Once I regained my consciousness, I was lying in my room where I was wrapped in a soft quilt. Fresh bandages covered the wound on my shoulder, while the gauze was clean and neatly tied. I heard movement near the door, followed by the servant’s voice.

“Miss, you’re awake? Mr. Herbert was very distressed after bringing you down from the tree yesterday. He told me to take special care of you.”

As she said, the servant pointed toward a large box beside the bed.

“Mr. Herbert also had someone deliver this this morning. It’s a wedding dress. He said it’s been altered and wanted you to try it on. Your wedding is the day after tomorrow.”

I turned my head to look. The wedding dress I had once eagerly awaited now lay before me, yet my heart felt completely cold. Without saying much, I threw off the quilt and climbed out of bed. I didn’t even spare the dress another glance as I walked straight toward the door.

As I stepped into the hallway, Adeline appeared, walking toward me. The moment she saw me, she froze. Her eyes were flashing with disdain and mockery.

“Well, well, Lilian. You really are something! You were hanging from a tree yesterday, but now you’ve somehow made Brian feel sorry for you? What’s your plan now? Seduce him in a wedding dress and ruin our marriage? I-”

I cut her off as I flatly said, “I don’t care about the wedding dress. I’ll give it to you. I have no interest in fighting you for Brian. You’ll be the one marrying him, not me.”

Adeline was frozen by my words, completely caught off guard.

Ignoring her, I continued past her without a backward glance. My body was still weak, but I forced myself down the stairs step by step and pushed open the mansion’s front door. A cool breeze brushed against my face, clearing my head.

Brian’s empty gestures and fake concern meant nothing to me now. What I needed wasn’t to stay in this suffocating house. It was to prepare to leave in two days.

And to make sure that everyone who had hurt me paid the price.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my trusted friends.

[In two days, release all the evidence to every major media outlet. Immediately block the Wyatt and Herbert families’ critical technology.]

I made a promise to myself, ‘To the Wyatt Family and the Herbert Family, I will make you pay!’

Before I could put my phone back into my pocket, a hand suddenly clamped over my mouth and nose from behind. A strong, pungent smell filled my nostrils. My vision spun and went black.

When I woke again, I was tied to a cold iron chair in a dark, damp room. In the corner, Adeline was tied up as well as she softly sobbed. Before I could even process what was happening, a tall man with a scar across his face walked toward us.

He casually picked up a phone, dialed a number and turned on the speaker.

“Mr. Herbert, come now if you want to save your woman.”

Ten minutes later, Brian burst into the room. Panic flashed in his eyes as he looked at Adeline and me. And then the scar-faced man toyed with a dagger as he showed a cruel smile on his face.

“I heard one of them is your fiancée. Here’s a game for you. Choose one.”

Brian froze, his mouth opening but no words coming out. His hesitation filled the air like poison.

“I … ” he stammered.

“Stop wasting time!” the kidnapper barked impatiently.

The man grabbed both Adeline and me by the neck, cutting off our air. Our breathing turned frantic and shallow.

“Brian! I’m scared! It hurts so much! Please, save me!”

Adeline’s screams were high-pitched and desperate, echoing in the cold room. Brian’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His eyes darted between us, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

Finally, he spoke with a trembling voice, “I choose to save Adeline!”

After Brian chose Adline, the scarred man yanked me forward by my hair and shoved me into a deep pool nearby. The icy water swallowed me whole. My lungs screamed for air. It suffocated me, making me tremble.

Once. Twice. I was dragged up only to be shoved back under until my consciousness began to fade. Finally, they pulled me out and dumped me onto the cold, wet floor. I gasped desperately, coughing and choking, trying to breathe.

The man laughed cruelly as he said, “Mr. Herbert, you really are decisive.”

Before I could recover, the kidnappers dragged both Adeline and me to two large sealed iron cages.

“Mr. Herbert, it’s time to choose again. Who should we pick this time?” the scar-faced man lazily asked.

Brian’s eyes flicked to Adeline. Her face was pale, but her eyes fixed on him that were full of hope.

“I choose Adeline!” he shouted firmly.

The kidnapper smirked, unlocked one of the cages and shoved me inside instead. The iron door slammed shut with a loud clang. The dark, cramped space closed in around me, making it hard to breathe.

I curled up in the corner, my whole body shaking.

My voice cracked as I called out softly, “Brian … ”

But outside, there was only Adeline’s sobbing and Brian’s gentle words as he comforted her. Only after a long time did he remember me. His voice turned impatient as he spoke, “Name your price. Don’t hurt Lilian again.”

The scar-faced man laughed mockingly before he responded, “Wonderful! One hundred million. That’s enough to buy one life. So, Mr. Herbert … who do you want to save?”

Brian’s answer was sharp and quick.

“Don’t touch her. Redeem Adeline.”

He practically shouted the words.

Meanwhile, I leaned weakly against the cold bars as Adeline was untied. She threw herself into his arms as she cried dramatically while I was too exhausted even to curse. Brian then lifted her carefully and looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Lilian, your sister is fragile. I’ll take her first. Wait here. I’ll transfer the money and come back for you.”

He didn’t wait for me to reply. Without another glance, he left carrying Adeline. The scar-faced man crouched in front of my cage and kicked my leg casually.

“Your fiancé is really devoted to her, huh?”

I realized that I was coughing blood, but I forced myself to sit up straighter as I looked at the man coldly.

My voice was steady as I asked him, “How much would it cost to save my life? I’ll pay you double whatever Adeline gave.”

The man froze for a moment, then his lips curled into a grin. As I suspected, these men were indeed people ordered by Adeline. He quickly stopped with his act, boldly saying, “Your sister wants you dead. But we only care about the money.”

My hands shook as I pulled out my cracked phone. I called a trusted friend and wired two hundred million on the spot. The kidnappers checked the transfer, then cut the ropes around my wrists.

I walked out without looking back, hailed the first taxi I saw and headed straight to the airport.

Right before boarding, my phone buzzed. One billion appeared in my account. A message from my friend followed.

[Brian was fooled. Two days later, their stocks would crash and they would lose their critical technologies.]

I stared at my phone screen. A faint smile tugged at my lips. It began.

Meanwhile, Brian had rushed back to find me after sending Adeline to the hospital. But Adeline clung to his arm to stop him.

“Mum and Dad just called. They said they already rescued my sister and took her home. If you leave now, I’ll be all alone.”

Brian couldn’t help but feel irritated with the crying Adeline. He kept recalling my last cold, distant look. It left behind a strange unease in his chest.

However, Adeline kept talking, “Mum said Lilian’s resting. And you’re marrying her tomorrow, remember? It’s bad luck to see the bride the day before the wedding. You’ll see her tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

It was only after Adeline told Brian that I was safe and sound that he exhaled slowly. He told himself that he would make everything up to me tomorrow and for the rest of our lives.

The next day, the wedding was everywhere in the news. Everyone was talking about the grand union between the Wyatt and Herbert families, calling it the wedding of the century.

Brian stood at the altar, excitement lighting up his face as he saw the bride walking toward him in a sea of flowers. He rushed forward and pulled “me” into his arms.

“Lilian, I missed you so much!” he said warmly.

But then the bride turned around. Brian’s entire body froze. With a shocked expression, Brian angrily asked, “Adeline, why are you here? Where’s Lilian?”