It had nothing to do with the two of them.

Vivienne’s eyes swept over the photo in my hand with a complicated expression. “Dorian, if she were here, I’m sure she’d want the three of us to be happy together.”

Lucian looked away, unable to meet the gaze of the photo.

Vivienne walked straight in, took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves and picked up the broom behind the door.

“Lucian, go open the window and let some fresh air in.”

For a moment, it took me back many years. Back then, the four of us often gathered here.

My sister would cook, Lucian would help and Vivienne did the housework.

I was busy bossing everyone around.

Laughter echoed in the small house. Now, only silence remained.

I cleaned the table and carefully placed my sister’s portrait on it.

In the photo, my sister was smiling so gently.

I never expected that a reunion of the four of us would happen like this.

Lucian suddenly rushed over and slammed the portrait onto the table. “Why display this? Everything’s fine already!”

Seeing his flustered expression, I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

So, he felt guilty and ashamed to face my sister’s pure eyes.

“Dorian, Lucian is just worried about you. After all, someone died here before.”

“Don’t you know better than anyone how my sister died?”

The broom in Vivienne’s hands clattered to the floor.

The room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the wind outside the window.

The second year after my sister married Lucian, we all began to change.

My sister’s business grew busier and she often traveled across the country.

The day she received angel-round investment, she was so happy she treated us to a big meal.

Halfway through the meal, my sister received a call from Vivienne, who hadn’t shown up.

“Selene, I got into trouble. They’ve cornered me at a bar.”

Without a second word, my sister put down her spoon and rushed out.

But after that trip, she never came back whole again.

In order to protect Vivienne, my sister was struck hard on the back of her head with a beer bottle.

By the time Lucian and I arrived at the hospital, my sister’s mind had already regressed to that of a five‑year‑old child.

She forgot everything—except me, her little brother.

My world completely collapsed.

I swallowed my grief while taking care of her and at the same time, I cruelly pushed Lucian away.

“When my sister was healthy, she loved you the most. She wouldn’t want you to ruin your whole life for her.”

“I’ll decide for her. The two of you should get a divorce!”

Lucian held my sister’s hands tightly, tears streaming down his face, utterly determined.

“I won’t leave Selene. Even if I die, I won’t.”

He chose to stay, without hesitation.

In his youthful passion, I was moved by Lucian’s unwavering devotion to my sister and I gave him full inheritance of her company.

Vivienne was wracked with guilt, shutting herself in her room and drowning in drink and despair.

Until Lucian kicked open the door and poured a bucket of cold water over her head.

“If you want to honor Selene, then take care of her company and this family properly.”

From that day on, Vivienne seemed like a different person.

She also joined my sister’s company and took on the responsibility of looking after us.

At that time, I was drowning in grief and uncertainty about the future.

Vivienne’s companionship and support became my only lifeline.

She and I registered our marriage, swearing by my sister’s bedside that we would care for her for life.

Vivienne’s phone rang, breaking my reverie.

It seemed eager to escape the grip of the past and Lucian’s words suddenly became unusually numerous.

“Don’t blame Vivienne. She’s now the CEO of a listed company and very busy.”

He rolled up his sleeves, deliberately showing the limited-edition vintage watch on his wrist.

“This was for my birthday last month. She specially went to an auction in France to get it for me.”

Vivienne hung up the phone. “What were you talking about?”

Lucian held her hand affectionately. “I was just saying that Dorian’s clothes are worn out and I’ll pick a few suits I don’t wear and give them to him later.”

My tone was calm, flat. “No need. I don’t like dirty things!”

Lucian’s face instantly darkened with anger. “What do you mean by that?”

I lifted my eyes and stared straight at him. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”

If it weren’t for that accident back then, it should have been my sister enjoying her life now.

Seeing my sister reduced to a child in mind was a pain I couldn’t get over.

But life must go on. In the quiet of the night, I secretly felt grateful that my sister left me two family members who were not by blood, but felt closer than blood relatives.

The night I left for graduate school in another city, Vivienne repeatedly promised me that she would take good care of my sister.

In my despair, I clung to her like a lifeline and believed her.

At first, she truly did everything perfectly.

It was as if she wanted to give me all the love my sister never got to finish giving.

Every two weeks, she would fly to my city, afraid that I would feel wronged or alone.

“Dorian, when the first snow falls, we’ll have our wedding. We’ll be the happiest couple in the world.”

Norwyn City’s seasons are usually as warm as spring, but that winter was especially cold.

The weather forecast said there would be a once-in-fifty-years first snow on Christmas Day.

I used the money I earned from my part-time job to buy a diamond ring and secretly bought a ticket home, planning a surprise for them.

But when I opened the door, what met my eyes was… my sister, chained and emaciated. And before her… two naked bodies, tangled together.

I felt as if I’d fallen into an ice cave, trembling all over, unable to stop myself from wanting to vomit.

I didn’t know whether I was angrier at them for abusing my sister or outraged by their betrayal of me.

The two most important people in my life had both betrayed me.

My mind went completely blank—but my sister saw me first.

Always so clean and tidy, she was now covered in filth, her hair like a bird’s nest, holding out a dirty steamed bun to me.

“My little Dorian… eat…”

Tears instantly poured out. I went mad, rushing forward.

Screaming, I swung my fists with all my strength at Lucian’s face.

Lucian screamed and fell to his knees before me.

“Dorian, I know I’ve wronged you… wronged Selene. But I’m not even thirty yet. I don’t want to spend my whole life with a fool.”

But I had clearly wanted to let him go and he had promisednover and over that he wouldn’t leave. So now he wanted both?

“Vivienne and I truly love each other. I won’t fight you for being his love. I’ll take care of your sister, but please let me stay by Vivienne’s side. Won’t the four of us still be together forever?”

I used to have my sister shielding me from all storms. This was the first time I was forced to face the malice and ugliness of human nature head‑on.

I raised my hand high, but Vivienne slapped it away.

My sister burst into terrified wails and despite her weakness, she threw herself again and again against the iron chain.

She actually snapped her own ankle in the struggle and broke free.

Dragging her broken leg, she spread her arms wide and shielded me tightly beneath her.

The wooden stool Vivienne hurled came crashing heavily down on my sister’s head.

Warm blood seeped into my hands.

Panicking, I tried to dial for emergency help.

Vivienne pulled on her clothes and calmly crushed my phone under her heel.

I had seen her playful, happy and even guilty expressions before—but this was the first time I saw such cold, merciless eyes.

“If you want this idiot to live, then obey and shut your mouth!”

“My husband’s position is still yours and I can even hire the best doctors for your sister. But don’t ask about the things between me and Lucian anymore.”

My sister, dazed and confused, didn’t understand what had happened, yet clumsily wiped my tears.

“My little Dorian, don’t cry. I'm here!”

I gave in.

After the initial panic, Vivienne and Lucian became completely reckless.

Their affair spread within our small circle. Some people scolded them for being ungrateful and even the company’s IPO plans were affected.

Most importantly, Vivienne became pregnant.

She came to me, hoping I would divorce her and publicly admit that I and my sister had been the ones interfering.

“Dorian, if you act on impulse, you’ll never see Ahe again in this life.”

She meant it and she followed through. I searched everywhere but could not find my sister.

Kneeling before her like a beaten dog, in front of countless media, I lowered my head in apology, publicly confessing and apologizing to her and Lucian.

“It was Selene who drugged Lucian to seduce him and I deliberately interfered in their relationship…”

Seeing the confession they twisted and forced me to write, I had wanted to run away.

Vivienne leaned close and played a vague voice recording of my sister.

“Dorian… so cold…”

I clenched my teeth and admitted everything.

***

People in the audience casted looks of disdain and mockery at me, as if watching a circus act.

I didn't even know how I left that banquet. I only wanted to see with my own eyes that my sister was safe.

But the caretaker at the nursing home told me that after seeing the video of me kneeling, my sister had cried to go out and look for me… and disappeared.

When I saw my sister again, she had already become a cold, lifeless corpse.

Her body was filthy and battered and even at her last breath she had clutched tightly the paper plane I loved to play with as a child.

I beat those homeless men who abused her half‑to‑death, yet I would never again hear her call me “My little Dorian.”

Holding her body, I was drowning in agony.

Meanwhile, my phone was flooded with headlines celebrating “Tech Rising Star Vivienne and Lucian Finally Reunited.”

How could I not hate them?

I handled all of my sister’s funeral arrangements alone.

With a fruit knife in my pocket, I wanted only one thing—to drag them down to hell with me.

At the bell‑ringing ceremony, I charged inside. But I was too naive. Before I could even get close, the security guards pinned me hard to the ground.

In front of the cameras, I screamed and cried, exposing their shamelessness, hoping to destroy them publicly.

But how could I ever be a match for them?

“He was mentally unstable after his sister passed away. He’s caused trouble for everyone. My apologies, but I promise he’ll never have the chance to hurt anyone again.”

When it came to dealing with a helpless orphan like me, they had endless ways and endless strength.

I was jailed for intentional assault.

Two years later, when I was released, the world outside had already changed beyond recognition.

Vivienne had become the lofty, untouchable CEO of a publicly listed company.

I couldn’t even get near the company gates, let alone talk about revenge.

Vivienne opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, when my phone suddenly rang.

“Dorian, I’m here.”

Warmth rose in my chest and I ran downstairs.

I brought Maris back up with me, but before we even entered, voices of an argument spilled out from inside.

“Why? Why should we give him half the shares for nothing? Ever since he walked through the door, your eyes have practically been welded onto him—am I dead to you? If you dare go looking for him again, believe it or not, I’ll send him back to prison—”

The man’s words were cut off by a slap.

“The company was originally his sister’s. It was Selene who brought you home from the streets and paid off your debts. If not for her, who knows in what gutter you’d be rotting now. You’ve ruined him this badly—don’t you fear Selene coming for you in the dead of night?”

Hearing them mention my sister, I felt a sudden wave of irritation.

I pushed open the door and both fell silent instantly.

Vivienne stared intently at the woman holding my hand, her voice hoarse as she demanded,

“Who is she?”

“My fiancée,” I replied.