Chapter 1

The night before my engagement, I was gagged and dragged into an alley by several men.

Just as I was stripped naked and about to be violated, my fiancé, Ethan, suddenly appeared:

"Enough, stop it! Don't hurt her!"

I stumbled into Ethan's arms in a panic, but he chuckled and patted me:

"Don't be scared, it's all fake. I hired actors."

I froze, tears still on my face:

"What did you say?"

He casually pulled out a ring and slipped it onto my middle finger:

"Sophia, you passed my test. You were willing to die rather than comply. Indeed, I wasn't wrong about you."

His assistant, Chloe, emerged from the shadows with a camera:

"Sophia, don't blame Ethan. It was my idea."

"After all, you reported your professor for sexual assault back then, causing a massive scandal, and who knows if you'd just turn against us later."

"I recorded the whole thing today, and I believe you now!"

I gave a bitter smile and took off the ring:

"Ethan, the engagement is off."

"Sophia, what are you talking about?"

Ethan's face darkened:

"I already told you, you passed my test."

Seeing that I didn't speak, his tone softened a bit.

He took off his jacket and covered my naked body:

"Don't be silly. Besides, you were sexually assaulted… who else would want you besides me?"

My fingernails dug deeply into my palms.

I looked up, my face covered in tears:

"Ethan, you clearly know this is the deepest scar in my heart, why do you still rip it open like this?"

Chloe, standing nearby, pouted:

"Sophia, don't be so dramatic. What man wouldn't mind? He just wanted to confirm."

I yelled back:

"What does it have to do with you? Did I ask you to speak?"

Ethan stood still, the tenderness on his face slowly fading.

"Sophia, since you're being so difficult…"

He bent down and snatched the ring from my hand:

"Then please return everything I gave you."

He ruthlessly yanked off the jacket covering me.

Then he looked me up and down:

"Take off your shoes too."

I stood there stunned, tears silently streaming down my face.

Ethan raised an eyebrow:

"What? You can't bear to?"

"If we're going to draw a clear line, don't keep anything of mine."

I bit my lip, squatted down, and took off my shoes, placing them in front of him.

Ethan didn't even glance at them, kicking them into the nearby trash can.

He held out his hand:

"Give me your phone."

I instinctively clutched my phone.

It was a birthday gift from Ethan.

Back then, he had looked at me gently:

"Sophia, I saved my number. If anything happens, you must call me first."

I placed the phone in his palm.

Ethan turned and walked away without hesitation:

"No one is allowed to talk to her."

Chloe gave me a smug smile and jogged after him.

I was left alone in the alley.

I stood barefoot, completely naked, with only a torn pair of underwear barely covering me.

I squatted down and hugged myself, sobbing uncontrollably.

It turned out Ethan had never trusted me from start to finish.

After Dad passed away, Mom saved every penny to put me through college.

That year, I reported my professor for forcing me, causing a massive scandal.

While Mom was seeking justice for me, she was obstructed by those people under various pretexts.

They even twisted the narrative, maliciously editing footage to turn public opinion against her.

Finally, Mom got so furious she had a stroke and was immediately admitted to the ICU.

I used up all my savings to save Mom, but she was still partly paralyzed.

It was Ethan who firmly stood by my side, helping me pay off the medical bills I'd incurred.

He was gentle, considerate, and didn't care about my past.

Mom cried tears of joy when she found out we were getting engaged.

She held my hand and said over and over:

"Good, my daughter finally has someone to care for her."

Tomorrow was the engagement ceremony.

Mom must be tossing and turning in her hometown, unable to sleep, waiting to see me happy.

I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and stood up.

I decided to go back and pack my bags.

Since Ethan never trusted me, I didn't want him either.

I walked home barefoot, step by step.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the front door.

The living room light was on.

Chloe was draped over Ethan, their clothes disheveled.

Her skirt was bunched at her waist, revealing a large expanse of pale skin.

Ethan leaned back on the sofa, clutching her waist, his expression sated and languid.

The next second, Ethan looked up and saw me.