When my daughter was just a month old, my husband Arthur Vance’s enemies kidnapped her and demanded a hundred million dollar ransom. Arthur claimed the business was struggling and he couldn’t come up with the money. Yet, he turned around and won a two-hundred-million-dollar necklace at an auction, presenting it to his “first love,” Chloe. As I was consumed by absolute despair, Arthur’s biggest rival, Ethan Sterling, found me, checkbook in hand. He told me that if I divorced Arthur and chose him, he would pay the ransom. Without a second thought, I signed the papers. Ethan, wanting to be absolutely certain, even personally led a team of mercenaries to rescue my daughter. I firmly believed he was my ultimate salvation, my safe harbor for life. But when my daughter turned five, I saw him coaxing her to call Chloe “Mommy.” “Ethan, you’ve suffered so much for me and my daughter. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had to marry damaged goods like Maya, let alone get blood on your hands.” “Chloe, as long as you’re happy married into the Vance family, I’m happy. But you must keep this a secret. If Maya finds out her real daughter died long ago, she’ll go insane.” It turned out the man I thought was my savior was actually the mastermind who caused my daughter’s death. Watching Ethan, Chloe, and the little girl acting so intimately, like a perfect family… I didn’t hesitate for a second. I dialed the kidnapper’s number: “I have a three-hundred-million-dollar job. You interested?” 1 At the amusement park, Ethan watched our daughter, Lily, and Chloe with eyes full of utter devotion. He was so engrossed that he didn’t even notice me standing a short distance behind him. Just then, his secretary walked up to him. “Mr. Sterling, tomorrow is the anniversary of your wife’s daughter’s passing. Will you be going personally?” Ethan pulled his gaze away. “Yes. Even though it was an accident, I’m still the reason Maya’s daughter died. But thankfully, it all worked out and Chloe successfully married Arthur.” The secretary looked at Chloe, who was laughing and showing off in the distance, and sighed. “Ms. Chloe only has Arthur Vance in her heart. Even Miss Lily belongs to her and Mr. Vance. Why do you make such huge sacrifices for her?” “If the truth comes out, forget about you; the entire Sterling family will be ruined.” Ethan spoke with absolute certainty: “It won’t come out. Maya didn’t even recognize that the baby wasn’t hers back then. She’s raised her for five years now; why would she start suspecting anything?” The secretary was silent for a moment before speaking again: “But the Madam… she’s truly very good to you. It’s not fair to deceive her like this.” Ethan let out a self-deprecating laugh. “When it comes to love, where is the fairness? It’s not like I begged her to love me.” “If she really finds out and throws a fit, I’ll just give her another child.” I instantly felt like I had been plunged into an ice cavern. But over in the distance, Lily suddenly turned around and shouted loudly at me. “Mommy! Come play with us!” Everyone turned to look in my direction. Unable to dodge in time, I tripped and fell backward into a decorative fountain. Luckily, the pool was deep enough to hide me from their view. The water was freezing, biting into my bones, but I didn’t dare surface. Chloe’s mood was ruined. She threw her cotton candy on the ground: “What are you yelling for?! Don’t you see your real mom is right here?!” Startled, Lily started crying and ran away. “You’re a bad lady! You’re not my mommy!” Ethan, who usually doted on his daughter, looked stern. “Lily, apologize to your mother right now.” Lily cried even harder. My heart ached sharply, and my instinct was to run over and hold my daughter. But Ethan’s words from moments ago churned violently in my mind. That wasn’t my daughter. My daughter was murdered by Ethan a long time ago. They couldn’t even find her remains. She was only a month old! For Chloe’s sake, Ethan was actually cruel enough to hand her over to violent thugs. And his whole act of personally going with mercenaries to rescue her? Just a charade. A trick to ensure I wouldn’t realize he had swapped the babies. Yet I had seen him as my salvation, naively raising someone else’s daughter for him. No wonder Ethan’s secretary always looked at me with such pity. A fool like me must be a rare sight indeed. Lily wouldn’t stop crying, and unable to calm her down, Ethan had no choice but to take her and leave. Only then did I pathetically drag myself out of the fountain. The biting winter wind whipped against me, but I couldn’t feel the cold. I stumbled back to the villa. Seeing me completely soaked, Ethan rushed forward and wrapped me in a tight embrace. He yelled for the maids while using his own body heat to warm me. “Maya, how did you get like this?!” I said softly, “I went to the amusement park to find you and Lily, but I accidentally fell into a fountain.” His body stiffened. It took him a long time to mask the panic on his face. “Didn’t I tell you not to go? You look after Lily every day; you finally had a day to rest.” For the past five years, Ethan had taken one day a week to take Lily out by himself, telling me to rest. Seeing him treat Lily as his own flesh and blood had always filled my heart with sweetness. I never imagined that he was actually taking Lily out to bond with Chloe. My five years… were nothing but a lie. 2 “Maya, when you were at the amusement park… did you see anything?” I snapped out of my daze. Seeing Ethan cautiously probing, I lowered my eyes. “If I had seen you guys, I wouldn’t have ended up in this pathetic state.” Ethan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He tucked the blanket tighter around me, then took a bowl of ginger soup and personally fed it to me. His meticulous, encompassing care even drew envious glances from the surrounding maids. But the chill in my heart didn’t lessen. Ethan’s acting was truly spectacular. All these years, I hadn’t noticed a single flaw. After getting me cleaned up, Ethan carried me upstairs. Lily popped out, holding a wooden box in her hands. “Daddy, is this a love letter you wrote to Mommy?” I instinctively reached out to take it. But Ethan aggressively slapped my hand away and clutched the box tightly to his chest. Looking at my red, swollen hand, Lily burst into loud sobs. She raised her little fists and tried to hit Ethan. “You hit Mommy! You’re a bad man!” Ethan looked awkward and carefully explained, “This is something someone asked me to keep safe for them.” Before I could speak, his phone rang. It was a specific, custom ringtone. Lily cried even harder: “It’s the bad la—” Ethan clamped his hand over Lily’s mouth and ordered the nanny to quickly take her away. Then he apologetically told me he had some urgent business and needed to go out. He locked that box inside his safe. Unfortunately for him, his password was very easy to guess. Even Lily knew it: “It’s that bad lady’s birthday.” I opened the box. Inside were photos of Chloe from childhood to adulthood. That’s when I learned that Ethan and Chloe were childhood sweethearts. Inside the safe, there were also several property transfer agreements, all naming Chloe as the recipient. A quick glance showed the total value was in the billions. The dates were all exactly one day before Ethan and I got married. And at the very bottom of the safe was an envelope. Inside was a photo of Chloe holding a tiny infant. On the back, in Ethan’s handwriting, was written: “Starting today, I’m going to be a dad!” The large exclamation point radiated excitement and joy. And the date the photo was taken was the exact same day the kidnappers took my daughter. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my heart. I pinched my arm fiercely to stop the tears from falling. After a long time, crouching until my legs went numb, I finally calmed myself and stood up. I replied to the kidnapper’s message. The day after tomorrow. Pick me up at the docks. A single job worth three hundred million. I was certain Ethan would be willing to pay that much for Chloe. And once I reached international waters, I could completely erase all traces of my existence. Five years of history. Ethan, I’m going to use your own script to say goodbye to you. 3 Early the next morning, Ethan hurried back. His first priority wasn’t to check if I had a fever, but to rush into his study to check his safe. Watching his back, I let out a soft scoff. Didn’t you say you weren’t afraid of me finding out? Why so nervous? Suddenly, the police showed up at our door. They only left after repeatedly confirming that the overseas call I received wasn’t from a scammer. Ethan was confused. “Maya, those overseas calls monitored by the police are all from criminals. What are you doing?” Just as I was struggling to find an excuse, he hugged me comfortingly. “It’s okay. If you’re in some kind of trouble, just tell me. Those people are ruthless outlaws; they’re capable of anything.” This kind of limitless indulgence now only made me want to vomit. He clearly knew the people on the other end were psychopathic criminals, yet, for Chloe’s sake, he still unplugged the phone line and had them kidnap my daughter. I clenched my fists tightly, but my face showed the same adoration as always. “Ethan, I’m so lucky to have you.” Ethan brought medicinal oil to rub away the bruise on my hand. “I specifically went to the countryside yesterday to get this from an old herbalist.” Looking at the label clearly stating a manufacturing address in a Shanghai industrial park, I didn’t expose his lie. Yesterday, the notification for the hotel room he booked with Chloe had been sent to my phone. They hadn’t checked out until this morning. After rubbing in the oil, he brought out a dessert. “It’s from that hotel you love.” Opening it, I saw it was my favorite strawberry flavor. This hotel only prepared these specific desserts for their VIP guests. It seemed they had used the executive suite I usually booked yesterday. Originally a four-pack of mini cakes, there were only two left. It was impossible for Chloe not to notice this detail. Which meant she was deliberately trying to disgust me. She wanted to tell me that I only deserved her leftovers. Her leftover cake, her leftover man. The nausea in my stomach intensified, and I pushed the cake away. “I don’t have an appetite.” Ethan looked terrified. He immediately called the family doctor to give me a thorough checkup. Only after confirming I was fine did his deeply furrowed brow relax. “Maya, get some sleep. I’ll go make you some porridge.” As soon as he left, I threw the cake into the trash can. A short while later, there was a commotion downstairs. I stood by the window and looked down. It was a panicked-looking Chloe. She threw herself into Ethan’s arms like a frightened little rabbit. Ethan was startled at first, glancing up toward my room, but his arms didn’t let go. I don’t know what Chloe said, but Ethan’s expression turned to pure rage. The two of them quickly arrived outside my bedroom. As soon as he walked in, Ethan slapped me across the face. “What the hell were you thinking, contacting international fugitives to kidnap Chloe?!” “It’s not her fault Arthur refused to pay the ransom when your daughter was kidnapped!” “If I knew you were this kind of person, I never would have married you!” Unable to dodge in time, I was knocked to the floor. I knocked over a vase behind me, falling into a pile of shattered glass. I caught a glimpse of triumph in the tear-streaked Chloe’s eyes. I suddenly remembered that her brother worked in the police department. He must have known about the overseas call before anyone else. She had successfully married Arthur, yet she still wanted to completely monopolize Ethan. Ethan’s eyes glared with fury as he demanded I apologize to Chloe. The fake love he had shown me finally revealed its cold, ugly truth. I didn’t explain. I stood up and, right in front of Ethan, dialed that overseas number. “Hey, Sister-in-law. Why are you calling me at this hour? Is it an emergency?” The voice of Ethan’s younger cousin came through the phone. The color instantly drained from both of their faces. I hung up and asked them, “It was just an overseas call. What exactly are you two so terrified of?” “What, do these kidnappers offer assassination services too? You guys seem to know a lot about it.” Ethan looked extremely awkward. “I… I just heard the mercenaries talking about it when I went to rescue her that time.” I touched my stinging cheek. “Then demanding an apology from Ms. Chloe isn’t asking too much, is it?” But Ethan quickly stepped in front of Chloe: “Maya, Chloe was scared too. You shouldn’t be so unforgiving.” “I’ll go buy you a new bag later. Let’s just let this go.” I was covered in glass shards, blood seeping out of multiple cuts. Yet this man, who used to cry if I even scraped my knee, acted as if he couldn’t see a thing. I let out a cold laugh and was about to speak, when Chloe suddenly started crying. “Ethan, Maya must hate me for stealing Arthur, that’s why she set me up.” “It’s fine. If she just wants to vent her anger, I’ll get on my knees and kowtow to her.” “But I finally got pregnant, and I really can’t handle this kind of shock. Please, Maya, have mercy on me.” She barely bent her knees before clutching her stomach and collapsing to the side. Ethan hurriedly caught her in his arms, shot me a venomous glare, and carried her away. I don’t know how much time passed before Nanny Wang came into the room and gasped, “Madam! Why are you bleeding so much?!” I finally snapped back to reality, the pain registering belatedly. Nanny Wang rushed to call Ethan. I stopped her. “No need. He knows.” Ethan knew Chloe was lying. Yet he still defended her with reckless abandon. Just like five years ago, when he had my daughter kidnapped for her sake. Fine, then. Ethan, I will disappear soon, exactly as you wish. 4 The family doctor arrived to treat my wounds. But halfway through, he was called away by Ethan. He looked conflicted as he spoke into his phone, “Mr. Sterling, I don’t know how to handle high-risk pregnancies…” Ethan’s furious roar on the other end was so loud I could hear it. I told the doctor to go; I could handle the rest of the bandages myself. Nanny Wang helped me pull the shards out of my back. Once my wounds were treated, I noticed that all the bodyguards assigned to the house had been called away too. They even took Lily with them, leaving me alone in the house. Xiao Jiang, the head of security who usually accompanied me, repeatedly warned before leaving, “Even though no one is here, the villa’s security system is top-notch. Please, whatever you do, do not go outside.” Watching the twenty-plus bodyguards all head toward the hospital, I finally opened the text message on my phone. “Crossed the border. Still the docks?” I replied “Come to the house” and deleted the message. Back then, Ethan hired them to kidnap my daughter, but later, afraid they would leak the secret, he tried to silence them. During the ensuing firefight, an “accident” happened, leading to my daughter’s tragic death. The current leader of the Black Sea Syndicate was the illegitimate son of the previous boss. Ethan had always been hyper-vigilant, paranoid that they would return for revenge. Chloe sent me a photo from the hospital—it was Ethan carefully feeding her bird’s nest soup. The hallway outside her room was lined with bodyguards. She sent another message: “How does it feel to be an abandoned wife again? Tastes pretty good, right?” “I just casually mentioned that seeing you ruined my mood, and Ethan immediately left you at home.” “He even said you’d be perfect for drawing enemy fire.” I ignored her. I called Ethan, but he hung up on me. Half a day later, he finally sent a text: “Be good and stay at home. I’ll be back when I’m done here.” He didn’t mention a single word about taking all the bodyguards. Shortly after, the Black Sea Syndicate broke into the house. The security alarms blared. An alert must have definitely been sent to Ethan’s phone, yet he remained completely silent. I looked at my phone and smiled. I dropped my lighter and set the villa ablaze. “Let’s go.” The men from the syndicate stopped me: “Didn’t you say Ethan Sterling’s daughter was here too?” I threw a DNA paternity report at him. “Send this to Ethan. He’ll pay three hundred million to keep it quiet.” “This is also the real reason your syndicate was wiped out back then. How you use it is up to you.” “Also, didn’t Chloe hire you to kill me? Prepare a fake corpse and send it to her. That’s almost four hundred million between the two of them.” Only then did the syndicate men lead me to the car. It wasn’t until I was already out at sea that Ethan finally sent a message. “Maya, stop messing around. Turn off the security alarms. I’ll be back in a little while.” It was almost funny. He hadn’t even opened the security feed to check. He was absolutely certain I was just throwing a tantrum and faking it. But it didn’t matter. Soon, the entire villa would be engulfed in flames. And the syndicate’s ransom note would be delivered right to his hands. I tossed my phone into the ocean. I watched as the syndicate hackers infiltrated the hospital’s security cameras. At the hospital, the police and the secretary arrived simultaneously. Both groups looked incredibly anxious, and their words collided as they spoke. “Mr. Sterling, your wife has been kidnapped by the pirate syndicate.” “Mr. Sterling, the Madam seems to have discovered the young miss isn’t her biological daughter.” 5 Ethan felt like he was hallucinating; otherwise, why would both of them be telling him such absurd things at the same time? The secretary tactfully stepped back. The police officer began detailing the case. The moment they detected the Black Sea Syndicate entering the country, they immediately notified Ethan to take precautions. They never expected Ethan to actually leave his wife alone at home. Ethan frowned deeply. “The security alarms going off at the house is just my wife playing a prank.” The police officer sighed. “But your villa is already on fire.” Hearing the commotion, Chloe walked out of her room. “Oh my, I didn’t expect Maya to be so impulsive. Actually burning down the house just to get your attention.” “Officer, you say Maya was kidnapped. Did you find any clues?” The officer shook his head. Chloe waved her hand dismissively. “There you go. If she was really kidnapped, Ethan would have received a ransom note. But we’ve been here all night and haven’t received a thing.” Ethan felt something was wrong. This kind of destructive tantrum wasn’t in Maya’s nature. Even back when Arthur completely ignored her and their kidnapped daughter. She had remained calm, desperately trying to scrape together the money from anyone she could. But just as Ethan was about to explain this, Chloe interrupted him. The police officer, helpless, advised them to be careful and left. Ethan was just about to call Maya when the secretary stepped forward again. “Mr. Sterling, please look at what the Madam sent.” Ethan took it. It was a DNA paternity report. It clearly stated that Maya and Lily were not biologically related. Ethan’s breath hitched, and his grip on the paper tightened. Maya… did she finally find out? Chloe leaned over to look and scoffed. “See? I told you Maya burning the house down was just her throwing a fit.” “She’s just trying to vent her anger. Nothing’s going to happen to her.” Listening to Chloe’s seemingly logical explanation, the unease in Ethan’s heart refused to dissipate. Ethan looked at his secretary. “Is my wife still unreachable?” The secretary nodded grimly. Ethan’s brow furrowed tightly. He ordered, “It’s only been three hours since the alarm went off. She can’t have gotten far. Take your men and find her immediately.” “Take all the bodyguards. You must find her as quickly as possible.” Chloe pouted in dissatisfaction. “If you let the secretary take everyone away, what about our safety?” “You know the Black Sea Syndicate are a bunch of ruthless murderers.” Ethan suddenly realized something was off and grabbed Chloe’s arm. “How did you know the people seeking revenge were the Black Sea Syndicate? I never told you that.” Only then did Chloe realize she had slipped up. Ethan already felt guilty toward Maya. If he knew she was the one who brought the syndicate here… Thinking quickly, Chloe clutched her stomach and let tears fall. “Ethan, the police officer just said it.” “I finally managed to get pregnant, and you treat me like this… Didn’t you say that as long as Arthur and I were happy, you’d do anything for me?” Only then did Ethan loosen his grip. The Chloe in front of him had red, teary eyes, looking like a frightened little rabbit. Normally, whenever she put on this face, he would instantly soften. But today, he only felt annoyed. Ethan suppressed his agitation and forced a smile, guiding Chloe back into the hospital room. “I’ve just been too exhausted these past two days; I lost my temper.” “Focus on your pregnancy. If you’re worried about safety, I can leave. The syndicate is after me.” Ethan stood up to leave, but Chloe, who had just been talking about being scared, grabbed him. “No, Ethan. If you leave, I’ll be even more scared.” He had never seen Chloe so incredibly dependent on him before. In the past, Chloe only cared about Arthur and was always indifferent to him. The only time she gave him a real smile was when he offered to raise her daughter for her. But what he used to desperately crave, he now found suffocating. Maya had never acted like this. Thinking of this, Ethan stood up abruptly. Ignoring Chloe’s calls, he walked straight out. He couldn’t just let the secretary look; he had to search too. Maya must be out of her mind with grief right now; otherwise, she would never have done something as extreme as burning down the house. He was the one who wronged her regarding their daughter. Once he found Maya, he would dedicate himself entirely to her. And they would have a child of their own. For the rest of his life, he would use all his love to make it up to Maya. But the moment he stepped out of the hospital, he received a call from his secretary. “Bad news, Mr. Sterling. The Black Sea Syndicate just delivered a ransom note.”

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During winter break, every night at exactly 3 AM, a heavy thud, thud, thud echoed from the hallway outside my bedroom door. The noise was driving me insane. I posted a rant about it online, and one comment immediately caught my eye. [OP! Quick, go check if it’s your parents kowtowing outside your door!] [If they are, RUN! They are trying to steal your lifespan!] 1 Right before the Lunar New Year, a strange thud, thud, thud sound started coming from the hallway right outside my bedroom. Every single time I opened the door to check, the sound vanished. The noise was ruining my sleep. I was visibly exhausted, dark circles bruised under my eyes. I asked my mom about it, asking if she and Dad heard the thudding at night. She just smiled softly. “Your dad and I sleep like rocks. We didn’t hear a thing. It’s probably just the neighbors doing renovations.” After a week of this, I lost my mind. I recorded the sound and posted it on Reddit to vent. I asked if anyone had any life hacks to deal with annoying noise pollution. Maybe because it was late at night, the post got a lot of traffic. I got a ton of comments quickly. Some people thought it was noise from upstairs and I was just misinterpreting the direction. Others agreed it sounded like renovations next door. People told me to go talk to the neighbors, or buy a ceiling vibrator to annoy the upstairs tenants back. Some even told me to just call the cops. I was just about to close the app when one comment caught my eye. [OP, that sounds exactly like the sound of someone kowtowing. Go check right now and see if someone is kneeling outside your door!] I checked the time. It was 4:00 AM. This person sure picked a great time to try and scare someone. I rolled my eyes and replied: [Who the hell would be kowtowing in my house at 4 AM? It’s just me and my parents here. Also, trying to scare people in the middle of the night isn’t cool.] The person replied instantly. [Then go check if it’s your parents kowtowing! If it is, RUN! They are trying to steal your lifespan!] Seeing that reply, my annoyance flared. Any sleepiness I had completely vanished. Trying to scare me was one thing, but making up sick rumors about my parents? Absolutely hilarious. Watch me flame this guy to a crisp. My fingers flew across the keyboard, turning me into a regular Beethoven of insults. [Listen here, you ************…] But right before I hit send, I glanced at his profile picture and username. I stopped. Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on his profile. He seemed to be a Taoist priest, though whether he was a real one or a scam artist was up for debate. His entire feed was filled with videos of rituals and daily Taoist routines. When I saw a post advertising a “Ritual Fee” of $100, I immediately concluded he was a scammer. I went back to finish flaming him, but he had already sent me a DM. [OP, I know what I said sounds crazy, but please don’t get mad. I just listened to your video again on loop.] [I am certain that is the sound of a human head hitting the floor. Go check if your parents are kowtowing to you. If I’m wrong, I will publicly apologize. If I’m right, I only have one word for you: RUN.] I almost laughed out loud at the audacity of this scammer. He must be really desperate for cash, trying this hard to reel me in. Since I was wide awake anyway, I decided to play along and typed back: [Stop being ridiculous. Do you really think I haven’t checked the hallway when the noise happens? I’ve checked multiple times, and the hallway is completely empty.] Less than a second later, he replied. I seriously wondered if he had these responses pre-typed and ready to go. [Did the sound stop the exact second you opened the door?] [Yeah.] I replied dismissively. This was literally the most overused trope in horror movies. Anyone could guess that. I wasn’t impressed. [That proves it! They are watching your door intently. The moment you move to open it, they know.] [If you don’t believe me, sneak out quietly and take a peek. Then you’ll know if I’m lying.] 2 A slight chill crept up my spine. My bedroom was at the very end of a long hallway, facing a blank wall. To get to the living room, you had to walk down this hallway. If someone really was kneeling out there… They would have plenty of time to hear me turning the knob, stand up, and retreat to their room before I saw them. To prove this guy was a fraud, and to prove my parents weren’t doing some creepy cult ritual at 4 AM, I turned on my phone camera and started recording. I tiptoed out of bed, moving as silently as possible, and gently placed my hand on the doorknob. With a faint click, the door opened. This time, the thud, thud, thud didn’t stop. My heart instantly leaped into my throat. Countless times before, the moment I opened the door, the sound vanished. But this time, it kept going. I swallowed hard. I gripped my phone and crept forward. The rhythmic thudding felt like a heavy hammer striking directly against my heart. My palms started to sweat. I moved out of the doorway and headed slowly down the hall toward the living room. Suddenly, my foot crunched down on something. It felt like an empty plastic water bottle. Who left that in the middle of the hallway? In the dead silence of the dark house, the loud CRACK of the plastic was magnified a hundred times. It echoed in my ears. My heart stopped. I was terrified I had alerted whatever was making the noise. Strangely enough, the thudding stopped immediately. I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath, listening intently. Dead silence. Taking a deep breath, I quickly walked the rest of the way into the living room. Nobody. There was absolutely nothing there. I panned my phone’s flashlight across the room. Just as I thought. Empty. My racing heart finally settled. I felt so stupid for actually believing some internet scammer. I turned around, went back to my room, and sent him the video I just took. [See for yourself. There’s literally no one there. It’s obviously just noise from the neighbors or the upstairs unit.] A long time passed. Even as I drifted off to sleep, he hadn’t replied. In my drowsy state, I smugly assumed I had called his bluff and he was too embarrassed to respond. The next morning, I woke up to a barrage of messages from him. [Is that your house?! Why is it decorated like a mourning hall?!] [OP, I am dead serious. The people kowtowing outside your door are your parents!] [Your living room is set up exactly like a funeral shrine. Based on the angle of your video, your bedroom door is positioned exactly where the sacrificial altar should be. YOU are the sacrifice!] A mourning hall?! A cold draft blew in through my window, raising goosebumps all over my arms. I suddenly remembered that a few months ago, my parents said our furniture was getting old and they wanted to remodel. They said they looked online and saw that young people really liked “minimalist aesthetics,” so they wanted to follow the trend. They redecorated the entire living room in stark black and white. At the time, I even joked about how trendy my sixty-year-old parents were becoming. But reading the priest’s messages… I thought back to the layout of the living room. It really did look eerily like a funeral setup… Seeing that I hadn’t replied, he sent one final message. [OP, I am warning you one last time. When you hear the sound tonight, sneak out and look, but DO NOT make a sound.] I made up my mind. I was going to check again tonight. I spent the entire day completely distracted, haunted by the priest’s words. My mom gently patted my head, looking concerned. “What’s wrong, sweetie? You look so pale.” Looking at the genuine, maternal worry in my mom’s eyes, I mentally mocked myself. How could I trust a random stranger on the internet over my own mother who raised me for twenty years? I told my mom it was because the thudding noise was keeping me up. My mom frowned, pulling me into a hug. I noticed a few more gray hairs near her temples. “It’s okay, honey. Mom will brew you some calming herbal tea tonight. It’s almost the New Year. If it’s still loud in a few days, your dad and I will go have a word with the neighbors upstairs!” 3 After dinner, my mom brought a steaming bowl of herbal tea into my room. She said drinking it guaranteed a deep sleep, claiming it was an old family recipe. I looked at my mom gratefully, my eyes misting over. My mom was so good to me. How could a mother like this ever want to hurt me? So, I decided I wasn’t going to make a sound tonight, just so I could prove that internet charlatan wrong once and for all. But I didn’t want to break my mom’s heart, so I took a few sips right in front of her. Once she left the room, I poured the rest of it into the potted plant on my windowsill. For some reason, the tea smelled a little off. Beneath the strong herbal scent, there was a faint, almost metallic tang of raw blood. At exactly 3:00 AM, the thud, thud, thud started again. This time, I was smart. When I opened the door, I used my phone flashlight to carefully scan the floor. Once I was certain there were no water bottles or anything else that could make noise, I stepped out. As I crept closer, the thudding grew louder and more distinct. It really did sound like a human head repeatedly striking the floorboards. I swallowed hard, my heart jumping into my throat. When I reached the corner of the hallway and peeked out, the sight before me almost made me scream. Cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of my pajamas. My mom was kneeling dead center in the living room, facing the direction of my bedroom, kowtowing slowly and forcefully. Thud… Thud… Thud… My dad stood perfectly straight beside her, holding something in his hands. The priest… he was right. My heart hammered against my ribs, my legs turning to jelly. Leaning heavily against the wall for support, I slowly began inching backward. What the hell were they doing?! I had a terrifying urge to run out there and demand to know why they were kowtowing. But looking at the pale, ghastly glow of the moonlight illuminating their eyes, I didn’t dare. Suddenly, my mom stopped. Her head froze mid-air, hovering just above the floor. It was incredibly unnatural. At the exact same moment, my dad stopped whatever he was doing with his hands. Because his back was to me, I couldn’t see what he was holding. He slowly lifted his head, his neck twisting rigidly toward my hiding spot in the hallway. I slapped both hands over my mouth, shrinking back into the shadows. An inexplicable surge of adrenaline hit me. I turned and bolted back to my room, gently clicking the door shut, and dove under the covers, wrapping myself up tight. I gasped for air quietly. My palms were drenched in cold sweat, my whole body shaking violently from pure terror. The noise outside had completely stopped. It was replaced by the sound of footsteps. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to calm down. A faint click. My bedroom door opened. I could feel them walking toward my bed. I could feel the heavy, scrutinizing weight of a cold gaze staring down at me in the dark. “Chloe. Chloe, are you asleep?” It was my mom. I focused everything on keeping my breathing deep and even. After what felt like an eternity, my mom spoke again. “See, honey? I told you it was just your imagination. Chloe is fast asleep. Let’s go.” My dad grunted in agreement. I heard their footsteps retreating toward the door. The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a massive, silent exhale. But I had watched enough horror movies to know better than to open my eyes right away. I stayed perfectly still, pretending to sleep. Two minutes later, I finally dared to crack my eyes open. Thank god. No terrifying jump-scares waiting for me. They had actually left. I shifted my stiff, numb body. Suddenly, a low, breathy chuckle sounded right behind my head. 4 My entire body went rigid. I felt like I had been plunged into a bath of ice water. They… they never left! I swallowed, forcing my eyes to slowly track upward. What I saw nearly made me pass out. My parents were standing right behind the headboard, bent over at a harsh 90-degree angle, their faces hovering directly above mine. They were both smiling—a twisted, unnatural grin—staring dead at me. “Chloe. So you weren’t asleep after all.” Just as I was about to unleash a bloodcurdling scream, a loud snap echoed through the room, and the blinding white ceiling light flickered on. My mom gently patted my back. “Did we scare you, honey? Mom and Dad were just pulling a little prank on you.” “Did you come out of your room earlier? We thought you might be scared, so we came to check on you.” Under the harsh fluorescent light, my mom’s face looked ghastly pale. But looking closely… The gray hairs I noticed just this morning… there were noticeably fewer of them. I instinctively shook my head. “I… no, I didn’t…” For a fraction of a second, the loving smile on my mom’s face cracked. She quickly recovered, but I caught it. She grabbed my hand and rubbed it warmly. “Are you lying to Mommy now? Your dad saw you.” “Were you spooked? Come on, Mom and Dad aren’t going to hide it from you anymore. Come out and look.” Before I could object, she forcibly yanked me out of bed. How did a sixty-something-year-old woman have this much strength? Her grip on my wrist felt like an iron vise. I couldn’t pull away. She half-dragged, half-carried me out into the brightly lit living room. She pulled me over and pointed at the wall facing my bedroom. “See? We were just praying to the God of Wealth. We didn’t tell you because we were afraid you’d think we were just superstitious boomers. But since you saw us, we won’t keep it a secret anymore.” I followed her finger. Sitting in a recessed alcove dead center in the wall was a terrifying statue. Wait. I had never seen a God of Wealth shrine in our house before. My mom anticipated my confusion and quickly explained. She said that because I was young and didn’t believe in this stuff, they didn’t want to bother me with it. So they built a hidden compartment in the wall. During the day, it was locked away behind a panel. At night, when it was time, they opened it to pray. That was why I had never seen it. Hearing her explanation, I let out a massive sigh of relief. “Mom, it’s fine! A lot of young people pray to the God of Wealth for good luck too! You don’t have to hide it. Since it’s open, let me pray to him too.” I made a move to drop to my knees and kowtow to the statue. My mom violently yanked me back. She looked panicked, almost awkward. “Chloe, no! You can’t pray to this one! This is a specific deity from our ancestral village. It’s not a normal God of Wealth.” I looked at her, confused. “Only older people like us can pray to it, and only at very specific times. We can’t mess with the traditions.” Seeing that I was about to ask more questions, my mom didn’t give me the chance. She practically shoved me back into my bedroom. “Alright, you already had a bad night’s sleep. Go back to bed. Just make sure you drink your herbal tea from now on, and the noise won’t bother you.” I lay in bed. Everything my mom said made logical sense. But for some reason, a deep, primal instinct was screaming that something was horribly wrong. There was no more kowtowing for the rest of the night. I eventually fell into a troubled sleep. 5 I had nightmares all night long. When I finally woke up, it was almost noon. My mom had already cooked a massive feast and called me out to eat. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, turning my head side to side. The person staring back at me looked incredibly sickly. I ran my hands through my hair, and a large clump of hair came loose in my fingers. Looking closer, there were several gray strands mixed in. I’m only twenty-one! Why am I getting gray hair?! At the dining table, my mom kept piling meat and vegetables into my bowl. She urged me to eat more, commenting on how terrible I looked. Both my parents started apologizing profusely, saying they were so caught up in their prayers they didn’t realize they were ruining my sleep. My mom was a fantastic cook. But for some inexplicable reason, I could smell that same faint, metallic tang of blood in the food. After lunch, my head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I went back to my room to catch up on sleep. That was when I suddenly remembered the Taoist priest on Reddit. I frantically opened the app. His last messages were still unread. [Did you check last night? Were your parents kowtowing?!] [Answer me.] I shook my heavy head and rapidly typed on my screen. After what happened last night, I found myself instinctively trusting the priest more than my own parents. Thinking back carefully, my mom’s explanation was full of holes. Why did they suddenly start this tradition this year? They had never done it before. Why did they specifically have to pray at 3:00 AM? And that statue… it looked vicious and demonic. Like a monster straight out of hell. The God of Wealth is supposed to look kind and benevolent. That thing was purely malevolent. I started to suspect my parents were involved in something dark. Maybe they got scammed and brainwashed by an evil cult. But I still didn’t believe the parents who raised me for two decades actually wanted to murder me. [I saw them last night. My mom was kowtowing. But she wasn’t bowing to me, she was bowing to a ‘God of Wealth’ statue.] [But the statue looked really weird. Not like the normal ones.] He replied instantly, as if he had been sitting there staring at our chat. [!!! Holy shit. I know what this is. Your parents are worshiping an Evil Deity! They aren’t just trying to steal your lifespan, they are trying to sacrifice you!] [I guarantee your birth chart (Bazi) is buried underneath that statue. Also, have you noticed any changes in your mom recently? Like her looking younger?] My heart dropped into my stomach. I instantly recalled how the gray hair around my mom’s temples had noticeably vanished this morning. And how my own hair was suddenly turning gray and falling out. I typed everything out and sent it to him. He immediately initiated a voice call. To my surprise, the voice on the other end was young and incredibly smooth. “OP, answer my questions. Exactly when did you first start hearing the kowtowing?” I thought about it. “About three weeks ago. Almost twenty days, I think.” The line went silent for a second. When he spoke again, his pace was frantic. “RUN! You are out of time! Tomorrow night is the culmination of the ritual. Tomorrow night is when they sacrifice you.” My brain buzzed with static. I opened my mouth to reply. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my bedroom door slowly creak open, just a crack. A freezing draft blew through the gap. And in the pitch blackness of the hallway, a pair of eyes was staring dead at me. My throat went bone dry. I instantly pivoted my tone. “Oh, Stacy! You want to grab dinner tonight? Yeah, I’m free! I have time! Let me just tell my mom.” I picked up my phone, stood up, and casually walked toward the door, pretending I hadn’t noticed anything. Keeping my peripheral vision locked on the crack, I saw the eyes instantly vanish into the darkness. “What happened? Are your parents monitoring you?” The priest asked. “That makes sense. It’s the final day. They can’t afford any mistakes.” “Send me your address right now. My Master and I are on our way. Find an excuse to leave the house, immediately!”

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Five years after our breakup. Ethan Vance had become a billionaire, complete with a beautiful fiancée. At a reunion, someone brought me up. “Chloe Hastings never shows up to these reunions. What’s her deal?” “Heh, she’s too busy gold-digging on airplanes.” “On airplanes?” “Yeah. She’s a flight attendant for some airline. I saw her once. You should have seen the fawning smile on her face when she served the rich passengers.” “Really? A flight attendant? I guess she’s just as obsessed with money as she was back then.” Ethan, sitting in the center, narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand clenching into a fist. “A flight attendant?” “Yeah. Ethan, it’s been so many years. Have you still not forgotten her?” He took the hand of his fiancée sitting next to him. The massive diamond ring on the girl’s finger instantly blinded everyone. “I forgot her a long time ago. My wedding is next month. Make sure you all come for a drink.” Everyone immediately offered their congratulations. Only I, floating in the air, lowered my head. 1 One year after I died. The class group chat organized a reunion. Hearing that Ethan, whose net worth had skyrocketed, would also be there, the group chat became incredibly lively. Over thirty active avatars. Only my avatar was grayed out, silent at the very bottom. Because I was already dead. I couldn’t use any communication devices anymore. In my lonely room, the furnishings were exactly as I had left them when I was alive. My anti-cancer drugs still sat on the table. The day of the reunion. I floated to the venue. A huge private room in a seven-star hotel. I floated inside, looking left and right. Soon, everyone had arrived. The last person to enter. I held my breath. That tall, broad figure, those long legs—it was none other than Ethan Vance. He was dressed in a niche, custom European brand. Incredibly low-key, yet exuding impeccable taste. I stared, mesmerized. The next second, a beautiful girl appeared in the doorway and hooked her arm through his. “Ethan, are these all your classmates?” My breath instantly hitched. At the reunion, everyone talked loudly, ate, and drank, but without exception, they all tried to cozy up to Ethan. Suddenly, someone glanced around the room. “Is Chloe the only one who didn’t show up?” “Heh. In the five years since graduation, she’s practically vanished. Who knows what she’s doing?” “A successful new-generation tech mogul like Ethan, we at least see him on TV occasionally. She’s the most mysterious one. Probably married some rich guy and became a trophy wife.” Everyone chimed in, one after another. Until the class social chair, who hadn’t spoken, took a sip of red wine. “What trophy wife? Serving rich businessmen and trophy wives is more like it. She’s a flight attendant for some airline, spinning around like a top.” The girl speaking was Lily. She was also very pretty. She had married a moderately wealthy boss. A year ago, I had served her and her husband on a flight. “You’ve seen her?” Everyone was instantly curious. “Heh, a flight attendant? That’s a shortcut to getting close to rich people. She’s got a sharp mind.” “Which airline? How come I’ve never run into her?” Lily spat out two words: “Skyward Airlines.” “That airline is famous for having beautiful stewardesses and handsome stewards.” “If I get the chance, I’ll buy a ticket with them and try it out.” When the topic came up. I silently looked at Ethan in the center. He didn’t say a word, his face solemn. The hand resting on the armrest was clenched so tight the veins popped. The class president next to him glanced at his fist and immediately signaled everyone to stop talking. The class president picked up his wine glass and toasted Ethan. “Ethan, some people aren’t worth it. They aren’t worth thinking about.” Ethan didn’t move. He sat there, tall and imposing, as if frozen for a moment. This was too abnormal. Everyone didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly. Next to him, the beautiful girl looked a bit awkward and gently took his hand. A few seconds later, he snapped back to reality. He picked up his wine glass and lightly clinked it against the class president’s. “I forgot her a long time ago.” He took a sip of wine and, backhandedly, gripped the girl’s hand tightly. “I haven’t shared the good news yet. Next month, I’m holding my wedding. You’re all welcome to come for a drink.” 2 That night. I drifted around the streets, wandering aimlessly. It wasn’t until I was truly exhausted that I floated back home. A light was on in the room, which was strange. It was Mia, my best friend when I was alive. She had drawn a basin of water and was cleaning my room. She had also plugged my old phone in to charge. She did everything in silence. My eyes, however, stung sharply. Suddenly, my phone dinged a few times. She put down the mop, walked over, and picked up my phone. It was the class group chat. “Mr. Vance, what date is the wedding banquet exactly? Where is it being held?” Someone also posted a photo from the reunion of Ethan and Ms. Yin sitting together. “Look, everyone. Such a perfect match. A talented man and a beautiful woman.” “Compared to a certain superficial person with zero substance from back then, she’s a thousand, ten thousand times better.” Bang. Mia’s hand trembled, and the phone fell to the floor. She suddenly crouched down, covered her face, and cried. She opened a photo of me, caressing my smiling face on the screen. “You idiot. He’s getting married, do you know that? And to think you were still calling his name right before you died.” Mia turned off the phone and continued cleaning. When she left, this time, she took my old phone with her. I was confused. I followed Mia to her house. Guarding an empty house alone was just too unbearable. Usually, what made me happiest was Mia coming once a month to charge my phone. That way, whenever a notification popped up, I could see it. I thought it was pretty interesting. Even in death, you can still read the news. 3 Mia and I were both poor. She struggled even more than I did. She was an unmarried mother, and her daughter was born with a congenital heart defect. She put the phone down and fell asleep next to her daughter. I couldn’t sleep. I floated around the room a few times, until finally, a phone screen lit up. I floated over. It was my phone. It was a web news notification. When I saw the headline, I was shocked. #CEO of CloudTech Crashes into Guardrail Late at Night# Ethan Vance was the CEO of CloudTech. The location of the accident was on Oak Street. Was he hurt? I couldn’t care about anything else and immediately floated toward Oak Street. When I arrived, a section of the road was indeed cordoned off, and a crowd had gathered. There was also a Maybach with a crushed front end. My heart pounded. I immediately floated into the crowd, searching for Ethan’s figure. I couldn’t find a trace of Ethan in the circle of people. I was frantic. “Mr. Vance, your hand is injured. Let me take you to the hospital.” Hearing the voice, I whipped my head around and saw Ethan sitting on the curb. His arm hung limply, and blood dripped from the back of his hand. My heart ached looking at him. He didn’t say a word and silently got into the car that came to pick him up. 4 At the hospital, the doctor suggested staying for a few days of observation. Ethan refused. After simply getting his hand bandaged, he left the hospital. The driver drove the car. “Mr. Vance, your health is precious. You should at least get a full-body checkup.” He massaged his temples and leaned back against the seat. “Who’s handling the accident scene?” “Assistant Wright.” Ethan didn’t speak again. He seemed utterly exhausted, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed to rest. The car drove all the way into a mansion nestled in the hills. The main gates opened automatically, and the lights of the villa flickered on one by one. Ethan went inside. I surveyed the furnishings inside the house. The boy everyone knew was poor back then had now become the unreachable Mr. Vance. “You can go.” The driver, however, seemed uneasy. “Mr. Vance, you don’t seem right. Did something happen at the reunion?” Those close to Ethan vaguely knew that he had a messy romantic past. The top student of the school had once been dumped by a girl. He had been in agonizing pain, destitute and miserable for a whole year. Ethan shot him a glare. The driver immediately took the hint and left. 5 I stayed in Ethan’s mansion the entire night. He rested, leaning against the sofa. I stayed right beside him, keeping watch over him. It’s a pity he couldn’t feel me. Not only did he not feel me, he didn’t even hear Ms. Yin’s phone calls. Luckily, his mansion was quite warm. Sitting on the sofa all night wouldn’t give him a cold. Dawn broke. He opened his eyes, grabbed his phone to check the time, then put it down and went to wash up. I was puzzled. Didn’t he see Ms. Yin’s missed calls? But a second later, I understood. It was barely dawn; Ms. Yin was probably still asleep right now. After arriving at the company. Ethan buried himself in his work, processing fifty reports in one morning. At noon, he opened his phone. Many classmates had sent messages of concern; they must have all seen yesterday’s news. He picked out the class president’s message and replied. He put the phone down. His secretary walked in. “Mr. Vance, I’ll book the tickets for Europe now.” His pen, which had been signing a document, paused. “Before going to Europe, isn’t there a trip down South?” The secretary nodded. “The day after tomorrow. I’ve already booked the tickets.” He suddenly raised his head. “Which airline?” The secretary froze for a moment, but quickly reported, “It’s Ocean Air.” Ethan suddenly paused. “Change it.” “Mr. Vance, do we need to adjust the timing?” “Change the airline.” The secretary was even more stunned. “Which one would you like to change to?” Ethan pondered for a moment. I looked at him; the fountain pen in his grip seemed to have been squeezed a bit flat. “Skyward Airlines.” The secretary was surprised. But then grabbed a tablet and immediately started changing the flight. “Mr. Vance, it’s booked. First class, seat 1A.” Ethan didn’t say a word. The secretary tactfully retreated. The office returned to silence. I stared at Ethan in astonishment. Skyward Airlines? The airline I flew for when I was alive. Did he want to see me? But then I shook my head violently. Impossible. Even if it was because of me, he probably just wanted to see how pathetic I looked now. Or maybe he wanted to deliver a line like: “Chloe, didn’t you end up with that factory heir? Out here working as a servant?” Ethan had always been a gentleman. He probably wouldn’t say something like that. But back then, right in front of him, I took someone else’s arm and trampled him into the dirt. In broad daylight, his eyes had been full of red, terrifyingly bloodshot. He looked like he wanted to strangle me, this wicked woman. He couldn’t say it to others, but saying it to me, the ex-girlfriend who cruelly abandoned him, wouldn’t be excessive at all. 6 Two days later. Ethan departed for the South, and returned from the South, both times on Skyward Airlines flights. Neither flight had me as a flight attendant. His eyes looked very dark. While in first class, he even got up and took a walk through economy and business class. Among the flight attendants on duty, he didn’t find any trace of me. He was visibly disappointed. Floating in the air watching, I felt regretful too. After we broke up, the reason I chose to become a flight attendant was because I felt it was already impossible for Ethan and me to ever meet again. But I simply couldn’t control my own heart. I always hoped that we could meet again, that I could catch a glimpse of him one more time in the vast sea of humanity. I heard he was very successful now. Successful people mostly fly all over the country, and Ethan shouldn’t be an exception. So I decisively chose a large domestic airline and became a flight attendant. But fate loves to play tricks. During my three years of flying, Ethan never appeared once. Only now did I understand that he held a Platinum card with another major airline. He usually stuck with that rival airline for his travels. Regret, like a dense cloud, clogged my soul, unable to dissipate for a long time. During the flight, the purser proactively asked Ethan several times, pushing service to the absolute pinnacle of perfection, hoping to retain this tycoon so he would choose Skyward next time. 7 I didn’t go back home either. I kept following Ethan; wherever he went, I floated. That day, he finished a meeting and returned to his office. There were several messages in the class group chat. He originally intended to swipe past, but accidentally clicked on them. “I just got off a Skyward flight, didn’t see Chloe.” “I checked my past flights, they were Skyward too, and among the flight attendants, I didn’t see Chloe either.” Someone tagged Lily. “Lily, you didn’t lie to us last time, did you?” Lily: “Lie to you? Do I have too much free time? I’m sure she’s at Skyward. Maybe she just wasn’t on the flights you took.” “That’s possible.” “Maybe she resigned.” “Hmph, good thing she didn’t run into me, otherwise I wouldn’t have given her the time of day.” “In our class, she was the only one with average grades and a bad character.” I bit my lip. Everyone’s prejudice against me had always been deeply rooted. When I loudly and proudly pursued Ethan, no one thought it would last. They thought it was just a rich girl’s game, just playing around. But we seriously dated for three years, and everyone started thinking I was serious and their opinion of me changed a bit. But right then, I coldly and ruthlessly initiated a breakup, shocking everyone. The always aloof, top-student Ethan was almost completely broken by it. I was solidly nailed to the pillar of shame as the “wicked woman.” Amidst the chorus of condemnation. Someone suddenly spoke up. “But did you guys notice? Chloe’s avatar went gray a year ago. Does anyone really know how she’s doing?” “Since we were classmates, let’s keep our words kind. Last time I saw a friend’s avatar stay gray for six months, and when I asked around, I found out they had passed away.” The group chat instantly fell silent. I immediately looked at Ethan. He was gripping his phone, his knuckles white. It was a long while before the class president finally spoke. “Don’t say unlucky things. Even though we haven’t seen her in a long time, she’s definitely still healthy. Don’t go cursing people.” 8 In the afternoon. Ethan kept a tight, stony face. Several department managers got chewed out by him. Walking out of the office, everyone wiped the sweat from their foreheads. “What’s wrong with Mr. Vance?” “Yeah, there were no mistakes in our work.” “Stop talking. Mr. Vance has high standards for us, maybe his expectations are just even higher.” Everyone left, feeling dejected. When work ended. Ethan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. A ray of the setting sun shot through the massive glass, elongating his shadow. Watching him from behind, I felt the profound, intense loneliness radiating from him. For some reason, I felt that Ethan’s feelings for Ms. Yin weren’t strong enough. Ms. Yin was from a prominent family. Perhaps, more than romance, this was an arranged marriage between two great families. The assistant stood behind him, and after a long time, finally spoke cautiously. “Mr. Vance, the bridal center sent over five venue layout plans. You need to choose one.” The man remained silent. The assistant broke into a cold sweat and said tremblingly. “I… I’ll just send them over to Ms. Yin and let her choose.” “A beach wedding. The color scheme will be blue and white, and the primary flower for the venue will be the Iris.” The assistant opened his mouth, finding it hard to believe. “The beach? Does Ms. Yin know?” The tall, dark figure suddenly turned slightly, his aura cold and eerie. The assistant said nothing more and immediately went to carry out the order. Ethan was dressed entirely in black today. When he turned, the areas untouched by the light were terrifyingly cold. With a tangle of emotions, my heart felt heavy, and I couldn’t bear it anymore. I floated away. He was going to hold his wedding on the beach? It must be very romantic.

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I was born with a naturally high-pitched, sweet voice. To many, I sounded incredibly fake and overly precious. My childhood friend, Liam, loved to mock me for it. He jokingly referred to me to the whole class as his “little delicate trophy wife.” A classmate mimicked my voice, exaggerating the pitch: “Oh, little squeaker, Liam doesn’t actually like girls who act this fake.” I shook my head. “I’m not trying to be anything for anyone. This is just how my voice sounds.” “Why are you trying to force me to change who I am?” Her face froze, her mouth opening to argue. I cut her off. “Or are you just jealous of me?” She was speechless, glaring at me with pure resentment. I stood up, adjusted my pink scarf, picked up my textbook, and brushed past her shoulder. A dozen pairs of eyes followed me. They locked onto my pink watch. “Chloe is so incredibly fake.” “I bet even her underwear is pink.” The tiny, dense whispers flowed continuously into my ears. I silently opened my textbook and said in my soft, quiet voice, “It’s morning reading time. Please stop gossiping.” The chattering stopped for a few seconds, only to erupt even louder. It felt like they were doing it just to spite me. “Her voice is so strained it’s probably going to give out. She sounds like an old witch.” “Does she actually think anyone finds that baby voice cute?” Liam sat in the corner, watching me lazily, a smirk playing on his lips. He always seemed to enjoy watching me struggle. I scanned the classroom and slapped my hand hard on the podium. “If you have a problem, take it up with the teacher.” The classroom finally fell silent. By the time morning reading ended, a layer of sweat had broken out on my forehead. Returning to my seat, I felt a bit dazed. The mocking words and sneering looks from earlier replayed on an endless loop in my mind. Even though this was far from the first time, I still needed a thick skin to endure it. I led the morning reading once a week. And just because I liked the color pink and had a soft, high-pitched voice… I was treated like a freak in my own class. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder. I didn’t turn around, continuing to organize my desk. Liam shoved a carton of strawberry milk into my hand, raising an eyebrow. “Chloe, you’re not going to cry, are you?” His words sounded comforting, but his expression betrayed an unmistakable thrill of excitement. I quietly handed the milk back to him. His eyes darkened, his mood souring instantly. “I thought you liked pink? What’s wrong, did a few words really break your fragile little heart?” “Look, your voice is pretty fake, but I’m used to it…” I slammed the milk onto the floor. “I don’t need it.” Secretive glances darted our way; half the class was suddenly very interested in our conversation. The veins in Liam’s neck bulged, his expression turning cold. “Chloe, stop being such a drama queen.” I stood up and walked around him to go to the restroom. He stuck right by my side, his shoulder brushing my back, speaking through gritted teeth. “Chloe, what is your problem today?” “Are you actually mad?” I stopped dead in my tracks, my fists clenched tight. I stopped so abruptly that Liam couldn’t react in time and almost tripped over his own feet. He looked annoyed. “If you insist on wearing pink, you have to be prepared for people to talk trash.” “This is the STEM track. It’s not some humanities class full of girls.” I cut him off. “Liam, are you done talking?” He yanked on a strand of my hair, making my scalp sting. “There you go, acting like a baby again.” “Little squeaker, you…” I fiercely swatted his hand away. “You’re psychotic. What does my favorite color have to do with you?” Leaving that sentence hanging in the air, I walked into the girls’ restroom. From outside the door, I could hear Liam’s furious voice. “You act like such a weirdo! Who else is going to pity you besides me?!” He kept rambling, continuously trying to tear me down. I pulled a tissue from my pocket to wipe my sweat. The pink bunny printed on the packaging suddenly felt glaring, making my eyes ache. I just didn’t understand. When I chose the STEM track, Liam was incredibly surprised. That day, he tugged on my backpack strap, looking both thrilled and arrogant. “You got put in the same class as me.” I froze, a wave of disappointment washing over me. I was good at math and science, so of course, I chose STEM. But I didn’t want to share a classroom with him. An emotion I couldn’t decipher swirled in Liam’s eyes. He spoke to me like a scolding parent: “Since you chose STEM, you shouldn’t wear so much pink anymore.” I was stunned. He looked down his nose at me. “Not everyone is going to spoil you like I do.” I yanked my backpack strap out of his grip and frowned at him. “I’ll wear whatever I want.” Liam’s voice dropped. “Then don’t come crying to me later.” I stared at him in disbelief. I had known Liam for over a decade. He always loved lecturing me about being “too soft.” He was constantly trying to make me cry, to make me submit to him. In elementary school, I had a pink water bottle. He scraped the paint off of it just to mess with me. “Chloe, your bottle isn’t pink anymore. Are you still gonna drink from it?” The bottle showed patches of cold, ugly silver metal. Liam looked incredibly smug. “Are you gonna cry?” I bit my lip, fought back my tears, and got so mad I actually got into a physical fight with him. Afterward, he wore that fight like a badge of honor, constantly repeating, “See? You don’t need pink.” Someone once pointed out to him: “She’s just faking it to get attention.” Liam nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Chloe is just a fake, precious girl.” I had sniffled and run out of the classroom, totally devastated. The emotional blow was so severe that for a while, just seeing the color pink gave me anxiety. I was terrified of Liam calling me fake, and terrified of my classmates’ mockery. I started wearing black and white clothes and stopped using anything pink. But Liam just laughed again. “Your voice is so soft and weak, it constantly sounds like you’re whining for attention.” My palms turned ice cold. I grabbed the hem of my shirt, completely lost. From that day on, I didn’t dare speak up in class, and I stopped making eye contact with my classmates. My dad noticed something was wrong and sat me down for a long talk. “Chloe, why don’t you like pink anymore? And why haven’t you been talking to me…” I blinked, and the tears I had been holding back finally fell, drip, drop, soaking his suit jacket. “Dad, liking pink is a mistake.” “Why does my voice sound like this? It’s so high and squeaky.” My dad sighed. “You were born with that voice. It’s a gift you inherited from your mother.” “If you care too much about what other people think, you’ll never be happy.” I wiped my tears. “But they all say I’m faking it.” He pulled a brand-new pink water bottle from behind his back. “Pink is a very soft color,” he said gently. “But you don’t have to be as fierce as a sunflower, or as glamorous as a rose.” “Just being a cute, pretty pink flower is perfectly fine.” The dark clouds in my heart finally parted. Liking pink wasn’t a mistake. The next time Liam tried to provoke me, he realized I was bulletproof. He pulled my hair and stole my pink hair clips. I kept my eyes facing forward and treated him like he didn’t exist. Liam muttered in frustration, “Why aren’t you crying?” I just scoffed, and went right back to wearing the brightest pinks and speaking in my naturally soft voice as I walked around campus. I thought that as we grew older, people would stop gossiping about me. I didn’t realize that in the STEM track, pink was basically a taboo. After we split into our specialized tracks, my class was 70% boys. They usually wore black, white, or gray. When I walked into the classroom carrying a bunch of pink school supplies, I instantly drew everyone’s attention. People started whispering. I silently walked to my seat. When it was my turn to introduce myself, my high, soft voice triggered a wave of laughter. “Oh my god, so precious. It’s giving me goosebumps.” “Why didn’t she choose the humanities track? She doesn’t look like someone who’s good at math.” The teacher tried to smooth things over. “Chloe’s voice just sounds a bit like a little girl’s.” I said flatly, “I am a girl.” The room fell dead silent. I casually sat down, my eyes briefly sweeping over Liam in the corner. He looked arrogant and mocking, as if to say: [See? Wearing pink in a STEM class is insane.] [No one is going to accept you except me.] And it seemed like his words were a self-fulfilling prophecy. Taking my turn as the weekly morning reading leader turned me into the class joke. The walk from my desk to the podium felt like miles. Whenever I stood up there, I would hear the word “squeaker” whispered in the crowd. Some people even theorized that I was putting on this “fake” persona because I liked Liam. That I was doing it on purpose to get his attention. Liam never defended me. Instead, he insisted on bringing me a carton of strawberry milk every single day, loudly declaring: “I’m doing you a favor, proving you aren’t completely repulsive to everyone.” He watched my embarrassment with pure amusement. He was trying to play the hero in a crisis he helped create. No matter how many times I rejected him, he just assumed I was playing hard to get or throwing a cute tantrum. I shoved the tissue back into my pocket. I was so utterly sick of him sticking to me like gum on a shoe. I left the restroom but didn’t dare go back to the classroom until the bell rang. Where the teacher was, people didn’t look at me like I was an alien. I took a deep breath and opened my textbook. A folded note suddenly landed on my desk. “Class committee team-building dinner tomorrow night. Don’t be absent.” My shoulders slumped as I tried to think of an excuse to get out of it. Before I could even decline after class, the Class President, who sat behind me, specifically warned me: “Chloe, you better not ditch us.” I forced a smile. “I have a family emergency.” Her eyes darted around. “But Liam said you were free.” “Aren’t you guys neighbors?” Liam sat in the corner, his expression dark and brooding. He was radiating a miserable aura because I had stood up to him earlier. I pressed my lips together, my expression turning cold. “He doesn’t live in my house.” The President patted my shoulder. “However you need to handle it, you have to come tomorrow night! There’s a surprise!” With that, she sprinted away. I frowned, completely at a loss, and immediately texted her to reiterate my stance. [I’m not going. Don’t wait for me.] The President replied with a barrage of texts trying to persuade me. I ignored all of them. The next afternoon, the moment school ended, I headed straight for the door. I had barely taken three steps when two pairs of hands clamped down on my shoulders. I spun around, breaking into a cold sweat. The loudest girls in the class were holding me in place. They smiled, though it didn’t reach their eyes. “Don’t run off! We’re just waiting for you.” I rarely got angry, but I started struggling fiercely. “I said I’m not going!” They dragged me toward a waiting car. “Stop being so shy.” “There’s a surprise waiting for you.” The KTV room was bathed in flashing neon lights, the bass from the speakers hurting my eardrums. I turned my head away, closed my eyes, and sank into the corner of the sofa, pretending to be dead. They were playing drinking games, making a massive, rowdy scene. Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. “Chloe, you got the Dare!” I frowned deeply. “I wasn’t even playing! How did I get chosen?!” “Liam drew for you! You guys are childhood sweethearts, right?” My chest heaved with anger. I turned to glare at Liam. He was staring right back at me, a mix of frustration and amusement in his eyes. I refused this unsolicited proxy. “He doesn’t represent me.” The room erupted in dramatic gasps. “Chloe, don’t be a buzzkill.” “Stop acting so fragile. Can’t you just be a good sport like the other girls?” The President grabbed my hand. “The dare is super easy. You just have to sing a love song duet with Liam.” “Your voice is so sweet, I bet you sound amazing when you sing.” The girls exchanged looks, giggling mockingly. Goosebumps broke out over my arms. I yanked my hand back, stood up, and tried to head for the door. The President instigated, “Liam, it looks like Chloe doesn’t want to sing with you.” The next second, a harsh, grating sound pierced the room. Liam kicked the glass coffee table hard, his voice dripping with annoyance. “Who wants to sing with this fake squeaker anyway?” “I’m afraid her voice is gonna make my ears bleed.” My hand froze on the doorknob. My eyes went wide. Laughter erupted behind me. “I told you Liam didn’t actually like her.” Liam snapped irritably, “Just get out of here.” I took a slow, deep breath. I whipped around, grabbed a glass of beer off the table, and hurled the liquid straight at his chest. My voice was shaking with rage, pitching even higher and softer than usual. “Liam, is this how you get off? By trying to humiliate me?” The room went dead silent. The only sound was the backing track playing on the TV. I spoke clearly, emphasizing every single word: “Who do you think you are to make decisions for me? To me, you’re not even a random extra in the background of my life.” He wiped the alcohol off his face, looking pathetic, his eyes burning with fury. I pushed the door open and walked out quickly. I didn’t let myself cry until I was out the front doors of the building. My tears dried in the wind, only to be replaced by fresh ones. The bitter winter wind whipped down my collar. I pulled my pink scarf tighter and walked home with my head down. Liam initiated a unilateral cold war against me. Whenever I was working on advanced Physics competition problems, he would make snide, sour comments: “A brain like yours is only built for reading poetry.” “Do you girls even understand what those equations mean?” I would simply put my pen down and pull out my English vocabulary flashcards to memorize. Seeing that I was genuinely treating him like thin air, Liam would violently kick my desk and storm off in a rage. The class held a “Peer Review” activity. I went to the restroom, and when I came back, I found my name written on the blackboard. Next to it was a title: [The Delicate Little Squeaker Wife] My eyes went bloodshot. I ran up to the board and yelled, “Who wrote this?!” My classmates covered their mouths, snickering. Liam leaned back in his chair and raised his hand. “I did.” He taunted me, “Doesn’t that title fit you perfectly? You’re fake, you squeak…” My blood ran cold. My hands turned to ice. He started counting my flaws on his fingers. “You love to cry, and you sound like you’re moaning in bed when you talk…” I charged down the aisle like an enraged bull and slapped him across the face as hard as I could. Liam cursed loudly, his tongue poking at the inside of his cheek. “Chloe, you actually hit me…” Halfway through his sentence, he met my eyes and quickly looked away. “So fragile…” He kicked his desk in frustration and stormed out of the classroom. The people around me started whispering again. “The squeaker failed to seduce Liam…” “She’s so fake. If I were him, I wouldn’t like her either.” I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. I spun around instantly and marched straight up to that group. “How do you know I like Liam?” They jumped, their eyes going wide. “Squeaker, what’s your problem?” I pointed to the security camera in the corner of the ceiling. “If what you just said is true, then I’m reporting you for stalking and spying on me.” “If it’s false, then you’re spreading malicious rumors.” The group’s faces cycled between red and pale. They stammered, “We didn’t say anything.” “It was just a joke…”

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When I was suffering from severe morning sickness and incontinence, Arthur was at a party playing a cherry-stem-tying kissing game with his female assistant. Even as I vomited until my stomach bled, he remained tangled up with her, deeply entwined and refusing to separate. On my way home, I was in a car accident. Just as I was lifted onto a stretcher, Arthur coldly dragged me off: “You’re tough. Stop wasting medical resources.” With that, he carried his crying female assistant onto the stretcher instead. When we arrived at the hospital, everyone rushed the assistant to the emergency room. I was the only one who walked quietly to the gynecology desk: “Hello. I’d like to schedule an abortion.” “I don’t want the baby in my stomach anymore.” … A second after I changed into the hospital gown, Arthur stormed into the room, furious. He threw a red string right at my face: “Chloe, who gave you permission to force this unlucky junk on me?!” Arthur didn’t believe in gods or spirits. Even the peace amulet I had acquired by climbing a thousand steps and bowing with each one was sneered at and tossed into the fire. I picked up the “marriage thread” that had fallen on me and said calmly: “I didn’t give this to you.” Hearing this, Arthur immediately snatched the red string back, hastily tying it around his wrist. I knew the red string was a gift from his assistant, Mia. It was a plea for a lifetime of monogamous love with Arthur. Thinking of this, I grabbed his hand. Ignoring his disgusted, defensive glare, I took the loose knot and pulled it tight. The icy chill of my fingertips made Arthur momentarily zone out. He asked me why I was wearing a hospital gown. I answered lightly: “I’m having a minor procedure later.” Arthur’s brow furrowed. He was just about to accuse me of faking an illness for attention. But the next second, a nurse walked in to draw my blood. Arthur opened his mouth, about to ask the nurse what was wrong with me, but his phone rang at the exact right moment. It was a video call from Mia. The girl whined coquettishly, complaining about how scary the hospital was at night. Hearing her, Arthur didn’t even spare me a glance as he strode out of the room. He bumped into the nurse on his way out, causing the needle to slip and blood to well up. He didn’t turn back when he heard my groan of pain. At that moment, the doctor walked in with the surgical consent form. Ignoring all the risk warnings, I signed my name without blinking. Half an hour later, the surgery was a success. As soon as I got off the operating table, I received a text from Arthur: [Wait for me at the hospital entrance.] It was snowing heavily outside. Dressed in thin clothes, I sat on a plastic chair and waited for two whole hours. He never showed up. Two nurses walked past me, laughing and gossiping about what they saw in the ER: “I’ve been working here for years, and I’ve never seen a man dote on his wife like that.” “Right? He held her and coaxed her through the entire examination. She just had a red mark on her leg, and he immediately mobilized a helicopter to transfer her to a top-tier hospital.” Hearing this, I opened our chat window and noticed Arthur had changed his profile picture. It was Nick Wilde from Zootopia wearing sunglasses. A perfect matching pair with Mia’s Judy Hopps. I exited WeChat and opened a ticketing app. Due to the weather, the earliest flight back to my hometown wasn’t for two days. I placed the order, paid, and confirmed the ticket. I walked out of the hospital and went home alone. At 3:00 AM, Arthur returned late, pushed open the bedroom door, and lay down beside me. In the pitch black, he reached out, wanting to touch my pregnant belly. I simply rolled over, giving him my back. Arthur clicked his tongue impatiently, got up, walked into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut with a loud BANG. In our nine years together, whenever he showed even the slightest hint of displeasure… I would be consumed with anxiety, chasing after him, lowering my head, and begging for peace. But tonight, when Arthur came out of the shower, he found me still lying in bed, completely unmoving. “Stop faking it.” Dropping those words, Arthur left the master bedroom with a cold face and didn’t return. The next morning, I found a wine glass stained with lipstick on the living room coffee table. I didn’t wake Arthur up and hysterically interrogate him about everything and nothing, like I would have in the past. I leisurely finished frying some egg rolls and sat down at the dining table just as Arthur woke up and said: “Don’t wait for me for dinner tonight. I have a business dinner.” He opened the fridge, chugged two mouthfuls of ice water, and… Suddenly found it strange that I neither nagged him about cold water hurting his stomach nor asked who was attending the dinner. Through the glass kitchen door, Arthur frowned at me: “Chloe, are you even listening to me?” Swallowing my food cleanly, I gave a noncommittal “Mhm” and continued eating. Seeing this, he tossed his black overcoat at me. “Your birthday present.” The coat, reeking of sweet, cloying perfume, perfectly covered my now-flat stomach. Under his gaze, I fished a gift box out of the coat pocket. I opened the box. Inside was a diamond ring. Before I could say a word, Arthur’s face darkened, and he snatched the ring back. He said: “You grabbed the wrong one. Yours is in the other pocket.” The other pocket held an emerald brooch. I just took one look at it before pushing it back toward him. Then I said politely: “The brooch is beautiful, but it’s a pity I don’t have any clothes that match it. Besides, my birthday was three months ago. You might as well give this to Mia, too.” He was speechless for a good while. Arthur said reluctantly: “There’s a jewelry auction in a couple of days. You can come with me.” This was the first time he had asked me to be his plus-one in a long while. For the past six months, Mia had been the one accompanying him to all his social gatherings. Even during yacht vacations with his childhood friends, the two of them appeared arm-in-arm in the group photos. Recalling this, I felt utterly bored with it all. “No need. I don’t need anything.” “Are you sure?” I nodded: “It’s best if you have Mia accompany you.” My genuine words were met with an instantly blackened expression from Arthur: “Chloe, go to the bathroom and look in the mirror right now. Take a good look at how pathetic your jealous, bitter face is.” In the past, if he said that, I would definitely have gotten into a massive fight with him. But now, I couldn’t be bothered to argue a single syllable. Just as I was about to get up and go back to my room, Arthur’s phone rang. It was a custom ringtone for Mia. The girl was crying hysterically, saying she forgot her keys when she took out the trash. What should I do, Arthur? “You little dummy. Be a good girl, stay right there, and don’t run around. I’m coming over to bring you the spare key now.” Hanging up, Arthur immediately turned to leave. But I called out to stop him. “That scarf you asked me to knit last week is finished and hanging on the coat rack. Don’t forget to take it to her.” Arthur’s expression shifted slightly. His mouth moved as if he were about to say something. But then Mia sent another voice message. She meowed like a little cat, begging her “master” to bring her a bubble tea on his way. Because of this, Arthur emptied the shopping bag hanging on the rack, stuffed the scarf inside, and left with a smirk on his face. I glanced at the baby clothes discarded on the floor, stood up, and walked into the study. Ignoring the framed photo of Arthur and Mia on the mahogany desk. I moved with clear purpose toward the safe. I tried Arthur’s birthday, then mine. Incorrect. I tried our anniversary. Still incorrect. It wasn’t until I entered Mia’s birthday… The lock finally clicked open. As I took out my ID and passport, two movie tickets were dragged out with them. They were the ticket stubs from my very first date with Arthur. I tore the memories to shreds and tossed them in the trash. I returned to the bedroom and started packing my personal belongings. Towards evening, Arthur called and told me to hire a courier to deliver a document for him. A blizzard was raging outside. I wrapped myself in a mink coat and went out to deliver it personally. Pushing open the restaurant door, I walked right in as Arthur and Mia were drinking cross-armed, like a newlywed couple. Because of my sudden appearance, the cheering and jeering in the restaurant abruptly stopped. Arthur glared at me, his face full of annoyance. The others watched with amusement, waiting for me to scream and throw a fit. But to everyone’s surprise, I wasn’t angry at all. I handed the document to Arthur and simply said: “Can I borrow your car keys for a second? I left something in your car.” Hearing this, Mia pulled a set of Porsche keys out of her bag, stuck her tongue out at me, and said: “I’m so sorry, Sis~ Because I love sleeping in, I’m always late for work. So Arthur just gave me his car to drive.” “Who’s your ‘Sis’? Don’t call people that, you little dummy.” Arthur’s eyes were full of indulgence as he wiped a drop of wine from the corner of Mia’s mouth. I played along with his words and said: “Mr. Sterling and I are not married. Please don’t misunderstand, Ms. Mia.” With that, I took the keys, turned to leave, but Arthur suddenly grabbed me, his expression bizarre: “Chloe, ever since you got pregnant, you’ve wanted to throw up at the mere smell of alcohol. Why are you…” I was just about to respond when Mia suddenly lost all color in her face and hugged Arthur’s arm: “Arthur, is Chloe trying to find that pearl necklace in the car? “Um… but that necklace was lost by this clumsy little me! What should we do?” The necklace Mia was talking about was an heirloom left to me by my grandmother. I heard Arthur softly comfort Mia, saying it was just a cheap necklace, lost is lost, she shouldn’t worry about it. I set the car keys down and looked at Mia without joy or anger: “He’s right. It’s just a cheap necklace I’ve worn for nine years. Since you like it so much, consider it a gift.” Walking out of the restaurant, I was about to hail a cab when Arthur chased after me. He shoved a takeout container of nourishing fish porridge into my hands, speaking with a tone of charity: “Your prenatal checkup is tomorrow. I’ll go with you.” I lied casually: “You remembered the date wrong. The checkup is the day after tomorrow.” Arthur wanted to argue, but then he saw Mia standing at the restaurant entrance. He immediately turned back, took her hands, and blew on them to keep her warm. I watched them go back inside. I, who never ate fish, fed the porridge to a stray cat and went home. That night, Arthur never came home. And I didn’t call him even once. At 5:00 PM the next day, I had just put on my coat when Arthur suddenly came home and dragged me into his car. Inside the Sterling family estate, Arthur pulled me in front of his parents: “Mom, Dad, this is Chloe.” After years of a long-distance, drawn-out relationship, Arthur was finally bringing me to meet his parents. But my reaction left him sorely disappointed. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, something urgent has come up. Please excuse me, I must leave.” As soon as the words left my mouth, Arthur clamped his hand around my wrist, applying silent, crushing pressure. “Mom, Dad, she’s just joking with you. You go prepare dinner; I’ll show her around and get her familiar with the place first.” I was forcefully dragged to a top-floor bedroom to begin the so-called “tour.” My constant checking of the time on my phone quickly drew Arthur’s ire: “Chloe, you’ve always begged to see the room I grew up in. Now that you’re here, why are you suddenly acting mute?” “Hmm? It’s very nice.” My evasive answer made Arthur’s brow furrow deeply. “You keep looking at your phone. Is there something interesting on it?” “No.” Even with my denial, his face remained tight. He snatched my phone and held it up to his face. The screen repeatedly showed “Face ID Failed.” Arthur asked in surprise why it couldn’t recognize him. I was just about to answer when a crisp sound echoed from the window sill behind me. The tall Arthur saw something, dropped my phone without a word, and simply vanished. Ten minutes later, following a string of silvery, girlish giggles, I found Mia in the estate’s back garden, wearing fresh flowers in her hair. She was being carefully supported by Arthur, playing a childish game of walking on tiptoes across a wooden plank. “Arthur, you have to hold me steady… Ah! Arthur, save me!” While playing, Mia’s foot slipped, and with a flushed face, she fell right into Arthur’s chest. They both froze for a second, then exchanged a flawlessly synchronized, knowing smile. The smile in Arthur’s eyes vanished completely the moment he noticed me. “Huh? Chloe, why are you here?” Mia looked at me with pure innocence, blinked a few times, and then began weakly pounding Arthur’s chest with her delicate fists: “Oh, I know! You bad boy, you finally decided to bring your ugly duckling wife home to meet the parents!” “Congratulations, Chloe!” While her mouth offered congratulations, her voice was tinged with a sob, eliciting Arthur’s pained sympathy: “It’s just one dinner, what’s there to congratulate, you silly little fool.” After comforting Mia, the look Arthur gave me was absolute ice: “Is dinner ready?” Before I could speak, dozens of long snakes suddenly dropped from the tree branches above us. As I fell to the ground in terror, Mia let out an ear-piercing scream. Seeing this, Arthur didn’t even spare me a glance; he grabbed Mia tight and fled frantically. It wasn’t until animal control arrived to catch the snakes that Arthur finally remembered me. He returned to the tree, searching high and low, only to be finally told by the front gate security guard that I had left long ago. Late at night, in the airport departure lounge. Waiting to board, my phone vibrated non-stop. It wasn’t until the very last minute before takeoff that I finally answered the call. As soon as the call connected, Arthur frantically demanded to know where I was. He had clearly gone home and found it empty. I didn’t answer him directly, only saying: “None of your business.” He froze for a second, his voice tinged with anger: “A pregnant woman throwing a tantrum is bad for the baby. Stop being so willful. Give me your address, I’m coming to pick you up right now…” Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of a wet, sticky kiss on a cheek came through the phone. Followed by Mia’s soft giggle. Arthur cleared his throat. His tone abruptly shifted, stating coldly: “Something came up at the company. Take a cab home yourself.” After saying that, he couldn’t help but add: “Text me when you get home.” After he hung up. I opened our chat and, exactly as he requested, sent a message: [Arthur, let’s break up. I sincerely wish you and Mia a long, happy life together.] The moment the message showed as “Read,” I blocked all his contact info and turned off my phone… “Auntie Chloe, here! Over here!” As soon as I got off the plane, I spotted my little niece enthusiastically waving her hand in the crowd. I scooped her up with a beaming smile and said to my sister: “It’s the middle of the night. I told you guys you didn’t need to pick me up.” “You think I wanted to? It’s this precious niece of yours who wouldn’t stop crying to see her silly auntie.” My sister reached out and hugged me. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of my flat stomach, her eyes filling with heartache. Just as I was about to comfort her, she preemptively pinched my cheek, fiercely complaining that I was as skinny as a rail. “Starting tomorrow, a bowl of fish maw and pork trotter soup every single day. Even if you hate it, you have to drink it. Non-negotiable.” “Okay, okay, whatever you say. You are my one and only sister, after all.” I sniffled, holding my niece, got into my sister’s car, and the three of us drove home, laughing and chatting. Even though it was 4:00 AM, my parents were still waiting in the living room. Only after confirming my sister and I were safely home, and watching me drink my favorite childhood honey iced tea, did they finally smile and go back to their room to sleep. After washing up, I lay in bed. Despite my usual insomnia, I fell asleep deeply within minutes. No pain, no more hesitation. Because I had finally returned to my true home. On my third day back, my parents booked a private room at a restaurant and invited all our relatives to welcome me home. Just as my welcome-home dinner was in full swing, filled with laughter and joy, a delivery driver arrived at the door and called out my name. My niece, who often fetches takeout for her mom, trotted over, grabbed the package, and skipped back to me. Having already learned how to read, she said in her sweet, babyish voice: “Auntie, it’s from a Mr. Sterling…” After thinking for a long while, I finally opened the box. Inside was a brand new smartphone. Just as I was thoroughly confused by this, the phone suddenly rang. Faced with the concerned looks from my family, I instinctively picked up the phone and walked to a quiet corner. I hesitated for a good while before pressing answer. Arthur’s voice was as cold as ever: “Chloe, why didn’t you tell me you went back to your parents’ house?” I asked him back: “Why should I tell you?” After a moment of silence, Arthur deliberately softened his tone and said: “I tried calling you from several different numbers, but your phone was always off… I was worried about you.” Having specifically set my phone to reject all unknown numbers, I blinked: “Just because of that, you used illegal methods to track me down, and even had a cheap phone delivered right in front of my family?” I couldn’t help but ask: “Arthur, are you mentally ill?” In all our years together, he had never received a single word of criticism or insult from me. Even through the phone, I could imagine just how ugly his expression must be right now. But despite that, he didn’t hang up. “Chloe, you know my personality. My patience is limited. You’d better know when to quit while you’re ahead…” Interrupting his nonsense, I asked impatiently what exactly he wanted to say. Taking a deep breath, Arthur said in a low voice: “For the sake of the baby, I won’t hold this little runaway stunt against you. I’ve already bought you a ticket back for next week. Mia and I will pick you up at the airport.” Hearing this, I almost burst out laughing: “What baby? The baby in my stomach has been gone for a long time.” I heard the sound of something shattering on the floor from Arthur’s end: “Chloe! How dare you joke about our child like that?!” Lowering my eyes, I pulled at the corner of my mouth and said: “I’m not joking. The baby is really gone. And I truly want to break up with you…”

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My husband, Arthur, was in a car crash. He was severely injured and on the brink of death. The doctors told me resuscitation efforts would be largely futile and to prepare for the worst. Oh, I was very well prepared. I waved my hand dismissively: “Let’s not trouble the hospital any further. Discontinue treatment.” They issued the death certificate, canceled his ID, and hauled him off to the crematorium. Six hours later, he was nothing but a pile of ash. I patted the urn. “Arthur, oh Arthur, you truly are a good man!” Filthy rich, dying young, and passing without a will. By law, I get two-thirds of the entire estate. Could there be anyone more considerate than Arthur? 1. My husband, Arthur, died in a car accident, leaving me a massive fortune. Is there anyone more considerate than Arthur? Thinking about how considerate he was, I naturally had to return the favor. So, I called the high-end nursing home where Arthur’s parents were vacationing and instructed the attending physician to run every single top-tier test and administer the most expensive nutritional supplements available. Losing a son is a huge blow. What if the two elderly folks couldn’t handle it? I needed to help them fortify their health in advance. And then there was his little mistress. While Arthur was alive, I turned a blind eye. Now that he’s dead, it’s time to settle scores and collect debts. I took a moving company straight to her place, waved my hand, and ordered: “Move it all!” The mistress wasn’t home, which made things perfectly convenient for me. Everything was sealed up, packed wholesale, and hauled away. By the time we retreated, the only thing left in the apartment besides her personal hygiene items was a bed. I didn’t want that; it disgusted me. The haul was truly substantial. I spent an entire night sorting through it, picking out what I wanted and selling the rest for scrap. The old man from the scrap yard had just hauled the junk away when the police showed up at my door. “Chloe Vance? Someone reported you for burglary!” “Officers, I’m innocent! I am a law-abiding citizen!” “We’ll see about that. Come with us to the station to answer a few questions.” Of course I went. I didn’t steal anything, so what was there to be afraid of? When I arrived, the first person I saw was Mia. The moment she saw me, she jumped up and started screaming: “Chloe, you thief! How dare you steal my things!” Watching her jump around so violently while seven months pregnant made me frown. Out of the goodness of my heart, I warned her, “Careful with your movements. If you jump so hard you lose the baby, don’t try to pin it on me!” “How dare you curse my baby!” Mia simply wouldn’t listen to reason. When I told her to calm down, she actually got more aggressive and even tried to hit me. What could I do? Naturally, I sought help from the police! I quickly ducked behind an officer. “Officer, help! She’s trying to use her baby to frame me! You have to be my witnesses! Protect me!” The officers on duty managed to pull Mia away, looking at me with incredibly complicated expressions. I asked, “Are you guys amazed by my exceptional legal awareness? Were you just about to praise me for avoiding being framed? No need for thanks; learning the law is every citizen’s duty!” Their expressions grew even more complicated. They said, “Everyone sit down. Let’s clarify this theft accusation first.” I was led into a small interrogation room. The officer looked stern: “Last night at 8:00 PM, what were you doing at the Grand Horizon Apartments?” “Moving.” “Moving? Was it your property to move?!” He slammed the table and threw down a stack of photos. “The homeowner has pressed charges against you! You have some nerve, bringing a moving company with you. Did you think you were filming a movie?!” I guess they had never seen anyone as arrogant as me; they were almost laughing out of sheer frustration. “But the apartment is mine.” I started pulling documents out of my bag: “Deed, land use permit, bank transfer receipts, my ID… Take a look, is anything missing?” Now it was the interrogator’s turn to be dumbfounded. He checked the documents word by word until he finally confirmed that yes, I was indeed the homeowner. They brought Mia in, along with the property manager, and asked, “What exactly is going on here?” The property manager said, “Ms. Mia is a resident there. I’m certain; I see her all the time.” Mia shrieked, “Chloe went to my house and stole my things!” 2. I curled my lip and sneered. “Mia, you really have some nerve. You were homeless, and Arthur and I took pity on you and let you stay in our apartment. What, does borrowing it make it yours? Check your conscience. You’ve lived there for years; have you ever paid a single cent in rent?” Mia turned pale and quickly argued, “The apartment isn’t mine, but the things inside are! Officer, Chloe stole my things!” “You have the audacity to say that?” Smack. I slapped another stack of receipts onto the table. “Officer, here is the renovation invoice, the furniture purchase orders, and the payment records. You can cross-reference them with the items.” After speaking politely to the officers, I turned to Mia: “Before moving, I already threw out all your dirty clothes and smelly socks. Out of all the furniture, appliances, and cabinets I moved, which one has your name on it?” The officer glared at Mia. “You claim she stole your belongings. Make a list of exactly what you lost.” Mia grabbed a pen, gritting her teeth, preparing to write. I sneered from the sidelines, “Mia, you haven’t worked in four or five years. I’m genuinely curious: as a broke, unemployed woman, what exactly could you have lost of any value?” Mia’s face instantly went stark white. She held the pen, but couldn’t manage to write a single word. I sat there, perfectly relaxed. Of course I knew what was in that apartment. Six months ago, Arthur had started preparing to divorce me, transferring assets like a rat hoarding food. He funneled a massive amount of cash through several shell accounts, converted it all into gold bars, and locked them in a safe in that apartment. The safe was hidden inside a built-in storage cabinet. I had already found it last night and moved it to a very secure location. I wasn’t afraid of Mia writing it down; the problem was, even if she did, who would believe her? A woman who had to beg for a place to live, suddenly possessing a hoard of gold bars? Who did she think she was fooling? In the end, Mia slinked away, claiming she was too flustered seeing the messy room and hadn’t realized her personal belongings had already been taken out by me. The police gave Mia a stern lecture. She gritted her teeth, swallowing her anger, unable to say a word. I was also reprimanded for not notifying the resident before moving, causing a misunderstanding and wasting police resources. I immediately apologized profusely and promised it would never happen again. Mia and I walked out of the police station together. I officially gave her notice: “I’m selling that apartment. I’m giving you three days to pack up and get out. Otherwise, start paying rent: $5,000 a month.” “Are you trying to rob me?!” Mia exploded in anger. I gave her a side-eye. “The Grand Horizon Apartments. A massive penthouse in a prime location. You think rent there is less than $5,000? Why don’t you look it up online?” Mia, of course, knew I was telling the truth. She ground her teeth and hissed, “Chloe, don’t get cocky. I’m going to tell Arthur exactly what you did. Just wait until he comes looking for you!” “Oh, really?” I smiled. “You’ve probably already called him, haven’t you? Did he answer?” Mia’s expression shifted, her grip tightening on her phone. My smile grew wider. Out of the goodness of my heart, I told her, “No need to keep trying. He won’t answer. Right now, he’s just a pile of ash.” Mia let out a piercing scream. “Chloe, how can you be so vicious?! You’re cursing him to die! You two loved each other for so many years; he’s your husband!” I covered my ears, frowning deeply. I waited until she finished screaming before speaking: “Oh, so you do know he’s my husband. Then why are you getting so worked up? Don’t you believe me? Go check the news; there should be reports about the car crash yesterday morning at 10 AM. Also, here’s a copy of his cremation receipt. You can go ask the crematorium yourself.” 3. I shoved the paper into Mia’s hand, decisively got into my car, and drove away. Behind me, I heard Mia’s shrill screams, and in the rearview mirror, I saw her clutch her stomach and collapse. I pulled out my phone, intending to dial 911, but then decided against it. We were right outside a police station; someone there would call for her. Who knows, maybe a squad car would take her directly. That would save the cost of an ambulance. I felt incredibly kind, saving precious medical resources. Returning home, I turned off my phone, took a shower, had a wonderful meal, and went to sleep. I was woken up by a call from the complex security guard. “Ms. Vance, there’s a couple outside claiming to be your parents-in-law. They want to see you.” Through the intercom, I could hear my mother-in-law’s furious screaming: “Chloe, you heartless bitch! Arthur had barely died, and you had him cremated! Why wouldn’t you let us see him one last time?! You venomous snake, get out here!” I dug at my ear with a finger and said, “Not seeing them.” The house I was living in wasn’t the one I shared with Arthur; I bought this one myself. The security guards had no idea who Arthur’s parents were. I turned off the intercom and checked my phone. Sure enough, there were hundreds of missed calls and texts. I deleted them all with one click and turned the phone off again. The next morning, the police were at my door again. “Someone has accused you of murder. Please come with us.” “I’m innocent! I am a law-abiding citizen!” I immediately cried foul again. The officer’s eye twitched. “Just come with us to answer some questions first.” I obediently went along. I hadn’t murdered anyone, so why should I be afraid of answering some questions? When I arrived, the first person I saw was Mia again, sitting with my parents-in-law—Arthur’s parents. The moment his mother saw me, she lunged at me: “Chloe, you venomous snake! You wouldn’t even let me see my son one last time! You’ll die a horrible death!” Seeing her jumping around so energetically, I felt incredibly gratified. All those expensive nutritional IVs at the nursing home really paid off. Out of the goodness of my heart, I showed my concern: “Mom, jump a little lighter. If your old bones fall apart, don’t try to blame it on me.” “You killed my son, and now you dare curse me!” Arthur’s mother and Mia really were cut from the same cloth. Completely deaf to reason, wailing like banshees as she tried to tackle me. What could I do? Naturally, I sought help from the police! “Officers, help!” I quickly ducked behind a policeman. “She’s using her status as my mother-in-law to attack me! This is domestic violence! Domestic violence is illegal! Protect me quickly!” The officers managed to pull Arthur’s mother away, giving me that incredibly complicated look again. I asked, “Are you guys impressed by my extensive legal knowledge? I even know about domestic violence! No need for thanks; spreading legal awareness is my civic duty!” Their expressions grew even more complicated. They said, “Everyone sit down. They’ve accused you of being involved in a murder. Let’s clarify the murder allegations first.” I was led into the small interrogation room. The interrogator looked stern and tossed a piece of paper onto the table: “Your in-laws provided the accident report for your husband, Arthur. It states the cause of the crash was brake failure. They are accusing you of tampering with the brakes. What do you have to say about this?” “Yes, they’re spouting nonsense!” I immediately defended myself, feeling a deep sympathy for the officers: “Officers, my in-laws are elderly and don’t understand the law. Did they just come in here causing a scene without a shred of evidence, demanding you lock me up?” The interrogator’s expression froze. My sympathy deepened. 4. They glared at me fiercely and continued, “Your mother-in-law claims you were responsible for the maintenance of Arthur’s car, taking it in once a month. The last scheduled maintenance date was exactly three days before the crash. Are you saying you didn’t notice anything wrong with the brakes?” I looked at them earnestly. “I didn’t take it in for maintenance this month. Something came up and delayed me.” The interrogator pressed on: “What delayed you? Think carefully before you answer. If you have nothing to hide, why did you have Arthur cremated so quickly? According to our investigation, less than six hours passed between his time of death and cremation!” He stared at me sharply. I had to admit, this was indeed the most suspicious point. If there was no foul play, why did I turn Arthur into a pile of ash so quickly? I looked back at him just as earnestly and asked, “Officer, do you need to pick an auspicious date for a cremation?” A heavy silence filled the air. Only my face radiated pure sincerity. “Answer the question!” one officer played bad cop. “Just answer what’s asked. Don’t answer a question with a question!” The other officer played good cop: “If you don’t explain this clearly, it’s going to look very bad for you. It’s best if you cooperate and help us clear things up. Didn’t you say you’re a law-abiding citizen?” I could ignore the other comments, but could I ignore an appeal to my “law-abiding citizen” status? I had to tell the truth. “Because I was sick of him! I supported him when he started with nothing, and now that he’s successful, that bastard actually wanted to divorce me! Three days ago, I was about to drive his car to the shop for maintenance, but that bastard came home and picked a massive fight with me, so I didn’t go. Now that he’s dead, what am I supposed to do, keep his corpse around for the holidays?! If the law allowed it, I’d use his ashes as fertilizer to grow weeds!” The officers scrutinized my face carefully and finally determined I wasn’t lying. They had been waiting for me to make excuses; they hadn’t expected me to be so blunt. I even offered proof: “Officers, if you don’t believe me, go ask our property management. Our complex has security cameras. I even beat Arthur out the door; they all know about it.” They brought in my in-laws and Mia. As soon as Mia walked in, she demanded, “Officers, did you find the proof? Chloe murdered Arthur, didn’t she?!” An officer glared at her. “What does this have to do with you? What is your relationship to Arthur?” Mia choked, her face flushing bright red. She looked pitifully at Arthur’s mother: “Auntie…” “This… this is my goddaughter! Arthur’s godsister!” Arthur’s mother stubbornly declared. “The law doesn’t recognize ‘god-relatives.’ You have no legal relation to Arthur. Stop trying to insert yourself into every situation.” Mia’s face turned livid, unable to speak a single word. The police had called the property management to confirm and pulled the security footage. On the day the car was due for maintenance, Arthur had indeed come home and fought with me. Dozens of people saw me throwing things at him to chase him out. “The fact that the car wasn’t maintained was caused by your son’s own actions. While the cremation was swift, all procedures were entirely legal. Reporting to the police is your right, but filing false accusations without any evidence is a crime, and the law will hold you accountable. Understood?” Arthur’s mother didn’t care what the police said. Hearing that I wasn’t responsible, she tried to lunge at me again. “Chloe, you monster! You wouldn’t even let me see my son one last time!” Practice makes perfect; I swiftly ducked behind an officer again. “Mom, let’s get things straight. It’s not that I wouldn’t let you see him. Arthur fell from a cliff over a hundred feet high. He was smashed to a bloody pulp. I almost threw up looking at it. Could I let you see that? What if you had a heart attack from the shock? Then our family would have to plan two funerals! I was doing it for your own good!” “You dare curse me to die!” Arthur’s mother and Mia really must be biological mother and daughter; they even used the exact same phrases. While blocking Arthur’s mother, the officer on duty glared at me. “Can you stop talking?” Absolutely! I clamped my mouth shut, demonstrating my unwavering cooperation with law enforcement. 5. Arthur’s mother kept causing a scene until the police finally threatened to arrest her for disturbing the peace. Only then did she stop. When we walked out of the station, she was still glaring at me. I ignored her and turned to Mia: “Did you move out yet? I’m putting the house on the market.” “Chloe, you’re too cruel!” Mia immediately turned to Arthur’s mother to cry. Arthur’s mother didn’t know what was going on. After listening to Mia’s tearful explanation, she put her hands on her hips and screamed at me, “What right do you have to kick Mia out?! That’s my son’s house, and I say she can live there!” “That’s your son’s and my house. Now that your son is dead, it’s considered his estate. I own two-thirds, and you and Dad combined only own one-third. How about I section off the bathroom and the balcony for her to live in?” I enthusiastically explained, “Mia, you know that house. The balcony is a 270-degree wrap-around panoramic style. It’s definitely big enough to account for one-third of the square footage. I’ll even throw in the bathroom for free.” Arthur’s mother looked like she was about to pass out from anger, pointing a bony, trembling finger at me for a long time without speaking. I couldn’t be bothered being polite to this old hag. I bypassed her and issued my final ultimatum to Mia: “Tomorrow is the last day. If you don’t move out, I’m changing the locks. If you can’t get your stuff out then, that’s your problem!” “Auntie, what am I going to do?! I’m heavily pregnant…” Mia cried, looking truly pathetic. Arthur’s mother’s face turned purple with rage. She grabbed Mia’s hand to comfort her: “Don’t worry! With your condition, it’s not suitable for you to live just anywhere. Come live with me at the nursing home! There will be people to take care of you there!” Like a show of force, she grabbed Mia’s hand and strutted past me arrogantly. Mia even looked back to shoot me a smug look. I hopped into my car, a massive grin spreading across my face. Perfect! Brilliant! That nursing home was far from cheap. I genuinely hoped they’d stay there forever. I called the attending physician at the nursing home: “My in-laws brought someone new, a pregnant woman. She’s very precious. You must take excellent care of her. Run whatever tests you want, and give her the absolute best food and amenities!” Back home, I hired an at-home beautician for a luxurious spa treatment, drank some wine, ate a steak, and got my beauty sleep. In passing, I also mailed them the legal breakdown of the estate division. Early the next morning, I was woken up by a letter from a lawyer: “Ms. Chloe Vance, regarding the legal division of Mr. Arthur Sterling’s estate, Ms. Mia asserts that the child in her womb is also entitled to a share. Ms. Mia has filed a lawsuit with the court. Please appear in court on time.” Hey, court appearances! I survived a murder accusation; am I supposed to be scared of splitting some cash? I arrived at court perfectly on time. Mia, showing off her pregnant belly, proclaimed: “The baby in my stomach is Arthur’s flesh and blood. He deserves a share of the estate.” Me: “Really? I don’t believe it.” “Why wouldn’t you believe it?! This is Arthur’s child in my stomach!” “Show the proof,” I smiled brightly. “Ever heard of a paternity test? Produce one, and I guarantee you won’t be shorted a single cent.” Mia’s face instantly turned livid, her voice cracking: “How dare you say that! You burned Arthur into a pile of ash! Where am I supposed to get a paternity test now?!” I dragged out my response, “Oh… so you don’t have one.” I turned to the judge, looking utterly sincere: “Your Honor, she doesn’t have a paternity test. On what grounds is she filing this lawsuit?” The judge frowned deeply. “Are you just making a mockery of this court?” Mia quickly said, “I have other proof! Arthur’s parents can testify!” Arthur’s mother immediately chimed in: “My son Arthur and Mia were together! I know this child is my eldest grandson!” I sighed helplessly. “Mom, please learn some basic legal facts. Without a paternity test, no one can prove a son is his father’s son. Except for Arthur himself, no one else’s testimony matters.” 6. Arthur’s mother was completely lost by my “father and son” talk, unable to process it immediately. Then, Arthur’s father spoke up. “You just want a paternity test, right? We have one!” Saying that, he submitted a document. As the judge reviewed the report, Arthur’s father proudly stated: “This is the genetic testing between myself and the child in Mia’s womb. It proves we are biologically related. I only have one son, Arthur. The child in Mia’s womb must be my son’s flesh and blood.” The judge, who had been reading, put the report down upon hearing this. “Evidence is invalid.” Arthur’s father’s temper flared, and he started yelling: “Why isn’t it valid?! We did the paternity test! It clearly states the child and I share a bloodline…” “Dad, please calm down~” I helped the judge maintain order: “As I just said, it’s a paternity test. Do you know what paternity means? It means father and son. Unless it’s Arthur’s own test, no one else’s is valid. Furthermore…” I smiled. “Are you absolutely certain Arthur is your only son?” Arthur’s father was stunned by my question. I directly slapped a massive stack of documents in front of the judge. While the judge reviewed them, I explained with a distressed expression. “You shouldn’t air dirty laundry in public, and originally, I didn’t want to say anything. But my father-in-law forced my hand. My in-laws actually had a decent relationship, but that was before their son got rich. Once my father-in-law started getting money from Arthur, he got involved in quite a few scandals. He was rumored to be involved with the older ladies from the plaza dancing group, and our whole family once caught him in the act in an apartment. I even had to bail him out of the police station once. The charge was solicitation, you know what I mean… If you look closely, the bail receipt is in that pile…” Arthur’s father’s face had long since turned purple, swelling up like a bruised liver. I asked him with utmost sincerity, “Dad, are you really sure you didn’t leave Arthur a half-brother running around somewhere…” “You’re talking nonsense! I was always very careful!” “Oh…” I nodded understandingly, completely unfazed. But my mother-in-law lost her mind. “You shameless old goat!” She lunged at my father-in-law and started beating him. “When did you get arrested?! I didn’t even know! You actually did something so shameless!” The experienced judge, thoroughly annoyed by the chaos in the courtroom, had to call the bailiffs to get the situation under control. Arthur’s father, humiliated and furious but forced to suppress his anger, reasoned with Arthur’s mother: “We can talk about this when we get home! Aren’t we trying to fight for our grandson’s inheritance right now?!” Arthur’s mother snapped back to reality, realizing she had almost ruined their case. The judge sternly gave them a legal lecture—explaining the burden of proof, the evidentiary value of documents, etc., etc. It all boiled down to one sentence: without Arthur’s paternity test, no matter how much they talked, they couldn’t prove the child in Mia’s stomach was Arthur’s. Arthur’s mother’s face turned ashen. Then, Mia suddenly ran over, aggressively rubbed her eyes to simulate crying, and wailed at me: “Chloe, I know Arthur and I wronged you. But he’s passed away. The child in my stomach is his final bloodline. After being married for so long, do you really have the heart to leave nothing for his only flesh and blood?” Mia was still somewhat clever. She knew that as long as I admitted it, the judge wouldn’t interfere. I said, “Oh, how pitiful~” Her eyes, along with those of Arthur’s parents, instantly lit up as they stared at me collectively. I said, “I don’t believe it.” Leaving the courthouse that day was a bit dicey; all three of them tried to attack me. But courthouses have bailiffs, don’t they? A place of law and order—why would I be scared? Back home, I continued eating and drinking well, and even found time to go on a vacation. As soon as I got back, the court came knocking again. “Are you Chloe Vance? Your parents-in-law are suing you for concealing your husband’s estate. They have submitted a complaint to the court. Please appear in court on time.” Hey, court appearances! I’d already done it once. First time strangers, second time friends. What was there to fear? When the day arrived, I showed up perfectly on time. My in-laws had wised up this time and hired a lawyer. What a coincidence, so did I. We’re dividing assets; how could I not hire a lawyer? Even if I scored a perfect 100% on my SAT math, I couldn’t calculate that much money!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391968”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When I was four, I was finally found by my biological parents and brought to a hillside mansion that looked like a palace. It was my first time being escorted by bodyguards. The fake heiress, wearing an exquisite tutu dress and a hair clip worth thousands, walked up to me and asked, “Are you the daughter of Mrs. Davis, the cleaning lady?” She looked so innocent and pure. Based on the personality my adoptive parents had beaten into me, I should have been terrified and completely overwhelmed by the grand scene. But… sorry to disappoint. I’ve been reborn. 1 I opened my eyes. Outside the car window, the scenery blurred past. Aside from me, curled up tiny on the plush leather seat, there was only a bodyguard in a black suit and sunglasses in the driver’s seat. I stared blankly out the window. My eyes held no childlike innocence, only a hint of boredom. I couldn’t understand why a chance at rebirth was given to me, someone with absolutely zero desire to live. Let’s see… I tried to recall. In my past life, I think I committed… suicide? Yeah, I think so! The car sped along, following the exact trajectory of my past life, heading toward the place that had trapped me forever. The mansion oozed luxury from every corner; only those at the pinnacle of high society had the right to live here. Inside resided the happiest family of four: a father who was an immensely powerful CEO, a mother who was a beautiful and elegant socialite, a gentle and handsome brother who doted on his sister, and an innocent, obedient younger sister who was the apple of everyone’s eye. The family adored their youngest daughter so much that they couldn’t bear to send her to preschool until she was four. Ironically, it was during her admission health checkup that they discovered the shocking truth: the precious jewel they had loved with all their hearts for four years wasn’t biologically theirs! Their true biological daughter had been swapped at birth and had spent the last four years living in a backward, remote fishing village. Although it was hard to accept, the wealthy parents immediately brought their biological daughter back from the fishing village. What they couldn’t foresee was that later on, for the sake of the fake heiress, they would say to this returned daughter: “You are so vicious! I wish you had just died out there!” The brother, who was always warm and gentle to everything, would shield the fake heiress, glaring warily at his own biological sister, and warn her: “Learn to be forgiving.” The fiancé, arranged since childhood and whom she had barely met, would look at her with eyes full of disgust. From the moment she was found, everyone thought the fake heiress was better, more obedient, and more pitiful. The true heiress, who seemingly returned to a life of luxury, lived her entire life being compared, despised, and framed. Desperate for love, destroyed by it. I felt a warm, wet sensation on my cheeks. Tears. But I didn’t feel a shred of sadness. I tried to jumpstart my dull, numb brain. After a long moment, I could only curse this body for being so dramatic. I remembered a voice whispering in my ear right before I fell into darkness in my past life: “The protagonist’s halo cannot be fought…” Cannot be fought? If it can’t be fought, then why let me be reborn? Didn’t you get enough entertainment watching me act like a pathetic, trapped beast in my past life? Or did you think my past life wasn’t laughable enough? The car was completely silent. No one gave me an answer. 2 I was brought inside the mansion. Richard and Eleanor Sterling were already waiting on the sofa, with their nine-year-old son, Oliver, beside them. Perhaps they hadn’t anticipated it, but no one had changed me into clean clothes before bringing me here. I was still wearing the filthy, worn-out undergarments handed down from my adoptive parents’ older son. On my feet were a pair of dirty sandals with the soles peeling off. My dry, yellowish hair was matted into clumps. I didn’t miss the flash of surprise and complex emotion in their eyes. I didn’t know if they were disgusted by my clothes or by me. “Mommy~” From the spiral staircase, a girl wearing a tutu dress and sparkly hair clips in her slightly curled hair walked down step by step, closely followed by a nanny. Her dress was truly beautiful—bright colors with delicate embroidery of little bunnies and flowers. See! In an instant, she drew everyone’s attention. I have to admit, in my past life, I secretly envied Mia too. Even while I ridiculously tried to put on airs as the true heiress, I envied her. Her parents loved her, so much that they swapped me out to give her a better life. My parents loved her too; barely anyone knew she was fake until right before I died. My brother loved her and favored her constantly. Everyone who was supposed to be mine loved her… I was the only one who hated her. 3 My name is Chloe Sterling. Before my biological parents found me, my name was Chloe Fisher. Because I lived in a fishing village, they stuck “Fisher” in my name as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and I had no choice. Later, Richard Sterling changed my last name, giving me a name that meant “beautiful and intelligent.” I was so happy, like a dusty pearl finally wiped clean and plucked from the mud. Only later did I realize the meaning didn’t matter, only how it sounded. In their eyes, I was just an “extra”—superfluous no matter where I was. My lifelong nemesis was named Mia Sterling. The name meant “lotus rising from the water,” a beautiful wish and hope chosen by Richard and Eleanor together. Everything she had, before and even later, was originally mine. She was manipulative, but her disguises were clumsy, easily seen through with a single glance. Yet, I still couldn’t beat her. The ending was that I lost. I didn’t want to fight anymore. I was tired. I could no longer feel any joy from the tiny scraps of attention they occasionally threw my way. “Mia!” Eleanor instinctively stood up from the sofa and walked toward her. Then, remembering something, she stopped and cast a complex look at the nanny behind Mia. The nanny lowered her head awkwardly. Mia walked toward me. Like natural enemies, she noticed me immediately. Or maybe my attire was just too conspicuous among these wealthy people. I looked like a little beggar; even her nanny was dressed better than I was. She rubbed her slightly red eyes, as if she had just been crying, her tone somewhat innocent: “Who are you? Are you the daughter of Mrs. Davis, the cleaning lady?” The exact same words. Before Richard and the others could react, the people in the room watched us like an audience at a play. What did I do in my past life? Oh. In my past life, I was so terrified I plopped right down on the floor. Amidst my panic, I couldn’t help but think how soft the floor was. It was covered in a beautiful rug, softer than the sand after high tide. First impressions are crucial. Mia had a massive, inherent advantage. From our very first meeting in my past life, I lost spectacularly. She was pale, chubby, and adorable, while I was sallow, emaciated, petty, and annoying. Tears fell from my eyes, plop, plop. My voice was tiny and timid: “Did my mommy sell me here? She said if I wasn’t a good girl, she would sell me. “Chloe is a good girl.” I suppressed my sobs, trying my best to show the audience the image of a pitiful little girl who was scared but trying hard to be brave. Mia loved using this trick. It instantly aroused everyone’s sympathy, as if she were the most pitiful person in the whole world. I despised it in my past life, but now, I found it quite fun. She was never smart to begin with, and her tricks weren’t clever. Relying on that so-called “protagonist’s halo,” she received endless, mindless favoritism, causing me to suffer untold grievances. Now, I wanted her to taste that feeling for herself. Fighting fire with fire, isn’t that right? From the sofa, I heard Eleanor’s heartbroken sobs. I thought with self-loathing: Is she really that sad? Could she guess that one day she would become one of the straws that broke my back? Forcing me to watch as my belongings were slowly taken over by Mia. I looked at Mia in front of me; her focus seemed entirely on me. A hint of a smile flashed across her lips. My pitiful state gave her pleasure. Like a princess, she looked down at me, skinnier and smaller than her, and said condescendingly, “You’re so pitiful. I’ll talk to my mommy later, and you can be my little maid from now on.” I laughed inwardly at her clownish behavior, waiting for the real decision-maker to arrive. 4 “Nonsense!” A woman in her forties, looking regal and elegant, walked in through the doorway. An assistant carrying a briefcase stood beside her. The moment she spoke, the grand hall fell silent. Even my mother stopped sobbing. “Grandma~” With a sweet voice, Mia lifted her skirt and trotted over. It was obvious she was highly favored by her grandmother. But to her dismay, the elder she adored walked right past her and crouched down in front of the girl she considered a little beggar. Grandma stroked my dry, yellowish hair, her smile incredibly kind: “What’s your name?” I dropped my previous act, my gaze very calm. “My name is Chloe Fisher.” I pointed at Mia, who was standing a few steps ahead of me: “Did you bring me here to be her little maid?” I suddenly started crying as if I had suffered a massive grievance: “Can I refuse? I don’t want to be someone’s little maid.” “The money my mommy got for selling me… I’ll pay you back double when I grow up.” I choked back a sob. In my past life, she was the only person not bewitched by Mia’s protagonist halo. She was also the one who paid attention to my growth, saw my progress, and praised me. Of course! I wasn’t narcissistic enough to believe I could defeat Mia’s protagonist halo. It was just that Grandma prioritized family bloodlines and interests above all else. She would spoil you because you had Sterling blood, and she would abandon you if you didn’t. To firmly grasp this singular source of attention, I desperately tried to grow into the person she wanted me to be. Even so, I still couldn’t match the weight Mia held in everyone’s hearts, and I still fell into Mia’s clumsily constructed traps. I think, in the end, she must have been disappointed too… “Good child. Of course, Grandma wouldn’t let you be a little maid. Do you know? You are Grandma’s biological granddaughter. You are the little princess of our Sterling family!” she declared solemnly. She was saying this for me, but also for everyone else in the living room to hear. “Grandma! Waaah~ I am your granddaughter!” Mia ran over and threw her arms around her. The assistant instinctively pulled her away, and she struggled, crying even more hysterically. Eleanor covered her mouth, crying as if her heart was broken. Grandma stood up, took my hand, and led me to the sofa: “Chloe is a child of our Sterling family. The paternity test results show a 99% probability of biological relationship.” The assistant let go of Mia and took the paternity test report out of the briefcase. Mia seized the opportunity to run to Eleanor’s side, and Eleanor hugged her, crying sorrowfully. I felt absolutely nothing inside. In my past life, scenes like this played out frequently in the house. The result was always complaints directed at me, telling me to accommodate her, asking why I couldn’t be more generous since Mia was so pitiful. Actually, they were just resenting me for being the biological daughter, getting in the way of the deep mother-daughter bond between Eleanor and Mia. “Our Sterling family bloodline has been wandering outside for four years. The incident of the babies being swapped back then looks suspicious to me. If it was a mistake, we can’t pursue it. But if it was intentional, our family won’t be made fools of.” She glanced at Mia, who was shrinking back. “Furthermore, Chloe has suffered so much out there in Mia’s place. I don’t care about scandals. Pick a good date, announce this to the public, and let Chloe regain her rightful identity as soon as possible. “Richard, you are the father. You make the decision.” The man sitting on the sofa, who had been silent the whole time, nodded, his stern expression unwavering. He glanced at his wife: “I agree. I’ll have someone handle it in the next few days. During this time, let little… Chloe rest and recover at home. “As for Mia…” Grandma cut him off: “Even though our Sterling family can easily afford to raise another child, the situation between Chloe and Mia is awkward. Mia has also occupied Chloe’s place for so many years, enjoying everything that was meant for her. It’s best if she returns to where she belongs.” “Whether that Fisher couple did something despicable back then is still unclear. But regardless of what they did, the child is innocent. Our Sterling family isn’t heartless. We can provide Mia with some financial assistance, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.” She turned to look at me, her decision swift and resolute: “While the children are still young, it’s better to get things back on track early.” Mia, nestled in Eleanor’s arms, half-understood, but she knew they were going to send her away. She cried and screamed, begging her parents not to abandon her, not to send her away, promising she would be a good girl and eat all her food from now on. Oliver stood by her side, gently patting her back to comfort her. I stared at the filthy sandals on my feet, feeling absolutely no anticipation. I already knew the ending to this farce. Eleanor couldn’t bear Mia’s heart-wrenching cries and desperate attempts to please her. Richard was a deeply devoted husband, naturally inclined to accommodate his wife’s wishes. In the end, Mia stayed in the house. It wasn’t even difficult; we lived together under the guise of being fraternal twins. In status, one was the eldest daughter of the Sterling family, and the other was the second daughter. Eleanor looked at me guiltily, then looked down reluctantly at Mia in her arms. “Mom, how about… we keep Mia? She’s the daughter I painstakingly raised for four years. “These four years represent over a thousand days of mother-daughter bonding. I didn’t know Mia… wasn’t my daughter. I always believed she was mine. I gave her the very best… “This mistake shows that Mia and our family have a destiny together. It’s not like our family can’t afford to raise one more child. “Chloe… she needs time to adjust too. Wouldn’t it be better for her to have Mia as a companion?” I blinked, wanting to sneer. She’s the daughter you painstakingly raised for four years. But me, your biological daughter? Not only did I not receive your meticulous care, I suffered for four years in someone else’s place. And in the end, I’m expected to understand your ‘painstaking effort’ and generously accept you continuing to raise the thief who stole my life? Where in the world do you find such a good deal? I tugged at the hem of Grandma’s skirt beside me. She looked down at me, before she could reply to Eleanor. “I’m hot,” I said. Everyone looked at me. It was August or September, the weather was scorching. The mansion had central air conditioning set to a comfortable temperature, but I was wearing a tattered, fleece-lined inner shirt suitable for late autumn, with sleeves that were a section too long. It was safe to say that after Mia’s biological parents swapped us, they never bought me a single piece of clothing. Everything I wore were hand-me-downs from their relatives’ kids—regardless of size or gender, as long as it kept me from being naked. Hearing that I was hot, the assistant asked if he should take me to change into something else. Grandma nodded, but unexpectedly, I resisted violently. She was confused, but since there were more pressing matters at hand, she told the assistant to just roll up my sleeves a bit to help me cool off. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the assistant rolled the sleeve up to my forearm, revealing bruises of all sizes. I don’t know who gasped. Eleanor pushed Mia away and rushed over to me, but Grandma was already in front of her, gripping my arm and interrogating me. “How did this happen? Chloe, tell Grandma, who did this?” Eleanor stood to the side, covering her mouth and crying, wanting to get closer but having no chance. 5 The Fisher couple loved abusing children. Their dissatisfaction with life made it a habit to vent their frustrations on their daughter. Sons were treasures; daughters were weeds. Especially a daughter who wasn’t even biologically theirs. They believed the baby swap would never be discovered, so they acted with impunity. “If you dare tell anyone, I’ll beat you to death.” The warning after every punishment was deeply etched into a four-year-old child’s heart. Even after being brought back by her biological parents, she didn’t dare complain. Only the maid who took care of her knew, and a snobbish maid wouldn’t cause trouble for an unfavored child. Marks on the body eventually fade. When I grew up, I regretted keeping the abuse I suffered at the Fishers’ a secret. Maybe it was fear, or maybe a tiny bit of foolish pride. At four years old, I only knew that being beaten was bad; it meant I must have done something wrong. I didn’t want my parents to see the “bad” parts of me. But now that I’ve been reborn, I refuse to suffer that grievance again. It’s time for revenge. What does a four-year-old child need pride for?! I’m not going to be the silent victim this time! I stared at those bruises: “When Chloe is bad, Mommy and Daddy punish Chloe.” A folder slammed heavily onto the marble coffee table. Richard stood up, his face flushed with anger. Mia was terrified by my injuries and burst into tears. Grandma glanced over, her brow furrowing with absolute fury: “This is a slap in the face to our Sterling family! We treated their child like a treasure, and this is how they treat Chloe, a child so young! “That settles it. I don’t want to hear another word. Send Mia back!” Send Mia back?! The pain on my body was something I had long since learned to tolerate, but the slight deviation from the plot of my past life actually made me feel a bit of satisfaction. I just wondered if Mia’s protagonist halo could still keep her here in the end. The servants moved quickly. Mia’s room was cleared out in no time. It was the second-best bedroom in the mansion, right across from Oliver’s. I pouted. Playing the pitiful victim really did work. I never got to live in that room in my past life~ Two months passed. I gained some weight, my skin became lighter and softer, and my facial features gradually emerged, inheriting the best traits of Richard and Eleanor. This was one thing I always had over Mia. But my past life taught me that beauty doesn’t guarantee favoritism. A few days after I was brought back, Grandma resolutely sent Mia back to the Fishers. Even though Eleanor hesitated, the abuse crossed Richard and Grandma’s absolute bottom line, rendering her halo ineffective. They also set about uncovering the truth of what happened years ago and sued the Fisher couple for child abuse. But I knew Mia’s departure was only temporary. Sooner or later, she would return… 6 During these two months, Eleanor treated me impeccably. After all, I was the flesh and blood she carried for ten months. She wanted to overcompensate and build a bond with me. I just went along with it, comfortably accepting everything. Even though she would sometimes accidentally call me Mia, and in quiet moments, I could see her missing the child she had raised for four years. It didn’t matter. After being reborn, I felt like a spectator watching a story unfold. I couldn’t feel the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows, too deeply. My brother, who was five years older than me, was somewhat distant. Even though he was smarter than other kids and knew how to be polite and courteous, he still couldn’t hide his emotions completely like an adult. When Eleanor brought me to him, hoping to foster a sibling bond, he would find a reasonable excuse to decline, leaving Eleanor with nothing to say. He didn’t put up a hypocritical front for me. He probably thought I was too young to understand. The resentment in his eyes made me feel like I was a bandit who had torn apart his happy family of four, the little beggar who had driven away his sister. Fine! In a way, I was. But I found pleasure in that thought. In mid-November of that year, the family threw me my very first birthday party. It was exceptionally grand, as if to make up for the birthdays I missed in previous years. It was also an occasion to publicly announce my identity. Held in Richard’s arms, I calmly accepted the blessings of various important figures. They wished me joy every year, a smooth path ahead, and a life free of worry. They praised me for being adorable and inheriting my parents’ best features. For those few short hours, I truly felt like a princess held in the palm of their hands. But… being a princess has an expiration date. I was a Cinderella whose halo would fade when the clock struck. Richard had to stay at the venue to socialize, while Eleanor suggested taking me and Oliver home early. Her eagerness gave me a hunch. It was 10:30 PM when the car arrived at the mansion. In the foyer, Eleanor let go of the hand she had been holding and hurried toward the living room. Oliver, following behind us, also dropped his usual composure. “Mia!” Mia was sitting on the sofa, wearing a white dress. She looked much more sensible. She cried timidly in Eleanor’s arms, saying how much she missed Mommy, Daddy, and her brother. “Mia, welcome home!” Hearing the joy in my brother’s voice—the brother who didn’t like me—I walked alone from the foyer to my room. Good kids go to bed early and wake up early. The next morning, Mia was already sitting obediently at the dining table. It seemed the two months of hunger at the Fishers’ had cured her of being a picky, spoiled brat. When Eleanor saw me come down, she gently picked me up and placed me on a dining chair, softly asking if I slept well last night. Oliver’s attitude had also improved; he moved the milk I couldn’t reach closer to me. Mia, sitting next to him, looked at me timidly, not a trace of her former arrogance visible. “Chloe, Mommy wants to discuss something with you. Your sister’s biological parents made a mistake and were taken to prison by the police. She has no one to take care of her and nowhere to live. Can we let her live with us?” I took a sip of the milk. I could never get used to the taste; it was too gamey to swallow. I listened quietly as Eleanor explained how pitiful Mia was. Richard had gone to the company early, and Grandma lived at the main estate. The three people at the table were eagerly waiting for my stance. I glanced at Mia’s exposed, fair arms and lowered my eyelashes: “Isn’t this something Daddy and Mommy decide?” I want to say no. I want to throw her out. I want her to be despised and looked down upon. I want her to be beaten black and blue like I was. I want her to suffer what I suffered. Would you grant my wish? Eleanor stroked my head and smiled with relief: “Chloe is so understanding. We’ll be a family of five from now on.” The Fisher couple was sent to prison by the Sterling family, and Mia was removed from the Sterling family registry. She would have no inheritance rights in the future. Grandma turned a blind eye, and Mia—no, Mia Fisher!—finally stayed as the adopted daughter of the Sterling family. I had to marvel at the power of the protagonist’s halo. I seemed to have changed a lot, yet it felt like nothing had changed at all. 7 Eleanor loved the illusion of sibling harmony and always tried to group her three children together, but I clearly couldn’t blend in. At first, Mia was well-behaved. Her biological instincts made her wary of me, so she could only subtly emphasize her presence in the house. But I still couldn’t stand her “green tea” (manipulative and innocent-acting) posturing. When acting spoiled with Eleanor, she would always sneak a glance at me, as if showing off a possession. She would chatter endlessly, deliberately mentioning where the family had traveled or what gifts her parents had given her before I came back. She was even worse with Oliver: “Brother~ Why are you only holding my hand? Sister is right here too. “Brother, you are the best brother in Mia’s heart! We’ll be siblings for life.” Listening to her made me want to throw up. I couldn’t be bothered dealing with Mia’s weak, manipulative attacks. Instead, I picked one of her many personas from my past life—the sickly, fragile “Lin Daiyu” type—and started acting it out. Medical exams obviously wouldn’t find anything wrong with me, but after suffering four years of abuse since birth, wasn’t it perfectly normal for me to be a bit frail? The constant, suffocating care followed. Grandma came from the main estate and scolded Richard and Eleanor. It scared Mia so much she hid in her room like a frightened quail, not daring to come out. After all, she had heard with her own ears when Grandma ordered her out of the house. Despite her age, Mia was already quite scheming. If nothing else, at least I didn’t have to constantly sit between them, watching Mia’s amateur manipulation and Oliver’s brainless devotion. This persona was incredibly effective. In my past life, whenever Mia wanted something or was unhappy, she would just lie in bed for a few days, and someone would eagerly deliver it to her. But this time, the one waiting for things to be delivered was me…

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During our final exams, the teacher picked up a crumpled piece of paper near the edge of my childhood friend’s desk. He stood up, looking incredibly righteous, and pointed right at me. “Mr. Harris, Chloe threw this cheat sheet at me.” I opened my mouth to explain, but Mia, sitting next to me, grabbed my arm with trembling hands. Her eyes were red. “Chloe, please don’t,” she whispered. In that moment of hesitation, I missed my only chance to defend myself. From that day on, I went from being the school’s top honors student to a cheating pariah. No one would even listen to me. Liam, my childhood friend, and Mia couldn’t wait to cut all ties with me. In our small, rural town, gossip travels fast. Even my parents, who had always been so proud of me, were pointed at and whispered about on the street. I was completely isolated, treated like a toxic disease. The school revoked my college scholarship recommendation. They cut off my financial aid. My dad’s vegetable stand suddenly had zero customers. On the day my mom got critically ill and we couldn’t afford her medical bills, Liam threw two hundred dollars at my feet and told me to drop out of school. “Keep your mouth shut. The college entrance exams are coming up. If you ruin Mia’s reputation, I swear I’ll make you regret it!” Then, I opened my eyes. I was back in the exam room during my senior year. Mr. Harris had a dark scowl on his face. He smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper and read it out loud: “Liam baby~ I don’t know how to do the last essay question, boohoo…” “Who wrote this?! Stand up!” I jolted awake at his harsh shout, realizing I had somehow traveled back in time to this exact moment. Liam turned around to look at me. Seeing my face covered in sweat and tears, a flash of pity crossed his eyes before he sighed. “Since you already guessed what happened… just take the fall for it.” And right next to me, Mia—the girl I had treated as my best friend—whispered tearfully, looking incredibly grateful: “Chloe, I promise I’ll make this up to you.” Pulling myself out of the agonizing memories of my ruined life and my family’s destruction, I stood up before Liam could say another word. “Mr. Harris! I did not throw that note! The ink on that paper is blue-black, and my pen is black, so it’s physically impossible that I wrote it. Also, the handwriting on that note is weak, messy, and uses stupid emojis. My handwriting is sharp and clean. And lastly! I’ve already finished the last essay question. Look at my test paper. There is absolutely no reason I would write that!” I held up my exam paper, explaining everything loudly, clearly, and incredibly fast. I poured out all the explanations I had desperately repeated in my past life—explanations that no one had cared to listen to. Mr. Harris looked shocked. He glanced at my perfectly filled-out exam paper. “Chloe, I never said you threw it. Why are you getting so worked up?” Only then did I realize I had completely lost my composure. Beside me, Mia’s knuckles were white from clenching her fists. She glared at me with pure resentment. Liam also looked at me with deep disappointment. What? Did they really think that just because my family was the poorest in town, I deserved to be their scapegoat?! When the exam ended, Mr. Harris announced he would launch a full investigation and severely punish the cheater. He folded the note, placed it in his notebook, and left the room. I packed my bag, planning to head back to our homeroom classroom. But before I could reach the door, someone grabbed my arm and violently yanked me backward. Liam was surprisingly strong. Ignoring the stares of the other students, he dragged me to the secluded stairwell landing. Mia followed close behind, massive tears rolling down her cheeks. “Chloe, you’re my best friend! You knew it was me! Why would you do that to me?!” I played dumb. “Huh? Mia, what are you talking about? What was you?” Mia stomped her foot in frustration. “That note! I threw it to Liam, and you clearly saw me do it!” “I didn’t see anything.” Mia opened her mouth to argue, but Liam stepped in. He gently rubbed her back, giving her a reassuring look. Then, he turned to me, his expression dead serious. “Chloe, I don’t care if you did it on purpose or not. You made a massive scene, and now Mr. Harris has the note. I’m giving you two choices.” “One: Go to Mr. Harris and confess that you wrote the note. You’re smart, figure out an excuse that makes sense.” “Two: Steal the note back from his notebook. I’m giving you until the end of the school day to fix this. If you don’t, Mia is going to lose sleep tonight because of you.” He issued his demands like an absolute dictator. Looking at him now, it was impossible to reconcile this arrogant boy with the kid I grew up with. The kid who, every Halloween, would steal two pieces of candy from his house—one for him, one for me—and we would make wishes for a better future. When did he change? Two years ago, Mia’s father was transferred to our small town to become the Vice President of the local manufacturing plant. Because of that, Mia transferred into our class. That was the first time Liam and I ever saw her. Unlike me, in my faded, hand-me-down clothes, she wore a pristine white puffer jacket. She looked as pure and flawless as an angel. Liam, myself, and almost everyone else in the class couldn’t take our eyes off her. She asked who the Class President was. Liam stood up. And from that day on, he became her desk mate. And I was moved to the very back of the classroom. I thought that from that day forward, Liam and I just had a new friend. Until the day I secretly confessed to Mia that I thought I might have a crush on Liam. That day, I completely missed the flash of disgust and mockery in her eyes… After that, I continued treating them with absolute loyalty, only to unknowingly become their personal servant. Somehow, it became an unspoken rule that any bad thing that happened was automatically my fault to bear. Looking at Liam’s self-righteous face, I asked him seriously: “Why?” His handsome eyebrows furrowed in genuine confusion. “Why what?” “Heh.” I let out a self-deprecating laugh, patiently explaining, “Liam. Mia cheated on the exam. It has absolutely nothing to do with me. Why should I cover for her?” “You—!” Mia stopped crying instantly and glared at me. “But you could have taken the blame for me! You used to be willing to do it! Why the sudden change today? You just wanted to embarrass me! You know my dad is incredibly strict. If he finds out, he’ll never forgive me!” Liam, who had been momentarily speechless, seemed to find his footing again. “Exactly! Chloe, you did it on purpose! You’re jealous of Mia, so you purposely humiliated her. You are truly toxic.” The look Liam gave me didn’t hold a single ounce of guilt. It was as if, by simply throwing the mud at me, I miraculously morphed into the sinister villain they needed me to be. “What exactly am I jealous of?” Mia practically glowed with arrogant triumph as she answered. “You’re jealous that I’m prettier than you, richer than you, and… and because Liam likes me!” “I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. But today, you really crossed the line!” “Do you know how hard it was for me not to throw up when you told me you liked Liam? Look at yourself. A poor loser like you doesn’t deserve to like him!” With that, Mia grabbed Liam’s hand, eagerly staking her claim. In my past life, she definitely didn’t keep it a secret to “protect my feelings.” She kept it a secret because if I knew they were together, she would lose her free servant. By pretending we were all just “good friends,” she got to hear all my private, embarrassing secrets, just so she could mock me behind my back. “Liam, is that what you think too?” Liam’s gaze fell on me, his expression complicated. Following his eyes, I looked down at my washed-out, slightly stretched school uniform. Ah. I understood perfectly now. “Liam, I don’t like you anymore.” “And Mia, I’m done being your little servant. You made your bed, now lie in it.” I turned around and walked away without looking back. Mia’s voice echoed menacingly behind me: “Chloe, you’re going to regret this!” No, I won’t. During passing period, the way my classmates looked at me completely changed. I was all too familiar with those malicious, judgmental stares. The whispers were loud enough for me to hear. “Did you hear? Chloe only gets first place because she cheats.” “I heard! She’s been taking the top scholarship money for two years straight! That is so messed up!” “How can they give that money to someone with no morals? We need to tell the principal and make her pay it all back!” “How is she gonna pay it back? Her family is dirt poor. She probably already spent it.” “I don’t care. She needs to sell her house to pay it back, or she needs to be expelled!” Listening to their vicious chatter, it felt like they had already decided my execution. Mia sat at her desk, twirling her pen, looking at me with a mocking smirk. She thought she had already won. Just as I expected, the rumor that I was a cheater had already spread like wildfire. Even without a shred of evidence, it didn’t stop them from pouring their toxic waste all over me. After all, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. I was just about to stand up and defend myself when our homeroom teacher, Mr. Davis, called me into his office. He slammed his hand on his desk and pointed a finger right at my face. “Chloe Foster! You have completely disgraced Class 1! I can’t believe you would do something as vile as cheating on a final exam! And I heard you put on quite a theatrical performance to cover it up? Hah. Go call your father right now. I want to ask him face-to-face how he raised such a shameless daughter!” I reached into my pocket, pulled out the cheap, clunky flip phone my dad had given me, and navigated to my voice memos. “No! Mr. Davis, I didn’t cheat. Listen to this.” I hit play. Right after the exam, when Liam dragged me to the stairwell, I had secretly hit record in my pocket. Even muffled through the fabric, Mia’s voice was crystal clear. [That note! I threw it to Liam, and you clearly saw me do it!] “She admitted it! Mr. Davis, Mia is the one who cheated, not me!” In that moment, I was overwhelmingly grateful for my past trauma. Having lived through a literal death sentence caused by their lies, I was hyper-vigilant enough to gather hard evidence. Mr. Davis’s face cycled rapidly between red and white. Then, he suddenly lunged forward and snatched the phone out of my hand. “Let me see that.” When he finally handed the phone back to me, the voice memo was gone. “Why?!” I gasped. “Why what?” Mr. Davis said smoothly, leaning back in his chair. “I understand the situation now. I’ll handle it. You can go back to class.” I stood frozen in place, massive tears rolling down my face. “Why did you delete my recording?” Mr. Davis stood up and patted my shoulder with a heavy, patronizing sigh. “Let’s just drop this whole thing. Do I really need to spell it out for you? Do you know who Mia’s father is? You have absolutely nothing to fight her with.” “Even if you had proof she cheated, she wouldn’t get punished. But you? Aren’t you terrified of the retaliation?” “Alright, hurry up and go back to class. Let’s pretend I never heard that recording, and you never took it. Keep your mouth shut from now on. Do you understand?” I wiped my tears and walked out of his office. I quickly checked my phone. Then, I broke into a dead sprint, running toward the school’s broadcast room like my life depended on it. I was going to make sure every single person in this school knew exactly what they did. No one was ever going to frame me again! The freezing wind burned my throat as I ran. When I burst into the broadcast room, the student announcer, Jessica, gave me a look of pure disgust. She leaned toward Liam, who was prepping the microphone, and sneered: “Your little stalker is back. I always knew she had thick skin, but I didn’t know she was a cheater too.” “Liam, how do you attract such gross flies…” I knew Jessica had a massive crush on Liam, which was why she was always so hostile to any girl near him. But I honestly didn’t care anymore. I was only shocked by how incredibly fast the cheating rumor had spread. Liam and Mia were actively trying to ensure I could never, ever clear my name. Liam didn’t even turn around, continuing to prep his script. Seeing him ignore me, Jessica looked incredibly smug. “Are you deaf? Get out before I call security to drag you out.” I grabbed her arm, forcefully shoved her out into the hallway, and locked the heavy soundproof door. Liam finally stopped what he was doing and glared at me angrily. “What are you doing?!” Outside, Jessica started frantically pounding on the door. “Chloe! What is wrong with you?! Have you lost your mind?!” Inside, Liam saw that I wasn’t speaking, and reiterated his stance. “Chloe, we aren’t friends anymore. Please stop following me.” I stared blankly at the brand-new school uniform jacket he had draped over the back of his chair. Liam’s family was just as poor as mine. Neither of our families could afford to buy us the optional, expensive winter uniform jackets. So, I starved myself for an entire semester, saving every penny of my lunch money, and gave it all to him. That was how he afforded that jacket. Meanwhile, I had to borrow a faded, worn-out one from a senior who had already graduated… Like a woman possessed, I grabbed the jacket, violently ripping at the seams. I snatched a pair of scissors off the desk and started frantically hacking it to pieces. Liam finally lost his cool. He jumped up and charged at me, completely dropping his aloof, arrogant prince persona. But he was too late. The jacket was already shredded into a pile of jagged rags, looking infinitely worse than the hand-me-down I was wearing. I threw the ruined pile of fabric toward the door. He scrambled to pick it up, his face twisted in absolute agony. While he was distracted, I unlocked the door and delivered a swift, brutal kick directly to his backside. Liam flew forward, crashing directly into Jessica, who was still trying to push the door open. They both collapsed into a tangled heap in the hallway, yelling in pain. I slammed the door shut, locked the deadbolt again, and hit the ‘Broadcast All’ button on the console. Then, I pulled out my phone and hit play on the newest voice memo. Because my phone was an archaic, clunky flip phone, I couldn’t download Snapchat or Instagram. I couldn’t join the class group chats. I never knew what my classmates were talking about, what they liked, or who they hated. Just like right now, I knew the group chats were definitely flooded with toxic rumors about me. But I couldn’t see them, and I had no platform to defend myself. However, it was exactly because of this cheap, clunky flip phone that I was able to secretly record Mr. Davis explicitly admitting he was covering for Mia. And now, through the school’s PA system, that undeniable truth was being broadcasted into the ears of every single student and teacher on campus. … I heard the Principal was absolutely furious. He stormed into Mr. Davis’s office right as Mr. Davis was secretly calling Mia’s father to brag about how he handled the situation, heavily implying he expected a “reward” for his loyalty. He was caught red-handed and suspended on the spot. When I walked back into the classroom, the stares were still weird. The whispering hadn’t stopped. But this time, I wasn’t the target. The eye of the storm had shifted directly onto Mia. “Wow, I never would have guessed. Miss Perfect Princess is actually so… ‘Liam baby’? Ugh, that’s so cringe.” “She gets caught cheating, and then tries to force Chloe to take the fall? I used to be so jealous that Chloe was her best friend. Now I just feel bad for her. Imagine how much crap Chloe had to put up with…” “I despise cheaters. We all study our asses off for our grades, and she just spends all day doing her makeup and shopping, and now she wants to steal a college recommendation spot? Disgusting!” “Keep your voice down, what if she hears you? Her dad is the VP of the plant. What if she comes after you?” … Mia was completely ostracized. She fell from being the untouchable, beloved rich girl to being labeled a manipulative, toxic cheater that everyone actively avoided. Used to being treated like royalty, she couldn’t handle the pressure and spent the entire class sobbing loudly with her head on her desk. Only Liam stood firmly by her side, looking utterly heartbroken but completely powerless to help her. Too cowardly to confront the rest of the class, Liam targeted me instead. “Are you happy now, Chloe? Stop wasting your time. Even if you completely destroy Mia’s reputation, I will never, ever like you.” “Get over here and apologize to Mia right now.” He commanded me, his brow furrowed in righteous anger. I realized then that my previous unshakeable devotion to him was nothing but sheer, absolute blindness. Before I could even respond, the bell rang. The new substitute homeroom teacher walked in. Seeing Liam standing by my desk, glaring at me, she asked: “Liam, why aren’t you wearing your uniform jacket?” Liam froze. He probably remembered the pile of shredded fabric I left in the hallway and flushed bright red with humiliation. I glared back at him, my eyes daring him to say a single bad word about me. If he did, I was fully prepared to expose exactly how he bought that jacket in front of the whole class. Liam ultimately chickened out. He sat back down and promised the teacher he would wear it tomorrow. Liam’s family was actually much poorer than mine. His parents were farmers, but they were incredibly lazy. Their crop yields were terrible every year, and they barely scraped by. The difference between us was that everyone knew I was poor. But his poverty was a deeply buried secret. No one knew that until he was twelve, his name was actually “Billy.” He legally changed his own name to “Liam” because it sounded more elegant and sophisticated. We had studied together to test into the town’s middle school, promising each other we would work hard, get into a top university, and change our destinies. But the moment he met Mia, that goal suddenly became irrelevant. At school, Liam meticulously maintained his persona as the aloof, brilliant, wealthy scholar. He even took incredibly convoluted routes walking home just to make sure no one saw the dilapidated shack he lived in. But no one was ever going to buy him a new uniform jacket again. After cutting all ties with Mia and Liam, I threw myself entirely into my studies. Mia would frequently shoot me looks of undisguised contempt and superiority, acting as if as long as Liam cared about her, she had won the entire world. Liam, on the other hand, went from looking at me with total indifference to looking confused, hesitant, and constantly wanting to say something but stopping himself. Finally, during a passing period, Liam walked over and dropped a math workbook onto my desk. “The teacher went over this equation too fast. I didn’t understand it.” I didn’t even look up. I grabbed the notebook that was blocking my practice test and, with a flawless parabolic arc, tossed it directly into the trash can at the back of the room. “You—!” Liam’s face flushed bright red. “Chloe! That was my homework!” “Oh.” I smiled pleasantly. “I thought it was just garbage~” Looking up at Liam, I noticed he was wearing the jacket I had hacked to pieces. It had been crudely stitched back together, the patches incredibly obvious. I raised an eyebrow. “So… you gave up the rich kid act?” Right on cue, Mia walked over holding a brand-new uniform jacket in its original packaging. She looked at Liam with total devotion. “Liam, I bought this for you.” Liam put on a show of polite refusal. “Mia, I can’t accept this.” “Just take it! Didn’t you say your dad’s construction company hasn’t gotten their latest payment from a contractor yet? I totally understand. Don’t be embarrassed. Just treat me to a nice dinner once the funds clear!” I retracted my previous statement. “Liam, you really are a phenomenal actor.” Liam was so choked up he couldn’t speak. Mia immediately jumped to his defense. “What do you know, Chloe?! Liam’s dad is a major CEO! It’s totally normal for business payments to get delayed. Plus, his dad prioritizes paying his workers first, which is why their cash flow is tight right now! Do you think everyone is like your dad, selling cabbages on the street for pocket change? You are so small-minded.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her delusions. “Yep, you’re so right. Now, can you please take your massive, worldly perspective and walk away? You’re distracting me from studying.”

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Right before the New Year, the new transfer student started showing up constantly in front of my childhood friend and fiancé. Either she sprained her ankle, or she had a math problem she just couldn’t solve. But my fiancé was a severe germaphobe and a possessive psycho. When the transfer student intentionally hiked up her skirt and tried to fall into his arms right in front of me… He simply took a step back, coldly watching her tumble into the swimming pool, leaving her to flail in the water. “If you don’t want to live, dying is a fine option too.” 1 My childhood friend, Liam, was a germaphobe and a psycho. He couldn’t stand anyone touching him except me. When his condition was at its worst, even his parents couldn’t lay a finger on him. I was the only leash that could hold this wild dog. During my eighth-grade year, as the child of his family’s nanny, I started attending the elite private school alongside the young master. On my very first day, I walked past his classroom wearing the school uniform skirt. Some idiot decided to catcall me. The young master grabbed a chair and hurled it straight at him. Even in an elite school swarming with wealthy heirs. Liam was the undisputed top dog. When he charged out with bloodshot eyes, acting like a rabid dog… I simply stood there and softly called his name. He instantly stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around and looked at me, eyes filled with grievance. The mad dog instantly became a good boy. That same day, the news of the psycho campus idol being tamed spread throughout the school. Not long after, another saying began to circulate: If you offend Liam, Chloe might still plead for your life. If you offend Chloe, you’re looking at a dead end. It sounded a bit like something out of an anime, but it was highly accurate. This rumor persisted from middle school all the way through high school. Until our junior year, when some girl with a death wish decided to shatter it. 2 During our junior year, a transfer student joined our class. She had waist-length hair and an innocent face. The moment she appeared, she captured the attention of the entire class. Not because she was exceptionally beautiful, but because she looked so much like me. Even her aloof aura resembled mine somewhat. Liam stared at that face for a long moment. As the girl walked past us, she brushed her long hair and shot me a provocative look. It’s a pity she didn’t see it. While Liam was looking at her, his brow furrowed in utter disgust. After the first period, the teacher called me, the class president, into the office. The core message was to ask me to take good care of the new student. I nodded in agreement. When I returned to the classroom, I saw Liam waiting for me at the door, arms crossed. Seeing me, his eyes lit up, and he walked quickly toward me. The new student, Mia, happened to be walking past him. On a perfectly flat floor, her ankle miraculously twisted, and she fell with precision right toward Liam’s chest. Liam frowned and took a step back. With a loud thud. Mia hit the floor hard. Liam didn’t even spare her a glance as he quickly walked to my side. A smile played on his lips. 3 “What happened? What did the teacher want?” The woman on the floor shot me a venomous look. Remembering the teacher’s request, I sighed softly and offered her a hand. But the moment my fingertips brushed her, she threw herself back down heavily. She looked at me, tears welling in her eyes, looking as if she were about to cry. “Chloe, I just transferred here. I haven’t done anything to offend you, have I? Why are you treating me like this?” She lowered her eyes slightly. Her slender neck and smooth jawline were indeed quite pretty. Her tear-filled eyes were very pitiful and moving. The students chatting in twos and threes in the hallway all turned to look at her. She thought she had so easily seized the moral high ground. Little did she know, everyone else was just watching a joke. I had always been kind to everyone at school. Not only did I never use the “mad dog” to bite people indiscriminately, I actually frequently helped others. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have elected me class president. Liam stepped up beside me, going into full protective mode. His disgust was practically overflowing. The once-bustling hallway fell dead silent. Everyone backed away, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire. But Mia couldn’t read the room. She actually pointed at me and complained. “Liam, look at her.” Before the mad dog could escalate into a full-blown psycho, I grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. Looks like someone doesn’t need help.” Instantly, Liam’s eyes held nothing but me and our clasped hands. 4 The school had a two-hour lunch break. At noon, most students slept in their dorms. I left the dorm briefly to grab a book. As I passed the flowerbeds behind the cafeteria, I heard noises coming from inside. The young masters at this elite school played hard. Things that shouldn’t be seen happened often on campus. I wasn’t curious and even quickened my pace. But then, unexpectedly, I heard my own name. “That bitch Chloe is really in the way! Can’t you think of a way to get rid of her?” I peeked through the bushes and saw Mia sitting on a stone bench. Even more surprisingly, she was taking small bites from her lunchbox and hadn’t actually spoken out loud. Another voice, seemingly coming from nowhere, answered: “Then just gather more strategy points. Once your points are high enough, everything will be easy.” It was a slightly mature male voice, and it sounded very close. But looking around, I saw absolutely no one else near her. Adding the term “strategy points” to their conversation, I had a pretty good guess. “Didn’t you say this face is exactly Liam’s type? Why doesn’t he seem to feel anything when he looks at me?” “How do you know he feels nothing? The strategy meter clearly went up by one point.” I was genuinely surprised. I didn’t expect a mad dog like Liam to actually waver. “So what do we do next? The ‘innocent victim’ act isn’t working on him.” “Then change tactics. Men love novelty. Chloe always has that aloof, arrogant look. She probably rarely gives him any affection. You just need to act more enthusiastic.” “Fine, I’ll listen to you.” … I slipped away quietly. 5 Sure enough, that afternoon, Mia switched tactics. As soon as class ended, she ran over to our desks, clutching a workbook. Chirping like a little sparrow. The student sitting in front of us was incredibly annoyed and snapped coldly: “Are you done yet? The teacher just went over these problems. Were you not listening in class at all?” Mia flipped her hair: “Just because I listened doesn’t mean I can’t ask questions, right?” “These problems are so simple. If you listened and still don’t understand, maybe you should get your brain checked at a hospital.” “What do you know? I’m not really here to ask about the problems. I just want to talk to Liam.” She turned her head, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled at Liam. The smile was exceptionally bright, like a blooming sunflower. “Liam, I like you.” The classroom, which wasn’t very noisy to begin with, suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Every single pair of eyes snapped toward us. Even the students who had fallen asleep were forcefully woken up to watch the drama. Liam looked at me, seemingly seeking my opinion. I turned my head away, pretending not to see. But the sound of his back teeth grinding together was incredibly clear. His voice was so cold it could freeze a person solid: “I don’t need you to like me. Get lost!” I turned my head back. Mia opened her cherry lips to speak again, but Liam just grabbed the nearest textbook and hurled it. “Do you not understand human language?” Low snickers rippled through the surrounding students. Shredding whatever little dignity Mia had left to pieces. She glared at me fiercely, stomped her foot, and stormed off. 6 The last class of the day was P.E. As soon as the bell rang, everyone rushed down to the field. Mia, still unwilling to give up, looked back at us one last time, only to be scared away by Liam’s icy glare. I slowly packed my things, waiting until everyone else had left before standing up. I had barely taken half a step when Liam grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms. His voice carried a hint of a whine, like a wronged puppy. “Why didn’t you look at me earlier?” “Look at you.” I lifted his chin. “Aren’t I looking at you right now?” “You’re brushing me off. I meant earlier, when she said she liked me, why didn’t you look at me?” I pretended to think about it. “Back then… you could handle it yourself, couldn’t you?” Even though he knew this wasn’t the real answer, his anger still dissipated. Or rather, he was never truly angry with me; he just needed to be coaxed. Don’t let his “mad dog” persona fool you. Underneath, he was just a pitiful dog with severe insecurity. And precisely because of that, he developed an intense possessiveness. He was terrified—terrified that someone would separate us again. “Can you let me go now?” I patted his hands resting on my waist. “You won’t leave me, right?” He stared at me, breathing heavily, his eyes desperate for an answer. I stroked his head, my tone gentle: “Of course not.” 7 During P.E. class. Mia was acting very sneakily. She wanted to get close to Liam, but was terrified of his glare. A few girls gathered around me and said: “Class Prez, shouldn’t you do something about her? This endless nonsense can’t go on.” “Mia’s only been here a day and she’s already acting like this. If you don’t step in, she’ll think she owns the place.” While they were talking, the conversation between Mia and the mature male voice continued: “Seriously, why are you chickening out? Go! This is your mission.” “Easy for you to say! That book barely missed my forehead earlier, and his eyes looked like he wanted to kill me.” “He won’t. He’s just a psycho, not a serial killer.” “Then you need to give me some time to recover! My heart is still pounding just thinking about what happened earlier.” “How are you going to accomplish anything great if you’re this timid? You can’t even complete mid-level worlds. How could I dare put you in an advanced world?” … From their conversation, I roughly deduced that Mia was a “System Host.” A common trope in web novels. Her purpose in coming to this world was to win over Liam. That mature male voice was her System, responsible for helping her. The only thing that puzzled me was why, for some reason, I could hear their conversation. “Did you guys hear an older man’s voice?” The girls next to me shook their heads. It seemed I was the only one who could hear it. Mia and her System started a pointless argument, and I shifted my focus back to the classmates around me. They were actually still discussing the previous topic. “Even though Liam only has eyes for you, Class Prez, she looks so much like you. Aren’t you afraid…” “What nonsense are you talking about? The Prez and Liam are perfectly fine.” “Oops, my bad. Don’t worry, Prez, Young Master Liam will definitely not betray you.” “Look at how cheap Mia is acting. I’m really afraid she’s going to throw herself at him.” … I turned my head and gave them my usual calm smile. “We’re all girls here. Let’s not say these speculative things.” They laughed awkwardly. “But… thank you for the warning. I’ll keep an eye out.” As I turned to leave, I crooked my finger at Liam. He immediately came trotting over happily. Where else could you find such a good dog?

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I used to be a proud, broke idealist. All I wanted was Elias’s love. But after he blacklisted me from the industry once, I learned my lesson. I obediently accepted every resource and role he threw my way. I just stopped loving him. Later, he got into a serious car accident and was hospitalized. I flew back from Fashion Week abroad and went straight to my film set. When he finally recovered and was discharged, he cornered me against a doorframe, his eyes bloodshot. “I was in a car crash…” I looked at him, my expression unreadable, and stayed silent. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with raw, undisguised hurt. “And you didn’t come to see me… not even once.” 01 I always knew Elias Thorne and I were from two completely different worlds. I always felt like I shouldn’t accept the resources he offered me. I wanted us to be a normal couple. He was my boyfriend, and I was his girlfriend. I loved him, and he loved me. But eventually, he was the one who personally tore my fantasy to shreds. On the tenth day of being blacklisted by Elias, my manager, Brenda, knocked on my door, her face a picture of frustrated disappointment. When I opened the door, her anger visibly faltered at the sight of my haggard appearance. She closed her eyes, let out a heavy sigh, and walked in. “Chloe, do you still not get it? You and Elias Thorne are not from the same world. Who is he? He’s the CEO of the Thorne Group. Who are you? You’re a celebrity with zero backing.” She sat heavily on the sofa, offering her earnest, albeit harsh, advice. I listened expressionlessly while pouring her a glass of water. “What love? Is there actually any love between you two? If he loved you, how could he blacklist you with a single word? Look at yourself. Look at what you’ve become.” She pulled a mirror from her bag and forced me to look at my own pathetic reflection. “Could I look any worse than I did that day?” My voice was hoarse, every word feeling like it was being dragged out of my throat over broken glass. I looked at my reflection with zero emotion. She knew exactly what day I meant. It was the Best Actress awards ceremony. The video of me smiling brightly as the host read the winner’s name had been trending on Twitter for days. I was so confident I was going to win. But the name called wasn’t mine. The cameras perfectly captured my devastated expression and broadcasted it on the jumbotrons. Even though I quickly recovered and forced a stiff smile while clapping, the internet mercilessly mocked me for being a sore loser. Hearing this, Brenda sighed again and continued, “I told you a long time ago, you two aren’t a match. I told you to hurry up and use your youth to get resources and connections from him, to build yourself up so you can stand on your own two feet. That’s what actually matters.” “But you’re just hopelessly romantic. You never listen. You’re going to drive me crazy…” Because I had been drinking heavily for days, my brain felt sluggish. Maybe that was why I didn’t feel a single twinge of pain in my chest. Elias and I had been together since high school. In that elite, money-drenched prep school, surviving on good grades alone without a wealthy background was incredibly difficult. But Elias became my shield. I remember one late afternoon, he was sitting next to me, casually twirling a strand of my hair while I kept my head down, writing. He suddenly leaned in, his eyes burning with intensity, and flashed a brilliant smile. “Hey, straight-A student. Want to be my girlfriend?” The bright, clear eyes of that teenage boy merged with the cold, condescending eyes of the man who looked down at me in the garden years later. “Chloe, don’t regret this.” When he said “don’t regret this,” he was referring to the moment I accidentally overheard him behind a closed door, saying that he and I would never have a future together. I had cried and broken up with him. In the past, I used my ridiculous sense of pride to maintain the illusion of equality in our love. He would often laugh and say that if I wanted a role, I just had to ask. There was no need for me to fight so exhaustingly for it. I loved burying my face in his solid chest, poking him playfully, and saying, “No way. I want to earn it with my own hard work. That way, people won’t think I’m with you for the wrong reasons.” Whenever I did that, he would just sigh helplessly and pat my head. Now, I laughed, my tears hitting the floorboards. Fuck love. … That night, I went back to the place he and I used to call “home.” Wearing a black lace slip, I sat calmly on the edge of the bed. A lot of the decorations in the room were cute and colorful. Several plush toys lay quietly on the sofa, exactly how I had left them. Every inch of this place held memories of our love. There were security cameras in the living room, and my fingerprints hadn’t been wiped from the smart lock. He knew with absolute certainty that I would come crawling back to him. Just like he told me: Chloe, you’ll regret this. He was right. I regretted it. I regretted being so stupid, demanding something as pure as love. Before long, I heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway below. By the time I snapped out of my daze, the bedroom door had already opened. Elias, dressed in a bespoke black suit, stood in the doorway, watching me in silence. My eyelashes fluttered, Brenda’s words echoing in my ears. “People in their circle only ever marry for strategic alliances. Stop fantasizing about this so-called love. What is love? Can you eat it? Can you spend it? From the very beginning, he never planned on marrying you. Wake up, you foolish girl.” I bit my lip, stepped onto the cold floor barefoot, and walked toward him. I stopped right in front of him. I reached out and unbuttoned his suit jacket. He didn’t speak, nor did he stop me; he just looked down at me. In the past, when we fought, I would always wait for him to come home, wrap my arms around his waist, and sway him gently. “You’re not mad anymore, right? Please don’t be mad.” He was a head taller than me, so I had to stand on my tiptoes, struggling to slide his jacket off. Then, I unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time. Revealing the firm, muscular chest and abs of a grown man. I looked up at him, meeting eyes that were now dark with desire. I leaned in and softly pressed my lips against his bare chest, then reached down to unbuckle his belt. His breathing hitched, and suddenly, my feet left the floor. He picked me up, gently laid me on the bed, and hovered over me. He kissed my forehead, his voice raspy. “Do you know what you did wrong?” Hearing this, I lowered my eyes to hide my emotions, bit my lip, and let out a soft “Mhm.” I don’t know if my obedient act pleased him, but he grabbed my hand and placed it on the cold metal buckle of his belt. He lightly bit my earlobe, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Take it off.” 02 When everything finally settled down, I lay there listening to his even breathing. I stared blankly at the pitch-black ceiling, then reached over and removed the arm he had wrapped around me. Finally, I squeezed my eyes shut. … My comeback project was an S-tier, massive-budget historical fantasy drama. Sitting in my trailer, reading the script, I thought to myself: What the hell was I so proud of before? In the past, I always refused to please Elias—or rather, I refused to please him in exchange for resources. Even when I first debuted, starting with absolutely nothing and running between sets for extra roles, I never thought of asking him for help. I fantasized that one day, if a show of mine blew up and I became an A-list star on my own merit, maybe his family would finally accept me. But I forgot that to a wealthy, elite family, I would always just be an “actor.” No matter my status, I was just an entertainer. I was truly poor, but my pride was entirely fake. The first snow in New York arrived unusually early this year. I sat under the awning, hugging a hand warmer and reading my script. Suddenly, Brenda gasped, “Chloe, look over there.” I followed her gaze. Elias, wearing a long black overcoat, was walking through the snow, step by step, right toward me. Seeing him, I buried the coldness in my eyes, replaced it with a look of pure surprise, stood up, and ran toward him. He smiled, opening his arms to catch me in a full embrace. I looked up at him, my voice soft and sweet. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back until tomorrow?” He reached out, brushing the snowflakes from my hair, then leaned down to kiss the corner of my mouth. “Wanted to surprise you.” I just smiled, saying nothing. After a moment, he said, “I’m taking you out tonight.” I pulled back slightly. “But I usually shoot until midnight, and with this snow, every production is trying to…” Before I could finish, he pinched my cheek. “I already cleared it with your director.” For a second, I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Finally, I smiled and nodded. “Whatever you say.” That night, we went to a private room in an exclusive club. The faces inside were all familiar—people I had known since high school, Elias’s childhood friends who grew up in the same elite circles. In the past, I constantly craved their approval, bending over backward to please them. Now, I just sat quietly beside Elias. I couldn’t care less about the subtle, knowing glances they exchanged. A little while later, the true guest of honor arrived. A woman wearing a stunning, custom-made red evening gown with a long train walked in. It was Mia. The woman they always referred to as the future matriarch of the Thorne family. She had gone abroad for university years ago. She gave me a brief, indifferent glance before sitting down right next to Elias. One of the guys teased her, “How did you manage to get even prettier after a trip abroad?” His comment opened the floodgates, and everyone started chiming in. Mia laughed, “Oh, please, stop making fun of me.” Then she turned to Elias, her voice playful and affectionate. “Are they telling the truth, Elias?” I looked down and took a sip of my drink. I didn’t look to see Elias’s expression, but I heard him give a soft, affirmative “Mhm.” When the food arrived, I kept my head down and focused on eating. They talked about their childhood memories—things that happened long before I ever met them. In the past, I would get so upset that I couldn’t join the conversation, that I couldn’t understand their inside jokes. Not anymore. I don’t know who said it, but someone laughed, “I remember back then, Elias was always saying, ‘Mia is going to marry me and only me when we grow up.’” A dead silence fell over the room. After years in the entertainment industry, I had mastered the art of zoning out, selectively deafening myself to things I didn’t want to hear. It had become second nature. Sensing the sudden, awkward silence, I looked up in confusion. Only to crash straight into Elias’s pitch-black gaze. Having been with him for so long, I could easily read his emotions from the slightest micro-expressions. He was displeased. Though I had no idea why he was upset. Then I heard Mia’s voice. “Oh, stop talking nonsense. Can’t you see Elias’s girlfriend is sitting right here?” I kept a polite, professional smile on my face. I glanced at Mia, who looked entirely unapologetic, and felt absolutely nothing. Mostly, I just didn’t care. I hadn’t been Elias’s “girlfriend” for a long time. I was his canary. A transactional arrangement between a kept woman and her benefactor, requiring zero emotional investment. When we got back to the villa that night, Elias smelled faintly of alcohol. He was unusually rough that night, his upturned, peach-blossom eyes burning with anger. I didn’t know what he was so mad about. At first, I tried to arch my back and accommodate him, but by the end, I was crying and begging him to stop. 03 Over the next few days, I sent Elias a few texts, but he ignored them all. So I stopped trying. I focused on filming. Because the set was far away, I stayed at a hotel. One day, I was crouching on the ground making a snowman when Brenda ran over, her long puffer coat flapping, looking completely frantic. She shoved her phone in my face. The number one trending topic was: [The Billionaire and the Heiress: A Match Made in Heaven]. She clicked on it, and the first thing that popped up was a photo of a woman linking arms with a man. The background was opulent and glittering—likely some high-society gala. Mia had a classic, radiant beauty. In the photo, she wore a gold gown that perfectly hugged her curves. Her hair was elegantly swept up, and her eyes looked as soft as water. Elias wore a black tuxedo, looking tall and imposing, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. I smiled. “They really do look perfect together.” I looked away. If I hadn’t been in the picture, it probably would have been a beautiful love story. But then again, whether I was in the picture or not, they were destined to end up together. Just like in a novel, the vicious supporting female character always gets written out, and the male and female leads live happily ever after. Netizens are always obsessed with high-society drama. I don’t know who posted it, but there was also a very blurry photo floating around, claiming to be Elias and Mia. That night, after wrapping up a late shoot, I got into the van. Brenda had been holding her phone the entire ride, her brows furrowed, staring at the screen like she was trying to burn a hole through it. I leaned back and closed my eyes. Suddenly, she reached out, pointing at the blurry photo on her screen. “Is this you?” Hearing her, I slowly opened my eyes and gave it a casual glance. I froze. The heavily zoomed-in, pixelated image was taken under the monorail tracks in the city of Havenbrook. I had been filming there at the time. Elias had gone abroad because of a crisis with a foreign partnership, and ended up staying there for three months. Havenbrook was sweltering. That evening by the river, even the breeze blowing off the water felt hot. I was wearing a loose, oversized tank top, holding a mini fan, wanting to call him during my break. But afraid of interrupting his work, I just took a picture of the river view and sent it to him, telling him how beautiful and fun the city was. I was sitting on a small folding stool, looking down at my script, taking a sip of ice-cold milk tea. Suddenly, a shadow fell over my pages. I looked up in confusion. Elias was standing there in a black T-shirt, looking down at me with a smile, the evening wind ruffling his slightly curly hair. Right at that moment, the monorail roared past overhead. I jumped up excitedly and threw my arms around him. “You’re back!” “Didn’t you say it would take a few more days?” He wrapped one arm around my waist, rested his forehead against mine, and smiled, his eyes shining. “Didn’t someone say they wished they had magic so they could instantly teleport me here?” “The magic worked.” “Oh.” My ears turned red at his teasing, but after not seeing him for so long, I really, really missed him. I bit my lip, unable to hide the joy in my eyes, and motioned for him to lower his head. He chuckled softly and obediently leaned down. I smiled and asked, “Did you miss me?” He smiled back, nodding. “Mhm.” Hearing that, my eyes crinkled into crescents, and I turned my head to kiss the corner of his mouth. That was the exact moment captured in the photo. It must have been a random passerby taking a picture of the monorail, and Elias and I happened to be standing right underneath it. “Yeah,” I replied softly, turning my head to look out the window. Outside, the city was a blur of traffic and neon lights, reflecting endlessly on the glass. From seventeen to twenty-six, I truly believed we would make it to the end. I thought we would get married and have a child together. But while I was dreaming about our future, Elias had already carefully weighed his options and reached a conclusion. Marrying me wasn’t a good investment. 04 A few days later, Elias and Mia were trending again: [Thorne CEO Drops $3 Million Just to Make Heiress Smile]. By the time I saw it, I had already wrapped up filming for the day and was back at the villa. I took a shower and got into bed. When I woke up, the sky outside was pitch black. Elias had come home at some point and was sleeping with his arms wrapped around me. He was a light sleeper. When I slowly turned over, the arm around my waist tightened. He pulled me flush against his chest, his voice raspy. “You’re awake?” “Mhm.” I hummed softly, turning to face him. I smiled, opened my eyes, and rubbed my head affectionately against his neck. “Elias, Director Zhang is casting a new movie soon. I want the lead role.” His dark eyes stared at me, unreadable. “Please? Hmm?” I hugged his lean waist, looking up at him with wide, expectant eyes. Suddenly, he flipped us over, pinning me beneath him, looking at me with a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. I thought about it, reached up to loop my arms around his neck, stared at his lips, and was just about to kiss him. He abruptly pulled away, his face turning ice-cold. He grabbed his coat from the chair and headed straight for the door. I sat up, bewildered by his sudden mood swing. I ran barefoot across the room and hugged him from behind. I mumbled into his back, “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so mad?” The massive bedroom fell dead silent. Resting my head against him, I was genuinely confused. Did he get into a fight with Mia and come back here to take it out on me? “Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?” “Huh?” He turned around and asked me an even more inexplicable question, his eyes burning into mine. “Do you still love me?” “Of course I do. How could I not love you?” I lied without blinking, smiling to keep my benefactor happy. But he didn’t seem happy at all. He just pulled me into a crushing hug. Listening to the heavy, rapid beating of his heart, I heard him whisper: “Do you?” I had a few days off, but Elias still hadn’t given me a straight answer about the role I asked for. I sat on the sofa, frowning as I looked toward the staircase. Didn’t he say he would give me whatever resources I wanted, as long as it wasn’t love? If he wouldn’t even give me the lead in one movie, how could I expect anything else? If he officially got engaged to Mia, I really would be left with nothing. My eyes darted around as I suddenly remembered the photo Brenda showed me. Whether the blurry silhouette was Mia or not, the internet didn’t know, but surely the people who actually knew her could tell, right? “Brenda, can you do me a favor?” I pulled out my phone and smiled at my manager sitting across from me. “Don’t worry,” I said. “Nothing bad is going to happen.” In this industry, I had seen so many couples who started out as the envy of everyone—who never shied away from showing their love on camera or behind closed doors—only to eventually lose each other in the pursuit of fame and fortune. I suppose it was finally time for me to graduate from the school of hard knocks. When Mrs. Thorne cornered me in my dressing room, I wasn’t surprised at all. Unlike Brenda and my young assistant, whose eyes were wide with panic, I just smiled and waved them out of the room. The immaculately dressed, high-society matriarch looked me up and down with cold disdain before sitting on the sofa. She dismissed her bodyguards. “Chloe Foster?” She said my name with utter contempt. “You really are a piece of work. You even managed to fool me.” I kept my smile in place. “Ma’am, I don’t know what you mean.” “Heh.” She sneered and slapped a photo onto the table. “The woman in this picture is you, isn’t it? And you’re the one who went through all the trouble to make sure I saw it, right?” She tapped her index finger, adorned with a massive emerald ring, against the table. “Since you went out of your way to get my attention, name your price.” Mrs. Thorne’s sharp eyes locked onto me. “Your price for leaving my son.” I knew when to fold. I parted my lips slightly and spoke softly. “I want the resources to propel me to A-list status. All of them.” The dressing room fell completely silent. She smiled, but her eyes were ice-cold. “Do you believe me when I say I could make sure the name Chloe Foster ceases to exist in the entertainment industry by tomorrow morning?” “I believe you. But Elias wouldn’t let that happen. He likes me.” I curved my red-painted lips into a smile. “Ma’am, we’ve been together since we were seventeen. No matter what, he won’t just abandon me.” Hearing this, Mrs. Thorne’s face noticeably darkened. After a long pause, she said coldly, “I can agree to your terms, but you have to do one thing for me in return.” I answered quickly. “Okay.” “You aren’t even going to ask what it is?” I tilted my head. “Doesn’t the Madam want Elias to be with Mia?” She was taken aback by my bluntness, then smiled. “It really is so much easier talking to a smart person.” She elegantly picked up her designer bag. “I’ll be waiting for your good news, Ms. Foster. After all, your flight for Fashion Week leaves the day after tomorrow. Flights don’t wait.” I smirked. “Take care, Ma’am.” Compared to a woman who only wanted love, a woman who wanted money and power made this wealthy matriarch feel much more secure. 05 I don’t know if the universe was on my side, but that day, Elias’s best friend—who had been living abroad for years—returned to the country. Arthur, the guy who followed a girl overseas to study, and ended up getting his Master’s and PhD there, had finally come back. By the time I arrived at the club, most of the people had already left. Elias was lying on the sofa with his eyes half-closed, his cheeks flushed from drinking too much. Arthur was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on his phone. “Yeah, it’s almost over. I’ll be heading back soon.” Hearing his tone, I figured things had worked out well for him and the girl. After hanging up, he turned, saw me, adjusted his rimless glasses, and smiled. “Hey, Chloe. Long time no see.” I walked over to Elias and smiled gently. “Long time no see. Are you planning to stay and work here now?” “Yeah. My parents’ health hasn’t been great lately, so it’s easier to take care of them if I’m back.” He added, “Don’t be mad at Elias. He only drank because I just got back.” In the past, I hated it when Elias drank. Whenever he did, I would get angry, and eventually, he just stopped touching alcohol. Judging by Arthur’s tone, he clearly had no idea what had happened between us. But after tonight, he would. He helped me carry Elias toward the door. I smiled and said, “It’s totally normal for you guys to have a few drinks after not seeing each other for so long.” “Oh, doesn’t he have a private suite here? Let’s take him there. I’m worried his stomach will act up and he’ll throw up in the car.” This five-star hotel was owned by the Thorne Group, and Elias had a permanent penthouse suite here. “Sure.” After finally getting Elias onto the bed, I smiled and thanked Arthur. Once he left, I walked back in, sat on the edge of the bed, and quietly watched Elias sleep. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights twinkled in the darkness. The room was completely silent, save for the sound of Elias’s soft breathing. His eyes were tightly shut, his hair falling messily across his forehead, giving him a rare look of innocent obedience. I looked down and laughed softly. “If seventeen-year-old Chloe and Elias could see us now, how do you think they’d react?” Only silence answered me. I continued talking to myself. “They’d probably be really, really sad. After all…” I slowly moved my gaze over his face. “We really did love each other once.” “But Elias, remember this: you were the one who gave up on us first. Everything I’m doing now is just to make sure my nine years of youth don’t look like a complete joke.” With that, I was about to stand up and leave when the previously quiet Elias suddenly became restless, softly calling my name. “Chloe… Chloe…” I looked at him, expressionlessly took off the couple’s ring we bought in college, tossed it into the trash can, and walked toward the door. When I reached the handle, my hand hesitated for a fraction of a second before I yanked it open. Standing outside was Mia, looking every bit the victor. Her perfectly made-up face broke into a triumphant smile. “Chloe, I told you. You two were never going to make it to the end.” In high school, when Mia found out Elias and I were dating, her first reaction wasn’t anger. It was an absolute, condescending certainty. She looked down her nose at me, her eyes full of mockery and disdain. “Chloe, you two aren’t going to make it to the end.” Teenage love is always reckless and passionate. Back then, I didn’t care about a single word she said. But to the me of today, Mia had been right. When you’re young, the massive chasm between social classes isn’t as glaringly obvious. But as you grow up and enter the real world, staring up at the towering skyscrapers of wealth and power… after the initial confusion and vertigo fade, all that’s left is an endless, ravenous hunger. A hunger for money. A hunger for power. The desire to climb to the top of the pyramid and look down on everything else. “Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness,” I said, stepping aside. She walked straight past me into the room. As she passed, she flashed a sweet smile. “Thank you. I suppose we won’t be inviting you to the wedding, then.” I walked out of the hotel. The company van had been waiting for a long time. In the early hours of the morning, I boarded my flight overseas.

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