Chapter 1

My boyfriend of seven years, the man I loved with all my heart, was the one who personally sent me to prison.

Just because his first love, Chloe, was assaulted by some thugs a few days before her wedding.

He was convinced I was behind it, seeking revenge.

I endured unimaginable torment in that prison.

After seeing me reduced to a shell of my former self, my father jumped from a building, taking his own life right then and there.

That night, I gave up all hope of living and plunged into the icy cold sea.

Yet, Liam, a man who never believed in anything beyond himself, completely shattered.

"If only Aria could live," he screamed, "I'd give my own life for hers!"

Women's prisons are never as peaceful as they seem on the surface. On my very first night, I was dragged out of bed.

Before I could even react, a heavy slap landed across my face.

My ears rang with a deafening buzz, then came the second, the third...

They only stopped when my mouth was full of blood, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I struggled to lift my head, looking at faces I didn't recognize, unable to speak.

One of them looked at me, a sneer twisting her lips. "What are you staring at, huh? Mr. Hayes said to take good care of you, you disgusting homewrecker."

I trembled all over, my body aching, but my heart aching even more. Mr. Hayes? Liam?

No wonder there was such a commotion and no guards came running. He'd obviously made sure of that.

He hated me that much.

Was I truly wrong to have loved him?

But I couldn't die, not yet. I still had my father; he was waiting for me.

I couldn't let him suffer the unbearable pain of burying his own child.

I endured three years of that inhuman existence.

But fate offered no kindness. The day I was released, Liam was there.

I dragged my battered, broken body, ravaged by suffering, slowly towards him.

The man I once loved to my core now stood before me like a devil, and I couldn't even meet his gaze.

Liam gripped my chin, forcing my head up to meet his eyes.

"Aria Sterling, long time no see."

That chilling indifference in his voice made me tremble uncontrollably.

He smirked. "What, are you scared of me? Didn't you once love me to death?"

I knew he was angry, and I scrambled to explain. "Liam, I know I was wrong. I stopped loving you a long time ago. Please, just let me go."

"But Chloe... she's still traumatized because of what you did. How can I possibly forgive you for that?"

He released my chin and motioned for his bodyguards.

They grabbed me by each arm and hauled me outside.

I screamed in fear. "Liam, please let me go! I truly know I was wrong!"

They acted as if they hadn't heard me, dragging me behind a car. They tied my hands with rope, binding me to the back bumper.

Liam got into the car, the engine roared, and I was forced to stumble and run.

Once we reached the bustling downtown area, the car slowed. Liam pulled out a speaker, cranked the volume to max, and started playing a looping message: "Aria Sterling, the former heiress of Sterling Enterprises, is a shameless homewrecker who framed her best friend to marry into the Hayes family."

Instantly, countless people poured out, surrounding the car. Liam simply stopped, letting everyone point, whisper, and gossip about me.

I was terrified. Then, someone threw an egg, hitting me square on the head.

Soon, more eggs, trash, and water bottles rained down on me.

"The Sterling heiress is a homewrecker, how shameless!"

"I heard before, she broke them up. To stop Chloe from marrying the Hayes heir, she hired some thugs to hurt her."

"This is exactly what she deserves."

Tears streamed down my face. If I truly were as malicious as they claimed, then this torment would be nothing but what I deserved—what goes around comes around. But the truth was, I was completely innocent. To this day, I had no idea about Chloe's encounter with those thugs.

I begged them to stop, to shut up, but all I got in return was endless curses and insults.

The day I was released, Liam ambushed me at the prison gates. He handed me a white flower, his eyes gleaming with sinister malice. "This white flower suits you perfectly. Your father, Mr. Sterling, the former CEO of Sterling Enterprises, jumped to his death after watching that video of you. You were locked away, oblivious, and there was no one to claim his body. So I, out of the kindness of my heart, had him cremated."

His words pierced me like blades. My mind reeled, my heart felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer, making it impossible to breathe. My father, who had loved me to his bones, had left me forever in such a tragic way.

I remembered. When I first entered prison, they filmed the videos of me being humiliated.

So, my father had been dead for three years.

So, I had no family left.

My phone suddenly lit up. It was a scheduled text from my father, timed perfectly for my release. Five simple words: "My dearest Aria, wishing you peace."

My father had died seven days after I went to prison.

"Aria Sterling," Liam called my name. "If you truly want to atone, I can give you a chance."

Three years of hellish prison, and my father's life—yet, he still didn't think it was enough.

I suddenly found it all absurd, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Dad, in three days, it'll be your death anniversary. How about your daughter comes to join you?

Lost and distraught, I turned and stumbled towards my home.

Every step felt like treading on knife blades, a piercing pain.

But the moment I stepped inside, I saw the person I loathed most in this life.

Chloe called out to me. "Aria," she said, her voice dripping with false concern, "what happened back then, you abandoning me, it was understandable. Luckily, those thugs didn't hurt you. I only just found out Liam sent you to prison; he never told me before. He truly went too far, and I apologize on his behalf. I'm so sorry."

Before I could react, Liam spoke first.

"Chloe, you're just too kind. That's why she always bullied you. You don't need to apologize to her. Everything she's going through now is what she deserves."

Tears instantly welled in Chloe's eyes. "Aria, Liam just loves me too much, don't be angry. We've already bought this place. How about we just give you the house?"

This was my home. Why would I need someone else to 'give' it to me?

Gazing at the empty living room, my heart instantly twisted in agony. Every inch of my skin throbbed, as if countless blades were mercilessly churning inside me, threatening to tear me apart.

It no longer looked anything like it had three years ago.

Chloe slowly pulled a document envelope from her bag and tossed it onto the coffee table with a mocking smile. "Here's the deed to your house. Now it's back where it belongs. To me."

I stared intently at that document envelope.

Three years of prison, countless dark and endless nights.

The humiliation of being 'specially cared for' by fellow inmates countless times—all of it transformed into a raging inferno of fury.

I rushed over, snatched the deed, and *RIIIP*, tore it in half.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Liam roared, lunging forward. He raised his hand and, *smack*, slapped me hard across the face.

The force of the slap made my head ring, and a trickle of blood instantly oozed from the corner of my mouth.

"You ungrateful brat!"

Liam's eyes were filled with disgust and rage, as if he were looking at a repulsive cockroach.

"I'm here today to make you sign the share transfer agreement for the company my father left you. Don't play high and mighty with me; you lost the right to bargain with me a long time ago!"

Clutching my burning cheek, I stared at him in disbelief. So, he hadn't just come to humiliate me today; he wanted my family's assets.

I let out a cold laugh, my voice trembling but undeniably firm. "Liam, don't you dare dream! I won't sign it. This is what my father left me. I'd rather die than give it to you!"

Seeing this, Chloe immediately adopted a pathetic, vulnerable look. Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice wavered with a sob. "Aria, please just sign it. I'm pregnant now, and raising a child costs money. Plus, Liam's company has had some project issues lately, and we're struggling with cash flow. Please, just pity us and help us out."

I looked at her hypocritical face, a wave of nausea washing over me.

I coughed violently, each cough feeling like it would rip my organs out.

Blood continuously seeped from the corner of my mouth, staining my clothes.

During my three years in prison, I was tormented in every conceivable way by the people he'd 'looked after.' My body was already riddled with damage, now like an oil lamp flickering, about to go out at any moment.

"You two... don't you dare dream..." I managed to gasp out the words, my body swaying precariously.

Liam looked at my state, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but it quickly turned back to cold indifference. "Fine, seeing you in this state, I don't expect you to sign today. I'll talk to you another time."

With that, he turned to leave.

But Chloe quickly grabbed him, whining, "Liam, just give me a little more time. Let me talk to Aria again. Maybe she's just having a moment."

Liam hesitated, then finally nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for you outside."

The moment Liam was gone, Chloe dropped her pathetic act, a vicious grin spreading across her face.

"All these years, even though Liam was by my side, his thoughts would drift to you occasionally. Do you know how much that hurt me? Three years, and I still haven't truly reached his heart. Aria Sterling, you disgusting woman, you don't deserve his love."

I looked at her coldly, no emotion stirring within me.

"I don't care to."

Chloe was enraged by my words. She shrieked and lunged at me, yelling, "Aria Sterling, how could you hurt my baby?!"

Just as she was about to reach me, she suddenly stumbled sideways, deliberately making it look like I'd pushed her.

"Ah!"

She shrieked in pain, collapsing to the floor. Her hands clutched her stomach, a look of agony on her face, and slowly, blood began to seep from between her legs, staining the floor crimson.