“Arghh!” The violent bullying continued in the prison. Mabel could only protect her head with both hands, trying her best to shield herself from being beaten to death. She lay on the ground, pain searing through her body, tears streaming down her face, blurring her vision. Mabel, a wealthy heiress, had never experienced such treatment and had never felt such complete humiliation. And to make matters worse, this torment came from none other than her beloved fiancé. Why was she subjected to the brunt of Xavier’s anger and hatred when Whitney Schumer got into trouble? The accident that befell Whitney was not her doing. After the incident, Mabel had tried to explain herself to everyone around her. “I didn’t hurt Whitney.” But despite her protests, Whitney’s father, Michael Schumer, the butler of the Scotts, filed a lawsuit against her in court. He accused Mabel of orchestrating a group of thugs to rape Whitney at the Eclipse bar. That was a lie. It wasn’t Mabel who invited Whitney to Eclipse. What really happened that night was this: Whitney was curious about what a bar was like, so she asked Mabel to go to Eclipse, and then, for reasons unknown, she was raped. Mabel, the heiress of the Jennings, was perceived by others as bold and reckless. Whitney, the daughter of a servant, was innocent, gentle, and shy. How could she possibly have wanted to go to such a seedy place as Eclipse? Mabel had told the lawyer, the judge, and everyone else that her car had broken down halfway, which was why she arrived late at the bar. But no one believed her. They said Mabel was making excuses, that she had deliberately left Whitney alone at the bar, making it easier for the thugs she had paid to violate her. Despite having an alibi, Mabel lacked witnesses due to the failure of the police and Scotts to catch the thugs. They should have believed Mabel. After all, Mabel had no motive to hurt Whitney. Indeed, Mabel was deeply in love with her fiancé. If Whitney was Xavier’s lover, Mabel might have been jealous, but she would never have gone that far. Whitney had told Mabel herself—they were not in a romantic relationship. Mabel had no motive to hire people to harm Whitney. But everyone believed it was reasonable for Mabel, who had once fiercely pursued Xavier, to take extreme actions against his lover, given her fiery nature. Everyone had seen how passionate Mabel’s love for Xavier was. As the heiress of the Jennings, Mabel understood her responsibility—an arranged marriage with another prominent family—while enjoying her privileges. When Mabel learned that her marriage partner would be Xavier, she was overjoyed. What could be luckier than marrying the person you once secretly loved? But at the same time, Mabel had heard rumors about Xavier frequently being seen with a beautiful woman, supposedly his lover. If Xavier had a lover, how would their marriage work? It was a dilemma for Mabel. Should she continue loving Xavier, or just treat him as a cold, transactional partner? Before the engagement ceremony, Mabel found the woman, Whitney. Whitney told her she wasn’t Xavier’s lover—she was merely a decoy to ward off other women who were after Xavier. Thus, Mabel pursued Xavier with even more passion. But now … Because she fell in love with her betrothed, she transformed into the villain in the story, an evil supporting character who would do anything to destroy Cinderella and her prince. She bore the brunt of all the malice. It was absurd! After the incident, right up until the moment she was thrown into prison, Mabel certainly believed she was innocent. She hadn’t committed any crime. No one had the right to judge an innocent person. Yet the man who controlled everything was the one behind it all. … On the second floor of the Scott Residence, the man stood tall, broad-shouldered, and slim-hipped, a black robe casually draped over his body. He stood barefoot in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, it was raining, the sky hazy. “Mr. Scott, the legal team is ready,” Michael said quietly from the door of the master bedroom. Xavier swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze still fixed on the window. After hearing Michael’s words, he finally looked away, his expression cold as he spoke a string of commands. “Tell the Jennings that helping Mabel will ruin their family. If they want the family to stay afloat, then from now on, Mabel will cease to exist.” “Understood.” “Secondly, notify Seacastle University—there will be no record of Mabel there. Mabel’s high school expelled her due to her promiscuity and fighting. Her highest level of education is middle school.” “Understood.” “And lastly,” Xavier said with an icy tone, “make sure the legal team ensures she serves three years in prison.” Michael looked up sharply, stunned. “Mr. Scott?” “She killed someone, bribed others, and attempted murder. Let her serve three years in prison. What? Do you think I’m wrong, Michael?” “No, Mr. Scott is absolutely right.” Michael choked up, tears streaming down his face. “If it weren’t for you, Mabel’s crime against my daughter would go unpunished. Since Mabel is from the Jenning family, I couldn’t take any action against her. Thank you, Mr. Scott, thank you!” Michael sobbed uncontrollably. Xavier turned away from the window, his dark eyes clouded with stormy thoughts. He tightened his grip on the wine glass, lifting it to his lips, not a single drop spilling, as the deep red liquid disappeared into his stomach. “Michael, the reason I’m taking action against Mabel isn’t because Whitney is your daughter,” Xavier said slowly, his voice cold. “It’s because Whitney is the woman I’m attracted to.”