Silenced Bride, Velvet Throne

Synopsis

Marrying into the Mafia as a substitute bride was supposed to be my survival strategy, but it became my execution. At a grand family gala, I was ruthlessly poisoned, my vocal cords scorched to ashes, leaving me completely mute. Now, my half-sister, Joanna, and my duplicitous husband stand by my hospital bed every day, weeping crocodile tears and praying for a miracle they know will never come. Trapped in a silent prison of pain, I turned to my phone, logging into the Dark Web's encrypted family forum to pass the time by picking up high-stakes bounty contracts. That was until a bizarre, anonymous inquiry flashed across my screen. [Do you have high-purity vocal cord restoration serum? I made a terrible mistake, and I need to buy my way into atonement.] Amused by the sudden burst of conscience, I casually replied, [What did you do?] The response came instantly, dripping with twisted pride. [I ruined my stupid, mute sister.] The Mafia heir was secretly obsessed with her and planned to transfer seven overseas casinos to her name. Jealousy drove me insane. At last month's gala, I dragged him into a wardrobe for a quick hookup, and slipped poison into her wine, turning her into a broken, useless mute. Now, those casinos are mine. But seeing her so pathetic makes me feel a tiny bit guilty. The next second, the deposit cleared, and the true identity behind the anonymous account unmasked itself. It was Joanna—my devoted sister who was currently sobbing against my bedsheets, her eyes red with fake grief. They stole my voice, but they forgot I still have my hands—and my mind. My cheating husband believes he owns the underworld, and my sister thinks she's successfully stolen my crown. Let them celebrate. I am coming back for my casinos, their sanity, and his throne.