"System, I don't want to win over Leonard anymore," Thea called out to the system in her mind while wiping her tears.

The usual instant mechanical voice hesitated this time.

"Thea, unbinding will return him to who he was, and you'll also suffer heavy damage."

"That's fine." Thea's tone was firm. "As long as I'm breathing, I'm willing to pay any price to leave Leonard."

"Thea, wait. Let me think of a way," the system said.

The first time Thea met Leonard, both were at their lowest points.

After being brought back to the Storme family, she had a brief stretch of better days.

Her parents felt guilty that she had been kidnapped by a nanny and ended up in an orphanage. Even if they didn't love her deeply, they tried to make it up to her.

But Thea could clearly feel that her whole family favored Clara, the adopted daughter they raised themselves.

Clara's room was the biggest and brightest.

When she had a mild allergy, Thea wasn't allowed to stay on that floor because Clara said Thea smelled strange and made her sneeze.

Thea never thought to compete with her until Clara challenged her to a bet.

She claimed she could steal away Thea's most precious things—not just once, but nine times over.

If she succeeded, Thea had to leave the Storme family willingly. Otherwise, she'd only bring shame to herself.

Thea agreed because she wanted to know if her blood relatives really did not care about her at all.

The first time, Clara took Thea's spot at an international high school, even though Thea had worked hard to get in.

The second time, she took the cat Thea had raised for three years. After three months, she returned it cold and lifeless.

The third time, she stole Thea's first crush. He openly humiliated Thea, calling her a hick who couldn't compare to Clara.

But within a week, she dumped him.

Time after time, anything Thea cared about or liked was easily taken by Clara.

What was worse, Thea slowly realized that her family was growing colder toward her.

Her father told her, "You're the older sister. You need to yield to Clara."

Her mother pulled her aside one day. "Clara is adopted, so she has no sense of security. Don't always clash with her."

Jeremy was harsher. He locked Thea in the school warehouse overnight. "You think just because you're my real sister, you can steal Clara's things? Kids from orphanages really have no manners. You're nothing compared to Clara."

Every time Thea tried to defend herself, Clara's few tears stole everyone's attention.

By the ninth time, when Clara announced her intention to seize Thea's fiancé, she had already given up.

She packed her things, waiting for the bet to end so she could leave the Storme family.

It was at this time that she found Leonard in an alley.

He was lying in the rain with multiple bullet holes in his stomach. The torrent of blood he bled out stained the soles of her shoes crimson.

She wanted to run, but he grabbed her ankle. Yet, she didn't dare take a man like that to a hospital.

Just then, she heard the system's voice.

It said that if she could win Leonard's heart, not only could he be healed, but she could also get three wishes granted.

With that power, Leonard survived. His broken legs showed no sign of damage, and he became someone Thea couldn't let go of.

And so, Leonard replaced her original fiance and became Clara's new target.

That was their ninth bet.

As she stood in a standoff with Clara, Jeremy stood behind Clara, his chilling gaze wordlessly threatening her to surrender.

But in the silence, Leonard took Thea's hand and said, "Thea is the only one I love. I will only become a live-in son-in-law for her."

At that moment, Thea cried. She finally won once.

But when Clara agreed to marry into the Larkin family to bring them good luck, Thea's last hope was shattered.

She overheard Leonard casually order his men, "When the Larkins come to pick Clara up, tie Thea up and send her to the car. But keep my identity a secret. I'll tell Clara after she gives in to me."

One of his men asked, "What about Ms. Thea? You humbled yourself to join the Storme family as a live-in son-in-law for her sake. Are you really just going to leave her with the Larkin family?"

Leonard pondered briefly. "She's a compliant woman. I promised to treat her well. Let's do this. When the Larkins no longer care about her, find the right time to rescue her and lock her up in my villa in Northia. If she escapes, I'll break your legs."

As it turned out, the man she had saved was none other than the underworld's most enigmatic figure.

He was a big shot the Storme family dared not offend and the living nightmare she could never escape, even after marrying into the Larkin family.

Thea couldn't stand being tied to him through the system any longer.

Just when she was overcome by a cold emptiness, the system's mechanical voice sounded almost excited.

"Thea, I detected a better target. Dylan Larkin, heir to the Larkin family. He nearly sacrificed his life during a mission at the border and is now brain-dead. I can heal him. Once you win him over, you can also get your three wishes. So, what do you say? Want to take a gamble?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

Among all the system's words, the weight of "sacrifice" was clear.

She didn't hesitate long before replying, "Yes, change the target. Healing him might be far more valuable than saving Leonard."

The system reported to its superiors about changing Thea's target.

The weight in Thea's chest finally lifted a little.

Upon returning home, she was met by Clara, who was running out with red-rimmed eyes.

She shoved Thea aside violently. "Out of my way."

Thea's back slammed against the edge of a table. Luckily, Leonard caught her quickly.

His face darkened as he reached out to block Clara's path. "Apologize."

Clara stared in disbelief. "Who does she think she is? Why should I apologize to her? Leonard, don't go too far."

Leonard lifted Thea's shirt from the back to reveal a terrible bruise. His expression turned even colder as he threatened, "Don't push me to do worse."

Clara trembled, and tears slid down her cheeks. She looked just like a scared little rabbit.

Thea had always hoped someone in this family would stand behind her and back her up.

But now that the moment had come, it felt so ridiculous.

Could Leonard really do anything to Clara when he smelled exactly like her body wash?

Thea was exhausted. There was no point in staying with someone who didn't truly care about her.

She pulled away from Leonard's support. "I'm fine. Grandma's hosting a dinner tonight. I'm going to change."

Leonard's eyes flickered with surprise. "You're not going to make her apologize?"

Before, when he stood up for Thea in front of Clara, there was light in Thea's eyes. But now, there was nothing.

Leonard felt something strange stirring in his heart. He quickly asked, "Can I come with you tonight?"

Surprised, Thea glanced at him. But when she saw the hopeful look in his eyes, she understood at once.

"Come if you want to."

Leonard didn't like big crowds. But if he skipped the dinner, he'd have to separate from Clara. For him, that would be torture.

Thankfully, in just half a month, Thea would marry into the Larkin family.

Once she was out of the way, Leonard could cling to Clara as much as he wanted.

That night, the car pulled up to the Storme residence.

It was Leonard's first time attending such a formal event as a "poor" man, but Thea didn't wait for him.

A flash of displeasure crossed his face, but he forced a polite smile and followed her.

People couldn't help but glance with envy.

"Seriously. Thea may not be much, but she sure knows how to pick a man. He's got looks and style."

"Right? And since he's a live-in son-in-law, Thea won't get pushed around after marriage."

Thea didn't react.

But Clara was furious. She threw herself into her grandmother Penelope Floyd's arms, acting like a spoiled child seeking comfort.

Penelope held her close, comforting her. "Oh, my poor Clara. Marrying into the Larkin family will be a nightmare. It's all because someone didn't know her place and stole your man. If you had just gotten engaged earlier, you wouldn't have to be the one marrying into the Larkin family."

A cold smile tugged at Thea's lips.

It seemed like everyone in the Storme family thought it didn't matter if she married into the Larkin family.

If that family was a living hell for Clara, did they truly believe it would be heaven for Thea?

That evening, Penelope removed the emerald bracelet from her left wrist and handed it to Clara in front of everyone.

"This is a family heirloom of the Storme family, passed down to only one person each generation. Clara, it's yours now."

In the silence, Leonard's steady voice cut through. "You can't give it to Ms. Clara."

Stunned, Thea turned to look at him.

He leaned back against the chair, exuding a presence of nobility that far exceeded his standing. A faint smile tugged at his lips as his sharp gaze locked onto Clara.

"Thea is the real daughter of the Storme family. Clara was adopted. What right does she have to accept that bracelet?"

The dining table fell into a heavy silence as a multitude of gazes converged on Thea, making her squirm with discomfort.

She quickly tugged on Leonard's sleeve, whispering, "I don't care about that bracelet. You don't have to do this."

He smiled at her, then fixed his gaze on Clara with an intensity that was almost obscene. "Ms. Clara, why don't you beg me? Maybe then I'll ask Thea to drop it."

A chill ran down Thea's spine.

Leonard wasn't standing up for her. He was using her name to force Clara into submission, without a care for Thea's feelings.

Penelope slammed her cane on the floor several times.

"Well, well. You're really bold, Thea. You got yourself a man and had him humiliate your sister? Bet you've been holding that in for a while."

"Listen up, if you keep making things hard for Clara, don't blame me for kicking you out of the family."

Thea lowered her eyes.

The system's voice rang in her ear. "Thea, your target has been switched. It will take effect in two weeks."

In other words, from now on, neither the Storme family nor Leonard could hold her back.

Years of pent-up frustration welled up inside her.

She raised her head sharply. "Clara, want to bet again?"

At the mention of a bet, Clara's composure flickered for a split second. "The wager?"

"That bracelet. We'll take turns bidding, only using our possessions as stakes. Whoever bids higher wins the bracelet and the other person's stakes."

Everyone around looked surprised.

They all knew Thea grew up in an orphanage, and since her return, she had remained the unloved daughter of the family.

How could she challenge Clara like this?

Clara clearly thought so too. She was the first to pull out a black card. "I hope you don't back out. This is all my savings."

Thea smiled and showed her own card.

The butler, Rowan Ellison, checked the balance and looked confused. "Ms. Thea wins."

"No way!" Clara refused to believe it and then pulled out a bunch of keys.

"The island from Dad, the villa from Mom, and the yacht from Jeremy. This should be enough, right?"

They were birthday gifts from the past few years.

Thea calmly took out some documents.

Rowan's face turned serious. "Ms. Thea wins again."

A ripple of shock passed through everyone in the room, and they tried to catch a glimpse of the papers' contents.

Thea's expression didn't change. "Want to keep going? Everything you have comes from Mom and Dad. I don't believe you have anything else. Let me tell you. These are my scholarships and patent contracts. I earned them myself. And I have more to show."

Clara's face flushed bright red, her chest rising and falling as she snarled, "Well, I have more. 1.6 billion dollars' worth of courtyard houses. I don't believe you can come up with that kind of money so fast."

Jeremy's expression changed. He hurriedly stopped her. "Clara, don't."

"Why? This is all I have left. Jeremy, do you want to see me lose?"

"No, it's just—"

Before Jeremy could finish, Rowan cut in with the answer. "Sorry, Ms. Clara. Ms. Thea is now the owner of those two courtyard houses."

"What?" Clara gasped, like someone had grabbed her throat.

1.6 billion dollars was now Thea's stake. If Clara couldn't outbid her, everything she owned would belong to Thea.

Clara nervously twisted her sleeves. Penelope and Jeremy looked anxious but helpless. They couldn't openly help Clara cheat.

Just as she bit her lower lip, on the verge of tears, Thea continued to watch her with a chilling calm.

In the past, she would never have been this aggressive.

She kept wanting to fit in with the Storme family and didn't want to make things hard for their little princess.

But today, no matter what anyone said, Thea wouldn't change her mind.

Someone was already ready to take the bracelet from Clara.

She burst into loud sobs.

At that moment, Rowan stared at his computer in disbelief. "1.5 billion dollars? Someone just transferred 1.5 billion dollars into Ms. Clara's account!"