Chapter 1

"Stop the surgery. Tell all the specialists to wait outside."

The doctor, who had just put on his gloves, hesitated, urgency in his voice. "Mr. Spencer, Miss Hayes's burns are too severe. Her throat were damaged by the smoke. If we don't operate immediately, she'll not only become mute, but her face and skin will be completely ruined. If we delay further, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

Hearing this, my mother felt a pang of guilt. "Ethan, Riley is so badly injured, she definitely can't participate in modeling competition tomorrow. Why not just let her have the surgery... she is my daughter after all..."

Ethan coldly interrupted her, his tone unwavering. "Let it be ruined. In her current state, even with surgery, she can't get back on the runway. With her vain and selfish personality, if she can't win the championship, she'll sabotage Chloe. Only by leaving her half-dead can we stop her from hurting Chloe. I'm doing this to temper her character—for her own good."

He took a moist cotton swab and gently applied it to my cracked lips.

Yet, his next words were like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into my heart.

"I promised Chloe that the modeling championship would be hers alone. I won't let anyone stand in her way."

My mother sighed softly, immediately instructing the doctor, "Just give my daughter something for the pain. For her burns, just do a simple disinfection. Be careful, don't hurt her too much."

Her voice was gentle, as if trying to comfort me, but I felt no warmth. No one noticed my whole body trembling, as if pierced by an unexpected blade, the pain almost suffocating.

So, the fire wasn't an accident.

It was deliberately planned by this man I'd loved for years. He did all this just to clear the way for Chloe by removing me as an obstacle.

What made me more desperate was that even my mother, who had always cherished me, was an accomplice.

They stood outside the door, ignoring my desperate cries for help from just the other side, relieved that I was finally ruined.

The pain of betrayal by my closest loved ones was far more excruciating than my physical burns.

Pain spread from my chest, my throat feeling like it was being cut. I violently coughed up blood.

Seeing this, my mother hurriedly reached out, only to find there was nowhere on my body she could touch.

She cried with red eyes, her voice trembling, "Baby, Mom's here. Does it hurt? Don't be afraid, Mom will always be with you."

Her tears fell, her tone full of heartache, but I only found it ironic. Her companionship was no longer the warmth of the past but made me more acutely aware that I had been completely abandoned.

Ethan stood aside, his face dark. Suddenly, he roared in anger, "Where are the dermatologists? If anything happens to my wife, your hospital can forget about staying open!"

The doctor, who had clearly been briefed, stammered an explanation. "Mr. Spencer, we're pushing them, but...there was a traffic accident. The roads are blocked. The earliest they can arrive is...tomorrow."

Ethan kicked him out. "Get out."

His anger seemed to be for me, but I knew that this was all part of his carefully scripted drama. He never cared about me, only whether his plan would proceed smoothly.

Turning back, he crouched in front of me with a face full of remorse, his tone so gentle it almost broke my heart. "Babe, I'm sorry. It's my fault for coming too late, making you suffer so much. Don't worry, whatever it costs, I'll heal your skin and face, let you stand on the runway again."

I stared numbly at his masterful acting, trying to calm my emotions. "Can I really get better?"

"You can, trust me, you definitely can."

His empty promises made me feel like a fool.

This man who had promised to love me forever, from school uniforms to wedding dresses, was now using one lie after another to push me to the edge, all to eliminate me as an obstacle for Chloe.

And my mother, who had treasured me since childhood, ultimately chose to stand with Chloe, pushing me into the abyss for that hypocritical adopted sister.

In that moment, I wanted to ask them why—why were they being so cruel to me?

But all my words died in my increasingly cold heart, never to be spoken.

Several doctors approached with disinfectants, looking at my horrific burns with pity and sympathy. "Miss Hayes, the dermatologists haven't arrived yet. We can only do a simple disinfection for now. Please bear with it."

The moment the disinfectant touched my skin, excruciating pain swept through my body. It felt like being thrown back into the flames.

My fragile blood vessels burst, and the bed was soaked with my blood mixed with discharge from my wounds.

Seeing this, my mother covered her mouth tightly, sobbing and trembling.

Ethan's eyes were red, his clenched fists white at the knuckles, as if he couldn't bear to see me suffering like this.

Their concern seemed so real.

Only I knew it was all fake.

Only the lies and the harm were real.

When I woke up again, it was two days later.

From outside my hospital room, I heard Ethan and my mother talking, pushing me further into the abyss.

Chapter 2

"Ethan, Riley's condition is already so serious. We've delayed her treatment for two days. Do we really need to give her that experimental psychiatric medication?"

"The doctor said this drug hasn't been fully tested. It may cause side effects, such as epilepsy or even incontinence."

My mother's voice was hesitant: "But... isn't this too cruel to her?"

After a few seconds of silence, Ethan's tone was cold and resolute.

"That's exactly the side effect we want. Today is Chloe's celebration party. Many influential fashion industry leaders will be there. Riley is already ruined, a little more humiliation won't make a difference. Only when she's completely lost her dignity will she stop competing with Chloe. After tomorrow, I'll announce our marriage—my compensation to her."

Then he carefully instructed, "Mom, have those specialist doctors wait outside the villa. As soon as the celebration ends, they can treat Riley."

My mother agreed repeatedly.

Lying in the hospital bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling, silent tears sliding down my cheeks.

They stung the festering wounds on my face with excruciating pain.

But this pain was not even a fraction of what I felt in my heart.

The two people closest to me knew that I had been sickly since childhood and had put in countless efforts and endured so much hardship to become a model.

Yet with a few casual words, they destroyed my lifelong dream.

If I had known the truth earlier, if I had known this would be my fate, I would rather have died in that fire.

The door to my room opened, and Ethan walked in. Seeing I was awake, his face immediately filled with tenderness.

He handed me two pills, "Babe, I just asked the doctor. This is a new painkiller the hospital developed. No side effects at all. It will make you feel much better. Come on, take it."

I lowered my gaze to look at the two bright red pills, my throat feeling like it contained rust.

I spoke hoarsely, my voice weak, "Ethan, the medicine is too bitter. I don't want to take it."

Ethan hesitated for only two seconds before smiling gently, lightly squeezing my hand, his tone tinged with heartache: "Seeing you suffer every day hurts me too. Can you bear to see your husband suffer like this? Honey, just think of it as showing me some mercy, okay?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already placed the pills at my lips, his movements gentle but unyielding.

"Honey, let me help you."

The pills were half-pushed, half-placed into my mouth, his actions somewhat forceful, giving me no chance to refuse.

A sticky bitterness spread through my mouth, and I felt dizzy.

Ethan seized the opportunity to hold my hand, "Babe, today is Chloe's celebration party. Her greatest wish is to have your approval. If you don't attend, people will think you're narrow-minded and can't accept your adopted sister..."

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the despair in my heart. Softly, I said, "I'll go. Please prepare some clothes for me."

His face immediately showed satisfaction, as if everything was under his control.

I knew, Ethan had prepared everything and wouldn't give me any chance to refuse.

Since that was the case, there was no point in saying anything more.

Just then, my mother pushed open the door. Hearing that I had agreed to attend the celebration party, her face immediately filled with smiles, her tone full of relief.

"Good girl, Mom knew you'd understand what's important."

"After Chloe's celebration is over, Mom will personally host your wedding with Ethan, give you a grand, beautiful ceremony."

I numbly withdrew my hand, my heart as cold as ashes.

All of this means nothing to me anymore.

The car soon arrived at the villa.

Just as I was helped out of the car, countless camera flashes suddenly swarmed towards me.

The blinding lights instinctively made me lower my head. I reached for my mother's hand in panic but grabbed nothing.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her walking away quickly with her arm around Chloe, not even giving me a glance.

Pale-faced, I held tightly onto the hat, trying to hide my fire-ravaged face.

But the reporters weren't about to let me go. Sharp questions bombarded me one after another:

"Miss Hayes, we heard you were afraid your sister would win the modeling competition, so you deliberately set a fire to burn her to death, but ended up suffering the consequences yourself. Is that true?"

"Miss Hayes, how can someone as vicious as you dare come to your sister's celebration party? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

"Miss Hayes, you're so good at strutting on the runway, why would you be afraid of losing to your sister? Is it because your sugar daddies are unsatisfied?"

Before the words faded, a reporter suddenly reached out and knocked the hat off my head.

Instantly, gasps rose in unison.

A face ravaged by fire was exposed to the cameras.

"My God, that's disgusting. Is this some kind of monster?"

"I'm going to be sick. It's so fucking ugly. Like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!"

My heart raced, and my vision blurred. I could barely stand.

But they went even further, setting up several phones at once to start a live broadcast.

"Famous model Riley Hayes, with her despicable character and vicious nature, deliberately set a fire to burn her sister, but suffered the consequences. They say there's not a patch of good skin left on her body. Let's witness firsthand the consequences of evil deeds!"

Someone started pushing me, and I fell to the ground.

The loose clothes on my body tore easily.

Arms exposed, thighs exposed, waist and abdomen... all my burned skin exposed to the cameras.

I cried hoarsely through my broken voice, but no one paid attention.

Suddenly, my limbs began to shake uncontrollably.

My whole body convulsed as if being electrocuted.

Chapter 3

The reporters pulling at me seemed to discover a new continent, excitedly shouting, "She's having a seizure! This is gold! Quick, get close-ups, it's all material!"

I rolled my eyes in agony, white foam continuously flowing from the corners of my mouth, my body convulsing uncontrollably.

I knew the drug was taking effect, but there was nothing I could do.

Like a stripped clown, I let them tear my dignity to shreds.

Suddenly, someone let out a surprised cry.

"Ahem!"

A warm liquid flowed from beneath me, and the air was instantly filled with a foul smell.

The immense shame made me unable even to cry. I wished I could die right there.

While they continued to curse and humiliate me, camera flashes frantically targeted my lower body. I was like a dead dog, without the strength to struggle.

"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to take pictures?"

Ethan burst angrily from the crowd, snatched the camera from the lead reporter, and smashed it violently to the ground. "Get out, all of you!"

My mother hurriedly rushed over with a coat, hastily wrapping it around me as tears of heartbreak streamed down her face. "Where are the security guards? Are you all dead? Why were reporters allowed to sneak into the celebration? Pack your things and get out, all of you!"

Chloe stood to the side, covering her mouth, pretending to be heartbroken as she exclaimed, "You're too much! How could you treat my sister like this? None of the photos you took of my sister having a seizure and... wetting herself are to be published, understand?"

So disgusting.

Truly disgusting.

You wanted the championship, wanted all the love for Chloe, I could have given it all to you.

But why did you have to do this to me?

Why did you have to completely destroy me this way?

I was barely conscious as Ethan crouched in front of me, tightly holding my hands, his tone full of guilt. "Babe, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for not protecting you. Don't worry, from now on I won't let you suffer the slightest grievance. We'll get married right away, okay?"

I wanted to say no.

But the metallic taste rising in my throat erupted first.

Blood splattered all over Ethan, his pupils suddenly contracting, his face instantly turning pale.

Before darkness claimed my consciousness, I heard him and my mother frantically calling for doctors: "Quick! Save her!"

"She was already severely injured, and treatment was delayed too long. Plus, she took an overdose of psychiatric medication and her internal organs are severely damaged. The surgery has only a thirty percent chance of success." The doctor's voice was calm and grave.

Ethan's voice trembled, nearly out of control. "How could this happen? I don't care, if you can't save my wife, you'll pay with your lives!"

Tears fell on the back of my hand as he sobbed, "Babe, we promised to be together forever. You can't leave me alone..."

My mother knelt on the ground, crying and begging the doctor, "Please, you must save my daughter. Whatever it costs, even if you have to take my life in exchange..."

I closed my eyes heavily. Dying like this wouldn't be so bad.

When I woke up again, I was back in my own room.

Faint conversation drifted in from the doorway.

"Mom, are you going to transfer all of Dad's inheritance to me? Will my sister be upset?" Chloe's voice carried a hint of probing, yet couldn't hide her glee.