New Year’s Eve. I was planning to propose to the girlfriend I’d loved for three years. I was also ready to finally tell her the truth – that I was the son of the wealthiest man in the city. But when I opened the door to our apartment, I found my usually innocent girlfriend dressed scantily, blindfolded, kneeling by the entrance. And the person she was waiting for wasn’t me. … “Master, you’re finally here!” As soon as I opened the door, a voice, dripping with seductive charm, hit my ears. Chloe, usually so pure and simple, was dressed provocatively, kneeling blindfolded at the doorway. Seeing this scene, I froze. The roses I held dropped to the floor. I couldn’t even believe that the woman kneeling before me was the girlfriend I cherished. “Mmm, smells nice. Did you buy me flowers, Master? Why aren’t you coming to tame me already?” Maybe because I hadn’t made a sound, Chloe’s voice grew impatient. She started crawling towards me, past the fallen roses, past the engagement ring I’d spent so long picking out for her. Then, her hands reached up and touched my thighs. My hands trembled. I wanted to rip the blindfold off her eyes, but just then, the electronic lock on the door behind me beeped as someone entered the code. The door opened. The person who walked in was Ryan Miller – her childhood friend, the one she always called her ‘one that got away’. I’d heard her and her best friend mention him countless times before Chloe and I even got together. She even still had a picture of the three of them on her phone. It wasn’t until I heard that Ryan, who was living abroad, had gotten engaged that I finally started pursuing Chloe. Back then, I naively thought she had completely moved on from Ryan. Turns out, I’d been the clown all along. “Looks like I came at a bad time?” Ryan stood in the doorway. The moment he saw me, surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a smirk dripping with provocation. “Leo? What are you doing back?” Hearing Ryan’s voice, Chloe frantically tore off her blindfold. “What? Did I interrupt something?” I struggled to keep my voice calm, glancing at Chloe’s revealing outfit. The sight that should have been thrilling now just made me sick to my stomach. Following my gaze, she seemed to finally realize what she was wearing and hastily pulled on the robe lying nearby. “Leo Sterling, what are you talking about!” “This was just a dare! Ryan and I were playing Truth or Dare, and I lost, that’s all.” “It was just a game, why are you being so petty?” Tying the robe sash, Chloe crossed her arms, reverting to her usual innocent demeanor. As if the wanton woman kneeling on the floor moments ago never existed. “Yeah, seriously man, lighten up.” “Chloe, if I’d known your boyfriend was such a poor sport, I wouldn’t have come. Total buzzkill!” Ryan tilted his head, shot me a challenging glance, then let his eyes greedily roam up and down Chloe’s body without any attempt to hide it. “Cut the crap! Shut your damn mouth!” With a roar, I threw a punch square into Ryan’s face, knocking him to the ground. “Shit! You actually hit me? Do you have any idea who I am? I swear, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in this city!” Lying on the floor, Ryan wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, looking stunned. Hearing his threats, I lifted my foot, ready to give his face a couple more kicks. But Chloe suddenly pushed me aside. SLAP! “Enough! Leo, what are you doing! Are you crazy!” 2 Her hand struck my face hard, but the sharp sting resonated deep in my heart. “You’re just jealous of me and Ryan, I get that, but why did you hit him?” “I never realized you were so emotionally unstable.” “And you planned to propose to me like this? No money, no family connections, do you think you’re worthy?” She finished, glancing down at the ring on the floor. “Leo, think about it. If Ryan and I were really having an affair, would you even stand a chance?” “Now apologize to Ryan. Immediately.” Standing between Ryan and me, arms spread wide like a mother hen protecting her chick, Chloe nervously watched me, afraid I’d lash out again. “Ha, you want me to apologize?” Her words made me laugh bitterly. I flicked my tongue against the inside of my stinging cheek. “Since you say it’s just a game, you wouldn’t mind an audience, right? Go on, start your game.” Leaning against the entryway wall, I lit a cigarette. Taking a deep drag helped me calm down completely. It took me four years to see this woman for who she really was, but better late than never, I guess. “Hmph, Leo, admit it. You just wanted to see me like I was earlier, didn’t you?” “Fine, I’ll wear it for you sometime. But right now, you have to apologize to Ryan! Or we’re breaking up!” Chloe remained defiant, showing no remorse whatsoever. Even now, she thought threatening to break up would force me to apologize to her precious Ryan. “Fine!” Chloe must have thought I was about to apologize to Ryan, because a faint smile touched her lips. “Then let’s break up. But remember this: you got dumped!” Without another look at her, I stepped over Ryan, who was still lying on the floor. I hadn’t walked far when I heard Chloe’s concerned voice behind me, fussing over Ryan. Her gentle tone was completely different from the cold, sharp way she usually spoke to me. “Ryan, are you okay? Does it still hurt…?” I laughed mockingly to myself. So, she could be caring after all. Her voice faded as I walked away. I didn’t care what they said or did next. It didn’t matter anymore. Back in my car downstairs, I called home. “Mom, you don’t need to call off the engagement. Just sell my current apartment. I find it… dirty.” I looked up one last time at the home I’d lived in for four years and took a deep breath. “Henderson, take me back to my bar.” Sitting in the corner of the bar I’d started specifically as a venture to prove I could support Chloe… I huddled there. The image of Chloe kneeling on the floor wouldn’t leave my mind. When did she become like this? Or was she always like this? I kept drowning myself in alcohol. Back then, I fought countless times with my parents just to get this chance. If I could hide my identity as a billionaire’s son and survive college supporting myself, they’d let me be with her. Seeing me stick it out, my parents were finally moved. They were actually preparing to cancel the arranged marriage they’d set up for me, agreeing to let me marry the seemingly ordinary Chloe. I couldn’t hide my grin back then, eager to surprise Chloe. So I texted her, lying that I had family matters to deal with. Told her I couldn’t spend Christmas with her this year. But then I bought the flowers and the diamond ring, ready to reveal everything. Now, it all just felt like a pathetic joke. 3 I don’t know how long I drank, or how much. Eventually, the table was covered in empty bottles. All I knew was that the bar, quiet when I arrived, was now pulsing with music, kicking off its New Year’s Eve party. Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over me. Under the dim lights near the restrooms, I threw up violently. As I came out, I heard two familiar voices from the makeup counter nearby. “Don’t worry about it. Bet you anything, within three days, Leo will regret it and come crawling back, begging me to take him back.” Chloe’s voice was light and confident, completely unaffected by today’s events. “So that pathetic simp Leo really broke up with you over something so small?” Chloe’s best friend sounded incredulous. “Whatever, good riddance. I heard Ryan’s back for good this time.” As if seeking confirmation, her friend offered words of comfort. “Honestly, I’ll kind of miss Leo. Got used to having him wait on me hand and foot like a servant. It’s just a shame he’s got no background.” “Plus, being with him… there was no feeling of being conquered, you know?” “He just agreed with everything, went along with whatever I wanted. You won’t believe this, one time I was in a bad mood, kicked him awake in the middle of the night, told him to get on a plane and fly to New Orleans to get me beignets. He didn’t even get mad! Just got dressed and went!” Chloe laughed as she spoke, like she was telling a hilarious joke. “Hey, did you hear? Ryan’s fiancée is supposed to be that Shaw heiress. Can you actually compete with her?” “Maybe you should keep Leo hanging on before things are official with Ryan? You know, just as insurance.” I didn’t listen anymore. Shaking my head with a bitter smile, it’s true what they say: birds of a feather flock together. Looks like I really was blinded by so-called love. How did I never realize what kind of women they were? She used to be so pure in my eyes. I never even told her I owned this bar, the one I started myself. I didn’t want her anywhere near a place like this. But years of effort and emotion now seemed utterly worthless. And now she was planning to keep me dangling as a backup? Too bad for them, their little plan wasn’t going to work. Even if I hadn’t accidentally overheard this conversation today, I would never let them play me again. Because the moment I opened that door and saw Chloe, completely shattering her image, all my love for her vanished. All that remained was the humiliation of that scene. Now, to me, they weren’t even worth comparing to dogs. I rubbed my temples, slightly aching from the alcohol, and decided to leave. “Hey! Fancy seeing you here. Just thinking about finding you, and you walk right up?” Ryan, flanked by two guys who looked like spoiled rich kids, swaggered towards me. Talk about bad luck. But I wasn’t planning on getting tangled up with them. A pair of scumbags weren’t worth my time. I frowned, acting like I didn’t see the three approaching, and walked straight past them. But one of Ryan’s buddies, a guy with bleached yellow hair, grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall. “Are you deaf? Ryan’s talking to you! Did he say you could leave?” 4 Across the room, the duty manager and security guards saw what was happening and started rushing over, but I waved them off with a subtle hand gesture. I wanted to see what else they thought they could do to a supposedly ‘ordinary’ guy like me. “Buddy, weren’t you pretty tough earlier? What happened, scared now?” Ryan held a cigarette between his fingers, tapping my forehead with it. “You know, after you left, your girlfriend, wearing that outfit… damn, she was so hot! Hahahaha~” “You’re asking to die.” I clenched my jaw, staring daggers at him, fighting the urge to kill him right there. Just then, Chloe and her friend walked out. Seeing me, Chloe had an ‘I knew it’ expression on her face and exchanged a glance with her friend. “Leo, since you followed me all the way here, I’ll give you one more chance. Just apologize to me and Ryan, and I’ll pretend none of this happened! I forgive you!” Chloe smiled confidently, linking her arm through Ryan’s, deliberately pressing her body against him. Ryan looked down at his arm, licked his lips, then looked at me provocatively and laughed. “Since Chloe wants to give you a chance, I won’t make it too hard. But just saying sorry isn’t enough.” Ryan pointed to the floor. “Get on your knees, bow your head, and call me ‘sir’. Then we’ll call it even!” I scoffed. “Make me kneel? You couldn’t handle it!” Seeing I wasn’t about to kneel, Ryan signaled his two buddies to move, trying to force me down. “I’m gonna break your damn leg today! Let’s see if you kneel then!” When his buddies struggled to pin me, Ryan grabbed a fire extinguisher from a nearby cabinet, his eyes fixed on my knees. “Hah, you want to touch me? Hope you don’t regret it.” I was about to signal my own people when a clear, cold female voice cut through the tension. “Ryan Miller, your grandfather knows you act this arrogantly?” “Seraphina?” Under the bar’s flashing, dim lights, Ryan recognized the speaker and spoke her name in surprise. “You don’t get to call me Seraphina.” The woman called Seraphina coldly dismissed Ryan’s familiarity, walked over to my side, and glanced at the goons still holding me. “Aren’t you going to let go?” The two goons immediately released my shoulders and scrambled behind Ryan. Clearly, they recognized her too. “Ryan, who is she?” Perhaps seeing Ryan’s familiar tone with another woman, Chloe tightened her grip on his arm as if staking her claim. Ryan completely ignored Chloe’s question, instead shaking her hand off, wanting to distance himself from her. “Seraphina, what are you doing in a place like this? Your Uncle Shaw wouldn’t be happy if he knew.” “And don’t misunderstand, she’s just an old high school classmate.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes. She tried to step forward and demand answers but was pulled aside by her friend. “Our relationship is none of your business, you don’t need to explain anything to me. And where I go is none of your concern either! You can’t control me.” “And let me say this one last time: call me Seraphina Shaw. You don’t get to call me Seraphina.” “Stop trying to use your grandfather’s connection to constantly show up at my house. I have nothing to do with you!” Seraphina’s expression grew even colder, completely disregarding Ryan’s pride as she linked her arm through mine. “Let’s go.” “You’re not going anywhere!” Ryan gritted his teeth, blocking Seraphina who was trying to lead me away. “You dare stop me?” It was clear Seraphina was genuinely angry now. “I wouldn’t dare stop you. You can go. But he can’t.” Ryan pointed at me, his eyes burning with murderous intent. “I don’t care what your relationship is. Even if God himself showed up today, he’s not leaving.” “You…” Seraphina pointed at Ryan, trembling slightly with anger. “Are you sure?” I snapped my fingers. A dozen burly bodyguards in identical suits immediately surrounded us. “Throw them all out. And I mean throw!”

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After getting a gig as an assistant to my favorite influencer, I discovered he had two faces. To the rich, he was a bootlicker, calling everyone “sir” this and “Mr. That.” To regular people, he was condescending, calling them “nobodies” and “losers.” On camera, he’d call me “buddy” and praise my hard work. Off camera, he cursed me out, saying I didn’t deserve to eat and was societal trash. Disappointed, I quit. But then he tried to dock my pay. I didn’t argue. I just turned and got into an extended-wheelbase Rolls-Royce. Perfect timing. Wasn’t he trying to score an interview with the heir living in that ridiculous Beverly Hills mansion? Let’s see how he licks my boots. … “What are you looking at? Do it again! I’m gonna kick your food over again! I haven’t eaten, how dare you eat?” In the studio, Jason Vance, the influencer with millions of followers, knocked my lunch container right out of my hands. Seeing the food scattered on the floor, I seethed. When I didn’t apologize and just glared at him, he pointed at my nose and continued his tirade: “You piece of garbage! In this whole team, you’re the only one without a clue! Didn’t you see nobody else is eating? If I wasn’t generous enough to give you a job, you’d be fighting dogs for scraps under an overpass by now!” Hearing his condescending tone, I wanted to slap him hard. It was already 1 PM! He’d eaten earlier and wasn’t hungry, finding time to flirt with another female streamer, but completely deaf to everyone else’s stomachs growling as they chugged water bottle after water bottle. He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t eat, does that mean no one else can? We’re all just working here. Who does he think he is? I wasn’t going to put up with it, and I didn’t want to! Shoving his hand away, I went to grab another lunch container. Seeing my defiance, Jason blew up: “What the f—, are you deaf? I told you not to eat! You lowlife trash, you still dare to eat! I’m gonna teach you a lesson!” He moved to kick the food again, but I saw it coming and sidestepped. He, however, couldn’t stop his momentum and took a tumble, landing flat on the floor like a clumsy mutt. I clutched my stomach, laughing hysterically, which infuriated Jason even more. He scrambled up, pulled out a notebook, and started writing me up to dock my pay. This was his M.O. Anyone in the department who crossed him or displeased him got noted down. Come bonus or payday, he’d deduct amounts one by one. The worst time, he docked someone’s entire month’s salary. He knew this, expecting me to apologize and beg, figuring everyone has family to support. I rolled my eyes at him and took a big bite of my food. His hand paused, then he yelled at the top of his lungs. “You, Kevin Riley, you’re fired! Get the hell out of here now!” I quickly covered my lunch container, worried his spit might fly in. What if I ate it and became an ungrateful jerk like him? The rest of the team looked at me worriedly. Jason was basically the petty king in this agency. His word was law, and he held grudges. Anyone fired by him would have their reputation trashed, making it impossible to find work in the online media industry again. Hearing this, my buddy Mike, who I got along with, suddenly jumped out to defend me: “Bro, Jason, Kevin’s just new here. Please, cut him some slack this once. Jobs are hard to find right now, and he’s got bills to pay. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.” “Fine. Lick the rice off my shoe. If he licks it clean, I’ll let him stay!” Jason pointed at his expensive designer leather shoes, smirking down at me contemptuously. I remained unmoved, didn’t even look up. Watching an idiot wasn’t as good as eating. He got flustered and yelled at Mike: “If he won’t lick it, then you do it!” A vein pulsed on my forehead. I slammed my lunch container down onto his pricey shoe. He wanted to show off his thousand-dollar kicks, right? Fine, let him show them off like this! Jason jumped up and down, screaming: “You motherf—! You chose the hard way! Can you even afford to replace these, you broke loser?” As he said this, his fist came flying. I pushed Mike aside and raised my hand to counter. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I turned, making eye contact with my dad’s Executive Assistant. 2 “Kevin, hurry up and meet Mr. Davies! This is our company’s biggest advertiser!” As soon as the overweight agency owner’s voice rang out, Jason Vance, who had been so arrogant moments before, completely transformed. He quickly retracted his foot and then clapped me on the shoulder like we were old pals: “Good work, buddy. Take the team and go eat first. Don’t starve yourselves for me, you guys are my A-team.” Buddy? Freaking buddy? I almost threw up the food I just ate. His words did bring a flicker of joy to the team members’ faces; they were eager to grab their lunches and leave. But my expression remained dark, and I didn’t move. Jason’s eyes turned icy, but he controlled his temper, adjusted my collar, and whispered menacingly, so only I could hear: “Don’t get any funny ideas. If you screw things up with my sponsor, I’ll make you regret it.” I scoffed, shrugged off his hand, and walked straight towards Mr. Davies. My father always told me not to use power to oppress others, to maintain compassion. He even suggested I come here, saying an influencer agency was a good place to see all walks of life, a place for me to gain experience. But facing scum like this? I was going to use power to crush him. Consider it pest control for the public good! Before I took more than a few steps, Mike was pushed forward. He grabbed my arm and pleaded softly: “Kevin, man, I’m begging you, just bear with it. I need this job. My mom’s sick, and it’s tough for grads to find work right now!” Seeing his anxious expression, the words revealing my identity died on my lips, washed away by the sight of his large teardrops. Mike’s hands were trembling: “Please, I really need the money!” My feelings were complicated. I wanted to pat his shoulder, but Jason bumped him aside. As Jason passed me, his tone was contemptuous: “You think losers like you can fight me? How naive!” “Kevin Riley, you just wait. When I get back, I’ll deal with you properly!” Watching his retreating back, I ground my back teeth until they squeaked. Losers? Wasn’t he also from a single-parent home, clawing his way up step by step? Now that he’d made it, profiting from the internet boom, he thought he was high and mighty? The internet really has made stars out of too many undeserving people. Mike wiped his tears and tried to smooth things over in a weak voice: “Kevin, that’s just life. Yeah, he has a bad temper, but he pulls huge numbers. Working on his team, if we push hard, we can still make good money. Let’s just endure it. He’ll cool down when he’s in a better mood!” Others murmured their agreement in low voices: “Yeah, the economy’s bad, jobs are scarce. Let’s not be impulsive!” Saying this, they bent over their now-cold lunches and scarfed them down. Seeing this scene made my eyes sting with anger. I walked out immediately to find Mr. Davies. Heading towards the parking garage entrance, I saw Jason obsequiously opening the car door for him. His smile was sickeningly fawning, crinkling the corners of his eyes into ridiculous shapes. I shivered, shaking off the goosebumps. I’d met plenty of crass people, but someone who could put on such an act was a first! I honestly didn’t know how I ever thought he had culture and refinement. How, from the list my father gave me, I’d chosen him to be an assistant for. Turns out, demystification is life’s greatest lesson. Whatever Mr. Davies said, Jason just bowed and nodded, like the perfect student. Even more absurdly, as the car started rolling, he jogged alongside it, waving goodbye enthusiastically. Only when the black Rolls-Royce disappeared around the corner did he straighten up. When he saw me, a flash of embarrassment crossed Jason’s face. Quickly, his gaze sharpened as he asked me: “What did you just see!” “I saw you acting like a dog in front of a rich guy. No, actually, worse than a dog!” I knew exactly what he wanted me to say, but right now, I just wanted to provoke him. Hopefully, he’d lose his cool and hit me, then it would just be self-defense! Clearly, it worked as expected. Jason’s face fell, and he threw a punch straight at me. This was the chance I was waiting for. With a slight turn of my head, I sent a fist straight towards his face. Could this weakling compare to me, someone who’d trained in Krav Maga since childhood? He was stunned by the hit and stumbled backward, landing hard on the pavement. Confirming there were no cameras around, I punched him again, this time on the left cheek. He clutched his face, yelling in pain, but could only roar helplessly: “You son of a bitch, you dare hit me! Just wait and see how I deal with you!” I ripped the lanyard with my ID badge from my neck and slapped it across his face: “Screw you! A lowlife like you dares to talk about dealing with me? Let me tell you, grandpa’s done! I quit!” Hearing this, he wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed out loud: “Fine! You walk out that door, and I’ll make sure you never work in this industry again!” 3 That kind of threat might work on others, but to me, it was a joke. My family’s Riley Enterprises is top five on the wealth charts, with complex holdings across various sectors. Even this influencer agency is majority-owned by Riley. He thought he could deal with me? He just picked a fight with the wrong person. Before leaving, I had to grab Mike. Otherwise, knowing Jason’s petty and vengeful nature, Mike would definitely suffer. Sure enough, a threatening voice echoed from behind me. “Kevin Riley, you can leave, but can Mike leave? How you treated me, that’s how I’ll treat him!” His infuriating words sent adrenaline surging through me. I couldn’t resist turning back and landing another punch. This time, I finally knocked out one of his teeth. … “You’re saying you’re Richard Riley’s son? Your dad… your dad… is really him?” Back at my place, after I told Mike my identity, he asked disbelievingly several times. Hearing the same answer each time, he let out an excited shriek. “Kevin, no, Mr. Riley! This place is hell. Can you… can you get everyone else out too?” On that note, I leaned in and whispered a plan in his ear. Mike nodded vigorously and went off to talk to the other team members. The online platform competition is fierce, with too many people scrambling for a piece of the pie. Even Jason Vance, a top influencer, wasn’t immune to slumps in engagement. With his numbers looking weak this week, hearing Mike’s proposal would surely tempt him. After all, who could refuse a collaboration, a “crossover,” with the “heir” of the wealthy family he so admired? Especially when the interview location was a mega-mansion valued at tens of millions? Every part of this screamed viral potential! “Good job! Don’t worry, if this video blows up, I’ll definitely give you a cut.” Jason, Mike, and the team were coming out of the office just as I was leaving with my backpack. Mike caught my eye when Jason wasn’t looking and gave me a subtle nod, signaling success. The next second, my burner phone received a friend request notification. 【Hello, Mr. Riley Jr., this is Jason Vance. Please accept my request~】 That “Mr. Riley Jr.” just oozed subservience. I actually preferred his arrogant self from before, calling me a loser and social trash… Just as I was about to tap accept, my phone was slapped out of my hand, shattering the screen. Jason stepped on it, grinding it under his heel, his tone smug: “Weren’t you leaving? Consider this an advance payment on the interest!” I found it hilarious. If he knew he’d just destroyed his only line of communication with the “heir” he worshipped, would he still look so smug? Too bad I wasn’t planning on revealing the twist just yet. “Oh, right, you have to leave the stuff in your bag behind too!” With that, a strong tug ripped the backpack off my shoulder, and the Patek Philippe box inside tumbled out. Everyone gasped. This item clearly didn’t match my supposed status. Jason had already pulled out his phone and was livestreaming: “Kevin Riley, how does a working stiff like you have a watch worth hundreds of thousands? Where did this come from?” The live comments instantly flooded with accusations: “Thief!” A few speculated if I might be a rich kid, but their comments were drowned out by the accusers! Only Mike, who knew the truth, stepped up to defend me: “That’s Kevin’s. Don’t make accusations without proof.” This provoked Jason’s sarcastic retort: “I don’t have proof? Then let him prove where he got the money to buy the watch! Why does the watch I ‘lost’ look exactly like this one?” His words were cleverly phrased, not directly accusing me of theft, but planting seeds of suspicion. Even the female streamer beside him chimed in snidely: “Wearing $50 shoes, clothes from who knows where, cheap glasses… if someone like that can afford a six-figure watch, then everyone here should be millionaires by tomorrow!” Before I came here, my dad had specifically altered my public records. Anyone checking would only find I came from a very ordinary family. And to fit the role, my clothes were custom-made, deliberately avoiding large logos. This watch was actually a 22nd birthday present from my mom yesterday; I hadn’t even taken it out yet. Even if I said these things, nobody would believe me, just like showing a receipt wouldn’t easily prove my innocence. This “prove yourself” trap was exactly the pit Jason had dug for me. Seeing me just stand there dumbfounded, Mike got anxious and nudged me: “What are you standing there for, man? Kevin, call your dad! Get him down here! Once he shows up, everything will be cleared up. Standing there like that makes you look guilty!” Hearing this, Jason bent over laughing. “Are you asking him to call his construction worker dad? Wouldn’t his dad showing up just prove the watch doesn’t belong? Mike, you’re not helping him, you’re burying him!” Mike’s face flushed red. “You don’t know crap! Kevin’s dad is the Chairman!” His words were met with a brief, stunned silence, followed by thunderous laughter. “Whoa, you think just ’cause they have the same last name, he’s the Chairman’s son? Nice try trying to latch onto someone famous!” The live comments were exploding with “LOLOLOLOL!” Jason deliberately took out another phone and held it provocatively in front of me. “Since Mike insists your dad’s the Chairman, go on, give him a call.” “Fine!” As I reached for the phone, he deliberately pulled it back in a circle, like teasing a dog. “Nah, I don’t believe you, and I’m not lending you my phone! If you’re really the Chairman’s son, I’ll eat my own shoe!” But the next second. Someone in the crowd suddenly yelled. “The Chairman’s here! Richard Riley is really here!” Jason’s face changed, and he looked back in alarm.

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My eight-year-old son was dying of kidney failure, desperately needing money for a transplant. I was worth millions, but I wouldn’t spare a dime. Instead, I went out clubbing. When my husband, Mark, found me at the club, I was making it rain on some male dancers. He dropped to his knees, sobbing, begging me to lend him fifty thousand dollars for our son Leo’s kidney transplant. I flatly refused. My mother-in-law showed up, hysterical, shoving her phone in my face. On the screen, Leo’s face was sallow, dark, almost lifeless. He was barely conscious, mumbling, “Mommy, I don’t wanna die.” Disgusted, I snatched the phone and smashed it on the ground. “If he’s gonna die, let him die already! Why show me this? Buzzkill!” Then I jumped onto the stage, grabbed the mic, and yelled, “Tonight, everything’s on my tab! I’m buying!” … The club erupted in cheers and shouts. Under the flashing lights, I raised my glass, reveling in the chaos and glamour. The next second— My mother-in-law stormed the stage, ripped the mic from my hand, and slammed it down. BANG—! The feedback shrieked, making everyone cringe and cover their ears. Even the band stopped playing. SMACK! She slapped me hard across the face. “Olivia! Are you even human?! Leo is lying in a hospital bed, about to die!” “They found a kidney match! All we need is fifty thousand dollars! Just fifty thousand, and he can have the surgery and live! Mark even said we’d borrow it from you, pay it back! Why won’t you agree?!” “You have money to waste here, money to entertain all these strangers, but you can’t save Leo? He’s your son! Your own flesh and blood!” “His eighth birthday is just two weeks away!” She wailed, her voice thick with tears and desperation. The crowd, forgetting the ringing in their ears, fell silent, all eyes on me. Annoyed, I kicked her. “Who do you think you are? You dare ruin my fun, old hag? Touch me again, I dare you.” She crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach. “Mom!” Mark rushed onto the stage, eyes red, and helped his mother sit up. He turned to me, his expression a mix of pain and forced patience. “Honey, Mom’s just frantic about Leo, that’s why she hit you. But how could you hit her back? She might be your mother-in-law, but she’s always treated you better than me, her own son. Have you forgotten?” I hadn’t forgotten. Even before I married Mark, his mother had fawned over me. After the wedding, she treated me like royalty, practically offering me the moon and stars. Every time Mark and I argued, she’d take my side without question, yelling at Mark to make me feel better, cooking my favorite foods to cheer me up. She often held my hand, saying she’d always wanted a daughter and was thrilled her son brought home such a perfect daughter-in-law. Seeing my expression soften slightly, my mother-in-law shifted from sitting to kneeling, wringing her rough, calloused hands as she pleaded again. “Olivia, honey, I’m begging you, please save Leo! The doctor said if he doesn’t have the surgery today… he might not make it through the night!” “After Leo was born, I didn’t want you to tire yourself out, so Mark and I raised him mostly. But you gave birth to him! Even a wild animal protects its young! How can you just watch him die?” “Before he turned five, sure, Leo was a bit naughty. But these last three years, he’s been so good! Anytime there was a treat, you were the first person he thought of. When you had that bad flu, he was so worried he barely ate for two days. He insisted on washing your feet every night… his tiny body struggling with that heavy basin of water, wobbling as he walked, but still smiling, taking care of you.” “Fifty thousand… for someone worth millions like you, even five million wouldn’t be a problem! Mom is begging you, please, save Leo!” She started banging her forehead on the stage floor, tears and snot smearing her wrinkled face. Amplified by the dropped microphone nearby, her desperate cries and the sickening thud of her head hitting the stage echoed through the silent club. The strangers who had cheered my generosity moments ago now stared at me with shock, disgust, and anger. “She looks so put together, but she’s rotten inside!” “Ugh! I don’t want drinks from someone like her! Letting her own son die while she flaunts her wealth here? Makes me sick!” “Using the money that could save her son’s life to buy us booze? What if she tries to blame us later, saying we killed her kid?” “I feel ashamed just being in the same club as this evil woman! Where’s the manager? Get her out of here!” “Yeah! Kick her out!” 2 The crowd was furious, chanting for me to be thrown out. Some started throwing snacks, even bottles, my way. Suddenly, Mark stood in front of me, shielding me. A glass bottle shattered against his head. Blood immediately started trickling down his temple. Yet, he kept me behind him, pleading with the enraged crowd. “Everyone, calm down! Please! My wife… she’s probably just in shock, overwhelmed by what’s happening to our son! That’s why she’s acting like this! Please don’t misunderstand her! Leo is waiting for his mom at the hospital.” “If Leo saw his mom hurt, the little guy would be heartbroken! Please, stop!” Maybe it was the sight of Mark’s bleeding head that scared them, or perhaps his desperate, tearful defense actually moved them. The crowd stopped throwing things. Mark let out a breath of relief and turned to look at me, his eyes full of pained affection. “Olivia, I know you’re devastated. But right now, saving our son’s life is the most important thing.” “I know you like to keep control of the finances… afraid I might betray you if I had money. That’s okay. You can transfer the money directly to the hospital’s account. Our nanny is there with Leo. As soon as you send it, I’ll have her tell the doctors to start the surgery immediately. Okay?” I slapped away the hand he reached out to me. Expressionless, I brushed a piece of thrown popcorn from my hair. “Not okay. If he dies because there’s no money, at least his suffering ends sooner, right?” “Forget fifty thousand. I won’t give a single penny.” He stared at me, dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t believe my cruelty. He stumbled back a step, almost losing his balance. Still, he clung to a sliver of hope, his voice trembling, choked with tears. “Olivia… Leo really doesn’t have any more time… You’re… you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” “Pushing you… I only did that because I was so worried about Leo, I panicked! I didn’t mean it! Besides, you weren’t hurt, right? Once Leo has his surgery, I’ll apologize however you want. Anything. Okay?” I fell silent. If he hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten how he’d nearly shoved me down the stairs in his rush to get Leo to the hospital. My mother-in-law started sobbing and pleading beside him again. The onlookers were moved by their desperation; some were already wiping away tears. The male dancers I’d thrown money at earlier glared at me with disgust, pulled the cash I’d given them from their pockets, and stuffed it into my mother-in-law’s hands. They helped her to her feet. “Ma’am, this is the money your daughter-in-law gave us. It’s not much, but maybe it can help.” “It’s not enough! This isn’t nearly enough!” My mother-in-law clutched the bills, stomping her foot in anguish. I shook my head, a cold smile playing on my lips. “So many kind people in the world.” “Well, there’s an idea, Mark,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Look at all these generous souls. Why don’t you try asking them? Pass the hat around. Who knows, maybe you’ll scrape together enough. Let’s just hope… the one in the hospital lasts long enough for you to manage it.” With that parting shot, I turned and strolled away. My mood was thoroughly ruined. What a drag. But seeing them so wretched and miserable… should I feel happy? Or maybe… excited? 3 Mark lunged after me, grabbing my wrist. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. It was the hospital. He answered immediately. The nanny’s frantic, sobbing voice came through the line. “Leo’s coding again! They rushed him back into emergency! The doctor needs to know, are you doing the surgery or not?! There’s no time left! Get back here now!” He hung up, swaying on his feet. “What’s wrong with my grandson? What happened to Leo?!” his mother shrieked. Mark ignored her, his grip tightening on my arm like a vise. He started dragging me towards the exit. “My son can’t die! Olivia, I’m sorry, but you have to come to the hospital and pay today.” I fought back, twisting and pulling, almost breaking free. Suddenly, my mother-in-law grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me viciously in Mark’s direction. They shoved me into the car and wrestled me all the way to the hospital. A crowd of gawkers and self-proclaimed “righteous” people from the club followed us, including a few young men and women holding up phones, live-streaming the whole spectacle. Mark and his mother pinned my head down, forcing me to use my face ID—or maybe they forced my thumb onto my phone—to authorize the fifty-thousand-dollar payment for the surgery. We rushed to the emergency room, only to find the nanny slumped against the wall, tears streaming down her face. “Leo… he’s gone.” Hearing the news, my mother-in-law’s eyes rolled back, and she collapsed backward in a dead faint. If one of the bystanders from the club hadn’t caught her, she would have cracked her head open on the floor, likely ending up paralyzed. What a pity. Mark’s breath hitched. He released his grip on me, ignoring even his unconscious mother, and bolted into the emergency room. Heart-wrenching sobs echoed from inside. The nanny, her eyes swollen and red, turned to me, her voice choked with tears. “Why? Why didn’t you save Leo? He was your son! He was such a good boy! He could have lived!” I rubbed my bruised wrist, my voice chillingly calm. “You wanted to save him, so you saved him. He’s dead now. Make sure the hospital refunds my money.” Honestly, even without me saying it, the money would have been refunded to my account anyway. Hospital refunds always go back to the original payment source. Ignoring the curses and hateful glares from the onlookers, I turned and walked away coldly. Seeing that I didn’t even spare a glance for my dead son, their insults grew uglier. One young woman, the live-streamer, followed me relentlessly, filming and narrating my every move. She kept saying she wanted to see if the “evil, heartless mother” would eventually break down and cry in some hidden corner. I didn’t stop her. In fact, I slowed my pace so she could keep up. I went straight to my upscale spa, the one I owned, and treated myself to a facial, scalp treatment, and full-body massage. Crying? Not a chance. Breathing in the calming aromatherapy scents, I drifted off into a comfortable, deep sleep. When I woke up, it was noon the next day. As I walked out of the VIP suite, I noticed the way the technicians looked at me. Their eyes held undisguised disgust and contempt. Calmly, I opened my phone. Just as I expected, yesterday’s events had exploded online. My spa was now trending along with my name. Countless netizens were denouncing me, showering me with vile insults. But when I saw the surge in followers and attention, I actually smiled. 4 The young woman live-streaming was still camped outside the spa entrance. Through her feed, I could see a swarm of reporters and angry people waiting to confront me. I checked my reflection, adjusted my clothes and hair. This was exactly what I wanted. Maximum publicity. Then, I would expose the truth in front of everyone and tear off their hypocritical masks myself. But just as I opened the door, before the reporters could even surge forward, a disheveled woman burst through the crowd, flanked by police officers, and pointed right at me. “It was her! That vicious woman killed my grandson, Leo! Leo didn’t just have kidney failure! She poisoned him! Arrest her! Arrest her now!” Oh. It was my mother-in-law. Hair wild, face streaked with grime and tears, I almost didn’t recognize her. “Mom! There has to be some misunderstanding!” Mark suddenly appeared, stepping between me and the advancing officers. “Leo died because Olivia didn’t pay in time, yes, but… she wouldn’t poison her own son! Our whole family treats her so well! She has no reason to do this!” Without a word, his mother slapped him hard across the face. “You love-struck fool! The autopsy report is crystal clear! Leo died from long-term ingestion of juice contaminated with heavy metals! Our whole family drinks juice every day, but only Olivia!” “Every time you personally juiced the fruit and took it to her room, that was exactly when Leo would be washing her feet! She must have put something in it and tricked Leo into drinking it! That’s why he got sick!” “You always bend over backward for her, fine! But are you still going to protect her now?!” Her accusation hung in the air. Dead silence. For the past six months, Mark and his mother had been cultivating a wholesome online image through short videos on their social media account. They weren’t hugely famous, but locally, they were known as the perfect husband and the doting mother-in-law. After a few seconds, the silence shattered. A torrent of curses rained down on me. “Oh my god! You’d get attached to a dog after that many years! This woman is pure evil!” “I’ve seen their family videos! Her husband and mother-in-law treated her like gold! The kid was so sweet too! I can’t believe she’s such a monster!” “She should be drawn and quartered! A woman like that!” “I heard she owns this spa! Let’s trash the place! Give that poor family some justice!” The enraged crowd surged forward, trying to storm the spa. The police radioed for backup, struggling desperately to maintain order. “Everyone, stay calm! Is risking yourselves for someone like her worth it? Please trust us! We will not let any criminal escape justice!” My mother-in-law, furious at Mark’s initial defense, started hitting him. “You have to divorce this woman today! And she leaves with nothing! All her assets should go to you as compensation for what she did to Leo, and to you!” “If you don’t divorce her, I’ll die right here, right now!” Ah, there it is. The real motive finally comes out. Mark turned to me, his face etched with agony. “Olivia! Even if you thought I wasn’t good enough for you, even if you found some richer guy, even if you thought Leo would hold you back… how could you kill him? He was our son!” “I didn’t want a divorce before because I couldn’t bear the thought of Leo losing his mother! But how could you do something like this?” “For years, our family practically worshipped the ground you walked on! Wasn’t that enough?!” With those few sentences, he accused me of infidelity and laid out a clear motive for murder. Amid gasps of shock, the crowd was now utterly convinced I was an irredeemable monster. Suddenly, I snorted, then burst into loud laughter. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. 5 Thinking back, ever since I met Mark, he had been incredibly good to me. Almost… subserviently so. After we got married, his attentiveness became meticulous. He always hand-washed my socks and underwear. Whatever I craved, no matter how far or how late, he’d happily fetch it for me. Every anniversary, every holiday, he’d conjure up elaborate surprises. Everyone envied me for marrying such a model husband. I used to think so too. I believed I must have accumulated lifetimes of good karma to deserve such a happy life. He played his part so well. He didn’t just fool everyone else; he almost fooled me too. A flicker of malice crossed Mark’s eyes, but he quickly masked it with a look of pained resignation. “Olivia, what you’ve done this time… it’s unforgivable.” “I’ll let you keep a small house out in the suburbs. So you’ll have somewhere to go when you get out of prison. As for everything else… just like Mom said… let’s… get a divorce.” “Divorce? Fine by me.” I stopped laughing, stood on the top step of the spa entrance, looking down at him. “But the one leaving with nothing shouldn’t be me. And the one going to jail isn’t me either. It’s you, Mark!” “You won’t get a single cent of my money! Did you and your mother think just because my parents are gone, I’d be easy prey? You truly are… a heartless, ungrateful snake!” SMACK! The crisp sound echoed as my slap sent his head snapping to the side. Ignoring the sting in my palm, feeling it wasn’t enough, I started kicking him furiously with my high-heeled foot. My mother-in-law shrieked and lunged at me, but I kicked her down too, sending her sprawling and whimpering in pain. Seeing his mother assaulted again, Mark finally dropped the act. He lunged at me with a roar, eyes blazing with fury. “Olivia, that’s ENOUGH!” Given his size and strength, my two years of self-defense classes were useless. Just as his fist was about to connect with my face, the police officers who had arrived as backup managed to tackle him and pull him off me. “Let me go! She hit my mother! I have to teach her a lesson today!” He was completely enraged, out of control. It took four officers to wrestle him to the ground and restrain him. Seeing Mark pinned down, my mother-in-law nearly choked with rage, wailing, “You’ve got the wrong person! That’s my son! The woman is the criminal! Arrest her!” The reporters and onlookers chimed in, confused and indignant. “Yeah, you’ve got the wrong guy! She hit him and his mother first! He’s the victim here!” “That woman is insane! She poisoned her own son, then attacked her husband and mother-in-law! She’s a murderer! A lunatic! Arrest her!” “What kind of police are you? Arresting the victim instead of the attacker? Does money mean you can just ignore the law?” Hearing this, the officers holding Mark hesitated. They exchanged glances with their colleagues. Instantly, two or three officers started moving towards me. “Stay back!” I pulled out a small, sharp fruit knife I’d grabbed from a spa tray and held it to my own throat. “The law is supposed to protect justice, yes! But the truth isn’t decided by whoever shouts the loudest!” I closed my eyes for a brief second. Finally. It could all end now.

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The year my son turned three, I overheard a conversation between my down-on-his-luck husband and my secretary. “Ethan, honey, if Seraphina ever found out you’re spoiling the kid rotten on purpose, just to ruin him, she’d probably have a heart attack, right?” “A heart attack? You underestimate her. If she discovered the truth, she’d kick me to the curb without a second thought.” “We need to keep this completely under wraps. Once she realizes her son is a lost cause, our little Mason can be ‘adopted’ by her, inherit everything!” I glanced at my own son, Daniel. Only three, yet they’d already fattened him up to sixty pounds. Pretending I hadn’t heard, I pushed another bite of cake into the little chubby boy’s mouth as he threw a tantrum on the floor. Twenty years later, my son Daniel was proficient in every vice – drinking, gambling, womanizing. He died violently in a street brawl. I let my husband rant about our son’s lack of filial piety, watched numbly as Ethan personally scattered Daniel’s ashes into the fish tank. Shortly after, he transferred all my company shares and assets to our ‘adopted’ son, Mason. At the share transfer meeting, Nicole, my secretary, clung to Ethan’s arm, holding a paternity test report. She presented it to me. “Seraphina, Mason is Ethan’s and my biological son. You’ve had him long enough. Now, it’s time to give him back.” I raised an eyebrow. “As you wish.” 1 “Honey, aren’t you flying to France for that project meeting today? Why haven’t you left yet?” Ethan Cole pushed the suitcase he’d meticulously packed for me, his voice laced with the usual concern. I looked at Daniel, already plump as a little piglet, and sighed. “Ethan, you’ve certainly made him… sturdy. But… being this overweight, won’t it stunt his growth?” Ethan gently draped my coat over my shoulders. “Don’t worry. I take Danny for check-ups every month. The doctor says he’s way ahead of his peers, strong as an ox. He’ll definitely hit six feet.” “You’re so busy, don’t stress about Daniel. I’d hate for you to get worn out,” he added, his eyes full of care. I met his gaze, smiled faintly, and said nothing. Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts. When his family lost their fortune, I married him without hesitation, ignoring everyone’s objections. Twenty-seven years, side-by-side. He knew my every like and dislike. He’d wait in line all day for a slice of cake I loved. He meticulously prepared gifts for every important occasion. He even bravely pushed me out of the way of a speeding car once. If I hadn’t come home early that one day and overheard his conversation with Nicole Ryan, his secretary… I would never have imagined, not in a million years, that the man sleeping beside me was plotting to steal my fortune and harm my child. “Auntie Nikki, you’re here! I want lots and lots of strawberry cake today! And I wanna watch JOJO!” The door opened, and Daniel bounced up excitedly, half-tumbling, half-crawling towards Nicole. Nicole scooped him up, expertly stuffing a large piece of cream-dripping cake into his mouth. “Eat up, little Danny, eat lots!” Then, Nicole suddenly noticed I was still home. Her smile froze instantly, a flash of panic crossing her face. Before she could speak, Ethan jumped in. “Honey, sometimes it’s just too much for me to handle Daniel alone. Besides you, there’s no one I trust. So, I asked Nicole to lend a hand occasionally.” Nicole quickly put Daniel down, nervously explaining, “Ms. Vance, I promise it doesn’t interfere with work. As soon as I help Mr. Cole out, I head straight back to the office.” Seeing her pale, pretty face, I couldn’t help but remember the day Daniel was born. Nicole had come to visit, held the baby, but in her ‘excitement,’ she dropped him. If not for the soft mat on the floor cushioning the fall, Daniel might have suffered brain damage. Back then, Nicole’s face had been just as pale. Seeing me silent now, Nicole looked about ready to cry. “Ms. Vance, please don’t be upset. I’ll head back to the office right now.” I chuckled, stopping her. “Don’t be silly. I’m too busy with work to manage him properly. If Daniel likes you, I should be thanking you.” “How about this: forget the office for now. Starting today, why don’t you stay here and help me take care of Daniel?” I paused, seeing the barely concealed excitement and joy flicker in both their eyes. “I know you’re highly educated, and being a nanny might feel beneath you. Tell you what, besides your regular salary, I’ll add an extra five thousand dollars a month.” Nicole’s smile nearly split her face, yet she managed a demure reply. “Ms. Vance, I’m happy to do anything for you. I… I’m just worried I won’t be a good enough caregiver for the young master.” I squeezed Daniel’s chubby arm. “Danny, do you like Auntie Nikki? Do you want her to take care of you?” Daniel nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! I love Auntie Nikki the most!” As if afraid Daniel might say something revealing, Ethan quickly stuffed another piece of cake into his mouth. “Honey, thank you so much! With Nicole’s help, I’m sure Daniel will be even better taken care of.” Nicole quickly added her assurances: “Ms. Vance, please rest assured. I’ll treat Daniel like my own son, spoil him rotten.” Hearing this, Daniel beamed, pulling both of them towards the TV for cartoons. I glanced at the ‘family’ snuggled on the sofa. A knowing smile touched my lips as I wheeled my suitcase out the door. 2 2 Perhaps thinking I was too consumed by work to ever notice anything amiss with Daniel, Ethan and Nicole grew bolder. Before, Nicole could only sneak time with Ethan when things were slow at the office. Now, with the convenient arrangement of her living under my roof, sparks flew constantly between them. The living room, the kitchen, the balcony, even my bedroom—nearly every corner of that house bore traces of their liaisons. Their carelessness only snapped back into focus when Daniel, whom they’d started to ignore, let out a piercing shriek after being scalded by hot water. Only then did they scramble, pulling on clothes and dialing 911. Daniel spent a month in the hospital. Guilt-ridden, they became even more indulgent, catering to his every whim, feeding him endless fried chicken and cake. They even got him his own smartphone. I timed my return home perfectly one day to find a child, layers of fat jiggling, spewing curses at a game on his phone while sprawled on the sofa. Seeing my disappointed expression, Ethan rushed to placate me. “Honey, don’t worry. All kids get hooked on phone games these days. Once he matures a bit, understands things better, he’ll naturally grow out of it.” I snorted coldly. “My son is not comparable to children from ordinary families. He’s supposed to take over my company someday. This behavior is unacceptable!” At this, Nicole produced a pre-prepared video. “Ms. Vance, look, this is research I did. Ninety percent of families struggle with kids playing mobile games. But experts say it actually helps develop their intelligence!” “Look at Danny’s progress! He can even do some basic coding himself now!” I glanced at the screen, showing a simple program easily replicated by typing a few letters from a template someone else had clearly made. I nodded with feigned satisfaction. “It seems times really have changed. All I know is how to make money. Educating children… I suppose I’ll have to leave that to you two.” Seeing my smile, they exchanged a knowing glance, smirking inwardly. They laughed because they thought I was easy to fool. I laughed because they were utter fools. 3 3 Daniel’s college entrance exam results came back – a disaster. His scores were abysmal, barely enough to break triple digits if you added them all together. Playing my part, I staged a furious outburst at home. “Daniel! Did you take these exams with your backside? You could score higher just by randomly guessing C on everything!” Daniel, barely five feet tall but weighing nearly two hundred pounds, just kept his head down, engrossed in his game, ignoring me completely. “Mom, chill. We’re loaded, right? You can just buy me a degree somewhere.” “Besides,” he sneered, “only losers need diplomas. I’m gonna be the CEO. Who’d dare look down on me then?” Ethan shot me a look, then turned to Daniel with a pained expression. “Danny! How dare you speak to your mother like that? Apologize! And put the phone away when you’re talking to adults, understand?” Seeing Daniel still glued to his screen, I snatched the phone and threw it down the stairs. “Starting today, no more phone. I’m arranging for you to be sent abroad to study properly. Until then, you stay home, grounded. You’re not going anywhere.” To my surprise, Daniel exploded, shoving me hard. “You old witch! I don’t want you controlling me! The first thing I do when I take over the company is lock you up in a mental hospital!” Caught off guard, I stumbled back, hitting the corner of a cabinet sharply. I cried out in pain. Daniel just scoffed, “Stop faking it, Mom. It’d be better if you actually died.” With that, he stormed out. Nicole could barely contain her glee, quickly schooling her features into a concerned frown as she chased after him. “Ms. Vance, don’t worry, I’ll bring Danny back and make him apologize.” I stared sadly in the direction Daniel had run, murmuring, “Ethan, how did our sweet boy turn into this?” Ethan looked pained, hesitating before finally speaking. “Honey, it seems Daniel… might be a lost cause. Actually, for years, I’ve been quietly sponsoring a young man. He just got into Stanford this year. A very promising, good kid.” Meeting my questioning gaze, he continued, “He’s an orphan. Why don’t we adopt him as our son? Let him manage the company for Daniel in the future. That way, your years of hard work won’t go to waste.” Seeing the nervous anticipation on Ethan’s face, I pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Alright. Maybe having some competition will give Daniel a sense of urgency, motivate him to shape up.” Mason Cole was soon brought before me and formally adopted, becoming Mason Vance. He was indeed brilliant, hardworking, and crucially, knew how to be respectful and navigate social situations. During his four years at Stanford, I diligently mentored him, familiarizing him with the company’s operations. Daniel, on the other hand, refused to repeat his exams or go abroad. He fell in with a rough crowd, spending his days drinking, fighting, and causing trouble. Eventually, I stopped even answering the frequent calls from the police station asking me to bail him out. I left all matters concerning Daniel for Ethan to handle. I focused instead on preparing a graduation gift for Mason. Ethan massaged my shoulders, his voice full of sympathy. “Honey, you’ve worked so hard all these years. Thankfully, Mason is about to graduate. He’ll be able to help you soon.” I leaned back tiredly in my chair. “Yes, finally. I can take a proper rest.” Ethan’s smile was strange, hinting at something more. “Yes, soon. Our family of three can finally, truly rest.” 4 4 On the day of Mason’s graduation from Stanford, Ethan dressed sharply and insisted I accompany him to celebrate. As we were leaving, Nicole fussed over us, repeatedly reminding Ethan, “Make sure to take lots of pictures for me!” Then, dabbing at non-existent tears, she explained to me, “I just want to see what a university graduation looks like… hoping one day our Danny will have such a proud moment too.” I frowned, annoyed. “Is Daniel out carousing again?” “Nicole, find him and bring him back. Tell him he’s grounded, confined to his room to think about his actions.” Later, as Mason stood on stage delivering his valedictorian speech, Ethan suddenly thrust his phone in front of me, trembling. “Honey, bad news! Daniel got into a fight, he’s been stabbed! They’re rushing him to the hospital now, we need to go!” I looked at the photo – a blurry image of an obese figure, a bloody mess. Disgust churned in my stomach. I placed a hand on Ethan’s arm, stopping him from rising. “Hmph. It’s probably just another scheme cooked up with his lowlife friends to scam money out of us. Ignore him.” “Mason’s speech is quite impressive,” I added coolly. “He has my flair from back in the day.” Ethan gave me a suspicious look, but seeing only genuine disdain for Daniel and admiration for Mason in my eyes, he seemed reassured and started clapping along with the audience. By the time Mason, Ethan, and I arrived home, laughing and talking, Daniel had been reduced to an urn of ashes on the coffee table. Nicole was sobbing uncontrollably. “Ms. Vance! Danny… he didn’t make it through surgery. He’s gone!” “After he died,” she wailed, “those thugs were threatening to desecrate his body! I had no choice, I was so scared, I had him cremated immediately!” Mason quickly steadied me as I pretended to swoon. Trembling, I asked, “How could this happen? What kind of trouble did he get into?” Nicole cried, “The police said he was trying to stage a fight to scam money from home, but they argued over the split, and things got violent… and then… then this happened.” I feigned fury, pointing at the urn. “Idiot! He was always an idiot!” Ethan looked at me with ‘concern’. “Honey, please don’t let this degenerate upset you so much. It’s not worth your health.” “Daniel was ungrateful! I’ll feed his ashes to the fish right now to vent your anger!” Seeing my cold indifference, my lack of objection, Nicole lunged forward as if to stop him. But somehow, perhaps intentionally, she stumbled as she got up, shoving Ethan hard from behind. Ethan lost his balance. The lid of the urn popped open, and the ashes scattered entirely into the large fish tank. The fish swarmed eagerly. Nicole, a manic glint of triumph in her eyes, turned to me. “Honey, are you satisfied now?” My gaze swept over Ethan, Nicole, and Mason, my eyes dark and deep. “Watching the son I despised being fed to the fish? Naturally, I’m extremely satisfied.” I sank onto the sofa, feigning weakness. “Mason, Mom only has you now. Thank goodness you’re so capable.” “Mom is tired. I’ve decided… I’m transferring all my company shares to you, right now.” Nicole covered her face, seemingly overwhelmed, and ran out. I ignored her, forcing myself to contact my legal team, instructing them to expedite the share transfer process. After the share transfer meeting concluded, while people were still lingering, Nicole made a grand entrance, dressed in a designer gown. Amidst the confused and surprised murmurs, she held up a paternity test report and announced loudly to me: “Seraphina Vance! Mason is actually Ethan’s and my biological son! You’ve kept them apart for so many years. Now, it’s time you returned him to me!” The room erupted in gasps and whispers. “Isn’t that Nicole Ryan? Ms. Vance valued her so much years ago, even moved her into her home… Talk about letting a wolf into the sheepfold!” “Showing up now to claim the son? It’s obviously about Ms. Vance’s money!” Amidst the condemnations, Ethan wrapped an arm around Nicole, speaking defiantly. “Most of you here are men. Ask yourselves honestly, could you accept your wife being away on business constantly, never home to take care of you?” “For years, it’s just been me, Nicole, and the boy in that house. We were already a family.” I remained silent, merely looking towards Mason who stood nearby. He walked over to stand beside Ethan and Nicole, then addressed me calmly. “Mom, if you just sign the divorce papers and let our family finally be together, I promise I’ll take care of you in the future.” “How about… you stay on as our housekeeper?” His words ignited outrage among the onlookers. “What kind of disgusting people are these? Ungrateful snakes! She just transferred billions to him, and he immediately turns around and insults her, offering her a job as a maid?” “I can’t watch this! Ms. Vance, don’t be afraid! We old-timers support you! Without us, Mason won’t find it easy to establish himself in this company!” People were defending me, indignant on my behalf, yet Ethan and Nicole looked calm, almost smug. As if they could handle any fallout. However, amidst the rising anger of the crowd, I offered a gentle smile. “Fine. I’ll sign.” Then, under everyone’s astonished gaze, I signed the divorce agreement. The trio – Ethan, Nicole, and Mason – looked at each other, eyebrows raised in disbelief, seemingly shocked I’d agreed so readily. They carefully inspected the documents, and confirming everything was in order, they smiled, relieved. Seeing their triumphant, smug expressions, the look of having won it all. I smiled too. “It’s rude not to return a gift. And I have a rather significant one for you.”

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“Honey, I need to have a baby for Leo Vance. He’s terminally ill.” Leo Vance. Her first love, the one she never forgot. My wife has a severe bleeding disorder. We’ve been married six years, and I’ve never touched her. In my past life, I vehemently refused for her safety, forced her to get an abortion, and stayed by her side day and night. After Leo died, she became strangely docile, caring for me meticulously. But I never imagined she blamed me for Leo’s death the entire time. On our sixth anniversary, she stabbed me twenty times, doused me in gasoline, and burned me alive. Flames roared around me as she screamed, her face contorted with hate. “He was dying! All he wanted was a child! What was so wrong with that? It’s all your fault!” Reborn, I looked at my wife Lily’s pale face and smiled. “Just one? Why not give him two?” … “What nonsense are you talking? I know you don’t like kids. I’ll just have one to carry on his line, then I’ll come right back.” Lily caressed her belly, trying to sweet-talk me. “I’m already three months along. Leo never wanted to interfere with us, Ethan. He always says good things about you. Once the baby’s born, I won’t have anything more to do with it, don’t worry.” She wrinkled her nose playfully, placing my hand on her stomach. “You know my past, Ethan. I basically grew up bouncing between relatives and relying on neighbors. The Vances were the kindest to me. I can’t let their family line end. You understand, right?” I nodded, pulling her into a hug, but inside, I sneered. It was the early 2000s. I was the only son for three generations in my family. I took all the pressure, just wanting her to be healthy. Lily’s father killed her mother for insurance money. She suffered immensely growing up. I felt terrible for her. To make her feel secure, I put all my money and property in her name, giving her every safeguard. Now, she leaned against me, praising the Vance family, while my mind reeled with the agony of being stabbed, collapsing to my knees before she burned me alive. Lily pulled away, hesitant. “Didn’t you used to hate Leo? Why agree all of a sudden? Are you being sarcastic? We haven’t… done anything. It was IVF.” If I hadn’t found traces of their lovemaking in the car and in our house, I might have actually believed her. I smiled, stroking Lily’s head, soothing her gently. “Of course not. I’m mainly worried about your health. IVF must have been tough, right? Honestly, you didn’t need to go through that trouble. As long as your heart is with me, that’s all that matters.” Lily relaxed again, giving me a rare, tight hug and a quick kiss. “Then… can Leo come stay with us? You can take care of both of us. You’re a doctor, you know best. He is the baby’s father, after all.” “Once the baby is born, we’ll be together properly, and I won’t owe the Vances anything anymore.” Her eyes were probing. I pretended to hesitate, and a flash of triumph crossed her face before she pouted, feigning displeasure. I quickly agreed, holding her close and murmuring sweet nothings. She was overjoyed, oblivious that I was even happier. This time, let her have the baby. No one could save her now. She nestled against me for a moment before Leo called. She took the call in the bathroom. I heard the faucet running loudly. She was scrubbing away where I had touched her, rubbing until her skin must have been raw. She complained to Leo, “Leo, honey, come over soon, I miss you like crazy! I talked to Ethan; he’ll take care of you and our baby.” After a few minutes, she came out, dressed. Her eyes flickered. “Let’s get the divorce finalized. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to register the baby’s birth certificate.” I replied casually, “Sure, okay.” Maybe I agreed too quickly. Lily seemed stunned. Perhaps she expected me to break down crying or fly into a rage like before. I added, “The baby isn’t at fault. And Leo is sick, after all. I misunderstood him before. It was my bad. From now on, I support all your decisions. After all, if you love someone, you should love everything about them.” A high-end package of medicine peeked out from the cabinet. Lily asked what it was. I earnestly explained it was a holiday gift I was planning to give someone, but if she wanted it, she could take it first to boost her health. Lily’s eyes lit up. She snuggled against my face again. “Oh, Ethan, you’re the best! So generous and thoughtful! Don’t worry, Leo won’t affect your position. I only see him as a brother.” 2 The sound of a key turning in the lock. Leo Vance walked in casually, holding a key. He looked at me, pretending to be weak, panting heavily. “Dr. Hayes, sorry to trouble you. This body of mine… who knows how many days I have left. Before I go, I just want to spend more time with Lily. Thanks for putting up with this.” He walked into the kitchen, put down some groceries, and insisted on cooking for Lily. Lily was deeply moved. They shut the kitchen door, getting cozy inside. I raised an eyebrow, noticing the muddy black footprints on the floor. That kind of dirt only comes from the hills outside town. Leo must have just come down from there. Guess he had to ditch his other girl for this. I didn’t barge in, worried about Lily being taken advantage of. Instead, I lay on the couch, letting my mind drift. Soon, three dishes and a soup were ready. I ate heartily. Lily served Leo soup, her face full of nostalgia. “Your cooking tastes exactly like my mom’s. Leo, thank you for being so good to me all these years.” She turned to me. “Ethan, let’s go get it done later. You’ll have to leave with nothing, but it’s just a temporary measure. We’ll divorce but still live together. Trust me.” Watching her lie so naturally, I hated that I couldn’t just kill her right then. Suppressing my disgust, I nodded. “Okay. As long as the three of us can make things work, that’s what matters most. Lily, as long as you’re happy, nothing else is a problem.” I thought about Leo’s debts and smiled inwardly. When I proposed to Lily, she turned me down dozens of times, always saying she wasn’t ready, that her mother’s tragic death made it impossible for her to trust anyone. Yet, faced with Leo’s clumsy acting and obvious lies, she believed every word. After dinner, Lily eagerly dragged me to get the divorce processed. The county clerk’s office was almost empty. When I stated I was leaving the marriage with nothing, people looked at me with confusion. “Hurry up, or the marriage license office will close, and Lily won’t make it in time to register with Leo.” The looks turned to pity. Lily snatched the fresh divorce certificate, embarrassed, and hissed under her breath, “Don’t say that! People who don’t know the situation will think I’m some kind of… person!” Playing the victim while acting the villain. I sneered internally but outwardly agreed. “Sorry, my bad. Lily is the best, kindest person. I understand.” Her expression softened slightly. She turned towards the marriage license counter. Just then, a colleague ran into us, shoving a handful of candies at me enthusiastically. “Dr. Hayes! What are you doing here? Didn’t you and your wife get married ages ago? Hey, I even copied you with these candies – imported peanut brittle! Remember how envious everyone was of Mrs. Hayes back then?” Lily froze. Peanut brittle was her favorite. She couldn’t afford it as a kid, and by the time she could, the factory had closed down. When I found out, I secretly bought the factory and had it produce only that peanut brittle. She cried, saying she didn’t deserve it, but I firmly told her there was no such thing as deserving or not – I thought she was worth it. Lily forced a smile, distractedly popping a piece of peanut brittle into her mouth. In my previous life, I died horribly. The candy factory went bankrupt, my family was ruined, and a large number of workers lost their jobs. Leo interrupted my thoughts, naturally wrapping an arm around Lily’s waist, his hand resting on her belly. “Is the baby kicking? Come on, let’s go get registered.” My colleague stood there, dumbfounded, apologizing profusely to me. I waved it off, even explaining for Lily, “We just got divorced.” The colleague nodded, then turned to whisper to his wife, loud enough for me to hear, “Even a guy like Dr. Hayes gets cheated on? He’s the Dean’s son, you know, though not many people know it. That Leo Vance is a notorious bum. Tried his hand at business and lost everything. Imagine ditching a diamond for dog crap. Hilarious.” “Poor Dr. Hayes. Just last month he was bragging about his wife, and this month they’re divorced. Baby’s three months along… everyone knows what that means. That Lily isn’t any good!” I watched him spread the gossip, a slight smile playing on my lips. 3 We got everything done smoothly and went home. But Lily kept glancing at me, her thoughts unreadable. That night, she shut her door and didn’t come out. I didn’t care. I went to my own room and went to sleep. Just as I was drifting off, a cold body suddenly slipped into my arms. My sleepiness vanished instantly. Lily looked at me, tears welling in her eyes. “Honey, don’t you love me anymore? Why aren’t you angry?” What kind of drama was this in the middle of the night? I became wary, tucking her cold feet under the covers to warm them, speaking softly. “Did you run over here barefoot? Look how cold you are. What’s wrong?” Lily’s eyes shone in the darkness. “Someone talked about me today. Said I was shameless. Tomorrow, can you take me and Leo to the hospital cafeteria, host a little reception, and clear things up? Just say… say you can’t have kids, that’s why we divorced.” “The party will bring Leo some good luck too. If you don’t agree, I… I might as well just die.” “And don’t worry about my bleeding disorder. Leo brought me a folk remedy. He left town seven years ago specifically to find a cure for me.” She wouldn’t trust me, a doctor with a bachelor’s degree, but she’d believe in some folk remedy. Her eyelashes fluttered against my face. I deliberately paused for a few moments before pretending to agree reluctantly. “As long as you’re happy and don’t hurt yourself, I’ll do whatever you want.” “Oh, right. Remind Leo to take his medicine.” Leo wasn’t sick, but I had prepared some… special things for him. She happily slipped out of my arms, closed the door, and ran off. The door didn’t shut completely. Her excited voice drifted in intermittently. “He agreed! See? I told you he was a pushover. He agrees to whatever I say. And you said he didn’t love me anymore? Impossible! He’s paying for the reception too.” Leo, smoking, drawled lazily, “I’m still a bit short for this business deal. Get me some more cash. When I strike it rich, you’ll be a wealthy wife. Forget one candy factory, honey, I’ll open three for you!” “And I want lots of clothes and bags! But take your medicine first.” The bedsprings creaked rhythmically, accompanied by sounds of flirting. I yawned and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of Leo’s death scene from my past life. Debt collectors had hung him from a rooftop all day. When he called Lily, he was surrounded by heavily tattooed men, leering as they said if he could lure the woman over, she’d be worth a hundred bucks off his debt. Lily never got that nightmare call. Leo was violated, humiliated in the worst way, and died shamefully on that rooftop. The scene shifted. Gasoline drenched me again. I was burning alive in front of Leo’s memorial photo. The workers from the candy factory heard I had died. Many came to see me. They sent Lily to prison and arranged my parents’ funerals and memorials for me. I sat up in the darkness, covering my eyes, crying silently. 4 At the crack of dawn, I went to the hospital. I arranged the food, instructed the workers to help me hang decorations – red banners everywhere, especially making sure Leo Vance’s name was prominent at the entrance. At lunchtime, everyone flocked to the cafeteria, curious about the sea of red. “Is Leo Vance getting married? To who?” Someone in the know answered, “Lily.” “That’s not even the half of it. The real shocker is Dr. Hayes is throwing the party for them!” A wave of stunned silence, then murmurs erupted. My dad is the hospital Dean, my mom an OB/GYN. They heard the news and looked at me, astonished. My mom smacked my arm. “How could you get divorced! What is going on?” My parents are good people. They never looked down on Lily for being an orphan; instead, they urged me to treat her well. Six years without children earned my parents endless ridicule and cold shoulders, but they still protected her. Leo’s parents, who worked at the boiler plant next door, showed up, probably called by Leo. They sat down and dug in immediately. Under the weight of confused, mocking, and curious stares, I stood on the small stage, holding Lily’s hand in one and Leo’s in the other (though he wasn’t physically there yet). I began the toast: “Let’s wish them happiness. From this day forward, these two are husband and wife. But mainly, this banquet is to celebrate me rejoining the ranks of the single.” Lily stared at me, aghast. Before she could question me, a group of men with full tattoo sleeves burst through the door. “Leo Vance! You’re pretty good at hiding! Let’s see where you run now! Pay up!” Leo instinctively thought Lily had exposed him. Furious, he shoved her away, yelling, “Was it you?! You damn bitch, you dared to sell me out!” Lily fell to the ground, wincing in pain, but still shook her head. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t say anything!” Leo roared, “Don’t grab me! I’ll give you this broad! She’s got money!” Then he bolted towards the exit. Lily stared in disbelief as Leo ran off, while the tattooed thugs grabbed her. “Leo Vance? Where are you going?! I’m pregnant with your child! You bastard!” I walked over, looking down at her. She instinctively pleaded with me. “Help me, Ethan! Please, explain! I don’t know anything about this! What debt? I don’t have any money! What’s going on? Honey, help me! Talk to them for Leo, please! They aren’t going to kill him, are they?!” She was frantic, her words tumbling out incoherently. I walked past her, a smirk playing on my lips as I addressed the lead thug. “Buddy, the woman and the kid are both Leo Vance’s. You hold onto her, Leo won’t get far.” Lily froze, stunned. Two lines of tears streamed down her face as she stared at me. “What?” “What is happening, Ethan! It’s me, Lily!” “Leo and I were just pretending to get married! Once the baby’s born, I was going to divorce him! I was just repaying a debt! Ethan, didn’t we talk about this? What’s wrong with you?” Bored, I sat back down to eat, ignoring Lily’s cries. My mom sat beside me, nudging me. “What do you mean she’s pregnant and the baby isn’t yours? What on earth is going on?!” Leo’s mother, Brenda Vance, who had been hiding nearby, started screeching, “Ethan Hayes! Save them! Give them money! You useless piece of trash!” “Mom! Don’t yell at Ethan!” Lily cried out towards Mrs. Vance. “You give them money! Save me! The baby in my belly can’t take this stress!” Leo, agile as a cat, leaped out a window and fled, showing no sign of illness. Seeing her son was safe, Brenda Vance turned to Lily with fake helplessness. “No money! Gave it all to Leo for his debts! Go ask your in-laws! Old Mr. Hayes and Dr. Hayes are still here.” My parents exchanged glances. My mother, as if waking from a dream, erupted in fury. “Brenda Vance! My son made it perfectly clear just now – they are divorced! She calls you ‘Mom,’ not me! The baby in her belly is your family’s business, nothing to do with us!” Since walking in, Lily hadn’t acknowledged my parents once, yet she had been overly affectionate with Leo’s parents. I wiped my mouth, stood up, ushered the crowd out, and closed the door. Behind me, Lily screamed, “Honey! Ethan, don’t go! You can’t leave me like this!!” I walked back to look at her. “You and Leo Vance are legally married. Don’t call me that. From now on, you can repay your debt to the Vance family forever.”

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Three years we dated, three years married. Then, my husband Ethan ditched me on the side of the road to rush off to his depressed old flame, Sophia. Before I could even process it, a speeding car hit me, sending me flying. Skull fractured, clinging to life, he refused to operate on me himself. “She’s not going to make it. Don’t worry about protocols, I’m her husband, I can sign the DNR.” When I miraculously survived the emergency surgery performed by someone else, he stood there, arm draped impatiently around a pregnant Sophia, sneering at me. “Funny, you couldn’t get pregnant in three years with me. Maybe a hen that can’t lay eggs should see a doctor.” But I just leaned back into the arms of a real man, the one who actually saved me, and slapped proof of his infertility right across Ethan’s arrogant face. My mom was undergoing emergency heart surgery. It was critical. I kept urging my husband, Ethan, to drive faster. “Please, Ethan, hurry!” We were still thirty minutes from the hospital when Ethan slammed on the brakes, pulling over sharply. My heart hammered against my ribs. “Nina,” he said, his voice tight with urgency, “Sophia’s threatening to cut her wrists again. Her depression… I have to go, right now.” Before I could even form a word, he grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the car. “Are you seriously going to make a scene now?” he snapped. “This is life or death! Stop being so damn jealous!” He didn’t stop there. “Besides, your mom is always in and out of the hospital. She’ll be fine this time, she’s not going to die!” I stumbled, falling hard onto the asphalt. My ankle twisted, landing squarely on a sharp piece of gravel. Blood instantly soaked through my jeans. Tears sprang to my eyes from the searing pain. I turned to look for Ethan. But he was already gone. The car peeled away, leaving me behind without a second glance. Helpless, I pushed myself up from the cold, hard ground, sticky blood painting my pant leg red. The wind cut through me, making me shiver violently, my teeth chattering. The chill seeped deep into my bones. As I tried to steady myself, I saw headlights bearing down on me. On this deserted stretch of road? How could there be a car driving so recklessly fast? My heart pounded like a drum. There was no time to react. I was hit. Hard. 2: He Wouldn’t Save Me The sharp, stinging smell of antiseptic filled my nose. When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed. Some kind stranger must have found me and called an ambulance. Relief washed over me when I realized Ethan worked here. He was the star surgeon, the best. Surely, I was safe now. “Dr. Hayes,” a nurse said urgently, “this patient has severe head trauma. We need to operate immediately to prevent fatal intracranial bleeding.” Ethan waved a dismissive hand, his face a mask of annoyance. He did a cursory check with his instruments, then delivered his verdict. “She’s not going to make it. The damage is too extensive. There’s nothing we can do.” Perhaps sensing the shock in the room, he added coldly, “I’m her legal husband. I can sign the waiver to cease treatment. It won’t reflect badly on the hospital’s reputation.” A pained groan escaped my lips. I reached out, trying to plead with him, appealing to the years we’d spent together. Don’t give up on me. Save me. As his wife, I knew his skills. If anyone could save me, it was him. But Ethan’s face darkened. “Are you deaf?” he hissed. “Sophia is in critical condition, don’t you understand? You probably staged this whole thing just to get me back here! If something happens to Sophia because I wasted time on you, can you live with that responsibility?” “You’re always pulling stunts like this,” he spat. “Serves you right if you die!” “Then… then could you just… check on my mom?” I forced the words out, my voice raspy and weak. At this point, I didn’t even care that he’d abandoned me on the road. I wasn’t begging him to save my life anymore. Just check on my mom at the hospital next door. It would only take half an hour, back and forth. Not long at all. “I told you, your mom’s fine! It’s the same old thing. If she dies, great, you two can have a little reunion in hell!” He turned impatiently to the other staff. “Who has the DNR forms? Give me one, I need to sign this now and get out of here. I have someone else to save!” Because he was the hospital’s top surgeon, his word carried weight. When he declared me a lost cause, no one else dared to argue. 3: He Said He’d Make Me Live After Ethan stormed out, I heard hushed, angry voices nearby. “Dr. Hayes crossed a line this time. He could clearly save her, but he dragged his feet, and now he’s just leaving? So unethical.” “Shh, that’s his wife! Be careful, you don’t want him making your life miserable.” A few junior doctors whispered amongst themselves, occasionally glancing my way. I didn’t know if they pitied me for dying or mocked me because my own husband wouldn’t save me. I was left on an old gurney, practically abandoned. No one dared approach me. People were constantly being wheeled into the operating rooms for emergency procedures. And I was just left there. Waiting to die. “Help… help me…” I rasped. “Nina! What happened to you?!” A familiar male voice roared my name, frantic. I couldn’t place who it was, but I knew, finally, someone was here to help. “Why isn’t anyone helping Nina?” the voice demanded. “She’s… she’s Dr. Hayes’ wife,” a young nurse stammered evasively. “He said she couldn’t be saved… so, it’s probably true. Besides, he signed the waiver himself, so the hospital isn’t liable…” “She’s still conscious! How can you say she can’t be saved? What kind of doctor is Ethan Hayes?!” I felt myself being moved, pushed from darkness towards a bright light. “Ethan!” The male voice called out sharply, stopping Ethan in his tracks. Ethan turned back, defensive. “Look, Daniel, I know you’re good, maybe even better than me, but I’m a top surgeon too. You think I can’t tell when someone’s beyond saving?” Smack! I heard the distinct sound of someone being hit, but my vision was too blurry to see who. The man who had come to my rescue—Daniel—spoke again, his voice laced with fury. “Ethan! Are you even human? Your own wife is dying, and you won’t save her? You’re just going to walk away? What was all that ‘devoted husband’ act about?” Ethan, enraged now, pried open my eyelid, checked my pupil, then lifted his chin defiantly. “Her pupils are blown! Not even a miracle worker could save her now. I said she’s a lost cause, you got a problem with that?” With that, he stormed off again. After he left, I somehow found a surge of strength. My voice was hoarse, broken. “Save me! Please, save me… I don’t want to die!” The words were fragmented, but clear enough. Through the haze, I saw someone push past the other doctors and rush towards me. His voice was firm, resolute. “I’ll save her! I’ll save Nina. As long as Nina wants to live, I’ll make sure she lives, and lives well!” 4: Surgery Successful Who was he? The thought drifted through my fading consciousness. Twenty minutes later, wearing familiar surgical goggles, fully scrubbed and sanitized, he stood at the head of the operating table. “Anesthesiologist, full intubation, general anesthesia. Get the 3D CT model ready!” he commanded crisply. Everyone scrambled to prepare. He glanced down at me, his voice still cool. “What were you thinking, choosing a scumbag like that instead of me?” I struggled to open my eyes, trying to focus on my surgeon. When I finally saw his face clearly, the pain I felt intensified, and I genuinely wanted to cry. Daniel. It was Daniel. As soon as he took charge, a sense of calm settled over the operating room. After rapidly completing the critical procedures, the team began the slow process of closing the incision. Everyone held their breath, waiting for my blood pressure to stabilize. 3! 2! 1! The countdown ended. A few nurses let out excited whoops. Closure successful. Heartbeat steady. Oxygen levels normal. The surgery was a success! I was moved to a recovery room for observation. By evening, I was awake. Daniel Chen stood by my bedside. “We’ll monitor you for rejection for a week. If there are no complications, you can move to a regular room.” I stared at him intently. “Daniel, thank you. But… I need to ask you another favor. Before the accident, my mom was having heart surgery… at the hospital next door. Could you please go check on how she is?” Daniel looked at me deeply for a moment, then turned and left without a word. A pang of bitterness hit me. Daniel Chen… the most sought-after, wealthy guy in college. He’d pursued me relentlessly, showering me with flowers and cakes at my dorm, making me laugh when I was down. But back then, my heart belonged to Ethan, the poor scholarship student. I turned Daniel down again and again, marrying Ethan right after graduation. Daniel had finally let go then, wishing me happiness. And now, here I was, a complete wreck, saved by the man I rejected, exposed in my most vulnerable state. The irony was enough to make me want to weep. 5: Using My Things to Appease His Mistress Beep beep beep. The moment my phone turned on, it exploded with messages from Ethan. I steeled myself. What could my husband possibly have to say after leaving me for dead? Nina, are you dead yet? If not, just stay at the hospital for a while. Sophia needs to stay at our place for a few days. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’d just been dragged back from death’s door, and now my husband wanted to move his old flame into our home? More texts flooded in. Nina, don’t be unreasonable. Sophia’s situation is really critical this time. Show some compassion. Besides, Sophia and I have known each other for years. If something was going to happen between us, don’t you think it would have already? Anyway, I’ve made up my mind. Just stay put at the hospital. Nina, where are those silk pajamas you bought? The ones you haven’t worn? I gave them to Sophia. Her skin is too delicate, not like your tough hide. … Before I could even finish reading, I noticed Ethan had changed his profile picture. It used to be his professional headshot. I’d begged him countless times to use a couple’s photo with me, but he always patiently explained that as the hospital’s top surgeon, an unprofessional picture wouldn’t look good. I’d understood his position. But now? His profile picture was two cute, pink teddy bears holding hands – exactly the kind of cutesy thing a girl would love. Then came another barrage of explanatory texts. Don’t freak out. I had no choice. Sophia insisted we change it. She calmed down a lot after I changed the picture, finally stopped talking about suicide. I’m a doctor, Nina. My job is to save lives. I couldn’t just stand by and watch someone die. If you weren’t such a cruel person, you’d understand, right Nina? The messages painted a sickening picture: while I was fighting for my life, my husband was busy placating his old flame, Sophia. Now he was telling me he couldn’t be there for me and was even using my belongings to appease his mistress?

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Eight months pregnant, and Ethan decided to throw a divorce party for his first love, Chloe. He insisted I personally build a sixteen-tier champagne tower. When the party started, Chloe deliberately knocked over the tower, cutting her finger in the process. “Ethan, where did you hire these workers? They’re as stupid as pigs.” Ethan shot me a dark look. Chloe smirked. “You know, Ava,” she said, turning to me, “now that you mention it, you do kind of resemble a sow.” Shaking with anger, I slapped her across the face and demanded an apology. Ethan stood up and shoved me hard. I crumpled to the ground. “Chloe didn’t even know you built it! Why the hell are you flying off the handle? “And was she wrong? Calling you a pig? Look at you, stomach as big as a damn beach ball!” Later, on a night pouring rain, he made me kneel on the doorstep to ‘reflect on my actions’. Inside, I could hear him laughing with his friends. “That’s how you have to train women to make them behave.” But this time, I didn’t obey him. I stood up, hailed a cab, and went to the hospital to arrange for an induced termination. Eight months? So what? If I didn’t want this baby anymore, I wasn’t going to have it. 1. The doctor on duty looked at me, then at my paperwork, frowning slightly. “Does your husband consent to this procedure?” “I don’t have a husband.” He clearly didn’t believe me, his eyes scanning me up and down. I realized then that when Ethan threw me out to ‘reflect,’ I hadn’t even grabbed a coat. Who in their right mind would be out on a cold fall night dressed so thinly? The doctor probably thought I’d just had a fight with my husband. Finally, seeing my determination, the doctor nodded. The procedure couldn’t be done immediately; it would take three days to schedule. As I was leaving, he tried one more time. “Look, miss, maybe talk things over with your family first? Don’t do anything impulsive.” I managed a bitter smile. I’d seen this doctor a few times before, but he didn’t know Ethan was my partner. Ethan rarely came with me to prenatal appointments. Once, in a rare moment of ‘kindness,’ he walked out with me, holding my hand. The second he saw someone he knew, he dropped my hand like I was toxic. Like he was ashamed to be seen with me. When the doctor asked who he was, Ethan had just said, “A friend.” I took a cab back to the house. The front door was wide open. The party guests were gone, leaving behind a total mess. Ethan sat slumped in the middle of the sofa, his face grim, enveloped in cigarette smoke. “Hah, I was actually considering letting you back in, thinking about the baby and all,” he sneered. “But look at you, out having a good time!” So, he did remember I was pregnant. I didn’t have the energy to argue. All I wanted was a hot shower. He stood up as I walked past. “Where were you?” I gave a vague answer. “My stomach hurt. Went to the hospital.” Ethan’s expression softened instantly. He reached out and touched my belly. “Then why didn’t you call me to go with you? Look at you, not even wearing a coat…” He seemed about to show some concern, but a woman’s voice interrupted him. “Ethan, smell this body wash, doesn’t it smell amazing?” Chloe emerged from the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel, cleavage on full display. Seeing me, she feigned surprise with a little “Oops!” 2. “Oh, Ava,” Chloe said with a coy smile, sidling up next to Ethan. “I thought you had plans tonight, that you wouldn’t be back.” She leaned into Ethan. “Since Ava’s home now, maybe I should leave?” Ethan frowned slightly. “It’s late, not safe. Just stay here tonight. Ava won’t mind.” He often decided for me that I didn’t mind. But this time, I genuinely didn’t. I mumbled some agreement, which seemed to satisfy Ethan. Then I headed to the bedroom to shower. As I walked in, I saw it immediately – an item of lingerie lying on the bed. White lace against the black sheets. Glaringly obvious. Expressionless, I picked it up and tossed it to Ethan, who had followed me. He froze, then awkwardly handed it to Chloe. He opened his mouth to explain, but I had already shut the bathroom door. After washing up, I lay down, wanting only sleep. But Ethan crawled in beside me, pulling me into his arms. “Ava, I told you, you can rely on me for anything. “Why didn’t you knock on my door when your stomach hurt today? Isn’t this my baby too?” I ignored him, pretending to rub my eyes sleepily. He grabbed my hand and leaned in to kiss me. The cloying, sweet scent of roses – Chloe’s perfume – filled the air. “Forgive me, okay?” Nausea rose in my throat. I shut my eyes tight, feigning deep sleep. Ethan finally released me. In the darkness, the glow of a phone screen flickered on. The mattress dipped beside me, then sprang back up. He was gone. I already knew where. I picked up my own phone. Chloe had just updated her social media. The picture was Ethan cradling her bare feet in his hands, warming them. The caption read: [The heat might be late, but your love never is.] Even late at night, people were awake, flooding the comments. [OMG, kill me with the sweetness!] [You two should just get back together already! It’s obvious you both want it.] [Chloe, hold onto a guy like that! Don’t let some other woman snatch him.] I was the “some other woman” they were talking about. My parents died in a car accident years ago. I had no one left to depend on. And in the eyes of Ethan’s friends, if a woman couldn’t help her man succeed, what good was she? I expected Ethan to chime in with agreement. Instead, he replied to that last comment. [Don’t talk nonsense. Ava and I are fine.] 3. The next day, I intentionally slept late and didn’t make breakfast. Normally, Ethan would have chewed me out. But today, surprisingly, he was in the kitchen cooking himself. Chloe watched him expectantly from the side. Caught, Ethan offered her a bite from his fork. They looked, for a moment, like any ordinary couple. So, he could be proactive and thoughtful, just not for me. It didn’t matter anymore. Once the procedure was done, I’d be gone. “Ethan, you’re amazing! This is all my favorite food!” Chloe exclaimed. Ethan smiled, a doting look on his face. “I know you love these dishes, so I practiced making them.” The food on the table consisted of the few simple, home-style dishes Ethan knew how to cook. When we first got together, he used to cook for me sometimes. But it was always these same things. Once, I casually complained, asking him to try something different. He immediately got irritated. “Just eat what’s served. Relationships require compromise.” His reasoning convinced me back then. I actually believed him. Looking back now, it wasn’t mutual compromise; it was me always being the one to compromise. And now, the sight of those dishes made my stomach churn. Clapping a hand over my mouth, I rushed to the bathroom and threw up violently. When I returned after rinsing my mouth, Chloe put down her bowl, pinching her nose. “Ugh, it stinks.” I’d had morning sickness since the early stages, and Ethan was used to it. But Chloe’s comment made him frown too. “Why don’t you take your bowl and eat in the other room?” he said to me. A wave of desolation washed over me. I decided not to eat at all. The clatter of my bowl as I put it down was a bit loud, and Ethan probably thought I was angry. “Ever since you got pregnant, your temper’s gotten worse!” he snapped. He and Chloe finished their meal happily, ignoring me completely. Only after they were done eating did Ethan come into the room where I was. “Come on, let’s go out for a bit.” My feet ached, my back was sore, and I didn’t want to go anywhere. But he practically forced me out the door. “You’ve been cooped up inside too long, that’s why you’re getting so petty.” 4. Once we were outside, it became clear: Chloe wanted to go out, and I was just tagging along. Like that free piece of hard candy you sometimes get with your change at the grocery store. You didn’t ask for it, but you take it anyway, maybe just to toss it out later. I automatically moved to get into the front passenger seat. Ethan saw me and raised an eyebrow. “Sit in the back. Chloe gets carsick.” “But it’s hard for me to get in and out of the back,” I protested weakly. “Alright, stop making a scene. Don’t make me drag you out,” Ethan said, his patience gone. As I squeezed into the back seat, Chloe slid effortlessly into the front. She pointed to a cartoon sticker on the dashboard and giggled. “I stuck that there last time we were out… why didn’t you take it off?” Ethan glanced at me in the rearview mirror. I looked away. “Forgot,” he mumbled. Did he really forget, or did he not want to remove it? I’d seen that sticker the last time he’d accompanied me to a prenatal check-up. Ethan usually hated anything he considered ‘girly’ cluttering up his car. But when I’d reached to peel it off, he’d stopped me immediately. “My buddy’s little girl put it there,” he’d lied. “The kid said she’d check next time she saw the car. If I take it off, she won’t be my friend anymore.” So, it wasn’t a ‘little girl,’ it was a ‘big girl.’ Chloe shot me a look over her shoulder, smugness radiating from her. Throughout the drive, Chloe made thinly veiled jabs about my clothes. Said I dressed frumpy, that I looked like I weighed 400 pounds. I finally snapped back. “Well, I am carrying Ethan’s child. Staying warm is kind of important. Unlike some people, wearing a crop top when it’s practically winter. Aren’t you freezing?” Chloe’s face flushed, but she shut up. When we reached our destination, I realized we were at an amusement park. We walked until we were standing directly beneath the giant Ferris wheel. Chloe put on a show of being considerate. “Ava’s pregnant, so she can’t ride roller coasters. Why don’t we all ride the Ferris wheel together!” I looked up at the towering structure that seemed to pierce the clouds. A roaring filled my ears, and cold sweat instantly beaded on my forehead. I couldn’t ride it. I have acrophobia – a crippling fear of heights. 5. I refused immediately. Chloe pouted, looking wounded. “Ava, are you still mad at me?” Instinctively, I reached for Ethan’s hand. He flinched, surprised by how clammy my palm was. “I… I’m afraid of heights,” I stammered. Ethan hesitated. “Maybe Chloe and I can go, and Ava can wait down here?” he suggested. Chloe fixed her gaze on me, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Fears are meant to be overcome, Ethan,” she said sweetly. “You don’t want to spoil the fun, do you?” Her words solidified Ethan’s decision. Trembling all over, I was pushed into the Ferris wheel cabin. As the machine started moving, the ground fell away, and the horrible sensation of dangling in the air gripped me. The only sounds inside the cabin were my own ragged, panicked breaths. Chloe and Ethan sat across from me. Her eyes darted around, then she smiled. “They say distracting yourself helps you forget your fear. Ava, look, what’s this?” She held out her hand, and dangling from her fingers was a jade pendant. My hand flew to my collarbone. It was empty. That was my pendant. It was the most precious thing my mother owned before she died. Mom told me that the year I was born, she felt this sudden, inexplicable urge to go to a gem show. Among all the dazzling, polished stones, she was drawn to the most overlooked, roughest-looking one. Against all odds, when it was cut, it revealed the most beautiful, pure jade inside. This pendant was crafted from it. Mom always said the pendant had protected her twice from harm. Before she died, she gave it to me. “Ava,” she’d whispered, “it will protect you in my place.” For a moment, I forgot my fear, my eyes locked on the pendant. I reached for it, but Chloe snatched her hand away. “That’s mine! Give it back!” I cried. Chloe laughed, a malicious glint in her eyes. She extended her arm out of the cabin’s small, open window. “See? You were terrified of heights just a second ago, but now you’ve overcome it, haven’t you?” My gaze was fixed on her hand outside the window. I desperately wanted to claw open that window and snatch my pendant back. “Give… it… back… to… me!” I gritted out, my fists clenched. Even Ethan sensed something was wrong. “Chloe, stop messing around,” he said sternly. Chloe looked slightly disappointed but nodded. Then, in the next instant, her fingers loosened their grip. 6. I lunged across the cabin, my hands closing around Chloe’s throat, squeezing hard. Chloe screamed and struggled violently. The commotion rocked the cabin, making it creak ominously. Her face and neck began to turn purple. Ethan pried my hands off her, trapping me in his arms. I was no match for his strength. All I could do was scream and fight, sinking my teeth into his arm. Pain contorted his face, veins popping on his forehead, but he didn’t let go. Chloe rubbed her neck, gasping. “I didn’t mean to drop it,” she wheezed. Whether she meant it or not didn’t matter anymore. All I knew was that I was useless. I couldn’t hold onto anything. I couldn’t hold onto my man. I couldn’t hold onto my child. And now, I couldn’t even hold onto the pendant my mother gave me. I knew Chloe wanted to see me cry, but I refused to give her the satisfaction. I clenched my jaw, holding onto a brittle thread of defiance. Ironically, my acrophobia was completely gone. The moment the cabin door opened, I scrambled out and ran as fast as I could to the area below where the pendant might have fallen. The grass there was thick and overgrown, requiring someone to crouch down and search meticulously. With my large belly, crouching was impossible. So, I got down on my hands and knees, almost on the ground. Ethan pulled me up and moved me aside. “Stop looking.” I couldn’t help but scream at him. “That was my mother’s! The last thing she gave me!” He was silent for a moment. “I’ll find it for you.” He rolled up his sleeves, crouched down, and began searching the grass inch by inch. The lawn was still damp from a recent rain. His pants cuffs were soaked, splattered with mud and grass clippings. I sat nearby, the dampness seeping through my own pants. Chloe sauntered over, looking down at me with amusement. “How does it feel? To lose something precious?” She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You killed my brother. So I’ll make you lose what’s most important to you!” I didn’t look at her. “I feel terrible about your brother, Chloe, but his death wasn’t my fault.” She opened her mouth to say more, but snapped it shut when she saw Ethan walking back towards us. He was covered in grass stains, sweat beading on his forehead. He had found the pendant. Dropped from that height, it was miraculously unbroken. I traced the familiar carvings with my finger, then carefully put it back around my neck. Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the air.

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My college roommate, the one who spread slut-shaming rumors about me, sent me an e-vite. “I’m marrying the richest man in the country! Soon, I’ll be the kind of wealthy wife you could only dream of associating with.” “Consider it a favor, since we were classmates. I’m graciously letting you be a bridesmaid. Don’t miss this chance to latch onto someone important, okay? ;)” I frowned. What the hell was Jessica Lee on about? I was the wealthiest woman in the country. Had some new richest man suddenly popped up? Just as I was about to delete her contact, my finger slipped and opened the invitation. I froze when I saw the photo of the groom. Wasn’t that my husband, Kevin Grant, who was supposedly away on a business trip? A cold smile touched my lips as I typed back through gritted teeth. “I’ll be there. And I’ll even bring a surprise for you.” 1 Right after I sent the message, a shipping notification popped up. It was from my husband – a local wine specialty from where he was supposedly traveling. And the delivery address? Coincidentally, it was the exact hotel where Jessica was holding her wedding reception. Just last night, Kevin had been cooing sweet nothings to me over the phone. “Honey~ It’s only been three days, and I miss you like crazy. The hotel food is awful, I hate it. Nothing compares to your home cooking~” “Ugh~ This business trip is going to take half a month, it’s so long. Without me there, you have to take good care of yourself, okay? Don’t make me worry~” Staring at the familiar features of the groom in the photo, I almost doubted my eyes. Maybe he just looked like my husband. I couldn’t bring myself to believe Kevin would betray me. Especially not by secretly marrying the very person who led the bullying against me in college, the one who started those vile rumors. But the watch, clearly visible on his left wrist in the picture, told me the truth. It was him. I had personally designed that watch for him, sketching it myself. Our names were engraved on the dial. It was one of a kind, something money couldn’t buy. A wedding reception like that must cost a fortune. I immediately checked the activity on his supplementary credit card. Sure enough, there was a massive charge at that very hotel. The wedding was the day after tomorrow. If I booked a flight now, I could still make it. I packed my bags immediately and headed to the airport that night. The entire journey, I kept hoping it was all just some terrible misunderstanding. When I arrived at the hotel, the first thing I saw were promotional displays plastered with sickeningly sweet photos of the bride and groom. I couldn’t find Kevin anywhere, and his phone went straight to voicemail. After searching around, I bumped into Jessica Lee in the hallway, already decked out in her wedding dress, surrounded by her posse. “Jess, isn’t that gold-digging tramp who loves sleeping with old rich guys coming yet?” “She used to bully you back in school, Jess. Now that she knows you’re marrying the richest man, she’s probably too scared to show her face!” “Good riddance if she doesn’t come. If she does, I’ll definitely help you teach her a lesson later.” Hearing their chatter, my brow furrowed. So, this was clearly a setup aimed at me. But I was the actual billionaire heiress. Why would I be scared of them? I composed myself and walked forward. “Jessica Lee, congratulations on the wedding!” My voice drew everyone’s attention. “Is that her? She’s kinda pretty, I guess, in that slutty way.” “Look at her clothes. Definitely knockoffs from head to toe.” I could only laugh inwardly. Jessica’s friends were just as clueless as she was. Carrying fake designer bags themselves, they assumed everyone else’s luxury items were fake too. Seeing me approach, a calculating glint flashed in Jessica’s eyes. “Ava! I didn’t think you’d actually come! We were just waiting for you, the last bridesmaid. Quick, come get changed.” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the women around her. “You already have three bridesmaids. You don’t really need me, do you?” Jessica stepped forward, grabbing my hand with fake warmth. “Ava, we were roommates for four years! You have to be my bridesmaid.” “Besides, the groomsmen are my husband’s friends, all incredibly rich and powerful. You should really treasure this opportunity.” My gaze dropped, and I noticed her slightly rounded belly. That definitely wasn’t just weight gain. Kevin and I had been married for five years, childless. And here was his mistress, already pregnant. A wave of bitterness washed over me. Curious to see what she was plotting, I nodded in agreement. But the moment I stepped into the dressing room, Jessica’s expression changed completely. She looked down her nose at me, sneering. “I can’t believe you actually showed up, Ava Miller. You’re still the same desperate bitch as always, jumping at any chance to suck up to the rich.” “Girls, strip her clothes off!” As the three women lunged at me, I reacted instantly. A quick punch for the first, a side kick felling the next two. Thank goodness for those kickboxing classes I took; handling these skinny women was manageable. I pulled out my phone. “Jessica Lee, what do you think you’re doing? Keep this up, and I’m calling the police.” Jessica laughed coldly. “Ava Miller, don’t you forget, my husband is the richest man in the country.” “Even if I beat you half to death today, nothing will happen to me.” With that, she waved over four bodyguards. “You guys, hold her down.” The uniforms on these bodyguards looked familiar. As the actual wealthy one, I had my own security team. But I’d left in such a rush today, I hadn’t brought them. And these men… these were the bodyguards assigned to protect my husband. I smoothed down my clothes, my voice turning icy. “Take a good look. Do you know who I am? Are you sure you want to lay a hand on me?” The four bodyguards exchanged confused glances. As they started moving towards me menacingly, a chill ran down my spine. “Aren’t you the billionaire’s bodyguards? How could you not recognize me?” 2 Hearing my confused question, Jessica scoffed derisively. “These are my husband’s bodyguards. Who the hell do you think you are, you bitch? Why would they need to know you?” “Get her! Strip this bitch naked!” I was no match for their combined strength. Within a minute, I was pinned to the floor. A bodyguard snatched my phone and handed it respectfully to Jessica. She pressed the side button, and the screen lit up. Jessica’s friends gasped, staring at the phone’s wallpaper. “Jess, why does the man holding this trash look so much like your husband?” “That’s definitely AI-generated! There’s no way Mr. Grant would even know this bitch.” Furious, Jessica smashed my phone onto the floor. “Ava Miller, you’re shameless! You found out my husband is rich and decided to latch onto him?” “How dare you use AI to create intimate photos with him! You make me sick.” Hearing Jessica, everyone else stared at me with contempt. A couple of them even spat in my direction. I looked at Jessica defiantly. “Do you dare call Kevin Grant here and have him confront me face-to-face?” The words were barely out of my mouth when Jessica marched forward, her face dark, and slapped me hard across the face, twice. “No wonder you’ve been acting so high and mighty since you walked in. So you’re the sly fox who’s been secretly seducing my husband.” “He protected you well, didn’t he? I searched for ages and couldn’t find you. Well, today, you’re not leaving this hotel alive.” Jessica ordered her people to tie me to a pillar near the hotel entrance and hung a cardboard sign around my neck. “HOMEWRECKER SLUT – FAIR GAME!” Jessica loudly announced to the people passing by: “This shameless woman tried to seduce my billionaire husband on our wedding day, trying to ruin everything!” “The grand finale of today’s wedding celebration will be a live broadcast of beating the mistress!” Bound and unable to move, I could only try to explain to the surrounding crowd. “I am the wealthy one! Kevin Grant’s wife is ME!” Before I could finish, Jessica slapped me several more times. “Are you delusional? Since when is the richest person a woman?” “I’ve been with Kevin for four years! You think some pathetic homewrecker like you can step over me to take my place? Dream on!” Jessica’s words shocked me. Kevin was truly skilled at hiding things. Married to me for five years, yet cheating on me for four of them. And now, secretly holding a wedding ceremony with his mistress. The hotel staff all recognized Jessica and knew her as Kevin Grant’s new wife-to-be. Not a single person believed me. They all sided with her, pointing and whispering. “Young women these days just want shortcuts. Always scheming to land a rich man. Now she’s claiming she’s the rich one? Utterly ridiculous.” “Pah! A woman like that? She could strip naked in front of me, and I wouldn’t bat an eye. And she dares to seduce Mr. Grant?” Jessica lifted her high-heeled foot and, with the help of her bridesmaids holding her steady, kicked me hard several times. The moment the sharp impact hit my abdomen, my instinct was to curl up. But the ropes held me fast, leaving me gasping for breath. Each kick from Jessica felt like a boulder crashing onto my stomach. Pain radiated from my gut, engulfing my entire body. Sweat beaded on my forehead and trickled down my face. “Ava Miller, you bitch! How dare you seduce my husband! Today, I’ll show you who the real wife is!” When Jessica got tired, she had her makeup artist touch up her face, leaving me tied there. A stout woman, wanting to curry favor with Jessica, stepped forward. “Miss Lee, beating this bitch like this might tarnish your image.” “We all know how sensitive fingertips are. Just using fine needles to prick under her fingernails will make her scream in agony.” Jessica looked at her approvingly. “Then you do it. A hundred bucks per needle. Prick more if you want to earn more.” Immediately, the stout woman untied me, had others hold me down on the ground, exposing my hands. She produced a bundle of fine needles, lifted my index finger, and jammed one in. I squeezed my eyes shut, biting down hard, trying to endure the pain. After several continuous jabs, the dense, sharp agony in my fingers became unbearable, and I couldn’t stop myself from crying out. Just then, Jessica’s phone rang. It was Kevin. Jessica quickly had the stout woman stuff a sock in my mouth. Smugly, she squatted in front of me and put the call on speaker. Kevin’s voice filled the air next to my ear. “Momo, my wedding car convoy is almost there. Are you ready on your end? Don’t embarrass me.” 3 Jessica immediately switched her tone, speaking coyly. “Honey, don’t worry. There won’t be any silly door-blocking games to trouble you today.” “I’ll have the bridesmaids and myself kneeling at the hotel entrance to welcome you properly. I guarantee your friends will be so envious.” On the phone, Kevin’s voice was arrogant and commanding, completely different from the gentle, almost needy way he usually spoke to me. I struggled against my bonds, trying desperately to make a sound through the gag. Seeing this, Jessica continued, “Honey, that little tramp you keep on the side tried to ruin our wedding. If I beat her up a bit, would you be angry with me?” Kevin’s indifferent voice came through the speaker. “Do whatever you want. As long as you’re happy. Besides, you’re the only one I love. I don’t have any other women. She must be lying.” “If you’re really pissed off, you can just kill her. You’ve got me to protect you, you don’t have to be afraid of anything.” Jessica looked down at me with contempt. “Honey, you’re the best! Love you~” I sneered inwardly. Kevin clearly had no idea it was me tied up here. Otherwise, he’d probably be on his knees begging right now. I truly regretted being so blind, ignoring my father’s warnings back then, insisting on marrying for ‘true love’. Thankfully, before boarding the plane, I had informed my house manager of my destination. He should be arriving with reinforcements soon. Jessica hung up the phone and stepped on my hand. “Ava Miller, did you hear that? I am the love of Kevin Grant’s life. Trash like you? I can get rid of you whenever I want.” Looking at Jessica’s smug face, I regretted letting her off the hook back when she spread those rumors about me. Instead, I had secretly arranged for my family’s corporation to fund her entire university education. Back in college, wanting to experience normal student life, I chose to live in the dorms instead of my family’s apartment. When I moved in, Jessica noticed my high-end cosmetics and tearfully told me her sob story. Her parents were divorced, and her grandmother supported her education by running a small street stall. She could never afford meat in the cafeteria, let alone makeup. Her tearful, snotty display tugged at my heartstrings. I discreetly had someone check her background, and it confirmed her story. Feeling sorry for her, I arranged for the corporation to sponsor her tuition and living expenses. In our daily interactions, I often gave her beauty products and taught her about skincare and makeup. But somewhere along the line, rumors started spreading around campus that I was a gold digger. Whispers claimed I left in luxury cars every weekend for paid dates. My assistant investigated and found out Jessica was the source of the rumors. Furious, I confronted her, but she just burst into tears, accusing me of bullying her because my family was rich. The issue escalated to our academic advisor. But the advisor didn’t bother with the facts and immediately blamed me. “Ava Miller, assaulting a roommate can lead to serious consequences, even jail time! Apologize to Jessica Lee right now.” “I know your family has some money, but you could try being less flashy. Driving off in fancy cars every weekend, it’s no wonder classmates misunderstand you.” The truth was, I went to the corporation headquarters every weekend to handle business matters. To get back to the dorms before curfew, my house manager drove me. Yet, even though I was the victim, the advisor was completely biased and unfair. Later, when my father found out I’d been wronged, he had the university fire that unprofessional advisor. Jessica wrote me an apology letter, promising never to fabricate stories again. Seeing her looking genuinely pitiful, I decided not to pursue it further and let the corporation continue funding her. “Beep beep beep…” The sound of numerous luxury car horns interrupted my thoughts. Jessica hastily had someone shove me aside. Supported by her bridesmaids, she knelt primly at the hotel entrance. I glanced up. Surrounded by an entourage, Kevin Grant stepped onto the red carpet, looking impeccably distinguished. The dark, high-end suit he wore enhanced his already handsome features. Kevin was undeniably good-looking; that’s what had attracted me in the first place. It led me to defy my father’s wishes, insisting I wouldn’t marry anyone else. Looking at the bowing crowd, Kevin smirked faintly. He clearly relished this feeling of being admired, of being above everyone else. He walked up the steps, took Jessica’s outstretched hands, and pulled her into an embrace. As they turned, Kevin noticed me lying on the ground. He frowned in disgust, clearly displeased. “Momo, why is there some crazy woman lying behind you?” “It’ll look terrible if she ends up in our arrival video.” Jessica chuckled lightly and pointed at me. “Honey, don’t you recognize her? She’s that mistress you were keeping on the side~” “Today, I want everyone to see what happens when someone tries to destroy my marriage and covet my husband!” Kevin spoke with revulsion, “I’m the richest man in the country. Would I really be interested in this kind of trash?” “Bodyguards, chop her up and feed her to the fish.” Hearing this, everyone looked towards Kevin in fear. Indeed, crossing the richest man meant disappearing without a trace. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my fingers, I struggled to push myself up. “Hmph! Kevin Grant, quite the big shot, aren’t you?”

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Ever since my wife switched jobs, she started playing these deadly “jokes” on me. Small stuff, like kissing me into a chokehold, or covering my head while I slept. Then bigger things, like mixing my meds with booze, or handcuffing me and trying to push me underwater. Every time I barely escaped, she’d just grin and say, “Just messing with you! Isn’t it exciting?” I brushed it off as her acting out, didn’t push it. But then, during a camping trip, she secretly brought back snake eggs. I ended up tangled and bitten to death by venomous snakes. She felt zero guilt over my death. Turned right around and spent the night wrapped around her boss. “Your husband kicked the bucket just like that? I wasn’t done having fun! Guy couldn’t handle a little rough play, huh?” Only after dying did I learn my life was just a game piece for her to impress her boss. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we were supposed to leave for that camping trip. This time, I’d be the one putting snake eggs in her bag. 1 “Honey, pleeeease say yes! I’ve never been camping before, the wilderness sounds so thrilling!” “And there’s a reward tonight!” she purred, pulling three sets of skimpy lingerie out of her suitcase. The same scene played out in my head. I realized I’d been reborn. Seeing my lack of reaction, she immediately slipped into a bunny outfit and threw herself at me. “Ooh! Hubby, I’m sooo cold, hold me tight!” Looking at her trying to be seductive, memories of my past life flooded back. Revulsion churned in my stomach. It was just disgusting. In my past life, ever since she changed jobs, she was like a different person. Kisses turned into chokeholds, sleep meant being smothered, and where she learned about mixing dangerous pills with alcohol or handcuffing someone near water, I had no idea. Every single life-threatening moment, she just laughed it off. I thought she was just being difficult. Then, chasing more “excitement,” she insisted on dragging me camping at Shadow Creek Preserve. While I was setting up the tent, she snuck off and brought back Diamondback Rattlesnake eggs. When night fell, she deliberately left me alone on the mountain. The rattlesnakes, drawn by the scent, found me. Unprepared, I was their target. With my last ounce of strength, I dialed her number. All I heard were her moans tangled with a strange man’s grunts. That night, she was wearing this exact outfit, screwing her boss in the car, completely ignoring whether I lived or died up on that mountain. Her ecstatic cries drowned out my pained gasps as the rattlesnakes coiled tighter, biting, killing me. When she saw my cold corpse, there wasn’t a flicker of remorse. The man kicked my body dismissively. “Your husband died just like that? I wasn’t finished playing! Couldn’t take a little action, huh?” “Well, I haven’t had enough action either. You planning on finishing the game tonight?” Excited, the man swept her up. “What do you think?” They went back to the car, screwing all night long. Afterward, she twisted the truth, slandering me, claiming I’d secretly gone camping with someone else behind her back, looking for cheap thrills. My death became gossip fodder – the price of cheating. I stared at her, numb. We’d been in love for four years. I’d cherished her, put her on a pedestal. But she’d tried to kill me, again and again, just to please another man. My heart was dead to her now. Hatred, like poison, began to spread through me. “Okay, fine. I’ll go with you. Now change back into normal clothes,” I said, forcing calm, suppressing the fury inside. A flicker of triumph crossed her eyes. “Great! You start packing, I need to do my makeup.” “I don’t have much to pack. I’ll run out and grab some fruit and snacks for the trip.” “See? Hubby always thinks of everything.” I used the chance to go downstairs. Besides fruit, I bought some fake eggs, the kind you use for crafts, perfect for making realistic-looking snake eggs. This time, it was my turn to put the snake eggs in her bag. Let them taste despair. 2 I was packed and ready. She emerged, face plastered with heavy makeup. Ever since switching jobs, she, who rarely wore makeup before, was always fully done up. I never suspected a thing. Even encouraged her to embrace her beauty. Thinking back now, I basically helped put the horns on my own head. Only when she slid into the passenger seat did I see what she was wearing under her coat: a short skirt and black stockings. “You’re wearing that little? It’s going to be freezing up in the mountains.” “With you here, I won’t be cold,” she purred, placing my hand on her thigh. “Don’t you think it’s convenient?” A small smile touched my lips. “Yeah, very convenient.” Convenient for seducing other men. Shadow Creek Preserve was over twenty miles from the city. By the time we arrived, it was already afternoon. I carried the gear and food, forging a path ahead. She trailed behind, phone in hand, typing and giggling, obviously chatting with someone. “Honey, this way! Who are you texting that’s making you so happy?” She realized she’d taken a wrong turn, gave an awkward laugh, and headed towards me. “Oh, nobody~ Just thinking about spending the night outdoors gets me all excited, hehe!” Right. Excited about hooking up with someone else tonight, or excited about getting me killed? I picked up the pace towards the summit. Once there, I dropped the gear but didn’t immediately start setting up the tent. Grabbing her backpack, I ducked into the dense woods. “Honey, where are you going? Set up the tent first!” she called out, hurrying after me. “Babe, ate something bad, gotta take care of business! Wait here, I’ll be right back!” I ran fast, not slowing until her voice faded. After cautiously checking my surroundings, I quickly found the rattlesnake nest. And a clutch of eggs. Remembering the two thirteen-foot rattlers coiling around me in my past life… the pain like a million needles drilling into bone, my chest crushed so tight every breath was agony… I shuddered involuntarily, then decisively pulled out her lingerie from my pocket. Carefully, I wrapped the snake eggs in the fabric, placed them in her bag, and retreated quickly. But I ran right into her on my way back. “Honey, what are you doing in here? Did you eat something bad too?” She didn’t answer, her eyes fixed on me. “Why did you bring my bag in here?” I quickly took the bag off my back and slung it over her shoulder. “Came in such a rush, forgot to put it down.” “Good thing you had tissues in here, though. Otherwise, I would’ve had to call you.” She looked impatient. “Alright, let’s just get out of here and set up the tent. Don’t waste my time.” “Okay, babe. Did you need to go? I found a spot back there…” “Why are you being so chatty?” “Hey, I found this weird egg just now. Look, isn’t it pretty?” I pulled the fake egg out of my coat pocket. She turned, her expression shifting from annoyance to shock, then poorly concealed delight. “Looks like a bird egg. Honey, let’s fry it up when we make dinner.” “Are you sure?” I held the fake egg out towards her. “Seems like a waste to eat it.” She backed away quickly. “It’s a waste not to eat wild game! Just pack it carefully, don’t break it.” “Whatever you say, honey.” I put the fake egg back in my pocket, pretending to protect it. She visibly relaxed and hurried out of the woods ahead of me. 3 After coming out of the woods, whether I was setting up the tent or talking to her, she kept her distance. Either taking pictures or wandering off “looking for signal.” Just as I wanted. She didn’t linger near the tent site. I deliberately took until dark to finish setting up the tent. While gathering firewood, I overheard her on the phone. “Are you at the base of the mountain yet?” “Don’t worry! Everything’s taken care of.” “I just can’t wait to see you!” Clutching the firewood, I felt a surge of grim satisfaction. Finally, she’s leaving. Go on, take the snake eggs and go find your lover. I guarantee it’ll be very exciting for both of you! “Oh no, honey! I left the most important thing in the car! Toss me the keys, quick!” I had just gotten the fire going when she called out, her bag already slung over her shoulder, standing several yards away. The same escape excuse as last time. “Honestly, you…” I stood up deliberately. “I’ll go with you.” She looked slightly panicked. For every step I took towards her, she took one back. “No, no, it’s fine! I can go myself.” “You get dinner started, I’m starving. Remember to fry that egg first! I’ll be right back.” “It’s already dark. Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” She refused again and again. I finally just tossed her the keys. “Alright then. Hurry back.” If I didn’t let her go now, the snakes might show up too soon. That would ruin everything. “Love you, hubby!” she chirped, blowing me a kiss before turning to leave. No, more like, before turning to die. I didn’t reply, just waved goodbye, watching her walk away. Goodbye! My dear wife. Once her figure completely vanished, I quickly took sulfur powder and snake repellent from my pack and sprinkled several circles around the tent, just in case. With that done, I unfolded the camp table, laid out the roast chicken, beer, peanuts, and grapes I’d bought earlier, and sat by the fire, ready for the show. I set up a small tripod, placed my tablet on it, angled perfectly. Calculating the time, it should be starting about now. My heart hammered as I opened the app. Soon, my wife’s shameless moans filled the quiet night air via the tablet’s speaker. “Whoa there, Mr. Henderson, what’s the rush? Ow… you’re hurting me!” (Mr. Henderson, a good generic boss name instead of Mark for now, keep Mark/Finn reveal for later) That was the feed from the hidden camera I’d installed in the car this morning, connected to my phone. I never thought I’d witness my own wife starring in such a film. Watching the woman I loved betraying me with another man in my own car… a bitter taste filled my mouth. It wasn’t pleasant. But then I remembered: tonight was their last night. Suddenly, the anger subsided. “You said you had a surprise for me? Where is it? I don’t see anything.” The man, Mark Henderson, was like a starved wolf, tearing into his prey. Distracted, she fumbled with one hand, reaching for the bag on the floor, trying to pull out the lingerie. With considerable effort, she yanked the clothing free. But as it came out, something else seemed to tumble out with it, rolling near her feet. Mark stepped on it, crushing it. 4 “What’s the theme tonight? Fancy props?” “You’ll see when I change.” She straddled his lap and started changing, oblivious to the sticky mess on the floor mat. “God, it’s hot in here! Let’s leave the door open, nobody’s around anyway,” Mark grunted, pushing the car door ajar. “What if someone comes?” she asked, suddenly cautious. “If you’re scared of people, why come out to the wilderness?” Mark snapped, taking his frustration out on her. “Not just the car. Later, we’re doing it by the roadside, in the trees.” “Okay, okay, whatever you want.” “Did you take care of things or not? How come your husband hasn’t called yet?” They finally remembered I existed. Not wanting to disappoint them, I immediately dialed her number. “Should be fine? I saw him with my own eyes… Oh, his call’s coming in.” “Make it loud for me!” Mark ordered. “Chloe! Help me! You gotta come save me! I’m being…” As soon as she picked up, I started screaming in fake agony. Just like last time, her response was panting moans. “Hubby, I’m kinda… busy right now… Can’t save you~” “What are you doing? Who are you with? Answer me!” My feigned rage was met with dismissal. She simply tossed the phone aside and went back to her pleasure. “Your wife said she’s busy, can’t you understand plain English?” Mark’s voice sneered through the phone. “Who are you? You goddamn animals, I’ll kill you!” “Kill me? Hahaha!” Mark laughed mockingly. “We’re right here in the car. Come and get us if you’ve got the guts.” “Since you heard everything, I’ll just tell you straight,” Chloe chimed in, her voice dripping with malice. “This whole camping trip was about getting rid of you. But you’re the one who supposedly brought the snake eggs. Your death is your own damn fault, got nothing to do with me!” She admitted everything without me even having to press her. “For the sake of our marriage, if you come save me right now, I’ll pretend tonight never happened.” I offered one last, empty chance. “Tch! Who wants to be married to you! I’ve been waiting for you to die! Only when you’re dead can we be together openly.” “Alright then! Chloe, you said it. Don’t come crying and begging me for forgiveness later.” Things had reached this point; no need to play games anymore. “Me? Crying and begging you?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “You’re about to die and you’re talking nonsense? Okay, then I beg you, don’t haunt me as a ghost, hahaha~” “Why would I die? The ones who are going to die are you two.” They dismissed it as angry ranting, ignoring me, returning to their ‘game’. “Ah!” Suddenly, she let out a piercing shriek. “Ow! That hurts! Why did you pinch my leg?” Mark sounded confused. “Your hand feels freezing.” “My hands are on your waist, I didn’t move!” The pleasure vanished, replaced by a sharp pain in her calf, accompanied by a chilling coldness. She looked down, scratched at it— “AHH! SNAKE! There’s a snake on my leg!” The snake, drawn by the scent of the crushed eggs and the warmth, had slithered in through the open door. Familiar smells triggered its aggressive attack. It bit savagely into her calf, its body instantly coiling around her leg, tightening its grip. She screamed uncontrollably, wanting to grab it but terrified, trying to shake it off but it wouldn’t budge. The sudden terror turned Mark limp with fear. He stopped moving, shoved her violently away, grabbed his clothes, and scrambled to open his door to escape. In panic, she latched onto his arm, shaking her leg frantically while begging, “Where are you going? Get this snake off me!”

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My father is Duke Harrison, a decorated war hero covered in glory. My mother is the daughter of the former Chief Advisor, a man who once held immense power. But my two older brothers? To curry favor with a street kid they took in, they let him steal my identity. At my own Investiture Gala, Silas blocked my path, sneering, “A sickly weakling like you thinks you deserve this honor?” “The brothers already promised I would receive the title today. You should crawl back to the back shed and stop embarrassing everyone.” In my past life, I was terrified of my brothers hating me, so I became a coward, letting Silas walk all over me. But now, I’ve been reborn. Looking at Silas’s smug face and my brothers acting like they’d already won, I sent him flying with a kick. “A beggar like you dares block my path!” 1 No one expected me, the one who always backed down, to actually get physical. The guests froze. I immediately ordered Thompson, the butler, to drag him out. Thompson shot me a nervous glance, then hesitantly helped Silas up. “Young Master Silas handles most affairs in the household… The investiture is crucial, young master. Perhaps you should go rest…” My eyes turned ice-cold. I smirked. “I wasn’t aware an outsider could call the shots in Duke Harrison’s household.” Hearing this, Thompson trembled even more, his eyes darting towards Silas, who was scrambling up from the floor, furious. I didn’t wait for his answer. I grabbed a teacup from the table beside me and hurled it at the insolent servant. “A household servant conspiring with an outsider to defy his master? Perhaps he should be beaten immediately.” In my past life, this old fool ignored my father’s instructions. Trusting in my brothers’ favor, he helped them torment me endlessly. He didn’t just short me on food and clothes; helping Silas torture me to death wasn’t enough. He even desecrated my body and left it exposed outside the city walls. The butler was shaking like a leaf, terrified. He wouldn’t dare touch me now. He dropped to his knees instantly. “Forgive me, master! Spare this old servant’s life!” “Ethan, how has this house wronged you that you resort to violence and still dream of receiving the title?” Silas cried out, playing the victim, as if I were the villain. The crowd started murmuring at his act. Silas’s buddy, Caleb Miller, son of Governor Miller, was livid. He stormed up to me, pointing right in my face. “You’re just some broke freeloader! How dare you disrupt Silas’s investiture today!” “Didn’t the Duke adopt a kid years ago to be a guinea pig for the young master’s treatments? I heard the young master was too kind-hearted, didn’t use him, and even provided for him.” “That was just some beggar. If the young master hadn’t saved him, he’d have frozen to death. Now look at him, biting the hand that fed him.” Back then, I was frail and often sick. When I saved Silas, my brothers thought I planned to use him for experimental treatments and called me cruel, showering Silas with pity instead. Coming back, I finally get it. My father is the most uniquely honored Duke in the country, incredibly powerful and wealthy. As his legitimate son, why should I be overshadowed by Silas, a mere charity case, and two lackeys from minor branches of the family? Thinking this, my gaze sliced into Caleb Miller like a knife. “And who the hell are you? The son of a mere Governor dares interfere in the Duke’s family matters? Even your father wouldn’t dare speak to me like that!” Caleb clearly didn’t expect me to clap back in public. His face flushed crimson with rage. He lunged, swinging his hand, but I dodged easily and slapped him hard across the face. “You piece of trash! You hit me? I’m the Governor’s son!” he roared in disbelief. Gasps erupted from the crowd. Silas was furious, his face red. He snarled at the servants who were lowering their heads, afraid to intervene: “This lowlife’s gone crazy! Tie him up and throw him in the shed!” I swept my gaze over the few servants hesitantly grabbing ropes, my eyes glinting dangerously. “I am the Duke’s son. You dare touch me?” Silas flinched, a flicker of panic crossing his face before he quickly covered it with rage. “What nonsense are you spouting! Everyone in the capital knows you’re just the kid who cleans the chamber pots in the Duke’s manor!” The others clearly didn’t believe me. “Silas is right. He must have really lost it.” “Duke Harrison leads armies and wins great victories, but his own son is being bullied like this at his investiture ceremony.” I calmly instructed my loyal aide, Miles, beside me: “Go tell my two brothers that this Silas brazenly claims he’ll receive my title. Isn’t he afraid of committing fraud against the state?” Miles looked at me, hesitant. My brothers doted on Silas, indulging his every whim. If they found out I’d hit him, I’d likely face severe family discipline. Seeing his worried expression, I gave him a firm nod. Go. Quickly. Silas sneered triumphantly. “Still haven’t learned your place, huh? Let’s see how you handle this when the brothers get here.” In my past life, the brothers I’d looked up to since childhood let me be bullied, let Silas torture me to death. As I lay dying in agony, I begged them to save me, but they complained my blood was dirtying Silas’s hands. I was tortured to death, my body left exposed in the wilds for dogs to devour. Now, I’ve crawled back from hell. Let’s see who doesn’t let who off the hook. 2 A moment later, Miles ran back in, head bowed, looking guilty and pained. “Master Silas will proceed with the investiture. The young master should just behave himself.” Of course. No matter how I was mistreated, it was nothing in their eyes. Silas snickered. “See? You made him run for nothing…” Before he could finish, someone burst in energetically. It was my fiancée, Sophia Patton, daughter of the General. Miles thought she was here to help me, his worried expression vanishing. I just shook my head with a small, humorless smile. When we were kids, she followed me around constantly, saying she’d marry me when we grew up, pestering her father to arrange the betrothal and exchange family tokens. But ever since she met Silas, she became obsessed, helping him humiliate me. Sophia anxiously looked Silas up and down, as if terrified he’d lost a single hair. Then she turned to me, her face full of disgust. “A beggar. I can’t believe I was fooled by you, actually thinking you were the Duke’s son. Thank goodness the Heir told me the truth. If I had actually married you…” “The General’s family would have been a laughingstock!” My own fiancée confirmed the lie about my identity. That instantly changed the minds of anyone who might have still half-believed me. This whole drama got everyone else whispering, their curious eyes darting between us. Silas’s smugness grew more obvious. To help Silas further, Sophia’s face hardened. She ripped the pendant from her waist. “Take back this engagement token! A lowlife like you will probably only ever marry some cheap street girl!” Watching Sophia’s resolute act, I remembered my past life. After my death, the President was furious. Sophia knelt before my uncle, the President, weeping, insisting she had always loved me, that she was just misled by villains into doing such foolish things. It was so laughable, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Sophia’s face darkened. “What are you laughing at…” “I’m laughing at how blind you are, mistaking trash for treasure. Breaking off our engagement for a beggar. I wonder what the old General will say when he finds out.” My words made the crowd gasp. “Silas is the beggar?” “But why are the Duke’s older sons letting him receive the title?” The murmurs started again, everyone’s eyes shifting between Silas and me. Me: handsome features, sharp eyes, an air of inherent nobility. Him: dressed in fine clothes, but his eyes and posture still screamed cunning, vulgarity, and a cheap imitation. Silas turned pale, swaying slightly. He quickly retorted, “If you’re really the Duke’s son, why won’t your brothers let you receive the title instead of me?” Sophia sneered, “Silas is too kind-hearted to expose you! And now you turn around and accuse him!” Their words flipped the situation again. Caleb Miller, who had just been embarrassed, regained his confidence. “He’s just a beggar! If I beat you dead today, no one would stand up for you. Let me teach you a lesson for Silas!” Several other young men from prominent families chimed in, ordering their guards to grab me. They kicked my legs out from under me, forcing me to my knees. “Teach him how to apologize properly,” one said, then they forced my head down, slamming it against the floor again and again, until the ground was stained with blood. Sophia pulled Silas behind her. “It’s too dirty. Don’t let it offend your eyes.” Silas smirked triumphantly. “I told you not to cross me. You don’t have a say in this family, do you?” I defiantly raised my head, glaring at him. “Mother is coming back soon! Then none of you will get away with this!” After the ceremony, my father returns triumphant from the war. The President, having already honored him greatly, will shower me with rewards. That’s why these people are rushing to suck up now. But in my past life, I didn’t even live to see Father return; Silas framed me. I never saw my father again before I closed my eyes for the last time. Silas crouched down, whispering mockingly in my ear, “You really are naive. The Pattons command significant military power. As long as I marry Sophia, who would dare touch me?” Thinking of how yielding in my past life only led to a miserable death, I wouldn’t let him go this time. 3 I struggled violently, trying to fight back. Before I could land a blow, a furious voice boomed: “Absurd!” My two older brothers strode in. The others instantly let me go, frightened. A flicker of panic crossed Silas’s face, but he quickly composed himself. My second brother, Leo, fussed over Silas, straightening his slightly rumpled clothes. My eldest brother, Marcus, glanced dismissively at my wretched state after giving Silas a concerned look. He scolded me publicly, “You crude, worthless dog, daring to disrespect your betters! Why can’t you learn from Silas’s manners? Maybe then you could find a decent family to marry into someday.” My brothers said things like that all the time in my past life. To please them, I tried desperately to imitate Silas, only for them to mock me as a pathetic imitation. I finally understood. If people don’t care about you, nothing you do will make them see you differently. Thinking this, I gave a cold laugh. “Learn what from Silas? His phony victim act? Or his talent for identity theft?” Afraid of getting caught in the crossfire, the other young men quickly blamed everything on me. “He even dares talk back to the Heir! No wonder he bullies Silas.” “Exactly! He was insulting Silas and trying to steal his title. If we hadn’t protected Silas, who knows what crazy thing he would have done.” Sophia stepped forward indignantly. “A lowlife like him isn’t fit to touch a single hair on Silas’s head! Today, in front of the Heir, I officially break off our engagement!” Leo looked apologetic towards her. “It’s our fault. We failed to discipline this troublemaker. It truly shames both our families.” Seeing the alliance between the Harrison and Patton families shattered because of me… Marcus frowned. “The Harrison family has no place for such a disgraceful degenerate. Silas is my only true brother.” Silas’s eyes widened in surprise, then he lowered his head, sighing dramatically. “It’s my fault for not managing things better, letting a mere beggar dream of replacing the real heir. I was wrong.” His words made the three of them feel incredibly sorry for him. Sophia immediately took out the marriage contract and ripped it to shreds on the spot. She carefully took the engagement locket she’d taken from me and hung it on Silas’s belt. She announced loudly, “All our esteemed guests are here today. It should be perfectly clear who deserves this honor. I, Sophia Patton, declare that the man I intend to marry is Silas of the Harrison household!” Amidst cheers and congratulations, Silas shot me a triumphant, smug look. I ignored his provocation. Whoever wanted a fickle woman like her could have her. Seeing I showed no remorse… Leo turned to Marcus, his voice hardening. “Marcus, today Ethan publicly defied his superiors and embarrassed Silas. But, out of mercy, perhaps we should just cut out his tongue, make him a mute servant, and send him off to the country estate.” Marcus seemed hesitant. “If you admit you were wrong right now, in front of everyone, and then go kneel in the study all night, we can let this go.” The smile on Silas’s face froze for a second. He put on a wounded expression. “It’s alright, brothers. Don’t be angry on my account. I don’t care about these empty titles anyway.” “But brother,” he added, looking at me, “even if you’re being willful, you shouldn’t disgrace the Harrison name.” His words instantly made Marcus’s impatience flare up visibly. “You still refuse to admit you’re wrong?” Ha. These were the brothers I grew up adoring. They weren’t always this wealthy and privileged. It was only because I liked trailing after them as a child that my mother formally adopted them – sons from a side branch of the family – under her name, securing the title of Heir for Marcus early on. I stiffened my neck, wanting to slap my past self. How could I have been so stupid, wasting my loyalty on dogs? Marcus turned, his face grim, and ordered the servants: “Do as Leo said. Take him to the back, cut out his tongue, then dump him at the country estate. If he doesn’t learn his lesson, he’s never coming back.” I lifted my head, meeting Marcus’s gaze coldly. “What right do you have to kick me out? Even the Head of the Clan wouldn’t dare suggest disowning me or cutting out my tongue.” Leo scoffed. “Father and Mother aren’t here. Of course, Marcus, as the Heir, has the authority to handle family matters.” Marcus announced gravely, “This Investiture Gala is for Silas. This Ethan Harrison has nothing to do with our family.” Silas smugly told a servant, “Things happened suddenly, so all the family carriages will be needed for our guests later. Just find a simple cart outside the estate to haul him away.” Just as they were about to grab me and drag me off… A furious voice boomed from the doorway: “You two degenerates! Who are you saying is my son? Have the guts to say it again to my face!”

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