Chapter 1

"Wow, she sure grew up fast. Threatening Mr. Blanton mid-wedding with a pregnancy? I bet she didn't expect her plan to fail."

"She's sly, I'll give her that. He saved her from a remote village in the mountains and raised her, but she actually got in his bed and confronted his bride? Talk about shamelessness!"

Spittle hit my face as Samuel Blanton walked by while holding Zara Hill, not sparing a single glance for me.

He used to tell me I was too young, that he'd marry me when I grew up. But now? He married someone else. He didn't even defend me against the slanderers.

Suddenly, everyone saw me as the little minx who wanted her "big brother", and I turned into the family gossip overnight.

Samuel helped Zara into the car and massaged her sore feet. He glanced at me before turning back to her.

"Ophelia's just a kid. Why did you bother with her? Look at these cuts on your feet—it makes my heart break."

So, in his eyes, the red marks on Zara's feet mattered more than the fact I'd been forced to terminate a pregnancy.

He completely forgot that I was the little Blanton princess he'd pampered for years.

Ever since Zara showed up, all my wildness had been smoothed out into obedience.

The wedding went on as planned. I didn't attend, but during the wedding night, Zara dragged me into the room she shared with Samuel.

She claimed it was for some reception games.

But the moment I stepped inside, I caught her putting on a show in front of Samuel.

"My mom said it's tradition for a younger relative to bless the bed on the wedding night. I'd love to ask Ophelia, but I'm afraid she might take it the wrong way..."

The lively, crowded room instantly went still.

All eyes were on me. And all I could do was wait for Samuel's reaction.

I was going to abort the baby inside me, and I'd been labeled a shameless girl by everyone.

Would he really make me bless the bed and pray for their future kids?

His eyes softened, but then Zara lifted her leg, revealing her swollen ankle.

He looked at me, hesitant, and said, "Right, Ophelia is my sister. She'll be perfect to bless the bed. Ophelia, Zara already asked. You'll say yes, right?"

I nearly forgot—Samuel had never publicly acknowledged me as his woman. On paper, we were just siblings.

Zara, his childhood friend, had become inseparable from him after returning from abroad.

Inside the Blanton household, it was only because of Samuel's indulgence that I could get away with anything.

Now, that indulgence was gone. Who would even care about me, a parasite?

I swallowed the bitterness and asked, "Does this count as a request?"

He froze, caught off guard. He wanted to say no, but Zara lazily draped her leg over him, and he got distracted. "Sure… it counts."

I lowered my head. "Okay. I'll do it."

I once had a happy family—until the day human traffickers dragged me into the mountains, and the world turned gray.

When I was broken and helpless, Samuel appeared out of nowhere and rescued me.

He found my real parents, only to learn they died in a car accident on the way to find me.

At their graves, he promised to raise me.

When I asked how I could ever repay him, he looked at me, full of care. "You don't owe me anything. Just think of me as a caring big brother."

But having seen the cruelty of the world too young, I asked, "Are you… a pedophile?"

He choked on his saliva and coughed a few times, then made a quick decision. "No. How about this? In return for raising you, you have to fulfill 99 requests for me. Or once I abandon you 99 times, the debt is gone."

For the next 11 years, I accompanied him through many storms in the Blantons, but he had never once asked me to do a single request.

Then Zara appeared, and in just two months, he had made 96 requests.

Only three remained. After that, we would part ways.

I sat on the newlywed's bed and placed one hand on it, giving the so-called blessings. "Bless the bed, bless the pair—may love and laughter fill the air, and tiny feet soon patter there!"

The room erupted with laughter.

They had forced me to say those lines, and Samuel didn't stop it.

I tried to hold back tears. When I looked up, Zara's sly smile made me shiver.

Suddenly, the bedspread beneath me ripped right where I sat.

Everyone gasped. I slipped off the bed and hit my head against the wall. My forehead throbbed, and my elbow burned.

Zara, tears streaking down her face, pointed at the ripped bedspread. "It's fine if you don't want to bless us. But tearing the bedspread? Are you trying to ruin our wedding night?"

The sycophants around us jumped in. "She obviously did it on purpose! Breaking the bedspread on the first night is terrible luck for the couple. She's so evil!"

Samuel tried to step forward, but froze. "Ophelia, that's enough! Apologize to Zara, or—"

Zara waved him off, pretending to be gracious. "It's fine, honey. She's just jealous. Let's not waste the night."

I just wanted to leave. I muttered an apology and rubbed my forehead as I walked out.

Samuel brushed past me and, seeing my pale face, grabbed my arm. "Do you want me to call a doctor?"

Zara signaled to the others, and suddenly, everyone realized what was happening. They pushed Samuel back to the bride. "Mr. Blanton, don't let that troublemaker ruin your wedding night!"

"Exactly! Go enjoy your night. Outsiders should stay out!"

Troublemaker? Outsider? Funny how they had all forgotten how they used to flatter me.

Of course, back then, I was Samuel's darling. Now, it was Zara.

And because of their constant siding with her, the gap between me and Samuel only grew wider.

It all seemed so pointless.

The moment I stepped out the door, the others trailed after me, crowding around the doorway to eavesdrop.

I wasn't about to join in on the circus, so I walked out, ignoring them. But Zara's friend grabbed me. "Wait. Let's listen and compare—see who turns Mr. Blanton on more, you or Zara."

I clenched my teeth, about to say something when the door opened.

Samuel's rare stern voice cut through. "Everyone, leave. Don't disturb Zara's rest."

When the room cleared, he pulled me aside and said softly, "I'm only marrying Zara for appearances. We agreed to divorce. Don't worry—I won't make you terminate your pregnancy, and tonight, I won't touch her.

"Besides, you're family. Now that I married Zara, you'll have an extra person who loves you. You should be happy about this.

"Zara already planned our honeymoon. Only the two of us will go. You should head home for now. Next time, I'll take you."

He left in a hurry.

He didn't know… I would leave once I'd repaid my debt. There was never going to be a next time.