Three years after I died saving my best friend, I was reincarnated and born again into her womb. The baby inside her had tragically died due to the fake heiress, driving my friend to despair and the brink of jumping from a window. Inside her belly, I kicked and shouted: 【Girl, don’t be scared, I’m back! Give birth to me, and I’ll kick that jerk and his mistress to the curb for you!】 【You can’t die! I owe a mountain of debt in the underworld all for you; you have to help me pay it back!】 My best friend, Skylar, who was standing on the windowsill, froze. I quickly did a little flip in her womb and revealed a secret only we knew. 【Skylar, that Lamborghini you burned for me last year? I couldn’t even drive it. Did you forget I don’t have a license?】 【And that villa with the pool and all those male models? I sold them all. I really went broke to come find you!】 … Skylar was too shocked by my thoughts to speak. She lowered her head to look at her belly, then gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Kiki, I must be missing you so much to be hallucinating like this.” “Just wait, I’m coming to find you now!” With that, she leaned out the window again. 【No, no, Skylar Bishope! It’s really me, I reincarnated to find you!】 【If you die now, I’ll be completely ruined! Not only will I have to go back and pay off my debts, but no one will burn me fancy villas and paper money anymore!】 I cried out urgently with my thoughts, reaching out inside her belly to make a heart shape. Skylar’s eyes, swollen like walnuts, widened. “Kiki? Is it really you?” I quickly gave her belly a gentle kick. 【You idiot, it’s not a hallucination, it’s me! I’m really back!】 【I went through so much trouble, took out loans in the underworld and pulled strings to save you, and you’re trying to die!】 【Do you want me to lose everything and just let that jerk and his rotten mistress win?】 Skylar covered her face and burst into tears. “Oh, Kiki, I didn’t want this either… But Naomi Vance is already pregnant with Liam Knight’s son, that’s why she dared to hurt me. And the Knight family’s future heir can only be a boy; no one cares about the daughter I’m carrying…” I grinned, both triumphant and sly. 【That’s why I paid extra to change my gender, don’t worry! Just watch me crush them all!】 Looking at Skylar’s bloodless face, her red and swollen eyes, her messy hair, and her crumpled pajamas, my heart ached fiercely. She used to be such a vibrant, lovely goddess, yet that jerk and his mistress had ground her down to this. Those rotten scoundrels deserved to die! 【Skylar, trust me, give birth to me, and watch how I torment those two to get revenge for you!】 My words finally made her stop crying. “Okay, I believe you!” 【Good! Now go eat something nutritious; I’m practically starving to death in here!】 Skylar wiped away her tears, stepped off the windowsill, and started to walk out. “How about sweet and sour pork, steamed fish, and eight-treasure shrimp? I remember you loved those…” My heart warmed considerably. Of course, she was always the one who remembered my favorites. She took a cab straight to the city’s best restaurant and had a wonderful meal, then went to my grave to burn paper money to repay my debt. Hearing that I owed ten billion underworld dollars, she gasped. “Is reincarnation in the underworld really that expensive?” I chuckled, keeping her in suspense: “More than that, I also exchanged for other skill points. You’ll find out later, hehe…” An hour later, as we finished burning a mountain of underworld money. The jerk, Liam Knight, stormed over. “Skylar Bishope, what the hell are you doing?! The doctors can’t find you anywhere! Come back with me for the abortion!” He paused, seeing my tombstone. “Isn’t this that short-lived friend from your orphanage?” He sneered, kicking my tombstone. “What, playing games for sympathy again? Or do you want to go down there and keep being sisters with her?” Three years ago, Skylar was found by the powerful Bishope family, a prominent family in the capital, and became the true heiress. The night before she was officially welcomed back, she was almost kidnapped. It was me who pretended to be her, was taken by the kidnappers, and then murdered. After my death, Skylar was heartbroken and desperately tried to get the Bishope family to call the police for justice. But the Bishope family refused. They believed the matter shouldn’t be publicized, especially since it was just me, an orphan with no background, who died. If things blew up, and someone tried to kidnap her again, it would be real trouble. Skylar couldn’t change their minds, so she could only give me a lavish burial and then diligently investigate the truth herself. It was only after my death that I learned the kidnappers were hired by the fake heiress, Naomi Vance, and Liam Knight knew about it! He feared the Bishope family would trace it back to Naomi, which is why he personally persuaded the Bishope family to drop the investigation. And today, he dares to run his mouth at my grave? He deserves to die! No, I can’t tell Skylar the truth yet. She’s a vulnerable pregnant woman right now and can’t handle any more shock. 【Girl, go back with him. Let him see if you really need that abortion!】 Skylar sneered, retorting, “Don’t worry, how could I bear to die before sending you two rotten scoundrels to hell?” “You! Even at this point, you’re still being stubborn, huh? Let’s see how you explain yourself to my parents back at the hospital!” Liam Knight fumed, angrily dragging her back to the hospital. Naomi Vance, clutching her belly and with teary red eyes, came rushing over. “Sister, please don’t do anything rash. The doctor said you’ll be in danger if you don’t have the abortion soon!” “Even though you accidentally bumped into the corner of the table when you pushed me, we’re still sisters. I won’t blame you!” She cried, her tears like falling pearls, as if she truly feared losing Skylar, her sister. 【You rotten conniving cow, what are you pretending for? Skylar, punch her!】 No sooner had I thought it, than Skylar slapped Naomi across the face. “I accidentally bumped? You deliberately pushed me!” Naomi clutched her face, collapsing into Liam’s arms, sobbing. “Sister, I know you’ve always resented Liam and me, but that night was truly an accident!” “You didn’t want me to have Liam’s baby, that’s why you pushed me… I know losing your baby is painful, you can hit me or curse me, but please don’t try to end your life!” Liam protectively cradled Naomi in his arms, then backhanded Skylar across the face. “Skylar Bishope! You brought this upon yourself with your malicious heart, trying to harm someone, and now you blame Naomi for losing your baby?” “Thank goodness fate had eyes and made you suffer the consequences. You deserve it!” 【Damn it, that rotten scumbag dares to hit my girl? Drop dead!】 I forcefully kicked Skylar’s stomach from the inside. Puke! She precisely emptied the contents of her stomach all over the jerk and the rotten mistress. “Ahhh!” Naomi, who moments ago had been clinging to Liam like a little bird, shrieked, frantically shaking her dress. Liam’s custom-made suit was also covered in vomit. “Ugh—!” Naomi was so disgusted she started throwing up herself. “Who told you my baby is gone? My morning sickness is still this severe!” “Doctor, my baby isn’t dead, he just kicked me! If you don’t believe me, check again!” The doctor looked at her with sympathy, ultimately unable to refuse. After instructing a nurse to help her back to bed, the doctor began the ultrasound examination. The next second, his face changed dramatically. “How is this possible! The fetus’s heartbeat has actually returned, and…” “And its gender characteristics have changed! It was clearly a girl before; how can it be a boy?!” At that moment, Mr. Knight Senior and Mrs. Knight, who had just arrived, immediately brightened. “Dr. Hsu, what did you say? Is that true?!” Their voices trembled with excitement. They had initially believed Naomi’s words and rushed over to confront Skylar. They never expected such a huge surprise! The doctor pointed at the ultrasound image, nodding excitedly. “Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Knight, please look. This is the young master’s first full-face appearance on camera!” “It was a misjudgment due to the angle before. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Knight, congratulations on your grandson!” The elderly couple grinned, their eyes crinkling with joy. Liam Knight and Naomi Vance’s faces turned ashen. “How can this be? How is this possible?!” If it were true, the boy in Naomi’s belly would no longer be precious! Years ago, the Bishope and Knight families had casually arranged a marriage alliance. After Skylar went missing, the Bishope family adopted Naomi. After years of nurturing, the Knight family also accepted her. She and the Knight brothers, Arthur and Liam, grew up together, their feelings strong. It wasn’t until Skylar was found that, to compensate her, the Bishope family let her choose her preferred spouse for the alliance. My best friend fell for the refined and steady Arthur Knight, but Naomi cried and refused. Liam, feeling sorry for her, cunningly arranged for himself and my best friend to sleep together at a banquet. My best friend had no choice but to marry him. Naomi also got her wish and married Arthur. But soon after the marriage, Arthur died in a plane crash. Her dream of becoming a wealthy socialite was shattered, so she turned her attention back to Liam, the sole heir. Not long after Arthur’s burial, she used the excuse of needing company due to grief and drugged Liam’s drink with an aphrodisiac. After a wild night, she got pregnant before my best friend did! Mr. Knight Senior was furious when he found out and forced her to go to the hospital for an abortion, but Liam protected her, threatening his own life. “Naomi is carrying my child. If you harm the baby, I’ll kill myself! Dad, can you bear to see our Knight family have no descendants?!” Mr. Knight Senior backed down. To cover up the scandal, he could only announce to the public that Naomi was carrying Arthur’s posthumous child. However, my best friend also found out she was pregnant half a month later. Six months into her pregnancy, Naomi constantly played dirty tricks behind the scenes to frame my best friend. She even exploited the fact that she was carrying a boy and my best friend a girl, brainwashing the in-laws. Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Knight Senior always felt guilty towards my best friend, so they still took good care of her. Now seeing that both babies were fine, the elderly couple even recited Buddhist prayers. “Thank goodness, thank goodness.” “Doctor, did you make a mistake? You previously said my sister was carrying a girl, and the fetal heartbeat had already died!” Naomi forced a smile, unwilling to give up. The doctor laughed. “The angle was blurry before, leading to a misjudgment. The young master has a strong will to live and great fortune, which is why he turned the corner!” Naomi was so angry she almost passed out, clutching her stomach and starting to cry in pain. Liam quickly helped her to another room. I sneered inside my best friend’s belly. 【Can’t handle this much? Your good fortune is still ahead!】 Over the next few months, both Skylar and Naomi entered confinement mode. Naomi’s pregnancy was incredibly tough; she suffered from morning sickness, fetal movement, frequent urination, and insomnia all day long. In contrast, I was exceptionally well-behaved in Skylar’s belly, even considerate enough to avoid pressing on her internal organs. Naomi’s complexion grew more haggard, and her temper became more volatile. My best friend, however, had a rosy complexion, radiating gentle maternal glow. Every time we had an ultrasound, I cooperated fully, showing myself off. I would even interact with Mr. and Mrs. Knight Senior when they observed. This amazed even the doctor. “Oh my! The young master seems to be waving hello to Mr. and Mrs. Knight!” “Is this the connection of blood? It seems the young master has a great bond with you!” The elderly couple beamed, their faces flushed with joy. Mrs. Knight Senior even reached out, tentatively placing her hand on Skylar’s belly. The next second, I did something that surprised everyone. I extended my chubby little hand and pressed my palm against hers, through the belly! “My precious grandson! My precious grandson is high-fiving me!” Mrs. Knight Senior trembled with excitement, holding up her hand, tears welling in her eyes. “Old man, look quickly! My precious grandson must have been born to be close to me!” Mr. Knight Senior quickly pulled out his phone and took continuous photos: “Record this! This child is so clever and so connected to us; he’s sure to be a pillar of the Knight family in the future!” The two of them began planning my birth gifts early. Naomi, hiding outside the door, clenched her fists in rage. A malicious smile flickered across her face, as if she had made some kind of resolution.

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The popular girl in school, my roommate, loved to toy with her impoverished, wheelchair-bound boyfriend, Danny. Once again, she told me to push Danny’s wheelchair over, kicking him into the winter lake. Suddenly, a stream of on-screen comments floated before my eyes. 【The pampered heiress female lead and the dark, secretly rich princeling male lead—this dynamic is my absolute favorite.】 【The worse our female lead is to the male lead now, the more intense their future love scenes will be! It’s just a shame about this pretty little cannon fodder. I wonder if the male lead will blame her for all the wrongs he suffered pursuing the female lead, and then have her die a gruesome death.】 【She deserved it, chasing money and doing bad deeds. She brought it on herself.】 【This time, the male lead almost died in the lake, finally giving up his pretense of poverty and disability, which he used to prove the female lead would love him no matter what. He’ll reclaim his identity and force her to love him.】 I paused my movement by the lake, then turned, jumped into the water, rescued Danny, and brought him back to my cheap rental apartment. I didn’t want to be cannon fodder; I wanted to be the main character. 1 Danny was unconscious for a long time. When he woke up, I was boiling water in a salvaged iron pot to give him fever reducers. A cockroach crawled past his foot, and his “disabled” leg twitched involuntarily, almost performing a medical miracle by jumping up. I pretended not to notice, holding the fever reducer to his lips, speaking hesitantly. “You have a bad fever. Take the medicine.” Danny’s face was unnaturally flushed, but that didn’t stop him from swatting the fever reducer away with one hand. His lips moved as if to speak, but I beat him to it, apologizing. “I’m sorry… for pushing you into the lake.” My eyes were red, but a forced smile played on my face. “I know an apology can’t make up for what I did to you, but please, at least let me take care of you until this cold is gone. Consider it my penance.” My hand, holding the cup of water, trembled continuously. Danny’s gaze imperceptibly swept across the damp, dimly lit basement, finally settling on my equally flushed face. “You have a fever too?” I widened my eyes slightly in surprise, shaking my head. “There’s only one fever reducer left in the house. You take it.” “Don’t pretend.” Danny sneered. “Every time you help Chloe bully me, she gives you money. After all these times, it must be a hefty sum. You can’t even afford a single cold medicine?” My body stiffened. The sole heir to the Thorne family, a titan in the business world, it would be effortless for him to know I was taking Chloe’s money to bully him. Seeing the mockery in his eyes, and remembering what the on-screen comments said—that after this, Danny would become the high-and-mighty princeling, and it would be harder than hell for me to see him again—this was my last chance. I lowered my head, stammering, “That money, it needs to be spent on something more important.” Danny impatiently looked away, about to stand up and leave, but the next second, he slumped back, half-conscious. Seeing that he was clearly aware but couldn’t wake up, I nodded in satisfaction, snapped a syringe, and tossed it out of the basement. Chloe’s money did indeed have a more important use—like buying a drug that renders someone immobile. Watching me laboriously carry Danny to the hospital, crying in fear yet still encouraging him to hang on, the on-screen comments exploded. 【Is this cannon fodder crazy? She pushed the male lead down then saved him, just missing his family coming to pick him up. If the male lead can’t regain his identity, how will he force the female lead to love him?】 【The cannon fodder has no money herself, what’s the point of taking the male lead to the hospital? I’m genuinely worried she’ll actually kill him by dragging him around.】 I certainly had no money, but I had blood. Carrying Danny’s burning body, I practically knelt on the ground, begging the doctor to save him, my sleeves rolled high on my arms. “It’s my blood donation time. Please take my blood. Whatever it takes, please save him. I can’t lose him again.” The doctor looked troubled. “Ms. Lynn, you’ve been chronically malnourished, and you donate blood every month to cover your mother’s medical expenses. You finally paid enough for this month in advance, so you don’t need to donate blood again. Why for a stranger…?” I interrupted him, speaking softly. “I owe him.” The doctor sighed, but agreed to draw my blood. I endured the dizziness from the blood loss, gently cupped Danny’s face, and whispered, “You have to get well, Danny.” “As long as you get well, even if all my blood is drawn, it’s fine.” In the end, I couldn’t resist the weakness from excessive blood loss and slumped beside Danny’s hospital bed, falling into a deep sleep. When I woke up again, it was already dark outside. I slowly opened my eyes and found a jacket draped over me. Danny was sitting on the bed, playing on his phone, his unreadable gaze fixed on me. I instinctively reached out to touch his forehead, sighing in relief when I felt it was cool. “Are you hungry? I’ll go get you something to eat.” I quickly stood up, but my body swayed for a few steps due to dizziness. A strong hand gripped my arm, steadying me and refusing to let go. “You almost killed me, then you used your life to save me. What exactly do you want?” 2 I lowered my eyes, and before I could speak, the doctor knocked on the door. “Your mother just woke up and is asking to see you.” No sooner had he spoken than I, without waiting to answer Danny’s question, tore my hand from his and rushed out. Sure enough, I saw my mother, thin as a skeleton, lying on the bed, her eyes open, anxiously searching for me. My nose stung, and I knelt by her bed, gently comforting her. “Mom, I’m here. Lily is here. Are you feeling better today? If you’re uncomfortable, you must tell me. I’ll find a way.” Mom’s shriveled, pale lips moved, squeezing out a few hoarse words. “Lily, let me… die. Mom… won’t get treatment… anymore.” “You study well, you… live well.” My heart felt like it had been hit with a club, the pain making tears instantly stream down my face. I quickly wiped them away, not wanting Mom to see, and could only repeat, “Mom, I have a way. You’re the only family I have. If you live well, I can live.” “Lily… you’re still young. So much money… what will you do?” I gently wiped away the tears from Mom’s eyes and smiled. “Don’t be afraid, Mom. I have a way. You always said I never lied, so I would never lie to you.” I don’t know how long I comforted Mom. When she lost consciousness again, I watched her furrowed brow for a long time before steadying myself on the bed frame and stiffly standing up. Exiting the ward, Danny sat in his wheelchair, having waited outside for who knows how long. I looked at him in surprise, then touched his cold hand, immediately wrapping my scarf around him. I crouched in front of Danny, looking at him intently. “Why did you come out dressed so lightly? What if you get sick from the cold?” “I’m sorry I let you starve for so long; I’ll go buy food right away.” “The money Chloe gave you, did you spend it all on your mother’s medical bills?” Danny stared fixedly into my eyes, suddenly asking. My eyelashes fluttered, and I nervously clasped my hands. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have helped Chloe bully you for money, but I was truly desperate. I couldn’t just watch Mom die.” “Then why did you spend so much to save me?” Danny gripped my chin, forcing me to look up, his brow furrowed deeply. He couldn’t understand. Tears shimmered in my eyes. “I used to have an older brother…” The hand on my chin trembled slightly. I pretended not to notice and continued, “He drowned in the river trying to earn money for my tuition and Mom’s medical bills.” Tears fell, one by one, onto Danny’s hand. I looked up at him. “In every nightmare since, I see my brother’s eyes, wide open in death after being pulled from the river. He was still clutching a hairpin he wanted to give me.” “So, Danny, I can’t let you die for me. I can’t have another pair of eyes in my nightmares.” I gently rested my cheek in Danny’s palm. “I truly regret what I did before, Danny. Please, give me a chance to make amends, okay? I’ll do anything, please.” He didn’t speak, only his thumb gently brushed my skin. I knew he meant yes, so I stood up and slowly pushed him back to the ward. 【The sky has fallen! The male lead just messaged his family, giving up on going back! How will I ever see my ship’s fireworks now? Where’s my favorite forced love story?】 【What’s this cannon fodder’s deal? Trying to seduce the male lead and climb the social ladder? Is she that pathetic?】 【The comment above is a bit harsh. The little cannon fodder doesn’t even know the male lead’s true identity. In her eyes, it’s clearly two poor souls saving each other, okay? The little cannon fodder is so tragic, with her sick mom and drowned brother. I actually feel a little sorry for her.】 【I only ship the official couple. I’m going to report this to management to fix the plot.】 The on-screen comments were arguing fiercely. Aside from the last sentence, which caught my attention, I treated the rest of the insults as background noise. After carefully feeding Danny millet porridge, I fetched a basin of water and started to pull down his pants. “Even though you changed clothes, falling into the water and not showering must be uncomfortable. Let me help you wipe down.” Danny raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to clean me?” “Don’t worry, I often help Mom wash up. Even if your legs can’t move, I can handle it.” Determined, I stripped off his clothes and outer pants, only to discover Danny had an incredibly well-built physique; every muscle was perfectly sculpted. My face flushed, and I awkwardly cleared my throat. I cleaned the cloth and carefully wiped him down until a certain change became too prominent for me to ignore. I glanced at Danny in surprise, stammering, “Is… is everything… okay down there?” Danny, pretending to be engrossed in his phone, his forehead veins throbbing, reached out and gripped my shoulder, pulling me against his chest. He leaned down and bit my ear. “Wouldn’t you like to find out if it’s ‘okay’?” “Didn’t you say you’d do anything to make amends?” “So? Is ‘that’ included?” A thrill shot through me, and my entire body turned crimson. Looking into Danny’s beautiful eyes, I gritted my teeth and initiated a kiss on his lips. It was a wild night, especially since Danny often used his “disabled” legs to coax me into sitting on his lap. Danny stayed in the hospital for five days, putting me through the wringer. By day, he ordered me to massage his feet, feed him fruit, and attend to his needs. By night, he coaxed me into relieving his physical discomfort. It was then I saw Danny’s childish side: he was afraid of needles, and after a blood draw, he’d demand a hundred comforting kisses before he’d let up. His guard around me completely dropped. He followed me everywhere, calling me Lily all day, nothing like the “dark princeling” the on-screen comments described. It wasn’t until Danny had mostly recovered that I processed his discharge papers and pushed him to school. At the school gate, I knelt down to remind him. “If you feel unwell, call me. I’ll pick you up. I made ribs tonight; you’re just getting better, remember to come back and eat.” He sensed something was off in my tone and asked in return, “What about you? No classes today?” I avoided his gaze, not daring to look at him, and followed his lead. “Uh… no classes.” No sooner had I spoken than a familiar female voice rang out. “Lily Lynn, you still dare to come back? Don’t forget, you’re not a student here anymore.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, poor people really stick together. I’m almost moved, hahaha. Danny, the only one you deserve is Lily Lynn. Dreaming of me is just that—a dream.” Danny’s eyes turned cold. For the first time, he ignored Chloe’s words, stubbornly asking me, “Don’t lie to me. Why were you expelled?” I lowered my head, remaining silent. It was Chloe who answered. “I told her if she dared to disobey my orders, she wouldn’t be allowed in school anymore. Yesterday, she disregarded me, insisted on saving you, and made me lose face. So, I had no choice but to have her expelled.” Danny clenched his fist, and I quickly tried to calm him. “It’s okay. This way, I have more time to work, earn money for Mom’s medical bills, and even your tuition.” 【I reported it, and I’m back. So what if the cannon fodder slept with the male lead? My official couple must be together.】 3 My voice, still trying to explain, choked on the on-screen comment. A profound sense of unease surged through me. I desperately clutched Danny’s hand, catching a glimpse of the black-suited men who had appeared near the lake that day. They walked in unison to Danny’s side. “Young Master, the Master has ordered you to stop playing around outside.” “Danny…” I stared blankly at Danny’s expression, which had become regal with the appearance of the men in black. My voice died in my throat. Danny imperceptibly frowned, letting out an impatient tsk, then stood up from the wheelchair and followed the men in black away. His indifferent complaint floated back on the wind. “The old man really has impeccable timing. I just found a new toy.” The car sped away, leaving me stunned, and Chloe utterly shocked. “He’s not crippled? Why did someone call him Young Master? What the hell is going on?” She stared, endlessly questioning me. I looked at the jubilant on-screen comments, too exhausted to answer Chloe. All I felt was despair. Was I truly destined to accept my fate, to be cannon fodder my entire life? 【Once the male lead returns, he’ll immediately inherit Thorne Group. Congratulations all around!】 【Danny’s first order of business will be to announce his engagement to Chloe. Then our proud little cat will become a down-on-her-luck kitty, and the beautiful forced love story will finally begin!】 【Cannon fodder, just die already, okay? You’re messing up the whole plot.】 I clenched my hands, but then felt a plain silver ring in my pocket—the one Danny always wore. My heart couldn’t help but pound. I shook off Chloe, who was still grabbing and questioning me, and coldly replied, “I don’t know.” Then I turned and walked away. Not until I could no longer see her did I pull out the ring with trembling hands. My heart suddenly settled. It seemed I had won the gamble. The streets were plastered with advertisements. Danny’s almost perfect face dominated the center. “Thorne Group power transfer successfully completed. Danny Thorne becomes the youngest head of Thorne Corp.” 【This ring is the male lead’s mother’s keepsake, only given to his future wife. Why is it on the cannon fodder?】 The on-screen comments further reassured me. I practically rushed to the hospital, crying and laughing at my unconscious mother. “Mom, I succeeded. You’re saved.” I sat quietly with Mom, waiting for the fruits of my gamble to appear before me. It wasn’t until late into the night that the ward door was suddenly kicked open, but it wasn’t Danny. It was Chloe, her face contorted with rage. She subtly raised a hand, and a pair of bodyguards rushed forward, pinning my shoulders and pressing me to the ground. Before I could react, a slap landed on my face, and my ears immediately rang incessantly. Chloe rubbed her reddened hand, looking down at me condescendingly. “Did you know Danny’s identity all along? And meticulously seduced him away from me?” I spat out a mouthful of blood, tears of pain welling in my eyes. “I don’t know what you mean. I just wanted to make amends to him.” “Heh.” Chloe sneered, leaning closer to me. “Danny gave you that ring.” “Daring to trick me all this time! Those strange words just told me everything. Wouldn’t it have been better for you to just be cannon fodder? The only one worthy of Danny is me, the true female lead.” “Those words told me the plot has been corrected. Don’t even dream that Danny will come to save you.” She pulled out her engagement announcement with Danny, displaying it before my eyes. Their names were written together, as if they were truly a match made in heaven. My eyes widened in shock, even my pupils trembling. She could see those words too, and the plot really had been “corrected.” “Will you hand over the ring yourself, or will you exchange it for your mother’s life? Choose one.” Chloe said lazily, as a bodyguard already had his hand on Mom’s ventilator. My breath hitched, and I roared to stop him. “No!” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I desperately surrendered. “The ring is yours. Please, spare my mother.” I took off the ring, still warm from my body, and placed it in Chloe’s pale, slender hand. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. Chloe nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly pulled out her phone and aimed it at me. “You dirtied my things. I need some compensation.” “Have your fun, just don’t kill her.” In my stunned expression, the two bodyguards steadily approached me. I screamed, grabbing a fruit knife to stab them, but it was easily snatched away and thrown into the trash. The bodyguards grinned lewdly, tearing off my sleeve and pinning me down. “Cooperate nicely, and you might even enjoy it.” 【Cannon fodder deserves this! Getting in the way of the male and female leads, even being ground to dust isn’t too much.】 I wept silently, unwilling but helpless, until my legs were roughly forced apart. The second before my body was violated, a figure kicked open the ward door. “Who dares touch my wife?”

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The day the two boxes of oranges my mom sent arrived at the office was the day I found my boyfriend’s closest friend, Victoria, tearing my desk apart. “A twenty-thousand-dollar Van Cleef & Arpels,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain for anyone who cared to listen. “Besides her, the charity case from the middle of nowhere, who else in this office would even be desperate enough to steal it?” I stood frozen at the entrance, clutching the box of oranges. Tired of rummaging, Victoria plopped down into my chair, casting a casual, playful glance at Lucas Knight. “Lucas, darling, Nina’s your girlfriend. Can’t you just ask her to give me back my bracelet?” They had grown up together, sharing a bond that was different, deeper than any other. Even I, his actual girlfriend, had to admit that the effortless intimacy between them sparked a sharp sting of jealousy. Whenever they started reminiscing about their childhood, their shared history, I was always the silent outsider, unable to find a single foothold in their conversation. But this time, Lucas didn’t play along. He didn’t even look at her. His voice was a calm, level sea. “What bracelet? I’ll just buy you a new one.” The office erupted in a wave of whispers. “What does the boss mean by that? Did Nina really steal it?” “Why are you surprised? Everyone knows she’s broke. And she was the only one who left the office during the all-hands meeting.” “But that’s Van Cleef & Arpels… that’s more than half a year of her salary.” “I heard her mom had a reputation back home for being… light-fingered.” 1 I remained at the doorway, feeling as though I’d been struck by lightning. A tremor ran through my entire body. I had no idea that the same people who smiled and greeted me every day were saying such things behind my back. Just then, someone’s voice cut through the buzz. “Nina’s back?” The atmosphere froze. Every eye in the room turned to me. In that instant, I felt like a criminal under a spotlight, awaiting my sentence. I lowered my head, biting my lip, and saw Lucas turn to look at me. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but in his eyes, I saw disappointment. 2 I didn’t want to explain. I knew no one would believe me. “You know what? Forget it,” Victoria said with a flick of her wrist. “It’s not like I’m hurting for one bracelet.” If she had just said she might have misplaced it, the whole thing would have blown over. But what was this half-accusation, this insinuation? I refused to be a suspect, the focal point of office gossip. As Victoria turned to leave, I grabbed her arm. “The company has security cameras. If you’re accusing me, we can go check the footage together.” A smirk played on her lips, her eyes filled with a mockery I couldn’t quite decipher. I expected her to refuse. I never imagined the one to shut it down would be Lucas. He wrapped an arm around me, his voice a soothing balm. “Nina, that’s enough. It’s okay.” He always used that tone to comfort me when I was down. And just like that, the dam of humiliation and hurt I’d been holding back broke. “I’m not okay,” I said, looking down at him, my voice already thick with tears. “My mom sent me something. I left the meeting to put the oranges she brought me in my drawer.” All I did was go back to my desk to put something away. Something my mother had taken two subway lines to bring to me, all the way from her own small garden. But Lucas didn’t seem to care why I’d gone back. He said it didn’t matter, that he would handle it, no matter what I’d done. But that’s the point, I wanted to scream. I didn’t do anything! My reputation was more important than any amount of money! I insisted on checking the security footage. A flicker of impatience crossed Lucas’s face, followed by a derisive laugh. “Nina, come on. This is as far as I can help you.” His voice dropped, laced with a cold logic that chilled me to the bone. “Weren’t you just saying your mom’s sick and the roof at home is leaking? That you needed money for a new house? You’re desperate for cash. You have a motive.” He leaned in closer. “And the security camera in the office just happened to break today. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Nina?” My head buzzed. Suddenly, something Victoria had once said to me echoed in my mind. You and Lucas are from two different worlds. I hadn’t understood it then, but in that moment, I finally did. It wasn’t a threat; it was just the truth. Lucas Knight, the golden boy who’d grown up coddled in wealth, looked down on the poor. It was etched into his very bones. Did he not understand how important a reputation was? No, he did. He just never believed me from the very beginning. Someone pulled open my drawer. The oranges my mom had brought me tumbled out, scattering across the floor. I watched, numb, as one or two were crushed under an careless foot. The last thread of my composure snapped. Lucas’s voice continued, oblivious. “Nina, I was already planning on buying you two a house. Why did you have to go and do something like this?” I couldn’t listen anymore. When I looked up, my eyes were burning. “Mr. Knight, my family may be poor,” I said, my voice shaking with rage, “but we are not thieves.” 3 The north wind cut right through me. I sat on the roof, silently eating the two oranges I’d managed to salvage. The rest had been trampled and ruined. When Lucas found me, his voice was tight with barely controlled anger. “What are you doing up here? Trying to threaten someone by jumping?” He gestured at the oranges in my hand. “And don’t eat those. They’ve been on the floor, for God’s sake.” I acted as if I hadn’t heard him. “Nina, are you listening to me?” he snapped. “It’s a bag of oranges. Is it really worth all this? I’ll have someone send two boxes to your desk.” Lucas rarely got angry with me. Normally, his tone would have sent me storming off. But right now, all I wanted was to quietly finish these last two pieces of fruit. He walked over and tried to drape his coat over my shoulders, but I shifted away. His voice was laced with disbelief. “Are you recoiling from me?” After a second of tense silence, he took a step back, his lips pressed into a thin line. He placed the coat on my lap instead and stood there, a silent statue against the wind. By the time I finished the last slice, the wind was howling. “About the bracelet,” Lucas began, “I’ll—” “Don’t bother,” I cut him off. “I’ll handle it myself.” His voice rose with impatience and confusion. “With what? Do you have any idea what your status is? How are you going to ‘handle’ it? Do you know how much that bracelet costs? You think you can pay for it with your meager salary?” I almost laughed. “Think whatever you want. It has nothing to do with you anymore.” I carefully gathered the orange peels from the ground, stood up, and started walking away. His voice, small and thin in the wind, called my name. I didn’t look back. 4 After that day, Lucas didn’t show up at the office for a long time. That was the last conversation we ever had. Victoria didn’t pursue the matter either, but the rumors didn’t stop. My department head started giving me strange looks, occasionally reminding me that the company would “investigate the matter thoroughly.” When I walked into the office, I’d see coworkers instinctively lock their designer watches, phones, and other luxury items away in their drawers. I would freeze in place, a heavy stone sinking in my stomach. I had worked for more than a decade to get into a top university, then landed a job at this multinational corporation, becoming a key player in my department. I never imagined I’d be treated like a common thief. I wanted to keep fighting, for all the years I had spent clawing my way up, but I didn’t know if there was any point in continuing this lonely, unsupported battle. 5 Soon, the final straw came. My mother suddenly fell ill. I had no choice but to take a leave of absence from the company, spending all my time at the hospital. While I was running around, taking care of her, I ran into Victoria in the main lobby. She knew my mom. The last time they’d met, she and Lucas had come to my mother’s small fruit stand. I remembered how she’d stood there, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the fruit with a critical gaze. “Are these even fresh?” she’d asked, her tone laced with doubt. “They’re covered in dust. You actually sell this to people?” Then, turning to Lucas, “You can eat it if you want, but maybe Lucas shouldn’t.” I saw Lucas take a bite, then his brow furrowed. He looked like he was about to be sick. My mother, flustered, pulled a few tissues from her pocket to offer him, but he just stared at them, motionless. It was Victoria who pulled out a pristine silk handkerchief and delicately wiped his mouth for him. Lucas and I had a huge fight that night. Snapping back to the present, I watched Victoria warily. She smiled. “Nina, it looks like you really are short on cash. Why didn’t you tell anyone your mom was sick? We’re all colleagues. If you had just asked, Lucas and I would have helped.” She held out a thick stack of cash. “What is this?” “Your mom’s treatment costs money, doesn’t it? You don’t have any projects right now. How are you going to pay for it on your salary alone?” She leaned in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “I know a great hospital that specializes in this kind of illness. I can help you get in. It’s far, though. I suggest you move there to be with her.” I stared at her, confused. “Do you know why Lucas hasn’t been around lately? He’s tired, Nina. Your family’s situation, and then that whole theft incident… Lucas has a lot of pride. How do you think all this makes him look?” Her voice was as smooth as silk, yet each word was a dagger. “But he’s too kind to be the one to say it’s over. So… I’m here. This was his idea, too.” Her words sent my heart plummeting into an even deeper, colder ocean, the pressure building until I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My body trembled. From my mom’s room, I could faintly hear the sound of her weary sighs. An invisible force was urging me to take the money, to agree. “Thank you,” I heard myself say. “I’ll resign as soon as possible to take care of my mother. I’ll pay this money back, too. It’ll just take some time. Can you give me an account number?” She raised an eyebrow, a mocking glint in her eyes. “I can give you the number, but don’t worry about paying it back. It doesn’t matter.” 6 I didn’t tell anyone I was resigning. I took my mother to that hospital in another city. Gradually, her condition improved. I found a simple job nearby. It didn’t pay much, but it allowed me to be there for her, and that gave me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. Every month, I deposited a portion of my earnings into the account Victoria had given me. It took five years, but I finally paid back every last cent. Five years passed in a blur. I never thought I would see Lucas Knight again. It was at a colleague’s wedding. The guest list was a who’s who of the city’s elite. I didn’t want to go, but my friend had insisted. “I’m only getting married once! You vanished without a word five years ago, and now you won’t even come to my wedding? Is that all our friendship means to you?” she’d pleaded. “I know things ended badly with Lucas and Victoria, but what does that have to do with us?” She was the only person I’d kept in touch with. She could be blunt, but she had a good heart. I couldn’t refuse. Walking into the grand hotel ballroom, I was hit by a wave of opulence. This really wasn’t a place for people like me. But since I was here, I had to see it through. When I handed over my gift, my envelope was noticeably the thinnest. The person at the registration table was polite but couldn’t hide their surprise. “Are you sure about this amount? There’s no mistake?” I offered a faint smile. “No mistake.” As I took my seat, I immediately became the center of attention. “Isn’t that Nina?” “Why did she suddenly resign back then? We never heard a thing!” When Victoria saw me, her expression soured. “Speaking of Nina’s resignation, I’ve always been curious myself,” she announced, her voice carrying across the table. “I wonder if it had anything to do with that little bracelet incident? I hope it didn’t upset you too much, Nina. I’d already decided not to press charges. After all, everyone makes mistakes.” It was obvious she wanted to drive me out before Lucas arrived, each word more cutting than the last. I smiled. “Victoria, you seem even more on edge than you were five years ago.” I met her gaze directly. “Five years ago, I told you I didn’t take it. Today, my answer is the same. I, Nina, may be poor, but I am not a thief.” I took a step closer and lowered my voice to a whisper only she could hear. “And you can’t possibly think I don’t know what really happened to that bracelet, do you?”

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It had been ten years with Daniel, and for the first time, he baked me a birthday cake with his own hands. I took a bite, my heart swelling with joy, only for my skin to erupt in red, angry hives. My throat started to close. Vicky, watching me, clapped her hands and burst out laughing. “So Daniel was right! Some people really are allergic to cheap, artificial cream!” I begged Daniel to take me to the hospital. He just stared at me, his face cold. “An allergic reaction? It’s not that serious. Are you just trying to scare Vicky?” “I have to go with Vicky to shoot her vlog. If you want to go, go by yourself.” That day, it was a waitress who called the ambulance for me. Three months later, he finally remembered to call, his first words an accusation: “Sophie, are you done playing games?” The man beside me snatched the phone from my hand. “I hear you’re a great baker. We’re having our engagement party tomorrow. Why don’t you send a cake over?” Daniel panicked, but the line went dead. 1 The itching was unbearable, and a slow, horrifying realization dawned on me: I was having a severe allergic reaction. Ever since I was three years old and ended up in the emergency room after eating cake, I’ve known that imitation whipped cream was poison to me. And Daniel knew it too. My throat was swelling shut. I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air. “This has… artificial cream in it,” I rasped, forcing myself to look at the cake on the table, the one with a single slice missing—my slice. “Daniel, you knew…” Vicky cut me off, pointing at my face and howling with laughter. “Haha! Sophie, your face is so swollen you look like a pig!” “So Daniel was right! Someone really is allergic to that stuff!” She was doubled over, snapping pictures with her phone. Daniel’s face was a mask of impatience. “I know. So what? A little bit won’t kill you.” Vicky suddenly put on a pathetic pout. “It was my fault. I was just so curious if the allergy was real, that’s the only reason Daniel did it. If you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at me.” I couldn’t speak anymore. If this continued, I was going to go into anaphylactic shock. I grabbed Daniel’s arm, desperately making gestures, trying to tell him to call 911. Vicky shrank behind him. “Danny, she’s scaring me.” Daniel violently shook my hand off, shielding Vicky. His voice was laced with disgust. “An allergic reaction isn’t that dramatic. You’re just trying to scare her on purpose.” “I have to go with Vicky to shoot her vlog. If you need a doctor, call one yourself.” And with that, they left, leaving me alone on the floor. Watching his retreating back, my heart felt like it was being crushed by a giant fist, a pain that eclipsed anything my body was feeling. So this was their birthday gift to me. At nine years old, Daniel had promised to protect me forever, to never let anything hurt me. At twenty-nine, he had shattered that promise with his own hands. Tears streamed down my face. If this was how it was going to be, then I was letting go. For my own sake. My vision blurred, and then everything went black. 2 I woke to a blinding light, and a large hand immediately covered my eyes. The clean, crisp scent of soap wafted from his sleeve, a scent that was inexplicably calming. Daniel? Had he come back? I knew it was unlikely, but a foolish sliver of hope flickered within me. I reached up to push his hand away, to see his face, but he caught my wrist and gently tucked it back under the covers. “Don’t get cold.” His voice was cool, a stark contrast to his gentle touch. It was Noah, my junior from grad school. The moment I saw his face, my heart sank. “Oh, it’s you.” I tried my best to hide my disappointment, but Noah saw right through it. “Who else were you hoping for? That useless boyfriend of yours?” He handed me a glass of water. “You’ve been out for a whole day. Drink something.” I took the glass, watching as he put the insulated thermos he’d poured it from back inside his jacket, close to his chest. It was the one I’d given him for his birthday three years ago. Seeing me staring, he awkwardly placed it on the bedside table. “I just… I just kept it because it’s good quality.” I didn’t press him. My mind drifted back to when I was eighteen, when Daniel and I had made a pair of matching couple’s mugs at a pottery class. He had held me and whispered, “These represent our love. I’ll keep mine until I’m eighty.” A few days ago, I saw Vicky post a picture on her Instagram story. It was a small succulent, planted in a familiar mug. The caption read: I said I wanted it, and he gave it to me right away. It’s perfect for my little plant! And there it was, Daniel’s mug. He had even commented below: As long as you like it. I’ll get you something even better next time. When I called to confront him, he got angry. “It’s just a mug, Sophie. Are you serious? When did you become so petty? We can just make another one.” After we hung up that day, I felt a profound weariness settle over me. He was the one who had forgotten his promise, but he was telling me I was the one who had changed. We had a huge fight. We didn’t speak until yesterday, when he messaged me, saying he wanted to celebrate my birthday. I thought he wanted to apologize. I never imagined he was just planning to deepen my disappointment. All the little disappointments were piling up, and the love I once felt was slowly eroding away. “Hello? Are you even listening to me?” Noah’s raised voice pulled me back to the present. “You knew you were allergic. Why did you eat it? You’re a grown woman, how could you make a mistake like that?” His face was tense. “They ended up calling me, you know.” “Was Mr. Wonderful so busy that he couldn’t even answer your call at a time like this?” I checked my phone. Three missed calls to Daniel. All unanswered. The nurse must have gone through my recent calls and found Noah’s number, since I had called him a few days ago about our mentor’s birthday. Noah was just getting warmed up. “He doesn’t even have time to pick up the phone? I think he’s just—” “Stop it!” My voice was suddenly sharp. “I’m hungry. Can you get me something to eat?” Noah looked at me, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes. Seeing me avoid his gaze, he turned and left, a shadow of disappointment in his posture. Watching him go, I felt a pang of regret for my harsh tone. He was still in his suit, obviously having rushed over from work. I’d heard he had recently taken over his family’s company; he must be incredibly busy. We were just friends, barely even in contact since graduation. I had no right to treat him that way. I was surprised he had even come at all. It was just… hearing him talk about Daniel made me feel ashamed. Even an outsider could see how little Daniel cared. I was only fooling myself. My phone buzzed. It was a new video from Vicky. She was a minor influencer with a few hundred thousand followers, famous for her schtick of “randomly” picking handsome strangers on the street for romantic-themed photoshoots. A year ago, she had “randomly” picked Daniel. I remember him sending me a special text asking if I’d mind. How ironic that seems now. From that day on, he and Vicky became fast friends. Daniel had opened a small dessert shop after college, and thanks to the viral photos, a lot of Vicky’s fans flocked to his store. After that, Vicky used the excuse of photoshoots to spend more and more time with him. I told him they were getting too close. He’d just laugh it off. “We’re just buddies. What are you thinking? Besides, her popularity is great for business. It’s mutually beneficial.” I believed his nonsense and watched as they got closer and closer, until he started prioritizing her over me. I steeled myself and opened the video. The title was “A Happy Day with My Temporary Photographer!” The video showed them at an amusement park, taking photos in a “princess and knight” theme. In one shot, Daniel was on one knee, kissing the back of Vicky’s hand. I saw a familiar look in his eyes—a look that used to be reserved for me. The comment section was filled with people ‘shipping’ them. “Wow, the sparks are flying! Someone get these two a marriage license!” “This guy has been in so many of her videos. Is something really going on?” Vicky replied with a blushing, face-hiding emoji. Her fans went wild. Even though I had already decided to let go, seeing this still sent a sharp pain through my heart. 3 My allergic reaction had subsided. Noah drove me home. A folk song I loved was playing softly in the car. I remembered how Daniel’s car was always blasting rock music. When I complained it was too loud, he said I was getting old, that my taste couldn’t keep up. But he was the one who had told me folk music was beautiful in the first place, the reason I had started listening to it. The singer’s gentle voice lulled me to sleep. I dreamt of my childhood. Whenever bullies picked on me, Daniel would always fight them off. When I asked him why, he’d wipe his runny nose, his eyes brighter than stars, and say, “You’re going to be my wife someday. I can’t let them push around my future wife.” But dreams end. Reality had taken a sharp, cruel turn. A tear escaped the corner of my eye. I felt a cool touch on my cheek and opened my eyes to see Noah quickly pulling his hand back. “What are you doing…?” “Just curious,” he said with a smirk. “I never thought I’d see our ‘Iron Lady’ shed a tear.” He’d given me that nickname in grad school because of how hard I worked. I jabbed him with my elbow. “Still making fun of your senior, huh? You’re asking for it.” We roughhoused for a moment, and it felt like we were back in school again, a comfortable familiarity settling between us. My mood lifted. When we got to my apartment, Noah just looked at me, as if he had something to say. His stare made my cheeks flush. I laughed nervously. “What, are you about to confess your undying love?” He didn’t speak, just kept looking. Just as the silence became awkward and I was about to make an excuse to leave, he finally said, “Take care of yourself.” I didn’t have my keys, so it was Daniel who opened the door. “What took you so long?” he asked, as if nothing had happened. I didn’t answer. The silence stretched until he finally put down his phone, the smile he’d had while looking at the screen vanishing. He looked up at me, his tone accusatory. “You’re not still mad about the cake, are you? Seriously? It was just a joke to make a girl happy.” “Daniel, a severe allergic reaction can kill someone! Is a human life a joke to you?” The casual indifference on his face made my heart ache. This toxic relationship wasn’t worth saving. A sweet, feminine voice suddenly came from his phone. “Oh, Danny, please don’t fight. It’s all my fault. I really didn’t know it would be that serious.” The voice broke into a sob, and Daniel immediately became frantic. “Sophie, when did you become so vicious? She was just having some fun. Besides, you’re fine now, aren’t you?” His baseless accusation made me see the man I had loved for so many years with chilling clarity. In his stunned silence, I slapped him hard across the face. “‘Just for fun’ could have cost me my life,” I said, my voice shaking with rage. “I was lucky to make it out of the hospital today. If I had died, would you have stood over my grave and said it was ‘just for fun’? What you did was attempted murder. I could press charges!” The word “hospital” seemed to extinguish his fury. He looked me up and down. “Hospital? It was that serious? Are you okay?” I slapped away the hand he reached out to me. He tried to say something else, but was interrupted by a noise from his phone. “Ah! There’s someone lurking outside my house! What if it’s a stalker? I’m so scared…” “Don’t be afraid. I’m on my way,” Daniel said instantly. He pulled a box from his pocket, placed it on the table, and headed for the door. “This is your birthday present. I’ll explain when I get back…” I knew he wouldn’t be back tonight. The so-called gift was a pink necklace. I knew instantly whose style it was. I didn’t touch it. I had a business trip for work anyway. I packed a few things and left. 4 Over the next few days, Daniel sent a few texts. I just replied that I was on a business trip and then ignored him. Strangely, Noah kept asking me out to dinner, saying he wanted to discuss our mentor’s birthday plans, even though there was nothing special about it this year. I returned a week later, just in time for my grandmother’s 80th birthday. In previous years, Daniel and I would have gone back together. Now… My mom texted asking if I was coming. I was about to say I’d be coming alone when a message from Daniel popped up, offering to drive us both back. I agreed, thinking it would be the perfect opportunity, with all our family there, to make the breakup official. I thought, at the very least, he wouldn’t back out of something like this. But on the day we were supposed to leave, he went silent. I stood at our designated meeting spot for hours. Darkness fell. I decided I’d just go by myself the next day. But then my mom called. My grandmother had fallen down the stairs. I tried to book a ticket immediately, but it was the start of the university winter break, and everything was sold out. Staring at my silent phone, I didn’t hesitate any longer. Daniel’s actions had erased any reason I had left to forgive him. It was better to rip the band-aid off. I typed out a text. “We’re done.” I was frantic to find out more about my grandmother’s condition when my phone rang. A familiar yet distant number flashed on the screen. It was Noah. The contact name was still “Junior,” a relic of a more detached time.

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Less than a month after we were married, my millionaire wife, Eleanor Croft, went bankrupt. Everyone laughed at me, the opportunist who’d made a bad bet. I ignored them. I gathered every penny I had, handed it to her, and said, “I believe in you.” For three years, we lived on nothing. We were so poor that when my father was on his deathbed, her company accountant couldn’t even scrape together the five thousand dollars needed for his surgery. I watched my father’s eyes close for the last time. I hated myself a million times over for failing to borrow the money, but I never once thought of hating her. Not until I saw a video from her company’s team-building event, posted by one of her employees. Finn, her handsome assistant, was wearing a Patek Philippe watch, the kind I’d agonized over but never dared to buy. He had dozens of them. The tie he wore required a fifty-thousand-dollar deposit just to be put on the waitlist for the full collection. 1 “Ms. Croft, wasn’t that five thousand dollars originally earmarked for your husband? Why was it suddenly reallocated as a bonus for Finn?” I was standing outside her office when I heard the accountant’s voice. I held my breath, my eyes burning as I strained to hear what was inside. Eleanor’s laugh was light, careless. “I offered to buy it for him, but he wouldn’t let me. Said I’d already spent hundreds of thousands on him, that he was turning into my kept man. The collection he wanted was exactly five thousand dollars short, and he insisted on earning it himself. Giving it to him as a bonus makes it feel less like a gift. It makes him happier.” I stumbled, nearly losing my balance. My father’s life-saving money was casually diverted to Finn for a tie, all because of a single comment? Then what about my father? And wasn’t Eleanor still struggling to keep her company afloat? Where did the hundreds of thousands of dollars come from? “Ms. Croft, the company has been out of the red for a long time now. We could have easily allocated another five thousand for your husband. Why did you have to take his money and give it to Finn?” Eleanor sighed. “A while back, Finn wanted to go on a trip, but your husband snatched up the very last train ticket. Finn missed seeing the sunrise over the Grand Canyon and was heartbroken for weeks. This was just… making up for what he owed Finn.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The day I bought that train ticket was the day I received the notice that my father was in critical condition. I didn’t want to bother her at work, so I hadn’t even told her. The train’s booking system was first-come, first-served. Just because Finn was a second slower than me, it became a debt I owed him? “Hey, Ryan? What are you doing here?” The sound of Finn’s polished leather shoes echoed behind me. The voices inside the office fell silent. 2 “Ryan?” Eleanor opened the door and grabbed my hand. “Aren’t you supposed to be with your father? What are you doing here?” I stared into her eyes. “He’s gone.” Her breath hitched. “What? Why?” “We were five thousand dollars short for the surgery. I couldn’t get it in time.” The accountant gasped, instinctively glancing at Eleanor. I caught the flicker of surprise in her eyes. “How could this happen…” Seeing her delayed, performative remorse, my first instinct was to slap her. To demand why she gave the money to Finn for such a ridiculously trivial reason. But I realized I didn’t have the right. Every cent I had was gone, spent on my father’s medical bills. I didn’t even have money for a funeral. The substantial savings I once had were handed over to her without a second thought the day she told me she was bankrupt. Now, I had to beg this very person to cover my father’s burial costs. Seeing me bite my lip to hold back tears, Eleanor rushed to wipe them away. “Don’t be afraid, Ryan. I’ll get through this with you. Even if I’m struggling, I’ll find a way, no matter the cost.” Even now, she was still pretending to be poor. “That’s right, Ryan. Ms. Croft may be having a hard time, but she’ll do her best for you,” Finn said, reaching out to squeeze my hand. My gaze fell on the gold ring on his ring finger. Finn quickly pulled his hand back, his smile a little strained. I understood then. Eleanor had bought him that ring, too. Perhaps out of guilt, Eleanor spared no expense for the funeral. She took a full week off from work to stay by my side. On the day of the service, I thought I could hold it together, but the moment I saw my father’s portrait, the tears came like a flood. She stood beside me, but her eyes kept darting down to her phone. Only when a relative approached her would she quickly put it away and force a somber expression onto her face. “Ryan, something’s come up at the office. I have to go, now.” She squeezed my hand tightly. “I’ll come back to get you when it’s over.” She turned and hurried away, her footsteps echoing her urgency. There was a time when she only moved that fast when she was on her way to see me. I didn’t stop her. I took out my phone and opened an account with the username “Finn.” Just as I expected, a new photo had been posted. It showed a view from the floor-to-ceiling windows of a riverside penthouse, a floor littered with empty wine bottles. The caption: If I just pretend to be pathetic too, will you finally look at me? It was tagged to an account with the username “E.” E. Eleanor. Finn. I can’t remember the feeling that washed over me when my trembling fingers first found that account and hit ‘follow,’ wanting only to watch the progression of their affair. After the funeral service ended, the account updated again. It was a selfie of a man being embraced from behind by a woman. His workout clothes clung to his perfect physique, hinting at the defined abs and V-line beneath. You couldn’t see his face. But the hand resting on his waist wore a wedding ring I knew all too well. The caption: I know you’ll never let me be lonely. “E” had liked the post. And commented: The one who loves you would never let you be sad. A low laugh escaped me. I stood in the empty memorial hall. The wind howled, and it felt as if I was the only person left in the world. Me, and my father’s portrait behind me. Eleanor never came to pick me up. Darkness fell, and the funeral home emptied out. Finally, she called. “Ryan, things at the office are a little complicated, and it ran right into a press conference. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get you. I’ll be done in two hours, tops. I’ll come straight there.” I laughed, sitting in the back of a taxi. “Don’t bother. I have a gift for you.” “What?” On my phone, a livestream of the press conference was playing. The large screen behind Eleanor suddenly flickered to life. Unspeakable sounds filled the air. On a large bed in a riverside penthouse, two familiar figures were tangled together in a desperate embrace. 3 A week ago, when I first found Finn’s account, I had already started preparing for this day. With my father laid to rest, I finally had the time and energy to deal with them. I am not the kind of person who swallows humiliation. My revenge had to be public, absolute. I wanted to ruin them. And there was no better stage than a press conference. By the time I arrived, the venue was in chaos. The reporters’ questions had shifted from company matters to Eleanor Croft’s extramarital affair. Then they saw me. A path spontaneously cleared for me through the crowd. “Ryan?” Eleanor stared at me in disbelief. Finn cowered behind her, his eyes wide with terror. “Ryan…” SLAP! A sharp slap echoed as my hand connected with her face. Eleanor winced. “Ryan!” SLAP! Another one, just as hard. She looked at me, stunned. “Who did you give the five thousand dollars to?” Her breath caught. “You… you know?” SLAP! A third. “Do you have any idea it was only five thousand dollars! With that money, my father could have lived!” At the mention of the man who had cared for her as a child, Eleanor looked down, silent. But the reporters smelled blood and swarmed forward. “Mr. Cole, what five thousand dollars? Could you tell us more?” “You want to know?” I gestured. The large screen changed again. “Then watch closely.” I had compiled everything into a presentation over the past week. “This five thousand was originally allocated by my wife for my father’s surgery, but her assistant…” “Enough!” A hand clamped over my mouth. Eleanor kicked the screen viciously, causing half of it to distort into a mess of pixels. “Eleanor! Let go of me!” She gripped my wrist, dragging me toward the private elevator. In the CEO’s office, she threw me onto the sofa. “You recorded those videos?” I let out a cold laugh. “Yes. What about it? Did you really think I didn’t hear your conversation with the accountant that day? I looked up Finn’s address as soon as I got home. You have some nerve, Ms. Croft. A riverside penthouse for an assistant, while I was still living in a rented apartment with you!” “That’s enough!” Eleanor’s chest heaved. “You don’t understand. During my hardest days, he was the one by my side. He stayed up all night with me, pored over financial reports with me, met with clients with me! Now that I’ve succeeded, don’t I owe him this?” I thought I had misheard. “He was with you? Then what about me?” Eleanor froze. “Eleanor, was he the one who gave you the start-up capital after you went bankrupt? When the debt collectors came, was he the one who refused to give up your location, even when they held a knife to his back? Did he give you every last penny he had? Was he the one crammed into that tiny apartment with you, eating instant ramen, or was that ME?” Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She avoided my gaze. I laughed bitterly. “You don’t want to answer? Fine, I’ll answer for you. He did NONE of that! The only person who walked through hell with you from start to finish was ME!” “I said, that’s enough!” she roared. The sudden outburst startled me. She stared at me, her eyes burning. “You’re only saying all this to remind me of how much you sacrificed, aren’t you? I was worried you’d hold your help over my head, that you’d demand a fortune once you found out I was back on my feet! That would have destroyed our relationship, which is why I hid it from you. But he’s different! Even after I spent hundreds of thousands on him, he still wanted to earn that last five thousand himself! Do you understand now? That’s the difference between you two. That’s why I favor him and guard myself against you.” An unexpected laugh escaped me. “So, you thought I married you as an investment?” She pressed her lips together. “Didn’t you?” I turned away, using a bitter smile to hide the tears in my eyes. “Fine. Let’s say I was only after your money. Then tell me, Eleanor, what kind of man seduces his savior’s wife?” Eleanor’s breath caught. She probably remembered. Without me, Finn would have died at the hands of those thugs. 4 Finn was handsome. He had the kind of face that women instinctively wanted to protect and adore, which naturally made him a target for jealousy. He’d been bullied and harassed his entire life. Until the day I walked into an alley armed with a steel pipe. I came out with a fractured leg and a split lip. Finn, apart from the endless stream of tears, was untouched. From then on, he became my loyal protégé. I decided to see it through and got him a job at Eleanor’s company. Eleanor despised incompetence. She complained more than once about the deadweight I had saddled her with. It took all my pleading to convince her not to fire him, to save him from being sold to a brothel by his gambling-addicted mother. Then she went bankrupt. We were too busy scrambling for rent and food to argue about him anymore. But I never imagined that while we were fighting for our survival, Finn had never truly suffered at all. The savings I gave Eleanor weren’t just to keep the company from folding. A large portion of it went to ensuring that Finn, the assistant, was completely unaffected by the bankruptcy. “Name your price. What will it take for you to leave him alone?” Eleanor’s voice was devoid of emotion. I looked at her and sneered. “I don’t want money. I want his life ruined.” She frowned. “Impossible.” “Eleanor, are you really this protective of him now?” A complex emotion flickered in her eyes. “It doesn’t matter. You’ve lost your chance.” A cry echoed from outside the door. Eleanor’s head shot up. “Finn!” She threw the door open. Finn was being dragged by his collar, slapped repeatedly across the face. “You worthless piece of trash! You can do this disgusting thing, but I can’t bear the shame!” a man roared. “Sir!” Eleanor cried out, panicked. Finn’s father bellowed back. “Stay away! I’m disciplining my own son! What’s it to you?” “Dad, I…” “Shut up! Have you forgotten who saved you? Who broke his leg for you? You could have been with anyone, but you just had to be a homewrecker, didn’t you?” SLAP! SLAP! Two more resounding smacks, splitting Finn’s lip. Camera flashes went off relentlessly. The reporters captured every moment. After I’d saved Finn, his father and I had always been on good terms. I’d visit him during the holidays, just like I visited my own father. “You animal! Why did I have a son like you! If you love being a homewrecker so much, you can do it after I’m dead!” He turned and lunged for the window. Finn panicked, but he was too slow to stop him. “Sir!” Eleanor screamed. “Finn is not a homewrecker!” His father stopped and turned. A bright red marriage certificate was brought out. Eleanor opened it, revealing a photo of her and Finn, stamped with a clear, official seal. “Finn and I are legally married. Ryan Cole is the real homewrecker.” My breath caught in my throat. Finn’s father looked from her to me, utterly bewildered. “If you’re married, then Ryan is…” I pulled out my own marriage certificate with Eleanor, staring her down. “If you married him, then what is this?”

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1 For eight years, I, Abby Sullivan, was the top sales executive at Marcus Parker’s company and his secret lover. I overheard him complaining to his friends after a few drinks. “Just thinking about Abby wining and dining, and sleeping with, those investors… it disgusts me.” “Not to mention her family is a bunch of nobodies, and my company is about to go public.” The man who once promised to love me forever. Now, he was passionately kissing a younger woman. I opened my phone camera, saved the video evidence, and then called my father. “Dad, cut off all investments in Parker Group.” “That graduate student you mentioned earlier sounds good. I’d like to meet him.” … It was a rainy summer, and I didn’t wait in the car as usual. Instead, I arrived early at the private room where Marcus was. Before I even pushed the door open, I heard his distinctly slurred voice. “Abby is good at everything.” At that, a faint smile touched my lips, but his next sentence instantly froze it. “It’s just a shame she’s so clueless, thinking I’d marry her after what she did.” His voice carried a hint of disdain, as if discussing something utterly ridiculous. “I don’t have any strange fetishes. You could find someone cleaner on any street corner.” Laughter and echoing agreement filled the air. My hands clenched, nails digging deep into my palms. “So, will you marry me?” A woman’s coquettish voice abruptly cut through the chatter. Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw Marcus curve his lips into a smirk and pull the woman into his embrace. The man who had always been so reserved and proper around me was now publicly kissing another woman, pinning her beneath him. I used to think he wasn’t passionate enough in relationships; he said it was his nature, and I believed him. Turns out, he simply saved all his passion for someone else. His friends, seeing the awkward situation, wisely distanced themselves. A clueless young man piped up, “So, what do we call them both now? We can’t call both of them ‘ma’am,’ can we?” “Don’t be stupid, Marcus never acknowledged Abby’s status.” “Look, it’s a long story, but Marcus would never marry a woman who isn’t clean.” I leaned against the wall, listening to them dissect my past with Marcus. Just then, my phone vibrated with an AirDrop notification. I accepted it. It was a photo. The main subjects were the two inside, locked in a heated embrace, naked and intertwined in sleep. Immediately after, Seraphina Miller smugly flashed her phone at me, sending a message. “Abby, I really pity Marcus. He’s forced to stay with you because of some obligation. But you probably don’t know this, do you? Every time he touches you, he feels sick for a week and comes to me for comfort.” “He says every time he touches you, he just pictures you giving yourself to some old man for an investment. So dirty!” So, that’s why Marcus never acknowledged me? My blood ran cold, a chill seeping through my entire body. Five years ago, the Parker family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Marcus was desperate, pleading with everyone to save the Parker Group. My family was incredibly wealthy, but we had a strict family rule: no one could use the family name for personal gain. To help him, I accompanied him to countless business dinners, dealing with investors more times than I could count. During that period, I’d drink until I vomited, then drink again. A few times, I was even hospitalized for stomach bleeding. I still remember lying in that hospital bed, and Marcus, with reddened eyes, promising he’d never betray me. Then came a crucial investment for Parker Group. To secure the deal, I left the hospital and went straight to a drinking engagement with the investor, almost blacking out by the end. Luckily, my father’s good friend, Mr. Harrison, saw my condition. He intervened, took me away, and booked a hotel room for me to rest. I returned the next day, and Marcus looked at me with a strange expression. Curious, I asked what was wrong. He didn’t speak, just held me tightly, repeatedly saying, “You’ve been through so much.” At the time, I thought he was referring to me drinking myself to the point of throwing up blood. But I never imagined that, from that moment on, he had begun to see me as a woman who would sell her body for money. Seraphina’s messages continued, breaking my train of thought. “Oh, and one more thing. I’m pregnant with Marcus’s child. We’ll be making it official soon. If you’re smart, you’ll leave quietly. Being a mistress isn’t exactly honorable, you know.” My heart felt like it had been pierced by a sharp blade, and I nearly lost my footing. Seraphina saw the pallor of my face, raised an eyebrow triumphantly, and stepped away from Marcus’s embrace. “Be gentle, what if you scare the baby in my belly?” Before Marcus could speak, the clueless young man finally seemed to grasp the situation and quickly tried to curry favor. “Congratulations to Marcus and the future Mrs. Parker, may you have a long and happy life together and many children.” Marcus frowned slightly, his face devoid of much emotion. “Who I marry is not for you to say. Keep your mouth shut. If Abby finds out, I will make you regret it.” “I won’t marry Abby, but she’ll always be the woman I love most. You better show her some respect.” He straightened his clothes, then checked his phone. By habit, I should have contacted him by now. His breath hitched, a flicker of panic in his eyes, as he quickly tapped on his phone. Soon, my phone received his message: “Abby, where are you?” I took a deep breath and replied, “It’s raining today, I can’t pick you up.” He read the message, his brow relaxing slightly, then turned back, kissed Seraphina’s cheek, and whispered: “Be good, I need to go home.” Seraphina grabbed his hand, trying to stop him. He pulled away without hesitation, feigning deep affection. “I have to go back to her. She doesn’t like rainy weather.” I watched the scene with cold eyes, then turned and walked away. I then called my father. “Dad, terminate all investments in Parker Group.” “Pick me up in a few days. I’m coming home.” When Marcus returned home, he transformed back into the familiar man I knew. He held a bouquet of flowers and leaned in affectionately. “I’m sorry, Abby, I’m late.” Aside from the heavy scent of his cologne, there was no other sign of his deception. I instinctively recoiled. His face stiffened, then as if remembering something, he quickly offered an explanation. “I drank too much today, didn’t want to bother you with the smell. Are you hungry? I’ll make you something delicious.” With that, he rolled up his sleeves and hurried into the kitchen. The once pampered young man who never touched a dish, now the CEO of a company. Because I had a sensitive stomach, he learned to cook, and when he was home, he never let anyone else do it. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, anyone would believe he loved me desperately. It was amazing how long he’d kept up the act. During dinner, I said casually: “Let’s go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up.” His face fell, and he asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” The usual comforting concern. I shook my head. “Nothing, it’s just time for my annual physical.” He breathed a sigh of relief, smiling and nodding in agreement. But a moment later, Marcus seemed to remember something, his brow furrowing with a look of difficulty: “Abby, I just remembered I have to entertain an important client tomorrow. I can’t reschedule.” I lowered my head, continuing to eat. The air instantly thickened. He glanced at me, then cautiously spoke. “Are you mad?” “I’ll reschedule then. Nothing is more important than your health.” I looked up at him; his gaze was open, devoid of any guilt. “It’s fine, it doesn’t have to be tomorrow.” I chuckled, my nerves numb from the day’s intense emotional rollercoaster. My phone screen glowed beside me, displaying a message Seraphina had sent shortly before: “Tomorrow Marcus is taking me for my prenatal check-up. He’s so excited about this baby.” “By the way, don’t bother Marcus too much lately. I’m pregnant, and if he gets upset, I won’t be able to help him.” After dinner, Marcus affectionately put his arm around me. “Abby, you’re so quiet today, I’m not used to it.” The moment his body heat pressed against me from behind, a powerful surge of nausea rose in my throat, an urge I could no longer suppress. I violently pulled away from his embrace and rushed into the bathroom. Marcus followed anxiously, reaching out to rub my back. I flinched and slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me!” Marcus froze, his eyes filled with hurt. I still couldn’t help but ask what was on my mind: “Five years ago that night, if I told you nothing happened, would you believe me?” Marcus looked startled, then curved his lips, feigning ignorance. “What happened five years ago?” A cold laugh echoed in my heart. I turned my head away, no longer engaging with him. The next day, I arranged for a hospital stay for a full body check-up. Marcus was too dirty; I didn’t want any lingering consequences for my own body. Unexpectedly, I ran straight into Marcus and Seraphina. Marcus had Seraphina tightly in his arms, soothing her in hushed tones: “It’s alright, the doctor said it’s nothing serious, just try not to get too emotional.” As he spoke, Marcus seemed to sense something, suddenly turning his head and meeting my gaze directly. The moment he saw me, his face instantly turned ashen. He immediately released Seraphina and quickly walked towards me. “Abby, don’t misunderstand. She’s my client’s wife. The client had an urgent matter and asked me to bring her to the hospital.” He explained frantically, his excuses full of holes. I didn’t bother to expose him, merely replying with a bland, “You’ve always been so helpful, I know that much about you.” Seraphina stood nearby, watching our act with keen interest, then suddenly let out a gasp. “Oh, my stomach hurts so much.” Marcus looked at me with an almost pleading expression, as if I were the villain breaking up a loving couple. I felt nothing but utter absurdity, and spoke coldly: “What are you waiting for? Don’t delay the child.” He gave me a deep look, and for once, stopped acting, helping Seraphina to leave. In the afternoon, Seraphina came to my hospital room, her tone triumphant. “Marcus had someone check, and I’m carrying a boy.” She paused, then spoke maliciously, “How could you accept such an old man? You really have no shame. No wonder Marcus reacts so strongly every time he touches you.” I glanced at her, “Sounds like Ms. Miller knows a lot about old men.” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but before I could delve deeper, Seraphina composed herself. “If I were you, I would have left in shame ages ago, instead of clinging to a man you can’t keep, all because of some old debt of gratitude.” I laughed mockingly. “If you were truly so confident, why do you keep coming to provoke me? It’s only because you’re unsure of what Marcus will choose.” Seraphina seemed to have her insecurities exposed, and she immediately became enraged, raising her hand to slap me. I instinctively dodged, and she, having put too much force into her swing, lost her balance and stumbled a few steps. Familiar footsteps sounded outside the door. Seraphina immediately gasped and collapsed to the floor. “Abby, I only came to say hello because I’m close with Marcus. I didn’t mean anything else. How could you do this to me?” At that moment, the hospital room door opened. Marcus, for the first time, lost his composure in front of me. He demanded furiously: “What are you doing! Seraphina is pregnant!” He rushed to help Seraphina up, anxiously checking on her. “If I say it wasn’t me, will you believe it?” Marcus sneered. “Are you trying to say she’s slandering you with her baby? Abby, you disappoint me so much!” I scoffed, then raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “That’s what I should be saying.” “Marcus, you disappoint me deeply.” After my medical examination, back in my room, the nurse brought my meal. As I was about to eat, Mrs. Parker burst through the door, yelling. She rushed at me, trying to slap me. “Abby, how dare you bully my son and my grandchild!” I dodged her, immediately understanding. She couldn’t fight me, so she ran to his parents. Mrs. Parker, seeing me dodge, became even more agitated, her spit almost hitting my face. “My son has been more than generous to you. A dirty thing like you, my son cherished and pampered for so many years. How can you do this to him now?” “You didn’t really think a woman like you could join our family, did you? I’m telling you today, Seraphina is the only daughter-in-law I’ll ever acknowledge!” His mother had always looked down on me. I used to not know why, thinking I simply wasn’t good enough. And Marcus treated me so well that I didn’t want him to be caught in the middle. I tried my hardest to win her over. Whether it was rare jewels or the latest luxury items not yet on the market, I sought them out for her one by one. Only then did she finally show me some rare kindness. Watching her now, fiercely defending Seraphina without reservation. I finally understood. Marcus’s parents’ opinion entirely depended on Marcus. He didn’t truly respect or love me, so his parents naturally treated me horribly. But all those gifts I’d given them in the past, even if I’d fed them to a dog, the dog would have become familiar with me. The thought made me even more annoyed. “Well, that’s perfect then. You truly are a suitable family. One who lives off women, and a mistress who climbed her way up. A match made in heaven, indeed.” Mr. Parker, who had been silent, snorted. “Name your price, don’t get greedy.” I looked up at him. “Oh really? How about the entire Parker Group then? I won’t even complain about how small it is.” “You wish!” Mr. Parker instantly exploded in fury. At this, Mrs. Parker also jumped in, shouting like a fishwife. “When our Parker family was struggling, you, a promiscuous woman, climbed into some old man’s bed to get ahead. My son was blind to stick by you. Now you want our entire Parker Group? Dream on!” The words had barely left her mouth when I glimpsed Marcus, pale-faced, standing at the doorway, holding Seraphina. I raised an eyebrow. “Care to explain? Who was it that drank themselves to stomach bleeding to help you secure investments, giving Parker Group a lifeline, only to be accused of being an opportunist?” Marcus’s face was drained of all color, his eyes darting away. He instinctively stammered: “No, that’s not what I ever said, they just misunderstood, really…” I scoffed. He had countless opportunities to explain for me, yet he never once did. Ultimately, it was because he was afraid of others saying he climbed his way up by relying on a woman. Mrs. Parker couldn’t stand to see Marcus humbling himself before a woman, so she tugged at his sleeve. “What are you hesitating for? Ever since Seraphina came along, our family has been thriving. We not only secured investments, the company didn’t go under, and it’s almost going public. Now Seraphina is even carrying our precious grandchild, don’t be foolish!” Marcus closed his eyes, as if finally making up his mind. “Abby, I truly love you, that’s why I tried for five years.” “But I’ve tried. Every time I touch you, I can only find relief with Seraphina. Let’s just part ways amicably.” I slapped Marcus hard across the face. Marcus was expressionless, but his eyes were red-rimmed. His parents, seeing this, moved to rush forward, but he stopped them with a raised hand. “If this is what she wants, I accept it. It’s what I owe her.” I sneered, “You owe me much more than that!” With that, I drove them all out. As they left, they grumbled, “Using my son’s money to stay in such a nice hospital room, shameless!” Shortly after they left, a video about me suddenly went viral online. In the video, a woman with a back resembling mine was seen leaning against an ugly, fat old man. Someone recognized me as the “rumored girlfriend” of the promising young Marcus Parker and pressed him for comments. Marcus responded immediately. “Ms. Sullivan and I have never had a romantic relationship, and I regret only now seeing her true colors. As a former friend, I hope everyone won’t be too harsh on her.” “On a related note, allow me to introduce my fiancée, Seraphina Miller, who is also the mother of my child, a woman I cherish dearly in my life.” Marcus, with his dashing appearance and this pompous statement, was quickly lauded by netizens as a “top-tier good man.” And I, however, became the “shameless woman” in their comments, with the comment section full of attacks against me. Seeing this, Mrs. Parker, who usually portrayed herself as a sophisticated lady in public, personally entered the fray. “Appearances can be deceiving. My son is kind-hearted and was very tolerant of her when they were friends, but I hope everyone won’t take the unnecessary misunderstandings seriously. Please understand a mother’s feelings.” Her words implied that all past perceptions of my relationship with Marcus were due to my persistent badgering, and she made no secret of her disgust for me. I scrolled through the comments with relish as my assistant handed me a document. “Miss, I’ve collected evidence of their defamation against you, ready to file a lawsuit at any time.” “Wait a little longer.” The boarding announcement sounded, and I was about to put down my phone. Seraphina’s message suddenly popped up. “Abby, with that video out, it’ll be hard for you to get married now, won’t it? If worst comes to worst, I could ask my husband to introduce you to someone?” I replied, “You can keep the man I don’t want. As for the video, do you really think no one can tell who it is?” After sending it, I immediately blocked and deleted her number. Just before boarding, my assistant reported: “Miss, our funds have been 100% withdrawn. Parker Group’s cash flow is about to completely collapse.”

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When I was ten, I moved into the Mercer home with my mother after she remarried. My stepbrother, Ethan Mercer, always mocked me as a parasite, once even pushing me down the stairs. He watched me lie in a pool of blood with cold eyes: “Don’t think you can become a Mercer just because you follow your mistress mother. I’ll kick you out eventually.” He’d tear up my homework, draw on my dress with markers, deliberately trying to humiliate me. Even though I was obedient in every way, his malice never ceased. Until his best friend, Leo Donovan, confessed his feelings for me in college. From then on, Ethan, surprisingly, stopped tormenting me. I saw Leo as my salvation, and on my birthday, we became intimate. But the very next day, I overheard a conversation between him and Ethan. Ethan’s voice was steeped in malice: “Did you get her first time on camera?” Leo chuckled mockingly: “Of course, high-definition, uncensored. If it weren’t to get back at you, I wouldn’t touch a home-wrecker like her.” I clapped a hand over my mouth, tears streaming down my face. My supposed salvation was nothing more than Ethan’s tool for revenge. Only, he didn’t know I had submitted my application to study abroad. I was never coming back. … In the private room. Ethan took a drag from his cigarette. “Ruin her reputation. Let’s see how she clings to living in my house after that.” “What if she can’t take it and something happens…” Ethan shot him a glance, scoffing. “So worried about her? Don’t tell me you actually fell for her?” Leo quickly denied it. “No way! I was just messing around with her.” “Chloe is coming back. I don’t have time to waste on Elara.” I stood outside the door, my heart a block of ice. Chloe Harrison was their childhood sweetheart, growing up with them, and Leo’s first love. Ethan always hated me; I knew that. He believed my mother’s appearance caused his mother’s suicide, so he transferred all that hatred onto me. After I started dating Leo, Ethan still didn’t care for me, but he didn’t torment me as he used to. I thought he had finally accepted me. I thought I was finally going to have a brother and eagerly anticipated a normal relationship with him. I never expected this, a revenge far more malicious than before. He and Leo had been inseparable since childhood; how could I have deluded myself into thinking he truly liked me? I had overestimated myself. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and ran out like a madwoman. It was pouring rain outside. I was completely drenched. The moment I got home, I texted my professor, “Professor, I agree to go abroad with you for the project.” He was my mentor from an international competition, a leader in intelligent technology. I used to strive for excellence, desperately wanting my family’s approval. But no one ever cared. Not my mother, not Ethan. Because the project involved classified information, I couldn’t leave the research institute for three years, so I had refused it. Now, that no longer mattered. Perhaps it was the rain, but I curled up in a ball. Only after being startled awake by a nightmare did I realize I was burning up. Just as I was about to get up for fever medicine, my bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. Before I could speak, my mother, furious, threw a stack of photos at my face: “Elara Vance! How old are you to be sleeping with men? Are you that depraved?” Those photos were taken by Leo while I was asleep. My eyes were vacant, a profound sadness rising in my heart. Overnight, they couldn’t wait to spread the photos. Just two days ago, Leo had solemnly promised me: “I’ll take responsibility for you. We’ll get married after graduation.” He had plied me with a lot of alcohol, and under his persistent coaxing, I agreed. He pulled me into bed again and again, lost in primal desire. I was naive enough to think he truly loved me then. Seeing my silence, my mother relentlessly interrogated me: “Speak up, who took these? If anyone else sees these photos, your uncle and I will never be able to show our faces in society again!” She never cared about me, only herself. But when I said Leo’s name, my mother fell silent. She chastised me: “How could you get involved with the Donovan family’s son? We can’t afford to offend someone like him…” “Besides, you and Leo were dating normally. Even with evidence, we can’t do anything to him. Why didn’t you just say no?” I snapped my head up, my eyes wide with disbelief. She avoided my gaze: “Those photos have been taken down. Given time, no one will remember this.” The Donovans were powerful and wealthy, not someone the Mercers could easily offend. The moment the door closed, I saw Ethan standing at the top of the stairs, smiling at me, his eyes full of provocation. It was as if he had anticipated this outcome all along. The truth no longer mattered. A deep sense of powerlessness washed over me, drowning me in an instant. I crouched in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. My phone began to buzz with incessant harassment messages. They sent disgusting words that made me nauseous. My hands trembled as I blocked all those numbers. My mother said she had arranged a long leave of absence from school for me, so I didn’t have to go. I didn’t want her to know about going abroad, so I would have to return to school myself to complete the paperwork. She was always too busy for me; she probably wouldn’t even notice if I left. Even though the photos had been deleted, almost everyone around me knew what had happened. Their gazes were filled with scrutiny and mockery, accompanied by whispers. “I never would have thought, she looks so innocent usually, but behind closed doors, she’s so wild. Who knows how many men she’s slept with?” “Who knows, don’t get too close to her. She might have an STD.” A suffocating mix of shame and fear enveloped me. My heart suddenly seized up, and I barely remembered how I left school. Walking disoriented on the street, I was stopped by several men approaching me. The leader pulled out a phone displaying my intimate photos, sizing me up with a sickening gaze. “This picture is you, right? You’ve got a great body.” “Playing so wild in private, how much for a night?” “Come on, have some fun with us. I want to taste what Leo Donovan’s girlfriend is like.” My body stiffened, and I took half a step back: “What do you want?” The men exchanged lewd smiles. Ignoring my struggles, they forcibly dragged me into a dimly lit alley. They grinned menacingly, pressing down on me. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!” But my hands and feet were pinned down; I couldn’t even struggle. I could only watch helplessly as their filthy hands reached for my body. The sound of tearing fabric filled my ears. “Don’t struggle. No one’s coming to save you. If you make us happy, we might go easy on you.” I bit my lip hard, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth. Seizing the moment while they were taking off their clothes, I quickly pulled out the knife I had hidden in my bag. My hand holding the knife trembled: “Don’t come any closer, any of you…” The first time I was bullied, my mother said it was because I dressed provocatively and told me not to wear dresses anymore. But at that time, I was wearing my school uniform. If Ethan hadn’t appeared in time, I wouldn’t have known what to do. Since then, I always carried a fruit knife with me. My fear reached its peak. But they still grinned, unafraid, even trying to snatch the knife from my hand. In the struggle, the blade plunged into my chest. The leader panicked, as if afraid of causing a death, and released me. I collapsed to the ground, my clothes soaked in blood. My vision blurred. But I could hear them making a hushed phone call. “Mr. Mercer, something happened. She stabbed herself.” Ethan’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Is she dead?” Then Leo’s voice: “Ethan, you’re a real bastard. You actually hired people to ambush her.” Ethan sneered: “I just wanted to scare her. Whose fault is it if she wants to die?” “If she’s not dead, dump her at the hospital. Don’t let her know what happened today.” My heart felt like it was being violently squeezed, almost suffocating me with pain. So… he really wanted to destroy me. The words I had accidentally overheard him say flashed through my mind. “Actually, I know my mom wasn’t killed by her. But I just don’t want her to live in peace.” “My dad feels guilty towards them, but I certainly don’t.” Tears fell uncontrollably from the corners of my eyes. I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed. Leo was by my side, and when he saw me wake, he immediately leaned in, concerned. “Baby, you’re finally awake. I was so worried.” Seeing my silence, his eyes flickered: “I saw those photos. I’m so sorry. I went out, got drunk, and someone took my phone by mistake and posted them.” “Don’t worry, I’ve had them all deleted. Don’t overthink it, I don’t mind any of it.” I looked at him quietly, my heart a dead wasteland. He was clearly the culprit, yet he was playing the savior. If he hadn’t relentlessly pursued me when I was at my most vulnerable, we never would have been together. But before I could even speak, his phone rang. He responded softly to whatever was said on the other end, then turned and left, phone still in hand, without a backward glance. No sooner had he left than Ethan walked in. Seeing my disheveled state, his eyes showed disgust as he said: “Do you know why he left in such a hurry? Chloe’s back in the country, and she’s not used to the environment, so she can’t sleep. He went to comfort her until she fell asleep. He won’t be protecting you anymore, so don’t delude yourself.” At his words, my body involuntarily trembled. Chloe Harrison was their childhood sweetheart, growing up with them, and Leo’s first love. Because Ethan’s mother once said Chloe resembled her, Ethan always catered to her every whim since they were children. I cherished Ethan as a brother, always trying to be good to him, but it was never enough to outweigh a single word from Chloe. I closed my eyes, a self-deprecating smile playing on my lips. Only now did I truly see that neither Leo nor Ethan ever truly cared for me. Normally, I would have apologized to appease him. But I merely turned my head indifferently: “Understood. It won’t happen again.” Ethan paused for a moment: “Leo isn’t here. Who are you putting on this pathetic act for?” He stormed out. Due to my severe injuries, I was in the hospital for a whole week. My mother, upon learning this, only transferred the hospital fees, then left on a business trip with Uncle Mercer, never visiting me. I was alone even on the day of my discharge. I took advantage of their absence to start packing. There wasn’t much to take, really. The things I once treasured were mostly Ethan’s handouts. Now, they were unnecessary.

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When John Vaughn went bankrupt, I ran off to America with a wealthy man. When we met again, he was a titan in the business world, with a beautiful fiancée by his side. At a party, everyone heard about my past deeds and egged each other on to bid for a night with me. John, with an indifferent expression, said in a cold voice: “Gentlemen, aren’t you worried about germs? This woman’s womb probably holds the ashes of countless bastards.” As his words fell, the room erupted in laughter. Rich heirs splashed their icy drinks on me. I instinctively shielded my belly. He didn’t know that I left him that year because I had uterine cancer. 1 Seeing me shield my belly, John’s brows instinctively furrowed, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. But it was only for an instant, quickly returning to normal. I sat on the floor, disheveled, as everyone sneered: “She is carrying a bastard!” “I saw Ms. Winslow at the gynecology clinic last month!” “My friends in America also said Ms. Winslow frequently visited obstetrics and gynecology. If you gentlemen aren’t afraid of germs, feel free to continue bidding. I, Mr. Preston, am out!” “Turns out she’s that dirty! I wouldn’t take her even if she was free.” They cast disdainful glances at me. I looked at the man sitting in the center, silent, and a bitter ache rose in my heart. “I have a great idea! Who wants to see a pregnant woman strip dance?” From the booth, someone first suggested it, and everyone cheered. One of John’s friends spoke up: “Ms. Winslow, please? If you don’t dance today, I’m afraid you won’t be leaving this private room.” He was John’s best friend, and he always resented what I had done. The young gentlemen, seeing him speak, egged me on, and some even came to tear at my clothes. Just as a patch of pale flesh on my chest was about to be exposed, John’s cold, deep voice came from above: “Enough!” John’s tone carried a hint of anger, and those men immediately let go of me. “Get her out!” The club manager immediately offered John a placating smile, then dragged me out. After chemotherapy, my once thick long hair had become sparse. Being dragged like that hurt, and I couldn’t help but cry out in pain. John’s fingertips, gripping his wine glass, turned white, but he closed his eyes, refusing to look at me. As I cleaned the wine stains in the restroom, footsteps sounded behind me. Turning around, I saw a bright and charming woman with John. I heard she was the one who helped John rise from the ashes, becoming a formidable force in the business world. “Ms. Winslow, what a coincidence. It seems our John and Ms. Winslow truly have a destined connection. He just said he needed to come to the restroom to fix his tie, and here we run into you.” John’s expression remained unchanged, but he affectionately stroked the back of the woman’s hand, saying softly: “Thank you, my fiancée.” He deliberately emphasized those three words. The woman giggled as she straightened his tie. Just then, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and I instinctively braced myself against the wall. His right fist clenched, veins bulging, but he deliberately looked away as if trying to restrain something. After a long moment, he looked back at me, a mocking smirk playing on his lips: “Elara Vaughn, when you left me for money, did you ever imagine a day like this?” I looked up, meeting his eyes, my thoughts swirling. John and I spent five years building everything from scratch. Those five years were tough, but supporting each other, we were also very happy. The change happened three years ago. John suddenly went bankrupt, and his mother was diagnosed with lung disease, needing a lung transplant. We borrowed from everyone we knew, tried every possible method, and barely managed to scrape together the medical fees. But misfortunes never come alone. Around the same time, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Treatment would be another huge expense. At that moment, John was overwhelmed with his mother’s situation. Unwilling to burden him further, I didn’t tell him. I knew that between his mother and me, only one could be saved. His mother was incredibly kind to me, watching us grow together every step of the way. She would definitely choose to sacrifice herself to save me. And no matter who we saved, John would spend the rest of his life in regret. At that time, an American tycoon took an interest in me, promising that if I went with him, he would take me back to America for the best treatment. I agreed without a second thought. But things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. My uterine cancer, despite three years of treatment, had worsened. Now, I only had a few months left. The doctor said that with aggressive treatment, I could extend my life by two more years. I hesitated. I knew deeply that if I agreed, I might never see John again in this lifetime. Either way, I was going to die. Compared to death, I feared regret more. So, I gave up the last treatment and hurriedly returned to the country. But I never expected he would already have someone new by his side. 2 “I did.” Of course, I had thought about it. Every time I underwent chemotherapy, I imagined him returning to his peak. John scoffed and asked me: “Do you regret it then?” I shook my head. John’s expression instantly turned incredibly dark. “Do you love money that much?” A metallic taste filled my throat, but I forced myself to say: “Yes, money solves a lot of problems, doesn’t it?” I tilted my head up and saw a red mark on his neck, feeling a little disoriented. There, once etched with my initials, it had now been completely removed by laser, leaving a deep scar. The woman beside him, after straightening his tie, provocatively kissed his neck. I suddenly felt that I shouldn’t have come back. He put his arm around the woman’s waist, looking down at me from above, his gaze shifting to my lower abdomen. “Whose child is it? The American’s?” His tone suddenly deepened, suppressing a surge of anger. I said faintly: “That’s none of your business.” However, no sooner had the words left my mouth than a wave of discomfort washed over me. I pushed him away and rushed to the sink, vomiting. His face tightened, a flicker of worry in his eyes, as he moved to help me. But the woman beside him spoke up: “Ms. Winslow, you don’t need to worry, these are all normal reactions during pregnancy.” That one sentence seemed to remind John that the child in my belly was someone else’s. He immediately froze, and his gaze towards me grew even colder. The woman walked forward with concern, stroking my back, then said as if casually: “Ms. Winslow, where’s your husband? He lets you work at a club while you’re pregnant…” The atmosphere instantly fell silent. The woman continued: “I really envy you. Unlike John, he won’t let me do anything after we got together, saying he cares about me.” John dotingly ruffled her nose, his tone playfully: “You, you, you talk as if I’ve mistreated you.” The woman pouted playfully: “You won’t let me do this, won’t let me do that! What I’m saying is just the truth!” The two chuckled and walked away, leaving me disheveled in the same spot. I suddenly remembered that during those five years, John treated me the same way. He always took on all the chores and work by himself because he cared for me, sometimes staying up until two or three in the morning at his computer, coding and checking ledgers. John hasn’t changed at all. He’s still so good at loving, just not loving me. 3 That evening, the manager told me that a lady had taken a liking to me and wanted to hire me as her assistant. I probably guessed who it was, so when I saw John, I wasn’t surprised. “Who let you in?” One second John was gently pinching Maya Sterling’s cheek with a smile, the next, his gaze towards me turned utterly cold. I lowered my head, adopting a submissive posture: “Ms. Sterling asked me to come.” John seemed surprised. “Maya?” He looked at Maya Sterling, who gave a bright smile and wrapped her arms around John’s arm, coquettishly: “Oh, John, look at you, you’ve scared Ms. Winslow! Yes, I asked her to come. I saw Ms. Winslow is pregnant, and working at the club long-term isn’t a solution. I just happen to need an assistant. So…” John’s expression immediately softened at her words: “My little angel is always so kind, even to a woman like this.” Maya Sterling suddenly seemed to remember something, her face changing color as she apologized to John: “I’m sorry, John. I was thoughtless. After all, she hurt you before, and I brought her along…” John stroked her head with a hint of helplessness: “You don’t need to apologize to me. The past is the past. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have met you. In fact, I should thank her.” John embraced her as if she were a precious treasure. Maya Sterling’s delicate nails intimately traced his arm, displaying a triumphant smile as if asserting dominance, her mockery undisguised. I watched the dazzling scene, silently retreating from the room. Hearing the door close, John’s body stiffened, and he suddenly let go of Maya Sterling. “John, what’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “Aren’t you going to change your shoes? Call Elara Vaughn in.” Maya Sterling looked surprised: “Isn’t that a bit much?” John’s cold brows arched sharply: “What’s wrong with it? It’s her job.” I was called in to help Maya Sterling change her clothes and shoes. John waited outside the door. As he brushed past me, he gave me a complex glance. I pretended not to see it and walked straight into the room. As soon as John left, Maya Sterling mercilessly stepped on the back of my hand, saying viciously: “How dare these hands ever touch him!” Her ten-centimeter high heel dug a deep indentation into the back of my hand, and blood began to flow. Just as I was about to cry out in pain, she clapped a hand over my mouth and delivered a heavy kick to my lower abdomen. I fell to the floor. Outside the door, John heard the commotion and asked anxiously: “Maya! What happened in there?” Maya Sterling pulled out an X-Acto knife, slashed fiercely at her arm, and cried out in pain. John burst through the door with almost no hesitation, but his eyes instinctively darted towards me. When he saw the blood pooling on the floor, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He was about to reach out to help me up when Maya Sterling burst into tears: “Ms. Winslow, we have no quarrel, why are you doing this to me?” John’s body stiffened. He glanced at the X-Acto knife by my hand, his eyes filled with disappointment. He then picked up Maya Sterling in his arms, saying nervously: “Call a doctor immediately!” Without John’s permission, no doctor dared to treat my wounds. I endured the searing pain and said: “John… help me…” At that address, he visibly froze, his pupils suddenly widening, but quickly returning to calm. “You have no right to call me John.” “And no right to ask for help.” I tugged at his cold coat sleeve, weakly saying: “John… believe me, I didn’t hurt her…” His brow furrowed slightly, and he forcefully shook off my hand. “I saw it with my own eyes! And you still try to argue! You’re as disgusting as you were three years ago!” Due to the sudden movement, my wound was pulled, and the bleeding worsened. Coupled with the sharp pain in my lower abdomen, tears flowed uncontrollably. He paused, but then seeing me clutching my belly, he suddenly became clear-headed. “Ms. Winslow should be careful. If you keep acting like this, the bastard in your belly might not make it.” With that, he left, carrying Maya Sterling.

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Over the New Year, I went to a class reunion with Anna Sinclair. After a few rounds of drinks, everyone suggested playing truth or dare. Anna was the first to draw a truth. “What’s your biggest regret in a relationship?” She spoke openly, her eyes constantly darting towards her first love, Adrian Miller, who was sitting nearby: “Not ending up with the person I loved most. Instead, I settled for a backup and married him, just to get by.” The room erupted in whispers. Everyone expected me to storm out, but I simply smiled and signaled for the game to continue. When it was my turn, the question became: “Is there anything you’re hiding from your partner in your relationship?” “Yes.” “What is it?” “I’ve been raising a seven-year-old son on the side.” … The private room fell into a dead silence. A heavily intoxicated Anna instantly sobered up considerably, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at me. The class president quickly tried to smooth things over: “Eddy, you must be drunk. You can’t just blurt things out like that!” “Yeah, Anna’s words were just a joke. You can’t be so upset that you make this kind of joke. It’ll hurt feelings!” A classmate beside me laughed and patted my shoulder, trying their best to lighten the mood with a jocular tone. I raised my glass, drained it, and slowly leaned back in my chair: “I wasn’t joking.” “Seven years of marriage, and Anna still calls his name, Adrian Miller, every time she’s drunk. Calls his name when we’re intimate. Even the little chicks in her farm game are named ‘Adrian Honey’.” “We’ve been sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams for so many years. Is it really too much for me to raise a son outside?” The amount of bombshells I dropped stunned everyone. Adrian and Anna exchanged glances, their faces incredibly dark. But Anna had always been obsessed with her image since childhood; she wouldn’t let me expose her embarrassing secrets. She slammed her hand on the table: “Eddy Vance, if you’re drunk, go home. Stop making a drunken scene here!” “I was just talking about my regrets. Even if you’re jealous, you don’t have to retaliate like this!” Jealous? I’ve had enough of being jealous these past seven years! Since she’s still hung up on Adrian, then I’ll make sure those two dogs get what they want! I stared at Anna’s captivating face, and the more I looked, the more disgusted I felt. “I’m retaliating against you? Which one of my words wasn’t true?” “Your favoritism towards Adrian goes beyond what I’ve said. Do you dare make everything public?!” My aggressiveness made the atmosphere in the room tense again. Adrian, seeing the situation escalate, immediately approached with a glass of wine to try and calm me: “Eddy, we’re all old classmates. This reunion is just to reminisce. Why are you getting so angry?” “Besides, Anna and I are long past. I’ve been abroad for years. Anna just wanted to cheer me up this time.” “I’ll toast you as an apology. Don’t let me affect your relationship.” He extended the glass to me, but I shoved it away. Anna sprang to her feet. She wiped her face, splattered with wine, her eyes practically spitting fire. “You say I’m still hung up on Adrian. Yes, I admit it!” “But what kind of saint are you? Haven’t you also been cheating on me, even having a child?!” “You say I don’t dare make my past with Adrian public. Fine, then let’s turn this truth or dare into a full-blown confession game!” “Whoever gets triggered and leaves the table forfeits all assets in the divorce. Do you dare?” A curve played on my lips, and I replied calmly: “Gladly.” Even though I already knew Anna and Adrian had a lingering connection, and even though I had decided to divorce her after the New Year. I still wanted to hear her say those facts herself. For no other reason than to bring closure to my love of these past seven years. This confession game, with a wager, I was playing to the end tonight. The game continued. Anna was unapologetic, immediately dropping a bombshell: “The night I said yes to your proposal, Adrian and I went to a hotel.” She paused, then added: “We did it all night, no protection.” As her words landed with a thud, the air instantly solidified. Everyone was silent, only casting sympathetic glances my way. “Anna, isn’t that a bit too much?” “Dropping such a bomb right at the start, can Eddy handle it?” Adrian tugged Anna’s sleeve, feigning persuasion, but his tone held an unconcealed triumph. Anna waved him off dismissively. “What’s this?” “Starting with a big one is just to prepare him mentally, so his heart doesn’t give out after a couple of rounds.” I smiled faintly, my heart completely calm. “I already knew.” “Because seven years ago, when you and he were in bed, I was in the room next door.” “With another woman.” That night I proposed, I received a call from Adrian’s girlfriend, Mia. She and I stood pressed against the wall, listening to them for an entire night. Mia wanted to burst in and catch them countless times that night, but I stopped her every single time. Because I loved Anna desperately. I just assumed it was their farewell hookup, hoping that after this, they would completely cut ties. But as it turned out, these seven years were nothing but my wishful thinking. “Eddy Vance, do you think that’s enough to make me angry?” Anna scoffed, looking at me with some disdain. “Do you know I got pregnant after that night?” “And I even gave birth to the child.” At these words, the room erupted. The classmates’ scalps tingled from bomb after bomb, and they couldn’t help but whisper: “Holy crap, this isn’t a confession game, this is a battlefield.” “Eddy Vance is so pathetic. Seven years of marriage and only now finding out his wife cheated with her first love and even had a child with him.” “Pfft, what’s pathetic? He knew seven years ago and still hasn’t broken up. Isn’t he just a pure cuckold?” “Exactly, didn’t he also cheat and have a child? I can only say these two are equally bad, neither of them are good people!” I ignored their chatter, simply pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. As I exhaled a puff of smoke, I slowly said: “I knew that too.” “Your pregnancy test report was hidden in the overcoat he gave you, from Seaside General Hospital. You went three times.” Anna and Adrian’s faces visibly darkened. She had expected me to completely collapse once she revealed this. I might have yelled, or made a scene, or even flipped the table and left. But she hadn’t expected me to deny her the satisfaction of seeing me break down. Seeing her silence, I twisted the knife further: “But there’s one question I’ve always wanted to ask you.” “Where is that child now?” Anna was speechless for a moment, then raised her voice: “What’s it to you? It’s not your child. What right do you have to ask me?” Of course, I knew Anna wouldn’t say. Or rather, I knew she dared not say. When she got pregnant, fearing I would find out, she made up an excuse about the company sending her on an overseas training assignment. Because of that, I postponed our wedding by a whole year. And after we got married, I didn’t even find a single trace on her of having given birth. If I hadn’t found the pregnancy test report while tidying clothes later, I would probably have been kept in the dark all along. Thinking of this, I stubbed out my cigarette and sneered: “I really don’t have the right.” “I’m just worried you might have secretly gotten rid of the child so I wouldn’t find out.” “After all, that’s a life. If it were lost…” “Eddy Vance, are you ever going to stop?!” Anna’s face flushed red, and the anger in her eyes surged. “Are you deliberately bringing up all this past stuff at a class reunion just to humiliate me?” “Since you’re determined to pick a fight with me, why don’t we raise the stakes even higher!” “Truth is boring. Dare, do you dare?!” I crossed my legs, resting my chin in my hand, and looked at her playfully: “No problem. Whatever you want to do today, I’m with you all the way.” She stopped talking nonsense and immediately signaled the class president to pick an item. The class president, unable to refuse her, reached his hand into the lottery box. Soon, a slip of paper was spread on the table: [French kiss the person you love most for three minutes.] Anna let out a soft laugh, then settled onto Adrian’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Eddy Vance, I truly didn’t expect you to tolerate me for so long, knowing I cheated.” “Since you enjoy being a cuckold so much, how about I put on a show right in front of you? What do you think?” As her words fell, the class president quickly stood up to dissuade her: “Anna, that’s enough. It’s a class reunion, at least spare Eddy some dignity.” The other classmates also chimed in, one after another trying to stop Anna: “Yes, the class president is right. Eddy might have gone a bit too far, but you can’t do this in front of him. It’s a huge slap in the face!” “Anna, listen to us for a second. Leave some room for maneuver. After all, you and Eddy are a couple. You still have to live together, right?” But Anna wouldn’t listen to a word, instead sharply retorting: “Leave some room?” “Get it straight, Eddy Vance cheated too! He even has a seven-year-old son. Neither of us is any cleaner than the other!” “Live with him? Ha!” With that, she directly kissed Adrian’s lips. The two of them kissed and tangled beside me, their eyes fixed on me, anticipating my outburst. But I remained calmly seated, not even raising an eyelid. I knew Anna too well. She was inherently vengeful. I had publicly exposed her infidelity, making her lose face in front of so many people, so there was no way she would just let it go. Moreover, in her eyes, I was just a cheating scumbag. Since neither of us was any cleaner than the other, she naturally had no fear. Three minutes later, the two reluctantly broke their kiss. Anna gently wiped the lipstick from Adrian’s lips, her eyes full of provocation as she looked at me. “How about that? Did that get a rise out of you?” “If you can’t handle it, you can leave. But the property in this house will all be mine.” I smiled, and gestured for the game to continue. The class president pondered for a few seconds, then reached his hand into the lottery box again: [Your dare is designated by the first person of the opposite sex next to you.] And the first person of the opposite sex next to me was Anna. She smirked at me mischievously and announced my dare: “Bring the son you’re raising on the side, and let me see him!” I froze for a few seconds, then gently shook my head. “Not that one. Change it.” But Anna had no intention of letting me off the hook, relentlessly pressing me. “I won’t change it. I want you to do this dare. What, can’t handle it?” “Let me remind you, if you can’t handle it and leave, you’ll walk away with nothing.” I still stuck to my decision, stubbornly refusing her: “Our business has nothing to do with this child. I swore that until he’s an adult, I wouldn’t bring him out.” The situation reached an impasse. Just then, Adrian suddenly stood up and patted my shoulder: “Eddy, don’t be so petty when you’re out having fun. Just bring the child out for us to meet.” “Anna won’t take out her anger on the child just because you cheated. Maybe Anna will even like him after she meets him, and you can openly bring him home to raise. After all, she can no longer bear children…” At this, he suddenly stopped. I turned my head and glanced at him coldly. “Go on, why did you stop talking?” “Afraid everyone will know Anna can’t have children, making her lose face?” Anna’s child was born prematurely, and coupled with postpartum hemorrhage, she completely lost her fertility. That’s why after seven years of marriage, we still haven’t had a child of our own. All of this was thanks to Adrian and their absurd farewell hookup. Seeing her deepest secret exposed by me once again, Anna could no longer suppress her inner rage. “Eddy Vance, if you can’t handle it, you can leave. There’s no need to use these things to provoke me!” I looked at the familiar yet strange face before me and nodded calmly. “If you’re triggered, you can choose to leave.” Anna froze for a moment, then doubled over with laughter. “Me triggered?” “I’d be triggered by such trivial rubbish? Yes, I slept with Adrian and became infertile. I admit it, alright?!” To be honest, I really couldn’t stand it anymore. Anna’s indifferent attitude truly made me want to vomit. She was clearly the one who cheated first and was in the wrong, but the way she put it, it made me seem like the one being overly aggressive. Seeing the situation escalating, Adrian quickly grabbed my arm and tried to persuade me. “Eddy, there’s no need to make a big deal out of a small matter.” “A good woman like Anna is hard to find.” “Do me a favor. Don’t hold Anna’s past mistakes against her. A man should be magnanimous, don’t you agree?” I turned my head and gave him a faint smile: “Be magnanimous, forgive her for cheating, forgive her for having a child with you, forgive her for still being hung up on you? Is that it?” He smiled and nodded: “Exactly. What’s wrong with that? If a man wants to have a smooth life, he’s got to tolerate some things. Apologize to Anna, and this whole thing will…” I raised my hand and punched him, then showed him the wedding ring on my ring finger. “You, a homewrecker, what right or standing do you have to tell me what to do?” “Remember, I’m not divorced from her yet. Our family matters are none of a homewrecker’s business.” The private room was eerily silent. Everyone was stunned by my sudden outburst. The next second, a crisp slap landed on my face. “Apologize to Adrian.” “If you’re triggered, you can leave, but you can’t lash out violently.” “If you don’t apologize today, I’ll hire the best lawyer to sue you for marital infidelity, and you’ll still leave with nothing.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I loved this woman for seven years, endured her infidelity for seven years. In the end, she never once thought of apologizing to me. Instead, she was fixated on making me leave with nothing. I had intended to preserve some dignity for both of us, but she and Adrian kept pushing me. Since she wouldn’t let me part ways amicably, I had no choice but to blow everything up. “You say I cheated. Do you have proof?” She sneered twice, then pointed to everyone present. “You yourself admitted you have a seven-year-old son. Everyone heard it.” “What, trying to deny it now? Too late!” As her words fell, the classmates nodded in unison. “Eddy, I know you’re angry, but Anna’s infidelity after marriage is at most emotional. You, however, definitely cheated physically. The fault lies with you.” “Yeah, Eddy, quickly apologize to Anna. Don’t let a reunion game ruin a good marriage.” I ignored them and dialed my driver. “Bring little Oscar to my private room.” With that, I looked up and met everyone’s gaze. “You all seem to have forgotten one thing.” “I merely said I have a son, but I never said this child is biologically mine.” “Since you all believe I’m the one at fault for cheating, then today, I will reveal all the long-hidden secrets!”

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My sister, Lily, had gone to Silverton to meet her online boyfriend. After a week of whirlwind romance, the guy told her he preferred slender girls. He demanded she slim down to 70 pounds before contacting him again. I was furious. “Why didn’t he say that when you met? You’re 5’5” and 120 pounds, that’s a perfectly healthy weight! How could you possibly drop to 70 pounds? He’s just playing with you!” Lily nodded, agreeing with me, and soon started a new relationship. That was until she scrolled through her social media feed and saw his wedding photos. She completely lost it. She pressed a pillow over my face, suffocating me. “Christopher’s bride is only a tiny bit thinner than me! I could have been with him if I’d just lost a little weight, but you said it was impossible! You did it on purpose! You’re just jealous I found true love!” I gasped for air, and then I woke up. I was back on the day Lily returned from Silverton. My face remained calm. “What’s wrong with getting down to 70 pounds? Even 50 pounds isn’t impossible! True love is hard to find; any sacrifice is worth it!” In this life, I wholeheartedly supported her pursuit of true love. But this time, she was the one who regretted it bitterly. … “Big sis, you don’t know, Christopher is incredibly athletic! And so handsome!” Lily gushed, her eyes wide with adoration. “He’s 6’1”, with exquisite features, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist! The second son of Apex Corporation, rich and good-looking – I love him so much!” “But when we parted, he said he liked slender beauties and told me to get down to 70 pounds before I went back to him. What should I do?” Lily blurted out the entire story of her meeting her online boyfriend and the problem she faced, exactly as it had happened in my previous life. I sniffed, the lingering sensation of suffocation from the pillow still fresh in my memory. I thought back to before, when I’d painstakingly explained to her that 70 pounds at her height meant a BMI of 12.55 kg/m ², far below the healthy range. I’d even listed several fatal cases of anorexia, telling her Christopher was a liar and that his demand for her to lose weight was just an excuse to make her leave him. She’d listened. With her pretty face, she’d quickly found a decent boyfriend. But when she’d seen Christopher’s wedding photos and realized his bride was only slightly thinner than her, she’d been consumed by resentment. She’d blamed me for everything, saying I couldn’t stand to see her happy, that I was jealous she’d found true love. Seeing her distressed expression, a peculiar smile touched my lips. My gaze was firm as I said, “A socialite like Christopher, his wife will often be in the spotlight. Look at any famous actress; they’re all incredibly thin. Supermodel Kate Moss is practically skeletal, but she’s considered high fashion, isn’t she?” “As long as you have the determination, what’s wrong with 70 pounds? Even 50 pounds isn’t impossible!” Lily’s eyes lit up with wild joy. “Big sis, you think so too? I thought the same thing! For true love, what’s a little suffering?” To show my support, I immediately found an extremely strict “Celebrity Fasting Schedule” online. I analyzed it with a serious air, “You have a tendency to gain weight, so if you want to lose 50 pounds in a month, you have to be ruthless with yourself. From now on, you’ll follow this fasting plan.” Lily looked at the diet, which consisted almost entirely of water. First, she expressed concern, then nodded in resolute agreement, as if she could already see herself in a wedding dress. In two weeks, Lily had tormented herself into losing twenty pounds. Her once round cheeks began to hollow, her cheekbones protruded, and dark circles hung heavily under her eyes. Clumps of hair clogged the bathroom drain. Her prolonged low-carb diet had led to ketosis, filling the house with the smell of rotten apples. Watching Lily hold a cup with a few floating vegetable leaves for breakfast, our mom finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Lily, are you losing weight too quickly?” she asked, frowning, her eyes scanning Lily’s pale face. “Your complexion is so sallow; don’t ruin your health.” Lily was about to flare up, but I interjected, my tone confident and professional. “Mom, you don’t understand. This is called the fat-burning reaction.” I spoke nonsense with a straight face. “These are all toxins being metabolized. Once this phase passes, she’ll be completely transformed. Look at those actresses, which one hasn’t gone through this ‘ascension’ to become a goddess?” Upon hearing “ascension,” Lily’s dull eyes instantly brightened. She rushed into the bathroom, lifted her top, and started snapping photos of herself in the mirror. It had to be said, though her complexion was poor and her skin a little saggy from the weight loss, she did have an “A4 waist.” Her features looked more defined with the filter. Less than two minutes later, she burst out, phone in hand, a radiant smile on her face. “Big sis! Christopher saw my photos and said I look beautiful!” She shot a triumphant glance at Mom, then tilted her head back and gulped down the unpleasant vegetable juice. “Mom, did you hear that? Christopher likes me like this!” “But Lily, you shouldn’t bother Christopher too often. You agreed to only see him when you reached 70 pounds. Those wealthy bachelors don’t have much patience!” Lily quickly nodded. “I’ll surprise him when I get to 70 pounds.” Dad hadn’t said a word throughout the meal, but after, he quietly asked me, “Is that Christopher really a rich kid?” I looked at him as if he were slow. “You know ‘Apex Corporation,’ right? It’s his family’s company. The name is a combination of his and his brother’s names.” Dad said “Oh” with satisfaction, a proud smile on his face. A few days later, Lily’s beauty journey hit a snag. Her weight stalled at 90 pounds, completely unchanged for three whole days. She raged in her room, slamming the electronic scale. “Why isn’t it dropping? Why?!” Mom frantically swatted the apple out of my hand. “Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Your sister is like that, and you can’t even help her think of a solution. What kind of big sister are you?” I gripped my finger, which had been nicked by the paring knife, blood dripping between my fingers. Mom ignored it. Ever since I was little, Mom and Dad had always emotionally blackmailed me by saying I was the older sister and had to act like one. Their idea of acting like an older sister was that I should suffer on Lily’s behalf, and she should get to enjoy all the good things. I retorted coldly, “What do you want me to do? Lose weight for her? Or convince her to give up?” Mom got even more agitated. “What nonsense are you talking about? How could she give up? Do you not want her to have a good life?” “If I could lose weight for her, wouldn’t you have made me do it a long time ago?” Mom was speechless. When we were in school, Mom would tell me Lily’s chore schedule in advance and make me do her cleaning. When Lily bullied classmates, Dad would drag me out and slap me in front of the bullied student’s parents, saying I’d instigated it. Dad saw the blood on the floor and impatiently asked what was going on. Mom quickly explained Lily’s stalled weight to him in detail, stating she was very anxious, and I was indifferent and even tried to make Lily give up. Now it was Dad’s turn to seriously criticize me. “Iris, how can you be like this? Your sister’s matter is huge. You should be helping to find a solution, not dragging your feet! Lily has the natural qualifications to marry into a prominent family; you can’t be jealous of that…” No wonder in my previous life, after Lily smothered me, Mom and Dad conspired to quietly bury me. They told everyone I was a disgrace and had run off with a married man. It turned out he also thought I was jealous of Lily’s beauty. Any lingering guilt I had vanished completely. I walked into Lily’s bedroom. “I heard that before Victoria’s Secret models walk the runway, they use special methods to achieve extreme figures. Things like ‘fairy tubes’ or powerful laxatives, where they eat, throw up, and get thin, not absorbing any calories.” Lily abruptly turned her head, staring at me intently. “Quick! Buy them for me! Buy them now!” I immediately placed an order for expedited delivery. When it arrived, I deliberately opened it in front of Mom. The transparent plastic tubes made my scalp prickle. “What is this stuff?” Mom asked suspiciously. “Imported dietary fiber tubes, they’re expensive, thousands of dollars a set,” I lied without batting an eyelid. “They’re for regulating Lily’s digestion, it’s all the rage in rich circles.” Mom’s mouth immediately closed when she heard the price, and she even cautiously touched them a couple of times. Late at night, heart-wrenching retching sounds came from the bathroom, sending chills down my spine. Mom knocked on the bathroom door, but got no response. She crept to my bedroom door and whispered, “What’s wrong with Lily? That sound makes my heart pound!” I rolled over, lazily responding, “Nothing, she’s practicing singing. She wants to surprise Christopher by singing ‘Love You Till Death.’ Don’t disturb her.” Mom mumbled something about “that child really working hard” and returned to her bedroom. I lay in the dark, listening to her dry heaves, a smirk on my face. To be a wealthy socialite, she was indeed working hard. Finally, Lily reached 70 pounds. Dad was ecstatic. He hosted a celebration party for Lily at home, inviting all our aunts and uncles. Also present was Mr. Harrison, a limping shrimp farmer from our hometown. Dad quietly told me, “Mr. Harrison is very wealthy. He just has a slight limp in his right foot. What does a limp matter? As long as he has money, right? You’re not like your sister, you don’t have the luxury to pick and choose! You just need a comfortable life!” I scoffed, a laugh escaping me. In Dad’s eyes, even marrying a limping man was me aiming high! “What if I don’t agree?” “Don’t make trouble! It’s good enough that he’s willing!” I was in the middle of confronting Dad when Lily emerged from her bedroom, wearing elegant makeup. The chatter among our relatives instantly ceased. Aunt Mae’s eyes widened, and she forgot to crack the melon seeds in her hand. Aunt Carol covered her mouth, nearly gasping aloud. Lily thought everyone was stunned by her beauty, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. Aunt Mae opened her mouth, then saw Mom and Dad’s triumphant faces and ultimately said nothing. Dad began to boast. “My Lily’s boyfriend comes from a prominent family in Silverton. The bar for marrying into such a family is high; the weight standard is strictly that of a supermodel. Fortunately, our girl is dedicated. After three months of rigorous figure management, she finally met the standard and will be getting married soon.” “Lily’s wedding is set. Now, what worries me most is our elder daughter.” Dad’s topic shifted, his gaze falling on me and Mr. Harrison. “Though Iris’s figure and looks are not as good as her sister’s, she’s been independent and strong-willed since childhood, perfect for settling down.” This was the first time in two lives Dad had ever complimented me, but it felt worse than being scolded. What did he mean, independent since childhood? It was because ever since Lily was born, I became the older sister and had to act like one. I had to do my own things, and I had to do my sister’s things for her. Mr. Harrison quickly chimed in. “Uncle, don’t say that. Iris is a good girl; it would be my blessing if things worked out.” I shot him a disgusted look. My cousin had told me that Mr. Harrison had a strange personality, hadn’t found a partner in his thirties, and might even be gay. He was also a heavy gambler, and his limp was supposedly from being beaten after losing too much and failing to pay up. Our relatives watched, eager for drama. I would never agree to this. “Hey! She and Lily are incomparable…” “Let’s exchange contact info. We should keep in touch.” Mr. Harrison interrupted Dad, holding out a QR code to me. Given that he’d stopped Dad, I scanned the code, saved him as “Limping Comrade,” and then ignored him completely. The entire dinner was filled with Mom and Dad’s bragging, as if Lily had already become the wealthiest person in the city. The day we left for Silverton, Lily specifically chose a tight, strappy red dress. It drew curious glances from everyone we passed. Lily put on her sunglasses, chin held high, and looked at my slightly plump figure with disdain. “I’m turning heads everywhere; being thin truly is the ultimate.” I nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yes, beauty lies in the bones!” Lily was overjoyed to hear this. Once we reached Silverton, she headed straight for the five-star hotel Christopher always booked. She wanted to surprise him. The elevator doors opened, and she bumped right into Christopher, who was on his way out. Lily excitedly threw her arms open and lunged at him. “Darling! I’m 70 pounds!” Christopher stiffened, a flicker of disgust passing through his eyes. “Li… Lily?” he stammered. “You… you’re amazing, I’m stunned. But there’s an urgent company matter, I have to go abroad for a month! Leaving immediately! Otherwise, I’ll miss my flight! Wait for me to come back!” As the elevator doors closed, I saw the look of sheer relief on his face. Lily turned abruptly, a little dazed. I thought she’d understood, but her reaction was: “Big sis, was he touched by me?” “He looked at me with such shock just now. He must not have expected me to be so hard on myself for him, right? But why didn’t he take me with him?” I curled my lips. “Yes, why indeed?” “Perhaps he still thinks 70 pounds is a bit too much? After all, those supermodels are all skin and bones!” Lily mused. I silently agreed. “If he still thinks it’s not enough, then I’ll keep losing weight. I’ll go down to 52 pounds, which means ‘I love you’! I want to be his cherished bride! I’ll let him see an even more perfect me in a month!” “Mom and Dad won’t agree,” I reminded her promptly. She immediately called Mom and Dad, saying Christopher had agreed to marry her and she needed to stay in Silverton to prepare for the wedding. She also asked them to transfer ten thousand dollars for her wedding preparations. Less than ten minutes later, twenty thousand dollars was directly deposited. Any lingering tenderness in my heart completely vanished. Mom had chased me for three days to pay back the twenty-eight dollars for an air conditioner cover she’d bought me. Lily merely opened her mouth, and they poured everything they had into her. Was I even their real daughter? Lily rented an apartment in Silverton and began her “ascension” journey. Every day, she survived only on vitamin supplements. Occasionally, she’d call me to complain. “Big sis, I’m so hungry, my heart is racing…” I would encourage her. “Hold on, you’ll soon have an ‘ultimately slender’ soul.” And she would reignite her confidence. Mom and Dad worried that Lily’s wedding preparations might not be lavish enough for a wealthy family, fearing she’d suffer after marriage. They demanded Mr. Harrison front fifty thousand dollars to help Lily with her wedding expenses. They also hoped I’d understand that the Davies were a prominent family, and Mr. Harrison’s family couldn’t compare! I just wanted to curse. Fortunately, Mr. Harrison could distinguish right from wrong. He told me that the first time he came to my house, he already knew my family status. He was on my side and told me to let him know if I needed any help. I asked him to pretend to be my boyfriend to appease Mom and Dad, but not to give them any money, and he played his part perfectly. Soon, Lily’s weight settled at 52 pounds. She happily video-called me. In the video, she was wearing a princess dress, twirling in front of a mirror. Her cheekbones were prominent, her eye sockets deeply sunken, and her limbs were so thin you could count every bone, like a living skeleton. “Big sis, how do I look?” “So beautiful! Lily, you have amazing willpower! Long live love!” I cheered for her. She told me she had custom-ordered a wedding dress and booked the largest commercial square screen below Christopher’s company building, preparing to officially propose to Christopher. I said I would come to her proposal ceremony to witness her shining moment! “You can come, but don’t be jealous, okay?” Lily teased me over the phone, her voice brimming with pride. I teased back, “Not jealous, just full of hate!” She thought I was joking, but I was telling the truth. Silverton’s most bustling commercial square was teeming with people. Suddenly, the advertisements on the large screen transformed into a declaration of love. “Christopher, I love you! I want to be your cherished bride!” Colorful heart shapes filled the screen, incredibly romantic! Lily stood in the center of the square, dressed in her wedding gown, waving to the onlookers. A chorus of screams erupted from the crowd. Cell phone cameras furiously filmed her. Lily’s face was beaming with pride as she held the microphone and loudly declared her love. “Christopher! Look! I’ve become the slender girl you like most! Thinner than any celebrity! This is the strength your love gave me! I went from 120 pounds to 52 pounds, enduring a lot of hardship, but for you, it’s all worth it!” The scene erupted. Christopher didn’t appear. Lily called out again, “Christopher! I know you’re watching! Come out now! I’m waiting for you to take me home…” Thunderous applause filled the square. Still, Christopher didn’t appear. After a few awkward minutes, a handsome man walked up to Lily. He handed her a letter. Lily took the letter and excitedly showed it off to the crowd. “Christopher wrote it, he’s quite romantic! I’ll share it with everyone!” She eagerly tore open the envelope. The moment she unfolded the letter, her face instantly turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground. She stared intently at the words on the letter, unable to utter a sound. The onlookers, always eager for a show, started to jeer. “Read it out! Is it a proposal vow from the wealthy heir?” “Don’t be shy, beautiful, let us share in your joy!” Someone held up their phone, live-streaming. “Folks, this is the ruthless person who lost 52 pounds for love! Look at how touched she is!” Lily sat on the ground, completely distraught. She suddenly lunged to stuff the letter into her mouth. I quickly stepped forward to “help” her. I gently but firmly pulled the crumpled letter from her hand. “I’m her sister; I’ll read it for her.” Lily rose, trying to snatch it back, but I sidestepped. “Lily, I’ve never liked you. Asking you to lose to 70 pounds was purely to make you back off. I can’t believe you actually did it!” I declared indignantly, shouting to the crowd, “What a scumbag!” I continued reading. “When I saw you at 70 pounds, I was already scared. And now 52 pounds! You’re completely insane! The first time I didn’t reject you wasn’t because I liked you. When something’s offered, well, you know how men are. I didn’t want to say anything too harsh, but I was afraid you’d be misguided. Go home, stop this nonsense. We can still be friends!” After reading, I adopted a protective sister stance and demanded that everyone help my sister get justice. Christopher probably thought Lily would save face, quietly take the letter, and leave. But I definitely intended to fan the flames. “Holy crap, this guy is such a jerk, but this girl is also a freak.” “I knew it, who would like a skeleton like that? Turns out she was just played.” The live stream comments exploded, filling the screen with “Clown,” “Serves her right,” and “LOL.” Lily lay on the ground, sobbing. Her proud love, the figure she’d fought so hard for, had now become a complete joke. “No… this isn’t real…” I helped her up, wiping her tears. “Wake up, he’s a liar!” The onlookers also started to chime in. “Yes, girl, a man like that isn’t worth ruining yourself over.” “Don’t be so vain!” Lily’s public humiliation was utterly boundless. She suddenly rolled her eyes and fainted. After being rushed to the hospital, the doctor shook his head at the test results. “Severe malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, multiple organ dysfunction. This isn’t weight loss; it’s slow suicide! If she continues like this, she’ll be headed straight for the crematorium.” Lily quieted down, but online public opinion soared. The online video titles were more sensational than the last. “Skeleton Bride Publicly Demands Love: Scumbag or True Love?” “Starving Herself to a Corpse for a Wealthy Marriage: Is This Human Perversion or Moral Decay?” “This girl’s brain must be fried, 52 pounds? My dog weighs more than her.” “This whole family is strange. The sister even read out such nasty words from the guy; clearly, apples don’t fall far from the tree.” I sat on a hospital bench, scrolling through these comments, feeling completely unfazed. Mom and Dad arrived, dusty and disheveled, rushing straight to me. Dad grabbed my collar, and before I could speak, a slap landed across my face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391879”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel