Chapter 3

I backed away in terror. "What are you doing! I didn't even run! How can you just use violence against me!"

"Miss Emma, you think we don't know what you're thinking? Even if you're not running now, that doesn't mean you won't try later."

"Instead of watching you constantly, it's safer to just break your legs. As long as I'm here, don't even think about ruining Miss Vivian's wedding!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell my parents!"

"So what if you tell them? When the time comes, I'll just say you tried to force your way out and jumped from the second floor, breaking your own legs. They won't do anything about it!"

"Get her!"

They swarmed me, swinging their clubs at my body.

I could hear my bones shattering.

Large patches of my white wedding dress were stained red—a horrifying sight.

But these people showed no mercy, as if they wouldn't stop until they beat me to death.

"If I die here today, the Sinclair family won't let you get away with this!"

"You still think you're the Sinclair family's precious heiress? You're nothing but a mistake—a nobody they took in by accident! The master and mistress only let you stay because they pitied you!"

"When Miss Vivian first came back, they wanted to send you away. If the young master hadn't begged them, saying it was like keeping an extra dog around the house, you think you'd still be here?"

"And you want to steal Miss Vivian's husband? Keep dreaming!"

I suddenly laughed. "So you're not actually afraid of me ruining the wedding—you want to kill me!"

"You dying from a fall while trying to escape isn't impossible, don't you think, Miss Emma?"

I was terrified. I could die, but not like this—not so carelessly.

And this wasn't the death I'd chosen. What if I couldn't go back?

I don't know where I found the strength, but I shoved the person in front of me down and knocked over the eternal flame my mother had lit for Vivian on the high table.

The lamp crashed to the ground and ignited the nearby curtains.

The mansion burst into flames instantly.

"Damn little bitch, how dare you start a fire!"

While they were panicking, I dragged my broken leg and escaped.

The residential area was covered with security cameras, so they didn't dare chase me.

Wearing my blood-soaked wedding dress, I limped along the road with my broken leg, trying to flag down a taxi to get to the hotel.

Maybe I looked too terrifying—not a single taxi would stop for me.

Finally, a kind young woman pulled over and asked if I needed help. Only then was I able to beg her to take me to the hotel.

This hotel belonged to my father, and all the staff knew me.

So even though the security guards and front desk saw me, they didn't dare stop me.

When I reached the entrance of the reception hall, my brother and parents were all there.

They were enthusiastically greeting every guest who came for the wedding, their faces beaming with happiness.

Until they saw me. Their smiles froze.