Chapter 1

I woke up from a vivid dream, and it was like the entire plot of a book had been laid bare to me.

Turns out, I was nothing but the villainess, and my non-blood related, obsessive brother was the one and only male lead.

I was madly in love with the second male lead, Julian, and in my desperation, I did everything I could to provoke and hurt my brother, Caleb.

Later, Caleb would be saved by the female lead, Seraphina. Only then would I realize who my heart truly belonged to, but by then, it would be far too late.

And just moments ago, I had personally forced Caleb to drink that spiked wine…

I shot up, the wine glass in my hand shattering into a thousand pieces.

We were in a noisy private room, and my small outburst didn't catch anyone's attention except for Julian, who was sitting next to me. He glanced over, his sharp and captivating eyes promising little warmth, yet his voice was deceptively gentle.

“Anya, what’s wrong?”

I shivered, my teeth chattering as I looked at the man before me, the same man who would one day treat me worse than a stray dog.

The thought of his future cruelty – how he’d beat me until I miscarried, then force me to sleep with clients right after being discharged from the hospital – instantly wiped away any love I had for him. It was as if, after waking from that dream, I couldn't find a single reason why I ever had to love him.

“My stomach hurts, I need to use the restroom…” I stammered, a well-placed grimace of pain on my face.

“Go on, I’ll wait for you.” Julian’s expression remained unchanged; he believed me.

I nodded obediently, then slowly walked out of the private room.

The moment the door closed, I bolted, running like a madwoman towards the hotel rooms upstairs.

…

I had just done something incredibly stupid.

I had personally handed my brother a glass of spiked wine.

I remembered Caleb’s eyes, red-rimmed, as he asked if he *really* had to drink it.

I cruelly said: “Of course. If you don’t drink it, I will.”

Using myself to blackmail him, he had no choice.

He had always been helpless against my whims.

He took the glass and emptied it in one gulp.

I laughed with delight, reaching up to gently caress his earlobe. “Good boy, Caleb. Always be this good.”

His eyes, already red, grew even redder.

I thought he just didn’t like drinking.

He’d always been a good kid, the golden boy, destined for greatness in everyone's eyes.

But after the entire plot of the book was revealed to me, I finally understood: Caleb was an obsessive lunatic. He had already figured out that Julian and I were setting him up.

He had willingly walked right into our trap.

The drug took effect quickly. Caleb’s face was flushed, his consciousness fading. Julian had someone take Caleb to a hotel room, ready to execute the second part of their plan.

As I left, I heard Caleb calling my name, again and again.

“Anya… Anya… I don’t feel well… Please take me away…”

I didn’t even turn my head. I laughed sweetly, clinging to Julian’s side, eagerly awaiting his praise.

Like a cheap discount item.

Lost in my infatuation back then, I had no idea that I was just one of many insignificant pawns at Julian’s feet, as easily discarded as a broken toy.

The only reason he gave me any special attention was because my brother, the brilliant man he couldn’t ignore, loved me too much.

Back then, I was Caleb’s only weakness.