Chapter 1 The Fire of Despair

A bucket of icy water splashed right in Katherine Wilson's face, jolting her awake. She blinked, dazed and confused, only to realize she was hanging by her wrists, the smell of gasoline stinging her nose.

"Awake? Thought you were a goner," Stella Brown sneered, looking all smug in her fancy Chanel suit.

Next to her, Wayne Miller smirked. "If she croaked that easy, all our planning would've been for nothing."

These two? Her half-sister and her own boyfriend of three years.

Katherine shivered, staring at them in disbelief. "What do you want? Let me down!"

She'd come to this old house after Wayne called her. But as soon as she walked in, bam, something hit her head, and she blacked out. Now, here she was, trapped.

They'd set her up!

Hanging there, her lower abdomen ached—a bad sign.

Stella looked at her with pure disdain. "Look at you now, all pathetic. Where's that arrogance?"

Katherine's heart pounded. She could feel Stella's hatred, so intense it was almost tangible.

They were half-sisters. Years ago, Katherine's mom had an affair, got caught, and after the divorce, Stella was born. Her mom had forced her to let Stella live in the Wilson Mansion. Katherine had shared everything with Stella, never imagining she'd raise such a snake.

Taking a deep breath, Katherine looked at Wayne, her last hope. "Wayne, please, let me down. I'm pregnant. I can't take this."

Stella, with a wicked smile, placed her hand on Wayne's shoulder. "Darling, you wanna save her?"

Wayne looked at Katherine with pure disdain. "If it weren't for her dad, why would I be with a woman who sleeps around?"

Katherine's heart sank. What was he saying?

Wayne sneered. "Her face might be pretty, but she's dirtier than the filthiest prostitute."

Katherine's face went pale. "Wayne, don't forget, I'm carrying your children. Let me down."

Wayne's sneer deepened. "I don't want to be a dad to someone else's kids. Those kids in your belly? They are Mr. Thomas's!"

Katherine's eyes widened. Mr. Thomas? That greasy, bald, old creep with all those nasty hobbies? The guy who made headlines for getting busted at an orgy and had ties to pedophilia scandals?

She'd downed a lot of drinks to close a business deal with that Mr. Thomas, and when she woke up the next morning, her body was covered in kiss marks. When Wayne walked in, she assumed he was the one who'd been with her.

Katherine felt a wave of nausea, her eyes burning with hatred. "I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me? Do you even have a conscience?"

Stella's laughter grew sharp, mocking Katherine. "That fat man has AIDS! You might've been infected long ago."

Stella's eyes flicked to Katherine's belly. "And you're pregnant with his kids? Planning to bring AIDS carriers into the world? You should just die."

Katherine's eyes blazed with anger and hatred. She wanted to tear these two apart.

"Just wait, I won't let you get away with this! You heartless scum! You'll get what's coming to you!" Katherine spat, struggling against the ropes, but it was useless. Despair filled her eyes.

She saw the gasoline barrels on the ground. They never intended to let her leave alive.

Stella picked up a lighter, speaking slowly, "You won't get that chance."

Katherine trembled, gritting her teeth. "You want to kill me, but the children in my belly are innocent!"

She was five months pregnant. She could feel the babies moving. The doctor had told her she was carrying multiples. These innocent lives deserved a chance to see the world.

Katherine's face was full of desperate pleading. "Isn't it the Wilson family fortune you want? I'll transfer everything to you, just let my children live."

Stella laughed maniacally. "Katherine, are you inherently cheap? Raped by an old man and still want to give birth to his children?"

Wayne took the lighter from Stella, speaking slowly, "When you die, everything from the Wilson family will be ours."

"No! Wayne, for the sake of our three years together, please let the children live. They're innocent... No!"

Ignoring Katherine's pleas, Wayne lit the lighter and threw it to the ground, igniting the gasoline.

Soon, the whole house went up in flames. In Katherine's desperate eyes and screams, her boyfriend and Stella left the old house, embracing and laughing.

Katherine's heart was full of hatred and despair. Before the flames consumed her, she heard the couple's flirtatious voices.

"It's a pity we didn't get to tell her, her meticulously decorated wedding room has been used by us countless times!"

"From now on, that will be our new home. Remember to burn her father's portrait when we get back, it's an eyesore."

Stella! Wayne!

"I will never forgive you!" Katherine shouted.

Just before she passed out, she saw a tall figure rushing into the flames. Was it an illusion before death?

The next moment, he used his large hands to untie the ropes, then hurriedly carried her out of the flames in his warm, strong embrace...