After being dumped for the 99th time for being a “chatterbox,” I finally met my soulmate, Lysander Thorne. As the Mafia godfather, he was a man of few words, but listened to every single word I said with rapt attention.

His proposal shattered the curse that had doomed me to a hundred rejections. But, I discovered a fatal flaw in Lysander after we got married. Whatever he spoke to me, he never exceeded ten words.

I thought it was his stoic personality until I gave a hand to a girl being harassed by a thug at the bar. At the police station, the girl asked, “Has your husband not arrived yet? My friend will pick me up and you can leave with us.”

The next second, I saw Lysander rushing in, looking utterly disheveled.

“Elara Thorne! Why do you stir up trouble on your very first day back home? You've got wings of your own now, haven’t you? Did I ever tell you to stay safe firstly when something happened? Stop being so impulsive!”

It turned out Lysander could get emotional. How ridiculous! When Lysander entered, his eyes were solely fixed on Elara. I looked at him with a blank expression, and wordlessly walked out of the police station.

Upon returning home, I dug up Elara Thorne’s personal file. Elara had been adopted by Magnus Thorne, the head of the Thorne family, when she was a child. She was shipped abroad at sixteen after Magnus detected an unspoken bond between Lysander and his adopted daughter.

Magnus had granted Elara a green card on condition that she promised never to return to the Thorne for the rest of her life. Yet, just a year ago, Elara claimed she couldn’t bear staying abroad any longer, citing a diagnosis of severe depression. She had even committed suicide ten times!

The last time Elara was rescued, Lysander fell to his knees and begged Magnus to let her come home. For this, he was whipped sixty-six times under the family’s rules, leaving his back a bloody mess and fracturing three ribs. Even when threatened with the loss of his inheritance, he insisted on bringing Elara back.

In the end, it was Magnus who made the compromise, “Get married! As soon as you have a family, you can take her back. But, mark my words. There’s no way you two could ever be together. Never.”

Thus, I became Lysander’s prey. His kindness was merely a ploy to turn me into his cat's-paw. No wonder he can put up with my chattering and quibbling. At the thought of his hypocrisy, I felt as if I were in an ice cellar, my whole body trembling.

By the time Lysander returned home, I’ve been waiting for him for an hour. I spoke calmly, “Lysander, I want a divorce.”

He puzzled, “Don’t be kidding, Seraphina.”

I found it ridiculous. He’d already signed the divorce agreement long ago and locked it away in his study cabinet. He just thought I didn't know. Actually, I had already signed before he walked through the door.

“Sorry. You know I had a meeting. I didn’t mean to.” Lysander was half-hearted.

I smiled wryly. Lysander was only wordless in front of me. But, it didn’t matter because I’d to leave him as soon as the paperwork was done.

In the following days, Lysander was out every single day, yet he flooded me with all kinds of gifts. There were limited-edition jewelries worth a fortune, sports cars I’ve coveted but couldn’t afford, and three luxury mansions.

When Lysander announced that he’d transfer 5% of his shares to me, all eyes were on me with envy. They were convinced that Lysander put me on a pedestal. But I simply tore up the agreement and marked the date of departure on the calendar.

The day of departure fell on Elara’s engagement banquet. Suddenly, it all made sense why Lysander hasn't gone home these days. He’s been accompanying Elara, helping her choose her wedding dress and ring as if he were Elara’s bridegroom.

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by the noise downstairs. I rushed to the hallway on the second floor and peered down. Elara was kneeling in the living room, her eyes rimmed with red.

“I’ll never get married!”

Magnus, Lysander’s father, cracked his whip against the ground, his voice thundering with rage, “Elara, you’re in no position to make demands of the Thorne, of me.”

Lysander stepped forward, his tone cautious. “Dad, please. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

Hearing his words, Magnus flew into a fury. He glared at Elara and brought the whip down directly on her. She let out a scream of pain, and just as the second lash was about to fall, Lysander suddenly lunged forward, shielding Elara with his own body.

Elara trembled, her voice thick with anguish. “Brother! Does it hurt? I’m so sorry. This is my entire fault for putting you through it. I won’t get married... unless you are my groom…”

Magnus looked pale with fury, and snapped sharply, “Hold your tongue!” He poked Lysander in the chest, speaking with deadly seriousness, “Lysander! You and Seraphina are perfect match. Are you going to tear it down with your own hands?”

Lysander tilted his head back, meeting my gaze directly. His brow slowly furrowed, a sudden realization dawning on him, “Seraphina, come down.”

Although I didn’t understand why, I instinctively walked over to Lysander’s side. Lysander pressed my hand down, whispered in my ear, “Is it you?”

I didn’t realize what happened until Lysander blamed, “You’re going too far.”

He suspected me of tipping off last night. Otherwise, Magnus wouldn’t rush over early this morning to confront Elara.

I was furious and denied immediately, “It’s not me. I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

But before I could finish my words, Lysander had already turned his head slightly, gagging me with a sudden, gentle kiss.

I froze in place, a hint of confusion flashing in my eyes. This was the first time that Lysander kissed me since they’d started dating. I didn’t know why, but found out the answer soon enough.

Lysander turned to Elara and said in a low voice, “The husband Dad chose for you... isn’t bad at all. Look at me. I’m truly happy now.”

I found his lips curled downward and his gaze resentful, as if he were enduring endless restraint. I finally understood the meaning of his kiss. He just couldn’t have the heart to watch Elara getting hurt because of her stubbornness. A bitterly smirk crossed my face.

As Elara once again collapsed and let out a low sob, Lysander forcibly pulled me into his embrace, deepening the kiss. I struggled desperately to push him away, but it was in vain.

Magnus let out a heavy sigh and left. A farce finally came to an end, and Lysander carried Elara to the hospital. I was left behind alone. Still, that’s fine, peaceful and serene.

Sitting in the living room, I flipped through Elara’s social media again. One of her paintings caught my eyes. It looked exactly like my sister’s work.

In the evening, I was having dinner when Lysander finally returned home. He suddenly grabbed me, a sharp pain spreading all the way up to my wrist.

“What are you doing? Let me go…” I struggled to break free, only to meet his cold glare.

Lysander hurled a accusation at me, “You’ve been constantly being awkward ever since Elara returned home. You’re her sister-in-law. Can’t you just be a little kinder to her?”

I stared straight at him and suddenly laughed. This was the first time Lysander talked a lot to me. I couldn't even keep track of how many words he'd said. Yet he was doing it all for Elara…

Lysander angrily denounced, “Why are you laughing? You have to know Elara is being detained. She’s been pampered since she was a child. How could she endure this hardship!”

I was unusually calm: “Lysander, she is accused of theft!”

Lysander took a deep breath, “So…did you make a confession?”

I shot back, my voice trembling with rage: “‌On what grounds do you think it's me?‌ The fact is she stole the painting from my sister. She deserved to be caught.”

Lysander took a deep breath, forcing his temper down. He did his utmost to remain calm, though his eyes remained cold, “Don’t get excited.”

He pressed his weight down on me. I was completely shackled beneath him, unable to move an inch.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

Lysander held me tighter, his grip like iron. He enunciated every word with chilling clarity, “Seraphina, you just need to go to the police station and admit that you gave her that painting.”

Fury surged through me at his audacious request. Without the slightest hesitation, I sank my teeth into his neck, tearing into his flesh with all my might!

Lysander hissed sharply in pain. Even as blue veins bulged on his neck, he refused to let go. His resolve only hardened, “Seraphina, you absolutely have to go.”

“What if I say no? ‌My sister passed away, but Elara was shameless enough to steal from a dead person.” I glared at him menacingly, “Over my dead body I'll go.”

Lysander twitched his brows and fell into a long, heavy silence. After a while, he exhaled slowly, “Seraphina, don’t push me too far.”

He sighed, his tone both firm and filled with pity. “I know you won’t bring yourself to die. It hasn't been easy for us to get here. ‌How could you even leave me.‌ Stop fussing! Let’s go to the police station, shall we?”

I froze, snapping my head up to look at him in utter disbelief.

He clearly knew...how much I love him. He knew better than anyone else, yet he weaponized my love against me. He was twisting the knife in my heart, leaving me to bleed out while he stood there unscathed. I tried desperately to stay calm.

I closed my eyes and forced a soft, broken smile, “Yes, I'm not going to commit suicide. But, I’m not for you but to leave you and start my life over again.”

Lysander sighed with relief, misunderstanding my words entirely, “Now we can go…”

As he loosened his grip, I seized the chance to kick his groin hard, finally breaking free from his embrace.

I looked straight at him and carefully enunciated: “But I won’t go either.”

Lysander turned pale and trembled slightly. He nearly lost his balance from the intense pain. His anger could no longer be contained, “Seraphina, you’ve gone too far.”

He closed eyes and took a deep breath to suppress his anger. But, it was futile. Lysander clenched his hands tightly into fists, the blue veins standing out on the backs of his hands.

“Lock Seraphina away.” he commanded coldly.

He turned around and strode toward the door, throwing one last order over his shoulder, “Tell me when you’re willing to say yes.”