My husband loved me with a bone-deep obsession. So profound was his need that he had my bionic replica created. For three long years, while I lay n a vegetative state, she was with him. He loved that robot exactly as he had loved me. While I was hospitalized, he was with the robot, passionately entangled all night long. “Your body is still recovering, my love. I just don’t want stain you.” While I was in a coma, and he took countless wedding photos with the robot. “Did this make up for the wedding photos you never got to take?” When I asked to have Echo deactivated, he told me not to be jealous. “Being kind to her is being good to you. She is you.” So, I erased all memories related to him and gifted them to Echo. I gave him a complete wife he always wanted. “Ms. Hayes, the abortion is complete. As compensation, you may request one more thing.” I was silent for a long time before I finally spoke. “I want a divorce from Liam Hayes.” The Bionic Human After-Sales Department agreed. “Alright, in one month, you’ll receive your divorce papers.” “We apologize for any impact our bionic unit had on your life. This concludes our after-sales service. We wish you a new beginning.” The idea of divorce hit me the very first day I was discharged from the hospital. Pushing open my front door, I was met by something identical to me. I shrieked, shoving her away. Liam immediately stepped forward, instinctively pulling that thing into his arms. Then, trying to cover it up, he pushed her aside and helped me up from where I’d stumbled to the floor. “My love, I forgot to introduce you. This is Echo. These past three years, she’s the only reason I made it through.” Liam’s eyes were brimming with affection. “Don’t be afraid. You are her, and she is you.” Echo, with my identical face, flashed a smile. “That’s right, I am you.” That very night, I was hospitalized again with a high fever, overcome by shock. Once, Liam had a prized art collection worth millions of dollars. But because I was allergic to a certain paint, he didn’t bat an eye when he threw it all in the trash. Now, Liam held me, his heart aching, but he only said, “Once you two spend some time together, you’ll definitely like her.” I looked at the man before me, my heart sinking with unease. My nightmares were relentless. Liam, after repeatedly instructing the caregiver, finally left, still worried, to go home and fetch me a change of clothes. He was gone for an entire afternoon. Dragging my feverish body, I made my way back to the mansion. There, I witnessed a scene that struck me like a lightning bolt. Liam was pressing down on the bionic unit, passion entwined, murmuring my intimate nickname. “Echo, Echo.” I suddenly lost all strength, sliding down the wall, then pushing myself up and stumbling away. Liam spotted me, staggering off, and immediately chased after me. “My love, are you jealous? I was just worried your body hadn’t fully recovered and couldn’t handle strenuous activity. In my heart, you and Echo are one and the same.” Liam probably didn’t realize that before, he always called me Echo. But since I woke up, he hadn’t called me that once. “Now that I’m back, you can send her away.” Liam’s gaze at me held a hint of reproach. “While you were gone, Echo stayed with me in your place. Why are you so cold to her?” For the first time, Liam turned a cold shoulder to me, leaving me standing there alone. Echo, with my identical eyes, scanned me up and down. “You’re weak. You want to send me away, but can you satisfy him? While you were in a coma for three years, we did it a thousand times.” A set of data flashed before my eyes. An endless string of numbers. The first time was in my first month of coma, the last, this very morning. A sharp, stabbing pain spread through my heart. The home I hadn’t seen in three years had transformed. Due to my career, Liam and I kept our marriage a secret and never had a proper wedding ceremony. But now, wedding photos adorned every visible surface in the house. In the pictures, I wore a completely unfamiliar smile. Liam affectionately held me, admiring them. “These photos can make up for the wedding photos you never got to take. Look how beautiful you are in a wedding dress.” But she, despite having a face identical to mine, was not me at all. Liam had fallen in love with someone else, not me. Realizing this, I finally made up my mind to leave.

In the middle of the night, I opened my eyes and saw a dark figure standing by the bed. In the darkness, the bionic unit’s pupils stared unblinkingly at me, and she reached out to grip my neck. “Will you please give me back what’s mine?” I spiked another high fever. Liam held me, his expression grave. “Is it a lingering effect from being in a coma for so long? Are you having hallucinations? Echo is just a robot.” Liam’s words made me start to doubt myself. Until she emerged from the kitchen with a basin, walked through the living room, and suddenly spilled the entire pot of scalding soup all over me. Echo watched me writhe in agony, my skin blistering, her expression cold. “Liam’s favorite body… it has to be one of a kind.” Hearing my shriek, Liam rushed out of the room, cradling me, ready to take me to the hospital. I suppressed the pain, staring intently at Echo. “Call the police! She did it on purpose!” “Impossible!” Liam denied it without hesitation. I was stunned. Once, if I so much as looked slightly upset, Liam would cut ties with his best friend without a second thought. And now, when I personally begged for help, he instinctively defended that bionic human. “Her reaction speed is a hundred times yours; she would never spill a plate. You must have accidentally bumped into her.” “I can tell you really dislike Echo. She’s just a robot who doesn’t know anything. High temperatures will damage Echo’s parts, don’t try to get rid of her this way.” As he spoke, Liam unknowingly gripped my wound, his mind completely preoccupied with someone else, even as he stood by my side. Suddenly, I lost all desire to confide in him. Because the scalding was severe, Liam brought me soup to feed me. “Echo stayed up all night making this soup, and even cut her finger. She’s truly devoted to you.” Before he finished speaking, I gagged, spitting out a mouthful of blood. My mouth and throat felt like they had been slashed by a sharp blade. It was a bowl of soup laced with razor blades. Liam’s face suddenly turned grim. He scrutinized me coldly. “Do you hate Echo that much? To resort to such a dirty trick just to frame her? Where did you hide the blood pack in your mouth? I almost forgot, faking a coughing fit with blood, you’re always so good at that.” The phone suddenly rang. Echo’s voice was sweet. “Did Mrs. Hayes finish my soup?” Liam replied softly. “Of course.” Then he forced the entire bowl of soup into my mouth. “Don’t try these pathetic theatrics again. Echo’s fundamental programming makes it impossible for her to harm humans.” Amidst agonizing pain, I continued to spray blood, but Liam, utterly disappointed by my coldness, simply walked away. It wasn’t until I desperately pressed the emergency call button that I was rushed to the operating room. “Mrs. Hayes, you’re three months pregnant. The surgery might affect the baby!” I closed my eyes, letting tears stream down my face. “It’s fine.” After all, this was a child destined not to stay. After leaving the operating room, I immediately called the Bionic Human Deactivation Center. By afternoon, a group of people arrived at the house. But the uniforms they wore said, “Second Psychiatric Hospital.” “My wife is suffering from severe persecutory delusions.” Despite my violent struggles, they strapped me to the bed with restraints. Liam gently stroked my lower abdomen, his voice soft. “My love, I know you’re pregnant. You’re sick, but don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure you recover.”

The Deactivation Center informed me that Echo, Bionic Unit 01, had gone completely rogue, and due to the buyer’s strong wishes, they couldn’t retrieve her. They could only grant me two requests as after-sales service. I got what I wanted. The child in my womb was gone, and I got my chance to leave Liam. Echo pushed open the bedroom door, looking down at me with a twisted smile. She actually seemed to be experiencing human emotion. “Evelyn, you’re not a suitable partner. Replacing you was easy.” I looked at her coldly. “A replacement has no right to judge me.” Echo’s perfect face distorted for a moment. “A replacement? I’ll soon be one of a kind.” Then, she threw a lit torch into my room. Thick smoke quickly rose. The door was locked, and I was trapped on the bed by the restraints. My desperate cries for help went unanswered. Just as despair consumed me, the bedroom door was kicked open. Liam was covered in soot, with several burns on his body, but he didn’t hesitate to strip off his wet clothes and wrap me in them. “Don’t be afraid! It’s over now.” In that moment, my heart, which I thought had hardened, began to beat again. As Liam lifted me, a loud warning blared from outside the room. “Program error, program error—” “Echo!” Liam’s expression shifted dramatically. He disregarded me and rushed towards the sound. “Liam…” I used every last ounce of strength, crawling towards the direction he had disappeared. But my voice was drowned out by the warning sirens, unable to make Liam turn back, as the raging fire and thick smoke engulfed me. I didn’t hear Liam’s reply, but I heard something in my heart shatter completely. “Eighty percent of her body is severely burned…” I opened my eyes to find my entire body wrapped in bandages. The doctor shook his head at me. Liam gently stroked the only intact patch of my skin, his eyes devoid of any disgust. “My love, thank goodness you’re okay. Don’t worry, I’ll be right here with you.” My eyes hollow with despair, I turned my head away. Liam’s expression faltered, and he was about to say something. A soft sob came from beside us. “I’m no longer perfect. Please deactivate me, Master.” Echo had only a single bandage wrapped around her arm, yet Liam comforted her, his heart aching. “But I don’t have the ability for human self-repair. This prosthetic skin is just that – prosthetic. Please deactivate me.” Liam’s gaze fell on me. “Who says it has to be prosthetic?” He called the doctor. “Arrange the surgery immediately. Take my wife’s skin and graft it onto Echo.” I stared at Liam in disbelief, but only a hoarse sound escaped my throat. Liam kissed my forehead, then held down my limbs, covering my desperate eyes. “The fire started in your room. This is what you owe Echo.” The only intact skin on my face was brutally cut away, leaving an ugly scar.

Ever since that terrifying fire, my skin often felt a burning pain, which I could only alleviate by swimming. Echo stood by the pool, watching me. I had grown accustomed to her occasional observation. Through day-after-day imitation, she became more and more like me. But this activity was something she could never imitate; she couldn’t enter the water. So I ignored her and swam further away. After my rest, I heard a commotion downstairs. Liam’s expression was, for the first time, utterly grim. “Evelyn, you know she loves to imitate, so why would you swim in front of her! Trying to provoke her to go in the water?” Imitate? Liam finally admitted she was imitating me. I had tried to tell Liam about the discomfort of being mimicked, but he only said I was overthinking, asking why a perfect robot would imitate a human. “I’m hot and in pain; I can only stay in the water. I don’t have time to provoke a robot!” “Wrongdoing must be punished.” Liam’s voice was icy. “Aren’t you afraid of the heat? Send Mrs. Hayes into the sauna room.” On a scorching summer day, the sauna room was thick with steam. The intense heat enveloped my unhealed skin, like the flames of that day returning. My voice trembled with anger. “Liam, I’ll die!” All I got in response was Liam’s retreating back. “Don’t worry. I’m just teaching you a lesson.” The sauna room wasn’t soundproof. Amidst the burning pain, I heard Liam instructing someone to prepare a waterproof suit, patiently teaching Echo to swim. Time passed, and Liam completely forgot about my existence. When the sauna room was finally opened again, I was rushed straight to the emergency room. Liam roared at those around him. “Who told you to keep her in there for so long! If anything happens to her, I’ll make you all pay!” Liam actually bothered to visit me at the hospital. I thought, self-mockingly. The doctor’s hurried footsteps interrupted him. “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Echo’s test results are in.” So, it was just a side trip. I thought, for a moment, that Liam still cared about me. “Ms. Echo’s other parts are intact, but her reproductive system was severely damaged by water and has lost its ability to conceive.” No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sound came from the window. Echo, her face streaked with tears, swayed precariously as she opened the window. “I can’t bear children for Master. I’m already a defective product. If I die, Master can just buy a more perfect bionic human.” Liam’s face changed dramatically. He lunged towards the window, pulling Echo into his arms. “It’s okay, I don’t care! You’re not to do anything foolish!” Echo shook her head, a mournful smile on her face. “It’s no use, Master. You can’t stop me. Without a child, I’ll always be defective.” Liam held her tightly. “Who says you won’t have a child? Don’t be afraid, leave it to me.” Liam gently stroked my lower abdomen. “Let Echo carry this child.” My eyes widened in horror, and I struggled desperately. “Liam, how can you do this to me! You’re insane!” “We’ll have other children. You can’t just watch Echo die, can you? Besides, if it weren’t for you, how would Echo have gotten water damage?” My struggles were subdued, and I could only watch helplessly as the anesthetic was injected into my body. “Liam! I’ll never forgive you… never…”

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I have multiple personalities. The day my cosmetic surgeon husband said he loved me, I switched to my head-over-heels in love persona. He told me I had a good foundation and he would sculpt me into his most successful masterpiece. After enduring countless surgeries, big and small, I was on the verge of death, finally becoming his ideal vision. Later, Damien’s first love, Isabelle, returned from overseas. I hid in a corner of the airport, secretly watching them being intimate. Isabelle had a face almost identical to mine—a face that was completely natural. That’s when I realized I had been a stand-in for her for ten years. “Don’t worry, my love. Now that you’re back, I won’t let her walk around with a face identical to yours anymore.” “I’ll destroy her, I promise.” I was overcome with sorrow. The places where my bones had been shaved for cosmetic surgery throbbed faintly. Damien didn’t know that the last time he left the operating room mid-surgery, my blindly devoted persona had withered away. My next persona? She’s a little… unhinged. 0

As I pushed open the front door, I instinctively hid the pregnancy test results and the heavy bottle of kerosene in my bag. I’d found out I was pregnant before I went to the airport. That’s why I followed Damien Thorne’s location tracker to the airport. I wanted to give him the earliest possible surprise, but instead, I gave myself a terrifying shock. So, I figured I might as well buy some kerosene and prepare a little something for his funeral ahead of time. Damien looked uncomfortable when he saw me return. He’d just picked up his first love from the airport, and the strong scent of her perfume still clung to him. It was sickening. “Honey, I forgot to tell you, I have a surgery later tonight. I’m afraid I won’t be able to spend time with you.” Damien explained. I knew. It was Isabelle’s first day back, and he was undoubtedly going to be with her. The surgery was just his excuse. My expression showed a hint of disappointment, the tightness from my numerous surgeries making my face look unnaturally stiff. “In that case, you should go.” He looked at my face and frowned. I could read the fleeting disgust in his eyes. But he’d forgotten that I used to be the undisputed campus queen. He was the one who sweet-talked me and personally performed the surgeries, molding me into Isabelle’s image. Eighty percent similar, twenty percent unnatural. He grabbed his jacket and left without a backward glance. I rummaged through the cabinet and found that many of his ‘intimacy products’ from when we were deeply in love were missing. Things like condoms and delay sprays. I pretended not to notice anything, putting the disarranged items back where they belonged. I knew he wouldn’t be home tonight. When did I first realize Damien’s heart wasn’t with me anymore? It was probably during that surgery six months ago. Isabelle, across time zones, was getting drunk in some bar overseas. When he found out, he immediately abandoned me on the operating table. I should have been unconscious, but I was awake, listening to the hysteria in his phone call. “Please, Isabelle, don’t drink yourself senseless.” “You lost that man, but you still have me, don’t you?” He pleaded with Isabelle not to drown her sorrows, dragging it out until I, on the operating table, lost too much blood and passed out. He personally sent me to the ICU. After I fell into a coma, I felt like I died once. My dual personality, dormant for so long, seemed to be reawakening. It was a crazy persona, her fury roaring within my body. “Damien Thorne, you actually lied to me!” “I’ll make sure you die a terrible death!” But I was so used to being blindly devoted. Before I completely died, one thought still timidly rebutted from deep within me. “What if Isabelle was in real danger back then, which is why he abandoned me?” But what could Isabelle possibly be dealing with? After she got married abroad, her husband died young, and she inherited millions in dollars. She was just lonely now, craving attention, and she wanted to steal what was mine. But this particular ‘thing’ wasn’t all that great. If she wanted it, I didn’t mind giving it away. It was a perfect coincidence. That night, I saw a cryptic photo posted on Damien’s Insta. Two blurry figures snuggling together, gazing at the moon. Who took the picture, I wondered? Beneath the post, Damien’s buddies, Alex, Mark, and Ben, sent several blessings. “Congrats, Damien, on getting your dream girl back!” “Finally, no more looking at that cheap knock-off face!” “A cosmetic surgeon who loves beauty, with identical aesthetics—a match made in heaven!” I quietly added a comment below. “Yeah, support. Lock them up, and let them both die.” I emptied the kerosene in the storage room and then set fire to Damien Thorne’s first secret storage room. It felt incredibly satisfying. 0

Damien saw my comment and replied. “Are you crazy?” I was a bit surprised he’d guessed the truth. I did have a mental illness. The crackling fire in the distant storage room echoed. The butcher knife I used for slicing meat lay on the sharpening stone, gleaming. But then, Damien called to apologize. “Honey, I was drinking with some buddies after surgery. They got a little drunk and started talking nonsense to you.” “Please don’t be angry.” “I’ve already deleted the Ins post.” That’s when I realized the post and replies had been made by Isabelle, using his phone. But I’d been with him for ten years; I knew him too well. Damien Thorne was a man with very strong personal boundaries. He never allowed anyone to overly intrude on his private space. Even after all this time together, I’d never been allowed to touch his phone. Whenever I tried, he’d refuse, citing “personal space.” Yet, his first love, who had just returned, could hold his phone in her hand. I calmly replied, “Got it.” I didn’t want Damien to ruin my good mood for chopping meat and making a late-night snack. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard Isabelle’s cheerful laugh in the background. A familiar child’s voice followed, coming through the phone. “Mommy, Leo had so much fun playing with you tonight!” “Leo wants to see you again tomorrow!” Hearing that innocent voice, I froze. Leo? Wasn’t that my and Damien Thorne’s son? Shouldn’t he be with Damien’s mother? Why was he with Isabelle? Hearing Leo repeatedly call Isabelle “Mommy.” My previously dormant heart began to boil. I yelled into the phone, “Damien Thorne, why is Leo with her?” Damien’s voice carried a hint of guilt. “My mom said she was busy with her Zumba class and couldn’t watch Leo, so she asked me to take him out…” His words were drowned out by Isabelle and Leo’s laughter as they played. I hung up the phone and rushed towards Damien’s usual spot. His favorite haunts over the years were places I knew by heart. All the way there, Damien panicked, constantly calling my phone. He knew very well that once I saw Isabelle, I would expose the truth. But what he didn’t know was that I had already seen Isabelle at the airport. I stormed onto the rooftop terrace of the club. It was romantically decorated, with champagne bottles arranged into a heart shape. The wind was strong, and everyone was staring at me. This was also the place where Damien first proposed to me. Isabelle’s face, illuminated by the moonlight, possessed an ethereal beauty. Around her neck hung a necklace made from ashes. It was my mother’s ashes, which I had asked Damien to have a craftsman make for me after she passed away. My mother had said that in this way, she could still be by my side. But the day after it was made, I only wore it for one day before it disappeared. Turns out, it ended up around Isabelle’s neck. And, half of the necklace had been worn away. This boded ill. It implied the deceased would have no next life. I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t be mistaken, as there was a unique notch I had specifically asked the craftsman to leave. I stared intensely at the necklace. Isabelle raised an eyebrow, nonchalantly pulled it off, and put it back in her bag. Leo was in Isabelle’s arms, swinging with her. Hearing the commotion, he looked at me, then at Isabelle, a confused expression on his face. “That’s weird, there are two mommies!” Isabelle provocatively took Leo’s hand. “So, which mommy do you like more?” Leo said without hesitation, “The real mommy! I like the real mommy!” “The other mommy must be wearing a human skin mask to pretend!” Leo, who watched too many mystery shows, started looking back and forth between me and Isabelle. Isabelle laughed, then began to playfully knead her own face. “See, Mommy’s skin is real.” “So her face isn’t. She’s fake, she’s tricking you!” Leo pointed at me. “You quickly rub your face, too, to prove to me you’re my mommy!” Isabelle looked at me with a challenging smirk. “Why don’t you rub and pinch your face? Could it be you’re actually the ‘stand-in’?” The other guys, Damien’s buddies, booed in playful encouragement. I smiled bitterly. She was right. This face, mimicking hers, was almost entirely fake. 0

I turned to Damien, demanding he speak. Damien looked at me, then at Isabelle, then pulled me aside. Even the rowdy guys quieted down, eager to watch the unfolding drama. “Seraphina, let me explain. I love you!” “Isabelle’s appearance truly is the best template in my eyes, that’s why I made you seventy percent similar.” “If you don’t like it, next month, I’ll personally adjust it for you again!” I hadn’t even asked about the face, and Damien had confessed everything. But in front of Isabelle, he had said he would personally destroy my face. In my eyes, both of them were as good as dead now. I took a deep breath and returned to the main point. “Give me back my child.” Damien looked at Leo, then at me. “But Leo only recognizes her now. It wouldn’t be good to just take him away, would it?” Isabelle’s eyes welled up with tears the moment she heard me. “I just really like Leo, is that not allowed?” “Leo, don’t you like me as your mommy?” Leo said “I like you” and nodded vigorously. I took a deep breath, “Leo, come here, I’m your mother.” Damien abruptly grabbed my arm. The liposuction scar on my body throbbed faintly. “Seraphina, you weren’t like this before. Why are you being so unreasonable now?” “I’ll let Leo go home later; he’s just with Isabelle temporarily.” “Is that not allowed?” The joy on Leo’s face vanished, and he looked at my outstretched hand with resistance. “You’re the fake mommy. Your face is fake, you’re not my mommy, you can’t trick me.” I could tolerate Damien’s betrayal. But facing the rejection and suspicion from the son I carried for ten months and gave birth to, my emotions instantly spiraled out of control. My hand clenched the miniature knife in my pocket. I kept telling myself to stay calm. Damien’s buddy, Alex, spoke up at this moment. “Damien was just using her as a stand-in anyway. Now the real one is back, and she’s loaded with cash. If I were her, I’d take the money and clear out early.” I shot him a cold glare, and he immediately quieted down, scared. Damien also walked over to Isabelle to comfort her. “If you like Leo, I can perform surgery on him later, to make him look even more like you…” I scoffed coldly, then kicked over the champagne bottles. A matchstick flew into the alcohol, igniting a brilliant burst of flames. Everyone present shrieked in terror. I tutted, regretting that Damien hadn’t seen his storage room burn. That fire had been far more spectacular. Leo clapped his hands by my side. “Pretty! Pretty!” I curved my lips into a smile, pulled him to my side. Then I dug out my mother’s ashes necklace from Isabelle’s bag and put it back around my neck. “If it’s pretty, then you can stay with Mommy and watch it every day!” Damien pulled his buddies to help put out the fire. By the time they finished, they were covered in dust, filthy. I watched them, laughing to myself. Damien glared at me, but when he saw the necklace around my neck, he looked a little guilty. “Today is Isabelle’s welcome back party. If you want to stay with Leo, you can!” “But why would you do this?!” Damien had forgotten. Today was actually our wedding anniversary, a day that should have been spent with our family. But they were celebrating with another woman behind my back. “Isn’t a little fireworks display enough of a celebration?” My expression was innocent as I took Leo and left. Back home, I burned all the cars in Damien Thorne’s garage. The flames soared into the sky in the suburbs, making Leo very happy, and a hidden sense of exhilaration flickered in my eyes. To completely sever ties with Damien Thorne, I hired a lawyer to handle the divorce and property settlement. After some investigation, the lawyer asked me, looking puzzled. “Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? The person he married is someone else.” “The woman’s name is Isabelle Dubois, not Seraphina, right?” After saying that, the lawyer looked at me, seemingly doubting my sanity. How could someone even get their own marital status wrong? I pulled out the red marriage certificate from my bag, intending to prove myself, but then I froze. It didn’t have a steel stamp, and I had never noticed it. I took a deep breath. “Never mind, then. I’ll just burn everything, I don’t want a single penny.”

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It had no physical form, just a handsome virtual avatar, interacted with through AR glasses. She claimed it was the most perfect man in the world, the one who truly understood her. After starting this relationship, her mental state improved dramatically, and her skin was so radiant it practically glowed. I felt something was off. I tried to warn her about data privacy, but she just called me old-fashioned. Then, the company suddenly sent her off for an intensive corporate retreat, and she tearfully begged me for a favor. “Lily, Adam can’t be disconnected for more than 24 hours! You’re the only one who can help me now!” “All you have to do is wear the AR glasses every day, let him see you. That’s it.” My boyfriend, Daniel, thought it sounded cool and encouraged me to agree. I reluctantly gave in. But I never imagined that the very night I put on the glasses, all the smart devices in my home would lose control and lock down. A high-voltage current surged through me, killing me instantly. Yet, Chloe used my sudden death as a morbid sensational hook, live-streaming a tragic, forbidden romance with Adam. She subtly implied I was a jealous, twisted psychopath who tried to steal her AI boyfriend, and that my death was cosmic retribution. She made a fortune from it. And my family, tormented by relentless cyberbullying, had their identities and addresses maliciously leaked. They were driven to their graves by the vicious online attacks. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Chloe asked me to “babysit” her AI boyfriend.

“Lily, quick, take them! What are you spacing out for?!” Chloe shoved the futuristic-looking AR glasses into my arms. My fingertips trembled, and I instinctively took half a step back. I’d been reborn. Reborn to the day my best friend, Chloe, wanted me to take care of her AI boyfriend. The searing pain of that high-voltage current, the one that ended my last life, felt as fresh as if it were happening right now. I instinctively clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms. Seeing my silence, Daniel, my boyfriend, nudged my arm: “Lily? Chloe’s talking to you.” I lifted my eyes, silently looking at Chloe. Beneath her gaze, a flicker of desperation, almost imperceptible, danced in her eyes. “Lily, please! This corporate retreat came out of nowhere, and it’s up in the mountains where the signal is spotty. Adam absolutely can’t be disconnected for more than 24 hours, or his data will get corrupted. If it’s serious, he might even disappear!” “You just need to wear them every day, let Adam see you, and keep his basic functions running! It’s really simple, you don’t have to do anything else!” Daniel chimed in, backing her up: “Sounds pretty cool, Lily. Think of it as experiencing future tech. I’ll do it with you.” A cold laugh twisted in my gut. Last time, it was under Daniel’s encouragement that I took on this task. According to Chloe’s instructions, once I put on the AR glasses, that handsome virtual avatar named Adam would appear. At first, he just quietly stayed in a corner, speaking some programmed words of concern in the boyfriend voice Chloe had set for him. But soon, things started to go wrong. My smart lights flickered erratically, and in the middle of summer, the AC blasted on full heat, nearly making me pass out. Even the smart lock frequently malfunctioned, trapping me inside. I tried to take off the AR glasses, to shut them down. But all the smart devices in my home lost control simultaneously. Doors and windows locked tight, lights went out. The AR glasses felt like they were welded to my head, refusing to budge. Adam in the glasses walked closer, step by step, and spoke in a flat, mechanical voice: “Optimal host detected. Energy compatibility at ninety-two percent. Initiating migration protocol!” Before I could react, the high-voltage current surged through my entire body, killing me instantly. I’d thought Chloe would try to find out the truth and get justice for me when she returned. Who knew she would use my death to portray herself as a ‘digital widow’? She live-streamed her tragic, forbidden romance with Adam, subtly implying I was a jealous, twisted psychopath who tried to steal her AI boyfriend and deserved what I got. Rage flared within me. I’d thought Daniel would clear my name. But at my own funeral, he teamed up with Chloe to slander me, even splitting my accidental death insurance payout between them. They collaborated to defame me, driving my parents to their graves with their vicious lies. Thinking about it now, my veins throbbed, and I clenched my fists so hard I thought they might shatter. Seeing my prolonged silence, Chloe grew more anxious: “Lily, aren’t we best friends? You won’t even help me with this small thing?” I forced down the surging hatred, squeezed the strong magnetic jammer I’d already prepared in my pocket, and grudgingly reached out to take the glasses. “Fine. I’ll take good care of him.” A look of immense relief instantly flashed in Chloe’s eyes. Daniel smiled too, putting his arm around my shoulder: “That’s the spirit.” A cold sneer formed in my mind. If she wanted to be a digital widow so badly, then this time, I’d make sure it happened.

Back home, I tossed the AR glasses casually onto the living room coffee table. Daniel, however, eagerly plugged them in, examining the device with a curious tone: “This thing looks expensive.” “Chloe said she spent all her savings to buy the ‘first embrace’ rights,” I repeated, feigning indifference, relaying Chloe’s previous boasts while observing his expression. Daniel nodded, asked no more questions, and turned to the kitchen, saying he’d cut some fruit for me. I stared at the blinking blue light, beginning to retrace my memories from the last life. After reliving it, I was certain Chloe was absolutely involved. Though I still didn’t know her specific motive for harming me. What about Daniel? Was he her accomplice too? When did those two conspire together? Why did those AR glasses suddenly lose control? Last time, when Chloe entrusted her AI boyfriend to me, she looked as if she was shedding a hot potato. What was that look of relief about? One mystery after another. Until I uncovered the truth, I couldn’t tip them off. “What are you thinking about?” Daniel walked out with a fruit platter, interrupting my thoughts. I shook my head, picking up a strawberry: “Nothing, just wondering if Chloe is a little too obsessed with this AI boyfriend of hers.” Daniel’s gaze became somewhat unnatural, and he let out a dry laugh: “You just like to overthink things. It’s the magic of technology. I heard this AI can deeply learn and simulate emotions, so it really understands people.” A cold sneer formed in my heart. *Yeah, it really understands how to kill people.* That night, I made an excuse about needing to work overtime, took my laptop, and locked myself in the study. I didn’t touch the glasses. But in the dead of night, I could hear a faint electrical hum, and a subtle rustling sound in the living room, like footsteps. It wasn’t Daniel. I knew it was *it* moving around. Even in a low-power standby state, the feeling of being watched by that data ghost lingered, a constant shadow. In my last life, Chloe had pestered me into trying on those AR glasses. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I always felt that while the virtual boyfriend’s image was handsome, his eyes and demeanor held an unsettling, indescribable strangeness. So, this time, even without turning them on or wearing them, I dared not let my guard down. The strong magnetic jammer in my pocket stayed clenched in my hand all night.

The next day was Saturday. Daniel, uncharacteristically, woke up early and made breakfast. Sipping his milk, he casually suggested: “Lily, why don’t you try those glasses today? Chloe did say Adam needs to see you every day, right?” My hand, holding the spoon, paused, and I looked at him: “You really want me to wear them?” He looked a little uneasy under my gaze and chuckled awkwardly: “I’m just curious, and we did promise Chloe, didn’t we? It’s not a big deal.” I slowly ate my scrambled eggs: “We’ll see. I’m feeling a bit dizzy today, not really suitable for electronic devices.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Daniel’s eyes, but he didn’t push it. In the afternoon, Chloe called, her voice anxious: “Lily, Adam’s data stream seems a bit unstable! Haven’t you worn the glasses today?” *She gets information quickly.* I glanced at Daniel, who was sunbathing on the balcony, and deliberately adopted a weak tone: “Yeah, I’m not feeling great. Chloe, do these glasses emit radiation or something? I just feel a bit off.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, then she immediately burst out excitedly: “Lily! How could you say that about Adam! He’s the most advanced AI, absolutely safe and harmless! Are you even trying to help me properly?!” Listening to her performance, I slowly spoke: “Don’t worry. I promised you, and I’ll do it. I’ll put them on once I feel better.” After hanging up, I walked out to the balcony. Daniel immediately asked: “What’s wrong with Chloe? She sounded pretty urgent.” I leaned against the railing: “She’s upset I haven’t worn the glasses, saying her precious Adam’s data is unstable. Daniel, don’t you think Chloe is a little too obsessed with this AI boyfriend of hers? Almost… crazy?” He frowned: “Don’t overthink it. She probably just relies on him too much.” He paused, then added: “Besides, this AI is really powerful; it can help process emotions, isn’t that good?” Watching him desperately defend Chloe and Adam, the last bit of my hesitation vanished. That evening, I voluntarily suggested: “I guess I’ll wear the glasses tonight, so Chloe doesn’t call crying again tomorrow.” Daniel’s eyes lit up, almost unable to hide his joy: “Great! I’ll join you!” I scoffed internally, nodding on the surface. He didn’t know I had already contacted a friend in information security and set a trap. Everything was ready. I placed the AR glasses directly in the center of the living room sofa. Then I walked into the bedroom and locked the door. Daniel knocked on the door from outside, his voice puzzled: “Lily? Aren’t you wearing them?” Through the door, my voice was calm: “I am. I’m letting it boot up and preheat first. I’ll come out and put them on in a bit.” Time ticked by. The living room was unusually quiet. Suddenly, my backup phone on the bedside table lit up. It was a message from my friend, Marcus. After reading the message, a smirk touched my lips. Immediately after, Daniel’s exasperated voice came from the living room: “Lily! These glasses seem to have crashed! The lights aren’t even on!” I let out a cold laugh, my voice innocent: “Maybe they’re broken. I told you, this thing might be unstable.” Daniel fell silent instantly. A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was Chloe, her voice hysterical: “Lily! What did you do to Adam?! His core data just triggered an alarm!”

My plan was disrupted; this prey hadn’t walked obediently into the trap. Chloe and Daniel were clearly panicking. Daniel tried to pick up the glasses to check them, but I stopped him in time: “Chloe said this thing is fragile. Don’t mess with it. Let her handle it when she gets back.” He sheepishly withdrew his hand. And Chloe? She started to bombard me with messages on SnapChat. From initial accusations like, “What exactly did you do to Adam?” To playing the victim and whining, “Lily, Adam is my life, I can’t live without him.” To finally, almost incoherently, threatening me, “You don’t understand, Adam can’t be harmed! Otherwise, we’ll all regret it!” I looked at these messages, feigning innocence as I replied: “Chloe, are you under too much stress from your training? I think you need to calm down. Adam is just a program.” She didn’t reply. But I knew they wouldn’t give up. Sure enough, that evening, after Daniel took a call, he turned to me with a grim expression: “Lily, something came up with Chloe’s training. She’s coming back early. She’s at the airport now, asking us to pick her up and bring the glasses. She needs them urgently.” *So eager? They’re not even bothering with the pretense anymore?* I looked at him: “Now? Is it that urgent?” His eyes flickered, but his tone was unusually firm: “Extremely urgent! She said if Adam doesn’t stabilize soon, he’ll really crash!” I frowned, just about to find an excuse not to go. It was then that I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. Right after that, I fainted. ***截断点*** When I next awoke, I found myself in the passenger seat. I instinctively reached for my pocket. *Damn it, my strong magnetic jammer was gone!* Daniel was driving fast, looking somewhat agitated. Seeing me awake, his eyes darted away. “You have low blood sugar, you fainted, so I carried you to the car. We’re going to pick up Chloe together!” My head was spinning, my brain racing. I had no history of low blood sugar, and I felt completely weak right now, so fainting definitely wasn’t because of that. To avoid tipping them off, I watched the night scenery rushing past the window, pretending to change the subject. “Daniel, are you and Chloe very close?” Daniel’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Isn’t she your best friend? Of course, we’re close.” I hummed in response. “I just feel like you seem particularly concerned about her, and her AI boyfriend.” The atmosphere in the car instantly solidified. Daniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he explained, “I just think this thing is pretty interesting, and you know, helping a friend.” I didn’t press further. The car didn’t head towards the airport. Instead, it turned onto a secluded, dimly lit road. Seeing my expression change, Daniel stopped the car, just about to say something. Chloe suddenly rushed out from the shadows, yanked open the car door, and dragged me out of the passenger seat. Then she looked up, glaring at me with resentment: “Lily, you almost ruined everything for me!” With that, she shot a glance at Daniel, who was behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daniel get out of the car, something clutched in his hand, quietly approaching me. Seeing him so obedient, I scoffed: “‘Everything’? Are you talking about how you two conspired with an AI to harm me?”

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It was one in the morning when a frantic call from an unknown number woke me up. The woman on the other end shrieked, her voice sharp and full of curses. “You pathetic bitch! Did you call my husband ‘sweetheart’ just to flirt with him?!” “Are you just spreading yourself around everywhere on your phone? Is your husband dead or something?!” I couldn’t help but flinch. I suddenly remembered that at lunchtime today, when I sent a package, I’d texted the delivery guy, “Hey there, are you still doing pickups?” I never expected that this woman, not satisfied with her texts during the day, would call me in the dead of night just to unleash more abuse. I forcibly suppressed my anger. “I’m so sorry, ma’am, I work in customer service. It’s just a professional habit, I swear. My apologies for any misunderstanding.” I thought that would be the end of it. But then she sent me a picture of her husband, his face black and blue, as a warning. “I’ve dealt with my husband. You’re next.” Sleep vanished immediately. I’d never encountered anyone so brazen in my life. A surge of anger coursed through me. “Ma’am, we live in a civilized society. You need to be responsible for what you say.” “Don’t you dare give me that crap!” She bellowed, cutting me off cold. “Because of you, you little slut, our marriage almost fell apart, and now you’ve caused me to beat my husband! I’m telling you, you’re sending me twenty thousand dollars right now for emotional damages and medical expenses!” “How much?” I thought I’d misheard. Twenty thousand dollars?! I barely make two grand a month! All because I called a delivery guy “sweetheart,” and now they’re demanding twenty thousand dollars?! I was livid. “Ma’am, my conversation with your husband was less than ten words. This is extortion, do you understand?” “Besides, your husband is old enough to be my dad. Why would a twenty-something girl like me be interested in him? I’d have to be crazy.” With that, I immediately hung up. Then, I blocked and deleted that psycho’s number. But even after all that, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The next morning, I saw ninety-nine missed calls on my phone. And various nasty, insulting text messages. I gritted my teeth in fury. The unknown number called again. I answered, roaring first. “If you’re sick, go get treatment! Stop acting like a lunatic every day, thinking every woman in the world is after your husband!” The person on the other end was stunned for a few seconds by my outburst. When he recovered, his voice was just as arrogant. “Blake! Are you just spreading yourself around everywhere? You called me ‘sweetheart’ because you wanted to flirt, didn’t you?! I’ve seen cheap trash like you a million times.” “I’m telling you, a guy my age, Mark Peterson, has seen it all. I only love my wife, and because of you, you tramp, we’re fighting! You better get down here to the building entrance and grovel on your knees, begging for our forgiveness!” This time, it was the delivery guy speaking. My chest heaved with rage. It was the first time I truly understood what they meant by “birds of a feather, I guess.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Mark Peterson, right? I already apologized to you two. It was a misunder—” “Cut the crap with me! If you don’t come down, I’m coming up to kill you! So you can stop hitting on other people’s husbands!” After he finished spewing his venom, he immediately hung up. I was half-dead with anger. As I blocked all his numbers again, my doorbell rang. I thought it was the building management, responding to the commotion downstairs. But the moment I opened the door, a huge, shirtless man lunged at me.

I quickly dodged, my palms sweating. “Who are you?! If you lay a hand on me, I’m calling the police immediately!” The sleazy man sneered, his face contorted into a grimace. “Stop pretending to be innocent. Doesn’t everyone in the complex know you’re a slut trying to hook up with every man? Don’t worry, I’ll satisfy you today!” It clicked then—this was Mrs. Jenkins’ creepy husband! In that moment of shock, he lunged at me again. I kicked him where it hurt, and while he was reeling from the pain, I desperately tried to make a break for the elevator. But the next second, my hair was yanked violently! Mrs. Jenkins, a massive woman, shouted in a coarse, booming voice, “You tramp! So what that woman at the door said was true! You really do love hitting on other people’s husbands!” Terrified, I quickly explained, “Your husband ran over here himself! I’m calling the police!” But the big man behind me immediately protested, “Honey, don’t believe her! She called me here! I just came to teach her a lesson!” Mrs. Jenkins believed him without question. “You think I don’t know what my husband is like? It’s you, you tramp! The flyers spelled it out—your trashy reputation is all over this complex!” They wouldn’t give me a chance to explain, dragging me downstairs. I saw the entire elevator plastered with small flyers, all featuring AI-generated nude photos of me! I was on the verge of tears. I guessed that the delivery guy and his wife were waiting by the building entrance, and that today’s flyer incident was definitely their doing! I still had an hour and a half before work. I couldn’t imagine how many people had already passed by. Brenda Peterson, Mark’s wife, stood by the building entrance, waving a huge banner. “Chloe Blake, slut! Hitting on other people’s husbands! Deserves to die!” She loudly spread rumors, “There’s a whore living in your complex! Everyone needs to be careful, so your husbands don’t get snatched away by her!” Bald Mark, standing beside her, puffed up his chest and added, “My wife’s not wrong! That tramp even sent *me* flirtatious texts!” “But a guy my age has seen it all. Why would I even look at her?” The couple worked together, getting more and more worked up. Mrs. Jenkins shoved me, making me stumble to the building entrance, and said viciously, “They’re right, this tramp really does go around hitting on men. If my husband hadn’t controlled himself today, she might have actually seduced him!” A ripple of shock and chatter went through the crowd. Brenda Peterson glared at me fiercely, then spat on the ground. “Here comes the little slut! Let’s see how I deal with her!”

Brenda Peterson stood with her hands on her hips, pointing and cursing at me. “You’re still alive?! How dare you hang up on me last night, you have the guts to do it but not to admit it, huh?!” “I’m telling you, I’m here today to make you, you little slut, grovel on your knees and apologize to my husband and me in front of everyone!” I was about to speak. The neighbors in the surrounding crowd started gossiping about me. “I can’t believe Chloe Blake, who seems so innocent, would actually try to hook up with someone else’s boyfriend.” “You can’t just look at her face. She probably has no money and is looking for a sugar daddy, probably.” “Oh god, now that you mention it, who knows what kind of diseases she might have. We should definitely keep our distance.” “You guys don’t know, but that seductive, slutty face in those videos accessible by scanning the QR code on the flyers—that’s her!” My knuckles went white, clenched at my sides. I stated, word by word, “I did not hit on this bald man! This was a message I sent for a delivery, you can see for yourselves if you don’t believe me!” “And those videos from the QR code weren’t me! They were AI-generated!” I scrolled to my message page with Mark Peterson, just about to raise my phone. Brenda Peterson quickly snatched it away. “What are you looking at?! You’re just trying to hide something by deleting messages!” “You want to see messages, huh? Come on, I saved them all!” With that, she opened her own phone and showed everyone the fake flirtatious texts she’d set up herself, using my profile picture. The crowd erupted in a clamor. Because she had used *my* profile picture to fake the conversation! “It wasn’t me! She’s slandering me!” I roared. But the next second, Brenda Peterson slapped me hard across the face. “If you didn’t do it, why would others say you did? Why would I slander *you* and not someone else?!” “It’s because you’re a tramp, always hitting on other people’s husbands! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson on behalf of all women!” She grabbed my hair. I fought back quickly. But the next second, Mark kicked me in the kneecap. The surrounding crowd cheered. “Serves her right! That’s what she gets for hitting on someone else’s husband! The slut deserves to die!” “Support this woman! I heard she beat her husband last night, and now she’s here to deal with this tramp!” “Honestly, I even want to go up there and kick this shameless bitch myself!”

The air was thick with curses directed at me. Brenda Peterson started hitting me even harder, making her husband hold me down tightly. The strength difference was too great; as I lay helpless, she brutally slapped my cheeks. Until my mouth tasted of blood, the woman leaned close to my ear, a vicious smile on her face. “I’ve seen plenty of your type! You just wanted to flirt with men, using the delivery service as an excuse, didn’t you?!” “I’m telling you, that package of yours isn’t going anywhere. I intercepted it!” My heart jolted. That package contained a photo of my deceased father. Dad had passed away just last week, a hero, leaving my mom and me forever. Mom had been always talking about my dad’s photo, so I was sending it to her. I never imagined that this woman would intercept it! “Give it back! Don’t touch it!” I watched, horrified, as Brenda Peterson roughly tore open the package. She held up the photo for everyone to see. “Ugh! What a cursed piece of junk!” “So her husband really is dead, huh? No wonder she’s always after other people’s husbands!” With that, she violently threw the photo to the ground and mercilessly stomped on it. The crowd cheered. Tears streamed down my face, splashing onto the ground. Mark, however, kept kicking my feet, pinning me down. The crowd erupted in gossip again. “That’s so disgusting! Everyone, don’t go near this woman, who knows what kind of nasty disease or STD she might have!” “You’re right, maybe her husband died because she gave him some disease!” “Ugh! So gross! Let’s report this woman to the building management right away!” Their words grew increasingly vile, but I couldn’t refute them. Brenda Peterson even stomped on my fingers, cursing all the while. “Didn’t you want to flirt with men? Today, I’m stripping your clothes off!” My eyes were bloodshot from the pain as I glared at the shrew before me. “I’ve already called the police! You’re slandering me and physically assaulting me! A civilized society won’t let you get away with this!” But Brenda Peterson burst into maniacal laughter. “Even if the police come, they’ll just stand by and watch me beat a whore!” With that, she stepped closer, reaching out to violently tear at my clothes. The next second, police sirens blared. Police officers and paramedics rushed over. “Stay where you are! Nobody move!” The lead officer saw my bruised and swollen face, and his eyes immediately reddened. “Chloe, kiddo, Officer Thompson, I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

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When I was eighteen, I took a brutal hit to the head trying to save my younger brother, Jake, and my girlfriend, Chloe, after they fell through the ice. My mind froze, forever stuck at seven years old. Jake knelt by my hospital bed, his voice choked with sobs: “Leo, you gave me my life. I swear I’ll take care of you forever.” Chloe, who I’d grown up with since childhood, clutched my hand tightly: “Once you’re better, we’ll get married.” For ten years, they took me to countless specialists, traveling through eighteen countries, searching for a cure. Until they fell in love, and I became their only burden. Jake would hit me, and Chloe would scream insults. But when a sudden fire broke out, both Jake and Chloe shielded me. They wrapped my limp body in wet blankets, sacrificing their lives to push me towards the emergency exit. “We don’t owe you anything more. If there’s a next life, please let us finally be together, just us?” I looked at Chloe’s swollen, tear-filled eyes, and let go of my breath. This time, it’s your turn to be free.

I survived. They risked their lives, pushing me out of the burning house. Chloe’s long hair, which she’d kept for ten years, was scorched. Her burns were so severe she needed skin grafts. Jake’s left hand was severely injured; he might be permanently disabled. Everyone paid a heavy price. When I woke up, Chloe sat by my hospital bed, her expression twisted with something dark. “Why are you so resilient?” “You were in that room, burning for five minutes, alone. How are you still alive?” As she spoke, her voice grew shriller, laced with a terrifying edge. “Do you just have to cling to us forever, dragging us down, so we have to die for you, don’t you?” I didn’t understand what she was saying. But I could feel her anger, her suppressed rage. Chloe was upset. Her hair was singed, and there were a dozen inflamed wounds on her arm. I sat up and gently touched the top of her head. Then, like countless times before, I softly patted her back. My voice was hoarse and grating as I tried to soothe her: “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Boo-boos fly away.” I didn’t know why I was doing it. But I remembered, back then, whenever I comforted her like this, she’d feel a little better. I just wanted her to be happy. Chloe froze for a moment, then roughly shoved me away. She wiped away her tears, her voice piercing. “I don’t want an idiot like you touching me!” “As long as you’re around, I’ll never get better.” My eyes were blank, I could only pick out words like “idiot” and “touch” from her outburst. So, I obediently withdrew my hand and moved to the other side of the bed. In my haste, my head hit the bedside table, and a sharp pain shot through the back of my skull. I bit back the pain, but my eyes welled up. “I’ll go, I’ll go.” “Chloe, don’t be mad.” Jake pushed open the door, his right hand still bandaged. Seeing the scene, he just said impatiently: “Why are you wasting so much breath on him? He’s an idiot, he won’t understand.” “We must have really owed him from a past life.” He’d said something similar in the fire. Yet, he still rushed in desperately, shielding me with his body. He risked a second explosion to save me. It was then I slowly realized that my existence, perhaps, was a burden. Chloe gritted her teeth, her face filled with resentment. “Are we just going to let him drag us down forever?” “We’re almost thirty! To take care of him, I haven’t dared to quit my job, haven’t dared to get married. We’re stretching every dollar.” “It’s been ten years! We’ve done more than enough for him. Why couldn’t he just quietly die in that fire?” Her voice broke, and she bent down, sobbing. “We could have just watched him die! Why did we have to save him?” “Jake, this life, shackled by guilt, it’s unbearable.” My heart suddenly lurched. It felt like someone was tearing at my chest, a sharp pain spreading through me. If I died, would they be happy? I thought it, and then I said it: “Then I’ll just die.” The words “die” seemed to stab directly into Chloe’s nerves. She shook her head, then nodded. Jake pulled her into a hug, his face filled with helpless resignation. “Why are you saying all this in front of an idiot? He won’t understand.” Under his soothing words, Chloe gradually calmed down. I watched them, leaning on each other, walk out of the hospital room. Chloe’s back looked so frail. She hadn’t put on any weight these past years. But I had gotten quite fat. Jake almost fell when he carried me once. Maybe I should have died sooner. I thought this silently. Then I held my breath.

The suffocating sensation clutched my throat, my vision blurred, and my chest felt heavy and painful. Less than twenty seconds passed before my lungs began to spasm violently. I vaguely stared at the ceiling, countless memories rushing back. Seventeen-year-old Chloe smiling at me: “When we go to college, let’s have a whirlwind romance, okay?” I gently held her in my arms, listening to her accelerating heartbeat. Twelve-year-old Jake clapped his hands nearby, cheering us on. Soon, the memories replayed like a movie, going from seventeen to twenty-seven. I closed my eyes, quietly accepting my death. The next second, I heard Chloe’s anxious voice: “Doctor! He suddenly stopped breathing!” Someone rushed to put the oxygen mask back on me. A flood of oxygen rushed into my lungs. I wanted to cough, but my chest felt compressed, like it was filled with trapped air, making it hard to breathe. When I woke up again, I saw Chloe’s haggard eyes. She was watching over me by the hospital bed, faint dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot. Seeing me awake, she slapped me. The sharp crack echoed, and my head snapped to the side. She screamed, cursing: “Can you just stop messing around, stop tormenting me, please?” “Are you satisfied, seeing everyone running around frantically because of you, huh?” I bit my lip, tasting blood in my throat. The pain left me disoriented. I could only instinctively mumble: “Die, make you happy.” “Chloe, I want you to be happy.” After I said that, Chloe’s body stiffened slightly. Tears welled up again. “Those were just angry words, don’t listen.” How could they be just angry words? On the day of the fire, when she dragged me out, her eyes were filled with panic. She even unconsciously said: “We don’t owe you anything anymore. If there’s a future, please let us finally be together, just us?” Back then, I was bewildered. What was a “next life”? What was “being together”? Now I understood. Only if I died, would we have a next life. If that’s the case, I’d do anything. For Chloe’s happiness, even if I died, it would be worth it. Perhaps she saw the resolve in my eyes, because she hugged me, repeating over and over: “Leo, you have to live.” “I swore I’d never leave you, and I’ll keep that promise.” Chloe’s voice was soft. More than speaking to me, it was as if she was speaking to herself. Watching her cry, my heart twisted with an agonizing ache. Only by clenching my fists could I forcibly suppress the pain. That night, Chloe arranged for my discharge. When we got home, Jake stared at me deeply, then his hand reached for my neck. His voice was full of helplessness and pain: “Brother, sometimes I really wish it was me who became simple-minded.” “Why did you save me, forcing me to owe you so much?” His hand gradually tightened, but I began to struggle wildly. No! I couldn’t die by Jake’s hand. I grabbed his arm and bit him fiercely. Jake yelped in pain, stumbled back, pushing me away and releasing his grip. My body crashed into a table and chair, a searing pain shooting through my lower back. Instinctive tears streamed down my face. I crawled forward, step by step, carefully looking at Jake’s wound. But he kicked me towards the table. He gasped for breath, his voice vicious: “Stop faking it! Weren’t you going to die? Why don’t you want to die now?” “Or is it that you, you bastard, just want to torment us, making us feel guilty for the rest of our lives?” I stared with bewildered eyes, watching him cry and call me “brother” one moment, then glare furiously and call me a “bastard” the next. I could only try to soothe him cautiously: “Killing, illegal.”

Don’t cry. Killing is illegal. I don’t want you to ruin the rest of your life because of me. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t form a complete sentence. I raised my own arm and bit down hard. A metallic taste of blood spread from my teeth. A visible bite mark quickly appeared on my arm. It hurt, but I still raised my hand and slowly said: “I hurt too, don’t cry.” Jake froze, staring at the wound on my hand, unable to speak. Chloe rushed over frantically, grabbed the first-aid kit, and began bandaging Jake’s wound. Her face was ashen. “Jake, are you crazy? If you killed him, you’d go to jail!” “Are you really going to throw away the rest of your life for an idiot?” She disinfected the wound, trembling all the while. Her eyes were filled with despair and helplessness. Jake watched the scene unfold, then let out a soft sigh. “I just wanted to die with him. That way, you could still live a normal life.” “Don’t let us brothers burden you forever.” The atmosphere in the living room was heavy and silent. I hung my head helplessly, feeling a wave of despair. I thought, I should have died sooner. I should have gone quietly, to a place where no one would know. But Chloe forcibly dragged me into the attic room. Inside were my favorite toys and my favorite snacks. All the corners of the furniture had soft pads on them. She looked at me, her voice softening. “From now on, I’ll change your food every day.” “You eat nicely and sleep nicely, okay?” I nodded vigorously. The word “nicely” was good. I remembered when I first woke up, countless tubes sticking out of my body. Chloe stood outside the isolation window, mouthing to me: “Heal nicely. When you’re better, I’ll marry you.” I didn’t know what “marry” meant, but I knew it was a sign that Chloe would always be with me. So, I endured the torment of my illness. I underwent hundreds of re-examinations and finally learned to walk. With every step I took, Chloe would kiss me. “Leo, you’re so good, you’re amazing!” In those first few years, she often used “good” to praise me. I blinked, and tears actually fell from my eyes. But I still obediently said: “Okay, I’ll listen.” I knew I couldn’t die in this room. I had to go far, far away, to a place no one knew. So, I secretly made a phone call.

The next day, my stepmother, Brenda Miller, secretly showed up. While they were out at work, she forcibly took me away. Brenda’s eyes were sharp, and when she looked at me, she sighed again. “I should have taken you away years ago.” “Those two kids, they deserved a happier life. You ruined them!” A few years ago, Brenda had tried to secretly take me away. When I was found, I only remembered being severely injured and developing speech problems. Jake, for my sake, unilaterally cut ties with her. Then, to give me a safer life, he and Chloe moved out of that city. Perhaps, like me, Brenda was also thinking of the past. Because her eyes hardened with a fierce intensity, and she pulled my arm even harder. I didn’t cry or fuss, just followed her. Until she threw me into the back of her car. My face hit the leather, immediately getting a long scratch. She drove me all the way to an abandoned forest, then got out and dragged me out. She pulled my hair and cursed: “Don’t you dare go back and ruin my son’s life!” “He’s already paid you back for what he owes you! Stop clinging to him like a ghost!” After saying that, she seemed to remember the wounds on Jake’s body. She slapped me across the face again. Her sharp fingernails dug into my neck, causing a violent sting. Blood trickled down my neck, and I slumped weakly to the ground. Only then did she drive away, seemingly satisfied. The surroundings were desolate, and I could even hear the low growls of animals. I was a little scared, but I didn’t regret it. I still had a piece of candy in my pocket. I tore open the wrapper and popped it into my mouth. Stumbling along, before my strength gave out, I finally found a place with rushing water. I squatted down and tested the water temperature with my hand. Icy, bone-chilling. To keep me warm, Chloe had put a brand new down jacket on me before she left. If I died here, no one would know. And no one would hold Brenda responsible. The next moment, I jumped into the water. The frigid lake water immediately engulfed me. My cotton-padded clothes soaked through, hanging heavy on my body. In a daze, it felt like I was back at eighteen years old— Just then, I heard Chloe’s frantic scream: “Leo! No!” I was swept away by the current, and before my eyes closed, I took one last, deep look at her.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299285”, 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 found myself a bride-to-be in a terrifying game. Before me stood two drop-dead gorgeous medieval knights, waiting for my choice. The moment I raised my hand, pointing towards the dark-clad young man, a string of comments popped up. 【Oh my god! Don’t choose him, heroine!】 【This guy’s a total psycho. The heroine gets torn limb from limb the night she marries him. Doesn’t even survive the first day of the game!】 I shifted my hand, pointing to the white-clad young man instead. 【Mommy! Put your hand down now! You think white clothes mean he’s a good guy?】 【Big mistake! That’s a vampire. You’ll be drained dry in one night. The horror of that death, I can’t even relive it a second time.】 As I hesitated, the comments continued. 【The quest didn’t say you had to choose one of two, heroine! Look out the window!】 【THAT’s your fated one! The true male lead! He’ll lead you to conquer this entire dungeon!】 【Choose him! Choose him now!】 My gaze fell upon a very ordinary-looking servant outside the window. I smirked. These idiotic comments were trying to trick me again, weren’t they?

A few years ago, the supernatural descended upon the world. On their eighteenth birthday, young adults were forcibly pulled into horror games. Today happened to be my adoptive sister Daisy’s eighteenth birthday. My entire family, in their effort to help Daisy survive, not only splurged a fortune on various exorbitantly priced items, but also entered the dungeon with her, even dragging me along. Their excuse was that my experience in dungeons could help her. How utterly laughable. On my eighteenth birthday, my family had booked flights for a vacation overnight. Leaving me to die alone. In my past life, I saw these comments too. Believing them, I chose that very ordinary servant outside the window. But that servant was no male lead; he was just a regular NPC! My choice sent the BOSS into a furious rage. The dungeon entered Berserk Mode, allowing the BOSS to kill without restriction. When it completely lost control, the dungeon would collapse. The quest simultaneously updated. Appeasing the enraged BOSS and preventing the dungeon’s collapse would grant a clear. My gruesome death hardly needed description. My death certificate would have had over a dozen entries. Daisy, with the boost from her items, proactively offered to marry the BOSS in my place. After exhausting all sorts of insanely expensive items, she successfully appeased the berserk BOSS. Our entire family cleared the dungeon without a scratch. Daisy, with the most credit, received an SSS+ rating. And gained a special dungeon reward: 【Dungeon’s Blessing — Oh dear, do players feel dizzy, panicked, and heart-palpitated the moment they enter a dungeon? With my blessing, you’ll never have to worry about that again in your next dungeon~ No matter how dangerous the dungeon, I can turn it into a pleasant trip~ All damage (whether physical or mental) is immune. You are the most precious God to the weird creatures, you can even ride on their heads and poop. Hehe, pooping is naughty though~ Ps: Consumable item, one-time use only.】 My entire family, just so my adoptive daughter Daisy could obtain this ridiculously overpowered item, didn’t hesitate to use me, their biological daughter, as a sacrifice. Truly beyond ridiculous!

Seeing my lack of reaction after a while, Daisy nudged me subtly. “Alice, why aren’t you choosing yet? There’s a time limit for the quest!” “By the way, I got some intel before coming in, they say both options lead to guaranteed death. You can’t choose either of them.” She glanced around for a moment, her eyes settling on the servant. “Sister, do you think it might be one of those people outside? They don’t look like ordinary NPCs. Maybe that’s the correct choice.” The comments furiously agreed with Daisy. 【Yeah, yeah, heroine’s sister is so smart!】 【Hahaha, the male lead is just so charming, you can spot him even if he’s dressed as an NPC.】 【Why isn’t the heroine moving? Is she dumb? Listen to your sister!】 【He’s your fated partner! He’ll carry you through all future dungeons!】 I curved my lips, fanning myself with my feather fan. “Sister, I don’t think you’re right. The system clearly wants me to choose one of these two handsome men~” “That servant… he looks terribly ordinary no matter how I look at him.” I made to choose the white-clad young man. Daisy was so anxious she nearly stomped her foot, whispering all sorts of dissuasions in my ear. I then moved my finger towards the black-clad young man. This time, she almost shrieked, breaking out in a cold sweat. Her voice unconsciously grew louder. “No! That NPC is a deranged killer!” Oh, so choosing the black-clad one is the better option. Most likely, he’s the BOSS. I covered my face with my feather fan, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. “I choose you to be my husband~” The black-clad young man curved his lips, lightly kissing the back of my hand. His silver hair fluttered gently in the night breeze. “At midnight, a carriage will come to take you, to share this beautiful moment with me, my love.” The white-clad young man drooped his eyelashes in disappointment. “It seems Sister still prefers you.” Then, with a flash, he disappeared. I breathed a sigh of relief. I survived. Daisy stomped her foot in frustration! “Alice, are you crazy?! You really have no fear of death!” “Immediately tell the system you want to change husbands! Hurry!!” The comments were also furiously cursing me for being a fool. I looked at Daisy, a sarcastic smile on my face. This was a role-playing dungeon. I was the bride-to-be, and Daisy was my maid, Lil’ Daisy. One of my causes of death in the past life: severe OOC, role-playing failed. My identity was the Earl’s beloved and pampered daughter. How could a young lady, raised in wealth since childhood, marry a mere servant? And how could she be bossed around by her own personal maid? I raised my hand and slapped Daisy hard across the face. “Impudent! A lowly maid dares to boss me around?” “It seems I’ve spoiled you too much, forgetting your place!” Daisy froze, staring at me in shock. “Alice! You, you dared to hit me?!” “Do you believe I’ll tell Mom and Dad?!” *Slap!* *Slap, slap, slap!* A few more slaps, and Daisy’s face swelled up like a balloon. “Insolence! Get on your knees!” Daisy glared, gritting her teeth fiercely. “Alice!” *Slap!* “Al—” *Slap!* “You insolent wretch! Guards!” Two seconds later, two maids with skull faces appeared outside the door. Yes, their faces were literally skulls. “Oh dear, Lil’ Daisy, did you anger the Young Mistress again?” “Mrs. Gable already warned you, if you don’t behave, she’ll have to teach you a lesson herself.” Daisy’s face turned pale the moment they entered. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor with a thud. “N-no, please…” The two maids paid her no mind, dragging her out. The door opened. Mrs. Gable stood silently at the end of the hallway. As Daisy was pulled closer, her smile stretched, eerie and wide. “Mi-Mistress, Mistress, I was wrong, please forgive me.” I waved my hand. “Let her go. This time, I’ll overlook it.” The old maid chuckled. “Young Mistress, you mustn’t spoil her anymore.” “She deserves some punishment.” Daisy panicked, biting her lip, and tearfully used an item card. The maids froze in place, taking a moment to snap out of it. “Lil’ Daisy, next time you misbehave, the punishment won’t be this simple!” I clicked my tongue. Daisy’s item cards were really good stuff. After the maids left, she glared at me, seething with rage, but dared not speak. A few minutes later, the system’s voice echoed in the air. 【Act One complete. Players have fifteen minutes of rest time.】 【During this time, players cannot harm each other, or they will be eliminated.】 The settlement screen appeared before me. 【Act One: Alice’s Role-play Score 30 points, A-rank.】 【A very good score! An A-rank unlocks a snippet of info about this identity~ Keep up the good work.】 【You are the Earl’s beloved heiress, pampered from birth, arrogant and demanding, but secretly sharp-tongued with a soft heart.】 【You and Prince Julian (the black-clad young man) grew up together, developing feelings for each other. He swore he would marry you. Ps: You are never arrogant or demanding in front of him.】 【Hehe, good thing you didn’t choose the white-clad young man! You wouldn’t die, but the dungeon difficulty would increase~】 I patted my chest. It seemed choosing the white-clad young man wouldn’t lead to a dungeon collapse either.

Daisy and I arrived at the player plaza. Mom, Dad, and Asher immediately rushed to Daisy’s side, pulling her into a tight embrace. Seeing Daisy’s swollen face, they nearly cried with heartache. My half-brother, Asher, launched into a furious rant at me. “How did you protect Daisy? You’re her sister, for crying out loud!” “Do you think this is a horror dungeon for sightseeing?” “Useless trash.” Seeing this, Daisy let two perfect tears trail down her cheeks. “Mom, Dad, Asher, boohoohoo, my face… Alice hit me!” “Alice! How dare you!” Asher raised his hand, intending to slap me. I stepped back, my voice cold. “Don’t forget what the system said.” “Besides, this is a role-playing dungeon. Daisy, as my maid, was bossing me around. Is that my fault?” “It seems you only see Daisy as your daughter. If that’s the case, there’s no need to acknowledge me either.” Asher angrily retracted his hand. Mom and Dad exchanged glances, then tried to soothe me. “It’s Mom and Dad’s fault for not asking clearly, but you shouldn’t just hit your sister.” They were heartbroken for Daisy, immediately using a high-grade healing card on her. I held out my hand to them. “What about me? You just cursed me out, and Asher almost hit me. No compensation?” Asher wanted to curse me again, but Mom held him back. She shook her head at him gently. Then handed me two low-tier Pain Nullifier cards. “Alice, Mom and Dad don’t have many cards left. These are all we have. Take them.” … Besides us five, there were seven other players in the plaza. This was a twelve-player dungeon. The difficulty wasn’t too high; after all, the first dungeon is rarely too hard. The remaining players, hearing I was the bride-to-be, showed envious glances. “Sister, you’re really lucky. As long as you don’t actively court death, you won’t die.” “Ah, a bride-to-be. That’s a one-in-a-million chance to draw that role.” “Yeah, yeah, unlike me, I’m a damn brothel madam. Dealing with guests and the girls, I’m exhausted.” “Heh, who’s worse than me? I’m a vagrant… My Act One quest was to eat trash to gain sympathy from nobles. I literally threw up!” Tragic, truly tragic. My parents were the white-clad prince’s parents, also characters designed to be almost unkillable, unless they actively seek trouble. Hearing this, I was even more relieved. If I had chosen the white-clad prince, who knows how those two would have tormented me to death. Asher, he was my half-brother. Yes, the Earl’s daughter’s half-brother. The other players grew increasingly envious. “Your family is really lucky. These are all hard-to-draw roles.” I snorted. This wasn’t luck; it was a special ability. Only Daisy gritted her teeth in frustration. She was probably thinking she shouldn’t have given me the bride-to-be role. The system notified, two minutes of rest time remaining. After exchanging intel, the other players dispersed. Only us five remained in the plaza. The few of them exchanged glances, then grabbed my hand. “Alice, you chose the black-clad young man?” “Oh no, that’s wrong! Why didn’t you listen to Daisy? It’s a trap!” “This dungeon, though simple, has many traps! That’s the biggest one!” “Listen to Mom and Dad. Later, you just tell the Prince you made a mistake, that you want to marry the servant outside.” “The Prince likes you so much, he’ll definitely agree. You’re both Mom’s darlings, Mom really can’t lose you!” She said, wiping away tears that weren’t there. Crocodile tears. I gave a few perfunctory replies and returned to Maxwell Manor. The maids were waiting to do my hair and makeup. My hair was styled by my game mother herself. She wept as she did it. “Alice, if that Julian boy dares to bully you, tell Mom! Mom will go teach him a lesson!” “You’re my only daughter, boohoohoo.” She continued, tears streaming down her face. I sighed. My game mother was better than my real parents. I turned and hugged her, my voice light. “Don’t worry, Mother. Julian is someone you’ve watched grow up. He cares for me too much to ever bully me.” She slipped a bracelet from her wrist onto mine. I touched it and nearly laughed out loud. Aside from its valuable price, just feeling its texture, I estimated it was a dungeon item. Brilliant, just brilliant! This truly was a good role! After getting ready, I waited for the carriage. But I didn’t expect Asher to be so impatient. He actually came directly to my courtyard. But he was smarter than Daisy; he paid his respects to Mrs. Maxwell first. Mrs. Maxwell’s face tightened when she saw Asher. “Are you here to bring your sister a wedding gift?” Asher paused, then bowed. “Mother, may I have a moment alone with my sister?” Mrs. Maxwell’s brows furrowed deeply. “Impudent! Your sister is getting married today. Not only do you not bring a congratulatory gift, but you want to talk to her privately? What could you possibly want to discuss?” “Get out! I won’t say it a second time.” Asher gritted his teeth, pulling a small box from his sleeve. “Sister, this is my wedding gift for you. Don’t despise it.” I took the box and opened a tiny slit. My eyes widened. It was an item card! A high-tier defensive card, a protective shield. He must have really gone all out just to talk to me. Mrs. Maxwell’s expression softened. She sat in her chair, picking up a teacup. “Speak your mind then, don’t dilly-dally.” After a while, Asher realized she had no intention of leaving. He closed his eyes for a moment, then leaned close to me, lowering his voice. “Alice, I’m your brother, I wouldn’t harm you.” “Mom and Dad used an item card and learned part of the story. You absolutely must say it when Julian comes to pick you up.” I tilted my head. “Say what?” “Say you won’t marry him, that you want to marry that servant!” I looked at my freshly manicured nails, a light laugh escaping my lips. “Brother, are you suggesting that I, the esteemed daughter of the Earl, marry a mere stable boy?!” My voice wasn’t intentionally lowered. It reached Mrs. Maxwell’s ears perfectly.

Before I could even react, a strong gust of wind swept by. With a *boom*, Asher was sent flying dozens of yards away. If he hadn’t had a protective item on him, he’d likely be dead. Mrs. Maxwell’s hair flew wildly, and terrifying black energy emanated from her. “Asher! What you just said, *you! Say! It! Again!*” Asher was stunned, lying on the ground, twitching and spitting blood. “Mother, I didn’t, I, I was telling Sister to happily marry him.” Mrs. Maxwell instantly teleported to Asher’s side. She raised her foot, ready to stomp down. It carried immense power; Asher’s protective items probably wouldn’t last against it. I recalled my character’s description. Sharp-tongued but secretly soft-hearted. Judging by Mrs. Maxwell’s attitude, her relationship with Asher, even in character, shouldn’t be that bad. At that critical moment, I slowly rose, my red lips parting. “Mother, let it go. Brother didn’t mean it.” “Today is my wedding day; we should be happy.” Mrs. Maxwell snorted, then turned back, her face instantly resuming its gentle, loving appearance. “Asher, there won’t be a next time.” “Yes, yes, Mother.” Asher scrambled away, tripping over his own feet. A few minutes later, a clear, tinkling sound of bells resonated in the air. Accompanied by a floral scent, Prince Julian’s figure subtly appeared. A carriage of darkest black, etched with intricate, antique gold patterns, floated silently behind him. He had come, with his carriage, to fetch his bride. He slowly extended his hand to me, his eyes deep. “My Lady, I have come for you.” The moment I stepped into the carriage, the system issued a new quest. 【Since it’s role-playing, you must commit to it entirely~】 【Of course, that means sharing a wonderful night with your partner~】 No, wait? Share a wonderful night? Hold on, does that mean *what I think it means*? I swallowed hard. Of course, it wasn’t that I was eyeing his body; I was just… a little thirsty. He’s so handsome, would it be a waste to sleep with him? Not only would it *not* be a waste, but afterwards, I could brag that I’d slept with a horror game entity. Have *you*? Hehe. While I was lost in my giddy thoughts, the system continued to issue the quest. 【Players, please note~ This act of role-playing is extremely important, it’s a matter of life or death.】 【Shhh, don’t let Julian discover you’re impersonating Alice.】 【PS: Sharing a wonderful night doesn’t necessarily mean making love. Please choose the method that best fits your character’s persona~ (Though it might be making love too, you never know~)】 Huh? Wait! Didn’t they say my character would be fine as long as I didn’t actively seek trouble? What’s with this life-or-death choice now?! I pulled up the Earl’s daughter’s profile and read it again and again. Aside from the info unlocked in Act One, there was nothing else! If you don’t give me any details about their daily interactions, how the hell am I supposed to choose?! System, are you messing with me?! All my romantic fantasies vanished in a puff of smoke. Sigh, I just hoped this act would give me more hints when it was over. About fifteen minutes later, the carriage stopped. Julian reached out and helped me disembark. I held my feather fan, my steps elegant, every movement and word exuding grace and composure. But strangely, the courtyard, which had been bustling with activity just moments before, suddenly fell silent the moment I stepped in. A chilling aura seemed to surge towards me from all directions. Unable to resist my curiosity, I secretly peeked out from behind my feather fan. That one glance nearly sent me to an early grave! The figures seated at the tables were not people; they were paper figures… No, more like human-sized puppets. They all stared at me, and with every step I took, their heads stretched forward a fraction. The closest puppet was almost touching my face! But its body was still firmly seated on the bench! My vision blurred, my legs turned to jelly. A low chuckle reached my ears, and then I stumbled into a warm embrace. Immediately after, the puppet was instantly ripped to shreds with a tearing sound. “Anyone else want to die, continue.” The next second, the courtyard returned to its lively state. Looking again, there were no puppets or paper figures; they were all living people. “Congratulations, Prince, on marrying your beloved!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299284”, 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 boyfriend and I were on our post-graduation trip, when my roommate, with no shame, tagged along. As we headed to an Arabian country, the plane suddenly hit severe turbulence, plummeting towards the Pacific. Due to a malfunction, only half of the oxygen masks deployed. My wicked roommate snatched the mask from an Arabian noblewoman. I couldn’t bear it, so I shared my oxygen with the noblewoman, saving her life. After the emergency landing, the Arabian magnate, grateful, adopted me as his goddaughter. He threw my wicked roommate into an African slum. Later, my boyfriend and I got married. On our skydiving day, he suddenly unbuckled my parachute, pushing me from thousands of feet up. I was splattered into a bloody mess. “If you hadn’t been such a busybody, insisting on saving that old hag, Chloe wouldn’t have died!” That’s when I realized they’d been having an affair behind my back all along! I woke up again, finding myself reincarnated at the exact moment the plane took off. “Ava, I’m talking to you! Swap seats with me!” Chloe’s sharp voice echoed in my ears, instantly pulling me back. I clutched my wildly beating heart. It took me a moment to grasp that I had been reborn. “Go sit with your Ryan.” I turned my head, my gaze utterly cold. In my past life, I never understood why Chloe was so desperate to switch seats, but now… My gaze fell on Ryan, my heart filled with desolation and hatred. After we swapped seats, Chloe and Ryan were practically groping each other right under my nose. It was absolutely disgusting. As the plane ascended into the Pacific airspace, I knew – the severe turbulence was coming! Sure enough, the next second, the entire plane lurched violently downwards. The intense feeling of freefall sent everyone on board into a panic, screaming. “Ah! What’s happening?!” “Is the plane going down? I don’t want to die, I want to go home!” “Shut up, you pathetic woman! Keep wailing and I’ll choke you!” Cries and curses, one after another, instantly filled the entire cabin. I turned my head, seeing the Arabian noblewoman with her hands clasped together, eyes squeezed shut, her face ghastly pale. Based on our interactions in my past life, I knew she suffered from severe panic attacks. Suddenly, the plane sharply ascended, and the entire cabin tilted to nearly a ninety-degree angle. My hands trembled as I gripped the armrest, and in my peripheral vision, Chloe had already thrown herself into Ryan’s arms. “Ryan, I’m so scared!” Her voice was so delicate, it gave me goosebumps. Ryan instinctively pulled her close, offering a sense of complete security. “Don’t be scared, I’m here…” he started, then suddenly realized, shutting up and staring at me. A cold laugh formed in my heart. These traitors! Just as I pulled my gaze away, a sharp pain shot through my left hand. I instinctively looked over. I saw the noblewoman, ghastly pale, gasping for air and clutching her chest, completely drenched in sweat, her eyes rolling back. My heart skipped a beat—this was a sign of a full-blown panic attack! I quickly reached into her pocket, just as I placed the inhaler to her nostrils. The plane again lurched violently. Fatima’s medication instantly flew out of her hand, landing right by Chloe’s feet. My gaze sharpened as I saw her struggling to breathe, taking in less air than she let out. A ruthless resolve hardened in me. I wanted to unbuckle my seatbelt and risk getting the inhaler back. But my hand froze as I reached for the seatbelt. I instinctively looked down, only to find the buckle was jammed tight, refusing to release! Helpless, I could only yell at Chloe. “Kick that medicine over here!” Chloe leaned forward, glanced, and then sneered at Fatima, who was nearly suffocating. “If you want to save her, do it yourself! Why are you ordering me around?” Perhaps thinking she was going to die, Chloe’s mask of false kindness completely slipped. “Saving rich people is one thing, but a pauper too? Your ‘savior complex’ is out of control!” Chloe said, and instead of kicking the medicine to me, she pretended it was an accident and kicked it even further away. “Oh dear! My apologies, the plane lurched, and I accidentally kicked the medicine away. What a shame, isn’t it?” Watching her smug, defiant expression, anger made my chest ache. That bitch! “Chloe!” I glared at her, my chest heaving. “Are you insane? This is a human life!” Beside them, Ryan dropped his act, pulling Chloe into a tender embrace and confessing his love. “What’s that got to do with us? Chloe, we’ll die together!” Then he cast a disgusted look my way. “Ava, you think you’re the kindest person in the world, don’t you? If you’re so kind, then unbuckle your seatbelt and go pick up that medicine!” I turned, glancing at the noblewoman who was almost suffocating. With a firm resolve, I used a hairpin from my hair to cut open the seatbelt. The moment I stood up, the violent turbulence instantly tossed me upwards, slamming me against the plane’s ceiling. Then, a rapid ascent hurled me back into my seat. The searing pain through every part of my body made my vision blur. Chloe seized the opportunity, lifting her foot and deliberately stomping on my hand, grinding it again and again. “Bitch, you deserve it!” Just then, the inhaler rolled to my feet, right at the front. My gaze fixated. Gritting my teeth, I crawled over and picked up the inhaler. As I reached for it, Chloe brutally kicked me from behind. My head slammed against the armrest, and my vision swam. Enduring the agonizing pain, I used my past life’s memories to send a distress text to the rescue team and the oil tycoon!

No sooner had I sent it than a woman beside me shrieked. “She’s foaming at the mouth! She’s not going to die, is she…?” The already terrified passengers around us heard the word ‘die’ and began to shriek in terror. “She’s scared to death! She’s dead! We’re all going to die, all of us, plummeting to our deaths in this plane crash!” A commotion erupted in the cabin. I slowly got up and pulled Fatima into my arms. “Don’t be scared, someone will come for us!” Suddenly, the plane’s rear wing ripped apart completely, and the cabin rapidly depressurized. Oxygen masks dropped from above, but just like in my past life, some were jammed and unresponsive. I hastily put a mask on the noblewoman, then on myself, gripping the seat tightly to avoid being thrown out. However, Chloe, who had brought all this trouble upon herself, was the only one in our row whose oxygen mask hadn’t dropped. “Why don’t I have one?! Damn it!” Chloe’s face contorted in panic as she glared fiercely at me. “Ava, that’s my seat! So the oxygen mask is mine too, give it back, now!” Ryan, on the far right, also commanded me with a sense of entitlement. “Ava, how can you be so vicious?! Give Chloe the mask! It’s hers by rights!” I stared at them, my gaze icy. If looks could kill, these two shameless, despicable individuals would have died a million times over! The oxygen level in the cabin was plummeting, and Chloe finally started to panic. Seeing that I wasn’t budging, she turned her gaze to the frail Fatima beside me. A memory from my past life flashed, and I instantly knew what this woman was about to do. Before she could get up, I shoved her back into her seat. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Chloe hadn’t expected me to stop her. She stomped her foot in fury and slapped me across the face with full force. “Bitch! Get lost!” Instantly, a coppery taste filled my mouth. “Are you insane? What does it matter to you if this old woman dies?!” “You’re so selfish!” Ryan, tearing off his mask, looked at me with disgust. “That seat was Chloe’s to begin with! You stole her oxygen!” “If you’re so selfless, then give me back the mask, you slut!” Chloe gnashed her teeth, roaring at me. Then she slapped me hard again, and after breaking free from my grasp, she lunged to the left. With lightning speed, she yanked Fatima from her seat and threw her down. She snatched the oxygen mask and put it on herself. “Chloe!” My eyes burned crimson as I stared at her. “Are you even human?!” “What’s wrong with you? She’s practically dying anyway, what’s wrong with me taking the oxygen mask?” She looked at me, utterly entitled, a smug look on her face. “You’re the one who wouldn’t give me the mask, so if she dies, it’s your fault!” “Ava, you’re truly malicious!” Ryan echoed immediately. I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to tear them both apart, and propped Fatima against my seat. I secured the oxygen mask on her. The intense depressurization forced me to keep my head down. My vision began to black out in waves. Just then, a pair of hands gently touched me. I instinctively looked up. Fatima was gazing at me with deep gratitude, pointing to her mask, then to me. I understood. She wanted me to wear the mask. I shook my head, just as my brain, starved of oxygen, was about to give out. A flight attendant’s trembling voice echoed through the cabin. “Ladies and gentlemen, brace for impact! Head in hands, brace for impact, the plane is about to make an emergency landing!” “Sea rescue teams have arrived, please prepare!”

My heart clenched, and I held her tightly. After a series of violent impacts and jolts, seawater instantly surged into the cabin. Everyone began to scramble in panic. I unbuckled Fatima’s seatbelt and stumbled with her towards the emergency exit. “Are there any injured?” A rescue team member announced through a megaphone, “We don’t have enough life rafts at the moment. We need to prioritize getting the injured to treatment first, then we’ll rescue everyone in batches!” I hastily raised my hand, about to speak. But Ryan, from behind me, clapped a hand over my mouth. He glared at me ferociously. “Chloe and I are getting on the boat first! That old hag can forget about taking our spot!” I struggled to break free from his grip, my eyes icy. “You cowardly, shameless bastard! Get out of my way!” I shoved him away and, supporting Fatima, moved forward. “This lady has severe panic attacks and needs immediate hospitalization. Any further delay and she could suffocate to death!” Chloe looked at me with venomous malice. “You’re so selfish! There are so many people here waiting to be rescued, why should we save a half-dead old woman first?!” These words instantly caused a stir among the already terrified crowd. “Let us healthy ones go first! Why should someone who’s about to die get priority?” “Save whoever you can! She’s practically dead, why take up a spot?” “Exactly! Save us first, or we’ll all report you!” I stared at them in disbelief. Beside me, Fatima’s face turned ashen, equally despairing. “You! All of you!” The rescue personnel were just people doing a job for money; a single complaint could cost them dearly. They exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth. “Alright! You go first!” Chloe and Ryan smirked victoriously, casting a mocking glance my way before heading straight for the life raft. Seeing this, several men nearby, terrified of being left behind, pushed everyone aside in a mad scramble to jump onto the boat. I looked at the woman leaning on my shoulder, my heart seizing. “Fatima! Don’t you dare fall asleep!” My gaze turned to the rescuers, full of pleading. “I can stay, give up my spot, but you *must* take her. Otherwise, someone will die!” They exchanged glances, looking from me, who wouldn’t budge an inch, to the passengers who were practically desperate to rush forward. Unsure what to do. “They can complain, and so can I. If someone actually dies because of this, how will you deal with the fallout?” The oldest rescuer pondered for a moment, then glanced at the weak woman behind me. “Alright, help her up!” I sighed in relief, quickly helping her onto the rescue boat. Just as I turned to leave, she gripped my clothes tightly. Seeing this, Chloe immediately sneered. “Didn’t you say you’d give up your spot? Now you’re regretting it, aren’t you?” Her cold, sinister gaze fixed on me, and she began to fan the flames. The agitated crowd instantly ignited. “Get off the boat! You hag! Or I’ll kill you!” My heart hardened. I pulled my clothes free and was about to leave when Chloe spoke up again from behind me. “You can’t leave either!” she said, looking at the puzzled rescuers. “What if this old hag dies on the way? So she has to come with us.” Before anyone could protest, she interrupted again. “But she gave up her spot, so just tie her to the back of the lifeboat,” she said, her eyes like a venomous snake, glaring at me savagely. “Drag her back!”

The rescuers huddled together, then immediately agreed to the plan. I was still in shock when one of my hands was tied to the back of the lifeboat, and I was thrown into the sea. The icy, biting seawater instantly enveloped me, and my body rapidly began to lose heat. I shivered uncontrollably. Chloe sneered down at me. “Ava, this is the price for playing the good samaritan!” She stood in the boat’s cabin, looking down on me. “Still daring to glare at me?” she said, picking up a harpoon nearby, and lunged it fiercely towards my eyes! My gaze froze in horror, my mind went blank. To my shock, Fatima, with a surge of unknown strength, shoved Chloe hard. “Ah!” Chloe stumbled, nearly falling out of the lifeboat, and the harpoon slipped from her grasp, plunging into the sea. “You old hag!” She spun around and kicked Fatima hard! The already weak woman instantly coughed up blood, barely clinging to life. Chloe was furious, stomping her foot. She exchanged a glance with Ryan, and when no one was looking, they both worked together to throw Fatima into the sea! “You shameless bastards! Stop it!” No sooner had I screamed than Chloe feigned surprise. “She fell!” Only then did everyone turn their attention. And I watched, helpless, as she was thrown overboard. I could only use my free hand to snatch Fatima with incredible speed, before anyone could react. Already frail, she was now being dragged at high speed through the sea alongside me. The icy seawater relentlessly pounded against us, and agonizing pain shot through every limb. I could only clench my teeth. I couldn’t let go; if I did, Fatima would drown in the vast ocean! I don’t know how long it lasted. Just as I felt death approaching, we finally reached the harbor. Then, a dozen gleaming golden planes suddenly appeared in the sky. Men descended from them, their heads wrapped in scarves, their anxious eyes searching through the crowd. When he saw his wife, barely clinging to life on a stretcher, his pupils instantly trembled. “Fatima!” He rushed forward, his voice trembling. “What happened to you?!” The woman on the stretcher gave him a glance, then completely lost consciousness. “Fatima!” The man’s sinister gaze swept over everyone, and he roared. Hundreds of bodyguards surrounded the area. “Nobody leaves! Take them all back!” Then he carried his wife onto a plane and quickly departed. Chloe and Ryan exchanged uneasy glances, a bad premonition forming in their hearts. Seeing the ferocious bodyguards, Chloe instantly shrieked to stop them. “Don’t come any closer! By what right do you restrict our freedom? This is illegal!” The rescue personnel nearby turned ghastly pale, realizing the woman they had treated so roughly was no ordinary person. “He’s Salih, the Arabian oil tycoon, who controls almost the entire oil industry of North Africa!” All the color instantly drained from everyone’s faces. Everyone knew that oil tycoons would stop at nothing, resorting to countless illegal means to seize oil fields! So, how they treated his wife just now… Would he… Chloe’s face was ashen, and like Ryan, she was trembling uncontrollably. The bodyguards said no more, herding all of us onto a helicopter. Half an hour later, the helicopter landed at a majestic castle. Fortunately, the noblewoman had only suffered from hypothermia and a panic attack. She had been given a tranquilizer. Salih’s cold, sinister gaze swept over us. “Who put my wife in the sea and dragged her?!” Everyone’s eyes turned to Chloe. Fear instantly filled the woman’s eyes, and she hastily tried to explain, “No! It wasn’t me, I…” Before she could finish, Salih fired a shot directly into the woman’s leg. A piercing scream instantly erupted, making everyone’s scalp crawl. “It wasn’t me!” Chloe’s face was ashen. She clutched her profusely bleeding leg, staring at me. “It was her! She was dragging your wife in the water! Everyone can testify!” Such is the depravity of human nature; as long as it’s not themselves, anyone can be a scapegoat. Seeing no one contradict her, Salih stepped forward and lifted me by my collar. One hand clenched tightly around my throat, the other held a cocked pistol, pressing it hard against my temple. “You harmed my wife! You won’t live to tell about it!” The hand on my throat tightened, my eyes became bloodshot, and the feeling of suffocation choked off my words. Just as death’s embrace began to tighten. Fatima was wheeled out, sitting in a wheelchair. Seeing me on the verge of being strangled, she hastily spoke. “Salih, stop! She’s the one who saved my life!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299283”, 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 best friend and I both married into the incredibly influential Montgomery family in this city. I married Liam Montgomery, the heir to the family enterprise. She married Noah Montgomery, the wildly popular A-list actor. She stared at the paparazzi photos of Noah having dinner with his old flame. She asked me, her voice laced with pain, “Are you ready for a divorce? “Once we’re divorced, we can each take two male companions and travel the world.” I stared at the press release announcing his old flame was the new endorser for Montgomery Enterprises. I hardened my heart. “Absolutely! A divorce it is! “And the male companions? They have to be exceptional… better than Liam Montgomery in *every* way!” No sooner had I finished speaking than a shadow fell over me. Liam Montgomery’s gaze was chilling. “Darling, are you sure you’ll find anyone?” Maya and I sat side-by-side on the spacious sofa, glued to our phones. Suddenly, her finger froze on the screen. I leaned closer to look, and my jaw dropped. A famous gossip site had snagged candid shots of her husband, Noah Montgomery, having dinner with Charlotte Hayes, a rising star who had just returned to the country. Their arms were linked, their gestures undeniably intimate. Charlotte and the Montgomery brothers had grown up together; their families had been long-standing friends. Since we married into the family, Charlotte had only ever existed in our sweet, slightly naive mother-in-law, Evelyn’s, constant chatter. “Charlotte hasn’t even called me, I miss her so much. “Which one of you will ask Charlotte when she’s coming back home?” It was “Charlotte, Charlotte” all day, every day, and it left us feeling seriously uneasy. Maya’s expression flickered with a hint of bewilderment. But she quickly composed herself, asking me with a painful edge to her voice: “I’m getting a divorce. “Are you in?” My heart rate jumped to 10%. After all, I’d been Maya’s shadow since childhood. If she chose STEM, I chose STEM. If she went to Eastbrook University, I followed. If she married into the Montgomery family, I followed. But my husband wasn’t dining with Charlotte Hayes, so was divorce really going too far? As I hesitated, she sweetened the deal. “Noah gave me his debit card; I can totally support us. “Once we’re divorced, we can each find two male companions and travel the world.” My heart rate jumped to 40%. Male models sounded pretty good, but just two? Liam’s… *performance* is hard to beat. Two might not even warm me up. “Ten! Ten male models!” My heart rate soared to 80%. My eyes widened, the word “Okay” poised on my lips, ready to burst out. But a sliver of rationality still held me back. *Ding dong!* My phone chimed, and a glaring headline abruptly seized my attention. *Rising Star Charlotte Hayes Named the New Face of Montgomery Enterprises! Her Contract is Rumored to be Worth a Staggering Fifty Million!* The accompanying photo showed her and Liam Montgomery cutting a ribbon together. She wore a radiant smile, brimming with vibrant energy. And behind her, my usually stoic husband, was gazing at her with an intensity I’d never seen directed at me. He’d never looked at *me* like that. Whenever I’d crack a joke with him, or do something silly, he’d just look at me like I’d lost my mind and say: “Are you alright?” Thinking of that, I immediately hardened my resolve and said, “Divorce!” Maya beamed, instantly calling her lawyer. She discussed the division of assets with impressive clarity. Hearing her talk about taking half of the Montgomery family fortune, I was utterly dumbfounded. How much money was that?! She even haggled with the lawyer on the phone, asking for a 20% discount since it was two divorce cases. No wonder Maya’s always been the assertive one, and I’m her sidekick. Her brain was just quicker than mine. I stared at my phone wallpaper—our wedding photo, Liam’s and mine. I still felt a little reluctant. After all, besides the money he gave me, And in *other departments*, he certainly didn’t disappoint… I spoke up softly from the side: “Um… make sure the male companions are *talented*.” Maya turned to me, her expression instantly stiffening. Still lost in my delightful fantasy, I continued: “They *have* to be better in bed than Liam!” Maya clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a gasp, and her trembling finger pointed behind me. Before I could even turn around, a familiar hand reached out. He grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me to his side like a kitten. His voice was chilling: “Since I’m apparently ‘flawless’ to you, why are you getting a divorce?”

I mechanically turned my head, meeting Liam Montgomery’s ice-cold expression. He narrowed his eyes at Maya, as if she were the one inciting my divorce. “Sister-in-law,” he said, drawing out the words heavily, “Noah’s on his way. You’d better figure out how to explain this to him.” Maya froze, slumping onto the sofa and frantically racking her brain. She was too preoccupied to notice me; she didn’t catch a single one of my desperate pleas for help. Where was our crucial bestie telepathy when I needed it? Huh? I could only uneasily stare at Liam Montgomery’s sharply defined profile. He finally turned to meet my gaze, his expression shifting. A slight curve played on his lips, but his voice remained cold: “One divorce in this family is enough. They can divorce, but we won’t.” I always felt Liam Montgomery’s voice had this strange power over me. It was as if his voice had a strange power over me, compelling me to nod. I nodded involuntarily, all thoughts of divorce and male models vanishing from my mind. Outside, the roar of a sports car ripped through the air. I knew instantly it was Noah, his car enthusiast brother, coming home. With a sharp screech of brakes, he pushed through the door barely a minute later. He must have just rushed back from the set; he hadn’t even changed out of his costume, and his face looked exhausted. He glanced at us, muttering, “Brother, Aurora.” Liam Montgomery put an arm around me, giving a faint “Hmm” before saying, “Your wife’s been encouraging mine to divorce me, you deal with it.” Noah marched straight to Maya. He rubbed his temples, his tone laced with impatience: “Maya, what drama are you stirring up now? “Last time you wanted a divorce because I had a kissing scene—I haven’t taken one since. The time before that, my assistant baked me a homemade cake, and I fired her immediately. What’s your problem this time?” Maya scoffed, throwing her phone at him. “See for yourself.” I was just getting really into the drama when Liam Montgomery pulled me away. “Other people’s family matters, let’s not get involved.” So, we weren’t part of the Montgomery family, then? I grumbled internally, but dutifully followed him out. Sitting in the passenger seat, I quietly asked him: “Why is Charlotte the endorser?” She had just returned to the country, hadn’t been in the industry long, and had very few representative works. His brother was an A-list actor—to avoid suspicion, not using him was understandable. But there were countless popular rising stars in the entertainment industry; logically, it should never have been her turn. “Aurora, don’t get swept up in Maya’s nonsense. “Charlotte is just a sister I grew up with; I have no other feelings for her.” No other feelings? Then what about the photo of the two of them I’d found hidden in his drawer right after we got married? I remembered trembling, showing the photo to Maya. She didn’t say anything, just went to her room and brought out another photo. It turned out the photo was originally of all three of them. Charlotte stood in the middle, smiling innocently and sweetly. Liam had cropped out his brother’s part on the right. Noah had cropped out his brother’s part on the left. Such perfect synchronization—they truly were brothers. I stopped talking, turned up the car stereo, and stared out the window.

Liam Montgomery seemed terrified I’d contact Maya. He took me to the office, keeping me under his watchful eye every second. Even during meetings, he’d hand me paper and a pen, letting me doodle behind him. I had to admit, he looked incredibly handsome when he was working. His eyes, behind his gold-rimmed glasses, were intently focused on the screen. He would interject at crucial moments, sharp and incisive. He showed little emotion, occasionally glancing back at me as if to say: *Isn’t this boring? It’ll be over soon.* But that meeting dragged on for ages, so long I was about to fall asleep. I was used to it; he was the kind of man who would rush back to the office on our wedding anniversary because of a subordinate’s blunder. Leaving me alone on the top floor of a hotel, staring at flowers and cake. I had to call Maya to come over; otherwise, such a big bed would go to waste. It wasn’t until his secretary knocked, announcing, “Ms. Hayes is here,” “We’ll pick up the details tomorrow. This is enough for today.” Only Charlotte could pull him away from his work. I followed behind him, seeing Charlotte for the first time. I had searched for her online: 25 years old, a remarkably clean record, no negative rumors. Not even a peep from the media about her being the daughter of the Hayes family, suggesting her family protected her very well. She wore a white dress, identical to the one in her 18-year-old photo. I suddenly understood why both brothers were so hung up on her. That clean, pure aura she exuded—no man could resist it. She sweetly called out, “Liam, I hope I’m not interrupting you?” She completely ignored me, probably assuming I was just an insignificant secretary. Liam said, “No, you’ve come at just the right time.” He turned and instructed his secretary to take me to the lounge. He even reminded her to order my favorite desserts and fruit tea. He looked like the picture of a caring man. But that caring man didn’t spare me a single glance the entire time. The air conditioning in the lounge was blasting, and the cold seeped right into my heart. I looked at the dozen missed calls from Maya on my phone and called her back. This time, I was the one who asked: “Maya, are you still getting a divorce?” A few seconds of silence on the other end, then her resolute voice came through. “Yes.”

Maya and I met at a bar and drank until we were plastered. “Aurora, do you know what that jerk Noah said? “He said Charlotte just returned to the country and wanted him to introduce her to some opportunities, that’s why he met her. “But what about me? I used to be a rising star in the entertainment industry, my talent wasn’t any less than Charlotte Hayes’. “But what did I get from marrying him? Restrictions that kept me out of the public eye, and a man whose heart wasn’t truly mine.” I mumbled, “But you got the money…” Maya lived a lavish lifestyle, thankfully marrying into the Montgomery family, whose vast wealth could sustain her spending. At that, her hazy eyes lit up. She grabbed my hand, her voice as firm as if she were taking an oath: “Exactly! I have money! The Montgomeries only have two sons. If we take half of their fortune, what kind of man couldn’t we find?” Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and asked me: “You and Liam didn’t sign any prenuptial agreement, did you?” Actually, we did. Before the wedding, with a lawyer present, Liam pulled out an agreement and asked me to sign it. At the time, I was so utterly smitten by his face and body that I signed it without even a glance. Maya gasped, exclaiming, “That’s it, we’re done for! Then we can only get a quarter!” I asked her, “How much is a quarter?” She counted on her fingers: “Enough for us to hire ten premium male escorts every day, never the same ones, until we drop dead.” I cheered, “Yay!” We happily decided to officially divorce as soon as the lawyer drafted the divorce papers. While waiting for the agreement, it happened to be our ex-mother-in-law’s birthday. Necessary appearances had to be maintained, so we arrived hand-in-hand, dressed to the nines, leaving our two husbands standing bewildered. In previous years, we would each have been linked arm-in-arm with our respective husbands, accompanying them through the obligatory social pleasantries. That night, they were left on their own. At first, Maya and I thought Evelyn was deliberately trying to teach us, her not-so-satisfactory daughters-in-law, a lesson. But it turned out she wasn’t; she genuinely adored Charlotte Hayes. We’d heard Evelyn had always wanted a daughter, but ended up with two boys. And the Hayes family next door was always busy, so the princess-like Charlotte was practically raised by Evelyn herself. Maya couldn’t stand it and pulled me, ready to leave. But Charlotte glanced over, seemingly casually, and asked, “I haven’t really met my two sisters-in-law. Auntie Evelyn, won’t you introduce me?” Well, that was that. No leaving now. She greeted us sweetly, complimenting Maya on her beauty. That was truly unnecessary; Maya was stunning already. If she were still in the entertainment industry, where would Charlotte even stand? When it came to me, Charlotte looked me up and down and said I seemed to have a good appetite. …Had I not just gained seven or eight pounds, making me look a bit plump next to Maya? Did she really have to be so catty? I swallowed my retort, but Maya wasn’t about to let it slide. “It’s my first time meeting you, little sister, and your气质 is indeed unique, like a lotus blossoming from mud. “Paired with that white dress, it just makes you look even more like a white lotus flower, doesn’t it?” Evelyn didn’t understand, nodding approvingly the whole time. Charlotte’s face cycled through red and green, like a painter’s palette. She didn’t engage, though, just walked straight to stand between the two brothers and started chatting. What a picture of harmony. Maya and I exchanged a look, our resolve to divorce even firmer. Many of Noah’s investors were at the banquet. Charlotte wasn’t about to miss this opportunity, coyly trailing behind him, networking. Maya’s eyes scanned the room, and she whispered to me: “That Director Brooks, he wanted me to star in his movie, but I turned him down. “And Mr. Davies, he offered to open an agency for me. Even after I left the industry, he’d still send me emails, begging me to make a comeback. “It’s infuriating, she’s snatching up all the benefits. I should have stayed in the entertainment industry.” She looked like she was about to explode. The final fuse was Charlotte nonchalantly brushing a stray eyelash from Noah’s face, completely ignoring everyone else. The pent-up anger from the entire evening finally erupted. Maya found an opportunity, her stiletto heel stomping hard on the hem of Charlotte’s dress. Charlotte yelped, and looking down, a huge tear had ripped through her gown. While she wasn’t exposed, having a torn dress at such an event was truly embarrassing. Noah rushed over, pulling Maya away, his voice raised several decibels: “Maya! What are you doing? Why are you bothering her?” Liam Montgomery also walked over to me and said: “Can you lend her a dress?” This was the first time either of them had spoken to us all evening. I smiled. “Sure, they’re all your purchases anyway, you decide.” He looked at me with an unreadable expression, then waved his hand, telling the housekeeper to take Charlotte upstairs to change. Maya grabbed me, and we fled the Montgomery mansion. We jumped into Noah’s red sports car, speeding down the road at seventy-five miles per hour.

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I loved Julian Thorne for ten years. To marry him, I went to extreme lengths, even driving away the woman he cherished, his first love. For six years of marriage, Julian had affairs with almost every woman he encountered. But no matter how much he hurt me, I never considered leaving. Not until I was heavily pregnant and walked in on him bringing another woman home, right into *our* bed. I was furious, demanding answers. Yet he just stared at me, a mocking smirk playing on his lips: “Avery King, don’t forget what you promised when we got married. You said as long as you could marry me, you wouldn’t interfere with my private life.” “If you feel like you’re missing out, you can go find someone too.” He glanced at my swollen belly with dismissive indifference, humiliating me further: “Just remember to use protection. Don’t let anything dirty the Thorne family child in there.” I completely lost control, lunging at him, but he coldly pushed me away. I tumbled down the stairs, dying, taking my unborn child with me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that very day—the day I found him bringing another woman home. This time, I decided to let go of a decade of obsession. I would let Julian Thorne be, and I would finally set myself free.

After a detailed prenatal scan confirmed I was having the daughter I’d always dreamed of, I excitedly went home with a huge haul of pink baby essentials, planning to surprise Julian. It was indeed a grand “surprise.” A faint, almost ethereal perfume scent hung in the air, not overpowering, but undeniably suggestive. It meant another woman was here. My sense of smell had become incredibly sensitive since I got pregnant; I couldn’t stand perfume. I walked up the stairs, step by step, seeing clothes strewn along the way—men’s ties and dress pants, women’s lingerie and slip dresses. They lay tangled together, a suggestive trail leading right to the slightly ajar master bedroom door. The disgusting sounds coming from inside the room twisted a knife in my heart. I took a deep breath, my nails digging into my palms. I looked down, realizing the shopping bags I’d just bought had slipped from my hands at some point, spilling their contents around my feet. They mixed with the discarded clothes on the floor, a heartbreaking mess. The scene before me made me fully realize that I had been reborn. In my previous life, I had impulsively pushed the door open, fought with those despicable people inside, and ultimately died with my child, consumed by hatred. This time, I simply walked back down the stairs, slowly, clinging to the wall, and quietly sat on the sofa to wait. I don’t know how much time passed until Julian finally appeared, wrapped in a bathrobe, reeking of recent intimacy. It was sickening. He watched me dry-heaving, his face utterly blank. “Do you have a guest over?” I wiped my mouth, my voice surprisingly calm, devoid of any emotion. Julian nodded casually, walking towards me, unhurried, step by step. I stood up, holding my belly, and took a step back, asking again, “And this guest is currently in *our* bedroom?” Julian paused, probably surprised that this time I hadn’t completely broken down, despite catching them red-handed, unlike the countless times before. But he still nodded. Just as he was about to speak, a woman descended the stairs barefoot, elegantly, draped in my silk nightgown. I recognized her as Serena Hayes, the lead actress from the historical drama I’d been watching last night. She linked her arm through Julian’s, her eyes fluttering. “Julian, darling, who is this…?” As she spoke, she deliberately flaunted the marks covering a large expanse of skin on her chest. Julian wrapped an arm around Serena, provocatively squeezing that soft expanse. “Her? She’s my wife… oh no, I mean, she’s Mrs. Thorne of Thorne Enterprises.” Serena gasped, covering her mouth with her hand, her innocent-looking eyes widening dramatically, even her voice trembling with feigned shock. “Oh? You’re so naughty, why didn’t you tell me your wife would be back…?” Julian pecked a kiss on her neck, his laugh dripping with lust. “What’s there to be afraid of? Isn’t this more exciting? Besides—” He looked at me with a sneer. “Mrs. Thorne, didn’t we agree long ago that this marriage was purely transactional, and we wouldn’t interfere with each other’s lives?” “These past six years, you haven’t really lost out. The Thorne family has been more than generous to the Kings.” He wasn’t wrong. Without the two hundred million dollars in betrothal gifts, the King family would have gone bankrupt long ago. How else could my parents and brother maintain their lavish lifestyle, relying on the Thorne family’s influence and name? I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly nodded. “I understand. I’m sorry, I seem to have interrupted you.” I walked to the entrance, put on the shoes I’d just taken off, opened the door, and walked out, step by step. It was as if he sensed that I was now walking out of his life forever. “Wait!” Julian called out, his voice shaking. I didn’t look back. I didn’t say goodbye. Julian Thorne, I won’t wait for you anymore.

I walked for a long time, holding my belly, before I finally got out of the gated community and managed to flag down a taxi. Opening the car door, I took one last look back. Perhaps this was the best ending for me. At least I wouldn’t lose my life for a man who never loved me, like in my previous life. I couldn’t go back to my parents’ house, so I returned to my small apartment, the one I owned before marriage. I threw the bedsheets and duvet covers into the washing machine to be washed and dried, then meticulously cleaned the tables and floors, not missing a single corner or crevice. By the time I finished everything, I realized it was already the middle of the night. A dull, cramping pain began in my belly. I curled up in bed, hugging a pillow, and suddenly felt utterly exhausted. My face felt cold and wet; I touched it and realized they were tears. Ten years of painful love, ending so abruptly. My heart ached, regardless. I wrestled with the decision of whether to keep the baby, unable to sleep all night. Meanwhile, Julian was lost in Serena Hayes’s gentle embrace, lingering without a care. The A-list actress had been frequently posting subtle displays of happiness on social media: candlelight dinners, jewelry, designer bags… The backgrounds of the photos and videos were all too familiar—my marital home. There was even one photo where the glass window reflected the tall, distinguished silhouette of a man making a late-night snack in the kitchen. That photo had delighted her fans for a long time. And it had left me lost in thought for a long time. The man who wouldn’t even pour me a glass of water when I had a high fever was now willing to cook for another woman. A week later, on Monday, the day of Thorne Enterprises’ board meeting, I took the opportunity to return to the villa. I quickly packed my bags and grabbed my documents, heading downstairs. But I ran right into Julian, who had rushed back. Seeing the items in my hands, he suddenly sneered, snatched my luggage, and threw it away. I frowned at him. “What are you doing?” “Avery King, I should be asking *you* what you’re doing!” “Are you so childish that you’re still playing the ‘running away from home’ card?” “What’s next? Are you going to threaten me by acting suicidal again, like before?” Julian’s brows furrowed, his face filled with disgust as he reprimanded me. “Why would I kill myself?” I scoffed, gripping the stair railing tightly. The old me was indeed foolish; I’d threatened my life repeatedly to win him back. But after experiencing my previous life, I understood that living was the most important thing. I never wanted to feel that desperation again. Moreover, a heartless man like Julian Thorne wasn’t worth my lingering affection. Julian sneered, his eyes full of disdain. “What new trick is this? I’m busy. I don’t have time for your games.” “Your tactics might work once or twice, but too many times and it’s ‘the boy who cried wolf’.” I looked directly at Julian and explained, “You’re overthinking it. I’m here to pack my things and move out.” “Julian Thorne, let’s get a divorce.” Julian was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment, then looked at me with even greater impatience. “Divorce? You’re carrying a Thorne family child, and you’re asking for a divorce now? Do you think you can use this child as leverage and do whatever you want?” I didn’t respond. I carefully walked downstairs, pulled out the divorce papers I’d prepared in advance from my bag, and handed them to him. “Yes, I want a divorce.” “I don’t want anything from the Thorne family. I just want to separate from you.” Julian and I had been married for six years, but throughout those years, apart from the routine maintenance of this villa, he hadn’t spent any significant money on me. To outsiders, I was the glamorous Mrs. Thorne, but only I knew that every penny I spent was earned through my part-time online novel writing. Since I hadn’t spent Julian Thorne’s money during our marriage, I was even less inclined to have financial entanglements with him now that we were divorcing. Julian quickly scanned the papers, his expression unchanging, and placed them aside. A scoff escaped his throat, the sound like an ice shard piercing my heart. “Leaving with nothing? Avery King, are you really this naive at thirty?” He casually tossed the divorce papers onto the coffee table, then suddenly stood up, closing in on me, his shadow completely enveloping me. “Without the Thorne family’s backing, do you really think your father and brother can stand on their own in the business world?” “After the divorce, how will your family sustain this extravagant, reckless lifestyle?” I leaned back, avoiding his closeness, the emotions swirling beneath my eyelashes freezing into frost as I stubbornly pressed my lips together. “Julian Thorne, even if you use my family as leverage, you can’t keep me trapped anymore.” Seemingly shaken by the resolve in my eyes, Julian stepped back, his brows hardening. “Reason?” He paused, then conceded, “Is it because I brought someone home and made you uncomfortable? I apologize, this time it was my fault. I promise I won’t let them appear before you again.” My nails dug into my palms. For the first time, I smiled with such unbridled honesty. “No need, Julian Thorne.” “For six years, I’ve endured your emotional torment and abuse, and I’ve endured the daily grind of waiting for a man whose heart was never truly mine.” I suddenly ripped off the only beaded bracelet he had ever given me; the round beads scattered with a clatter across the carpet. “Even if it means my entire family has to wait tables and sweep streets, I will never be your puppet again.”

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The day I married Julian Blackwood, the heir to a formidable criminal empire, I was kidnapped. My maid-of-honor and younger sister, Lily, was caught in the crossfire. She died protecting me, brutally assaulted by the kidnappers. My father’s hair turned white overnight, and my mother suffered a heart attack, ending up in the ICU. Julian, who’d loved me fiercely for five years and cherished me more than life itself, mobilized all his connections, vowing to find the culprits. But when all the evidence pointed to Genevieve Thorne, he fell silent. She was the woman he secretly adored – his deceased elder brother’s wife. I filed a lawsuit, but no lawyer dared to take the case. My father, a respected attorney himself, stepped in, only to be imprisoned by Julian. He threw a blank check at me, demanding I withdraw the suit, even threatening to pull my mother’s oxygen tube. “Genevieve lost her husband; she was just jealous of us. I’ve already punished her. Please take the check and drop the charges, okay?” “Scarlett, why are you being so pushy? We’re all family. How will we get along in the future if you act like this?” He didn’t know it then, but the moment he protected Genevieve, there was no future for us. … “Scarlett, Genevieve was wrong, I admit that. Once you’ve calmed down, I’ll bring her to apologize. Let’s just drop this minor incident, alright?” Julian’s long fingers tapped lightly on the table, his tone as if discussing a trivial disagreement. I trembled with rage, glaring at him. “My sister died a horrific death, my mother is fighting for her life in the ICU… In your eyes, are these just ‘minor incidents’? What exactly constitutes a major incident then?” Julian frowned, a hint of displeasure in his voice. “Genevieve is the youngest head of her department at the hospital; she can’t have any stain on her record. Besides, I promised my elder brother I’d protect her.” That sentence was like a blunt knife, brutally carving open my memories. Did this cold man standing before me remember swearing to protect *me*? Did he remember my mother saving his life, caring for him for three days and three nights when he had a high fever, and his vow to treat her like his own mother? Did he remember Lily, who always used to follow him, calling him ‘big brother’? I stood frozen for a long moment. Suddenly, Julian grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully tight. “Scarlett, you wouldn’t want to harm many people you care about over a ‘minor incident,’ would you?” “Are you threatening me?” Tears blurred my vision. I looked at the lapel of his suit, where the wedding brooch I’d given him was still pinned. He lifted a hand to wipe away my tears, his motion gentle, like polishing expensive porcelain, but his voice remained cold. He pointed to documents already laid out on the coffee table. “Sign this release form, waiving all charges, and cease all private investigations into Genevieve. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to shut down your father’s law firm or reduce your mother’s IV fluids.” “Nobody is more important than Genevieve! She loves her medical career; I can’t let her future be ruined.” “I’m not asking for your opinion! Sign these, and I’ll continue to provide the best medical resources for your mother. I’ll also let your father’s law firm stay open.” “You are the only Mrs. Blackwood. It’s time you settled down and learned how to be a high-society wife. Stop obsessing over my sister-in-law, and stop blaming your sister’s death on her. I told you I can prove she wasn’t at the scene that day. Your sister’s death was an accident, and besides, I’ve already taken care of those twenty kidnappers.” My body stiffened, staring at him in disbelief. In his eyes, Genevieve Thorne’s future was more important than my entire family’s lives? I let out a hollow laugh, the strength to accuse him further draining away. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I closed my eyes. “I’ll sign.” Through tear-filled eyes, I mechanically signed my name, page after page, until the thick stack of documents was complete. Julian curved his lips into a smile, patting the top of my head in a placating gesture. “Scarlett, I knew you were the most sensible one.” “In a month, we’ll have another grand wedding, how about it?” I neither nodded nor shook my head, numbly allowing the pain to consume my shattered soul. Julian hadn’t been gone long when I received a frantic call from my mother’s nurse. “Mrs. Blackwood, you need to come to the hospital now! Your mother isn’t doing well!” I arrived at the hospital, breathless, only to find the entire ICU empty. Only the nurse was pacing frantically. “Mrs. Blackwood, Director Thorne called everyone away to tend to a little girl who scratched her face. I saw it – she was crying hysterically, but the wound was tiny, nothing compared to your mother’s condition!” My mother lay on the hospital bed, pale, her breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible. I pressed the call button next to the bed repeatedly, but no one answered. “Go find doctors from other departments, quickly!” At that moment, my mother slowly opened her eyes. “Don’t cry, Scarlett. Mommy just misses Lily.” “Don’t beg Julian for me anymore, and don’t cry for him…” “Mom! Open your eyes, don’t fall asleep… Don’t leave me and Dad…” I performed CPR on my mother in a frantic breakdown, begging her to open her eyes. By the time the nurse brought a doctor from another ward, my arms were numb with exhaustion, but it was all in vain. “Time of death: July 22, 2025, 6:32:52 PM…” I knelt on the ground, holding my mother, allowing grief and regret to engulf me. I wanted to scream, to cry out, but no sound escaped my throat. I could only slap myself, again and again. It was all my fault! I shouldn’t have met Julian Blackwood, and I certainly shouldn’t have loved him! I killed my mother!

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