The day before our wedding, my fiancée, Chloe, decided to test my love by inviting our families onto a yacht. When the wind picked up and the waves got rough, she pushed my mom overboard, then jumped into the sea herself. Caught in the middle, I panicked, torn about what to do. My mom was already choking on water, but she weakly pushed me away, gasping, “Save Chloe first! She’s your fiancée!” But after I struggled to drag Chloe back onto the deck, I looked for my mother again. She was silent, lifeless. Chloe watched me sob in agony, her eyes cold. “Stop pretending. Your mom was a competitive swimmer when she was young. How could she possibly die?” “You didn’t even try to save me first. Jake was right, you just don’t love me enough.” “Our wedding is postponed. When you’ve reflected on this, and you bring your mom to apologize, then we’ll talk about getting married.” With that, she walked off, arm-in-arm with her childhood friend, Jake. But she didn’t know. After a serious illness a few years ago, my mom couldn’t swim anymore. That push had cost her her life. … When they pulled my mom’s body from the water, she was cold, gone. I held her, trembling, trying desperately to wake her, but she didn’t move. Chloe walked over impatiently and kicked my mom’s hand, which had slipped to the deck. “Alright, enough with the act! Everyone knows your mom’s a pro swimmer. A few small waves aren’t going to kill her.” “Even if you play the victim in front of me, I’m not just going to let this go.” “I can’t stand being second best. Whoever marries me has to love me completely, put me first. You really disappointed me this time.” Even being kicked like that, my mom showed no reaction. A flicker of uncertainty crossed Chloe’s face. She started to bend down to check. Her friend Jake stepped in front of her, glanced at my mom’s pale face, and scoffed. “She looks fine to me, definitely doesn’t look like she’s dying.” He patted Chloe’s shoulder, acting like an expert. “I heard swimmers like her are great at holding their breath, two or three minutes is nothing.” “I bet they planned this together, mother and son, trying to intimidate you. So after you’re married, you’ll have to obey their every whim.” Chloe froze, clenching her fists. Her gaze slowly shifted to me. “Ethan, is that true?” Before I could answer, she cut me off: “Don’t bother explaining. It’s hard for me to trust anything you say right now.” “As punishment, our wedding is delayed by six months. When you learn how to love me properly, I’ll consider marrying you again.” Then, she turned and left with Jake, never looking back. Just then, I felt my mother’s fingers twitch in my arms. It was like grabbing a lifeline; I felt a surge of hope. I scrambled over and grabbed Chloe. “My mom’s alive! She can still be saved!” “We’re on an island, there’s no hospital! Please, can you just let your private doctor take a look?” Seeing her unmoved, I pleaded again, my voice low. “Have you forgotten how good she was to you? She treated you like her own daughter! Remember during that crazy lockdown, she risked everything to bring you food? She would never harm you! She’d never try to lay down rules before you even married in!” Chloe seemed slightly moved. She paused. She studied me with searching eyes for a long moment before finally agreeing. “Fine, I’ll call the doctor.” Jake tried to stop her. “Chloe, you don’t have to—” But Chloe cut him off. “But this is the last time I trust you on this. If the doctor comes and finds out your mom is fine, you both will pay the price.” I nodded frantically. Just getting a doctor was all that mattered. I couldn’t think about anything else. But just as the doctor in a white coat hurried over with his medical bag, my mom suddenly coughed up a mouthful of seawater, hacking violently. 2 Everyone jumped when my mom opened her eyes. I froze too, but there was no joy in my eyes. I knew this was likely the final surge of energy before death, the ‘last rally’. I rushed to the doctor. “She’s fading fast, please, give her CPR, do something…” Before I could finish, Chloe raised her hand, cutting me off. Her face hardened. “That’s enough! Your mom is perfectly fine.” “Jake, let’s go.” She turned and walked away without a second glance. I started to go after her, but my mom weakly tugged at my sleeve. A tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke, her voice broken. “Ethan… don’t blame Chloe… It’s my fault, I’m useless… couldn’t even swim a few hundred yards.” “Explain things nicely to her… don’t hurt her feelings… Mom will pull through… Mom still wants to be at your wedding…” But as soon as she finished speaking, her pupils dilated, and her hand slipped lifelessly from mine. No matter how desperately I called her name, she didn’t wake up again. My heart finally died. Numbly, I closed my mother’s eyes. Three years with Chloe. I couldn’t understand how we’d ended up here. Just a year ago, Chloe and I were inseparable, madly in love. But everything changed when her childhood friend, Jake, came back from abroad. She started acting distant for no reason, constantly setting up these ‘tests’ to gauge my love. She said I had to pass ninety-nine tests of my sincerity before she’d marry me. Last time, she called me in the middle of the night to go to Jake’s welcome-home party. The moment I walked in, a bowl of flour was dumped over my head. Jake held the empty bowl, looking pitiful. “It was me. Ethan won’t blame me, right? Just wanted to liven things up a bit.” Seeing Chloe watching me with questioning eyes, I swallowed my anger and just shook my head, saying it was fine. The next second, Jake winked at Chloe, congratulating me on passing: “Not bad, your boyfriend actually passed the test. Looks like he’s got a good temper. You won’t have to worry about domestic violence later.” Chloe’s expression softened slightly, but looking at my flour-covered mess, she offered no comfort. She just told me flatly to go wash up in the kitchen and then use the leftover ingredients to cook dinner for everyone. Even though I didn’t understand Chloe’s obsession with these tests, my love for her kept me from complaining. I told myself things would go back to normal once Jake went abroad again. I never imagined it would end like this. I sat slumped on the ground for a long time before slowly getting up. After finding a place to temporarily lay my mother’s body, I went to find Chloe, who was now at a party. All I wanted was to leave this island, give my mother a proper burial, and let her rest in peace. But on my way to find Chloe, people kept pointing their phones at me. They were taking pictures, whispering among themselves. I didn’t pay much attention at first, until someone jumped out and blocked my path, shoving their phone right in my face. “Hey buddy, how much did you sell your mom’s life for? Maybe next time I’ll try faking an accident in front of the rich girl too.” I froze, snatching the phone from his hand. I saw that Jake’s friends had posted videos online. The comments were brutal: 【Isn’t the old hag supposed to be a swimming champ? How could she not even make it a few yards to shore?】 【Yeah, who knows what shady tricks she pulled back in the day.】 【If I were Chloe, I’d be crying my eyes out. Stuck with such a poor, nasty mother-in-law and a gold-digging fiancé. Probably staged the whole thing so they could control the rich daughter-in-law after the wedding, planning to bleed her dry.】 3 I pushed past the gawker and ran, frantically searching for Jake. “Jake, why did you let your friends spread these lies online!” “I can take it, but what did my mom ever do wrong? Why does she have to suffer this kind of slander even after death?” Jake lounged with his feet up on a table, looking completely unfazed. “Isn’t this just the dirty stuff you guys pulled? What, you can do it, but you can’t handle people talking about it?” “Chloe falling for you is the luckiest thing that ever happened to you. We, as her friends, have to help screen you. After all, you’re just some poor kid. Who knows what your real intentions are.” The glass in my hand shattered. Blood dripped between my fingers, but I felt nothing. Before I could say more, Chloe interrupted. “Alright, Ethan, stop making a scene. Jake was just trying to look out for me.” “We’re going to get married eventually anyway. The wedding’s only postponed by six months. If you just admit you were wrong, everything can go back to normal.” Chloe had someone bring a first-aid kit. She took out some gauze, her expression softening with a hint of concern. “Your hand is bleeding. Come here, let me bandage it.” I just looked up at her. “You also think I was putting on an act?” Chloe didn’t answer. Her silence said everything. I nodded, a bitter smile twisting my lips. “If that’s the kind of person you think I am, then let’s just go our separate ways starting today.” “Chloe, the wedding is off.” I turned to leave, but Jake called out. “Wait. Since you’re leaving, you should give back the ring Chloe gave you.” He pointed to the ring on my finger. Chloe had it custom-made for me. Her ‘sincerity tests’ started six months ago and continued until now. I endured countless humiliations during that time. There were moments I wanted to give up. But right after I suggested breaking up, she threw a massive tantrum, smashing everything in her house, then stormed out in a rage. The next morning, she rushed back home, her eyes red, hugged me, and apologized. Then, she took a ring box out, pulled out a ring, and coaxed me softly, “This is your wedding ring, I’m giving it to you early. We can get married very soon, just as long as you pass all the tests. After that, I’ll belong only to you, okay?” My heart softened, and I didn’t push the breakup anymore. I never imagined it would lead my mother and me into this abyss. Thinking of this, I didn’t hesitate. I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it coldly onto the sand. “Take it back. We don’t owe each other anything anymore.” Chloe’s face turned ugly. But I didn’t care. I walked away without looking back. She called me many times on the way, but I didn’t answer. I just held my mother’s cold body tightly, unable even to cry. Back in our hometown, I wanted to arrange the cremation and burial immediately. But no funeral home would take her. No one would issue a death certificate. Even when I knelt and begged, they answered emotionlessly. “Miss Sterling gave instructions. We can’t accept.” “The Sterling family is planning a wedding. They can’t have a funeral associated with them; it’s bad luck.” Desperate, I had no choice but to call Chloe. But Jake answered, mocking me cruelly. “You’ve got some nerve. You break up with her, and now you’re calling to harass her again.” “Give it up already. The person Chloe will end up with is me.” “Those so-called sincerity tests? Just stuff I made up to mess with her. I was trying to get rid of you, but who knew you’d stick it out this long, even getting your mom killed in the process?” Jake hung up, his laughter loud and arrogant. When I tried calling back, the line was dead. I clenched my fists and slammed the phone against the wall. I went back to our old house and set up a simple wake, placing my mom in a coffin. After the traditional seven days of mourning, I was preparing for the burial when unexpected visitors arrived. Chloe burst in, looking furious. “Ethan, buying a coffin, holding a wake, when are you going to stop this charade?” “What happened last time already embarrassed the Sterling family enough! Now you’re doing this, giving people more gossip? Don’t think my tolerance means you can do whatever you want!” Her face was full of pain and disappointment, as if I had betrayed her deep love. But right then, I just said coldly, “Don’t disturb my mother’s peace. Whatever you have to say can wait until after she’s buried. You’re not welcome here.” I had never spoken to Chloe like this before. She froze. After a moment, she bit her lip. “Enough! How long are you going to keep up this act! Do you think I’m a child?” I just calmly repeated, “Please leave.” Chloe laughed, a bitter, tearful sound. She nodded, a desolate look in her eyes. “Fine. You say your mother is in this coffin, right?” “Men, take this coffin away!” The bodyguards she brought swarmed forward, lifting the coffin. They balanced it precariously on the edge of the window ledge. One hard push and it would fall. “What are you doing!” I struggled violently, but they held me fast. I couldn’t move. And Chloe actually said, “Since you insist on lying to me, let’s play one final sincerity test.” “Do you choose this coffin, or do you choose to marry me? You can only pick one.” I stared at Chloe in disbelief. I couldn’t fathom she’d do something so insane. “Put it back! That’s my mother in there! If you really throw it down, I will never forgive you!” Tears streamed down Chloe’s face instantly. “Even faced with a fake coffin, you won’t choose me?” “Ethan, you’re truly heartless. I declare that you have failed the final sincerity test.” “Then you can just watch me marry Jake. As for this…” Chloe looked at the coffin and sneered. “Throw it down! I’m sick of looking at it!” The men released their grip. The coffin plummeted from the high floor, crashing onto the ground below, shattering instantly.

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I’m what’s known as a Tasker, someone assigned roles by a System. The identity arranged for me this time was the true daughter of the wealthy Ashworth family. When they found me and brought me back, the family already had an adopted daughter they showered with affection. She was portrayed as pure and innocent, a delicate flower untouched by the world. Meanwhile, every effort I made to fit in was twisted into manipulative scheming. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease – kidney failure – and knelt on the floor begging Mr. Ashworth to use his connections to find me a donor, that things hit rock bottom. The Ashworths just watched me coldly, assuming it was just another ploy for attention. “Stop with the pathetic act. If you really have kidney failure, then you might as well just die.” But when I genuinely lost the will to live, the Ashworths suddenly went frantic, begging me to stay. By then, though, I was long tired of trying to be family with them. 1 “We can’t delay this any longer. You need surgery as soon as possible.” In the hospital room, I listened numbly to the doctor’s advice. “No point. I don’t have the money. I don’t want the treatment.” With that, I ripped the IV needle from my hand, slipped on my shoes, and bolted out the door. “Hey!” The doctor, clearly caught off guard, hurried after me. “What are you running for inside a hospital? Emily Ashworth, are you getting completely out of control?” As I sprinted towards the hospital entrance, I bumped into someone. After a mumbled “sorry,” I tried to leave, but a hand grabbed my arm. Seeing the doctor closing in, I impatiently tried to shake the hand off, but the grip on my wrist tightened. “You…” I snapped my head up and saw Michael Ashworth’s annoyed face. Seeing me talking to Michael, the pursuing doctor’s eyes lit up with a hopeful smile. “Dr. Ashworth, you know her? Please, try to talk some sense into her. She has kidney failure but refuses treatment. If she doesn’t get a transplant soon, it might be too late. The hospital has programs, policies…” Before the doctor could finish, Michael cut him off. “Emily, seriously, enough is enough. Do you really have to go to such lengths? How did I end up with such a vicious sister? If only you were half as sensible as Jessica.” His disgusted gaze shifted to the other doctor. “How much did she pay you to stage this little drama? Are you throwing away your medical ethics for money? Don’t bother coming into work tomorrow.” Without waiting for a reply, Michael turned and walked away. I looked at the stunned doctor, swallowing the bitter lump in my throat. “I’m sorry… you got dragged into this.” There wasn’t much more I could say. Even though I was technically an Ashworth, they despised me. I had no power to help this poor doctor. “What kind of person is that? And I used to look up to him. Unbelievable.” The doctor muttered, disgusted. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just a job, not like I desperately needed it. But your condition really can’t wait.” Hearing him still fussing over me, a strange warmth flickered inside me. Michael was dead wrong; this young doctor had integrity, worrying about a patient even after being fired. “I know.” I nodded, just to appease him. He seemed satisfied with my response, gave me his phone number, and then hurried off, presumably to look for his next job. 2 After leaving the hospital, I didn’t head home. I didn’t have a home in this world. With nowhere else to go, I wandered aimlessly down the street. Suddenly, a strong force yanked me sideways. “Are you blind? Watch where you’re going, idiot! What rotten luck.” The words floated back to me as the car sped off, disappearing before I could fully register what happened. “What were you thinking? You weren’t even paying attention crossing the street. You almost died.” The person who pulled me back was Dr. David Evans, my attending physician. When I spoke, I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “So what if I died? I’m not going to live much longer anyway.” “What are you saying? If you get treatment, you still have a lot of time left.” Dr. Evans started talking non-stop, urging me to accept treatment. He was like a little sunbeam, which inexplicably reminded me of Jessica. “Enough!” I didn’t want to hear it. I yelled with almost all the strength I had left. “I told you I don’t want treatment! I don’t want to live! Why are you telling me all this? My parents and brother don’t care about me, so why should you? They all wish I was dead!” The outburst left me breathless. My emotions surged, and I could barely breathe. I hugged myself, crouching by the roadside as tears streamed down my face, splashing onto the pavement. “I’m sick of this life. I just want to die sooner. Maybe in the next life, I’ll find a family that actually loves me.” Sniffling, I stood up. The sudden movement made me stumble. I saw Dr. Evans reach out to steady me, hesitate, and then pull his hand back. I was satisfied with that outcome. Let Dr. Evans hate me too, just like my so-called family. With that thought, I walked away without a word of apology, never looking back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dr. Evans standing there, looking dejected. A flicker of sympathy sparked in me. But it vanished as quickly as it came. What right did a worthless reject like me, living in darkness, have to feel sorry for anyone else? 3 Back at the house, I had barely opened the front door and hadn’t even taken off my shoes when a glass shattered at my feet. Shards flew up, cutting my cheek. Blood instantly welled up. “I feed you, clothe you, send you to school, and this is how you turn out?” Mr. Ashworth roared. “I warned you when you tried to use kidney failure to threaten me last time! Now you’ve dragged this nonsense to your brother’s hospital? How did I end up with such a liar for a daughter? Get down on your knees!” His voice was so loud that he broke into a violent coughing fit afterward. “Dad, don’t be so angry. Emily just really wants your attention,” Jessica chimed in sweetly. That only enraged Mr. Ashworth further. “What more attention does she need?” “Have we ever denied her anything? If she were half as sensible as you, wouldn’t we pay attention to her?” “Oh dear, why are you two arguing?” Mrs. Ashworth finally stopped pretending not to notice as things escalated. “Emily, dear, we’re all family. Don’t make these kinds of jokes. Your father is just worried about you. Apologize to him, and we can put this behind us.” I glanced at the elegantly dressed woman speaking, then turned and walked away without a word. “You wretched girl! How dare you be so disrespectful…” Slam. I slammed my bedroom door shut, blocking out their voices. A bunch of hypocrites. Listening to even one more word from them made me sick. Outside the door, Mrs. Ashworth was clearly stunned. In her memory, I had always been obedient. This was the first time since returning home that I had defied them. The stark contrast brought tears to her eyes. “Mommy, don’t cry. Maybe Emily’s just having a bad day,” Jessica comforted her. Jessica’s words only intensified Mrs. Ashworth’s resentment towards me. “I don’t know why that little brat even came back. If only you were my real daughter. She’s just here to cause trouble.” She shot a resentful look at my closed door. I locked myself in my room and didn’t come out, even when it was time for dinner. Jessica knocked anxiously at my door. “Emily, come out and eat! Skipping dinner isn’t good for you.” “Why bother with her? She’s probably just pulling another stunt to make us feel sorry for her,” Michael scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Emily’s not like that, she… Ah!” The moment Jessica pushed open my door, she let out a sharp gasp. “Emily Ashworth, do you have any conscience at all? Jessica kindly calls you for dinner, and you pull this ki—” Hearing Jessica scream, Michael’s first instinct was to blame me. But his angry words died in his throat as he stared, wide-eyed, at me lying in a pool of blood. Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth sensed something was wrong and followed him to my doorway. With the whole family crowded there, my small, servant-like room felt even more cramped. “What… How did this happen?” Mrs. Ashworth covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Mr. Ashworth was the quickest to react, dialing 911. 4 When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed. Unsurprisingly, there was no one around. My wrist was wrapped in layers of bandages, making my left hand difficult to move. “You’re awake.” A nurse came in just then to change my dressing. Seeing me awake, she started chattering. “You’re so young, why would you try to kill yourself? Whatever it is, you can get through it.” “And your family… honestly. They brought you here and left not long after. How could they be so irresponsible?” “They’re not my family.” Maybe my expression was too annoyed, because the nurse stopped talking, quietly finished changing the dressing, and left. I opened my phone. Two messages sat quietly in my inbox. Michael: “Is there any point to these repeated suicide attempts? If you really wanted to die, why time it perfectly for dinner? If you’re serious about dying, do it somewhere far away. Stop bringing us bad luck.” Jessica: “Mommy and Daddy said I was traumatized and insisted on taking me out to relax. Sorry, Emily! You’ll have to take care of yourself!” Even through the screen, I could picture Jessica’s smug expression. “Where are you going?” I turned off my phone, yanked out the IV needle again, and prepared to leave the hospital. Unexpectedly, I ran into Michael, who was doing his rounds. I raised an eyebrow. Perfect timing. Not. But just because he called out didn’t mean I had to stop. Ignoring him, I darted into an elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. Michael told me to die far away, so I would. But not quite the way they intended. This was the Ashworth family hospital, and it was the place I’d chosen to jump from. I don’t know what got into Michael. Usually, he couldn’t care less about me, but this time he actually chased after me. He must have taken the stairs; tiny beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his usually immaculate hair was messy. “What are you doing up here?” Michael looked at me warily, a bad feeling creeping into his mind. My recent behavior had been too erratic. Even if he didn’t fully believe I wanted to die, seeing me on the rooftop put him on edge. “Michael, I’m tired of facing you all every day. I tried my best to please you, painstakingly learned your preferences, only to be called manipulative.” “You never wanted me in this family from the start anyway.” “So now, as you wished.” As I spoke, I walked towards the edge of the roof. “I hope in my next life, I don’t encounter family like you.” With those final words, I leaned backward. A powerful wave of dizziness washed over me. But the anticipated sensation of falling never came. Confused, I looked up slightly. Dr. Evans, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, had grabbed one of my ankles. I could clearly see the veins bulging on his arm; holding onto me was taking immense effort. How could he be so coincidentally here again? He had already pulled me back from the brink twice. “Let me go. You saw yourself, I’m not happy alive.” “What are you standing there for? Help me! Are you really just going to watch her die?!” Dr. Evans didn’t answer me, instead yelling through gritted teeth at the frozen Michael. My jump had clearly terrified Michael. It was only then that he realized all my previous actions weren’t jokes. Thank God, thank God Dr. Evans showed up in time. Following Dr. Evans’s direction, Michael grabbed my hand. Finally, that head-down suffocating feeling was gone. Even though I wanted to die, suffocating was a truly awful way to go. Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth arrived at the hospital entrance below. “Mommy, look! I think someone’s going to jump!” Jessica pointed up at the roof, clinging to her mother’s arm with a look of shock. “I don’t know why anyone would be so desperate…” Mrs. Ashworth started to say. “EMILY!”

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Seven months pregnant, and my husband’s childhood sweetheart poisoned the town’s water supply, causing an epidemic to sweep through Maple Creek. She burst into the Senator’s manor, demanding to use my unborn child as the key ingredient for a cure. I didn’t fight back. I let her take the premature baby. Because in my past life, I had pleaded with my husband, Ethan, to let me keep the child. Then, heavily pregnant, I went out to treat the sick townspeople myself. I saved their lives, but they were left with chronic, debilitating headaches. Olivia, his sweetheart, also caught the plague and died from it. Ethan comforted me, saying it was the best possible outcome, told me to rest and focus on the baby, that he would handle everything else. Then, on the day I went into labor, he had me and our newborn son dragged to the town square and publicly tortured to death. Before I died, I saw the twisted hatred on his face. “If you hadn’t poisoned the water, none of these people would have suffered! Olivia wouldn’t have died! You did this horrific thing for your own selfish reasons. Dying like this is getting off easy!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Olivia stormed the manor, demanding my child for her cure. … I closed my eyes in despair amidst the curses of the townspeople outside. I couldn’t believe it. I had run a clinic in the Capital for six years, saved countless lives, yet not a single person believed I was innocent. Even the man I loved believed I was the poisoner. As I opened my eyes again, my assistant Chloe’s voice was firm, “Ms. Hayes, our mistress has a unique constitution. Her pregnancies go to twelve months for a full term. If you take the baby now, at only seven months, it won’t survive.” Olivia scoffed, “Normal women carry for nine months, and a seven-month fetus can survive. Why is your mistress so different?” She raised an eyebrow at me, “Sarah, don’t tell me you’re unwilling to give up the baby to save everyone?” Chloe was furious. “Even if it’s to save people, you can’t do it like this! My mistress is a brilliant doctor herself! Maybe she can cure this epidemic! Why must you take her child for a cure? It’s barbaric!” Olivia couldn’t be bothered arguing. She waved her hand dismissively. “Taking the child saves the whole town! Don’t hesitate, people, get her!” Urged on by her, the crowd forced Chloe and me back against the wall. Every face was fierce, eager to cut open my belly and take the premature child to save themselves. Chloe shielded me desperately, screaming, “This is the Senator’s wife! How dare any of you touch her!” Her shout made them pause. Everyone knew Senator Vance adored his wife. Seeing this, Olivia grew anxious. “The Senator owes his position to the support of the people! We’re just asking for a little blood from the baby’s fingertip after it’s born. She won’t even make that small sacrifice for the town? She doesn’t deserve to be the Senator’s wife!” The crowd turned menacing again. “She always claimed to be compassionate, dedicated to healing, but now there’s an epidemic, she hides in this fancy manor, afraid of getting sick herself! What kind of doctor is that!” “Why should you rich folks stay safe while we common people die? I don’t care if it’s the Senator’s kid or the President’s kid inside her, I’ll take it for my own child’s sake!” A few inflammatory words whipped the crowd into a frenzy. They lost all reason. Just then, the door was kicked open. My husband, Ethan, entered with several security guards. Seeing him, Chloe scrambled over like he was her last hope, kneeling. “Senator, you’re finally back! They want to take the mistress’s baby! It’s a matter of life and death, please save her!” Olivia instantly changed her tune, looking fragile and pitiful. “Ethan, the blood of a newborn from the Bai family can cure any poison. We’re doing this for everyone in town.” Chloe cried beside her, “Senator, the mistress’s constitution is special! Taking the baby now will kill it!” Ethan’s expression shifted. Just as Chloe thought they were saved, he abruptly raised his hand and asked his men, “Where is the labor-inducing drug I asked you to prepare?” A bowl of dark brown liquid was brought forward. Chloe’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening. She tried to run towards me. Ethan’s guards swiftly intercepted her, grabbing her arms, holding her fast. Ethan held the bowl in front of me, his voice ice-cold. “Drink it.” Looking at his face, my heart shattered, but I clung to a sliver of hope. “Ethan, this is your own child in my belly. Are you truly going to take him out now?” “That’s why I found you the best midwife,” Ethan replied flatly. “I’ve asked around. A seven-month fetus can survive with careful nursing. I will protect him.” “But…” Before I could explain, Ethan lost his patience. He struck me hard across the face. “Sarah, after the evil you’ve done, just having you deliver the baby early is letting you off easy!” The force knocked me to the ground. My head hit a cabinet, ringing. Warm blood trickled down my forehead. Accusations rained down on me from everyone in the room. “Her family have been doctors for generations, how could they produce such a menace!” “So selfish and afraid to die! She’s ruining the Senator’s reputation!” The accusations were sickeningly familiar, dragging me back to my previous life. Me and my son, hung from the town walls. Ethan handed knives to the townspeople, allowing them to slice pieces of my flesh. Those same people who once called me their savior, holding knives in one hand, chili water in the other. The same expressions as they tortured me to death. That terror surged back into my heart. I took a breath and looked at Ethan. “I can drink it. But you have to grant me one request.” My quick agreement seemed to make Ethan frown. “What do you want?” I took the bowl. Before drinking, I stared straight at him. “I want a divorce.” 2 Hearing the word “divorce,” Ethan froze for a second, then sneered, “Is this some new trick?” I was too tired to argue. “If you agree, I’ll drink it now,” I said indifferently. I expected him to agree without hesitation. Instead, he crouched down, grabbed my hair, pinched my jaw open, and forcibly poured the medicine down my throat. The bitter liquid choked me, tears streaming down my face. I suddenly remembered a time I caught a cold because of Ethan and refused to take my medicine. He had paced anxiously beside me, only coaxing me gently, never saying a harsh word. That day, for every bowl I drank, he drank two, telling me with red eyes that he’d never let me suffer again. The man then and the man forcing medicine down my throat now were like two different people. After pouring it all, Ethan smashed the bowl on the floor. “You’re in no position to make demands,” he spat viciously. He left with his guards and Chloe, leaving only Olivia and the midwife in the room. An hour after drinking the medicine, my belly remained quiet. The midwife examined me again and again. “The mistress grew up around herbs and remedies,” she concluded. “She might be resistant to this drug. Should we ask the Senator about giving her another dose?” Olivia shook her head. “We’ve already wasted an hour on this medicine. Trying another type will just waste another hour. Let’s try a simpler method.” She pulled out a dagger. The midwife paled. “Ms. Hayes, you mustn’t! Cutting her open directly could kill her!” “Who cares about her life at a time like this?” Olivia laughed triumphantly. “Is anyone worried about the lives of the townspeople outside?” Seeing the dagger, I panicked too. I scrambled off the bed, trying to run. Olivia ordered the two midwives to hold me down. They pinned me but looked up, asking if they should check with the Senator. “Don’t you understand the Senator’s intention? This baby must come out today.” She approached me with the knife, aiming the tip directly at my belly. As the blade sank in, I screamed, my whole body convulsing. Blood pooled on the floor. The pain was so intense I fainted instantly. Moments later, agony jolted me awake again. Olivia applied more pressure, slicing my belly open from top to bottom. I gasped for breath, pain overwhelming me, tears falling. Outside the door, Ethan asked, “Why is she screaming like that?” Olivia clamped her hand over my mouth. “Childbirth is always painful, Ethan,” she called back. “Please don’t come in. It’s bad luck for a man to be in the delivery room.” Silence fell outside. Olivia roughly pulled my baby out. The baby let out an immediate cry. Hearing that sound, I looked up, my heart clenching inexplicably. Olivia cleaned him off. As she was about to leave, I couldn’t help but plead, “Olivia, after you take the fingertip blood, please bring him back to me.” Olivia snorted coldly and left. I heard her say to Ethan outside, “It’s wonderful, Ethan! The townspeople can be saved!” Outside, Ethan cooed over the baby twice. “Let’s go. We’ll save the townspeople right now.” Everyone left, forgetting about me, still bleeding profusely. The blood flowed faster, the pain intensified. My consciousness faded, and I passed out again. When I woke next, I heard Chloe’s crying. “Mistress, wake up…” Chloe grew up with me, my personal maid who came with me when I married. In the Senator’s manor, she was the kindest person to me besides Ethan. In my past life, she died protecting me and my son, beaten to death. I opened my eyes. Her crying grew more desperate. “Mistress, you’re awake! How do you feel? You lost so much blood…” 3 I forced myself to sit up and told her to get the small box hidden in my cabinet. Inside was a special medicinal pill, a Bai family heirloom. After swallowing it, I felt much of my strength return. I had Chloe bring me a needle and thread, and I stitched up my own abdomen. After doing all this, I used my own blood to write down a prescription and a letter, telling Chloe to deliver them to the Capital. I only learned later that someone infected had fled to the Capital, causing the epidemic to spread there too. Even the Governor and his wife had fallen ill. The cure I developed in my past life, while effective against the epidemic, left patients with chronic headaches as a side effect. But the headaches were treatable. While waiting to give birth, I had shared the treatment method with the local doctors, asking them to help the townspeople. I never imagined this act would be twisted into me seeking fame. They claimed I deliberately left them with the affliction so they would constantly remember my name. The thought chilled me again. My family had practiced medicine for generations, guided by the principle of saving lives. The Bai family name was already renowned. Why would I need to seek fame like that? But people only believe what they want to believe. So later, when someone accused me of poisoning the water, not a single person defended me. The formula I sent to the Governor was an improved version. One dose would cure the illness completely, with no side effects. After Chloe left, exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I fell into a deep sleep. Soon, I developed a fever. In my delirium, I thought I saw Ethan pacing anxiously by my bedside. But I must have been mistaken. He wouldn’t come. He was surely with Olivia, busy “saving” the town. I must have slept for about seven days when a splash of cold water woke me. I opened my eyes to see Olivia standing over me. “While Ethan and I worked tirelessly saving people, you slept soundly.” I lifted my heavy eyelids. “What do you want?” “Came to return your baby, of course.” Olivia smirked wickedly and tossed the bundle in her hands into the air. I screamed, scrambling out of bed, collapsing to the floor as pain flared from my wound. Thankfully, I caught the baby. My son in the bundle had his eyes closed, his face deathly pale, no sign of breath. I took his tiny hand. A deep gash marked his wrist. Dead. He was dead. A roaring filled my ears. My mind went blank. I looked up at Olivia, my eyes filled with hatred. “Didn’t you say you’d only take a little blood?” Because of my family’s constitution, while others carried for nine months, Bai women needed twelve. My seven months were equivalent to someone else’s five. I had hoped if she only took a little fingertip blood, I could still nurse him back to health. But she had drained nearly all the blood from his tiny body. Olivia sneered, “Sarah, you’re a doctor too. How could a tiny bit of fingertip blood possibly save so many people?” Seeing her nonchalance, I glanced down at the lifeless child in my arms and couldn’t hold back any longer. I pulled out the dagger I kept hidden and lunged at Olivia. “Go to hell!” She easily pushed me down, then took the dagger and tapped my face with it, her expression hideous. “Sarah, pathetic as you are, you think you can kill me? Are you…” She stopped mid-sentence, her expression changing dramatically. She twisted her hand, letting the dagger graze her shoulder, making it look like I had stabbed her from behind. “Mistress! Why would you do this?” Before I could react, someone kicked me forcefully. I rolled across the floor, instinctively clutching my dead child tighter. At the same time, a ginseng root landed near me. I recognized it instantly – it looked like rare, potent ginseng. I remembered once telling Ethan that ginseng was the best thing for a mother’s postpartum recovery. Ethan had smiled then. “I’ll definitely send someone to find the best thousand-year ginseng for you. I couldn’t bear for my Sarah to suffer even a little.” Could Ethan have brought this? “Sarah, you venomous woman! How dare you harm Olivia!” Ethan’s furious roar snapped me back to reality. I looked up at him, the last embers of love in my heart extinguished. Strangely, he froze when he saw me. He let go of Olivia in his arms and hurried towards me. Only then did I realize the kick had torn open the stitches on my abdomen. Blood gushed out again, instantly soaking the floor. Ethan’s face was grim as he lifted my clothes. Seeing the horrifying wound, he sucked in a sharp breath. His voice trembled. “Sarah, what happened to your stomach?”

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My fiancé’s brother, Mark, was in a horrific car accident. A steel pipe went straight through his lung. He was in the ICU, fighting for his life. And where was my fiancé, Ethan? Maxing out my credit card to throw a birthday party for his old flame’s dog. Panicked, I called him. His response was sharp, annoyed. “So I accidentally used your card for a bit of cash? Did you really need to make up some story about someone dying?” The last time I went looking for him, I found him and his old flame, Chloe, locked in a passionate kiss at a dog café. It was like he didn’t care at all that the person lying cold in the morgue was the brother who’d raised him, the brother he’d depended on for years. … When I got to the scene of the accident, Mark had just been loaded into the ambulance by the paramedics. A steel pipe was still gruesomely lodged in his chest. The sight shocked me to my core. A police officer approached me. “Family should follow the ambulance to the hospital. We’re investigating the scene now and will update you as soon as we know anything.” I nodded numbly, my body trembling as I climbed into the ambulance. Ignoring the shaking in my hands, I pulled out my phone and tried calling Ethan. Looking at Mark, unconscious and critically injured, tears streamed down my face. The line was busy. I called again and again. But even by the time Mark was wheeled into the operating room, Ethan hadn’t answered. A doctor approached me with consent forms. “Family needs to sign these immediately.” I reached for the pen, but the doctor stopped me. “It needs to be signed by immediate family.” Staring at the unanswered call on my phone screen, I felt a desperate urgency. I had no choice but to dial again. This time, finally, it connected. “Ethan, you need to get to the hospital right now! Mark was in an accident. He needs you to sign for surgery.” “Oh, you’re looking for Ethan?” A sweet, almost singsong female voice answered. I froze. It was Chloe, his old flame. “He’s helping me look for my dog right now.” Thinking of Mark, waiting, I couldn’t waste time questioning why Ethan was with Chloe. I just yelled, “Put Ethan on the phone!” A moment later, Ethan’s irritated voice came through. “What are you yelling about!” “Chloe’s dog ran off, so I’m helping her look for it. What’s the big deal? Can you stop being so controlling? We’re not even married yet.” My chest tightened, my nails digging into my palms. I fought to control my voice, tried to stay calm. “Ethan, I’m not joking. Mark was in a serious accident. He needs you at the hospital to sign consent forms…” He cut me off with a sneer. “Give it up, Maya. I already told my brother I’d marry you. What more do you want?” “You insisted on marrying me, used my brother as leverage, so you have to accept that I need… let’s call it emotional support elsewhere.” “I have important things to do today. Don’t call me again!” Ethan hung up abruptly, giving me no chance to say another word. I felt like my blood had turned to ice. A chilling cold seeped into my bones. Dragging myself over to the doctor, I begged him to start the surgery for Mark anyway. A nurse came out of the OR, saying Mark’s condition was too critical. The doctor just sighed heavily and went back into the operating room. I stood there, stunned, feeling like a thousand knives were twisting inside me. Ethan and I met in college, dated for five years. We were finally getting married, the date set for the eighth of next month. But then, Chloe suddenly came back to the country, and Ethan told his brother he didn’t want to marry me anymore. Mark had seen our relationship grow from the beginning. He refused to accept Ethan’s change of heart. It led to a huge fight between the brothers. And now, Mark was lying in surgery, and Ethan didn’t even believe me. I don’t know how I made it to the payment counter. “I’m sorry, the payment failed. Could you try swiping the payment code again?” The cashier’s voice snapped me back to reality. I tried several more times. Still declined. I almost never touched the savings in this account. I called the bank. They informed me that my entire balance had been wiped out half an hour ago. It was Ethan. 2 When I first met Ethan, he was just a broke kid. His parents had died young. It was Mark who raised him, working tirelessly to support him and put him through college. Back then, Ethan was sensible. He always worked part-time jobs to earn his own money, trying not to ask Mark for too much. Me? I grew up comfortably. With my parents’ support, I started my own small business early on and had considerable savings. After Ethan and I got together, I linked my bank card to his account. “Ethan, what’s mine is yours. Just use it.” At first, he refused. “I’m a grown man. How can I spend your money?” It took a lot of convincing before he finally agreed. “Okay, but when I make money, I’ll pay you back double.” I smiled brightly, my eyes shining as I looked at him. He gently stroked my head. Later, when he started his own business, he relied on support from both me and Mark to get by. It took him three years to become successful, a small business owner with his own savings. But I never unlinked my card. And lately, he’d barely used it. I called his number again. It was like he was waiting for it; he picked up instantly. “What, now you’re calling to chew me out for using a little bit of your money?” I couldn’t hold back my anger. “Ethan, Mark needs money for surgery! Transfer the money back to me, now!” Ethan chuckled lightly. “Is that it? Is he really having surgery?” I thought he finally believed me. Even though he couldn’t see me, I nodded. “Yes, really! Hurry up and send the money back, Mark he…” “Shut up!” Ethan’s tone was laced with mockery. “Stop acting, Maya.” “Didn’t you used to say I could spend the money on this card whenever I wanted?” “And now, just for a little cash, you’re making up all sorts of crazy stories.” I choked back my fury, my voice trembling, almost crying. “Ethan, it’s true! We can call off the wedding, I don’t care, but Mark can’t wait!” A cold laugh came from the other end of the line. “If he can’t wait, then let him die. Just bury him, problem solved.” I was shaking with rage. Ethan kept talking. “If it wasn’t for my brother pulling strings back then, your brother would have died years ago. Living these extra few years? He already got lucky!” The line went dead again. I felt like I’d fallen into an icy abyss. It took me a long moment to realize Ethan had misunderstood. He thought it was my brother who needed surgery. After five years together, I never imagined he could say something so cruel. Just then, my phone rang. It was my brother. When he heard about Mark’s accident, he immediately wired me a significant amount of money. After paying the medical bills, I saw Ethan had posted on social media. The picture was of a Golden Retriever wearing a party hat, sitting in front of a birthday cake. The background was unmistakable – they were at The Valencia, the most expensive hotel in the city. Even the cake was from the city’s most renowned baker. In the corner of the photo, I saw two hands clasped together. The woman’s hand wore a diamond ring – the engagement ring I had picked out. And Ethan’s caption read: 【Happy Birthday to Chloe’s Sunny! And happiness to my Chloe too 】 But Ethan, your brother is still in the operating room, waiting for you. While I was anxiously waiting outside the OR, the police found me. “Ms. Adams, regarding Mark Johnson’s accident, our preliminary investigation suggests it was caused by vehicle brake failure.” “Impossible. That car was just serviced three days ago.” 3 The words slipped out before I could stop them. I couldn’t believe the police’s findings. Ever since Ethan became successful, he’d actually been very good to Mark. Even when they argued, he made sure Mark’s car and anything else potentially dangerous was regularly maintained by professionals. I grabbed the officer’s arm. “Officer, there has to be more to this story.” The two officers exchanged a look. “Don’t worry, this is just a preliminary assessment.” “We will continue to investigate thoroughly.” I finally let out a breath of relief. After talking with the police, a long wait began. Late into the night, the light above the operating room door finally went out. The doctor emerged. “Hello, Mark Johnson’s surgery was successful, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He’s being transferred to the ICU.” Watching Mark being wheeled into the intensive care unit, I suddenly felt exhausted. I slid down the wall, sitting on the floor in a daze. My clothes were still stained with Mark’s blood. Pushing myself up, I hailed a cab, planning to go home and grab some clean clothes. It looked like I’d be spending the next few days at the hospital. I’d given up on Ethan. All I could do was pray that Mark would be okay. Mark wasn’t my biological brother, but he treated me like one. Ever since Ethan and I started dating, he treated me like his own little sister. So, no matter what, I had to take care of him. Waiting at a red light, I glanced out the window and a car caught my eye. It was my car. The car I bought when Ethan was just starting his business, to help him look professional. And right now, sitting in the passenger seat, was Chloe. The light turned green. Ethan sped off. “Driver, can you follow that car?” The driver gave me an “I got this” look and slammed on the gas. They drove to a resort hotel on the outskirts of the city and parked. I stopped a short distance away and watched, horrified, as they started making out. Ethan was tearing at Chloe’s clothes like a starved animal, her chest heaving up and down. My expression grew colder and colder. The cab driver glanced at the bouncing car in the distance, then awkwardly wiped his forehead. He turned to me, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Can’t trust a cheater, ma’am. Catching him in the act! Need any backup?” I couldn’t suppress the rage boiling inside me anymore. I could tolerate him seeing his old flame; fine, I wouldn’t marry him. I could tolerate him not believing me; I’d take care of his brother alone. But for Ethan to stoop this low… Using my car, deliberately, to do something so filthy, so disgusting, just to spite me. Furious, I reached for the door handle, about to get out, when my phone rang. It was my brother. “Maya, get to the hospital now! Mark… Mark’s not going to make it!” Using the last of my strength, I told the driver, “To the hospital, please. As fast as you can.” I had no energy left to confront Ethan. As their car disappeared from my peripheral vision, a wave of nausea washed over me. I gagged, trying to hold back vomit. And finally, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I started sobbing. The driver handed me tissues, murmuring words of comfort. He thought I was crying because Ethan cheated. His voice faded into the background. I could barely hear him. My mind was consumed by thoughts of Mark. He was such a good person. My own brother had suffered from a rare disease years ago, getting weaker day by day. It was Mark who never gave up, searching relentlessly for doctors who could help. His job took him to many places, and eventually, he found the specialist who saved my brother’s life. I was eternally grateful to him. My brother considered him a true brother too. When Ethan and I first started discussing marriage, Mark had already prepared a house for us. He felt that as a woman, I needed security in a marriage. So, he bought another property just for me, putting only my name on the deed. “Sister-in-law,” he’d said, “you’re the best woman I know. This is my wedding gift to you. I wish you both happiness.” He was like my own brother, maybe even better. I couldn’t accept that he was just… gone. When I reached the morgue, all I saw was the figure covered by a white sheet. My body trembled uncontrollably. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. My brother held me, tears streaming down his face too. A nurse looked at us with pity and sighed. “You should arrange to collect the body and handle the arrangements soon.” My phone rang. Shockingly, it was Ethan. I hesitated for a second, then answered without a second thought. Mark’s death was major news. Ethan absolutely needed to be told. I opened my mouth to speak, but sounds came from the other end first. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing… A woman’s moans. Rising and falling, loud and clear in my ear. 4 I gripped the phone so tightly I thought it might shatter. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard voices. “Ethan, are you really going to marry Maya? What about me?” Following a final grunt from Ethan, he chuckled lightly. “I can’t really disobey my brother’s orders.” “But don’t worry, I only love you. Even after we’re married, I’ll prove to my brother he made the wrong choice.” … I couldn’t listen to any more of their repulsive flirting. “Nurse, excuse me,” I asked, “Mark doesn’t have any other family. Can I sign to release his body myself?” She finally nodded. After signing the papers, as I was about to arrange for Mark’s body to be moved, my brother stopped me. “Maya, no matter what, you should tell Ethan.” I took a deep breath. I sat in the hospital corridor all night. It wasn’t until morning, as the sun began to rise, that I picked up my phone and called Ethan again. This time, there was no anger, no pleading in my voice. Just cold detachment. “Ethan, Mark has passed away. He’s being cremated tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want to come?” He sounded groggy, woken up by my call, and clearly annoyed. “Are you nuts? Calling this early talking about cremation? How morbid.” His attitude didn’t faze me. “I’m asking you one last time. Are you coming or not?” “No! If someone’s dead, just cremate them already! What good would I do there? Is he going to magically come back to life? God, you’re annoying. Why don’t you just go die with him?” Before he could finish, I told him the location of the crematorium. This time, I hung up the phone. I was done expecting anything from him. Mark was like a brother to me. Even if Ethan didn’t show up, I could send him off myself. I would give him a proper, dignified farewell. My brother and I waited at the crematorium. Ethan never came. My brother drove me back to Mark’s house. I needed to sort through his belongings. “Maya, he’s gone. You need to be strong…” My brother’s voice cracked before he could finish. He turned away, covering his mouth. I went into the room alone. I hadn’t expected Mark to have prepared wedding gifts for Ethan and me so early. There was also a video. In it, he was smiling warmly, like a gentle spring breeze on a winter day. Comforting. “Maya, Ethan, when you see this video, you’ll already be married.” … “Brother wishes you a happy marriage. In the years ahead, you need to understand and tolerate each other.” “Especially you, Ethan. I watched you grow up. Don’t act like a spoiled kid all the time. You have to be good to Maya.” … I turned off the video, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t have the courage to watch anymore. Ethan and I were never going to get married. Among Mark’s things, I found so many items related to Ethan. Even his old school uniforms, awards he’d won – Mark had kept everything. A pang of guilt hit me. If Ethan didn’t come to Mark’s funeral, Mark would surely be heartbroken, wherever he was. After some thought, I took out my phone again and texted Ethan the time and place of the funeral service. This time, he replied almost instantly.

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I met Ethan through a blind date set up by friends. We dated for a few months and then had a whirlwind wedding. This year marked our first Christmas together as a married couple. Before getting married, we agreed to alternate holidays with our families. This year was supposed to be with my parents, next year with his. After we hit the highway, Ethan was driving and told me to get some rest. Next thing I knew, I opened my eyes, and the car had turned around and was heading onto a completely different freeway. … Waking up in the car, I saw a sign ahead. 【Rockbridge: 50 miles】 Rockbridge? That wasn’t anywhere near my parents’ place. I snapped awake instantly and turned to Ethan in the driver’s seat. “Where are we going?” He looked a bit uncomfortable, but the car sped up slightly. “Honey, my mom just called. Maybe we could go to my place first this year?” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “Is there some emergency at your parents’ place that requires us to rush back today?” He stammered, unable to give a straight answer, just silently pressing the gas pedal a few more times. My voice rose. “Ethan, we had a deal. My parents have cooked a whole feast waiting for us for dinner.” Sensing my displeasure, Ethan finally started explaining: “Sarah, my sister Jenny managed to come home with her kid for Christmas this year, it’s a rare occasion. She really wants me to bring you home so we can all take a family photo together. Can you do this for me?” He’d told me about this sister before. She rarely came home after getting married, and supposedly her husband wasn’t good to her, always messing around. Her sudden return this time… did something happen? I checked the map on my phone. We were getting closer and closer to Ethan’s hometown. Turning back to my parents’ place would add another three hours to the trip. After his repeated pleading, I had to give in. I called my parents, explained the situation, and told them we’d have to go to my in-laws’ first this year. Though unhappy, my parents just reminded me to be careful and polite when I got there. … When we arrived at Ethan’s family home, his parents beamed, seeing us loaded down with bags and gifts. A woman walked out of the house, holding the hand of a five or six-year-old boy. The boy resembled Ethan somewhat. They say nephews often look like their uncles, so I guessed that must be Ethan’s sister, Jenny. Ethan’s mom quickly pulled the child over to me. “Bobby, come here. Say hi to Aunt Sarah.” The boy mumbled a soft “Aunt Sarah,” and I handed him the gift card I had ready. He shyly retreated back to his mother’s side. I politely greeted her, “Hi, Jenny.” She just sniffed, turned around, and took the boy back into her room. Ethan’s mom looked a little embarrassed. “She hasn’t been home in a long time, she’s a bit out of sorts. Don’t mind her, Sarah.” Since we were already here, I figured we had to make the best of the holiday. Ethan and I started helping his mom get things ready, bustling around. Jenny just watched us come and go with a long face. Especially when Ethan showed any concern for me, she’d throw out a snide remark or two. I quietly asked Ethan if his sister didn’t like me. He just reassured me, saying she was heartbroken after her husband left her, and that’s why she was acting this way. It’s normal for someone going through a rough breakup to be moody. I was puzzled, though. If she specifically wanted to meet me, why was she being so cold? All these questions were answered on Christmas Eve. During dinner, Ethan’s mother suddenly proposed that Jenny’s son, Bobby, be legally put under my name so he could attend school in the city. I glanced at Ethan. He practically buried his head in his bowl. His mother continued: “Sarah, Bobby just needs to use your address for the school district. It’s just on paper. Besides, you two don’t have kids yet anyway.” The apartment was mine. My parents made the down payment before the wedding, and I paid the mortgage. Ethan and I split our finances down the middle after getting married, so decisions about the apartment were mine to make. Seeing my silence, Ethan’s mother nudged Jenny beside her: “Are you mute? Say something.” Jenny finally spoke, reluctantly: “Can’t you see she doesn’t want to? What’s the point of you blabbering on?” Her words silenced the table instantly. Everyone looked our way. My chopsticks, reaching for food, hovered awkwardly. I nudged Ethan under the table, but he pretended not to notice, just kept eating. My heart instantly turned cold. This mother-daughter duo was putting on a show, trying to pressure me into agreeing out of politeness. … “The apartment is technically still under my parents’ names. I’ll have to ask them about this.” Luckily, when I bought it, my salary wasn’t high enough, so we put it in my parents’ names initially. It served as a convenient excuse now. Hearing this, Jenny scoffed, while Ethan’s mother forced a smile. “Well, yes, you certainly need to ask your parents. Let’s eat, let’s eat.” The rest of the meal passed with unspoken tensions. Later that night, while setting off some fireworks, one of Ethan’s young cousins accidentally bumped into Jenny. The boy mumbled, looking down, “Sorry, ma’am.” (He used a term closer to ‘sister-in-law’ in the original, but ‘ma’am’ or avoiding a title fits better here). I thought he might be talking to me and asked loudly, “What’s wrong?” The little boy just bolted away. Jenny, however, shot me a glare. That look made me feel she genuinely disliked me. The next day was Christmas Day. As soon as I woke up, Ethan told me to go serve tea to the elders. (This custom is specific, let’s adapt it to a more general ‘pay respects’ or ‘give gifts’ scenario typical of a formal family gathering, though less common in the US. Let’s make it about giving a small gift or offering a formal greeting). I was surprised that this small town had such specific holiday rituals. After offering greetings and a small gift to Ethan’s parents, his mother gave me a card with some cash inside, smiling. I took the card and turned to leave, but Ethan stopped me and led me over to Jenny. “Give my sister a greeting too.” I looked at him, utterly confused. Paying respects to parents, I understood. But to his sister? I’d never heard of such a thing. It felt archaic, almost demeaning. Jenny sat on the chair, chin held high, looking down at me with disdain. I strongly felt her hostility, even though this was truly our first real interaction. Seeing me hesitate, Ethan urged me on. “Didn’t we only do this for your parents at the wedding?” Even though Jenny wasn’t at the wedding, Ethan had plenty of other cousins and relatives there, and this wasn’t done. Ethan nudged me again. “It’s a family tradition here. Just offer her a greeting.” Seeing me remain motionless, Jenny’s expression hardened where she sat. She snapped sharply: “You married Ethan, so you follow the family’s ways. You have to do this today.” This was the first time Jenny had raised her voice at me since I arrived, openly showing her dislike. I took the small token gift Ethan was holding out, making them think I was about to present it to Jenny. The next second, I dropped it on the floor. … The atmosphere instantly froze. Enraged, Jenny lunged forward and slapped me hard across the face. It happened so fast I didn’t have time to react. Clutching my stinging left cheek, I stumbled back a step. “You’re just Ethan’s sister. What right do you have to hit me?” Looking at Ethan standing there, completely stunned, I wondered how I could have married such a spineless man. Watching his wife get hit by his own sister, and he just froze in shock. Jenny suddenly burst out laughing, her face twisting as she lunged at me again. “Today, I’ll teach you a lesson for Ethan, you disobedient bitch!” I thought Jenny was the aloof type, but deep down, she was completely unhinged. I even wondered if she had some mental health issues. Ethan’s parents finally reacted, rushing to pull her back. “Jenny, don’t be rash! Think about Bobby’s future, it depends on Ethan and Sarah!” I naturally assumed they meant Jenny was divorced and now relying on her family and her brother, Ethan. Suddenly, Bobby rushed out from the room, pummeling me with his small fists and feet. “You bad woman! It’s your fault I don’t have a daddy! I’ll beat you up!” Bobby’s words left me completely bewildered. This was the first time I’d ever met Jenny, let alone her supposed ex-husband. What misunderstanding was this? Ethan’s mother quickly covered Bobby’s mouth and dragged him away. Jenny was also led away, leaving just Ethan and me in the living room. He was silent for a long time, seemingly searching for an excuse. “Sarah, don’t take it personally. My sister… she’s not mentally stable right now. I apologize on her behalf.” He tried to step forward and hug me, but I dodged him. “So you just stood there and watched your sister hit me?” My relationship with Ethan was built over just a few months. He was introduced by a friend, and I thought he was honest and responsible. Now, it seemed he’d hidden his true nature very well. The plan to start trying for a baby after the New Year was now completely off the table in my mind. I decided I needed to seriously re-evaluate our marriage. … That evening, after Ethan’s sincere apologies, I backed down slightly. Christmas break was only a few days anyway. I could tough it out. Seeing my mood soften, Ethan brought up Bobby again. “Do you think maybe Bobby could come live with us after the holidays? My mom could come too, to look after him. My sister’s mental state… she definitely can’t care for him right now.” Seeing my silence, he added: “My parents have retirement pensions; they won’t need money from us. We can live just like before, plus we’ll have someone home to do chores and cook.” With him putting it that way, it was hard to refuse. Even if I disliked Jenny, the child was innocent. Growing up with a seemingly unstable mother could ruin his life. Plus, his grandmother would be looking after him, not me. When I nodded, Ethan was overjoyed and tried to get close to me. I instinctively pushed him away. “We have to get up early tomorrow to visit your uncle’s family. Let’s sleep.” The next day, on the way to visit relatives, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the neighbors were looking at me strangely. When I glanced their way, the chattering groups would fall conspicuously silent. Just as we neared his uncle’s house, an older woman, Mrs. Davis maybe, suddenly called out from behind us: “Ethan! How come your first wife isn’t out today?” Ethan’s face became extremely unnatural. “Mrs. Davis, what nonsense are you talking about? My wife is right here!” Mrs. Davis looked me up and down. “Oh? Went to the city and tricked another pretty wife, did you!” Another? Mrs. Davis’s words made me certain Ethan was hiding something significant from me. I wanted to ask her what she meant, but Ethan quickly pulled me away, muttering that Mrs. Davis had dementia. After visiting his uncle’s family and exchanging pleasantries. The uncle’s family also acted strangely, constantly asking, “When is Jenny leaving?” I was surprised by their intense curiosity about Jenny’s plans. I returned to Ethan’s house filled with doubt. Before I even stepped into the living room, I heard his mother’s voice. “Jenny, you need to stop provoking that Sarah for a while. What if she gets upset? What about Bobby? Can’t you just tolerate it for a few days?” Then came Jenny’s furious roar. “What was wrong with me asking her to show respect? She should have knelt and served me tea! Just based on the fact that I entered this family before she did! Back in the day, Sarah would just be a concubine!” My mind suddenly went blank. A few words echoed in my head. Ethan’s child… concubine… The words circled relentlessly. I couldn’t believe it, but I quickly understood what she meant. Ethan beside me was already panicking, rushing inside to try and stop them. Just then, Jenny burst out of her room, hair disheveled. The slap mark on her face was still clearly visible. … Seeing Ethan and me standing at the doorway.

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I was in the hospital for my stomach problems, watching the live broadcast of my wife, Ava, winning the Breakthrough Artist Award on the TV. She was all smiles, talking about thanking the most important person in her journey. But there wasn’t a single mention of me. The camera panned to the audience, focusing on Ava’s childhood friend, Liam. A reporter asked what their relationship was. They stood silent. But the identical rings on their clasped hands sent the reporters into a frenzy of flashes. Finally, under the gaze of thousands, they shared an intimate, passionate kiss. I chuckled softly and typed a comment on the live stream. Wishing you happiness. 1 A sharp sting on my hand made me frown. The nurse was staring intently at my phone, only realizing I was looking when she flinched and hastily tended to my IV drip. “You’re a fan of them too! I absolutely love their CP! They’re such a rare real couple in show business!” The nurse chattered excitedly, pulling out her own phone to show me fan edits of Ava and Liam, the screen filled with well wishes that made my eyes ache. I scrolled through them, my heart aching too. January 20th, my birthday. Ava said she had work at the studio and couldn’t come home. Instead, she decorated an entire beach with flowers for Liam. March 16th, our wedding anniversary. Ava said she had a tight schedule. But she was photographed embracing Liam on a beach in Miami. June 5th, Ava’s birthday. I cooked a huge dinner. By the time the food went cold, she and Liam were sharing smiles in a recording studio. Every time she was absent from my life, she was present somewhere else, with him. The ache in my chest intensified, mirroring the churning pain in my stomach. My finger slipped, and the tablet screen landed on a reality show. It was a couples’ show. When the invitation first came, I’d worked overtime for a month straight just to clear my schedule so Ava and I could participate. But Ava dismissed it, saying it was boring, that her career was taking off, and appearing on it wouldn’t be good for her image. So I had to drop it. During that month of overtime, I saw the city skyline at 4 AM more times than I could count. But home was always dark, just me, alone, lonely. Yet, on that show, Ava had her arms wrapped around Liam’s neck, laughing loudly, saying, “Of course, you have to leave a light on for the one you love when they come home.” I took a deep breath, feeling the sharp pain in my gut, and sent Ava a text: “Let’s get a divorce.” On the live broadcast, Ava’s assistant quickly handed her the phone. 2: Dreams of the Past Ava frowned as she opened the message, her brow furrowing. She muttered under her breath, “Damn it,” then shut off the phone and tossed it back to her assistant. She seamlessly returned to the live broadcast, smiling sweetly as she held onto Liam’s arm. A curious reporter asked, “Ava, who was that message from? You didn’t look too happy.” Ava’s expression froze for a second, then she shook her head with a troubled look. “Just some overly enthusiastic fans. My assistant is handling it.” She leaned into Liam’s embrace. “We really hope everyone can be rational fans. I already have someone I love.” Liam stroked her hair affectionately. “Our Ava is just too popular. It’s making me feel insecure.” Ava snuggled against him, saying sweetly, “But my heart belongs only to Liam.” Liam looked down at her, and they shared a meaningful smile. My stomach twisted painfully. To help Ava win this Breakthrough Artist Award, I, someone unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, had busted my gut finding resources for her. She couldn’t sign with a good agency? I invested my own money, throwing cash at the problem until she got a contract with the best agency out there. Her acting wasn’t great? I begged veteran actors to mentor her while simultaneously sucking up to directors to get her more opportunities. Her temper was volatile? I hired the best PR firm to spin it as “straightforward and endearingly honest.” Even this stomach condition – I got it from being forced to drink excessively at business dinners while trying to secure those resources for her. I gave almost everything for her, but it seemed like she never saw any of it. The live broadcast continued, their sweet interactions drawing screams from the audience. I gasped from the pain, my hand trembling as I reached for the call button by the bed. Everyone was focused on them; no one cared about me, alone in this hospital bed. The room was filled only with the cheers from the broadcast. I tried desperately to control the pain, but then a line from the show echoed: “Ava loves Liam forever!” I whipped my head toward the screen. Amidst a shower of pink heart effects, Liam and Ava were locked in a tight embrace. They looked like they would never be parted. Amid the screams and blessings, the churning in my stomach became unbearable. I lost control, fell from the bed, and passed out. When I woke up again, Ava was sitting by my bedside, scrolling idly through her phone. 3: Pushing Too Far Seeing me awake, Ava tossed a file onto my chest, ordering, “Sign this.” My stomach still throbbed dully. I picked it up and almost laughed bitterly. It was an appointment letter. If signed, Liam would replace me as CEO of Sterling Corp. I pressed the call button for my assistant, asked him to bring me water, and help me sit up. “Is there nothing else you want to say to me?” I stared fixedly at Ava, unable to believe I had loved this person for five years. “Just sign it. I’m busy. I’ll leave once you’ve signed.” Perhaps seeing my lack of movement, Ava clicked her tongue impatiently. “Someone dug up an old interview where I mentioned my husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp.” “Things being what they are, I can’t let Liam be wronged. Just appoint Liam as CEO.” “Liam is innocent. It’s tragic enough he got dragged into our mess. Don’t make trouble.” I gave a cold laugh. “So, what you’re saying is, even though I’m your legal husband, to prevent your lover from feeling wronged, I need to hand over everything I own?” “Ava, how did I never notice before? Are you completely clueless?” Ava shot up from her chair, furious. “Ethan! What did you say!” “How dare you talk about Liam like that!” “Let me tell you, I’m famous now! I’m not someone an upstart like you can associate with! If you know what’s good for you, sign the papers. Otherwise, don’t blame me for playing rough!” I was livid, staring hard at Ava, about to say something more, when the door suddenly opened. Liam walked in carrying breakfast. “Ava, honey, I got you breakfast. You must have been exhausted last night.” They exchanged a knowing smile. Liam then acted as if he just noticed me. “Oh, Ethan, man, I’m so sorry. I forgot you were in the hospital with your stomach thing. Didn’t get you anything. Please don’t mind.” Ava rolled her eyes. “Mind? Why would he mind? Why should you have to serve him?” She threatened again, “Hurry up and sign this agreement!” Liam wrapped an arm around Ava’s waist, feigning embarrassment. “Ethan, really sorry about this. Ava just cares about me too much. She can’t stand seeing me suffer even a little, so you’ll have to take the hit, buddy.” “No need to be sorry. It’s not like I plan on taking any hits.” I snapped a few pictures of the agreement with my phone, then, to their utter shock, ripped it into pieces and threw the shreds in their faces. “I’m not signing this. You can leave now.” I closed my eyes, ready to dismiss them. Liam looked hurt, holding Ava’s hand. “Ava, maybe you should just tell everyone about Ethan. I’m really not good enough for you. You’re so amazing, and I have nothing. Only someone like Ethan, who has everything, deserves your love.” It was always like this. Whenever Liam wanted something from me, he’d claim he wasn’t good enough for Ava, and Ava would invariably hand over whatever he desired on a silver platter. This time was no different. Ava asked me coldly, “Last chance. Are you signing or not?” “Not signing.” I watched her calmly, curious to see what stunt she’d pull next. But Ava just turned and left. 4: Wife Escalates, My Counterattack Not long after Ava left, my assistant rushed into the room. “Mr. Sterling! This is bad! Mrs. Sterling is saying you coerced her!” The accusation was so absurd that I froze for a moment. Taking the assistant’s phone, I saw Ava had posted on social media, accusing me of essentially forcing her into a relationship using my power and wealth, making her my “kept woman.” That was why, she claimed, she’d said on the show her husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp. But then, she alleged, I cruelly discarded her for someone new, leaving her unable to cope, even developing depression. It was Liam, she claimed, who saved her, helping her slowly heal and embrace the world again. A complete reversal of truth, twisting facts. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Who was this person I had loved all these years? Her audacity stemmed from one thing: she was convinced I loved her. Convinced I wouldn’t destroy her. Convinced I’d take all the blame. Convinced she could threaten me. But the moment she kissed Liam, that love died. Ava had just won the Breakthrough Artist Award the night before; her popularity was peaking. Major media outlets were reposting her social media blast. Even the company’s stock price was affected. I said calmly, “Release the marriage certificate. And everything about Ava’s history with the company, release it all.” Ava and I met in college. She wrote letters to me via campus mail for a year. We agreed to meet on a specific day. After we met, things progressed naturally – dating, marriage. In the early years of our marriage, I arranged for her to work at Sterling Corp. But she was spoiled and arrogant, using her status as the CEO’s wife to run wild, even leaking confidential company information. When discovered, she denied everything until the security footage was played. But back then, she cried, promising she’d change, her eyes filled with tears, looking at me helplessly, as if I were her entire world. How could I abandon her? So, I protected her. Later, she said she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, unwilling to be confined to domestic life. So I poured money and resources into launching her career. But she grew closer and closer to Liam, to the point where, unbeknownst to me, the public saw them as the couple. My eyes stung. Fighting back tears, I told my assistant, “Draft a divorce agreement.” Ava, this time, I’m letting you go. 5: Wife Refuses Reality, I Resolve to Leave After my assistant posted the marriage certificate and details of Ava leaking company secrets online, the situation exploded. The internet was buzzing, filled with condemnation for Ava: “So all that marketing was just the ‘true love’ story of an adulteress and her side piece.” “Using her husband’s resources only to slander him? What kind of new low is this?” But I wasn’t finished. I hired a top-tier PR firm, instructing them to use this incident to utterly ruin Ava’s reputation. Simultaneously, I reached an agreement with her entertainment agency to suspend all her activities, effectively blacklisting her. I didn’t forget about Liam either. Liam had been obscure since his debut until about two years ago when his luck suddenly changed, landing him a role on a reality show he wasn’t qualified for, which made him famous. I had my assistant investigate Liam, and sure enough, some interesting things surfaced. After handling all this, the suffocating pressure in my chest finally eased somewhat. But Ava stormed into my hospital room, furious. “Ethan! Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve caused me!” “How could you do this to me?” “I’ll give you one chance. Go public right now and say you made it all up. Otherwise, I’m divorcing you!” She ordered me around arrogantly. I just smiled faintly and had my assistant bring the drafted divorce agreement. “You want a divorce? Fine. Sign here.” Ava snatched the papers, glanced through them quickly, then threw them on the floor. “On what grounds are you demanding I leave with nothing!” Liam noticed Ava trembling slightly and quickly took her hand. “Ava, Ethan’s just angry. We were in the wrong this time.” “He’s just upset. If you just sweet-talk him a little, he’ll come around. Think about how much Ethan loves you! How could he possibly bear to treat you like this?” “Guys just need a little coaxing. Just smooth things over, and it’ll be fine.” Liam’s words seemed to restore Ava’s confidence. She scoffed, rolling her eyes at me. “You want me to bow down? Not in this lifetime!” “I’m a big star now! I won the Breakthrough Artist Award! But you, Ethan, you’re just some new money!” “If you know what’s good for you, apologize to me! Otherwise, we get divorced!” With that, she proudly swept out with Liam. Her sheer confidence left me with a headache. All my past sacrifices for her, what did they mean in her eyes? It wasn’t that she didn’t see them; she just didn’t care. She took everything for granted. She squandered it, wasted it. To her, I was just a fool, wasn’t I? Even now, she thought my actions, based on my past blind devotion, were just ploys to force an apology out of her. I sighed and called my assistant. “I recall the VIP rooms have security cameras, right?” “Yes, Mr. Sterling. What is it?” “Release the footage from the day Ava came here demanding I sign that appointment letter. And release the photos of the letter too.” Let’s see how confident they remain when facing utter ruin.

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My wife brought her young lover home while I was away on a business trip. To keep our six-year-old daughter from interrupting their fun, in fourteen-degree weather, my wife’s lover locked her out on the balcony all night. By the time I got home, my daughter was barely breathing. The prolonged exposure to the cold had caused multiple organ failure. Sobbing, I begged my wife to come to the hospital to see our daughter one last time. She couldn’t care less, even angrily slapping me across the face. “Ethan, do you ever do anything besides making excuses to get my attention? This just makes me sick of you!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a desolate smile spreading across my face. “Fine. I won’t bother you again.” This marriage was about to end soon anyway. … My business trip was supposed to continue, but a sudden blizzard grounded all flights. Around midnight, I dragged my suitcase home. Afraid of waking my sleeping wife and child, I let myself in quietly. As I approached the bedroom, I heard faint, intimate moans coming from inside. I froze. Through the slightly ajar door and in the dim light, I glimpsed my wife, Chloe, half-reclined on the bed, a half-naked man leaning over her, doing things I couldn’t bear to describe. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. The embarrassing, lustful sounds kept spilling out from the room. “Chloe, is your husband as good as me? Who makes you happier, him or me?” “You, of course!” Chloe gasped. “My husband’s useless, getting old, body’s breaking down. How could he compare to a young, energetic guy like you!” I stood there, stunned into disbelief, a thunderclap exploding in my head, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. The intimate sounds continued. “Nate… it was never satisfying enough back at the office. Tonight… you better please me properly!” “Chloe, this is the third time tonight, still not satisfied?” “Three times isn’t nearly enough… five times, at least!” … I listened blankly to their conversation, my mind a void, my chest pricked by a thousand needles, the pain so sharp it almost stole my breath. I couldn’t believe the woman I’d been married to for seven years had betrayed our marriage long ago. In an instant, immense rage consumed my reason. Burning with fury, I kicked the bedroom door wide open. With a loud bang, the two people inside jumped, startled, scrambling off the bed. Chloe hastily threw on a coat, looking at me in shock. “Ethan, weren’t you on a business trip? Why are you back so suddenly?” Chloe’s face was flushed, and several glaring red marks on her neck stung my eyes. My heart aching beyond measure, I strode towards her. “If I hadn’t come back, how could I have caught you in the act?” “What nonsense are you talking!” Chloe’s face flashed with annoyance as she tried to defend herself. “Nate is just someone I hired for an in-home massage. We were just doing a simple massage. Can’t your mind be less filthy!” “Massage?” I couldn’t help but sneer. “Massaging you with his mouth? And does a massage require taking off all your clothes?” Chloe flew into a rage, yelling at me furiously, “Are you blind! Can’t you see I’m still wearing underwear? Where am I naked!” My gaze dropped to the lace bra and thong visible under her coat. The absurdity was overwhelming. In seven years of marriage, she had never dressed this seductively for me. My voice was ice. “Are you sure what you’re wearing isn’t lingerie?” “Ethan!” Chloe’s eyes widened in fury, glaring at me. “Can you stop twisting things! I work hard enough all day, and then I have to come home to your attitude! I just paid for a massage, do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?” She showed no guilt, only righteous indignation. I stared at the Chloe before me, feeling nothing but a chilling sorrow in my heart. She was always like this, twisting logic, turning the tables, making wrongs seem right. Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired. Chloe ignored me, went to the closet, grabbed some clothes, got dressed, and then headed for the door with the massage guy. “Good thing you’re back. You can take care of Lily. I have to go back to the office for overtime. I’m leaving now.” With that, she left with the massage guy without a backward glance. 2 Only then did I remember my daughter. Lily was six now, old enough to understand some things. How much psychological damage would Chloe brazenly bringing a man home for an affair cause her? I couldn’t bear to think about it. I immediately went to my daughter’s room, only to find it empty. Living room, study, playroom… Lily was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through me, my brow starting to twitch uncontrollably. Just as I was about to call Chloe, I caught a glimpse of a small figure almost buried in snow on the dimly lit balcony. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I rushed over, unlocked the sliding balcony door, and with trembling hands, lifted my daughter from the freezing snow. Lily was barely conscious, curled into a tight ball, her breath shallow, her body bone-chillingly cold. The glass door was covered in scratches, mark after mark made by her small hands, shocking and heartbreaking to see. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Pushing aside my grief, I hurried my daughter to the hospital. Outside the emergency room, I furiously dialed Chloe’s number. But her phone remained off. Hours later, a nurse wheeled Lily out of the ER. The doctor shook his head regretfully. “You brought her in too late. The child suffered from hypothermia for too long, leading to multiple organ failure. She doesn’t have much time left… You should prepare for the worst.” I stared at the doctor in disbelief, my heart feeling like it was being shredded by a thousand knives, the pain nearly suffocating me. I couldn’t accept that my daughter, so full of life just yesterday, was now about to be separated from me forever. Lily was in a deep coma, yet she kept murmuring, “Mommy… Mommy.” My heart twisted in agony. The doctor sighed. “The child probably wants to see her mother one last time. You should call her mother quickly; there isn’t much time.” Clutching my aching chest, I nodded, grief-stricken. No matter how deep our conflict ran, I couldn’t let my daughter die with regret. Chloe’s phone was still unreachable. I drove straight to her company, running three red lights in my desperate haste. But as I reached her office door, I heard a familiar male voice from inside. “Chloe, last night at your place was unfinished business. Your bratty daughter kept interrupting us. We finally locked her out on the balcony, and then your useless husband came back. Such a buzzkill! How about now… we continue where we left off?” My fists clenched tightly, knuckles white. Chloe’s soft, seductive voice seeped through the door crack. “Okay, while no one’s bothering us, let’s have some real fun～” I couldn’t hold back any longer. I furiously kicked the office door open. The two, who were undressing, jumped in fright. Chloe quickly pulled her clothes back on. Seeing it was me, her face turned livid, and she scolded sharply, “Ethan, why didn’t you knock!” Consumed by rage, I strode towards the massage guy and punched him hard in the face. Before he could react, I kicked him twice more, sending him staggering backward. I grabbed his collar, raising my fist again. Chloe rushed over, enraged, and slapped me hard. “Ethan, are you crazy! Why are you hitting people for no reason?” My blood boiled, and I stared daggers at Chloe. “Chloe, to screw around with this shameless gigolo, you locked your own daughter out on the balcony in the freezing cold? Do you have any idea how cold it was last night? Fourteen degrees Fahrenheit!” But Chloe wasn’t concerned about Lily; her only focus was defending her lover. “I’m warning you, watch your mouth! Nate is my assistant now, not some gigolo! Don’t you dare slander his reputation!” My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I forced back the pain. “Chloe, do you know Lily was freezing last night, she got hypothermia, she’s dying…” “Stop talking nonsense all day long!” Chloe refused to believe me, shouting, “That girl is tough as nails, eats like a horse, hasn’t caught a cold in years. How could she be dying from being outside for a little while? I think you’re just trying to manipulate me!” Thinking of my daughter in the hospital, tears flowed uncontrollably. “Fourteen degrees, all night long, Lily was only wearing thin pajamas. Even an adult couldn’t stand that, let alone a six-year-old child…” “Enough, Ethan!” Chloe cut me off impatiently. “All I did was have Nate come over for a massage, and you’re making such a jealous scene! If you want to be jealous, don’t use our child to lie to me!” Utterly exhausted, I didn’t want to argue anymore. I just hoped she would go see Lily. My voice hoarse, I pleaded sorrowfully, “I’m not lying. Lily is really dying. She wants to see you. Please come to the hospital with me, see her one last time…” But Chloe remained unconvinced, raising her hand and slapping me again. “Ethan, do you ever do anything besides making excuses to get my attention? You’re over thirty, accomplished nothing, and all you do is get jealous! This just makes me sick of you!” I stared blankly at Chloe, feeling chilled to the bone. Seven years of marriage. I poured my heart and soul into this family, gave her my salary, did all the chores, gave her everything. When Chloe wanted to start her business, I even gave her my parents’ retirement savings to support her. And this was how it ended. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a desolate smile spreading across my face. “Fine. I won’t bother you again.” This marriage had no reason to continue. 3 I returned to the hospital, heartbroken. Sitting by Lily’s bedside, watching her pale face and weak breathing, my tears fell like broken strings of pearls. My daughter used to be lively, cheerful, innocent, and naive, a little sunbeam constantly brightening my life. Now, she lay weakly on the hospital bed, hanging on by a thread. In the end, all I could do was watch helplessly as the heartbeat on the monitor slowly flatlined. My daughter was gone forever. I held her small body, crying hysterically. I handled Lily’s funeral arrangements alone. After her cremation, I carried her urn back home. It was late at night when I arrived. Chloe had once again brought the massage guy home. They were flirting openly on the living room sofa. I was numb, walking past them as if they weren’t there. “Ethan,” Chloe called out nonchalantly, “Nate is visiting today. He’s hungry. Go make him a bowl of noodles.” I ignored her, walking straight into Lily’s room. I took out a duffel bag and started packing Lily’s favorite clothes and toys, intending to burn them and bury the ashes with hers. Halfway through packing, Chloe stormed in angrily. “Ethan, I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me!” I didn’t acknowledge her. Chloe, furious, snatched a toy from my hand, cursing, “What’s your problem? I haven’t even blamed you for hitting Nate today, and you’re giving me the silent treatment!” She glanced at the duffel bag in my hand. “Why are you packing Lily’s things for no reason? Don’t tell me you’re planning to run away with her? Ethan, you’re over thirty, can you stop being so childish? Is playing these games all day fun?” Seeing my continued silence, she went on, “How many times do I have to tell you, Nate is just my new assistant. Those times you caught us, he was just giving me a massage, nothing else! Can you stop being so jealous? You’re really exhausting me!” I didn’t even look at her, continuing to pack my daughter’s belongings. Once everything was packed, I turned to face her and calmly said, “Chloe, let’s get a divorce.” “What did you say?” Chloe paused, disbelief washing over her face. “Are you crazy? You want to divorce me?” “Yes, divorce,” I murmured softly. “Ethan, how long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum!” “I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’m serious.” My voice was devoid of emotion. Chloe, however, was agitated, her neck flushed red with anger, her eyes filled with resentment. “On what grounds do you want a divorce? I’ve been with you for so many years, sacrificed so much for this family, even had a C-section, cut through seven layers to give you a daughter, and this is how you repay me?” Hearing the word “daughter,” an unavoidable stab of pain shot through my heart. My voice hoarse, I retorted coldly, “Chloe, you’re unworthy of being a mother. What right do you have to mention our daughter in front of me?” “Ethan!” Chloe completely lost it, her eyes blazing, her face contorted with rage. Suddenly, she snatched the duffel bag from my hand and threw it violently onto the floor. Instantly, Lily’s belongings scattered everywhere. “Ethan, don’t push your luck! I’m telling you, my patience has limits!” Looking at the mess on the floor, my heart ached. I immediately bent down to pick up Lily’s things. But Chloe’s gaze shifted to the urn on the table. “What piece of junk is this? Carrying it around like a treasure since you walked in. Did some slut give it to you? I’m smashing it today!” My pupils contracted. I quickly stood up to stop her. “Chloe, don’t!” But Chloe was blinded by rage, completely ignoring my plea. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked the urn violently to the floor. With a loud crash, the urn shattered into pieces. My daughter’s ashes scattered across the floor, drifting in the air, a scene of desolate sorrow. My composure shattered, I nearly fainted. “Chloe, do you know what this is—” “Chloe, what are you guys doing?” The massage guy, hearing the commotion outside, walked in, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Why is it so dusty in here? What kind of dirty stuff did you spill?” Hearing this, my blood boiled, the rage inside me about to explode. What right did he have to call my daughter dirty! Fury consumed my reason. I ran into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and charged towards the massage guy, overcome with rage. Chloe’s face paled. She immediately ran over to block me. “Ethan, what are you doing? Are you insane!” My eyes were bloodshot, my body trembling with anger. “I’m going to kill this adulterer!” Chloe thrust out her chin, her gaze sharpening, almost grinding her teeth. “Ethan, what’s gotten into you! If you have the guts, kill me first! You coward, do you dare?” I stared deadly at Chloe, the hand holding the knife trembling slightly. For a fleeting moment, I truly wanted to raise the knife and slash her neck. But just then, my phone rang, breaking the tense standoff. My sanity gradually returned. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Lily wasn’t buried yet. I couldn’t do anything foolish. I took out my phone and answered the call. The cemetery staff’s loud voice came through the receiver immediately. “Mr. Hayes, the paperwork for the burial plot you purchased is complete. You can proceed with the burial now…” Chloe froze, her face filled with astonishment. “Buy a plot? What plot? Who died?”

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A few days before Christmas, my boyfriend, Ethan Cole, suddenly vanished. I searched everywhere, finally finding only a blank check and an envelope. “I’m off to marry some heiress. Take this check and disappear. Know your place and don’t make a scene.” My place? What place is that? I wonder if my actual place, as NYC’s unofficial princess, measures up to the “place” he’s talking about! … I glanced at the handwriting on the envelope. It was definitely my boyfriend’s. I was puzzled. Ethan and I had barely argued since we started dating. We hadn’t even exchanged harsh words. Why would he suddenly dump me like this? And so cruelly? Tucking the envelope away, I raced to the exclusive club Ethan frequented for leisure. I had the black card he’d given me. Unexpectedly, I was stopped at the door! “Excuse me, this is a private club. Members only.” I looked at the tall man in black standing before me, my knuckles cracking audibly. “Are you sure you want to stop me?” He seemed prepared for this reaction, showing no surprise. “Please leave, Miss Yang. Mr. Cole doesn’t wish to see you.” Before I could respond, Ethan’s familiar voice came from behind him. “As a parting gift, you’ll receive a blank check.” “On the condition that you keep your mouth shut. Understand?” I looked at this man, both strange and familiar, feeling lost. Though Ethan and I hadn’t known each other long, my feelings for him were real. Just last night, he’d arranged a spectacular fireworks display specifically for me. In that moment, I admit, my heart soared. We watched the sky explode with color from the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows, hugging, kissing. But when I woke up the next morning, my boyfriend was gone. I had even planned to bring him home for Christmas. But everything happening now felt like it was telling me it was all just a dream I’d imagined. “Ethan, have you run into some trouble lately?” I reached for his hand, but he pulled away. “If you’re really in some kind of difficulty, just tell me. I can help you solve it. Please don’t joke about breaking up!” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to anyone in such a pleading tone. The moment I finished, Ethan glanced at me disdainfully. “You?” He looked at my faded, almost white work clothes and laughed out loud. “I even got you your job. What could you possibly do to help me?” “Just take the check and get out of my sight.” Ethan had interviewed me for my job, but that was because I didn’t want to work at my own family’s public company. “Ethan, listen to me. I really can help you. You just need to tell me what’s going on.” I lowered my pride, truly not wanting to lose him. But this time, Ethan didn’t even look at me. Instead, someone beside him spoke up. I recognized him – Kevin Harding, the HR manager. One of Ethan’s lapdogs. “Miss Yang, it seems you haven’t quite grasped the difference between you and Mr. Cole.” He approached me slowly as he spoke. “Mr. Cole is offering you a blank check out of consideration for the time you spent together.” “Don’t push your luck. Don’t think you’re something special.” Normally, Harding’s words would have set me off. But now, I bit back my anger and spoke again to Ethan, whose back was still turned to me. “Ethan, do you remember what you told me before?” “You said nothing could ever tear us apart, no matter what happened. Have you forgotten all that?!” I practically yelled the last sentence. Ethan flinched slightly but still didn’t turn around. “Ava, just go. Take the money and start a new life somewhere else.” “And… everything I told you before… it was all lies. Forget about it.” His words hit me like a deflating balloon. All my strength drained away. Soon after, Harding started pushing me towards the exit. “Miss Yang, if you please.” I couldn’t resist, shouting towards Ethan’s back. “Ethan! I’m begging you, believe me! I really can help you!” “Believe you?” Harding sneered. “Count your blessings, Miss Yang. You dated Mr. Cole for a short while and gained wealth most people never see in a lifetime.” “If I were you, I’d be pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.” Amidst Harding’s mockery, I was forcibly ejected from the club. In the final second before the door slammed shut, Ethan never told me why he broke up with me. 2 After leaving the club, my initial plan was to reveal my true identity to Ethan. But as soon as I picked up my phone, another message arrived. It informed me I’d been fired from the company! It seemed he was determined to cut all ties with me completely. Not long after, Kevin Harding from HR tagged me in the company-wide chat, demanding I come in today to process my termination paperwork. I silently replied “Okay” in the chat. Ten minutes later, I was back at the entrance of Ethan’s company. I looked up at the place where I used to work, sighing at how quickly things had changed. Though I was just a junior employee, everyone treated me politely because Ethan had my back. Now that news of me being dumped had spread throughout the company, probably everyone was waiting to laugh at my misfortune. Sure enough, the moment I stepped out of the elevator, the whispers began. “See? I told you girls like her, who sleep their way up, always get replaced eventually.” “Exactly. Look at her background. Did she really think some trash could turn into treasure?” “I heard Mr. Cole gave her a million dollars and a condo as a break-up settlement. She’s set for life.” … With every step I took, I heard my colleagues’ taunts. I offered no explanation, just silently signed my name on the termination papers. “Ava Yang, is it?” Just as I put down the pen, ready to leave, Harding suddenly grabbed my wrist. “What do you think of me?” Harding stared at me with a lecherous grin, his eyes roaming my body. I instinctively stepped back, looking at him with disgust. “Get away from me. I don’t know what you mean by that.” He smirked, pulled the blinds closed around us, and lunged, grabbing me in a hug. “Ava, dear, Mr. Cole doesn’t want you anymore, but I do.” “As long as you take good care of me, then…” A flash of coldness crossed my eyes. A sudden “Aargh!” echoed. Harding instantly clutched his groin, sinking to his knees in pain. “I suggest you get to a hospital now. If you wait too long, the Harding family line might end here.” Tossing that remark over my shoulder, I kindly opened the blinds for him. The employees outside gasped, their mouths agape at the scene. I’d heard rumors while working here that the HR manager often harassed female employees. My kick, in a way, was doing Ethan’s company a public service. Pest control. Just as I gathered my things and prepared to leave, I finally overheard the real reason for Ethan’s breakup in the elevator. “Hey, did you hear? Mr. Cole’s fiancée is the Kingsley heiress from Boston. They say she has a notoriously bad temper, and worst of all, some disturbing hobbies… rumor has it she enjoys tormenting men.” “Totally. If the Kingsleys hadn’t helped crack open the Boston market these past few years, why would the Cole family be so desperate to marry their son off to her?” “Tomorrow, at our company’s annual gala, Mr. Cole is going to officially announce the engagement to Miss Kingsley.” I only managed to step out of the elevator, leaning against the doorframe, after everyone else had dispersed. The Kingsleys of Boston? Ethan, this was the reason you wouldn’t tell me? What a fool. The Kingsleys, who seem so untouchable in your eyes, are just a minor pawn in my view. If I wanted, anyone could take their place. A few minutes later, I dialed a number back home in DC. “Dad, the Kingsleys are bullying your daughter and stealing your son-in-law-to-be. You gonna do something about this?” 3 Cole Industries, Ethan’s company, was considered a major player in NYC. Their annual gala was naturally a lavish affair. Especially today, being the day the Cole and Kingsley engagement was to be announced, nearly every big shot in NYC would be attending. “Excuse me, Miss, do you have an invitation?” When I arrived at the gala venue, a security guard stopped me at the entrance. “Sorry, I forgot my invitation.” Truthfully, I had no idea you even needed an invitation to get into this place. Growing up, I’d always gotten into any venue just by showing my face. “I’m really sorry, but without an invitation, I can’t let you in.” Just as I was about to make a call, a sickeningly familiar voice sounded behind me. “Well, well, isn’t it Miss Yang? It’s cold out here, why aren’t you inside?” “Oh, dear, silly me. I forgot, you just got dumped by Mr. Cole, didn’t you?” I didn’t even need to look to know it was Ethan’s lapdog, Kevin Harding. He had a woman in a revealing dress draped on his arm. His walking posture, however, was a bit strange. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It seems yesterday’s kick didn’t leave a lasting impression on Mr. Harding.” Harding didn’t get angry at my words, just leered at me. “Want to get inside, Miss Yang? Beg me. If you beg me, I’ll take you in.” “Of course, as payment… tonight, you’ll have to…” Before he could finish his sentence, another “AARGH!” ripped through the air. Just like last time, Harding clutched his groin, collapsing to his knees in agony. This time, I’d used full force. Even rushing to the hospital now probably wouldn’t be enough. I strode forward, looking down at him imperiously. “Know why a dog is always a dog? Because it can’t stop eating shit.” With that, I crouched down and rummaged through his jacket pocket until I found the invitation. Without a word, I handed it directly to the security guard who had stopped me earlier. “Here’s the invitation. Can I go in now?” Before the guard could fully react, I quickened my pace and slipped smoothly into the venue. I had to admit, as one of NYC’s top families, the Coles did have some resources. The main ballroom alone could hold several thousand people. It was clear the Coles placed great importance on this union with the Kingsleys. But compared to my family’s events, this was… cute. I remembered my eighteenth birthday when my father rented out Madison Square Garden to celebrate. During the time Ethan and I dated, he mentioned more than once how rich his family was. Each time, I’d pout “Not as rich as my family.” And each time, Ethan would playfully tap my nose. “Okay, okay, my Ava is the richest princess in the whole world.” He said it jokingly, but it was the absolute truth. I was indeed a princess, the richest princess in DC, in fact. But he just wouldn’t believe it. “Ava! What are you doing here?” As I wandered around, I spotted that incredibly familiar figure in the crowd. Ethan saw me and quickly hurried over. “Didn’t I leave you enough money? What are you doing here?” He carefully pulled me into a deserted corner, seemingly afraid of being seen. I stared blankly at the man who had promised to love me forever, the words catching in my throat. Seeing my silence, Ethan grew more anxious. “Leave! Now! Get as far away as possible. This isn’t the place for you.” He grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the exit. Feeling the warmth from his palm, I drifted off for a moment, as if back in those happy times. “Ethan Cole, you have some nerve.”

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Learning I was pregnant, my husband’s old flame deliberately set a fire, trying to burn me alive. I didn’t scream for help. Instead, I helped my mother-in-law, who had passed out from the smoke, struggling to survive. In my past life, I cried desperately in the inferno. My husband led people to rescue my mother-in-law and me first. To compete with me, his old flame, Chloe, rushed back into the fire and died from severe burns all over her body. After she died, my husband said she deserved it for setting the fire deliberately, and he became incredibly attentive to me after the shock. But after my child was born, my husband used a picture frame with Chloe’s photo to beat our baby to death. “It’s all your fault, you and your daughter, for making me lose my beloved! Go to hell and atone!” In despair, I took him down with me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the inferno. … “Sarah, hang on! Mom will get you out of here!” A familiar voice sent a chill down my spine. Just as I opened my eyes, the burning, warped wooden door crashed down, barely missing my nose. Terrified, I immediately pulled my mother-in-law back into the bedroom. “Mom, don’t open the window! It’ll make the fire worse.” I quickly scanned the room, ripped open a pillowcase, soaked it with bottled water, and handed it to my mother-in-law, motioning for her to cover her nose and mouth. Sirens wailed downstairs. My mother-in-law’s face lit up. “Don’t worry, Ethan’s here with help.” “We’ll be okay.” Seeing her excitement, I lowered my eyes and said nothing. I didn’t know how to tell this elderly woman that her own son would later torture and kill her granddaughter for his old flame. The temperature inside rose rapidly from the fire; the tiles beneath my feet were scorching hot. Just as I helped Mom to a safer spot, Ethan’s voice sounded outside the door. “Chloe! Chloe, are you in there?” “Don’t be scared, I’m here to save you!” With a loud crash, the door was violently broken down. I couldn’t see anything through the crimson flames, but I heard Chloe’s crying: “Ethan! I’m on the balcony!” “Help me, I’m so scared…” “Everyone follow me! Don’t waste time searching, come to the balcony rescue!” Hearing their conversation, my mother-in-law suddenly clutched her chest, gasping violently. “That monster… Ethan, that damn monster, how could he…” Before she could finish, she rolled her eyes back and fainted from sheer anger. Through the thick flames, I saw Ethan carrying Chloe princess-style, his back retreating. The fire consumed everything. Tears welled in my eyes, only to evaporate instantly upon falling. In that moment, I choked back the cry for help that almost escaped my lips. Ethan, this time, I don’t owe you anything. As Ethan carried Chloe away, I covered my nose and mouth, shifted positions several times, and finally managed to get Mom onto my back. The effort caused sharp pains in my abdomen, and it took all my strength just to stand up straight. I carried Ethan’s child in my womb and Ethan’s mother on my back. Standing there in the sea of fire, I listened to their distant voices. “Chloe, is anyone else home?” “No one, Ethan. Sarah said she was pregnant and too delicate… We just argued a little, and she locked me in, set the fire, and ran off herself…” “That damned bitch! When I catch her, I’ll make her pay!” My body went limp, and I nearly collapsed. The next second, another voice rang out: “Ethan, I thought I heard someone talking in the bedroom.” “I have a feeling someone’s still inside. What if Sarah’s still in there…” “Chloe already said Sarah did this to her! Would she stick around waiting to die after doing something like that?” “Let’s go! Chloe’s always been frail; the most important thing now is to get her to the hospital!” 2 The pain in my stomach was unbearable; I nearly ground my teeth to dust, wanting to fight my way out of the fire. My mother-in-law on my back must have been woken by the thick smoke. She gripped me tightly, stopping me, and started screaming desperately. “Ethan, you little bastard! Your wife and child are trapped in here! Who are you taking to the hospital?” I stopped, listening intently for sounds outside. But the footsteps had faded. Ethan was long gone. A wardrobe, warped by the fire, crashed down violently, blocking our only escape route. Trembling, I poured the last bit of water onto the cloth and handed it to Mom. Tears streamed down her aged face as she looked at me. Just as she was about to speak, sirens wailed again downstairs. The sound was just like when they arrived. Ethan had left with his Chloe. The fire grew fiercer. I thought despairingly, We’re probably not getting out this time. Mom coughed a few more times on my back, then went silent. The flames intensified, already licking at the hem of my clothes. In the nick of time, a shout came from outside the door: “Sarah! The security guard said he didn’t see you leave! Are you still in there?” I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and quickly responded. Soon, a figure burst through the fire with an extinguisher. I finally couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, Mom and I were safely downstairs outside the building. The person who saved us was Ethan’s colleague, Mike. His face was blackened with soot. Seeing me awake, he managed a smile. “Sarah, I told him I heard you guys! That Chloe insisted no one was inside…” After saying that, he crumpled to the ground. Onlookers quickly called for ambulances. The three of us weren’t critically injured, but Mom had several underlying health conditions, and Mike had inhaled too much smoke; both were still unconscious. When Ethan got the news, he rushed to the hospital. Seeing me, he ignored the nurses trying to stop him and slapped me furiously across the face. “You bitch! How could you be so cruel? Why would you try to kill Chloe?” “You weren’t even home! Why did you go back into the fire? You almost killed Mike too, do you realize that!” “I can’t believe I married such a venomous woman! If anything happens to either of them, you’re a murderer!” I had just survived a near-death experience, still reeling from the terror, only to be knocked to the floor by him. Meanwhile, Chloe peeked out from behind Ethan. “Sarah, I know you hate me, but did you ever think about how many people you could have hurt?” Then, she leaned weakly against Ethan’s shoulder and started coughing violently. Seeing the flecks of blood Chloe coughed up, Ethan turned and brutally kicked me just as I managed to stand up, sending me sprawling again. “You evil bitch! Why didn’t you die in that fire!” “I should have just dragged Mike away back then and let you burn alive!” He looked down at me, his eyes filled with hatred. The woman he protected in his arms had a look of pure provocation on her face. And I no longer had the strength to argue with them. Blood began to pool beneath me. Tears streamed down my face from the pain. My scorched throat could only manage a few syllables: “Doctor… call a doctor…” Seeing my agony, Ethan smirked cruelly. “Doctor?” “Did you ever stop to think, what if you had killed them? Would they have had the chance to call a doctor?” I stared fixedly at the man before me, my eyes stinging unbearably. Before Chloe showed up, he had been so excited about this baby. He had prepared the nursery early, even chosen a name. Ethan Jr. He said, giving the child his last name and a part of mine was the best gift. But now, seeing the blood spreading beneath me, he turned and covered Chloe’s eyes. “Disgusting. Don’t let it scare you.” 3 When I woke up again, I had been moved to a different room. Seeing me awake, the nurse slammed a medicine bottle into the trash can, her voice dripping with disgust. “Well, look who’s tough.” “Hurt so many people, and all you lost was a baby. Lucky you, huh?” My throat felt like it was on fire, I couldn’t make a sound, only endure the contempt. Seeing my state, the nurse slammed the door open and loudly called out to people outside. “The suspect’s awake! Take her away, don’t dirty our hospital.” “How dare you harm the daughter of a fallen hero? Such bad luck. Why didn’t you burn to death?” Two officers grabbed me without a word. Soon, I was facing Ethan. Across a table, his face was dark. He immediately started accusing me: “Sarah, you venomous snake. Attempted murder.” “Considering you were pregnant, I can request probation for you, but you’re definitely doing time for this!” After saying this, he stiffly turned his head away, as if speaking another word to me would taint his purity. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but my voice was so hoarse I could only cough violently. Just then, Chloe rushed in, crying, and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. “Ethan, I had another nightmare.” “I dreamed I was burning to death in the fire, I was so scared…” Ethan’s barely softened expression turned to stone again. “Sarah, I really don’t know how a sweet girl like Chloe could have possibly offended you.” “Why do you hate her so much? Why do you keep trying to hurt her, again and again!” “Her father died in the line of duty! How could you, how could you do this to the daughter of a hero!” He couldn’t continue, clenching his fists and slamming them hard on the table. Someone handed me warm water. I took several sips before I could finally speak, my voice raspy: “I didn’t start the fire. Chloe did.” “The one who should be in jail isn’t me, it’s her, the arsonist. And you, for failing your duty.” Ethan slammed the table again, jumping to his feet. He leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on my eyes. “Chloe is innocent and kind! How dare you slander her like that!” “She already told me everything that happened! It was you! You, you venomous woman, set the fire deliberately over a petty argument!” Beside him, Chloe appropriately burst into tears: “Ethan, she’s trying to frame me again.” “I’m so scared… I just wanted to stay by your side like a little sister, is that too much to ask? Sarah, do you really have to want me dead before you’ll stop?” She stepped forward, shaking my arm insistently. As I pulled my arm back in disgust, Chloe screamed and fell backward. “Ethan, help me! She pushed me hard…” Ethan promptly stood up, caught Chloe in his arms, and with his other hand, grabbed me and threw me violently to the floor. “Sarah! You dare hurt her right in front of me?” “Have you got any conscience left!” “If pregnant women couldn’t avoid jail time, I’d throw you in right now to make you reflect!” I looked up at the furious Ethan. His features were still so familiar, just like when he used to make promises to me. But now, I held no more illusions about him. In the last life, Chloe killed herself, and he thought I was the murderer. This life, Chloe is alive and well, and he still thinks I’m the arsonist. This marriage… I didn’t see the point anymore. I opened my mouth, my voice devoid of any emotion: “Ethan, let’s get a divorce. If you want to charge me, go ahead.” “The baby’s gone now. Let’s see if you can actually send me to jail.” Ethan’s brow furrowed suddenly, his voice laced with disbelief: “What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean, the baby’s gone?”

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My mom was a hardcore shipper, obsessed with M/M romance. To get a front-row seat to her favorite kind of OTP, Mom introduced me to Jason Miller. I was kept completely in the dark, forced into being his beard. Jason’s boyfriend, Ethan, had kidney failure. To get him a transplant, Jason planned to carve my kidney out himself, knife stroke by knife stroke. In my final moments, I placed my last hope in my mother and sister. But Mom took a step back, feigning heartbreak, and shook her head at me. “Chloe, honey, someone always has to sacrifice for true love. It just happens to be you this time.” My sister, Stella, was in the operating room, frantically punching numbers on a calculator, greedily eyeing my remaining organs. “Why not just take the rest of her organs too? They’re worth a lot of money.” I died tortured, leaving only an empty shell, my body dumped in the river by their combined efforts. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Mom introduced me to Jason. 1 The memory of the pain was still vivid. But the harsh sunlight streaming through the window told me I’d been reborn. My gaze fell on Mom, beaming as she introduced the sharply dressed Jason Miller standing beside her. “Chloe, honey, you’re not getting any younger. You know what they say about women over thirty! Look at this young man, so handsome, great job.” Meeting their probing, appraising gazes, I fought down the hatred threatening to erupt inside me. Last time, I’d believed Mom was looking out for me, carefully choosing a good man. I didn’t realize until I was dying that it was all to satisfy her own obsession—shipping real-life gay couples. As my eyes closed for the last time, I’d asked her in disbelief, why? Why push your own daughter into the abyss? My words seemed to tear open an old wound. Her eyes bloodshot, she brandished a knife, slashing at me viciously. “What do you understand? Only same-sex love is real love! Straight relationships are just… wrong. Someone has to sacrifice for pure love! It just happens to be you!” “I had a true love once, but your grandmother ruined everything! She tore us apart! She forced me to get married and have children, making me lose my true love forever!” Hatred flared in Mom’s eyes. Amidst my terror, she plunged the knife down, gouging out my eyes. After I was dead, she cradled my body, sobbing. “Don’t blame Mom, please don’t blame Mom. Your eyes… they’re just like your grandmother’s. I hate her, I hate her!” Snapping back from the memory, I calmly picked up my coffee cup and took a sip. Mom’s smile froze, a hint of anger creeping in. “Chloe Davis, are you even listening to me?” I looked Jason up and down. He seemed like a decent guy, almost too perfect. “He doesn’t look like he’s hurting for female company,” I said lightly. “Or male company, for that matter.” Jason blinked, then awkwardly offered, “You can check my phone anytime. I have nothing to hide.” Right on cue, his phone rang. The caller ID read “Delivery.” Same old trick. Whenever I was with Jason, he’d get calls from “Delivery,” but he never actually received any packages. Once, when he was showering, I tried to answer it for him. He burst out, barely bothering with pants, snatched the phone, and yelled at me. Clearly, his little boyfriend getting jealous. But this time, I snatched the phone first and quickly hit speakerphone. Ethan’s slightly coquettish voice came through. “Baby J, why aren’t you answering my calls?” I feigned surprise. “Wow, delivery services are getting really personal these days, huh?” Jason’s face went pale as he lunged for the phone. “I’m working. Be professional.” The voice on the other end immediately switched tones, calling him “Mr. Miller.” Mom jumped in, trying to cover for him. “Oh, you know how young guys are, always joking around. Don’t be so sensitive.” 2 I nodded slowly, pretending to finally understand. Jason breathed a sigh of relief and immediately asked, “Ms. Davis, would you consider—” I held up a hand, cutting him off, and rushed towards the restroom. I stayed there for a good ten minutes. “Sorry,” I said upon returning. “My old job as a hotel manager… it was so busy, I never had time for bathroom breaks. I got used to holding it in. Now that I’m older, my kidneys aren’t what they used to be.” “My last check-up wasn’t great. Tried to take better care of myself, but it didn’t really help.” Jason visibly tensed but managed a polite smile, seemingly unsure if I was serious. “You’re too impressive, Chloe. I’m worried I’m not good enough for you. But if you’re interested, of course, we could give it a try.” Mom clapped her hands together and leaned back, grinning like an idiot. Jason offered me his contact info, asking me to add him. My eyes flickered, and I waved my hand apologetically again. “Sorry, gotta use the restroom again.” I repeated this charade four or five times, really selling the “bad kidneys” story. When I returned the final time, Jason’s face was dark, arms crossed, looking impatiently at Mom. I glanced down at the barrage of texts from Stella on my phone – mostly variations of “Where the hell are you?” and “Why didn’t you clean up my makeup disaster?” I snapped a picture of Jason and sent it back. “Sorry, sis. Mom set me up on a blind date. Bit busy today. Actually, I’ll probably be busy a lot from now on… busy dating.” Sure enough, Stella unleashed a flood of sixty-second angry voice messages, demanding to know why Mom found me such a hot guy and demanding my location. A smile touched my lips. I generously sent her the address. I remembered vividly how, as I lay dying, Stella had been in the operating room punching numbers on a calculator, figuring out how much my organs would fetch. She had conspired with Jason, personally forcing the drugged milk down my throat. Afterward, she’d stood over me like a victor. “My dear sister, who told you to be so stupid? Can’t even keep a man interested. If you had any charm, he wouldn’t have cheated with a guy. This is all your fault, your incompetence. You deserve to die.” Since she was so capable, this “blessing” was hers for the taking. Mom was desperately trying to make conversation between Jason and me. Jason just leaned back in his chair, ignoring her, scrolling through his phone. Mom shot me frantic looks. I pretended not to notice, patiently waiting for Stella to storm in. 3 Soon enough, the star arrived. Stella, wearing dramatic makeup, her eyes lighting up the second she saw Jason, plopped down right next to him. She tossed her hair, feigning shyness. “Hi, I’m Stella Davis, her sister. Younger and prettier.” Jason looked her up and down, unable to hide the smirk in his eyes. Mom shot me a furious glare, panicking, and yanked Stella away. “Who told you to come here? You brat, get back home right now! This isn’t the place for you.” Stella stomped her foot, pouting. “Why does she get introduced to such a great guy? You always favor her! I don’t care, I like him too.” I watched, amused, as Mom stammered, unable to explain, and Stella fought tooth and nail to take something—anything—from me. Stella lived by a simple motto since childhood: “What’s mine is mine, and what’s hers is mine.” She’d throw a fit if I got something she didn’t, even something trivial. So, I knew she’d fight me for Jason. In my past life, she’d actually cried and screamed at home, demanding to marry him. That was the one time I’d held onto something I thought was mine. Turns out, I was holding onto trash. Mom’s face flushed red. She couldn’t very well reveal Jason was gay—why would she introduce a gay man to her daughter then? Jason stood up and smoothly pulled Mom aside into the nearby stairwell. Clutching my stomach, pretending to have another urgent need, I slipped away towards the restroom. Then I quietly doubled back, held my breath in the stairwell, and listened to their conversation. Jason’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. “I want Stella. Her kidney is a better match. Ethan can’t wait much longer. Don’t make trouble.” Mom, teary-eyed, clutched his sleeve. “No, no, go mess with Chloe! Do whatever you want to Chloe! Stella… I raised her since she was little. I can’t bear it.” Jason grabbed Mom’s throat, squeezing until her face turned purple. “So what if you raised her? Forgot whose blood runs in her veins? That man’s blood. Admit it, after all these years, he tamed you. You fell for him.” Mom’s eyes turned bloodshot, hatred spewing out with her yell. “I didn’t! I hate them! Only same-sex love is real! My heart only has room for her!” Satisfied, Jason helped her up. “That’s right. Only same-sex love is real. Someone has to give something up for pure love, right? You wouldn’t want to see me and Ethan end up separated like you were, right?” Mom’s eyes hardened slightly, but she still hesitated. Then Jason played his final card. “I’ve found the woman you loved back then. She’s overseas now. After she left you, she lost her appetite, couldn’t sleep, fell into a deep depression. I’ve already arranged for her treatment. If you help me, I’ll bring her back to you.” Mom shed her last trace of sadness, her voice urgent, as if afraid he’d change his mind. “Okay, okay, I’ll help you! You have to make sure she gets the best treatment. I want to see her.” Just like that, in less than ten minutes, Mom traded Stella away like a bargaining chip, just as she had done with me in my past life. I quickly and silently slipped away, returning to my seat across from Stella, acting as if nothing had happened. Stella shot me a venomous look, her challenge obvious. When Mom returned, she wore the mask of a loving mother again, beaming as she told Stella that Jason found her very unique and felt more connected to her. I nearly choked on my coffee. Unique? If wearing lingerie as outerwear counted as unique, then sure. Stella shrieked with delight, linking her arm happily through Mom’s. Before leaving, she looked down at me with pure mockery. “Sister, I win again. You’re still useless. What was yours is mine now.” A genuine smile spread across my face. “You can have him. Trash belongs in the trash can, after all.” Watching her swagger off triumphantly, I knew the seeds of my revenge were already sprouting. My dear sister, your good fortune is just beginning.

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