"Don't pretend to be innocent in front of me. Three years ago, you ended up sharing a bed with another man and to think I actually believed you wanted a platonic relationship with me."

Leah's face burned from the slap. She lowered her gaze while clutching her cheek.

Back then, her heart had belonged solely to Leon. She had dreamed of giving herself to him completely after their engagement. However, who could have foreseen the cruel twist of fate that shattered her plans?

Who would have thought that she would lose her purity in the Diakos Villa, only the man was not Leon?

When she had discovered her pregnancy in prison, she had felt a whirlwind of shock and joy. That feeling would never return. Leon had personally destroyed her love and future.

After enduring three years in prison, the man before her no longer had the power to stir her heart anymore because all she felt toward him was disgust.

"Leon let me go. I'm begging you," Leah pleaded with a weak humble voice.

Leon's hand shot out and gripped her throat, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage. "I told you that's impossible! Leah, you will spend the rest of your life atoning for what you did to Ella!"

Summoning a strength, she didn't know she had, Leah shoved him away. Barefoot, she bolted from the hospital room without looking back. She had to escape and find a way to find her child. She could not afford to fall into that hell again.

However, no matter how much she had planned, she hadn't anticipated one thing Ella would be standing right outside the door.

The moment Leah stepped out, Ella stuck out her foot and sent her crashing to the ground.

"What? Are you trying to run? That's not going to happen, my dear little sister," Ella sneered. "You haven't given me your kidney yet. How could I let you leave so easily?"

Leah's hand had broken. She tried to prop herself up but slipped across a trace of blood.

"Ella, sister … you weren't like this before, why are you ....”

"Don't call me that!" Ella snapped. "I hate you! You wear that face and act all innocent while trying to steal the love that belongs to me! If it weren't for you, Mom and Dad would have only doted on me!"

Yet even with her existence, hadn't their parents only ever favored Ella? Leah felt her last bit of hope shatter into nothing.

Leon stepped out of the room, his gaze cold as he looked down at her curled-up figure. Without hesitation, he kicked her hard.

"Stay away from her, Ella. Who knows what tricks she pulled to make my uncle speak up for her? I don't trust her scheming ways."

Ella immediately changed her expression and wrapped her arms around Leon’s arm like a delicate vine. "Leon, I'm scared. What if she tries to kill me again? I can’t let her come home."

As she said that, she let a few tears slip down her face, she looked so pitiful.

When it came to deception and acting, who could compare to this sister of hers? For years, from childhood to adulthood, Ella had played her role flawlessly and earned her sympathy while Leah took every beating meant for her.

Leah still remembered the night she was beaten black and blue by their father. It was Leon who had taken her to the hospital in the dead of night. Back then, he had been a sincere, kind-hearted boy, but that boy had died now.

Since getting out of prison, he had already slapped her twice. The part of her that wanted to ask him why he had done this to her, had already broken beyond repair.

"If you hate seeing me so much, just let me go," Leah said.

Leon frowned. "Leave? Not a chance. From today onward, you're coming back with me. In fifteen days, you’ll undergo surgery and donate your kidney to Ella."

Ella pouted while clinging to his arm. "Leon, how can you let her stay at your place? We’re the couple, what will people think?"

"I’ll send her to the Diakos Villa. She can stay in the servants' quarters."

Ella beamed. She leaned in to kiss Leon’s cheek. "Now that’s more like it."

Leah found the scene sickening. However, as long as she could stay far away from the three of them, she was more than willing.

One thing that Leah had not predicted was Leon would bring Ella back to the Diakos Villa with him. Once upon a time, she had entered this villa as his fiancée. Now, she was nothing more than an outsider. Her status was even lower than a servant!

Leeon led her to the most remote maid’s quarters. "From now on, you are not allowed to leave this room. Meals will be delivered. If I find out you tried to escape, I will break your legs."

His words were filled with menace. Leah numbly took the bag from his hands and shut the door with a thud.

Outside, Leon loosened his tie, but the stifling frustration in his chest refused to dissipate. Just then, Ella sent him a photo of herself in lingerie and it instantly ignited a fire in his eyes.

Whatever frustration he felt because of Leah, someone else would relieve it for him.

Ella was three years older than him. When they first mistakenly ended up together, she had still been a virgin. However, ever since then, she had become incredibly skilled, she always left him feeling utterly spent.

Leon had to admit that only after he experienced intimacy did he realize how laughable his pure, innocent love with Leah had been.

Leah slept for a while and woke up at 2 a.m., her stomach empty. No one had brought her any food.

Leah slept for a while and woke up at two in the morning When she woke up, she was hungry but no one had brought her any food.

Following her memory, she headed toward the kitchen for some water, but suddenly, she heard an unmistakable sound of pleasure.

"Ah, Leon, slow down."

"I can’t."

It was Leon and Ella? They were actually doing it in the kitchen…

Leah covered her mouth. She was afraid of making any noise. As she stepped back, she bumped into a firm chest.

The man’s breath enveloped her and she stiffened like a startled rabbit and instantly pulled away.

Nico watched her calmly. "What? Aren't you going in to catch them in the act?"

Leah had just woken up so her eyes were misty and they carried a fragile softness. Nico’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

"I have nothing to do with them," she said stiffly before she left. 

The kitchen door wasn’t even locked and the sounds of debauchery continued without pause.

Just then, Nico grabbed her wrist. "Listen closely. It's quite entertaining, isn’t it?"

Leah glared at him. Was he insane? The head of the Diakos Financila Consortium actually had this kind of vulgar fetish.

Nico raised his brow and smirked slightly. He unlocked his phone and pulled up the surveillance footage then handed it to Leah.

I’ve been staying here for a while and for security reasons I installed cameras. You're welcome to keep a copy and use it as evidence."

The footage from the surveillance camera was downright obscene. Leah forced herself to stay calm. "They’re not done yet."

"Press that button and it’ll save in real-time."

Silently, Leah pressed the red button. When she watched the tangled bodies and scattered clothing on the screen, she felt nothing.

Nioc glanced at the footage. "They’re almost finished. Come with me."

He took her to a bedroom on the third floor. It was his room. It had a low-key, luxurious and meticulously refined room.

"What do you plan to do next?" he asked.

Leah stood hesitantly at the doorway. She did not dare to step inside. What she wanted to do and what she could do were two different things.

"Tell me, I can help you," said Niko.

"Why?" Leah asked. Her gaze was filled with confusion. Nico had already helped her once. Why would he help her again?

Nio spread his hands. "Think of it as my good deed for the day. If I don’t help you, you won’t be able to keep your kidney in fifteen days."

Leah fell silent.

"I’m not offering this for free. You need to agree to one condition," Nico said.

"What condition?"

A faintly helpless smile played at Lion’s lips. "My parents live abroad and are very concerned about my personal life. If you don’t mind, you could pose as my wife to reassure them."

Leah did not hesitate for a second before she refused. "I'm sorry, Mr. Diakos but I refused."

What kind of ridiculous request was this? She had once been Leon's fiancée. For her pretending to be Nico’s fiancée was already absurd enough, let alone playing the role of his wife.

Nico took slow, deliberate steps toward her. His imposing presence pressed down on her. When he finally stopped in front of her, she instinctively held her breath.

“Why not?” he asked.

Leah lowered her eyes to avoid looking directly into his eyes and she stammered as she explained, “You’re an outstanding man … You should have plenty of wealthy socialites eager to marry you. I don’t deserve it. I’ve been in prison .…”

Her voice grew weaker and she swallowed back the last part of her sentence she was she blurted out that she had also given birth to a child.

Nico’s voice was low and firm. It brushed against her ear like a tangible force. “What if I told you that I have evidence proving you were framed?”

Leah’s head snapped up. “Who was it? Who set me up?”

Nico did not answer immediately. Instead, he handed her a phone. “Tonight’s video has been synced to this device. Think it over and call me when you’ve made a decision. I’m going to rest now.”

As Leah made her way downstairs, she ran into Leon who was coming up the stairs. Their eyes met and he was the first to speak. “Where were you?”

Leah answered without hesitation. “I'm getting some water.”

“The third floor is my uncle’s space. Even if he doesn’t stay here often, you shouldn’t be wandering up there.”

“Oh, okay.”

Without another word, she brushed past him. She did not even spare him a second glance.

Leon felt the fire inside him blaze even hotter. “Stop right there!”

Leah paused and turned back. She noticed the marks on his neck. They were blatant evidence of his recent indulgence. He acted as if he was flaunting a trophy.

"What is it?" Leah asked indifferently.

“Three years ago … Did you also ‘accidentally’ enter the wrong room?”

Leah found his question ridiculous. Without much thought, she replied, “I don’t remember,” and walked away.

Leon gritted his teeth, his fingers tightened around the staircase railing as he watched her retreating figure.

She was nothing but a disgrace, so why did she still have the power to enrage him? Why did he keep subjecting himself to this frustration?

Frustrated, he stormed into his room, where Ella clung to him, demanding another round. However, no matter how rough he was, an image of Leah’s cold, detached expression kept flashing through his mind.

***

Meanwhile, Leah lay in bed while staring at the phone screen. The only number saved in the contacts belonged to Nico.

She had searched for the orphanage’s number and called to inquire about her child, only to learn that the child had already been adopted.

She had no power or influence. She couldn’t even bring her own child home.

Tossing and turning all night, she finally made a decision. At precisely seven o'clock in the morning, Leah dialed Leon’s number.

“Have you made up your mind?” he asked.

“Yes. However, I have three conditions.”

Leah had thought it through. If playing along with Nico’s act for a short time could buy her freedom for the rest of her life, she was willing to take the gamble.

“Alright, name them.”

"First, after sixteen days, I want to disappear without a trace from Starry City. Second, I want your help to find a kid named John. She was taken from Harmony Orphanage two years ago."

Leon’s fingers tightened around his phone. “A child? You have a child?”

Leah let out a bitter laugh. “I told you I don’t deserve this. If you can’t agree, just pretend I never said anything.”

“I agree.” His response was immediate. “However, these conditions are too easy. I think you should ask for one more thing.”

Leah bit her lip. She already felt like she was asking for too much, what was wrong with him?

“What?”

Nico who was flipping through Leah’s prison records, suddenly felt a surge of anger burning in his chest. His eyes darkened with a dangerous glint.