I Conformed to His Expectations

I've been with Kyle for six years, and for those six years, I've also taken care of his dog. But tonight, when I took the dog out for a walk, it suddenly and excitedly ran over to Kyle's ex-girlfriend, leaping into her arms. I didn't have time to react before it yanked me to the ground. I lost the baby. On the way to the hospital, I suddenly saw everything in a new light. A dog with a different master will never truly become yours, no matter how much you care for it. The same goes for people. When I got home, I told Kyle I wanted a divorce. He frowned in disbelief, asking, "You're ending our marriage because of a dog?" "Yes, just because of a dog."

Upon discovering that my son's biological father was my wife's "first love," I left behind the divorce papers and walked away. Before leaving, I commented on their family photo on social media, "Wishing you three a long and happy life. I'm stepping aside for you." The next moment, my wife called me. "I've told you the truth. Why are you still causing trouble? Does it truly matter if he's your biological son?" I replied with a cold laugh, "Now that you're no longer my wife, it naturally doesn't matter anymore." But she became anxious.

After my fiancée helped her male best friend have a child through artificial insemination, I left behind the divorce papers and walked away. Before I left, I commented under their group photo on her social media: "Make sure you sign the divorce papers. Wishing you all a happy family." A minute later, she called me, "Can you stop being unreasonable? He doesn't like women, so what's wrong with me helping him have a child?" I laughed coldly and said, "That's why I'm getting out of the way, so you can find someone who won't be unreasonable." But she started to panic.

Six months after I died during childbirth, my husband came looking for me, demanding I terminate the pregnancy so I could donate my bone marrow to his idealized love. I was the only match. My mother told him, "My daughter has already passed away." With a face full of disdain, my husband retorted, "I ignored for six months and now she's throwing a tantrum, even faking her death! Pass this message to her. Even if she gives birth, I won't spare her a glance! If she doesn't come forward to donate bone marrow within three days, don't blame me for cutting off your medical expenses!" What he didn't know was that after my death, my mother had already given up on her cancer treatment. She held on just to see his remorse at my grave.

On the day I was sentenced to death, my parents were busy organizing a press conference to announce that their adopted son, Cary, would be the new heir to the company. My sister and Cary were engaged, officially integrating him into the family's inner circle. Meanwhile, I, who had exposed Cary's ambitious schemes, was cast out, branded as the ungrateful outcast who betrayed her own kin. After a second chance at life, I no longer yearned for their love. I chose to live solely for myself.

After my second chance at life, I took the initiative to sever all possible ties with Rhett. When he chose to live in the east of the city, I bought a house in the west, putting a whole town between us. On the rare occasion he brought the child to my house for a meal, I would lock myself in my room and pretend to be sick, refusing to see him. When I heard he had volunteered to transfer to our area to work at the factory, I immediately submitted my resignation letter that very night. Seizing the opportunities of the economic boom, I headed south. In my previous life, I had loved him for forty years, and for forty years, he had belittled me. He constantly compared me to his unattainable ideal, blaming me for ruining his dream of becoming a factory director. Even as I lay dying, he shamelessly planned his wedding with his perfect fantasy. My stepson, whom I had raised with care, was busy helping with the wedding preparations, abandoning me to face death alone. Having lived through such a failed life once, I swore I would never endure it again.

"Please... f*ck me. I'm burning." Those weren't the words Aurora Blaire ever thought she'd say-especially not on the night of her engagement party. But one reckless, forbidden night shattered everything she believed about herself. A twenty-two-year-old virgin raised to be perfect, Aurora suddenly wakes up in the wrong bed-with a stranger who isn't her fiancé. Her innocence, her reputation, her future-one night threatens it all. And watching her fall apart? A ruthless, possessive billionaire with eyes dark enough to swallow sin. He saw her trembling, her tears, and something inside him snapped. He didn't want to use her-he wanted to protect her. To shield her from the wicked world. To claim her. To make her his. He's willing to burn the world to keep her safe... But the only person he can't protect her from is... himself.

Abandoned as a child and orphaned by murder, Kathryn swore she'd reclaim every shred of her stolen birthright. When she returned, society called her an unpolished love-child, scoffing that Evan had lost his mind to marry her. Only Evan knew the truth: the quiet woman he cradled like porcelain hid secrets enough to set the city trembling. She doubled as a legendary healer, an elusive hacker, and the royal court's favorite perfumer. At meetings, the directors groaned at the lovey-dovey couple, "Does she really have to be here?" Evan shrugged. "Happy wife, happy life." Soon her masks fell, and those who sneered bowed in awe.

Alexander's coldness was laid bare before Florrie; he even asked her to buy morning-after pills for another woman. Enduring the pain became her routine, all because Alexander was a stand-in for Alec, her lost love. But one day, she tricked him into signing the divorce papers and said, "I never loved you." Devastation clung to him, his gaze clouded by despair. "You can't leave. I won't sign." Then Alec returned as a conglomerate heir. She searched his face for love and found none-until she turned away. He cracked, tears falling. "I'm sorry," he begged. "I love you."

Sunlit hours found their affection glimmering, while moonlit nights ignited reckless desire. But when Brandon learned his beloved might last only half a year, he coolly handed Millie divorce papers, murmuring, "This is all for appearances; we'll get married again once she's calmed down." Millie, spine straight and cheeks dry, felt her pulse go hollow. The sham split grew permanent; she quietly ended their unborn child and stepped into a new beginning. Brandon unraveled, his car tearing down the street, unwilling to let go of the woman he'd discarded, pleading for her to look back just once.

At my best friend's birthday party, I drank tainted wine and passed out. When I woke up, I heard the doctor say it could cause severe nerve damage. I teased my fiancé Cayden Hewitt, asking who I was and where I was. He hesitated, staring at me, then called my rival Liam Hewitt. "You're Julia. He's your fiancé. You're getting married soon." I froze, thinking he was joking too. My best friend, Vivian Green, slipped her arm through Cayden's, looking every bit like a couple in love. Eventually, I was about to marry Liam. But Cayden, with eyes red from emotion, stood in front of the car to stop it, pleading, "Julia, don't marry him. I've realized I can't let you go."

It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”