Chapter 5

The first time I met Julian, I was working part-time as a singer at a high-end lounge.

He claimed it was love at first sight. He rented out the entire venue for me.

The path from the lounge to my college dorm was lined with thousands of red roses he had ordered.

After that day, luxury gifts began piling up at my doorstep.

He appeared in my life every single day, playing the perfect, attentive gentleman.

I knew the massive gap between our social statuses, so I kept my distance.

Until my gambling addict father sold me to an underground human trafficking ring.

Julian had stormed into that dark basement alone, taking a dozen stab wounds to save me.

That night, covered in blood, he carried me out of that hellhole step by step.

"Vivian, you are my entire life."

"If you die, I won't live another day."

Because of those words, I became his wife.

Until Serena and his older brother, Marcus, returned from Europe.

It was only then, from a casual slip of the tongue from his friends, that I found out Serena was his first love—the one that got away.

After that day, Julian changed completely.

All his attention shifted to Serena.

The gifts meant for me were redirected to her.

Just because Serena casually mentioned she didn't want another woman ruling the Vance household, Julian forced me to sign divorce papers.

She said she wanted a child but was too afraid of the pain of labor. So, the son I nearly died giving birth to was taken from my arms and handed to her.

Whenever I screamed and demanded my baby back, Julian would threaten to cut off the life support for my terminally ill mother in the hospital.

To pay for my mother's medical bills, I became Serena's dog.

I washed her feet, endured her slaps, and accepted her verbal abuse.

But the one time I couldn't take it anymore and fought back, my mother was kicked out of the hospital into a heavy rainstorm. She died of a heart attack on the street, and I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Desperate and heartbroken, I tried to run away with my son.

But Julian caught me and forced me to take the fall for Serena's crime.

That night, I knelt in the pouring rain, begging him at his feet.

"Julian, please! I can't go to prison! What will happen to Leo if I go?!"

But he only kept his umbrella tightly over Serena, shielding her from a single drop of rain.

His voice was as cold as a winter blizzard.

"Serena is too fragile for prison. Unlike you, you've always been tough."

"When you get out, we will compensate you."

On my very first day in that hellhole, inmates hired by Serena rubbed industrial bleach into my eyes.

On the second day, I was pushed down the concrete stairs, breaking my arms and legs.

On the third day, a group of corrupt guards let violent inmates into my cell...

For three years, every single day was a living nightmare.

On the day of my release, Julian sent his men to pick me up.

But when I saw the faces of the men in the car—the very same men who had tortured me in prison—my mind snapped.

I jumped out of the moving vehicle on the highway.

I was hit by an oncoming truck, thrown over the guardrail of the bridge, and plunged into the icy river below.

I slowly opened my eyes, the haze in my mind completely gone.

Looking at the couple in front of me, the unfamiliarity was replaced by a deep, dark hatred that seeped into my very bones.

Julian rushed forward, desperately wiping the blood from my lips.

"How is it, Vivian? Do you remember now?"

I glared at him, spitting out each word like venom.

"I remember everything."

"You are my enemy. You murdered my mother, and you killed my baby."

Julian's face drained of all color.

He stumbled back a few steps, looking at the doctor in terror. "What's wrong with my wife?!"

Serena stepped forward, pulling out a long, horrifying syringe filled with a strange yellowish liquid.

"Julian, it seems Vivian's brain is still a bit scrambled."

"I know a back-alley clinic that deals with neuro-damage. One injection of this straight into her temple, and she'll be perfectly obedient."

Looking at the terrifying needle, Julian hesitated.

Just as he was about to speak, the maid knocked urgently on the door.

"Sir! Tristan Carter is downstairs. He demands to see you immediately."

"What is he doing here?"

Serena offered a sweet, reassuring smile. "He's probably here to discuss the merger. Julian, go handle him. Leave Vivian to me."

Seeing her confident look, Julian nodded and hurried downstairs.

The moment the heavy oak door shut, the sweet smile on Serena's face vanished. She grabbed my jaw with manic force, her face twisting with pure malice.

"Vivian, you miserable bitch! Why did you have to come back?!"

She raised the long needle, pressing the cold tip against my temple.

"I will destroy any woman who tries to take Julian from me. Go to hell!"

The moment she leaned in, I gathered all my strength and kicked her hard in the stomach. I tore myself free from the leather straps and sprinted toward the door.

"Tristan!"