I am a canary, attracting both the school bully and the top student, who compete for my affection and jealousy. Outsiders envy and resent me, saying I am living a glamorous life, soaring to new heights like a phoenix. They don't know that a bird in a cage only longs for freedom. Under the guise of love, the two have imprisoned me for years; all I see are iron bars, shackles, and the bruises covering my body. When I open my eyes again, I find myself back to the time when these two fools didn't even know me. Damn it, let this canary be whoever wants to be one.
I, Allison Barrett, was a well-protected and pampered girl, like a canary. Both Gerard Robertson and Sebastian Robertson, the two influential figures in the school, had a fondness for me and were vying for my attention.
Others were both envious and jealous of me, claiming that I was enjoying an illustrious life and had managed to attach myself to a favorable background.
They didn't know that the canary in the cage only longed for freedom.
For years, these two have imprisoned me in the name of love, my world reduced to iron bars, shackles, and bruises.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back to a time when they didn't know me yet. Great! Anyone who wanted this life could take it.
1.
The dark waves crashed against the rocks, each impact so powerful it seemed capable of shattering the stones.
An unbelievable thought emerged in my mind all of a sudden.
How wonderful it would be if these waves could wash away the two men standing before me.
"Allison, won't you think of your mother?"
As of now, Gerard still chose to threaten me by taking my mother as leverage.
The sea wind tousled my hair chaotically. I was crying and laughing simultaneously, presenting an appearance as if I were a lunatic. "My mother has been dead for a long time. How much longer do you expect to threaten me by taking advantage of her?"
I had been confined in this place for a decade. My mother died searching for me long ago.
"Could death be more dreadful than this life?"
I no longer wanted to see them. Without hesitation, I leapt, and the massive waves swallowed me whole.
Yet, I felt no pain at all, closed my eyes and let myself be released.
2.
"Allison, Allison."
In a daze, I seemed to hear my mother's voice. I must be dying.
Gentle hands brushed my forehead, accompanied by urgent calls. I struggled to open my eyes.
My consciousness was not fully awake, but when I saw the familiar face, my body took action on its own. I couldn't help but embrace her and weep.
Whether it is a dream or an illusion. Allow me to embrace her once more.
However, the tactile sensation of the embrace was so authentic that it seemed impossible to be false, making me reluctant to let go.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you feeling unwell?"
My mother wiped away my tears, looking at me with concern.
I didn't care if it was reality or a dream; I wished to stay here forever.
It took me half a month to accept the fact that I had been reborn and I had returned to my former life once again.
Now, there was no Sebastian, no Gerard, and most importantly, my mother and brother were still alive...
In this lifetime, I supposed I could lead a tranquil and blissful life if I merely refrained from having any intersection with them.
In the previous life, both I and Sebastian were chosen as outstanding freshmen to deliver speeches on the stage, and since then we had had an intersection.
This time, I planned to feign illness and refuse to go on stage.
3.
The boy on the stage, wearing a plain white shirt, managed to win the hearts of many girls with his outstanding appearance and cool and unearthly aura.
In the previous life, I was one of them.
But now, I looked at him coldly, feeling nothing but disgust.
Later, when signing up for the club, I carefully checked the member list and was relieved not to find his name.
With a changed mindset in this life, I no longer held grudges and even became friends with roommates I had clashed with before.
Attending classes, participating in club activities, and going out with roommates on weekends, I was immensely grateful for the chance to enjoy life again.
People around me said I was bright and optimistic, like a ray of sunshine.
One day, during a club activity, the president was late.
When he finally arrived, he was accompanied by a boy.
After apologizing for his tardiness, the president introduced the boy.
"This is our new member, Sebastian Robertson. Let's all get along well."
"He's so handsome," my roommate whispered, tugging at my sleeve.
I pretended not to hear, feeling a chill run through me.
Why? Why is it still impossible to break away from him? I thought.
The president asked Sebastian to sit down. We arranged the chairs in a circle, and there was only one empty seat left beside me, except for the president's position.
Sebastian glanced over and walked towards me.
I clenched my fists, trying to stay calm.
Allison, you had been reborn. He didn't know you now. I thought to myself.
Fortunately, after sitting beside me, Sebastian didn't look at me.
I took a deep breath and slowly released my fingers that had gone numb and were no longer sensitive.
The group began discussing roles for the new script.
"Allison, your voice is lovely. Could you do the narration?"
At this, everyone looked at me.
I was aware of the glance cast by Sebastian. Hurriedly, I coughed several times and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. I have caught a cold recently."
Hearing me say this, the president did not insist. As the discussion continued, others' attention shifted away from me, but the gaze of Sebastian occasionally fell on me, carrying an inexplicable emotion.
I endured all this with all my might. It was not until I returned to my dormitory that I lost my strength and slumped onto the chair. I had a persistent high fever that night.
My dreams were filled with memories of being imprisoned In the previous life.
After my several attempts of escape, the two finally lost their patience.
They placed a collar around my neck and began to rear me as if I were a brute.
4.
I was contemplating withdrawing from the drama club, but the president contacted me first. He believed I was still the best fit for the narration and sent me the script, saying I could join if my voice recovered, or not if it didn't.
Knowing the president had sent the script, I hurried downstairs to avoid keeping him waiting.
But it wasn't the president standing there.
Sebastian, in a simple T-shirt, drew the attention of many just by standing there.
"Are you Allison?"
I nodded, taking the script he handed me. But he didn't let go.
I tugged, but it wouldn't budge, so I frowned and looked up at him, only to realize that he had been staring at me the whole time.
The gaze that once seemed so full of affection now felt sticky and nauseating, leaving a sense of uneasiness as if a snake slithering over my skin.
I forced a smile and thanked him. Only then did Sebastian smile slightly and release the script.
I wanted to avoid further contact with him and turned to head back upstairs. Yet I caught sight of a person not far away.
Just one glance, and I felt like I was facing my worst nightmare.
The child who was clearly born from my belly has no blood relation to me at all. Do you believe it? I don't believe it either! However, the paternity test report in front of me stabbed into my eyes like a knife, piercing my heart and forcing me to accept the truth!
"I never thought I would assist in the birth of my husband's lover's child."
My husband was extremely arrogant about his affair, even during the divorce negotiations, he didn't forget to threaten me...
I discovered my husband was cheating on me through his WhatsApp profile picture. The other person is wealthy and powerful, publicly assaulted me, and caused me to lose my job, ultimately making it impossible for me to stand in the industry! I pretended to compromise, taking careful steps, and slowly closed in on them!
I never expected that the daughter of the nanny I sponsored for her education would be having an affair with my "phoenix man" husband, mocking me as a boring old woman while sleeping in my big bed. They caused me to have a miscarriage and are plotting to take my house and swallow my company. I am carefully planning my counterattack, digging one pit after another for this pair of scoundrels, so they can jump in themselves. I want them to understand just how great the consequences of betraying me will be!
Once by chance, I discovered that my husband had two phones, and one of them contained secrets I was not allowed to touch. In that phone, he and his mistress were like a family, while I was just a pig waiting to be slaughtered. They had prepared a trap for me, wanting to take everything I had and leave me with nothing. When a woman no longer talks to you about feelings, it's hard to say who the real loser will be in the end.
At the office, Samantha is mouthy AF and hellbent on testing my patience. So you can imagine my surprise when my new personal assistant walks into my club with a very specific fantasy. When the man Samantha's paired with doesn't stick to the rules, I step in to take his place. Wearing a mask protects my identity, and soon the little wildcat from the office is telling me all her darkest secrets and fantasies. During the day, she gives me hell, but at night, she becomes my wounded kitten. I know I'm playing a dangerous game. She doesn't know I'm one of the heads of the Cosa Nostra. She doesn't know her boss and her nightly visitor is the same person. With my enemy on the attack and her past coming to haunt her, our secrets come out in the most explosive way possible, threatening to rip Samantha away from me. But my wildcat has another thing coming if she thinks I'll ever let go.
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."