Chapter 1

I'm the illegitimate daughter the Sullivan family keeps hidden—a dirty secret whose only value is to marry into the Garrett family in my sister's place, to that man rumored to be violent and wheelchair-bound.

At the wedding, when the priest asked if I was willing, I grabbed the microphone in front of all the city's elite.

"I'm not willing."

The entire venue erupted.

My father was shaking with rage, pointing at my nose and calling me insane.

But they didn't know—there was a voice in my head.

[Congratulations on rejecting this arranged marriage. The Single Life Extension System is now activated！Day 1 of being single: reward of one million dollars, Vitality +1.]

"Clara! You dare say that again!"

My father Harrison Sullivan's roar nearly lifted the cathedral roof.

Beside me, my sister Vivian, dressed in her bridesmaid gown, hissed under her breath.

"Are you insane? If you ruin this marriage, Mom and Dad will kill you!"

I looked at her calmly, then at the shocked guests below, and finally at the man in the wheelchair—Damien Garrett.

A powerful business elite in New York. Six months ago, an accident left his legs paralyzed and his temperament dark and ruthless.

Everyone said the Sullivans were throwing me, the bastard daughter, into a pit of fire.

But what they didn't know was that my parents had begged on their knees for the privilege of connecting with the Garrett family.

Damien's face showed no expression. His deep eyes fixed on me from several meters away, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.

Behind him, his assistant's face had turned iron-gray, already preparing to handle this unexpected situation.

"I'm not willing." I repeated, my voice not loud, but clear enough to echo through the entire cathedral.

Suddenly a sharp slap landed on my face. My mother.

She rushed onto the stage, her whole body trembling as she pointed at me.

"You bastard! You've really lost your mind! You've humiliated the entire Sullivan family! Apologize to Mr. Garrett right now!"

I licked the taste of blood from my lip and smiled.

"Why should I apologize? It's my marriage. If I don't want it, do I need someone to force me?"

My father's lips trembled with rage. "You... you wretched thing! Today you'll marry whether you want to or not!"

He moved to grab me.

"Enough."

Damien controlled his electric wheelchair, slowly approaching the stage, his gaze calm as he looked at me. "Give me a reason."

I looked at him—this supposedly brutal man. At this moment, his eyes held no anger, only curiosity.

I took a deep breath and said what I'd prepared. "I don't like you. And I definitely don't want to marry... a disabled man."

The words were poison, harsh even to my own ears.

Sure enough, the entire venue gasped.

Harrison's face went completely white. He nearly fainted.

Vivian looked at me like I was already dead.

Damien's eyes finally darkened.

His assistant, Owen, stepped forward coldly. "Miss Sullivan, the Garrett family is not yours to insult."

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing. But in my mind, I was silently counting.

"System, pay me."

[Ding! Day 1 of being single: reward of one million dollars, Vitality +1. Cash has been deposited into your anonymous account.]

The cold mechanical voice in my head was my only comfort right now.

With money and life, what did I have to fear?

I straightened my spine and met Damien's icy gaze.

"I'm telling the truth. Mr. Garrett, I won't marry you!"

With that, I lifted the hem of my wedding dress and, under everyone's disbelieving stares, turned to leave.

But I didn't make it out of the cathedral. Two bodyguards in black suits blocked my path.

My father Harrison said in a trembling voice to Damien, "Mr. Garrett, please don't be angry. This girl's not right in the head. I'll tie her up and deliver her to you right now..."

"Dad!"

Vivian quickly grabbed him, though her eyes darted toward Damien.

"Mr. Garrett, my sister doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her."

Damien ignored their father-daughter performance, only looking at me with unreadable eyes.

"Miss Sullivan, you agreed to this wedding yourself. Now you're backing out publicly, playing games with me?"

I clenched my fists. "I'm not playing games. I just came to my senses. I don't want my life depending on anyone."

"Is that so?" Damien laughed softly, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Miss Sullivan's pursuit of independence—I admire that. However, everything has a price."

As soon as he finished speaking, Owen stepped forward and said to Harrison, "Mr. Sullivan, according to the agreement, if the marriage alliance fails, Sullivan Corporation must pay Garrett Corporation one billion dollars in breach of contract penalties. Additionally, Garrett Corporation will withdraw all investments and project collaborations with Sullivan Corporation."