Chapter 1

I had lived for 20 years without ever knowing that I was the biological daughter of a wealthy family.

But what shocked me even more was why my rich biological parents had brought me back. They wanted me to marry into another wealthy family.

I wore a tight tank top soaked with sweat. I lifted a 200-pound weight plate and slammed it onto the Somervilles' marble floor, which was worth more than 100,000 dollars.

A loud crack echoed through the room. The entire living room fell silent.

My biological parents had prepared a long list of family rules to pressure me with. But now, they could only stare at my bulging biceps, pumped from the workout.

My biological mother, Amelia Sommerville, was the first to recover. She covered her nose and mouth in disgust and took a step back. "Rachel, is this how your adoptive parents raised you? You stink of sweat, you have no manners, and you don't act like a proper young woman at all!"

My biological father, Gordon Sommerville, looked grim. He didn't bother arguing with me. Instead, he slammed a marriage agreement onto the table. "Okay, let's keep this simple. Our family is facing a financial crisis and desperately need an investment from the Lamberts. Their eldest son, Andrew Lambert, is looking for a wife. Since you're back, you'll take your sister's place and marry him."

I raised an eyebrow.

On the way here, the butler had already given me the details about Andrew.

Apparently, he had severe anger issues and violent tendencies. His temper was extremely unstable. So far, he had scared away ten fiancées. Two of them were even said to be lying in the ICU.

Whoever married him would basically become his punching bag.

The fake heiress, Natalie Sommerville, was sitting in the corner of the couch and wiping away her tears. But the moment she heard this, she suddenly stopped crying.

She looked at my thick thighs. Then she looked at the veins bulging on my arm as I carried the weight plate with one hand.She immediately hid behind Gordon. "Dad, forget it. No matter how violent Mr. Andrew is, he's still just a normal man."

Her voice trembled as she continued, "If Rachel marries him, Mr. Andrew might get beaten to death. Shouldn't we at least give Mr. Andrew a chance to survive?"

My older brother, Jack Sommerville, laughed in disbelief. "Natalie, you're overthinking this."

He pointed at me and sneered. "What can a country girl like her do besides use brute strength? Andrew has top bodyguards around him. What do you think she can possibly do?"

He turned to me. "Rachel, I'm warning you. Don't think you're so tough just because you can fight. Once you marry Andrew, you'd better stop acting so vulgar. Even if Mr. Andrew tortures you, you have to endure it. Otherwise, our entire family will go down with you!"

I stared coldly at Jack. My knuckles cracked as I slowly clenched my fists.

Jack's neck shrank in fear. His face turned pale as he took several steps backward.

"Enough!" Gordon slammed his hand against the table.

Then he pulled something from behind him and threw it onto the floor.

It was an old pair of red boxing gloves.

I froze when I saw them.

Gordon looked down at me with a threatening smile. "Rachel, don't think I don't know what you're planning. Your adoptive father used to fight underground, right? He now runs some rundown boxing gym in Southville. The deed to that property just happens to be in my hands."

He stepped on the boxing gloves and ground his shoe against them.

"If you don't want your useless adoptive father to end up homeless, then you will put on a dress tonight and attend the family-arranged dinner!"

I gritted my teeth and stared at the crushed gloves.

They were the prize my adoptive father had earned when he became the underground boxing champion years ago.

"Ra... Rachel..." Natalie timidly held out a towel to me.

Her eyes were red as she pleaded, "Don't argue with Dad anymore. I'm sorry. I was too scared to marry Andrew. It's all my fault..."

I took a deep breath and forced down the urge to snap Gordon's neck.

Then I yanked the towel from Natalie's hand. "Fine."

I lifted my head and looked at Gordon coldly. "I'll go."

For my adoptive father, I could endure this.

But Gordon didn't know that the very first rule my adoptive father, Jasper Leighton, taught me was this.

Once you step into the ring, it's a fight to the death.