"If he won’t marry her,I will!"

In order to stand up for the fake daughter who was rejected in a proposal,my husband of three years abandoned our wedding ceremony and fled on the spot.

And my biological brothers,instead of questioning anything,also got up and left.

When I saw the secretly filmed video from the assistant,my eyes burned with rage.

"Jason,three years ago when I ran away from the engagement banquet,it really wasn’t on purpose.It was just that I had just been diagnosed with cancer back then and my sister scolded me,saying I was a sickly burden to you all.I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stay with you for long,so I…"Fiona spoke pitifully,twisting the truth.

"I know you’ve already been married to my sister for three years,you must have fallen in love with her too,right?Simon,Ethan…do you not like me as your little sister anymore either..."

Jason was silent for three seconds,then spoke,his voice as gentle as water,"No,I don’t love her.From beginning to end,the only one I’ve ever wanted to marry is you."

Then,my eldest and second brothers also stepped forward,pulling her into their arms with deep distress."Foolish girl,you were so seriously ill—why didn’t you tell your brothers?In our hearts,you’re the only sister."

I stood there,as if stabbed straight through the chest,blood gushing out.

Then what was I supposed to be?

Ever since I,the true daughter who had been lost and later brought back to the Corvin Family,returned home,I had been living like an invisible shadow.

It wasn’t until three years ago,when Fiona fled at her engagement banquet with Jason,that my life finally began to change.

My eldest brother,Simon,publicly declared that he was severing ties with the fake daughter,and from then on,he would only acknowledge me,the true daughter.

Jason,without a moment’s hesitation,pulled me along to register our marriage."It doesn’t matter who it is—my wife can be anyone!"

For those three years,I lived as if in a dream.My brothers doted on me endlessly and my husband was gentle and considerate.

I thought I had gained the love of my brothers as well as the love of Jason.

Today was the wedding ceremony I had spent three years planning and finally obtained.But because Fiona came back,every single one of them chose to abandon me.

Tears nearly blurred my vision.As I tore apart the hundred-thousand-dollar wedding dress with all my strength,my trembling hands dialed that long-forgotten number."Sir…could you…come and take me away?"

Since I could never truly fit into this family,then I chose to leave and never come back.

The man's voice came through the phone."Come with me.I’ll arrange immigration for you.But think it through carefully—once you leave with me,you’ll never return to this country."

I froze for two seconds,a bitter smile spreading across my face."I know.I don’t plan on coming back."

"Alright.Wait for my people to finish the paperwork and come get you."

I hung up the call and returned to the dressing room,wiping away the heavy makeup from my face,stroke by stroke.

A stolen dream was bound to end sooner or later—perhaps I was never meant to be loved.

That night,the moment I stepped through the Corvin Family’s doors,the sight before me stabbed at my eyes with unbearable pain.

Jason—who had never cooked,who hated the smell of oil and smoke—was standing at the stove in an apron,clumsy yet careful as he simmered soup for Fiona.

Simon and Ethan sat on either side of her,attentively asking what kind of wedding she liked and where she wanted to go for her honeymoon.

I froze in place,my chest feeling as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer—because this was the scene I had dreamed of countless times.

Fiona and I were switched at birth on the day we were born.

The family that took me home looked down on me for being a girl and neglected me completely from childhood.

It wasn’t until I was fifteen that I was told the truth—that I was in fact the daughter of the prestigious Corvin Family.

Having never known a father’s or a mother’s love,I couldn’t help but place all of my hopes and expectations on my blood relatives.

But who could have known that my biological parents had long since passed away,leaving only my eldest and second brothers in the Corvin Family.

In order to keep Fiona with them,they paid a huge sum of money to the family that raised her and forcibly adopted her.

From that moment on,I became nothing more than a shadow.

When I was shivering with pneumonia at home,my brothers were busy accompanying Fiona to a concert.

When she locked me in a dark little room full of spiders and I cried the whole night,begging my brothers for help,I was scolded for lying and left without food for three whole days.

In high school,when my family found my diary where I had written about liking Jason,Fiona immediately said she liked him too.

That very night,my eldest brother decided on an engagement between her and Jason—completely disregarding the fact that it was my feelings on the line.

Fiona was the one who grew up with them,the princess who had been cherished for years.

I was nothing more than an ugly duckling who had mistakenly stumbled into a castle that was never mine.

I thought my life would remain that way forever—until three years ago,when Fiona,out of rebellion,ran away from her engagement banquet with Jason.

At the moment Jason pulled me to register our marriage,I made up my mind.I would seize this chance to make my elder brothers accept me and to make Jason fall in love with me.

And I truly did become someone visible in their eyes.

In these three years,whenever Simon returned from a business trip,he would always bring back a chest full of the latest gowns and jewelry.

My second brother,Ethan,had a globally limited-edition piano custom-made just for me,presenting it publicly at my birthday banquet.

Jason would raise his paddle at jewelry exhibitions until the price soared sky-high,all for the sake of a pink diamond ring my gaze had lingered on for just a moment.

He once took me on a private jet,just to fulfill a casual remark I made about wanting to see the aurora.

Naively,I believed that all the boundless affection that once belonged to Fiona had finally fallen upon me.

But now I realized—it wasn’t like that.What I received was nothing more than the scraps that slipped through Fiona’s fingers.

Jason would spend a fortune on extravagant gifts for me,yet he had never once cooked a single meal with his own hands for my sake.

My brothers could order me the hundred-thousand-dollar wedding dress without even blinking,yet they never once asked me directly about what kind of wedding I wanted,or where I wished to go for my honeymoon.

All the true love belonged only to Fiona.

When Jason lifted his gaze and saw me,a frown creased his brow.He pulled me straight into the kitchen,lowering his voice.

"Callista,don’t bring up the marriage in front of Fiona again.She’s sick and we’ve decided to fulfill her wish—to give her the wedding she’s always dreamed of.I told her that you and I never registered our marriage three years ago."

My pupils contracted,a chill seeping into my heart."Is it really about fulfilling her…or just satisfying your own selfishness…"

"Don’t forget,you took the place that should have belonged to Fiona!"Jason’s tone was gentle,yet carried a warning."So you,of all people,should be more understanding and be good.Listen,this is only temporary.Of course,my wife will always be you."

My breath caught in my throat.Before I could utter a word,Fiona suddenly burst into the kitchen.

"Callista…"she called softly,her voice dripping with honey."You’re not unhappy that I’ve come back,are you?Thank you for taking care of Jason and my brothers for the past three years.It’s really such a relief that you didn’t register your marriage with Jason…No,I don’t mean anything else by that.Anyway,from now on,let’s get along well,okay?"

My back went rigid like a drawn steel wire.Every time she smiled like that,disaster always followed.

Sure enough,Fiona’s sleeve gave the slightest tremble and a large,pitch-black spider slowly crawled out.

Its eight legs crept along her wrist,like a malicious greeting.

My breath caught violently.Ever since Fiona had once locked me in with spiders for an entire night,I could no longer breathe whenever I saw one.

"It’s very tame,"Fiona said with an innocent smile."Come on,say hello to Callista."

Terror clenched around my throat.With a scream,I instinctively shoved her away.

Fiona’s body tilted and she fell straight to the ground.

"Callista,why did you push me?"Tears welled up in her eyes instantly,her voice trembling as though frightened."Do you really hate that I came back?"

"You’re talking nonsense—"

Before I could even react,Jason’s expression had already darkened,his face cold as ice."Callista,are you out of your mind?She’s sick and you still laid hands on her?"

He shoved me hard and my whole body was flung against the stove.

The scalding soup pot overturned,lid and all,the thick boiling liquid splashing straight down onto my back.

In that instant,it felt as though my skin was being torn open alive,the burning heat searing straight into my bones.

I gasped sharply,the pain so intense that my vision went completely white.Yet not a single person spared me even a glance.

Simon was the first to rush over—but only to crouch down and lift Fiona into his arms."Does it hurt?Did you hit yourself anywhere?I will take you to the hospital."

He didn’t even raise his head,as if the acrid stench of burnt flesh behind him simply didn’t exist.

Ethan frowned and stepped up to me—not with concern,but to seize my collar so hard that I was forced onto my toes.

"Callista,you just can’t stop wallowing in filth!You’re still as vicious as you were three years ago!Fiona already told us—it was you who threatened her to leave and she couldn’t handle the pressure,so she left sick.Now that she’s finally come back,if you dare to bully her again,don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

My back trembled from the pain,tears spilling uncontrollably down my cheeks."I never did such a thing!"

Jason’s expression was so cold it felt like he was a stranger."Callista,just to compete for attention,you would even go after someone who’s ill?Your methods…truly disgust me."

His gaze fell on me as though I were nothing more than a pile of garbage.

It was a look I had never seen in his eyes before—like every last shred of patience with me had been exhausted.

Fiona,supported to her feet,lifted her eyes to him,her voice drifting softly."Jason,don’t blame her.Maybe she just doesn’t like me…"

Jason’s eyes darkened.Reaching out,he wrapped his arm around her shoulders,his voice gentle as he soothed her."Don’t be afraid.As long as we like you,that’s enough."

The pain on my back surged in waves like a relentless tide,leaving me barely able to stand.

Through the blur of my vision,I could only make out three tall figures,one after another,shielding Fiona as they walked out the door—the light casting their side profiles in a warm glow.

They gave her all—the tenderness,the heartache,the instinct to protect.

They always believed Fiona so easily,without hesitation.And I was left alone in the vast,empty living room,collapsing into despair until consciousness slipped away.

When I woke again,the pain stabbed so fiercely it seemed to cut right through my bones.

My eyelids felt weighed down with lead,my chest unbearably tight.Even the slightest breath tugged at the wound,like someone was tearing me apart from the inside.

And yet—I was still at home.No one had bothered to take me to the hospital.

The housemaid stood stiffly at the foot of the bed,her hands twisting the apron into knots,eyes darting everywhere but me,not daring to meet my gaze.

"Awake?"

A deep,cold voice rang out from the doorway.

I turned my head and saw Simon and Ethan step into the room almost at the same time.Their strides were hurried,their expressions carrying a heavy weight that pressed down on me like a suffocating force.

Simon strode straight to the bedside,lowering his gaze onto me.His tone was icy,utterly devoid of warmth."Fiona is in the hospital,losing too much blood.This afternoon,you caused her wound to reopen.Now you must give blood to make amends."

I froze,a wave of cold absurdity rising in my chest."I didn’t hurt her.I’m not giving blood."

Ethan sneered coldly."Everyone saw it—you pushed her and caused her to be shocked.This is your debt and now you have to pay!"

"I already said I didn’t—"I shouted instinctively,only to be cut off by Simon’s piercing glare.

"Shut up!Whether you admit it or not,your blood type is the perfect match.Get up right now and come with us to the hospital."

I gritted my teeth as waves of pain slammed against my chest."I’m not going!I didn’t do anything wrong—why should I give blood?I’m injured!If I give blood,I could die!"

The air froze instantly.

Ethan narrowed his eyes and stepped forward,looking down at me,his voice low and cold."If you won’t give the blood willingly,you’ll have to do it by force."

"If you had any conscience at all,you would give your blood to Fiona voluntarily,"Simon's face darkened to an extreme shade."Otherwise,starting today,we have no sister in you!"

In that instant,my eardrums seemed to explode with a loud ringing.

I looked at the two people who had protected and loved me for the past three years—my family—and felt my chest hollow out completely.So,in their eyes,my life was worth so little.

They knew how much I valued their love and used the threat of severing ties to control me.

"I said it—I’m not in the wrong!I won’t give her a drop of my blood!"My voice trembled,yet cut through the air with piercing clarity.

They would never know that I had already made up my mind to leave—their threats no longer held any power over me.

Simon’s eyes turned suddenly frigid."Hold her down.Make her kneel!"

The housemaid flinched in fear,not daring to move.

Ethan strode forward without hesitation,yanking me off the bed.My knees slammed hard against the cold floor,the pain so sharp my vision went black.

"Kneel here and think carefully!You’ll only be allowed to stand once you agree to give blood and admit your mistake!"

I bit down hard on my lip,my back held perfectly straight."I will not admit to something I never did!"

The patience in Simon’s eyes was completely exhausted.In an icy voice,he commanded,"Pin her down and take her to the hospital!"

Ethan roughly grabbed my arm.When I struggled,the movement tugged at my wound,sending sharp pain through me as cold sweat trickled down my back.My hands and feet were firmly pinned down and the light before my eyes grew dimmer and dimmer.

A sudden surge of searing pain rushed through my chest,draining all my strength.The voices around me sounded distant,as if muffled by water.

I lost consciousness once again.

***

When I woke up again,the pungent smell of disinfectant filled my nose.

The cold hospital bed made me shiver,while the burning pain in my back felt like countless needles pricking into me.

Through the half-open ward door,I heard the doctor’s low and regretful voice."Her back is covered with injuries.In this condition,drawing more blood could be life-threatening."

"Do it!"Simon’s voice was cold and unyielding,without the slightest hesitation."She harmed Fiona—she must pay for it!"

The doctor fell silent for a few seconds before letting out a sigh."You’re taking her life…"

That sigh cut through my heart like a rusty blade,dragging along a dull,aching pain.

Even a doctor who was a complete stranger could feel pity for what I was going through—yet the family I had lived with for so many years could not.

I tried to lift my hand,but it was pinned in place by the cold needle.

As blood flowed away through the transparent tube,it felt as though my heart,along with my body,was slowly losing all warmth.

In the haze of my fading consciousness,I seemed to hear Jason’s voice.He spoke in a low,soothing tone,so gentle it was as if he feared breaking me.

"Callista,be good,just endure a little longer…I know you’ve been wronged.When Fiona wakes up,I’ll make it up to you."

Before I could gather my thoughts,the next moment I heard his anxious voice."Doctor,is this amount of blood enough?Should we draw some more?"

In that instant,every drop of blood in my body turned cold.

All these years,I had stayed by Jason’s side through the darkest nights.I supported him step by step until he climbed to the top position in the Whitlock family.

After so much effort,I had finally waited for his response to my love.Yet,laughably,the moment Fiona returned,I became nothing.

Was this truly the man I had loved for so many years?

I closed my eyes.The suffocating pain in my chest and the burning agony on my back intertwined,as if tearing me apart.

Perhaps it was better this way—there was nothing left for me to hold on to.I had already completed the procedures for immigration.All I needed now was to find a way to get Jason to sign the divorce papers and I would finally be free.

But I knew that if I directly placed the divorce agreement in front of him,he would hesitate.For the sake of his cooperation with the Corvin Family,he would refuse to divorce.

After all,to put it bluntly,with Fiona now"gravely ill,"if he were to marry her and wait until Fiona"died,"there would no longer be any reason for the Whitlock and Corvin families to remain bound together.

But I hadn’t expected the chance to make Jason sign to come so soon.

Before I had even recovered for a few days,he came to force me to attend the birthday banquet for me and Fiona.

Ever since I was brought back to the Corvin Family,our birthdays had been forever bound together.

On stage,she was always the star,while I was nothing more than a backdrop.

At first,I didn’t want to go.My body was weak and my heart even more exhausted.Yet Jason yanked me up from the bed,his voice icy."If it weren’t for Fiona saying she wanted to make peace with you,I wouldn’t bother bringing you along."

Make peace?

I let out a low,bitter laugh.Most likely,Fiona had prepared a trap for me.

But…my gaze flickered slightly.

"Jason…"I suddenly lowered my eyes,my voice softening with a hint of cautiousness."Today is my birthday and I want a gift too."

He was clearly impatient,urging me to change clothes quickly,but still asked casually,"What gift?"

I pointed at the file bag on the bedside table—inside were several thick documents I had prepared long ago,with a purchase contract for a seaside villa on top.

"I want that house,"I said softly,my tone sounding half like a sulky plea."The documents are all ready…all that’s left is your signature."

As expected,Jason didn’t think much of it.A seaside villa worth only a few hundred thousand dollars—giving it away was nothing.It wasn’t even a tenth of the gift he had prepared for Fiona.

Call after call from Fiona kept coming in,urging him to hurry and bring me over.

Jason flipped straight to the last page of the documents.Without even glancing carefully,he swiftly scrawled his name across it.

As I watched those familiar strokes fall onto the black-and-white paper,my chest suddenly tightened and a sour sting rose to my nose.

Still,I forced a faint smile and whispered,"Thank you."

He didn’t notice my expression at all—just tossed the pen aside impatiently and said coldly,"Hurry up and get changed.Stop dawdling."

In silence,I slipped the divorce agreement,disguised as the property purchase contract,into my bag.