After five years of dating, my boyfriend, Tom, suddenly had a "female friend."
When I found out she was draped in nothing but a sheer piece of fabric, standing in his studio as a nude model for one of his sculptures, I completely lost it. I made a scene—loud and messy.
But the very next day, a sculpture of me—striking the most provocative pose between two beds—appeared at a public art exhibition.
It wasn't just casually displayed.
It was placed in the most prominent spot in the gallery, with my full name etched on the plaque beside it.
Panic surged through me. I rushed to Tom's studio, only to freeze at the door when I heard laughter coming from inside.
"Tom, that sculpture of Sophia is blowing up online. Aren't you afraid she might actually leave you?"
Tom chuckled darkly.
"That'd be her loss. Who told her to destroy the one I made for Charlotte?"
"Leave you? Please. Don't be fooled by how bold she looks—deep down, she's ridiculously traditional. If she's not already asking you to marry her, she's practically a feminist rebel."
The room erupted in crude laughter.
"Tom bro, you're too generous. Once you're done with her, you don't mind us stepping in as your backups, right?"
Tom lazily ran his fingers over an unfinished sculpture and waved them off.
"Sure. Whoever can get her, she's all yours. Let's see if any of you have the skills."
My eyes landed on the sculpture he was working on—a body with a small black mole on the back, carved in the exact same spot as mine.
My heart plummeted.
1.
"Brother Tom, you're incredible. The artistry alone... I've never seen a sculpture as lifelike as Sophia's. It's on par with David, seriously."
Tom laughed proudly. "That? That's nothing. Just one piece from the Sophia Series."
"I've coaxed her into trying so many things over the years. I've got more than enough material to work with."
The room broke into another round of vulgar laughter.
"Brother Tom, I owe you one!"
"Hey, just don't donate your next piece to that public welfare exhibition. It's a waste, no profit in it. Don't be too generous."
Tom snorted. "I'm already sick of that old thing. Doesn't make a dime."
"If she hadn't destroyed Charlotte's sculpture, I wouldn't have even bothered finishing this one just to make the exhibition deadline…"
He paused, as if remembering something, and picked up his phone.
"Bro, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. That sculpture could've been my best work, but Sophia destroyed it. Honestly, she's not even worth one of your fingers."
A sweet voice responded from the speaker.
"Brother Tom, don't worry. I already forgave you. Just take care of sis-in-law. I'll always be here for you…"
My mind went blank. Their voices felt like blades slowly carving into me.
I couldn't listen anymore.
Pain from my clenched fists digging into my palms jolted me back. I turned and ran.
The moment I opened the door, my legs gave out. I collapsed to the ground.
2.
Five years ago, I met Tom when I had just started college. He was a senior about to graduate.
We became a couple the second time we met.
He told me I was his muse, that his graduation piece was inspired by me.
He said, "Tom lives for Sophia."
Six months in, under the starry sky, I gave myself to him.
That night, he looked at me with eyes brighter than the stars.
"Sophia, you're breathtaking tonight. You're God's gift to me."
And now… all those intimate memories—were they just your materials?
Tears streamed down uncontrollably, blurring my vision.
Two days ago, I saw a photo on Da Hongshu. It was taken in Tom's studio. Charlotte was holding his chin with one hand, smiling.
Her caption read:
"Gotta be a good model for my brother~ First time being an art piece. Anything I should know?"
Tom replied:
"My dear brother, just be yourself. That's already perfect."
The moment I saw it, I got in a cab and rushed straight to his studio.
As the door opened with the code I still remembered, a faint moan reached my ears.
Charlotte stood there, wrapped in a transparent gauze barely covering anything, her cheeks blushing like ripe peaches.
Tom was staring at her with pure obsession while carving something with his small tools.
The second I stepped in, Charlotte instinctively ducked behind him.
He immediately took off his coat and draped it over her.
Fury boiled inside me.
"Tom, is this how you treat me?!"
He frowned. "Sophia, don't overreact. This is just art."
I grabbed the sculpture next to him and smashed it to the floor.
"Art? She's practically naked in front of you! And that look on your face just now—was that artistic inspiration too?"
Charlotte had already changed into her clothes, her expression now calm and composed.
"Sister-in-law, nice to finally meet you. I'm Charlotte. Brother Tom and I grew up in the same courtyard."
"I've just come back from studying abroad. What happened earlier, it's not what you think. Brother Tom and I have always been just like brothers."
Tom gave her an apologetic glance, then sighed.
"Can you stop making a scene? Charlotte just came back. You're making me look like a bad host."
"She's younger than you by a few years. She's been tagging along behind us big guys since she was a kid. We've always treated her like a little brother."
"You're being unreasonable. Charlotte, I'm sorry…"
Charlotte cut in immediately, "Don't be. That's too formal. Sister-in-law, I asked Brother Tom to let me model."
"If you're upset, be upset with me. Brother Tom is innocent."
I clapped slowly. "Right. You're all innocent. I must be the only fool here."
"What a lovely performance. I won't waste any more time."
I turned to leave, but Tom grabbed my arm.
He leaned in and whispered coldly, "You look insane right now. What do you want?"
Insane?
I laughed.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Charlotte's face filled with smug provocation.
I yanked my arm free and walked away without looking back.
Behind me, I heard him shout:
"Sophia, don't regret this!"
3.
So that's what he meant by don't regret it.
He turned my body into a public statue. A spectacle for everyone to see and enjoy.
He even had the nerve to label it with my name—just so the world would know who the woman in that suggestive pose was.
Was I nothing more than a trophy? His token of loyalty to Charlotte?
A soft sound came from the door. When our eyes met, Tom froze.
"Baby! I'm sorry. I messed up…"
He dragged me to the sofa and hurriedly wiped my tears.
"I shouldn't have said all that. I shouldn't have stayed away these past two days just to punish you."
"Please don't cry, okay? It kills me to see you like this."
I looked him dead in the eye.
"Tom, aren't you forgetting something important?"
"I'm… sorry."
"Actually, the moment I donated the sculpture, I regretted it. I didn't apologize because I was afraid… afraid you'd leave me."
"But that piece—it's the most perfect work I've ever created."
"I wanted to keep it for myself… but I thought, something that perfect… should be seen by the world."
Perfect.
Art.
To be appreciated.
What a beautiful excuse for betrayal.
"Tom, I don't even know who you are anymore."
He immediately pulled me into his arms, voice trembling.
"Please don't give up on me! Just this once, forgive me. Sophia, I was wrong—will you marry me?"
"This… this is the one mistake I made in all these years."
"Let me spend the rest of my life making it right."
I inhaled his familiar scent, my mind dazed. I nodded.
Feeling the motion, he kissed the tears from my face.
"Tomorrow, I'll gather the brothers and announce the news. Tonight's proposal was too rushed. I'll make it up to you."
"Thank you, baby. Thank you for giving me another chance. I promise—I won't let you down again."
4.
Last night, I unknowingly fell asleep in Tom's arms.
When I woke up, my body was covered with the traces he left behind.
The crumpled sheets told the story of an intense night—but I couldn't remember a single moment of it.
Lying beside me, Tom slept soundly.
Rationality slowly returned to me.
I dragged my heavy limbs into his study and found a USB drive plugged into his computer.
Inside were several folders labeled with different sets of initials—some marked only with "SC."
But one folder stood out.
A 50GB encrypted file labeled "YBSC."
My heart trembled.
I typed in my birthday.
"Incorrect password."
I tried several variations, one after another.
Finally, I typed: "Sophia Material."
It opened.
The folder was filled with intimate videos of us—every moment of our love recorded without my knowledge.
The most recent entry was from last night.
My stomach lurched. I couldn't stop retching.
The man who'd slept beside me for five years—my lover—was utterly repulsive.
Whatever last shred of hope I had shattered in an instant.
With trembling fingers, I deleted the entire folder.
Then, I replaced it with a few 50GB drama series, just for good measure, and cleared the recycle bin.
The entire process took less than ten minutes.
Tom was still asleep.
I retraced my steps, remembering the angles from the videos—where they'd been taken.
Then I turned to the oversized teddy bear in the corner of our bedroom.
That bear had been a housewarming gift when we moved in four years ago.
He had shoved it into my arms, smiling.
"Baby, it's our housewarming joy," he said.
He made the bear sit at the foot of our bed.
"So we'll always wake up to a happy face."
Now, staring into its glassy red eyes flashing with a faint light, shame and pain devoured me.
I walked into the living room and silently booked a ticket to return home that evening.
I'm not sure how long I sat there, dazed.
At some point, Tom came out and carried me back to the bedroom.
"Baby, I picked out a dress for you," he said excitedly.
"It's going to blind all my brothers when they see you."
On the bed lay a low-cut dress, a red ribbon, and black silk stockings.
I looked him in the eye.
"Do I have to wear this today?"
He nodded, grinning. "You've always been the sweet, shy one around them. Today's a special day. Let's show them a new you."
I took the outfit to the bathroom in silence.
After finishing my makeup, I stared at my reflection in the mirror—like a beautifully wrapped gift.
When we stepped out, he placed his hands gently on my shoulders and squatted to meet my gaze.
"Baby," he said softly, "I love you."
5.
We arrived last at the private room.
As soon as we walked in, I felt a few vulgar gazes sweep over me without restraint.
Charlotte sat confidently in the center seat, a smug smile on her face.
Tom pulled me to sit down beside him, a flicker of displeasure on his face.
"Restrain yourselves," he snapped. "She's your sister-in-law."
The room immediately quieted.
A guy with a perm raised his glass toward me.
"Brother Tom's got some luck! Sister-in-law looks like she stepped out of a sculpture. A toast to you, ma'am."
I glanced at Tom. He didn't even blink.
Charlotte grinned wider.
"What are you saying, Brother Liu? That's a piece of art."
"Besides, sister-in-law doesn't look like she can hold her liquor. I'll drink on her behalf."
Someone else laughed.
"Charlotte, aren't you being too eager? Brother Tom's got an announcement today. Can you drink all her wine too?"
Charlotte's eyes flickered, sadness breaking through the façade. She raised her glass again and again.
When she lifted her sixth, Tom stepped in and took it from her.
He led her out.
Right in front of me.
The others watched silently, with that familiar "told you so" look on their faces.
I stood up to leave, but a man—Tin Foil Tang, they called him—blocked my way.
"Since Brother Tom doesn't want you anymore, how about considering me?" he smirked.
"I'm younger, more energetic. I'm sure I could satisfy you better."
"After all, after seeing your statue, I feel like we'd get along just fine."
I gave a cold laugh.
"You're seriously overestimating yourself. I just threw away a piece of trash—why would I dig through the garbage again?"
His expression darkened.
"You think you're all that, huh?"
"You were just Brother Tom's stand-in while Charlotte was abroad. Now that she's back, your job is done."
"And those sculptures? Everyone's seen them. You think anyone still respects you?"
His eyes gleamed.
"Then how about I test it myself?"
He reached for me with a disgusting grin—but I threw the wine in his face.
"You bitch!" he roared, lunging toward me.
Three other men got up.
They didn't stop him—instead, they came for me, hands groping, jeering.
"God, she's soft. No wonder Brother Tom couldn't get enough."
"It's my turn first!"
I couldn't move, held down by them.
"Let me go! You're committing a crime!"
Just as my dress was about to be ripped open—
"Stop!"
A furious voice exploded from the doorway.
Tom.
He rushed in, pulling them away from me.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
One man sneered.
"Didn't you say if we could take her, she was ours?"
"I meant the sculpture!" Tom snapped. "Not the woman!"
"Come on, Tom. You said her body's been seen by millions. What difference does it make?"
I slapped him across the face.
"You are beyond shameless."
And then I ran.
Out of the room.
Out of that nightmare.
I bought a new set of clothes at a nearby mall, changed in a restroom, and hailed a cab straight to the airport.
My body trembled the entire way. I could still feel those filthy hands, still hear their disgusting laughter.
Blood filled my mouth—I'd bitten my lip.
When I finally arrived at the airport, I blocked Tom on every platform.
Then I deleted my account.
6.
The moment my feet touched the soil of my hometown, I felt the tension begin to melt away.
I opened the door and was greeted by the scent of food.
My parents looked up from their midnight snack, stunned.
My mother recovered first and rushed to hug me.
"Nannan, why didn't you tell us you were coming back? We would've sent your dad to pick you up!"
Dad joined a second later, sandwiching me in a warm embrace.
"Baby, coming home alone—what a heartbreak."
I froze at the word baby.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Dad..." I said softly. "The last person who called me that… hurt me so much."
They didn't ask. They just sat me down on the sofa and held my hands.
"What happened, sweetheart? Tell us everything."
The wrinkles on their faces, the love in their eyes—every wall I had crumbled.
"It's all your fault!" I cried. "I graduated more than a year ago and you still wouldn't let me into the company. I had to drift out there alone!"
Dad blinked in surprise. Mom narrowed her eyes at him.
He chuckled, trying to defuse the mood.
"Well, Nannan's finally thinking about starting her career. Great! Start tomorrow!"
Mom didn't smile.
Dad looked even guiltier.
"Hasn't she been dating that artist guy for years? I just didn't want her distracted from love. Speaking of which—where is he?"
"I dumped him."
My voice shook, but I held back the tears.
They didn't press.
They just led me to the dining table and quietly fed me.
The next morning, my father walked into my room with a laptop.
He opened a PowerPoint presentation and beamed.
"Nannan, since you've decided to work, I made you a business plan last night. Moved yet?"
Dozens of slides.
I nearly fainted.
But he pulled me out of bed, grinning.
"Time to study. Work hard so we can retire early!"
I looked into his hopeful eyes… and nodded.
Within two months, I'd gotten through the basics and slipped into the company's management ranks.
I was so busy, I barely had time to think about Tom at all.
And that—
That was the beginning of my real life.
7.
But Tom still showed up.
That day after work, I was just about to head to my father's car when he stopped me in the underground parking lot.
It had only been a little over a month, but Tom already looked disheveled, a shadow of the composed and polished man I once knew.
His eyes were red the moment he saw me.
"Sophia, I miss you so much," he said, voice trembling.
"Please, just give me one more chance to make up for all the hurt I've caused you."
"After more than five years together, I really can't let you go. What happened with Charlotte... it's not what you think."
"There's too much to explain in just a few words. Can we go somewhere and talk?"
I looked at the desperate man before me—and felt nothing.
No sorrow. No anger. No longing.
I had finally let him go.
Before I could respond, my father stepped out of the driver's seat.
"Sweetheart, who's this?"
Tom froze, then his expression twisted with shock and rage.
Grabbing my arms, he started shaking me uncontrollably.
"Sophia! Two months ago you erased all trace of yourself—you deleted my number and disappeared!"
"Do you have any idea how hard I tried to find you? No one at the address on your ID even knew who you were, and you hadn't contacted any of your friends!"
"I nearly called the police! But they told me you weren't in danger—just that you didn't want to talk to me!"
His eyes grew bloodshot.
"And after everything I've done—after all that—you went and found some old guy to be your sugar daddy? You really are just rotten through and through. Ha! A total whore!"
My father's face turned crimson.
He punched Tom straight in the face.
"You son of a bitch! I'm her father!"
"She gave you her youth, her love, and this is the kind of insult you repay her with?"
"I was the one who told the police to leave you out of her life. And if I ever see you again, I won't stop at one punch."
Watching my father shield me like a fierce eagle made something stir inside me.
When I first told my parents about Tom, they had liked him based on his photo and always pushed me to bring him home.
I asked him once or twice, but he always gave excuses. I was young, and I didn't press.
Who would've thought their first meeting would turn out like this?
Tom stood stunned.
After a long pause, he muttered helplessly, "Dad, I'm sorry. I lost control."
"I've been searching for Sophia nonstop for two months. Seeing her again today... I just panicked. I didn't want to lose her."
My father rolled his eyes.
"Don't call me 'Dad.' She dumped you. Move on."
"Stay away from my daughter."
With that, he pulled me into the car and sped off.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Tom standing there—motionless.
He looked like an abandoned dog.
8.
Dad cursed the entire drive home, and the moment we got there, he started ranting to Mom.
After piecing together what had happened, Mom turned to me with concern in her eyes.
"Nannan, how did things get this bad between you two? It sounds like you ghosted him, and now he's turned obsessive."
Looking at their worried faces, I realized I could no longer keep it to myself.
So I told them everything—from the moment I walked in on Charlotte in Tom's studio.
Their expressions went from smiles to stone.
When I told them how he used my body as a reference for a sculpture he displayed publicly, my dad slammed the table in fury.
He injured his hand.
Mom's face turned darker than I'd ever seen it.
After hearing everything, they exchanged a look.
Then my mother held my hand tightly.
"Baby," she said slowly, "Leave it to us. We won't let you suffer such a huge loss in silence."
I hugged them both and whispered, "It's okay, Mom, Dad. That chapter of my life is over."
Seeing Tom again today, whatever traces of affection I had left for him were finally gone.
9.
I was becoming more and more comfortable with work.
Dad gradually began handing over responsibilities, letting me make decisions for the company.
I happily threw myself into the grind.
Tom didn't appear again.
I thought my life had finally returned to peace.
Until one night, at a charity gala, I saw him again.
He stood on stage—this time no longer broken or disheveled.
He presented a sculpture with my name engraved on it.
Unlike the previous one, this piece was a recreation of the first photo we ever took together.
Except, in place of himself, he inserted a shattered heart—pierced by Cupid's arrow.
He spoke gently, his tone full of nostalgia.
"This is the story of me and my muse. I made mistakes and she left me."
"Those were the darkest days of my life. But now, I've come through it."
"Tom lives for Sophia."
"Miss Su, may I have the honor of meeting you again?"
Spotlights swung toward me.
Everyone turned to look, the crowd gasping and whispering.
People who didn't know the truth began to cheer, moved by what looked like a heartfelt, romantic gesture.
Tom really did know the old me well.
If this had happened two months ago, I would've run up and kissed him.
But now, that past felt like it belonged to another life.
To me, he was a stranger.
I smiled politely and said, "I'm sorry."
Then I turned and walked off stage.
His smile froze. Then he chased after me.
10.
On the hotel terrace, he finally caught up to me.
I lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and blew the smoke in his face.
"Sophia," he frowned, "put that out. I never allowed you to smoke."
I chuckled.
"Mr. Tom, you're no longer in a position to allow anything."
"Didn't you say you still had a lot to say? Go ahead. I'm listening."
He looked at me, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"What I said on stage—it's all true."
"I thought you were just throwing a tantrum. I didn't expect you to be serious."
"When you didn't come home that second night, I went crazy looking for you."
"I realized—I really can't live without you."
"After five years... can you really be this heartless?"
I flicked the ash from my cigarette.
"It's over, Tom."
He stepped closer and whispered,
"After we moved into that house, I recorded every moment we shared, every night and day."
"No man could bear to see you with someone else. In this life, you belong to me."
He opened his arms like he expected a reunion.
I pushed him back with a single finger.
"Mr. Tom, when was the last time you even opened that USB drive?"
His face froze.
"Y-You... You knew?"
I patted his shoulder.
"You really haven't changed. So conceited."
"You didn't even check your SC folder until two months before your exhibit opened."
His face went pale.
Then—
A dark figure burst out from the doorway and hit him hard.
11.
Charlotte glared at him like a madwoman.
"Tom! You told me I was the only one! What was that performance just now?"
"Last night you were still sweet-talking me into bed, and today you're running back to Sophia?"
"Do you even have any shame?"
He stood up, brushing himself off, face cold.
"That was just an artistic exchange. Didn't we agree on that when you came back to China?"
"What happened last night was mutual. Don't make a scene."
"We're adults. Be responsible for yourself."
I clapped sarcastically.
"Wow, Tom. Every girl who loves you ends up going crazy. Ever think the problem might be you?"
He turned to me, hurt.
"Yueyue, don't listen to her. She seduced me when I was vulnerable. I thought she was you..."
"I only took her out of that party to clear things up. The one I love is you."
I rolled my eyes.
But before I could speak, Charlotte slapped me across the face.
"Bitch! If it weren't for you, Brother Tom would still be mine! He's liked me since we were kids!"
"You stole him while I was abroad!"
The slap made me dizzy. I was about to fight back when chaos erupted.
Tom and Charlotte began physically fighting.
"You dare hit Sophia?! I was with her for years and never laid a hand on her!"
"Oh wow, what a man! Not hitting women is the bare minimum!"
"Tom, as long as I'm alive, you'll never be with Sophia!"
He snapped.
"Why does everything have to go your way?"
"You didn't like me, I still had to wait. You left, I had to wait. I moved on, and you came back to ruin everything!"
"Then die!"
He grabbed her neck and squeezed hard.
"I love Sophia, do you hear me?"
Charlotte's face turned purple.
I rushed forward, trying to stop him.
He shoved both of us—hard.
With a scream, Charlotte flew off the terrace.
Moments later, a cry echoed from below.
Tom stared at his hands in horror.
"Sophia... I'm finished. This is the fifth floor... she won't survive..."
I instinctively backed away.
He turned to look at me, eyes full of despair.
"Sophia... are you afraid of me now? It's okay. I won't hurt you."
Minutes later, the police arrived and took him away.
I sat there in shock.
A female officer escorted me from the scene.
12.
When I left the police station, my parents were already waiting.
Dad tried to ask questions, but Mom stopped him and quietly brought me home.
Once in my room, I turned on my phone.
Videos of Charlotte falling had gone viral locally.
There were clips from multiple angles—some even showing my face clearly.
I turned off the screen immediately.
Soon, all the videos were gone.
Only the official police statement remained.
The day had fried my brain like an overworked CPU.
I said goodnight and went to bed.
When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed.
Dad was asleep beside me.
The moment I moved, he woke up in tears.
"Nannan, don't scare me like that. From now on, just be the company mascot. Leave the hard stuff to us old folks."
I blinked.
Apparently, I had been unconscious for three days due to shock.
I asked about Tom.
Dad looked at me and sighed.
"Intentional homicide. Death penalty."
My eyes widened.
Then, I nodded.
13.
While in prison, Tom asked to see me through his lawyer.
I hesitated—but agreed.
Behind the glass, he looked worn out, a shell of the man I once knew.
His eyes lit up when he saw me—then dimmed.
"I'm sorry, Sophia. I didn't cherish you—or us."
"I was arrogant. I thought you'd never leave. I thought I had everything under control."
"In the end, I destroyed everything. This isn't about forgiveness—I just want peace."
"I've destroyed all our videos, and had the unfinished sculptures removed. The ones you didn't like, they're gone."
"Sophia... I hope you'll be happy."
I looked at him for a long time, then said softly,
"I will. And I hope you will too... wherever you are."
His eyes turned red.
He wiped them quietly and left the room without looking back.
After he died, I visited his grave.
I left a bunch of white flowers—and placed the broken-heart Cupid sculpture beside him.
It was the only piece of me he ever made that I chose to keep.
My parents bought back the rest and had them destroyed.
Along with them, I buried the last of my memories.
14.
Worried I might spiral, Dad handed over the company to me and took Mom traveling around the world.
Life slowly returned to normal.
With an endless stream of emails and meetings, I occasionally wondered why I had such "ambition."
At the perfect time, Dad FaceTimed me.
Aside from his giant face filling the screen, everything behind him was lush and green.
I asked him to flip the camera.
He did—and I saw Mom staring intently at a groundhog hole on an endless grassland.
Jealousy welled up.
I sighed dramatically.
"I'm a cow now, Dad."
"Huh?"
"Only cows and horses long for the grassland."
He laughed like a fool. I hung up.
Seeing my parents enjoying retirement gave me energy.
I threw myself into work again.
As time passed, Tom and Charlotte became names from a bygone era.
Now, my parents are busy trying to set me up again.
I just smile and tell them—
"As long as it makes you happy."