Chapter 1

The night before my flight home, my online dating partner texted me: [Tomorrow is our first anniversary. Shall we meet in person?]

The moment that message appeared, the group chat filled with rich heiresses of the city that I had secretly snuck in exploded.

[Congratulations, Wren! You’re at the last stage of your plan for revenge!!]

Before I realized what was going on, a photo of me in my orientation days appeared in the chat. I was 340 pounds in the photo, my facial features were all squashed together, and my entire body was swollen beyond belief.

“Whoa, Wren actually dated this piggy for one whole year all to seek revenge for Sean. Wren really loves Sean so much!”

The group chat started betting on whether I would kneel and beg Wren not to break up with me when I see her in person tomorrow.

Wren texted everyone: [I bet five million dollars that John Jackson will kneel and apologize to Sean for my sake.]

The other members of the group chat started placing their bets as well; 500,000 dollars, one million dollars, 1.5 million dollars.

Sean’s profile picture appeared, and he texted: [Don't be like this. He’s my older brother, after all. Although he stole my opportunity to go overseas, I’ve gotten used to it since we were young. Don’t go overboard today, just enough to make him regretful.]

Looking at all the messages expressing their heartache over Sean, I tightened my grip over my phone.

Chapter 1

When the bet started, Wren Shackelford was still texting me.

[Remember to wear something smart when you return tomorrow. Wear that bespoke suit I bought you the last time. I’ll pick you up when you land.]

I stared at her text and looked at her wager of five million dollars in the group chat, my fingertips growing cold.

Since we started online dating a year ago, Wren had always been gentle and patient toward me.

Despite our time difference, she would chat with me through the night when I lost sleep and game with me when I needed to vent my frustrations accumulated from work pressure.

I didn’t want to believe that this was all a huge scam, but the texts in the group chat just kept coming.

[Is it the same bespoke suit Sean has? Hahaha!

[Last month, I heard the salesman who personally delivered the suit say that John the Hailstone was so fat he couldn’t even stuff a leg into the pants.

[To make things worse, Wren bought the smallest size! He would have to spend the whole night squeezing all 340 pounds of his fat body into the suit!]

Wren texted: [Yeah, that’s the suit. It'll make him look like a fat tied-up pig!]

Sean’s profile picture popped up. [Are you talking about this suit?]

He then sent a photo of him wearing a white shirt that outlined his powerful, lean figure.

Everyone began praising Wren for hitting the jackpot.

[It truly hurts more when you compare. They’re both Jacksons, but Sean's so suave and handsome. That fatty John looks just like a hailstone that can crush someone to death.]

[Hahaha! When John the Hailstone stands next to Sean, he’ll burst into tears over how ugly he looks in comparison!]

Sean sent an awkward emoji. [Even I find this suit a little tight. My brother weighs 340 pounds. How could he possibly fit in this? Let’s not put him on the spot. Just let him come in a tank top and boxer shorts.]

Wren texted: [Such trivial suffering is nothing compared to what you’ve been through. I’ll make him pay back double for all those years you've suffered!]

[Exactly. Sean, you’re bullied by him because you’re too kind-hearted. Don’t interfere and let us stand up for you tomorrow!]

[Thank you all for helping me like this. In fact, this isn’t the first time my brother stole something that belongs to me. I’ve gotten used to this since we were kids. It’s just… The chance to go overseas two years ago was very important to me. That’s why I want him to apologize to me. I really hope he won’t steal my things again in the future.]

Sean was acting pitiful once more, letting everyone coddle and comfort him.

I gripped my phone tight.

That chance to go overseas he was referring to was something he rejected because he was worried it might get too tough. That was the only reason the chance fell on my lap.

Over the past two years, I worked hard at Jackson Group’s overseas company and made great accomplishments.

My success made him jealous and drove him to spread rumors that I had stolen his chance to go overseas and the opportunity to work at Jackson Group. Many people in his circle started to take revenge on me for him, treating me like a joke and playing me for a fool.

Since we were young, that had been Sean's way of instigating everyone to bully me.

All those years when they cornered me in the washroom and slapped me, maliciously knocked into me while I was running, pasting a label that read “dumb pig” on my back so that everyone would mock me…

They even made a school-wide announcement when I took a clumsy fall, declaring, “John the Hailstone from Class 7 of Grade 12 is in urgent need of guidance from a sow to give birth to piglets!”

Each time I was bullied, Sean never failed to make his grand entrance afterwards, behaving every bit like a victim and receiving everyone’s pity and comfort. All the nastiest nicknames and the cruelest tricks they played left indelible marks on me that I couldn’t seem to shake off.

Texts were still appearing on my phone screen.

Wren asked, [Does anyone else want to place their bets? The countdown is about to begin soon. We won’t accept any latecomers!]

At the very last second on the countdown timer, right at the same moment I was about to place my bet, someone with a profile picture of a red rose entangled in thorns texted: [Wait. I’ll bet 30 million dollars that John will win hands down.]

[Wait, how much? 30 million dollars?! That’s more than all of us combined!]

[Hang on, sister. Are you sure you want to bet all that money on a fatty? John's clearly desperate for love. He’ll do every one of Wren’s bidding. Not only will he be willing to kneel, but he’ll even be willing to jump down a building for her!]

Sean also tried to persuade her otherwise. [I’m John Jackson’s younger brother. He’s really awful, and he's done many horrible things to me. He’s not worth such a huge bet on your part! We won’t feel good taking so much money from you when we win.]

Even Wren jumped in.

[30 million is a huge sum. You might lose it all betting on him…

[You might not know how much John loves me. He can forgo sleep for a few consecutive nights just to wait for one call from me.

[One time, I lied to him that I went overseas to visit him. He stood at the Fairy Tower for one whole night and almost froze into an icicle.

[Oh, he even tattooed my initials on his collarbone and couldn’t bear to remove it despite having an allergic reaction to it and contracting a high fever. Kneeling would certainly be something he would do for my sake.]

All those things that I thought were proof of love were listed one by one, insulted in front of others.

What wrong did I do?

Nothing at all.

She was the one in the wrong for taking my true love as a wager.

Thorned Rose fell silent for two seconds before texting: [So what? It’s my own business choosing him. It’s also my own business for choosing to trust him. I’ll just make my choice. Whether I lose or win, I don’t care.]

No one else said anything further.

I felt tears well up in my eyes.

I didn’t cry when I was living alone on a foreign land. I didn’t cry when I was dieting till I had low blood sugar and was hospitalized.

I was even able to hold back tears after finding out about my online dating partner's betrayal.

Yet, it was this unconditional trust that made my eyes feel hot with tears.

After reading that text again and again, I returned to my chat with Wren and resolutely sent her a text: [Okay, I’ll wear that bespoke suit and be there on time.]

I wasn’t the one in the wrong. I shouldn’t be avoiding her.

Wren’s reply came quickly. [Sure. I have a huge surprise for you tomorrow.]

Right after she texted that, I saw that a screenshot of our chat was sent to the chat group.

[He really has the guts to appear in that suit! Wren, if he runs to you all bundled up in that tight suit, I fear the entire building might shake!]

[I wonder if he can squeeze into the door we specially designed. For all we know, we might end up having to call 911 to take down the door!]

Wren tagged Sean and texted: [Sean, wear that suit tomorrow and let him know how embarrassment truly feels like.]

Amidst all the laughter and jokes, I dialed the dedicated line to Shackelford Enterprise. “Mr. Shackelford, I’m sorry, but I won’t be working with the Shackelford Enterprise from now on.”

“Mr. Jackson, our discussions were going so smoothly. Shackelford Enterprise needs your support to turn the tide. Why are you suddenly backing out?”

No one back home knew of my true identity just yet.

I took a deep breath and said, “Come to The Onyx Grand tomorrow at 10 in the morning to see for yourself what your precious granddaughter has done.”

Chapter 2

The next day at the international airport, I was wearing a black suit and custom-made leather shoes. My hair was combed back, revealing a strong and sharp jawline.

The moment I walked out of the arrivals exit, I heard a familiar voice.

“Why isn’t my brother out yet?”

Sean was wearing that dark grey bespoke suit which accentuated his tall, towering figure. His arm was around Wren’s svelte waist. There were a few other boys following behind him.

Wren had sunglasses on and said irritably, “We’ve been waiting for so long. Did he get stuck in his seat because he’s too fat?”

The boys doubled over in laughter.

Just then, a fat boy wearing a flat cap came walking out, dragging a luggage case behind him. He had a broad back and was wearing a loose sports jersey.

Sean’s eyes lit up as he said in a low voice, “He’s here!”

Wren took off her shades and yelled at the figure. “John Jackson!”

Sean covered his mouth and chuckled. “How did he end up fatter than he was two years ago?”

The boys pointed at the figure and laughed till they could hardly stand straight.

“My god, he’s huge! I’m sure he weighs at least half a ton. Wren, aren’t you afraid of being with someone who looks like a tank?”

“How dare he boast about appearing in that bespoke suit when he’s so fat! He’s really just shooting his mouth off online. He won’t live up to his words in reality. No wonder he has to wear that flat cap. He has a guilty conscience! Thankfully we came early to see what he really looks like, or he might just find someone to disguise as himself!”

The fat boy walked right past them.

Wren’s brows furrowed as she looked at his back.

She said irritably, “John Jackson, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear us calling you? Do you know how long Sean has been standing here waiting for you? John Jackson, I’m talking to you!”

The boy looked up at her and then turned to look away.

Wren pursed her lips and marched over to him. She patted his shoulders hard and said with frustration, “John Jackson! Are you deaf?”

If I were really that boy, would I end up being subject to their relentless bullying?

I stopped right there and filmed everything with my phone.

The boy they called “John Jackson” turned back and looked confused. “Who are you guys? I don’t know you.”

Sean immediately approached him and hugged his arm. “John, I know you’re mad that we saw through your lie about successfully losing weight. I missed you so much, that’s why I came early to pick you up from the airport. Just blame me alone, they have nothing to do with this.”

The boy shoved Sean to the ground. “You must be insane! I don’t know you guys at all! Also, I’ve seen the likes of you around, you pretentious, two-faced bastard. Hurting your brother in the name of doing good for him!”

“No, John! I didn’t! You can’t pretend you don’t know me just because I exposed your lie…”

“He’s pretending not to know us now when he was so arrogantly boasting about wearing the suit in the smallest size. Why didn’t he consider the possibility that we might see through his lie?”

Wren helped Sean up from the ground and whipped the flat cap off “John Jackson’s” head.

She said coldly, “You’re John Jackson, alright. Cut the act. Apologize to your brother right now or we’ll break up!”

The boy they insisted on calling John Jackson laughed as he pulled out his identity card from his bag. “Open your eyes and see what my name really is!”

All of them stood stunned.

Sean took his identity card and looked at it for a long time, mumbling to himself, “How could he not be my brother?”

“Cut the crap!” The boy pulled out his phone to call the police. “I recorded what you said earlier. You slandered me and even hit me. Mark my words, I’ll pursue legal action against you. Just wait for the police to arrive!”

I chuckled as I put my phone away. Putting on my shades, I turned to leave.

An announcement started playing.

“Mr. John Jackson, you left a notebook in the arrival hall. Please come to the information counter to retrieve it.”

Wren rushed off the moment she heard the announcement. “John must be here somewhere! Find him!”

Wren beat me to it and managed to get her hands on my diary. I was standing right behind her.

They lifted my notebook high up in the air as they recited every page.

[Today, Wren caught the flu. Her throat was so hoarse she could barely speak. I was so anxious I wished I could fly back to take care of her.

[Today, she sent me the very first voice message. I replayed it dozens of times. Her voice sounds so nice.

[On my birthday, she sent over a suit. It was too small and I couldn’t fit in it. But this is her first time giving me a present. I must work hard to be able to wear it!

[The tattooed area is inflamed. My roommate told me off for being stupid, but I think those two letters are the best part of my body.]

The entire notebook was filled with details of our online relationship.

I noted down every word she spoke and all her preferences and favorite things. I even checked out the weather of the cities she was in and always reminded her to put on more clothes or bring an umbrella.

Wren flipped through the pages. The smile on her face deepened. “See? I told you he loves me so desperately. Just wait! When I manage to find him, I’ll make him kneel to apologize.”

I pulled my luggage case along and walked past them. None of them recognized me.

I saw my notebook from the corner of my eyes. Trash had to be cleared away immediately, and that applied to both people as well as objects.

I didn’t want them anymore.

With that, I turned and walked out of the airport.

“Mr. Jackson!”

Everyone’s gaze landed on me, even Wren and her gang.

My back profile was lean and powerful, attracting the gazes of many as I stood there.

A middle-aged man waved at me and took my luggage case from me. He said respectfully, “Hello, I was sent here by Mr. Shackelford to pick you up. He's waiting for you in the car.”

I nodded and left with him.

“Did he just call that man Mr. Jackson?” Wren stared at my back for a long, long time.

“Wren, what are you thinking? How could that man be John Jackson? He’s a fatty who weighs 340 pounds!”

"Wren, they’re right. That person can’t possibly be my brother!”

Wren nodded, her gaze still fixed on my back profile as the corner of her lips lifted in a smirk.

“You’re right. John's a lovesick fool. How could he bear to throw away anything to do with me? Let’s go to the hotel first. I’m sure he’ll be there.”

Chapter 3

The moment I stepped into The Onyx Grand, a receptionist came rushing over to welcome us. “Mr. Shackelford, what brings you here today?”

Mr. Shackelford said darkly, “Did that brat Wren reserve the banquet hall on the top floor?”

The supervisor was stunned for a few moments by his question, but quickly recovered and said with a smile, “Yes, Ms. Shackelford did reserve the banquet hall on the top floor to entertain her friends.”

“Arrange the nearest private room for me. I’d like to see for myself what she’s up to!”

“Yes, sir. This way, please.”

Mr. Shackelford looked at me and said respectfully, “Mr. Jackson, if Wren does anything to humiliate you, I won’t spare her. Please give Shackelford Enterprise a chance.”

“Let’s see for ourselves whether she’s worth that chance.” I took my sunglasses off and entered the private room with Mr. Shackelford. I wasn’t in a rush to head to the banquet hall just yet.

From the window in the private room, I could see that Wren had arrived with Sean.

Wren was wearing heels and stood with one hand on her hip. She was instructing the crew to set up the venue while Sean stood by her side, leaning over occasionally to glance at her phone with a half smile on his face.

A text popped up in the chat group.

[Will John Jackson end up not daring to come? Wren, I’ve prepared everything according to your instructions!]

The text came accompanied with a video.

In the video, Zane Chambers was crouching on the carpet at the entrance, fixing a rope down while explaining smugly to the camera.

“This rope is suspended at calf height. I’ve tested it out, and it can trip a 340-pound man. When John the Hailstone walks in, he’ll trip and land on thumbtacks I’ve buried in the carpet. He’ll roll around in pain and knock his head right smack into the cream cake I've prepared!”

A few people could be heard sniggering in the video. Many commented about how excited they were to watch what would happen.

Someone sent a second video shortly after.

Ryan Harris stood by the buffet line and lifted a spray bottle in his hand.

“I even have some pepper spray with me! My secret recipe with essential oil as the base, soaked with ghost pepper and two spoonfuls of coarse salt added to it. I’ll spray this at his face the moment he enters and spice that pig head up!”

A third video popped up soon after.

A boy waved a small packet of pills in his hands.

“I rubbed some laxatives on his cutlery and used two whole packets! I had someone seal all the toilets and apply superglue to the toilet seat cover. We’ll soon be able to enjoy the look of him desperately looking for toilets everywhere!”

Laughter filled the chat group.

Wren tapped her wine glass as she sent a voice message to the group. Her voice was lazy, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

“Have the phone set up to record John kneeling and apologizing. I want everyone to see how disgusting he is.”

Sean poked his head out and hugged Wren’s arm, his voice hesitant. “Wren, although we’re just playing some harmless pranks on him, will he take revenge on me?”

“I dare him to!” Wren smirked, her voice dripping with disdain. “I’ll leverage all of my family’s networks and doom him across the country!”

In the private room, Mr. Shackelford’s hand that held his teacup was shaking hard. Fury and disappointment filled his eyes.

I looked at Wren through the window and chuckled. “Your granddaughter may not be talented in corporate management, but she certainly is adept at pranking others.”

Mr. Shackelford turned to look at me and said anxiously, “Mr. Jackson, I’ll discipline that brat for sure. Please give us one more chance!”

I retracted my gaze and said calmly, “We’ll never cooperate. That’s my answer to you.”

With that, I turned to leave the private room.

The cold air in the corridor gushed in my face. I leaned against the wall and stood there for two seconds before my phone buzzed.

Thorned Rose had texted me privately. [Are you here? The people in the chat group are secretly plotting to bully you. Shall I go in with you?]

I furrowed my brows. How did she know which account hidden in that chat group was mine?

Before I could wrap my head around the mystery, a clear, crisp female voice sounded from a distance. “John Jackson?”

I turned back.

Clad in a sleek black dress, a woman stood at the end of the hallway with a cool, distant grace. She seemed to have waited for me for a long time. The light above her wrapped her in a soft glow.

The door to the private room behind me was pushed open, and Mr. Shackelford came running out.

When he saw the woman, he looked clearly stunned. He approached her and spoke in a voice that could barely hide his excitement.

“Gemma? What are you doing here? Oh, yes. Please help me persuade Mr. Jackson right here to cooperate with Shackelford Enterprise!”

I looked at her beautiful eyes.

I didn’t know how she was related to Mr. Shackelford. Given the tone of his voice, they were clearly on good terms.

She glanced at me and ignored Mr. Shackelford’s request. She didn’t bother clarifying their relationship, either.

She simply lifted the corner of her lips and said, “John? The banquet is about to begin. Shall I go in with you?”

I looked at the doors of the banquet hall, which were still shut tight.

The voices inside could still be clearly heard through the heavy wooden doors.

“The pressure sensor is installed. The moment John the Hailstone comes in, the balloon above him will explode with black ink. I even added glass shards inside. I’m sure it’ll be super exciting!”

“That doesn’t sound very good. What if the glass shards scratch my brother’s face? My brother already has an inferiority complex because he’s fat…” Sean said; his voice had just the right amount of concern, but the tone was rising.

“John’s face is pockmarked and pimpled. A few more scratches won’t make any difference,” Wren drawled lazily.

The laughter that burst forth was piercing to my ears.

I quietly looked at the people in the private room.

“Oh, don’t eat the cake later,” someone warned in hushed tones. “I brought some industrial release agents from home that will cause ulceration upon contact with mucous membranes. He'll be vomiting and having the runs, and it’ll also be painful for him to open his mouth and talk!”

“Interesting. I even applied superglue to the toilet seat cover. He’ll have to leave the washroom with the toilet bowl attached to his bottom!”

“And this dog cage! I found someone to deliver this cage made specifically for large dogs. We’ll release him whenever he’s ready to kneel in the cage, apologize, and give up his right to inherit the Jackson Group!”

“Everything is in place. Now, all we’re waiting for is John the Hailstone himself! I really can’t wait to see him begging on his knees. And with that 30 million dollars wager, I’ll be able to get that newest supercar on the market!”

Each word that was spoken only made Mr. Shackelford’s face paler.

His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but he was no longer able to even beg me to work with Shackelford Enterprise.

He knew that this was no longer just a harmless prank, but deliberate harm and illegal detention.

I gripped my phone hard. It had been recording our entire conversation the moment I entered the private room, and the red line on the recording interface was still jumping quietly.

I had taken screenshots of every message, video, and ID, and backed them all up.

I had recorded every word everyone spoke. What awaited them was criminal prosecution.

Gemma Shackelford followed my gaze and spotted a surveillance camera on the ceiling. She retracted her gaze and looked at me with crystal clear eyes.

“If you need it, I can have someone retrieve the surveillance footage.”

The moment she said so, Mr. Shackelford’s head snapped toward her and raised his voice. “Gemma Shackelford, must you blow things up? It’s just a prank between some youngsters! Why are you interfering in this?”

With that, he turned to me and spoke in a much gentler tone, his interrogative stance immediately switching to diplomacy he was so used to in business circles.

“Mr. Jackson, I heard you’re friends with Wren. For all you know, this is a welcome ceremony she has prepared for you. They’re just fooling around, don’t take it personally…”

“Fooling around?” I turned around and looked straight into Mr. Shackelford’s eyes.

The smile on his face froze.

“Fooling around at the expense of my personal safety? Is burying thumbtacks in the carpet just a harmless joke? Is putting glass shards in a balloon a mere prank? How about mixing industrial release agents in the cake? Or forcing me to give up my inheritance by using a dog cage?”

Every word I spoke made the color drain from Mr. Shackelford’s face.

“Mr. Shackelford, we’ll have the police determine if this is just a harmless joke or not.”

I turned around, not wanting to speak further to him.

Gemma stood in between us, the look on her face polite yet distant. There was no space for negotiation in her voice as she spoke.

“Mr. Shackelford, when the police come later, you can’t be seen here given your identity.”

Mr. Shackelford looked at her for two seconds before turning to walk to the elevator on his cane. His figure soon disappeared in the elevator lobby at the end of the corridor.

Silence ensued along the corridor once more.

The sound of roaring laughter came muffled through the thick wooden door.

I held the door handle tight, feeling the cold metal against my palm. I sighed and started counting down in my head.

“Three.”

I could hear footsteps from the other side of the door and someone yelling, “Is the phone ready? Start filming the moment he walks through the door. Don’t miss anything!”

“Two.”

Someone responded to the person, then I heard the sound of the dog cage being moved. The sound of metal being dragged across the floor pierced the air and the hubbub of voices.

Wren’s voice cut through the noise clearly and I could hear the certainty and excitement in it.

“Everyone, in position! He’s almost here.”

“One.”

I pushed the door open.