Chapter 1

The juiciest scandal of the year at Kaverton University was the leaked sex tape of Elizabeth Fisher from the Art Department.

The video had been filmed in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel.

Elizabeth was completely naked, pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window by a man a full head taller than her. The sounds of their bodies moving in sync echoed steadily through the room.

When they finished, the man leaned close to her ear and murmured, "Good girl."

That phrase hit the group chat like a bomb, sending shockwaves across campus.

"That voice… No way! Is that Daniel?"

"Elizabeth's got serious game if she landed one of the university's board members. No wonder all the girls who used to bully her suddenly shut up."

"I always thought Elizabeth was some innocent girl. Turns out she's a calculating bitch—like mother, like daughter."

When the news reached Elizabeth, she was in her dorm, knitting a scarf for Daniel Woolridge.

Her roommate blasted the video at full volume, passing the phone around with a mocking grin.

She stretched her voice in exaggerated glee. "Elizabeth, you're moaning like a pro. How much practice have you had?"

Laughter exploded around the room.

Elizabeth froze, her face draining of color. The half-finished scarf slipped from her hands as she bolted out the door.

She stumbled to Daniel's office, desperate to confront him, to ask what was going on.

But just as she reached the door, she heard a voice inside—sarcastic and biting.

"Daniel, you didn't leave Elizabeth a shred of dignity, huh? You made sure her face was crystal clear in the video. She doesn't even have a chance to deny it."

Elizabeth's mind went blank. A deafening roar filled her ears as cold dread swept through her body.

"She brought it on herself. Messing with the woman Daniel loves most? She got what she deserved."

"Yeah, poor Daniel. Not only did he have to spread rumors about Elizabeth's mom being a homewrecker, but he also had to play the hero, pretending to protect her from bullies and acting like he was madly in love."

"By the way, Daniel, when are you planning to tell her the truth? If she finds out the guy she's been in love with is actually her future brother-in-law, she's going to pass out on the spot!"

Daniel lounged on the couch, looking utterly at ease, a cigarette dangling between his fingers as he tapped the ashes into the tray. His face was unreadable behind a thin haze of smoke.

Noticing the silence, one of his friends quickly added, "Feeling sorry for her? Don't forget that she went all out to get Cheryl exiled abroad for two whole years. Do you think we should just let her off the hook after that? Cheryl was starving and freezing out there!"

At the mention of Cheryl Fisher, Daniel finally stirred.

He stubbed out the cigarette and said calmly, "We'll wait until Cheryl's back. That day also happens to be a special anniversary that Elizabeth has been looking forward to. I'll give her a little 'surprise.' She'll pay back everything she owes Cheryl."

Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat.

Through the smoke, her eyes locked onto Daniel's cold, sharp profile. Something inside her cracked wide open. The pain in her chest nearly knocked her off her feet.

So, all those disgusting rumors about her mother—they'd come from him? His affection—his protection, it had all been part of his revenge.

The woman he truly loved was Cheryl, her half-sister.

She couldn't bear to hear another word. Heart pounding, she turned and fled, stumbling blindly down the hallway.

But she didn't get far.

A group of girls stepped into her path.

"Well, well, look who it is. The star of the sex tape!"

"Just came out of his office—what, couldn't wait to offer yourself up again?"

Elizabeth's face turned ghostly pale. She tried to push past them, but they shoved her back and forth like a toy.

Then, suddenly, Daniel's low, icy voice cut through the chaos. "Laying a finger on Elizabeth right in front of me? You must have a death wish."

No one knew when Daniel had left his office, but now his tall, broad-shouldered figure was striding calmly toward them.

The girls scattered like startled birds the moment they saw him.

Daniel walked up to Elizabeth and gently smoothed her windblown hair. As he bent down and looked into her eyes, his fingers brushed lightly across her cheek.

"Didn't I tell you? If anyone messes with you again, just say my name."

The sharp, acrid smell of tobacco assaulted Elizabeth's senses, instantly irritating her eyes and making her throat feel tight and scratchy.

The Daniel standing before her blurred with the one from her memories—the man who had protected her time and time again. It felt like a dream from another life.

Back when her mother, Julia Bennett, had taken her own life, her father, Samson Fisher, had gone back to his first love, Wanda Payne, leaving Elizabeth in a home where she wasn't quite an orphan—but it sure felt like one.

Then the rumors began to spread at school that Julia had been a mistress, and that Cheryl was the rightful daughter of the Fisher family.

As "the mistress' daughter", bullying became her daily reality.

It was Daniel who had pulled her out of that hell.

With nothing more than the weight of his name as a board member, he carved out a small, warm corner of the world just for her.

Just yesterday, on Daniel's birthday, the two of them had slept together, tipsy from too much wine.

That night, Daniel had shed his usual refined, aloof image and pinned her against the floor-to-ceiling window with a hunger that left her trembling from nerves and fear.

In that moment, when he took her for the first time, Elizabeth had felt like a lost bird finally finding its way home.

She had no idea that "home" was nothing more than a carefully laid trap.

Her mind swirled in a daze.

By the time she came back to her senses, Daniel was already leading her out of the administration building. She slid into the front passenger seat of his car without a word.

Chapter 2

As always, Daniel leaned over to buckle Elizabeth's seatbelt for her. Noticing the redness around her eyes, he spoke gently, his voice laced with reassurance.

"The video was an accident. I'll take care of it and make sure it's wiped clean. You're not in a good state today. Let me take you home so you can rest."

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, but his earlier words echoed in her mind. Before she could stop them, tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Daniel paused, clearly caught off guard.

He reached up to wipe her tears, then almost as if something had just occurred to him, he opened the car door.

"Wait here a second, I need to buy something."

As the door shut behind him, Elizabeth noticed he'd left the wrong phone behind.

His phone sat in the cup holder between them. Almost without thinking, she picked it up and typed in Cheryl's birthday.

The screen unlocked instantly.

At the top of his WhatsApp chats was Cheryl's name.

In their most recent messages, Cheryl had asked him if he could cut things off with Elizabeth before she came back home.

Daniel had replied, "She's just a toy. I was never really with her."

Elizabeth's chest tightened painfully. Fighting back the burning in her nose, she scrolled further up.

For the past two years, while Cheryl had been abroad, Daniel had called her every single night without fail, always around 8:00 pm—the same time he always told Elizabeth he was in board meetings and couldn't be disturbed.

On top of that, he had been sending Cheryl money every month—six-figure transfers, clean and direct, with no note attached.

And Cheryl knew how to play it sweet too.

Every now and then, she'd send him selfies, asking for compliments, and Daniel would reply with cute animal stickers—ones Elizabeth had never seen before—telling her not to wear so little, to stay warm, to take care of herself.

Staring at the chat history, Elizabeth finally understood. She had never truly known Daniel at all. The kindness he'd shown her, the tenderness, the care—it was only a sliver of the love he gave to Cheryl.

Daniel returned to the car with a small box of emergency contraceptive pills.

He gently stroked Elizabeth's hair, his voice soft, careful, just like always.

"Last night was a little rushed. I didn't take the right precautions. Take this, just in case."

Elizabeth clutched the box so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her lips were pressed together so hard that they nearly bled.

If she hadn't heard it with her own ears, she might still have believed Daniel actually cared about her.

But now, she was wide awake.

When the car pulled up in front of the villa, Daniel leaned in to kiss her goodbye like he always did. But this time, Elizabeth turned her head away and fumbled with her seatbelt.

Daniel's eyes darkened. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.

"Still upset about the video?" he asked.

Elizabeth said nothing.

"I didn't film it. The hotel manager's already been fired."

He lifted her chin with a finger, his voice low and coaxing. "Elizabeth, I never wanted to hurt you. I never will. Our anniversary's coming up—I'll make it up to you then."

Lies dressed as kindness cut deeper than truth ever could.

Her nose stung. She pushed him away and muttered, "I'm going in."

She practically ran up the steps and into the villa.

The moment she stepped through the door, she ran straight into Samson. His face twisted with rage. Before she could even open her mouth, he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"Elizabeth, I underestimated you. You want to date someone, fine. But to film some filthy, disgraceful video? You've humiliated me completely!" he shouted.

His voice was sharp, cutting, and merciless as he continued, "No wonder everyone at your school picks on you. It's not because they're cruel; it's because you're disgusting and shameless. You're the rot that draws the flies!"

He threw a plane ticket at her feet. "I booked you a flight for seven days from now. Get the hell out, and don't ever come back."

Elizabeth bent down to pick it up. Her fingers trembled, as if the thin slip of paper weighed a hundred pounds.

It felt less like a boarding pass and more like a final sentence—a declaration that the world itself had abandoned her.

Samson thought she was a disgrace and just wanted her gone.

That was fine—Elizabeth didn't want to stay, either.

"I'll go," she said calmly. "And I'll do as you said. I won't come back. Ever."

Samson froze, thinking he must have misheard her.

Back when he had arranged for Cheryl to study abroad, he'd tried to convince Elizabeth to go too. But she had refused.

After pressing her for a reason, he'd found out she was in love, head over heels, no less.

He'd assumed she would put up a fight again this time. He never expected her to agree so readily.

His anger cooled, if only just slightly. He spoke again, his voice sharp.

"Cheryl's coming back this weekend. I'm throwing a welcome party for her. You'll be there. The video's already out. If you don't show your face, the rumors will only get worse."

Elizabeth nodded. "Got it."

…

She requested three days off from school.

In that time, she gathered everything Daniel had ever given her and listed them all online for resale at full price.

Three days later, Cheryl returned.

Samson hosted a lavish welcome party for her at Kaverton's biggest hotel, inviting every major name in business and high society.

And Daniel was among them.

Elizabeth hadn't expected to see him there. The moment she caught sight of him, she turned to leave. But Daniel grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a quiet hallway.

He pinned her against the wall, hands braced on either side of her, caging her in. His breath was warm against her ear as he spoke.

"You've been skipping school and not answering my messages. You didn't even say a word about our anniversary. Elizabeth, do you have any idea how worried I've been?"

Chapter 3

Daniel's eyes locked onto Elizabeth, his frustration over her disappearance simmering just beneath the surface.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together before forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Mr. Woolridge, I didn't realize you could get so worked up over a meaningless hookup."

The sudden sharpness in her tone, so unlike the obedient, quiet Elizabeth he was used to, caught him off guard.

Something defiant flashed in his eyes. In one swift motion, he yanked her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist in a possessive grip.

"A hookup? One time in two years, and you're calling that a hookup?" he scoffed.

Elizabeth had no idea what had gotten into him. Before she could react, he grabbed her chin and leaned in like he was about to kiss her.

Just then, a voice interrupted them.

"Daniel, so this is where you ran off to. Cheryl's looking for you."

Daniel frowned and loosened his hold on her. Turning to the man, he said, "Got it. I'm on my way."

Elizabeth tilted her head, feigning surprise. "You know my sister?"

"Know her? Their relationship is a lot more interesting than you think," the guy said with a smirk. "Brace yourself, Elizabeth. You're in for a shock."

As the two of them walked away, a flicker of sarcasm passed through Elizabeth's eyes.

They operated under the smug assumption of her ignorance, confident that their orchestrated display of degradation would reduce her to pieces for their evening's entertainment.

What they didn't know was that she'd already pulled herself together, and she was more than ready to cut Daniel out of her life for good.

As the banquet reached its peak, the lights suddenly went out.

Moments later, a spotlight flared to life, illuminating the stage. Daniel appeared in a sleek black suit, escorting Cheryl, who was dressed in a stunning white gown, to the center of the room.

Samson beamed as he raised a hand to quiet the crowd. Then he spoke loudly and clearly, "Thank you all for coming tonight.

"We're here not only to welcome Cheryl back from her studies abroad, but also to share some exciting news.

"The Fisher and Woolridge families have been close for generations. Years ago, we arranged an engagement between Cheryl and Daniel.

"Now that they've fallen in love, we'll be holding their engagement party at the end of the month. We hope you'll all join us to witness their happiness!"

As soon as Samson finished, Daniel's friends turned to Elizabeth, clearly waiting for her to break down.

But Elizabeth stood quietly and calmly in the crowd as if what was happening on stage had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Daniel frowned. This was the moment Elizabeth was supposed to lose control, to crumble. But instead, she was unnaturally composed. A strange irritation bubbled up inside him.

Cheryl, noticing the shift in his energy, leaned in and asked, "Dan, what's wrong?"

Daniel quickly looked away from Elizabeth and replied smoothly, "Nothing. Just spaced out for a second."

But he knew better. Elizabeth had loved him. There was no way she felt nothing.

She was just putting on a brave face.

…

Elizabeth splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom, scrubbing hard.

Thinking back to how desperately she'd clung to Daniel, she felt nothing but disgust for herself.

No wonder he'd only touched her that one time in two whole years. It wasn't because he cherished her. It was because she simply wasn't worth touching.

And the night she had treasured—her first time—meant nothing to him. It was simply the perfect weapon to ruin her life completely.

When Elizabeth returned to the banquet hall, Samson called her over. "Elizabeth, come say hello to your future brother-in-law."

She walked up to Daniel with a perfectly measured smile. "Hello, Daniel, my brother-in-law."

The word hit him hard, and his expression darkened instantly.

Cheryl, completely oblivious, beamed. "Lizzy, I just heard Dan's a board member at your school. What a small world! If you ever run into trouble, just ask him for help. We're family now, after all."

Elizabeth clenched her jaw. "I won't be bothering Daniel."

She didn't even look at him, but she could feel his stare—icy and sharp, like a blade pressed to her skin.

After a few more polite exchanges, Elizabeth was about to excuse herself, but Cheryl looped an arm through hers with exaggerated warmth.

"It's been so long since we talked, Lizzy. I've got so much to catch up on with you."

Before Elizabeth could respond, Cheryl dragged her into the lounge.

The moment the door shut behind them, Cheryl dropped the sweet act. Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold, cutting look.

"Elizabeth, I heard you slept with Daniel, and now the video's everywhere. Did you really think cheap, disgusting tricks like that would make him fall for you?

"Let me spell it out for you—he doesn't like you. In fact, he can't stand you. You know those rumors about your mom being a homewrecker? I told him to spread them.

"And about him chasing you? That was my idea. I wanted to watch you fall for him, bit by bit—just so he could be the one to destroy you."

Chapter 4

Elizabeth asked quietly, "Why?"

"Why? Because you don't know your place. Your mother's been dead for years, and you're still clinging to everything that belongs to the Fisher family.

"All of it should've been mine. You're the daughter of a mistress—what right do you have to enjoy the luxury and status that should've been mine?" Cheryl scoffed.

Elizabeth could tolerate a lot, but not when someone dragged her mother through the mud.

She stormed up to Cheryl, her voice shaking with fury, every word forced through gritted teeth.

"My mother wasn't a mistress. She married my father without even knowing you or your mom existed. It was you two who drove her to her death."

Cheryl hadn't expected Elizabeth to talk back. Her expression twisted in rage as she raised her hand to slap her.

Just then, the lounge door burst open.

From the corner of her eye, Cheryl spotted Daniel walking in and instantly switched tactics. Thinking fast, she grabbed a handful of mixed nuts from the table and shoved them into her mouth.

A second later, she collapsed to the floor, slurring her words dramatically through a mouthful of food. "Elizabeth… why would you make me eat that? You know I'm allergic to nuts…"

Daniel rushed to her side without hesitation, shoving Elizabeth aside.

She stumbled back, hitting the edge of a nearby coffee table.

A porcelain cup shattered on the floor. Shards of glass tore into Elizabeth's palms, leaving her hands bloodied, but Daniel didn't even glance her way.

He was already kneeling beside Cheryl, wrapping her in his arms. "Cheryl, are you okay?"

Tears welled in Cheryl's eyes as she clung weakly to his arm.

"I just wanted to catch up with Lizzy… I don't know what I said wrong. She suddenly forced me to eat those snacks… Look at me, Daniel. Am I breaking out in hives?"

Daniel looked down, and sure enough, angry red welts were rapidly blooming across Cheryl's skin.

"What do I do? The banquet isn't even over yet; I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone. Makeup—right, I can cover it with makeup!"

Daniel gripped Cheryl's wrist tightly, his expression darkening. "You're breaking out in hives and still worried about crap like that? Enough. I'm taking you to the hospital."

He scooped Cheryl into his arms. Just before leaving, he shot Elizabeth a cold, scathing look.

Elizabeth forced herself to stand. Pain surged through her body with every movement. Blood poured freely from her hands, soaking her dress in seconds.

But she couldn't feel it. It was as if she'd fallen into a bottomless pit, and every ounce of sensation had drained from her body.

She called over a waiter and asked for a first aid kit, then silently tended to her wounds, her fingers trembling the entire time.

By the time she was done, her body was drained, her mind foggy. She dragged her feet toward the exit, too exhausted to think.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway, several figures lunged out of the shadows. Before she could react, they grabbed her and dragged her into a nearby storage room.

A rough hand clamped around her jaw, forcing her head up.

The next second, a burning liquid was poured straight into her mouth—pepper spray in liquid form, sharp and overwhelming.

Elizabeth's eyes flew open in horror.

Like Cheryl, she had a severe allergy, specifically to chili peppers. This much concentrated pepper could kill her.

"Mmff… stop…"

Elizabeth tried to fight back, but they didn't give her a chance. Cup after cup was forced down her throat—one after another.

She choked violently, her face flushed deep red as her body convulsed. Her wounded hands clawed weakly at the floor, the scraping sound raw and desperate.

The attackers didn't stop. If anything, her suffering only excited them further.

"Cheryl is Daniel's everything, and you dared lay a hand on her? Do you even know your place?"

"Heard you got bullied a lot at school. You probably got passed around by half the guys there. Do you think someone like Daniel—so proud and picky—would ever want a used-up whore like you?"

"Drink up, slut. Consider it your apology to Cheryl, or things are gonna get a lot worse for you."

Elizabeth's vision blurred, her mind slipping further and further away.

With the last ounce of strength she had left, she whispered a name—barely audible. "Dan…"

That was all she managed before cruel laughter exploded around her.

"Hah! You're still hoping Daniel's gonna come save you?"

"He's the one who told us to do this. You hurt Cheryl; he wants you dead!"

"Hey, let's rip her dress off and send him the pictures. Let Daniel blow off some steam, too!"

They swarmed her. In seconds, they tore her dress to shreds.

Then came the camera flashes, shot after shot of Elizabeth's battered, half-conscious body. Until finally, her strength gave out completely, and everything went black.

Chapter 5

When Elizabeth woke up, she was lying in a hospital bed.

Daniel sat beside her, working on his laptop. As if sensing her stir, he looked up and met her gaze.

The moment their eyes met, he let out the faintest sigh of relief, but his voice remained cold and sharp.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end for once? Take this as a lesson. Don't mess with Cheryl again."

Elizabeth turned her face away without a word. A single tear slid quietly down her cheek.

She used to see Daniel as her salvation. But now, after what he'd done to her… how was he any different from the people who used to bully her?

Daniel watched her in silence. For a moment, something strange stirred in his chest.

She was the one who'd gone after Cheryl out of jealousy. After everything she'd done, she deserved this.

So why did he feel guilty when he saw her cry?

Just then, a young nurse opened the door. "Mr. Woolridge, the air conditioner in Ms. Cheryl's room just went out…"

Daniel frowned. "Then fix it. Why are you telling me?"

"We've already called maintenance, but they won't be here for another hour. Ms. Cheryl keeps saying she's cold, and unfortunately, there aren't any spare rooms available…"

The second he heard that, Daniel stood up. "What kind of hospital takes an hour to fix an air conditioner?"

His brows drew tight. "Cheryl's always had a weak constitution. She can't handle the cold. Move Elizabeth and let Cheryl have her room instead."

The nurse hesitated, glancing uneasily at Elizabeth lying in the bed.

Elizabeth had a severe allergy to chili peppers. After being force-fed so much of it, the fact that she was still alive was a miracle.

But the damage was done. Her esophagus and stomach lining were badly burned. Even the slightest irritation could put her in danger all over again.

Meanwhile, Cheryl had only eaten a single bite of a nut-filled dessert. A few allergy shots and she was already on the mend.

And yet, everything Elizabeth had suffered didn't seem to matter at all to Daniel.

"What are you waiting for? If Cheryl catches a cold in this dump, your entire hospital's going under," he snapped.

The message was clear. The nurse had no choice but to obey.

Soon enough, Elizabeth was moved to Cheryl's vacated room.

Daniel stayed with Cheryl. Elizabeth was left alone, lying in the oversized hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

As the memories of everything she'd endured replayed in her mind, the dam finally broke. Tears spilled silently down her cheeks.

Then came the cold. A deep, creeping chill wrapped around her like a shroud.

She glanced toward the source and froze. The air conditioner was on, blasting icy air at full power.

In that instant, it all clicked.

Cheryl had lied about the air conditioner being broken. It wasn't about escaping the cold—it was about creating it.

She wanted Elizabeth to move here—to remain sick, weak, freezing. It was just another twisted form of revenge.

The temperature kept dropping. The air sliced into her skin like invisible knives. She trembled so hard her teeth chattered.

She tried to call for help, but her throat was too swollen. No sound came out.

She reached for the call button, but her arm was too weak. It barely lifted an inch before falling limply back to the bed.

Elizabeth curled into herself, clinging to whatever warmth she had left. She felt completely hopeless.

She didn't know how long she lay there—abandoned, freezing, and slowly slipping away—before someone finally came.

When she forced her swollen eyes open, the face that greeted her wasn't one of concern. It was Cheryl, standing at her bedside, smirking with sick amusement.

"Elizabeth, look at you. You're pathetic. You look like a stray dog," she sneered. "Daniel did all this just to help me vent. By now, everyone would have seen your pictures—they're passing them around for laughs.

"Oh, and guess what? Some adult film companies reached out earlier. Said you'd be perfect for the lead in their next shoot. Isn't that hilarious?

Cheryl laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Then, just as suddenly, her smile vanished. She grabbed Elizabeth's arm, right where the wounds were worst, and dug her fingers in.

Blood spurted instantly. Elizabeth's vision blackened from the pain.

"Now, do you finally understand who he loves? Be smart. Admit your mom was a homewrecker and disappear. I don't ever want to see your disgusting face again. You make me sick," Cheryl hissed.

The light in Elizabeth's eyes dimmed, fading into a hollow, lifeless emptiness.

Disappear?

She would.

Soon, she'd be leaving for a faraway country, and she would never look back.