Julia, the daughter of the Earl of Woodcliff, had a complex and challenging upbringing. Despite her noble lineage, she was born to a commoner and was later adopted two years ago. Blessed with her father’s striking appearance, intelligence, and exceptional talents, Julia blossomed into an extraordinarily gifted and brilliant young girl. However, her remarkable qualities became a source of envy for her father’s lawful wife and her legitimate siblings, who were born to her stepmother. Consequently, they treated her with icy indifference. Throughout the day, Julia endured meager meals and toiled tirelessly like a servant, except for the designated study hours set by her father. Her slender figure bore witness to the hardships she faced. In this harsh reality, Julia was scornfully labeled as the “Withered Tree girl” by her own family, while the household servants referred to her as the “Withered Tree Lady.” Amidst these challenges, Julia’s life took an unexpected turn when she received a marriage proposal from a baron of lower social status than an earl. Caught between her desire for freedom and the pressure imposed by her sisters, who opposed her union with a noble of lower rank, Julia found herself at a crossroads. The decision she had to make would shape her future and profoundly alter the course of her life.