My brother Alex worships me. When we were ten, kidnappers took me instead of him. They scarred my face and broke my legs before letting me go. Alex rebuilt our father’s crumbling empire into a weapon. To him, I became sacred—insult me, and you died. A man called me a freak. Alex fed him to starving rats. Another mocked my limp. He crushed him under a steamroller. To Port Sterling, Alex was the Boogeyman. To me, he was just my brother—the man who sent me abroad for surgeries, therapy, and an education far from our bloody legacy. Before I returned home, he sent an engagement announcement: "Soon you’ll have a sister to spoil you too." But when I arrived at the villa he bought me, his fiancée Veronica stormed in, convinced I was his mistress. Alex found me broken on the floor as she sobbed: "Am I nothing compared to this whore?" His eyes burned. "How many lives do you have to compare to hers?" … CRASH! The floor-to-ceiling window of the villa imploded, spraying glass across the marble floor. A pack of wolves in human skin barged in, their faces twisted with aggression. At their head was a woman whose face I recognized instantly from the photo Alex had sent me just days ago. My future sister-in-law, Veronica. Before I could even form a greeting, her face contorted with fury. She hefted a crowbar and swung it, the metal crashing against my face. A sickening crunch echoed in my skull, followed by a gush of warmth over my lips. I touched my face. Blood. The unexpected blow sent the world spinning. “There you are, you little bitch,” she spat, her voice dripping with venom. “Finally crawled out of your hole. I was starting to think you’d hide overseas forever!” While I was still reeling, she swung again, the crowbar slamming into my head and ribs. Pain exploded through me. I stumbled back, trying to shield my head, and tripped, collapsing onto the floor. “You don’t understand, I’m—” My words were cut short as Veronica jammed the end of the crowbar into my mouth, ramming it forward twice with vicious force. A sharp, metallic agony tore through my cheeks, and the coppery tang of blood flooded my throat. I choked, spitting out a mouthful of red. “I understand perfectly!” she shrieked, her eyes wild. “Don’t think I don’t know you wheedled Alex into buying you this place! You knew we were getting engaged, and you came crawling back to wreck it. Or, at the very least, stick around as his prized little slut, right?” “Today, you’re going to learn what happens when you cross me!” She kicked me, sending me sprawling. The back of my head struck the sharp corner of the coffee table, and a fresh wave of pain erupted as the skin split open. Panic and rage warred within me. I swallowed the blood pooling in my mouth and forced out the words. “You’re wrong! I’m Alex Sterling’s sister! His actual sister! He sent me a message a few days ago, telling me to come back for the engagement party…” Veronica froze for a second. One of the brutes behind her leaned in and muttered, “Boss, I have heard that Mr. Sterling has a sister who’s been abroad for years. We’ve never seen her, but the rumor is they’re twins.” Veronica’s eyes swept over my face with contempt. “Twins? This little whore looks nothing like Alex.” Just then, another figure entered the villa. It was Rose, one of my brother’s most trusted lieutenants. A veteran of the Sterling Crew. She would recognize me! “Rose! It’s me, Chloe!” I cried out, my voice thick and mangled. Rose paused, her gaze finding me on the floor. “Who’s this? How does she know my name?” she asked, confused. But Veronica didn’t give her time to think. She swung the crowbar again, a brutal, silencing blow across my mouth. The pain was so intense I couldn't make another sound. “She’s the little bitch I told you about,” Veronica said smoothly. “Must have overheard one of the boys talking to you.” Rose shook her head slowly. “No… she said her name was Chloe. That’s the name of the boss’s sister. No one outside the inner circle would know that.” She strode toward me and gripped my chin, her eyes scrutinizing my features. “This face… it’s not her.” My heart sank. She hadn’t seen me since the surgeries. “Wait,” Rose said, her eyes widening slightly. “The young miss was sent away for reconstructive surgery. Has your face… been worked on?” I nodded frantically, a desperate hope surging through me. Yes, it’s me! I’m Chloe Sterling! Veronica scoffed from the side. “She’s a gold digger who lives by her looks. Of course she’s had work done. It’s practically a job requirement.” Rose held up a hand to silence her. “A face can be faked. An identity can’t. Search her.” Two of the goons grabbed me. I thrashed wildly, but Veronica slapped me hard across the face. “Hold still.” They bound my wrists, and the rough hands of the goons pawed at me, a profound violation. All my life, Alex had ensured no one laid a finger on me. If he knew about this, their hands would already be feeding the dogs. Rose watched, a flicker of caution in her eyes. “What if you’re wrong? If she really is his sister, we’re all dead.” Veronica just smiled, lighting a cigarette she offered to Rose. “Relax. I’m about to marry Alex. Even if I roughed up his sister in a fit of jealous passion, he’d see it as proof of how much I care. He’ll forgive me.” Rose took a drag from the cigarette and nodded. “True.” Soon, they found my wallet. Veronica snatched it and burst out laughing. “See? I told you the little bitch was lying.” Rose leaned in, reading my ID aloud. “Tina Chen.” She then flipped open my university diploma. “Enrolled as Tina.” “It’s a fake,” Rose declared, her voice turning to ice. “The boss’s sister is named Chloe Sterling. And he sent her to South Korea for her recovery, not England.” A cold dread washed over me. After the kidnapping, to protect me, Alex had moved me off the family records and given me our mother’s surname. He never wanted me to be a target again. He hadn’t told a soul. He had even faked my destination. Oh, Alex, I thought in despair. Your protection is going to get me killed. Rose’s expression hardened. “This bitch dared to impersonate the boss’s sister. Teach her a lesson.” They threw me to the ground and began to kick and punch me. In the chaos, my phone skittered out of my pocket, its screen lighting up. The lock screen was a photo of Alex and me, smiling together. Rose’s face went pale. “Wait!” She picked up the phone, her hand trembling. “Is this yours?” I nodded desperately. Veronica sneered, “It’s just a picture, Rose. She probably photoshopped it.” I grunted, trying to gesture for Rose to unlock the phone. She understood, holding it up to my face. It unlocked with facial recognition, and she swiped into my messages, finding my chat history with Alex. “She really has him saved as ‘Brother’!” Rose exclaimed. Veronica grabbed the phone. “Every gold-digging tramp calls her sugar daddy ‘daddy’ or ‘brother’! Don’t fall for it!” She scrolled up, and her face darkened with rage. “What the hell? Not only did he buy you a villa, he calls you ‘sweetheart’ and says he never wants to be apart from you again?” She looked at me, her eyes burning with a new level of hatred. “He’s really setting you up as his permanent little plaything!” I wanted to explain—that he was my only family, that he just wanted me home—but the pain in my mouth was a gag, silencing me. No one had ever dared to touch me, and now his own fiancée had beaten me half to death while his own people stood by, unable to even recognize me. Alex, it hurts so much. The thought brought a fresh wave of silent tears. Rose watched me, a frown creasing her brow. “You know, her temperament is a lot like the young miss. Can’t stand the slightest grievance, cries at the drop of a hat.” She hesitated. “Maybe we should double-check. The boss is fiercely protective of his sister. If she’s the real deal, he’ll have our heads.” Veronica nodded, considering it. “Fine. I’ll call him.” Her face twisted into a menacing mask. “If she’s really Alex’s sister, I’ll take full responsibility. But if she’s not…” Her voice dropped to a terrifying whisper. “I’ll make this little bitch regret the day she was born.” She had one of the men gag me properly, then dialed Alex’s number. “Hey, honey,” she cooed into the phone. “You mentioned your sister was coming back for our engagement party. Do you know exactly when she’s getting in? I want to get her a welcome gift, so I was just wondering.” Alex’s voice, warm and familiar, came through the speaker. “That’s thoughtful of you. She said she’ll be here tomorrow night.” My blood ran cold. It’s over. I had changed my flight to today to surprise him. Veronica’s eyes locked on mine, gleaming with vicious triumph. If she hung up now, I was dead. I bit down. Hard. The man holding the gag over my mouth yelped in pain and his hand flew back. “Alex, help me!” I screamed, pouring every last ounce of my strength into the cry. Veronica’s face turned white with rage. She lunged forward, kicking me down and grinding her high heel into my mouth. On the phone, Alex sounded hesitant. “Did I just hear someone yell for help?” Veronica forced a laugh. “It’s just the TV. Anyway, if your sister’s almost here, I’d better go shopping. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up. The last of my hope died with the click. The pressure of her heel intensified, grinding into the wounds in my mouth. “You lying, scheming whore,” she hissed. “You almost had me.” Tears of pain and despair streamed down my face, which only seemed to fuel her rage. Her eyes, full of a venomous jealousy, raked over me. “It’s this face, isn’t it?” she whispered. “This is how you bewitched him. He was ready to marry me, and he still bought you a mansion.” One of the goons behind her spoke up cautiously. “It’s not that surprising. A guy like the boss… they all have a girl on the side. Since he seems to like her, maybe we should just let her go? You’re the one he’s marrying. You’re the real First Lady. Maybe just turn a blind eye?” Rose chimed in. “He’s right. You’re the one with the ring. She’ll never be more than a fling.” For a moment, Veronica seemed to consider it, a flicker of logic piercing her rage. My heart filled with a bitter, searing injustice. I was his sister, beaten and broken for being mistaken for a mistress. Alex had terrible taste in women. The first thing I would do when I saw him was demand he call off this sham of an engagement. My resentful glare must have been obvious because Veronica’s wavering resolve hardened into fury. “You dare to look at me like that? You little bitch!” she snarled. “Even if I don’t kill you today, I’m going to ruin you!” She pulled her foot back, and from her jacket, she produced a knife. Its blade glinted as she brought it toward my face. “No!” I shrieked, the sound muffled and wet. But my terror only spurred her on. “When you’re an ugly monster,” she seethed, her voice a low, terrifying growl, “Alex will finally see that I’m the only one he should love!” White-hot agony lanced across my skin as she began to draw the blade across my cheek, again and again. The pain was blinding, nearly sending me into unconsciousness. This face… Alex had spent a fortune and three years of painstaking work with the world’s best surgeons to give it back to me. And she was destroying it. He would never, ever forgive her for this. “You’re… dead…” I managed to choke out through gritted teeth. My defiance shattered her last shred of sanity. “You fucking dare to threaten me?” she screamed, and brought the knife down to my mouth. “Let’s see you talk now!” A searing, numbing pain ripped across my lips. I couldn’t form another word. She raised the knife again, but froze as footsteps echoed from outside. “Boss? What are you doing here?” It was Alex. Alex was here! I tried to push myself up, but a fresh wave of agony shot through my leg as Veronica slammed the crowbar into the back of my knee, and I collapsed. Rose’s face went white. “Hide her! If the boss sees this, he’ll lose it. Quick!” Veronica and two of the goons dragged me into the adjacent kitchen, sliding the frosted glass door shut just as Alex stepped into the main room. “Rose, I thought I told you to get this place ready. Where are the furnishings?” Alex’s voice was crisp, businesslike. “We just got here, boss. Everything’s still in the truck. I’ll have the boys bring it in now.” Rose herded the remaining goons out of the villa, leaving Alex alone to inspect his work. “Hmm, the renovations turned out well,” he mused to himself. “She’s going to love it.” He turned. “Is this the kitchen?” He was walking toward the door. Through the frosted glass, I could see his silhouette, a dark, powerful shape. Tears streamed from my eyes. Alex, please, get in here. Save me. The door slid open. His eyes fell first on Veronica, hiding in the corner, then on me, a bloody, bound heap on the floor. His face changed instantly. “Veronica? What are you doing here?” Then, his gaze fixed on me, his brow furrowed in disgust and confusion. “Who is she? Why is she covered in blood?” Alex, it’s me! Look at me! I was bound, unable to move, but I began to squirm on the floor, trying to drag myself toward him. Veronica kicked me in the face. “Stay down, you bitch!” The blow sent stars dancing in my vision, but I forced out a desperate, broken sound. “A… lex…” Enraged, she kicked my mouth again. “How dare you call him that in front of me!” But he had heard me. Alex’s entire body went rigid. He crouched down, his eyes scanning my mangled face, trying to see past the blood and swelling. Before he could recognize me, Veronica spoke, her voice suddenly trembling and fragile. “Darling, you don’t have to say it. I know who she is. She’s the canary you’ve been keeping overseas, isn’t she?” She gestured around the room. “And this villa… it’s for her. I shouldn’t have been upset. A man as successful as you… it’s only natural you’d have a secret little nest.” Her eyes welled with tears, her voice cracking with practiced sorrow. “I just wanted to see her. To understand what makes her so special, what makes you love her so much. I thought… I thought maybe I could learn from her. Be more like her. Then maybe you would love me a little more, too…” Her choked sobs seemed to move him. He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said softly. “I told you, you’re the only one for me. Why else would I be marrying you?” He sighed. “This house is for my sister. Chloe. She’s coming home tomorrow, remember? I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn’t tell anyone. You misunderstood.” He held Veronica at arm's length. “But you still haven’t told me who this is. I don’t keep canaries, Veronica.” A look of dawning horror crossed Veronica’s face as the pieces clicked into place. She was white as a sheet. “She… she’s just some bitch who crossed me. Rose and I were… teaching her a lesson.” Alex frowned. “She crossed you? Then she deserves a lesson. But why would you bring her into my sister’s house? That’s bad luck. This place is tainted with blood before she’s even spent a night in it. It’s a bad omen.” His stern tone made Veronica tremble. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll have my men drag her out and… clean up. And I’ll personally apologize to Chloe tomorrow. She won’t hold it against me, right, darling?” Alex’s expression softened into a fond smile. “Chloe has a good heart. She won’t blame you.” Two of the goons moved to lift me. My mind screamed in panic. Veronica’s idea of “cleaning up” was to silence me permanently. She couldn’t be sure if I was Chloe or not, but she couldn’t afford to take the chance. I thrashed violently, trying to break free, and earned another slap for my efforts. “Take this bitch out and finish it!” Veronica snapped. Just then, Rose re-entered the kitchen, holding something. Seeing the tense atmosphere, she immediately tried to curry favor with Alex. “Boss, don’t be angry. We didn’t want to get blood on the floor, but this little bitch wouldn’t back down. She kept insisting she was your sister…”
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