This was my eighteenth wedding rehearsal with Damian Blackwood,and once again,the spotlight was stolen by my adopted sister,Seraphina. My parents called,their voices tight with anxiety. “Aurora,Sera’s having an anxiety attack.We have to take her to the retreat in the Hamptons.You handle the wedding stuff.You’re experienced with this,seeing as it’s been postponed so many times.” My childhood best friend,Hollywood superstar Giselle,clicked her tongue as if watching a soap opera. “Darling,is your wedding more important than Seraphina’s health?She was about to pass out from the pain,and you wouldn’t even let us help her.When did you become so cold-hearted?” And my fiancé,the Wall Street tech giant,couldn’t even be bothered to call. He just sent a cold text:【Wedding’s off.We’ll talk later.】 Talk later. He’d dismissed me like an unimportant subordinate with those words eighteen times. Suddenly,the whole situation felt absurd. “Guardian Spirit,”I called out in my mind,“sever the blessing contracts between me and them.All of them.” A familiar,ethereal voice echoed in my head:“Command received.All connections to the Darling of Fate,Aurora Sterling,have been severed.” “Countdown:72 hours.They will lose everything they gained through you,including their lives.” … Watching the countdown timer appear in my mind’s eye,I grabbed a microphone and walked onto the wedding stage,which was covered in purple irises. My wedding,decorated with Seraphina’s favorite flower.The irony was perfect. “I’m very sorry,everyone,but today’s wedding is canceled.” The socialites in the audience exchanged knowing glances.No one was surprised. “I knew it.A Sterling wedding never actually happens.If I were her,I’d hide my face in shame.” “The whole Sterling family dotes on the adopted one.If I were Aurora,I’d just give up.Let the sister have him.At least she’d look graceful instead of being the laughingstock of New York.” “You don’t get it.This heiress is something else.They say if Damian Blackwood even slightly upsets her,the Blackwood Group’s stock plummets the next day.He tried a few times,lost billions,and finally agreed to the engagement.” I turned and walked away,feeling their pity and scorn on my back. Hearing their whispers,a cold smirk touched my lips. This time,it would be much more than just a stock plunge…
I changed out of my gown and headed back to the Sterlings’penthouse on Park Avenue,planning only to grab a few belongings before leaving for good. But the second I reached the front door,I ran into a crowd escorting Seraphina back inside,chatting and laughing cheerfully. All their smiles froze the moment they laid eyes on me. Fire flared in Damian’s gaze,his tone sharp with reproach. “Aurora Sterling,why didn’t you issue a statement to the press after calling off the wedding?If you don’t take responsibility publicly,everyone’s just going to pin the blame on Sera again.” My father,Richard Sterling,curled his lip and spoke in a commanding tone. “Aurora,your crisis management is abysmal this time.We’ve never had to clean up messes from your canceled weddings before.You’ve let me down badly.Draft a formal announcement right away admitting you called everything off on a reckless whim.” My supposed best friend Giselle immediately pulled out her phone. “I’ll have my agent reach out to every major outlet.We can still spin this if Aurora posts the statement now.I’ll also pay online trolls to drag her name through the mud so no one speculates anything bad about Sera…” I said nothing in response to their unearned,self-righteous accusations. I simply stared at the countdown ticking away in my head. Two days and eighteen hours remained. Then every last one of them would plunge straight into ruin. “What are you zoning out for,Aurora Sterling?”Damian stepped up to me,his voice laced with a clear warning.“Fix this mess properly,or I make no promises about when we’ll ever reschedule our wedding.” Seraphina piped up in her usual frail,simpering voice. “It’s all my fault for holding Damian and my sister’s wedding up.This is entirely on me.There are plenty of auspicious dates left this month—please don’t postpone it any further…” Her sentence cut short as she broke into a harsh coughing fit. Damian rushed to her side in an instant,rubbing her back soothingly. “This isn’t your fault at all,don’t beat yourself up over it.Your sister’s never going anywhere without me;our wedding can happen whenever.” “I wouldn’t count on that.” I finally broke my silence with a cold retort. Every single person in the room went rigid with shock. I lifted the duffel bag in my hand.“I’m leaving.” The words had barely left my mouth when— SLAP! A crisp,echoing smack rang out across the lavish living room.
My cheek stung,but I just wanted to laugh. My mother,Eleanor,her hand still trembling with rage,screamed at me. “How dare you make a scene?!We’ve spoiled you rotten!You were a debutante,how did you become so selfish and difficult?” “You’re leaving?Where are you going to go?Are you trying to make sure the whole city knows how we’mistreated’you?Aurora,when will you ever learn?How could I have a daughter like you?You’re not even half the woman Seraphina is!” I tasted blood in my mouth. Yes,I used to throw a tantrum every single time. Because I didn’t understand why they’d insist I broke my father’s antique vase when Seraphina did it. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t believe the security footage that showed I never pushed Seraphina down the stairs. Even buying a bouquet of lilies was twisted into’proof’that I was intentionally triggering Seraphina’s allergies. This wasn’t the first time my mother had hit me. Just two days ago,I refused to let Seraphina try on my custom Vera Wang wedding dress. Then,she“coincidentally”fainted. My mother rushed in,pushed me to the ground,and took a pair of scissors to the dress I had waited six months for. We were practically enemies because of Seraphina. So I used to make a scene.I wanted someone,anyone,to see the truth. But this time,I was done.I wasn’t going to make a scene anymore.
In the story of this world,I am the one kissed by fate.The chosen one. The rule is simple:only by forming a deep connection with me can the other characters receive their good fortune. The day after I was born,the Sterling Group,which had been on the brink of bankruptcy,miraculously received a massive investment and became one of New York’s top firms.My father’s stage-two cancer vanished without a trace. My best friend Giselle,who was always by my side,had a charmed career in Hollywood,winning an Oscar and becoming a global superstar. And Damian Blackwood. He was just a poor kid from Brooklyn,getting beat up by street thugs. Until he saved me from getting lost on a rainy night,and I fell for him. From that moment on,he founded his tech company and,as if guided by a divine hand,never lost a single battle in the business world,eventually taking his company public on Nasdaq and becoming a tech legend. They all worshiped me for over twenty years. Damian treated me like the most precious thing in the world. And because of me,they got everything they ever dreamed of. But then,they brought Seraphina home. And everything changed.
My father spoke to the butler in a grim voice. “Pack up her things.She won’t take a single thing from the Sterling family with her.” “Aurora Sterling,you can leave.But this time,none of us are coming to get you.If you walk out that door,we’ll hold a press conference and disown you.You will no longer be a Sterling!” They pushed me out the door without letting me take so much as a change of clothes. Damian sighed and discreetly slipped me a key. “You can stay at this apartment.Aurora,we’re just tired.We don’t want to play these games with you anymore.” Then he added,“I wish it had been Seraphina I saved that night.” I laughed coldly.“You can marry her now,for all I care.” Damian sighed again,frustrated.“There you go again.Aurora,you know I promised to marry you,and I won’t go back on my word.” “Seraphina is a sweet,innocent girl.I will not allow you to speak of her as if she’s some object to be traded.Don’t let me hear you say that again.” He turned and walked back up the steps. I threw the key on the ground.As I was about to leave,Seraphina rushed out and grabbed my sleeve.“Sister,don’t go!It’s my fault,I shouldn’t have wished for a warmth that wasn’t mine…I don’t deserve it…” “Don’t leave,I should be the one to go!I’ll leave the Sterling house right now…”
I knew what game she was playing. So I just stood there and let her hold onto me,performing her masterful crying act. But when I didn’t push her away like I usually did,she suddenly gasped,“I can’t breathe,”and collapsed in a soft heap at my feet. “Sera!” “Get the family doctor,now!Seraphina,my daughter!” Everyone rushed over,surrounding her in a panic. Damian’s eyes were bloodshot with fury.He grabbed me by the neck.“Aurora Sterling,you dare to touch Seraphina again?Did you think I’d never lay a hand on you?!” I realized that when you’re truly speechless,you just laugh. I didn’t even bother to touch her. And yet,I was still the one who“hurt”her. “Damian,I hope you all don’t regret this one day.” “Guards!”my father roared,pointing at me.“Lock her in the wine cellar!Let her think about what she’s done!”
This is the second time I’ve been locked in here. The first time is still fresh in my mind. It happened because I caught Sera sneaking into Damian’s bedroom in the middle of the night. I lost it on the spot.I caught her red-handed in Damian’s bed! But then she tearfully claimed it was due to sleepwalking caused by childhood trauma—she said she didn’t even know why she went into Damian’s room,only that she felt safe there. She didn’t mean to do it. My parents and Damian bought that explanation completely. Damian even told her gently that if she was afraid,she could come to him anytime. Back then,my feelings for Damian were at their peak. I couldn’t even stand a female assistant near him—aside from the cleaning ladies,no women were allowed in the entire executive office. So,I slapped Sera right then and there. And for that,my parents locked me in this wine cellar for seven days,with only a slice of bread and a cup of water each day. They only let me out when I was nearly out of my mind with hunger and agreed to apologize to Sera. But this time,they clearly don’t intend to just starve me for a few days. When my father walked in holding a horsewhip,Damian followed behind him. “According to family rules,you deserve a real lesson.But Sera felt sorry for you and begged me on her knees to go easy on you.So you’ll get just five lashes.” *Crack!* Halfway through,my father hesitated,unable to go on.“Apologize to your sister!” “Are you going to apologize or not?!” But I never gave him the answer he wanted.The more he demanded,the angrier he became. By the time the five lashes were done,my entire back was a bloody mess. I was already numb from the pain,curled up in the corner,gasping for air. My father threw down the whip and left without another word. His final words lingered in the air: “Incorrigible!”
Damian crouched down in front of me. “Here’s some medicine and clean clothes from Seraphina.Aurora,Seraphina has always respected you.As her older sister,and as my future wife,you should take care of her.Why are you so petty?Why do you always assume the worst in people?” “When you’ve thought it through,apologize.Stop making us all angry.” He unfolded the clothes Seraphina had“prepared”for me—a coarse burlap shirt—and“thoughtfully”draped it over my back. The rough fabric scraped against my raw wounds.It felt like being dunked in salt water. I curled into a ball,shaking from the agony. “So dramatic.Seraphina has her attacks,turns pale from pain,but she never makes a scene like you do.” Damian rolled his eyes,stood up,and left. It took me a long time to catch my breath. “Guardian Spirit…” “Host,shall I activate the pain-blocking function?” “No.I want to accelerate the end of the contract.” “Understood.Acceleration initiated.Tomorrow at noon,all characters will face the consequences.”
As dawn broke,I was roughly dragged to my feet. Someone took me somewhere,and I fell onto a cold tile floor. The next second,a blast of icy water from a showerhead jolted me awake. I was fully conscious now,and I saw Seraphina holding a pressure washer. Her eyes were filled with undisguised contempt and mockery,a triumphant smile on her face. She had the water on its coldest setting,standing far away,spraying me down like a stray dog. “Sister,Mom and Dad said they’re holding a press conference at the New York Stock Exchange today.To announce to the whole world that you’ve been kicked out of the Sterling family.” “They’re going to publicly declare that I am the only daughter of the Sterling family,and Damian’s only bride.” “With the Blackwood and Sterling merger,I’ll be the jewel of two great families.And you?You’ll be sent back to the countryside.A dirt-poor peasant,married off to some disgusting pig farmer.” I glared at Seraphina. Yes,this was her true self. She never bothered to hide her ambition from me. From the very first day she came to the Sterling house and insisted on sharing my room,she told me she was here to replace me. But back then,I thought I had the“blessing contract.”I thought,how could they ever leave me? Reality slapped me hard in the face. The icy water had made my limbs numb. Then suddenly,Seraphina switched the water from cold to scalding hot. The boiling water poured over my back,instantly re-opening the wounds that had just started to scab over. Blood mixed with water,swirling down the drain. The bathroom filled with steam.I was red and swollen,the pain in my back so intense it felt like it wasn’t even part of my body anymore. Seraphina laughed.“Mom and Dad told me to wash you up.I have to be thorough.” Then,she poured a large bucket of what looked like red wine mixed with something else all over me.
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