Hàn Tuyết Nhi was the daughter of the Han family, a prominent clan in the city.
She was always pampered and loved immensely, but never grew arrogant or haughty because of it, which is why she was well-liked by everyone around her.
Her mother passed away early, and Hàn Thiên Long (her father) remarried, so she also gained a younger sister, two years her junior.
Her stepsister and stepmother didn’t like her at all, so they always found ways to bully her, do bad things, and blame her.
Her father always trusted and loved that woman, so his affection for her grew increasingly into dislike.
The graduation exam was approaching, so last night she studied until late. Being too tired, she fell asleep without realizing it.
Unsurprisingly, she overslept this morning.
She woke up with a start, just as Diệu Hồng Phi (her stepmother) spoke up, her voice laced with annoyance and irritation:
“It’s already this late, and you’re still not down making breakfast?”
Seeing this, Diệp Hồng Hiền immediately added fuel to the fire:
“Or does she think she’s a young lady who doesn’t have to serve anyone? She really doesn’t respect anyone!”
Although her family was quite well-off, they didn’t have many servants.
Therefore, all household chores fell to her. Hàn Tuyết Nhi meekly agreed, then rushed, her hands and feet in a flurry. She quickly washed up and went downstairs to make breakfast.
Hàn Tuyết Nhi carried the porridge to the table. Diệp Hồng Hiền, who already disliked her, seized the opportunity and tripped her. The bowl of porridge spilled all over her hand.
The woman secretly smirked at this, but on the surface, she feigned anger:
“Is that how you walk?”
Before she could explain, Diệp Hồng Hiền slapped her across the face without an ounce of mercy.
Before the stinging burn had subsided, she had to endure this excruciating slap, but she endured it without shedding a single tear. It had to be admitted, she was incredibly resilient.
After hitting her, the shrewish woman continued:
“Porridge is all over my shoes! Aren’t you going to hurry up and clean them for me?”
She looked up, and her eyes suddenly met her father’s.
“What are you looking at? Apologize to your sister and clean her shoes. You can’t even walk properly.”
A flicker of disappointment flashed across her face.
In truth, she was somewhat accustomed to this, as she had long since stopped receiving her father’s love.
Without a word of complaint, she nodded and complied.
She replied with difficulty, “I’m sorry, please wait a moment while I get a cloth to wipe them for you.”
After the meal, while she was clearing the dishes, Thiên Long suddenly spoke up:
“Come see me after you’re done cleaning up. I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, Father, I understand.”
……!
In the living room, the boisterous laughter and chatter of the stepmother and her daughter could be heard.
“Father, did you have something you wanted to tell me?”
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
“You are 18 now, and it’s time for you to marry. Furthermore, our family has an engagement with Thẩm Khải Phong, the son of the Thẩm family, which cannot be broken. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Seeing this, Hồng Hiền immediately said:
“Marrying her into that family is a blessing for ten generations for her. It’s just that I heard Thẩm Khải Phong is a cold-blooded man, and I’m afraid if she does anything to displease him, our Hàn Corporation might not be able to withstand it.”
“Don’t worry. If she dares to do that, I will kick her out of the Thẩm family and strike her name from our family’s genealogy.”
Hearing this, the woman grew even happier. She would not only get rid of a burden, but also make her sister live a life of misery, because Hồng Hiền knew he was no ordinary person; if anyone went against his will, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Indeed, her 18th birthday had just passed a few days ago.
But she couldn’t accept marrying someone she had no feelings for, especially since she didn’t even know what the person looked like.
Hàn Tuyết Nhi was a budding young woman, always dreaming of a sweet, deep first love.
She valued emotional connections deeply, so marrying a complete stranger would be beyond her endurance.
She protested indignantly,
"I don't agree. I can't marry someone I don't love, and what's more, I don't even know who he is!"
"Let me tell you, you have no say here. I am merely here to inform you. You will marry him whether you like it or not. Someone, drag her into the room, lock the door tightly, and starve her until she submits!"
Her burning, red, unmedicated hand, still aching, was now gripped tightly and violently pulled, causing her excruciating pain and making her involuntarily cry out, "Ah!"
Hàn Tuyết Nhi quickly tended to her wound.
Suddenly, she sat there, lost in thought, recalling memories of the past: the days she lived under her mother's protection, the rare days she experienced her father's love.
Returning to reality, a tear involuntarily fell.
Thinking back to the times she was bullied, her father had seen it but remained indifferent and aloof; her father from before and now were so vastly different.
The more she thought, the more her tears streamed down.