Chapter 1: Betrayal And Death
Inside the elevator, Xin Yan smiled softly. She proceeded to the top floor. Despite the burns on her skin, she retained a unique and radiant glow.
Her boyfriend, Yuan Renshu, mentioned she should wait on the top floor where he had prepared a surprise.
'Maybe he's finally ready to marry me,' she thought with a nod, feeling certain of it.
The elevator chimed, signaling her arrival. With a gentle smile, she entered the top floor.
She gasped in amazement at the luxurious decorations. Despite seeing many impressive decorations while growing up as the young miss of the Xins, none impressed her more than this one. Calmness and romance filled every corner of the top floor.
As red balloons drifted in the air, Xin Yan recalled that it was February 14th—Valentine's Day.
She lightly smiled while her eyes flicked to every corner. She searched for her boyfriend. Even with all his efforts, she failed to find him.
"Were you searching for me?" She couldn't help but gasp upon hearing a voice behind her.
She quickly turned around and let out a sigh when she saw Yuan Renshu standing very close to her.
Not accustomed to being so close to him, she moved back, creating more space between them.
When he saw what she did, he smiled mockingly but stayed quiet. It had nothing to do with him. He was here to wrap things up.
He maintained a gentle look while leading her to the table.
"I requested that the chefs prepare your favorites," he said softly, causing her to nod as she observed the assortment of dishes. It was truly her favorites.
"Do you remember that I asked you out exactly a year ago?" He smiled nostalgically and with his wine glass in hand said, "How time flies."
Despite frowning, Xin Yan managed a smile. She didn't know why he talked in that manner. For some reason, she had a bad feeling.
"You can come out now," he declared swiftly, leaving her puzzled until she saw a recognizable face.
"Jiang Lanfen?" she called, a frown creasing her forehead.
"Are you shocked to find me here? Brother Renshu, tell her, I can't wait any longer," she said playfully, standing close to Yuan Renshu.
With her heart pounding, she asked, "What's going on?" The feeling of dread hit her heavily.
Yuan Renshu sneered, his eyes filled with disdain as he said, "Xin Yan, I never loved you. I tricked you into losing everything and because of your foolishness, and I succeeded."
"You must be joking, right?" she said with a laugh.
Xin Yan shook her head and said, "If you're joking, I suggest you stop. I do not find this funny."
"Dear Yanyan, I wish it were just a joke, but Brother Renshu is telling the truth." Jiang Lanfen, clearly pleased with herself, gloated with a smug smile, "He has never loved you—he only ever loved me."
Disbelief filled Xin Yan's eyes as she looked at him and heard his words.
"This entire time, you were merely toying with me and my emotions," she expressed in disbelief. The sudden confession stunned her because she truly believed he loved her.
"Yes, I was. I desired nothing but your wealth, and you delivered it to me." He mentioned in a calm tone, "your grandparents are gone, you and your brother don't get along, and he no longer wants any part of this relationship, you aren't useful anymore."
Standing up with a piercing gaze and finger extended, she proclaimed 'You are so devious, you are truly evil.'
"You have no right to speak to Brother Renshu like that! I won't allow it," Jiang Lanfen declared as she swatted away the fingers pointed at him.
Xin Yan looked into the eyes of the supposed friend who ended up betraying her. Her heart throbbed with immense pain.
In a desperate act, she found some inner strength and pulled wildly at her hair. Her eyes gleamed with madness as she concentrated solely on taking her down.
"Madwoman, get off me, Brother Renshu, she's trying to kill me!" Jiang Lanfen screamed while her hands flailed in a frantic effort to save herself.
Yuan Renshu was surprised; he never expected the delicate lady to possess enough strength to overpower Jiang Lanfen.
Xin Yan had lost all sense of logic and desired was to end herself.
Unable to get closer, Yuan Renshu shouted, 'Xin Yan, let her go. Jiang Lanfen didn't do anything wrong.'
While they wrestled with each other, they had already arrived at the edge of the first floor, but Xin Yan found herself in a very dangerous situation. With Yuan Renshu holding her hands, she still found herself in peril because she was no longer on the top floor. She was close to falling to her death.
"May I know why? I valued our friendship and cared deeply for you. Why did both of you decide to betray me?" She asked with bitter tears streaming down her face.
Yuan Renshu kept her still and exclaimed, 'We don't have any hidden agenda; we only want the kind of life you have.'
As Xin Yan stared at the ground, an unfeeling coldness spread through her heart, a stark contrast to how she felt when looking into his eyes. The murderous glint in his eyes was unmistakable to her. Her heart gradually became numb.
"I apologize, Xin Yan, but this is something I must do. He said with a hint of sorrow, "No one can stand in the way of Lanfen and me."
She begged, "Please don't do it." She seemed to understand what he wanted to do.
"I'm sorry," he murmured while letting go of her hands, which caused her to fall.
With a bitter smile, Xin Yan gazed at the two figures she regarded as family. It was tumultuous because she truly considered them to be her closest family.
A wave of regret hit her. She could have avoided trouble by following her grandparents' and brother's advice. Her grandparents died and she abandoned her brother solely because of two ungrateful individuals.
'Yuan Renshu, Jiang Lanfen, if ever I come back, I promise to make your life a living hell,' she vowed as she closed her eyes, succumbing to her fate.