"You certainly have a way with words. It’s a shame you're not pursuing acting, Anne."

“Lucas, get her out of here. I’m done wasting my breath," I said with a cold, detached voice. My eyes brimmed with contempt toward her. Lucas said nothing because he knew I would never forgive her.

But Anne couldn’t stay still. She dropped her pitiful act, her face twisting with fury. “Nova, who do you think you are? You don’t get to humiliate me in front of Lucas! If it weren't for him asking me here, I wouldn’t step foot in this cursed place!”

“And if you don’t want me lighting candles, then fine—let’s end the whole charade!”

Then Anne lifted the urn and smashed it to the ground with a cold, triumphant smile.

Crash!

The moment the urn fell to the ground, my heart seemed to stop as I stood frozen in place.

"No!"

By the time I reacted, the urn had already shattered into pieces. The crowd was in uproar.

Sunlight streamed through the attic window, scattering ashes through the air. I rushed forward recklessly, cupping the remaining ashes in my hands, desperate to hold onto the last vestiges of my father's warmth, yet I was utterly powerless.

Kneeling on the floor, I buried my face in my hands and wept.  Meanwhile, Anne seemed happy. She thoroughly wrecked the meticulously decorated hall, smashing the offerings and tossing the bouquets. The place became a complete mess and yet she strode away gracefully.

“So, what if your father’s dead? No one will ever stand up for you," she said as she left.

With a complex look on his face, Lucas patted my shoulder and coaxed me, "Nova, you shouldn’t have spoken to Anne like that. You know how easily she gets upset. But don’t worry—I’ll take care of the funeral properly for you."

After I had gathered my father's remaining ashes, I brushed coldly past him. "That won't be necessary."

I looked at him with an icy gaze, my body was too drained of strength. I had no energy left for arguments.

Since Lucas had never heard me refuse him before, he was stunned, unable to process it.

“That’s what you call taking care of my sister?” My brother, who had witnessed everything from the side, finally spoke with restrained rage as he stepped forward.

After he placed the urn that he had already prepared, only he and Lucas remained in the room.

"Malcom, when did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me, so Nova and I could’ve welcomed you properly?” Lucas said with a fawning look.

Malcom Bright was not just my brother, but was also Lucas's major business partner.

But Lucas did not care for small talk and cut to the point. "I know everything about Father and Mother. Let me make this clear to you … whatever you did to Nova, I will repay you a hundredfold!”

Lucas tried to explain, but Malcom shot him a look of disgust and walked away

.

My brother’s car was filled with my favorite jasmine-scented perfume. Breathing in its gentle floral fragrance, my heart finally settled.

“Have you decided about what I had told you?” My brother looked worried when he noticed the wound on my hand.

I nodded. Though the funeral had ended abruptly, it was time to leave.

My brother took me home but waited outside. As I was ready to enter and pack my things, I heard cheers from outside. The house was buzzing with activity.

Then Anne's voice rang out, loud and clear. "Nova has always been good at using moral blackmail. What does the death of her parents have to do with Lucas? And yet she's still dead set on marrying him!”

“It's a good thing that her father died. It saved me a lot of trouble. Last time I had to pull out her mother's IV tube—what a hassle.”

Anne’s words cut into me like a dull knife and my eyes widened in horror. So, my mother’s death wasn’t an accident at all. Her cruelty went far beyond anything I’d ever imagined.

“If Nova dares obstruct me again, I won't spare her brother either.”

Her breath hung around me like a demon's whisper, choking the air from my lungs. Her arrogant, vicious words looped endlessly in my ears as my mental defenses crumbled.

Impulsively, I kicked open the door, determined to demand answers.

The room fell silent. Furious, I lunged forward and slapped Anne across the face, only to be stopped by the burly man beside her. “Do you still want to hit me?” she sneered.

After she clapped her hands, her friends surged forward and beat me mercilessly. The louder the music blared, the harder I was hit.

When the music finally stopped, I was dragged in front of Anne, who was smoking an expensive cigar. Amidst puffs of smoke, she pressed the burning tip into my palm. I screamed in agony, but she clamped my mouth shut. “Your parents are already dead. Keep crossing me and I’ll make sure your death is uglier than theirs.”

My eyes burned with hatred. “You'll pay for this!”

Anne laughed. “Oh, really? Then we'll see who pays the price!”

Then the music started again and I endured another round of inhuman torture. My arms were slashed and not a single inch of skin on my body remained intact.

Resentment and hatred churned in my chest as I struggled desperately, but I was knocked unconscious from exhaustion.

Anne tossed me into the basement and left through the back door with her friends. Meanwhile, outside, my brother kept checking his watch and sending me messages, but he did not receive any response.

Little did he know my phone had been smashed to pieces by those people. Unable to wait any longer, he kicked the door open. Seeing the bloodstains everywhere, he grew uneasy. He searched the entire house but found no trace of me.

His rage finally erupted when his eyes landed on the wedding portrait of Lucas and Anne hanging in the living room. In that moment, he understood everything.

Malcom for hours before finally finding me locked in the basement. He noticed my clothes and bedding piled in one corner, while I was covered in injuries, too weak to speak.

"I’ll get justice for you!” As he fought back his tears, he secretly rescued me and arranged for me to be taken to a private hospital under his company's name.

Seeing the dire medical result, the attending physician could only sigh.

After learning everything, Malcom stared at my unconscious form and broke down. He buried his face in his hands and wept because his beloved sister had endured such inhuman torment.

"Mr. Bright, are you sure about cancelling the partnership with the Dubois Corporation? The contract is ready to sign.”

“Not just cancel it,” Malcom growled. “Take all companies that work with him. He and I are now sworn enemies.”

Then he slammed the phone.

The moment Lucas stepped into the house, he noticed bloodstains on the floor. A second later, Anne appeared. Clutching her wound and with a hurt expression on her face, she claimed that I had beaten her.

“Lucas, maybe I should just leave,” she said, shedding guilt-ridden tears. “I don’t want you and Nova to fight because of me anymore.”

Lucas felt something was off. He could not believe I was that cruel. While bandaging Anne’s wounds, his phone suddenly rang.

He was so confused that the once harmonious partnership had abruptly turned into a rival. Then he suddenly remembered the word that Malcom had said the day before. Instantly, a chill ran down his spine and cold sweat broke out on his back.

Malcom's company was far larger than his. Knowing this, Lucas panicked and tried to call me, but no one answered.

Meanwhile, seeing Anne crying made him frustrated, so he said, “Nova has had it so hard. She never got to enjoy any happiness while being with me. Tomorrow, you must apologize to her.”

Though Anne was unwilling, Lucas’s rare sternness left her no choice but to agree.

After passing out for a night, I finally woke up. But when I learned the truth about my parents’ deaths, I felt utterly hopeless and my eyes drained of hope.

I noticed the dark circles under my brother's eyes—no doubt he hadn't slept well because of me.

"You're finally awake! It's all my fault for failing to protect you.” My brother clasped my hand tightly, seeing my awakening as nothing short of a miracle.

“Malcom, let's go. I need some peace and quiet.” Though my body hadn't fully recovered, I'd grown weary of this city.

He nodded. But on the way to the airport, our car suddenly stopped in front of Lucas’s house. "Before we leave, there are some things that we need to settle.”

With a solemn look, he knocked on the door. In his hand, he was holding an agreement he had prepared.

Lucas, assuming Malcom was there to discuss business, brewed some coffee and waited for him to sit down. Behind him, Anne was far from welcoming these uninvited guests.

"Forget it. What I brought isn't a cooperation agreement.” Malcom slammed the document onto the floor.

Lucas picked it up and read it. “A medical injury report? What’s the meaning of this?”

Malcom chuckled lightly. “Your dear sister hit someone and you expect to get away with it?”

Lucas instinctively tried to defend Anne, even though he did not understand the situation. Malcom cut him off with a commanding and cold voice, "I've told you, I'll pay you back a hundredfold. This … is just the beginning."

Then he turned to leave. Only when Lucas opened the door did he notice me standing outside. My body was wrapped in bandages and my gaze was empty.

He tried to chase after us, but Anne blocked his way. Desperate, he shoved her aside and burst out the door.

But all he could see was Malcom and me speeding away. He tried to call me, only to find I’d already blocked him.

His grip tightened around the papers in his hand—until one loose sheet slipped out. His eyes fell on the bold black title at the top.

"Termination of Engagement Agreement."