"Extra, extra--"

This phrase is probably only heard on television, a relic from the roaring twenties and thirties. Back then, whenever a major event occurred, newspaper boys would roam bustling city streets, shouting out headlines with stacks of papers in hand.

But what major event is rocking today’s glitzy, neon-lit metropolis?

"The second daughter of the Hale family is getting married."

Upon hearing the news, countless wealthy heirs and socialites clutched their chests in despair, while their families scrambled to take precautionary measures.

Preventing what, exactly? Preventing overdoses, dramatic rooftop leaps, or desperate plunges into the nearest river—all to avoid an outbreak of social chaos.

Which Miss Hale could have cause such an earth-shattering stir?

None other than the second daughter of James Hale, the wealthiest man in Xenova State — Elizabeth Hale— a true legend among legends.

Whenever Elizabeth’s name comes up, there is no end to the tales whispered among the elite.

Her family’s wealth is so vast that a mere fraction of their fortune could transform a beggar into a billionaire overnight.

Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful, but she’s also extraordinarily gifted.

The stories about her achievements are endless.

At three years old, she could recite Shakespeare and solve complex mathematical equations.

At thirteen, she was accepted into Harvard University.

By nineteen, she had mastered finance, management, medicine, law, and more.

At twenty, with nothing left to learn, she grew obsessed with martial arts novels and began training in various combat styles.

By twenty-three, her skills had surpassed the heroes of classic adventure tales.

At twenty-five, under her father’s insistence, she took over the Hale Corporation.

The legend of Elizabeth Hale could take days to recount. Many wealthy young men had attempted to win her heart, only to be turned away at the gates of the Hale estate.

Yet at twenty-six, an announcement sent shockwaves through high society: Elizabeth Hale was engaged.

Many hearts shattered.

Emergency hotlines flooded with distress calls.

Police stations reported an unusual surge in disorderly conduct.

...

That evening, under the silver glow of a full moon, the Hale estate shimmered with opulence. Unlike the neon glare of the city center, the mansion’s warm golden lights exuded an air of mystery and tranquility. The grand ballroom overflowed with laughter, the sounds of a piano filling the air like a melody from paradise.

Tonight’s lavish celebration was none other than Elizabeth’s pre-wedding party.

For the young socialites reveling in the event, the night was one of uninhibited joy. Meanwhile, their parents felt an uneasy restlessness. James and his wife adored their second daughter. They found an excuse to leave early, leaving the party to unfold in full extravagance.

Elizabeth, in a stunning white evening gown, moved gracefully through the crowd, raising her glass in effortless charm. Her porcelain-perfect face, framed by cascading waves of hair, captivated every gaze in the room.

“I wonder which lucky man Elizabeth has chosen?” whispered a guest.

“I heard it’s the son of one of her father’s subordinates.”

“What? A mere employee’s son?”

“To put it politely, he’s a senior executive at Hale Corporation. To put it bluntly, he’s just a high-paid worker.”

“She’s really going to marry a man like that?”

“They grew up together—childhood sweethearts, apparently.”

“Childhood sweethearts? That means nothing. The right man can win any woman.”

"Mr. Reed, what do you mean by that?"

On the edge of the dance floor, a notorious playboy smirked. Lucas Reed, heir to the Reed conglomerate, watched Elizabeth with narrowed eyes.

“The Hale women have quite the reputation,” he murmured to his companion. “Her sister was fun—this one might be even better.”

“You shouldn’t say that out loud,” his friend warned.

Lucas merely chuckled, adjusted his designer suit, and strode confidently toward Elizabeth.

"Miss Hale—"

Elizabeth paused mid-step. When she turned, her eyes sparkled with a sharp intelligence, as if capable of seeing through anyone’s soul.

She knew Lucas Reed well—a notorious womanizer and a walking scandal.

"Ah, Mr. Reed," she greeted, ever the picture of politeness.

"Of course it’s me. Or were you expecting your lowly, insignificant fiancé?" Lucas sneered.

A hush fell over the nearby guests. Elizabeth’s lips curved into a dazzling smile. "You should watch your words, Lucas. There will be consequences."

"Consequences? I’d love to take my chances. I’d also love to—" Lucas reached for her wrist, a lecherous glint in his eye.

CRACK.

Before he could finish, a sharp cry pierced the ballroom. Heads snapped toward the scene.

Elizabeth had expertly twisted Lucas's wrist, pressing it firmly against the polished floor. A sickening crunch echoed as his bones cracked.

"I warned you," she said sweetly, tightening her grip. "I’m quite skilled in martial arts, you see. Another ounce of pressure, and you’ll be Lucas the Cripple."

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Lucas, writhing in agony, gasped, "Your sister—"

Another sharp twist silenced him.

"Still talking?" Elizabeth mused, applying more force.

"Ah—! No, no! I yield! I am scum, I admit it!"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, looking at the crowd. "What do you all think? Should we let him go?"

"Absolutely not!" they roared.

"Well, if the people have spoken…" Elizabeth shrugged playfully. "How about this? Since you admit your shamelessness, let’s make it official. Strip down and let us all witness your humility."

Lucas fainted.

That night became legendary. The once-proud Lucas Reed left the Hale mansion in nothing but his underpants. By morning, every major news outlet had the story.

But it wasn’t the headline.

The real headline came three days later.

The ball prematurely ended due to the Lucas incident. After the guests had all left, Elizabeth was exhausted. Recalling her sister Victoria Hale, it seemed that she only caught a glimpse of her during the entire banquet, and afterward, she was nowhere to be found. Ascending the stairs, dragging her weary body, her mind began to replay Lucas's words.

He said he was with Victoria...

Could it be...

Victoria was not her biological sister, but her father's adopted daughter. They grew up together and shared a deep bond. Apart from her indulgent personal life, she didn't have any significant drawbacks.

There was the sound of water running in the corridor, seemingly coming from Victoria's room.

"Darling, give me a kiss," a familiar voice echoed along the hallway.

"You scoundrel! Why are you here now?" Victoria responded, her voice captivatingly coy and gentle.

"Isn't it because I miss you?"

"Is it because you miss me, or her?"

"Of course, it's you! It was, is, and will always be you!"

The more she heard, the more it sounded familiar. Elizabeth quickened her pace. "Sis-" Knock knock knock. rapped on Victoria’s room door.

The room fell silent for a moment before Victoria’s somewhat lazy voice piped up. "Come in."

Without hesitation, Elizabeth pushed open Victoria’s door. The room was slightly messy, with clothes strewn across the floor. The person lying in the large bed had an intriguing figure, her sexy pink nightgown accentuating her flushed cheeks. It appeared as though there had been a passionate storm—except there was no one else in the room.

"Sis, I just heard a man's voice coming from your room!"

Casually glancing toward the bathroom, Victoria was open-minded but would never invite men into their house.

"Elizabeth, come here. I have something to tell you."

Victoria's seductive makeup was still intact, and her smile was mesmerizing. Any man would find it hard to resist.

"What is it?" Elizabeth moved closer, trusting Victoria completely—so much so that she failed to notice the figure behind the door.

"Elizabeth, I want to tell you that Nathan is mine, and Hale Enterprises is mine as well."

Victoria sat up slightly, her slender legs positioned alluringly as she cast a flirtatious look at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth hesitated. "Sis, are you joking—uh—"

She hadn't finished speaking before her body suddenly stiffened. Slowly, she turned her face and saw a familiar, handsome figure.

Nathan Cole.

Half-naked, he gazed at her with cold indifference, the fruit knife in his hand already halfway buried in her back.

Nathan, the man she was supposed to marry in three days.

Nathan, the childhood sweetheart she had loved all her life.

"Wh-why—"

A metallic taste filled Elizabeth’s throat. She wanted to question him, but before she could, Nathan cruelly pressed the blade in deeper.

Her body collapsed onto the bed, her trembling hands clutching the white sheets, now stained with terrifying red.

Elizabeth—the intelligent, highly skilled martial artist—had been deceived by the people she trusted and loved the most.

Nathan barely spared her a glance before turning back toward Victoria's bed, kissing the sensual woman fervently.

He kissed her until he had enough. Until he was nearly suffocating.

“I am just the adopted daughter of the Hale family. In the end, I would’ve received nothing. Only with you dead will everything belong to me!” Victoria smirked victoriously, lying in Nathan's arms.

Elizabeth smiled—a chilling, eerie smile. Her vision dimmed as her lifeblood drained away, but she kept her gaze fixed on Nathan.

She wanted to hear his answer.

"I am a man! I have normal needs!" Nathan showed no trace of mercy. To him, her death was a relief. He sneered, his voice filled with resentment. "After all these years together, you've played the saint long enough. I've had enough! From now on, the Cole family will no longer be slaves to your Hale family!"

Played the saint?

She had only wanted to save their beautiful nights for their honeymoon.

Slaves?

The Cole family had never been slaves to the Hale family!

"Haha…"

Elizabeth didn’t argue—she just laughed. Laughed at her own foolishness. She had never realized that the man she loved most and the sister she trusted would betray her so cruelly.

What a joke.

What a grand, pathetic joke.

"Nathan! Victoria!"

With her final breath, she uttered their names.

"I’ve always said—if I don't provoke others, they won’t provoke me. But if I die, you two will die with me!"

A mouthful of blood spilled from her lips, her body growing colder by the second.

Nathan and Victoria only scoffed. What could a dying person possibly do?

They laughed. He buried his head in her bosom, their bodies entwined in passion.

Elizabeth watched them indifferently, absentmindedly playing with the diamond ring on her fourth finger—the engagement ring Nathan had given her.

They had forgotten one thing.

Elizabeth was a genius.

For convenience, she had once installed a circuit control system for the Hale mansion within her diamond ring—a system that included an automatic ignition function.

With just one press, the circuits would collapse, engulfing the entire mansion in flames.

And so, she pressed it.

With a smile.

Nathan wasn’t hers. But he wasn’t Victoria's either.

The Hale Corporation wasn’t hers. But it certainly wasn’t Victoria’s.

At twenty-six years old, Elizabeth's life came to an abrupt end.

The next day, a shocking news report swept across the Xenova continent:

The estate of Xenova's wealthiest man, Hale James, was consumed by fire. His two daughters and future son-in-law perished in the flames.

It became the biggest headline of the decade--an eternal mystery to the outside world.