Chapter 8

Cynthia was trapped in Liam's grasp, and she did not notice Zachary and Janice. She was overwhelmed with despair as she thought about her situation. From birth, a fortune teller had labeled her a jinx, causing her birth parents to abandon her. Later, she was adopted by a couple who only wanted the money. Not only had she never felt the love and warmth of a family, but Hazel was even selling her off now. The betrayal was simply too cruel to even put into words. Moreover, Liam was notorious for allegedly driving his previous wives to their deaths. Hence, marrying him meant not just misery but danger. It was also rumored that he had strange kinks with no limits, so even her daughter would not be safe. The thought of Yasmine potentially falling into his hands filled Cynthia with terror. She had to protect herself and her daughter. Summoning every ounce of her strength, Cynthia struggled and snapped, "Let me go, you disgusting pig!" Liam tightened his grip, having long desired her. "How dare you insult me? You're already a mother at such a young age. Clearly, you're not as innocent as you pretend. Don't worry, I'm a forgiving man. Marry me, be an obedient wife, and I'll overlook your past. Come on, I'll take you upstairs." With that, he attempted to lift her into his arms, preparing to drag her upstairs. Cynthia knew she had to act fast, or it would all be over. As Liam made a move on her, she pinched her own leg hard, using the sharp pain to fight through the drug's haze. Summoning all her strength, she kicked upward, causing Liam to howl in pain. She shoved him away and shouted, "My past is none of your business! Modern women don't submit—we fight back! Stay away from me!" She stumbled away as fast as she could while Liam recovered, screaming threats after her, "You little bitch, get back here! You'll regret this!" In her panic to escape, Cynthia ran blindly into the street. Suddenly, the blast of a car horn pierced the night. She turned to see a bright red Ferrari speeding toward her, but it was too late to move. The impact sent Cynthia crashing to the ground as darkness claimed her. "Oh, no! I hit someone!" Adam Sanders cursed from behind the wheel, turning to check on his passenger. "You okay, Mason? I didn't mean to." Three-year-old Mason sat in his perfectly tailored black suit, giving Adam's poor driving skills an unimpressed look that clearly said he should have walked instead. Adam sighed, realizing he had ruined his image in Mason's eyes. He quickly said, "It's just an accident. Anyway, just stay in the car while I check on the situation." Then, Adam hurried out to where a small crowd had gathered around the unconscious woman. Just as he approached, he noticed the mask covering her features had fallen off, revealing features he knew all too well. Adam froze in his tracks, his blood running cold. He muttered, "Holy shit... Janice?"