Chapter 1

My blood ran with a secret power, a living cure for any poison.

Seraphina Hayes, the untouchable heiress from one of the city's most powerful dynasties, had been bitten by a venomous snake and was clinging to life.

In that critical moment, I slit my wrist and let my blood flow to save her.

Only later did I learn the cruel truth: whoever saved Seraphina's life would become the chosen son-in-law of the Hayes family.

But the first thing Seraphina did after inheriting her family’s empire was drain every last drop of my blood, then had my body chopped into pieces and fed to their dogs.

“Julian had already brought the antidote,” she’d sneered, her eyes glittering with malice. “If I had just waited five more minutes, I could have married him without a single obstacle.”

“But you had to butt in, didn’t you? You stole his place as the Hayes family’s son-in-law, driving him to despair and suicide.”

“You claimed your blood could cure all poisons? Well, Asher Vance, let’s see how many doses of antidote we can squeeze out of you.”

My entire body was drained of blood, then thrown into a gladiator pit. There was nothing left of me.

My parents, ruined by the Hayes family, took their own lives, together.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to that fateful day Seraphina Hayes was poisoned.

Eleanor Hayes, Seraphina’s mother, looked at me with a hopeful gaze.

“I heard you were born with a unique gift, a living cure. Would you be willing to save my daughter’s life?”

I immediately shook my head.

“All those stories are just rumors, Mrs. Hayes. Besides, using blood as medicine? That’s just barbaric and unsanitary.”

“You don’t need to worry, though. I heard Mr. Thorne is already rushing here with a special antidote. Miss Hayes will surely pull through!”

A thrill of dark anticipation rippled through me.

Without my blood to cure her…

Seraphina Hayes? Forget inheriting her family’s empire. She’d be lucky to last another month!