressed her hand to her heart, her eyes welling up. “It’s all my fault. If I had been firmer back then, your mom wouldn’t have forcibly broken your dad and me up, and your dad wouldn’t have died.” Kevin comforted her gently. “Aunt Judy, don’t be sad. It’s all that vicious woman’s fault! You never married, staying devoted to my dad’s memory. I should learn from you.” Judy dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. Kevin seemed moved and spoke solemnly, “Aunt Judy, if you don’t mind, from now on, I’ll be your son. I’ll take care of you in your old age!” “But your mother…” “I would never take care of that cruel-hearted woman! She only gave birth to me; she never raised me!” “Well…” The clock struck midnight. I watched, helpless, as Kevin knelt on both knees and bowed three times to Judy Roth. “Mom! From now on, I’m your son!” Judy stepped forward and hugged Kevin, murmuring, “Good son…”

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Hailey was the adopted daughter my dad brought home. She was sweet and sensible, deeply loved by my parents, and even received company shares from them. Outsiders knew the Miller family had one biological daughter and one adopted daughter, but they insisted Hailey was the real heiress. After I left, my parents showed up at my company’s entrance, begging me to come home. 1. I shot a cold look at my supposedly flustered adopted sister, my good birthday mood vanishing instantly. Just moments before, she’d tripped me hard as I came down the stairs, sending me sprawling. My carefully chosen party dress now had a huge tear in it. Seeing my parents approach, she quickly helped me up. “Chloe, honey, why were you so careless? Let big sis see if you got hurt anywhere?” Her overly affectionate act disgusted me, and I couldn’t help but push her away. Unexpectedly, my mother spoke, her face stern, “Look at you, what a mess. You’re old enough to know better than to get yourself like this.” Then Mom turned to this sister of questionable origin, “She doesn’t know any better. Are you hurt?” Hailey shook her head, a flicker of feigned tears in her eyes quickly replaced by a sweet smile. “Chloe’s the birthday girl today! Quick, put on the princess’s crown.” I turned my head slightly, avoiding her gesture, but then paused, slightly surprised. Why did her profile look so much like my dad’s? Could it be that she was my dad’s… “Chloe, why are you being so difficult?” Seeing me dodge, Mom tapped my head disapprovingly. “Since you don’t like the little crown, let your sister wear it. It doesn’t matter who wears it.” Before I could even protest, Mom took the crown and placed it on Hailey’s head. She looked moved, almost to tears. “This… this is the first time I’ve ever worn a crown.” Dad stroked her hair. “From now on, we’ll celebrate your birthday every year too.” “Dad will take you to cut the cake right now.” Watching the three of them walk away, forgetting who the real star of the day was, they looked more like a happy, harmonious family. Feeling wronged, I lowered my head and went back to my room. The feeling was strong, an intuition telling me she was Dad’s biological daughter. Even though Dad always insisted Hailey was just the daughter of the person who had saved his life. 2. “Mom, I need to tell you, that Hailey…” Just as I was about to mention Hailey’s resemblance to Dad, she appeared, carrying a plate of fruit. Putting on a show of filial piety for my mom, she said, “Mom, Hailey cut up some fruit for you. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I cut a little bit of everything.” This moved Mom deeply. She hugged Hailey and kissed her repeatedly. Then she shot me a reproachful glance, praising Hailey for being thoughtful. I just stood there, stunned. I’d done small things like this countless times before, but my parents never even batted an eye. But when it came to Hailey, how… Resentfully, I squeezed in beside them, trying to get Mom’s attention, but her focus was entirely on Hailey. She didn’t even spare me a glance. “Oh, Chloe,” Dad said later, “I’ve arranged for Hailey to transfer to your school. Look after her there.” “Did you hear me?” I remained silent. Hailey clung to Mom’s arm, her eyes full of mockery and triumph, as if showing off that Mom only had eyes for her. But her smugness didn’t last long. The first midterm exam at school delivered a harsh reality check. The ranking list posted in the classroom showed me at the top of the grade, while she was in the bottom three of our class. Even the teacher asked me, bewildered, if Hailey and I had the same parents. How could the same genes produce such drastically different results? I happily took my report card home to share the good news with my parents. But as soon as I walked in, I heard Hailey’s crying and my parents’ comforting words. “Hailey, honey, don’t be sad. Whether you do well in school or not, you’ll always be the apple of our eye.” The apple of their eye? They had never used those words for me. Even now. It suddenly hit me: no matter how hard I tried, how excellent I was, in my parents’ eyes, I felt more like the child they’d picked up off the street. Unloved, uncared for. 3. Perhaps my stellar grades provoked Hailey. To prove she was just as outstanding as me, Hailey started studying frantically, eventually fainting in the classroom one day. At the hospital, my parents fussed over her, showering her with concern. But when they saw me arrive, their expressions instantly soured. Mom came straight up and slapped me hard across the face. “Chloe, why are you so malicious? You know Hailey isn’t strong, yet you keep getting high scores just to provoke her!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a chill spreading through my heart. They kept saying I was provoking her, but it wasn’t like she’d actually died from it, right? “If you love Hailey so much, why did you even have me?” I couldn’t help retorting. But Hailey, on the hospital bed, spoke up again, sobbing. “Mom, Dad, I’m so useless. Chloe doesn’t like me, I’m bad at school… I really don’t want to live anymore.” Hailey cried so hard she could barely breathe, making onlookers think I had been bullying her at school. “Hailey, honey, don’t you dare think like that. It’s Chloe’s fault for getting first place.” “We’ve told you, whether you do well in school or not, you’re still Mom and Dad’s good daughter. It’s all Chloe’s fault for being so stubborn and difficult. It’s not your fault. Don’t ever talk about dying again.” Such kind parents, such touching family affection. When did I become the stubborn, willful side character in their narrative? The scene made me sick to my stomach. I gave a weak, helpless smile, though my eyes were already red-rimmed. Doing well in school was wrong. Not liking her was wrong. Why was everything always my fault? When they first brought Hailey home, my parents promised they would treat us both exactly the same, be fair to both of us. Was this their idea of balance? A bitter ache filled my heart. I bit my lower lip hard to keep the tears from falling. Leaving the hospital, I squatted by the roadside. A tall, handsome figure entered my vision. Ethan handed me a tissue and brushed the snowflakes off my shoulder. “You little scaredy-cat, did that idiot sister of yours make you cry again?” 4. Ethan was my classmate. In his words, Hailey’s brain didn’t seem like it had ever been used for schooling. But her academic shortcomings didn’t stop her from flaunting her status as the Miller family’s eldest daughter to outsiders. Over time, many people came to believe Hailey was the biological daughter, and I was the adopted one just living with the family. My family and Ethan’s family had some business dealings, so Ethan and I had known each other since we were kids. He had attended my birthday party last year, so naturally, he knew the real situation between us. “Knowing your temper, I thought you would have ripped that adopted sister’s mouth off by now.” I shook my head. My parents’ behavior had already chilled my heart. I didn’t want much to do with them anymore. “Next semester, I’m going to apply for boarding. Out of sight, out of mind.” This kind of affection, disguised under the banner of fairness, had never once landed on me. I didn’t care for it. Time flew, and soon it was Thanksgiving. At the big family dinner, everyone gathered together. The older relatives heard about my excellent grades and praised me, saying I had a bright future. My younger cousin playfully asked me to share my study tips. Grandpa was especially complimentary, saying I had his spirit from when he was young. I smiled and chatted quite a bit with my cousin. Unexpectedly, these few words made Hailey’s face fall. On such a festive day, she burst into tears, a real downpour. Mom and Dad immediately rushed over to comfort her, showering her with jewelry and designer bags to appease her. The other relatives’ faces instantly turned cold, muttering about how she was bringing bad luck on a holiday. But, as always, she knew exactly how to soften certain hearts. When she mentioned she was missing her biological parents, Grandpa’s expression, though still serious, softened considerably. He gave her a check just as generous as mine. Mom and Dad seized the moment, putting their arms around Hailey and looking pleadingly at Grandpa. “Dad, Hailey’s not well, and she’s had such a hard life. Why don’t we just transfer the shares meant for Chloe directly to Hailey? It would also repay the debt we owe her parents for saving your life.” “Chloe is so capable, she’ll be fine with or without those shares.” Why? My face instantly turned pale. Just because I was capable, they wanted to snatch away what was rightfully mine and give it to their adopted daughter to make her happy? Tears welled up in my eyes, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to let them fall. Only I knew what losing those shares meant in a family like ours. My own parents were stripping me of my inheritance rights— To give them to their adopted daughter. “Chloe is the Miller’s biological daughter. If you insist on giving Hailey shares, you can give her some from your own portions.” Grandpa’s words settled the matter, and the weight in my chest lifted. But that night, my parents came to me with a stock transfer agreement, trying to force me to sign it. They even promised that if I signed, they would ensure I married into a top-tier wealthy family, where I could live a life of leisure as a rich wife. Why don’t you offer such a wonderful life to Hailey, the one you cherish like the apple of your eye? 5. “Your grandfather is old, he doesn’t understand the situation. Since you’re more capable than Hailey, just give the shares to her.” I watched all this with cold eyes, searching my parents’ faces for any shred of affection for me. Sadly, I found none. “Mom, Dad, Chloe… I don’t want the shares. I just want everyone to get along peacefully.” Hailey popped out from behind Dad, saying she didn’t want them, but her hands were more honest than her words. She helped Mom hold down my hand, urging me to sign my name immediately. I suspected she knew all along that whether she asked for the shares or not, Mom and Dad would snatch them from me for her. Just like she had snatched away all of my parents’ love. “If I sign this agreement, can I sever all ties with you?” I stared steadily at Mom, a sliver of hope in my eyes. Mom seemed to think I was overreacting, frowning as she lectured me, “It’s just a few shares. Why can’t you be as understanding and considerate as Hailey?” “But if you insist on being so difficult, there’s nothing we can do.” My heart sank to the bottom. The contract was in duplicate. I signed my name, adding the clause I demanded about severing family ties, and had it notarized. On Thanksgiving night, I became truly and utterly alone. Just then, the sound of neighbors setting off leftover fireworks faintly reached me. Ethan’s holiday message arrived right on cue. “Hey Scaredy-cat, Happy Thanksgiving.” Tears immediately streamed down my face. Why did Mom and Dad have to give all their love for me to Hailey? Was I really the one who was picked up off the street? 6. Disheartened, after the break, I applied for boarding school without consulting my parents. Mom and Dad called a few times demanding to know why. Because my attitude was cold, eventually they stopped contacting me altogether. Hailey sought me out every now and then, claiming she wanted to mend our sisterly relationship, but in reality, she had her eyes on Ethan. His family was prominent, he excelled academically – definitely prime boyfriend material in our circle. But Ethan wasn’t blind like my parents. He wasn’t interested in idiots. I grew tired of being in the same class as Hailey, so I took internal exams and skipped from eighth grade to ninth. Ethan followed suit, ending up in the same class with me again. If I couldn’t fight her, couldn’t I at least avoid her? But even skipping a grade somehow provoked Hailey. As soon as she got home, she supposedly fell ill and couldn’t get out of bed – who knew if it was real or fake. Unable to reach me by phone, my parents came to the school personally. In front of my roommates, Mom slapped me across the face. She also unleashed a torrent of abuse on my roommates who tried to defend me. Mom forced me to kneel beside Hailey’s hospital bed, declaring that if anything happened to Hailey, I would kneel at her biological parents’ graves until I died to atone. I knelt for an entire night. Finally, I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. When I woke up, I learned Hailey was perfectly fine, being pampered by Mom and Dad in a VIP room. Meanwhile, I was lying alone in a standard room, an IV drip in my hand, with no one beside me. Years of accumulated resentment solidified into real hatred at that moment. From then on, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with this family. I blocked my parents’ numbers from my phone. After the IV drip finished, I limped back to school by myself. Ethan somehow found out I’d been forced to kneel all night and came to my dorm with other classmates to check on me. My parents, likely feeling guilty about the kneeling incident, brought Hailey to my dorm for a brief, awkward visit. This, however, sparked numerous rumors. Some said Hailey wasn’t the adopted daughter after all, but I was the illegitimate one. Others claimed Hailey was the illegitimate one, and I was being bullied mercilessly. I was sure the only ones defending me were Ethan and his friends. But honestly, I didn’t care about any of it. I was busy preparing for the entrance exam for a prestigious early admission program at an Ivy League university and had no time for their drama. The acceptance letter was mailed to my home address. Only then did my parents find out I’d gotten into a top school. They even wanted to use my achievement to boast, attempting to mend our broken relationship by eagerly offering to throw me a make-up birthday party. For a moment, I hesitated. I hadn’t celebrated my birthday in two years.

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My scumbag husband was cheating on me behind my back. After I got cancer, he spent every day wishing I’d die sooner. Once I bonded with the System, I made him and his precious mistress tear each other apart like dogs. 1. I found out my husband, Kevin, was cheating while I was alone at the hospital, undergoing surgery. Just as they pushed me onto the operating table, I overheard the nurses whispering. “Why is she here alone for this kind of surgery?” “Yeah, doesn’t she have any family? Or a husband?” They probably didn’t mean anything by it, but every word stabbed me in the heart. Truth is, I didn’t have any family left. As for my husband… Ever since we got married, he’d been avoiding me like the plague. Even when I told him I had cancer, all he said, cool as anything, was, “Oh. Okay.” As my thoughts drifted, the huge surgical lamp above me flickered on. The blinding white light was suffocating. Dizzy and disoriented, I heard a soft chime in my ear. Host, System activated. Accept the implantation of an anti-social personality into your brain. As a reward, your body will be fully restored to health! Hearing my body could recover, I agreed almost without thinking. You only truly understand when you’re knocking on death’s door that just being alive is more important than anything else in the world! Besides, I had to make that serial-cheating bastard pay! 2 When the System projected the compromising photos of Kevin and his lovers into my mind, I was utterly stunned. He wasn’t just cheating with one woman. It ranged from older women, past their prime, down to girls barely out of their teens. Amidst the shock, a very familiar figure caught my eye. Her name was Tiffany, an online influencer and streamer. I remembered Kevin had just done a joint stream with her not long ago. Even back then, I thought the way they flirted through the screen looked suspicious. But I was too weak back then, completely under Kevin’s thumb, both online and off. He always told me, “Guys like me doing livestream selling, it’s normal to have a few rumored girlfriends.” “It’s all just an act online, you know?” But who knew the act would end up extending all the way to a hotel room? Once the steamy slideshow finished, I expected to be burning with rage. But I wasn’t. I felt surprisingly calm inside. Deep down, there was even a faint thrill, like finally cornering prey! I couldn’t help but wonder, was this because of the anti-social personality the System implanted in me? 3 My surgery finished around noon. The System wasn’t kidding. Just two hours post-op, I could move around freely. The room full of doctors and nurses stared at me like they’d seen a ghost. The hospital director even came by personally, begging me to do some promotional work for them. I curled my lip at him. “Don’t have time!” “Now that I’ve finally got a new lease on life, I have a lot of things to take care of!” I mulled it over in my head. Should I take out Kevin first? Or Tiffany? After hesitating for a while, I finally chose Tiffany. After all, if Kevin died first, the game wouldn’t be much fun! Having made up my mind, I immediately had someone contact Tiffany’s agency. So, the next day, I showed up at Tiffany’s office, introducing myself as a producer. I had to admit, Tiffany’s face was undeniably striking. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been hyped up by all the major streaming platforms. She didn’t know who I was. When I invited her to audition for a movie, she grabbed my hand, asking excitedly, “Is this for real?” For the next half hour or so, Tiffany was like a peacock desperately showing off its feathers, doing everything she could to flaunt her figure, the one she was so proud of. I sat in the chair, watching her without a word. But in my mind, I was thinking, Such a slender body… Where exactly should I make the first cut to make her death as painful as possible? Seeing me watching her with interest, Tiffany shamelessly assumed I was impressed. She practically skipped over to me and said, “Ms. Vance, how about I treat you to dinner after this?” Hearing that, my heart leaped with joy. How did she know I was planning to poison her?

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I spent two weeks learning how to make the perfect chicken soup for Justin King, and he turned around and gave it to his new assistant. That same night, I saw a message from the assistant: “I drank it all! Your girlfriend won’t be mad, right? Before I could even get angry, Justin insisted we break up. As I desperately tried to change his mind, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my head. All the memories flooded back instantly. I quickly took a step back, my eyes filled with suspicion as I looked at Justin. “Well then, good riddance!” 1 He picked up the phone, his cool voice on the other end. “Hello? Who’s this?” I stood downstairs from his bustling office building, clutching the thermos, my heart bubbling with excitement. “I made you soup! Remember to buzz me in.” He didn’t answer right away. After a long pause, he just mumbled a soft “Mm.” I ignored the weird silence in between, too caught up in the joy of seeing the guy I loved. The elevator numbers climbed steadily. The reflection in the mirrored walls showed a happy little woman, beaming. Justin’s office door was open. I walked in, practically skipping. “Come try the soup I made! I spent over two weeks learning how.” The words had barely left my mouth when I saw the girl standing nervously by his desk. I stopped talking. “And this is?” Justin kept his eyes glued to the contract on his desk, not even glancing my way. “My new assistant.” I didn’t think much of it and put the thermos down on his desk. “Go on, try it while it’s hot. See my new skills.” The assistant, who hadn’t said a word, timidly looked up. “Maybe I should go, I don’t want to interrupt—” I looked over at her and noticed her eyes were getting misty, like I’d committed some horrible crime. My heart sank. I instinctively looked towards Justin. Just then, Justin looked up, and I saw the impatience clear in his eyes. Before I could even register that, I heard him say, “Wendy, I’m working. Can you head home now?” The smile froze on my face. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but I quickly pulled myself together. I knew Justin hated being disturbed when he was working. “Okay, I’ll go then. Make sure you finish the soup while it’s hot.” I repeated the reminder, feeling a weight in my chest, then walked out with heavy steps. Halfway down the hall, I realized I’d left my wallet on his desk. Normally, I’d just ask Justin to bring it home after work, but this time, some strange impulse made me turn back. Through the glass door, I saw Justin push the thermos towards the girl he called his new assistant. He was smiling, eyes crinkled, saying something that made the assistant giggle flirtatiously. In that instant, my heart felt like it had plunged into an icy abyss. My body started trembling uncontrollably. I practically ran away. 2 Justin came home late. He’d been coming home late a lot recently. Every night, I’d sit on the sofa waiting for him. Sometimes, exhaustion would win, and I’d curl up and fall asleep right there. The sound of the shower woke me. The living room was pitch black, except for the faint light spilling from the bathroom. The water stopped, and he walked out, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair slightly damp. Tall and long-legged, water droplets traced paths from his hairline, over his well-defined collarbones, disappearing beneath the towel, adding a layer of raw appeal. I sat on the sofa, just staring at him blankly. How did I ever manage to land such an incredible guy? Wendy Shaw, you are seriously lucky. Justin really was exceptional. Started his own company sophomore year of college, raked in scholarships left and right, and now he was the CEO. The company wasn’t huge, but it was financially stable, miles ahead of most people his age. Justin walked past me, heading straight for the fridge. I knew he was going for ice water. But his stomach issues were pretty bad. I used to stay up late making him hot meals, just so he wouldn’t go hungry and could get his stomach back on track. This time, though, I didn’t stop him like I usually would. The scene from earlier kept replaying in my mind. I couldn’t let it go. “How was the soup I made today? Was it good?” Justin paused mid-sip, seemingly surprised by the sudden question. He turned to face me, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “It was great. Anything Wendy makes is great, of course.” I smiled back, but tears welled up in my eyes. A suffocating feeling clamped down on my chest, making it hard to breathe, my throat raw with pain. Justin, why are you lying to me? He stepped closer, patted my head gently, and said softly, “It’s late, Wendy. Go get some sleep.” He hadn’t noticed anything wrong. Not a single thing. “Oh, right, I put your wallet on the table.” “Honestly, you’re a grown woman, still so forgetful.” I sat there silently in the living room as darkness swallowed me, blanketing my sorrow. In that moment, it felt like I split into two people. One watched everything unfold with cold detachment. The other was utterly heartbroken, desperately urging me to fight for Justin, to hold onto him. I don’t know how long I sat there before I finally forced myself to move, heading towards the bedroom. Justin was already fast asleep. His phone lay on the nightstand nearby. Expressionless, I used his fingerprint to unlock it and opened his messaging app. Right there, catching my eye immediately, were several unread messages. “Thanks for the chicken soup today, boss.” “But… won’t your girlfriend be mad that you gave it to me?” “It’s getting late, you should rest up. Goodnight, boss.” Followed by a cute emoji. I let out a cold sneer and kept scrolling up. “Boss, I’m so scared. What if I mess up this project?” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover for you.” “Boss, you’re the best! Love ya! ” “Mm.” Seeing that, what else was there left to misunderstand? I laughed silently in the dark, tears streaming down my face. “Ugh, this guy is disgusting.” I heard a strange voice echo in my mind. Yeah, he really is disgusting. I mocked my own stupidity. 3 This year marks the fourth year Justin and I have been together. We met in high school during an academic competition and gradually became friends. After graduation, he kept telling me not to leave right away, to wait for him in the park nearby. I did as he asked. And so, on that scorching hot afternoon, the eighteen-year-old boy walked towards me, ears flushed red, holding a single Lisianthus flower. “Wendy Shaw, will you be my girlfriend?” Justin was a good boyfriend. He brought me breakfast, was there for me whenever I needed him, gave me a huge bouquet of Lisianthus every birthday, and showered me with thoughtful, expensive gifts. Almost every anniversary came with a big cake. Senior year of college, my parents died in a car accident, leaving me alone. I sat numbly in the hospital corridor, completely lost. I still remember the sharp smell of antiseptic flooding my senses, almost paralyzing me. It was Justin who took a train for over ten hours to get to me, held me tight, and whispered words of comfort and encouragement over and over. I huddled in his arms, feeling his warmth, sobbing too hard to speak. After the funeral, I carried the two small urns home, feeling completely numb. Justin knelt in front of me, his eyes sincere. I saw my own reflection in them, tiny and fragile. I heard him say, “Wendy, I’ll always be with you. I’ll never let you suffer even the slightest bit.” “From now on, I’m your rock.” “I’ll take care of you, Wendy. Just wait for me.” The emotions I’d suppressed for two weeks finally burst forth. I threw myself into his arms with all my strength, wailing uncontrollably. “Justin, you’re all I have left.” But now… it’s only been a year. Justin, all those promises you made to me… they’re all void now. 4 “Wendy, I’m heading to work. You can sleep in.” In my drowsy state, I felt a warm touch on my forehead. I slowly woke up. “Going so early?” Justin gave a helpless smile, ruffling my hair. “Yeah, gotta work hard to support you, right? I promised my Wendy.” I snuggled against his hand. “Then you have to come home for dinner with me tonight.” “I want to eat out.” Justin playfully tapped my nose. “Okay, deal.” I looked at him, clinging to him like he was my last straw. Justin, if you just come back tonight, if you just show up, I can forgive everything you’ve done wrong. After getting up, I started searching for restaurants, booked one, and shared the location and menu with Justin. “This place looks amazing! Can we eat here tonight?” “Remember to buy me flowers! You know Lisianthus are my favorite.” Lisianthus means sincere, unchanging love. More importantly, every time I saw those flowers, I remembered that hot afternoon four years ago, my boy shyly telling me clumsy sweet nothings. The message went unanswered. My heart sank with it. It’s okay, maybe he’s busy, no time to check his phone. He promised me, he’ll definitely show up in the end. I tried to comfort myself, deceiving myself. When the agreed time arrived, I got all dressed up beautifully and headed to the restaurant. An hour passed. No one came, no messages. Two hours passed. The person I wanted to see still hadn’t appeared. … I called him. No answer. I kept calling, again and again, relentlessly. Finally, on the twelfth call, he picked up. It was incredibly loud on his end – music, the rattle of dice, shrieks, laughter. “Where are you?” “I’m so sorry, Wendy. Something urgent came up here. I can’t make it to dinner.” “What kind of urgent situation?” He hemmed and hawed for a while before finally mumbling, “You know that new assistant I hired? She just landed a huge deal, we’re celebrating with her.” I listened silently, tears dripping onto the table, one by one. “Wendy, you know, she’s really capable. I want to keep her at the company—” I cut him off. “Have fun.” After saying that, without a shred of hesitation, I hung up. “Waiter, bring the food.” I couldn’t taste anything. My tears were flowing uncontrollably now, like a dam had broken, splashing into my bowl. After eating, I hailed a cab to go home, but then I received a friend request notification. I recognized the profile picture from last night. It was the assistant. “Hi Wendy, I’m Tiffany Yan, Justin’s new assistant.” Then she sent a video and a location pin. The video background was dim, looked like a bar or a club. But I couldn’t mistake the main character: Justin. Suddenly, the background noise became a unified chant. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Two figures moved closer and closer, finally pressing together. Just then, the lights suddenly brightened, and I clearly saw the two people locked in a passionate kiss. Who else could it be but Justin and Tiffany Yan? I trembled, finally unable to hold back the nausea rising in my throat. I started dry-heaving. Tears streamed down my cheeks instantly. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, making me gasp desperately for air. The driver saw my wretched state in the rearview mirror. “Miss, are you alright?” I shook my head, wiping away the tears. “Driver, turn around.”

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My boyfriend had this childhood friend, the kind so possessive she practically wanted to move in and take over. She even secretly used his phone to post stuff on his feed just to mess with me. So, I went straight to his place, ready for a confrontation, and happened to see them walking into a hotel room together. “Yeah, hi, 911? I need to report prostitution going down.” 1. Ethan is ten years older than me. We’d been dating for a year, and this was my first time at his place. The second I walked in, I saw a familiar face: Ethan’s childhood best friend, Olivia. Olivia sat there like she owned the place, more like the lady of the house than I was. She knew everything – which room Ethan slept in, where the tea was kept, where the fruit knife was… I tried hard to ignore these details, reminding myself Olivia was just doing this deliberately to make me uncomfortable. But I couldn’t ignore the figure standing next to her. They were standing side-by-side in the kitchen, one chopping, the other arranging food on a plate. Olivia casually held out a hand, and Ethan naturally passed her a paper towel. When Olivia got up to go to the bathroom, he, without even looking, kicked the trash can out of her path. These ingrained habits, the kind etched into your bones – they don’t get that deep unless there was real history, real feeling there. As that thought hit me, I placed my hand, palm up, on his knee. He turned his head, “What’s wrong?” The real kicker? As he asked me what was wrong, he handed the orange he’d just finished peeling to Olivia. The clock on the wall chimed on the hour, a sudden sharp sound, like it was reminding me: showing up out of the blue is no match for a lifetime of history. “Ew, so sour,” Olivia complained, tossing the half-eaten orange back to Ethan. He caught it and casually popped a segment into his own mouth. In that moment, I felt like nothing more than a guest in this house. Watching the hosts flirt, so awkward I wanted to disappear on the spot. And I actually did just that. I stood up and walked out. Ethan chased after me, asking, “What’s wrong?” There it was again! What’s wrong? “Why don’t you ever ask Olivia what’s wrong?” “Because we’re so close, I don’t need to ask to know what’s up with her,” he answered instinctively. “Yeah, you two are so close. We’re not. So you have to ask me to find out.” I pulled my arm away and turned to stop him from following. “Since we’re not close, why are you even following me?” I couldn’t even count how many times we’d fought like this. And the reason was always Olivia. 2 Truth is, I was the one who shamelessly chased after Ethan. What did I see in him? He was rich, handsome, well-mannered… He was my boss. On my first day, we shared an elevator. It was love at first sight; he stunned me, and my heart was set. I had just graduated, full of youthful confidence. If you like someone, go for it. If you love someone, say it loud. He sat in his private office. I gathered all my courage and knocked on the door that stood between me and my pursuit of love. “Ethan?” He was looking down at some documents, didn’t even look up. “What is it?” “If it’s convenient, I’d like to ask you out to dinner tonight. If it’s really convenient, maybe we could grab a drink afterward. And if things are still convenient after that, my bed’s pretty big.” By the time I finished that sentence, Ethan’s face was beet red. After that day, I felt like I’d discovered an incredible secret: Ethan seemed surprisingly innocent, almost pure. Work the most serious job during the day, chat the most inappropriate things with the boss at night. One day, we both worked late, leaving the office together. “Let me buy you a coffee,” I offered. On the way, we ran into a drunk creep harassing a girl walking alone. I walked right up behind him, kicked him hard in the lower back, sending him sprawling. Before he could react, I drove my elbow into his back, then grabbed his hair and slammed his head onto the pavement. After the whole damsel-in-distress rescue played out, Ethan looked at me with a hint of awe. On the empty street, I handed him one of the coffees. “You were… pretty intense back there,” Ethan said, half-joking. I took a sip of my coffee, raised an eyebrow at him, and stepped closer, and closer. “I can be even more intense. Want to come back to my place and find out?” Direct, simple, blunt. Even that didn’t break through Ethan’s reserve. “It’s, uh, too late. Maybe… maybe next time,” he stammered. “No time like the present. Let’s go now.” 3 I grabbed his tie and pulled him towards my car. He started, “My car—” “Oh, right. Driver, turn around!” When he drove me to my apartment building, I stood in front of his car, arms crossed, waiting for him to get out. “Get out. Come up for a cup of tea before you go,” I insisted. “It really is too late. We both have work tomorrow,” he refused. “Fine.” I stepped away from the front of the car, moved to the side, and gestured for him to leave. My sudden change of heart clearly made him uneasy. He didn’t know whether to go or stay. “Chloe, what exactly are you trying to do? Can you just be clear?” Wasn’t I already being clear? “Forget it. You should just go.” Playing hard to get wasn’t my style, but knowing when to back off was key to making things last. I headed upstairs before he drove away, leaving him with a view of my retreating back, unclear and ambiguous. I’d just finished using the bathroom and washing my hands when the doorbell rang. “What, changed your mind?” I leaned against the doorframe, looking at Ethan, who had indeed come back. “Chloe, you have to admit, you started this,” Ethan said, looking at me with a touch of proud defiance. I nodded. I admitted it. In an instant, Ethan transformed, pouncing like a hungry wolf. From the doorway to the couch, then to the bedroom. The curtains fluttered in the breeze, a chill slipping into the blankets. I instinctively snuggled closer into his arms. “Boss, requesting a day off today.” Dating the boss definitely had its perks. He got up, got dressed, washed up, then kissed my forehead before reluctantly heading out the door. I thought after last night, Ethan would turn into a clingy, devoted boyfriend. But looking at my phone, utterly devoid of messages from yesterday morning until this morning, left me feeling a little lost. “Did I actually win him over, or not?” I was bummed… 4 It wasn’t until I got to the office that I found out Ethan had left on an unexpected business trip yesterday. “A business trip doesn’t mean you don’t even have time to send one text, right?” I stared blankly at my phone. Just then, Ethan’s Instagram feed updated with a new post: So glad I have you with me. The picture: A woman’s hand holding a wine glass, pointed towards Ethan, whose back was to the camera. “Hey boss,” I said to my direct supervisor, “I need to take some personal time. My man ran off with someone else. I gotta go deal with the other woman.” Amidst the sympathetic gazes of my colleagues, I marched off, full of righteous fury, heading to the battlefield. After landing, I went straight to the hotel. The front desk wouldn’t give me his room number, so I had no choice but to wait in the lobby, hoping to catch them. “Olivia, over here.” Ethan’s voice came from behind me. I turned around, thrilled, but then snapped my mouth shut as I processed what he’d said. The woman’s name was Olivia. And that Instagram post… unless he willingly let her post it, how else would it be there? All signs pointed to the distinct possibility that I was just a stand-in. A substitute lover? The rebound girl while he pines for his true love? Surely, I couldn’t be that pathetic? The woman named Olivia hurried towards him from another direction, beaming as she linked her arm through his. They walked off, laughing and talking, back to their room. “Yeah, hi, 911? Grand Hotel, room 702. There’s prostitution going on.” As the wail of police sirens grew closer, I stood outside the hotel entrance and watched them being escorted away by the cops. While they were being questioned inside, I sat waiting on a bench at the police station. When Ethan came out, I stood up to meet him. His eyes were red as he asked me, “Did you do this? Why would you do this?” I told him calmly, “If I had been the one knocking on that door, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t have killed someone. With the police, at least you both get to live.” “Nothing happened between Olivia and me!” he explained frantically. “That intimate post on your phone, holding hands going back to the same room, a man and woman alone together late at night with no intention of leaving.” “Ethan, are you trying to tell me this is some kind of innocent, pure love story?”

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Two kids were in the same car crash, and I only saved one. My husband condemned me for being cold. My mother-in-law went ballistic, demanding, “Why didn’t you save your son?! Why didn’t you save my grandson?!” Because I did it on purpose. 1. In the hospital, Ethan was still in surgery. Little Chloe clung to me, her small body trembling. “Auntie Amelia, is Ethan gonna be okay?” I glanced towards the operating room, my expression flickering. Ethan’s legs were practically crushed. Even if he pulled through, he wouldn’t keep them. I pulled out a wet wipe and gently cleaned the grime off Chloe’s face, murmuring softly, “He’ll be okay, sweetie. Don’t worry.” Then, I checked her scrapes again. Her arms and knees were scraped raw. They’d been cleaned up, but looking at them still made my heart ache. “How about you? Does it hurt bad?” Chloe shook her head, poking my arm lightly with her little hand, her eyes red-rimmed. “I’m okay, Auntie. You’re hurt really bad. You should let the nurse bandage you up.” I’d been so focused on the kids that I hadn’t even registered my own injuries until she mentioned it. A big patch of skin was gone from my elbow, raw and bloody, looking nasty. It happened when I’d grabbed Chloe and rolled during the crash. Seeing the fear and worry in her eyes, I softened my voice even more. “Okay, Auntie will go get bandaged right now. Don’t cry, Chloe. Later, Auntie will buy you some ice cream, how about that?” Chloe quickly shook her head, showing surprising maturity. “I want to wait for Ethan to wake up. We can buy it for him.” Right. Her mind was completely fixated on Ethan now; she had no appetite for treats. I patted her head gently and didn’t push it. After I got my arm bandaged, my mother-in-law, Carol, and my sister-in-law, Sarah, rushed into the hospital. They frantically asked about Ethan. When I told them the truth, Carol grabbed my arm, her voice cracking with desperation, “Why didn’t you save your son?! Why didn’t you save my grandson?!” I just stared back at her meltdown, expressionless, saying nothing. 2. “He’s our family’s only grandson! Do you want us to have no one to carry on the name?! Amelia Stern, if anything happens to my grandson, I’ll never forgive you!” I finally spoke, my voice eerily calm. “It all happened so fast. I could only grab one of them.” Sarah, Mark’s sister, shoved me, her eyes blazing red. “Amelia, are you crazy?! Why is Ethan the one in there?!” I looked at her losing control and gave a cold smirk. “Who did you think it should be? Chloe? Could you stand it if she were in there? She’s your daughter.” “You!” Chloe squeezed between us, hugging Sarah’s legs tightly, crying out, “Mommy, don’t pull Auntie! Auntie’s hurt! Auntie’s hurt!” “Get off me!” Sarah kicked Chloe away. I reacted instantly, scooping her into my arms. The anger I’d been suppressing finally surfaced. I glared hard at Sarah, warning her, “Sarah, if you try that again, I won’t be so nice!” Both Sarah and Carol froze, stunned. In all the time they’d known me, this was the first time I’d ever spoken to them with such harshness. Just then, a doctor walking by sternly told us to keep quiet. That finally shut them up. While waiting for the surgery to end, mother and daughter huddled together, looking utterly terrified and anxious. It was almost funny to watch. I glanced down at Chloe’s downcast face, my heart clenching. I hugged her closer. “Chloe, are you hungry? How about Auntie takes you out to get something to eat?” Before Chloe could answer, Sarah shot me a venomous look. “Are you serious?! How can you even think about food right now?!” I swallowed my anger, my voice cold. “Ethan’s surgery could take hours. Are we all supposed to starve while waiting? Besides, isn’t Chloe your daughter? She’s hurt and scared too. Are you only concerned about my son and have no thought for her?” Sarah was speechless, her face flushed red with anger. Chloe gently tugged my hand. “Auntie, I’m not hungry. Let’s wait for Ethan to come out.” Out of consideration for Chloe’s feelings, I held back the harsher words I wanted to say. A little later, my husband, Mark, arrived. 3. “How is he? How’s the kid?” he asked, out of breath. Carol seemed to find her anchor, collapsing into Mark’s arms, sobbing, “Ethan’s still in surgery… it looks really bad… I don’t know if he’s going to make it!” “And your wonderful wife here,” she spat, glaring at me, “didn’t even save her own son. Cold-blooded, that’s what she is!” Mark turned to me, his expression dark with displeasure. “Amelia, what the hell happened?” Impatiently, I repeated myself again. “It happened too fast. I could only save one.” “Then why didn’t you save Ethan?!” “Why, why, why? Enough with the whys!” I looked at their faces with disgust. “All you care about is Ethan! Doesn’t Chloe’s life matter? If Chloe were the one lying in there, would you even care?!” Just then, the doors to the operating room opened. Ethan was wheeled out. He was no longer in immediate danger, but his head injury was significant, and both legs were gone. He would need to be monitored and treated in the ICU. Hearing this, the Davis family completely fell apart. Carol and Sarah buried their faces in their hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Even Mark’s eyes turned red. While their attention was entirely focused on Ethan, I gently patted Chloe, who was crying silently. “Don’t cry, sweetie. Ethan’s going to be okay. Let me take you to get something to eat, alright?” She shook her head, wiping her tears. I tried a different approach. “Okay, then… how about Chloe keeps Auntie company while I eat? Auntie is really, really hungry.” Chloe glanced at her family, bit her lip, and nodded. I took Chloe to Pizza Hut and ordered a bunch of her favorite things. But the poor kid had no appetite, her little face clouded with worry. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn’t know where to start. From her perspective, seeing Ethan hurt so badly must have been devastating. “Auntie, why didn’t you save Ethan?” Chloe’s sudden question startled me. I paused, then gave a wry smile. “Didn’t Auntie tell you? I could only save one person.” “But… Ethan’s your real kid…” The little girl looked confused, and there was a hint of guilt in her eyes, as if she felt she’d stolen the health that rightfully belonged to Ethan. I dropped the smile, my expression becoming serious. “Then tell Auntie this: if I had saved Ethan and not you, would you be sad?” 4. Chloe thought for a moment. “If I lost my legs, I’d be really, really sad. But… if you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t be sad at you. Ethan’s your real son. You were supposed to save him first.” She was so young, yet her maturity was heartbreaking. Compared to Ethan, who was basically the same age – maybe born a few minutes earlier – but acted like a little terror. Before, I’d just thought Chloe was exceptionally well-behaved. I never considered what kind of environment must have shaped her into being so quiet and compliant. “Chloe, in Auntie’s heart, you are very, very important. Maybe even more important than Ethan.” The little girl looked up, surprised and confused. “Why?” “Because Ethan has so many people who love him. He doesn’t need one more from me.” Chloe paused, then looked down sadly, poking at her food. “Yeah… Mommy and Grandma Carol… they love Ethan a lot…” “So, you see, since so many people love Ethan for me, I should love Chloe more, right? Now, does Chloe want to show Auntie how much she appreciates that love?” Chloe nodded vigorously. “Yes!” “Then you need to eat your food, okay? No being sad. Don’t make Auntie worry, alright?” “Okay!” Whatever it took, at least the little girl started eating properly. Whenever she used to visit my house, she’d always eye Ethan’s snacks and toys with envy. When I took them both out, she’d watch Ethan ordering whatever he wanted, buying things impulsively, while she never asked for anything herself. She loved Pizza Hut. Every time I brought her here, her eyes would light up with undisguised joy. Back then, I could never understand it. Okay, Carol favored boys, that was obvious. But Sarah was Chloe’s mother. Why was she so harsh with her own daughter? For a long time, I assumed it was because Sarah was a single mom, projecting her anger towards Chloe’s father onto Chloe herself. That’s why she couldn’t love her properly. The Davis family was busy fussing over Ethan. I took Chloe home first to rest. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally. After eating, she quickly drifted off to sleep. Once Chloe was settled, I walked around the house, finally stopping by the window. My hands trembled as I lit a cigarette. It was residual fear, mixed with the overwhelming relief of surviving something… again. Who would believe that I’d already lived through this accident once before? The only difference was, last time, I saved Ethan.

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It was the fifth year after my death. Ethan Lee, back home after eight years of peacekeeping duty overseas, had just stepped out of the airport terminal when I saw her—a young woman stopping him, handing him a small box. My ghostly form watched. “These were my sister’s things,” the girl said. “I think she would have wanted you to have them.” Ethan’s brow furrowed slightly, a faint, cynical smile playing on his lips. “If you’re returning things after a breakup, shouldn’t the person do it herself?” The girl froze, then tears welled up and slid down her cheeks. “My sister… she died. Five years ago.” 1 Instead of heading straight to his unit to report in, Ethan hailed a cab and gave the driver an address that sent a jolt through my spectral existence. “302 Oak Street.” That was the house I’d bought before… well, before. I drifted into the back seat with him. Three years earlier, Ethan, after five intense years in Yemen, had finally gotten approval for a short leave back home. I’d waited for him at the airport, wearing the same dress I wore when I first met him back in college. He was thinner, tanner, his features sharper, his gaze more intense. I ran to him, throwing my arms around him, hugging him so tight I could feel the rise and fall of his chest. I took him to 302 Oak Street. It was the house I’d poured all my savings into the moment I knew he was coming back. I stood on my toes, covering his eyes, wanting it to be a surprise. But his stifled chuckle ruined it. “You already knew?” I glared, confused. “Aren’t your friends my friends too?” He tossed his backpack onto the sofa, sat down, patted his lap, and pulled me onto his thighs. “I…” Whatever he was about to say got lost as I kissed him. That month or so flew by. We spent more time holed up together than going out. Even though I counted every single day, the month evaporated. I started to panic. So that night, I proposed to Ethan. I put on the white wedding dress I’d secretly bought, fussing with a slightly crooked veil. Moonlight streamed in as Ethan opened the door, bringing a chill from the night air with him. He stopped dead when he saw me. The coldness radiating off him made me shiver too. “I want to marry you,” I blurted out. “Then, legally, you’ll be mine.” I watched the familiar deep red slowly creep into his eyes – the eyes of the proud, cool guy who always seemed so detached from the world. Seeing him flustered like this, brought low by my proposal, gave me a secret thrill. He was mine now. Ethan pulled me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my neck. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine. “Are you really sure about this?” His voice was the same deep, sensual rumble I remembered. I nodded hard. Later that night, he pulled me onto the bed… Afterward, he produced a card from somewhere. “This is everything I have. I should have given it to you the day I got back.” I took the card gleefully, clutching it like a treasure. We planned to go get the marriage license the very next day. But just as we arrived at the courthouse, my work phone—silent for the entire month—suddenly rang. Everyone at the station knew I was on leave. Why would they call? After hesitating for a long moment, I stepped aside to answer. My editor’s tone was off. He said there was a decision from management, something important, and I absolutely had to come back to the station right away. I looked over at Ethan, waiting patiently. We were next in line. The phone felt heavy in my hand. Finally, I walked back to him. “Ethan, something came up at work. I think… I might have to go back.” He glanced at the line. He didn’t say anything, just gave a slow, lazy smile. “Okay.” The drive back was silent. His leave was almost over. I stifled a sigh and took his hand. “Is your flight tomorrow?” He nodded. “Wait for me tonight.” He smiled and nodded again. He dropped me off in front of the TV station. I waved goodbye with all my might. If I had known then that it was the last time I’d ever see him in this life, I think I would have held onto him much, much longer. 2 The taxi stopped, pulling my consciousness back to the present. I watched Ethan walk into the familiar apartment building. The ding of the elevator button sent a tremor through my soul, a sense that something I deeply feared was about to happen. Ethan stood outside the door to 302 for a long time, his shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast. It was freezing out, but he only wore a thin black hoodie, standing motionless like an ice sculpture. Slowly, he pulled a key from his pocket. The handle was worn smooth, clearly turned over and over in his hand countless times. He was about to unlock the door. I shook my head frantically, voicelessly. “No, don’t! Don’t open it…” I reached out to stop him, but my hand passed straight through his body. I couldn’t stop him. My spectral eyes burned red with terror. But then, mercifully, he stopped. His left hand rested on the doorframe. After a long moment, he withdrew the key. He tossed it casually, and the small silver thing landed, glinting, in the crack under the door. Then, he turned and walked away. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. A dull ache started behind my eyes, a desire to cry that produced no tears. A thick fog seemed to roll in around me, making the air feel even colder. I followed Ethan back to his base, a special forces unit. After reporting in, he went silently to his dorm room. He didn’t have much luggage. He unpacked a few toiletries from his duffel bag, arranging them methodically. Something small fell to the floor. I drifted closer to see. Ethan was faster. He bent down, picked it up, and tossed it carelessly into a drawer. But I saw it in that split second. It was a photograph. In it, he and I were laughing, bright smiles on our faces, Starlight Amusement Park blurred in the background. I remembered that day. It was during his leave three years ago. I’d dragged him there, and we’d taken that picture. Except… this copy was torn into pieces, crudely taped back together. I watched him fall back into his routine. Training day after day, a highly disciplined life. He seemed to get along well with his comrades, his personality even seeming a bit lighter than before. I managed a faint, ghostly smile. That was good. At least one of us should be happy. One afternoon, after training, the gate guard called out to Ethan. Someone was there to see him. It was the third time this month someone had come asking for him. Everyone shot him knowing glances; a few guys even let out suggestive “Ooohs.” Ethan wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel. This time, he didn’t refuse the visitor. When he reached the gate, the warmth vanished from his eyes, replaced by chips of ice. His expression was deliberately casual. “I thought I made it clear. If things need returning, tell Ava to bring them herself.” He must have called me frantically back then, countless calls going unanswered. He must have been so confused, so hurt. He probably chose to believe me, believe in me. Believed something unavoidable had kept me away. Then, months later, he finally got a message from me. It was short, just a few words, but each one must have felt like a knife twisting deeper. We’re done. I’m getting married. He’d wanted to come back immediately, but his peacekeeping mission was entering a critical phase. The battlefield had no room for personal drama. After a brief respite, he threw himself back into the fighting, surviving several near-death encounters. If he’d possessed even a shred of warmth before, after that message, he became pure steel – a sharpened blade, a cold weapon, freezing anyone who got too close. The young woman at the gate stubbornly held the box out to him, her eyes brimming with tears. “My sister… she really can’t come.” A breeze rustled the leaves. Ethan let out a humorless chuckle. “Ava was always like that. Does whatever she wants, never considers anyone else. Same then, same now.” I frowned, but a part of me had to agree. Looking back, I really had been awful to him. But I didn’t have a choice back then, did I? A wave of self-pity washed over me. My sister shook her head, tears tracing paths down her cheeks. “No, that’s not it. You’ve misunderstood my sister.” “Whatever she has to say, she can tell me herself. I have to get back to training.” He turned to leave. My sister rushed after him, but her voice was drowned out by a sudden blare – the signal for assembly. Ethan’s stride faltered for half a second. Did he hear something? Died? What died? He glanced back. The girl still stood there, clutching the box, watching him. He hesitated, wanting to stop, but the insistent call of the bugle urged him forward. 3 My sister left. She went off to college far away. With only her left, Mom and Dad followed her, leaving the city behind. I stayed by Ethan’s side, day after day. Watched him sleep on schedule, wake on schedule. On his occasional days off, he’d hang out with his buddies. Lately, though, it seemed like he’d started seeing someone. The past few weekends, he’d spent his time with this new girl. A dull ache settled in my chest. “Ethan, I want cotton candy,” the girl murmured, leaning against his chest as they sat on a bench at Starlight Amusement Park. Her voice was soft and sweet. Ethan stared off into the distance, lost in thought. It wasn’t until the girl prompted him a second time that he turned back, forcing a lazy smile. “Okay, I’ll go get some.” He walked over to the stand. “Two bunny-shaped cotton candies, please.” My dim, ghostly eyes lit up. Bunnies were my lucky charm; I had bunny things everywhere. He remembered! A wave of pure joy washed over me. But the next second, he changed his mind. “Actually, you know what? Just make them regular ones.” I let out a long, silent sigh. The girl ate her cotton candy, leaning comfortably against him. A bitter taste filled my non-existent mouth. The fog around me thickened, the air growing colder. The girl shivered, blowing on her hands. “It’s freezing.” I expected Ethan to offer her his jacket, but he just raised an eyebrow, his voice flat. “Let’s head back then.” A flicker of mean-spirited happiness sparked within me, immediately followed by guilt. Was I terrible for ruining his date? I followed him back to the base. It was already dark. Suddenly, my head swam, and something dark and red trickled down my forehead. I reached up—a ghostly hand covered in phantom blood. I paced frantically outside the bathroom door. Ethan had been in there for over an hour. Why wasn’t he coming out? A terrible premonition gripped me. I tried to push through the door, but I couldn’t! It was like hitting a solid wall. I beat against the door, a useless, frantic gesture. The world seemed eerily silent. The phantom blood flowed faster, coating me. In my panic and fear, my spectral hair seemed to lengthen wildly, my eyes burning red. The lights in the hallway flickered violently, casting eerie shadows. Someone noticed the strange lights and commotion, rushing towards Ethan’s room at top speed. But they didn’t check the bathroom! In desperation, I focused all my energy, and the lightbulb directly outside the bathroom door shattered with a pop. The soldiers nearby jumped, nearly crying out. But in the sudden quiet, they heard it – the faint, persistent sound of running water from inside the bathroom. When they finally forced the door open, they found Ethan collapsed on the floor, his face deathly pale. He was rushed to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed it as complications from old injuries – internal pressure causing him to pass out. I hovered over his hospital bed, watching him sleep. His face was still the same one I remembered, but his body… scars, large and small, littered his skin. It hurt just looking at them, a deep ache that made me wish I could take his pain onto myself. The wind howled outside. I stood beside him, tracing the lines of his eyebrows, the bridge of his nose with an intangible finger. He frowned in his sleep. I sighed again. “Not even peaceful in your dreams, huh? Maybe I should stay away. Maybe if I left, you wouldn’t have such bad luck.” I watched over him for two days and three nights. On the third day, a crowd of his buddies came to visit, hearing he was awake. One of them held a box. “This came for you at the mailroom this morning. Figured I’d bring it over.” The guys started teasing him, but Ethan just tossed the box aside without looking at it. It landed haphazardly under the bed. He stayed in the hospital for three days. As he was leaving, he walked out the door without a backward glance. A young nurse hurried after him, pressing the box back into his hands. Ethan gave a small, humorless smile. He got on the bus, and then, as if finally making a decision, he opened the box. Inside, there wasn’t much. A few notebooks, a couple of small jars, and a letter. He opened one of the notebooks. The first few pages were filled with my notes from college classes. But further in, the subject slowly shifted to him. Page after page detailed the small moments we shared. Our first university welcome party together, the first time our eyes met, the first time we skipped class to see a movie, the first time we got drunk together, the first concert, rescuing that stray kitten, dreaming about the future together… “Ethan, what do you want to do after graduation?” We were lying on the grass in our caps and gowns, looking up at the bright blue sky. He held my hand, his voice quiet but firm. “I want to join the peacekeeping forces. Follow in my father’s footsteps.” My eyes shone. “And I want to be a journalist,” I’d added. “We’ll both be doing something good for people.” Wind gusted through the open bus window, flipping the pages in his hands. “I was supposed to get the license with you. Why did work have to call right then? Ethan, I miss you so much. You better not be looking at other girls, not even a glance. Wait for me, okay?…” Beside the text, I’d drawn a little cartoon of a stern-faced guy with a buzz cut. “Ethan, I have to go soon. You didn’t answer my calls. Are things really busy over there? Remember to eat properly and dress warmly.” “…” It seemed like I was rushed towards the end. The entries got shorter, more fragmented. The last one was just a single sentence. “The station gave me the assignment. I have to go to the border zone. Ethan, if I make it back alive, I swear I’ll hunt you down and marry you. If I die… this stuff is yours.” The date was the day after he had left, three years ago.

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