Ch. Sorry Hayden, I’m Seven Months Pregnant with Another Man’s Baby 19 Sorry Hayden, I’m Seven Months Pregnant with Another Man’s Baby 19

Chapter 7 

When the call ended, Charles seemed unable to process what had just happened. 

He stood frozen on the other end of the screen, the ring box slipping from his fingers and hitting the floor 

with a dull sound. 

I knew better. 

He would react eventually. 

He always did. 

He had learned long ago how to recover quickly, especially after the day he chose to protect Madeline and 

began dismantling me piece by piece. 

This time, though, his collapse didn’t reach me. I shut the memory of that call away and threw myself entirely 

into my work. 

Perhaps realizing that I was truly done, Charles didn’t try to contact me again. 

Instead, he became brazen. Trips. Photos. “Accidental” displays of affection. 

Public posts documenting his romance with Madeline, as if performing happiness might rewrite reality. 

It felt like two timelines unfolding in parallel. 

While they celebrated landing a project over candlelit dinners, I stayed late in the lab, running stability 

simulations. 

While they went shopping, checking in at trendy restaurants, I sat on the floor surrounded by cables, fighting 

a stubborn malfunction. 

While they drank themselves into bravado at networking events, announcing their relationship to a chorus of 

congratulations, 

I had a sudden breakthrough, a new approach, a different pathway. 

One month later, persistence paid off. We finally solved a problem that had haunted the robotics field for 

years: autonomous balance in dynamically shifting environments. 

The cost was still prohibitive. Scalability remained uncertain. 

But progress had never been loud or fast. It was slow. Deep. Relentless. 

That night, Professor Keller booked a top hotel to celebrate. 

Wine flowed freely. His face flushed, he clasped my hands and sighed, lamenting my abrupt departure years 

ago. 

“If you’d stayed,” he said regretfully, “this might’ve been cracked two years earlier.” 

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Then, in front of the entire team, he declared me his most outstanding student. 

I felt embarrassed. And yes, regretful. 

Five years. The prime years I could’ve spent building something extraordinary, lost to a relationship that led 

nowhere. 

Still, it wasn’t too late. 

After dinner, we all headed home. 

That was when I saw him. Standing outside the courtyard of my rented apartment. 

For a moment, I thought the wine had finally gone to my head. Then Charles looked up and saw me. 

He staggered forward, steps unsteady. 

I could smell the alcohol on him as he approached. He looked like he’d had quite a bit to drink. 

I frowned lightly, my eyes following him as he halted just about three feet away from me. 

“You look like you’ve gained some weight,” he said suddenly. 

Strange. He’d never paid attention to me before. 

Under the streetlight, I noticed the faint redness around his eyes. 

I smiled. 

“I’m not stressed,” I replied. “I eat well. I sleep well. That tends to happen.” 

I had always been slim, 5’7″ and only about 99 pounds. I had to take care of Charles every day, stew over his 

attention to other women, and often lost my appetite. 

Over time, I gradually developed a mild eating disorder. 

Only after leaving, after months of recovery, did my body return to something like normal. 

“What are you doing here?” I asked, calm, distant. 

I looked at him the way one looks at a stranger. 

He noticed. Pressed his lips together. 

After a long pause, he said, “Eleanor… I broke up with Madeline.” 

“I’ve thought it through,” he continued. “I’m willing to give everything up and come abroad with you.” 

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Chapter 8 

“I know you’re still angry,” he said quickly. “But I know I was wrong. I’ll deal with the company back home. 

We’ll forget everything and start over.” 

I met his resolute gaze and nearly laughed. 

“Are you planning to deal with it,” I asked lightly, “or is Reed Innovations about to announce bankruptcy and 

liquidation?” 

I hadn’t been following his affairs. But former colleagues still messaged me occasionally. 

They’d told me what happened. 

Not long after I left, a project Madeline was responsible for collapsed. The damages were severe, millions in 

penalties. 

Charles and Madeline begged partners for another chance. 

Eventually, worn down, one agreed, on the condition the project be redone. 

That was around the time he’d video-called me. 

It wasn’t until later that I found out about this. 

Whether his apology had been sincere, or just another attempt to pull me back into service, it didn’t matter 

anymore. 

Later, Madeline insisted on redeeming herself. Charles gave her the opportunity. 

The result? A catastrophic data breach. Over a million users’ information leaked. 

Compensation to partners. Compensation to users. Tens of millions in liabilities. 

Years of effort, on the brink of collapse. 

Charles hadn’t expected me to know. He stared at me, stunned. 

His lips trembled. Tears rolled down his pale face. 

“I’m sorry, Eleanor.” he sobbed. “I was wrong. I should’ve listened to you.” 

“Please… stop pushing me away. Come back to me. Let’s start again. Please.” 

He dropped to his knees. 

Once, I would’ve broken immediately. I would’ve done anything to help him. 

Now, I felt nothing. As if observing someone else’s tragedy from a distance. 

Perhaps sensing that I wouldn’t react, Charles didn’t retreat. 

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He rolled up his sleeve. Angry scars marred his forearm. 

I recognized the shapes immediately. My name. 

“Eleanor,” he cried, “I know I hurt you, but I suffered too.” 

“Every night in that empty apartment, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every time I did, I carved your name into my arm.” 

“I only stayed with Madeline to provoke you, to make you come back.” 

“You’re the only one I’ve ever loved. I never wanted to break up. I never believed you’d really leave.” 

“I regret everything. I truly do.” 

He clung to my leg, terrified I might walk away. 

“Yell at me. Hit me. I deserve it.” 

“But don’t leave me again. Please.” 

I was about to push him away, then I paused. 

And changed my mind. 

“Alright,” I said calmly. “I’ll agree on one condition.” 

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Chapter 9 

“What’s the condition?” 

Charles looked at me like a drowning man spotting land. His eyes lit up. 

I took out my phone, opened the emergency dial screen, and placed it in his hand. 

“I have proof that Madeline embezzled company funds,” I said calmly. 

“I also have evidence of her financial crimes inside the firm.” 

“Call the police. Let her face the consequences she deserves.” 

Charles froze. 

“If we get back together,” I continued evenly, “the company becomes shared property.” 

“Protecting legitimate interests isn’t something you should hesitate over.” 

I pressed the phone more firmly into his palm. 

His thumb hovered over the screen. He didn’t press it. 

“Eleanor…” he said hoarsely. “Madeline is still young.” 

“She may not have made contributions, but she worked hard too.” 

“And what about me?” I asked, amused. 

I looked at him with open mockery. 

“The humiliation I endured. The losses I suffered. Do they just disappear?” 

“And besides,” I added, my tone sharpening, “She’s still free. How do I know you won’t stay entangled with 

her?” 

“But if you send her to prison,” I said softly, leaning closer, “I’ll have no reason to worry.” 

“I can be with you, without reservations.” 

My voice dropped, brushing his ear. Like a devil’s whisper. 

Charles stared at me, pupils dilating. That sentence gave him courage. 

He took a deep breath and pressed call. 

“Hello…” 

The moment the line connected, before the operator could finish speaking, Charles abruptly hung up. He flung the phone aside. 

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“No,” he said forcefully. “I can agree to anything else, but not this.” 

“This would ruin her entire life. If she goes to prison, it’s over for her.” 

I smiled. I’d known his answer long before he gave it. 

I walked over, bent down, and picked up the phone. 

“Do you see it now?” I asked quietly. “Even now, there are still two people living in your heart.” 

“It’s overcrowded.” 

“Charles, your love isn’t pure. And it’s not clean.” 

“If you’re choosing her,” I said calmly, “then don’t come back again. It’ll be better for you, and for me.” 

He tried to say something. Just then, his phone rang. 

He glanced at the screen, his eyes widening. 

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. Then he turned and left. 

Watching his retreating figure, I felt something strange. 

A release I’d never experienced before. 

As if something lodged deep in my chest had finally been peeled away. 

The next morning, I understood why. 

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Chapter 10 

Early the next day, a former colleague messaged me. 

She told me Charles had been in a severe car accident, critical injuries, nearly fatal. 

A passerby had rushed him to the hospital just in time. 

What shocked me was what came after. 

When Charles woke up, he reportedly stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time. Then the first thing he did 

was press charges against Madeline. 

Only later did I learn the truth. The night he rushed off, he’d received a distress call from her. 

But when he arrived, Madeline dropped the act. She had planned to kill him, to stage it as an accident and 

collect his life insurance payout. 

By sheer luck, someone happened to pass by. That was the only reason Charles survived. 

This time, I believed he finally saw her for who she truly was. 

In court, he was unrecognizable. Cold. Decisive. 

He submitted overwhelming evidence and showed no mercy. 

Madeline broke down repeatedly, sobbing and begging. He never softened. 

In the end, she was convicted of attempted murder, financial fraud, and embezzlement, sentenced to decades 

in federal prison. 

Afterward, Charles drafted a will. He transferred all remaining assets into my name. 

Then, not long after, he jumped from the rooftop of a thirty-story building. 

Around that same time, our research achieved another major breakthrough. 

I considered things for two seconds. Then, in his name, I donated every cent to the institute. 

The dead are beyond judgment. 

Everything else is illusion. 

#3: Bought the Wrong Demon, Now He Won’t Let Me Go 

简介: 

I was assigned a Companion-Class Succubus, and I practically clung to him every single day, trying every way to get close. Yet, he refused me every single time. I racked my brain trying to win him over; aside from subtle hints and gestures, I even went as far as consulting Premium Support. To my surprise, the concierge kept apologizing profusely. [We are terribly sorry, Madam. After verification, it appears we dispatched the 

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wrong model to you.] [He is a Domestic-Class Succubus, and he is not designed for intimate interactions’] [Please, whatever you do, do not push him beyond his limits. If overstressed, he may lose control, endangering your personal safety!] A cold sweat broke out across my back. I immediately threw Sebastian Thorne’s pillows and blankets out of my bedroom. Unexpectedly, the man acted out of character and stopped by my door. His voice was husky, carrying a trace of longing: “What is the meaning of this? You don’t need me to cuddle anymore?” 

文案1: 

I was assigned a companion-type demon. 

And then- 

I was the one clinging to him every day, trying every way to get closer. 

But he turned me down every single time. 

Calm. Restrained. Almost absurdly polite. 

I refused to give up. 

Hints, subtle gestures, and bold approaches-I tried everything. 

I even went to customer service to complain. 

The rep almost burst into tears: 

【So sorry, dear! We sent the wrong model!] 

[You received a domestic-type demon. He doesn’t provide intimate services!] 

【Please don’t get too close. By law, demons can’t be pushed beyond their limits. If overstressed, he may lose control and pose a risk to your safety!] 

A chill ran down my spine. 

That night, I threw his pillow and blanket out of my room. 

From then on, I kept my distance. 

No crossing the line. 

And then- 

The next night. 

A soft knock on my door. 

He stood there, the man who was always so composed and distant. 

His voice was low, rough-like he was restraining himself. 

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“What does this mean?” 

He looked at me, gaze dark and heavy. 

“You don’t need me to stay anymore?” 

文案2: 

I bought a companion demon. 

But somehow- 

I was the one chasing him. 

Every day. 

Trying to get closer. 

And every time- 

he refused. 

Calm. 

Distant. 

Almost too polite. 

Like I was the problem. 

I didn’t give up. 

Hints. 

Flirting. 

Even straight-up moves. 

Nothing worked. 

So I contacted customer service. 

The reply came fast- 

【Dear user, we’re terribly sorry…] 

[You’ve been sent the wrong model.) 

【That is a domestic-type demon. No intimate functions included.] 

【Please keep a safe distance. Demons cannot be forced.) 

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【If provoked, he may lose control.] 

【For your own safety-do not cross the line.】 

My hands went cold. 

That night, 

I threw his pillow and blanket out. 

Drew a clear line. 

From then on- 

no touching. 

no closeness. 

Nothing. 

And then- 

the next night. 

A knock. 

Soft. 

I opened the door. 

He stood there. 

The same man- 

always composed, always untouchable. 

But now- 

his eyes were dark. 

Something in them barely held together. 

His voice dropped, rough and tight- 

“What are you doing?” 

He stepped closer. 

Closer. 

“Don’t need me anymore?” 

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解压滚屏: 

I was assigned a Companion-Class Succubus. 

And I clung to him every day, pestering him for intimacy. 

Yet, he refused me every single time. 

I tried everything to win him over, even contacting Premium Support. 

To my shock, they apologized: 

[We sent the wrong model. He’s a Domestic-Class Succubus-not designed for that kind of interaction.] 

[Do not push him too far. If pushed too far, he may lose control and endanger you.] 

A chill ran down my spine. 

I immediately moved Sebastian Thorne out of my room. 

Unexpectedly, he stopped at my door 

“What is the meaning of this? You don’t need me to cuddle anymore?” 

“That’s right,” I stammered, avoiding his gaze. 

He studied me briefly, then silently left for the guest room. 

Relief washed over me… yet something felt off. 

Sebastian had always resisted me-rejecting my advances, keeping his distance. 

He only stayed because I was too persistent. 

I once thought he was a “slow-burn” model. 

Turns out-he simply wasn’t interested. 

Embarrassment burned through me recalling my past behavior. 

Support messaged again: 

[We’ll send you a real Companion-Class Succubus for free.] 

I hesitated… then agreed. 

The next morning, I woke to empty space beside me. 

For some reason, it felt strange. 

Sebastian was already making breakfast. 

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Tall, composed, absurdly handsome in a pink apron. 

What a waste, I cursed inwardly. 

When he served me, he suddenly pulled me onto his lap. 

“Aren’t I supposed to feed you?” 

I panicked and pushed away. 

“I’ll eat by myself from now on.” 

He paused, then said quietly, “Fine.” 

After breakfast, he prepared to drive me to work as usual. 

I stopped him. 

“You don’t need to take me anymore.” 

This time, he froze. 

I fled before he could respond. 

At work, I received confirmation: 

My new Companion-Class Succubus had shipped. 

Name: Julian Sterling. 

Excitement replaced the lingering unease. 

After work, I bought clothes for him. 

When I got home, Sebastian confronted me. 

“Where were you?” 

“Shopping.” 

He noticed the clothes-and tried one on. 

Too small. 

“I like it,” he said. 

“… It’s not for you.” 

His expression darkened. 

“Then who?” 

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“That’s none of your business.” 

Silence. 

He folded the shirt and handed it back. 

That night, he knocked on my door. 

Wearing wolf ears… and the waist chain I bought him. 

“This was meant for me, right?” 

I almost gave in. 

But remembering the warning, I held myself back and refused. 

“You don’t need to come here anymore.” 

The wolf ears drooped. 

“…Fine.” 

Before he left, I added, 

“Make extra food tomorrow. I’ll have a guest.” 

His voice dropped. 

“You have someone coming?” 

I nodded. 

Later, I asked Support: 

“Will two succubi fight?” 

[Only if one is High-Tier-territorial, jealous… capable of falling in love.] 

Relief eased my mind. 

Sebastian didn’t seem like that at all. 

The next day, we went grocery shopping together. 

Same moped. Same road. 

But this time, I kept my distance. 

“Hold tight,” he said. 

The next second, the bike hit a pothole. 

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I slammed into his back. 

Pain shot through me. 

After that, I stayed careful-gripping only his clothes, avoiding contact. 

He said nothing. 

But the air around him turned colder. 

And the ride…somehow felt colder. 

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Chapter 1 

Every single April Fools’ Day, my boyfriend would team up with his “girl-bro” for her big prank: a fake 

proposal to me. 

Last year, I’d slipped on the ring, heart racing, when the gimmick clamped tight. I screamed in pain, but Jake 

and Luna just doubled over laughing, completely indifferent to my fingers, which were moments away from 

being crushed beyond repair. 

To apologize, Jake swore he’d propose for real this year. So when he texted me frantically to rush to the spot 

of our first date, I didn’t hesitate. I got a perm, did my nails, spent hours on a full face of makeup, and slipped 

into a new dress. I even drafted an engagement announcement for social media. 

But as I pushed open the door, grinning, a thick slab of cream smacked me right in the face. The private 

lounge erupted with Luna’s loud, playful laugh. 

“Told you she’d come, Jake! You owe me!” 

Jake wiped cream off my cheeks, his tone as soft as ever. “You look stunning-such a waste of a nice outfit. 

The guys and I bet if I could get you here. I said you wouldn’t show-win means proposal tomorrow, lose 

means next year. Sorry, but since you came, no wedding this year.” 

I stared at him quietly. “So you remember what tomorrow is?” 

He chuckled dismissively. “Of course-our sixth anniversary. How could I forget?” 

With sticky cream smearing my face, I suddenly felt hollow. Our anniversary mattered less than April Fools’ Day. Just like I mattered less than his girl best friend. 

I slid off the plain matching ring we’d worn for six years. “Let’s break up.” 

Smiled. Then walked straight to the VIP booth behind them-Jake’s biggest rival, the man he’d been losing 

sleep over. 

Sat on his lap. Took his drink. 

“I know everything about Jake Reid’s business. I’ll hand it to you for free-just want front-row seats.” 

Jake’s face went white. 

I raised my glass at him and Luna. 

“Happy April Fools’. You taught me the punchline always comes last.” 

So yeah-I dumped him, tanked his company, and now I’m dating his enemy. 

Karma’s a bitch. This one finally bites back. 

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The sharp clink of the ring hitting the floor silenced the room. 

Jake frowned. “Stop being dramatic. It’s just cream-I’ll wash it off later. You know Luna used to pull way worse stunts. She’s held back for you. Took so much to get you here-don’t make me look like a buzzkill in front of the guys.” 

Luna pouted, lower lip trembling. “Mia, it’s just a joke! If you hate it, we’ll stop. Why talk about breaking up? | 

told you she can’t take a joke, Jake. Now look what you did.” 

She plopped down on the couch, huffing. The eyes on me turned cold-she was the only girl in their friend 

group, their golden child. When she pouted, everyone rushed to soothe her. Jake was no exception. 

Our first meeting: Luna hosted Truth or Dare. Others did silly dares, but mine? Moan on the spot. I’d only said 

the penalty was over the line, and Luna teared up and ran out. Everyone chased her-Jake included. My 

welcome dinner ended with me sitting alone. 

Jake never mentioned it, but after that, he never brought me to gatherings unless Luna approved. 

Now he glared at me. “Mia, apologize to Luna.” 

In the past, to fit in, to save him from losing face in front of his buddies, I would have swallowed my pride 

and bitten my tongue. I might have even jumped in with an apology before he had to ask. But now? My breakup mattered less than Luna’s bad mood. 

I finally saw the truth-our relationship had never measured up to his bond with his girl best friend. 

I grabbed my coat and bag-the one I’d bought specially to meet his parents-and met their judgmental 

stares. “Jake, it’s over. For real.” 

I stumbled slightly in my heels as I left. As the door swung shut behind me, Luna’s teasing voice, muffled but clear, slithered out. “Not gonna chase after your little lovesick puppy?” Jake’s scoff was cold and dismissive. 

“She’s just having a tantrum. 

If I run after her now, what message does that send? Don’t worry. She’s got no one else. She’ll come crawling 

back-way less trouble than you.” 

My heart felt like it was torn open, his words slicing through the wound like cold wind. 

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Chapter 2 

Six years ago, right on this spot, Jake had poured his heart out, vowing I was the only one for him, now and 

forever. Winning me over hadn’t been easy for him. 

At fifteen, my parents remarried, starting new families. I became the unwanted burden no one wanted to mention. I resisted relationships, avoided starting a family, turned him down five times. 

The last time: I’d been followed by a burglar while living alone. He’d shown up just in time, taking down the attacker-but got hurt in the process, ending up in the hospital. 

After the nurse bandaged him, his eyes glistened. “Mia, why are you so stubborn? Can’t you let me protect 

you?” 

In that moment, my resolve crumbled. I thought-maybe dating someone reliable, someone gentle, wouldn’t 

be so bad. 

That night, he’d asked me here to confess. When I said yes, the usually poised gentleman lifted me up and spun me around like a fool. We’d collapsed onto the floor, dizzy, his strong arms holding me tight. 

We sat on the steps outside, staring at the moon. He swore-with him, I’d never be lonely again. I’d never be 

abandoned. 

But now, the old wounds I’d cautiously let him see, the ones that had just begun to scar over, felt ripped wide 

open-and he was the one holding the knife. A hollow, self-mocking laugh escaped me, pulling up the 

expiring transfer offer in my email-sent five days earlier. Typing three words wasn’t as hard as I’d feared: 

“Mia accepts headquarters transfer.” 

I glanced at the moon, veiled by thin clouds. Jake, I’d never been easy to calm down. And now, I didn’t need 

you to try. 

My train ticket was booked for the afternoon of the 2nd-I had little time left. Back at our apartment, I 

washed off the cream grime and packed my bags. There weren’t many traces of me in the apartment to 

begin with. Packing my life away was a swift, almost surgical process. In the end, it all fit into two suitcases 

-one large, one small. 

At 3 a.m., I’d booked a hotel and was heading out when I crashed into Jake, just home from his night out. He 

maneuvered a completely unconscious Luna onto the couch, then thrust a bag of pears toward me without 

so much as a glance. “You’re up. Good. She’s plastered. Make her some sober-up soup, or she’ll be 

impossible all night.” 

I stood frozen. When we first moved in, he’d come home drunk, vomiting nonstop. I’d felt terrible, getting up 

at midnight to make him soup. But the cheap clay pot had cracked over the stove, boiling soup splattering all 

over me. 

He’d sobered up instantly, staring at my burns with guilt. After that, he’d banned me from the kitchen-even when he was sick and craved porridge, he’d order takeout instead of letting me cook. 

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For years, I’d never stepped foot in that kitchen. He’d even hung a handwritten sign: “Kitchen off-limits to 

Mia.” 

A short, humorless laugh escaped me. I plucked the sign from its hook and dropped it into the trash bin with a soft thud. “Not my job,” I said, my voice flat. “If she wants soup, order it.” 

But his hand shot out, fingers closing like a vice around my wrist. He yanked me back and shoved me against the door, his body caging me in. “Alright, Mia, that’s enough,” he said, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Talk is one thing, but packing? Come on. It was a joke. A stupid April Fools’ prank. Stop making a 

scene.” 

I know you’re eager to get married, and I am too. Next year, I promise we’ll tie the knot. Okay?” 

His alcohol-tinged breath fanned my neck. But this time, his words didn’t soothe me. I pushed him away, slapping him across the face. “Jake, I meant what I said. 

We’re over. I’m never marrying you.” 

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Chapter 3 

That slap sobered him up-and even roused Luna from her drunken stupor on the couch. 

She staggered toward me, reeking of alcohol, and swung a clumsy but forceful slap at my face. “Who the hell 

do you think you are? Nobody hits Jake! So you wanna break up? Big deal! 

There are plenty of better girls out there… you’re not that special!” 

A burning pain flared across my cheek. 

Tears of pain and fury sprang to my eyes. I raised my own hand to strike back, but Jake’s hand shot out, his 

grip like an iron manacle around my wrist. 

He shoved me back hard. The small of my back slammed into the doorknob with a sickening thud, and a 

sharp, radiating pain exploded through my torso. 

He moved to shield Luna, his expression a mask of annoyance. “She’s wasted,” he said, his voice tight with 

impatience. “Don’t stoop to her level. Just… go take a walk and cool down. We can talk about this when you’ve calmed down tomorrow.” 

I stared at him in disbelief, his indifference cutting like a knife-as if I were just an insignificant stranger. He didn’t glance at me again, instead leaning down to soothe Luna’s drunken tantrum, pouring all his tenderness 

on her. 

I dug my nails into my palm, grabbing my suitcases and storming out. I booked a nearby hotel, finally drifting off at dawn. When I woke, my phone blew up with messages-pranks in the friend group, and concerned texts from colleagues asking why I’d skipped work, teasing if I had good news. 

A dull ache twisted in my chest. I quickly replied that we’d broken up, exhaustion weighing heavy on me. The notifications kept pinging: some thought I was joking for April Fools’, others insisted it was impossible, urging me not to throw a fit just because the proposal hadn’t happened. 

After all, to everyone else, Jake was gentle, steady, always reliable-a rare catch. But they didn’t know the 

truth. 

On our fourth anniversary, he’d faked a proposal setup to lower my guard, letting Luna scare me with a real snake. On our fifth, he’d used a prank ring she’d bought to “propose,” leaving me spending the day at the fire department and hospital, my finger nearly permanently damaged. He was reliable, yes-but never for me. 

I’d always blinded myself to these red flags, convincing myself he was good to me, aside from Luna. But now, sobered up, I realized even a proposal couldn’t fix this broken relationship. 

I laughed bitterly, opening Instagram out of habit. Beyond the flood of prank posts, Luna’s nine-grid photos stood out: Jake taking her to the movies, winning her stuffed animals at arcade claw machines, playing video games. Even before, he’d always spent April Fools’ with her first, then our anniversary-but he’d never 

taken me to do any of these things. 

He’d always said such stuff was for childish couples, a waste of time. “Better to do crafts or watch a movie 

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at home-something meaningful,” he’d say. I’d thought it was a sign of maturity, pushing aside all my silly, first-love fantasies. But looking at his bright, carefree smile in the photos, I finally understood; it wasn’t the activities that were boring-it was being with me that bored him. 

The comments were flooded with “couple goals,” all their mutual friends liking the post-more likes than our relationship announcement had gotten. 

I was about to turn off my phone when a text popped up from Jake: “Don’t misunderstand. I’m just taking her out to cheer her up. Come back when you’re free-she wants to apologize.” 

I frowned, my thumb hovering over a “no thanks” reply. Then, a package delivery notification popped up. It was the anniversary gift I’d ordered for him-sent, of course, to our old address. I stared at the screen. A 

clean break. 

That’s what we needed. And I still had the keys to return. Might as well get it over with. A proper goodbye, for 

closure. 

I threw on some clothes and rushed over. The moment I stepped inside, a bucket of foul-smelling liquid was 

upended over my head, drenching me from head to toe. 

A sharp, burning sensation immediately flared across my face and neck. “Surprise! Happy April Fools’ Day!” 

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Chapter 4 

Before I could open my eyes, Luna lunged at me. 

She was scrubbing at my face with a rough makeup wipe, scraping and tugging at my skin. 

The burning sensation intensified into a thousand pinpricks of fiery itch, a feeling so raw it was as if my face 

was being flayed alive. 

I shoved her away violently, reaching up to scratch instinctively, only to recoil at the searing pain. “Cough. 

My face hurts so bad… What was that?” 

Jake rushed over, his fingers closing like a vice around my wrist. His voice was a low, furious growl. “You 

told me it was just makeup remover! Look at her face-what the hell is this?!” 

Luna’s face flushed scarlet. “I-I don’t know! I just grabbed the first bottle I saw!” she blurted, defensiveness 

shifting to accusation. “And she’s always wearing that fake-innocent makeup, trying to one-up me! I hate it! 

You said it looked tacky too! That’s why you went along with this!” 

I trembled all over, my limbs going numb as I struggled to breathe. “So that’s why you ‘let’ her apologize! Jake… You don’t deserve to end things amicably at all!” 

I staggered toward the bathroom to wash my face, but my vision blurred suddenly. “Mia, don’t scare me!” 

When I woke again, it was evening. The burning on my cheeks still throbbed. Through my haze of unconsciousness, I’d heard the doctors say my chin and right cheek were cut and required stitches. 

My movement jolted Jake awake-he’d been sitting by my bed. “Mia, you’re finally awake! I was terrified. The doctor said you had anaphylactic shock from contact with allergenic disinfectant. She really wants to apologize, I swear. You know she’s stubbornly proud-her methods were too much, but she didn’t mean it. 

Don’t be mad, okay?” 

There was no trace of concern in his urgent tone-no worry about potential scarring, the pain, the insecurity. Every word was a shield, an excuse built solely for her. I stared at him, at the face I’d loved for years yet now felt utterly foreign. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “I’m not mad. I just regret ever getting together with 

you.” 

He froze, opening his mouth to speak-until his phone lit up. When he saw the name “Queen B” (Luna’s nickname), he composed himself instantly. “I need to step out for a minute. Rest well, I’ll be right back.” 

He hurried off, and on impulse, I followed. Through the crack in the fire escape door, I saw him sit beside Luna. “Stop blaming yourself. She’ll get over it-she always does.” 

Luna punched him lightly. “If she can’t handle this, imagine how mad she’d be if she found out you only pursued her because you lost a bet with us? And we deliberately picked April Fools’ Day for your 

‘confession!” 

In that moment, something exploded in my ears-nothing but a loud buzz drowned out all other sounds. Jake 

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clapped a hand over her mouth, glancing around nervously. “Shh! That was ages ago-bury it!” 

My legs gave way, like all the strength had been drained from my body. The lingering doubts that had plagued me for years finally had answers. Why I’d always lost to Luna when it came to choices. Why Jake, who’d claimed to love me, always let her hurt me. I’d foolishly thought he valued his friendship above all-but never imagined every bit of his affection was a lie. Even the start of my salvation had been built on a prank. 

The truth was a cold, naked blade: in their eyes, I had never been Jake’s girlfriend. I was the punchline to a 

long-running joke, a court jester there for their amusement. 

In that single, shattering moment, every last shred of my dignity was ripped away. 

I clamped a hand over my trembling lips. I had to leave-escape this suffocating falseness. 

I hailed a taxi to the hotel, grabbed my luggage, and raced to the high-speed rail station. I changed my ticket 

to the next train bound for headquarters. 

Before boarding, a text from Jake popped up: “The doctor said you need observation-don’t run off. Where 

are you? I’ll come get you.” 

Staring at his insincere concern, I laughed through my tears. I didn’t reply. I blocked and deleted his number, 

along with all his friends’. 

Jake. Luna. Your little April Fools’ game? Consider me resigned. 

I’m not playing anymore. 

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Chapter 5 

Ten minutes ticked by in the hospital room with no reply from Mia. A pang of anxiety, sharp and sudden, hit 

Jake. 

He remembered the faint, almost imperceptible rustle of fabric he’d heard near the stairwell earlier He’d 

been about to investigate when Luna stopped him. 

A terrible suspicion had flickered to life in that moment-and he had forcibly smothered it. 

No. Mia was straightforward-she would’ve confronted him immediately if she’d heard anything. 

“Hey, earth to Jake! Where is she? If she doesn’t show soon, I’m not apologizing!” Luna slung her arm around 

his neck. 

But Jake felt irritated, his train of thought interrupted. He pushed her away gently, masking his annoyance. 

“Cut it out. She won’t be happy if she sees this.” 

Luna scoffed. “Ugh, only you’d spoil her. Out of all our friends’ girlfriends, she’s the most sensitive-so 

high-maintenance. Boring.” 

There was a time he would have let such comments from the guys slide, even chuckled along in private. 

But hearing it from Luna now, in this context, grated on him. His frown deepened. “That’s enough,” he said, 

his tone leaving no room for argument. “She’ll be here any minute. 

Check your attitude. This was your mistake, not some flaw in her.” 

Be sincere when she arrives, no more frivolity. Her chin’s stitched up-girls care about their looks. She’ll be 

devastated if it scars.” 

Luna huffed, slumping onto the bed, resentment flicking in her eyes. “Typical you. It started as a bet, and you 

actually fell for her. She’s so lucky. What even do you see in her?” 

Jake leaned against the window, gazing at the bright moon. The corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously. “You wouldn’t get it. She’s truly amazing.” 

Her looks were the most basic entry on a long list of qualities that made her who she was. Her kindness ran 

deep. 

During their third year together, she’d taken him to the orphanage where she’d spent a part of her difficult 

childhood. 

The kids swarmed her the second she walked in-begging for stories, presenting crafts like treasures, 

following her lead in games like she was their natural leader. The headmistress had told him Mia donated 

20% of her salary to the orphanage every quarter since graduating, bringing supplies and hope to kids who’d 

felt as abandoned as she once had. 

She was emotional. She cried at movies, laughed uncontrollably at silly jokes (unable to explain why they 

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were funny), and ranted at annoying characters on TV-admitting later she was taking the opportunity to vent about difficult colleagues or her boss. 

She was gentle yet strong. Once, they’d gotten into a road rage incident. A man had stormed out of his car. yelling at Mia for “bad driving.” Instead of fighting back or panicking, she’d let him vent, then talked to him calmly. Sometimes they’d encountered tough customers, but more often than not, her heart of tolerance and understanding won people over. Watching her interact with others always gave him a sense of calm. 

Falling for her hadn’t been a choice-it had been inevitable. 

The memory lifted his spirits, filling him with guilt over today’s mess. Jake sighed, checking his phone again “Weird. No reply for this long… could she have-” 

His words trailed off as the hospital room door swung open. Assuming it was Mia, he smiled, ready to speak -only to hear a nurse’s voice. “Oh, you’re still here? I thought you left.” 

Jake froze. “Left? My girlfriend hasn’t come back yet. Where would we go?” 

The nurse looked at him, confusion clear on her face. “But… I saw her. She went out to the emergency 

stairwell right after you. 

She came back a little while later, settled her bill, and left. I assumed you knew.” 

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Chapter 6 

For a heartbeat, the world went silent for Jake-a deafening, hollow silence. All color drained from his face, 

replaced by a stony seriousness. “Checked out? H-How? Are you joking? She just woke up-she couldn’t have 

left alone! You must have misseen her.” 

The nurse glanced at the medical chart on the empty bed, skeptical. “No mistake-it’s Mia. Honestly, how do 

you not know your own girlfriend checked out? Did you two fight? She ran back crying earlier, you know.” She grabbed the patient file and walked away. 

But Jake was anything but calm. Before he realized it, his legs went weak, cold sweat breaking out on his 

palms. His hands shook as he fumbled for his phone, dialing Mia’s number. Once. Twice. Ten times. Each 

call went straight to voicemail or rang out into empty air. 

A stubborn, desperate hope made him snatch Luna’s phone and try again. 

The same result. That was the moment true, cold panic seized him by the throat. 

He opened their chat window, his thumbs flying over the screen as he typed out a frantic, rambling message. 

He hit send. A second later, a cold, automated prompt popped up: “Message not delivered. You are not 

friends with this user.” 

The realization hit him with the force of a physical blow. 

Something had broken. Something fundamental had shifted beyond repair. 

He looked at Luna, her guilty eyes stirring up his worst fears. “You saw her earlier, didn’t you?” 

Luna put on an innocent look, but she was ecstatic inside. Just like she’d done countless times before, she played dumb. “I didn’t know it was her! I thought it was someone in similar clothes hiding from someone. I swear-I didn’t want you to mistake her, so I didn’t tell you. I didn’t mean t-” 

But this time, Jake didn’t brush it off with a casual “be more careful next time.” His eyes reddened instantly. “We’re ruined. She must have heard us. Ruined.” He ran a hand through his hair, frantic. “I told you never to bring that up outside! Why did you have to say it? Now she knows-she’ll never forgive me!” 

Luna patted his shoulder, feigning sympathy. “Oh, come on! It’s April Fools’ Day! Just find her and say your saw her there, that you made up those things to prank her. You’ve pranked her a hundred times-she never 

minds. She won’t care about this little thing.” 

But what should have reassured him only made him more uneasy. Memories flashed through his mind- Mia’s repeated refusals last night, her plea to “end things amicably.” The sinking feeling in his chest grew 

stronger. 

He grabbed his coat, heading for the door. Luna pulled him back. “Hey, where are you going?” 

Jake’s eyes glistened with tears. “To find her. I have to explain.” 

Luna scoffed, annoyed. “Is it really that big of a deal? You’re being so- 

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Something in Jake finally snapped. 

The thought of the hurt, the betrayal in Mia’s eyes sent a physical pang through his chest. 

The fear of losing her-truly, irrevocably losing her-was a cold, new terror gripping his heart. “Yes! It is a big 

deal!” he shouted, the words tearing from him. “Listen to me! No more ‘pranks’ on her. Ever. And not one more bad word about her, from you or anyone else. She is the woman I’m going to marry. If you consider 

yourself my friend, you will start treating her with the respect she deserves. Starting now.” 

He wrenched his hand free from her grip and rushed out. Whenever Mia was upset and had nowhere to go, 

she’d work overtime at the office. He sped over, ignoring the security guard’s protests, and raced up ten flights of stairs. 

Panting heavily, he burst into the office, grabbing someone at random-someone with a photo on their desk. 

“Are you Mia’s supervisor? Is she here right now?” 

The person looked at him suspiciously. “You’re the boyfriend, right?” the man said, recognition dawning 

mixed with awkward pity. “Yeah… Mia accepted the headquarters transfer this morning. 

Pretty sure she’s already gone. She, uh… didn’t tell you?” 

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Chapter 7 

The frantic, desperate energy that had propelled him there evaporated in an instant, leaving him hollow. 

Jake’s legs buckled, and he swayed, catching himself against the wall at the last second. 

His hands trembled where they pressed against the cool surface. His eyes, red-rimmed and aching, held only a vast, bewildered emptiness. “H-How? She never told me. Was it mandatory?” 

The supervisor shook his head. “No-she’s been considering it for a week. She initially declined, but suddenly agreed at midnight last night. She even bought her ticket already. And don’t get me wrong-it wasn’t an April 

Fools’ joke. I’ve already processed her transfer paperwork. I gave her today off to pack.” 

The final piece of denial shattered. She had meant every word last night. She was done. She was walking 

away, and she had no intention of looking back. 

A broken sound escaped Jake as his legs gave out completely, and he slid down the wall to the floor. Hot, 

silent tears tracked through the grime on his face. 

He curled in on himself, forehead pressed to his knees, a raw, physical ache twisting in his chest. 

He’d arrogantly assumed Mia had no one but him to rely on. He’d thought she couldn’t live without him. But now that she was gone, he realized he was the one who couldn’t survive her absence. 

No. He couldn’t let her go. He had to get her back-even if it meant abandoning everything here to follow her. 

He had to make things right. 

Jake booked the next high-speed train to her new city immediately. Before boarding, his phone rang-it was his friend. “Jake, where are you? Hurry to our usual spot. Luna’s crying-she’ll drink herself to death if you 

don’t show. C’mon, bros before hoes. She’s just being a sore loser-you-” 

Jake cut him off, the words bursting out, sharp and final. “Enough! I don’t want to hear another word against 

her. Not one. Or consider us done.” He took a shaky breath, the next words coming out cold and clear. “And 

Luna? I’m done. I don’t have the time or the interest. 

Her drama is not my problem anymore. You all want to baby her? Go ahead. But leave me out of it I’m out.” 

He hung up without hesitation, his mind fixated on one thing: winning Mia back. 

Since I’d arrived early, the headquarters dormitory wasn’t ready yet. I’d have to stay in a hotel for a night I’d 

just checked in when my branch manager called, relaying her conversation with Jake and subtly asking what 

had happened. I only said we’d broken up. Sensing my low mood, she didn’t press further-just offered a few 

words of comfort before ending the call. 

I’d guessed Jake might come looking for me, but not this soon. 

I’d just returned to the hotel from the nearby clinic, where I’d changed the dressing on my face, when I 

spotted him at the entrance. 

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He stood there, the very picture of rushed desperation-clothes rumpled, hair disheveled from travel 

In his eyes, usually so composed, a storm of emotions churned. “Mia…” His voice was hoarse. “Why didn’t 

you tell me?” 

Watching his cautious demeanor, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Because we’re broken up. I had no reason 

to.” 

I tried to walk around him, but he grabbed my wrist tightly. “I didn’t agree! I won’t accept it!” He stumbled over 

his words. “I thought-” 

I interrupted him. “You thought I was joking for April Fools’? Or just throwing a tantrum? Either way, you’ve always seen me as helpless and easy to pacify. That’s why you never cared about my feelings, isn’t it?” 

His face froze. His lips parted and closed, panic and helplessness clouding his eyes. “No, I… I just….” 

For years, those three phrases-“I just…,” “I didn’t mean…,” “I didn’t know…”-had been his go-to excuses. Whenever I was upset, he’d fob me off with vague words. Once, I’d thought it didn’t matter as long as he cared about me. But now, knowing everything had been a lie, those excuses felt utterly perfunctory-making our six years together seem cheap and meaningless. 

I wrenched my wrist from his grasp, the movement final. 

“It’s over, Jake.” My voice was calm, devoid of the anger he might have expected. It was the calm of absolute emptiness. “The second I learned how we really began, your thoughts, your feelings, your regrets… they all 

became irrelevant noise. 

The only fact you need to hold onto is this: we ended. Last night.” 

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