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Ethan stayed abroad all year round,and Vince,fearing accidents might happen to him,wanted him to produce an heir fast to secure the family business.
Who’s the bride then?
Conveniently,a debtor couple died,leaving behind two daughters.
A lifetime ago,Vince took me to the Russos and forced me to marry Ethan.
But Vince didn't know Ethan already had a beloved abroad.
Unable to defy Vince,Ethan unleashed his hatred on me.
At our first meeting,I offered a handshake.He had my tendons cut.
"You filthy thing,think you can touch me?Know your place before you try anything!"
My hands could never hold anything steady again since then,I was deprived forever of my ability to study or write.
Later,to humiliate me,he had me drugged,surgically removing my uterus and ovaries,leaving a long scar on my stomach.
"Folks,this is what neutering a dog feels like!"
"Yo,nice tattoo—say thanks to your master!"
Every day in the States,he tormented me for fun.
To survive,I groveled,earning only worse malice instead.
I lit his cigarette;he stubbed it on my hand,leaving ugly burns.
"Fits a lapdog like you!"
I cut fruit;he carved his beloved's name on me with the knife,then cut the whole piece of flesh off.
"Her name's too good for your body!"
I lived in constant shame and pain.
But to avoid bullying,I played the loving wife in public.
So I was harsher on myself,tattooing over scars.
Thus,the" heiress of the underworld"Sarah was born.
Glamorous outside,broken inside—only I knew the truth.
Thankfully,this life,someone else took that role.
...
Back home,Mia went crazy, bombarding me with texts.
"Still won't tell me?You still love him,don't you?"
"You're delusional,Sarah.I'm kinder,prettier.Even without your help,I'll win him..."
I replied,
"Good luck,xoxo."
With SATs staring at me in the face,I ignored her,deleted her contact,and dove into my studies.
While reading,I couldn’t help but feel that this mess would haunt me longer.
...
Sure enough,post-SATs,Mia ambushed me at the school gate with thugs.
In an alley,a dozen gathered around me.
Mia strode through,kicking my stomach.
I collapsed,and she choked me.
"Sarah,see?This is the power I have now.Crushing you's like squashing an ant!"
Her arrogance showed no trace of kindness.
Gasping,I asked,
"Didn't you say you're too soft to kill an ant?"
A thug snickered.
Mia,her face red with rage,tightened her grip.
"Shut up!You aced your test,huh?"
"No more games—Ethan's coming back.Tell me his likes,or forget college!"
She threatened viciously.
I teased,
"All this for Ethan?Stole Thanos'gauntlet for him too,didn’t you?"
Her makeup and jewelry had multiplied—her choking hand glittered with gemmed rings.
Even the thugs laughed.
"Stop laughing!Sarah,how dare you mock me!"
Furious,she raised her hand to slap me.
I caught it in the air and pinned her to the wall instead.
I was always stronger,and I'd learned some self-defense a lifetime ago.
"Sarah,what're you doing?!"
She squirmed,yelling.
I smiled and kicked her calf,forcing her to kneel down.
"What am I doing?Beating you of course!Need a special day for that?"
"Picking a fight right after SAT—I've tolerated you long enough!"
