Chapter 1

My mother was a waitress.

At a high-society yacht party attended by the powerful and well-connected, she was brutally assaulted to death and dumped into the sea.

They said the water that day ran red with blood, yet no one dared call my mother's death a murder.

I had nowhere to appeal, so I set a trap, making myself the bait.

Everyone would surely die, myself included.

*****

After my mother passed away, I happened to save Samuel Banks, who was on the brink of death by the roadside, and in return, I received funding from Banks Bank.

Beyond that, Samuel brought me home and officially recognized me as his goddaughter. I ended up becoming sisters with the notorious bully at my school.

The day I moved into the Banks Manor and met Charlotte Banks, Samuel wasn't around.

Charlotte sized me up from head to toe, her eyes full of disdain and lingering resentment. "Bitch, I didn't think you'd manage to pull yourself up. It's an honor for you to be in my house."

Back in school, Charlotte tormented me and the girl who sat beside me, Jane Evans. She couldn't take it and jumped off the building. Only after that did Charlotte ease up a little.

But that didn't mean she accepted someone from the bottom rung of society as her sister.

Charlotte clapped her hands, and two maids appeared immediately, restraining me.

She kicked my luggage with disgust, then slapped me across the face. The pain burned like fire. "Listen up. On paper, you're my father's goddaughter, but in reality, you're just another maid. In this house, I'm the one in charge. If you dare disobey me, I'll have someone end you."

I nodded repeatedly, putting on a timid act. I turned my face just enough to flash the sparkling earring dangling from my earlobe.

As expected, Charlotte froze for a split second.

She lunged suddenly and yanked the earring off my ear.

She didn't pull lightly. Tears welled up as pain shot through me. "Is this earring yours?"

I nodded, bewildered.

"How do you have this earring? Where's the other one?" Charlotte's eyes glimmered with anticipation, desperate to see my other ear.

Of course, there wasn't another one.

I faked panic.

"How could it be gone? I must have dropped it while moving in today. It was a gift from my mom," I sobbed helplessly, pretending not to notice the greedy sparkle in Charlotte's eyes.

Holding the earring, she grinned like she'd won the lottery, yet still put on a facade of seriousness. "Stop crying, you slut. This earring is mine now. If you ever dare mention this to others, I swear you won't live to regret it."

The next moment, Charlotte happily carried my earring upstairs.

I knew exactly what was making her so gleeful.

This earring paired perfectly with the one the noble heir, William Sterling, had posted online.

Rumor had it that it was the token that made him fall in love at first sight. Whoever owned the matching pair could marry into a wealthy family and become his cherished one.

Many women had taken it seriously, desperately hunting for the other earring in secret.

Charlotte was no exception.

So, after discovering that I was the woman William had been looking for, she was desperate to seize my identity and show up at William's birthday party as his girlfriend in a shocking revelation.

Charlotte didn't know that I had been the one this morning, wearing that very pair of earrings, who ambushed William in the underground garage.

I walked away casually, leaving William barely conscious, coughing up blood as he watched my back. "Get out. The next time I see you, I swear I'll kill you."

I didn't care. That was officially the start of my revenge plan.

Before this, I'd investigated and discovered that the yacht party had been entirely orchestrated by William.

William was issuing missing-person notices while raging and smashing things in the hospital.

Yet within a month, he was discharged.

On his birthday, he invited many heirs and heiresses from the upper echelon—the future inheritors of their respective empires.

Charlotte was among them.

I didn't know what she was thinking, but she brought me along.

Only after arriving did I realize that the birthday party was merely a façade; it was essentially a game for the wealthy and influential.

And this time, I, the so-called school beauty, was the prey they had selected.

Just like my mom had been at the yacht party.

But this time, I might disappoint them.

Because Charlotte would take the brunt of the storm for me.

The moment I stepped into the inner hall of the party, a lot of disgusted eyes scanned me up and down.

They looked pleased. I watched Charlotte sashaying ahead of me and felt the same satisfaction.

William made his entrance. Handsome to begin with, he immediately drew everyone's attention.

Charlotte was desperate. Clutching a wrapped gift, she moved right up to him. "William, this is your birthday present. Oh my—"

She pretended to twist her ankle. William gave her a half-hearted hand to steady her, and she acted like she might faint from happiness.

Someone sharp-eyed soon noticed a rose earring that had fallen from her. "Hey, isn't that the earring William's been looking for? Turns out it's Mr. Banks's. What a match."

Charlotte picked the earring up, playing shy, and she didn't notice William's face go dark.

"Oh, no wonder I couldn't find it earlier. It must have been in my bag. Too bad I can't use it. I've lost the other one," she said with a regretful sigh, all while sneaking glances at William.

Charlotte had purposely not worn the pair that night so they could be recognized.

William's sullen expression had already softened. He smiled faintly, took the earring from Charlotte's hand, then, like a gentleman, lifted his arm and put it on her.

"It looks beautiful," William complimented. "Is it really yours?"

"Of course. My dad gave it to me. Do you like it, William?" she said.

William let out a cold chuckle. "I do."

Before Charlotte could savor the moment, William ripped the earring off.

He was far harsher than Charlotte, nearly tearing her ear off with it.

The hook sliced down through the lobe, splitting it in two. Blood poured out. The scene was horrifying.

Charlotte screamed. Before she could even register what had happened, William yanked her by the hair and slammed her head hard against the wall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the prey has changed," he announced.

Stunned, Charlotte demanded to know why.

She ignored the agony in her ear and clung to William's pant leg, sobbing.

William replied coldly, "A month ago, I was ambushed. When I woke up, there was an earring beside me. I swore then I would find that bitch and tear her to pieces."

Only then did Charlotte understand. That post hunting for true love had actually been an invitation from Death.