Chapter 1

My mother had a bizarre journal.

Over the years, whenever someone genuinely cared about me, my mother would let them read that notebook.

I never knew what was written inside.

All I knew was that every single person who read it, without exception, turned away from me and immediately began kissing up to my younger sister.

Then I met my fiancé.

He swore up and down that no matter what happened, he would always take my side.

I believed him.

Until my mother handed him that journal.

Just thirty minutes later, he was completely unrecognizable.

Not only did he call off the wedding right in front of everyone, but he also slapped me across the face twice before dropping to his knees to fawn over my sister like an obedient lapdog.

I was completely stunned.

I desperately needed to know what the hell was written in that notebook.

"You disgusting, venomous bitch!"

"You're not even worthy of tying your sister's shoes! Get the hell away from me!"

The man screaming at me was my fiancé, Ethan.

Just moments ago, he had been looking at me with unconditional adoration.

Yet, after taking just one glance at that notebook, his entire face twisted into pure hatred.

I held my burning, swollen cheek, my ears ringing violently.

This was the fourth one.

Four relationships. Four men who once looked at me like I was their whole world.

And every single one of them, after reading that black leather journal, ended up despising me down to their bones.

I stared straight at Ethan, desperately searching his face for even a hint that this was some sick joke.

There was none.

His eyes held nothing but raw, undisguised disgust and contempt.

My sister, Chloe, was lounging smugly on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, a sneer curling on her lips.

"Serena, I told you long ago, nobody could ever truly love a piece of trash like you."

She swirled her wine glass and took a delicate sip.

Acting so high and mighty.

Like a triumphant queen.

Ethan rushed over immediately, gently taking the glass from her hands and placing it on the coffee table with a sickeningly sycophantic grin.

"Chloe, don't drink too much wine, it's bad for you. What are you craving? I'll make you whatever you want right now."

My stomach churned, a wave of nausea rushing up my throat.

Just last night, this man had dropped to one knee and slipped a sparkling diamond ring onto my finger.

He had cupped my face in his hands, swearing he would help me escape this suffocating family.

He promised that no matter what happened, he would stand by me without hesitation.

And now, he was groveling before the sister I hated the most.

Meanwhile, my mother sat in the center armchair, leisurely flipping through the thick journal.

The black leather cover gleamed with an eerie sheen under the ceiling light.

"Serena, just accept your fate," she said.

She slammed the journal shut, tossing it onto the coffee table with a loud thud.

"You're just a jinx. Anyone who gets near you is cursed with bad luck."

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug deep into my palms.

I locked my eyes onto that notebook.

It was because of that damn thing that my life had been destroyed like this.

It drove away every single person who had ever genuinely loved me.

I lunged toward the coffee table, reaching out to grab it.

I had to see for myself what on earth was written inside that could turn everyone against me in an instant.

But my mother was faster.

She snatched the notebook to her chest with one hand and swung the other, striking me across the face with a brutal slap.

The sharp crack echoed through the entire living room.

The force sent me stumbling back, crashing into the hard, wooden corner of the cabinet.

A sharp, searing pain tore through my lower back, and I collapsed onto the floor.

"Don't you dare touch my things!" my mother hissed, glaring at me like a predator.

Seeing this, Ethan charged over and kicked me hard in the shin.

"How dare you raise a hand against your mother? Do you have a death wish?!"

He loomed over me, shouting and spitting all over my face.

Pushing against the cold floor with both hands, I slowly forced myself to stand up.

I looked at them, one by one.

My mother, my fiancé, my sister.

People I had once treated with all the sincerity in my heart.

And yet right now, one had hit me, one had kicked me, and the other was watching with cold amusement.

What a sick, cruel joke.

I couldn't take it anymore. Pointing trembling fingers at them, I screamed, "You're all monsters!"

"Since every single one of you treats me like this, get the hell out of my house! None of you deserve to be here!"

Yes, this house was mine.

I had worked myself to the bone, day and night, to pay the down payment.

After remodeling it, I had excitedly brought my parents and sister here to live together, naively believing we could finally be a warm, happy family.

Instead, all I got was endless favoritism toward Chloe and constant abuse directed at me.

Over the years, they used my hard-earned paychecks to buy Chloe designer clothes while barely leaving any food for me.

They treated Chloe like a priceless treasure and treated me like absolute garbage.

And they used that sinister journal to turn every person who cared about me against me.

I was completely done.

Today, I was cutting all ties with these blood-sucking parasites.

Ethan blinked in surprise, then burst into mocking laughter.

"Your house? Serena, keep dreaming."

He turned to my mother, his face immediately shifting into a flattering smile.

"She already promised to sign this house over to Chloe. This is Chloe's house now."

My head snapped toward my mother.

When I first bought the property, she had locked the deed in her safe under the guise of keeping it secure for me.

Back then, I thought she was my own mother, so I didn't question it.

I never imagined she would secretly transfer the title to my sister behind my back!

"What are you glaring at?" my mother sneered.

"The money you earn belongs to this family. Chloe is getting married soon, and this house is going to be her new home."

"I am your mother. Do you really think I don't have the right to decide this?"

Chloe covered her mouth, letting out a delicate, mocking giggle.

"Serena, thanks for the house! Ethan and I will take great care of it."

The blood in my veins ran cold.

Not only had they stolen my fiancé, but they had also stolen my entire life's savings and my home.

It was sickening.

There were three of them and only one of me. The odds were against me.

I needed help.

Thinking desperately, I pulled out my phone and dialed the contact pinned at the top of my list.

Professor Evans.

He was my college mentor, and the only older person in this world I truly respected and trusted.

Back when I couldn't afford my tuition, he had dipped into his own salary to cover it for me. When I was sick with a high fever, he and his wife had cooked soup and brought it to my dorm.

To me, he was more of a real father than my own flesh and blood ever was.

He would definitely stand up for me and make things right.

He was the only person I could turn to.

The phone rang three times before connecting. Professor Evans's warm, concerned voice came through the speaker.

"Serena? It's so late. Did something happen? Why is your voice shaking?"

I bit my lip so hard it bled, unable to hold back the sobs choking my throat.

"Professor Evans... my mother stole my house, Ethan broke off our engagement, and now they're trying to throw me out on the street..."

The line went silent for a second, followed by the loud, violent slam of a fist hitting a desk.

"This is completely out of line! Has your mother lost her mind?! Where are you right now? Stay right there! I'm coming to you immediately!"

Half an hour later, Professor Evans's black sedan screeched to a halt right outside the front door.

With a deafening bang, he kicked the unlocked door wide open and stormed inside.