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My parents forgot me at home for three whole days. They took my sister on a family trip. They packed her clothes. They held her hand. They smiled in every photo. And me? I was locked inside that empty house like a mistake they did not want to remember. When they finally rushed back, they expected to find me crying, starving, or sick. Instead, I was clean. My hair was brushed. My cheeks were round. My little body looked better than before. My mother stared at me like she had seen a ghost. “Did you take care of yourself all these days?” I shook my head. “No. I stayed inside the mirror. There was another mommy and daddy in there. They took care of me.” Their guilt disappeared in one second. Then came their rage. “If you keep acting crazy, you don’t belong in this family.” That night, the mirror reached for me again. This time, I chose the home on the other side of the mirror. My parents were so obsessed with my older sister, Chloe Miller, that they never realized I had another family living inside the mirror. It wasn’t until they came back from a three-day vacation with Chloe that they finally remembered they had another daughter at home. But when they rushed through the front door in a panic, expecting to find me starving or neglected... Instead, they found me clean, well-fed, and healthier than ever. Mom stared at me in shock, guilt flashing across her face. “You... took care of yourself all these days?” I shook my head. “I stayed inside the mirror. The mom and dad in there took care of me.” For a split second, disbelief flickered across both their faces. Then came the explosion. “You know Chloe only became autistic because we had you!” Mom screamed. “She barely talks to anyone except her dolls, and now you’re copying her? Making up some ridiculous mirror story just to compete for attention?” Years of exhaustion and resentment finally erupted, and all of it came crashing down on me. They locked me inside my room. From the other side of the door, Mom’s voice cut through the darkness like a knife. “We’re already exhausted taking care of Chloe! We cannot look after two children who act strangely in this house. If you keep pretending to be crazy, then maybe you shouldn’t stay in this family at all!” Curled up in the corner, I cried so hard I could barely breathe. Then suddenly, a thin, withered hand reached out from the mirror and gently stroked my hair. “One more time,” the woman inside whispered softly. “If they abandon you again, Mommy will take you with us.” ... The moment my bedroom door opened, Mirror Mom crawled backward into the glass. My real mother stood silently in the doorway. “We have guests coming over soon,” she said flatly. “Come help downstairs.” I followed behind her carefully, afraid to fall out of step. She handed me a stack of plastic dessert plates, and my eyes immediately drifted toward the giant cake sitting in the middle of the dining table. “Hurry up and cut the cake,” Mom urged impatiently. Halfway through slicing it, I suddenly realized what day it was. Today was my birthday. So they did remember. My nose burned, and I quickly wiped my eyes before the tears could fall. For a moment, I remembered how things used to be before Chloe got sick. Back then, Mom and Dad were good to me too. Whenever they took Chloe shopping, they’d bring me pretty new clothes instead of forcing me to wear Chloe’s old hand-me-downs that never fit right. If I left with the family inside the mirror... Would they be sad? The fantasy shattered instantly. Mom clasped her hands together excitedly, her voice trembling with happiness. “Chloe finally called us Mom and Dad today. This is such a huge milestone! Once everyone gets here, maybe she’ll even talk to a few more people.” I froze. The smile slowly disappeared from my face. The doorbell rang. Relatives flooded into the house, surrounding Chloe like she was the center of the universe. “Chloe, I heard you’re talking now! Come on, sweetheart, say hi to Uncle Rick!” “And I’m Aunt Cheryl! Say my name and I’ll give you a huge present!” Under everyone’s eager attention, Chloe pressed her lips together nervously and twisted the hem of her dress without making a sound. Dad noticed the excitement in the room starting to fade and quickly shot me a look. Help your sister. I squeezed through the crowd and smiled brightly. “Hi, Uncle Rick! Hi, Uncle Wayne! Aunt Cheryl! Here, let me get everyone some cake!” The relatives laughed as they accepted their slices. “Lily’s such a sweetheart. That little mouth of hers could charm anyone.” “If I had a daughter this adorable and talkative, I’d brag about her nonstop.” Only Aunt Cheryl looked unimpressed. “Oh please,” she said loudly. “That’s not charm. She’s obviously attention-seeking. My son was already learning coding at her age. Who cares if she knows how to greet people? Showing off in front of her autistic sister like this is honestly pathetic.” Mom’s expression immediately darkened. “Lily,” she snapped, “for once can you stop making everything about yourself? Chloe finally started speaking and you still have to steal the spotlight?” Dad’s smile vanished too. “Quit trying to get attention with these little tricks.” When he noticed I’d gone completely silent, Uncle Rick smirked at me. “So tell me, Lily. Who taught you how to fight for attention at such a young age?” My lips trembled, and tears stung my eyes. Instinctively, I looked toward Mom and Dad. Their expressions shifted slightly, like they’d suddenly remembered all the things they used to force me to do. Ever since Chloe’s autism had gotten worse, they’d constantly pushed me to talk around her. Every single day, they made me sit beside her and chatter endlessly, hoping she’d eventually respond. Most of the time, I talked until my throat hurt. Chloe never reacted. Then Mom would break down crying and take all her frustration out on me. “Talk to your sister!” she’d scream, clutching her chest. “Say something! Keep talking! What’s the point of that mouth of yours if you won’t use it? Chloe’s always been so good to you, and all you ever do is upset her!” But Chloe’s version of being “good” to me was sneaking me candy even though everyone knew I couldn’t eat sugar. I was only three when it happened. My teeth rotted so badly from all the candy that I cried myself to sleep almost every night from the pain. In the end, all my baby teeth had to be pulled. Afterward, my parents still blamed me for it. Dad used to kneel in front of me with a serious expression and say, “The therapist said Chloe needs someone at home to guide her speech development and constantly reinforce positive communication. As her little sister, it’s your responsibility to help her. You need to set an example.” But I had tried so hard. I’d done everything they asked. So why were they still unhappy with me? Standing there under the pressure of everyone’s questioning stares, I twisted my fingers together helplessly, not knowing what to say. Then Dad suddenly handed me a bowl of strawberries. “Go sit somewhere and eat,” he muttered. “And stop talking so much.” I took the bowl carefully. The second I did, Chloe lunged forward, ripped it from my hands, and hurled it onto the floor. Strawberries exploded everywhere. Then she let out a piercing scream. Mom and Dad instantly went pale. Chloe was having another episode. Mom’s eyes reddened as she jabbed a finger against my forehead. “Lily Miller! Why are you always so greedy? Chloe hadn’t even touched the fruit yet and you were already helping yourself?” Her voice rose sharply. “You know Chloe struggles with security issues! Everything in this house has to prioritize her first!” I stared down at the ruined strawberries scattered across the floor, bitterness clogging my throat. Quietly, I crouched down and started picking them up one by one. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I won’t eat them anymore. Chloe can have all the strawberries.” Uncle Wayne frowned as he watched me. “Lily’s changed a lot,” he said slowly. “When she was three, nobody could take food away from her without a fight.” Hearing someone defend me made warmth bloom painfully inside my chest. Before I could stop myself, the truth slipped out. “Because the mom inside the mirror already gave me strawberries...” The second I saw my parents’ icy expressions, panic crashed over me. I quickly clamped both hands over my mouth and shook my head hard. Aunt Cheryl let out a cold laugh. “This kid really knows how to act. First she plays the victim, now she’s making up nonsense about a mom living in the mirror? What’s next? You gonna tell us you plan to move in there too?” I froze. How did Aunt Cheryl know the mirror family wanted to take me away? Mom noticed the fear on my face and started trembling with anger. “Lily,” she said through clenched teeth, “haven’t I taught you that good children don’t lie? Why are you embarrassing us in front of everyone with this ridiculous story? Tell them right now that the ‘mirror mom’ is fake.” Instinctively, my eyes drifted toward the hallway mirror outside my bedroom. The woman inside slowly poked her head out. Her hollow eyes locked onto mine. A strange smile stretched across her face. My voice came out small and shaky. “Mom... I’m not lying...” There really was another mother inside the mirror. But under my real mother’s furious stare, the rest of the sentence died in my throat. Uncle Wayne, who had secretly trained for years with the Templeton Foundation as an exorcist, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “I don’t think Lily’s making this up,” he said carefully. “There might actually be something wrong with that mirror. Want me to check the house?” As he opened his bag and pulled out a quantum specter detector along with a silver cross engraved with mysterious symbols, Mom’s expression visibly tightened. Just as Uncle Wayne started to question me about the mirror... Chloe suddenly let out another ear-piercing scream. Chloe grabbed a sharp shard from the floor and hurt her own arm. Mom panicked instantly. She rushed over, wrapped Chloe in her arms, and stopped her before she could hurt herself again. Dad looked at me with heartbreak and disgust written all over his face. “So this was your plan?” he snapped coldly. “You lied about seeing Mom and Dad in the mirror just to make Chloe feel guilty enough to cut herself? We’ve loved and spoiled you your whole life, Lily. How did you turn out this cruel?” I shook my head violently, tears blurring my vision. “Dad, I wasn’t lying...” But he refused to hear me out. After quickly explaining the situation to our relatives, he and Mom rushed Chloe to the hospital. Once everyone left, I stood there alone in silence. I had tried so hard to be good. Why didn’t Mom and Dad believe me? Luckily, she was not badly hurt. But Mom and Dad still took turns staying beside her hospital bed, terrified she might hurt herself again. The only times I saw them were when they came home to cook for Chloe. And every single time I tried to get close to them, they instinctively pushed me away. “Lily, stop clinging to us,” Mom said sharply. “You already pushed Chloe into cutting her wrist. Do you want to keep pushing her until something terrible happens?” I shook my head, my chest aching with hurt. “Mom, I don’t even know why Chloe did that. I never wanted her to die.” Even when Chloe lost control and splashed me with hot water ... even when she cut my bangs with scissors... I had never hated her. Because deep down, I always believed her illness was my fault. If I had never been born, Chloe never would’ve gotten sick. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have had to spend every day miserable and exhausted. But hearing Mom say those things still hurt so much. Two days later, Chloe came home from the hospital. After she returned, she became much more lively than before. Besides calling for Mom and Dad, she even started speaking in short, simple sentences. Mom said Chloe finally spoke because she couldn’t bear seeing her cry so hard. But I had spent years trying to help Chloe talk, and she had never responded to me once. So why did she suddenly start talking the moment Mom cried? Holding the doll Mom from the mirror had given me, I quietly pushed open Chloe’s bedroom door. Inside, Mom and Dad sat beside her bed, gently comforting her. “From now on, you can focus on getting better at home,” Mom said softly. “No matter how much Lily tries competing for our attention, you’ll always be Mommy’s favorite.” Dad nodded immediately. “Same here. That’s why we ignored Lily these past few days. She needed to learn her lesson.” Chloe’s eyes reddened. “Don’t blame... Lily,” she said slowly. “She’s still little. Maybe... it would’ve been better if I didn’t exist...” Mom and Dad immediately looked heartbroken. Dad wrapped an arm around her shoulders and comforted her gently. “Sweetheart, don’t say things like that. You’ll always be our precious little girl.” Then his expression darkened. “As for Lily... she’s getting manipulative. Your Aunt Cheryl offered to take her for a while and straighten her out. Once you recover, we’ll bring her home.” The doll slipped from my hands and hit the floor.

"She's got a b0mb!" Same flight. Same cooler in my arms. Same Sloane screaming. I opened my eyes. Back on the day the nightmare began. In my last life, I begged on my knees. Signed every waiver. Convinced the pilot not to turn back. Because what I was holding wasn't a b0mb. It was the b0ne marr0w Jacob's dy!ng mother needed. I delivered the marr0w with seconds to spare. His mother lived. And my reward? Jacob and his mother dr@gged me to the hosp!tal r0oftop and thr^w me off. "Sloane was just joking. You drove her to su^c!de!" Ridiculous. This time, I won't ki1l anymore. I sat there. Calm. Silent. I let Sloane r!p open the cryo-cooler. I let Jacob toss the steri1e ce1l bags aside to chi1l her sodas. I won't hurt anyone. But I'll make them sign his mother's de@th warr@nt with their own hands. And me? My hands are clean. Karma took my Hipp0cratic Oath and bur/ned it. So did I. Halfway to the hospital with the donated stem cell transport, the pilot announced an emergency return. Sloane, the poor girl my childhood sweetheart had been sponsoring for years, suddenly rushed toward the flight attendant with tears in her eyes. She cried that the cryo-cooler in my arms was not medical tissue at all. She said it was a dangerous device. In an instant, I was forced to the floor like a serious security threat. The crew searched everything I had. Then I remembered that my childhood sweetheart's mother was waiting in the hospital for an urgent transplant. So I dropped to my knees right there. I signed more than a dozen responsibility forms. With tears in my eyes, I begged the pilot not to turn the plane around. In the end, I made it. I delivered the stem cells at the very last second. His mother survived. But on the day she was discharged, he dragged me to the hospital roof deck. Jacob grabbed my collar so hard I could barely breathe. "Sloane was just acting," he said. "It was a joke. If you had not filed that report, she would not have faced legal trouble. She would not have broken down like that." His mother watched me with eyes full of hatred. "It was just a box of marrow," she said coldly. "You ruined that poor girl's life over nothing." Then they both stepped toward me. The next second, I fell over the edge. Everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the airplane cabin. I was back at the exact moment Sloane pointed at the box in my arms. This time, I was done being the noble doctor. After all, I was not the one lying in an operating room, waiting for a major transplant. "The box in her arms!" Sloane cried. "It is not marrow! It is dangerous!" She suddenly threw herself toward the flight attendant, her eyes red and her voice shaking with perfect fake fear. The entire cabin went silent. I looked around in a daze. Had I really come back? In my last life, I had begged the crew on my knees. "It is not dangerous!" I had cried until my voice broke. "These are stem cells! They are for urgent surgery! We have all the hospital permits and transfer documents! Please, do not turn this plane around!" I tr@ded my dignity and my life for the chance to save Jacob's mother. And what did I get in return? Jacob and his mother hated me. They blamed me. They betrayed me on that rooftop. This time, I was not going to play the martyr. Sloane covered her mouth, looking as if she were about to burst into tears. "I heard her," she whispered. "She just said if this thing opens, something terrible will happen to all of us." The flight attendant's eyes snapped to me. The passengers around us began to panic. I looked straight at Sloane. "Are you willing to take legal responsibility for that statement?" "You know exactly what is inside this box." Sloane bit her lip and immediately hid behind Jacob. Tears rolled down her face on command. Jacob stood up and shielded her with his body. "Carey, why are you yelling at her?" As if I were the one causing the scene. He pulled me aside, his voice low and condescending. "She saw how tense you were." "She was only trying to lighten the mood." "Besides, Sloane just likes to play around." "What is the harm in going along with her for a little while?" I looked at Sloane's pitiful face and let out a cold laugh. She really loved to act. It was a shame she had not gone to Hollywood. Instead, she had turned the hospital into her personal stage. When a patient came in with a simple stomach flu, she would tell the family with a straight face, "It might be something very serious. You should prepare yourself." When a woman was in labor, she would tell the frantic husband, "There were complications. You may not want to celebrate too soon." She even told a father during his child's check-up, "There may be a family secret here. The b10od types do not look simple." When people broke down in shock, she would burst out laughing. "Oh my god, you are all so sensitive!" "My acting is just too good." When the hospital finally received enough complaints to investigate her, she ran to Jacob sobbing. "I was only trying to help." "I just wanted to ease their tension with a joke." "How was I supposed to know they would take it seriously?" "Carey yelled at me in front of everyone like I had done something unforgivable." She played the victim. Jacob blamed me for being he@rtless. Even today, nothing had changed. When we went to collect the marrow, the donor's family was still drowning in grief. Sloane decided to put on another performance. "You should consider it an honor that your family is helping mine," she said. The donor's family was so insulted that they nearly withdrew their consent on the spot. I had to keep apologizing. I explained the medical urgency. I explained the transfer protocol. I explained everything until my throat went dry, just to fix the mess she had made. The moment we walked out, Sloane cried that I had embarrassed her. I ignored her then. But I never imagined she would be reckless enough to pull a stunt like this on a plane. Seeing the chaos around us, a flash of triumph crossed Sloane's eyes. She raised her voice and shouted over the panic. "If you do not open that box and check it right now, something terrible is going to happen!" The flight attendant went pale. "Ma'am, please hand over the box for inspection immediately." I adjusted the pin on my lapel and looked at Jacob. "You are the legal next of kin for the recipient." "Are you sure you want this box opened?" Right now, Jacob's mother was already prepped for surgery. She was waiting for these cells to give her one final chance. But bone marrow stem cells were fragile. Once the cryo-cooler was opened in a non-sterile environment, the cells would no longer be viable. They would become use13ss. Jacob glanced at me, his face full of irritation. "Carey, can you cooperate for once?" "I am sure." "Open it." "It is my call." The crew approached carefully to assess the box. But Sloane could not wait. With a bright, mischievous look in her eyes, she lunged forward and tore the lid open. Jacob stood beside her with a fond smile. He had no idea that he had not just ruined the shipment. He had just destroyed his mother's last chance. The moment the lid was ripped off, my breath caught. Not because I mourned my wasted efforts. It was the instinct of a doctor. It was the urge to stop a life from slipping away. Then I remembered Jacob and his mother's faces on that rooftop. I remembered the hatred in their eyes. My he@rt turned cold. As the lid fell back, a plume of white mist drifted into the cabin air. In that single second of exposure, the stem cells were ruined. Before anyone could process what had happened, Sloane screamed again. "Get down! It is going to happen!" The cabin fell into chaos. Passengers ducked behind seats, clutching their heads. Others rushed toward the back, shouting for the flight attendants. "Why would you open it?" "Are you serious?" People were crying, cursing, and demanding answers. The noise pressed against my ears like a sharp vibration. I sat there calmly. All I felt was a faint trace of regret for the people who had truly tried. The girl who had selflessly donated her marrow. The coordinators who had fought through layer after layer of red tape. The surgical team waiting in the hospital. None of them knew that hope had just been lost at thirty th0usand feet. And the person responsible was hiding in the crowd, continuing her cheap little performance. Sloane stood behind a row of seats, clutching Jacob's sleeve like a frightened rabbit. But I knew better. That shaking was not fear. It was excitement. She lived for this. The attention. The drama. The feeling of controlling everyone's emotions. Seconds passed. Nothing happened. There was no danger. There was no sm0ke. There was no disaster. There were only the carefully packed cooling materials inside the cryo-cooler, releasing a faint cold mist. The cabin stayed silent for almost a full minute. Heads slowly rose from behind the seats. The flight attendant froze in confusion. A few brave passengers leaned closer to inspect the box. Their faces changed with sudden anger. "It is just a medical transport box." "There was no danger at all." "Was this some kind of twisted joke?" Right on cue, Sloane blinked. Then a giggle slipped from her throat. "Hahaha! Oh my god, I am such a good actress!" "I really fooled all of you!" She bent over laughing, fake tears still shining on her cheeks. She looked proud. She looked thrilled. She thought her performance had been brilliant. But she failed to notice the way everyone on that plane was looking at her. It was not admiration. It was pure fury. Passengers stood up one after another and pointed at Sloane. "What is wrong with you?" "You think scaring an entire plane is funny?" Sloane shrank back, her eyes filling with tears again. "I was just acting." "Is being good at acting a crime?" "Jacob, I am scared." "Why are they being so mean to me?" She buried herself against Jacob's ch3st, acting as if she were the one being wronged. Jacob held her tightly. His voice dripped with lazy arrogance. "She is y0ung." "She is just a little playful." "Besides, nothing actually happened, did it?" "Why are all of you making such a big deal out of nothing?" Even the flight attendant beside us could not hide her disgust. But protocol still had to be followed. The crew suppressed their anger and moved to calm the cabin. The purser knelt down to inspect the opened box. She flipped through the transfer logs, hospital certifications, and handover documents I had provided. Her expression darkened with every page. "This is indeed an emergency medical shipment," she said, her voice heavy. "We will increase our air speed and arrive as early as possible." "Do not," Jacob interrupted coldly. I turned my head. Jacob was wiping Sloane's tears. His movements were as gentle as if he were comforting a child. He did not even look up. "Flying too fast or descending too sharply can cause turbulence." "Sloane will be scared." "The marrow can wait a few minutes." "What if the turbulence upsets her?" I lowered my eyes and said nothing. The purser opened her mouth as if she wanted to argue. In the end, she simply turned and walked away. Now that the attention had shifted away from her, Sloane became restless again. "Jacob, my stomach feels weird." "I really wish I had something ice-cold to drink." Jacob looked down at her and laughed softly. "You little [email protected]." "If you wanted a drink, just say so." "Why make such a scene?" But the flight attendant had already made it clear that there were no cold beverages available. Sloane's eyes darted around the cabin. Then her gaze landed on the cryo-cooler at my feet. "Isn't that box freezing?" "We could use it to chill our sodas." This time, I did not even feel the urge to stop her. The cells were already ruined. Fighting was pointless. But just because I was not fighting did not mean I would take the blame for them. I looked at Jacob, my tone flat and professional. "Mr. Harrison, you are the recipient's legal next of kin." "Opening this cryo-cooler again will further compromise the biological contents." "Please confirm." "Do you authorize opening the unit and moving the contents inside?" I put a deliberate emphasis on the word confirm. Jacob frowned with pure impatience. "Carey, are you done?" "You think opening a lid magically ruins the marrow?" "Who are you trying to scare?" "Sloane grew up with nothing." "She has never been on a plane." "She is excited." "She wants a cold drink, and you are bitter about it?" I nodded calmly. "So, you confirm the opening?" "Confirmed." "Do it." He did not even wait for a crew member. He leaned over and ripped the lid open himself. Then he tossed the sterile packing materials and cell bags aside as if they meant nothing. Sloane smiled in triumph as she stuffed her drinks into the box. "Jacob, you are the best." I leaned back, closed my eyes, and rested. When the plane finally landed and the doors opened, Jacob grabbed Sloane's bag with one hand and shielded her with the other as they walked out. He had completely forgotten that I was his girlfriend. He had also forgotten that this trip was not a little getaway with Sloane. It was supposed to save his mother's life. I swallowed every emotion and quietly packed up the ruined cooler. Outside the airport, the Harrison family driver was already waiting. He kept checking his watch, his face tight with worry. As soon as we got into the car, Sloane wrapped her arms around Jacob. Her voice turned sweet and soft. "Jacob, it is such a be@utiful day." "Can we go to Disneyland before the hospital?" The driver's hands froze on the steering wheel.

After being recognized by my family for three years, they kept telling me to “wait a little longer.” When I said I wanted to move back in with them, they replied: “Chloe will feel upset if she sees you. Let’s wait a bit longer.” Chloe—the fake daughter who had taken my place. When I said I wanted to spend Christmas with them, just a simple meal before leaving, they said: “If you join us for Christmas, Chloe will cry again. It’ll be too difficult to handle. Just wait a bit longer.” On my birthday, I asked if I could celebrate my coming-of-age day with my family. They said: “If we celebrate your birthday, Chloe will feel unbalanced again. Let’s wait a little longer.” In that moment, I felt a quiet exhaustion settle in. Suddenly, going home didn’t feel so urgent anymore. At my birthday party, my brother Jonathan had everyone play a game of “Never Have I Ever.”organized a game of "Never Have I Ever." The winner would be granted one request from him, anything they wanted. Everyone knew I had been brought back to Fairhaven three years ago but had never been legally recognized as part of the Hart family. They all let me win, figuring Jonathan was giving me a chance.They all let me win, saying Jonathan was giving me a chance. Only Chloe, the non-biological daughter, kept picking on me. "I have gotten a 50,000 monthly allowance from Jonathan." "He has bid on jewelry for me at a charity auction." "I have been able to legally spend the holidays at the Hart house." "I have had my name on the family trust." "Never have I ever gotten a fifty-thousand-dollar monthly allowance from Jonathan." "Never have he ever bid on jewelry for me at a charity auction." "Never have I ever been able to legally spend the holidays at the Hart house." "Never have I ever had my name on the family trust." After her fourth statement, I only had one finger left raised. She smiled and delivered the final blow:. "Jonathan organized this game just to cheer me up.""Never have I ever had Jonathan organize this game just to cheer me up." My chest sank in a slow, dull way.My heart felt hollow. I turned my head toward Jonathan. His smile was affectionate, the same as every other time over the past three years. He chose to take her side again. I put down my last finger, conceding defeat.I folded my last finger, conceding defeat. Suddenly, going home didn’t feel so urgent anymore.Suddenly, I didn’t feel so eager to go home anymore. *** The private lounge fell into an awkward silence.fell into an eerie silence. Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting to see how I would react. I just smiled, then raised my glass and downed the drink. "I lost." My voice was steady. Someone tried to break the awkwardness: . "Chloe kind of cheated, didn't she? You're not supposed to talk about your own family's private stuff." Chloe raised an eyebrow at the girl. "Why not? That’s exactly how the game is played." Then, she turned to Jonathan with a spoiled pout. "Jonathan, did I cheat?" Jonathan gave a helpless half-smile. "I'll count it as your win. I organized this game to make you happy anyway. So, what’s your demand?" Chloe shot me a defiant look. “Then take me shopping tomorrow, Jonathan,” she said quickly. “I want a new dress. Your taste is better than anyone else’s." I quietly set my glass down on the table. I lowered my head, avoiding Chloe’s triumphant gaze. It wasn’t even conscious anymore. After three years of stepping back, yielding, and choosing silence over confrontation, the motion had become automatic, like muscle memory.I had been making this kind of retreating gesture for three years, so it came naturally. So automatic that even Jonathan didn’t notice anything wrong. So naturally, not even Jonathan noticed anything off about my mood. He frowned slightly, looking troubled. "But I promised Amelia I'd help her move tomorrow." My chest tightenedMy heart clenched. For the three years since I returned to Fairhaven, I had been living in a suburb called Edgewater, far from the Hart family’s main house. Last month, Jonathan asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said I wanted legal recognition, to have my name added to the family trust. He patted my head. "Pick something else. You know Chloe is sensitive about that. I've been trying to convince her. Once she agrees, you can come home." I lowered my gaze and backed down. "Then can I at least move closer to the Hart house? Edgewater is too far. It's inconvenient for everything." Jonathan frowned but didn't answer right away, saying he needed to think about it. I knew he'd just go ask Chloe again. This girl, who had taken my place since childhood, enjoyed everyone’s love and affectionThis girl, who had lived in my place since she was a child, enjoyed everyone's love and affection. Even my mother walked on eggshells around her, afraid of upsetting her.Even my mother catered to her, afraid of upsetting her. Sure enough, yesterday, Jonathan told me Chloe had agreed to let me move. He had already found a place. I could move in after my birthday. I was overjoyed and begged him to come with me. He agreed. The light in the lounge flickered across Chloe's face. She frowned. "What's the rush? Can't you move the day after tomorrow? Or the day after that?" Seeing her annoyance, Jonathan quickly said, "And you don't need a dress that urgently. Any day but tomorrow." "But I want it tomorrow. That dress is very popular!" Chloe raised her voice, making things even more uncomfortable. With so many people watching, Jonathan’s expression darkened slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but I spoke first. "You two go shopping tomorrow. I don’t need to move, I’m fine where I am.You two go shopping tomorrow. I won't move. I'm fine where I am." Jonathan looked at me in surprise. Jonathan knew how much I wanted to move closer to the Hart house, how much I wanted to be nearer to them. Seeing me smooth things over, he looked at me with a touch of pity and guilt in his eyesSeeing me smooth things over, his eyes held a touch of pity and guilt. "Let's continue the game," he proposed, looking at me. "Amelia, you start this time." I was silent for a long moment. The girl next to me nudged my arm. "Go on! Your brother is giving you a chance. You'll definitely win this time!" I held up five fingers and looked at Chloe. "I have seen the sunrise over the cornfields at four in the morning.""Never have I ever seen the sunrise at four in the morning over the cornfields." Everyone played along, sighing sympathetically.Everyone played along, letting out sympathetic sighs. Chloe rolled her eyes and folded one finger, then immediately said, "I have gone with my whole family to Alaska to see the northern lights.""Never have I ever gone with my whole family to Alaska to see the northern lights." Keeping a straight face, I folded one of my own fingers. "I have raised a three-hundred-pound pig.""Never have I ever raised a three-hundred-pound pig." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I have had a planet named after me. It was a birthday gift from my mother.""Never have I ever had a planet named after me. It was a birthday gift from my mother." I lowered my lashes, my voice soft. "I have planned and arranged my foster parents' funeral alone.""Never have I ever planned and held my foster parents' funeral alone." She hesitated for a second, then clenched her jaw. "I have represented the entire Hart family at a charity gala since I was eighteen.""Never have I ever represented the entire Hart family at a charity gala at eighteen." Everyone fell silent. At some point, the game had become just the two of us. I held up my last two fingers, my voice flat. "At my thinnest, I weighed only seventy pounds.""Never have I ever weighed only seventy pounds at my thinnest." Chloe refused to back down. "I have 2,000,000 in my profile and three beachfront properties.""Never have I ever had two million dollars in my account and three beachfront properties!" She was scraping the bottom of the barrel now. I forced a faint smileI pulled my lips into a faint smile. "I have never had a home.""Never have I ever had a home." She put down her last fingerShe folded her last finger. She wanted to say more but suddenly realized she had lost. Her expression turned ugly. But just as she was about to pick up her glass, Jonathan stopped her. "I'll drink for her," he said, and downed the glass. Then he stood up, his face dark. He walked over to me and pulled me out of the lounge.Then he stood, his face dark, walked over to me, and pulled me out of the lounge. "Why did you say those things? Were you trying to get sympathy?" "I know you had a tough time out there, but this isn’t the place to play the victim!I know you had a tough time in the countryside, but this isn’t the place to play the victim!" My heart sank. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the overwhelming sense of unfairness. But the emotions I had been bottling up finally burst through the dam. "Chloe can brag about her life, but when I talk about mine, it’s ‘playing the victim’? How biased can you beChloe can brag about her life, but when I talk about mine, it’s 'playing the victim'? Can you be any more biased?" Jonathan’s face went completely cold. "She doesn't know any better. Don't you?" "And here I was, thinking you were handling all this well, planning to help you move no matter what tomorrow. And then you pull a stunt like this?And here I was, just thinking you were being good about all this, planning to help you move no matter what tomorrow. And then you pull a stunt like this?" "Amelia, I haven't let you suffer these past few years, have I? I've given you plenty of note, haven't I?" "What’s the hurry, really?What's your rush, really?" My eyes widened. I stared at him in disbelief.My pupils shrank. I stared at him in disbelief. "So you think the only reason I want to come home is for the note?" Jonathan came for me right after my foster parents passed awayJonathan found me right after my foster parents passed away. I had suddenly lost everything. I had barely managed to get through the funeral on my own, physically and emotionally drained. and barely managed to get through the funeral on my own, physically and emotionally drained. In my most vulnerable moment, he appeared like a savior. His eyes were red when he told me I was actually a HartHis eyes red, he told me I was actually a Hart. "Amelia, come back with me. Mom and Dad are waiting for you." "You've suffered too much here. How could you have lived like this all these yearsHow have you lived like this all these years..." I weighed barely seventy pounds then, malnourished. He pulled me into his embrace.I weighed barely seventy pounds then. My malnourished body was pulled into his embrace. His hands shook and his voice was hoarse.His hands shook. His voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry I came so late. I'm sorry you had to go through so much pain." I was frozen, completely overwhelmedI was frozen, overwhelmed. Jonathan was so tall, so sophisticated. Holding me, he looked so clean and perfect, I felt like I was dirtying him just by being touched. I was terribly insecure, but I couldn't deny the thrill of that blood connection. I saw him as my salvation and followed him back to Fairhaven. But he didn't take me home. Instead, he settled me in a small house in the suburbs. "There's another girl in the family. She doesn't want you to come back. She throws tantrums, even threatened to jump off the roof." "Wait a little longer, Amelia. Let me talk to her, get her used to the idea." To appease me, he brought my biological mother to see me. The elegant, wealthy woman cried the moment she saw me. "Amelia... you've grown so much. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry!I'm so sorry, Mom is so sorry!" Like Jonathan, she held me, her voice choked with emotion. "Just wait a little longer. I'll convince Chloe, I promise!" I hesitantly hugged her back.I hugged her back hesitantly. "Okay. I'll wait." My mother smiled, relieved, and patted my head. She pulled a bank card from her pocketShe pulled a debit card from her pocket. "Spend this note however you want. You can't come home yet, but you'll get the same allowance as Chloe!" Flustered, I tried to refuse, but she forcefully tucked it into my pocket. "Alright. I've been out too long. Chloe will get suspicious. I'll come see you again. We'll have dinner together, okay?" I nodded vigorously.I nodded hard. "Okay. Thank you." But that "wait" lasted three years. Every time I mentioned coming home during those three years, Jonathan would sigh. "Let's talk about it in a few days." At first, he was nice about it. But once he realized I had no temper, that I wouldn't throw fits like Chloe, he got impatient. "Aren't you lacking for anything? Why do you have to come home right this second?" "Do you know how much pressure I'm under to come see you? I can barely keep it a secret from Chloe." I couldn't understand. "Why do I need her permission to go to my own home? You and Mom have to sneak around to see me. Am I really a Hart or not?" Jonathan’s face darkened. "You are my biological sister, of course you're a Hart. But we have feelings for Chloe too. Are we supposed to just let her jump off a roof?" I fell silent. Seeing my unhappiness, he sighed and took my hand helplessly. "Don't worry. You'll get to come home eventually. When Chloe lightens up, I'll have you two meet. Try to be friends with her. Once she likes you, she'll accept you." I never imagined that coming back to my own family would be so difficult. That was the first time since coming to Fairhaven that I felt homesick. I missed my foster parents. Now, I finally gave up on the idea of rejoining the Harts completely. "No more drama," Jonathan said in the hallway, gripping my arm. "Go back in there and look happy. It's your birthday." I let him lead me back into the lounge. Our friends had already set up the cake. Chloe was drinking in a corner and looked away when I came in. I was pushed into a seat. Someone next to me said, loud enough for everyone to hear,Someone whispered in my ear, " Amelia won that round, didn't she? The deal was the winner gets to make a demand from Jonathan.""Amelia won that round, right? You get to make a demand." Probably worried I'd bring up the legal recognition again, Jonathan said flatly, "I only said that to make Chloe happy. The second round doesn't count." I didn't say anything. The girl next to me stuck candles in the cake and gave an awkward laugh. "Hurry and make a wish, Amelia. It's almost midnight." I smiled slightly and pressed my hands together. "I want a home." *Clink!* The wine glass slipped from Chloe’s hand and shattered on the floor. "So you're doing this on purpose! Just because it's your birthday, you think you're so special!" she screamed at me, then spun around and ran out of the lounge. Jonathan shot me a furious glare, then got up and chased after her. His other friends looked at each other uneasily and then left, one after another. Soon, I was alone in the lounge. I picked up a knife and a plate and cut three slices of cake.I picked up the knife and plate and cut three slices of cake. I placed two slices on opposite seats, and kept one for myself. "Mom, Dad, it's really sweet. I'm coming home to you tomorrow.""Mom, Dad, it's really sweet. Eat up. I'm coming back home to you tomorrow." With that, I ate the entire slice of cake by myself. Then I pulled out my phone and booked a train ticket back to Willow Creek for the next day.Then I pulled out my phone. I booked a train ticket back to Willow Creek for the next day.

She stopped loving him,because of two things she overheard. First time, at home. He was joking with a friend: “You’re getting married in two weeks. What about that girl?” Second time, at the hospital. He said to his fiancée: “The child’s two months old.Don’t worry about the wedding, I’ve got it covered.” The man who loved her for three years, who once said he’d fight his whole family for her— turned her into the other woman. And she actually believed him when he said, “You’ll be my only wife.” Pathetic. She made one call. “Are you sure you want to erase your identity? You’ll disappear completely.” She didn’t hesitate. "Alex, you're getting married in two weeks. What's your plan for your mistress?" Hearing those words, Sophia Bennett froze outside the door. What followed was a man's lazy, indifferent voice. "Just shut up. As long as you don't mention her, Sophia will never know." Separated by just a door, tears had already blurred Sophia's vision. She never imagined that the man she'd loved for years was planning to turn her into a mistress. From that moment, Sophia saw everything clearly and immediately made arrangements to enter witness protection. Only later would Sophia realize that she wasn't the one who couldn't let go. "Are you sure? Once you enter the witness protection program, Sophia Bennett will cease to exist, and anyone who knows you will never be able to find you again." Never find her again? Perfect. Sophia gave a bitter smile, then composed herself and said firmly, "I'm sure." The finality in her voice surprised the person on the other end, who quickly responded, "Very well, Ms. Bennett. The process will be completed in two weeks. We'll provide you with a new identity then. I hope you'll have a fresh start in two weeks." A fresh start? She could only hope. After hanging up, Sophia stood and walked to the curb on unsteady legs, hailing a cab home. She had just finished showering and was about to lie down when Alexander Sterling pushed through the door, reeking of drinking. The moment he entered, he found her unerringly and wrapped his arms around her, slurring affectionately. "Honey, why didn't you come pick me up?" His words came out in a soft, affectionate murmur against her skin. "God, you smell so good... I missed this, missed you so much." As he spoke, he buried his head in her neck, his hands beginning to wander. Watching him in this state of intoxicated desire, Sophia's mind drifted to the memories of how Alexander had once pursued her relentlessly for three years, desperate to prove his unwavering devotion. Later, when Catherine Sterling opposed their relationship, he held her tightly. "If my mother won't let us marry, then I'll never marry anyone. We'll date forever. Don't worry—I'll never marry anyone but you." When Catherine later took away Alexander and forced him into an arranged marriage with the Whitmore family, he escaped looking pale and haggard. She later learned he had gone on a hunger strike to resist his mother's control. From then on, no matter how Catherine threatened her, she never backed down, knowing someone was fighting alongside her. She was grateful she'd overheard those words today. Otherwise, how long would he have continued deceiving her? Until their wedding day? Or until she discovered she was the other woman? Suppressing her heartache, she gently pulled away from his embrace and refused him. "I'm a bit tired tonight." Alexander didn't force her, instead helping her into bed with concern and holding her from behind. "Then rest well. I feel like you've been losing weight lately." Sophia pretended to fall asleep without responding. The next morning, Sophia woke to see Alexander getting dressed by the closet. Hearing movement behind him, he walked over and kissed her forehead. "Good morning, darling. It's New Year's Eve today. I'm taking you out. Get up and get dressed." Without waiting for her to refuse, Alexander headed downstairs. After dressing, she came down to find the housekeeper greeting her. "Mrs. Sterling is up? Let me get you some oatmeal." Sophia and Alexander weren't married, but he insisted all the staff call her Mrs. Sterling, saying she would be his only wife. But in two weeks, he'd have a legitimate wife, and she—the unofficial Mrs. Sterling—would be finished. She smiled bitterly to herself and went down for breakfast, after which Alexander dismissed the driver for some alone time and drove her out himself. During the day, they wandered the city. Alexander took her to a garden restaurant and the aquarium. Throughout, he was extremely attentive to her condition, stopping to rest the moment she showed any fatigue. That evening, just as Sophia thought they were heading home, Alexander drove up into the mountains. Seeing her confusion, Alexander explained, "You once said watching fireworks from the mountains would be beautiful. Let's see if you were right, okay?" She'd mentioned this so casually while scrolling through videos that she'd almost forgotten it herself, never expecting him to remember. Sophia didn't respond, but he didn't mind. Noticing her low spirits, he chattered away, trying to cheer her up. Alexander was naturally a man of few words, but around Sophia, he became talkative as if he had endless things to say. They reached the mountaintop in half an hour. Tonight's view was undeniably beautiful. During the last hour of 2024, Alexander's phone buzzed, and seeing the sender, he glanced warily at Sophia before breathing a barely perceptible sigh of relief and eagerly unlocking his screen to reply. With a slight turn of her head, Sophia could see his screen clearly. [Alex, I'm so lonely spending New Year's alone. Can you come keep me company?] She watched Alexander reply: [Don't be silly.] [Please, I am scared of the dark and need you here.] Alexander hesitated for two seconds before typing: [Be good and wait for me.] Before he looked up, Sophia had turned away. Alexander's voice reached her ears: [Sophia, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go back. Sorry I can't spend New Year's with you.] She calmly responded with a simple "mm," appearing as if she'd seen nothing, though only her hands gripping the car hood betrayed her emotions. Alexander drove off within a minute of his announcement, too eager to remember he was taking the only car and leaving her stranded. Uber never came up this mountain. Realizing this, her heart felt seized by a giant hand, sending waves of suffocating pain through her thorax. The second hand reached twelve, and fireworks exploded below—magnificent and brilliant, truly beautiful. Sophia knew Alexander had arranged this for her, but the man who'd prepared all this was now with another woman. As if to confirm this thought, her phone vibrated against her palm. Opening it revealed an unknown number. The moment she saw the content, she knew it was from Victoria Whitmore. Victoria had sent a photo of herself sitting in Alexander's lap. In the picture, Alexander gazed down at her with obvious affection, the background clearly showing they were at home. [We're getting married soon. Alexander already feels you're not worth it. Be smart and leave while you can.] Her hand clenched the phone tightly. Those three words—"not worth it"—pierced her deeply, seeming to carve themselves into her heart stroke by stroke, making it hard to breathe. The fireworks below had ended, leaving the mountain in darkness and silence. Sophia's phone died from the cold, plunging the mountain into darkness as snow began to fall—she knew staying meant they'd find her body tomorrow. With no choice but to walk down, she was soon surrounded by complete darkness, fear creeping up her spine. Alexander had forgotten she was terrified of the dark and ghosts. She walked the entire mountain path in extreme fear and freezing temperatures. Eventually, she became numb to it all. It took four hours to reach a place where she could call a cab. When she finally returned home—pale-faced with blue lips—the house was pitch black. The housekeeper had gone home, and Alexander was with his fiancée. Sophia tugged at her nearly numb lips. Wasn't this exactly as it should be? She was nothing to him. Of course he should be with his fiancée. The next day, Sophia was shaken awake. She groggily opened her eyes to see Alexander's anxious face. "Sophia, you have a fever. I'm taking you to the hospital." She was drowsily carried to the car, her mind filled with one thought, 'Why was he back? Wasn't he supposed to be with his fiancée?' When her consciousness cleared somewhat and she saw the bright daylight outside, she realized it was already the next afternoon. Alexander held her tightly in the car, then carried her straight to the emergency room upon reaching the hospital. In the examination room, Sophia felt dizzy and couldn't sit upright, so he stood beside her for support. Throughout the process, he appeared very nervous, repeatedly asking the doctor about precautions. When they went for an IV drip, the doctor even remarked to her, "You should treasure such a wonderful boyfriend." Instantly, the pungent smell of intimate affairs from his body assaulted her nostrils. Sophia laughed softly, the sound tinged with bitterness. A wonderful boyfriend? One who'd just come from his fiancée's bed? Throughout their hospital visit, Alexander never let her walk, carrying her everywhere. When the nurse inserted the IV, Alexander cradled her head against his thorax, constantly comforting her, "It's okay, don't be scared. Just a quick pinch, it won't hurt." He treated her like a beloved girl despite being the cause of her suffering, and though she wanted to say this pain was nothing compared to last night's terror, she stayed silent to avoid giving him another chance to perform. At this moment, he seemed like the most attentive boyfriend. No one would know he had a fiancée—even Sophia almost fell for the act. She lay in the hospital bed as Alexander tucked her in asking about her comfort, but she simply shook her head and closed her eyes, refusing further interaction. She fell asleep and woke to find Alexander gone, then after removing her IV and using the restroom, she spotted him supporting Victoria by the waist as they emerged from an obstetrician's office. She ducked back into the bathroom but could still hear their conversation. "The child is two months along. You're going to be a mother now, so no more tantrums." Alexander's gentle voice carried clearly. Victoria clung to his arm coquettishly. "Then Alex has to watch over me from now on. The child needs father too, okay?" Alexander responded indulgently, "Of course. Less than two weeks until the wedding. Don't worry about anything else—just rest so you don't tire yourself or the child..." Their voices gradually faded. Sophia stood frozen in place. When she finally reacted, her heart felt as if it were being torn apart. She pressed hard against her thorax, bending over and gasping for air as tears streamed down her face. They already had a child. Two months along. So they'd been together two months ago. She'd been kept in the dark all this time. If she hadn't overheard that conversation, how much longer would she have remained ignorant? Sophia smiled bitterly, wiping the moisture from her face, feeling something cold. Looking down, she saw it was a ring. This ring was a gift from Alexander. He had knelt on one knee, looking up at her nervously with eyes full of love, his voice trembling, "Sophia, will you... will you date me forever? I truly love you. I'll never marry anyone but you." These were actually quite empty words that any rational person shouldn't believe. But she had believed them. How moved she'd been then was how much pain she felt now. Sophia composed herself and left the hospital, her hand now empty except for a faint ring mark. A clearly expensive ring now lay abandoned on the restroom sink. It wasn't until 10 PM that Alexander hurriedly pushed through the door. Upon entering, he knelt on one knee before Sophia, who sat on the sofa. Before she could react, he produced the ring she'd discarded that day, gently sliding it back onto her finger. Holding her hand and looking up at her, he said indulgently, "Darling, did you not notice you'd lost your ring? How careless of you. Don't lose it again—this is proof of our commitment." His eyes still held the same devotion, but Sophia could no longer recapture her former feelings. This relationship now contained irreparable impurities. Sophia didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked. "Where were you today?" She stared intently into his eyes, precisely catching a flash of guilt. But it lasted only a second before he replied, "Had business at the company. When I got back to your room, you were already gone." Hearing this, Sophia felt deeply weary. Without a word, she turned toward the television. Thinking she was upset about his lack of communication, Alexander used a coaxing tone. "Darling, let's go horseback riding tomorrow, okay? You've always wanted to try, and the doctor said you need to get more sun." Sophia remained noncommittal, too exhausted by Alexander's lies to do anything but wait peacefully for her departure. The next day, Alexander took her to a horse ranch up north. Upon arrival, Sophia met Victoria for the first time and immediately saw why she and Alexander were perfectly matched—Victoria had the polished demeanor of a true socialite. Bitterness welled up in Sophia's heart. She'd assumed that with the real deal present, Alexander would ignore her. Surprisingly, he kept his arm firmly around her. "Sophia, come let me teach you to ride." He completely ignored Victoria, focusing entirely on selecting a gentle horse for Sophia and teaching her hands-on how to ride. She got caught up in learning to ride and forgot her earlier emotions, but after half an hour said she was tired. Alexander immediately stopped and brought her back to rest. They'd barely sat down for two minutes when Sophia noticed Victoria leaving the area. Two minutes later, Alexander said, "Let me get you some water." Sophia's fluttering heart suddenly stilled as she quietly followed Alexander to a secluded area where Victoria was waiting. The moment Victoria saw him, she threw herself into his arms. Alexander immediately caught her, frowning as he spoke, "Didn't I tell you to pretend we don't know each other until after the wedding? If Sophia makes a scene, it'll impact both our families." He had indeed told her this before. But Victoria immediately began acting coquettish. "The little one missed you. Besides, she didn't notice." The "she" naturally referred to Sophia. After this comment, Sophia watched Alexander's frown melt into helpless affection before they kissed passionately, their tongues intertwining. Watching this scene, Sophia felt her heart being torn apart. Her hands clenched into fists, nails nearly drawing blood, yet she felt nothing. Unable to bear the torturous sounds any longer, Sophia fled on unsteady legs back to the rest area. Half an hour later, Alexander returned with water, his voice apologetic. "Darling, I had to take a call—that's why I was gone so long. Were you waiting anxiously?" Hearing this endearment while remembering their kiss made Sophia feel nauseous. She took a sip of water to suppress the feeling. Alexander's sharp eyes noticed her bruised palms. He nervously took her hands. "What happened to these?" Only then did Sophia realize her palms were bruised from her nails. Startled, she casually deflected. "Must have gripped the reins too tightly." Concerned, Alexander reached to help her seek treatment, but Sophia recoiled from his touch and pulled away.. "It's fine. I want to ride." Seeing Alexander about to follow, she quickly added, "I want to ride alone." Hearing this and seeing Sophia's expression, he didn't follow. Sophia rode slowly, somewhat lost in thought, failing to notice Victoria approaching on horseback from the side. By the time she realized what was happening, her horse had been startled into losing control. Sophia's heart jumped. Before the horse could bolt, she released the reins and rolled to one side. She hit the ground hard and rolled several times. Looking up, she saw Victoria, who had also fallen from her horse, being held in Alexander's arms. Her heart clenched painfully. Alexander noticed her too and immediately moved to release Victoria. Just as he let go, Victoria grabbed his hand, covering her stomach with the other and speaking weakly, "The child..." Sophia watched him freeze mid-motion, then embrace Victoria again. He looked up at Sophia with apparent conflict. "She's carrying a child. I need to get her to the hospital first, okay?" Watching him hold the other woman so tightly, bitterness flooded Sophia's heart. She smiled silently and gave a faint nod. With her permission, Alexander immediately lifted Victoria and rushed toward the exit. Sophia watched his urgent retreat, bitterness nearly overflowing from her heart. A riding instructor approached to help her up. "Miss, are you hurt anywhere?" She'd dismounted in time and suffered no serious injuries—just minor aches that paled compared to her emotional pain. Sophia shook her head at the instructor and thanked him for his kindness. Enduring her physical discomfort, she walked to the ranch entrance. The car that had been parked there was gone. The scene felt painfully familiar. This time, she felt no pain like before—she'd expected this, hadn't she? She took out her phone and called an Uber, returning home alone. Exhausted from recent events, Sophia went to bed early without waiting for Alexander, not caring if he'd return. The next morning, Sophia woke to find Alexander sitting beside the bed, watching her with a smile that faded when he saw the emptiness in her eyes. Panicked, he grabbed a box from the nightstand and fastened something around her wrist. Then he gently kissed the back of her hand, as if it were precious. Holding her hand, Alexander said, "I'm sorry, darling. I couldn't take you to the hospital first yesterday. Victoria is gestation—she's my friend's girl, so I should look after her. You understand, right?" Friend? Sophia looked down with a sardonic smile. Only then did she focus on the bracelet—she recognized it as one she'd casually admired before, quite expensive. She thought of the words she'd heard in the private dining room and murmured, "Not worth it..." Alexander heard her and panicked. "What are you saying? What's not worth it? Darling, you're worth everything. You deserve this and all the beauty in the world." Hearing this, Sophia laughed softly, looking up at him. "I saw a TV drama yesterday where the female lead was dating the male lead but secretly got engaged to someone else. Everyone was debating whether the male lead should forgive her. What do you think?" Alexander, fidgeting with her hand, replied casually, "Of course he shouldn't forgive her." Sophia gently withdrew her hand. "I think so too." Before he could grab her hand again, Sophia said she was hungry. Alexander immediately offered. "I'll cook today, darling. Go freshen up, and I'll call you when it's ready." He headed downstairs enthusiastically to cook. Sophia watched his retreating figure and removed the bracelet—she didn't deserve something so expensive, just as she wasn't worth him sacrificing his family's interests. Two days later was Sophia's birthday. Alexander, who usually spent every birthday with her, suddenly said he had business that day and celebrated with her a day early. Sophia didn't ask what business he had. If possible, she'd rather not celebrate at all. But when Alexander heard her say this, he immediately became serious, "I promised to spend every birthday with you. We can't skip it." Hearing this, Sophia laughed softly, thinking, 'This is the last time. After this, you won't be part of my birthdays.' The cake was brought out, Alexander inserted candles and sang happy birthday just like every year before. Sophia closed her eyes and silently wished, 'I hope after leaving Alexander, I can start a new life.' After making her wish, she blew out the candles. Alexander watched her, smiling as he asked what she'd wished for. Sophia looked down, cutting the cake while silently thinking, 'To leave you.' That evening, while Alexander was out, Sophia packed her belongings and found photos they'd taken over the years. She took them to the back garden and burned them. These items carried emotions that no longer existed, so there was no need to keep them. She didn't take any of Alexander's gifts. She wouldn't take what didn't belong to her, just as she wouldn't keep Alexander once he no longer belonged to her. After finishing this, she got a new phone card. After leaving, she wouldn't use her current number, and she had no one she needed to contact anyway. Having completed these tasks, she sat in the garden scrolling through videos when she stumbled upon a live interview. She recognized the person on screen—Victoria, wearing a wedding dress and standing center stage, with an arm from off-screen wrapped around her waist. So his "business" was helping Victoria try on wedding dresses. The host's voice came through, "The groom prefers not to show his face, so let's respect that, shall we?" Then came the first question. "How did you two get together?" Victoria smiled. "Arranged marriage." The host immediately protested. "Looking at how sweet you are together, it doesn't seem like an arranged marriage at all!" Victoria smiled shyly, glancing to the side as Alexander's voice came through. "Can't an arranged marriage be true love?" The host quickly apologized, then asked when the wedding would be. Alexander turned slightly toward Victoria, his partially visible eye showing deep affection. "Four days from now. It'll be the most spectacular wedding—you'll all see it then." The comments immediately filled with congratulations and well-wishes. Watching that affectionate profile, Sophia's heart felt seized by a giant hand, sending waves of suffocating pain through her. The sunlight that should have been warming felt like it was exposing her mercilessly. Every comment about how well-matched they were, every blessing, felt like a knife slowly cutting into her flesh. She had no legitimate status—she was just a mistress hidden away from the light. Sophia smiled bitterly at herself. That evening, Alexander returned with a box containing a dress. She immediately recognized it as a bridesmaid dress. Calmly, she asked, "Are you asking me to be a bridesmaid at your wedding?" The words made Alexander's heart clench, thinking she'd discovered something. He stammered, "What?" "Isn't this a bridesmaid dress?" Sophia replied with a bitter smile. Relieved, Alexander immediately threw the dress on the floor, frantically saying, "I'm sorry, darling. I didn't know it was a bridesmaid dress. I'll buy you a new one in a few days." He came over and held her. "If you were the bridesmaid, who would be my bride? You're my only bride." Sophia remained quiet in his arms, silently adding, 'Of course Victoria will be your bride.' For the next few days until the wedding, Alexander stayed home with her. Initially, she didn't understand why, until the second day when she overheard his phone conversation. "Alright, Victoria, I need to keep her calm, don't I? This way there won't be any trouble at the wedding. Be good, okay?" Hearing this, Sophia smiled silently—so he was afraid she'd discover something and ruin their wedding, but they were overthinking it. The night before the wedding, Alexander held her tightly. "Sophia, stay home tomorrow and don't go out. I'll have a surprise for you when I get back tonight." Sophia remained noncommittal, but he insisted she promise verbally, so she agreed. The next morning, Alexander got up very early. Before leaving, he kissed her forehead. After the engine sounds faded, Sophia silently opened her eyes and lay on her side watching out the window until dawn broke, only to discover both the internet and TV signal had been cut off. The housekeeper approached nervously. "Mrs. Sterling, the neighborhood is doing network maintenance. There might be no internet all day." Sophia showed nothing on her face, saying softly, "Then I'll go out for a walk later." The housekeeper froze, wringing her hands. "Mr. Sterling asked you to wait for him at home." Seeing her nervous expression, Sophia glanced through the window and faintly saw two men in black suits standing guard at the entrance. She understood the situation—this was Alexander's method of keeping her from knowing: locking her at home. But the truth will come out. Even if she didn't know today, she'd find out eventually. Sophia smiled coldly to herself. Without making things difficult for the housekeeper, she simply said, "Alright then, I'll go upstairs to rest. Don't disturb me unless it's important." Back in her room, Sophia packed her last few belongings into a suitcase, then took out a gift box she'd prepared. She placed the ring and bracelet inside, leaving a note: [Congratulations on your wedding.] Then she tore bedsheets into strips, tied them together, threw them down from the second floor, and climbed down. She was never one to be tied down—Alexander couldn't contain her. Leaving the villa, she removed her phone's SIM card and tossed it into a nearby planter, inserting the new one. Sophia went to the identity relocation company, collected her new identity and the plane ticket they'd purchased for her. As she was about to call a cab to the airport, someone nearby exclaimed, "Look, how romantic!" She looked up to see a large screen on a plaza broadcasting Alexander's wedding live. The wedding was spectacular, worthy of being called the wedding of the century. Center stage stood Victoria in her wedding dress and Alexander in his black tuxedo—they looked perfectly matched. Discussions arose around her: "What a fairy-tale romance! They're absolutely perfect together!" "Right? I heard the groom spent an astronomical amount on the wedding—he's treating her like a princess. So envious!" On screen, they began exchanging rings. Alexander had removed his ring, and the tan line from years of wearing it was covered with foundation. Next came the groom kissing the bride. Sophia lowered her aching neck and adjusted her baseball cap. Exclamations continued around her. She had watched his wedding, but she wasn't the bride. Sophia smiled bitterly, wiping away an unexpected tear before hailing a cab to the airport, where while waiting in the departure lounge, she inexplicably clicked on a celebrity gossip notification only to see her own name staring back at her. Her name was sandwiched between the newlywed couple's, with the source claiming she was a mistress who had seduced Alexander and destroyed their relationship. So this had happened after all—she'd become the reviled other woman. "How shameless is this woman!" "Seriously? This random chick thought she could land a Sterling? She's delusional." The insults came from nearby. Sophia knew they hadn't recognized her, but she still felt exposed. She wouldn't defend herself. After today, Sophia Bennett would cease to exist, and she'd be free of everything from her past. Thirty minutes before takeoff, she stood and walked toward the gate. On her way, fragments of conversation reached her ears: "Why did the groom leave the reception?" "How could he abandon his bride and run off?" But she continued walking steadily toward the boarding gate. As the plane took off, she left everything behind to start a new life.

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