Inmate 1088, Corinna Shaw. You are released. The heavy iron gate slammed shut behind a slender figure. Corinna stood outside the prison, squinting. It had been three years since she had last seen the sun, and its brightness stung her eyes. She was alive again. She loved the feeling. In her previous life, her parents had unexpectedly brought a person home, Paige Shaw, a girl the same age as her, and announced that Paige was their biological daughter. In a single night, she lost everything. She had gone from the beloved daughter of her parents to an imposter who had supposedly taken someone else's place. Three years ago, when Paige's surgery was said to have failed, the entire Shaw family had stood by her side. They had forced Corinna to take the blame and worked together to send her to prison in Paige's place. Her time in prison had been nothing short of torture. Pieces of glass were deliberately mixed into her meals. Razor blades were hidden inside her blankets. The bruises covering her body beneath her clothes never had enough time to heal. Eventually, she had been tormented to death. As Corinna lay dying on the cold prison floor, her body drenched in blood, Paige stood over her and finally revealed the truth. The entire story about them being switched at birth had been fabricated. Her parents believed a fortune-teller who claimed she was a curse destined to bring ruin upon the Shaw family. Because of that prophecy, they brought Paige into their home, thinking she would bring the family wealth and good fortune. They then invented the story that Paige was their biological daughter, branded Corinna as the fake, and gradually forced her into a corner. Even the inmates who had made her years behind bars unbearable had been bought off by Paige. Corinna's hatred was so fierce and overwhelming that it made her reborn, waking up in her third year of imprisonment. Corinna. An impatient voice broke into Corinna's thoughts. She slowly turned her head and found a man standing behind her. It was Edwin Shaw, the heir to Shaw Pharmaceuticals and the brother she had once looked up to. Let's go, he said in a sharp tone. "Mom and Dad are waiting for you at home." Corinna gave him no response. Without even looking his way, she walked past him and continued forward. Edwin's expression darkened. He quickly moved in front of her, cutting off her path. "What are you upset about now?" he asked coldly, his voice filled with contempt. "Paige already suffered a lot during her childhood because of your biological parents. So what if you spent three years in prison for her? Think of it as paying back what you owed." Her biological parents? A bitter smile tugged at Corinna's lips, carrying nothing but scorn. Edwin, she said. Her voice was unnervingly composed as she met his gaze with cold calm. "The day you all forced me to take the blame for Paige, whatever I owed the Shaw family was settled. And I want you to understand this clearly." Her tone sharpened. "From this day forward, I have nothing to do with the Shaw family." Edwin's expression changed immediately. He reached out to grab her. "So those three years in prison didn't teach you a damn thing? You just walked out, and you're already causing trouble again? What the hell is wrong with you—" The low purr of an approaching car interrupted him. A polished black Maybach rolled up beside Corinna and came to a smooth stop. Edwin froze. His eyes immediately fell on the license plate. He recognized it. The car belonged to the Carter family, the wealthiest family in the city. Why would their car be here? Edwin barely had time to process his thoughts before the tinted car window lowered. The driver turned toward Corinna and gave her a respectful nod. "Ms. Shaw, please get in." For a moment, Edwin thought he had heard wrong. His expression tightened as he turned sharply toward Corinna. Corinna didn't bother acknowledging him. Without so much as another glance in his direction, she opened the car door, stepped into the Maybach, and closed it behind her. The car soon drove off, its engine barely making a sound, while Edwin remained rooted to the spot. Disbelief and anger were written all over his face. When had Corinna become connected to the Carters? This is the marriage certificate for you and Mr. Carter. The driver respectfully extended the document toward Corinna. Corinna accepted the document, settled back into the seat, and closed her eyes. Her mind went to the man whose name was now tied to hers by marriage, Jayden Carter, the most influential man in all of Stellacrest. Jayden held immense power in both the legitimate business world and the underworld, but he was shrouded in mystery. A few months ago, he had been struck by a mysterious illness and had fallen into a coma. His condition continued to worsen with each passing day. The Carters had sought help from renowned specialists across the globe, but none of them had been able to cure him. With no other options left, the Carter family had made a public announcement. Anyone capable of saving Jayden could marry him and join their family. After Corinna died in her previous life, Paige stole the antidote prescription she had left behind and saved Jayden. The Shaw family's standing had risen dramatically as a result, while Paige had married Jayden and stepped into a life of extraordinary wealth and luxury. This time, Corinna had gotten ahead of her. While behind bars, she had contacted Jayden's grandfather, Theodore Carter, and offered him a cure for Jayden in exchange for her early release. Theodore had accepted her terms. Not only that, but he had also gone beyond what she asked for and immediately arranged for her and Jayden to get married.

The gates opened, and the Maybach drove into Rosewood Estate, the Carter family's residence. The estate was vast. A line of grand houses stood, while both sides of the driveway were bordered by lush gardens filled with rare and exotic plants. The Maybach followed the winding driveway for a while before finally stopping in front of a grand, imposing house. Alfred Coleman, the butler, had already been informed of their arrival and was waiting outside the entrance. As soon as the car came to a stop, he stepped forward and opened the rear door of the car. He said respectfully to Corinna, "Mr. Carter is waiting for you in the hall." Corinna nodded slightly before making her way over. Theodore was seated in the middle of the hall, one hand resting on his cane. His expression was stern, and his imposing presence filled the room. He studied Corinna from head to toe, his eyes narrowing. Corinna calmly returned his stare without showing the slightest trace of unease. "Mr. Carter." Theodore responded with a quiet nod, clearly satisfied with her reaction. She looked slender and delicate at first glance, but there was an unusual calmness in her eyes. Few people could remain this calm while being subjected to such intense scrutiny. After receiving the letter from Corinna, Theodore had ordered a detailed investigation into her. In the process, he had discovered how badly her family had treated her. They had abandoned their own daughter just to protect an outsider. The Shaw family had clearly lost all reason. Theodore's expression grew more serious. His years of authority were evident in his every gesture. "Have you considered what will happen if you fail to wake Jayden?" he asked. Corinna raised her eyes to him, her tone firm. "There is no 'if.' I can save him." She had only just finished speaking when the piercing alarms of the medical monitors suddenly rang out from the second floor. Theodore's face immediately changed. He shot to his feet and rushed toward the staircase, relying heavily on his cane for support. After taking a few steps, he appeared to remember Corinna and turned around. "Come with me." The atmosphere in the room on the second floor was unbearably tense. Walter Bennett, a middle-aged doctor wearing glasses, was covered in sweat. "Mr. Carter, we've exhausted every option. His condition is far too critical. I'm afraid he won't make it through the day." Theodore's body went unstable, and he stumbled backward several steps. Beside the bed, Laura Carter, Jayden's mother, stood in an elegant silk dress. She could no longer hide the exhaustion etched on her beautiful face. Tears poured down her face as she said, "That's impossible! My son is still so young... How could he just die like this?" A profound sense of sorrow filled the room. Jayden was lying motionless on the bed. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes remained tightly shut. Even so, his features had not lost their sharpness. His deep-set eyes and prominent brow gave him a striking appearance. He had the refined air of a man born into power. But his pale lips and the dark shadows around his eyes robbed him of his usual vitality, leaving him looking fragile. Corinna only needed one look at him to understand what was wrong with him. He had been poisoned, and it was a lethal poison. What she could not understand was why the illness had hit so much earlier in this lifetime. He can still be saved, Corinna said calmly. Everyone in the room froze, staring at her in disbelief. Walter was the first to speak. "How can you say that?" Corinna paid him no mind. She reached down and tugged Jayden's collar aside, revealing his well-defined chest. A thin medical needle rested between the fingers of her other hand. She was just about to bring it down when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. Walter's voice turned sharp. "Jayden's condition is critical! More than a dozen specialists have examined him, and not one of us has been able to determine what is wrong with him. But now, you think you can save him? I thought you might actually have some medical skills. But this is nothing but an outdated method! I'm his attending physician, and I will not stand by while you put his life at risk. That needle will only make his condition worse!" Laura's expression changed at his words. Suspicion filled her eyes as she studied Corinna. "I heard you spent three years in prison because of a medical malpractice case. Are you truly capable of saving my son?" Corinna remained completely composed as she looked at Walter. "I'm using a method a lot of people practice; how can you be sure that your method is the best for the patient? You've practiced medicine for decades, but you still hold onto that kind of prejudice. After all these years, is that really all you've learned?" Walter's face reddened with embarrassment. Being reprimanded by someone so young made him feel humiliated, but with Theodore present, he could only suppress his anger. Being good with words won't save anyone here, he scoffed. "What happens if something goes wrong after you drive that needle into him? Will you be able to take responsibility for the consequences?" In his eyes, Corinna was just a social climber who had found a reason to get close to the Carter family. As far as he was concerned, there was no way someone like her could know anything about medicine. He was the director of the General Hospital. If someone of his standing could not find a way to treat the illness, there was no chance that a young woman like Corinna could. Corinna had no intention of arguing with him. Her expression stayed detached. "If you keep wasting time and getting in the way of the treatment, Jayden will be dead within thirty minutes." By then, Jayden's lips had already begun to take on a grayish-purple color. Walter sneered before moving aside, "Fine. Go ahead! I'm warning you, though. The moment that needle enters him, he'll be dead!" Corinna turned her attention to Theodore. Theodore clenched his teeth before giving his answer. "Do it." Mr. Carter, Walter said, unable to believe what he was hearing, "you're really going to put your trust in a woman who went to prison for medical malpractice?" Theodore paid him no mind. His eyes stayed fixed on Corinna. "How confident are you?" he asked. Corinna answered without the slightest hesitation, "One hundred percent."

Walter gave a cold, mocking laugh. This ignorant nobody actually thought she could outdo him? She clearly had no clue what she was doing. Fine. If she was determined to embarrass herself, he would let her. If the head of the Carter Group died, she would be the one held responsible. A deep crease appeared between Laura's brows. She wanted to stop Corinna, but she did not dare challenge Theodore's decision. As Jayden's breathing became weaker, Theodore's face grew serious. "Do it." With no one standing in her way now, Corinna focused on Jayden's chest and plunged the needle in with swift precision. Jayden's body convulsed, and the monitors beside the bed immediately erupted into a piercing alarm. Everyone in the room went pale. Laura's panic intensified. "What's happening to my son?" Ignoring her, Corinna calmly pulled the needle back out. The last hint of color disappeared from Jayden's face. Suddenly, he broke into a violent cough and expelled a mouthful of dark, clotted blood onto the white sheets. Laura quickly wiped the blood from his lips. Fury filled her reddened eyes as she turned on Corinna and shouted, "What did you do to him?" Walter smirked triumphantly. "I told you from the beginning that she didn't know the first thing about medicine. She has killed Jayden." A sense of relief swept through him. He had been terrified that Jayden's death would bring Theodore's fury down on him. But now, with Corinna taking the fall, he could walk away unscathed. Laura was furious. "You cruel woman! How dare you harm Jayden? I'll make sure you pay for this!" Even Theodore's expression turned cold. His voice carried a dangerous edge as he spoke to Corinna. "How do you intend to explain this?" I know you just got out of prison and were looking for someone powerful to cling to, Walter said, clearly enjoying the situation, "but you chose the wrong target. The Carter family is not the one you should mess with." He glanced toward the bodyguards stationed by the door and gave them a subtle signal to stand by. As soon as Theodore issued the command, they would move in and capture Corinna. Just then, the shrill alarms from the monitors abruptly ceased. Jayden's vital signs had stabilized. Each reading had settled back within the normal range. His face had recovered its color. Even the faint purple tint around his lips had disappeared, replaced by a healthy flush. His breathing had become deep and even. He looked as though he had just fallen into a sound sleep. Silence descended over the room as everyone stared in disbelief. Laura could hardly process what she was seeing. Jayden... he's back to normal? Theodore's tense shoulders finally relaxed. He felt a surge of excitement as he asked, "Is Jayden cured?" Corinna calmly put away her needle. "I used a specialized technique to temporarily suppress the toxin. He should regain consciousness within two days. But the poison hasn't been completely cleared. He'll need a course of my proprietary antidote to make a full recovery." That's wonderful! Relief coursed through Theodore when he learned that Jayden would wake up soon and eventually recover. Jayden was the grandson he cherished above all others. For months, he had watched helplessly as Jayden remained trapped in a coma. He had really feared that he might die. Walter was taken aback. He simply couldn't accept that Corinna had managed to save Jayden. That's impossible... he muttered. Corinna looked straight at him, her tone cutting. "There's nothing impossible about it. You're simply too arrogant to recognize that your skills aren't as impressive as you believe they are." Remembering how the so-called renowned doctors had failed to make any progress over the past several months, Theodore immediately made his decision. He turned to Walter and said, "Dr. Bennett, you can leave. We don't need your services anymore." Walter's face went deathly pale. He had managed to offend the Carter family, and he knew exactly what that meant. His career as the hospital director was over. When Theodore turned back to Corinna, the sternness on his face had disappeared. He wore a warm, sincere smile. "Corinna, from this point forward, I'll leave Jayden's treatment in your hands." After confirming that Jayden was no longer in immediate danger, he asked Corinna to speak with him in private.