Sent Me To Jail? Now Watch Me Crush Them

Daniela Lawson walked out of the prison gates beneath the blazing afternoon sun.

Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she would survive five years of unbearable suffering behind bars and leave that place alive.

The harsh sunlight poured down without mercy, causing her vision to blur.

Five years ago, she had entered prison wearing the same cheap T-shirt she had on now. After all this time, it hung loosely from her thin frame.

Her fingers tightened around her driver's license. At this moment, it was the only thing she owned.

A week earlier, the prison authorities had informed the Lawson family about her release date.

Back then, Daniela still carried a small hope. No matter how much the Lawson family despised her, she thought they might show her a little dignity because they shared the same blood.

Reality proved otherwise. Not a single member of the Lawson family had appeared.

A trace of coldness settled in Daniela's eyes as she accepted that no one was coming for her.

In the Lawson family's eyes, she was nothing more than a convenient scapegoat. Why would anyone be waiting to welcome her home?

Just as she was about to head back toward the city, the deafening roar of an engine suddenly sounded behind her.

A bright red Lamborghini approached her like a raging flame. With a sharp screech, it came to a stop directly in front of her and blocked her way.

Slowly, the tinted window lowered. The face that came into view had appeared in her dreams countless times over the years. Now, however, it only filled her with fear.

It was Erik Oliver. The man who had once been her fiance.

A pair of sunglasses covered his eyes, while a dark and cold expression rested on his face. "Get in," he said in a low voice.

Daniela's heart slammed against her chest.

She never imagined that Erik would personally come to pick her up.

Throughout those five years, he had never once visited her. Not a single letter she sent ever received a reply. Because of that, she had always believed he despised her completely.

Could his appearance today mean he was finally willing to hear her side of the story?

Her hands shook as she pulled open the car door. In a raspy voice, she asked, "How is Madeline?"

Five years ago, Khloe Lawson, the non-biological daughter raised by Daniela's parents, had caused a traffic accident while driving at high speed. Madeline Oliver, the niece Erik cherished the most, had been injured because of it. In the end, Khloe pushed all the blame onto Daniela, the biological daughter the Lawson family had only recently found.

Without warning, the car surged forward. The force threw Daniela hard against the seat.

"And you still have the audacity to bring up Madeline?" Erik's voice cut through the air like a freezing winter wind. Every word carried deep hatred. "Daniela, five years have passed. Don't tell me you still refuse to admit what you did."

The speedometer climbed higher and higher.

Color drained from Daniela's face as she gripped the handle beside her tightly. "Erik, please slow down. Just listen to me. I wasn't responsible for what happened that day. Khloe was the one behind it. She tricked me into..."

"Enough!" Erik suddenly turned toward her. "Khloe almost died trying to save Madeline! And what did you do? You hit her and ran away. You destroyed Madeline's future! She's still lying in the ICU like an empty shell, yet you're still trying to blame Khloe for everything?"

"I'm telling the truth! There weren't any surveillance cameras there that day. They worked together to frame me!" Daniela's eyes reddened as she desperately tried to defend herself.

"Frame you?" Erik let out a mocking laugh. "Everyone witnessed what happened, and you're still trying to deny it?" With a sharp movement, he jerked the steering wheel. The car immediately drifted across the highway.

Daniela's head struck the window with a heavy thud.

Erik saw how miserable she looked, but not a trace of sympathy appeared in his eyes. "Daniela, do you really think I came here today because I still have feelings for you? I'll make you understand one thing. A murderer like you doesn't deserve a second chance."

Ignoring the pain pounding through her forehead, Daniela felt dread rising inside her. "Where are you taking me?"

"Today is the day I'm getting engaged to Khloe." Erik spoke slowly and clearly, making every word hit Daniela like a knife to the heart. "In front of all the elite families in Kladbert, you'll kneel before Khloe and admit everything you've done. If your attitude is good enough, I might consider showing you some mercy and leaving you a way out."

His cruel words struck Daniela hard, and a cold feeling spread through her entire body.

She had lost five years of her life in prison for a crime she never committed. During those years, she endured endless suffering and humiliation. Yet Khloe, the person truly responsible, had taken her family and was now taking the man she loved as well.

"You're really getting engaged to her?" Daniela asked, disbelief filling her voice.

"What other choice is there?" Turning toward her, Erik looked at her with open disgust, as though she were something worthless. "Do you actually expect me to forgive you and marry someone like you? Daniela, those five years in prison were what you owed Khloe. They were also what you owed the Oliver family. And from this day forward, I'll make sure your suffering continues."

Erik's Lamborghini came to a sharp stop in front of the Lawson Estate. The door swung open.

Before she could get out of the car, a powerful shove struck her from behind.

"Get down. Don't dirty my car." Erik's voice carried an icy chill.

Caught by surprise, Daniela fell hard onto the ground.

Rain had fallen the previous night, and a muddy puddle had formed in the low area near the entrance of the Lawson Estate.

The old T-shirt she wore was immediately stained with mud. Dirty water splashed onto her pale face as well.

Looking disheveled and miserable, Daniela pressed her hands against the ground and tried to stand. Before she could get up, a faint laugh sounded above her.

Then a man's voice followed. "What's this? You just got out of prison, and you're already greeting everyone with such a dramatic entrance?"

Raising her head, Daniela saw her eldest brother, Jeff Lawson, standing on the steps. His eyes were filled with contempt as he looked down at her.

"Daniela!" A graceful figure dressed in white walked toward her.

Khloe wore a luxurious custom-made gown. Layer after layer of lace shimmered beneath the sunlight, making her look pure and flawless.

She acted as if she wanted to help Daniela up. However, just before her fingers touched the mud covering Daniela's clothes, she pulled her hand back with clear disgust. Even so, her eyes quickly reddened. "Daniela, what happened to you? Erik, why did you let Daniela fall? She only just got out of prison, and her health is already so weak..."

Stepping out of the car, Erik naturally slipped an arm around Khloe's waist. "Khloe, you're too kind. Someone as vicious as Daniela belongs in the mud."

A bitter smile appeared on Daniela's face as she wiped away the mud. Then she slowly rose to her feet.

"Khloe, are you still putting on this act?" Daniela's eyes remained calm, and her hoarse voice carried little emotion. "For the last five years, not one person from the Lawson family ever visited me in prison. Yet now that I've returned, all of you are making such a spectacle. Isn't this just another chance to humiliate me?"

"Daniela, why would you think that?" Looking hurt, Khloe bit her lip and pointed toward the enormous three-tier cake behind her. "Today isn't just my engagement party. It's also your..."

Before Khloe could finish speaking, Jeff interrupted her with obvious impatience. "Why are you even talking to her? Khloe, don't let someone like her ruin your special day. Let's finish the ceremony, cut the cake, and then send her off to clean herself up. Nobody wants to look at her like this."

With graceful movements, Khloe picked up a glass of red wine and offered it to Daniela with both hands. A gentle smile rested on her face. "Daniela, have a drink. Wish me happiness, and wish yourself... a fresh start."

Daniela fixed her eyes on the wine glass and felt nothing but disgust.

A bitter ache rose in her chest when she heard those words.

Five years ago, on this exact day, she was suffering through a savage beating inside prison.

Now, five years later, they were forcing her to stand at the engagement party of the person who had framed her. On top of that, they expected her to drink the wine Khloe personally handed to her.

"Keep your wine to yourself, Khloe!" Daniela's eyes grew cold and sharp. Instead of drinking it, she threw the red wine directly at Khloe.

The wine soaked Khloe's hair and ran down her face. Her carefully applied makeup was ruined in an instant, and dark stains spread across her expensive gown.

"Daniela! You've gone too far!" Jeff shouted as he rushed forward and raised his hand to slap her.

Daniela quickly moved aside and avoided the attack. Her gaze remained cold. "I'm the one who has gone too far? Five years ago, Khloe injured Madeline while speeding and begged me to take responsibility for her. When all of you worked together to send me to prison just to protect the Lawson family's reputation, did any of you stop and think that you had gone too far?"

"Enough!" Anger darkened Erik's face. He grabbed Daniela by the throat and forced her against the cold wall. "The evidence was right there in front of everyone, and you still keep blaming Khloe? Someone like you belongs in prison for the rest of your life, Daniela!"

Struggling for air, Daniela met his eyes without backing down. Even as her breathing grew difficult, she spoke in a steady voice. "Erik, think about it carefully. Madeline is still alive. If you let me help her, she can wake up."

Silence spread across the scene. A moment later, it was shattered by loud laughter filled with ridicule.

"You can help her?" Jeff laughed mockingly as if he had just heard something absurd. "Daniela, did those five years in prison destroy your mind? The best medical experts in Kladbert haven't found a solution. You're someone who just walked out of prison. What makes you think you can say something so ridiculous?"

The revulsion in Erik's eyes became even more obvious. Without warning, he released Daniela and shoved her away as though she were something filthy. "You'll say anything if it means staying with the Lawson family. You're disgusting."

Daniela crashed onto the ground and broke into a violent fit of coughing.

Slowly, she looked at the people standing before her. These people were supposed to be her family. Among them stood Erik, the man she had once loved with all her heart.

At that moment, nothing remained except despair.

After a long pause, Daniela pushed herself to her feet. Her back remained straight as she spoke calmly. "Fine. If none of you believe me, then there's nothing left to say. From today onward, I have nothing to do with the Lawson family."

With those words, she turned around and started walking toward the gates of the Lawson Estate.

"Daniela! The moment you walk out of here, don't come crawling back and beg for our forgiveness!" Jeff yelled furiously from behind her.

Daniela's second brother, Cade Lawson, tossed a worn black backpack onto the ground in front of her. "Take your garbage and get out!"

Gavin Lawson, her youngest brother, looked at her with open resentment. "Fuck off."

Without turning around, Daniela continued walking. She refused to waste another moment in the place that was no longer her home.

As for everything they owed her, one day she would make every one of them kneel before her and beg her to take it back.

Daniela stopped by a clothing store. While she picked out a fresh set of clothes to replace the dirty outfit she had been wearing, she charged and turned on her phone. Once she changed into the new clothes, she felt much better, and her spirits rose considerably.

As soon as Daniela walked out of the store, her phone started ringing.

When she saw the familiar number on the screen, the look on her face eased at last. "Hello."

"Daniela! Is that really you?" said the man on the other end. His voice shook slightly, and he struggled to keep his emotions under control. "It's Shawn. I heard you were released from prison today... I'm sorry I got there too late. I wasn't able to pick you up."

Shawn Marsh was the successor of the Marsh family, one of the most respected families in Kladbert, and he was also the president of Marsh Group. Years ago, Daniela had saved his life when they were both behind bars.

"It's okay," Daniela replied flatly.

"Daniela, my grandfather is dying," Shawn said quietly. "Specialists from all over the world have determined that he's critically ill. They believe he won't make it through the night. I know this isn't the right time, but... if there's anyone who can save him, it's you."

A faint, cold smile appeared on Daniela's lips.

The Lawson family looked down on her, and Erik believed she was a murderer. Yet one of the most influential men in the world was now asking for her help.

"Send me the address," she said shortly.

...

The following day, Daniela arrived at the villa at 106 Skyline Estates, a luxury residential community. The moment she entered the corridor, a graceful woman dressed in expensive clothes stepped in front of her with several bodyguards.

Janice Marsh, Shawn's mother, looked Daniela over from head to toe. Her gaze eventually stopped on the worn canvas shoes Daniela was wearing.

"Shawn, this is the miracle doctor you were talking about?" Janice gave a mocking laugh filled with anger. She raised a finger at Daniela and turned her frustration on Shawn. "Did prison scramble your mind? You actually brought a woman in her twenties here to treat your grandfather? Just look at her. She dresses like she's struggling to get by. I'd be surprised if she's ever even touched a scalpel!"

"Mom, watch your words!" Shawn said as he moved in front of Daniela and stood between them. He kept her behind him while staring at Janice with a hard look. "Daniela is Ms. Foster's apprentice. I've personally seen what she's capable of!"

"Ianna Foster?" Janice replied with a cold laugh. "The so-called Phantom Doctor who disappeared seven years ago? How do you even know she's really her apprentice? Shawn, your grandfather is suffering cardiac arrest right now. The world's top specialists are inside doing everything they can to save him. Are you seriously planning to bring a female ex-convict in there and put the entire Marsh family at risk?"

Not a trace of emotion appeared on Daniela's face. She calmly reached into her coat and took out an old white porcelain bottle. Then she lightly flipped open the lid with her fingertips.

"This is the Life Elixir personally made by Ms. Foster." Daniela fixed Janice with a sharp stare. "If you keep me standing here for another three seconds, the patient's heart monitor will stop. And when that happens, you'll be the one responsible for bringing disaster to the Marsh family."

"What?!" The pressure coming from Daniela caught Janice off guard. Before she realized it, she had already taken a step backward.

Right then, a sharp machine alarm suddenly rang from inside the room where Shawn's grandfather was being treated.

The attending physician treating Shawn's grandfather shouted in a tense voice, "The patient has stopped breathing on his own! Get ready for defibrillation!"

Daniela said nothing more. She moved past Janice and pushed the door open.

"Who are you? Leave right now!" the attending physician yelled, sweat running down their face.

"Shawn, empty the room." Daniela did not turn around as she headed straight for the operating table.

A harsh look flashed in Shawn's eyes. With one wave of his hand, he ordered his bodyguards to remove every doctor who had spoken against Daniela.

Beneath the surgical lights, the air around Daniela changed in an instant.

After putting on a mask, Daniela picked up the scalpel, and her eyes turned firm.

"Make the incision," she said in a calm voice without any emotion.

Once Shawn's grandfather's chest was opened, Daniela saw his heart. It had nearly reached the point of collapse and was covered with scars.

The heart no longer beat. It looked like a piece of dead flesh.

"His heart is already destroyed. It won't survive another stitch," explained the assistant beside her in a shaking voice. "Miss Lawson, we can't continue..."

Daniela answered in a low and steady voice, "As long as I'm here, he won't die!"