When Mike, my fiancé, died in the earthquake, he entrusted me to his older brother, Eason. This care stretched into five long years. Then, one night, fueled by too much wine, we lost control. A reckless night led to a life stirring within me. Clutching the pregnancy test results, my mind racing with visions of a diamond ring I'd glimpsed in his drawer, I hurried home, eager to surprise him. But as I stepped inside, I stumbled upon a scene I could never have imagined: him and Vivian, his one true love, in a moment of intimate passion. My face went stark white. I turned to flee, but his voice, rough with raw need, snagged me. “Cathy, could you run to the pharmacy for some condoms?” I clutched the pregnancy test results, my smile a grimace of despair. When I returned with the purchase, Eason paid me ten thousand credits for my errand. Vivian cast a triumphant glance at the small package, then a venomous one at me. “Eason, your… sister-in-law looks so innocent, yet her taste is surprisingly sharp!” Eason’s gaze swept over me, sharp and commanding. “This is adult business, not for little ears. Go stay at a hotel for a few days before you come back!” I ended our child’s life. I obeyed. I left. And I never came back. 1. The doctor, seeing me return so soon, looked at me with a questioning gaze. “Is something wrong?” She had reason to ask. When I first discovered I was pregnant, my cheeks had bloomed with joyous color. Now, they were deathly pale. “Please, schedule the earliest possible abortion for me.” Having witnessed countless human dramas, she offered no further persuade. But when it came to signing the consent form, she insisted I get a family member’s signature. I pulled out my phone, instinctively hitting the speed dial. The phone buzzed once before Eason disconnected it, faster than my own hand could react. I gave a bitter laugh. “I have no family; I’ll have to sign for myself.” Stepping down from the operating table, I saw a screenshot of a hotel booking on my phone. Eason had thoughtfully booked a week’s stay at a luxury hotel. His message read: “Unless it’s a matter of life or death, don’t disturb me these next few days. You understand.” And what was there not to understand, especially after seeing the diamond ring on Vivian’s finger? It was laughable how I had deluded myself, believing it was meant for me. Even more ludicrous, that he might remember our one night of reckless abandon. I glanced at the bloody, indistinct form of the embryo, my heart turning to ashes. I left. The luxury suite was fully equipped, as comfortable as the cozy bedroom Eason had always provided for me. But as I curled up under the covers, all I felt was a pervasive chill. My hands trembled as I dialed a number. “Dr. Sharma, that medical aid mission to Africa you mentioned last time? Count me in.” Dr. Sharma, perceptive and thoughtful, expressed her delight at my willingness to join, then probed gently. “Cathy, didn’t you say your late fiancé’s brother wouldn’t approve of you going to Africa? Did you two have a fight?” “Don’t you dare throw a tantrum and run off with me! He’ll turn the world upside down looking for you!” Dr. Sharma’s concern was understandable. After Eason and I had that chaotic night, I had slipped away while he was asleep, mortified. Afterward, he acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining his protective, older-brother demeanor. Angry that he dared to act so irresponsibly, I had run off on a trip to clear my head. Eason, in his frantic search for me, caused a city-wide uproar. Everyone knew he valued his “sister-in-law” more than his own eyesight. Seeing the news, I automatically assumed I was important to him. It turned out I had been foolishly overthinking. He was now so entangled with his beloved that he could dismiss me to a hotel for a week. Once he married, that house would surely offer no place for me. And I had no desire to watch him and another woman in sweet affection, day after day. “Dr. Sharma, he agreed to it.” “Alright, then I’ll add your name to the roster immediately. I’ll send you the details shortly so you can prepare.” Poring over the documents, I booked a flight for seven days later. I would stay at the hotel for a week, then leave. As for what I needed to take, I tried to recall, but it seemed there was nothing I truly needed. Since the earthquake, I, a girl without a home, had everything bought for me by Eason. He had covered all my expenses, leaving my parents’ inheritance untouched. The debt I owed him, I had to repay. I kept a little for myself, then transferred the rest to the bank account linked to the card he’d given me. With everything settled, my mind finally at peace, I fell into a deep sleep. In my slumber, the room seemed to sway again. My phone rang repeatedly, yet I heard nothing. Then, an urgent pounding on the door. “Cathy? Open the door!” 2. Eason’s frantic voice disoriented me. For a moment, I wasn’t sure where I was. I opened the door in a daze. Seeing that I was unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief, then his anger flared. “What’s wrong with you? Not answering your phone, ignoring my messages. Is it amusing to deliberately scare me?” I picked up my phone, realizing Eason had called countless times. While I was asleep, there had been another tremor. “I’m sorry, I was sleeping too deeply to hear.” “You’re lying! You’re terrified of earthquakes. Every time there’s even a slight tremor, you’re too scared to sleep!” He was right. In those moments, he would stay by my side all night. He would endlessly reassure me that he would protect me. Even if the world collapsed, he would die with me. I glanced at the mismatched buttons on his shirt, a strange warmth spreading through my chest. He did still care about my safety. But the intimate marks on his neck below his jawline, a silent reminder of his entanglement with Vivian, screamed at me not to delude myself. He only placed me, another orphan, in his protective circle because of his brother’s dying wish. “Perhaps I was just too tired.” Eason clearly didn’t believe me. He stared at my face for a few seconds, then spoke, his voice cold and accusatory. “Why did you paint your face so white in the middle of the night? Was it just to trick me into coming here?” I lifted my gaze, seeing the displeasure in his eyes. Before, when the ground shook, he’d tell my pale face not to be afraid. Now, my face utterly devoid of color from the recent procedure, he accused me of painting it to deceive him. I tugged lightly at the corner of my lips, my heart feeling like a plum steeped in icy water. “It’s my fault for ruining your good time, big brother. You should go back to your fiancée.” It had been so long since I called him ‘big brother.’ The unexpected address made Eason’s thin lips press into a tight line. His eyes, dark as a deep well, held an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “You’re coming back with me. If there’s another aftershock, I’ll feel better with you close by. Vivian will too.” “Besides, it’ll stop you from causing more trouble.” “I won’t cause trouble. You go!” I stood stubbornly rooted to the spot. Eason’s brows furrowed, his voice losing patience. “Just because you wouldn’t answer your phone, I left Vivian alone at home. Can’t you be more understanding?” But I had already ended the pregnancy and quietly decided to leave. Wasn’t that understanding enough? Before I could speak, Eason’s phone rang. A syrupy, tearful female voice asked him, “Eason, when are you coming back? I’m a little scared…” “Don’t be afraid, darling. I’ll be right there!” Eason soothed her softly, while casting a meaningful glance at me. I was already grateful that he had thought of me immediately after the earthquake. For someone with no blood relation, to have cared for me for so many years—if I continued to be difficult, it would be pure ingratitude. Eason couldn’t hang up the phone just yet, and I still refused to move. So, he simply hoisted me over his shoulder and headed for the elevator. I struggled violently, telling him to put me down, and accidentally knocked his phone to the floor. Annoyed, he reached out and slapped my bottom. The sharp crack of his palm against my behind echoed in the corridor. Both of us froze, stunned. The heat of his palm, through the thin fabric, scorched me, making me deeply uncomfortable. The memory of our wild night flooded me, and my chilled body instantly burned. A young girl passing by stifled a giggle and hurried away, only to gossip in a hushed voice to her friend at the corner. “Just saw the most intense couple! I bet they won’t leave their hotel room for three days!” Eason, already frozen by his own impulsive action, instantly dropped me onto the floor as if I were scorching hot. His face, usually so composed, flushed crimson all the way to his neck. “Look at the trouble you’ve caused! It’s utterly humiliating! I shouldn’t have come to bother with you!” With that, he picked up his phone and left alone. I mustered all my strength to steady myself, but the moment the elevator doors began to close, I couldn't hold on any longer. He was the one who had forcefully tried to carry me, and he was the one who had crossed a line by slapping my bottom. If that was humiliating, then what was getting me pregnant? My emotions surged, and the bleeding below stopped. My vision blurred, and I fell backward, straight down. The young girl, hearing the thud, quickly shouted at the elevator, “Hey, your girlfriend passed out!” 3. I forced my eyes open, catching only the descending numbers on the elevator. Finally, it stopped at the ground floor, remaining still. The young girl, halfway through her gossip, rushed over and helped me up. Seeing the pooling blood beneath me, her face was filled with indignation. “What happened? Did your boyfriend just leave you like that?” I offered a bitter smile. “You’re mistaken. He’s not my boyfriend.” She, however, automatically interpreted it as us having a fight and breaking up. Leaning on her, I tried to make my way back to my suite, but after only two steps, I completely blacked out. When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was stark white. The familiar scent of antiseptic told me I was in a hospital. “You’re awake?” The nurse, after confirming I was alright, began to chatter. “What’s with your emergency contact? I called him several times, and he just kept hanging up.” “It was the young girl who brought you in who paid for your medical fees.” I pulled out my phone and checked the call history. I understood then; Eason was truly furious. But I no longer had the heart to explain or reconcile. I was even more relieved he hadn’t answered, or my abortion would have been impossible to hide. After a few days of quiet recovery at the hospital, I returned to the hotel to retrieve my luggage. But I was informed that Eason had already checked me out. The attendant apologetically handed me my bags, though her eyes held a hint of amusement. As I left, the hushed whispers behind me reached my ears, word for word. “She’s lost her favor, hasn’t she?” “Lord Eason is already engaged. There’s no place for his… sister-in-law anymore.” “I thought after all these years by Lord Eason’s side, she’d finally gain his affection. Who knew she’d still lose to his one true love!” In the hotel lobby, a preview of Eason and Vivian’s engagement ceremony for tomorrow was playing. I hailed a cab as if deaf to it all, heading for the airport. The scenery outside the window blurred as the car sped away, and I leaned back, closing my eyes to rest. The car drove for a long time, and still we hadn’t reached. I opened my eyes, sensing something was wrong. Panic rising, I glanced at the rearview mirror. The masked driver’s casual glance in my direction felt like the cold stare of a viper. Forcing myself to remain calm, I fumbled for my phone to call for help. The masked man noticed my intention. He let out a cold laugh and slammed on the brakes. “Too late to notice now.” He got out of the car, pressed a damp cloth over my mouth and nose, and my consciousness immediately began to fade. He snatched my phone, a mocking smile on his face. “Trying to call for help?” “How about we make a bet? If he answers your call, I’ll let you go. If he doesn’t… hehe…” The man used my fingerprint to unlock my phone and dialed the top contact. Sure enough, Eason didn’t answer. Then he directly hung up. On the last call, he finally picked up. I tried to scream for help, but the sound was barely a whisper. From the other end, his voice was filled with furious rage. “Cathy! Get your identity straight! My brother is dead! To me, you are, at best, a stranger! Stop trying to cling to me!” His roaring, deafening voice, mingled with the masked man’s mockery, pierced my eardrums and my heart. We arrived at an abandoned factory. The masked man dragged me from the car and threw me onto the ground. A pair of high heels entered my blurry vision. Before I could even make out the woman’s face, she kicked me twice, viciously. Weakened, I saw stars. “Cathy, you shameless hussy!” “Eason treated you like his own sister, but you’re so vile as to try and tarnish his name!” The familiar voice made me realize who was kicking me. That day, when I walked in on Vivian and Eason’s passionate embrace, her eyes had filled with hostility the moment she saw me. Seeing my silence, Vivian pulled out her phone and accused me. “Did you get someone to release this photo?” “If Eason hadn’t handled it quickly after I discovered it, you would have succeeded!” I looked at the photo, finally understanding why Eason had said those words. 4. The photo showed Eason’s back as he dropped me onto the ground. The caption read: [To the all-knowing netizens, help expose this scumbag! His girlfriend just had a miscarriage, and he violently broke up with her when she refused his advances!] I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and flatly denied it. “You’re mistaken.” “Mistaken? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning! You just panicked because Eason’s about to get engaged to me!” “You, an innocent young woman, are so shameless you’d even use a clumsy excuse like a miscarriage to add drama to your own story!” Eason’s denial and mistreatment were one thing. But now Vivian was kidnapping and humiliating me? Did she truly think I was so easily bullied? I used all my strength to push away the foot that was grinding into my face. She was caught off guard, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Annoyed, she raised her hand to slap me, but for some reason, she stopped herself. A conniving smile I couldn’t decipher played on her lips. “Cathy, as a woman, I could tell at a glance that you like Eason. How about we make a bet? How important are you, truly, to him?” A terrible premonition welled in my heart. But to my shock, Vivian slapped herself hard, twice. Then, under my astonished gaze, she slipped the diamond ring onto my finger. Finally, she scratched several bloody marks onto her own hands before allowing the masked man to tie her up. She turned to me, crying crocodile tears. “Cathy, you invited me here just to kidnap me? To humiliate me?” The moment she finished speaking, a figure kicked open the door and burst in. Even against the blinding light, I recognized Eason instantly. Overwhelmed with a fresh wave of injustice, I called out to him, my voice barely a whisper. “Eason…” But he completely ignored me. I watched as he tenderly untied Vivian, sweeping her into his arms, consoling her softly. “Darling, are you alright?” He cupped Vivian’s swollen, reddened face, his eyes red with pain. That night, he had been angry for me too. But after Vivian returned, his eyes had no longer held me. Still uneasy, he examined Vivian from head to toe. Upon discovering several scratch marks on Vivian’s empty left hand, a chilling aura of death radiated from him. He turned to me, no longer seeking confirmation, and roared, “Cathy! Who gave you permission to bully her?!” Vivian, her eyes red and puffy like a rabbit’s, choked back a sob as she pleaded for me. “Eason, don’t blame your sister-in-law. She likes you, so her jealousy is understandable.” “Thankfully you arrived in time. I wasn’t too badly hurt…” Eason glanced at the masked man, who had seized the opportunity to escape, then, unable to contain his fury, slapped me. “What kind of sister-in-law falls for her late fiancé’s brother, even wanting it to be widely known? She has no shame, but I do!” Vivian’s lips curved upwards, then she tearfully pleaded with me. “Cathy, can you give me back the diamond ring? It’s Eason’s engagement ring for me. If you just return it, I’ll overlook everything you did, kidnapping and humiliating me…” Her swollen eyes were filled with pure provocation. Seeing through her charade, I ripped the diamond ring from my finger and tossed it at Eason’s feet. I looked him directly in the eyes, speaking each word with cold precision. “I don’t like you, and I have no interest in playing along with your fiancée’s charades. Take your pathetic ring and get lost!” My words made Eason’s icy face darken to a storm cloud. The disappointment in his eyes was palpable. “Cathy, pick up that ring and return it to your future sister-in-law! And apologize to her!” He was the one in the wrong from beginning to end, yet he was forcing me to apologize. “She’s the one who tied me up and brought me here! If anyone should apologize, it’s her to me!” “Cathy, I’ve truly spoiled you beyond measure these past few years!” “If you won’t apologize, fine. Then go kneel before my brother’s grave and reflect on how outrageously wrong you are, and whether you are worthy of his dying wish, his last selfless act to ensure you were settled!” His voice was frigid, leaving no room for refusal. He was right. I was leaving soon; I should go see Mike. He drove me to the cemetery. Seeing me obediently kneel, Eason, holding a smug Vivian, strode away. It had started to rain, though I hadn’t noticed when. I bought a new plane ticket and left without a single backward glance. As the plane prepared for takeoff, I searched for my medical aid documents, only to realize the folder was gone. Inside, were my pregnancy test results and the abortion procedure consent form. Eason’s call arrived, unbidden. “Cathy! Tell me, who was that wild man who got you pregnant?!”
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