I wanted to explain, but the pain in my mouth flared up so bad I couldn’t even speak.

My sister’s the only family I’ve got. She never wanted me to stay abroad forever.

Growing up, no one ever laid a finger on me. And now, look at me—beaten to a pulp by her fiancé, can’t even get a word out.

Even her people didn’t recognize me. ‘Dixie… It hurts so bad!’

The thought made me cry silently. Scarface frowned when he saw it.

“This kid’s got the same vibe as the young master—can’t handle a bit of pain, cries real easy,” he said. “Should we double-check? The Queen really spoils her little brother. If he is the one, we’re screwed.”

Blade nodded. “Alright, I’ll make a call and ask. If he really is Dixie’s brother, I’ll take the fall. No one else gets dragged in. But if he’s not…”

His face twisted into something monstrous.

“If not… then I’ll make this pretty boy wish he was never born!”

He told one of the big guys to shut me up and pulled out his phone to call my sister.

“Hey, boo. Didn’t you say your brother’s coming back for our engagement party? What day exactly is he arriving? I wanna prep a little welcome gift for him. That’s why I’m asking.”

Dixie’s cheerful voice came through the phone, “Aww, that’s so sweet of you! He said he’ll be home tomorrow night.”

My heart sank.

‘Shit…’

I’d changed my flight to surprise her—got here today instead.

Blade’s eyes turned cold and calculating as he looked at me.

‘If he hangs up now, I’m done for!’

I opened my mouth and bit down hard. The guy covering it yelped in pain and let go.

“Dixie! Help me!”

I screamed with everything I had.

Blade’s face twisted, and he quickly kicked me to the floor, slamming his foot over my mouth.

On the other end, my sister hesitated. “Did… someone just scream for help?”

Blade forced a laugh. “Ah, that? Just the TV. Anyway, since your brother’s arriving soon, I better prep that gift. Talk to you later.”

He… hung up.

And just like that, my last sliver of hope disappeared.

Pain exploded in my face as he pressed down harder with his foot.

“You little bastard. Thought you could fool me, huh? Almost got me!”

I started crying from the pain, but he wasn’t satisfied.

He looked down at my tear-streaked face, and I saw something dark flash in his eyes—jealousy.

“This is the face you used to hook Dixie, isn’t it? She’s already agreed to marry me, and she still went and bought you a freaking villa!”

One of the guys behind him tried to calm him down.

“Honestly, it’s not that weird. Big shots like the Queen always have side lovers. If she likes him, maybe we just let it slide? I mean, you’re the one marrying her. Why not turn a blind eye?”

Even Scarface chimed in, “Yeah, you’re the main guy. He’s nothing next to you, man.”

Blade wavered, like he was actually thinking it over.

Meanwhile, I was about to explode from how unfair this all was.

‘I’m her real brother. And they’re treating me like some random toyboy punching bag?! My sister has the worst taste in men. When I see her, I will make her call this damn engagement off!’

Blade must’ve caught the anger in my eyes. He’d been softening, but that look lit him up with rage again.

“You’re still glaring at me, pretty boy? I won't kill you today, I’ll at least ruin you.”

He yanked his foot away, pulled out a knife, and slashed it toward my face.

“No! Don’t—Ahhh!”

I screamed in agony, but he just carved faster.

“If you look like a freaking monster, then I’ll be the only one Dixie will always be looking for!”

The pain hit me so hard I nearly blacked out.

This face—my sister spent a fortune, hired the best doctors, and it took three whole years to fix it up.

‘And now he just ruined it like that? She’s never gonna let him get away with this!’

“You’re… dead… meat!”

I spat the words out through clenched teeth. That was it—Blade snapped.

“Son of a bitch! You're cursing me, you little shit?” He slashed at my lips with the knife. “Curse me again! Go on, curse me again!”

All I felt was a numb, searing pain. I couldn’t even form a single word anymore.

He wasn’t done yet, his hand twitching like he wanted to do more damage.

But then we all heard it—heels clicking outside the room.

“Queen? What are you doing here?”

‘It’s her! My sister! She’s here!’

I tried to get up, but pain shot through my leg—the bastard had smashed the back of my knee with an iron rod. I collapsed instantly.

Scarface’s face went pale. He urged Blade, “If she sees this, she’ll lose it. Hide him! Now!”

Blade and the two thugs dragged me into the kitchen. The sliding door shut just as my sister stepped inside.

“Scarface, didn’t I tell you to start decorating the villa already? Where is everything?”

“I just got here,” Scarface lied. “The stuff’s still in the car. I’ll get the guys to start bringing it in now.”

He led the other two out, leaving my sister alone, her heels echoing through the villa as she looked around.

“Mmm… The decor’s actually nice. He’s gonna love it.”

Then she stopped at the kitchen.

“This the kitchen?” she asked the designer, already reaching to open the door.

I saw her silhouette through the frosted glass and couldn’t hold back anymore—my tears just burst out.

‘Dixie, please! Come in! Please save me!’

The door slid open, slow and quiet.

She stepped in, and the moment her eyes landed on us—on me lying there all bloodied and on Blade crouching over me—she froze in shock.

“Boo? What are you doing here?” she asked. She pointed at me, frowning. “Who is that? Why’s his face covered in blood?”

‘Dixie’ It’s me! It’s really me! Please recognize me!’

I was tied up and couldn’t even move properly, but I tried—I squirmed and crawled toward her with all the strength I had left.

But Blade kicked me in the face. “Fuck off. Stay down.”

My head spun from the blow, but I still tried to mumble, “Big sis… Dixie…”

With that, Blade exploded; he stomped on my mouth again.

“You still got the balls to call her ‘sister’ in front of me, you pretty little shit?”

But I knew… My sister trembled at the sound of my voice.

She knelt down, staring at my face—trying to place it.

But before she could connect the dots, Blade jumped in.

“Boo, I get it, alright? You don’t have to hide it. He’s your plaything from abroad, right?

“This villa? You bought it for him. I didn’t say anything because you’ve worked so hard. You wanna keep someone on the side, that’s your right.”

He blinked rapidly like he was about to cry, his voice all broken and soft.

“I just… I just wanted to see what it is about him that you love so much.

“If I knew, maybe I could change. Maybe I could become more like him and make you love me more, too…”

His trembling voice got to my sister. She softened, reaching out and pulling her fiancé into a hug.

“What are you even saying? Don’t be stupid,” she said gently. “I already told you, you’re the only one I love. Why else would I agree to marry you?

“Dummy, I bought this villa for my brother. He’s coming back tomorrow, remember? I wanted to surprise him, that’s why I didn’t tell anyone.”

She pulled back, still confused, and pointed right at me again.

“Oh! Speaking of—who is this guy, anyway? I don’t have a secret lover!”

That’s when the realization hit Blade like a truck, and his face went ghost white.

“He… he’s just some pretty boy who pissed me off. Me and Scarface roughed him up a little, that’s all…”

My sister frowned.

“He pissed you off? Then yeah, maybe he deserved a beating. But dragging someone into my brother’s new villa? That’s a whole new level of stupid, boo!

“Bad luck, having blood spilled before the villa is even warmed up!”

Listening to her scold him, Blade’s voice trembled.

“I get it, I really do. I’ll have the kid dragged out and cleaned up right now, and bring in a god statue or something to drive out the bad luck.

“Tomorrow I’ll personally apologize to your brother. He’s chill, right, boo? He won’t hold it against me?”

My sister softened, giving him a fond smile. “He’s got a good temper. I’m sure he won’t.”

Meanwhile, I was being carried out by two muscleheads, panic hammering in my chest.

What Blade meant by “cleaned up” was clear as day—he was going to silence me for good. ‘He must’ve figured out who I really am!’

He couldn’t take that risk. He wanted certainty. No loose ends.

I thrashed in their grip in desperation to break free, only to get slapped for it.

“You messed with the wrong guy, punk! Say your prayers. Drag him out!” Blade barked, just as Scarface walked in holding a kitchen god statue.

Seeing my sister’s expression, Scarface rushed to kiss ass.

“Queen, don’t be mad. We didn’t plan on letting this little poser bleed all over the place, but he tried to pass himself off as your brother…”

Blade panicked, trying to shut him up.

But it was too late—my sister caught the key word, her voice going cold as steel.

“What did you say? He pretended to be Luca?”

Scarface nodded eagerly. “Yeah! But this guy’s a lousy actor. We checked—his ID doesn’t even match the young master’s name!”

He handed her all my papers like a good little snitch.

Dixie looked at my ID—and her face went ghost-white.

“This… This can’t be.”