Behind me, the laughter grew louder.

“Lily Anderson, you think you can just walk away after offending our Ethan? Not a chance.”

I tried the door, but it had been locked from the outside. The gala beyond was still in full swing, and the organizers hadn’t even noticed anything unusual in here.

My expression turned cold.

With my current status, I had no need to personally attend an event of this level.

I was here today only because the host had once done my adoptive mother a favor, so I showed up out of courtesy.

I never expected to run into such a pack of lowlifes.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

I turned toward Ethan, my voice like ice.

“Tell your people to open the door.”

He gave a mocking laugh, his expression smug—exactly like five years ago.

“Lily, it’s not every day we get to see each other. How can you leave after just a few words?”

“And you haven’t even settled the score for what you just said to my girlfriend.”

“You’d just walk away? Wouldn’t Sophia’s little pearl necklace have been lost for nothing?”

Sophia nestled pitifully into his arms, and Ethan clearly played the part of defending her honor.

“Since you’re here, don’t think about leaving so easily.”

Around us, the room buzzed with taunting voices.

“Sophia Brooks is the face of the Brooks family—the true heiress. Even with a boyfriend, she’s cherished, born to a life of privilege. Not like some barnyard stray, destined to be thrown out of her home.”

“And as for a certain illegitimate woman—so what if she’s got Brooks blood? She was kicked out five years ago, wasn’t she?”

“In three days, it’s Miss Brooks’ engagement party. And Lily? She probably won’t even have a man to show up with.”

“With her circumstances—no family power, no parental support—how could she possibly make it onto the social stage?”

“Exactly. She’s not even fit to carry Miss Brooks’ shoes.”

“And she had the nerve to call Miss Brooks a sparrow earlier. Well, now she’s in trouble—offending Mr. Carter. I bet she’s scared now.”

They were dressed like gentlemen, but every one of them was the type to fawn over the strong and trample the weak.

I ignored them, fixing my gaze coldly on Ethan.

“Cut to the chase—what do you really want?”

We hadn’t crossed paths in years, and I couldn’t fathom why he was so intent on making things difficult for me.

Ethan stood and stared straight at me.

“I want you to apologize to Sophia for what you said.”

Then, with deliberate slowness, he added, “On your knees.”

I gave a short, sharp laugh. “In your dreams.”

His eyes darkened with anger. “Say that again?”

“If it weren’t for an accident back then, I would be the real Sophia Brooks.

“I’ve already been more than generous by not demanding she pay me back. And you want me to apologize to a thief? Keep dreaming.”

Everyone thought Ethan would explode with rage.

They were ready to watch me make a fool of myself.

Instead, he gave a cold smile.

“Don’t want to kneel? Fine. There’s another option.”

He stepped right up to me.

“How about we make a bet? Loser strips naked and stands at the door for fifteen minutes.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by murmurs.

“Damn—it’s true. Ethan really does hate Lily Anderson.”

“If it hadn’t been for her back then, Ethan and Sophia would’ve been together already—maybe even with kids by now. Of course he hates her.”

“Still, making her strip if she loses—that’s brutal.”

“What’s the problem? She brought this on herself. Of all people to provoke, she chose Miss Brooks. Serves her right.”

I had no interest in engaging with them—much less in humoring Ethan Carter by playing some pathetic little game.

“Sorry, I don’t have time. My husband will be here to pick me up soon.”

A few people snorted in derision.

“Lily Anderson, if you can’t play, just admit it. Why bother lying?”

“Exactly. You’ve been gone for five years—how could you possibly be married? And now you claim you have a husband?”

“If you really were married, why wouldn’t you bring him to a gala like this?”

Sophia Brooks put on a mask of kindness.

“Sis, I know you’re upset and still blame me for taking Ethan, but even so, you shouldn’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.”

But I saw no need to explain myself.

In less than ten minutes, Daniel Hughes would be here anyway.

Still, my refusal to elaborate only made them press harder.

“If you’re not lying, then tell us—what’s your husband’s name? What business is he in?”

“If you make one up on the spot, we’ll know.”

Ethan took a drag from his cigarette and smirked.

“You pulled this stunt five years ago. Still trying the same trick? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

He clearly didn’t believe a word.

“I don’t care what you think. I don’t owe you proof. Open the door. If you don’t let me out, I’m calling the police.

“I’m not wasting my time on your stupid games.”

But in the next second, Ethan pulled out a small white porcelain urn.

My face instantly hardened.

“Give it back.”

I lunged to grab it, but he held it high, and I came up empty.

Looking down at me in my frustration, he slowly smiled.

“Turns out my words mean less to you than a dead person.”

“If I’d known this urn was so effective, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time talking.”

My gaze went glacial, edged with a hint of lethal intent.

“Watch your mouth.”

Years ago, though the Brooks family had publicly acknowledged me, they’d never truly accepted me.

My real family was my adoptive mother.

For my sake, she’d been willing to cut ties and send me back to the Brooks family to live as their heiress.

Sophia was her biological daughter, but she had no interest in poverty—and never even met her real mother.

To hide the truth, they’d staged a whole act, even hiring someone to hit her with a car and leave her in a coma.

The Brooks family was as laughable as Ethan—

Thinking I’d been desperate for the title of “real heiress” and eager to return home for it.

They couldn’t have been more wrong.

Back then, my adoptive mother was paralyzed, later slipping into a vegetative state.

The Brooks family came to the hospital and threatened me—

If I agreed to return to them, they’d bring in the best specialists from abroad, no matter the cost.

If I refused, they’d let her die, claiming she could suffer brain death at any time.

That was the only reason I agreed to an arranged marriage with Ethan.

But after my adoptive mother died, I had no reason to marry him—and no desire for the Brooks title.

Seeing my expression turn to stone, Ethan smiled with satisfaction.

“Then agree to play.

“If you win, I’ll give the urn back.”

I shut my eyes briefly, then asked flatly, “What’s the bet?”

His gaze locked on mine, and he spoke slowly.

“I bet that within five minutes… you’ll kiss me.”

The moment Ethan Carter said it, the entire room froze. Even Sophia Brooks stared at him in shock.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Ethan… what did you just say? Why would you want her to kiss you?

“Have you… not gotten over her after all these years?”

She bit her lip hard and turned to glare at me, a flicker of hatred in her gaze.

Ethan soothed her with a look full of feigned tenderness.

“Sophia, of course not.

“Back then, she ran away from our engagement party, humiliating me in front of everyone. I’ve carried that shame for five years—now I’m finally getting my revenge.”

He gently moved her aside and stepped toward me.

In full view of everyone, he pointed at his own cheek.

“Come on—just one kiss, and the urn is yours.”

The onlookers smirked and exchanged knowing looks, relishing the scene.

“If Lily Anderson actually kisses him, she’ll never survive in this circle again.”

“She’s such an obedient little lapdog—I wonder if she’d agree to spend the night with me if I asked.”

“Ha, trash like her isn’t hard to get. She’s probably easy for anyone.”

…

My fist clenched so tightly my knuckles ached, and then I slammed it into Ethan’s face.

“Here’s your kiss!”

Disgusting, pathetic scum—

I wouldn’t take him if someone paid me.

He hadn’t expected it, and the punch sent blood gushing from his nose.

The room erupted into chaos. I tossed my bag aside and headed for the door, but hands grabbed at me from all directions.

Ethan, one hand pressed to his bleeding nose, pointed at me with the other, his voice sharp with rage.

“Get her!

“She dared hit me—teach her a lesson she won’t forget!”

A mob surged forward. They clawed at my dress, and with a sharp rip, the million-dollar gown Daniel Hughes had given me tore open at the seam.

My gaze turned icy.

“Get your filthy hands off me. You couldn’t repay this dress if we sold you for parts.”

They only laughed louder, ignoring my warning. Blows began to rain down—fists, slaps—until I was buried in a haze of dull, numbing pain.

I don’t know how long it went on before Sophia stepped forward, planting her heel on my hand and grinding down hard.

Her voice dripped venom.

“Sis, weren’t you always so arrogant? Let’s see how arrogant you can be now.”

She wanted me to suffer here. Years ago, I’d beaten her so badly she’d ended up with a fractured shin. She’d never let it go.

Now her eyes gleamed with vindictive pleasure.

“Why should you be the true Brooks heiress? Why should Brooks blood run in your veins?

“If it weren’t for you, I’d be Mom and Dad’s only child!

“It’s been five years—why aren’t you dead yet?

“You should have died back then, and I wouldn’t have had to work so hard to get rid of you.”

I stared blankly at the ceiling, the corner of my lips curling into a cold smile.

So this was it—

All the hardships, the close calls, the trucks swerving toward me out of nowhere…

It wasn’t bad luck. Someone had been trying to kill me all along.

If I hadn’t been careful, I’d have been crushed into pulp long ago.

Sophia pressed down harder, and I felt the sharp crack of bones breaking in my hand.

Suddenly, there was a violent pounding on the door.

“Miss Brooks! Mr. Carter!”

“Open the door now—what are you doing in there?”