I was Skylar Adams, the illegitimate daughter my family kept hidden away. My only purpose was to take my sister’s place and marry the notorious Damian Thorne – a powerful magnate, rumored to be ill-tempered and confined to a wheelchair. At the wedding, when the minister asked if I was willing, I grabbed the microphone, right there in front of all the city’s elite. “I am not.” The entire room erupted. My father, Mr. Adams, was shaking with rage, his finger jabbing furiously as he screamed that I was insane. But they had no idea. A voice in my head had just spoken. [Congratulations, Host, for rejecting the arranged marriage! The Single Survival System is officially activated. Day one of being single: Reward – one million dollars, Life Points +1.] “Skylar Adams, say that again, I dare you!” My father, Mr. Harrison Adams’s, roar threatened to blow the roof off the chapel. My sister, Amber, standing beside me in her bridesmaid’s dress, hissed under her breath. “Are you insane? If you dare ruin this marriage, Mom and Dad will kill you!” I looked at her calmly, then at the stunned guests below. Finally, my gaze settled on Damian Thorne, sitting in his wheelchair. He was a business titan, a man who commanded an empire and could practically rule the city. An accident six months ago had left him wheelchair-bound, transforming his already formidable personality into something even darker and more ruthless. Everyone said the Adams family was pushing me, their illegitimate daughter, into a living hell. But they had no idea. The Adams family securing this connection to the Thornes? My parents had practically begged, pulling out every desperate plea they had to land this unimaginable fortune. Damian Thorne’s face was expressionless, his deep-set eyes watching me from several feet away, as if observing a drama that had nothing to do with him. His assistant, Liam Stone, behind him, looked furious and was already preparing to intervene. “I am not willing,” I repeated, my voice not loud, but clear enough to echo through the entire chapel. SMACK! A stinging slap landed across my face. It was my mother. She stormed onto the stage, trembling as she pointed at me. “You ungrateful wretch! You’re absolutely insane! You’ve completely shamed our family! Apologize to Mr. Thorne right now!” I licked the metallic taste of blood from my lip and smiled. “Apologize? Why? My marriage is *mine*. If I don’t want to go through with it, does someone else get to force me?” My father’s lips quivered with fury. “You… you bastard! You *will* marry him today, whether you like it or not!” He started to lunge for me. “Enough.” Damian Thorne maneuvered his electric wheelchair slowly to the front of the stage, his gaze calm as he looked at me. “Give me a reason.” I looked at him, this man rumored to be so brutal. There was no anger in his eyes now, only a piercing curiosity. I took a deep breath and delivered the line I’d rehearsed. “I don’t like you. And I certainly don’t want to marry someone who’s… disabled.” The words were harsh, venomous, even to my own ears. As expected, the entire room gasped. Mr. Harrison Adams’s face went completely white; he looked like he was about to faint. Amber stared at me as if I were already dead. Damian Thorne’s gaze finally darkened. Liam Stone, his assistant, stepped forward, his voice cold. “Miss Adams, words have consequences. You can’t just insult the Thorne family like that.” The atmosphere plummeted to a freezing point, but in my head, I silently chanted, “System, settle up!” [Ding! Day one of being single: Reward – one million dollars, Life Points +1. Cash has been transferred to your anonymous account.] The system’s cold, robotic voice was my only comfort. With money and more life, what did I have to fear? I straightened my back, meeting Damian Thorne’s icy stare. “I’m telling the truth. You can’t force happiness. Mr. Thorne, this marriage? It’s off.” With that, I lifted the hem of my expensive wedding dress and, to everyone’s disbelief, turned to leave. I didn’t make it out of the chapel. Two bodyguards in black suits blocked my path. My father, Mr. Adams, his voice trembling, pleaded with Damian Thorne, “Mr. Thorne, please don’t be angry. This girl isn’t thinking straight. I’ll tie her up and send her to you right away…” “Dad!” Amber quickly grabbed his arm, her eyes darting to Damian Thorne. “Mr. Thorne, my sister is just being childish. Please don’t take her seriously.” Damian Thorne ignored their little performance. He just watched me, his gaze unreadable. “Miss Adams, you agreed to this wedding yourself. Now you’re publicly backing out, just playing games with me?” I clenched my fists. “I wasn’t playing games. I just realized that I want a life of my own, not one dependent on anyone else.” “Is that so?” Damian Thorne let out a soft chuckle, though no amusement reached his eyes. “Miss Adams, I admire your pursuit of independence. However, everything comes at a price.” The moment he finished speaking, Liam Stone stepped forward and addressed Mr. Harrison Adams. “Mr. Adams, according to the agreement, a failed alliance requires Adams Holdings to pay Thorne Industries a breach of contract penalty of one billion dollars. Furthermore, Thorne Industries will withdraw all investments and project collaborations with Adams Holdings.”
“One billion dollars!” Mr. Harrison Adams’s eyes rolled back, and he nearly collapsed. Amber’s face went white too. The Adams family’s total assets, combined, barely amounted to two or three hundred million. A billion dollars? That would drive them to ruin! Mr. Harrison Adams dropped to his knees with a thud, facing Damian Thorne. “Mr. Thorne, please have mercy! This rebellious girl is solely to blame. Punish her, but leave the Adams family out of this!” I watched his pathetic display with cold disdain, feeling nothing but disgust. This was my father, ready to throw me under the bus without a second thought for his own gain. My mother started wailing. “Mr. Thorne, we’ll send her back to her room immediately. Tonight, she’s yours! Please, spare us!” Watching my family’s ugly charade, my stomach churned. I turned to Damian Thorne. “This was my decision, and I’ll bear the consequences alone. Let my parents go. Let the Adams family go.” Damian Thorne raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused. “You’ll take responsibility? With what? A billion dollars? Do you even have that kind of money?” “I will repay it,” I said, my voice firm and unwavering. A wave of scoffing spread through the room. An illegitimate daughter, discarded by her family, how could she possibly repay a billion? It was pure fantasy. Amber’s taunt was particularly sharp. “Skylar, stop spouting nonsense! How will you pay it back? With your worthless life?” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on Damian Thorne. “Give me three years.” Damian Thorne looked deeply into my eyes, and then, surprisingly, he smiled. “Alright, I’ll give you three years.” He waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to step aside. “From today onward, you, Skylar Adams, owe me, Damian Thorne, one billion dollars. Interest will be calculated at the highest bank rate.” He paused, then added, “Don’t even think about running. You know what I’m capable of.” With that, he maneuvered his wheelchair and left the chapel without looking back. My parents lay sprawled on the floor, their eyes fixed on me, looks that could have devoured me whole. “You wretch! You absolute wretch! You’ve ruined the Adams family!” I didn’t spare them another glance. Clutching the hem of my priceless wedding dress, I walked out of that cage-like chapel. The sunlight was blinding, but I felt a freedom I’d never known. [Ding! Host has successfully escaped the toxic family environment! Reward: one luxury apartment, Life Points +5.] Standing on the street in a wedding dress, I felt like a living, breathing joke. Passersby stared and pointed, but I didn’t care. My phone vibrated. A bank alert: $1,000,000 deposited. I smiled. Having money felt good. Immediately after, another message came in from an unknown number. [Bellagio Heights, Unit A-3201. Passcode: your birthday. -Liam Stone] It was Damian Thorne’s assistant. I was surprised. He actually gave me an apartment. Was he trying to keep an eye on me, afraid I’d run? Whatever. A place to live was better than being homeless. I hailed a cab and gave the address. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, looking like he wanted to say something but held back. When we arrived at Bellagio Heights, I realized it was a renowned upscale neighborhood, with extremely strict security. My wedding dress made me far too conspicuous, and a security guard stopped me. I gave him the apartment number and my name. After checking, he respectfully waved me through. I swiped the card for Unit 3201 and was stunned by what I saw. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist modern decor, top-brand furniture and appliances. The walk-in closet even had a selection of seasonal designer clothes, shoes, and bags, still with their tags on. The refrigerator was stocked with fresh produce and imported fruits. On the table sat a black card and a new phone. A bold, flowing signature on the card read: [Stay put. -Thorne] This didn’t look like something prepared for someone owing a billion dollars. It was more like a gilded cage. What exactly did Damian Thorne want? I shook my head, pushing the thought away. First things first, a shower, a change of clothes, and a good meal.
Soaking comfortably in the bathtub, the system’s voice chimed again. [Day two of being single: Reward – one million dollars, Life Points +1.] [Current Life Points: 7.] [Current Account Balance: $2,000,000.] I looked at my pale face in the mirror, a faint smile on my lips. Before the wedding, I had a sudden acute heart failure. The doctors said I wouldn’t live more than a month. It was this [Single Survival System] that had suddenly appeared, giving me hope. As long as I stayed single, I could live, and I could have immense wealth. Chase after guys? No thanks. I’d rather get rich, extend my life, and thrive all on my own. Just then, the doorbell rang. I was puzzled. Who would come looking for me here? Wrapped in my plush robe, I peeked through the peephole. It was Amber. How in the world did she find me here? I opened the door. Amber stood there, looking utterly condescending. She gave me a once-over, her gaze lingering on my robe, eyes brimming with a venomous mix of jealousy and scorn. “Skylar, you really have some nerve! You broke off your engagement and now you’re living in a place like this? Who’s the old man you’ve hooked up with now?” I leaned against the doorframe, lazily looking at her. “Something you need?” My nonchalant attitude infuriated Amber. “Something I need? Of course I do! Mom and Dad are furious, the company’s on the verge of bankruptcy, and here you are, living it up!” She started to push her way inside. I held out a hand to stop her. “This is my home. You’re not welcome.” “Your home?” Amber sounded like she’d just heard the funniest joke. “Skylar, don’t you forget, you have Adams family blood running through your veins! You ruined us; you have to take responsibility!” “Responsibility? How? By going back and marrying Damian Thorne in your place?” I scoffed. “Amber, you were the one crying and screaming that you wouldn’t marry him. Now you’re blaming me?” Originally, the marriage contract between the Adams and Thorne families had specified Amber, the eldest daughter. But she despised Damian because of his disability, throwing such dramatic tantrums and threats that my parents finally set their sights on me, their illegitimate daughter. They promised me that if I just married him, they’d give my mother a large sum of money to live out her golden years comfortably. For my mother, I agreed. But just a week before the wedding, my mother suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away. And at that very time, I was diagnosed with the same heart condition. Not a single person from the Adams family came to see me. They only cared if I would show up on time for the wedding. From that moment, I completely gave up on the Adams family. “You… you’re talking nonsense!” Amber’s eyes darted away. “That was… I had someone I loved! Not like you, who’s promiscuous and shameless!” She grew more agitated, her voice rising several octaves. “Skylar, I’m warning you, you’d better go apologize to Mr. Thorne and beg him to spare the Adams family! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this city!” “Oh? Is that so?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to see you try.” With a loud BANG, I slammed the door shut. Amber’s frustrated screams echoed from outside, but I ignored them. Wasting another breath on someone like her was a waste of my precious Life Points. The next morning, my name was trending online. #AdamsIllegitimateDaughterPubliclyBreaksEngagementInsultsDisabledMagnate# #UngratefulSkylarAdams# #AdamsGroupOnTheBrinkOfBankruptcy# Clicking on them, it was all hate comments about me. They called me a gold-digger, saying I dumped Damian Thorne because he was disabled, a complete opportunist. There were even so-called “insiders” who claimed I had a chaotic private life and had already hooked up with other men. Attached were several blurry photos of a girl with a similar build to me, intimately close with different men. I recognized her immediately: it was Amber. How ruthless could she be? To ruin me, she’d even released her own scandalous secrets and tried to pin them on me. The comments section was a cesspool of insults. “Women like her deserve to be canceled!” “Feel bad for Mr. Thorne, tricked by such a despicable woman.” “The Adams family must have done something truly awful to raise such an ungrateful ingrate.” I looked at the comments, not angry at all, but rather amused. These netizens were certainly easily swayed. I ignored the online storm, calmly making myself a lavish breakfast.
Just as I finished eating, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I answered, and a haughty female voice came through. “Is this Skylar Adams? I’m Brittany Hayes.” Brittany Hayes? I thought for a moment. Amber’s rich, spoiled friend. “What do you want?” “Skylar, you really outdid yourself, daring to offend Mr. Thorne. Now the Adams family is ruined. Are you happy?” Brittany Hayes’s tone was dripping with schadenfreude. I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on her. Just as I was about to hang up, she spoke again. “However, I’m in a good mood today, so I can show you a way out.” “What way out?” “Tonight at eight, Regal Club, Mr. Albright’s party. Mr. Albright loves your type – innocent with a hint of wildness. If you please him well, he’ll give you twenty billion, not just one.” The Regal Club was a notorious den of indulgence in the city. And Mr. Albright, I’d heard whispers about him. A fifty-something, sleazy old man known for his scandalous escapades. Amber and Brittany Hayes were trying to throw me into a living hell. “What’s wrong? Scared to come?” Brittany Hayes taunted. “If you still want to survive in this city, you’d better show up. Otherwise, face the consequences.” With that, she hung up. I looked at my phone, my eyes turning cold. Did they really think I was still the old Skylar, easily manipulated? I originally didn’t want to bother with these clowns, but their repeated provocations made me wonder if they thought I was made of mud. Eight PM, Regal Club. I changed into a little black dress, put on exquisite makeup, and arrived promptly. Just outside the private room, I heard Brittany Hayes’s voice. “Don’t worry, Mr. Albright, that little bitch will definitely come. She’s desperate now; what else can she do but cling to a big shot like you?” A vulgar male voice chuckled. “Good, good, Brittany, you’re so smart. You’ll be well rewarded when this is done.” “Thank you in advance, Mr. Albright.” I pushed open the door and walked in. The room was smoky and chaotic. Besides Brittany Hayes and the corpulent Mr. Albright, there were a few other scantily clad men and women. Amber was there too, and she froze when she saw me. “Oh, she actually came?” Brittany Hayes said mockingly. “Come on, quickly, come toast Mr. Albright.” Mr. Albright’s lecherous eyes raked over me, making my skin crawl. “Nice, nice, even prettier than in the photos.” He rubbed his hands together, his smile obscene. I didn’t move, just stared at them coldly. “Skylar, what are you waiting for? Come on over!” Amber urged, clearly worried I’d ruin her plans. I picked up a glass of red wine from the table and slowly walked toward Mr. Albright. He thought I was going to toast him and chuckled, raising his own glass. Just as he was about to clink glasses with me, I flicked my wrist, and the entire glass of red wine splashed across his greasy face. “Agh!” Mr. Albright cried out. The entire room fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at me, wide-eyed. Brittany Hayes reacted first, screaming, “Skylar! You’re crazy!” Amber’s face paled with fright. “You… what are you doing!” Mr. Albright wiped the wine from his face, trembling with rage. “You dirty bitch! You dared to throw wine on me! Grab her! I’m going to make you regret this tonight!” Several men immediately lunged at me. But I was ready. Grabbing an empty wine bottle from the table, I smashed it against the edge with a sickening CRACK! The bottle shattered, and I gripped the remaining half, its sharp, jagged end pointed at the man in front. “Who dares come closer?” I spat, my voice cold. The men were stunned by my ferocity and hesitated to advance. Mr. Albright yelled furiously, “Useless! You’re all useless! Go get her! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!” Just then, the private room door was kicked open from the outside. “I’d like to see who dares touch her,” an icy voice cut through the room. My gaze snapped to the sound, and I froze. Damian Thorne? What was he doing here? He was still in his specialized wheelchair, followed by an expressionless Liam Stone and several black-suited bodyguards. His appearance instantly dropped the room’s pressure to zero. Mr. Albright saw Damian Thorne, and the anger on his face instantly transformed into a fawning smile. “Mr… Mr. Thorne? What brings you here?” He stammered, frantically wiping the wine from his face.
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