Chapter 1

“Rachel, are we really not taking Yannick to the hospital?

“His body is full of burns and ulceration. Even his face has marks. If they’re not treated in time, his face will be ruined.”

Mom looked at my terrible condition, and her voice trembled.

My sister, Rachel Gale, interrupted her, “No way! The heir of the Gale family climbed up the chimney in a see-through outfit on New Year’s Eve. If other people find out about this, our reputation will be ruined. We can’t afford this embarrassment.”

Mom remained silent for a while and then sighed. “Yannick suddenly came back to the family and took away Jason’s status. His suffering is also some sort of compensation.

“It’s also his fault for being too stubborn. He insists on his marriage with the Jones family and refuses to let go. That’s why he’s suffering.

“Both of them are my sons. He will understand me later.”

Rachel reached out to wipe off the tears that kept streaming down my face. Her voice was full of doting affection.

“Yannick, you were away for too long, so you don’t understand the tact and decency expected in rich families. We can teach you slowly.

“When Jason and Wendy’s marriage is finalized, you’ll naturally give up.”

Mom put a few white pills into water and mixed them before she held my head up.

“Boy, drink a bit more and sleep for a few more days. When you wake up, everything will be in the past.

“I’m worried that you’ll suffer if you see yourself now. I also fear that you’ll lose your temper and disrupt Jason’s wedding.”

They gently closed the door.

My chest felt like it was caving in, and every breath tasted like blood.

Tears silently soaked my pillow. I finally understood.

It was the hot milk that Rachel had given me!

That was the reason why I woke up on top of that towering factory chimney.

This nightmare was a revenge designed by my own family.

It was all because I refused to let go of my marriage in Jason Gale’s favor.

But why should I be suffering through this?

Those kidnappers dosed me with a neural sensitizer just to make it more “entertaining.”

My nerves seemed to be on fire. Every sensation was amplified and prolonged.

Even at this point, I could still clearly feel how the burning inner wall of the chimney had scorched my back inch by inch and how the rough concrete had scraped against me over and over, grinding my flesh away.

That was why I could not close my eyes or speak. Even fainting was a luxury I could not afford.

I heard my mom weeping quietly. Her hand hovered over my bandaged arm while she trembled and dared not put it down. “Yannick, hang in there a little longer. You’ll be fine soon.”

She scolded Rachel for being ruthless, but she never admitted that she was also an accomplice.

I did not have the strength to move my lips. Tears kept streaming down my face.

I felt bitter.

They looked so heartbroken. If they were really that bothered, why did they push me up to the factory chimney nearly 650 feet up?

Rachel, who was silent for a long time, suddenly lost her composure. She threw the glass on the floor.

“Those monsters! How dare they do this to Yannick?! I’ll make them regret ever laying a hand on him!

“These are just burns and wounds. Wearing a turtleneck can cover them up. Nobody can see them. With how advanced medicine is now, we’ll find a way to make the scars fade.

“Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and Jason’s been looking forward to it. We can’t let this misfortune ruin the festive atmosphere. Yannick, don’t worry. I’ll always be here with you while you recover.”

Why did they get to use my living hell to build another man’s paradise?

A searing rage exploded in my heart and filled my entire body.

I used the last of my remaining strength. My eyelashes fluttered slightly before I opened my eyes a little.

I looked at Rachel through blurry vision. I moved my dry, bleeding lips and said in a hoarse voice, “Can I still attend… the New Year’s Eve party?”