1 It was the seventh year since I’d escaped my family, the year I met the woman I thought was my soulmate. Her looks, her personality, even her tastes—everything about her was perfect for me. In our third month together, we decided on a destination wedding. The night before we were set to leave, I was scrolling idly through a forum and stumbled upon a post. [Late Night Vents: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever agreed to do for a boyfriend?] I was about to swipe past it, but a reply from a user named “IndigoSky” caught my eye. [So many things. We were young and reckless, so I gave him everything. Got pregnant for him, had an abortion. Satisfied his every fantasy, wherever he wanted.] [But the most outrageous thing? I agreed to marry his brother.] Amid a sea of sympathetic replies, IndigoSky posted again. [Don’t feel sorry for me, everyone. My boyfriend has heart failure. Only his brother’s heart can save him.] [I’m going to help him get that heart. Then we’ll be together forever and ever.] I stared at her profile picture, at the tattoo on her chest that was an exact match to the one over my own heart. My world tilted, and my heart began to sink. … [Maybe we should cancel tomorrow’s flight.] It was three in the morning when I sent the message to my fiancée, Sophie. She replied almost instantly. [Why? Haven’t you been looking forward to our wedding trip for ages?] I sent her a quick photo I’d taken of the hospital, just as my doctor called me into his office. “Mr. Reed, given your physical condition, I really can’t recommend long-distance travel…” “Doctor, is Asher okay?” Before the doctor could finish, Sophie burst into the room, breathless. She was still in her pajamas, her eyes wide with a worry so deep it seemed bottomless. A shame it was all an act. No, that wasn’t entirely true. The worry was real, but not for me. After all, if something happened to my health, her true love—my younger brother, Nathan—would lose his chance at a heart transplant. A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I lowered my head. The doctor, misinterpreting my silence, played his part as usual, offering a comforting lie to Sophie. “He’s fine. It’s the same old issue. As long as he takes his medication, he’ll be alright.” “But I would still advise you to be cautious about this wedding trip.” Sophie nodded, volunteering to go pick up my prescription. When the white bottle was in her hand, her brow furrowed. “What’s this? I haven’t seen this one before.” “It’s for my stomach,” I lied smoothly. “The doctor said it’s gentler on my system.” But Sophie wasn’t buying it. She took a picture of my medical report and sent it to a doctor friend of hers. For a split second, I almost convinced myself that the forum post had been a hallucination. Then her friend’s reply came back as a voice note, and she accidentally played it on speaker. “Relax. That medication is for heart failure, but it’s sometimes used for stomach issues too.” “Besides, your Asher gets a full check-up every month, and he gets a clean bill of health every single time.” “That heart of his is so strong you could probably smash rocks on it and it would be fine…” Sophie frantically cut the audio off, but my heart had already plunged into an icy abyss. Of course. She wasn’t worried about me. I reached for a cigarette, needing to get out, but she plucked it from my fingers. “You shouldn’t smoke if you’re not feeling well.” “And… maybe we really should cancel the flight tomorrow?” I didn’t answer. Just then, a text message notification lit up my phone. [Mr. Asher Reed, your one-million-dollar accidental death and dismemberment policy is now active.] [This policy is valid for one week and offers a maximum payout of three million dollars.] Three million… The cost of a heart transplant surgery was exactly three million dollars. It seemed Sophie really, truly loved Nathan. She’d even factored in the surgical fees. Noticing the dark look on my face, Sophie rushed to explain. “Asher, don’t overthink it. A friend of mine sells insurance, and I was just helping her meet her sales quota.” “And I bought one for myself, too! See…” I cut her off. “It’s late. Go home and get some rest.” “I’ll see you at the airport in the morning.” 2 My family was a catastrophe. My father was a violent drunk and a compulsive gambler. When I was seven, he backhanded my little brother during a drunken rage, and that was the last straw for my mother. She filed for divorce. In court, she took my younger brother, Nathan. I dragged my leg, which my father had also broken, to the train station to see them off. My mother cupped my face in her hands and whispered that she was sorry. She told me to hold on, to wait for the day she would come back for me. I waited for ten years. I waited until my drunk of a father stumbled, fell into a roadside ditch, and drowned. Only then did a social worker help me contact the mother I had longed for all those years. She had remarried. She was draped in designer clothes, and my brother had transformed into a polished, privileged young man. But when the subject of me coming to live with them came up, they both became evasive. In the end, I was sent to a boarding school. I was an outcast, constantly bullied, but it was better than the life I’d known, a life of never knowing where my next meal was coming from. Three years later, I was accepted into a top-tier university. On the day the acceptance letters went out, my mother, who had never once visited me, showed up in a luxury car. She said the Vaughn family—her new family—was throwing a party to officially welcome me home. She handed me a drink herself. A welcome-home toast. I woke up in a prison cell, told I had killed someone in a high-speed street race. Meanwhile, the real heir of the Vaughn family, my brother, had assumed my identity and was attending that top-tier university in my place. Nathan was sent to a prestigious school abroad. I spent ten years in prison. When I got out, I changed my name and fought my way up from nothing to build the life I have now. Then Sophie came to my company for an interview. She told me her family had always treated her like a “blood bag,” a resource to be used, and that she just wanted to live for herself for once. I saw a reflection of my younger self in her. I broke my own rules and hired her on the spot. Sophie didn’t disappoint. Within a week, she had mastered her duties. Within a month, she was indispensable. The day before her probationary period ended, she confronted a colleague who was taking kickbacks and ended up in the hospital after a heated argument. The colleague was connected to one of our most important corporate partners. Before I could even intervene, Sophie submitted her resignation. A month later, I found her working at a late-night food stall, being harassed by a drunk. I stepped in. We spent that night talking at the police station, opening our hearts to each other. That’s when we started our relationship. The more time I spent with her, the more certain I was that she was the one. But my past made me terrified of marriage. I could never bring myself to take that final step. Until a week ago, when Sophie came to me, her face glowing with joy, holding up a positive pregnancy test. Suddenly, all I wanted was a family. If it hadn’t been for that post… My alarm blared, and I wiped the tears from my eyes before driving to the airport. While I was waiting for Sophie in the terminal, IndigoSky updated her comment thread. [That was close. For a second, I thought the heart I worked so hard for was about to slip away.] [Good thing I’m smart. I used a little reverse psychology and calmed him down.] [I even made him a special breakfast. I’m sure he’ll be really touched when he sees it!] “Asher, you haven’t eaten, have you? Look what I brought you!” I hadn’t even finished reading the comment when Sophie appeared before me, holding a lunchbox. It was identical to the one in the picture IndigoSky had just posted. My appetite vanished. “I already ate. You can have it.” I turned and walked toward the security gate alone. A flicker of disappointment crossed Sophie’s face, but she quickly caught up. I didn’t say another word to her until we were in our seats on the plane. Even when she tried to lean in and talk to me, I just turned my head away and pretended to be asleep. I heard her let out a faint, almost inaudible sigh beside me. All I felt was a chilling cold.

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After six years in the shadows, my CEO girlfriend, Veronica, finally agreed to let me meet her parents. But then she stayed out all night. The next morning, she strolled into the office, bold as brass, with a love bite on her neck and her first love, Spencer, at her side. They chatted as if no one else existed, completely ignoring me, her actual boyfriend. A colleague whispered, “Isn’t that the new guy? Started a few days ago, right? Wow, he moves fast. Already latched onto the boss. Just another pretty boy looking for a sugar mama.” Before I could say a word, Veronica’s voice cut through the office. “Spencer is a top graduate I hired myself. If you lack his talent, don’t resort to petty jealousy. I won’t have anyone speaking ill of him!” The vice president, one of the few who knew about us, sidled up to me. “Who’s this guy? I thought you were the boss’s boyfriend.” A bitter smirk touched my lips. “Not for much longer.” The VP stared, confused, but Veronica was already marching toward me. “Your performance has been slipping lately,” she announced, her voice cold. “I’m putting you on the back burner for now. Spencer will take over your projects. You will assist him.” The office went silent. I had been by Veronica’s side since the company was just a dream. I was, without a doubt, the driving force behind our success. My performance had never been anything but stellar. Yet here she was, demoting me for no reason. And for what? To play second fiddle to a rookie who’d been here less than a week. I stared back at her, my face a mask of ice. My silence seemed to irritate her. Her brow furrowed. “Did you not hear me?” A smug look flickered in Spencer’s eyes. He smiled, a saccharine, condescending expression. “Finn has been with you since the beginning, Veronica. He probably has a bit of an ego. I doubt he’s willing to be my assistant.” His passive-aggressive tone dripped with poison. Veronica scoffed. “An ego? What right does he have to an ego? If it weren’t for me, his community college degree wouldn’t have even gotten him through the door. All I’m doing is revoking the special privileges I gave him, and he can’t handle it?” “Does he really think he can throw his seniority in my face?” Her words painted me as a useless leech, coasting on tenure. But my contributions to this company were greater than hers, and she knew it. That community college degree? That was because of her too. Veronica and I both came from nothing. We bonded over a shared dream: to make it big in this city, no matter what. But her family couldn’t afford the steep tuition and living costs. They were going to force her into an arranged marriage for the dowry. She had cried in my arms, begging me to help her, telling me she didn’t want to drop out. Because I loved her, I gave her every penny I had saved for my own tuition. I dropped out of university myself. I took grueling jobs in filthy restaurant kitchens, working my fingers to the bone just so she could have a better life. It wasn’t until two years ago, after our company finally took off, that I had a moment to breathe. I enrolled in a community college, planning to finish my bachelor’s degree. But she told me the company needed me. She asked me to put my education on hold again. So yes, my highest level of education is an associate’s degree. She knew exactly why. And now, she was using it as a weapon to humiliate me. I felt the weight of every stare in the room—disdain, pity, judgment. I clenched my fists. But when my eyes met her cold, unforgiving gaze, the fight drained out of me. The woman who had once looked at me with so much love was gone. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I turned, walked to the printer, and printed a single sheet of paper. My resignation. “If I’m just a community college grad,” I said, my voice flat, “then I guess I don’t belong here. After all, the minimum requirement for this company is a bachelor’s degree.” Veronica was stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected this. But she recovered quickly, her expression hardening. “I don’t care if this is some power play or a pathetic attempt to make me feel guilty. Once you walk out that door, you’re not coming back. This isn’t a revolving door, Finn.” I gave her a single, emotionless glance. “I know.” As I turned to leave, Spencer leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Her face contorted with disgust. “So that’s your game,” she spat, her voice dripping with venom. I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she threw a file onto my desk. It was a contract I had just secured a few days ago. Spencer made a show of clicking his tongue. “Finn, everyone knows you’re tight with Mr. Peterson from this client. The deal isn’t even finalized yet. You quitting now… it’s pretty obvious you’re trying to use this to blackmail the company, aren’t you?” “I get that you’re upset about being my assistant, but this is what the CEO wants. You can’t just defy her, can you?” The look of betrayal on Veronica’s face told me she believed him completely. The old me would have frantically tried to explain, to plead my case, to assure her I would never do such a thing. But now? All I wanted to do was laugh. She knew. Deep down, she knew I was the one holding this company together, but her pride would never let her admit it. So she crushed me with one hand while using me with the other. Before, I had tolerated it because I loved her. Now, I just felt like a fool. I had sacrificed my future for a woman who wouldn’t even give me the title of “boyfriend” in public. I had lost my pride, my dignity, everything. The rage that should have been boiling inside me was gone, replaced by a calm, chilling emptiness. I copied all the relevant files from my computer onto a drive and placed it on the desk. “Here are all the project details, including the final quotes. You can use this to move forward. I won’t say a word to the client.” I turned and walked away without another word. I could feel a burning gaze on my back, but I didn’t look back. The moment I stepped out of the building, the air felt cleaner, fresher. I hadn’t even had a chance to enjoy it when Veronica came running after me. She grabbed my arm, her brow furrowed with accusation. “I say a few words and you just walk out? What is that supposed to mean? You were the one who said you wanted to step back and let me run the company!” A cold laugh echoed in my chest. “I agreed to step back, Veronica. I never agreed to let you cheat on me!” She had been out all night, then shown up with a love bite and Spencer on her arm. And then she had the audacity to demand I work as an assistant for that clueless pretty boy. I may be loyal, but I’m not an idiot. “Cheat on you?” she stomped her foot, her voice rising. “What are you talking about? Spencer and I are just friends! Stop being so jealous!” Before I could retort, Spencer appeared, an apologetic look plastered on his face. “I’m so sorry, Finn. I had no idea you were resigning because you were jealous.” “But I was out with clients last night for the company. I had too much to drink, and Veronica was just looking out for me. Nothing happened between us, I swear. Please don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately angled his head, revealing a series of fresh scratch marks on his neck. The little bastard was provoking me. The old Finn would have exploded, demanding Veronica swear she would never see Spencer again. But after years of fighting the same battles, I was done. She would never change. And I had no desire to continue this pathetic dance. I said nothing, my face a cold mask. Veronica took the initiative, her hand finding mine. “I know you’re just acting out because you’re jealous. I’ll let it slide this time.” “We have a very important dinner meeting tonight. It can’t happen without you. Please, just pull yourself together and come with me.” Her voice was soft, a clear attempt at reconciliation. But it just sounded like a cruel joke. If it weren’t for this dinner, she wouldn’t have even bothered chasing after me. My eyes drifted to Spencer, and my blood ran cold. He was wearing my shirt. It was the shirt Veronica had bought me for our third anniversary. I cherished it. I barely ever wore it, saving it for special occasions. Now, it was wrinkled and reeked of stale smoke and cheap liquor. I’d been wondering where it went after I’d left it out to dry a few days ago. Veronica must have given it to him. I noticed several small, yellowed cigarette burns on the sleeve. Something I had treasured, treated with such disrespect. Pathetic. And hilarious. My expression didn’t change. Veronica sighed. “Fine. If you come to the dinner tonight, I won’t change your position. Happy now?” I remained silent. “You’re just afraid of Spencer being promoted above you, aren’t you?” she continued, as if talking to herself. “So I’ll make you both equals. There. Are you satisfied? If I wasn’t worried about upsetting you, Spencer would have been in management from day one.” I finally looked her in the eye. “Promote him if you want. It has nothing to do with me.” Her face darkened. “What is that supposed to mean?” I laughed, a dry, humorless sound. “I already gave you my resignation. I have nothing to do with this company, and you have no reason to tell me any of this.” “Also, we’re breaking up.” Veronica’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?” I pulled out my phone and blocked her number right in front of her. “Do I really need to explain what ‘breaking up’ means?” “You dare break up with me?” Veronica hissed, her teeth clenched. “You were just telling me you wanted to meet my parents! What is this, some kind of game?” I pointed at Spencer with my chin. “Oh, so you do remember that? For a minute there, I thought you’d forgotten.” “How was the bar last night?” Yesterday was the day. The day we had planned for over six months. The day I was finally supposed to meet her parents. I had spent a fortune on gifts, wanting to make the best possible impression. I waited on the couch all day. From morning until night. Veronica never came. Instead, I saw Spencer’s smug post on social media. A picture from a loud, crowded bar. Veronica was curled up in his lap, their bodies pressed together intimately for all the world to see. I waited for an explanation. An apology. I got nothing. In fact, she had clearly forgotten all about it, demanding I become Spencer’s assistant without a shred of guilt. She was heartless. “I already told you,” she snapped, her defensiveness flaring into anger, “the company isn’t public yet! It’s still small! You know my parents favor my brother over me. We have nothing to show for ourselves, so how can we get married? You never try to understand my pressure, you just keep pushing me to meet them!” “So what if I went out for a drink to blow off some steam?” I laughed until I couldn’t breathe. “Nothing’s wrong with it. Do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me.” Spencer, dropping his apologetic act, stepped in front of Veronica. “You’re the one making wild accusations. The CEO and I have a clear conscience. We have nothing to hide!” Veronica looked at Spencer with gratitude, then turned to me, her eyes filled with resentment. “If you want to throw a tantrum, fine. I’ve said all I’m going to say.” Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. Watching the scene unfold, I felt nothing. It was almost funny. Whenever we had a problem, Veronica never tried to solve it. She would just throw a fit. And if that didn’t work, she would cry until I gave in. She was using the same old trick. But this time, I didn’t react. I just turned and walked away. She screamed my name, absolutely furious. But I only ever caved because I loved her. Without love, she was just a stranger. I deleted everything that reminded me of her. Then I sent a message to my best friend, who was living abroad. “I’m in. Let’s start that import-export business.” I was about to call him to catch up when my phone rang. An unknown number. “Hello, is this Mr. Finnian Reed? Your father’s medical bills are two weeks overdue. We’ve been trying to call you, but we couldn’t get through. We had to stop his treatment a few days ago. He passed away that same day. We were calling to ask when you would be available to… collect the body.” The world tilted. I couldn’t breathe. “What did you say?” I asked, my voice a strangled whisper. My father was the only family I had left. A car accident years ago had left him in a coma, a vegetable. He was kept alive by machines and IV drips in the ICU. To keep him alive, I had arranged for my entire salary to be deposited into a dedicated account that the hospital could draw from directly. How could the bills be overdue? The person on the other end repeated, “The card you provided for the hospital was frozen two weeks ago. We’ve been trying to contact you, but the number we have on file is no longer in service…” I was the second-in-command at the company. There was no reason for accounting to freeze my account. There was only one person who could have done this…

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After the ninety-ninth failed round of IVF, my husband, whose low sperm count was the official problem, spoke with a chilling coldness. “Isabelle is just so fertile. I touch her, and she gets pregnant. Unlike you.” He stood there, holding the hand of Isabelle, the imposter heiress who had been raised as my sister, and gave me three choices. One, I could turn a blind eye and continue playing the part of the CEO’s wife. Two, I could take ten million dollars and disappear. Three, I could leave with nothing. Everyone in the city knew how proud I was, how desperately I loved Vincent Ashwood. They expected a storm. They expected me to shatter with jealousy, to burn everything to the ground rather than accept defeat. But I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I calmly pushed the check back across the table. “Let the child call me ‘Mother.’ I’ll continue to be a good Mrs. Ashwood.” After all, this was my third rebirth. 1 In my first life, I chose to walk away with my pride and nothing else. In the second, I swallowed that pride and took the ten million. Both paths led to a horrific end. So, in this third life, I figured the three of us could just make it work. It would be a tight squeeze, but we’d manage. Vincent’s handsome face froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Audrina, you’re actually willing to accept another woman carrying my child?” I reached out and straightened the collar of his shirt, my touch making his jaw tighten. I offered him a perfectly gentle, perfectly composed smile. “After all these years, after all the needles and the hormones and the agony of one failed procedure after another… wasn’t the goal for you to have a child? Now that my dear Isabelle has helped us, why on earth would I object?” Isabelle’s pretty face went pale. She bit her lip, the fury in her eyes practically spilling over. She must have pictured me screaming, clawing, a hysterical mess. She never imagined I’d be applauding. “Audrina, I thought you’d be furious,” she stammered. “I didn’t expect… Anyone would think you don’t love Vincent anymore.” Vincent’s sharp gaze shot to me. I just smiled and patted her shoulder. “Oh, don’t be silly. There are many ways to love. Learning to love what he loves is just one of them.” In my first life, I had chosen to leave with nothing. Too proud to take his dirty money. But what could a housewife, detached from the professional world for years, possibly do? I couldn’t even land a decent clerical job. I ended up in a dingy apartment, chewing on stale bread, living a miserable existence. Even then, Isabelle wouldn’t let me be. She arranged a “car accident” that ended my life. In my second life, I learned my lesson. I took the ten million. I thought it was my ticket to a new beginning. But without connections or resources, starting a business was a nightmare. The one time I found a seemingly reliable partner, it was a trap. The night I was cornered on a rooftop by debt collectors, I heard Isabelle’s mocking laughter through a jumbled phone call. “Vincent never had a fertility problem. He’d been slipping her birth control pills all along. He only married her to get her family’s investment in the Ashwood Corporation. Now that she’s useless, did she really think she could just start over? Of course she had to die.” When I opened my eyes again, I decided to just give up fighting. They were a match made in hell, a bitch and a dog. How could I possibly tear them apart? The three of us would be perfectly cozy together. My magnanimity clearly threw Vincent off balance. He frowned, studying me with a confused expression, but his words were a warning. “Then you’d better play the part of Mrs. Ashwood well. If you dare lay a hand on Isabelle, don’t blame me for being merciless.” I gave him a sweet, brilliant smile and immediately got to work. “Isabelle can’t be traveling back and forth in her condition. She can stay in the guest room from now on. She can focus on the baby, and I’ll take good care of her.” Isabelle’s face immediately crumpled into a mask of distress. “I’m carrying Vincent’s child, and you want me to stay in a guest room? So far from the baby’s father? Are you trying to separate us on purpose?” “You’re right, how thoughtless of me,” I said, not giving anyone a chance to argue. I turned to the butler. “In that case, please move Mr. Ashwood’s things into the guest room as well. We wouldn’t want them to suffer a long-distance relationship under the same roof.” Isabelle’s eyes widened. Before she could launch into a tearful complaint, I turned my smiling gaze on Vincent. “Darling, you’re the father. It’s best for the baby’s development if you stay with the expectant mother. You can’t possibly be thinking of staying in the master bedroom with me. That would break poor Isabelle’s heart, wouldn’t it?” Isabelle bit her lip. Vincent’s eyes softened as he looked at her, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “I’ll stay with you and the baby. Come on, let’s go rest.” They walked up the stairs arm in arm, a picture of intimacy. In another life, the sight would have driven me mad with jealousy and rage. Now, I simply returned to the master bedroom and made a phone call I never thought I’d make. “We have a deal. I become a major shareholder in your group, and you help me destroy the Ashwoods.” 2. That evening, I slid a document across the desk to Vincent. “I’ve drafted a postnuptial agreement regarding our assets. Take a look.” Vincent scoffed, annoyed. “You want to talk about money with me now?” My eyes welled with tears, but I fought them back, my voice trembling with practiced vulnerability. “I’ve endured so many needles, so much pain. My body is broken, my pride is gone, and now I have to take care of the woman carrying your child,” I said, my voice cracking just so. “I haven’t uttered a single complaint. All I’m asking for is access to your supplementary credit card to do some shopping, to buy a few dresses. Is that too much to ask?” Vincent looked at me, his expression a complex mix of guilt and impatience. “As long as you behave, my money is your money. Spend what you want.” I watched, a serene smile on my face, as he signed the papers. My heart was a frozen stone in my chest. He had no idea that his signature had just given me complete control over his liquid assets. How I spent it was now entirely up to me. The next afternoon, dressed to the nines, I met my best friend Sophie for a shopping spree. In my previous lives, I had been so consumed by my love for Vincent that I’d pushed everyone away. Sophie had tried to talk sense into me a few times, but eventually, she gave up. I had died utterly alone. When I stood before her now, she was stunned. “Audrina? You actually ditched Vincent to go shopping with me? I heard the imposter heiress moved in with a bun in the oven. I expected you to be either drowning in tears or sharpening a butcher knife. You look tired, but… surprisingly calm.” I looked at my reflection in the shop window. My face was young, yet etched with a profound exhaustion. For three lifetimes, Vincent had used his family as an excuse, pressuring me, insisting I had to produce an heir or he’d divorce me. I loved him, so I threw myself into the brutal cycle of IVF, torturing my body for two years until I was a ghost of my former self. The irony was that I wasn’t the one who couldn’t conceive. It was him, feeding me birth control pills after every time we were intimate. He watched me suffer, offered no comfort, and then had the audacity to call me useless. How utterly, cruelly absurd. And I, for a man who had plotted my ruin from the start, had thrown away my friends, destroyed my health, and twisted my own life into a pathetic knot. I sighed. “I’m twenty-seven, Sophie, not seventeen. If he were madly in love with me, maybe I’d fight for him. But for a cheating bastard like him? He’s not worth a single tear.” Sophie stared at me for a long moment, then pulled me into a fierce, relieved hug. “It’s about damn time, you idiot! You gave up everything for him, running to clinics and trying crazy remedies until you ran yourself ragged. IVF is agony, and you did it ninety-nine times? Your stomach must be a pincushion. Were you crazy?” This life, I had been reborn on the very day of my ninety-ninth IVF failure. It was too late to stop myself from that last act of lovesick foolishness. But it wasn’t too late to choose a different way to live. I hugged her back tightly. “Never again. From now on, I live for me.” Elated, Sophie dragged me to an exclusive nightclub. The doors opened to reveal two rows of handsome young men, each with a unique style. “Audrina, take your pick! Tonight’s on me! We’re celebrating your escape from prison, your glorious rebirth!” I’d never been interested in men from places like this. But then I thought about it. I did need a child. And as it happened, today was my ovulation day. My eyes scanned the room, landing on a young man in a crisp white shirt. His silhouette was lean and sharp, the line from his neck to his shoulder clean and elegant. His long, slender fingers held a quiet, magnetic allure. Sophie followed my gaze. “That’s Noah. A university student, works part-time. Brilliant kid, but proud. He never takes clients.” I put down my glass and walked over to him. “Are you clean?” The young man looked up, his gaze intense. “I’ve never been with a woman.” I was satisfied. “Spend the night with me. Name your price.” He stared at me for a few seconds, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. One of the other hosts stepped forward nervously. “I’m sorry, miss, but Noah’s situation is unique, he doesn’t…” But Noah raised a hand, his dark eyes locked on mine. “Okay.” That night, he carried me into the presidential suite. He was a wolf, fierce and hungry. I cast aside the shackles and sorrows of my past two lives and let myself drown in the moment. My phone on the nightstand lit up and went dark, again and again. “Vincent Ashwood.” He called ninety-nine times before finally stopping. When it was over, I left cash on the table. As I walked out, ignoring the long list of missed calls, I didn’t see the man in the bed behind me watching my every move, his expression unreadable, as he answered a call of his own. “Brother, I’m not crazy. I know exactly who she is…” 3. When I got home, Vincent was sitting in the main armchair in the living room, his face a thundercloud. The ashtray in front of him was overflowing with cigarette butts. “Audrina!” he roared. “Where were you last night? Why didn’t you answer my calls?!” Isabelle clung to his arm, her voice a timid whisper. “Vincent, don’t be so harsh… Maybe Audrina was just upset and needed some space.” I calmly slipped off my heels and handed my purse to a waiting maid before I finally met his furious gaze. “I was out with Sophie. Had a few drinks with some guys to blow off steam. Is there a problem?” “You are Mrs. Ashwood!” Vincent’s rage boiled over at my indifference. “You went out drinking with other men? Am I dead to you?” I patted his shoulder condescendingly. “Now, now, what did we agree on yesterday? I’m going to be the perfect Mrs. Ashwood. You and Isabelle can be as lovey-dovey as you want. That’s wonderful for you, but I get lonely. And since you’re otherwise occupied, I naturally have to find someone who’s available to comfort me.” Vincent was so angry he could barely speak. Isabelle quickly fanned the flames. “Audrina, how could you be so shameless? Vincent is only being kind to me because you can’t have children. But to betray him like this… you’re breaking his heart!” Even now, they were trying to use that lie to make me feel guilty, to shame me into submission. My hands clenched into fists, but I kept the smile on my face. “As you said, I can’t have children. After ninety-nine failed IVF attempts, it’s pretty clear that even if I did ‘betray’ him, I wouldn’t end up pregnant like some people. So you can relax.” I turned my smile on her. “And you’re a pregnant woman, Isabelle. You need to keep your emotions stable. Stop trying to stir up trouble, alright? Be good.” A flicker of guilt crossed both their faces. I ignored them and turned to the butler. “From this day forward, Miss Isabelle’s meals are to be prepared with the utmost care. Five nourishing soups a day. Bird’s nest, sea cucumber, fish maw… only the highest quality ingredients. We must ensure she and the baby get all the nutrients they need.” Isabelle looked stunned. “Audrina, I can’t possibly eat that much…” “Of course you can! You’re eating for two! Don’t worry about your figure. The baby’s health is what matters.” Isabelle had always been vain about her looks. At the mention of her figure, a flicker of anxiety crossed her face. She looked to Vincent for help. “Vincent, I don’t want to…” Vincent, already agitated, just waved a dismissive hand. “Just listen to her.” I took Isabelle’s hand, my touch cloyingly affectionate. “Dearest, during pregnancy, hormonal changes can cause weight gain, skin discoloration, acne, even hair loss… it’s all perfectly normal. Please don’t worry. I will take the best care of you and the baby.” My words were soft and soothing, but Isabelle’s palm was slick with sweat. She saw my concern as a threat. Publicly, she drank the nourishing broths I had the kitchen prepare. Privately, she forced herself to throw them up. To maintain her figure, she spent two hours a day in the gym, ate nothing but salads, and secretly hired a prenatal yoga instructor to create a “no weight gain” plan. I watched it all unfold as I selected a gown for the upcoming anniversary gala. “Miss Isabelle is very active,” I instructed the butler. “Add an extra portion of soup to her daily menu. And make sure you watch her drink every last drop.” I was curious to see what kind of baby could survive that kind of prenatal abuse. 4. That weekend, I slipped into a haute couture gown, adorned myself with jewels, and made my way to the Ashwood Corporation’s anniversary gala. As always, the guests flattered and fawned over me. I moved through the crowd with a practiced smile, the perfect corporate wife. Half an hour into the event, Vincent arrived. And on his arm, her belly just beginning to show, was Isabelle. The room erupted in whispers. “Isn’t that the fake Jiang family heiress? With Mr. Ashwood?” “So the rumors are true! She really moved in! That must be his baby!” “The real wife must be losing her mind. This is going to be a bloodbath.” Isabelle saw me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. As they passed me, she suddenly stumbled, lurching towards me. I was ready for it and sidestepped neatly. But she grabbed my wrist, using the momentum to throw herself backward. “Audrina… why did you push me?” she cried, her face instantly pale. She clutched her stomach, tears welling in her eyes. “Vincent, my stomach… it hurts…” Vincent’s face turned to stone. He raised his hand and slapped me, hard, across the face. “Audrina, she’s your sister! And she’s pregnant! Can’t you show a shred of decency?” The sting of his handprint bloomed across my cheek. After everything they’d done to me in my past lives, the pain didn’t break my heart. It just filled my chest with pure, unadulterated rage. “If I couldn’t stand the sight of her, she never would have set foot in the Ashwood mansion in the first place, let alone be here now, flaunting herself and slandering me in public.” Vincent’s gaze flickered to Isabelle. She just clutched his arm, her eyes red and pleading. “Vincent, you believe her? Not me?” His face hardened again. “Audrina, I don’t want to hear your excuses. Apologize to Isabelle. Now.” “I did nothing wrong,” I said, my voice like ice. Isabelle’s sobs grew louder. Vincent’s eyes were cold slits. “If you’re going to be this stubborn, then fine. As of today, the monthly allowance stipulated in our agreement is suspended. When you’re ready to get on your knees and apologize to Isabelle, we can discuss reinstating it.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I couldn’t believe I’d actually tried to reason with a cheating, abusive bastard. I twisted the wedding ring from my finger, a ring I had worn for three lifetimes, and threw it at his face. “A man who cherishes his wife finds fortune. A man who abuses her loses everything. You’re choosing your mistress over me, Vincent. I hope you don’t live to regret it.” With that, I turned and walked away, not bothering to look back at the fury contorting his handsome features. In the days that followed, the household staff, sensing the shift in power, began to ignore my orders. They served me leftovers, cold and congealed. The internet, meanwhile, exploded with stories about me. “ASHWOOD CEO’S WIFE, BARREN FOR YEARS, DRIVEN MAD WITH JEALOUSY, ATTACKS PREGNANT SISTER.” “MRS. ASHWOOD’S SECRET LIFE: NIGHTS OF DEBAUCHERY WITH MALE ESCORTS.” “THE TRUTH REVEALED: VINCENT ASHWOOD DRIVEN INTO ANOTHER WOMAN’S ARMS BY HIS TOXIC, INFERTILE WIFE.” Suddenly, I, the victim, was a pariah, a villain in a story they had written for me. Vincent saw the headlines and offered me an ultimatum. “If you kneel and beg Isabelle for forgiveness, I’ll make these stories disappear. I’ll even let you save face at the family dinner tonight.” I glanced at the text message that had just arrived on my phone. The final piece was in place. Tonight, the trap would spring. I looked up at him. “You’re the one who leaked these stories. You’re the one who’s hurting me. The one who should be kneeling is you.” “You’re insane!” he spat, laughing with rage as he slammed the door on his way out. At the family dinner, I was seated at the far end of the long table, ignored and served nothing but cold appetizers. Isabelle, however, was seated right next to my mother-in-law, who held her hand affectionately. “Isabelle, dear, your belly is so pointed. It must be a boy,” she cooed. “Vincent, you must take good care of her. She’s the savior of the Ashwood family. Not like some people, who are not only useless but also a complete disgrace.” Everyone flocked around Isabelle, showering her with compliments, conveniently forgetting she was the other woman. They followed my mother-in-law’s lead, piling on the insults, each word a calculated sting. Isabelle kept glancing my way, her eyes glittering with triumph. Just then, Vincent’s assistant burst into the dining room, his face ashen. “Mr. Ashwood, it’s a disaster! Apex Holdings just snatched the development rights for the Eastside Core property!” he panted. “And our shipping contracts, the tech park project… several key suppliers just pulled out simultaneously! They said Apex made a better offer! Sir, our core assets are being poached! At this rate, the company is going to collapse!” Vincent shot to his feet, stunned. “How is that possible? Where would they get that kind of liquid capital?” The assistant was sweating profusely, his voice trembling. “I checked, sir. A new major shareholder invested in Apex Holdings two weeks ago. A massive infusion of capital. That new shareholder is… it’s your wife.” The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence. Vincent’s head snapped towards me, his eyes filled with utter disbelief. “Audrina. Was this you?” I met his gaze, my smile as sweet as poison. “Yes,” I said. “It was me.”

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The plot had finally run its course. I went home, thrilled to celebrate, only to accidentally overhear my son say: “Daddy, do we still have to pretend for Mommy?” “I want Auntie Chloe to be here for real.” Arthur stood nearby, his face showing a kind of relaxed relief I had never seen before. “Yeah. Let’s just get rid of Mommy, okay?” My son nodded emphatically. I turned around and threw the celebration gift I had bought right into the trash. I was even more thrilled. After all, the only reason I came to this world to play the role of the tragically abused female lead… Was to save my real husband and daughter back in my own world. 1 Holding the cake box, I stood just outside the half-open door of the nursery. The crack in the door couldn’t block out the conversation happening inside. “Daddy, am I really not going to get sick anymore?” My son, Leo’s, voice drifted out. “No.” Arthur only ever softened his tone when speaking to Leo. “The plot is over. There’s no risk of deviation anymore, so you won’t be punished with illness.” “What about Auntie Chloe?” Leo asked eagerly. “It’s all Mommy’s fault that Auntie Chloe always had to sneak around!” “If we didn’t have Mommy, we wouldn’t have to do things we hate.” “And you could be with Auntie Chloe for real, Daddy.” “Daddy, now that the plot is over, can you divorce Mommy?” The thin ribbon of the cake box was digging painfully into my hand. In the gift bag, there was a discontinued Lego set I had spent an entire month hunting down for him. The nursery was quiet for a moment. Arthur seemed to be considering it. “Okay. I’ll divorce your mother.” “Today is your birthday, so let’s just celebrate. Daddy will talk to her in a few days.” 2 Leo’s cheer slipped through the crack in the door and pierced my ears. A freezing chill washed over my entire body. Eight years ago. To save my husband and daughter who were in a horrific car crash, I agreed to the System’s demands. I transmigrated into this angsty romance novel. My mission was to strictly follow the plotline until the very end. If I deviated from the plot, the System would issue a “plot penalty.” Mild penalties meant illness; severe ones meant fatal accidents and forced extraction from this world. If I completed the plot smoothly, I would be rewarded with points to wake my husband and daughter from their comas. I wasn’t a very good host. From meeting Arthur at nineteen, stumbling through our relationship, to marrying him and giving birth to Leo at twenty-two… I had managed to drag us through more than half the plot, but the male lead, Arthur, eventually grew sick of me. I started getting sick frequently. At its worst, my vision blurred, and my hearing faded. Because I gave birth to Leo, he was also affected by the penalties, experiencing one-tenth of my pain. Leo cried day and night, his tiny body growing weaker and frailer. Risking total mission failure, I confessed the existence of the System to Arthur. I told him that if he left me, I would die, and Leo would die too. The only way out was to wait until the plot ended. At that time, there were only five years left. Arthur started forcing himself to stay by my side. Occasionally, we would fight, and Leo and I would both fall ill. I felt immensely guilty towards Leo. But Leo was always so understanding, taking his medicine and eating his meals on time. Gradually, we grew very close. Finally, just a few days ago, the System announced that the plot had concluded. I excitedly shared the news with Arthur. From now on, we were no longer shackled by the plot system. We could live freely. And I had a choice: I could either leave this world or stay. Selfishly, I didn’t want Leo to be lonely. So I planned to stay until he was an adult. But reality just delivered a brutal, crushing blow to my selfishness. 3 I turned around and dumped the cake and the toy straight into the trash can. Then, I pushed the door open and walked in. “I agree to the divorce.” I looked at Leo, my emotions a tangled mess. “Leo… Mommy didn’t know you liked Auntie Chloe so much. I also didn’t know… that you hated being my son so much.” “Making you suffer the plot penalties with me… that was Mommy’s fault.” A flash of embarrassed anger crossed Leo’s small face. He had been caught. He didn’t know how to lie yet, nor how to hide his true feelings. He just stuck his neck out and accused me: “Mommy was eavesdropping! Bad Mommy! This is exactly why I don’t like you! You’re bad!” Even though I was mentally prepared. Hearing the child I carried for nine months say he hated me with his own mouth… It still made my nose sting. Arthur looked surprised, but he didn’t stop Leo. He seemed to gather his thoughts, finally just nodding. “Fine. Sorry for keeping it from you for so long.” “I’ll have my lawyer send you the divorce agreement. Whatever you want as compensation, just name it.” “Let’s get this over with quickly… I owe Chloe too much. I can’t wait to make it up to her anymore.” Leo huffed and yelled, “Me too! Auntie Chloe is so nice, but Mommy was so unreasonable and chased her away! I don’t want a mommy like this!” My heart turned completely to ash. A few years ago, Chloe had tried to harm Leo several times. Even if the plot hadn’t dictated it, I would have found a way to get rid of her for Leo’s sake. I thought I had succeeded. But looking at them now. I had been played. “WARNING—” “Abnormality detected in the plot’s conclusion! Severe character deviation!” The System’s alarm and a piercing siren exploded in my head. “Host, please repair the plot within seven days, or the scenario will be forcibly terminated!” I clutched my head in agony. Wasn’t the plot over? “System, what is going on?” I asked frantically. “…Apologies, Host. It seems we were both deceived.” “Plot monitoring is conducted solely from the Host’s perspective, and characters actively deceiving the System is unprecedented… This was an oversight on our part.” The System’s mechanical voice hummed slowly. “However, since this System also failed to detect the character anomaly, we will bear a portion of the responsibility.” “Even if the plot repair fails within seven days, your points will still be awarded.” A wave of relief washed over me. When I snapped back to reality, Arthur and Leo were staring at me nervously. They knew that whenever I spaced out like that, I was communicating with the System. “Is the System back? What’s going on? Didn’t you say the plot was over?” Arthur’s tone was laced with anxiety. “It’s not going to punish Leo or Chloe, is it?” Leo covered his mouth, his big eyes darting around. “I-I take back what I just said!” I waited a moment. Seeing that neither father nor son had any intention of showing concern for me, I suddenly laughed. “No, it won’t,” I said, a bitter smile on my lips. “Also, Leo, happy birthday.” “Your birthday present is your freedom.” I immediately abandoned any thought of repairing the plot. I just had to wait out the seven days for the failure, and then I would be forcibly extracted. 4 Arthur truly couldn’t wait a single second. He completely bypassed the mandatory thirty-day “cooling-off” period for divorce and went straight to litigation. After getting the final divorce decree, I packed a few clothes. As I was about to leave the Sterling mansion, I couldn’t help but ask Leo, “Leo, if you never see Mommy again after today… will you be sad?” Leo was playing with his blocks and didn’t even look up. “Mommy, why are you starting this again?!” “You used that exact same line to chase Auntie Chloe away and force Daddy to stay with you! Are you trying to force me now too?!” My entire body went rigid. Right. I was the one who told them that if the plot deviated too much, I would die. But I never told them that if the plot became completely illogical, this entire world would cease to exist. Because of that, the Host and the characters were supposed to rely on each other to survive. But I didn’t want to burden Arthur and Leo, so I kept that part a secret. “Leo… I’m sorry. Mommy won’t say it again,” I said softly. “But… Mommy is truly going to disappear.” “You’re so annoying!” Leo suddenly grabbed a wooden block and hurled it at me. His little face was scrunched up in deep irritation. “Disappear! Disappear! Then just go disappear!” I couldn’t dodge in time. The block hit me squarely on the bridge of my nose. A flood of complex, agonizing emotions rushed over me all at once. Clutching my nose, I suddenly felt my body grow light. My five senses blurred for a fraction of a second. The plot had deviated again. I took a deep breath, reaching out to stroke Leo’s hair. He dodged my hand, moving to another spot to continue playing with his blocks. I sighed. “Fine. You have Chloe anyway. She’ll be with you.” Walking out of the Sterling estate, I stood by the curb waiting for a cab. A bright red sports car came roaring down the street. It slammed on the brakes right next to me. The window rolled down, revealing a face remarkably similar to mine, but far more vibrant and beautiful. It was Chloe. Arthur’s childhood sweetheart, the ‘white moonlight’ supporting character. Originally, as the substitute female lead, my role was to erase her influence and make Arthur fall in love with the real me. But obviously, I failed. Instead, I was completely played by their united front. “Elara, long time no see.” Chloe’s smile was arrogant and radiant. She flashed the massive pink, heart-shaped diamond on her finger. “Arthur and I are getting married the day after tomorrow. You have to come.” Seeing that familiar diamond, my heart skipped a beat. When I married Arthur, the plot required me to wear that exact pink diamond ring. But Arthur felt the ring didn’t suit me. I thought it was a trivial detail. So I broke the plot rule and wore the square-cut diamond he gave me instead. The very next day, I was hit with a plot penalty. I “accidentally” fell down the stairs and was bedridden for three months. I was so confused back then. It was just a minor descriptive deviation; the penalty shouldn’t have been that severe. Looking at it now, the pink diamond was definitely a crucial plot point. It wasn’t that the ring didn’t suit me. It was that I didn’t deserve it. “Congratulations,” I said coldly. A flash of blinding white light crossed my vision. That uncontrollable sensation of weightlessness hit me again. At this rate, I wouldn’t even need seven days. I’d be forcibly ripped from this world much sooner. “Arthur told me you were using that ‘disappearing’ threat again,” Chloe said mockingly. “But since the plot is over, don’t you think trying that trick now is a little too fake?” I ignored her. The plot deviation was irreversible anyway. This world was on the brink of annihilation. 5 Day Six of the countdown. I didn’t bother renting an apartment. Instead, I booked a luxury hotel suite, planning to just lie there and wait for the plot to collapse. “Plot monitoring is conducted solely from the Host’s perspective.” The System’s notification pinged suddenly. I watched the news about Arthur’s upcoming wedding on TV and gave a noncommittal “Mhm.” I turned off the TV and opened my phone. The gossip blogs were flooded with pictures of their sickeningly sweet, smiling faces. He must feel incredibly guilty to want the entire world to witness how he was making it up to her. “Therefore, the Host must personally witness the wedding of Arthur and Chloe for this System to accurately assess the degree of plot deviation.” I blinked and sat up straight. No wonder I hadn’t felt that weightless sensation all day. “System, do you ever think you’re fundamentally bugged?” I asked helplessly. The System was silent for a moment. “This System will submit an application for an upgrade.” “However, if it weren’t for this bug, given your… capabilities, Host, it would have been impossible for you to reach the end of the plotline.” I choked on the System’s bluntness. “You…” “Host, please witness the plot event as soon as possible,” the mechanical voice said, carrying a hint of what sounded almost like pity. “You will be extracted from this world very soon.” Day Five of the countdown. I wore a simple, elegant white dress to attend Arthur’s wedding. The ceremony was held on a pristine white sand beach. The weather was clear, the ocean breeze gentle. The venue was transformed into a sea of flowers; even the aisle was carpeted with pink petals. The System, worried I might be harassed, suggested I wear a mask and sunglasses to disguise myself. I smiled and declined. I found a crystal chair near the front and sat down, waiting for the ceremony to begin. From this angle and distance, I would have a crystal-clear view of Arthur and Chloe’s expressions. “Host, actually, you…” The System was unusually chatty today. I shook my head. “Don’t worry about me. Honestly, seeing how little they care about me, I feel relieved.” “Of course I’m sad, but I’m much more excited about my life when I get back.” Thinking about that, I grabbed a napkin from the table. With a few quick folds, I created a little teddy bear. “Look. Whenever my daughter threw a tantrum back home, I would quickly fold one of these little bears to cheer her up.” “Thank goodness I haven’t forgotten how to do it.” I held the little bear up, inspecting it from different angles. Behind me, a familiar, sweet little voice rang out: “Mommy, why are you here?” I turned around and saw Leo dressed in an adorable pageboy tuxedo. He was holding a flower basket. Inside the basket rested a pink velvet ring box. Instinctively, I wanted to reach out and hug him. My hand extended, then I forcefully pulled it back. Leo’s expression was incredibly defensive. He clutched the flower basket tightly, his childish words cutting deep: “Are you here to try and break up Daddy and chase Auntie Chloe away again?!” Everyone around us immediately turned to stare. I smiled. “You misunderstood, Leo. Auntie Chloe invited Mommy to attend her and Daddy’s wedding.” Leo froze for a second. He clearly didn’t expect me to say that. Scratching his head, he noticed the little bear in my hand. “Mommy, what’s that?” He reached out to grab it. I dodged his hand and gently pushed him away. “Leo, this isn’t your toy. You can’t just take it.” Leo’s eyes went wide. He dropped the flower basket on the ground and lunged at me stubbornly. “Mommy, I want to play with that!” I held the little bear high, but it was suddenly snatched from my hand. I looked up. Arthur, looking immaculate in his tailored suit, had silently appeared behind me. He gripped the little bear, inspecting it. He looked down at me. “Elara, these pathetic little tricks won’t win Leo over. It’s useless.”

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“If you ever want a divorce, you can have it at any time.” That was what Julian told me on our wedding day. I believed him. Two months later, the day his true love returned, I placed the divorce papers in front of him. Julian looked out the window, his expression completely blank. “It’s raining.” “I’m in a bad mood. Let’s divorce next time.” I stared at him. What?! 1 On the very night his beloved Chloe returned, fueled by the liquid courage of too many drinks, I slept with Julian. The trail of discarded clothes, starting right from the front door, was a testament to the desperate urgency of the encounter. Julian fought to keep his rationality, trying to push me away. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing slowly. “Mia, look at me. Look closely at who I am.” “If we keep going, don’t regret it.” I was panting slightly. Looking up at him, I grabbed his collar, stood on my tiptoes, and kissed him. What a joke. I’m sleeping with my legal husband. What’s there to regret? It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that I actually started regretting it. This guy’s stamina was terrifying. I tried to sneak away, but a hand wrapped around my ankle and dragged me right back. Warm breath ghosted over my ear. Julian’s voice was deep and husky, brushing against the back of my neck and sending shivers down my spine. “Be a good girl. Quitting halfway through is strictly prohibited.” 2 It was a night of pure, reckless indulgence. When I woke up, the space beside me was empty. A glass of milk and a sandwich sat on the nightstand, along with a sticky note from Julian. The words were overflowing with tender concern. Since our wedding, Julian had diligently played the role of the perfect husband. I often caught myself under the illusion that I was actually loved. But rationality always pulled me back. Julian was in love with Chloe. The person he was originally supposed to marry was Chloe. But my sister, who had always done exactly as she pleased, became a runaway bride. I heard Julian chased her all the way to the airport. For whatever reason, she didn’t get on that flight to France. Out of spite and anger. Later, when the families tried to shove me—the older sister he barely knew—at him as a replacement, he didn’t fight it. It was only when I excused myself to the restroom that he finally let slip a hint of exhausted apathy toward our relatives’ endless teasing: “Do I even have the right to refuse?” “Since you’ve all decided, I don’t care.” Because I wasn’t the person in his heart, it didn’t matter who it was. Anyone would do. On our wedding day, the very first thing Julian said to me was: “If you ever want a divorce, you can have it at any time.” I didn’t expect that a mere two months after the wedding, Chloe would return. I’ve always known exactly where I stand. Ignoring the breakfast on the nightstand, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer, Elena. “Draft a divorce agreement for me, please.” Elena’s shocked, dramatic squawking echoed through the phone. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, but a sudden, heavy downpour began. I couldn’t help but zone out, lost in thought. 3 That same evening, I placed the divorce papers directly in front of Julian. In the quiet study, the man sat there in a crisp white dress shirt, radiating an aura of aristocratic elegance and gentleness. He was completely different from the boy in my memories. I had only seen Julian fight once. It was in a filthy, secluded alley near the old campus of the university. To inflict maximum pain, he held a solid metal Zippo lighter in his fist, his strikes brutal and merciless. The sound of shattering bone echoed in the air, mixing with the other man’s agonizing screams. His slightly youthful, handsome face looked almost demonic as it became splattered with crimson blood. That was the first time I met the person Chloe talked about constantly. The sole heir to the Sterling Conglomerate. Violent, arrogant, and entirely fearless. Perhaps because that summer was unusually hot and suffocatingly humid, I inexplicably despised him. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Julian was still staring silently at the piece of paper. It had been so long I started to question his literacy. I couldn’t help but ask: “Do you not know how to read?” Julian finally moved. He turned his head to look out the window, his expression completely blank. “It rained all day today.” I followed his gaze to the damp windowpanes. Okay, and? “I’m in a bad mood. Let’s divorce next time.” Me: ??? … Over the next two days, Julian and I engaged in a bizarre, unspoken tug-of-war. Our text history was stuck on a message I sent that morning, reminding him to sign the papers. He had intentionally ignored me again. Me: [You’re running away.] Julian: [Running away is shameful, but it works.] A moment later, my phone buzzed a few more times. [You sleep with me and then dump me. You’re heartless.] What is he talking about?! Aren’t I graciously making way for his true love? [Are you mad because I made you uncomfortable last night?] [Fine, I admit I don’t have much experience, but you acting like this is really embarrassing for me.] [Besides, you were clearly enjoying it later on. /frustrated emoji] His blatant, shameless texts made my face burn. [You were the one who said I could have a divorce anytime I wanted.] Julian: […] [You talk too much. I’m blocking you for half a day.] When I tried to reply. A system message popped up: The recipient has rejected your message. Me: ??? This guy is acting like a literal child. 4 I originally planned to go home tonight, tie him to a chair, and force him to sign the papers. But halfway there, I got a call from my family’s main estate. Sighing, I turned the car around and drove to the family home. As soon as I walked in, I heard laughter and cheerful chatter spilling from the living room. “Chloe is getting prettier every day.” Chloe was sitting in the center of the room. The teasing and compliments from our relatives had turned her face a flush, delicate pink, making her look like a perfectly ripe peach. “She looks so perfect with that Sterling boy. Such a shame.” “If you hadn’t run away from the wedding, you’d be the future matriarch of the Sterling family right now.” Chloe quickly tried to stop them. “Julian is already married to my sister. It’s inappropriate to make jokes like that.” The relatives were completely dismissive. “What’s inappropriate about it? They’re married, but they can still get divorced.” “As long as the Sterling family agrees, swapping brides is nothing.” These were all relatives from my father’s side of the family. They had never liked me. Because I looked exactly like my biological mother. That poor, tragic woman. She risked her entire inheritance from her father to help a ruined man rebuild his business empire from scratch. And in return, she was betrayed over and over again. Ultimately, driven insane by depression, she died alone in a remote sanatorium. I scoffed, clapping my hands slowly as I walked toward the crowd. “Since when did the Harrison family start encouraging girls to steal their brother-in-law?” “But you are right about one thing.” “I’ve already handed the divorce papers to Julian.” I stopped walking, locking eyes with Chloe’s wide, innocent doe eyes. The corners of my mouth curled into a mocking smirk. “Do you want to go cry and whine to him so he kicks me out faster? Then you can finally take my place.” “Just like your mother did.” Chloe’s face instantly drained of color. Tears immediately pooled in her eyes, creating a picture of fragile victimization that would make anyone’s heart ache. “You ungrateful wretch!” My father’s furious roar echoed from behind me. I whipped around, only to unexpectedly lock eyes with a pair of dark, deep-set eyes swirling with unreadable emotions. “…” Why the hell was Julian here?!

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The youngest son of the Sterling family and I had despised each other for eight years. Later, my family went bankrupt. I ended up riding a rusty bicycle and selling breakfast burritos from a food cart near Ethan Sterling’s university. One day, he walked by, surrounded by his usual entourage, his face the picture of calm arrogance. But the moment he saw me, his entire body went rigid. He frantically shoved the cigarette he was holding into the hands of the guy next to him. “I wasn’t smoking! It’s not mine! I quit a long time ago!” 1 “Hey, Ethan, isn’t that Chloe Vance? Hahahaha! I heard her family went bankrupt. How did the little princess end up selling burritos on the street?” “Want me to get someone to flip her cart, Ethan? Maybe call campus security and play a little game of cat and mouse?” “Looking at her now, she’s not even a mouse. She’s a rat.” “Does it feel good to see her begging for scraps, Ethan?” … I followed the sound of the voices. One glance was all it took for my mood to sour. Back when my family was rich and powerful, I had made it my personal mission to put these arrogant, spoiled brats in their place. They whispered among themselves, laughing as they strutted toward my cart. “This tortilla is burnt. Is it even edible?” The girl who was currently buying a burrito from me frowned, unhappy that I had spaced out. “I’m so sorry, let me make you a fresh one. Just give me one minute.” I looked down and cracked a fresh egg onto the grill. Suddenly, a crumpled ball of trash hit my cart. “Selling burnt food? Looks like you don’t want this cart anymore.” The one speaking was Blake. He was the heaviest guy in their group, and in the past, I had beaten him black and blue more than once for bullying other students. When the girl saw Blake’s menacing look, she waved her hands frantically and ran off. “Never mind, keep it!” Blake kicked the wheel of my cart. “Chloe Vance. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The tables have really turned, haven’t they? I never thought I’d see the day.” “You look like a stray dog. It’s disgusting.” “Ethan, I’ll teach her a lesson for you!” The “Ethan” he was referring to was Ethan Sterling. My lifelong nemesis. He was standing a few feet away, walking over while surrounded by his posse. He was dressed head-to-toe in designer streetwear, his hair dyed a trendy ash-brown. I could smell his expensive oud cologne from a mile away. The youngest heir of the Sterling empire. Everything about him screamed pampered luxury and effortless perfection. He always looked so careless and lazy that it was hard to associate him with being a top-tier student at a prestigious university. Blake looked like a dog waiting for a treat, pausing until Ethan got closer. Then, rolling up his sleeves, Blake grabbed an entire carton of my eggs and smashed them onto the pavement. Yolk and shells splattered everywhere. I glared at the smug look on Blake’s face, grabbed my scalding hot metal spatula, and pointed it directly at his face. His legs visibly shook. He stumbled backward in terror, hiding behind Ethan. “Ethan, save me!” The young man stood in front of me, half a head taller than I was. My gaze slowly moved downward, landing on the lit cigarette pinched between his fingers. I frowned. The very next second, Ethan’s entire body went stiff. He rapidly shoved the cigarette directly into Blake’s mouth and held up his empty hands. “I wasn’t smoking! He was!” “I quit a long time ago!” 2 With the cigarette dangling awkwardly from his lips, Blake looked at Ethan in utter confusion. He mumbled around the filter, “E-Ethan, this isn’t yours…” Ethan clamped a hand over Blake’s mouth. “Smoke your cigarette and shut up.” The other guys in the group sensed something was off. They exchanged bewildered looks and started whispering. “What’s going on? Doesn’t Ethan want revenge?” “Someone said they saw Chloe running a cart here this morning, and he sprinted over faster than anyone. Wasn’t he coming here to gloat?” “Why does it feel like Ethan is… terrified of her?” “I’m not gonna lie, one phrase comes to mind: whipped.” “Shut up, it’s probably PTSD!” 3 Ethan and I grew up together. But we couldn’t stand the sight of each other. Ethan was the ultimate rebellious rich kid. Skipping class to street race, spending days at internet cafes playing games—no one could control him. But even though he slept through class and gamed all night, his grades were always at the very top of the class. Whenever the rankings came out, he would lean over with a punchable smirk and say: “You need to study harder, Chloe. Otherwise, you’ll just have to settle for inheriting your family’s billions.” The feud was cemented right then and there. Starting in middle school, every time he skipped class, I snitched on him. Then, armed with the “royal decree” from Mr. Sterling, I would personally drag him home by his ear. I didn’t spare his little gang of rich friends, either. Anyone who talked back got pinned to the ground until their parents came to pick them up. Ethan couldn’t beat me in a fight. He could only watch helplessly as I drove away in his favorite sports car, unplugged his internet router, and used jet-black hair dye to cover up whatever neon colors he had put in his hair. We hated each other’s guts. The year we graduated high school, I finally received a confession letter from my crush. But before I could read it, Ethan snatched it right out of my hands. When I went to find my crush later, he shook his head frantically and denied the letter ever existed. I stormed over to Ethan’s to settle the score, only to overhear him talking to his friends: “Chloe Vance is practically a barbarian. Any guy who likes a girl that violent must be completely blind.” I walked right up and slapped him across the face on the spot. 4 Ethan shot his friends a death glare, and the boys finally shut their mouths. I looked up at them, my tone perfectly calm: “If you aren’t going to buy anything, please step aside. You’re blocking my customers.” “Also, you’re paying full price for the eggs you smashed. Two dollars each.” Hearing this, Blake got defensive. “Customers? You call this a business? Are your burritos even fully cooked? You just wait, I’m calling campus security to kick you out—” I raised my heavy spatula, ready to chase him off. Instantly, the tall guy next to Blake stepped in to protect him. Blake looked down his nose at me. “Don’t think I won’t touch you. Do you honestly still think you’re the untouchable Vance heiress?” “Touch her and see what happens.” A freezing voice dropped like a hammer. Blake froze. He turned to look at the man who spoke, his eyes wide in disbelief. “E-Ethan… what did you say?” “Was I not clear enough? I said—” Ethan enunciated every syllable with lethal precision, “Touch her and see what happens.” Blake snapped his mouth shut and backed away in shame. Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets, took a step forward, and let his gaze fall on me. “I’m buying. How much?” “Eight dollars for a regular. Ten if you add bacon.” Ethan paused. “Add bacon.” I expertly cracked an egg onto the hot grill and poured a ladle of batter. When I glanced up, I caught Ethan secretly taking off his flashy earrings and silver chain. He was even using his hands to aggressively flatten his meticulously styled, gelled hair. I let out a short laugh and wiped the stray batter off my hands with a towel. “You don’t need to do that anymore. The Vance family is gone. Your nightmare is over.” Two months ago, a massive project my family’s company invested in collapsed. After liquidating all our assets to pay off debts and severances, my father had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. Overnight, I went from being a pampered heiress to a girl flipping burritos on the street. I was used to it by now. My family went from a massive, five-story luxury mansion to a cramped, 600-square-foot apartment. We went from eating Michelin-star meals every day to eating leftover rice and cheap bread. Right now, my only thought was working hard, making money, and surviving. As for Ethan Sterling, we were no longer from the same world. I wrapped up the bacon breakfast burrito, handed it to him, and lifted my chin toward the printed sign on my cart. “Venmo or CashApp. Show me your screen when it’s done.” Ethan frowned. After transferring the money, he held his phone up for me to see. “One hundred and fifty dollars? You sent too much.” Ethan turned his head, looking at my surroundings with a complex expression. “Are you out here every single day?” I glanced at him. “Not always.” Ethan muttered a quiet, “Oh.” The environment here really wasn’t great. Even though we were right next to the university and there were other food carts around, my spot was pretty deserted. That girl they scared off earlier was my very first customer of the day. This business really wasn’t easy. Ethan showed no signs of leaving. He took a bite of the burrito, his frown deepening. “My birthday is next month. Are you free?” In the past, he was forced by our parents to invite me to his birthday parties every year. The result was always me turning his party into a chaotic disaster. I couldn’t believe he was actually inviting me now. “I can be. But you know my situation. I won’t be bringing any fancy gifts.” Ethan scratched the back of his head. He still looked incredibly arrogant and aloof as he spoke. “Oh, whatever. It’s just that Coco misses you.” Coco. The little Pomeranian I had given him for his eighteenth birthday. (I had originally named her “Little Chloe” to annoy him, but it stuck). “Alright. I’ll bring some extra bacon for her.” The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence again. Ethan opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something else. Suddenly, a girl in a white tennis skirt came jogging over, puffing her cheeks out like an angry blowfish. “Ethan! Where have you been?! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” She was incredibly cute and sweet-looking, petite but curvy. Even I couldn’t help but stare for a second. When she noticed me, she looked slightly surprised, but offered a polite nod. “Hi there!” Ethan kept his hands in his pockets, looking down at her. “What are you doing here?” The girl looked away from me, stood on her tiptoes, and glared up at Ethan. “Don’t give me that! The professor told us to meet to discuss the math modeling competition. Did you forget again?” Ethan nodded, looking like he just remembered. The girl pointed at his earlobe. “When did you take your earrings out? I told you to take them out ages ago, otherwise your dad is going to get mad again.” When Ethan’s gaze flicked toward me, I tactfully looked away. “I know.” The girl stared at me intently for several seconds. I was getting a little confused, and our eyes met. She finally asked, “Do you guys know each other?” Ethan looked past me. “Yeah. We know each other.” Serena playfully swatted Ethan’s arm. “You didn’t even introduce us! Hi, I’m Serena.” I took in all their little intimate gestures. “I’m Chloe.” Serena thought for a moment. “Chloe Vance? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.” “It’s a beautiful name!” “Since you guys know each other, do you want to come to our birthday party next week? Ethan and I have the exact same birthday! Our families talked about it for ages and actually decided to host a joint party!” “Not that I wanted to share a party with him! Boys’ parties are always so loud and obnoxious.” “But, will you come?” Serena put her hands behind her back, tilting her head adorably. My tone was flat. “Sure, if I have the time.” Serena enthusiastically grabbed my hand. “That would be perfect!” The moment she said that, she immediately spun around, feigning anger at Ethan. “Okay, okay, the professor is waiting. Mr. Sterling, can we go now?” Without waiting for his answer, she grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the campus gates. I slowly lowered my eyes. Right then, Ethan suddenly turned his head and raised his voice. “Chloe, are you trying to cut ties with me?” I forced a smile. “No. Our relationship is exactly the same as it’s always been.” 5 After Ethan left, Blake stared at their retreating backs and sneered. “See that, Chloe? That is Ethan’s true match.” “Equal social standing, a match made in heaven!” Serena was a head and a half shorter than Ethan. To keep up with him, she had to walk incredibly fast. But Ethan had unconsciously slowed his pace to match hers. I looked away from them and smirked. “They do look good together.” “Chloe, the only reason Ethan didn’t mess with you today is because he’s a nice guy. He pities you. He doesn’t want to stoop to your level.” “If you’re smart, you’ll pack up this trash cart and roll as far away as possible.” I smiled and casually picked up my heavy metal spatula. Blake flinched, terrified. “Just scaring you. Blake, do me a favor and stop barking in my presence.” Blake desperately tried to reclaim his dignity. “You wouldn’t dare! If you harm a single hair on my head, the Blake family will destroy what’s left of the Vances. When that happens, your dad—the former CEO—will have to lick my shoes to apologize—” Before he could finish his sentence, I stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and cleanly flipped him over my shoulder. “Wipe your mouth. It smells like you’ve been eating shit.” Blake hit the pavement hard, groaning in pain and crying for his mother. I dusted my hands off. “You’re more than welcome to try me.” Blake scrambled up, clutching his face, and stumbled away. “You just wait!” I watched him run, then silently pushed my food cart a little further in the opposite direction. Looks like I’ll have to find a new spot to sell burritos tomorrow.

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The day I returned to the States and attended a college reunion. I inevitably ran into my childhood sweetheart and former love, Carter. After two years, he hadn’t changed a bit. He was always the center of attention wherever he went. I was about to go over and say hello when I overheard his friends gossiping about me. “Carter, the guys and I made a bet. That Vance girl who’s so desperately in love with you? The first thing she’ll do when she gets back is come crawling to you, begging to get back together.” “Man, you have the best luck. All these women constantly orbiting you. What’s the saying? You’ve got eight slices of cake; you can divvy them up however you want.” Carter noticed me walking toward him through the crowd. He smirked and said: “Don’t worry. Vivian can’t live without me. Didn’t she just obediently come back to the States just for me?” I walked right up to him and ruthlessly shattered his arrogant delusion. “Who said I came back for you? I came back because my family arranged my engagement party here. “I’m getting married, Carter. Regardless of everything, thank you for keeping me company all those years.” 1 “Even though I genuinely wish I could erase every single day I spent with you.” My words wiped the smiles off everyone’s faces. Carter’s face turned especially dark. “Vivian, watch what you say in public. Stop throwing a tantrum. What engagement? Are you just trying to make me mad the second you get back? “I know I made mistakes before, but you know Sarah and I are just friends. I haven’t even seen her since you went abroad.” “Yeah, exactly! Vivian, I can vouch for him. Carter really cares about you. Honestly, he hasn’t been doing great these past few years while you were gone.” Carter’s friends scrambled to smooth things over. If this were two years ago, seeing Carter try so hard to explain himself, I probably would have nodded with tears in my eyes and forgiven him instantly. But our relationship ended long before I ever left the country. “It doesn’t matter. Who you see and where you meet them has absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. “Oh, right. You actually know the guy I’m engaged to. You two probably haven’t seen each other in a long time.” “Who?” “What?” “I’m asking you who you’re marrying!” “Ethan Sterling.” 2 I looked at Carter’s expression of sheer disbelief. Thinking about how our relationship devolved to this point, perhaps it was fundamentally flawed from the very beginning. When I was little. The Vance, Hayes, and Sterling families were all very close. So, I had known Carter Hayes and Ethan Sterling since childhood. I was always a sickly child, so those two were incredibly attentive and protective of me. Thanks to them, I rarely encountered any real danger or hardship. But that kind of good luck doesn’t last forever. When I was in middle school, I was kidnapped by thugs hired by a rival corporation. Because I was the only daughter of the Vance family, my ransom value was incredibly high. The kidnappers used me as leverage to extort highly classified documents from my parents. I don’t know if it was a blessing or a curse, but while waiting to be rescued, I was so terrified that I passed out. I drifted in and out of consciousness. Because I was blindfolded, my hearing became hyper-sensitive. I heard a familiar voice arguing with the kidnappers. Then, the owner of that voice walked over to me and held me gently in his arms. He kept whispering to me, telling me not to be afraid, that everything was going to be okay. Feeling safe, I drifted back into a deep sleep. When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. And Carter was asleep next to my bed, holding my hand. Later, my parents told me that Carter was the one who got me out. Carter also told me stories of how he bravely negotiated with the kidnappers to rescue me unharmed. From that moment on, I devoted all my attention and affection to Carter. I never bothered to investigate why Ethan, who disappeared that very day, was in a wheelchair the next time I saw him. Not long after, the entire Sterling family moved abroad so Ethan could get treatment for his legs. That was the last time I saw Ethan during our youth. After that, my life revolved entirely around Carter. I got into the same university as him and chose the same major, all just to be closer to him. But after we officially started dating, Carter’s possessiveness and temper escalated significantly. He wouldn’t let me interact with other guys. He wouldn’t let me wear nice clothes. If anything didn’t go his way, he would resort to emotional, and sometimes physical, abuse. Every time I was on the verge of breaking up with him, he would pull me back in with sweet words and perfectly timed displays of vulnerability. Even his friends joked that I loved him far too deeply. Until the day I discovered that Carter had been secretly dating an underage freshman behind my back. All the grievances and injustice I had swallowed over the years instantly broke the dam. That day, I calmly and quietly broke up with him. I was so calm that Carter genuinely thought I was joking. He completely ignored me and went right back to reviewing some business documents on his laptop. So, the very next day after I broke up with him, I packed a bag and moved abroad. 3 I originally just wanted to go abroad to clear my head and relax, but I never expected to run into Ethan. I ran into him at a hospital. Having not seen each other in years, we talked for a long time. He told me his legs were treated at this exact hospital. By some twist of fate, he eventually became a surgical resident there. It felt like we had traveled back in time to when we were kids. He asked me a lot of questions, including questions about Carter. I didn’t want to talk about Carter much. He probably sensed that, so he dropped the subject. After that day, we started seeing each other frequently. On his days off, Ethan would take me exploring all over the city. During his lunch breaks, I would cook delicious meals and bring them to his office to eat with him. Just like that, having him by my side made my days abroad bright, sunny, and peaceful. Looking back, that must have been when I fell in love with Ethan Sterling. Later, Ethan’s hospital organized a charity gala. He invited me to attend as his “only family in the area,” as he put it. I sat in the audience, watching him play popular songs on his acoustic guitar, genuinely happy that he had picked the instrument back up. After a few songs, standing under the bright, dazzling stage lights, he confessed his feelings to me, while the entire crowd cheered us on. In that moment, I said yes without a second of hesitation, because I had to admit, Vivian Vance truly couldn’t live without Ethan Sterling. Not long after becoming Ethan’s girlfriend, I had to return to the States because of some family business. Ethan had to stay behind for a bit longer to wrap up some work at the hospital. Before we parted ways, we agreed that as soon as he returned, we would start planning our wedding. I just never expected him to suggest inviting Carter to it. 4 Snapping back to the present, I noticed some commotion around me. Immediately, I realized something was wrong with Carter. The veins on his forehead were bulging, and his pale, slender hand suddenly reached out toward me, trembling violently. Seeing the situation escalating, his friends quickly grabbed him from behind to hold him back. Carter looked exactly like a feral, enraged beast. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared at me: “Vivian Vance! You are mine! You’ll be mine for the rest of your life, don’t you even dream of leaving me! “I don’t believe it. There’s no way you don’t love me! I know exactly how good you’ve been to me all these years! It has to be… that bastard Ethan must have brainwashed you!” I remained perfectly calm, because I was very familiar with this state of his. He suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks. The signs started showing shortly after his mother, Mrs. Hayes, abandoned their family. Everyone around us was shocked by Carter’s outburst. The eldest son of the prestigious Hayes financial dynasty, the famously rational, calculating CEO of the Hayes Corporation, losing his mind in public over a woman. Only I knew that right now, Carter was completely incapable of controlling himself. Carter cared about his image more than anything. Normally, even if he felt an episode coming on in public, he would suppress it with everything he had. An outburst like this was a first. I realized I was probably the only one who could calm him down right now. After hesitating for a second, I called his secretary and told him to bring Carter’s medication immediately. Honestly, I didn’t want his secretary to know I was back in the country so soon. Because the news would definitely reach Old Mr. Hayes’s ears. The old me worshipped Carter as my savior, treating him as the man I could entrust the rest of my life to. I never realized that to him, I was at best a trophy to brag about, a pawn in his games of leverage and profit. To advance his career, he messed around with the daughters of various CEOs behind my back, and even initiated our “breakups” just so he could offer me up to his business partners. Back then, I treated Carter as my entire universe. I believed that even if he didn’t know how to express it, he truly cared for me deep down. I thought that as long as I did what he said and acted obediently, he would come save me. His possessiveness was so strong, he wouldn’t let anyone else lay a finger on me. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Dead wrong! That night, I experienced the agonizing descent from hope into absolute despair for the first time. I learned exactly how torturous waiting could be. After I luckily managed to use my family’s status to intimidate the man and escape, I swore I would never, ever be soft-hearted toward Carter again. But then, a drunken, hyperventilating Carter appeared in front of me, suffering a massive panic attack. It was the first time I saw him lose control, and my first introduction to his severe anxiety disorder. I didn’t want to help him, but Carter claimed his condition was a direct result of the trauma he endured while saving me years ago. He only said that one sentence before passing out, and no matter how much I asked him about it later, he never brought it up again. Fortunately, I was able to temporarily calm his episodes, so every time he had one, I stayed by his side. But at the same time, every episode filled me with a deep, crushing sense of powerlessness. I knew I should stay away from him, even hate him, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Looking back now, wasn’t that just another form of torture for the old me? After that day, I felt nothing but guilt toward Carter, because no matter what, I could never bring myself to love him again. Carter’s grandfather, Old Mr. Hayes, would always gently try to persuade me. He said he loved me dearly and desperately wanted me to be his granddaughter-in-law, but Carter was just too disappointing, too much of a bastard. Old Mr. Hayes always said he had let me down, and let my grandfather down. So, he always treated me much better than he treated Carter. Old Mr. Hayes is getting on in years now, and I didn’t want to cause him any more worry. It didn’t take long for Carter’s secretary to arrive, and Carter slowly began to calm down. However, his gaze never left me for a second, making me feel like I had needles in my back. Assuming my part was done, I was about to leave with my friend, but Carter’s secretary stopped me. He said Old Mr. Hayes wanted to see me. 5 Thinking about it, I really should go visit the elders since I just got back to the country, so I agreed. I had driven my own car, so I declined the secretary’s offer to ride together. Carter walked quietly in front of me the whole time. I had no idea what he was thinking. I was used to it. After an episode, Carter always went through a period of heavy silence. I got into the driver’s seat and was just about to start the engine when the passenger door was yanked open from the outside. “I’m riding with you. You said it yourself, when I have an episode, you have to stay with me.” Carter was always like this—showing weakness while still being incredibly stubborn. To him, this was his version of coaxing you, and you were supposed to be grateful for it. But now, I had absolutely no relationship with him, and I didn’t need or want to tolerate or accommodate him anymore. “Get out. “Don’t make me force you out!” Carter turned to look at me, his expression dark and suppressed: “Vivian, I don’t get it. What is so great about Ethan Sterling? Tell me, how exactly does he beat me? “We’ve been together for over a decade! You were only abroad with him for four years. “Stop throwing a tantrum. Let’s get back together, okay? I…” “Carter, do not compare Ethan to yourself. You aren’t worthy!” I cut him off coldly: “When I loved you, you hurt me the deepest. You are the last person on earth who has the right to ask for my forgiveness. “Get out of the car! I’m not going to sit here in a standoff with you. Even if Old Mr. Hayes invited me, I can always choose not to go!” I ignored him entirely, only listening for the sound of the door opening and slamming shut. After he got out, I stared blankly at his retreating back for a moment. I suddenly felt so exhausted. I had barely been back in the country for a few days, and I was already missing the time I spent abroad with Ethan.

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I was with Julian Sterling for three years. Then he got engaged to someone else, handed me a fifty-million-dollar check, and told me to get lost. Back then, I was too proud. I valued my dignity above everything else. I didn’t take the money. Two years passed, and my life had hit rock bottom. Coincidentally, a wealthy playboy started pursuing me. I said yes. On our very first date, he took me shopping. I didn’t hold back. I picked out seven figures worth of designer goods. But when it was time to pay, his card declined. The man was mortified. He immediately brought up his cousin, who supposedly held massive influence in the city. “My cousin happens to be in the area. I’ll just have him come over and handle it.” I said okay. But a few minutes later, when I saw the man who walked through the door, I was completely stunned. 1 At the checkout counter, Ethan Vance stared at the mountain of luxury goods and didn’t even blink. In that moment, I knew I had found the perfect boyfriend. Our meet-cute was ridiculously cliché. I was riding my electric scooter home from work and accidentally scraped his luxury car. He was on the phone at the time, his tone lazy and careless. “I’m breaking up with you. Is that so hard to understand, baby?” “It’s no fun if you take things too seriously.” He was the textbook definition of a wealthy playboy. Even after his car was scratched, he didn’t get angry. He just kept coaxing the girl on the phone while shooting me a highly suggestive look. Then he waved me off, telling me to go. I hesitated for a second, then left. Two years ago, I would have insisted on paying for the damage, even if it meant taking on a debt I couldn’t afford. But not anymore. The past two years had brutally taught me that ‘pride’ is the most useless thing in the world. Aside from a pretty face, I had absolutely nothing. So later, when he suddenly appeared outside my office building, I wasn’t surprised. A long time ago, I learned from a specific person that there are people in this world who are simply born different. They are arrogant, they burn money like paper, and getting whatever they want is effortless. They fundamentally believe that money can solve any problem. The sales associate quickly tallied the total and announced the exorbitant number. I did some quick math in my head. Once I break up with Ethan, this haul will be enough to buy a modest two-bedroom apartment and a decent car. How wonderful. Just as I was mentally celebrating, the sales associate spoke up, her voice hesitant. “Sir, this card…” It was declined. Ethan cleared his throat awkwardly, snatched the card back, and raised an eyebrow. “Give me a sec.” He pulled out his phone and dialed a number with practiced ease. After hanging up, he turned to me. “My cousin is just a few blocks away buying gifts for his fiancée. He’ll be here in a minute to cover it.” I offered him a sweet, understanding smile. “Okay.” Since I started dating Ethan, I had heard rumors about this cousin. People always spoke of him with a mix of awe and fear— “That guy is serious news. I’m telling you, dating the young Mr. Vance is fine, but do not mess with his cousin.” “I heard he has a fiancée. They keep it very low-profile, but she’s from a major family. They’re supposedly very much in love.” It was just gossip. I listened to it, but didn’t care. But since I was about to meet him, I spent a few minutes mentally preparing my best smile and practicing my introduction. Yet, when the man finally walked through the door, my brain completely short-circuited. I stood frozen in place, my body rigid. Ethan stood next to me, wrapping his hand around mine. “Mia, say hi to my cousin.” “Cousin.” I heard my own voice. It was trembling. The man looked perfectly calm. He gave a faint nod. As if he had never seen me before in his life. “Mm.” Then, he walked right past me. We were so close I could catch the faint, familiar scent of his woodsy cologne. When we were together, he never wore this cologne. Because I didn’t like it. But looking at it now, nothing in this world stays the same. For example: I used to be his girlfriend. And now, I’m his cousin’s. 2 Julian swiped his black card, glancing casually at the mountain of designer bags and clothes. He frowned slightly but didn’t say a word. Ethan immediately started complaining to him. “Someone definitely snitched to my dad again and got my accounts frozen.” “Bro, I’ll transfer this back to you in a few days, I promise.” While we were waiting earlier, Ethan had mentioned that Julian was incredibly principled. Ever since they were kids, he had been notoriously strict with all his younger cousins. He didn’t believe in free handouts. He would provide resources or project funding, but only if you proved you actually had the skills to handle it. “My cousin is totally fine with spending money on us, but it has to be for something productive.” Funding a shopping spree for a new girlfriend? Yeah, he would absolutely demand to be paid back. But this time, Julian just gave Ethan a deeply unreadable look. “Don’t worry about it.” “Huh?” Ethan asked, looking genuinely shocked and flattered. “Does this mean I don’t have to pay you back next time I ask for money either?” Julian smiled. His expression was ice-cold. “No. Just this once.” Ethan rubbed his nose, completely missing the tension. “I knew it! You’re the best.” “My girlfriend is incredibly grateful, too.” “Girlfriend?” Julian repeated the word, finally deigning to look at me. I pressed my lips together, meeting his gaze. “Thank you.” He ignored me, exchanged a few more words with Ethan, and then turned to leave. Before he walked out, he handed his black card to Ethan. “Take it. Buy whatever you want.” Ethan eagerly took it, looking at Julian with absolute adoration. “Bro, you are literally my savior.” We shopped for a while longer until the sun started to set, then finally left the mall. Ethan had all the purchases delivered directly to my apartment. The street was relatively empty. He looked at my face, a suggestive glint in his eye. He traced my wrist with his thumb, then leaned in to kiss me. I didn’t pull away. He pressed closer, smoothly parting my lips. I clenched my fists tight, freezing in place. However, the very next second, his phone rang. “Tsk.” He reluctantly pulled away and pulled out his phone. The moment he saw the caller ID, his annoyance vanished instantly. “My cousin needs me. He says it’s an emergency. Wait here for a minute, I’ll have my driver take you home.” I told him not to worry about it, I could just call an Uber. He thought for a second. “Alright, text me when you get back.” After he left, I was just about to hail a cab. A sleek luxury car glided smoothly to a stop right next to me. The tinted window rolled down, revealing the sharp, aristocratic profile of the man inside. He turned to look at me. His gaze dropped immediately to my lips, lingering there for a long, heavy moment before he finally spoke. His voice was deep and freezing. Just two words, but they made my heart violently seize. “Get in.” 3 Bathed in the pale moonlight, I stood frozen on the sidewalk. Staring at Julian Sterling. Seeing my hesitation, he didn’t rush me. He simply raised an eyebrow. And drawled lazily. “Mia.” I lowered my head. “Mr. Sterling.” “Can I help you?” Honestly, when I saw him earlier, I was terrified. I never imagined my luck could be this catastrophically bad. The very first guy I date after leaving him turns out to be his cousin. I was pretty satisfied with Ethan. I wasn’t planning on breaking up with him anytime soon. My breakup with Julian was incredibly messy and humiliating. I was terrified he was going to expose our past to Ethan. Knowing Ethan’s personality, he would dump me immediately. Dating your cousin’s ex-girlfriend? That’s a massive taboo. Especially since Ethan practically worshipped Julian like an idol. Julian stared at me intensely. After a long silence, he let out a low, dark chuckle. It was laced with confusion, and absolute, unfiltered mockery. “You don’t actually think I still have feelings for you, do you?” I didn’t expect him to be so brutally blunt. I felt a rush of deep humiliation. Because a minute ago, that was exactly what I thought. From the time he left the mall until now, at least two hours had passed. Which meant he hadn’t gone anywhere. He had been sitting here waiting for us the entire time. Then, he deliberately called Ethan away. And now he was telling me to get in his car. The night was dark, and we were completely alone. We used to share an incredibly intimate history. And when we broke up, I knew for a fact he was still deeply in love with me. I still remember it clearly— We were having dinner at a high-end restaurant. He sat across from me, meticulously peeling shrimp for me. He knew it was my favorite. He didn’t stop until my plate was overflowing. While I ate, I teased him. “My roommate told me some freshman has been asking around about you. She said she wants to ask you out.” Julian was two years older than me; he was an alumni. Shortly after graduating, he founded his own tech company, which became wildly successful. The university had invited him back as a guest speaker. I was in the student council and had been assigned as his liaison. He was incredibly famous on campus. Everyone knew him as a brilliant, self-made tech prodigy. But he was also incredibly low-profile. For the longest time, no one knew that his last name, Sterling, connected him to the elite Sterling family from the ultra-exclusive Funing Road district. Anyone from that neighborhood was basically royalty in the capital. The first time I met him, I was shaking with nerves. He noticed and offered a lazy, relaxed smile. “Do I look scary?” I quickly shook my head. “No.” He was naturally gorgeous, and he carried himself with an effortless, magnetic confidence. Half the girls on campus were completely obsessed with him. We interacted a few more times, and the tension between us grew. His text replies went from one-word answers to long, detailed paragraphs. My roommates watched it all happen and hyped me up constantly. I was young and easily influenced, so I couldn’t hold back. I confessed my feelings to him under a streetlight on campus. And then I boldly leaned up and kissed his cheek. The moon was exceptionally bright that night. He looked down at me, staring in silence for a very long time, before letting out a soft sigh, looking at me like he was completely defenseless against me. “Are you sure?” “Yes!” From that day on, we were together. But very few people knew. On campus, only my closest roommates were aware. And now, sitting in this luxurious restaurant, Julian went completely quiet after I mentioned the freshman who wanted to pursue him. My smile faded. I couldn’t read his expression. “What? Do you actually want to go out with her…” He slowly wiped his hands with a napkin, raised his eyes, cut me off, and said with absolute seriousness: “No.” “I want to marry you.” 4 Clatter. The fork slipped from my hand and hit the porcelain plate. For someone as reserved, aristocratic, and disciplined as Julian, in the three years we had been together, those were the most romantic words he had ever spoken. His eyes were incredibly dark, locked onto me intensely. I smiled. “Okay.” But that was as far as the fairy tale went. Because I was too naive, I completely missed the hidden depth and complication in his eyes. Because just a few days later, I saw him walking out of an exclusive VIP club, his arm wrapped tightly around another girl. The girl was wearing a stunning, diamond-encrusted white dress that looked unimaginably expensive. She had her face buried in his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck, looking incredibly intimate. A classmate standing next to me gasped in envy. “That’s Julian Sterling’s fiancée. I walked past their private room earlier and heard everyone cheering, asking when the wedding is.” “I had no idea he was that Julian Sterling! I just saw the club owner bowing and calling him ‘Young Master Sterling.’” In the capital, there were very few people the owner of that specific club would deferentially call “Young Master.” My mind completely blanked. I couldn’t understand. Wasn’t he my boyfriend? The next second, they reached a luxury car. I was just about to storm over and demand an explanation, when I saw the woman in Julian’s arms lift her face and kiss him directly on the lips. Julian’s body went completely rigid, and then he forcefully shoved her away. But my devastation didn’t lessen. After they drove away, I pulled out my phone and called him. “I saw everything.” He froze, then let out a heavy sigh through the phone. “Give me two years, okay?” “Our families have been close for generations. I can’t get out of this engagement right now.” That was the moment I finally understood. His “self-made startup” was just a billionaire heir playing a game. Even if it failed, he would still live a life of absolute, untouchable luxury. His background was so elite that there was no universe where we could be together. People in his social stratosphere didn’t marry girls like me. But he sounded so incredibly resolute on the phone: “Two years. I promise we will get married. But… during this time, I can’t give you an official title.” Saying he “couldn’t give me a title” was just a polite way of saying I would be his secret mistress. Back then, I was fiercely proud. I absolutely refused to accept that kind of humiliation. “Julian, what kind of woman do you think I am?” I fought back tears, my voice absolute and uncompromising. “We’re done.” He came looking for me many times after that. I refused to see him every single time. Even my roommates tried to convince me. “I can tell he genuinely loves you and wants to marry you. Just endure it for a bit. Waiting two years isn’t that bad. With a family background like his, sometimes he really doesn’t have a choice.” I didn’t say a word. Everyone kept telling me he loved me. But did his love give him the right to act like a god, casually ordering me to remain his nameless, hidden secret, shoving me into such a degrading, pathetic position? He was born with the world at his feet. So he naturally assumed I would obediently and silently stay by his side. He was absolutely certain I could never leave him, that I would wait for him. But he would never understand what that truly meant for me. It meant—that when another woman hugged him, kissed him, or even slept with him, I wouldn’t have the right to say a single word. I wouldn’t even have the right to be jealous. Because I would be the shameful, hidden secret. To him, and the people around him, it was “only two years.” They truly couldn’t fathom why I was being so difficult. The last time we saw each other was at the restaurant where I worked part-time. He sat alone at a table, ordering the most expensive items on the menu. When I brought his food, he just stared at me in total silence. It wasn’t until I turned to leave that he suddenly reached out, gripping my wrist so tightly it hurt. His voice was strained and tense as he said, “If you just say yes, you’ll never have to do this kind of work for the rest of your life.” He had enough money to guarantee I’d never have to worry about a single thing until the day I died. If it were me today, I probably would have said yes. But back then, I just glared at him coldly, and slapped him across the face. “I don’t need your charity.” He stood there, the corners of his eyes slowly turning red, remaining silent for a very long time. A crowd had gathered around us. They were all watching the spectacle, mocking him. But he didn’t care at all. He just said, his voice incredibly soft: “Just wait. I’ll marry you eventually.” It sounded like the arrogant delusion of a young man. But that very night, his best friend tracked me down. His name was Lucas. I had met him a few times and we had shared a few meals when Julian and I were together. After Julian and I broke up, he had actually tried to mediate and convince me to go back a few times. But this time, he wasn’t trying to convince me. Instead, he handed me a check. “Here. For you.” “He’s getting officially engaged. It’s the daughter of the Lu family. She’s not as pretty as you.” He laughed, looking me up and down. “And she’s not as stubborn as you, either.” “Honestly, I’ve never seen Julian care about a girl this much. Do you have any idea what he went through to…” He stopped himself, sighing. “Forget it. If Julian knew I told you, he’d kill me.” I calmly unfolded the check, counting the zeros several times to make sure I was reading it right. Fifty million. I had never seen that much money in my entire life. “Take the money. Do whatever you want with it, live a good life. Julian told me to tell you he’s coming back for you.” I ripped the check to shreds right in front of his face. I took a deep breath, holding onto my anger, and said: “Tell him this.” “I don’t want his money. Tell him to stop humiliating himself.” What I didn’t know was that Lucas was on the phone with Julian at that exact moment. Every single word I said was broadcast directly into Julian’s ear. I completely and utterly trampled his pride and dignity into the dirt. As soon as I got in the cab, I received a text from him. [Mia, you better not regret this.] Seeing that message, I wasn’t angry. I just pictured the expression on his face as he typed it. It was probably incredibly cold, tinged with a heavy dose of helplessness. Because why wouldn’t he feel helpless? Despite being the ultimate golden boy, despite having the entire world revolving around him, he couldn’t control everything. There was finally something he couldn’t keep. I pressed my lips together and typed back. [I won’t.]

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My boyfriend lost a game of Truth or Dare and had to kiss a girl in the room. Before he could even lean toward me, Sarah violently shoved me aside and planted her lips on his. “Stop fooling around. Today is your sister-in-law’s birthday.” Carter pinched her cheek with a doting smile. Everyone stared at me, sprawled awkwardly on the sofa, too afraid to breathe. Sarah giggled. “Don’t be mad, Chloe. Carter has never even seen me as a girl anyway.” Carter also chimed in, trying to placate me. “It was just a game. Don’t be such a sore loser.” Everyone expected me to throw a massive, hysterical fit. But instead, I just quietly took off my engagement ring and gently slid it onto his childhood best friend’s finger. “Let me know when the wedding invitations go out.” 1 “Carter, you taste so sweet! What did you eat?!” Sarah’s coquettish voice echoed through the private karaoke room. Carter had been gazing at her with absolute fondness. It wasn’t until he noticed the dead silence in the room that he finally looked over and saw me shoved onto the sofa. He let go of Sarah’s cheek and lightly patted the back of her head. “Stop fooling around. Today is your sister-in-law’s birthday.” Sarah pouted. “Aw… Chloe wouldn’t be that petty, right? It was just a dare~” With that one sentence, nobody in the room dared to make a sound. This wasn’t some silly little punishment like a slap on the wrist or a flick to the forehead. This was a kiss. A few people were already shrinking back into their seats, because usually, this was the exact moment I would explode into a screaming match. However, I simply, slowly took off my engagement ring, walked over to Sarah, and gently slid it onto her finger. Surprisingly, it fit perfectly. I smiled. “Let me know when the wedding invitations go out.” Everyone was completely dumbfounded, including Sarah. “Chloe Vance, it was just a game. Do you really have to do this?” Carter’s voice was freezing cold. “I know it was,” I replied with a soft smile. “I’m just helping you guys have more fun.” Carter’s face visibly darkened into a thunderous scowl. Sarah tugged on his sleeve. “It’s okay, Carter. It’s my fault. I didn’t know Chloe was such a sore loser.” Saying that, she pulled the ring off and threw it at me. “Here. Stop being mad. Have your ring back. I didn’t mean anything by it.” The ring hit me square in the face with a sharp sting, then clattered onto the floor with a metallic clink. Everyone in the room stared at me with wide, horrified eyes. But I just calmly picked the ring back up. “Since you don’t want it, it doesn’t have any use anymore.” With that, I tossed the ring straight into the trash can. “Chloe, are you crazy?! That’s your engagement ring!” “Quick, quick, quick! Get it out!” “Where did it go?! Why can’t I find it?!” Everyone scrambled frantically, digging through the trash can. But it was already full of watermelon rinds, banana peels, and even some vomit. Finding a tiny ring in that mess was impossible. Sarah panicked too. She gripped Carter’s hand tightly, her eyes turning red. “Carter, how did this happen? Why is Chloe overreacting so much?! Did I really cross a line? But we grew up together, we’ve never had boundaries…” The very next second, Carter stepped in front of her, shielding her behind his back. “Stop looking for it!” Everyone froze, standing around the trash can, staring at Carter. His eyes were freezing cold, glaring at me like he wanted to bore a hole through my skull. “If you can’t handle a game, why play? “Now you’ve ruined the mood for everyone. Are you happy?” A suffocating knot formed in my chest. Sarah was the one who kissed my boyfriend. I stepped aside to accommodate them. How did I become the one ruining things for everyone else? If this were the past, I would have definitely started screaming and crying, furiously pointing out that Sarah was the one in the wrong. But now, I couldn’t muster even a single ounce of interest in arguing. Instead, I turned around and grabbed my purse. “I’m leaving then. Have fun, guys.” 2 As the door closed behind me, I heard someone speak up tentatively. “Um… today is Chloe’s birthday. Is it really okay that she just left?” Carter’s voice was laced with deep irritation. “Just ignore her. It’s about time she learned to fix that temper of hers. Actually, Sarah was just hired as a lecturer at my university. Let’s have Sarah blow out the candles instead.” The room quickly livened back up. The voices that were supposed to be wishing me a happy birthday were now shouting, “Congratulations on the new job, Sarah!” My face felt cold. I wiped my cheek. I didn’t even realize when I started crying. But I wasn’t sad. I just felt absolutely nothing inside. 3 Growing up in the faculty housing complex of a university, I had admired Carter, the resident academic genius, since I was a kid. Unfortunately, I was always quiet and awkward. I never fit in with their group. I would always sit by my window, enviously watching Carter and Sarah chase each other and play. I studied like my life depended on it. Every time I saw our names ranked next to each other on the school’s honor roll, I would be incredibly happy. But I wasn’t as bubbly and cute as Sarah. Between Carter and me, we were always just polite strangers. It wasn’t until we both got into the same university, and Sarah went to a lower-tier college where she started dating someone else, that I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings to him. Heaven smiled on me. He said yes. From that day on, every single decision I made revolved around him. When he decided to stay at the university to teach, I gave up a prestigious opportunity to study abroad. My advisor pleaded with me countless times. She brought up my older peers who had returned from abroad to secure million-dollar salaries, become distinguished scholars, and achieve full professorships at incredibly young ages. But I just blushed and told her: “As long as I can have a stable, peaceful life with him, that’s enough for me.” I poured absolutely everything I had into him. All I wanted was him. Yet he had never once considered me. Standing in the freezing winter wind, I let out a long, heavy breath and called my former Ph.D. advisor. “Professor? Excuse me, but… is that project you mentioned before still looking for people?” My professor paused for a split second before her voice exploded with excitement. “My dear girl, you finally figured it out?! “Of course we need you! This project practically has your name on it! Your junior colleague was begging and crying to join, but I still refused her! When do you plan on coming over? I’ll personally pick you up from the airport!” I smiled. “Give me about two weeks, Professor. I’ll head over as soon as I tie up loose ends here.” 4 Even though I wasn’t leaving immediately, I asked for all the detailed documentation on the project. Ireland has a significant time difference. By the time I hung up the phone, it was already getting dark for my professor. And for me, it was the middle of the night. My head was throbbing and heavy. I ran a hot bath, and as I sank into the water, the tension in my muscles finally started to ease. Exhaustion completely consumed me. Listening to the soft music playing, I drifted into a deep sleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was because of the sound of the front door opening. “Chloe?” It was Carter’s voice. His voice echoed through every room in the apartment, growing increasingly frantic. Until the bathroom door was pushed open, and his voice dropped low. “Chloe.” His gaze carried a hint of blame. I couldn’t fathom what he was angry about. Was he mad that I wasn’t sitting in the living room waiting for him like I usually did, ready to start a massive fight and interrogate him about his relationship with Sarah? “Oh, you’re back. Sorry, I fell asleep. I didn’t hear you.” Gripping the edge of the tub, I turned my head. “Could you please step out?” My attitude was polite but incredibly distant. He frowned. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose, looking exhausted. “I didn’t come back earlier because Sarah had too much to drink. Her ex-boyfriend was harassing her, and I couldn’t just leave a girl alone…” “I know. Safety first, right?” He froze. I gave a soft chuckle. “You’re… not mad?” I laughed out loud. “What is there to be mad about? You guys grew up together. What’s wrong with walking your childhood friend home? Especially since she lives alone.” For a split second, the look Carter gave me was one of pure disbelief. I waited for a moment, and when he didn’t move, I just stood up to grab a towel. We lived together anyway. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen everything before. It was just that I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Wrapping the towel around myself, I turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist forcefully. “Chloe, can you just say what’s actually on your mind?” I paused. “What am I supposed to say?” He hesitated. “Don’t you… normally have a lot to say?” I thought about it for a second. It was true. In the past, every time we fought over Sarah, I was always the one relentlessly arguing, refusing to let it go. But I’ve realized that people only lose control and go crazy when their hearts are completely full of love. I didn’t feel anything anymore. Naturally, I had nothing left to say. So, I gently pushed his hand away. “Stop fooling around. It’s past 2 AM, and I have experiments to run tomorrow.” His hand, which I had pushed away, hung frozen in mid-air. I yawned. “Don’t stay up too late either. I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” With that, I actually got into bed and closed my eyes. There was no sound from outside the door for a while. And then. SLAM! A deafening crash jolted me right as I was about to fall asleep. It was Carter. He slammed the door and left. I knew exactly why he was mad. He had finally, rarely, offered me an olive branch. And I actually refused to take it. 5 I slept incredibly well that night. The next morning, yawning, I ordered delivery. When I opened the door, there was already a birthday cake sitting on the dining table. Carter was sitting behind the cake. “A belated happy birthday, Chloe.” I froze in place, my food delivery app still open on the payment screen. “I know what happened yesterday upset you. We really couldn’t find the ring.” His long, pale fingers gently slid his phone across the table toward me. “That style didn’t really suit you anyway. Pick out a new one. Sarah can be a bit childish, so please don’t hold it against her. Kissing is a huge deal to us, but she’s always been careless and impulsive since we were kids. You…” “You actually got a custom cake made for me? Thank you so much!” My sudden exclamation cut off whatever else he was going to say. He stared at me, completely dumbfounded. “Chloe?” I leaned over the cake, reading the inscription aloud. “Wishing my baby is eighteen forever.” “What a sweet message. Thank you, I really love it!” He frowned. “Chloe…” I was busy pulling out plates and forks, but looked up when he spoke. “Yeah?” He lowered his eyes. “It’s nothing.” My voice was full of genuine delight. “This place has the best buttercream in the whole city. I can almost never get a reservation. You really put a lot of thought into this.” He gave a soft “Mhm,” his tone quiet and unreadable. “Chloe, the ring…” “Here, this is the biggest piece! You can’t let it go to waste!” I placed the largest slice of cake directly in front of him. Then, picking up a smaller piece for myself, I took a bite. “Is this a new flavor? It’s really good.” “Chloe.” He frowned deeply. “Can you please look at what I’m showing you?” I looked down. On his phone screen was the official website for Darry Ring (DR). The diamond ring brand famous for the rule that a man can only customize one ring in his entire lifetime. My hand trembled slightly. I couldn’t even imagine how ecstatic I would have been if he had shown me this screen just one day earlier. But now, I just continued enjoying my favorite cake. “No thanks. Those are just marketing gimmicks. It’s too much of a hassle.” “Chloe?” Carter looked at me like I was being completely unreasonable. I smiled. “Really, I don’t care about that kind of stuff anymore. Don’t waste your money. Getting me this cake already makes me very happy.” Finishing my piece, I placed the empty plate on the table. “I have a meeting today, so I have to leave early. Remember to put the plates in the dishwasher.” Then, I turned and went into the bedroom to change. Scraaape. The sound of a chair being pushed back sharply. I turned around. Carter was putting his phone away. “Suit yourself. I’ll order one for Sarah. She likes this kind of stuff.” With that, he truly slammed the door and left. He hadn’t touched a single bite of the cake. For the next few days, I didn’t see him at the university at all.

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During the year we were madly in love, Julian died in a tragic car accident. Everyone expected me to fall apart, but I didn’t shed a single tear, nor did I cause a scene. Two years later, I accidentally walked into the wrong private room at a club. Julian was sitting there, passionately making out with a young girl. His friends scrambled to explain things to me: “The car crash was really bad, Mia. Julian was in a coma, practically a vegetable. He only just woke up, but he has amnesia… We didn’t want you to live in constant anxiety, so we kept it a secret.” Julian gently pushed the girl away, walked up to me, and furrowed his brow. “So, I hear you’re my fiancée? Even though I have no memory of you, seeing as you’ve been so devoted to me all this time, I suppose I can fulfill the promise and marry you.” I smiled faintly and replied, “They’re messing with you. We don’t know each other.” Julian didn’t know that on the very day he “died,” I received a video. In the video, Julian was laughing and telling his friends: “The thought of only sleeping with Mia for the rest of my life after we get married? I just can’t do it. “I’m going to fake my death and play the field for a few more years. Make sure you guys comfort her, don’t let her do anything drastic.” He also didn’t know that during the two years he was playing dead… I had found someone else. 1 The friends in the room froze for a second before frantically trying to persuade me: “Mia, how can you say you don’t know him? We were the ones who kept it from you, it wasn’t Julian’s fault!” “Yeah, Mia, we did it for your own good. We didn’t want you worrying yourself sick. Now that Julian is finally awake, please, don’t throw a tantrum.” The room was filled with accusatory tones. Before I could respond, a mocking scoff cut through the noise. Julian stood up from the sofa, a cigarette pinched casually between his fingers. He spoke with a lazy, arrogant drawl: “If she says we don’t know each other, then fine. Saves me the trouble of taking responsibility.” The girl standing next to him immediately clung to his arm, looking up at him with a mix of shyness and nervous excitement: “Julian… I know you! If she’s going to be so ungrateful… I-I’ll gladly marry you, okay?” Julian didn’t answer her. He just cast a cold, indifferent glance in my direction, then wrapped his arm around the girl’s waist and leaned in to kiss her. Seeing this, his friends immediately formed a human wall, blocking my view. They tried to comfort me: “Mia, Julian has amnesia. You know he loved you more than anything before the accident.” “Yeah, Mia. You just need to show him some love and care so he can get his memory back. Stop acting like a spoiled brat.” I opened my mouth, ready to tell these ‘friends’ exactly where they could shove their advice, but a sudden, sharp pain shot through my abdomen. My face instantly drained of color. I didn’t stay a second longer. I turned around and walked straight out of the room. I left so quickly that no one inside even had time to react. Only after I was completely gone did they turn to Julian, sighing heavily: “Julian, you took it too far. Mia is genuinely hurt and jealous. Her face went completely white. What if she really dumps you over this?” Julian smirked, sitting back down on the plush sofa. “Mia is easy to manage. We haven’t seen each other in two years; there’s no way she doesn’t miss me. “Besides, I supposedly have amnesia right now. Once I’m done having my fun, I’ll just tell her my memory came back and that my actions weren’t my own. I won’t even need to apologize. I’ll just crook my finger, and she’ll come running right back.” 2 Once I was out of the room, I couldn’t hold on anymore. I crouched down on the floor. The waves of agonizing pain radiating from my stomach drained every ounce of strength I had, making it impossible to even reach the restroom. Until a shadow fell over me. A familiar, deep voice echoed above: “What’s wrong? Heartbroken? Hoping to rekindle an old flame?” I looked up. A short distance away, Arthur Sterling was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with a cool, detached gaze. He was dressed entirely in black. He had a sharp, straight nose, and his eyes were hidden in the dim lighting, making it impossible to read his expression. Under the faint light, the lines of his thin lips were sharp and elegant. In that split second, a profound sense of unjust grievance swelled in my chest. To my complete embarrassment, tears actually started falling from my eyes. Arthur panicked instantly. He dropped his arms and practically sprinted over to me. “Don’t cry. I won’t say it again. I promise.” He was in incredibly good shape, strong and solid. With one arm, he effortlessly scooped me up from the floor. The crisp scent of cedarwood filled my nose, subtly tugging at my heartstrings. I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered: “My stomach hurts…” Arthur paused for a fraction of a second. “Is it early?” I nodded. My lips accidentally brushed against his jawline as I rested my head against his broad shoulder. Arthur carried me to his car, turned the heat on high, and said: “Wait here. I’m going to buy you some supplies.” With that, he shut the door and walked away. The dim yellow streetlights cast a warm glow over his tall, retreating silhouette. Not long after, a video call popped up on my phone. It was Arthur. “They’re out of the brand you usually use. Do any of these look okay?” I was just about to pick one when a familiar, obnoxiously surprised voice echoed through his phone. Julian, with his arm wrapped tightly around his new girl’s waist, swaggered into the convenience store. He looked Arthur up and down, exclaiming: “We invited you out for drinks tonight and you bailed! Turns out you’re busy buying tampons for a girl! “Are you on a video call with her?! Let me see! Who on earth finally managed to melt our resident iceberg?!” Julian reached out, trying to snatch Arthur’s phone. I instinctively jerked my face away from the camera. But Julian never laid a finger on the phone. Arthur simply shot him a single, freezing glare, and Julian immediately pulled his hand back. “Alright, alright! If you’re going to be that protective of your new girl, at least bring her out to meet us sometime! “Oh, by the way, Arthur, I ran into Mia earlier. She walked into the wrong room and caught me kissing someone else. Scared the hell out of me! Luckily, the guys covered for me and told her I have amnesia. Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll ‘recover’ my memory. “Honestly, bro, you totally saved my life. I wasn’t ready to settle down, and that fake death idea you gave me worked like a charm!” The video feed jolted violently, and the next second, the call was abruptly disconnected. 3 Arthur returned ten minutes later. He didn’t make eye contact. He just handed me the bag of supplies, quickly got into the driver’s seat, and locked the doors. “I had someone prepare hot ginger and jujube tea at my place. Do you… want to go back and drink it?” His voice carried a hint of nervous hesitation. I couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing. Arthur Sterling was a notoriously wealthy and powerful heir in the capital’s elite circles. He was also Julian’s absolute best friend. In the past, whenever I joined Julian for dinners or events, Arthur was always there. Back then, he was incredibly cold and distant toward me. Whenever the group teased Julian and me, demanding we show some PDA, Arthur wouldn’t even glance in our direction. Sometimes, he even looked openly disdainful or disgusted. Because of that, everyone in their social circle assumed he absolutely hated me. Until… on the exact day of Julian’s ‘fatal’ car crash, I received a video. A video sent directly to me by Arthur. In the video, Julian was laughing and telling his friends: “The thought of only sleeping with Mia for the rest of my life after we get married? I just can’t do it. “I’m going to fake my death and play the field for a few more years. Make sure you guys comfort her, don’t let her do anything drastic.” What I didn’t know until tonight was that the entire ‘fake death’ scheme was actually Arthur’s idea. This man was incredibly calculating. 4 When we arrived at Arthur’s villa, before my feet even touched the pavement, he scooped me up into his arms. After I took care of things in the bathroom, Arthur laid me gently on the bed and handed me his phone to play games on. Once I finished the hot ginger tea, he naturally stripped off his shirt, lay down beside me, and began gently massaging my lower stomach. The overhead lighting cascaded down like a sheer veil, highlighting the sculpted lines of his abs. Every muscle seemed to tell a hidden story, practically begging to be explored. I thought about it, so I did it. Arthur’s eyes instantly darkened, and he caught my wandering hand. “Behave.” I ignored him. He cupped the back of my head and crushed his lips against mine. Two years was more than enough time for him to learn exactly how my body worked. When things reached a fever pitch, he gripped my hand. His voice was a ragged, hoarse whisper: “Help me—” I had discovered Arthur’s terrifying stamina the very first time I got drunk and slept with him. It wasn’t until my wrist was aching so badly it felt like it was going to fall off that he finally finished. Just as he was about to carry me to the bathroom to clean up, a phone rang from the edge of the bed. It was Arthur’s phone. I had accidentally rolled over and hit the ‘Answer’ button. “Arthur, I’m thinking of throwing a massive engagement party with Chloe, just to piss Mia off. What do you think? “When she saw I was alive, she didn’t even ask how I was doing! She just got jealous and stormed off, and she hasn’t even tried to contact me! “Clearly, two years apart gave her an ego. I need to break her down a bit. I want her to experience the agony of losing me all over again. I’m going to plan something epic, and I need you to…” Julian’s voice blared through the speaker. But he was abruptly cut off. Because I couldn’t stop myself from letting out a sharp gasp. Not because of Julian’s psychotic rambling, but because something else had suddenly woken back up. And it twitched aggressively in my hand. 5 I shot Arthur a furious, embarrassed glare. Julian’s voice continued through the phone, sounding incredibly amused: “Wow, Arthur! What the hell are you doing right now? Is there a woman with you?! Tell me, is it the same girl you were video chatting with earlier?!” After two years apart, and the fact that I only made a brief, muffled sound… Plus, Julian had been surrounded by countless women over the past two years, so he didn’t immediately recognize my voice. Arthur clearly had absolutely no intention of engaging with Julian. His dark, intense eyes were locked entirely on me, overflowing with desire. I glared at him again, wrenched myself out of his arms, and tried to scramble to the other side of the bed. But before I could even make it one step, Arthur grabbed my ankle and dragged me right back. Julian kept talking: “Bro, you HAVE to bring her out and introduce her! I need to see the saint who finally got the iron tree to bloom! And hey, now that you’re finally playing the game, you can’t turn down the girls I introduce you to anymore! “Oh, right, the engagement party. Originally I wanted you to invite Mia so she’d have to watch, but since I know you hate her…” Before Julian could finish, Arthur impatiently hung up the phone. He tossed the phone onto the mattress, scooped me up with one arm, and carried me to the bathroom. When we finally emerged, three hours had passed. Arthur looked incredibly satisfied. I shot him a death glare and collapsed onto the bed, refusing to acknowledge him. I picked up my own phone and saw a new text message. It was from one of Julian’s lackeys. Two years ago, Julian had integrated me into all of his social circles. [Mia, Julian is getting engaged to someone else in seven days! You need to come talk some sense into him! I don’t want him to regret this when he gets his memory back! This isn’t what he truly wants!] I read the message once, deleted it, and tossed my phone aside. I am not the kind of person who goes looking for drama when I have nothing better to do. What did Julian’s engagement have to do with me? Arthur reached out, trying to pull me back into his arms. I glared at him and swiftly shimmied to the far edge of the bed. I absolutely refused to endure another three or four-hour marathon! 6 The news that Julian wasn’t actually dead, and was about to get engaged, spread like wildfire. A ton of my friends reached out. Some offered sympathy, some aggressively cursed Julian out for being a scumbag, and some clearly just wanted front-row seats to the drama. My college roommate, Lily, called me, absolutely screaming about Julian. “When I heard Julian was alive, I was so incredibly happy for you! But then I hear he’s getting engaged to someone else?! That is completely fucked up! So what if he has amnesia, does that give him the right to betray you?! You’re his actual fiancée! Has no one told him that?! “Absolutely not. I am not letting my best friend get humiliated like this! I’m going to find out exactly where this engagement party is, and we are going to crash it and get justice!” I laughed. “People get divorced all the time; engagements can be broken too. My relationship with him died two years ago. Whatever he does now has absolutely nothing to do with me.” Lily remained fiercely indignant. “I just can’t stomach this… You waited for him for two years! I watched you stay single this entire time!” I choked slightly on the cookie I was eating. Who was waiting for him? It’s just that Arthur and I hadn’t made our relationship public yet. Lily spent another ten minutes trying to convince me to go confront Julian with her. When I firmly refused again, she sighed heavily. “Fine, fine. Do you want to go out tonight, then? We haven’t hung out in forever. Drinks are on me tonight!” Having nothing better to do, I agreed. Lily picked the location. She arrived before me. Looking at the massive, luxury hotel in front of me, I felt a wave of confusion. “Didn’t you say we were going to a bar? Why are we at a hotel?” Lily’s eyes darted around guiltily as she grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. “Bars are so unsafe at night! What if we get drunk and something bad happens? A high-end hotel is much safer! Plus, we can get some amazing food. It’ll be great!” She dragged me straight into the building. The moment the doors to the grand ballroom swung open, my expression turned to ice.

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