He never even knew my name until one day, he did. Suddenly, the most charismatic man in the office was everywhere, flashing his perfect smile and asking me out. But why now? Something didn’t add up. And when I finally discovered the reason, it shattered me.
When no one notices you, at first, it hurts. You try to change the situation. Then, you accept it. And eventually, you even find an advantage in it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
That day, I sat at my desk, watching as my male colleagues swarmed around our new coworker, Claire.
She was obviously attractive, so their reaction wasn’t surprising. But when Mark approached her, the others quickly backed off.
I let out a quiet chuckle as I watched. Mark was the most handsome and charismatic man in the office—I was convinced even other men wouldn’t mind if he took them to bed.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He flirted with Claire, and she giggled at his jokes, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger.
At that moment, Anthony, my boss, approached me. “Sara, do you remember our new project?” he asked, glancing at the laptop screen in front of me.
“Yes, of course. I’m leading it,” I replied, adjusting my glasses.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m counting on you,” Anthony said with a nod, his tone full of expectation.
I worked at an IT company, and we were launching a new dating app. Anthony had chosen me to lead the project because, no matter how unnoticeable I was, my work results were the best.
He had also offered me an opportunity to work abroad at one of our other branches, but I declined, even though the salary would have been much higher.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
During lunch, I noticed an irritated Mark walking up to Anthony. Curious about what had upset our golden boy this time, I decided to eavesdrop.
“Who did you assign the dating app to?” Mark asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
“Sara. Is there a problem?” Anthony replied, sounding amused.
“Sara? We don’t have anyone by that name,” Mark scoffed, and I felt my jaw tighten.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“She’s sitting right over there,” Anthony said, pointing at me. I continued pretending not to hear them, keeping my eyes fixed on my screen.
“I thought I’d be handling the dating app. This isn’t fair,” Mark protested, folding his arms across his chest.
“To my office. Now,” Anthony ordered.
I finished my lunch just in time to see Mark walking out of Anthony’s office, looking pleased with himself.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I had no idea what they had discussed, but no one had told me I was off the project, so I remained calm, though a tiny seed of doubt had been planted in my mind.
The next day, Mark approached me with his signature smile, hovering over my desk like a shadow. I gave him a questioning look.
“Sonia…” he began, leaning in slightly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Sara,” I corrected him, not bothering to hide my irritation.
“Right. Sara.” He chuckled, as if amused by his own mistake. “Want to grab lunch together?” he asked, his voice dripping with casual charm.
“I already ate,” I replied flatly, typing away at my keyboard.
“Then how about a drink after work?” he suggested, tilting his head.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I turned to face him. “You didn’t even know my name a minute ago. I bet you didn’t even know I worked here,” I said, recalling his conversation with Anthony. “What’s this really about?”
“I just thought it’d be nice to hang out with a lovely colleague,” Mark said smoothly, flashing that infamous smirk that made other women melt.
I scoffed.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun,” he insisted, his persistence almost amusing.
“I have a lot of work,” I said, turning back to my computer.
Mark lingered for a moment before sighing and walking away, but I could feel his eyes on me for a few seconds longer than necessary.
As usual, I stayed late at the office. But when I finally looked up from my screen, I was surprised to see Mark still there. Normally, by the time I finished, the office was empty.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I stood up, gathered my things, and headed to the elevator. Mark did the same. He followed me, and the whole thing felt strange.
We stepped into the elevator, and it started moving. Then, suddenly, it stopped.
“What’s going on? Are we stuck?” I asked, pressing a few buttons.
“Looks like it,” Mark replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I pressed the emergency button and explained the situation. The response came: we’d have to wait about two hours.
Mark sighed and sat on the floor, stretching his legs out in front of him. After a moment, I did the same.
“So, tell me about yourself,” he said, tilting his head toward me.
“What?” I chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What’s funny?” he asked, looking genuinely confused.
“Come on, I’ve worked here for years, and most people don’t even know I exist. Why the sudden interest?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“I’m just curious,” he said, shrugging.
“Then why don’t you tell me about yourself?” I countered, narrowing my eyes.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, please. You probably know everything about me already,” Mark smirked. “Everyone does.”
That made me laugh again. “That confidence.”
“What? Is that a bad thing?” he asked, grinning.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“No, not if it’s real. But being invisible has given me an advantage—I notice things. And you, Mark, are nothing but an act. A performer trying to mask his insecurities with fake confidence. So what’s behind all of it? Daddy issues? Mommy didn’t pay attention to you?” I asked, leaning back against the wall.
“Oh, screw you,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
We sat in silence for a while until Mark finally spoke again.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“My dad left us when I was three. My mom raised me alone. Then, when I was a teenager, he suddenly came back and tried to mold me into his perfect son. I guess I’m still trying to prove something to him,” he admitted, his voice quieter than usual.
“I get it,” I said, my voice softer now.
Mark looked at me curiously.
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“My mom left us. My dad raised me alone. But she never came back. The last time I saw her, I was thirteen. She told me she was ashamed I was her daughter because, at my age, she had been way more popular,” I said, my throat tightening slightly at the memory.
“She’s an idiot,” Mark said, shaking his head. “I asked Anthony about you. You have the best results in the company. I thought I did. And you’re beautiful, even if your lack of confidence hides it.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Guess everyone copes with trauma differently,” I said, managing a small smile.
“Guess so,” Mark replied.
Just then, the elevator started moving again. When we stepped out, Mark grabbed my wrist.
“How about that drink now?” he asked, his voice gentler than before.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“If you’re going to be the guy from the elevator, then fine. But if you’re putting the mask back on, I’ll pass,” I said, tilting my head slightly.
“I’ll try to be myself,” Mark promised.
And so, we went to a bar. Then the next day. And the next. Before I knew it, we were spending time together every day—even on weekends.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I saw a different side of Mark. The real him. The one who was afraid of spiders and teared up when a dog died in a movie.
One evening, I couldn’t resist anymore—I kissed him. And the moment I did, I knew it was right. With him, I felt like myself.
One day at the office, I stood outside Anthony’s office and heard voices inside. I hadn’t planned to listen, but I couldn’t help it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I told you—I know how to win someone over,” Mark said.
“I didn’t think Sara would fall for it. But you win—the dating app project is yours,” Anthony replied.
“Thanks, but—” Mark started, but I wasn’t listening anymore.
I turned and rushed to the bathroom, locked the door, and leaned against it. My breath came in quick, uneven bursts. My hands shook. Tears slid down my face before I could stop them.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He had lied. He had tricked me to take my job. Every moment we had spent together had been a performance. And I was the fool who believed it. Worse—I had started falling for him.
I forced myself to breathe. I couldn’t fall apart now. Not over him.
I wiped my face, fixed my makeup, and straightened my blazer. Then, I walked straight to Anthony’s office.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, Sara, I was just about to talk to you,” he said, looking up from his desk.
“I’d like to accept your offer to work abroad. If it’s still available,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
“It is. What changed your mind?” Anthony asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You were right—there are more opportunities for me there,” I said.
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He studied me for a moment. “When can you leave?”
“Tomorrow,” I replied.
“Tomorrow? Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll make the arrangements. You can take the rest of the day off to pack.”
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I thanked him and walked out. My hands clenched around my bag. I saw Mark heading toward me.
I didn’t slow down. I grabbed my things and stepped into the elevator before he could reach me.
By morning, I was in a taxi headed to the airport. Music played in my headphones, drowning everything else out.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I watched the city blur past. Then, in my window, I saw Mark’s car pull up alongside mine.
He motioned for me to roll down the window. I ignored him. He honked. Annoyed, I lowered it.
“What? Are you here to tell me more lies?” I shouted.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I know about your deal with Anthony. If I fell for you, you’d get the dating app project,” I said.
“No—I mean, yes, that was the deal. But not anymore. Everything changed when I started spending time with you,” Mark said.
“More lies! I can’t believe I fell for you, that I even started to have feelings for you!” I yelled.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Really?” Mark asked.
I just rolled up the window and turned away.
A second later, he swerved his car in front of mine, blocking the road. My taxi and other cars behind us came to a halt, their horns blaring in frustration.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
It was chaos. Mark hurried over, pulled open my door, and looked at me desperately.
“Listen to me,” he said. “I turned down the dating app project.”
“Don’t lie,” I said, stepping out of the taxi.
“I’m not lying. It’s the truth,” he insisted. “Please, don’t go.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“And why is that?” I asked.
“Because you’re the only person I can be real with. The only one I don’t have to pretend around,” Mark said. “That’s why I won’t let you get on that damn plane.”
“No one asked for your opinion,” I said.
“I’m falling for you too, Sara. Please,” he begged.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My mind screamed at me to get back in the taxi, go to the airport, and forget Mark.
But my heart had already decided. My feet moved before I could stop them, bringing me closer to him. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
“I see you, Sara. And I will never let you feel invisible again,” Mark whispered before kissing me again.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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While My Friend Was on a Trip, I Discovered Her Husband Was Cheating and Plotting to Steal Her House, but She Turned on Me Instead — Story of the Day
When my best friend left town for a work trip, she asked me to watch her house. I agreed, not knowing I’d uncover her husband’s betrayal—and his secret plan to take everything from her. But when I told her the truth, she didn’t thank me. She accused me instead.
They said friends were the family you chose. I used to believe that with all my heart. Jessica had been my best friend since college, and even after all these years, we remained close.
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We’d laughed, cried, and shared almost everything. But my intuition had never screamed louder than the day I met Mark, Jessica’s husband. Something about him felt wrong.
Cold eyes with a warm smile. Like someone pretending to be kind but hiding something darker underneath. I didn’t like him then. And I liked him even less now.
One day, Jessica and I were sitting on her porch, like we had so many times before.
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The air was soft with late spring heat, warm but not heavy, and her cat, Taco, sprawled on the sunlit tiles like royalty, one paw twitching in a dream.
Jessica stirred honey into her tea, slow and quiet. Then she looked up at me with that guilty little smile I knew all too well—the kind she wore when she wanted something but didn’t want to ask.
“I need a favor,” Jessica said. Her voice was soft, like she already knew I wouldn’t like what was coming.
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I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. “What kind of favor?”
She avoided my eyes. “I’m flying to New York next week. Big marketing pitch. I’ll be gone five days.”
I waited. She still hadn’t asked anything real.
“Could you check in on the house?” she added. “Feed Taco, water the plants, maybe bring in the mail. Just keep it from looking empty.”
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I raised an eyebrow. “And your husband? What’s he doing while you’re gone?”
She looked down at her tea. “He said it’s not really his thing.”
I blinked. “What’s not his thing?”
“Taking care of the house. Feeding the cat. He said it’s not a man’s job.”
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I scoffed and shook my head. “So, he can close real estate deals and wear cufflinks before noon, but a can of cat food is too much?”
Her jaw tightened. “Mark’s just not domestic. That’s just how he is.”
I leaned forward. “Jess, I love you. You know that. But you’re doing it again.”
She frowned. “Doing what?”
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“You’re making excuses for him. Again. He doesn’t do much, but you keep defending him. Why?”
Her voice got louder. “You’ve never liked him. From day one. You always look for reasons to hate him.”
“I had reasons, Jess. I still do. My gut said no the moment I met him.”
She pointed a finger at me. “You’re alone, Lee. And that’s not his fault.”
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I flinched. That one hit hard, but I kept my voice steady. “You think I’m jealous? You think I want your life?”
She stood up and crossed her arms. “You never gave him a chance. You decided you didn’t like him before you even heard him speak.”
Before I could answer, the sliding door opened behind her. Mark walked out like he owned the world. Crisp polo. Perfect hair. Phone in hand, thumbs tapping.
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“What are we talking about?” he said. “Me again?”
“Just your refusal to feed the cat,” I said.
He gave that smug smile I hated. “I delegate where it makes sense. It’s called efficiency.”
I turned to Jessica. “He hasn’t looked up from that phone. Who’s he texting so much?”
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“It’s work,” she said. “He has a big client. Real estate.”
I stared at his screen. “Must be a very flirty deal.”
Jessica slammed her glass down. “Enough. If you’re going to keep insulting him, maybe you shouldn’t help.”
I sighed. “I said I’d do it, and I will. For you. Not for him.”
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Mark looked up. “Try not to rearrange the furniture.”
I smiled. “Wouldn’t want to upset your kingdom.”
But I was already planning to keep my eyes open.
It was late afternoon when I pulled into Jessica’s driveway. The sky looked strange—dark clouds rolled in slow, and the air felt still, like it was waiting for something bad to happen.
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I parked and walked up the steps. The back door key was warm in my hand. I unlocked it and stepped inside.
Taco was there right away, rubbing against my leg, purring loud like always. He had no idea what was going on.
I bent down and gave him a quick scratch behind the ears. “Hey, buddy,” I whispered. “Let’s get you some food.”
cat playing
I filled his bowl and poured some water, then walked around the kitchen. I checked the plants in the window and the mail on the counter. Everything looked normal. Too normal. That’s when I heard it.
Laughter.
A man’s voice—Mark. And then a woman’s laugh followed.
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I froze at the bottom of the stairs. My heart pounded. I moved slowly, quiet as I could. The bedroom door was open just a little. I stepped closer and peeked in.
Mark was on the bed. Half his shirt was unbuttoned. Next to him was a woman, wearing Jessica’s robe, sipping from her favorite glass like she owned the place.
“I told you it would work,” Mark said. He raised his glass and took a sip. “She signed it without reading. Didn’t even ask questions. Just trusted me like always.”
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The woman laughed. “Are you sure this gives you the house?”
Mark leaned back against the pillows. “Yes. Once I get it notarized on Friday, it’s done. She thinks it’s just boring bank papers. Something about refinancing. I made it sound simple.”
The woman looked around the room. “What about all her stuff? Clothes? Books?”
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He waved his hand. “We’ll throw out what we don’t want. Maybe sell a few things. I already packed some boxes. The rest is trash. The cat’s going too.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Wow. She’s going to be crushed.”
Mark smirked. “She won’t be. We’ll be long gone before she knows. I’ve been looking at condos in Miami. Pool, gym, all that. This place will be listed by the time she gets back.”
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I felt sick. I couldn’t listen anymore. My foot hit the edge of the stair. A soft creak.
Mark’s head turned. “Did you hear that?” he asked, voice sharp.
I didn’t wait. I ran. Down the stairs. Out the back door. Into my car. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone. I hit Jessica’s name.
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“Lee?” she answered. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a woman in your house. With Mark. I saw them. I heard everything. He tricked you into signing papers. He’s stealing your house.”
She didn’t answer right away.
Then she said, “You’re lying.”
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“I’m not. Jess, please believe me—”
“You’ve always hated him. You’ve been waiting for a reason to tear us apart. You’re jealous. And now you’re making up stories.”
“No, I’m trying to help you. I’m trying to protect you.”
Her voice turned cold. “Don’t call me again.”
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Click. The line went dead.
Later that evening, my doorbell rang. I opened it. Mark stood there. Calm. Hands in his pockets.
“She told me everything,” he said. “About your little story.”
I didn’t blink. “I’m not afraid of you.”
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He stepped closer. “You should be. Keep pushing, and someone’s going to get hurt.”
I knew Jessica wouldn’t believe me unless she saw everything with her own eyes. Words wouldn’t be enough.
Not even tears would move her. Jessica was too in love with him. Too loyal. Too proud.
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She wouldn’t walk away without something solid. Proof she could touch. Proof she couldn’t explain away.
That’s why I did something I hated—something that felt cold and cruel, but also right.
I downloaded a fake call app. I set it up to look like the hospital was calling her.
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The message said I had been in a car accident. It said I was in the emergency room and not waking up.
I knew it was wrong to scare her like that, but it was the only thing that would pull her back fast.
And it worked.
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Six hours later, there was a knock at my door. Jessica stood there, breathing hard. Her hair was messy. Her eyes were wide. She looked like she had run the whole way.
“Are you okay?” Jessica asked as she rushed inside. Her face was pale, and her breath came fast. She looked like she had been crying.
“I’m fine,” I said. “There was no accident. I’m not hurt. I made it up.”
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“You lied to me?” she shouted. Her voice shook. “What the hell, Lee? Why would you do that?”
“Because you wouldn’t listen,” I said. “You wouldn’t hear me. I had to bring you back. I needed you to see it for yourself.”
She stared at me, her eyes wide and full of pain. For a moment, I thought she might hit me. But then she took a deep breath and said, “Okay. Show me.”
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We drove to her house. Neither of us spoke. The silence felt heavy.
When we reached her block, I parked a few houses down. We got out and walked slowly. At her window, we stopped and looked inside.
Mark was on the couch with the same woman. They were kissing like they didn’t have a care in the world.
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Jessica didn’t speak. She took out her phone. Her hands shook, but she snapped photo after photo. Her jaw tightened.
“I want to go inside,” she said.
We walked to the door. It was unlocked.
Inside, everything was different. The scent of her favorite candle was gone.
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The hallway was cold and quiet. Black trash bags lined the wall. Boxes were stacked on top of each other.
Sharp words written across them: “JUNK,” “DONATE,” “TRASH.” Her life was being packed away like it meant nothing.
Jessica’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Mark!”
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He turned around fast, eyes wide. “Jessica? What the hell are you doing here?”
She stepped forward. Her voice was loud. Her hands were tight fists at her sides. “What am I doing here? Are you serious? You liar! You cheat! You’re throwing away my life like it’s trash!”
The woman on the couch jumped up. She grabbed her purse and started moving toward the door. “I’ll just—”
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“Sit down!” Jessica snapped. “I’m not finished.”
Mark raised both hands. “Jess, wait. This isn’t what it looks like.”
She laughed, but it sounded sharp and cold. “Not what it looks like? You’re kissing another woman in my house! She’s wearing my robe. Drinking from my glass. You’re tossing my things in garbage bags. And you’re telling her my house is yours now?”
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Mark looked nervous. “You signed the papers. You didn’t even read them.”
“You tricked me,” Jessica said. Her voice was shaking now. “You told me it was for refinancing. You stood in front of me and lied.”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. They’re signed. It’s legal. It’s done. You just ruined everything.”
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Then he turned to me and pointed. “This is her fault. Lee. She’s been against me from the start. She poisoned your mind.”
Jessica took one step toward him. “No, Mark. You did this all by yourself. Lee told the truth. You think you can break me? You think you can take everything I own and leave me with nothing?”
She shook her head. “You’ll be left with nothing. Just your ego. And that won’t help you now.”
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Mark’s face twisted. “You’ll regret this.”
“No,” Jessica said. Her voice was calm now. “You will.”
She pointed at the door. “Get out. Both of you. I don’t want to see either of you in this house again.”
The woman ran out first. She didn’t look back. Mark stood there a second longer.
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His jaw was tight. His fists clenched. Then he turned and walked out. He slammed the door behind him.
Jessica didn’t move. She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She just stood there. Still and quiet.
I looked at her. “You’re awfully calm.”
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She turned to me. “Because I already knew. I’ve felt it for a while. I knew he was cheating. I saw the strange paperwork. I just didn’t want to believe it. I needed proof.”
“You could’ve told me,” I said.
“I didn’t want it to feel fake,” she said. “I needed him to think I still trusted him. And I needed you to act normal. You did.”
I nodded. “So… you used me?”
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She shook her head. “No. I trusted you. Even when I acted like I didn’t. You stood by me.”
“I always will,” I said.
She gave me a small smile. Then she looked at the bags and boxes. “Let’s clean this up. I’ve got a life to rebuild.”
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