Chapter 5

In a haze of unconsciousness, I had a long, drawn-out dream.

When I first met Jasmine, she was the daughter of the housekeeper who worked at the neighboring mansion.

Every day, she would curl up in the flower bed by the wall, waiting for her mother to finish work.

Feeling sorry for her, I invited her to play at my house.

Later, I discovered we attended the same school, so I started giving her rides to and from school every day.

In high school, I developed feelings for Alec.

Back then, he was the untouchable campus heartthrob, known throughout New York City as a super-rich heir, always the center of attention at school.

I was infatuated with him, adored him, and acted like a lovesick puppy, doing all sorts of outrageous things.

He loved street racing, so I specifically hired a Formula 1 driver to teach me, just so I could impress him on the track.

He enjoyed clubbing and parties, so I racked my brains organizing various events, each time with fresh ideas and activities.

I even accompanied him when he got into fights and caused trouble, risking getting shot or stabbed, repeatedly intervening to prevent any behavior that might upset the Prescott family.

Until we naturally agreed to an arranged marriage, with everyone believing we were a match made in heaven.

I thought so too.In this world, there's not a single person who would be more willing than me to change for him, to go crazy for him, to do all sorts of outrageous things for him.

But reality slapped me hard across the face with a resounding smack.

It turns out that some people don't need to do anything at all. Even if they go against morals and cross boundaries, they just need to stand there to be favored.

And the family I once took pride in turned into bubbles with just a casual flick of her finger.

How absurdly laughable.

Yet I was left with no chance to fight back as I was stomped straight into hell.

At the very end, there was Jasmine's ferocious grin.

She drew close to me, her voice sinister and vicious.

"Scarlett, I'm going to turn you into a homeless dog with nothing left!"

I jolted awake from the nightmare.

The excruciating pain throughout my body made me convulse for a moment before I could slowly make out my surroundings.

The spacious room was exquisitely decorated. I was lying on a large European-style carved bed. Beside it stood a small cart with a ceramic pot being heated by a small stove, bubbling with the aroma of chicken soup.

There were also numerous medications for treating external injuries piled up nearby.

I stiffly raised my hand to see an IV catheter taped to the back of it, surrounded by a patch of bluish-purple bruises that had been carefully treated.Not far from the bed, a tall, imposing figure stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back turned to me.

He wore a simple black shirt, perfectly tailored to his form, accentuating the smooth, muscular lines of his body. Even from behind, he exuded an aura of untamed dominance.

I shifted slightly.

A searing pain ripped through me, causing an involuntary whimper to escape my lips.

The man by the window heard the sound and turned around.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, my brain short-circuited. I gaped in disbelief, my mouth hanging open.

The man who had saved me was none other than Alec's archnemesis, Garrison.