"Stop the surgery. Tell all the specialists to wait outside."
The doctor, who had just put on his gloves, hesitated, urgency in his voice. "Mr. Spencer, Miss Hayes's burns are too severe. Her throat were damaged by the smoke. If we don't operate immediately, she'll not only become mute, but her face and skin will be completely ruined. If we delay further, the consequences will be unimaginable…"
Hearing this, my mother felt a pang of guilt. "Ethan, Riley is so badly injured, she definitely can't participate in modeling competition tomorrow. Why not just let her have the surgery… she is my daughter after all…"
Ethan coldly interrupted her, his tone unwavering. "Let it be ruined. In her current state, even with surgery, she can't get back on the runway. With her vain and selfish personality, if she can't win the championship, she'll sabotage Chloe. Only by leaving her half-dead can we stop her from hurting Chloe. I'm doing this to temper her character—for her own good."
He took a moist cotton swab and gently applied it to my cracked lips.
Yet, his next words were like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into my heart.
"I promised Chloe that the modeling championship would be hers alone. I won't let anyone stand in her way."
My mother sighed softly, immediately instructing the doctor, "Just give my daughter something for the pain. For her burns, just do a simple disinfection. Be careful, don't hurt her too much."
Her voice was gentle, as if trying to comfort me, but I felt no warmth. No one noticed my whole body trembling, as if pierced by an unexpected blade, the pain almost suffocating.
So, the fire wasn't an accident.
It was deliberately planned by this man I'd loved for years. He did all this just to clear the way for Chloe by removing me as an obstacle.
What made me more desperate was that even my mother, who had always cherished me, was an accomplice.
They stood outside the door, ignoring my desperate cries for help from just the other side, relieved that I was finally ruined.
The pain of betrayal by my closest loved ones was far more excruciating than my physical burns.
Pain spread from my chest, my throat feeling like it was being cut. I violently coughed up blood.
Seeing this, my mother hurriedly reached out, only to find there was nowhere on my body she could touch.
She cried with red eyes, her voice trembling, "Baby, Mom's here. Does it hurt? Don't be afraid, Mom will always be with you."
Her tears fell, her tone full of heartache, but I only found it ironic. Her companionship was no longer the warmth of the past but made me more acutely aware that I had been completely abandoned.
Ethan stood aside, his face dark. Suddenly, he roared in anger, "Where are the dermatologists? If anything happens to my wife, your hospital can forget about staying open!"
The doctor, who had clearly been briefed, stammered an explanation. "Mr. Spencer, we're pushing them, but…there was a traffic accident. The roads are blocked. The earliest they can arrive is…tomorrow."
Ethan kicked him out. "Get out."
His anger seemed to be for me, but I knew that this was all part of his carefully scripted drama. He never cared about me, only whether his plan would proceed smoothly.
Turning back, he crouched in front of me with a face full of remorse, his tone so gentle it almost broke my heart. "Babe, I'm sorry. It's my fault for coming too late, making you suffer so much. Don't worry, whatever it costs, I'll heal your skin and face, let you stand on the runway again."
I stared numbly at his masterful acting, trying to calm my emotions. "Can I really get better?"
"You can, trust me, you definitely can."
His empty promises made me feel like a fool.
This man who had promised to love me forever, from school uniforms to wedding dresses, was now using one lie after another to push me to the edge, all to eliminate me as an obstacle for Chloe.
And my mother, who had treasured me since childhood, ultimately chose to stand with Chloe, pushing me into the abyss for that hypocritical adopted sister.
In that moment, I wanted to ask them why—why were they being so cruel to me?
But all my words died in my increasingly cold heart, never to be spoken.
Several doctors approached with disinfectants, looking at my horrific burns with pity and sympathy. "Miss Hayes, the dermatologists haven't arrived yet. We can only do a simple disinfection for now. Please bear with it."
The moment the disinfectant touched my skin, excruciating pain swept through my body. It felt like being thrown back into the flames.
My fragile blood vessels burst, and the bed was soaked with my blood mixed with discharge from my wounds.
Seeing this, my mother covered her mouth tightly, sobbing and trembling.
Ethan's eyes were red, his clenched fists white at the knuckles, as if he couldn't bear to see me suffering like this.
Their concern seemed so real.
Only I knew it was all fake.
Only the lies and the harm were real.
When I woke up again, it was two days later.
From outside my hospital room, I heard Ethan and my mother talking, pushing me further into the abyss.
—–
"Ethan, Riley's condition is already so serious. We've delayed her treatment for two days. Do we really need to give her that experimental psychiatric medication?"
"The doctor said this drug hasn't been fully tested. It may cause side effects, such as epilepsy or even incontinence."
My mother's voice was hesitant: "But… isn't this too cruel to her?"
After a few seconds of silence, Ethan's tone was cold and resolute.
"That's exactly the side effect we want. Today is Chloe's celebration party. Many influential fashion industry leaders will be there. Riley is already ruined, a little more humiliation won't make a difference. Only when she's completely lost her dignity will she stop competing with Chloe. After tomorrow, I'll announce our marriage—my compensation to her."
Then he carefully instructed, "Mom, have those specialist doctors wait outside the villa. As soon as the celebration ends, they can treat Riley."
My mother agreed repeatedly.
Lying in the hospital bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling, silent tears sliding down my cheeks.
They stung the festering wounds on my face with excruciating pain.
But this pain was not even a fraction of what I felt in my heart.
The two people closest to me knew that I had been sickly since childhood and had put in countless efforts and endured so much hardship to become a model.
Yet with a few casual words, they destroyed my lifelong dream.
If I had known the truth earlier, if I had known this would be my fate, I would rather have died in that fire.
The door to my room opened, and Ethan walked in. Seeing I was awake, his face immediately filled with tenderness.
He handed me two pills, "Babe, I just asked the doctor. This is a new painkiller the hospital developed. No side effects at all. It will make you feel much better. Come on, take it."
I lowered my gaze to look at the two bright red pills, my throat feeling like it contained rust.
I spoke hoarsely, my voice weak, "Ethan, the medicine is too bitter. I don't want to take it."
Ethan hesitated for only two seconds before smiling gently, lightly squeezing my hand, his tone tinged with heartache: "Seeing you suffer every day hurts me too. Can you bear to see your husband suffer like this? Honey, just think of it as showing me some mercy, okay?"
Before he finished speaking, he had already placed the pills at my lips, his movements gentle but unyielding.
"Honey, let me help you."
The pills were half-pushed, half-placed into my mouth, his actions somewhat forceful, giving me no chance to refuse.
A sticky bitterness spread through my mouth, and I felt dizzy.
Ethan seized the opportunity to hold my hand, "Babe, today is Chloe's celebration party. Her greatest wish is to have your approval. If you don't attend, people will think you're narrow-minded and can't accept your adopted sister…"
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the despair in my heart. Softly, I said, "I'll go. Please prepare some clothes for me."
His face immediately showed satisfaction, as if everything was under his control.
I knew, Ethan had prepared everything and wouldn't give me any chance to refuse.
Since that was the case, there was no point in saying anything more.
Just then, my mother pushed open the door. Hearing that I had agreed to attend the celebration party, her face immediately filled with smiles, her tone full of relief.
"Good girl, Mom knew you'd understand what's important."
"After Chloe's celebration is over, Mom will personally host your wedding with Ethan, give you a grand, beautiful ceremony."
I numbly withdrew my hand, my heart as cold as ashes.
All of this means nothing to me anymore.
The car soon arrived at the villa.
Just as I was helped out of the car, countless camera flashes suddenly swarmed towards me.
The blinding lights instinctively made me lower my head. I reached for my mother's hand in panic but grabbed nothing.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her walking away quickly with her arm around Chloe, not even giving me a glance.
Pale-faced, I held tightly onto the hat, trying to hide my fire-ravaged face.
But the reporters weren't about to let me go. Sharp questions bombarded me one after another:
"Miss Hayes, we heard you were afraid your sister would win the modeling competition, so you deliberately set a fire to burn her to death, but ended up suffering the consequences yourself. Is that true?"
"Miss Hayes, how can someone as vicious as you dare come to your sister's celebration party? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"Miss Hayes, you're so good at strutting on the runway, why would you be afraid of losing to your sister? Is it because your sugar daddies are unsatisfied?"
Before the words faded, a reporter suddenly reached out and knocked the hat off my head.
Instantly, gasps rose in unison.
A face ravaged by fire was exposed to the cameras.
"My God, that's disgusting. Is this some kind of monster?"
"I'm going to be sick. It's so fucking ugly. Like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!"
My heart raced, and my vision blurred. I could barely stand.
But they went even further, setting up several phones at once to start a live broadcast.
"Famous model Riley Hayes, with her despicable character and vicious nature, deliberately set a fire to burn her sister, but suffered the consequences. They say there's not a patch of good skin left on her body. Let's witness firsthand the consequences of evil deeds!"
Someone started pushing me, and I fell to the ground.
The loose clothes on my body tore easily.
Arms exposed, thighs exposed, waist and abdomen… all my burned skin exposed to the cameras.
I cried hoarsely through my broken voice, but no one paid attention.
Suddenly, my limbs began to shake uncontrollably.
My whole body convulsed as if being electrocuted.
—–
The reporters pulling at me seemed to discover a new continent, excitedly shouting, "She's having a seizure! This is gold! Quick, get close-ups, it's all material!"
I rolled my eyes in agony, white foam continuously flowing from the corners of my mouth, my body convulsing uncontrollably.
I knew the drug was taking effect, but there was nothing I could do.
Like a stripped clown, I let them tear my dignity to shreds.
Suddenly, someone let out a surprised cry.
"Ahem!"
A warm liquid flowed from beneath me, and the air was instantly filled with a foul smell.
The immense shame made me unable even to cry. I wished I could die right there.
While they continued to curse and humiliate me, camera flashes frantically targeted my lower body. I was like a dead dog, without the strength to struggle.
"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to take pictures?"
Ethan burst angrily from the crowd, snatched the camera from the lead reporter, and smashed it violently to the ground. "Get out, all of you!"
My mother hurriedly rushed over with a coat, hastily wrapping it around me as tears of heartbreak streamed down her face. "Where are the security guards? Are you all dead? Why were reporters allowed to sneak into the celebration? Pack your things and get out, all of you!"
Chloe stood to the side, covering her mouth, pretending to be heartbroken as she exclaimed, "You're too much! How could you treat my sister like this? None of the photos you took of my sister having a seizure and… wetting herself are to be published, understand?"
So disgusting.
Truly disgusting.
You wanted the championship, wanted all the love for Chloe, I could have given it all to you.
But why did you have to do this to me?
Why did you have to completely destroy me this way?
I was barely conscious as Ethan crouched in front of me, tightly holding my hands, his tone full of guilt. "Babe, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for not protecting you. Don't worry, from now on I won't let you suffer the slightest grievance. We'll get married right away, okay?"
I wanted to say no.
But the metallic taste rising in my throat erupted first.
Blood splattered all over Ethan, his pupils suddenly contracting, his face instantly turning pale.
Before darkness claimed my consciousness, I heard him and my mother frantically calling for doctors: "Quick! Save her!"
"She was already severely injured, and treatment was delayed too long. Plus, she took an overdose of psychiatric medication and her internal organs are severely damaged. The surgery has only a thirty percent chance of success." The doctor's voice was calm and grave.
Ethan's voice trembled, nearly out of control. "How could this happen? I don't care, if you can't save my wife, you'll pay with your lives!"
Tears fell on the back of my hand as he sobbed, "Babe, we promised to be together forever. You can't leave me alone…"
My mother knelt on the ground, crying and begging the doctor, "Please, you must save my daughter. Whatever it costs, even if you have to take my life in exchange…"
I closed my eyes heavily. Dying like this wouldn't be so bad.
When I woke up again, I was back in my own room.
Faint conversation drifted in from the doorway.
"Mom, are you going to transfer all of Dad's inheritance to me? Will my sister be upset?" Chloe's voice carried a hint of probing, yet couldn't hide her glee.
—-
My mother laughed indulgently, "She has no choice but to accept it. After she marries Ethan, she'll want for nothing. Does she need this money? When your father had just passed away and times were toughest, I got acute leukemia. You gave me blood transfusions every day and even gave me your bone marrow. I swore then that you'd be my only real daughter for life."
"This money isn't enough—I still feel I've let you down. Mom knows you like Ethan too. I've already spoken with him. Your sister in her condition can't be expected to have children. On their wedding day, you'll stand in for her in the bridal chamber and bear Ethan's first child."
Chloe shyly agreed, "I'll do whatever you say, Mom."
My mother pushed open the door and met my open eyes.
A flash of guilt crossed her face as she stammered, "Sweetie, since you've heard everything, Mom won't hide it from you. The Spencer family is large and prosperous and needs heirs. But don't worry, the position of Mrs. Spencer…"
"I agree," I calmly interrupted, my voice showing no emotion. "Looking like this, I shouldn't attend the wedding anyway. Let Chloe go in my place."
My mother immediately smiled, "My good girl, you've really grown up and become sensible."
Chloe stood nearby, contemptuously scanning my ugly skin while pretending, "Don't worry, sister. I'll take good care of your husband for you."
I turned my head wearily, avoiding their gaze, a wave of helplessness and desolation washing over me.
I just hoped my mother wouldn't regret it when she learned the truth about what her precious daughter had done when she had leukemia.
The wedding was held at the villa—Chloe's suggestion.
I knew she wanted me to witness everything I cared about being taken from me one by one.
But I never expected her to be even more vicious than I imagined.
She pushed open my door, wearing an exquisite wedding dress, yet showing a sinister smile. "Even such a big fire couldn't burn you to death, Riley. You really are a stubborn bitch." Her voice was as cold as a snake's.
I didn't want to waste words with her and coldly said, "You've got everything you wanted. What more do you want?"
She laughed scornfully, a flash of viciousness in her eyes. "For you to die, of course. Only when you're dead can I become the rightful Mrs. Spencer."
With that, she pulled out a lighter and set the curtains on fire.
The flames shot up instantly. My face turned deathly pale. As I dragged my broken body to stop her, she kicked me hard against the bedpost. Then she ran to the door first, crying loudly.
Ethan rushed in almost immediately.
He nervously hugged Chloe. "Chloe, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
My mother followed closely behind. Even though she saw no injuries on Chloe, she still shouted anxiously, "Quick, take Chloe to the hospital!"
Everyone crowded around Chloe. No one noticed that I had been knocked bleeding from Chloe's shove, helplessly slumped by the bed.
Chloe shrank into Ethan's arms, pretending to be frightened, her eyes red with tears. "Ethan, I was just afraid sister might be upset, so I came to talk to her. But sister said, since she's ruined her looks, why should I get to wear a beautiful wedding dress? She even set a fire saying she wanted to burn me beyond recognition too. I was so scared…"
Ethan looked at me with burning anger, his tone full of disgust.
"Have you gone crazy? Chloe is kind enough to help you complete the wedding ceremony, and you're not grateful, instead returning evil for good? Look at your ghostly appearance now, it turns my stomach!"
My mother was even more disappointed, her tone icy, "I should have known you were a liar. Better if that fire had burned you to death. Someone as vicious as you can't compare to even one of Chloe's fingers. You don't deserve to be my daughter. Being burned like this serves you right!"
They carried Chloe away without looking back.
At the door, Ethan glanced back at the fire climbing up the curtains and sneered, "Since you like playing with fire so much, enjoy it to your heart's content. Lock the door tight. No one is to open it!"
I desperately pounded on the door, explaining and begging until my voice gave out, but all sounds were blocked by that merciless door.
My mother, hearing the desperate pounding from inside, showed a hint of unease in her eyes. "Ethan, locking Riley in like this, will she really be alright?"
Ethan replied dismissively, "What could happen? She set the fire herself. Could she really burn herself to death? She must have hidden a fire extinguisher somewhere."
After saying this, he took Chloe straight to the hospital. After checking and confirming she was completely unharmed, he finally remembered me.
Sighing, he opened his phone, where a news alert about a fire at East Lynn Villa popped up.
He frowned and was about to call the butler when the butler called him first.
"Have someone let my wife out. I'm coming back now to take her on our honeymoon. I've already picked the place—France, her favorite."
The butler's voice trembled with panic, "Sir, there's a big fire at the villa. Madam… couldn't be saved…"
—–
The hallway fell into dead silence, as if even the air had frozen.
Ethan gripped his phone, anger filling his voice, "Are you tired of living? How dare you curse my wife?"
Chloe, hearing the voice from the phone, flashed a quick look of joy in her eyes. Then, pretending to be concerned, she falsely consoled him.
"Ethan, don't worry. It must be sister angry at you for locking her in, so she's conspiring with the butler to trick you. You know sister is a habitual liar who loves using these underhanded tactics to get your attention."
She paused, her tone contemptuous, "If you ask me, you should send her to a remote country to let her cool off. After she suffers a bit, she'll realize how good you are to her. For someone as despicable as her, you shouldn't spoil her."
Hearing Chloe's incessant voice, Ethan lost all patience for the first time.
He coldly interrupted, "Shut up! When did my wife's business become your concern?"
He shook off Chloe's hand on his arm and walked aside, lowering his voice to the butler on the phone, "Tell her I won't pursue today's matter. Go let her out now. When I get back, I'll bring her favorite Chocolate Brownie from Bibble & Sip."
Bibble & Sip's Chocolate Brownie had been our unspoken reconciliation signal for over ten years.
In the past, whenever I was upset, just one Chocolate Brownie would easily appease me.
But the last time I had Chocolate Brownie was two years ago.
It wasn't that he hadn't bought any, but that all he bought were used to appease Chloe.
He always said Chloe was our adopted daughter who developed depression because she was fragile and sensitive. That I owed her and should accommodate her more.
But I never knew what exactly I owed her.
She lost her family because her parents were criminals who died accidentally while fleeing, but my father sacrificed himself for this criminal's daughter.
I gave up my mother, gave up my husband, gave up the dream I had worked for all my life.
Now, I had given up my life too.
What more do I owe her?
And as for Ethan? Only now does he finally remember to use a Chocolate Brownie to coax me back.
How ridiculous.
The butler on the other end of the phone frantically explained, "Sir, I'm not lying to you. The fire started in Madam's room. By the time we realized something was wrong and went to open the door, it was too late. Now the fire at the villa is out of control, and firefighters are working urgently to put it out…"
"Enough!" Ethan pressed his throbbing temples, his tone still hard, "I know she's angry at me for locking her in. I've already agreed to let her out. How long is she going to act up? She set the fire herself, how could she be stupid enough to burn herself to death!"
But what if… it wasn't me who set the fire?
When this thought flashed through his mind, Ethan's breathing suddenly became rapid, and even his complexion paled slightly. He suppressed the unease and hurriedly said, "Alright, I'm coming back right now."
He was about to hang up hastily when my mother snatched the phone from him.
She wasn't as calm as Ethan. As soon as she spoke, her voice betrayed her panic, "You're lying to us, right? She must be angry about the hurtful things I said to her. Tell Riley that what Mom said in the room was unintentional. Mom knows she was wrong. Mom is coming back right now to apologize to her…"
The butler was silent for a while, knowing these two were determined not to accept the reality. He could only sigh resignedly, "Alright, I'll convey your message."
My mother seemed to have taken a reassuring pill, squeezing out a dry smile, "I knew it was just a joke. What big fire? With so many people in the villa, how could it burn out of control? Riley, this child, is really troublesome."
Even though she said so many reassuring words, she herself hadn't noticed the trembling in her voice that couldn't hide.
"Ethan, let's go back quickly. Today is your wedding day. Comfort Riley well. I only have this one precious daughter. I can't let her suffer any more grievances."
Ethan nodded distractedly, his voice low, "I will."
Chloe followed behind, also wanting to go with them, but was stopped by Ethan, "Go back to your own home. Riley never liked you. I don't want to make her unhappy on our wedding day."
My mother also chimed in, "That's right, Chloe, go home first. You've already taken Riley's modeling championship. Appear less in front of her from now on."
Chloe wanted to say something, but the two didn't even look at her, turning to leave.
She gritted her teeth in anger, the facade of gentleness and kindness gone from her face, viciously cursing, "Riley Hayes, you stubborn bitch! Even in death you have to compete with me!"
On the way back, news updates about the East Lynn Villa fire kept popping up on their phones, almost filling the entire screen.
Ethan was in a daze, the veins on his hands gripping the steering wheel bulging. He ran countless red lights before finally arriving back at the villa.
But as soon as he got out of the car, the scene before him made his legs weak.
The entire villa had been engulfed by the fire…
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