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No Ring, No Rights
No Ring, No Rights
Author: Lucy Cloud

Chapter 1

Author: Lucy Cloud
“Fran, when do you plan on having your wedding with that Smith boy?"

The same voice asking the same question. However, unlike my past life, I did not want to marry him this time.

The moment the screen in my hand darkened, I looked up at my mother and said earnestly, "But Mom, the one I want to marry is Simon Smith’s older brother, Spencer Smith!"

"Who?" my mother asked, her expression shocked. There was not a trace of anger in her tone, only disbelief as if she had misheard.

I did not blame her for her disbelief, though. Despite our families having decided our betrothal as a business alliance, everyone in Sea City knew I had been chasing him for a decade. I even made a vow publicly that I would marry no one else but him.

As such, I hugged my mom and repeated my words with even more determination.

The very next day after the engagement was finalized, however, I ran into Simon at an auction. The moment his friends spotted me, their faces lit up with mocking grins.

"Hey, Simon, your little shadow’s stuck to you again!"

"Come on, Fran, do you have to cling to him so hard even now that the engagement’s official? Can’t you let him attend an auction in peace?"

Hearing their taunts, Simon only grew more impatient. "Francesca, do you have to throw yourself at me like this?" he snapped. "You forced your way into this engagement without my consent and now the whole city knows you’re my fiancée. Have you no shame?"

Despite this being my second life, the disdain in his eyes still made my chest tighten.

After a long pause, I finally replied, "Why would I need your permission? You're not the one I'm marrying."

The moment my words left my mouth, the room erupted in laughter.

Simon's lackeys doubled over, clutching their stomachs as they jeered, "Simon, I’ve gotta hand it to your fiancée! I bet she’s got some other trick up her sleeve to get your attention!"

Simon frowned. "Francesca, you’ve gotten smarter, playing hard to get now, but it’s still useless.”

"Who else could you possibly marry when it comes to my family? My father?" He burst into mocking laughter before lowering his voice, "I can let the engagement slide. I can even give you a grand wedding."

Then, leaning in, he hissed, "But the marriage certificate? That’s reserved for the woman I actually want to marry."

I froze for a moment, then met his gaze with utter disbelief.

Despite Simon having already met that woman from the red-light district by this point in my past life, he still followed his family's arrangements obediently. We had very quickly obtained our marriage certificate and held the wedding.

Could it be that he...

Before I could decipher the truth from his expression, Carina arrived at the auction.

The moment she saw Simon and me sitting together, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Simon... I heard you're getting married soon," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn’t bring a gift, but... I just wanted to wish you happiness."

Then she turned to me, her lips quivering as she continued, "You're not angry, are you, Fran? I just wanted to see Simon one last time."

I shot her a disdainful glance and replied coldly, "Don’t call me that. I know you love the feeling of getting others wrapped around your finger, but that won't work on me."

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  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 2

    The moment those words left my mouth, Carina burst into tears and ran out.Simon shoved me, his eyes burning with hatred. "Francesca, watch your mouth! If you frighten Carina, you're dead!" With that, he stormed out without so much as a backward glance. When Carina returned to the auction, she was cradled in Simon's arms. Her lips were swollen and red, while a vivid love bite had bloomed on Simon's neck. In my past life, Simon had always maintained the facade of a devoted husband in public. This was the first time he had openly humiliated me. The room held its breath, waiting for my outburst. Even after Simon carefully set Carina down, his expression seemed oddly expectant. However, minutes passed, and my silence remained. A cold smirk twisted his lips. "Hmph. At least you've learned your place and now know that your tantrums are useless." I had come to the auction for the ruby necklace. The intent was to gift it to myself for the wedding. Despite this, even when the

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 3

    I glanced at the glittering jewels on screen, then at the cheap cup set in my arms, and let out a hollow laugh. Perhaps in Simon’s eyes, I really was just a tragic joke. Their foreheads touched in the video, then their lips crashed together. The obscene, wet sounds of their kiss echoed jarringly through my speakers. [Oops~ Just so you know, after your little wedding show, Simon will be marrying me legally. Remember, the woman without the certificate is the real mistress~] I swiped the video away. Then it hit me. In my past life, after I married into the Smith family, their corporation had suddenly been flooded with lucrative partnerships. Deals materialized overnight, assets skyrocketed, and within months, the Smiths topped Sea City’s wealth rankings. The elders called me their "fortune-blessing bride," treating me like gold. Even Simon’s indifference could not shake my belief that I was happy. It was not until I discovered Carina’s existence that I realized that his c

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 4

    "Boohoo... Simon, my skin feels like it’s been scraped raw... It hurts so much…”"But it's fine, really. It's all my fault. Please don’t be angry or I’ll feel even worse!"Simon hesitated briefly before finally scoffing coldly, "A woman as jealous and unreasonable as her deserves to be taught a lesson. Let her reflect on her behavior!"After the wretched pair left, I glanced at the wedding dress still tangled in my hand and silently wiped away my tears. What a waste of my efforts.Still, tonight was the family banquet, my first official meeting with Spencer Smith. I needed to make a good impression.After freshening up and steadying my emotions, I headed to the underground garage.From a distance, I spotted a car shaking.As I got closer, I realized it was Simon’s sports car. The driver’s side window was half-open, and Simon had Carina straddling his lap. The woman’s breathy moans and the man’s muffled groans soon reached my ears.Peering through the window, I saw the two of the

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 5

    I clenched my jaw, about to tell him to leave and that this seat was reserved for his brother.Before I could speak, a tall figure appeared by the sofa.Spencer had walked in, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.Spencer had originally been an illegitimate child, but after being acknowledged by the family, he gradually built his empire through connections and shrewd business acumen. He was unlike Simon, who merely clung to the coattails of his parents' wealth.When Spencer was Simon's age, he had already expanded his ventures overseas, and even the Smith family’s headquarters in Sea City relied heavily on his success.His influence within the Smith family had grown undeniable.All eyes in the room turned toward him as he entered, yet his gaze locked only with mine.When he noticed Simon standing beside me, a shadow flickered in his eyes.I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could, Simon abruptly walked out of the dining room.I studied Spencer, now far more composed a

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 6

    Under the pretense of serving me food, he leaned in close and hissed a threat in my ear, "Francesca, do you think I won't put you in your place?”"Are you determined to make a scene in front of my family today? Listen here. If you still want that wedding, you’ll be good and play along."I didn't even glance at him, calmly brushing aside his hovering cutlery as if swatting away a nuisance.Simon’s eyes widened in disbelief before he stiffly retreated to his seat.Spencer’s hand found mine under the table, his grip steadying as he spoke aloud, "These arrangements should go according to Fran's wishes. Whatever she wants, we’ll do."The heat of his palm seared through me and my heart skipped.Simon scrambled to agree, "Y-yes, exactly! Brother’s right! Dad, Fran and I will handle the paperwork ourselves, just save your energy for the wedding!"The entire table turned to stare at his bizarre outburst.Finally, Sullivan slammed his hands on the table."We’re discussing your brother’s

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 7

    ”Since you never loved me either, do us both a favor and let go." I had given him exactly what he wanted in this life, so why did he now look at me with such inexplicable agony?"Impossible! You can’t possibly not love me! In our past life, we…" He abruptly cut himself off, his expression shifting into something almost pleading. "Alright, Fran. Enough games. I’ll let you choose all the wedding details after this. Hell, I’ll even register the marriage properly. Carina can just live with us. Happy now?"I stared at him, stunned. It was as if I was truly seeing him for the first time. "Simon," I said slowly, "for the last time, I’m marrying Spencer. Stop this madness." "You dare try to marry him?!" he snarled. When neither threats nor concessions worked, he suddenly yanked me forward, only for me to be pulled back against a solid chest. Spencer wrapped a coat around my shoulders, his voice lethally calm. "I'll let this slide only because you’re my brother, but don't

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 8

    Being prominent figures, the Smiths would only announce the wedding details formally once finalized. So naturally, our social circle still assumed Simon was the groom. My friend then sent a screenshot of Simon’s social media profile. His profile picture, banner, and pinned post had all been replaced with photos of me. His bio now read: [Francesca and I are bound for eternity.] A blatant declaration to the entire world. Despite this, my heart remained unsettlingly calm. In our past life, no matter how desperately I begged, he had never dared to claim me so publicly. Now that he had lost me, he suddenly had regrets and was trying to make amends. Simon’s love was truly as cheap as it was worthless. That afternoon, I visited a nearby café to try their new seasonal drink. Halfway through my coffee, Carina stormed in like a madwoman, pointing at me and shrieking, "Francesca! What kind of spell have you cast on Simon?! Why has he suddenly started caring about you aga

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 9

    They showered her with flattery, begging her not to forget them once she married into the Smith family.However, as time passed, the Smiths never acknowledged her claims.In the end, Carina became the laughingstock of all Sea City and was promptly thrown out of the brothel where she worked.Worried that these vile people and their drama might upset me, Spencer cleared out his schedule to take me on trips to distract me. He always seemed afraid I would be hurt. I just buried my face in his chest and murmured, "Hurt? No. I just feel… regret. Regret that I ever wasted my heart on someone like him." He held me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he whispered, "Let me spend the rest of my life filling your days with nothing but joy."On the night of my birthday, Spencer reserved the entire skyline restaurant overlooking the city square. I thought it was just a simple celebration until the digital billboard across the river lit up with the words: [Francesca, will you marry me?

Latest chapter

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 10

    "If you still don’t understand, let me make it clear. The man I love is Spencer. In this life, and every life after.” "And from now on, you will respect me. After all, I am your sister-in-law." After saying that, Simon lunged forward, seemingly even more desperate not to let go.Finally, I snapped. Leaning in, I whispered words only he could hear and revealed the true end of our past life."If you feel even an ounce of guilt for murdering me, then let me go." His hands fell slack. Horror and despair hollowed out his eyes. Turning away, I exchanged rings with Spencer then sealed my vow with a kiss, right in front of Simon. He watched us, mouth agape. The wounds on his back had split open anew from the exertion, and he finally collapsed to the ground unconscious. Simon refused to give up even after Spencer and I were officially wed.He caused a scene with the Smiths, left the Smith Group, and vowed to start his own business. He swore that one day, he would defeat Spe

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 9

    They showered her with flattery, begging her not to forget them once she married into the Smith family.However, as time passed, the Smiths never acknowledged her claims.In the end, Carina became the laughingstock of all Sea City and was promptly thrown out of the brothel where she worked.Worried that these vile people and their drama might upset me, Spencer cleared out his schedule to take me on trips to distract me. He always seemed afraid I would be hurt. I just buried my face in his chest and murmured, "Hurt? No. I just feel… regret. Regret that I ever wasted my heart on someone like him." He held me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he whispered, "Let me spend the rest of my life filling your days with nothing but joy."On the night of my birthday, Spencer reserved the entire skyline restaurant overlooking the city square. I thought it was just a simple celebration until the digital billboard across the river lit up with the words: [Francesca, will you marry me?

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 8

    Being prominent figures, the Smiths would only announce the wedding details formally once finalized. So naturally, our social circle still assumed Simon was the groom. My friend then sent a screenshot of Simon’s social media profile. His profile picture, banner, and pinned post had all been replaced with photos of me. His bio now read: [Francesca and I are bound for eternity.] A blatant declaration to the entire world. Despite this, my heart remained unsettlingly calm. In our past life, no matter how desperately I begged, he had never dared to claim me so publicly. Now that he had lost me, he suddenly had regrets and was trying to make amends. Simon’s love was truly as cheap as it was worthless. That afternoon, I visited a nearby café to try their new seasonal drink. Halfway through my coffee, Carina stormed in like a madwoman, pointing at me and shrieking, "Francesca! What kind of spell have you cast on Simon?! Why has he suddenly started caring about you aga

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 7

    ”Since you never loved me either, do us both a favor and let go." I had given him exactly what he wanted in this life, so why did he now look at me with such inexplicable agony?"Impossible! You can’t possibly not love me! In our past life, we…" He abruptly cut himself off, his expression shifting into something almost pleading. "Alright, Fran. Enough games. I’ll let you choose all the wedding details after this. Hell, I’ll even register the marriage properly. Carina can just live with us. Happy now?"I stared at him, stunned. It was as if I was truly seeing him for the first time. "Simon," I said slowly, "for the last time, I’m marrying Spencer. Stop this madness." "You dare try to marry him?!" he snarled. When neither threats nor concessions worked, he suddenly yanked me forward, only for me to be pulled back against a solid chest. Spencer wrapped a coat around my shoulders, his voice lethally calm. "I'll let this slide only because you’re my brother, but don't

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 6

    Under the pretense of serving me food, he leaned in close and hissed a threat in my ear, "Francesca, do you think I won't put you in your place?”"Are you determined to make a scene in front of my family today? Listen here. If you still want that wedding, you’ll be good and play along."I didn't even glance at him, calmly brushing aside his hovering cutlery as if swatting away a nuisance.Simon’s eyes widened in disbelief before he stiffly retreated to his seat.Spencer’s hand found mine under the table, his grip steadying as he spoke aloud, "These arrangements should go according to Fran's wishes. Whatever she wants, we’ll do."The heat of his palm seared through me and my heart skipped.Simon scrambled to agree, "Y-yes, exactly! Brother’s right! Dad, Fran and I will handle the paperwork ourselves, just save your energy for the wedding!"The entire table turned to stare at his bizarre outburst.Finally, Sullivan slammed his hands on the table."We’re discussing your brother’s

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 5

    I clenched my jaw, about to tell him to leave and that this seat was reserved for his brother.Before I could speak, a tall figure appeared by the sofa.Spencer had walked in, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.Spencer had originally been an illegitimate child, but after being acknowledged by the family, he gradually built his empire through connections and shrewd business acumen. He was unlike Simon, who merely clung to the coattails of his parents' wealth.When Spencer was Simon's age, he had already expanded his ventures overseas, and even the Smith family’s headquarters in Sea City relied heavily on his success.His influence within the Smith family had grown undeniable.All eyes in the room turned toward him as he entered, yet his gaze locked only with mine.When he noticed Simon standing beside me, a shadow flickered in his eyes.I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could, Simon abruptly walked out of the dining room.I studied Spencer, now far more composed a

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 4

    "Boohoo... Simon, my skin feels like it’s been scraped raw... It hurts so much…”"But it's fine, really. It's all my fault. Please don’t be angry or I’ll feel even worse!"Simon hesitated briefly before finally scoffing coldly, "A woman as jealous and unreasonable as her deserves to be taught a lesson. Let her reflect on her behavior!"After the wretched pair left, I glanced at the wedding dress still tangled in my hand and silently wiped away my tears. What a waste of my efforts.Still, tonight was the family banquet, my first official meeting with Spencer Smith. I needed to make a good impression.After freshening up and steadying my emotions, I headed to the underground garage.From a distance, I spotted a car shaking.As I got closer, I realized it was Simon’s sports car. The driver’s side window was half-open, and Simon had Carina straddling his lap. The woman’s breathy moans and the man’s muffled groans soon reached my ears.Peering through the window, I saw the two of the

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 3

    I glanced at the glittering jewels on screen, then at the cheap cup set in my arms, and let out a hollow laugh. Perhaps in Simon’s eyes, I really was just a tragic joke. Their foreheads touched in the video, then their lips crashed together. The obscene, wet sounds of their kiss echoed jarringly through my speakers. [Oops~ Just so you know, after your little wedding show, Simon will be marrying me legally. Remember, the woman without the certificate is the real mistress~] I swiped the video away. Then it hit me. In my past life, after I married into the Smith family, their corporation had suddenly been flooded with lucrative partnerships. Deals materialized overnight, assets skyrocketed, and within months, the Smiths topped Sea City’s wealth rankings. The elders called me their "fortune-blessing bride," treating me like gold. Even Simon’s indifference could not shake my belief that I was happy. It was not until I discovered Carina’s existence that I realized that his c

  • No Ring, No Rights   Chapter 2

    The moment those words left my mouth, Carina burst into tears and ran out.Simon shoved me, his eyes burning with hatred. "Francesca, watch your mouth! If you frighten Carina, you're dead!" With that, he stormed out without so much as a backward glance. When Carina returned to the auction, she was cradled in Simon's arms. Her lips were swollen and red, while a vivid love bite had bloomed on Simon's neck. In my past life, Simon had always maintained the facade of a devoted husband in public. This was the first time he had openly humiliated me. The room held its breath, waiting for my outburst. Even after Simon carefully set Carina down, his expression seemed oddly expectant. However, minutes passed, and my silence remained. A cold smirk twisted his lips. "Hmph. At least you've learned your place and now know that your tantrums are useless." I had come to the auction for the ruby necklace. The intent was to gift it to myself for the wedding. Despite this, even when the

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