Chapter 1

Six years ago, I was forced to marry Lily White in place of my brother. Every night since then, I've had to help her bathe and put condoms on her lover. I even had to babysit their child.

"I've decided to make things official with Quinn," she said, nestled in Quinn's arms, completely disregarding my discomfort. "As for you, James, you can stay here and serve our little family."

Quinn didn't like my face, so they broke my back, leaving me unable to lift my head.

He complained about my sour smell, so they threw me into a freezing pool for nights on end.

It was bitterly cold, and I was numb all over by the time they fished me out.

But Lily just bragged to others scornfully, "He's like a mangy dog, impossible to get rid of."

Then I got a call from my friend.

"Your father has passed away," they said. "His last wish was for you to be free. You can finally leave now."

I remained silent on the phone for a long while before simply responding with a quiet "Mm."

It's better that Dad is gone. At least he won't have to suffer mentally and physically every day anymore.

The air conditioner blew out a steady stream of cold air. My icy clothes clung to my skin, but they couldn't ward off the fever burning inside me.

Shaking, I crawled towards the medicine cabinet and swallowed a few cold pills before being dragged in front of Lily.

"We're out of condoms," she said. "Go buy some more. You know Quinn's size. I'll only wait twenty minutes."

But the nearest store was over an hour's walk away.

In the past, I never had the option to refuse her.

Even that time I went out in a blizzard and nearly froze to death, I was slapped senseless as soon as I got back through the door.

Quinn deliberately wrapped his arms around her and taunted me with a coy look. "Is big brother jealous of how well sis and I fit together? I just want to make her happy."

Lily completely ignored my frostbitten hands and feet. Convinced I was deliberately causing trouble, she banished me to the basement for a whole day.

My memories blurred. I slowly stood up, my eyes lifeless.

"You don't need any. I'm not going," I said flatly.

Lily's head snapped up to look at me, as if seeing me refuse her for the first time.

The next instant, her palm cracked across my cheek.

My forehead slammed hard against the corner of the table, blood trickling down.

"James, it seems you still don't understand your place!" Lily's icy voice held the mockery I knew all too well.

My place? Ha! Everyone in this house knew I was nothing more than a pathetic yes-man.

She bore her lover's child but dumped it on me to raise.

On my birthday, her lover humiliated me, forcing me to crawl between his legs as I knelt on the ground.

Even when they pushed me down the stairs and I cracked my head open, all she said was, "Get up and clean your filthy blood. It's disgusting to look at."

I'd endured all kinds of torment, but now she lost it over one little retort.

I turned away, struggling to keep my spinning head clear.

"These six years must have been hard on you too. We should..."

The word "divorce" caught in my throat as she cut me off.

Lily had security hold me down, her eyes cold enough to kill.

"So you've finally snapped," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "If it weren't for your ruthless scheming, you wouldn't even have the chance to be my dog."

As I struggled, her gaze fell on my mangled left hand and she faltered slightly.

The last time she was kidnapped, I had gripped the attacker's knife with my bare hand. I ended up losing a finger.

She pressed her lips together, about to say something when Quinn came over with a pitiful expression.

He "accidentally" stepped on my hand. As I tried to pull away in pain, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Lily waved for security to release me.

But Quinn started pleading, "Lily, I hurt my hand!"

His long fingers were barely red, but Lily cradled them tenderly.

The servants accused me of being jealous of his piano skills and ability to please Lily.

I let out a slow breath and closed my eyes.

I was used to being wrongly blamed by now.

The medicinal soup I'd carefully prepared for him had been poisoned. He vomited and had diarrhea after eating it.

But Lily was convinced I did it on purpose and forced me to eat all the leftovers.

Just because I was a heinous sinner who could never atone for my crimes, even in death.

"James! He'll be the child's only father. Don't you dare try to harm him again!" she screamed, choking me as she pinned me down to warn me before rushing Quinn to the hospital.

The high fever and blood loss finally overwhelmed me. I collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

But I was grateful. I was finally going to be free.