Yearning For Your Heart

Dragon City, A Country

In an apartment in the Southern Palace Community,

Marilyn Shu smiled widely and took a cake out of the oven. Her face shone with happiness, making her appear more intoxicating than even the delectable scent of the cake.

The birthday cake she had so carefully baked was to celebrate her husband's birthday. They had tied the knot three months ago, and were still newlyweds. These days had been meant to be their happiest days, but lately she saw little of him due to his workload and the business trip he had taken abroad.

They hadn't even enjoyed their honeymoon yet, and they hadn't even slept in the same room. If the marriage license in the drawer had not confirmed that she was indeed wedded, she would have thought she was dreaming.

Today, he was due to return. In fact, she had exhausted herself to prepare the surprise for him.

Besides, she longed to throw herself into his arms and act like a spoiled child.

Because during these past three months, she had become the daughter-in-law, the sister-in-law, and even the babysitter. Despite her efforts to take care of the young and old, she was still unable to please his family.

It would be a lie if she said she was not aggrieved.

Fortunately, her hardships would soon come to an end. She could finally move into her new house and live with her husband.

When she put the cake on the table, she smiled happily as she imagined her husband's look of surprise.

"Snap..."

Suddenly, she heard a key turning in the front door.

'Gosh! It seems that my husband has returned ahead of time!

My surprise is not ready. I'm not ready! I'll have to hide away. Oh, and hide the cake, too!'

Thinking this, Marilyn Shu immediately ran into the bedroom and hid herself and the cake in the wardrobe.

It seemed that the wardrobe was the only place in the room that had enough space.

With the cake held protectively in her arms, Marilyn Shu was thinking of how to surprise her husband when he came in. She was so excited and nervous that she bit her lip.

Then, she heard the squeak of the front door. However, as she was about to open the door of the wardrobe, she heard two voices–her husband and another.

He didn't return alone!

"Leon..."

When she heard a woman's voice, Marilyn Shu was stunned for a second. It sounded so familiar.

Before the woman could finish her sentence, the man interrupted her and sighed impatiently. He seemed to be in a hurry.

"If Marilyn was to know..." The woman seemed to be worried about something.

"Shut up!"

Their voices grew louder as they neared the bedroom from the living room, and recklessly, they pushed open the bedroom door and tumbled onto the big bed.

Their voices soon turned to passionate sounds that assaulted the wardrobe and its shocked occupant. Everything before Marilyn's eyes became blurry.

'They... How could they...

One is my newly wedded husband, and the other is my best friend. How could they do that in my wedding bed?'

Marilyn took a deep breath, trying to fight against her tears.

'That shameless couple doesn't deserve my tears!'

Although she could not fully grasp the whole thing, she had more or less figured out what was happening in her mind.

After a few seconds, Marilyn calmed enough to think logically. She took out her mobile phone and captured the whole act of betrayal with the camera feature.

Perhaps in the future, this could be used as evidence.

"Leon, my dear! Swear you will keep your promise to me."

The woman raised her delicate face and looked at the man who was now smoking.

At the same time, using all her charm and feminine wiles, she traced circles on Leon Lin's strong chest with her slender fingers.

"Honey, don't worry. I will marry you sooner or later." He sighed contentedly and puffed out a cloud of smoke as he embraced the woman tighter.

"How long do I have to wait?" The woman pouted in discontent.

"Don't worry, honey. This is just the beginning. After I have fully won her trust and gotten my hands on her father's property, I will divorce her. Then we can go away together."

Leon Lin held her hand, gently rubbed it, raised it to his lips and passionately kissed her fingertips.

Vivian Li and Leon Lin had been in an intimate relationship since they were still in college. But they had kept this a secret from everyone. Later Leon Lin heard that Marilyn's father had passed away and left her a great deal of money. So his greed spurred him to take action immediately.

Both he and Vivian Li were from ordinary families. After some discussion, they had decided to use the honey trap to seduce Marilyn, getting her to marry Leon Lin to gain access to her heritage and wealth through wedlock.

The two whispered for a while longer, but Marilyn couldn't hear clearly what they were talking about. In the end, she only heard Leon Lin say with a determined voice, "Well, it's a deal. Let's just go ahead!"

She knew then what they were going to do without thinking.

"Well, we'll just secretly transfer her assets, and then lead her to..." Leon Lin continued. From the gap in the wardrobe door, Marilyn could see the evil expression on Leon's face.

She was in despair in that moment. 'My best friend of so many years is having an affair with my new husband. That is enough.

What's even worse–they want to kill me to get my inheritance!

Who is more pathetic than me in the world?'

When she thought of this, she couldn't help it as her sorrow gave way to a desperate anger.

She was so enraged that her left hand trembled, and the phone slipped from her hand, falling to the bottom of the wardrobe.

In an instant, her heart rose to her throat, and then fell back to the ground, breaking into pieces.

Perhaps God thought that she needed to face this head on.

"Ah! Someone is in the wardrobe!" Vivian Li screamed and scrambled to wrap herself tightly in the quilt. Leon paused while he was busy putting on his pants.

"Who's there? If you know what's good for you, come out immediately!"

Leon's exasperated voice sounded. He zipped his pants and shouted at the unknown intruder.

Marilyn wiped her tear-stained cheeks, picked up her phone, pushed open the door of the wardrobe, and stepped out in front of them.

"It's me." She put on a righteous look. This was not her fault, and there was no need for her to feel embarrassed.

Vivian and Leon looked at each other with widened eyes. Astonishment was plastered all over their faces.

But after a few seconds, Leon seemed to gather his senses. Instead of feeling guilty or shameful, he began reproaching Marilyn.

"Marilyn! Why did you hide in the wardrobe to eavesdrop?"

Hearing his words, even Vivian blinked in astonishment. After all, it was them who should have felt sorry for Marilyn. Vivian had been her best friend. But now that things had reached this point, they couldn't afford to lose the momentum, and there was no turning back.

"Leon is right, Marilyn. I don't think it was necessary for you to hide in the wardrobe." The offended look on Vivian's face was fake. She pouted and looked at Marilyn with reproachful eyes.

As soon as he heard Vivian speaking so aggrievedly, Leon instantly burst out in anger. Without any word of warning, he strode towards Marilyn and hit her with his fist. He didn't care that she was his newly wedded wife,

nor that she was his legitimate wife!

Luckily, Marilyn had spent many years in dance lessons. Hence, she reacted swiftly, and being light on her feet, dodged the punch easily. But turning so sharply, her hip bumped against the corner of the bedside table.

A sharp and agonizing pain lanced through every cell in her body, but she gritted her teeth against the pain as she didn't want them to see her embarrassment. Limping slightly, she walked to the wardrobe and picked up the birthday cake that she had set down in it.

"Leon, you really misunderstand me. I was not hiding to eavesdrop on you. I just wanted to surprise you. Look, a birthday cake. Happy birthday!"

Enduring the aching sense of betrayal and disgust in her heart, Marilyn managed to put on a smile, but it twisted her face worse than crying would.

"Huh! Who cares?" At this point, Leon no longer had any interest in further pretending.

"Don't be so heartless! I baked it myself. So you should enjoy it personally!" With these words, Marilyn smashed the cake into Leon's face.

"What are you doing?!" Witnessing the scene, Vivian yelled angrily.

As expected, Marilyn stopped and walked up to Vivian. An evil smile appeared on her face.

For Vivian still lounging on the bed, the smile had become a sharpened sword that was ready to vivisect her into pieces.

"Vivian, why do you have to steal my husband?"

When Marilyn asked these words, Vivian felt so humiliated as if a truck had run right over her pride.

"Marilyn... You..."

Vivian was shocked and could not speak, trembling with anger.

"It doesn't matter. I am the one that Leon loves most!"

Then Vivian wrapped her arms possessively around Leon's waist as if she was making a declaration of her sovereignty.

At this moment, Marilyn's mouth split with harsh words. They used to be best friends after all. Marilyn knew all about Vivian's secrets.

Vivian had dated several men before Leon.

It was this small mistake that had ruined Vivian's innocent youth.

"What nonsense are you talking now?" Vivian screamed. Her face had started to turn baked lobster red, whether because she felt guilty, or because she was angry.

"Don't listen to her, Leon. She is just jealous of me." Tugging at the man's clothes, Vivian acted in a petty but charming manner.

This scene was so ironic to Marilyn. But, it was not even over yet!

Before Leon tried to defend Vivian, Marilyn continued, "Vivian, did you forget what the doctor told you last month? He had just repaired your hymen. You can't have sex. Why are you being so careless? What if you get a sexually transmitted disease? Do you want to blame Leon?"

After saying that, Marilyn allowed herself a light smile. Her eyes shone with sincerity as if she was telling the truth.

"Ah!" Vivian couldn't hold her rage in any more. She threw the quilt aside and rushed at Marilyn, completely naked and furious.

"I'll kill you!"

As soon as Vivian dashed out of bed, Marilyn pushed the door open and ran out. Then she kept running, fearing to stop.

Not wanting to wait for the elevator, Marilyn ran down several flights of stairs from the exit passageway. She took a deep breath only when she felt certain that she was not being chased.

It was said that a good man wouldn't fight a losing battle. Since they had clearly planned to kill her only a moment ago, she realized that she had to flee. Being a weak woman, she couldn't resist if she was attacked by two people.

The longer she stayed there, the more dangerous her fate would become.

Just then, someone laid a hand on Marilyn's shoulder. She was so surprised and scared that she barely stifled her scream, but then her mouth was covered by a large hand.

"Don't scream. I don't want to hurt you." A deep and throaty male voice spoke into her ear, and it sounded strange.

Marilyn stopped struggling then. With a nod, she allowed him to drag her into a room before closing the door.

It was already night, but the room remained dark as there were no lights on.

Marilyn had to admit that she was panicking.

"What do you want to do with me?" As soon as her mouth was free, she spoke out of control.

"Shh... Don't scream. I won't hurt you."

"You..."

When she was about to struggle, her mouth was suddenly covered over with a piece of tape.

As he drew closer she caught a whiff of his distinct scent, which was clearly from a high-end cologne, and she was instantly intrigued by the smell.

There was also an unmistakable undertone of male hormones in the air.

As an adult, Marilyn quickly understood that this man might have been drugged.

At first, she struggled against him a little, but then she obeyed.

On the one hand, he was incredibly attractive with a well-muscled body that had turned her on. While on the other hand, she wanted to get even with Leon by cuckolding him with a stranger.

Next early morning, Ethan Lan came to his senses. He had developed a strong mental self-control, and normal medicine would not affect him for long. But this time, he didn't know where they had found a strengthened drug, which had made him completely lose control.

He had meant to return to his villa to overcome the effects, but when he saw Marilyn standing there, he had lost all restraint.

Ethan Lan lifted the quilt and was heading to the shower. Suddenly, he saw a red blood stain, like a lotus blossoming on the white sheets.

He squinted with fresh eyes at the woman who was still asleep in the bed before walking into the bathroom.

Perhaps it was the sound of the opening door that woke Marilyn up. She opened her eyes groggily and got out of the bed. Then she quickly put on her clothes and prepared to leave.

Anyway, she had enjoyed her revenge and retaliation while it lasted. She didn't care to know who the man was.

When she passed by the door, she saw her pink hairpin had dropped to the floor.

Pausing for a shocked moment, she then headed out without looking back.

It was the hairpin that Vivian had bought for her. She had said that Leon would definitely like it. It had never occurred to Marilyn that it was the style that he hated most.

'What a vicious woman you are, Vivian! A scheming and manipulative bitch!' she thought.

In a blind hurry, Marilyn left the man's apartment and took a taxi, heading home.

"Garden Community," she told the driver her home address as soon as she got in the car, but he didn't leave.

"What's wrong, sir?" Surprised, she looked at the driver. Her eyes happened to meet his stare. Seeing the worry there, Marilyn could tell that the driver must have misunderstood her situation.

She looked down at her bedraggled clothes and messy hair.

"Miss, I can call the police for you," the driver said in a low voice.

"No need. Just take me to the Garden Community," she stammered in a hoarse voice, with an embarrassed smile forming on her lips.

Then she sat back in silence. Seeing that she didn't intend to explain herself, the driver turned his eyes back to the front and mutely started the car before rushing off into the traffic lanes.

This small act of kindness warmed her heart. There were still good people in the world.

'Why is a stranger so kind-hearted while the one who is so close to me acts so cruel?' she wondered.

In that room of the Southern Palace Community

After taking a bath, Ethan Lan looked at the empty double bed with its sheets all messed up, and an unhappy expression formed on his face.

He stood there in a daze for a long while. Then he turned around and walked into the dressing room. When he came out again, he was attired in a full military uniform, and every step was performed with exceptionally firm and steady strides. He oozed purpose and discipline.

As the sky was getting brighter, he walked to the French window and lit a cigarette. Looking at the street lights gently blink out one by one, he was a little confused.

Suddenly, he seemed to reach a conclusion, and he took out his mobile phone and dialed a number.

"Investigate someone for me, ..."

His voice was a cold and powerful presence in the quiet room.

"Yes! Army Commander!"

After replying respectfully, the person on the other end of the line ended the call.

Through the window, the last fading moonlight reflected on the man's face, which seemed chiseled from stone, stark and handsome.

The Garden Community was in a villa district. At that moment, Marilyn had reached her home.

An old family servant, Lena, opened the door for her.

When seeing the frightened look on Marilyn's face, Lena almost screamed aloud. She thought that Marilyn had been abused by some thug, and she wanted to immediately dial the number for the police.

It took a long time for Marilyn to calm Lena down.

"Aunt Lena, I'm really fine. Please keep your voice down!"

Then she slipped past her and headed up to the second floor, and her room.

Just then, a petite figure stepped in her way.

With a frown, Marilyn shot her sister a warning glance. "Get out of my way," she instructed.

But how could Mandy Shu give up? She was the type of girl who always wanted to stir up trouble at any time.

"Why are you so angry, my dear sister? You are newlywed, and should be with your husband."

She acted as if she suspected something.

"Shut up!" Not wanting to talk to Mandy Shu any further, Marilyn pushed her out of the way and walked ahead.

However, Mandy Shu pretended to have been hurt as soon as she was pushed away by her sister. She covered her arm with one hand and screamed dramatically, "Ouch! It hurts!"

"Don't play the victim with me!" Marilyn said impatiently. However, as she passed by Mandy Shu, her arm was grabbed by Mandy. This resulted in her back hitting the wall, which hurt so much that she grimaced in pain.

"Mind your business!" Marilyn said to her younger sister, as she didn't want to waste time talking to her.

After saying this, she gave Mandy Shu a solid slap that left her goggled.

"Do you need to be reminded? Be polite to me!" Not willing to show her weakness, Marilyn was also glaring at her.

"What? How dare you! I'll tell mommy!" After that, Mandy covered her face and ran away, bawling like a child.

Eventually, the hallway became quiet. Marilyn felt her whole body was aching and sore. She walked into her bedroom and locked the door behind her.

She found a clean set of pajamas and went straight to the bathroom.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Marilyn opened her mouth in surprise. Bruises were forming all over her body. Those were clearly the hickeys she had received last night. People who didn't know any better would think that she had been beaten.

She winced in pain as she rubbed her tender body. 'What a brutal man he was! It was my first time,' she mused bitterly.

She looked down at her hip and saw a bruise spreading across to her stomach. It had been caused by the corner of the table. Thinking of the shameless couple and their betrayal, she clenched her teeth. They were so disgusting.

It was precisely because of them that she felt her actions last night was justified!

She still didn't know what the man looked like, due to the darkened room, but in terms of his physical prowess, he was really strong.

By the time she had finished the hot bath, she felt sleepy. She quickly fell asleep while lying on her soft bed.

"Wooo... Mommy, mommy, please help me! Look what she did to me!" Mandy wailed as she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

"Baby, don't cry. Mommy will avenge you! I will make sure that little bitch pays the price!" said Laura An viciously, trying to comfort her daughter.

A brooding expression appeared on her beautiful face.

At the age of twenty eight, Laura An had married Marilyn's father, Shawn Shu. He had been twenty years older than her.

She simply schemed to inherit his great fortune after his death. From that day onwards, she planned on leading the high life with her son and daughter.

But she had never anticipated that more than twenty years would pass before the old man finally died, and to add insult to injury, she got a will without any benefit to her.

It was indicated in the will that all the heritage and wealth of Shawn Shu was left to Marilyn. Laura An wouldn't get a single penny from him, neither would her son and daughter!

Mandy's real father was Laura's previous husband. But Joey Shu had been fathered by Shawn Shu, and he was the Shu Family's only son. But he didn't get to inherit any property either. Laura An had always thought that it was Marilyn who had plotted against her.

So she had developed a profound dislike for her–in fact, she hated Marilyn. More than twenty years of her life had been spend in vain!

But now was not the time to break up their "family". She knew she had to endure it.

Before she got the property transfer agreement finalized for Joey Shu, she couldn't let the cat out of the bag just yet.

Thinking of this, Laura heaved a sigh of regret and let go of Mandy. "Be obedient, my daughter. Go and apologize to Marilyn," she instructed.

"What? Mommy, are you kidding me? It was she who slapped me. Why do you want me to apologize to her?"

Mandy couldn't understand, and grievance mixed with anger was painted all over her face. "I am your own daughter! Why do you always defend her?"

Her words brought a callous sneer to Laura's face. How could she have been cursed with such a simpleton? She was utterly exasperated with her daughter.

Taking a deep breath, Laura explained patiently, "This is the last time I will explain it to you. The will says that all of Shawn's properties now belong to Marilyn. Before she signs the property transfer agreement, she will kick us out of the family. So..."

"So I should make sure that I am in a good relationship with her?" Mandy asked regretfully.

"Silly girl, you finally see the light." Laura patted her daughter's shoulder somewhat condescendingly and smiled in relief.

"All right. I will put up with her again for our future. Wait... But mommy, how can we let her sign the property transfer agreement?"

The thought that she could take her revenge on Marilyn in the not-too-distant future made Mandy very happy.

"Don't worry! Mommy has a plan." Laura took out the so-called property transfer agreement from a drawer, showed it to her daughter and said, "Grandma is coming to have dinner with us tonight. She has always preferred boys to girls, and she will force Marilyn to sign it."

"But... Why would Marilyn be so obedient?" At the thought of Marilyn's cold and arrogant face, Mandy couldn't help but clench her teeth as she seethed with hatred.

"Well, in this matter, even if she is not obedient, she will have no choice except to be!" Laura took a packet of powder out of her pocket and placed it in Mandy's hand with a wicked grin.

Marilyn slept soundly for a long time with no disturbances.

"Dong Dong."

Suddenly, someone brazenly knocked on her bedroom door.

"What?"

While saying that, Marilyn poked her head up from under the quilt. Her eyes were pinched tightly shut.

She had been tormented all night by that man, and she felt as if her body was falling apart.

"Miss Marilyn, Mrs. Laura asked you to join her for dinner downstairs."

A maid's voice respectfully sounded from outside the door.

The household staff had lately all treated Marilyn with great respect. After her father had passed away, he had left his property to her. She was now the true master of the family.

"No. Bring some dinner to my room."

Marilyn turned over and frowned darkly.

Now that her father had passed, it was impossible for her to stomach having dinner with her hypocritical step-mother and sister. She had decided just to avoid sharing a meal with them in future.

Moreover, it was obvious that she had slept with a man. If she went out now, she just knew that Laura and Mandy would viciously comment on her appearance from her head to her toes. She'd better not let them see her like this.

"Mrs. Laura said that your grandmother is coming to have dinner with us. If you don't come, I'm afraid that she will be unhappy," the servant added.

When she heard the words "your grandmother", Marilyn's eyes widened in shock.

'What?! Grandma is coming here?'

This was not good news. When she thought of the family matriarch's cold face, she knew that only alienation would be seen in her eyes. Although Suzan Feng was Marilyn's grandmother, she was a traditional woman, who preferred boys to girls. Suzan Feng had refused to attend Marilyn's mother's funeral simply because she hadn't given birth to a boy.

To her disappointment, Marilyn hadn't pleased the cold hearted grandmother.

However, shortly after Laura married into the Shu Family, she gave birth to a son. Since then Laura's position in the Shu Family had been greatly elevated, resulting in a lot of benefits simply because she had pleased Suzan Feng.

Joey Shu, the only son of the Shu Family, had become the apple of Suzan's eye, and she pampered him in every way.

But none of them had anticipated that Shawn's will would leave his whole estate to Marilyn after his death. It had been such a surprise that it had instantly provoked everyone's dissatisfaction. Not least of all that of Laura, Joey, and Mandy, but it had also upset Suzan.

To her, the family's grandson was much more precious than any of her granddaughters. Joey was the heir of the Shu Family, so how could he not receive any property?

'Grandma must have something to do with this. As soon as I return to my home, she comes to have dinner.

It seems that I won't be able to enjoy a peaceful dinner tonight.

Never mind. I'll just have to face it anyway. Let the storm come more fiercely!' Marilyn mused.

She sat up on the bed and replied politely, "I'll be right there as soon as I am dressed."

"Yes, Miss Marilyn! Please be quick," the servant replied briskly, as if the answer had been expected, and she kindly reminded Marilyn to speed up, lest the old lady be offended. Having delivered her message, the maid walked away lightly.

When Marilyn hear the respectful tone of the maid, a bitter smile appeared on her face.

In the almost 20 years since her father had married Laura and brought her into the Shu Family, the maids had never been kind to Marilyn. They had conspired against her, deliberately contradicting her or making mistakes, wrinkling her party dress, stealing her gifts deliberately...

But their attitude had changed drastically because of the will.

At the thought of her father's death, Marilyn closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, they were full of determination.

'No matter what my grandma is up to, I won't back down.'

She opened the wardrobe and looked through her collection of dresses.

Finally, she chose a long white lace dress with a high neck, which would cover the hickeys perfectly. She then carefully arranged her loose hair to hide the back of her neck, in case they saw the marks there.

She couldn't help but sigh again, 'That man really was a beast!'

Once she was dressed, she took a deep breath, checked her appearance in the mirror, and walked downstairs with heavy steps.

It was a cold and chilly night. Moonlight shone over the mansion.

The air seemed to be charged with the potential for a fierce fight tonight.

As soon as Marilyn descended the last step, she saw her grandmother sitting on the sofa. When Suzan saw Marilyn coming, her face immediately filled with disapproval.

"You are such a wicked and brutal girl! Why are you behaving so arrogantly? I've been waiting for you for such a long time!"

She cast a sharp stare at Marilyn and became even more agitated. As Marilyn did not answer her for a long time, the old lady raised her crutch, which was made of precious sandalwood, and pounded at the ground heavily with a thump.

"Are you dumb or deaf? Why don't you answer me? I am you grandmother! Don't you know how to show some respect!"

After hearing what Suzan said, Mandy gloated over Marilyn's awkwardness.

Seeing this, Laura walked to her mother-in-law in a hurry. She patted the elderly matriarch on her back and consoled, "Mom, please don't be angry. Marilyn just came back home. She just needs some rest. Please don't be mad at her."

Then she turned to accuse Marilyn. "My dear, you've made your grandma very angry. Come over here and apologize to her."

When Marilyn heard this, her back straightened, and she walked over to her grandmother. She oozed confidence, and there was no sign of timidity on her face.

The situation was becoming quite embarrassing. Marilyn didn't apologize to Suzan, nor did she smile at them. Instead, she just looked down at them coldly.

Seeing her resolute expression, Laura's heart skipped a beat.

'What's wrong with her? Why does she not be frightened? Neither is she even a little scared?

I have invited her grandma here to back me up. How can she still be so calm? She is real troublesome!'

Surprised, Laura stepped forward and said, "Mom, let's have dinner. Please forgive Marilyn. It's my fault really. I spoiled her, and she sometimes becomes rebellious."

Then Laura stood back and called the servants to serve the dishes.

When Laura's eyes met her daughter's, there was a strange light in them.

With the ice broken now, everyone moved to sit at the table, silently waiting for the meal.

In the meantime, Laura brush her hair with her hands. Mandy took the hint immediately. She pointed subtly at a bowl of soup in front of Marilyn, indicating that she had put the powder into it.

It was a powerful narcotic. As long as Marilyn ingested it, she would do anything. Whether she was willing to or not, it would not be up to her.

During the meal, Marilyn didn't say another word and ate her food attentively.

After all, she had nothing to say with them.

"I am going upstairs," she said once the meal was done. As she was about to leave, Marilyn was stopped by her grandmother.

"Stop! In your eyes, I'm just an old woman. How could my family have bred such an ill-mannered daughter?"

The old lady again hit the ground angrily with her walking stick. Then she took out the property transfer agreement and threw it in front of Marilyn.

Ignoring her grandma's words, Marilyn stared at the white paper.

"Property Transfer Agreement"

The words were like a sharp knife stabbing into her heart. Before she could ask what was going on, she heard Suzan's words.

"Sign it quickly. You are just the daughter-in-law of the Lin Family. You are not qualified to inherit the property of our family."

Looking up, Marilyn gazed at Suzan. Her old and wrinkled face was all crumpled up. Her serious expression was a mix of coldness and alienation.

'Is she... my own grandmother? She must be an imposter!

Oh, my God! What have I been made to suffer these days? Deserted by everyone? I had been betrayed by my newly wedded husband and my bestie, and I've had a one night stand with a stranger. So exhausted, I just came home to rest, but then this drama hits me.

Everyone is a gold-digger, and they are after my father's inheritance without exception!'

She took the paper and sighed inside, 'Dad, thank you so much for letting me see their true colors. They will do anything for money.'

"Ha-ha..." When she looked at the paper, Marilyn suddenly burst out laughing, and she felt no anger or sadness. She was in a good mood.

"I'm afraid I'm going to let you down, grandma. Although there seems to be a lot of wishful thinking going around here, I can't let everyone have their wish." Then she threw the paper aside, got up, and walked away.

Her unruly and unyielding manner had completely irritated Suzan. Standing up too, she swung the crutch violently at Marilyn as she passed by her.

The sudden blow took Marilyn by surprise. She ended up on the floor, and her knees first hit the tiles, and then the large bruise over her hip ached. The pain seeped into her bones.

But no matter how painful it was, it was nothing compared to a broken heart.

The marble floor was frostily cold in the summer night.

In the following silence, she could clearly hear the crisp patter as her tears hit the floor.

She wiped her wet eyes quickly. 'I won't cry in front of these people. If I showed any weakness, I would be letting those hypocritical people succeed! I can't let these villains get what they want!'

After a few seconds, she felt her body soften, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

'What is going on?'

Her head started to buzz dizzily. She tried to pull herself up with the help of a table nearby, but she failed.

'No! No, I can't! I must stand up!'

Her mind was getting more and more confused. She bit her lower lip to try and draw herself back to wakefulness, and she tried to stand up again, but in vain. Marilyn blacked out and fell down heavily.

Fading in and out of consciousness, she looked around the whole room and saw the indifferent eyes of the maids and the sneer on Mandy's face. She folded her arms across her chest and spat at Marilyn.

Her grandmother, Suzan, looked down with disgust at her, while Laura gloated and raised her chin.

Marilyn's face pressed against the cold ground. Although she could not regain consciousness, she did not completely pass out either.

Eventually, Laura took action. Taking the property transfer agreement from the table, she squatted down beside Marilyn, pretending to comfort her.

"My dear Marilyn, please sign your name on the agreement. You have a younger brother to take care of in this family. I hope you will consider his feelings. He is not an outsider, and he should inherit."

Laura's gentle seeming face was dressed with a wicked smile, but her eyes could not hide her greed. The covetous expression on her face was disgusting to behold.

"I... I won't sign it!"

With all her strength, Marilyn threw the pen away.

"Stop, you evil creature!"

Suzan walked up to Marilyn, brandishing her crutch. Then she hit Marilyn three times in a row. The first blow was on her arm, the second on her waist, and the third blow impacted on her leg.

Every time the stick pounded at her, Marilyn's eyes widened.

At last, she could no longer hold back the beast in her heart. She wanted all these people to pay for their evil deeds. Then suddenly she found the strength to stand up, and she grabbed her grandmother's crutch, throwing it away.

Completely unprepared for this defiance, Suzan was thrown aside along with her crutch.

If not for the help of the servants, she would have ended up in the ICU.

"How dare you, you unfilial girl!"