Casting off the Deadweight

On the first day Thea Storme is accepted back to her wealthy family, she signs a betting contract with the fake heiress, Clara Storme. The contract states that if Clara is able to steal from Thea nine times in a row, Thea will have to leave the Storme family on her own. Thea agrees to the bet. On the ninth time, Clara has her eye on Thea's boyfriend, who's a low-income student. She gives him two million dollars and demands that he marry into her family as a live-in son-in-law. "You want me to marry into your family? Sure." Thea raises her head in disbelief. Leonard Falkner taps a finger on the bank card. The moment he meets Thea's gaze of despair, he flashes her a comforting smile. "But I will marry into your family as Thea's husband. I might be poor, but I still have my pride. Except for the woman I love most, I won't lower my head for anyone in this world." That day, Clara cries as she runs out of the house. She even agrees to marry into the Larkin family out of spite. Leonard remains unmoved. He just watches Clara making a fool of herself coldly. But that night, Thea overhears something… Chapter 1 That night, Thea Storme held the ring she had just finished making. By chance, she overheard the helpers addressing her poor boyfriend, Leonard Falkner, respectfully. "Mr. Falkner, are you really going to just stand there and watch Ms. Clara become a widow? Mr. Larkin Senior used to be a military commander. He isn't someone we can cross. Once Ms. Clara marries his grandson, it'll be too late!" The gentle look Leonard always wore was gone. What replaced it was a coldness Thea had never seen. "I underestimated Clara. I thought marrying her sister would force her to give in. Didn't expect the little thing to have such a temper. "Let's do this. The wedding goes on as planned. But before the ceremony, tie Thea up and hand her over to the Larkin family." "This whole thing and my identity stay secret. I'm going to use this chance to smooth out Clara's rough edges." In that instant, Thea felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss. The ring slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor. She sent her brother, Jeremy Stratton, a message. "I agree to take Clara's place and marry Mr. Larkin to bring him good luck." … "I've thought it through. I won't back out. I'll marry Mr. Larkin." Thea pushed open the door to Jeremy's office. Her expression was hidden in the shadows, giving nothing away. Jeremy had been gaming. The moment he heard her, he tossed his phone aside. "You agreed? Really? That's great!" The Larkins just called again. Mr. Larkin's condition is getting worse. He has at most half a month left. They need the wedding before that. I'll start preparing everything right now. What kind of cars do you like? Take your pick from my garage—" "Doesn't matter," Thea cut him off. "I don't care about any of that. But if you still remember that I'm your real sister, agree to two conditions." The air went still. Jeremy turned his head away, avoiding her eyes. "What conditions?" "First, I want two courtyard houses. Second, the fact that I'm going to marry Mr. Larkin must be kept secret from everyone, including Clara and Leonard." Jeremy froze, and then he stared at her like she had lost her mind. "Two courtyard houses are worth over 1.6 billion dollars. You're really greedy, huh? Don't forget, you were the one who insisted on fighting Clara over Leonard. You pushed her into agreeing to marry into the Larkin family in the first place. "All that fear she went through was because of you! I thought you were being mature by taking her place. Turns out you're just cruel. You want her to keep worrying!" "That's on her!" Thea snapped, raising her head. Ever since being brought back to the Storme family, she had never raised her voice like this. "Did I force her to agree to the marriage? You feel bad when she's just scared for a few days, but I'm the one marrying a man who's about to die! Why don't you feel bad for me? If Clara is the only sister you care about, why bring me back at all? Why not send me back to the orphanage?" Thea took a deep breath before continuing, "And those two courtyard houses were wedding gifts Dad and Mom left for me at birth. I'm just taking back what's mine! Who are you to call that greedy?" The barrage of questions made the veins on Jeremy's forehead bulge. Yet, he couldn't say a word. He stared at Thea for a long time. When he realized she had no intention of backing down, he clenched his teeth and replied, "Fine. I'm done arguing. You're marrying into the Larkin family anyway. That's settled. "I've transferred the houses into Clara's name. I'll have someone handle the transfer paperwork for you." Thea let out a sneer and turned to leave. Just before the door closed, Jeremy asked one last question, "Forget the houses. I get why you want them back. But why hide this from Leonard? "He's so crazy about you that he's even willing to be a live-in son-in-law for you. Your wedding is about to happen. How are we supposed to explain this to him?" "No need to explain." Thea left those four words behind, her voice colder than ever. Only then did Jeremy realize that this young lady raised in an orphanage was nothing like the pushover she seemed to be. Once outside the room, Thea's eyes finally reddened. As she looked at her new phone wallpaper—a wedding photo of her and Leonard—the pain in her chest felt like a knife twisting deeper and deeper. Leonard called right then. "Thea, when are you coming back?" He always checked on her like this. She was about to speak when she heard a low grunt from the other end. She paused, forcing her voice to stay steady before casually asking, "What are you doing?" "Thinking about you, of course. Since you won't give it to me, I had to handle it myself." Thea commanded the system to pull up Leonard's live feed. She watched Leonard pleasure himself while casting a vile smirk at Clara Storme. Every sweet word he whispered to Thea made Clara's eyes fill with tears of pure fury. Unable to contain her rage, Clara reached out and seized him. Another pronounced, muffled groan echoed simultaneously through the phone on Thea's end. Leonard got what he wanted. He casually tossed his phone aside. He had no idea that Thea could see everything. She watched him lift Clara's chin and ask, "You're mad already? Just give in and say you love me, and I won't marry Thea." Thea didn't watch what came next. She cut off the feed and ended the call. Tears slid down her cheeks. Why did she insist on hiding her marriage from Leonard? To outsiders, they looked deeply in love. But only Thea knew that his affection toward her was never real. Every bit of it existed only to force the Storme family's precious daughter, Clara, to submit. Since he had deceived her for so long, it didn't seem too much for her to deceive him just once. Chapter 2 "System, I don't want to win over Leonard anymore," Thea called out to the system in her mind while wiping her tears. The usual instant mechanical voice hesitated this time. "Thea, unbinding will return him to who he was, and you'll also suffer heavy damage." "That's fine." Thea's tone was firm. "As long as I'm breathing, I'm willing to pay any price to leave Leonard." "Thea, wait. Let me think of a way," the system said. The first time Thea met Leonard, both were at their lowest points. After being brought back to the Storme family, she had a brief stretch of better days. Her parents felt guilty that she had been kidnapped by a nanny and ended up in an orphanage. Even if they didn't love her deeply, they tried to make it up to her. But Thea could clearly feel that her whole family favored Clara, the adopted daughter they raised themselves. Clara's room was the biggest and brightest. When she had a mild allergy, Thea wasn't allowed to stay on that floor because Clara said Thea smelled strange and made her sneeze. Thea never thought to compete with her until Clara challenged her to a bet. She claimed she could steal away Thea's most precious things—not just once, but nine times over. If she succeeded, Thea had to leave the Storme family willingly. Otherwise, she'd only bring shame to herself. Thea agreed because she wanted to know if her blood relatives really did not care about her at all. The first time, Clara took Thea's spot at an international high school, even though Thea had worked hard to get in. The second time, she took the cat Thea had raised for three years. After three months, she returned it cold and lifeless. The third time, she stole Thea's first crush. He openly humiliated Thea, calling her a hick who couldn't compare to Clara. But within a week, she dumped him. Time after time, anything Thea cared about or liked was easily taken by Clara. What was worse, Thea slowly realized that her family was growing colder toward her. Her father told her, "You're the older sister. You need to yield to Clara." Her mother pulled her aside one day. "Clara is adopted, so she has no sense of security. Don't always clash with her." Jeremy was harsher. He locked Thea in the school warehouse overnight. "You think just because you're my real sister, you can steal Clara's things? Kids from orphanages really have no manners. You're nothing compared to Clara." Every time Thea tried to defend herself, Clara's few tears stole everyone's attention. By the ninth time, when Clara announced her intention to seize Thea's fiancé, she had already given up. She packed her things, waiting for the bet to end so she could leave the Storme family. It was at this time that she found Leonard in an alley. He was lying in the rain with multiple bullet holes in his stomach. The torrent of blood he bled out stained the soles of her shoes crimson. She wanted to run, but he grabbed her ankle. Yet, she didn't dare take a man like that to a hospital. Just then, she heard the system's voice. It said that if she could win Leonard's heart, not only could he be healed, but she could also get three wishes granted. With that power, Leonard survived. His broken legs showed no sign of damage, and he became someone Thea couldn't let go of. And so, Leonard replaced her original fiance and became Clara's new target. That was their ninth bet. As she stood in a standoff with Clara, Jeremy stood behind Clara, his chilling gaze wordlessly threatening her to surrender. But in the silence, Leonard took Thea's hand and said, "Thea is the only one I love. I will only become a live-in son-in-law for her." At that moment, Thea cried. She finally won once. But when Clara agreed to marry into the Larkin family to bring them good luck, Thea's last hope was shattered. She overheard Leonard casually order his men, "When the Larkins come to pick Clara up, tie Thea up and send her to the car. But keep my identity a secret. I'll tell Clara after she gives in to me." One of his men asked, "What about Ms. Thea? You humbled yourself to join the Storme family as a live-in son-in-law for her sake. Are you really just going to leave her with the Larkin family?" Leonard pondered briefly. "She's a compliant woman. I promised to treat her well. Let's do this. When the Larkins no longer care about her, find the right time to rescue her and lock her up in my villa in Northia. If she escapes, I'll break your legs." As it turned out, the man she had saved was none other than the underworld's most enigmatic figure. He was a big shot the Storme family dared not offend and the living nightmare she could never escape, even after marrying into the Larkin family. Thea couldn't stand being tied to him through the system any longer. Just when she was overcome by a cold emptiness, the system's mechanical voice sounded almost excited. "Thea, I detected a better target. Dylan Larkin, heir to the Larkin family. He nearly sacrificed his life during a mission at the border and is now brain-dead. I can heal him. Once you win him over, you can also get your three wishes. So, what do you say? Want to take a gamble?" Her heart skipped a beat. Among all the system's words, the weight of "sacrifice" was clear. She didn't hesitate long before replying, "Yes, change the target. Healing him might be far more valuable than saving Leonard." Chapter 3 The system reported to its superiors about changing Thea's target. The weight in Thea's chest finally lifted a little. Upon returning home, she was met by Clara, who was running out with red-rimmed eyes. She shoved Thea aside violently. "Out of my way." Thea's back slammed against the edge of a table. Luckily, Leonard caught her quickly. His face darkened as he reached out to block Clara's path. "Apologize." Clara stared in disbelief. "Who does she think she is? Why should I apologize to her? Leonard, don't go too far." Leonard lifted Thea's shirt from the back to reveal a terrible bruise. His expression turned even colder as he threatened, "Don't push me to do worse." Clara trembled, and tears slid down her cheeks. She looked just like a scared little rabbit. Thea had always hoped someone in this family would stand behind her and back her up. But now that the moment had come, it felt so ridiculous. Could Leonard really do anything to Clara when he smelled exactly like her body wash? Thea was exhausted. There was no point in staying with someone who didn't truly care about her. She pulled away from Leonard's support. "I'm fine. Grandma's hosting a dinner tonight. I'm going to change." Leonard's eyes flickered with surprise. "You're not going to make her apologize?" Before, when he stood up for Thea in front of Clara, there was light in Thea's eyes. But now, there was nothing. Leonard felt something strange stirring in his heart. He quickly asked, "Can I come with you tonight?" Surprised, Thea glanced at him. But when she saw the hopeful look in his eyes, she understood at once. "Come if you want to." Leonard didn't like big crowds. But if he skipped the dinner, he'd have to separate from Clara. For him, that would be torture. Thankfully, in just half a month, Thea would marry into the Larkin family. Once she was out of the way, Leonard could cling to Clara as much as he wanted. That night, the car pulled up to the Storme residence. It was Leonard's first time attending such a formal event as a "poor" man, but Thea didn't wait for him. A flash of displeasure crossed his face, but he forced a polite smile and followed her. People couldn't help but glance with envy. "Seriously. Thea may not be much, but she sure knows how to pick a man. He's got looks and style." "Right? And since he's a live-in son-in-law, Thea won't get pushed around after marriage." Thea didn't react. But Clara was furious. She threw herself into her grandmother Penelope Floyd's arms, acting like a spoiled child seeking comfort. Penelope held her close, comforting her. "Oh, my poor Clara. Marrying into the Larkin family will be a nightmare. It's all because someone didn't know her place and stole your man. If you had just gotten engaged earlier, you wouldn't have to be the one marrying into the Larkin family." A cold smile tugged at Thea's lips. It seemed like everyone in the Storme family thought it didn't matter if she married into the Larkin family. If that family was a living hell for Clara, did they truly believe it would be heaven for Thea? That evening, Penelope removed the emerald bracelet from her left wrist and handed it to Clara in front of everyone. "This is a family heirloom of the Storme family, passed down to only one person each generation. Clara, it's yours now." Chapter 4 In the silence, Leonard's steady voice cut through. "You can't give it to Ms. Clara." Stunned, Thea turned to look at him. He leaned back against the chair, exuding a presence of nobility that far exceeded his standing. A faint smile tugged at his lips as his sharp gaze locked onto Clara. "Thea is the real daughter of the Storme family. Clara was adopted. What right does she have to accept that bracelet?" The dining table fell into a heavy silence as a multitude of gazes converged on Thea, making her squirm with discomfort. She quickly tugged on Leonard's sleeve, whispering, "I don't care about that bracelet. You don't have to do this." He smiled at her, then fixed his gaze on Clara with an intensity that was almost obscene. "Ms. Clara, why don't you beg me? Maybe then I'll ask Thea to drop it." A chill ran down Thea's spine. Leonard wasn't standing up for her. He was using her name to force Clara into submission, without a care for Thea's feelings. Penelope slammed her cane on the floor several times. "Well, well. You're really bold, Thea. You got yourself a man and had him humiliate your sister? Bet you've been holding that in for a while." "Listen up, if you keep making things hard for Clara, don't blame me for kicking you out of the family." Thea lowered her eyes. The system's voice rang in her ear. "Thea, your target has been switched. It will take effect in two weeks." In other words, from now on, neither the Storme family nor Leonard could hold her back. Years of pent-up frustration welled up inside her. She raised her head sharply. "Clara, want to bet again?" At the mention of a bet, Clara's composure flickered for a split second. "The wager?" "That bracelet. We'll take turns bidding, only using our possessions as stakes. Whoever bids higher wins the bracelet and the other person's stakes." Everyone around looked surprised. They all knew Thea grew up in an orphanage, and since her return, she had remained the unloved daughter of the family. How could she challenge Clara like this? Clara clearly thought so too. She was the first to pull out a black card. "I hope you don't back out. This is all my savings." Thea smiled and showed her own card. The butler, Rowan Ellison, checked the balance and looked confused. "Ms. Thea wins." "No way!" Clara refused to believe it and then pulled out a bunch of keys. "The island from Dad, the villa from Mom, and the yacht from Jeremy. This should be enough, right?" They were birthday gifts from the past few years. Thea calmly took out some documents. Rowan's face turned serious. "Ms. Thea wins again." A ripple of shock passed through everyone in the room, and they tried to catch a glimpse of the papers' contents. Thea's expression didn't change. "Want to keep going? Everything you have comes from Mom and Dad. I don't believe you have anything else. Let me tell you. These are my scholarships and patent contracts. I earned them myself. And I have more to show." Clara's face flushed bright red, her chest rising and falling as she snarled, "Well, I have more. 1.6 billion dollars' worth of courtyard houses. I don't believe you can come up with that kind of money so fast." Jeremy's expression changed. He hurriedly stopped her. "Clara, don't." "Why? This is all I have left. Jeremy, do you want to see me lose?" "No, it's just—" Before Jeremy could finish, Rowan cut in with the answer. "Sorry, Ms. Clara. Ms. Thea is now the owner of those two courtyard houses." "What?" Clara gasped, like someone had grabbed her throat. 1.6 billion dollars was now Thea's stake. If Clara couldn't outbid her, everything she owned would belong to Thea. Clara nervously twisted her sleeves. Penelope and Jeremy looked anxious but helpless. They couldn't openly help Clara cheat. Just as she bit her lower lip, on the verge of tears, Thea continued to watch her with a chilling calm. In the past, she would never have been this aggressive. She kept wanting to fit in with the Storme family and didn't want to make things hard for their little princess. But today, no matter what anyone said, Thea wouldn't change her mind. Someone was already ready to take the bracelet from Clara. She burst into loud sobs. At that moment, Rowan stared at his computer in disbelief. "1.5 billion dollars? Someone just transferred 1.5 billion dollars into Ms. Clara's account!" Chapter 5 "Oh my god! 1.5 billion dollars? Who can just transfer that much cash on the spot?" Everyone at the dinner gasped in shock. Rowan wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. He answered a call, said a few words, then switched on the speaker. The voice Thea recognized came through clearly. "Mr. Falkner says he won't let Ms. Clara lose. The Falkner family will cover all of her stakes today." Every word hit everyone like a hammer. "The Falkner family? You mean that Falkner family?" "Who else could pull out 1.5 billion dollars? Mr. Falkner isn't like Thea's fiance. He's a true big shot!" "Thea, you'd better give up. The Falkners don't just have money. They hold grudges. If you cross them, life will get rough." Thea's ears buzzed as she stared at Leonard. He just smiled like it didn't concern him while watching with genuine amusement as Clara's tears dissolved into a smile. He was staring at her as if she were a piece of prey. Thea felt the whole thing was ridiculous. She put down the title deeds of her two courtyard houses. "I'm in. 1.6 billion dollars." Within five minutes, another 200 million dollars was transferred into Clara's account. The Falkner family could have crushed Thea immediately, but they seemed to enjoy tormenting her with just a slight edge. Thea finally broke. Her voice was hoarse as she demanded, "Is Mr. Falkner not going to give me a way out today?" Leonard seemed to come to his senses only then, realizing he was Thea's fiance. He wrapped his arm around Thea's shoulders with an apologetic look. "Sorry, Thea. I'm just an ordinary guy. I don't have the means to provide your stake. Since this whole mess started because of me, I'll talk to Clara and cancel the bet." Thea trembled with rage. He didn't have the means? The man in front of her was responsible for how things turned out. Whether as her fiance or the enigmatic Mr. Falkner, Leonard seemed determined to trample her pride underfoot. Thea struggled to stand. "I'm not giving up. It's just a stake. I'll keep raising if I have to." Frowning, Leonard grabbed her arm. "Thea, don't act on impulse. No point risking everything just for some pride." Thea shut her eyes tight. Actually, the Larkin family's wedding gift of money was already in her hands. If she gave it all up, even Leonard couldn't stop her. But that would reveal she was taking Clara's place to marry into the Larkin family. Still, no matter what, she couldn't lose this bet. Before she could say more, Penelope spoke up. Her gaze was complicated as she reprimanded Clara, "Enough, Clara. Don't be ridiculous. Leonard's right. It's not fair to Thea if I just hand you the bracelet. I'll keep it for now. "Since the wager is no longer valid, this entire bet is void. I'll treat this as nothing more than a joke between sisters. Take back your stakes." Leonard raised an eyebrow. Thea caught a hint of regret in his eyes. She shook off his hand and dug her nails into her palm. Along with the humiliation came deep regret. She never should have agreed to bind with the system. Letting Leonard die in that alley would have been better for all of them. After dinner, Thea refused Leonard's company and walked home alone. She didn't want to face anyone's pity or mocking looks. At the riverside, the system spoke up. "Thea, Leonard and Clara are on the other side." "Oh, yeah? What are they saying?" The system kindly helped listen in. Leonard quietly asked Clara, "Do you regret breaking up with me back then?" "What difference does it make whether I regret it or not?" Clara's voice was cold and harsh. "You're about to marry Thea, and I'm to be wed to a dying man from the Larkin family. We have no future left." Leonard's voice took on a coaxing tone. "If you admit you were wrong, I can fix both things." Clara sneered. "You're just an ordinary guy. As if your words matter. You really think you're Mr. Falkner? If it weren't for him tonight, I'd have made a huge fool of myself. Leonard, you caused all this. I hate you." Thea fell silent. Leonard had fixed the problem, but didn't tell Clara. He even played the devoted lover to the very sister she loathed most right in front of her. All of it was to make Clara give in and get her to apologize. Thea was just the sacrificial pawn in Leonard and Clara's game. Suddenly, she didn't want Leonard to reveal the truth. She grabbed her phone and dialed a number. "Leonard, I want the chowder you make. Where are you?" Chapter 6 Leonard sounded a little helpless. "I'm almost home already. I'll go buy ingredients now. Do you want potato or seafood chowder?" Clara's face flushed red from anger at his gentle tone. Thea had sharp eyesight. She clearly saw a figure turn and run off. With her goal achieved, she offered a perfunctory response. "You decide." Leonard's indulgent voice came through. "Alright, my queen. Just wait and eat." … Thea went home first. She had only taken a few sips of the chowder when Leonard called out, "Clara, Thea doesn't have much of an appetite tonight. I made her some chowder. Do you want a bowl?" Clara walked over and suddenly flipped the bowl over. Scalding chowder splashed onto Thea's wrist, leaving an angry red mark. "I'm allergic to seafood. What are you trying to do?" Clara snapped. Leonard was smiling, but his eyes were full of provocation. "My darling likes seafood chowder, so I make seafood chowder. What's that to you? Who are you to me? Why should I consider you?" Thea set her spoon down with a sharp clink. Her voice was cold as she said, "I don't care what issues you two have. Either wipe the chowder off me or lick it clean. Leonard, I picked you up off the street. I suggest you remember your place." Leonard's pupils shrank. Clara's face was twisted in disdain. "Quite the temper you've got. Watch your tone, or I'll tell Jeremy and have you kicked out in an instant." Thea raised her brow, frost in her eyes. "Go ahead. Tell him. See if he dares say a word." Right now, the Storme family couldn't afford to lose her. If she left, where would they find another daughter to marry in Clara's place? After shutting Clara up, Thea turned to Leonard. "You seem to enjoy bickering with Clara. I'll make the decision for you. You can marry her instead as a live-in son-in-law and go with her to the Larkin family. Interested?" Leonard forced a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. 'Live-in son-in-law' is just a title. It's not like I'm losing myself. Why do you have to put it so crudely?" "I'm just being nice to you," Thea cut in coldly. "Everything you have comes from me. Even your life belongs to me because I saved it. What right do you have to say no to me?" She stood up to leave. Suddenly, the system warned her, "Thea, watch out!" The crystal chandelier hanging 13 feet above came crashing down. Everything happened too fast. Thea had grown up tough. The moment she heard the warning, she covered her head and ran outside. But what she never expected was that Leonard would shove her aside and pull Clara out of danger instead. The chandelier smashed down hard. Shards of glass tore into Thea's body, carving countless wounds. The pain nearly knocked her out, but she stared stubbornly at Leonard and Clara. Just before losing consciousness, she saw Leonard rushing toward her. He pressed his cold hand against the wound on her arm. That was the final straw. … When Thea came to, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose. She clenched her teeth hard, as the fury churning inside her had nowhere to go. Before she even opened her eyes, she heard Clara crying beside the bed. "Leonard, you still love me, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have saved me. If that's the case, take me away. Let's run away. Mom, Dad, and Jeremy will marry Thea to the Larkin family to calm them down for sure. We can come back once everything settles." "Clara…" Even without opening her eyes, Thea could imagine the smug satisfaction hidden beneath Leonard's gentle gaze. He had finally succeeded. He had won Clara over. Before he could say anything else, Thea forced herself awake and ripped out the IV in her right hand. When Leonard heard the movement, he spun around and asked anxiously, "Thea, you're awake? Are you feeling okay?" Thea slapped him hard across the face. The sheer force of the blow snapped his head to the side. Leonard's pupils shook. "Have you lost your mind?" Ever since Leonard became the most powerful figure in the underworld, no one had dared treat him like this. A slap was worse than a knife. But Thea didn't hesitate. She slapped him again. "Leonard, whose fiance are you exactly? Does your conscience really tell you it's okay to shove aside your lover to shield another woman in your arms?" Chapter 7 Leonard started, "Thea, I can explain—" Thea's hand shook violently from the force she'd used. Blood splattered across the back of her hand, but she didn't even notice. She reached out to press the nurse call button. "We're done," she said coldly. Clara rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Thea, stop hurting him. I know you're jealous of me. You can't stand seeing anyone be nice to me. But you can't do this to Leonard. Even if he's going to be a live-in son-in-law, he's still your husband. How could you embarrass him like that?" A flicker of excitement flashed through her eyes. She pulled Thea's hand and slapped it against her own cheek. "Slap me instead. If you're angry, take it out on me. Just don't hurt Leonard." Thea could have easily broken free, but as she saw Leonard reaching out to help Clara up, her resolve hardened. She followed Clara's pull and slapped her hard. Clara let out a sharp scream, and her cheek immediately swelled. Leonard's features remained taut, yet instead of erupting in anger, he let out a smile. "Thea, this was my fault. Everything happened so fast. You and Clara look so alike, so I mistook her for you. I swear it won't happen again." That same day, the three of them left the hospital together, but the car suddenly turned into a narrow alley. More than a dozen motorcycles boxed them in. A man in a black suit, gripping a metal rod, yanked the car door open. Clara screamed and threw herself into Leonard's arms. The man in black didn't even glance at her. He grabbed Thea and dragged her out of the car. "Mr. Falkner sent me to teach you a lesson. Either you take 100 slaps, or I break your fiance's legs." Several men stepped forward, pretending to restrain Leonard. Leonard shouted furiously, "Come at me! Don't hurt my fiancee!" Thea felt hollow inside, yet beneath that emptiness surged a molten fury. She almost laughed. "Break his legs, then." Everyone froze. Clara was the first to scream, "How can you be so cruel? It's just 100 slaps. You won't die! If Leonard's legs are broken, who's going to fix them?" "Right. What would a person do without their legs?" Thea's gaze dropped slowly to Leonard's legs. "I wonder if Mr. Falkner has ever had his legs broken. Does he know what it feels like to live without them?" Leonard's struggle faltered. The man in black struck Thea hard across the cheek. In the silent alley, even the crickets had gone quiet. Only the crisp, repetitive sound of slaps remained. Leonard never stopped the man. Inside Thea's mind, the system said anxiously, "Stay calm, Thea. I've already called the police. They'll be here in five minutes." Thea had never felt hatred like this before. She bit down on her lip so hard that blood filled her mouth. All she had done was slap Clara once, which the latter had asked for. Yet, Leonard was determined to strike her back 100 times over. Worse still, he continued to play the devoted fiance, as though he would do anything for her. Thea swore that one day, she would return every bit of this pain. After 50 slaps, Thea's face was swollen beyond recognition. Her skin looked so thin it seemed it might burst at a mere touch, with fine streaks of blood seeping through the surface. She looked so wretched that there wasn't a single spot left to strike. Then, she heard the man in black ask, "Mr. Falkner, should we continue?" Leonard simply stared at her for a moment. Then, he lifted his left hand and made a subtle gesture. It was the signal to continue. Thea shut her eyes tightly. The man in black raised his hand again, but the slap never came. Instead, a furious shout tore through the alley. "What are you doing? Is there no law and order anymore?" Thea looked up. Blocking the entrance wasn't a police car. It was a luxury sedan. Chapter 8 After Thea was sent to the hospital, she banned Leonard from visiting her. A beautiful woman sat by her bedside. "You must be Thea, right? Don't be afraid. I'm Kate Rogers, Dylan Larkin's mother." Thea was surprised. Kate looked young, but her hair was already streaked with gray. Her eyes were red and swollen, clear signs she'd cried many times. She held Thea's hand gently. "Finding a bride for Dylan to bring him good luck is actually just a show for his grandfather. "The old man has grown senile. He couldn't accept Dylan's condition, so he kept praying and asking around, and finally someone suggested bringing in a bride to bring good luck to Dylan. "After the wedding, I can help you get abroad. You're still young. Do you want to continue your studies?" Thea shook her head softly and squeezed Kate's hand back. "Don't give up so soon, Mrs. Larkin. Maybe I can help with Dylan's condition." … When she was discharged and returned home, she found the Storme residence's living room filled with boxes of gifts. Clara smiled brightly. "Thea, these are all from Mr. Falkner. He's already proposed to me. Once that loser from the Larkin family dies, I'm going straight to marry into the Falkner family. You can come to my wedding then." After saying that, she sighed. "It's just how the world works. We're both human, yet the gap between us is just so huge. The Larkins and the Falkners are practically fighting to marry me, each offering more lavishly than the last. "But you only have a poor fiance. Our family even has to pay to keep him fed. Honestly, it's just pathetic." Thea grew curious. "You're always calling Leonard's name and running into his arms whenever something happens. You two look pretty close. Are you not mad that he wants to marry me?" Clara shrugged casually. "He's just a poor student. I can find plenty of those at college. He's nowhere near Mr. Falkner. Money alone can't buy that kind of status." Thea almost laughed. She couldn't wait to see Leonard's reaction when he heard all this. She asked the system in her mind, "Did you record all this?" Clara's words earlier echoed in her mind. "Of course, Thea," the system replied. … Thea went to visit Deanna Merrill, the director of the orphanage who had cared for her. The old woman's face was a map of kindness and smiles. "Thea, I heard you're getting married. I don't have much to give, but take this lucky charm. I hope it brings you safety and happiness. By the way, how's your fiance? Does he treat you well?" Thea's nose stung, but she smiled sincerely. "I haven't met him, but he's a good man. He's a soldier willing to sacrifice his life for the country. Even if he doesn't love me, I believe he wouldn't treat me badly." "Doesn't love you?" Leonard's voice came from behind. He studied Thea's expression carefully, then handed the fruit basket to Deanna. "Don't worry. I'm Thea's fiance. After we marry, I'll treat her well." Deanna looked puzzled. "But Thea said…" Seeing Thea's numb expression, she sighed and said nothing more. As Leonard and Thea walked out of the orphanage, he handed her a bottle of medicine. "You mentioned your stomach was always hurting, so I had a friend prescribe some medicine for you. Remember to take two pills before you go to bed." Thea held the bottle tightly. The label said it was just common stomach medicine. But the system warned inside her mind, "It contains sedatives. You'll be unconscious within 30 minutes of taking two pills." Leonard was ready on all fronts. If Thea took the sleeping pills, she would be quietly sent to the Larkin family. If she didn't, his men would tie her up and force her there. Thea wanted to laugh. Leonard didn't know that all his efforts were wasted. … As soon as they returned home, Jeremy came rushing over in a frantic hurry. "Bad news. The Larkins sent word that Mr. Larkin was rushed to the ICU last night. The doctors say he's only on life support now and could die any moment. We have to send a bride over first thing tomorrow morning." Before Thea could say anything, Leonard gasped, "So soon?" He seized Thea's hand, gripping it with an unprecedented force, as if he couldn't bear to let her go. Clara's face went pale. She collapsed on the couch, clutching Jeremy's sleeve. "Jeremy, I'm scared. What if Mr. Larkin dies right after I marry him? Do I have to spend a night with a dead man?" Jeremy's heart ached. He pulled Clara into his arms. "Don't worry. That won't happen. I'd never let you go through that." As he said that, he glanced at Thea but saw no fear in her eyes. Only mockery. Suddenly, Jeremy felt his face burn and avoided eye contact. Thea went upstairs. In the shared second-floor living room lay the ready-made wedding dress. Clara never even tried it on. If she did, she'd find it didn't fit at all. Leonard wrapped his arms around Thea from behind. "Thea, get to sleep early tonight. You'll need to wake up early to see Clara off for her wedding." He couldn't see Thea's expression, but holding her close today made him hesitate to let go. However, he quickly pushed the strange feeling aside. Leonard had already made arrangements. Soon, he would bring Thea out of the Larkin residence. By then, he'd be her savior. He was convinced that Thea would come to see him as her only lifeline. Even if he married Clara with a grand wedding, Thea would never escape his grasp. That night, Leonard didn't sleep well. He dreamed again of the alley. In the dream, while he was escaping his enemies, a young woman bent down and carried him on her back. Her warm body temperature reached his chest even through the dream. He suddenly bolted upright in bed. Just then, his phone rang. His subordinate's frantic voice came through the line. "Mr. Falkner, we searched Ms. Thea's room but couldn't find her." "She ran? Damn it! Who leaked the news?" "No, that's not it. We asked Mr. Stratton. He said Ms. Thea already got in the Larkin family's wedding car and left." Leonard stood up sharply. But before he could rush downstairs, a sharp pain shot through his legs. Though used to injuries, he still collapsed with a heavy thud.