Chapter 3

At that moment, my entire world came crashing down.

My brother sent me to the countryside. At first, the village chief merely ignored me.

A few months later, when no one from the Jones family came to take me back, he began scheming how to discipline me and make me suffer.

They forced me into the fields every day, giving me the hardest, most exhausting work.

They gave me barely enough food to survive.

They even allowed the village's single men to sneak into my room at night to assault me.

The village chief said, "The Jones family doesn't want her anymore. Do whatever you like, just don't kill her!"

For five long years, I was trampled and humiliated.

The village doctor said my body was failing.

At most, I had five days left to live.

And now, a day had passed.

As I pushed those memories aside, I looked at Serena and shook my head gently.

"I stopped liking him a long time ago."

The girl who had once been so in love with Nathan had died that night, five years ago, when her world fell apart.

Serena did not expect me to say that.

However, Seth seemed satisfied. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Sylvie, you've truly grown up. I'm glad to see the change in you.

"Since you no longer like him, I'll find you someone even more worthy to be your fiancé."

Someone better than Nathan?

I wanted to ask him that, but I already knew the answer.

If there were truly a better fiancé, why had he torn Nathan away from me and given him to Serena?

Bitterness churned in my chest, and I endured it numbly and silently.

Seth noticed my silence and did not know what to say for a moment. He reached out to lead me into the room.

However, the moment he grabbed my arm, he realized my clothes were far too thin, and my body was as cold as ice.

He froze, then hurriedly ordered the maids to bring me warm clothing.

He also had someone quickly prepare a guest room in the villa for me to stay in.

As I watched the maids rush into cleaning, a hint of guilt flashed across his eyes.

"Serena has had a rough life since childhood. She doesn't like anyone living near her. Your old room is the most sound-absorbent.

"You can stay in the guest room for now. Once Serena chooses a new room, you can move back into your original one."

In other words, as long as Serena refused to leave my room, I would have to live like a guest in the temporary room.

I met Seth's guilty gaze and noticed Serena's smug expression. I nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Seth."

Five years ago, I had been the Jones family's only daughter. Seth had doted on me unconditionally as his only sister.

Countless high-society heiresses in the country envied my bright and lively life.

Even the entertainment media had spread the news far and wide.

"Sylvie Jones: The One True Heiress of a Top-Tier Family!"

The old me could not tolerate even the slightest unhappiness. Now, I could endure all the pain and despair in the world without flinching.

Seth was dumbfounded for a moment. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He looked at me, hesitating to speak, but the instant Serena linked her arm with his, he forgot everything he meant to say.

He said, "Serena hasn't seen you in five years. There's a lot you two need to talk about. You sisters should go to the room and chat. I have company matters to attend to."

After giving his instructions, he didn't forget to warn me, his tone turning stern.

"Sylvie, control your temper. Don't take it out on Serena."

Then, he left.

The moment he was gone, Serena dismissed the maids and shoved me into the room. She suddenly yanked open my clothes, exposing the crisscrossing scars covering my body.

When she saw the large patches of wounds, a satisfied smile appeared on her face. Her words were full of mockery.

"Sylvie, you're still a Jones. How could you do something so disgraceful?

"Even if Nathan doesn't like you anymore, you shouldn't be so shameless as to sleep with all those country bumpkins.

"Or is it your nature to be this promiscuous?"

She covered her mouth in feigned shock and stripped off my clothes completely.

Her long, exquisitely manicured nails dug viciously into my scars, tearing open the scabs that had barely formed.

"As expected, Nathan has good taste, choosing me as his fiancée. Otherwise, the Jones family's reputation would have been completely ruined by you.

"Sylvie, you're already this miserable. Why didn't you just die in those mountains?"

Why had I not died in that remote village?

Perhaps it was because I could not let go of Mother.

Even if I had to die, I wanted to see her grave one last time.

Serena noticed that I was lost in thought, and she slapped me viciously across the face. Then she held up her hand, showing off the enormous heart‑shaped pink diamond ring on her finger.

Her face was full of pride.

"This ring was personally given to me by Nathan at our engagement banquet. It symbolizes that our love is as eternal as a diamond."

Her expression was filled with smug triumph, and every word she spoke mocked me that Nathan had never loved me. Everything back then had only been my wishful thinking.

That was the truth.

He had never loved me. The one he loved was Mr. Jones' sister.

I paid no attention to Serena's ridicule. I quietly put my thin clothes back on and prepared to rest.