"Why are you looking at me like that? How dare you stare me down! Do you really think I will not have someone deal with you?"

As the thought crossed her mind that most of the Sullivan family inheritance was still in Gabriela's possession, Monica felt her fury surge higher.

Driven by that anger, she lashed out and swung her limited edition designer handbag straight at Ryann's face.

To her shock, the adopted daughter, who had never fought back before, caught the bag midair and yanked it with force, sending Monica crashing onto the floor.

"Ah!" Monica slammed down hard, clenching her teeth while pain tore through her body, and it felt as if her bones were close to breaking apart.

Panicked, Maren hurried to her side. "Mom! Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Anger then twisted her face as she spun toward Ryann. "Gabriela, you ungrateful trash! The Sullivan family took you in and treated you well! Not only do you show no gratitude, but you even dared to hit my mother? If you cannot recognize kindness, then maybe breaking a few more of your bones will finally teach you how to behave!"

While helping Monica to her feet, Maren lifted her arm and swung it forward, intent on taking revenge for her mother.

They actually claimed to treated her sister well?

What a complete joke!

Before Maren could even step closer, Ryann moved without hesitation, striking her with a sharp slap and following it up by driving her foot into Maren's stomach.

Barely two seconds passed before Maren, who had been full of aggression moments earlier, collapsed and curled up on the floor.

Maren shot Ryann a furious glare, and her face contorted with rage.

Never once had she believed that someone they locked away and treated as worthless could still possess such strength.

Nor had it crossed her mind that the girl they once bullied without consequence would ever dare to fight back.

Maren cried out in fury while clutching her face and abdomen. "Mom! She hit me! My face hurts so badly! My stomach too!"

Rushing to her side, Monica bent down and tried to soothe her daughter.

A cruel smile spread across Ryann's lips, and her eyes carried a lethal chill as she looked down at both of them.

"The Sullivan family kept me around for more than ten years, so today I came to repay that kindness. Why are you crying now? Shouldn't this make you happy? Didn't you say you wanted to break a few more of my bones? Then go on."

With deliberate steps, Ryann moved closer, and the pressure in her stare grew heavier with each pace.

Faced with the drastic shift in the woman's presence, both mother and daughter lifted their heads in disbelief at a face that felt familiar yet disturbingly different.

"What… what are you planning to do?"

At first, Monica failed to notice anything out of place, but a closer look made her realize that despite the blood covering "Gabriela", there were no signs of serious injury.

Alarm crept in, and Monica pulled Maren behind her while shaking as she forced out a warning. "Stop! If you come any closer, I will—"

"And then what?" Ryann replied flatly, while countless brutal endings raced through her thoughts.

Worried that Gabriela might lose control and really hurt them, Maren ignored the pain and dug through her handbag in a frantic attempt to find her phone and call for help.

Watching her calmly, Ryann spoke with chilling indifference. "Are you trying to call that obedient boyfriend of yours for help? There's no need. He's already here."

In the very next instant, Myles White, Maren's boyfriend, dragged himself into the Sullivan family villa, and a horrifying streak of blood smeared across the floor behind him.

With his voice torn and uneven, he struggled to beg for mercy. "Maren… Mrs. Sullivan… please… save me…"

The night before, Ryann had subjected him to torment that closely mirrored every injury her sister had endured.

Without the pill she had forced on him to keep his body barely functioning, Myles would never have survived the night.

"Mom… It's Myles!" The moment recognition struck, Maren's eyes flew wide as she turned on Ryann in fury. "You insane woman! What did you do to him?"

Frozen in place, Monica could only stare at the bloodied man sprawled on the floor, shock robbing her of any sound.

"I simply repaid what he gave me," Ryann said with casual indifference while casting a sideways glance at the man barely clinging to life. "I twisted his arms and legs, soaked him in concentrated salt water, tore out his nails, and made him swallow a few not-so-legal substances. Nothing more than that."

Once her words settled, she crouched in front of the two women and reached out with a hand stained by her sister's blood, gripping Monica's chin. "Now it's your turn."

Slowly, Ryann's slender fingers tightened, and the pressure against Monica's jaw grew crushing.

A piercing scream tore from Monica's throat, and all color drained from her face as pain overtook her.

"Gabriela!" In desperation, Maren rushed forward and grabbed Ryann's wrist while forcing out a threatening command. "Give back my father's property and leave this house quietly! If you do that, I can act as if none of this ever happened! If you refuse, I swear I won't let you go!"

At those words, Ryann let out a low, mocking laugh that carried pure disdain.

Fury hardened her expression, and she wrenched Maren's arm with brutal force until the bone snapped as she shouted, "Everything Mr. Sullivan gave me belongs to me by right! Who do you think you are to demand it back? And remember this clearly. The villa you are standing in was also left to me by Mr. Sullivan! You will not touch a single thing that is mine!"

Terror swallowed Monica whole, and she ignored her daughter's cries while trying to crawl away across the floor.

Before she could escape, Ryann seized her ankle and dragged her back, lifting a heavy vase with the clear intent to bring it down on her.

At nearly the same moment, a sharp gunshot split the air.

The vase exploded apart instantly, and fragments flew everywhere before burying themselves in Monica's body as her scream echoed through the room.

Reacting at once, Ryann turned sharply, and her eyes locked onto a pair of deep, unfathomable ones.

Having dealt with numerous figures who stood at the peak of authority, Ryann had never once felt pressure this suffocating.

Before her, the man did nothing more than stand still, yet the presence he carried forced her instincts into full alert.

Once she sensed clear hostility from the man, the heat burning in Ryann's gaze sharpened even further.

Without a hint of fear, she met the man's eyes directly, brushed aside the gun aimed at her, and spoke with open mockery. "This does not concern you! Move!"

Almost immediately afterward, black-suited bodyguards with stone faces poured into the villa and surrounded the terrified mother and daughter cowering on the floor.

Raising his gaze, the man spoke in a low and raspy voice that allowed no refusal. "These two are guests under the protection of the Yates family. I am taking them with me today."

"And if I refuse?"

Holding her position, Ryann did not retreat as the cold light in the man's eyes sharpened and the oppressive pressure around him grew heavier.

"So you intend to stop me?"

While the tension hung in the air, another man rushed over and spoke in a low, urgent voice. "Mr. Yates, your grandfather is waiting at the Yates Mansion. We are running out of time."

After that, he faced Monica and spoke with courtesy that felt distant rather than warm. "Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Yates and Miss Sullivan are about to be married. We are here to escort Miss Sullivan to complete the marriage registration. The court officials are already waiting at the Yates Mansion."

Mr. Yates. The Yates family. Marriage.

Those words linked together instantly in Ryann's mind, and the man standing before her was finally revealed.

Jayden Yates, the eldest grandson of the Yates family head—the wealthiest man in Elessall—and the designated future heir.

Everything suddenly made sense.

The killing intent in Ryann's eyes slowly faded, giving way to measured thought.

Facing someone from the Yates family meant that pushing back today would only lead to unnecessary consequences.

Bit by bit, she relaxed her clenched fists, and the sharp edge of her presence eased.

Seeing Ryann's posture ease, Monica finally released a breath she did not realize she had been holding.

Taking advantage of the moment, Maren immediately shifted tactics and rushed to Jayden's side, her face full of grievance.

"Jayden, you have to speak up for me… My mother and I barely said anything, and Gabriela completely snapped. Look at my arm. She dislocated it, and it hurts terribly…"

A deep frown settled on Jayden's face, and impatience flickered clearly in his cold expression.

It was obvious that her act had failed to move him in the slightest.

From where she stood, Ryann observed everything with detached calm while quietly registering the trace of irritation in his reaction.

Turning his attention toward her, Jayden studied Ryann closely and spoke with faint amusement in his voice. "You are the Sullivan family's adopted daughter, Gabriela?"

Mistaking his attention for support, Maren hurried to press the advantage. "That's right! She's the ungrateful girl my family took in! After my father died, she grew more and more arrogant. She stole my family's money and even abused my mother and me repeatedly!"

Holding her injured face, Monica let out broken sobs as blood trickled from the scratch left by the porcelain shard. "Mr. Yates, it would be one thing if she only do this to me. But Maren is your future wife! Her actions show complete disrespect toward you and the Yates family!"

Listening to their accusations pile up, Ryann let out a cold, mocking laugh. Regret crept through her thoughts, and she briefly wondered if she should have been far more ruthless earlier.

"A wedding is supposed to be a happy event." She spoke without warning, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "I think I should see such a lively occasion for myself."

"Absolutely not. You are not going!" Monica protested at once, and panic leaked into her sharp tone.

Worried that Gabriela would stir trouble at the Yates residence, Maren hurried to scold her. "Why would an adopted orphan like you show up at my wedding? Do you honestly believe you belong to the Sullivan family?"

A slight crease formed on Ryann's forehead, and her cold stare moved from Monica to Maren until neither dared to speak again.

She never expected Jayden to support her, yet his deep and steady voice suddenly cut through the tension. "If you want to attend, then you may."

After saying that, he turned away and walked straight out of the Sullivan villa.

Surprise briefly flashed across Ryann's eyes.

Had he really agreed just like that?

Was he not concerned about the trouble she could cause at the Yates Mansion?

"Jayden! How can you allow her to come?" Maren stomped her foot in frustration before shooting Ryann a furious glare. "If you dare say or do anything out of line at the Yates Mansion, I will make you pay for it!"

Without offering a single word, Ryann casually raised her hand and smoothed the loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Reacting on instinct, Maren retreated a step, fear flashing across her face as she hurriedly pulled Monica along with her.

In their panic, they slammed the car door shut, fully convinced it would keep Ryann away, never realizing she had no intention of following them at all.

Inside the Bentley, Jayden reclined against the headrest and closed his eyes, and the dim lighting traced the sharp lines of his profile.

Moments later, the car door swung open, and a slender figure slipped inside with unhurried calm.

As if the world around them did not exist, Ryann settled into the seat beside Jayden, and her red lips brushed close to his ear while her warm breath almost touched him.

"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Yates."

Jayden gave no response, and his presence remained steady and unreadable. Then, beneath the low glow inside the car, his eyes opened slowly, and his deep gaze fixed firmly on Ryann's face.

"So you really dared to climb into my car."

Coldness seeped from Jayden's voice like winter water, yet Ryann kept her smile intact, clearly unbothered and almost expectant.

"You're about to marry my sister. At this rate, we are practically family anyway." Turning her head slightly, she looked at him with playful eyes. "Adopted or not, I still fall under the Sullivan name, which makes me part of your future circle. Sharing a ride with family hardly seems strange, does it?"

Her tone dropped into something gentle and deliberately provocative, carrying a quiet charm. "It's only a ride. I'm sitting in your car, not on your lap. Calm down."

"Do I look like I'm not calm enough?" Jayden answered, and his stare cut toward her with sharp intensity.

Reaching out, he caught her chin between his fingers, and his low voice carried unmistakable aggression.

Even with her clothes stained in blood, Ryann's striking features and commanding presence remained impossible to ignore.

From the corner of her vision, she caught sight of Maren right outside the car, staring at them and burning with barely contained fury.

Closing the distance on purpose, Ryann leaned nearer to Jayden and let her eyes sharpen with playful provocation. "Mr. Yates, your fiancee is watching right now, so you might want to keep your hands where they belong."

Unmoved by her approach, Jayden let a faint curve touch his lips. "If this is your attempt to get even because I stopped you from killing them, then you should rethink your strategy. Such cheap tricks do nothing for me."

A gentle laugh escaped Ryann. "Really? Is that how you see it?"

Getting back at Jayden was never her true intention. What she wanted was to make use of the circumstances laid out before her.

If this marriage was going to fall apart, then Jayden was the first piece that had to be shaken.

Here in Elessall, she stood alone and without support, while the Yates family held power, influence, and protection.

Removing that shield was the only way she could confront her enemies properly.

Her eyes dropped to the delicate box resting near her feet, and she bent down to pick it up. "You have good taste. This dress fits me perfectly. Thanks."

Without hesitation, she began changing out of her bloodstained clothes right there inside the car.

Startled, the driver immediately turned his head away and kept his eyes firmly on the road.

Beside her, Jayden pressed his lips together while studying her closely, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

One piece of fabric after another fell away, and her elegant white lace underwear came into view, accentuating a figure impossible to ignore.

Startled by the sight, he turned his head aside, and his pulse sped up while his breathing grew uneven. A faint shift passed through his throat, and his composure clearly wavered.

At that moment, her gentle voice reached him once more. "Why pretend to be a prude when you have already seen everything?"

Despite himself, his eyes followed the sound of her voice, and when he finally looked back, Jayden froze.

A strapless satin gown traced her curves flawlessly, and when she slowly lifted her face under the dim light, the beauty before him felt unreal.

...

After fifteen minutes passed, the car arrived at the Yates Mansion.

Trailing behind Jayden, Monica and Maren followed closely, and smug satisfaction showed plainly on their faces.

Within the lavish living room, members of the Yates family had already been waiting for a while.

The moment they stepped inside, warmth and enthusiasm greeted them from all sides.

Just as Maren prepared to move forward and greet everyone, she froze when she saw them walk straight past her and gather around Ryann instead.

"Goodness, could this be the woman joining our family soon? She is even more stunning than any actress on silver screen!"

"That deep burgundy dress looks made for you, and your figure is remarkable!"

Jealousy burned through Maren at those words, and she said sharply, "I am the one who's about to marry Jayden and join the Yates family. She is nothing more than an adopted daughter from the Sullivan family!"

Awkwardness spread through the group, and they quickly shifted their attention to greet Maren instead.

With a gentle push to move things along, Jayden's stepmother, Rhonda Yates, spoke up. "We should proceed with the registration. Gael is waiting to hear the good news."

Gripping Jayden's arm tightly, Maren felt her excitement swell at the thought of marrying into immense wealth.

Lifting her chin with blatant provocation, she fixed Ryann with a smug look and whispered so only the two of them could hear, "With a background as low as yours, do you honestly think you can charm Jayden and marry into money? You should stop dreaming."

A cold calm stayed on Jayden's face, though a faint and unreadable curve lingered at the corner of his lips.

A sharp glint flashed through Ryann's eyes as she quietly mapped out how to ruin this arrangement.

But just as she was about to act, a startled cry from the staff shattered her focus.

"Please wait, the records show that Mr. Yates is already married! And the registered wife is not Miss Maren Sullivan, but Gabriela Sullivan!"

What?

The announcement struck like a bolt of thunder and instantly threw the Yates Mansion into chaos.

Shock rippled through Ryann, her pupils shrinking while her fingers trembled slightly. Was Gabriela already married? And the husband listed was Jayden?

How could something like this even happen?