The day before the modeling contest, I was locked inside my house when a sudden fire broke out.

By the time they pulled me out, my face was a mess of burns and lacerations, my body scorched over a wide area.

Outside the operating room, Mom cried like her heart was being torn apart, blaming herself again and again for accidentally locking the door.

My fiancé, Kenneth Thornton, called in every dermatologist in the city, vowing to restore my looks.

But then I heard Mom's shaky voice outside.

"Kenneth, even if it's to help Carrie win the competition, wasn't it going too far to set the fire and lock the door—burning Linda's face like this?"

Kenneth scoffed. "If Linda weren't so vain and selfish, I wouldn't have had to take such drastic measures. She knew Carrie was battling depression, but still flaunted her figure in front of her. All she lost was her face and some skin. Carrie lost her happiness. This is what Linda owes her.

"Don't worry. I'll marry Linda. As my wife, no one will dare whisper behind her back. Even if she's hideous, I'll treat her well. She should be grateful."

Destroying my health and career was treating me well?

I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached, the cold and pain raging in my chest.

The man I loved. The mother who claimed to love me. I was done with them both.

***

"Hold off on the surgery. Have all the specialists wait outside."

The doctor, halfway through pulling on his gloves, froze. "Mr. Thornton, Ms. Melinda's burns are too severe. Her throat's been damaged by the smoke. If we don't operate now, she won't just lose her voice—her face and skin will be completely ruined."

Mom hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Kenneth, she's hurt so badly. She can't compete tomorrow anyway. Why not just let her have the surgery..."

"Let it be ruined. If she gets treated now, with her vain and selfish nature, she'll still find ways to trip Carrie up, even if she can't win. Only if she's half-dead will she stop bullying Carrie. This will humble her. It's for her own good."

He picked up a damp cotton swab and gently dabbed my cracked lips—while his words cut like a blade.

"I promised Carrie this championship would be hers. No one will stand in her way."

Mom sighed and turned to the doctor. "Just give my daughter some pain relief. Disinfect the burns on her face and body, but do it gently. Don't let her hurt too much."

No one noticed my body trembling, as if a hidden knife had been driven straight into my heart, stealing my breath.

The fire was never an accident.

It was a trap, set by the man I'd loved for years, just to clear me from Caroline Althea's path.

And Mom—the one who'd always claimed to love me—was his accomplice.

They had stood outside that door, ignoring my desperate cries for help, feeling nothing but relief that I'd finally been destroyed.

Pain ripped through my chest. My raw, scorched throat convulsed, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Mom panicked, reaching toward me—only to realize there wasn't a single uninjured spot she could touch.

Her eyes reddened with tears. "Linda, I'm here. It hurts, doesn't it? Don't be afraid. I will always be with you."

Kenneth snapped, furious. "Where the hell are those dermatologists? If anything happens to my wife, this hospital can shut down!"

The doctor, already pale from Kenneth's temper, stammered, "Mr. Thornton, we've been calling them, but there was an accident on the road. The traffic's backed up. The soonest they can get here is tomorrow."

Kenneth kicked him out the door. "Get out."

Then he turned back, crouching in front of me with a face full of guilt. "Honey, I'm sorry. I should've come sooner. I let you suffer too much. Don't worry—no matter the cost, I'll heal your skin and your face. You'll stand on the runway again."

I stared at his perfect performance, my voice bitter. "Will I really get better?"

"You will. I promise."

His fake conviction made me feel like a fool.

To get rid of me for Caroline, this man—the one who'd gone from school uniforms to wedding vows with me, swearing to love me forever—had fed me lie after lie and pushed me into a dead end with his own hands.

And Mom, who had treasured me all my life, had chosen to side with that two-faced adopted daughter and turn the knife against me.

In that moment, I wanted to ask them why they were so cruel.

But the words froze in my chest, turning into silence.

A few doctors came in with disinfectant, looking at my burns with pity. "Ms. Melinda, the specialists aren't here yet. We'll have to do a simple cleaning for now. Please bear with it."

The pain tore through me. When the disinfectant hit my skin, it was like being thrown into the flames again. Fragile blood vessels burst, and the bed was soon soaked with blood and pus.

Mom covered her mouth, trembling and sobbing.

Kenneth's eyes went red, his knuckles bone-white as if he wanted to take my pain for himself.

Their concern looked so real.

But I knew the truth—only the lies and the hurt were real.

When I woke again, two days had passed.

Outside the hospital room, I heard Mom talking with Kenneth.

"Kenneth, Linda's already in such bad shape. We've delayed her treatment for two days. Do you really want to give her the hospital's new experimental psychiatric med?

"The doctor said it's not fully tested yet. Side effects might include seizures... loss of bladder and bowel control."

There was a pause, then Kenneth's voice came, firm and cold.

"That's exactly the side effect I want. Today is Carrie's celebration party—plenty of big-name mentors will be there. Linda's already a wreck; a little more humiliation won't matter. Only if she loses every shred of dignity will she stop competing with Carrie. After tomorrow, I'll announce our wedding. That'll be my way of ‘making it up' to her."

Then he added, "Keep those specialists waiting outside the villa. As soon as the party's over, we'll treat her."

Mom agreed without hesitation.

I stared at the ceiling, tears spilling silently.

They stung the raw wounds on my face, but that pain was nothing compared to the one in my chest.

These two people—my closest blood and the man I'd loved—knew I'd been sickly since childhood and knew how much I'd suffered to become a model.

Yet with a single, casual decision, they destroyed my life's dream.

If I'd known it would end like this, I'd rather have died in the fire.

The door opened. Kenneth stepped in, all tender smiles, holding out two pills. "Honey, I just asked the doctor. This is a new painkiller. No side effects. It'll make things easier for you."

I lowered my gaze to the bright red capsules, the taste of rust in my throat.

My voice was hoarse. "Kenny, it's too bitter. I don't want it."

He hesitated only two seconds before smiling and squeezing my hand. "It hurts me to see you in pain. Do you really want me to feel bad? Be a good wife. Take it for me."

Before I could refuse, he pressed the pills against my lips.

"Good girl. Let me feed you."

The capsules slid into my mouth, bitter and sticky, and the room began to spin.

He gripped my hand. "Honey, today's Carrie's celebration party. Her biggest wish is your approval. If you don't show, people will say you're petty and jealous of your own foster sister..."

"I'll go. Get me something to wear."

I knew he'd already planned everything. There was no refusing.

So why bother trying?

Mom walked in just in time to hear me. Her face lit up.

"Good girl. I knew you'd understand.

"Once Carrie's party is over, I'll personally host your wedding with Kenneth."

I pulled my hand away, numb. My heart felt like ashes.

The car pulled up to the villa.

The moment I stepped out, a wall of flashing lights exploded in my face.

Panicked, I reached for Mom's hand—only to grab empty air.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her walking quickly away with Caroline, not sparing me a glance.

My face went pale. I ducked my head, pulling my hat low.

"Ms. Melinda, is it true you were afraid your sister would win the modeling competition, so you set the fire to kill her, only to burn yourself instead?

"Ms. Melinda, how can someone as vicious as you still show up at your sister's celebration? Don't you feel shameless?

"Ms. Melinda, you're good at strutting on the runway—why so afraid of losing? Is it because your sugar daddies aren't happy with you anymore?"

As one reporter spoke, he suddenly yanked the hat off my head.

Gasps erupted around me.

My burned, ruined face was now on full display for every camera.

"Oh my God... disgusting. Is that a monster?"

"Ugh, I'm gonna puke. This is nightmare fuel."

My heart pounded, my vision swam, but they weren't done. Several phones were lifted, live streams going.

"Fallen model Melinda Althea—a washed-up model with a nasty streak—tried to burn her own sister alive and ended up like this. They say she's burned from head to toe. Let's see for ourselves how evil meets its end."

Someone shoved me. I stumbled, hitting the ground.

The loose fabric of my clothes tore instantly—baring my arms, my legs, my waist...

A raw, rasping cry tore from my throat.

Then my hands and feet began to tremble uncontrollably.

My whole body convulsed like I was being electrocuted.

The reporters' manhandling me lit up with excitement. "She's having a seizure! This is gold—get a close-up, all angles!"

My eyes rolled back, foam spilling from my lips.

The drug had kicked in. I couldn't stop it.

Like a clown stripped bare, I could only let them tear apart what little pride I had left.

A shriek cut through the air.

Heat spread beneath me, the sharp stench of urine filling the space.

The shame was so crushing I couldn't even cry. I wanted to die right there.

Even as they mocked and insulted me, flashes kept firing—aimed lower now, relentless. I lay there like a dead dog, drained of all strength.

"What the hell are you doing? Who said you could film her?"

Kenneth burst through the crowd, grabbed a reporter's camera, and smashed it to the ground. "Get the hell out!"

Mom rushed over, wrapping me in a coat, tears streaming. "Where's security? Are you all dead? How did reporters get in? Get out—every single one of you!"

Caroline stood off to the side, her hand over her mouth in fake shock. "You've gone too far. How could you treat my sister like this? And the photos you took of her seizure and accident—you'd better not publish them."

"Disgusting.

"All of you are disgusting.

"You want the title? You want to give all the love to Caroline? Fine. I can give you that.

"But why did you have to destroy me like this?"

My thoughts blurred. Kenneth bent down in front of me, gripping my hands tight. "Honey, I'm sorry. I should've protected you. From now on, I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Let's get married right away, okay?"

I wanted to say no, but the metallic taste surged up my throat first.

Blood splattered across him. His pupils shrank, and his face drained of color.

Before darkness swallowed me, I heard him and Mom shouting frantically for a doctor.

"She was already in critical condition. The delay made it worse, and with the overdose of psychiatric meds, her internal organs are severely damaged. The surgery has only a 30% chance of success."

Kenneth's voice shook. "How could this happen? I don't care—if you can't save my wife, you can bury her with you."

Tears splashed on the back of my hand as he choked out, "Honey, we promised forever. You can't leave me alone."

Mom dropped to her knees before the doctor. "Please, save my daughter. No matter the cost—take my life instead if you have to."

I closed my eyes. Maybe dying like this wouldn't be so bad.

When I woke again, I was back in my own room.

Voices murmured at the door.

"Mom, if you transfer all of Dad's inheritance to me, won't Linda be upset?"

Mom chuckled indulgently. "She doesn't get a say. She's marrying Kenneth, so she'll never have to worry about money. What's this little bit to her? When your dad passed and things were hardest, I had acute leukemia. You were the one who gave me blood every day, who donated your bone marrow. That's when I swore you'd be my only real daughter for the rest of my life.

"This little bit of money means nothing. I still feel like I owe you. I know you love Kenneth, too. I've already talked to him. Linda's condition means she can't have children. On the wedding night, you'll take her place and give him his first child."

Caroline blushed. "I'll do whatever you say, Mom."

Mom pushed the door open and froze when she saw my eyes wide open.

A flicker of guilt flashed across her face before she stammered, "Linda, since you've heard everything, I won't hide it. The Thornton family is huge. They can't go without an heir. But don't worry, the title of Mrs. Thornton..."

"I agree," I cut in evenly. "Looking like this, I can't even attend the wedding anyway. Let Carrie go in my place."

Mom's smile bloomed instantly. "Good girl. You've really grown up."

Caroline's eyes swept over my scarred skin with open disdain before she put on a show of concern. "Don't worry, Linda. I'll take good care of your husband for you."

I turned my head away, too tired to look at them.

I only hoped that the day Mom learned the truth, she wouldn't regret what her so-called only daughter had done back when she had leukemia.

The wedding was held at the villa.

Caroline's idea, of course.

She wanted me to watch her strip away everything I cared about, piece by piece.

But I hadn't expected her to be even crueler than I imagined.

She pushed my door open, draped in a lavish wedding gown, her smile twisted with malice. "Even that massive fire couldn't kill you. You really are a cockroach, Melinda."

I didn't bother arguing. "You already got what you wanted. What else do you want?"

She laughed. "For you to die, obviously. Only then can I be Kenneth's rightful wife."

She pulled out a lighter and flicked it, setting the curtains ablaze.

The moment the flames caught, the blood drained out of my face. I dragged my battered body toward it, but she kicked me hard into the bedpost, then ran to the door, crying out.

Kenneth burst in almost immediately, pulling Caroline into his arms. "Carrie, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Mom rushed in right after, and without even looking for injuries, shouted, "Get Carrie to the hospital!"

Everyone surrounded Caroline. No one noticed the blood pouring from my head.

Caroline clung to Kenneth's chest, sobbing. "Kenny, I just wanted to cheer Linda up, but she said since her face is ruined, I shouldn't get to wear a beautiful dress either. She set the fire and said she'd burn me too. I was so scared..."

Kenneth's glare at me could have set me on fire all on its own.

"Are you insane? Carrie's doing you a favor, and you repay her like this? Look at yourself—you make me sick."

Mom's face twisted in disgust. "If I'd known you'd turn out like this, I would've let that fire kill you. You're not even worth one of Carrie's fingers. Being burned like this is what you deserve."

They carried Caroline out without a glance back.

At the door, Kenneth threw one last look at the flames. "You love playing with fire? Then play all you want. Lock the door. No one opens it."

My shouts and pleas were cut off by the slam of the door.

Mom hesitated. "Kenneth, are you sure nothing will happen by locking her in like that?"

"What could happen? She lit it herself. You think she's actually going to burn herself alive? She's probably already hidden a fire extinguisher."

They took Caroline straight to the hospital, and only after confirming she was completely unhurt did Kenneth remember me.

He sighed and unlocked his phone—just as a live news alert popped up about a massive fire at Alander Villa.

His brow furrowed. He was about to call his butler, Daniel, when his call came first.

"Let her out. I'll take her on the honeymoon I planned—France, her favorite."

Daniel's voice shook. "Mr. Thornton, the villa's gone up in flames. Mrs. Thornton... she didn't make it out."