A month before the wedding, Brittney Grant's fiancé, Bryce Joseph, cheated on her with a woman whose father had once nearly sexually assaulted her.

Devastated, Brittney insisted on sending her away.

But the mistress, Leanna Golden, cried out in anguish, “That was something my father did! Why should I be blamed for it?!”

That very night, both Leanna and Brittney were kidnapped by Bryce's arch-rival. Without hesitation, he chose to rescue Leanna.

On the first day, while Brittney had ten fingernails ripped out by the arch-rival, Bryce booked Warrington City's largest revolving restaurant to celebrate Leanna's birthday.

On the second day, Brittney was locked in a gladiatorial cage, fighting for her life, covered in blood, but Bryce chose to accompany Leanna to a concert.

On the third day, when Brittney thought she could finally leave, it was Leanna's father who came to pick her up. The old man stared at her with lecherous eyes.

Terrified, Brittney called Bryce, but the line remained busy.

After countless attempts, he finally answered. Yet the voice on the other end was a woman's seductive whisper, “Bryce, you didn't wear protection last night.”

Bryce shrugged indifferently, “No big deal. If you are pregnant, I’ll be responsible and raise our baby.”

“But… will your fiancée agree to that?”

Bryce's voice turned icy and oppressive, “If she doesn't want to, then there's no need for this marriage at all!”

Brittney felt as if she'd fallen into an ice cave. Only one thought occupied her mind, ‘I must call off the engagement, leave Bryce completely and never see him again!’

After hanging up, Brittney trembled as she dialed her uncle's number, “Uncle, I'll marry that Warrington City elite, but I have three conditions.”

“First, we must sign a prenuptial agreement, whoever cheats after marriage leaves with nothing!”

“Second, I demand he acquire the Joseph Group and present it to me as a wedding gift!”

“Third, seven days from now, he must propose to me in front of all of Warrington City using ninety-nine helicopters!”

——

One month before the wedding, Brittney resolved to call off the engagement.

She trembled as she dialed her uncle's number, “Uncle, I'll marry that Warrington City elite, but I have three conditions.”

“First, we must sign a prenuptial agreement, whoever cheats after marriage leaves with nothing!”

“Second, I demand he acquire the Joseph Group and present it to me as a wedding gift!”

“Third, seven days from now, he must propose to me in front of all of Warrington City using ninety-nine helicopters!”

Her uncle was overjoyed and immediately agreed, saying, “Rest assured, he can definitely meet these three conditions. But why did you suddenly change your mind?”

A mocking smile tugged at Brittney's lips.

A month earlier, Bryce had brought home a female college student. The girl's father was the man who had nearly sexually assaulted Brittney when she was a child.

Brittney, devastated, tried to send her away.

But the young girl cried out in anguish, “That was something my father did! Why should I be blamed for it?”

The girl turned and left Joseph's residence.

That very night, both Leanna and Brittney were kidnapped by Bryce's arch-rival. Without hesitation, he chose to rescue Leanna.

On the first day, while Brittney had ten fingernails ripped out by the arch-rival, Bryce booked Warrington City's largest revolving restaurant to celebrate Leanna's birthday.

On the second day, Brittney was locked in a gladiatorial cage, fighting for her life, covered in blood, but Bryce chose to accompany Leanna to a concert.

On the third day, when Brittney thought she could finally leave, it was Leanna's father who came to pick her up. The old man stared at her with lecherous eyes.

Terrified, Brittney called Bryce, but the line remained busy.

Only on the 99th attempt did he finally answer. Yet the voice on the other end was a woman's seductive whisper, “Bryce, you didn't wear protection last night.”

Bryce shrugged indifferently, “No big deal. If you are pregnant, I’ll be responsible and raise our baby.”

“But… will your fiancée agree to that?”

Bryce's voice turned icy and oppressive, “If she doesn't want to, then there's no need for this marriage at all!”

Hearing his words, Brittney felt as if she'd fallen into an ice cave.

She couldn't fathom how the man who once tenderly rubbed her stomach during her period had transformed into this person.

Just as Leanna's father prepared to pull down his pants and thrust himself inside, Brittney grabbed an iron bar nearby and struck him viciously on the head.

In the end, Brittney escaped barefoot, walking all night long.

The memories were too bitter and too painful to remember. 

But she refused to dwell on them and replied with red eyes, “I've come to terms with it. I can see things clearly now.”

Her uncle seemed to understand something, so he didn't press further, only said, “Okay then.”

“But Brittney, remember this, you are the eldest daughter of the Grant Family. Even without a man, you can live well.”

“No matter what injustice you face, remember to tell me, get it?”

Brittney gave a soft, reassuring nod.

If her uncle had not reminded her, she would have almost forgotten that she was the eldest daughter of the Grant Family.

Having been orphaned at a young age, Brittney lived with her uncle until his family relocated to the capital.

Stubbornly clinging to her roots, she couldn't bear to leave Warrington City and remained there alone.

Brittney met Bryce in college. Back then, he was a penniless young man, selling blood monthly to fund his mother's medical treatment.

His devotion to his mother touched her heart. So, Brittney secretly supported him, posing as a benefactor.

Having lost her own mother, Brittney treated Bryce's mother as her own, caring for her in every way.

In their graduation year, Bryce declared he'd had enough of poverty. Brittney then used the dowry her parents had saved for her to help him start a business.

During their leanest days, Bryce could only afford one cup of instant noodles per day. Yet he would give the noodles to Brittney and drink only the broth himself.

He once promised her, “Brittney, when I make it big, I'll give you the life you deserve.” 

Brittney believed she had found true love, even rejecting a marriage prospect her uncle had arranged for her.

Yet just a month ago, Bryce not only cheated on her, but with the daughter of a man who had once nearly assaulted her.

Before she could fully process her grief, a maid rushed in and said, “Miss Brittney! Miss Leanna said your mother's bracelet is beautiful and took it.”

Brittney's face paled in shock.

To support Bryce's business venture, she had sold everything she could. This bracelet was the only heirloom her mother had left her.

She stormed into the bedroom, pointing at her coldly, “Put that bracelet down!”

Leanna refused, looking down on her haughtily, “Bryce said there's nothing in this house I can't touch.”

“It's just a bracelet. What's the big deal if I take it?”

And even if I break it, Bryce won't say anything against me.”

With that, Leanna raised her hand, ready to carry out her threat.

Brittney shouted a warning, “Leanna, if you dare break that bracelet, I'll chop off your hand!”

Suddenly, Bryce appeared behind Brittney, gripping her wrist tightly. His voice was cold and menacing, “If you dare touch her, I'll chop off your hand first!”

Back then, when Brittney was nearly assaulted, it was him who saved her.

Back then, he had gripped Leanna's father's wrist tightly and threatened, “Get lost! If you touch Brittney again, I'll chop off your hand.”

Now, times had changed, but the words remained the same—only the person he protected was different.

Brittney glared furiously at them. “Bryce, this is the only thing my mother left me!”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

But the next second, Leanna deliberately let her hand slip. The bracelet fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Before Brittney could speak, Leanna clung to Bryce's arm and began to whimper, "Bryce, I didn't mean to!”

“It's just that the bracelet… it's so fragile. Why did it break just from falling?”

Bryce's expression hardened slightly, yet he still sided with Leanna.

'It's just an inanimate object. If it's broken, it's broken. You know she didn't mean to, right, Britt?”

Bryce's sense of loyalty was warped. 

Brittney bit her lip tightly and demanded, “Bryce, she's in her twenties. How can she not even hold a bracelet steady? Are you a fool?”

Hearing this, Leanna felt even more wronged. Her eyes reddened and glistened as she pulled a wallet from Bryce's pocket and flung the cash inside one bill after another onto the woman's face.

“It's just a bracelet. I'll compensate you.”

“Is this enough money?”

“Brittney, your mother has been dead for so many years and I never once complained that the bracelet brought bad luck. You shouldn't be so petty.”

Brittney's face flushed crimson with rage. She turned and backhanded her across the face.

'If you dare speak ill of my mother again, I'll tear your mouth apart!'

Bryce and Leanna both froze.

The woman's tears burst forth instantly, her sobbing breaking Bryce's heart.

Without considering right or wrong, the man pointed at Brittney and demanded, “Apologize to Leanna!”

Brittney, her pride unbroken, lifted her chin. “Do you think a mistress like her deserves my apology?”

“Bryce, if you're willing to associate with someone like this, you must be starving—desperate enough to eat anything.”

Instantly, Bryce's expression darkened. He raised his hand, ready to strike her.

Brittney didn't flinch. She only stared at him coldly, “Go ahead and hit me!” 

“If you dare to strike me, I'll hold a press conference tomorrow and tell everyone in Warrington City how you treat people like donkeys once the work is done.”

She smirked before adding, “I guarantee the Joseph Group's stock will plummet!”

Brittney's tone was so cold and ruthless that Bryce's hand froze mid-air.

Seeing Bryce hesitate, Brittney stepped forward and slapped Leanna across the face, her voice icy, “That first slap was for smashing my mother's belongings. This one is for your shameless, treacherous betrayal!”

After delivering her punishment, Brittney knelt down, carefully gathering the shards of the broken bracelet to take back.

That very evening, Bryce's mother called to berate her.

“Brittney, how dare you hit my son?! Don't forget who provides you with your life of luxury.”

“Come to Joseph's residence immediately and kneel to apologise. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!”

Listening to Mrs. Joseph's powerful voice, Brittney sneered coldly, “Auntie, you shouldn't forget who funded Bryce's startup.”

“When you nearly died from illness back home, who tirelessly cared for you and even paid for your treatment out of pocket?”

“One shouldn't forget their roots, understand?!”

Joseph's mother was rendered speechless by the retort, finally threatening coldly, “Fine. Since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for being ruthless.”

Brittney couldn't be bothered and hung up immediately.

In just one week, she would marry Bryce—and it was also the day Darrell Rollins would come to pick her up.

Moments after ending the call, a friend request popped up in her social media. It was Darrell Rollins!

As soon as Brittney accepted, the man transferred funds, [1.314 billion USD]

Immediately after, another message arrived, [This is the betrothal gift.]

[The acquisition of Joseph Group is underway. Once completed, it will be transferred to your name.]

Brittney was taken aback—she hadn’t expected Darrell to move so swiftly.

But then again, it made sense. 

Given the influence of the Rollins Family in both legitimate and underworld circles, acquiring the Joseph Group was a walk in the park for him.

[Alright, thank you. See you in seven days.] Brittney replied.

She turned off her phone and gazed out the window at the endless starry sky, a smile playing on her lips.

Seven days—just seven days of patience, and her new fiancé would come to take her away from here.

When that time came, she would publicly declare her engagement to Bryce null and void—and leave him once and for all!

The next day, Brittney was woken up abruptly by a flurry of phone calls.

It turned out she was being cyberbullied.

A video of her slapping Leanna at home had been edited and posted online.

Leanna also posted a photo on Instagram showing her face badly swollen and her eyes puffy from crying. She looked so pitiful that anyone would feel heartbroken. 

She posted this alongside a letter diagnosing her with depression.

Bryce had commented beneath it, [Don't worry, I'm here. I'll always be by your side.]

Instantly, all the public outrage descended upon Brittney.

Netizens even tracked down her former home, scrawling “Murderer” on her door.

Even her parents' graves were dug up, with comments below stating, “If they can produce a daughter as vicious as Brittney, they can't be a good people.”

“Exactly. Let's all go dig up her parents' graves.”

These people even started live-streaming, smashing Brittney's parents' tombstones piece by piece before digging up the graves.

Brittney immediately called Bryce, but the man only replied casually, “You slapped Leanna twice. Her retaliation is only fair.”

“Or issue a public apology to Leanna—a national apology. Then I'll handle your parents' situation.”

His attitude was worlds apart from before. Brittney's heart ached so fiercely until she could barely breathe.

After a long pause, she forced back her tears and said, “Bryce, you're ruthless. If she dared be a mistress, she deserves to be nailed to the wall of shame.”

With that, Brittney hung up the phone.

On the other end, Bryce was visibly stunned. He hadn't expected Brittney to confront him head-on like this.

But he dismissed it. She was just a woman without power or influence—what kind of trouble could she possibly cause?

Meanwhile, after ending the call, Brittney immediately reported the incident to the police.

Soon, the police tracked down and arrested the group through the livestream.

But the next morning, Bryce stormed home, yanking Brittney out of bed.

He unleashed a torrent of abuse, roared, “Brittney, are you satisfied now? How dare you call the cops and have Leanna's been taken to the station.”

“You better pray Leanna is fine, or I won't let you off the hook!”

“If you still want our wedding to proceed as scheduled in six days, go write that letter of forgiveness immediately.”

With that, he placed a pre-printed letter of forgiveness in front of Brittney, waiting for her signature.

After Bryce finished speaking, Brittney stared at him calmly and sneered, “Bryce, are you blind or just heartless?”

“Leanna was the one who knew she was the third wheel yet played the part. She was the one who cyberbullied me, leaving my parents restless even in death.”

“I only made her face the consequences she deserved. There's no way I'm signing this letter of forgiveness.”

“And tell her this, if she's going to fake depression, she should at least make it convincing. That piece of paper doesn't even have a hospital stamp. Who does she think she's fooling?”

Brittney's defiance enraged Bryce completely. He pulled out his phone and held it before her.

“Brittney, my patience is running thin. If you keep this up, my men will scatter your parents' ashes.”

On the video feed, Bryce's men stood on a cruise ship overlooking the endless ocean. With a single release, the urns would plummet into the depths.

The unyielding Brittney instantly broke down in tears and begged, “Bryce, have you forgotten how you once knelt before them, calling them father and mother, promising to protect me forever? What are you doing now?!”

Bryce remained aloof. “Brittney, I kept my promise by giving you the position of Mrs. Joseph. But I fell uncontrollably in love with Leanna. I must protect her.”

Brittney was on the verge of emotional collapse.

Bryce knew full well what the Golden Family had done to her.

Back then, when Leanna tried to seduce him, he had publicly humiliated her in front of the entire school, “Leanna, I have a girlfriend. Stop these cheap tricks. They disgust me.”

Only a few years had passed, yet his heart had changed so swiftly.

He pressed relentlessly, “Brittney, my patience is running thin.”

Just as the urn was about to fall, Brittney finally relented, “Fine, I'll sign.”

Bryce, holding the signed statement of forgiveness, beamed like a child. He tossed his phone aside and hurried off to the police station.

Brittney grabbed the phone, urging them to stop. But suddenly, a figure appeared on the video call—Leanna’s father.

That man shoved the urn into the boundless sea, grinning lecherously, “Last time you hit me with a stick. This time I push your parents' ashes into the ocean. That’s only fair enough, understand?!”

Brittney watched helplessly as her parents' ashes sank into the sea.

Overwhelmed, she screamed, “Ludwig, I will never let you off the hook!”

Agony tore Brittney apart, yet the vast villa stood empty, no one came to her aid.

That night, she knelt by the sea for the entire night. She vowed to her parents she would avenge them.

As dawn broke, Brittney called her uncle in the distant capital. “Uncle, I would like to reclaim the plot of land that I previously asked you to give to Bryce for use as the Joseph Family's burial ground.”

Her uncle's voice grew solemn, “Brittney, are you certain? I heard the Joseph Family has already begun relocating the graves. Isn't it rather awkward to suddenly reclaim it now?”

But Brittney was unusually resolute, “It's not awkward at all. I’m going to reclaim it now.”

Unaware of the events unfolding in Warrington, yet deeply devoted to Brittney, her uncle replied, “Very well, as you wish. I only gave him that land in the first place because of you.”

Though the Joseph Family was impoverished, they were swarmed by arrogant, destitute relatives.

Now that Bryce had amassed wealth, every member of the Joseph clan fawned over him, elevating him to the position of family patriarch.

They even aspired to emulate the wealthy by relocating graves, intending to move all the rural tombs of their deceased forebears into the city.

The Joseph Family, with their eyes fixed on the highest, set their sights on the finest cemetery plot in Warrington.

Bryce’s status alone wouldn’t have secured it, but Brittney, sparing his face, gifted it in her uncle’s name.

Now, after Bryce had angered her by throwing her parents' urns and leaving them in peace, the Joseph Family's graves would find no rest either.

Coincidentally, the day the Joseph Family relocated their graves was the same day as their wedding.

Having arranged all this, Brittney had just returned home when she saw Leanna wearing her clothes in the living room.

She deliberately taunted, “I told you before, Bryce is mine. You shouldn't have fought me for him.”

'And look what happened — you made your parents suffer even after their death.'

Suddenly, Brittney's blood ran cold. So, Leanna had orchestrated all of this.

“Leanna, you're asking for death!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Bryce emerged from behind her, unleashing a torrent of scolding without asking for explanations, “Brittney, you dare bully Leanna again, huh?!”

Leanna immediately burrowed into the man's embrace, her eyes brimming with tears. “Bryce, I'm so scared.” 

“If Britt dares treat me like this when you are home, what would happen to me when you weren't here?”

The man shielded her, promising, “Rest assured. With me here, no one can hurt you. If anyone causes you even a fraction of pain, I'll make them suffer tenfold.”

Bryce was issuing a warning to Brittney, backing Leanna.

Brittney no longer felt heartache over this—it simply wasn't worth it.

After issuing his threat, Bryce added, “The grave relocation is in five days. Contact them again to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

“Brittney, this is a minor matter. Don't mess it up and disappoint me.”

A wave of bitter sorrow washed over Brittney.

Even he himself couldn't accomplish what she had done, yet in this man's mouth, it was merely a ‘minor matter.’

Before, Brittney always felt she hadn't done enough. But now she understood. She had done too much, causing Bryce to lose all sense of right and wrong.

After giving his instructions, the man turned to leave. Brittney couldn't hold back any longer and asked, “Bryce, aren't you even curious about what happened to my parents' ashes?”

Did nothing concern Brittney matter to him? 

Did he only care about matters involving Leanna?

Bryce frowned in displeasure, “I already returned the ashes to you. What else do you want to argue about?”

Before Brittney could speak, Leanna cooed, “Let’s go upstairs, Bryce. You're only getting stressed and angry by being here.”

Watching Bryce be coaxed away, Brittney sneered in her heart, ‘Even such a clumsy act as Leanna's could fool him—just how deeply in love with her was he?’

‘Bryce, if one day you discover her true colors, will you regret it?’

That evening, Leanna claimed she was in a bad mood and insisted on going to the auction.

Unusually, Bryce brought Brittney along too.

She didn't refuse—after all, they were returning to the capital and she planned to bring gifts for her uncle and others.

At the auction, Leanna clung to Bryce the entire time, completely ignoring Brittney’s presence.

But she no longer cared. She just found it rather amusing.

Once upon a time, if any other woman dared to get close to him, he'd retreat three steps and declare, “I have a girlfriend.”

That principle had been clear back then—how could he not understand it now?

Brittney saw no point in dwelling on it, focusing instead on the auction items.

The first lot was a pink diamond. Leanna expressed her fondness for it and Bryce secured it for five million.

The second item was a crown. Leanna declared she wished to be Bryce’s little princess forever and he promptly bid twenty million for it.

The third item was Leanna's graduation painting. To make the young girl happy, he tossed out a hundred million without hesitation.

Though Bryce wasn't stingy with Brittney, he'd never once spent such extravagant sums on her.

He was truly head over heels for Leanna.

Soon, laughter and teasing rose from the audience below the stage, “Mr. Joseph, you're leaving nothing for anyone else today, are you?”

Bryce curved his lips into a smile. “What can I do? The girl I love wants it and I will gladly give it to her.”

Brittney felt this statement sounded familiar. He had once said the same thing to her.

Only back then, Bryce was still poor and lacked such extravagant means. 

Now he had it, but it wasn't for her.

Soon, the final auction item appeared—a painting once given away by Brittney’s mother.

Brittney's eyes lit up instantly as she raised her paddle to bid, “Twenty million.”

Leanna stared at Bryce and said, “Bryce, I like this one too.”

Bryce lifted his gaze. “Fifty million.”

Brittney clenched her fist, “Sixty million.”

The man lowered his gaze and raised his paddle again, “One hundred million.”

It wasn't that Brittney couldn't afford it; she simply didn't want to engage in this meaningless bidding war with him.

She abruptly stood up, “Bryce, haven't you bought her enough things already? This is my mother's keepsake!”

At her words, Bryce's expression hardened slightly.

But Leanna whined, “Bryce, I can give up everything else, but I genuinely love this oil painting.”

Bryce, who had seemed slightly wavering a moment ago, immediately changed his tone, “Leanna likes this piece. Let her have it.”

Brittney felt a ringing in her ears, as if she couldn't comprehend the man's words.

Leanna nestled into his embrace, her gaze fixed on Brittney with pure provocation.

It made her not want to give up and immediately raised her bid card, “I will pay a billion!”

Then, turning to Bryce, she declared, “This painting—I must have it.”

Darrell had given her 1.314 billion dollars. She didn't believe Bryce would spend over a billion on a painting just for Leanna.

The moment she finished, the room erupted.

Yet everyone eagerly anticipated the spectacle, eager to see whether the new flame or the old flame would prevail.

The next second, Leanna stirred up trouble from the centre, “Bryce, where would Brittney get a billion dollars? Could she have a sugar daddy?”

Bryce's pupils instantly darkened.

Men had always been like that — they could cheat and have affairs, but they wouldn't tolerate betrayal from women.

“Brittney, you've been cheating behind my back?” he roared. “Tell me, who is the man?”

Bryce gripped Brittney's wrist tightly, his face contorted with fury.

Her wrist instantly turned crimson, yet she refused to yield. “You're the one who cheated with a mistress! What right do you have to question me?”

Leanna didn't miss the chance to fan the flames, "Britt, you'd better apologise quickly and name the adulterer, or you'll only anger Bryce."

Brittney threatened in turn, “Leanna, if you keep stirring up trouble, I'll tear your mouth off.”

But the next second, Bryce slapped her hard across the face, his eyes blazing with fury. "Brittney, how dare you bully my people right in front of me?

Without giving Brittney a chance to speak, the man addressed the auctioneer, “Whether she gets it for a billion, I will bid higher than her.”

“After all, she seems to not have the ability to achieve it. So, whoever competes with me for this painting is an enemy of the Joseph Group.”

After delivering his threat, Bryce dragged Brittney home.

The oil painting was auctioned off, only to be brutally burned by Bryce right before her eyes.

His face dark and menacing, he sneered, “I don't believe this painting was your mother's keepsake. It was a gift you planned to give your lover, wasn't it?”

The blazing flames illuminated Brittney's face. She frantically tried to rush forward and grab the painting.

But the bodyguards behind her pinned her down, not allowing her to move an inch.

Brittney finally broke down, crying and begging him, “Bryce, this really is my mother's keepsake. Please don't burn it, I beg you.”

Brittney collapsed onto the floor, tears and sweat mingling on her face as she wept heart-wrenchingly. 

Bryce had never seen her like this before. In his memory, Brittney was always proud, aloof and decisive—rarely showing vulnerability in his presence.

Just as he was about to relent, Leanna emerged with ‘evidence.’

“Bryce, I had someone trace the calls. Brittney has been frequently contacting a man in the capital lately. He must be the one keeping her.”

“And I also found a recent deposit in her account—1.3 billion dollars! Who would pay that much money all at once unless they were keeping her as a mistress?”

In that instant, Bryce finally lost his composure. His eyes flashed with cruelty as he clamped his hands tightly around Brittney's slender neck.

“Brittney, you dare cheat on me behind my back? It seems I've spoiled you too much!”

“You care so much about that painting, don't you? Fine. Now go retrieve it from the flames. Let me see just how much you love it!”

The moment Brittney was released, she nearly fainted from oxygen deprivation. Yet, with sheer willpower, she forced herself into the raging fire and pulled out the painting—now nothing but a charred frame.

The woman kept screaming in agony, "Mom, I'm sorry! It's all my fault for misjudging people. I couldn't even protect your last keepsake.”

“I'm sorry. I..."

Flames still licked at the wooden frame, but Brittney clutched it as if pain meant nothing.

Watching her clothes begin to catch fire, Bryce felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest. For the first time, he felt genuine fear.

He shouted at the people nearby, “Put out the fire! Quick, put it out now.”