My boyfriend believed I abandoned him for a life of luxury and took his own life, only to be mysteriously reborn before his death. Thinking fate had handed him a chance for revenge, he staged his death and moved abroad to amass a fortune.

Upon his triumphant return, his first act was to destroy my father's company, driving it to bankruptcy. This forced my mother into a mental institution and left my younger siblings homeless. He even declared that unless I groveled and begged for miles, he wouldn't stop his revenge against my family.

What he didn't know was that on the day his death was announced, I too had taken my own life, driven by love for him.

Six years after my death, Jasper Martin returned to the United States. His first move was to obliterate the Freeman family business, pushing my father to his death and driving my mother insane. All because I had once humiliated him in his darkest hour, scorning his bankrupt family and his inability to provide the life I desired.

I watched him, unrecognizable in his newfound splendor, seated high in his imposing office. "Mr. Martin, there's someone outside claiming to be Kori Hill. She said mentioning Sadie Freeman would guarantee you'd see her," an assistant relayed.

Jasper appeared not to have heard, continuing to focus on the contract in his hands without the slightest change in demeanor. A mere glance from him was enough for the assistant to understand and leave. I drifted out with them and saw my mother waiting, hope gleaming in her eyes.

"Is Mr. Martin not seeing me? That's impossible! Did you mention Sadie? My daughter, Sadie Freeman, she's missing! He wouldn't ignore this!" she insisted.

"I don't believe it! You must not have explained it properly. I'll wait here until he comes out!"

Finally, Jasper emerged from the building, and my mother approached him immediately. Despite her worn appearance, she instinctively tidied her hair and clothes upon seeing him. She had once been a prominent figure in the city's high society, the esteemed Mrs. Freeman, and appearance had always been important to her. Yet now, she was kept at bay by security guards, her voice filled with reproach.

"Jasper, really, how could you not visit Sadie all this time? She misses you so much, she's grown thinner, always talking about you!"

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she changed her tone, panic creeping in as she pushed forward. "Jasper, Sadie collapsed this morning. She's unconscious in bed! Please, she needs your help, she's very sick and needs money!"

And then, to my heartbreak, she fell to her knees, pleading, "Mr. Martin, please, for the sake of the love you once shared, help her, help my child!"

Though just over fifty, her hair was already streaked with white. Since my death six years ago, her mind had begun to unravel, and after our family went bankrupt and my father died from a heart attack, she completely lost her grip on reality. Her memory was stuck on the day I died, believing money could bring me back from death's grip.

The once indomitable Mrs. Freeman was now on her knees for someone long gone, and the ache in my heart was sharp. I wanted to lift her up, but my hands passed right through her.

It was these words that finally drew a reaction from Jasper, who turned to my mother, his face a mask of mockery. "Love?"

He scoffed, as if he'd heard the most absurd joke. "Mrs. Freeman, do you not remember your precious daughter saying she'd never loved me when she broke up with me? It’s laughable to mention love now to guilt me into saving her," he sneered.

"And besides, aren't your current circumstances my doing? Seems the bankruptcy of the Freeman estate and your husband's sudden death have hit you hard enough to come crawling to me."

"But you've come to the wrong person, Mrs. Freeman. Asking me will only quicken Sadie's demise. If she still has a conscience, she should crawl all the way to me, begging. Maybe then I'd be moved."

My mother shakily pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. "Jasper, if you won’t help, think of it as a loan. This is an IOU. When Sadie gets better, I’ll pay you back, okay?"

People were bustling at the entrance, some already filming with their phones. "Oh my God, isn’t that the former Mrs. Freeman? What's she doing kneeling for money? I saw her on TV once, almost didn’t recognize her, she looks so aged now!"

"Don’t you know? Her daughter cheated and left Mr. Martin. Now that he’s back, he’s taking revenge, ruined their family, and now this woman shamelessly begs him."

Jasper didn't stop them. Instead, he crushed the IOU underfoot along with my mother’s hand, looking down at her from above. "What’s the matter? Is Everest Nelson so useless he can’t even give you a few grand? Seems Sadie backed the wrong horse! I’ll tell you, not a penny from me. Even if Sadie dies today, it’d be her just desserts."

Everest Nelson? Oh, that’s right, he was the one I turned to six years ago, leaving Jasper behind.

The Martin and Freeman families have shared a connection for generations, and since I can remember, Jasper Martin has always been close to me. He would look at me with a bright smile and say, "Sadie, you're gorgeous. The most beautiful person I've ever seen!" Hearing those words always made my heart feel like it might leap out of my chest.

I used to believe that happiness was simply imagining a future where I would marry him. Yet, when I turned eighteen, everything changed. Due to John Martin’s poor business choices, the Martin family went bankrupt overnight, and he tragically ended his life.

After that, Jasper began to pull away from me. I understood he felt inadequate and thought he wasn't good enough for me. I wanted my father to take him in, but at first, he refused. He warned that with the Martins’ recent downfall, people would scrutinize us, and taking Jasper in would be like walking into a fire.

At that young age, I couldn't grasp the complexity of such matters. I just couldn't bear the thought of seeing the one I loved left adrift. So, I kneeled down and pleaded with him. "Dad, I've never asked you for anything before. But now, I beg you to take Jasper in. You've watched him grow up. If you don’t let him stay, I'll leave with him and wander the streets!"

In the end, my father, who had always spoiled me, sighed and agreed after a moment of hesitation.

Once Jasper moved in, no matter how much I tried to show him kindness, he remained distant and unresponsive. Eventually, I realized my parents were the ones holding him back, so I made a vow to them. "Dad, Mom, you might think Jasper is beneath me now that the Martins have fallen, and that you're doing what's best for me. But I've loved him all my life, and my feelings won't change no matter what others say."

Hidden in the shadows, Jasper overheard my words. He stepped forward and knelt before them, saying, "Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, I genuinely love Sadie. If you give me a chance, I promise to work tirelessly and restore the Martin family’s legacy. I will never let Sadie down."

My parents couldn’t argue against our determination, so they allowed us to be together. From that moment, Jasper became devoted to "Sadie Freeman." Wherever I was, he was always within reach, ready to do anything for me.

One time, my father’s business dealings upset someone, leading to me being pressured to drink an excessive amount of coffee by some people in our circle. Jasper stormed in and fought with them until both parties ended up in the hospital.

Despite being outnumbered, Jasper was bedridden for half a year before he fully recovered. After that, everyone knew that while the Freemans might not be the most powerful, Sadie was untouchable because of Jasper.

With Jasper around, no one dared to mistreat me, let alone harm me.

The memories of Jasper’s tender promise to protect me for life seemed like a distant memory compared to the indifferent man he has become now.

That night, my mother found herself at Jasper’s door once again. She stubbornly knelt there, hoping that the man she once took in would save her daughter.

But even when Trenton and Nia came to the Martins to take her away, Jasper didn’t appear.

My siblings were born during my mother’s later years. I left when they were still young, and now they seemed even more pitiful from malnutrition. Unable to resist their mother’s plea, they joined her in kneeling at the Martins’ door.

Later that night, Jasper had his servants bring food. My mother’s hopes soared, thinking Jasper had relented. She straightened her hair and prepared to stand, only to find it was leftovers. The servant conveyed Jasper’s message: "Mr. Martin says it's been a while since you've eaten. Out of kindness, he's sent you food. But remember, you mustn't use silverware or your hands to eat it. Maybe if he’s amused, he’ll consider helping Miss Freeman."

My mother bit her lip so hard they turned white, nearly collapsing from the humiliation. Despite her illness and the family's downfall, she had never faced such disgrace.

With her back straight, she stopped Trenton and Nia from eating. Her eyes filled with tears as she bowed her head and quietly ate from the dish, smearing grease over her mouth but never pausing.

I can only blame myself for being unable to physically intervene. My heart brimming with urgency and frustration, I turned and drifted into Jasper Martin's extravagant mansion.

It had been seven years since I last saw Georgia Pierce, Jasper's mother. After the Martin family went bankrupt, Aunt Georgia developed Alzheimer's and had been living abroad with Jasper ever since. She still looked youthful in a Victorian-style dress as she addressed Jasper with her authoritative demeanor:

"Why haven't you brought Sadie back yet? It's been ages since I've seen her. I want to have a word with her!"

Aunt Georgia was always kind to me. Before the Martin family went bankrupt, she treated me like her own daughter, always offering me the best she had. She even promised to leave me half of the family estate. After their financial collapse, even when I was with Jasper, she constantly reminded him:

"Don't let Sadie down. If you do, I'll never forgive you."

Because of her kindness and because she was Jasper's mother, I was more than willing to protect her. During that time, Jasper was juggling odd jobs, leaving early and returning late without sharing much with me. Aunt Georgia, in her absent-mindedness, left the stove on, and due to that oversight, a fire broke out.

Aunt Georgia quickly passed out from the smoke. When a beam came crashing down, I pushed her out of the way. I saved her life but ended up permanently scarred and losing a leg. Looking back, it seemed like a fair trade.

But seeing my face, scarred beyond recognition, and my missing right leg, remembering Jasper's eyes when he used to call me "beautiful," I was overtaken by insecurity and confusion. So many years have passed, yet Jasper's expression from that night remains vivid in my mind.

Everest Nelson was our family doctor, and he treated my burns. When I learned I couldn't be fully healed, I begged him to help me stage a scene—one that would push Jasper away from me for good.

So when Jasper came to my house that day, he found Everest proposing to me. To maintain appearances, I wore a long-sleeved gown and a veil over half my face, even in the summer heat.

Jasper held a diamond ring in his hand. It was then I realized all his hard work had been for this moment. Everest stood by my side, making Jasper's run towards me seem absurd. The same Jasper who hadn't shed a tear at his father's funeral now asked me with tears streaming down his face:

"Why?"

I replied, "Jasper, look at your ring, then look at mine. I, Sadie Freeman, was born to be noble. Do you really think you're worthy?"

Jasper's hand tightened around the ring, blood dripping from his grip. I thought he would walk away, but instead, in a pleading voice, he asked:

"Sadie, I'm not your servant, waiting on your every whim, right? Leave with me now, and let's pretend none of this ever happened, okay?"

Such vulnerability tugged at my heart, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if my decision was right until I touched my amputated leg and heard myself say:

"Aren't you just my lapdog? You've always been my sycophant! I never loved you."