The bouquet struck Robert directly in the face, making him stagger, his vision blurring from the surprise attack.

Gasps rippled through the auditorium.

Everyone at Pehville University knew about Clara's obsession with Robert-her love for him had always been an open secret.

So no one could have imagined that Clara would lash out at him in front of everyone.

The shock swept through the student body, making it the most explosive scandal on campus all year.

Fury twisted Robert's expression as he jabbed a finger at Clara. "Clara, what's gotten into you? This wild behavior is exactly why I never accepted your proposal!"

A cold, mocking smile played at Clara's lips.

Some things never changed-Robert was still the shameless pretender he had always been.

She remembered how she had bent over backwards for him, lowering herself just to win his approval.

And how he had always called her unstable, reckless, impossible to love.

Predictably, judgmental stares settled on her from every corner of the room.

In the past, the weight of that scorn would have crushed her, and she would have burst into tears, pleading for Robert to forgive her.

This time felt nothing like the others.

"Robert, you think far too highly of yourself!" Clara retorted, laughter cutting cold.

Clara stared down at him, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "You trampled my true feelings, Robert, and you will answer for that betrayal."

Her tone stayed low, but the chill in it made the whole room hush. "Watch me. I will unmask you and make you pay."

She tore the veil from her head and flung it over his face, then turned away without a backward glance.

Clara left the auditorium and walked straight to the underground garage. Sliding into her sports car, she felt hatred flare through her like a live wire.

This was only the opening move. From here on out, she would collect the debt Robert owed her for the life he ruined.

She drew a slow breath to steady the storm inside.

Before the revenge, there were people she now needed to protect.

Clara reached for her phone, planning to call her younger brother, Eric Jones, and suggest they visit their grandmother, Sylvia Jones, at the nursing home. Before she could dial, a notification popped up-Eric had just posted on Facebook.

She tapped open the post, and nine pictures loaded, showing the Jones family posing for photos on a day out.

Eric and Emily appeared side by side in every shot, their faces pressed close together as if they were the perfect siblings. The caption read, "Great day out with my favorite sister!"

A pang shot through Clara's chest as she scrolled through the images.

That familiar ache settled at the back of her throat, sharp and bitter.

In her previous life, false accusations had ruined her. When she finally got out on bail, Eric was already mentally broken.

Yet this time around, though Eric still clung to Emily as if she were family, at least he was healthy-at least he was alive.

"Staying alive... that's all that matters," Clara whispered, blinking fast to fight off the sting in her eyes. Her gaze lingered on the tagged location-Veiled Mountain.

She nearly scrolled away, but the name stopped her cold.

Veiled Mountain.

A memory she'd tried to forget forced its way to the surface.

Just a few days after this outing, someone powerful had showered the Jones family with expensive gifts, all to thank Emily for saving a VIP.

Due to that act, Emily had gained influence and resources beyond anything Clara could have imagined.

That man's words had been brief, but Clara could never forget the way he mentioned "Veiled Mountain."

A jolt of realization shot through her. Was today the very day Emily performed her miraculous rescue and changed her fate?

Clara's mind raced, and a plan came together in an instant.

Emily had always snatched away everything that mattered. This time, she would beat Emily to it.

Without a second thought, she steered her car toward Veiled Mountain, heart pounding.

While driving, she replayed old memories and sifted through every hint she remembered, eliminating the places where someone important could never be hidden.

She parked at the base of Veiled Mountain and made her way up, heading straight for a spot that she thought might be the possible hideout-a place halfway up the slope.

Holding her breath, Clara slowed her steps, searching every shadow and hollow.

After she scoured every likely hiding place, she still hadn't found a soul.

Confusion crept in just as a voice as icy as winter whispered, "Are you looking for trouble?"

Clara's pulse thundered in her ears, eyes going wide with shock before she pulled herself together.

She didn't waste a second. "I'm not here to hurt you!"

A quiet, mocking laugh sounded from behind her.

That cold, commanding tone returned. "Get lost."

Even the cold weight of his words carried authority-only someone important could sound so terrifying.

Drawing a slow breath, Clara slowly turned, and found herself staring at a man with striking, cold features.

Dressed in black, he seemed to merge with the shadows of the cave, but the power radiating off him was unmistakable. His sharp, handsome face could have put any celebrity to shame.

A spark of awe flickered in Clara's eyes, quickly replaced by deeper alarm as recognition set in-this was Oliver Walsh, the underworld king of their country, Vrilgas, a name that even the President feared.

Oliver's gaze met hers, and for a brief moment, surprise flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't expected her to stand her ground.

Her brief flicker of recognition didn't escape him either.

So she knew who he was-and maybe even that he had been poisoned.

"Who sent you?" Oliver's eyes were as cold as winter rain, his voice slicing through the silence. "Why are you following me?"

Years of medical study let Clara see right through him. The telltale flush on his skin and tension in his jaw gave away that he was fighting the effects of a potent drug-and losing.

Now was her chance to seize the opportunity Emily had once had, so she tried to keep things civil. "I want to help you..." Her plan was to say she could cure him.

She didn't get the chance to finish. "Help me? What's your game?"

A surge of frustration shot through Clara.

With fire in her eyes, Clara seized his sharply defined jaw and pressed her lips fiercely against his, stealing a deep, unexpected kiss.

Oliver couldn't believe what he was seeing; Clara's boldness caught him completely off guard.

He pressed forward, while she didn't retreat. Instead, she accepted his challenge.

Clara locked eyes with Oliver's dangerous glare. Her voice rang with a frosty pride as she declared, "If I truly intended to have my way with you, you'd be powerless to resist."

Oliver locked eyes with her, the air thick with tension.

Clara held his gaze, her voice steady and cool. "Don't forget it. My name is Clara Jones, and you owe your life to me."

Before he could do a thing, Clara struck him sharply on the side of the neck.

After confirming that he was unconscious, she tore open his shirt to treat him.

After making sure the bandage was secure, she pulled out her phone and called the police before walking away.

Unbeknownst to her, just ten minutes after she vanished, a team of ten bodyguards in black suits tracked Oliver down and quietly removed him from Veiled Mountain.

The moment he was back in the car, Oliver snapped awake.

As soon as he realized what had happened, his expression hardened. "Find out everything there is to know about a woman named Clara Jones."

Josh James, Oliver's right-hand man, turned in surprise at the command, instantly noticing the swelling of Oliver's lip. His eyes went wide in shock.

What could have possibly happened?

Most of the time, Oliver never allowed women to get anywhere near him, so it was unthinkable that he'd not only let someone close but also kiss them.

Did this mean Oliver actually had some interest in this Clara girl?

Oliver shot Josh a freezing glare.

That look made Josh freeze up immediately; he shoved aside all distractions and quickly pulled out his phone to start the investigation.

While this was happening, Clara made her way back to Jones Manor.

She reached the front gate just in time to spot Emily and Eric getting out of a car, chatting and laughing together.

Stopping for a moment, Clara then headed straight toward Eric.

Their attention shifted when they heard footsteps behind them.

The moment he realized it was Clara, Eric hurriedly moved away from Emily.

He considered going over to explain their outing, hoping Clara wouldn't be upset.

But as soon as he remembered that Clara had proposed to Robert today, he bit back his explanation and said nothing.

Frustration flared, and Eric turned away, pretending not to notice Clara at all.

Emily felt a sting of resentment when Eric put distance between them so abruptly.

No matter how hard she worked to win Eric over and act like a devoted sister, the truth remained that, deep down, he saw only Clara as his sister.

What an ungrateful little thing!

And Clara, this troublesome girl, was just a nobody brought back from the countryside. Still, being the only biological daughter of their father meant she overshadowed Emily at every turn.

Emily couldn't stand it.

The jealousy ate away at her, but she covered it up with a sweet, innocent smile.

She hurried over, putting on a bright face as she said, "Clara, we went hiking today! You should have seen the mountain view, absolutely stunning!"

Clara answered with a cold stare.

In the past, she might have actually thought Emily was genuinely trying to share something with her.

But things were different now; Clara understood that Emily was only bragging, hoping to create trouble between her and the rest of the family.

"Clara, aren't you going to say anything? Please don't be upset. Eric didn't mean it..." Emily, noticing Clara's composure, felt annoyed and tried to provoke her even more.

While Emily waited expectantly for Clara to lose her temper and start yelling, Clara paid no attention to the bait. Instead, she walked directly up to Eric, her gaze filled with longing.

Bathed in the warm glow of dusk, Eric's face still carried traces of boyhood.

A light breeze played with his hair, revealing a smooth forehead and eyes that sparkled with life.

She felt a rush of gratitude just seeing her brother alive and well.

Eric grew uncomfortable under her stare and snapped, "What are you looking at?" He glared at her. "Clara, have some dignity, will you? Don't bring those habits into our home. You're always picking on Emily, and it's disgusting!"

His harsh voice echoed through the yard, loud enough for the maids to peek out from inside the villa.

Clara caught the way Eric tried to push her away. Her soft features turned hard in an instant.

She met his eyes and replied in a cold, steady tone, "Eric, is this really how you treat your own sister?"

"Sister? Don't make me laugh! You're just some nobody. I..." Eric said, his voice thick with scorn.

Clara's eyes hardened. "Shut up!"

Eric froze, completely thrown by Clara. For a moment, he just stood there, dazed and motionless.

Emily, equally shocked, rushed to pull Eric behind her, her voice rising with outrage. "How could you treat Eric like that?"

Before Emily could finish, Clara shoved her.

The bustling entrance of Jones Manor instantly fell into a heavy silence.

Every servant who had been watching from the sidelines was now gripped by fear.

Emily completely cast aside her usual poise and shouted in fury, "Are you crazy?!"

Clara's eyes stayed cold. "As the eldest sibling, it's my job to set you straight. If you show me disrespect, is there anything wrong with me correcting you?"

Clara understood that Eric was at an age where pride came easily and rebellion was to be expected.

But that was exactly why he needed someone firm to keep him on track.

Otherwise, he would fall into the same traps as before, thinking he could do anything he wanted, racing recklessly, crashing, and ending up with an injury that left him mentally impaired.

Now that Clara had a second shot at life, she was determined to keep Eric from repeating that fate.

And as for Emily, putting her in her place was just something she wanted to do.

Emily was shocked, unable to move.

In the past, whenever Eric and Emily went out without Clara, she would feel hurt and distant from the Jones family, but she kept those feelings to herself.

Today, however, Clara refused to stay silent.

"You-" Emily said, her body trembling with anger.

At that moment, Clara's father, Brad Jones, and her stepmother, Ramona, pulled up and stepped out of the car.

They froze, shocked by the strange scene unfolding at the entrance.

"Mom! Clara's lost her mind!" Emily ran into Ramona's arms, sobbing and looking pitiful.

Ramona could hardly believe it. "What? There must be some mistake."

Ramona remembered how Clara had always tried to fit in with the Joneses, continually making efforts to please both Eric and Emily.

"I'm not lying!" Emily sobbed.

Eric turned to Brad and complained, "Dad! Can you discipline Clara? She shouldn't act so rudely..."

At first, Brad felt angry, convinced Clara had overreacted.

But when he glanced up and saw Clara's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him, his heart softened.

Hearing Eric's words, Brad scolded him, "How dare you speak of your sister that way! Apologize to her right now! If you make her cry again, I'll deal with you!"

Seeing Brad's reaction, Clara could no longer hold back her tears.

She rushed into his arms and cried out, "Dad..."

She wanted to apologize to him.

In her previous life, she had been far too trusting, letting Emily manipulate her and constantly fighting with Brad over Robert, that worthless man.

Things only got worse after Brad bailed her out of jail. Emily tricked her into signing a confession, and Clara ended up turning herself in, which made Brad so furious that it affected his health.

In the end, Ramona and Emily's plotting left Brad in a coma.

Clara couldn't shake the feeling that she had let him down as a daughter.

"What happened? Were you really bullied?" Brad wrapped his arms around her, startled and worried.

Ever since Clara came back into the family, she'd always kept her distance from him, rarely speaking unless it was to blame him for losing her and failing to find her back for so long.

But now, she was clinging to him, openly crying.

There was no doubt she was hurting.

Brad turned a stern gaze on Eric. "Eric! Did you upset your sister again?"

Eric tried to defend himself, but being blamed made him even more frustrated. "Dad! You're always siding with her! She's the one who..."

Brad cut him off. "Your sister was setting you straight for your own good! And Clara is my one and only precious daughter. If you think that's unfair, too bad!"

Eric had nothing to say.

To Brad, his daughter meant the world!

And he, as the son, was simply unwanted.

Meanwhile, Ramona and Emily stood nearby, their faces turning sour.

His only precious daughter?

Where did that leave Emily?

Clara quickly pulled back from Brad and wiped her tears. "Dad, this isn't about Eric," she said softly. "Eric spoke to me disrespectfully, so I put him in his place right away."

Taking a steady breath, Clara looked Brad in the eyes. "Dad, I want to break off my engagement with Robert."