Our Love is Like a Dead Tree Blooming

The Parker Manor was festooned in joy.

My eldest sister, Emma Parker, was wearing a marvelous wedding dress with a variety of gems, and she looked amazing.

The groom was the prince, Benjamin Collins, who was handsome and elegant, exuding a rare nobility and majesty.

People praised them, saying they were a perfect match.

But no one knew that the prince had originally chosen me, Stella Parker, as his wife.

Dressed in plain clothes, I walked to the piano sent by Benjamin with grace and dignity.

"I heard Prince Collins knew my sister due to the piano. It's such a wonderful story. Since I'm too humble to present anything lavish to you as a gift, please listen to my sincere congratulation!"

Then, I played a threatening and furious song.

Benjamin just glanced at me indifferently and immediately hugged Emma, calling her honey in an intimate way.

He only wanted to marry a daughter from the Parker family; so, all my protests and unwillingness were ignored.

Amidst the criticism of the crowd, I was completely defeated and left the banquet hall in disgrace.

My audacity completely infuriated my mother, Scarlett Miller.

As soon as she sent Emma to the place, she immediately rushed to my room, slapping me hard in the face.

"A disgraceful sparrow like you should quit dreaming of becoming a phoenix!"

Clenching her teeth, she seemed very eager to tear me apart.

"Oh, I'm your daughter too, why should I give in to her in everything?"

I refused to lower my head stubbornly and held back the tears that were about to overflow from my eyes.

It confused me so much about why my parents were so partial to Emma but were always so mean to me.

When I was three years old, a high fever made me feel like crying. But Scarlett pinched my face so hard and threatened me, "Stop crying, or I'll throw you out of this house!"

From then on, in order to please her, I never cried again.

But she hugged Emma and asked nervously whether she was injured when Emma just fell on the grass.

When I started learning instruments at eight, Emma felt jealous of me since I played harp better than her and refused to eat. Then, Scarlett smashed my harp and made me learn piano from a mediocre teacher.

And even this time, I won Benjamin's appreciation by playing an extraordinary piano song but was forced by my parents to give the song to Emma along with the position of crown princess.

We were both legitimate daughters, but Emma was as noble as the moon in the sky, while I was as lowly as the mud on the ground.

As the cane whipped on my back, the pain was so sharp that I couldn't resist.

Before I fainted, I had a dream.

In the dream, my parents helped Emma take away my fiance, Benjamin, making her the most glorious crown princess.

Then, they gave me to Henry Collins, Benjamin's uncle.

He was cruel and lewd. Just half a month after I was married to him, he tortured me, cut off my tongue and gouged out my eyes, and then gave me as rewards to his subordinates.

I woke up from a nightmare and looked at the hazy moonlight outside the window, feeling uneasy.

After a moment, I realized that this dream was a warning from God, or it was a life that I had truly experienced.

After lying in bed for half a month, Scarlett came to see me for the first time.

She brought a lot of beautiful clothes and jewelry and coaxed me that she wanted to take me to attend a banquet held by Emma.

It was the first time in my life that she had been so gentle and considerate to me.

If it were in the past, I would definitely be filled with gratitude and happiness for days.

However, what was happening now appeared in my dream last night. It was just a trap set by Scarlett and Emma to make Henry aware of me.

The happiness I had in the dream was equal to the desperation when I was given to him.

So, I calmly accepted the fancy clothes and thought about how to cope with their plot secretly.

On the day of the banquet, Emma was graceful and elegant with the title of the Crown Princess, being admired by everyone. While she emerged in the flatter, she did not forget to cause trouble for me.

"Stella, you haven't found a fiance, have you? Why don't you play the piano for us so that you can show your talent to the gentlemen present?" she said.

She treated me like those court musicians whose job was to please her!

While saying, Emma glanced with a wicked smile at Henry.

Meanwhile, he was scanning the ladies with his disgusting and sleazy eyes.

In my previous life, in order to save Emma's face in front of those noble ladies and gentlemen, I tried my best to show off my talents at the banquet, which coincidentally attracted Henry's attention.

Henry was the half-brother of the king and had a very good relationship with his mother's family over a century's history.

Despite his crimes, the king was deterred by his family and didn't dare to punish him.

Therefore, my parents gave me to him in my previous life as a fair trade between two noble families, although they ignored my opinion.

"I appreciate your kindness, but my mediocre ability may disappoint you."

As soon as I finished speaking, colorful butterflies gathered on Emma's skirt.

"You..." Amid the astonished compliments from everyone, she suppressed her anger.

It was her trick to frame me and attract Henry's attention.

But now, I used it on her.

Henry looked at her with interest but also a hint of fear.

Scarlett, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, "Stella, you have been older enough to marry. If you fall for any gentlemen here today, just tell your sister."

Madams from other families all lowered their heads, pretending to stay away from the vortex in my family by drinking coffee or chatting.

Scarlett even disposed of my dignity as an unmarried young lady and pushed me in front of everyone so that Henry could notice me.

But I wouldn't make her wish come true. I had to get rid of him no matter what.

Seeing a person walking towards the corner gate in my peripheral vision, I rushed over and grabbed his sleeve in a blink of eyes.

"Mother, Emma, I like him!"