Leonard started, "Thea, I can explain—"

Thea's hand shook violently from the force she'd used. Blood splattered across the back of her hand, but she didn't even notice. She reached out to press the nurse call button.

"We're done," she said coldly.

Clara rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Thea, stop hurting him. I know you're jealous of me. You can't stand seeing anyone be nice to me. But you can't do this to Leonard. Even if he's going to be a live-in son-in-law, he's still your husband. How could you embarrass him like that?"

A flicker of excitement flashed through her eyes. She pulled Thea's hand and slapped it against her own cheek. "Slap me instead. If you're angry, take it out on me. Just don't hurt Leonard."

Thea could have easily broken free, but as she saw Leonard reaching out to help Clara up, her resolve hardened. She followed Clara's pull and slapped her hard.

Clara let out a sharp scream, and her cheek immediately swelled.

Leonard's features remained taut, yet instead of erupting in anger, he let out a smile. "Thea, this was my fault. Everything happened so fast. You and Clara look so alike, so I mistook her for you. I swear it won't happen again."

That same day, the three of them left the hospital together, but the car suddenly turned into a narrow alley.

More than a dozen motorcycles boxed them in. A man in a black suit, gripping a metal rod, yanked the car door open.

Clara screamed and threw herself into Leonard's arms.

The man in black didn't even glance at her. He grabbed Thea and dragged her out of the car.

"Mr. Falkner sent me to teach you a lesson. Either you take 100 slaps, or I break your fiance's legs."

Several men stepped forward, pretending to restrain Leonard.

Leonard shouted furiously, "Come at me! Don't hurt my fiancee!"

Thea felt hollow inside, yet beneath that emptiness surged a molten fury.

She almost laughed. "Break his legs, then."

Everyone froze.

Clara was the first to scream, "How can you be so cruel? It's just 100 slaps. You won't die! If Leonard's legs are broken, who's going to fix them?"

"Right. What would a person do without their legs?"

Thea's gaze dropped slowly to Leonard's legs. "I wonder if Mr. Falkner has ever had his legs broken. Does he know what it feels like to live without them?"

Leonard's struggle faltered.

The man in black struck Thea hard across the cheek.

In the silent alley, even the crickets had gone quiet. Only the crisp, repetitive sound of slaps remained.

Leonard never stopped the man.

Inside Thea's mind, the system said anxiously, "Stay calm, Thea. I've already called the police. They'll be here in five minutes."

Thea had never felt hatred like this before. She bit down on her lip so hard that blood filled her mouth.

All she had done was slap Clara once, which the latter had asked for. Yet, Leonard was determined to strike her back 100 times over.

Worse still, he continued to play the devoted fiance, as though he would do anything for her.

Thea swore that one day, she would return every bit of this pain.

After 50 slaps, Thea's face was swollen beyond recognition. Her skin looked so thin it seemed it might burst at a mere touch, with fine streaks of blood seeping through the surface.

She looked so wretched that there wasn't a single spot left to strike.

Then, she heard the man in black ask, "Mr. Falkner, should we continue?"

Leonard simply stared at her for a moment. Then, he lifted his left hand and made a subtle gesture.

It was the signal to continue.

Thea shut her eyes tightly.

The man in black raised his hand again, but the slap never came.

Instead, a furious shout tore through the alley. "What are you doing? Is there no law and order anymore?"

Thea looked up.

Blocking the entrance wasn't a police car. It was a luxury sedan.

After Thea was sent to the hospital, she banned Leonard from visiting her.

A beautiful woman sat by her bedside. "You must be Thea, right? Don't be afraid. I'm Kate Rogers, Dylan Larkin's mother."

Thea was surprised.

Kate looked young, but her hair was already streaked with gray. Her eyes were red and swollen, clear signs she'd cried many times.

She held Thea's hand gently. "Finding a bride for Dylan to bring him good luck is actually just a show for his grandfather.

"The old man has grown senile. He couldn't accept Dylan's condition, so he kept praying and asking around, and finally someone suggested bringing in a bride to bring good luck to Dylan.

"After the wedding, I can help you get abroad. You're still young. Do you want to continue your studies?"

Thea shook her head softly and squeezed Kate's hand back. "Don't give up so soon, Mrs. Larkin. Maybe I can help with Dylan's condition."

…

When she was discharged and returned home, she found the Storme residence's living room filled with boxes of gifts.

Clara smiled brightly. "Thea, these are all from Mr. Falkner. He's already proposed to me. Once that loser from the Larkin family dies, I'm going straight to marry into the Falkner family. You can come to my wedding then."

After saying that, she sighed. "It's just how the world works. We're both human, yet the gap between us is just so huge. The Larkins and the Falkners are practically fighting to marry me, each offering more lavishly than the last.

"But you only have a poor fiance. Our family even has to pay to keep him fed. Honestly, it's just pathetic."

Thea grew curious. "You're always calling Leonard's name and running into his arms whenever something happens. You two look pretty close. Are you not mad that he wants to marry me?"

Clara shrugged casually. "He's just a poor student. I can find plenty of those at college. He's nowhere near Mr. Falkner. Money alone can't buy that kind of status."

Thea almost laughed. She couldn't wait to see Leonard's reaction when he heard all this.

She asked the system in her mind, "Did you record all this?"

Clara's words earlier echoed in her mind.

"Of course, Thea," the system replied.

…

Thea went to visit Deanna Merrill, the director of the orphanage who had cared for her.

The old woman's face was a map of kindness and smiles. "Thea, I heard you're getting married. I don't have much to give, but take this lucky charm. I hope it brings you safety and happiness. By the way, how's your fiance? Does he treat you well?"

Thea's nose stung, but she smiled sincerely. "I haven't met him, but he's a good man. He's a soldier willing to sacrifice his life for the country. Even if he doesn't love me, I believe he wouldn't treat me badly."

"Doesn't love you?" Leonard's voice came from behind.

He studied Thea's expression carefully, then handed the fruit basket to Deanna. "Don't worry. I'm Thea's fiance. After we marry, I'll treat her well."

Deanna looked puzzled. "But Thea said…"

Seeing Thea's numb expression, she sighed and said nothing more.

As Leonard and Thea walked out of the orphanage, he handed her a bottle of medicine. "You mentioned your stomach was always hurting, so I had a friend prescribe some medicine for you. Remember to take two pills before you go to bed."

Thea held the bottle tightly. The label said it was just common stomach medicine.

But the system warned inside her mind, "It contains sedatives. You'll be unconscious within 30 minutes of taking two pills."

Leonard was ready on all fronts.

If Thea took the sleeping pills, she would be quietly sent to the Larkin family. If she didn't, his men would tie her up and force her there.

Thea wanted to laugh.

Leonard didn't know that all his efforts were wasted.

…

As soon as they returned home, Jeremy came rushing over in a frantic hurry.

"Bad news. The Larkins sent word that Mr. Larkin was rushed to the ICU last night. The doctors say he's only on life support now and could die any moment. We have to send a bride over first thing tomorrow morning."

Before Thea could say anything, Leonard gasped, "So soon?"

He seized Thea's hand, gripping it with an unprecedented force, as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

Clara's face went pale. She collapsed on the couch, clutching Jeremy's sleeve. "Jeremy, I'm scared. What if Mr. Larkin dies right after I marry him? Do I have to spend a night with a dead man?"

Jeremy's heart ached. He pulled Clara into his arms. "Don't worry. That won't happen. I'd never let you go through that."

As he said that, he glanced at Thea but saw no fear in her eyes. Only mockery.

Suddenly, Jeremy felt his face burn and avoided eye contact.

Thea went upstairs. In the shared second-floor living room lay the ready-made wedding dress.

Clara never even tried it on. If she did, she'd find it didn't fit at all.

Leonard wrapped his arms around Thea from behind. "Thea, get to sleep early tonight. You'll need to wake up early to see Clara off for her wedding."

He couldn't see Thea's expression, but holding her close today made him hesitate to let go.

However, he quickly pushed the strange feeling aside.

Leonard had already made arrangements. Soon, he would bring Thea out of the Larkin residence.

By then, he'd be her savior. He was convinced that Thea would come to see him as her only lifeline.

Even if he married Clara with a grand wedding, Thea would never escape his grasp.

That night, Leonard didn't sleep well.

He dreamed again of the alley. In the dream, while he was escaping his enemies, a young woman bent down and carried him on her back.

Her warm body temperature reached his chest even through the dream.

He suddenly bolted upright in bed.

Just then, his phone rang. His subordinate's frantic voice came through the line. "Mr. Falkner, we searched Ms. Thea's room but couldn't find her."

"She ran? Damn it! Who leaked the news?"

"No, that's not it. We asked Mr. Stratton. He said Ms. Thea already got in the Larkin family's wedding car and left."

Leonard stood up sharply.

But before he could rush downstairs, a sharp pain shot through his legs. Though used to injuries, he still collapsed with a heavy thud.