Chapter 1 Nightmare Begins

Yvonne Starr stood before the prison of Seaton, shivering as the winds blew against her.

"Don't ever come back to crime. Lead a better life."

Yvonne bowed at the prison guard. It had been five years since she was sent here. She was only 21 when she was sentenced to prison.

A black Maybach stopped by the road. The man inside said coldly, "Get in the car." He was Yvonne's brother, or at least she thought he was, until one day they found out they weren't related by blood.

Yvonne hung her head low. Nervously, she said, "Brother…"

"I am not your brother. Don't call me that." Chester Starr's face fell, and he checked the time. "You stole 21 years of my sister's life. You subjected her to humiliation in that family. Do not call me your brother."

Yvonne tried to say something, but nothing came out. The story went like this: the only daughter of the Starr Family, Yvonne, was the child of the nanny. The real lady of the family, however, was switched at birth.

A long while later, Yvonne said hoarsely, "I'm sorry." After being falsely accused of extortion, she was sent to prison and endured five years of relentless torture, which gradually wore down her spirit. She learned how to bow down to power. She could even beg for mercy just to survive.

She used to be the princess of the Starrs. She was the pride and joy of her brother and parents, but one day, the true princess of the Starrs barged into her life, donned in rags.

Her mother was ousted as a criminal, and she was the product of a case of switching at birth. She became the pariah of the city. No one cared that she was just an infant when her mother made the choice to switch her out. She didn't make that choice for herself.

"Sorry? You think an apology is enough to make up for all the damage you’ve done to Lara?" Chester asked coldly. He gave Yvonne a look of disdain. "Get in the car." He didn't even want to touch Yvonne. She was a filthy menace, after all.

Years ago, Chester loved to hold Yvonne in her arms, praising her to high heavens. Now? He wanted her dead.

Yvonne smiled bitterly and took a step back. "I'm still dirty." She had no courage to get in the car.

Chester frowned and eyed Yvonne. She used to be a pampered lady who never knew a day of hard work in her life. She shone so brightly once upon a time, but never again. She was a grimy mess, a pale shadow of her former self. She appeared profoundly humble through and through.

Obviously, she had suffered a lot in prison. "I don't want to repeat myself. Get in the car." Chester looked at Yvonne venomously. "Lara's hurt badly. Happy now? We're going to the hospital. You're giving her back what is rightfully hers."

Yvonne froze for a moment, and fear seized her heart. She was wondering why Chester was here to pick her up. The whole family hated her guts, after all. Now she knew he wasn't here to pick her up.

"What do you mean?" Yvonne was shivering.

"Lara got into a car crash and she needs a kidney transplant. You owe her this," Chester said solemnly, furrowing his brows.

Yvonne took a deep breath and stepped back again. She turned to flee as her instinct kicked in. However, before she could go too far, someone grabbed her wrist and shoved her onto the ground.

"You're as evil as ever, Yvonne."

Yvonne lay on the ground, her forehead smashed against a stone, and blood spilled. She knew that voice—it was icy but familiar. Yvonne turned around, and she curled up in fear.

Zacharias Gunther, her ex-fiance. He was one of the people who doctored evidence of her extortion and put her behind bars.

"You owe Lara this," Zacharias said slowly. Hearing his words, Yvonne, who had just gotten out of jail, found herself overwhelmed by the sense of guilt once again.

She thought she could be free after she was released. She didn't defend herself on the court, nor did she have the power to. She thought if she just confessed to her 'crimes' and did the time, it would be enough to absolve her of her sins, but she thought wrong.

Impatiently, Chester said, "Take her to the hospital. Lara's waiting."

"What if she refuses?" asked the driver.

"No such thing. Even if she were asked to sacrifice her life for Lara, it would still seem quite fair. She has no right to refuse." Chester sneered, and he grabbed Yvonne's chin. "Your witch of a mother is still in jail. If you want her to live, you're going to listen to us and buy her survival with your kidney."

Yvonne stiffened up. She knew it. There was nothing but hell waiting for her beyond the prison walls. If she wanted to survive these devils' torment, she had to climb her way out of this.

There was only one man in the whole city who could protect her—Christopher Gunther, CEO of Gunther Corporation and brother of Zacharias.