Chapter 1
The attic was a dark, suffocating hole, with sunlight barely slipping through gaps in the faded curtains.
The air reeked of decay, the kind of stench that made it almost impossible to breathe.
Summer’s heat turned the cramped space into an oven.
Mabel Harper lay motionless on a narrow, sagging bed, her broken leg awkwardly propped up by a makeshift pile of old pillows. Her gaunt face and hollowed checks told a grims story days without food, nights without rest. The lady she used to be, vibrant and full of life, was unrecognizable in this skeletal shell.
When she tried to shift her leg, the frame beneath her creaked loudly, a warning that it might give way.
Pain lanced through her, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought the urge to groan. That bed was her only support if it collapsed, the damage to her leg might finish her off.
The door creaked open, spilling a thin line of light into the room.
Two people shipped in, whispering and shuffling. The door clicked shut behind them, plunging the attic back into its suffocating gloom
Mabel’s lips barely moved as she let out a breath. “They’re here again, she thought to herself.
As soon as they closed the door, the pair wasted no time. Their kisses came hard and fast, filled with desperation and heat. Clothing rustled as pieces hit the floor, each sound sharper in the oppressive silence of the room
Mabel didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were – her fiance, Matthew Preston, and her sister, Rhea Harper
The stench, the heat, her broken body all of it faded into the background for them. The two made this place their playground of lovemaking
“Matthew,” Rhea whispered, her voice trembling between shallow breaths, “this place is so disgusting. Is she dead? Or she just lying there like a corpse?”
Rhea leaned against the wall, her bare skin flushed, her breathless voice trembling with feigned fragility.
“Who cares?” Matthew groaned, pulling her closer. “It’s perfect. The smell, the danger – it makes it so much better.
Mabel turned her face to the wall, her eyes dry but burning. She couldn’t shut out the sound of their gasps, the betrayal filling every inch of the room.
Three minutes. That’s how long it lasted.
When they finally slumped against each other, panting and satisfied, the room went still. Only the floorboards creaked beneath their weight.
Mabel had lost count of how many times they’d done this. Since the accident, she’d been exiled here, hidden away like a dirty secret. The twisted pair would sneak up every few days, using her misery as a twisted source of entertainment.
At first, Mabel had fought, screaming at them, spitting every curse she knew, but hunger and despair had stolen her strength
Now, she stared blankly at the cracked ceiling, too tired to care.
Once the thrill of their coupling faded, the cruelty began Rhea reiched lazily, lounging on the moth–eaten couch with Matthew’s arm draped over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with malice as she glanced at Mabel, who lay unmoving on the
Chapter 1
bed. “Matthew,” Rhea said, her voice sugary–sweet, “do you think she even cares? She just looks… empty.” Then her giggle bubbled up. “Oh! You know what. sterday, I saw these gross homeless guys downtown. Maybe we should bring them over.
Give her some company.”
Matthew cupped Rhea’s delicate face, pressing soft kisses onto her lips, each dripping with mockery. “Please. Don’t waste the effort. Look at her. Her face is so wrecked, it’s practically nightmare fuel. No guy, not even a desperate one, would go near her.”
Rhea’s pout was theatrical, her voice sugary and full of fake innocence. “Hmph, it’s her own fault for being such a knockout back then. She had you wrapped around her little finger like she was the queen of the world. If I hadn’t taken it upon myself to mess up that pretty face, you’d still be chasing her shadow instead of standing here, engaged to me.”
Matthew’s hands roamed indulgently over her. “Babe, don’t be ridiculous. You think I’d ever be into HER? The first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the only one I wanted. I’d have called off the engagement ages ago if it weren’t for her clinging onto me like some desperate leech. You’re my one and only
Rhea’s smirk widened as she nestled closer, her soft laugh floating through the room like a poisoned melody. “Poor Mabel But honestly, she had this coming. Acting all high and mighty her whole life, pretending she was better than me, even though she was just some adopted stray my family picked up. Bet she never dreamed she’d end up like this rotting in an attic while the real daughter takes it all.”
Matthew chuckled darkly, his arms tightening around her as if to punctuate her point. “Speaking of which, how are things going with your parents? Did they manage to get her assets sorted out? My company’s pushing for the next round of financing, and we can’t afford any hiccups.
Rhea swatted his hand playfully, her laugh as light as it was insincere. “Matthew, stop! That tickles!” She giggled. Then, she shifted back to business, her tone now casually cruel. “What do you think? Of course, it’s done. Everything she had is under our family’s name now. Honestly, there’s no reason to keep her alive anymore. Matthew, don’t you think it’s about time we…. you know, get rid of her? I mean, the idea of her dying in this villa gives me the creeps. Imagine the resale value if this place becomes a murder house.”
Matthew’s smirk turned icy, his voice chillingly pragmatic. “You’re right. Why don’t we time it with the wedding? A two–for- one celebration – doesn’t that sound poetic?”
Rhea’s laughter spilled out, sweet yet venomous. “Oh, babe, that’s perfect. I’ll leave the details to you, my darling”
Their plotting faded as they finally left, their laughter echoing down the staircase.
Mabel remained still on the splintered bed, her eyes empty as they stared up at the cracked ceiling. Her once beautiful face, now etched with scars, showed no flicker of emotion.
But inside her, a storm raged. She could feel death circling her like a vulture, the bitter taste of betrayal sharp on her tongue.
The people she trusted most had stolen everything from her – her family, her fiancé, her life. They had reduced her to this wrecked shell of a person, and now they were planning to discard her completely.
She could no longer suppress the fury boiling in her chest. It burned brighter with every breath, igniting her will to fight
back
Mabel had always known she wasn’t her parents‘ biological daughter. But out of gratitude for their kindness, she had bent over backward to be the perfect child – obedient, thoughtful, and uncomplaining. She never gave them a reason to regret taking herin
And yet, her efforts had never been enough. They had never treated her as a real family.
The moment they found their real daughter, Rhea, her place in the family disintegrated. Their indifference turned to open disdain, and her life spiraled into a nightmare.
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Chapter 1
And Rhea? Sweet, delicate Rhea revealed herself to be anything but. Beneath her delicate exterior lay a cunning and vicious woman who thrived on manipulation. The Harpers weren’t tycoons, but they were comfortable until Rhea arrived, and Mabel’s world collapsed. Rhea’s early life was a harsh and bitter contrast to Mabel’s privileged upbringing. While Mabel had grown up in comfort, surrounded by comfort and security, Rhea had been left to fend for herself in a world that offered her nothing but struggle. Over a decade of poverty and hardship hardened Rhea’s spirit, warping her into someone consumed by resentment and jealousy. In Rhea’s twisted perception, Mabel had stolen everything that was rightfully hers: the Harper name, the comfortable lifestyle, and the family’s love.
The moment Rhea reentered the Harper family, her hatred against Mabel took root. Her schemes were relentless. Rhea framed Mabel for theft, prchestrated situations that nearly led to her assault, and painted herself as the perfect victim in front of their parents. To Matthew, Rhea was the sweet little girl who needed protection, to Mabel’s friends, she became the whispering voice that sowed distrust. With every lie and every tear, Rhea took down Mabel’s life, brick by brick.
Mabel had desperately tried to salvage everything, but with just a few cunning tricks. Rhea had ruined her reputation. No matter how much Mabel pleaded or defended herself, her words were powerless against the impact of Rhea’s delicate, crocodile tears.
No one escaped Rhea’s influence. Mabel’s parents, once distant but fair, turned cold and dismissive. Mabel’s fiancé, Matthew, shifted his affections to Rhea without hesitation. Even Mabel’s closest friends distanced themselves, believing the poisonous tales Rhea spun. Before long, Mabel stood alone, isolated by everyone she had once trusted.
It was a cruel betrayal. Mabel had poured her heart into her family and loved them unconditionally. Yet, in return, they had cast her aside, leaving her to fend for herself against Rhea’s ruthless schemes.
By the time Mabel fully understood the depth of Rhea’s malice, it was too late. Her life had been systematically destroyed, and her enemies had succeeded in reducing her to a broken shell
When Rhea had her face scarred, Mabel had been devastated, sinking into despair. For a long time, she had wanted to disappear entirely, to let the misery end. But that grief eventually turned into something stronger a blazing determination to live, fueled by vengeance,
Mabel’s eyes snapped open one fateful day, filled with a fierce resolve.
“Why should I be the one to die?‘ she thought, the fire in her heart growing stronger.
Her enemies were alive, thriving, and happy – why should she give them the satisfaction of her death?
Gritting her teeth, Mabel dragged herself off the disgusting bed. gnoring the filth and stench of the attic, she scavenged the nearly moldy scraps of food scattered on the floor.
Each bite was a battle, but she forced herself to eat. Her scarred face and broken leg could wait – survival was her only priority now.
Days passed. Slowly but surely, Mabel began to regain her strength, biding her time and waiting for the perfect chance to
scape.
Fate, however, always had other plans. Just as she took her first unsteady steps, the dreaded day arrived: Rhea and Matthew’s wedding.
The pair, dressed in extravagant wedding attire, hauled Mabel from the attic. Their venue was a luxurious seaside villa, where the air was thick with joy and celebration. Guests laughed toasted the couple, and reveled in the festivities while Mabel was dumped in a shadowy corner, unnoticed by the jubilant crowd. Her torment didn’t end there. Under the guise of celebration, they dragged her to the cliffs by the villa. With cold efficiency, they shoved her to the edge. The sharp drop ended in jagged rocks and crashing waves.
Ropes bound Mabel’s hands and feet tightly, ensuring she could’t fight back.
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The effort was almost pointless Mabel was too weak to resist. But the cruelty wasn’t about necessity; it was about erasing her entirely.
As they pushed her over the edge, the once–clear sky darkened. Thunder cracked, and the sea roared violently, as if it shared in her fury.
The freezing water swallowed Mabel’s battered body, dragging her down into the depths. The ropes bit into her skin, and the weight of the ocean pressed relentlessly against her chest.
Mabel struggled, but her frail body couldn’t fight back. The icy water filled her lungs, and the pain soon gave way to numbness.
As her vision dimmed.” Mabel’s mind replayed the cruel chaos of her life.
She thought of the people she loved, the family she cherished, and the friends she had trusted all of whom had betrayed. her. What a cruel joke.
Even as her body drifted deeper, her spirit refused to leave. Hovering above the churning waves, Mabel’s soul clung to her hatred and despair.
Bitterness filled her heart. I can’t… I can’t let it go… and I WONT
Suddenly, through the haze of her fading consciousness, a man’s voice thundered through the storm
“If she dies, I’ll make sure you do too!”
The words carried a ferocity that pierced through the chaos, brimming with rage and desperation.
She blinked, her heart stirring at the sound. Through the storm she saw someone – a man- leaping from the cliff without hesitation, plunging into the violent waters below.
Her chest tightened as recognition dawned. “HIM? But… why?’ she wondered.
SEND GIFT
