The celebrity boyfriend I had been dating for eight years proposed on stage at an awards ceremony. But the person he proposed to wasn’t me – it was my younger sister. My father told me to be gracious about it. I smiled and agreed. As I turned away, I bumped into my ex-boyfriend’s playboy uncle. Our eyes met. The man beneath me had a fierce, terrifying look in his eyes, as if they were saying “Go to hell!” Oh no, how could I explain to him that I had just accidentally bumped into him when I turned around? That I had accidentally kissed him too – it was all just an accident. Camera flashes went off all around us, instantly drawing attention away from the proposal happening on stage. “Had enough of kissing?” The man roughly pushed me off him and wiped the lipstick from his mouth, brushing dust off his expensive suit and irritably adjusting his tie. In the next moment, he smoothed the anger from his features and curled his lips into a smile, a hint of malice glinting in his eyes as he breathed into my ear: “Miss Chen, we’ll have plenty of time together in the future!” The man left without giving me a chance to respond. Um, wait, you’ve got some of my foundation smeared on your face. After he walked away, the awards ceremony erupted into chaos. The normally poised and haughty celebrities all started whispering amongst themselves. Well, the man I had accidentally kissed was a social media sensation, known as Lucas Howard, the young master of the Howard family who could shake up the entire entertainment industry with a stomp of his foot. He was also my boyfriend’s uncle. Oh, I mean ex-boyfriend. We had just broken up the day before. Thinking of this, I looked towards the stage. My ex-boyfriend was still down on one knee, proposing to my younger sister. The two of them were frozen on stage, no one caring about the outcome of this supposedly grand proposal. Everyone was too absorbed in the kiss between Lucas and me. The proposal ended abruptly. Ha, serves them right. My sister, a newly minted top celebrity, shot me a murderous glare. I smiled and waved at her. But karma came for me all too quickly.
In the backstage dressing room, I leaned against the wall with my head down, drawing circles on the floor with my high heels as I faced judgment from the three people opposite me. My father, my younger sister, and my ex-boyfriend. Isabella started sobbing dramatically: “My own sister causing a scandal with my boyfriend’s uncle – how can I ever show my face in public again?” What? Afraid of losing face? You didn’t seem to care about that when you got together with your sister’s ex-boyfriend. I smirked sarcastically, but Isabella caught my expression. She cried even more pitifully: “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t fallen for Aiden, none of this would have happened. But sister, you shouldn’t use this to get revenge. Don’t you know Mr. Howard isn’t someone to be trifled with?” She paused, looking worriedly at our stone-faced father before continuing hesitantly: “If you really offend him, forget everything else – I’m just afraid he might not even spare MJ Entertainment.” I raised my head, about to mock Isabella for making a mountain out of a molehill, when I was met with a slap across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the dressing room. “Dad!” Isabella exclaimed in surprise, but her eyes betrayed a hint of schadenfreude. The left side of my face instantly turned red, and a sharp ringing filled my left ear. Dad pointed at my nose and started cursing: “Sophia, you little brat!” The look in his eyes as he glared at me was filled with bone-deep hatred. It was as if I wasn’t his own daughter, but some mortal enemy who had murdered his entire family. “If Mr. Howard really gets angry, even your death wouldn’t be enough to make up for it!” I rubbed my swollen left cheek and glared right back at him defiantly: “What? Upset that I ruined your plan to sell your daughter for your own gain?” Isabella immediately jumped up: “Sophia, don’t go too far! Aiden and I truly love each other.” Me: “Truly love each other?” Aiden stood in the shadows, a cigarette between his fingers. Half his handsome face was obscured by smoke. As if he couldn’t bear to watch this farce any longer, he frowned and pushed open the door to leave. Isabella immediately chased after him. Dad’s gaze on me grew even fiercer: “Sophia, don’t forget how much your sister suffered for those 18 years! And whose fault was that?” Isabella had been kidnapped from an amusement park when she was three years old. It wasn’t until two years ago that I finally found her. They said it was supposed to be my trip to the amusement park that day. That I had snuck out with her and caused her to get lost. During the years she was missing, everyone looked at me with accusing eyes, including my mom. She even sent me away to live with my grandfather because of it. The excuse was “out of sight, out of mind.” When I was in high school, my grandfather passed away and I was brought back home. But the very next day, Dad told us Isabella would never come back – she was dead. At the same time, Mom died too. Between me and Isabella, she chose to go be with Isabella. I became the wretched daughter who caused her sister to get lost and her mother to commit suicide. The blame for causing my sister’s disappearance clung to me like a curse. Whenever I did anything that went against their wishes, they would invoke that curse, bringing searing pain. I held back the tears stinging my eyes, clenching my fists so tightly that my sharp nails dug into my palms until they were a bloody mess. “I’ve told you before, breaking up with Aiden was the last time. I’ve atoned for my sins.” Aiden pushed open the door, rubbing his brow. His eyes held disgust as he spoke in a condescending tone: “Sophia, you should be grateful you’re Isabella’s sister. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother with you. I’ll smooth things over with my uncle.” Isabella gratefully threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist and burying her face in his chest. “Aiden, thank goodness we have you.” Aiden placed his hand on Isabella’s back, his gaze deep as he spoke gently: “Bella, don’t cry. I’ll take care of everything.” “Sophia, this is the last time. Behave yourself from now on!” He emphasized those last four words especially heavily. My heart turned ice cold. Just three months ago, I never could have imagined that the man who had whispered sweet nothings in my ear and sworn to love me forever would now be telling me to “behave myself.” Drawing on some inner wellspring of pride, I enunciated each word clearly: “Aiden, that won’t be necessary. It’s better if we keep things clear between us.” “Suit yourself!” He tossed out those three words impatiently before immediately taking Isabella’s hand and walking out. Isabella glanced back at me, not bothering to hide the mockery in her eyes. Dad snarled viciously: “Sophia, I don’t care if you have to kneel or die, you must make Mr. Howard calm down within three days.” The dressing room suddenly emptied out. I slid down the wall to the floor, finally feeling the pain from my bloodied palms. As my mind slowly cleared, I remembered one important thing. I had badmouthed Lucas Howard behind his back before, and he had caught me red-handed. Hopefully…maybe…he’d forgotten about it? After all, it had been two years.
On the set of a fantasy drama, Lucas was sprawled in a chair. Even through his sunglasses, I could feel his arrogance. He lifted his sunglasses slightly, revealing a sliver of his eyes as he glanced at me and said sarcastically: “Well, if it isn’t the princess of MJ Entertainment. What brings you to seek out this good-for-nothing playboy who only knows how to mooch off his family?” Great, he hadn’t forgotten. I took a drink from his assistant’s hand and respectfully offered it to Lucas: “Mr. Howard is just being filial, giving up his career to spend more time with his elders.” He took the drink and drawled: “Is that so? I thought I was just an arrogant, unreasonable young master.” I forced a smile: “That just shows Mr. Howard has a unique, determined personality and doesn’t blindly follow others.” He took off his sunglasses and looked me up and down carefully before chuckling: “Miss Chen, your mouth has certainly gotten sweeter than before!” Oh please, you’ve just gotten even more petty and vengeful! Lucas’s gaze made my skin crawl. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead. Thankfully, a coquettish cry from afar rescued me from the situation. “Mr. Howard!” The female lead of the fantasy drama threw herself into Lucas’s arms like a delicate songbird, clinging to his arm and pouting. “Look at them, making me do all the stunts for such a minor scene. The wire harness really hurts.” Lucas pulled her into his embrace: “That won’t do at all. If my little darling gets hurt, it’ll break my heart.” Help, I’m still here. Can you consider the audience a little? “What should we do then?” Lucas’s eyes fell on me again. “Why don’t we ask Miss Chen to help out?” The actress in Lucas’s arms instantly froze. She had just been casually complaining and hadn’t noticed the princess of MJ Entertainment was here. Although Sophia wasn’t favored by her family, the actress was just a passing fancy in Mr. Howard’s garden. She didn’t want to become collateral damage in the games of these powerful figures. She stammered: “Mr-Mr. Howard, I’ve thought about it and I think I can manage. The wire harness doesn’t hurt that much after all.” Lucas pulled the actress closer: “No, you can’t. Miss Chen, what do you think?” I swallowed hard and forced out: “Fine. I. Can. Do. It.” The next moment I was strapped into the wire harness. As the ropes lifted me up, in no time I was five meters off the ground. Looking down at the people and scenery below that were growing smaller, I gripped the ropes tightly with both hands. My whole body started to go weak and my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. The last time I had looked down from such a height was back in high school, the day my mom died. When she heard the news of my sister’s death, she took me to the amusement park where Isabella had disappeared. She pulled me onto the Ferris wheel with her. When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, she suddenly undid her safety belt, pushed open the safety barrier, and jumped. The Ferris wheel stopped at the top for half an hour. I stood there at that height, staring down at the bloody, mangled body below for thirty minutes. It was like I was having a mental breakdown. One moment I felt like I was still on the Ferris wheel, the next I thought I had jumped down with my mom and become part of that bloody mess on the ground. From that day on, I never went anywhere high again. As the rope lifted me higher and higher, my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. My breathing became more and more rapid. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and let out a piercing scream: “Let me down! I want to get down!” The assistant director, stagehands and others below scrambled to lower me back down. I collapsed on the ground. Lucas walked up to me and looked down at me, his narrow eyes devoid of any emotion. “Giving up already? Miss Chen, you’re not sincere enough!” I struggled to my feet on shaky legs and stumbled away without looking back, trying to leave the terrifying experience behind me. I got into my car. Uncontrollable sobs rose from my throat. I bit down hard on my hand. Damn it, Sophia. Don’t you dare cry. Don’t you dare give up. Don’t you dare show weakness! A Rolls-Royce with a license plate full of 8s drove up from behind. Lucas was in that car. He glanced over through the half-open window. I was so scared I ducked my head under the seat, only realizing a moment later that he couldn’t see inside the car anyway.
It was evening by the time I got home. As soon as I entered the house, I sensed something strange about the atmosphere in the living room. All the maids kept their heads down, deliberately avoiding my gaze. What was going on? Isabella stammered: “Sister, Lucky…Lucky…” Lucky was the little dog my grandfather had left me. I had raised him for fifteen whole years. You could say he was the last family I had left in this world. I shoved Isabella aside and started searching the house for Lucky: “Lucky, sister’s home! Come out, boy!” Isabella’s eyes turned red. Crystal tears hung from her long lashes as she tugged at my sleeve: “Sister, Lucky…Lucky’s gone.” “Aiden and I were taking Lucky for a walk today when he ran off on his own and got hit by a car.” I grabbed Isabella’s shoulders, praying this was just another one of her cruel jokes: “Isabella, what did you say?” She turned away from Aiden and flashed me a vicious smile, speaking in a voice only the two of us could hear: “Lucky wasn’t killed by the first hit. He was still crawling on the ground, whimpering pitifully. It sounded so sad!” I raised my hand and slapped her across the face: “Isabella, you’ll pay for this!” Aiden rushed over and shoved me to the ground: “Sophia, it was just a dog. Why are you overreacting?” Just a dog? Overreacting? This was the only thing my grandfather had left me. On his deathbed, he had held my hand and smiled as he comforted me: “Sophia, don’t worry about me being gone. You’ll still have Lucky to keep you company!” Aiden avoided my gaze as he said: “That dog was already 15 years old. It was time for him to go anyway!” I glared at Aiden, feeling like I was seeing his true face for the first time: “Aiden, you should have died long ago. You’re an accomplice!” He glared back furiously: “Sophia, I’ll let this slide since your dog just died!” Isabella had the maid bring out Lucky’s body. I picked him up. The dog who used to run to my feet and bark happily every time I came home now lay motionless on the cold floor. His once snow-white curly fur was matted with blood. Both his hind legs had been crushed by the car. “Where’s the person who hit him?” Isabella put on an innocent face: “Sister, it wasn’t intentional. The driver even had a 5-year-old child with him! I felt bad, so I let him go.” Lucky’s cries kept echoing in my ears, but the body in my arms was already starting to grow stiff and cold. Lucky was really gone. It felt like my grandfather had left me for a second time. Isabella crouched down, pretending she was going to help me up. But she leaned in close to my ear and imitated Lucky’s whimpering, mocking me: “Sister, you must really want revenge right now, don’t you? But you have nothing. People with nothing don’t deserve revenge!” Isabella laughed gleefully. She had always resented me for causing her disappearance. But she forgot that when she went missing, she was only 3 years old, and I was just 6. I had long since repaid my debt to her. She shouldn’t have…she shouldn’t have taken it out on my Lucky. With bloodshot eyes, I set Lucky’s body down and suddenly lunged at Isabella, wrapping my hands tightly around her throat. Aiden and the maids swarmed over to pull me off her. Ignoring the pain, I clawed chunks of flesh from Isabella’s neck: “Isabella, you murderer! I won’t let you get away with this!” I was dragged back to my room like a madwoman. With a loud bang, the door slammed shut. I was locked in for a day of solitary confinement as punishment. It wasn’t until the next day that I received a phone call – a call that would ensure no one dared stop me from leaving.
I followed the waiter down a long hallway before finally stopping in front of a top VIP private room. As the door opened, I was hit by the stifling smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke. The dark green carpet, the crystal chandelier overhead casting a kaleidoscope of sultry colors. Sitting on the couch opposite were a row of people. Some I recognized, some I didn’t. To the me of the past, these were all Mr. Howard’s friends and lackeys. The karaoke room fell silent. All eyes focused on me as Mr. Howard’s friends exchanged glances, surprised that the princess of MJ Entertainment would come to their playground. Lucas lounged in the center seat, sprawled lazily on the leather couch. The pink lighting cast an otherworldly glow on his face. He glanced at me, exhaling a cloud of white smoke: “You’re here? Have a seat.” I carefully made my way through the crowd to his side. The pretty redhead sitting next to Lucas glared at me fiercely before reluctantly moving aside. Strangely, even though Lucas had called me here, he acted like I didn’t exist, not saying a word to me for a full half hour. The people in the room chain-smoked as if they’d been granted immunity from lung cancer. I felt nauseous from the smoke and slipped away to the bathroom when no one was looking. I splashed some cold water on my face. The mirror reflected back a pale, exhausted version of myself. This past year had been like a nightmare. Ever since Isabella was found, Aiden, who had always stood by my side, had inexplicably moved to her side instead. Now Lucky was dead too. Isabella said people with nothing had no right to revenge. Well then, I would go find my ally, my support! I pushed open the door and re-entered the private room, sitting down next to Lucas. I leaned in close to his ear: “Mr. Howard, want to date?” Lucas suddenly lowered his head, pressing his forehead against mine: “Why?” I didn’t back away, meeting his upturned smile: “He cheated on me, with my sister. I want revenge. I want to make that scumbag call me ‘auntie’.” He abruptly pulled back, lighting another cigarette and holding it between his lips: “That won’t do. Aiden is my dear nephew after all!” Ha, dear nephew my ass. The two had been at odds since childhood. Lucas’s mother was the new young wife Mr. Howard Sr. had married, while William was born to the original wife who had passed away early. William’s wife was childless. To continue the family line, he had brought home Aiden and Aiden’s mother, who was William’s mistress. Lucas’s mother naturally sided with William’s wife. Aiden and his mother secretly cursed Lucas’s mother for being a homewrecker and mocked her for shamelessly marrying an old man. Lucas overheard and told Mr. Howard Sr., who sent away Aiden’s mother that very night. The two became mortal enemies after that. “Unless Miss Chen can finish this whole bottle of alcohol. Then we might have something to discuss.” Lucas placed an entire bottle of liquor from the black marble table in front of me. I had no idea how Lucas always managed to find my weaknesses. I was afraid of heights, so he made me do the wire stunt. I was allergic to alcohol, so he was forcing me to drink. We really were like mortal enemies. But when I thought of Lucky’s cold, lifeless body, everything else seemed bearable in comparison. I took a deep breath, grabbed the bottle and chugged the entire thing in one go. The people around us were stunned, breaking into cheers and applause. As the last drops slid down my throat, I clutched Lucas’s collar: “Quick, take me to the hospital. I’m…I’m allergic to alcohol.” Lucas’s expression changed instantly, his nonchalant gaze turning panicked: “Shit, are you crazy?” He scooped me up in his arms and ran to the car. The driver immediately sped off towards the hospital. Seeing his furrowed brow, I knew this bastard must be cursing me in his head. At the hospital, the elderly doctor quickly hooked me up to an IV drip. He sternly warned Lucas: “Young man, how could you be so careless? You didn’t even know your girlfriend was allergic to alcohol? Pay more attention!” He didn’t contradict the doctor, just brushing it off with a few vague words. To my surprise, he didn’t leave. Instead, he sat next to me as I got the IV drip. In the empty hallway, it was just the two of us. I coughed lightly to get his attention: “Mr. Howard, let’s forget what I said earlier. An uncle getting together with his nephew’s ex-girlfriend would surely anger Mr. Howard Sr. We should call it off.” This was a risky move. Lucas was famously carefree and unpredictable. But there was one thing that had remained constant for decades – his opposition to his father, Mr. Howard Sr. I had once heard Aiden mention a rumor in the Howard family. Lucas had always believed his older brother – Aiden’s father – was responsible for the death of Lucas’s mother. But Mr. Howard Sr. had covered up his eldest son’s crime. That’s why Lucas despised Mr. Howard Sr. He opposed everything his father supported and liked everything his father hated. Mr. Howard Sr. cared about face and propriety above all else. What could make him angrier than his son getting together with his nephew’s ex-girlfriend? For the first time, I felt like Lucas was really looking at me. He smiled, revealing his canine teeth in a rare moment of brightness: “Miss Chen, I’m starting to like you a little!” I held out my hand: “Well then, Mr. Howard, shall we work together?” “Let’s work together!” He finally reached out and shook my hand. “But Sophia, don’t drink again next time. You look too ugly.” The smile froze on my swollen face. Lucas really had no filter. Talking like that was just asking to get punched. “Okay, sure!”
Isabella was like a wild dog that could track human scents, constantly finding ways to harass me. “Sister, it’s been three days. What did Mr. Howard say? Should I have Aiden put in a good word for you?” I shot her a glare and walked into the house without responding. This action angered our father again. Actually, in many ways he didn’t fulfill any fatherly responsibilities. To me, he was just a man named Frank Chen. He barked harshly: “You insolent girl! Don’t you have any manners? Your sister is talking to you!” He raised his hand again, but this time another hand stopped him. It was Lucas. “Mr. Chen!” Lucas tossed the black bag he was holding into my arms. “Sophia, your bag.” Frank’s eyes widened in shock: “Mr-Mr. Howard!” Lucas put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close: “Mr. Chen, you’re not that old. Why the stutter? Oh right, guilty conscience. You know our Sophia was old Mr. Jin’s most beloved granddaughter. Aren’t you afraid his ghost will come back for revenge?” From my angle, I could only see his chiseled jawline. I couldn’t read his expression to guess why he was standing up for me. But this was the first time anyone had ever shielded me and spoken up on my behalf. Frank said: “Mr. Howard must be joking!” Lucas raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide the arrogance and malice in his demeanor: “I’m not joking with you. Is a son-in-law who married into the family worth joking about?” Frank’s expression turned extremely ugly. His status as a son-in-law who had married into the family was a humiliation he had always wanted to wash away. He never expected Lucas to bring it up again. But revenge is a dish best served cold. One day Lucas would fall into his hands. He quickly smoothed the expression from his face, carefully putting on a fawning tone: “Yes, yes, sometimes I can be a bit harsh as a father.” Lucas squeezed my shoulder, feigning intimacy: “Mr. Chen, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner!” Me: ? While I appreciated him standing up for me, couldn’t he have used a different phrase? Frank kept smiling and nodding along. Lucas seemed satisfied as he led me towards the door with his arm around me. Suddenly he turned back, his gaze falling on Isabella who was hiding in the corner: “Sophia, what was your sister’s name again? Isabella something?” Isabella hurriedly ran out: “Isabella Chen. I’m Isabella Chen.” “You seem to lack manners. Don’t you know how to address people properly? Didn’t Aiden tell you who I am?” Isabella bowed repeatedly in panic: “Have a good day, Uncle. Have a good day, Uncle.” Lucas pointed at me: “You’re not going to call her Aunt?” Isabella shot me a vicious glare. Lucas: “Are you glaring at your elder?” “No, no.” Isabella froze in a half-bow, her voice barely above a whisper. “Have a good day…Aunt.” “Your voice is too quiet. I’ll let it slide this time, but next time you see your elders, learn to address them properly!” Lucas said with slight displeasure, deliberately emphasizing the word “elders.” “Okay, okay, I’ll remember!” Other than the day Isabella was brought back, this was the first time I had seen her so flustered. I have to say, it felt pretty good to have someone powerful on my side. I was even starting to like Lucas a little. His sharp tongue was reliably devastating to everyone. Once we got in the car, Lucas withdrew his arm and told the driver in front: “Back to the old mansion!” My heart skipped a beat. Although I knew working with Lucas would inevitably mean facing Mr. Howard Sr., I hadn’t expected that day to come so soon. “Miss Chen, isn’t it time for you to help me out?” The Howard family’s old mansion was in the suburbs of a neighboring province. Mr. Howard Sr. was getting on in years, and a fortune teller had said that location had good energy that would help him live to a ripe old age.
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