He Gave Me Scars, His Brother Gave Me a Ring

"If Justin won't marry me, I'll marry his brother instead. Even if he's in a vegetative state, I'll still give you a greatgrandchild."

After the words fell, the ward was so quiet that only the ECG machine was beeping.

Elizabeth Sutherland raised her head and her eyes behind her reading glasses wrinkled with a smile. "Francesca, have you thought it through?"

"I'll give the title of 'Second Madam' to the real daughter of the Jamesons. But I'll still have the child, just like you asked. The reward you promised me back then, shouldn't that double now?"

The older woman's face instantly darkened. "What do you mean by this? You haven't fulfilled what you agreed to and now you want an even higher reward?"

"Wasn't your goal to give your eldest grandson an heir?"

I said with a mocking smile. "You were afraid I wouldn't agree, so you tricked me into marrying Justin, planning to have me give birth and pass the child off as your eldest grandson's."

"Well, now that I'm cutting out the middle step of adoption, don't you think my reward should go up?"

The older woman took a deep breath and murmured a religious chant to calm herself. After a long pause, she finally asked, "What do you want?"

"I want the shares in the Sutherlands that belong to the eldest son. Cashed out." I smiled faintly.

"And I want my identity erased. I want to disappear from Justin's life completely and quietly."

"You want Jackson's shares, huh? You've got guts!"

Her face turned red with anger, thinking that I had already lost my mind. Still, she agreed quickly.

"Fine, but no backing out. Once your ID is wiped clean, you leave the country immediately and find Jackson. Within a year, I want to see my greatgrandchild."

I wasn't surprised by the older woman's decision.

A stepgrandchild could never be as good as a biological one.

Just like me.

How could a fake heiress like me be as good as the real heiress of the Jamesons as the wife of Justin, the current heir of the Sutherlands?

"I understand you want money and power, but weren't you always very fond of Justin? How can you bear to give him up now?"

Elizabeth seemed wary of a trick and asked one more question before I left.

The name "Justin" was like a knife, fiercely stabbing the softest part of my heart.

The hand I had on the doorknob stiffened. I didn't turn back, but my eyes turned red. "I just don't like him anymore," I said.

Five years ago, I was thrown down from the position of the eldest daughter of the Jamesons, falling into the mud, covered in wounds.

The truth about the real and fake heiress was revealed overnight. The Jamesons discovered I wasn't their biological daughter and immediately turned ruthless.

My adoptive mother cried and scolded me for taking her daughter's eighteen years of life, even tearing apart the dresses I had worn one by one.

Overnight, the real estate, stocks and bank cards under my name all belonged to the "real heiress."

She moved into my room, wore my custommade dresses and appeared in my original social circle.

As for me, I was driven out of the Jamesons in front of everyone and sent back to my impoverished and debtridden biological family.

I went to a secondhand luxury store to sell all my luxury goods. The owner smiled at me and said, "So, this eldest lady was a fake."

Because I refused to use my money to pay off my biological parents' gambling debts, they locked me in a pigsty in the countryside and starved me for three days.

At that time, it was Elizabeth who rescued me.

She said, "Come to the Sutherlands and give me a greatgrandchild and I'll help you break ties with your biological parents completely."

I agreed.

Anyway, I happened to like Justin.

Liked him down to my very bones.

He was the dream of every socialite.

Aloof, elegant, cold and quiet. Justin looked like moonlight falling on snow, standing beside anyone. It was so pure that it felt wrong even to get close.

I never thought of it as a deal. Marrying Justin Sutherland felt like winning the jackpot.

I was recognized as a great beauty in the circle. From the age of eighteen, the wealthy secondgeneration heirs and powerful young men who pursued me could line up to the Norwyn seaside.

Countless people willingly fell under my charm.

I thought Justin was the same.

In the five years after our marriage, I used every trick I knew to melt his frozen heart.

I went downstairs wearing a red dress with the slit up to my thigh, pouring wine for him and acting coquettishly. He said blandly, "The wine is too strong," and turned to have the servants take away the entire table of red wine.

I'd pretend to have nightmares and knock on his door in a silk nightgown. He'd open it, drape a blanket over my shoulders and say in a restrained voice, "Don't catch a cold."

I dropped my umbrella in the rain and stood soaking wet in front of his car. He finally opened the car door but didn't even glance at me in the back seat. "Get in, I'll take you home."

That man was disciplined and distant. He never once called me "wife." He always called me "Miss Jameson."

I kept telling myself he was just cold on the outside and warm on the inside. After all, during my fertile days, he would always sleep with me.

Until half a month ago, when I overheard him talking to a maid.

He said, "Don't forget to add birth control to her soup."

"I sleep with her during ovulation because Grandma ordered it. I have no choice, but I could never have a child with her. My first child has to be with Lily."

"Make her some beef stew. She had a tough childhood; her stomach was weak. I want to take care of her."

Every word he said was like a knife cutting into my heart, one slice at a time.

I was standing by the staircase and nearly collapsed. Still, I bit my lip and stayed silent.

At that moment, my sincere heart shattered into pieces.

I hadn't expected Justin to love Lilian, too.

After Lilian, the real heiress, returned, everyone in the family told me to "make way."

Make way for the house I had lived in for five years, make way for the hostess position at the family banquet, make way for the parents who had raised me for eighteen years.

Now, she even wanted my husband.

She was the "real heiress," and everything she wanted could be reasonably snatched away. At the same time, I was just a fake who had fallen from a high place, not even qualified to cry.

Initially, I could endure it.

I endured the pain of falling from the clouds into the dust, endured the contempt of others calling me a "fake heiress," and endured the loneliness of every second of my marriage.

Sadly, I couldn't endure Justin drugging me.

Nor could I endure him smiling and saying that his first child could only be Lilian's.

That was the moment I stopped loving him.

Because someone like me, who was proud to the core, could never love a man who trampled on me like I was nothing.

Besides Justin, almost everyone in the Sutherlands also felt it was unreasonable for me, not Lilian, to marry Justin.

Justin's mother, Agnes, had also mocked my background in front of me more than once. Their wishes were coming true, letting Lilian become Justin's wife.

And I? I'd marry his older brother and become the eldest young madam.

"Fine, you don't love him anymore," the old lady said. "Get the divorce done as soon as possible. I'll arrange to cancel your household registration, get you a new passport and send you abroad."

It was already late when I got home with the divorce papers.

The door to Justin's study was halfopen. From inside the room came his low voice, carrying a hint of barely perceptible desire.

He was talking to someone, his voice lower than usual, his tone a tenderness I had never heard before.

I approached the halfclosed door.

Through the crack, I saw Justin leaning back in his leather chair. The computer screen illuminated Lilian's overly pure smiling face.

And his right hand was slowly moving under his suit pants.

My nails dug unconsciously into my palm, a dull ache spreading through my chest.

I had never seen Justin this out of control before.

"Lily, your voice is lovely."

Suddenly, he whispered, with a suppressed tone and a little panting, "Can you talk more?"

I couldn't bear it anymore and pushed the door open.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, merely closing his laptop quickly. When he raised his eyes to meet mine, his gaze was as indifferent as ever.

"Hubby, playing by yourself must be boring." I leaned against the doorframe, forcing a smile. "Do you want me to join you?"

His expression remained blank. "Is there something you need?"

My heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

With Lilian, he was like a boy discovering love for the first time. With me? Just a monk who'd lost all earthly desires.

Still smiling, I said, "I went to visit Grandma. She's doing much better."

His brows knit slightly. He'd clearly misunderstood and thought I was trying to pressure him. "Is it your ovulation period?"

He stood up, already loosening his tie. "Let's get it over with."

In the past, I'd have thrown myself into his arms, eager for any sliver of affection.

Unfortunately, witnessing him act as if he were doing me a favour made me feel sick.

I took a step back and tried to keep my voice steady. "No need. Grandma asked me to give you a housing contract. She wants you to sign it."

He was clearly thrown off by my refusal. After a pause, he simply said, "Okay."

I handed him the contract. As expected, he didn't even glance at it before signing.

As long as I said Elizabeth wanted something, he never questioned it.

Back in the bedroom, I locked the door and tightly clutched the signed divorce agreement.

The woman in the mirror still had exquisite makeup and a beautiful figure, far better than Lilian's skinny frame.

Yet, Justin was utterly devoted to her sister.

Then I'll wish you two a happy ending.

Three days later was my birthday and Lilian's.

Since I married Justin five years ago, the Jamesons have nominally acknowledged me as their goddaughter. They celebrate Lilian's and my birthdays together yearly at a fivestar hotel under the Jamesons' name.

Justin stood in the walkin closet, getting ready for the day.

If it were the past, I would have run over to deliberately disrupt his movements, tugging on his tie to tease him.

Today, I merely glanced at him before heading to my personal makeup artist to get ready.

Justin seemed to look at me a few more times, but he didn't say anything.

The hotel party hall was decorated in Lilian's favourite pink style.

At the entrance stood two birthday signs:

Lilian's was studded with rhinestones, with the golden words "Jameson Family's Pearl, Lilian's 25th Birthday Celebration."

Mine was just a plain acrylic board with "Happy Birthday Francesca" printed hastily, like a lastminute addition.

I sneered and walked into the party hall in my high heels.

Lilian was surrounded by a crowd, becoming the center of attention. She wore a custommade Valentino starry sky dress, her smile innocent and radiant.

When she saw me come in, she affectionately trotted over and put her arm around mine. "Sister! Why are you running so late?"

I pulled my arm away, a halfsmile on my face. "Who's your sister?"

Her eyes instantly turned red.

Melissa quickly stepped in with a scolding tone. "Francesca, Lily truly wants to be close to you. How could you speak to her like that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Then why doesn't Lilian remember that today is also my birthday? Or has everyone in the Jamesons lost their memory?"

Henry's face darkened, suppressing his anger. "Today is your and Lily's shared birthday. Of course, we remember."

"Is that so? I thought I was attending her birthday as a guest," I chuckled, gesturing towards the two clearly different birthday signs.

Lilian bit her lip, her eyes red and filled with grievance. "Francesca, if you don't like it, I'll have them take the sign down."

"Francesca, today is a happy occasion. Don't make it unpleasant."

Justin spoke blandly, his eyes carrying a warning as he looked at me.

Before I could speak, Lilian's eyes lit up.

She grabbed his sleeve. Her voice was as soft as honey. "Justin, you're here! I was looking through my photo albums yesterday. I suddenly remembered that I sprained my ankle at Paris Fashion Week last month. Then, you flew over overnight and carried me back to the hotel from the show, right?"

She tilted her face up, her eyes shining with affection. "I was in such a daze from the pain that I never got to thank you properly."

The sharp lines of Justin's face visibly softened. He looked down at her. "It was nothing."

Nothing?

I gripped my champagne glass tightly.

Last month, during Paris Fashion Week, I was hospitalized for three days with acute gastroenteritis. I made seventeen international calls to him, all of which went to voicemail.

So, he was busy being Lilian's personal chauffeur at that time.

"I even took up baking to make macarons for you."

Lilian suddenly turned to me, smiling innocently. "Francesca, want to join me? I can teach you!"

I downed my champagne in one gulp and set the empty glass on the crystal table with a sharp clink. "No thanks. I'm allergic to expired ingredients … "

"Especially old fake honey."

Lilian's expression instantly stiffened and Justin's gaze toward me further darkened.

At this time, Jameson's family's old friend came over with a black velvet box, breaking the tension.

"Francesca, Lily, this is a mystery box I specially prepared. Inside are two bracelets. Choose one each as a gift."

"Francesca, you choose first," Lilian said sweetly.

I randomly picked one. It was a Balenciaga bracelet, while Lilian's was a fourleaf clover.

Lilian's expression instantly fell. She bit her lip, her voice choked with emotion. "But I like that one."

Melissa immediately stepped forward. "Francesca, Lily likes it. Why don't you let her have it?"

"Why should I?" I sneered. "I chose it first."

When I refused, disappointment spread across Lilian's face.

Justin glanced at me and my heart sank.

He turned to his assistant.

The man stepped forward, holding a deep blue velvet box. The golden Van Cleef & Arpels logo shimmered under the lights.

He offered it to Lilian, bowing slightly.

"Miss Lilian, this is a birthday gift from Mr. Justin."

Lilian's fingers trembled as she took it, carefully opening the box. "This is from Justin?"

The assistant smiled and explained, "Yes, it's from Van Cleef & Arpels' 'Eternal Bloom' collection. The main stone of this necklace is a 15carat fancy vivid pink diamond, surrounded by natural brilliantcut diamonds. Mr. Justin spent a full two years and went through three rounds of private auctions to acquire it."

Someone in the crowd gasped.

"Isn't that the oneofakind piece worth billions?"

Lilian cradled the Eternal Bloom necklace in her palms, then looked at me.

"Francesca, I actually wanted to trade with you for that blind box necklace. I really liked the one you got, but … "

She blinked playfully. "Now that Justin gave me this one, I'm not interested in yours anymore."

When she said that, a few people around us let out knowing chuckles.

I stood in the centre of the crowd, feeling like a joke and my grandmother's face surfaced in my mind.

When I was still regarded as the Jamesons' cherished daughter, she was the one who doted on me the most. Each year, she would meticulously create a gift for me on my birthday.

My grandmother was a renowned jewellery designer in her youth and her creations were highly sought after. She came out of retirement for my eighteenth birthday, handselecting the rarest gems to craft gifts for me.

Sadly, a few months before my eighteenth birthday, she fell gravely ill and passed away.

The jewellery never reached me. My father took it and sold it to cover the company's financial difficulties.

Before I even had a chance to grieve, Lilian returned.

From that moment on, I no longer had the right to mourn the gifts my grandmother had prepared for me.

However, over the years, I have been quietly saving money. I sold off my luxury items and even agreed to partner with Elizabeth Sutherland. Everything was to redeem the last gifts my grandmother had left me, piece by piece.

And this necklace, the "Eternal Bloom," was the most crucial piece of that collection.

I stared at the pink diamond, my eyes feeling like they were about to bleed.

"Justin," I forced the words out through a dry throat. "What about my gift?"

His brows furrowed. "You need a gift from me?"

I took a deep breath and said slowly, word by word, "Yes, I do. I need it badly. I want the one in Lilian's hands."

The whole room seemed to freeze.

Everyone looked shocked as if I'd just said something shameless.

I knew very well that I couldn't lay bare everything I had done for my grandmother's keepsakes over the years.

Otherwise, they would surely say, "She's just a fake heiress. Does she really think she belongs to the Jamesons?"

"Why is she so obsessed with that necklace?"

"That's Grandma Anne's eighteenth birthday gift for the Jamesons' daughter. Of course, it should rightfully go to the real daughter of the Jamesons."

Justin's voice was cold and dismissive. "The necklace has already been given away. I'll have someone make you something similar."

"But it's not similar," I said, my soft voice almost shattered. "That necklace is."

It was the one thing I'd spent years desperately trying to get back.

The last memory I had of my grandmother was.

Lilian leaned in, looping her arm around Justin's. Her smile was bright, almost dazzling. "Don't be mad, Francesca. Justin may have given me the necklace, but Justin is yours. That's way better, isn't it?"

"Then I'll give him to you. Do you want him?"

I cut Lilian off, my voice icy.

"If having him makes you so happy, I'll give him to you. Just give me Grandma's gift back."

The words swirled around in my mouth, but in the end, I didn't say them out loud.

A fleeting, unpleasant expression crossed Justin's face. He hadn't expected me to say something like that.

Lilian opened her mouth, unsure whether to say yes or no and looked at Justin with a pitiful expression.

"The necklace was meant for Lilian. She doesn't have to give it to you if she doesn't want to. Weren't you also unwilling to give her what she liked?"

Justin broke the awkward silence first, his gaze towards me carrying a hint of blame.

I tugged at the corner of my lips, forcing a smile.

Fine, just fine!

Justin, you are truly something!

Others might not know I'm searching for my grandmother's keepsakes, but didn't he know?

Over the past five years, aside from my cooperation with the old lady, I've never kept secrets from him.

He knew better than anyone the significance of my grandmother's belongings to me.

Whether he had forgotten at that moment or simply never took what I said to heart, I didn't want to think about it anymore.

I turned and left the party hall, calling my driver to take me to the private equestrian club.

I desperately needed an outlet to vent my anger.

For some reason, Lilian followed me. When she overheard my call, her eyes lit up.

"Francesca, are you going to the legendary equestrian club? Can you take me with you, please?"

I didn't want to agree, but Justin had already let Lilian enter the car.

In the car, Lilian chattered incessantly.

"Justin, you're a man. So, you must understand men better, right?"

"Why do you say that?"

I looked at Justin with a softness that was almost mocking.

The space inside the car wasn't ample, but the two sat close, practically glued together like lovers.

"My dad says I'm old enough to start thinking about marriage."

"Sheldon Coleman gave me a Porsche. Billy Sterling gifted me the full LinaBell doll collection I love most. They're kind to me, but I'm not good enough for them."

When Justin heard about the marriage, his eyes flickered, but his gaze dimmed as Lilian talked about other men.

The affection in his eyes was almost overflowing. "Lily, you're sweet and kind. It's not you who's unworthy. It's them. You deserve the best of the best."

Lilian blushed and whispered shyly, "But where would I find someone like that? To me … you're the only one who counts as the best."

"How about I have the driver take us to the City Hall right now so we can get a divorce first?"

My voice cut into their conversation, cold as ice.

"Francesca, that's not what I meant at all! Please don't misunderstand!" Lilian's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

I didn't want to bother her, so I turned my head to look out the window. Through the reflection on the glass, I saw Justin's annoyance and dissatisfaction as he looked at me.

He lowered his head to comfort Lilian, his gaze softening instantly.

The equestrian club was tucked away in the suburbs. The grass was trimmed to perfect regulation and European warmblood horses pranced with their heads held high.

I changed into my riding gear, bypassed the reception staff without a word and grabbed a whip as I mounted my horse.

Riding "Blaze" across the field at full speed, my hair and the horse's mane flew in the wind together as if trying to shake off the pentup frustration in my chest.

I wish I could trample everything under the hooves.

Including Lilian and Justin.

"Francesca, wait for me!"

Not far away, Lilian had followed.

"Justin, I want to learn how to ride, too," she snuggled against Justin, whispering sweetly.

"Don't you usually dislike this kind of sport?" Justin's tone was gentle as he carefully put a safety vest on her. "Don't push yourself."

"But I want to learn." She lightly shook his arm.

I reined in my horse, looking down at them from my higher vantage point.

"This scene," I sneered, my voice a little hoarse. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were her husband."

Justin suddenly looked up, his gaze as cold as frozen ice. "Don't talk nonsense. If people hear that, it will ruin Lilian's reputation."

I leaned in the saddle, lifting his chin with my riding crop. My voice dropped low. "If you don't act like it, then whatever I say doesn't matter. But if you do, you can't blame me for what I say."

Justin's Adam's apple bobbed. He turned his head, gently pushing my hand away after grasping my wrist. "You're not in a good mood. I won't hold it against you."

"Once we're divorced, you can be as good to her as you want."

A sudden piercing scream from the riding arena drowned my already soft words.

"A horse has been spooked! Everyone, get out of the way!"

A wild blackmaned horse burst out of the stable like a mad thing, its neighing shattering the air. Its eyes were rolling white, its front hooves flailing, charging straight towards us!

I urgently pulled on the reins, momentarily unsure which way to dodge.

In the chaos, I saw Justin instinctively throw himself in front of Lilian. Like a knight in shining armour, he scooped her up and shielded her behind the safety fence.

They fell to the ground, his arms cradling her head like some dramatic scene straight out of a romance drama.

My gaze turned icy and "Blaze" beneath me also became restless due to the frightened horse.

"Beast!"

The scene spiralled out of control. The spooked horse roared wildly, suddenly rearing up on its hind legs

Thud!

At that moment, I was knocked off the saddle and fell hard on the grass.

Beside me was the equestrian track, which was mixed with mud and gravel. I felt a dull pain in my back. My body was dragged for several meters and my elbows, shoulders and knees were all rubbed.

I wanted to get up, but I had no strength.

Alas, that beast's eyes were bloodshot as it raised its hooves to stomp down on my head.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

I only had time to see Justin holding Lilian, having snatched a gun from the owner of the riding club. The horse collapsed in response.

My eardrums were ringing and the next moment, I passed out.

The air at the hospital reeked of disinfectant.

I woke up from the intense pain, subconsciously curling my fingertips.

The voices outside the door were prominent.

"Justin, you protected me back there, but she's your wife. If something had happened to her, how could I ever forgive myself? It's all my fault, I shouldn't have come."

Lilian sobbed, her tone laced with a hint of coquetry.

"Don't cry." Justin's voice was gentle in a way I'd never heard before.

He gently held her in his arms, soothing her back with his palm and said in a low voice. "It's not your fault. I insisted on taking you there."

"But you are obviously her husband."

"I saved you," he paused. His tone was cruel and firm. "I don't regret it. Even if I have to do it again, I will still protect you."

"Justin, why are you so good to me?" Lilian looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.

Justin gazed at her, dark emotions swirling in his eyes. After a long moment, he said softly, "If … if I were single right now, we … "

Thud!

A dull crash echoed through the large hospital room. I caught myself on the edge of the cabinet with one hand while the other instinctively covered the bottle of pills I had knocked over. White capsules spilled across the floor.

Lilian jumped, her earlier soft murmurs in Justin's embrace instantly replaced by a concerned demeanour as she rushed towards me.

"Francesca, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? I'll call the doctor."

"It's all my fault. I insisted on going horseback riding, causing you to … "

I stared at her, a cold laugh bubbling up from my throat. "That's right. If you hadn't gone, my mood would be better now."

Her expression shifted, but her eyes reddened as if she might cry at any second. She stepped back and said softly.

"If you don't want me around, I'll go."

"Francesca, Lily is worried about you. Why are you taking it out on her? It's my fault for not saving you first. If you want to blame someone, blame me instead."

Justin spoke with an indifferent tone, yet it halted Lilian's departure.

The man who had been my husband for five years looked at me with the eyes of a detached stranger.

He called me by my full name yet used an intimate nickname for Lilian.

In that instant, my mind buzzed. The image of the panicked horse charging towards me flashed in my mind, the terror of being thrown and the horse's hooves raised high, a hair's breadth from death.

Then, his unwavering figure rushed to protect Lilian.

Belated fear finally surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown me.

Suddenly, I raised my hand.

Slap! The sound was crisp and sharp, the slap clean and swift.

Justin's head snapped to the side, a red mark instantly appearing on his cheek.

"Justin, I am your wife, the one with a marriage certificate with your name on it."

I said each word icy and distinct. "Yet, when I was on the verge of death, you shielded another woman? Did you wish I would just die so you two could be together?"

He stared at me in silence, not even trying to explain.

I looked at him and let out a bitter laugh.

Why hasn't he requested a divorce if things are already like this?

Was he afraid his grandmother would disapprove?

Or was he afraid that after divorcing me, he would no longer have an excuse to go to the Jamesons and care about Lilian?

My nose stung as anger surged up. I raised my hand again, ready to slap Justin a second time.

This time, Lilian suddenly reached out to block him, a sob catching in her throat.

"Francesca, please don't be like this. Justin didn't mean it that way. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come; I made you misunderstand him."

Slap!

This slap landed clearly on her face.

I froze for a moment.

Five red finger marks instantly appeared on her fair cheek. She covered her face, looking aggrieved. "Francesca, you really misunderstood him. He was just … "

I didn't hear what she said after that.

Because Justin's eyes had changed.

The moment my hand fell, his eyes turned completely black, bottomless.

Like a wild beast crawling out of hell, a chilling coldness emanated from him.

His gaze locked onto me as if looking at a dead person.

Lilian's lips trembled slightly. She whispered, "Justin, don't blame her. She's just distraught. I'm fine."

Suppressing a sob, I said coldly, "Get out!"

Justin glanced at me, no longer bothering to pretend. He directly scooped up Lilian in his arms and left the ward.

A few days later, I had just walked out of the hospital when I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Before I could turn around, a burlap sack was yanked over my head, plunging me into darkness.

"Ugh!" I cried out, struggling, but a heavy punch landed squarely in my stomach, doubling me over in pain.

When I came to, my hands were tied behind my back. My face was pressed against cold cement and pain shot through every inch of my body like my bones were cracking apart.

"Start," a rough voice growled nearby.

Then came a harsh slap across my face.

Thwack!

The force of the blow sent me sprawling sideways, my cheek burning with pain.

"Do you hear me, you bitch? You've only got yourself to blame for this bad luck!"

"What are you going to do?"

I gritted my teeth, but no one answered. Immediately after, several whiplike lashes from a leather belt rained down on me.

I heard one of the kidnappers make a call.

"Hey? We've got your wife. The smart move would be to wire over a million!"

There was silence on the other end. Justin hung up directly.

I couldn't tell if he thought it was a scam or if he simply wasn't willing to spend a million to ransom me.

My blood ran cold.

"Hey? Hey? Damn it, he really hung up!" The man kicked me viciously.

"Your man won't cough up the cash. What's the point of you even being alive?"

He slapped me twice across the face. My whole face swelled up instantly and the corner of my mouth split open, bleeding. Black spots danced before my eyes.

Unfortunately, their violence didn't end there. They surrounded me, raining punches and kicks as if to vent their fury at not getting the ransom.

When I opened my eyes again, it was dark.

I heard people talking nearby, their voices low.

"Let's get out of here. If the cops catch up, we'll be in big trouble."

"You gotta say, that guy's ruthless. To teach his wife a lesson, he personally arranged this whole thing, making a fake kidnapping look so real."

"Tsk, such a beautiful woman. How could she be unlucky to end up with a man like that?"

Their voices faded into the distance.

I didn't have the strength to open my eyes, but tears streamed down my cheeks.

Coldness, disappointment, humiliation and pain all crashed on me simultaneously.

Justin.

Justin Sutherland!

To retaliate for the slap I gave Lilian, he orchestrated this entire kidnapping charade, openly making me pay him back!

I forced myself to sit up, struggling to loosen the ropes that had bruised my wrists a deep purple. Stumbling step by step, I made my way down the mountain.

My shoes were long gone. The soles of my feet were covered in cuts and the path was littered with sharp rocks. Every step felt like treading on knife edges.

Still, I had no other choice.

I had to go back.

I couldn't die here.

Maybe it was instinct that compelled me to survive. I walked like that for over ten kilometres until the familiar walls of the villa came into view.

I stood at the gate, my vision blurred, nearly losing my balance.

I heard movement from inside the courtyard.

Following the sound, I saw Justin sitting under the flower trellis. One hand held a tube of ointment and the other gently cradled Lilian's face as he softly asked if she was in pain.

"It hurts." Lilian tilted her head coquettishly.

He chuckled softly, applying the ointment with extreme tenderness, using his fingertip to wipe away any excess from the corner of her mouth.

Two maids stood by the kitchen window, whispering to each other.

"Do you think the lady of the house is about to change?"

"Wouldn't surprise me. When has Mr. Sutherland ever been so attentive to the madam? How he looks at Miss Jameson now, it's like she's the most precious thing in the world."

I stood outside the gate, my fingers gripping the edge, my nails digging into my skin.

I managed a weak smile.

Right, the lady of this house would soon no longer be me.

Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. I quickly retreated to my room and locked the door.

Stop crying, Francesca. You're pathetic.

It's just a man. What's there to cry about?

A few days later, after the swelling on my face had subsided somewhat, I met with the lawyer Elizabeth had arranged.

"The divorce has been finalized," the lawyer said, pushing a stack of documents towards me. "Mrs. Sutherland said that once you sign, I will handle the rest, including cancelling your household registration and arranging your new identity."

My voice was hoarse. "Okay."

It was almost over.

I got up to leave but bumped into Lilian at the door.

She was dressed exquisitely in a fitted dress, her makeup flawless, a delicate smile gracing her lips.

It seemed she was on a blind date. Three or four wellknown young men from prominent families sat opposite her.

"I've heard Miss Lilian is the apple of the Jamesons' eye and seeing her now, she truly lives up to the reputation."

Lilian lowered her head, giggling delicately. She looked up as if, by chance, her gaze landed directly on me standing by the door.

Suddenly, she called out in a clear voice, "Sister? What are you doing here?"

Her calling me "sister" immediately drew everyone's attention.

I had no interest in attending Lilian's matchmaking party. I turned to leave.

However, Lilian got up and walked alone, looping her arm through mine like we were close. Beaming at the crowd, she said sweetly.

"This is my sister. She's the best at picking men. If any of you want to marry me, you'll have to pass her test first. Only if she approves will I even consider it."

Her words made a few of the men laugh, their expressions filled with mockery and disdain.

"Oh? So she's the fake heiress, huh?"

"She's got the nerve to show up? Didn't the family kick her out once the truth came out?"

"I heard she only managed to scrape by by marrying Mr. Sutherland. Tch. Kinda pitiful, honestly."

I frowned but said nothing.

Lilian leaned in close as if afraid the atmosphere wasn't lively enough. Her voice dropped to a whisper, brushing against my skin like a knife.

"Did you know, sister? You deserve to be an orphan. No one could ever love you. They say Grandma doted on you the most? What a shame she died so early. Then again, it's for the best. Saves me the trouble of pretending to care. That old hag wasn't worth more than a tombstone anyway."

My eyes went bloodshot. How dare that bitch to insult my grandmother like that?

"Say that again." I glared at Lilian, my voice icecold.

"I said, it's good that old thing died. And you? You deserve to be unwanted."

Bang!

Before I could even raise a hand, Lilian suddenly stumbled backwards, knocking over a chair and collapsing onto the floor.

The men immediately jumped to their feet, shouting.

"Francesca, what's wrong with you?"

"How could you push someone? Were you raised by wolves?"

"Heartless, just like the rumours said. No wonder the Jamesons didn't want you!"

Lying on the floor, Lilian looked up at me with tears in her eyes. "Francesca, why would you push me?"

This kind of setup was a trick I'd seen far too many times.

She didn't need to act. I was already planning my revenge.

I strode forward, picked up a glass of red wine from the table and dumped it over her head.

"Ah!" she shrieked, scrambling up in a mess, her makeup smeared and red wine dripping from her hair.

"Francesca, are you out of your mind?"

The next instant, Justin appeared as if from nowhere, quickly helping Lilian up.

He raised his eyes to look at me, his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade. His lips were tightly pressed together as he looked at me like a villain.

My first thought was, why was Justin here?

Was he afraid Lilian would take a fancy to someone else at the matchmaking event?

Before I could say anything, Justin snatched up a bottle of red wine and spilled it all over me without hesitation.

Red wine streamed from my head, soaking my hair, clothes and skin. It seeped into the wounds that hadn't healed and burned like fire.

The air was dead silent.

He stood before me, looking down with a cold, almost harsh tone. "Are you calm now?"

I stood there amid alcohol and humiliation. I suddenly laughed while my hair dripped with red liquid. My voice was trembling. "That's it?"

He frowned.

"Why not just tie me up and beat me?"

At that moment, his pupils visibly shook, as if he almost thought I knew the truth.

Justin's face darkened. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the car despite my resistance. "Inside the car," he said gloomily.

"Why do you keep targeting Lilian? She has clearly endured eighteen years of hardship for you. Shouldn't you feel guilty?"

"Guilty?" I glared at him, my voice rising in rage.

"Why should I feel guilty? How was I supposed to know I wasn't part of the Jamesons when I was born? She's the real heiress, fine. I already gave back everything that belonged to her! So why are all of you acting like I stole her life?"

"What did I do wrong that you all treat me like this?! That you keep forcing me to apologize?"

Justin just stared at me, stunned. He'd never seen me like this before. He instinctively reached for a tissue to wipe away my tears, but stopped halfway.

After a long silence, he said coldly, "Fine, I'm not forcing you to apologize to Lilian. I just hope you two can get along."

"Go home first. I have some things to take care of. Don't wait up for dinner."

I didn't care where Justin went. When I exited the car, I took a taxi back to the restaurant to get my bag.

My divorce certificate from the lawyer was in there. I absolutely couldn't lose it.

Lilian was still there, though her three blind dates had long since left. The table, however, was still buzzing with lively chatter.

She'd changed into a more exquisite dress and was nestled in a booth, drinking with friends.

The golden light illuminated her face and her eyelashes fluttered, making her look utterly innocent.

"Lilian, which one of those guys did you like the most?" someone asked, gossiping.

"They were all pretty good," she replied with a sweet smile, a hint of shyness in her eyes.

"I thought you liked Justin," another person leaned in teasingly. "Tsk, a man like that, if it were me, I'd be willing to wait for him my whole life."

"Who wouldn't?" another woman immediately chimed in.

"I heard the Sutherlands really like Lilian. Even Grandma Elizabeth, who rarely shows her face, has met Lilian several times and gifted her jewellery, right?"

"You know what? Even the Jamesons dote on her now. Her dad assigned her a special secretary; recently, some people said she's about to enter the company's core management."

"She's practically more like the legitimate wife than Francesca."

"Shhh, keep it down."

Several women covered their mouths, giggling uncontrollably.

Lilian blinked, feigning annoyance. "Stop talking about me."

"Why? What's wrong with talking about you?" a friend asked, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "You were born to be chased and adored by men, envied by women."

I stood at the corner of the stairs, my back pressed against the wall, listening quietly.

"But seriously," the woman suddenly lowered her voice, her tone shifting, "I really thought you and Justin were a done deal. Weren't you quite interested in him?"

Lilian chuckled softly, her tone dismissive. "I'm not a garbage collector."

"What do you mean?"

"He's Francesca's man. I wouldn't touch him."

She picked up her wine glass and took a delicate sip. Her smile was so faint, it was almost cold.

"I don't want someone she's already used."

I heard it.

I heard every single word.

However, I didn't feel anger.

I just found it funny.

Justin, did you hear that?

She cried in front of you, acting so fragile, her voice trembling. "Justin, you're the best man I've ever known."

And now here she was, sipping wine and tossing you into the trash with a flick of her tongue.

She said she couldn't stand you, that you're a "used man."

But what about you?

I smiled mockingly, intending to leave, but then I heard them continue.

"Hey, did you guys hear? My cousin told me Justin went back to the Sutherlands' residence to ask for family punishment just to get a divorce from Francesca!"

"No way!" someone gasped.

"Seriously! My cousin was there. He said Justin knelt for a full hour. His father personally used the whip and his back was covered in blood, his clothes sticking to his flesh."

"Tsk, that's too cruel, isn't it?"

"You know what that means, right? It means Justin really loves Lilian. Who else would risk disfigurement just to get a divorce?"

"What about Francesca? Does she know he did that for her?"

"Even if she does, what can she do? She should've had the sense to leave long ago," someone snorted.

The whole table burst into laughter.

The cold air from the hallway windows swept like snow, deepening my bones.

It felt like someone had wrapped a hand around my throat. I could barely breathe.

Justin had actually gone through family punishment just to divorce me.

In the Sutherlands, asking for punishment wasn't some empty ritual.

It wasn't about kneeling, begging, or playing the victim to win sympathy.

It was an ancient law written into their family code: if a Sutherland Family member wanted to break off a marriage, they had to kneel in the hall, receive corporal punishment from their parents and do it in front of the late family's portraits to prove the decision was justified.

Breaking off a familyarranged marriage came at a price.

You had to bleed. Your skin had to be torn open. The pain had to reach your very bones.

I remember seeing one of Justin's cousins go through it three years ago.

He'd wanted to elope with a girl from another city and defied the engagement arranged by the family.

I personally witnessed him being whipped, lash after lash, tearing his skin open, his clothes soaked in blood. Later, his wounds became infected and he was bedridden for over a month before he could get up.

I lowered my eyes and quickly left the restaurant. Once home, I started packing my things while hiring a private investigator to investigate Justin's whereabouts.

After I had everything organized, my phone pinged.

The private investigator had sent several photos.

Justin had indeed gone to receive family punishment. After leaving the Sutherlands' residence, he went straight to a highend flower shop in Norwyn.

He had just gotten their approval and he couldn't wait to buy flowers for Lilian.

I stared at the screen for a long time before finally turning it off.

Before leaving the house, I neatly placed Justin's divorce certificate on the table, smoothing out any creases.

I spoke to the absent man.

"This is what you wanted."

"If you had just waited a few more days, you wouldn't have needed to endure the family punishment. A wasted pain."

The empty house offered no reply.

As dusk approached, I carried a bouquet of lilies to the cemetery.

My grandmother's grave was still in its old spot on the hillside. Beside it was an empty plot she had picked out herself.

She once said she wanted to leave me a place next to her, just in case I had nowhere to go when I got old.

I laughed at her back then. "Don't jinx me."

Still, she looked earnestly at me. "You're my granddaughter, real or not. It doesn't matter. I'll save you a spot."

Looking back now, when she said "real or not," maybe she already knew something.

I crouched before her grave, placed the flowers down, brushed the dust off the headstone and spoke softly.

"Grandma, I came to tell you something."

"I'm getting remarried."

"To no one else but the Sutherlands' eldest son, Jackson."

I paused, then let out a small laugh. "The one who was in a coma for years. The doctors said he might never wake up."

"That's actually great. That man can't talk, judge, or fall for anyone."

"I can finally live in peace. I won't have to worry about someone taking that man away again and then treating what they stole like garbage, stomping it under their feet."

"Don't you think that sounds pretty good?"

The wind rustled through the mountains like someone whispering back.

"You told me you'd left me a gift. I've nearly collected all the pieces."

I continued, "There's just one last part left. Lilian still has it, but I'll find a way to get it."

"Don't worry."

"She called me a fake, said no one loved me," I spoke slowly, word by word. "But she was wrong."

"You loved me."

"As long as you loved me, I was never unloved in this life."

After saying all that, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.

With a smile, I bowed gently to her headstone. "I'm really doing fine."

"You don't need to worry about me."

It was getting late, so I stood up, took one last look at my grandmother’s tombstone, and turned to leave.

Back home, I packed away everything I had been working on all night. Then, I burned our wedding photos, travel souvenirs, and photo albums.

They all turned to ashes—just like my love for Justin.

At that moment, my phone buzzed. Two messages came in at once:

[The equity transfer agreement has officially taken effect.]

[Your flight departs in three hours. Please arrive at the airport early to check in your luggage and avoid missing your flight.]

It was time to leave for good—and never look back.

I dragged my suitcase and got into the taxi headed for the airport.

As we neared the highway, my phone rang.

The contact name read: "Husband."

I stared at the screen momentarily before answering, "Hello?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then his weak, hoarse voice came through. "I think I've caught a cold. My fever won't go down. The doctor says I need IVs. I won't be coming home for the next few days."

I didn't say a word. The lie was so absurd it was almost funny.

He was probably still in the hospital recovering from the punishment, but didn't dare let me know.

I simply gave a faint "Hmm."

"Okay."

The other end was silent for two seconds as if he hadn't heard clearly. "Do you have anything else you want to ask?"

"No," I said.

Back then, whenever he got headaches or fevers, back pain or stomach aches, I'd be so worried I could cry. I wish I could take the pain for him.

Now, my tone was flat. I didn't even ask a single question.

My voice was gentle. "You've got Lilian with you, right? No need for me to be there."

He hesitated, then said, "Yeah. She's taking care of me."

I hung up.

He didn't call again.

I entered the airport. When I landed overseas, my car would have been involved in an "accident" on the city ring road.

Everything had already been prepared: the rooftop surveillance, the odd speed data, the skid marks from failed brakes and the scorched driver's seat.

The police would conclude I died on the spot. My body burned beyond recognition. DNA matched the hair I left behind.

By the time Justin got the news, I would already be gone.

Francesca Jameson would die in the first month after turning 24.

As the plane took off, I snapped my old SIM card in two.

From then on, Justin and I would have nothing to do with each other!