My Bright New Life

To save Alfred Moran, who had been diagnosed with cancer, I bound myself to a Pain Transfer System.

All the suffering he endured would be transferred to me.

For three years, he thrived, his career soared, and he became a celebrated new titan of industry.

Meanwhile, I became what he called a frail little thing who gets winded after a few steps and blown over by a breeze.

He grew increasingly fed up with me. Finally, the day he secured a billion-dollar project, he brought home his childhood sweetheart.

Lilith Winters, lets break up. Im sick of your half-dead appearance.

Look at you, always on medication or lying around, utterly useless!

I nodded, my voice soft. Alright.

Ding! Binding severed. Three years of accumulated pain now being processed.

Alfred instantly collapsed, letting out a horrific scream, his body contorting like a shrimp.

A shimmering screen, visible only to us, unfurled before him.

1095 days of late-stage bone cancer pain, fully returned.

Host Lilith Winters, you have received the entirety of his life force. Wishing you good health.

The icy mechanical voice echoed in my mind. The next second, Alfreds handsome face, previously etched with impatience and disgust, twisted into a grotesque mask of agony.

He fell straight to his knees, his forehead slamming against the polished floor with a dull, sickening thud.

Ah!

A shriek, utterly inhuman, tore from his throat, ripping through the air.

He curled into a ball, convulsing and contorting like a shrimp tossed into boiling oil, veins bulging from his neck all the way to his temples, threatening to burst.

Alfred! Whats wrong? Alfred!

Vivian Summers face went ashen. She screamed, lunging to help him, but his flailing arm violently shoved her away, sending her sprawling.

Get away! Dont touch me! Alfreds eyes were bloodshot, sweat instantly soaking his expensive bespoke suit. It hurtsit hurts so much! My bonesmy bones are breaking!

I stood my ground, watching him with detached indifference.

For three years, this bone-deep agonyevery single second feeling like countless red-hot needles churning in my marrowhad been my daily reality.

To spare him worry, I never cried out. Instead, Id bite my lips till they were bloodless, in corners where he couldn't see.

Now, I felt an unprecedented lightness.

That cold, incessant ache that had plagued my body day and night receded like a tide, leaving behind a refreshing void. I could even distinctly feel a warm, vital energy flooding into my body, nourishing every muscle and bone.

I tried taking a deep breath; no longer did my lungs burn with a searing pain. The air was crisp and clean.

I flexed my wrist; my joints no longer creaked with that teeth-grinding crunch. They moved with fluid grace.

I was healthy.

A shimmering, ethereal blue screen, visible only to Alfred and me, slowly unfolded before him.

1095 days of late-stage bone cancer pain, fully returned.

Host Lilith Winters, you have received the entirety of his life force. Wishing you good health.

Alfreds pupils contracted sharply. He stared fixedly at the text, then snapped his head up to look at me, his eyes wide with an incomprehensible terror.

Itsits you, Lilith! What have you done to me?! He spat the words through clenched teeth, his voice trembling uncontrollably, laced with desperate fear.

Vivian scrambled over, tears streaming down her face as she shielded Alfred. She wailed at me, Lilith! I know you hate me, hate Alfred for choosing me! But how could you use such wicked magic to hurt him! Stop it! Please, I beg you!

She turned to Alfred, weeping melodramatically, Alfred, bear with it, Ill call an ambulance right away! Its all my fault; if I hadnt come back, Lilith wouldnt have done this out of jealousy

What a grand performance from such a manipulative hypocrite.

I looked down at themone writhing and howling on the floor, the other feigning tears and taking false responsibility.

The scene was funnier than any comedy, laced with bitter irony.

I chuckled softly, flexing my long-dormant, now powerful ankles. My whole body felt alive again.

Alfred, this isnt magic. This is science.

Its your own cancer cells, saying hello.

Cancancer cells? Alfred froze, the color draining completely from his face, leaving him pale and terrified. Youre talking nonsense! I was cured three years ago! My medical reports were all clear!

Yes, all clear. Because all your cancer cells, all your pain, were transferred to me.

Your three years of success and vitality? You built them on my broken bones.

And youre right, I was pretty useless for those three years.

I straightened up, surveying the apartment I had personally decorated, now destined for a new owner. The air held a faint, undefinable scent of decay.

Now, this useless me, Im done playing your game.

Alfreds mind seemed to have shut down. He just stared at me, his lips moving, but no words came out, as if he were frozen.

Vivian continued to shriek, You maniac! You psycho! Alfred is perfectly healthy! Youre just jealous! You evil woman!

I couldn't be bothered with them anymore. I turned and walked to the door.

Lilith! Stop! Alfred shrieked with all his might, his voice hoarse and desperate. Explain yourself! What do you mean transferred? Get back here!

I didnt look back.

I opened the door, closed it, and completely shut out the screams and cries of that pathetic duo, as if sealing away a nightmare.

Stepping out of the apartment building, the cool night breeze caressed my face, but I felt an immense warmth and freedom, like being reborn.

Finally, I was no longer the sickly wretch whose every breath was agony.

I didnt go far, just to the convenience store across from the complex, and bought an ice-cold can of cola.

Pulling the tab, bubbles rushed out, hissing enticingly.

I tilted my head back and took a long swig. The icy liquid slid down my throat, carrying a stimulating sweetness that spread through my stomach, igniting every cell in my body.

For three years, to avoid irritating my frail body, I had given up all cold, spicy, and raw foods.

My diet was blander than a monks, as uninteresting as plain water.

Alfred always said, Lilith, be good, its for your health.

Looking back now, it was utterly ironic.

The convenience stores glass window faced the complex entrance. Soon after, an ambulance wailed into view, then sped away, its flashing lights a grim, ominous sign in the night.

I figured Alfred was on his way to the hospital by now.

Bone cancer pain is a maximum Level 10, comparable to childbirtha tearing, excruciating agony.

And what he was enduring now was three years worth of concentrated, non-stop Level 10 pain.

I wondered how long his arrogant pride would last, or if it would be utterly crushed.

My phone began to vibrate wildly. It was Alfreds assistant, Jonathan Black.

I ignored the call and blocked the number.

Next, it was Alfreds mother, Mrs. Moran.

I looked at the number, my thoughts drifting back four years.

Back then, Alfred was the least favored illegitimate child of the Moran family.

He had just been diagnosed with late-stage bone cancer; doctors said he wouldn't live six months without painful and expensive chemotherapy.

The Moran family abandoned him immediately, kicking him out of the house and cutting off all his cards.

When I met him, he was being evicted by his landlord, standing on the street in pouring rain, clutching a cardboard box, dishevelled and utterly defeated, his eyes devoid of light.

His pale face was bloodless, his gaze vacant, as if his soul had been sucked out.

At that time, I was a moderately successful illustrator, having just won a substantial international art award. My future was bright and promising.

On a whim, I walked up to him and held an umbrella over his head, shielding him from the cold drops.

Are youalright?

He looked up, his dark, deep-set eyes meeting mine, wary and distant, like a wounded animal.

Do you need help? I asked.

He said nothing, just clutched the cardboard box tighter, his knuckles white.

That day, I took him home.

He thought I was a con artist with ulterior motives, defensive and prickly.

I didnt explain. I just cooked for him every day, talked to him, took him to art galleries and concerts, slowly melting the ice around his heart.

I told him, Alfred, death isnt that scary. Whats scary is not truly living before you die.

On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, he finally opened up to me.

He told me he had cancer, that he was dying.

He said he didnt want to die so painfully, didnt want to lose all his hair during chemo and become an ugly monster.

That night, I held him as he cried brokenly for hours, my heart aching.

And that very night, the Pain Transfer System found me.

Bind Alfred Moran. All his ailments can be transferred to you, at the cost of your health. Do you accept?

I barely hesitated, his desperate, suffering face flashing before my eyes.

I accept.

The next day, Alfreds test results came back: his cancer cells had miraculously vanished.

He was ecstatic, spinning me around in his arms, calling me his lucky star, his salvation.

Mrs. Moran showed up around that time too.

She looked at her cured son, then at me, her eyes filled with scrutiny and disdain.

Tell me, how much will it take for you to leave my son?

Alfred exploded with anger on the spot. He stepped in front of me like a protective lion. Mom! Lilith isnt like that! Shes the only woman Ill ever marry!

That was the first, and only, time I received such a firm promise from him, like an eternal vow.

Later, using his exceptional abilities, he returned to Moran Group, rose quickly through the ranks, and eventually became CEO.

Meanwhile, my health deteriorated day by day, like a flower whose nutrients were being drained.

At first, he worried about me, taking me to every major hospital, seeking out renowned doctors.

But all the tests showed I was perfectly normal, which left him confused and increasingly impatient.

Gradually, his patience wore thin.

He started to think I was feigning illness, being overly dramatic, dragging down his progress, a blemish on his otherwise brilliant life.

Until Vivian Summers appeared, becoming the final straw that broke our relationship.

Ding-a-ling.

The convenience store door chimed, interrupting my memories.

Mrs. Moran, dressed in a Chanel suit, flanked by two bodyguards, marched towards me, her face alight with arrogance and fury.

Her well-maintained face was ablaze with anger. She slammed an envelope onto the table in front of me, making a crisp sound.

Lilith Winters! You jinx! Heres a million dollars, now get out of A City immediately and never show your face to Alfred again!

I unhurriedly finished the last sip of my cola, then accurately tossed the empty can into a nearby bin with a soft clunk.

Only then did I look up at Mrs. Moran, my gaze calm as a deep pool.

Mrs. Moran, long time no see. Still as fiery as ever, I see.

Mrs. Moran was clearly unprepared for my reaction. Shed expected me to either timidly apologize or pale and offer explanations, as I used to.

She paused, then her anger flared hotter, her cheeks flushing. You have the nerve to say that! Alfred ended up in the emergency room right after breaking up with you! Doctors say hes in excruciating pain, but they cant find a cause! Did you, you poisoner, do this?!

I raised an eyebrow. Oh? He ends up in the ER after a breakup? Mr. Morans constitution must be awfully delicate. So, should I understand that Mr. Moran loves me so much he cant live without me, and is literally dying from a breakup?

Youyoure talking nonsense! Mrs. Morans chest heaved violently, like a bellows. Alfred loves Vivian! If it werent for you clinging to him, theyd have ridden off into the sunset long ago!

Mrs. Moran, have you forgotten who knelt and begged me not to leave Alfred?

Mrs. Morans face instantly turned ghastly pale, like white paper.

That was shortly after the system binding. Alfreds miraculous recovery had caused a huge stir in the Moran family. They had brought in countless renowned doctors and experts, none of whom could explain the medical miracle.

Finally, they called in a spiritual medium named Samuel.

Samuel circled Alfred and me a few times, then pointed at me and declared, This young lady is Mr. Morans destined benefactor. With her, Mr. Moran will have a smooth and prosperous life, free from illness. Should she leave, Mr. Morans luck will run out, and there will be a severe backlash with dire consequences.

From that day on, the Moran familys attitude towards me did a complete U-turn.

Mrs. Moran herself came to my door, taking my hand, abandoning her usual harshness, and tearfully implored me to stay by Alfreds side.

Lilith, dear, I was wrong before, I apologize. As long as you stay with Alfred, youll be the future lady of the Moran family!

Thinking back, they didnt believe in me as a person, but in the identity of a destined benefactor, like a lucky charm.

Now, Alfred was successful, and I had become a sickly burden. They likely felt my value as a benefactor had expired, and I could be discarded at will.

Why bring up the past! Mrs. Morans eyes darted away as she tried to save face, her voice sharp. That was then, this is now! Youre a liability! Youll only hold Alfred back!

Im sorry, Auntie, a frail voice came from behind Mrs. Moran. Vivian Summers emerged, her eyes red-rimmed and tearful. Its all my fault I shouldnt have let Alfred break up with Lilith for me. Auntie, dont blame Lilith; shes just not thinking straight

As she spoke, she made a show of trying to take my hand, her fingers cold. Lilith, please, just say something to Alfred. The doctors say he has a strong will to live, but he wont listen to anyone right now, just keeps calling your name Hes barely hanging on!

I subtly shifted my hand, avoiding her touch, as if evading a viper.

Oh really? Wasnt he sick of my half-dead appearance? What, now that hes the one half-dead, he remembers me?

My words were like a thorn, piercing Vivians composure. Her face paled, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

She bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly wronged, as if shed suffered the greatest injustice.

Lilith, how can you say that Alfred is just so tired, he doesnt not love you, he just

He just loves your fresh face and the status you bring him more, doesnt he? I cut her off, mercilessly exposing her hypocrisy.

Vivians father was a key partner in Alfreds billion-dollar project, which was one of the reasons Alfred felt emboldened to cast me aside so shamelessly.

Vivians face cycled between green and white; she was speechless, as if choked.

Seeing this, Mrs. Moran immediately shielded Vivian, pointing a finger at my nose. Lilith Winters! Dont push your luck! The Moran family owes you nothing! Youve eaten and used enough of our resources these past three years! Now take the money and get out! Or dont blame me for being less than civil!

Less than civil? How exactly do you plan to be less than civil? Like three years ago, when you had someone tie me up and throw me into the ocean?

Mrs. Morans pupils abruptly constricted. Her face went deathly pale.

She had done that deed in utmost secrecy, believing it to be flawless.

I watched her terrified face, my smile growing wider, a hint of chill in its depths.

Dont worry, Mrs. Moran. I have no interest in the Moran family, or Alfred, anymore.

Im just here to tell you one thing.

Go back and tell Alfred: his good days are over.

With that, I didnt spare her pale face another glance. I walked past her, pushed open the door, and exited, like a free breeze.

Outside, a black Bentley was parked.

The window rolled down, revealing a handsome but slightly fatigued face.

It was Alfreds rival, another business titan of A City: Lucius Carter.

He looked at me, his eyes complex, carrying an indefinable mixture of inquiry and pity.

Get in, Ill drive you.