Qiao Jinhuan collapsed with a knife wound to her neck, her carotid artery severed, blood gushing uncontrollably.
Her beloved younger sister, Qiao Jinyan, watched the entire scene with cold detachment, a sinister smile playing on her lips.
"Big sister," she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, "you've always given me everything I wanted since we were little. So why not let me have Yize too?"
Qiao Jinhuan tried to speak, but her vocal cords had been slashed—no sound escaped. All she could do was roll her eyes with immense effort, fixing her sister with a piercing, disbelieving stare.
How foolish she had been. So unbearably foolish.
Ever since she was five, when Qiao Jinyan's mother drowned saving hers, guilt had consumed her. She spent years trying to compensate for the lost maternal love, bending over backward to indulge her sister’s every whim.
If Jinyan liked something, no matter how much Jinhuan cherished it, she would surrender it without hesitation.
Just last night, amid thunder and lightning, Jinyan had whimpered about being afraid to sleep alone. Without question, Jinhuan had gone to her room to keep her company.
Then, in the dead of night, an intruder crept in. Startled awake, her first instinct had been to shield Jinyan—to tell her to run.
But the truth was far more vicious.
The attacker had been hired by Jinyan herself.
"W-why?"
The words tore from Jinhuan’s ruined throat, each syllable a struggle. What had she done to deserve this?
"Because you're an idiot!" Jinyan snarled, her beautiful face contorted with malice. "Yize belongs to me! How dare you try to take him from me?"
Jinhuan wanted to protest—she had never known Jinyan felt that way about Ji Yize. Had she known, she would have stepped aside without a second thought.
"Since you're about to die anyway, I might as well tell you. After you're gone, I'll take your place and marry Brother Yize. After all, we look exactly alike—he'll never know I'm Qiao Jinyan, not Qiao Jinhuan!"
The thought made Qiao Jinyan grin. Her plan was flawless. If Qiao Jinhuan died, the Ji family would surely investigate, and if they traced it back to her, things would get messy.
But if the one who died was "Qiao Jinyan," no one would care.
A simple excuse—like a home invasion—would suffice. Three days later, Qiao Jinhuan's body would be cremated, reduced to ashes, and no one would ever suspect a thing.
She, Qiao Jinyan, could then live openly as Qiao Jinhuan. The Qiao family's fortune, Ji Yize's love, even the Ji family's wealth—all of it would be hers!
"Now, I'll head to your room. As for you... since you died in mine, you'll be Qiao Jinyan forever..."
She wanted to laugh out loud, but she bit back the urge, afraid of waking the others. Still, excitement coursed through her, making her tremble uncontrollably.
Then—suddenly—her wrist was seized in a vice-like grip.
Qiao Jinhuan, with her last ounce of strength, had grabbed her. Knowing she wouldn't survive, she was determined to drag her sister down with her.
Panic surged through Qiao Jinyan. She thrashed wildly, but Qiao Jinhuan wouldn't let go—or rather, couldn't. Already bleeding to death, her fingers had stiffened, locking them together.
"What do I do? What do I do? I can't die! I have to marry Brother Yize—I can't die!"
Her gaze landed on the knife left behind by the intruder. She stared at it, hesitated for only a few seconds, then snatched it up.
"Don't blame me, Jinhuan. You forced this. You forced me..."
The blade flashed down.
Qiao Jinhuan's severed hand thudded to the floor.
Qiao Jinyan screamed—then instantly clapped a hand over her mouth. No. She couldn't wake the others. Not now.
She hastily picked up the knife, wrapped it in a towel, and rushed out of the room in a panic. Just as she closed the door behind her—
Someone was standing right there.
Qiao Jinyan nearly screamed, but the figure swiftly covered her mouth. "Quiet. It's me."
"Mom?"
The elegant middle-aged woman gave a slight nod. Pushing the door open, she cast a sharp glance inside, her eyes flashing with something venomous before she quickly shut it again.
"Well done. Hand me the knife. Now go straight to Qiao Jinhuan’s room. Remember—you were sound asleep tonight. You know nothing."
Qiao Jinyan shoved the knife into her mother’s hands without another word and tiptoed back to her own room.
The woman watched until her daughter disappeared behind the door. After a moment, she pushed open the room again and worked inside for over ten minutes before finally stepping out.
The raging storm finally subsided by the dead of night.
The next morning dawned clear, the sun rising in a blaze of golden light.