Three days before the wedding, I was hit by a car, and my spine was fractured. Lucas, my fiancé, put the driver behind bars. I lay in the hospital bed, refusing to wake, devastated by the news of my paralysis. In a haze, I overheard Lucas’s conversation with the doctor. “Mr. Stone, it’s still not too late for the surgery. A few more days, and Ms. Hayes will truly be paralyzed for life! You just want Lily to be your bride; why take on half a life’s burden?” “Disabled is disabled. I will take care of her for the rest of her life. If she recovers, she’ll definitely cause trouble at the wedding. I promised Lily I’d bring our child into the Stone family with all due pomp. Only when Clara is completely incapacitated will she treat my child as her own. Being disabled is fine; at least she won’t bully the child.” In an unnoticed corner, a single tear traced a path down my temple. So, the wedding I had so eagerly anticipated was nothing but a lie. The love I yearned for was also my death warrant. If that was the case, I would grant his wish. “Don’t say anything extra. Follow my plan. The hysterectomy must be thorough, leaving no trace for her to discover. Once she wakes, I’ll take her to the orphanage to pick up the child. Without the chance to have her own children, she’ll surely dote on Rose.” The doctor wiped sweat from his brow, his conscience pricked. “Mr. Stone, perhaps you should reconsider? Ms. Hayes is already paralyzed. Removing her uterus would be like taking her life! How will she face the elders of the Stone family afterward?” “Besides, your child with Ms. Evans is three years old now, and the girl looks remarkably like you. If Ms. Hayes ever found out, everything would be ruined!” Lucas reached out, skillfully wiping my cracked lips with a wet tissue again and again. His voice was filled with the regret of a love unfulfilled. “She won’t find out. As long as she’s disabled, she’ll be confined to the Stone family estate for life, unable to take a single step outside. I promised Lily I’d give her a grand wedding and watch our child grow up with my own eyes. Even if she’s married to someone else now, I will never let her have any worries.” The doctor beside him sighed, looking at my pale face on the hospital bed. “Clara is a good girl. You two grew up together, and you insist on clinging to that… never mind. I won’t say anything more. If you think it’s okay, then proceed.” “Go prepare for the surgery. Remember, make it clean, leave no traces. While Clara is still unconscious, I don’t want her to feel too much pain.” The doctor quickly left the room. Lucas took out his phone and sent a voice message to his assistant. “That driver didn’t spill the beans, did he? As agreed, pay his family two million and help them move out of this city. Don’t let Clara find out.” Tears fell uncontrollably, soaking into the pillow. Lucas meticulously wiped my body with warm water again and again. A chill, however, still ran through me. It turned out the wedding I had anticipated for five years was merely preparation for Lily. The car accident was no accident at all. It was just his way of clearing me, a stumbling block, for Lily. My imagined happiness and perfection were nothing but illusions. Lies and betrayal were the true nature of our relationship. I struggled to open my eyes. But soon, an anesthetic was injected into my body. Before being wheeled into the operating room, Lucas kissed my forehead with feigned tenderness. “Be good, it’ll be over soon, Clara. I’ll be waiting for you.” Cold instruments continuously churned inside me. My shattered heart grew even colder. When I opened my eyes again, I was already in the recovery room. I still had no sensation below my waist. Lucas sat by my bedside, his face etched with worry when he saw me awaken. He took my hand in his, gently pressing it against his cheek. “Clara? You’re awake? Is anything still bothering you?” “Tell me if you’re in pain, and I’ll have them change your medication.” His expression was as doting as ever, but I could no longer detect any warmth in his eyes. For someone to go to such lengths for another… I gently shook my head, my fingers tracing the stubble on his chin. “You haven’t slept all night, have you? I’m fine; you should rest a bit.” Lucas, unsuspecting, relaxed and quickly drifted off to sleep. I picked up his phone from the bedside table and unlocked it. The wallpaper was still our wedding photo, taken in advance. His social media app was open. The pinned contact was saved as Lily. Tapping into the chat, beyond cute cat emojis, were only photos of Lily holding a child. “Rose kept asking for Daddy again today. She’s so young and already knows Daddy is handsome. She’s definitely going to be obsessed with good looks later.” “Rose had a good appetite today; she ate the entire cake you sent all by herself.” “Rose is begging to go to the amusement park with Daddy. I can’t convince her otherwise. Come over if you have time.” Lucas hadn’t replied, but beneath each photo were video logs lasting up to two hours. Remembering he once said he didn’t like children, I now understood. He didn’t dislike children; he just disliked children born from my womb. He had created a separate album for Lily, the password being the child’s birthday. Five thousand photos documented the child’s three years of growth. Every important holiday, Lucas had been by their side. The second chat box in the app was a conversation with the wedding planner. From the moment he started planning the wedding a month ago, Lucas had given Lily’s name. The wedding dress was her size. The invitations were handwritten by both of them. From the very beginning, he had never intended for me to be at this wedding. I laughed at myself, a bitter sound, and stopped scrolling. I contacted my best friend, asking her to find another hospital for me abroad for surgery. I also applied to cancel all my identification documents in the country. My best friend, not thinking much of it, just assumed I had finally seen Lucas’s true colors. Her messages were filled with joy for me. Putting down my phone, I fell into a deep sleep. I woke again, startled by Lucas’s sobs. He clutched a hospital report in his hand, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. “Clara… the doctor said they found during the examination that you were born without a uterus, you’re infertile.” “Don’t worry, I won’t look down on you. No matter what you become, you are my wife. How about we adopt a child after you’re discharged? With a child by your side, you’ll slowly get better.” I was the one who had lost the ability to conceive, yet he seemed more heartbroken than I was. His acting was convincing, and I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. After a long silence, looking at the report in his hand, I nodded slowly. Lucas, moved, shed tears and pulled me into his embrace. “I will take good care of you. Don’t be afraid. No matter what anyone says, I will stand by you.” “After we get married, I’ll transfer all my assets to your name, as your security.” Our chests pressed tightly together. Yet our heartbeats were on different rhythms. After a while, Lucas struggled to speak. “The wedding is already prepared, but now your body hasn’t recovered, so it might have to…” “Find someone to go in my place. Don’t let the Stone family lose face.” I knew what he wanted to say. Rather than being passive, it was better to be proactive. At least I could maintain some dignity. Lucas was surprised by my change in attitude. But with his wish fulfilled, he didn’t want to pry. His phone rang. He glanced at it, surprised. “Clara, what documents did you cancel?” I quickly swiped away the message, calmly explaining, “Nothing, my documents expired. I’ll just replace them online.” He didn’t think much of it, hugging me tighter, his voice full of tenderness. “Now that you’re not well, just tell me anything you need, and I’ll handle it for you.” “Lucas, I want to leave the hospital.” His emotions suddenly tensed. “No, your body hasn’t recovered. I don’t agree.” I tugged on his arm, shaking it, a smile playing on my lips. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take me to adopt a child? We have nannies at home; nothing will happen. I want to visit the orphanage, okay?” In our five years together, this was the first time I’d ever acted so sweetly with him. Lucas couldn’t refuse me and softly agreed. On the way, he took out the cakes he had prepared in the car and arranged them in front of me, saying he had specially bought them for me. But the “suitable for toddlers” label on the packaging still stung my eyes. I closed the bag, tossing the cakes to the back, and feigned discomfort, closing my eyes. This five-year-long deception, it was time for it to end. As soon as we entered the orphanage, I was in my wheelchair. A little girl familiarly rushed up and hugged Lucas’s leg, incessantly calling him “Daddy.” Lucas’s face changed, and fearing my suspicion, he quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand, I sponsor this orphanage. I’ve visited a few times before. This child is an orphan, and she’s always called me that.” I nodded, smiling as I stroked the child’s face. “She looks a lot like you. If you hadn’t said anything, I would have thought she was your child.” “What’s her name?” “Rose, she’s the one I’m planning to adopt.” Before he could explain further, Rose cried, calling for “Mommy.” Lucas’s face instantly went pale. He frowned deeply, looking at me. “I’m fine. Go comfort her. This child is beautiful; I like her too.” My words visibly eased his tension. Lucas didn’t think further, picking up the child and heading into the office. I excused myself to the restroom to escape. But from the doorway, I kept hearing the staff discussing. “Why is Mr. Stone making his own child pretend to be an orphan? Those clothes are high-end; they cost more than my life. Who would believe she’s an orphan?” “What do you know? Mr. Stone has it all planned. This is the only way for the child to legitimately enter the Stone family. Be smart when you go out later; don’t let anything slip in front of Ms. Hayes.” “Indeed, the one closest to Mr. Stone’s heart is still Ms. Evans. They both loved volunteering here during college. I noticed it back then, and now it’s come true! A man and a woman alone in the same room; now they might even be…” Amused laughter reached my ears, pressing down on my chest until I could barely breathe. I moved my wheelchair to the door. Inside, I heard a familiar voice. “Is he still good to you?” “He’s quite good. It’s just that he’s often abroad, so there are some things he can’t manage. This is good too; he won’t discover Rose’s secret, and he’s even nagging me to have another child with him.” Lucas smiled, but his eyes were filled with bitterness. “Once Rose is settled in the Stone family, you won’t have to worry anymore. If you need anything, just message me.” “Oh, and this is a bracelet I just bought. Consider it my wedding gift to you.” Lily took the gift box, winking playfully. “Why are you giving me gifts again? How many wedding gifts have you given me in our year of marriage? My closet is overflowing. Clara would definitely be unhappy if she knew.” Though she said this, she didn’t stop accepting the gift. Beside them, Rose smiled, clinging to her, continuously calling her “Mommy.” The director, eager to process the paperwork, rushed to me and pushed open the door. A flicker of panic crossed Lucas’s eyes. “Clara, what are you doing here?” “Don’t misunderstand. Lily is a volunteer here at the orphanage. She just happened to be visiting today to discuss my adoption of Rose…” Lily stood up, holding Rose in her arms, and waved to me. “Clara, long time no see.” I sat in my wheelchair, smiling and nodding, swallowing my hurt. “It’s fine; I’m just looking around. Since you’re busy, I won’t bother you. I’ll wait in the car.” With that, I turned to leave. Lucas thought I was angry and followed me, explaining for a long time. “Don’t misunderstand. She often comes here to volunteer. All the children in the orphanage call her Mommy. I’ll explain everything to Rose once the adoption paperwork is done.” Watching him fret over me, I suddenly felt like laughing. To legitimately bring his child into the family, he didn’t hesitate to stage a car accident to paralyze me. Now that he had gotten his wish, who was he playing the victim for?

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During a meeting, my son’s smartwatch alerted me his temperature was high. I rushed to school to take him to the doctor, but his teacher, Ms. Clarke, eyed me warily. “Who are you to Ethan Holloway?” she asked. “I messaged his mother this morning—she’s already taken him to the hospital.” I showed her my blank message screen. “Did you text the wrong person?” She pushed her phone toward me. “The records are right here. Don’t try to impersonate a parent.” As security escorted me out, I overheard teachers whispering: “She’s delusional, trying to marry into money. Mrs. Holloway warned us about people like her.” “Mr. and Mrs. Holloway are so devoted—he held her hand all through orientation.” But on orientation day, I’d been at the hospital with my mother-in-law. Lance had taken our son himself. So who was this “Mrs. Holloway”? Following the watch’s GPS, I reached the hospital and saw my best friend Vanessa carrying Ethan out of the clinic. Lance walked over with payment slips, gently pinching our son’s nose. “Get down from Mommy’s arms—you’re in elementary school now.” Vanessa… was his mother? Then what was I—after ten months of pregnancy and nearly dying in childbirth—just a joke? … The sounds of the crowded hospital faded into a blur. I was barely aware of my surroundings. The three figures before me, so intimately entwined, looked like a true family. Someone bumped into me, jolting me back to reality. I saw them walking towards my direction. Without thinking, I spun around and ducked into a corner. Ethan’s childish voice drifted to me. “Oh, if only Aunt Nessa were my real mommy.” “Just thinking about facing Mommy’s poker face when I get home gives me a headache.” His precocious tone made the two adults beside him laugh. But my heart, standing in the shadows, plunged straight into an icy abyss. Vanessa gently patted his back. “Don’t say that, sweetie. Mommy is busy with work and works very hard.” Lance’s tone was harsh, filled with disgust. “You’re too soft-hearted, still defending her. The child is sick, and she doesn’t even care. Is she the only one who’s busy? Is she the only one with a job?” Vanessa lightly hooked her finger through his. “Lance, don’t say such things in front of the child.” “Ethan, be good. Aunt Nessa always thinks of you as her own son.” Lance, moved, pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Vanessa, I’ve put you through so much. I’m lucky you’ve been with us all this time.” Vanessa’s eyes reddened, but she bravely shook her head. “I don’t feel wronged being by your side. It’s just…” She blinked, and a tear slid down at just the right moment. “If only time could go back to last week. That week was the happiest of my life.” Lance pulled her into his arms. “Don’t say that!” Ethan also reached out his small hand, clumsily wiping her tears. “Daddy, can you send Mommy on another business trip today, the farther the better? I’m sick, and I want Aunt Nessa to stay with me.” Last week? Lance had sent me to Arlington to deal with an extremely difficult client. He had held me from behind, exhausted, his chin resting on my shoulder. “Honey, help me. Those old geezers are all waiting to laugh at me. You’re the only one I can trust.” My heart ached for him. Despite a relapse of my stomach condition, I forced myself to go to Arlington. As I left, Vanessa had comforted me. “Chloe, you go focus on your work. I’ll help you take good care of Ethan.” At the time, my heart was filled with gratitude, feeling lucky to have such a thoughtful best friend. But it turned out that from beginning to end, this was all a carefully orchestrated lie, designed to get rid of me! My husband of ten years, my son for whom I endured ten months of pregnancy, my confidante. They had long formed a new “family” behind my back! I returned home, physically and emotionally drained, to find my mother-in-law sitting in the living room. Years ago, after my parents died, it was my mother-in-law’s financial support that allowed me to complete college. When my relationship with Lance was exposed, his entire family opposed it. She was the first to give in, agreeing to my marriage into the Holloway family. To me, she was more than just my mother-in-law; she was also my benefactor. So, no matter how bad my mood, I respectfully greeted her. “Mom, you’re here.” My mother-in-law glanced behind me, then smiled. “Yes, I came to see you all.” Our housekeeper, Mrs. Miller, peeked out from the kitchen. “Madam, should I soak the dried yams you brought, or boil them directly?” My mother-in-law hurried over. At that moment, her phone screen lit up, and I clearly saw a notification: “Temperature too high, precious might be unwell.” My eyes widened. I suddenly remembered the smartwatch was a gift from my mother-in-law to our son. Of course, she had also linked the app. So, she came today because she knew Ethan had a fever? But from the moment I entered, she hadn’t mentioned it once, nor did she show any surprise at seeing me come home alone. My hands and feet turned cold as I walked to the kitchen doorway. Sure enough, I heard my mother-in-law’s hushed voice. “The yams need to be cut into small pieces, and go easy on the sugar. The child has a fever; he needs something bland.” Mrs. Miller chuckled softly. “Oh, I know. Ms. Evans just called specifically to say we should make fewer sweets these two days.” My mother-in-law was silent for a moment, then sighed. “Vanessa… she knows how to handle things.” So, it wasn’t just my mother-in-law; even the housekeeper knew about Lance and Vanessa’s affair. Was I the only one kept in the dark all along? I went upstairs, made a phone call, and then, finding a flimsy excuse, prepared to leave. The front door suddenly opened, and Lance returned, carrying Ethan. He saw me and froze for a moment, then uncomfortably said, “Ethan has a fever. I just took him to the hospital.” Seeing Ethan clinging weakly to his shoulder, a pang of heartache went through me. He was only 7 years old, my flesh and blood, a part of me! To protect him during my pregnancy, I had spent a month on bed rest. Later, when he was born, my mother-in-law insisted on a natural birth, and I was in agony for two days and two nights. Finally, the doctor issued an ultimatum before my mother-in-law reluctantly agreed to switch from natural to C-section. Exhausted, I held my tiny baby, tears streaming down my face. “Baby, you’re amazing. We made it through together, you and I.” “From now on, the three of us will always be together.” Thinking of this, my heart softened. I raised my hand. “Ethan, come here, Mommy will hold you.” But Ethan opened his eyes, saw me, and burst into tears. “I don’t want you! I want Aunt Nessa!” “I hate you! Go away! I want Aunt Nessa to be my mommy!” My hand froze in mid-air. Vanessa flung open the door, reaching out to take Ethan into her arms, gently cooing, “Be good, sweetie. Aunt Nessa is here. Don’t cry!” My voice trembled. “Vanessa, give me back my son!” Vanessa held Ethan, avoiding my outstretched hand. “Chloe, don’t be angry. Ethan is still little. He was playing too wildly outside yesterday and ate ice cream. He’s afraid you’ll scold him.” She lightly tapped Ethan’s nose. “Tell Mommy you’re sorry and that you won’t do it again.” Ethan buried his face in her arms. Under her gentle gaze, he reluctantly mumbled, “I’m sorry.” Then he clung to her, whining, “Aunt Nessa, I just want you to stay with me, please!” I was about to speak, but Lance impatiently pushed me. “What’s the fuss? Let Vanessa take the child to his room first.” My mother-in-law, emerging from the kitchen, witnessed the scene and shot Lance a glare. “Why are you so harsh? Chloe has been busy at the office all day; she’s tired enough.” Then she took Ethan from Vanessa. “Vanessa, Ethan isn’t feeling well today. Why don’t you go home for now, so you don’t catch anything?” “It’s already dark outside; let Lance drive you back.” My mother-in-law’s words seemed to be defending me, but in reality, she was covering for Lance. I gave a bitter laugh, looking seriously at my son and asking, “Do you really not want me, and want Vanessa to be your mom?” Ethan hesitated, looking at Vanessa. Vanessa smiled and leaned closer, intimately hooking her arm through mine and swaying it. “Chloe, why are you being so serious with a child? We’re best friends; if I have children someday, won’t they be like your own?” I pulled her hand away, then looked up at Lance. “Do you think so too? Do you want Vanessa to be the woman of this house?” Vanessa, seeing me ignore her, forced a strained laugh. “No way, you’re not jealous of me, are you? Chloe, we’ve been friends for over ten years. I saw you were busy, and I came out of the goodness of my heart to help you take care of the house, and you…” Lance finally spoke, his voice filled with accusation. “Chloe, why are you getting angry at Vanessa? Why don’t you reflect on why our son isn’t close to you?” “Vanessa, just an ‘aunt,’ can make time to be with the child, but you? What have you cared about all day besides work?” “Our son had a fever today; where were you, his mother?” I waited for him to finish, then calmly said, “I went to the school today.” “The teacher told me the child had already been picked up by his mother.” “The contact person in her phone, the profile picture and name were mine, but it wasn’t my number.” “Lance, at the orientation, who did you actually put down as our son’s contact person?” One sentence changed everyone’s expression. Vanessa’s face froze. She tried to explain, her voice dry. “Chloe, it’s not what you think. We’re best friends; trust me…” Only Ethan didn’t understand what was happening. Seeing the tears welling up in Vanessa’s eyes, he angrily yelled at me, “Don’t bully Aunt Nessa! I just hate you. You don’t let me do anything, you’re always forcing me to do homework. Daddy said you only care about work and don’t love me at all.” “Go on your business trip already! I want Aunt Nessa to stay with me!” I deliberately ignored the dull ache in my chest. I quietly looked at Ethan. His small face was flushed from the fever, and his little chest heaved violently. “Next week is your eighth birthday. Your birthday present is hidden in the cabinet in your room.” That was the treasure hunt game he loved playing with me when he was little. “You’re allergic to lamb and tomatoes; don’t eat them anymore.” His allergies had been managed much better in the past two years, but those two things were still off-limits. I paused, suppressing the bitterness. “There’s one last gift.” “I promise you, I’ll leave, and let Vanessa be your mother.” With that, I left the house without looking back. Lance and Vanessa both rushed after me. Vanessa, trembling, grabbed my arm, tears streaming down her face. “Chloe, don’t go! I can explain! I really did envy your happy family, but I never intended to destroy it. Lance truly loves you; there’s nothing between us. I can stop being Ethan’s aunt. If you don’t want to see me, I’ll leave. I’ll disappear forever, okay?” I shook her off. “Vanessa, even now, you’re still acting. You claim to be my best friend, yet you snuck into my husband’s bed behind my back. When you were kissing and hugging him, did you ever think of us as friends?” “Presuming on my trust, doing something so shameless, aren’t you afraid of karma?” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to their continued excuses and justifications. I simply shoved the hospital photo of Lance kissing her in front of them. Lance’s pupils constricted. The composure he had maintained finally cracked. “How did you end up at the hospital?” he asked, his voice dry. “Chloe, I’m sorry.” I stared at him, asking word for word, “When did you start the affair?” Lance was silent. After a long pause, he finally managed to squeeze out a single sentence. “When… you were pregnant, I was drunk and lost control.” Tears streamed from my eyes. Hatred almost consumed my last shred of sanity. I raised my hand and slapped his face. “Lance, you bastard! Who was it who pointed fingers and cursed men who couldn’t control themselves as disgusting?” “Who swore at our proposal that if he ever betrayed me, he would meet a terrible end?” Before he could speak, I slapped him again with my other hand. “Now you’ve cheated, you’ve betrayed me, so why aren’t you dead yet?!” Vanessa cried, lunging forward, arms outstretched to shield Lance. “Don’t hit him, Chloe! It’s all my fault! I was the one who fell for Lance first. I wanted to keep it a secret forever, but feelings are truly uncontrollable.” Lance pulled her closer into his embrace. “Chloe, it’s true that cheating was my fault. But after we got married, you focused entirely on the company, always talking to me about clients, reports, and performance.” “After you got pregnant, you constantly talked about the child.” “I’m a man; I have desires too. Did you ever consider my feelings?” I found it utterly ridiculous. “Lance, do you have a conscience? You were the one who said you were too young to control the old guard at the company. You and your mother begged me to join the company to help you get established.” “You come home from work, say you’re tired, and then feel perfectly justified in doing your own thing. What about me? After I come home, not only do I have to spend time with Ethan and research his allergy-friendly recipes, but after he’s asleep, I still have to work overtime to prepare for the next day’s meeting materials.” “I’m so busy I only get five hours of sleep a night. Did you ever ask if I was tired?” I stared intently at him. “You cheated because you’re selfish. Don’t try to blame me.” “You don’t deserve it.” “Lance, I want a divorce.” Lance released Vanessa, took two steps forward, massaged his jaw, and gave a short, bitter laugh. “Chloe, can you really give it up? Without the Holloway family, how would you have climbed to your current position?” “Stop this nonsense. I never intended for anyone else to take your place as Mrs. Holloway.” Vanessa stumbled, then suddenly clutched her abdomen, her face pale. “Chloe, don’t divorce Lance. I’ll get rid of the baby, disappear forever, and never appear before you again. Please forgive me, okay?” Lance spun around, seizing her wrist, and raised his voice. “You’re pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me?” Vanessa slumped weakly into his arms, her eyelashes trembling. “I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position. I felt so guilty towards Chloe.” “Lance, my stomach hurts so much.” “This baby, he shouldn’t have come…” Lance broke out in a sweat, yelling back towards the door, “Driver, hurry up and drive! To the hospital immediately!” He didn’t spare me another glance. I stood rooted to the spot, a cold sneer in my heart. So, this was Vanessa’s trump card. But she didn’t know that this card would also lead her to ruin.

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Ever since I rescued Arthur from that blazing warehouse fire, my lungs, ravaged by smoke inhalation, had been slowly deteriorating. On Pancake Day, after carefully preparing a batch of delicious pancakes, a sickening sweetness surged in my throat. I just wanted to rest on the lounge chair for a bit, but I never opened my eyes again. Arthur, who had gone out to buy me some candied nuts, returned, his secretary, Sarah, trailing behind him. Seeing me still on the lounge chair, he reached out for a throw blanket. “You’re not well; don’t overexert yourself. Just get some more sleep.” But Sarah, teary-eyed and feigning distress, interjected: “Mr. Sterling, Jessie just messaged me, calling me a hussy and telling me to die… I should just leave. I don’t want to ruin your marriage.” Arthur looked at my closed eyes, the tenderness in his gaze hardening into disgust. “Jessie, what exactly is your problem? Sarah just came back to get some files from me. Can’t you be more reasonable?” His scolding didn’t stop until my body grew cold. Arthur, I won’t cause trouble anymore. 1 Arthur, frowning, had lectured for a long time. Seeing no reaction from me on the lounge chair, he finally sighed. The harshness in his eyes softened. He knelt, gently placing the bag of candied nuts he had clutched in his arms into my hand. “Don’t be angry anymore.” His voice was incredibly soft, as if coaxing a sulking child. “I queued for a long time to get these; they’re still warm. This shop is on the south side of town; haven’t you been talking about it forever? Get up and eat them while they’re hot; they won’t taste good cold.” The paper bag of nuts felt warm, but alas, my palm could no longer sense that faint warmth. Arthur, sensing my cold hand, frowned again. He rose to fetch a wool blanket from the bedroom, carefully draping it over me. Tucking the corners, his movements were heartbreakingly practiced. Having done all this, he turned to the kitchen, the sound of running water filling the air. “I’m pouring you some warm water to soothe your throat.” Arthur’s voice drifted from the kitchen, a hint of concern in his tone. “After Pancake Day, I’ll clear my schedule at the company and take you to a retreat in the south. It’s warmer there, and the air is humid. Your cough never seems to get better; resting your lungs there should help. And if you want to see the ocean, we’ll go see the ocean…” I floated in mid-air, watching his busy figure in the kitchen, my eyes stinging, yet unable to shed a single tear. Arthur, it was too late. Standing nearby, Sarah stared at Arthur’s busy back, consumed by furious jealousy. She hadn’t expected that even with me feigning sleep and ignoring him, Arthur wouldn’t get angry. Instead, he was thinking of taking me south. While Arthur’s back was to the living room, Sarah quietly approached the lounge chair. She reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my phone. Sarah tried a few times; my password was Arthur’s birthday. She tapped her fingers on the screen a few times, setting a timed text message. Having done all this, she casually slipped my phone into her own bag. The next second. “Ah!” A piercing scream shattered the living room’s tranquility. Sarah abruptly snatched the crystal ashtray from the coffee table and ruthlessly smashed it against her own forehead. Blood instantly gushed out, streaming down her pale cheek. “What happened?!” Arthur, holding a glass of warm water, rushed out of the kitchen in a panic. He immediately saw Sarah clutching her bleeding head, collapsed on the floor, weeping uncontrollably. “Mr. Sterling… boohoohoo…” Sarah pointed at my unmoving figure on the lounge chair, sobbing breathlessly. “Jessie suddenly threw the ashtray at me! She called me a hussy and told me to get out, or she’d kill me!” Arthur’s face instantly changed. He strode to the lounge chair, reaching out to grab my arm. “Jessie! Are you insane? Sarah is just a young woman; how could you do such a thing?!” Just as his hand was about to touch me, “Ding-dong.” Arthur’s phone in his pocket rang. Sarah immediately screamed, “Mr. Sterling! Look at your phone! Jessie must have sent me a message cursing me! She was just tapping on her phone; she was pretending to be asleep!” Arthur’s movements faltered. He pulled out his phone. A line of text abruptly popped up on the screen, the sender clearly labeled “Wife.” [If that bitch secretary doesn’t leave, I’ll die right here and make you regret it for the rest of your life!] The veins on the back of Arthur’s hand, clutching the phone, bulged, his knuckles white. He looked up at me on the lounge chair, the last flicker of warmth in his eyes vanishing, replaced by towering rage. “Fine.” Arthur, furious, laughed mirthlessly, his voice cold. “Jessie, to drive Sarah away, you’re even threatening me with death? I’ve been too good to you, haven’t I? Made you think you can get away with anything, haven’t I?” He raised his hand. “Splash!” The glass of warm water, originally meant to soothe my throat, was thrown directly onto my face. Drops of water slid down my ashen cheeks, wetting my eyelashes and the freshly covered wool blanket. I remained with my eyes closed, unmoving. “Still pretending?” Seeing my lack of reaction, the fire in Arthur’s heart burned even hotter. He grabbed the still-warm bag of candied nuts from my hand and tossed it into the trash can. “Fine, you like playing dead, do you? Then you can put on your act alone here to your heart’s content!” Arthur turned around, pulled Sarah up from the floor, not sparing me another glance, his voice filled with disgust. “Sarah, let’s go! I’m taking you to the hospital to get bandaged. We’ll spend the holiday at the office tonight. Let her go crazy alone here!” The front door slammed shut with a “bang,” shaking the ceiling light fixture. I floated in mid-air, looking at my wet face and the nuts in the trash can. Arthur, I wasn’t pretending. I was truly dead. 2 The next day, my body began to change. Faint purplish corpse spots subtly appeared on my once pale skin. The heating in the room was on full blast, accelerating the process. My soul was bound by an invisible force to Arthur, compelled to follow him. At that moment, Arthur was driving, his brow deeply furrowed. In the passenger seat, Sarah, her head wrapped in gauze, was playing with my phone. She secretly glanced at Arthur’s expression. She opened my social media, rapidly typing a line of text. She even specifically tagged Arthur before hitting send. Having done all this, she contentedly slipped my phone back into her bag. Looking up at Arthur, she resumed her delicate, innocent demeanor. “Mr. Sterling, Jessie… she seems really angry.” Arthur, who was driving, snorted coldly at her words, then took out his own phone. When he tapped into social media and saw the latest post on my account, his face instantly darkened. [If you dare to leave, I’ll die at home, making you regret it for the rest of your life!] “Bang!” Arthur slammed his fist on the steering wheel, the horn blaring harshly, drawing glances from passersby. “This lunatic!” Arthur gritted his teeth, veins throbbing on his forehead. After a night of cooling off, he had still felt a pang of concern for me. After all, I wasn’t well, and he had thrown water in my face yesterday. He had thought about going back to check on me and perhaps bring me some medicine. But this social media post completely severed his thought of returning home. “Since you want to die, then don’t blame me for not coming back.” Arthur sharply turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn. The road home became the road to Sarah’s apartment. “Mr. Sterling, is Jessie really angry?” Sarah asked timidly, her eyes brimming with triumph. “Perhaps you should still go back and check on her. I’ll be fine alone.” “No,” Arthur spat out coldly. “She plays these games too much; the more I humor her, the worse she gets. This time, she needs a lesson!” At Sarah’s apartment, Sarah pulled out all the stops to keep Arthur there. She tied on an apron and bustled in the kitchen, then suddenly let out a small “Ouch!” Arthur, who was sulking on the sofa, immediately rushed into the kitchen. He saw Sarah’s finger, red and scalded by hot soup. “Why are you so careless?” Arthur’s brow furrowed. He immediately pulled her hand under the faucet to rinse it. His movements were gentle, his eyes filled with concern. This scene stung my eyes. Before, when I cut my hand in the kitchen and asked him to put a bandage on it, he would always say, “Just take care of minor injuries yourself; I’m very busy.” It turned out he wasn’t incapable of showing affection; he just didn’t show it to me. Just then, Arthur’s phone rang. It was Dr. Jones, my attending physician. Arthur glanced at the screen, sneered, and answered the call. “Hello?” On the other end, Dr. Jones’s voice was filled with urgency. “Arthur? Where’s Jessie? I’ve been calling her phone, and no one answers! Her test results from yesterday are in, and her condition is very critical! She needs to be hospitalized immediately! Quickly, make her answer the phone!” Arthur impatiently cut him off, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Dr. Jones, Jessie is even using you to get my attention now? You two put on quite a show.” “What did you say?” Dr. Jones was stunned. “Arthur, I’m not joking! Jessie’s lungs are already…” “Enough!” Arthur coldly interrupted. “Tell Jessie that if her suicide attempt turns real, I’ll just make arrangements for her burial. Don’t think that teaming up with a doctor can scare me; I’m not falling for it.” With that, he hung up the phone and immediately blocked Dr. Jones. I floated nearby, desperately wanting to scream, wanting to explain. But my voice couldn’t reach his ears. After hanging up, Arthur’s anger hadn’t subsided. To spite me, he deliberately posed for a photo with Sarah. In the picture, Sarah held a wine glass, smiling sweetly. Arthur sat opposite her, his face stern, but the background was a cozy candlelight dinner. Sarah immediately posted it, with the caption: [Thank you for spending the warmest Pancake Day with me. May we be together for many years to come.] She had set the privacy to “only visible to me.” Late at night, brilliant fireworks suddenly exploded outside the window. Arthur stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the fleeting fireworks, his eyes distant. He unconsciously stroked his phone, then, on an impulse, sent me a message. [Have you caused enough trouble? If so, cook your own pancakes and eat them. Don’t starve to death at home and bring bad luck.] The message was sent, but there was no reply, not even the familiar “typing…” Arthur stared at the screen for a while, then irritably tossed his phone onto the bed. He thought I was throwing a tantrum, giving him the silent treatment. But he didn’t know that my body was quietly lying on the lounge chair, slowly decaying. 3 February 17th. Arthur woke up at Sarah’s apartment, his head throbbing from a hangover. He instinctively reached for his phone; the screen was blank, with no unread messages. In the past, even if I was angry, I wouldn’t ignore him for more than a night. I would make him hangover soup; I would message him, asking if his stomach hurt. But now, the silence was unsettling. “Before, she’d cling to me even if I just gave her a slight cold shoulder. Humph, now she’s gotten quite bold.” Arthur tossed his phone aside, an inexplicable anger surging within him. He cursed defiantly, “Fine, you want to play the waiting game, do you? Let’s see how many days you can last.” Sarah entered, carrying breakfast. Observing Arthur’s expression, she tentatively suggested, “Mr. Sterling, the weather is nice today. Why don’t we go for a walk by the sea? You’ve been too tired lately.” Arthur had intended to refuse, but remembering my obstinate presence at home, he nodded on a whim. Just as they finished tidying up and were about to leave, the property manager’s call came through to Arthur’s phone. “Mr. Sterling, your downstairs neighbor complained that there’s a strange odor coming from your apartment, like… something rotten. Could you please come home and deal with it?” Arthur’s brow immediately furrowed into a knot. He remembered my half-dead appearance on the lounge chair before he left yesterday, and that bag of nuts he had kicked over. It must be me, trying to spite him, deliberately not taking out the trash, perhaps even scattering food everywhere. Arthur’s voice was cold as he spoke into the phone. “It must be my wife, trying to annoy me, deliberately not throwing out the trash. Just ignore her; she’ll clean it up when she can’t stand it anymore.” He hung up, his disgust growing. The car drove all the way to the beach. The winter sea wind was strong, making people’s faces sting. Arthur stood on the rocks, looking at the churning waves. His restless mood didn’t calm down; instead, it became even more chaotic. He suddenly remembered our wedding anniversary. I had pulled on his sleeve, my eyes sparkling, saying, “Arthur, I want to see the sea. When I feel a little better, can we go to the beach and collect seashells?” But he had said, “I’m very busy. Next time.” Arthur looked at the seashells at his feet, his heart suddenly softening. He picked out a shell bracelet from a small roadside stall. “Never mind, I’ll go back and appease her.” Arthur, holding the bracelet, mumbled to himself, “She’s not well; it would be troublesome if she got sick from anger.” He turned to a convenience store to buy water, thinking of getting me a hot milk too. As he paid, Sarah, standing not far away, stared at his back with venomous eyes. She took out my phone, hidden in her bag. She skillfully opened the browser, downloaded a photo of slit wrists from the internet, and sent it to herself. Then she quickly put my phone back in her bag, adopting a terrified expression, and rushed towards Arthur, holding her own phone. “Mr. Sterling! Mr. Sterling, it’s bad!” Sarah shrieked, her voice choked with sobs. “Jessie sent me a picture… she said she slit her wrists! Look!” Arthur had just received his change; the coins scattered all over the floor with a “clatter.” He snatched Sarah’s phone, staring intently at the photo. Bright red blood stung his eyes. Towering fury surged within him. Another threat! Yesterday it was a hunger strike, today it’s slitting wrists, tomorrow will she jump off a building? “Lunatic!” Arthur roared, fiercely raising his hand. The newly bought shell bracelet plunged into the sea with a “splash,” instantly swallowed by the waves. “Absolutely irrational!” Arthur’s eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving violently. “She wants to die, does she? Fine! Let her cut! Let’s see how much blood she can shed!” I floated in the sea breeze, watching the bracelet sink to the bottom. It was the first time he had ever bought me a gift, and he had thrown it away himself. Arthur, I don’t hurt anymore. Truly.

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At our high school reunion over the holidays, I drew a “Truth” card during a game of Truth or Dare. A classmate asked if I still liked Ethan Vance. I smiled and shook my head: “I haven’t liked him for a long time. I have a boyfriend now.” No one believed that I, who had once been madly in love with Ethan, would give up so quickly. Everyone thought I was just putting on a brave face, and even Ethan smiled disdainfully. Later, my boyfriend pinned me against his car and kissed me passionately: “Trying to coax me? You’ll have to put a little more effort into it, Chloe. That’s not enough.” I was kissed until my lips were slick and my whole body went weak. And right at that moment, Ethan Vance was standing right outside the car window. 1 “Chloe, do you still like our guy Ethan?” That one question silenced everyone in the room. Eyes darted between me and Ethan, eager to hear my answer. Because Ethan and I were childhood friends, and I had indeed been crazy about him in high school. But now, I just smiled faintly and shook my head without a shred of hesitation: “I haven’t liked him for a long time. I have a boyfriend now.” “Who is it?” A classmate pressed. I reminded them: “You only get one question for Truth.” Everyone’s faces immediately fell, and someone couldn’t help but voice their doubt. “You’re probably just making it up, right? You obviously don’t have one, but you’re still pretending.” Ethan had been focused on his phone the entire time, but when he heard someone doubting me, he seemed to let out a mocking chuckle. I didn’t argue, placing my card on the table: “You guys keep playing, I’m going to the restroom.” I don’t understand why they didn’t believe me. Is a person only allowed to like one person their entire life? Everyone has moments when they’re blind, right? 2 Coming out of the restroom, I saw Ethan standing a short distance away. He had great physical attributes; standing there, he caught the eye immediately. In just that short time, several girls had already approached him to strike up a conversation and ask for his number. He smiled, added their contacts, and let their hands wander over his chest. After saying goodbye to them, Ethan pulled out a pack of cigarettes and locked eyes with me. I frowned, suddenly feeling that he wasn’t really that handsome after all. I was about to leave, but he grabbed my wrist as I passed by. “Why did you lie to everyone and say you have a boyfriend? “What? Trying to make me mad? Hoping to see me look sad and regretful after hearing that? Chloe, maybe you should watch fewer soap operas.” I looked up and met his slightly provocative gaze. He was always so confident. Just like when I confessed to him in high school. Ethan and I grew up together. He was always the brightest presence in any crowd, yet he would get into bloody brawls if anyone ever bullied me. He would also climb the wall into my room, ignoring the danger, just to bring me my favorite candy when I was crying after being scolded by my parents. We used to share everything and promised to be together forever. As we grew older, our friends would always tease me about being Ethan’s “little wife.” He never denied it, continuing to carry my backpack and buy me lunch every day. If any guy asked about me, Ethan would pull him into an alley the next day and threaten him. I thought Ethan liked me too. So, after confirming my college entrance exam scores were high enough to get into the same university as him, I gathered my courage and confessed my feelings. Ethan accepted quickly, as if he had anticipated it. But the joy of that success didn’t last long. The very next day, I received a photo from Mia, the school’s “it” girl. In the photo, she and Ethan were acting intimately, their bodies practically pressed together. When I rushed to the private karaoke room, I saw Ethan with his arm around Mia, kissing her passionately. The practiced way they moved made it obvious it wasn’t their first time. 3 My body felt like it was plunged into an ice cellar, and my mind went completely blank. In my ears, I could hear Ethan’s friends cheering them on. Someone couldn’t help but ask: “Ethan, aren’t you afraid Chloe will get mad? She literally just confessed to you yesterday.” Ethan wiped the moisture from his lips and scoffed lightly: “She’s been following me around like a lost puppy for years, do you think she’d actually leave?” “True, Chloe looks pretty desperate. She finally got you, she’d probably be willing to be your side piece, let alone tolerate you cheating.” In the past, if anyone dared to talk about me like that, Ethan would be the first to throw a punch and beat them until they couldn’t speak. But this time, he just laughed nonchalantly: “Who said accepting her confession means I can only be with her? “Actually, Chloe is fine, just too obedient. She’s boring. Not like Mia, who’s sexy and feminine. College is so great, it’d be a waste to settle down before I’ve even tasted what’s out there. “But for marriage, I’d still choose Chloe. After all, a wife is different from a hookup; you still need someone obedient and domesticated.” Saying that, Ethan pulled Mia in by the waist and blew into her ear. The laughter in the room grew even louder. I don’t know how I got home. All I knew was that the perfect boy I had hidden in my heart shattered completely in that moment. That night, my pillow was soaked. But I also told myself that I was only allowed to be sad for this one day. I wouldn’t torture myself over someone else’s mistakes. None of this was my fault. The sun would rise tomorrow, and no one is indispensable. The next day, with eyes swollen like walnuts, I changed my college preferences. I changed my top choice from Boston, where I had promised to go with Ethan, to New York. I had originally wanted to apply to a school in New York because their art programs were better. I only chose Boston for Ethan. But when Ethan heard I was majoring in fine arts, he still smiled disdainfully. He thought fine arts was a dead-end career and that he’d be mocked if his college classmates found out his girlfriend was an art student. Well, now Boston and New York are far apart; he doesn’t have to worry about being mocked anymore. 4 The day I broke up with Ethan, he looked impatient. “Chloe, what are you throwing a tantrum about? It was just a few kisses, is it necessary to be this angry? “If you break up with me, do you really think you can find someone better? “Believe it or not, I can find a prettier, more obedient girlfriend in the blink of an eye.” I didn’t say a word. I just returned all the gifts he had given me over the years. Ethan gritted his teeth: “Fine. When you get bullied in Boston, don’t come crying to me.” That summer, I took the money I had saved for a trip with Ethan and enrolled in an oil painting class to improve my weakest skill. I left early and came home late every day, channeling my heartbreak into motivation. Ethan seemed to be doing well too; his social media was full of pictures from trips to various places. Mia was in every single picture. I heard they got together, and then broke up later. The next time I saw Ethan was a month later. He was tanner, had styled his hair, and had shed his high school awkwardness. I was still wearing my hair in a high ponytail and overalls, my face still smeared with paint from class. Seeing me, the corners of Ethan’s mouth twitched up: “Didn’t I tell you to buy some more mature clothes? Why do you still look like this? When we get to campus, people are going to think I brought my little sister.” I knew this was his way of trying to make peace. In the past, every time we fought, he would act like this, and I would happily run back to him. But this time, I ignored him and walked right past him. Hearing constant belittlement hurts eventually. I didn’t tell Ethan I had changed my college preferences until the moment I boarded my flight. On the plane, I saw his last message. [Chloe, you actually dared to change your college choices behind my back.] I didn’t reply. I deleted him and blocked him. Ethan used to tell me that there were a lot of bad people out there, that I should stick close to him and not easily trust strangers. It wasn’t until I left him that I realized everyone else was perfectly nice; the only one who hurt me the deepest was him. And now, facing his interrogation, I could look him in the eye calmly. “Ethan, I’m not as immature as you think.” He scoffed: “Fine, keep pretending to be tough. Let’s see how long you can last.” With that, he left before me. We didn’t speak another word after that. 5 When the reunion ended, most of our classmates were pretty drunk. Ethan and I lived the closest, so someone suggested he walk me home. He glanced at me, but before he could speak, I immediately refused. “No thanks, my boyfriend is coming to pick me up.” Without caring about the surprised looks from the others, I grabbed my things and left. I saw Liam at our agreed-upon meeting spot. He was wearing a black dress shirt, standing tall and straight. The line of his brow bone beneath his silver-rimmed glasses was striking. Looking at him, I couldn’t help but smile sweetly. But right now, his expression was a bit dark. When he saw me, he immediately stepped forward and took my hand. “Chloe, am I that unpresentable? Why do I have to hide so far away to pick you up?” Knowing I was in the wrong, I quickly rubbed his arm. “I can’t help it. You’re too famous. If you show up, the whole high school class will know we’re dating by tomorrow. “Didn’t we agree to keep it low-key for three months? We’ll go public after the trial period.” Liam had gone to the same high school as me. But he was too outstanding. Almost everyone in the school knew who he was. He had received an early acceptance letter from a university in New York before he even took the final exams. He was constantly winning major academic competitions and was the “model student” on every teacher’s lips. Even though he had graduated, he was still a legend among the younger students. Honestly, Ethan also played a part in Liam and me getting together. When he found out Liam and I were going to the same university, he asked him to look out for me. Maybe he thought someone as aloof and distant as Liam would never be interested in a boring “good girl” like me. But it was exactly this kind of person who had dug a pit for me early on, just waiting for me to jump in. Once we got in the car, Liam’s face was still dark. I kissed him on the cheek trying to coax him: “Don’t be mad, okay?” “Trying to coax me?” He turned, his gaze deep as he looked at me. I nodded vigorously. “You’ll have to put a little more effort into it, Chloe. That’s not enough.” 6 With that, Liam reached up, took off his glasses, pulled me onto his lap, and leaned in to kiss me. I gasped instinctively, and he seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine. His hot hand firmly gripped the back of my neck, preventing me from retreating, kissing me deeper. So deep I was afraid he was going to do something even more outrageous right there in the car. Feeling the heat radiating from the man beneath me made my legs go weak. I couldn’t care about anything else anymore; I could only let him do as he pleased. It wasn’t until the tip of my tongue felt numb that Liam finally let me go, looking like he still wanted more. A silver thread connected our lips. Meeting my unfocused eyes, a smirk appeared on his lips as his thumb brushed over my slightly swollen, red lips. I suddenly realized that his shirt had been unbuttoned at some point, revealing a firm chest and defined abs. His hot breath tickled my ear: “Satisfied with what you see?” I swallowed hard. His smile deepened, and just as he was about to continue, we heard approaching footsteps. I looked up and saw Ethan walking toward us. 7 I instinctively hid against Liam’s torso. My clothes were a mess, my lips were swollen; if I were seen like this, I’d die of embarrassment. But I forgot that this position was basically throwing fuel on the fire for Liam. It was the first time I had ever been this close to the source of his heat, and I could feel its breath puffing against my face. Liam’s breathing grew heavier. Ethan’s surprised voice came from above: “Hey man, what are you doing here?” Liam grabbed a jacket and threw it over my head, his voice hoarse and laced with slight anger. “Just passing through.” Ethan didn’t notice anything wrong and continued asking: “Did you happen to see Chloe? She said she was coming to meet her boyfriend, but she disappeared in the blink of an eye. You went to the same college; do you know who her boyfriend is?” At that moment, Liam’s hand was caressing my waist, his tone nonchalant: “Didn’t see her. Don’t know.” Those few words seemed to satisfy Ethan greatly: “I knew she was lying. She can’t forget me; she just made someone up to make me mad.” Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone subtle: “Is that so?” As he spoke, his hand squeezed my waist firmly. I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan and bit my lip hard. Hearing a familiar sound, Ethan stepped closer, confused, and caught sight of the figure huddled beneath Liam. “Dude, you play that hard?” He hadn’t recognized me. Liam shifted his body, blocking Ethan’s view of me. He looked at him coldly: “So why are you still here?” Ethan rubbed his nose awkwardly: “Leaving, leaving, I won’t bother you guys. “Remember to introduce your girl to us sometime.” As he walked away, Ethan still felt the figure looked somewhat familiar. He turned around for another look, only to see Liam driving away. He hadn’t expected the usually aloof and restrained Liam to be so impatient. But for some reason, Ethan’s heart felt inexplicably irritated. 8 Later, knowing I hadn’t eaten much at the reunion, Liam drove us to get a late-night snack. But my mind was entirely focused on what had just happened, and I didn’t dare look him in the eye the entire time. When it was time to part ways, Liam suddenly pulled me into his arms and planted a quick kiss on my lips. “If you’re this shy now, what are we going to do later? “Chloe, we’re going to be together for a lifetime. So, with me, you can afford to be a little bolder.” I looked around nervously, but I didn’t push him away. It wasn’t until he let me go that I hurriedly ran off. My heart was filled with shyness, but also a sweet, fluttering joy. But all of that vanished the moment I saw the person standing outside my house. Seeing me return, Ethan’s tense expression relaxed slightly. “Back so late? I thought you and that ‘boyfriend’ went to get a room. “Looks like he’s not very capable.” My expression turned cold: “I didn’t bring my ID.” His face instantly darkened. “What are you doing at my door?” He pulled an amulet out of his pocket: “My mom told me to give this to you.” His mother got us peace amulets every year, but couldn’t he just give it to me tomorrow? Did he really need to wait at my door until this late? My frown deepened, but I reached out and took it. “Tell your mom she doesn’t need to get one for me anymore. My mom will give me one.” After I spoke, he looked like he wanted to say something else, but I ignored him and shut the door in his face.

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I had been with Liam Vance for four years, but our intimate life was always a disaster. He constantly complained that I lacked experience and made it incredibly uncomfortable for him. Desperate to please him, I bought a massive box of adult toys online, intending to practice by myself. But then, I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and a friend. “Liam, you literally hired someone to hit Mia with a car, putting her in the ICU, and then bribed the doctor to surgically sever her vocal cords so she could never sing again. Do you really not feel a single shred of guilt?” “Guilt? Why would I feel guilty that she sounds like a dying pig now?” “For the past four years, I’ve been so disgusted I haven’t even wanted to sleep with her. Every time we do, I intentionally make it as painful as possible for her.” “And guess what? She actually thinks it’s her fault! She just bought a massive box of toys online to ‘practice’!” Liam laughed cruelly as he dumped the box of toys I had bought onto the table, sparking an eruption of mocking laughter from the room. I stood frozen outside the door, my body trembling uncontrollably, feeling like I had been plunged into an icy abyss. It turned out, my entire life had been a meticulously crafted lie. 1 On the other side of the wall, the mocking laughter finally died down. Someone else spoke up. “Damn, Liam. You actually manage to intentionally hurt her every time?” “You really must despise Mia, huh?” “Aren’t you terrified she’ll find out the truth about what you did back then?” Liam’s face was obscured by cigarette smoke. His voice, when he finally spoke, was as cold as a harsh winter. “So what if she finds out?” “Permanently destroying her vocal cords was the only way Chloe could win the Golden Ear Award in the music industry.” “Besides, I’ve already promised to marry her. What more could she possibly want?” With that, Liam looked down, gazing with profound devotion at a photo of Chloe on his phone. “My heart will only ever belong to Chloe.” “I would sacrifice absolutely anything for her. Even… someone else’s life!” The room erupted in gasps again, with everyone praising Liam for his incredible devotion. But every single word he spoke pierced directly into my ears. It felt like a massive, invisible hand reached into my chest and viciously twisted my heart. I convulsed in agony, leaning heavily against the wall just to remember how to breathe. Four years ago, I was involved in a horrific car accident on my way to compete in the Golden Ear Awards. When I woke up, not only had I missed the competition entirely, but I was told my vocal cords were irreparably damaged. I fell into a severe depression, becoming incredibly volatile and prone to explosive anger. It was Liam who stayed by my side the entire time, encouraging me, supporting me. On the day I was finally discharged from the hospital, he even dropped to one knee and proposed, swearing he would love me for the rest of his life. But now, I realized it was all a monstrous, calculated lie! My entire body was trembling, and a sharp, agonizing pain radiated from my throat. I stumbled into the kitchen and, with shaking hands, logged into an account I hadn’t touched in four years. The follower count on my singing account, [Silk Melody], hadn’t dropped at all. Every so often, fans would still leave comments, begging to know when I was coming back. From there, I quickly found Chloe’s profile. Unlike four years ago when she was completely unknown, Chloe’s posts now regularly racked up hundreds of thousands of likes. Her most recent post was from three days ago. It showed her at the Paris Opera House, her arm linked affectionately with a man in a tailored black suit. [I just mentioned I wanted to see a show, and he flew me out here to experience the world!] [He said loving someone is like cultivating a rare flower, and I am his most precious bloom.] The comments section was flooded with people gushing about how perfectly matched they were, calling them a match made in heaven. I scrolled down her feed frantically, like a woman possessed. Every single post featured “him.” A “him” who never showed his face. Suddenly, my eyes locked onto a specific post, and my heart slammed to a halt. It was a series of highly suggestive, lust-fueled photos. Taken in a suite at the Hilton. A naked man and woman, strategically covering themselves, posing for mirror selfies. Chloe had written a pinned comment underneath: [His technique is absolutely incredible, and he lasts so long. Every time is pure bliss.] [It’s true what they say: when you find a man, find one with a strong dedication to ‘customer service’.] Her fans were screaming in the comments about how jealous they were, spamming reaction stickers begging for her “luck.” But on the exact night those photos were posted, I permanently lost my mother because I couldn’t speak. 2 A year ago, my mother was involved in a terrible car accident. Because my vocal cords were destroyed, I couldn’t call for help. I stood in the middle of the chaotic accident scene, dropping to my knees and desperately kowtowing to every single passing car. Finally, a kind stranger stopped and helped me rush my mother to the hospital. But we were too late. She didn’t make it. During those agonizing, critical minutes we lost, I sent dozens of frantic text messages to Liam. Because he had once promised me that no matter what, he would always reply to my texts the absolute second he saw them. But that night, I never received a single reply. Because he was busy “servicing” Chloe, utilizing every single ounce of his “technique” in bed. I locked my phone screen. It felt like a literal axe was cleaving my brain in two. The excruciating psychological pain made it impossible to breathe. Slumping against the kitchen counter, I gasped desperately for air. Suddenly, Liam’s panicked voice echoed from behind me. “Mia! Are you okay?!” “Is your throat hurting again?” He gently patted my back, slowly helping me regulate my breathing. “Mia, I told you, I don’t care what your voice sounds like. Even if you can never speak another word for the rest of your life, I will always love you.” Liam pulled me into his arms, his voice thick with tender comfort. I leaned stiffly against his chest, listening to his familiar heartbeat, feeling nothing but profound, nauseating absurdity. It turns out that mouths can lie, and heartbeats can lie too. Liam’s heart was racing, beating so fast I almost could have believed I was the woman he truly loved. But the horrific conversation I had just overheard was permanently burned into my memory. I curled into myself, trembling slightly. “Mia, let me get your medicine, okay?” Liam looked down at me, his eyes overflowing with manufactured concern. He reached up to gently touch my throat, then released me to go grab the first-aid kit. But the very next second. Both of our phones pinged simultaneously. He stopped dead in his tracks, stared at his screen for a few seconds, and then immediately sprinted toward the front door in absolute panic. Without a single word of explanation, his departure was rushed and jarring. I stood frozen in the kitchen. I pulled out my phone and saw that Chloe had just posted a new update. [I just ran into a crazy stalker fan at my hotel! I’m so terrified!] The attached photo showed her looking panicked and frightened. Every single micro-expression on her face was perfectly calculated to make her look incredibly fragile and pitiful. I let out a cynical, self-deprecating laugh as a dull, agonizing ache pulsed through my heart. Through the living room window, I watched Liam sprinting to his car and speeding off like a maniac. So he actually was capable of being this terrified for someone. Without realizing it, tears began streaming down my arms. My body convulsed violently, and I stumbled, collapsing heavily onto the floor. Several minutes later, I slowly forced myself to stand. I dug deep into the back of a kitchen cabinet and pulled out an old business card. [Professor, I want to get treatment for my vocal cords.] [I want to return to the stage.] The reply came almost instantly. [Mia, are you serious?!] [I’m booking you a flight immediately!] [There’s a revolutionary new treatment technique in the US. I know with absolute certainty that you can win the Golden Ear Award!] My professor booked my flight for the very next day. I packed my clothes and shoved the suitcase deep into the back of my closet. Once I finished, I sat blankly in the living room. It wasn’t until late that night that I heard the sound of a key in the lock. Liam stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. “Sorry, sister-in-law. Liam’s in a really bad mood, so he drank a bit too much.” “Please take good care of him.” Liam staggered into the apartment and pulled me into a crushing embrace. But the name slurring from his lips was Chloe’s. “Chloe… I know I was wrong. I never meant to hide the truth about Mia from you.” “I don’t love Mia at all! She isn’t worth a single strand of your hair.” “Chloe, how could you just tease me like that and then leave?” “Do you have any idea how much I’m burning up inside right now?” 3 Liam’s heavy, alcohol-laced breath washed over my neck. Unlike his usual brutal, aggressive demeanor, tonight, Liam was incredibly gentle. I covered my eyes with my hands, tears silently streaming down my temples. Four years ago, filled with nervous anticipation and dreams of a beautiful romance, I gave myself to Liam for the first time. And that very first time, he treated me with such brutal aggression that my body ached for days. But afterward, he actually blamed me. “Mia, your body makes me incredibly uncomfortable.” “Every time we try to do this, you completely kill my mood.” I was naive and inexperienced. Believing him, I kept trying to make it work. Terrified that any unpleasant sound from my ruined throat would ruin his mood, I aggressively suppressed every reaction. But right now, I felt absolutely no pain or discomfort. I only felt an incredible, overwhelming pleasure. And all of this was solely because Liam was currently hallucinating that I was Chloe. How hilariously tragic. I violently wiped away my tears and used every ounce of strength I had to shove Liam to the floor. But he immediately lunged at me again. This time, his eyes focused, and he realized who I was. “Mia?” “Why the hell did you push me?!” He stared at me in pure, unadulterated disbelief. His eyes, glazed with lust, gave him a feral, animalistic look. As if he had finally ripped off the refined, gentlemanly mask he always wore, Liam kissed me with savage, punishing force. I couldn’t break free, and he subjected me to his usual, violent routine. The next morning, Liam finally woke up sober. He rubbed his temples, a flicker of guilt crossing his eyes. “Mia, last night… I drank too much.” “Make sure you take your birth control.” With that, he pulled on a black dress shirt. As he walked toward the bedroom door, he stumbled slightly, accidentally kicking over the massive box of toys I had bought. The small toys spilled out across the floor, some of them accidentally turning on and beginning to vibrate violently. Liam muttered a low curse, right as his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, a soft, genuine smile instantly blooming on his lips, and walked out, shutting the door behind him. The bedroom returned to its dim gloom. Fighting through the physical pain, I unlocked my phone. Chloe had posted a new update. A photo of a pair of red stilettos resting on a perfectly tailored, black suit jacket. [Spent all night lighting fires all over him. I just love watching him burn with desire, yet still refuse to hurt me.] In the dark bedroom, my phone screen slowly timed out and went black. I struggled to my feet, nearly collapsing again, my entire body trembling violently. Once I managed to get dressed, I limped painfully to the bedroom door. Kneeling on the floor, I manually turned off every single vibrating toy and shoved them all back into the box. These toys felt like a physical manifestation of my pathetic, humiliating delusion. I lowered my head. The agonizing, stabbing pain in my heart made it impossible to breathe, and every inhalation felt like thousands of needles piercing my ruined throat. Thank God I was leaving so soon. I carried the heavy box of toys downstairs and threw it directly into the dumpster. Winters in Beijing are brutally cold. I stood by the dumpster for a few minutes, catching my breath. Suddenly, a familiar Maybach sped toward me and screeched to a halt. Liam threw the door open, his face frantic, and clamped his hand around my wrist like a vice. “Mia, get in! We need to go to the hospital right now!” Before I could even struggle, Liam forcefully dragged me into the car. He drove like a maniac, blowing through multiple red lights. When we arrived at the hospital, he dragged me straight to a VIP ward. “Draw her blood! She has the Rh-negative blood type!” 4 In the freezing, sterile hospital room, I clutched my phone, my entire body shaking uncontrollably. It turned out that Chloe had been in a car accident. Early this morning. So Liam, completely disregarding my safety or well-being, dragged me to the hospital solely to act as a human blood bag for Chloe. But Liam! After the car accident four years ago, I was diagnosed with severe anemia. And you knew that perfectly well. The overwhelming stench of disinfectant filled the air. I watched the blood draining rapidly from my arm, my face turning ashen pale. The nurse patiently asked if I was feeling unwell. I shook my head. I literally couldn’t speak a single word. But tears began streaming relentlessly down my face. “Miss, please don’t cry!” “Aren’t you a voluntary donor?” The nurse looked absolutely shocked and instinctively moved to pull the needle out. But Liam immediately barked an order to stop her. “Mia, stop being so unreasonable.” “Someone’s life depends on your blood right now. Stop acting like a spoiled brat!” Liam’s brow was furrowed in deep annoyance, his grip on my wrist painfully tight. He had a tight, reassuring smile on his lips, but his eyes were freezing cold. The nurse was startled by his tone, her hand trembling as she pulled away. I stared up at Liam, and suddenly, a cold, empty smile touched my lips. [Liam Vance, this is the absolute last time you will ever hurt me.] I lowered my head. I didn’t struggle, and I didn’t fight back. It wasn’t until several bags of my blood had been drawn that the nurse finally whispered timidly: “Sir, this should be more than enough to save the pregnant woman who’s hemorrhaging…” Liam frowned deeply. “Pregnant woman?” The nurse nodded. “Yes! We currently have a pregnant patient with Rh-negative blood experiencing severe postpartum hemorrhaging.” “Isn’t she the one you’re here to save?” Liam’s frown deepened into a scowl. Suddenly, a painfully familiar voice echoed from the hallway. “See? I told you!” “I told you Liam would definitely drag Mia here!” “Chloe, I won the bet!” Liam’s friend walked into the room, laughing boisterously. Right behind them was Chloe. Her complexion was perfectly rosy, her makeup was flawless, and she looked absolutely nothing like someone who had just been in a car crash. I sat completely frozen, my head spinning with dizziness from the blood loss. Then I heard Chloe’s sickeningly sweet, whining voice. “Liam, you aren’t mad, are you?” “It’s all their fault! They insisted on making a bet and playing a stupid game.” “I know I was wrong.” Chloe grabbed Liam’s hands and threw herself into his arms. Liam didn’t move a muscle. His eyes were terrifyingly calm. Within seconds, a suffocating silence fell over the entire room. The group finally realized they had crossed a massive line, and genuine fear flickered in their eyes. “Liam, please don’t be mad…” But suddenly, Liam wrapped his arms fiercely around Chloe, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. His voice actually trembled. “Chloe, never, ever make a joke like that again.” “I was… terrified.” In an instant, an explosive ringing erupted in my ears, drowning out all other sound. The couple embracing in front of me looked like a perfect, romantic painting, reducing me to nothing but a pathetic, humiliating clown. I was the one who shouldn’t be here! Using the wall to support my severely weakened body, I slowly walked out of the room, leaving their joyous celebration behind. When I reached the hospital entrance, a torrential downpour had begun. I stumbled blindly into the rain, my clothes instantly soaked through. Rain and tears mingled on my face. The pain in my throat was so intense I could barely breathe. But I felt completely numb. I walked back to the apartment like a hollow, soulless ghost. The moment I unlocked the door, my strength completely vanished, and I collapsed heavily in the entryway. I curled into a tight ball, wrapping my arms desperately around myself. As if that pathetic gesture could offer me some kind of comfort. But my rain-soaked phone suddenly lit up. And the tiny, fragile wall of defense I had struggled so hard to build was ruthlessly annihilated. Chloe had posted a new update. [Just a silly joke, but he was absolutely terrified.] The photo showed the flawless lower half of Liam’s face, gently kissing the corner of her eye. The comments section was flooded with people declaring that only a love this profound was worthy of marriage. Chloe even replied to one of those comments. [Marriage is already in the works!] [He said he’s preparing a massive surprise for me!] With stiff, trembling fingers, I actually ‘liked’ the post. Then, I logged into my [Silk Melody] account. This time, I didn’t use incognito mode. The “Online” indicator for [Silk Melody] lit up. I posted a photo of my boarding pass. [Goodbye, Liam Vance.] … Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Liam excused himself to the restroom and immediately dialed my number. But the call wouldn’t connect. Until a friend sent him a screenshot. “Liam! Mia is leaving the country!” “She might have found out the truth about what happened back then!” The hand holding the phone began to shake violently, and a sudden, inexplicable wave of sheer panic seized his heart. 5 In the past, Liam was absolutely, undeniably convinced that I would never, ever leave him. But in that moment, he was genuinely terrified. In the hospital restroom, his breathing grew ragged as he yanked at his tie, loosening it. But the paralyzing panic in his chest didn’t subside; instead, it mutated into a suffocating dread. In a fit of explosive rage, he punched the mirror. The glass shattered instantly. Blood streamed down his fingers, but he didn’t even seem to notice. When he finally walked out of the restroom, Chloe gasped, covering her mouth in shock. “Liam! What happened to your hand?!” Liam raised his hand, staring blankly at the blood coating his knuckles. He actually felt a bizarre, momentary sense of calm. But looking at the pure terror in Chloe’s eyes, his mind violently flashed back to me. Over the past four years, if he suffered even the most minor, microscopic injury, I would completely lose my mind with worry. Tears would instantly well up in my eyes, and I would clumsily type out furious text messages, scolding him for not taking better care of himself. And then, I would meticulously, gently bandage his wound. Thinking of this, Liam ignored his bleeding hand and dialed the first number in his favorites list again. “The number you have dialed is currently powered off…” He dialed it again, and again, and again. The panic inside Liam grew exponentially. He raised a hand to clutch his chest. It felt like something vital, something foundational, had just permanently vanished. At that exact moment, I fell into a deep, exhausted sleep on the plane. When I finally woke up and walked out of the arrival gate, the very first thing I saw was my professor waiting for me. In an instant, the dam finally broke, and years of suppressed agony and injustice exploded outward. I threw myself into my professor’s arms and sobbed hysterically, telling her absolutely everything about what Liam had done to me. Her eyes blazed with pure, unadulterated fury, her hands balling into tight fists. “Mia, you foolish, foolish girl!” “Why didn’t you tell me you were suffering so much?!” My professor’s eyes grew red as she held me in a fierce, protective embrace. “Don’t worry. I will use absolutely every resource and connection I have to help you!” “The Golden Ear Award this year belongs to you!” My professor was a woman of her word. She immediately secured appointments with the absolute top specialists in the US. “Ms. Harrison, whoever severed your vocal cords did so with the explicit intention of making sure you never recovered.” “I can treat it, but the surgical procedure is going to be unimaginably agonizing.” “We will need to perform the surgery entirely without anesthesia. That is the only possible way to guarantee the maximum restoration of your vocal cord function.” “Are you absolutely certain you want to proceed?” I clenched my fists tightly, but a massive wave of relief washed over me. Thank God. It can be fixed. I nodded, agreeing to the surgery without a microsecond of hesitation. For the next month, I underwent a brutal, agonizing surgery almost every single week. Every single procedure felt like being burned alive and reborn from the ashes. Finally, after a grueling month, I produced my first vocal sound. My voice was clear and crisp, but possessed a subtle, undeniable huskiness. It was entirely different from my previous tone. It carried a profound depth, a texture born from surviving unimaginable suffering. I touched my throat, massive tears rolling down my face. I could finally speak again. The absolute second I regained my voice, I threw myself entirely into vocal training. I practically lived in the music studio, practicing from dawn until dusk. Four years ago, I was robbed of the Golden Ear Award. This time, I absolutely refused to let it slip through my fingers. Fueled by that unyielding determination, I trained relentlessly until exactly one week before the Golden Ear competition. When my professor finally pushed open the door to the practice room. “Mia, I’ve booked your flight back home.” “This time, I know with absolute certainty that you are going to take the Golden Ear Award.” But a flicker of deep anxiety crossed her eyes. “Mia, Liam Vance is a major sponsor for the Golden Ear Awards this year. He’s on the judging panel.” “I’m worried that…” I smiled and gently interrupted her. “Professor, the judging panel for the Golden Ear Awards isn’t just Liam Vance. It’s every single netizen in the entire country.” “I believe absolute talent will conquer everything else.” My professor smiled warmly and walked over to hug me. “Mia, there is one more thing I need to tell you.” “For the past few months, Liam Vance has been relentlessly hunting for any trace of you.” “When you return to the country, there’s a very high probability he will find out immediately.” Liam was looking for me? Hadn’t he ruined my life enough? Was he trying to ensure I was actually dead? I leaned against my professor’s shoulder, my heart turning to ice. I felt like I had been violently dragged back to a few months ago. Back when I was trapped in the suffocating delusion of his “love,” serving as nothing more than prey for him to maliciously torture. But this time, I absolutely refused to be his prey ever again.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391860”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During the Lunar New Year, my husband lost twenty thousand dollars playing cards in a single night. That was the hard-earned money we had saved up by living frugally while working away from home all year. It was also our daughter’s tuition, my father’s surgery fund, and our family’s living expenses for the coming year. My husband knelt outside our bedroom door all night, begging for my forgiveness. I cried the entire night. Finally, I dug out our daughter’s hundred dollars of New Year’s money and handed it to him: “Go back and keep gambling tonight.” 1 “Wife, I was wrong, I was really wrong! Please forgive me just this once, I swear I’ll never gamble again!” When I took out our daughter’s New Year’s money and told him to keep playing, he frantically slapped his own face and made promises. Clearly, my husband not only knew he was wrong, but he was also terrified. But I grabbed his wrist and told him with a serious expression that he must keep playing tonight. Agitated, my husband went to the kitchen and grabbed a meat cleaver, his eyes red and swollen. “Wife, I’m really done gambling! Let me prove it to you!” With that, he raised the cleaver, ready to chop off his own hand. I quickly snatched the cleaver from his hand, threw it far away, then held his shoulders and said: “I believe you, and I forgive you.” It wasn’t that I was soft-hearted. It was that my husband had been invited to a gathering by his so-called “friends” last night. If friends play a friendly game of cards for three or five bucks and win or lose a few hundred dollars, that’s within reason. But losing twenty thousand dollars in one night? There was only one explanation. My husband had been set up! Hearing that I forgave him, a glimmer of light finally returned to my husband’s eyes. He wiped his tears and said: “Wife, I’m going to pack my bags right now and go find work at a factory.” Seeing the self-blame and regret filling his eyes, I stopped him again. “Our daughter’s tuition is due after the holiday, and your dad needs surgery. Even if you leave to find work tonight, it won’t solve the problem.” My husband turned deathly pale, looking even more regretful. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. I smiled and said: “So, listen to me. Take this hundred dollars and go find the people you played cards with last night. I’m going with you.” When I led my devastated husband to his friend, Kevin, he was still playing a game of “Zha Jinhua” (a popular Chinese card game similar to Three-Card Brag or Poker) with a group of people. Seeing my husband, Kevin immediately flashed a smug smile. “Hey, Arthur! You want to play again today? Come on, come on, we’re exactly one person short.” Kevin and my husband, Arthur, were elementary school classmates. He dropped out in middle school to work but came back home shortly after because it was too hard. He spent his days idling around our hometown and couldn’t even find a wife. Every Lunar New Year, Kevin would team up with a few other idlers in town, shamelessly using old connections to invite people who returned home for the holidays to “gatherings.” I had warned my husband long ago to keep his distance from Kevin. But my husband was a simple, honest man. Kevin used their shared history as elementary school classmates and childhood friends to drag him to the card table. Hearing that Kevin wanted him to play again, my husband trembled all over and looked at me timidly. I pulled my husband behind me, gave him a reassuring look, and smiled at Kevin. “My husband isn’t playing today. Mind if I take a seat and play a few rounds with you guys?” “Wow, this is rare. I didn’t expect a good woman like you, Chloe, to be interested in cards. Great! Quick, make room for Chloe.” Kevin was a bit surprised, but mostly delighted. He immediately ordered someone to give up their seat for me. I glanced at the card table and noticed they were playing for very low stakes right now. A one-dollar ante, with a ten-dollar cap. In a game like this, It’s absolutely impossible to lose twenty thousand dollars in one night! After I took my seat, Kevin impatiently told the dealer to deal me three cards. Without even looking at my cards, I immediately bet the ten-dollar cap “blind.” Everyone at the table was stunned. The dealer, a guy nicknamed “Baldy Wu,” frowned in displeasure. “Chloe, do you even know how to play? Who starts by betting the max blind?!” In a capped game like this, once someone bets the maximum limit “blind,” everyone else must either fold or call the max bet, and then immediately show their cards. You could say this style of play is like going all-in right off the bat. It relies purely on luck and takes all the fun out of the game. Most people hate it. I smiled and said: “I’m just a woman, I don’t know how to play anyway. I can only gamble on my luck with you guys.” Kevin rolled his eyes at Baldy Wu, speaking up for me: “Chloe didn’t break any rules! She can play however she wants. What are you whining about?!” Baldy Wu immediately scratched his head and quickly changed his tune, offering me an awkward smile. “True, I spoke out of turn. Please don’t mind me, Chloe.” I could tell Kevin and Baldy Wu were secretly communicating through signals. But I didn’t care at all. I smiled and asked if they were calling. There were six people at the table, including me. Two people looked at their cards, muttered about having a bad hand, and folded. “I’ll call ten, just to keep Chloe company,” Kevin smiled broadly, not looking at his cards either. “Then I’ll call too, and test my luck against Chloe’s.” Baldy Wu carefully peeked at his cards, hesitated for a moment, and chose to call. Another guy also chose to call ten dollars. After the three of them called, we all revealed our three cards. My luck was good: a pair of 5s. Kevin’s highest card was a Queen, Baldy Wu’s highest was an Ace, and the other guy’s highest was a King. I won. The winner deals the next round. After clumsily shuffling the deck, I dealt the second hand. When it was my turn to act, I chose not to look at my cards again and directly bet the ten-dollar max blind. Two people still chose to fold, while Kevin and the other two called. After revealing the cards, I won again. Perhaps it was a burst of incredible luck, but I won ten hands in a row. I had won back three hundred and five dollars of the twenty thousand my husband had lost. Baldy Wu was starting to look unhappy. He glared at me, asking suspiciously, “This is bizarre. Chloe, how do you keep winning? Is this really your first time playing cards?!” I spread my hands and smiled faintly. “Doesn’t everyone say beginners always have good luck? What’s the saying? Right, beginner’s luck.” Kevin snickered. “Since your luck is so good, Chloe, want to change the rules?” That was exactly the sentence I was waiting for. “Change to what?” I asked calmly. Kevin and Baldy Wu exchanged a look, then said to me: “A one-dollar ante is too small. Let’s make it ten dollars. And let’s remove the ten-dollar cap. No limit, how about that?” Just as I was about to agree, my husband grabbed my arm. “Wife! Let’s stop playing.” I saw fear in my husband’s eyes. It was obvious that the reason he lost twenty thousand in one night was definitely related to playing with “no limit.” “Oh come on, Arthur. Chloe is on a hot streak. Don’t be a buzzkill.” “Yeah, when you were playing yesterday, Chloe didn’t come and interrupt you.” “Chloe, who wears the pants in your family? Arthur seems pretty soft. It’s probably better if you’re in charge.” Before I could speak, Kevin and the others, seemingly terrified I would stop playing, started throwing passive-aggressive remarks to provoke me. I feigned anger and yelled at my husband: “When I’m playing, you just stand there and watch, you coward! If you say one more word, I’m divorcing you!” My husband instantly fell silent. He bit his lip and stepped aside, his eyes full of helpless resignation. I turned my gaze back to Kevin. “We’ll play by your new rules. Ten-dollar ante, no limit!” “Chloe is so straightforward!” They all gave me a thumbs up, praising me for being bold and not petty and hesitant like other women. I laughed heartily. Before starting the new rules, I carefully reviewed the rules of Zha Jinhua with them again. With the new rules, I couldn’t be the dealer anymore. By drawing high cards, Baldy Wu became the dealer for the first round. It seemed that after I won ten rounds in a row, they were getting suspicious. After all, no one can be lucky forever. But without evidence, they couldn’t say much. Moreover, even if women play cards, it’s usually Mahjong. Almost none know how to play Zha Jinhua. Soon, Baldy Wu dealt me three cards. This time, when it was my turn to act, I didn’t bet blind. I looked at my cards and saw a 10-Jack-Queen straight. However, I immediately folded my cards. “I fold.” “Wait, Chloe, what kind of hand do you have? Why aren’t you calling?” Seeing me fold, everyone at the table was stunned. Baldy Wu looked especially shocked. I smiled and said, “Maybe my luck ran out. The cards were too low.” Baldy Wu frowned but didn’t say anything more. They bet a few rounds and then showed their hands. The winning hand was just a pair of 9s. If I hadn’t folded my straight, I would have won. But I knew that if I kept betting, I would definitely be the one to lose in the end. In the following rounds, the worst hand I was dealt was a straight. I was never dealt a weak hand. It was mostly flushes, straight flushes, and even three-of-a-kind. But every time, I just took one look and folded immediately, absolutely refusing to bet. “Chloe, what kind of strategy is this? Before, you were betting blind every hand, and now you’re folding every hand. This is getting boring,” Kevin couldn’t help but complain. I spread my hands. “The cards are bad, what can I do?” Baldy Wu said in dissatisfaction, “If you keep doing this, we’re not playing with you anymore. It’s really boring. You should just go play Mahjong with the women and let Arthur play.” I quickly clasped my hands together in a pleading gesture. “Please, no. If I get a decent hand next round, I promise I’ll call.” Baldy Wu huffed and dealt another round. I picked up my cards and saw that the highest card was an Ace, the second was a 10, and the third was a 5. But I couldn’t help a hint of a smile. When it was my turn, I directly bet ten dollars. “Ooh, Chloe has a good hand this time.” Seeing me smile, Kevin smiled meaningfully. “Since Chloe finally decided to call, I’ll play along.” With that, he bet ten dollars. “I call.” “I’ll call too.” Baldy Wu and the others also chose to call. But after two rounds of betting, everyone revealed their cards. Surprisingly, I actually won. I won over a hundred dollars again. I happily collected the money and became the dealer. “Chloe, can you shuffle a little faster?” Seeing me clumsily shuffling the cards, taking forever to finish, Baldy Wu rushed me. I smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, I’m clumsy. You’re all big strong men, just bear with me.” “You’re so demanding. Chloe doesn’t usually play, so what if she shuffles slowly? Are you in a rush to get reincarnated?!” Kevin was still taking my side, snapping back at Baldy Wu. I apologized while shuffling. However, just as I finished and was about to deal, Baldy Wu suddenly stopped me. “Wait!” I asked in confusion, “What is it?” “Cut the deck!” Baldy Wu said somewhat impatiently. He snatched the deck from my hands and haphazardly cut it three times. Once he finished, I smiled and dealt the cards. “Blind bet: a hundred!” This time, I didn’t look at my cards again and went back to betting blind with my eyes closed. “You’re doing this again?!” The group groaned in annoyance. I smiled. “I feel like my luck is back. Betting blind!” “I call!” But this time, surprisingly, no one folded. They all chose to call. “You think I’m scared? I call two hundred!” Baldy Wu peeked at his cards, his pupils shrinking imperceptibly, and slammed two hundred dollars on the table. “I’ll bet a hundred blind too.” Kevin smiled, his eyes turning into slits, without looking at his cards either. When it was my turn again, I counted my money. I still had over five hundred dollars left. So, I took a deep breath and slammed all the money onto the table. “I’ll bet five hundred blind!” Seeing my aggressive move, they were all slightly surprised. But after checking their cards, they all put on a determined expression, gritted their teeth, and said, “I call!” Seeing that they all called, I let out a sigh of relief. Because from this moment on, the real game had just begun. And this was the final, do-or-die round! “I raise to a thousand.” After another round of betting, it was my turn again. I glanced at them and spoke calmly. “Wait.” Kevin, sitting to my left, didn’t immediately call. He waved his hand to stop me. I looked over. “What’s wrong?” A mocking smile appeared on Kevin’s face. “Chloe, it’s not enough to just say you call. You have to put the money on the table. Do you even have a thousand dollars right now?” “Yeah, stop blowing hot air. You need to show us cold, hard cash. I could say I’m betting blind for a million.” Baldy Wu glared at me, his eyes full of hostility. It seemed they had already thoroughly investigated our family’s situation and knew that the twenty thousand my husband lost last night was our entire savings. Their enthusiastic invitation for me to join the game earlier was just a ploy to squeeze the last remaining pennies out of us. “Of course I have it, just not in cash.” I had prepared for this. Calmly, I pulled out my phone and showed them my bank account balance. Exactly twenty thousand dollars! “Hehe, didn’t expect Chloe to have a secret stash.” Seeing the balance, Kevin’s eyes lit up, and he teased me. Baldy Wu also looked delighted and complimented me: “Who would have thought? Chloe is loaded. You can tell she’s a woman who knows how to manage a household!” I smiled but didn’t explain. Because this twenty thousand was not my secret stash. My husband and I never kept secrets from each other when it came to our finances. This was the money I had scraped together by maxing out every single online loan app I could find on the way here. Thank goodness my credit was good, otherwise the twenty thousand my husband lost would have been gone forever. “Wife! Let’s stop playing, please? If we lose, we’ll be crushed by debt!” However, seeing that I was about to wager the loan money I just borrowed, Arthur rushed forward to stop me in a panic. I glared at him. “Shut up! You’re cursing me to lose before the cards are even revealed! Do you want to die?!” “I…” Arthur’s bloodshot eyes didn’t dare meet mine. He immediately lowered his head. Just as he was about to speak again to persuade me, he was interrupted by Kevin and the others. “Arthur, I don’t want to criticize you, but your kind of interference is taboo at the card table. Chloe’s luck has already turned; how could she possibly lose?” “Exactly! Chloe is playing great, why are you interrupting? Who knows, maybe when the cards are revealed, she’ll win it all back.” As they spoke, their eyes were full of mockery. I frowned. “Enough, ignore him. Let’s continue. Are you guys calling or not?” “Hehe, no rush.” Baldy Wu wasn’t in a hurry anymore. After a sinister chuckle, he suggested that since the money was in my account, what if I lost and refused to transfer the money? To be safe, it would be best to convert it all into chips and settle the cash with the house manager later. I said “hmm” and agreed to the suggestion. I immediately went and converted all the money into chips. “Since Chloe is so enthusiastic, I’ll call.” Seeing that I had my chips, Kevin smiled broadly and called. “Never mind, I fold.” “This is getting too big, I fold too.” “Sigh, can’t afford to call.” Seeing that we had raised the stakes to over a thousand, the other three guys unwillingly folded. “Look at you weaklings. You’re scared of a thousand dollars?” Baldy Wu curled his lip, looking at them with contempt, then turned to me. “I call.” “Five thousand!” I still hadn’t looked at my hole cards. I continued to bet blind, and I raised. “Chloe, aren’t you going to look at your cards?” Kevin was a bit surprised and reminded me. I shook my head. “No. I’m just betting on my luck against you guys.” Kevin chuckled. “Alright, then I’ll risk my life to keep the gentleman—no, the beautiful lady—company. I won’t look either. I’ll bet five thousand blind with you.” “You two dare to bet five thousand blind. I’ve already seen my cards, why would I be afraid of you?” Baldy Wu snorted coldly, then shoved a pile of chips forward. “Ten thousand!” I could tell he was trying to goad me. Right now, I only had fourteen thousand dollars left. After hesitating for a moment. I pushed the remaining fourteen thousand onto the table all at once. Gasp… When I pushed all the remaining fourteen thousand dollars in, the surrounding crowd collectively gasped in cold air. “Chloe has lost her mind! This is the first time I’ve seen someone bet this big while playing blind.” “Yeah, she’s desperate. I heard her husband lost twenty thousand last night. She probably wants to win it all back to break even.” “But she doesn’t seem to know how to play! Who plays Zha Jinhua like this? Even if she’s lucky and gets a good hand, she won’t have the money to keep betting later.” “Tsk, tsk. Chloe doesn’t know the rules. She’s probably done for.” Since earlier, our game had attracted a large crowd of onlookers. Seeing the stakes get higher and higher, they couldn’t help but start whispering among themselves. Actually, everything they said was right. My behavior was a classic symptom of being completely tilted. Even the most level-headed person, once they sit at the card table and see red, will uncontrollably lose their minds. They won’t stop until they’ve lost everything. Moreover, my style of play… anyone who understands even a little bit about the rules of the card table wouldn’t play like this. “All of you shut up! Chloe has good card etiquette! I call!” Hearing the crowd’s whispers, Kevin rolled his eyes at them, yelled, and then chose to call. Although he looked angry, anyone could see the smugness on his rat-like face. “Don’t you know the rule ‘a true gentleman watches the game in silence’? If I hear anyone else gossiping, don’t blame me for getting nasty.” Baldy Wu also glared fiercely at the crowd, shaking his fist and speaking in an annoyed tone. As he finished speaking, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he also chose to call. Neither of them folded, and neither chose to reveal their cards. According to the rules of Zha Jinhua, if there are three people at the table and someone is betting blind, you cannot reveal the cards. You either choose to keep calling or fold. Only when there are two people left can the cards be revealed. This rule is very tricky. Because without even needing to cheat, the people running the scam can use the blatant tactic of “two ghosts crushing one person” to force them into a corner. As long as the two of them collude beforehand, regardless of their hands, as long as they have enough capital, they can keep calling and betting endlessly. And the person being pressured, no matter how good their hand is, as long as they don’t have as much capital as the opponents, they can never reveal the cards. Ultimately, they can only fold in bitter resentment. Once they fold, all the money they previously bet goes entirely to the two “ghosts.” There have been tragedies before where a desperate gambler holding three Aces was drained of their entire fortune, had no money left to call, and jumped off a building in a fit of rage. Playing up to this point, I could confirm it. Kevin and Baldy Wu were teaming up to run a scam! I had heard long ago that these idlers specifically targeted men who worked away from home. When our men returned for the Lunar New Year, they would use various methods to drag them to the card table and collude to swindle our men’s hard-earned money. Since they were willing to screw over their own friends for money. I didn’t need to be polite with them. “Chloe, it’s your turn to act again. If you have money, hurry up and call. If you don’t, you have to fold.” At this point, Baldy Wu felt he had me dead to rights. He couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore, raising his eyebrows and rushing me. “Chloe, it seems you’ve used up all your chips. Without money, you have to fold.” Kevin also chimed in with his passive-aggressive tone. The crowd’s eyes all turned to me, wanting to know if I had any money left. Only my husband’s eyes were filled with absolute despair. Others didn’t know, but my husband knew very well. We didn’t have a single cent left. However, I wasn’t panicked at all. Under the gazes of the crowd, I slowly stood up and said softly, “Give me fifteen minutes.” Seeing that I didn’t immediately call, Baldy Wu chuckled sinisterly. “Looks like you’re out of money.” “Chloe, you have to play within your means. No one will laugh at you if you fold now. People will just call you stupid. You only had twenty thousand dollars, yet you dared to play this big with us. I don’t know if there’s something wrong with your brain.” Kevin stopped pretending too, crossing his arms and mocking me directly. I ignored them and went straight to the manager of the underground casino. “You offer loan sharking here, right?” The manager seemed to have been waiting for me. He looked up and smiled. “We do. But do you know the rules?” I nodded. “Nine-out, thirteen-return (A common usurious loan term: borrowing 10, receiving 9, and repaying 13). Just tell me how much you can lend me.” The manager directly pulled out a stack of agreements. “Sign these, and I can give you a hundred.” ($100,000) I glanced down and noticed these agreements were some kind of organ donation agreements. This was exactly why they dared to offer loan sharking to gamblers who had lost everything. “Wife, you can’t sign these agreements!” But just as I picked up the pen to sign, Arthur rushed over and desperately grabbed my hand. I said calmly, “If I don’t sign, I won’t have the money to keep playing.” “Wife, let’s fold, okay?! We’ll forfeit the money. Even if we have an extra twenty thousand in debt, it’s fine! I’ll go work with you, and we’ll pay it back slowly!” Arthur choked on his tears as he pleaded with me. I took a deep breath and shook my head. “It’s too late. If we don’t keep calling, what about our daughter’s tuition? What about your dad’s surgery? How will we survive after the New Year? If we gamble it all, there’s still a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, our entire forty thousand is gone.” This is the typical gambler’s mindset. This kind of thinking is completely wrong. Because gambling it all usually means stepping into the abyss with no point of return. Taking a step back, although the loss is huge, at least there’s still a way out. But I’m different from those gamblers. The one falling into the abyss today definitely won’t be me. “I don’t want it! I don’t want any of it! I just want you to be alive and well! It’s not too late to fold now! I’m begging you!” My husband panicked even more. He clearly realized that if we kept betting, it was certain death! With that, he fell to his knees in front of me, pleading bitterly. “Chloe, listen to your husband. You’re not playing cards anymore; you’re gambling with your life.” “Yeah, stop now. It’s not too late to turn back. Once you sign those agreements, there’s no turning back.” Perhaps out of pity for my husband, and unable to watch me walk into eternal damnation, many onlookers also started trying to persuade me. They were right. I was gambling with my life! “Arthur, get up. I’ve made my decision. Stop trying to stop me.” After helping Arthur up, I bowed slightly to the crowd to express my gratitude, then signed the agreement and inked my thumbprint. “Sigh, Chloe, why are you doing this? You’re not the only one who lost. We all lost too. There’s no need to risk your life.” “Chloe, listen to me, stop calling. We can afford to lose forty thousand; worst case, we start over. But if you borrow another hundred thousand and lose, you’ll never recover.” Seeing that I had already signed the agreement, everyone expressed their regret. It was exactly because I knew almost everyone here had lost money that I insisted on doing this. Anyone who returned home for the Lunar New Year from working out of town was practically invited by Kevin and Baldy Wu. Through their colluded scams, some lost as little as ten thousand, while others lost no less than my husband. I heard from Arthur that two days ago, someone who lost fifty thousand drank poison, leaving behind a widow and an orphan. “Here are ninety thousand in chips. If you win, you owe me a hundred and thirty thousand. If you lose, you know what you’ll be using to pay it back.” The loan shark manager didn’t care about our drama. Seeing that I had signed and fingerprinted, he immediately handed me ninety thousand in chips, not forgetting to remind me. Of course, he was referring to the “nine-out, thirteen-return” rule. I said “hmm,” took the chips, and returned to the card table. “Ninety thousand, still blind!” Once I returned to the table, the smiles vanished from Kevin and Baldy Wu’s faces. They clearly hadn’t expected that a woman like me would not only refuse to back down and fold, but would even take out a high-interest loan to fight them to the bitter end. I knew they probably still had some money left, but definitely not much. So, I shoved the entire ninety thousand in chips forward in one go. This time, it was their turn to gamble their lives against mine. “Chloe, is it really necessary to play this big?” Baldy Wu’s expression suddenly became serious. He narrowed his eyes and frowned. “Chloe, playing this big really isn’t necessary. Why don’t you look at your cards and think about it?” Kevin didn’t dare use his passive-aggressive tone anymore. He offered a dry laugh. He was obviously getting nervous. My gaze swept over their faces as I sneered, “Cut the crap. Just tell me if you’re calling or not. If you can’t afford it, fold. If you don’t have money, go sign an agreement and borrow it, just like I did!” “Hehe, we’re not like you. There’s no need to sign those kinds of agreements.” Baldy Wu’s cheek twitched. Then he looked at Kevin and said, “Why don’t you fold? I’ll keep going against her.” Kevin immediately glared. “Why should I fold?! If anyone folds, it should be you!” With that, unable to hold back, he picked up his cards and looked at them. He stopped betting blind. I noticed that the moment he saw his cards, a flash of delight appeared deep in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up. It looked like his hand was very strong. “You idiot! Could your hand possibly be better than mine? Listen to me, fold right now, give me the rest of your money, and I’ll reveal the cards!” Baldy Wu slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide as saucers, yelling with obvious threat. “Stop arguing, you two! If you’re going to call, do it quickly. If not, fold and get off the table! Do you think we’re stupid?! You two are blatantly colluding right here!” Seeing them pretending to fight but actually exchanging signals, I immediately called them out. However, judging by their posturing, the hands they held were probably not weak. They both wanted to use their own cards to match against mine. And looking at the situation, the money they had on them wasn’t enough to cover the ninety thousand. “Exactly! Call if you’re going to call! If you say one more word to collude, it counts as cheating!” “I thought something was off with you guys. Are you running a scam? If you two say one more word, you should both fold!” Their blatant behavior immediately sparked public outrage. The onlookers who had lost money to them couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward to accuse them. Faced with the public outrage, the previously blustering Baldy Wu immediately backed down. “Who’s cheating?! You can’t just say things like that! I don’t have enough money on me either. Let me scrape some together.” After weakly yelling at the crowd, Baldy Wu’s gaze turned to the three people who were playing at the table earlier. “Lend me all your money. I guarantee a win.” With that, he covered his cards and showed them to the three of them. Seeing Baldy Wu’s cards, all three looked delighted, their expressions clearly saying “it’s a sure win,” and they all reached for their wallets to lend him money. Since the three of them had folded and left the table early on, showing them the cards wasn’t technically breaking the rules. “Wait!” However, right at that moment, Kevin interrupted their attempt to lend the money. “If you’re going to lend money, you should lend it to me. I’m the one who’s guaranteed to win.” Kevin shot a disdainful look at Baldy Wu and said immediately. “If you show them your cards too, that counts as cheating!” As soon as he finished speaking, I interjected, staring at him. The reason was simple: Baldy Wu had already shown them his cards. If Kevin showed them his as well, the reactions of the three guys would indicate whose hand was stronger. That would be against the rules. “Hmph, you have to lend the money to me anyway, or you’ll regret it.” Kevin also knew that doing so would break the rules, so he could only snort. The three guys looked conflicted, glancing between Baldy Wu and Kevin, unable to make a decision for a moment. It seemed Baldy Wu’s hand was indeed very strong, but not unbeatable. Seeing this, I quickly offered them a suggestion: “You can choose to lend half to each of them.” “Half it is. Hurry up.”

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My boyfriend’s roommate suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident and developed a severe case of identity dysmorphia. He spends his days staring into the mirror, calling himself “Arthur.” But Arthur is my boyfriend’s name. He genuinely believes he is Arthur, which means he also believes I am his girlfriend, and he constantly sends me highly inappropriate messages. I awkwardly showed my boyfriend a shirtless mirror selfie his roommate just sent me. But he just begged me to endure it a little longer: “Julian only got into that accident because of me. I can’t afford the legal settlement if his family sues. Just play along and humor him for me, please?” Later, separated only by a single door. Enduring it became incredibly difficult. Even my muffled cries were completely shattered by Julian. 1 Waiting outside the emergency room with Arthur, his hands were ice-cold with fear. He kept muttering frantically under his breath: “I didn’t mean to, I swear. I was just replying to a text…” I didn’t catch everything he said, but I tried my best to comfort him: “I heard the injuries aren’t life-threatening. Don’t worry, if there’s a financial settlement, I’ll help you figure it out.” However, my words did absolutely nothing to calm Arthur down. It wasn’t until the surgery was over and his roommate finally opened his eyes in the recovery room. Arthur snapped out of his daze and sprinted to the bedside. “Julian! You’re awake!” “Thank God you’re okay!” But Julian’s reaction was incredibly bizarre. He frowned, tilting his head as he scrutinized my boyfriend. After a long, tense silence, he finally spoke, his voice dripping with an oppressive, chilling authority: “Who are you?” My boyfriend froze in shock: “Me? I’m your roommate, Arthur.” A cold, uncanny smile spread across Julian’s face. His eyes flashed with pure mockery: “Where did this pathetic imposter come from?” “I am Arthur.” 2 According to the doctors, Arthur’s—or rather, Julian’s—condition was incredibly complicated. During the crash, Julian was in the passenger seat and suffered severe head trauma. Because Arthur, sitting in the driver’s seat, was the last person Julian interacted with before losing consciousness… Upon waking up, Julian developed a profound, catastrophic cognitive dissonance. Julian genuinely believed he was Arthur. Because they were close roommates, Julian knew everything about Arthur’s life. As a result, Julian started speaking with Arthur’s exact cadence and mannerisms. He transformed from his naturally aloof, introverted self into someone highly talkative and outgoing. He perfectly internalized Arthur’s zodiac sign, his birthday, and even his entire social circle. Arthur frantically asked the doctors when Julian would recover. The doctors admitted there was no immediate medical solution. The best course of action was to discharge him and let him reintegrate into a normal routine. Hopefully, his self-awareness would eventually reboot, and he’d remember his true identity. But days turned into weeks. Julian showed absolutely zero signs of improvement; if anything, his behavior became even more extreme. 3 My final class before winter break ended. I stood outside the boys’ dorms, waiting for Arthur. The winter snow fell heavily, slipping down my collar and making me shiver violently. Suddenly, a pair of large hands wrapped a black-and-white checkered scarf snugly around my neck. A familiar scent washed over me. It was the crisp, cedarwood cologne I had specifically picked out for Arthur. “Arthur?” My heart leapt with joy. Before I could turn around, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me completely into his embrace. His hot breath ghosted across my ear, standing impossibly close, sending a shiver down my spine. His long arms wrapped around my waist, his fingers intertwining with mine. The heat radiating from his palms felt like it was seeping straight into my heart. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” “Why are your hands so cold?” That voice… that wasn’t Arthur. I froze completely. Looking up, I saw Arthur practically sprinting down the dorm steps. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw us, his face turning an ugly shade of green. “Julian, why the fuck are you hugging my girlfriend?!” 4 Starting that day, Julian began relentlessly texting me. At first, it was just mundane, everyday updates. Nothing too crazy. I completely ignored him. I assumed that if I gave him the silent treatment long enough, he’d eventually get bored and stop. But Julian only escalated. I awkwardly handed my phone to Arthur. The illuminated screen displayed a blatant, post-shower selfie of Julian’s perfectly sculpted abs. Even though his face was cropped out, the distinctive flame tattoo on his forearm made it undeniably clear who it was. “This is getting out of hand. I’m really uncomfortable with this.” Arthur let out a heavy sigh. “Mia, please, listen to me.” “I know how insane this is, but I talked to a lawyer the other day. If the Thorne family decides to pursue legal action, I’m going to owe a catastrophic amount of money.” “I was the one driving when the crash happened. The Thorne family is insanely wealthy and powerful; I literally cannot afford to piss Julian off.” Arthur hesitated for a second before continuing: “Could you just… play along for a little bit? If Julian recovers quickly, he probably won’t press charges against me.” I was absolutely floored by Arthur’s suggestion. “Are you out of your mind?!” He looked at me with pathetic, puppy-dog eyes: “Mia, I’m begging you.” “Didn’t you tell me the other day that you’d help me figure this out?” “But…” I desperately tried to reason with him. “Look, Julian doesn’t have a girlfriend. I’m sure he just wants someone to talk to; he won’t do anything crazy.” “Besides, if Julian actually tries anything inappropriate, I am your actual boyfriend! I’ll be the first one to step in and beat the shit out of him!” He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “You’re the best, Mia.” As he spoke, Arthur actively unblocked Julian’s contact on my phone. 5 That evening, I was supposed to video chat with Arthur. I was lying on my stomach in bed, wearing a simple nightgown, and dialed his number. “Hey, Mia.” On the other end of the screen, Arthur was aggressively mashing his keyboard, deep into a video game. His eyes were glued entirely to his monitor. But I couldn’t ignore the intense, piercing gaze shooting toward me from right behind Arthur’s shoulder. Julian was leaning casually against a wardrobe, staring at me with freezing, predatory eyes. A bizarre, deeply uncomfortable feeling washed over me. I’m literally talking to my actual boyfriend, why does it feel like I’m being caught cheating?! “Arthur, could you pause your game for a second…” Arthur turned around. He saw Julian pick up his phone, yank off his headset, and yell: “You guys talk, my match just started.” Before turning back to his game, Arthur actually had the audacity to wink at me. I glared angrily, my eyes locking with Julian’s. Those dark, abyssal eyes were staring straight through me. My face flushed bright red. I instinctively yanked the neckline of my nightgown higher and blurted out: “I am not your…” I swallowed the word “girlfriend” before it could escape. I remembered Arthur’s pathetic pleading. I had no choice but to suppress the intense disgust and awkwardness I felt. Julian retracted his gaze and adjusted the phone’s camera angle. “You blocked me, but you’re video chatting with my roommate.” “Why are you avoiding me?” Why am I avoiding you?! Because I am literally not your girlfriend! “I’m not avoiding you. I just… had something to ask your roommate.” I sighed helplessly, realizing this was the perfect opportunity to express my boundaries. “Also, could you please stop sending me those kinds of pictures?” “What kind?” Julian raised an eyebrow. “The ab pictures… and the ones where you aren’t wearing…” My face was burning. “Just stop!” “Fine.” This time, Julian agreed shockingly fast. But he immediately laid out a new condition. “Ever since I was discharged, you haven’t come to see me once.” “If I don’t send those pictures to bait you, you wouldn’t even talk to me, would you?” My ears burned even hotter. This was getting completely out of hand. I was forced to bite the bullet and continue pacifying him: “As long as you promise not to send inappropriate pictures, I promise I’ll keep talking to you.” “And… I’ll come see you.” “Then how about tonight?” Julian’s gaze flicked casually toward Arthur. Arthur was completely absorbed in his game, acting like a braindead dog, aggressively fighting a boss battle. He had absolutely zero idea what kind of predatory, borderline-insane things his usually aloof roommate was saying to his girlfriend. 6 It was almost time to meet Julian. I had sent Arthur multiple texts and called him several times, but got absolutely no response. With no other options, I had to go to the meetup alone. Julian’s car was parked directly beneath my dorm building. Being confined in such a small space with him was incredibly suffocating and awkward. Julian, on the other hand, looked perfectly relaxed. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater—another exact copy of Arthur’s wardrobe—looking incredibly sharp and poised, showing absolutely no signs of being a recently discharged trauma patient. Watching how smoothly and flawlessly Julian drove, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. If he has a traumatic brain injury and amnesia, how is he driving this perfectly?! It was bizarre. While stopped at a red light, Julian suddenly turned to look at me. “What’s wrong?” His intense stare gave me goosebumps. Beneath his dark eyes, there were churning, predatory undercurrents that felt like they were trying to swallow me whole. Julian didn’t answer. He suddenly leaned completely over the center console, reaching toward the side of my face. I instinctively flinched backward. My palms were sweating profusely. But he was just reaching over to buckle my seatbelt for me. I had absolutely no idea that his gaze had briefly, intentionally locked onto someone standing right behind the car. Outside the window. Arthur, arm-in-arm with a younger girl, was standing frozen on the crosswalk, his jaw practically on the pavement, watching everything happening inside the car. 7 The car pulled into the driveway of a luxurious, multi-story townhouse in the suburbs. This was Julian’s home. “Thirsty?” Seeing me hovering awkwardly in the entryway, Julian offered me a bottle of coconut water. “No, I…” I was just about to invent an excuse to decline. Julian suddenly remembered something, pulled his arm back, and tossed the bottle back into the fridge. “Almost forgot. You’re on your period.” My brain completely short-circuited, and I froze in place. Hold on. How the hell did Julian know I was on my period?! That was way too accurate for a random guess! “Why aren’t you sitting down?” Julian pulled me over to the plush sofa. He was over 6’2″, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even sitting casually on the sofa, the oppressive, dominant aura he radiated was impossible to ignore. I intentionally sat a safe distance away from him, desperately trying to keep my head clear. And, more importantly, to state exactly why I was here: “Julian, I need to talk to you.” “We can talk about absolutely anything, except breaking up.” Julian lowered his eyes, his fingers gently, rhythmically tracing the pulse point on my wrist. Furious that he had perfectly anticipated my move, I snapped: “Fine! Let’s talk about something else.” “I came here today to tell you the truth. You were in a car crash, you suffered a traumatic brain injury, and you have identity dysmorphia. You think you are Arthur. But the truth is, Arthur is your roommate, and I am Arthur’s girlfriend.” Julian let out a lazy, cynical chuckle: “You say I’m not Arthur. Do you have any proof?” “Check your ID.” Julian pulled out his wallet and handed me his ID card. But the card clearly displayed Julian’s photo expertly photoshopped onto Arthur’s personal information. I didn’t even have to guess; this was 100% Arthur’s doing. If you looked closely, you could even tell the photo was slightly crooked. It was such a pathetic, obvious fake, yet Julian actually bought it. My shoulders slumped in total defeat. I honestly had no idea how else to explain it to him. Suddenly, Julian’s voice drifted lazily from above my head: “I actually have a way to prove it. But I’m going to need your cooperation.” I grabbed onto the offer like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline: “Tell me! I’ll do whatever it takes!” 8 The exact second the words left my mouth. Julian reached out and effortlessly lifted me onto his lap. He casually wrapped one arm around my waist, using his other hand to brush my bangs aside. His fingertips trailed down my earline, coming to a rest at the nape of my neck. Beneath me were Julian’s solid, muscular thighs. The overpowering scent of a strange man’s pheromones violently shattered every social boundary, aggressively invading my senses and forming an inescapable cage. By the time I finally realized what was happening, there was nowhere left to run. My brain practically exploded. All my composure evaporated instantly. I vaguely realized I had just guessed exactly what “method” he intended to use. I instinctively pressed my hands against Julian’s chest to push him away. But he effortlessly captured my wrists, pulling them to his lips and leaving a trail of wet, tingling, agonizingly slow kisses across my skin. Even though his facial features were significantly sharper and more devastatingly handsome than Arthur’s… He was wearing the exact same black turtleneck sweater, and he was enveloped in the exact same crisp, cedarwood cologne. It was incredibly disorienting. He was too close. So close our lips were practically brushing. So close the scorching heat radiating from his neck was burning the tips of my ears. I was losing the ability to distinguish whether the man in front of me was Arthur or Julian. I snapped out of my daze instantly. I babbled frantically: “Don’t touch me! I’m on my period!” Julian finally released me. He stared intently at the flushed, red marks on my neck, smiling with absolute satisfaction: “Well, the timing of the period matches up perfectly.” “And you taste incredible. There’s absolutely no way you aren’t my girlfriend.”

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Arthur and I had been married for three years. Everyone said we were the perfect, loving couple. But only I knew that he had been sleeping in the guest room for three years. He had never touched me. I placed the divorce papers on his desk, intending to set him free. But I unexpectedly saw a diary lying open on the desk. [Today, she forgot to take her clothes after showering. I resisted for a long time, but couldn’t control myself and hid one piece. I hope she won’t notice.] I froze. So he was the one taking all the lingerie I’d “lost” before. 1 In the middle of the diary on the desk lay a black and gold fountain pen. It wasn’t the one I had given Arthur. But the lingerie mentioned as taken in the diary… Was the exact set I had just bought last week. Thinking back carefully, over these three years, the nightgowns and lingerie I’d lost probably added up to over twenty pieces. I had thought the wind blew them away. Or that I forgot to pack them after a trip. The only person I hadn’t suspected was Arthur. Simply because of his aloof personality. Since getting married, we had always treated each other with polite respect. When he spoke to me, his eyes never wandered anywhere else. How could he do something like this? But last night, Arthur said there was no hot water in the guest bathroom sink. And borrowed my bathroom to take a shower. It took him barely half an hour, start to finish, and he even thanked me when he left. I hadn’t suspected a thing. I never imagined it was him. But my intimate clothing… it wasn’t like he could wear it. What could he possibly do with it? Inappropriate images suddenly popped into my head. My face burned, and I didn’t dare think about it any further. I really wanted to step closer and read the earlier entries in the diary. I even wanted to storm into the guest room and rummage through his closet. But that would be too unethical. I calmed myself down. And decided to pretend I hadn’t seen anything. I turned around and closed the study door. As for the divorce papers, I stuffed them into a drawer in my vanity. Real or fake, I’ll find out once I test it. 2 Arthur came home early tonight. Seeing the living room lights off when he came in, he called out my name. “Chloe Vance.” I braced myself and walked out of the bedroom. “You’re home. I didn’t make dinner tonight.” Arthur still had that same unsmiling expression. Whenever he called me, he always used my full name. But I had read the diary… Just thinking about him, with that aloof face, secretly using my nightgowns to… I couldn’t even look him in the eye. Completely oblivious to my unusual behavior, he handed me a blue gift bag. “That’s fine. We can go out to eat. “This is a gift for you.” I reached out to take it. The back of my hand accidentally brushed against his fingertips. I pulled back quickly. Arthur’s eyes darkened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. Today was our third wedding anniversary. The gift I had prepared for him was a divorce agreement. Yet he had bought me a pearl necklace. I suppressed my complicated emotions and said softly: “I’m sorry, I forgot to get you a gift.” Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind. “It’s okay. I don’t need anything. “This necklace suits you, so I picked it up.” I quietly said thank you. Arthur said flatly: “You’re welcome. Get ready, I’ll go make a reservation.” I changed into a strapless velvet dress, paired with a fur shawl. And put on the pearl necklace he gave me. It was an elegant outfit, not overly flashy. When I opened the door, Arthur looked up and was visibly stunned for a second. Our eyes met, and my heart suddenly beat faster. Before I could speak, he had already looked away. “Let’s go.” Watching his indifferent back, I muttered to myself: Let’s see how long you can keep this act up. … The temperature in the restaurant was a bit high. Just as I was about to take off my shawl, He suddenly looked up and stared at me. Arthur had sharp features and deep-set eyes. Wearing glasses usually softened his aggressive aura, giving him a more refined look. But right now, I saw danger in his eyes. “Wh-what’s wrong?” “Nothing. I’m going out for a smoke.” As soon as he left, that suffocating feeling instantly dissipated. For a second there, I thought he was going to eat me alive. 3 During dinner, Arthur mentioned he had a few days off. And asked if I wanted to go home. Actually, my plan was to confront Arthur, sign the divorce papers, and then go back. After my family went bankrupt, my dad’s mental health took a hit. He rented a house back in our hometown, spending his days gardening and growing vegetables. He gradually recovered. My dad always thought Arthur and I had a great relationship. I hadn’t told him about the divorce yet. If I went back with Arthur, the divorce papers would have to wait. Arthur was waiting for my answer. I had no choice but to brace myself and force a laugh. “Sure. If you’re not busy, let’s go back together.” When we were leaving, Arthur stood at the door, not moving. I looked at him. “Did you forget something?” His gaze fell on my shoulders, obscure and unreadable. “Put your shawl on properly.” Perhaps realizing his tone was too harsh, He softened his voice and added: “It’s cold outside.” “…” After taking a shower, I looked at my discarded clothes in the laundry basket. I remembered the bra I had recently lost. It was a low-cut style, trimmed with white lace. I really liked it. I wonder where Arthur hid it. I deliberately left the nightgown I had just taken off on the counter. Arthur would be borrowing the bathroom again tonight. If the nightgown disappeared, then I’d have concrete proof. Sure enough, a little while later, Arthur knocked on the door. Still wearing that cold, aloof face. “Sorry, I need to borrow it one more time tonight.” I smiled at him and said generously: “No problem, go ahead.” Listening to the sound of the water running in the bathroom, every second felt like a year. I kept staring at the same page of my book without reading a single word. Finally, Arthur came out. He looked completely normal and said softly: “Get some rest soon. Goodnight.” “Mhm. Goodnight.” As soon as he left, I immediately rushed into the bathroom. Sure enough. My nightgown. Was gone. I was both embarrassed and furious. I marched angrily to the door of the guest room. Just as I was about to knock, I suddenly heard a few suppressed, muffled groans coming through the crack in the door. Th-this-this… Is he… right now…? My face burned searing hot. Afraid of walking in on something incredibly awkward, I had no choice but to turn back to my room. My imagination ran wild all day, resulting in bizarre dreams that night. In my dream, Arthur was wearing my lingerie. Asking me if he looked good. I called him a pervert. He chuckled, pressed me down, and whispered in my ear: “Chloe, then you wear it. “Wear it just for me, okay?” 4 When I woke up the next day, I had huge, dark circles under my eyes. Arthur was already on the phone with my dad. Hearing that we were coming to stay for a few days, My dad happily announced he was going to slaughter a chicken to make soup. The two of them chatted casually on the phone, the familiar atmosphere making it seem like we were truly a real family. I packed my luggage with mixed feelings. Actually, Arthur treated me quite well. He supported my continuing to paint. He didn’t make unreasonable demands just because he saved my family from ruin. On the contrary, he respected me deeply. Everyone outside thought we had a profound connection, a couple to be envied. I had even developed feelings for him. But he attributed all his kindness to repaying a debt of gratitude. I had to wonder, maybe he just saw me as a younger sister he was taking care of. Aside from a marriage certificate, we had absolutely no real connection. But now, the thought of my nightgown potentially hidden in his suitcase made my skin crawl. His serious, upright demeanor was entirely an act! I closed my suitcase, suppressing my complicated emotions. I resolved that once we got back from my dad’s, I would put an end to this absurd marriage. The drive back took almost six hours. Arthur was a bit of a germaphobe. So I didn’t open a single snack from the huge bag he had bought me. I lay in the backseat, playing games on my phone. Arthur watched me through the rearview mirror. “Is there nothing you like?” Wrong. He bought all my favorites. But this was his car, and I had to respect his germaphobia. So I lied: “Oh, I’m not hungry.” Halfway there, Arthur pulled into a rest stop. When I came out of the restroom, he was standing under a camphor tree, talking on the phone. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, shining down on him. Without his suit jacket, wearing just a dress shirt, Arthur looked a bit more youthful. He flicked the ash from his cigarette, brought it to his lips, and took a deep drag. He tilted his head back, exhaling the smoke. His usually rigid posture relaxed in that moment. When he glanced sideways and saw me, a faint smile played on his lips. “Alright, I’m hanging up. Call me if anything comes up.” This gentle, modest appearance… Definitely an act too! As soon as I got in the car, I covered myself with my coat and pretended to sleep. Terrified he would try to talk to me. Arthur drove very steadily. While pretending to sleep, I actually fell asleep. When I woke up, my dad had already opened the car door and was welcoming me out. “Chloe, you slept the whole way! You didn’t even take a turn driving so Arthur could rest?” Before I could even speak, Arthur looked at me, smiled, and said: “It’s fine. She’s not familiar with my car. It’s better to let her sleep.” “Sleeping so much during the day, will you even be able to sleep tonight?” Arthur said softly: “If she can’t sleep, then she won’t. It’s a rare vacation.” A seemingly casual remark. Yet it sent a chill down my spine. I quickly got out of the car and bolted toward the courtyard. As soon as I walked in, the rich aroma of chicken soup hit me. “Dad, I’m starving. Let’s eat.” “Okay, okay, okay. You two can taste your old man’s cooking. Arthur, take her to wash her hands. Keep an eye on her so she doesn’t try to sneak a bite!” Arthur, carrying my suitcase, followed my dad and smiled in agreement: “Sure, I’ll keep an eye on her.” Hearing Arthur’s voice, I tensed up. As soon as he walked in, I quickly hurried out. Awkward. It was just too awkward. 5 It wasn’t until after dinner that I realized an even more awkward problem. My dad said he had only prepared one guest room. “One room?” I gasped out loud. My dad looked at me, confused: “It’s just the two of you, isn’t one room enough?” Arthur interjected: “It’s enough. Thanks, Dad.” As he spoke, his dark eyes never left me. It gave me the creeps. I lay in bed, tossing and turning. I decided to text Arthur. [How about you and my dad go out and play cards tonight?] Arthur: [I’m tired from driving.] Okay, driving for over six hours is definitely exhausting. [Then I’ll sleep outside on the couch and watch TV all night.] Arthur: [There’s no heating in the living room.] What am I supposed to do then? I can’t actually share a bed with Arthur, can I? I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself. I carefully drafted a reply: [But sleeping together… isn’t that a bit inconvenient?] This time, Arthur didn’t reply immediately. I could hear him and my dad chatting outside. I paced around the bedroom anxiously. He wasn’t replying. Did that mean there was no room for negotiation? A short while later, Arthur returned. I hid under the covers and pretended to sleep. I listened to him taking a shower in the bathroom. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Unfortunately, I had slept for over three hours during the day, and I wasn’t sleepy at all now. The countryside night was incredibly silent. I could hear his every movement clearly. The water in the bathroom stopped. Arthur was drying his hair. He opened the door and approached. The mattress dipped on one side. A familiar scent drifted over. He used my body wash! I swallowed hard. And tried to steady my breathing. Arthur was tall with long legs. As soon as he got under the covers, his foot accidentally brushed against my calf. “Sorry.” “It’s fine.” “You’re not asleep?” “…” “Isn’t it stuffy under the covers?” “…” The air almost solidified. I kept my eyes squeezed shut, pretending I wasn’t the one who had just spoken. But Arthur leaned closer. The rich floral scent was warmed by his body heat. Why had I never noticed before how this scent could make a person’s imagination run wild? I held my breath, continuing my act. “Chloe, did you read the diary I left on the desk?” My eyes snapped open instantly, and I threw off the covers to explain: “I didn’t! I didn’t read it!” Who knew I would look straight into his dark, deep eyes. He frowned slightly. “Tsk. You didn’t read it? “My fault. I guess I didn’t leave it in a noticeable enough spot.” What did this disappointed tone mean? Was he laying all his cards on the table? Dropping the act? Voluntarily admitting he stole my clothes? I threw the covers back, preparing to interrogate him properly. But instead, he grabbed my wrist, his voice low: “It’s been three years. Are you still this afraid of me?” As he spoke, he leaned over me. His voice was hoarse, murmuring in my ear: “But I don’t want to hold back anymore. “Chloe, it hurts so much to hold back. Touch it if you don’t believe me.” 6 My fingertips brushed against hot, smooth skin. I yanked my hand back instantly. The tips of my ears burned. “Arthur, are you crazy?!” He had a few extra drinks while chatting with my dad at dinner. It was my dad’s homemade liquor, and it was very strong. Now, a faint flush covered his pale skin. A layer of mist clouded his eyes as he looked at me pitifully. “You don’t want to touch me…” He was definitely drunk. This disappointed tone gave me goosebumps. Tonight, Arthur had shed his usual cold exterior. After his shower, his dark, fluffy hair softened his sharp features. Without his glasses, his long eyelashes made him look fragile and vulnerable. I remembered the contents of his diary and tested the waters: “Arthur, did you drink too much?” “No.” “Then… did you take my nightgown?” “Yes, I took it.” “What did you do with it after you took it?” Arthur fell into a memory, his Adam’s apple bobbing hard. He said hoarsely: “I did some bad things.” I couldn’t help but remember the suppressed groans I heard outside the guest room that day. A mix of pain and pleasure. It was obvious what he was doing. My face instantly turned bright red. Secretly writing in a diary, secretly taking my nightgowns to DIY… Was it really that hard for him to just say he liked me? I was determined to make him say it himself! Feigning anger, I glared at him: “What ‘bad things’ exactly?” Arthur’s dark eyes stared at me. He shuffled forward on his knees, trapping me against the headboard. “Chloe, I can’t say it. Can I show you instead?” 7 Show me. Show me. Show me. That’s all he knows how to do. Blushing furiously, I shoved him away. Arthur was caught off guard. He fell backward onto the blanket. Propping himself up on his hands behind him. Under the warm yellow glow of the bedside lamp, he looked up, his expression stunned. His chest heaved rapidly. Through the loose collar of his pajamas, I could faintly see his collarbones and pectoral muscles beneath his Adam’s apple. Clean, sharp lines. Combined with that face that usually looked completely devoid of worldly desires… It was just too unfair. “You-you go sleep with my dad!” He looked down, glancing at his pajama pants, and said bitterly: “Chloe, it’s… not really convenient for me to go out like this.” I followed his gaze. And instantly felt embarrassed and annoyed. “Arthur, how could you?!” He let out a soft sigh. “I’ve always been like this. I was afraid of scaring you, which is why we slept in separate rooms.” “But you can’t just…” hold it in for three years. “I’m sorry. If you don’t like it, I’ll control myself. “I was impulsive tonight because of the alcohol. If I touch you again… you really might get hurt. “Chloe, go to sleep. I’m going to the bathroom.” I instantly understood what he was going to do. I hid under the covers, refusing to look at him. But he didn’t move, just sat on the edge of the bed looking at me. I poked my head out: “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you expect me to help you?” Arthur’s body stiffened, and he swallowed hard. “Can you?” “Of course not!” “Then can I borrow your pajamas for a bit?” Act, act, act. Still acting! “Where’s the white silk one from yesterday?” “I accidentally tore that one.” Me: “…” It only lasted one night! Is he covered in spikes or something?! My face dark, I gritted my teeth: “Arthur! That piece was very expensive!” “I’ll buy you new ones, lots and lots of them!” “Don’t even think about it! I only brought two pieces with me!” “But without your pajamas, it’s really hard for me…” “Stop talking, you pervert!” I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. I hid under the covers, clutching my burning face. I had no idea that Arthur, standing by the bed, felt like he was shattering into pieces. It took him a long time to say: “I’m sorry.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391854”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I dated Arthur Sterling in secret for two years. He always refused to make our relationship public. That is, until I saw a photo hidden in his study. I realized then that he had a “first love” permanently residing in his heart. But infuriatingly, he was completely transparent about her. He told me about every single time they hung out alone. As time went on, I finally got tired of waiting. “Let’s break up.” He glanced at me and sighed. “You just want to go public, right? Stop playing these games. You know perfectly well I don’t fall for that.” I didn’t answer. I just handed in my resignation. Later, after I moved back to a neighboring city, I heard a rumor. Mr. Sterling, who had aggressively maintained his “single” persona for years, was suddenly wearing a wedding ring. He claimed he had lost the girl he loved. 1 On my birthday, Arthur, who was famously punctual, was late for the very first time. I looked at the cold food on the table and sighed internally. It’s fine. He’s busy with work. I need to be understanding. Just as I was debating whether to clear the table, I heard the lock turn. Arthur walked in, bringing a rush of cold air with him. I went to hug him, but he stopped me. “I’m cold. Let me change my clothes first.” While he was changing, I heated up the food. Once he sat down, the first thing he said was an apology. “I’m sorry I’m late today.” “Chloe had to fly back to North City today, so I drove her to the airport.” Hearing that familiar name, my hand holding the chopsticks paused. Arthur noticed. He leaned forward, looking tired but lazy, his tone teasing. “What? Are you jealous?” “It’s not like you don’t know her. I’ve told you about her.” “We grew up together. If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened a long time ago.” Suppressing a bizarre, uncomfortable feeling in my chest, I shook my head and lied to him for the first time. “I’m not jealous.” Then, I quietly finished my meal. When I started to clear the table, Arthur grabbed my hand. “The cleaner will take care of it tomorrow.” He pulled me over to the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. “Still trying to say you aren’t upset? What do I have to do to make you happy?” I froze for a moment. Then, taking advantage of the opening, I asked the question for the third time. “When can we go public?” Arthur smiled indulgently. Then, with a helpless sigh, he stroked my hair. “Going public wouldn’t be good for you.” This was the second time I had heard him say that. The first time was right after we started dating. He had said, “Let’s not go public. It wouldn’t be good for you.” Because he was the most famous, eligible billionaire bachelor in Kun City. And I was just a nameless, low-level employee at his company. Even the way we met was incredibly humiliating for me. My manager was furious because the client had rejected my proposal multiple times. In a fit of rage, he threw the file folder directly at me. Papers scattered all over the floor, and I didn’t dare make a sound. Just then, Arthur happened to walk by. He looked relaxed, almost bored. He just cast a fleeting, weightless glance our way, and my manager instantly panicked. “Mr. Sterling.” Arthur’s voice was completely flat. “Sometimes, you shouldn’t just blindly blame the employees.” “It’s not unheard of for a proposal to be rejected multiple times, only for the client to ultimately choose the very first draft.” “You are absolutely right, sir.” My manager agreed sycophantically, shooting me a pointed look. I crouched down, gathered the scattered papers, and walked out with my head bowed. That evening, just as I walked out of the office building, his car pulled up right in front of me. The window rolled down, and he invited me. “Won’t you treat me to dinner?” I didn’t decline. After all, thanks to his intervention today, my manager had stopped harassing me. I mentally calculated the balance in my bank account and gave him a rare, honest answer. “I’m afraid I can’t afford to treat Mr. Sterling.” “It’s fine. I’m very easy to feed.” That night, he and I went to a casual Sichuan restaurant and had a very simple meal. I thought that would be our first and only interaction. But right before we parted ways, he stared at me for a long time, then smiled. “I really enjoyed spending time with you. Thank you for dinner.” “See you next time.” I gave him a stiff wave goodbye. I thought to myself: Arthur’s eyes really do make everyone feel like he’s deeply in love with them. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Those same “deeply in love” eyes were studying my face intently. His tone was coaxing. “At Sterling Corp, you can do whatever you want.” “By my side, you can buy whatever you want.” “The only thing I can’t give you is going public.” I pretended to be angry, turning my head away and ignoring him. He gently turned my face back. “Stop being mad, okay?” “We’re together. That’s a fact, isn’t it?” Thinking about it, the manager who had made my life hell when we first started dating had been demoted. I had gone from an errand girl everyone ordered around to someone who could quietly do her own work without interference—all thanks to him. I quickly convinced myself it was fine, then leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Arthur.” 2 On the weekend, Arthur went into the office to work overtime. I was bored at home alone, so I decided to tidy up the apartment. Arthur had told me before that this place belonged to both of us. He said he had absolutely no secrets, and I was allowed to go anywhere. So, after cleaning the living room, I went into the study. While wiping down the desk, I noticed a book tucked away in the corner. It looked completely out of place among the business files. It looked like a college textbook. My curiosity piqued, I picked it up and flipped through it. A piece of paper fluttered out of the pages and landed on the floor. I instinctively picked it up and realized it was a photograph. I flipped it over. The photo showed Arthur with someone else. The two of them looked incredibly comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera. The way they smiled at each other spoke volumes of their deep, familiar connection. Beneath the photo, there was a single line of text written in elegant calligraphy. [There is a beautiful one, clear and graceful. A chance encounter, she perfectly suits my heart’s desire.] It was Arthur’s handwriting. In that exact moment, I suddenly understood why we couldn’t go public. It turned out that someone else had permanently taken residence in his heart—someone he could never forget. And that someone… was the person I had just heard him mention a few days ago. It was Chloe. The girl he claimed he “would have gotten with a long time ago if it was going to happen.” 3 That night. I was lying on the sofa, binge-watching a TV show. Arthur poured himself a glass of water and went into his study. A few minutes later, he hurried back out. Seeing my confused expression, he quickly regained his composure. “Did you clean the study today?” I didn’t bring up the photo. I just gave a soft “Hmm.” “Yeah, just a quick tidy-up.” Seeing me act completely normal, he retreated back into the study. Under the blanket, my fingers gripped the edge of my shirt tightly. I knew exactly what he was panicking about. Early the next morning, he left the house before I was even awake. I walked back into the study and flipped open that book. Just as I suspected, the photo was gone. My phone pinged with a transfer notification. I opened it and saw a message from Arthur attached. [I haven’t spent much time with you these past two days. Go out, walk around, and buy yourself something nice.] As usual, I ignored the massive transfer amount. And politely thanked him. I set the phone down, suddenly finding the whole situation incredibly funny. Making a gesture like this right now… Was it out of love, or guilt? What happened that evening gave me my answer. We had just finished dinner when Arthur’s phone rang. He didn’t try to hide it from me; he answered it right there. Chloe’s voice came through the speaker. “I’ll be there soon. Are you coming to pick me up, Arthur?” Arthur agreed in a gentle, warm tone. He hung up and looked at me. “I’m going to pick her up and take her home.” For the very first time, I didn’t just nod and agree. For the very first time, I bared my teeth at him. “Does she literally not know a single other person here besides you?” Arthur tapped his fingers lightly against the table. “I don’t like explaining things I’ve already explained twice.” “You understand me, right?” I stared at him for a long, long time. Just as he was starting to look impatient, I suddenly smiled. “Go ahead!” Seeing my smile, his brow relaxed. He walked over and kissed my forehead. “Wait for me to come back.” But as soon as he left the apartment, I changed my clothes and followed him out. Some things, you have to see with your own eyes before you can truly give up. 4 When I arrived at the airport, Chloe was just walking out of the terminal. Arthur habitually took her suitcase from her hand. And Chloe naturally hooked her arm through his. I wasn’t standing far away. I could clearly hear Chloe’s voice. “Arthur, thank you for coming to pick me up.” She paused, as if she had just remembered something. She started rummaging through her small purse. She pulled something out, resting it on her open palm and holding it up to Arthur. “I brought you some cufflinks. Thanks for always driving me around.” Arthur chuckled softly. “You really do treat me like your personal chauffeur, don’t you?” Chloe playfully stuck her tongue out, then proceeded to put the cufflinks on Arthur. “See? I told you I have great taste.” Just as I was about to leave, I caught a glimpse of Chloe standing on her tiptoes out of the corner of my eye, leaning in to kiss him. Arthur, seemingly sensing her intent, took a step back, and Chloe kissed empty air. Perhaps his reaction annoyed her. She stomped her foot. “Look how scared you are.” Arthur just smiled without saying a word. I turned around and walked away. It was probably in that exact moment. That I realized my relationship with Arthur was permanently fractured. When Arthur finally came home that night, I was already getting ready for bed. While he was changing his clothes, I intentionally asked: “When did you buy those cufflinks? I’ve never seen you wear them.” His movements stalled for a fraction of a second. “Chloe gave them to me.” Perhaps he genuinely believed that his transparency proved he had nothing to hide. But I had seen how intimately they interacted. And I knew about that carefully hidden photograph. Was it that he didn’t like her, or was it that he didn’t dare cross that line? I knew the answer, even if he didn’t realize it himself. And the reason he refused to go public, aggressively maintaining his “single” persona… Who was all of that really for? 5 The next day, Arthur didn’t go into the office; he worked from home. He told me he had a gathering with some old friends that evening. I nodded, indicating I understood. Then, I took the subway to the office alone. When I got home from work that night, the apartment was completely empty and pitch black. The only source of light was the dim glow of his laptop on the dining table. I walked over to shut the computer down. Suddenly, I saw a WeChat window flashing. He probably forgot to log out before he left. The open chat window seemed to be a group chat with his friends. Someone was actively instigating: [I heard Chloe is back for good this time?] [Hey Arthur, you two grew up together, and you’ve both been single forever. Why don’t you guys just get together?!] Chloe sent an “angry” reaction sticker. Arthur replied with two words. [Stop messing around. Chloe can’t handle jokes like that.] I used the mouse to close the application. Then I shut down the laptop. Around 9 PM, Arthur suddenly sent me a message. It was an address, accompanied by a single sentence: [Bring my jacket here.] I didn’t ask why. I obediently hailed a cab and delivered it. Just as I was about to knock on the private room door, I heard his friends bringing up that topic again. “Arthur, she’s devastated. Look how much Chloe has drank because you won’t make a move.” “You’re not getting any younger. Dating isn’t illegal, you know.” “You two already know each other so well.” Arthur looked up, smiled faintly, and didn’t deny it. I pushed the door open and walked in. “Mr. Sterling, your jacket.” The smile on Arthur’s face vanished instantly. He quickly recovered, taking the jacket from me with a stiff, professional demeanor, and carefully draped it over Chloe’s shoulders. Then he turned to me: “Sorry for making you run this errand. Expensing the cab fare to the company tomorrow.” I shook my head. “It’s fine. It wasn’t much.” As I turned to leave… I heard his friends asking. “That’s your employee?! She’s actually really pretty.” “You’re constantly surrounded by women. Have you seriously never been tempted?” Before Arthur could answer, I heard Chloe’s voice. “Arthur would never fall for a woman.” I hid in the shadows, catching a glimpse of the life Arthur deliberately excluded me from. When he stepped outside for a smoke, one of his friends followed him. “That girl who just dropped off your jacket… your relationship with her isn’t exactly professional, is it?” I lowered my head, thinking to myself: Was it really that obvious? When I looked up again, Arthur’s face was blurred by the swirling cigarette smoke. His voice was hoarse. “The very first time I saw her, I noticed her immediately.” “She looks exactly like Chloe did right after her teacher passed away.” “So obedient, so desperate to please… even the way she looks completely lost and helpless when things go wrong is exactly the same.” I couldn’t hear the rest of what he said. Unable to control my tears any longer, I simply turned and walked away. On the way home, I stared blankly at the passing scenery outside the window. I thought to myself: It’s time to break up. 6 That night, Arthur didn’t come home. He went back to the office, texting me that he reeked of alcohol and it was too late; he didn’t want to disturb my sleep. I didn’t reply to his message. The next day, he had a formal gown delivered to me. He said we were attending an auction gala together that evening. After thinking it over, I agreed. I planned to end things with him the moment the event was over. At the auction venue, I entered with my arm linked through his. It was my first time at an event like this, and I was too nervous to speak. He patted my hand gently to comfort me. “Don’t worry. I’m right here.” But right after we walked in, a clear, crisp voice rang out. “Arthur!” I recognized the voice instantly. It was Chloe. The next second, Arthur removed my hand from his arm. He escorted me to a quiet corner. “Wait for me here like a good girl. It’ll be over soon.” “If you want anything, just text me.” I sat there, restless and anxious. Watching him and Chloe sit together. She had a bright, innocent smile on her face. I watched the auction items being sold off one by one. Until they brought out a ring. For the very first time, I initiated contact with Arthur. [I want that.] In my line of sight, I saw him check his phone. Then Chloe grabbed his arm and whispered something to him. Then he replied. [Pick something else. Someone else wants that one.] I thought about it for a moment, suddenly unsure of what exactly I was fighting for. I decided to leave early. It was close to midnight when Arthur finally came home. I had already packed my bags. “Mr. Sterling, some things just aren’t meant to be, and I don’t want to fight for them anymore.” “Let’s end this here. Let’s break up!” Arthur sat down on the sofa, stretching his long legs out. He glanced at me and sighed. “You want to go public, right?” “Stop playing these games. You know perfectly well I don’t fall for that.” But what he didn’t know… Was that this time, I genuinely meant it. 7 “I know you don’t fall for it, and I’ve thought this through.” “Arthur, no one wants to stay hidden in the dark forever.” He didn’t say anything else. I rolled my suitcase out and quietly shut the door behind me. The next second, I heard the violent crash of something shattering inside the apartment. My hand hovered over the door handle, then dropped. Since I had decided to leave, I shouldn’t drag things out. I walked outside with my suitcase but couldn’t get a cab for a long time. Just as I was about to start walking, a car pulled up in front of me. Arthur’s driver stepped out and opened the door. “Ms. Harrison, Mr. Sterling asked me to drop you wherever you need to go.” I didn’t try to be polite. I turned and got into the car. Arthur was always like this. He took care of me in every conceivable way, and he was never stingy with anything he could buy. But the one thing I wanted most, he couldn’t give me. Being a hidden secret made me feel incredibly insecure. I know I should be able to provide my own sense of security. But I couldn’t stop myself from fixating on the fact that he and I would never have a real future. When I got to the hotel, the very first thing I did was write my resignation email and hit send. In that moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. I booked my train ticket home. And completely blocked Arthur on absolutely everything. Lying in bed, memories of our time together suddenly flooded my mind. The hugs, the kisses… he had even looked me dead in the eye and told me he loved me. And I had believed his love was real. But now I knew. Even if I had never found that photo. Even if none of this had happened. He still wouldn’t have chosen me in the end. Alone in the room, I finally let myself break down and cry. I cried until I fell asleep. The next morning, looking at my swollen, red eyes in the mirror, I decided to dig my sunglasses out of my suitcase and wear them. When I arrived at the airport, I unexpectedly ran into the same man who had spoken to me so coldly the day before. Right now, he was pushing a luggage cart, his head lowered as he listened to the girl walking next to him. The moment we brushed past each other, he didn’t recognize me. But I heard Chloe asking him: “Where’s Mia? I’m surprised she’s not shadowing you.” “I always thought she had a huge crush on you! I was honestly a little jealous.” I slowed my pace slightly and heard his reply. “She resigned. We probably won’t be seeing each other again.”

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After I developed insomnia, I could only fall asleep if I smelled a specific scent. Yet, my boyfriend wanted to break up with me. I begged him: “Can you just sleep with me one more time?” After all, his scent was my sleeping pill. With his arms around two gorgeous women, his tone was impatient: “If you’re sick, go see a doctor!” That very night, his college roommate showed up at my door. “Sister, I’ll sleep with you.” 1 It was 2:00 AM. I don’t know if the begonia flowers were sleeping, but I definitely wasn’t. I had a condition, common and widespread— Insomnia. But this wasn’t your average insomnia. My body chemistry was unique. Ever since I became an adult, I could only fall asleep if I smelled a scent that made me feel secure. The feeling of having incredibly heavy eyelids while your nerves are firing off wildly is pure torture. Today was the third day since Nolan proposed we break up. I was so, so, so sleepy. Unable to hold out, I opened his chat and begged: “Can you just sleep with me one more time?” Nolan’s scent was genuinely wonderful. It was like the rich aroma of a latte mixed with the fresh scent of jasmine. It enveloped me warmly and politely. And it was stronger than any sleeping pill. But the man himself wasn’t nearly as polite. Nolan replied almost instantly: “If you’re sick, go see a doctor! “You pass out the second your head hits the pillow every day. Are you a pig??” I could tell he was furious. I wasn’t a pig. …But I was genuinely sick. The key was, it couldn’t be cured. Then, Nolan sent a photo. Judging by the background, he was at a nightclub. He had his arms wrapped around two beautiful women. “You can’t afford me anymore!!” “…” Ignoring his melodramatic teenage-boy quote, I opened TikTok to search for my next sleeping buddy. If I didn’t sleep for five days straight, I would die. Tonight was already the third night. A direct message popped up. It was from my brother, Matthew. It was a video. A incredibly handsome guy, his shirt soaked in alcohol, was being force-fed more drinks by a crowd of jeering people. My brother: [Utopia Club, Booth 8. Come quick.] Me: [?] My brother: [His scent should be exactly what you’re looking for.] I sprang out of bed like a startled carp. 2 By the time I reached Utopia, it was almost 3:00 AM. The lights were dim and flashing, the music was deafening, and the dance floor was packed with wave after wave of people. Sporting massive dark circles under my eyes, I dodged the disposable couples making out everywhere and found Booth 8. I immediately spotted the man from the video. He was too striking to miss. His features were deep and masculine, his lips a dark, moody shade, his eyes tilted upwards at the corners, radiating an undeniable, aristocratic aura. The ambient club lighting hit his face, adding a layer of seduction. Even thrown into a massive crowd, he would be the one person you’d notice instantly. Right now, his eyelids were slightly lowered, his long eyelashes trembling. He looked like the absolute epitome of someone being bullied to their limit. I knew it was my time to shine. The perfect opportunity for a “beauty saves the hero” moment. I massaged my temples, trying to slightly ease my throbbing headache. Putting on a face that was 30% aloof, 30% arrogant, and 40% careless, I slammed my foot onto the table: “Tonight’s tab is on me! “Can we be friends? “Mind if I take my boyfriend home now?” Everyone looked shocked. The man beside me widened his eyes, his intoxicated pupils filled with disbelief. As the physical distance closed, I caught his scent. It was different from Nolan’s. His scent was cedar mixed with the crisp smell of winter. Cool, clean, and incredibly sleep-inducing. In just a few short seconds, my eyelids actually started to feel heavy. The firing nerves in my brain were soothed and slowly began to calm down. Not even specialized medication worked this fast. The next second, someone from across the booth yelled out: “Sister-in-law??” The people around looked somewhat familiar. They seemed to be my ex-boyfriend’s friends. Scanning the room, I finally noticed a highly familiar figure sitting in the corner— 3 Nolan. He sat silently in the corner, twirling his glass, his expression aloof. He wasn’t participating in the drinking games, and the two beauties from the photo were nowhere to be seen. Sitting beside him, keeping him company, was his childhood friend, Chloe. When Nolan and I were together. She always relied on her “innocent little sister” act, constantly spouting manipulative, passive-aggressive nonsense in front of him. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I just asked Nolan: “Aren’t you going to say anything to her?” He looked completely unconcerned: “We grew up together. If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened a long time ago. “I just see her as a little sister. Our parents know each other; I can’t be too harsh with her.” Then he frowned at me: “Could you not be so maliciously suspicious?” I stopped talking. Relying on the fact that I couldn’t live without him, he became increasingly reckless with my feelings. On his birthday, I carried a cake I baked myself and a carefully chosen gift to his party. Just as I reached the door of the private room, I unexpectedly heard my name. My hand, reaching for the handle, paused. “Bro, what are you thinking? Why haven’t you broken up with her yet? “Didn’t you say back then you just wanted to see what it was like to date an older girl? Just playing around? What, did you catch real feelings? “Or could it be… the older girl has a unique flavor in bed?” A chorus of sleazy laughter followed. Nolan’s tone was dismissive: “Whether she’s good or not, you can try her out after I’m done with her. “Someone is desperately throwing money at me. I’m just playing along. “Maybe I just have some magical charm. I can’t even chase her away. It’s just so annoying that she makes me sleep with her every single day.” I felt like I had plunged into an ice cavern. I lowered my eyes, pressed my lips together, and left. Magical charm, indeed. Dating him for almost two years, I would have plucked the stars and moon for him. I firmly believed he was “The One,” perfectly aligned with my soul. But apparently, that wasn’t the case. 4 When I was twenty, my insomnia started. Every day, I fell asleep with the help of melatonin and sedatives. Gradually, even the medication stopped working. It wasn’t until the freshman orientation, when I, as a senior, was sent by the department to give advice to the incoming students on planning their four years of college. That day, I smelled something different. The fresh scent of jasmine. Mixed with the aroma of coffee. I can’t describe the feeling. It just felt like my entire body was wrapped in clouds, soft and fluffy. Without realizing it, my eyelids started to droop. When it was my turn to take the stage, I forced myself to stay awake and shared my advice with the underclassmen. But my eyes scoured the vibrant faces below the podium. Finally locking onto the very last row. The rich scent was emanating from there. But there were too many people, and the smells were mixed. I couldn’t pinpoint the specific target yet. After the session ended, I waited by the door. Until the very last person walked out— That night, my brother gathered all the information on him. Nolan, 18 years old, a freshman in the Physics department, 6 feet tall, 155 lbs, single. The report even detailed his family background, upbringing, and dietary habits. I read it over and over, but couldn’t find anything special about him. Yet this was the person who possessed that unique scent. A scent no one else could smell but me. That night, I went to a coffee shop and bought a latte, then went to a florist and bought jasmine, trying to recreate that unique fragrance. After all that effort, my mind was only more stimulated, completely devoid of sleepiness. The next day, I paid a top-tier perfumer to create a custom scent, but it was absolutely useless. I accepted my fate. And so, I launched a fierce pursuit of Nolan. Limited edition sneakers, expensive in-game skins… I showered him with gifts like running water. A month later, we made it official. My attitude toward relationships has always been straightforward: either don’t start one, or take it seriously. Clearly, in this relationship, I was the only one taking it seriously. 5 The club was chaotic, a mix of all sorts of people. Unless I got close, I couldn’t smell Nolan clearly. Besides, I had a “sleeping pill” radiating its scent right next to me. He looked up, staring straight at me. Our eyes met. My eyelids felt heavy. I was the first to look away. Since everything was out in the open, and I had a new sleeping buddy. There was no need for me to hang myself on this one tree. I grabbed the handsome guy’s hand, turned around, and prepared to leave. “Maya—” Nolan called my name. The atmosphere was tense and explosive. Everyone turned to look. I paused for a second but didn’t look back. My sleeping pill was right beside me. I just wanted to sleep. Nolan’s gaze fell on my hand holding someone else’s. He frowned, his face looking awful: “What is the meaning of this? “Do you think doing this will make me want to get back together with you?” The next second, his expression turned icy: “Save it.” I thought he was acting completely bizarre. I had a new sleeping buddy. Why would I care about him? “You’re overthinking it. “Where do you get your confidence? Do you think I have that much free time? “I’m genuinely pursuing him.” Hearing this, Nolan stood up. His face looked even worse, his jaw tight, speaking through gritted teeth: “He’s my roommate!!!” “…” Well, if you put it that way, I guess I am being a little bizarre. I looked in shock and uncertainty at the person beside me, who was obediently letting me hold his hand. Noticing my gaze, he paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. And rubbed his nose, looking a little guilty. Regardless, in front of an ex-boyfriend, you can’t lose the verbal battle. “So what if he’s your roommate? “The dark ages are over. We advocate for free love now. Even if he was your dad, I could date him!” The guy next to me nodded, seeming to agree completely, and immediately echoed: “Yeah, free love! Even if I was your dad, she could date me!” Nolan stood in silence, his jaw tight. I thought about it for a second; that didn’t sound quite right. After a brief pause, I added: “Of course, I wouldn’t cross that moral line.” The guy next to me repeated: “Of course, wouldn’t cross that moral line!” His parroting made me accidentally let out a small laugh. Nolan’s face was livid, his eyes dark as he glared at us. A few seconds later, he suddenly laughed out loud. Nolan shifted his gaze to the person beside me: “Asher, she’s my ex-girlfriend. She was so obsessed with me she practically begged to sleep with me every single day.” He pulled out his phone, pulled up our chat history, and showed everyone: “Just a minute ago, she was begging me to sleep with her one more time.” In the chat window, my pleading words were exposed for everyone to see. The looks directed at me were laced with malice. “Asher, she’s just using you to get back at me. Are you sure you want to go with her?” My heart clenched, and my grip tightened. I looked at the person beside me. 6 My newly calmed nerves spiked with anxiety once again. Quietly waiting for his answer. He looked at Nolan, then looked at my hand gripping his tightly. Everyone around us held their breath, watching the scene unfold. He lowered his gaze to my face and said slowly: “Unless I’m mistaken… this is the first time we’ve ever met, right?” Nolan let out a sigh of relief. It made sense. Ditching your roommate to leave with your roommate’s ex-girlfriend was definitely crazy. I started calculating in my head whether I should have my brother throw a sack over his head and drag him to my bed, or if I should just knock him out and carry him away myself. The next instant, my pinky finger was gently hooked. He blinked, the corners of his mouth curving up. A huge, dazzling smile appeared on his handsome face as he said— “Okay. “I’m sure I want to go with her!” ??! Nolan stopped breathing for a second. He looked like he had worked himself to death all day, only to come home and find out he was being cheated on—a completely foul expression. He couldn’t believe it: “Asher??” This time, no one tried to stop us. I shot a careless glance at Nolan. Holding Asher’s hand, I held my head high and walked right past him. Before leaving, I didn’t forget to let out a cold snort in his direction. Then I remembered myself just moments ago, begging my ex-boyfriend to sleep with me. I couldn’t help but mentally spit on myself twice. How can a person have so little backbone?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391852”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel