My sister married the man I'd secretly loved for years—a powerful big shot from Hollywood. But on her wedding night, the one sent into his room wasn't her—it was me.

All because my sister messed around with some thug back in high school, got pregnant, and had an abortion. She wasn't a virgin.

And she wasn't worried I'd spill the truth—because I'm mute.

What she didn't know was that I was only pretending.

And what I didn't expect was that just one night would leave me pregnant—with his twins.

***

"Do what I say, or your mom won't make it out alive."

My sister, Liora Corbin, shoved me into the walk-in closet.

Today was her wedding day—with Raymond Merrick.

I'm here to support her as part of her family on her wedding day.

She was still in her custom-made designer gown, looking as stunning as ever, even with that vicious expression twisting her face.

She pulled out a sharp fruit knife.

The blade pressed against my cheek. I widened my eyes and pretended to be too scared to make a sound.

Liora gave a sly smile. "Tonight, you'll keep Raymond company for me. If you impress me, there'll be good things coming your way."

She'd been obsessed with Raymond for years—but was willing to send me into his bed.

Just because she is not a virgin.

Back in high school, she'd been messing around with the school delinquent, smoking, drinking, sneaking out. Wild stuff.

When it all came out, her mom pulled strings and got the guy thrown in jail to keep things quiet.

Now, to avoid being disliked by Raymond, Liora had carefully chosen me to be her bridesmaid.

I'm her half-sister. We share the same father. We look alike—similar build, similar features—maybe 60 to 70 percent alike.

She figured she could pull this off.

Switching between threats and sweet talk, she added darkly, "If you screw this up, your crazy mother can kiss her life goodbye."

I bit my lip and nodded with a frightened look on my face.

Only then did she relax, telling me to hide in the wardrobe and wait.

A few minutes later, I heard the door open and footsteps.

Raymond walked in, long-legged strides full of silent authority.

He wore a deep gray tailored suit, refined yet dangerous. Every step echoed with a pressure that couldn't be ignored.

His sharp, chiseled features seemed as if they had been carved from stone. His sword-like brows slanted back toward his temples, and his eyes were as piercing as a hawk's—seeming to see right through everything when he narrowed them slightly. An almost chilling sense of pressure radiated from his gaze.

I didn't even dare to breathe behind the closet door.

Liora sat obediently on the bed.

Raymond barely spared her a glance before turning to pour himself a cup of tea.

She quickly walked over.

"Let me do it, Honey."

She took the cup from him, using the moment to slip some powder—hidden under her nail—into the tea.

It was an aphrodisiac. She had someone prepare it specially.

Raymond took a few sips, and soon, his face flushed, breath quickening.

He turned a sharp glare on her. "What did you make me drink?"

Liora played innocent. "Huh? That was just something the housekeeper gave me. They said it'd help us get closer as a couple. I didn't know what it was."

Raymond slammed the cup down, furious. She flinched.

"You think I'm not enough of a man already? What the hell are you playing at? Afraid I'll go easy on you?"

His voice was thunderous, and as the heat overtook him, he tugged at his collar, clearly struggling.

Liora put on her best pitiful act. "I'm sorry, Honey. I was wrong. I won't do it again!"

Raymond didn't respond.

The drug was kicking in. His eyes darkened, wild and hungry, like a beast about to devour its prey.

I shrank behind the door, a chill running down my spine.

Liora helped him onto the bed and turned off the lights.

The room went pitch-black, only his heavy breathing filling the silence.

Then she yanked me out and shoved me onto him.

Raymond's arms instantly wrapped around my waist.

Pressed against him, I could smell the strong, masculine scent on his skin.

He grabbed the back of my head—and his hot, wet lips crashed into mine.

I gasped. My dress was already being ripped away.

Morning light leaked through the curtains.

My legs were trembling as I forced myself to crawl out of bed.

Raymond was still fast asleep.

When I looked down, I saw dried blood on my calves—dark red stains that felt like they were slicing straight through my heart.

All the strength I'd faked last night crumbled in an instant.

Everything that happened was still vivid in my mind.

Liora had drugged him and set him up, and Raymond was furious.

He must've thought I was her—he poured all his anger onto me.

There wasn't an ounce of tenderness. No matter how hard I gritted my teeth, I couldn't stop the cries of pain from slipping out.

She was the one who did all this—yet I was the one who had to suffer the consequences.

I clenched my fists.

Compared to my mom's life, none of this pain mattered.

I blinked hard, forcing the tears back down.

Gathering the clothes scattered all over the floor, I struggled to put them back on.

I was shaking as I stepped out of the bedroom. The moment I did, I saw Liora lying on the couch outside. She had just woken up.

She shot me a venomous glare, her voice sharp and full of spite. "Get lost."

I took a deep breath and forced myself to keep walking.

I staggered out of the building, hailed a cab, and headed back to the Corbins' residence.

As soon as I got back to my room, I rushed into the bathroom to wash myself clean. But the moment I started undressing, I realized there was something new on my wrist—a crystal bracelet.

It took me a second to remember—Raymond had put it on me last night after taking my virginity.

I think he mentioned that it was a Merrick family heirloom, something passed down to the daughter-in-law.

If Liora saw this, I'd be in deep trouble.

I yanked at the bracelet as hard as I could, but maybe I was too anxious—it wouldn't budge. It was stuck tight on my wrist.

Sweat broke out on my forehead. In the end, I gave up. I'd just wear long sleeves to hide it and wait until I could take it off and return it to Liora without her noticing.

Liora got what she wanted.

Raymond never realized it wasn't she who spent the wedding night with him.

She thought she was finally going to live happily ever after.

But what she didn't expect was this—on the very next day, Raymond got an urgent call and had to fly overseas to handle business at one of their international branches.

Traveling with him was his childhood friend, Sophia Monroe.

Liora went back to the Corbins' residence and couldn't help venting to her mom, Zoey Corbin.

"Raymond's dad wanted him to marry Sophia. Thank God I made the first move. Now that little Vixen's tagging along with him on a business trip—for months! What if she seduces him while they're away?"

I hadn't meant to eavesdrop. I was just in the kitchen making soup to take to the rehab center for my mom.

I heard Zoey sigh, "The Merrick family won't register the marriage until you give them a child. That's how they're protecting their assets. If Sophia gets pregnant first, we're screwed."

Liora was clearly panicked. "The doctor said even if I do get pregnant, I'm likely to miscarry! That's why I had to send Joanne in on our wedding night!"

Zoey snapped, "All because you're an idiot! Got knocked up by that loser and had three abortions already. Raymond's dad is deeply concerned about family lineage. If Raymond's younger brother comes back from overseas and finds some woman to have a kid with, where does that leave you?"

My scalp tingled with unease. So it turned out Liora had wrecked her own body—that's why she'd taken such a desperate gamble.

Instinctively, I touched my lower abdomen, suddenly recalling that my period was late.

That afternoon, I brought the soup to my mom's private room at the rehab center.

She sat on the bed with her hair a tangled mess, smiling vacantly at nothing.

With how vicious Liora and her mother were, if they ever found out I was carrying Raymond's child, I had no doubt they'd find some sick way to torment both me and my mom.

But I knew exactly what Liora feared most.

At that moment, a plan quietly formed in my mind.

A few days later, I dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, holding a bouquet I had arranged myself, and went to the Merrick Group's building.

I waited in the parking lot.

Soon, a sleek, luxury business van pulled into the reserved space.

The door opened, and a tall, handsome young man stepped out.

It was Raymond's younger brother—Felix Merrick. He was the one I had been waiting for.

I timed it just right, circling to walk in front of him casually, as if by chance.

A warm, clear voice called out from behind me.

"Liora? What are you doing here?"

I turned my head slightly, dazed. My long black hair fanned out in a soft arc.

Felix's expression changed the moment he saw my face—his eyes lit up with a flicker of stunned admiration.

He swallowed hard and apologized quickly, "Sorry, I thought you were someone else."

I nodded slightly and walked straight into the building lobby with the bouquet in hand.

I handed the flowers to the receptionist. Inside the bouquet was a card—with my name on it. I wasn't worried that Felix would be unable to trace who I was.

That night.

After my shower, I sat at my vanity, combing my hair, when the door was suddenly kicked open.

Liora stormed in, eyes blazing. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slapped me across the face.

"You little bitch! You sent flowers to the office on purpose! You wanted Felix to see you!"

I let out a silent cry as I hit the floor.

Zoey followed in behind her. "What? That mute dared to flirt with Felix?"

Liora smacked me again and screamed wildly, "Slut! Don't think I don't know what you're up to! Trying to climb your way up by seducing Felix? You think you deserve someone like him?!"

I crawled to the vanity, grabbed my phone, and quickly typed out a message. I held the screen up for her to see.

"I wouldn't dare flirt with him. I just want to take Mom back to our hometown to care for her. Please, help me convince Dad."

Zoey paused. Her expression darkened as she pulled Liora out into the hallway.

A few minutes later, she came back in with a fake smile plastered on her face. "Well, since you're being such a dutiful daughter, I'll help make it happen."

I bowed deeply in thanks.

To them, I had no value left. Liora and her mother wouldn't want someone like me hanging around, stealing the spotlight.

The next morning, I took my mom and left, catching a cab straight to the train station.

Only when the train finally pulled away from the platform did I let myself breathe again.

Holding my mom's hand, I broke into tears of joy.

"Mom, we've left the Corbin family. I don't have to pretend to be mute anymore, and you don't have to act insane!"

Years ago, my father, Derrick Corbin, had pretended to be single when he chased my mother.

She was kind-hearted and naive, completely unaware of the truth.

When I was five, my mother got pregnant with my younger brother. But one day, on her way to work, she was hit by a motorcycle and lost the baby.

It was no accident—Zoey had hired the driver.

My father wanted to divorce Zoey, but in the end, my grandfather stepped in to mediate. He allowed me to be acknowledged as part of the Corbin family, but my mother was never allowed through the door.

While my mom was hospitalized, Zoey tortured her—both openly and in secret.

To survive, my mother had to feign madness and play dumb just to protect both me and her.

When I was ten, I won first place in a singing contest. Liora only came in second.

That night, I drank the soup Zoey had made for me—and woke up with a raging fever. My throat felt like razor blades had slashed it.

The doctor said my throat lining had been severely damaged and that it might affect my voice permanently.

Zoey denied everything. My dad was so furious he slapped her—but it was no use.

Though I could still speak, my voice was never the same again. The sweetness it once had was gone.

When my mother found out, she held me and cried uncontrollably.

She warned me. If I wanted to survive in the Corbin family, I had to endure. I couldn't ever outshine Liora.

So, I started pretending to be mute.

I endured it for twelve long years, but I was done living under their control.

I wiped away my mother's tears and said firmly, "Mom, let's cut ties with the Corbin family for good."

She nodded through her tears.

"Okay. We'll go to Chicago and stay with your aunt. I heard she opened a charity home with a friend. It's called Haven House."

Four years later.

In the backyard of Haven House, I was watering the garden with my daughter, Yvonne Sullivan.

I wore a thin, long-sleeved shirt for sun protection. The crystal bracelet on my wrist gleamed faintly beneath the sleeve. Over the years, my wrist had filled out slightly, and the bracelet had tightened, making it impossible to remove.

I thought to myself that since I'd never have to face Raymond or Liora again, I didn't mind.

My son, Cedric Sullivan, was being mischievous, chasing the cats and scattering them all over the place.

I warned him, "Cedric, we have guests coming to inspect the charity home today. Don't go out to the front yard, okay?"

"Got it!" Cedric scooped up a kitten with one hand and went outside, playing with it.

Suddenly, there was a clatter of hurried footsteps outside.

I set down what I was doing and peeked toward the door.

I saw my aunt, Tania Sullivan, and the director of Haven House walking with an elderly lady whose silver hair gleamed and whose cheeks glowed rosy red.

Behind them was a large group of people.

It was Raymond, his mother Evelyn Merrick, and Liora!

Raymond wore a dark gray suit over a black shirt, exuding a cold, almost ascetic aura. His sculpted face was perfectly elegant and noble as if born that way.

Leading the group of high-society ladies was none other than Raymond's grandmother, Regina Merrick.

I was utterly flustered and didn't know what to do.

Cedric gently set down the kitten and shyly bowed to the group, greeting them with a childish voice. "Hello, everyone. I'm Cedric."

Regina studied Cedric carefully, then said softly, "This child looks just like Raymond did when he was young."

Evelyn and Liora both gathered around.

They looked at Cedric, then turned to glance at Raymond.

Raymond raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression unreadable.

He walked over to Cedric, crouched down, and looked him in the eye.

Evelyn exclaimed, "Really, those eyebrows and that face shape are exactly the same as Raymond's when he was a child."

Regina sighed regretfully, "Such an adorable and smart child, and yet he's an orphan?"

Tania quickly explained, "No, this child is just staying at our home temporarily with his mother."

Raymond was the first to speak to Cedric. "Hey kid, where's your mom?"