Her stepmother’s voice came through the phone. “You finally came around? That’s great. We’ll hold the wedding next week…”
“Don’t rush,” Ariadnie cut her off, her tone cold. “If I’m marrying in place of your precious daughter, I deserve something in return.”
“I want the five buildings the Elizabeths own in the south of the city. And I’m taking my sister with me to the Paytons,” she enumerated quickly.
Her stepmother exploded. “What did you just say? Those five buildings are worth a billion! I don’t care if you take your sister or not but five buildings? That’s outrageous!”
Ariadnie let out a cold laugh. “If you don’t agree, then let Reagan marry that boy instead.”
Her stepmother had no choice but to grit her teeth. “Fine. I’ll handle it right away.”
The Elizabeths and the Paytons had been mortal enemies for years—one controlling the south side, the other the north, always at each other’s throats.
Now, the Paytons were stronger, and her father needed their help. When the Paytons proposed a marriage alliance, if she didn’t go, the one marrying in would be the daughter they treasured the most—Reagan.
They couldn’t bear to send Reagan in danger, so they set their sights on Ariadnie.
After hanging up, Ariadnie remembered the night she first met Rasper. It had been raining just as heavily as it was tonight.
That night, she’d been drugged, and it was him who saved her—picked her up and carried her away, without ever touching her.
When she woke up after a night on an IV drip, the first thing she saw was his pretty, doe eyes, almost stealing her soul.
“Hey, you’re awake? Why are you blushing? Don’t tell me you like me?”
From that day on, they were together.
In the daytime, he was cold as a glacier, treating her politely but distant. At night, it was like he was addicted—holding her, wanting her again and again…
She always thought it was just his personality. But now, she realized—he wasn’t even the same man.
“Ariadnie, you really are pathetic,” she muttered, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
She should’ve known—aside from her mother, who died young, and her sister, who lay unconscious, no one in this world ever truly cared about her.
The next second, she lit a slim cigarette. Smoke curled around her, blurring the redness gathering in her eyes.
Then suddenly, her phone rang. It was the hospital.
“Ma’am, please come quickly. Your sister… She's in critical condition!”
She flagged down a cab and rushed over.
When she arrived, the doctor’s face was heavy. “Multiple organ failure… We’ve done everything we can.”
Her sister lay on the bed, pale as paper, her vitals dropping rapidly.
Ariadnie grabbed the doctor’s hand, her voice shaking. “Isn’t there anything—anything at all—that can save her?”
The doctor sighed. “Just yesterday, the hospital received a batch of new medication. It might help the patient, but…
“The hospital is managed by Stallone Corporation. We need Mr. Stallone’s signature before we can use it.”
Ariadnie’s voice cracked. “I’ll call him right now!”
Her hands trembled as she dialed Rasper.
The first call—he declined it.
The second time, he finally picked up, sounding impatient. “What is it?”
Over loud music, she heard Reagan whining beside him, “Rasper, I’m drunk… I feel awful.”
Ariadnie’s heart clenched. She hurried to speak. “My sister’s organs are failing. Please, you need to come sign the approval—”
Before she could finish, he hung up.
The third time, after a long wait, he picked up again.
“Rasper, I’m begging you—come sign for the medication!”
The moment she spoke, she heard soft, breathy moans on the other end, then Reagan’s coquettish voice. “Not so hard…”
Rasper chuckled low. “You’re uncomfortable?”
Ariadnie’s eyes instantly welled up. Hot tears streamed down her face. She screamed, her voice breaking, “Rasper! My sister is dying! Can you just—”
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, shaking uncontrollably. “Can you please save her?”
One second. Two seconds. Three.
The machines beside her beeped wildly.
What she got instead was the tone of a call ending.
“The number you dialed is busy…”
Whatever light had been left in her eyes extinguished completely. She couldn’t hold back anymore; she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her sister was dying… and Rasper was in bed with Reagan.
Drowning in despair, Ariadnie clutched her sister’s ice-cold hand and prayed over and over, “Please live… I can’t lose you…”
Five years ago, her sister had been chosen by the school to enter the national dance competition. She was gifted, a rising star in the making.
But right before the competition, a rumor suddenly spread online—that she had an improper relationship with a teacher.
The teacher’s wife accused her publicly. Classmates mocked her. Even their father cursed her, calling her disgusting and slut.
Her sister cried, fought, but never gave up on the competition.
Every day, she practiced for hours on end.
Until one night, coming back from the practice room, she was dragged into an alley and assaulted by a group of thugs. Photos of the attack spread across the internet.
The school revoked her qualification and replaced her with… Reagan.
On the hospital bed afterward, Amina showed no expression. She didn’t even cry. When no one was looking, she jumped from the rooftop.
Tears blurred Ariadnie’s vision. The pain in her chest felt like it would crush her.
Her sister had been her lifeline—the one who raised her after their mother died, who cared for her, protected her, stood by her every time she needed someone.
She prayed all night until her tears ran dry.
And then—a miracle.
It was as if her sister heard her prayers. Her vitals stabilized.
Ariadnie finally exhaled, but her eyes were dark with hatred.
“Amina, I swear… everyone who hurt us will pay in blood.”
Just then, a message popped onto her screen.
She looked down. It was a message from the Paytons’s playboy—Reid Payton.
[You finally agreed to marry me?]
Everyone thought the Paytons proposed the marriage just to crush the Elizabeths.
No one knew that the Paytons’s ruler—the man everyone feared, the ruthless Reid—was already wrapped around her finger.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she dialed him.
“The wedding has to follow my terms. And the Stallones and Elizabeths will pay.” Her tone was calm, like she was discussing the weather.
“No problem,” Reid replied, his deep voice tinged with pleasure. “Anything you want, I’ll do. I told you long ago—Rasper doesn’t deserve you.”
She paused. “What I’m about to do… the Stallones won’t forgive it. You—”
Reid laughed. “Baby, don’t worry. You have me.”
After hanging up, she opened her notes and wrote down three things to do.
[First: Abort the baby.]
[Second: Delete the video on Redmond’s phone.]
[Third: Make the Stallone brothers and Reagan pay in blood!]
