My boyfriend, Karl Boone, was one of the adopted sons my father took in.

Before he left, he vowed solemnly, "If I lose this battle, I'm not worthy of marrying you. And if I win, I'll rent out Disneyland and throw a grand wedding for you."

I tore up all the marriage contracts from the local noble heirs and waited for him for two full years.

But when he returned, he knelt before my father, with a pregnant woman hiding behind him.

"I'll sacrifice everything I gained overseas to marry Karen," he said, shielding the woman. "She's innocent and fragile, having suffered through hardships in the slums. She's not like Tabitha, who has had everything from birth."

My father's gaze swept over me, and the entire room fell silent.

Everyone knew that when I lost my temper, I could tear down the house and make them pay dearly.

But instead, I greeted the woman with a sweet smile. "Hi there."

That night, I closed my eyes and picked one of the blind boxes containing names of potential suitors. As luck would have it, I picked Karl's arch-enemy.

On our wedding day, Karl barged in wearing a bomb strapped to his body. "Tabitha, if you dare marry him, we'll die together!"

My name was Tabitha Cole, the only daughter of the Cole family, spoiled beyond measure.

I had seven adopted older brothers, and the third eldest, Karl Boone, was the most handsome and the one I had mustered the courage to tell my dad about my eagerness to marry.

After a long silence, my dad spoke. "Well, I respect your choice. Karl is capable and stable; he was always the best candidate. Once he returns, we'll throw you a grand wedding and make you the happiest bride in the world."

From that day forward, I began waiting.

My other brothers often teased me, saying that the once mischievous "little tyrant" who caused chaos had turned into an unshakeable "statue of longing".

I listened but didn't bother to glare at them. I wanted nothing but for Karl to return safely and sooner.

Whether he arrived riding a horse or in a beat-up car, I didn't care. I just wanted him to come back and marry me.

Two years passed in a flash.

"Miss, he's back. Mr. Boone is back!" reported the maid.

I jumped up and rushed to the living room, but she stopped me. "He's in the punishment cell."

I saw her worried expression, and a wave of unease washed over me.

"Alright." I hurried downstairs barefoot, oblivious to the sharp pain shooting through my ankle when it got twisted.

The atmosphere there was heavy, almost suffocating. My other six brothers were standing there silently, their faces grim.

I stopped running, my heart thumping wildly before sinking into cold dread. There, prostrated on the cold floor, was Karl Boone, drenched from head to toe.

At the head of the room sat my father, his face ashen and radiating a terrifying aura of fury.

My mind began to race. Securing the overseas market was a monumental achievement. Karl should have been in the main hall receiving praise. Yet there he was, messy like a drowned mouse.

According to our family rules, only those who had committed grave errors and needed to confess and face punishment were summoned here.

"Dad," I called out, drawing all eyes on me.

Dad's anger and heartbreak were boiling over, but he forced it down, asking dryly, "Tabitha, why are you here?"

"Karl's back, so I came to see him," I replied. "Why is he kneeling there? Our family's great contributor should be seated properly. Someone, help him up to a chair."

Karl heard my voice and glanced at me briefly.

His gaze was cold, distant, and carried an almost imperceptible hint of resistance. His forehead slammed against the cold floor, his voice hoarse yet resolute. "Father, all the blame lies with me. I've failed the Cole family and Tabitha, but Karen and the child are innocent. I can't let them suffer because of me. Please, just let me be with them."

The dull thud echoed in my mind. "Karen and the child?"

I followed his gaze to the shadowy corner of the room. A woman in an old blue dress timidly stepped out from the shadows. She looked younger than me, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears.

She cradled her swollen belly and knelt in front of my dad, sobbing uncontrollably, "Please, let us have this."

Dad was as silent as the grave.

Karl probably hadn't expected that, after returning victorious, this marriage proposal would be so difficult.

After all, his engagement to me had never been made public.

But he had forgotten one thing. If it hadn't been for my insistence on marrying him, with the Cole family's status, I would have been married off to another elite heir long ago.

Inside and outside the room, everyone who knew the truth looked at me with an odd expression. I had a sweet appearance, but everyone in the Cole family knew about my fiery temper deep down.

My second brother, Steve Carson, lunged to hit Karl, but I raised a hand, looking coldly at the man on the ground.

Two years had changed him. He was more composed, his cheeks sunken, and a scar marred his face. It seemed capturing the overseas market had been no easy feat.

"Karl's success in securing the overseas market is cause for celebration," I said calmly. "Father, let them rise."

Dad waved his hand, and someone helped them up.

I grinned, my eyes sweeping over the woman's swollen belly. "Let's arrange for Karl and Karen to wed next Tuesday. We can't keep the child waiting."

Dad choked, turning his face away. My brothers all lowered their heads in silence.

Only two people in the room were relieved. They embraced and cried on each other's shoulders.

Next Tuesday was my birthday and the supposed date of Karl's marriage proposal to me in front of everyone. He would become my husband and be named to take over the family business.

He had returned, and the wedding was to be held. But another bride had come back with him.

I read gratitude and guilt in Karl's eyes, and my heart finally died.

I frowned, raising my voice. "What's wrong? Didn't anyone hear me? Aren't you going to congratulate Karl?"

The servants stiffened at my command, exchanging uncertain glances. Under my cold gaze, they forced out awkward and dry congratulations.

"C-Congratulations, Mr. Boone."

"Congratulations, Mr. Boone and Ms. Brock."

...

Ignoring the pain in my ankle, I turned to leave.

A burning gaze followed me. I didn't have to look to know who it was.

Just as I turned the corner of the corridor, a timid voice called out, "Miss Cole."

It was the woman Karl had been cautiously protecting. She had followed me out at some point, holding something in her hand.

It was a faded, worn-out charm, its edges frayed. This was the same charm I had gotten for Karl after learning about the danger he was facing overseas last year.

I had secretly traveled to a distant church alone, praying earnestly for three days and nights to obtain this charm for Karl.

"This," Karen Brock said with feigned gratitude, "is something Karl gave me before. He said it looked delicate and offered it to amuse me, asking me to wear it for safety."

Karen continued, "I just heard from the servants that it was a gift from you. How thoughtful of you! It has really protected me and the baby."

So, the blessing I had earned through blood and devotion had become nothing more than a trinket Karl could casually give to his new love.

The air froze for a second. I could feel my second brother's rage igniting behind me, but I just stared quietly at the charm in her hand for a full three seconds.

"Oh, that?" My voice was light and carefree. "I'd forgotten about it. Bought it from a souvenir shop at the church. Ten bucks for three. It looked nice, so I grabbed some. Since you like picking up other people's trash, it's yours."

I ignored her frozen smile and walked off. Steve shot her a glare and hurried after me.

His voice trembled with heartache. "Tabitha, don't hold it in. I know you're hurting. Remember those 'blind boxes' I made of all the eligible young heirs in the city? You can draw one at random. Whoever you pick, I'll tie him up and bring him to you tomorrow. I guarantee he'll be better than Karl."

I said nothing, letting him drag me back to my room. Sure enough, stacks of boxes were piled there. He hadn't been joking.

I casually grabbed one from the top, didn't even look at it, and shoved it into his arms. My voice was flat. "This one."

He looked down at the name on the card inside and stiffened. "Well, this guy might not be the best choice. How about we pick another? I can get you someone better."

"Why change?" A calm, lazy voice suddenly came from the open doorway.

Steve and I looked over simultaneously. There stood a man leaning casually against the doorframe, amusement flickering in his eyes. It wasn't clear how long he'd been there.

He smirked, "Just because I'm Karl's sworn enemy?"

"Richard Torres," Steve sulked, "you've already got enough women fluttering around you. Leave my sister alone."

I motioned for him to be quiet and sized up the man.

"You're good-looking," I said at last. "Better than Karl. Get ready to marry me."

Richard Torres straightened up from the doorframe. "Alright. I'll go handle my messes. You deal with yours."

He stepped aside with a smirk, and a tall shadow became visible in the hallway. It was none other than Karl.

Richard chuckled, walked over to me, and leaned close to whisper in my ear, "Next Tuesday, I'll come pick you up for our wedding."

...

After Richard and Steve left, I turned to face Karl. "Since when do you enjoy eavesdropping?"

He stepped out of the shadows. "What did you say to Richard?"

I realized he hadn't heard our conversation earlier. I lay back and said indifferently, "Does it concern you?"

His fists clenched, then loosened. He sighed, "The sapphire necklace you wanted is one of a kind. I risked everything to get it for you."

I gave it a careless glance, then swept it off the table. "I have a dozen like it in my cabinet. What makes you think this would make me forgive you?"

His eyes dimmed, and he started slapping himself until blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He pleaded, "I'm begging you. Let Karen and the baby go. I'm the one who betrayed you. Do whatever you want to me to vent your anger."

I arched a brow and lifted his chin with one finger. "What if I want you to die?"

He looked shocked, wounded.

Unimpressed, I turned to the door and called over Brenda. I bent down to pick up the necklace and handed it to her.