Scene shifts back to the present.
Lost in thought, Liu Yifei sat on the edge of her bed, her mind replaying everything again and again, so deeply immersed that she barely noticed time passing.
Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound at her door startled her.
Liu Yifei quickly stood up and opened it.
Standing outside was Lishi, the only maid working in the Liu household.
"Yifei," Lishi said softly, "Madam is calling for you."
At her words, Liu Yifei's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively turned back to glance at the clock in her room.
Lunch time.
Her expression changed instantly.
Without wasting another second, Liu Yifei hurried out toward the kitchen. She was certain why her stepmother had sent for her. Lost in her thoughts, she had completely forgotten the time.
And forgetting lunch, that was a mistake she could not afford. After all, it was her responsibility to prepare and serve the meal.
In this house, even a moment of carelessness came with consequences.
As Liu Yifei walked from the dining room toward the kitchen, her gaze unintentionally fell on her stepmother, who was already seated at the dining table, waiting for lunch.
For some reason, her stepmother hadn't exploded in anger yet.
That alone felt strange.
Her father was sitting there as well.
It was even stranger because both of them were home today. Neither had gone to the office, something that almost never happened.
Meanwhile, her stepbrother and stepsister had already left for their college classes.
Because of a single mistake, Liu Yifei's heart began pounding violently in her chest.
She could only pray for one thing that at least this lunch would pass peacefully.
She didn't want a scene.
She didn't want taunts.
She didn't want humiliation.
With Lishi's help, she quickly arranged the dishes on the dining table. One by one, she served the food to her father and stepmother. She remained standing there the entire time, watching carefully, refilling dishes when needed, responding silently to every unspoken demand.
Only when they finished eating did they finally leave the dining room and head toward the living area.
Liu Yifei let out a quiet breath.
Together with Lishi, she cleared the table and washed all the dishes. After that, the two of them prepared a separate plate of food, simple rice and a kind of soup.
Food meant only for the servants.
And for her.
Liu Yifei usually ate with the maid. Her stepmother had taught her this lesson from a very young age, over and over again.
She was not a mistress of this house.
Her food was different.
She was not allowed to eat what her father, stepmother, or step-siblings ate.
Oddly enough, she didn't complain.
She wasn't picky about food. She could eat almost anything.
Still, sometimes—just sometimes—while cooking rich, delicious meals for the so-called family, she couldn't help but feel a quiet ache.
She missed good food.
She wanted to taste something warm and flavorful, something made with care.
But she never could.
Meanwhile, Lishi" who went home for two days every month, would return and excitedly tell her stories. About the delicious dishes she had eaten. About the places she had visited. About laughter and warmth.
And every time, Liu Yifei listened silently.
Missing things she had never truly been allowed to have.
After finishing her meal, Liu Yifei walked through the living room again, heading back toward her room.
Just as she was about to leave, her stepmother suddenly stopped her and motioned for her to come closer.
Liu Yifei didn't think much of it.
In her mind, it was probably just another chore, another order she was expected to follow.
But the very next moment, her father picked up a fabric bag lying beside him and thrust it toward her.
"Take this," he said coldly. "This is your wedding dress. In just two days, you'll be married to Zhang Xiao."
Liu Yifei froze.
"We're leaving for Shanghai tomorrow," Liu Jian continued without pause. "Be ready for the wedding. Don't make me forcefully drag you to Shanghai again."
His eyes hardened.
"If I have to do it, I won't hesitate. But I don't want anyone to see bruises or marks on your face or body on the wedding day."
His words pierced her like knives.
"So behave yourself. Don't forget the favors your mother and I have done for you. And once you become a member of the Xiao family, don't miss any opportunity to raise Liu Corporation to the same level as Xiao Corporation."
He leaned back, his voice turning even colder.
"Remember this—we did all of this for your future. We're marrying you into an incredibly wealthy family. Don't forget to repay your debt."
A brief pause.
"And don't even think about running away from this marriage. If you make us lose face in front of the Xiao family, you won't like the consequences."
Every single word Liu Jian spoke sounded less like a father… and more like a master issuing commands.
He refused to admit that this was for his own benefit. Instead, he wrapped his selfishness in the excuse of her future.
What kind of father speaks to his daughter like this?
What kind of father hands his daughter over to a disabled man without hesitation?
Did he even see her as his daughter?
Tears silently filled Liu Yifei's eyes.
Without saying a word, she took the bag. With trembling hands and tear-filled eyes, she turned around and walked toward her room, her steps large, desperate, and unsteady.
Behind her, Li Mengya sat calmly.
Satisfied.
A faint smile curved her lips as she watched Liu Yifei walk away.
Scene shifts
Inside a VIP room of a private club.
The lighting was dim, washed entirely in deep red, making faces impossible to see clearly.
Seated inside were Old Madam Liu" Liu Yifei's grandmother, along with two middle-aged men and one middle-aged woman.
Old Madam Liu took a slow drag from her cigarette, exhaling smoke lazily before speaking.
"Just two more days," she said, her voice low and confident.
"And I'll be even closer to the Xiao family."
A sharp, knowing smile crossed her lips.
"The moment that useless girl, Liu Yifei, marries Zhang Xiao, you'll all start seeing the results of what you've done."
Her laughter blended into the red-lit shadows of the room.
Cold.
Mysterious.
And full of hidden intentions.