When I finally reached home and pushed the door open, the sound of Adeline’s sobs filled the living room. She sat on the sofa, trembling as she cried in Brian’s arms.

"Brian, I don’t want to go through with the arranged marriage. I don’t want to marry that lunatic. He’s cruel and brutal. The women from previous arranged marriages … they all died! Why does it have to be me and not Lilian?"

Brian stroked her back gently. His voice was soothing and tender as he said, "Don’t worry. With me here, no one will dare force you. It doesn’t matter who has to go through with the arranged marriage. It won’t be you."

My parents immediately chimed in, their voices full of reassurance as they said, "Don’t worry, sweetheart. We would never agree to let you go. We’ll protect you."

I stood silently at the doorway. No one turned to look at me. Without a word, I walked straight to my room. The moment the door clicked shut, memories flooded my mind like a relentless tide.

I remembered the time I casually mentioned wanting to see the sunrise. That very night, Brian chartered a private jet to fly me to a remote island. He even built a special observation deck so I could watch the sunrise in comfort.

Just to make me smile, he spent hundreds of millions creating a paradise for me. He took me skiing in the Alps, chased the aurora by my side, cooked my favorite dishes again and again and traveled with me to the farthest corners of the world.

Brian documented every moment we spent together, as if each memory was a treasure. Back then, I truly believed he was my one and only. But now I understood that he barely loved me. It was because I was just a passing novelty, a distraction.

I quickly wiped my tears away while I pulled a small recorder from my pocket and took out the memory card. I placed it, along with the prison’s CCTV footage, into an envelope and sent it to my friend.

As I stared at the files on the screen, a bitter taste rose in my throat. At first, I’d only planned to record Adeline pretending to be pitiful in front of Brian and my parents. But in the end, I had also captured proof of her ordering the prisoners to beat me.

The moment the files were successfully sent, I heard familiar footsteps outside my door.

My heart tightened. The door opened quietly. Brian’s tall figure appeared in the doorway. Before I could react, he crossed the room in a few strides and pulled me tightly into his arms. The scent of cedar still clung to him, but it only made me feel suffocated now.

Brian looked at me as if he was heartbroken. He then rested his chin gently on top of my head before he weakly whispered, "Forgive me, Lilian."

I couldn’t help but be stunned in his embrace. My lips pressed together, unable to speak. But Brian didn’t seem to mind my silence.

He continued speaking softly, as though nothing had happened, "Don’t be so hard on Adeline anymore. She’s different from you. You’re the Wyatt Family’s biological daughter. You already have everything. Besides, I’ll marry you one day."

"But Adeline … she has nothing. It’s normal for her to be sensitive. You should try to understand her, to be more patient with her."

"I have everything … "

I muttered those words that tasted bitter, which made me want to vomit.

So, this was his apology. He didn’t come here to truly say sorry. Instead, he came to make excuses for Adeline and to demand that I keep indulging her.

Brian thought that a hug and a few soft words would be enough to erase everything. That no matter how deeply he hurt me, I would forgive him like always. Even if just yesterday, he had sent me home bruised, broken and covered in blood.

It seemed that Brian believed he could slap me ninety-nine times … and then hand me a single piece of bones to make me wag my tail and come crawling back.

I lifted my head and looked at his face. My heart ached so fiercely it felt as if it might shatter into pieces. Sadly, he was wrong.

The next morning, I was awakened by loud noises coming from outside.

Still groggy and confused, I sat up just as a servant knocked on my door.

"Miss, Mr. Herbert has invited a circus to perform. He asked me to tell you to come downstairs and watch."

I straightened my clothes, feeling a wave of disbelief. Did he really think a circus performance could make up for everything that had happened? Besides, I had never liked circuses. It was always Adeline who loved these kinds of spectacles, not me.

I opened my mouth to refuse, but the door swung open again before I could speak. Adeline entered, her arm wrapped intimately around Brian’s. A sweet, fake smile bloomed on her face. She hurried over to me, grasping my hand as if we were the closest of sisters.

Her voice turned soft and coaxing as she said, "Lilian, come on, just go. Brian’s been planning this for a long time to make you happy. If you don’t go, he’ll be sad."

Brian stood behind her, watching me closely with a faint glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

"Let’s just go take a look, alright?"

The two of them were perfectly in sync, like they were performing a well-rehearsed duet. I felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. But with Adeline tugging at me and Brian’s eyes fixed on me, I had no choice but to follow. I was dragged downstairs like a prisoner.

In the yard, a makeshift stage had been set up. A fire-breather was performing, sending blazing orange-red flames shooting high into the air. The heat was so intense that it burned my face from where I stood.

As the performance continued, Adeline clung tightly to Brian’s arm. She was whispering to him and laughing softly. Meanwhile, Brian gently wiped sweat from her forehead and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Their affectionate gestures were so natural, like a real couple deeply in love.

I stood off to the side, completely forgotten. Just a silent observer. Suddenly, Brian’s phone rang. He leaned close to Adeline, murmured something to her and then walked toward a corner to take the call.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but stare at the raging flames. There was an uneasy feeling creeping over me. My instincts screamed that something terrible was about to happen.

And then I met Adeline’s gaze. The sweet, sisterly smile she had worn moments ago had vanished. In its place was a strange, twisted smirk that sent chills racing down my spine.

Before I could react, she lunged forward, grabbed my arm with a grip like iron and shoved me toward the flames behind the safety line.

"Ah!" I screamed as I struggled desperately to pull free, but her strength was terrifying.

The searing heat rushed against my skin as the flames leapt closer, scorching me. Then, Adeline let go of me in a single motion. And with a loud, pitiful cry, she flung herself even closer to the fire.

"Help me! Brian!" she screamed.

Brian’s head snapped up the instant he heard her voice. He dropped his phone without hesitation and charged through the cordon like a madman. In one swift move, he scooped Adeline into his arms and stumbled back to safety.

After Brian managed to keep his balance, his face turned grim. He then turned to me as he looked at me with his eyes blazing with fury. Without warning, his hand struck my cheek with a sharp crack.

He shouted at me, gritting his teeth, "Why did you push Adeline? Do you want to kill her?"

My ears rang, my whole body stunned. I stared at him, utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Brian didn’t wait for an answer. His expression twisted with fury as he shoved me hard.

I lost my balance and fell backward, hitting the ground. My shoulder brushed against the edge of the spreading flames. Immediately, I shouted.

The sound made Brian freeze. He looked down at me lying on the ground. For a brief second, a flicker of heartache flashed in his cold eyes.

However, Adeline clutched his chest as she weakly said, "Brian, Lilian … she looks more seriously hurt than I am. Take her to the hospital first…"

Without further ado, Brian glanced at me with visible disgust. He then looked back at the fragile woman in his arms. His voice was cold, commanding as he ordered his bodyguards, "Take her too. We’re going to the hospital!"

Then, he carried Adeline to the car like she was the most precious thing in the world without even glancing back at me.

Meanwhile, I was lying on the ground. The pain in my shoulder became more unbearable. My vision blurred slowly. Just as the bodyguards rushed to lift me, everything went black.

Thanks to my constant injuries, I developed a high fever that wouldn’t go away. I was unconscious for three whole days. During that time, I had a long, vivid dream.

The dream was filled with warm light.

In it, I wasn’t lost. My parents never adopted Adeline. They loved only me, their precious daughter. Brian was still the same boy who used to crouch outside my door every morning, waiting to walk me to school.

Later, he confessed his love and told me he wanted to marry me in a beautiful garden full of roses. At our wedding, he held my hand and promised me forever. After we married, we had a sweet, lovely child. The three of us were a happy, perfect family.

But in the next moment, everything changed.

The warm light suddenly went out. My parents’ smiles turned cold. Brian’s hand that was once so warm became icy and distant.

The three of them stood at the edge of a cliff, laughing cruelly as they pushed me down into the darkness below. I woke up with a sharp gasp, my chest heaving. My eyes flew open to an empty hospital room.

My body felt weak and heavy. My shoulder throbbed with pain as I slowly pushed myself up, my arm numb and trembling. With great effort, I pulled out the IV needle and slid out of bed. As I stepped into the hallway, I heard hushed voices coming from the nurses’ station.

"Look at those two young ladies from the Wyatt Family. Their lives couldn’t be more different."

"I know, right? Adeline only had a few minor injuries, but her parents stayed by her side every day and Mr. Herbert never left her for a second. Meanwhile, Lilian was seriously hurt and no one even came to visit her these past three days … "

Their whispers were crystal clear, cutting into my heart like a blade.

My knees went weak for a moment, but I steadied myself against the wall. It made me not to hesitate. After that, I walked slowly to the nurses’ station while holding on to the wall for support before I signed my own discharge papers.

When I returned to the Wyatt mansion, it was eerily quiet. I went straight to my room and began packing. There wasn’t much. It was just one small suitcase. That was all I had left.

After I finished, I went downstairs to get some water. Just as I reached the living room, I heard the sound of laughter outside. They were back.

My parents entered first, carefully supporting Adeline as she limped inside. Brian followed close behind. His eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at her. The four of them chatted happily as if nothing had happened.

When they saw me, Brian’s steps faltered. For a brief second, I caught a flash of heartache in his eyes as he noticed my pale face.

But before he could speak, Mum rushed to me, her voice sharp and full of blame as she confronted me, "Lilian, what’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you tell us you were being discharged? Do you know how worried we were about you?"

Dad immediately added, "Adeline already explained what happened. She said she lost her balance that day and accidentally dragged you into the fire. Out of guilt, she pushed you away to save you. She didn’t mean it!"

"And you … you’re being ungrateful, leaving the hospital on your own and throwing a tantrum?"

Adeline lowered her head, her expression pitiful and weak. But at the corners of her lips, there was a subtle, triumphant smile. It was a smile meant only for me to see.

She looked at me like a victor claiming her prize.

I stared at them all and suddenly laughed bitterly.

"Worried about me? So worried that during my three-day coma, you only cared about Adeline and never once came to see me?"

My eyes shifted to Adeline as I coldly said, "Adeline, this time you’re claiming you ‘lost your balance’ again? You really do change your excuses quickly."

This time, I looked at them coldly. I was no longer the obedient girl they used to know.

I coldly warned them, "Watch your precious daughter carefully. If she dares to lay a hand on me again, I won’t hold back. If I’m not happy, I won’t let her be happy either."

After that, I turned and walked up the stairs. I didn’t even look back at their shocked and furious faces.

This house. These people. They were no longer worth a single moment of my time.