Chapter 1
Sophia Smith had been targeted 96 times by Isabella’s obsessive admirers due to her ongoing conflicts with her
stepsister.
The first time, when Isabella knocked over her mother’s ashes, Sophia slapped her in return. The next day, someone broke
her arm.
The second time, Isabella deliberately fell into the swimming pool and framed Sophia for pushing her. That night, Sophial was thrown into the ocean wrapped in fishing nets.
The third time, Isabella looked upset after they wore the same dress to a party. Before the event even ended, Sophia was stripped naked and thrown into a freezer at twenty degrees below zero.
Simply drinking Isabella’s fruit juice had cost her dearly-kidnapped and force-fed bottles of pepper spray until she was choking so hard she nearly coughed up blood.
After a long while, she tremblingly picked up her constantly ringing phone.
A private investigator’s voice came through. “Miss Smith, we’ve discovered that your stepsister’s obsessive admirer is Ethan Miller, the heir of the Miller family. Do you have any history with him?”
Sophia froze, her mind going blank.
Ethan Miller was her husband of five years!
The lit screen still showed a text Ethan had sent ten minutes ago: [Baby, I’m back from my business trip. I brought you a
ruby necklace. Wait for me to come home and cook for you.]
Throughout their five-year marriage, he never returned empty-handed-bringing her everything from necklaces and designer handbags to luxury cars, mansions, and even a nebula.
Everyone said Ethan loved her so much he’d give her his life.
But who could have imagined that all her suffering came from him!
Sophia couldn’t understand why Ethan would do this to her when his love seemed so genuine.
When she was twenty, Ethan fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her passionately.
But Sophia never agreed to be with him.
It wasn’t that she was heartless, but because she had no support system and didn’t dare gamble her future on a little
affection.
After all, she had witnessed firsthand how a happy, peaceful family could crumble overnight.
When she was ten, her mother died of a serious illness, and that very day, her father brought Isabella and her mother
home.
Before the mourning period was even over, Sophia was forced to give up her clothes, bedroom, and even the shares her
mother had left her…
E
She bore the title of the eldest daughter of the Smith family, but in reality, she was treated worse than a servant!
Chapter 1
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Her stepmother and stepsister’s constant abuse, her father’s cold Indifference-these accompanied her entire childhood.
Later, when Ethan learned about her situation and concerns, he not only helped her reclaim the shares her mother had left behind and severely punished Isabella and her mother, but he even gave her half of his assets.
He said, “Sophia, I am your confidence. With me here, I will never let anyone hurt you!”
Sophia believed him.
But in the end, what she got in return was him hurting her 96 times for the stepsister who had once bullied her!
Sophia went to the top floor of Miller Corp.
Standing at the office door, she was about to push it open when she heard familiar voices inside.
“Ethan, everyone in our circle is guessing who Isabella’s obsessive admirer really is. They’d never figure out it’s you. But I
don’t understand-if you really like her, why not just divorce and marry her? Why go through all this trouble?”
After a few seconds of silence, Ethan’s deep voice responded, “I’ve told you before, I only love Sophia. As for Isabella-
fifteen years ago, I was kidnapped, and she nearly got beaten to death by those kidnappers trying to save me. So I
promised to protect her ninety-nine times to repay her kindness.”
He paused, then continued, “It breaks my heart when Sophia gets hurt, but she’s been spoiled by me. Only this kind of
punishment can make her stop bullying Isabella.”
Sophia’s mind buzzed as if struck by lightning.
Fifteen years ago? Saving someone? Nearly beaten to death by kidnappers?
Wasn’t that her experience…
Ethan glanced at his watch. “Alright, Sophia was punished today. I need to hurry home to comfort her. Let’s call it a night.”
Seeing several people heading toward the door, Sophia instinctively turned and fled.
She had just hidden in the restroom when a metallic taste filled her throat and she violently coughed up blood, her severe stomach problems from the Smith house finally taking their toll.
When Ethan found out, he was heartbroken. He brought in renowned doctors to treat her and even cooked medicinal meals for her personally.
But now, for Isabella’s sake, he had someone force-feed her dozens of bottles of pepper spray…
Looking at her pale face in the mirror, Sophia smiled silently, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For five years of marriage, Ethan said “Honey, I love you” every single day.
If this was what he called love, she’d rather not have it!
Sophia picked up her phone, retrieved a contact from her blacklist, and typed a message: [If you help me with two things, I’ll sell you the shares I’m holding.]
