I was born with a shadow. It wasn’t mine; it belonged to my twin sister, who died shortly after birth. To appease it, my parents forced me from a young age to wear dresses I hated and speak in a soft, delicate voice. To make it happy, the night before my most important piano competition, they locked my door and made me listen to terrifying stories in the dark all night. To fulfill its wishes, on my eighteenth birthday, they destroyed all my college acceptance letters and sent me to a strict boarding dance academy. Until I married my psychologist, Dr. Alistair Vance. He gently told me I would get better. That day, he held my latest brain scan, the love in his eyes almost melting me. He softly caressed the large shadow on the film and smiled at me. “Sweetie, your brain is nourishing it beautifully. It will soon fully occupy this body.” “Then, you can peacefully join your sister.” Dr. Alistair Vance’s voice was soft, but every word felt like a poison-tipped needle, piercing deep into my heart. Those eyes, which I once adored, were now filled with a sickening expectation. My stomach churned violently. “You’re joking, right?” I finally managed to squeeze out a question, needing to confirm it again. Alistair didn’t answer directly. Instead, he carefully tucked the CT scan back into the manila envelope. Then, he walked over to me, crouched down, and looked me directly in the eye. “This is not a joke.” “This is our shared anticipation, your parents’ wish for over twenty years, and a testament to my love.” An icy dread shot up from my feet to the crown of my head. Alistair reached out, intending to touch my cheek. I flinched back sharply, avoiding his touch. His hand froze mid-air, the smile vanishing from his face. “Sweetie, don’t be scared.” “This process won’t be painful at all. Afterward, you’ll go to a place without pain, to be reunited with your sister.” He spoke so casually, so matter-of-factly, as if he were discussing something trivial that happened every day. All his years of meticulous care for me. It was all a lie. “No…” My legs felt like jelly, numb and weak. But I couldn’t show it now. Because here, in front of him, I was no match. I lowered my head, feigning submission. “I… I’m just a little scared.” Hearing the slight softening in my tone, Alistair’s voice immediately turned gentle. He sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you.” He picked up a glass of warm milk from the bedside table and held it to my lips. “It’s getting late. Drink some milk and get some rest.” Looking at the white liquid near his lips, I felt a wave of nausea. But I could only obey. “Okay.” A sickeningly sweet, cloying warmth slid down my throat, and Alistair smiled, satisfied. He took the empty glass from my hand and left a goodnight kiss on my forehead. “Alright, go to sleep now.” “Goodnight.” The moment he left, I bolted straight to the bathroom, knelt before the toilet, and forced myself to throw up. Only when my stomach was completely empty did I collapse, exhausted, onto the cold tile floor. I looked at myself in the mirror, pale-faced, hair disheveled. Suddenly, a chilling thought crept into my mind. I had lost. I had been utterly defeated from the moment I was born. But I absolutely refused to accept this fate.

The next day, when I woke up, Alistair had already made breakfast. Everything seemed normal. If it hadn’t been for yesterday’s revelation, I almost would have believed it was just a nightmare. “Come eat.” I suppressed the urge to run, sitting down stiffly. “This afternoon, we’re going to your parents’ house. They said they miss you.” My heart sank. But… “Okay.” I softly agreed, trying to keep my voice sounding normal. Alistair’s face lit up with a delighted expression. “Wonderful, they’ll be so happy to hear the news.” I looked up, feigning confusion, and asked Alistair, “What news?” “Why, that your condition has had a breakthrough, of course.” “They’ve invested so much; it’s time they saw a return.” His words instantly took me back to the past. I suddenly remembered my days at the dance academy. Waking up before dawn every day, being forcibly bent by the instructors, crying myself to sleep every night. Tears and sweat—that was my entire three years of memory. I had questioned them countless times, asking why they treated me that way. They simply replied with the vague phrase, “It’s all for your own good.” Now I understood. They simply wanted to train a body worthy of their precious daughter. I took a deep breath, suppressing the hatred that surged in my heart. “After breakfast, I want to go for a walk. I’ve been feeling a bit cooped up lately.” “Great! I’ll come with you.” I quickly waved my hand, refusing Alistair. “I want to be alone, just in the apartment complex garden.” Alistair looked at me, saying nothing. I lowered my head, not daring to meet his gaze, my heart pounding. Finally, he spoke. “Alright, but come back soon. We’re leaving at noon.” A tight knot in my chest loosened a little. After breakfast, I changed and prepared to leave. As I reached the entryway, I instinctively reached for my phone and keys. “Looking for these?” Alistair’s voice came from behind me. I turned, meeting his gaze as he held my phone. “I charged it for you last night after you fell asleep.” I took the phone he handed me; the screen was still on. For some reason, I felt a subtle unease. “Where are my keys?” “I put them away.” He said to me casually, “Our home has smart locks, so you don’t need keys.” “But…” Before I could finish, Alistair cut me off. “Enough!” His voice held a hint of impatience. “Go on, don’t keep me waiting too long.” With that, he turned and walked to the living room, picking up a psychology textbook. I tentatively pressed the handle of the fingerprint lock. “Password incorrect.” Alistair had changed the password and deleted my fingerprint. He was now engrossed in his book, seemingly oblivious to my movements. I walked over to him, forcing a smile. “Alistair, the password’s wrong.” He looked up, a contrite expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Sweetie, I changed the password yesterday and forgot to tell you.” As he spoke, he took out his phone and tapped a few times. “There, try again.” With a mix of hope and skepticism, I typed in my original birthday password. “Verification successful.” The door opened. Standing in the doorway, I couldn’t take a single step. I could feel Alistair’s gaze burning into my back. He was just using this method to tell me. He could lock me in, or let me out, whenever he pleased. Everything was under his control. “Why aren’t you going?” I turned around; he had put down his book and was watching me. “I suddenly… don’t want to go out.” I closed the door and watched him walk closer, step by step. “Then stay home with me.” Alistair opened his arms. I hesitated for a moment, then submissively leaned into his embrace. My plan had failed. What was I going to do? Soon, he would take me back to that so-called home. I had no way to save myself. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something. On the coffee table behind Alistair, lay a fruit knife… Its blade reflected a cold gleam in the light.

The knife stood upright in the fruit bowl, as if pointing the way for me. A terrifying idea instantly sparked in my mind. Clinging to Alistair’s arm, my body trembled involuntarily. My voice broke, sounding fragile and helpless. “I’m still a little scared, Alistair.” Alistair’s body stiffened for a moment, then he gently patted my back. “It’s okay, Sweetie. Soon, you’ll be free.” I continued my act. “But I don’t want to leave you, or Mom and Dad.” A flicker of emotion crossed Alistair’s face. He cupped my cheek. “We’ll always remember you, Sweetie.” I suddenly pushed him away and lunged towards the coffee table. Grabbing the knife. “Sweetie, what are you doing!” Alistair’s voice immediately turned anxious. I gripped the fruit knife tightly, pointing the tip at my own neck. “Get away!” My voice was hoarse from screaming. Alistair looked at me, his face initially fearful, but a moment later, he sneered. “Did you think I wouldn’t be prepared?” He pulled a small remote control from his pocket and pressed a button. In an instant, my limbs felt weak, and the fruit knife clattered to the floor. My body became limp and powerless. “What… what did you do to me?” Alistair slowly walked towards me, looking at me with utter contempt. “A small precautionary measure.” Alistair adjusted his collar, his impeccable facade snapping back into place. “It’s getting late, we should leave.” He picked me up from the floor. I tried to resist, but I couldn’t move, only allowing him to manipulate me. I could only watch as he picked me up and tossed me into the passenger seat like a sack of trash.

The air in the car was so oppressive it was suffocating. Alistair turned on the stereo, and my favorite song began to play. “Don’t be so tense, Sweetie.” Alistair said gently as he drove, “We’re just going home.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to look at him or answer. The car slowly left the city and drove onto a road leading to the suburbs. I knew we were almost there. The car finally stopped in front of a secluded villa. It looked exactly as I remembered it—a house that felt more like a tomb. Alistair cut the engine and turned to look at me. “We’re home.” He unbuckled my seatbelt, then got out and walked around to open my door. “Do you need me to carry you?” I ignored him and propped myself up, standing by the car door. My legs still felt a bit wobbly, but I forced myself to stand steady, not letting him see my weakness. Alistair nodded, thoroughly satisfied. “You’re recovering much faster than I expected.” The door opened, and my mother, Brenda, emerged. She was dressed in a modest, tasteful dress, her hair meticulously styled. “You’re back.” Her voice was soft. “Mom,” Alistair greeted her warmly. I looked at her, but no words came out of my mouth. “Come in quickly, your father is waiting for you inside.” In the living room, my father, Richard, sat rigidly on the sofa. He was a quiet man; the number of times I’d spoken to him growing up could be counted on one hand. He looked up, glanced at me, then quickly looked down again. “Sit,” Father finally spoke, gesturing to the sofa opposite him. Alistair helped me sit, then sat beside me, tightly gripping my hand. “Dad, Mom,” Alistair broke the silence. “The time is right.” He took the manila envelope from his bag, pulled out the CT scan, and handed it over. “Look.” Father and Mother leaned in, carefully taking the scan, their eyes glistening with a sickening, triumphant joy. Their fingers lingered over the large shadow, a possessive, sickening tenderness in their touch. “This is wonderful… truly wonderful…” “After more than twenty years, we’ve finally reached this day.” I looked at these three people, supposedly my closest family, and a torrent of uncontrollable hatred and despair erupted from the depths of my being. “You’re all so happy, but did it ever occur to you that I might not want this?” Their smiles froze on their faces. Alistair’s grip tightened, crushing my hand almost to the point of breaking. “Elara!” I yanked my hand away and stood up. “Why should I die for someone who never even lived?” I coldly stared at these people who so readily professed their “love” for me. Father suddenly stood up, pointing at me, trembling with rage. “How dare you! How can you say such a thing? Everything you have was given to you by her! Now it’s time for you to repay her!” Alistair lunged forward, grabbing my arm. “It seems my ‘therapy’ hasn’t quite taken hold yet.” He turned to my parents. “Dad, Mom, please go back to your room. I need to speak with her alone.” Father snorted, then pulled my still-hesitant mother, turning and walking upstairs. Only Alistair and I remained in the living room. The gentleness on his face was gone, replaced by icy control. “It seems I’ve been too lenient with you.” He dragged me towards the basement door. “It’s time I reminded you what happens when you don’t obey.”

This was the place of my greatest childhood fears. Alistair effortlessly dragged me inside, then slammed the door shut with a bang. “Alistair! Let me out!” I frantically pounded on the heavy iron door, tears streaming down my face. His voice came from outside the door, cold and distant. “Reflect on your actions in there.” “Call me when you’ve come to your senses.” Then, the sound of his footsteps faded away. I slid down the door, leaning against it in despair. When I was little, if I ever showed the slightest doubt about their commands, they would lock me in here. I’d be trapped for days on end. Sometimes, they’d even play terrifying sounds: The growls of monsters, women’s screams, the clanking of chains… Even after all these years, I remembered every detail clearly. I hugged my knees, trying to stop my body from trembling. Don’t be scared. Alistair said that every moment of happiness and peace I felt was nourishing *it*. So, conversely, could my fear and pain also affect *it*? I began to recall past events. The night before the piano competition, they locked me in my room, forcing me to listen to horror stories all night. The next day, with dark circles under my eyes, I participated in the competition in a daze, and my performance was abysmal. And Alistair—he used tenderness and love as a disguise, soothing my wounds, making me drop my guard. Thinking of this, my stomach churned. I slowly stood up and began to grope in the dark. Relying on memory, I walked in one direction. I remembered there was a small window high up here. After some searching, my hand brushed against a rough wooden box. This was it! I climbed onto the box and pushed the window. I pushed with all my might. With a shattering crash. I immediately scrambled out, hands and feet. Outside was the villa’s backyard, overgrown with weeds. Ignoring the cuts on my palms from the broken glass, I got up from the ground and ran. Bursting through the backyard fence, I ran onto the desolate road. Behind me, the villa lights came on. They had found me. But my legs suddenly buckled beneath me, out of my control

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My best friend always said that checking your partner’s phone was a basic requirement in any serious relationship. So, one evening, I decided to conduct a surprise inspection of my boyfriend’s phone. He seemed completely calm, handing it over without a moment’s hesitation. It wasn’t until I tapped on that pinned group chat, “Brothers United,” and used his account to send a message: “Hey guys, guess which girl I’m with right now.” Three seconds later, the screen exploded with replies: [????] [Holy hell! Serena’s back?] [Serena’s back?! Seriously?! Where is she?!] Serena. I’d never heard that name in Leo’s life before. A chilling premonition crept over me. I snapped my head up. Leo, who had been lounging on the sofa, had somehow straightened his back. His gaze was fixed, unblinkingly, on the phone in my hand. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but no sound came out. The phone vibrated frantically in my grip, new messages popping up one after another, buzzing relentlessly. I don’t know how long passed, but then he suddenly sprang up, practically lunging across the sofa. “Give it back!” His voice was hoarse, laced with an urgency and panic I’d never heard from him. Instinctively, I hid the phone behind my back, stood up, and took a step back. “Who is Serena?” I heard my own voice ask, dry and raspy. I looked at him, the man I had loved for two years, the man I thought I knew so well, the one I’d given my complete trust to. Yet, in that moment, he felt like a complete stranger. “Leo,” I repeated, my voice trembling uncontrollably, “Serena, who exactly is she?” “Just… just an old friend,” he finally managed to say. “Honestly, sweetheart, you have to believe me.” His voice softened. “It’s all in the past. I… I just didn’t want to bring it up, afraid you’d overthink things. I promise you, there’s absolutely nothing between us anymore.” He tried to approach me again, his tone urgent and earnest: “Don’t you know who’s truly in my heart? These past two years, haven’t you felt how I’ve treated you? Are you really going to completely dismiss everything we have just because of a thoughtless joke from my buddies?” It was true. For the past two years, he had been exceptionally good to me. Thoughtful, understanding, he remembered all our anniversaries, would buy me my favorite late-night snacks, and stayed constantly by my side when I was sick. Those warm, sweet memories flooded in, clashing fiercely with the icy suspicion, threatening to tear me apart. My hesitation seemed to register with him. He seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and gently pulled me into his embrace, his arms tightening around me, his chin resting on my head, his voice muffled: “I’m sorry, sweetheart, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have kept things about her from you. But I just thought there was no need to let past issues affect our present. I was wrong, please don’t be angry, okay? I’ll tell you everything from now on, hmm?” That night, he coaxed me with extreme tenderness, explaining that he and Serena had a brief, undefined relationship in college. They broke up due to personality clashes, and it ended on a sour note, which was why his friends remembered her so vividly. He said he no longer cared about her, and the only reason he hadn’t mentioned it was because he feared my jealous nature would make me upset. He sounded utterly reasonable, his eyes sincere, even a hint of being wronged for being misunderstood. I chose to believe him. Or perhaps, I chose the two years of emotional investment I had made, and the care he had shown me every day. I deleted the message from the group chat, pretending nothing had happened. He seemed to sigh in relief, treating me even better than before, more cautiously. Life, it seemed, had returned to its peaceful rhythm.

But some things, once shattered, can never truly be mended. I found myself involuntarily observing him. After he fell asleep, I would secretly pick up his phone. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t stop myself. His SnapChat, texts, and call logs were eerily clean. It wasn’t until a week later that, on a strange impulse, I tapped into his phone’s cloud drive. It required a password. My heart suddenly pounded. I knew all his common passwords, I tried them; they were wrong. A powerful intuition drove me. With trembling hands, I typed in his and Serena’s names. The screen flashed, and I was in. In that instant, my blood ran cold. Inside the cloud drive, there was a folder named “Project.” I clicked it open, revealing countless photos, and a subfolder within it, named “Her.” My hands trembled so hard I could barely hold the phone. I clicked on “Her.” There was only one photo. It was a girl’s back, wearing a white dress, standing in a field of sunflowers. Sunlight streamed down on her, making her look like something out of a painting. Even though it was just a back, I knew almost immediately: that was Serena. What chilled me to the bone even more was that back, that slightly curly long hair, the style of that dress… it was exactly what I had worn three years ago, on my first date with Leo. Shaking, I went back to the main “Project” folder and opened another subfolder. It was full of photos of *me*. Eating, sleeping, reading, laughing, angry… all kinds of moments of me. I used to think they were proof of his love, his sweet way of documenting our life together. But now, looking at these photos, a chill ran from my feet straight to the top of my head. Because in these photos, his camera angles, and the way he guided my poses… subtly, whether intentionally or not, they were replicating that back in the sunflower field. I abruptly looked up, at Leo sleeping soundly beside me. He seemed to be in a deep sleep, his features soft and relaxed. But in that warm bed, I felt like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. With trembling hands, I returned to the “Project” folder and started checking other folders. Their names were simple and clinical: [001_J], [002_L], [003_M]… like cold, numerical codes. My fingers were icy, I could barely grip the phone, and subconsciously, I clicked on the closest one, [002_L]. Inside were more photos. Many photos. Another girl, long, slightly curly hair, wearing various light-colored dresses. She was laughing, reading, drinking coffee… many candid shots. But her hairstyle, her fashion sense, the curve of her profile in some shots… faintly, there was an indescribable sense of familiarity. I backed out and clicked on [003_M]. Same thing. Another girl. Long, slightly curly hair, a fresh, clean style. The number of photos seemed fewer than in 002. So… I wasn’t the first. And I might not… be the last. Was I just the latest in his collection of similar replacements? Did he ever feel an ounce of genuine affection for me? Or was it all just a concession based on my resemblance to her? That tiny spark of attraction, if it ever existed, for “Maya” as an individual, what did it amount to in the face of his massive obsession with Serena? Probably, ridiculously insignificant. I sat on the cold floor, hugging my knees, watching the sky outside slowly lighten.

*Ding-dong* The doorbell rang like a death knell, waking a sleeping Leo. He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Driven by a strange impulse, I crept to the door and pressed my ear against the cold wood. I heard the door open. Then, a sweet, entitled, and utterly familiar female voice that was etched into my very soul, crisp and clear. “Leo, darling, surprise! I’m back! The freeway from the airport was packed, so I had to leave super early this morning… Oh, why do you look so upset? Don’t you want me here?” My breath hitched instantly. Serena. So, *this* Serena. She really was back. And she had come straight here. Outside the door, Leo’s voice was tense: “Serena? How… how did you find this place? Why didn’t you say you were coming?” “I wanted to surprise you, silly! What, are you hiding someone in there? Is it not convenient for me to come in?” “No… you…” Leo was clearly flustered. “Oh, right,” Serena’s voice suddenly dropped, laced with cunning and a hint of provocation, “my sister… Maya, she lives here, doesn’t she?” “Sister.” The word was like a rusty key, unlocking the long-sealed, dark corners of my childhood. In the backyard, the new swing Dad bought. I hadn’t even had a chance to sit on it once before Serena, in her pretty princess dress, was already on it, with Dad pushing her from behind, her laughter ringing clear. I ran over, but Dad just brushed me off, saying, “Maya, be gentle with your sister, she’s younger.” But she was only a few days younger than me. Dad’s gaze always followed Serena, praising her as smart, beautiful, a little genius. And I was always the insignificant side character, the “senseless” child who “couldn’t hold a conversation” and “whose grades weren’t as good as my sister’s.” My crayon drawings were casually tossed aside, while any numbers Serena scribbled were cherished by Dad like precious treasures. My grievances and tears only earned me the reprimand, “You’re the older sister, you should be more sensible.” Serena’s voice pulled me back to reality: “It’s really quite funny, Leo, darling.” “You chased my shadow for so long back then, and then… how did you end up with her?” “Were you using my sister to miss me?”

The last shred of sanity in my mind shattered. I yanked open the bedroom door. Serena saw me, showing no surprise whatsoever. Instead, she looked me up and down, a perfect, taunting curve on her lips. “Oh, sister, you really are here,” she said, her tone light. “Long time no see. Why are you still…” She deliberately paused for effect, her gaze sweeping over my old, worn t-shirt and swollen eyes, “…so careless about your appearance?” Leo stood awkwardly between us, looking from me to Serena, his lips moving, but not a single word coming out. The helplessness and fury of my childhood instantly drowned me. Why? Why could I never escape her? Why was even the sole happiness I had grasped, the happiness I thought was mine, merely a byproduct of her shadow? “Who’s your sister? My mother only had me,” I said with difficulty. Serena dramatically covered her mouth, her eyes, however, crinkled with amusement: “Sister, why are you still so sensitive? You were like this as a child, always so serious, never cute at all. No wonder Dad always preferred me.” Leo finally found his voice, pleading: “Serena! Stop it!” He then turned to me, trying to take my hand: “Sweetheart, calm down, let’s go inside and talk, okay?” I violently shook him off, my eyes still locked onto Serena. “You’re not welcome here,” I said, each word slow and deliberate. Serena, however, acted as if she’d heard something amusing. Instead of leaving, she took a step forward, watching the tension between Leo and me with keen interest, her gaze finally settling on Leo’s frantic, bewildered face. “Leo, darling,” she tilted her head, her voice innocent yet utterly cruel, “You seem really scared of my sister getting angry, huh? What, do you actually… like her now?” “No way? Have you forgotten what you used to tell me? You said you loved how lively and smart I was, and couldn’t stand her quiet personality, so stubborn and boring, like a block of wood…” Leo sharply gasped, sucking in a cold breath, and cut her off angrily: “Serena! What the hell are you talking about!” My body swayed, almost imperceptibly. Stubborn and boring. Like a block of wood. I looked at Leo; he looked at Serena, his eyes filled with shock, an attempt to silence her, but absolutely no… denial. Serena watched his desperate expression, her smile growing more triumphant and brazen, as if everything was going exactly as she planned. In that moment, standing at the doorway of the apartment I’d lived in for two years, facing my boyfriend and my half-sister, I felt like a complete and utter joke. I said nothing more. I just turned around, walked back into the bedroom, grabbed my suitcase, not even fully zipped, and silently, directly, headed for the front door. “Sweetheart!” “Sister?” Two voices rang out simultaneously, one frantic, the other feigning surprise with playful mockery. I didn’t look back, nor did I stop. I pushed past Leo, who was blocking the doorway, deliberately bumped into Serena, who was still watching the show, and dragging my suitcase, stepped into the elevator. The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out Leo’s panicked shouts and Serena’s triumphant smirk. The mirrored elevator wall reflected my pale, numb face. How ridiculous, Maya. All these years I’d fought to escape, and it turns out, it had never truly left me.

Dragging my suitcase, I walked aimlessly down the street like a lost soul. My phone vibrated frantically in my pocket, Leo’s name flashing on the screen. I hung up, then blocked him. The world was so big, and I suddenly had no idea where to go. Go back to my parents’ house? That place held even more memories of Serena and my father’s favoritism. I couldn’t do it. Go to my best friend Chloe’s? How could I explain this utterly absurd situation to her? Tell her that the man I loved for two years treated me as a stand-in for the person I hated most? In the end, I just found a quick hotel that looked reasonably clean and checked in. Once I closed the door, shutting out all external noise, I finally allowed myself to collapse, leaning against the door, slowly sliding down to the cold floor. Tears finally welled up, late but unstoppable. Not loud sobs, but silent, desperate streams, soaking my shirt. The next few days passed in a daze. My phone was off, cutting me off from the outside world. I just slept, stared blankly, and mechanically ate a little to sustain myself. Until one morning, I rushed to the bathroom and dry heaved for ages, but nothing came up. This happened for several consecutive days. A terrifying thought suddenly pierced my mind. I stared at the two clear red lines slowly appearing, and all the strength instantly drained from me, and I slid down the wall to the floor. Pregnant. Just as I decided to leave Leo for good, just as my life had been shattered into a million pieces, this baby arrived. What a… cruel irony.

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In front of my desk, a group of guys dispersed, leaving me standing alone. My desk was carved with insulting words like “cheap” and “slut.” My notebooks lay scattered on the floor, dirty and trampled. It was in that exact moment, I, the heroine of this novel who was forced into a relationship with him, suddenly regained my memories. The next second, Julian arrived, just as he always did, like a god. He reached out to me, his eyes unsettlingly deep. “Don’t be scared. I believe you’re innocent.” But I remembered everything. It was him who spread the rumors, all to isolate me, to make me utterly dependent on him, to belong only to him. Under his calculations, I not only broke ties with my parents but was also tricked into dropping out of school, ultimately becoming his golden cage pet. I snapped back to reality, his familiar hand already reaching out. Looking at his gentle smile, I felt a wave of nausea. This time, I violently slapped his hand away and spoke in a cold voice. “Of course, I’m innocent. The police will clear everything up.”

Julian’s hand froze in mid-air, the gentle mask on his face cracking for the first time. A hint of darkness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of worry. “Alice, making a big deal out of this kind of thing will only ruin your reputation.” “Let me handle it, okay?” I bent down to pick up the notebooks from the floor, brushed off the shoe prints, and looked up to meet his gaze directly. “Didn’t you already destroy my reputation?” “Everything you guys did to me, I’m going to tell the police. None of you will get away with it.” My eyes swept over the faces of the guys who had been there earlier. Hearing me say that, their arrogant expressions finally softened a bit. In reality, I hadn’t called the police. Because in the original story, Julian’s specialty was using public opinion to apply pressure. Every time I was close to grasping a sliver of hope, he’d cut off all outside help under the guise of “protecting” me. Since I couldn’t stop him, I’d use the most just method to punish him. A month ago, on my way home, I was dragged into a dark alley by a drunk, an attempted assault. Julian appeared, rescued me, and took me home. But somehow, photos of last night’s incident were taken and spread throughout the school, reaching almost everyone. In the photos, my expression was maliciously distorted, my shoulder exposed. The boys leered, pointing and whispering, calling me “trash” and “slut.” I was isolated, labeled a slut. Every time, it was Julian who stepped in to save me. Until I awakened my memories and discovered it was all Julian’s carefully laid trap. He hired the drunk, and he spread the photos. All to make me cower under his wing, belonging only to him. Later, I was bullied into dropping out, confined by him in a mansion, and cut off from my parents. My father, consumed by rage and grief, suffered a fatal heart attack, and my mother never recovered from the devastation. The mansion’s curtains remained drawn day after day. I was trapped in that luxurious cage, living the same monotonous life. Until I accidentally stumbled into a secret room. The walls were plastered with photos of me from childhood to adulthood, dense and overwhelming. In the center was an old newspaper, featuring a blurry photo of a little girl’s back. Julian entered without me noticing, wrapping his arms tightly around me from behind, his voice twisted and trembling. “Do you remember, Alice?” “I was eight that year, and I fell into the icy lake in the park. The water was so cold, I thought I was going to die.” “It was you, such a tiny person, crying and yelling for adults, desperately pulling me out with a tree branch…” “You were the only light in my dark life.” His arms tightened around me, a fervent declaration, his breath hot against my neck. “Only I truly love you. My life belongs to you, and you’ll never escape me.” I felt cold all over, as if plunged into an ice abyss. My innocent act of kindness as a child had led to a nightmare that haunted half my life. My father dead from anger, my mother gravely ill… The source of all this tragedy was me, and the devil I had saved years ago. The ultimate outcome was me spending the rest of my life in the suffocating cage he had woven.

I snapped out of it. The guys, seeing Julian so calm, seemed to gain confidence. They exchanged glances, letting out even more piercing jeers. “Call the cops? Alice, who are you trying to scare?” “Yeah, what are the cops going to do? Tell everyone you deserved it for being a slut?” “We all saw the photos. Why are you still acting all high and mighty?” They relied on their numbers, convinced I wouldn’t dare, and couldn’t fight back. Just then, Mr. Harrison, our homeroom teacher, rushed over after hearing the commotion. Seeing my messy desk and scattered notebooks, his brow furrowed deeply. “What’s going on? What’s all this noise about?!” The guys immediately quieted down a bit, but still wore smug, unconcerned smiles. Julian instantly stepped forward, speaking before I could. “Mr. Harrison, it’s just a misunderstanding.” “Just some kids messing around. I’ll handle it, okay?” I took a deep breath, not looking at Julian, and faced Mr. Harrison directly, speaking clearly and firmly. “Teacher, this isn’t a joke. This is blatant slander, defamation, and bullying.” I pointed at the carvings on the desk, at the soiled notebooks on the floor, and finally at those boys. “Julian’s so-called ‘handling’ is just hoping I’ll silently endure this injustice.” I turned back to the surprised Mr. Harrison, enunciating each word, my tone resolute. “Mr. Harrison, I demand to call the police.” “These slanders and defamations have severely damaged my reputation and personal dignity.” “I need the law to clear my name.” Mr. Harrison was clearly stunned, seemingly unprepared for my assertiveness. Schools usually preferred to handle these matters internally. Julian’s face subtly darkened. “Alice, don’t be impulsive. Do you know the consequences of calling the police? Those photos…” “Of course, I know the consequences.” I cut him off, unwavering. “The consequence is that those who spread rumors and defame others will face legal punishment.” “As for those manipulated photos, it’ll be perfect for the police to trace their origin!” I deliberately emphasized “origin,” and saw Julian’s pupils contract almost imperceptibly. Finally, with my strong insistence and clear articulation, Mr. Harrison agreed to my request to call the police. Soon, the wail of a police siren echoed at the school gate. The moment the uniformed officers walked into the classroom. I saw the faces of those previously arrogant boys finally turning pale, their eyes filled with panic. They instinctively looked towards Julian. And Julian, standing at the edge of the crowd, his gentle worry already gone. It was replaced by an intensely cold scrutiny and a flicker of astonishment and gloom that I had completely broken free from his control. The arrival of the police instantly froze the atmosphere in the classroom. After understanding the basic situation, two officers took all of us to the police station. As Julian passed by me, he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. “Alice, don’t blow this up beyond repair.”

The process of giving my statement was long and suffocating. Just as I expected, the boys quickly synchronized their stories. They just said it was a joke that went too far. The classroom surveillance camera was “conveniently” broken, with no evidence to prove they had bullied me. Julian’s statement was far more sophisticated. He played the role of an anxious, well-meaning classmate trying to defuse the conflict. “Officer, I believe Alice is innocent.” “But if this gets blown out of proportion, she’ll be the only one hurt.” He subtly implied that my insistence on calling the police was a “stubborn” act, disregarding my own reputation. Julian saving me was an undeniable fact, creating a perfect loop with his supposed good intentions. Then, the police followed protocol and notified parents and the school. Within fifteen minutes, Julian’s family lawyer rushed in, followed by our school’s vice-principal. The lawyer skillfully negotiated with the officers. The final outcome was cold and stark: insufficient evidence. Those boys, after a verbal warning from the police, slunk away. Julian was the last to leave. His face now held only a deep, almost tangible possessiveness. “Alice, the law can’t help you either.” He leaned in slightly, his voice laced with a chilling fanaticism. “Had enough fun? It’s time to come back to me.” I didn’t look up, just stared at my knuckles, clenched so tight they were white. The suffocating and helpless feeling from my memories returned. But the police failure was already within my expectations. I hadn’t expected to bring him down with just this one attempt. Calling the police so publicly was to alarm him, to force him to use his family’s connections. The more he intervened, the more mistakes he’d make, the more evidence he’d leave behind. I slowly lifted my head, my face devoid of the breakdown or submission he anticipated. Instead, I managed a faint smile. “Julian, the game has just begun.” A flicker of surprise and bewilderment crossed his eyes. Just then, I turned my head and saw my parents arriving at the police station, rushing towards us. The police must have told them everything that happened. Mom rushed over and hugged me tightly, her voice choked with sobs. “Alice!” “What happened? Why didn’t you tell Mom if you were upset?” Dad’s gaze swept over my messy school uniform and my swollen wrists, his face darkening further. He turned to the police officer beside him, his tone firm. “Officer, my daughter went through such a terrible thing at school. The school must give us an explanation!” “Dad, Mom.” I gently interrupted Dad’s questioning. “Let’s go home first. There won’t be any results for now.” Dad paused, seemingly surprised that I would proactively ask to leave. He looked at my pale face. Finally, he nodded heavily. “Okay, let’s go home first.” “But this isn’t over.” The three of us, under the complex gazes of Julian and the others, left the police station.

Back home, the moment the door closed, the tight string in my mind finally snapped. My legs gave out, and I almost collapsed, but Mom firmly caught me. Her warm embrace carried a comforting scent. The thought of how the story unfolded before I awakened my memories sent shivers of fear down my spine. I couldn’t hold back anymore; the pent-up grievances and fears erupted. “Mom… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” I cried heartbrokenly, my words incoherent, my body trembling uncontrollably. Mom hugged me tight, her voice also choked with sobs. “My silly girl, it’s Dad and Mom who didn’t protect you well enough, making you suffer so much…” Dad silently offered me warm water, his eyes filled with heartache and unfocused rage. His voice was hoarse with anger. “I’ll go to school tomorrow and demand an explanation! We don’t need this school. I will not let my daughter endure this kind of treatment again!” Mom tried to remain calm, wiping away my tears, then patting Dad. “Robert, don’t scare our child.” “Alice, it’s okay now. Mom and Dad are here.” They surrounded me, without a hint of disdain or doubt. Only complete trust and unreserved heartache. In that moment, memory and reality formed a cruel contrast. Julian’s chilling voice seemed to still echo in my ears. “Alice, your parents think you’ve shamed the family.” “They don’t want you anymore. Only I want you.” “Because of you, your family is ruined. Where else can you go but to rely on me?” Those words had repeatedly tortured my already shattered nerves at the time. Yet now, Dad was trembling with anger, but his concern was that he might scare me, might upset me. How could they think I was a disgrace? They only feared they hadn’t protected me enough. Julian had systematically removed all my support, intending to turn me into a helpless, clinging vine, utterly dependent on him. My parents insisted I rest at home for a few days, not going back to school for now. They carefully guarded my emotions, and the warmth of home almost made me succumb. But I knew Julian wouldn’t give up so easily. Sure enough, on the third night, my phone screen lit up with a text message from an unknown number. “Want to know the whole truth? Tomorrow night at eight, meet me under the old oak tree in the alley.” “Come alone.” My heart lurched. Julian couldn’t wait. It was almost identical to my memories. Only the time was earlier, and the method had changed from a subtle note to a direct text message. In the original story, driven by a desperate longing for the truth, I foolishly went to the meeting. What awaited me wasn’t the truth, but another carefully orchestrated “accident” and “rescue.” Then, under his repeated “benevolent” protection, I completely fell for him, destined for ruin. This time… I took a deep breath, my fingertips rapidly tapping on the screen. “Okay.” I knew another meticulously planned trap awaited me under that old oak tree. But this meeting, I had to take.

The next evening, I arrived at the tree early. Footsteps approached from behind the tree, uneven and dragging. Three thugs emerged from the alley. They saw me, exchanged a lewd glance, and swaggered up to surround me. I took a step back, my spine hitting the rough tree trunk. The corner of my eye sharply scanned the deeper shadow at the other end of the alley. It was Julian. One of the thugs reached out to grab my arm. I sharply slapped his hand away. My voice was laced with deliberately amplified terror and trembling. “What do you want? Get away from me!” “Feisty little thing, aren’t you?” Another thug spat, pressing closer. I pretended to struggle, pushing and shoving, letting out terrified whimpers. Sure enough, just as one thug’s hand was about to grab my collar. “Stop.” Julian stepped out of the shadows. He lunged forward in a few strides, pushing away the thug closest to me. He yanked me behind him, shielding me with his body. Julian had clearly trained; his movements were clean and precise, making the thugs stumble back. The thugs muttered curses, helped each other up, and fled. I coldly observed the performance tailored just for me. In my memories, I would have been trembling in fear at this moment. Clinging to him like a lifeline, falling even deeper into his dependency. But now, it only made me sick to my stomach. In the darkness, only his footsteps approaching me remained, along with his chillingly gentle voice. “Alice, are you okay?” “Don’t be scared. I’m here.” I looked at him with scorn. “Julian, putting on this little show, is it amusing?” He seemed not to have expected me to call him out so directly. The tenderness on his face gradually faded. He didn’t immediately refute, nor did he admit it. He just quietly watched me. After several seconds, he let out a very soft laugh. His voice was filled with a curious amusement at being seen through. “My Alice, you’ve really changed. You’re not like you used to be…” He reached out and, without resistance, pinched my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “But what if you know? What does it change?” He admitted it openly, his tone even carrying a hint of boastfulness. “That drunk, I paid him. Those photos, I took them, and I spread them.” “The bullying you suffered at school, I orchestrated all of it.” “They don’t understand you. They don’t want to believe you.” “Only I truly love you. Only I can clear all obstacles for you.” “See, tonight is no different.” He chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the spot where the thugs had disappeared. “Without me, what would you do?” He waited for my breakdown, my fear, my ultimate submission. This was the climax of his script. However, I merely looked at him, my eyes devoid of any of the emotions he desired. “Are you done talking?” Julian’s smile froze on his face. I slowly raised my phone, which had been in my jacket pocket, and waved it in front of him. The screen displayed the recording interface. “Julian, save those words for the police.”

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The year I turned eight, my mom broke my arm, and my father rushed me to the hospital. Desperate, I reached for help, dialing the phone number Mom had drilled into my memory, the one she’d ordered me to keep etched in my heart. Less than half an hour later, a convoy of over a dozen sleek black SUVs descended upon us, lining up in an intimidating procession. The man leading them brutally beat my father, crippling him, then forced him to reveal Mom’s whereabouts. They rescued Mom from a hidden cellar in a remote, secluded cabin. Mom gazed at my father’s broken form, her face utterly devoid of sympathy, before she threw herself into the man’s arms. Everyone was about to leave. I stumbled forward, my small legs barely carrying me. “Mommy, a hug…” Mom whirled around, her hand flashing out, delivering a stinging slap across my face. “Don’t call me Mommy! You make me sick just looking at you. Get out of my sight, and don’t ever, *ever* come back!” My cheek burned, a searing pain, but the ache in my chest was worse. Hadn’t Mom promised she’d love me if I just did what she said?

The fiery sting on my face lingered as I stood rooted to the spot, clutching my cheek. Mom had explicitly told me that if I just remembered that number and did everything she asked, she would love me dearly. But now, the look in her eyes was colder than any of my father’s violent outbursts, chilling me to the bone. The man in charge merely cast a fleeting, cold glance my way. Then he reached out, drawing Mom closer by her shoulder. “Easy now, darling. Don’t stress yourself. Let’s go.” Mom leaned into his embrace, her shoulders still trembling slightly. Just then, the door of a stretched luxury sedan parked nearby swung open, and a little boy in a crisp white suit hopped out. His hair was perfectly combed, and he ran straight to Mom. “Mommy, are you okay? Daddy and I came to get you! Did anyone hurt you?” Mom looked down at the boy, her eyes instantly welling up. She knelt down, pulled him into a tight embrace, her voice thick with emotion. “Mommy’s fine, my precious. It’s all thanks to you and Daddy for rescuing me.” Her hand gently stroked the boy’s back, a tender gesture, as if cradling the most priceless treasure. That was a tenderness I had never, not even once, received. I stood watching, a sharp, twisting ache seizing my heart, mingled with an indescribable envy. My body seemed to move on its own accord. I awkwardly shuffled a few steps closer, wanting to be nearer to Mom. But before I could reach her, the little boy suddenly looked up. He shoved me back forcefully. “Get away from my mom!” “Don’t you dare touch her with your filthy hands! Go away!” I already had injuries, and the push sent me sprawling onto the ground. Mom stood up as well, her gaze now filled with even more intense revulsion. She instinctively pulled the little boy behind her and spoke to the man. “Please, take my darling to the car and sanitize him. She’s just… unclean.” The man nodded. They turned to walk towards the luxury car. Panic surged through me. I forgot the pain, forgot the fear, and ran after them, yelling. “Mommy! Mommy, don’t leave!” My voice was raw with tears, but Mom didn’t even turn her head. The man seemed annoyed by my cries. He paused, giving a subtle nod to two burly men in dark suits nearby. Soon, a large cargo van pulled up. The back doors swung open, revealing a pitch-black interior reeking of damp earth and something acrid. Inside, a metal cage held a massive Doberman, its name Brutus. The moment it saw me, it snarled, baring its razor-sharp teeth, and let out a ferocious, guttural bark. Fear froze me to the spot. I even forgot how to cry. The little boy’s face was flushed with triumphant glee. “Mommy, look! I specially asked Daddy to bring Brutus! He’s here to protect you!” “If this little monster dared to bully you just now, Brutus would’ve definitely taken a bite out of her!” Julian Thorne, the man, said nothing. He just gestured for his men to open the cage door, then reached out and grabbed my arm. His grip was merciless, sending a fresh wave of agony through my already wounded flesh. I struggled, trying to pull away, but his hold was unbreakable. “No! Let go! Mommy, help me!” I screamed, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard, forcefully shoving me into the metal cage. I fell onto the cold, hard floor of the cage, the pain bringing fresh tears to my eyes. The little boy leaned over the edge of the van, tilting his head as he curiously asked the man. “Daddy, is this little monster coming home with us too?” The man didn’t answer. He simply motioned for the men to put Brutus back into the cargo area. The van doors slammed shut, plunging me into absolute darkness. The foul stench grew even stronger. Brutus seemed displeased that I was occupying his space, circling the cage and barking at me incessantly. If not for the metal bars, I was certain he would have torn me to shreds. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I curled into a ball, my knees pressed against my chest, and muffled my sobs.

The cargo van swayed gently with the truck’s movement. I huddled in the corner of the cage, hugging my knees. The wound on my arm throbbed relentlessly, and my stomach growled a hollow protest. My tears had long since dried, leaving my eyes gritty and aching. After what felt like an eternity, the truck suddenly stopped. The truck driver, a flicker of pity in his eyes, held out a sandwich and a bottle of water. He seemed hesitant. “Kid, you must be starving, right? Here, take this…” Before he could finish, a chilling voice cut in from outside. “Who told you to interfere?” I squinted towards the light. Julian Thorne stood by the van, his face utterly devoid of emotion, his eyes like chips of ice. He snatched the sandwich and water from the driver’s hand. Without a glance at me, he tossed them directly to Brutus. I watched Brutus wolf down the food, the hunger in my own stomach clawing at me even harder. I licked my cracked lips. There was a water bowl for Brutus inside the cage, but the stench was sickening, threatening to make me gag. Yet, I forced myself to drink, choking it down, ignoring the awful taste. At least it offered a moment’s relief from the thirst. Julian’s gaze swept over me, raw disgust etched on his features. He said nothing more, simply tilting his head towards the driver, who quickly closed the van doors. The cargo area plunged back into darkness. After what seemed like another endless journey, the truck finally stopped. When the doors opened, I saw an enormous house, grander than any castle I’d ever seen in movies. Fountains sparkled, manicured gardens stretched out, and liveried staff stood in perfectly aligned rows by the entrance. Julian and Mom walked ahead, Mom cradling the little boy in her arms. I later learned his name was Lucas Thorne. Lucas beamed, his face alight with joy. Mom occasionally bent down to whisper to him, her expression soft and tender. I was yanked from the metal cage, my arm throbbing painfully from the grip. Julian didn’t even look at me. He simply addressed a staff member. “Take her away. Find somewhere to confine her. I don’t want her making an unsightly mess of the place.” I had no room. My assigned space was a damp, perpetually dim corner in the basement. Every morning before dawn, I had to rise and work – scrubbing floors, doing laundry, tidying the garden. If I missed a single spot, the staff would scold me, and sometimes Mom would even see. But she never helped. She would either walk away as if I were invisible, or she’d scowl and snap at me to vanish, as if my mere presence polluted her sight. Whatever toy Lucas wanted, Julian would immediately have someone buy it. Once, I walked past the living room and saw Mom sitting on the sofa, Lucas nestled in her arms, while Julian sat beside them, reading a story from a book. That was a happiness I could never even dream of in this lifetime, a happiness I would never possess. Back in the remote area where we used to live, storybooks were a luxury no one had. But a neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, used to tell her daughter bedtime stories every night. I always wished Mom would tell me a story, just once. My body began to move forward again, seemingly against my will. I wanted to get a little closer, to hear Mom’s voice just a little longer. Mom seemed to sense something. She suddenly looked up. The moment her gaze fell on me, her smiling face instantly changed, as if she’d just seen something utterly repulsive. All the tenderness was replaced by fierce revulsion. “How dare you come here? Who let you in?!” Her reaction startled me, and I froze, my fingers nervously twisting the hem of my worn shirt. Mom rushed over, reaching out and shoving me. I slammed against the wall, biting back a cry of pain. Lucas ran over too, kicking my shin hard. Tears instantly welled up. “Stay away from my mom!” Lucas yelled, kicking me several more times. Mom just stood there watching, making no move to stop him. Instead, she frowned and said. “Lucas, don’t touch her. You might get dirty. Mommy will take you to wash your hands later.” I crouched on the ground, clutching my throbbing shin, tears dripping onto the floor.

In the days that followed, I was treated like discarded trash, left in the darkest corner. The staff, seeing Julian’s and Mom’s attitude towards me, became even more cruel. They ordered me around at will, constantly yelling and hitting me. Lucas found new entertainment. “Little monster, come here! From today on, you’re my pony!” I didn’t dare to move. He came forward, grabbed a handful of my hair, and dragged me into the garden, forcing my head down. “On all fours! Hurry!” I gritted my teeth and crawled on the ground. The coarse gravel bit into my knees, a searing pain. Lucas climbed onto my back, clutching my hair and yelling, “Giddy up!” I could only endure the pain and crawl forward. If I slowed down even a little, the small riding crop in his hand would lash fiercely across my back. Sometimes, when he wasn’t satisfied, he would make the staff bring Brutus over. “Brutus, chase her! Make her run faster!” Brutus’s barks echoed behind me, and my heart hammered against my ribs, threatening to burst. I crawled with all my might, my knees scraped raw and bleeding, but I dared not slow down. What pained me most was Mom. She sat under a sun umbrella in the garden, sipping her afternoon tea, her eyes fixed on me as Lucas rode me around. A faint, chilling smile even played on her lips. “Lucas, be careful not to fall.” Her gaze never once lingered on me, not even when the riding crop tore the fabric on my back. In her eyes, I seemed to be nothing more than a beast of burden, a toy to be ridden and abused. Here, I went hungry every single day. Lucas didn’t like carrots. Every meal, he would dump the carrots from his plate into the flower beds. So, when no one was around, I would sneak into the flower beds and pick up the dirt-covered carrots. The gritty, earthy taste coated my tongue, but at least it filled my stomach a little. Today, I was so incredibly hungry that I chewed a couple of bites before realizing something was wrong. It wasn’t a carrot. “What are you doing?!” Mom rushed over, her eyes falling on the trampled flowers in the flower bed. “My flowers! How dare you eat my flowers?!” Lucas heard her voice and ran over. When he saw the carrots on the ground and the ruined flowers, his eyes flickered with panic. He was afraid Mom would discover he had been picky and wasteful, throwing his food here. “Mommy, she tried to steal my carrots and deliberately ruined your flowers!” Mom’s already furious emotions escalated, spiraling into a furious rage. She lunged forward, grabbing my arm and shaking me violently. “You ungrateful wretch! It’s a miracle I haven’t let you starve to death, and now you dare to steal Lucas’s food and destroy my flowers! I shouldn’t have let you live!” “Enough, darling. Don’t get yourself worked up.” Julian Thorne had appeared nearby at some point. He walked over, put an arm around Mom’s shoulder, and gently patted her back to calm her. His eyes, however, fixed on me with a fierce glare. Once Mom’s emotions had somewhat settled, he slowly walked to me, knelt down, and his fingers clamped around my jaw, forcing my head up to look at him. “I’m warning you, don’t ever make her angry again, and don’t ever bother Lucas. In this house, not even a single flower is yours to touch.” “Dare to transgress again, and I’ll show you something far worse than being chased by Brutus.” I looked into the cold malice in his eyes. Terror seized me, my body trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I was too terrified to even whimper. The pain in my jaw intensified until he finally released me. I collapsed onto the ground, weak and limp, watching as Mom was led away by Julian. Lucas even turned back and stuck his tongue out at me. Mom knew perfectly well that Lucas was much stronger than me, and I was always the one being bullied. Yet, she would rather believe Lucas’s lies than spare me even a glance.

Soon, Lucas’s birthday arrived. I was ordered to wear a ridiculous bear mascot costume and stand in a corner, playing a cheerful character for the guests’ amusement. I couldn’t endure it any longer. I secretly took off the costume head to catch my breath. But the moment my face was revealed, I met Lucas’s eyes. He was walking by with a small slice of cake. Seeing me, he immediately shrieked. “Daddy! Mommy! The little monster is trying to steal my birthday cake!” Mom rushed through the crowd, grabbed my arm, and dragged me to the center of the banquet hall. Hundreds of eyes bore into me, filled with open disdain, morbid curiosity, and thinly veiled glee. “My allowing you to live here is a monumental act of charity! And now you dare to steal at Lucas’s birthday party?!” Mom’s voice trembled with rage. She raised her hand, ready to strike me. “I didn’t…” I weakly protested, my head spinning, barely able to stand. “Still talking back?!” Julian walked over. He gazed down at me with an air of cold, calculated superiority. Instead of hitting me, he reached out and took a slice of birthday cake from a passing waiter’s tray. It was the cake I’d only dared to look at from afar, not even allowing myself to fully inhale its sweet scent. Then, his hand slammed down, grinding the slice of cake into my face with deliberate, brutal cruelty. A ripple of low chuckles spread through the guests. Some even pulled out their phones to take pictures. Lucas clapped his hands, cheering. “Daddy’s so cool! That’s how you punish her!” “Get out! Get out of here right now! Don’t you dare contaminate everyone’s sight any longer!” Mom pointed to the door, her voice shrill. I dared not stay, afraid they would hit me again. I scrambled away, half-crawling, half-stumbling towards the grand staircase. But Lucas wasn’t satisfied. He chased after me, kicking my back and legs as he ran. “Little monster, don’t run! You still haven’t apologized to me!” I was only focused on running forward and didn’t notice the steps beneath my feet. He kicked my knee, and my body swerved. I plummeted down the stairs, Lucas losing his balance and falling after me. My vision went black. Before I lost consciousness, I heard Mom’s gut-wrenching shriek. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. Then, I completely lost awareness. When I next opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed, my entire body aching. Mom sat by the bed, clutching Lucas’s hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying. The doctor stood nearby, his face grave. “Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne, young Master Thorne’s condition isn’t good. He needs an emergency blood transfusion, but his blood type is incredibly rare, and our hospital’s blood bank doesn’t have a match. Neither of your blood types match either…” Julian stood nearby, his face terrifyingly grim. A nurse approached my bed, carrying my medical chart, and spoke softly to the doctor. “Doctor, when we drew blood from this little girl earlier, we found her blood type is the same as Young Master Thorne’s.” Julian spun around, his gaze snapping to me, as if he couldn’t believe it. He strode quickly to my bedside, staring at my face, then at the chart in the nurse’s hand. His voice trembled slightly. “What did you say? Her blood type is the same as Lucas’s?” The nurse nodded. Julian immediately turned to the doctor. “Quick! Have the doctors run more detailed tests! Confirm if it’s a perfect match!” The doctors immediately got busy. Julian stood rooted to the spot, muttering to himself. “Impossible… Lucas’s blood type is so rare, even mine doesn’t match. How could hers…?” Then, he followed the doctor to the lab. Only Mom and I were left in the room. Mom didn’t even glance at me, merely holding Lucas’s hand tightly. About half an hour later, Julian walked back in, looking utterly shell-shocked, his steps unsteady. Mom saw him and immediately stood up, asking anxiously. “Well? Is it not a match? I knew this monster would be useless! If anything happens to Lucas, I swear I won’t let her off the hook!” Julian suddenly cut her off, his voice hoarse. “Stop, Eleanor.” He looked at Mom, then at me, pausing for a few seconds before speaking with great difficulty. “She’s not a monster… She’s our biological daughter.”

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I had a car accident and ended up in the hospital. Suddenly, I had this idea to play a prank on my girlfriend. “Who are you?” Seeing Clara’s face freeze, I almost burst out laughing. But then Clara pointed to her best friend, Brooke, and said, “I’m your girlfriend’s best friend. She’s your girlfriend, Brooke.” My expression stiffened into a mask. Brooke, however, stepped forward. “Yes, I’m your girlfriend.” I forced a smile. “Then take me home.” Brooke took me home. She said I’d been living there the whole time. I looked around the place, which had no trace of my actual life, and played along, nodding as if I were as oblivious as she was. I slept for a while in her bed. When I went out to get a glass of water, I heard voices from the living room. “Brooke, do me a favor and pretend to be Asher’s girlfriend for a bit.” “Aren’t you afraid he’ll suddenly get his memory back?” “If he gets his memory back and gets mad, I’ll just sweet-talk him. He loves me so much, he’d never really leave me. Honestly, I’ve been so over him lately. This is a perfect excuse to finally catch a break and mess around a bit.” “So, you and Lucas finally hooked up, huh? You just want to use this as an excuse to have some fun with him.” “You know me too well. But I definitely love Asher more. Keep him close these days, but don’t get any ideas with him. Though, out of all my friends, you’re the only one I’d trust with this, especially since you always seemed to hate Asher anyway.” My bare feet instinctively retreated, but then I deliberately made some noise by the door and walked back towards the living room. Brooke heard the sound, quickly hung up her FaceTime, and stood up. “The floor’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Brooke quickly came over, took my hand, and led me to the couch. “I’m thirsty,” I said, looking around, a bit lost on where to find water. “I’ll get it for you.” Brooke walked to the water cooler and brought me a glass. She sat beside me, looking at me. “Still uncomfortable anywhere?” I drank the water and shook my head. She reached up, smoothed back my messy hair, and leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes flickered. I’d just heard Clara tell her not to touch me. I’d also always thought Brooke hated me. But now… When her lips met mine, I pulled away. She calmly stroked my face. “You don’t remember, but we can take our time. You’ll get used to me again.” Brooke, it seemed, was also deceiving her best friend.

When Brooke brought me to the VIP room, it was already buzzing. A crowd of socialites and trust fund kids were there. But the moment I walked in, they all fell silent, their eyes drifting to Clara with a knowing look. “Oh, Asher’s here! Do you remember me? I’m Lucas, your college roommate!” Lucas, sitting next to Clara, greeted me. Brooke led me to a seat. I looked at him and shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t.” “No worries, we can all just reintroduce ourselves.” Lucas said, casually slinging an arm over Clara’s shoulder, making her lean intimately against him. This former college roommate, now friend, seemed to revel in my supposed amnesia, staking his claim on Clara with a barely concealed smirk. Clara, too, seemed to relish the thrill of being so intimate with another man right under my nose. “Yeah, totally! Both of your best friends’ girlfriends are in this circle, how great is that?” “We can all hang out together often. Amnesia or not, it won’t make any difference.” The other friends all understood the situation, but tacitly kept quiet, seemingly sharing a perverse amusement, enjoying the spectacle of someone being publicly betrayed and played for a fool. They all went back to playing games. Clara and Lucas were sharing a single pretzel stick, their mouths getting closer and closer. “Kiss! Kiss!” Cheers erupted from the group. In that atmosphere, Clara and Lucas plunged into a deep kiss. Afterward, Clara leaned shyly into his embrace, and Lucas, looking utterly satisfied, hugged her tightly, even casting a subtle, triumphant glance my way. Later, I lost a game and had to take a penalty: kiss someone for thirty seconds. Everyone fell silent, looking at me. They were curious who I’d pick. Would I instinctively pick Clara? Clara seemed a bit tense, avoiding my gaze. She probably didn’t want me to have an instinctive reaction so soon. Brooke, next to me, also seemed rigid. I smiled. “Of course, I’ll pick my girlfriend.”

I said, turning to Brooke. “Shall we?” I distinctly felt Brooke’s tension ease. She looked at me steadily, then leaned in. I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed her. “Whoa!” Another round of gasps and “whoa”s. These people might have seen Clara embrace and kiss other men, but they surely never expected me to do the same with another woman. So their “whoa”s were particularly fresh, but then they suddenly fell silent. Brooke seemed to kiss me without reservation, chasing my lips. Her tongue swept through my mouth, intertwining with mine, and the hand clutching the back of my neck tightened, as if she wanted to devour me whole. After thirty seconds, I pulled away, only to see Clara’s face had turned absolutely thunderous. That’s why everyone else had clammed up. How ridiculous. Brooke gently wiped a damp spot from the corner of my mouth. “What’s wrong with everyone? Didn’t I just take my punishment?” I asked, feigning confusion about the odd atmosphere. “Even with amnesia, Asher isn’t shy with his girlfriend,” Lucas commented, clearly mocking me for making a fool of myself because of my memory loss. Clara’s expression grew even more unpleasant. I went to the restroom outside, but on my way back, I heard voices coming from the stairwell. “Brooke, I told you not to get handsy with him. That wasn’t cool earlier.” Clara’s voice was cold. “It was just a game. He’s got amnesia. Are you really suggesting he should have picked you, someone who’s clearly with another man? That’s not realistic, is it? You yourself chose me to be his girlfriend now.” Brooke’s voice was laced with a smile. Clara was silent for a moment. “Fine, just keep some boundaries. While I don’t believe you’d actually fall for Asher and sleep with him, try to avoid overly intimate contact, okay? Otherwise, it’ll be awkward for you, and I wouldn’t want that, right?” “Heh, you know me so well.”

Back at Brooke’s villa, as I was about to enter my room, she stopped me. Without a word, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “Mmm—” I tried to pull away, but she firmly wrapped her arms around my neck. She pressed me against her with surprising strength, cupping my jaw, and assertively, without question, pushed her tongue into my mouth. It was so intense I felt my breath catching. Slowly, she guided my hand, inviting it to trace downwards and part her legs. But for some reason, she stopped the movement between her legs. After a long moment, she pulled away, stroking my face and whispering, “We took a step forward today, didn’t we? We can get to know each other more and more.” I looked up at her, dazed. Her actions seemed to completely contradict what her best friend had said. I didn’t understand her. Clara and I had vastly different family backgrounds, and she had worked hard, step by step, to make me accept her. Later, I met some of her friends, a group of socialites and trust fund kids, especially Brooke. Brooke hated me, looked down on me—it was a known fact within their circle. She always treated my relationship with Clara with a hint of disdain. In the past, I’d always tried to avoid her. But after my ‘amnesia,’ when Clara forcibly paired Brooke and me as a couple, Brooke kept taking advantage of the situation. Was she doing it to get back at Clara for setting us up? … My design job was pretty flexible, so I often worked from home. Brooke knocked and came in. “Hard at work, huh? There are fireworks tonight, let’s go see them.” When we arrived at the lake where the fireworks were being set off, Clara and Lucas were already standing in the best spot, watching the grand display. Lucas, with Clara leaning against him, suddenly kissed her on the cheek, his eyes full of tenderness. Clara smiled back at him, gently smoothing his messy hair. Then she turned and saw us. Clara saw me, and for a fleeting moment, she stiffened and looked flustered. But then she pretended as if nothing had happened. Lucas also saw us. “You guys made it.” “Asher, can you do me a favor and take some pictures of Clara and me?” Lucas called out, walking over and handing me his phone. Clara’s face faltered for a second, then she glanced at me. “I’m so happy today! Clara set off these fireworks just for me. I want to remember this moment forever,” Lucas said, standing next to Clara and gazing at her with deep affection. Clara’s expression softened, and she hugged him. My hand, holding Lucas’s phone, paused. So, today was Clara’s grand fireworks display for Lucas.

I watched them embrace through the phone’s lens. Lucas had his arm gently around Clara, who was nestled against his chest, a happy, satisfied smile on her face. Behind them, the magnificent fireworks painted the sky, a scene of pure romance. I quietly took their pictures. Once, on my birthday, Clara had also set off a lake full of fireworks for me. Lucas had even offered to take pictures of us then. I was probably as happy and content as Lucas was now. Lucas had even said, looking a bit wistful, “I’m so envious of you two. I really hope I’ll find someone who treats me like that someday.” I’d even comforted him back then, telling him he would. Now, he had indeed found it. Brooke took the phone from my hand. “Alright, you’re not here to be their personal photographer.” Brooke tossed the phone back. Clara caught it and handed it to Lucas. … After the fireworks show, Lucas and I went to the restroom. Since it was too crowded, I decided not to bother. But on my way back, I overheard the conversation between the two of them, waiting for us by the side. “Looks like you and Lucas are having a great time, huh? You and Asher haven’t had this much fun in ages, have you?” Brooke said. “True. Lucas and I lately feel just like Asher and I used to. Lucas is even sweeter than Asher, and so thoughtful and attentive. He makes me feel so comfortable and happy,” Clara replied. “Then why don’t you just let it be? Lucas really is more your type. Asher, you always said he was so stubborn sometimes, that he annoyed you, didn’t you?” Brooke suggested. “Brooke, Asher and I have so many years of history, it’s not something you can just throw away.” “Lucas also said he’s not looking for anything serious, that he’d be perfectly happy just to enjoy our time together. He’s such a sweet fool,” Clara mused. “Hmph.”

Back at the villa, Brooke suddenly wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. Then she pulled back a bit, looking at me seriously. “Asher, do you know? You are the best Asher. You don’t need to compare yourself to anyone.” I stared at her, as if she were responding to Clara comparing me to Lucas. How… how did she know me so well? She knew my little habits that Clara had forgotten—what kind of candy I liked, what dishes I preferred, what movies I enjoyed… She took another step further than before. I didn’t object. She looked at me, momentarily stunned, then took my hand and led me into her room. We were tangled in that room, our breathing ragged, our bodies entwined. Before this, Clara had been the only woman I’d ever been with. When Clara first pursued me, I was full of distrust. But her earnestness and resolve, her attitude towards my grandmother, and the help she secretly offered, won me over. Later, because her parents disapproved, they cut off her financial support. I thought that was when she’d realize the gap between us. But she didn’t compromise. Instead, she worked and studied alongside me. Eventually, her parents relented out of concern. I truly settled down with her. When my only grandmother passed away, she hugged me, comforting me, telling me I still had her. She promised she would always be by my side. Such was a relationship that, even then, felt like it had completely changed. If that was the case, then I might as well learn to be with another woman.

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My six biological brothers bullied me to death. Again and again. For seven lifetimes. But this time, I’m back. Reborn for the seventh time, I’m just three years old. Dozens of sinister instruments menacingly hung above my tiny head. Three-year-old me had no power to fight back. I remembered my previous lives. How my brothers would repeatedly torture me to death just to please the girl they adored. In my first life, at twenty-six, they spread rumors that I was a prostitute, calling me shameless. They hired hundreds of homeless men to hurt me, ultimately leading to my death! In my second life, at twenty, they falsely accused me of bullying underprivileged students. Furious netizens then ambushed me with an acid attack that killed me. In my third life, at sixteen, they framed me, making it seem like I’d caught the eye of a dangerous gang. They had me skinned alive, layer by agonizing layer, before I was stabbed to death. … In this seventh life, I was reborn at three and a half. This time, I gave up resisting. I screamed my lungs out, wailing uncontrollably. “Mommy! My brothers are touching me! I’m… scared! Please, save me!” My six brothers froze, bewildered, their faces flushing crimson. I blinked with innocent eyes and giggled. This time, I’d make *them* feel what it was like to have their reputation slandered, to suffer in silence! …

“What are you spouting, you brat?! We haven’t even touched you, and you’re already crying! If you dare to scream again, I’ll rip your mouth apart right now!” “No wonder Serena said you’re inherently malicious, always lying at such a young age! We’re your own brothers! Why would we harass you?!” My six older brothers crowded around me, fuming. Liam, the eldest, pointed at my face, threatening to twist off my nose if I said another word. Noah, the second eldest, rolled his eyes in anger, lunging forward to clamp his hand over my mouth. I froze in fright, my big, watery eyes blinking rapidly. But my silence lasted only a second. The next moment, I screamed my lungs out again, crying even louder. “Mommy… Brother wants to hit me… I’m scared… Please, save me!” The two nannies initially thought I was just playing with my brothers. But with my persistent wailing, Mom, who was working in her home office, rushed out to hug me. “My precious Daisy, why are your clothes messed up? Weren’t you dressed perfectly a moment ago?” “I heard Daisy crying, saying you were touching her body! Why would you do such a thing to your own sister? Are all six of you sick in the head?!” Mom frowned, her sharp gaze sweeping over the boys. The younger brothers trembled uncontrollably with fear, stammering, utterly at a loss for words. Liam stepped forward, looking at me with a mix of helplessness and indulgent affection. “Mom, don’t be so dramatic. She’s so young, what does she understand? We were just playing with her. How could we possibly bully a child?” While Mom’s doubt lingered, her initial fury had largely cooled. She knew her sons well; she’d raised them herself. Girls chased them at school, so it made no sense for them to lay a hand on their young sister. As Mom was about to put me down and leave, I grabbed onto her like a lifeline. I raised my tiny hand and quickly tugged on Mom’s hair. I cried, tears streaming down my face, twisting my body, trying to pull down my own clothes. “Hurts… uncomfortable…” I desperately tried to explain that my back hurt, but my toddler words weren’t clear enough for Mom to fully understand. Yet, I was her only cherished daughter. Seeing my eyes well up with such heartbreak, she immediately reached out to unbutton my clothes and check. At this, my brothers, who had been calmly observing the drama, waiting for Mom to leave so they could give me a good thrashing, completely panicked. They all rushed forward, blocking Mom’s hands, babbling chaotic protests. “The air conditioning is too cold in here! What if Daisy catches a cold? Don’t take off her clothes!” “This kind of thing is for the nannies, Mom! You should go back to work!” “I’ll take care of Daisy! Mom, this is a matter between us siblings!” Their faces contorted, cycling through shades of pale and purple. Caleb and Finn, the youngest, were so scared their foreheads were covered in cold sweat. Of course, I knew why they were so frantic. Because right now, pressed against my back, was an extremely sharp craft knife. And the owner of that craft knife was Serena, their beloved darling, whose most used art tool it was. My six brothers, to win Serena’s affection, had even used that craft knife to slash my tender hands and feet. In my previous life, my body was covered in cuts from that craft knife. My brothers unanimously accused me of being too reckless, forbidding the nannies from taking me to the hospital, insisting I needed to learn a lesson. I screamed in pain, trying to wipe away the blood with paper. Crawling around, I stumbled into Serena’s room and accidentally ruined the artwork she was preparing for a competition. Serena cried, and my three-year-old body was beaten black and blue by all six of my brothers. After being covered in bruises, I was then falsely accused of being a jealous child, deliberately sabotaging the pretty older girl’s painting. But their torment of me for Serena’s sake didn’t stop there. Serena was cunning and ambitious. From the moment she gained self-awareness, she had planned to manipulate my six brothers to gain control of our Sterling family’s corporation. And I, as a girl, was the only unforeseen obstacle in her plan. She openly showed her disdain for me, and my brothers, eager to please her, competed to torment me. In my first life, Liam slandered me, claiming I was having an affair with the security guard and wanted to steal the family fortune. I was kicked out of the family, left to wander, and met a tragic end. In my second life, Noah falsely accused my toddler self of having a compulsive thieving habit at an auction, claiming I stole priceless heirloom jewels. He had the security guards beat me bloody, and I died from my injuries. In my third life, Lucas framed me as a prostitute, claiming I ruined the family’s reputation, leading to my elimination by the family elders. In my fourth life, Jackson claimed that six-year-old me abused animals, posting a fabricated video online that led to me being beaten to death by radical animal rights activists. In my fifth life, Caleb accused me of bullying in kindergarten, causing me to endure cold stares and ostracism from classmates. Eventually, overcome by despair, I jumped from a building to my death. In my sixth life, I finally escaped everything I’d suffered in previous lives, believing I’d found the man I loved and could live out a simple life in marriage. But it turned out my fiancé was Finn’s puppet, and he smothered me to death on our wedding night. I endured countless humiliations, trying every possible way, just to survive. In this life, I would no longer tolerate or concede. It was time for *them* to feel the agony of a slandered reputation and the inability to defend themselves!

The scene descended into a stalemate as they frantically blocked Mom from taking off my clothes. I kept crying in pain, shivering and curling up, hiding vulnerably in Mom’s arms. “Mommy… I’m scared of my brothers. Don’t let me be with them, they’ll hit me.” I sniffled pitifully, watching my brothers’ faces contort with furious frustration. They were dizzy with rage. Just as Mom was about to ignore their protests and pull off my clothes to discover the truth, a clear, calm voice drifted down from upstairs. “Aunt Eleanor, Daisy is just being fussy. Can I hold her for a bit? I have a sister seven years younger than me, and when she cries, a hug usually calms her down.” Serena gracefully and elegantly took me from Mom’s embrace. Meeting Serena’s hypocritical face again, my body instantly tensed, my mind went blank. I could only stare wide-eyed in terror. Serena let out a soft laugh, her lips curving. “See? Little Daisy isn’t crying anymore. Was she just playing a trick on Aunt Eleanor? How naughty!” Mom saw that I had finally stopped crying, shaking her head and sighing. Serena seized the opportunity. “Aunt Eleanor, your work is important. Why don’t you let me take care of Daisy today? I know exactly how to handle naughty children like her.” Mom greatly admired Serena and was about to nod without much thought. Watching Mom’s retreating back, all the events of my previous lives flooded my mind. My body instantly turned ice cold, and my brain rebooted. I knew that calling for Mom again would be useless, so I spoke in a deliberately slurred voice. “Don’t hit me, please, Big Sister… Please don’t hit me today.” My words landed like a thunderclap in the air, making Mom freeze, turning to stone. “I won’t cry, I won’t fuss. Daisy’s scared of pain… Don’t hit me… If I’m always good like this, Big Sister won’t hit me, okay?” Serena stood dumbfounded, staring at me with a bewildered shock. She had never physically hurt me herself, only subtly encouraged my brothers to abuse me. She never imagined her mask would be ripped off so publicly. “Daisy, sweetheart, are you mistaken? Who taught you to lie like this? Do you even know what you’re saying?” “Aunt Eleanor, let me explain! It must be the other sponsored students, jealous of my success, who deliberately put these words in Daisy’s mouth. There must be some misunderstanding!” Seeing Mom utterly bewildered, I decided to add fuel to the fire. I raised my hand and clumsily tugged off the small locket necklace from my neck, pushing it into Serena’s hand with all my might. “This… I don’t want it either. If Big Sister likes it, just don’t hit me.” “My doll, too. The pearl necklace, I don’t want that either. They’re all for you, Daisy just doesn’t want to get hit.” Serena waved her hands in a fluster, and Mom finally snapped back to reality. With a furious look, she stormed into my room. “Where are Daisy’s toys? And the full set of pearl jewelry I gave her for her second birthday? Why are so many of her accessories missing? What exactly is going on here?!” Mom glared at Serena, now understanding everything. Serena shook her head frantically, repeatedly insisting it wasn’t her. Of course, I knew Serena didn’t have the guts to steal from my room. All the expensive missing items had been secretly taken by my two youngest brothers to curry favor with Serena. But now that the items were found in Serena’s possession, no amount of explanation would help her. When the nanny came out of Serena’s room with a box full of my belongings, Mom nearly fainted from rage. “Get out! I will never again sponsor a student with such despicable character who bullies my daughter! Get her out of here, now!” Serena tried to struggle, but the security guards grabbed her and practically threw her out the door. I watched the chaotic scene unfold, a deeply satisfying grin spreading across my face. Finally, Serena was gone. Surely, my six brothers wouldn’t continue to oppose me now! That evening, I took a blissful bath, thinking I could finally enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. But suddenly, I heard faint rustling sounds from the living room. I propped myself up, thinking a thief had broken in. But what I saw instantly wiped away my good mood. Serena was back!

“Waaah, brothers, I truly never hurt little Daisy! I don’t know why she would accuse me! Daisy accusing me is one thing, but why accuse *you*? Waaah, you’re her own brothers! I think you shouldn’t keep going against Daisy for my sake. If this continues, I’m really afraid…” “Aunt Eleanor will make you all leave too!” Hearing those phony, manipulative words, all six brothers’ eyes blazed with fury! I was so terrified my mind went blank. Instinctively, I tried to bolt, just like before. But I was too small now. Just getting off the bed was enough to give me a huge bump on the head. Not only did my escape fail, but I also made noise, drawing all their attention. Liam roughly grabbed my arm, looking at me with cold disdain. “Hmph, such a manipulative brat at such a young age. She doesn’t deserve it! I think she needs to learn a lesson!” Serena dabbed at her tears, looking at me as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t. “Daisy is still so young, she couldn’t handle that, could she? I have an idea. In our old village, we have a tradition of sending young children to live with poor families, where they learn hard work and discipline from an early age… Daisy is your own sister, and I only suggest this for her and your own good!” “If you agree, I can contact someone from the village right away to pick Daisy up and help her adjust. What do you all think?” They exchanged glances, seemingly ready to act. My mouth was covered, preventing me from even calling for help. I could only watch helplessly as I was dragged away. Just as they were about to take me out the door, a tall, uniformed figure flashed past on the landing. “Young Masters! Where are you taking Miss Daisy?” I breathed a sudden sigh of relief, whimpering and reaching out for help. Thank goodness I had pressed the emergency call button by my bedside the moment I saw Serena reappear! They had arrived just in the nick of time. I shook my head smugly, thinking I was finally free of them. But then Noah spoke calmly. “There’s a gala tonight, and Daisy is required to attend. What? Do we need your permission for our own affairs?” Noah’s single sentence made the nanny’s face turn pale. She instantly lowered her head and retreated into the shadows. No matter how much I screamed, no one dared to help me this time. I was dragged out of the villa and roughly shoved into a dark car. Lucas, the most timid, asked hesitantly. “What if Mom finds out about this? The family will break our legs! She’s the only girl in our Sterling family. Are we really going to risk being disowned for this?” “If we’re discovered, our lives will be completely ruined!” Serena spoke up plaintively from the side. “If you’re scared, brothers, then maybe we should just forget it. I just worry that… Daisy will become even more unruly and bully you all later.” “She wouldn’t dare! It’s settled then. Daisy has been spoiled rotten since she was a baby; she’s completely out of control!” “Exactly! Why isn’t Serena *my* sister instead?” Serena smiled shyly, but her slender fingers secretly pinched me! *Bitch, once you’re gone, I’ll be the only princess in this family. All the affection should be mine!* *Blame yourself for being born! Why did you get all the pampering from birth while I’m just a nanny’s daughter? Everything should be mine!* But unexpectedly, I just blinked my dark eyes, then suddenly grinned and laughed out loud. “Daddy… Hee hee, Daddy, save me…” My innocent laughter echoed on the dimly lit road. In that instant, a tall figure appeared on the roadside, scaring everyone into a deathly pale silence. “Mommy’s not here, but Daddy’s back!” “And Daddy isn’t as easy to talk to as Mommy, you guys. You’re dead!”

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The holiday had just started when my good friend Emilia Murphy bought train tickets and invited me to visit Carmel. After boarding, I had just placed my luggage when Emilia asked to switch seats. She pointed to her belly and said, “Claire, I’m pregnant. If I sit inside, it’ll be inconvenient for me to use the restroom. Can we switch seats?” Claire Thompson is my name. Faced with Emilia’s request, I agreed without hesitation. But I didn’t expect that as soon as Emilia sat in my original seat, an accident happened. The suitcase I had just placed on the luggage rack suddenly fell and landed right on Emilia’s belly. Emilia was in severe pain, clutching her belly and screaming for help. Seeing the blood spreading on her belly, I panicked too. I quickly called the train police and rushed Emilia to the hospital. However, after arriving at the hospital, Emilia falsely accused me. In front of her husband Robert Evans and Robert’s mother, she loudly questioned why I wanted to harm her child. Emilia said, “People told me you were jealous that I married a rich man and warned me to be wary of you. At the time, I didn’t believe it. I never thought you could be so cruel.” My husband Thomas Rivera rushed over and even became a witness against me. He looked at me in shock and said, “Claire, so what you said before about wanting to make Emilia miscarry was true.” I had no chance to explain and was forcibly taken to the basement by Robert, where I was eventually tortured to death. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back one minute before the train started. Emilia blinked her innocent eyes. She shook my arm while saying, “Claire, let’s switch seats. If I sit inside, it’ll bother you when I move in and out.” Hearing those familiar words, I realized I had been reborn. Looking at the hateful face in front of me, I smiled, calmly distanced myself, and said, “It’s fine, I won’t mind you being a bother.” Not getting the answer she wanted, Emilia’s smile froze instantly. She sneaked a glance at her phone, then raised her voice and said, “Claire, switch seats with me.” “I’m pregnant, and I need to go to the bathroom from time to time. Sitting outside would be more convenient.” Saying that, she stood up directly. With just over ten seconds until departure, Emilia visibly grew anxious. I pointed to the overhead luggage rack and said, “Emilia, you should sit inside.” “What if the suitcase on the rack suddenly falls and hits you?” “You’re pregnant now, and you’re with me. If anything happens to you, how could I explain it to your husband?” As I spoke, I secretly observed her reaction. Sure enough, after hearing my words, Emilia’s face instantly turned gloomy. After she angrily sat down, the train started moving. The air conditioning breeze hit me, instantly calming me down. Memories of my past life flooded into my mind like a tide. In my previous life, the suitcase fell and hit Emilia’s stomach. After I took her to the hospital, the child in her womb couldn’t be saved. Worried about another accident, I stayed by the hospital room door. During that time, I wanted to check on Emilia, but she directly drove me out. What I didn’t expect was that as soon as Robert and his mother arrived at the hospital, Emilia accused me of my “crime” right in front of them. Emilia asked, “Claire, why did you switch seats with me?” Then, she pretended to suddenly understand and said, “I get it. You planned this all along.” “The suitcase was placed by you. You deliberately didn’t secure it.” Emilia’s eyes were red, and she looked at me as if she wanted to kill me. She asked again, “Claire, why did you do this?” I widened my eyes and said, “Emilia, what nonsense are you talking about? It was clearly you…” Before I could finish, Robert’s mom slapped me directly. Then she yelled, “You vile woman, you killed my grandson. I’ll make you pay!” I was about to explain when the hospital room door suddenly opened. Thomas hurriedly jogged in. I thought he was here to help me, but I didn’t expect him to directly confirm my “guilt.” Thomas said, “Claire, Emilia just told me about this on the phone.” He clutched his chest, looking heartbroken. “I originally thought what you said at home was just out of anger, but I never expected you to actually dare to do this.” His two sentences pushed me straight into the abyss. Robert directly called the bodyguards, dragged me away, and locked me in a dim basement. Until my death, I never understood why Emilia, as a good friend, would frame me, and why Thomas would help her do it. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. The pain quickly calmed me down. At this moment, I suddenly noticed my surroundings. This time, we took a second-class carriage to Carmel. This was totally not Emilia’s style. Since marrying a rich man, her spending level has skyrocketed several notches. She has luxury cars picking her up, and she can buy whatever she likes on a whim. Usually, when traveling, she mostly takes flights. Even if she didn’t fly, she would take the business class on trains. But today, she actually chose a second-class carriage. A terrifying thought suddenly crossed my mind. It seems the one who had planned all along to frame others is Emilia. While I was deep in thought, a call suddenly came in.

Seeing the name “Thomas” flashing on the phone screen, my right eyelid started twitching. Seeing me hesitate to answer the call, Emilia anxiously nudged my arm. She said, “Claire, what are you doing? It’s your husband’s call. Answer it quickly.” After saying that, she didn’t wait for me to refuse and directly answered the call for me. The next second, Thomas’s voice came through. “Claire, have you gotten in the car?” I could only say, “Yes, I got in the car.” Thomas asked again, “Claire, is your seat on the outside?” This sentence instantly made me alert. I asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly asking this?” Thomas smiled and said, “Why don’t you pay more attention when you’re out? Emilia is pregnant, sitting inside would be very inconvenient.” Hearing his words, Emilia kept nodding. “See, Claire. You should have let me sit outside.” I ignored what they said and hung up the phone directly. I said to Emilia, “Emilia, if you want to change seats, ask someone else. I don’t want to switch.” Rejected again, Emilia’s face turned very unpleasant. She held her phone and started typing. I don’t care who she’s messaging. I just want to know why Thomas is helping Emilia. Could it be that they have a secret they can’t let others know? I shook my head and quickly ruled out that possibility. Emilia and I have been friends since middle school, and I met Thomas through a blind date. Before this, they didn’t know each other at all. What’s more, Emilia was already married before I met Thomas. And ever since Emilia got married, I’ve rarely seen her. She said she spends all day at home learning from an etiquette teacher. Even when she goes out, she has bodyguards with her. Even if they wanted something to happen, it’s impossible. To make sure nothing goes wrong, I got up and pushed the suitcase further into the luggage rack. I completely ignored Emilia’s resentful gaze the whole time. During that time, we didn’t say a word. Two minutes before the next stop, Emilia stood up. She impatiently nudged my leg. “Move. I need to get out.” I immediately became alert. “Where are you going?” Emilia sniffed. “I need to use the restroom. Move quickly, I can’t hold it anymore.” Hearing her words, I immediately stood up and moved to the aisle, making room for Emilia. Emilia shot me a fierce glare, then went to the restroom. Looking at the overhead luggage, I still felt a bit worried. The station announcement for arrival sounded again. As passengers got off, Emilia calmly walked up to me. She said, “I want to go in.” I stood in the crowded aisle, my eyes never leaving Emilia. She slowly walked toward the seat. Suddenly, the luggage rack shook. Immediately, the suitcase I had placed earlier fell straight down. I froze, because this scene was exactly the same as in my previous life. The suitcase landed right on Emilia. She instinctively sat down on the seat. The suitcase jolted and then landed directly on her stomach. In an instant, Emilia let out a cry of pain. “My stomach! It hurts so much!” The passengers who were about to get off quickly moved aside, making way for the male police officer Michael Gray and the female attendant Alice Morgan. I stood there in a daze, the smell of blood rushing into my nose. My body reacted faster than my mind. I rushed over and asked, “Emilia, are you okay?” Emilia didn’t answer me and kept crying out in pain on the seat. Soon, she was lifted onto a stretcher and sent to a nearby hospital. As her companion, I went along with her.

The doctor, as required, informed Emilia’s family, while I waited anxiously outside the operating room. All of this was too similar to what happened in my previous life. The only difference is that this time I found a witness. Earlier, when Emilia went to the restroom, I called Alice over, and together we pushed the suitcase further into the luggage rack. We only stopped when there was no gap left behind the suitcase. I know the train runs smoothly, and I placed the suitcase securely. How could it fall for no reason? I couldn’t figure it out, so I turned to Alice, who had just helped me with the suitcase, for help. Alice also found this very strange and even had the relevant staff pull up the surveillance footage. She asked in confusion, “How could the suitcase suddenly fall?” In the surveillance footage, when Emilia stood in front of my seat, preparing to move in, the suitcase suddenly fell without warning. The scene was so bizarre that everyone present was too shocked to speak. I took the chance to grab Alice’s hand, hoping she could help prove my innocence. Alice, though a bit confused, still agreed. The surgery ended quickly. The doctor helplessly announced the news of Emilia’s miscarriage. The doctor said to her, “Your abdomen suffered severe impact, which made the surgery more difficult. “After being discharged, you still need to rest well. It’s best to avoid intense marital activities for half a year.” After explaining the precautions, the doctor left the ward with the nurse. I carefully pushed open the ward door and was immediately hit by a strong smell of medicine. At this moment, Emilia’s face was pale, and she gazed at the ceiling with reluctance. Just like in the previous life, she refused to talk to me. Over half an hour later, Emilia’s family arrived. Perhaps because the journey was too far, only Robert came this time. Robert anxiously pushed me aside and ran toward Emilia lying on the hospital bed. The moment they embraced, Emilia’s cries filled the entire ward. Emilia cried, “Robert, our baby is gone. What do we do? What do we do?” Robert gently patted her back and comforted, “It’s okay. It was just an accident. We’ll have more children in the future.” Emilia shook her head. Then, she broke free from Robert’s embrace and glared at me fiercely. She pointed at me and said, “No! This wasn’t an accident. Claire killed our baby.” Robert scanned me up and down with a sharp gaze, and I got goosebumps all over. I tried to calm down and explained, “Emilia, it was just an accident. I secured the suitcase firmly. As for why it suddenly fell, the train police are already investigating.” A trace of panic flashed in Emilia’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She shook her head frantically and said, “No! It’s not like that.” “You killed my baby. You placed the suitcase. Of course, you won’t admit it now.” Alice, unable to bear it, stepped in to explain, “Ms. Murphy, I understand how painful it is to lose your child, but this really has nothing to do with Ms. Thompson. We placed the suitcase together.” Emilia suddenly became aggressive, interrupting Alice and saying, “Who do you think you are? What does this have to do with you?” She gasped heavily, then turned to me and said, “Claire, I never thought you were so scheming. You even brought in a so-called helper? Do you think this will clear your suspicion?” As soon as Emilia finished speaking, the hospital room door was pushed open. Thomas walked in, followed by Michael.

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After getting pregnant, I, Valentina Jones, could hear the thoughts of the baby inside me. Just as I was happily preparing to share the good news of my pregnancy with my parents, Waylon Jones and Audrey Jones, the baby inside me suddenly cried out for help. She said, “Mom, don’t call. Grandpa and Grandma value boys over girls. If they find out I’m a girl, they’ll definitely give you abortion pills. I really want to live.” I turned off my phone in confusion, afraid that news of my pregnancy might get out. But that night, my house caught fire. I missed 99 distress calls from Waylon and Audrey. In the end, they could only helplessly perish in the flames. I was deeply heartbroken, and my husband, Theodore Carter, stayed by my side through those darkest days. Just as I was preparing to pull myself together, my daughter’s voice from inside me came through again. She said, “Mom, you’re so pitiful. Dad is secretly meeting his lover at the company. He’s only being nice to you out of guilt.” I instantly panicked, not knowing what to do. Without much thought, I rushed into Theodore’s company, hoping to catch him cheating. But I ended up ruining a company contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Theodore was deeply disappointed in me and then brought out divorce papers, forcing me to sign them. I desperately tried to keep him, and then I heard my daughter’s voice again. She said, “Dad hates women who keep pestering him. Mom, if you let go in time, Dad will come back begging for you after a while. Mom, don’t be foolish. Leaving without taking any property during the divorce is the best choice.” In the end, I listened to my daughter and chose to leave the marriage without taking any property. But when I became very poor and had to sleep on the streets, Theodore quickly married a girl who looked 70% like me. Moreover, at his wedding, every word he said blamed me for leaving so heartlessly back then. I cried as I went to find Theodore, but I was shattered by a red-light-running truck. As I was dying, I vaguely heard my daughter’s laughter. But even until my death, I couldn’t understand why my daughter wanted to harm me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I found out I was pregnant. ***** The doctor happily patted my shoulder and said, “Ms. Jones, congratulations! Your 38th IVF attempt has finally succeeded. Quickly call your family to share the good news.” But I stood there frozen like a stone. I was reborn, back to the day I just found out I was pregnant. I reached out with trembling hands, covering my lower abdomen with my palm, cold sweat covering my forehead. Sure enough, just as I expected, the next second, I clearly heard the voice of the child in my belly. She said, “Mom, please don’t call Grandpa and Grandma. They value boys over girls. If they find out I’m a girl, they’ll definitely give you abortion pills. I really want to live.” I held my phone tightly, not rushing to make a decision. In my previous life, it was on the day I found out I was pregnant that I heard the voice of the child in my belly. At that time, I just felt it was God’s care for me and wholeheartedly believed every word my daughter said. I obediently turned off my phone, fearing that news of my pregnancy might leak and pose a threat to my daughter. But I never expected that night, Waylon and Audrey’s house would accidentally catch fire. As the two elders were near death, they placed their only hope for rescue on me. However, I missed the 99 calls for help they made. In the end, they could only painfully perish in the fire. Since then, I couldn’t pull myself together and cried all day. It was Theodore who put aside his work and stayed with me day and night, helping me gradually recover. Just as I was ready to start over, I heard my daughter’s inner voice again. She hinted to me that all of Theodore’s kindness was just out of guilt for his affair, and that Theodore’s lover was secretly meeting him at the company at that moment. I believed her words and almost went crazy, rushing into the company and having a huge fight with Theodore. However, I didn’t catch the third party I expected; instead, I accidentally ruined a billion-dollar contract of Theodore’s. The company almost went bankrupt, and Theodore was utterly disappointed in me, forcing me to sign the divorce papers. Just when I wanted to keep Theodore, my daughter spoke to me in her inner voice again, “Dad hates clingy women the most. Mom, as long as you’re willing to leave without taking any assets during the divorce and walk away gracefully, you’ll eventually wait for the day Dad regrets it and begs you to come back.” I listened to her and chose to divorce without taking any assets, then left alone. But when I was sleeping on the streets, living in misery, the mall’s big screen was playing Theodore’s wedding video with another woman. Theodore faced the camera and regretfully said that it was because I left so heartlessly that he ended the previous marriage. I cried as I tried to find Theodore to explain the truth, but I was shattered by a red-light-running truck. As I was nearing death, I vaguely heard my daughter’s eerie laughter from inside my belly. But even now, I still don’t understand why my daughter inside my belly wanted to kill her own mother. Now, I have been reborn. I must stop all of this from happening. I clenched my fists, trying to calm my emotions, but my voice still trembled badly. I said, “I want to abort this child.”

Hearing my words, the doctors who were just congratulating me all froze in place. They knew how much I had suffered to get pregnant and never thought I would say something like this. A doctor patted my shoulder heavily and said, “Ms. Jones, this pregnancy might be your only chance in life to have a child. You have a body that’s very difficult to conceive. You must think it through carefully.” His words shattered my firm decision to have an abortion. In six whole years, I underwent 38 IVF treatments and endured hardships most people couldn’t bear, just to finally conceive the child I always wanted. Should I really give up now? That moment of weakness left me without the courage to say “I want an abortion” again. I comforted myself, thinking the “voice” I heard was just a hallucination caused by too much stress, or that as long as I ignored the child’s thoughts, those terrible things wouldn’t happen later. Because I couldn’t make up my mind to have an abortion, I felt uneasy all along. Thinking about what was supposed to happen tonight in my previous life, I immediately called Waylon and Audrey to confirm their safety. After learning I was carrying a girl, they showed no sign of dislike. Instead, they were very happy and repeatedly reminded me to take care of myself. However, their passing in the previous life left a deep shadow on me, so I still couldn’t feel at ease. After leaving the hospital, I immediately drove to Waylon and Audrey’s house. As long as I don’t follow my daughter’s thoughts, I definitely won’t repeat the tragedy of my past life. After seeing Waylon and Audrey, I immediately checked for any gas leaks in the house, turned off all potential fire sources, and even took away all the lighters and fireworks. Only then did I feel relieved. The daughter in my belly kept urging me through her inner voice to leave quickly, worried that if I stayed overnight at Waylon and Audrey’s house, they might secretly give me abortion pills. However, I pretended not to hear and insisted on staying at Waylon and Audrey’s house for one night before leaving. Just when I had a peaceful night’s sleep, thinking things would turn out differently, the same fire as in my past life still happened. Waylon and Audrey set up a charcoal grill in the yard early in the morning, saying they had to make my favorite charcoal-grilled ribs. However, the grill was accidentally knocked over. Many burning coals scattered on the ground, instantly igniting an unstoppable fire. I desperately tried to save Waylon and Audrey, who had difficulty moving. But in the end, because I was too weak, I could only watch them perish in the fire. I couldn’t understand why, despite my efforts to avoid everything from the previous life, Waylon and Audrey still ended up painfully dying in front of me because of my stubbornness. I thought, “If I hadn’t stayed here for the night, would Mom and Dad still be alive?” I was in deep pain, blaming myself for everything. I started becoming depressed, anxious, and easily irritable like in my previous life. Theodore still took care of me attentively, just like before. I knew I couldn’t stay down like in my previous life, so I quickly adjusted my mood this time. I no longer held Theodore back at work; instead, I offered to join his company and help ease his burden. But the voice of my daughter in my belly still didn’t stop. She said, “Mom, you’re so pitiful, doing housework and working at the same time. But Dad can shamelessly have an affair at the office. Mom, if you just go upstairs to the conference room, you can catch them in the act.” My daughter in my belly pretended to feel sorry for me while repeatedly urging me to go upstairs. But I felt no emotion at all and just let out a cold laugh. I would never be foolish again and ruin my marriage. I didn’t take a single word she said to heart. I sat coldly in the office, with no intention of getting up to catch anyone, and continued focusing on my work. A few hours later, people gradually came out of the conference room. Theodore happily signaled to me that the contract had been finalized. Looking at Theodore, who was full of love for me, my tense heart gradually relaxed. In this life, I didn’t lose my temper or cause trouble. I finally preserved my happy marriage. Over the next month, my daughter in my belly kept urging me to catch someone cheating. I ignored it all. Just as I was relieved that I had changed my life, Theodore and I argued again. To avoid the “cheating time” my daughter mentioned, I always deliberately delayed going upstairs, not wanting to run into Theodore. However, I delayed submitting an urgent contract, causing Theodore’s nearly finalized deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars to be canceled. Once again, I caused a huge loss to the company and became the culprit in the entire company. The employees called me an idiot, saying I forced them to quit and look for new jobs. Theodore also blamed me, “You don’t take your work seriously, that’s why such a big mistake happened.” “Every time I ask you to work in the meeting room, you keep making excuses. You haven’t shown any sincerity to me or this company. Now with this outcome, are you satisfied? I’ve had enough of you. Let’s get a divorce.” I completely broke down, and my inner defenses were utterly shattered. I was desperately trying to avoid what happened in my past life, but in the end, I still caused the company to lose a lot of money for other reasons, making Theodore disappointed in me and asking for a divorce. It feels like all my efforts are a joke, and everything happens one after another, like a pre-written script beyond my control. When I received the divorce agreement Theodore handed me, my heart ached so much that I trembled all over. This is the last chance to decide my fate. This time, I must hold on tightly.

I said to Theodore, “I don’t agree to the divorce. Theodore, no matter what difficulties the company faces, I can go through them with you. Divorce won’t solve everything.” “We have feelings for each other, and there’s a baby about to be born. Can you give me one more chance to make things right?” The daughter in my belly was still shouting, “Mom, don’t say that. Dad despises women who lower themselves like this. Just choose to leave without taking any property and go. Dad will definitely regret it and beg you to come back crying.” I clenched my teeth and firmly ignored her inner voice. Sure enough, after I asked him to stay, Theodore didn’t leave heartlessly like in the previous life. I know Theodore didn’t cheat at all. He wants a divorce just because he’s sulking with me. I started working harder, putting all my energy into the company and Theodore. I know I caused huge losses to the company, so I tried everything to make up for it. I kept promoting the company, actively putting Theodore on TV, and worked hard to boost the company’s visibility. Sure enough, with my efforts, the company’s revenue skyrocketed. But no matter how hard I tried to stop bad things from happening, fate still unfolded as destined. Theodore attended a talk show. The production team deliberately used misleading editing to make Theodore’s relationship with another female guest seem ambiguous. This led to fierce online criticism of Theodore, and the company’s shares plummeted. In the end, only a fake divorce between Theodore and me could save this crisis. I had no choice and, just like last time, signed the divorce agreement. To silence the media, I moved out overnight and stopped contacting Theodore. But on the day we agreed to remarry, Theodore never showed up to see me. I was very nervous. At that moment, I heard my daughter’s inner voice again. She said, “Dad is now getting ready to marry another woman. Mom, if you have any self-respect left, you should take me far away. I don’t want a dad like that. If you humbly go back to beg him, I won’t acknowledge you as my mom anymore.” Hearing the news that Theodore was preparing to remarry, my mind went blank. Reason told me I should quickly pull myself out of this relationship, but instinctively, I wanted to do the opposite of what my daughter said. Without hesitation, I hailed a cab and went straight to Theodore’s wedding venue. Just two months ago, I still had a happy family and marriage. But ever since I got pregnant, Waylon and Audrey died, and the man who once promised to love me forever is now marrying another woman. I know I might not escape the same fate of death as in my past life. But still, I want to make one last struggle. At the wedding venue, Theodore looked at me with disgust. He said, “I hate women who cling. You have no dignity, it’s disgusting. I already have the woman I love. How long are you going to keep pestering me?” Every word from Theodore was like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart. I opened my mouth but could only shake my head helplessly. I wanted to ask him why my life felt like a pre-written script, why all my efforts seemed useless like a joke. I don’t want to die, nor do I want to follow the path fate has already arranged. Just as the moment of my death in the previous life was approaching, the woman who married Theodore suddenly turned her head and gave me a deep look. In an instant, I was shocked to the point of feeling numb. I finally understood why I could hear my daughter’s inner voice. I finally found a way to change my fate and keep living.

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Because I, Adeline Edwards, have premature ovarian failure, it took me two years of trying with my husband Weston White before I got pregnant with our daughter Nova White. After Nova was born, I cherished her like a treasure. She was not only adorable but also very well-behaved and smart. Other kids loved to cry and fuss when they were little, but Nova didn’t need anyone to coax her to sleep. She would cuddle her little blanket, lie on the pillow, and fall asleep on her own. We never had to worry about her eating either. From kindergarten to first grade, Nova always ranked first in every exam. She also placed top in various competitions in her extracurricular classes. Our relatives and friends all said I was incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful child like Nova in this lifetime. On my birthday, I wanted to eat cake. Nova and Weston went out to buy one for me, but they got into a car accident on the way. Weston only suffered minor injuries, but Nova passed away on the spot. Everyone thought I must hate the person responsible and also hate myself. After all, I loved Nova so much, and she died because I wanted to eat cake. But I didn’t feel guilty at all and even called the florist with a smile. I said, “I want to order a bouquet of flowers, and on the card, write ‘Thank you for your kind act, and may you always be happy.’ This is for Joseph Nelson.” Everyone was stunned because Joseph was the name of the person responsible for the accident. ***** Nova was the kind of good kid that no one could find fault with. Other kids were fussy when they were little, but Nova didn’t need anyone to lull her to sleep. She’d hug her little blanket, lie on the pillow, and fall asleep. At mealtime, while other kids needed their parents to feed them, Nova would sit nicely in her chair, eating bite after bite with great enjoyment. By the time she turned three, Nova’s adorable little face was always smiling, and she would sweetly greet the neighbors. When she started school, her excellence became impossible to hide. Nova ranked first in every exam, and her handwriting in the notebooks was always neat and tidy. She joined a dance class and won the city competition’s gold medal after just six months. Even her casual drawings were displayed by the teacher on the most prominent wall in the classroom as examples. My relatives and friends always said enviously, “The greatest blessing in your life is having such a wonderful child like Nova.” I always nodded with a smile, feeling incredibly proud inside. Nova is truly the best gift heaven has given me. However, this happiness was completely shattered on my birthday. That morning, Nova and Weston went out to buy me a cake but got into a car accident on the way. Weston only suffered minor injuries, but Nova, due to severe injuries, closed her eyes forever before I could reach the hospital. Nova’s departure made everyone worry about me. My best friend Ruby Diaz stayed with me, afraid I might do something foolish. Weston, with red eyes, swore to make the culprit pay. Even the neighbors in the community who weren’t close to me thought I must hate the culprit. After all, everyone knew how much I loved Nova. But I smiled and called the flower shop. I said, “I want to order a bouquet, and on the card, write ‘Thank you for your kind act, and may you always be happy.’ This is for Joseph Nelson.” Everyone was stunned because Joseph was the name of the culprit.

Before I could hang up, Weston, sitting next to me, suddenly grabbed my phone. His eyes were red, and his voice was filled with disbelief. “Are you crazy? Joseph is the one who killed Nova. You want to send him flowers?” Ruby, with reddened eyes, grabbed my arm. She said, “Adeline, are you so heartbroken that you’ve lost your mind? Tell me the truth. Are you hiding something? Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be here for you.” I pulled back my arm from Ruby’s grip, my tone as calm as if I were talking about someone else. I said, “I have no hidden reasons. I just want to send them.” “You just want to send them?” Weston’s voice suddenly rose, filled with shock and anger. “Do you know? Yesterday, Nova secretly told me she was saving up to buy you flowers. Nova loved you so much, yet you want to send flowers to the one who killed her. Adeline, are you even human?” At that moment, Weston’s mother, Maria White, came out of the kitchen carrying chicken soup she had made for me. Upon learning what had happened, the pot in her hands fell to the ground, spilling the soup everywhere. Maria staggered forward, her aged voice trembling with sobs. She said, “You used to love Nova so much. Even if she lost a single strand of hair, you’d feel heartbroken. Now that she’s gone, not only do you not hate the killer, but you also want to send them flowers? Are you possessed by a ghost?” I looked at Maria expressionlessly and said, “Maria, I’m perfectly fine. I know exactly what I’m doing.” Weston trembled with anger, his eyes filled with fury and disappointment as he looked at me. He said angrily, “Adeline, do you realize what you’re saying? Nova was your own daughter, the child you gave everything to bring into this world. How can you be so heartless? Do you even deserve to be a mother?” Ruby, with reddened eyes, also tried to persuade me, “Adeline, I know you’re upset, but you can’t torment yourself like this. Please calm down, okay?” Facing their questioning and accusations, I said nothing and got up, walking to the door of Nova’s room. On her door was a family portrait drawn by Nova. She had colored it brightly with crayons, and next to it, in crooked handwriting, were the words “I love Mom and Dad.” At that moment, my phone rang. It was a call from the police station. I answered the phone, my tone still calm. I said, “Has Joseph arrived? I’ll head over now.” “Yes, I’m sure I want to sign the letter of understanding, not hold him legally accountable, and not ask for any compensation.” “What did you say?” Weston snatched my phone, his eyes red as if about to bleed. “You want to sign a letter of understanding for the bastard who killed Nova?” Maria clutched my clothes, crying. “Adeline, I beg you, don’t go. Don’t sign that thing. We need to make him go to jail, make him pay for my granddaughter’s life.” Ruby stood aside, her eyes full of confusion and disappointment as she looked at me. I said nothing and took a cab to the police station. The taxi stopped at the police station entrance. As soon as I got out, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Weston striding toward me with clenched fists, while Maria, supported by Ruby, followed. Their faces were filled with urgency and shock. “Adeline, stop right there!” Weston’s voice was full of anger. He looked at me with reddened eyes and said, “Do you have to destroy this family to be satisfied?” I didn’t answer his question and walked straight into the police station. Seeing me, the police immediately stood up to greet me, their faces showing a complex expression. He said, “You must be Adeline, right? Joseph is already in the mediation room. But are you sure you want to sign the letter of forgiveness?” I nodded and then pushed open the door to the mediation room. Inside, Joseph was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed, a cigarette unlit in his mouth.

Seeing me come in, Joseph looked up at me and gave a particularly arrogant smile. He said, “Are you that girl’s mom? I thought you’d cry for three days and nights.” Joseph’s tone was flippant and arrogant, showing no trace of the guilt a perpetrator should have. Weston was furious and rushed up to grab Joseph by the collar. He roared, “You’re such a bastard! I want you to pay for Nova’s life!” Joseph shrugged indifferently and even leaned closer to Weston on purpose. He laughed and said, “What’s wrong? Want to hit me? This is the police station. Go ahead, try touching me. If you dare hit me today, get ready to pay up.” “You’re asking for it!” Weston, furious to the extreme, swung his fist straight at Joseph’s face. Several police officers quickly restrained Weston and sternly scolded Joseph, “Joseph, watch your attitude. This is the police station.” Joseph didn’t care at all and pointed at me, saying, “What’s wrong with my attitude? She’s the one who wants to sign the settlement, not me forcing her. Besides, didn’t she say it was her daughter’s fault? This isn’t my problem.” Weston was trembling with anger at his words, while Maria clutched her chest, unable to speak. Even the police officers’ expressions turned grim. However, Joseph not only didn’t hold back but instead stared at me and slowly said, “My car was wrecked. I can agree to a settlement. But you have to apologize and pay me $20,000 for the repair. If you do that, I’ll pretend this never happened.” “I’ll kill you!” Weston roared and tried to charge forward again. However, I suddenly stepped in front of Joseph, gripping Weston’s arms tightly with both hands. Weston froze, staring at me in disbelief. “Adeline, are you protecting this bastard?” “Can you be a little polite?” I scolded Weston expressionlessly. “Mr. Nelson is right. His car is indeed wrecked, so we should pay for it.” Hearing my words, everyone in the room froze. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me, filled with anger and shock. Maria staggered and held onto the wall, her finger pointing at me trembling uncontrollably. She said, “You’re actually going to compensate the culprit? If Nova finds out, she’ll be heartbroken.” Ruby, with reddened eyes, also came over and grabbed my hand. “Adeline, what’s wrong with you? Why are you defending the person who killed Nova?” The nearby police officer couldn’t help but say, “Adeline, if you have any difficulties, like being threatened, just say it directly. We’ll help you.” I ignored everyone and just walked step by step toward Joseph. Then, under everyone’s shocked gaze, I bowed to him and said, “Mr. Nelson, please don’t mind Weston’s behavior just now. He’s just too upset, which is why his words were filled with anger. As for the $20,000 car repair fee you mentioned, I’ll transfer it to you shortly. Does that work for you?” Joseph raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied with my attitude. He tossed the letter of understanding in front of me and said, “Hurry up and sign it, don’t delay my meal. Oh, and transfer me an extra $10,000 later as compensation for the work I missed running to the police station these past few days.” I agreed without hesitation. “You’re crazy!” Weston trembled with anger, his eyes filled with fury as he stared at me. He roared, “Adeline, if you dare to sign that letter of understanding or give him a single cent today, we’re getting a divorce!” My hand holding the pen paused for a moment, then I looked up at Weston with a very calm gaze. I said, “We can get a divorce, but the house and savings must stay with me. You can’t take any assets.” “What did you say?” Weston, as if hearing a joke, suddenly raised his voice and said, “You want me to leave without taking any assets? Adeline, do you have a lover out there? Are you doing this on purpose to force me into a divorce, is that it?” Maria cried and chimed in, “It must be true! Adeline, you’re so heartless. How could you do this to Nova? How could you do this to our family?” I looked at Weston coldly. “I didn’t cheat. If you insist on divorcing me, then you can’t take any assets.” At this moment, Ruby walked over, her eyes full of disappointment as she looked at me. “Adeline, in my heart, you’ve always been someone who values relationships. But now, I really can’t understand you anymore. Your actions truly disappoint me.” I ignored Ruby’s gaze, then lowered my head and carefully signed my name on the letter of understanding. After that, I took out a bank card from my bag and handed it to Joseph. “There’s $40,000 in here, and the password is six zeros. The extra $10,000 is my apology to you.” Joseph took the bank card, his smile growing even more smug. He deliberately waved the bank card at Weston and said with a smile, “See that? Your wife is smarter than you.” Staring at the signed letter of understanding, Weston was completely disappointed. He closed his eyes, sighed, his voice full of exhaustion and anger. Weston said, “Adeline, see you in court in three days. I will file for divorce, and I will make sure you can’t take any assets.” After speaking, Weston turned and left. Maria followed him, crying, and before stepping out, she shot me a fierce glare. Ruby gave me one last look, her eyes full of disappointment, then left as well.

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Before marrying Leonardo Morgan, his mother Olivia Morgan gave me a premarital obedience test. She asked me to serve coffee to the whole family, and I did. She made me walk barefoot on a gravel path to prove I could endure hardship, and I did. She made me sign a prenuptial agreement stating I wouldn’t get any assets in case of divorce, and I still signed it. Throughout the process, Leonardo watched coldly. He only said to me, “Josephine, don’t make a fuss. Just bear with it. These are our family rules.” Josephine Campbell is my name. I smiled and nodded, but tears couldn’t help falling. The final test was Olivia slapping me unexpectedly. Olivia said, “After marrying Leonardo, you need to understand what humility is.” I stood still, but Leonardo, who was upstairs in the study having a video meeting, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Afterward, Leonardo covered his face and looked at me in horror. At this moment, a mechanical voice echoed in my mind. “Your Shared-Sensation System with Leonardo has been successfully bound. From now on, he will fully experience all the pain you endure.” The pain on my face hadn’t subsided yet when Leonardo collapsed backward like a puppet with its strings cut. His handsome face, always filled with arrogance and disdain, was now twisted in fear. Olivia shouted, “Leonardo!” The other servants also shouted, “Mr. Morgan!” The Morgan Villa’s living room instantly descended into chaos. Screams, cries, and the sound of chairs and tables crashing to the ground merged into a chaotic noise. I stood there, watching everyone frantically lift Leonardo onto the ambulance. And the cause of it all—Olivia froze for just a moment before pointing at me and yelling, “It’s you, you wretch, who made Leonardo collapse at home!” I said nothing, just raised my hand and gently touched my swollen left cheek. The burning pain on my cheek felt just like the ache in my heart. The hospital’s diagnosis came out quickly. Leonardo had acute concussion along with facial soft tissue contusions, but the cause was unknown. When Leonardo woke up, I was the only one in the hospital room. He saw the clear five-finger mark on my face. The mark was identical to the impact he remembered feeling on his cheek. Immediately, the confusion in his eyes was quickly replaced by gloom. Leonardo asked in a hoarse yet judgmental voice, “Josephine, what did you do to me?” I calmly looked at him and said, “I didn’t do anything. Olivia slapped me, and then you collapsed.” “Ridiculous!” Leonardo sneered, “My mom slapped you, and I ended up spitting blood and fainting? Josephine, are you now making up such lies just to gain my sympathy?” “This is not a lie,” I said word by word. “Just now, we were bound by the Shared-Sensation System. From now on, any harm I suffer, whether physical or emotional, you will feel it too.” Leonardo stared at me intently, his eyes full of disgust and contempt. He sneered, “Is this your new trick? Josephine, I really underestimated you. You’ve truly tried every possible way just to make me look at you.” “Don’t you believe me?” I asked him. “I believe you’re a lunatic,” Leonardo said coldly. I laughed, but tears fell once again. I wiped them away, looking at the man I had loved for ten years but could never move. Then, in a cold tone even unfamiliar to myself, I said, “Leonardo, let’s make a bet.” “What are we betting on?” Leonardo raised an eyebrow, looking at me as if I were a ridiculous clown. I calmly said, “Let’s bet that I’ll make you personally feel just how painful the suffering I’ve endured all these years truly is.” Leonardo didn’t answer, just turned his head away and called the nurse. His actions told me he found even speaking another word to me disgusting. Looking at the pitch-black night sky outside the window, I whispered, “You will believe.”

When I returned to the Morgan Villa, I was greeted by Olivia’s face twisted with anger. Olivia yelled, “How dare you come back? You bitch! Leonardo has never even lost a hair since he was a child. The moment you came to my house, he ended up in the hospital. You’re a jinx!” As she cursed, she ordered the servant to take down the decorative whip hanging on the wall. The whip was made of leather, soaked in oil, looking dark and shiny. Looking at that whip, my heart skipped a beat. I remembered when I first met Leonardo. Back then, he was just as dashing, like a proud wild horse. I followed behind him, thinking that if I worked hard enough, one day I could walk alongside him. But now, in his home, I’ve become an object to be beaten and scolded at will. The TV in the living room was on, and a reporter from the financial channel was broadcasting a piece of news. “The Morgan Group’s president, Leonardo Morgan, was urgently hospitalized today. His childhood friend, famous actress Ayla Reed, rushed to visit him at the hospital. The two appeared close throughout, dispelling earlier rumors of Leonardo marrying an ordinary woman.” On the TV screen, Ayla was tucking the blanket around Leonardo with a worried look, and the way Leonardo gazed at Ayla was a tenderness I had never seen before. So, Leonardo wasn’t born indifferent; he just gave all his warmth to someone else. And I can’t even earn a shred of his trust. Overwhelming grief and anger consumed me. With a loud snap, the first whip struck heavily on my back. My flesh instantly tore, and the intense pain nearly brought me to my knees. Olivia yelled, “You shameless woman! How dare you seduce Leonardo! I’ll beat you to death!” Like a madwoman, Olivia whipped me one lash after another. At that moment, my phone rang. It was Leonardo calling. I mustered all my strength to answer the phone. “Josephine!” Leonardo’s suppressed, angry roar came from the other end of the line. “What self-harming stunt are you pulling now to get my attention? I’m telling you, stop it immediately! This only makes me despise you more!” His voice came through the receiver, and Olivia heard it. Olivia thought I was complaining to Leonardo, so her expression turned even fiercer. “You dare to snitch? Clearly, I haven’t hit you enough!” Immediately, she raised her hand and lashed me with all her strength. “Ah!” Leonardo’s roar on the other end of the phone instantly turned into a piercing scream. That sound pierced my eardrums, carrying unimaginable pain. Olivia was stunned. On the phone, Leonardo’s wails continued, each one more harrowing than the last. Olivia finally panicked. She dropped the whip, grabbed my phone, and urgently shouted into the receiver, “Leonardo? Leonardo, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” On the other end, Leonardo’s labored breathing was intermittent. “Mom, my back hurts so much. I’m in agony.” “Your back?” Olivia turned to look at me in confusion. I was lying on the ground, my back a bloody mess. Olivia immediately said into the phone, “Leonardo, don’t be scared. I’m coming right away. It must be that bitch cursing you!” After hanging up the phone, Olivia hurriedly left the villa. In the hospital, Leonardo lay on the bed, cold sweat dripping from the intense pain in his back. He grabbed Olivia’s hand as she rushed over and asked suspiciously, “Mom, did you just hit Josephine?” Olivia’s eyes kept darting around as she immediately denied, “No! Why would I hit her? She’s the one going crazy, crying and making a scene at home. I just said a couple of words to her, that’s all.” Ayla immediately chimed in, her voice soft and aggrieved, “Yes, Leonardo. Olivia has always been good to Josephine. But just now, Josephine seemed to be talking nonsense on the phone, which upset Olivia so much that her heart felt unwell.” As Ayla spoke, she gently massaged Olivia’s chest. Looking at the “wronged” Olivia and the “thoughtful” Ayla, Leonardo thought of Josephine’s silence on the phone. Instantly, the doubt in his heart vanished. He felt that even if the Shared-Sensation System really existed, I was deliberately hurting myself to gain sympathy and thought I was too scheming.

The day Leonardo was discharged, Ayla also went back to the Morgan Villa, saying she wanted to “take care of Leonardo.” Olivia was naturally very happy. While Leonardo was in the study handling work, Olivia and Ayla called me downstairs and swept a pile of broken vase shards onto the floor. Olivia crossed her arms and commanded me with an arrogant tone, “The floor is dirty. Kneel and clean it up.” Ayla, on the other hand, hypocritically advised me, “Josephine, just listen to Olivia. She’s doing this for your own good, wanting you to learn some manners. Leonardo doesn’t like women who are unruly.” My knees were already bruised and purple from the whip. Now, kneeling on the sharp porcelain shards, every movement felt like countless steel needles piercing into my bones. Upstairs in the study, Leonardo was resting in his chair. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain shot through his knee, jolting him awake. This pain was exactly the same as the sharp pain in his back that day. Leonardo froze for a moment, then suddenly pushed open the door and rushed downstairs. He rushed to the staircase and saw Ayla holding a basin of water, seemingly losing her balance, pouring the entire basin of cold water over my head. The icy water made me shiver all over, and the wounds on my knees soaked in water hurt so much that my vision went black. Seeing Leonardo, Ayla immediately threw herself into his arms, crying bitterly. “Leonardo, I didn’t mean to. It was Josephine suddenly trying to stand up, which made me accidentally spill the water. Is she trying to hurt herself with broken porcelain and then blame us?” Olivia immediately chimed in, “Exactly! This woman is so vicious. Leonardo, you can’t keep indulging her. She’ll ruin our family.” Looking at my miserable state and then at Ayla trembling and crying in his arms, the hesitation in Leonardo’s eyes was once again replaced by disgust. Leonardo sternly ordered the servants, “Tie her to the chair for me. That way, how can she hurt herself?” Two strong servants roughly dragged me up and tied me to a chair in the living room with coarse rope, leaving me unable to move. Leonardo gave me a cold glance, then helped Ayla upstairs. Back in the study, as soon as Leonardo sat down, a strange sense of restraint spread throughout his body. His bones, muscles, and every joint felt tightly bound by invisible ropes. Even his breathing became difficult. Leonardo immediately understood and thought, “Josephine is tied up, so I feel tied up too. Could that ridiculous Shared-Sensation System actually be real?” A terrifying thought formed in his mind. Leonardo suddenly stood up and said to Ayla, who was peeling an apple for him, “Go accompany my mom for some shopping. I need some time alone.” Then he said to Olivia, “Mom, you must be tired. Go out and relax. Feel free to use the credit card as you like.” Olivia and Ayla both wanted to head out quickly, so they happily left the villa immediately. The villa instantly fell silent. Almost at the moment the door closed, the suffocating sense of restraint on Leonardo suddenly vanished. Leonardo stood there, his expression constantly changing. After a long time, he slowly walked downstairs, step by step, and stood in front of me, tied to the chair. I was drenched, water droplets from my hair sliding down my cheeks. I could no longer tell if it was water or tears. Leonardo silently looked at me. For the first time, his eyes no longer held that cold disdain. He crouched down, his voice carrying a struggle even he didn’t notice. “Did someone really bully you?”

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