After being harmed, my soul left my body, and I discovered the truth that my whole family wanted to harm me. So I started to fight back. I began to teach my younger brother, distance myself from my fiancé, take control of the family business, and audit my mother's dowry shop. I forced my stepmother and father to make up for the embezzled money, and then set a trap to catch my stepsister Nora and fiancé Max in the act of adultery, spreading the scandal throughout Eighphia. After seeking treatment from a renowned doctor, my health gradually improved. I exposed my stepmother's actions against me, sought revenge, and gradually revealed the truth that it was my own good father who was behind the harm to me and my mother. Through confrontation and covert investigation, I gathered evidence and uncovered a secret that was enough to destroy my father's entire family... I avenged myself and my mother, and also found a fulfilling marriage.
Chapter 1
I was raised in the lap of luxury, yet I almost didn't survive past seventeen.
As I was on the brink of death, my soul unexpectedly drifted away, wandering aimlessly.
It was then that I discovered the truth: my stepmother's meticulous care was a facade, my stepsister's deep sisterly affection was a sham, and my father's lavish affection was also false. They all genuinely wished for my death.
Even my fiancé, whom I had always despised, had been conspiring with my stepsister all along.
By some miracle, I was resurrected and greeted them with a serene smile, "I'm still alive. Are you happy now?"
Chapter 1: Awakening
When I woke up after three months of illness and unconsciousness, the expressions on the faces of those in the room varied greatly.
My stepmother, who was honey-tongued but dagger-hearted, approached with a concerned look on her face. "Haylen, you finally woke up. I've been praying for you every day these past months."
A kind face hides a cruel heart. No wonder I hadn't seen through her true nature before.
Everyone in the room wore masks of false concern, except for my brother-considered rebellious and defiant since childhood. His eyes, however, shone with genuine worry and care.
Had it not been for my nearly three-month slumber, during which my soul drifted out of my body, I wouldn't have known that everyone in the Hayes family, except for my brother Samuel, had been hoping for my death.
"Samuel, come here," I called softly, my voice weak but resolute.
Everyone looked at me in astonishment.
Since our mother's death, I had blamed my brother for her passing, even though he was just a child at the time. I had been obsessed with trivialities and neglected him, leaving him in the care of our seemingly amiable stepmother.
Now, I realized that this had been entirely my fault.
"Between life and death in a single breath. In my haze, I dreamt of our mother. She told me to take good care of Samuel, who has been mischievous and skipping school. Move all of his things to my courtyard tomorrow."
"Haylen, you just recovered. There's no need to rush into disciplining Samuel," my stepmother tried to dissuade me, but I interrupted her firmly.
"My decision is final. There's no need to say more. From today on, Samuel will live with me, and I will take care of him myself." My voice was resolute, leaving no room for debate.
Seeing my determination, my stepmother said no more, only reminding me to take good care of my health.
"It's so great that you're awake, sister. Max will be relieved too."
"He has visited you many times, hoping for your recovery."
My stepsister Nora's tone was filled with joy, as if she were truly happy to see me awake.
Had I not witnessed her and my fiancé Max whispering sweet nothings in her courtyard while my soul wandered, I might have believed her.
"Are you very familiar with Max, sister?" I stared directly at her, watching Nora's face contort for a moment, clearly hit by my words.
But my stepmother quickly stepped in to cover for her. "Max visits every five days. Everyone in the Wallace family knows how much he cares for you."
"Yes, sister," Nora's face twisted for an instant.
A barely noticeable coldness flashed in my eyes.
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.