He Played Me First, Now I Rule His End

Seven years after my daughter's birth, my husband, Dario Finley, stormed the island with hundreds of bodyguards and killed the villains who had imprisoned me.

As we departed, Dario demanded I relinquish custody of our daughter, Irene Blair, "This child carries the blood of a sinner. Bringing her home will only remind you of those painful memories."

All these years later, he still refused to believe me. I firmly refused and insisted on taking my daughter back.

Upon returning home, I discovered a boy bearing a striking resemblance to Dario. He claimed it was Jerry Raid, an orphan he'd adopted.

Jerry looked down on Irene, forcing her to play games where he'd win and she'd lose.

He threw himself into the arms of the housekeeper, Cecilia Reid, mocking Irene, "My real dad tucks me in every night, but your dad's dead on that island!"

Irene looked at me helplessly, her suspicion coiling like a venomous snake in my heart, suffocating me.

"My dad gave my mom the biggest diamond ring in the world, but your mom's just a poor thing with nothing."

Seeing the diamond ring Dario had once promised to buy for me now on Cecilia's finger, the blood drained from my face. I quickly scooped up Irene and retreated to our room.

When Dario returned and saw Jerry crying, I hid in the living room and heard Cecilia angrily say, "Get that filthy brat out of here! I don't want our son living with a bastard!"

Dario laughed coldly, "I won't let Irene live. As for Valerie, I brainwashed her countless times during those years I kept her under house arrest."

"Once she breaks down mentally and loses her ability to care for herself, I'll inherit the entire Blair Family fortune."

So, Jerry really was their son and Dario despised us this much!

If that was the case, I did not need him to be my daughter's father.

I immediately dialed my father's number and said, "I regret it. I want a divorce to marry into the Mathews Family. Come get me now!"

***

When Dario stormed onto the island with his bodyguards, I was overjoyed.

After seven agonizing years of longing, tormented by memories on the island, I never forgot that my true husband was Dario.

"Mom, I brought the police."

Dirty and disheveled, Irene clutched my fingers tightly, trembling with fear.

My gaze swept past the black-clad officers and bodyguards, settling on Dario—who stood barehanded, twisting the villain's arm behind his back.

Tears streamed down my face, unable to hold back any longer.

"Dario..."

Before I could finish his name, the thug suddenly pulled a dagger from his pocket and lunged straight for Dario's throat.

My heart skipped a beat as a familiar wave of terror washed over me.

Fortunately, Dario was agile. He kicked the vicious thug hard, sending him crashing to the ground.

By the time the police rushed over to apprehend him, they found the assailant had been stabbed through the heart by his own dagger, dead on the spot.

"Dario!" I threw myself into the arms of the man I'd longed for day and night, "Thank goodness, Irene finally found her real dad!"

But for a moment, he froze, his stiff back feeling strangely unfamiliar.

"I was just about to tell you about Irene." Dario deliberately pushed me away slightly, his expression unusually stern, "This child carries the blood of a criminal. Given your unstable mental state, it's best to send her straight to the orphanage!"

My heart jolted violently and I stared blankly at the man before me.

My gaze inadvertently fell upon the crimson mark on his neck and in that instant, everything clicked into place.

So, during my seven-year disappearance, he hadn't been searching for me—he'd long since abandoned me to live with another woman.

Trust crumpled like paper; with one flippant remark, he condemned Irene as the child of a sinner.

But only I knew the truth wasn't that simple.

"I refuse!" My cold, resolute refusal burst from my lips.

A flicker of shock crossed Dario's face.

"If you won't take Irene home, then I won't go back either!"

The man frowned, pondered for a moment, then finally gave a resigned smile. He wrapped his arms around me and Irene, then we boarded the boat.

Returning to the home I'd remembered countless times in my dreams, I felt nothing but strangeness.

The garden once filled with my beloved white magnolias now bloomed with vibrant red roses.

"You must be the lady who just returned from the island."

As soon as we entered the courtyard, a young woman in a business skirt suit blocked our path.

Her delicate lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, the corners of her eyes arched with a mix of arrogance and sensuality. Yet as she spoke to me, her gaze drifted toward Dario.

"I'm Mr. Finley's personal housekeeper, Cecilia Reid."

I stared at her intently, instinctively sensing danger emanating from this woman.

"Take the child upstairs to rest first. Don't let her disturb Jerry upstairs," Dario barked the order at her, his eyes glistening with a sticky, viscous sheen.

I quickly gathered Irene into my arms and said firmly, "Irene will sleep with me tonight. No need for you to trouble yourself."

"No, Irene is so dirty. She's still that man's..." Dario cut himself off mid-sentence, noticing Cecilia covering her mouth in disgust.

"The little girl's too noisy. She'll disturb your recovery."

Watching their indignant expressions, I couldn't help but snap, "If you don't agree, I'll sit in the living room all night."

With that, I scooped up my daughter and strode into the living room without looking back.

"Daddy…"

No sooner had I entered than a sleepy-eyed little boy came dashing down the stairs.

He stumbled and threw himself into Dario's arms, his chubby fingers poking straight at my forehead, "Who are these two people?"

I studied him curiously. His childish face bore a striking resemblance to Dario's, sharing seven out of ten features.

A wave of doubt washed over me. I couldn't help but tighten my hold on my daughter and asked Dario coldly, "This child calls you Dad?"

Dario gave a dry chuckle and ruffled the boy's hair as he answered, "Valerie, this is my adopted son, Jerry."

Then he bent down and urged softly, "Jerry, call her Mom!"

The boy scowled, glared at me angrily, then turned to Cecilia and Dario, "I don't want this dirty woman as my mom!"