Blurb：
In this gripping tale of betrayal and revenge, Reily, a talented pianist, faces the ultimate betrayal on the eve of the World Piano Masters Competition. Kidnapped and left with severed tendons, she loses everything—endorsements, her career, and her hope. Just as despair consumes her, Carl Manos enters her life, appearing as her savior by paying her debts and healing her hand. But their marriage, built on lies, shatters when Reily discovers Carl’s cruel plot with Lucy Camden, the rival who stole her dreams.
Now, with hidden cameras exposing Carl’s plan to steal her corneas for Lucy, Reily must navigate a web of deception involving Iris Manos and Reese Camden. Will she reclaim her destiny, or succumb to the nightmare orchestrated by the man she once loved? Dive into a story of dark secrets, twisted alliances, and a heroine’s fight for justice.
Content：
The day before the World Piano Masters Competition, I was kidnapped, and my tendons were deliberately severed.
Endorsements were swiftly terminated. Advertisers, once eager to work with me, turned instead to my rival.
Crushed under the weight of betrayal and despair, I spiraled into a deep depression.
Just when I was at my lowest, Carl Manos appeared. He not only paid off all my breach-of-contract penalties but also sought out top specialists to treat my damaged hand.
Later, he knelt on one knee and solemnly proposed.
I saw him as my salvation, the light that pierced through my darkness. Without hesitation, I let Carl slip the ring onto my finger.
Two years later, my hand had fully recovered. I rushed to the study, eager to share the good news, only to overhear a chilling conversation.
“Carl, if you hadn’t arranged for someone to sever Reily’s tendons, my sister never would’ve had the chance to win the competition and land those endorsements. I’ll never forget what you did for us.”
There was a pause. Then came Carl’s indifferent reply, “I simply helped Lucy achieve her dream. Breaking a woman’s tendons in exchange for that is nothing.”
So this was the truth. The marriage I took such pride in… was nothing but a cold, calculated nightmare.
Since that was the case, there was nothing left for me here. It was time to leave.
Chapter 1
Inside the study, the two of them hadn’t noticed my presence. They continued calmly discussing their plan.
Lucy Camden’s younger brother, Reese Camden, spoke in a suggestive tone.
“Carl, my sister was in a car accident last week. Her eyes were injured… The doctor said it might affect her vision. What should we do?”
Carl’s voice was as cold and merciless as a devil’s whisper. “It’s just a pair of eyes. I’ll arrange a car accident for Reily and have her sent to the hospital. Then we’ll find someone to remove her corneas for Lucy. Everything will be done quietly and cleanly.”
My body trembled harder. Afraid they’d notice me, I staggered back to my room.
Fortunately, Carl had to go out tonight for work, leaving me home alone. Otherwise, I feared I might lose control and confront him in a blind fury.
The next evening, his younger sister, Iris Manos, came over for dinner.
She caught sight of the mountain of gifts piled up in the living room—gifts he had bought for me—and snorted. Casting a dissatisfied glance at Carl, she said, “Carl, don’t you think you’re being too good to that cripple? You’ve spent a fortune on her these past few years. I heard you’re planning to take her corneas soon. Once she’s blind, what use is she to us? One of my business partners used to be a fan of her concerts… Why don’t you just hand her over to—”
Before she could finish, Carl raised his hand to cut her off, his gaze sharp with disapproval.
“She’s still my wife and your sister-in-law, at least in the eyes of the world. And you want to hand her over to another man? Do you want me to be humiliated?”
Iris froze at his words, then muttered, “Sorry. I just thought… you seem like you’re falling for that cripple. But think about it, we’ve done so many terrible things to her. If she ever finds out the truth, she’ll hate us to the bone. Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of her sooner rather than later?”
Staring at the live feed on my phone, I clenched my fists, doing everything I could to stay quiet and not betray the presence of the hidden pinhole cameras I’d installed in the living room.
Ever since I overheard Carl’s plans that night, I’d secretly set up cameras around the house to monitor his every move.
Lucy must be thrilled, having Carl to protect her.
And me? I’ve been married to him for three years and loved him like a savior for three years, only to discover he was the one who destroyed me from the start.
After calming myself, I went downstairs like nothing had happened.
The moment Carl saw me, he gently placed his warm hand over my eyes, his voice full of feigned tenderness.
“Crying again? That’s not good for your eyes. Were you thinking about those old nightmares again? I told you, didn’t I? I’ve already taken care of those kidnappers.”
But he didn’t care about my eyes. He only feared they’d be damaged before he could hand them over to Lucy.
I looked straight at him, searching his face for any sign of deceit. But he was flawless. Not a crack in sight.
Bitterness welled up in my chest.
Chapter 2
Sometimes, when a lie is acted out too well, even I start to believe it.
He pulled me gently into his arms, his voice unbelievably tender.
“I paid a hefty price to bring in an experienced doctor. He’ll start the treatment on your hand soon and help restore your health. Once you’re better, we can try for a baby. And when that time comes, you can teach our child to play the piano. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Faced with Carl’s affectionate concern, I simply offered a faint smile.
Noticing something off about my reaction, his brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? Did someone say something unpleasant to you?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I overheard someone at home calling me a cripple.”
Carl’s expression turned ice-cold in an instant. His gaze swept sharply across the room. “Who?”
I glanced at Iris.
She caught the look and instantly exploded, jabbing her finger at me. “Did I say anything wrong? You are a cripple! And now you dare nitpick at me after marrying into our family?”
The next second, Carl’s hand moved like lightning, and he snapped one of her fingers.
The room filled with her anguished screams.
“Carl, how could you do this for some—”
But she stopped herself before finishing the word cripple. Clutching her hand, tears streamed down her face as pain nearly made her faint.
Carl stood there coldly, watching his sister writhe. His voice was devoid of emotion.
“I’ve let you off too easily in the past. If you ever say that to Reily again, I’ll break your whole hand.”
I watched it all unfold, and in that moment, I found Carl terrifyingly unfamiliar.
He spoke and acted like he was protecting me, even to the point of breaking his own sister’s finger. Anyone unaware of the truth would’ve thought he loved me deeply.
But I knew better. Every move he made was simply to cover up his carefully constructed lies. What we once had… was long gone.
Ever since the tendons in my hands were severed, my fingers throbbed painfully with every spell of cold or rain.
Carl saw it, of course. Every time, he’d hold my hands in his and whisper sweet reassurances, promising he’d find the best doctors to heal me.
For a long time, I believed meeting him was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. I thought no matter what happened, he’d always be there, standing behind me, shielding me from harm.
Never did I imagine that the very man I trusted would be the one to push me into that terrible nightmare.
And now, with Lucy’s eyes injured, he wanted my corneas to replace hers, just so she could fulfill her dream of becoming the world’s top pianist.
“Reily, what are you thinking about?” Carl’s gentle voice snapped me back to reality. “I’ve punished Iris. Come on, don’t stay angry.”
“I’m not angry anymore,” I replied. “It’s just… my hands have only just recovered, and I still can’t seem to play properly.”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, smiling with indulgent warmth. “If you can’t play well, then no one can.”
I lowered my eyes, burying my emotions, then used the excuse of being tired to head to bed.
Deep into the night, I stared at Carl’s sleeping face beside me. He looked so handsome, so perfect. Who would ever guess such cruelty lurked behind it?
I quietly got out of bed and unlocked his phone using his fingerprint.
His wallpaper was a photo of Lucy.
In the picture, she wore an elegant evening gown, seated at a grand piano, beaming as she held the World Piano Masters trophy in her hands.
That trophy… should have been mine.
A sour ache rose in my chest, and I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling onto the phone screen.
Wiping them away, I steadied myself and opened the chat log between Carl and Lucy.
Lucy: [Carl, Reily is your wife. Are you really willing to give me her corneas?]
Carl: [You saved my life in that fire when we were kids. For you, I’d do anything. Don’t feel guilty. If Reily loses her sight, I’ll take care of her for the rest of her life.]
Suddenly, a memory from twenty years ago surfaced in my mind.
Back then, I had traveled overseas to compete in a children’s piano competition, never expecting the hotel to catch fire in the middle of the night.
Chapter 3
While fleeing the fire, I came across a young boy on the verge of losing consciousness. His left arm had been badly burned, and he was in grave danger.
I couldn’t bear to leave him behind, so I summoned all my strength and carried him out on my back.
To calm his fear, I removed the protective charm my grandmother had given me and gently fastened it around his neck.
“Don’t be scared,” I whispered. “With this charm, nothing bad will happen.”
…
Now that I think about it, Carl does have a burn scar on his left arm. Though time has faded it, the mark is still there.
Back when Lucy and I hadn’t yet become enemies, I once mentioned the incident to her in passing.
Later, we became rivals in the piano competition, and our relationship gradually deteriorated.
All I knew after that was her family suddenly grew unusually close to the Manos family.
Looking at it now, it’s clear that Carl had mistaken Lucy for the girl who saved his life in that fire.
A cold laugh escaped my lips. So I’d spent all this time paving the way for someone else’s glory.
…
After uncovering the full truth, I contacted a covert organization and dialed their number.
“Do you take on jobs that involve staging a death and helping someone disappear?”
“As long as the money’s good, anything’s possible.”
“Money isn’t a problem. I just need you to get me out.”
The call must’ve roused Carl. He stirred in bed and stared at me for several seconds before speaking in a hoarse voice.
“Reily, who are you talking to at this hour?”
I slipped my phone away and turned to him calmly. “No one important. Just an old friend overseas.”
He didn’t press further.
The next morning, Carl took me to a piano gallery to pick out a new instrument.
While I was testing the tone of a grand piano, he stepped out to take a call. When he returned, his face was tight with urgency.
“Reily, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go handle it.” He kissed my forehead with gentle reassurance. “When your hands fully recover, I’ll host a one-of-a-kind concert just for you.”
I nodded, my voice flat as I said, “I understand. Go take care of it.”
After I finished testing the piano and stepped out of the shop, a car suddenly sped up beside me. Two men jumped out, grabbed me, and shoved me inside. A knife pressed against my neck as they ordered me to stay silent.
I didn’t know how long we drove, but eventually they brought me to an abandoned warehouse.
The man behind the kidnapping was Reese, Lucy’s younger brother.
He tossed a stack of photographs at my face, scattering them across the floor. “Take a good look.”
I stared at the images. Every one of them showed Carl and Lucy—arms linked, smiling, eyes brimming with affection. The intimacy between them was unmistakable.
Seeing me fall silent, Reese sneered with satisfaction. “How do those photos make you feel?”
I steadied my emotions, lifting my gaze to meet his coldly. “So you kidnapped me just to show me this? Cut the drama. What do you really want?”
Before he could reply, a venomous female voice rang out.
“To make you suffer, of course! I want you to live a life worse than death.”
Lucy stepped forward, hatred burning in her eyes as they fixed on my hands.
“Reily, you hid it well. Your hands have healed, and you didn’t even bother telling me. Still hoping to compete with me again?”
My heart skipped, but I kept my expression neutral. “How did you find out my hands have recovered?”
Lucy gave a triumphant, twisted smile. Her gaze stayed locked on me, full of resentment.
“You live under constant surveillance in the Manos household. You think you could hide something like that? Reily, you brought this on yourself. Why were you always first, and I always second? Why did I have to live in your shadow?!
“Well, now, things are different. Carl thinks I’m his savior. And you? You’re nothing. In fact, I should thank you. If you hadn’t rushed into that fire to save Carl all those years ago, I wouldn’t have the life I do today.
“He’s willing to do anything for me, even hiring someone to sever your tendons. Last time, it was him. This time, it’ll be me.”
Chapter 4
“This time, I won’t just ruin your hands. I’ll blind you too. Let’s see if you still dare to compete with me.”
The words hit me like a thunderclap. I never imagined Lucy’s malice could run this deep.
I turned to run, but before I could take more than a step, Reese swung a wooden stick hard against my legs. Then again, across my back, without mercy.
“Run again, and I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life crippled.”
In a panic, I grabbed a handful of dirt from the floor and threw it at his face. While he flinched, I snatched the stick from him and struck back.
Lucy, who had been hiding in the shadows, suddenly lunged forward, shielding Reese with her body.
The next second, Carl burst through the door, brow furrowed, eyes fixed on Lucy’s bruised arm.
“Lucy, are you okay? Your hand! Does it hurt?”
…
Lucy’s arm was turning purple. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She looked fragile and pitiful.
“Carl,” she choked out, “Reily had me kidnapped. If Reese hadn’t gotten here in time, I might never have seen you again.”
She paused, then looked at me. Her voice turned sharp and shrill.
“Reily! You used to be a pianist. You know how much our hands mean to us. And yet you tried to destroy mine! Carl, can we please call the police? I’m really scared…”
At the mention of the police, Carl didn’t respond right away.
Frustration flickered through Lucy’s eyes.
Reese seized the moment, finger jabbing at me as he twisted the story.
“Carl, you know how kindhearted Lucy is. If I hadn’t arrived in time, Reily would’ve cut her tendons and ended her career!”
Carl turned a cold gaze on me.
“You really did all this? When did you become so vicious?”
The disgust on his face was unmistakable. So was the distrust. I gave a bitter laugh. “Then tell me, Carl, who was it that had my tendons severed and destroyed my career?”
His expression froze. But when he spoke, his tone gave nothing away.
“You think it was me? Or Lucy? Seems I’ve spoiled you too much. Look what kind of person you’ve become.”
Then he turned to Reese. “I’ll take Lucy to the hospital. As for Reily, take her home. Don’t let her leave the house. I’ll deal with her when I get back.”
After he left, Reese’s face contorted.
He grabbed my neck with one hand and pulled out a knife with the other, pressing it to my cheek.
“You’ve got guts. Can’t believe Carl actually went easy on you. Don’t worry, I won’t touch your hands or eyes. Men care about faces most, don’t they? I’ll ruin yours. Let’s see how you compete with Lucy then.”
I struggled and fought, but I couldn’t break free.
The blade sliced across my left cheek in a clean X. The skin split open. Blood poured.
I passed out from the blood loss.
When I woke again, my left cheek was tightly wrapped in thick gauze.
The room they’d locked me in sat just across an artificial lake from Carl’s villa.
From the window, I could see him on the far side, walking a dog with Lucy. The two of them laughed, playfully tugging at the leash. They looked happy.
I’d begged him so many times to let me get a dog. Every time, he said no. Claimed he was allergic. Claimed he hated dogs.
But now, he looked like he loved them more than anyone else. Well, to be precise, he loved the one holding the leash.
I wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes, turned, and pulled out two things I’d prepared in advance: the divorce papers and the protective charm I had once given him when I saved his life.
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