The first time my wealthy boyfriend, Carter, came to meet my mother, Eleanor, he brought a signature orange Hermès gift box. Eleanor’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t stop showering him with praises. But after Carter left, we opened the box. Inside, there was no luxury bag—just a skimpy, three-piece bunny maid outfit. Eleanor’s face flushed with anger. “If you two want to play bedroom games, why on earth did you involve me?!” My face burned bright red. I couldn’t understand why Carter would pull a stunt like this. If he wanted to play dress-up, why didn’t he keep it at his place? Why did he have to show it to my mother? Just as I pulled out my phone to demand an explanation, a text from Carter popped up: “How is it, babe? Does your mom love the limited-edition bag I got her?” Reading his text, the words of anger died in my throat. I lifted the lace outfit and measured it against my body. That was when I realized the bust size was at least a D-cup—way larger than my own. Looking at my furious mother, I took a deep breath. “Eleanor, don’t be mad. This outfit wasn’t meant for me.”

I took a deep breath and stuffed the scandalously skimpy bunny suit back into the box. Eleanor’s face was still bright red, her chest heaving with anger. “Not for you? Then why the hell did he bring this trash into my house? Does he think I’m some senile old fool, or does he just think our family is easy to walk over?” Eleanor is a retired elementary school principal. She had lived a dignified life. She had never faced such an insulting situation. On his very first official visit, my boyfriend had gifted her a sex toy of an outfit. If word got out, our reputation in this quiet suburban town would be completely ruined. It would be total social suicide. “Maybe… maybe he just grabbed the wrong box,” I forced a smile, trying to calm her down. “You know how Carter is. He’s careless. He’s a rich guy with too many friends. Maybe one of his buddies left it in his car.” Even as I said it, my knuckles turned white clutching the edge of the box. Grabbed the wrong box? The Hermès box was wrapped so perfectly. If it wasn’t prepared on purpose, how could he accidentally bring this specific box into our house? My phone screen lit up again. Another text from Carter. “Babe, why aren’t you replying? Is your mom too thrilled to speak to me?” He attached a cute “begging for praise” meme. Looking at that stupid emoji, my stomach churned with disgust. Too thrilled? Eleanor wants to take a broom and beat you out of the neighborhood right now. I grabbed my phone and walked out onto the balcony. “Let me call him. I’ll make him apologize.” I slid the glass door shut, blocking out my mother’s angry sighs. I didn’t text him back. Instead, I called Carter directly. It rang once before he picked up. The background noise was deafening. It sounded like some high-end club, with girls giggling in the background. “Hey, babe!” Carter’s voice sounded smug and distracted. “So, what’s the verdict? That bag is a limited-edition piece I had to pull serious strings to get. Your mom is going to look so classy carrying it…” “Carter,” I interrupted him, my voice freezing cold. “Who was the gift in that box actually meant for?” There was a sudden pause on the other end. The giggling in the background grew faint. He must have walked to a quieter hallway. “What do you mean? It was for your mom, of course!” I stared down at the dry, winter lawn of our neighborhood, a mocking smile on my face. I decided to drop the bomb. “Do you know what was actually inside that Hermès box, Carter? It wasn’t a purse. It was a lace bunny-girl outfit with a crotchless thong. And the top size is a 36D.” Silence. Dead, suffocating silence for a solid five seconds. “Fuck!” Carter cursed loudly. “Oh shit. I grabbed the wrong one! Babe, listen to me! I swear it’s a massive misunderstanding! I went shopping with Mason this afternoon. You know Mason—he’s a total frat boy. He wanted to buy this kinky stuff for his new girlfriend. I bought the bag, he bought the outfit. The two boxes looked exactly the same. Same size, same orange color. I was just so excited to see you that when I got out of the car, I grabbed the wrong box!” Honestly, the logic was perfect. It sounded completely believable. I kept my voice calm, pretending to buy it. “Really? Yeah, Mason has always been a bit wild.” Sensing I was softening, Carter immediately jumped on it. “Exactly! That guy has nothing but dirt in his brain! He made me look like a total creep in front of your mom!” He promised over the phone, “Don’t worry, babe. I’m calling Mason right now to scream at him. Tomorrow morning, I’ll come over to apologize to your mom in person. The real bag is still with Mason. I’ll go get it. To show how sorry I am, I’ll buy another one! Two Hermès bags for your mom to make up for this mess, okay?” Two Hermès bags. What a generous move. If this were before, or if I were any other naive girl, I might have been blinded by his wealth. I might have even thought it was sweet how responsible my boyfriend was when he made a mistake. But right now, the only thing in my mind was that 36D bunny suit. If he really grabbed the wrong box, why was the lingerie packed so beautifully inside a real Hermès box? Even if Mason bought it, what kind of guy puts cheap lingerie into a multi-thousand-dollar luxury purse box to take home? Unless… this was done on purpose. Or, Carter had prepared two gifts from the start. One for his “36D” side chick. And one for his official girlfriend’s mother. And in his rush—or perhaps right after climbing out of that 36D chick’s bed—he got confused and mixed them up.

“Carter,” I said, my voice sweet and playful. “Mason is really living the life, isn’t he? I didn’t know he and his girl were so… adventurous.” “Oh, totally. He’s a wild animal,” Carter chuckled over the phone, trying to play along. “His girlfriend, Scarlett, right?” I casually threw out the bait. “When we had dinner last time, she seemed so quiet and shy. I didn’t expect her to be so… wild behind closed doors.” On the other end of the line, Carter’s breathing hitched for a split second. But he recovered quickly, his tone becoming even more confident. “Ah, babe, you don’t know her. Scarlett is only quiet in public. When she’s alone with Mason… well, you get it. It’s just their little bedroom game. Anyway, babe, I gotta go. I need to find Mason and swap the boxes. Apologize to your mom for me! I’ll see you tomorrow!” He hung up quickly, as if afraid I’d ask more questions. The smile on my face instantly vanished. Men lie. It’s in their DNA. I opened Instagram, my fingers trembling as I scrolled through my chats until I found Scarlett’s profile. Six months ago, Carter, Mason, Scarlett, and I had double-dated. That was the first time Carter introduced me to his wealthy social circle. During dinner, Mason was incredibly attentive to Scarlett, and Scarlett looked at him with pure adoration. I could tell she genuinely loved him. Because she was sweet, I added her on Instagram. I clicked on Scarlett’s profile. I scrolled down to a post from three months ago. The photo was a torn picture of her and Mason, with clothes scattered all over the floor. The caption was sharp and final: “Trash belongs in the trash can. If you can’t keep it in your pants, get the hell out of my life. Three years wasted on a dog. Mason, I hope you rot.” Mason had left a comment below, which was deleted later, but I remembered it clearly: “Whatever. Stop acting like a saint.” Three months ago. They had broken up three months ago. And it was a toxic, ugly breakup. They blocked each other on everything. So, who was the “lingerie for Mason’s girlfriend” really for? A ghost? Or was it just a convenient cover story Carter made up to hide his cheating? More importantly, Carter had agreed without hesitation when I mentioned Scarlett’s name. It was obvious. He was lying. He was using a dead relationship to cover up the real owner of that bunny suit. The image of the 36D outfit flashed in my mind again. 36D. A very specific, very voluptuous body type. So, Carter had a curvy woman hidden in his life. A woman I didn’t know about. “Chloe? What’s going on?” Eleanor pushed open the balcony door, looking at me with worry. “What did Carter say? Was it really a mistake?” Looking at my mother’s silver hair and her anxious eyes, the anger in my chest turned into cold determination. I turned around, hugged her arm, and smiled brightly. “Yes, it was just a stupid mistake. Carter bought it for his buddy Mason. Mason’s girl… well, young couples these days play some weird games. Carter was just stupid enough to let his friend put his stuff in his car.” Eleanor let out a long breath, patting her chest. “I knew it! Carter is a good boy. He wouldn’t do something so disrespectful. You scared me! But that Mason guy is a bad influence. Tell Carter to stay away from him!” “I will,” I nodded obediently, guiding her back to the living room. “Carter said he’s bringing you two new bags tomorrow to make it up to you.” “Oh, he doesn’t need to do that. As long as it was a misunderstanding…” Eleanor smiled, her anger completely gone. I helped my mother get ready for bed. When I returned to the living room, I stared at the orange Hermès box on the coffee table. Inside, the bunny suit was lying quiet. But my heart felt heavy and cold. Carter, if you want to play games, let’s play. But if you think two bags are going to buy your way out of this? In your dreams.

To find out who the other woman was, I spent the night digging through Instagram. I searched through local socialite pages and party tags. A friend of mine who works in PR had told me about these accounts—they were filled with local gold-diggers and trust-fund babies. I typed in the name of the exclusive club Carter frequented, adding the keyword “bunny.” The search loaded. A post from ten minutes ago popped up. The username was “Sweet_Mia.” The photo was a selfie taken in a dimly lit VIP lounge. The girl had a face clearly modified by plastic surgery, with an incredibly prominent chest. In her hand, she was holding an orange Hermès box. The exact box Carter claimed to have “mistaken.” Her caption read: “Dumb hubby meant to give me the roleplay bunny outfit but accidentally gave his ‘old lady’ the bag instead! This color is so grandma, who wants a grocery bag anyway! ” And there was a pinned comment below her post: “But hubby said the outfit was custom-made for my size, and no one else could pull it off~ He promised to get me two limited-edition bags tomorrow to make it up to me! ” I let out a cold laugh. My fingers froze above the screen. 36D. Old lady. Grocery bag. Good. Very good. I zoomed in on the photo, looking at the bag in the girl’s hand. It was a limited-edition gold Birkin. You had to spend six figures at the store just to get on the waiting list for that bag. But in Mia’s mouth, it was just a “grocery bag.” Meanwhile, my mother, who had worked hard her entire life, was so touched by a gift from her future son-in-law that she didn’t know what to do. Yet, she had almost become the laughing stock of this cheating couple’s bedroom roleplay. I took screenshots, saved them, and threw my phone face-down on the table. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, the doorbell rang early. Carter stood at the door, sweating, holding two brand-new Hermès shopping bags. Before he even walked in, his voice was filled with deep regret. “Eleanor! Chloe! I am so incredibly sorry!” Eleanor was in the kitchen making breakfast. Hearing his voice, she wiped her hands and came out. Suddenly, with a loud thud, Carter dropped to one knee right in the foyer. Both Eleanor and I were stunned. “Eleanor, it’s all my fault!” Carter held up the shopping bags, looking completely devastated. “Yesterday, my brain was completely fried. I shouldn’t have hung out with Mason. He made me look like an absolute fool in front of you. I am so sorry! I literally begged the store manager to get these two bags overnight. Please accept them! If you don’t forgive me, I won’t get up!” What an Oscar-worthy performance. Eleanor had never seen a rich young man behave like this. Her anger vanished instantly, and she rushed forward to help him up. “Oh, sweetie, what are you doing? Get up!” She looked at the luxury bags with guilt. “You didn’t have to buy such expensive things. It’s too much…” Carter stood up, a humble, pleasing smile on his face. He even found a moment to wink at me secretly. “As long as you’re happy, Eleanor, it’s worth every penny! I already screamed at Mason!” “Good, good,” Eleanor smiled warmly, completely satisfied with his attitude. I stood by the side, watching the show in silence. Carter put the bags on the coffee table, wrapped his arm around my waist, and whispered in a low, suggestive voice: “Are we good now, babe? I told you it was just a misunderstanding. I spent almost all my savings to get these bags. You better reward me tonight…” His hand began to slide down my waist. Suppressing the urge to vomit, I smiled playfully. “Really? Your buddy Mason must be so upset then.” Carter didn’t blink. “Oh, absolutely! Scarlett screamed at him all night. He’s probably crying in a corner right now.” “Oh?” I wiggled out of his grip, walked over to the coffee table, and picked up the bunny outfit that was still sitting there. I shook it in front of him. “Since it’s a misunderstanding, we should return this to its rightful owner.” Carter’s eyes flickered with panic. He reached out to grab it. “Right, right! I’ll take it back to Mason so it doesn’t bother you.” I twisted my wrist, dodging his hand. “No way,” I smiled gently. “This is such a private item. We should return it in person to show how sincere we are.”

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My sister, Scarlett, had been glowing ever since her divorce. She was radiating beauty. Despite being in her early thirties, she looked like a twenty-year-old college girl. Even I, in my prime college years, felt completely eclipsed by her. Many times late at night, I would sneak into her room only to find her panting and drenched in sweat. I was utterly baffled. I asked her over and over what her anti-aging secret was. But she refused to tell me. Because of this, I gave her the cold shoulder for an entire week. “We are sisters, Scarlett. Why keep secrets from me?” Eventually, unable to withstand my constant begging, Scarlett finally agreed to take me to her secret spot. But looking at the VIP entrance of the private exotic beast sanctuary, I blinked in confusion. “A sanctuary? Scarlett, what does a zoo have to do with getting pretty?” Scarlett’s face suddenly flushed, her eyes turning dreamy. She seemed to be remembering something, wearing a look of pure ecstasy. “Once you go in, you’ll realize how incredible it is. I promise you, it will make you irresistible. You’ll never want to leave.” 0

I was madly in love with Julian Brooks, the golden boy of our university’s dance department. I had been chasing him for two years, but my feelings remained unrequited. Scarlett, on the other hand, was a divorcée who only seemed to get younger and more radiant by the day, with a never-ending line of suitors. I was incredibly envious. We had the exact same genes, yet we were treated like day and night. To become as popular as Scarlett and finally win Julian over, I kept nagging her to share her beauty secret. But every time I asked, she would stutter and change the subject. Finally, today, I snapped. “I’m your sister, Scarlett! Why are you gatekeeping something this good?” “Do you want me to be the laughingstock of the whole campus?” After I threw a massive tantrum in her bedroom, Scarlett finally relented and agreed to take me. But standing at the VIP entrance of the beast sanctuary, I was completely lost. Without a word, Scarlett grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. When the ticket agent saw Scarlett, his eyes crinkled into a knowing smile, and he greeted her like an old friend. “Back again, Scarlett? Are we riding the wild tiger today?” Hearing the agent’s words, my jaw dropped. A tiger is the king of the jungle. They are fierce predators. What kind of tiger could be so tame that people could ride it? Instantly, curiosity consumed my mind. Scarlett smiled. “Yes. That’s my absolute favorite. It’s incredibly comfortable to ride.” The agent’s gaze swept over Scarlett’s hourglass figure. “I can tell. The transformation is unreal. I’ve already had them bring him out. Go on in.” Scarlett nodded and walked ahead. I went to follow her, but the moment I took a step, the agent reached out and blocked me. “Apologies, miss. You look new. Do you have a VIP membership?” I shook my head. Scarlett walked back. “She’s my sister. I’m bringing her here to experience it today. Just charge ten thousand dollars to my card.” My eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Ten thousand dollars just to see some animals? That was insane! I tugged at Scarlett’s sleeve. “Scarlett, is this a scam? What kind of sanctuary charges ten grand for a ticket?” “Miss, watch your tongue,” the agent interrupted, his voice dropping. “Ask your sister if that ten grand is worth it.” Scarlett’s face flushed red. “My sister is still in college. She’s young. It’s her first time.” I immediately fired back, “It’s not my first time! I’ve seen tigers plenty of times!” My outburst made everyone at the front desk burst into laughter. “Look at that innocent face. Definitely a first-timer. Tell you what, I’ll pick a gentle tiger for her.” Scarlett got the fiercest one, while I was stuck with the gentlest. But since we were already here and the money was spent, I wanted the best! “No! I want the same one as Scarlett!” The agent tried to persuade me, “Sweetheart, since it’s your first time, I don’t think you can handle the fierce one.” It was just looking at a tiger. How could I not handle it? But the way they spoke made me feel like “looking at a tiger” meant something entirely different. My curiosity burned even hotter. Could merely seeing a tiger really make me as breathtakingly beautiful as Scarlett? “Let her be,” Scarlett said. “Hazel has always had good stamina. She’ll be fine. I’m going in first. Please help her choose slowly.” With that, Scarlett walked toward the VIP rooms in the back. A moment later, a deep, wild tiger roar echoed from the hallway. Driven by curiosity, I pressed my ear against the door of the room Scarlett had just entered. The agent chuckled and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. The one we choose for you won’t be any worse than your sister’s.” I stood up straight, nodding, my heart pounding with anticipation. But when the agent finally led me into my designated room, the sight inside made my blood run cold. I bolted out, collapsed next to a trash can, and threw up until my stomach was completely empty. 0

The agent rushed out after me, handed me a bottle of water, and patted my back. “If you can’t handle it, you can wait for Scarlett in the lounge. I’ll refund the money to her card.” I clutched my chest, taking a massive gulp of water to wash down the lingering disgust. Just then, Scarlett walked out of her room. She looked even more radiant than before she went in. Her skin was translucent, glowing with a rosy flush. I was completely mesmerized. As Scarlett walked out, she whispered with the agent for a while. He was probably telling her about my pathetic reaction. I braced myself for Scarlett to scold me for wasting her money and dragging her here. But she didn’t say a word on the way back. After dropping me off at my dorm, she simply gave me a cold warning: “Don’t you dare tell anyone about the animals you saw today.” “I… I know.” I got out of the car and practically ran toward my dorm. My heart was still racing. But as I rounded the corner of the hallway, I froze. There, in the shadows, were my best friend, Chloe, and my crush, Julian. They were locked in a passionate, breathless kiss. They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn’t even notice me standing right behind them. Chloe had told me a thousand times that she had no interest in Julian. I was the one who introduced them. I shared all his likes and dislikes with her. I shared everything with her. And this was how she repaid me! Rage flared up inside me. I stormed forward and shoved them apart. They stumbled and fell to the floor. When Chloe looked up and saw me, panic flashed across her face. “Hazel? Why are you back so early?” “Let me explain…” “Explain what? I saw the whole thing!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Chloe, I treated you like my sister! What did you treat me as? A joke?” Seeing that the cat was out of the bag, Chloe stopped pretending. She got up, brushed off her clothes, and slapped me right across the face. “Fine! Since you saw it, I won’t bother hiding it anymore.” “Julian and I are together!” “So what? He was never your boyfriend anyway. He’s free to be with whoever he wants. Besides, look at your dry skin. You’re not half as pretty as me. Any man with eyes knows who to choose!” I wasn’t angry just because they were together. I was angry because I had given her my pure, honest friendship, and she had played me like a fool. If she had just told me she liked him from the start, I would have stepped back! “Is that really how you see me?” “Obviously. A loser trying to outclass herself. You should look in the mirror before you try to match him.” Her words cut me to the bone. Tears blurred my vision. My best friend had not only betrayed me, but she also looked down on me with utter contempt. It felt like my whole world was crashing down. I blocked Chloe on everything. That night, I tossed and turned in bed, Chloe’s harsh words echoing in my head. I made a vow. I would become more beautiful than her. I would make Julian regret his choice. And then, I thought of Scarlett. The next morning, I took a cab home and begged Scarlett to take me back to the sanctuary. She immediately refused, telling me not to force myself. I broke down and told her everything that had happened at school. “Scarlett, I promise you, I won’t run away this time!” Unable to withstand my tears, Scarlett finally agreed to take me back a week later. The moment we walked in, the agent recognized me. “Well, if it isn’t the girl who threw up last time. Just accompanying your sister today?” I shook my head, my voice firm. “No. I’m going in.” The agent smirked. “Sweetheart, don’t force yourself.” I looked at my reflection in the glass door. My skin was dull and lifeless, lacking the vibrant glow a twenty-something girl should have. Thinking of Chloe’s mocking face, I clenched my fists. “I won’t run away this time.” I had to see what kind of wild beast could make a woman so irresistible and desperate for more. 0

Seeing my absolute determination, the agent smiled and turned to Scarlett. “What got into your little sister?” Scarlett merely smiled and handed over her black card. “Just swipe it.” Once the payment cleared, Scarlett asked, “The delicate one I brought in last time… has he been prepped?” “Let my sister try that one today.” The agent’s smile widened. “Of course, Scarlett. The one you brought in hasn’t been put on the market yet. We were waiting for you.” I was taken aback. Since when did Scarlett have business dealings with an exotic beast sanctuary? Before I could ask, the agent grabbed my hand and led me down the corridor. “Is Scarlett a business partner here?” I couldn’t help but ask. “You’ll have to ask her that yourself, miss.” I felt like Scarlett was harboring a massive web of secrets. But I decided I would get my answers after I got my beauty treatment. Suddenly, the agent stopped in front of a heavy door. “This is the one Scarlett handpicked for you. Go on in.” Standing outside the door, the gruesome memory of my first visit flashed in my mind. My hand hovered over the brass doorknob, trembling. Just then, Scarlett walked up beside me. She assured me that this beast was handpicked for me and that I had nothing to fear. Every woman has to go through this transition sooner or later. It was only a matter of time. I was thoroughly confused. “Really? But back at campus, plenty of girls have never been to a place like this.” Scarlett giggled at my innocence. She leaned in and whispered something in my ear. My face instantly flushed a burning crimson. Now I remembered the muffled, rhythmic groans I had heard outside Scarlett’s room that night. I hadn’t thought much of it then. But now… it all made sense. No wonder Scarlett said every woman goes through this eventually. But I was still a virgin. Was I really going to do this? Scarlett noticed my hesitation. “I told you, if you aren’t truly ready, don’t ask me to bring you here.” “You look perfectly fine the way you are now.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. “No, Scarlett. I’ve made up my mind.” “I want everyone who hurt me to look at me with envy!” I gripped the doorknob and turned it. As the door cracked open, a low, guttural roar echoed from within. I cast one last look at Scarlett. She offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t be scared, Hazel. I’ll be right out here waiting for you.” I nodded, stepped into the room, and shut the door behind me. My heart was hammering against my ribs. My first visit was just a fleeting glance, but being inside this enclosed space was entirely different. I took deep breaths. To get Scarlett’s flawless skin and jaw-dropping curves, I forced myself to be brave. I took bold steps forward. But as the figure came into view, my instincts screamed at me to run. He was so massive. Could I really handle this? The beast growled the moment he saw me, lunging forward with terrifying speed. I braced for impact, expecting to be brutally pinned to the ground. But he stopped abruptly, exactly three feet away from me. He gently swept his tail against my leg, as if inviting me to step closer. At that moment, the beast didn’t seem so terrifying after all. *As expected of the one Scarlett picked for me,* I thought. Recalling the instructions Scarlett had given me at home, I began to slip off my clothes, preparing to climb onto the beast’s back. 0

Suddenly, the beast’s gaze grew sharp and hostile. The night before we came, Scarlett had told me that no matter how ferocious a beast was, once you mounted it, it would become completely submissive. It would obey your every whim. They knew how to pleasure a woman far better than any human man could. But this beast seemed different from what Scarlett had described. Was I not giving him the right signals? With that thought, I shifted my position. Perhaps he preferred a different angle. Since he was a new arrival, maybe his preferences were unique. But no matter how I adjusted, he remained completely still, shaking his head aggressively at me. I was starting to lose my patience. If he refused to cooperate, how was I supposed to get beautiful? Frustrated, I stood up and kicked the beast’s side in a fit of anger. Yet, he just lay there, refusing to budge. That was when I noticed a whip-like training toy resting in the corner of the room. I recalled Scarlett’s words. She said that if the beast was unresponsive, I could use the props in the room to stimulate it. These beasts were highly trained. The moment they saw certain props, they would go wild and become fiercely active. But she also warned me to use them sparingly, because if they went too wild, I would be the one getting hurt. I picked up the toy. The beast immediately leapt to his feet. I thought he was finally going to cooperate, but before I could mount him, he slumped back down into his passive state. I regretted not choosing an experienced beast. “Listen here! My sister paid ten thousand dollars for this! If you don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for getting rough!” I marched over, knelt in front of him, and smacked his head. “I know you’re newly trained. I won’t hurt you, just play along.” He shook his head again. That was the last straw. I kicked him hard, sending him rolling onto his side. This time, his belly and limbs were fully exposed. I frowned. As I looked closer, my brows furrowed deeper. I reached out and parted the thick, coarse fur on his chest. I gasped, stumbling backward in horror. Why did the skin beneath the beast’s fur look exactly like human flesh? I crept forward again, checking several times. There was no mistake. It was smooth, hairless human skin beneath a grafted coat of fur. A chilling, horrific realization began to bloom in my chest. I pulled him up, forcing him to sit against the wall. No animal could have joints this flexible. No matter how well-trained, their anatomy shouldn’t be human. Trembling, I reached for the fur around his head and neck. I pulled back the heavy mane. And a human face was revealed. The next second, my vision blurred. A cold dread washed over me, my heart stopped, and I nearly fainted on the spot.

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After the company holiday party ended, I found my wife, Chloe, completely naked in a locked VIP suite. Her body was covered in dark, chilling red marks. I tried to ask her who did this to her, but she did nothing but sob convulsively, her lips sealed tight. After I brought her home, she bolted straight into the bathroom, frantically scrubbing her skin until it was raw and bleeding. I took her to the police station to file a report, but because she had washed herself so thoroughly, the forensic team couldn’t extract any DNA. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Furious and devastated, I stormed into her office the next day and smashed every single male colleague’s desk with a sledgehammer. Following that night, Chloe developed severe psychological trauma and claimed she couldn’t bear the touch of any man. After three months of sleeping in separate bedrooms, I finally couldn’t take the cold war anymore. I drove her back to her parents’ house and handed her the divorce papers. She lost her mind. “Ethan! I am the victim here! None of this was my fault! How dare you divorce me?!” I sneered and tossed the agreement onto her lap. “I don’t care. We are divorcing.” I didn’t know who had assaulted her that night. But that morning, I discovered that every single man in her office had been transferring money to her private bank account.

Chloe pointed a trembling, accusatory finger at my face. “Ethan! You are not a real man!” “You could have just told me from the start if you couldn’t handle this. Your hypocritical, supportive act over the last few months makes me sick to my stomach!” I let out a cold laugh, staring at her with icy eyes. “I’ve already signed the divorce papers. All that’s left is your signature.” “Stop wasting my time. No matter what you say, this marriage is over today.” Chloe, who had been crying hysterically and calling me a heartless bastard, froze. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be this unyielding. A flicker of sheer disbelief flashed across her eyes. At that moment, my father-in-law, Arthur, stepped forward and let out a heavy sigh. “Ethan, I know this whole thing is a massive blow to your pride. But we are all victims here!” “Life has to go on. You’ve made your anger clear today, and I’ve allowed you to vent. Now, put this ridiculous drama behind you and let’s go home.” My mother-in-law, Eleanor, grabbed Chloe’s hand, her eyes red from crying. “My poor, sweet girl! She barely wanted to live after that night, and the only reason she pushed through was because she didn’t want to abandon you! I never expected you to treat her like trash the moment she returned!” “Ethan, if you dare divorce Chloe because of this tragedy, I will drive over to your parents’ house tomorrow and ask them face-to-face how they raised such a spineless son!” Seeing Arthur and Eleanor playing good cop, bad cop to guilt-trip me, Chloe immediately put on a submissive, understanding act and grabbed my hand. “Ethan, it was my fault. I wasn’t careful enough that night. I let my guard down.” “I know it’s incredibly hard for any husband to accept this. But please, look at this as a test of our true love.” Hearing Chloe soften her tone, Arthur immediately turned his critical gaze back to me. “Ethan, a real man doesn’t run away when things get tough. We don’t blame the victim in this family. You shouldn’t be using Chloe’s trauma as a weapon to stab her in the heart!” “If you had accompanied her to the party that night, none of this would have happened in the first place! Just because I haven’t blamed you doesn’t mean I’m not angry about your absence!” “Enough. Just like Chloe said, this is a test of your character. Don’t make me regret letting you marry my daughter.” “And Chloe, you need to look forward too. Ethan is your husband. Sleeping in separate rooms for this long is not healthy for a marriage.” Believing the crisis had been successfully resolved, Chloe leaned her fragile body toward me, attempting to rest her head on my shoulder. “Ethan, I know I’ve ignored your needs lately. I’m so sorry.” “Tonight… how about we try sleeping in the same bedroom again? Just to see how it goes?” She looked up at me with wide, pleading eyes, as if she were making the ultimate sacrifice for my sake. As if I was the immature one. As if I was the one lacking a man’s courage and broad mind. I sneered and pushed her face away from my shoulder. Ignoring Arthur and Eleanor’s rapidly darkening expressions, I spoke clearly: “Chloe, I don’t care what kind of show you put on. My decision stands.” “No one is changing my mind. We are getting a divorce.”

Seeing my absolute resolve, Chloe froze in place, completely lost. Arthur and Eleanor, seeing that their manipulation was no longer working, turned purple with rage. “Ethan! I must have been blind to let my daughter marry a selfish prick like you!” “No decent man would do what you’re doing today!” I let out a soft chuckle and swatted Arthur’s finger away from my nose. “You’re right, I’m not that generous. Am I wrong for refusing to keep a woman who humiliated me?” “If you’re so open-minded, Arthur, maybe you should let Eleanor go out and get herself some action too.” Hearing my words, Eleanor immediately exploded into a screaming fit. “You little bastard! What did you just say?!” “How can you blame Chloe for what happened to her? You’re just a small-minded, insecure loser!” I completely tuned out Eleanor’s screeching, keeping my eyes locked onto my tear-stained wife. On the night of the company holiday party, I had searched through dozens of private suites before I finally found Chloe, completely naked. Heartbroken and shocked, I had instantly wrapped my coat around her shivering body. I wanted to take her to the hospital for a rape kit. I wanted to gather evidence. But she had fought me like a feral animal, clawing and biting my arms. Out of desperation, I had no choice but to take her home first to calm her down. Later, she told me she was too drunk to remember how many men had been in that room. Hearing that, I had smashed a glass table in pure rage. I eventually forced her to the hospital and the police station. But because she had practically bleached her skin in the shower, all the critical evidence had already washed down the drain. In the end, with no physical evidence and no suspects, the police closed the file. But what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t fight for my wife? I grabbed a sledgehammer, stormed into Chloe’s office, and shattered the desk of every male colleague in sight. The company sued me. It cost me over a hundred thousand dollars in legal settlements and damages to keep myself out of jail. Three months had passed, but the lingering doubts kept eating away at my soul. The only people who knew the absolute truth about that night were Chloe and the men in that room! Thinking of this, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Chloe, do you really want to drag this out and lose what little dignity you have left?” “Let me ask you this: What actually happened that night?” Hearing my question, Chloe’s hands visibly trembled. I looked down at her, a mocking smile on my face. “You claim you can’t stand the touch of any man, yet you still go to work and interact with the men in your office every single day. Don’t you find that hilarious?” “Is your ‘severe trauma’ only triggered when you’re around me?” Realizing that this suspicion was the root cause of my divorce demand, Chloe let out a subtle sigh of relief. She quickly squeezed my hand, tears pooling in her eyes like a professional actress. “Ethan, I didn’t realize you were harboring such a horrible misunderstanding.” “You lost your temper and destroyed the office property. I only went back to work and put on a brave face because of you! I begged them, on account of us being colleagues, not to press criminal charges against you.” “If my sacrifice made you doubt me, then I apologize.” I violently shook her hand off. “Save your pathetic excuses. You and I both know exactly what you did!” Seeing how “unreasonable” and “ungrateful” I was toward my wife, Arthur and Eleanor clutched their chests in dramatic agony. “Ethan! You are sicker than the monsters who hurt her! Are you trying to drive Chloe to suicide?” “My poor daughter! Why did she have to end up with such a spineless coward!” Arthur, his eyes welled with angry tears, grabbed Eleanor’s hand. “Chloe! We are leaving!” “This ungrateful, heartless piece of trash doesn’t deserve your love!” “Come with us! If he wants a divorce, fine!” “Even if he begs on his knees in the future, I will never let him step foot near you again!” Seeing things escalate to this point, Chloe wept bitterly. Yet, she still looked at me with a lingering gaze, shaking her head. “Ethan, we survived such a tragedy together. I don’t believe you don’t love me anymore!” “Please, say something! Tell Dad to calm down!” Seeing his daughter still begging for my affection, Arthur let out a heavy, frustrated sigh. “If it weren’t for my daughter’s foolish heart, I wouldn’t let you walk out of this house in one piece today!” Arthur glared at me one last time, then dragged Eleanor out. Without a single word, I turned around, got into my car, and drove away from their neighborhood. I didn’t go home. Instead, I drove straight to the law firm of my best friend and attorney, Ryan. The moment I walked through the door, Ryan handed me a thick manila folder. I flipped through the documents inside. With a heavy heart, I looked at him. “Chloe is refusing to sign. When we go to court, I’m going to need you to present all of this.”

After finalizing the legal strategy, Ryan and I went out and drank until the following afternoon. But the moment I unlocked my front door and stepped inside, I was stunned by the sight before me. The living room floor was covered in red rose petals. On the coffee table sat two wine glasses and a platter of my favorite fresh oysters and sashimi. Chloe was lounging on the sofa, wearing a revealing black lace nightgown. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up. “Ethan! You’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for you for so long.” Seeing me stand frozen at the door, she stood up, swaying her hips as she walked toward me. Her soft, slender arms wrapped around my neck. “Ethan, I have a gift for you tonight.” “I was so consumed by my own pain these past few months that I ignored you. It was my fault.” “Let’s just pretend that horrible night never happened. Let’s go back to how we used to be, okay?” She clung to me like a vine, gently blowing warm air against my ear, finding my exact sensitive spots. As a grown man, I knew exactly what this invitation meant. But ever since the holiday party, let alone intimacy, even the sound of my voice would cause Chloe to scream and have a panic attack. So, she actually believed I wanted a divorce just because we hadn’t had sex in three months. I let out a cold laugh and violently shoved her to the ground. “Enough! Chloe, you make me want to throw up!” “Do you think sleeping with me tonight changes anything? I told you, this divorce is happening!” Stunned, Chloe sat on the floor, a look of profound hurt crossing her face. Before she could utter a word, the living room lights suddenly flashed on. Arthur and Eleanor, who had been hiding in the dark corner of the dining room, stormed out, faces twisted with rage. “Get up, Chloe! We are leaving right now!” “I told you not to come here, but you insisted! Did you come here just to be humiliated by this trash?” Arthur glared at Chloe, who was sobbing on the floor, then turned his fury on me. “Ethan! Be a man and tell us the damn truth!” “I’m a man, I know how men think! You have a mistress, don’t you?!” “You’re using this tragedy as an excuse to force my daughter out so you can bring your whore in! If you aren’t cheating, there is absolutely no logical reason why you would discard your traumatized wife like this!” Hearing Arthur’s accusations, both Chloe and Eleanor stopped crying and stared at me. “No… that can’t be…” “Ethan, tell them. Tell them you don’t have anyone else. I’ll believe you!” After a second of silence, Chloe suddenly let out a bitter, dramatic laugh. “So this was all a setup…” “Ethan, you are so incredibly cruel! Aside from that night—which wasn’t my fault—how have I ever wronged you?!” Watching Chloe put on this masterpiece of a performance, I was literally pushed to laughter. “Chloe, how can a human being be so shameless?” “Who is the one who cheated here? Do you dare swear to God?” “Or better yet, do you dare tell your parents just how filthy you’ve been behind my back?” The moment I finished speaking, Eleanor rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face. “You monster! How dare you slander my daughter!” “She has suffered so much, and you still want to destroy her!” Eleanor flew at me like a feral beast, clawing at my face. I quickly raised my arms to block her blows. Even Chloe was shocked by the violence and scrambled to hold Eleanor back, begging her to stop. I took several steps back, looking at this chaotic, toxic family, and cold-heartedly said: “No matter what you do, my decision will not change. We are divorcing.”

Seeing that I remained completely unfazed by Chloe’s desperate seduction and her mother’s violence, Arthur stood trembling, unable to find his voice for a long moment. He grabbed Eleanor’s arm and dragged her toward the door. “Don’t you ever come back to him! If you do, pretend I’m dead!” I thought the drama was finally over, and all I had to do was wait for the court hearing. But on the morning of the divorce trial, Chloe cornered me outside the courthouse, looking utterly miserable. “Ethan, are you really doing this to me?” “I honestly don’t understand what I did wrong to make you hate me this much!” “The only logical explanation is that you have another woman. Please, just tell me the truth!” She grabbed my arm, begging, but I didn’t even spare her a glance. “Stop trying to paint me as the bad guy. Once we walk through those doors, you’ll get your answer.” “Now let go of me. I have nothing to say to you.” Seeing my cold indifference, Chloe quickly wiped her tears, her expression turning sharp. “Ethan! Once we step inside, there is no turning back! Are you absolutely sure about this?” I ignored her and tried to walk past. Arthur stepped in, blocking my path, his face flushed red as he pointed at my chest. “Let him divorce you!” “I wouldn’t let my daughter spend another day with a heartless coward anyway!” “Chloe, I’ve hired the best divorce lawyer in the state for you today. He wants a divorce? We are going to take him for every penny he’s worth!” I sneered, raising the manila folder in my hand. “Take me for every penny?” “Your daughter did something so repulsive, you should be worrying about what you’re going to pay me!” Seeing that I was still pushing for divorce and threatening Chloe, Eleanor charged at me, trying to rip the documents from my hands. “You’re trying to destroy my daughter using her trauma! She is the victim!” “Ethan, let me make this clear! Today, either you walk out of this court with absolutely nothing, or you get down on your knees and beg my daughter for forgiveness!” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. So she knew that a cheating spouse could be stripped of marital assets. Good. That made things easier. “You shameless bastard,” Eleanor yelled, turning to the growing crowd of bystanders. “I bet you set up my daughter’s assault yourself! Just so you could get rid of her for your little mistress!” “Today, I will get justice for my daughter!” Their loud shouting at the entrance of the courthouse quickly drew a large crowd of onlookers. People who didn’t know the truth began whispering and pointing at me. I had no intention of making a fool of myself in public. I turned to the onlookers and said calmly, “If you’re so interested, feel free to sit in the gallery and watch.” Then, I walked into the courtroom. The crowd, fueled by Eleanor’s dramatic narrative, followed us inside, glaring at me as if I were the lowest scum on earth. As I walked toward the plaintiff’s table, Chloe looked at me with red, tearful eyes. “Ethan, we didn’t have to end up like this.” “While we can still fix this, let’s call off the divorce, okay?” “Marriage is hard. We should cherish what we have.” I didn’t even look at her. I sat down and handed the folder to Ryan. The judge entered, and the hearing began. After reviewing Chloe’s initial filings, the judge frowned and looked at me. “Mr. Ethan, if your only ground for divorce is that your wife was a victim of a traumatic assault, this court cannot grant a fault-based divorce in your favor, nor can we strip her of marital assets.” I stood up calmly and raised my hands. “Your Honor, I request you examine my evidence first.”

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Ethan once gave me a voice recorder. It was my personal “apology recorder.” Because my sister, Lily, was in poor health and extremely sensitive, Ethan set a strict rule: Whenever Lily felt wronged, I had to record an apology to her. “Lily has a fever. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have opened the living room window.” “Lily didn’t make the cheerleading captain. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have performed better than her during the tryouts.” He always lectured me in his most helpless, sighing voice: “Chloe, Lily only has us. What’s wrong with just swallowing your pride and making her feel better?” Today, Ethan walked up to me with the recorder, his face cold. “Lily lost her art gallery ticket because of you. She’s crying so hard she can’t even eat. You know the drill. Record your apology.” I looked at him, not bothering to explain that Lily had actually thrown the ticket into the washing machine herself. I pressed the record button, but the screen flashed: “Storage Full.” Ethan frowned, casually scrolling down and deleting the largest audio file on the list. “Hurry up. Lily is waiting to hear it.” I froze, feeling the blood drain from my face in an instant. Nearby, Mom was carefully peeling an apple for Lily. “It’s just an old song you recorded, isn’t it? Why are you pulling that face? Who are you trying to guilt-trip?” They had no idea. That deleted file wasn’t some useless song. It was the final voicemail my grandmother had left me six years ago, holding onto her very last breath on her deathbed. It was my only solace left in this world. “Fine,” I whispered. I walked over, took the recorder, and pressed the button. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ever appeared in your lives. Don’t worry. I won’t anymore.”

Ethan’s frown deepened after listening to the recording. He didn’t hand the recorder to Lily. Instead, he paused it right in front of me. “Chloe, what kind of tantrum is this now?” His voice carried that familiar, exhausting sigh. “Lily is just upset about the ticket. Just say you’re sorry, and we can move past this.” “What do you mean by ‘won’t appear anymore’? Do you really have to say things like that just to stab her in the heart?” He said it so righteously. In his mind, I was always the one making a scene out of nothing. I looked at his handsome face. I had looked at this face for over ten years. In the past, if he so much as frowned, I would immediately analyze what I had done wrong. But now, I just felt incredibly tired. “Then I won’t record it,” I said flatly. I didn’t frantically explain where the ticket went like I used to. “Just tell her I apologized.” Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned. His mouth opened as if to say something, but in the end, he just let out another sigh. “Whatever. You’re in a bad mood today. I won’t play this for Lily.” “Go to your room and think about what you did.”

He turned and walked into Lily’s room to comfort her. I stood in the hallway, watching Mom carry a bowl of freshly simmered organic bone broth. She brushed past me without a glance, walking straight into that room. “Lily, sweetie, drink this while it’s hot. You cried so much your throat is hoarse. It breaks my heart…” Mom’s tender voice drifted through the crack of the door. That was a warmth exclusive to Lily. At the dinner table, the silence was suffocating. Mom had made a feast. Ethan sat next to Lily, peeling shrimp for her. Lily’s eyes were still red. She stole a timid glance at me and whispered, “Chloe, please don’t be mad at Ethan.” “About the ticket… I don’t blame you anymore. Don’t fight with him over a stupid deleted file.” “We’re not fighting,” I said, chewing on a dry piece of whole wheat bread. My voice was dry. “And I’m not mad.” Ethan’s hand paused on the shrimp. Usually, at times like this, I would desperately defend myself. I would ask them with tears in my eyes why they never believed me, or even throw my forks in anger because of their blatant favoritism. But today, I was too quiet. So quiet that even Mom, who always ignored me, couldn’t help but look at me a few times. “If you’re not mad, eat more,” Mom said, dropping a dry, bony scrap of grilled salmon onto my plate. “Honestly, you’re an adult now. It was just a file. If it’s deleted, it’s deleted. Lily is sick, you should learn to yield to her.” “Okay.” I didn’t throw the bony scrap away. I chewed it and swallowed it, bones and all. After dinner, I went to my room and started packing. I pulled out an old cardboard box. I only put my ID, my legal documents, and an old, faded handkerchief Grandma had left me inside. Around ten, there was a knock on my door. Ethan walked in carrying a glass of warm milk. “Still mad about this afternoon?” He pulled out a chair and sat down, his voice softening. “I asked your mom. She said that deleted file was just an old song.” “Chloe, I know you’re sentimental, but the storage was full.” “Tell you what. Tell me the name of the song, and I’ll buy you a rare vinyl record of it tomorrow, okay?” “Ethan,” I said, looking into his eyes. “You can’t buy it.” “That voice doesn’t exist in this world anymore.” Ethan’s brow furrowed. He reached out to ruffle my hair, but I tilted my head and dodged his touch. “You’re always so stubborn. It’s just a song. Stop acting like the sky is falling.” He stood up, his tone slipping back into impatience. “Drink the milk. Lily has a hospital check-up tomorrow. Go to sleep early and stop causing drama.” The door shut. The room fell back into a dead, icy silence. I didn’t touch the milk. I closed my eyes, desperately trying to replay Grandma’s voice in my head. “Chloe, my sweet girl, you have to be strong…” But no matter how hard I tried, the voice in my memory felt like ink dissolving in water—blurry, distant, and fading away. I realized with terror that I was truly losing the sound of her voice. Tears finally fell without warning, soaking the pillow.

The next morning, I was woken up by the noise in the living room. I pushed the door open. Mom was busy packing a bag for Lily’s hospital visit. She looked up at me, not stopping her hands. “Chloe, you’re up. There’s leftover rice in the pot, heat it up yourself.” “I only made fresh oatmeal for Lily. She has to get blood drawn today, and her stomach is weak. She needs something fresh.” The fish bone I swallowed last night felt like it was still scraping my throat, leaving a dull ache. “Okay,” I nodded. Just then, the front door opened. Ethan walked straight to the couch. He pulled a glossy VIP card from his coat pocket and slid it in front of Lily, who had just walked out of her room. “Lily, look what I got.” Lily gasped, covering her mouth in shock. “VIP tickets to the art gallery! Ethan, how did you get these? Didn’t they say they were completely sold out yesterday?” “I called a few connections and bought them from a reseller overnight,” Ethan said, the exhaustion on his face melting away at her smile. “As long as it makes you happy, I’ll get you anything.” He gently rubbed Lily’s head. Then, he turned to look at me standing by the kitchen door. The warmth on his face cooled down. “Chloe, I replaced the ticket.” Ethan stared at me. “Lily is happy now, and she doesn’t blame you anymore.” “You don’t need to record an apology today.” My fingers tightened around my glass of water. Yesterday, because the storage was full, he deleted my grandmother’s last words without a second thought. He frowned at me, calling me stubborn over an “old song.” But today, for a ticket Lily had carelessly ruined herself, he stayed up all night and pulled every favor he had just to make her smile. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ethan’s frown returned at my silence. “The ticket issue is resolved. Are you still throwing a tantrum at Lily?” I looked at this face I had known for a decade. Suddenly, he felt like a total stranger. In the past, I would have cried and demanded to know why he never trusted me. Why he could erase what I cherished so easily. “No,” I curled my lips, my voice sounding incredibly dry. “It’s great. Thank you.” Ethan froze. He obviously hadn’t expected this reaction from me. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mom cut him off. “Alright, Ethan, ignore her. She’s been passive-aggressive like this since she was a kid.” Mom grabbed the bag and lovingly helped Lily up. “Let’s go. We’re going to miss the specialist’s appointment.” “Chloe, wash Lily’s dirty sheets while we’re gone.” The door slammed shut. The lively atmosphere left with them, leaving the house in a graveyard silence. I went back to my room, pulled out the cardboard box from under the bed. Inside were my documents and Grandma’s faded handkerchief. I turned around and swept everything on my desk—things I once treated like treasures—into a heavy-duty trash bag. The crystal music box Ethan gave me for my eighteenth birthday. The ill-fitting dresses Mom bought me whenever she was in a rare good mood. And the only “family photo” of the four of us. All of it. Gone. My phone buzzed on the desk. It was a Snapchat message from Ethan. “The check-up is done. Lily wants the strawberry tarts from the downtown bakery.” “Go line up and buy two boxes now. Your mom wants some too. We’ll be home in two hours, just in time.” The downtown bakery was fifteen miles away. And it was pouring rain outside. They always did this. Ordering me around as if it were my sole purpose in life, never caring if I was cold, tired, or willing. I stared at the screen for a long time. Then, I slowly typed back: “Okay.” After sending it, I locked my phone and tossed it onto the bare mattress.

At 3 PM, the front door unlocked. Lily’s giggling, sweet voice echoed through the foyer. “Ethan, the doctor today was so nice!” The door opened. I sat quietly in my dark room, watching the three of them walk in. Ethan hung up his coat, his eyes scanning the coffee table. The smile on his face vanished, his brow furrowing instantly. “Chloe, where are the strawberry tarts?” I stepped out of the shadows. “I didn’t buy them.” Ethan froze. A wave of annoyance flashed in his eyes. “How long are you going to keep acting like this?” he lowered his voice, clearly trying not to startle Lily. “If you didn’t want to go because of the rain, you could have just said so. Why agree to it and then purposely not go? Just to spite Lily? Just to make us miserable?” Mom turned around, holding Lily’s wet umbrella. “What is wrong with you now?!” Mom’s voice shrieked. “Lily had three tubes of blood drawn today! She was dizzy and nauseous, and she just wanted something sweet! You couldn’t even run a simple errand for her?” “How did I raise such a cold-blooded monster?!” I looked at Mom’s furious face. “It was pouring,” I said softly. “And I have a fever. I’m dizzy.” It was the truth. I had gotten soaked in the rain the day before, and I had been shivering all day, cold to the bone. But nobody cared. Mom scoffed. “A fever? Lily takes medication every single day and she’s never as dramatic as you. If you didn’t want to go, just say so. Don’t fake an illness.” Ethan sighed, completely ignoring my “excuse.” Instead, he pulled a flash drive from his pocket and set it on the coffee table. “It’s fine, Eleanor. Don’t get worked up.” He turned to me. “Chloe, I shouldn’t have deleted your file yesterday. I wasn’t thinking.” “So today, I asked a tech friend to find that old song. It’s a high-res version, all saved on this flash drive.” He paused, his voice calm and confident. “Now, I’ve returned your file. Go apologize to Lily, promise you won’t give her attitude anymore, and we can put yesterday behind us.” I stood there, looking at the flash drive. They would never understand. That crackling audio of Grandma saying, “Chloe, my sweet girl, you have to be strong,” was the only match I had to keep me warm in this freezing house. Now, he had snapped that match in half. “No need,” I looked away. Mom followed my gaze and spotted the trash bag by my desk, with the corner of the crystal music box sticking out. She also saw the old dress she had thrown at me years ago. Mom’s face turned green. She rushed over and ripped the bag open. “Chloe Vance! Do you think you’re clever?!” She shook with rage, pointing at the discarded items on the floor. “These are perfectly fine! Why are you throwing them away?!” “Who are you trying to threaten? Who is this dramatic performance for?!” “I’m not threatening anyone,” I said as I walked back into my room and grabbed my single canvas bag. “I just realized I don’t need any of these things anymore.” Ethan stared at my thin canvas bag, his brows knitting into a tight knot. His patience had finally run out. “Are you playing the ‘running away’ card again?” “Chloe, you’re twenty years old. Can you grow up?” “Over a song, over some strawberry tarts, how much drama do you have to bring into this house?!” Lily shrank behind Ethan, her eyes turning red on cue. She gently tugged his sleeve. “Ethan, don’t yell at Chloe. It’s my fault. I don’t need the tarts…” “You did nothing wrong, Lily. Stop taking the blame for everything,” Ethan patted her hand reassuringly. “Chloe Vance, if you want to leave, go ahead. But let me make this clear: if you walk out that door today, don’t expect me to come begging for you to come back like before. Think carefully.” Mom sneered beside him. “Let her rot! I want to see how she survives a single day without this family!” “Don’t you dare come back crying to me!” In the past, if Ethan said those words, I would have dropped my bag in panic, crying and begging for forgiveness. But today, looking at the three of them standing united against me, I felt a lightness I had never experienced before. “Okay,” I said. I walked past them and wrapped my hand around the cold doorknob. I didn’t look back. Grandma, Chloe doesn’t have a home anymore. But don’t worry. I’ll listen to you. From now on, I’ll live well, just for myself. After I left, Lily looked at the silver flash drive on the coffee table and picked it up. “Ethan, Chloe is so stubborn. She didn’t even want the song you worked so hard to find.” She played with the drive, then plugged it into the laptop connected to the living room speakers. Ethan leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples. “I thought it was some rare track. To make it up to her, I asked the tech department at my firm to recover the exact deleted file overnight.” “I gave it back to her exactly as it was. What more does she want?” Mom grunted. “She’s just spoiled. Does she really think she can survive out there?” “Leave her be. She’ll be crying at our doorstep before the night ends.” Lily giggled and clicked the play button on the audio file. However, what came out of the speakers wasn’t music. There was no melody. No singing. Only a raspy, weak, elderly voice. “Chloe… my sweet girl, don’t cry…” “Grandma can’t protect you anymore. You have to be strong…” “From now on, you’re on your own… you must live well…” The glass in Ethan’s hand slipped, shattering loudly on the floor. The laundry in Mom’s hands dropped. She collapsed onto the couch, her lips trembling violently. “That… that’s my mother’s voice… How is that her last words?!”

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I have severe social anxiety and PTSD. For six years, my childhood best friend, Austin, took care of me. I became so dependent on him that I could barely function on my own. Whenever we went out, I would cling to his arm like a shadow. Our friends always teased us, saying we were closer than actual couples. Even my parents had already decided that I would end up marrying Austin. Until one day, during a routine therapy session, we met a new intern. She claimed my condition wasn’t psychological, but rather that I was simply spoiled by Austin. She said if I wanted to be cured, we had to use extreme shock therapy to force us apart. Austin believed her. He locked me in a pitch-black pantry. By the third time he locked me in, Austin was no longer waiting at the door. In a state of mental breakdown, I dragged myself to my neighbor’s house and knocked on the door. “Ethan…” “I’ll go… with you… to the clinic abroad…” This weekend, Austin took me to my follow-up appointment. My regular therapist was on leave for a week, so his intern was filling in. She was a beautiful, radiant girl. The moment I saw Hailey, I was instantly intimidated. Compared to her sunny glow, I felt like a gloomy, washed-out shadow. So, when I saw Austin freeze, staring at her for a full five seconds, my entire body went cold. A sharp, painful mix of jealousy and insecurity flared up in my chest. Back in sophomore year of high school, because I was too close to Austin, a group of toxic girls targeted me. They locked me in an abandoned basement locker room for a whole weekend. When the teachers and classmates finally found me, I had just managed to tear off the duct tape. I was so dehydrated that I was desperately drinking rusty water leaking from the pipes. Along with pity, I saw nothing but disgust and horror in their eyes. After that, I dropped out of school. The day after I left, Austin rushed back from summer camp. He begged his influential family to pressure the school board and the police. They pressed charges against the bullies and got them all expelled. But I was left with severe social anxiety—specifically, selective mutism and PTSD. To be precise, it was a moderate form of social processing disorder. But I preferred the term “social anxiety” over “disordered.” Because before that weekend, I used to be a normal, happy girl. Once Austin realized what had happened, he was consumed by guilt. “Chloe, if only I hadn’t gone to that summer camp… If I had been there, they would never have hurt you…” He collapsed by my hospital bed, tears streaming down his face. I desperately wanted to comfort him, but the words choked in my throat. I could only squeeze out a few broken syllables. “No… no…” That only made Austin cry harder. Later, he promised he would take care of me forever. And he did. For six years. Even after Austin graduated from college, I still couldn’t study or communicate normally. For those six years, I stayed by his side. When he was home, I was there. When he went out, I waited for him. Whenever he went to parties, he brought me along. Austin kept his word. He truly protected me. Our friends often joked that they had never seen a guy so devoted, urging us to just get married already. Every time, Austin would laugh it off with a smile. “Yeah, definitely. When we get married, you’re all invited!” Austin would drain his glass, his cheeks slightly flushed, looking at me with absolute tenderness. I would keep my head down, my heart hammering like crazy, a small smile playing on my lips. We were childhood sweethearts. Our families adored each other. It felt like destiny. We were meant to be. Even I believed I would eventually marry him. On countless nights, I would lie awake practicing how to say “I do” loudly, clearly, and perfectly, just in case he asked.

But today, even after writing down my prescription, Austin couldn’t take his eyes off Hailey. Hailey kept a professional, sweet smile on her face. “Chloe, how is your speech progression doing?” It took me three seconds to process her question. I swallowed hard and forced the words out. “Can… speak… a bit. Can… communicate.” For some reason, speaking in front of Hailey felt exceptionally draining. Hailey nodded, then turned her gaze to Austin. “I need to speak with the… family member? Alone for a moment.” Austin’s breath hitched, and he quickly clarified, “Oh, I’m just Chloe’s friend. Not family.” I froze. Austin seemed to realize what he had said and stiffened. He looked at me quickly, as if suddenly snapping back to reality. “Chloe… I didn’t mean it like that. Why don’t you wait outside for a bit? I’ll just talk to Hailey.” My lips parted, but nothing came out. I silently stood up and walked out. Maybe it was just my anxiety, but a cold dread began to pool in my stomach. When I shut the clinic door, I left a tiny crack open. “I looked over Chloe’s chart. This has been going on for years, right? As her friend, it must be incredibly exhausting for you,” Hailey said, her voice soft and coaxing. Austin was silent for a moment. “It can be tough. But Chloe is doing her best to get better.” “I know. My advisor told me about her case.” Hailey scribbled something on her notepad. “I just finished my residency abroad, and honestly, there’s a highly effective way to cure this.” “Her condition isn’t physical, so medication won’t work. You need to use extreme immersion therapy to shock her system. It’s a popular method in Europe. Once it works, Chloe will snap back to her old self.” Austin sounded confused. “What do you mean?” Standing outside, my mind went numb. Only a few words filtered through the crack. Hailey was saying that I was too dependent on Austin. To put it bluntly, she claimed Austin was spoiling me. Because he catered to my every need and never left my side, I had built a comfortable cage for myself. She claimed I was staying silent on purpose because I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone. She thought I was faking it. I waited for Austin to defend me. He knew me better than anyone. We spent every single day together. How could he possibly think I was faking? But he remained silent for a long time. Until finally, I heard Austin agree to Hailey’s extreme shock therapy. A seventy percent success rate. It was simple: lock me in a dark room, simulate the environment of my original trauma, and force me to find my own way out. On the drive home, Austin didn’t say a word. He didn’t ask how I was feeling like he usually did. Instead, he asked, “Chloe, do you want to get better?” “Once you’re cured, you can go back to school, make friends, and live your own life.” Listening to his voice, my mind began to drift, unable to grasp the weight of his words. I didn’t answer, and Austin didn’t press. Over the next few days, he stopped giving me my anxiety medication. No, it wasn’t his idea. It was Hailey’s. I panicked. Without the medication to stabilize my nervous system, my chest felt like it was constantly being crushed.

For the first time, I actively begged him for help. “Au… Austin… My… my pills…” Austin’s eyes lit up instantly. “Chloe! You’re expressing your needs! Hailey was right!” Ignoring my pale, trembling face, Austin excitedly grabbed his phone and called Hailey. He was eager to report my progress and ask what to do next. I collapsed onto the living room floor, struggling to breathe. I lay there, listening to Austin talk to Hailey on the balcony for two hours. At first, they talked about my symptoms. But soon, the conversation drifted. He asked her what she had for dinner, what her weekend plans were, and what hobbies she liked. Then came the invitation to dinner as a “thank you.” Hearing his lighthearted laughter, a single tear slipped down my face. My mind went numb, and the panic slowly subsided into cold exhaustion. I managed to drag myself off the floor and went to my room. The next day, Austin told me he was taking me back to my parents’ house. When we arrived, I saw that the old storage room in the basement had been completely cleared out. My parents weren’t home; they were away on a business trip for a week. They trusted Austin completely. Nobody ever imagined Austin would do anything to hurt me. But now, he was grabbing my wrists, dragging me toward the windowless, dark storage room. “No… no!” “Austin! Please!” I sobbed, tears blurring my vision as raw terror gripped my soul. I hadn’t been this terrified in years. A flash of hesitation crossed Austin’s face. He looked like he was realizing how cruel this was. Just as he hesitated, his phone rang. It was Hailey. “Austin, remember, this is for Chloe’s own good.” “You don’t want her to be a burden on you forever, do you? You have to let her go so she can be normal.” Her voice drifted through the speaker. I gasped for air, looking at Austin imploringly. “Don’t… don’t listen to her! I’m… I’m scared…” Austin bit his lip, torn. Hailey’s voice came through again. “Austin, hurry up. Our dinner reservation is in half an hour.” The next second, Austin let out a heavy sigh. He pushed me forward. I stumbled and fell onto the hard floor. The heavy door slammed shut. The room went pitch black. The darkness swallowed me whole, amplifying the sound of my ragged breathing and heartbeat. My ears buzzed, and my head spun. I crawled on my hands and knees toward the door. It was locked from the outside. I banged on the door, sobbing and screaming in broken fragments. “Don’t… don’t go… I’m scared… so scared…” Austin’s footsteps paused outside. “Chloe, just one hour. I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t worry, I’m right here.” And then, his footsteps faded away. *I’m right here.* Over the past six years, Austin had said those words to soothe my anxiety a thousand times. And every time, he had stayed. But not this time. He left. I screamed until my throat was raw. My body heat plunged. There was no clock, so I could only wait in the suffocating dark. When Austin finally opened the door, two hours had passed. He rushed in and found me huddled in the corner, staring blankly into space. Behind him, Hailey stood with her arms crossed, her chin tilted up. There was nothing but annoyance in her eyes. I was in terrible shape, and a panicked Austin tried to pull me into his arms.

“Okay, it’s over. Don’t cry, I’m here.” A wave of nausea hit me. For the first time in my life, I pushed him away. I stood up and bolted for the bathroom, throwing up. Austin tried to follow me, but Hailey blocked him. “Austin, look! The therapy is working. Did you see that? It’s the first time she didn’t cling to you after a panic attack.” Austin froze. She was right. Despite the intense trigger, I hadn’t curled up in his arms and cried. Instead, I had walked away on my own. This realization brought Austin a mix of relief and a strange, unreadable frustration. When I came out of the bathroom, Hailey was gone. Looking at Austin’s concerned face, I couldn’t bring myself to say a single word. All I felt was a cold, unfamiliar revulsion. Austin didn’t take me back to his apartment. He told me to stay at my parents’ house. He said there were three sessions in total. If I could just endure two more, I would finally be free. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight. Tears spilled over my cheeks. “Why… why do you… believe her…?” Austin was stunned. Realizing I was talking about Hailey, a soft smile crept onto his face. “Hailey is brilliant, Chloe. Her therapy is actually working, can’t you see? Today, you actually managed to… and she’s just…” He rambled on and on. Admiration, affection, respect, trust. In that moment, I understood everything. The next day, before locking me in the storage room again, Austin said gently, “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll be right here when you go in, and I’ll be right here when you come out. So don’t be scared.” My ears buzzed. The thin, musty air in the room made it hard to breathe. This time, I waited for three hours. Austin and Hailey had gone to an amusement park. When they opened the door, they were wearing matching couple’s wristbands. Noticing my eyes darting to his wrist, Austin awkwardly slipped the band off. “Chloe, just one more time. The last one.” I had gone completely numb. Was this really making me better? But ever since he stopped my medication and started locking me up, I had lost all color in my face. I was terrified of bright lights. I couldn’t sleep, and my hair was falling out in clumps. My chest felt like it was constantly filled with lead. But Austin didn’t notice. He didn’t notice any of it. Because every single night, he was on the phone with Hailey. He had stopped looking at me altogether. On the third session, he gave me the exact same promise: he would be right back. But he wasn’t. This time, I waited for five hours. I massaged my numb legs. Then, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the spare key I had hidden there beforehand. I unlocked the door. The sudden light blinded me for a second. The house was empty. Austin had taken my phone with him. I dragged my feet slowly across the floor. Every step required a massive intake of air. Finally, I stood in front of my neighbor’s door and knocked. A tall figure opened the door almost immediately. He looked shocked. “Chloe? What are you doing here? Oh my god, what happened to you? You look so pale!” I was stunned. Even in my current state, Ethan recognized me instantly. I swallowed hard, grabbed his forearm with trembling fingers, and whispered, “Ethan… help me… buy a ticket…” “I want… to go… abroad… for treatment… with you.” Once the words left my mouth, I felt a weight lift from my chest. I thought of Austin’s face. And I knew. Once I left, I was never coming back.

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Before my best friend died of cancer, the only thing she couldn’t let go of was her online boyfriend—a man she had never met in person. Clutching my hand, she wept and begged me, “Chloe, he suffers from severe depression. I’m so scared he won’t survive this. Please, log into my Snapchat. Keep talking to him, but fade away slowly. When enough time has passed, break up with him. Okay?” With tear-filled eyes, I promised her I would. I kept my promise. For three whole years, I talked to that man using Mia’s identity. I stayed with him from his darkest depressive episodes until his career climbed back to the absolute peak. Then, I began to drift away. Today, I decided three years was long enough. It was long enough for him to let go of a dying relationship. So, I sent him a final message: “We should stop talking. Let’s break up.” But the very next second, the phone on the coffee table belonging to my fiancé, Julian Vance, lit up. Staring back at me from his screen was the exact breakup message I had just sent. It turned out my dead best friend’s online boyfriend was my fiancé. 1 “Chloe, the water temperature is perfect. Go ahead and get in first. I’ll join you after I dry my hair.” Julian’s voice drifted from the bathroom, warm and caring through the thick steam. I froze where I stood. The bathroom door opened. Julian walked out, wrapped in a towel, drying his hair. Seeing me standing rigidly in front of the coffee table, his footsteps hesitated. “What’s wrong? You look so pale.” He walked over, habitually reaching out to wrap his arm around my waist. I took a sharp step back. My lower back slammed into the armrest of the sofa, sending a dull ache through my spine. His hand hung empty in the air. “Chloe?” His gaze followed mine, landing on the illuminated phone screen. His entire face froze. The phone vibrated again. It was the custom notification ringtone he had set exclusively for that account. He lunged forward, snatching the phone. His fingers trembled violently as he unlocked it, staring at those few words. He read them over and over, three times. “No…” His voice was barely a whisper. “She wouldn’t do this…” He started typing, deleting, and typing again. But he couldn’t bring himself to send a single word. Then, he began to call. Once. Twice. Three times. In my pocket, Mia’s old phone remained completely silent. I had kept it on mute all these years, terrified he would discover I was pretending to be someone else and misunderstand. “Pick up… please, just pick up…” His voice shook, sweat breaking out on his forehead. I had never seen him like this. No, actually, I had. But only in the chat logs with “Mia.” During his worst depressive episodes, he had begged her not to leave in this exact, pitiful voice. Yet, in reality, the face he always showed me was perfectly composed, flawless, and distant. “Julian,” I finally spoke. He didn’t react. He kept dialing. “Julian Vance!” He snapped his head up. His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in pure rage. “Shut up!” The words hit me like a blow. I stared at him in shock for a second, and then, I laughed. Realizing what he had done, he quickly apologized, his tone instantly shifting back to that gentle, polite mask. “I’m sorry. I have an emergency I need to handle.” With that, he marched into the bedroom and began rummaging through his closet for clothes. “What kind of emergency?” He was in such a rush that he ripped a button right off his shirt and didn’t even care. “An urgent matter.” He didn’t even look at me. “How urgent? We’re supposed to try on wedding dresses tomorrow.” He stopped. Finally, he spared a glance for me. There was no guilt in his eyes. Only the irritation of being held back. “Go try them on yourself. Pick whatever style you want, and send me the bill.” “Send you the bill?” I repeated. “Julian, what could possibly be more important than our wedding?” His face went completely cold. He looked at me as if I were a stranger. “Chloe, you’ve always been so sensible.” “Why are you starting to be so dramatic now?” Without waiting for my reply, he grabbed his car keys and slammed the door behind him. 2 “Miss Chloe, is your fiancé still too busy to make it today?” Inside the luxury bridal salon, the consultant wore a professional smile, but the underlying pity in her voice was unmistakable. I sat alone in front of the floor-length mirror. This was the second time he had stood me up. The whispers of the employees nearby drifted into my ears: “So she’s the freelance illustrator? I wonder how she managed to bag a designer like Julian Vance.” “Mr. Vance hasn’t shown up even once. This wedding might not even happen.” I ignored them. Stepping into the fitting room, I pulled out Mia’s old phone. On the screen, Julian had sent hundreds of unread messages. Mia, why are you ignoring me? Did I do something wrong? Tell me, I’ll change. Please pick up. Just for a second. Mia, are you leaving me? Please, don’t leave me. There was also a sixty-second voice note. After a long hesitation, I pressed play. He was choking back tears, the roar of a car engine playing in the background. “Mia… I was wrong… please give me another chance… I’ll die without you… I really will…” The man who had told me to “shut up” and called me “dramatic” last night was currently crying so hard he could barely breathe on another screen. A knock sounded on the fitting room door. “Miss Chloe, Mr. Carter is here.” Carter was Julian’s best friend. I hurriedly wiped my face, changed out of the wedding dress, and walked out. Carter was lounging on the sofa. Seeing me, he pulled an Amex Black Card from his wallet and flicked it onto the table with a sharp slap. “Paying the balance. Julian is busy. He doesn’t have time to waste on this.” He stood up, walked over to me, and lowered his voice: “Chloe, let’s be real here.” “You know exactly why Julian chose you. You’re quiet, low-maintenance, and you don’t cause trouble.” “He’s giving you the title of Mrs. Vance, so just behave. Don’t go looking for love. That stuff has nothing to do with you.” I raised my hand to slap him. But he caught my wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly. “Mad?” He squeezed harder. “Just a warning, Julian is in a terrible mood lately. Don’t go looking for trouble. If you don’t want this spot, there’s a line of girls waiting to take it.” He threw my hand back, causing me to stumble. “The pin is his birthday. Pick whatever dress you want. You’re only wearing it once anyway.” He adjusted his suit jacket and walked out. I stood alone in the empty bridal shop. In my hand was my fiancé’s desperate weeping for another version of “me.” On the table lay the black card his friend had thrown at me. “Miss Chloe, are you happy with this dress?” the consultant asked. “No,” I replied. “I don’t want it anymore.” 3 When I got back from the bridal shop, I felt dizzy and exhausted. I went straight to bed. In the middle of the night, a sharp, agonizing pain shot through my abdomen. Cold sweat drenched my pajamas, and my vision blurred. Fumbling for my phone, I called Julian. It rang for a long time before he finally answered. “Yeah?” The sound of airport announcements echoed in the background. My heart sank. “Julian… my stomach hurts so bad I can’t get up… can you come back and take me to the hospital…” Silence stretched over the line for a few seconds. “Chloe, I have an urgent matter right now. You’re an adult. Can’t you just call an Uber?” An urgent matter. Your “Mia” wanted to break up with you. Of course it was a matter of life and death. I lay on the cold floor, my limbs freezing. Then, driven by some twisted impulse, I picked up Mia’s old phone and typed out a single line: “I want to see you.” Send. Almost instantly, I heard Julian shouting to someone on the other end of our phone call. “Rebook it! Rebook the flight to Seattle immediately! Take the earliest flight! I don’t care how much it costs!” Seattle. That was the city I had randomly chosen for “Mia” to make the lie sound more realistic. He was really at the airport. He was truly abandoning me for someone who didn’t even exist. “Julian,” I spoke into the receiver. “What if I die tonight?” His voice was colder than ice. “Stop threatening me with death. Your drama is honestly suffocating.” He hung up. I lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. The pain surged again, sharper and more violent than before. Curling into a tight ball, my consciousness began to slip. Using the absolute last ounce of my strength, I dialed 91

“Acute ruptured appendicitis! If she had come any later, it would have turned into peritonitis!” “Where is her family? There’s no one here to even sign the consent forms!” The surgery lasted three hours. I was hospitalized for three days. Julian didn’t make a single call, nor did he send a single text. Meanwhile, Mia’s phone was bombarded with hundreds of messages every single day: Mia, I’m in Seattle. Where are you? I’ve looked everywhere you might be. Why won’t you see me? I’m waiting for you at the cafe. I’ll wait until you show up. I turned off the phone, expressionless. It was raining on the day I was discharged. I handled the paperwork myself and took a cab back to the apartment we had shared for three years. When I opened the door, everything was exactly as I had left it. 4 I began to pack my bags. No tears, no yelling. I neatly folded the clothes he had bought me and left them in the closet. My own clothes went straight into my suitcase. I placed the dust covers back over the painting tools he had gifted me in the study. One by one, I erased every trace of my existence from the apartment. When Julian finally returned, this was the scene that greeted him. He had waited in Seattle for three days without ever seeing “Mia.” He looked exhausted and disheveled, with stubble on his chin and bloodshot eyes. Seeing me zipping up my suitcase, he froze. “What are you doing?” his voice rasped. I didn’t answer. I knelt down to move the monstera plant from the coffee table to the floor, then slid the engagement ring off my finger. It was a pink diamond. He had slipped it onto my finger himself the day he proposed. Back then, he had said, “Chloe, marry me. Let me take care of you for the rest of your life.” I placed the ring and the keys side-by-side right in the middle of the coffee table. “Chloe, I asked you a question!” His tone shifted. He marched over and grabbed my wrist. “What kind of tantrum are you throwing now?” I looked up into his eyes. “Julian, I’m not throwing a tantrum.” He blinked, loosening his grip. Massaging his temples, he tried a softer approach. “Fine. I admit my attitude was bad the other day.” He pulled a credit card from his wallet and forced it into my hand. “I’ll double your allowance for this month. Put the ring back on. Stop acting out.” Money. It was always money. “That night, my appendix ruptured,” I said, my voice completely flat. “I almost died.” His hand went limp. Panic flashed across his face, though he quickly tried to suppress it. “…Is it serious?” “The doctor said if I had been a step later, I wouldn’t be here.” His lips parted slightly. “I’m sor—” “Save it.” I pushed the card, the ring, and the keys back toward him. “You don’t need to apologize, and I don’t plan on forgiving you.” I grabbed my suitcase and turned toward the door. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, gripping me with terrifying force. “Chloe… let me explain. I really had something extremely important to do that night…” “I know,” I said quietly. “Your Mia wanted to break up with you.” His entire body stiffened. “How… how do you know about that?” I pried his hands off me, turned around, and offered him a small smile. “Julian, I’ve always known.” He took a half-step back, all the color draining from his face. Then, his expression shifted. The panic vanished, replaced by the same cold, calculating look he used to crush his opponents in business meetings. “Did you spy on me?” “It doesn’t matter.” I lifted my suitcase. “We’re done. The wedding is off.” “Chloe,” his voice echoed behind me. “Have you really thought this through?” I didn’t stop. “What can you do on your own? Paint? Does your monthly income even cover rent in this city?” My hand tightened around the handle of my suitcase. “Once you walk out that door, no one is going to catch you when you fall.” I pulled the door open. “You’re going to regret this.” The hallway was dead silent. I dragged my suitcase toward the elevator, never looking back.

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On Valentine’s Day, my husband, Pierre Nicolas, sent flowers to every single female employee in the company. Except me. When Bella, the HR director, walked past my desk, her hands were completely empty. She gave me a playful, mischievous shrug. “Oh, sorry, Ellis. We ran out of flowers. You’ll have to wait.” Just then, a delivery cart rolled in from the florist. On it was a massive, towering arrangement of 999 red roses. I smiled back at Bella, completely confident. I stood up, ready to accept my roses. Pierre was talking to the delivery guys, pointing directly in my direction. The men carried the giant bouquet toward me, but passed right by my desk, placing it firmly in front of Bella. I stared in disbelief. “You must have the wrong person. I’m Mrs. Nicolas.” Pierre walked over, wrapped his arm around Bella’s shoulders, and said in a deep, booming voice: “The flowers are for Bella. They go to the woman who has contributed the most to this company.” The woman who contributed the most? Oh, Pierre. If that’s how you want to play, I’m about to show you who actually built this damn company.

Looking at his hand resting on Bella’s shoulder, I let out a cold laugh. “Pierre, what do you think you’re doing?” The whispering colleagues instantly fell silent. The office went dead quiet. Pierre raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Ellis, I’m doing this for the company morale. Don’t be so narrow-minded.” “Everyone was having a great time until you started throwing a tantrum. Do you always have to ruin the fun?” As soon as he finished, Bella clapped her hands and spoke up loudly: “Everyone, who should we thank for these amazing gifts today?” A chorus of “Thank you, Pierre!” echoed through the office. Bella and Pierre shared a tender, lingering look right in front of me. My coworkers started staring at me, whispering loudly enough for me to hear every word: “Pierre and Bella look so much better together anyway.” “Does Ellis really think she’s the queen of this place just because of a marriage certificate?” “I heard Bella is his true love!” “Yeah, Ellis was just forced onto Pierre by his family.” “She acts like she owns the place, but she’s just riding Pierre’s coattails.” I felt a sudden pang of regret, thinking about all the late-night business dinners, the endless business trips, and the multi-million dollar contracts I had secured for this company. I must have been out of my mind. In his eyes, I was nothing compared to his high school sweetheart. In the eyes of his employees, I was just a useless burden. Our marriage was arranged to merge our family empires, sure, but I didn’t steal him from Bella. When we first got married, we had our sweet moments, though they always felt a bit distant. We both played our roles perfectly—the ideal wife and the supportive husband. But a few years ago, when my family’s business hit a major financial crisis and I asked him for help, he blew me off. “Don’t bring your family drama to me,” he had said coldly. Since then, I never mentioned the Hendersons’ business to him again. And his attitude toward me turned freezing cold. Later, when his own company was on the brink of collapse, he begged me to join and save him. So I did. I worked myself to the bone, saved his company, and made it thrive. I actually thought we were building a real relationship. Until Bella came back. He brought her into the company and didn’t even bother to hide his affection for her anymore. Staring at the 999 blooming roses, I didn’t want to waste another breath. I grabbed my bag and walked out. Behind me, Bella’s smug voice drifted through the air: “Ellis, leaving early without permission counts as an unexcused absence! I’m docking your pay!” I didn’t turn around. “Go ahead. Pierre and I are married. What’s his is mine anyway.” “You…!” The elevator doors closed, shutting out Bella’s fake, whimpering voice. I walked into a local florist, wanting to buy some flowers to cheer myself up. I picked a beautiful bouquet and went to pay, but my card was declined. I apologized to the cashier and immediately called Pierre. But when the call connected, it was Bella’s sweet, annoying voice on the other end: “Ellis, you walked out and embarrassed Pierre. He just froze your cards. Did you figure it out already?” “Honestly, you’re such a gold digger. All you know how to do is spend his money.” I didn’t want to deal with her high school drama. I just wanted to pay for my flowers. “Put Pierre on the phone.” “Sorry, Ellis. Pierre is with a very important client. He doesn’t have time for you.” Another one of her lies. I hung up, completely losing my appetite for flowers. I apologized to the florist and walked out into the street. I wandered aimlessly until the sky suddenly turned dark and a heavy downpour started. My whole world felt gray. When I finally got home, the house was pitch black, except for the flickering candlelight in the dining room. There was Bella, wrapped in Pierre’s arms. They were kissing passionately.

Water was dripping from my hair. I felt freezing cold, my fingertips numb. I slammed my hand onto the main light switch. The blinding chandelier light flooded the room, cutting them apart. Pierre and Bella jumped, startled. A flash of panic crossed their faces, but they quickly recovered. Bella slowly slid out of Pierre’s lap, giving me a triumphant, mocking look. My heart was pounding, and my voice shook as I screamed: “Bella, get the hell out of my house!” Pierre let out a soft chuckle and walked over. He looked at my soaking-wet, miserable state and smirked. “Ellis, this is my house, not yours.” “I let you live here, but don’t get ahead of yourself. You are not the mistress of this estate.” Bella stood behind him, looking smug. “Ellis, where were you fooling around to end up looking like a drowned rat?” she sneered. I was shaking with rage, tears burning my eyes as I glared at Pierre. “Pierre, why are you doing this to me? Why?” Before Pierre could speak, Bella whimpered, her eyes filling with fake tears: “Ellis, don’t act like you don’t know why.” “You were the one who tore Pierre and me apart years ago! We loved each other so much!” Me? Tearing them apart? Our marriage was a completely normal arrangement between two families. Before I met Pierre, his parents swore to me that he was single. They only mentioned he had an gold-digging ex-girlfriend who was ancient history. Besides, Pierre had dated several other girls before marrying me. How was any of this my fault? I looked Bella up and down, letting out a disgusted laugh. “Oh, so you’re that gold-digging ex-girlfriend?” “Didn’t you take five million dollars from his mother to leave him? Why are you acting like a saint now?” Bella’s face went pale. Her eyes darted around nervously. But she quickly recovered her innocent act. “What nonsense! Do you have any proof? You’re just throwing dirt on me!” Pierre glared at me, stepping in front of Bella defensively. “Shut up, Ellis. Bella would never do that. Don’t make up lies because you’re jealous.” “You ruined our lives. If you hadn’t showed up, Bella and I would have been back together years ago.” His brow furrowed, his face twisting with a deep, bitter resentment. “You’ve always been so proud, so arrogant. Even when we got married, you looked down on me.” “Now your family is broke, and you’re just an employee in my company. Yet you still act like you’re above me.” “You have no value left to me.” “Let’s get a divorce.” So this was what my husband had been thinking all these years. The sheer weight of his accusations felt like a physical blow. I could barely breathe. I blinked hard, forcing my tears back, and kept my voice steady: “Fine. Let’s divorce. But we split all marital assets 50/50. Including this house.” Pierre’s eyes widened in disbelief, his voice rising in anger: “You’re agreeing just like that?” “Keep dreaming! I’m not giving you a single penny!” “I’ve been supporting you ever since the Hendersons went under. Your family really is a bunch of greedy merchants.” Bella chimed in right on cue: “See? She’s the real gold digger here! How dare you accuse me?” I walked right up to Pierre, looking him dead in the eye. “If I don’t get my money, I’m not signing anything.” I slammed my shoulder into his as I walked past him, heading straight upstairs to my room. I wasn’t going to let them win this easily. Once, he had given me a fairytale wedding. He had been gentle and sweet. I thought we could live a quiet, peaceful life together. When did he turn into this monster? Downstairs, I heard the sound of a glass smashing against the wall, followed by the heavy slam of the front door. He had left with Bella.

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. I forced myself out of bed and went to the office anyway. Pierre and Bella didn’t show up until noon, walking in one after the other. They were still exchanging secret, flirtatious glances in the hallway. A few minutes later, Bella pushed my office door open without knocking. “There’s a business dinner tonight,” she said demandingly. “Pierre wants you there.” I didn’t even look up from my laptop. “I’m not going. You only remember me when you need to close a deal?” Bella stomped her foot and immediately dialed Pierre’s number on speaker: “Pierre, Ellis is refusing to work with me again! She says she won’t go to the dinner tonight!” “I’ll handle it,” Pierre’s voice came through, and he hung up. The next second, Pierre slammed my door open, yelling: “Ellis! When Bella gives you an assignment, you do it!” He ignored Bella, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me into his private office. I struggled to pull away, but his grip only tightened, bruising my skin. He slammed the door shut, locking us inside. He rubbed his temples, his face still red with anger. “This client is crucial for the company.” “If you help me close the deal tonight, I’ll consider your terms for the divorce settlement.” “Isn’t that what you want? Money?” I looked at his familiar yet completely foreign face and slowly nodded. “Fine.” Pierre, this is the last time I will ever help you. That evening, we arrived at the private dining room. Pierre and the client, Mr. Johnson, were already seated. As I went to sit next to Pierre, Bella pushed past me and took the seat right beside him. She gave me an innocent look. “You don’t mind if I sit next to Pierre, do you, Ellis?” I smiled politely. “Not at all.” I sat down next to her instead. The dinner started with the usual fake pleasantries. When Pierre introduced us, he only gave our job titles. Mr. Johnson’s assistant, Collins, smiled warmly at Bella. “Oh, Mrs. Nicolas, you and Pierre look so perfect together!” “We wish you both a happy and long marriage!” Bella froze for a second, glancing at Pierre. He didn’t correct Collins. Seeing his silence, Bella blushed and leaned into Pierre, playing along. I kept my mouth shut. I thought I didn’t care anymore. But seeing him let another woman take my place, allowing everyone to humiliate me, still made my chest ache. Throughout the dinner, I focused entirely on presenting our business proposal to Mr. Johnson. When Mr. Johnson and Collins offered Bella a drink, Pierre stood up with a laugh, blocking it. “Hey, you have to go through me before you buy my girl a drink!” After a few rounds, Pierre was looking tipsy. Bella looked at him with fake worry, then turned to me with a venomous smirk: “Mr. Johnson, our Ellis here is a legendary drinker! She’s the real star of our company.” “You shouldn’t leave her out of the fun!” Mr. Johnson and Collins immediately started pouring me shot after shot. For the sake of the deal, I had to swallow them down. After being pressured into drinking far too much, my head felt heavy, and my limbs felt like lead. When the dinner finally ended, the others left. Only Pierre, Mr. Johnson, and I remained in the room. Pierre helped me up with one hand while holding Mr. Johnson with the other. Through my hazy vision, I saw Pierre slip a black hotel room key card into Mr. Johnson’s hand. Mr. Johnson let out a creepy laugh, patting Pierre’s hand. “Don’t worry, Pierre. I’ll take good care of Ellis tonight.” My brain went completely white. Panic surged through my veins. I tried to break free, but my body was completely numb and powerless. Pierre leaned in close, whispering in my ear: “Be good, Ellis. Do this, and you’ll get your divorce papers tomorrow.” “Help!” I screamed with everything I had. Since I couldn’t break free, I threw myself onto the floor, refusing to let them drag me. I clung to the carpet. No matter how hard Pierre pulled, I didn’t budge. Finally, the hotel security and staff noticed the commotion and ran over. My face was flushed, tears streaming down my face. “Help me… call the police!” I gasped. Hearing the word “police,” Mr. Johnson panicked. He threw the key card on the floor and bolted. Pierre didn’t care about me anymore. He let go of my arm and ran after Mr. Johnson, trying to apologize. I couldn’t go back to that house. With the help of a kind hotel staff member, I checked into a room and locked the door behind me.

I curled up in the corner of the bed, shaking uncontrollably. The sheer horror of what almost happened sobered me up. How could Pierre be so evil? He actually tried to sell my body for a business deal. Every last bit of affection I had for him was completely shattered. I wanted to get away from him. As far as possible. I had wanted to give our marriage one last chance. But now, I was completely done. I pulled out my phone and sent Pierre a text: “Meet me in the office tomorrow morning. Let’s sign the divorce papers.” He replied instantly: “Fine.” No explanation. No apology. Just cold indifference. I woke up several times during the night, gasping for air. But in the pitch black, my resolve only grew stronger. The next morning, my head was still pounding, but the hotel had sent up warm honey water and breakfast. I felt much better after eating. I went straight to the company. I waited for Pierre in the main conference room. He walked in looking completely unbothered, with Bella trailing right behind him like a loyal dog. “Ellis, you’re finally letting go?” Bella sneered. “You stole so many years from Pierre and me. We’re being generous by not suing you!” It was hilarious. The mistress was demanding compensation from the legal wife. I gave her a look like she was a piece of garbage. Then I turned to Pierre, speaking clearly: “I’ll sign. But on one condition: fire Bella.” My words hit Bella like a slap to the face. She shrieked, clearly not expecting me to be so direct. “Ellis! Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are?” “You’re the one leaving! You have no right to interfere with company business!” Pierre crossed his arms, leaning back. “Why should I fire her?” Looking at his clueless face, I almost felt sorry for him. “Bella has a boyfriend. Did you know that, Pierre?” I said coldly. “And her boyfriend works for your biggest competitor.” “For his sake, she has leaked company secrets multiple times. She’s also used her position to embezzle millions.” Pierre’s face fell, his eyes narrowing as he tried to process my words. Beside him, Bella’s face went pale. Her eyes darted around in pure panic. Pierre slammed his hand on the table, glaring at me. “That’s impossible! I don’t believe a word of this!” “This divorce is between you and me. Stop dragging Bella into this with your pathetic lies!” I let out a cold laugh, throwing a folder of evidence and my phone with a video onto the table. Bella lunged forward, grabbing the papers and ripping them to shreds. She burst into tears: “Pierre, this is fake! It’s all AI-generated!” “She’s trying to tear us apart!” Pierre shot a complicated look at Bella, then turned to me, his jaw clenched. “I don’t believe you, Ellis. I’ve known Bella much longer than I’ve known you.” “I know her character.” “I won’t fire her. You accused her of taking five million to leave me back then, right?” “Fine. I’ll give you five million to leave right now. We divorce, and Bella stays.” I actually laughed out loud. The proof was right in front of him, and he was still playing the blind fool. Well, I did my part. If he wanted to be ruined, that was his business. “Deal,” I said. Pierre called the accountant, ordering her to wire me five million dollars immediately. As we waited, Pierre wrapped his arm around Bella, whispering sweet nothings to comfort her. Suddenly, the accountant’s panicked voice echoed from the hallway, loud enough for the whole office to hear: “Mr. Nicolas! This is bad!” “The company accounts… they’re completely empty!” “The private equity firm that bailed us out three years ago just withdrew all our funds!”

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I was the last to know that my wife, Juliet, was pregnant with her second child. My two-year corporate assignment in South Africa had finally ended. When I walked through the front door, Juliet was already about to pop. I didn’t scream. I didn’t demand answers. I just looked at her calmly and said: “Now that I’m back, we can file for divorce.” Juliet panicked. She grabbed my hand, her voice trembling with anxiety. “Alex, let me explain… You were gone for two years. Leo was the one who took care of everything around the house. I only had this baby to repay him. Don’t overthink it.” Our six-year-old daughter, Kate, also spoke up to defend her mother. “You were gone for so long! If it wasn’t for Leo, Mommy and I would have starved to death! What’s wrong with Mommy having a baby for Leo? You’re just making a big deal out of nothing!” Looking at the mother and daughter tag-teaming me, I simply nodded. “You have a point.” I did feel a sense of guilt toward my wife and daughter. I hadn’t been there for them over the last two years. But during my time abroad, I sent every single penny I earned back to Juliet. I made $120,000 a year, which was more than enough for them to live a luxurious life. I went to that harsh environment just to secure a better future for them. I never expected to be rewarded with this. Honestly, I had heard rumors while I was still abroad. A colleague back home had dropped a hint in an email. At the time, I refused to believe it. I chose to trust Juliet, convincing myself she was just gaining weight. I finished my project two weeks early and rushed home, eager to surprise her. It was only when I saw her giant belly with my own eyes that my heart completely died. At this moment, there was no anger left in me. Only endless disappointment. Knowing she was in the wrong, Juliet poured a glass of water and handed it to me nervously. “Alex… have some water first.” I took the glass and said quietly, “You’re heavily pregnant. Don’t stand for too long. Sit down.” Seeing how calm I was, the tension in her shoulders visibly relaxed. She awkwardly sat down next to me, supporting her heavy belly. I took a sip of water and continued, “Since you’re pregnant, I won’t stand in the way of you and Leo. He isn’t married anyway. Once our divorce goes through, you can go live with him.” Hearing this, Juliet’s face instantly flushed with anger. “Alex, what is that supposed to mean?” She stared at me, her voice rising. “Are you abandoning me? I’ve been with you since I was twenty! I stayed by your side when you had nothing! I’ve sacrificed so much for this family! How can you just bring up divorce so easily?” She was right. We had a history. But all those years of building a life together couldn’t survive two years of loneliness. It was pathetic. I turned to Kate, who was watching TV nearby. “Kate, if Mommy and I get a divorce, who do you want to live with?” Without even looking at me, Kate answered instantly: “Mommy! If you and Mommy divorce, she can marry Leo. Then I can finally call Leo ‘Daddy.’ I’ve wanted to call him that for a long time!” It was exactly the answer I expected, yet it still stung a little. I nodded. “Okay. You’ll get your wish.” I stood up, ignored Juliet’s attempts to grab me, dragged my suitcase, and walked right out of the house. I went straight to a local bar and called up a few close friends I hadn’t seen in two years. At the table, my friends teased me, “The first thing you do when you get back isn’t hugging your wife, but drinking with us? What’s up with that?” I downed a shot of whiskey and said in a hoarse voice, “Juliet cheated on me.” My friends froze, exchanging glances. One friend, who had heard some rumors, asked hesitantly, “I heard Juliet is pregnant… Is it true?” “Yeah. It’s her childhood friend’s baby.” The entire table went dead silent. The atmosphere became heavy. I kept pouring drinks, desperately trying to numb my brain with alcohol. Halfway through the night, Juliet called. I answered groggily. Her sharp, lecturing voice blasted through the speaker: “Alex, can you stop throwing a tantrum? We haven’t seen each other in two years, and you walk in, give me attitude, and pull this running-away-from-home stunt? Are you a child?” Kate’s sweet voice came from beside her: “Mommy, stop calling Daddy! If he wants to leave, let him! We did perfectly fine without him for two years anyway!” Without saying a word, I hung up. They were right. They did perfectly fine without me.

My two years in South Africa were brutal. The working conditions were terrible—constant blackouts, water shortages, and I often had to work in hundred-degree heat. But whenever I thought of the money I was making to give my family a better life, I pushed through. I never imagined that when I returned, my home would no longer be mine. After drinking with my friends, I sobered up slightly and went back to the house. I still had some personal belongings to pack. It was past 10 PM when I unlocked the door. Juliet was still awake. Seeing my drunk state, she pinched her nose in disgust and began lecturing me again: “Alex, do you have any idea how bad smoke and alcohol are for a pregnant woman? You come back reeking of booze, completely ignoring my health!” “I’m just here to pack my things. I’m leaving right after.” “Leaving?” Juliet’s voice went up an octave. “Where are you going now?” “The company dorms,” I said flatly. Juliet exploded. She pointed a finger at my face. “Alex! How long are you going to keep acting like this? Can’t you be a man and show some maturity? Do you have any idea how much Leo helped me while you were gone? When I had stomach flu, when my appendix flared up, when Kate had a high fever, Leo was the one who stayed up all night to take care of us! Even when my mom was hospitalized, Leo ran all the errands! I’m just carrying a baby for him to fulfill his dream of being a father. How can you be so incredibly selfish?” “Sure, I’m selfish,” I let out a dry laugh. “Have his baby. I’m not stopping you.” I grabbed my bag and slammed the door behind me. “Alex! You have zero class! You’re not a real man!” Juliet screamed from inside. I laughed. Maybe in her eyes, only Leo was a real man. I had given everything to this family, but I could never warm her cold heart. The next morning, I submitted an application for an overseas transfer at my company. This time, the destination was Europe. Before my South Africa project ended, my manager had already offered me the position of General Manager for our European branch, which came with a massive pay raise. But I had turned it down because I wanted to come home to my wife and daughter. Now, there was nothing left for me here. In the afternoon, I went back to the house with the divorce papers. Juliet and Kate weren’t home. I called Juliet. “Where are you? We need to sign the divorce papers.” My words instantly triggered her. She snapped, “I’m at the hospital for an ultrasound! I don’t have time for this!” “Which hospital? I’ll come to you.” “Alex! I’m about to give birth any day now! Do you have to stress me out like this? Even if you come, I’m not signing those papers!” When I arrived at the hospital, I immediately ran into Juliet, who had just finished her checkup. Standing next to her, besides Kate, was the baby’s father—Leo. Leo was carefully holding Juliet’s arm, helping her sit down on a bench with absolute devotion, as if she were a piece of fragile glass. Kate was bouncing beside them. “Leo, I hope Mommy gives me a baby brother. When he grows up, he can protect Mommy and me with you! We’ll be a happy family forever!” Leo patted Kate’s head with a doting smile. “I asked the doctor, and it is indeed a baby boy! You’re going to be a big sister soon, Kate!” “Yay!” I thought my heart had turned to stone, but seeing this scene still sent a sharp pain through my chest. The wife and daughter I had loved and provided for were now someone else’s family. And I was just an outsider. I gave everything, only to end up with nothing. How pathetic.

My sudden appearance shattered their cozy family picture. All three of them stopped smiling. I walked up to Juliet, holding up the divorce papers. “I’m here to talk about the divorce.” Juliet’s face darkened instantly. Leo immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her behind him. He glared at me. “Alex, Juliet is about to give birth. Please don’t harass her right now. Stress is dangerous for a pregnant woman!” “Step aside,” I said coldly, trying my best to suppress my anger. Leo spoke with a self-righteous tone. “Alex, I have no intention of breaking up your marriage. Once the baby is born, I will take him away. It won’t affect your marriage at all. There is no need to take your anger out on Juliet. I’m over thirty with no wife and no kids. Juliet only agreed to have this baby because she felt sorry for my loneliness. As a man, you should show some generosity!” I laughed out loud at his sheer audacity. “You’re absolutely right,” I sneered. “A man should be generous. How about this? I’ll give you Juliet and Kate too. Is that generous enough for you?” Leo stared at me, bewildered. “Enough!” Juliet yelled. Her face was incredibly pale as she turned to Leo. “Leo, take Kate and grab some snacks outside. I need to talk to Alex alone.” Once Leo and Kate walked away, Juliet stood up, holding her back. She snatched the divorce papers from my hand and, without even looking at them, ripped them into shreds. “Alex, I told you, I’m not divorcing you. Get that through your head! I’m giving birth in two weeks. Don’t you dare cause complications with my pregnancy!” I knelt down, picked up the torn pieces of paper, and said quietly, “If you won’t sign, I’ll file a lawsuit.” Juliet became hysterical. “I’m pregnant! The court won’t grant a divorce while I’m pregnant!” “The baby isn’t mine.” “So what? You don’t have a DNA test yet! The judge won’t rule in your favor without proof!” I let out a tired sigh. “Juliet, since you and Leo love each other so much, and you’re carrying his child, why are you holding onto me?” Juliet went quiet for a few seconds. Her hostile expression softened, and she lowered her voice. “Alex, Leo and I grew up together. He has loved me for over ten years, and he stayed single just for me. I couldn’t bear to watch him suffer. I only wanted to give him a baby so he wouldn’t be alone. It was just to fulfill his wish. But Alex, the only man I truly love is you.” Her words didn’t move me. They only made me want to throw up. She loved me, so she slept with another man? How could she say something so shameless with such a straight face?

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I loved Edward. I loved him to the point of madness. It didn’t matter that he was a serial cheater. It didn’t even matter that he slept with Chloe Vance, the notorious fake heiress. I still couldn’t let him go. I pumped my body full of hormone shots and IVF drugs, desperate to keep him by giving him a baby. Until today. My doctor finally told me I was pregnant. Clutching the ultrasound report, I rushed to his office without wasting a single second. “Edward, I’m preg—” The words died in my throat. Edward was on his desk, passionately kissing his new secretary. He didn’t even stop. He just spared me a cold, irritated glance. “Get the hell out!” At that moment, something inside me finally snapped. I could tolerate a terrible husband. But did my child deserve such a pathetic father? Thirty minutes later, the office door finally clicked open. The new secretary walked out. She smoothed down her rumpled skirt, glared at me with a smirk, and swayed her hips as she walked away. I had witnessed this exact scene hundreds of times. The old Sarah would have cried, her heart shattering into pieces. But now? I felt absolutely nothing. I was numb. I pushed the door open. Hearing my footsteps, Edward turned his head. The moment he saw me, his brows knitted into his signature scowl. “What are you doing back here?” “Didn’t I tell you to stop showing up at my office for no reason?” I hesitated. Slowly, I slid the ultrasound report deep into my purse. “Edward, let’s get a divorce.” The hand Edward used to hold his cigarette froze mid-air. He let out a dry laugh and looked at me mockingly. “What? You finally can’t take it anymore?” “If I remember correctly, you were the one who begged and used every trick in the book to marry me.” Just as the words left his mouth, his phone on the desk buzzed twice. It was Chloe. Edward glanced at the screen. He didn’t even bother to hide it from me. He picked up, his voice immediately softening into an intimate drawl. “Hey, baby. Miss me already?” “Of course I love you. You’re my only girl.” “You’re back in the country? Great. I’ll see you in a bit.” I could hear Chloe’s giggling voice leaking through the speaker. A few minutes later, Edward hung up. His cold eyes landed back on me. He tilted his chin toward the corner of his desk. “The divorce papers are right there. I already signed them.” “If you want to sign, go ahead.” “It’s not like this is the first time you’ve thrown a tantrum about divorcing me.” Edward stood up, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and walked toward the door. He paused at the threshold, throwing a parting shot over his shoulder. “By the way, don’t wait up for me tonight. Stop acting like the perfect, miserable wife at home. My mother sees you doing that and never stops nagging me.” With that, he walked out without a single backward glance. Faced with such humiliation, I should have collapsed to the floor, sobbing. But strangely, my eyes were bone-dry. I couldn’t shed a single tear. I walked over to his desk and pulled out the divorce papers. I flipped to the last page. The bold signature ‘Edward Sterling’ looked like a mockery of my years of devotion. “Ha.” I let out a self-deprecating laugh. I didn’t even bother reading the terms regarding asset division or alimony. None of it mattered anymore. I grabbed a pen from the holder. Stroke by stroke, I signed my name and took my copy of the papers. It was only when I walked out of the towering corporate building that I pulled the ultrasound out of my pocket. On the black-and-white print, there was only a tiny, blurry sac. I decided to abort it. I didn’t want to save my marriage anymore. And I certainly didn’t want his child. My baby deserved a better father.

When I returned to the estate, Edward’s mother, Eleanor, was waiting for me. The moment she saw me, she hurried over. “Sarah, you’re back!” “How was the hospital? Did you get the results?” “I noticed you’ve had a poor appetite lately, and you looked bloated. Is it… are you pregnant?” I lowered my eyes, keeping my voice calm as I lied. “No, Eleanor.” “The doctor said it’s just some minor indigestion and stomach flu. I’m not pregnant.” Eleanor had always been good to me. Since I had already decided to divorce her son, there was no need to give her false hope. Disappointment flashed across her face, but her tone remained incredibly gentle. “Oh… I see. That’s alright. Your health comes first.” “I’ll have Maria make you some soothing herbal tea later.” “Thank you.” Eleanor opened her mouth to say more, but the front door swung open. Was it Edward? Didn’t he say he wasn’t coming home tonight? A woman in high heels stepped in right behind him, her bright, arrogant face coming into view. It was Chloe. “Eleanor, Sarah,” Chloe chirped. “Edward brought me over for dinner. You don’t mind, do you?” The smile on Eleanor’s face froze instantly. She glared at her son. She could turn a blind eye to his affairs outside, but bringing his mistress into our family home was a direct slap to my face. “Edward, how dare you—” I quickly stepped forward, gently rubbing Eleanor’s back to calm her. “Eleanor, please. Your doctor said you must avoid getting stressed. It’s just dinner.” Then, I turned around to face Edward and Chloe. I forced a polite smile. “Of course we don’t mind.” “Mary, please set two more plates.” “Dinner is ready anyway. You two can wash up and join us.” Perhaps my reaction was too calm. Edward raised an eyebrow in surprise, trying to figure out what game I was playing. At the dining table, Chloe was beaming. She kept using her fork to feed Edward his favorite dishes, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “Edward, try this. You’ve been working so hard lately. You need to eat more.” Edward didn’t reject her. Instead, he smirked, picked up a piece of steak, and fed it to her himself. “You too, baby.” Chloe giggled, accepting the bite. She cast a smug, provocative glance in my direction. Eleanor’s face was pale with rage. Unable to take it anymore, she slammed her fork down on the table with a sharp clatter. “I’m full,” she snapped, before storming upstairs. I didn’t look up. I just kept eating my food slowly. My doctor had warned me that my body was severely weakened from all the hormone shots. If I didn’t eat well, I might not even survive the abortion surgery next week. Edward seemed bored by my lifeless reaction. Seeing his mother leave, he wrapped his arm around Chloe’s waist and looked at me coldly. “Oh, by the way, don’t sleep in the master bedroom tonight.” “Chloe and I are using it.” “Go sleep in the guest room on the third floor.” Chloe gasped softly, playfully hitting his chest. Her cheeks flushed pink as she whined, “Oh, Edward… don’t say such things out loud. It’s embarrassing…” I finally looked up. “Sure.” I stood up. “I’m done eating.” The master bedroom or the guest room—it made no difference to me. I just needed sleep. As a pregnant woman, getting rest was my priority. But my compliance seemed to ignite a sudden, inexplicable fury in Edward. He shoved Chloe aside. In three strides, he blocked my path. He grabbed my wrist tightly, his voice rising in anger. “Stop right there!” “Sarah, who the hell are you rolling your eyes at?”

I stared at him, utterly bewildered. What was he so angry about? In the past, I acted like a hysteric madwoman. I did everything to track his affairs, checking his phone for texts and trying to block every woman who got near him. Back then, he detested me. He called me crazy and pathetic. Now that I was being quiet, why was he still mad? I felt exhausted. Taking a deep breath, I wrenched my wrist from his grip. “I’m not rolling my eyes. I’m just tired and want to rest.” I took two steps, then paused and turned around. “By the way, Edward. I signed the divorce papers. Your copy is back on your desk.” “If you have time tomorrow, we can go to the family court and file them.” Edward’s angry expression froze for a second. Then, he sneered. “Ha. Stop playing the bigger person. You’re just throwing another tantrum.” “But let me warn you. This divorce game? Don’t take it too far.” “Once you calm down and regret it, begging me to withdraw the petition won’t be so easy.” “My patience is running thin.” He looked at me, waiting for me to break. I remembered when we first got married, I used to threaten him with divorce all the time. But every time he dragged me to the courthouse, I was the one who ended up crying and begging to go home. I was so stupid back then. Edward never loved me. To him, divorcing me was a blessing. “Understood,” I murmured quietly, and headed up to the third-floor guest room. The master bedroom was on the second floor, and the guest rooms were on the third. We should have had peace. But I didn’t know what kind of madness possessed Edward that night. Instead of staying in the master bedroom, he dragged Chloe into the guest room right next to mine. Their giggles, dirty talk, and even louder, explicit sounds pierced through the thin walls throughout the night. Being pregnant, I was already a light sleeper. I couldn’t sleep a wink. But surprisingly, hearing those sounds didn’t hurt my heart anymore. I was just annoyed by the noise. That was the moment I realized: I had completely stopped loving Edward. The next morning at breakfast, Edward looked at the dark circles under my eyes. He smiled triumphantly. “So? Did a sleepless night finally wake you up?” “Are we still going to the family court?” I looked up from my phone and nodded. “Yes. We are.” “The driver is waiting outside. I scheduled our appointment for 9:00 AM.” “Once you finish breakfast, we can leave.” “It won’t take more than twenty minutes.” “I haven’t told Eleanor yet. Her heart is weak, and I don’t want to shock her. You should find a better time to tell her later.” Edward let out a dry, bitter laugh. “You’re quick to draw the line between us now. How ungrateful.” “Sarah, if my mother hadn’t used her failing health to blackmail me into this marriage…” “I wouldn’t have looked at you twice, let alone married you.” My knuckles turned white, but I didn’t want to argue. I just kept my head down in silence. My silence made him feel like he was punching jello. It only fueled his anger. He pushed his plate away and stood up abruptly. “Fine! Since you’re in such a rush to get divorced, let’s go!” The car ride was suffocatingly quiet. Suddenly, Edward turned to me, a mocking smirk on his lips. “Too bad Chloe is still asleep and couldn’t join us.” “Otherwise, the moment we file these papers, I would have proposed to her right there.” “She’s been with me for years. It’s time I gave her my last name.” I knew he was trying to get a reaction out of me, so I ignored his bait. Instead, I looked at him and asked a question that had haunted me for years. “Since we’re divorcing anyway, tell me the truth.” “Edward, why did you hate me so much all these years?”

The air in the car turned icy. Edward’s throat bobbed as if he were swallowing down a wave of fury. Finally, he glared at me with pure venom. “Because you deserved it!” “Honestly, when I first met you, I liked you.” “But then you just had to have me. You made my mother use her illness to force me into this marriage!” “I am sick of it! I’m sick of being controlled! I wanted my freedom!” “I told you I didn’t love you, but you insisted on marrying me anyway.” “So don’t blame me for treating you like trash. You brought this on yourself!” Edward screamed his lungs out. He threw himself back against the leather seat, panting heavily. I listened quietly. I wasn’t even shocked. I just found it incredibly pathetic. Looking at his enraged face, I offered a sincere apology. “I’m sorry for wasting your years.” “But we’re divorced now. I won’t bother you ever again.” Edward didn’t reply, but his scowl deepened. Even after we signed the papers and returned to the mansion, Edward remained dead silent. I didn’t want to annoy him, so I stayed in my room. At dinner, it was the same four people: me, Eleanor, Edward, and Chloe. Only this time, Edward and Chloe weren’t acting lovey-dovey. Under the dining room chandelier, a flash of green caught my eye. The bracelet on Chloe’s wrist looked horribly familiar. That was… my mother’s antique emerald bracelet! My heart stopped. I stood up abruptly, lunging forward to grab Chloe’s wrist. “Give it back!” “That’s my mother’s bracelet! Who gave you permission to go through my jewelry box in the master bedroom?” Chloe shrieked in pain as I gripped her wrist. But a split second later, a smug, victorious look flashed in her eyes. She sobbed hysterically. “What do you mean, your bracelet? Sarah, what are you talking about?” “I bought this myself a few days ago!” “Edward, she’s hurting me! Make her stop!” Edward slammed his hands on the table and stood up. Hearing Chloe’s cries, he forcefully slapped my hand away. “Sarah! Have you lost your mind? Let her go!” “I knew you wouldn’t let things go quietly!” “It’s just a stupid bracelet! If Chloe says she bought it, she bought it! Stop making a scene!” I glared at Edward, my voice cracking with desperation. “Making a scene? Edward, open your damn eyes and look at it!” “I wore this exact bracelet on our wedding day!” Edward glanced at the emerald piece. It did look familiar. It probably was mine. Just as he was about to tell Chloe to give it back to avoid a hassle, Eleanor slammed her hand on the table. She stood up and pointed a trembling finger at Chloe. “You thief! I’ve seen that bracelet before. It belongs to Sarah. Give it back to her right now!” “Edward, I swear, if you defend this trash one more time, you are no longer my son!” Edward’s rebellious streak flared instantly. He pulled Chloe behind his back protectively. “I said it’s Chloe’s, so it’s hers.” “It’s just a piece of jewelry. I’ll buy Sarah a better one at the auction tomorrow.” “Stop bullying Chloe!” Bullshit! That was the last piece of my mother I had left. Even if he bought me ten thousand of them, none of them would be from my mother. Losing all control, I lunged at Chloe again, desperate to claw my mother’s heirloom back. Edward shielded her, and even Eleanor joined the scuffle, trying to pull Chloe away. In the chaos, to keep me away from Chloe, Edward swung his arm back and shoved me hard— A massive force hit my shoulder. I didn’t expect him to push me so violently. My heel caught on the rug. I lost my balance and fell backward. CRASH! My lower back slammed violently against the sharp, wooden edge of the heavy dining table. An agonizing pain exploded from my spine, paralyzing my muscles and stealing the air right out of my lungs. Taking advantage of my fall, Edward grabbed Chloe’s hand and headed for the door. “Stop, Edward, you coward!” “Get back here! Stop them!” Eleanor screamed, calling for the security guards. But Edward ignored her and dragged Chloe out of the house. Eleanor turned around, intending to comfort me, but her voice died in her throat. There was a body lying by the table. I was pooling in a dark, terrifying crimson stain, my face as white as paper. “Sarah! Oh my god, Sarah!” Eleanor screamed before blacking out. I was rushed to the ER. The red surgery light stayed on for a grueling twenty-four hours. Meanwhile, Edward knew he had gone too far. The next day, he brought Chloe to an upscale auction, intending to buy an expensive piece of jewelry to replace my bracelet. As they sat in the private VIP room, watching the server present the diamonds, the door was violently kicked open. It was Eleanor. Abandoning all her aristocratic elegance, she pushed past the bodyguards and stormed into the room. She was holding a small, white clinical memorial box. SLAP! Eleanor raised her hand and delivered a savage blow to Edward’s face. “Open it!” she hissed. Edward clutched his burning cheek. Seeing his mother’s devastated face, a sudden wave of dread washed over him. As he hesitated, Eleanor screamed again. “I said, open it!” Edward’s hands trembled as he slowly lifted the lid. The moment he saw what was inside, his pupils dilated in absolute horror. He let out a strangled shriek. “No—” The tears Eleanor had been holding back finally streamed down her face. “Look closely, Edward. That is your four-month-old daughter.” “And you killed her.”

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In the fifth year of our marriage, for his new lover, he had my dog beaten to death in front of New York’s elite. That dog was the last thing my terminally ill father left me. Holding Lucky’s cold body in the pouring rain, I signed the divorce papers with a bloody thumbprint. Everyone thought I would die that night. But five years later, I returned as the Pierce Group’s guest of honor. He knelt in a pool of blood, begging me to sign his clemency petition. Right in front of him, I used a pair of pliers to rip off five of his fingernails. “This one is for Lucky.” Julian Vance, I am giving you the death sentence myself. Scarlett’s POV In the fifth year of our marriage, to please his new mistress, Chloe, Julian Vance had my only companion, my dog Lucky, beaten to death in front of everyone. The grand ballroom was brilliantly lit. Julian had his arm wrapped tightly around Chloe’s waist, laughing and chatting with the guests. I sat in a dark corner. Lucky, my poor dog, was tied tightly to the leg of a table nearby. His ears were pressed back in sheer anxiety. “Oh my god!” Chloe shrieked suddenly. She “accidentally” tipped her entire glass of red wine onto Lucky’s paws. Startled, Lucky struggled violently. In an instant, he knocked over the giant champagne tower behind him. The deafening crash of shattering glass brought the entire ballroom to a sudden silence. Julian walked over, his face dark. He didn’t even look at the mess on the floor. Instead, he ripped the rope off the table leg and swiftly tied it around Lucky’s muzzle and limbs. “No! Julian!” Panic seized my chest. I threw myself forward, desperately grabbing the hem of his trousers. “Lucky was just scared! He didn’t mean to!” Julian looked down at me, his eyes as cold as ice. He kicked me away. “A filthy mutt doesn’t belong at a Vance family gala.” Chloe’s eyes turned red right on cue. She shrunk into his chest, acting incredibly fragile. “Julian, I’m so scared. The way he looked at me… it felt like he wanted to bite me to death.” “Don’t worry. I’m here.” Julian gently patted Chloe’s back. He turned around, tossing the end of the rope to the butler. His voice carried no warmth whatsoever. “Take it to the backyard. Beat it to death.” “Julian!” I screamed, a piercing, desperate sound. But all I got in return was the cold, decisive view of his back as he walked away, cradling his mistress. I crawled and scrambled toward the backyard. The moment I pushed open the heavy wooden doors, the butler was already raising a heavy iron shovel high into the air. Lucky was tied up tightly, making low, helpless whimpers. Thud! The heavy shovel came down hard. Lucky didn’t even have the chance to let out a final cry. His body twitched violently a few times, and then, he went completely still. His eyes were still open. His tongue hung weakly out of the corner of his mouth. He didn’t seem to understand what had just happened. I froze on the spot, as if nailed to the doorframe. I fell to my knees in the mud, pulling Lucky’s stiffening body into my arms. My tears fell silently into his mud-stained fur. “Lucky, I’m so sorry… Let’s go home.” My arms were shaking. My entire body was shaking. But I didn’t make a sound. I dug my nails deep into my palms until my knuckles turned white. By the time I stumbled back into the ballroom, looking like a ghost, the music and laughter had already resumed. Chloe was holding a glass of champagne, smiling and bragging to the people around her. “Julian handled that dog just now. Gosh, it scared me to death.” “Is that so?” My cold voice suddenly echoed from behind her. Before Chloe could even turn around, I grabbed a steak knife from the buffet table. Using every ounce of my strength, I plunged it hard into Chloe’s abdomen. “This is for Lucky.” My voice was as whispery and terrifying as a ghost. “Ah!” Chloe let out a blood-curdling scream. She looked down at the blood rapidly spreading across her designer dress, then collapsed onto the floor. “Chloe!” Julian’s eyes practically split with rage. He rushed over, violently kicking me away, and shielded Chloe in his arms, trembling. He turned to glare at me, his eyes burning with pure hatred. “You’re insane! How dare you hurt her!” I fell to the floor, blood leaking from the corner of my mouth. But I suddenly laughed. I laughed until my eyes turned red. “You are the ones who are insane, Julian.” Julian took a deep breath and announced to the entire crowd. “I am divorcing Scarlett! From this day on, she has absolutely nothing to do with me or the Vance family!” With that, he scooped up the unconscious Chloe and ran out, tossing one last icy command to the security guards. “Throw this madwoman out.” The security guards surged forward. They grabbed me roughly and threw me out of the gates, right into the pouring rain of the dark night. Not far from the steps, Lucky’s cold body had been carelessly tossed aside. The butler hadn’t even bothered to bury him. I crawled over and held Lucky tightly in my arms, letting the freezing rain soak me to the bone. I looked up. Through the heavy curtain of rain, I stared coldly at the bright, luxurious lights of the Vance estate. It turned out that our five-year marriage was nothing but a laughable joke, a one-sided delusion. “Lucky, let’s go home.” Hatred and resentment flooded my chest. When I opened my eyes again, they were dead and cold.

Scarlett’s POV Everyone thought Julian Vance would take my life. But he didn’t. He threw the divorce papers right in my face, his eyes filled with absolute disgust. “You’re nothing but a dog I kept around, Scarlett. Since you’re so eager to go mad, get the hell out and starve to death.” Kneeling in the cold rain, holding Lucky’s corpse, I pressed my bloody thumbprint onto the papers. I almost died that rainy night. It was Dominic Pierce who personally picked me up and dragged me out of that abyss. When Dominic was younger, my mother had saved his life. He took me out of the country, treated my injuries, and personally trained me in the brutal world of business. For five years, I worked day and night without a break. I transformed from a submissive, easily bullied girl into Dominic’s most trusted right-hand woman. I had to survive. I had to make the Vance family and Chloe pay in blood. Five years later, I returned to the country in absolute glory. I arrived at this exclusive, high-end private club where I hadn’t stepped foot in for five long years. This time, I held the most exclusive VIP invitation card given to me by Dominic. I was here to settle the score with the Vance family once and for all. Inside the ballroom, glasses clinked, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively. I didn’t look at anyone. My eyes locked instantly onto a pink figure standing by the bar. Chloe was wearing a champagne-colored designer gown, laughing and chatting with several high-society women. As she tucked her hair back, she flaunted a rose-gold diamond watch on her wrist. Julian had just bought it at an auction last month; the news had been all over Snapchat and Twitter. It seemed that over the past five years, they had been living a very good life. “Oh, look who it is. Isn’t this the trash Julian threw out of the house?” Chloe’s screechy voice suddenly cut through the air, ruining the pleasant chatter around us. Holding her glass, she sashayed over in her high heels. The brief flicker of surprise in her eyes was instantly replaced by intense mockery. “Five years. I thought you died a long time ago. How do you even have the nerve to show your face here?” The surrounding guests turned to look, whispering like a rising tide. Chloe raised her chin arrogantly. With a slight tilt of her wrist, she poured her red wine right down the front of my black dress. “Dressed like this, you’re probably just here to beg for free drinks. A stray thrown out by the Vance family probably can’t even afford a decent dress anymore.” I looked down at my stained dress, then looked up, completely blank. “Five years, and you’re still using the same cheap trick.” I turned around, not even bothering to waste another second on her. “Stop right there! Who do you think you are, pretending to be above us?!” Chloe was instantly triggered by my cold indifference. She lunged forward, her sharp acrylic nails digging deep into the flesh of my forearm. My eyes went cold. I pivoted slightly, letting her own momentum carry her. Chloe grabbed nothing but air. Her thin stiletto heel buckled, and she stumbled wildly for several steps before barely stabilizing herself. Her entire face flushed red with embarrassment. Right at that moment, the shadow at the entrance was cut by a tall, imposing figure. Julian Vance walked in, looking sharp in his tailored suit, casually adjusting his cufflinks. He looked up. Those dark, hollow eyes of his, deep and chilling, collided directly with my icy gaze.

Scarlett’s POV Five years. This was the first time I was seeing Julian Vance again. The moment our eyes met, my fingers clenched tightly inside my sleeves. The old scar on my forearm, the one he had burned into my skin with a cigarette, began to throb with phantom pain. That happened in the second year of our marriage. Julian only married me to get back at my mother. He treated me like a punching bag he could abuse at will. And all because I refused to act like a maid and serve water to Chloe during a family dinner. Julian had grabbed my arm like an iron vice. In front of all the Vance relatives, who watched coldly, he slowly crushed a burning, glowing cigarette butt right into my delicate skin. At the time, he snarled in my ear, “You don’t have the right to say no.” The deep-seated terror from back then transformed into a towering wave of hatred in this very second. I didn’t run. Instead, I stood tall, my spine straight, and locked my dead, icy gaze onto Julian’s face. However, Julian only spared me a cold, passing glance. His expression was filled with disgust, as if he were looking at a pile of garbage. He pulled his eyes away, not even bothering to waste another half-second on me, and walked straight into the inner VIP lounge surrounded by his entourage. I pulled the corner of my mouth into a silent, bitter smile, forcing down the rage bubbling in my chest. I turned back to Chloe. Seeing that Julian didn’t even bother to look at me, she became even more convinced that I was still the same helpless stray she could step on. Chloe tilted her head, spinning her empty glass in her hand. She leaned close to my ear and whispered with a nasty smirk, “A toast to that dead mutt of yours.” The wealthy women around us covered their mouths, whispering snarkily. I stood there, letting the red wine drip down my cheek. I didn’t wipe it off. I just stared coldly at Chloe’s smug face. The very next second, without a single shred of hesitation, I grabbed the heavy ice bucket from the buffet table and smashed it right over Chloe’s head. Crash! Ice cubes and blood exploded across Chloe’s face instantly. She was knocked to the floor, clutching her forehead and screaming in agony. The entire ballroom fell dead silent. “Scarlett! You’re dead!” Julian rushed over, his face pale with rage. He scooped Chloe into his arms and glared at me, his teeth gnashing. “You psycho! You think I won’t kill you right here?” I looked at him, completely expressionless. “I just gave her some ice water back. Does your heart hurt already?” The veins on Julian’s forehead bulged. He waved his hand aggressively, giving his bodyguards a lethal command. “Grab her! Break her legs and throw her out!” Two burly bodyguards immediately closed in on me. Calmly, I pulled a gold-embossed invitation card from my clutch and flashed it right in front of Julian’s face. “I am here representing Dominic Pierce of the Pierce Group.” The moment he saw Dominic’s name on that card, Julian froze. I knew exactly what the Vance family was facing right now. A massive cash flow crisis. They were desperately praying for the Pierce Group to inject a $3 billion lifeline. Without it, the Vance family would go completely bankrupt. I smiled at Julian, watching his jaw clench so hard it looked like it would shatter. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me. Finally, he spat out through his teeth, “Stop.” The bodyguards silently backed away. I tucked the invitation back into my bag and walked toward the restroom under the shocked stares of the guests. The moment I locked myself in the stall, I leaned against the wall, and my tears finally burst out like a broken dam. I wasn’t afraid of Julian. I was just hurting so damn much. Chloe’s words cut deep. “A toast to that dead mutt of yours.” It was like a rusty knife ripping open the wound I had hidden for five years. “Lucky… I’m back,” I whispered. I wiped my tears away brutally. My gaze turned dead and cold again. “I will make them pay in blood.”

Scarlett’s POV I walked out of the restroom, my fingers still dripping with cold water. The moment I reached the corner of the hallway, I realized something was very wrong. The lively ballroom had gone terrifyingly quiet. All the guests had stopped breathing, staring with bizarre expressions at the center of the hall. Julian stood there. His suit was still stained with Chloe’s blood. And the bodyguard behind him was holding a transparent glass urn. It was filled with grayish-white ash. My pupils contracted instantly. The blood in my veins froze entirely. Julian met my terrified gaze, a cruel, monstrous smile stretching across his face. He reached out, slowly uncapping the urn. Then, he flipped it completely upside down, dumping the entire contents onto the deep red carpet. “The ashes of a dead dog… and you actually kept it like a treasure for five years.” The grayish-white dust billowed in the air. The draft blew it right onto my shoes. “Then again, it makes sense. After all, it was the only thing your dying father left you. When he gave it to you, you held this dog and cried for three whole days. I thought it was hilarious back then. It’s just a dog left by a dead man. Was it really worth all that?” Julian’s words were like a sledgehammer, smashing the last piece of my sanity to dust. My father’s… Last memory. Five years ago, Julian killed my Lucky. Five years later, in front of everyone, he crushed the last connection I had to my father. A towering wave of hatred swallowed me whole. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just walked forward, step by step, treading over my dog’s ashes, until I reached the buffet table. I gripped a sharp steak knife. My palm was freezing. “Julian.” I called his name softly, my voice sounding like a vengeful spirit demanding a soul. Before Julian could even react, I lunged forward. Using every single ounce of strength in my body, I drove the sharp knife deep into his abdomen! Squelch! Blood sprayed out instantly, staining Julian’s grey suit and mixing with the white ashes on the carpet. Julian let out a painful groan, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief as he stared at the hilt of the knife sticking out of his stomach. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily to the floor. “This is for my father and Lucky.” I looked down at him, my eyes as cold as if I were looking at a corpse. The entire venue exploded into chaos. Screams echoed everywhere. Wealthy women grabbed their dresses and fled in a panic. The bodyguards, pale with shock, rushed forward to pin me down. “Stop right there.” A voice suddenly rang out. The bodyguards who were closing in stopped dead in their tracks. I looked up. At the top of the grand staircase, Dominic Pierce was slowly, calmly walking down. His handsome, sharp face carried no expression, but the sheer aura of authority he radiated made it so that not a single bodyguard dared to touch me.

Scarlett’s POV Even as the security guards hovered around me, my eyes remained fixed on the shattered glass urn on the floor. On a freezing winter night five years ago, I had knelt on this exact same cold marble floor, banging my head until it bled, begging Julian to spare Lucky. But all I got in return was Lucky’s cold corpse and a storm that almost claimed my life. Now, the same lights shone down on the same floor. I slowly raised my head. There was no warmth left in my eyes, only bone-chilling hatred. “Scarlett!” Though Julian had managed to dodge the knife in his panic, causing it to miss his vital organs and only slice his side, the gushing blood quickly stained his white shirt. The immense pain, coupled with the humiliation of being stabbed in front of everyone, made Julian lose his mind completely. He shoved the guards aside, lunged forward, and wrapped his right hand tightly around my throat! “How dare you stab me!” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot. His grip tightened, squeezing the air out of my lungs. My face flushed a dangerous red. Seeing me pinned down, Chloe walked over with a fresh glass of red wine. With a flick of her wrist, she splashed the cold liquid right into my face. The wine mixed with the cold sweat on my forehead. Chloe laughed sneerily. “Maybe this will wake you and your dead dog up!” I was being choked, soaked in sticky wine, the chill making me shiver. But I stared straight into Julian’s monstrous face. Suddenly, gathering every bit of strength left in me, I spat a mouthful of bloody saliva right into his face! “Disgusting,” I choked out, laughing weakly. Julian froze. Pure disgust and disbelief made him instinctively let go of my neck. Just as he raised his left hand in a fury, aiming to slap me to death, a long, powerful hand grabbed his wrist. The grip was so strong that it pulled on Julian’s stab wound. He gasped in pain. “Mr. Vance, putting your hands on my guest… who do you think I am?” Dominic’s deep, cold voice echoed through the silent ballroom. He had walked up to me without anyone noticing, his tall, imposing frame standing like an impenetrable wall, shielding me completely. The sheer power of a true billionaire magnate made the security guards freeze, not daring to move an inch. From behind Dominic, I watched Julian grit his teeth, glaring at him. “Mr. Pierce! This is a private matter between me and my ex-wife! Are you really going to interfere in Vance family business for this psycho?” “A private matter?” Dominic let out a cold laugh. He tossed Julian’s hand aside, sending Julian stumbling back a few steps. “The moment she walked in here with my invitation, she became my most honored guest.” Dominic looked down at Julian, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “If the Vance family still wants that investment next year, you better watch your mouth, Mr. Vance.” Julian’s face turned whiter than paper. He looked at Dominic, then at my pale face. His jaw clenched so hard it looked like it would crack. I could tell he was calculating. The investment next year was the Vance family’s lifeline. He couldn’t afford to lose it over a petty grudge. But being stabbed in public was a pill he couldn’t swallow either. Julian clutched his bleeding wound and lowered his voice, snarling, “She stabbed me. Everyone here saw it! Before the cops get here, she needs to be locked in the holding room. That’s standard protocol, isn’t it?” Dominic tilted his head slightly, looking back at me. I gently tugged at his coat, giving him a reassuring look. Now wasn’t the time to completely tear things apart with the Vance family. Dominic pulled his gaze back and said calmly, “Fine. But my men will guard the door. Any objections, Mr. Vance?” Julian squeezed a single word through his teeth. “Fine.” He waved his hand, and the security guards stepped up. Expressionless, I followed the guards toward the private holding room at the end of the hallway.

Scarlett’s POV I was shoved into the holding room. Outside the door, Dominic’s personal bodyguards stood on both sides. Before long, the Vance family butler arrived with several maids, pushing the door open forcefully. The butler sneered at Dominic’s guards. “Mr. Pierce is getting impatient in the main hall. He ordered us to bring Scarlett over. Are you really going to block us?” The guards exchanged a look. Not wanting to break protocol, they kept a sharp eye on me as they escorted me back to the center of the ballroom. By now, the spotlight was shining directly on the center stage. Julian had changed into a clean suit. He was gently wrapping a dazzling diamond necklace around Chloe’s neck. He placed a tender kiss on Chloe’s forehead, as if the man who had just been stabbed in the stomach wasn’t him. Seeing me being brought up, Chloe wrapped her arm around Julian’s and smirked at me maliciously over his shoulder. Then, she slowly pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. The massive LED screen at the front of the ballroom lit up. “Scarlett, I have a special gift for you,” Chloe said, her smile dripping with poison. On the screen, a video from five years ago began to play. In the pitch-black backyard, Lucky was tied up on the muddy ground, whining in absolute despair. In the video, the butler raised the heavy iron shovel. Once, twice… smashing it down on Lucky’s body… “Lucky… Lucky!” I felt the blood drain from my head. My eyes widened in horror as I stared at the screen. The sound of that heavy shovel hitting flesh was like a thousand needles piercing my eardrums, burning the very last shred of my sanity to ashes. It turned out that five years ago, Chloe hadn’t just ordered Lucky’s death. She had actually recorded the entire thing as a sick trophy. And now, Chloe was standing on the stage, enjoying the absolute thrill of torturing me mentally, laughing and sipping her champagne. “I’ll kill you!” I snapped. Without a second thought, I lunged at the buffet table, grabbing a wine bottle and smashing it against the edge! Before Chloe could even pull back her smile, I surged onto the stage and slashed the jagged, razor-sharp glass right across her face! Smash. “Ah!” The sound of shattering glass was drowned out by a horrific scream. Blood and red wine exploded across Chloe’s face. The broken glass sliced open her forehead and cheek, leaving deep, bone-deep gashes. Chloe clutched her face, collapsing to the stage, screaming in agony as blood poured through her fingers, staining the white carpet crimson. The entire venue fell into utter chaos. Julian, in a fit of rage, scooped up the screaming Chloe and rushed toward the VIP medical suite in the back of the club. I stood in a pool of blood, gripping the bloody neck of the broken bottle. Watching Julian run away, I used the chaos in the room to slip past the distracted guards and followed him.

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