Chapter 1

Just because I accidentally broke the dried flower arrangement made by my wife's childhood friend, she sent me to a "men's etiquette school" for reformation.

Facing inhuman torture at the school, I desperately screamed, struggled, and begged on my knees.

But no one paid any attention to me.

After forty-nine days of brutal body modification, my limbs were removed and I was molded into a vase.

When Sophia received an invitation to a private auction, she whispered to the boy beside her:

"Jake, I'll bid on this vase. It would be perfect to display your new dried flower arrangement."

At the moment of my last breath, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

With just one glance, Sophia's eyes widened in shock as she frantically raised her bidding paddle.

With a crisp slap, Sophia's hand struck my face.

"Ryan! You useless good-for-nothing!" she snarled, her face dark with anger as she jabbed a finger at my nose. "I didn't marry you so you could live a life of luxury! You can't even handle this simple task! How dare you carelessly ruin Jake's heartfelt gift?"

Jake rushed over, looking very apologetic.

"Sophia, please don't blame Ryan. It wasn't intentional," he pleaded.

"These dried flowers weren't anything special - just a small gift I stayed up late for a week to make for you," Jake continued. "It's a shame you liked them so much, but I didn't even get a chance to give them to you before Ryan broke them..."

He crouched down and carefully gathered up the remains of the dried flowers.

I hurriedly tried to explain: "It was an accident! I was being careful, but he-"

"Enough!" Sophia cut me off impatiently. "Look at yourself, then look at Jake!"

"Jake always puts me first and considers my feelings. But you? All you do is cause trouble for me!"

"I've told you before not to mess with Jake. Did it all go in one ear and out the other?"

She looked at me with disdain and disappointment in her eyes.

"Apologize to Jake right now and learn from him how to be a proper husband!"

I held my stinging cheek, my heart bitter.

After five years of marriage to Sophia, I took care of the household chores, shielded her from drinking at social events, and gave up my own career and hobbies for her.

Yet in her eyes, I couldn't compare to a simple dried flower arrangement from Jake.

An immense sense of loss washed over me as I forced myself to apologize through gritted teeth.

But Jake still wasn't satisfied. Sophia declared she would "punish" me to teach me a lesson.

Jake approached and patted my shoulder.

"Ryan, don't be upset with Sophia. She just wants you to improve," he said smoothly.

"You're so handsome and strong. You just need some refinement in your manners."

His tone suddenly shifted.

"I heard about a top-notch men's etiquette school that recently opened downtown. Not only does it cultivate proper behavior, but it also offers physical training."

"Why don't we send Ryan there to study? It'll be like returning him to his prime at age 20. What do you think?"

This wasn't a suggestion - it was a poisoned trap!

Fear gripped me like an invisible hand. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already restrained by security guards, unable to move.

"No! Sophia! I won't go! You can't do this to me! Jake has ulterior motives!"

I couldn't help but scream, struggling desperately and crawling to clutch at her legs.

But Sophia turned a deaf ear, her eyes cold and impatient.

She ignored my pleas and protests. A guard chopped the back of my neck.

Darkness instantly swallowed me.