Chapter 1

A sharp crack shattered the silence in Shelwick General Hospital as a stinging slap landed on Amelia Stevans' cheek. "You wretched woman! You'd rather watch your younger sister die than help? Do you even have a heart?"

Clutching her swollen cheek, Amelia stared at her husband, Tobias Brooks, in disbelief. "You… want me to save Winter? Do you even know what she's asking for? She wants my heart!"

"So what?" Tobias sneered. "Winnie is a shining star, the most breathtaking woman in all of Shelwick! And you? Did you honestly think I'd fall for an ugly thing like you, whose face is covered in red blotches? What makes you think I'd ever marry you if you weren't of use to me?"

Amelia's pupils dilated. For a moment, it felt as though all the blood in her body had rushed backward. Her mind went completely blank.

Using her remarkable medical skills, she'd turned Tobias from a cripple into a healthy man and helped him rise to the top.

She'd thought they were finally about to get their happy ending until her family said her half-sister, Winter Stevans, had suffered a sudden heart attack and urgently needed a transplant. To save her, she would need to give up her own heart.

Amelia had believed Tobias would never agree to something so outrageous. Yet, to her horror, he'd tricked her into coming to the hospital and was forcing her to sign an organ-donation consent form.

Blood-streaked tears slid down her cheeks as she burst into manic laughter. It had taken her three years of marriage to realize she'd fallen in love with a monster.

Tobias took in her near-hysterical state with disgust. He seized her hand and barked, "Hurry up and sign it! Winnie's running out of time!"

"No! I refuse to sign it!" Amelia thrashed wildly.

But how could a woman overpower a man?

Soon, her name was scrawled across the form. Tobias let out a breath of relief and handed the paper to the person beside him. "Quick, take this to the doctor! Tell him to start the operation immediately!"

"Understood, Mr. Brooks!"

Moments later, Amelia was wheeled into the operating room against her will. The anesthetic hit her bloodstream, making her limbs go limp. Yet her mind stayed painfully awake.

Then, the door to the operating room slammed shut. Amelia wanted to cry out for help, but she didn't have the strength to make a sound.

Just then, the side door swung open, and she saw her stepmother, Diana Larson, who'd always treated her as if she was her own, walk in with a cold smile.

The very next second, a derisive chuckle floated through the room. Amelia's eyes widened in astonishment as she watched Winter, who was supposed to be unconscious, sit up on the neighboring bed with a sneer.

"Winnie…" Amelia forced out while Winter hopped off the bed and sauntered over with Diana.

"My dear sister, I'm so touched! I can't believe you're willing to give me your heart. Too bad I don't actually need it."

At last, the realization dawned on Amelia. Winter wasn't sick, nor did she need a heart. She merely wanted her dead.

Amelia thrashed with all her might, but the restraints held fast, and the anesthesia left her struggles in vain.

Winter dabbed at her nonexistent tears before gazing at Amelia, who was bound to the operating table. In a heartbeat, she gaped at Amelia's face. "Y-Your face…"

The red blotches that had marred Amelia's face were nowhere to be seen. Her blemish-free face was flawless, and her features were exquisite. Even without a touch of makeup, she was dazzling.

For the first time, Winter, who'd long been hailed as Shelwick's most beautiful woman, found herself completely outshone. She was certain that if Amelia ever entered the entertainment industry, she would be a thousand times more famous.

"H-How could this be?" Winter staggered back, her face drained of color.

Amelia, the so-called ugly freak, was actually gorgeous beyond belief.

Amelia caught a glimpse of her own reflection in the operating table's polished metal surface and realized the dreadful red blotches on her face had disappeared.

She was well aware that those blotches had been caused by poisoning.

She'd foolishly believed that Tobias loved her for who she was, so she'd planned to surprise him that night by clearing the poison from her system completely and letting him see her at her best.

Yet, before she could finish the cleanse, he'd forced her to donate her heart to Winter.

Winter's eyes were red with jealousy as she stood beside the operating table. In an instant, shock and envy took root in her heart and spread like wildfire. She couldn't let Tobias see Amelia's face!

"Quick! Start the surgery! Rip her heart out right this instant!" she barked.

Diana ordered lowly, "What are you waiting for? Get moving!"

Everyone in the operating room had already been bought off. Unless someone talked, the world would never find out that Amelia was no ugly duckling at all but rather a rare beauty.

"Winter Stevans. Diana Larson…" Amelia parted her lips, yet the anesthetic spread through her body until she could no longer make a sound. So, she could only mouth, "I'll come for you, even from my grave!"

Diana understood her and cackled. "Ghosts can't lay a hand on the living. Do you even know how your mother died? I bribed the midwife. If ghosts could kill, she would've come for me long ago!"

Amelia's eyes widened. Her mother, Margaret White, had died by Diana's hand, yet she'd treated Diana and Winter as if they were her real family.

Rage surged through her as she cursed them inwardly. Then, a metallic tang flooded her mouth, and she coughed up blood.

Diana threw her head back and guffawed when she saw that. Her smile pierced straight through Amelia's heart.

Amelia's gaze hardened as she used the last ounce of her strength to bite Diana's hand. In a flash, blood gushed out of her wound.

Diana gasped and grabbed the scalpel beside her before plunging it deep into Amelia's chest. Amelia's world dimmed bit by bit until everything went black.

…

"Ow, my head hurts…" Amelia groaned inwardly. Her eyes flew open, and the first thing that came into view was an impossibly handsome face just inches from hers.

The man was on top of her, his clothes disheveled. The moment she opened her eyes, he clamped a hand down on her mouth.

In an instant, her eyes brimmed with sheer, overwhelming shock. What was going on?

Hadn't she died on the operating table? Why was she here? And who was this man?

Her mind went blank. When she lifted her gaze and looked around, she found herself in the cabin of the cruise ship that had brought her to Shelwick from the countryside three years ago.

Realization dawned on Amelia. She hadn't died; she'd been reborn three years in the past.

Within seconds, she regained her composure. But what on earth was happening right now?

"What—" Amelia tried to break free of the man's hold, only to feel a dagger pressed against her slender neck.

"Keep your mouth shut if you want to live!" His voice was cold. The cabin curtains were drawn, so she couldn't see his face, but she could smell the strong stench of blood on him.

Chapter 2

In the blink of an eye, the man ripped Amelia's clothes apart.

She screamed and instinctively covered her chest with her arms. Was she about to be assaulted? She couldn't believe that someone would force themselves on her when she looked like this.

"D-Don't touch me! I'm the fiancee of Tobias Brooks, the second heir of the Brooks family!" Even though she loathed Tobias with every fiber of her being, she had no choice but to use that title to intimidate the man.

As soon as her words fell, the man froze.

"You're Tobias' fiancee?" A cold glint flickered in Jayden Brooks' eyes.

The cabin was too dark for Amelia to notice the change in his gaze, but she did notice him pause.

It seemed like he knew Tobias. Amelia hurriedly warned, "That's right. Since you know who he is, you should also know better than to cross the future daughter-in-law of the Brooks family! So long as you leave now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

The moment those words rolled off her tongue, she heard hurried footsteps in the hallway.

"How strange. I'm sure he came to this floor…"

"He must be hiding in a cabin. Search every room!"

The men outside were closing in fast. Judging by the sound of their footsteps, they were almost at her door.

So, this man wasn't here to assault her. He was a fugitive on the run.

His arms, braced on either side of her head, were strong and well-trained. With the dagger at her throat, he could kill her anytime he wished.

Right after the thought crossed her mind, for the sake of her own safety, she gritted her teeth and said, "I can help you hide from them and treat your wound, but you have to promise not to hurt me!"

Since escape was out of the question, she decided she might as well work with him. Sure enough, as soon as her words sank in, the murderous intent in the man's eyes dissipated.

"You'd better keep your word, or I won't care whose fiancee you are," he warned with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Amelia couldn't see his face, but she felt the air around them freeze. This man was dangerous!

The footsteps stopped right outside the cabin door.

There was no time to hide the man. Gritting her teeth, Amelia went on the offensive, flipping him over and straddling him. Then, she let out soft, breathy moans as she rocked her hips in a convincing rhythm.

The man realized what she was doing, yet he still looked startled, and his body stiffened. Amelia, with her face covered in red blotches, didn't look like she'd ever been with a man. However, she sure knew what she was doing.

In a heartbeat, the cabin door was kicked open. Caught off guard, Amelia cried out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Using the light from the hallway, the intruder could only see two overlapping figures. The woman's skin was as smooth as porcelain, her long dark hair spilling across the pillow. Even though only her back could be seen, the scene was undeniably alluring.

However, when she turned her head slightly, the frightening red blotches on her face came into view. The intruder immediately lost interest and closed the door in disgust.

"Is he in there?" another person asked.

"No, it's just a couple having a tryst. Let's go!"

The second the door was closed, Amelia let out a breath of relief.

Before long, the footsteps faded away. Those people had left this floor of the ship.

"You did well," the man said flatly. Without sparing her another glance, he sat up and began tending to his wound.

Through the thin strip of light seeping past the curtains, Amelia saw his wound. It was on his waist. Once he wiped away the blood with his shirt, she could clearly see a bullet lodged in his flesh—a gunshot wound.

Thanks to the amulet on his chest, the bullet had only penetrated halfway into his flesh; otherwise, it would have pierced right through him.

Yet, his breathing was steady. Even when he noticed the red blotches on her face, he was unfazed. This meant his mind was unshakably strong.

Who on earth was he?

Amelia was lost in thought when he abruptly bit down on his shirt and, with brutal efficiency, dug the bullet out himself. Blood gushed out like water breaking through a dam.

"Have you lost your bloody mind?"

Amelia's instincts as a doctor overrode everything else. Even though the man didn't look like a good person, she hastily put on her clothes and grabbed her medical kit from her luggage.

Noticing his wary look, she explained, "I'm a doctor." He didn't say a word, but he didn't stop her from tending to his wound either.

Fortunately for him, her medical kit was well stocked, with medications to stop the bleeding too. Still, it took her half an hour to get the bleeding under control.

"There, all done!"

As soon as her words fell, the man's hand shot out, gripping her chin and tilting her face upward. Her face was barely the size of his palm, yet her eyes were large, shining like polished onyx. Unfortunately, the red blotches littering her skin made her look both ugly and frightening.

He was never one to judge a book by its cover, but he couldn't believe this intriguing woman was his crippled younger brother's fiancee.

He grilled her. "How old are you? What's your name? Where do you live?"

Amelia didn't want to talk to him. Lowering her eyes, she pursed her lips and remained silent for a moment before saying, "They're gone. You should get going!"

"Aren't you going to answer me?"

Amelia gritted her teeth. She knew better than to reveal her identity to someone this dangerous.

The man snorted. "Do you know who I am?"

"I don't want to know! Please just leave!" she urged.

"Fine." He abruptly reached out and yanked the necklace from her neck.

The necklace itself wasn't important, but the ring hanging from it belonged to Margaret. "Give it back!" Amelia demanded.

She reached out to snatch it back, but he was much taller. He simply raised his hand, and although she jumped, she couldn't reach it.

He watched her hop like a kitten for a while before saying, "This ship's bound for Shelwick. Look for me at Blue Moon when you arrive. I'll return it then."

With that, he struck the side of her neck. Her vision went black, and she went limp in his arms, losing consciousness.

When she came to, the cruise ship was already docked. She sat up with a start and noticed that the man was long gone from her cabin.

Amelia immediately checked herself and relaxed after confirming that the man hadn't done anything to her.

Then, she reached into her pants pocket and drew out a dagger, its blade gleaming coldly. After plucking a single strand of her hair, she blew it across the blade and watched as it sliced cleanly in two.

A sly smile curved her lips. She never treated anyone for free. Even though this dagger looked plain at first glance, it could cut through steel like butter; it must be worth a fortune.

When he struck her neck, she'd known that she couldn't put up a fight, so she'd quietly stolen the dagger from his pocket. "This isn't a bad trade," she mused.

As for meeting him at Blue Moon? Not a chance.

She had too much to do in this life, and she had no time to waste on such a dangerous stranger. Her top priority was avenging Margaret and herself.

Amelia put the dagger away and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her face was still marred by angry blotches.

She took out her medical kit from her suitcase and began treating herself. It would take months and numerous rare medicinal herbs to eliminate the toxins. Fresh from the countryside and broke, she could only start with the supplies she had for a simple detoxification.

In her previous life, her mentor, Quinn Hastings, had warned her that her beauty would only invite trouble. So, she was to hide her true appearance and lay low until she was strong enough to stand on her own.

Amelia had heeded his advice, yet what she'd received in return was betrayal—Winter, Diana, and her newlywed husband, Tobias, had conspired to kill her on the operating table.

In this life, she would take a different path. She would restore her beauty and grow stronger. She would never let others dictate her fate again!

When the ship slowly eased into port, Amelia got out of bed and wheeled her suitcase out of the cabin that still smelled faintly of blood.

"I'm back, Shelwick. I'll make everyone who hurt me in my previous life suffer a thousandfold!" she vowed to herself.

…

When Amelia disembarked from the cruise ship, Charles Merivale, the butler of the Stevans residence, was waiting at the port, scanning the crowd for her.

He turned around and asked, "Where is she? Why isn't she out yet? Have any of you seen a young lady with red blotches on her face?"

His men shook their heads.

Amelia walked over just in time to hear that. Diana had clearly done her homework and investigated her thoroughly, down to the red blotches that marred her face. Her lips curled into a cold, knowing smile as she walked up to Charles.

Chapter 3

"Excuse me," Amelia said calmly. "Did my father send you to pick me up?"

Charles spun around, and the moment he saw her face mottled with red blotches, he knew this was the Stevans family's heiress they'd been waiting for. Yet, something felt off. Weren't women from the countryside supposed to be timid and meek?

Why, then, did he sense an indescribable presence about this country-raised young lady that kept him from looking down on her? It must be his imagination.

Charles came to his senses and nodded. "We're here to take you home, Ms. Stevans."

"Thank you for coming. Let's get going," Amelia said with a faint smile.

That smile almost turned Charles' stomach. Amelia was just… unbearably ugly and frightening.

In a way, that played right into their hands. Diana had deliberately arranged a luncheon that day and invited all the socialites for the sole purpose of showing everyone how hideous Amelia was.

Eventually, word would find its way to her fiance's family. As the pinnacle of wealth and influence, the Brookses would surely refuse to let their second heir marry such a backward and unsightly woman.

That way, Winter, the Stevanses' youngest daughter, would have a chance to marry into the Brooks family.

"Please get in, Ms. Stevans." Charles pinched his thigh to keep his composure. The pain helped him keep his expression schooled so he wouldn't show how nauseous he felt. Then, he forced himself to appear calm as he stepped on the gas.

…

About half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of the Stevans residence.

Amelia looked at the familiar villa, recalling the first time she'd come here in her previous life. Back then, she was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the house.

She was so nervous and awkward that she'd made a laughingstock of herself, and her paternal grandmother, Sierra Lambert, had taken an instant disliking to her.

Later, she learned that the Stevans had barely managed to squeeze their way into Shelwick's high society, and this little villa was nothing impressive at all.

She'd been called back because Sierra's days were numbered, and her cold, self-centered father wanted her home to pay her respects.

Sierra was the only one in this household who'd shown her any semblance of care. Though she hadn't been particularly fond of Amelia either, she'd at least given her a sliver of familial affection.

Now that Amelia had been given a second chance at life, she wanted to stay by Sierra's side and accompany her through her final days.

Countless thoughts swirled in Amelia's mind, yet her expression remained calm and unreadable.

After crossing the gates, Charles led Amelia straight into the living room. It was crowded with guests and filled with expensive ornaments.

Amelia was well aware that these pieces were tucked away most of the time, lest they get damaged. Diana had only put them on display to intimidate her.

"Mrs. Stevans Senior, Mrs. Stevans," Charles called out, stepping forward to the center of the room. "Ms. Stevans has returned."

Diana tried to suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. Raising her voice, she told Sierra, who sat in her wheelchair, "Mia's back, Sierra!"

Sierra, who spent more time asleep than awake these days, had forced herself to stay awake because she knew another one of her granddaughters was on her way back.

When Diana informed her of Amelia's arrival, Sierra slowly opened her eyes, still carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Where is she?" she asked calmly.

Realizing he was standing in front of Amelia, Charles hurriedly stepped aside. All eyes turned toward Amelia.

Before them stood a young lady with a face full of dreadful red blotches that made her unpleasant to look at. Her cheap, shabby clothes only reinforced the image of a country bumpkin.

Diana hid the contempt in her eyes and gently beckoned her over. "Come closer, Mia."

Right after saying that, she shot a look at Winter, who sat beside her, dressed to the nines.

Winter caught on. Rising from her seat gracefully, she went to greet Amelia. She suppressed her disgust as she took Amelia's hand and chirped, "You're finally back, Amelia! I've been waiting for you ever since I heard you were coming home!"

Hailed as Shelwick's number-one socialite, Winter wore a limited-edition sky-blue designer gown that showed off her tall figure, flowing hair, and slim waist. Compared with the travel-worn Amelia, she was fair and radiant like a work of art.

Looking at Winter, who was clinging to her affectionately, Amelia couldn't help but feel a pang of indescribable sorrow.

No wonder Tobias had kicked her to the curb and joined forces with Winter to rip her heart out. With a face like that, what man wouldn't be tempted?

The guests whispered among themselves.

"Goodness, Ms. Amelia is such an eyesore… She looks like she belongs in the gutter, while Ms. Winter belongs in the heavens!"

"No wonder the Stevanses kept her away all this time. If she were my daughter, I would never bring her back either! It'd be too humiliating."

"I heard she's engaged to the second son of the Brooks family. When Mrs. Brooks learns of this, won't this marriage drive her mad?"

Winter's lips unconsciously curved up when she heard that. All of a sudden, she didn't mind Amelia's arrival. Having that ugly freak next to her only made her own beauty and status as the top socialite stand out even more.

Amelia, of course, heard the whispers and ridicule, but she didn't feel a thing. She'd already died once; no amount of malice could wound her again.

She tuned them out and gave Winter a slight nod. Without sparing a glance at the lavish decorations Diana had meticulously arranged, she walked gracefully up to Sierra and said softly, "I'm back, Grandma."

Her manners were impeccable. The guests who'd just been mocking her instinctively fell quiet.

Sierra narrowed her eyes. Even though Amelia's face was mottled with red blotches, her eyes were strikingly bright.

Most people who met Sierra for the first time were intimidated by her imposing presence, yet this granddaughter of hers from the countryside wasn't afraid of her at all. That made her feel a flicker of admiration for Amelia.

Hence, she beckoned Amelia closer. "Such a lovely child. You look like you've got a bright future ahead of you."

Amelia's heart softened as she took in Sierra's weathered face. Mustering all her courage, she reached out and hugged her. "I've missed you so much, Grandma!"

Sierra stiffened, clearly unaccustomed to such affection, but she hastily regained her composure and returned the hug. "It must have been exhausting to come all this way."

Breathing in the familiar scent of sandalwood, Amelia felt inexplicably at ease.

In her previous life, Sierra had wept as she'd held Amelia's hand during her last moments, apologizing to her and Margaret. At the time, Amelia didn't understand what she meant. But after hearing what Winter had said before her death, she understood it completely.

Sierra had known Diana was responsible for Margaret's death. Still, the dead couldn't return, and since Diana had already been pregnant at the time, she could only feign ignorance to maintain the fragile peace within the family.

Since Sierra felt indebted to her, Amelia could make use of that guilt to dig up the past and settle the score with Diana once and for all.

"It wasn't tiring at all, Grandma. No matter how tiring the journey was, it was worth it just to see you!"

Sierra's eyes crinkled into a smile when she heard that. She rarely met someone of the younger generation who wasn't afraid of her, and she hadn't felt this close to one in a long time either.

Diana's expression darkened when she noticed how satisfied Sierra was with Amelia.

Wasn't this wretched thing from the countryside? Yet, she carried herself with such elegance. Her manners, her bearing, and even the way she spoke put Winter, whom Diana had painstakingly raised, to shame.

Diana was livid. Then, she thought of something and asked with a smile, "Mia, it's been forever since you last saw us. Did you bring a gift for your grandmother?"

Chapter 4

Amelia's gaze turned cold. In her previous life, Diana had pulled the exact same trick, demanding she present a gift on the spot. She'd panicked then, at a complete loss for words, which only made Sierra dislike her even more.

Fortunately, she came prepared this time around. Beaming, she slipped out of Sierra's embrace and turned to Diana. "Of course I brought something!"

With that, she opened the bag she'd been carrying and took out a clear box. Inside lay a single white flower.

Looking at that flower, Winter covered her mouth and giggled. "Amelia, you brought Grandma a wildflower?"

The guests' expressions immediately became scornful. Amelia might have had grace and poise, but to them, she still looked like a country bumpkin with nothing to her name. Who in their right mind would offer a wildflower as a gift?

Seizing the opportunity, Winter immediately added fuel to the fire. "Amelia, if you didn't bring a gift, you could've just said so. How could you fob Grandma off with just a wildflower?"

Among the guests, several young men, who were interested in Winter, chimed in.

"That's right, Ms. Amelia. No matter how hard your life was in the countryside, don't you think a single wildflower is a poor excuse for a gift?"

"Who would give a wildflower as a gift? That's downright laughable!"

Sierra's brows drew together when she heard that. Still, she defended Amelia. "It's the thought that counts, and as it happens, I like flowers."

After hearing their comments, Amelia had no choice but to explain. "This isn't a wildflower, Grandma. This is a white megonia; it's an extremely rare medicinal herb that blooms only once a year on the edge of cliffs. I've been searching for it for years."

"This is a white megonia?" Sierra accepted the little box and examined it carefully.

Just then, one of the young men who'd mocked Amelia earlier piped up. "That's a white megonia? Stop lying! How dare you pass off a wildflower as a rare medicinal herb? Do you take us for fools?"

Disappointment and hatred flashed across Sierra's eyes. "Mia, even if it was just a wildflower, I would still have liked it. But you shouldn't lie. The one thing I hate most in life is dishonesty!"

Amelia's brows knitted. "I'm not lying, Grandma. This really is a white megonia! I nearly fell off a cliff to pick it—"

"That's enough!" Diana banged the table, secretly pleased. "Stop lying, Amelia! We have a family physician, so sooner or later, your lie will be exposed. You'd be better off telling the truth. Is that really a white megonia?"

Amelia's expression hardened. "I'm not lying!"

Studying her expression, Sierra started to question her own judgment. "Call Dr. Fairfax over!" she ordered.

"Sierra…" Diana called out lowly. "You don't actually believe her, do you? If this blows up, we'll all be humiliated!"

Sierra closed her eyes. "I don't want to repeat myself."

If Amelia was lying, Sierra would blame no one but herself for failing to see her true colors clearly. However, if she wasn't, she swore she would protect this child with all her heart from then on.

Soon, the family physician, Gideon Fairfax, arrived.

Before Diana or Sierra could say a word, his eyes lit up when he saw the flower in the latter's hands.

With shaky hands, he pointed at it, his voice breaking from excitement. "T-That's a white megonia! Never in my life did I think I'd see a real white megonia. Good heavens, I must be the luckiest man alive!"

As soon as his words fell, silence settled over the room. Diana, Winter, and the young man who'd mocked Amelia immediately paled.

Who could have imagined that a simple woman from the countryside would present a gift more precious than the everwhite lotus? This single bloom alone was worth as much as three houses in Shelwick.

Winter refused to believe it. "Are you sure, Dr. Fairfax? What if it's only a wildflower that happens to look like a white megonia?"

Gideon couldn't help but frown. "I might fail to recognize my own mother, but I would never fail to recognize a white megonia, Ms. Winter! Every doctor dreams of finding a white megonia. How could I ever mistake the one thing I've always dreamed of?"

Those words left no room for doubt—Amelia hadn't lied.

Winter's legs quivered beneath her gown, nearly giving way.

Diana, who was quick on her feet, hurried forward, took Amelia's hand, and apologized sincerely, "I'm sorry, Mia. It was my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you!"

Without saying a word, Amelia stared at Sierra.

Sierra's face clouded with guilt. For a moment, she, too, had believed Amelia was lying.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I'll never do it again," she admitted.

"It's alright, Grandma. You probably didn't recognize the white megonia because it's extremely rare. I would never hold it against you."

Amelia's words merely made Sierra feel even more ashamed of herself. She took off her bracelet and slid it on Amelia's wrist. "You've given me such a precious gift, yet I have nothing equally fine to give you in return. Here, this is the bracelet I brought with me when I got married."

Amelia was well aware that the bracelet was worth a fortune, as it was made of pigeon blood ruby. The fact that Sierra was willing to part with it meant that she'd gained her approval.

Ironically, she had Diana to thank for it. Had Diana not deliberately pushed Amelia into presenting a gift just like she had in her previous life, she wouldn't have had the perfect chance to gift the white megonia.

"Thank you, Grandma!" Amelia beamed. Her eyes were as pure and innocent as a child's.

However, this was just the beginning.

Diana was consumed with jealousy as she stared at the bracelet on Amelia's wrist. She'd coveted it for years; she hadn't expected Sierra to give it to Amelia as a gift to mark their first meeting.

Still, she couldn't afford to lose her temper. So, she forced herself to appear generous as she walked up to Amelia with concern. "It's getting chilly. Why are you dressed so lightly?"

With that, she ordered a housekeeper to bring a snow fox coat and draped it over Amelia's shoulders. The lavish fur made her shabby clothes look even more out of place.

It was getting chilly, but it was only early autumn, hardly the time for such thick clothing. Obviously, Diana had done this to make Amelia feel small and ashamed. She'd done the same thing last time, but Amelia had foolishly believed Diana genuinely cared about her.

Amelia gazed at the coat before plastering a smile on her face. "Thank you, Mom!" She adopted the same tearful, grateful expression she'd worn in her previous life.

As expected, Amelia was still so green. The guests around them immediately wore unmistakable looks of disdain.

However, Amelia didn't seem to mind. She put on the fox fur coat and treated it as though it were a prized possession, carefully stroking the snow-white pelt. Her clumsy demeanor made her look like a complete joke.

Diana almost burst into laughter. For a moment, she'd nearly been fooled by the white megonia and believed that Amelia was shrewd. In the end, a yokel was still a yokel.

This worked out perfectly. Everyone she'd invited that day was a chatterbox. Once they left, it wouldn't be long before every grand dame in Shelwick learned of how disgraceful Amelia was.

With that thought in mind, Diana raised her coffee mug, letting its rim mask the smug smile tugging at her lips.

Chapter 5

Out of nowhere, Amelia let out a piercing scream. In one swift motion, she yanked the fox fur coat off her shoulders, flinging it to the ground.

Diana's brows immediately drew together. Was Amelia trying to humiliate her by throwing the coat she'd given her on the floor? That wretched brat!

Diana was about to lash out when Sierra gasped. "Mia, your hand…"

Diana lifted her gaze skeptically. To her shock, beads of blood had welled up on the back of Amelia's hand. Her skin was as fair as porcelain, and the crimson beads looked all the more jarring.

"W-What's going on?" Diana was completely at a loss. All of a sudden, she had a bad feeling.

Before she could figure out what had happened, Sierra ordered in a low voice, "Bring me the coat."

"Right this instant, Mrs. Stevans Senior." The housekeeper beside her hurriedly stepped forward, picked the fox fur coat up from the floor, and placed it in front of her.

Sierra ran her fingers over the sleeve and, to everyone's surprise, pulled out two long needles hidden within the snow-white fur.

The housekeeper's heart skipped a beat. "If those had pierced an artery…"

Before she could finish, Sierra's expression darkened even further. Her clouded eyes gleamed as she fixed Diana with an icy stare. "You've gone too far, Diana!"

No matter how much Diana despised the daughter her husband had with his first wife, she should never have resorted to such underhanded tactics. One wrong move, and Amelia would have died.

Realizing what had happened, Diana hurriedly defended herself. "It wasn't me, Sierra. I didn't put anything of the sort in that coat! I have no idea how this happened…"

While no one was watching, Amelia discreetly pinched her thigh hard, causing tears to stream down her cheeks. "Mrs. Stevans…"

She no longer addressed Diana as "Mom" but rather as "Mrs. Stevans". However, at this point, no one would think she was being disrespectful.

Amelia wept, "If you don't like me, why did you bring me back?"

"I—"

No one valued her public image more than Diana, and now, she was being humiliated before a room full of guests and Sierra.

Beside herself with anger, she pointed at Amelia's nose and bellowed, "You're lying! You're trying to set me up!"

Winter hurriedly chimed in, "My mother's kind to everyone. She would never do such a thing!"

"You're right…" Amelia bit her lip and paused before continuing, "Of course, you would never do such a thing, Mrs. Stevans. I must have misunderstood. T-There has to be some kind of misunderstanding!"

By changing her tune and calling it a misunderstanding, she made Winter feel as if her punch had landed on thin air. For a moment, she was tongue-tied, and all she could do was look at Diana.

Diana was livid; she felt like the ground was slipping out from under her. She'd always been the one framing others, never the other way around.

She raised her hand to slap Amelia, but with just a look from Sierra, the housekeeper beside her immediately stepped forward and seized Diana's arm. "The guests are watching, Mrs. Stevans. Please don't act out of line."

"I… S-She…" Diana stammered, frantically turning to look at Sierra. "It wasn't me, Sierra! No matter how reckless I am, I would never do something like this!"

Sierra frowned. If this had happened before the white megonia incident, she might have suspected Amelia. However, she'd come to trust Amelia now, and her faith in her now outweighed the trust she had in Diana.

That said, it was out of character for Diana to pull such a stunt in front of so many people.

Sierra shifted her attention back to Amelia. The young lady was petite and frail, her eyes brimming with tears, and she appeared timid and uneasy. She hardly looked capable of setting Diana up.

After all, she'd been raised in the countryside and had only just arrived in Shelwick. How could she have the wit to pull off such an intricate trick?

Perhaps this was all part of a bigger scheme, meant to drive a wedge between her and her pitiful granddaughter…

The thought enraged Sierra.

She could have let it slide if Amelia alone had been targeted. Yet, to make her a pawn in the game as well? That was an insult she couldn't stomach. Did they really think so little of her?

Sierra could no longer sit still. After forcing herself up from her wheelchair, she announced, "Everyone, I'm sorry you had to witness such a scene. I'll prepare a small gift for each of you later as a token of apology, and I hope you'll forget what you saw today."

With that, she sent all the guests on their way.

Then, she warned Diana, "I do not want this to happen again. Diana, I want you and Winter to go back to your rooms and reflect on your behavior! As for Mia… she will no longer stay in the room upstairs; she'll live with me in the little house in the backyard."

It was clear as day that Sierra had taken Amelia's side.

Amelia's heart leaped for joy. In her previous life, she'd never gotten close to Sierra, and it had been one of her greatest regrets. She hadn't expected that Diana's scheme would make Sierra take a liking to her.

The innocent look on her face made Sierra instinctively protective of her. Deep down, Amelia took pleasure in seeing Diana heading up the stairs in anger and frustration.

She vowed to make Diana and Winter pay back a thousandfold for everything they had done to her and Margaret.

…

That night, sleep eluded Amelia as she mapped out her plans for revenge.

She looked up information about Tobias on the computer in her room. Tobias was known as a genteel man, crippled and oppressed by his vicious older brother. However, she knew that was nothing but a facade.

In her previous life, she'd met Tobias the day after the birthday banquet.

However, despite being her fiance, he hadn't come to see her at all but rather to deliver gifts to Winter. He'd barely acknowledged her. His attitude only took a complete 180 when he learned that she could cure his legs.

Looking back on it now, she realized how foolishly naive she'd been. She had no idea that Tobias had treated her as a tool ever since then.

Even though she couldn't get close to him at the moment, Diana and Winter were just within arm's reach. If she wanted to take them on, she would first have to completely win Sierra over.