"Elena, didn't you know?" her uncle said over the phone. "We're all at the hospital Mr. Thorne arranged. He said he'll schedule Grandma's surgery in a few days."

​The revelation hit Elena Vance like a physical blow. Cillian Thorne, that beast! He wasn't just chasing her; he had systematically gathered her family as hostages. No wonder he hadn't sent guards after her last night he knew she had nowhere to run.

​Her uncle had lost an arm saving her years ago, and her grandmother was deathly ill. Elena sat on the floor of the phone booth, sobbing until she gagged. But finally, the tears stopped. Her eyes turned cold and empty. She stood up, wiped her face, and began the long walk toward the Thorne estate on Mount Mid.

​Walk of Penance

​By dusk, Elena reached the foot of the mountain, swaying from exhaustion and the scorching sun. A black luxury car pulled up beside her. Inside, she heard Philip Woods speak.

​"Mr. Thorne, it's Mrs. Vance. Should we take her up?"

"Back now? Too late," Cillian's voice was like ice. "The Thorne Family's doors aren't open for her to enter and leave as she pleases."

​The car sped past, leaving her in the dust. Elena fainted, only to be woken by a sudden, freezing autumn rain. Philip Woods stood over her with an umbrella.

​"Mr. Thorne said that if you kowtow every three steps from here to the manor and arrive before dawn, he will allow you to enter."

​Elena's face paled. "Is he crazy? The baby... I'll lose the child!"

"Mr. Thorne says that if the baby is lost, it saves the cost of a hospital abortion," Philip replied blankly.

​Elena gritted her teeth. "Fine. I'll do it."

​Step by step, she knelt and pressed her forehead to the wet asphalt. By the time she reached the gates, the road was streaked with her blood, washed away by the torrential rain. She collapsed at the entrance, a silent vow of revenge burning in her heart.

​The Morning After

​Cillian watched the courtyard from his balcony, turning the pages of a book.

"She collapsed, sir," Philip reported.

"Is she dead?"

"Not yet."

"Then throw her in the yard. If she survives the night, let her in. Don't let her die outside and become a laughingstock."

​The next morning, Elena woke up under the eaves, shivering but alive. After a quick shower and bandaging her own wounds, she was summoned to Cillian's bedroom. He sat in his wheelchair, looking every bit the tyrannical emperor.

​"Do you know why I'm keeping you around?" Cillian asked, his eyes scrutinizing her pale, stubborn face.

​"I suppose I'm still useful," Elena whispered. "What can my worthless life do for you, Mr. Thorne? I won't resist anymore, as long as you spare my family."

​The True Objective: The Codes

​Cillian's eyes flashed with a hint of appreciation. She was smart.

"Help me get something, and I'll release you and your relatives. There is a set of encryption codes hidden within the chip you brought as a dowry. Your father, Jason Vance, is the only one who knows how to unlock it. Get those codes from him, and you're free."

​Elena hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."

​"Now," Cillian commanded, extending his arms slightly. "Go to the closet. Get me a shirt and change me."

​Elena didn't dare refuse. She walked into the closet, fetched a crisp shirt, and leaned in close. With trembling, slender fingers, she began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time...

Aside from that one night in the hotel, Elena Vance had never been this close to a man before. As she stood in the dim light of the bedroom, she couldn't help but blush. With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned Cillian Thorne's shirt, helping him ease it off his shoulders.

​As the fabric fell away, Elena was stunned. Cillian's upper body was perfectly sculpted broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and beautifully defined muscles. Wasn't he supposed to be disabled? she wondered. How could a man who doesn't walk stay in such incredible shape?

​As she reached to clear the last sleeve, her gaze caught a glimpse of a dark blue tattoo on his shoulder blade. The intricate design looked hauntingly familiar, but before she could place it, Cillian turned. Seeing her staring at his bare skin, and caught by the sweet, milky fragrance she emitted, a primal impulse surged through him.

​Cillian's eyes darkened. He abruptly lunged forward, pulling her body flush against his and kissing her deeply.

​The taste of her lips and the scent of her breath were a perfect match for his memories. Elena was taken aback, her heart hammering against her ribs. Realizing what was happening, she desperately tried to push him away, but Cillian was far stronger. He held her shoulders, his breathing growing heavy and domineering.

​"Cillian... what are you doing...?" Elena's plea was broken as he forced her into a deeper embrace. His hand slid beneath her shirt, touching the smooth, slender skin of her waist. So smooth... just like that night...

​Elena felt her top being pulled up, and in a moment of pure desperation, she bit his tongue!

​The sharp pain snapped Cillian back to reality. He pulled away, the haze of lust replaced by a flash of regret. This was Elena Vance the "promiscuous substitute" not the innocent girl he had been searching for. Disgust at his own lack of control flared, and he instinctively shoved her away.

​"Thump!"

​Cillian hadn't moderated his strength. Elena hit the floor with a violent crash. Almost immediately, a sharp, stabbing pain radiated through her lower abdomen. She looked at Cillian in shock, her face turning the color of paper. Then, she felt it a warm, terrifying trickle flowing from her body.

​My baby... please, not the baby...

​"Call a doctor," Elena gasped, crawling toward his feet and clutching his pant leg. "Please... I'm in pain..."

​Cillian looked down and froze. A pool of bright red was spreading across the carpet. Elena's eyes rolled back as she lost consciousness.

​A strange, sharp pang struck Cillian's heart. Without thinking, he stood up from his wheelchair his legs perfectly stable and scooped her into his arms. He didn't care that the blood was staining his expensive clothes.

​Just as he kicked open the bedroom door, Philip Woods was standing there, hand raised to knock. Philip's jaw dropped at the sight of Cillian standing.

​"Get the car ready!" Cillian barked, his expression terrifyingly cold. "If anything happens to her, we lose the password!"

​Philip stammered, "Yes, sir! But... sir, we've found the woman from that night!"

​Cillian stopped dead. "What? Where?"

​"She's downstairs, sir. She's waiting for you."

​Cillian's expression shifted. He looked at the bleeding, unconscious Elena in his arms, then abruptly placed her back into his wheelchair. "You take her to the hospital!"

​Without a backward glance, Cillian turned and headed toward the stairs.

​The Imposter Arrives

​In the living room, Cillian sat back in his wheelchair, hiding his mobility once more. He looked at the woman sitting across from him. She was beautiful, with delicate features and carefully applied makeup, but something felt... off.

​"Mr. Thorne," the woman said, her voice shy and cautious. "That night... I left a lucky charm bracelet at the hotel. I was hoping you might have found it?"

​Cillian's heart hammered. "That night... it was you?"

​The woman Daphne Vance nodded slowly. She reached up, untying the strap of her silk dress and turning her back to him.

​The next moment, under the soft glow of the chandelier, a lifelike ghost orchid birthmark appeared on her skin.

​In the hospital, Elena Vance felt waves of intense pain coursing through her body, as if someone was operating on her abdomen. She could not move, could not speak, and could not open her eyes. She felt as if she were being burned alive, unable to fully lose consciousness yet unable to wake up. Every second stretched into an eternity of torment. After what felt like forever, she finally drifted into a deep, unconscious sleep.

​When she woke up again, she found herself in a small, cramped hospital room. The sounds of chatter, children crying, and women scolding filled the air. Cillian Thorne's status could have easily afforded her a high end private room, but he had not done so. In his eyes, she did not deserve it.

​Elena woke with a start and touched her lower abdomen. A nurse was nearby, changing her IV drip. She did not ask any questions. The baby must still be there; otherwise, she would not have woken up. During lunchtime, everyone else in the ward went to the cafeteria to eat. She was alone in the room, slowly eating a bowl of the cheapest plain rice porridge because she did not have much money.

​"Elena Vance, long time no see."

​Just as she took a couple of bites, a sharp, mocking voice echoed from the doorway. Elena looked up, and her face instantly paled. It was Daphne Vance.

​It had only been a month since they last saw each other, but seeing Daphne again brought back all the memories of the bullying she had endured. Daphne's eyes sparkled with amusement as she walked towards her, step by step. Elena took a deep breath, suppressing the terrifying memories, and slowly reached for the call button on the headboard. Her eyes were cold as she glared at Daphne, saying, "This is not the ward I used to be in anymore. If I press this button, someone will kick you out. You cannot hurt me anymore."

​"Really?"

​Daphne approached her, snatched the call button from her hand, and shouted, "Elena Vance, you ran away. How dare you come back? Why did you come back?" With that, she reached out and violently knocked over the bowl of plain porridge. The porridge splattered everywhere, scalding Elena's skin. Her skin was already thin and delicate, and it turned red from the heat.

​"Daphne Vance, what is wrong with you?" Elena glared at her coldly.

​"Did you not promise me you would not come back? Why did you come back!" Daphne was furious, grabbing Elena's shoulders tightly. Elena had just woken up and did not have much strength. She only felt a sharp pain in her shoulders.

​"I did not want to come back either. It is all thanks to my dear sister and wonderful father, who insisted on marrying me off to Cillian Thorne. Do you think I wanted this?" Elena hoped to scare Daphne away by mentioning Cillian's name, but then she realized something did not add up. "Daphne, why were you so kind to let me go in the first place? And why are you so afraid of me coming back?"

​"You shameless bitch. I will beat you to death!" Daphne was even more enraged by the question and tried to drag her off the bed.

​In desperation, Elena noticed the half eaten bowl of porridge on the pillow beside her. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and threw it directly at Daphne's face.

​"Ah! It is hot! You bitch!" The scalding porridge covered Daphne's face, causing her pain and discomfort, and she screamed in shock. Daphne frantically tried to wipe off the porridge. Although the temperature was not enough to cause serious burns, it was still very hot. Moreover, her makeup was ruined. Daphne was furious and, after cleaning her face, she raised her hand to slap Elena.

​Elena dodged the blow and grabbed Daphne's hand tightly. "You better not lay a hand on me, or Cillian will not let you get away with it." With that, she forcefully pushed Daphne away.

​Daphne glared at her, her eyes filled with jealousy. "Really? You think marrying Cillian will make him help you?"

​A month ago, Daphne had let Elena go, thinking she would never return. In the days that followed, she had been closely monitoring news from the Vance family. Sure enough, Elena had never returned. Then, she began to carefully plan. She wanted to take her place. However, despite all her calculations, Cillian had found Elena himself and married her. She thought she had lost all hope, but then after returning, she learned that Cillian had no idea Elena was the woman from that night. They had not recognized each other.

​"I am his wife, of course he will help me," Elena retorted, trying to sound confident despite her nervousness. "You better get out of here right now, or when Cillian comes..."

​"Hahahaha," Daphne burst into laughter. "Elena, it has only been a month, but your bragging skills have definitely improved. Let me tell you the truth, even if I beat you to death, Cillian Thorne would only applaud. Do you know? You were almost dead before you came to the hospital, but he did not even glance at you because he wanted to see me. I am the one he loves."

​Elena's heart skipped a beat. When she was unconscious, she could feel someone holding her. It was not Cillian, so it must have been a bodyguard. Why would Cillian care if she lived or died? Besides, Cillian could not even stand up, so how could he have held her? Elena composed herself and scoffed, "Really? Then why has he not married you?"

​"You, you bitch!" Daphne, enraged, lunged at Elena, ready to fight. Elena was not about to just stand there. She slightly sidestepped and kicked Daphne.

​As soon as her foot landed, Daphne dramatically fell to the side, even bumping into the cabinet next to the hospital bed. The items on the cabinet fell with her, crashing to the ground in a very exaggerated manner. Elena frowned. She did want to kick Daphne, but she did not have that much strength.

​Just as she was wondering, a cold voice came from the doorway of the room: "Elena, what are you doing to her?"