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.

I had already explained everything, getting ready to leave. Just as I finished packing, the door slammed open. Adeline walked in parrogantly in high heels. She looked at me with eyes full of defiance.

She strode up to me and spoke arrogantly, "Lilian, do you really think you're so special just because you're our parents' biological daughter? They love me now!"

"I've known all along. You're going to marry that lunatic for me. Isn't the bride price just one billion? After I marry Brian, there will be far more money. Plenty more."

Her tone dripped with arrogance as she continued, "Brian’s project will soon make more money than I could spend in ten lifetimes. The Wyatt and Herbert families are far ahead in technology. With us together, we'll be unstoppable."

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a vicious whisper, "And you … you're just trading one hell for another. The Lloyd Family is cruel beyond words. Once you marry into their family, you might not even survive three days."

"If you manage to live, you’ll get the money. If you die … you’ll leave it all behind, untouched."

Her cruel words echoed in my ears. The anger I’d been holding back for so long finally exploded. I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. The sharp sound rang through the room like a gunshot.

A cold smile spread across my lips as I glared at her.

"Really? Then I hope you get exactly what you deserve!"

Adeline couldn’t help but cover her cheek as she looked at me with disbelief.

"You … you dare hit me? Lilian, how dare you hit me!"

I didn’t waste a single breath on her. Again, I slapped her. In fact, it was even harder than before. This time, blood instantly welled at the corner of her mouth. A thin crimson line slid down her chin.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside. The door burst open. Brian stormed in. The second he saw Adeline’s bloody mouth, his eyes filled with rage so intense it was almost murderous.

"Lilian! Have you gone mad? Who gave you the right to hit her?"

Immediately, Brian rushed to Adeline. He pulled her into his arms as he carefully wiped the blood from her lips. Before I could speak, his palm struck my face with a loud crack. Pain exploded across my cheek. My head jerked to the side as my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

I swallowed it down and slowly lifted my head to look at him. Instead of anger, I smiled coldly.

"Brian, I hope you won’t regret this."

My parents arrived right after him. They immediately rushed to my side. Not to protect me, but to scold me like I was a stranger.

"Lilian, you ungrateful wretch! How could you hurt Adeline like this? What has she ever done to you?"

Adeline clung to Brian, crying pitifully, yet her trembling voice was laced with false kindness as she spoke, "Brian, Mum, Dad … please don’t scold Lilian anymore. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset her."

"I’m leaving tomorrow. I won’t trouble this family again. I just don’t want her to keep being unhappy because of me … "

Her performance only added fuel to the fire. Brian’s face became even more grim. His rage was nearly uncontrollable.

Brian then shouted toward the doorway and two black-clad bodyguards immediately entered.

"Drag her outside. Hang her upside down from the tree in the yard," he ordered.

He paused before he continued with his tone cutting me like a knife, "Let the sun warm her dark, filthy heart. The Herbert Family does not tolerate women as vile as her."

The bodyguards moved without hesitation, seizing me by the arms.

"Brian! Let me go! You can’t do this to me!"

But no one listened. They dragged me out into the yard. My struggles were meaningless against their strength.

The rough rope bit into my ankles as they tied me up. With a hard yank, they then hoisted me upside down from the tall tree. Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy and nauseous.

The scorching midday sun beat down mercilessly on my body. My skin burned, my chest tightened and my breath came in ragged gasps. Through the haze of heat and pain, I tilted my head and caught sight of the living room window.

Inside, Brian was tenderly applying medicine to Adeline’s wounds. My parents sat beside her, speaking softly, comforting her. The three of them looked like a warm, happy family while I was left to suffer alone.

Tears streamed from my eyes, falling to the ground below. The hot sun dried them instantly, leaving no trace. I clenched my teeth and swore silently to myself.

Just one day. I only have to endure this for one day. When I got free, I would make every single one of them pay for what they had done to me.

Meanwhile, the sunlight grew hotter and hotter. My vision blurred. The world spun wildly around me.

Finally, everything went black.