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Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It trapped him back to the time when he hated me the most. Then he locks me in the basement. For five years, I've been tortured until I passed out again and again, only to wait for him to hold me once his memory came back. I kept pleasing him in this cycle, hoping that one day he would finally get better. Until I heard it with my own ears: "Intermittent amnesia? Only that fool Rachel would believe it." "It's been five years. She made Lina lose her sense of smell. She deserves to burn in heII." So those five years were just punishment. I swallowed the taste of blood, and begged Lucifer in my heart: "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." Every December, Maurice Chadwick got amnesia. It sent him back to when he hated me the most. He locked me in the basement again and again, broke my work tools. All to get revenge for the woman he loved—Jacqueline Brayne. I passed out from the cold over and over. Then I'd wake up in his arms when his memory came back. I was stuck in this terrible cycle. I still loved him with all I had, hoping he'd get better one day. Then one day, I heard him talking to friends through a half-open door. "Maurice, how much longer are you gonna keep up this act?" someone asked. "Rachel's the only one who believes his fake amnesia. She's such an idiot. Every time, she kneeIs in the snow begging us to help you remember. She really thinks you'll marry her. "You're gonna pretend not to know her again next week, aren't you? How many years has it been now?" "Five." Maurice's voice cut through the crack in the door—cold, harsh, and crystal clear. "During the car crash, to save her precious hands, Rachel let the glass tear through Lina, robbing her of her sense of smell. She should burn in heII for her selfishness." Through the crack, I saw him fix Jacqueline's hair. She was sitting right next to him. "I'm going to make sure she suffers far worse than Lina ever did." His ruthless words hit me like a punch. For five years, I worried about him and gave him everything. But it was all just an act—his way of punishing me. I held back my tears and begged Lucifer in my mind. "I want to end the mission in five days. Please erase all my feelings and memories of Maurice." -- "Rachel, are you certain?" Lucifer asked. Before I could answer, laughter erupted in the room again. "I heard if Rachel's hands get cold one more time, the nerve damage will be forever. She'll never be able to hold a dropper to make perfumes again." The guy looked at Maurice, hesitating. "Maurice, don't you think... this torture has gone on long enough?" Maurice stopped tapping the table. He had no sympathy in his eyes at all. Jacqueline looked down, her fingers gently caressing the limited-edition diamond necklace at her throat. "Maurice, thank you for the debut gift. I love it. "Honestly, I don't care about being a top perfumer anymore. I just want to stay with you…" She spoke softly, acting weak, but she was just making him angrier. It worked. Maurice grew visibly angry. He grabbed a glass, threw it at the man who spoke, and shouted, "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?" He turned back, gently cupping Jacqueline's face. "Even if Rachel's hands are ruined forever, it won't bring back Lina's sense of smell. "She almost kiIIed Lina. She's a murderer! How dare a cruel woman like her have dreams?" His scoff hurt me deeply. I still remember I got kicked out of the international perfume competition last year. I was so sad I even wanted to end my life. He was the one who held me during those terrible nights. He told me I was a born perfume genius. He said no matter what people said, he'd always believe in me. What a joke. His kindness was just a trick. He built up my confidence just to break it completely. To him, I wasn't a genius, but a vicious murderer! Someone else in the room chimed in, "Rachel is really talented. Maurice, if you didn't have someone switch her perfume sample, she would've won first place." I was so shocked I felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my hands. I worked so hard for three months for that competition. I tested smells until my nose bled. In the end, Maurice's one order turned all my hard work into someone else's success. Were people like us, with no background, just meant to get our life's work stolen? I gritted my teeth, overwhelmed by despair. Lucifer asked for confirmation once more. "Rachel, are you sure you want to erase your memories? "You gave up 10 years of your life to stay with him longer. Are you giving up all of that now?" I forced a weak, empty smile—only sadness in it. A long time ago, Lucifer approached me and asked me to carry out a mission. The goal was to make Maurice fall in love with me. The mission was still far from complete, but I had already fallen in love with him along the way. A month ago, Lucifer warned me my mission time was almost up. If I failed, I'd lose everything. I didn't want to leave Maurice. I held onto those few small kind moments he gave me. So I begged Lucifer over and over. I traded my life for more time. Yesterday, he finally said yes. But the man I sacrificed everything to love was actually cruel and abusive. I had been such an idiot. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "I'm sure!" Right then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. "Rach, your brother is in the OR!" ###Chapter 2 "It's heart failure." When the doctor said he was dying, I was crushed. Tears ran down my face. I looked through the ICU glass at my brother Samuel. He was covered in tubes. Years of Maurice's abuse wore me down. I was so tired I didn't even notice Samuel's lips turning purple. I was so guilty. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and cried quietly. Later, at the payment desk, I tried every bank card. The balance was way too little to pay the bill. I felt entirely hopeless. The cashier tapped the glass, looking at me with obvious disgust. "Are you paying or not? There's a line behind you. No money, no treatment." I squeezed my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. "Can I just have a few days to get the cash together?" "Rach." A familiar voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Maurice strode toward me in a heavy coat, bringing the chill of the outside air in with him. Seeing me break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was deep and gentle. "Don't worry. I'm here." I breathed in the familiar cedar scent of his cologne and heard his usual reassuring tone. He always did this—showed up right when I was at my worst. He was there when debt collectors chased me, when people buIIied me, and through so many terrible things. He always showed up when I was desperate. He knew exactly how to use my weaknesses against me. My parents died when I was little. I had to raise Samuel in extreme poverty. Because of that, I desperately wanted someone to protect and take care of me. That's why even after he locked me in the basement and hurt me until my hands bled, I still forgave him. He'd cry and blame his mental illness. Then I'd stay. I had even fallen deeply in love with him. The on-and-off kindness and violence made me mentally dependent on him. "Maurice?" Jacqueline called out suddenly from behind us. Her voice was high-pitched and deliberately saccharine. Maurice let go right away and stepped back from me. I saw his quick reaction and suddenly understood everything. I finally woke up to our real relationship. Just a second ago, I still wanted his hug so badly. I felt so disgusted with myself. Jacqueline stepped up, her eyes flicking to the billing screen. She covered her mouth and faked a shocked gasp. "Rachel, do you seriously not even have 3,000 dollars? Did you gamble away the monthly allowance Maurice gives you?" Her voice was loud in the quiet hospital. People nearby turned to stare at us. I heard them laugh and whisper. I felt so humiliated. "So she's a kept woman. Makes sense why she looks so poor." "Gambling away her sugar daddy's cash while her brother's sick. Disgusting." Maurice frowned, but he didn't say anything to defend me. Instead, he turned and whispered a warning to me, "Lina didn't mean anything bad. She just speaks without thinking. Don't make a scene and embarrass her." Right. To protect her perfect image, I had to take this humiliation and let people call me a gold digger. In his messed-up mind, it made sense. I was worthless. I could never compare to the woman he worshipped. I stared at Maurice. All my love for him was gone. "Give me 500 thousand dollars." Maurice froze and stared at me in shock. In five years together, I never bought clothes over $30. But since everyone already thought I was using him, I might as well ask for the right price. More importantly, Samuel needed exactly that amount for a heart transplant. Maurice shot me a look of pure disgust. "What did you just say?" "Over the past five years," I told him, "you took my perfume formulas, put Jacqueline's name on them, and sold them for way more than $500,000." His jaw tightened. "How is that the same?" It wasn't. When he gave me money, it was called kindness. But when I asked for what I deserved, I was called greedy. Jacqueline pulled his sleeve gently. His anger disappeared right away. She smiled like she was sorry, but I could see her clear contempt. "Rachel, Maurice forgot his checkbook. I have $4,000 cash. Take it for your emergency." She pulled cash from her bag, walked over, and pushed it into my hands. At the same time, she tilted her thermos and poured hot water right on the back of my hand. I gasped from the sudden pain and pulled my hand back. "Ah!" Jacqueline shrieked. She dropped to the floor, sending the cash scattering everywhere. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, the picture of pity. "Rachel, why would you push me? I just wanted to lend you the money. I wasn't trying to insult you." ###Chapter 3 Maurice scowled. "Rachel, this is how you act when you're begging for money?" I held up my burning, blistered hand to explain, but he cut me off. "Save it. Are you going to say Lina fell on purpose?" I looked into his cold eyes and forced a bitter smile. This wasn't the first time Jacqueline framed me. And it wasn't the first time he blindly took her side. I was an idiot for not seeing how they used each other. Ignoring the burning pain in my hand, I squatted and picked up the money I needed for the hospital bill, one by one. Maurice stepped hard on my hand with his leather shoe. The blisters popped. Blood and liquid came out onto the floor. He looked down at me, forcing me to obey. "Apologize to Lina." The weight of his shoe on my hand was so humiliating. I kept my face empty and said, “I'm sorry." Maurice pressed his foot harder. "You call that an apology?" he shouted. I bit my lip until it bleed. Then I dropped to my knees on the cold tile floor. "I am sorry, Ms. Brayne. I was wrong." I looked up at him with no expression. "Is that enough, Mr. Chadwick?" He took a sharp breath, lifted his foot, and pulled his tie angrily. He squatted and pushed the rest of the money into my arms. "Look, I know you're worried about Samuel," he said, "But don't take it out on Lina. This is the last time." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. "Fine. There won't be a next time." And there really wouldn't be. Using his connections, Maurice found a matching heart donor that same night. Samuel was going to live—if the heart arrived by the next afternoon. The next day, I paced the ICU hallway, counting every second. But night fell, and the operating room started prepping to close. Maurice and the heart helicopter never came. I watched Samuel's heart monitor go crazy. My whole body shook. I called Maurice again and again. On my 99th try, someone finally answered. It was his assistant. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Chadwick can't talk. Ms. Brayne is upset and went to the roof." But I desperately needed the transplant papers to save Samuel. I rushed by cab to the roof of the Chadwick Group building. I ignored Maurice, who was holding and comforting Jacqueline. I ran straight for the papers in the assistant's hands. The surgery deadline was in 30 minutes. If I grabbed the papers and rushed back, I could still make it. But as soon as I touched the folder, two bodyguards pushed me down and held me tight to the floor. Jacqueline was half over the railing, crying crazily. Maurice's face was white with anger. He walked over to me quickly. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me look at her. "Her fans are tearing her apart online because you pushed her yesterday," he snarled. "Lina feels completely worthless, and she's threatening to jump. You need to record a video right now and tell everyone you were the selfish one who ruined her life." I stared at him, totally stunned. "Tell them what? That I protected her from the glass, but you two blamed me?" He slapped me. He hit me so hard my vision blurred and my ears rang. "You're still refusing to admit it, Rachel," Maurice said, his expression dead and cold. "If Lina doesn't come down, you won't get these medical papers. And no doctor will do the surgery without them." I looked into his cold stare. I felt heavy, hopeless despair. He was literally risking Samuel's life just to calm Jacqueline down. And Samuel was still waiting for me. I gave up. I looked straight into the phone camera and screamed the lie he wanted. "It was me! I was cruel, and I'm the reason Jacqueline lost her sense of smell. It's all my fault!" A quick look of satisfaction appeared on Jacqueline's face. She kept fake-crying for 10 more minutes. Then Maurice finally talked her away from the edge. I grabbed the consent form out of his hand and ran down the stairs. I rushed back to the hospital. But as soon as I got to the hallway end, I stopped. There was a gurney draped in a white sheet. The doctor looked at me, full of apology. "Ms. Heaton, he missed the window by ten minutes. Samuel didn't make it." He died because of the 10 minutes Jacqueline spent faking a breakdown. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees and cried silently. Right then, my phone buzzed with a location pin for a high-end restaurant. ###Chapter 4 Maurice called a second later. "Lina is my mentor's only daughter," he said defensively. "I couldn't let her die. And I'll pay any money to find another donor heart." I didn't say a word. He paused. His voice went back to his usual arrogant tone. "You got the designer dress, right? Wear it tomorrow night and meet me at the glass conservatory we always go to. I have something important to tell you." That's when I realized. Tomorrow would be the fifth time he faked getting his memory back to confess love to me. He really thought I'd keep acting grateful and going along with his lies, like I always did. "But Maurice," I thought, "I'm done playing this game. "I don't want your money anymore. "And I don't want you." The next day arrived. I didn't go. Instead, I took the expensive dress to the dumpster and threw it away. I was at the funeral home doing Samuel's cremation papers. Then Maurice's assistant came with men and forced me into a car. "Mr. Chadwick has been waiting for you. How could you not come? "He went all out for the proposal this time. Maybe he won't fake amnesia again. You've been through this for years. You can't just give up now." The room was full of white roses. Even though I had been dragged through this exact romantic setup four times before, I really had cried tears of joy those first few times. I used to think it meant he finally stopped being cold and fell in love with me. But in reality, it was just a planned scene to hurt me. Now, the smell of roses made me sick. I stared numbly at Maurice. He was wearing the exact same tailored black suit, reciting the exact same confession he had used before. I raised my hand and swatted the jewelry box away, sending the massive diamond ring flying across the room. The loving look on Maurice's face disappeared right away. "Rach, do you... you not want to marry me?" I glared at him. "Maurice, stop the act," I said. Just then, his assistant rushed over in panic, holding a tablet. He glanced at the screen and quickly tried to hide it against his heart. Maurice's face turned cold. He kicked his assistant hard in the leg. "Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bother me with silly things. Get out!" My heart beat so fast. I pushed him away and grabbed the tablet. The video on the screen filled me with terrible fear. It was Samuel's funeral home. Some crazy fans were live-streaming in the main hall. I stumbled out of the greenhouse and stopped a taxi. In the backseat, I begged desperately in the chat over and over. "Please stop! Don't touch him!" It took me a second to realize they weren't even reading the messages. The leader laughed coldly right into the camera. "You must be Rachel. Post a video saying you hurt Lina. A bich like you deserves to have your dead brother's ashes destroyed." I was paralyzed by panic. A loud crash came from the speaker. They smashed Samuel's urn on the floor. The white ash mixed with dirty water, and people stepped all over it. "No!" I screamed and cried uncontrollably. I held the tablet, staring at the mess on the screen. I opened my mouth but couldn't speak. "Somebody, please help me!" I screamed in my mind. I just lost the last piece of my brother. "Rachel, your time is up. Your mission failed. "We will now take away all your emotions and memories about Maurice."
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After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
For the third time, Genevieve Kershaw woke up in a ward to the sharp smell of disinfectant. "Ms. Kershaw, your health is collapsing." Her doctor nudged his glasses and said solemnly, "The dialysis treatment is failing. You need to get a new kidney as soon as possible." Genevieve nodded absentmindedly and dialed Nathaniel Weston's number. It rang for a long while before the line cut off. She tried three more times. Nathaniel never picked up. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an Instagram notification. Elaine Harvey just posted a photo of her hands wrapped together with someone else's. Genevieve recognized the watch on the man's wrist right away. The caption read: "The person I've secretly loved is finally mine. Even if it's a dream, I hope it never ends." Genevieve's chest tightened. She hit the like button by accident. The next second, her phone started buzzing nonstop. "Genny, I can explain." Nathaniel sounded desperate on the phone. "I only agreed to date Lainey because of you. She told me she loved me, and that she'd give you her kidney if I agreed to be her boyfriend for a month. "I'm doing this for you. Just give me some time. OK?" Staring at the white ceiling, Genevieve murmured, "Is it... truly just for me?" "Perhaps you wanted to do it," she thought to herself. Their friends were all familiar with their shared history. Genevieve and Nathaniel grew up together and had been inseparable, from kindergarten all the way through college. To others, he was cold and aloof, but to her, he was nothing but kind and caring. When Genevieve had cramps, Nathaniel would drive across the city in the dead of night just to buy her favorite dessert. When she mentioned she liked a limited-edition purse, it'd be delivered to her the next day. On her 20th birthday, as fireworks burst over the sky, he dropped to one knee and proposed. "Genny, let's get married once you graduate." Everyone believed Nathaniel loved Genevieve more than anything in the world. The fairytale fell apart six months ago, when Genevieve was diagnosed with kidney failure. Nathaniel searched everywhere for a match for her, frantic and desperate, even drafting a will. With tear-filled eyes, he'd said, "Genny, I can't live without you. If you go, I'm coming with you." Finally, he found Elaine Harvey, a young woman with a compatible kidney. He wrote her a check for 850,000 dollars on the spot in exchange for her kidney. Elaine accepted the offer but delayed the procedure, claiming she was too weak and needed time to improve her health. Over the past six months, she had turned down the operation three times. The first time, she fainted from low blood sugar, and Nathaniel stayed by her side in the hospital for three days. The second time, she said her anxiety was giving her nightmares, and Nathaniel sat with her throughout the therapy all night. The third time, she suddenly came down with a fever, and Nathaniel left Genevieve, who was on dialysis, to take care of her. This time, Elaine asked Nathaniel to be her boyfriend for a month in exchange for her kidney. "Give her another 850,000 dollars," Genevieve spoke up. "I don't want you to date her. Just tell her to do the transplant right now. Can you do it?" Nathaniel fell silent. After a long pause, he said quietly, "Genny, we owe her a lot. I don't want to push her." "Owe her?" Genevieve clenched the sheet beneath her. "850,000 dollars isn't enough? Or..." "Nate! I scalded my hand!" Elaine whined in a sickly sweet tone. "Genny, I have to go," Nathaniel said worriedly. "Lainey needs me." He hung up without waiting for an answer. Genevieve stared at her screen, her stomach dropping. She turned to the doctor and asked, "How long do I have if I don't get a transplant?" Her doctor sighed. "A month at most. You're getting weaker. If you get a transplant before—" "I get it," Genevieve cut him off softly. "I'm not having the transplant." She knew Elaine too well. Elaine wasn't going to donate her kidney. She'd only keep delaying it. So Genevieve decided to face her death with peace. She wouldn't believe Elaine's lies anymore, and she would... stop loving Nathaniel. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and gold as Genevieve returned home from the hospital. She opened the front door and saw Nathaniel and Elaine sitting on the couch together. Snuggled against Nathaniel, Elaine was feeding him fruit with a wide smile. "Genny!" Nathaniel sprang to his feet and hurried up to Genevieve. "I got you a present." He handed over a delicate gift box, anticipation dancing in his eyes. "Accept it... and I'll take that as your agreement to my deal with Lainey." Without a glance at the box, Genevieve said, "I'm fine with it even if you don't give me a gift." Nathaniel was shocked. "Really?" "Yes." Elaine hurriedly came over and looped her arm around Genevieve's. "Then let's be nice this month. Don't get jealous when Nathaniel and I act all cozy. He's just fulfilling my dream." "I won't be jealous," Genevieve replied calmly, pulling her arm away. Relieved, Nathaniel went to the kitchen and returned with some soup. "I made this for you. It's good for your health." It smelled delicious. Genevieve took a sip, and her throat burned. "No..." She clutched her throat, her face turning pale. "You put shrimps in it? I'm allergic to seafood. Don't you remember?" Nathaniel panicked. "I thought you were allergic to peanuts." "Nate, you got it mixed up," Elaine retorted sweetly. "I'm the one who's allergic to peanuts." Genevieve was seeing dark spots. Her heart hurt as if there was a knife twisting inside. Nathaniel couldn't even remember what she was allergic to anymore... Before she passed out completely, she heard Nathaniel's panicked voice. When Genevieve woke up, Nathaniel was sitting by her bed with bloodshot eyes. "Genny, I'm so sorry. It was a mistake. I've cleared my schedule. For the next few days, my only priority is you. And I promise you, this will never happen again. Please, forgive me." Genevieve turned away from him. "You don't have to. You're Elaine's boyfriend now. You only need to remember things about her. "Nathaniel, from now on, stay out of my life... for good." ###Chapter 2 Nathaniel paused, brows furrowing. "Genny, what are you talking about? The thing with Lainey will end in a month. I'm just pretending to be her boyfriend." He reached out a hand to touch Genevieve's face. "You're the one I love." Genevieve tilted her head, dodging his hand. She pulled the quilt up and lay down. "I need to rest." Nathaniel's hand poised in the air. After a while, he sighed and walked out. As the door closed, Genevieve opened her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks soundlessly. She used her last strength to get out of bed and dragged a dusty box out from the deep end of her closet. Genevieve stayed up all night to reorganize her trinkets with Nathaniel. The movie tickets on their first date. Gifts from Nathaniel. Photos they took on trips... At dawn, Genevieve lit a brazier in the backyard. "What are you doing?!" Elaine ran over and gave Genevieve a hard shove. The brazier tumbled over. Sparks of the burning coals landed on Genevieve's arms, leaving red marks on her fair skin. Genevieve winced in pain. Before she could recover, Elaine lunged at her. "If you don't want me to move in, just say the words. Why are you burning my stuff?" "What's going on?" The noise attracted Nathaniel. When he showed up, he instantly pulled Elaine behind him. "Are you hurt?" "Nate, Genny doesn't like me here, so she burns my things!" Elaine pointed at the burning remnants, her eyes red as if she was heartbroken. Nathaniel looked at Genevieve for the first time since he arrived, his gaze filled with disappointment. "Genny, we owe Lainey so much. She's going to donate her kidney to you. How could you?" Genevieve felt her heart had been squeezed by an invisible hand. The pain was suffocating. She crouched down, picked out a small piece of a photo from the ashes, and held it in front of the two. "Look at this. I'm burning my memories with Nathaniel. These aren't your things." The photo was taken last winter. Nathaniel was wrapping a scarf around her. Genevieve's nose was red due to the cold, but her eyes were full of joy. Nathaniel's body stiffened. "What makes you want to burn them?" "They're molded." With red-rimmed eyes, Genevieve threw the photo into the brazier. "So, I decided to burn them all." "That's not right, Genny. These are our memories!" Nathaniel's voice was tight. "We said we were going to watch them when we were old..." Genevieve stared at him silently, taking in the anxiety on his face and the pity in his eyes. How laughable. Nathaniel still believed they had a future. Didn't he realize that she was dying... Genevieve opened her mouth to say something, but Elaine disrupted her by leaning weakly on Nathaniel's shoulder. "Nate, my hand hurts..." Nathaniel dropped Genevieve's hand right away and held Elaine's hand up nervously. "How did you get hurt? Let's go inside. I'll tend to it." Wrapping an arm around Elaine, Nathaniel walked her back into the house, not sparing a glance at Genevieve. Genevieve returned to her room by herself and took out a first-aid kit. She poured alcohol on the cotton and pressed it to her burns. The pain almost made her pass out, yet it wasn't nearly as bad as the pain in her heart. Back in the days, Nathaniel would fuss over Genevieve and drag her to the infirmary even though it was only a paper cut. But earlier, he had completely ignored the serious burns on Genevieve. Genevieve closed her eyes. Tears that had been kept in bay finally rolled down and landed on her burns, making the pain worse. For the next two days, Elaine upgraded her action, not leaving Nathaniel's side at all. In the living room, she pouted and ordered Nathaniel to feed her the shrimps. On the couch, she demanded that Nathaniel cuddle with her as they watched a movie. Every time Genevieve passed them, Elaine would smile and ask, "Genny, you promised. You don't mind, do you?" "Not at all" was Genevieve's default reply. As her health was getting worse day by day, Genevieve decided to go out and take a picture for her funeral before she was too weak to walk. ###Chapter 3 In a photo studio, Genevieve sat quietly in front of the camera. The cameraman praised her grace and asked what the picture was for. "For my funeral," Genevieve answered calmly. The cameraman's hands shook, almost dropping his camera. When Genevieve waited for her photo, she heard a familiar laughter coming through the front door. Elaine and Nathaniel walked into the studio, arm in arm. She froze when she noticed Genevieve. "Genny, what are you doing here?" Elaine looked at her curiously. "I took a photo for my ID." Genevieve pocketed her photo. "What are you doing here?" Elaine put her head on Nathaniel's shoulder and said sweetly, "A photo album is an important part of a couple's experience. We took some pictures a few days ago and are here to collect them." "I only did it as Lainey insisted," Nathaniel explained as he looked at Genevieve lovingly. "We can make a photo album too, once you recover." Genevieve's heart broke a little more, but she said nothing. One of the staff members came over, informing them they could start selecting photos for the album. As Genevieve already had her photo for her funeral, she wanted to leave. But Elaine stopped her. "Genny, help us pick the photos!" Without waiting for Genevieve's answer, Elaine sat her down in front of a computer. Looking at the intimate photos of Elaine and Nathaniel, Genevieve felt her eyes prickling. In a photo, Nathaniel and Elaine were holding hands and looking at each other's eyes fondly. Elaine and Nathaniel were kissing with the setting sun behind them. Elaine's dress blew in the wind. Nathaniel, in an identical white shirt to Elaine's, was hugging her from behind. Each and every one of the photos was so sweet that it hurt Genevieve's eyes. The heartbreak was making it hard to breathe, yet she still had to endure Elaine's high-pitched voice as Elaine urged her to pick a nice shot. Lips trembling, Genevieve opened her mouth, but her words were stopped by a loud noise. The metal shelves in the studio fell! At that critical moment, Nathaniel lunged at Elaine without thinking, protecting her with his body. Meanwhile, Genevieve was... With a deafening noise, the heavy mental shelf hit Genevieve's delicate shoulder. The sharp edge pierced through her clothes, tearing her flesh. Blood flooded out, staining her clothes in no time. "Nate, it hurts!" Elaine cried with tears in her voice, pointing at a barely noticeable scratch mark on her arm. Nathaniel checked it over nervously, his brows knitting into a knot. "I'm getting you to a hospital!" He carried Elaine up bridal style and turned to leave. However, he paused at the door as if he had remembered something. Nathaniel looked over his shoulder. Genevieve was struggling to crawl out from under the metal shelf. Blood ran down her arm, forming a small pool of blood on the floor rapidly. Her eyes found Nathaniel's. One second. Two seconds. Nathaniel broke eye contact and carried Elaine out without a word. Genevieve willed herself to stand up and go to the hospital alone. "You're severely injured! Why didn't you ask someone to bring you over?" The doctor asked with a frown while stitching Genevieve's wound. "A young woman came over just earlier. She only had a mild graze, but her boyfriend was so worried about her. He asked for a consultation." As the needle pierced her flesh, the pain made Genevieve want to pass out. She smiled bitterly, "The boyfriend is my boyfriend too." Shocked, the doctor snapped his head up and almost dropped the tweezers. He opened and closed his mouth. In the end, he said nothing and went back to stitching Genevieve's horrible wound in silence. Nathaniel returned in the middle of the night. He opened Genevieve's bedroom door and found her trying to change her dressing. She was struggling. She lifted the graze, revealing the ferocious wound underneath. Nathaniel's pupils shrank when he saw the bloody wound. "How?" He closed the distance in a few strides, his voice hoarse. Not bothering to raise her head, Genevieve answered, "I got hit by the shelf." Nathaniel's hand poised in mid air, shaking. "Genny, it was complete chaos. Lainey was hurt and was crying. So, I left with her. I didn't mean to..." "You did nothing wrong. You should save her." Genevieve cut him off, her voice steady. "After all, she's your girlfriend." Genevieve pushed Nathaniel's hand away, but he forcefully grabbed her hand, not letting her escape. His hand was warm, and his voice was filled with worry to an unprecedented level. "Genny, I told you many times. I'm nice to her only because of her kidney! "You're the only one I love. Please don't do this to me..." "I know." Genevieve lowered her eyes, hiding her heartbreak. "So, I didn't take it to heart." Nathaniel heaved a sigh of relief and carefully bound the bandage around Genevieve's wound. "Get some sleep. I'll watch over you." His hands were dry and warm as always. Genevieve closed her eyes and felt like they were in the past. Every time she was ill, Nathaniel would stay by her bedside. The blaring ringtone broke the peaceful night. "Nate..." Elaine was sobbing. "I miss you. I'm scared as I can't find you..." "I'll be there," Nathaniel said in a low voice. Once he hung up, he looked at Genevieve with guilt. "Lainey is scared because she's alone in the hospital. I need to keep her company." He left in a hurry, taking away the remaining warmth in the room. Genevieve curled into a fetal position in her bed, having a hard time breathing due to her broken heart. Nathaniel didn't come home for the next two days. Genevieve stopped caring. She took her meds and changed her dressing in time every day, healing in peace. One afternoon, when she was reading a book by the window, her phone rang. "Hello? Genny." Elaine said with barely concealed smugness in her sickly sweet voice. "Do you know that Nate risks his life for me?" Genevieve froze. "I was just saying that I liked the jewelry for the champion of a car race. He signed up immediately, though it was super dangerous!" The excitement grew in her voice. "You should see it! To win the championship, he drove so fast that his car almost flipped! And he chanted my name when they rolled him into the operating room." Genevieve closed the book and looked outside. It was a beautiful sunny day. However, the sunlight was making her eyes hurt. "He needs someone to take care of him now. Genny, would you like to come over?" Lainey drawled, waiting for Genevieve's reaction. "He got hurt for you," Genevieve said, deadpan. "You're boyfriend and girlfriend. I'll leave it to you." With that said, she hung up and tossed her phone aside. Leaves of the phoenix trees outside rustled in the breeze. Suddenly, Genevieve remembered something and called the graveyard. "Hello. This is about the No. 12 double grave in section B..." Her question was cut off by a loud noise as the door was slammed open. Nathaniel was standing at the door in a blue-and-while striped hospital gown. His chest was heavily bandaged, blood leaking out. His face was sickly pale, and so were his lips due to the blood loss. But his gaze was bright with a dangerous light. "Genny," he said in a gravelly voice. "Why are you buying a grave?" ###Chapter 4 "The spots near my parents' grave are popular, so I want to buy one now." Genevieve put away her phone calmly. "So, I can bury next to them." All colors left Nathaniel's face. "Genny, what are you talking about?! You're not going to die! "Soon, Lainey will donate her kidney. Once you have the transplant and get better, I'll marry you. We're going to spend the rest of our lives together! You have a long life ahead of you!" In contrast to Nathaniel's disturbed look, Genevieve watched him silently. Her eyes no longer lit by her love for him. She lowered her eyes and changed the subject. "How did you get injured?" Nathaniel's eyes were shifty as he answered, "I got into a car accident." "Then you should stay in a hospital." "You never returned my texts..." Nathaniel's voice tailed off. "I was worried about you." "I didn't check my phone these days," Genevieve said aloofly. "You seem severely injured. You should go back to the hospital." Nathaniel picked up on her unusual cold tone. A strange feeling filled his heart, but he pressed it down. "OK. I'll return to the hospital. Once I recover, I'll come home for you." Watching Nathaniel leave, Genevieve nodded softly. In one afternoon, Genevieve wanted to seize the day to try the food she couldn't have since she got sick. The riverside restaurant had a good view. Once she finished ordering, she noticed the couple by the window seat. Nathaniel was cutting Elaine's steak for her gently. Genevieve smiled bitterly and thought, "Once he recovers, he'll come back for me?" "Genny?" Somehow, Elaine saw Genevieve and waved. "What are the odds? You're having a meal here too? Join us." Genevieve shook her head. "No, thanks. I don't want to intrude." Nathaniel immediately stood up and walked up to Genevieve. "Genny, don't be mad. It's just a part of the couple experience." He said under his breath, "Let me take you home after this date." Genevieve replied coldly, "OK. Go on. Just ignore me." Soon, the waiter brought Genevieve her food, but Genevieve had lost her appetite. Against her rational mind, her eyes shifted toward Nathaniel and Elaine's table. Nathaniel was putting an expensive-looking box in front of Elaine. Inside the box, there was a shining diamond necklace. "Nate! How do you know I like this necklace?!" Elaine covered her mouth in surprise. Her eyes lit up. "You did a double-take on its picture when you were leaping through the magazine. I noticed and memorized the model." Nathaniel gently helps Elaine put on the necklace, his fingers grazing her nape. Genevieve had reminded herself to get over Nathaniel time and time again. However, her heart still broke a little when she heard his words. In the past, every year, Nathaniel had prepared presents for her birthday and their anniversary. All of them were things that Genevieve wanted the most. Genevieve would tease him, telling him to get out of her head. Every time, Nathaniel would smile indulgently and say, "Silly, it's because I care about you too much. I watch you every move." Did it mean he cared a great deal about Elaine, too? Suddenly, the lights in the restaurant dimmed. A waiter rolled a three-layer cake out. There were candles on each layer. "Lainey, make a wish," Nathaniel said, his tone as sweet as honey. Elaine clasped her hands together and closed her eyes to make a wish. She looked innocent and beautiful. The candles lit up her face, lights dancing in Nathaniel's eyes as he stared at her fondly. Genevieve clenched the napkin in her hand. She thought he'd only do those special things for her. But it seemed he had no problem giving his love to another woman. ###Chapter 5 "There's another surprise outside." Nathaniel smiled and held Elaine's hand. Elaine turned to Genevieve abruptly. "Genny, why don't you join us?" Before Genevieve could refuse, Elaine had come over to drag her. As soon as they reached the riverside, fireworks bloomed one after another, brightening the night sky and painting the water surface colorful. "It's fabulous." Snuggling in Nathaniel's arms, Elaine looked at the sky and smiled happily. Nathaniel held her tightly and whispered in her ear. Elaine couldn't help chuckling. Standing a few steps away, Genevieve watched them holding each other. The heart-wrenching pain was so much that she couldn't breathe. She was about to leave when an explosion happened. A case of fireworks nearest them suddenly collapsed. Sparks flew toward the crowd. "Watch out!" Nathaniel almost instinctively protected Elaine with his body. Genevieve, however, could only cover her face with her hands. When the sparks burned her arm, she screamed with pain. There were blisters instantly. "Nate, I'm hurt!" Elaine cried. Nathaniel carried her in his arms at once. "I'm taking you to the hospital." He ran away without even looking at Genevieve. Genevieve just stood there. Her right arm was seriously wounded. Blood dripped down her fingers. As she watched Nathaniel leave hurriedly with Elaine in his arms, she smiled bitterly. At last, she went to the hospital in a cab. The doctor dressed her wound in the emergency room. Her face went pale with pain. Suddenly, the door was flung open. Nathaniel stood at the door, huffing and puffing, his forehead sweaty. "Genny!" He trotted to the bed. Guilt was plain in his eyes when he saw her wounded arm. "Sorry. It was an emergency. I..." "I know," Genevieve interrupted him calmly. "You don't have to explain." Her calmness unnerved Nathaniel. He held her hand in a fluster. "Genny, don't overthink. I'm only in a temporary relationship with Lainey. I only care about you. It'll always be you." He apologized and explained repeatedly. The ward was packed with the tonics and gifts he bought. Watching him bustle around in the ward, Genevieve felt nothing but desolation. Unwilling to see him, she said, "I wanna have the cake from that store in the south of the city." Nathaniel's eyes gleamed. "No problem. On it." He left hurriedly. Genevieve let out a sigh of relief. Tired, she closed her eyes. Less than an hour later, the door of the ward was thrust open again. Nathaniel entered with a long face. There was no cake in his hand except a phone, the screen of which was bright. "Genny, Lainey is missing." He handed his phone to her. "This is a message for help from her. She said you were gonna take her kidney by force." Genevieve read the message. "Help! Genny sent people to abduct me. They wanna take my kidney forcibly. Nate, come and rescue me!" Genevieve looked up and said calmly, "I didn't do it." "Genny, aren't you gonna tell me the truth? I told you we owe Lainey a lot." Judging from his voice, Nathaniel was repressing his rage. "I know you're mad because I didn't save you during the explosion. But how could you force Lainey to donate her kidney now? She hasn't recovered yet. Where is she?" "I told you I didn't do it," Genevieve repeated. "This is a trick by her." Disappointment gathered in Nathaniel's eyes. "Genevieve, when did you become so diabolical? You abducted her and are still framing her? Is this how you repay the person who is gonna save your life?" "For the last time, I didn't abduct her," Genevieve told him for the third time in a trembling voice. Nathaniel stared at her for a long while. At last, he took a deep breath and said, "OK. Since you won't tell me, I'll have to make you talk." ###Chapter 6 Nathaniel turned around and waved at the bodyguards posted at the door. "Take her to the morgue to calm down. She'll stay there until I find Lainey or she tells me where Lainey is." "What? Nathaniel..." Genevieve gaped. She couldn't believe her ears. Two bodyguards came and carried her off the bed. "Nathaniel! I don't know where Elaine is!" Genevieve called out, struggling. "Believe me, OK? Just this once..." With his back to her, Nathaniel ordered coldly, "Get her out of here." When the door to the morgue was slammed shut, chilly cold seized Genevieve, as if even her marrow was about to freeze. Genevieve slapped the iron door. "Let me out! I don't know where Elaine is! Nathaniel, listen to me!" There was no answer. Only deathly silence responded to her. Genevieve curled up in a corner, surrounded by iron beds with corpses on them. Under the white sheets, human contours could be vaguely seen. A creepy atmosphere enveloped her. Fear overwhelmed her. "I didn't... Really..." Her voice trailed off. Then, she wept in despair. Time ticked by. After only God knew how long, her consciousness left her. Her body trembled because of the low temperature. At the last minute before she passed out, Genevieve seemed to see the teenage Nathaniel standing in the sunshine and saying, "Genny, I'll always protect you." *** When Genevieve opened her eyes, the first thing she smelled was disinfectant. She realized she was still at the hospital. She struggled to sit up and happened to see Nathaniel walking into the ward with Elaine. He was supporting her carefully. "Genny, look what you did!" Nathaniel snapped in an icy voice. He lifted Elaine's sleeve swiftly to reveal her bruises. "If I hadn't gotten there in time, who knows what more horrible things your men would've done to Lainey?" Genevieve's throat was dry. It hurt. She opened her mouth and said in a hoarse voice, "It wasn't me..." "Apologize!" Nathaniel looked at her condescendingly. She had never seen such aloofness in his eyes. "Apologize to Lainey! Now!" Elaine hid behind Nathaniel with a faint, triumphant smile on her lips. Exhausted, Genevieve closed her eyes. There seemed to be a stone in her chest. It stung every time she breathed. "I didn't do it. Investigate it if you don't believe me." She opened her eyes and stared at Nathaniel. "I've hurt no one." Nathaniel's eyebrows knitted more tightly. He was about to speak when Elaine pulled at his sleeve. "Nate, never mind. Since Genny doesn't wanna apologize, it's OK." She looked at Genevieve's neck timidly. "I... I like Genny's emerald necklace. If she gives it to me, I'll forget what she did to me." Genevieve covered her necklace with her hand. It was the only thing her parents had left for her. She turned to Nathaniel, only to find that he was staring at her necklace, too. "Give it to me." Nathaniel extended his hand. "Consider it your compensation to Lainey." "No!" Genevieve moved back with difficulty. "This is my parents'..." Before she could finish speaking, Nathaniel bent over and pulled the necklace off her neck. The chain left a streak of blood on her nape. "Give it back!" Regardless of the needle in the back of her hand, Genevieve reached out to get her necklace back. "Nathaniel, I'm begging you. My parents..." "Apologize!" Nathaniel raised the necklace and looked at her coldly. "Then, I'll give it back to you." Genevieve's fingers trembled as tears flowed out of her eyes uncontrollably. She looked first at the gloating Elaine and then at the nonchalant Nathaniel. Finally, she gave in and lowered her head. "Sorry, I shouldn't have hurt you." "Genny, I can't hear you," Elaine said, tilting her head, her eyes sparkled with malice. Genevieve clutched the sheet. Her fingernails almost pierced her palms. "Sorry, Elaine! I shouldn't have hurt you! Happy now? Can I have my necklace back?" Elaine pretended to be forgiving and extended her hand. "Sure." Just when Genevieve reached out to take the necklace, Elaine forcibly pulled at it. The exquisite necklace broke, and emeralds splattered across the floor. ###Chapter 7 "You—!" Genevieve's mind went blank, and her body acted on its own. She lunged off the bed and shoved Elaine hard. "Get out!" Elaine fell back theatrically, her forehead conveniently hitting the bedframe. Blood immediately gushed down her face. Nathaniel roared in anger and instantly helped Elaine to her feet, shoving Genevieve away. "Are you insane? All this for a necklace? Is it worth it?" Genevieve knelt on the floor, trembling as she picked up the shattered gems and broken chain. Tears blurred her vision. She clutched the fragments so tightly that they cut into her palms, but she didn't seem to feel the pain. "It is worth it!" she cried, almost hysterical. "This is the only thing my parents left me!" Nathaniel froze for a moment, but then his face hardened. "The dead are gone. And a person is always more important than a necklace. Besides, we already owe Lainey plenty! I'll find the best craftsman to fix the necklace. But if something happened to Lainey just now, do you have any idea what that would mean? She's the one ready to give you her kidney!" "I don't need her kidney!" Genevieve looked up, her tears already dried. "Get out!" Nathaniel wanted to say more, but Elaine weakly tugged at his sleeve. "Nate... let's just go. Give Genny some time to calm down..." The moment the door to the ward closed, Genevieve collapsed onto the floor and wept silently. Three days later, Genevieve insisted on being discharged and going home. Her condition worsened by the day, yet she stubbornly refused further treatment. Nathaniel had the city's best jeweler restore the necklace before placing it in a velvet box and bringing it to her. He opened the box. "Genny, look," he said, his voice almost coaxing. "It's as good as new. Exactly the same as before." Genevieve didn't even glance at it; she just stared out the window. Nathaniel then took out more than a dozen exquisite jewelry boxes and opened them one by one. "These are all the latest emerald necklaces. Pick whichever one you like..." "Take them away." Genevieve's voice was frighteningly calm. "I don't want them." Just then, Elaine showed up, slipping her arm through Nathaniel's. "Nate, let Genny be. Once she's thought things through, this will all blow over..." She lowered her head shyly. "Besides... our month together is almost up. I want the rest of our time to be just the two of us..." Nathaniel hesitated, glancing at Genevieve, then let Elaine pull him away. From that day on, he and Elaine were practically inseparable. They were out from morning till night, wrapped up in dates and outings, paying no attention at all to the changes in Genevieve. She slept longer and longer. Sometimes, while fetching a glass of water in the kitchen, she would suddenly faint and wake up on the floor—unnoticed by anyone. Her complexion grew ashen, and she needed the support of the walls just to walk. One morning, Genevieve struggled out of bed. Dizzy, she made her way downstairs, holding the handrail. Elaine walked behind her, deliberately raising her voice. "Nate's taking me on a date to the beach today. Genny, would you like to come along?" Genevieve said nothing. Her vision swam, her legs weighed down. Just as she reached the last step, a sharp wave of vertigo hit her. She pitched backward, colliding with Elaine behind her. "Genevieve!" Nathaniel's furious roar came from the living room. He rushed up in a flash, catching Elaine securely in his arms. Genevieve, meanwhile, crashed onto the marble floor, her forehead gushing with blood. "What the hell are you doing?!" Nathaniel held Elaine closely, glaring at Genevieve. "Why would you push her?" ###Chapter 8 Genevieve painfully propped herself up, blood running down her temple. "I... I didn't mean to..." "She did it on purpose!" Elaine cried, tears streaming down her face. "She knows you're taking me on a date today, so..." Nathaniel's gaze turned icy. Just then, Genevieve coughed violently, and a mouthful of blood splattered onto the floor—a truly horrifying sight. "Genny!" Nathaniel finally noticed something was wrong and rushed forward. "What's happening? Is something wrong with your health?" Genevieve weakly shook her head. "It's nothing..." Nathaniel sighed in relief, his expression turning serious. "I knew you were faking it. Tomorrow's your kidney transplant—you really can't control your temper?" He glanced at his watch. "Today's my last day as Lainey's boyfriend. Just let me get this day over with her, and then I'm all yours." He helped Elaine to her feet and supported her as they walked toward the front door. Glancing back, he warned, "Don't bother Lainey again." Genevieve watched them leave, then wearily closed her eyes. She knew Elaine wouldn't show up tomorrow. The next day, in the corridor outside the operating room, Genevieve waited quietly in a hospital gown. Doctors and nurses were busy with pre-op preparations, but Elaine was nowhere to be seen. "Ms. Kershaw, has the donor not arrived yet?" The lead surgeon checked his watch anxiously. "Your condition requires immediate surgery..." Genevieve lay calmly on the operating table, her ECG monitor already showing signs of instability. She picked up her phone and called Nathaniel. "Genny?" Nathaniel's voice came through, layered over the background noise. "What's wrong?" "Where's Elaine?" Genevieve's voice was barely audible. "I'm on the operating table... waiting for her..." "Lainey... she..." Nathaniel's voice became muffled. Then, Elaine's cooing voice came through the line. "Nate, feed me some grapes..." Genevieve's heart sank further. "Genny, Lainey said she's scared of the thunder and doesn't want to have the surgery today," Nathaniel said. "Aren't you feeling okay? Waiting a day won't hurt. I promise I'll bring her tomorrow." The ECG monitor blared, and doctors rushed over, panicked. "Ms. Kershaw! Your vitals are very unstable! Surgery must start immediately!" Genevieve's hand trembled as she held the phone, tears streaming down her face. "Nathaniel... I won't make it until tomorrow..." "Don't be ridiculous. How could you not make it until tomorrow?" Nathaniel chuckled, his voice as affectionate as it had always been. "I have to go. I promise, I'll bring Lainey tomorrow." The call ended. The harsh white light of the operating room stung Genevieve's eyes. In a daze, she felt herself transported back to when she was fifteen. On a summer afternoon, she collapsed from heatstroke on the school track. Nathaniel carried her on his back to the nurse's office. His back was drenched in sweat as he comforted her with a smile, "Don't be afraid, Genny. I'm here." On a rainy day when she was eighteen, he placed his school jacket over her head, letting himself get soaked. "I won't let my beloved Genny catch a cold," he'd smiled. On a winter night when she was twenty, she had a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. He drove across the city to get medicine. Frost had formed on his eyelashes when he returned, yet he remained unfazed, gently coaxing her, "Take the medicine, okay?" The memories came rushing back, finally freezing on that bright, sunny afternoon. A teenage boy held a girl's hand under a cherry blossom tree, promising a lifetime together. "Genny, let's get married as soon as you graduate." But now, that boy was holding another girl's hand, walking farther and farther away until they disappeared into the blinding white light. Genevieve slowly closed her eyes, a faint, peaceful smile on her lips. The ECG line flattened. The alarm screamed through the operating room. "Patient Genevieve Kershaw. Time of death: August 13th, 1:14 PM." Outside, the rain had stopped. A shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds, falling on her pale face as if to see her off. Meanwhile, across the city, Nathaniel was feeding a grape to Elaine, completely unaware that the most important person in his life had already left him forever.
Free! Free! Free! Smart people are watching short dramas here!
Free! Free! Free! Smart people are watching short dramas here!
I’m 52, and my menopause belly finally went down after months of painful swelling. My stomach changed so suddenly that I didn’t recognize myself in photos. It felt tight, round, and uncomfortable from the moment I woke up. I blamed myself, even though I was eating well and walking every day. In just six months, I gained 27 pounds, most of it sitting heavily around my waist. I tried everything—supplements, hormone-friendly workouts, cutting coffee, cutting sugar, breathwork, cold showers, even special bedding to ease the heat. Nothing touched the swelling. Nothing changed the shape of my belly. A naturopath finally explained what was happening. She said my brain was trapped in a stress response, treating menopause like danger. That meant heat waves, restless sleep, and stubborn belly fat held for “protection.” Then a pharmacist in her fifties told me how she reduced her own meno-belly using the CALMI Ring, a magnetic acupressure ring she wore daily to calm her system. I decided to try it. The first two days, I felt nothing. On Day 3, my belly felt a little softer and I only had a few heat moments. By the end of Week 1, my flashes were cut in half and the swelling eased noticeably. Week 2: –7 lbs without dieting. Week 4: –15 lbs, consistent sleep, and a waistline slowly returning. Two friends tried CALMI and experienced similar relief. Martine said her belly hadn’t softened in over a year. Patricia said she lost 18 lbs in six weeks. Now, four months later, most days pass with zero flashes. My belly is no longer swollen. My weight is almost back to normal. My confidence finally returned. CALMI Ring helped my system stop clinging to stress fat. If your belly feels impossible to change, there might finally be something that helps. https://mycalmi.com/products/calmi-ring-relieve-menopause-naturally
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
🌺This is more than just a flask; it's an artistic celebration of life, memory, and the freedom of the soul! The Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead limited edition commemorative flask, with its visually striking sugar skull design and high-end embossing craftsmanship, ignites the most classic Mexican Día de los Muertos culture!
🌺This is more than just a flask; it's an artistic celebration of life, memory, and the freedom of the soul! The Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead limited edition commemorative flask, with its visually striking sugar skull design and high-end embossing craftsmanship, ignites the most classic Mexican Día de los Muertos culture!
🌺This is more than just a flask; it's an artistic celebration of life, memory, and the freedom of the soul! The Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead limited edition commemorative flask, with its visually striking sugar skull design and high-end embossing craftsmanship, ignites the most classic Mexican Día de los Muertos culture!
After World War III, Arthur Morgan is reduced to scraping by in the chaos, surviving on scavenged goods while being bullied and robbed by former high school classmates—until a chance discovery of alien technology changes everything. He rescues three women who become his wives and sets his sights on using this power to rise as the King of the Wasteland.
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
Left at the altar by her husband and best friend, Elena hires a stranger for revenge, only to discover he’s the world’s richest man. His arrival was no accident—it was a calculated trap. Now, caught in a dangerous game of vengeance, they never expected to fall in love. 💍🔥
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
Left at the altar by her husband and best friend, Elena hires a stranger for revenge, only to discover he’s the world’s richest man. His arrival was no accident—it was a calculated trap. Now, caught in a dangerous game of vengeance, they never expected to fall in love. 💍🔥
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬
After her fiancé and best friend betray her, she seeks a desperate form of revenge. She hires a mysterious man, unaware he is actually the powerful billionaire who has been watching her all along. Will this encounter lead to justice or a trap? 💔 Watch the full story to see how her new life unfolds. 🎬