My sister was the campus belle of the dance academy, but she was just the daughter of an ordinary family.
In a society where money reigned supreme, our family remained of little importance. Anyone with a bit of background in Jasperwood could easily crush my family.
As my sister grew older, her beauty began to gain attention on social media.
Our father loved us dearly, hoping that my sister and I could marry into ordinary families and live peaceful, happy lives.
Seeing my father fretting over her popularity with a frown on his face and a few more gray hairs at his temples, my sister felt guilty.
But my father comforted her, saying beauty was not a sin, only that he feared he lacked the ability to protect us.
He decided to donate half of the restaurant's profits annually to support a batch of outstanding, impoverished college students.
My father knew well that if Blake family, as merchants, couldn't protect us, he would cultivate a group of elite talents who could.
As my sister approached her 18th birthday, her coming-of-age ceremony was kept low-key to avoid trouble.
Yet, even with such discretion, her reputation as Jasperwood's most beautiful woman spread throughout the elite circles.
The day after her ceremony, a prominent family sent someone over to deliver a marriage proposal letter.
The messenger spoke disdainfully, openly telling my father that a young master from a wealthy family had taken a liking to my sister and intended to take her back as his mistress.
This young master was the nephew of a political bigwig and heir to a multinational corporation. Since he was the only son in the family, everyone showed great respect for him. He was known for his wild, debauched lifestyle and womanizing. Every woman he brought home ended up battered and bruised, either suffering a mental breakdown or disappearing under mysterious circumstances.
My father dared not let my sister step into such a perilous place. He humbly explained that my sister was already engaged and unworthy of the esteemed young master.
But how could a small restaurant owner contend with a powerful political and business giant?
My sister was forcibly taken away, and my father was severely beaten by the family's bodyguards, while my mother held me, weeping uncontrollably.
Struggling to his feet, my father staggered toward the mansion, only to be driven away by security guards wielding electric batons.
Bystanders pointed and whispered, betting on how long my sister would last in the mansion.
My father was so enraged he felt sick, yet he found no way to rescue my sister.
Within three days, my sister was returned by the wealthy family's people.
The woman who had left looking so vibrant and charming came back as a lifeless, cold corpse, her body covered in bruises and cuts.
"Thought she was a virtuous lady, but she still ended up serving our master," the messenger scoffed before leaving.
My mother, in disbelief, collapsed to her knees, cradling my sister's lifeless body, her cries piercing the air.
My father's forehead was bloodied, his mouth stained with blood, as he stared in anguish toward the mansion.
Unwilling to accept this, my father carried my sister's body, stumbling toward the city police station.
He wanted to file a report, accusing that young master of rape and murder, pleading for justice for my sister.
But the police said that since my sister had willingly become that young master's mistress, her death was a private matter beyond their jurisdiction.
The mansion's butler, standing across from my father, sneered, "Just a worthless plaything, daring to disturb the police. Do you misunderstand our family's influence?"
My father's attempt to report quickly spread online, attracting public attention. If not for the authorities swiftly blocking the news, the scandal might have become a trending topic.
The butler laughed coldly, "A nobody dares challenge our master's authority!"
My father was carried home, covered in injuries. In the middle of the night, there were flashes of blades and swords, and blood stained the entire our family's residence.
My mother hid me in the secret room with unprecedented speed.
My mother, with her eyes torn at the corners and tears welling up, cried out to me, "Donna, you have to get out of here and avenge your father and sister!"
Soon, a blade sliced through my mother's slender neck, her eyes wide open as she fell lifeless beside my father and sister.
Gasoline was poured everywhere, a lighter flicked, and flames engulfed half my home in an instant.
I stood at the alley's entrance, staring blankly at the smoke rising above the my house, my nails digging into my palms without feeling pain.
The fire burned until the next day.
The police showed up way too late. The blaze destroying all evidence, and then the Blake family vanished from the city.
I clenched my palms, performed a solemn ritual of three bows toward the Blake family's direction. I thought to myself, "Father, I might have to go against your wishes. You didn't want me and my sister to be someone's mistress, but now only by becoming the woman of the most powerful person can I avenge you, mother, and my wronged sister! Only then can I ensure that wealthy family and their cronies face the consequences!"