Chapter 1

*Slap*

Her cheek stung from the brutal slap that was given to her by her stepmother. Rylie Novikov stood in the presence of her stepfamily, a helpless expression on her face. Her step-sisters laughed at her vulnerability. Her father was away at war and left his second wife in charge of the family.

"Did you really think you'd be the one to marry the crowned prince? Just because you're the alleged first daughter of that woman?"

Rylie's chest rose and fell rapidly. They were taking everything from her; her birthright and the man she was supposed to get married to. Her tears began to pour. This prompted her sisters to raise a roar of laughter. They mocked her weakness.

"Be a good girl and just maybe, I won't cut your mother's hospital bills. You either choose a man or the mother you so cherish."

Rylie watched her childhood best friend, Ian, smirking at her. His hand was wrapped around Anita's waist. He even kissed her forehead to spite Rylie the more. She shut her eyes as more tears rolled down. How could he have done this to her?

"Please, don't cut the bills. My mother is more important than any stranger in the world." She sniffed and turned away from Ian. Ian's face scrunched into a frown. He felt she had just belittled him.

"Good girl. Now, I won't cut off the bills only on one condition." The treacherous woman spoke and walked over to the bookshelf. Rylie watched her every move with fear. She knew the woman was capable of anything.

"I thought you already laid that out," Rylie argued with a feeble, shaking voice.

"Not quite, my dear. You didn't even have a choice the first time."

The room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone feared Bethany. She was vicious and didn't care who was who. She did whatever she wanted to.

She brought out a paper that was hidden underneath a book.

"Here's the condition," She handed the paper to Rylie and proceeded to take her seat.

A gasp escaped the poor girl's lips when she saw that it was a marriage agreement. The groom had already signed on it, leaving that of the bride's.

"What's this? You want me to get married to that man?" Her lips quivered in anxiety.

"Yes, dear. That's the condition. If you so treasure your mother, you will sign it quickly."

"No! This is nonsense. How can you do this? This is inhumane." She dropped the piece of paper harshly on the table.

"I won't sign this. This is pure wickedness."

This was the first time she was going against Bethany. But it didn't make the evil woman flinch. She knew the girl just needed a little push. With a sly smile, she picked up her phone and called the doctor in charge of the hospital.

"Hello, doctor. I would like to withdraw the bills for Mrs. Novikov Julia. Please, make sure....."

"Wait!" Rylie yelled helplessly. The woman paused and looked at her, waiting for the reply she wanted to hear in the first place.

Rylie sniffled, her eyes were wet and puffy. Her hands shook as she picked up the contract paper. Her sight became blurry. She was tired of everything that was happening around her. All she wanted to was elope to a far country after her mother got better.

She had to get married to a man tagged the demon king of tyranny. It was the title he earned for his notorious acts and the mysterious deaths of his previous wives. He always wore a mask and rumor had it that his wives died because they couldn't stand the ugliness of his face. That was the situation Bethany had wrapped Rylie in and there was no way the young girl could get out of it.

"I will sign it. Please, let my mother live. I beg you." She knelt and placed her palms together.

"Please,"

With the ink on the table, she reluctantly signed it. Her heart shattered with every line she scribbled on the paper. The woman, triumphantly, dropped her phone and hung up.

"You've been such a good girl, Rylie. You can go see your mother." Bethany said in a loving voice after she had gotten what she wanted.

"They will be here soon to pick you up. Make sure you get ready." She dismissed the girl. Rylie ran as fast as she could to the hospital, wanting to make sure her mother was okay.

She got to the ward to see her mother sleeping peacefully. Her racing heart calmed down a bit. She knelt beside her and looked into her peaceful face. She took her hand and kissed it.

"I don't know what to do anymore, mother. Everyday, I see no reason to live but when I think about you, I change my mind. I'm not strong, mother. I'm about to lose it completely." She wept. Her entire body was shaking from the wrenching heartache she felt. Someone who she once called mother was about to send her out to die. She never wronged the woman in any way.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't know when her mother opened her weary eyes. Being sick for close to ten years really told on her body. Her face was wrinkled and her body was weak.

"Rylie," She called out with a smile. Rylie was jolted out of her thoughts by her mother's fragile voice.

"Mom," She stood up excitedly. She rarely saw her mother's eyes.

"Thank God you're awake. Should I get the doctor?" She wiped her face so that her mother wouldn't see her tears.

"No, Rylie. I've been waiting for you since yesterday."

"I'm sorry, Mother, but that woman locked me inside. She didn't want me to see you."

Julia smiled weakly and took Rylie's palm, giving it a light squeeze. Rylie knelt back and covered her mother's palm with her free hand. She loved her mother dearly and would do anything for her, even getting married to the vilest man on earth.

"I wanted to see you before I leave this world."

"Mom, don't say that. You're not leaving yet. You still have years to live. You have to get better faster so we can get out of here for good." She persuaded.

Julia smiled and patted her beloved daughter's head. She was finding it hard to depart from her child. She knew she would suffer much in the hands of her stepmother and it broke her heart.

"Rylie," Julia cried.

"Mom?" Rylie called frantically.

"I'm sorry for what you have to go through. I'm sorry I can't be with you. I'm sorry for my fragile body. I wasn't able to help you in the end and now, you have to surf the world with fear. I hope you can forgive me, baby. I want you to live, dear. Live for the both of us. You will find happiness, love, and peace. I love you, Rylie, and I will always be with you." Those words tore Rylie apart. Her eyes dilated, not knowing what to do or say.

"Mother, please, don't leave me." They shared a deep stare, looking into each other's soul before Julia's eyes started closing.

"Mom, please," Rylie wailed as she couldn't feel any pulse from her mother.

She quickly ran to ring the bell in the room, alerting the nurses and doctors that something was wrong. She wanted her mother to live. She was the only ray of light in her life. She didn't want to lose that or else, darkness will consume her.

Everything done to revive Julia proved futile.

"I'm sorry, Rylie. We couldn't save her."

She fell to the ground helplessly as she stared at her mother's stiff body. Hot tears endlessly streamed down her cheeks. The ache she felt choked her, making her breathing pattern uneven. She wanted to die with her mother. She didn't want to be alone in that evil world.

A few minutes later, her family members filled the room with their fake sympathy and tears. It disgusted her to the throat and she felt like bashing each one of them. She had nothing to lose anymore.

Her stepmother walked to where she stood with her handkerchief that had soaked little fake tears on it.

"I'm sorry, Rylie, for the sudden and painful demise of your mother. But don't worry, you will join her soon. And it will be quick and painless." The woman sniffled before walking out of the room.

Rylie wished every one of them would just drop dead. She remembered her mother's words. She was going to live and make sure they all pay for their evil deeds.

"I will make sure to avenge you, Mother. I promise you this." She resolved, her bright beautiful green eyes turning dark.