Divorced for three years, I ran into my ex-husband and lied, telling him I’d dated six other guys and been married twice. His eyes went bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth, spitting out three words. “You’re so dirty.” I forced back the stab of pain in my chest, continuing to provoke him. “My current husband treats me great. He buys me cars and houses. It’s way easier than when I was with you.” I knew he’d made it big now, no longer the late-night gamer holed up in a rented room like three years ago. And I was the R&D team leader at the company, while he was the game’s spokesperson, brought in by the boss with a hefty paycheck. Later, he told me, “I’m getting married. I want my dowry back.” On the red and gold wedding invitation, the woman nestled beside him smiled, radiating happiness. But on the day of his wedding… He cried himself red-eyed for me… 1. “Starsea” game premiered, hitting a million downloads on the first day. At the celebration banquet, the boss, beaming, toasted the R&D team, and my colleagues excitedly discussed bonuses. My gaze, however, drifted uncontrollably towards the game’s spokesperson, Luke Star, who’d been invited. He was especially mesmerizing tonight, his sharp black suit standing out in the crowd. His manager, Vanessa Shaw, smiled and chatted, fending off a lot of drinks for him. The woman, in a red, fitted dress, naturally linked arms with Luke, looking like a golden couple with every gesture. A colleague nudged me with her elbow, sighing, “Mr. Star is so sweet and considerate.” “I heard he was married before, but his ex cheated on him. Kinda ungrateful, if you ask me!” “Do you think that woman regrets it?” Regret? I thought, no, I don’t regret it. I’m even a little relieved. Because I was a burden. He deserved a better woman. After a few rounds, I hid in a corner, quietly waiting for the banquet to end. Suddenly, the boss walked up to me, smiling. “Sue, you and your team worked hard developing the game.” “Let someone else take over the rest. You should get some rest.” The noisy banquet room went silent. They didn’t expect the boss to be so quick to discard the millstone. Under their surprised gazes, I calmly uttered a single word. “Okay.” The boss smiled wider, handing me a glass of red wine, signaling me to drink. I couldn’t help but look at Luke behind the boss. Before, no matter how much others urged me to drink, he would always take the drinks for me, one after another. He said, drinking wasn’t good for a girl’s body. Even if he had three bottles of hard liquor forced down his throat, leading to a stomach hemorrhage, he never let me touch a drop. But now he wasn’t even interested in giving me a glance. I looked away, gritted my teeth, took the glass, and downed it in one gulp. The clinking of the glass was the sound of my dead love. The boss nodded in satisfaction and left, and I slumped back onto the sofa, drained. A burning sensation spread through my limbs, and the next second, I rushed out of the room. In the restroom, I pulled up my sleeve, only to find red blotches already crawling up my arm. “Didn’t you say your husband was rich? Can he really stand for this kind of treatment?” That familiar voice echoed again. I frantically pulled down my sleeve, hiding my ugliness from him. I thought we’d never meet again, but here he was, invited to the celebration banquet by the boss. “I’ve been a stay-at-home wife for too long, just coming out to play, experiencing life. Nothing serious. I gotta go. My husband will get the wrong idea.” I bristled all over, but still shrugged, pretending to be relaxed. Then, without looking up, I quickly walked past Luke. Suddenly, my wrist tightened. He’d grabbed me. “What’s wrong with your arm?” Luke pulled up my sleeve, exposing the ugly red scars to the naked light. I didn’t dare look into his eyes, still being stubborn: “Eczema.” His eyes darkened, pressing closer. “I didn’t know you had that problem?” “You don’t think you were so concerned about me before, do you? Your kind of love, just enough to move yourself, is laughable.” My back was almost against the wall. I pulled back my arm, raising my eyes to meet his. Luke chuckled, raising a hand to pinch my cheek, questioning me, his eyes bloodshot. “What is concern? Is it like you, cheating on your marriage with a rich guy, betraying your family?!” His chest heaved, the volcano he’d suppressed for three years finally erupting. Three years ago, Luke surprised me with a deed to a house with my name on it, but I humiliated him with the most vicious words. “Luke, you’re so useless. After three years, you only managed to scrape together a down payment? Can you afford diapers and formula in the future? Not to mention the luxury goods I want to buy.” “To be honest, I was just playing around with you. It’s over now. I’m going to be a trophy wife.” Under Luke’s shocked gaze, I forced him to sign the divorce papers, deleting all contact information. Since then, we hadn’t seen each other. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The truth was, I’d been lying to him all along. In the three years after the divorce, I hadn’t looked for any other man. Loving him was deeply ingrained in my bones. I thought about him constantly. Because I loved him, I had to leave him. My silence was taken as tacit agreement. Luke suddenly sneered, helplessly saying my name, “Sue… Sue.” For a moment, I was in a daze. Every night, I’d playfully stick my cold feet against his stomach, and he’d repeatedly say my name, full of affection. The next second, his words plunged me into an ice cave. “I’m getting married.” His expression was calm, not like he was joking, and I panicked. Luke then continued, “Since you’re doing so well, give me back the dowry from before.” The dowry was thirty thousand, and he only made sixty dollars for a whole night of gaming. For three whole years, I’d wake up in the middle of the night to see him still buried in front of the computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Even if I said I didn’t need it, he was still firm. “Even if you don’t need it, I have to show my attitude. At least I have to reassure your mom that she can entrust you to me.” He broke more than thirty keyboards to save up enough dowry to kneel in front of my mom, begging to marry me. And now, he wanted the dowry back. I didn’t know how I’d gotten away from the banquet, dazed and confused. At home, I collapsed onto the bed. In my dream, Luke was still hunched over the computer, working tirelessly to make money, saying he would make up for it with the most lavish wedding. This time, I put on the strapless white wedding dress I’d always dreamed of, walking steadily towards Luke. Just as I was about to say, “I do,” large, glaring red blotches suddenly covered my body. I woke up screaming from bed, with the sound of his panicked calls. Sharp, agonizing pain spread across my back. I scratched wildly, trying to carve them off my body. Until the smell of blood filled my nostrils, I finally woke up. We were divorced. I’d pushed him away with my own hands. I resigned myself and called my mother. “Mom, I agree to go on a blind date with the man you introduced me to.” … The next day, I met the man at a coffee shop. He sat with his legs spread, complacent. “After we’re married, I’ll manage your paychecks.” His face made me sick to my stomach. I thought of Luke again. Back then, he transferred every bit of money he made gaming to my account, then shook his head, asking for praise. “Sue!” The man suddenly spoke, arms crossed, displeased. “I don’t even mind that you’re remarried, so what are you picking and choosing for?” I looked around, not seeing Luke. Only then did I say, in a low voice, “Why do you think I have no other choice than you?” “There was once a man who was willing to give me his heart and soul. He worked fifteen hours a day to marry me. I’ve been loved before. You’re just my last resort.” He listened to me with interest, then clapped his hands. “So what? Didn’t you still come to meet me?” I looked at the wedding band on his ring finger and felt insulted. He didn’t avoid my gaze, taking off the ring and examining it. “The world is so big, no matter where you sleep, who you sleep with, you’re just sleeping at night. Does it matter?” “I know your financial situation isn’t good. Isn’t this compensation enough?” As he spoke, he took out five thousand dollars and threw it on the table. My anger ignited instantly, and I splashed the hot coffee on the man’s face. Under his wide eyes, I shouted, “This man is married and still on a blind date! If anyone knows his wife, let her know!” The man fled in a panic, and I took a deep breath, preparing to leave. A familiar hand once again rested on the back of my hand. “Aren’t you married?” 2 Running into Luke again, I didn’t know how much he’d heard. I just wanted to get away. I pulled back my hand, but he pressed it hard on the table. His voice trembled slightly. “Who is that man?” Even though I was flustered, I still raised my chin, provoking Luke, “My husband.” He smirked. “That’s not your taste.” Luke said it as a statement. “What are you hiding from me?!” I sighed silently. He’d realized I was lying to him. But I couldn’t tell him the truth. I clenched my fists, took a deep breath, trying to make my tone sharp, “I have money. So what if I play around a little?” “Besides…” I dragged out the words, staring at Luke. “Getting divorced and finding someone else means another dowry. They all give more than you did.” His eyes stared straight at me, like he wanted to see through my disguise. “Do you want to play with me too??” I had to meet his eyes, my hand slowly climbing onto his chest, leaning close and whispering, “Well, it’s normal that you’re successful now. It’s normal to want to spend some money to get back that feeling of being with your first love.” Luke pushed me away, his face gloomy, his eyes flickering. “Sue, is that what you think of me?” I smiled, beckoning him with my finger, peach blossoms blooming in my eyes. “Otherwise? Why else would you keep pretending to run into me?” “Bang!” He clenched his fists, slamming them hard on the table, blood seeping from his knuckles. I forced back my tears, as if my heart was being slammed against the table. But I still went forward, breathing hot air on his neck. “So, are you going to consider it…” I didn’t remember what Luke said when he left. I only remembered his eyes, so red. Unstoppable tears flowed from those eyes that had once been so full of affection for me. Watching him leave, I laughed, afraid he might suddenly turn back to look for me again, or hide in some corner, secretly watching me. Just like that, I sat in the strange gazes of everyone until dark. Until the phone rang. The police said my mother was in again for theft. Sally Hayes was my mother. Over the years, my salary went to buying medicine for myself and paying her bail. I was used to it. I apologized to the police, repeating meaningless words. My bank account was cleared out again. My mother was finally released. As soon as she saw me, she lunged forward, grabbing my hair, her voice shrill. “Useless thing, the blind date failed again? He was a rich kid!” “You, what’s so good about that poor guy that you keep going back to him! Now I have to go out and make money at my age!” My mother had mocked him, calling him a kept man, more than once, in front of Luke. Back then, he’d smile carefully, vowing he’d make sure I lived a good life. I couldn’t help but roar, “Are you selling your daughter? He’s already married!” “I’m doing this for your own good! Anyway, whether it’s him or you, you have money, and I have money!” She justified herself righteously. She was my own mother, but she treated me like a product, selling me off. At that moment, my vision blurred. A sense of powerlessness washed over me. But she didn’t let up, shouting hysterically, “You’re divorced, living in an attic, and you’ve got lupus. If you don’t get some money, if I die one day, you won’t even have a home, let alone treatment!” I practically cried out in a plea, “Stop it!!” Luke had said more than once that he would give me a home. Unfortunately… I’d torn that home apart with my own hands. A series of changes threatened to wear me down. I kept making mistakes at work. The boss slammed his fist on the table, telling me to quit. I packed my things, carrying the heavy cardboard box home. It was the place where Luke and I had lived together for three years. I hadn’t moved after he left. Because every time I closed my eyes, I felt like I could still feel his presence. But I never expected that as I walked through the old alleyway, into the familiar tenement building… A familiar figure stood in the dark stairwell. Luke turned around, surprised, stunned, confused, then his eyes were burning with heat. “Your house, your car? Why are you still living here?” 3 I wanted to turn and run, but Luke stopped me. The area fell into silence. After a long while, I spoke in a hoarse voice, “You don’t think I still have feelings for you, do you? To tell you the truth, I just bought a mansion. It’s just being renovated.” He looked at me without comment, his deep eyes pressing down, making it hard for me to breathe. My clumsy lies could be seen through at any moment. I pretended to be polite. “Would you like to come in?” Luke nodded, following behind me. “You’re really not polite. Didn’t you realize I was just being polite? If we’re alone together, my husband will misunderstand.” He ignored me, squeezing into the attic with difficulty. The furniture inside was the same as it had been three years ago. But now, he, dressed fashionably, was out of place here. He looked around slowly. I followed his gaze, looking around. The computer he left was spotless. The couple’s slippers and toothbrushes were neatly arranged. These things I’d thrown out ruthlessly when we got divorced. After he left, I’d cried, picking them up one by one from the trash. For three years, I watched Luke rise like a new star, knowing he wouldn’t come back, I used these things to get through the nights. I just didn’t expect he would barge back into my life. He skillfully opened the computer, looking at the updated game version, and raised the corner of his mouth. “Where’s your husband?” I drank water to hide my embarrassment, answering randomly. “Overseas.” He nodded. “Looks like he doesn’t care about you either. Shouldn’t let you live here during the transition.” “You thought you were so good to me. Didn’t I live here for three years anyway?” I blurted out provocatively. Luke was silent. I stood aside, trying to see something in his expression. More long silence. “Why didn’t you throw away your wedding ring?” Following his gaze, I found the wedding ring that had been pressed under the pillow had somehow rolled to the edge of the bed. My palm slowly tightened, the veins on the back of my hand bulging. But I pretended to be playful. “Role-playing, get it?” I gently picked up the ring, continuing to raise my eyebrows. “Speaking of which, you’re considered an old-timer. How many men do you think this ring has seen?” “Mr. Star, are you interested in reliving it? The price from before still counts.” I looked up at the ceiling, forcing myself to say it all in one breath, not letting him see my reddened eyes. The surrounding air froze instantly. After a moment, Luke suddenly chuckled in a low voice, making me want to run out the door. He laughed, then his thin lips uttered three words. “You’re so dirty.” The three words were like a sharp sword, piercing my heart, so painful I couldn’t breathe. My hand subconsciously covered my chest, then lowered again, pretending to be surprised. “You just realized?” Then, I put on the ring like a trophy, putting my hand in front of him, saying each word clearly. “You’re so pitiful. If I hadn’t taken a fancy to you, you’d just be one woman.” As soon as I finished speaking, Luke suddenly stood up, pressing me onto the bed, brewing towering anger in his dark pupils. I closed my eyes, not letting him see my reddened eyes. His hot breath gradually approached, the familiar scent rushing into my nose. Just for a moment, I stopped. It had been three years. I really missed him. I wanted him to hold me again. I raised my eyes to look at him, the surging tears blurring my vision. But the next second, Luke took off my ring, throwing it out the window with a wave of his hand. “Remember to pay me back.” He left a sentence and got up, leaving. I lay on the bed, relieved, savoring the embrace just now, my tears soaking the pillow. I don’t know how long it had been before I finally came back to my senses. I rushed out of the house barefoot, not even putting on my shoes. It was our wedding ring! I kneeled on the lawn, touching the ground inch by inch, my tears falling on the back of my hand. Back then, we were too poor to afford a wedding, not even a decent ring. Although I comforted him, saying everything else didn’t matter as long as I could marry him, he still bought this wedding ring. Later I found out that he secretly went to sell his blood donation certificates. Every time he donated blood, the patient’s family would take his blood donation certificate and give him a hundred dollars. That was how Luke saved up enough money. He took my hand in one hand, clutching a wrinkled stack of bills, buying the ring I’d looked at countless times in the window. And he himself became anemic. How could he just throw away this ring? I cried and groped in the dark until the sky began to turn pale, finally finding the ring lying by the pool. I carefully picked it up, holding it tightly against my chest. But the red spots that had spread to my wrists were all reminding me. Don’t linger. It’s time to end it. The next day, I went through the resignation procedures. As I left the company, I happened to meet Vanessa Shaw eye to eye. I prepared to walk away, but her voice rang out from behind. “Luke and I are getting married tomorrow.” 4 My heart, which had already died, couldn’t help but ache again. I quickened my pace. “I know about you two, but don’t you know how hard it’s been for him?” My feet felt like they were filled with lead. I couldn’t help but listen to her. “He loves you. He still has your wedding photos on his phone.” “But because he loves you, his body collapsed from continuous filming. He was in the hospital for six months.” “After the divorce, he got depression and tried to kill himself every day. If we hadn’t found him in time, he would have…” My heart trembled, and I clenched my fists at my sides. Then, I pretended not to care, squeezing four words out of my throat, “So what? Did I force him to do that? It’s just his wishful thinking!” Vanessa’s red eyes flashed with fierceness. She grabbed my collar tightly. “You really are a heartless beast. I hope you stay away from him. Don’t hurt him again.” The next second, she screamed and fell to the ground. My colleagues came running. Vanessa covered her face and sobbed, “Miss Sue, you were the one who abandoned Luke. Why are you hitting me now?” “You cheated on him with a rich guy and now you’re jealous that I’m marrying Luke!” My colleagues looked surprised, their eyes moving back and forth between me and Vanessa. I was about to argue when Luke had already pushed through the crowd, standing in front of us. He helped Vanessa up, asking softly if she was hurt. I tugged at my sleeve, swallowing the bitterness in my throat. The next second, Luke suddenly spoke. “Sue! Why are you bullying Vanessa! Apologize to her!” I froze on the spot. The sores on my body were stinging, but all I felt was heartache. Before, he could always notice my strangeness right away. Now, I was trembling all over, but he didn’t even look at me. I gave him a deep look, cursing myself. “Sue, how can you be so cheap? You want him to leave, but you also want him to notice you!” My gaze fell back on the two of them. Vanessa looked wronged. Luke was full of anger. Oh, so he didn’t want to believe me anymore. “The dowry from before was thirty thousand. I’ll return it.” This was the severance pay from quitting my job. Luke didn’t take it. I forced the bank card into his hand. “The extra is a reward for you. I found another rich guy and he’s taking me away from the city today.” “So, I won’t attend your wedding tomorrow. Consider the extra money my gift.” Hearing my words, the coldness in his eyes couldn’t be melted away. “Is money that important to you?” My footsteps faltered. I immediately replied, “Of course. Money is security.” “This rich man can buy me a mansion and put my name on it…” After saying those words, I noticed that he looked at me even colder. “You’re disgusting!” I straightened my chest, smiling indifferently. “Everyone for themselves, and the devil take the hindmost. Is it wrong for me to use my capital to live a good life?” Luke’s eyes were burning, grabbing my wrist, hesitating to speak. I pulled my arm back with force, but he grabbed tighter. In the stalemate, Vanessa exclaimed. “Luke, be careful! These red spots are a dirty disease! It’s contagious!” Luke still didn’t move, as if he had thousands of words, until my ears began to ring. He finally let go of my hand, saying each word clearly. “I give up. I don’t love you anymore, Sue.” … I returned to the attic dejectedly. The police station called again. This time, it was… to notify me to sign at the funeral home. My thief mother had died. The police said she stole a sum of money and was caught on the spot. But she refused to return it, saying she wanted to use it to pay for her daughter’s medical treatment. She broke free from the owner, but crashed into a speeding car and died on the spot. Seeing my mother’s body in the morgue, I couldn’t even cry. Mom, haven’t you always been selfish? Haven’t you always hated me, your daughter, since I was a child?! But why… …why like this. Finally, I knelt in front of my mother’s body, crying loudly. I held the urn and returned home. The red spots broke out again, more violently than before. I rolled around, looking for painkillers. But fireworks suddenly went off outside the window. I looked in the direction of the sound. It was the direction of Luke’s wedding hotel. He once said that he would set off fireworks all night when he got married, letting everyone in the city know that Luke deeply loved his wife. The constantly blooming red heart fireworks were really beautiful. I liked them a lot. But the bride wasn’t me. The red spots on my body started hurting again… I suddenly wanted to talk to him, to tell him I saw the fireworks, that I wouldn’t attend the wedding. And… I was really tired. Could he hold me again? I opened Weibo, looking at his long-deleted account. It used to record every meal he made for me, every city we visited, and the sweet photos of each other. Now it was empty. I trembled, sending all the truths, regrets, regrets… and thoughts to this account. Goodbye, Luke. I was very unsuccessful in this life, except for meeting you. The pain swept over me again. I put the ring back on my ring finger, typing the last sentence. “This world is beautiful, but it’s really painful for me.” A few more clusters of fireworks bloomed in the sky. I leaned out the window, reaching out to touch them. Not enough, not close enough… Then, I lost my balance and fell out of the window. I cried and laughed. Luke had finally gotten rid of me, a burden, and started a new life. But I still loved him so much… What I didn’t know was that Luke had never deleted this Weibo account. The special alert tone on his phone rang madly a second before he kneeled in front of Vanessa.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392226”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Last time around, my dad’s mistress showed up at our door, pregnant. Mom, furious, took me and walked out with nothing. We were dirt poor, and later, when Mom got really sick, we couldn’t even afford to keep her in the hospital. I begged my dad for help. He and the mistress schemed to marry me off to some creepy, fifty-year-old business associate. For Mom’s medical bills, I agreed. In the end, I bled out on the delivery table. They chose to save the baby. I died in agony. The same day, Mom, heartbroken by the news, died on the operating table too. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I chose my dad. Mom looked at me in despair, cursing herself for raising a viper. “Mom, just you watch,” I vowed. “This time, I’m going to make Dad’s life a living hell.” 1 Becky, Dad’s secretary, showed up at our house, belly bulging. She came right out and demanded a legitimate name for the kid inside her. It was family dinner night, so everyone was there. Grandma and Grandpa were screaming at Becky, calling her shameless. She didn’t flinch. She slapped a sonogram photo on the table. “It’s a boy. You don’t want him, I’ll just get rid of it.” Everyone turned to Mom. Because of me, Mom couldn’t have any more kids. It was a sore spot she never wanted to talk about. “Well? Does the Lin family want this baby or not?” Grandma and Grandpa switched sides on the spot. “Oh, Tiffany, sweetie, I know my son messed up, but Becky’s carrying an innocent child. You should be generous and let her stay.” “Yeah, you haven’t been able to give us another grandchild all these years. Becky just wants a name for her baby. Let her have it, and we’ll raise the kid as yours.” “The hell with that! What is this, the 1950s? You want to raise some love child? Either she goes, or I do! It’s your choice, Tom!” Dad was silent. Grandma and Grandpa stirred the pot. Becky just got bolder, pulling out years of evidence of their affair. Mom flipped the table, screaming about divorce. Dad refused, threatening to leave her with nothing if she tried. Mom, who had been raised on Jane Austen, had pride ingrained in her bones. She packed a suitcase and walked out with me. She thought she could make Dad respect her by being strong. But the truth was, she’d been a stay-at-home mom for fifteen years, with no job experience. All she could find was dishwashing and cleaning. Even though life was tough, she wouldn’t ask Dad for a dime. She wouldn’t even take the child support she was owed. She still told me stories about Elizabeth Bennet. “You have to have pride. Be independent.” She delivered milk in the morning and washed dishes at night, never taking a break. During my senior year of high school, she ended up in the hospital. We couldn’t even afford the three-hundred-dollar-a-day hospital bill. I went to Dad. At first, he wouldn’t help. But then Becky saw my face. She whispered something in Dad’s ear. Suddenly, Dad changed his tune. He’d give me the money, but I had to marry one of his business partners. For Mom, I agreed. What I didn’t know was that the partner was some gross, fifty-something creep. He tortured me, desperate for a son. My life was hell. His daughters looked at me like I was some zoo animal. Soon, I got pregnant. I should have been starting college, but instead, I was in the delivery room. I died there. Mom had an operation, but she didn’t last long. When she heard about me, she was devastated. She died soon after. Maybe God felt sorry for me. He gave me another chance. I opened my eyes and saw Becky, pregnant, and Mom, flipping out. “You Lin men, is it because I can’t have kids that you treat me like this? Whose fault is it that I had to have a hysterectomy? You swore to take care of me forever! Is this how you do it? I want a divorce!” Mom sobbed about all the hardships she’d endured. It overlapped with my memories of the last life. “Enough, Tiffany!” Dad went to Becky and wrapped his arm around her waist. He didn’t care that I was there, or Grandma and Grandpa. “I have a big company to run. I need a son! It’s not up to you!” “Tiffany! I’m not divorcing you. I want Becky’s baby, and I want this family!” Becky, wanting to provoke Mom, added fuel to the fire. “Tiffany, successful men have affairs. All I did was get pregnant. Why are you so upset? Or are you just trying to get a bigger piece of the pie in the divorce settlement?” That hit Mom’s pride. She smashed a vase. “The hell with that! I’m not that kind of woman! Tom, it’s her or me! Otherwise, we’re getting divorced! I’m taking Ashley with me!” “Fine! If you want a divorce, you can leave with nothing! You’re not getting a dime of my money!” Grandma and Grandpa chimed in, saying useless things like, “Family is everything.” I stood up. “Mom, I want to stay with Dad.” Dad smiled. Mom stared at me in disbelief. “Ashley? You don’t love me anymore?” I grabbed Dad’s arm. “I want to stay with Dad. I don’t want to be poor.” “See? Even a little kid has more sense than you do!” Like last time, she packed her suitcase, looking even more defeated than before. Her small suitcase could only fit a few clothes. I secretly stuffed some diamonds and gold jewelry inside. “Don’t touch my things! You ungrateful brat! Go with your dad!” I knew arguing wouldn’t do any good. I just hoped she could use the jewelry to get by if she needed it. After all, Becky moved into our house later and became our stepmom. It would all go to her otherwise. 2 Soon, the headlines were full of it. “Lin Corporation CEO Cheats on Wife, Leaves Her with Nothing.” It also included “Becky’s Raunchy Photos,” “Becky: The Ultimate Mistress,” and “The CEO’s Wild Love Life.” The public was outraged. Shareholders called to find out what was going on. Even worse, the stock price plummeted. Dad was losing it. “I don’t care who leaked the information. We have to save the stock!” The lawyer suggested, “The big problem is that your ex-wife was left with nothing. The best PR move is to give her some of your assets.” Dad, under pressure from the shareholders, gave her five million dollars. He also gave Mom the house they lived in. But Mom refused the money. She turned down the settlement, telling the media that she was a proud and independent woman. “I don’t want your money. I want society to judge this cheater!” Suddenly, Mom was a feminist icon. Dad was almost kicked out of his own company. “Put the settlement in Ashley’s name,” I emailed the lawyer privately. “That will make you look better. People are focused on Becky’s affair. Focus on that. Make sure her baby is actually his. You can’t let a woman like that into the family.” Dad agreed. The house and the money went to me. It was all notarized. Even the jewelry and clothes Mom didn’t take ended up in my closet. It saved Dad’s job and kept Becky out of our house longer. Mom called me later, asking, “Ashley, was it you or your dad who did all that?” “Me.” I knew Mom still thought she had some kind of connection with Dad. But I had to wake her up. Last time, she had nothing. She struggled to make ends meet, working the hardest jobs for the least amount of money. This time, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about survival. She could do whatever she wanted. To kill off any hope she had for Dad, I said, “Mom, Dad has a lot of mistresses. Becky won’t be the last. You need to start a new life. Better yourself. Do what you want. I’ll always love you.” Mom was silent for a long time. Then, she said, “Okay.” 3 Becky finally married Dad. There wasn’t a fancy wedding like last time. They just had a small ceremony and bought a new house away from Grandma and Grandpa. Becky was in her early thirties. Dad was forty-five. Becky quit her job and became a housewife. She was good at acting. She pretended to be a loving mother to me. “I treat Ashley like my own daughter. Whatever my son has, she has too.” But in private, she never gave me anything. She also liked to undermine me. I was mature enough not to let it get to me. Even if Dad saw it, he wouldn’t stand up for me. He didn’t really care about me as a daughter. Even if I got straight As, he thought it was my duty. He was too busy having affairs. Over the years, Becky realized what Dad was really like. She didn’t say anything, but she put all her energy into looking good. She didn’t have time for the kids. So even though I was in middle school, I had to take care of Lincoln every day after school. “Becky, I have homework to do.” “What’s the point of girls studying? You should just watch Lincoln. You can freeload off your dad and your brother.” “But we have a nanny!” “The nanny isn’t as good as you. You’re his big sister! And I heard you get good grades. You can help him with his homework. Anyway, I have to go out.” What did she have to do? Probably go clubbing or play mahjong. She dumped Lincoln on me so I’d take the blame if anything happened. “What’s the point of reading so many books? You’ll end up like your mom, too dumb to enjoy the good life. Don’t be like her. When Lincoln is successful and inherits the company, he’ll find you a good husband!” I remembered how she talked me into marrying that old man last time. I couldn’t help but smirk. “You’re right. I’ll take care of my brother.” Becky, hearing that, left in her mini-skirt. The nanny dragged Lincoln into my room, closing the door behind her. This house was supposed to be mine, but I had no freedom. Lincoln threw his homework at me and grabbed a snow globe from my shelf. Before I could say anything, he started yelling. “This is all mine! You’re going to get married and leave anyway! You have to pay me if you take a sip of my water! You have to listen to me, or I’ll cry to Dad and say you hurt me!” He was acting like he was older than he was. “Did your mom teach you that?” I asked. “Mom and Dad said it! It’s all mine! I’m in charge here! I want this snow globe!” Looks like Dad spoiled him too. He played with the snow globe for a while. Then, he got bored and took out his phone to play video games. He told me not to bother him. I put on my headphones and started studying. I wanted to “guide” him, but he was already on the wrong path. Lincoln slapped me. “Do my homework for me! My mom will check it later.” I frowned. “If I do it for you, what will you do on the test? Mom wants me to tutor you.” “I don’t need your help!” “Do you want to get every question right and get a good grade on the test?” Lincoln’s eyes lit up. “What?” “Cheat!” Lincoln went to a fancy private school. There were kids who cheated there. I helped him make connections. The first time he took a test, he got the highest grade in his class. Dad was thrilled. Becky didn’t mention me “tutoring” him. She just said, “Tom, our son is so smart. He’ll be successful one day.” “That’s my Lin family. We’re not stupid!” Dad glanced at me, the one who got the highest grade in the entire grade. I said humbly, “Lincoln will be even better than me.” “He has to be. He’s going to inherit the Lin family.” Ever since I “tutored” Lincoln, Becky had been completely hands-off. She left early and came home late, ordering me to take care of Lincoln’s school and personal life. I even drove him around. Dad, happy that the family was getting along, came home more often. He even praised Becky for being so capable. He even promised that when Lincoln got into a good middle school, he’d transfer shares of the company to Lincoln. Becky would take care of it until he was old enough. Mom never got shares, or even the house. They wanted shares? No way!

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My cousin came to the city looking for work, and like a chump, I helped her find a place to stay. But not even two days later, she tells me, all freaked out, that some creep is stalking her. So, I take her to the cops, and guess who it turns out to be? The son of the richest dude in town! Since he hadn’t actually hurt her, the cops could only mediate. The rich kid’s all like, “I was gonna check you out for a while, see if I wanted to marry you. But you dragged me down to the station? Forget it. Seriously disappointed.” My cousin was kicking herself, trying to beg him to reconsider, but the guy had already moved on to some other chick. She went ballistic, stormed into my place, and stabbed me to death, screaming the whole time: “If it wasn’t for your stupid ideas, I’d be marrying that rich guy right now! It’s all your fault! All your fault!” I died from blood loss. Then I wake up, and I’m back to the day my cousin came to me for help. …… “Ugh, sis, what am I supposed to do?” “Someone’s been going through my trash every day, and some pervert’s been watching me through my window with binoculars! I feel like I’m being followed everywhere I go… “Sis, you’re my favorite cousin in the whole world, and my folks told you to look after me before I came here. You gotta help me!” On the phone, my cousin sounded all desperate, practically crying her eyes out. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath: “But you live in a really nice neighborhood. Whoever’s stalking you must be someone important, right?” She hesitated right away. So I pretended to be worried, saying: “What if it’s some rich guy with a fetish? Even if we call the cops, we’ll never win! Ugh, what are we gonna do?” Hearing that, my cousin started stammering: “Well, uh, sis, maybe I’ll just figure something out myself. Gotta go! Bye!” Then she hung up on me, just like that. I let out a huge sigh of relief. Okay, at least I passed the first hurdle. Last time, as soon as I heard about it, I was all on alert, dragging her around to gather evidence and call the cops. Later, at the police station during mediation, we found out the guy was the son of the richest family in the city! My cousin freaked, not only dropping the charges but blaming herself for missing out on a chance to hit the jackpot. She even started stalking the guy herself! Then, to try to land him, she put on some lingerie that barely covered more than my cell phone and went to his house to try to seduce him! But the guy wasn’t having it. He just laughed at her: “I was kinda interested in you at first, but then you had to call the cops on me? I told you, that was just me testing out a future wife! “Well, I’m into someone new now. You? Get lost!” My cousin had a meltdown, barged into my place, and stabbed me twenty-something times with a fruit knife! That’s when I found out she blamed me for helping her gather evidence and call the cops, which made her miss out on marrying into millions! I put down my phone and smirked to myself. Well, this time, don’t come crying to me. 2. I spent a few peaceful, happy days without contacting my cousin, and she didn’t contact me either. That was unusual. Ever since my cousin came to the city, she’d been a total pain in the ass, always needing something or just bored and wanting me to take her out to eat. She said she was looking for a job, but finding a job isn’t that easy. She went to a couple of interviews and then decided she was done, trying to mooch off me any way she could. At first, my aunt, playing the “family” card, had my mom rent a place for my cousin in my neighborhood, paying a whole year’s rent upfront. My aunt said she’d pay us back, but she never did, not even by the time my cousin stabbed me to death. Not to mention, my cousin was always coming over to bum stuff off me, even taking showers at my place! She used up half a bottle of my Jo Malone body wash in three days! She’d eat my cherries and durian like there was no tomorrow, and even take some with her! She used my black bandage face cream like it was free! She sprayed my Hermes Terre d’Hermes cologne like it was air freshener! And she was always asking to borrow money, three or five grand at a time, never paying it back. I don’t even know what she planned to use to pay me back. Was she my cousin or a freaking bandit? I’d wanted to shut her out a long time ago, but my mom wouldn’t let me! My mom said that when she was little, her parents were always busy working in the fields, and her sister, my aunt, carried her on her back and raised her. So, in her mind, my aunt’s daughter was like her own daughter! I got pissed right then and there. “Mom, you and Aunt have a great relationship. That was between you two, don’t make me pay for it! “If you want to take care of her, fly back from Europe and take care of her yourself. Don’t use me as your good deed!” My mom gave me a sheepish smile: “I know, I know. “So, I won’t let you do it for nothing, Mom’ll give you a little something for your troubles! Just think of it as helping me out! “Don’t worry about the money she borrowed, Mom’ll cover it. And you can buy new stuff to replace what she used! “Thanks for helping your mama, sweetie!” Then, before I even hung up, I got a notification on my bank account… Two million bucks. I wasn’t angry anymore. After all, my mom actually paid me! That’s why I went out of my way to help my cousin last time, only to end up stabbed to death. I can’t imagine how sad my parents would be if they knew. Anyway, I knew my cousin’s habits. She’d use mine instead of buying her own, treating my stuff like it was hers. So, her not contacting me was really weird. To keep her from causing more trouble, I did a little digging. She had a boyfriend! And it was the stalker guy! 3. I was surprised, but not really. After what I said, my cousin probably wanted to meet the stalker. And from what I knew, the stalker was going to brag about who he was. Last time, I was the one who caught him and insisted on taking him to the cops, even though he was yelling about his family. This time, my cousin caught him. Last time, she chickened out when she found out he was the son of the richest family. But this time… I sincerely hope they get married and stay locked up together! Don’t go messing with anyone else! I thought I was off the hook, but then one day I came home from work and ran right into my cousin. She was in my closet, stuffing bags. My designer bags. She was packing them, one inside the other, a dozen bags in one tote! My vanity was open too, and all the Tiffany necklaces, Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets, Cartier bangles, Bulgari rings… all crammed into another bag, ready to be taken. I was stunned for a second, then fury set in. Was she opening a shop? Who gave her the nerve? I yelled: “What are you doing?! Put that stuff down!” My cousin flinched, then seemed to find some courage from somewhere, puffing out her chest and saying, like she owned the place: “What? You have so many bags and jewelry. I see you just leave them there. I’ll just borrow a few, so what? “We’re practically sisters. You’re so rich. You don’t need to worry about this, right? “Oh, and can you lend me some money? It’s my boyfriend’s birthday soon, and I can’t give him something cheap. I want to get him a CK belt.” I almost laughed out loud. “Borrow money? Get outta here! “A few things? You have some nerve! “That ring you’re holding costs $1.6 million, that bracelet costs $2 million, and even the cheapest Alhambra necklace is worth $60,000 used! “Not to mention the bags you’re taking. Do you even know how much that CK bag costs? Even the tote you’re stuffing everything in cost $80,000! “All the stuff you packed is worth over $5 million used. And you call that ‘a few things’? “How much money do you have to be talking like that?” My cousin rolled her eyes: “Ugh! Do you even know who I’m dating right now? It’ll scare you to death! “The only son of the richest guy in the city! His family’s worth hundreds of millions! “My boyfriend’s that kind of guy, so I need stuff that matches my status, right? “I’m just borrowing it, I’ll pay you back! We’re so close, why are you freaking out? “When I marry that rich kid, I’ll give you back even better stuff!” Hearing that, I snorted. Marry the rich kid? In her dreams! I pointed my finger at her and said sharply: “Put everything down right now! “If you want stuff that matches your status, earn it yourself or ask your rich-kid boyfriend, don’t come begging here! “I’m telling you, I’m not giving you any of this stuff! “And I don’t need your promises, because every single one of these things means something to me! Who gave you the right to touch them? “I’m telling you, if even one thing is missing, I’m calling the cops! This is breaking and entering! “If you don’t listen… don’t blame me for not acting like family and sending you to jail! “Don’t believe me? See if I care!” Seeing my cousin looking all defiant, I smirked: “I was looking out for you because of my mom, but after what you’ve done, not even God could help you! “Put down that stuff! Empty your pockets! And get the hell out!” My cousin glared at me, then threw the stuff she was holding on the ground: “Let me tell you something! Don’t act so high and mighty just because you have a few bucks! One day…” She stomped her foot. “One day, I’m gonna slap that smile off your face! Don’t underestimate me because I don’t have money now! “You have so much designer stuff at such a young age, who knows how you got your money! “Probably earned it on your back! “Ugh! I don’t even want your dirty stuff, bought with your dirty money! “When I marry the rich kid, you’ll see!” After she stormed off, I looked at the mess on the floor and shrugged. Marry the rich kid? She didn’t know that the richest guy in the city didn’t even have a son.

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I was the most beloved wife of the city’s golden boy, and also the worthless woman who begged him for mercy every night on her knees. He hated me because the woman he loved most had lost her life saving my twin sister. She died with regrets, unable to let go of the man she deeply loved, and their newborn son. In their eyes, I was forever the demon who killed her sister. So, I willingly became her substitute, letting them torture me, just to atone. On the anniversary of her death, they hired people to torment me, leaving me barely recognizable. They screamed and roared, “You’re the one who should be dead! Why didn’t you die instead!” I laughed, feeling utterly exhausted. Maybe they were right. The next day, I took out the divorce papers and turned to leave. But he contemptuously tossed them from the high-rise building, “Divorce? Fine, but you have to jump down there and pick them up. Then I’ll agree.” Without hesitation, I jumped, determined to die. But he and his son cried their eyes out, whispering beside my hospital bed, again and again: “Please, don’t leave us!” …… A numbing pain spread through my limbs, and I woke from the dream, a sense of despair washing over me once more. Groping for the pill bottle beside the bed, I found it empty, as expected. My abused body screamed in agony, and I had no choice but to swallow my wounded pride and get up. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Little Kevin must have taken my meds again. I forced myself to endure the pain, practically crawling as I knocked on Jake’s door. Instantly, an impatient voice came from inside: “Riley! What kind of trick are you pulling now? Don’t think you can play the damsel in distress and get into my bed!” My head was already spinning, and I begged with a tight throat: “Jake, I’m out of my meds… can you please take me to the hospital!” But the man’s door remained firmly shut, and a barrage of scorn came through: “You’re not going to say that Kevin took your meds again, are you? Don’t use such a lame excuse to try to get into my room! Even if you were stark naked, I wouldn’t give you a second glance!” “You’ve used that excuse thirty times this month, I gotta give you props for dedication! If you want to die, just hurry up and do it! Pay your debt to Sarah!” I leaned weakly against the doorknob, unable to stand any longer, and collapsed to the floor. Just then, the door opened, and my son, Kevin, stood silently in the doorway. He looked at me without a word, as if I were a stranger. He even watched me writhe and curl up with a look of triumphant amusement, as if he were thoroughly enjoying it. I begged him pathetically: “Kevin, can you… call 911 for Mom?” He flashed a smile that chilled me to the bone, despite his innocent appearance. “Dream on! You’re not my mom! Why should I want you to live?” “Riley, stop trying to seduce my dad. You were the one who begged Dad to let you atone for your sins. Why are you bothering us now with your shamelessness?” A wave of heartbreak washed over me, and my head became even more clouded. But I couldn’t help but ask, “Even if I’m not your biological mother, I’m still your aunt!” Kevin’s eyes showed unconcealed disgust, and he stomped hard on my hand: “Liar! Dad said you’re just a criminal! You killed Mom! And now you want to seduce Dad!” I was speechless, but I still wanted to ask him. Was that why he switched out my pills every day, knowing I had severe depression, hoping I would die sooner? I reached out to grab him, but the door slammed shut in my face. Jake was right; I’d been begging him for help every day this month. But whether it was the first time or this time, he hadn’t given me a second look, let alone gone out to save me. In the eight years of our marriage, I had been completely obedient to him, practically his slave, but he had never treated me like a human being, let alone offered me a kind smile. After Kevin learned to talk, he became even more determined not to let me get close to Kevin. He was just afraid I would teach him to call me “Mom.” A few weeks ago, Kevin had sweetly brought me my usual medication when I came home from a late business dinner. I was so moved that I burst into tears because it was the first time in years he had shown me any concern. Without hesitation, I took them, thinking he had finally accepted me in his heart. But I never expected that I would have a full-blown episode that night. That’s when I realized he had deliberately tried to make me sick. Since then, it had happened almost every day. No matter how much I tried to protect myself, I couldn’t seem to escape his schemes. When I came out of the hospital, it was already midnight. The psychiatrist warned me that if I continued to take the wrong medication, I would be in serious danger. My lips were pale, and my mind was blank as I nodded and walked out of the hospital like a zombie. After a night of turmoil, I lay back in bed, feeling my heart racing, overwhelmed by a sense of impending death. The horrific scene of my sister being hit by a car while saving me still lingered in my mind, refusing to fade. I knew that the only thing I couldn’t let go of was her newlywed husband and her newborn child. So I abandoned myself, trying to become her, to be her replacement, to take care of the whole family for her. Jake looked at the wailing Kevin and agreed. In these eight years, I had poured out almost all my energy. But they still treated me like their worst enemy, wanting nothing more than for me to die. As I dragged myself to the hospital, I thought, it’s time for me to leave. So I slowly pulled out the divorce papers I had hidden under my pillow. I made up my mind to leave their world for good. 2 Before the divorce, I still wanted to visit my sister one last time and tell her I was sorry. I no longer had the courage or the ability to continue taking care of Jake and Kevin for her. So I continued to play the good wife and mother, enduring their taunts and abuse. Until two weeks later, when the anniversary of my sister’s death arrived. On the way to the cemetery, Jake selfishly took the driver’s seat, leaving me to carry all the bags. A mocking smile crept onto my face as I stared at the 100-degree heat, nearly passing out. I finally managed to get into the car, only to be unfairly blamed: “Are you deliberately dragging your feet because you don’t want to go? You’re a murderer, you have no conscience! Sarah won’t let you get away with this!” I was exhausted and dehydrated, and I had no energy to argue with him. The father and son laughed and joked all the way, as if I didn’t exist. But this luxury car was bought with the money I worked hard to save by investing in projects. I just wanted to provide Kevin with good conditions so he wouldn’t feel inferior because of his mother’s death. But after that, he never let me drive it, only saying dismissively: “Don’t get the car dirty!” I was stung by their intimate banter and could only comfort myself silently. I had already decided to get a divorce. What happened to them was no longer my concern. But what I didn’t expect was that Jake still wouldn’t let me go before I filed for divorce. In front of my sister’s grave, I placed her favorite foods. Just as I was about to wipe her headstone, Jake’s cold voice came from behind: “Riley! Get on your knees, now!” I turned around blankly, looking at him in confusion. I only saw the look of disgust on his face: “You swore to Sarah that you would only focus on taking care of us and have no other intentions, but you’ve been knocking on my door in your pajamas time and time again. How can you face her?” “Get on your knees and beg her for forgiveness right now! Otherwise, don’t ever think about coming back to that house again!” After the words were spoken, I pondered his threat in my heart. Looking at Sarah’s smiling picture, I felt conflicted. I didn’t want to go back to that house at all, but I was still afraid that Sarah would be saddened by the argument. I was silent for a moment, then knelt down anyway. In front of Sarah, I tried to pretend that we were a harmonious and loving family, even if it meant sacrificing my dignity. I comforted myself in my heart, this was the first time and the last time. The small stones constantly rubbed against my knees, and the pain made me even more awake. I still couldn’t help but look up at Jake: “Haven’t all my efforts in these eight years been able to move you at all?” “Those efforts don’t just disappear because you deny them!” Eight years ago, he had stared at the guilty and remorseful me with an ambiguous expression, promising to let me take care of him and Kevin. But after the marriage, everything changed. As long as I didn’t follow his wishes, he would roar and threaten to take Kevin away from this house. So, even if he drank until midnight because he missed Sarah and vomited all over the house, I would clean it up without complaint, afraid that he would be unhappy and go looking for my sister. I listened to his words one by one, and I tried my best to meet every request. But after that, I don’t know why, he locked his door, afraid that I would go in and do something to him. He even forced me to take birth control pills regularly, even though nothing had happened between us. He glanced at me coldly: “I’m just taking precautions. I’m worried that some people will do anything to get to the top.” In the eight years, I hadn’t let him go out to work hard once, hadn’t let him and Kevin cook once, and had never been stingy with financial assistance. Even the property under my name was written in his name. I had always felt guilty and tried to make up for them, without regret. But I never expected that my sincere efforts would be so worthless in his eyes. Even when I tearfully said these things at this time, he only said lightly: “Isn’t this what you should be doing? Don’t you owe it to Sarah!” A wave of grievance welled up in my mouth, and I didn’t know what to say. He was right, these were all things I had promised Sarah, it was what I owed her, and it was what I should be doing. I lowered my head and didn’t say another word of defense. But at this moment, something sharp came straight for my forehead, forcibly smashing a bloody hole. I clutched the wound and looked up, and I saw Kevin with a smug look on his face. He was still weighing a few stones in his hand. Seeing my angry eyes, he wasn’t afraid, but even more arrogant! He threw all the remaining stones, cursing: “It’s all your fault, you old witch! My mom died to save you! It was you who ruined our family!” “You killed my mom and you still want to be my mom? Do you want to kill my dad too? You’re the person who deserves to die the most in this world!” I smiled bitterly. I had heard these words a thousand times. But every time I heard them, my heart still couldn’t help but feel sore and heartbroken. Then, he said even more angrily: “Why wasn’t it you who died in the first place! It would have been better if you had died! Go with my mom!” My breathing was heavy for two seconds. My head felt tired and weak. He was right, it would have been better if I had died. Then I wouldn’t have had to repent and blame myself in the days and nights of eight years, living in suffocating torment and darkness. I slowly got up from the ground. The stinging pain and stiffness in my knees inevitably made me stagger and fall heavily to the ground again. Kevin laughed, clapping his hands as if he had taken revenge, and was very happy. Listening to their gloating voices, I turned my head to look at Sarah’s headstone. I said softly: “I’m sorry, Sarah.” “I may not be able to fulfill your wish… I’ve done all I can do. I’m going to… divorce him.” 3 On the way home, I was physically and mentally exhausted and fell asleep quickly on the bumpy road. As soon as I fell asleep, a burning pain suddenly came from my face. The sound of a slap was so loud that it woke me up. I opened my eyes and didn’t know how Kevin had gotten to the back seat, and he was glaring at me fiercely. “You old woman! My dad is driving, and you’re sleeping peacefully in the back? You deserve to die!” I opened my mouth to explain, but Jake looked at me disdainfully in the rearview mirror and questioned: “What did you say in front of Sarah just now?” I instantly understood that he had let Kevin wake me up. But before I could say the explanation ‘I didn’t say anything,’ he said coldly: “You actually want to divorce me?” I forced a smile, clearly he had already heard it, why did he still ask me? However, it just gave me a chance to say it, anyway, I had already made up my mind, hadn’t I? I nodded, mustered all my courage, and took out the agreement. I said with my eyes lowered: “I’ve prepared the divorce agreement. The house, the car, and the money are all yours. I don’t want anything, just freedom.” But when Jake heard this, he laughed mockingly as if he had heard some big joke. Then he squeezed out coldly from his mouth: “Riley! You’re so clever now! You know how to use divorce to threaten me, don’t you!” “But do you think it will work? I don’t like you at all, let alone try to keep you!” “Even if you die, I won’t blink an eye, let alone shed a tear!” I didn’t refute, I just watched him silently, because I believed all the things he said. I was afraid that even if I died, he would happily dance on my grave with Kevin. But I still insisted and said: “I’ll sign it when we get there, and then we’ll get divorced.” In these eight years, we only had the name of husband and wife, but not the reality. He was tall and handsome, and he had a lot of skills in doing things, even if he had a child. If he wanted to marry again, it would be a matter of minutes. After I finished saying these words one by one, I thought he would calmly accept this proposal. But I didn’t expect that he would tightly pursed his lips, stepped on the gas pedal like crazy, and the temperature was so low that it was unbearable. Until we got to the door of the house, he didn’t say a word and dragged me back home. I subconsciously wanted to hold on to Kevin, but he pushed me away. I was stunned for a few seconds. Before, I always fantasized that if Jake hadn’t instilled those hateful emotions in him, and hadn’t said bad things about me in front of him, would he like me? Or, when he grows up, will he be able to understand my difficulties and understand my efforts? But now I gave up, because I knew it was meaningless. I didn’t want to wait for him to grow up anymore. 4 In a dizzy spell, I was thrown by Jake onto the marble in the living room. He was holding the divorce agreement in his hand, and his eyes were bloodshot. He stared at me angrily and roared: “What right do you have to talk to me about divorce? How dare you?” “Did you fall in love with another man? Or do you think you’re worthy of your sister?” “Riley! You killed Sarah, and Kevin doesn’t have a mother! I’m telling you, stop dreaming! A bitch like you doesn’t deserve to be happy!” I smiled, forced back my tears, and didn’t want to be too embarrassed. He was always like this, unwilling to accept me, and unwilling to let me go. I tried hard to look up, my voice trembling, pretending to be calm: “In the past eight years, I’ve done my best for you father and son! No matter what you think, I’ve done all I can do! I’m worthy of everyone!” Their judgments and opinions were no longer important to me. As for what Sarah would think, I’ll ask her personally after I die! So I became more and more confident, and looked at Jake’s eyes without flinching. My tone was very firm: “If you don’t want to divorce, then go through legal channels, I will sue!” After the words fell, I didn’t expect that Jake’s mouth would curve into an incomprehensible smile, and he said happily: “Okay!” But when I really heard him agree, I was stunned. Because I knew that he was not someone who would let me go so easily. Sure enough, he clenched the divorce agreement, strode to the window, and stretched his hand straight out of the French window. “As long as you jump down and grab this divorce agreement, I’ll divorce you immediately!” I once doubted whether I was hallucinating, or my ears were not sensitive enough. I repeated blankly: “What did you say?” He raised the corners of his mouth evilly, without any hesitation: “Can’t you understand human language? I’ll throw the divorce agreement down now, and if you jump down and get it, I’ll agree to the divorce!” As if afraid that I wouldn’t agree, he threw the divorce agreement out the window, constantly stimulating me: “Jump! Don’t you want a divorce? As long as you jump down from the 99th floor, I’ll sign it right away!” Even Kevin couldn’t help but get excited and yelled in my ear: “You vicious woman! Are you scared? I knew you were lying again! You pay for my mom’s life!” It seemed that both father and son had expected that I didn’t dare, and I would never jump down. But they really didn’t understand my pain and torture in these eight years. They wouldn’t understand my determination to get a divorce. I looked at the wide sky outside the window, it seemed that Sarah was waving to me! The next second, I opened the window and jumped down without hesitation!

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Two months on a business trip, and my wife got married. I stared at my phone screen, my fingers trembling slightly. “Welcome everyone to our wedding!” Sarah’s Facebook post included a wedding photo. In it, she wore a stunning gown, her arm linked with a man’s elbow, and her other hand held the hand of a kid who looked about five or six. But the guy standing next to her wasn’t me – it was her ex, Jake Harding. Two months ago, the company shipped me out of state for work. I never imagined that in just a few short weeks, my wife would be married. 1 With shaking fingers, I zoomed in on the picture. Her stomach was perfectly flat, not showing any hint of being four months pregnant. But my wife had just had her four-month check-up! A ridiculous feeling washed over me from my toes to the top of my head. Had my whole life been turned upside down in just two months? Several friends commented, “Sarah, what’s going on? Aren’t you already married?” Sarah’s reply was blunt: “Mark cheated on me. We’re divorced!” What? My vision blurred, and I almost dropped the phone. How could I have cheated? For the last two months, all I’d done was work and call her every day to check on her and the baby. Now she was announcing on Facebook that I’d cheated? I don’t know why, but I opened our chat window and sent her a message: “Sarah, is what you said on Facebook true? We’re still married.” I waited a full ten minutes before my phone finally buzzed. “It’s just a sham marriage, what’s the big deal?” Staring at those words on the screen, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. A sham marriage? We’d had a marriage license for two years and been married for one. Now she was telling me it was all fake? I tried calling her, but no one answered. I called again, and still just got the cold, automated message. Sitting in my hotel room, looking out at the still-bustling Chicago skyline, I felt like my world had just collapsed. 2 It was three in the morning, and I was still tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The photo just kept replaying in my mind. Sarah and I had been together for four years, married for one. We were so in love. How could she have gone and married someone else? I opened her Facebook profile and started scrolling. She hadn’t posted much in the last two months, just a few updates about everyday stuff. Before that, it was all photos of us together – food we’d eaten, trips we’d taken. It looked so perfect. But now it all felt like a lie. My head was spinning. Was she being forced into this? Had someone hacked her account? Or had Jake done something to coerce her? Or… had she really betrayed me? I tried calling her again, but still no answer. My phone vibrated. It was a text from my mom: “Honey, someone at the store said they saw Sarah with a man, all cozy and holding hands. What’s going on?” My heart sank. The phone lit up again. It was Sarah’s friend, Lisa: “Mark, I don’t know if I should tell you this, but Sarah’s been acting weird lately. Last week I saw her at a coffee shop with a guy, and they were all over each other. When I asked her about it, she said he was her cousin… but…” I shot up in bed, cold sweat running down my forehead. I immediately called the project manager and told him there was a family emergency and I needed to get back home right away. After hanging up, I booked the earliest flight back. Looking out at the colorful city lights, my mind wandered back to that day a year ago. Sarah stood outside the courthouse in a white sundress, smiling brighter than the sun. She took my hand, leaned into me, and said, “Mark, I’m only marrying you for life.” I bent down and kissed her forehead: “I’ll always be good to you.” Now, that vow seemed like the biggest joke of all. 3 As soon as the plane landed, I jumped in a cab and raced home. On the way, I tried to stay calm, telling myself there might be another explanation. I ran into Mrs. Olsen, my neighbor, at the entrance to our complex. She paused when she saw me: “Mark, you’re back? I thought you guys had moved out.” “Moved? What makes you say that?” “I saw Sarah with a guy a few days ago, carrying a bunch of stuff out. I figured you were moving to a new place,” Mrs. Olsen said, looking confused. “Wasn’t that you with her?” My heart sank. I unlocked the door, and the stale, stuffy air of a house that hadn’t been aired out in a long time hit me. From the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen, the whole place felt cold and empty. Sarah’s things were gone. Only a few of her less-worn clothes were left in the closet. Our wedding photo sat on the nightstand. She was wearing her wedding dress and smiling sweetly. That smile just made me feel bitter. There was a trash bag under the coffee table, full of torn-up photos. I pieced them back together, one by one. They were all snapshots of happy moments with Sarah. In every photo, my face had been carefully torn out. It was pure hatred. My phone buzzed. It was Lisa. “Mark, are you home? I need to tell you something in person.” Half an hour later, at the coffee shop, Lisa nervously stirred her coffee, avoiding my gaze. “Mark, I don’t even know how to say this… Sarah, she started seeing Jake about two months ago.” “Jake? Her college boyfriend?” “Yeah, that’s him.” Lisa bit her lip and continued. “Jake got divorced last year and has a kid. He contacted Sarah, and they started hanging out a lot. I thought they were just friends, but then…” “But then what?” “A month ago, I saw them outside a hotel… hugging and kissing.” Lisa looked down, her face red. “I asked Sarah about it, and she said things weren’t working out between you two, that you’d been seeing someone else. But Mark, I know you. I know you wouldn’t do that…” I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug into my skin. Sarah hadn’t just cheated, she’d slandered me too? “There’s something else,” Lisa hesitated. “Her stomach…” “What about her stomach?” “She might have had an abortion…” Lisa didn’t finish the sentence, but I understood. Tears welled up in my eyes. I’d guessed as much the moment I saw the ripped-up photos. I just hadn’t wanted to believe it. 4 I wandered aimlessly down the street after leaving the coffee shop, lost in my own head. I passed a bar and somehow found myself pushing open the door. A few drinks in, I could almost forget my troubles. But I couldn’t drown the pain. After a couple of shots, I started rambling, telling the bartender my story. “Hey man, easy on the drinks. Go home and figure out what to do,” the bartender said, handing me a glass of water. “One woman doesn’t define your whole life.” I gave him a bitter smile and shook my head. Sarah was my everything. From college sweethearts to marriage, to dreaming of having kids… I’d poured my heart and soul into our relationship, and it had all ended in this gut-wrenching pain. The alcohol loosened my tongue. I pulled out my phone and dialed Sarah’s number. To my surprise, she picked up. “Hello?” Her voice was cold and unfamiliar. “Sarah, why is this happening?” I asked, fighting back tears. “What went wrong? What did I do?” There was a pause on the other end, then a cold laugh: “Mark, stop pretending. I knew you were seeing someone else. Did you have a good time on your business trip?” “I didn’t! It’s always been you!” I almost yelled. “Enough,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’ve found someone who truly loves me, and you’re free too. Let’s just call it quits. As for the baby…” She paused. “It’s gone. And it might not have even been yours.” It was like a knife twisting in my heart. “What are you saying? That baby wasn’t mine?” “Who knows? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.” Her nonchalant tone made me want to smash my phone. “Mark, we’re over. Sign the divorce papers and let’s be done with it.” “You and Jake have been together for a while, haven’t you? When did you start seeing each other?” Another pause. “Does it matter? What matters is that I love him now, and I don’t love you.” She hung up. I slammed my fist on the table, scraping my knuckles and drawing blood. I wouldn’t let it end like this. I would find out the truth.

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Ten years into our marriage, I got into a car accident on the way to yet another prenatal appointment my husband had forgotten. As I lay bleeding, I called him for help, but he just brushed me off, annoyed: “If you’re not dead, go to the hospital. I’m busy.” The next second, I saw my husband, sitting in the passenger seat of the car that hit me, hang up my call. He turned to the woman in his arms, his voice full of tenderness, and said to his young secretary: “Don’t worry, I’m here.” He calmly left the scene with her, leaving me alone in a pool of blood. In that moment, it finally hit me. My marriage had been crumbling for a long time. Ten years of love had turned into nothing. 1. The doctor handed me the miscarriage papers, sighing softly. “Ms. Thompson, you just had a miscarriage. You need to rest.” Then, he looked at me with a hint of discomfort. “We contacted Mr. Davis, but he said…” The doctor avoided my eyes, his voice barely above a whisper: “He said, ‘If she’s not dead, tell her to get back here and make dinner.’” I took the papers, smiling through my tears as I stroked the image of my baby. Just hours before, I’d been dreaming about the day my child would call me “Mom.” Now, I’d never get to hold my little one. As soon as I walked through the door, Mark greeted me with an angry glare. “Did you tell the hospital to call me?” I didn’t say anything, just sat down wearily on the couch. Seeing my silence, Mark frowned. “Sarah, do you know how busy I am?” “Lily’s puppy needs to be neutered tomorrow, and the vet still hasn’t confirmed the appointment. Do you know how stressed I am? Can’t you be more mature and stop bothering me?” I looked at Mark’s anxious expression and then down at the scrapes on my knees. Apparently, my life and my baby’s were worth less than Lily’s dog. Mark kept complaining, each word like a knife stabbing into my heart. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Mark,” I said. “Do you know that I almost died in the hospital just now?” He looked annoyed at my interruption, his eyes shifting to my flat stomach, his tone dismissive. “You weren’t even showing. A little fender-bender isn’t going to kill you.” I stared at Mark, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. He didn’t even know how far along I was. What he thought was “not showing” was actually the aftermath of losing our baby. Mark was about to say something else, but he caught sight of the cuts on my wrist and instinctively grabbed my hand. “What happened to your hand?” I used to cherish my hands. Mark always complimented them. But then, he decided he wanted to start his own business, and I started working five jobs to support him. My trendy hair color faded, and my makeup just collected dust on the vanity. I transformed from a young woman into a worn-out housewife. My hands went from delicate to rough and calloused. When Mark landed his first big order, he held my hands against his chest, tears streaming down his face. “Sarah,” he choked out, “I’ll never let you suffer again. I’ll take care of you and make your hands beautiful again.” His passionate words had burned away my last doubts. I followed him without regrets, but it had all led to this. I was about to speak when his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Mark quickly dropped my hand. His worried expression vanished, replaced by pure adoration. My heart twisted as I watched the love in his eyes. There was a time when Mark used to look at me that way, whispering sweet nothings on the phone. But now, he made no attempt to hide his affection for someone else. Tears welled up as I stared at him. In that moment, I understood that my marriage wasn’t just crumbling. Mark was rotting from the inside out. “Mark, let’s get a divorce.” 2. Mark blinked, then scoffed. “Sarah, are you kidding me? Is this some new tactic you’re trying? Divorce? You can’t leave me.” He laughed, a sound that mocked the ten years of my youth. I ignored him and texted my lawyer, urging him to hurry. Mark narrowed his eyes. “Alright, quit moping around. You’ll scare Lily. She’s leaving on a business trip tomorrow. Don’t make it difficult for her.” I looked at Mark and felt a chill. I’d never been unkind to Lily. Even after I found out about the affair, I tried to salvage what I could of our marriage. But now, they’d put me through hell, taken my baby, and I was being accused of being difficult. Seeing my silence, Mark added: “Where’s my medicine?” I glanced toward the kitchen. “It’s in there. Get it yourself.” A flicker of surprise crossed Mark’s face. I used to brew his herbal medicine with my own hands. He wouldn’t drink it unless I pleaded with him for hours. He frowned, his tone accusing. “What’s with the attitude? I just didn’t pick you up from the hospital. Do you have to be so dramatic?” I ignored his anger, focusing on the bloodstained ring on my finger, caressing it as if it were my love from ten years ago. I remembered a broke Mark buying me this ring and the shy look on his face. I almost laughed. Before I could say anything, the doorbell rang. Mark’s face lit up as he saw who was calling, quickly pushing me aside. All trace of worry had vanished, replaced by tender affection. It was Lily. She leaned against the doorframe in a revealing lace nightgown, looking innocent and helpless. “Honey, I forgot my keys. Can I crash at your place tonight?” Before I could answer, Mark pulled her into his arms. “You’re not dressed warmly enough. I’d hate for you to get sick.” Lily snuggled into Mark’s embrace, giving me a triumphant look. I found their display tiresome. I hated repeating myself. But I’d been brewing Mark’s medicine for seven years. Mark said he wanted to spend his life with only me. But he was now entertaining a different woman inside of our marriage. 3. Lily snuggled closer to Mark. “Honey, I can only sleep in the master bedroom. Can I sleep there tonight?” Mark looked at me. “Sarah, can you clear out the master bedroom? Lily has a business trip tomorrow and needs to get some rest.” I stared at the bed in our master bedroom. The first time Mark brought me here, I was worried my clothes would get the sheets dirty. I stood awkwardly, afraid to sit. But Mark had pulled me down onto the bed and held me close. He said: “Sarah, this is our home now. I’ll protect you from the storm.” Now, he was asking me to empty our room so he and another woman could nest. I walked into the bedroom and started packing away the remnants of our love. But when I saw the small crib, I burst into tears. Mark and I had picked it out during our first year together. He said that our baby’s things deserved to be the best. But now, everything was different. My baby was gone, and the crib was useless. I gathered the love letters and baby clothes, and threw them into a box. When I tried to collect the gifts Mark had given me, I realized that the letters were all he’d ever given me. I looked at the letters and laughed bitterly. My decade of dedication had bought me a few pieces of paper. I removed our framed wedding photo, and threw the letters and clothes into the trash. “What are you doing?” Mark’s voice came from behind me. He rushed over and pulled the things out of the trash, looking panicked. “Why are you throwing away my love letters? And this baby outfit! You loved this outfit!” He looked at me with the same anxious expression I’d seen when he’d held out my engagement ring and asked, “Can I have a chance to take care of you?” I’d cried and said, “Yes.” Now, I smiled and told him, “Lily won’t like them. And besides… ” I looked at the baby outfit. “Our baby won’t be able to wear it anyway.” Mark looked down. He ran his fingers over the yellowed envelope, just as I ran my fingers over the bloodstained ring. After a long pause, Mark released it. The letters and clothes fell back into the trash. He whispered, “Alright. It’s not like the love letters are worth anything. And the baby is small. The outfit is too big. We’ll buy a new one when she gets here.” I touched my stomach, the only place our baby had ever existed. Yeah, the ten-year-old love letters weren’t worth anything. Just like Mark’s love. 4. After I finished packing, Lily turned to Mark, eyes red. “Honey, I’m hungry. You said Sarah makes the best sweet and sour pork chops. Can I have some tonight?” Mark playfully stroked her nose and gave me a cold look. “Make Lily some sweet and sour pork chops. Quickly.” I quietly picked up my suitcase. “I’m not feeling well. I can’t.” Mark stared at me, shocked. It was the first time I’d refused him. He glared, “Sarah, what are you thinking? I just want you to make dinner for Lily. I’m not trying to divorce you. Can you not be so jealous? You’re going to be a mother soon. Can’t you be a little more generous?” He sounded like I was a violent criminal. The word “jealous” justified his relationship with Lily, crushing the promises Mark had made to me in our youth. He’d sat on the football field, love sparkling in his eyes. When he’d confessed, I joked: “I have standards. If you ever like another woman, I’ll hate you.” Mark nervously clutched the roses and said, “If I ever like someone else, punish me by never seeing me again.” Sometimes, I wondered if I’d imagined Mark loving me, or if he’d forgotten loving me. But it didn’t matter anymore. I calmly said, “Mark, let’s get a divorce.” Mark looked dismissive. “Still playing games? This isn’t how a mother should act. ” Anyone could say I was a bad mother, but not Mark. I stared at him, tears burning my eyes. “Do you think you’re a good father? If I knew it would come to this, I wish I’d never met you!” Mark paused, looking confused. Then, he frowned. “Why are you so angry? Anyone would think you had a miscarriage. How can you be a good mother acting like this?” An icy chill ran through me. My heart felt like it was trapped in ice. Mark’s coldness made me seem like a crazy person. Lily was giggling behind him. I knew that the marriage that had imprisoned me for ten years had come to an end. I smiled at Mark, the same smile I’d had when we first met. “You’re right, Mark.” Next, there was a loud thud. I slammed the miscarriage papers down on the table.

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I was married to a genius pharmaceutical PhD. We were deeply in love, and everyone envied me for marrying a wife who was both caring and successful. I thought our marriage was perfect and couldn’t help but brag about my wife to the whole world. Then one day, I overheard a conversation between her and one of her students outside the lab. “Isabella, what she’s doing is messed up. Ben just got a new artificial heart, and she wants him to test a new drug? If something happens to him…” Before the student could finish, Isabella stormed into the lab to cut him off: “It’s none of your business! I’ve been working on this for years. If I don’t trick Ben into testing this for Jason, and something happens to Jason, what am I supposed to do?” So, all the medications I had been testing for her were a joke… Well, whoever wants to be a guinea pig can be my guest! 1 “Professor, isn’t this taking things too far? Ben just got a new artificial heart. If something happens to him…” Isabella’s low voice snapped from inside the lab: “That’s enough from you!” Even though I couldn’t see her face, I could tell she was truly angry. Sure enough, the next second I heard something being smashed. “He has to test the new drug. Jason’s weak; he can’t wait any longer.” The student didn’t dare say much more. As he was about to leave, Isabella stopped him, hesitating: “Just in case, postpone the drug trial until next week. Run a few more tests to make sure Ben won’t be hurt.” Isabella’s words felt like a knife twisting in my heart, almost unbearable. Had she been in love with Jason all these years? And was I just a lab rat? I stumbled back to the house, the chest pain from the artificial heart making it almost impossible to stand up straight. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the turmoil in my heart. I collapsed onto the bed, my eyes landing on the flowers and pill bottles on the table. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Isabella and I had been married for five years, and I had always cherished her. I thought I was the luckiest man in the world, so I was willing to be her guinea pig for her medical research. Over the past five years, I’d coughed up blood countless times, developed countless incurable diseases, and even had my heart gradually deteriorate from all the drug trials. But I never regretted it. For her, I would have given my life. I never imagined it was all a joke, a carefully crafted lie. “Honey, what’s wrong? You look terrible.” “Are you feeling okay?” Seeing my pale face, Isabella rushed over and carefully held me in her arms, gently rubbing my chest. Her eyes were overflowing with concern. Before, this would have made me feel happy, like I had married a truly loving woman. But now, I just felt a chill run down my spine. “It’s my fault. I haven’t been around to take care of you.” Isabella’s voice was full of self-reproach. Looking into her sincere eyes, I pleaded, “Isabella, I just got this heart. Can I skip the drug trial this time?” A flicker of hesitation crossed her face. I quickly added, “I’m worried about rejection. I might not be able to stay by your side.” Isabella’s gaze fell to my chest. She sighed and said, “Ben, this drug is important for my career.” Looking at her determined expression, a sharp pain shot through my nose. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. So, my life meant less to her than that guy. Seeing my stricken face, Isabella quickly reassured me, “I promise I’ll protect you.” She touched her nose to mine, her voice gentle and loving. “You’re my life. I wouldn’t want you to be hurt.” Every word was a lie. My heart turned to ash. I said, “It’s okay, Isabella. I can handle it.” Isabella’s face lit up, but she said, “This is the last time, honey. I won’t put you in danger again.” I hugged her, but felt icy cold. That night, I couldn’t sleep. At dawn, Isabella’s phone rang. The guy on the other end was being jealous and sarcastic. Isabella soothed him and then left without hesitation. Hearing the door close, I couldn’t stop replaying the words I’d heard the night before. She was rushing off to see that guy, wasn’t she? The guy whose life she was protecting with mine. 2 After she left, I went straight into Isabella’s study. Her bookshelf was full of photos of me, and on the balcony was a huge portrait of me she had painted. Even the layout of the study was designed according to my tastes. Anyone who saw the study would be touched by Isabella’s deep affection for me. But only I knew that on her computer was a folder that I didn’t know the password to. Isabella had told me about it when she was drunk, saying it was the most precious thing in the world, her life. I thought it was her research, so I didn’t pay much attention to it. Now, I realized things might not be as I thought. I tried entering Isabella’s phone password, and it opened the file right away. Turns out the phone password, which she had told me had no special meaning, was actually someone else’s birthday. The folder was full of photos of a guy named Jason. Isabella had taken every single one. The camera doesn’t lie. Every photo showed me that Isabella loved him deeply. The funny thing was, Isabella had once told me she wasn’t into photography. They traveled together, read together, and even raised a kitten together. But Isabella had told me she was allergic to cat hair, so I even gave away my cat of eight years. In the photos, Isabella’s gaze was cautious, passionate, and timid, unlike anything I had ever seen from her. She was always in control with me, always stoic. I thought it was just her personality, but it was just because she didn’t love me. The last page was a letter she had written to Jason. [Jason, I’ve finally found someone whose health is very similar to yours. He thinks I love him and is even rushing to test drugs for me!] [He doesn’t know his heart is failing. He’s voluntarily testing drugs for me and has even developed cancer. But it’s not my fault; he volunteered!] I strained my eyes, stubbornly refusing to let the tears fall. Turns out the person she really wanted to spend her life with wasn’t me at all. In her eyes, I was just a guinea pig. What I thought was a chance encounter, a love story, was just something she’d orchestrated. It was all because my health was similar to Jason’s. She had been using me the whole time. I closed the computer and went back to the bedroom, collapsing on the bed and finally crying. I couldn’t stop reliving the time I almost died in the hospital from a heart attack. I had taken a drug that Isabella had given me, and soon I was in agonizing pain, coughing up blood. I panicked and called Isabella, but she never answered. I naively thought she was busy. In the hospital room, I almost bled to death. Isabella consoled me, saying she would always be by my side and wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I was touched beyond words, but also felt guilty for being careless and letting her down. So, even though the doctor later told me that my body might die from a heart attack if I kept testing drugs, I was willing to try, again and again. But little did I know that what I thought was salvation and love was all her manipulation. The pain in my heart made it almost impossible to breathe, a side effect of testing Isabella’s drugs for so long. I was afraid to tell her, so I never did. She probably already knew I was being tortured every night, but she didn’t care. Every detail of being with Isabella kept flashing through my mind. For the past seven years, I had been her guinea pig, experiencing countless near-death experiences. Each time, she tried her best to save me. She was genuinely afraid of losing me. Only because she didn’t want to lose someone who was so much like Jason, someone she could continue testing drugs on. My hand shook as I pulled out my phone and checked Isabella’s financial records. She had a large sum of money in a Swiss bank account and had also bought a lot of life insurance. All of them, without exception, were under the same name: Jason. 3 Turns out every penny Isabella earned had been given to Jason. All these years, I thought she was noble and had no savings, so I worked hard to support her dreams while also being her guinea pig. How utterly ridiculous! Just then, someone added me on social media. Looking at the profile picture, I knew instinctively it was Jason. The photo showed two hands intertwined, one of which was Isabella’s. She had been injured in the lab, so she had a burn scar on the back of her hand. I clicked on Jason’s timeline. The latest post was a photo of someone wearing an apron, with their back to the camera. The caption read: [How lucky to have a woman who’s willing to cook for you!] Isabella had told me she couldn’t cook and hated the smell of grease, so even when I was recovering from surgery, I endured the pain to cook for her. But around Jason, her principles, likes, and dislikes disappeared. It wasn’t that she didn’t like to cook; she just didn’t want to cook for me. I scrolled down further. This past Valentine’s Day, Isabella had taken Jason to France and bought him priceless artwork. They kissed in front of the Louvre, rowed on the Seine, and read together in the library. That day, Isabella just ordered me a cake. She even misspelled my name on the card. For Jason’s birthday, Isabella arranged a huge fireworks display. That night, I had my second heart attack. I almost died in the hospital. ······ Tears blurred my vision. I clutched my chest, curled up on the bed, and every breath was agonizing. So, in Isabella’s eyes, I was just a guinea pig, a scapegoat for Jason. She gave everything she had to Jason and left me with nothing but fake concern. I didn’t sleep all night. Isabella sent me countless messages. Before, I thought she shared everything with me because she loved me. Actually, she was just afraid I’d find out the truth, afraid of losing me as her guinea pig. This time, I was going to disappoint her. I contacted a fake death agency and asked them to arrange a faked death as quickly as possible. Isabella came back late, and the moment she walked in, she couldn’t wait to hug me. Her voice was tired, and her eyes were bloodshot. “Honey, I’ve been working in the lab all day. I’m exhausted. Did you miss me?” Before, I would have felt sorry for her. But now, I just felt disgusted. She loved someone else, yet she could still put on this act of deep affection. “Are you mad?” She pinched my nose affectionately. “I’m not going anywhere today. I’m staying with you, okay?” I didn’t say anything. Anyway, I was leaving her soon. Even this child wasn’t worth keeping around. There was no need to play the lovey-dovey act anymore. The phone rang suddenly. Isabella looked at the text message with a puzzled expression. “What kind of service did you sign up for that goes into effect in five hours?” I snatched the phone from her. It was a message from the fake death agency. They had taken care of everything for me. It would take effect in five hours. I forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Just company stuff.” Although Isabella’s eyes flashed with suspicion, she was confident in my love for her, so she didn’t ask any more questions. She just took my hand and said: “Honey, I miss you every minute.” “Don’t ever leave me, okay?” A bitter feeling rose in my throat. I lowered my eyes and nodded. Isabella, soon there won’t be a Ben around anymore. Soon, I’ll be gone from your life forever. We’ll never see each other again. Before Isabella could even change, she got a call. “What? Something happened to Jason? Wait for me. I’m coming back right now!” Isabella looked panicked and rushed out the door without even a glance at me. But my heart didn’t even flutter. Before faking my death, I needed a good reason. So, I opened a chat window with Jason. [I’m Isabella’s husband. Let’s meet.] 4 Jason was still talking to Isabella when he came to see me. He deliberately put her on speaker so I could hear Isabella’s gentle and loving voice. “Jason, you’re not feeling well. Why are you running around?” “If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do?” Jason had a winning smile on his face. “I missed you so much. When are you going to give me the medicine you promised?” “Are you having second thoughts about that other guy? You don’t want to lose him?” Isabella was silent for a moment, then smiled helplessly. “You’re the only one in my heart.” “I have to let him try it out first before I dare give it to you. I don’t want you to be hurt, not even a little bit.” I clenched the sleeve of my shirt under the table, a bitter smile on my face. After hanging up, Jason looked at me provocatively. “Isabella is really going to great lengths for me.” His eyes and brows were full of a winner’s pride. His skin was rosy, and he didn’t look sick at all. I turned to look at myself in the mirror. My face was pale, and I was emaciated. From testing Isabella’s drugs over and over, my body had long become extremely weak. “I might as well tell you the truth. I’m not really sick.” “She’s letting you test the drugs just because of something I said.” I should have known. Isabella was a medical genius. How could she not know that Jason was faking it? She just loved him too much, loved him so much that she was willing to let me die. “I didn’t come here to fight you over Isabella. I’ll leave her, but you have to do one thing for me.” Meeting Jason’s mocking gaze, I said: “I just want the new drug from her lab. Anyway, I’m going to be testing it. What difference does it make if I take it a day earlier or later?” I felt a lot better after leaving the hotel. These past few days, I’d been clinging to Isabella, never leaving her side. At first, she was patient, but later she became extremely impatient. But I didn’t care, as long as I could get the drug. Three days later, Jason brought me Isabella’s new drug. After swallowing the pill, I completely relaxed. Before the fake death agency staff arrived, I packed up all my belongings, tore up all my photos and threw them in the trash, and replaced every frame with photos of Isabella and Jason. I was leaving, and there would be no one to stand in their way anymore. Just before I lay down on the hospital bed, my phone suddenly rang. Isabella had sent me a long voice message saying she couldn’t be with me for New Year’s Eve because the lab was too busy. But the background noise in the voice message was clearly the airport departure lounge, announcing her flight to the Maldives was about to take off. I knew without a doubt that Isabella was going on vacation with Jason. It had been like this for years. No matter what the holiday, she always spent it with Jason. Even if I was about to die in the hospital, she would go celebrate Jason’s birthday. Now, she didn’t even bother to pretend. I smiled mockingly and closed my eyes as instructed by the staff. I told myself: Ben, soon you can leave Isabella forever. At the same time. The moment she landed in the Maldives, Isabella received a call from the hospital in the US. Her student’s voice was panicky and trembling. “Professor! Ben found out about you and Jason! He took the new drug you developed in the lab.” “His heart stopped! He died after failed resuscitation!”

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The tenth time I was about to walk down the aisle, my boyfriend got a call from his childhood sweetheart and took off. For the tenth time. I was left standing alone on the stage, completely humiliated, the butt of the joke, again. Swallowing my pride, I contacted my boyfriend, pleading with him to come back and at least go through the motions of the ceremony. But he wouldn’t even pick up the phone! His precious Tiffany sent me a photo of the two of them sprawled out in bed together, gloating, “I win!” My heart turned to ice. We’d planned the wedding ten times, but it had been postponed, canceled, or abandoned a total of ten times. The emcee looked at me with a mixture of pity and awkwardness. “Uh… so, are we still going ahead with this… thing?” Forcing a smile, I said, “Yes! Absolutely! We have to finish this!” I sent a quick text to Jake, the guy who lived next door, practically begging him to help me out. After getting a hesitant but ultimately affirmative reply, I breathed a sigh of relief and told the emcee to stall for a little while longer. This was attempt number ten, and there was no way it was going to fall apart again. Jake got there faster than I expected. He was wearing a custom-tailored suit that fit him perfectly, accentuating his height and broad shoulders. He looked effortlessly stylish, drawing a lot of attention from the guests. He walked directly toward the center of the stage, standing beside me, completely unbothered, a lazy smile playing on his lips. “So, Miss High Society, you’ve made up your mind, huh?” I nodded. It was just a marriage of convenience, a way to appease our respective families. Anybody would do. Besides… Grandma’s condition had taken a serious turn for the worse. I couldn’t put it off any longer. Her health had been rapidly deteriorating for the past six months. Every time I visited her in the nursing home, she would constantly harp on how she wanted to see me get married before she passed. She was the person I was closest to growing up, and her only wish was for me to find someone worthy of my trust. Someone who would be there to protect me after she was gone, someone I could lean on, someone who wouldn’t take advantage of me. Seeing her grow weaker every day, losing weight, becoming more and more frail, I couldn’t bear the thought of her dying with such a big regret hanging over her head, so I reluctantly started taking the whole marriage thing seriously. My boyfriend, Kevin, had promised me he would marry me eventually. But after planning ten weddings, he’d bailed on me every single time. Each time, he left me standing there, becoming the laughingstock of the entire city. And all his excuses, every single one, were because of his precious little childhood friend, Tiffany. Tiffany was perfectly healthy and capable of taking care of herself any other day of the week. But the second my wedding day rolled around, she would suddenly… Have a complete meltdown, claiming she was in a really dark place, or she’d been triggered by something and couldn’t handle the stress; or she’d watched some horror movie and was now too scared to be alone; or she’d caught a cold and needed someone to bring her medicine. The most ridiculous excuse of all was when she spontaneously decided she wanted to do a bridal photoshoot while they were shopping, and she’d called Kevin, demanding that he come over and pretend to be the groom. I couldn’t express even the slightest bit of dissatisfaction with any of these absurd reasons. If I so much as dared to text him to ask what was going on, I would be met with a barrage of insults. “Can’t you just be a little understanding, Ashley?! Tiffany is practically like a sister to me! She needs me right now! We can get married any day! Don’t be such a shrew!” But ten times was too much. The constant abandonment and betrayal had finally exhausted my patience. This time, I wasn’t going to wait around for him. Once I’d completely let go, I realized my heart didn’t hurt as much. Maybe I was just numb. Or maybe Grandma’s words were giving me strength. “Our Ashley is such a wonderful girl. I hope that after I’m gone, you’ll find someone who truly cherishes you, someone who will never make you suffer.” The image of Grandma’s wrinkled, weathered face flashed in my mind, instantly filling me with determination and resolve. I couldn’t let the people who loved me down. So, I linked my arm through Jake’s and walked down the aisle with him. I was going to face this wedding with my head held high and my best smile plastered on my face. That way, Grandma would feel reassured when she watched the video. As we were exchanging rings, my phone vibrated in my purse. It was a text from Kevin. He still didn’t seem to grasp the magnitude of what he’d done, still using that casual, nonchalant tone. [Be a good girl, Ashley. Tiffany has a terrible stomach ache today. I really can’t leave her side. We can get married any other day, right? I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.] Seeing those words again, my heart still twisted painfully in my chest. I gripped my phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. Jake raised one eyebrow, silently questioning. “Do you still want to put that ring on my finger?” I looked up at him, my eyes filled with a newfound resolve. “Yes. I absolutely do!” Once we’d gone through all the required steps, I was completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Thank goodness Jake had been there the whole time, supporting me and holding my hand. Before we left, he looked at me with an unusual amount of intensity. “Ashley, I’m giving you two days to think it over, to change your mind if you want. We can go get the marriage license in two days if you still want to. I need you to really consider it carefully.” His words gave me a semblance of dignity and self-respect, but I’d already decided to end things with Kevin once and for all. “Don’t worry, Jake. I won’t change my mind!” As soon as Jake left, I received another text message from Kevin. [Ashley, you have exactly ten minutes to pick up some pain medication and bring it to me at the hotel. Don’t make me come after you.] Attached to the message was an address for one of the most notorious “love hotels” in the city. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a photograph of two people sprawled out in bed. The sender was Tiffany. And my soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend was one of the two main characters. [I win… again!] More than feeling heartbroken and betrayed, I felt overwhelmingly disgusted. On my wedding day, the groom-to-be was in a cheap motel with another woman. I clenched my fists so tightly that my fingernails dug into the skin of my palms, drawing blood. 2 In the end, I went to the hotel. This whole relationship had finally reached its expiration date for me. I didn’t want to have anything else to do with Kevin after this. I wanted to break up with him face-to-face, put an end to it, and, most importantly, get the keys to the house back. After all, he was living in a house that I’d bought with my own money! As soon as I arrived at the hotel, Kevin realized I hadn’t brought the medication. He immediately flew into a rage. “What the hell is wrong with you, Ashley?! Where’s the pain medicine I asked you to get?!” Tiffany was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking utterly miserable, pouting like a spoiled child. “Don’t be mad at her, Kevin. Ashley’s been planning the wedding all day. Maybe she’s just tired.” She knew very well that she was the one who had caused the wedding to be called off, yet she still said it with a perfectly straight face. Being mocked and insulted to my face like that, even with my heart already battered and broken, caused a sharp, stabbing pain to flare up in my chest. I slowly clenched my fists, digging my nails so deeply into my palms that they almost drew blood. I was so disillusioned and disappointed that I didn’t even have the energy to be angry. The room in the seedy hotel was small, cramped, and stifling. It made me feel like I was suffocating. Kevin and I had been together since college. At first, he was so passionate and persistent in his pursuit that I gradually fell for him. When we were together, he remembered every holiday and special occasion better than I did, and always had a thoughtful gift or romantic surprise planned. Even when I was being unreasonable or difficult, he would take all the blame and patiently try to coax me back into a good mood. My girlfriends always told me how lucky I was to have found such a perfect boyfriend. I thought so too, which is why I wanted to get married as soon as we graduated. But everything changed the day Kevin’s childhood sweetheart, Tiffany, came back from overseas. From that moment on, Kevin’s heart was completely turned to this virtual stranger. In any situation involving Kevin and Tiffany, I was always the one who ended up being left behind, ignored, or forgotten. Kevin patted Tiffany on the head, looking at her with obvious affection. “You’re so understanding, Tiffany.” Then, he turned his attention back to me, frowning with disapproval. “Why didn’t you answer my texts?” My repeated concessions had only resulted in Kevin becoming more and more demanding, more and more entitled. He was the one who had abandoned me at the altar, yet he was now blaming me, acting as if I was the one who had done something wrong. I tried my best to calm myself, my voice as cold as ice. “I forgot.” Kevin’s eyes widened, seemingly shocked by my icy tone. I raised my head and gave him a cold, hard stare. “Kevin, you blew me off again today.” Hearing those words, a flicker of guilt crossed his face, but he quickly became defensive, trying to justify his actions. “It wasn’t my fault! Tiffany wasn’t feeling well! What did you want me to do, just ignore her and leave her all alone?” “We can always have the wedding some other day, can’t we? Ashley, you’re being completely unreasonable! Why can’t you just be a little more understanding?” I no longer had any desire to argue with him or try to reason with him. Forcing down the bile that was rising in my throat, I spat out one cold, emotionless sentence. “I don’t want to wait for you anymore. Let’s break up.” Then, I turned around and walked toward the door. “What the hell did you just say, Ashley?!” Kevin yelled and immediately ran after me. Just then, Tiffany let out a dramatic little cry. “Ouch!” Immediately afterward, a sharp cracking sound echoed through the room. Confused, I stopped and turned around, my eyes widening in disbelief. On the floor were the shattered pieces of my jade pendant. The jade pendant my grandmother had gotten for me at the temple. I was completely stunned, a wave of pure, unadulterated rage threatening to explode inside me. After I’d processed everything, I pushed Kevin out of the way and knelt down to carefully gather the fragments of the jade pendant. “Why is my pendant here?! How did you even get your hands on it?!” I stared daggers at Tiffany, demanding an explanation. Kevin walked over to me, looking annoyed and impatient. “What’s your problem, Ashley? You’re going to scare Tiffany with your antics.” I gave him a look of utter disbelief. He knew how much this jade pendant meant to me, yet he could still say something like that, as if I was the one who was being unreasonable. In an instant, an overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over me. I was clenching my fists so tightly that the skin on my palms was bruised and bloody. As always, when it came to Tiffany, I was the one who was expected to back down, to forgive and forget, to make sacrifices for the sake of everyone else. But this time, it was about Grandma. I refused to stand for it. I raised my hand and slapped Kevin hard across the face. “If you’re blind, you need to see a doctor!” “She stole the jade pendant Grandma gave me without my permission, and then she broke it! What right do you have to forgive her for me?! What right do you have to tell me to forgive her?!” The room fell silent. No matter how angry I was, I had never physically struck him before. Now it was Kevin’s turn to be completely dumbfounded. “Did you just hit me? You actually dared to hit me?! I’m your boyfriend! How could you do that to me?!” He rushed forward and grabbed my neck, squeezing with so much force that I could barely breathe. He was staring at me with an expression of pure hatred and disgust, as if I were his worst enemy. I couldn’t help but wonder, when had the man who once looked at me with so much love become like this? I remembered back when we weren’t officially together, before we were even dating. I had simply posted a picture on social media of a tiny papercut, less than two millimeters deep, that I’d gotten while doing arts and crafts. Kevin had waited outside my dorm building at four in the morning, just to give me a small box of bandages. His eyes were shining with concern, radiating sincerity. It was at that moment that I was touched by his genuine caring nature and agreed to go out with him. But now, only six months later, he was willing to yell at me, to insult me, to physically harm me, all for the sake of another woman. It was then that I finally understood… True love can be fleeting, and even the most genuine feelings can change in an instant. 3 Now that I didn’t love him anymore, Arguing with him or trying to reason with him was pointless. The throbbing pain in my neck reminded me of how foolish I’d been, how much time and energy I’d wasted on this relationship. I just forced my lips into a bitter, self-deprecating smile. At that moment, Tiffany peeked out from behind Kevin, her eyes gleaming with smugness. I accidentally made eye contact with her, seeing the malicious satisfaction in her eyes, and a sharp pain stabbed me in the heart. The next second, she was batting her eyelashes and putting on an act, pretending to be a frightened rabbit. “Don’t be mad at me, Ashley! I just found the jade pendant! I was going to give it back, I swear!” She grabbed Kevin’s arm and started shaking it playfully. “Tell her it’s okay, Kevin! Tell her I didn’t mean to cause any trouble!” Kevin calmed down, and replied, “Tiffany’s right. Why can’t you be more like her, Ashley?” He was serious? Suddenly, Tiffany let out a shriek and stumbled backward. “Ouch!” Clutching her wrist, she looked at me with an expression of pure terror. “I only wanted to apologize to you, Ashley…” I hadn’t even touched her, but somehow I had become the villain, the one who was bullying her. Kevin saw Tiffany fall and immediately rushed to her side, helping her to stand. Then, he glared at me, his eyes filled with resentment. “Didn’t you hear her say that she found the pendant? Why are you being so cruel and vindictive, attacking an innocent person?!” I almost laughed at his words. I had always treasured the jade pendant that Grandma had given me. I kept it locked away in my bedroom drawer. She just “found” it? Was Tiffany claiming that she had accidentally stumbled into my house, somehow found her way into my bedroom, and then miraculously discovered the jade pendant in my nightstand, the most private and personal piece of furniture in the room? I didn’t even bother to expose this ridiculous lie, but instead curled my lips into a cynical smile. “Fine. I’ll call the police and have them investigate how Tiffany managed to find my jade pendant! We’ll let them figure out exactly what happened!” “And I’m going to press charges against both of you for physically assaulting me today!” Tiffany’s eyes widened with alarm, and she immediately clutched her chest. “Kevin, I think I’m having a heart attack…” Hearing those words, Kevin forgot everything else and scooped Tiffany up in his arms, rushing her out of the hotel and toward the emergency room. “Don’t worry, Tiffany! I won’t let anything happen to you!” As he rushed past me, he gave me a hateful glare. “You just wait, Ashley! If anything happens to Tiffany, you’re going to regret this!” He deliberately shoulder-checked me as he went by. The force of the impact sent me crashing to the floor. But Kevin didn’t even spare me a glance, huffing in annoyance before leaving the room. 4 After they had both left, I was still sitting on the floor, feeling numb and dazed. The man I had loved for so long, the man I had expected to spend the rest of my life with, had become a completely different person. He was unrecognizable, twisted, and utterly terrifying. My throat was parched and sore. Tears streamed down my face. Just as I was beginning to pull myself together, my phone rang. It was a call from the hospital. Without hesitating, I swiped to answer it. Grandma’s condition had worsened, and they were taking her into surgery immediately. Forgetting about everything else, I stumbled to my feet and ran toward the exit. As soon as I stepped out of the hotel, I saw Jake. The man was impossibly handsome, his shoulders broad, his jaw chiseled, his hair perfectly styled. He was leaning against the hood of his car, looking relaxed and composed. He seemed to have been waiting for me to emerge. Barely registering why he was there, or how long he had been waiting, I ran over to him and jumped into his car, begging him to drive me to the hospital. When we finally got there, I was relieved to hear that Grandma had been successfully revived. I heaved a sigh of relief and stayed by her side as she was wheeled from the operating room to her private room. Since Jake was there with me, and I wanted to make Grandma happy, I decided to tell her that we were getting married. Grandma smiled weakly, gazing at the pictures from our wedding on my phone. “That’s wonderful, Ashley! It looks like you’ve finally found a good man!” Jake sat quietly by her side, answering all her questions patiently and politely, without the slightest trace of irritation or boredom. Eventually, a nurse came in and told us that Grandma needed to get some rest. I got to my feet and led Jake toward the door. Before I left, Grandma leaned close to me and whispered in my ear. “That Jake seems like a wonderful young man. He’s a hundred times better than that Kevin fellow!” “I always knew you had good taste!” My face flushed red with embarrassment. I mumbled an awkward reply and practically ran out of the room. The next second, I accidentally walked straight into Jake’s chest. Jake chuckled, his warm breath tickling my ear. “Are you okay?” My face was still flushed, and I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye. I just shook my head. “Yeah… I’m fine…” Jake took the billing statement from my hand and went to pay the hospital. My heart was still racing. I started to berate myself. I had only known him for a short time. He was supposed to be my fake husband, nothing more. How could I be developing feelings for him already? I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. Unfortunately, as I was walking past a corner in the hallway, I ran into Kevin and Tiffany, who were locked in a passionate embrace! The two of them jumped apart, their faces turning red, a look of embarrassment flashing across their eyes. I gave them a cold, disinterested look and turned to walk away. Kevin rushed over to me, grabbing my arm. “Ashley, it’s not what it looks like! You’ve got the wrong idea!” My expression remained cold and emotionless. “I don’t need you to explain anything. We’re not together anymore, remember?” Seeming flustered by my gaze, Kevin started to fidget, scratching his head in frustration. “Ugh… Does saying that make you feel better or something? Tiffany was feeling down, so I was just giving her a hug to comfort her. That’s all it was.” Then, he leaned closer to me, whispering in my ear. “I promise, we’ll have the wedding next week. I swear. Will that make you happy?” “But Tiffany isn’t feeling very well, so I think we should keep it a secret from her, at least for now. Okay?” I couldn’t help but snort with derision. If getting married required me to lie and hide my relationship from everyone I knew, what would be the point? I curled my lips into a cynical smile and shook my head. “No thanks.” I was already married. I didn’t say the last part out loud. The man standing in front of me wasn’t worth any more of my time or energy. But my cold demeanor seemed to alarm Kevin. He blocked me from leaving, his voice suddenly sharp and demanding. “What do you mean, ‘no thanks’?” “You’re the one who was so insistent on having a wedding! You’re the one who was always nagging me about getting married! So why are you suddenly saying ‘no thanks’?” The next second, that familiar, comforting scent of sandalwood enveloped me. Jake reached out and pulled me into his arms, declaring his ownership of me. “Because we’re already married!” “She’s with me now. So, it might be best for you to just disappear. Trust me, you don’t want to cause any trouble here.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392219”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The night before my wedding, Ben informed me he was child-free. “Summer, if you can accept this, we’ll go ahead. If not… better to walk away now.” His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. But the house was full of family and friends, celebrating our joy, and I was already halfway down the aisle. How could I walk away now? I could only choose to leap for love, resolutely marrying him. Then, on our fifth wedding anniversary, Ben suddenly changed his mind. “Summer, let’s try for a kid through IVF. Consider it my gift to you.” 1. “Are you serious?” “Ben, are you really willing to have a baby with me?” I was so excited when I heard Ben say that, I grabbed his hand. Then, remembering his obsessive cleanliness, I quickly let go. My heart was pounding, waiting for his answer. “Of course.” “Summer, I’ve been neglecting you these past few years. With a child, you won’t be so lonely…” The weight lifted from my chest, and I exhaled deeply. For five years, Ben had been consumed by work, and we rarely spent quality time together. Our home, already small, felt even emptier. I had longed for a child more than anything. Now, my wish was finally coming true. As for IVF… I learned after our wedding that Ben’s “child-free” stance had another layer to it. He had severe germaphobia. He couldn’t even hold my hand or give me a hug, let alone share a bed and be intimate. Our marriage was a piece of paper and nothing more. If Ben hadn’t stepped in and proposed when my fiancé and sister betrayed me, I don’t know if I would have ever believed he truly loved me. *But now, the “child-free” Ben is willing to have a baby with me. He must love me.* Lost in my fantasies, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. Startled, I realized it was Ben. He had broken through his germaphobia to hold me for the first time. This anniversary was raining miracles down on me, making me giddy. Just as I was about to hug him back, he stepped back, a look of concern on his face. “Summer, I’ve put you through so much these past few years. I promise to make it up to you, twice over.” Even after washing up and getting into bed, I kept replaying Ben’s words in my head. Although everything he’d done was something I had always wanted, it felt too easy. Once the initial excitement wore off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. So, I got up to get a glass of water. The moment I opened the door, I heard the sound of running water and Ben’s voice, laced with disgust. “If it weren’t to trick Summer into having a kid, I would never have forced myself to hug her.” “She’s so dirty, so dirty. No matter how much I scrub, I can still smell her.” My hand fell from the doorknob. The unease I felt became a grim reality. I didn’t know how to react, my mind consumed by the words *Ben is disgusted by me.* Forcing myself to calm down, I heard his long-time assistant, Leo, say, “You didn’t seem repulsed when you hugged her tonight.” “Boss, could it be… your subconscious is finally accepting Mrs. Stone?” The question was tentative, but Ben exploded. “Impossible!” “How could I ever like her? I only love Ashley. If it weren’t for this damn phobia keeping me from making her happy, I never would have married Summer, that fake!” He called me a fake. The Ashley he was talking about must be Ashley Stone, the real heiress the Stone family had found a few years ago. Also my dear sister, and the woman my fiancé cheated on me with. Ben married me because he couldn’t give Ashley happiness, so he settled for me. A way to smooth the road for her. If I wasn’t the one being used, I might have applauded his ‘deep affection’. 2. In a daze, I heard Ben order Leo in a cold voice, “Keep an eye on her, and don’t let her find out.” “Once Ashley and I have a viable embryo, take Summer to the clinic and implant it.” “Ashley’s health is fragile, and she can’t endure the pain of pregnancy and childbirth. Her dear sister can help her out.” “And she’ll get a free kid who calls her ‘Mom.’ Consider it a favor.” A favor… Marrying the man Ashley didn’t want, carrying Ashley and my husband’s child. In Ben’s eyes, it was like a charity, and I should be grateful! My sudden happiness was like a fleeting flower, quickly withering. The blood in my veins turned to ice, and my disappointment slowly solidified. When Ben suddenly came over, I froze and quickly hid under the covers. I heard him sit on the edge of the bed, speaking softly. “Summer, you’ll understand, right?” For a moment, my scalp tingled, thinking Ben had seen through my act. But after he finished speaking, he left without hesitation. He even tucked the blanket around me. “You treat Mrs. Stone so well, why hurt her for Ashley?” “You two are one now. Are you not afraid of what would happen if she found out…” Ben’s footsteps faded. Along with them was the rest of Leo’s unfinished question. Unfortunately, I knew I’d probably never hear the answer. Staring blankly at the ceiling, I replayed my memories of how Ben and I met while tears soaked the pillow. At dawn, Ben brought me breakfast as usual. “Summer, I’m off to work. Remember to eat.” “Call Leo if you need anything.” A glass of milk, an omelet. Ever since my stomach ached after our wedding, Ben had been making me breakfast by hand, day after day. The same words every morning, never missing a beat. I couldn’t reconcile the man before me with the Ben from last night. Until about two weeks later, when Ben stopped me as we were about to enter the clinic to retrieve my eggs. “Summer, maybe we should forget about this. It’s a painful process.” The words sounded kind. But for some reason, I instinctively remembered what Ben had said that night. *Once Ashley and I have a viable embryo, we’ll have Summer carry it.* How could someone who could do something so cruel have me give up halfway because the process was painful? “I can’t. I really want my own child.” *As for who the father is, it doesn’t matter, actually.* I swallowed the last half of the sentence, keeping it to myself. For that reason, Ben seemed even more touched, taking my hand and leading me to the operating room door. “Don’t worry, Summer. I’ll be waiting for you right here.” I nodded in response. My eyes fell on our hands clasped together. Ever since that hug, he had been touching me more and more. Did this mean he was slowly accepting me? Maybe… maybe Ben would change his mind and not hurt me for Ashley… 3. Sharp pain interrupted my thoughts. My mind went blank. I finally finished having my eggs retrieved. When I walked out of the operating room, my body trembling, I found only Leo waiting at the door. “Where’s Ben?” He said he would be waiting for me right here. The pain heightened my distress and escaped without me realizing it. I asked the question with a sob I didn’t even know I had. Hearing this, Leo panicked. “Mrs. Stone, something suddenly came up at the office. Mr. Stone… he had to rush back to handle it. He asked me to wait and take you home.” A perfect excuse, leaving no room for anger. I stood in the clinic hallway for a while, then got up with Leo and left. We had driven quite a distance, but something made me look back suddenly. It was fleeting, and I only saw his back, but I clearly recognized Ben. He hadn’t left at all! He was guarding another woman! Ben used a clumsy excuse to negate his promise, and my self-deception became a joke. A bitter smile spread across my lips, and I said to Leo, “Let’s go.” He kept looking at me in the rearview mirror all the way. But I was exhausted, and even saying a word took a lot of effort, so I simply closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I fell into a fitful sleep, and when I woke up, it was already dark. I had dozens of unread messages on my phone. I opened them one by one, seeing messages from Ben, and… my mom. When Ashley came to the door claiming to be the Stone family’s true heiress, my mother, who had raised me since I was a child, said she would treat us equally. In reality, she scolded me without looking into things after Ashley framed me countless times. I had learned my lesson and gradually distanced myself from her. I immediately moved out and rented a house as soon as I started earning money. It had been eight years since I had last heard from her. But today, she suddenly asked me to ‘come home for dinner’. Something was definitely wrong. I knew this, but I couldn’t ignore the kindness she had shown me by raising me. Little did I know, when I walked in braving the snow, I saw the person I least wanted to see: Ashley. She was sitting by the fireplace, warming herself. When she saw me, she welcomed me, uncharacteristically. “Sis, you’re back. Come sit down.” She wanted to be a mediator. Utterly disappointed, I turned to leave. But a familiar voice from my memories suddenly snapped, “Kneel!” My mother slowly walked down the stairs. “Summer Stone, I raised you. Is this how you repay me?” “If your sister hadn’t suggested this dinner today, I wouldn’t have known you were married and planning to have children!” When she mentioned having children, I realized that Ashley wanted to use my mother against me. So that she could steal the child in my womb fairly in the future. She seemed so sure I would carry her and Ben’s child. I was upset, but my words dripped with sarcasm. “You really are talented, Ashley. I didn’t even know I was having a child, but you did.” “Do you sleep under my husband and my sister’s bed or something?” 4. Ashley didn’t say anything, but tears started flowing. Seeing this, my mom pointed at me, full of rage. “Summer Stone!” But for some reason, she eventually put her hand down. “Apologize to your sister. Apologize and then we’ll eat.” “You’ve been away from home for so long. She’s been the one keeping me company and taking care of me…” She probably thought I was a fool who was being played. That was why she felt sorry for me. But Ashley framing me at my wedding and Ashley interfering with my family and making me carry her child for her… all these things added up. The hatred grew like wildfire, and I couldn’t help but raise my hand to slap her. But Ben pushed me away at the critical moment. “Summer, Ashley is trying to help you mend your relationship with the family.” “Can you not be so unreasonable?” I didn’t know when he had arrived, but he looked exhausted, having come to protect Ashley. I was extremely sarcastic. I was about to tear down his façade, but Ben suddenly calmed down, his stern face softening. “Summer, apologize to Ashley.” My heart sank. Incredulously, I stared at Ben and asked. “You want me to apologize to her?” They were the ones plotting and scheming against me, but he wanted me to apologize to my abuser. His bias was obvious. I didn’t want to watch the two of them flirt, so I snorted and left. Ben chased after me a short while later, pulling me into his arms and coaxing me, “Don’t be angry, Summer.” “I’m afraid you’ll completely break up with them, and it’ll hurt your reputation.” He knew the real reason. I didn’t want to say much, so I warned Ben with the last of my goodwill. “Don’t you have germaphobia? Why are you holding me?” Hopefully, this reminder would bring him to his senses. If he didn’t love me, at least… at least he would see what he really wanted. Ben froze, staring intently at me, lost in thought. I thought my words had an effect. The faint joy hadn’t even risen when I plunged into the endless darkness. “Summer, let’s go to the clinic tomorrow. The doctor said the IVF was successful.” The IVF was successful… No wonder Ashley wanted to see me today. They had already decided to make their move. I had been struggling like a clown. “Ben, is this your choice?” I took a deep breath to suppress the bitterness in my eyes and asked through gritted teeth. Ben frowned, confused. “Isn’t this what we agreed on? Summer, what’s wrong with you?” His technique of putting the blame on me was excellent. But I saw the guilt in his eyes. When I got home, I made up an excuse that I wasn’t feeling well and contacted the doctor I had left my number with during the egg retrieval. The next day, when I went to the clinic with Ben, she gave me a subtle nod. I sighed in relief and walked into the operating room without hesitation. Ben suddenly grabbed me, his lips moving hesitantly. “Summer… maybe… maybe we should forget about this…” Forget about this? “Why should we?”

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Just before my wedding, the scholarship student my dad was sponsoring caught the eye of a notorious playboy from a wealthy family. My fiancé, unable to bear the thought of his darling falling into a living hell, intervened. That very night, they swore their eternal love in a hotel room. The whole town was waiting for me and the Hayes family to become a laughingstock. But there I was, pinned against the wall by the Hayes’ youngest, his fingers tilting my chin up. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Ethan stole my wife-to-be. It’s only fair I take yours, right?” I nodded. “Sounds fair.” … First thing that morning, I was hit with the headline: “Young Master Young of Young Enterprises Spends the Night with Aspiring Actress at the Four Seasons Hotel…” It was enough to make me sick. So, when Caleb made his proposal, my mouth reacted faster than my brain. “I do.” He clearly wasn’t expecting me to agree to something so outrageous. Caleb stood there gaping for a good minute, before stammering, “You…you, you said that.” “Three days from now, I’ll come and marry you. No take-backs.” He said it like he was afraid I’d change my mind. The six-foot-tall guy turned and ran, almost tripping over a tree root in his haste. I chuckled at the sight, realizing he wasn’t as bad as the internet made him out to be. Not long after Caleb left, Ethan showed up. My face instantly fell. “Mr. Golden Boy was having a great time last night. Shouldn’t you be with your darling, instead of bothering me?” Ethan couldn’t stand being given the cold shoulder. His face darkened as he tossed a bag at me. “Riley, I came to tell you that what happened with Sarah won’t affect our wedding. I’ll be there in three days to take you to the altar.” “I got this for you from Cloud Bakery. Your favorite strawberry shortcake.” The squashed cake inside the bag stung my eyes. After ten years, he still couldn’t remember my favorite treat. I looked up at him, a bitter smile on my face. “Ethan, I’m genuinely curious. Our wedding is still on? Does your precious Sarah approve?” He ignored the question in my eyes and continued. “Don’t worry. Sarah’s okay with it. I bought her a house out in the suburbs. She’ll live there and won’t bother us.” His shamelessness left me speechless. Ten years of friendship had only earned me a massive joke. It was time to end this. “Go home, Ethan. I’ll tell my parents tomorrow that the wedding is off.” Ethan frowned, grabbing my hand. “Riley, stop it. I told you, Sarah won’t affect our engagement.” He was treating me like a fool. I pulled my hand away, stepping back and glaring at him. “Ethan, who gave you the audacity to want to have it all?” “I, Riley Thompson, will only marry someone who has eyes only for me. You don’t deserve me.” Seeing my rejection, Ethan got angry. “Riley, I gave you an explanation about Sarah. What more do you want?” He dared to ask me what I wanted? I almost laughed hysterically. He was the one who went to steal another man’s bride before their wedding, the one who spent the night with her. He was the one who made me and the Hayes family the laughingstock of the internet. And he had the nerve to ask me what I wanted! I looked at him with disdain and repeated, “I, Riley Thompson, will never marry you. Get over it.” My repeated rejection angered Ethan. “Riley, everyone in our circle knows that you’ve been chasing after me since you were a little girl, always saying you wanted to marry me. Well, let me tell you, everyone thinks you’re used goods. I doubt anyone will dare marry you if I don’t.” With that, he sped off. I was shaking with rage, a deep sadness washing over me. I knew that the Ethan I had known and who had protected me since childhood was gone. The only one he cared about now was Sarah. The moment he trampled on my heart for Sarah, we should have ended things. But I was bitter. Over a decade of friendship couldn’t compare to their brief year together. Turns out I was wrong. 2 Caleb didn’t give me time to regret it. The next day, he arrived at my door with dozens of wedding dresses and half the shares in his company. My parents disapproved of Caleb, urging me to reconsider. But my mind was made up. Gotta stand up for yourself. The world keeps turning whether you’re there or not. While Caleb was a notorious womanizer, I had heard that he secretly protected the women he was involved with. My mother knew my personality and stopped arguing, telling the family to start making arrangements. Ethan arrived as I was coming downstairs in a bright red phoenix-embroidered gown to show my parents. Seeing me, he seemed to misunderstand. I saw a flash of surprise in his eyes. Then he raised his chin, sporting an “I knew it” expression. Sarah, who had just stepped into the doorway, couldn’t hide the jealousy in her eyes. “Riley, that dress is gorgeous. Are you going to wear it to marry Ethan?” I frowned and denied it. “No.” Ethan scoffed. “Don’t pretend, Riley. You were talking about calling off the wedding yesterday, and now you’re trying on dresses. Could you be any less composed?” Sarah pretended to be magnanimous, trying to smooth things over. “Yeah, Riley, Ethan and I both know you were just saying that in the heat of the moment. You didn’t mean it.” “Ethan, didn’t you get Riley a gift to apologize? Go on, give it to her!” Sarah urged, tugging at him. She wore a white dress, and as she moved, a flash of color caught my eye. I recognized it instantly. It was Ethan’s most treasured pin, one he’d shown me as a child. He said it was the only thing his mother had left him, and he’d said countless times that he would give it to his future wife. I’d been in love with him and had hinted at it many times. He always brushed it off and wouldn’t give it to me. Now it was on Sarah’s chest. Sarah seemed to notice my gaze and deliberately turned her body, her eyes filled with pride. Reminded by Sarah, Ethan reluctantly tossed a wooden box at me. Inside was a pin with peeling paint. He gave it to me like I’d won the lottery. “Here. It’s for you.” Looking at this junk he must have picked up from a trash can, I was furious. He was so generous with Sarah, so stingy with me. I resisted the urge to hit him and handed the box back. “No, thanks. Mr. Hayes, you can keep this for your dear sister.” Ethan’s face turned dark. Angered and embarrassed, he grabbed the box and threw it in the trash. “Have it your way.” At this, Sarah squeezed out a few tears and started rummaging through the trash. “Waaah, Riley, Ethan and I carefully picked this out for you! How can you reject our good intentions?” Ethan pulled her up, and they embraced, oblivious to everyone else. I rolled my eyes, finally realizing Sarah was here to mark her territory, and to see if I’d agree. “I’m saying again, I’m not marrying your Ethan. We’re done.” They clearly didn’t take me seriously. Sarah, feeling smug, shoved the box into my hand. “Riley, don’t be mad at Ethan. He was just trying to help me. He still loves you the most. Please don’t be angry with him, okay?” I stood on the stairs, my hand aching from her grip, and shook her off. “Get away from me. Don’t touch me.” I didn’t use much force, but she fell backwards, rolling down the stairs and landing on the floor, tears quickly welling up in her eyes. “Waaah, I’m sorry, Riley. I just wanted you to accept Ethan’s gift. I didn’t mean anything by it!” Ethan glared at me. “Riley, you’re impossible! Sarah spent the day with me buying you gifts to make you happy, respecting you. And this is how you treat her?” “Who would marry a venomous woman like you?” He scooped up Sarah and left. Sarah looked back, a smug smile on her face. It reminded me of the first time I met her. 3 Sarah was the scholarship student my dad sponsored. I first met her when Ethan was visiting. She was crying and begging my dad to pay for her to go to college. She was a skinny, pale girl, curled up and looking pitiful. Ethan, who was always kind-hearted, offered to help. Sarah later went to Hollywood and became a starlet, with Ethan acting as her protector. I was always jealous. He always explained, “I just feel sorry for Sarah. It’s hard for a girl like her in the industry without money or connections. We have to help her.” At first, I thought he was just sympathetic. Then he heard Sarah was going to marry Hayes, he dropped everything and ran to steal her away from the alter. The couple rushed straight to a hotel, acting like they hadn’t eaten in days. That’s when I realized that the weed on the hill had become Ethan’s most beautiful flower. The day before the wedding was Valentine’s Day, a day I used to look forward to. I always dreamed that Ethan would confess his love to me. Every year, I would drag him from one end of Main Street to the other. This year was the first time I came alone. As I walked down the street, crowds of people looked towards the town square. Curious, I overheard two people gossiping. “Wow, how romantic! The Young Enterprises heir moved all the roses in the market to the town square just to make his darling happy. Every color!” “Right? If I were that girl, I’d die of happiness.” “And that’s not all. Didn’t you see the posts online? He’s risking his relationships to be with her. If I could find a man like that, I’d die happy.” I rolled my eyes. His company was almost bankrupt, and he still had time for this. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice. “Riley.” I turned to see Ethan and Sarah standing in the town square, surrounded by roses. She held a bouquet of blue roses and came towards me, their fragrance filling the air. “Riley, are you out celebrating the holiday?” Ethan was still angry from the day before and glared at me. Sarah handed me the flowers. “Riley, don’t get me wrong. It’s my birthday today, and Ethan’s keeping me company. I hope you’re not angry. Consider these flowers an apology.” “No, thanks.” Learning from the previous day, I stepped back, fearing she’d try to frame me again. Besides, I had no desire to steal anything, people or objects. Hearing this, Ethan’s face darkened. “Sarah, Miss Thompson doesn’t want our stuff. Let’s go shopping. You can have anything you want today.” With that, he pulled Sarah into the crowd. As soon as they left, a masked man shoved a bouquet of sunflowers, my favorite, into my arms. He looked familiar as he ran away. I looked down at the card attached to the flowers. “Turn towards the sun, you will be born again”. Even Ethan didn’t know that my favorite flower was sunflowers. A warmth flowed through me as I took them home. The next day, the maids dragged me out of bed and handed me over to the makeup artists. It finally hit me that I was getting married today. Not to Ethan, my childhood sweetheart, but to Caleb, a playboy I barely knew. I was nervous. Taking a deep breath, I decided to go through with it. No matter what happened in the future, I would be strong. As I finished getting ready, the wedding cars pulled up. But it wasn’t Caleb. It was Ethan. Looking at the black cars and Ethan’s disdainful face, I was incredulous. I thought I had made it clear, and I had returned his family’s dowry. What was he doing now? Seeing me in my wedding gown, Ethan impatiently urged me. “Riley, you’re finally out. I’ve been waiting forever. Get in the car.” I lost my temper at his rude attitude. “Ethan, are you crazy? Didn’t I tell you our engagement was off? I’m marrying someone else today.” “My fiancé will be here soon. Get your car out of here.” Ethan looked around and scoffed. “Alright, Riley, the cameras are rolling. Don’t overact, or I’ll really leave. Don’t come crawling back to me, begging me to marry you. You’ll lose face.” “Fine, since it’s our wedding day, I’ll cut you some slack.” I looked to where he was pointing and saw a man with a camera filming us. Before I could say anything, the sound of horns blared from a distance. Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Is there another wedding today?” His eyes widened. “Riley, does your dad have an illegitimate daughter?” I rolled my eyes. Before I could speak, Caleb hurried forward. Seeing Ethan and his wedding cars, Caleb raised his eyebrows. “What’s up? Mr. Hayes has a fetish for stealing other people’s brides?”

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