The appearance of the diamond ring felt like a death sentence, sealing my fate.

The banquet hall erupted in chaos, like boiling oil splashed by a drop of water. Guests rushed toward me, hurling wine and food in my direction.

“She’s a thief!”

“Don’t let her escape!”

“I knew she came with bad intentions; how dare she steal the diamond ring!”

Security guards swarmed and pinned me to the ground. My face was pressed harshly against the floor, like a fish caught on a chopping board, helpless and at their mercy.

Somehow, Arabelle’s engagement ring ended up in my bag. I looked up and caught sight of a waiter quickly slipping away. It dawned on me that he had bumped into my bag earlier. That must have been when the ring was planted.

Through the noise and confusion, Jaxon pushed through the crowd, snatched the ring from the floor, and looked at me with cold disdain.

“I thought you had truly repented. Turns out I was wrong to go soft on you.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words stuck in my throat. With the evidence so clear, any explanation would be pointless.

Jaxon grabbed my hand so tightly that red marks quickly bloomed across my skin.

"Looks like you won’t learn your lesson unless you’re taught one."

Arabelle clung to Jaxon’s arm, her voice dripping with feigned kindness as she pleaded, "Let it go, Jaxon. Maybe Liora was just jealous of me. It's fine, I don’t mind..."

"Arabelle, you’re too kind. People like her don’t deserve sympathy."

With a snap of his fingers, an assistant quickly handed over a dagger.

"You’ve always wanted to take what belongs to Arabelle, right? Without these hands, how will you take anything?"

The words echoed in my ears, but strangely, fear didn’t grip me as expected. My only thought was, how could I still marry into the Montgomery family if I lost my hands?

A bodyguard held my hands down as Jaxon slowly approached, the knife glinting ominously. Cold sweat poured down my face. I knelt, my voice trembling as I begged, "Please, don’t do this to me. Even if I haven’t done anything good, I’ve suffered enough for you. Have you forgotten what happened at the forest lodge?"

Jaxon paused, his expression faltering. In that storm at the forest lodge, I took care of his injuries for three months.

Back then, the Aldridge family was embroiled in a fierce battle for the heir position. As the youngest son, Jaxon had far less power and fewer shares than his older brother, who had already secured the Vice President role. In a carefully planned car crash, Jaxon was trapped inside the vehicle. I risked everything to pull him out. The explosion sent us flying, throwing us dozens of meters away. Jaxon hit a rock, and all feeling in his legs was lost.

To keep the incident under wraps, I carried him through the snow-laden night to a secluded villa in the forest. The roads were blocked, and there was no chance of reaching a hospital. Jaxon held his numb legs with a look of despair. In my past life, I had been a herbalist, so I decided to treat his legs myself. At dawn, I climbed the mountains to gather fresh herbs, boiled medicine through the night, and performed massages three times a day. After three months, his legs finally began to heal.

When he could walk again, Jaxon’s face lit up with hope. He promised me that once he secured his position, he would never let me down.

But instead of gratitude, I received three years in prison.

I later discovered that Arabelle had sent him a pack of medicine at that time. She, too, was involved in the medical field, and Jaxon always believed it was her medicine that had healed his legs. But I had seen that medicine was nothing more than a basic treatment for superficial wounds.

I never explained. I saved him out of pure instinct as a doctor and out of love for my fiancé. Holding onto the hope that I’d one day see Callum again, I endured each lonely night.

Jaxon clearly remembered. His hand, still gripping the knife, slowly dropped. After a long silence, he spoke, "Forget it. It's a happy day. We shouldn't shed blood."

Arabelle’s face tightened slightly, and she let out a sob. Hearing this, Jaxon added, "But for Arabelle’s sake, I can’t let you go so easily either."

"Since you tried to come between us, why don’t you kneel right here and let Arabelle and me walk over you into our happiness?"

Tears silently traced down my cheeks. Just hold on a little longer. As long as I can see Callum, I can bear any humiliation.

I nodded and whispered, "Okay."

As long as I could still marry into the Montgomery family, I would endure anything.

I knelt before Jaxon and Arabelle, bowing so low that my posture resembled that of a dog. The sight of me, humiliated beyond measure, caused the guests to burst into laughter. The shame was so overwhelming that even though my arms remained unbroken, the crowd no longer cared.

Flashes from cameras flickered relentlessly, each one capturing my degradation.

"Look at her, she’s just like a dog."

Jaxon took Arabelle’s hand, raised his foot, and stepped over me.

"From now on, don’t show your face in front of me again. Get lost."

I quietly dusted off my knees and walked out, my head heavy with humiliation.

The next day, the front page of every newspaper displayed a photo of me kneeling at the engagement banquet, with the headline:

"Aldridge Family Criminal Kneels Like a Dog at Engagement Banquet; Why?"

As I glanced at the newspaper, I was already on my way to the Montgomery estate.

Only four days remained. In those four days, I had to awaken the man in the coma and marry him.

The Montgomery family was an old, prestigious lineage.

Once one of the top families in Greenville, their power had faded when their only son became paralyzed ten years ago. Yet, their legacy and influence still lingered.

Their business still thrived, and even Jaxon seemed to flinch at the mention of the Montgomery name.

In the misty rain of Roseville, I pried open the heavy iron gate of the Montgomery Residence. The door swung open, and I smiled, hoping for a warm reception. But the moment the butler saw me, he slammed it shut.

"Disgusting. Where did this dog come from?"

Through the crack, I caught sight of the newspaper tucked under his arm. I quickly pounded on the door.

"I’m here to save your young master!"

The door creaked open again. The butler eyed me skeptically.

"You?"

Before I could answer, a familiar voice called out from inside.

"Butler Dayne, who is it?"

Five years ago, while collecting herbs for Jaxon, I had accidentally saved a woman. I kept it from him, quietly tending to her wounds until, one day, she vanished without a trace. I never saw her again.

That voice sounded like hers.

Butler Dayne seemed to leave to report something, and after a long wait, the door opened again, inviting me in.

The Montgomery estate sprawled out before me, its classical elegance filling the courtyard. I was led to a spacious tea room to wait. Not long after, I heard footsteps, the sharp click of high heels growing louder as a maid ushered someone in. As I looked up, I came face-to-face with Arabelle.

She froze, clearly startled to see me. Jaxon, too, halted in his tracks when he saw me. His expression darkened, a scowl overtaking his features as though his face had become the color of storm clouds.

"You followed me? Didn’t I say you’re not allowed to show up in front of me again?"

I quickly explained, "I’m here to see Rigel, the young master of the Montgomery family."

His expression softened slightly, though suspicion still lingered in his eyes. "Why are you looking for him?"

"I’m here to treat—"

"You came early just to beg the Montgomery family to take you in, didn’t you?" Arabelle interrupted. "But Liora, you’re just a pawn to marry into the Montgomery family in my place for luck. Do you really think they’ll treat you kindly?"

"I’m only thinking of your well-being. I’m afraid you’ll be mistreated. You should leave quickly. If you anger Mrs. Montgomery, it won’t end well."

Her voice was sickly sweet, as though she were trying to protect me out of kindness. Jaxon glanced at her with appreciation, his gaze softening.

"Arabelle, you’re so considerate."

I blinked, confused; what was Arabelle doing here?

"And what’s your reason for being here?"

The maid at Arabelle's side spoke up, "Miss Arabelle just returned from studying abroad. She’s highly skilled in medicine, so we invited her to treat our young master."

Jaxon nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. "I know Arabelle’s abilities. It was her medicine that helped me recover back then."

I turned my gaze to Arabelle, who lifted her chin, a smug glint in her eyes as she met my stare.

Arabelle clung to Jaxon’s arm like a pampered child. "Jaxon, I’m worried Liora’s presence might interfere with my treatment."

"She’s just a housewife, she doesn’t know anything."

With a wave of his hand, two bodyguards at the door stepped forward, grabbing me roughly and dragging me out.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!"

"You’d better leave. Don’t get in Arabelle’s way."

The maid sneered. "Someone like her has no right to step foot in our Montgomery estate. She’s a disgrace!"

"Stop! Let go!"

But just then, Butler Dayne burst into the tea room, panting. "Stop immediately! She’s an honored guest!"

Arabelle smiled sweetly and stepped forward. "Butler Dayne, you’re here. Please, take us inside."

But to everyone’s surprise, Butler Dayne walked right past her and came directly to me.

"Let go. All of you, let her go!"

The bodyguards released me at once. Butler Dayne bowed respectfully.

"Miss Liora, please come with me. Mrs. Montgomery wishes to see you."

The entire room fell into stunned silence.

Jaxon quickly pulled Arabelle aside and questioned, "Are you sure you’re not mistaken? This is Arabelle."

The maid hurried to add, "Yes, yes! Butler Dayne, maybe you got the names confused?"

Butler Dayne cast her a cold glance. "You’re fired. You don’t even know who the true honored guest of the Montgomery family is." Without sparing them another look, he turned and led me away.

I felt dazed. It was the first time in this world someone had shown me such dignity.

"This, how could this be possible? She’s just a housewife…" Arabelle’s stunned murmur echoed behind me.

Right in front of Jaxon and Arabelle, I followed Butler Dayne and walked out first.

We passed through a quiet covered walkway, and at its end stood a redwood door. The moment it opened, a slender figure appeared behind a gauzy curtain.

My eyes widened as I froze in place. "It’s really you?"

She smiled softly. "Miss Liora, it’s been a long time."

She stepped forward and gently took my hand. Just as I was about to respond, she suddenly dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

"Please save my son!"

Behind us, Jaxon and Arabelle stood frozen in shock, having followed and witnessed the entire scene.

Before I could say a word, Arabelle shoved me aside and stepped forward to help.

"Aunt Tessa, what are you doing? You’re actually kneeling to someone like her?"

Tessa brushed her hand away without hesitation and turned back, resolutely kneeling at my feet.

"Please, I know you can do it."

Jaxon stared at me with confusion in his eyes, as if unable to understand what kind of strength a quiet woman like me, someone only known for taking care of others, could possibly possess.

I gently helped Tessa to her feet and said, "Since I’ve agreed to marry him, he is my fiancé, and I’ll take responsibility for him."

Only by marrying him could I bring Callum back. So, I would pour everything I had into waking him, even if it meant exhausting all of my medical skills.

As my words sank in, Jaxon’s expression shifted. Then, he snapped irritably, "Stop boasting. What do you even know about saving people? Arabelle is the real doctor!"

He dragged Arabelle forward and placed her in front of Tessa.

"Mrs. Montgomery, Arabelle just returned from studying abroad. She’ll definitely be able to save Rigel.”

“She’s the one who cured my legs!"

Tessa let out a cold scoff. "She cured your legs? I don’t trust someone who turned her back on my son."

Arabelle’s face turned pale.

Jaxon quickly explained to her, "Arabelle and I have been engaged for years. We were childhood sweethearts. The engagement with Rigel was something our parents forced on us."

Tessa let out a cold laugh. "Seems like you really don’t know people at all. Whatever. It’s a good thing I have Liora now. The two of you can leave."

Still trying to defend herself, Arabelle protested, "Aunt Tessa, don’t be fooled by her. How could someone like her possibly know medicine? She’s probably bluffing. Leaving Rigel in her hands would only make things worse!"

"I know breaking off the engagement was wrong, but I’m willing to make it up by doing my best to treat him!"

But Tessa acted as if she hadn’t heard a single word and turned to the butler. "See them out."

And just like that, Jaxon and Arabelle were thrown out of the Montgomery household.

Humiliated for the first time, Arabelle exploded in fury at the gate. "What kind of shitty Montgomery family is this? They don’t even know what’s good for them!"

Jaxon stared at her as if seeing someone he no longer recognized. She used to be gentle and kind.

Realizing she’d crossed a line, Arabelle quickly clung to his arm, her voice turning sweet and pitiful.

"Jaxon, I was only worried the Montgomerys might be fooled by Liora. Don’t forget, she’s always tried to ruin what we have. Maybe she’s lying again, just to get your attention."

Jaxon seemed to consider it for a moment. "If she’s really lying, the Montgomery family will find out sooner or later. You healed my legs; I trust you, naturally."

Arabelle clung to his arm, but behind his back, her expression slowly turned cold.

Liora, you bitch. Just wait.

Not long after Jaxon returned to the villa with Arabelle, the housekeeper came rushing over.

"Young master, the madam’s illness has flared up again..."

Ella, his mother, had long suffered from pulmonary blebs. The condition often left her writhing in pain and robbed her of sleep. Hearing that his mother was in agony once more, Jaxon grabbed Arabelle and hurried upstairs.

As soon as they pushed open the door, they found Ella curled up in bed, groaning in pain.

"Mom, Arabelle’s here! Her medical skills are top-notch. She’ll help ease your pain!"

But Ella cried out in distress, "Where’s Liora? Why isn’t that girl here?"

"Mom, she’s already gone to the Montgomerys."

"That damn girl! After everything our family did for her! Good riddance! I’ve got Arabelle now, and I don’t need her to take care of me!"

Arabelle glanced at the medical record and felt a pang of guilt. Pulmonary blebs? She had never even heard of it. Still, she forced a calm smile and said, “Don’t worry, Aunt Ella. I’ll get you some medicine.”

She hurried downstairs, rummaged through her bag, and pulled out two ibuprofen tablets. Handing them to the maid, she said, “This is special medication I brought back from abroad. Give these to Aunt Ella. I have something to take care of, so I’ll leave first.”

Upstairs, Jaxon watched with relief as his mother finally drifted into sleep after taking the pills. His heart settled. Thankfully, they had Arabelle now; Liora was nothing worth remembering.

A woman who couldn’t even compare to a maid had no place standing beside someone like Arabelle.

What they didn’t realize was that Ella was allergic to ibuprofen.