My patient had a fever of 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and because I refused to prescribe fever reducers without a blood test, her mother later live-streamed a furious attack against me online. “Look at this heartless doctor, everyone! My child had a scorching 105.8-degree fever, and she insisted we get a blood test and wait for the results, stubbornly refusing to give her a fever reducer for an emergency!” “Healthcare is such a mess these days; it’s impossible to get affordable care, and it’s all because of doctors like you who order excessive tests!” “Angel in white? I see a greedy, corrupt opportunist! If my child suffers brain damage, can you pay for that?!” The video quickly ignited public outrage, and #MostImmoralPediatrician trended nationwide. I was doxxed and bombarded with online harassment. I even received a cursed package filled with blood-stained voodoo dolls and threatening letters. Meanwhile, Eleanor Vance, crying in her live stream about her child’s persistent high fever, received countless donations. Desperate to help, I ignored the insults. After donating a huge sum, I successfully connected with her via video call: “Ms. Vance, your child is this sick; you must take her to the hospital immediately for a blood test, then we can prescribe the right medication…” But she suddenly knelt down: “My daughter has a bleeding disorder and anemia. How can she withstand having so much blood drawn at once? Isn’t that going to kill her?!” “I just want her to get well. Why is it so hard?!”

With a startled gasp, Eleanor Vance cut off the live stream. I had tried to persuade her, but if she wouldn’t take her child to the hospital, it wasn’t like I could go to her house and forcibly draw blood. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the churning emotions within me. My professional instinct still prompted me to immediately report this serious online defamation and threat to the hospital’s administration and security. However, the online storm moved far faster than real-world procedures. After verifying my account with my real name, I shared an authoritative pediatric fever treatment guideline. I attached screenshots from reputable medical journals and tagged Eleanor Vance. I tried my best to explain in simple language why children with high fevers needed blood tests for accurate medication. Just minutes after my post went up, comments and private messages flooded in like a dam breaking. “Shameless! Now you want to clear your name? Why didn’t you do this earlier? Honestly, how much dirty money have you made?” “Still talking about guidelines at a time like this? Is a child’s life less important than your stupid rules? Will you die if you don’t earn a few extra bucks?” “This guideline couldn’t possibly be made up on the fly, could it?” “Look closely, everyone! This bitch is just trying to shirk responsibility!” In less than ten minutes, the number of abusive comments soared past ten thousand. Some people screenshot the guideline, stamping it with “FORGED EVIDENCE” in red letters. Others mocked my medical jargon word for word, claiming I was putting on a show to fool the public. A nurse, verified as working at my hospital, posted a comment: [To my knowledge, this doctor has always been fond of excessive testing.] This comment immediately became the top-rated one. Before long, someone dug up an old photo of me from college. In the picture, I was wearing a lab coat, pulling an all-nighter in the lab. The caption, however, was twisted into: [Breaking news! Back then, her favorite thing to do was use her uniform to seduce professors in the lab!] Before I could even defend myself, another post appeared, claiming to be from my high school classmate: “She’s always been this cold and unfeeling. When our classmate was writhing in pain from acute gastroenteritis, she calmly kept doing her homework.” The post went viral. Two colleagues, unable to stand it, openly defended me with their real names, but they too were swept into the storm. Even the entire hospital faced a boycott from netizens. Dr. Peterson called me into his office, incandescent with rage: “It’s just a fever reducer for her child, isn’t it? Why are you so stubborn? Don’t we usually provide fever reducers for free in such special cases right away?” “I know, but her child cannot be given it! Especially not for free…” Before I could continue my defense, reporters who had disguised themselves and snuck in surrounded Dr. Peterson and me. “Dr. Hayes, it seems all of this is your personal action and has nothing to do with the hospital, right?” To distance himself from me, Dr. Peterson immediately declared to the reporters that I had betrayed my medical ethics for money. “I hereby solemnly declare that the hospital will terminate Dr. Isabella Hayes’ employment and pursue all her professional misconduct and illegal gains!” Like a stray dog, I was thrown out by security at the hospital entrance, left to face the furious mob of netizens nearby. Only when I was beaten, bruised, and curled up on the ground did the crowd scatter like a flock of birds as a patrol car passed by. That night, I don’t know how I survived. My eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, desperately searching for evidence to clear my name. But before I could find anything, my family also suffered. I finally drifted off as dawn broke, only to be startled awake by my sister Mia’s tearful call: “Bella, Mom was cursed at today when she took me to school, and our doorstep is covered in trash. Mom said, don’t send her money anymore, she can’t use it…” “This is a disaster!” In the background, I could hear my mother’s faint sobs. After hanging up, Liam, my boyfriend of three years, also sent a message: [Bella, I believe you’re innocent, but the public pressure is too immense. My parents want me to keep my distance from you for now. Let’s not contact each other for a while.] A cold, unopened takeout container sat on my table, but I had no appetite. My phone screen constantly popped up with news alerts. Eleanor Vance’s new video was trending again. She appeared without makeup, wearing black-rimmed glasses, clutching a framed photo of her daughter. Her voice was hoarse: “This unscrupulous doctor killed my child! I’ve already appointed a lawyer. See you in court, I will not accept a settlement!”

Just one night with a high fever, and her child was gone? I was utterly bewildered, but the suspicion I’d harbored grew stronger. The online bullying escalated, and the news of Lily’s death was like a match thrown into a powder keg, igniting a firestorm that left me utterly devastated. I knew silence equaled guilt. I had to act. I started a live stream and publicly released a statement, proposing a forensic autopsy for the deceased child to determine the true cause of death. This was the only direct and scientific way I could think of to prove my innocence. However, this last stand only ignited the fuse for a new wave of anger. Eleanor Vance cried until she almost fainted in her own live stream: “My daughter is gone, why won’t they let her rest in peace? That malicious woman, she won’t even spare my child’s body! She just wants to destroy the evidence and clear her own name!” Her family also appeared in interviews, tearfully condemning my heartlessness and cruelty. Netizens’ fury reached its peak: “They want to dissect a child who’s already dead? Dr. Hayes, are you even human?” “This is clearly stalling for time, trying to evade responsibility!” “Support Eleanor! Don’t let this vicious woman get away with it!” “Does she have a powerful backer? She’s so arrogant!” My insistence seemed so pale and powerless against the surging tide of public opinion. Even the police came to my door, gently advising me: “Dr. Hayes, the family is emotionally agitated and firmly refuses an autopsy. We can’t force it. How about you apologize first, calm the family down, and then we can discuss it further…” “But I haven’t done anything wrong. Why should I apologize?” To my dismay, after the police left, the paparazzi, who had been staking out my home, posted a recording of this conversation online. The netizens’ emotions were reignited. “A butcher who thinks nothing of human lives! And she still claims she’s not wrong!” “Eleanor, please don’t give up. We all support you in fighting for your rights!” I found myself in deeper trouble. With the path to an autopsy blocked, I couldn’t produce direct evidence to prove my innocence. Eleanor Vance, on the other hand, firmly occupied the moral high ground, receiving sympathy and financial support from across the internet. I shut myself in my dimly lit room, curtains tightly drawn, as if that could shield me from the devouring stares and vicious whispers outside. But every search term with “Isabella Hayes” in it felt like a poisoned dagger, repeatedly tearing at my nerves. “Ding—” A new push notification popped up. It was from Eleanor Vance. She posted a picture of a cemetery. The caption read: [My daughter, Mom chose a new home for you. There’s no pain there, and no heartless doctors. Mom will definitely get justice for you! @IsabellaHayes, can you sleep at night?] The comment section was instantly flooded with “Go Mom!”, “Rest in peace, angel baby!”, and “Karma will get her.” Immediately after, a link for a “Fundraiser for Eleanor Vance’s Legal Fight” was launched. The target amount: five hundred thousand dollars. The progress bar under the donation link grew almost visibly. Countless anonymous IDs left messages, expressing sympathy for Eleanor and Lily, and curses against me. I watched the constantly ticking numbers, feeling a chill shoot straight from my feet to the top of my head. This wasn’t a fundraiser. This was a grotesque spectacle of profiteering, using a child’s death! And I was the sacrifice, nailed to a pillar of shame, to highlight their supposed kindness and righteousness. No, I couldn’t just sit here and let myself be slandered. The autopsy path was blocked; I had to find another angle. Lily’s sudden death, followed by her swift cremation, could only mean Eleanor’s secret was about to unravel.

I tried to contact Chloe, the nurse who claimed to be my colleague, but found she had blocked me. She seemed to have anticipated that I would confront her when I was at my wit’s end. Undeterred, I dug out my college contact list and called every classmate who might remember that lab photo. “Bella, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you know how people online are now… I’m scared!” “My wife is pregnant and can’t handle stress, I’m sorry…” Most calls went to a long busy signal before hanging up automatically. The few that were answered ended quickly with hesitant stutters and sighs. My supposedly deep friendships from school felt as thin as water-soaked paper in the face of the online mob. But I wasn’t disheartened. Dragging my utterly broken body, I returned to the hospital, hoping to ask former close colleagues to help me access Lily Vance’s past medical records through the internal system. Even a tiny clue might help piece together the truth. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hayes… You’ve already resigned and no longer have access to the internal system. Besides, this involves patient privacy…” My former colleagues, who used to greet me with smiles, now avoided my gaze, whispering so low I could barely hear them. Meanwhile, the donation page for Eleanor Vance continued to joyfully tick upwards, quickly surpassing the half-million-dollar mark. She posted a new video, without makeup, her eyes swollen like peaches, bowing deeply to the camera: “Thank you, everyone! My daughter in heaven will bless all kind-hearted people! I’ll use all this money to hire the best lawyers to make sure the murderer pays! Once we win, I’ll donate all the money to a children’s foundation!” The comment section was full of praise for her righteousness and kindness. And I was being screamed at by countless people to die. As I returned to my apartment building, a shout startled me, making me stumble: “The bitch is here!” With that explosion from a middle-aged woman, rotten vegetables and eggs flew at me. From that day on, my home address was publicly known across the internet. My doorstep was either piled with trash or covered in dead rats and foul, yellowish stench. My neighbors, unable to bear the constant harassment, and the building management, tired of being implicated daily, collectively petitioned me to move out. Unwilling to cause trouble for others, I packed my suitcase and left that very night. Unfortunately, when I tried to check into a hotel, the receptionist immediately refused me, claiming they were fully booked once they saw who I was. After being turned away repeatedly, with nowhere to go, I could only call the colleague who had openly defended me. The phone rang for a long time before she answered. “Dr. Hayes, please don’t call me anymore. I’ve been suspended because of you, and the hospital has launched an investigation into me…” The call was abruptly disconnected. In the cold dial tone, I leaned against the stained wall and slowly slid to the floor. Guilt, like a creeping vine, squeezed the breath from my lungs. Perhaps it was the days of fear, hunger, and utter exhaustion, but I fell ill. My forehead was so hot you could fry an egg on it, and my throat felt like I’d swallowed razor blades. Wearing a mask, I bought some medicine at a pharmacy and eventually found a cheap motel that didn’t require ID. In a blur of feverish awareness, my phone vibrated. It was an anonymous text message: “Dr. Hayes, I’ve got a lead on what you asked me to investigate.” The dizziness from the high fever eased slightly with that message. Just as I confirmed the evidence with the sender, there was an urgent knock at my door. I opened it to find two police officers in uniform. Behind them, countless flashing phone screens and prying eyes peered. “Isabella Hayes, you are suspected of medical malpractice leading to death. Please come with us to the station to cooperate with the investigation.”

The interrogation room lights at the police station were blindingly white. “Dr. Hayes, if you refused to prescribe fever reducers for Eleanor Vance’s daughter, why did you secretly send her medication afterwards?” “Did you know her daughter died after taking the fever reducer you sent?” I shook my head, denying it: “I didn’t secretly send any medication. Without a blood test to confirm the situation, I would never casually give her child any drugs!” “Then how do you explain this video?” The police showed me a video, which astonishingly showed me, fully disguised, at Eleanor Vance’s doorstep delivering medicine. “I don’t even know where she lives, how could I have…” The officer interjected, “The hospital system contains her detailed address; there’s no need to quibble.” Then the police handed me a file. “This is evidence provided by Ms. Eleanor Vance: an audio recording and her child’s medical death certificate.” I took it. The recording had clearly been meticulously edited. It only contained my cold insistence on “needing a blood test before prescribing medication” and her tearful pleas. On the death certificate, the words “acute severe infection with multi-organ failure” were horrifying. “Dr. Hayes, as a doctor with many years of practice, why would you do this? Was it truly to generate income for the hospital? To increase your personal earnings?” I didn’t know why Eleanor Vance was so determined to destroy me, but Lily had already been cremated. With the hospital unwilling to defend me, it was indeed difficult to prove my innocence. But I had the strongest evidence now. I sharply lifted my head, looking at the officer across from me: “Since Ms. Vance likes to resolve issues via live stream, I request that this questioning be conducted via a live video call, allowing me to confront her face-to-face.” A dead silence fell over the interrogation room. The young officer taking notes paused, looking up in astonishment. The lead interrogating officer frowned, his face full of bewilderment: “Are you sure? Do you know the public sentiment? They practically want you dead! If you can’t prove your innocence in the end, your life will be ruined!” “I know!” I met his sharp gaze, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. “As long as I can confront her via video call, you’ll know why I refused to give her child a fever reducer, and you’ll also know why her child died.” After a long stare-down, the police agreed to my request. The news spread like wildfire, instantly sweeping across the entire internet. No one had expected that even after being taken to the police station, I would dare to be so arrogant as to go live and confront Eleanor Vance. Everyone awaited this face-off between the vicious doctor and the grieving mother. The camera focused on me, a cold red light flashing. On the electronic screen opposite, Eleanor Vance’s live video feed appeared. She still looked pale, eyes red-rimmed, forcing a strong facade of barely suppressed grief. The number of live viewers, at the moment of connection, rocketed, soaring past ten million. The barrage of comments was so dense it almost obscured the screen. [The bitch dares to show her face!] [Go Eleanor! We’re all with you!] [Look at her, still unrepentant!] The live stream began. The police questions were sharp and direct. “Isabella Hayes, why did you refuse to prescribe fever reducers for Eleanor Vance’s daughter, and then secretly send unknown medication that led to her death?” “Because… she deserved to die.” My words shocked the entire internet, and even the police slammed the table in anger. Only in Eleanor Vance’s tear-filled eyes was there a flicker of triumph. The next second, tears streamed down her face: “I knew she had ill intentions! It’s all my fault for cremating my daughter on impulse, otherwise an autopsy would definitely prove that the medicine she secretly sent was the poison that killed my daughter!” “If it weren’t for a kind person reminding me afterwards, I never would have thought Isabella Hayes could be so malicious!” “I only wanted an apology for my child, which is why I live-streamed that night’s consultation. But she actually poisoned my daughter because of it….” Her tearful accusations elicited a wave of pity and angry curses in the comments section. But I ignored her sorrow and challenged her: “Eleanor Vance, do you dare to say your daughter had no previous medical history?” “No! My daughter was just a little frail, with mild anemia and a bleeding disorder, which is why I couldn’t bear for her to have blood drawn…” “Is that so?” “Ms. Vance, you repeatedly emphasized your child’s anemia and bleeding disorder, refusing a blood test.” “Then, please explain this—” I raised my phone, unlocked it, and turned it towards the camera. For a second, the live stream was dead silent. Then, the entire internet erupted in shock!

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After my husband Julian Blackwood got a heart transplant, he fell for a widow seven years his senior. At my birthday party, he gave her my seat at the head of the table. “Audrey doesn’t like chocolate. Change the cake to strawberry.” I stood up, face set in stone, and walked out, leaving behind the obedient wife I used to be. He roared after me, “Why are you being so unreasonable? My new heart makes me love her—can’t you try to understand?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. The truth he never learned was that the donor had loved me since the very beginning. As I was about to leave, Julian’s hand clamped down on my wrist. “Audrey, give your design drafts to Serena Thorne. She needs a new piece for her show the day after tomorrow, to legitimize her name.” Those design drafts were the culmination of three years of my hard work. He knew exactly what they cost me, yet he said tonelessly, “I’ll compensate you.” How could he compensate for all my years of sacrifice and humiliation? I only remembered that a month ago, I refused to rig the new artist award in Serena’s favor. In retaliation, he posted my private photos all over the internet. I pulled out my design drafts and my USB drive, then formatted my computer right there, in front of everyone. I offered my congratulations obediently. “I wish you great success.” Julian’s expression softened at my words. “Audrey, this is how you should always be—obedient and sensible. As long as you’re good, I can give you anything you want.” But the next second, Serena clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Julian immediately shoved me aside, and he was doting on her, practically falling over himself. His movements were careful, yet clumsy. His panic and helplessness were plain for everyone to see. They watched me, smirking, their eyes full of mockery. They weren’t the only ones who looked down on me. I looked down on myself, too. Three days prior, I suddenly started bleeding down there. Julian was just about to leave to take Serena out for a candlelight dinner. I crawled to his feet, a long trail of blood marking my path behind me. The man ignored my desperate plea, forcefully pulling his pant leg free from my desperate grip. Just before I completely gave up hope, Julian turned back. He frowned at the bloodstains behind me, pinched his nose, and ordered, “Clean up the mess, and get her a fresh change of clothes. Serena gets sick to her stomach at the smell of blood.” I silently turned to leave, only to be violently pushed to the ground by him. The champagne tower and cake toppled onto me, leaving me utterly humiliated. “Kneel.”

Before I could even speak, I was dragged in front of him. “You deliberately made her uncomfortable, made a scene, and messed up this place.” “If you didn’t want to give her the design drafts, you should have just said so. Why resort to such despicable methods, causing her to have an attack? Is this how you ‘repay’ her?” Repay a debt. Repay a debt. Publicly slapping me was ‘repaying a debt.’ Making love in my bed was ‘repaying a debt.’ Tying me, six months pregnant, to a freefall ride was ‘repaying a debt.’ Thinking of this, I resigned myself and knelt, striking my head hard against the glass shards on the floor three times, the sounds echoing through the room. “Is this enough?” I said, my voice hoarse. Seeing my humiliated state, Julian’s breathing grew heavier. “Stop faking it, Audrey. No one here is going to sneak you information, and no one’s going to back you up.” “Cut out that repulsive look on your face.” I couldn’t be bothered to explain. As soon as Serena on the sofa seemed to recover, Julian immediately pushed me away and swept her into his arms. Julian rushed upstairs. I limped towards the door. Catching a glimpse of a faint figure in my memory, I quickened my pace. Before I could even speak, a dull thud hit me from behind, and then I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant. I was being held down, kneeling by the door of a hospital room. From a distance, I vaguely heard the housekeeper’s trembling voice. “Sir, Madam just had a miscarriage a few days ago, and her knees are still wounded. The floor is so cold, she won’t be able to bear it.” “The doctor also said Miss Serena’s condition isn’t serious. It’s better to let Madam treat her wounds first.” “Enough.” A cold glare silenced the housekeeper. “Audrey won’t kneel at the door, and Serena won’t be able to sleep.” “It’s just a minor procedure, she’s been through it before.” The familiar scent of pine grew stronger. I closed my eyes, tears falling silently. “Don’t cry.” “Just bear with it a little longer. I have her lover’s heart. I need to compensate her.” His voice was coaxing, filled with tenderness, but it only made me sick. Two hours passed, and I was swaying precariously. Suddenly, Serena in the hospital room let out a whimpering cry. Julian’s expression, which had softened slightly, immediately hardened. “Hold her down. She must kneel until Serena wakes up tomorrow morning.” The nurse, unable to bear it, said that if the wounds on my knees weren’t treated, they could easily become infected and lead to necrosis or even amputation. The man didn’t hesitate. “Do as I say.” “Sir…” I raised a hand to stop the housekeeper who was about to speak up for me, enunciating each word. “It’s fine. I’ll kneel. I owe her, I should repay my debt.” “After I finish kneeling, we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.” After I spoke, the man didn’t agree. Instead, he furiously gripped my face. “Who are you putting on this show for? Don’t play these mind games with me, Audrey. You’re thirty, not eighteen.” “I just want to repay a debt. Do you really need to act so pitiful?” Serena’s cries were just a murmur in her sleep. Julian immediately plastered a smile on his face and went to her side. I don’t know how much time passed, but my world plunged into darkness again. When I woke up again, Julian was asleep by my bedside, my hand clutched in his. Feeling the steady beat of his heart, my eyes welled up, as if the catastrophe had never happened. I pulled my hand back, waking him. He reached out to check my forehead. “When did you wake up? Are you still uncomfortable?” I simply turned away. “You made me miss my flight.” Julian had never seen me so distant, and an awkward silence lingered for a while. When he saw me booking another flight on my phone, he couldn’t help but ask. “Where are you going for work?” In the past, he would never have asked so much. Before, even a little bit of concern from him would have thrilled me. Now, it just annoyed me. “None of your business.” “I’ve spoiled you too much, you’re getting completely out of control.” “Can’t you learn to be a little gentle, like Serena?” He just kept rambling on and on. Annoyed, I simply closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. He stormed out, leaving the hospital room in shambles. The moment he left, I opened my phone and switched to another app. I just clicked it open, and hundreds of messages flooded in.

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My husband and I shared a lifetime of love, only to be reborn together in the 80s. Driven by the hope of rekindling our past, I waited for him at the dance hall where we first met, for two agonizing years. As I watched him confidently stride toward me, my heart swelled with joy. I reached out, ready to embrace a new life, a new beginning, with him. But his steps carried him right past me, stopping instead before the manager’s daughter. “May I have this dance with you?” Turns out, he’d decided he wanted a different partner entirely. “Scarlett, you’ve checked the door at least ten times. Who are you waiting for? All these gorgeous men here, and not a single one catches your eye?” I barely registered Chloe’s words, my gaze fixed intently on the entrance. I was reborn. And today, this very day, was when I first met my husband, Dylan. In our past life, Dylan and I were the epitome of a power couple. We started from nothing, building our lives together for over sixty years. We were poor, we argued, we fought, we cried, we fussed, we complained, but we never once talked about breaking up. At our lowest, we split the last piece of bread, huddling together for warmth. After we got wealthy, we moved into a mansion, never forgetting to help our family and friends. We walked through life hand in hand, a model couple everyone envied. On my deathbed, I asked him, “If we could be reborn, would you still ask me to dance that day?” He kissed me without hesitation. I closed my eyes with a smile, ending that life. So in this life, When other men showed interest – no matter how capable or handsome they were – I rejected them all. I was waiting for Dylan. I was going to be his wife again. I never attended the company singles mixers. I told my frantic parents that I had someone special in my heart, and he’d be joining our company this time next year. My parents thought I was out of my mind. So I waited, year after year. Dylan, who should have joined the company in 1986, only appeared in 1988. That’s when I learned he’d spent two years in the military. In our previous life, Dylan had often lamented not having served in the army. Now, he’d actually taken two years to do it. I guessed he must have been reborn too. When I heard Dylan was attending the singles dance, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was the first to sign up. Even though it was two years later, I wore the same red polka-dot dress as in my past life and got a fresh perm. I politely turned down every man who asked for a dance, sitting in the waiting area, my eyes glued to the door. Today, I was finally going to properly greet him. “That’s our company’s new engineer.” “Looks like he just came back from the military too~ You can tell; he’s got that military bearing.” Chloe nudged my arm, pointing towards the main entrance. That familiar figure entered my view. The restless music in the dance hall seemed to slow to half speed. Slightly disheveled short hair, a sharp jawline, he glanced left and right as if searching. The moment our eyes met, he gave a shy smile, revealing his signature grin. He walked through the crowd, heading towards me, just like in our past life. Twenty-four-year-old Dylan still made my heart flutter. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as he drew closer. I raised my arm, ready to embrace the happiness of this new life. My hand, suspended in mid-air, froze. He walked past me, towards Chloe, who was standing behind me. “Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?”

Chloe looked flustered, her face instantly flushing crimson. Colleagues around us, loving the drama, started to hoot. “Dylan’s new to the company, Chloe, don’t crush his confidence!” “Yeah, just dance with him!” Chloe found it hard to refuse and reached out, letting her hand rest on Dylan’s. Dylan took Chloe’s hand, and they walked onto the dance floor. The crowd cheered. I sat there, stunned. No matter how loud the music was, I couldn’t hear a thing. Dylan hadn’t even spared me a glance; his steps had marched directly to Chloe. In that first life, was it Chloe he wanted to ask to dance? I scrambled out of there. The sky opened up, pouring rain, and memories from my previous life flooded my mind. In my past life, Chloe had invited me to that singles dance. She’d picked out my entire outfit, from head to toe. Her favorite red polka-dot dress, her signature 80s perm. We were similar in height and build. Dressed up, we looked almost like twins. I didn’t know how to dance, so I just sat in a corner. Dylan came straight up to me, head bowed, and asked me in front of everyone, “Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?” The stage lights were dim. He didn’t dare to look up. When I didn’t move, he bravely spoke again, “I’ve liked you for a long time. Please, dance with me!” That was the first time I truly heard my own heartbeat. I’d secretly liked Dylan for ages, and being suddenly confessed to by the man I adored left me flustered. I mechanically reached out my hand, my mind a blank, and replied, “I like you too.” My colleagues around us started to cheer. Only then did Dylan finally look up and meet my eyes. Back then, I couldn’t read the shock in Dylan’s eyes; I thought it was surprise. After that dance, I became more proactive in pursuing Dylan, and he never refused me. It seemed everyone at the company assumed we were a couple. Marriage and children followed naturally, a course of least resistance. Even though he was always distant, I just figured that was his personality. But then I thought of the fervent look in his eyes just now on the dance floor. Turns out, Dylan had wanted to ask Chloe to dance from the very beginning. I remembered Chloe once saying she had a weakness for guys in uniform. So, the first thing Dylan did after being reborn was to join the military. What he called his “regret” actually pointed to Chloe. Dylan, like me, had a clear purpose in being reborn. Only, the objects of our affections had changed. I went home in the rain, caught a fever, and my parents worried outside my door for days. Once I recovered, I calmly announced, “Mom and Dad, I’m ready for blind dates.” Dylan in this life seemed like a completely different person. In our previous life, he was always cautious. He’d think everything through before acting. But in this life, he practically moved his desk next to Chloe’s. As if he wanted to tell everyone at the company that he liked Chloe. His forwardness and intensity were something I’d never witnessed. In our previous life, if I even walked a little too close to him at the company, he’d try to keep his distance. “We work at the same place. People will talk.” I didn’t know what kind of “talk” he meant, but now, he’d already been warned several times by the supervisor. Yet, he didn’t reduce his closeness to Chloe. Chloe was my best friend, and she couldn’t help but complain to me about Dylan. “He’s so annoying! Dylan, he’s stuck to me like glue, he’s everywhere!” “You don’t like him? I saw you accept his gifts and go to the movies with him.” “Accepting gifts means we’re together? Plenty of guys send me stuff.” Chloe had many suitors. Even though Dylan had returned from two years in the military, his other prospects weren’t exactly stellar. Chloe shared the imported chocolate Dylan had bought her with everyone. As I held a piece in my hand, a pang of envy struck me. Back then, when I was pregnant and craved a sweet chocolate, he’d say that when starting a business, every penny counted. And with a baby on the way, money would be tight everywhere. No matter what I wanted, he always had a thousand reasons not to give it to me. But now, if Chloe simply said she wanted some, he’d buy her so many boxes, more than she could ever eat. Turns out, whether there was love or not had always been crystal clear. It was just my love-struck self, blinded and deluded, who chose to ignore it all.

One day at work, feeling a bit lightheaded, I opened a bar of chocolate Chloe had given me and ate a piece. “How dare you eat that?” This was the first time Dylan had spoken to me since being reborn. But his next action was to slap the chocolate out of my hand. “That’s for Chloe! Where did you steal it from?!” His words chilled me to the bone. He actually accused me of “stealing.” “What are you doing?! I gave this to Scarlett myself!” Chloe immediately stepped in to protect me. Dylan gave an awkward laugh. “Oh, right. My bad then…” “Chloe, this chocolate is really expensive. It cost me half my salary. Could you maybe eat it yourself?” “I can give it to whoever I want! What’s it to you?! Scarlett, let’s go, I’ll take you out to eat!” When Dylan said “steal,” the look in his eyes was like he was looking at a complete stranger. He didn’t even consider that I might have been reborn too. After all, we’d spent sixty years together, started a business, built a home, raised children. Even if there was no love, surely there was some family bond. His cold tone towards me, laced with hatred, as if he feared I’d contaminate him. He even begrudged me something he’d given to someone else. “So, Chloe, when are you and Dylan going to make it official?” Chloe sighed, adding some food to my bowl. “His family background is pretty bad. Besides his military service, he doesn’t have much else going for him. I’m still thinking about it.” Despite her words, less than two months later, the news that Dylan and Chloe were an item spread throughout the company. Many said Dylan was chasing Chloe because she was the company Manager’s daughter, hoping to be a gold digger and climb the ladder fast. But Dylan, to show his “true love,” got a tattoo of Chloe’s face on his arm. I remembered how in our past life, when our son got a tattoo of my photo and his, Dylan had ripped into him, humiliating him. And now he was using that exact same move to chase Chloe. Chloe’s parents were even more disgusted by Dylan’s behavior, especially with the rumors of him being a gold digger spreading through the company. Chloe’s parents ordered them to break up immediately. But young people are like that; the more you try to stop them, the more they cling to each other. To prove he wasn’t a gold digger, Dylan swore he’d buy Chloe a proper house in the city, outright, by next month. Listening to the gossip, a question suddenly struck me. Dylan, from a poor background, where would he get the money to buy a house? And he set himself a deadline for next month? Wait, what?! I suddenly remembered that next month, the city was hosting the first National Bridal Gown Design Competition. In my past life, I entered it on a whim. My design won the gold prize and was bought by an industry expert for a staggering fifty thousand dollars. That was fifty thousand dollars in the 80s. That money later became the seed fund for Dylan’s and my business. My mind raced. In my previous life, I only submitted the design sketches. If I could actually produce the gown, wouldn’t I earn even more? I worked overtime for over a month, burning the midnight oil. The moment I arrived at the competition venue, I heard exclamations of admiration. “Who designed this? It’s a work of art!” “This level of skill could compete on the world stage!” “I totally underestimated Dylan! This intricate craftsmanship is absolutely masterful.” … The praises kept coming. I looked towards the huddle of people. A gown identical to my design from the previous life was on a model. The intricate details, the choice of jewels, the lace patterns—everything was identical. The only difference was, this piece was credited to “Dylan.” I’d forgotten that in my previous life, he had seen this award-winning design countless times, often using it as a company endorsement for various projects. I looked at Dylan, and our eyes met. I had no intention of questioning him, but his eyes were full of provocation. He then turned to all the contestants present and declared, “Competitions should be about sincerity. I think those who only bring sketches shouldn’t even bother!” “My work started over a month ago; every stitch is a piece of my heart!” He was clearly implying that I, just like in the previous life, had only brought design sketches. The onlookers praised his dedication, and those who had only brought sketches lowered their heads in shame. My mom, who came to help me, saw Dylan’s work and instantly panicked. “Honey, how is his work identical to yours?” Mom’s words were overheard by Dylan and the people around him. There was a moment of silence. Dylan then seized his chance. “Scarlett! We’re from the same company. You weren’t peeking while I was designing, were you?” “This is a major competition! Is someone already cheating in the very first year?!” Dylan was clearly prepared, firing off a barrage of accusations. Mom, furious, immediately opened my bag and started arguing with him. “This is my daughter’s hard work! Who is the real copycat?!” My gown had just been finished this morning. The basting stitches were still in, and the threads weren’t even trimmed. This immediately solidified the accusations of me being a “copycat.” The whispers grew louder, people pointing at me, trying to prevent me from competing. Even Chloe, standing beside Dylan, looked at me as if I were a thief. If I hadn’t lived through a previous life and seen every kind of situation, I would have fled right then! But I remained unfazed, my expression calm. I registered, filled out the forms. Seeing my composure, Dylan feigned concern. “Forget it, I guess Scarlett was just blinded by ambition. We’re all colleagues; let’s give her some slack.” “Designs can sometimes be similar. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose this time.” He played both the good guy and the bad guy, pretending to be magnanimous despite being wronged. The crowd’s approval of Dylan soared. “For fairness, Scarlett, your piece isn’t even finished, and it’s identical to mine. You should just withdraw from the competition to save yourself further embarrassment!” I suddenly smiled. “Dylan, I never said this was my competition entry.”

“She’s been exposed, hasn’t she? Is she just making things up now?” “It’s barely been a month of prep time! One person making an entire finished bridal gown is already incredibly difficult!” I ignored the whispers around me. I calmly asked the judging panel for five mannequins. Returning to my competition spot, Mom and I calmly pulled out clothing bags. I was prepared. I was here to make money, and every piece at this competition would be sold. The more, the better. Having lived a lifetime, I’d spent sixty years in fashion. I’d made ten gowns in a single month before. Even though the tools weren’t as advanced in this life, my sixty years of skill were still sharp. Some onlookers scoffed, “Can she really win by sheer volume?” People were still whispering, but as my gowns were placed one by one on the mannequins, everyone fell silent. My past life’s design was an intricate, heavily embroidered gown, extremely complex to recreate. That’s why I left it for last, to make it if I could, and skip it if I couldn’t. All my focus in this life had been on these five designs. Each one was an award-winning design that hadn’t yet appeared in this era. Elegant, grand, and minimalist – a standard that wouldn’t be outdated even in that time. When the five dresses were perfectly displayed, everyone was speechless. The judging began. All the judges lingered for a long time in front of my designs. They asked me about my design philosophy, my inspiration, and I answered them honestly. Actually, long before those contestants stopped gossiping about me, I already knew the answer in my heart. But to my dismay, first place still went to Dylan’s intricately crafted gown. The contestants who had mocked me earlier now offered consolation. “Chloe’s dad is one of the organizers. We all think your designs were better.” Dylan, holding his medal, shot me a triumphant glance. “Copying is copying. Trying to win by quantity is just pathetic. How utterly ridiculous.” But then, Dylan’s smile faltered. The next awards, second place, third place, all the way to sixth place, They all went to me. The judges commented, “The works are mature, with a unique style. While they show echoes of the first-place design, they are more refined. The only drawback is that as bridal gowns, they are perhaps too minimalist; the mainstream still prefers more decoration.” The room fell completely quiet. Anyone who knew anything about design understood. Decorations can be added later, but the fundamental design and cut of the garment are what truly matter. Dylan’s cool demeanor finally crumbled. I calmly gave my acceptance speech, focusing on one key point: “They are available for purchase.” Several judges’ eyes lit up with interest. My creations were right here. Whether they were copied or not, everyone could judge for themselves. Even Chloe understood, giving Dylan a disgusted look before directly leaving the venue. Dylan stubbornly stayed. He needed to make money. The auction began with the first-place design. Dylan’s piece started at $10,000, and Chloe’s father bid it up to $15,000. But the price wouldn’t go any higher; no one else raised their paddle. In my past life, this gown sold for fifty thousand! Had that person not shown up? I felt a little worried. Would my gowns not sell for much now? When it was my turn, Chloe’s father privately approached me. “Scarlett, if your designs could stay with the company, I’d promote you and give you a raise.” I didn’t know how to respond. Just then, my gowns went up for auction. All five pieces at once. “$50,000!” “$150,000!” “$200,000!” Everyone frantically raised their paddles. The price per piece had long surpassed Dylan’s $15,000. I grew more excited; I hadn’t expected such an incredible response to these five pieces. Dylan stood in front of his own gown, his face growing darker and darker. “$500,000!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299307”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

I landed a huge deal at the end of the year, bringing in a five-million-dollar bonus. The company, in a gesture of goodwill, allowed me, eight months pregnant, to start my maternity leave early. My mother-in-law, Brenda, asked why I wasn’t going to work. Lying on the couch, I joked, “With the company cutting back, I was laid off.” “Guess I’ll just be a stay-at-home wife and mom from now on.” To my shock, Brenda immediately slapped my heavily pregnant belly. “Then why aren’t you off your butt doing laundry and cooking?!” “Just because you’re carrying a girl, you think you can freeload?!” Mark, my husband, happened to walk in, pulling Brenda into the nursery. Feeling completely wronged, I opened the hidden camera feed they didn’t know about, wanting to see whose side Mark would take. But what I uncovered were chilling secret after chilling secret. 0 Brenda, flung a raw, mud-caked potato at me, hitting my eight-month pregnant belly with a dull thud. A sharp, searing pain shot through me. “Ashley! I’ve been wanting to tell you for ages, but I’ve been holding my tongue!” “Parading around, all dressed up every day! Anyone who didn’t know you were going to work would think you were soliciting on the street! What kind of boss would keep such a loose woman?!” The sudden outburst stunned me. Three months ago, Mark said my pregnancy was progressing, and Brenda would come to take care of me. “I’m often on business trips. I’d feel better with Mom here.” Indeed, after Mark’s promotion, his business trips became exceptionally frequent. Considering it would be inconvenient to be alone, and that my previous short visits with Brenda had been smooth enough, I happily agreed. Brenda had, in fact, been meticulously caring for me during this time, preparing every meal herself. When I tried to help, she’d shoo me out of the kitchen. “You’re busy with work. Cooking is a small thing, don’t worry about it.” I thought I’d never have to face mother-in-law conflicts in this lifetime, but one joke turned Brenda into a completely different person. “Your elder is speaking to you! Don’t you know to stand up?!” “You orphan trash! No wonder you have no manners!” Her words stopped me cold, just as I was about to explain, piercing me to the core. My parents died in an accident when I was fifteen. The first time I visited Mark’s family, Brenda held my hand, her eyes full of pity. “My biggest regret in life is not having a daughter. From now on, you’re my own daughter!” At that time, I thought I finally had a family again. So over the years, even when Brenda and I had a clash of values, I tried my best to compromise and adapt. I couldn’t understand why a single sentence could make her completely transform like this?! I was still reeling when Brenda started nagging again, full of discontent. “Living in the city is expensive! Now it’ll all fall on my son!” Seeing me still dazed, Brenda slapped my lower back. “You still have the nerve to lie there?!” The slap was incredibly forceful, sending me sprawling off the couch, my knees hitting the floor with a heavy thud. My first instinct was to clutch my aching belly, desperate to explain. I’d just managed to call out “Brenda,” when Brenda had already settled onto the couch, placing her smelly feet right on my back! Her weight, about 170 pounds, pressed down deliberately, leaving me unable to move. “Brenda?! What are you doing?!” I was utterly shocked and bewildered. Brenda snorted. “Teaching you the rules of being a daughter-in-law in my family, of course!” “Mark used to say you made good money, so for my son, I tolerated you, you damn girl, for so long!” “Now you don’t make money anymore! You better cut the attitude from now on!” “Let me tell you! I’ve been furious since the first day I arrived! You threw out a whole pot of stewed chicken I brought!”

Knowing Brenda was coming, I’d spent two days cleaning the house from top to bottom. New bedding, fresh fruits, and vegetables piled high on the table. Brenda didn’t come empty-handed either, carrying a plastic bag filled with stewed chicken. “Free-range chicken! You can’t get this in the city!” “For Ashley to regain her strength!” At the time, Mark grumbled that his mom was making unnecessary trouble, but I smiled, accepted everything, and thanked her profusely. However, after the long train journey, the chicken was already spoiled and rotten. “The chicken was spoiled, didn’t Mark tell you?” But before I could finish, Brenda kicked me to the ground. “Still daring to talk back! You beggar, choosing your food! Just because you’re carrying a girl, you think you’re some kind of queen?!” I frowned, about to argue, when the front door suddenly opened. Mark, who was smiling and looking at his phone a second ago, froze in his tracks, frowning at the scene. “What’s going on?” Before I could speak, Brenda cut in. “Go ask your wonderful wife! She got herself fired!” “My poor son, such a tough life! He finally started making something of himself, and now he’s stuck with a freeloader!” “I, as his mother, said a few words, and she’s sticking her neck out, talking back!” “Ashley, let me tell you! This is the only time! If you dare to do this again, get out of this house!” Mark frowned, looking at me. “You got fired?” I was carrying his child, kicked to the ground by his mother, and he didn’t try to help me up. Instead, his first question was about being fired. Looking at my husband of three years, a chill ran through me, and I didn’t want to explain anything. “If you also think I’m a freeloader, then talk to your mom and figure out which of us should get out of my house.” When we got married, Mark’s family wasn’t well off. This house was my parents’ inheritance. An eight-month pregnant woman, not only bullied by her mother-in-law but also told to get out of her own home. Lying in bed, tears of injustice streamed down my face. Hearing Mark pull Brenda into the nursery, I suddenly remembered the hidden camera I’d installed two days ago. It was for keeping an eye on the baby later, and I hadn’t had a chance to tell Mark or Brenda. I thought I’d see how Mark would mediate the conflict between Brenda and me, but when I opened the feed, I heard an earth-shattering secret. It sent chills down my spine. “You said she might get a promotion and a raise by the end of the year! Now look, she got fired!” “She’s about to give birth, and she is too. You’re supporting two families on one salary, my heart aches for you, son!” Brenda’s face was full of annoyance, and she even dabbed at her eyes. She? Two families? Could Mark have another family behind my back?! Thinking of his frequent business trips recently, a sinking feeling of dread suddenly gripped me. In my late pregnancy, I had frequent bathroom trips at night. Several times, I’d caught Mark sitting on the toilet with a strange smile on his face. Sometimes he’d be so engrossed in his phone that he wouldn’t even notice me come in, then he’d almost drop his phone when he saw me. His explanation was that work stress kept him awake, and he scrolled through funny videos, not wanting to disturb my sleep in bed. I wasn’t without my suspicions, but Mark would casually hand me his phone. “Look, look! I think your pregnancy hormones are just acting up, making you paranoid!” Checking his phone, I didn’t find anything, so I had to let it go. I quickly continued listening, but Mark didn’t respond directly, only saying, “A few days ago, I asked her team members, and they did say she had a good chance of closing a big deal and getting a promotion. How could she just get fired?” “Could it be she closed the deal, earned the money, and just doesn’t want us to know?” “I’ll double-check.” My scalp tingled. Mark had secretly contacted my team members?! And I knew nothing about it!

Realizing this, I quickly created a private group chat and added all my team members. Being an orphan, I cherished human connections deeply. We shared profits generously, and my chosen team members clicked really well with me. They proudly called themselves my “chosen family.” [If Mark contacts any of you, stick to the same story! The big deal didn’t go through! I was fired by the company!] [All] I stared at my phone screen, seconds stretching into an eternity, terrified Mark would get a response before me. Sure enough, after a few ‘received’ messages, my assistant Sarah replied: [Ashley, is this a surprise for Mark? Mark just asked me, almost blew your cover! Got it! I’m going to play hard to get with the info!] After a sigh of relief, I sent another message. [My marriage is in crisis. More details when I have time, but for now, if Mark contacts any of you, you MUST stick to the same story!] This time, almost instantly, no one asked any questions. A flood of “Got it” messages appeared. I deleted the group chat. On the surveillance feed, I saw Mark frowning at his phone, muttering a curse. “That useless Ashley really screwed up the deal and got fired!” Brenda also grew anxious. “Chloe is about to give birth! I promised her a $15,000-a-month luxury post-birth recovery suite!” When I first got pregnant, I also wanted a postpartum recovery suite, but Brenda refused outright when she heard the $5,000-a-month price. “Outsiders can’t take care of you as well as family! With me here, why waste that money!” Chloe? I suddenly remembered once when I’d forgotten some documents at home. When I returned to get them, Brenda was at home, chatting and laughing with a young pregnant woman. The table was laden with expensive fruits I’d bought, and the two had made a huge mess. Brenda had said she was a distant niece, Chloe, who came to the city for her prenatal check-ups! No wonder I’d felt an inexplicable hostility from Chloe back then, and her words had been full of snide remarks. When I’d vented to Mark about it, he’d just said I was being petty. So, they had boldly brought his mistress into my home! On the recorded feed, Mark said another word, then turned and left. Brenda, left alone, rolled her eyes in annoyance, muttering under her breath, “I gave her so much medicine! Why hasn’t that useless burden miscarried yet?!” “Could the medicine be fake? No, it can’t be, I paid a lot of money to Dr. Peterson in the village for it…” A cold sweat drenched me instantly. Brenda had been drugging me! Just as I was shaking with fear, the bedroom door was pushed open the next second! The moment Mark walked in, I frantically exited the surveillance app on my phone. Looking at the husband before me, my heart hammered against my ribs. Just now, I had clearly heard Mark say on the recording: “The house is her pre-marital property, so let’s wait until we’ve swapped houses before divorcing.” “If she plays nice, fine. Otherwise, a pregnant woman with no family to back her up… if we don’t press charges, who’d care what happens to her?” A while ago, Mark had said the house would feel small after the baby was born, and he wanted to sell this one to get a bigger house. Two hours earlier, I’d been daydreaming that with the bonus, we could not only get a bigger house but also take Mark and Brenda on a lavish trip. But I never imagined that the path to happiness I’d envisioned was actually a trap designed to destroy me! Mark’s once somewhat handsome face now seemed sinister and cruel. No wonder he’d been so extraordinarily attentive after learning I was an orphan. He’d had this plan all along!

“Honey, you really got fired? Them firing you while pregnant is a violation of labor law, I’ll go talk to your boss!” I quickly stopped him. “No!” Under Mark’s suspicious gaze, I tried to keep my voice steady. “It was my fault for losing the order. If it weren’t for me working tirelessly without complaint all these years and being pregnant, the company would have pursued damages and compensation.” “Millions in compensation. Our life savings wouldn’t cover it.” Mark frowned even deeper. He just grabbed my phone and dialed my boss’s number. “I’ll ask, I can’t let you be wronged.” As the phone rang, my heart nearly pounded out of my chest. The next second, the call connected, and my boss’s impatient voice came through. “Ashley! I’ve already made it clear to you! The company not pursuing charges is already the best outcome for you! Don’t even dream of compensation!” Luckily, I was quick-witted. While I was recording the surveillance earlier, I had briefly explained my predicament to my boss. My boss was a fierce businesswoman who hated scumbags, and she immediately said the company would stand firmly by me. After hanging up, Mark stared at my pale face, brushing back my sweat-soaked strands of hair. “Honey, why are you so nervous?” “So what if you lost your job? I can still support you. Mom just felt the pressure of me being the sole breadwinner. She’s going through menopause and prone to emotional breakdowns. For my sake, just let it go.” “Perfect, now you have time. The sales agent for that house we liked has called several times for us to sign the contract. No time like the present, let’s go today! It’ll wash away your bad luck from losing your job!” Mark, without a word, pulled me and Brenda to the sales office. To my surprise, Chloe was already waiting there! Brenda intimately linked arms with her as soon as she got out of the car. “I called Chloe to come along, for her advice.” Chloe puffed out her belly, showing off. “Mark, Auntie Brenda was worried about your taste, so she asked me to come and approve. You don’t mind, do you~” She’d been like this at home too. “Ashley, don’t just rely on being pregnant and make my aunt do all the work.” “My Mark works hard for his money, Ashley, you need to learn to be thrifty! Look at all these packages! You’re married, who are you dressing up for?” “I’m just direct~ Don’t mind me, Ashley~ I’m only saying this for your family’s good.” At the time, I thought she was just jealous of Mark and my good life, spouting sour grapes, so I paid her no mind. After marriage, I had always played the role of a devoted wife and dutiful daughter-in-law. Even Mark had forgotten that an orphan girl had clawed her way to the top—I wasn’t someone to be easily taken advantage of. New and old resentments flared, and my face hardened. “Even if I did mind, you’d still cling on like an irritating rash, wouldn’t you?” My sudden counterattack stunned both Brenda and Mark. Chloe pouted petulantly, looking at them, stomping her foot and huffing. Brenda immediately glared at me. “You’re rebelling! You uncultured brat! Who gave you permission to speak to a relative like that!” For the first time, I talked back without backing down. “I’m buying a house, and a distant relative who has nothing to do with this comes here bossing around. Who’s really uncultured?!” My voice wasn’t quiet, drawing stares and whispers from the onlookers. Mark frowned and pulled me. “Can’t you just let it go?! It’s not that big a deal!” “No matter what, you can’t talk back to my mom!” I coldly shrugged off his arm. “Then listen to your mom. Let your mom pay for the house too.”

Mark’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about?! We already agreed to sell this house and put extra money down to upgrade, didn’t we? You saw the upgrade contract last time! Besides, where would my mom, a stay-at-home mom with no job, get the money?! Alright, alright! I know you’re still holding a grudge about what happened earlier!” “My mom has diligently taken care of you all this time! And just because she said a few words, you’re so unforgiving! Fine, fine! I’ll apologize for her, okay?!” Seeing the onlookers pointing and whispering, Brenda’s eyes darted. “I knew it, getting old means becoming a burden! It’s all my fault! All my damn fault! For running my mouth and annoying my daughter-in-law! I’ll just slap my own mouth off!” Brenda feigned slapping herself, but Chloe quickly intervened. “Auntie! Blame me, I’m young and foolish, I spoke out of turn and upset Ashley! Ashley, I’ll kneel and apologize to you! Please, for my aunt’s sake, she’s old! Don’t bully her anymore!” Chloe started to kneel, but Mark quickly caught her. “Chloe! You’re pregnant!” “You absolutely can’t get emotional!” Mark glared at me. “Ashley! Are you only happy when you make everyone miserable?!” “Getting a bigger house is for both of us, it should be a happy occasion! You just have to make everyone unhappy!” As he lectured me, he seemed to forget that I was also a pregnant woman about to deliver, and I couldn’t get emotional. Mark was still holding Chloe’s arm, frowning. “Alright! Stop making a scene! Aren’t you embarrassed with all these people watching?! Let’s just sign the contract first!” The sales manager, fearing his commission slipping away, eagerly handed the prepared contract to Mark. Just as Mark was about to sign, I snatched the contract away. “How come this purchase agreement only has your name on it?” Brenda, who moments ago was playing the victim, now glared, eyes wide. “What kind of talk is that?! Mark is the head of the household, if not his name, whose name should be on it, yours?!” Mark reached out to grab the contract. “Everything after marriage is marital property, whose name it’s under doesn’t matter!” I held the contract further away. “If it doesn’t matter, then why not put only my name on it?” Mark’s eyebrows furrowed, and he glared. “Ashley! What is wrong with you today! Can you stop being so unreasonable?! You can’t just make the whole family miserable just because you lost your job!” I sneered, staring into his eyes. “Your ‘whole family’ refers to you, your mom, and your mistress Chloe with her bastard child in her belly, right?!” My words dropped, and the crowd of onlookers erupted in gasps. Chloe reacted first, shrieking in a high-pitched voice. “You’re slandering my good name!” “If you don’t clear my name today, I’ll die here with my baby to prove my innocence!” Brenda plopped onto the floor, wailing. “Ashley, I know you despise this old woman, take your anger out on me, I don’t mind a little suffering! But you two must be well!” “To openly slander a woman’s good name, you’re trying to drive her to her death!” I watched her thrashing on the ground and shouted back even louder. “Selling my pre-marital assets! To buy a big house for his mistress and her bastard child!” “Who’s really trying to drive someone to their death?!” Mark’s face went white, his jaw clenched so hard the veins on his forehead pulsed. “What nonsense are you spewing?! Just because you’re out of a job, you’re full of suppressed anger with nowhere to vent?!” “I won’t change houses today, is that enough?! Let’s go home and talk about this!” With that, Mark grabbed my arm and tried to drag me out. If he managed to get me into the car today, my fate would be sealed! I struggled desperately, but Mark’s hand was like a vice clamping my wrist. I shouted for help to the people around me, but Brenda yelled, “This is our family business! Stay out of it! Don’t get mixed up in our family drama!” Just as I was about to be dragged out the door, a panting figure blocked our way, forcefully pushing Mark’s grip away, and shielding me behind them. “Who dares touch my Ashley!”

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During my senior year, I was staying with my aunt’s family when my cousin Blake put me on blast online. All because I accidentally picked up a piece of meat from our dinner. He cried hysterically, claiming that not only was I freeloading at his house, but I also cherry-picked all the meat from the dishes, leaving him malnourished! The internet did the rest. I was trending within hours. Everyone called me a leech, a parasite, a shameless mooch. The comments screamed: Get out of their house! So, I decided to humor them. That very day, I packed my bags and moved out. But then my aunt and her family came begging me to return. After all, without me there, they’d no longer receive the $15,000 monthly allowance my mother sent for my living expenses! I never imagined that with a monthly allowance of fifteen thousand dollars, I’d get cyberbullied over a single piece of meat. Watching Blake’s tearful video on the trending topics list, my body trembled with fury. “His parents are always away working out of town, so I felt bad for him and agreed when Mom suggested he come live with us.” “But why does he have to treat me so badly?” “It’s bad enough he’s living here for free, but he always takes the best food!” “I was so tired from studying today, and Mom specially made my favorite stir-fry. But he ate all the meat from the entire dish! I didn’t even get one piece!” “It’s not that I care about a plate of meat, it’s just… I feel so wronged. I’ve been so good to him, why can’t he show some empathy? I always share everything with him, but he just hogs all the good stuff and now I’m practically malnourished!” “Why am I so unlucky to have such a cousin…” In the video, Blake’s eyes were bloodshot and brimming with tears, as if I had truly tormented him. My parents both worked for a highly classified agency, which meant they rarely had time for me. As I entered my senior year, my aunt, Sarah, specifically sought us out, saying her house was right across from the school, and suggested I move in. It would be perfect for me and Blake to focus on our college applications and final exams together. Mom thought it would be better for me to stay with relatives and have someone look after me, rather than living alone at school, so she agreed. To ensure I was comfortable, Mom sent Aunt Sarah fifteen thousand dollars every month for my room, board, and daily expenses. But on my very first day at Aunt Sarah’s house, Blake shoved a “House Rules” list at me. 1. Do not touch any personal belongings without permission. 2. Lights out by 10 PM. 3. Showers no longer than five minutes. 4. Air conditioning usage limited to two hours per day. 5. Avoid bothering anyone; if someone is in a bad mood, you must stay out of sight. … After all, I was living under their roof, so I always made sure to prioritize their family’s comfort and needs. For the past six months, I had strictly followed every rule. I even proactively did chores every day and diligently tutored Blake, who was failing his classes. At the dinner table, I rarely ever reached for the meat dishes, always feeling like they were reserved for the hosts. Until this one time. I was eating dinner and reviewing English vocabulary, distracted, and accidentally picked up a piece of meat. Blake immediately slammed his fork down. At the time, I thought he was just in a bad mood and didn’t think much of it. Not until I saw that trending video. In the video, Blake tearfully accused me, painting me as a lazy, selfish “vampire freeloading relative” who constantly bullied their family. The comment section exploded. Tens of thousands of comments were cursing me out. “Kids these days are so disrespectful! How can he be so arrogant when he’s living under someone else’s roof?” “Freeloaders are worse than beggars. Their skin is thicker than a fortress wall! And they feel entitled to suck others dry, as if people owe them something.” “Why keep such an oblivious leech around? Kick him out already!” Blake replied. “I wish I could be tough, but he’s my cousin, after all. I can’t really kick him out, can I? I guess I’ll just have to tolerate it!” My hands trembled with a simmering rage. Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses! That was enough for me to stay in a five-star hotel every day and eat gourmet meals for every single sitting! I wasn’t going to stick around to be hated. I immediately packed my bags and moved out of their house. After calling my teacher and arranging to stay at the school dorms, I sent a message to my mom. “Mom, I’ve moved out of Aunt Sarah’s and into the school dorms. You can just transfer my allowance directly to my bank account from now on.”

The moment she received my message, my mom called right away. “Alex, why did you suddenly move out of Aunt Sarah’s house? Is something wrong?” Hearing the tension in her voice, my nose stung, and I felt incredibly wronged. My aunt, Sarah, was my mom’s only sister. Mom had always been incredibly generous to her. When Aunt Sarah mentioned Uncle Michael had lost his job, Mom immediately pulled some strings and arranged a well-paid, low-stress position for him. Knowing Aunt Sarah struggled commuting on her scooter, Mom, without a second thought, bought her a brand-new Mercedes-Benz. Even the house Aunt Sarah’s family lived in now was paid for by my mom. I didn’t want to worry my mom, nor did I want to ruin the relationship between the sisters, so I just vaguely said that living at school would give me more time to study. After hanging up, I returned to school. The moment I reached the dorm room the teacher had assigned me, I heard my roommate, Jake, speak up with a snide, mocking tone. “Well, well, well, isn’t it the freeloading vampire who always pigs out on meat? Did someone finally kick you out?” Jake was Blake’s little minion. He’d always subtly targeted me before, but I hadn’t thought much of it. Now, it seemed it was all connected to Blake. Jake’s shrill voice instantly drew students from other dorm rooms. In a flash, everyone started pointing fingers and whispering about me. “No wonder he didn’t live at school, he was mooching off his aunt’s family!” “How disgusting, the freeloading vampire on the trending list is in our class. How embarrassing!” “Some people are just poor and pretentious. If you’re living under someone else’s roof, why can’t you just act like a grateful guest? Why fight with your hosts over food?” Amidst the chorus of mockery, Blake rushed over from his aunt’s house, looking displeased. “Cousin, why are you so sensitive? People just said a few truthful things online, is that really enough to make you throw a fit and run away?” “You’ve been mooching off us for so long, and now you pull this stunt. Are you deliberately trying to make everyone think our family bullied you?” I looked at his condescending face and suddenly found it all a bit laughable. “You think I’m taking advantage of you by staying at your house?” Blake snorted, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t it obvious?” “Do you know how expensive things are these days?” “Do you know how much money your free room and board for the past few months has cost my family?” As he finished, Jake immediately chimed in. “That’s just shameless! Everyone in our class knows how well-off Blake’s family is. He kindly took you in, and not only are you ungrateful, but you’re also audacious enough to act like you’re royalty?” “I think you’re just taking advantage of Blake’s good nature, riding roughshod over him and bullying him!” It was truly absurd. Before I moved into Aunt Sarah’s house, Blake was just an unremarkable background character at school. His monthly allowance of barely a hundred bucks meant he couldn’t even afford to join class outings. But ever since his family started getting my mom’s fifteen thousand dollars a month, the boy who once couldn’t afford a decent shirt now flaunted designer clothes and flashy jewelry every day. With money in his pocket, he immediately became active in class, frequently treating his classmates to lavish spending sprees with his massive allowance. Seeing him spend money without batting an eye, everyone naturally assumed Blake was a generous scion of a wealthy family. And I, always low-key, slowly became the “cheapskate,” “freeloading relative” everyone gossiped about. I looked at Blake, and firmly reminded him. “I advise you to go home and ask your mom, clearly, whether or not I’m truly living there for free!”

Blake didn’t hesitate. “Don’t you dare try to use my mom to pressure me!” “Your parents are always working out of town, so poor they can’t even come home for years at a time. Do you honestly think they could afford to send you an allowance?” “I thought you’d be grateful like a dog for freeloading at my house, but I never expected you to be so ungrateful!” My parents’ work was highly specialized, and hardly anyone knew what they did. But that didn’t mean my family was poor! In fact, ever since I could remember, Aunt Sarah’s family had been benefiting from my family’s generosity. What right did he have to think I was taking advantage of his family? Blake’s words made everyone dislike me even more. “Some people are just poor and dramatic! They can’t even manage to be a good leech!” “Exactly! They kindly provide him food and shelter, but he freeloads, picks out the best food, and even makes Blake so malnourished, it’s disgusting!” “I hate poor relatives like him the most. No ability but thick-skinned, like a disgusting bloodsucking tick you can’t shake off!” “Blake, you’re just too kind. You should keep your distance from shameless vampires like Alex, don’t let him tarnish your reputation as a rich heir!” Their words, one after another, praised Blake to the skies while demeaning me completely. Blake’s lips curved into an undeniable smirk as he basked in the compliments. “If only certain shameless poor people were half as sensible as you all!” Then, he looked at me, and condescendingly offered. “Alright, alright, I’ll forgive you this time, seeing as you’re poor and have never had anything good to eat!” “Now, stop making a scene with your luggage and come home with me!” I chuckled lightly, my voice cold. “No thanks. From now on, I’m staying at school!” With that, I ignored Blake, calmly made my bed, and settled into the dorm room. I thought my refusal would bring me some peace. But the next day after school, Aunt Sarah suddenly showed up. She waited downstairs by the academic building, walked straight towards me through the bustling crowd, and spoke with a worried expression. “Alex, I saw the video online. Blake was being foolish, and I’ve already talked to him.” “It’s your senior year, a crucial time. Who will take care of you if you live at school?” “Come on, come home with me. Don’t let this affect your studies and health.” Looking at the genuine concern in Aunt Sarah’s eyes, for a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was truly worried about me or just about that fifteen thousand dollar allowance. If she genuinely cared, why had she never told Blake that my mom paid fifteen thousand dollars a month, allowing Blake to humiliate me endlessly? I looked at Aunt Sarah, my voice calm. “No need, Aunt Sarah. I’m doing just fine at school.” My refusal instantly annoyed Blake. “Alex, don’t be so ungrateful! My mom came personally to ask you back, what more do you want?” “Do you expect our whole family to get on our knees and beg you to stay at our house?” His voice was sharp and loud. It immediately drew everyone’s attention. In an instant, everyone started shouting at me. “Alex, you’re so ungrateful! Your aunt is being the bigger person, personally inviting you back, and you’re still putting on airs?” “Exactly! You were the one who was rude first, and now that they’re overlooking your mistakes, why are you still playing the victim?” “The poorer you are, the more you cling to your pride! Do you really think you’re some rich heir?” Knowing the situation was gaining traction, Jake even pulled out his phone and started a live stream, pointing it at me. “Everyone, look! The freeloading cousin who’s been all over the trending topics these past two days is causing trouble again!” “His aunt is worried about him living alone at school affecting his health and studies, so she specially came to school to invite him home. But not only is he ungrateful for her kindness, he’s putting on a show and refusing to go back!” “He’s probably trying to act like a victim to gain sympathy and get people to beg him to live for free!” With Jake’s exaggerated commentary, the live stream’s chat was flooded with insults. “Poor people just love to play the victim while still trying to grab benefits, acting all high and mighty as if that hides their greedy, disgusting nature!” “Why even bother with such a freeloading relative? Let him die out in the streets!” “I hate these poor relatives the most. My dad went bankrupt because of his freeloading relatives. These bloodsucking relatives should just drop dead!” Facing the public’s curses, I solemnly explained. “I wasn’t living for free at my aunt’s house. My mom paid for my living expenses.” Hearing this, the students present scoffed. “How ridiculous! With your family’s situation, can they even afford living expenses?” “Exactly! Look how shabbily he’s dressed. His mom probably just collects garbage, and pays for his living expenses with a pile of junk every month!” “That meager amount wouldn’t even buy a pair of socks for Blake, the rich heir! How can you even say that with a straight face?” The surrounding students burst into laughter. The live stream chat was also plastered with messages calling me a clown. Blake scoffed, his voice dripping with condescension. “Still talking about living expenses? How much could your parents, who are too poor to even afford a train ticket home, possibly give you? A hundred? Two hundred?” I looked at him, enunciating each word. “Fifteen thousand.” “Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the place erupted in massive laughter. “Fifteen thousand dollars a month? Are you insane?” “Poor people are just pathetic, they’ll say any lie for the sake of appearances!” “LOL, he must be so poor he’s hallucinating. Fifteen thousand a month? Why not a hundred million?” The live stream chat scrolled wildly, everyone calling me a liar, saying I was delusionally rich. Blake, looking smug, sneered. “Alex, you really do love making a fool of yourself, don’t you? With your pathetic appearance, have you ever even seen fifteen thousand dollars?” Facing the endless laughter and mockery, I suppressed my anger, looked at Aunt Sarah, and spoke firmly. “Aunt Sarah, please clarify for everyone. Does my mom send you fifteen thousand dollars every month for my living expenses?” Seeing my serious question, the entire area instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Aunt Sarah. Aunt Sarah looked at me with a complicated expression for a moment, then slowly said. “Alex, I know you want to save face and regain your dignity, but… but your family truly hasn’t given us any living expenses.” “I don’t want to embarrass you, but I can’t lie for you either!” I stared at Aunt Sarah in disbelief, as if struck by lightning. I had personally seen her receive my mom’s transfers! Why was she lying?! Hearing Aunt Sarah’s answer, the mockery grew even louder. “See! I told you he was lying!” “How disgusting, taking advantage of his aunt’s kindness, then trying to force her to lie for him?” “No wonder he refused to go back with his aunt. He was waiting for this moment! If his aunt had actually, for his sake, admitted to receiving the fifteen grand, he’d probably extort her relentlessly later!” “He’s utterly shameless! Not only does he freeload off others, but he also tries to exploit their kindness for his own gain!” Laughter and insults surged like a tidal wave. The live stream chat was even more ruthless, full of curses and condemnations. Blake glared at me with pure disgust, his voice full of hatred. “Alex, aren’t you ashamed? You’ve been freeloading at our house for so long, and now you want to extort money from us?” Then, he turned to Aunt Sarah. “Mom, let’s settle this with him today, so he can’t spread rumors later that we mistreated him!” Aunt Sarah’s face flashed with panic. She tried to stop him. “Blake, just let it go…” “No, we can’t!” Blake insisted. “Isn’t he so stubborn? Didn’t he brag about giving our family fifteen thousand dollars for living expenses? Today, I’m going to expose him!” He pulled out his phone and began calculating earnestly. “Listen, our house is across from a top high school, a prime school district! Renting out one room would be at least three hundred dollars a month!” “Your three meals a day, at least ten dollars a day, that’s three hundred dollars a month!” “Utilities – water, electricity, gas, property fees – split among us, that’s a hundred dollars a month for you!” “Plus Mom doing your laundry and cooking every day, let’s say a nanny fee of eight hundred dollars a month!” “300 + 300 + 100 + 800 = 1500 dollars a month. You stayed at our house for three months, so 1,500 dollars a month multiplied by three months is 4,500 dollars.” After calculating, Blake looked down at me, extended his hand, and said coldly. “Business is business, even among family. Hand over that 4,500 dollars right now!” “After that, you can live wherever you want. We won’t care if you die out there!” At this, everyone gloated. “That’s what you get for bragging! Now you’re speechless, huh?” “LOL, didn’t your family give you fifteen thousand a month for living expenses? What are you waiting for? Pay up!” “Exactly! Could it be your parents didn’t collect enough garbage today and can’t afford it?” The live stream chat was also flooded with insults, mocking me for bragging and telling me to pay up. Aunt Sarah stood to the side, her lips moving, but ultimately she remained silent. I looked at the mother and son, and the last shred of warmth in my heart was completely extinguished. Under everyone’s gaze, I calmly took out my phone, my voice icy. “Alright, since you want to settle accounts with me, let’s do it, item by item, and make it crystal clear.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299305”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

Everyone hailed my fiancé, Julian Thorne, as the most principled and reputable attorney in New York. Yet it was him. He twisted my sister’s terrified cries during the assault, dismissing them as mere sounds of passion. All because the rapist was the brother of Seraphina Hayes, the woman he’d grown up alongside and considered family. My fiancé’s declaration that “no crime had been committed” let the monster walk free. The very day we lost the case, my sister took her own life right on the courthouse steps. And those who destroyed my sister? They desecrated her ashes, urinating in them before tossing them at my feet. “Staring at me like that? You have no idea how sweet your sister tasted. It’s been ages since I had that much fun.” I grabbed a vase and smashed it over his head. The shock sent me spiraling, and I was committed to a mental institution. “Ever since her sister died, she’s been hallucinating, constantly talking to thin air.” “What a tragedy, those poor sisters. First one dies, then the other loses her mind…” Overhearing the nurses’ whispers, Julian Thorne conveniently seized the opportunity to break off our engagement, then proposed to Seraphina, the woman he’d practically grown up with. After six months in the mental institution, Dr. Albright came to assess me for discharge. “Do you still see your sister often?” I shook my head. “No, I don’t.” Dr. Albright signed my discharge papers with a satisfied smile. But they had no idea. Lila whispered softly in my ear, “Anya, you’re lying again. You’re finally going to get revenge for me!” I reached out, touching the air, and smiled. “Don’t worry, little one. Big sister will make them pay with their lives.”

The day I walked out of the mental institution, I went straight to Crestwood Manor, cradling Lila’s ashes. Six months had passed, and the place had changed so much. I heard there was a new lady of the house. Julian Thorne was throwing a lavish birthday party for his beloved Seraphina. He planned to announce their engagement there. “What a lively party,” I murmured, my fingertip tracing the photo on the urn. In the quiet courtyard, Lila’s laughter suddenly rang out. “Anya, if I hadn’t died, you’d be the lady of Crestwood Manor right now, wouldn’t you?” “You might even be getting married soon. What a shame, though…” “Nothing to be ashamed of.” I turned my head. Lila had two adorable dimples when she smiled. “Lila, I’m taking you inside. Tonight is only going to get livelier.” I extended my hand to thin air. Inside the mansion, Julian Thorne, impeccably dressed in a custom-tailored suit, held his darling Seraphina’s hand, accepting guests’ congratulations. “Thank you all for coming to Seraphina’s birthday celebration,” he toasted, raising his glass. “On this occasion, I’m pleased to announce that Seraphina and I will be engaged next month.” Amid thunderous applause, Seraphina smiled demurely, the diamond bracelet on her wrist flashing, practically blinding everyone. The style was exactly the same as the one Lila cherished most before she died. Beside them, a man in a blue suit stepped forward, laughing. “Julian, you’ll be my brother-in-law soon, part of the family. You’ve got to look out for me, alright?” “If you dare to hurt my sister, I won’t let you off the hook!” A hideous scar stretched across his face. It was from the vase I’d smashed over his head six months ago. “Brother, I’ll take good care of Seraphina.” Julian Thorne chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around Seraphina’s waist. I stood in the corner, watching it all. The urn in my arms felt like it was burning hot. Lila’s voice rang out again, tinged with a sob: “Anya, it was him. He’s the one who trapped me in the villa, tore at me, defiled me…” “Shhh, don’t rush.” I gently patted the urn, just as I used to soothe her to sleep. A faint smile touched my lips. “The real show is about to begin.” They drank and chatted, the party at its peak. Suddenly, with a crash, the grand crystal chandelier in the center of the ballroom plummeted to the floor. Guests screamed and scattered. A “gift box,” wrapped in gold ribbon, tumbled from the second floor, landing with a heavy thud on the carpet. The wrapping paper tore open, revealing the unconscious man inside. It was Jax, the thug leader who’d disgraced Lila’s ashes six months ago. Everyone shrieked. “What’s going on? What happened?” “Ah!” Seraphina screamed, burying her face in Julian Thorne’s chest. Julian Thorne’s face went utterly pale. He stared at the “gift box,” then sharply turned to the entrance. When his gaze landed on me, his pupils constricted violently. “Anya?” He gasped, “What are you doing here? You’re not….” “… Aren’t you supposed to be locked up in a mental hospital, talking to thin air?” Julian Thorne’s face drained of all color.

I finished his sentence, stepping forward, the urn in my arms swaying gently with each step. “Mr. Thorne, it’s been a while.” The guests’ eyes pierced me like needles, their murmurs buzzing. “Is that the crazy woman whose sister died six months ago?” “They say her sister was dumped by Marcus Hayes half a year back, then tried to claim rape, lost the case, and killed herself right outside the courthouse. That’s what drove *her* crazy…” “She’s just as twisted as that hussy sister of hers. After all that, Mr. Thorne saw her true colors and broke off their engagement!” “How shameless! How dare she show her face to Mr. Thorne?” But those words only made me arch a brow. They couldn’t hurt me anymore. “Anya, you… you’ve lost your mind?” Julian Thorne’s gaze was fixed on the “gift box” on the floor as he fiercely reprimanded me. “Who let you in here? Get out, now!” Seraphina peered out from his arms, a flicker of panic in her eyes. It was quickly replaced by a wounded expression. “Anya, please don’t be like this… Julian only sent you for treatment for your own good…” “And honestly, your condition was so bad six months ago that Julian couldn’t take it anymore, that’s why he broke up with you.” “For my own good?” I laughed, my voice unnervingly clear in the silent hall. “Was it really for my good, or was it so you, your rapist brother, and this group of degenerates could celebrate in peace?” At the mention of “rapist brother.” Seraphina’s face instantly went white. Jax, the thug on the floor, had woken up at some point. Seeing me, he suddenly thrashed like a madman: “It’s you! You crazy bitch! Let me go! Mr. Thorne, help me!” I knelt down, gently patting his terrified face. “Turn around and look, Lila has come to get her revenge.” Jax slowly turned his head, his eyes widening in horror, then he went insane, scrambling backward. “No, don’t kill me, I didn’t kill you…” Julian Thorne reacted. “Stop him!” But it was too late. Jax charged headfirst into the wall, then slowly slid to the floor. A bodyguard stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, he’s gone…” “Someone’s dead!” The scene instantly erupted into chaos. Guests screamed and fled. Julian Thorne’s face was ashen. “Anya, what have you done? You killed him!” I smiled sweetly. “Julian Thorne, everyone saw it with their own eyes. I didn’t do anything to him. He chose to die.” “How can you blame me?” Everyone had witnessed the man’s bizarre death and recoiled, fearing they would be next, avoiding me as if I were a plague. Julian Thorne suddenly grabbed my arm. “Anya, what exactly do you want? “I was the one who broke up with you six months ago. If you have any grievances, come find me…” I stared into his eyes, thinking, *Of course I came for you.* Lila’s voice grew clearer in my ear, filled with delight: “Anya, he’s scared…” I looked up at Julian Thorne, then swept my gaze over the varied expressions of the guests, finally resting on a trembling Seraphina. “Tonight’s ‘gift’ was just an appetizer.” I smiled at everyone present. “Next, it’s your turn.” Julian Thorne spun around to face me, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. This was just the beginning. What they owed my sister, I would collect, principal and interest, bit by bit. Lila chuckled in my ear: “Anya, the show has begun.” Cradling Lila’s urn, I left them with a chilling smile and turned to leave. “Stop!”

A devilish voice suddenly called out behind me. My footsteps paused, but the corners of my lips curled upward. Marcus Hayes grabbed my shoulder. “Anya, you smashed my head six months ago. I haven’t settled that score with you yet, and here you are, delivering yourself to me?” I slowly turned, looking at the scar on Marcus’s face. My grip on the urn tightened involuntarily. “Tsk, I didn’t get a good look before, but you’re not bad-looking. Quite a bit like your sister, actually…” His face was twisted with a lecherous smirk. “Brother…” Julian Thorne tensed, speaking out. “She’s a madwoman, don’t…” “Shhh—” Marcus Hayes put a finger to his lips. “Julian Thorne, you just worry about my sister. My business is none of yours.” Marcus Hayes approached me with an lewd smile. Just as he was about to lay a hand on me, Julian Thorne suddenly pulled me behind him. “Marcus, you can’t take Anya.” “Six months ago, to help you get off, I went against my conscience in court. Anya, she… just let her go.” Marcus Hayes’s face immediately darkened. “Julian Thorne, are you, a lawyer, really going to go against me?” Julian Thorne remained silent, saying nothing, but showed no signs of giving up. He continued to shield me behind him. The smile in my eyes deepened. Seraphina, however, glared at me, a flash of jealousy in her eyes, then threw herself into Julian’s arms, whining. “Julian, do you still have feelings for her?” “Anya is a mental patient, she can’t marry you now. Do you want her to drag you down your whole life?” “My brother already promised me he won’t cause another death.” “Why don’t you just let my brother send Anya back to the mental hospital…” “Silence.” Julian Thorne cut her off, his tone stern for the first time. “Seraphina, you should go back inside.” “It’s dangerous here. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Bodyguards led Seraphina away, but she looked back every few steps, unwilling and resentful. “Julian, when you’re done, come find me right away!” Watching their affectionate display, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “I never thought my fiancé could be so gentle.” “Anya, shut up!” Julian Thorne’s eyes were fierce. “If you don’t want to die, then say less!” Marcus Hayes eventually gave Julian Thorne some face, but he shot me a resentful look and dropped a cold warning. “Julian Thorne, you’re very bold.” “I won’t touch her today, but I’ll see how long you can protect her.” “What Marcus Hayes wants, Marcus Hayes always gets.” They left with their bodyguards. After the crowd dispersed, the villa was left in utter disarray. He quickly had someone clean up the “gift box.” Julian Thorne frowned deeply, looking at me. “Anya, I thought you’d be in the mental institution for a few years, but you just ran out on your own.” “Do you have any idea who Marcus Hayes is? How powerful his family is? You just came here alone, wanting revenge, ready to throw your life away?” Julian Thorne grew more agitated, his voice rising sharply. “Didn’t you consider that by provoking Marcus Hayes, you wouldn’t just fail to avenge your sister, but you’d throw your own life away too?” At the mention of Lila, my expression also turned cold. “So you knew everything, Julian Thorne.” Six months ago, my sister Lila was assaulted while working. She was dragged into a villa by those wealthy scions, tormented all night, and found utterly broken. After emergency surgery, The doctor regretfully informed us that many of her organs were damaged, and she would need a catheter bag for life. A young girl’s entire future, shattered by those animals. I desperately begged Julian Thorne, who was my fiancé at the time, to help us win the lawsuit, no matter what. Julian Thorne had furiously declared to me: “I will wield the weapon of the law and not let those beasts go unpunished.” But after a few rounds, Julian Thorne inexplicably changed his stance. In court, he unexpectedly changed his testimony. Based on a recording held by the wealthy scions, he declared it was just ordinary intimacy. “Hear that, Anya? Even your own defense attorney says your sister gave up her dignity for money, actively seduced Marcus, took off her own clothes, and cried out so passionately…” In court, my eyes burned red. “Julian Thorne, how can you lie through your teeth?” “Tell the truth! Were they threatening you?!” But Julian Thorne refused to look at me again, stubbornly insisting that “no crime had been committed.” The lawsuit was lost, and the culprits walked free. Julian Thorne, however, looked at me, crumpled on the floor, with pity. “Anya, he’s Seraphina’s brother. If he goes to prison and gets a record, Seraphina’s reputation will be ruined.” “Besides, the Hayes family is too powerful. We can’t win against them.” “Since it’s already happened, I’ll help your sister get more financial compensation. Let’s just put this behind us.” But could money fix any of this? If he wouldn’t help me get justice for my sister, I would do it myself. But I didn’t tell Julian Thorne any of this. I smiled and pushed his hand away. “You’re wrong. I didn’t come here for revenge this time.” “Julian Thorne, I heard you’re getting married to your fiancée. I came to give my blessings.” Julian Thorne’s face suddenly changed. “Just that ‘gift box’ from earlier?” “Who would see that and not think you deliberately came to cause trouble?” “Anya, your condition hasn’t cleared up yet. I’m sending you back to the mental institution immediately. This is for your own good.” “For my own good?” I laughed out loud, tilting my head to look at him, puzzled. “Then why cancel the engagement?” Julian Thorne’s face stiffened. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. The truth was, when he was defending Lila’s case. Julian Thorne and Seraphina were already flirting behind my back. He thought I didn’t know. I just played along, pretending not to know. As long as he could help my sister win the case, and get her justice. As long as he could silence those who called my sister a “gold-digger” and a “whore.” A man was just a man. I could let him go. But he didn’t. So he, too, was a killer.

Julian Thorne ultimately didn’t send me back to the mental institution. He looked at the scars on my body, the ones inflicted by my torment, and his eyes reddened with tears. “I’m sorry, Anya. You’ve suffered so much these past months…” Just as he reached out to touch me, his phone rang. Julian Thorne’s expression shifted, and he immediately answered. Everything suddenly became tense. “Seraphina, what’s wrong?” “Julian, my stomach hurts so badly, I’m writhing on the floor! Please come see me…” Julian Thorne immediately agreed. “I’ll be right there.” He locked me in the basement of Crestwood Manor. He instructed the housekeeper and bodyguards to keep a close watch. Before leaving, he told me: “Anya, don’t run off, or I won’t be able to protect you.” “Do you really think six months ago I only gave false testimony because of Seraphina?” “The Hayes family’s power is far greater than you imagine. We can’t twist the arm of a giant, Anya. The Hayes family is too powerful.” Julian Thorne said we couldn’t fight them, urging me to accept my fate. He told me to give up on revenge, take care of myself, and live a good life. But I didn’t believe there was no justice in this world. If there was no way to get justice for my sister, then I would get revenge myself. After his retreating figure disappeared, I clutched the urn tighter, my eyes burning with resolve. Julian Thorne rushed Seraphina to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with acute appendicitis. After handling the admission and coaxing Seraphina to sleep, Julian Thorne looked up to see the sky was already growing dark. He sighed, then instructed his driver, “Head back. Prepare a hidden place for Anya to stay.” He feared Marcus Hayes and his thugs wouldn’t let me go. Many thoughts raced through his mind. But when he returned, he heard the housekeeper’s panicked cry: “Mr. Thorne, it’s terrible! Ms. Anya is gone!” Julian Thorne’s head snapped up. “What did you say?” “Wasn’t she locked in her room?” The housekeeper stomped her foot in distress. “She was! But a group of men suddenly broke in, smashed the lock, and took Ms. Anya away!” Julian Thorne immediately ran up to the second-floor study to check the security cameras. He saw Marcus Hayes leading the group. Julian Thorne’s mind went blank, a strong premonition seizing him. “No, Anya’s in trouble!” Julian Thorne clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot. “Six months ago, I couldn’t get justice for Lila, and it’s been eating at my conscience. This time, I absolutely won’t let anything happen to Anya!” Julian Thorne dropped everything and frantically investigated my whereabouts. He saw Marcus Hayes’s group taking me into a car and heading towards the Hayes estate. Julian Thorne didn’t even pause for breath; he charged out. “The Hayes estate.” He rushed in alone, fearing the worst, only to witness a scene that shocked him to his core. Marcus Hayes’s underlings were sprawled out, tangled limbs everywhere. Julian Thorne almost lost his footing, his breathing nearly stopped. “Anya, you… you killed them?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299304”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

My husband suddenly had an asthma attack, and I couldn’t find his medication anywhere. Frantically, I called our son, begging him to buy the medicine and rush home. But from the other end of the line, I heard my son’s impatient complaint: “Mom, stop interfering! I just took time off work to check on my mother-in-law, and now you’re trying to stop me? Do you seriously have some kind of son complex?” “It’s honestly disgusting!” With that, he ruthlessly hung up the phone. I didn’t understand what a “son complex” was. All I knew was that without his medicine, my husband’s life was in danger. So, I called my daughter-in-law. But before I could even speak, I heard her icy accusation: “Mom, your possessiveness over Dan is way too much!” “My mom has a cold. Dan, as her son-in-law, is taking her to the clinic. Can’t you even tolerate this small thing?” The phone was hung up again, and my heart went completely cold. Watching my husband’s face turn an alarming shade of purple, I pushed my anger aside and quickly dialed 91

But when we got to the emergency room, my retirement savings card wouldn’t even process a single penny. I called them both several times, but they kept hanging up. Robert ultimately missed the golden hour for resuscitation and passed away in agony. Later, on Tiffany’s SnapChat Stories, I saw Daniel kneeling before his mildly ill mother-in-law, warming her IV drip. The heart I had devoted my entire life to my son, was utterly shattered… 1 I stayed by Robert’s side until morning, thinking about how foolishly we had revolved our lives around Daniel for half a lifetime. Even after retirement, we’d still supplement them with eight thousand dollars from our pension every month. To end up like this was a cruel, cosmic joke. My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. The name “Son” on the screen stung my eyes. I answered. Daniel’s voice, thick with morning grumpiness, immediately snapped: “Mom, what’s going on? Where’s breakfast? Tiffany and I have to catch the subway, you’re not seriously going to let us go to work on an empty stomach, are you?” Disappointment weighed like a stone on my chest. My throat felt tight and dry, and I spoke wearily: “If you want to eat, make it yourself. If you don’t want to cook, go buy something.” “Go buy something?” His tone instantly ratcheted up: “Food outside is so unsanitary! In the year since we got married, Tiffany hasn’t eaten out once. Don’t you wake up at five every morning to make her lunch?” “What is wrong with you today?” Tiffany’s voice, low and muffled, drifted from the other end of the line: “Is your mom causing trouble again?” “I told you her feelings for you aren’t normal, like some kind of freak. She probably wants to tie you to her hip…” My grip tightened on the phone. Suddenly, I understood. All the love and care I’d poured into them, in their eyes, was nothing but a “son complex” or “perverted possessiveness”! I finally understood why my usually honest and straightforward son, who used to share everything with us, had changed so much since he got married. He spoke less and less to me and his father, and his attitude grew more distant. Before I could explain, Daniel’s voice exploded again: “Mom, are you still mad about not buying Dad’s medicine yesterday?” “Dad’s asthma attacks aren’t a new thing, do you really have to make a mountain out of a molehill and hold a grudge against me?” My chest felt squeezed. My tears had long dried up. My voice raspy, I said: “Dan, your dad… he’s gone…” “I’m at the hospital. Come, see your dad one last time.” The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Then came Daniel’s enraged shout: “Mom! Can you stop making things up?! Are you trying to use Dad’s name to manipulate me again?” “I’m married now, and you’re still constantly watching me, making me look bad in front of Tiffany, in front of our relatives! What exactly do you want from me?!” Just then, a doctor walked in, handing me a paper. He said: “Mr. Robert Peterson’s death certificate is ready. If the family has no objections, we can contact the crematorium to make arrangements.” The phone line went silent again. After a long moment, Daniel’s disbelieving voice finally broke through: “My dad… my dad is really gone?” My nose stung. A sliver of hope still lingered in my heart. Perhaps he’d hear the truth and rush over, to see his father one last time. But the next second, his words washed over me like ice water, chilling me to the bone: “Mom, Dad’s senior benefits haven’t been deposited yet this month. Don’t report his death information yet. We can get a few more months’ worth if you delay it, okay?!” I froze, even forgetting to breathe. Tiffany, on the other end, kept urging him: “Stop talking! We’ll be late if we don’t leave now. They’ll deduct two hundred for perfect attendance!” “Okay, okay, honey.” Daniel turned, his voice impatient as he yelled at me: “Mom, did you hear me? Don’t report it yet! I’ll talk to you after work!” The phone clicked off. Hearing the news of his father’s death, they showed no grief, only concern for the money. I felt a profound chill throughout my body, colder than the air in a morgue. 2 I returned home that evening. Daniel was sprawled on the couch, glued to his phone, not even bothering to look up: “Mom, hurry up and make dinner. I’m starving.” Tiffany sat with her legs crossed, cracking nuts. Seeing the urn in my hand, she flinched as if burned, jumping up with a frown: “Mom, why did you bring that thing home? It’s so morbid! Get it out of here right now!” I ignored them. I gently placed the urn on top of the cabinet before turning to face them: “I want to know, where was your father’s asthma medicine? And what happened to the two hundred thousand dollars in our retirement savings account?” Tiffany’s eyes flickered. She turned and pulled a medicine bottle from a drawer in the coffee table. She slapped it onto the table with a *thwack*, mocking: “Mom, you’re getting old and your memory is terrible. The medicine has always been right here, hasn’t it? You couldn’t find it yourself, and now you’re blaming us?” This morning, I had searched the entire living room, and that drawer was clearly empty! Before I could speak, Daniel put down his phone and said impatiently: “Mom, just go make dinner. Don’t worry about the two hundred thousand.” Their entitled attitude made me tremble with rage: “That was your father and I’s life savings, our retirement money. It was your dad’s lifeline! You think you can just tell me not to worry about it?” I reached for my phone: “I’m calling the police right now! Transferring my money without my permission is theft!” “What are you doing?!” Daniel shot up, snatching my phone away. Tiffany, from the side, added fuel to the fire, her voice piercing: “Mom, are you serious? Your money was going to be ours anyway. Are you really fit to be parents if you’re going to be so petty?” “Besides, that money wasn’t wasted.” I stared at them: “Then tell me, what did you do with the money?” Backed into a corner, Daniel finally blurted out after a long pause: “That money was for Kevin, Tiffany’s brother, to get a new car! He’s getting married soon, and he can’t go without a car!” My vision blurred. I knew the money was gone for good. Our house was part of a redevelopment plan, so Tiffany hadn’t demanded a marital home when they got married. She had only asked for three hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars for the wedding. But not long after, we heard she’d used that wedding money to support her younger brother. Though I felt uneasy at the time, I didn’t say much, thinking as long as they were happy together. But I never imagined they would be so greedy, so brazen as to steal my husband’s lifeline! Tears finally streamed down my face. “I know! If you hadn’t transferred that money, your father wouldn’t have missed the golden hour for resuscitation, he wouldn’t have died!” “You two killed your father!” Tiffany rolled her eyes at Daniel, a look of pure exasperation. Daniel frowned, not a trace of guilt on his face: “Mom, don’t talk nonsense!” “Everyone has to die eventually. Dad’s death is a blessing; being burdened with all those illnesses, living in such constant pain – what’s good about that?” “It’s just a pity about the money…” “What did you say?” I couldn’t believe my ears. Looking at this cold, selfish son, the pent-up anger and hurt exploded. I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. “Daniel! You’re not even human, you’re an animal!” Daniel clutched his face, his eyes wide with shock and fury: “Mom, you hit me?” “You’ve never hit me before! Now, for such a trivial matter, you hit me!” Tiffany immediately rushed forward, pointing a finger at my nose and screaming: “You old hag! How dare you hit my husband? I think you’ve lost your mind!” “This house is going to be redeveloped soon. If you dare to cause any more trouble, we’ll kick you out, and you’ll end up on the streets!” I stared at their distorted faces, and the last shred of familial affection in my heart dissipated. I looked at Robert’s urn, my voice terrifyingly calm: “This house belongs to your father and me. If anyone’s leaving, it’s me kicking you out!” “Both of you, get out of my house, now!” 3 Daniel froze, as if he’d heard a joke: “Mom, are you senile? This house will be mine when you die. You’re telling me to get out? That’s absurd!” Tiffany tugged his arm, a mocking smile playing on her lips, and said loudly, deliberately: “Fine, we’ll go. Who wants to stay in this morbid place anyway!” “A crazy woman with a son complex like her can’t stand to be separated from her son. She’ll be begging us to come back before tonight’s over!” Daniel, the idiot, bought her words completely. He scoffed, nose in the air, and walked out without a backward glance. For the next few days, I didn’t contact them, nor did I answer Daniel’s calls. It wasn’t until the seventh day that he sent a text message, his tone accusatory: “Mom, have the senior benefits been paid out this month? Why haven’t they been transferred to my account yet?” I saw the message and couldn’t help but laugh. Before, I worried they wouldn’t have enough money, so as soon as Robert and I received our pension, we’d keep two thousand for ourselves and give them the remaining eight thousand. But the day after they left last time, I went to the bank and canceled the automatic transfer. On top of that, I went to the redevelopment office and changed my request. The previous compensation, which was two houses and six million dollars in cash, I changed it all to just cash. Two days later, after my dance class, I was returning from the grocery store when I saw Daniel and Tiffany standing at my doorstep. They weren’t as arrogant as last time; their faces held a ingratiating smile. Seeing me, Daniel immediately stepped forward, his tone fawning: “Mom, I missed you so much! Um, why did you change the lock?” I gave them a cold glance: “It’s my house. I can change it if I want.” “Do you have a reason to be here? If not, leave now. You’re not welcome.” Daniel suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, his eyes red-rimmed. “Mom, I was wrong.” “I was so foolish before, I shouldn’t have argued with you, I shouldn’t have said those things about Dad. Please forgive me, okay?” Tiffany also knelt down, her fingers caressing her belly: “Mom, I’m pregnant. We’re renting a place outside, it’s expensive and tiny, and the soundproofing is terrible. We can’t sleep well at all.” Daniel excitedly grabbed my hand: “Yes, Mom, you’re going to have a grandson! Dad always longed for a grandson, he surely wouldn’t want me and his grandchild to suffer out there.” “We promise to truly change our ways, to be good and filial to you. Please, let us come back home?” I stared at Tiffany’s belly, lost in thought. I remembered how much Robert envied his peers doting on their grandchildren. Against my better judgment, I opened the door. Daniel immediately rushed to Robert’s photo, kowtowed three times, and tearfully apologized. Tiffany also acted uncharacteristically. She, who usually never lifted a finger, actually took the groceries from my hand and went to the kitchen to make lunch. During dinner, they both kept putting food on my plate. My son even produced an IOU for two hundred thousand dollars, signed with Kevin’s name, saying he’d pay me back as soon as he had the money. In a daze, I suddenly felt respected, cherished. I thought they had truly changed. I was wrong. What happened next dragged me straight into hell. 4 That day, Tiffany cut her finger while cooking. Seeing how well they’d behaved these past few days, I offered to finish washing Tiffany’s clothes. After dinner, I had just finished taking down the dried laundry when I heard Daniel call from the bathroom: “Mom, Tiffany can’t get her finger wet. Can you scrub my back for me?” I hadn’t bathed Daniel since he was eight. Now, at over thirty years old, why would he make such a request? “Scrub your own back, I’m not comfortable with that.” I said through the door. “Mom, why are you still acting so distant? I’m your son, what’s there to be uncomfortable about?” He kept calling from inside: “I can’t reach my back. Just scrub it a couple of times, it’ll be quick.” Unable to resist his persistent calls, I finally gave in. Pushing open the bathroom door, I turned my head away, grabbed the scrub brush, and quickly brushed it over his back twice. After scrubbing, I hurried out. The next day, I went to the park for my usual exercise. As soon as I reached the square, I felt everyone staring at me. People were pointing and whispering behind my back. Someone even deliberately raised their voice: “That’s her! She looks so elegant, how could she do something so disgusting?” “Unheard of, so inappropriate, it’s terrifying.” I stood there, bewildered, not knowing what I had done wrong. Seeing Brenda, a neighbor I used to exercise with, I quickly walked over and took her hand, asking: “Brenda, what’s wrong with everyone? Why are they saying such things about me?” Brenda, however, recoiled as if I were something vile, shaking off my hand. Her eyes were filled with disgust and mockery: “You still have the nerve to ask?” “How could you have such perverted thoughts about your own son? Washing his underwear, bathing him, scrubbing his back—those are things a daughter-in-law should do! Why are you, his mother, getting involved?” “Now the entire neighborhood knows you have a son complex, and you’ve even become an online sensation! It’s absolutely shameful!” I was utterly dumbfounded. I quickly pulled out my phone and clicked on the trending video Brenda mentioned. The video showed me in the bathroom last night, scrubbing Daniel’s back! The camera was filming from behind me, and even though my head was turned, it wasn’t clear. Only when I came out did my full face flash across the screen. The caption read: #FreakMomSonComplexCrazy, #Shameless! The comment section was filled with insults: “This kind of mom is terrifying, completely twisted, cut ties and run!” “She’s not going to try to squeeze between the couple in bed too, is she?” “My heart goes out to the daughter-in-law for two seconds, what kind of psychological trauma would that cause?” “This old woman is a pervert, why doesn’t she just die!” My hands trembled uncontrollably, and I almost dropped my phone. I immediately called Tiffany, my voice shaking: “Tiffany, did you film that video online? Why would you do that?” But what my daughter-in-law said next completely shattered me.

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My Cheating Husband and Best Friend Stole My Baby. Now I’m Taking Everything Back After I got pregnant through IVF, Ashley, cared more about my unborn baby than I did. “Cassidy, eat more berries. They’ll give your baby beautiful eyes!” “Cassidy, we don’t want any medication harming the baby. If you’re running a fever, just sweat it out. It’s safer for the little one.” I thought Ashley was just being caring until one day I suddenly heard the fetus in my belly swearing. “You idiot woman, do I really need my mom to remind you about such small things? Is your brain made of jelly?” “Go eat something! If I get hungry, my mom and dad won’t let you off the hook!” A jolt of shock went through me. I was about to tell my husband, Mark, about this bizarre experience, but then I saw him holding Ashley in his arms. ……………….. “Honey, is our baby really safe inside her?” “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful these next few months. Nothing will happen to our child!” Mark’s expression was full of doting affection. “If I weren’t so against you suffering the pains of pregnancy for nine months, I wouldn’t have let her carry our baby!” “The moment the baby is born, I’ll divorce her immediately!” “Then, we’ll live happily ever after as a family of three!” So, that was it. They were only concerned about me because of the baby in my womb. I grabbed my phone and immediately contacted my doctor to schedule an abortion! Let me watch you live happily ever after as a family of three? Not if I have anything to say about it. After the procedure, it was already evening when I returned from the hospital. The moment I walked in, Mark and Ashley rushed over, their faces etched with blame. “Honey, where have you been all day?” Mark asked, his voice tight with accusation rather than worry. “You wouldn’t answer your phone. I was so worried about you!” “Exactly, Cassidy! You’re pregnant! What if something happened to the baby in your belly?” Ashley chimed in. “You can’t do this again!” Their faces showed absolutely no concern for me, only accusation. Worried? They were clearly only worried about the baby in my belly. I must have been blind before, not to have noticed something was off with them. I endured so much pain with the IVF, finally got pregnant, only for all my sacrifices to be for nothing but their gain. It’s a good thing I found out when I did. Otherwise, if the baby had actually been born, I wouldn’t even have a place to cry. “I went to the hospital for my prenatal check-up!” I didn’t expose them, instead speaking with a weary expression. Mark only then remembered it was my check-up day, and his face filled with self-reproach. “Honey, my bad. I completely forgot!” “So, how is it? Is the baby doing okay?” I didn’t expose him, simply shaking my head faintly. “Not so good.” “What’s wrong with the baby?” Their faces immediately changed, and they anxiously grabbed my hand. “They said the baby’s development isn’t ideal.” “The doctor told me to get plenty of rest, take more supplements, and avoid overworking myself. And absolutely no stress!” Mark and Ashley both visibly relaxed. They exchanged a glance before Mark spoke again. “Honey, Ashley and I just discussed something!” Mark continued. “She’ll move in with us from now on. Not only can she keep you company, but she can also help take care of you!” “Move in with us?” My face was full of surprise, but inside, I was overjoyed. I was racking my brain for a way to deal with those two-timing jerks, and now they were practically walking right into my trap! Perhaps surprised by my quick agreement, Mark looked at me suspiciously and asked again. “Cassidy, aren’t you mad?” I slowly shook my head, my tone calm. “What’s there to be mad about?” “You’re usually at work. Having an extra person at home to take care of me will be much easier.”

After saying that, I looked at Ashley. “Ashley, I’ll be troubling you from now on!” Ashley grabbed my hand, her face beaming with excitement. “Cassidy, don’t be silly! We’re friends!” “Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything around the house from now on. You just relax and take care of yourself, make sure the baby is thriving and strong!” “With me here, I’ll make sure you’re perfectly comfortable!” “That’s right, honey. Come on, lie down. Just leave everything to us from now on.” That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear. The moment I sat down, I couldn’t wait to start bossing Ashley around. “Ashley, tomorrow morning I’d love some fresh milk. Could you go to the ranch in the suburbs and get some for me?” The words had barely left my lips when Ashley’s face fell, looking distressed. “Cassidy, the suburbs are over twenty miles from here. It takes forever to drive!” “How about I just get some for you at the supermarket?” Mark quickly nodded in agreement. “Yeah, supermarket milk is the same!” “Honey, let’s just stick with supermarket milk!” I coldly snorted, looking displeased. “How is it the same?” “Supermarket milk is full of additives. Can a baby drink that?” “I’m only saying this for the baby’s good!” “If you two think it’s fine for the baby to drink milk with additives, then don’t bother going for fresh milk!” They had no more arguments. After all, the baby in my belly was theirs. The next morning, Ashley, with dark circles under her eyes, drove to the suburbs to buy milk. When she returned, she complained endlessly to Mark about how exhausting it was. “You have no idea how terrible that road is; it felt like my bones were rattling apart!” “And that ranch stank so bad, cow manure everywhere!” “There’s no way I’m going back there again!” Listening to her complaints from the next room, I put on my headphones and comfortably drifted off for my beauty sleep. Whether she went or not wasn’t up to her! Even if she didn’t want to, for the sake of their baby in my belly, Mark would make her go buy that milk. Can’t handle it already? The real suffering was yet to come. Since I finally had a free housemaid, of course, I was going to treat her like a slave. Besides buying milk, all the housework fell on her. Laundry, sweeping, cooking – she did it all. In just one month, she transformed from a glamorous beauty into someone looking completely run down and aged beyond her years. Finally, a visibly exhausted Ashley approached me. “Cassidy, I’d like to go home and rest for a couple of days!” I frowned, pretending to be annoyed. “Ashley, if you go back, what about me?” “You wouldn’t make me go to the kitchen, breathe in all that cooking fumes, or touch dish soap, would you?” “Those things are terrible for the skin!” My words were like a thorn, stinging Ashley deeply, and she instantly bristled with fury. “Bad for your skin? What about my skin?” “Look at the state I’m in!” She pointed at her somewhat sallow face, yelling, her entire body trembling with rage. If she hadn’t been clenching her teeth, I’m sure she would have physically attacked me. But the angrier she got, the more triumphant I felt inside. “Ashley, didn’t you want to be the baby’s godmother?” “What’s a little hardship now?” “Later, I’ll have the baby take care of you in your old age!” “Oh, the baby just moved! He wants lobster linguine! Could you please go to the kitchen and make some for us?” Ashley completely lost it, yelling at me. “Cassidy! Is that what the baby wants to eat?” “You just want to eat it! You’re deliberately bossing me around!” “I’m done serving you!” However, the moment her words fell, Mark walked in through the door, his face grim.

“What’s all this noise? What if it disturbs our baby?” “Even if it’s what my wife wants to eat, the baby will still absorb the nutrients!” “If you still want to be the godmother, get to the kitchen and start cooking!” Ashley flinched at his shout, tears of frustration immediately welling up in her eyes. But no matter how upset she was, she could only bite her tongue and head to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. That night, I once again heard Ashley’s breakdown coming from the next bedroom. Perhaps they thought I was asleep, because their voices were completely unrestrained. “Cassidy is going too far! She’s clearly treating me like a servant!” “And not just her, you even helped that bitch yell at me!” Mark, looking troubled, wrapped his arms around Ashley to comfort her. “I want to help you teach her a lesson, too, but the doctor said not to upset her, or it might be bad for the baby!” “What can I do?” Now, the baby in my belly and the doctor’s words were my unbreakable shield. No matter how much resentment they harbored, they could only endure it. Ashley, full of resentment, pushed Mark away. “But she’s really too much!” “I haven’t had a single peaceful night’s sleep this whole time!” “If this keeps up, she’s going to drive me crazy!” Mark sighed helplessly. “Ashley, just bear with it for a little longer!” “I’m already figuring out how to get money from her company. As soon as the baby is born, we’ll be completely free!” “Then you can deal with her however you want!” Ashley’s mood finally improved a little, and she snorted. “How are you going to get the money? Didn’t you say her company doesn’t have much cash?” “It’s simple! She’s already given me full management of the company. Soon, I’ll use the company’s name to take out predatory loans!” “The company is Cassidy’s, so she’ll be the one to face the music!” “Perfect! I’m definitely going to give that bitch what she deserves then!” Listening to their conversation from inside, a faint smile played on my lips. Who would be “giving what they deserve” to whom was still up in the air! What Mark didn’t know was that, thanks to my manipulations during this time, the company had already been transferred to his name. Even the legal representative of the company was now Mark. If they wanted to cause trouble, they were in for a world of pain!

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Ten years ago, I was brutally assaulted at the station. My fiancé, Arthur, rushed to my rescue, crippling that man, but losing a leg himself in the process. I had a mental breakdown, and for ten full years, he took meticulous care of me. Dragging his injured leg, he worked as a delivery driver by day and a rideshare driver by night, just to earn money for my exorbitant medical bills. His parents cried and begged him, “You’ve done enough for her. Leave this crazy woman!” But for me, he was willing to cut ties with his own family. His story touched the entire city, and he was hailed across the city as “The Devoted Husband”. Everyone online said I must have won the cosmic lottery to deserve a man like him. Until I won five million dollars in the lottery. And I gave every single cent to the rapist who ruined my life. My husband instantly collapsed. Everyone cursed me, calling me ungrateful and heartless. A reporter tracked me down, demanding answers: “Your husband lost a leg for you, took care of you for ten years, and cut off his family for you. Why would you give that money to that animal and not leave a single dime for him?” I looked at the reporter and said calmly, “Get someone to secretly film a hidden live broadcast for three days. Then you’ll know why.” ……

The hidden live stream started after the secret cameras were set up. My husband, Arthur, was kneeling by my bed, holding a bowl of soup, his voice gentle. “Scarlett, sweetheart, won’t you eat a little?” “This is your favorite creamy tomato soup. I stood by the stove, stirring it for three full hours, just so it wouldn’t be too cold or too hot, and it’d be just right for you.” My eyes, empty, stared at the ceiling. Then I violently waved my hand, knocking the porcelain bowl from his grasp. “Clang!” The bowl shattered. The steaming hot soup splattered all over him, leaving rice and bits of meat a mess on his white shirt. But he didn’t care. He just grabbed my hand, checking it anxiously. “Did you get burned? Scarlett, is your hand okay? It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have brought it so hot.” He mumbled apologies, pulling out a tissue to wipe the drops of soup from the back of my hand. The live chat instantly exploded. [OMG! This is intense from the start!] [My heart aches for the male lead! This crazy woman is having another episode!] [Ten years! A full decade! How has Arthur endured this? He truly is a saint!] [If this woman had an ounce of decency, she wouldn’t do this!] [If I were him, I’d have run away on day one. Who the hell can stand a psycho like this?!] [#CancelScarlett Let’s get this trending!] Just then, Mrs. Reed, my mother-in-law, rushed in, her eyes red-rimmed, and yanked Arthur to his feet. “Arthur! My son! Look at you, for this crazy woman, what have you done to yourself?!” She pointed at me, trembling with rage. “What terrible karma did our Reed family incur to make you marry such an ungrateful thing! She won five million dollars herself, didn’t give you a single cent for your leg, and turned around and gave it all to that rapist!” “She doesn’t have you in her heart at all! She’s tearing your heart out with a knife! Wake up!” Arthur gently held his mother, his face filled with pain and internal struggle. “Mom, please don’t talk about Scarlett like that… She’s sick, she can’t control herself. She’s suffering more than anyone.” He turned back to me, his eyes filled with an unbearable depth of affection. “It’s not her fault. It’s all my fault, I’m useless. I didn’t protect her well enough.” Mrs. Reed pounded her chest, speaking with disappointment. “My foolish son! You lost a leg for her, you were even willing to cut ties with us! You gave up a full scholarship to an Ivy League school, a brilliant future, and now you’re dragging that injured leg every day to be a delivery driver, then a rideshare driver late at night, just to earn money for her exorbitant medical bills!” “And her? If she had even an ounce of love for you, she wouldn’t treat you like this!” “This family, because of her, is almost ruined!” Mrs. Reed’s tearful accusations pushed the anger in the live stream to its peak. [I’m crying! He gave up an Ivy League scholarship! He became a delivery driver to pay for his crazy wife’s treatment! Where can you find a good man like this?!] [My heart aches for the devoted husband, Arthur. I’m literally weeping!] [Scarlett is not only crazy but heartless! I suggest doxxing her and canceling her socially!] [This woman’s psychology is completely twisted. She’s taking out all her resentment for not being able to get revenge on the rapist, on her husband who couldn’t save her.] [The analysis above is spot on! But Arthur is so innocent! So pitiful!] I sat on the bed, my lips slowly twisting into a cold, eerie smile. Arthur keenly caught my smile. His body stiffened, then the pain in his eyes deepened. He walked over and took my hand again. “Scarlett, I know you hate me. You hate that I didn’t get there sooner, that I was useless…” As soon as his hand touched me, I opened my mouth and bit down hard on his wrist. My teeth dug deep into his flesh; I could taste blood. “Ah!” Arthur cried out in pain, but he didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he let me bite him, his face showing even deeper heartbreak. “Bite me, Scarlett. Whatever makes you feel better, you can do to me. Hit me, curse me, anything.” “But please, stop torturing yourself, okay? Seeing you like this… it’s worse than killing me.” I released his wrist, looking at the deep teeth marks, and muttered, “Dirty… so dirty…” The netizens couldn’t sit still. A flood of live comments filled the stream. [I’m sobbing! I’m a grown man crying like an idiot in front of the screen!] [Tears in my eyes, what kind of angelic husband is this?! Scarlett, you have no heart!] [He takes all the blame upon himself… He truly… loves her so much…] [Scarlett! He’s throwing away all his dignity for you!] [I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to send Arthur money! Let’s crowdfund for his leg treatment!] [Scarlett, you don’t deserve him at all!]

The first day of the live stream ended amidst Arthur’s “devotion” and my “madness.” The online backlash against me surged, with #CancelScarlett and #MyHeartAchesForArthur trending, each followed by a blazing “HOT” tag. Countless marketing accounts churned out articles overnight, portraying Arthur as the modern-day paragon of devotion and sacrifice. And I, the ungrateful, psychologically twisted lunatic. The next day, the live stream cameras flickered on precisely on time. Arthur limped out, dark circles under his eyes. Before leaving, he looked back at my room repeatedly, his gaze filled with worry and reluctance. As soon as he left, Mrs. Reed sat on the living room sofa, sighing deeply. She occasionally glanced at my room, her eyes filled with disgust and contempt. “What a tragedy.” “A perfectly good family, all ruined because of her.” “My son, he was a top university graduate, destined for a brilliant future! Now what? He has to compete with high school dropouts for tough, tiring physical labor jobs.” “He comes home every day, his leg swollen like a balloon. It breaks my heart to see it!” “But he still has to push through it, to wait on that crazy woman.” “It’s a tragedy, truly a tragedy!” The live chat immediately joined in the indignation. [Don’t be sad, ma’am, we all see it. The one in the wrong is Scarlett, that heartless monster!] [Exactly, if it weren’t for her, Arthur would be a high-flying executive with a six-figure salary now! He wouldn’t have to suffer like this!] [This woman ruined his life! Completely and utterly ruined it!] By noon, Mrs. Reed walked into the kitchen, haphazardly boiled a sad, watery bowl of instant noodle, and brought it to my room. “Crazy woman, eat.” I looked at the plain noodles and didn’t move. Mrs. Reed scoffed. “What? Too good for it now? My son provides you with food and shelter, he pays for your treatment, and you’re still picky?” “Be grateful you have food at all, don’t actually think you’re a spoiled princess! You lunatic!” I mimicked her tone, passive-aggressive and creepy: “Lunatic… lunatic…” Mrs. Reed’s face turned green with anger. She pointed at me and cursed, “You little demon!” I immediately copied her, pointing my finger back at her, letting out a creepy cackle. Mrs. Reed, feeling her efforts were useless, cursed under her breath and stomped out. She plopped down on the living room sofa, pulled out her phone, and started calling relatives to complain, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, it’s true, that crazy woman, she’s getting harder and harder to deal with.” “Arthur had barely walked out the door, and she started throwing things around the house, making such a racket, scared me half to death!” “I kindly made her lunch, and she wouldn’t even look at it, just knocked it over. She insists on waiting for my son to come home and feed her!” “Always passive-aggressive and creepy. Just now, she was hiding behind the door, mimicking me. Isn’t that creepy, right? Sigh, my old bones, she’s truly cursed our family.” The live chat instantly went wild. [I told you! These psychos are the best at faking it! One way with her husband, another with her mother-in-law!] [So malicious! Classic bully, picking on Arthur because he’s nice, but pulling shady stunts when Mrs. Reed is around!] [Mimicking people’s voices? Isn’t that a horror movie plot?] [My heart aches for Mrs. Reed, to have an daughter-in-law like this, she’s truly cursed our family.] 3. That evening, Arthur returned, his body exhausted. The moment he walked in, before he could even take off his shoes, he headed straight for my room. When he saw the soggy and cold bowl of noodle on my nightstand, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with heartache. “Scarlett, why aren’t you eating again? Are you trying to starve yourself sick?” He picked up the cold bowl of noodles, then turned to Mrs. Reed, who was watching TV in the living room, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Mom, didn’t I tell you? Scarlett has a sensitive stomach, she can’t digest cold, hard food.” Mrs. Reed looked wronged. “I worked so hard to make it for her, and she wouldn’t eat it. Is that my fault? It’s not like I can beg her to eat, can I?” Arthur sighed, saying no more. He turned and went into the kitchen, dumped the noodles, and started preparing dinner for me from scratch. He painstakingly cooked her three dishes and a soup: herb-roasted chicken, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes, all my past favorites. He brought the food to my bedside, scooped up a piece of chicken, cut it into small, bite-sized pieces, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to my mouth, gently coaxing, “Scarlett, open up, just one bite, please.” But I turned my head away again, refusing to eat. Arthur’s eyes instantly reddened. “Scarlett, what do you want me to do for you to eat?” “Is there something I’m doing wrong? Tell me, I’ll change everything, okay?” My dead eyes turned to him, and I suddenly spoke. “Caleb.” Arthur’s body jolted violently. The bowl in his hand clattered to the floor, shattering. “No… Scarlett, don’t mention that name!” I repeated, “I want to see him.” Arthur’s face instantly drained of all color. He closed his eyes in agony, his hands trembling violently, and he said in an almost pleading tone: “Okay… Scarlett… I’ll take you to see him.” “As long as you eat, as long as you feel a little better… I’ll… I’ll do anything you ask.” The netizens in the live stream completely lost their minds. [She’s crazy! This woman is truly insane! She actually wants to see that rapist!!!] [Holy crap! Does she have Stockholm Syndrome? Is she in love with the person who raped her?] [Look at Arthur’s expression… my heart is breaking… how much must he love her to agree to such an outrageous request, one that’s worse than death!] [I really can’t take it anymore! This isn’t human!] [Oh my god, this is like plunging a knife into Arthur’s heart and twisting it around a few times!] [Arthur really doesn’t deserve this!] 4. The next day, Arthur really was going to take me to see Caleb. Mrs. Reed, her eyes full of tears, grabbed Arthur’s arm. “Arthur, you can’t take her! Are you crazy?!” “That man is an animal! Have you forgotten how your leg was injured because of him?!” She pointed at me, sitting in the wheelchair, her voice sharp with anguish, “You’re letting her go see that animal? Isn’t that like stabbing a knife into your own heart, over and over again? My poor, suffering son!” Netizens’ live chat also chimed in. [Saint Arthur, oh my god, he’s really going? How much love does it take to do this?] [My heart aches for Mrs. Reed. She’s right! This is tearing his heart out! Scarlett has no heart!] [Tears in my eyes, he must be scared too, but for his wife, he’s willing to do anything.] [The Devoted Husband, Husband of the Year—no, Husband of the Decade! Who agrees? Who dares to disagree?] Arthur gently pushed his mother’s hand away, his eyes resolute. “Mom, as long as it makes Scarlett better, never mind one stab, I’d give my life.” With that, he pushed my wheelchair out the door. The reporters and camera crew followed us from a distance. Arthur took me to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Caleb, the man who ruined my life, was leaning against a flashy red sports car, smoking, waiting there. He looked like he was doing great, wearing a designer jacket, his hair slicked back and shiny, his face flushed with good health. Seeing me, he exhaled a puff of smoke, a smirk of casual triumph on his face. “Well, well, if it isn’t my great benefactor, Scarlett? What, couldn’t stand being away from me?” He walked over, reaching out to touch my face. Arthur furiously blocked him, shoving Caleb away. “Don’t touch her!” The live chat exploded. [That’s the monster, dressed all put-together, like a decent citizen, it’s sickening!] [Arthur, you’re the best! Your protective husband act is both handsome and heartbreaking!] Because he pushed too hard, Arthur lost his balance and stumbled to the ground. “Arthur!” Mrs. Reed shrieked, rushing over to help him up. “You rotten animal! How dare you show your face here again!” Caleb sneered dismissively. “Old woman, get it straight. Your precious daughter-in-law was crying and begging to see me, and even gave me five million dollars as a’meeting gift’.” He looked me up and down, his tone suggestive, “Maybe, she’s actually fallen for my charm, huh?” “You!” Mrs. Reed was so enraged she almost fainted. The netizens’ comments were all filled with anger towards me. [My worldview is shattered! She gave him five million dollars??? Couldn’t she just live her own life with that money?] [The crazy woman deserves it, she doesn’t deserve sympathy!] [Arthur is so tragic, his wife is in love with her assailant, and she’s giving him all her money… What kind of human tragedy is this! My heart is breaking…] Arthur struggled to stand up, glaring at Caleb. “Caleb, you took the money, why aren’t you gone?!” “If you dare show your face around us again, I’ll fight you to the death!” Caleb shrugged, looking unconcerned. “Fight me to the death? With that crippled leg of yours?” He walked closer to me, bent down, and whispered in my ear: “I’ve already received the money. Your husband really is the ultimate cuckold, isn’t he?” The scent of his cologne mixed with cigarette smoke made me feel a wave of nausea. I spat on his face. Caleb’s smile froze, then he exploded in rage, “You disgusting bitch! You’re looking for death!” He raised his hand to hit me. “Stop!” Arthur, desperate, lunged at Caleb. He was quickly knocked to the ground by Caleb. Caleb stepped on Arthur’s injured leg, grinding his foot down maliciously. Arthur let out a pained scream. “Arthur! My son!” Mrs. Reed cried out, rushing to him, but Caleb shoved her away, sending her sprawling. The reporters and camera crew couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward to intervene. The entire scene devolved into chaos, filled with men’s screams and women’s wails. Just then, I, who had been sitting silently in the wheelchair, suddenly stood up. I looked at them, and spoke calmly. “Arthur, had enough of the act?” “It’s been ten years. Your ‘Devoted Husband’ charade, it’s time for it to end.”

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It was my brother Julian’s birthday gala, but he turned me away at the door. He smashed the carved pendant I had made for him with my own hands. “Anything you touch is filthy to me.” Heartbroken, I wandered aimlessly, only to be brutally tortured, murdered, and dismembered. While I drew my last, ragged breath, Julian was busy composing a poem for our cousin Celeste at his birthday celebration. Three days later, Commissioner Hayes was handed a particularly gruesome cold case. Two hundred ninety-nine body parts of a woman were discovered in an abandoned outbuilding in the city’s East End. Her skin had been completely peeled off, making identification impossible. He had no choice but to call Julian, hoping his unique ability to reconstruct the past by touching the remains would help unravel the crime. Each time Julian cleaned and restored a body part, a fragment of the victim’s memories would surface. Through these fragmented memories, he pieced together the crime. He found the murder weapon, understood the killer’s motive, and even sketched every horrific moment of the victim’s torture. The only frustrating thing was that the victim’s face remained a blur. All he could hear was a faint melody, a blurry tune she hummed in her dying moments. Perhaps his hatred for me had festered for so long that he didn’t recognize it. That little tune was the lullaby he used to sing me to sleep every single night when I was a child…

The air in the morgue was chillingly damp. Even as a spirit, I felt a shiver run down my spine. The slab was piled high with body parts. The stench of decay mixed with the filth of the outbuilding made me want to retch. I’ve always been a coward. Alive, I would have fainted from sheer terror. But now, as a ghost, I felt nothing but a chilling numbness. Julian’s brows were tightly furrowed as he stared at the gruesome remains. He had seen countless horrific bodies, but nothing as utterly brutal as this. It was a first. Yet, he was always professional. No matter how challenging the case, he gave it his all. He put on his gloves and bowed deeply to my body. It was his custom, a sign of respect for the deceased. I wondered, if he knew that the body before him was his own sister, the one he deemed too ‘unclean’ to even glance at, would he still be so calm? Commissioner Hayes, who had just returned after throwing up, walked past me, clamping a hand over his nose and mouth. “Julian, the coroner already did a preliminary examination before you arrived.” “Her entire skin has been peeled off, and the body parts were scalded with boiling water. Not a single lead.” “Now, it’s all up to you to reconstruct the body and piece together the victim’s memories.” Julian didn’t speak, only nodded gravely. He picked up a piece of ankle bone, no bigger than a palm. He closed his eyes, and a blurry image flashed in his mind. He saw a rusty axe strike a woman’s slender ankle, the sound of tearing flesh and cracking bone sending shivers down one’s spine. I instinctively gasped, as if I were reliving the living hell I had endured. Julian’s brows furrowed even deeper. Did he feel my dying pain? I suddenly found myself hoping, hoping he would see my face. But also, I was afraid. Afraid that if he knew it was me, he would simply abandon the case. Just like two years ago, when Celeste invited me out of the city to admire the snow. We were robbed and left in the snow, barely clothed. Julian arrived and immediately rushed to Celeste. He wrapped her in his heavy cloak, blowing warm air onto her hands. Celeste feigned concern, “Julian, Elara is cold too. You should check on her.” Julian shot me a look of pure disgust and sneered, “A murderer like her doesn’t deserve my concern.” He got into the carriage without looking back, where a heater warmed the interior. I could only hug myself, stumbling and struggling to follow the carriage. After falling for the ninth time, the carriage vanished from sight. That time, Julian still didn’t wait for me. Lost in thought, Julian picked up another of my severed hands. My memories invaded his mind once more. He saw my fingers brutally crushed, one by one. The killer seemed curious about the appearance of broken finger bones, so they plunged my hand into scalding boiling water. Then, they used a metal scraper to peel off the boiled, festering flesh, examining the exposed bones meticulously. Julian, who had seen his fair share of horrors, couldn’t help but dry-heave. But to see the killer and my face, he still gripped my severed hand tightly. Alas, the killer wore a mask, their face completely hidden. Julian looked back, seemingly wanting to know who this poor victim was. Strangely, despite nothing obscuring my face, he simply couldn’t see it. He only saw my throat moving, a fragmented melody drifting from my blood-soaked lips. Julian froze for a long moment. Then, his eyes snapped open. He flung the severed hand away as if it had burned him. He turned urgently to Commissioner Hayes. “Send someone to the West End villa! Tell Celeste to come see me!” I finally felt a flicker of happiness. It seemed Julian recognized me. He must have realized the little tune was the clue I left for him…

I couldn’t help but drift closer, staring blankly at his furrowed brow and slightly pale face. It had been so long since I’d seen him show any emotion because of me. Whenever he looked at me, his face was always etched with disgust and annoyance. I thought this time he would finally look at me properly, but fate once again shattered my last hope. A flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the morgue. The first to rush in was Celeste. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her hair disheveled, with an officer who had been looking for me following behind her. Ignoring the grim surroundings, she flung herself into Julian’s arms, sobbing anxiously, “Julian, I heard you’re on a difficult case. Are you alright?” Julian hugged her tightly, instinctively shifting half a step to shield her from the body parts. “Celeste, why are you here? This place is… unclean.” Watching their display of sibling affection, I felt such intense envy. Julian truly doted on Celeste. He allowed her to be by his side at any time. Even when he was working, he never scolded her for interrupting. Unlike me, just calling his name was a grave offense. Celeste lifted her head, her voice firm. “Anywhere you are, Julian, I don’t find unclean.” “Oh, Julian, on my way here, I met this officer. I heard you were looking for Elara, right?” “I actually intended to bring her some winter clothes today, but she wasn’t home.” Julian’s face darkened. “Not home? She has no family or friends. Where could she go?” The officer saluted and replied, “Master Julian, Miss Elara’s house is indeed locked up. Neighbors say they haven’t seen her leave or enter for several days.” Julian subconsciously glanced at the pile of body parts, a flicker of complicated emotion crossing his eyes. Seeing this, Celeste quickly pulled out a broken pendant. “Julian, don’t worry.” “I found this at Elara’s house. It looks like the gift she gave you on your birthday.” “It seems Elara must still be angry about what happened that day and is deliberately hiding from you.” “You know how stubborn she can be. Last time, after our argument, didn’t she also run off in a fit of pique and hadn’t returned for half a month?” I was so afraid Julian would misunderstand, I frantically floated in front of him, waving my hands. “Julian, I wasn’t throwing a tantrum.” “I clutched that pendant until my last breath. I don’t know how it broke…” Unfortunately, Julian couldn’t hear a word. His eyes, once flickering with a complex emotion, turned cold as ice again. He disdainfully brushed away the half-broken pendant. “Unreasonable! Let her throw her tantrums if she wants!” “It’d be best if she just died out there, save me the trouble of burying her!” He finished, then shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh, murmuring, “It seems… I misheard.” “There are countless similar tunes in this world. How could it possibly be *that* one…?” Yes, how could he believe it so easily? My heart had alienated him when I was seven. He never sang that lullaby to me again after that. And at that age, I couldn’t even sing the simplest tune correctly, let alone such a complex melody. But Julian didn’t know that I was indeed not musically inclined. Yet I held onto that lullaby, every note etched into my memory, because I knew it represented his brief but profound love for me. After discovering the killer’s true identity, that lullaby was the only clue I could think of. I knew Julian’s abilities; I was certain he would understand and get me justice. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect him to refuse to believe me. As my thoughts drifted, another officer rushed in, breathless. “Commissioner, we have a lead!”

Everyone held their breath. “My subordinates cross-referenced recent case files and found that the method used in this murder is strikingly similar to several cold cases from the past three years in the southern regions. The killer specifically targets young women from prominent families, torturing, flaying, and dismembering them. It’s incredibly brutal!” “We suspect the killer may have moved to the capital.” Commissioner Hayes gasped, then urged Julian, “Julian, you’re the city’s most respected rising star. You’re exactly the kind of target this killer goes after.” “You must keep a close eye on your sister!” Julian nodded, his hand on Celeste’s shoulder tightening. “Thank you for the warning, Commissioner. I’ll make sure to take good care of Celeste!” Commissioner Hayes paused, a little embarrassed. “I was talking about Elara.” “She’s living alone in a detached house now, making her particularly vulnerable…” Julian’s body stiffened. But quickly, a look of impatience and annoyance returned to his face. “Commissioner, you worry too much. A cold-blooded, heartless person like Elara has nine lives. I don’t need to worry about her.” My heart ached with bitterness. Julian, my life… it’s over. Commissioner Hayes still wanted to persuade him. “Julian, it’s been so many years. You should let it go.” “Elara is your own sister, after all…” “My own sister?” The words seemed to sting Julian. He cut off the Commissioner abruptly, his voice even colder. “I, Julian Blackwood, have only one sister, and that’s Celeste!” “As for that murderer, she doesn’t deserve the title!” Julian, you’ve called me a murderer for so many years. Even in death, you won’t believe me? I truly didn’t know what happened back then. Why won’t you forgive me? But Julian couldn’t hear me. He scoffed mockingly, “She’s practically indestructible. She fell into a freezing hole and didn’t die. She caught the plague last year and still survived. This is just another one of her tantrums. What could possibly happen?” “Who knows, if the killer met her, they might even lose a few years off their own life. It’s what they call ‘evil meeting its match’!” No. Julian, it’s not like that. I wanted to tell him that I also feel fear, and pain. When I fell into the freezing hole, I begged a passing woodcutter to save me. When I caught the plague, I pestered old Mr. Jenkins next door for medicine. Every time I miraculously survived, it wasn’t because I was ‘indestructible,’ but because I wanted to stay with Julian a little longer. I wanted to live long enough for him to forgive me. But I never got that chance. Celeste, at just the right moment, gently tugged Julian’s sleeve, softly urging, “Julian, don’t say such things about Elara. Commissioner Hayes has a point; perhaps you should go and look for her…” Celeste always did this, pretending to be kind and urging Julian to be good to me. But the moment Julian actually considered it, she’d suddenly feel unwell, conveniently keeping him by her side. I had long seen through her true nature, but Julian, having formed his initial prejudice, always believed she was good and I was evil. Whenever I tried to expose her, Julian would indiscriminately blame me. This time was no exception. He shook his head disdainfully. “Celeste, you’re just too kind.” “Her initial intention might very well be to exploit your kindness and make me go looking for her!” Julian didn’t want to talk about me anymore and raised a hand to silence everyone. “Let’s finish up quickly. Once we’re done, I want to go back to the estate and spend a few days with Celeste, just to be safe.” With that, he turned back to the slab, diligently reconstructing the body parts, meticulously sketching every memory onto paper.

With his masterful artistry, he rendered my torment with such vivid detail it was as if he had witnessed it firsthand. Only the victim’s face remained elusive. He tried countless times, but he simply couldn’t draw it. He finally gave up, laying down his pen. “Commissioner, this drawing contains all the weapons and methods used, along with some of the killer’s rambling, which sounds like they harbor resentment towards prominent families.” “You can use these to investigate.” Commissioner Hayes looked at the drawing, both amazed and worried. “Julian, the victim’s face… perhaps try again?” “No need to try.” Julian cut him off, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Perhaps the victim’s lingering resentment is too strong, unwilling to move on.” “I can do nothing more. This is as far as my abilities go.” He took Celeste’s hand, ready to leave. Just before departing, he remembered something and added, “I also wrote down that incomplete tune from the memories. Commissioner, you can investigate that too. It might be a clue left by the victim.” Julian, you’re so brilliant, you think of everything. But why don’t you ever consider me? Was it an oversight, or was prejudice at play in your heart? Julian left the morgue without looking back, abandoning me once more. I uncontrollably followed Julian back to his estate. For so many years, Julian never allowed me to step foot inside. Now that I was dead, I could finally return and see it. Perhaps this was the only thing that made my death feel worthwhile. But the next two days were the most heart-wrenching. I knew Julian cared deeply for Celeste, but I didn’t realize just *how* deeply. At dinner, he would meticulously pick out the ginger she disliked from her food. When she coughed, he would personally cook her a soothing pear and honey soup. When she awoke from nightmares, he would sit by her bed all night, reading stories and singing calming tunes. I finally understood. All of Julian’s tenderness had abruptly ended when I was seven years old… On the third morning, Commissioner Hayes’s shouts broke the estate’s tranquility. “Julian, has Elara contacted you these past two days?” Julian was personally fastening a jewel-encrusted hair clip in Celeste’s hair. His movements froze at the question, and his brows furrowed in annoyance. “Commissioner, I’ve already told you, her whereabouts are no concern of mine.” “Even if she did contact me, I wouldn’t see her.” Commissioner Hayes stomped his foot in exasperation. “I know you wouldn’t see her. I just want to ask about her whereabouts.” “After you left that day, I was truly uneasy, so I sent people to search everywhere. The city gate guards checked the entry and exit records and confirmed she never left the city.” “But my men have turned the capital upside down, and we haven’t found a single trace of her!” “How can a living, breathing person just vanish into thin air?” Julian’s hand, holding the hair clip, froze in mid-air. He understood what Commissioner Hayes meant. While the capital wasn’t small, with the authorities’ full efforts, finding someone shouldn’t be difficult. Celeste, seeing Julian lost in thought, seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. “Commissioner, don’t worry. If someone is determined to hide, they naturally won’t be found easily.” “In my opinion, it’s best to let Elara be. Once she comes to her senses, she’ll reappear.” Celeste’s words dispelled Julian’s already meager doubts. His voice turned cold and rigid again. “Commissioner, Celeste is right.” “Since Elara enjoys playing these hide-and-seek games, let her play to her heart’s content.” “When she realizes no one is paying her any mind, she’ll eventually return, tail between her legs. You don’t need to waste any more manpower or resources on her.” “Julian, you… you’re not afraid she’s truly in danger?” “By then, it might be too late for regrets!” Commissioner Hayes’s beard trembled with anger. But Julian’s stubborn demeanor left him helpless. He finally let out a heavy sigh. “Fine, if she comes to harm, it’s your regret, why am I even bothering!” Just as Commissioner Hayes was about to leave, an officer rushed in, panting. He didn’t bother to salute, blurting out, “Commissioner, Master Kaelen, the composer, has restored that melody Master Julian wrote!” Commissioner Hayes spun around. “Where did Master Kaelen say it came from? What’s its name?” The officer shook his head. “Master Kaelen said he didn’t know. It seems to be an unreleased tune.” “The only reason he could restore it was because he heard Master Julian hum it once while drunk, during a drinking session.” “He said if you want to know the specifics, I should ask Master Julian himself…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299300”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn