Chapter 1

Lisette Jones went to see Stella Shaw, her fiance's niece, to ask for her money back. The day after that, her fiance, Jasper Sullivan, tossed an account book that Lisette had never seen before at her.

All the money he had spent during their five-year relationship was listed in it.

It contained everything, from purchases as small as a two-dollar ice cream to the luxury bag that he had given her as a gift.

Even the money that he had spent on hotel rooms and buying condoms was recorded in it.

"I'll pay half of the money for the hotel rooms. Once you've subtracted the 100 thousand dollars that Stella owes, you still owe me 2.08 million dollars. I'll give you one month to transfer the money to me," he said mockingly.

Jasper leaned back lazily against the couch and looked up disdainfully at Lisette. The look in his eyes was so unfamiliar to her that it made her tremble. "What's the matter? Don't you have the money to pay me back?

"When you went to Ella to demand money from her, and when you threatened and humiliated her, did you ever stop to think about whether she had any money?"

A terrifying silence fell over the room. Everyone's eyes were focused on Lisette.

There was a sudden roar of laughter.

"Jasp, Lisette is broke. Where's she going to get 2.08 million dollars to pay you back?"

"She climbed shamelessly into your bed back then. Who do you think she's going to sell herself to this time to get the money to pay you?"

"It's just 2.08 million dollars! Lisette, if you make me happy tonight, I'll give you 2.5 million!"

Jasper smiled briefly as he casually swirled the wine in his glass. "Well, that has nothing to do with me. Lisette, if you can't pay on time, I'll have to sue you."

The blood drained instantly from Lisette's face. She felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart, and it hurt so much that she bent over.

It wasn't the first time that Jasper had made things difficult for her for the sake of Stella, who had just returned from abroad.

The first time was when Lisette had failed to cook for Stella on time. Jasper had punished her by forbidding her to eat for three days.

The second time was when Lisette had accidentally smashed Stella's tablet. Jasper had hit her so hard that he broke her arm.

The third time was when Jasper had ordered her to dress up as a clown and perform a stunt just because Stella was in a bad mood. Lisette had had to have a huge stone placed on her chest while someone smashed it to pieces with a sledgehammer. She had almost lost her life.

Right now, all she wanted was to get back her 100 thousand dolalrs, which Stella had wept and begged her for.

However, Jasper had dragged her there to be judged in public and for all the wealthy heirs there to humiliate her.

Everyone was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

But when Lisette thought of her mother, Fiona Brown, and her expensive medical fees, she forced herself to smile as she looked at the person next to Jasper.

"Will you really give me 2.5 million dollars if I make you happy?"

The man looked excited. When Jasper had given his permission, the man called for the waiter to open ten bottles of liquor.

"Lisette, if you can drink all ten bottles of liquor today, I'll give you the 2.5 million!"

Lisette did not hesitate. She picked up a bottle and began chugging it down. It felt as if the high concentration of alcohol in it was burning a hole in her stomach, and the pain made her brow furrow tightly as she broke out into a cold sweat.

Everyone was watching her contemptuously, and Jasper's gaze was especially piercing.

However, Lisette did not care at all. She lacked money and was desperately in need of it.

Her pride meant nothing in front of money.

After drinking ten bottles of liquor, Lisette's eyes were frighteningly bloodshot.

She held out her hand to the man. "Money."

The man turned and asked Jasper, "Should I give her the money or not, Jasp?"

"Go ahead."

Jasper raised an eyebrow and smiled briefly. "It's not a big amount. Just think of it as showing charity to a roadside beggar."

A bank card was tossed at Lisette's feet, and she picked it up and turned to rush to the hospital.

With that money, Fiona would be able to have the operation.

However, after she got to the hospital and paid off the rest of the operation fees, the doctor looked regretful as he said, "Ms. Jones, Mr. Sullivan has commanded the hospital to stop all treatment for your mother. There's nothing we can do."

Lisette felt as if her world was collapsing around her. She dialed Jasper's number in a panic and begged him to save Fiona.

However, Jasper only chuckled scornfully on the other end of the phone. "Didn't she have an operation just a week ago? She won't die just because she has one less operation. Just think of it as a punishment for making Ella sad."

The moment he hung up, there was an ear-splitting beeping noise from the hospital room.

The line on the heart monitor, which should have been undulating in waves, had abruptly turned into a straight line that no longer showed any signs of life.

There was a thump as Lisette's phone fell to the floor.

Her eyes were crimson as she threw herself down beside the bed.

She held Fiona's hand, trembling, but it was so cold that it made Lisette feel as if she had been plunged into ice.

"Mom… Mom!"

Lisette's scream of despair echoed in the night. She stayed there for a whole day and night on her knees, a blank look in her eyes.

It was only when the first rays of sunlight spilled into the hospital room that she finally accepted the fact that Fiona was dead.

The doctor handed her a letter solemnly. "Ms. Jones, this is the letter that your mother wrote to you in her final moments. My condolences."

The letter was very short, but Lisette could not hold back her tears. "Lissie, run. Your life has only just begun."

The last gift Fiona had given her was freedom.

Lisette took care of Fiona's funeral in a state of despair. After that, she called the National Research Institute without hesitating.

"Professor Hennessy, I've considered it thoroughly, and I want to join this research project."

Chapter 2

Bruce Hennessy was so excited that his voice was trembling. "Lissie, is that true? Have you solved the issue with your mother? And that man—"

Lisette interrupted him. "My mother has passed away, and that man is no longer of any use."

There were two seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Charles then tried to comfort her. "Lissie, although I don't know what you've been through in the past five years, the most painful times are also the times when you grow most rapidly. Your life has only just begun."

He was right.

How could a scumbag like Jasper ruin the life of a prodigy like Lisette?

Perhaps, she had once had some feelings for Jasper. He was handsome and had treated her well, and he had been willing to put in money and effort in treating Fiona's illness.

Lisette had not had any complaints.

However, Jasper finally told the truth after Stella returned to the country. He had never drunk any alcohol before that, but after Stella came back, he got drunk and said, "Ella, I miss you so much that I'm about to go crazy. If only I hadn't adopted you as my niece back then…"

Lisette picked up the photo that he had dropped on the floor.

She was a very pretty young woman, and her eyes bore a slight resemblance to Lisette's.

However, Lisette knew very well that between herself and Stella, she was the substitute.

From then on, the tiny spark of affection that she had felt for Jasper was completely extinguished.

She played the part of a substitute very well and stoically endured it when Jasper did despicable things to her because he did not dare to do them to Stella.

Once Fiona recovered, Lisette was determined to extricate herself at once.

However, all she had ended up with was Fiona's corpse.

Jasper had asked ruthlessly, "Do you realize your mistake now?"

Lisette stared at the message for a long time. Almost instinctively, she tapped on Jasper's Instagram profile.

His post featured a sunset on the beach by the ocean, along with a gorgeous-looking Stella.

The price of that had been Fiona's life.

Lisette flagged down a cab to return to the villa and pack.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Jasper sitting on the living room couch with a thunderous expression on his face.

"Where did you go? Why didn't you reply to my messages?" he demanded.

He was callous, ruthless, and conceited.

Lisette could not understand how she had ever felt any kind of affection for him.

When she ignored him, Jasper ran upstairs after her and grabbed her wrist roughly. "Lisette, you made Ella sad. What right do you have to lose your temper at me?"

Lisette gasped in pain, but she gazed calmly into his eyes, which were blazing with anger. "Well? How do you want me to apologize to her this time? Do you want to smash another rock on my chest? Will you break my other hand? Or will you make me drink another ten bottles of liquor?"

Lisette had always been meek. Her sudden defiance startled Jasper, but unexpectedly, he calmed down. "Come back to the Sullivan residence with me. Grandpa wants to see you."

He seemed to think of something and added. "I'll give you 100 thousand dollars. You know what to say and what not to say."

Lisette snorted derisively.

The Sullivans prized their reputation. That was why Jasper's grandfather, Frederick Sullivan, had immediately sent Stella abroad when he found out about Jasper's inappropriate feelings for her.

Frederick had immediately arranged a series of blind dates for Jasper after that.

However, Jasper had only been interested in Lisette, even though she had been alone in a corner. The only reason for that was because she bore an uncanny resemblance to Stella.

That night, Jasper had gotten drunk and taken Lisette by force.

He lacked love, and she needed money.

They had developed a relationship that was like that of a sugar daddy and his kept woman.

…

The scenery flew past the windows, and the car soon stopped at the entrance to the Sullivan residence.

As soon as the door opened, a slender figure jumped into Jasper's arms. "Uncle Jasper, I've missed you so much!"

Jasper's cold expression immediately softened, and he picked her up fondly. "Why aren't you wearing shoes? What if you catch a cold?"

"I want to catch a cold so that you'll have to keep me company."

The two of them were flirting like a couple in their honeymoon phase.

Beside them, the butler hinted diplomatically, "Mr. Jasper, Mr. Sullivan Senior hasn't been very healthy lately. You'd better tone things down a little."

The last time they were at the Sullivan residence, Jasper had gotten into an argument with Frederick over Stella. Frederick had gotten so angry that his blood pressure had risen abruptly, and he'd been sent to the hospital for emergency care that very night.

Jasper frowned and asked in an annoyed tone, "Why does Grandpa suddenly want to see Lisette? Have there been rumors again?"

At that moment, an authoritative voice came from upstairs. "Are there any rumors that I shouldn't hear?"

Frederick walked steadily down the stairs, leaning on his staff.

Lisette hurried up to help him.

Apart from Fiona, Frederick was the only person who sincerely treated her like family.

Frederick looked contentedly at Lisette, but when he turned to see Jasper and Stella entangled together, he became instantly furious.

"How can you be so intimate with each other when you're uncle and niece? That is completely inappropriate!" he shouted.

Jasper's expression turned cold, but he let Stella's hand go. "Why did you ask Lisette and me to come?"

Frederick snorted. "For you and Lissie's wedding, of course!

"You and Lissie have been together for five years. It's time to talk about getting married. I've already made the arrangements. One month from now, you and Lissie must have a wedding!"

Chapter 3

Upon hearing this, Stella turned pale at once.

Jasper refused firmly. "I don't agree!"

Frederick thwacked him on the back with his staff. He looked angry and disappointed in Jasper. "You accursed thing! You were the one who insisted on being with Lissie back then. You even promised in front of your parents' graves that you would make her happy, but now look at you!

"You've dragged this on year after year, and five years have gone by. How many more years of Lissie's time are you going to waste?"

Lisette lowered her gaze. She suddenly remembered that she and Jasper had also once had wonderful memories together.

Jasper was decisive and ruthless to outsiders, but he had once been considerate of her and had taken her wishes into account.

Jasper had once let an enemy of his go, even though they had tried to assassinate him, all because Lisette had said that she was scared. From then on, everyone knew that Jasper had a weakness.

Although he was a thorough materialist, he had prayed all night up on a mountain when Lisette had had a high fever for three days in a row.

He had planted a copse of cherry blossom trees around the villa because she had casually mentioned that she liked them.

However, those rows of cherry blossom trees had ended up being named after Stella.

The same thing was happening at that very moment. As soon as Stella's eyes reddened, Jasper would oppose the entire world for her.

"I won't marry Lisette. She's not worthy of me," he declared.

He actually took Stella's hand, and there was a crazed look in his eyes, as if he no longer cared about anything else. "Ella is the person I truly love. I won't marry anyone but her. I can promise to announce publicly that Lisette is my fiancee, but I can't marry her."

He fell to his knees with a loud thump.

Stella followed suit and knelt in front of Frederick as well. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but they were filled with a stubborn light. "Grandpa, please give Jasper and me your blessing!"

Frederick's breathing had quickened, and his chest was heaving. "Get lost! Go and kneel in the shrine!"

As countless pairs of eyes stared at them in shock, Jasper and Stella walked into the shrine, their fingers intertwined.

Lisette watched the entire thing expressionlessly. She merely felt that it was ridiculous.

She took out a wooden box from her bag. It contained an expensive emerald bangle that had been passed down through the generations in the Sullivan family.

Frederick was startled. "Lissie, you—"

Lisette took two steps back and bowed deeply. "Mr. Sullivan Senior, I'm very thankful for the care that you've shown me over the past five years, but I really cannot stay with Jasper any longer."

Frederick wanted to ask her to stay, but Lisette did not hesitate. After she put down the bangle, she left without looking back.

When she passed by the shrine, she heard urgent panting from inside. Through the crack in the door, she could see Jasper and Stella's bodies intertwined.

They seemed to be defiantly announcing to their ancestors that they were truly in love.

Lisette did not linger. She turned around and left the Sullivan residence.

First, she went to the bank and transferred all 2.5 million dollars to Jasper's account.

After that, she went to Sullivan Group and resigned from her position as Jasper's secretary.

The human resources manager was one of the few good friends that Lisette had. She said sincerely, "Congratulations on being free of your suffering, Lissie."

Lisette felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

She no longer owed Jasper anything.

When she got back to the villa that night, a glass smashed right in front of her. Shards flew everywhere and left scratches on her calves.

Jasper strode toward her and grabbed her around her neck. "Lisette! Grandpa's always treated you like his granddaughter. Why did you push him down the stairs to try and kill him?"

Lisette had turned bright red from being strangled. The veins on her neck were bulging.

She instinctively slapped Jasper's hands in despair. "I didn't—it wasn't me!"

A piteous voice came from upstairs. "Ms. Jones, the butler has already testified that you were the one who pushed Grandpa down the stairs. Are you still going to lie about it? Jasper, is this the woman you chose? She's a coward who can't admit to what she's done!"

Lisette was flung roughly aside to a corner of the room. She coughed violently, but out of the corner of her eye, she could see the smug look in Stella's eyes.

Her scalp prickled. It was obvious that Stella had been the one who had pushed Frederick down the stairs.

There was an urgent ringing, and the butler's voice rang out. "Mr. Jasper, Mr. Sullivan Senior suddenly experienced massive bleeding. However, there isn't enough blood in the hospital's blood bank—"

Lisette could not hear the rest of the butler's sentence clearly.

Stella had jumped in and said goadingly, "Jasper, Ms. Jones has the same blood type as Grandpa, doesn't she?"

A deep terror in Lisette's bones seemed to spread from the soles of her feet up to her heart.

Immediately, Jasper took her to the hospital by force and bundled her into the emergency room. "Take her blood. As long as you can save Mr. Sullivan Senior, it doesn't matter if she dies!"

Lisette was restrained by thick ropes as an ice-cold needle plunged into her arteries.

Lisette's eyes were filled with disappointment and helplessness. "Jasper, I would have been willing to donate my blood for Mr. Sullivan Senior even if you hadn't said anything.

"However, I didn't push him down the stairs! You cannot insult my character in this manner!"

Jasper scoffed. "How can you keep lying? Is this how you repay Grandpa when he's treated you so well? You'd better pray that Grandpa is alright, or I'll make you pay with your blood!"

Lisette could feel rage, pain, despair, and all kinds of other emotions churning in her chest. She felt her blood flowing out of her, and her body temperature was dropping. She seemed to have reached the end of her life.

Had Fiona suffered this much pain when they had stopped her treatment?

Lisette was weeping, but she suddenly laughed. She seemed to hear Fiona calling to her.

Had Fiona come to meet her?

Chapter 4

Lisette had a very long dream.

In her dream, Stella had not returned to the country, and she and Jasper were still a couple who were deeply in love with one another.

He would take her to gatherings with his friends and show her off proudly, as if she were his entire world.

He would also accompany her to the hospital to visit Fiona and make an effort to make her happy. He carefully tried to present himself as someone who would make a good son-in-law.

He did many, many things for Lisette, and he made her heart flutter many times with the feeling of being in love for the first time.

Lisette had truly believed that they would have a future together.

Suddenly, an ice-cold basin of water was emptied over her. Her thin clothes were drenched, and a chill seeped into her body. She was in so much pain that she felt like she was dying.

When she woke up, the dream shattered.

Jasper was looking down imperiously at her with a sinister look in his eyes. "You should be glad that Grandpa's out of danger. Otherwise, you would have died on the operating table already.

"However, before Grandpa wakes up, you'll stay here and reflect on yourself. You must be ready to donate blood to Grandpa at any time."

There was a ringing in Lisette's ears, and she felt goosebumps rise all over her skin.

They were in the secret room where Jasper dealt with his enemies. Countless lives had ended there, and no daylight had entered it for years. Even the very air carried a faint tinge of blood.

She had once said teasingly to him, "If we ever become enemies, will you take me here to torture me?"

At the time, Jasper had sworn firmly, "No, we'll never become enemies."

However, he had now thrown her into that hell-like place, which was filled with piles of bones, all because of a lie that didn't even make sense!

Lisette was extremely disappointed. She felt as if her heart was being cut out of her chest slowly with a blunt knife.

She looked up and spoke up for herself, enunciating each word clearly. "I did not push Grandpa down the stairs. I didn't do it, and I haven't done anything wrong. I won't reflect on myself."

Lisette struggled to get up, but she was aching all over, and she could not stand up no matter how hard she tried.

Jasper snorted. "Lisette, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can keep up this act, but I will never believe a single word you say ever again!"

He turned around and left.

The lights flicked off, and Lisette was plunged into pitch darkness, which smelled like blood.

Terror filled her heart, and Lisette began screaming in despair.

When her voice had turned hoarse, the door to the secret room was pushed open roughly.

Stella looked imperiously down at her and said scornfully, "You slut! If you didn't look slightly like me, Jasper wouldn't even look twice at you!

"It's okay. As long as I ruin your face, you'll never be able to seduce Jasper again!"

She approached Lisette slowly with a knife in her hand. Her eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred because she could not have the man she loved. She swung the knife violently at Lisette's face, looking crazed.

Lisette's eyes had turned crimson with a primal desire to survive. She raised her hand instinctively to block the blow, but the pain she was expecting did not come.

"Lisette!"

A furious voice came from the door.

At once, Lisette was knocked down to the ground with great force, and her forehead bumped heavily against the wall.

The worst part was that she had fallen on a heap of bones. The sound of the bones being crushed beneath her made her scalp crawl, and she couldn't help screaming.

However, she was filled with disbelief when she saw that Stella had plunged the knife into her own left shoulder. She was lying in a puddle of blood.

"Lisette, I came here with good intentions to rescue you, but you tried to kill me—"

Lisette panicked. She wanted to explain things to Jasper and say that she hadn't hurt Stella.

However, Jasper was panicking even more than Lisette was. He picked the bleeding Stella up and rushed to the hospital, where he summoned the most expert doctor to operate on her.

His white shirt was stained red with blood, and his arm was bleeding from a scratch he had gotten from the rusty metal doors. His eyes were bloodshot.

He was panicking, weak, and had broken down completely.

He yelled furiously at his friends, who had come to comfort him. "Get away!"

He even fell to his knees with a thump in front of the window and prayed sincerely to the heavens. "If Ella dies, I won't live either!"

Lisette had never seen Jasper like that.

The doors to the operating theater opened suddenly, and a nurse rushed out. "The patient is bleeding heavily, but the hospital's blood bank is running low—"

Jasper rolled up his sleeve without hesitating. "Take my blood! Ella and I have the same blood type. I can save her!"

"Jasp, have you gone mad?"

His friends tried to stop him, looking shocked. "She's just a woman! No matter how much you love her, she's not worth it! You don't have to go this far!"

Jasper's eyes were frighteningly cold. "Ella is the person I love the most, and she is my life! Without her, I can't keep living!"

The operation went on for a day and a night. In the end, Stella survived.

Jasper had lost too much blood, but he was still delighted.

He cleared the entire hospital and arranged for all the doctors to take care of Stella. He remained right by her side and did not leave her even for a moment.

Everyone was praising their love for how noble it was.

However, Lisette could not help remembering the tragic state in which Fiona had died. She now realized that Jasper had the authority to decide whether someone lived or died.

How ironic.

Chapter 5

Stella was in the hospital for half a month, and Jasper stayed by her side the entire time.

During that time, Lisette packed her things and moved out of the villa that had trapped her for five years.

She used the little that remained of her savings to rent a small apartment, and then returned to her part-time job at the bar that she had worked at in the past.

She had to get through two more weeks before she could officially return to the National Research Institute.

However, she hadn't expected to meet Jasper again so soon.

…

Jasper had booked the entire bar to celebrate Stella's discharge from the hospital. He had invited all the wealthy heirs in Jeria to come and party all night.

The lighting in the bar was dim, and the music was deafening.

Jasper took meticulous care of Stella while his friends surrounded Stella and asked after her well-being.

Lisette did not want to interact with them, so she sent a message to the bar's owner and asked for the night off.

When she was about to leave, Stella called out after her, "Lisette, aren't you going to apologize for doing something so horrible to me? Are you actually trying to escape right now?"

Stella's dewy-looking eyes always aroused pity in others.

However, Lisette just glanced impassively at her. "Let me repeat myself. I never did those things. If you make up rumors again, I'll sue you for slander."

Lisette turned to leave, but Jasper ordered his bodyguards to stop her.

They poured liquor over her head, and Lisette felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation wash over her.

The harsh music stopped abruptly, and the partying crowd immediately fell silent. They looked intently at her, looking gleeful at the state she was in.

"You did something wrong, and you want to escape? Lisette, how did I never realize what a venomous woman you are?

"First, it was Grandpa, and now you've even attacked Ella. Are you going to make me into a doll next and keep me with you forever?"

Jasper had been extremely busy for days, and he was looking rather pale. However, his gaze was as sharp as a knife as he looked fixedly at Lisette.

Lisette felt drained. "I told you that I didn't hurt Grandpa, nor did I hurt Stella."

Even Lisette felt that she sounded unconvincing.

The surveillance cameras had been damaged, and witnesses had been bribed. Besides, Jasper could disregard right and wrong for the sake of love.

"I swear that I didn't stab her. If I'm lying, then I'll come to a gruesome end. But Stella, would you dare to make the same oath? Can you swear that you didn't orchestrate the entire thing yourself?"

"That's enough!" Jasper cut her off coldly and shielded Stella behind him. "How can you still be so unrepentant at this point, Lisette? Don't blame me for disregarding our history. I'm going to use the family rules on you!"

Lisette's knees gave way, and the bodyguards pushed her down in front of the crowd.

She struggled desperately, and the threat of death finally made her look fearful.

Jasper took a whip from a bodyguard and walked toward her step by step. "Are you afraid? Did you ever think about how much despair Grandpa and Ella were in when you hurt them?"

As he finished speaking, there was a loud thwack as he lashed her on the back with his whip.

Lisette shuddered violently, as if she had suffered from an electric shock. She was in so much pain that she could not speak.

"Say something!"

Jasper suddenly raised his voice, sounding furious. "Are you going to admit to your mistakes or not?"

"No…"

Lisette's voice was weak but stubborn.

Jasper laughed out of sheer anger, and he raised his whip once more. "You won't admit it? Not admitting to it doesn't mean that you didn't do those things! You're a criminal!"

The lashing of the whip and the scornful laughter around her made it hard for Lisette to breathe.

However, she only became more obstinate. She suddenly burst into laughter and laughed so hard that tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I didn't do anything wrong! Why must I say that I'm wrong? The biggest mistake I've ever made was meeting you! You're a total beast!

"Jasper, you're a scumbag, and you're the one who's a criminal!"

Stella frowned. "Lisette, I won't let you speak about Jasper that way—"

"Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you're any better?" Lisette interrupted coldly.

She began yelling abuse wildly. "You're just a piece of trash who's using your authority to suppress others! What right do you have to order me around?"

The whip cracked three times in a row.

Jasper's fury had been thoroughly ignited, and he began whipping Lisette viciously.

On the first lash, he said, "This one's for Grandpa."

On the second, he said, "This is to teach you a lesson for actually trying to kill Ella."

On the third, he said, "This is to warn you to never even think about becoming the mistress of the Sullivan family!"

He lashed her 64 times, and every single blow seemed to land on Lisette's heart.

She felt a sickly sweet taste at the back of her throat, and she spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

When she woke up, she realized that she was lying in a hospital room.

The television was playing the video of her whipping on a loop.

Her heartrending screams had become a mood enhancer for the crowd, and they splashed countless glasses of liquor on her bleeding back. She ended up abandoned in a corner like a heap of trash.

Lisette had only been rescued when the bar owner came to check on the bar and found her barely an inch from death.

The greatest pain that a person could feel was total despair. Lisette could not even shed a single tear.

"Are you awake?" someone asked.