After pretending to be her sister and married with Cadoc for three years, Emma Jefferson can finally leave him now.

"Your sister will be back in a month. Until then, you have to keep pretending to be her," her mother, Zoey Jefferson, said coldly over the phone. "Once that's done, I'll transfer five million to you. Then you're free to do whatever you want."

"Okay," Emma replied softly, her voice calm.

After she hung up, she stared at the giant wedding photo on the wall.

Cadoc looked handsome in his suit, and she was in a stunning gown, smiling softly.

"It's been three years," she whispered, brushing her finger across the photo frame. "It's finally over."

Three years ago, the marriage between the Fitzgerald and the Jefferson families made headlines. Her twin sister, Ella Jefferson, had been chosen as the Fitzgerald family's future daughter-in-law.

But on the eve of the wedding, she left a note and vanished.

"Dad, Mom, I don't want to be tied down by marriage, but I know it's my duty. Just give me three years to live freely. I'll come back after that."

To keep the deal between the two families alive, Zoey and her husband, Dylan Jefferson, had no choice but to bring Emma back—the twin daughter they'd left behind in the countryside since she was a kid.

Emma had never even been allowed at family events, but she became a substitute bride under Ella's name.

"Cadoc doesn't like your sister," Zoey said coldly the night before the wedding. "He's hung up on a poor scholarship girl. Marrying him won't be easy, but just stay in line and get through these three years pretending to be Ella."

Emma had only nodded back then.

Of course, she knew who Cadoc was. His face was always in finance magazines. He was the most prestigious nobleman among the elites, with socialites practically throwing themselves at him.

She had also heard the story about Sophie.

Sophie was a struggling student sponsored by the Fitzgerald family. She attended a top university on scholarship. Cadoc loved her deeply and wanted to be with her, even against his family's wishes. But Sophie, proud and distant, couldn't accept a relationship without anyone's approval, so she chose to end things and go overseas.

The Fitzgerald family was overjoyed and rushed to arrange Cadoc's marriage.

Married life turned out to be way harder than Emma thought.

Cadoc's study was covered in photos of Sophie. He flew to Paris every week just to see her secretly. Meanwhile, Emma wasn't even allowed to enter the main bedroom. She had to sleep in the guest room at the far end of the hallway.

She was cautious and tried her best to act like Ella. To make sure the partnership between their families' companies wouldn't fall apart, she did everything she could to stay on Cadoc's good side.

If he worked late, she'd leave the lights on and wait by the door. When his stomach acted up, she'd wake up at five every morning to make oatmeal. He liked a quiet house, so she stayed as silent as possible.

Eventually, people started saying she was crazy in love with him. But slowly, the way he looked at her began to shift.

The photos of Sophie vanished from his study. His Paris trips stopped. He started remembering Emma's birthday, came home early when she was sick, and even began sleeping with her.

Emma almost believed that genuine love had somehow come from that substitute marriage.

Then, three months ago, Sophie returned.

Everything flipped back.

Cadoc's attention was on Sophie again. He stopped coming home, and Sophie's photos were back in his study. People mocked Emma like she was some kind of joke. But she never made a scene. She just smiled.

The truth was—she never loved him.

She only stayed for the money and freedom her parents promised. If Cadoc had fallen for her, great. If not, she wouldn't care.

Nobody knew that Emma and Ella might have shared a face, but their lives were nothing alike.

Zoey nearly died giving birth to Emma. Since then, she looked at Emma with nothing but disgust. Dylan doted on Zoey so much that he treated Emma like a jinx.

At age five, Emma was shipped off to live with a nanny in the countryside.

She still remembered that one freezing winter. The heater broke, and she was shaking in the cold without even a proper coat. Meanwhile, Ella was snug in a fancy villa, wrapped in designer clothes, being showered in love.

After 18 years of being treated like she didn't matter, Emma had stopped expecting family affection.

With just a month left, she'd finally get the five million promised for pretending to be Ella. Then, she could leave this place and live life on her terms.

While she was in a good mood, her phone buzzed with a call.

It was Cadoc.

Emma took a breath and picked up. "Hello?"

He hung up before she could respond. Emma stared at the phone, already knowing who they were for.

He said coldly, "Bring sanitary pads to the Nightfall Club. Night ones. You've got 20 minutes."

Outside, the rain was pouring. The drive from the Fitzgerald's villa to the Nightfall Club usually took at least 40 minutes.

Still, Emma grabbed an umbrella and left.

Traffic was awful. With just 12 minutes left, she checked the time, gritted her teeth, and jumped out of the car, running through the rain.

The rain quickly drenched her clothes, and her high heels kept slipping on the slick pavement. She lost her balance and crashed into a puddle, pain searing through her knees.

But she kept going. She finally made it to the club at the 19th minute.

Before knocking on the private room's door, she overheard people laughing inside.

"Mr. Fitzgerald, are you truly asking Ella to come out in this storm just to drop off pads? It'll take at least 40 minutes from your place."

"Sophie is hurting," Cadoc replied indifferently, "Ella will figure it out."

"Well, that's right. Everyone knows how deeply Ella loves you. For the past three years, even though your heart belonged to someone else, she's stayed by your side without a single complaint."

Someone teased, "Come on, man. Are you sure you weren't tempted by that beauty who's been by your side all these years?"

There was silence. Emma held her breath.

After a pause, Cadoc said, "Between Sophie and Ella, I'll always choose Sophie."

His words didn't hurt. Instead, she felt relieved. She waited until the laughter stopped, then knocked on the door.

When she walked in, everyone looked stunned.

"Wow, right on time!"

"Ella, why are you drenched?"

Cadoc got up, frowning. "Why are you in a mess?"

Emma handed over the well-protected pads. "You said 20 minutes. I didn't want you to worry, so I ran the rest of the way."

She didn't bring up the fall or the pain.

Cadoc's expression shifted slightly. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Wear this."

Then, he motioned toward the pads. "Take those to the ladies' room."

Emma nodded and walked off.

At the restroom, she knocked. A soft voice answered, "Who is it?"

"I brought the pads."

There was silence for a few seconds, then the door opened slightly. Emma handed them over without a word and left.

Back home, she took a hot bath. Her scraped knee stung.

Lying in bed, she finally felt at peace. Freedom was so close she could taste it.

But before she could sleep, the door burst open.

Cadoc stormed in, grabbed her wrist. "Get up!"

Before Emma could react, he yanked her out of bed and dragged her toward the stairs.

"Cadoc? What are you—"

Before she could finish speaking, he shoved her hard, knocking her backward. The back of her head struck the step hard as she tumbled down the stairs.

Severe pain exploded through her whole body.

Lying at the bottom, she struggled to move. Her vision was fuzzy, blood trickling down her face.

"Why... Why are you doing this?!"

Cadoc stood above her, his face shadowed. His voice was chillingly cold.

"Did you push Sophie?"

Emma stared up, confused. "What?"

"Drop the act!" He stepped closer. "You've been acting all generous just waiting for a chance, right? You shoved her out the window. She's broken all over and almost died!"

"I didn't..." She shook her head weakly. The movement aggravated the wound on her head, making her feel lightheaded and dizzy.

Cadoc squatted down, grabbing her chin. "Ella, have you started thinking I care about you? We're only married, not in love."

He leaned in and emphasized, "I'll never love you!"

Emma felt pain all over. But instead of crying, she almost laughed.

She never wanted his love in the first place.

Emma was about to say something, but Cadoc yanked her up coldly.

"Cut the act," he said coldly. "Sophie fell from the fifth floor. You only tumbled down from the second.

"Get up. We're going to the hospital—you're going to apologize."

He dragged her out like he didn't even notice the blood still dripping from her forehead or how her injured knee was bleeding again. Every step she took felt like she was walking on knives.

He shoved her into the car, and neither of them said a word the entire ride.

Emma stared blankly out the window, watching the scenery go by. She told herself to hold on a little longer. Freedom was almost here.

At the hospital, Sophie sat propped up in bed, looking pale, her wrists covered in bandages.

The second she spotted Emma, she shrank back. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Cadoc..." she whimpered, voice shaking. "I-I don't want to see her..."

Cadoc rushed to her side, took her hand, and said softly, "Don't worry. I'm here. No one is going to hurt you."

Then, he turned to Emma, his expression hard. "Why are you just standing there? Apologize."

Emma looked exhausted, but her voice was calm.

She stared at Sophie and asked softly, "Ms. Powell, are you truly saying I pushed you off that window?"

Sophie's lashes fluttered. Her eyes filled with tears again. "Ms. Jefferson, if you're not willing to apologize, it's fine. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it."

She sniffled and looked pitiful. "Cadoc has been staying by my side lately. I get why you hate me. But your marriage wasn't about love. If I came from the right kind of family, you wouldn't even be in the picture..."

Her crying got worse, and Cadoc's face got darker.

He interrupted sharply, "Ella! I told you to apologize, not pick a fight! Are you gonna do it or not?"

Emma closed her eyes for a second. She knew Sophie was framing her, but she was leaving soon.

She couldn't afford any issues in the partnership between the two families. Otherwise, she'd lose the five million and her chance at freedom.

So, she just said, "I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Then, she turned to leave.

But Cadoc stopped her. "Wait. Since you pushed her, you should stay and take care of her until she's out of the hospital."

Emma's fingers twitched slightly, but she nodded. "Alright."

In the following days, Emma stayed quietly in Sophie's ward.

Cadoc practically moved into the hospital, ignoring work and feeding Sophie oatmeal, helping her wash up, and coaxing her to sleep.

He never did those for Emma.

But she never looked upset. She just took care of Sophie calmly, like it was just another chore.

The nurses whispered about it behind her back.

"Wow, I've never seen a wife this generous!"

"You don't get it. This is love at its most selfless." Another nurse sighed. "She's so in love with Mr. Fitzgerald that she's even willing to care for the woman he loves—just to get a little more of his attention. How pitiful."

Cadoc happened to walk by and overheard.

He stopped in his tracks and glanced toward the ward.

Emma sat with her head down, carefully peeling an apple. Her profile looked calm and tender.

A strange feeling suddenly stirred in Cadoc's heart.

When the day finally came for Sophie to leave the hospital, Cadoc told Emma straight up, "I'm taking Sophie on a trip. Don't contact me unless it's urgent."

Emma nodded. "Got it."

She watched them walk away hand in hand and felt lighter.

Finally, she didn't have to deal with them anymore.

As soon as she got home, she began packing her luggage, getting ready to leave soon.

A few days later, she came across Sophie's latest Instagram post.

Cadoc had taken her to the Maldives. He'd made an unlimited bid for her at an auction and spent a fortune on her favorite jewelry.

Emma looked at it for a second, then just scrolled past.

She didn't care.

She never did.

A week later, it was time for the Fitzgerald family's regular monthly dinner.

Since Cadoc wasn't around, Emma had to show up on her own.

When Cadoc's mother, Amanda Fitzgerald, saw Emma walk in, her expression darkened. "Where's Cadoc?"

Emma kept her head down. "He's busy with something. He couldn't make it back."

Amanda sneered and was about to respond when the butler rushed over and handed her an entertainment newspaper.

The headline was a photo of Cadoc and Sophie kissing on a yacht.

Amanda slammed her fork down. "Ella! Come with me now!"

She stormed off to the study. As soon as the door shut, she yelled, "Get on your knees!"

Without saying a word, Emma dropped to her knees.

"You trash!" Amanda was shaking with rage. "You can't even keep your husband! You've got two choices—call him home now or take your punishment!"

Emma's lashes fluttered.

She knew that no matter how many times she called, Cadoc wouldn't show up.

He was probably wrapped up in a cozy getaway with Sophie. If she bothered him, the deal between their families could fall apart.

"I'll take the punishment," she said softly.

Amanda was pissed off. "What did you just say?"

"I choose the punishment." Emma raised her head calmly. "Go ahead."

Flushed with anger, Amanda grabbed the whip hanging on the wall and hit it hard on Emma's back.

"Still not calling him?"

Slap!

"How about now?!"

Slap!

Emma bit her lips tightly, pain searing through her body, but she only shook her head.

Eventually, she passed out.

When she woke up, she was lying in a hospital bed, her back wrapped in thick bandages.

Cadoc was sitting nearby, looking annoyed.

"My mom was giving you a hard time. Why didn't you just call me?" he asked coldly.

Emma gave him a weak smile. "I didn't want to ruin your date with Ms. Powell."

He froze.

Her pale face reminded him of something the nurse had said.

"She's so in love with Mr. Fitzgerald that she's even willing to care for the woman he loves..."

Did she love him so deeply that she'd rather face punishment than bother him?

Cadoc felt an even deeper sense of unease growing in his heart.

For the next few days, he stayed at the hospital to look after her for the first time.

Emma didn't need his help, but he didn't leave.

It wasn't until the day she was being discharged from the hospital. Cadoc got a call about an urgent issue at the company. He had to attend a meeting.

"Go home on your own," he said as he turned and left.

Emma just nodded and slowly made her way out.

As she was walking down the stairs, she accidentally bumped into someone.

"Are you blind?!" the man snapped. "You know how much this outfit costs? With the way you're dressed, could you even pay for it?"

Before Emma could apologize, a sharp voice came from behind.

"Get lost!"

Cadoc had gotten out of the car. He pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it in that man's face. "Is this enough?"

That man wanted to argue. But when he saw Cadoc's clothes and aura, he bolted in panic.

Cadoc turned to Emma coldly. "Ella, don't our families give you money? Why are you dressed like this?"

She stayed quiet.

The Jefferson family never gave her money. Even though the Fitzgerald family gave her a black card, she wasn't the real Ella, so she never touched it.

Cadoc seemed annoyed by her silence and dragged her into the car.

"We're going shopping."

At the mall, he picked out a bunch of designer outfits for her, each of which was expensive.

Emma didn't protest. She just quietly followed along like an emotionless puppet.

But as they were walking out of the mall, a shaky voice called out.

"Cadoc?"

Emma looked up and saw Sophie not far away, still dressed in a part-time waiter uniform. Her eyes were red and full of disbelief.

"You told me you had an emergency meeting at the office."

"Sophie..." Cadoc's expression changed slightly.

"It's fine if you don't love me." Sophie's tears fell. "But how could you lie to me? I should've never come back. I'm just in the way."

She turned and ran.

"Sophie!" Cadoc shouted and chased after her.

Emma stood still, quietly watching him go. She only felt calm.

But then—

Crash!

Glass from high above in the mall suddenly shattered and struck Sophie's head.

She collapsed into a pool of blood without even making a sound.

Cadoc's face instantly changed. He sprinted over, scooped Sophie into his arms, and rushed off to the hospital without looking back.

Emma stood there, hands slowly curling into fists, then quietly followed behind.

Beneath the dim glow of the hospital corridor, the lights inside the operating room remained on.

Cadoc waited outside, blood still staining his suit. A trace of worry surfaced on his usually calm and collected face.

Emma sat nearby, not saying anything.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a doctor stepped out in a rush. "She's lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion, but she's RH negative. We don't have any in stock!"

Cadoc frowned. He was about to say something when Emma stood up and said, "I have Rh-negative blood. I can donate to her."

He turned sharply toward her, clearly surprised.

Emma met his eyes calmly. "Helping her matters more."

She followed the nurse without hesitation. Blood slowly flowed from her arm, and her face turned pale, but she stayed steady.

Cadoc stood there, watching the needle in her arm, feeling a strange twist in his chest.

How much did she care about him?

After the donation, Emma walked out holding cotton to her arm. Cadoc was still planted by the operating room door.

She paused, then went over to him and whispered, "Don't worry. She'll be fine."

He looked over, voice a bit hoarse. "Why don't you leave?"

Emma shook her head. "Ms. Powell has the wrong idea about us. I want to clear it up when she wakes up."

He stared at her pale face and suddenly asked, "Do you like me that much?"

She froze.

Just as she was about to speak, the doctor came out of the operating room. "She's stable. She'll regain consciousness once the anesthesia wears off."

Cadoc's body finally relaxed.

Emma didn't say anything else. She just stepped back and stayed quiet.

A few hours passed, and Sophie opened her eyes.

As soon as she saw Emma by the bed, her eyes welled up. "Cadoc, did you bring her here just so I could give you two my blessing?"

Emma quickly stepped forward. "No, Ms. Powell. You've got it wrong. Cadoc did have a meeting. He just took me to buy some clothes on the way. It wasn't a date. He wasn't lying."

Cadoc added, "We're only married. There's no love between us."

Sophie sniffled, biting her lip. "How can you prove you don't have any feelings for her?"

He looked frustrated. "What kind of proof are you looking for?"

She paused, then suddenly pointed out the window. "Throw her into the frozen lake."

His face tightened. "Sophie..."

"You hesitated." Her voice shook. "You do like her."

He went silent. Then, with a deep sigh, he turned and signaled the bodyguards. "Throw her into the lake."

Emma's eyes widened.

She already knew Cadoc would do anything for Sophie, but she didn't expect him to be so cruel.

Still, she couldn't resist. She had to take it.

The bodyguard dragged her away while Cadoc stood still, watching with a blank expression.

The lake was freezing.

The moment Emma was shoved down, she felt like she could barely breathe.

Water rushed into her nose and mouth. Her limbs quickly went numb.

She fought to stay afloat, but her body kept sinking.

The bodyguards on the shore just stared. Not a single one of them stepped in.

Her vision blurred. Everything started to fade. She thought she saw her younger self.

Left behind in the countryside by her parents, she had no warm clothes during the winter and trembled from the cold. Her only refuge was curling up in the woodshed at her nanny's house to stay warm.

No one ever cared about her.

Eventually, someone pulled her out of the lake.

Her body was freezing, her lips had turned pale, and she had slipped into unconsciousness.

In a trance, she felt someone gently wiping her body with a warm towel. The touch was gentle.

She instinctively grabbed the hand and whispered, "Just a little longer... I can leave soon..."

Suddenly, someone gripped her so tightly that it hurt.

"What do you mean?!" Cadoc's voice was trembling cold.

Emma opened her eyes in pain and realized she was back at the Fitzgerald's villa.

Cadoc sat next to her bed, his face clouded. "What did you mean earlier about leaving?"

Her heart gave a small jolt. She forced a dry laugh and played dumb. "Huh? I don't even remember what I said. I probably had a fever and was rambling."

He stared at her for a while before loosening his grip on her hand. "You were in the lake for a long time. Why didn't you say you were on your period?"

Emma smiled weakly. "If jumping into the lake made her forgive you, I'd rather not say it."

His face twisted with a mix of emotions. "You care that much about me?"

She looked down.

It wasn't about love.

She only wanted to keep the peace between the two families. Once Ella came back, she could leave.

Just then, the door flew open, and Sophie strolled in. "Cadoc, when are we going fishing?"

Seeing Emma awake, she acted surprised. "Ms. Jefferson, you're up! Feeling better?"

Before Emma could reply, Sophie kept talking. "I kinda lost it the other day and told Cadoc to throw you in. I didn't expect that he would do that. I'm so sorry.

"I heard you donated blood to me. That was super generous. Let's go fishing together. My treat."

Emma was about to decline, but Sophie was already grabbing her hand sweetly. "Please don't say no. I already told Cadoc."

Cadoc shot a glance at Emma, subtly signaling her not to ruin the mood.

So, she nodded reluctantly.

Out on the fancy yacht, the salty breeze blew gently.

Sophie clung to Cadoc the entire time, laughing as she got him to feed her fruit, put sunscreen on her back, and even asked him to carry her for a better view of the sea.

Emma stood on the deck, gazing out quietly at the horizon, like none of it involved her.

When Cadoc stepped away to take a phone call, Sophie walked over. "I don't get you sometimes," she said out of nowhere.

Emma glanced over.

Sophie squinted. "Everyone says you're head over heels for Cadoc and would do anything for him. But isn't loving someone about wanting him for yourself?

"I set you up and made you apologize—you didn't react. He tossed you into a frozen lake—and you still didn't react. Even now, I'm being intimate with him, but you don't even care."

She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Do you even like him?"

Emma twitched her lips. Sophie had hit the nail on the head.

She didn't like Cadoc.

Before she could respond, a giant wave hit them.

"Ah!"

Both of them lost their balance and tumbled into the sea.

Cold seawater slammed over their heads. As they struggled, the metal edge of the yacht scraped deep cuts into their arms, leaving red trails behind in the water.

"Someone fell in! Get help!"

Panic broke out on deck. A rescuer jumped in but came back up quickly. He said seriously, "Mr. Fitzgerald, their blood will attract sharks! They fell in different directions. We only have time to save one of them first!"

Cadoc's face went pale as his eyes darted across the waves.

Sophie thrashed in one direction, and Emma was drifting farther away the other way.

"Save Sophie first!" he shouted.

Emma heard him. She coughed up seawater, gasping for air.

Through blurry eyes, she saw the rescue team swimming toward Sophie. She caught sight of the worry on Cadoc's face, gave a bitter smile, and slowly shut her eyes.

She should have known.

In his heart, she was always the extra—easy to throw away.

The seawater filled her lungs, and her consciousness gradually faded.

Before everything went black, she saw something dark swimming straight toward her.

It was a shark!

Then came the sharp, searing pain in her leg. The last thing she saw was the sea turning red.

When Emma woke up, the first thing she saw was the white hospital ceiling above her.

"You're finally awake!" the nurse said with relief. "Your injuries are serious. We need to get in touch with your family right away."

She paused for a second and sighed. "Ms. Powell is next door. She also fell into the sea. She didn't get hurt as badly as you did, but Mr. Fitzgerald hasn't left her side. He treats her like she's priceless. Where's your family? It's been two days, and nobody has shown up."

Emma stayed quiet, her lips pressed together.

Suddenly, the ward door flew open.

Cadoc stood there, his stare cold and sharp like a knife.

The nurse looked surprised to see him. But after a glance at his face, she quickly slipped out.

As soon as the door shut, Cadoc knocked over the medicine tray. Glass shattered loudly, and pills spilled everywhere.

"Did you push Sophie into the sea?" His voice was cold.

Emma was stunned.

She had no idea why Sophie wanted to frame her. She felt nothing but exhaustion. "No. I didn't."

"Still lying?" Cadoc snapped, gripping her wrist so tightly it hurt. "Sophie told me everything herself! You used to be so generous—what changed?"

He sneered, like he understood something. "Don't tell me all that tolerance before was just an act. Were you just trying to get my attention?"

Emma's face went pale from the pain, but she just looked at him without saying a word.

That only made him angrier.

He threw her hand aside violently. "Fine. Since you won't admit what you did, you'll bear the fallout."

He walked toward the door, his voice sharp and cold. "No more nurses. No one is going to help you. Deal with your injuries on your own."

The next few days were brutal.

No doctor came to check on her, and no nurse changed her bandages. She had to drag her battered body to the medicine cabinet and apply the treatment herself with shaking hands.

She fell to the ground multiple times, scraping and bruising her knees, but she kept pushing through and getting back up.

Cadoc probably thought that the eldest daughter of the Jefferson family couldn't handle such torture.

But he didn't know that she wasn't Ella. She wasn't a socialite who grew up in luxury.

She was Emma, who was raised in the countryside. She was abandoned by her parents at a young age and forced to face her illnesses all on her own.

That pain was nothing to her.

A few days later, Emma had just finished signing her discharge papers and was packing up her things when the door slammed open.

Cadoc barged in and yanked her wrist. "Come with me."

She frowned. "What is it now?"

"Sophie was kidnapped by Levi," he said tensely, "He's demanding you in exchange. He promised to let you go after three days."

Emma froze.

Levi Ziegler was infamous for being a creep in their circle. Every time he looked at her, his cold stare felt clingy and revolting.

"I'm not going," she said firmly.

Cadoc's expression darkened. "That's not your decision."

Then, he suddenly softened his voice. "He's obsessed with you. He won't hurt you. As long as you do what he says, I'll agree to whatever you want afterward."

Emma stared at him, then gave a small smile. "Alright. I want a wedding."

Cadoc was startled. "What?"

"We only got the marriage certificates. I want a real ceremony," she said softly, "Make up for what I never had."

That was part of her plan.

When Ella returned, a grand wedding would prove she was Cadoc's legal wife.

Cadoc was silent for a while, then gave a short nod. "Fine. I promise you."

When Emma arrived at the Ziegler's villa, Levi was lounging on the couch, grinning at her.

"It's been a while, Mrs. Fitzgerald."

He ran a finger along her face. Though she felt sick, she kept her cool and didn't move away.

The first two days of torment were relatively mild. Levi simply had people take her blood, one vial after another.

She got used to the feeling of needles. But watching her blood fill those tubes made her stomach turn.

Then came the third day. Half-asleep, she overheard the bodyguards talking outside.

"Has Mr. Ziegler lost it? Is he truly planning to turn her into a specimen?"

"He said she's so beautiful that she should be preserved forever if she dies."

Emma's blood ran cold.

Cadoc promised she'd be safe. Instead, she was going to die here.

A chill crept through her whole body. She bit her lip until she tasted blood just to stop herself from shaking.

Seizing a moment of the bodyguards' carelessness, she grabbed a crystal ornament from the bedside and hurled it at the window.

Crash!

Glass shards went flying. She picked up a shard, cut herself free, and jumped from the second story. A sharp snap came from her ankle as she hit the ground.

Pain shot through her leg, but she didn't stop.

With a sprained ankle, she limped out of the Ziegler's villa and made her way back to the Fitzgerald's villa.

As she stepped into the living room, she saw Cadoc down on one knee, gently tending to Sophie's ankle with medication.

"Cadoc..." Sophie's eyes were red. "Ms. Jefferson has been gone this long. Are you not worried at all?"

Cadoc froze for a second. Then, he spoke softly, "I only care about you. Why didn't you tell me you were hurt? You know that breaks my heart."

Emma stood soaking wet in the doorway, her ankle swollen and throbbing, but he didn't even notice.

She walked past them blankly.

"Ella?" Cadoc finally looked up and jumped to his feet. "You—"

Cadoc gave her a once-over, checking if she was hurt. When he saw she was fine, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "What happened these last three days?"

Emma smiled bitterly, her lips cracked and bleeding. "Nothing."

She didn't waste time and asked, "When will you hold the wedding you promised me?"

Sophie snapped her head up. "What wedding?"

Cadoc paused before answering, "We're having a ceremony."

Seeing Sophie's eyes go red, he immediately explained, "It's just a ceremony, Sophie. I only care about you."

She forced a smile. "I get it. I'm not upset. You're just trying to save me."

Then, she turned to Emma and smiled sweetly. "Ms. Jefferson, how about I help you pick out the perfect wedding dress?"

Over the next few days, Sophie stuck to Emma like glue as she tried on wedding dresses.

At the bridal boutique, Emma stood in front of the mirror wearing a white wedding dress that hugged her waist nicely. Sophie stayed close, inspecting every dress and nitpicking every little thing.

"This one's neckline is way too low," Sophie said, tugging at the fabric near Emma's collar. "Change to something more conservative."

Then, she grabbed another dress and commented, "This cut doesn't do your figure any favors. Mrs. Fitzgerald should never look this basic."

Emma stayed silent, doing whatever she was told like a lifeless puppet.

When they finally settled on a dress, Sophie dropped her fake act in the now-empty fitting room.

"So you're not truly distant—you're just playing hard to get."

She gripped Emma's wrist hard, her nails digging in. "Don't think you can just steal Cadoc from me. He's mine!"

Emma didn't react. She pulled her hand away without saying a word.

There was no act of playing hard to get, and she never meant to steal Cadoc away.

She wanted out of this mess more than anyone.

But Sophie was convinced Emma was trying to take Cadoc from her and started stirring up more drama.

On the eve of the wedding, Cadoc kicked Emma's door open.

"You locked Sophie in the fitting room?!" he said gloomily, "Do you know she has claustrophobia?!"

Emma shut her eyes tiredly. "It wasn't me."

"You're still denying it?" he shouted, yanking her up. "Looks like you haven't learned your lesson."

Ignoring her protests, he told the bodyguards to throw her into a dark, musty basement.

In the pitch black, Emma curled up in the corner. Sometime after midnight, she heard faint noises.

Then, a bag of live rats had been tossed in.

She screamed, bolted upright, and started pounding on the door. Her nails tore, but no one answered her calls of agony.

The next morning, Cadoc opened the door coldly. "It was just one night. Do you have to cry all night?"

After enduring a night of torment, Emma looked drained and pale. "Sophie sent the rats in..."

Cadoc scoffed. "Sophie would never do anything like that."

He flipped on the light. "Where are those rats then?"

Emma's eyes widened.

The basement was spotless—not a rat or even a trace left behind.

Sophie had erased all the proof.

Emma wanted to explain, but she gave up.

Cadoc's voice turned cold. "The wedding is in three days. I'll be spending time with Sophie until then. I'll show up on that day."

He shot her a warning glare. "Don't do anything stupid. Otherwise, the wedding is off."

Cadoc threw those words out coldly before turning and walking away.

His footsteps faded into the distance as Emma slowly pushed herself up, using the wall for support.

She shut herself away in her room for the next three days, barely stepping outside.

She barely touched the meals the maids brought her, just picking at a few bites. No matter how sunny it got, she refused to leave her room.

She didn't want to give Sophie another shot at setting her up.

Cadoc, like he promised, stayed with Sophie the entire time and didn't even come home.

Emma saw their outings all over the gossip sites.

Sophie clung to Cadoc's arm, flashing a sweet smile. And Cadoc? He looked down at her gently.

The day before the wedding, Emma sat at her desk, scribbling a list of everything Cadoc liked and couldn't stand.

"He hates cilantro and can't handle spicy food. He only drinks coffee without sugar. His shirts must be perfectly ironed. He needs pitch darkness to sleep..."

After writing, she folded the note neatly and called over the maid, Tiana Rivera.

"Hold on to this for me," she said softly. "Give it back after the wedding."

Tiana blinked in confusion. "Mrs. Fitzgerald, what's this for?"

"In case I forget. " Emma smiled slightly. "You know how bad my memory has been lately."

Tiana still looked puzzled, but she nodded and took the note. "Alright, Mrs. Fitzgerald. I'll keep it safe."

After Tiana left, Emma pulled out a suitcase she had packed days ago from the back of the closet.

She glanced around the room she'd called home for three years, her eyes pausing on the wedding photo on the wall.

Cadoc looked handsome in his suit, and she was in a stunning gown, smiling softly.

Emma took the photo down, laid it face down on the table, and walked out without looking back.

At the airport lobby, Zoey had been waiting.

She handed Emma a plane ticket and a bank card. "That's five million. From now on, you have zero ties to the Jefferson family."

Emma's fingers shook slightly as she accepted them.

When she looked up, Zoey wasn't even looking at her.

"Thanks," Emma said softly.

Zoey's tone stayed cold. "You've done a good job in the past three years. The partnership between the families stayed intact."

She paused before adding, "Go live the life you want."

Emma nodded, turned, and headed toward the security gate.

Before turning the corner, she took one last glance back. Zoey was already gone. Her figure looked so firm, like Emma had never been her daughter at all.

But Emma didn't feel broken. She held the plane ticket tightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

This time, she could finally live for herself.

Without looking back, she walked straight toward the boarding gate.

At the Fitzgerald's villa, a woman who looked almost identical to Emma slipped into a wedding dress and sat quietly, waiting for the ceremony the next day.

Ella had returned.