Crowned By Brilliance: Her Revenge Starts Now

Nicole Wilson had barely set foot in the living room of the Wilson residence when a mug flew her way.

She dodged by a hair, feeling the gust of air as it missed. The mug hit the wall, shattering against the tiles in a spray of porcelain.

Across the room, Cathy Wilson, her mom, was visibly angry. She jabbed an accusatory finger toward Nicole, her voice shaking with malice. "You bring nothing but bad luck! After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us? How dare you refuse this arranged marriage and even run away?"

Nicole's eyes lingered on the shards before locking with Cathy's.

Cathy advanced, her voice rising, her words landing like blows. "You have no shame! You got knocked up by some nobody, lost the baby, and now you act like you're above marrying into the Moore family? The Moore family are willing to overlook your past and you're still being choosy?"

Nicole drew a steady breath, unfazed by the sharpness in Cathy's glare. "If I'm so worthless, why force me to take Marissa's place? Wouldn't it be better for your most cherished daughter to marry into wealth and power?"

Cathy's hand shot up, her palm trembling with barely concealed outrage, poised to strike Nicole across the face.

Brody Wilson, Nicole's father, surged forward and caught Cathy's wrist mid-air, his grip unyielding. A shadow of feigned guilt flickered in his eyes as he acted composed.

"Nicole," he said quietly. "I know this isn't easy for you. But Marissa's health really is fragile. The doctor insists she needs to rest-she isn't strong enough to go through with a wedding right now."

The truth was, the Wilson Group teetered on the edge of collapse. Desperate, Brody chose to form a marriage alliance with the Moore family to obtain funds to keep the company operating.

The Moore family, though wealthy and powerful, wasn't actually an ideal ally through marriage. Their first son had gone missing for years. Their second son, Aidan Moore, was rumored to be seriously ill and wouldn't last for another year. So no upper-class family would marry their daughter into Moore family under normal circumstance.

And Nicole was the pitiful sacrificial lamb for her younger sister, Marissa Wilson.

Nicole's lips curled into a frosty, knowing smile. "Dad, did you forget I studied medicine?" she said, her gaze sharp as a scalpel. "Marissa's condition is hardly serious. I could treat her myself if you'd let me."

The room fell silent. Nicole's words landed like a blow, exposing the lie at the heart of their scheme.

Brody stiffened, caught off guard and unable to respond.

Marissa entered the living room at just the right moment. "I'll do it, Dad. I'll marry him." Marissa's voice trembled, but she forced herself to sound brave. "My body's already falling apart, so what does it matter if I die a little sooner?"

She rushed the words out, terrified Brody might cave to Nicole's defiance.

She let out fragile, exaggerated coughs and shot Nicole a look full of false concern. "Everyone says Aidan is hideous, mean, and barely clinging to life. How could I possibly let Nicole marry into a nightmare like that?"

Tears welled up in Marissa's eyes, spilling down her cheeks in delicate, shimmering tracks-she looked every bit the helpless damsel.

"What nonsense are you babbling about? You're born to marry well-how could you possibly end up shackled to a dying man?" Cathy wrapped Marissa in a gentle embrace, then turned and skewered Nicole with a cold, unyielding glare.

A bitter laugh almost slipped from Nicole as she watched-Marissa always got protected, while she alone was shoved toward disaster.

The ugly alliance between Brody, Cathy, and Marissa churned Nicole's stomach. How easily they could conspire to sacrifice her for their own benefit.

Nicole's silence only seemed to provoke Cathy further. Tension crackled in the air as Cathy snapped, her voice sharp and brittle, "What exactly do you want in exchange for going through with this marriage?"

Nicole met her eyes at last, steady and unflinching. "Grandma's will said Marissa and I each get ten percent of the shares in Wilson Group. Shouldn't I have what belongs to me?"

Brody's temper flared-he slammed his fist on the table, rattling the dishes. In two strides, he bore down on Nicole, his face twisted with fury. "If you hadn't dragged our name through the mud and tanked the company's stock, I never would've taken those shares! And you have the nerve to ask for them back?"

Nicole matched his glare with an easy, mocking smile. "You know what? It's actually okay for you to keep them."

She made her way to the sofa, settling in with an air of defiance-legs crossed, head held high, one brow arched in challenge. "And you might as well be prepared for a failed marriage alliance."

"You!" Fury blazing in his eyes, Brody lunged forward, his hand lifted as if to strike.

Nicole stared him down, refusing to flinch, her voice like ice. "Go on. You know what consequences come with this slap."

Brody's jaw clenched tightly as he fought to swallow his outrage, forced to back down for Marissa's sake.

With visible effort, he straightened, biting back his anger. "Fine. I'll give you your shares. Happy now?"

Without another word, Brody snatched up his phone, fingers flying as he opened the company system and summoned the board for an emergency meeting to announce the share transferring.

Moments later, Nicole's phone buzzed with a confirmation text-her shares would be transferred within five business days.

A slow, triumphant smile curved on her lips. "Now we're talking."

Across the room, Cathy and Marissa traded triumphant glances, smug satisfaction flickering in their eyes as their little scheme took root.

Nicole might have reclaimed her shares, but that came with the bitter price of marrying a man on the edge of death.

"Take Nicole to her room. In three days, the Moore family's car will come for her-see that she's ready, and make sure she looks the part of a perfect bride," Cathy ordered, her voice sharp and unyielding. With brisk efficiency, she made sure Nicole had no opening to slip away this time.

Escorted by the staff, Nicole was marched to the maid's quarters-the cramped, stale little room she'd once lived in before college.

She glanced around, utterly unfazed by the suffocating air and peeling walls.

Betrayed by the Wilson family, used and discarded like she meant nothing, Nicole steeled herself with a silent promise. One day, they would pay for what they had done.

Three days later, a sleek black Rolls-Royce glided to a stop outside the Wilson estate, its glossy exterior glinting in the morning sun.

Marissa eyed the only car sent by the Moore family and sneered with a biting remark, "Someone might be marrying into Ariosa's wealthiest clan, but trash will always be trash."

Craving the sight of Nicole's letdown, Marissa didn't hesitate to barge inside the dressing room.

Inside, Nicole stood by the window in a simple white gown, the fabric unadorned but immaculately cut. The dress, though modest, only heightened her quiet allure. A gentle breeze caught a strand of Nicole's loose hair, making her seem ethereal, almost untouchable.

Her tall, graceful figure was impossible to ignore-tender skin aglow in the soft light, every curve hinting at effortless confidence. Nicole's delicate features-eyes serene, lips pressed in quiet determination-were the kind that made people stop and stare.

A flash of jealousy darkened Marissa's gaze, but she smothered it beneath a brittle, mocking smile.

Marissa dismissed Nicole's beauty with a cold glare. None of it would matter once Nicole was shackled to a dying man, trapped in a marriage that would drain every ounce of hope from her.

"Nicole, you're so kind-sacrificing yourself for me," Marissa cooed, her tone syrupy sweet. "Don't worry, once I marry into a powerful family, I'll make sure you are supported."

Nicole didn't spare Marissa a single glance, unwilling to disgust herself.

Marissa's lips curled in silent outrage, jaw tight as she fought not to explode.

"Hurry up already. The Moore family's car is waiting-unless you'd rather lose your big chance?" Cathy flicked Nicole a frosty, contemptuous stare.

Nicole had always been the unwanted daughter, dragged back from the sticks only because her looks were useful. If not for that, Cathy would've thrown her out years ago.

"I want my shares in three days," Nicole stated, her voice cutting through the tension. "If you don't deliver, you'll regret it."

With zero faith left in her so-called family, Nicole let her ultimatum hang in the air and slid into the waiting Moore family car without looking back.

...

Looming on the horizon was the impressive Moore family estate. No opulent ceremony awaited Nicole's arrival. The car pulled up to the villa's entrance and drove off. A stoic butler stood at the door to receive her, his expression unreadable.

He escorted her down a long, echoing hallway lined with cold marble and austere portraits before stopping at a guest room. "Please wait here, Ms. Wilson. Let us know if you require anything," he said politely.

Nicole gave a nod, her composure unshaken. "Alright."

She sank onto the supple leather sofa. She drummed her fingers along the armrest, lost in a tangle of plans.

A sudden, almost imperceptible rustle broke the silence-a sound that prickled the hairs on her neck. Tension coiled through her body. She twisted around, heart pounding, and her gaze locked onto an enormous arctic wolf charging straight at her, its pale fur a blur, jaws parted in a silent snarl.

The wolf's feral eyes pinned her like prey, hunger and malice gleaming in their depths. It leapt, claws splayed and teeth bared for her throat.

Instinct took over. Nicole's eyes narrowed to icy slits. She dodged sideways in a flash, the wolf's claws grazing the cushion where she'd just been. Landing lightly, she rose, her entire body coiled and poised, her stare as glacial and unforgiving as winter steel.

The wolf spun, frustration warping its snarl. Its lips curled back to reveal dagger-like teeth, a rumbling growl echoing from deep in its chest.

With a savage, desperate force, the wolf lunged again, twice as fast and twice as reckless.

Nicole didn't budge. She braced herself, timing her move to the heartbeat.

The instant the wolf sprang, she snatched its head in both hands, twisting with fluid precision. Using its own momentum, she slammed the wolf down, pinning it beneath her knee. One hand clamped the writhing head, the other braced against its snarling jaws. Her eyes burned, cold and defiant, more untamed than the wild animal beneath her.

With a swift, practiced flick, she pulled out a gleaming silver needle, plunging it precisely into a nerve just behind the wolf's ear.

A guttural, wounded yelp tore from the wolf's throat as its body buckled, all ferocity draining away in seconds.

Nicole didn't hesitate-her hand darted for a second needle, movements fluid and deliberate, every muscle coiled to end the threat for good.

"That's enough." A sudden voice, smooth and magnetic, broke through the charged silence. His words cracked like a whip, edged with authority that brooked no defiance.

Shadows had crept into the room while Nicole was locked in combat, cloaking everything in a dusky gloom.

A tall, impeccably dressed man emerged from the doorway, silhouette framed by the last shards of light outside.

He clapped his hands once-sharp, decisive-and the overhead lights snapped on, scattering the darkness in an instant.

Nicole's gaze snapped up, meeting the cold, handsome face of the stranger. His lips were drawn into a thin line, and his sharp, dark eyes locked onto her without blinking.

He loomed over her, surveying her with the air of a detective who already knew too much.

A flicker of panic raced through Nicole's chest. Had her identity as a replacement been discovered already?

Aidan fixed Nicole with a razor-sharp stare, his gaze radiating an authority that seemed to press down on the air itself. An undercurrent of danger simmered beneath his collected exterior, hinting at a strength he never needed to announce.

He parted his lips, his voice low and unmistakably sure. "You're not Marissa Wilson."

His presence seemed to fill every inch of the room, making Nicole's pulse jump.

It was clear to Nicole that lying was pointless. Nicole sealed her lips tight before admitting the truth, "I'm her elder sister. Nicole Wilson."

Aidan's gaze swept over Nicole, taking in her slender frame and delicate, almost ethereal beauty-a sharp contrast to the wiry strength that had allowed her to subdue a wolf moments earlier.

She looked fragile, yet the memory of her grappling the wolf lingered in his mind, blurring the lines between vulnerability and ferocity. He found it nearly impossible to reconcile the poised, composed woman standing before him with the fearless fighter he'd just witnessed.

Lifting a brow, he remarked in a low, slightly mocking tone, "Stepping in for your sister in an arranged marriage? That's a bold, foolish move."

Nicole's throat tightened as she swallowed, an uneasy shiver trailing down her spine beneath the intensity of Aidan's presence. Since he'd entered the room, everything had shifted-air, energy, even her own certainty.

She couldn't begin to decipher what he was thinking, but one thing was clear: the wolf attack hadn't been an accident. He'd sent the wolf to test her resolve, to judge her worth.

But why? What kind of man would orchestrate something so ruthless?

At least one thing was certain-Aidan wasn't in the least satisfied with her.

Without warning, he closed the distance between them, a wave of cool, woodsy cologne wrapping around Nicole and jolting loose an old memory-a night five years ago, a faceless stranger, the same intoxicating scent. The connection rattled her, heartbeat thundering in her chest.

While Nicole stood frozen, tangled in memories, Aidan leaned down and with a subtle gesture, loosened her grip on the wolf. The beast landed with a heavy thud, bristling and snarling in her direction.

Aidan's icy scoff sliced through the tension. "Come," he ordered, his voice crisp and controlled.

Obedient as a trained dog, the wolf immediately abandoned its aggression and padded to Aidan's side, settling at his feet with a soft whine. Trying to win his favor, the once-fearsome animal nudged at his pant leg, ears flattened and tail low.

Nicole was stunned. The monster that had tried to rip her apart had morphed into a cowering pet at Aidan's command. She'd never imagined such raw power-to make a wild beast bow to a single word.

Aidan cast a sharp glance at the wolf. The creature slunk out of the room, but not before pausing at the threshold to glare back at Nicole, its eyes simmering with reluctant menace.

Aidan tipped Nicole's chin up, forcing her to meet his cold, unreadable stare. His voice dropped to a silken, frosty drawl. "The Wilsons spared no expense for that ten-million-dollar lifeline. Even if it means ending up a widow, you're willing to step in for Marissa?"

Nicole steadied her breath and met his gaze head-on. "Mr. Moore, tempting fate like that isn't wise. You're not going to die-and I'm not about to become a widow. Maybe I can help you."

Aidan wound a loose strand of Nicole's hair around his finger, his expression carved from ice, every angle of his face both striking and remote.

"Really? So you're a doctor?" There was something magnetic in the restraint of his movements, a dangerous composure lurking beneath the surface.

Despite the tension prickling her skin, Nicole kept her voice steady, her tone grave. "I can tell from your appearance that you are poisoned. If you don't get proper treatment soon, you'll end up paralyzed. Not even strength training will stop it."

Aidan's gaze turned lethal, his pupils narrowing as though he were staring straight through her. Each word he uttered was clipped and glacial. "Why should I believe you?"

"I'm your wife now," Nicole answered, her tone unwavering, eyes flashing with conviction. "I have every right to look after you."

Aidan's lips curled in a subtle, derisive smile. "Look after me? And what do you get out of it?"

Nicole held Aidan's gaze, her tone unwavering. "Honestly, if I leave, my mother will drag me straight back to a psychiatric ward. Helping you is the only way out-for both of us. So, yes, it's a win-win."

Aidan's gaze sharpened, his mood darkening. "Do you have any idea what happened to the last person who tried talking to me like that?"

A hint of tension flickered across Nicole's face as she realized her words had crossed a line. But she refused to back down now-what was said was said.

He watched her in silence, unreadable as stone. Then, without warning, his fingertips traced the line of her collarbone, the rough contact making her flinch.

"Are you aware of what happens on a wedding night?" His voice dropped, husky and charged.

His hand drifted to the zipper at Nicole's waist, his fingers skimming over the metal in a slow, deliberate motion.

The air in the room tightened, every nerve in Nicole's body on edge.

What exactly did Aidan want from her? Was he saying she could stay, or was he about to claim his wedding night rights right then and there?

He pinned her with a piercing look. "Well? Are you frightened now? Do you want to handle this yourself, or would you rather I take over?"