At the entrance of the Crown Hotel’s engagement banquet hall, I stood breathless, my body still trembling from my desperate escape from the lab explosion.

Through the glass doors, the dazzling chandeliers reflected off the lavish decorations inside, the celebration in stark contrast to the wreckage of my life.

My fingers, bare where my engagement ring should have been, clutched the door handle, frozen in place.

Inside, Charlie stood tall in a perfectly tailored suit, a pristine white flower pinned to his lapel. He was gently wiping the tears from Lilly’s eyes—tears that held not a shred of guilt.

My stepsister, who had always worn her signature cashmere hairband, now casually played with a jade pendant around her neck. A relic my mother had promised to pass down to me before she died.

The music in the ballroom came to an abrupt stop.

Charlie tore the white flower from his chest and crushed it beneath his shoe. His voice was like a poisoned blade, sharp and merciless. “My engagement with Jessie is hereby annulled. From this day forward, I am officially engaged to Ms. Lilly. Thank you all for attending.”

A murmur of shock rippled through the guests as Lilly proudly lifted her wrist, revealing a glittering diamond ring. In the midst of their stunned gasps, a hoarse, broken laugh escaped my lips, echoing like the last flicker of a neon light before it burned out. I couldn’t take it anymore. Clutching the test reports I had salvaged from the lab, I stormed into the hall, determined to unmask Lilly’s deception before the crowd.

“Everyone, don’t believe Jessie’s nonsense,” Charlie cut in smoothly, holding up a document. “What I have here are the official security records from the company. Lilly was never at the lab today. This was nothing more than a tragic accident.”

At his signal, security guards moved in, surrounding me like I was nothing more than a raving lunatic disrupting their grand affair.

The next thing I knew, I was being dragged out of the hotel, thrown into the raging storm. Rain drenched me to the bone, my body shaking like a leaf in the wind.

From behind, an unfamiliar voice reached my ears. “My condolences.”

A black umbrella appeared above my head and a warm black suit was draped over my trembling shoulders.

“If you expose them now, the sharks at Moan's Group will tear you apart,” the voice continued.

I turned around, my lipstick inadvertently smearing against the man’s collar. The dark red stain bled into the silver-gray silk like a drop of blood.

Peter. The infamous business tycoon I had never met until this moment now stood inches away, his thumb brushing against the corner of my lips with surprising gentleness. In his palm lay a wedding ring, its cold surface gleaming with an eerie blue light.

“Marry me,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “And those scavengers who took everything from you will soon learn the meaning of fear.”

With that, he slid the ring onto my finger. A surge of warmth spread from where the metal touched my skin, searing over an old scar—a scar left behind when my stepmother had “accidentally” spilled acid on me when I was twelve.

Now, as Peter’s wedding ring pressed against it, the mark burned once more, as if whispering of a vengeance long overdue.

After our marriage, Peter took care of everything. From managing the aftermath of my father’s laboratory explosion to handling the business affairs of the group, he arranged it all meticulously.

Having endured the agony of losing my father and the double betrayal of my fiancé and stepsister, I had nearly convinced myself that Peter was the hero sent to save me. I clung to him, desperate and drowning, seeking refuge in his presence. Without hesitation, I entrusted him with my father’s experiment logs and test reports, believing he would uncover the truth. When he told me that Lilly had been confined to an institute for investigation, I had no reason to doubt him. Not until the eve of the new drug launch did I catch the first scent of deception.

That evening, Peter mentioned that some critical information was missing and that he needed to retrieve it from the study in the old mansion. The moonlight cascaded down the staircase like a layer of cold mercury as I followed his path. By accident, I kicked over an old ceramic piggy bank from my childhood. The shards scattered with a clear, mournful sound, revealing a platinum wedding ring nestled among them.

Inside the band, a name was engraved—"Widdy Young"—my mother’s name. Though worn with age, the inscription still bore its weight in memory. It was a relic my father had locked away after my mother died in childbirth. I held the ring carefully in my palm, my heart heavy with sentiment, before turning to leave.

As I passed by my stepmother’s room, her shrill laughter sent an icy chill through my spine.

“The iris diaphragm has been implanted into the system,” she cackled. “Rest assured, Mr. Peter.”

My breath hitched. Peter was supposed to be in the study—so why was he entangled with Lilly’s mother? Before I could process my thoughts, the sound of his approaching footsteps sent me scrambling into the shadows. I remained silent. I did not confront him. At that moment, my phone vibrated, displaying an anonymous video.

On the screen, a rosewood box was being loaded into the trunk of a Porsche. The gleam of a copper lock reflected off the surface—briefly catching the light from Peter’s wedding ring.

Then my father’s dying murmur echoed in my mind like an explosion. "Launch... gift..."

Dread coiled in my stomach, but I suppressed it, forcing myself to wait for the day of the new drug launch. That day, I had an excuse to visit the lab, intending to check a set of data.

Through the observation window of the blast-proof lab, I overheard Peter speaking with the technical director.

“Mr. Peter, three years ago, you altered your merger plans just to claim Moan's core technology in name?” the director asked in a hushed voice. “And the surveillance footage of the gas leak…”

Peter’s voice was steady, chillingly indifferent.

“Only by becoming the Moan Family’s son-in-law—only as Jessie’s husband—could I bury the evidence and keep her out of prison. And ensure that Lilly received the complete technical data she needed to fulfill her ambitions.”

“She will continue her research in the sterile room,” he added coolly. “As for these business stains… I will take care of them.”

“But what about Jessie?” the technical director asked hesitantly. “She will be at the launch. What will you do about her?”

Peter’s response was crisp, unwavering. “No need to worry. I only ever said Lilly was cooperating with the investigation. The surveillance footage from back then is already hidden. Jessie’s test report may prove the accident wasn’t an accident, but it cannot prove Lilly was responsible.”

In that instant, my entire world collapsed. He had orchestrated this three years ago, extending his reach into my father’s company, planting his influence where I had once believed I was safe. The home I thought was my sanctuary was, in reality, a bulletproof glass prison—built to shield Lilly.

My stepmother’s laughter in the old mansion, the anonymous video on my phone—it all connected now. His claim that Lilly was detained for investigation had been nothing more than a convenient lie. He had stolen my father’s lab logs and core technology, giving Lilly a hidden haven where she could sit back and enjoy the rewards. And today’s new drug launch was nothing but a grand feast where they would revel in the fruits of my father’s labor.

I had believed fate had shown me mercy, sending a hero to save me from ruin. But how laughable—those technology transfer agreements stamped with my wedding ring, the bright red handprints on the accident report—had already nailed me to the altar.

I had been nothing more than a stepping stone for their fame and fortune. My entire body trembled, fury and despair colliding in my chest. I had been so stupid. I thought I had finally found someone to trust. But I had been living inside an elaborate lie all along.

I glared coldly at the familiar yet distant figure through the observation window, my nails digging deep into my palms, nearly piercing the flesh. The pain was like an ice pick, stabbing straight into my chaotic mind, forcing me back to my senses. I can’t afford to panic. I can’t afford to lose control.

"Peter, you’re truly impressive."

I gritted my teeth, each word forced out from the depths of my throat, laced with bitter hatred and biting mockery. I can't believe I was so blind, mistaking a jackal for a hero.

Spinning on my heel, I stormed back into my office. The moment I stepped inside, I locked the door and pulled the blinds shut, shutting out the outside world. The room darkened instantly, mirroring the abyss of my emotions. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed.

Now is not the time for sorrow or anger. I must avenge my father. Lilly must pay the price. I wasted no time and began gathering evidence. His death cannot be in vain.

My hands trembled slightly as I opened my computer, fingers striking the keyboard with urgency, pulling up the internal system of my father’s laboratory. Lines of code. Pages of data. Shadows of his relentless work, once filled with life and ambition.

I flipped through the experimental logs he left behind. His meticulous handwriting filled every page, documenting his dedication, his wisdom—the very essence of his life's work. And now, those records had become mere stepping stones for Lilly’s rise to power. The thought alone made me sick. I compared his logs with the accident report Peter had provided, combing through them again and again, searching for cracks, for discrepancies. If he had gone to such lengths to cover the truth, then the truth must be buried in the details they deliberately overlooked.

Time slipped away like sand through my fingers. The only sound in the room was the rapid flipping of pages, the rhythmic tapping of keys. My eyes burned, dry and sore from staring at the screen, but I couldn’t afford even a moment of rest.

This was a race against time. Lilly’s new drug was about to launch. If I didn’t expose her crimes before she solidified her reputation, it would be too late.

The clock struck seven when a knock at the door made me freeze. Peter entered. I swiftly closed the files, shut down the computer and replaced my exhaustion with a radiant smile. He mustn’t see a single clue. He smiled warmly, stepping forward to embrace me. "Working overtime again? You work too hard. Don’t overdo it, your health isn’t great. If you push yourself too much, I’ll be heartbroken."

"It’s fine. What brings you here today? Shouldn’t you be at Wilson Corporation?" I feigned ignorance about his earlier visit to the company.

"I called you, but you didn’t answer. I got worried, so I came to check on you." He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek—just as affectionate as ever.

I remembered that I had muted my phone earlier to focus on my search. Even as he acted so tenderly, I felt nothing but revulsion. I never thought he would go this far for Lilly.

On the drive home, he started the car as if nothing had happened, his voice casual.

"Jessie, the police told me today that there wasn’t enough evidence, so they had to release Lilly for now. They’ll issue an arrest warrant once more evidence surfaces. Besides, the new drug data was originally in her possession and Moan Corporation has deep business ties with Shawn Group, so—"

I cut him off before he could finish. "Well, it’s just speculation. No solid proof. Let’s just drop it. Don’t worry, I won’t dwell on it."

He visibly relaxed, a relieved smile flickering in the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you, dear. Marrying you has been the greatest privilege of my life."

I turned to the window, struggling to steady my trembling heart, holding back the tears threatening to fall.