Under the Eiffel Tower, they made vows of eternal love.

While I rotted in prison, enduring beatings and insults, they traveled the world, hand in hand, marveling at its beauty.

I was penniless, unable to even afford a taxi after my release. On the other hand, they spent fortunes on countless luxurious jewels and designer accessories.

In the years I was locked away, they had already become the perfect couple in high society.

No wonder Gabriel never visited me—not even once—just like my parents.

I foolishly believed he was busy gathering evidence to clear my name.

Little did I know, he was simply too preoccupied indulging in a love story with Alyssa.

The pain in my chest felt like a blade slicing through flesh.

I lay in bed, letting silent tears stream down my face.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I answered absentmindedly—only to hear a voice I never expected.

"Ellie, I heard you were released. How have you been?"

Of all people, the first to check on me after five years wasn’t my so-called family.

It was an old professor I had met only once.

We exchanged brief pleasantries before he got to the point.

He told me that all these years, he had been fighting for my case, trying to reduce my sentence so I could join a confidential research institute as soon as possible.

"You’re an extraordinary talent. Whether you agree or not, I will continue investigating the accident and prove your innocence!"

His words sent a wave of warmth through my frozen heart.

Back then, I had pushed myself beyond my limits, desperate for my parents’ approval. Not only had I been accepted into multiple top universities, but I had also been selected for a national research team.

But before I could even make a choice, the people I loved most—my own family—conspired to throw me into prison.

Now, I had finally seen through their deception, the hypocrisy of my parents and Gabriel.

I would never again chase after a love that was never meant for me.

Tears blurred my vision as I accepted Professor Michael’s invitation.

At that instant, I heard the excitement in his voice. "Wonderful! I’ll pick you up in five days. Don’t be late!"

"I won’t."

I turned to look at the picture on my phone—Gabriel and Alyssa locked in a tight embrace.

Then, I turned and marked a horizontal line on the wall.

A habit I had picked up in prison.

Back then, I counted down the days until I could reunite with Gabriel.

Now, I was counting down the days until I could finally leave for good.

—

A cold draft seeped through the attic window, making the pain in my crippled leg unbearable.

Just as I winced, Gabriel knelt by my bed, massaging my leg with gentle hands.

When he saw I was awake, his reddened eyes met mine.

"I had no idea you suffered so much in prison," he whispered. "I swear, I won’t let those who hurt you get away with it!"

Those who hurt me? Wasn’t he the worst of them all?

I bit down on my lip, tasting blood as I fought hard to suppress the raging storm inside me.

I lowered my head, refusing to speak.

Then, he said something that made my stomach churn.

"Ellie, marry me." His voice was filled with deep affection.

"I can’t bear to see you living like this in the Myers household. This tiny, broken room... even their maids wouldn’t stay here."

I lifted my gaze, watching the sincerity in his expression, and let out a mocking smile. "You really want to marry me?"

"Of course! Have you forgotten? We grew up together. The moment you were brought back to the Myers family, I already liked you."

"But my parents might not approve. If it comes to that, we can secretly get our marriage certificate. Then, on the wedding day, Alyssa can take your place at the ceremony. That way, no one will mock or gossip about you."

As he spoke, he slid a massive diamond ring onto my finger, his expression filled with nothing but love and devotion.

But the moment I saw the ring, I recognized it instantly.

This was the one Alyssa had worn before.

A relic from the British Queen, worth over a billion.

It symbolized everlasting love.

The love was real.

But the ring on my finger was fake.

And the person Gabriel truly loved was never me.

I swallowed the pain rising in my chest and looked at Gabriel with teary eyes.

"Ever since I came to the Myers family, my parents deemed me unworthy, forbidding me from meeting outsiders. They told the world I was just an adopted daughter while letting Alyssa take my place and live the glamorous life of a wealthy heiress."

"And now, you think I’m unworthy too. You want Alyssa to replace me at my own wedding with you."

"Am I really so shameful? The one who did wrong isn’t me—it’s Alyssa!"

She was the one who stole my identity. She was the one who caused the accident and ran away. She was the one who schemed and framed me over and over again.

Why was it that she got to be loved by everyone, living in luxury without lifting a finger while I must bear all the consequences, hiding in this dark attic just to survive?

Fury surged in my veins.

I ripped the ring off my finger and threw it with all my strength.

"I refuse, Gabriel!" I shouted.

The diamond ring drew a perfect arc through the air—and landed squarely on Alyssa’s face as she stood by, eager to watch the spectacle.

She covered her cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. "Sis, do you really hate me that much? Will you only be happy if I die? Fine, I’ll just die then."

"Goodbye, Gabby. I hope you and my sister live happily ever after."

With that, she turned and ran off, sobbing.

Gabriel shoved me aside without a second thought.

My injured leg buckled, and I collapsed hard onto the floor.

Fresh blood seeped from my wounds, staining the cold ground. But Gabriel didn’t spare me a single glance.

He was too busy chasing after Alyssa, his face filled with worry.

"Ellie, don’t think that just because you served a few years in prison, you can boss Alyssa around!"

"If you hadn’t suddenly come back, she wouldn’t have been so distressed, wouldn’t have gotten drunk. This is all your fault—it has nothing to do with her!"

"You only spent a few years behind bars, but Alyssa has suffered the torment in her heart all these years. She’s the real victim. Why can’t you just let her go? You’ve really let me down!"

His words sliced through me like an axe, splitting my heart in two.

I sat there, frozen.

Not until I watched Gabriel carry Alyssa away did the tears finally fall.

So this was what he meant by "favoring" me.

For a long time, I just sat there in silence.

Then, slowly, I wiped away my tears and began packing up my few belongings.

If I was destined to be alone in this life, then I might as well cut ties with those who never truly loved me.

From now on, we would walk separate paths—and never meet again.

—

The day of my meeting with Professor Michael finally arrived.

Carrying my worn-out backpack, I was about to leave when my phone rang.

"Ellie, I found an eyewitness from that year. He’s willing to testify for you."

"Not only that, I’ve uncovered something else—something that concerns both the Myers and Turner families. It’s up to you how you want to handle it."

I stared at the documents he sent over, my breath hitching.

If this information went public, the Myers and Turner families would never know peace again.

I hesitated.

And in that moment of hesitation, Alyssa suddenly appeared before me.

Before I could say a word, she shoved me hard—sending me crashing into the pool behind me.

The icy water swallowed me whole, stabbing into my body like a thousand blades.

Shivering violently, I fought my way to the edge—only for the Myers family’s bodyguards to shove me back in.

My parents stood beside Alyssa, watching me coldly.

"How dare you attack someone now? If we don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think you can do whatever you want!"

Alyssa looked aggrieved, her voice trembling. "Mom, Dad, why does my sister always bully me? Is it my fault that I’m outstanding? I just don’t want to embarrass you."

"But she... she keeps targeting me, and now she even wants to ruin my face. How am I supposed to face people after this?"

She sobbed pitifully.

My mother’s heart ached at the sight. She grabbed my hair and slapped me—hard—twice across the face.

"How could I give birth to such a vicious daughter?!"

"We were living a perfectly happy life. Why did you have to come back and destroy our happiness? If Alyssa’s face is scarred, I will never forgive you!"

My father snorted coldly. "Don’t think you can go out and spread lies. No one will believe a lunatic ex-convict like you. If you don’t behave, I’ll have you locked away in a mental hospital!"

At his command, the bodyguards behind me shoved my head underwater.

Again and again.

The suffocating pressure engulfed me, drowning me in terror.

The fear of death made me struggle desperately.

I had already decided to walk away from everything—why wouldn’t they just let me go?

I had finally found a new purpose in life. I had yet to live the life I truly wanted.

As despair swallowed me whole, I saw a figure approaching—Gabriel.

With the last of my strength, I screamed, "Gabby, save me!"

For a brief moment, he froze.

That familiar way I called his name reminded him of when we first met, stirring something in his heart.

But only for a moment.

After he saw the tear glistening in Alyssa’s eye, his expression hardened as he looked at me coldly.

"Ellie, when you make mistakes, you must accept punishment."

"Uncle Daniel knows what he’s doing. He won’t go too far."

Upon hearing that, all my remaining hope shattered.

My frail body, already tormented in prison, couldn’t withstand this kind of torture. Soon, the water’s surface turned into a crimson.

Alyssa smiled in satisfaction, then clung onto Gabriel’s arm.

"Forget it, I won’t hold it against my sister. Let’s go pick out my wedding dress."

"I heard you had a top-tier gown flown in from Italy. I’m sure I’ll look stunning in it."

Gabriel glanced at my miserable state. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but in the end, he simply nodded.

My parents quickly followed them.

The group walked away laughing and chatting, leaving me behind like a stray dog.

I shivered as I dragged myself out of the pool.

My injured leg had lost all feeling, and every inch of my body throbbed with unbearable pain.

With trembling hands, I used the last of my strength to dial Professor Michael’s number.

"Professor... Release everything. The truth and the secret. Expose it all."

Before I could even hang up, darkness consumed me.