On the day the Bennett and Harper families united through marriage, the heavens seemed to unleash their fury, coloring the sky with the deep crimson of roaring flames.

Daniela Harper, clad in her wedding finery, watched in despair as her groom, Alexander Bennett, heroically swept Joyce Holt into his arms and navigated through the scorching heat, not once glancing back at her.

Trapped beneath a massive, fallen screen, Daniela was rendered immobile by its weight, her eyes brimming with tears of frustration and fear.

The air was thick with acrid smoke, and as Daniela struggled for breath, the encroaching shadows of unconsciousness began to cloud her vision, the grim thought of perishing in the blaze gnawing at her mind.

Yet, just as hope seemed to flicker out, a figure emerged through the smoke.

Strong arms lifted her effortlessly, and the steady, reassuring thud of her rescuer's heartbeat against her ear brought an odd solace amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, a piercing hiss cut through the muffled sounds of destruction.

The unmistakable, horrific odor of burning flesh assaulted her senses.

Heart pounding with a mix of fear and confusion, Daniela mustered the strength to pry her eyes open, only to be met with a suffocating veil of smoke that obscured her vision and deepened her terror.

As she fumbled blindly through the darkness, her fingers brushed against something sticky and unsettling. Instinctively, the man bearing her weight recoiled, yet he relaxed soon, permitting her hands to explore without restraint.

The wind screamed in her ears, relentless and chilling.

Gradually, the fierce warmth that had scorched her face began to dissipate.

Struggling against the heaviness of her eyelids, she strained to identify her rescuer.

Through the swirling smoke that clouded her vision, she glimpsed a distinctive mole near the man's eye—a mole that stirred a vague sense of recognition within her.

As the edges of her consciousness began to blur once more, Daniela heard a gentle voice cut through the howling wind. "Sir, the ambulance has arrived. The Harper family is already aboard. We must get moving right away. Your arm requires urgent care, and moreover, today marks Miss Harper's wedding. If people see her with another man, it'll become the talk of the town."

......

Daniela stirred from her uneasy slumber in the stark, frigid confines of a plain hospital ward.

The moon loomed large outside, bathing everything in its ghostly, somber light. The room lay shrouded in silence, devoid of the presence of her newlywed husband.

Her injuries were grievous: a cracked rib and a deep, ragged cut marred her left cheek. The doctor had cautioned that without meticulous care, the gash could etch a lasting scar on her face.

As dawn broke, the doctor returned to assess her condition.

Glancing around the empty room, he queried, "Where's your family?"

Daniela shook her head with a bitter smile. She had tried to reach Alexander many times, but he hadn't answered.

Exhaling a sigh, the doctor advised, "Try to keep still; moving too much could worsen your injuries. If there's no one to assist you, I'll arrange a caregiver for you."

At that moment, a young nurse chimed in, "Aren't you the bride from that fire incident that hit the headlines? Isn't your husband here with you?"

The conversation caught the attention of the head nurse, who coughed slightly, gesturing to silence her colleague. Leaning closer, she murmured, "He's actually upstairs, attending to someone else."

The young nurse's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? But the girl merely sustained a minor scratch on her hand!"

Daniela was the one desperately in need of care.

The head nurse shook her head. "There's an entire team upstairs fussing over her. It's so unjust, isn't it?"

In that instant, a wave of humiliation and despair crashed down upon Daniela. Perched on the edge of the hospital bed, she felt her blood turn to ice, her frame shivering subtly.

Leaning against the wall for support, she made her way upstairs to the exclusive, high-class ward.

Pausing at the doorway, she saw the man she had cherished for a decade feeding her stepsister, Joyce. Their gazes locked, and the connection was palpable.

Her stepmother, Katrina Harper, clasped her hand over her mouth, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Caiden, could this be karma? Are my past mistakes haunting our daughter now?"

Caiden Harper, Daniela's biological father and Katrina's spouse, gently touched Katrina's shoulder to comfort her. "No, this was merely an unfortunate incident. None of this is your fault."

"Dad! This was no accident; it was murder! Daniela resents that you and Alexander show her less affection than me. She's malicious. We were the only ones there during the fire, and she pushed me. She wanted me gone."

After saying that, Joyce crumpled into Alexander's embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wept uncontrollably.

Katrina gazed at her daughter's scratched hand before leaning closer to Caiden, seeking comfort in his arms.

"Caiden, Joyce might not share your blood, but she's embraced you as her true father. Who could have imagined such love would spell disaster for her? I've given up so much to keep Daniela content—I vowed to have no more children after marrying you. But it seems nothing will satisfy her. What else does she desire from me? She can take everything from me, even my life, if that's what she wants! But why does Joyce have to suffer? She's done nothing to deserve this."

Katrina's sobs were so intense, so filled with anguish, that an onlooker might have believed she was the one suffering a broken rib and a marred face.

Outside, hidden from view, Daniela overheard every venomous word aimed at her.

She watched, heartbroken, as the two men she cherished most—her father and her husband—lavished their attention on Joyce, neglecting to speak a word in her defense.

Her heart, already fragile, shattered into pieces.

Though her body screamed in protest, Daniela had fought to make it this far. Now, with her pain weighing her down, she turned back, each step slow and agonizing as she made her way back to her room.

After her mother's passing, she seemed to have lost her father as well.

Her husband, whom she had grown up with, had given his heart to another, leaving hers in tatters.

Such a harsh betrayal of fate.

As darkness fell, Alexander reached her hospital room, holding a food container.

He stopped abruptly at the door, his features carved with a sharp, cutting disdain, as though the very air inside disgusted him.

His eyes, cold and distant, pierced through her.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Daniela pushed herself upright, her voice heavy with a raw, aching despair. "I swear, I didn't push Joyce. She told me her wedding gift for me was in the storeroom. But as we entered, flames engulfed us, and the door was locked from the outside."

With a steely gaze and a hint of impatience, Alexander muttered, "Daniela, stop fooling yourself. There's no sense in pretending any longer. You've always resented Joyce for being everyone's favorite, but to sabotage our wedding day with such malice? I never thought you were capable of being this monstrous!"

With a calm and focused demeanor, Daniela explained the situation to Alexander, her voice ringing with clarity. "The warehouse had surveillance cameras. Even though the fire may have destroyed the cameras, there must be backups stored somewhere."

"Enough!" Alexander's eyes narrowed as he regarded Daniela, his voice icy and tinged with anger. "Now you're just scrambling for excuses to get out of this. Surveillance footage can be manipulated. I can't trust a single word from you, you deceitful woman!"

Daniela locked eyes with Alexander.

His expression remained stoic, but his gaze was sharp and unwavering. Whenever he looked at someone, it seemed to pierce right through them.

For over a decade, Daniela had clung to the naive hope that she might thaw his icy heart. But she never anticipated it would end like this.

"Go and apologize to Joyce right now!"

His command cut through the air like a chill wind, leaving Daniela feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her, her senses reeling.

"I'm your wife! Why won't you believe me?" she demanded, her words breaking with the weight of her vulnerability.

"Daniela, I've told you—apologize! If Joyce decides to take this to court, you'll be the one left in tears, begging for mercy."

His cutting words felt like a jagged knife, tearing through the fragile walls of her heart.

This marriage, these ten years of what she thought was love and devotion, had all been a cruel farce.

With a sharp tug on her collar, Alexander yanked her towards Joyce's ward.

A nurse sprinted behind them, desperation lacing her voice. "Her rib is fractured. She needs proper care and rest. What you're doing is downright abusive."

Yet, Alexander blatantly disregarded her pleas.

Daniela faltered, nearly stumbling as he hauled her through the pristine hallways and into the exclusive VIP ward.

The room exuded a warm, tranquil aura. Joyce lay in the bed as Katrina, seated beside her, offered her pieces of fruit.

Upon Daniela's entrance, Katrina shot her a fleeting glance then averted her eyes, feigning ignorance of her presence.

Caiden's expression twisted into one of revulsion. "You have the audacity to show your face here! Are you even aware of your sister's condition?"

At this point, Daniela felt an icy numbness engulf her heart.

She turned to Caiden and inquired, "Dad, have you forgotten that I'm your own flesh and blood? Do you recall your vow never to remarry after Mom left us? You promised to look after me. Is this how you do that?"

Her father wasn't even willing to allow her the opportunity to clarify or defend herself.

Caiden's expression wavered momentarily, his brow furrowing in annoyance as he directed a sharp gaze at Daniela. "You're the one who screwed up! Why are you dragging me into it? You've grown quite audacious, haven't you? To think, now you'd even stand up to me!"

In the hospital bed, Joyce appeared robust despite her alleged frailty.

With an exaggerated gesture, she pressed her hands to her chest as if overwhelmed by a sudden loss of breath. "Do you want Dad to grow old and live the rest of his life completely alone, Daniela? Have you considered how lonely he'll be once you're married? Sitting alone in that huge house, with no one to care for him when he's sick or even pour him a glass of water?"

After that, Joyce turned to Alexander. "Alexander, do you honestly believe I'd start a fire just to end my own life?"

Alexander remained silent, absorbing the weight of the conversation. His face darkened with each passing second, reflecting a growing storm within.

He fixed a cold, unforgiving stare on Daniela and commanded sternly, "Daniela, kneel and beg Joyce for forgiveness!"

Daniela turned to face Alexander, her expression defiant. Why would she do that?

Suddenly, Katrina leapt from her chair and stormed over. Without a moment's hesitation, her hand swung through the air, landing a sharp slap across Daniela's cheek.

Stunned, Daniela could barely register the sudden assault before Katrina collapsed into a heap of raw nerves and tears.

Pointing her finger at Daniela, Katrina yelled, "Daniela! You tried to kill my daughter! How can you stand there, unapologetic and accusing her instead? Oh, my poor girl! I'm to blame for everything. I never should've become a stepmother to another's child. It's all on me! I've kept you from the man your heart belongs to and dragged you into danger. I can't forgive myself for this!"

Caiden felt a sharp pang in his chest at Katrina's torment.

Driven by a surge of anger, he approached Daniela and delivered a firm slap too.

The impact sent her reeling back, her body hitting the wall as she struggled to maintain her balance.

Dazed, Daniela stood against the wall, her mind swirling with thoughts as tears blurred her vision.

She fixed her gaze on Alexander, a gleam of hope still lingering in her heart.

She silently pleaded for him to defend her, to offer even a single sentence in her favor.

However, Alexander's response shattered her last hope as he said sternly, "Apologize now! Or I'll have to call the police. You're facing charges of attempted murder, Daniela. That could mean life in prison."

"Alexander…"

Although Daniela had steeled herself for Alexander's answer, it still cut deeply, like a keen-edged blade tearing through her heart.

How many decades did one get to live, only to have it mean nothing?

She had devoted ten years of her existence to loving this man, investing her soul into the relationship.

Yet, what she received in return was merely his staunch defense of another woman.

"Yes, call the police!" Katrina's voice erupted in the room as she frantically reached for her phone. "Leave this murderer to them to handle!"

Amidst the chaos, only Daniela caught the subtle way Joyce squeezed Katrina's hand following her explosive declaration.

Their eyes met in a fleeting, silent exchange.

Katrina paused, her resolve wavering.

Joyce's voice was the epitome of consideration. "Alexander, I know you care for me, but this is a matter for our family. Calling the police could lead to my sister's arrest and tarnish the Harper family's reputation. That's the last thing I desire. Perhaps it's best if we..."

She trailed off, her head bowing slightly, her delicate pose belying the cunning glimmer in her gaze. "Perhaps it's best if we just let this go."

Her suggestion stirred Caiden and caused Alexander's brow to furrow in contemplation.

His cold eyes bore into Daniela as he spoke with chilling authority. "We can't just let this go! Apologize now! Kneel and beg for forgiveness!"

Despite the sharp agony emanating from her cracked rib, Daniela stood her ground, her spine rigid, unwilling to show any sign of defeat.

In that harrowing moment, a cruel truth crystallized in her mind: her anguish was merely amusement to someone who held no love for her.

"I've already told you, I did nothing wrong! I am innocent, and I refuse to kneel or apologize!"

She had just finished speaking when Caiden closed the distance between them and delivered another harsh slap to her face.

Reeling from the blow, Daniela, already fragile, teetered dangerously, her form shaking like a leaf in a tempest. Before she could regain her footing, a brutal kick struck her in the back.

With a resonant "thud," she collapsed onto her knees.

The sound of her kneecaps crashing against the hard floor reverberated around the room, sending a jolt of excruciating pain that surged from her knees to her chest.

She braced herself with her palms against the floor. Blood started to ooze through the bandages wrapped around her chest, turning them a stark, vivid red.

At the doorway, the nurse could no longer stand to watch the scene unfold.

She rushed over to aid Daniela, then turned to Alexander with a look of stern condemnation. "I've seen the reports. You're Daniela's husband, aren't you? Once you're married, you're supposed to protect each other. How can you treat her with such cruelty? She's seriously hurt, and without proper care, this injury could haunt her for the rest of her life."

"I'd never accept someone so vicious as my wife." Alexander threw a frosty, scornful look at Daniela, who lay crumpled on the floor. His gaze was icy, seeing her as nothing more than a mere fleck of dust on his shoe. "Daniela, today's incident cannot simply be ignored. Joyce may be forgiving, but your actions were severe, and you need to face the consequences. You will kneel here until you acknowledge your mistake!"

He then addressed Caiden. "Mr. Harper, you surely see the need for this, don't you?"

With a sharp nod, Caiden agreed, "Absolutely, she needs to reflect deeply. I'm all for it."

At that moment, a doctor summoned the family members, and the room quickly emptied, leaving behind only Daniela and Joyce.

Perched haughtily on the hospital bed, Joyce looked down at Daniela, who was still kneeling, her hands quivering as she supported herself. A derisive smirk played on Joyce's lips.

"Daniela, does it even matter that you're Dad's biological child? Look at yourself, kneeling before me. I like Alexander, and if he's not mine, he sure as hell won't be yours!"

Secretly, Daniela slid her left hand into her pocket and pressed the record button on her phone.

Her pallid complexion was drenched with sweat, each drop trailing down her damp and strained forehead.

Holding Joyce's gaze, she demanded in a steady, clear voice, "So, it was you behind the fire all along, wasn't it?"