Intact Love from the Broken

Gordon Cohen tagged me in a provocative video.

"Look at her. You should stop dressing like a wallflower."

I read it but didn't reply.

Gordon kept tagging me repeatedly.

Because of this, I was cyberbullied and fired. I begged Gordon to delete his comments.

But Gordon, casually holding my sister, laughed at me.

He said, "Winnie Shaw, stop pretending to be innocent. You are willing to take this from the very beginning, remember?."

In the three years I'd known Gordon, he'd humiliated me countless times.

The moment the system notified me that my task was completed, I sighed deeply, ready to leave.

Gordon then introduced Neal Owen, the prince among celebrities, to me.

"Winnie, I have someone I need now. Find someone else to fawn over."

Gordon wanted to keep making me look like a fool.

But Neal moved into my house and into my bed.

The day Gordon discovered the kiss marks all over my neck, he finally panicked.

"Winnie, you've had a crush on me for three years. How could you sleep with another man?"

1

Inside the bar, the lights were dim.

I walked in, drenched from the rain, my face pale.

Gordon was lazily leaning on the sofa, sighing.

"The netizens, they call you Pale Winnie. Well, they do nail it. With the pale face and skinny body, the name fits well."

Gordon loved to humiliate me.

The more embarrassed I was, the more excited he became.

Last night, he tagged me in over a dozen provocative videos, telling me to learn from the seductive poses and looks of the other streamers.

I held back and didn't respond.

But the onlookers pushed his comment to the top.

Some questioned why Gordon treated his girlfriend like that.

Others were unhappy with my silence, thinking I was too submissive and disgraced women.

As the situation escalated, curious netizens dug up photos of me and Gordon.

Those who had just questioned why Gordon didn't respect me changed their tune after seeing the photos.

They said, "Pale Winnie, if he tells you to learn, you should. After all, it was hard to find such a handsome boyfriend these days."

Because of this, my unpleasant nickname got even more popular.

But Gordon was thoroughly pleased with it.

He lounged on the sofa, loudly spreading my new nickname.

Until my sister, Mandy Shaw, frowned slightly and climbed onto his shoulder.

"Gordy, if you call Winnie that and she finds out, she'll be angry. She has been spoiled by our parents for years. Unlike her, I'm gentle. If you upset her, what if she breaks up with you?"

Mandy seemed to be speaking for me and Gordon, but every word was filled with malice.

Gordon didn't pay any attention to her insincere words. He just stared at me and gave a laid-back smile.

"Breaking up with me?

If she can hold herself back and stop bugging me for three days, that's already a big step forward for her."

Mandy followed Gordon's gaze and saw me.

She looked slightly embarrassed, then stood up and playfully waved at me.

"Winnie, why are you dressed like a waitress?

I didn't recognize you at first."

I ignored her.

I placed the hot soup I bought for Gordon, after crossing half the city in the rain, on the coffee table.

"I bought a thermal container, the soup is still hot. Drink it."

After saying that, I wanted to leave.

But Gordon, without warning, threw his car keys at me.

"Wait outside, and drive me home when we're done."

Gordon ignored my soaked state and

demanded I be his driver.

Caught off guard, the car keys hit my eye socket.

The pain made me tremble, and I almost cried as laughter erupted from the others in the room.

"Gordon, Winnie is really like a dog to you."

"No, no, even my dog isn't as obedient as Winnie."

The laughter was piercing.

After closing the door to the private room, I rubbed my ears hard.

2

Gordon had a large apartment in the city center.

He never allowed anyone to enter.

But tonight, he took Mandy to it.

At two in the morning, under the dark night sky, Gordon got out of the car and coldly gave me two hundred bucks.

"Winnie, I don't have any condom at home. Go buy some."

After saying that, seeing my stunned expression, he frowned slightly.

"Winnie, what's with that look? Like you've been betrayed? We never dated, right?"

I'd known Gordon for three years.

I'd driven him home countless times.

Called out to help him more than I could remember.

But never once, looking at him, did I feel like I was so bothered.

I drove around the city at night.

Finally, I found a 24-hour store and bought what he needed.

Returning with the items, I first sent Gordon a message and knocked on his door several times.

But the door never opened.

Only Mandy sent me a voice message at dawn.

"Sis, Gordy was in a hurry, so we didn't wait. You won't be mad, right?"

3

I didn't sleep well all night.

I returned to my apartment in a daze, ready to grab my files and head to work.

Suddenly, I received a resignation letter from the company.

Netizens had dug up my personal information.

They thought a woman like me, spineless and afraid to stand up to a man, wasn't suitable for a company that valued women's rights.

So they reported me, and cursed me with the harshest words.

The company, unable to handle the issue, simply dealt with the cause-me.

After reading the resignation letter, I collapsed onto the bed.

I didn't even notice when the tears started falling.

This wasn't the first time Gordon had brought me bad news.

But this time, even after a night's sleep, I still resented him.

4

Before Mandy returned home, Gordon and I had a very good time.

Back then, the Shaws and Cohens were planning a marriage alliance.

After a few dates arranged by our parents, Gordon and I gradually saw through each other's facades.

He would take me skiing when I pretended to be fond of opera.

I would wear a heavy mascot costume to bring him toy cars when he was stressed from work.

During one date, Gordon was forcibly taken to a rooftop by rivals of his family for a "friendly meeting."

They wanted Gordon to get involved in their dirty business, allowing illegal goods to pass through the Gordon family's docks.

If undiscovered, it could earn a fortune.

But if it failed, it meant a heavy sentence.

Gordon refused to comply, so they turned their attention to me.

In a critical moment, I used a pepper spray to knock out the guard holding me and dragged Gordon to escape.

But they had already stationed cars at the exit, and as soon as we appeared, a deadly car sped towards us.

In a split second, I pushed Gordon away hard.

After that, I was hospitalized for six months with fractures and a concussion.

Gordon, filled with guilt, often asked me with red eyes, "Tell me what do you want?"

I pouted lightly.

He would then kiss me fiercely, as if he wanted to devour me whole.

I struggled to breathe, my nails scratching his back.

Gordon straightened up, his gaze deepening, "Winnie, trust me, I'll make you the happiest bride."

I believed him.

But... before my injuries fully healed, Mandy returned.

My mom Liz, holding the long-lost Mandy, glared at me viciously, "Mandy is my baby girl. You're just a bastard!"

"Since Mandy is back now, you must return everything you've taken from her."

I didn't know if everything included Gordon.

Under Liz's hateful gaze, I fled the hospital with my cast, limping to Gordon, to talk to him.

But before I could enter, I saw Gordon in the garden.

He was holding Mandy, kissing her lips devoutly.

At that moment, my world completely collapsed.

But from that day on, a mysterious force officially took residence in my mind.

The force called itself the system. It said that once Gordon humiliated me 9, 999 times, it could grant me three wishes.

Whether it was leaving this world, immense wealth, or a lover who would never betray me, it could give me anything.

I was hit by a windfall.

However, the image of Gordon and Mandy kissing remained a nightmare I dared not revisit.

5

After being fired, I began sending out resumes widely, trying to find a new job.

But the online harassment continued, and several HR managers who interviewed me shook their heads apologetically after background checks.

They didn't want to bring trouble to their companies.

If I couldn't find a job soon, I wouldn't even be able to pay my rent.

Financial strain stripped away my dignity.

I repeatedly called Gordon, begging him to delete those comments.

But only once did the call get through, and it was Mandy's voice on the other end.

"Winnie, do you have any dignity left?" she sneered. "Gordon didn't invite you to his birthday party, which means he doesn't want to see you.

Aren't you afraid I'll have Liz kick you out of family?"

Mandy's words reminded me.

Gordon's birthday party was always held at the hotel of his family, and this year would likely be no different.

I rushed to the hotel, and as soon as I got out of the car, I saw a dazzling banner.

"Congratulations to Gordon and Mandy on their engagement."

Engagement?

My heart skipped a beat, and my legs suddenly felt as heavy as lead.

6

"Winnie?"

Gordon's voice came from behind as I turned a corner.

He saw me, his eyebrows slightly raised, his expression intriguing.

It was as if he didn't want me there, yet was somehow pleased that I came.

He slowly approached me, then opened his hand.

"Hand it over."

"What?" I didn't understand.

Gordon looked me up and down, then reached directly for my bag.

"Winnie, stop pretending. I didn't even invite you, yet you still came running over. Isn't it to give me a gift?"

My canvas bag was old and no longer sturdy.

With just a few tugs, Gordon tore a hole in the bottom.

Tissues, cables, earphones, and other miscellaneous items spilled onto the ground.

I swallowed my shame and bent down to pick them up, but Gordon grabbed my hand.

"Winnie, where's my gift? Didn't you bring it?"

Gordon had humiliated me over nine thousand times in the past three years.

Yet at this moment, his gaze was confused, as if our roles were reversed and I was the one bullying him.

7

"Winnie, what are you doing with my fiancé?"

Mandy's voice rang out a few meters away. I turned at the sound and met Liz's furious face.

"Winnie, what are you doing here? Haven't you harmed my daughter enough?" She lunged at me like a lioness protecting her cubs.

Before I could react, her nails painfully gripped my scalp, yanking my hair viciously.

"You liar, just like your mother, shameless!"

She dragged me to a corner, her high heels jabbing at me.

I curled up, not daring to resist, but my ribs suddenly cracked, the pain turning my vision black and making the air around me thin.

Blood surged in my throat, and I couldn't help but retch.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mandy cover her face with her fingers.

"Gordon, look how dirty Winnie is. It's all my fault. If I hadn't spoken up, Mom wouldn't have hit her. Mom took care of her for so many years; she must feel terrible hitting her."

Mandy's understanding voice reached everyone's ears, and they all praised her for being considerate.

Even Liz walked away from me, lovingly patting Mandy's head. "Good girl, Mommy loves you. From now on, you'll be my only treasure."

Mandy buried her face in Liz's embrace, but in a corner where no one could see, she shot me a triumphant, mocking smile.

"Winnie, what can you do?" she mouthed silently.

8

I was thrown out of the hotel by security.

At some point, it started raining again.

I fainted from pain in a corner, only to be awakened by the rain.

Struggling to stand, my feverish body was so weak that I felt dizzy.

I walked to the roadside, trying to hail a taxi.

In the heavy rain, there were few empty cars.

I shivered, hoping, until a black G-Wagon stopped in front of me.

The license plate read 0413.

On April 13th, four years ago, I broke my legs saving Gordon.

To remember that day, he had someone get this license plate.

But now, the window rolled down, revealing Mandy's mocking face.

She was sitting in the passenger seat, with a diamond ring on her finger, looking just like a victor.

I looked at her, my lips moved, but no words came out.

Gordon quickly leaned over, dismissing me. "Winnie, aren't you that shameless? I've already gotten engaged to Mandy and you still cling to me?"

He spoke each word slowly, as if I couldn't live without him.

I paused for two seconds, then stepped forward, almost pleading. "Gordon, can you delete those comments? If you delete them, I won't bother you anymore, okay?"

Gordon's face was cold, and after a long pause, he asked, "You came just for this?"

Yes.

Because of them, I couldn't find a job.

I remained silent, my expression sorrowful.

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from inside the car.

Gordon stepped on the gas, and the dirty water splashed all over me.

Before I could step back, he reversed back.

He held Mandy with one arm and looked at me coldly.

"Winnie, stop pretending to be innocent. You brought this on yourself. I've already done that, and I won't delete them. What can you do about it?"

9

I really couldn't do anything to Gordon.

He was the heir of Cohens, one of the most powerful men in the world.

I couldn't afford to offend him, nor could I force him to do anything.

Covering my chest, numb with pain, I collapsed with my last thought was that my mind's internal system, the force, seemed to cheer.

"Congratulations. You've collected 9, 918 humiliations. You're just one step away from completing the task. Keep it up."

After that, a kind person took me to the hospital.

Liz had broken my ribs.

I lay in the hospital bed for three days before I finally gathered enough strength to get up on my own.

During this time, I repeatedly thought about how to use the reward the system promised me.

I tried to minimize my presence, preparing to disappear.

But one day, Mandy, with tear-streaked makeup, suddenly appeared before me.

"Where's Gordon? Winnie, give Gordon back to me!"

She stopped me at the hospital entrance as I was about to be discharged, kneeling in front of me in the street, ignoring the curious stares of passersby.

"Winnie, you've stolen twenty years of my life, taken away the parents who love me. Isn't that enough? Why do you still want to take Gordon? I love him."

She made me out to be a homewrecker with her words.

I tried to explain, "I haven't even seen him recently."

But Mandy remained kneeling, refusing to get up.

"I'm begging you, isn't that enough? I don't want anything else, just Gordon."

As Mandy finished speaking, a car suddenly stopped by the roadside.

My father David rushed out, and upon seeing the scene, he slapped me without hesitation.

"Wretch! How dare you to have Mandy kneel to you?"

David, who had been keeping fit for years, slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground, unable to get up.

I clutched my swollen face, my head throbbing.

But Mandy wasn't done with me.

She leaned into David's embrace, her eyes red with tears, and pleaded.

"Dad, can you marry her off? If she doesn't get married, I keep having nightmares, dreaming that she takes Gordon away. Takes you and Mom away. You all love her, not me."

Mandy cried pitifully, her eyes red, a sight that tugged at anyone's heartstrings.

I looked at her, my heart trembling.

Before I could speak, a shadow suddenly loomed over me.

"If Mandy is worried, then let Winnie get married."

I looked up.

Gordon's gaze was cold as he looked down at me.

His lips moved, impatiently pressuring me as usual.

"Winnie, there are a lot that you need to make up for with Mandy. You shouldn't have any objections, right?"