Chapter 1

"Forget it—I'll marry him!" Penelope felt a sense of relief as soon as she said those words.

Her parents' laughter filled her ears. "It's good that you've figured things out, Penny. Although that fiancé of yours has been in a coma for years, he's still a handsome, capable guy. He'd be taking over their family business if he regained consciousness someday."

There wouldn't be any other parents in this world that would persuade their daughter to marry a comatose man—they were even acting as if she got a good deal.

Penelope smiled mockingly as she replied, "Don't worry, I won't take back my word on marrying him. I won't let your beloved adopted daughter marry on my behalf."

Her father, Robert Carter, said, "What are you talking about? You're our biological daughter, but it's true that we're reluctant to part with Sab. Besides, you know that both Patrick and Gabriel like Sab—it's just not right to marry her off."

Her mother, Camila Reed, continued, "The Lamberts are currently preparing for the wedding now. You should start packing up, Penny. They will send someone to take you to Jendale in two weeks."

They replied perfunctorily before ending the call.

As her phone screen dimmed, Penelope couldn't help but look at the photo on her desk.

In the photo, she was dressed in a princess crown and wearing a tiara on her head. Robert, Camila, her brother, Patrick Carter, and childhood friend, Gabriel Shaw, were surrounding and looking at her affectionately.

There was a time when everyone had wanted to be Penelope Carter.

That was because they were envious of her having parents who cherished her, a brother who adored her, and a childhood friend who was completely captivated by her.

Penelope thought she would continue her life happily ever after. It wasn't until she turned eighteen that she discovered that she was bound by an arranged marriage.

It was an arrangement made by her grandfather, Henry Carter, before he passed.

However, Penelope and Gabriel had liked each other since they were young. As such, the Carters had planned to cancel this arrangement once she grew of age.

Unfortunately, her fiancé, Alexander Lambert, fell into a coma after a car accident. To avoid being labeled as heartless and untrustworthy, the Carters had no choice but to honor the engagement.

But Robert and Camila couldn't bear to send Penelope, whom they had pampered for over a decade, to care for a comatose man. They were deeply troubled by this situation.

In the end, the Carters came up with a solution—they would adopt another daughter to marry on Penelope's behalf.

That was how Sabrina Carter, who had grown up in an orphanage and had once been homeless, was brought to the Carter residence.

As the Carters felt guilty of making Sabrina take Penelope's place in marriage, they showered her with love and care as much as they could.

Robert and Camila would give her a monthly allowance of five million dollars. Patrick would buy her endless luxury goods, and Gabriel did everything he could to fulfill her requests.

Even Penelope herself gave up everything she had for Sabrina. She let Sabrina have her room and her trophies—she even donated her kidney when Sabrina had kidney failure.

What she didn't expect was Sabrina's crude character.

Sabrina had been framing and slandering Penelope after she came to live with the Carters. In just five years, Sabrina had cleverly managed to steal away everyone's attention and affection.

Both Patrick and Gabriel had fallen in love with Sabrina. Even Robert and Camila had started persuading her, implying that they couldn't bear to marry Sabrina off and suggesting that Penelope fulfill the engagement herself.

Penelope wasn't someone who would go back on her word. It was initially because she and Gabriel had liked each other, and she couldn't bear to be apart from her family.

However, since they seemed to want Sabrina to stay now, she figured she might as well go through with the marriage. After all, the arranged marriage had been hers, to begin with.

Upon recalling the date mentioned by Robert and Camila earlier, Penelope took a red pen and circled the date on the calendar two weeks from now. She wrote down the word "leaving" on the calendar before heading upstairs.

At that moment, the door to the living room opened, revealing Patrick and Gabriel. Both of them hastily got up the stairs and pushed her down before she could react.

Penelope screamed as she tumbled down the stairs. She hit her forehead hard against the floor and started bleeding.

A sharp pain shot through her torso, making her break into a cold sweat. However, the two men upstairs showed no intention of helping her up.

Instead, they took out their phones and started a video call with Sabrina. "Did you see us pushing Penny down the stairs earlier, Sab? That should make you believe that you're more important to us, right? Stop throwing a tantrum and come home, okay?"

Upon hearing their words, Penelope, who was lying in her own pool of blood, widened her eyes painfully.

She couldn't believe they would strike her out of the blue, all just to prove to Sabrina, who had run away from home, that she was more important than her to them.

On the other end of the screen, Sabrina was moved to tears. "I believe you now, Patrick, Gabriel. I'll stop throwing a tantrum and come back now!"

Both Patrick and Gabriel let out a sigh of relief upon hearing her words.

They only rushed downstairs once Sabrina had ended the call. "Are you okay, Penny? Sab was feeling insecure and wanted us to prove our feelings, so we had no choice but to do this.

"We were worried as she had thrown a tantrum and ran out alone. We're sorry you had to take the hit. We'll make it up to you later."

Penelope was in so much pain she couldn't speak. Patrick and Gabriel started to panic and were about to send her to the hospital when Sabrina suddenly called again.

She said softly, "I'm really clumsy, Patrick, Gabriel. I couldn't find my way home now!"

They immediately started to worry and rushed to pick her up as soon as the call had ended. Before they left, they remembered Penelope, who was lying on the floor. "Sab lost her way, Penny. We're worried she might be in danger, so you can go to the hospital on your own."

Just like that, Patrick and Gabriel abandoned her without hesitation.

Penelope watched helplessly as the both of them left. Amidst the excruciating pain, she struggled with all her might and dialed 911.

The wound on the back of her head continued to bleed, quickly soaking through the back of her shirt.

There was only one thought on Penelope's mind before she completely lost consciousness—there wouldn't be a "later" anymore.

Two weeks later, she would be leaving this city, completely cutting ties with everyone.

Chapter 2

It was already night time by the time Penelope regained consciousness.

A flicker of cold mockery crossed her eyes as she gazed at the empty hospital ward.

The nurse walked over with her examination report and briefly explained her condition, before informing her that she would be discharged upon settling the bills tomorrow.

As Penelope was flipping through her medical records, her phone vibrated continuously. Sabrina had been sending her messages in the form of dozens of photos, clearly showing off.

Photos of Gabriel giving her a piggyback home, Patrick in an apron as he cooked dinner for her, and both men surrounding her affectionately with many gifts littering the floor.

Her message read, "Patrick and Gabriel truly pamper me so much, Penny. I'm the happiest woman in the world!"

Penelope glanced at the messages but didn't reply to any of them.

…

After a night's rest, Penelope went home after finishing the discharge procedure.

As soon as she got back, she saw Patrick, Gabriel, and Sabrina huddling together as they watched a movie. Both men were sitting beside her, with Patrick feeding her fruits and Gabriel handing a drink to her.

Meanwhile, the large, gruesome patch of blood stain on the floor had been cleaned up. No one seemed to care about it.

Penelope tore her gaze away and quietly returned to her room. She took out a cardboard box and started tossing things into it. Once it was packed, she carried the box and walked out.

Soon, the flickering flames outside managed to catch the attention of Gabriel and Patrick

Realizing something wasn't right, they both got up and walked out. They happened to see Penelope standing in front of a large fire pit, seemingly tossing things into it.

Their hearts sank. "What are you doing, Penny?"

Penelope didn't answer them. She only took out a veil from the box and turned to Gabriel.

She said, "You gave me this when you were seven, Gabriel. You insisted on claiming me as your bride when we were playing house back then. You also gave me this veil, telling me that we'd be using this on our wedding in the future."

After that, Penelope threw it into the fire pit without hesitation. To the shock of everyone else, she then took out a bookmark with a pressed four-leaf clover from the box.

She continued, "You gave me this when you were fifteen, Patrick. Back then, I was sickly and always running a fever. You were so worried that you ran to Green Hill and spent the whole evening looking for a four-leaf clover—all just to wish for my health and safety."

After that, Penelope decisively tossed it into the fire pit once again.

She did the same for the next few items—the love letter Gabriel handed her, the glass slippers Patrick gave her, and the princess gown Gabriel gave her.

Gabriel couldn't bear watching as Penelope burned all their memories away, even the photos from when they were young.

He rushed over and grabbed her arm. "I know you're still upset about what happened yesterday, Penny, but Sab has always been insecure as an adopted child.

"She'll have to marry into the Lambert family in your place soon, and her good days are running out. You owe her all this, so why must you fight with her?"

Patrick also gave her a disappointed look. His tone was tinged with anger as he said, "You only hit your head, Penelope, but Sab is about to lose her lifetime happiness. Looks like Sab is right—you're truly spoiled to the core. You're not even half as understanding as she is."

Penelope shook her head. "No, you guys got it wrong."

Sabrina wasn't the one about to marry into the Lambert family—she was.

As the flames flickered out, scattering ashes all over the ground, Penelope turned and walked back into her room without giving any explanation.

…

Penelope was about to head out early the next morning when she saw a dozen gift boxes piled up by the door to her room. She knew they were all from Gabriel and Patrick.

In the past, whenever the both of them made her angry, they wouldn't let her stay upset until the next morning.

Patrick would stay by her door the entire night with tears in his eyes. "I won't leave as long as you don't forgive me, Penny."

Meanwhile, Gabriel would show up with many gifts, looking pitiful when he said, "If you're still angry, just hit or scold me, Penny—just don't keep it to yourself."

However, none of them showed up today. All that was left was a pile of cold, lifeless things.

Penelope no longer cared about it. She chuckled self-deprecatingly before throwing everything into the trash can.

Sabrina, who just got up, happened to see what happened. She pretended to cover her mouth in shock. "Why did you throw them away? Do you not like these freebies? I've told Patrick and Gabriel that you wouldn't like these since you have been spoiled since you were young.

"I told them to take the products they bought for me and give them to you, but they insisted for me to keep them. I'm just a lonely and pitiful adopted child, and you're the real daughter, but they've been so good to me—"

Penelope smiled slightly before saying, "Well then, congratulations—the whole house is yours from now on."

She then turned and left, ignoring Sabrina's perplexed look.

Chapter 3

Penelope went to the wishing tree during the weekend. Having heard that it was particularly effective, she decided to go and pray for Alexander Lambert, her fiancé.

She had heard that he was a remarkable man and the pride of his family. However, he had been in a coma for five years after a car accident.

Now that Penelope was set to marry Alexander, she was determined to do whatever it took to make him regain consciousness. Even if he failed to regain consciousness, she would spend the rest of her life taking care of him.

She kept her prayers in her heart throughout the journey uphill to the wishing tree. Halfway through her journey, she met Gabriel, Patrick, and Sabrina.

Both Gabriel and Patrick's legs were scruffed and bleeding from the difficult hike uphill, yet they protectively kept Sabrina between them, fearing that she might fall.

They were surprised to find Penelope there.

Sabrina teared up as she touched the wishing token that hung on her neck. She choked, "Gabriel and Patrick had heard that the wishing tree here is effective, so they insisted on coming over to pray over me. Look at their legs—"

Penelope ignored her and continued to hike up, mumbling her prayers for Alexander to regain consciousness and for him to lead a happy and peaceful life after.

The trio were shocked to see her praying so earnestly.

Patrick couldn't stand watching any longer and pulled her over. "You've been spoiled your whole life, so why are you acting like this all of a sudden?

"Are you planning to hike up all the way to the wishing tree? Unless it's for someone who saved your life, no one is worth putting so much effort into!"

Penelope chuckled and asked, "So did she save both of your lives then?"

Gabriel subconsciously retorted, "Sab is different—she's the most important person in my life."

It was funny how he had once confessed to Penelope, telling her that he only loved her alone when he was 17. Yet, Sabrina had become the most important person in his life now.

Penelope teared up laughing. "Similarly, the person I'm praying for is also the most important person in my life."

After that, she pulled her hand away and stepped aside before going on her hike once again.

Seeing Penelope's determined look, Patrick sighed and spoke in a conflicted tone, "I get it now. You're praying for me, aren't you? You can stop now—you don't need to suffer for me."

Gabriel cast a heartbroken gaze at her. "There's no need to do it for me too, Penny. Just give up."

Penelope merely glanced at them indifferently without a word before turning to face the hilltop, which seemed unreachable. She then continued to hike up while praying.

Her determined stance surprised Patrick and Gabriel. For the first time, they forgot about Sabrina and followed her.

They only reached their destination nearing the evening. Penelope struggled to walk over to the wishing tree, took a wishing token, and wrote down a name on it.

Gabriel and Patrick, who were closely following her, felt their heart clenched when they saw the initials "AL" on the wishing token.

It was neither Patrick nor Gabriel's name.

"Who's that?" Gabriel grabbed Penelope's arm just as she was about to keep the wishing token. His eyes were full of rage.

He could accept her praying for her own brother, but he couldn't tolerate any other man.

Chapter 4

Penelope couldn't understand Gabriel. He had just said that Sabrina was the most important person in his life earlier, yet he was now acting as if he was incredibly jealous.

Just as she was about to say something, Sabrina, who was standing by the side, suddenly fell down.

When they saw her falling down, Gabriel and Patrick were no longer interested in Penelope's answer. Instead, they rushed over to help Sabrina up.

Sabrina rejected their help tearfully. "Both of you are still hurt, Patrick and Gabriel. You should take care of yourselves first."

After that, she turned to Penelope and asked, "Could you help me get over there to rest for a while, Penny?"

Before Penelope could reply, Sabrina walked over and leaned her entire weight against Penelope.

Penelope instinctively wanted to pull away, but she was too weak to do so. As such, she could only let Sabrina lean against her.

Sabrina grabbed Penelope as soon as they passed through an archway. Her previously soft expression turned to one of provocation. "You don't actually think these little tricks would catch their attention, do you? Dream on!"

Penelope couldn't tell what Sabrina was up to now. Just as she was about to speak up, she saw Sabrina raise her hand and start slapping herself repeatedly.

She was even crying and saying loudly, "I'm sorry, Penny, I was wrong. Please don't hit me! I won't compete with you for Patrick and Gabriel's attention anymore. Please let me go!"

The loud commotion soon alerted Patrick and Gabriel, who were just nearby. They rushed over and saw Sabrina crying uncontrollably, her face red and swollen with clear handprints.

Enraged, Patrick lunged over and shoved Penelope away. She was too weak to resist and fell headfirst into the flowerbed. Her forehead immediately started to bleed.

Gabriel's eyes saw red as he turned to her. He snapped without thinking, "Sab suffered for many years growing up with no parents, Penny. She's only an adopted child even after she came to live with the Carters!

"You've always had everything you wanted, so why must you pick on her? I've already found out—they are already preparing for the wedding now. She'd be married off soon, so must you compete with her?

Patrick said, "You don't have to be nice to her, Gabriel. She's truly getting out of hand now."

He continued viciously, "This isn't your first time picking on Sab, Penny. We can brush it off as you didn't know better a few years back, but you still refused to leave her alone now that she's about to be married off. Why do I have a vicious sister like you?"

Penelope thought she no longer would feel anything, but she felt her chest constricting as she listened to their cursing. She felt wronged, upset, and despaired—a mixture of emotions that eventually led to her outburst.

She said, "It's not me! She was the one staging it. You can just check the surveillance records—"

Sabrina cupped her cheek and interrupted her, "My cheek stings, Patrick, Gabriel. Would my face be ruined? Also, what wedding are you talking about? Who's getting married off to where?"

Both men's expressions changed upon hearing her words. Gabriel was the first to react, immediately picking her up. "It's nothing. I'll send you to the hospital now!"

Patrick continued, "You must be hearing things, Sab. I'll get the best doctor for you so that they won't leave scars on you."

As their footsteps grew fainter, Penelope could no longer hold back her tears. She tightly gripped the wishing token in her hand.

Both Patrick and Gabriel were incredibly wrong—she was the one who was about to be married off to the Lamberts instead.

Chapter 5

In the end, Penelope was sent to the hospital by a good samaritan.

The doctor gave her a good scolding as this was her second time getting hurt. He even questioned how she got hurt, as if she didn't know how to take better care of herself.

She couldn't bear to tell him that this injury was caused by two of the most important men in her life.

Sabrina sent Penelope a video in the meantime. As soon as the video was opened, Sabrina's pitiful voice could be heard.

She said, "Penny was also hurt, and she's being patched up just next door. You guys should go visit her, Patrick, Gabriel. Otherwise, it's rather pitiful if she were left alone."

Patrick, who was peeling fruits for Sabrina, replied nonchalantly, "You're just too kind, Sab. After treating you that way, she'd only learn her lesson if she gets hurt.

Gabriel gently handed her a cup of freshly poured warm water. "I don't have time to deal with her right now, Sab."

Penelope laughed bitterly with tears in her eyes when she heard his words.

…

After getting discharged, Penelope locked herself in her room and refused to come out. She only came out when Robert and Camila rushed back from their business trip on her birthday.

Everyone was busy decorating the living room for the birthday party later.

Robert and Camila were smiling as they brought out two dresses for their daughters.

Sabrina received a newly-launched haute couture gown adorned with small diamonds worth millions. Meanwhile, Penelope received an outdated starry gown well past its prime on the runway.

Everyone could tell that Robert and Camila were clearly biased. However, they insisted on saying that the gown suited Penelope's complexion better.

The household staff, who were cleaning nearby, overheard their words and started gossiping.

One said, "Is Ms. Penelope really their biological daughter? Today is supposed to be her birthday, but why did Mr. and Mrs. Carter give the expensive gown to Ms. Sabrina when she's only their adopted child?"

The other replied, "They're just coming up with excuses. Isn't it obvious that they're worried that Ms. Penelope will outshine Ms. Sabrina with such a gorgeous outfit? After all, Ms. Penelope is much prettier than Ms. Sabrina."

Another household staff said, "Not only is Ms. Penelope prettier, but she's also kind and gentle—even to us household staff. Ms. Sabrina is so arrogant and would only scold or hit us. I hate her so much! When will she be married off?"

Someone replied, "I heard it'll be soon. The Lamberts are preparing for the wedding already."

Penelope said nothing as she listened to the household staff's discussion. She only brought the gown back into her room.

Everyone thought Sabrina would be married into the Lambert family soon. Only Penelope knew that she was the one getting married off instead.

After all, who would've expected her biological parents to desert their biological daughter when asked to pick between her and their adopted daughter?

…

The party started promptly at 6:00 pm.

Sabrina attracted everyone's attention as soon as she showed up. They immediately went up to congratulate her.

Someone said, "You're so beautiful today, Sab. You truly are the star of tonight's party!"

Another continued, "I couldn't get this dress no matter how hard I tried. Mr. and Mrs. Carter truly love you!"

Everyone was busy showering her with compliments, completely forgetting that the real birthday girl today was actually Penelope.

Penelope sat quietly on the couch, glancing at the huge fruit cake and seafood spread on the table. All these were Sabrina's favorite food, while Penelope happened to be allergic to mangoes and seafood. As such, she ate nothing that night.

Everyone surrounded Sabrina at the center as they sang the birthday song at 8:00 pm. Even the gifts were prepared for her.

Robert and Camila generously gave her an expensive villa in the city center. Patrick transferred half of his shares in Carter Corporation to her.

Meanwhile, Gabriel gave her a necklace worth billions that he had bought from an auction house days ago.

When the dazzling diamond necklace appeared, it caused quite a commotion, as it symbolized "true love".

Someone gasped, "Is something good about to happen since he's giving her this necklace? So Gabriel wants to marry Sabrina after all!"

Another exclaimed, "I now believe that true love surpassed even childhood friendship!"