"I want her to pay for her own sins!"

My pupils contracted.

Despite my frantic struggle, the bodyguards forced me to the ground.

"Jason, you beast! I told you—it wasn’t me!"

"You’ll get what’s coming to you! You’ll die a miserable death!"

"Ah!"

The needle stabbed into my lip, flooding my senses with blinding pain. My screams of agony were silenced, stitched shut one cruel loop at a time.

In the end, all that remained on my face was a grotesque trail of blood.

"Tsk. Disgusting."

Jason stared at the blood pooling on the floor, then grabbed a handful of my hair.

"This could make a great mop. Rip it off and clean the mess."

Time blurred.

I was drenched in blood, my scalp torn open, like a discarded rag doll.

But I refused to die here.

I dragged myself forward, inch by inch.

Miranda clutched her chest and said, feigning concern,

“Dad, Mom, look at my sister. She’s still trying to run away.”

“She dares to hurt me now—won’t she ruin my wedding in seven days?”

Jason narrowed his eyes, then smiled at my parents.

“Miranda has a point.”

“I think the Luxton family’s basement is perfect—dark and quiet. Like a coffin.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. He knew.

He knew about my trauma—and he was using it.

I gripped the carpet, trembling, choking back sobs.

A bodyguard seized my shoulders and dragged me back.

My father didn’t hesitate.

“Lock the eldest daughter in the basement. Don’t let her out until seven days pass.”

My mother turned her head, pretending to show reluctance.

“Take Evelyn’s phone, too. We can’t risk her harming her sister again.”

As the two bodyguards lifted me, Jason leaned down and whispered:

“Evelyn, all this fuss—you still want to be Mrs. Xavier, don’t you?”

“If you kneel now and beg me, swear you won’t hurt Miranda again, I’ll make you my lover. I’ll even spare your family. How about that?”

Eyes bloodshot, I glared at him, hatred burning.

He chuckled and straightened up.

“You really don’t know how to be grateful.”

Miranda curled into Jason’s arms, a triumphant smirk on her face.

She mouthed, ‘Sister, I win again.’

The basement was dark and musty.

I curled into a corner, trembling, hatred swelling uncontrollably in my chest.

Whatever love I had left for my parents—

It is gone now.

In seven days, I’d make them all pay.

Just as I thought I’d die in that basement,

The heavy iron door creaked open.

The thugs from before burst in.

The yellow-haired man carried me out.

Even hardened gang members gasped at my battered state.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the white ceiling of a hospital.

My wounds had been treated. I wore a floppy hat.

The yellow-haired man told me his boss had advanced his plans, and I should rest for two days and meet him at the funeral.

I nodded, looking down at the diamond ring on my finger.

There was a message on my phone from him:

"Keep the ring for now. Once you recover, I want the world to watch you marry me in grandeur."

On the seventh day, Jason and Miranda’s wedding ended. The fake funeral began in full swing.

I arrived to mourn—just as Jason’s funeral procession began.

Miranda led the line, carrying a fake portrait.

The moment she saw me, she shrieked:

“Sister?! You’re here?! Even the basement couldn’t hold you?!”

The coffin lid suddenly lifted.

Jason sat up, dressed in funeral robes, his face still caked in death makeup.

After giving me a once-over, he smirked and said,

"Evelyn, how badly do you want to be Mrs. Xavier?"

My parents, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, looked ready to tear me apart.

My mother, in particular, let out a heavy sigh:

"Evelyn, you’ve truly disappointed me!"

I felt utterly unlucky and had no desire to linger. But Miranda clearly had other plans:

"Jason, if I don’t break her legs today, she’ll definitely ruin my mourning ceremony for you."

At that, Jason sneered:

"Miranda's right. Go ahead—break her legs."

The bodyguards began moving toward me.

But the yellow-haired man suddenly stepped forward, blocking their path.

"Let’s see who dares to touch my sister-in-law!"

"Who the hell is mourning for you? She’s here to mourn for my boss!"

“Sister-in-law?”

Miranda snorted.

"You’re associating with such low-class trash now?"

Jason shot me a venomous glare, his face darkening.

"Evelyn, since you can’t be Mrs. Xavier, now you're just degrading yourself like this?"

"You don’t actually think I’ll feel sorry for you, do you?"

I scoffed inwardly.

The yellow-haired man looked Miranda over, smirked, and said something that sent a jolt through the crowd:

"A real funeral needs a woman with a spiritual body. You’re not one—so what are you doing here?"

Miranda's expression changed in an instant.

She shrieked like someone had stepped on her tail:

"Sister, you actually hired someone to frame me?!"

She threw herself into Jason’s arms, sobbing:

"Jason, I tried to stop her—but she clearly wants you dead!"

Jason frowned, shooting me a sharp glance.

"Evelyn, your schemes know no end! You really expect me to trust a thug’s words?"

My mother added coldly,

"Evelyn, stop this. You’re humiliating yourself."

But I stood firm and snapped back:

"What if he’s telling the truth? Jason, would you bet your life on it?"

Jason sneered:

"The truth? Fine. I’ll bet my life on it. If Miranda’s mourning works, you’ll kneel and kowtow to her a thousand times—while calling me a bastard each time."

I curled my lips into a smirk and replied,

"Deal. I’ll take that bet."

I didn’t waste another word. I gave the yellow-haired man a look.

He understood immediately and led me to the mourning hall.

Jason climbed back into his coffin.

The two coffins were placed in separate halls, divided by a wall. Both ceremonies proceeded in parallel.

"Sister, just wait until you’re bowing at my feet," Miranda hissed, then turned and collapsed in front of the coffin, wailing dramatically:

"Wuwuwu… why did you have to go… I’m heartbroken…"

Even Huangmao struggled to keep from laughing.

Jason’s parents exchanged frowns.

Miranda howled for what seemed like forever.

Finally, Madam Xavier asked, "Miranda, why aren't you even crying?"

Panic flickered across her face.

"Mom, I'm so devastated that my tears have dried up."

Madam Xavier replied, "That’s fine. As long as you have a spiritual body, the ritual will fool the spirits."

Miranda forced a smile, inhaled sharply, and let out an earth-shattering scream:

"Jason… "Why did you leave me like this…"

At the stroke of midnight, her cries grew louder—beating her chest and stomping in anguish:

"How can I go on without you…"

I remained kneeling in silence, burning paper offerings one by one.

Tears flowed down my face like a broken dam.

Then, a chilling wind swept through the room, snuffing out every candle on the altar.

Only the eerie glow of the burning paper money lit the room.

The coffin lids flew open with a heavy thud.

Jason sat up abruptly, completely unharmed.

“Jason!” Miranda rushed to him, overjoyed.

“You’re okay! I knew my mourning would work!”

Jason embraced her tightly.

“I knew you could save me.”

Miranda pulled him behind her, turning to me with a smug smile.

“Sister, I accept the bet. You can start kowtowing now.”

“Don’t forget to call me a bitch with each bow.”

My parents, visibly relieved, looked at me with disdain.

“Evelyn,” my father said coldly, “you made a bet. The Luxton family keeps its word.”

I remained kneeling, unmoving, eyes fixed on the burning paper money.

“What’s this? Trying to back out?”

Jason sneered and kicked over my offering plate.

Fruit rolled across the floor. The incense sticks snapped in half.

Miranda’s shoulders shook with laughter.

“Jason, look at her. Can’t even handle losing...”

She turned her head.

Then suddenly—

A piercing scream tore through the room.

“Jason!! What’s happening to you?!”