Eloise's POV

I let out a cold laugh and snapped right back at them. “I’m 23 years old. Since when do I need your permission to go anywhere or do anything? And that wedding dress? It’s mine. No one’s taking it from me.”

“You ungrateful brat!” my dad shouted, slapping me hard across the face.

My mom also lunged forward and grabbed the gown like a madwoman. “Your sister wants it, so take it off! Now!”

I tried to fight back, but Tristan grabbed both my arms and pinned me down.

Under the gown, I was only wearing stick-on covers and underwear. Just like that, he saw everything.

The shame hit me like a wave. I felt tears welling up, and when he saw that I was about to cry, he finally let go so I could change.

When I walked out of the fitting room, I saw Bianca already wearing the gown, with a smug look on her face like she’d just won a prize.

“I told you,” I said, clenching my fists, “that dress is mine.”

I tried to call the manager, but my mother yanked me back roughly. “Are you done embarrassing us? That dress was meant for someone beautiful like your sister. Stop dreaming!”

My dad snatched my phone away and growled, “Go home and reflect on your behavior. You’re grounded until your sister’s wedding is over in two days!”

While I was still shouting in outrage, Tristan told his bodyguards to drag me out and stuff me into the car.

He leaned close to my ear, laughing under his breath. “Eloise, so this is what they mean by playing hard to get. You showed up here on purpose, didn’t you? Just to get my attention?”

He then slipped a key into my palm and added, “Be good. I’ll spend the first half of our wedding night with your sister and the second half with you.”

Disgusted, I spat right in his face. “What kind of trash bag are you? So full of garbage you’re spilling over? Disgusting. You're punching way above your weight.”

Right then, his smile vanished, and his face turned dark. “Ungrateful slut. Who else would want someone like you? You better think this through.”

With that, he told the guards to send me home.

I was then locked in my room, grinding my teeth in rage. Two more days… I couldn’t wait to see Tristan’s cursed transformation, neither man nor woman, just a freak of nature.

And when that happened, the Clarks would blame my sister and my parents first.

I had to find a way to cut ties with them before that.

That night, I caused a ruckus. I broke furniture, threw things, and made so much noise that no one could sleep.

But my parents still refused to let me out.

Left with no choice, I lit a fire.

Half of our estate went up in flames, so my parents called me a jinx and threw me out for good.

In the chaos, I grabbed my phone and called my fiancé. He didn’t ask a single question. He just sent someone to pick me up and take me to an empty luxury villa.

For the next two days, I slept well, rested up, and waited for the wedding day to arrive.

And when it finally came, I put on the custom-made gown that had been designed just for me, and walked into the grand event hall.

The moment my parents and Bianca saw me, their expressions changed instantly.

Even Tristan’s eyes lit up for a second before his face twisted again in disgust.

“Eloise,” he barked, “you show up dressed like this to steal someone else’s wedding? Shameless!”

I hadn’t expected these two walking disasters to choose the exact same day to get married. I frowned.

But then, I calmly replied, “Relax. I’m here to get married, too. Now get out of my way.”

But Bianca stepped in front of me, gripping the hem of her gown, her eyes full of jealousy and resentment. “Why do you always take everything from me, even when we were kids? You can have the dress, fine. But Tristan? I won’t give him up.”

That one line sent the entire room into chaos.

“Wait, what did she just say? The older daughter tried to steal her sister’s wedding dress and the groom?”

With that chaos, our parents pushed through the crowd, their faces flushed with anger.

“Eloise, are you out of your mind? You tried to burn us alive just because we wouldn’t let you steal your sister’s fiancé, and now you have the nerve to show up dressed like this to ruin the wedding?” my mom accused me.

My father then snorted and warned, “Try us, go ahead. Keep this up, and we’ll call the police!”

Eloise's POV

Everyone was stunned.

“Wait, what?! She was the one who started that fire at the Shelton estate two days ago? What a monster. Typical ugly on the outside and even worse on the inside. If I were her parents, I’d have disowned her ages ago!”

All I wanted to do was laugh coldly.

Ever since we were kids, my sister had always had her eyes on what was mine. Then she’d twist the story, acting like I was the one who stole from her, playing the victim with her soft little voice and pitiful eyes.

And my parents? They always took her side. They helped her steal everything that was supposed to belong to me.

So now, when I spoke up, I didn’t hold back.

“You locked me up. Took away my freedom. What, I’m not even allowed to save myself?” I shot back, calm and sharp.

But my father slapped me across the face. “You really want to say that in front of everyone? You know exactly why we locked you up. It's because you shamelessly chased after your sister’s fiancé!”

“What?! What’s going on here?” Tristan’s parents had just arrived, clearly confused by the chaos.

After hearing my sister and parents pile their accusations against me, they exchanged uncertain glances.

“But… when we came last week to propose, she didn’t say anything about wanting to marry Tristan,” Mrs. Clark said.

Still holding my stinging cheek, I let out a laugh. “Mr. and Mrs. Clark, you’ve always been reasonable, and I appreciate that. I’ve already said it—me showing up at the bridal shop, and now here, was a coincidence. The man I’m marrying happens to be holding his wedding upstairs on the second floor.”

The crowd burst into laughter.

“The second floor? Isn’t that reserved for private VIP events? I’ve never heard of anyone holding a wedding up there!”

My parents turned even redder with embarrassment.

“Eloise! You’re such a liar, it’s disgusting. Get out! As of today, we no longer have a daughter like you!”

In contrast to their expected reaction, I smiled with satisfaction. “Perfect. Everyone here heard that, right? I want you all to be witnesses. I don’t want anything to do with them anymore. I won’t be dragged down by this family ever again.”

Mr. and Mrs. Clark paused, confused. “Dragged down? What do you mean?”

I pointed directly at my sister. “She can’t save your son. She never could.”

My sister’s face turned pale, her eyes welling with tears. “Eloise, don’t you remember? A fortune teller said when we were born that both of us had the blessing to break the curse. Are you really going to stand here and accuse me just because you were the one who had to marry into the Clark family instead?”

Tristan immediately pulled her into his arms, glaring at me like I was filth. “Give it up, Eloise. The only woman I’ll ever love, ever marry, is Bianca. You could stand in front of me naked and I still wouldn’t want you.”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, “You’re in such a rush to die, what do you want me to do, stop you? Well, I'm sorry, but I just feel sorry for your parents.”

With that, I turned to leave, but Mrs. Clark stepped in front of me. “Eloise, what you just said, is it true?” Her voice trembled slightly. “If it is, will you marry my son instead?”

A mother’s heart was always the same. Just like in my last life, she was willing to cancel the wedding in front of everyone, just to protect her son.

But Tristan growled through gritted teeth. “Mom! I told you I’m not marrying that woman! Don’t beg her!”

He then turned to me, his expression dark and twisted. “Eloise, stop trying to manipulate everyone. I don’t care what tricks you pull, but I’ll never marry you.”

But before anyone else could speak, a calm, steady voice rang out from behind us.

“My woman doesn’t need to marry you.”

The whole room went silent. Gasps echoed through the hall.

When people turned to look, they saw a tall, sharp-suited man standing at the doorway.

Mr. Clark’s eyes went wide. “Drake?!”

Drake Clark gave a polite, faint smile. “Long time no see. How have you been, my brother?”

Mr. Clark was so flustered, he nodded quickly. “Good, good!”

It was only then that the truth came out.

The man in front of us was the son adopted by Tristan’s grandfather, the very same day Tristan was born. Technically, that made him Tristan’s uncle, even though they were the same age.

And when Tristan realized that I was marrying his uncle, he completely lost it.

Eloise's POV

Tristan pulled me aside and whispered, “Eloise, you don’t need to marry him just to spite me. He’s just an outsider. I’m the rightful heir of our family. If you agree to what I said earlier, I promise I’ll spend the rest of the wedding night with you and I’ll treat you well after that.”

But I yanked my hand away in disgust. “Did your brain get stuck in your gut? You’d have to be sick to say something that gross. Get out of my way. I’ve got a wedding to attend.”

Furious, he snapped, “Fine! Just wait till the day I take over our family. When that happens, I’ll make sure you both die miserable deaths!”

But instead of being threatened, I simply smiled coldly and replied, “Maybe worry about making it through tonight first.”

Out of sympathy for Mrs. Clark, I gave her one final warning. “You’re still young, Mrs. Clark. You and your husband could always try for another child. Next time, be careful who you pick for a daughter-in-law.”

With that, I gave Tristan one last look, the kind you'd give a dead man walking, and turned to leave.

But my sister couldn’t hold it in any longer and blocked my path. “Eloise, stop trying to imply I can't save Tristan. If you’ve got guts, how about we make a bet? If I help him survive tonight, you get down on your knees in front of me, Mom and Dad, apologize, admit you were wrong, and leave this city for good!”

I paused, turned back, and smirked. “Sure. But let’s see who pulls it off first, you saving Tristan, or me saving Drake.”

Once the wedding ceremony ended, everyone decided to stay overnight at the hotel to wait and see the outcome. After all, this was a once-in-a-century showdown. Who wouldn’t want to witness the legendary curse in action?

While I was straddling Drake later that night, a voice message came through from Bianca, full of smugness and spite.

“Sis, Mom and Dad just said they’re officially cutting ties with you and leaving everything to me. And Tristan promised me that once he becomes head of their family, he’ll make sure you and that bastard Drake suffer horrible deaths. Even if you save him tonight, you’re still doomed. Better go pick out a grave while you’re at it hahaha!”

Ignoring it, I tossed the phone aside and wrapped my arms around Drake’s neck. “Drake, someone just threatened me. What should I do?”

He tightened his grip around my waist, his voice low and husky. “Don’t worry. I’ll deal with them, one by one. But right now, we’ve got more important things to take care of.”

When the clock struck midnight, Drake let out a deep, satisfied breath as he held me tightly.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

From outside, a trembling voice pleaded, “Eloise, please… please help me!”