Chapter 3

Grandpa Sterling had indeed been kind to me. My sister, Lily Knight, and I grew up together in an orphanage. It was the Sterling family’s sponsorship that allowed us to continue our education.

Later, Lily saved me in a car accident, becoming a comatose patient.

To pay her exorbitant medical bills, I agreed to Grandpa Sterling’s request.

At that time, Seraphina Sterling’s parents were victims of a car accident, both dying. Seraphina herself was left with paralyzed legs from the same crash.

And her fiancé at the time, Damon Thorne, disgusted that she was confined to a wheelchair, fled before their wedding.

To protect his granddaughter from further trauma, Grandpa Sterling concealed the truth of Damon Thorne’s departure abroad. But he also wanted to find a husband who could care for his granddaughter for the rest of her life.

We then made an agreement: I would marry Seraphina Sterling in Damon Thorne’s place.

Life after the marriage was unexpectedly peaceful.

I discovered that Seraphina Sterling, though she appeared cold, had a genuinely warm heart. My feelings for her evolved from pity to concern, and finally, to love.

We fell in love and even had a beautiful daughter, Chloe.

I tried to be a good husband, massaging her legs daily, helping her with personal care, and assisting her with rehabilitation.

Chloe would always hug her mother’s neck and say in her sweet voice, “Mommy, I love you most! Get better quickly so we can play house together!”

However, the day her legs finally healed and she could stand again, everything changed.

She slept with one of the male students I sponsored.

When I confronted her, she fiercely threw that contract agreement in my face, her eyes filled with scorn.

“Caleb Knight, who do you think you are? A scheming gold-digger who’d stop at nothing to get what he wants! You were so conniving, you even dared to chase Damon away just to marry me!”

“Don’t forget, your sister’s life is still in my hands. One word from me, and she’ll be gone.”

“So, stop with that disgusting act and behave yourself!”

After that humiliation, Seraphina Sterling seemed like a different person.

She grew more brazen, constantly having affairs with the young men on my sponsorship list, each time feeling like a slow torture to my soul.

She tested my limits repeatedly, watching my reactions, seemingly drawing pleasure from my pain.

Until Damon Thorne returned. She immediately arranged for him to be by her side, as her personal secretary.

Then, my little Chloe was kidnapped right under my nose, her legs severed, and she ultimately bled to death due to lack of medical attention.

Grandpa Sterling had promised me that if Seraphina Sterling didn't repent, he wouldn’t force me to stay.

But now, even my last hope, my only sister, had been cruelly killed by them.

I slowly wiped away the tears from my eyes, my heart dead inside.

Perhaps, this was for the best. Both Seraphina Sterling and I were finally free.

Just as I stepped out of the Sterling mansion, Seraphina Sterling called.

“Caleb Knight, you’re nothing but a stand-in.” Her voice was laced with irritation.

“I’m warning you, Damon has a weak heart. You’d better behave yourself and not play any tricks to provoke him!”

In the past, her words would have pierced me to the core.

Because of Chloe, my only request of Seraphina Sterling was not to have illegitimate children outside.

But now, Chloe was gone.

I coldly uttered three words: “Whatever you say.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Seraphina Sterling seemed surprised by my reaction.

Then came a surge of greater anger and a hint of subtle unease.

“Heh, so you’ve got Grandpa backing you up now, feeling all confident?” she sneered.

“Don’t forget, I can cut off your comatose sister’s medical expenses anytime. If you dare to cause any more trouble, I don’t know what else might happen!”

My hand involuntarily clenched into a fist!

My sister?

She was already dead!

Her heart had been dug out by her little lover, Damon Thorne. Now, only a handful of ashes remained!

A searing, throbbing pain erupted in my chest, impossible to suppress.

I remembered the first time I discovered her cheating. After I slapped that man, her furious retaliation followed.

She tied me to the balcony of our bedroom, forcing me to watch them spend the night together.

The wind that night was chilling, colder than my heart felt at this moment.

It was from that day on that I became numb, learning to calmly deal with every man who showed up at our door.

Now, my sister and Chloe were gone. I had no weaknesses left!

I coldly hung up the phone and booked a flight for abroad, three days from now.