On Christmas Eve, Gabriel Caldwell, my three-year boyfriend, invites me to go home with him for a nice feast and to spend the holidays together.

But before I can even get a bite, I get drugged instead.

"If I can't pay them any money at this rate, they'll chop my hand off, Evelyn! Seriously, I don't have any choices left but to deliver you to them!

"Don't blame me for this, Evelyn. Blame yourself for having such rotten luck in life by looking just like the woman of Mr. Kensington's dreams.

"By then, my debt is cleared, and you might live an extremely cushy life as a rich man's wife! Isn't this a win-win situation for us?"

While I'm still groggy from the drugs' effects, I get delivered to an extremely familiar-looking estate by Gabriel's family.

First things first, if I'm not mistaken, this must be my uncle, Sebastian Kensington's estate.

Secondly, my uncle adores his older sister—my mom—so much to the point that he's never fallen for any other woman except her in this lifetime.

And last but not least, all my dad did back then was roll his eyes at my mom once before Uncle Sebastian had him sent to a faraway continent.

Well then, I wonder who's the one that'll be cursed with rotten luck after they deliver me to my uncle's hands? Gosh, it's so hard to guess!

The sedative hadn't fully worn off. I lay slumped in the back seat, too weak to lift even a finger. Gabriel Caldwell and his parents spoke in low voices, their words muffled and hard to make out.

Gabriel and I had been together since college. Our relationship was steady, and we never had any conflicts.

Before Christmas, he looked at me with a sincere expression and said he wanted to bring me home to meet his parents and discuss our future together.

Hoping to make a good impression, I had spent several days preparing meticulously. I bought a brand-new cashmere coat, had my hair done, and brought two bottles of fine wine along with a stack of gift boxes.

But the moment I sat down and drank half a glass of water poured by Gabriel's mother, Zoe Callahan, my vision began to blur.

Gabriel looked aggrieved. "Evelyn, don't blame me. I had no choice. I owe them five million dollars. How could I ever pay that back? They'll really cut off my hands."

I tried to curse at him, but my tongue wouldn't cooperate. All I could manage was a string of garbled sounds.

He continued, "Don't be upset. Being with Mr. Kensington isn't a bad thing. You're his type. You'll be living in luxury with him. Isn't that better than staying with me? I'm doing this for both of us. It's a win-win, you know?"

A win-win? What a joke.

The car sped through the darkness as the scenery blurred past the window. I struggled to focus, trying to figure out where we were heading.

The car gradually slowed and finally stopped in front of a massive iron gate etched with intricate patterns. This place, this gate, this estate… it couldn't be.

My heart jolted, and my foggy mind instantly cleared a little.

Gabriel and Zoe hauled me out of the car, one on each side, dragging me across the front courtyard of the estate. My cashmere coat was pulled askew, and my high heels were long gone.

Two men stood at the entrance, their backs straight and their faces blank as they watched us approach.

Gabriel's father, Benjamin Caldwell, leaned forward and gave them a flattering smile.

He said, "Gentlemen, please let Mr. Kensington know that we really couldn't come up with the money, so we found a new way to settle the debt. We've brought him a Christmas gift. He'll definitely like it."

One of the men shone a flashlight on my face, making me squint. His voice was flat. "You mean this woman?"

Zoe quickly chimed in, grabbing my chin and forcing my face up. "Yes. She's my son's girlfriend. Look at her—doesn't she resemble the woman Mr. Kensington visits at the cemetery every year? We asked around and found that out.

"Plus, she studied dance, so she's very flexible. She'll definitely know how to please a man in bed."

My stomach churned.

The man stayed silent for a few seconds, then gestured to the person beside him. "Go inform Mr. Kensington."

He turned back to us. "Whether this works out isn't up to me. Come inside and wait."

Gabriel immediately nodded and lowered his head. "Thank you very much!"

Then they led me toward the main building.

When they dragged me into the reception room on the first floor, my legs were too weak to stand, and I collapsed onto the cold floor.

"Mr. Kensington is meeting someone. Wait here."

With that, the man left.

Once the door closed, Gabriel crouched in front of me, his face a mix of anxiety and calculation. "Evelyn, please help me, just this once."

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "When Mr. Kensington gets here, tell him you came willingly. Please, I'm begging you. I won't look down on you for this. I'll treat you well from now on!"

I stared at him, unable to make a sound.

Zoe moved closer, her nails nearly digging into my arm. "Say something. If the Caldwell family goes under, you're not going to have it easy either. Gabriel is your boyfriend, so you should help him!"

"Mom, don't scare her."

Gabriel pretended to calm her down, then turned back to me and softened his tone. "Evelyn, I know you're angry, but I truly have no way out. I owe them five million dollars… They'll kill me."

The sedative slowly wore off. Sensation returned to my limbs, and I could move the tip of my tongue.

I took a deep breath and forced out a few hoarse words. "Get lost… I won't help you."

Gabriel's expression darkened instantly. "What did you say?"

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back, forcing me to look up at him. "Evelyn Harper, you'd better think carefully before you speak."

Sharp pain shot through my scalp, but I clenched my jaw. "I said I won't help you. What you're doing is illegal. I'm going to call the police."

A loud crack rang out as Gabriel slapped me hard across the face.

My vision went dark, my ears rang, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Gabriel gritted his teeth. "Don't push your luck! Who do you think you are? You're just a dancer. You should be grateful that you get to pay off my debt!"

Zoe kicked me. "Exactly. Stop acting like you're better than us. You should feel honored that my son even took an interest in you."

Benjamin spoke up from the side. "Don't hit her face. If you ruin it, it's over for us."

Only then did Gabriel let go. I lay face down on the cold floor, gasping for air.

He crouched and grabbed my chin. "Evelyn, I'm asking you one last time—are you going to cooperate or not?"

I stared at him and said slowly, "Not a chance."

Gabriel sneered and stood up, walking toward me. "Fine. You're a dancer, aren't you? You want to fulfill your mom's wish, don't you?"

He lifted his foot and brought it down hard on my shin. A sharp pain shot through me, and I cried out.

He ground his foot into it. "If your leg breaks, you'll never dance again. I heard that your mom's biggest wish before she died was to see you perform on an international stage. What a shame—"

Fear surged through me in an instant.

Mom had been one of the top dancers in the country, but she had passed away at the height of her career due to her illness. I had trained hard in dance since childhood, hoping to carry on her legacy.

My voice began to shake. "No… please don't hurt my leg."

Zoe scoffed. "Are you scared now? You were acting so tough a moment ago."

Gabriel raised his foot and crouched back down. "Then do as I say and impress him when you meet him later. As long as you pay off my debt, I'll still marry you. Things can go back to the way they were."

I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my face before I could stop them.

Zoe nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. Go clean her up. She's a mess. She can't meet anyone looking like that."

Gabriel hauled me roughly off the floor and dragged me toward the bathroom attached to the reception room.

I tried to pull away. "I can do it myself."

He pushed me into the bathroom. "Shut up. Your makeup is smeared all over. You look like a mess."

He grabbed me by the hair and shoved my face under the faucet. The cold water made me shiver violently, washing away my makeup in a messy blur.

Gabriel picked up the hand soap from the sink and smeared it directly onto my face.

I choked and coughed. "Stop!"

"Scrub your face clean so Mr. Kensington can inspect it later," he ordered. "You look so much like her. That's why I went after you back then; your face resembles Mr. Kensington's woman."

My heart sank completely. So that was it. Our three-year relationship had been nothing but a scheme from the start.

Gabriel rinsed the soap off and roughly dried my face with a towel. Then he started tearing at my clothes.

I threw my arms over my chest in panic. "What are you doing?"

He answered, "Your outfit is too conservative. You need something sexier."

He pulled a low-cut black dress from the bag he had brought. "Put this on."

"I won't!" I shouted.

Gabriel's gaze turned cold. "You won't? Then don't blame me for doing it myself."

He wrenched the buttons of my cashmere coat open. I screamed and fought back, but he struck me across the face.

"Stay still!" he snapped.

A knock suddenly sounded on the bathroom door.

Zoe's voice came from outside. "Gabriel, hurry up! Mr. Kensington's people are coming over."

Gabriel paused and glared at me fiercely. "You're lucky."

He dragged me out of the bathroom and shoved me back down onto the carpet in the reception room.

The door opened, and several men in black suits walked in. The man at the front was in his early 30s, a scar cutting across his face, his gaze icy.

The scarred man glanced at me. "Mr. Kensington will be here shortly. Have you cleaned her up?"

Benjamin quickly put on a flattering smile. "Yes, she's all cleaned up, Mr. Donovan. Take a look—doesn't she look just like Mr. Kensington's woman?"

The man they called Mr. Donovan stepped closer and crouched down, studying my face carefully.

My heart raced. Was this Mason Donovan, the new subordinate of my uncle, Sebastian Kensington?

Uncle Sebastian had only mentioned him once. He said Mason had only been with him for about six months, ruthless in getting things done but still not familiar with our family's affairs.

It was over. He had no idea who I was.

Mason stared at my face for half a minute. His expression shifted from scrutiny to something unreadable. "She looks so much like her."

He reached out and brushed his rough fingers across my cheek. "She looks exactly like the woman in the photo."

My whole body went rigid, and I struggled to make a sound. "Are you Mason Donovan? I'm—"

A sharp smack rang out as Mason slapped me across the face, harder than Gabriel had.

My head snapped to the side, and blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

Mason grabbed my hair and yanked my head back, forcing me to look at him. "Who told you my name? You're here to pay off a debt. You've got some nerve trying to act like you know me."

I said, "No, I really am—"

He clamped his hand around my throat. "Shut up! Say another word, and I'll rip your tongue out."

The pressure crushed my windpipe. I clawed frantically at his hand, but it was useless.

Gabriel and his family stood off to the side, not daring to make a sound. They looked at Mason with ingratiating smiles.

Benjamin spoke tentatively. "Mr. Donovan, about Mr. Kensington…"

Mason let go of me and stood up. "Mr. Kensington is upstairs handling business. He sent me to check first. But this woman doesn't seem very obedient."

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. Then he crouched and flicked the ash onto my face. "You're lucky you look like the woman Mr. Kensington likes, but don't think that gives you a free pass to do whatever you want."

He grabbed my chin. "Mr. Kensington hates it when people try to use those close to him as leverage. You'd better know your place."

I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face. "I really am… I'm Sebastian Kensington's niece. Please believe me—"

Mason flew into a rage and kicked me in the stomach. "How dare you keep spouting nonsense!"

I curled up in pain, my stomach twisting in agony.

Mason sneered. "Do you think I don't know if Mr. Kensington has siblings? He doesn't have a niece. You'll really make up any lie just to climb the social ladder."

He gestured to his men. "Bring me the liquor."

One of them immediately handed him a bottle of vodka.

Mason twisted off the cap, grabbed my chin, and poured it straight into my mouth.

The strong liquor burned down my throat, and I choked until my face turned red. The liquid spilled from the corners of my mouth down my neck and clothes.

Mason's face twisted with cruelty. "Finish it! If you dare spit it out when Mr. Kensington gets here, I'll throw you into the underground club and let every man there take turns with you!"

After forcing more than half the bottle down my throat, Mason finally let go. I lay face down on the floor, retching, my throat burning. My vocal cords felt like they had been torn, and I could barely make a sound.

Gabriel sounded uneasy. "Mr. Donovan, if she can't speak when Mr. Kensington arrives—"

Mason glanced at him. "Even better. That saves us from having to listen to her nonsense."

He crouched back down and grabbed my right hand. "Your fingers look nice."

I looked at him in terror.

He smiled wickedly. "What a shame."

Without warning, he bent one of my fingers back until it snapped with a sickening crack.

My shrill scream echoed through the room. My index finger bent at a strange angle, and the intense pain made my vision go dark.

"That's just one," Mason said casually. "If you don't behave, I'll break all ten."

My whole body shook from the pain, and my face was covered in tears and snot.

A subordinate at the door suddenly announced, "Mr. Kensington is here!"

Mason immediately stood up, straightened his suit, and put on a respectful expression. Gabriel and his family quickly lined up, lowering their heads, not daring to look around.

The door opened, and a tall figure walked in. He wore a black coat, his features sharp and stern, with an air that kept everyone at a distance.

That was my uncle, Sebastian Kensington.

He glanced across the room and immediately frowned. "What's going on here? Why is this place a mess?"

Mason hurried forward. "Mr. Kensington, these people are here to settle a debt. They brought a woman—"

Uncle Sebastian's voice was cold. "I've said before—don't bring just anyone here. Get rid of them."

With that, he turned to leave.

"No! Don't go!" I thought.

I used every bit of strength I had left to get up, but my legs buckled, and I collapsed on the floor again. I couldn't make a sound.

Uncle Sebastian didn't slow down.

Desperate, I tore the necklace Mom had left me from my neck. Using my left hand—the only one that still worked—I hurled it toward his feet.

The metal hit the marble floor with a sharp, clear sound.

Uncle Sebastian stopped. He looked down, his gaze moving from the necklace on the floor to my tear-streaked and bruised face. His pupils instantly constricted.