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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

n“Ha—” The lady finished reapplying her makeup and gave a short burst of laughter. “That’s the nature of men. They marry the elder sister if the younger one passes away. His motives may not be pure, too.”

nThe woman inquired again, “But don’t you think that he may have fallen for Xia Ruoxin as well?”

n“Do you seriously think that a cold-blooded man like Chu Lui would fall in love with another woman?” This answer seemed to render the other woman silent this time.

nAfter Chu Lui took over the family business three years ago, he dominated the import and export industry with his swift, relentless and ruthless methods.

nAside from having a distinguished background, he also had a well-built body and a charming face. He was the most sought after bachelor that everyone had been vying for. Nevertheless, it was common knowledge that he only had eyes for his betrothed—Xia Yixuan, the beloved daughter of the Xia family.

nIt was a pity that Xia Yixuan did not have a good fortune. Before she could even marry into the Chu family, she passed away in a car accident. And after her passing, every woman in town thought that they still had a chance with the bachelor. But to their utter disappointment, he ultimately chose to marry the eldest daughter of the Xia family.

nAfter the door to the powder room closed, a pale woman silently entered unnoticed. She was dressed in a white bridal gown. It barely covered her shoulders, and it exposed her protruding collar bone. She should be smiling, but she was bawling her eyes out on her wedding day — a day which she would supposedly marry the one she loves.

nShe looked at her reflection in the mirror and carefully wiped her tears away, but while doing so her make up started wearing off.

nShe lifted her gown and walked out of the powder room. The women’s voices echoed in her ears. Their conversation had torn her heart apart.

n“Do you seriously think that a cold-blooded man like Chu Lui would fall in love with another woman?”

nWill he fall in love?

nWill he?

nBack in the bridal room, Xia Ruoxin sat quietly without care and let others fix her makeup for her—layer after layer, until the final touch of blush-on masked her pale complexion. Though she would appear to be the perfect bride in front of a crowd, the sorrow-stricken look imbued in her eyes would prove otherwise. She was not exactly a happy bride.

n“Ruoxin, are you’re really going to marry him? You understand that he…”

nThe woman seated beside her tugged at her short hair. Even if she was Xia Ruoxin’s best friend, she could not comprehend what was going through her mind. Was she not even worried that after she marries Chu Lui, it would leave her with skin and bones if she even miraculously emerges out of it?

n“I’m sorry to have made you worry about me, Jiang Yao.” Xia Ruoxin flashed a faint smile that could provoke pity from others.

n“Jiang Yao, I know he hates me but I have loved him for the past fifteen years.”

nIt was Xia Ruoxin’s greatest happiness to be able to marry Chu Lui, even if that happiness was built upon hatred.

nHe hated her because she killed her own sister—the very one that he was so in love with.

nThe bridal door room opened, and a woman made her way inside. Jiang Yao was about to say something, but she kept her mouth shut as soon as she saw who it was that had entered.

n“Jiang Yao, could you give us a moment? I want to talk to my mother alone for a while.” Xia Ruoxin nodded her head at Jiang Yao reassuring her that she would be fine. Jiang Yao hesitated for a while before walking out of the room. She was worried even as she was closing the door.

nWill Ruoxin really be fine?

nShen Yijun walked in. As the head of the Xia family, there was an air of upper-class aristocracy about her. She looked at Xia Ruoxin in her bridal gown from the mirror. The corner of her lips curled into an icy smile.

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