Chapter 1 Prologue

"Ugh, she's so ugly! Why do I have to marry this hideous woman, Mom?!" Axel shouted loudly in the luxurious living room, glaring at Lena with sheer disgust. Lena stood awkwardly in her shabby clothes.

"Shut your mouth!" Richard, Axel's father, barked in a firm, authoritative voice. "She is your wife now, and you will respect her!"

Axel scoffed. "I don't want an ugly wife like her! Just look at her! Braided hair, thick glasses like magnifying lenses, and-ugh-her face is covered with acne scars! This is humiliating!"

Lena lowered her head, fighting back tears. Gently, she tried to touch her newlywed husband's arm. "Darling... why are you saying such things? I'm your wife..."

Instead of responding, Axel shoved her hand away roughly. "Don't touch me!"

The push sent Lena stumbling backward, losing her balance. Her small body bumped into someone standing silently behind her.

Bang!

"Ah!" Lena gasped softly.

She quickly turned and found herself face-to-face with a tall, broad-shouldered man in a sharp black suit. His handsome, chiseled face carried an air of command, his eyes cold and piercing.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his deep voice laced with authority.

"Uncle!" Axel stepped forward. "You saw it yourself, didn't you? How ugly this woman is? And me... I had to marry her because of this ridiculous arranged marriage! It's insane!"

The man-Neil-stared at Axel with an unreadable expression. His cold gaze sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Slowly, his eyes shifted to Lena. He examined her from head to toe-her strange braids, thick glasses hiding her eyes, her plain face dotted with scars, and her oversized house dress.

But Neil said nothing. He only sighed, walked past them, and climbed the stairs without looking back.

"What's the matter with you?" Elizabeth, Axel's mother, scolded. "Axel, take your wife to your room now. She needs rest. Poor thing, she just came from her grandmother's house."

Axel turned sharply. "Who would want to share a room with this ugly duckling?"

"Axel!" Richard thundered.

"I've had enough of this stupid marriage! I will not pretend to love this ugly woman! I'm leaving!"

"Axel! You ungrateful child!" Richard roared again, angrier than before, but Axel had already slammed the door and stormed out.

Silence blanketed the room. Lena stood frozen, holding back the tears threatening to fall. Elizabeth walked over and gently patted her back.

"Sweetheart... come, let me take you to your room."

Lena only nodded. She pulled her suitcase behind her, following her mother-in-law in silence.

The room was spacious, with a soft bed and a private bathroom. But to Lena, it felt strange. Not a home-just a gilded cage.

"I'm sorry about Axel. He just needs time to accept you as his wife. Don't be sad, he'll come around eventually," Elizabeth said soothingly.

Lena forced a smile. A thin smile, more painful than tears.

"All right, rest well tonight. You must be tired," Elizabeth added softly before closing the door.

The moment her footsteps faded, Lena moved quickly. She locked the door, nearly laughing at herself-surprised she could act that well. She glanced at her watch.

8 p.m. It was time.

She opened the large suitcase by the bed, pulled out a casual T-shirt and culotte pants, and changed swiftly.

Behind that clumsy, innocent appearance... hid a completely different Lena.

She slipped a stunning black dress into her bag, opened the window, and carefully jumped into the backyard garden. Her movements were swift as she slipped through the mansion's back gate.

"Madam?" the security guard asked, confused. "Where are you going at this hour?"

Lena flashed a sweet smile, pulling a few bills from her wallet. "Please don't tell anyone I went out tonight, okay?"

The guard hesitated, then nodded. "Understood."

Lena hurried toward a white car parked nearby. A young woman sat in the driver's seat, waiting for her.

"Miss? Why are you dressed like that?" the woman asked, surprised at Lena's unusual barefaced look.

"It doesn't matter. Just drive," Lena replied coldly.

The car sped off into the glittering city, heading toward a famous nightlife spot called Selena's Dreame.

The night had only just begun.

And Lena... was not the woman her husband thought she was.