When the tabloids broke the news of Ethan Cross's impending marriage, he was lying with his head in my lap, reviewing a merger file. I thought it was just another piece of celebrity gossip and teased him: "Interesting. They're actually saying you're getting married next month." Ethan casually flipped to the next page of the document. "Yeah. Make sure you're free to play piano at the reception to celebrate." I froze, completely stunned. Ethan traced his fingers over my face, a touch of mockery in his eyes. "It took a lot of work to get her to say yes. Be a good girl, okay? Don't make a scene." 01 My mind went completely blank. I stared at him, at a total loss for what to do. Ethan let out a soft scoff and set the file down on the coffee table. "Don't look at me like a deer in headlights. It's not like we're never going to see each other again." "Or did you actually think I was going to marry you?" I fought back tears, pushing against his shoulders to sit up. "These five years... what was I to you?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, sitting up and gripping my chin. "An assistant. You are the most capable assistant I’ve ever had." I wasn't satisfied. I asked again, my voice trembling. "Just an assistant?" Ethan’s expression darkened slightly. He wound a lock of my hair around his finger. "Sarah, do you know what I like most about you? You’re compliant. Smart. Rational. Sane." "Right now, you’re acting in a way that is very annoying." My heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles. A dense, stinging pain surged through my body. He leaned in and kissed away the tear at the corner of my eye, his hand moving down slowly. My body’s instinctual reaction made me shudder slightly against my will. He laughed out loud, the sound filled with ridicule. "Don't act so aggrieved. After all, you enjoy this too, don't you?" I pushed him away with all my might and frantically grabbed my clothes, pulling them on in a panic. He sat up, resting his chin on one hand, watching me amusedly. "By the way, you know my fiancée. She’s timid. Don't go near her, don't scare her." I froze mid-motion. A horrifying premonition seized my brain. "Who is it?" "The Sterling Group heiress. Harper Sterling." It was like a lightning bolt struck me. My brain felt like it exploded, pressure throbbing violently at my temples, mixed with a piercing pain. "Why her? You know... she..." "That was all a misunderstanding." Ethan reached out, pulled me back toward him, and got down on one knee to help me slip my heels back on. "Harper already explained everything to me. If you're disrespectful to her because of things that happened in the past, don't blame me for being ruthless." He squeezed my ankle hard, looking up at me. It was a blatant threat in his eyes. The pain made it almost impossible to sit still. I forced a sliver of a voice out of my throat. "Understood." 02 Winter in Chicago is unforgivably cold. I stood by the railing of a bridge over the Chicago River, the wind stinging my face like a slap. I used to think that Ethan and I would get married, have kids, and live a quiet, happy life just like any other loving couple. After all, no other man had ever treated me as well as he did. He would clumsily cook my favorite dishes himself. Even though he hated the smell of deep-dish pizza, he still took me to Lou Malnati's to get the authentic stuff. He even went to a simulation class to experience the pain of childbirth, crying as he told me we shouldn't have kids. I thought he loved me to his core, but it turns out he never once considered marrying me, let alone having a family with me. The north wind howled past, and the river water rushed furiously beneath the bridge. I stood on my tiptoes, about to lean over the railing, but someone suddenly grabbed me in a tight bear hug. It was an older woman, her face filled with panic, gripping my hand tightly. "Oh honey, I’ve been watching you for a while. It’s not worth it, it really isn't." "If something happened to you, it would break your parents' hearts." "Life is long. There’s nothing you can’t get through." She took off her gloves, scarf, and hat, and put them all on me. Finally, she pulled a warm, foil-wrapped hot dog from her coat pocket. I had been holding back tears for so long, but at that moment, they completely exploded. I sobbed uncontrollably. I wasn't actually trying to jump. I just wanted the cold wind to wake me up. To force myself to accept the brutal reality that Ethan Cross did not love me. But facing this stranger's kindness, I suddenly felt so aggrieved, so full of resentment. 03 By the time Ethan’s call came through, I was already back at my apartment. "I'm formally introducing Harper to everyone tomorrow. You should be there." I gripped the phone, my hand slowly tightening. "I don't want to go." Ethan let out a soft scoff. "Sarah, this is a notification, not a request. Harper wants you there." "I said I don't want to go." My voice was terribly raspy. The cold wind from earlier seemed to have blown into my very bones. A bone-deep chill settled into my core. "Sarah!" Ethan lost his patience, his voice booming angrily. "If I don't see you tomorrow, you can forget about ever getting your mother’s prescription covered again." The line went dead. I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, collapsing. 04 Having been by Ethan's side for five years, I knew his friends well enough. So, when everyone saw me at the party, their eyes were filled with mockery. "How does she still have the nerve to show up? Live as a mistress long enough, and you actually start thinking you're a phoenix flying to a high branch." "Some people just don't know what shame is. Who else would strip naked and crawl into a bed just for a promotion?" I kept my eyes on the ground, pretending not to hear a thing. Someone walked over and pressed his hand down on mine. His sticky breath fanned against my ear. "Sarah, don't be sad. Now that Mr. Cross is tired of you, you can always come find me. I don't mind leftovers." The area erupted in crude, disgusting laughter. I clenched my teeth, stood up, and took a step back to put distance between us. "Please, respect yourself." He gave me a predatory look, scanning my chest maliciously. "Still acting high and mighty? Believe it or not, I could handle you right here." My body instantly went rigid. My palms were wet with fear. I looked toward the door over and over, desperately hoping Ethan would walk in. I knew exactly how vicious these people could be. At a moment like this, only Ethan could help me. Faced with his aggressive approach, I slowly backed into a corner. "Sarah, just give in to Mr. Miller. A secondhand good like you is lucky to have anyone want you at all." They looked at me with greed, disdain, and excitement. Nailing me firmly to a pillar of shame. I had nowhere left to retreat, so I tried to quickly dart around him. But someone stuck their leg out, tripping me. I crashed to the floor. My arm caught a bottle of red wine on the adjacent table. It fell and shattered into pieces. I landed with both hands directly onto the glass shards. My white dress looked like it had been dyed red with blood. The crowd roared with laughter. I struggled to move, trying to stand up, but a sharp, agonizing pain shot up from my ankle. Mark Miller bent down and grabbed my hand: "Sarah, let me..." The door suddenly pushed open. Ethan, with Harper Sterling, arrived fashionably late. He saw me sprawled on the floor, his brow furrowing slightly: "What's going on here?" "Sarah wasn't careful walking, tripped and knocked over the wine. Mr. Miller was just helping her up," someone smoothed over. Ethan’s gaze shifted to the hand Mark Miller had on me, his expression darkening slightly: "Let go." Mark Miller awkwardly stood up, distancing himself from me: "Mr. Cross, don't misinterpret this." Ethan walked over quickly, a faint trace of worry in his eyes. "Ethan, let me help Ms. Jenkins up." Harper Sterling’s voice was soft and warm, interrupting his motion to bend down. Ethan froze for a second, turned around, and said "Okay." Harper extended her hand to me. I looked at that smiling face, and it was like I was transported back ten years. The terror from the bottom of my heart made me break out in a cold sweat. "Does Ms. Jenkins not like me helping her?" She looked innocent, a trace of grievance in her voice. Before I could speak. Ethan said with a cold face: "Since she doesn't want to get up, let her stay on the floor. She's really embarrassing me." "Ethan, don't speak to a woman like that," Harper chided softly, helping me stand up. "Are you okay?" "Although everyone knows Mr. Miller is a ladies' man, you didn't have to ruin yourself like this just to attract his attention." She was full of faux concern, but her eyes were full of vicious calculation. She viciously pinched the injured area. The pain was unbearable. I violently pushed her away: "Get away from me. Don't touch me." Harper staggered back a step and fell backward. I stared straight at her, wishing from the bottom of my heart that she would fall onto that pile of broken glass. Unfortunately, Ethan caught her. He aggressively slapped me across the face: "Harper was kindly trying to help you, and you treat her like this? You don't know what's good for you." My ears were ringing. I felt like I stepped off a ledge, plunging continuously downwards. Ethan’s mouth was opening and closing; he was probably saying more horrible things, but I couldn't hear him. When I recovered, I only heard the last sentence. "Sarah, apologize to Harper." I looked at him in disbelief, wanting to defend myself, but not knowing how to say it. Perhaps even if I said it, Ethan wouldn't believe me. "I am telling you for the last time. Apologize. Otherwise, you know what my methods are." His voice carried a hidden threat. I curled my lips self-deprecatingly and let out a bitter laugh. "If I don't apologize, you'll cut off my mom's medication, right?" He snorted coldly and said no more. How ridiculous. The person who used to constantly say he wouldn't let me suffer a single grievance was now making me apologize to the person who bullied me years ago. Just a week ago, he was sitting in front of my mom, peeling an apple for her, swearing that she would definitely live to be a hundred. "Forget it, Ethan. What did Ms. Jenkins do wrong? She just doesn't like me, that's all." Harper’s eyes were downcast, pulling on Ethan’s jacket. "I don't need your hypocrisy here." I roared, not knowing where the courage came from. Harper looked frightened by me. Her eyes rimmed with red, she shrunk back and hid behind Ethan. "Don't be scared," Ethan comforted her softly, then turned and viciously kicked my knee. "What's with your attitude?" I was forced to my knees on the ground. "Apologize, Sarah. Don't push me." Ethan’s jawline was tight, a storm brewing in his eyes. My heart was dead ash. My body didn't even seem to feel the pain as much anymore. My mom’s illness could only be treated with a specialty drug developed by Ethan’s company. I couldn't sacrifice my mom's life for the sake of my dignity. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I beg for Ms. Sterling's forgiveness." I lowered my eyes, my voice broken and shattered. 05 Late at night, I lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling. The rain poured heavily outside the window. I heard the sound of the smart lock opening. Shortly after, the sound of the shower running came from the bathroom. I turned around and closed my eyes. The other side of the bed dipped, and I was pulled into a damp, cold embrace. "Does your face still hurt?" His tone was flat. "We already broke up." I pushed him away calmly. He let out a light laugh: "Still angry? It was just an apology." I gripped the bedsheets tightly. "Stop messing around, I'm feeling really uncomfortable right now." His voice was hoarse, burying his head in the crook of my neck. "Why don't you go find Harper Sterling?" "After all, I'm not married to her yet. It wouldn't be good to treat her like this." My heart was dead ash. I weakly let go of my hands, lifeless like a dead fish. Ethan tossed around for a bit. Seeing me completely unresponsive, he rolled over and turned on the light. "Sarah, do you really have to be such a buzzkill?" He lit a cigarette, his cold gaze sweeping over my uncovered body. "I really don't know what you're still unsatisfied with?" "If it weren't for me, could you live such a decent life now?" I clenched the bedsheets, tears silently flowing down the corners of my eyes and into my ears. He forcefully turned my face toward him. After seeing my red, swollen eyes, he froze. His phone on the nightstand suddenly started buzzing. It was Harper calling. "Ethan, it’s thundering. I’m so scared." He comforted her with a few soft words, then quickly put his clothes back on. He turned to look down at me from above, his voice freezing cold. "Sarah, you need to seriously reflect on yourself. Don't just cry at the drop of a hat. Crying doesn't solve any problems." He was right, crying doesn't solve any problems. But no one cries to solve a problem. 06 I stood at the door of the hospital room and took several deep breaths before pushing it open. "Whose mom is this pretty?" I teased with a smile. My mom was sitting in bed knitting a scarf. Seeing me come in, she dropped the yarn and waved at me. "Mommy's baby is here." Then she pretended to be angry. "Hmph. You haven't come to see me in days." I happily threw myself into her arms. "I was just here two days ago. Didn't the doctor say you need to rest? What are you busy with now?" She took my hand, showing off to me. "Oh, just lying here is so boring. I’m knitting a scarf for you and Ethan." "Do you think this color is nice? I specifically picked matching colors for couples." My eyes stung with sourness, my hand slowly brushing over the scarf. "It's beautiful." "Baby, what's wrong?" My mom noticed my mood was off and asked with concern, "Did you have a fight with Ethan?" "No." I sniffled. "I just feel that having Mom by my side is so nice." "Silly child." My mom patted my shoulder gently. "Mom only has one wish in this life, and that is for you to be happy and safe. Mom can't be with you for your whole life. You still have to walk your future path yourself. Ethan is a man you can trust. When two people are together, there will always be unpleasant times, but as long as you talk it out, it'll be fine." "I know, Mom. Don't worry, Ethan and I... are very good." I lowered my eyes to hide my emotions. "That's good." My mom nodded in relief. "Some other day, when he's not busy, you should come with him to... cough cough cough..." My mom suddenly started coughing, unable to catch her breath, her mouth full of fresh blood. "Doctor! Doctor!" I frantically pressed the call button. A massive panic swept over me. 07 After emergency resuscitation, my mom was temporarily out of danger. I stopped the attending physician, Dr. Lee. "My mom's condition has been very stable these past few years. What happened today?" Dr. Lee looked at me with a very difficult expression: "Ms. Jenkins, you should probably go talk to Mr. Cross." "What do you mean?" "Mr. Cross stopped your mother's medication. If this happens again, I'm afraid your mother won't make it. You must hurry." My heart plummeted to the bottom of my stomach. I frantically dialed Ethan's number, but it showed that his phone was off. I called over twenty times in a row, but it was all the same result. I knew this was his punishment for me not cooperating last night. He was waiting for me to go beg him. I looked in many places—the company, his house, a private club, the golf course. He wasn't at any of them. I collapsed helplessly in front of my car. Finally, the butler at the villa couldn't stand it anymore and told me Ethan's whereabouts. I rushed to book the next flight to the Bahamas. 08 When Harper Sterling saw me for the first time, her eyes were full of surprise. "Ms. Jenkins? Why are you here?" Ethan, on the other hand, was not surprised at all by my arrival. I cut straight to the chase: "Mr. Cross, my mom, she..." Ethan let out a light tsk, raised his eyebrows, and pulled Harper close by her waist. "I'm busy right now." I took a deep breath: "Then when will you have time?" "Depends on my mood." He casually propped his chin on his hand, looking down to coax Harper. "Let's go watch the sunset, okay?" "I knew you were the best, Ethan." Harper's face flushed, and she kissed him shyly. I turned to leave, but Ethan called out to me. "Stand right there. Don't move." 09 The night grew deeper. A few stars popped up in the sky. Harper's coquettish laughter continuously drifted out from the room. I looked down at the hibiscus flowers nearby. There were fewer blooms this year compared to previous years. During the five years I was with Ethan, he would bring me here every winter. The same hotel, the same room. The pool, the lounge chairs, the swings, the sandy beach. Every spot here witnessed the happiness we once shared. He really knew how to find new ways to humiliate me. But it didn't matter. As long as my mom could live, I would do anything. The door was pushed open from the inside. I looked up, then lowered my eyes again. "Sarah, you really are as spineless as ever." She smiled and walked up to me, the cigarette butt between her fingers glowing faintly. The terror that had vanished from my heart for so long drilled back into my brain. In a daze, I was back in my high school days. It was a cigarette butt just like this. They brazenly used me as an ashtray. Ash was flicked into my mouth; cigarette butts were pressed against my chest. I was forced into an abandoned art room. Harper said that as long as I crawled like a dog, she wouldn't go cause trouble at my mom's food stall. Day after day. For all three years of high school—the years that should have been my brightest—I lived in an endless hell. My knee was suddenly kicked. Harper leaned close to my ear, her voice like a demon's whisper: "Don't be afraid. Your life will be even more miserable from now on." I looked up, staring intently into her eyes, and asked the question I had wanted to ask for a long time. "Why? Why do you hate me so much?" She laughed flamboyantly: "Sarah, you're still so naive. Hating someone doesn't require a reason, just like loving someone doesn't require a reason. I hated you from the first time I saw you. Everything you want to protect, I want to take away, including your mother." Alarm bells went off in my head. A moment later, Dr. Lee's call came through. "Ms. Jenkins, your mother needs her medication immediately, or else..." I didn't have time to hear the rest of the sentence. I swiftly pulled open the room door. "Ethan Cross, come out. I'm begging you, restore my mom's medication." He was woken up by me, his eyebrows showing impatience. Then he quickly got up and rushed towards me. A sliver of hope ignited in my heart. But it was quickly extinguished. "Harper, what's wrong? Sarah, what did you do to her?" He pushed me away angrily and picked up Harper, who was unconscious behind me. I anxiously explained: "I didn't! She's faking it! Ethan, I beg you, call the hospital. My mom, if she doesn't get that medicine, she'll die." He snorted coldly: "Sarah, you really will stop at nothing. To get my attention, you'd even curse your own mother to die. Shameless and cheap." "If anything happens to Harper, I won't let you off the hook." He rushed out frantically. I knelt on the floor, pulling on his pant leg. "Everything I'm saying is true. Making a phone call won't take much time. Ethan, as long as you make the call, even if you want me to use my life to apologize to Harper, I'm willing." "Get lost." Ethan kicked me hard in the chest. "It's truly pathetic that your mother has a daughter like you."
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