Chapter 1

Ever since I was a child, I could enter the dreams of the people closest to me.

However, I could only do it three times in my entire life.

I used my first chance when I was ten.

In my father's dream, I saw him holding another woman and telling her he had fallen out of love with my mother long ago.

Heartbroken, I ran to tell my mother everything.

Three months later, they divorced, and I moved in with her.

I used my second chance at sixteen.

In the dream, a wealthy man held my mother's hand and promised to marry her. He had only one condition: she could not bring along her unwanted baggage.

He was referring to me.

The next day, my mother left me $30,000 and disappeared without a trace.

Two dreams. Two losses. Both times, I had lost someone I loved the most.

After that, I swore I would never use my final chance, not even if it killed me.

Fortunately, I met Jade Smith in college.

We had dated for ten years and been married for five. I thought we knew each other better than anyone else in the world.

Recently, she had been sleeping poorly. She kept her phone glued to her hand and often looked at me as if she wanted to say something but could never bring herself to.

I wondered if something had gone wrong at her company. I was also worried that she might be sick.

On our wedding anniversary, I finally gave in and used my last chance to enter her dream.

However, I saw no signs of bankruptcy or a terminal illness. Only one person appeared in her dream: the new intern at her company.

When he worked late, she braved the rain to bring him an umbrella.

When he had a stomachache, she searched half the city for medicine.

When he casually mentioned wanting to see the ocean, she took him there countless times.

In her dream, he asked her, "If you weren't married, do you think you could ever fall for me?"

She remained silent for a long time before finally nodding, her voice thick with tears.

I jolted awake, my eyes wet and cold.

That was what my three chances had been for. Three dreams, three people I loved, and three times I was destined to lose them.

Only this time, I would not wait for her to walk away from me.

I would be the one to leave first.

Chapter 1

The woman beside me was still fast asleep.

Her features were relaxed, and the corners of her lips slightly curved upward, as if she were having a wonderful dream.

I forced a bitter smile.

Well, with the man who currently held her heart waiting for her in her dreams, how could it be anything but sweet?

I closed my eyes, but the sting behind them refused to go away.

I raised a hand and roughly wiped my face before turning my back to her. However, my uneven breathing must have disturbed her, because she stirred awake beside me.

My wife, Jade Smith, blinked sleepily and instinctively moved closer, slipping an arm around my waist from behind.

"What's wrong?"

She propped herself up slightly and brushed her fingers against the redness at the corners of my eyes. Her voice was still husky with sleep.

"Why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?"

I stared into the darkness of the room, my throat tightening before I managed a quiet reply.

"Yeah.

"I dreamed you were cheating on me."

The arm around my waist went noticeably stiff for a moment. However, she quickly relaxed, her tone returning to normal as she teased me.

"What's gotten into your head?

"Any woman in the world might cheat, but not me. I'm a Steve Hoffman loyalist, through and through."

I said nothing. I could only feel the bitter irony of her words.

A ‘Steve Hoffman loyalist’? What a beautiful thing to say.

However, in her own dreams, she had already promised herself to another man.

When I remained silent, Jade seemed a little uncomfortable. She cleared her throat, then deliberately put on a playful smile.

"Why don't you guess what I was dreaming about?"

My throat felt dry.

"What?"

She lowered her gaze to me, her eyes softening with affection.

"I dreamed about when we first got married.

"I was so happy to marry you back then. I was so excited that I barely slept the night before our wedding."

It felt as if something had slammed hard into my chest. I turned my face away, but I could not stop my eyes from reddening.

Jade, you liar! I'm not the man in your dreams anymore.

I could not bear to listen to her performance any longer.

"Go back to sleep," I murmured. "It's late."

Jade seemed relieved. She kissed my eyelids and closed her eyes again.

I stayed awake, staring at the window as the sky slowly grew pale. I did not sleep a wink all night.

The next morning, she acted as if nothing had happened.

After washing up, she came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, just as she always did. In a lazy, affectionate voice, she began listing what she wanted to eat.

"I feel like having some creamy mushroom soup today.

"And how about meatloaf and Caesar salad?" She buried her face in the crook of my neck, acting as spoiled as always. "Is that okay, honey?

"You're the best cook in the world.

"Every time I open my lunchbox at noon, Walter, my assistant, practically drools over my food."

My fingers froze. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach.

Jade had always had a weak stomach. During the early years of building her business, she was so busy that she often forgot to eat. Eventually, the irregular meals caught up with her, leaving her with lasting stomach problems.

To help her recover, I had quit my job and become a full-time househusband.

For the past five years, I had gotten up at six every morning to prepare the lunch she took to work.

However, it was only last night that I discovered the truth.

It all started a year ago, when an intern named Luis Rogers casually remarked, "Ms. Smith, your husband's cooking is amazing."

From that day on, every single lunch I lovingly prepared ended up in his stomach.

Jade had worried that Luis might feel embarrassed about accepting her food, so she started swapping lunches with him instead.

In exchange, she ate his cheap fried chicken, greasy pizza, half-cold convenience store sandwiches, or whatever spicy pasta he happened to take away from the nearby restaurant.

She would eat until her stomach hurt, all while smiling at Luis and saying, "I actually love fast food.

"My husband at home is such a nag. He even tries to control what I eat. Your food is so much better."

I sneered inwardly.

Of course his food tasted better. Who knew how much oil, salt, seasoning, and artificial flavoring went into those dishes? No wonder they were so tasty.

I slowly pulled myself out of her embrace.

"I don't feel like cooking today."

Jade froze.

I lowered my eyes and added, "I'm not feeling very well."

In the past, whenever I told her I felt unwell, she would panic. She would insist on taking me straight to the hospital and having me examined from head to toe.

However, this time, she paused for barely two seconds before pressing herself against my back again. Her words sounded like a request, but there was an unmistakable edge of insistence in her voice.

"It's just one meal.

"You've been doing this for years. You've gotten so good at it that it hardly takes any time.

"Steve, could you please just keep it up for me today?"

When I realized she was not going to let it go, I had no choice but to head into the kitchen.

The soup bubbled gently in the pot, sending its rich aroma through the room. I stared at the vegetables on the cutting board, remembering something Luis had muttered in her dream the night before.

"Ms. Smith, I'm allergic to peanuts. I can't eat these snacks."

After a long hesitation, I picked up a small handful of crushed peanuts and stirred them into the meatloaf sauce. They disappeared without a trace.

Once breakfast was ready, Jade took the insulated lunch bag from me and rose onto her tiptoes to kiss me.

"Good boy. I'll spend some time with you tonight."

With that, she grabbed the lunch bag and headed out.

The lock clicked behind her, and the house fell completely silent.

I stood there for a long time before finally making my way to the sofa.

I spent the entire morning doing nothing but sitting there, my phone clutched in my hand as I waited for a call that might never come.

Even though the first two dreams had already come true, a tiny part of me still clung to the hope that I had been wrong.

If no call came, it would mean at least Jade had eaten the food I made for her.

However, if...

A little after noon, my phone suddenly began to vibrate.

I stared at the name on the screen.

It was Jade.

My heart sank a little further with every passing second.

Sure enough, the moment I answered, I heard her voice, tight with barely restrained anger.

"Steve, what did you put in the food today?"

Chapter 2

My suspicions had been confirmed. It felt as though someone had plunged a knife into my chest and twisted it.

On the other end of the phone, Jade continued her furious accusations.

"Steve, did you put something in the food that wasn't supposed to be there? Do you have any idea that someone could’ve died because of this?"

I tightened my grip on the phone, struggling to keep my emotions under control.

"You're my wife. Why would I drug you?

"The only thing different about today's meal was that I added some crushed peanuts to the meatloaf for flavor. You're not allergic to peanuts, so how could that possibly have caused a problem?"

I paused, then deliberately added, "Unless you gave my food to someone else."

Her breathing grew noticeably heavier. Several seconds passed before she hurriedly denied it.

"Of course not! I must have gotten it wrong. My stomach was bothering me today, and I panicked. That's why I asked.

"I have some work to take care of at the office. I have to go."

Before I could say another word, she hung up abruptly.

I stared at the dark screen, feeling my eyes grow hot.

A moment later, I wiped my face roughly, grabbed my car keys, and headed out.

St. Thomas Health Center, the hospital closest to Jade's company, was one of the best medical facilities in the city. It had state-of-the-art equipment and an excellent medical team. Her company even held its annual employee health screenings there.

Luis was allergic to peanuts, and Jade cared so much about him. Surely she would have taken him there immediately.

I drove straight to the hospital and headed for the allergy department on the third floor.

As I reached the corner of the hallway, I spotted Jade crouching in front of Luis, carefully applying ointment to his arm.

"Does it still hurt? Stop scratching. If it gets itchy, just tell me."

Luis looked thoroughly miserable. He was about to say something when his eyes suddenly met mine.

I strode over and stopped behind Jade.

Perhaps sensing someone standing behind her, Jade slowly turned around. The moment she saw me, panic flickered across her face.

"Steve? What are you doing here?"

I looked at her and gave a faint smile.

"When you said your stomach was bothering you, I figured you might have come to the hospital, so I thought I'd stop by and check on you."

I glanced at Luis.

"However, it seems someone else is the one who got sick."

My smile remained as I turned to him.

"Are you the one who's allergic to peanuts?"

The moment I finished speaking, two voices answered at once.

"No."

"Yes."

Jade and Luis both froze.

Luis's expression stiffened. Looking completely lost, he turned to Jade for help.

Realizing there was no point hiding the truth anymore, Jade quickly stepped in.

"Steve, Luis did eat some of your food.

"He just joined the company, and he gets so busy with work that he barely has time to eat. His stomach isn't in great shape either. I felt sorry for him, so I let him have a few bites."

She took my hand, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness.

"I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would get the wrong idea."

I lowered my eyes to the hand holding mine and almost laughed.

Her company had over a hundred employees, yet she barely spared a thought for the department head whose team had topped the performance rankings year after year, or the veteran employees who had helped her build the business from the ground up.

She could even endure her own stomach pain without a word of complaint.

However, a newly hired intern was somehow worthy of all her attention and tender care.

I slowly withdrew my hand and replied with a pointed smile, "So that's what happened.

"You're certainly very considerate of your employees."

Having seen the truth with my own eyes, I finally gave up all hope. There was no point staying any longer.

"Since you're fine, I'll head home."

With that, I turned and walked away.

"Steve, wait!" Jade instinctively started after me. However, before she had taken more than a couple of steps, Luis called out from behind her, "Ms. Smith."

He pushed himself up from the chair, his face still a little pale.

"I'm still not feeling very well, and it's difficult being here alone. Could you stay with me a little longer?"

Jade stopped in her tracks. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she stayed.

I returned home alone and sent my lawyer a message.

Steve: [Draft a divorce agreement for me. The sooner, the better.]

At 10 PM that night, the front door unlocked, and Jade walked in with Luis.

She glanced at me, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Luis had an allergic reaction today and ended up in the hospital. He hasn't fully recovered yet, and on top of that, there's a leak in the apartment he's renting. He doesn't have anywhere to stay for now.

"Although you didn't mean to cause what happened today, you still bear some responsibility.

"So, I was thinking of letting him stay with us for a few days."

Chapter 3

I looked at Jade in silence.

"Doesn't the company have employee housing?"

Jade frowned. "The employee dorms are all single rooms. They're too small and cramped. Besides, it wouldn't be a good place for him to recover."

I forced a bitter smile but said nothing.

She must have forgotten that when I first joined her in building the company, we had squeezed into a tiny partitioned room in a crowded neighborhood. It was less than a hundred square feet, and we did not even have a private bathroom.

Back then, she had never complained that our living conditions were cramped or uncomfortable.

Now, however, she suddenly felt sorry for another man because he had to stay in a single room.

Jade was already pulling her suitcase toward the guest bedroom.

I said nothing more and went back to our bedroom.

The next morning, I did not make breakfast.

Perhaps Jade knew she was in the wrong, because she did not pressure me. She simply had a simple breakfast with Luis before they both headed to the office.

However, less than half an hour later, the front door was suddenly kicked open.

Jade stormed inside, her face twisted with anger.

One look at her expression told me that this was not going to end well.

Sure enough, the first thing out of her mouth was, "Steve, did you deliberately switch the labels on the peanut butter and tahini?"

I stared at her in surprise.

"No. Why would I do that?"

Jade's expression darkened even further.

"Luis made himself a sandwich this morning and used the tahini bottle.

"Only after he finished eating it did he realize it was actually peanut butter!

"He ate much more than he did yesterday, and now he's back in the hospital. His condition is much worse this time!"

By the end of her explanation, she was practically panting with rage.

"He already told me yesterday that he suspected you did it on purpose. I even defended you, telling him you would never do something like that.

"And now you've pulled the same stunt again!"

Yesterday, I deliberately tested them. However, I had absolutely nothing to do with what happened today.

"I told you, I didn't switch anything."

She stormed into the kitchen, grabbed the two bottles, glanced at them, then threw them straight at my feet.

The labels had indeed been switched.

"There's the evidence, right in front of you! How can you still deny it?"

I stared at the two bottles in disbelief.

"I didn't switch them.

"Besides, even if someone changed the labels, peanut butter and tahini taste completely different. Are you telling me he couldn't tell them apart?"

Jade refused to listen. She grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the house.

"If you've something to say, say it at the hospital."

She drove like a maniac, and before long, we arrived at St. Thomas Health Center.

Luis was sitting up in bed, receiving an IV drip.

The moment he saw me, he pushed himself up, climbed out of bed, and kneeled.

"Mr. Hoffman, I'm sorry.

"I know you don't want me staying at your house. Once I'm discharged, I'll move out right away. I promise I'll never bother you two again."

He kept his head lowered, his face so pale it was almost translucent.

"But my peanut allergy is really serious. Please, I'm begging you! Just leave me alone."

Listening to him twist the truth, my jaw tightened. My fingers slowly curled into fists.

"I didn't switch the labels!

"Luis, you staged this whole thing yourself. You're the one who—"

"That's enough!" Jade cut me off sharply. She stepped in front of Luis's bed and looked at me with nothing but disappointment. "Who would risk their own life just to frame you?

"Steve, after everything that's happened, how can you still refuse to admit what you've done?"

She closed her eyes briefly, as if she had finally made up her mind.

"Luis has suffered twice because of you. I can't just let this go. I owe him justice."

Dread crept over me.

The next second, the hospital room door swung open, and two bodyguards walked in. One of them was carrying a plate of freshly cut mango.

I stared at Jade in disbelief.

"What are you trying to do? Have you forgotten that I'm allergic to mangoes?"

Of course she had not forgotten.

When we first started dating, I had once given in to a craving and eaten a piece of mango. Within minutes, my entire body had broken out in hives, and I could barely breathe. I had been rushed to the emergency room in the middle of the night.

Ever since then, Jade had been even more careful about keeping mangoes away from me than I was.

Just a few days ago, when we went out to eat, she had specifically asked the waiter whether any of the desserts contained mango.

However, now she deliberately avoided my eyes as she flatly said, "Feed it to him."

My entire body went rigid.

One bodyguard seized both my arms while the other grabbed my chin and forced the mango into my mouth.

"Jade! Don't!"

I struggled with all my strength, but I was no match for the two strong men. No matter how hard I fought, I could not break free.

The thick, sugary juice smeared across my face, dripping continuously down my chin.

Soon, the familiar burning sensation spread throughout my body. My skin began to itch uncontrollably, and my throat felt as if something were blocking it. No matter how hard I tried, I could not draw a proper breath.

Less than ten minutes later, my entire body gave out, and I collapsed helplessly onto the floor.

Chapter 4

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip attached to my arm. Jade was sitting beside me, tightly holding my other hand.

The moment she saw my eyes open, she leaned toward me.

"Steve, you're finally awake! You have no idea how worried I've been."

There was a hint of lingering fear in her eyes, and her voice had softened.

"I only wanted to teach you a lesson. I never thought things would get this serious."

I stared at her for several seconds before slowly pulling my hand away and turning my face toward the window.

"Wasn't all of this your fault in the first place? Why are you pretending to care now?"

Jade's expression stiffened.

After a moment, she looked away guiltily, though her voice carried a hint of protest.

"I admit I acted impulsively today, but you didn't suffer that much.

"We were already at the hospital. The moment I realized something was wrong, I had you rushed in for emergency treatment.

"You were just unconscious for a little longer than expected. Look at you now. You're perfectly fine, aren't you?"

I turned to look out the window.

When she dragged me to the hospital, it had still been morning. Now the sky was darkening, and the streetlights in the distance were already flickering on one by one.

I opened my mouth, but I could not think of anything left to say.

In the end, all that escaped my throat was a faint, bitter laugh.

Back then, even when I accidentally cut my finger while cooking, she would practically insist on taking me to the hospital for a full medical checkup.

Now, after I had been unconscious from morning until evening, nearly losing my life in the process, she acted as if it were no big deal.

I closed my eyes. I really could not stand looking at her anymore.

"I'm awake now, and I'm fine. You can go home."

Jade frowned.

"I think I'll stay and keep you company."

Just then, her phone rang. Luis's voice came through, sounding rather weak.

"Ms. Smith, when are you coming back? I'm all alone at home, and I'm still not feeling very well..."

Jade hesitated for a moment before carefully tucking the blanket around me.

"Get some rest. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Before I could say anything, she hurried out of the hospital room.

I spent the next three days in the hospital under observation. However, the promise she had made to come see me "tomorrow" was never fulfilled.

The day I was discharged, I took a cab home by myself.

When I reached the front door, I tried scanning my fingerprint more than a dozen times, but every attempt came back with an error message.

With no other choice, I called Jade.

"Why can't I get into the house?"

Before she could answer, I heard Luis's voice.

"Mr. Hoffman, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!

"Ms. Smith helped me register my fingerprint yesterday. I've never used such a fancy smart lock before, and I accidentally deleted yours..."

His voice grew increasingly apologetic.

Jade quickly reassured him.

"All right, stop blaming yourself. Steve is a kind person. He won't hold something like this against you."

Only then did she turn her attention back to me.

"Just find somewhere to sit for a while. Wait until we get off work and come home. We'll let you in then."

With that, she hung up.

I stared at the firmly locked front door and let out an incredulous laugh.

I never imagined that one day, I would find myself locked out of the very marital home I had personally furnished and decorated.

I immediately called a locksmith.

After examining the door for quite some time, the locksmith frowned.

"This is an imported, custom-made security door. The security rating is extremely high. The only way to open it from the outside is to break it down."

I froze for a moment, remembering how we had gotten this door in the first place.

Back when Jade and I lived in that tiny partitioned room in the crowded neighborhood, the place was full of all kinds of people. Drunken fights in the hallway were common.

People would sometimes bang on the wrong door in the middle of the night or try turning someone else's doorknob. Even the neighbors next door had been robbed once.

For those three years, whenever I was home alone, I was so afraid I could not sleep deeply.

Later, when we moved into our marital home, Jade let me make all the renovation decisions. There was only one thing she insisted on choosing herself: this door.

She had spent nearly a third of our entire renovation budget on it.

She told me that from then on, I would never have to lie awake at night worrying about my safety again.

Now, she had personally welcomed another man into our home who had locked me out.

There was no reason to keep this door anymore.

"Go ahead and tear it down. I just need to get inside."

The locksmith worked for nearly three hours before finally managing to open the door.

I was looking down at my phone, transferring the money to him, when he suddenly stopped me.

"Wait a minute. Are you sure this is your house?"

I looked up, confused.

He warily pulled out his phone.

"You’re not the man in the photos hanging inside. You're not some kept man coming here to cause trouble, are you?

"I'd better call the police!"

I was just about to explain when something over his shoulder caught my eye.

Right in the middle of the living room, where our wedding portrait of Jade and me had once hung, there was now an enormous artistic portrait of Luis.

Chapter 5

I stood there, completely stunned.

However, the locksmith had already called the police.

"Hello? 911? I suspect someone is impersonating this house’s homeowner and trying to break into the property! I'm the one who opened the door for him!"

I hurriedly reached out to stop him.

"No, that's not it! I'm the man of this house! If you don't believe me, I'll go to the housing complex management office right now and have them verify my identity!"

I had barely turned around when the locksmith suddenly grabbed me and swept his leg against mine.

"Trying to run? Not a chance!"

I lost my balance and crashed hard onto the floor.

He immediately pinned my shoulders down. Half my face was pressed against the cold marble, and I gasped in pain.

"You're a grown man, perfectly healthy and capable of supporting yourself! You could make something of your life, but instead, you choose to be a kept man!"

The locksmith continued cursing.

"If I let you get away today and the police come asking where you went, how am I supposed to keep running my business?"

I desperately tried to explain, but he had me pinned down so firmly that I could barely lift my head.

He finally let go when the police arrived.

I staggered to my feet, rummaged through a drawer, and pulled out the property deed and our marriage certificate. Then, I handed them to the officers.

After checking the documents and confirming my identity, the officers nodded.

The locksmith's face turned bright red. He rubbed his hands together and apologized awkwardly.

"Sir, I'm really sorry. But a huge portrait of another man was hanging in your living room. You can't blame me for getting the wrong idea, can you?"

I lowered my eyes to our wedding pictures in the drawer, where my younger self was smiling brightly, and decided not to pursue the matter.

"It's fine."

He had a point. What kind of marital home had another man's portrait hanging in the living room?

After the police left, I sat alone on the sofa, staring at Luis's enormous portrait in the middle of the living room.

With the front door gone, cold air swept straight through the house. Tissues from the coffee table scattered across the floor, but I did not move an inch.

It was only when I felt something wet and cool on my cheek and instinctively raised a hand to wipe it away that I realized I had been crying without even noticing.

I remained there until eleven that night.

The elevator chimed, and its doors slid open.

Jade and Luis stepped out, laughing and chatting as they carried several shopping bags between them.

However, the moment Jade saw the empty doorway, the smile vanished from her face.

"Where's the door? Steve, what happened?"

I remained seated.

"I couldn't wait for you to come home, so I hired someone to take it down."

Her expression darkened instantly.

"Do you have any idea how much research I did before choosing that door? And you tore it down just because Luis accidentally deleted your fingerprint?

"Couldn't we have simply registered it again? Did you really have to go as far as removing the entire door?"

Luis looked uncomfortable.

"Ms. Smith, is Mr. Hoffman this upset because of me? Maybe I should just move out.

"Even though my rental apartment still has a leak, I can just put a bucket underneath it. I grew up living in apartments like that, anyway."

With that, he turned and started walking away. However, Jade immediately grabbed his wrist.

"Where do you think you're going?"

She turned toward me, her voice growing even more impatient.

"Steve, what exactly are you trying to do?"

I slowly raised my head and looked at the hand wrapped around Luis's wrist.

"Me? What am I trying to do?

"This is my own home. My fingerprint no longer works on the front door, and there's another man's portrait hanging in my living room."

I pointed to the red marks that had yet to fade from my cheek.

"The locksmith even mistook me for an intruder trying to break into my own house."

Jade followed my gaze toward the portrait. Her expression stiffened for a moment. However, she quickly regained her composure and defended herself as if she had done nothing wrong.

"How many pictures have we taken together? We've had three or four wedding photoshoots, not to mention all the portraits we've taken over the years.

"Luis is different. He's never had professional portraits taken before. What's wrong with me taking him for a photoshoot?"

Watching her go out of her way to defend Luis, I could not even be bothered to argue anymore.

"Fine. And he’s never lived in a house this big either, has he?

"Then you two can live here. I'll leave."

The cool night air outside helped clear my head. Only after I reached the street did I realize I had left my ID at home.

With no choice, I turned around and headed back.

Since the front door was gone, I could hear Luis's voice before I even reached the entrance.

"Ms. Smith, why don't we take the portrait down? You should go make things right with Steve. I don't want you two fighting because of me."

Jade laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"You're so young, yet you worry about so many things.

"Don't worry. Steve has no parents. I'm the only family he has. Where else could he possibly go? Sooner or later, he'll come crawling back."

She paused, then added with a laugh, "You've never stayed in a five-star hotel before, have you? Well, tonight's the perfect chance to experience one."

Standing just outside the doorway, I felt as though someone had slammed a fist into my chest. My eyes burned.

Being abandoned by my parents when I was young had left the deepest wound in my heart. Back in college, on the night we were first intimate, I finally gathered the courage to tell her everything I had been through.

Her eyes had filled with tears. She held me tightly and whispered, “From now on, I'll be your family. My parents will be your parents, too. No one will ever abandon you again."

However, the very wounds I had trusted her enough to reveal had become the weapon she used to keep me under her control.

Chapter 6

That night, I did not go back inside the house. Instead, I used my digital ID to book a room at a nearby hotel.

On the third day, my lawyer sent me the completed draft of the divorce agreement.

I stared at the signature line on the last page, wondering how I could get Jade to sign it, when her call suddenly came through.

"Steve, where are you?"

The moment I answered, she launched straight into a furious interrogation.

"I need to talk to you. Get back here right now."

I glanced down at the divorce agreement.

"Funny. I wanted to talk to you too. Let's meet somewhere."

"No need. We'll talk at home."

I did not think much of it and agreed.

Half an hour later, I arrived home. The front door was still missing. I had barely reached the doorway when Jade stormed toward me, shouting.

"Steve, look at what you've done!"

I looked up and froze.

The living room was a complete mess.

Luis's enormous portrait had been thrown onto the floor, its frame shattered into pieces. Someone had taken a red marker and scrawled words like ‘homewrecker’ and ‘slut’ all over his face.

I frowned and turned to Jade.

"What does this have to do with me? I haven't even been home for the past few days."

The veins at her temples bulged. She pointed a finger so close to my face that it nearly touched my nose.

"Still trying to deny it?

"Who else would do something like this?

"Even if you don't like Luis, how could you be so vicious?

"There's absolutely nothing going on between us! I only started looking after him because I felt sorry for a young intern who had just joined the company. He's already had such a hard time in life. Why do you keep going out of your way to hurt him?"

I opened my mouth, wanting to tell her that I had no idea when the portrait had been smashed. However, when I saw the fury in her eyes, the way she looked ready to tear me apart, the words died in my throat.

I had explained myself countless times over the peanut butter incident, and she had refused to believe a single word.

What good would denying this do?

When I remained silent, Jade suddenly pulled open the TV cabinet and took out a thick stack of photographs.

"Since you're so attached to these things, I'll show you what it feels like to have something precious taken away!"

She grabbed the top photograph and ripped it in half, then tossed it onto the floor.

The sound of tearing paper filled the room, one rip after another.

I lowered my eyes and finally recognized them.

They were our pictures together, from our college days all the way to our wedding.

Jade had once treasured those photographs so much that she had carefully arranged them into several thick albums. Even a slightly curled corner was enough to make her fret for ages.

However, now she was tearing them apart without a second thought, ripping each photograph straight down the middle.

The pictures of us holding hands on the beach, kissing on our wedding day, and all the precious moments we once shared were being destroyed one by one.

Jade and I were torn onto opposite sides of each picture, just like our relationship now. There was no way we could ever go back to the way things had been.

When the last photograph hit the floor, she dusted off her hands and finally softened her tone.

"Don't be too upset. We can always take more pictures in the future.

"Luis has been through so much. I have to let him get even somehow."

With that, she pulled out her phone, took pictures of the shredded photographs scattered across the floor, and sent them to Luis.

Strangely enough, I did not feel angry at all.

Those memories had once meant everything to me. Now they lay in pieces at my feet, yet I did not even feel like picking them up.

Jade had already dialed Luis's number.

"Luis, did you get the pictures? See? I've already made sure that—"

She did not get to finish.

Luis's panicked voice suddenly burst through the phone.

"Ms. Smith! You have to come save me! Mr. Hoffman says that since I love having my picture taken so much, he's going to take some special photos of me—"

The call abruptly disconnected.

Jade whipped around. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her expression was terrifying.

"Is what he said true? Are you really going to force him to pose for photos?

"Steve, wasn't destroying his photographs enough? Now you want to destroy him, too?"

I looked straight at her and asked, slowly and clearly, "If I tell you I didn't do it, will you believe me?"

Her answer was a hard slap across my face.

A sharp ringing filled my ears. One side of my face burned, and I tasted blood in my mouth.

"Steve, just you wait! If anything happens to Luis, I swear you'll regret it!"

Chapter 7

Jade grabbed my wrist and quickly opened the app to check Luis's location.

To my surprise, the address was the hotel where I had been staying.

She dragged me all the way there without stopping.

The hotel room door was slightly ajar. The moment she pushed it open, I froze.

Several cameras had been set up in the living room, their lenses all pointed at a chair in the center. Luis was huddled in a corner, his collar disheveled and his hair a complete mess.

"Ms. Smith! You're finally here!"

His face was pale, and he was still breathing heavily.

However, the moment he spotted me standing behind her, his face tensed.

"Mr. Hoffman, please stop filming! I'm begging you, please don't!

"I'll resign right now. No, I'll leave Luminous City altogether! Just please leave me alone!"

Jade's face turned pale with concern. She hurried over and helped him up.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here now. I'll make sure you get justice."

She helped him into the bedroom and spent quite some time comforting him before finally coming back out.

Then, she picked up one of the cameras on the table and started reviewing the footage.

Sure enough, every video showed Luis being forced into the chair and made to apologize to the camera against his will.

The next second, she hurled the camera straight at my face.

"Look at what you've done!"

The camera struck my forehead. Pain exploded through my head, and my vision went black for a moment.

I touched my forehead and felt a large swelling already forming. However, once the initial pain subsided, my mind began to clear.

First, the peanut butter labels had been switched.

Then, Luis's portrait had been destroyed.

Now, there were those cameras.

Once could be a coincidence. Twice, perhaps.

However, three times?

I suddenly shoved open the bedroom door and reached for Luis, grabbing him by the arm.

"Luis, get up! How much longer are you planning to—"

Before I could finish, Jade shoved me away with all her strength.

I stumbled backward and crashed into the doorframe. My already swollen forehead struck it again, sending another wave of pain through my head. A moment later, a huge bump began to rise.

She stepped in front of Luis, glaring at me through clenched teeth.

"Steve, you still haven't learned your lesson? Fine. If that's how you want it, we'll use this equipment on you instead!"

Jade called in the bodyguards waiting outside and pointed at me.

"Luis was forced to record eighteen apology videos.

"Make Mr. Hoffman record twice as many. Every single one must include a clear admission of what he's done. Once they're finished, deliver them to my office so I can review them."

With that, she took Luis and walked out without looking back.

The bedroom door slammed shut right in front of me.

Sensing something was wrong, I staggered toward the exit. However, before I could take more than a few steps, someone grabbed my shoulder and shoved me roughly back into the chair.

"Ms. Smith ordered us to record thirty-six apology videos from you, sir. It would be best if you cooperated. That way, we can finish the job and be on our way."

I jumped to my feet.

"Get out of my way! If you keep blocking me, I'll call the police!"

However, one bodyguard snatched my phone while another immediately blocked the doorway.

I reached out to grab my phone back, but they shoved me away. My lower back slammed into the corner of the table, and I sucked in a sharp breath of pain.

"Stay still!"

Someone pinned my shoulders down while another set up the camera.

The moment the recording light came on, I glared at them and refused to say a word.

"Mr. Hoffman, don't make things difficult for us."

"Ms. Smith wants thirty-six videos, and not one less."

I let out an icy laugh.

"If she wants an apology, tell Jade to come here and listen to it herself."

The moment the words left my mouth, a fist slammed into my shoulder, knocking me back into the chair.

For the next several hours, they forced me to repeat their so-called apologies in front of the camera, over and over again.

If I refused to speak, they started recording all over again. If my voice did not sound sincere enough, they made me repeat it.

I fought back several times. They snatched away my phone, and my wrists were left covered in dark bruises from all the struggling.

Eventually, I stopped resisting altogether. I simply stared into the camera with a blank expression.

Thirty-six videos.

It was not until the sky outside grew completely dark that this ridiculous ordeal finally ended.

The bodyguards packed up the equipment and left, chatting and laughing among themselves.

I sat alone in the chair, my forehead still throbbing and my wrist swollen to nearly twice its normal size.

The room fell completely silent.

The images from those three dreams kept growing clearer in my mind.

When I entered someone's dreams, I could see more than just their desires. I could also uncover the darkest secrets they desperately wanted to hide.

My father had not left after divorcing my mother simply because of another woman. He had also embezzled company funds, and his crimes were about to come to light.

My mother had not abandoned me just to chase a life of wealth and comfort. She had been pregnant with another man's child and was desperate to find someone to take responsibility for it.

As for Jade...

Of course she had secrets of her own.

My trembling fingers fumbled for my phone. I found the number of the one person Jade hated most and dialed it.

"Help me get divorced. I want more than half of the marital assets.

"In return, I'll give you a gift. It’ll be something big enough to bring Jade down for good."