Chapter 1

"Chunin, you're back. Mom has made your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. Hurry up, wash your hands and come to eat."

As her mother's kind and concerned voice rang out, Ye Chunin’s gaze fell on her stepfather, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

To avoid making her stepfather and stepsister unhappy, her mother had always been very cold and strict with her in front of him, even treating her worse than a maid.

Why was she acting so unusually today?

Over the years, she had already grown accustomed to her mother's attitude. As a second marriage, and bringing her along, her mother's life after marrying into the Bai family had not been easy. Her stepfather was a very cold and selfish person, and as his business grew, he became even colder towards her.

"Mom." Ye Chunin called out softly.

A trace of unease flashed in her mother's eyes, but Ye Chunin did not see it.

Her mother's sudden kindness made her eyes well up with tears. She turned and went to the bathroom to wash her hands, then entered the dining room.

Her mother and stepfather were already seated.

"Shouldn't we wait for sister?" Bai Jiashi was her stepfather's daughter.

"We won't wait for her. Let's eat." Her mother said, lowering her head to eat.

Ye Chunin felt that her mother was acting particularly strange today. Indeed, just as she had taken a few bites, her mother spoke again.

"Chunin, your father's company is facing a financial crisis and he wants you to help."

Ye Chunin furrowed her brow and looked at her mother. "How can I help?"

"Mr. Huang, the one who came to your stepfather's birthday party this year, remember? He really likes you. He said that if you marry him, our two families will become in-laws, and he will help us with our financial crisis..."

Her mother's voice grew softer.

Ye Chunin's face, however, grew paler and paler.

Her mother's sweet and sour pork ribs had always been delicious, but the ribs in her mouth now tasted bitter.

Mr. Huang.

Of course, she remembered him. The middle-aged man in his early fifties, with a round and plump face, squinting eyes, and a lecherous look. At the party, he had held her hand and wouldn't let go, making Ye Chunin wash her hands over a dozen times that night.

Her mother wanted her to marry him?

"That's a man in his fifties, old enough to be my father..."

"All men are better when they're older; they know how to treat their wives well. And Mr. Huang doesn't have any children. If you can give him a son, the Huang family will be yours in the future." Her stepfather, Bai Lizhong, said with a smile.

If it's so good, why not let the stepsister marry him?

Ye Chunin sneered inwardly, not looking at her stepfather but at her mother. "Mom, do you really think so?"

"Chunin, Mr. Huang said he will treat you well..." Although her mother felt bad for her daughter, she always followed her husband's wishes and tried to persuade her. "If it weren't for your father, we wouldn't have such a comfortable life. Now that the Bai family is in trouble, we can't just stand by and do nothing!"

Comfortable life?

If her mother hadn't married her stepfather, she would have had a better life.

When her father died, he left behind tens of thousands of yuan in savings and two houses. After marrying into the Bai family, the savings were added to the Bai family's expenses, and one of the larger houses was sold to help her stepfather with his business.

Over the years, living in the Bai family, she had endured poor living conditions and frequent disdainful looks from her stepfather and bullying from her stepsister.

Now, were they even going to destroy her lifelong happiness?

Ye Chunin stood up angrily, looking straight at her stepfather and mother. "I won't marry him. If you want someone to marry, let Bai Shijia do it. She is the Bai family's daughter!"

"You will marry him whether you like it or not!" Bai Lizhong roared. "Lock her up. I've already made arrangements with Mr. Huang. Tomorrow, I'll take the household registration book and get the marriage certificate. Then I'll send it to the Huang family along with the certificate."

As soon as her stepfather finished speaking, three servants in the house rushed over, grabbed Ye Chunin, and locked her in a room.