The moment my father died, his illegitimate daughter, Amber, flew in from overseas to steal my family home. As the sole daughter from his marriage, with his will firmly in my favor, it should have been an open-and-shut case. It wasn’t. Because my fiancé, Zach Song—a man who practically owned the city of Northwood—chose her side. He shielded the wheelchair-bound Amber behind him, his voice laced with impatience as he tried to reason with me. “The money I’m offering you could buy a dozen estates like this. Have you no compassion, Jenna? Why are you fighting a disabled woman over a house?” I stared at him, the betrayal a bitter pill I couldn't swallow. “Fighting her for it? Zach, that house was the only thing my mother left me!” In the end, he still helped Amber win the lawsuit. He looked at my tear-ravaged face, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “Jenna, I’ll make it up to you.” But I knew, right then, there was no “us” left to make up to. 1 “I’ll add another five million to the compensation. Just give the estate to Amber.” “She was in a car accident overseas, Jenna. She’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Just think of it as taking pity on a cripple.” Zach’s casual words felt like daggers, driving me to the brink of madness. “Not in a million years! That house was my mother’s legacy!” My voice cracked. “Her mother was nothing but a maid in our house! She crawled into my father’s bed while my own mother was pregnant with me. Then she had the gall to flaunt her baby bump in my mother’s face, taunting her until the stress sent my mom into premature labor. The hemorrhage was too much. She died right after I was born.” “You want me to pity her? Who’s going to pity my mother and me?” My hysterical accusations were met with a sigh. Zach took off his gold-rimmed glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked at me, his patience worn thin. “Jenna, stop making a scene. I’ll add another twenty million. That’s enough to buy you a whole portfolio of properties like that one. Are you satisfied now?” He slid a contract across the table. “Here. Sign the transfer agreement.” I looked at the man before me in utter disbelief, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. “Zach, I’m your fiancée! Not only are you refusing to help me, but you’re helping the very person who destroyed my family?” “Is this the love you promised when you proposed to me?” He had the grace to look ashamed. After a long silence, his tone softened. “I just feel sorry for her, that’s all.” “Jenna, if you just sign this quietly, I, Zach Song, promise that from this day forward, I will protect you and only you.” The contract was pushed in front of me again. Without a moment’s hesitation, I snatched it, ripped it to shreds, and threw the pieces in his face. “Forget it. I’m never signing.” “We have a court date tomorrow. If you still plan on siding with her, then I’ll see you there.” I grabbed my bag and turned to leave. Zach’s voice, now a cold warning, stopped me in my tracks. “Jenna, don’t force my hand.” My steps faltered for a second, then I walked on, more determined than ever. Suddenly, a scuffling sound from behind me, followed by a familiar, terrified yelp. “Arf-arf!” My heart plummeted. I spun around, my eyes wide with horror. “Are you insane?” “You’re using Buddy to threaten me?” Buddy. The dog we had raised together for five years. He was like our child. But now, he was shackled in heavy chains, two burly security guards pinning his frail body to the floor. A vet stood beside them, holding a syringe with a glittering needle. All it would take was one word from Zach. The lethal dose would flood Buddy’s system. Zach sighed, a mask of regret on his face. “Jenna, you’re the one who forced me to do this.” “I had them prepare another copy of the agreement. Sign it.” “You have three minutes. Whether Buddy lives or dies is up to you.” The sight of Buddy, held hostage, shattered my composure. I lunged at Zach, clawing at his sleeves, my voice a choked sob. “Zach, that’s Buddy! The puppy we adopted together! How could you do this to him? He’s ten years old, he’s so old and fragile, he can’t take this! You’ll kill him!” My tears didn't stir an ounce of pity. He glanced at his watch. “You have two minutes to decide. The estate, or the dog?” Buddy’s old body was already failing him. He struggled violently for a moment, his tongue lolling out as he panted, his barks turning into sharp, desperate yelps. But the guards just pressed him down harder, silencing him until only weak whimpers escaped. He couldn't speak, he could only plead with his eyes for me to save him. His tail, once a happy metronome, was now limp on the ground. His eyes, barely open, were fixed on me, and I could see the tears welling in them. Every second I looked at him, I felt my heart being torn to shreds. But the estate… it was the only piece of my mother I had left. How could I hand it over to the daughter of the woman who caused her death? How could my mother ever rest in peace? “One minute left, Jenna.” Thump. My knees gave out. All pride, all dignity, evaporated as I fell to the floor before him. “Zach, I’m begging you. Please, let Buddy go!” I pleaded. “Why do you have to drag him into this? Don’t you remember when he had Parvo as a puppy? He was so close to dying, and you were crying right there with me. I know you love him. How can you be so cruel to him now?” “Please, give him back to me. Can’t you see he’s barely hanging on? Please!” Zach didn’t answer. He just stared at his watch, his voice a cold, detached countdown. “Ten seconds.” “Five.” “Doctor, you can inject…” The syringe was raised high. On the floor, Buddy was limp, almost lifeless. In that instant, I finally understood the true depth of Zach’s cruelty. I collapsed completely, my body giving out as I screamed, the sound raw and broken. “I’ll sign!” 2 My hand trembled as I signed the agreement. Zach finally smiled, satisfied. He passed the papers to Amber, who was waiting behind him. Her own smile was one of pure triumph as she waved the document at me. “Thank you ever so much, sis.” “I’ll have my mother move in with me soon. She’ll be so happy to finally live in the estate, rightfully and openly.” I was too furious to speak, turning my face away to look back at Zach. “Now. Can you let Buddy go?” Zach nodded, gesturing for the guards to release the dog. He bent down, about to help me up. Just then, a terrified shriek came from behind him. “Ah! Help me!” Amber screamed. “Something’s wrong with my wheelchair!” As she yelled, the electric wheelchair accelerated backward, rocketing toward the spot where Buddy lay. In a flash, it ran straight over him, only stopping when it slammed into the wall. “It hurts! My legs, they hurt so much!” she cried out. She could still cry out in pain. But my Buddy, his legs still bound, had no way to escape. He took the full weight of the machine as it crushed him. He let out one last, agonizing cry, and then… silence. Zach didn’t even glance at him. He strode right past Buddy’s broken body. He swept the pale-faced Amber into his arms, his voice a soft murmur. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’ll get you to the hospital right now.” And then they were gone. I scrambled, practically crawling, to Buddy’s side. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. I grabbed the vet’s arm, my voice a feral roar. “Save him!” “He’s not breathing! You’re a doctor, do something! Save him!” The vet checked for a pulse, for breath, and then slowly shook his head. “Miss McQueen, I’m so sorry. He’s gone.” A deafening roar filled my ears. I don’t remember much of that afternoon. I was a ghost, a hollowed-out shell, carrying my dog’s body to the crematorium. I have no real family. My mother died young, my father was a cheat. For years, there was only one person and one dog I had truly loved. Now, Buddy was dead, and Zach had betrayed me. Standing before the searing heat of the furnace, a profound, unshakable chill seeped into my bones. My phone buzzed in my pocket. A message from Zach. He just got rolled over a bit, right? I heard him yelp, so he should be fine. Amber got a real scare, though. I’m staying with her at the hospital tonight. Won’t be home. Since the agreement is signed, make sure you withdraw the lawsuit tomorrow. Don’t be sad. I’ll love you twice as much from now on. I didn’t reply. I clutched the urn containing Buddy’s ashes, my gaze falling to the diamond ring on my middle finger. The irony was suffocating. Love? To hell with his love. Zach knew this would destroy me, and he did it anyway. That wasn't a mistake. It was a choice. A deliberate, calculated choice to hurt me. And that was something I could never forgive. That afternoon, I didn’t withdraw the lawsuit. Instead, I spent the night packing my bags and moving out of the home we were supposed to share as a married couple. The ring that once symbolized our love, I took it off. And left it on the coffee table. The ring was trash. Zach’s love was even worse. My phone buzzed again. A notification from an airline: Dear Ms. Jenna McQueen, your purchase of a ticket for flight AA8785 from Northwood to San Francisco has been confirmed. The flight will depart the day after tomorrow at 10:15 AM. We wish you a pleasant journey! Another vibration. A text from an unknown number: Miss McQueen, I have the information you requested. There is no record of Amber being in any car accident. 3 I didn’t withdraw the lawsuit, so the court hearing proceeded as scheduled. But with the signed transfer agreement, Zach effortlessly won the case for Amber. As the court adjourned, he cut me off before I could leave. Seeing my cold expression, he asked tentatively, “I told you to withdraw the suit. Are you still angry?” “It’s not that I’m taking her side. Amber was a junior of mine back in high school abroad. We were close. Seeing her like this now… I just pity her. That’s why I…” “I saw a new development over at Seaside Point. The environment and location are much better than the old estate. I’ll buy you two villas there as compensation. I’ll take you to see them. And I already promised you, from now on…” Zach’s words were cut short. The ever-present Amber rolled up in her electric wheelchair, interrupting. “Jenna! I was just about to look for you!” “Zach said he was worried people in our circle might bully me since I’ve just returned. He’s throwing a party at the estate tomorrow night, a housewarming to show everyone I have his support.” “Since you’ll be moving out tomorrow anyway, why don’t you join us?” The moment Amber spoke, Zach eagerly chimed in, “Yes, exactly. Amber’s status is… awkward. With you there, it will help legitimize her.” I frowned, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Legitimize her? How?” “Her age and her parentage are facts. A child born during my parents’ marriage is the child of a mistress. What other name is there for it?” With that, I turned and walked away. Behind me, Amber’s face flushed red with anger. She choked back a curse, turning a wounded, helpless face to Zach. “Zach… is Jenna still mad at me?” “It’s all my fault. I should have just stayed overseas, a useless cripple, and died. I shouldn’t have come back here to be a burden to everyone.” Zach patted her shoulder reassuringly. “What right does she have to be angry? I’ve more than compensated her for her troubles.” “Don’t overthink it. I’ll take care of everything for you tomorrow.” What Zach meant by “take care of everything” was, of course, a threat. The next day, while I was in the backyard directing movers, the party in the front yard was in full swing. Zach pushed Amber’s wheelchair through the crowd, patiently introducing her to his influential friends. They even wore matching outfits in a complementary color scheme. From a distance, you’d think they were the engaged couple. I let out a hollow laugh and looked away, focusing on getting the movers finished as quickly as possible, refusing to set foot in the main house. I didn't realize Zach had approached me from behind until his voice, sharp with displeasure, cut through the air. “I sent you dozens of messages last night. Why didn’t you reply to a single one? She’s already lost her legs, for God’s sake. Are you really so cruel that you want to make it impossible for her to live in this city?” When I refused to even look at him, he stepped in front of me, holding out a tablet. On the screen was a live feed. A group of men with shovels and pickaxes were surrounding my mother’s grave. Their intentions were chillingly clear. “Jenna, if you would just be a little more cooperative, I wouldn’t have to resort to this.” I looked at the man before me, my heart so broken it was simply numb. Desecrating a grave. He had really outdone himself this time. It’s always the one you love the most who knows exactly where to stick the knife. I couldn’t even summon the energy to be angry anymore. The disappointment was absolute, a vast emptiness hollowing me out. More than that, I hated my own powerlessness. “There’s no need for such a dramatic display, Mr. Song.” “It’s just a few words. Don’t disturb my mother’s rest.” I handed the tablet back to him. He grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron. “Where’s the engagement ring I gave you?” he demanded. 4 “Never mind. After this is all over, I’ll buy you a better one.” He answered his own question, effectively silencing the “we’re over” that was on the tip of my tongue. I scoffed, pulling my hand free and walking toward the front yard. I stood beside Amber, took the microphone, and spoke the sanctimonious words they wanted to hear. “Amber is my dear sister.” “Her mother was not a mistress. She was my father’s second wife.” “I gave this estate to Amber willingly, a welcome-home gift from a loving sister.” … From the crowd, Zach led the applause, his actions cementing Amber’s place in Northwood’s high society. Just as I was about to leave, Amber tugged on the hem of my dress. “Thank you, sister, for clearing my mother’s name and mine. We haven’t had a proper chance to talk since I came back. Do you have a moment?” In front of everyone, I couldn’t refuse. I followed her to a secluded corner of the garden. The moment we were alone, her façade dropped. “You really thought forcing Dad to send me away all those years ago would work?” she sneered. “The second I’m back, everything is mine. So what if I’m the illegitimate one? With Zach on my side, who in this city would dare to even frown at me?” “Jenna McQueen, soon enough, you’ll be just like that pathetic old dog of yours—crushed under my heel!” My gaze drifted past her, to a hidden security camera nestled in the eaves of the garden pavilion. I let out a small, deliberate laugh. “The Song family would never allow a cripple to become Mrs. Song.” As I expected, Amber wasn't provoked. Instead, she slowly, deliberately, rose from her wheelchair. “Surprised? I was faking it.” Her eyes glittered with malice. “And you just watch. The real show is about to begin.” “I have your house. And soon, I’ll have your fiancé, too!” The words had barely left her mouth when she purposefully climbed onto the low railing bordering the garden pond and threw herself in, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Help! Somebody help me!” Hearing the cries, Zach came sprinting over. Without a second thought, he dove into the water and pulled Amber out. She lay in his arms, her face pale and fragile, and pointed a trembling finger at me. “Jenna, why did you push me? I know you hate me, but to push me into the water when I’m like this… you were trying to kill me!” Zach clutched Amber protectively, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me. “Jenna, I thought you were just heartless. I never imagined you were this venomous! Do you have any idea what could have happened? If I’d been a second later, she could have drowned! How could you attack a disabled person?” “Apologize!” he roared. I frowned, stunned that he wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain. He had already condemned me. “She jumped in herself!” This only enraged him further. “That’s absurd!” he bellowed. “Amber can’t even walk without her wheelchair! How could she possibly jump?” I raised my hand, pointing towards the pavilion. “There’s a camera. We can check the security footage and see if I’m lying.” I was about to order someone to retrieve the footage when Zach lunged forward and shoved me hard. I tumbled backward, plunging into the cold pond water. “Why bother checking? If you were brazen enough to do it, you were smart enough to cover your tracks.” He loomed over me as I struggled in the water. “Instead of forcing a fake apology out of you, maybe you should experience what it feels like to drown. Then we’ll see if you ever dare to lay a hand on Amber again!” The water wasn’t deep, and I fought to get my footing. But Zach was determined to teach me a lesson. The moment I gasped for air, he grabbed my head and shoved it back under. Water flooded my throat, my airway spasmed, and my lungs felt like they were about to explode. He would pull me up just long enough for me to take a single, desperate breath before plunging me down again. Over and over, until my body was spent, until I had no strength left to fight, my consciousness fading into a dark, swirling void. Finally, he mercifully dragged me out and dumped me on the grassy bank, leaving me to cough and splutter in a pathetic heap. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Go home and think about what you’ve done,” he spat. “I want to see you at Amber’s door with a formal apology tomorrow morning at nine.” With that, he lifted Amber into his arms and strode away. The crowd of onlookers stared, their gazes a mixture of pity, amusement, and morbid curiosity, before they slowly dispersed. I lay on the cold, wet ground, too weak to even move. “Cough…” I choked up a lungful of water. I numbly wiped at the tears I hadn’t realized were falling, and a strange sound escaped my lips—a laugh, quickly dissolving into uncontrollable sobs. But at least… At least he had been decisive. He had suspected me, abandoned me, and tortured me without hesitation. He had systematically destroyed every last, lingering shred of love I had for him. And then, I truly laughed. Here’s to a heart finally dead. Here’s to my freedom.
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