Chapter 2

The scene shifted, now showing the lavish homecoming banquet from last time.

Beneath the sparkling chandelier, my father, Nelson Grant, wrapped an arm around my shoulder and proudly announced, "This is my long-lost daughter, Winnie Grant!"

The moment he finished speaking, the doors of the banquet hall burst open with a kick.

Tyler, who was dressed in his police uniform, stormed in with his team. His expression was hard and frosty.

While holding an arrest warrant in his hand, he fixed his sharp gaze on my father and said, "Nelson Grant, you're suspected of manufacturing and trafficking drugs. Come with us."

With a click, a pair of cold handcuffs was locked around Father's wrists.

When Father was being led to the police car, he suddenly fought back like a madman. In the chaos, an officer's gun went off by accident.

Hot blood splattered all over me, and I felt my mind go blank and completely numb.

"That's the drug lord's daughter!"

It was unclear who made the first move, but a mob suddenly surged forward, surrounding me.

Someone grabbed my hair, yanking so hard that my scalp felt like it was tearing. The gown I was wearing was ripped to shreds, and spit mixed with cold liquid was poured all over me.

"Your father killed my son! You deserve to die too!" screamed a middle-aged woman. She charged forward and kicked me hard in the stomach.

Pain ripped through me, and my body felt like it was being torn apart. I curled up on the ground, convulsing in agony.

A warm stream slid down my thigh, and just like that, my three-month-old baby was gone.

Back in real time, Tyler swallowed hard. His fists were clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white.

However, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Serves her right! Her father killed so many people, so she deserves to lose her child!"

The scene shifted once more. This time, I was outside the hospital, with bandages still on my face.

Tyler stood in front of me with red-rimmed eyes. His voice was choked with tears as he said, "Winnie, what your father did has nothing to do with you. Let me take care of you. As for the child… We can have another. Let's start over, okay?"

I looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Tyler, do you know I was kidnapped as a child? I scavenged for food in garbage dumps and slept under bridges.

"I had just finally found my biological father, yet you put him in a coffin with your own hands."

I took off the wedding ring on my finger and threw it at his feet. "Let's get a divorce."

The ring spun on the ground, landing with a piercing clink.

Tyler bent to pick it up with shaky fingers, but I didn't spare him another glance. I just turned and walked away.

…

Sylvia held Tyler's hand tightly and sighed. "Winnie went too far. She was just blinded by hatred…"

Boos erupted from the crowd.

"What do you mean by 'hatred'? Looks to me like she just loved money and status!"

"Exactly! Why else would she run straight to the drug lord Lucas the moment she left?"

The screen went dark. When it lit up again, it showed Rivervale's most notorious underground casino.

I was wearing a fiery red dress that had a slit up to the thigh.

Inside a private room, Lucas was lounging on a leather couch. He had a woman on each arm.

Without a word, I picked up the 12 shots on the tray and downed them one after another. My throat burned, and my stomach churned.

Lucas watched me with amusement. "You want to get together with me?"

He stood and walked to a steel cage in the corner. Inside, a Tibetan mastiff was tearing at raw meat, and its muzzle was dripping blood.

"Get in there and take the meat out of its mouth."

Lucas lit a cigarette before adding with a cruel smile, "With your bare hands."

I took a deep breath, kicked off my heels, and walked into the cage barefoot.

An hour later, my entire right arm was a bloody mess, with bone visible in several places. My left hand was punctured in several places too, and blood was constantly dripping from it.

I kicked aside the mastiff's convulsing corpse. Then, I limped over to Lucas and handed him the raw meat.

"Lucas, your dog was… really cute."

He smiled and tapped the floor with his feet. "How interesting. Kneel."

I kneeled immediately. I then picked up the wine bottle and poured him a drink with both hands.

"From now on, you're mine," Lucas said, taking the wine glass from me. His eyes were filled with possessive desire.

I lowered my gaze and replied, "Okay."

From that day on, I became the most favored woman at Lucas' side—as well as the drug lord's mistress that the whole city despised.

…

Tyler jerked his head away, unable to watch any longer.

Beside him, Sylvia covered her eyes. Her expression was disgusted.