My blood ran with a secret power, a living cure for any poison. Seraphina Hayes, the untouchable heiress from one of the city’s most powerful dynasties, had been bitten by a venomous snake and was clinging to life. In that critical moment, I slit my wrist and let my blood flow to save her. Only later did I learn the cruel truth: whoever saved Seraphina’s life would become the chosen son-in-law of the Hayes family. But the first thing Seraphina did after inheriting her family’s empire was drain every last drop of my blood, then had my body chopped into pieces and fed to their dogs. “Julian had already brought the antidote,” she’d sneered, her eyes glittering with malice. “If I had just waited five more minutes, I could have married him without a single obstacle.” “But you had to butt in, didn’t you? You stole his place as the Hayes family’s son-in-law, driving him to despair and suicide.” “You claimed your blood could cure all poisons? Well, Asher Vance, let’s see how many doses of antidote we can squeeze out of you.” My entire body was drained of blood, then thrown into a gladiator pit. There was nothing left of me. My parents, ruined by the Hayes family, took their own lives, together. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to that fateful day Seraphina Hayes was poisoned. Eleanor Hayes, Seraphina’s mother, looked at me with a hopeful gaze. “I heard you were born with a unique gift, a living cure. Would you be willing to save my daughter’s life?” I immediately shook my head. “All those stories are just rumors, Mrs. Hayes. Besides, using blood as medicine? That’s just barbaric and unsanitary.” “You don’t need to worry, though. I heard Mr. Thorne is already rushing here with a special antidote. Miss Hayes will surely pull through!” A thrill of dark anticipation rippled through me. Without my blood to cure her… Seraphina Hayes? Forget inheriting her family’s empire. She’d be lucky to last another month!
Eleanor Hayes hadn’t even had a chance to mask her disappointment when suddenly, a gut-wrenching cry echoed through the hall. Silence fell instantly. No one dared to utter a sound. A rush of hurried footsteps came from the entrance, and several bodyguards carried Seraphina Hayes inside. Her eyes were tightly shut, and half of her arm was a sickening blackish-purple. It was a gruesome sight. The grand hall instantly erupted into chaos. Many people shrieked, backing away several steps. Richard Hayes’s face was terrifyingly grim. “Why do I even bother keeping you useless fools around?! I told you to protect her closely! How could you let Miss Hayes get bitten by a venomous snake?!” The bodyguards hung their heads low, sweat trickling down their temples, but not a single one dared to speak up. Just then, Julian Thorne was practically shoved to the front. “It’s not their fault… Seraphina said she didn’t like too many people following her.” A doctor rushed forward, quickly examining Seraphina’s injury. Seraphina’s body suddenly trembled violently. Finally, her eyes slowly fluttered open. “It’s Julian,” she whispered, her voice weak. “He risked everything to bring me the antidote. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably be dead already.” The doctor quietly added, “Indeed. If not for the uniquely potent antidote Mr. Thorne brought, the consequences would have been unthinkable.” Hearing this, Richard Hayes’s expression finally softened a little. His gaze turned to Julian. “You saved Seraphina’s life. You are a great benefactor to the Hayes family. Tell me, what do you want? As long as it’s within my power, I won’t refuse.” A flicker of light crossed Julian’s eyes. He stole a quick glance at Seraphina, his lips parted, but he couldn’t find the words. Seraphina’s expression darkened. She suddenly reached out and took his hand in hers. “Father, Julian is too shy to speak. I’ll speak for him.” Her voice was unwavering. “I want to marry him. I don’t care what anyone outside says. He saved my life, and I want to repay him with my entire future.” The atmosphere in the hall abruptly froze. Everyone gasped. Julian Thorne was merely the son of the Hayes family’s housekeeper. Although he had grown up with Seraphina, his background was simply too humble. The idea of him becoming their future son-in-law had never even crossed Richard and Eleanor Hayes’s minds. Richard Hayes frowned, a clear look of displeasure flashing in his eyes. Eleanor Hayes, standing beside him, suddenly spoke, her voice chilling. “You want to marry a housekeeper’s son? Do you want everyone to laugh at the Hayes family?” “You are the future heir of the Hayes Corporation. Don’t you understand the stakes involved?” Seraphina turned her head to look at Julian, who stood beside her. She made up her mind and slowly spoke.
“I understand the responsibilities of a Hayes Corporation heir, but I believe managing this empire requires capability and shrewdness, not relying on my partner’s power!” “The status I want, I’ll fight for myself. I don’t need outsiders to get it.” A single sentence plunged the banquet into a brief, stunned silence. Richard Hayes’s face turned a sickly shade of green, veins throbbing in his temples. I lowered my head, rubbing my fingers, a faint smile playing on my lips. Seraphina Hayes. She truly was ruthless and arrogant to her very core. Too bad she’d forgotten that her father only managed to pull their company back from the brink during that crisis years ago because my family bailed them out. That’s when Richard Hayes made a verbal agreement with my father for Seraphina and I to marry. “Fine! Very well!” Richard Hayes was seething. He slammed his hand on the table. “Since you’re so capable, I’ll let you have your way. Let’s see how long you can last without our support!” With that, he stormed off in a rage. Eleanor Hayes quickly stood up and followed him. Seraphina extended her arm, pulling Julian into a tight embrace, and solemnly promised him. “Don’t worry. The Hayes family’s son-in-law position will always be yours. No one can ever shake that!” I watched the two wrapped up in their own little world, preparing to leave. But Seraphina’s quiet voice stopped me. “Wait.” She pushed away Julian’s helping hand, swayed slightly, and came after me alone. She leaned close to my ear, speaking in a voice only we could hear. “Asher Vance, did you also come back with your memories?” “Good, you’re smart enough not to block Julian’s path this time. If you hadn’t meddled in my past life and made me lose Julian, I wouldn’t have been so ruthless towards you. This time, as long as you stay in your place, I can spare you and the Vance family.” “If you want to stay by my side, I’ll tell you now: I won’t give you any official title.” I raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. “What are you talking about, Miss Hayes?” “My family may not be an old dynasty, but we still have pride. Why on earth would I agree to be some kept man?” I met her eyes directly. I didn’t want her to know too much, and I certainly didn’t want the bloody hatred of my past life to bring disaster upon my family again. I glanced down, noticing her arm was still black. I scoffed internally. The blood debt from the past life—did she really think a few sweet words could erase it? Seraphina Hayes clearly underestimated me. Just wait until the poison in her right hand flares up again. She won’t even be able to save her own life. I ignored her, letting out a dismissive laugh, and ruthlessly pushed her hand away. “Are you out of your mind, Seraphina? You’re talking absolute nonsense.” With that, I walked around her and quickly left. Seraphina lunged for me, but suddenly lost her balance, stumbled, and collapsed to the floor. Julian let out a panicked shriek. “Seraphina!” I calmly adjusted my cuffs, not even bothering to look back. Heaven had granted me a new life. I would never let anyone hurt my family or me again. The next morning, I heard the frantic shouts of the staff downstairs that someone had broken in. Julian Thorne stormed in, his eyes blazing red, pointing at me and demanding furiously. “Asher Vance! You’re from a distinguished family, you lack nothing! Why do you insist on stealing Seraphina from me?!” “Don’t you know she was supposed to be mine?!” I sat up straight, my hair still a mess. “Are you sure you’ve got the right person? When have I ever competed with you for anything?” “You!” Julian bit his lower lip, tears welling up again, his voice filled with resentment. “Then what did you two talk about yesterday? Seraphina kept shouting your name after she fainted!” I raised an eyebrow at him, my voice flat, almost amused. “Didn’t she tell you? She’s begging to marry me now.”
Julian’s face instantly paled. He bit his lip, his voice turning shrill. “How could that be?! You bastard! You must have used some underhanded tactics!” I was about to explain when he suddenly shrieked and lunged at me, his hand already flying towards my face. The next second, a fluffy white ball of fur shot out like a flash from the corner. Snowball bit down hard on Julian’s wrist. Julian shrieked, stumbling back several steps and landing hard on the floor. I instinctively reached out, wanting to help him up. But the front door was kicked open with a loud bang. Seraphina Hayes stood at the doorway, her face like stone. “Asher Vance, how dare you incite this beast to harm Julian?!” Seraphina’s dark eyes swept over Snowball, then settled on me, her thin lips forming a grim line. “I told you, anyone who hurts Julian deserves to die.” “What are you waiting for?!” Her voice, relentless and cold, tore through any remaining illusions I had. “Throw that beast into the shredder!” The two bodyguards by the door instantly obeyed, lunging forward and grabbing Snowball by her small neck. Snowball’s eyes were wide with terror and fury. Her four paws struggled desperately, but she couldn’t break free from the men’s thick arms. My heart leaped into my throat. I yelled. “Stop it!” But a bodyguard held me fast, unable to move a muscle. “Miss Hayes, Mr. Thorne came here to insult our young master! Snowball only bit him to protect him!” One of the housekeepers tried to defend me. “Lies!” Julian cried, clutching his hand, his voice thick with tears. “He deliberately raised a crazy dog to hurt me!” Seraphina gave me a cold, dismissive glance, then bent down to help the fallen Julian. “Get rid of this mad dog, now.” Snowball was lifted into the air. Her neck was visibly about to snap. My blood ran cold. I didn’t think, I just wanted to snatch Snowball back from them. “Seraphina Hayes! Snowball was just protecting me! Julian provoked her first! He was the one who made the first move…” But she didn’t even spare me a glance. She simply tossed Snowball aside like trash. Snowball twitched twice on the ground, then her neck went limp, and her struggles ceased. I knelt there, stunned, horrifying images flashing through my mind again. In my past life, Seraphina had been just as ruthless. She’d bribed the vet, and Snowball had been used as a lab experiment, finally dying on a cold operating table. I bit down hard on my lower lip, swallowing back the sob that threatened to tear through my throat. “Seraphina Hayes, you can’t even tolerate the dog I raised since I was a child?!” I clenched my fists, my voice raw. But Seraphina merely scoffed. “Asher Vance, I’m already being merciful by letting you live. Don’t push your luck.” “My heart has always belonged to Julian and only Julian. If you dare to cross him again, you’ll be the next one to die.” Seraphina wrapped an arm around Julian and led him away without a backward glance. I bowed my head, my nails digging into my palms. Julian looked back, glaring at me, a smirk of disdain and triumph on his lips. Seraphina probably didn’t realize that she hadn’t just killed Snowball; she had killed her last hope of survival. Forget inheriting her family’s empire. She’d be lucky if death itself showed her mercy. Snowball’s body was already stiff. I picked her up with trembling hands and dug a grave in the yard. Since I was a child, Snowball was the only one who truly stayed by my side. Even in my last life, tortured to her death, she never let go. My tears splattered onto the soil. In that moment, the pain was so crushing, even breathing hurt. “Do you need help?” I looked up, meeting Valentina Cross’s dark, gentle eyes. At yesterday’s banquet, besides Seraphina being bitten by a venomous snake, Valentina had also been poisoned. In my previous life, my entire focus was on Seraphina. I cut my wrist and gave her my blood, saving her. This led to Valentina not receiving timely medical treatment and dying from the poison. But yesterday, I had someone deliver the special antidote made from my blood to Valentina in advance. She took it immediately after being bitten, and only then did she escape danger. I wiped away my tears. I looked at her, my voice deadly serious. “Valentina Cross, interested in a partnership?” “I’ll help you bring down Hayes Corp, and you marry me.” The words had barely left my mouth when Valentina’s eyes lit up with surprise. A smile touched her lips, as if her long wait had finally paid off. “Alright, it’s a deal. Don’t you dare go back on your word.”
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