When I woke up, I was still lying on the couch, only covered by a small throw blanket draped over me.

Ryan was gone.

The house was filled with noise, with ten or so girls chattering loudly.

I called them into my room and opened the wardrobe.

The walk-in closet was filled with custom-made dresses, each one a unique piece. The girls’ eyes widened at the sight.

Luckily, since Ryan now held absolute power, no one dared to search his house. Technically, these dresses belonged to the Knights, but just like me, no one dared to touch them.

“Take whichever one you like,” I said.

Shannon stood in front of me, scanning me from head to toe with suspicion written all over her face.

“You’re not so generous. What’s the catch?”

I shook my head without answering.

I had finished sorting through my family’s belongings. Now it was time to take care of my own.

Ryan hated me so much. Once I had died, these dresses would probably be burned without a second thought.

Rather than let the designers’ hard work go to waste, I’d rather they find some use now.

Several of the younger girls couldn’t resist anymore. They happily started picking out outfits, slipping them on and squealing, “The quality of these is insane!”

Only a few girls who were closer to my age stood back with their arms crossed, clearly suspicious. They couldn’t figure out what I was up to.

I didn’t care, though. I opened the drawers one by one, revealing luxurious handbags and watches. Their eyes sparkled.

It was only then that I noticed many of these girls resembled me to some extent.

Shannon, the newest addition, looked almost like a replica of me. She was also the most doted on.

However, none of it mattered anymore.

I only had two days left.

From outside, the roar of a sports car echoed through the garden.

Reina, who had been standing stiffly, peeked out, then suddenly walked over and started picking through the clothes.

The moment Ryan walked through the door, Reina held up a dress and screamed.

Somehow, the sequins on the dress had been sliced in half. A sharp edge cut cleanly across her pale, slender leg. Blood streamed down her skin.

I remembered that Ryan had chosen her to have the largest guest room just because of those smooth white legs.

Sure enough, his face darkened. He rushed over and scooped Reina into his arms, blowing on her wound with concern.

Reina’s eyes were misty. “It’s all my fault. Lily was being nice by offering us clothes, and I just had to pick the one with a blade in it.”

Ryan’s expression grew dangerous.

“Lily, I’ll give you one chance to explain.”

I shrugged. “What’s there to explain? Since you won’t let me divorce you, I’m still your wife. What’s wrong with giving your mistress a little lesson?”

“Lily, I’ve told you. Your job is to serve them. Who said you could act like my wife and start disciplining my women?”

My attitude enraged him. He pulled out a whip and handed it to the butler.

“For every drop of blood Reina shed, you’ll repay it a hundred times.”

The whip came down on my legs, the barbs tearing chunks of skin with each strike.

I didn’t feel the first ten lashes.

Compared to the pain in my chest, my legs barely registered.

By the eleventh lash, the wound had opened down to the bone. When I saw the whip lash across my bones, tears finally fell.

Ryan crouched down in front of me. “Hurts now, doesn’t it? Get on your knees and bark for the camera. Say, I, Lily, and the whole Knights are nothing but Ryan Irwin’s dogs. Then bow to Reina and apologize. Do that, and I’ll let you off.”

I said nothing except a cold snort.

As a result, Ryan picked up a baseball bat and struck me down.

Reina covered her mouth and tugged at Ryan’s sleeve. “Ryan, maybe that’s enough. I think Lily’s leg might actually be broken!”

“Perfect. It takes a long time to heal a broken bone. That means during that time, she won't be running anywhere or bullying any of you.”

‘A long time? However, Ryan, you'll never see it coming since I'm dying soon,’ I thought to myself.

That night, Ryan did something rare. He stayed by my bedside and had the family doctor do a full check-up.

They confirmed it was just a fracture. As long as I rested for three months, I’d be fine.

I was annoyed by his presence and just about to tell him to leave when I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Keep acting. Go on.” Ryan only smirked.

“How come you didn’t spit blood while the doctor was here? Scared they’d realize you’re faking it?

“Lily, do you know why I like Reina? Because she looks just like you when you pull the same fake innocent act. You both think I’m some idiot.

“But Reina has nothing. She has no choice but to cling to me. You? You used to have the Knights, acting all arrogant. Now that they’ve fallen, you still won’t bow your head and serve me.

“That’s what I hate most about you.

“Drop the act. Learn from Reina and know your place. You disgust me right now.”

He stood and barked at the driver, “I’m sleeping at the office tonight. No one’s allowed to bother me.”

Outside my door, the women who’d once flaunted themselves now stood stiff, eyes trained on me.

I coughed up more blood.

Reina scoffed. “Lily, Ryan’s already gone. You can stop putting on a show now.”

I didn’t have the strength to speak. All I could do was take a deep breath, mouth filling with the taste of blood.

Only I knew the truth.

The whip and the bat earlier had knocked the broken stone deeper into my chest.

My heart must be shredded by now. The fragments had likely torn through my trachea. That was why I couldn’t stop coughing up blood.

I was dying.

Suddenly, I really wanted some peanut soup.

I struggled to sit up, holding on to that last bit of dignity, like the daughter of the Knights.

“Bring me a bowl of peanut soup, and make it thick.”

Reina rolled her eyes. “Why should I? I’m not your maid!”

She turned to leave, but Shannon stopped her.

They exchanged a look, then I heard Shannon whisper, “I saw her medical records. She’s allergic to peanuts. Let’s go along with it…”

Reina’s eyes widened. “But she’s setting us up!”

Shannon raised her chin toward the door. “You idiot. Let someone else do it.”

Finally, a young girl walked in, carefully carrying a bowl of peanut soup. She was wearing my favorite dress—the one I wore the day Ryan proposed to me.

She was smart. Even her hairstyle was identical to how I wore it that day.

Ambition and challenge flashed in her eyes as she pressed the spoon to my lips.

“Lily, let me feed you. You better drink every drop.”

I took it in, spoonful by spoonful. I could feel the rash spreading across my face, my throat swelling shut, and my fingers puffing up.

Then somehow, as I swallowed the last bit, the soup slipped into my windpipe. My heart seized with pain, and all the color drained from the world.

When Ryan came back, there were dark circles under his eyes.

He headed straight to my room.

“So? Have you learned your lesson?”

When I didn’t respond, his face twisted with annoyance.

“Staying silent won’t help you. I’ve got all the time in the world. I’ll lock you up for life if I have to! I don’t believe I can’t break you!

“Oh, you like dancing, don’t you? Tomorrow, you’re coming to a ball with me. I want everyone to see how the once-famous daughter of the Knights, who could charm half the city with one dance, now crawls like a dog behind me on two crippled legs.

“What, cat got your tongue? Even dogs know how to bark!

“Or maybe not enough people saw you humiliated last time? Want to go for round two?”