Chapter 1 Invitation

• The sheer shamelessness of it all was unbelievable.
• My father, Richard Newton, had the audacity to hold a lavish wedding with his mistress while my mother lay in the hospital.
• Returning home after half a month, I was greeted by a scene of utter betrayal.
• The yard overflowed with roses, a buffet of Western cuisine was laid out, and the air buzzed with the sounds of celebration.
• My blood ran cold as I recognised the beaming groom holding a wine glass. It was my own father.
• The memory of their betrayal was still fresh. My mother and I had caught them together in our own home just half a month ago.
• Instead of remorse, my father had declared his intention to marry Carol Shaw, a woman four years my senior who had practically grown up alongside me.
• My mother, unable to bear the shock, had jumped from the third floor of our villa and remained bedridden.
• The weight of this injustice filled me with a burning rage.
• It consumed me entirely, threatening to boil over.
• Bang!
• With a resounding crash, I stormed into the banquet hall, grabbed their wedding photo, and smashed it to the ground.
• The sound of shattering glass did nothing to quell my anger.
• I picked up the jagged remains, my hands bleeding, ready to tear it to shreds!
• Richard stormed over, looking like he wanted to strangle me. He shouted, "Jasmine, what are you doing? Huh?"
• There was not a hint of guilt or shame in him.
• "What am I doing? Do you even realise what you've done?!"
• I spat back, my voice trembling with rage. "Mum is still in the hospital, and you're already marrying this woman?"
• Carol rushed to Richard's side, her eyes welling up with tears. She was pretending to persuade. "Don't be angry, I know how Jasmine feels, after all ... "
• I snatched a glass of red wine from the buffet table and flung it at her, my eyes blazing with hatred. "After all what, Carol Shaw? After all, you know you're shameless, don't you?!"
• Words failed to express the depths of my anger. I wanted to smash the wine glass against her head to make her feel a fraction of the pain she had caused.
• "Ah!" she shrieked as the red wine stained her white wedding dress. She looked momentarily shocked before tears streamed down her face. "I know you've never liked me, but I'm married to your father now. We're family. Can't you let go of your prejudice?"
• Her words dripped with the same old hypocrisy. I knew her act all too well.
• From childhood to now, Carol had always excelled at playing the victim, making those who didn't know better believe I was the one tormenting her.
• Just like now, she had slept with my father, yet her words twisted the situation to make me seem like the wrongdoer!
• My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms, the pain unnoticed in my rage. "Family? I'd rather raise a dog than be in the same family as you."
• Slap!
• A sharp sting erupted on my face as a hard slap sent me reeling to the ground.
• The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and glass shards from the broken photo pierced my knees. A metallic taste filled my mouth as my ears rang.
• Richard loomed over me, spitting out, "Shut up! Didn't you say half a month ago you'd never come back to this house? Get out!"
• This was my biological father ... my own flesh and blood.
• The shock of his words momentarily stunned me. Then, a wave of grievance washed over me, replacing the anger with a suffocating ache.
• My vision blurred as tears threatened to spill over.
• The whispers and stares of those around me felt like needles pricking my skin. I lowered my head, squeezing my eyes shut in a futile attempt to hold back the tears.
• "Jasmine?" A deep voice cut through the noise, and a shadow fell over me.
• I looked up in response, my heart skipping a beat. "Mr. Campbell, you, why are you here ... "
• Henry Campbell, the vice president of a startup company. The last time I had seen him, I had been preparing to confess my feelings, only to discover he had a girlfriend.
• Since then, I had avoided him at all costs.
• Never did I expect to meet him again in such an embarrassing and humiliating moment.
• I hastily wiped the corners of my eyes, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.
• Henry, dressed simply in a black shirt and trousers, exuded an air of quiet authority. He stood with one hand in his pocket, regarding me with a steady gaze. "Aren't you getting up?" he asked.
• I scrambled to my feet, but the pain in my injured knee sent me stumbling back down.
• A pair of strong arms caught me, and I found myself pressed against a warm, firm chest. Henry's scent, cool and refreshing, enveloped me. I stiffened, pushing away from him. "Th-thank you, I'm fine now," I mumbled.
• He didn't release me immediately, his warm hand remaining on my waist.
• Carol, looking slightly flustered, asked, "Why are you here?"
• Henry replied calmly, "Mr. Newton sent me an invitation. I couldn't quite believe the photo and name on it, but it seems the bride is indeed you."