The paralyzed heir of Deshonte City's elite social circle demanded that my sister marry him as a bride to "ward off bad luck."

But she was already pregnant—with my fiancé's baby.

So the so-called "marriage arrangement" disaster ended up landing on me.

My father was so furious he smashed his teacup right then and there.

"Absolutely not! Even if Catherine is adopted, she does not deserve to be humiliated like this!"

My fiancé, though, grabbed my hand.

"Catherine, how could I ever fall for someone else? It's just that Veronica is carrying my child—I can't let her walk into her doom. You'll just take your sister's place for now. Once things settle down, I'll come get you."

Watching him put on this whole show of devotion, it suddenly hit me that marrying a paralyzed heir might actually be more peaceful than staying here.

I pressed my father's hand down and said calmly, "Dad, Mom… I'll go."

On the day of the wedding, I wore a stunning white gown and sat beside my groom in his wheelchair.

My ex-fiancé sent me a message: [I'm sorry you're going through this. Wait for me.]

I handed the phone to the man next to me and smiled.

"Honey, looks like my brother-in-law is awfully concerned about me."

My mother's eyes instantly welled up.

"Catherine, what the hell are you saying? I won't allow it!"

Her voice cracked with tears.

"That Astor heir has been completely unhinged ever since his accident. No one even knows how many caregivers he's tortured to death.

"And word is he doesn't have much longer to live. If you marry into that family, you'll basically be a widow before your husband's even dead! How could I ever let you suffer like that? Don't be impulsive. Don't throw your life away for us."

Lex Cale stepped forward and gently steadied her, his expression controlled.

"Mrs. Luthor, please don't get so upset. The Astor heir is just paralyzed. Catherine is young and healthy, and I've already made arrangements to keep an eye on her. Nothing will happen."

Then he turned to me and took my hand.

"Catherine, you've really grown up. You've become so selfless." His voice softened. "Don't worry. I swear to God—I will never let you suffer.

"As soon as this blows over, I'll bring you right back and make it up to you a hundred times over."

So this was his idea of not letting me suffer?

Getting my sister pregnant, then having me marry a half-dead paralyzed man in her place?

How absurd. Wasn't every bit of pain I was enduring right now because of him?

My father looked like he wanted to say something more, but just then, Veronica walked in, one hand protectively cradling her stomach.

"Catherine, I'm so sorry. I'm really, really sorry." Tears streamed down her face like a broken dam. "Thank you. Thank you for blessing us.

"Lex and I… we couldn't help ourselves. That's how this baby happened. If it weren't for the pregnancy, I would rather die than make you take my place…"

Lex immediately wrapped his arm around her and soothed her gently.

"Veronica, what are you doing? She's getting married, not going to her execution. You're pregnant! Why are you crying so hard? What if it hurts the baby?"

Then he looked at me with impatience.

"Catherine, Veronica already apologized. What more do you want?"

I felt sick to my stomach.

I turned to leave, but Veronica suddenly grabbed my wrist and dropped to her knees in front of me with a loud thud.

"Catherine, I know you hate me. Go ahead, hit me, curse me—I deserve it. Just please don't shut me out! This is all my fault!"

As she cried and begged, her elbow knocked against my emerald bracelet with uncanny precision.

The bracelet snapped cleanly in two and clattered to the floor.

It was my eighteenth birthday gift from my father.

"Veronica!"

Furious, I tried to push her off me.

The moment my hand brushed against her sleeve, she suddenly clutched her stomach and screamed.

"Ah! My stomach hurts…

"Catherine, why did you push me? I know you're angry, but this baby is innocent! He's not going to come between you and Lex. Why would you try to hurt him…"

"Veronica!"

Lex's eyes turned bloodshot as he rushed over and shoved me as hard as he could.

The small of my back slammed into the sharp corner of the coffee table.

The searing pain drained every drop of color from my face.

"I didn't push her!" I yelled. "She fell on her own! And she broke my bracelet!"

"Enough!"

Lex cut me off with a furious roar, his eyes full of disgust.

"Catherine! How can you be so cruel?

"You can hate her all you want, but the baby is innocent! That child is my son—your own nephew! How could you do something like this?

"You weren't even wearing your bracelet properly, and now you're trying to blame Veronica for breaking it? It's just a cheap piece of jewelry. Who cares if it's broken?

"If anything happens to Veronica, I will never forgive you!"

With that, he scooped Veronica into his arms and rushed out the door.

My mother turned on me too.

"Catherine, how could you be so childish? Even if you resent your sister, you don't hurt your own family! How did we raise such a cold-hearted girl? I really regret adopting you in the first place."

My father helped my hysterical mother, disappointment written all over his face.

"Catherine, I know you're angry. I know you hate that Veronica took Lex from you.

"But at the end of the day, you're family. And your sister is pregnant. How could you be so spiteful?

"It's only a bracelet. If it's broken, I'll buy you another one."

His voice grew heavier.

"But you… you've really let me down."

Then he put his arm around my mother and hurried after them. The door slammed shut behind them.

I bent down and picked up the broken jade bracelet, clutching the shattered pieces tightly in my palm. Blood seeped through my fingers, but I didn't feel a thing.

That bracelet had been my coming-of-age gift from him. But in the end, I was the only one who had ever truly cherished it.

So much for family.

It was all a lie.

An adopted daughter would always be just an adopted daughter.

How could I ever compete with blood?

Veronica's perfectly staged performance turned me into the villain of the entire Luthor family.

That night, I got a text message from her with an attached photo.

In the picture, Veronica lay naked in a hotel bed, curled up against Lex's chest. She looked straight at the camera and flashed a triumphant peace sign.

Under the image was a single line:

[Catherine, Lex says you're the only one in his heart, but his body sure seems to be a lot more honest. See? He's right here next to me right now.]

The image burned my eyes.

A cold wind seemed to sweep through my chest.

Without a word, I saved the photo.

The next morning, my mother's impatient voice came from outside my door.

"Catherine, get up! Veronica and Lex are about to go wedding dress shopping. You're coming with us."

"No need. The Astor family will handle everything," I said calmly.

Veronica suddenly pushed the door open, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Catherine, are you still mad at me?

"I know you didn't mean it yesterday. Even if you won't apologize, I've already forgiven you!" she said sweetly. "I invited you dress shopping because I want us to make up and go back to how we used to be. Can't we be close sisters again?"

Go back to how we used to be?

Back to the days when I willingly gave up everything she wanted?

I had stepped aside over and over until, in the end, even my fiancé had ended up in her bed.

How pathetic.

Still unwilling to let it go, Veronica kept up her poor-me act.

"Lex and I have already set our wedding date. I really want your blessing, Sis. Please help me pick out a dress. You have such great taste!"

My mother immediately chimed in.

"Your sister's right. What grudge between sisters lasts overnight? Besides, after what happened yesterday, she didn't even hold it against you. Is helping her pick a wedding dress really that hard?

"Catherine, be reasonable, okay? I know you don't want to marry a paralyzed man, but you agreed to it in the end. What's the point of throwing a tantrum now?

"Besides, what could that cripple possibly have prepared for you? The Luthor family is marrying off a daughter—we can't let people talk. Get up right now. Let your sister help you pick out a beautiful dress too. Both of my daughters should look stunning on their wedding days.

"Enough with the nonsense. Hurry up and get dressed. Lex is already waiting downstairs."

With that, my mother yanked me out of bed.

Once I got in the car, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

I didn't open them again until the car pulled into a remote alley on the outskirts of town.

We had arrived at the bridal shop Veronica had chosen.

The moment we walked in, she pointed to a wedding dress and smiled.

"Catherine, this one suits you best. Go try it on."

Numbly, I let the sales assistant lead me into the fitting room.

I had just started changing when the curtain was suddenly ripped open.

Wearing nothing but my underwear, I was instantly exposed to everyone outside.

Lex stormed in, his face twisted with rage.

He hurled shredded pieces of wedding dress fabric right into my face.

"Catherine! You vicious woman! Can you really not stand to see anyone else happy?"

Tears streamed down Veronica's cheeks.

"Catherine, I know you liked that dress. If you wanted it, all you had to do was tell me. I would have given it to you!

"Why… why did you cut it to pieces?" she sobbed. "This fabric was the most comfortable for me in my condition. Did you really want to see me humiliate myself in ruined clothes before you'd be satisfied?"

"I didn't!"

"Oh, you didn't?" Lex sneered, his eyes full of contempt. "Catherine, how much longer are you going to keep pretending? You're obviously jealous that Veronica gets to marry me, so you stooped to something this low.

"I already told you—this arrangement is only temporary. Couldn't you be a little understanding? Instead, you pull stunts like this just to get my attention, and on top of that, you try to hurt Veronica.

"Why can't you act more mature? All you're doing is wearing down my feelings for you. I'm exhausted. Try learning something from Veronica. What's so hard about being gentle and considerate?"

Ten years of love, wasted.

So this was who he really thought I was.

Around me, the boutique employees whispered and pointed.

Their scornful stares felt like a thousand needles stabbing my nearly naked body.

I looked at Lex and laughed softly.

"Lex, so this is how you see me. There's something I forgot to tell you yesterday, but today's not too late.

"Let's break up. Lex, the biggest regret of my life is ever having met you. From now on, your road is yours and mine is mine. The only connection between us is that you're my brother-in-law."

"Oh, and one more thing. I hope you and your shameless mistress have a wonderful life together. May the two of you rot in each other's arms forever."

"Biggest regret?" Lex let out a cold laugh. "Catherine, yesterday you tried to hurt my child. Today you destroyed Veronica's wedding dress. And now you're standing here telling me you regret ever meeting me? My patience has its limits."

"And breaking up with me?" He sneered. "That's a joke. Can you even survive without me? Besides, once you marry into the Astor family, who do you think is going to save you besides me? Who else would even care about you?

"If you keep this up, don't expect me to come and get you back."

With that, he pulled the tearful Veronica into his arms and softened his tone.

"Veronica, don't cry. Someone like her isn't worth getting upset over.

"I'll take you to a better bridal shop and have a one-of-a-kind wedding dress custom made for you."

Then he wrapped his arm around Veronica and walked off, leaving me standing there disheveled and alone.

After getting dressed, I stepped out of the bridal shop and realized just how middle of nowhere the place was.

There wasn't a single taxi in sight.

I pulled out my phone and called the family driver, but no one picked up. I tried using a ride-share app several times, but the location was so remote that no drivers accepted the request.

Finally, with shaking fingers, I dialed Lex's number.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered.

His impatient voice came through the speaker.

"So, you finally realized you were wrong? Calling to apologize?"

Swallowing my pride, I said, "It's too remote out here. I can't get a ride, and my phone's almost dead. Could you… come pick me up?"

"Oh? Now you're begging me?" He let out a mocking laugh. "Right now I'm—"

A soft, sweet voice suddenly cut him off.

"Lex, are we almost at the bridal shop? I can't wait to see your face when I'm in my wedding dress."

Lex's tone immediately turned harsh.

"Catherine, stay right there and think about what you've done. Maybe it'll teach you a lesson."

The call abruptly disconnected.

A moment later, my phone buzzed.

It was a text from Lex.

[Your sister still hasn't picked out her dress. I'm taking her to another shop first. Wait at the corner. I'll come get you later.]

I walked to the corner and waited… from noon until darkness swallowed the sky.

The bridal shop had long since closed.

My phone battery slowly drained away.

Right before it died completely, I mindlessly opened my social media feed.

At the top was a post Veronica had uploaded just moments ago.

In the photo, she and Lex stood on the deck of a luxury yacht, wrapped in each other's arms.

[Thank you, my love, for taking me out to spend the night at sea. Love you.]

The screen went black.

And with it, my world seemed to sink into endless darkness.

A man's promises really meant nothing.

Going by memory alone, I started walking toward a bus stop three miles away.

As I turned into a narrow alley to take a shortcut, three drunk men suddenly blocked my path.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" one of them slurred. "A pretty little thing all by herself."

"Dressed like that and walking alone at night… Were you waiting for us boys to come take good care of you?"

I spun around and ran.

A hand shot out and grabbed me.

The next second, I was slammed hard against an icy brick wall.

"Let go of me! Help! Someone help me!"

"Go ahead and scream!" one of them laughed. "This place is a dead zone. You could yell your head off and no one would hear you.

"Truth is, someone paid good money for a recording of us having our way with you. So stop fighting it and just cooperate."

Summoning every last ounce of strength, I swung a wooden stick at them and bolted toward the mouth of the alley.

Just as I was about to escape, someone grabbed me from behind and dragged me back.

The three men closed in around me.

Rip—

My coat was torn open with brutal force.

The freezing night air immediately hit my skin.

Tears spilled uncontrollably down my face.

My vision blurred.

One of those filthy hands reached for my chest.

And then—

A low, commanding voice echoed from the entrance of the alley.

"Let her go. Or I'll cut off your hands one finger at a time…"