He Took My Lifeline for His First Love

I traded three years of my life to buy a lifesaving miracle drug from a black market doctor, only to have my fianc Ethan North casually feed it to his first love when she twisted her ankle.

Vanessa's foot is badly swollen. She needs it for the pain and swelling. You're healthyyou can tough it out for a few days.

He slapped the contract terminating our engagement in my face, wiped his fingers, and walked away. He drove off in his sports car with his precious first love in his arms, not even glancing at the blood I'd coughed into my handkerchief.

No one knew that this pill was my only chance to survive my congenital heart disease.

I clutched the contract and wiped the blood from my lips. That very night, I drove to the North family ancestral estate and knocked on the iron gates that hadn't opened in ten years.

Behind those gates lived the true power of the North familyDamien North, Ethan's uncle who had been in seclusion for years.

The next day at the North family banquet, Ethan walked in with Vanessa on his arm, publicly announcing he would marry her while mocking me for not knowing my place.

The whole room was in an uproar. Everyone waited to see me humiliated.

Then Damien walked in holding my hand, pulled me tightly into his arms, and looked at Ethan with dark, menacing eyes:

"Ethan, come here and greet Emily, my wife."

"Vanessa caught a cold. She needs this to recover. You have a strong constitutionyou'll get through this."

Ethan's voice was colder than the December wind.

That vial of Western medicine I'd desperately acquired through black market connections was now being mixed into a supplement and placed before Vanessa Reed.

Vanessa leaned against Ethan's chest, coughing delicately twice, though triumph flashed in her eyes:

"Ethan, is Emily upset?"

"She wouldn't dare." Ethan's eyes turned ice cold.

"If your father hadn't forced mine into this engagement years ago with that port shipping deal, I would never have gotten involved with you, Emily. Vanessa is using one of your medications, and you dare to sulk?"

I stared at that dessert, a metallic sweetness rising in my throat.

He didn't know that vial was the only medicine that could cure my heart disease. Without it, I wouldn't survive the winter.

"Ethan, that's my life," I said hoarsely.

"Enough." He threw the termination papers in my face. The sharp edge of the paper cut my eye.

"I've had enough of these three years. Now that Vanessa is carrying the North family heir, it's time for you to step aside."

The termination papers fluttered to the ground.

I didn't cry or make a scene. I bent down to pick up that paper and swallowed back the blood that had risen to my throat.

"Fine."

I turned and walked into the snow.

Three years. I'd taken assassination attempts meant for him, helped him quell internal company revolts, and carved a bloody path through the cutthroat family power struggles.

In the end, it couldn't compare to one cough from his first love.

The night was black as ink, the snow sharp as knives.

I didn't return to the Sterling family estate. I drove straight to the most secluded private manor in the North family's holdings.

The true head of the North familythe ruthless Damien North, who'd been recovering there for six monthslived in that place.

I knelt at the manor gates and pulled out the bloodstained seal representing the highest authority in the North family.

"Emily Sterling requests an audience with Mr. North."

The cold wind swallowed my voice. The iron gates remained shut, silent as a tomb.

I don't know how long passed before the heavy gates let out a low groan and slowly opened.

The old butler, Harold, approached with a lantern. When he saw the seal in my palm, his pupils contracted sharply.

"Miss Sterling, the master will see you."

Inside, there was no incenseonly the smell of antiseptic and bitter medicine.

From behind dark curtains came a low, hoarse laugh that carried endless authority.

"You've finally come."

I knelt on the ground, holding the termination papers high above my head.

"Emily Sterling has been cast aside by Ethan North. I have nowhere else to turn. Does the promise you made years ago still stand?"

A pale, broad hand suddenly pulled back the curtains.

Damien wore loose dark silk robes, his chest wrapped in bloodstained bandages.

He leaned down, his ice-cold fingers gripping my chin.

"What do you want?"

I looked directly into those terrifying eyes.

"I want the most honored position in the North family. I want those who trampled on me to spend the rest of their lives fit only to kneel at my feet."

Damien stared at me for a long moment, then began to laugha low laugh that made his chest shake.

"What an ambitious woman."

He pulled me roughly into his arms. The scent of blood and sandalwood immediately enveloped me.

"As you wish."

The next day, in the council hall of the North family manor.

The core family members and directors from major branch companies gathered. The atmosphere was tense.

Ethan strode to the center of the hall in a sharp suit, full of confidence, leading the elaborately dressed Vanessa by the hand.

"Everyone, Emily Sterling is consumed by jealousy. I have officially terminated our engagement. Vanessa Reed is gentle and virtuous, and she carries the North family heir. Today, I will take her as my wife."

The room erupted.

The Sterling and North families were old allies. My father controlled half the world's port shipping operations.

Ethan's actions amounted to burning bridges, but he didn't care at all.

Damien had been bedridden for years. The North family was already his domain.

Vanessa lowered her head, unable to hide the wild joy at the corners of her mouth.

Just then, from the main seat that had always sat empty, came a light, cold snort.

"Did you ask my permission before terminating this engagement?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it struck like thunder. The hall fell instantly silent.

Ethan froze for a moment, then perfunctorily bowed toward the main seat:

"Damien, you've been unwell. I didn't dare disturb you with private matters. Besides, Emily"

"How dare you."

The coffee cup from the main seat was hurled violently at Ethan's feet. Shattered porcelain flew up, cutting Vanessa's cheek. She screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Ethan stumbled back a step. "Damien, please calm down."

"Mutual affection?" Damien's voice carried bone-chilling mockery. "What wonderful mutual affection."

The screen was slowly pushed aside.

Damien wasn't wearing casual clothes, but a somber black custom-tailored suit.

What made everyone's eyes nearly pop from their socketsthere was a woman standing beside him.

A dark red gown. Around her neck, the pigeon blood ruby necklace passed down through generations of North family matriarchs.

It was me.

I looked down at the two people in the hall as if they were insects.

Ethan's head snapped up. The moment he recognized me, his features twisted with extreme shock.

"Emily?! Are you insane?! Get down here right now!"

He roared instinctively, forgetting who sat in the main seat.

Damien's eyes darkened. His large hand gripped my waist and pressed me firmly against him.

"You insolent fool. Is this how you speak to Emily?"

*Boom*those words struck like lightning.

Ethan froze in place, his lips trembling violently, unable to utter a single word.

Vanessa forgot to cry, collapsing like mud on the ground.

Damien surveyed the room, his authority crushing as a mountain: "Emily is my wife. From today forward, she will manage all family affairs."

His gaze coiled around Ethan like a venomous snake, his lips curling into a cruel arc.

"Ethan, come here and greet Emily."

Ethan stared at me, his eyes full of humiliation and resentment.

Vanessa was already terrified out of her wits. She scrambled to her feet and bowed: "Hello, Emily! Hello, Emily!"

I didn't look at her. I only stared quietly at Ethan.

"What's the matter? Have you forgotten even the most basic manners?" My voice was soft, but each word cut deep.

Ethan's fists clenched tight, his nails piercing his palms. Blood dripped to the floor.

Under Damien's gaze that looked ready to devour him alive, he finally bent his proud spine.

"Emily."

Each word sounded like he was chewing up flesh and blood and spitting it out. I watched his humble posture, my lips slowly curving upward.

Ethan North, the gates of hell have only just opened.

Damien mobilized nearly all his connections just to give me a wedding that would shake the entire city.

I sat in the main hall of the North estate, my fingers lightly tapping the redwood armrest.

For three years, I'd worn no makeup and used all the Sterling family's resources and connections to pave the way for Ethan.

Now, a single diamond bracelet on my wrist was worth more than his trading company's annual revenue.

"Madam, Ethan North and Vanessa Reed are here," the housekeeper Mrs. Harris said quietly.

I raised my eyelids slightly. "Let them in."

The two entered one after the other. Ethan's eyes were bloodshot, his expression dark and menacing.

Vanessa was trembling like a frightened sparrow.

"Emily," Ethan said stiffly, lowering his head slightly.

"Hello, Emily," Vanessa echoed with a bow.

I didn't respond. I picked up my porcelain coffee cup.

The hall was deathly silent except for the crisp sound of the lid tapping against the cup, each sound striking their nerves.

After a long while, Ethanwho'd been pampered since childhoodcouldn't endure this cold treatment. His breathing grew heavier.

"If you have no other instructions, I'll take my leave," he said through gritted teeth, barely suppressing his rage.

I set down my coffee cup and let out a laugh.

"What's the rush? I've just taken charge of household affairs. There are some rules I need to teach Miss Reed properly."

I looked at Vanessa like a blade: "Miss Reed, do you know your mistake?"

She trembled all over and bowed deeply: "I don't know what I did wrong. Please enlighten me, Emily."

"You don't know?"

I stood and walked toward her step by step.

"Yesterday at the family shrine, youan unmarried womandared to wear a crimson gold-embroidered dress and stand side by side with Ethan. Where did you place the North family rules? Where did you place me?"

Vanessa's face went deathly pale. "Emily, please understand. Ethan gave me that dress"

"Ethan gave it to you, so you dared to wear it?" I looked at her coldly. "Do you have no concept of hierarchy? Someone come. Miss Reed doesn't understand the rules. Slap her face."

Two burly servants stepped forward and pinned Vanessa down on either side.

Ethan stepped forward to shield her, glaring at me: "Emily! Don't go too far! Vanessa is pregnant. She can't take this!"

I looked at his enraged face, my heart completely unmoved.

"Ethan North, what did you just call me?"

He choked, his face flushing red.

"I am Damien North's legally wedded wife. You called me by my first nameare you disrespecting Damien, or are you disrespecting the North family rules?"

I stepped closer, staring at him coldly.

"Since you feel so sorry for Miss Reed, you can take her punishment."

Ethan looked at me in disbelief. "You dare hit me?"

"Why wouldn't I dare discipline you?"

I waved my hand. Guards flooded in and surrounded Ethan completely.

Vanessa threw herself at his legs, crying: "Emily, please calm down! It's my fault. I'll accept the punishment. Please don't hit him!"

She cried pitifully. Ethan protectively shielded her: "Vanessa, don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, no one can touch you."

Watching this touching display of devotion made me sick.

Years ago, when I'd taken a bullet meant for him and nearly died from infection and three days of high fever, he'd been accompanying Vanessa to the opera.

"What a touching performance." I sneered. "Since Miss Reed is so understanding, let's grant her wish. Do it."

*Crack!*

The crisp slap echoed.

Vanessa screamed continuously. Her lip split open, blood pouring out.

The guards held Ethan down while he watched helplessly as his beloved woman was punished. His eyes turned blood red as he roared:

"Emily! You vicious woman! I will never let this go!"

I looked down at his impotent rage with utter contempt.

"I look forward to it."