Chapter 1 Heading To City Hall Alone

• Inside the dressing room of St. James' Church in Drieso, Myra Lindner felt a wave of dizziness wash over her after she viewed the photo on her phone.
• Her fiancé, Stephen Strauss, shockingly, was involved with her half-sister, Kelsey Lindner, who shared the same father but a different mother.
• And there she was, like a fool, donning her wedding dress, her heart brimming with anticipation, all set to marry him that day.
• “Myra, we both had too much to drink that night...”
• Tears welled up in Kelsey as she spoke. Once she finished, she lifted her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, even though no tears had actually fallen.
• “You both had too much to drink? Kelsey, you sure know how to make excuses. Your mother used the same excuse when she seduced my father. Are you following in her footsteps?” Myra retorted.
• Had it not been for the shred of sanity she still possessed, Myra would have slapped her already.
• Kelsey intentionally displayed a look of surprise on her exquisitely made-up face. “Myra, back then, it was your mother who couldn't keep her man, just like you now. How can you possibly blame my mother for that? Frankly, when it comes down to it, isn't your mother just as useless as you?”
• Slap!
• No sooner had the words been spoken than Myra swiftly landed a slap on Kelsey's cheek. “When did it become your place, as the daughter of a mistress, to criticize my mother?”
• Although the slap was hard, it wasn't as dramatic as it seemed. In just a moment, Kelsey had fallen to the ground, clutching her face.
• Meanwhile, the door to the dressing room was flung open with force.
• “Myra, I was just worried about you. W-Why did you hit me?”
• “Kelsey!” Stephen was the first to burst in. Seeing Kelsey collapsed on the floor, he rushed to her side, his face filled with concern as he helped her up.
• Following that, the stepmother, Rosamund Jenkins, and father, Jerome Lindner, also arrived in quick succession.
• “You ungrateful girl! How could you hit your own sister!” Jerome was furious as he looked at Kelsey's swollen cheek.
• “Dad, please don't be mad. It's my fault. Today is Myra's wedding day. Let's not ruin the happiness.” With tears welling up in her eyes, Kelsey ardently defended Myra.
• This gesture only highlighted Kelsey's empathetic nature. Stephen involuntarily held her even tighter, as she seemed so delicate.
• “Marrying such a malicious woman is something I can't accept. I will publicly announce the cancellation of today's wedding!”
• Myra couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was unimaginable that their four-year relationship couldn't stand against a mere pretentious woman.
• “You accuse me of being heartless, but what about you? You slept with my sister behind my back. How noble is that?”
• Stephen's complexion noticeably faltered when he heard that. “W-What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any proof?”
• “Am I talking nonsense? Fine, then I'll just show everyone the picture you personally sent me. Let them all take a good look at how my dear sister is fooling around with my fiancé!”
• Myra took out her phone and found her chat with Kelsey. However, the chat history was completely empty. Where's that photo? What's going on here?
• When Myra was caught off guard, Jerome swiftly seized her phone.
• Looking at the empty screen of her phone, Jerome was instantly annoyed. “Where's the photo? Myra, how dare you lie?”
• “I didn't!” Myra's voice rose in pitch. She had clearly seen the photo just a moment ago. How could it suddenly be gone?
• No sooner had the words left her lips than a solid slap landed on her face.
• Jerome was livid. “Get out!” he bellowed. “Do you really think the Lindner family can still tolerate you? You stooped so low as to frame your own sister, even resorting to lies!”
• This one slap completely shattered Myra's last shred of hope.
• Looking at Stephen, who stood by like a mere spectator, Myra chuckled bitterly. She blamed herself for being so blind as to have fallen for such a despicable man.
• If this family could no longer tolerate her, she would simply leave.
• Tearing off her skirt hem, she flung the invitation onto Stephen and Kelsey. With a face full of determination, Myra shouted, “You guys are a pairing of a b*tch and a jerk! I wish you both an everlasting bond!”
• “Myra, you!” Stephen's face was ashen, yet he still held onto Kelsey, reluctant to let go, as he watched Myra storm out, slamming the door behind her.
• At the entrance of the hotel, Myra stood and hailed a taxi. “Sir, take me to City Hall!” she said.