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00:00On the eve of my wedding to a crippled man, I stumbled upon a chilling conversation between Alaric and my
00:06brother Wesley.
00:08You're ruthless to let your own sister marry a cripple just so I can be with Larissa.
00:15Wesley replied calmly,
00:17I can't bear to see Larissa suffer. My sister doesn't matter so long as you and Larissa are happy.
00:23After a long silence, Alaric admitted,
00:26I once thought I loved your sister, but ever since Larita came along, she's the only one I see.
00:33Larissa, the orphan my family adopted, while I, Rayon, am the true daughter of the Aver family.
00:40I stood frozen in the corridor, thunderstruck. Before they could come out, I fled back to my room, my heart
00:46shattering.
00:47The two people I trusted most set a cruel trap, all for the sake of an outsider.
00:53When Wesley and Byron once again hinted at how they couldn't bear to let Larissa take my place in the
00:58marriage,
00:58I felt nothing inside. Wesley saw me lower my head without saying a word.
01:04After a long while, he forced out a smile that looked even worse than crying.
01:09He said,
01:10Rayon, Alaric may be paralyzed, but he might walk again someday.
01:14Then you'll be the happiest woman in Willowdale.
01:16Inside, I let out a cold laugh.
01:19If marrying a paralyzed man is such a blessing, then why can't they bear to let Larissa go instead?
01:24I didn't answer.
01:26They thought I was still unwilling to agree,
01:29and their faces instantly turned sour.
01:33But they were wrong.
01:34I had already made up my mind to marry Alaric.
01:37The next day, out of courtesy, I went to visit the Flame family.
01:41When they heard the news, they were overjoyed.
01:44Talia held my hand tightly, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
01:49Everyone thinks your family would call off the engagement now that Alaric is like this.
01:55But I always believed your family values promises most.
01:59After saying that, Talia took me into the inner room to see Alaric.
02:02He was lying in bed, his face pale as paper, eyes shut tight, lifeless.
02:08And yet, even in such a state, that natural air of nobility around him made me lose myself.
02:13For a moment.
02:14The engagement between Alaric and me had been arranged by the older generation.
02:19Five years ago, Alaric was the dazzling young master of the Flame family.
02:23Then a car accident left him confined to bed.
02:27Wesley and Byron felt sorry for me.
02:29They wanted to break off the engagement,
02:31but feared the world would scorn the Avir family as heartless.
02:36So they adopted the orphan Larissa,
02:39planning to wait until she turned 20 and let her marry in my place.
02:43But no one expected that after, Larissa entered our family.
02:46Their feelings for her would slowly change.
02:50Because of the substitute marriage, they spoiled her out of guilt.
02:55Every month, Larissa got a ridiculous amount of pocket money.
02:58They bought her endless clothes and bags, almost everything she ever asked for.
03:03Even I had to give way again and again.
03:06When Larissa said she wanted my limited edition pen,
03:09I gave it to her without a word.
03:12When she took a liking to the branded watch on my wrist,
03:15I could only give it up with aching reluctance.
03:18When she said her blood didn't clot well,
03:20and that only mine matched hers,
03:23I didn't hesitate to donate.
03:25In just five years,
03:27Larissa had stolen away all the love that once belonged to me.
03:31Wesley and Byron both fell for her
03:32and kept hinting that it was time for me to fulfill the marriage agreement.
03:36But wasn't it them who had decided to adopt Larissa
03:40as my stand-in in the first place?
03:43After coming back from the Flame family,
03:45I looked at the calendar in the living room and marked the date.
03:49I was quietly counting the days when,
03:52all of a sudden,
03:54Wesley and Byron rushed in one after the other.
03:56They went straight to the bookshelf I had treasured for years
03:59and started tearing my beloved collection apart with frantic hands.
04:03My beloved books,
04:04each one holding countless memories
04:06and small passions of mine,
04:08were mercilessly torn apart in Wesley and Byron's hands,
04:12pages scattering and fluttering through the air.
04:15In that instant,
04:17my heart felt as if it had been stabbed,
04:19a pain deeper than any physical blow.
04:22Without a word of explanation,
04:24Wesley and Byron turned and pulled out their phones
04:27to video call Larissa.
04:29Larissa, look.
04:30We tore up Rion's books.
04:33Dare complete.
04:34My chest tightened so sharply that I could barely breathe.
04:38I would never have guessed
04:39that the inexplicably ruined books
04:41were nothing more than a game
04:43Wesley and Byron had been playing with Larissa.
04:47Wesley, Byron, you finished the dare.
04:49I promise I'll eat properly today.
04:52Wesley and Byron both let out a long, relieved sigh.
04:55Only after they hung up did they come over,
04:57feigning concern and trying to pull me in.
05:00Wesley said,
05:02Rayon, are you mad?
05:03I'm so sorry.
05:05Larissa said if we didn't finish the dare,
05:06she wouldn't eat properly.
05:08She's just a little girl and not in good health.
05:10And she can't skip meals,
05:11so we had to put you out.
05:12Seeing me stay silent,
05:14Wesley and Byron finally panicked.
05:15It's our fault.
05:16We'll buy you some better books next time.
05:18But before their words had even finished,
05:21Larissa's call came through again.
05:24She cried,
05:25Wesley, Byron,
05:26I just accidentally humped into one of the garden pillars.
05:29I'm so dizzy I could come hardly stand.
05:31Could you come to the garden
05:32and carry me back to my room?
05:34At once their faces changed.
05:36They hung up and bolted for the garden,
05:38leaving me completely behind.
05:40Watching Wesley and Byron's retreating backs,
05:43I smiled coldly.
05:45This kind of thing wasn't new,
05:47but I didn't care anymore.
05:48Let them do as they pleased.
05:50At breakfast the next morning,
05:52Larissa was once again the center of attention.
05:53When she saw me,
05:55Larissa put on a look of hurt and guilt.
05:59Rayon, I'm really sorry.
06:02Yesterday was just a game.
06:03I didn't expect them to actually tear
06:05all your books to pieces.
06:07Wesley and Byron glanced at me at the same time,
06:09their expressions unreadable.
06:11Instead, they smiled and reassured Larissa.
06:15They're just books.
06:16It's no big deal.
06:17Larissa, you're just too soft-hearted.
06:21Hearing that,
06:22I lowered my head and ate in silence,
06:24not saying a word.
06:26After breakfast,
06:27Wesley and Byron left first.
06:29Soon, it was just Larissa and me.
06:32The sweet, well-behaved Larissa
06:33everyone knew
06:34had completely changed now.
06:36Her face was full of sharpness.
06:38She said coldly,
06:41Rayon haven't noticed?
06:43They stopped liking you a long time ago.
06:46So what if you're the Avier family's
06:49biological daughter?
06:50You're still under my feet.
06:53You can't even imagine
06:55how much Wesley and Byron care about me.
06:58Even if I seedily say
06:59I don't want to eat,
07:01they freak out
07:02and will do anything to coax me.
07:04At first,
07:04when she bragged like that,
07:05I felt quietly sad.
07:08But after it happened so often,
07:11my heart slowly grew numb.
07:14Wesley and Byron are nothing
07:16but too good for nothings.
07:17If you want them,
07:19go ahead.
07:19Take them all.
07:20I said,
07:21looking at her coldly.
07:23Larissa froze,
07:24probably used to my silence
07:25and completely unprepared
07:27for my retort.
07:28Then Larissa flung her plate down
07:30and,
07:31hearing the commotion,
07:32Wesley and Byron
07:33immediately ran back in.
07:36I was just trying to check on
07:37Rayyan's face.
07:38I didn't expect her
07:39to actually slap me.
07:41And she said she was getting even
07:43for something I did earlier.
07:45Byron stared at me
07:46in disbelief.
07:48Don't think that just because
07:49you're the Aver family's
07:51real daughter,
07:51you can bully Larissa
07:53whenever you want.
07:54You'll get married one day,
07:56but Larissa will always be
07:58our little princess.
08:00I didn't say a word.
08:02Quietly,
08:02I turned and walked away,
08:04leaving them behind me,
08:05yelling.
08:05Can't wait for me,
08:06ladies!
08:07I'm going to Claudia!
08:08A few days later,
08:09I went to Mount Cloudy.
08:11They said the gods
08:12at that mountain
08:13were the most merciful
08:13and answered prayers.
08:15I wanted to pray
08:16for the heavens
08:17to bless my future husband,
08:20Alaric Flame,
08:21so that one day
08:21he might recover
08:22and no longer be bound
08:24to a bed.
08:24But enemies
08:25always cross paths.
08:26Not far away,
08:27I saw Wesley and Byron
08:28taking turns
08:29carrying Larissa
08:30on their backs
08:31up the mountain.
08:31They were drenched in sweat,
08:33but they looked like
08:33they couldn't be happier.
08:35When they spotted me,
08:36they froze.
08:38Did you follow us here
08:40on purpose, Rayon?
08:41I have no interest
08:42in where you go.
08:43The two men were surprised.
08:44After a moment,
08:46Wait.
08:47You didn't come here
08:48to get safety charms
08:49for us,
08:50did you?
08:50Tell you,
08:51I'm not wearing that stuff.
08:56I'm not wearing one either.
08:57You should just head back.
08:59The path is long
09:00and no one's carrying you.
09:01Hearing this,
09:02I quickened my pace
09:03at the mountain,
09:04not wanting to argue
09:04with them anymore.
09:05They were convinced
09:06I was just putting on a show
09:08and followed closely.
09:09Look at her,
09:10pretending we don't exist.
09:12Let her be.
09:13Waiting to laugh at me.
09:15But I didn't pay them
09:16any attention this time.
09:19Inside the main hall,
09:20after offering incense
09:21and bowing,
09:23I drew a fortune stick.
09:25The result was
09:26the very best.
09:29Larissa caught me
09:30staring at it
09:30and let out
09:31a mocking laugh.
09:33Are you asking the gods
09:34to make you more loved
09:36than me?
09:37Too bad feelings
09:38don't work that way.
09:39Not even the gods
09:40can help you with that.
09:41Seriously, Rayon,
09:42you're too old
09:43to be competing
09:43with Larissa
09:44for affection.
09:46I shot them
09:47a sideways look.
09:49You give yourself
09:50too much credit.
09:50My prayer has nothing
09:52to do with either of you.
09:54Larissa rolled her eyes
09:55and walked off,
09:56but Wesley didn't
09:57buy my words.
09:58He craned his neck,
09:59trying to see
10:00whose name I had
10:01written down.
10:02When he saw Alaric's name,
10:04his eyes bulged wide
10:05like copper bells.
10:07You came here
10:08for that cripple?
10:09Byron hesitated.
10:11Maybe she's finally
10:12grown a conscience.
10:14Maybe she thought
10:15it was too cruel
10:15for Larissa
10:16to marry a paralyzed man
10:17so she came to pray
10:18for Alaric instead.
10:20Wesley muttered,
10:21So fake.
10:22If she really felt
10:24bad for Larissa,
10:25why didn't she just
10:25marry that cripple herself?
10:27They kept their voices
10:28barely above a whisper,
10:29afraid Larissa might hear.
10:31That kind of careful,
10:32tender love
10:33was something
10:33I had only known
10:34a long, long time ago
10:36and only for a little while.
10:37That night after returning
10:38from Mount Clody,
10:40I dreamed of Alaric.
10:41He was standing
10:42at the end of the corridor
10:43in the flame estate,
10:44smiling at me.
10:45Sunlight streamed
10:47through the trellis,
10:48scattering across
10:49the stone floor.
10:50For some reason,
10:51the whole scene
10:52felt strangely familiar.
10:54Before I could move closer,
10:55the noise around me
10:56jolted me awake.
10:57I leaned against the window
10:59and looked out.
11:00Wesley and Byron
11:01were teaching Larissa
11:02how to skateboard.
11:03It turned out
11:03Larissa had only casually
11:05mentioned wanting to learn.
11:06Byron immediately went out
11:07and bought her
11:08a limited edition pro board,
11:09placing it right
11:10in front of her.
11:11Suddenly,
11:12my mind drifted back
11:13to that dream
11:16and I decided
11:17to visit
11:18the flame family.
11:19But just as I reached
11:20the gate,
11:20I heard the sharp
11:21whoosh of wheels
11:23behind me.
11:24When I turned around,
11:25Larissa's skateboard
11:26had gone out of control
11:27and it was racing
11:28straight toward me.
11:30I collapsed
11:31on the ground,
11:32rolling frantically
11:33to the side
11:34to dodge the skateboard.
11:35My arms and knees
11:37scraped hard
11:37against the rough pavement,
11:39skin tearing open
11:40at once
11:40as blood streamed down.
11:43The searing pain
11:44made me cry out,
11:45tears spilling uncontrollably.
11:47Larissa only arched a brow,
11:49her smile half-mocking.
11:54Sorry, Rayon.
11:55I'm still not that good at it.
11:57Guess I hurt you.
11:59Wesley didn't even
12:00spare me a glance.
12:01He rushed straight
12:02to steady Larissa,
12:03his voice soft
12:04and soothing.
12:07She's tough.
12:09Don't let this
12:10scare you.
12:10Just as despair
12:12weighed me down,
12:13a pair of hands
12:14reached for me,
12:15pulling me back up.
12:17In his palm
12:18lay a fortune stick.
12:21It was the very same
12:22fortune I'd drawn
12:23on Mount Clody,
12:23the best one.
12:25If you can't even
12:26handle a skateboard,
12:27maybe don't embarrass
12:28yourself out here.
12:29The man said,
12:30his voice carrying
12:31both teasing
12:32and contempt.
12:34When I saw his face,
12:35I froze.
12:38He was Alaric flame.
12:40His eyes held
12:41that familiar,
12:42enchanting warmth.
12:45And for a moment,
12:46I felt bewitched
12:47as I placed my hand
12:49in him without thinking.
12:51Wesley and Byron
12:53stiffened in shock.
12:54Then Wesley barked.
12:55Who the hell
12:57are you?
12:59Watch your mouth.
13:00Do you even know
13:01where you're standing?
13:02How dare you
13:03cause trouble here?
13:04Larissa sneered.
13:06Doesn't Rayon
13:07already have a fiancé?
13:09What's she doing
13:10being so close
13:11with some random guy?
13:12That's not a gluck.
13:13Byron finally noticed
13:15our joined hands.
13:16His words were bitter,
13:17edged with jealousy.
13:18You're the
13:19our family's daughter.
13:20Stop hanging around
13:22trash like him.
13:27Wesley let out
13:28a cold laugh.
13:29Looks like I've been
13:30too lenient with you
13:31since our parents died.
13:33You think you can
13:34sneak around
13:35with some low life
13:36behind our backs?
13:37Your accusations
13:37came one after another
13:39as if blaming me
13:41was the only thing
13:42that gave them satisfaction.
13:44Larissa joined in too,
13:45feeding off the chance
13:46to put me down.
13:49still clinging
13:49to that delusion?
13:50How pathetic.
13:52She's right, you know.
13:53It's time to give up.
13:57Before,
13:58I would have swallowed
13:59the pain
14:00and found a corner
14:01to cry in alone.
14:02But today,
14:03before I could say a word,
14:04Alaric stepped in.
14:10Who I am
14:11doesn't matter.
14:12What matters
14:13is you hurt her.
14:16Apologize,
14:16Alaric said.
14:18His tone was calm,
14:19yet it carried the weight
14:20of someone who knew
14:21he had the upper hand.
14:22Wesley and Byron
14:23had never been dismissed
14:25like that before.
14:26Fury twisted their faces.
14:28At once,
14:29a group of a-ve-a-year
14:30bodyguards
14:31closed in on Alaric,
14:32everyone waiting to see him
14:33beg for mercy
14:33or break down in fear.
14:36We never bully people,
14:38but someone like you
14:39should understand
14:40what class difference means.
14:42You'd better be careful
14:43how you act in the future.
14:44I bit down hard,
14:46stepping in front of Alaric.
14:47He was still recovering
14:48from illness,
14:49and I couldn't let him
14:50get hurt.
14:51Seeing that,
14:51Larissa spat.
14:53Rayon,
14:53you've got no taste at all.
14:55You'd rather run with him
14:56than take the Flame family's heir?
14:58Sure,
14:58Mr. Flame might be
14:59a half-dead man,
15:00but at least he's filthy rich.
15:02You'd spend your life
15:02as a widow,
15:03but hey,
15:03no worries about food
15:04or clothes.
15:05I'd kill for that.
15:07Half-dead?
15:09Did you really just use
15:11those words for Alaric?
15:13Alaric smiled
15:13and it reached his eyes.
15:15Larissa replied,
15:17Oh, please.
15:17I was talking about
15:18Rayon's fiancé.
15:20Why are you the one
15:20getting worked up?
15:21If Alaric wasn't a cripple,
15:23would Rayon even look at you?
15:24The two of you are disgusting.
15:26Larissa knows her place.
15:27Compared to her,
15:28some people don't even act
15:29like the real daughter
15:30of the Ever family.
15:32Hearing that,
15:33I lowered my gaze
15:34and had a long breath.
15:36Finally,
15:37I had lost the last
15:38scrap of hope
15:39I had for this family.
15:42Can you take me with you?
15:43I asked Alaric.
15:45After all,
15:45Alaric had already seen
15:46how miserable my life
15:47at the Aver household
15:48had been,
15:49so there was nothing
15:51left for me to hide.
15:53As for everything else,
15:54I could deal with it
15:54once I was away
15:55from the Aver family.
15:57Before Alaric could speak,
15:58Wesley cut in,
15:59his tone sharp.
16:01Rayon,
16:02are you trying
16:03to threaten me with this?
16:04We all hate people
16:05who fight for attention.
16:06If you promise
16:07to never compete
16:08with Larissa again,
16:09we'll accept you
16:10staying with the Aviers.
16:13The Aver family
16:15was my home,
16:16and Larissa stole my place.
16:18When Mom and Dad died,
16:19they kept telling Wesley
16:20and me to look out
16:21for one another.
16:22They said,
16:23From now on,
16:24you'll be the closest people
16:26in the world
16:26to each other.
16:28Don't ever hurt
16:29one another.
16:30Before she died,
16:31Mom even grabbed
16:32Byron's hand
16:33and begged him
16:34to be kind to me.
16:36Even though Rayon
16:37has an engagement,
16:38I can see you two
16:39care for each other.
16:41As long as you are
16:42loyal to each other,
16:44the Flame family
16:45will understand
16:45the engagement.
16:47And yet these two
16:48now stood against me,
16:50fiercely protecting
16:51someone who had
16:52nothing to do with them.
16:54I smiled.
16:57There's no need.
16:59You three go on
17:00and live your lives well.
17:01That's better than anything,
17:03you think.
17:03Alaric couldn't help
17:04but laugh softly
17:05at my words.
17:06They had never known
17:07I could be so sharp-tongued.
17:09In earlier years,
17:11Wesley had doted on me,
17:13and Byron had loved me.
17:15I always seemed
17:16calm and untroubled.
17:19Then their affection
17:20slowly shifted to Larissa,
17:22and I kept silent,
17:23enduring it for years.
17:26At the time,
17:27I thought my silence
17:27would make everything better.
17:30Gradually,
17:30they would notice
17:31how much I suffered
17:32and feel sorry for me.
17:34Later,
17:35I realized silence
17:37only made things worse.
17:38They either assumed
17:40I was too ashamed to speak,
17:41or they believed
17:42their actions
17:42couldn't possibly have hurt me.
17:44Or perhaps,
17:46they did know
17:47they were hurting me.
17:48And because I said nothing,
17:50they gradually felt justified.
17:53Furious,
17:53Wesley raised his hand
17:55to hit me.
17:56But Alaric kicked him
17:57in the chest,
17:58sending him crashing
17:59to the ground,
18:00where he lay
18:00for a long time.
18:02Seeing that,
18:03the Avier bodyguards
18:04moved to confront Alaric.
18:06Then,
18:07from who knew where,
18:09a long line of cars arrived,
18:11and outpoured flame family guards
18:13in black.
18:14Wasn't those people
18:15from the flame family?
18:16Where's they let her?
18:17Are coming to talk
18:18about the engagement?
18:19They hurried
18:19to shield Larissa
18:21and watched
18:22the newcomers warily.
18:24However,
18:25the man,
18:25the head of the group,
18:26walked straight up
18:27to Alaric
18:28and asked,
18:29Mr. Flame,
18:31are you alright?
18:32Wesley and the others
18:33stared in disbelief.
18:35Isn't Mr. Flame paralyzed?
18:37How,
18:38how can it him?
18:39Larissa refused
18:40to accept it.
18:40Alaric's features
18:41were delicate
18:42and his bearing noble.
18:43He would stand out
18:44in any crowd.
18:45If he were an ordinary man,
18:47they might have balanced it.
18:48I'm fine.
18:49Miss Avier is injured.
18:50Call the family doctor
18:51and wait.
18:51We'll head back right away.
18:53With that,
18:53Alaric nodded to me.
18:54A warm,
18:55steadying feeling
18:56rose inside me.
18:58And before I knew it,
18:59I climbed into his car.
19:02Rayan,
19:03how can you go with him?
19:04Who knows what's going on
19:06with him suddenly waking up?
19:07The Flame family
19:07is deep and complicated.
19:09Byron,
19:10don't bother with her.
19:11My dumbest tain.
19:12Rayan,
19:13come back.
19:13Listen to me.
19:14You can't just go with him.
19:15We still don't know
19:16if his identity is real.
19:17Larissa's eyes
19:18filled with tears.
19:19Wesley,
19:20my stomach hurts.
19:22Can't you hear me?
19:23They hesitated,
19:25sighed,
19:25and in the end
19:26chose Larissa.
19:28Alaric shook my shoulder
19:29and brought me back
19:30to myself.
19:32Let's go.
19:32I'll take you home.
19:35He said softly.
19:45Compared to the suffocating
19:47atmosphere
19:47of the Aviere household,
19:49the Flame family
19:50was full of warmth
19:51and joy.
19:53Miss Aviere is a lucky girl.
19:54Just one visit
19:55from Mr. Flame
19:56and his leg
19:57is already better.
19:59Yes,
20:00it seems that Mr. Flame
20:01and Miss Aviere
20:02were destined
20:03to be together.
20:05And Selkum.
20:07Talia even took
20:08the emerald bracelet
20:09off her wrist
20:10and slipped it
20:11onto mine,
20:11saying it was
20:12a family treasure.
20:13I hesitated to accept it,
20:15but Alaric smiled
20:16and urged me
20:16not to refuse.
20:18Since our wedding
20:19is coming soon,
20:20you should take it.
20:21Otherwise,
20:21I don't N.C.
20:22Everyone laughed
20:23heartily.
20:24However,
20:25I felt a pain
20:26in my heart
20:26and tears
20:27slipped down
20:28my cheeks.
20:30This was only
20:31my second visit,
20:32yet it felt warmer
20:34than the home
20:34I had lived in
20:35for 22 years.
20:37Alaric.
20:41Don't cry.
20:46They're blind
20:47and foolish
20:47to be tricked
20:48by that woman.
20:49Alaric told everyone
20:50what he had witnessed
20:50at the Avir household
20:51and what I had said
20:53to him on the way here.
20:54Hearing that,
20:56Jessica slammed
20:57the table in anger.
20:59She says sharply,
21:01I can understand
21:02feeling sorry
21:03for Rayon
21:04and arranging
21:05a replacement marriage,
21:06but within a few years
21:08to be deceived
21:08by an outsider
21:09and allowed to mistreat
21:10your own bride-to-be,
21:11it shows just how foolish
21:13that two boys really are.
21:15Rayon,
21:16don't worry about
21:17any of this.
21:17Just stay here.
21:19All wedding arrangements
21:20will be handled by us.
21:21I hesitated,
21:23unsure if this was appropriate.
21:25Alaric whispered
21:25in my ear,
21:26With me here,
21:28no one in the Flame family
21:29will ever mistreat you.
21:30His tone and expression
21:31stirred a strange sense
21:33of familiarity in me.
21:34After everyone left,
21:36I couldn't help asking,
21:38Alaric,
21:38have we met before?
21:40Alaric looked
21:41a little disappointed.
21:43You don't remember?
21:45When you were just born,
21:46I went to see you
21:46with my grandmother.
21:49You were so tiny little
21:50soft and fragrance
21:51in my arms.
21:53Later,
21:54on your third birthday,
21:55I gave you a gift.
21:56Don't you remember?
21:57a delicately carved
21:59emerald amulet.
22:00Grandma said
22:00it would keep you safe
22:01every year.
22:02I had been waiting
22:03for you to grow up,
22:04but then I had the accident.
22:06I never imagined
22:07that because of this engagement,
22:08these past few years
22:09would be so hard for you.
22:10That's my fault.
22:11But now,
22:12I'm fine,
22:13and no one will ever
22:14hurt you again.
22:15I froze at his words.
22:17It was really you?
22:19I exclaimed.
22:20I did have an amulet
22:21I had worn
22:21since I was little.
22:23Later,
22:24Larissa coveted it
22:24and took it from me.
22:26Not long after,
22:28I found its shattered pieces
22:29in the trash.
22:31When I confronted her,
22:32Larissa was indifferent,
22:33saying,
22:34It's just an emerald pendant.
22:36I'll replace it for you.
22:38She opened a jewelry box
22:39full of precious pieces
22:41and told me
22:42to pick anything I wanted.
22:45I said,
22:46I don't want these.
22:49If you didn't care about it,
22:50why take my amulet
22:51in the first place?
22:52I just can't stand
22:54to see you happy.
22:55I have to take
22:56everything you like.
22:58Thinking of that,
22:58I sobbed quietly again.
23:01Alaric panicked at first,
23:02thinking he had said
23:03something wrong.
23:04Once he understood,
23:07She's right.
23:07It's just an emerald pendant.
23:09With me here,
23:10you can have as many
23:11as you want.
23:12It's not about the pendant.
23:15It's because I've worn it
23:16for so many years.
23:21It's something you gave me.
23:23My third birthday
23:23was long ago.
23:25Memories were vague.
23:28All I remember
23:29was that a young man
23:30had once brought me a gift.
23:32Alaric smiled softly.
23:33Next time,
23:34I'll give you
23:35even better things.
23:37I'll gather all
23:38the finest treasures
23:39in the world for you,
23:39okay?
23:40Raeann,
23:41don't cry.
23:42Smile more.
23:46Okay.
23:47Seven days away,
23:49our wedding
23:50was finally approaching.
23:52I had been staying
23:53at the Flame Estate
23:54this whole time.
23:55Wesley and Byron
23:56had called countless times
23:58and I hadn't answered
23:59a single one.
24:01Larissa wasn't idle either.
24:03She sent a bunch
24:04of WhatsApp messages
24:05full of pictures
24:06and videos
24:07all to taunt me.
24:08None of them
24:08were anything new.
24:10Just showing how
24:11Wesley and Byron
24:12were running around
24:13doing whatever she asked.
24:14She even messaged me
24:15directly.
24:16don't think running away
24:17will make their hearts
24:18come back to you.
24:19I've already mastered
24:21the whole game
24:21of playing hard to get.
24:22Since you're gone,
24:24the position of Miss Eivir
24:25is mine now.
24:26I blocked all their messages.
24:28However,
24:29two days before the wedding,
24:37Wesley showed up
24:38at the Flame Residence.
24:40He shouted at the gate,
24:42demanding to see me.
24:44I didn't want to cause
24:45trouble for Alaric
24:46or leave a bad impression
24:47on the Flame family,
24:48so I hurried out
24:49to pull him away.
24:51But Wesley plopped down
24:52boldly at the entrance.
24:55Rayon,
24:55now that Alaric
24:57has fully recovered
24:58and you're about to marry,
24:59that makes the Eivir
25:01and Flame fans.
25:01One family, right?
25:03Our parents are gone.
25:06I'm your only brother,
25:07right?
25:08Rayon,
25:09you remember when we were kids
25:11and we used to run
25:11around these gardens?
25:13Good times, right?
25:14We're family, after all.
25:15I knew he had a favor to ask.
25:17Sure enough,
25:18the next sentence
25:19revealed his real intention.
25:20I may be Alaric's
25:22brother-in-law,
25:23but how could he do
25:23something like this?
25:26He's been targeting
25:26our family business
25:27for months, Rayon.
25:29Cut off our supply chains,
25:30froze our assets,
25:31and now he's trying
25:32to ruin our reputation
25:33in the city.
25:34Within a few days,
25:35the Eivir family's operations
25:37were almost at a standstill,
25:39and the Salmon family
25:40was in a similar situation.
25:43Yet,
25:44Alaric hadn't said
25:45a word to me.
25:46That's a matter of business.
25:48He has his reasons.
25:50I can't interfere.
25:51I said casually.
25:53Wesley pressed on.
25:56Rayon!
25:57Are you really that cold?
25:59Our family's success
26:01of Mimpsen
26:01about fire you
26:02will grant
26:02and Feustren's
26:03belt for this it.
26:04Even need to setch fun
26:05for more sang duration
26:06and no notly.
26:07Can you watch them
26:08in Hardlow go to waste?
26:09All of Wesley's attention
26:11over the past few years
26:12had been on Larissa.
26:14He hadn't spoken to me
26:16like this in a long time.
26:17His tone was sincere,
26:19clearly pushed to the limit.
26:21If this were before,
26:22I might have softened.
26:23But now,
26:24I...
26:25So you still value
26:26the results of
26:26generations of Averhard work?
26:28And me?
26:28I'm our grandfather's
26:29favorite granddaughter,
26:30my parents' cherished daughter,
26:31and Avi are a living,
26:32breathing person.
26:32You ignore me
26:33but care about material things?
26:34Assets can be rebuilt.
26:36You know Alaric's
26:36is acting for me.
26:37Once my need is satisfied,
26:38he's aderantly
26:39let you fuff lightless.
26:40At that moment,
26:41Larissa and Byron arrived.
26:43Larissa's face
26:43turned red with anger.
26:45Rayon.
26:50Rayon,
26:50don't you have a conscience?
26:52You're supposed to be
26:53part of the Aver family.
26:55I shot back.
26:59When you slandered me
27:01with Alaric,
27:01saying we were doing
27:02improper things,
27:03did it ever occur to you
27:04that I'm part of
27:04the Aver family?
27:06When you repeatedly
27:07accused me of harming you,
27:08did you consider
27:09I'm part of the Aver family?
27:10When you stole from me,
27:12did it ever cross your mind
27:13that I'm part of
27:13the Aver family?
27:14Faced with my questions.
27:16Larissa's into the
27:17inner rich hat ready
27:18timed it to your cell
27:18Chontas,
27:19and I was sitting them
27:20taking Ice Snake's thinner.
27:25She muttered,
27:26I couldn't believe it.
27:28The five years
27:29I'd suffered so much
27:30meant so little to her.
27:31Just a flippant sentence.
27:33In the end,
27:34I said,
27:36So in business,
27:37setbacks happen.
27:39Facing Alaric's pressure,
27:41why would it bother you
27:42the Mwanchi?
27:43I'd finally come to
27:43one realization.
27:44There was no point
27:46trying to reason with them.
27:48Seeing that I had no intention
27:50of continuing the conversation,
27:51I turned to walk inside.
27:53The bodyguards politely
27:54blocked the others
27:55from following me.
27:56Those two days,
27:58they had tried
27:58every possible way
27:59to contact me,
28:00but my attitude
28:01hadn't changed at all.
28:02On the eve of the wedding,
28:04Alaric once again
28:05confirmed the guest list
28:06with me.
28:06He asked,
28:07Are you sure you don't
28:08want to send an invitation
28:09to the Evier family?
28:11He's your only family
28:12left in this world.
28:13I froze.
28:15My only family?
28:21At one time,
28:22Wesley really had
28:23been my only family.
28:25Back then,
28:25he would stop by
28:26after work
28:26and bring me treats
28:27or little toys.
28:29When Byron came
28:29to the Avier residence
28:30looking for me,
28:31Wesley would pout
28:32in displeasure.
28:34Don't think I don't know
28:35what you're up to.
28:36My little sister's
28:37still young.
28:39But later,
28:40everything changed.
28:46I shook my head
28:47with a hint of sadness.
28:48Alaric said nothing.
28:50Just silently removed
28:51Wesley's name
28:52from the list.
28:59The next day,
29:00we had to wake up
29:00very early.
29:02The makeup artists
29:02were already waiting.
29:03She said to me,
29:05You are dimmy beautiful.
29:06I've my drunk
29:07for mess brides,
29:08but I never seen
29:08anyone re-beneat
29:09been you more sputiful.
29:13Stepping outside,
29:14the first thing I saw
29:16was Alaric
29:17in a crisp suit.
29:18He held a bouquet
29:19and went down
29:20on one knee.
29:22Rayon,
29:23I've been waiting
29:24for you for a long time.
29:26A strange ache
29:27hit my nose
29:28and tears threatened
29:29to spill from my eyes.
29:31I never imagined
29:32I would meet someone
29:33whose heart and eyes
29:34were filled only with me.
29:36And I never thought
29:36my arranged marriage
29:37would not throw me
29:38into a pit of fire,
29:39but instead
29:40bring me to a warm harbor.
29:45Do you, Rayon Aver,
29:47take Alaric flame
29:48to be your lawfully
29:49wedded husband?
29:50I do.
29:52The officiant teased.
29:54Our groom is usually
29:56a business mogul,
29:57but today he's turned
29:57into a total mess of tears.
30:03I recalled what Alaric
30:05had told me yesterday.
30:07He said,
30:09You don't know
30:10how scared was I was
30:11when I woke up
30:11afraid I would miss you,
30:13afraid you had using
30:13married else someone.
30:16Lucky Byron was
30:17note of and hound
30:17of all Homa.
30:24Everyone on the stage
30:25and in the audience
30:26was me.
30:30Suddenly someone
30:31stormed in.
30:34Rayon, are you even human?
30:35Your family's in chaos
30:37and you're getting married?
30:38I focused
30:39and realized it was Larissa.
30:41Her hair was a mess
30:42and there was makeup
30:43smeared across her face.
30:45she looked utterly pathetic.
30:48Wesley previously
30:49tried to buy Larissa
30:50an estate
30:51as a 20th birthday gift.
30:52With Mencemo
30:53the cash in flow,
30:54he took bribes
30:55from the other Brayfum
30:56and even jaded
30:57High Deccan.
30:58Under Nirmal Tinkwansi
31:00would have been able
31:00repained,
31:01but recently
31:02the Avir family's
31:03gizzes hit a rough
31:03and the cash flow broke.
31:06Jite collectors
31:06had Aldi come knocking
31:07this morning
31:08and the Avir family
31:09mansion might be
31:10auctioned at us.
31:12Don't worry.
31:13I'll have someone
31:14buy the Avir mansion.
31:16I know it holds
31:17many of your memories.
31:21I just wanted
31:22to make things
31:22right for you.
31:24I never wanted you
31:25to lose the things
31:26you treasure most.
31:27Larissa shouted
31:28and screamed,
31:29but no one
31:30paid her any attention.
31:32This isn't fair!
31:33You can't do this!
31:35Everyone else
31:35murmured quietly.
31:36Can you believe her?
31:37so...
31:38Look at me!
31:39All of you!
31:40Look at what she's doing!
31:43Is that the
31:44Avir foster daughter?
31:45She's not even
31:46that impressive.
31:47Yeah,
31:47she can't compare
31:48to Rayon at all.
31:49The Avir family's
31:50standards are really slipping.
31:51I heard Byron likes her.
31:52How could Mrs. Salmon
31:53ever agrees?
31:56Get away from me!
31:59You can't do this!
32:00Let me go!
32:01Get out on me!
32:02Larissa, furious,
32:04tried to rush
32:04into the stage
32:05but the bodyguard
32:06simply tossed her out.
32:08As soon as she left,
32:10Byron showed up again.
32:11Everyone assumed
32:12he had come
32:13to attend the wedding.
32:14But Byron
32:15looked up at the stage
32:17with tear-filled eyes.
32:20Rayon,
32:20I came to take you home.
32:23I know I made
32:24a lot of mistakes before
32:25but all of that's
32:26in the past now.
32:30I figured out
32:31everything it did to you.
32:34I'm sorry.
32:35The heirloom
32:35your mother gave me,
32:36I couldn't protect you.
32:38Sienna, look at me.
32:42What did I just say?
32:44Relax.
32:45I already told them
32:46we'd be late.
32:55Now, Byron
32:56looked haggard,
32:57scruffy,
32:58and unshaven.
32:59His shirt was crumpled
33:00and he reeked off alcohol.
33:04Alaric frowned,
33:05displeased.
33:09Byron,
33:10are you out of your mind?
33:11Today is a good day
33:12for Rayon and me.
33:14What are you doing?
33:15Byron's expression
33:16hardened as he
33:17straightened his neck
33:17and demanded,
33:18I'm not crazy,
33:19you're the crazy one.
33:21Rayon should marry me.
33:22Mine.
33:23She's mine.
33:25When you were bedrode
33:26in all those years,
33:26I was the one with her.
33:28She only married you
33:29to spite me.
33:30I glanced nervously
33:31at Alaric,
33:32afraid he might believe
33:33Byron's nonsense.
33:34But Alaric just raised
33:35an eyebrow and smiled.
33:37Then you're useless,
33:38more charming than you are.
33:41Hearing that,
33:42I lowered my head
33:43and covered my mouth
33:44with a quiet laugh.
33:46You don't actually think
33:47she really loves you,
33:48do you?
33:49She doesn't love you!
33:50She was wronged
33:51and just wanted someone
33:52to support her,
33:53to fight for her.
33:54If you weren't Mr. Flame,
33:55do you think she'd even
33:56consider marrying you?
33:59Alaric smiled.
34:01Well, that's perfect.
34:03I just happen to be Mr. Flame.
34:05Byron was left speechless.
34:06Alaric calmly lifted his wrist
34:08to check the time.
34:09Ah, time's running short.
34:10We should start toasting.
34:12Mr. Salmon,
34:13are you joining us?
34:14I hear you've got
34:15a decent tolerance.
34:16Byron tried to say something,
34:18but the Salmon family members
34:19rushed over
34:20and forcibly dragged him away.
34:22Our brothers lost it.
34:23Don't take it personally,
34:24Mr. Flame.
34:25Today is my wedding day.
34:26I don't have time for this.
34:27Just stay away from my wife
34:29from now on.
34:30I had expected Wesley
34:32to show up too,
34:33but he never appeared.
34:34Not even by the end
34:35of the ceremony.
34:36After the evening party ended,
34:38Alaric's exceived
34:39and his expression grew serious
34:40as he delivered
34:40some shocking news.
34:42Wesley has committed suicide.
34:45Alaric said,
34:48After the debt collectors
34:49left during the day,
34:51she broke things,
34:52cried,
34:53and scold him
34:54in front of the servants,
34:55calling him useless.
34:59Later he went out.
35:06The property management
35:08found him dead in the lake.
35:09Wesley, like me,
35:10has always been afraid of water.
35:11I never expected it
35:12to end this way,
35:13and I wondered
35:14if he was punishing himself.
35:15Later, Alaric took back
35:16the Aviere estate
35:17and occasionally accompanied me
35:18there to sit for a while.
35:19Larissa's assets
35:20were all liquidated.
35:21She came with nothing,
35:22and in the end,
35:23she still had nothing.
35:24Those years had been
35:25a fool's dream,
35:25and Larissa had had her fill
35:27of good life.
35:28She came to beg
35:28for my forgiveness.
35:30Rayon, we're family.
35:32We're family.
35:33You can't just watch me
35:34end up on the streets.
35:35I sneered.
35:36We were never a family.
35:40As for Byron,
35:41see, the salmon family
35:42sent me a dog.
35:45And we never had
35:46any contact again.
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