I had three childhood male companions and was the only girl among four families.
When my family fell on hard times, the elders decided to arrange a marriage for me with one of them.
But Zane, the school tough guy, glanced at me disdainfully and refused: "Can't marry her—I like good girls. I only see her as a buddy."
Xavier, the cute clingy guy, shrugged regretfully: "Me too—I only see her as an older sister."
Evan, the top student, even said coldly, "She's impulsive and stupid—she's not fit to be my wife."
Their unreserved refusals and put-downs left my parents only able to force awkward smiles.
I gave up completely.
So I said to my parents, "Mom, Dad—I have a boyfriend."
1
Zane rolled up his sleeves, one arm draped over the back of the chair, slouching carelessly as he chatted and laughed with Xavier. Evan, meanwhile, stared down at his phone—his slender fingers flicking idly across the screen, the light glinting off his glasses as cold and unapproachable as his demeanor.
They barely tolerated my parents' awkward, placating remarks—delivered with forced smiles—responding only with impatient, perfunctory nods.
Until I spoke.
The private room fell silent in an instant. Zane and Xavier whipped their heads toward me simultaneously. Evan looked up too, his gaze sharp and meaningful.
I pretended not to notice. Instead, I addressed my equally stunned parents: "You should've told me about the arranged marriage earlier. This misunderstanding could've been avoided."
"They're right."
"Even though we're childhood companions, I only see them as brothers—no romantic feelings at all."
My parents had kept the blind date a secret because they feared I'd be embarrassed. After careful consideration, they'd settled on Xavier—two years younger, clingy and lively, the one who'd never once fought with me. Why the other two showed up, I had no idea.
I was a little angry they'd hidden this from me, but more than that, my chest ached—sharp, unfamiliar, yet raw.
Back when our fortunes were still intact, Mom had asked if I liked anyone. I'd turned away, silent. She'd smiled, instantly catching on, and teased: "Is it one of your three childhood buddies?" My face had burned red, and I'd snapped at her to drop it. She'd known then—without needing to ask again.
Later, I'd grown guarded, hiding my feelings so well they could never guess who it was.
Then Dad's investments crashed, and our Xie family fell into ruin. The other three families drifted away, one by one—intentional or not.
Mom had decided: With my stubborn pride, I'd never confess to the person I loved unless she pushed for it. So she'd taken a risk, planning this blind date behind my back.
Xavier's parents hadn't come, but Zane and Evan had—sons of the Xiao and Zhuang clans. Still, Mom and Dad had treated it seriously. They'd laid bare our situation, saying if any of the boys felt the same, a marriage would be a blessing. If not, it was just a meal—no hard feelings, no pressure.
They'd never expected their precious daughter—the one they'd held so close—to be rejected so cruelly by the boys who'd grown up beside her.
I was used to it. But watching Mom and Dad's smiles crack, piece by piece, my heart twisted like someone was squeezing it. A pain I hadn't felt in years surged up, and I couldn't stay silent any longer.
Before Mom or Dad could ask what was happening, I stood, glanced around the room, and said coldly: "None of you seem to want this meal anyway."
"Let's just part ways—amicably."
2
My parents went to get the car first.
I was about to follow when someone grabbed my arm from behind.
I turned my head and met Zane's annoyed face.
He slouched in a white button-down over a black low-neck T-shirt, his newly pierced collarbone—adorned with two diamond studs—glinting under the light. Trendy, reckless… just like him.
He leaned down, staring at me, and sneered sarcastically, "Long time no see, and your temper's even worse?"
"Aren't you on a long leave? Where'd you pick up this boyfriend?"
"How old is he? What does he look like? Do I know him?"
His questions came in a sharp, pressing stream—each one sounding like concern.
But if I'd told him everything, he'd just blink and mock me, saying I didn't deserve it.
This had happened too many times before.
I snapped, yanking my arm free and shouting uncontrollably, "It's none of your business!"
Zane stared at his empty hand, stunned. His smile faded, and he frowned deeper, his annoyance growing.
Xavier peeked out from behind him, grinning to show his tiny tiger teeth. "What's with the overreaction?"
He deliberately pitched his voice high, making it sound lively and playful—easy to feel close to.
But his words were the opposite of his tone.
"Did you really find a random guy outside, Serena?"
"C'mon, aren't the three of us enough?"
His grin widened as he fixed his eyes on me, adding意味深长ly, "So promiscuous."
Xavier loved calling the three of them my "harem," as if I was some debauched queen with special status. But in our little quartet, I was the one who'd fought tooth and nail to fit in.
Once, I'd lied to myself—told myself that even though they teased me, put me down, and pulled pranks on me for fun, maybe that's just how guys are. Besides, they'd always asked me to hang out, and they'd defended me when others bullied me. We'd grown up together, after all. I must've meant something to them, right?
Until that incident.
That's when I finally realized: from the start, I'd been nothing but a toy they could toss around—a clown to amuse them when they were bored.
I met Xavier's gaze. His lips were still curled into a smile, waiting to see me wince at his over-the-line comment. But I stared back blankly for a moment, then turned and walked away.
I hadn't gone far when another, colder voice called out, "When are you coming back to class?"
I paused, didn't turn around, but gave a small response to the normal question: "In a couple of days."
Right after, I heard Xavier click his tongue in annoyance. He muttered loudly on purpose so I could hear:
"Of course—you only give him a good attitude since you two dated."
"But—"
"You broke up ages ago, Serena. Are you still playing favorites with him?"
Funny, isn't it? Of the three, Evan had been the most repulsed by the engagement—he'd said the harshest things, calling me impulsive and stupid, saying I wasn't fit to be his wife. But he was the one I'd dated.
And he'd been the one to confess first.
3
Unlike the Xiao, Xu, and Zhuang families—whose wealth had been built up over generations—our Xie family made our fortune much later. To be precise, my dad stumbled into the wave of the times in his early years. That's how we skyrocketed to success and squeezed into the circle of these three elite families. But that was just the surface.
Many people mocked our family behind our backs, calling us nothing but flash-in-the-pan new money that didn't deserve to be in their circle. "Sooner or later, you'll go back to where you came from," they'd sneer.
When I was young, I couldn't swallow the anger—I rolled up my sleeves and was about to confront them. But my dad stopped me and said seriously, "If our family wants to truly gain a firm foothold, we have to get along with these people."
So I endured. I started pretending to be carefree and heartless, trying to fit in with those young masters and ladies. Later, when I realized Zane and the others had a special status, I followed them like a shadow—from primary school to junior high, from being excluded and teased to gradually being accepted by them. All the way to college.
Even though I was taught by my dad at first with impure motives, over the years, I truly regarded them as my best friends. Until my dad's investment failed and the stock market crashed sharply. They suddenly started ignoring and distancing themselves from me. In a long period of confusion, I slowly realized: from the start, our status had never been equal.
This time, I didn't grovel at their feet anymore. Instead, I went to school as usual and adapted to life without them.
Then I was kidnapped.
When I was surrounded by a group of acquaintances for ransom, I was still dazed. I recognized some friends I got along with well among them—so I couldn't believe they would target me. I even thought they were joking with me, saying with a smile that if they were short on money, I could lend it to them. But they demanded an exorbitant amount—one I couldn't afford at all. Then I realized they were serious.
All the valuables on me were taken away. I was locked up for two days without any food or water. When I heard them anxiously discuss that they didn't dare to ransom my parents directly and planned to find someone to sell me, a ridiculous absurdity and despair welled up in my heart—like watching a group of kids holding kitchen knives saying they were going to kill someone. Funny because of their young age, yet suddenly terrifying because of their serious faces and the sharp blades in their hands.
That trace of ridicule and amusement vanished the moment they stripped me naked and took nude photos to sell. It turned into bone-chilling cold and terror. I tried to curl up, scolding them like a maniac, throwing empty threats—but anyone could see my bluff, my fear.
One of them was Colin—he used to be my friend. He squatted down, sighed, and reached out to touch me with a smile. "Serena, forgive me," he said. "Actually, I like you a lot…I didn't want to do this either…"
His words ended in a scream. I bit his finger, every muscle in my body exploding with unprecedented strength—I almost bit it off. The group panicked, scrambling to pull me away.
Just then—the warehouse door opened.
A bright light flooded in from the entrance, spilling across the dim, decaying space. A tall figure stood in the doorway, backlit, his silhouette etching itself into my eyes.
It was Evan.
4
After that day I was rescued,
I couldn't bring myself to leave the house for a long time.
The unexpected betrayal by friends, the sudden kidnapping for ransom—
And being stripped naked without an ounce of dignity, forced to have photos taken of me.
All of it carved deep, inky shadows into my heart, each stroke a blade of pain.
My frayed nerves teetered on the edge of collapse.
And during that time, it was Evan—who'd always been so cold and sharp—who stayed by my side.
I'd never seen him so gentle, so patient before.
And it was all for me.
He seemed to sense the way I was falling apart, the numbness creeping in.
The man who rarely spoke a word started seeking out little topics to chat with me about every day.
I stayed in his private apartment.
He'd called in sick for me at school, and he kept everything from my parents.
He even used his connections to quietly deal with Colin and his group.
He even found ways to keep Zane and Xavier—his closest friends—at arm's length.
He didn't let a single word of what happened get out.
And he didn't let anyone disturb me, or pick at my scars.
It was like a cold rain suddenly meeting a warm spring breeze, evaporating into soft mist—
He sheltered me under his wing, his care as quiet and gentle as rain nourishing dry earth.
His maturity, his steadiness, his reliability—
They slowly pried open the shell I'd clamped shut, and I couldn't help but grow dependent on him.
Finally, I couldn't hold back anymore.
Tinged with hope and anxiety, I asked him, "Why… why are you being so nice to me?"
I still remember that moment clearly.
Evan was in loose, comfortable loungewear, sitting next to me on the carpet.
His sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing pale but long, strong arms—he twirled a pen deftly between his broad knuckles.
He'd taken off his glasses too, a few strands of black hair falling over his forehead—he looked so relaxed, so lazy.
When he looked up at me, his gaze was soft—warm, indulgent, like he held the whole world in his eyes.
He answered with a question instead.
Smiling gently, he asked, "Want to go out with me?"
It felt like an arrow piercing straight through my heart.
Dizzy, I fell into the rare, intoxicating tenderness he'd wrapped around me, lightheaded and helpless.
I had no reason to shake my head and say no.
Under his care, I slowly shook off the shadows and became sunny again.
Even now, thinking back, it still feels like a dream.
Evan seemed distant on the surface, but deep down, he was fiercely possessive.
When we were in the thick of our love—
Zane was forced to rein himself in, to stop slinging his arm around my shoulders like he used to.
Xavier had to bite his tongue too, to stop spouting his usual nonsense at me.
Even if I felt the tiniest bit uncomfortable—
He'd take it seriously.
I was so happy, I almost thought I was in love with him.
I'd even giggle to myself, imagining a hundred times over what kind of wedding dress I'd wear when we got married.
But he was faking it.
He was faking everything.
Everything he gave me—all of it was a lie.
I'll never forget that day.
It was my first time cooking—my hands were covered in cuts, and I'd ruined countless ingredients.
But I'd managed to put together a feast—eighteen dishes, all for him.
All because Evan had mentioned wanting to eat something I'd cooked myself at his birthday party.
But then the doorbell rang.
I opened the door, but instead of praise or admiration—
All I got was laughter.
Loud, mocking laughter for no reason.
A group of people, laughing at me without mercy.
Xavier was doubled over, holding his stomach he laughed so hard.
Zane was whistling with a smirk, filming me with his phone—me in an apron, holding a spatula, looking so confused and helpless.
And Evan?
He was leaning lazily against the doorway, smiling faintly as he watched everything unfold—
Like a player who'd already won, calmly watching the final tally of his victory.
"Who would've thought our proud, arrogant Miss Serena had such a domestic side? Hahaha…"
"Good thing our prank wager was only a month—if it'd gone on longer, Evan, she'd probably be willing to have your kids! Hahaha…"
"Heh, that's gold. Next time it's my turn to play, right?"
Zane paused after saying that.
He glanced back at me.
Then he shrugged, like it didn't matter, and turned back around.
Smirking, he said, "Oh, she heard that? Well, next time we'll need a new trick."
5
I stood there, for a long, long time.
A layer of ice took root at my feet, slowly creeping up to engulf my entire body.
Even swallowing felt like swallowing shards of glass—it was that hard.
Then came the shaking. A faint, uncontrollable tremor.
I shifted my gaze, wordlessly looking at Evan—who stood farthest from me.
My lips trembled as I parted them, wanting to ask: Is this real?
When I'd asked why you were so good to me… you dodged the question.
So this is what you'd been waiting for.
But what about all those little moments we shared over the past month?
Did you feel even a sliver—just a sliver—of compassion or guilt for me?
Evan held my gaze for three seconds, his smile fading slightly. Then he calmly looked away.
I slowly closed my mouth. No need to ask—no need to humiliate myself further.
I understood his answer.
I thought I'd cry. Thought I'd wail until my tears drowned them all, then watch them panic, scramble around in a mess.
But I couldn't cry. My throat burned with a dull ache, my heart twisted in pain, and my whole body felt cold to the bone—but my eyes were dry and empty, unable to squeeze out a single tear.
I couldn't speak either.
I just stood there quietly, in the middle of them, surrounded by jeers as sharp as knives.
When they'd had their fill of laughter and slowly stopped, they started wondering about my deathly, unresponsive reaction—how strange it was.
Only then did I let out a slow breath. In a voice so hoarse it sounded ugly, I said to them: "…Let's end our friendship."
After that day, I took a leave of absence from school.
Shortly after, my dad's reputation and business took a nosedive. But he wouldn't give up—he still thought he could make a comeback. So our family's situation went from bad to worse.
If my mom hadn't clung tightly to a sum of money and refused to let him touch it, I probably wouldn't even be able to afford school anymore.
We moved out of the upscale neighborhood.
I sold all my luxury items—my motorcycle, piano, and designer watches included. Watching the numbers in my bank account grow, my anxiety eased a little.
Besides that, I asked my boyfriend Leo to talk some sense into my dad. He was a top student and had already started his own business successfully back in high school. He was better at handling business matters than I—an underachiever—could ever be. I had no qualms about asking him for help.
On my first day back to school, Leo's driver went out of his way to pick me up from my new home in the suburbs. I'd sold my car, but my quality of life hadn't dropped a bit.
At the school gate, Leo was gentlemanly opening the car door for me, ready to help me out with a hand.
Suddenly, a roar came speeding from the distance. After a shrill screech of tires, Zane skidded to a stop on his sleek black motorcycle with a drift, then took off his helmet.
He stepped forward with his long legs, storming over to us with a foul look on his face.
He glared at Leo's hand holding mine. Then, without warning, he threw his helmet at us.
Leo and I were forced to split apart. Before I could even get angry, Zane sneered at me and said: "So this is your so-called new boyfriend? Terrible taste."
"When did you hook up with him behind our backs?"
6
His tone was so matter-of-fact—like I'd cheated on him behind his back.
But who did he think he was to me?
I'd been a little angry at first, ready to snap back instinctively. But when I caught that unusual flicker in his eyes, I paused to think.
When I looked up again, I ignored Zane entirely. I turned to Leo, took his hand, and said softly, "Let's go—ignore him. We'll be late for class."
The two men—who'd been staring each other down coldly—immediately fixed their eyes on me. Leo looked flattered, breaking into a grin. He lit up like the sun whenever I was even a little nice to him.
He couldn't help leaning in, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He nuzzled my hair and said, "Sure, whatever you say."
Zane's face darkened to a stormy glare. When he saw we were leaving, he lunged to grab me—but Leo, ready for it, stepped in front of me and swatted his hand away hard.
Leo shielded me behind him, his face blank. "What do you want with my wife?"
"Your wife?!"
That high, almost shrill voice didn't come from Zane. I turned—and there stood Xavier and Evan, who'd appeared out of nowhere on the other side.
I knew right then—I'd be late for class.
Xavier took a step closer, his sharp gaze darting between Leo and me. He dropped his usual fake "cute clingy guy" act, his tone turning almost acid.
"How long have you two been dating that you're calling her 'wife'? Have you no shame?" he snapped. "Serena, listen to me—you can't be with a guy who's so disrespectful! If you really want a boyfriend… I can grudgingly settle for being your little guy."
Leo was almost laughed into anger. "Who's the one without shame—hitting on my girl right in front of me?!"
The two of them started bickering like children—no grace at all. It wasn't hurtful, just humiliating. I even saw some college students in the crowd—pretending to be casual, but fumblingly pulling out their phones to record.
I didn't want my name showing up on the campus confession wall later, tied to this childish bickering. So I tugged Leo's sleeve, ready to tell him to leave.
Just then, Evan—who'd been silent this whole time—spoke up. His voice was flat, but it cut through me like a knife.
"Serena, as long as someone's nice to you, you'll take anyone, won't you?"
I wasn't surprised Evan knew about Leo and me. If anyone wanted to find out, it was easy—because Leo hadn't been subtle about chasing me. In fact, he'd been loud, fanatical, and unapologetic.
He'd transferred to our class this semester. He wasn't bad-looking, but at first, I hadn't paid him much attention. I got along with everyone in class, so we hit it off after a few chats—grabbing meals together sometimes, or talking about homework.
Until word got out that Evan and I had broken up. On the third day of my leave, he found me in the hospital. Like Evan had, he'd taken care of me when I was at my lowest—doting on me every step of the way, going out of his way to make me smile.
And unlike Evan, he didn't hide his feelings. He'd told me over and over how much he liked me, how it was love at first sight—almost laying his heart bare for me.
I watched him quietly for a long time. Finally, after getting the report from the private detective I'd hired, I said yes. I became his girlfriend.
The sun was too bright, almost hateful. I snapped out of my daze and looked at Evan—who was still waiting for my answer. I forced a smile.
"Yeah, so what?" I said. "I'll like anyone who's useful to me—except my ex, of course."
7
Truth be told, I never expected it.
That my relationship with Leo would affect the three of them so deeply.
It seems when I first said I had a boyfriend, not a single one of them believed me.
Leo and I made it to the second class just in time. With no good seats left, we had to sit in the front row.
But no sooner had we sat down than Xavier slid into the empty seat beside me.
Right after, the chairs behind us screeched as someone sat down.
Leo ground his teeth but could do nothing about it.
And so, I got through the entire class amid the strange, tense atmosphere swirling around me.
Only Xavier couldn't hold back. He put on a pitiful face and asked me, "Serena, are you serious about him?"
When he got no reply from me, he hung his head in disappointment and confusion. The other two managed to stay calm.
Then, after class, Leo leaned over to talk to me. I nodded, not really listening to what he was saying.
It was always something like ordering my favorite takeout, buying me flowers, or getting me a small dessert. I didn't care.
I leaned in close to him and pressed a kiss to his cheek as a reward.
A loud clatter—pens and books behind us suddenly clattered to the floor. Chairs screeched.
But we, at the eye of the storm, seemed oblivious. I was indifferent. Leo, on the other hand, had his face turn bright red the moment I kissed him.
Steam practically came out of his ears, his eyes glazed over. He didn't notice the commotion around us at all.
But he lowered his gaze to my lips, swallowed. As if unsatisfied, he instinctively leaned in to kiss me again—only to kiss a clearly male hand.
Leo's face changed in an instant; he stepped back in disgust, then looked up and glared. His eyes met Zane's in mid-air.
It was as if you could hear the crackle of sparks. The next second, both of them stood up at the same time, ready to come to blows.
I suddenly called out to him: "Zane." Not Leo—Zane.
Their movements froze. Zane glanced at me, his eyes holding a faint glimmer of hope.
What was he hoping for? What did he think I would say?
I smiled and looked at him. "Even if you drive him away, I'll never choose you as my boyfriend."
Zane's face froze for a moment. Then, as if he'd been pricked by a needle, his reaction was terrifyingly intense.
He scoffed, as if he'd heard something funny. He was speechless, wanting to sneer, but in the end, he snarled at me in anger: "Who do you think you are? What makes you so special?!"
" You think I'd want to be your boyfriend? Don't be so narcissistic! Why don't you look in the mirror and see what your Xie family has become..."
He was so angry he spouted whatever came to mind, lashing out wildly. It was like he'd completely lost his composure.
Evan, who was standing beside him, suddenly elbowed him to stop him.
"Shut up. You'll be the one regretting this later."
Evan looked at me, his face bearing a rare look of gravity and confusion.
He said, "I have only one question."
I thought he was going to say something harsh again. My smile faded, and I frowned at him.
But instead, Evan asked: "Why didn't you ever kiss me?"
The retort was on the tip of my tongue but died there. I even wondered if I'd misheard him: "...What?"
Evan repeated himself, as if he wouldn't stop until he got an answer.
" I dated you longer than he did. I spent more time with you than he did."
" So why did you kiss him, but never once kissed me on your own?"
8
The classroom was empty and quiet, leaving only the few of us.
Evan's question hung heavy in the air.
Everyone waited for my answer.
But all I wanted to do was sneer.
My gaze swept around, taking in the expressions of all three men.
Then I let out a scoff.
"What right does a complete liar have to ask such a question?"
"What, did you all lose your memories?"
"Did you forget I said we're done being friends?"
In front of them, I took Leo's hand.
In the most impatient tone—just like they'd done to me countless times before.
"Stay away from me. Don't bother me again."
Leo gripped my hand back.
Like a rooster that had won a fight, he led me away with his head held high.
Just as we reached the door.
Xavier suddenly shouted, "I never agreed to end our friendship!"
"Serena, I admit it was my fault for joining that prank to mess with you—you can punish me however you want!"
"Please don't be mad at me, and please don't leave with him, okay?"
Xavier's eyes were red, his expression pitiful.
This time, it didn't look like an act.
He mumbled, "I just realized—I actually like you…"
But all he got in response was my unsparing laughter.
I asked him sincerely, "Is your 'like' something valuable?"
"It doesn't make me happy—it only makes me sick."
Xavier stared at me in shock.
Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
Once, I'd truly treated him like my own little brother.
I'd spoiled him, coddled him, and even tolerated his insults as if he were just a naive kid.
But he just kept doing it—over and over again.
Trampling my sincerity under his feet.
After saying that, I left without looking back.
Sitting in Leo's car, he kept humbling himself to cheer me up.
I suddenly asked him, "How many days have we been dating?"
Leo froze for a second, then answered instinctively, "The twenty-ninth day."
I was already getting bored.
I just wanted to end all of this quickly.
So I smiled at him and said, "Then come to my house tomorrow—we should celebrate our one-month anniversary."
Leo had never heard of celebrating a one-month dating anniversary before.
But he nodded obediently anyway.
And he urged, saying he needed to hurry and pick out a gift.
I said I'd prepared a gift for him too—one that would definitely surprise him.
Leo pressed for details, but I said it was a secret.
Which only made his curiosity and anticipation grow.
The next day, when he came to my house.
When I blindfolded him with a silk ribbon.
His breathing slowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
He asked tentatively, disbelieving, "Wife… is the gift you mentioned…?"
"Shhh, don't guess."
I pressed my index finger to his lips.
Then I pulled him and pushed him onto a chair.
Leo gripped his pants legs nervously, his back straight with unease.
He cooperated fully the entire time.
Even when I told him to take off his clothes and tied him up with rope.
He did it anyway, his ears turning red.
He only mumbled, "…So this is what you like?"
His breathing grew heavier, and his physical reaction became obvious.
Everything was ready.
I opened the door, and several sets of footsteps immediately echoed in the room.
Leo tensed up and asked, "Wife, did someone else come in?"
The next second, the silk ribbon over his eyes was untied.
Leo squinted his eyes.
Then his pupils contracted sharply.
Staring in shock at the camera in front of him.
And the five burly men who had suddenly appeared in the room.
I couldn't bring myself to smile at him anymore.
I asked him blankly, "Leo, are you satisfied with the gift I prepared for you?"
9
From the moment he showed up at the hospital, I'd had a terrible suspicion about him.
Sure enough, the private detective I'd hired brought me unexpected news.
Leo—his real name was Xiao Ling—was the illegitimate son of the Xiao family, a younger brother Zane didn't even know existed.
He'd been raised abroad with his mother, but as he grew older, his ambition had grown too—wild and unyielding.
He believed he was capable enough to replace Zane, so he'd snuck back to the country without permission.
He hated his older brother—who'd been treated as the sole heir, showered with every resource and luxury the family had. Hated him, and hated everything he held dear.
So he'd followed Zane's gaze—and fixed it on me.
Even though Zane and I both knew—without a shadow of a doubt—that neither of us liked the other, to everyone else, Zane's "feelings" for me were blindingly obvious.
Like a naive boy just hitting puberty, clueless about how to love—all he knew was how to tease the girl he liked, to do anything to get her attention. It was the only trick he had.
Leo wanted to destroy Zane, but Zane was too hard to get close to. So he'd taken the long way around—decided to destroy me first, just to make Zane hurt.
That's why I'd suddenly been hit with this undeserved disaster.
If I hadn't tracked down Colin—who'd been on the run from his debts—and forced him to tell the truth, I'd never have learned about Leo's twisted, hidden malice.
"…Why aren't you suspicious of Evan? He's the one who ended up winning, isn't he?"
Leo dropped the act. He glanced at the men around him, forcing himself to stay calm to buy time.
He had no idea. Even though the kidnapping had coincided with Evan and the others' prank wager, I'd never suspected any of them.
After all, we'd grown up together. I knew them—at least that much.
Otherwise, if I'd hated the wrong people, wouldn't that have played right into Leo's hands?
I didn't give him a chance to stall—turned and walked away.
The five men I'd hired sprang into action.
Leo panicked instantly, shouting my name and begging for mercy—begging me not to do this to him.
But he had no choice. Just like I hadn't, back then.
Soon, a thick stack of photos was developed. I'd gotten what I wanted.
I'm vindictive, but I'm not unreasonable. So I didn't let those men actually harm Leo—I only let them use props.
And took photo after photo of Leo's humiliated, tear-streaked face.
From this moment on, if Leo ever tried to mess with me again, he'd have to think twice about the stack of intimate photos I had of him.
Could he handle it if they got leaked?
First the breakup, then the revenge. After doing all that, I'd completely drained myself.
I took a week off school, staying home alone to recover.
Just as I was getting ready to go back to school and start a new life, I got a call from my dad.
10
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a dim, opulently furnished room with drawn curtains.
Waves of scorching heat smothered me awake. I gasped for air, fumbling to shed my coat—but I still felt parched, my mind a jumble of unease.
Sweat soaked my hair. I stared blankly at the ceiling, sluggishly trying to recall what had happened before.
The quilt beside me shifted suddenly. Then a hoarse male voice: "…You're awake?"
I jumped, yet the voice felt familiar. I hesitated, "Zane?"
Zane didn't answer. But his breathing was just as ragged and heavy as mine.
Even if I'd been slower, I'd have figured it out by now. We'd both been drugged—locked in this room, on this bed.
Who… did this? The more I thought, the more a chill crept up my spine—I recoiled from the answer in my heart.
Zane seemed to snap. He suddenly rolled over and pinned me down, scorching kisses landing haphazardly on my face.
Between kisses, he urgently pressed: "Why didn't you reply to my messages? Why did you block me?… Do I disgust you that much?"
"The things I said to hurt you—they weren't true. I meant the opposite!"
"I don't want to end our friendship—never wanted to!"
I'd had enough—I kicked him. But my body was too weak, so the kick carried no weight.
I could only snap: "Shut up! I don't want to hear it! Stop—don't tear my clothes!"
Zane's movements froze for a split second. He seemed caught in a storm of conflict.
But in the end, he said—"…I can help you, Serena. I'll fix your family's company."
With that supposed "compensation" I'd care about, he convinced himself completely—letting lust take over.
After that, my struggles and resistance just fed the fire.
In this roaring blaze, I realized with despair—the person I'd truly loved was just… this.
No one came to save me.
The locked door was finally kicked open. Evan was the first to rush in.
When he saw the chaos on the bed, his steps faltered. He turned to stop the others from entering.
But he couldn't stop Xavier—Xavier lunged in like a cannonball, yanking Zane off the bed and starting to hit him.
His face twisted with rage: "Do you know what you're doing? We agreed to compete fairly—how dare you use such a cheap trick?!"
Zane had no reply. But after taking a few punches and seeing Xavier wouldn't stop, he fought back—they grappled together.
I ignored them—my eyes fixed on Evan, still standing by the door. I tried to lift my hand to him.
Evan didn't hesitate anymore. He rushed over, took off his coat and wrapped it around me, patting my back and whispering: "It's okay, it's okay—I'm here."
I cried silently in his arms. In a voice only he could hear, I looked into his eyes—heartbroken and wronged—and said: "The person I've always loved… it's you."
"I'm sorry."
Evan's hand tightened suddenly around my wrist. His breath hitched, then slowed.
He let go of my wrist but pulled me closer, repeating: "You did nothing wrong. Don't apologize—never apologize. You're innocent…"
By the end, his voice grew hoarse—as if he was holding back a flood of regret. "It's me… I realized too late."
11
Evan carried me away.
He'd had the foresight to bring more people.
Neither Zane nor Xavier could stop him.
My dad, Simon, realized too late and burst out of the crowd.
He didn't understand why he'd drugged Zane, only for Evan to be the one who took me away in the end.
But it didn't matter.
Whoever took his daughter would have to pay him.
His company was on the verge of bankruptcy—he needed someone to help him unconditionally.
He couldn't accept it—he thought he was still young, that he could climb back to the top and regain his glory.
He shouted loudly from behind, calling my name too.
But I clung to Evan's neck and buried myself in his arms.
I said nothing, only sobbed quietly.
Tears gradually soaked the front of Evan's shirt.
I knew he'd never known how to handle this.
Sure enough, I didn't even have to ask for help.
Evan's face turned cold as he ordered his bodyguards to block my dad off completely.
He also had someone dial his father's number.
Begging him to step in.
To make sure that, in the shortest time possible,
my dad went completely bankrupt and never recovered.
Until then.
I finally lifted my head from his arms.
My eyes red-rimmed, I choked out, "I want... to find my mom."
Evan looked down at me.
The emotion in his eyes was almost overflowing with softness.
He kissed my forehead and whispered, "Okay, I'll help you."
Evan found my mom, Sophia, held captive in a private hospital.
Her mental state wasn't great, but otherwise, her physical health was fine.
In some ways, my mom and I were cut from the same cloth.
Only now was she willing to tell me everything.
It turned out all my previous suspicions had been wrong.
Our family's downfall had nothing to do with the Zhuang, Xiao, or Xu families.
It was my dad who'd been stuck in his old ways, unwilling to accept the changes of the times.
He still ran the company using outdated methods from over twenty years ago.
Which led to the business going from bad to worse.
Frustrated, he'd had an affair while drunk.
When my mom found out, they'd fought countless times.
But for my sake, my mom had kept it a secret.
Only hoping he'd come to his senses soon and return to the family.
But never did she expect him to become more and more ridiculous.
He'd even sunk so low as to sell his daughter for profit.
That awkward blind date dinner in the beginning had been his idea too.
After that day, my mom had grown suspicious.
To keep what he planned to do later from being exposed early,
he'd found an opportunity to lock my mom in this hospital.
Coincidentally, I'd been swamped with the kidnapping incident at the time.
Not wanting to worry my family, I'd intentionally reduced contact with them.
Which was why I hadn't escaped the trap my own father had set for me.
Now that everything was out in the open.
My mom had finally seen the truth and planned to divorce that scumbag.
And Evan, on the grounds that I needed someone to take care of me, took me back to his private apartment.
12
Because he wanted me all to himself, Evan had a brutal falling-out with Zane and Xavier.
Their childhood bond—once inseparable—had curdled into violence the second they laid eyes on each other.
I didn't need to say a word more.
Evan hated Zane with every fiber of his being.
The "crime" of stealing his wife was unforgivable.
Truth be told, after Zane was drugged, he'd had a chance to walk away, to get help. But he didn't. He stayed with me, right until the drug burned through his veins and he lost all control.
How innocent I was—forced, violated—left only to curl into Evan's arms and sob, my heart in pieces.
The secret I'd buried for over a decade—shattered by this nightmare—spilled out at last.
The person I'd always loved… was him.
With his sharp mind, he must have sensed my soft spot for Zane, but he couldn't be certain.
So when he heard me whisper "I'm sorry," Evan's face crumpled—joy and panic warring in his eyes. He'd never guessed it was him.
Then, all he felt was a flood of heartache, pity, guilt—for the girl in his arms.
He did one thing that severed his bond with Zane forever: he helped Leo.
He let Leo step into the chaos when Zane was reeling, when the world was condemning him.
The Xiao family fell apart. Zane's unshakable heirship—solid for twenty years—trembled for the first time.
Swamped by disaster, Zane couldn't chase Evan down, even though he wanted to.
But there was still Xavier, pestering Evan like a weed. Evan hadn't found a way to take him down yet, so he endured the nagging, frustrated.
I comforted him lazily, pressing a perfunctory kiss here and there—and Evan would melt, quiet and satisfied.
If he wasn't? Too bad. I'd been broken by force; Evan handled me like glass, afraid of reopening old wounds, so he never pushed for more.
While he fought his battles, Mom finalized her divorce and flew abroad, thanks to my plans.
The day I decided to leave, I paused—then left Evan a gift: a plain fountain pen, nothing fancy.
If I had to explain it? Maybe it was to nudge his memory, to make him think of the good days we'd shared. To keep him stuck in those moments, just a little longer.
He'd loved me for years, I realized too late.
Too bad he couldn't see it himself.
And by the time I did…
He'd already lied to me. Already crushed the little spark I'd had for him.
Dawn broke bright and clear—the perfect day to start over. I landed on the other side of the ocean, turned on my phone.
Seventy missed calls. A hundred texts. All from Evan.
Who knew he could be so relentless?
A beat of silence—and his call pinged again. I blocked him without hesitation, shut off my phone, yanked out the SIM card, and tossed it away.
I looked up—Mom was waving from the crowd. I grabbed my luggage and ran.
From now on, my life is mine.
(The End)