Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Engagement Turns Into a Funeral

Today was supposed to be the big day-Ethan, heir of the Carter Group, was getting engaged to Faye Hawthorne, the heiress of Hawthorne Jewelry. A match made in L City's elite circles. Two top jewelry houses joining forces.

Inside the Hawthorne estate-

"Mara, follow my lead later. Whether we make it or not depends on tonight," Ethan murmured, his low, husky voice carrying a dangerous charm.

"Mhm. I know. I've had to put up with her for years; as long as she's dead, I'm finally free from her shadow, and nothing will get in the way of us anymore. Ethan, I love you so much," Mara whispered sweetly, though her voice dripped with poison.

"Good girl. I love you, too."

.

Outside the door, Faye stood frozen, trembling all over. She bit her lip hard.

Through the gap in the slightly open door, she could see them tangled together-clothes a mess, utterly shameless.

Inside, the two entangled figures were none other than her fiancé and her step-sister-someone she'd loved and protected like family.

From their childhood, she'd given Mara the best of everything, never hesitating to share anything good with her.

And Ethan. he was the one man she had ever truly loved.

But now, these two people she loved the most were not only cheating on her-they were planning to murder her.

Faye felt dizzy, her vision spinning. She staggered back a few steps.

The sharp click of her heels echoed too loud and caught their attention. Ethan sprang to the door, yanked it open-

There she was, pale as a ghost, barely able to stand as she clung to the wall.

He froze for a second before a cold, almost excited grin crept onto his handsome face. "So, you heard everything."

Faye's face drained of color. Staring at Ethan with his untucked shirt and undone buttons, her stomach twisted in disgust. That image of him with Mara burned in her head, making her almost forget they just talked about killing her.

"And yet you. How could you- I. I'm going to tell Grandpa. I want justice!"

Panicked, she turned to run.

But Ethan was faster. He grabbed her arm in a flash.

Faye flinched like she'd been shocked and yanked herself away, her whole body tense, hands up in a protective stance.

"Faye, that self-defense crap? I taught you everything you know. You honestly think you can fight me?" Ethan sneered, his tone mocking as he stepped toward her, each step exuding killing intent.

Faye's grandpa, Gerald Hawthorne, and her parents were already hosting guests at the hotel.

All the other house staff were off, and even the butler and the remaining helpers had been sent away under some excuse.

Tonight, Faye Hawthorne had to die.

She kept backing up, cold sweat pouring down her face as she stared into Ethan's eyes-eyes full of murder.

He seemed to sense she was trying to escape, and with zero hesitation, moved at her, fast and ruthless.

Faye barely managed to hold on for a few moves before Ethan Carter pinned her arm behind her back. The sudden twist sent a jolt of pain through her, cold sweat instantly breaking out all over her body.

She twisted her body, shaking off his grip, then swung a sharp kick straight at his lower half without hesitation.

Gaining a bit of distance, she quickly and cautiously backed toward the staircase, eyes locked on Ethan's cold, hostile expression, every nerve tense.

But the moment her foot touched the top step, a hard shove hit her from behind.

"Aah-!"

Her scream sliced through the silence of the mansion like a knife.

She tumbled down the marble steps, body flipping over again and again until she landed in a pool of blood at the bottom.

Her pale face was streaked with red, making her look like some twisted, tragic painting.

Eyes wide with shock and rage, she stared up at Mara Hawthorne standing at the top, looking back at her with undeniable satisfaction. Faye tried to move, to stand, but her limbs refused. The pain spread through every inch of her body-it was like her bones had shattered.

Ethan descended the stairs slowly, Mara on his arm. They stopped beside her, Ethan towering over Faye as she lay on the floor, a broken mess.

He smirked cruelly. "Well, looks like this much-anticipated engagement party just became your funeral."

Mara leaned into him, lips curling in smug delight. "Our little coming-of-age gift for you, sis. Like it?"

Rage burned through Faye. She coughed up blood, struggling to get to her feet. "I'm taking you two down with me. even if I have to claw my way back from hell."

Ethan sneered. "So naive." And with that, he stepped down hard on her shoulder, pinning her in place.

Faye gasped, unable to breathe as wave after wave of pain crashed through her. The betrayal stung nearly as much as her shattered body, twisting inside her like a knife.

"Ethan, you look so hot like this. Just finish her already," Mara cooed, feigning innocence while giving him a push.

Once Faye was out of the picture, everything the Hawthornes had built would be in Mara's hands.

Without mercy, Ethan yanked Faye by the hair and slammed her head hard onto the marble floor.

No one would doubt she died from the fall-it was easy to cover up the rest. After all, the ones who killed her were the people closest to her.

Bloodied and breathing raggedly, Faye stared at them with pure hate, clinging to Mara's dress with the last of her strength. Cold tears trailing from her eyes, she hissed through gritted teeth, "Ethan. Mara. even if I become a ghost, I'll crawl out of hell to drag you both down with me."

Pfft.

A wet sound escaped her lips. Her final words were followed by a violent burst of blood that splattered across the floor.

What a damn joke.

She had trusted them, loved them, given them everything. And this-this was how it ended?

If she ever got the chance to live again, she'd drag those two monsters to hell herself-before they even had the chance to look her way.

Because if kindness only brought her this?

Then next time, she'd be the devil they feared.