Goddess Mode Unlocked: Trash Bride, Hidden Legend

A piercing scream from tires tore through the street. Out of nowhere, a van hurtled forward and struck Corinna Walsh, and the force flung her body upward before it slammed her down onto the concrete. A heavy sound followed, harsh and unforgiving.

Blood felt warm and thick as it leaked from her wounds and spread beneath her, and pain coursed through her body until it seemed as though every bone had shattered.

Sirens rose on all sides, and frantic voices from the crowd blended with the noise.

Corinna struggled to stay conscious, and her blurred vision caught broken flashes of movement as officers rushed in to control the scene, their clipped commands cutting through the chaos of the alarms.

Her fingers were slippery with blood, yet she still reached for her phone and forced herself to move, and with the last of her strength, she called her husband, Vincent Spencer.

"Vincent... I was hurt... There was an accident..." Her voice faded until it barely carried through the line.

The sound that answered her made her chest tighten in shock.

"Vincent... slower... yes, right there..." A woman's quiet, breathless moan flowed from the speaker.

The voice belonged to Margot Palmer, the woman Vincent had never truly released from his life.

To Corinna, the irony felt unbearable. She was bleeding out on the street, suspended between life and death, while her husband was tangled in bed with someone else.

For the past three years of her marriage, she had clung to the naive belief that he might care for her, even if only a little. Only now did she finally understand how deeply mistaken she had been.

Tears poured freely as pain spread through her body, yet the ache in her chest hurt far worse than any injury she could feel. Warmth slipped away with her blood, and a biting chill crept into her arms and legs until her vision lost focus. Her chest felt torn apart from the inside, and she no longer had the strength to resist as darkness closed in.

...

Awareness returned slowly when Corinna opened her eyes inside a hospital room. A persistent, heavy ache pulsed through her head.

In an instant, everything she had forgotten came flooding back.

Once, she had been the beloved girl of the Walsh family, the wealthiest household in town. Three years earlier, her life had shattered when she was kidnapped. Her parents had lost their lives while trying to save her, and she had fallen from a cliff before being swept away by the river below. Fate intervened when Dorothy Spencer, Vincent's grandmother, happened to be nearby and pulled her from the water.

Because of that incident, her memories vanished completely, leaving her with nothing except her name.

Soon after her rescue, Vincent suffered a severe accident and slipped into a coma. Desperate and unwilling to give up, Dorothy sought out a famous psychic, one of those figures the rich turned to when medicine failed them. After studying Corinna and asking several quiet questions, the woman declared that Corinna was "the match". She claimed that Vincent marrying Corinna could alter his fortune and draw him back to life. Feeling indebted to Dorothy for once saving her, Corinna accepted the marriage without hesitation.

Consciousness returned to Vincent not long after, yet the marriage never gained his acknowledgment.

From the beginning, he kept his distance and treated Corinna with indifference, and the household staff followed his lead by showing her barely disguised contempt.

Despite everything, Corinna gave him her heart. She pushed herself to improve, convinced that effort and patience might one day earn even a small portion of his affection.

Looking back now, she finally understood how misguided that hope had been. Tears slipped from her eyes, and a heavy bitterness tightened around her chest.

Without warning, the door burst inward. A sharp-featured woman in her middle years charged into the hospital room, and her piercing stare fixed on Corinna. "You really are tough," she said with a mocking curl of her lips. "After a crash like that, you are still alive."

The woman standing there was Cecelia Spencer, Vincent's mother.

Slowly, Corinna raised her bloodless face and brushed the tears aside. She looked straight at Cecelia, and her gaze carried a calm depth that felt distant and unreadable.

An uneasy chill crept through Cecelia, though she could not explain why.

Cecilia stared, unable to reconcile this woman with the Corinna she knew. The accident had forged someone entirely new-someone whose cold, level stare now locked onto hers.

"What the hell are you staring at?" Cecelia snapped. "Getting into this family was the luckiest break of your life. Now that Margot's back, you need to know your place and step aside."

Wordlessly, she pulled out the folder and tossed it onto the hospital bed. It skidded across the sterile sheets before coming to a stop, the edge of the divorce agreement resting against Corinna's leg.

Unsteady hands reached forward as Corinna lifted the document and opened it, and a faint, empty smile touched her mouth. "So this is how much he despises me now," she said quietly. "He could not even be bothered to deliver this himself."

Since the moment she was hurt, Vincent had never once appeared. Even a stranger would have shown her more concern than he did.

A cold laugh escaped Cecelia. "At least you understand the situation. Vincent is busy with Margot at this very moment, and you are not worth his time." She tapped the papers with her finger. "This agreement reflects exactly what he wants, so you would be wise to sign it right away."

Her plan was simple: as soon as Corinna put her name down, she planned to tell her son that Corinna had been the one to demand the divorce. He would accept it without a second thought.

The silence stretched. When Corinna still didn't speak, Cecelia's voice turned razor-sharp. "And don't think you're taking a dime with you. You were nobody when you came here-an orphan. Staying as Vincent's wife for three years? That was charity. More than you ever deserved." Her lips twisted. "If it weren't for Dorothy saving your pathetic life, you wouldn't even be here. So you'll leave with nothing. And count yourself lucky."

A small smile appeared on Corinna's face, carrying a trace of quiet amusement. "You do not need to worry," she replied. "I have no interest in your family's money."

After taking a calm breath, she accepted the pen and signed her name with deliberate care. This joke of a marriage had finally reached its end.

Cecelia seemed ready to say more, yet Corinna's steady composure made her hesitate instead. "Now that you have signed, you will keep your distance from my son."

A quiet laugh escaped Corinna, sharp despite its softness. She forced herself past the weight of exhaustion, lowered her legs from the bed, and walked toward Cecelia. The divorce papers were tossed down at Cecelia's feet, and her gaze stayed cold and lucid. She spoke slowly and with precision. "I'm not someone who looks back. I don't believe in second chances, and I certainly don't give them to men like Vincent."

Without breaking eye contact, she added, "Agreeing to marry him was the worst decision I ever made."

Something about her presence had shifted. She carried herself with control and polish now, and the timid woman who once endured every slight no longer existed.

For a brief moment, Cecelia stood frozen. Fury quickly followed, twisting her expression as she lifted her hand and lashed out. "Shut up, bitch!" she shouted.

Anticipation guided Corinna's movement. She stepped aside and seized Cecelia's wrist in one clean motion, her grip firm. A faint, cold smile curved her lips. She said evenly, "What, do you really think I'd ever let you lay a hand on me again? Or just stand here and take that from you?"

The moment the words were spoken, Corinna thrust Cecelia away without hesitation.

Losing her footing, Cecelia staggered backward and fell hard onto the floor. Fury twisted her face as she looked up, her body trembling. "You dared to shove me? Have you completely lost your senses?"

Not even a flicker crossed Corinna's face. "Once that paper is signed, you are no longer my mother-in-law. There is no reason for me to tolerate you anymore." Her tone remained level and cold. "If you strike me again, I will respond in kind."

A final glance followed, sharp and dismissive, before Corinna turned her back and left the room.

Cold air greeted her outside the hospital, yet the pressure in her chest refused to fade.

Heat gathered behind her eyes as she reached for her phone and placed a call, and her composure broke the instant someone answered, "Liam, it's Corinna. I'm still alive."

Nearly forty minutes passed before a limited-edition Rolls-Royce glided to a halt outside the hospital. From the car, a man emerged wearing a black mask and a perfectly fitted suit, his presence commanding instant attention. It was Corinna's older brother.

Without hesitation, Corinna rushed toward him and he caught her mid-step and wrapped his arms around her as if afraid she might disappear again. "You're alive, Cora. You're really standing here. Is this actually happening, or is my mind playing tricks on me?"

Moisture filled Corinna's eyes as she held on to him just as tightly. "It's real, Liam."

Several long seconds passed before Liam Walsh managed to steady his breathing. Redness rimmed his eyes, and emotion scraped through his voice. "If you were alive all this time, why did you stay silent for three years? Do you even know what those years did to me-"

A gentle interruption stopped him. "I'm sorry," Corinna said quietly. "Not here. We'll talk once we're in the car."

Seated inside the vehicle, Corinna, her eyes still swollen and red, recounted everything she had endured during the past three years.

Tension carved itself into Liam's face. His grip tightened around the steering wheel, and anger bled into his gaze until his eyes turned red. "They did all of that to you?" he said, his voice trembling. "I won't let this go. I'll make them answer for it."

A faint warmth settled in Corinna's chest, though she slowly shook her head. "Please let it end here," she replied. "Dorothy saved my life back then, and as for Vincent and me, there's nothing left between us."

After swallowing hard, she continued with quiet resolve, "From this moment on, the Spencer family has no place in my life."

Pain showed plainly in the way Liam studied her, and guilt passed over his features. "This happened because I failed to find you. You went through all of it without me."

A faint smile touched Corinna's lips, and her gaze remained calm and unwavering. "It's finished. No one can survive by staring at the past forever."

Hearing that seemed to ease him. "If you truly believe that, then I can finally breathe."

At the very least, his sister was not someone who would ruin herself for a man unworthy of her heart.

Resolve sharpened Corinna's smile. "Liam, now that I've returned, I'm reclaiming what belongs to us," she said firmly. Her tone darkened. "And we will avenge what happened to Mom and Dad. Every last bit of it will be answered for."

......

By the time Vincent learned about Corinna's accident and rushed to the hospital, she had already left.

Sharp irritation edged his voice as he demanded an answer. "Where is Corinna?"

Barely holding back her anger, Cecelia said, "That ungrateful woman left a divorce agreement and said she wants to end the marriage. She even dared to lay hands on me!" Her fury spilled over. "She's lucky I wasn't seriously hurt. If I had been, I would have made her regret it."

Silence followed as Vincent lowered his eyes to the papers in his hand. Corinna's name was already signed on the final page, neat and unmistakably intentional.

The woman who had once centered her entire world around him now wanted to walk away.

A crushing weight settled over his chest, trapping his breath and leaving him restless with an unfamiliar, suffocating discomfort.

Sensing the shift in his mood, Cecelia rushed to speak before he could react. "Go after her immediately. Bring her back here and force her to apologize to me!"

Control still marked Vincent's expression, though exhaustion lingered beneath the surface. "Mom," he muttered, his tone cold and deliberate. "Corinna is my wife, and I expect you to show her respect."

Shock froze Cecelia in place. Since when did he stand up for that woman?

Paying no attention to her reaction, Vincent reached for his phone and called Corinna. The line went straight to voicemail. He tried again, then once more, yet silence greeted him every time. Only then did it sink in that she had blocked his number.

Tension hardened his jaw as he headed straight for the hospital's security room. As soon as the footage began to play, his face darkened.

The screen showed a luxury car pulling up outside the entrance. Without the slightest pause, Corinna rushed toward the man who had stepped out. Strong arms closed around her as he pulled her close, and the two of them lingered there, speaking in voices too gentle for the cameras to record. Moments later, he guided her into the car, his hand resting at her back with an ease that suggested he belonged there.

From the screen, Vincent followed the car as it disappeared from view, his jaw tightening until pain set in. A cold shadow crossed his face, and the fury in his eyes made the space around him feel dangerous.

What he had seen did not resemble an encounter between strangers. They looked like two people bound by long familiarity, not chance.

Understanding struck him then. That was the reason she wanted the divorce. Another man had already taken his place.

"Corinna," he said quietly, his voice hard as iron. "Just wait." Pressure built as his hand curled into a fist, his knuckles cracking under the strain.

Three days passed before tension settled thickly over the boardroom at Walsh Group's headquarters.

A weary sigh escaped Nigel Walsh as he addressed the room. He sat at the head of the table in a sapphire-blue suit, wearing the expression of a man weighed down by responsibility. "Everyone here has reviewed this quarter's performance," he said. "From where I stand, the smartest move is to stop the bleeding and sell the subsidiaries that are dragging us down while we still have the chance."

By blood, Nigel was Corinna and Liam's uncle, the younger brother of their late father.

Business had never been Liam's ambition. After Corinna vanished and their parents passed away, no one remained to stand in Nigel's way, and he stepped into control of Walsh Group.

Running the company, however, proved far beyond his ability. Under his leadership, the company declined year after year. Profits shrank. Multiple subsidiaries slipped deep into losses. Eventually, unloading companies became his default answer to every crisis.

At the mention of another sale, Robert Wells, a man who had stood beside Corinna's father since the beginning, rose abruptly from his seat and struck the table with his palm. "Nigel Walsh!" he shouted. "Do you really intend to destroy everything your brother spent his life building?"

Irritation hardened Nigel's expression. "My brother is gone," he replied coldly. "Walsh Group belongs to me now."

Leaning closer to the table, he raised his voice. "If I decide we sell, then that is exactly what will happen."

Anger made Robert's breathing uneven as he prepared to fire back, but a calm female voice sliced through the tension and brought the room to a halt. "I disagree!"

Before anyone could react, the boardroom doors burst open under a forceful kick.

A formation of bodyguards dressed in black suits poured inside, silent and efficient. With trained coordination, they spread out and positioned themselves along the walls.

Only after that did she appear. The sharp sound of stilettos echoed across the floor as she walked in at an unhurried pace. A tailored red dress traced her figure, her long hair swept neatly back, and dark sunglasses concealed her eyes. What remained visible was an elegant nose and lips tinted a deep rose.

Power followed her every step, blending striking beauty with unmistakable authority.

Whispers traveled quickly around the table.

"Who is she?"

"How did she get past security?"

Fury exploded across Nigel's face as he slammed his palm down. "Who the hell do you think you are? Where's the security? Get her out of here. Now!"

With an unhurried motion, the woman raised her hand and slid her sunglasses off. Clear, piercing eyes locked onto Nigel as a faint smile touched her lips. "Uncle Nigel, do I really look that unfamiliar to you?" she asked lightly.

Shock stiffened Nigel's body. His eyes widened, and his hands began to shake. "You-you're still alive?"

Years ago, he had orchestrated the kidnapping and the explosion. She was never meant to survive.

A chill crept into Corinna's smile. "Were you hoping I wouldn't be?"

Forcing air into his lungs, Nigel struggled to regain control. "No. I was just... caught off guard," he said stiffly.

Calm yet dangerous, Corinna shifted her gaze toward the table. "I heard you discussing the sale of my parents' subsidiaries."

Another sigh escaped him. "Those companies have been hemorrhaging money for years. Selling them would stabilize our finances. Everything I've done is for Walsh Group's benefit."

A sharp gleam flashed through Corinna's eyes. "My parents built this company into something strong and profitable. So explain to me why it began to rot the moment you took control."

Color drained from Nigel's face.

Before he could retort, Corinna spoke with quiet authority. "If you are incapable of running it, then step aside and give it back to me." Her smile remained soft, but her voice carried unshakable resolve. "I will succeed where you failed."

Rage burst out of Nigel as he slammed his fist against the table. "What could you possibly understand about managing a corporation? I've sacrificed everything for Walsh Group. Everyone sitting here knows exactly how much I've given. And now you suddenly appear and think you can force me out? Keep dreaming!"

A quiet, scornful chuckle slipped from Corinna. "So this is what you call contribution?" she asked coldly.

Behind him, the massive LED screen flickered to life, and years of concealed misconduct filled the display in stark detail.

"Sixty million siphoned from company accounts for your personal use," Corinna said, her tone precise and unforgiving. She continued without pause, "Nepotistic hires. Illicit kickbacks approved under your watch. Inferior materials were swapped in to cut costs, followed by endless customer complaints. And throughout your tenure, profits collapsed year after year." Her eyes were fixed on him. "Is this what you mean by sacrificing everything for Walsh Group?"

Business had never been Liam's priority. His only focus had been on finding his missing sister, which was why he allowed Nigel to run the company without interference.

The moment Corinna stepped back into this world, she sensed that something was wrong. She quietly contacted her network and began uncovering Nigel's history. Within three days, the truth lay fully exposed.

Once her words landed, chaos erupted throughout the boardroom.

"No wonder those subsidiaries keep losing money. So this is what you've really been doing!"

Another shareholder leaned forward, anger sharp in his tone. "Our dividends have fallen year after year because you were filling your own pockets," he said. "That money should have gone to all of us, yet you spent it on yourself. How do you even dare to claim this was for the company?"

Under the pressure, Nigel's calm finally shattered. He tried to steady his expression, but fear had already crept into his voice. "This is all fabricated! Every bit of it is fake. She planted these lies."

Turning sharply, he pointed at Corinna. "Corinna, I'm your uncle. How could you accuse your own family like this?"

Not a single change crossed her face. Corinna answered with a voice that was cold, precise, and unforgiving, "The proof of your embezzlement, along with evidence tied to what happened to my parents and to me, has already been submitted to the authorities. Whether it is slander or not will be decided by the police."

Holding his gaze without flinching, she continued, "You can keep shouting here if you want, or you can surrender yourself. That is the only choice that might lessen what comes next."

Desperation drove Nigel forward as he planted both hands on the table, his eyes burning with panic. "I did nothing wrong! All of this is slander!"

Panic pushed his voice into a shrill pitch. "You're setting me up because you want my position. You want the CEO chair!"

An indifferent look met his accusation. Corinna responded with nothing more than a glance before raising her hand in a relaxed motion. At once, her bodyguards stepped forward. They gripped Nigel's arms and yanked him to his feet, dragging him toward the exit.

"Release me! I'm the CEO!" he shouted, thrashing wildly.

Unmoved by his struggle, the guards continued without pause. They pulled him from the boardroom, and his shouting echoed down the corridor until the doors closed and silence settled at last.

Only after that did Corinna move to the seat at the head of the table. She lifted her eyes and surveyed the board members one by one, her demeanor composed and authoritative. "This company was built by my parents," she said evenly. "As their legal successor, all of their shares belong to me, which makes me the largest shareholder of Walsh Group."

After a measured pause, she delivered the final word. "Effective immediately, I will be assuming full control of the company."