Chapter 1

My fiancée fell for the mute man who saved her life.

She wanted to break off our engagement.

I, in my foolish good nature, warned her:

"The Sterling family will never accept him. You should really think this through."

Feeling utterly humiliated, the mute man took poison and ended his life.

Ten years later, the first thing Seraphina did after seizing full control of the corporation was to utterly dismantle the Bennett family and orchestrate my demise.

"This is what you all owed Leo."

I opened my eyes again, back to my twenty-third birthday party.

Mr. Sterling asked me about my greatest wish.

"Since Seraphina and Leo are so deeply in love," I said,

"Please, let's unite this couple."

I died on a bitterly cold winter night.

I thought I could hold on until spring warmed up, but Seraphina couldn't wait.

No anesthetic. The surgical blade slowly, meticulously cut into my chest. Blood erupted, gushing forth like a torrent.

She still wasn't satisfied.

She raised her arm, plunging the icy, sharp blade into my heart.

The agonizing pain stole my breath. I struggled to gasp out:

"Why?"

I simply couldn't understand.

We'd grown up together since childhood; our families had always been close.

For years, my father had catered to Sterling Corp, helping her climb to power.

Even after she took control, we never once tried to take advantage.

Yet, she manipulated the stock market, fabricated scandals, and drove my family, the Bennetts, to ruin.

"Why, Seraphina?" I desperately clutched at her collar.

Seraphina glared at my eyes with such venom, it was chilling. She was the killer, yet her face twisted with an accusation so sharp, it was as if I had betrayed her.

"This is what you all owed Leo."

She leaned closer, her voice colder and sharper than the winter wind outside the window.

Leo?

The memory was too distant. It took me a moment to recall the name.

And that delicate, pale face.

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Ten years.

So Seraphina had never forgotten him.

And she blamed his death on me, on the entire Bennett family.

"Seraphina, you're just a— "

You utter fool!

The last two words died in my throat as Seraphina pulled out the surgical blade.

Crimson blood spurted out, blurring my vision.

It hurt so much.