My sister and I were married on the same day, but somehow, the wedding procession accidentally brought her to my fiancé’s house. Meanwhile, I found myself at a notorious estate, infamous for claiming the lives of three previous brides.

The next day, my fiancé, Charles, casually put his arm around my sister and said with indifference, “I was drunk last night, and what happened, happened. You might as well accept it.”

My sister, Alexis, intentionally showed the red marks on her shoulder, sobbing, “I know you blame me, sister... but what’s done is done. And while Jaiden might be old, rotund, and rumored to be a curse to his spouses, maybe that’s what you deserve, given your blindness.”

I said nothing. No wonder Grandpa had so readily agreed for her to marry the unattractive, stout heir of a cursed lineage when Jaiden's name came up—she must have been ready all along. But she had no idea I was the one who had prepared ahead of time.

...

After the wedding, my family hosted a reception to thank the guests. I was in a hotel room getting ready when Charles stormed in and snatched the silver bracelet from my wrist.

I turned to face him. “What are you doing?”

He replied impatiently, “You look like a ghost, and a bracelet this nice is wasted on you. Alexis deserves it.”

I tried to snatch it back, but he dodged, causing me to lose my balance and fall. Ignoring me, he gently placed the bracelet on Alexis’s wrist.

Charles was the orphaned son of my grandfather’s wartime comrade and had been taken in by my family when he was ten. We grew up together, and everyone assumed he’d become my fiancé one day.

That was until my father brought home Alexis, the illegitimate daughter who had been abandoned as a child. From that day on, Charles changed completely, spending all his time with Alexis and treating me with disdain. He claimed I was a pampered princess, while Alexis understood the “hardships of living under someone else’s roof.”

When my grandpa fell seriously ill, Charles refused to visit him. My attempts to persuade him only led to his outburst, “Do I owe him? Just because he raised me, should I be grateful my entire life? I’m not a pet!”

Some loyalties can never be forced.

Now, Alexis was in my custom-designed dress, even adorned with my jewelry. Charles tossed me an outfit. “Wear this. It suits you.”

It was an old, faded dress with a broken zipper. Alexis stepped forward, pretending to help me put it on, “Sister, did you gain weight? I can’t zip it up...”

I remained still, knowing that if I resisted, she’d fall and claim I had pushed her. Seeing I wasn’t taking the bait, she awkwardly stepped back.

I stood up calmly, clad only in the shabby dress, and walked out.

The hotel ballroom was ablaze with lights and filled with guests. My entrance fell like a stone, silencing the room for a moment.

Then the murmurs began:

“Is that the eldest Martinez daughter? Dressed like that?”

“Hush, I heard she’s blind... and why isn’t anyone helping her?”

“I thought she was married to Charles, but didn’t he marry the younger sister?”

“Well, it makes sense. One is disabled, the other is pretty. If I were him, I’d choose the younger sister too.”

Charles approached, holding a coffee cup, and glanced at me, “A blind person shouldn’t wander around. If you break something, no one will cover the cost.”

His tone suggested that the entire Martinez family now danced to his tune.

I was about to reply when Alexis walked out tearfully. Her dress had a noticeable slash.

Tugging at Charles’s sleeve, she sobbed, “My sister just tore my dress...”

Charles’s expression darkened as he roughly shoved me. “What is your problem? Just because something went wrong on our wedding night, do you think it’s okay to humiliate her?”

“I was willing to acknowledge you as Mrs. Gray here publicly. But now, it seems unnecessary.”

“Just because you’ve always been privileged and today you’re down, you think it’s okay to drag her down too? Alexis has always been beneath you in standing, how has she ever wronged you?”

Beneath me?

I couldn’t help but laugh.

After Dad brought Alexis back home, the first thing he did was shove me into the servants' quarters, saying he couldn’t let Alexis be treated unfairly.

On my birthday, even though she knew I was allergic to strawberries, she insisted on ordering a strawberry cake. I ended up in the hospital, and Charles insisted it was all in my head.

Alexis even tampered with my eye drops, causing my blindness, yet Charles just comforted her, accusing me of fabricating a sob story to try and get Alexis out of the house.

At that moment, I felt utterly hopeless and ended up jumping from the hospital rooftop.

When I came to, I found myself back on the day Alexis was first brought home.

Reflecting on my past life, I realized that my constant need for control had driven Alexis to scheme against me.

This time, I resolved to act first.

Quietly, I asked the doctor to issue a false blindness certificate and diligently played the role of the blind woman.

But in this life, Charles didn't reject Grandpa Houston’s proposal of marriage.

I thought maybe he had found his conscience, but it turned out to be a scheme they concocted to switch brides.

I finally realized that Charles always felt insecure about living under someone else's roof, believing I looked down on him.

So he felt sympathy for Alexis, who shared his feelings.

All my years of love and dedication to him were invisible to his eyes.

Enough. This time, I would make them truly understand what it means to live under someone else's roof.

I spoke coldly, "Check the security footage."

Charles sneered, "Checking the footage implies doubting Alexis. She's innocent and kind—she wouldn't lie."

Absolutely baffling.

I was about to respond when a guest jovially nudged him, saying, "Mr. Gray, I heard you built an amusement park on the South Bank land? Quite generous!"

Charles gave a light smile, "Alexis has loved carousels since she was a child. I wanted to make her dream come true."

I was shocked. The South Bank land?

I instinctively said, "Charles, I've already arranged a partnership with Southside Corporation to build a smart factory. This year's Martinez projects depend on it..."

He abruptly interrupted me, "Talia, how does a blind fool like you plan to run a factory? Is there anything on your mind other than making money?"

He gestured toward Alexis, who was across the room chatting with guests, "I’m different from you. Alexis is pure, loves amusement parks, and I'm willing to protect her innocence, no matter the cost."

You're using our family’s land to protect her innocence, how generous of you?

"I'm not heartless. Since you're my wife in name, I'll give you some management rights. Stop pretending to be a victim—it's quite nauseating."

I've never seen someone so openly disguise exploitation as kindness.

"Wife?" I repeated, "Haven't you already consummated your marriage with Alexis?"

He sighed impatiently, "I know you're still jealous of Alexis."

"Don't worry, your marriage with the Martinez family doesn't count. Jaiden's not in London now. When the time comes, I'll just say you're dead and keep you by my side. Will that do?"

"But you'll get the title. Alexis is the only one I love."

I calmly asked him, "Are you so certain that I want this title?"

Charles's face darkened, "What do you mean? If you don’t marry me, who else would you marry? Are you really eyeing the wealth of London’s crown prince?"

I smirked slightly, "Compared to a stray dog like you, he certainly carries more dignity."

Charles's expression turned ugly instantly, "Talia, I used to think you were just spoiled. Now I see you're a shallow woman driven by vanity and ambition!"

"Is all you see money and power? Do you think the crown prince of London would be interested in you? With your blindness, he wouldn't even come near you!"

"The truth is, Alexis was the one meant to marry him, not you."

Just as he finished speaking, Alexis started crying loudly.

She rushed over and clung to him, "Charles, stop it... I'm not worth you fighting with my sister over..."

Then, she looked tearfully at me, "Sister, if it bothers you so much, I'll leave, alright? As long as you're happy, I'm willing to leave the Martinez family and never see you again..."

With that, she tried to kneel.

I didn't flinch, just laughed, "Fine, then leave."

Alexis’s tears stopped instantly, stunned that her melodrama was cut short by just one sentence from me.

The next second, Charles slapped me across the face, "You're too much! Alexis is just a girl. How dare you drive her away?"

"I'm telling you, no matter how much you strive, you'll never hold a place as high as Alexis in my heart. She is the future lady of the Gray household."

I laughed, "You just mentioned the Gray family? Fine. Then take her and leave our home."

The whole thank-you banquet turned into a farce in front of all our guests.

But it allowed me to see clearly who were real friends and who were merely complicit in Charles’s deceit.

Charles pointed at me angrily, "Fine! Let's see who actually gets kicked out of the Martinez home in the end!"

I couldn’t be bothered to respond and turned to leave.

In a month, Jaiden would return to London.

The crown prince said to have doomed three wives—claiming I’m not afraid would be a lie.

But staying with Charles was not an option.

Even if Jaiden was as cursed as the rumors claimed, I was willing to take the risk.

At worst, it’s only death.

But before that, I’d make sure Charles and Alexis were out of the Martinez estate.

Time was running out.

I made a phone call, "About that project..."