Ever since he had laid eyes on her, on that fateful day many years ago, Simon's heart throbbed for only one person, Vana. She was the gem of the family; the apple of their eye. When she turned eighteen, however, her life took an unexpected turn for the worse. Before she knew it, she was being smuggled to a foreign land. After four years of fending for herself, she finally found the chance to return home, only to be exposed to a series of humiliating scandals. Just when everything seemed to be going wrong, Simon reappeared in her life, like a knight in shining armor, to save her from a life of misery.
The scorching sun evaporated the water on the ground. The entire land was like a steamer, burning everyone in sight. People yelled out in pain and frustration as they walked across the pavements.
At the back door of the Hilton Hotel was the famous JS Park in H Country. Their colorful pavilions, their intricate sand plates, and their beautiful carvings imitated the Ancient Greeks. It was one of the most magnificent parks in H Country.
Impatiently, Vana Gu leaned against the water dispenser. As her thought flashed back to what had happened at the banquet, she frowned in annoyance.
"As long as Dad and Mom get better, you can come back, sister. If you feel uncomfortable, I- I can go."
Vana Gu sneered. "Oh? Will you leave the Gu Family? Do you have any other relatives to rely on?"
Emily Gu didn't expect that Vana Gu didn't ask her to stay. It seemed that the woman in front of her had grown out of her gullible phase.
"I don't have any other relatives, but for your sake, I'm willing to leave my hometown and go anywhere, even to the countryside."
Vana Gu was tempted to tear the woman's face apart. Anger began building up in her chest when the pictures of that incident happening at the banquet appeared in her mind.
A dirty old man approaching her, his fingers running down her skin, and his putrid scent invading her nostrils... Just the thought of it made her want to scream.
Vana Gu clenched her fists.
Everything that had happened four years ago was still vivid in her mind. She knew for a fact that all of these had something to do with Emily Gu, but she didn't know how her adopted sister could calculate all of these incidents so perfectly that nothing could be traced back to her. If it wasn't for that kidnap, Vana Gu wouldn't have been thrown abroad. A part of her had doubts, so the moment she returned, Vana Gu quickly confronted Emily Gu about the incident.
"Nice try, Emily. Do you think I will buy it? Tell me, where did you find the man? With so many women around that party, why did he only approach me?"
Vana Gu narrowed her eyes. Astonishment was painted all over Emily Gu's face. If Vana Gu didn't know her any better, she would've thought that Emily had nothing to do with this.
After all, she looked so innocent.
"Sister, how could you say that I was responsible for that? I don't even know where he came from."
"Bullshit." Vana scoffed. "You didn't bring him in then, so you accidentally clicked on the web page when you showed me a picture using your mobile phone. The web page was about sex slaves, and now, you've stirred the matter into saying how I've worked as a sex slave for the last four years. Is that what you want to see, sister? Do you want me to be humiliated so bad that you could take over my place?"
"What are you talking about?"
Vana just couldn't take it anymore. Without another thought, she raised her hand and slapped Emily on the face. The sound echoed across the park.
"Vana!"
someone called. Vana blinked back, staring at Emily's reddening cheek. Emily leaned against the stone pillar, whimpering like a lost puppy.
Billy He got close to the two sisters. He shoved Vana away and held Emily in his arms. "Didn't you know how she knelt outside Uncle's study for a whole day just so that you could return? She even got sick for you! And you slapped her to thank her for it?" His eyes flashed in anger.
Vana laughed at his words, snorting. Did he really know what Emily was capable of?
Emily didn't want her to go back to the Gu Family at all. Instead of drawing her away directly, Emily wanted to act like a damsel in distress who had been hurt by her own sister. This way, everyone would be able to see how 'crazy' Vana had become.
"Turns on Vana's been a sex slave for four years!" "You remember the naked woman in the glass tank right?
The one in Africa. They said that it was Vana!" "The robbers sent the Gu Family photos of their daughter
in rather obscene positions. How despicable!" "It was said that the second daughter was kidnapped by overseas gangsters.
She'd suffered so much, and now she's mentally unstable. It said that one mistake would send her crazy! The poor lady!"
"The Gu Family is ultimately disgraceful! Their daughter is just immoral!"
The shocking scandal broke out. Carl Gu and Cathy Xu were so angry that they had to be sent to the hospital due to their palpitations. Vana wanted to go to the hospital and take care of her parents but Emily stopped her.
She asked Vana 'kindly' to not show up first till they got better.
Vana turned to Billy only for him to condemn her the minute he saw her. His face was filled with disgust and hatred.
"Billy, it's not her fault. In fact, it's mine. I was worried that my parents would be emotional if they see her, so I told her that she shouldn't see them for the time being... I–I promise to let her see them once they get better... I'll even leave my hometown for her! But...she still doesn't want to let it go." Emily lowered her voice to a whisper. Her hands were trembling. Vana sneered. She'd give her the Golden Globes Award for being the best actress, that was for sure.
"Emily, don't say that. You've already done so much for her. If someone deserves to leave this place, it's her."
Vana sneered, finally looking up at him. He was the man who claimed to have known her so well four years ago. Why didn't he believe her now?
Vana clenched her fists as Billy He held Emily steady. The coldness in his eyes was like a prick to her heart.
"Vana, considering the kindness you've shown when you saved me from those kidnappers, I know that what happened to you also has something to do with me. But today you've shown me that you're no longer who you used to be. The Vana I knew wouldn't act like this. In fact, she would've been...she wouldn't be like this! You're not my friend...not anymore. I advise that you don't go home for now."
Without giving her a chance to reply, Billy He left with Emily by his side.
What Vana couldn't understand was how Billy He concluded their friendship for seventeen years for someone who he had only gotten to know for four years! He just told her that she shouldn't come home...
But if she didn't...then where will she go?
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!