Chapter 1

Jolene Adkins wore a faded floral dress and sat in a luxurious villa. Her biological mother, Glenda Randolph, whom she hadn't seen in twenty years was dressed in lavish attire. She was holding Jolene's hand as she tearfully pleaded. "Jojo, you've had a hard life in the countryside. If you marry the Welsh family, you can enjoy wealth and prosperity." A sharp pain tugged at Jolene's heart. Any longing she had for maternal love vanished. With a face devoid of emotions, she looked at Glenda and said, "I'm your biological daughter. Are you sure you want me to marry Kathrine's fiancé just to bring the man good fortune? A man who's in a coma and a vegetative state after a car accident?" The Patel family wanted to seize the opportunity to marry the wealthy Welsh family, but they didn't want Kathrine Patel to suffer. Jolene was the scapegoat, the one who was sacrificed from the very beginning. Glenda had only brought her back from the countryside for this reason. Glenda cried pitifully. She knelt before Jolene and begged, "I have no choice. I'm a remarried woman, a stepmother! "Though it looks like I'm a wealthy lady, I have my difficulties. I gave birth to you, so just think of it as helping me out! Please marry in place of Kathrine, your stepsister!" Jolene took a deep breath, her eyes red-rimmed. Back then, Glenda abandoned Jolene as an infant to marry the Patel family and become Kathrine's stepmother. She cherished Kathrine like a precious gem. And that included neglecting Jolene, her biological daughter, in the countryside for 20 years. Jolene assumed that Glenda had a change of heart and brought her back out of guilt. She would never have seen it coming that it was just to exploit her last bit of value. "Fine, I'll do it." She compromised as repayment for Glenda giving birth to her. Still tearful, Glenda broke into a smile. She wiped the tears away and pulled Jolene up to her feet. "The Welsh family has prepared an elaborately embroidered wedding gown. Hurry and change into it." All Glenda cared about was achieving her goal. She happily prepared for the occasion. Jolene shook off her hand. Her face was stiffened with coldness as she declared, "This is the last time. After this, we'll have nothing to do with each other." Glenda was briefly stunned but quickly acted as if nothing had happened. She instructed the maids to help Jolene into the wedding attire. Standing still, Jolene was like a puppet as the clothes were put on her. The enchanting wedding gown added charm to her striking appearance. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a graceful figure by the stairs. Her stepsister, Kathrine, stood there with a smug smile and silently mouthed, "Poor orphan without a mother." Jolene's hands hung by her sides and gripped tightly onto the medicine kit she had brought back from the countryside. A maid reminded, "Mrs. Patel, the Welsh family's car is already at the door." Glenda hurriedly urged, "Jojo, don't keep the Welsh family waiting. Leave that trash behind. Don't take it to the Welsh residence and embarrass yourself." She tried to push Jolene out the door, attempting to snatch the medicine kit from her. Jolene dodged, causing Glenda to stumble and nearly fall. "This is my personal belonging. You have no right to decide where it goes," Jolene warned coldly. Her eyes were full of detachment. The medicine kit was her lifeline. She depended on it to treat and save the sick. Behind her, Kathrine helped Glenda up and sneered, "Glenda, Jolene seems reluctant. Are you sure you want her to marry in my place?" Glenda fawningly replied, "This is her blessing. Marrying even a vegetable of the Welsh family is beyond her reach. How could she ever live such a life in the countryside?" Jolene had completely lost hope. With a bang, she slammed the car door, shutting out their disgusting voices. The car drove all the way to Villa Del Ven as the evening darkened. The Welsh family was among the upper crust in Arcadia, and the Patel family had been lucky to secure this marriage. Descendents of the Welsh family were divided into two main branches. Steven Welsh, the second grandson of the Welsh family, was an outstanding talent and the most likely candidate to be elected the head of the family. But he got into a car accident and was now in a coma, declared to be in a vegetative state by the hospital. As Arcadia's most sought-after bachelor, he instantly became a man socialies avoided at all costs. Rumors claimed that he had even lost his ability to father children, and that was pitiful news to hear. The Welsh family's second branch was desperate enough to trust predictions from a fortune teller that a marriage could bring good luck and hasten his recovery. Jolene's vision was blocked by a wedding veil as Rita Hamill, a maid from the Welsh family, helped her into the villa. The bridal tiara on her head was so heavy she could barely lift her head. She was led into a spacious bedroom and seated by the bed. Rita tied a half-meter-long red string to her right hand and looped it several times, with the other end tied to the left hand of the man on the bed. Rita warned, "Don't untie it. It's the rule. You can't bear the consequences if something goes wrong." Jolene nodded slightly. Her neck was so stiff and sore she could barely move. Seeing her behave so obediently, Rita said, "You'll be staying with Mr. Welsh tonight. Call me if anything happens." With that, she left the room and closed the door behind her. It was eerily quiet in the spacious room. There was only the beeping of machines and the faint breathing of an unfamiliar man. Jolene gently placed the medicine kit at her feet. The faint scent of medicine provided her some comfort. The presence of the medicine kit and her acupuncture skills were her strongest pillars of strength. Her whole body felt stiff and sore. She instinctively lifted her hand to massage her neck but forgot about the red string, so she was instantly yanked back. The gems on the bridal tiara clinked crisply as she tumbled onto the bed, and the wedding veil flew off. She fell onto a warm body, and her lips brushed against the man's cheeks. The man beneath her had a pale face. His eyes were closed, and his long lashes cast shadows. His handsome facial features were striking, though the bright red lipstick mark on his cheek ruined his cold air. Jolene's cheeks flushed as she quickly got up. She frantically tried to wipe the lipstick mark off his face, but her hair was caught in the buttons of his pajamas and wouldn't come loose. She cried out in pain. Her scalp burned as tears welled up in her eyes. The more she struggled, the tighter it got. She fell forward several times and found herself pecking the man's lips again and again. If the Welshes saw this scene, they would think she was shameless to harass even a vegetable. "I'm sorry, but I have no other choice," Jolene whispered, looking at the man with his eyes still closed. She grabbed the collar of his pajamas with both hands and ripped hard. The cotton pajamas tore open, and the buttons came off. Phew, she was finally free. As Jolene lowered her head, the man lying on the bed slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was deep and filled with endless coldness as he looked at her. The torn pajamas revealed his sexy Adam's apple and broad chest. He looked like he had just been ravaged. Jolene froze in shock.