During a family dinner, the older relatives smiled and encouraged Dylan Jenkin and me to sit together.

But once I sat down, he casually turned away and settled beside my stepsister, Ivy Langford.

One of the elders said teasingly, “Aren’t you and Nina joined at the hip? We thought you two might make it official today. Why aren’t you sitting together?”

Dylan chuckled and poured Ivy a cup of tea.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Nina and I are just close friends,” he said with calm and casual ease.

His gaze swept over me without a hint of affection. Then, he turned to Ivy beside him. His voice grew gentler as he said, “I’ve always liked girls like Ivy.”

Laughter echoed around the table, yet a chill settled into my heart.

No one knew that we had been secretly dating for three years. After countless nights in each other’s arms, he reassured me that he would tell the family about us once his older brother had a girlfriend. He said they might see his brother as irresponsible and immature if he revealed his relationship first.

I finally saw the truth behind those excuses: he simply did not love me.

I forced a smile and nodded along with his words. “Yes, we’re just friends.”

Dylan exhaled in relief. He was clearly pleased with my response.

He had no idea that I was not actually playing along. With those final words, I stopped holding on and gave up on our secret relationship.

Dylan Jenkin’s mother, Meredith Jenkin, glanced at me and sighed softly.

“Nina’s a good girl. It’s my own son who’s missing out.”

She had always treated me kindly because she was grateful that I had saved Dylan four years ago when he fell into a lake.

That incident had brought our working-class family into contact with their wealthy and powerful family.

But I wished I had never saved him at all.

Dylan scoffed.

“What’s so good about her?” His eyes slid over me in disdain.

“Mom, you’re being fooled by her looks.

“She appears gentle and quiet, but she’s nothing like that in private. She drinks more than I do and goes to nightclubs.

“Ivy, unlike her, is truly innocent and sweet. She never mixes with the wrong crowd.”

Those words made my heart sink.

I once drank until I ended up with a bleeding stomach because Dylan had provoked a thug who threatened to break his leg.

I had gone to beg the thug for mercy, but he forced me to drink three full bottles of hard liquor before he agreed to let the matter go.

As for the nightclub, I worked there part-time to earn money for a pair of limited-edition collaboration sneakers that Dylan wanted for his birthday.

In his eyes, every sacrifice I had made for him had become flaws that he despised.

Ivy Langford blinked innocently as she said, “I’m so envious of Nina! She gets along with every guy so naturally. I get so shy around boys that I can’t even look them in the eye.”

My stepmother, Sheila Langford, quickly backed her up.

“That’s right! Whenever Nina picks on Ivy, I always tell Ivy not to take it to heart. Nina’s never been very thoughtful with her words or actions.”

The two of them sang the same tune so perfectly that Meredith’s opinion of me gradually changed.

The rest of the Jenkin family began whispering among themselves and quietly labeled me troublesome.

Dylan knew the truth, yet he did not say a single word in my defense.

My heart ached as though I had been stabbed with a knife.

Unable to endure it any longer, I shot up from the table.

“I’m sorry. I don’t feel well, so I’ll take my leave. Please continue without me.”

I had barely turned around when I collided with a broad, firm chest.

I looked up and met a pair of cold eyes.

It was Adrian Jenkin, Dylan’s older brother.

He loomed over me.

“You’re leaving as soon as I arrive. Do you hate me that much?”

My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively stepped back.

Dylan had told me repeatedly that Adrian disliked me very much.

Because of that, he never dared to make our relationship public.

I had believed him and had always kept my distance from Adrian.

This was the first time I had stood so close to Adrian. I looked at Dylan, silently pleading for help.

But Dylan was focused on peeling crawfish and feeding them to Ivy. He looked tenderly at her.

A rush of anger surged through me.

I clenched my fists and smiled at Adrian.

“How could I hate you? I always liked someone like you. You’re steady and dependable.”

The moment I finished speaking, I heard a glass shatter. It was Dylan.

He shot up from his seat with his eyes blazing in fury.

“Mom, you can all carry on. We’ll step out for a bit.”

With that, he grabbed me with one hand and Ivy with the other before storming out.

Once we were outside, Dylan threw me into the back seat of his sports car.

Before I could react, he floored the accelerator, and the car shot forward.

The speed slammed me back against the seat.

I had a heart condition, so I panicked. My voice shook as I said, “Dylan, slow down!”

He struck the steering wheel and roared without looking back, “You think I’m not as steady and dependable as my brother? Fine! I’ll show you how unstable I am!”

With that, he slammed the accelerator even harder, and the car shot down the expressway like an arrow released from a bow.

I was tossed back and forth inside the car. My head repeatedly struck the door and the seat until I was close to passing out from pain.

I had no idea how long it lasted before the car suddenly stopped.

The moment the door opened, I collapsed onto the ground and vomited uncontrollably. I was in a sorry state.

Ivy walked over to me.

“Are you okay, Nina? I’m sorry! It’s all my fault. I plan to intern at the Jenkin Group after my graduation. So, Dylan was helping me make a good impression on Mrs. Jenkin today. It was just a favor. Didn’t he tell you?”

She turned with tearful eyes toward Dylan. She looked hurt.

“Dylan, why didn’t you tell Nina? Are you trying to drive a wedge between us? How are we supposed to get along now?”

Dylan pulled her close and soothed her in a gentle voice.

“It’s okay… Don’t cry. I didn’t expect her to be so out of sync with me.”

Ivy pushed him away with a pouty face before crouching down again. She pretended to help me up.

The next second, she fell right on top of me.

Before I could even cry out in pain, she screamed, “Ow!!! Nina, why did you pull me so suddenly? I was only trying to help you!”

Dylan walked over without hesitation and kicked me.

“Nina Surridge, are you out of your mind?!”

I lay on the ground. I gasped for air and trembled in pain. I could not form a single word in my defense.

All I could do was stare at them in desperation and mouth the words with all my strength. “My heart… I don’t feel well… Please… Help me…”

Ivy nestled into Dylan’s chest and sobbed quietly.

“Dylan hates liars, Nina. Faking a condition to make him feel guilty won’t work.”

Her words only fueled Dylan’s rage.

“Nina, you, of all people, have now learned to be so fake and manipulative!

“Stay here and think about what you did! When you’re done, book a hotel room nearby and wait for me. Tonight, I’ll teach you how to behave properly.”

With that, he held Ivy in his arms, got into the car, and sped off without looking back.

The pain in my chest worsened until my vision darkened.

Then, everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

I turned to find Adrian sitting by the bed. He was working away on his laptop.

Without even looking up, he said flatly, “You’re awake.”

I quickly looked away. I felt flustered.

“H-How long was I out?”

Adrian shut his laptop and handed me a glass of water.

“Since yesterday afternoon… It’s been sixteen hours.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Your family called. They said they had something to take care of and would visit later.”

I took the glass of water. My eyes stung, and I let out a bitter chuckle.

He was lying.

Ever since Dad had brought Sheila and Ivy into our home a year ago, I had become invisible to everyone in the family.

Once, I fainted from low blood sugar right in front of Dad, but he barely spared me a glance before leaving with Sheila and Ivy for shopping.

I knew no one cared enough to come to see me.

I forced out a smile and looked at Adrian. “Thank you.”

He offered a quiet hum. “It’s what a boyfriend is supposed to do.”

I froze.

Adrian met my gaze.

“You mentioned yesterday that you liked someone like me. So… let’s try dating.”

I waved my hands in panic. “I-I’m sorry! I really wasn’t thinking straight yesterday! Dylan and I are actually—”

“Does anyone know you’re together?” He cut me off. “Has anyone ever acknowledged your relationship?”

My words died in my throat. I could not get anything out.

“If a relationship isn’t known to anyone, I don’t see it as one. I need someone to marry just so that my family will stop pressuring me. Just think about it.”

With that, he picked up his laptop from the table and left the hospital room without sparing me another look.

I sat on the hospital bed. My mind was still in a daze.

Before I could process anything, the door suddenly swung open.

Dad and Sheila stormed in angrily. Dylan followed right behind them.

Dad slapped me hard across the face.

“What did I ever do to end up with a daughter like you?! You’re worse than an animal!”

Sheila threw herself forward. She cried and thumped her chest.

“Nina, if you really hate me and Ivy so much, just tell us honestly! Your dad and I can get a divorce. How could you do something so vicious and send someone to hurt her?!”

I touched my smarting cheek in confusion and disbelief.

“What are you talking about? I’ve been here since yesterday afternoon…”

Dylan rushed over and grabbed me by the throat.

“Stop faking it! I was just doing Ivy a favor. Did you really have to go this far? I can’t believe you sent thugs to assault her!”

I shook my head frantically. “It wasn’t me… I-I really didn’t…”

In a fit of rage, Dylan shoved me. I fell sideways, and the back of my head struck the corner of the bedside table.

Warm blood oozed down my forehead.

Dylan froze for a moment before instinctively reaching out toward me.

Just then, Ivy entered the ward in a hospital gown. Her face was very pale. She dropped to her knees in front of me.

“Nina, please, just stop this! I know you love Dylan. I’ll disappear from your lives right away and never return. Will that be enough?”

Dad quickly pulled her to her feet. He looked upset.

He turned and shot me a vicious glare.

“Ivy’s already lost her dad. How could you treat her like this? Are you even human? I wish I had never had a daughter like you!”

“But I lost my mom, too!”

I let out a bitter chuckle as I wiped away the blood and tears that ran down my face.

“And now… I guess I’ve lost my dad as well.”

Dad raised his hand again to strike me, but Dylan grabbed his arm.

“Sir, that’s enough! Don’t hit her.”

He then looked at me. His tone grew noticeably softer as he said, “How about this? Apologize to Ivy and swear you won’t hurt her again, and we’ll consider this settled.”

Sheila quickly chimed in, “Dylan’s single. What’s so wrong if Ivy likes him? It’s not like she’s stealing your boyfriend. Don’t be so vicious!”