Part 1: The Scars of Betrayal

In a packed courtroom, the air crackled with a morbid, electric silence. My world, built on three years of relentless dedication to Fu Group, came crashing down with the judge’s gavel.

“Chin Ruayou, general manager of the food group, has been convicted of murdering Jang family scion Harris Jang Cece. Based on the testimony of her fiancé, Fujiao, she is found guilty of intentional assault. She is hereby sentenced to 3 years in prison. Effective immediately.”

I stood there, numb, the words echoing a horrifying lie. My mind screamed, but my voice was lost. Fujiao, the man whose name was synonymous with my ambition and my heart, had just sealed my doom. Hours before, I was wearing a wedding dress, whispering.

“Jiao, we’re finally getting married today. I love you.”

Then, the venomous whisper of Cece—my supposed friend, the true viper in the garden—slithered in:

“Designer Chen still daydreaming, huh? Why would Jiao ever marry a woman like you? No family background, no sense of fun. This wedding, I don’t think it’s happening today. CeCe, what are you doing here? We’ve been friends for so many years. How about you give Jiao to me and then just go die, Ruayu?”

A desperate, clumsy struggle. Cece fell, and suddenly, the accident was a felony, thanks to the perfect, manufactured testimony of the two people I had trusted with my life.

I was cuffed, the rough metal a brutal contrast to the silk of my discarded wedding gown. As they led me away, I saw him: Jiao, standing beside Cece, his expression unreadable, a chilling calm replacing the loving gaze I thought I knew.

“CeCe, I just wanted to wish Ruayu well, but she misunderstood and thought I liked you and wanted to kill me,” he’d said to the police, his voice a perfect pitch of fake anguish.

“CeCe! Chin Ruayu, how dare you try to kill someone!” the police officer had shouted.

“Jiao, let me explain! It wasn’t me!” I pleaded, still fighting the surreal nightmare.

“Just get ready to go to jail. Chin Ruayu, you’re now suspected of attempted murder. Please come with us for questioning.”

“I didn’t do it! I didn’t!” I screamed, but the truth was irrelevant. The stage was set, the script written, and I was the star of my own tragedy.

The prison was a descent into a cold, metallic hell. Two weeks passed, two weeks of unanswered calls, two weeks of a world that had forgotten me. Then, a familiar voice, sharp with concern, cut through the prison’s dead air.

“Young master, you wanted to see me? I haven’t been able to reach Ru for over 2 weeks. Go find her. You must bring her back.”

It was Liu, the fiercely loyal right-hand man of Chin Fong, the Young Master of the powerful Chin Group—a man I knew only as my protective “older brother” from the orphanage.

My private visitation room door creaked open, and there they were, standing like specters in the sterile light: Fujiao and Cece, wearing smug, victorious smiles.

“Well, if it isn’t President Sheen, a big shot of Donghai. What happened? It’s not even been a month. And look at the mess you’re in.”

My heart pounded, a sick, frantic rhythm.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in the hospital? You’re okay?”

“Of course, I’m okay,” Cece sneered, her hand resting possessively on Jiao’s arm.

“If I wasn’t, how could I be marrying Jiao in style? Let me be straight with you. Everything you’re going through right now was all planned by Jiao and me, right, Jiao?“

The confirmation hit me like a physical blow.

“Jiao… it was you?”

“So, the injury at the wedding, it was all just an act by you two. The whole point was to get me thrown in jail.” My voice was barely a whisper of shattered glass.

“Fuja, we’ve been together for 3 years. From nothing to being worth millions. What am I to you, really?”

His face, once so beloved, contorted into a mask of pure contempt.

“You? You’re just my money-making machine. What? If you weren’t a genius fashion designer, do you really think I’d be with you? Jean Rouayu, a woman like you with no family, no fun. How could you ever be Mrs. President of the Fu? Cece is the heiress of the Jang family.“

“I never did anything to betray you. Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because the company’s called Fu, not Jean. I’m the one. Sheen Ruayu. What gives you the right to question my decisions? Why should my employees listen to you? I’ll admit you’ve done a lot for the company. But I’m the chairman of the group. I’m the one. So, it’s all about power.”

“So, you never loved me.”

“That’s right. I never loved you because you don’t deserve to talk about love. Your title helped the company get funding and go public, but now you’re not worth anything anymore. Let me out. I’ll resign from Fu Group, and after today, we’ll never cross paths again.”

Jiao threw his head back and laughed, a hollow, cruel sound.

“You’ve been with me for 3 years. How are you still this naive? Haha. Let you go just to make an enemy for Fu Group and give me more headaches? Sheen Ruayu, I want you dead. Come on out, everyone. She’s all yours. You know what to do, right?”

The door burst open, and three hulking inmates shuffled in, their eyes predatory.

Part 2: The Fire of Vengeance

The next few hours were a blur of terror. The world outside had dismissed me, but inside those walls, I was a bargaining chip, a plaything.

“Don’t come any closer! You got it, sis? Animals! I won’t let you get away with this!” I fought, my back against the cold, damp wall.

The lead brute chuckled, a sickening sound.

“Did I hear you right? You think you’ll walk out of here alive? In here, I’m God. I’ll take my time torturing you. But if you crawl under me, maybe I’ll let you die faster.”

“You sick freak! You’ll all get what’s coming to you!”

“Still got the energy to talk back? Yes, I haven’t hurt you enough yet. Miss Jang said, ‘As long as we chop off both your hands, gouge out your eyes, and cut off your nose and tongue.’ So, where should we start?”

I didn’t break. I looked the monster in the eye, my rage an ice-cold resolve.

“Do you know who I am? If you dare kill me, you’re all dead.”

“I don’t care who you are. In Donghai, other than the Chin family, nobody dares cross the Fu family. Mr. Fu wants you dead. You won’t live past today.”

The Chin family. The name was a lifeline, a whisper of hope. Just as one of the brutes lunged, a new voice of authority ripped through the tension.

“Stop! Warden, who told you to torture prisoners here?”

A new chapter of cruelty unfolded as the corrupt warden tried to exploit me, but moments later, the gates of my personal hell were shattered. Liu burst in, flanked by men in sharp black suits, his face a mask of furious relief.

“Young master, we found the young lady. What? But she’s barely alive. Where is she? East Bay Prison. Let’s go.”

A few swift, brutal moments later, strong, familiar arms were around me. Chin Fong.

“Hold on, my princess, I’ve come to take you home. I thought I’d never see you again. I really regret not listening to you back then.”

👑 The Unveiling

The Chin family estate—my real home—was a fortress of quiet power. As I recovered, the fire of vengeance grew stronger than the pain.

“Ruyu, don’t worry. From now on, I won’t let anything hurt you ever again.” Fong’s promise was absolute.

“Back then you gave up the family inheritance and started from scratch with Jiao. Now you’ve made it big, and he actually sent you to jail, letting those inmates torture you. When has my sister ever been treated like that? Ru, this grudge… I swear I’ll get revenge for you.”

My eyes, though still hollowed, hardened.

“Thanks, bro. But I want to settle this myself.”

I wasn’t the broken woman who left. I was Chin Ruayou, the design genius, the woman who took a startup to millions, the woman protected by the most powerful family in the city. The time for tears was over. The time for war had begun.

My return was orchestrated by Fong with theatrical precision. Two weeks later, at the Chin Group’s exclusive launch party, I reappeared, a phoenix in a stunning, custom gown, escorted by Chin Fong.

“So who is this Chin Ru anyway? She’s showing up with Young Master Chin at the party. You know Young Master Chin is the most eligible bachelor in Dong Hai City.”

“She’s actually the new CEO of Chin Group’s fashion branch. This whole party was thrown just for her by Young Master Chin.”

The whispers followed me like a wave. Then, the inevitable confrontation. Fujiao and Cece, drawn like moths to a flame, descended.

“I can’t believe that survived and even landed the richest guy in town. Jiao, I bet she cheated on you before. I really feel bad for you.” Cece’s voice dripped with false pity.

“Can’t believe you went and became someone’s mistress. But with the way you looked recently, I’m sure you worked hard for it. Chin Ruayou, you really have no shame.” Jiao was desperate to regain control.

I met their malice with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“I can’t believe after all this time, you’re still so annoying.”

“What are you doing?” Jiao demanded as I stepped closer.

“What do you think? Back then, you and Fujiao put me in jail. Even told the inmates to torture me, gouge my eyes out. I suffered so much. Now it’s time you…”

Cece, ever the drama queen, lunged.

“I’m going to kill you! Chin Ruayu, you’re just a whore who slept her way to the top.”

My voice cut through her rage, cold and clear.

“Slept your way to the top? Three years ago when you founded Fu Corp., I gave you your first investment. A year ago when Fu Corp. was about to go bankrupt, it was my designs that saved you and got Fu Corp. listed. President Fu, between us, who really slept their way to the top?“

Fong stepped in, his expression thunderous.

“Jiao, anyone who bullies Ruyu doesn’t deserve to live.”

♟️ The Game of Power

The high-society squabble turned into a corporate showdown. Fong, seeing their contempt, threw down the gauntlet.

“Seems like you two have a lot to say about Ruyu. Young Master Chin… Chin Ruayu was already fooling around when she was with Jiao. Don’t let her trick you.”

“So you’re saying I should thank you? What happened to your hand? President Fu, is there something Young Master Chin wants?” Fong said, pointing to his perfectly healed hand, a subtle jab at their failed setup.

Cece tried to apologize, sensing the danger.

“It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? Ru is the CEO of my group’s branch. Miss Jang, you humiliated her right here on my turf and you call that a misunderstanding? Are you trying to embarrass me? From now on, Chin Group is done working with your Fu family. Disgraceful idiot! Hurry up and apologize to Miss Jean!” Fong thundered.

Cece and Jiao were brought to their knees. But kneeling wasn’t enough. Humiliation was the currency of my revenge.

“Ruyu, what do you think?” Fong asked.

“Throw them out. Strip off their clothes and toss them out.” The request was ruthless, but the memory of the prison was worse.

Fong then made the declaration that sealed the fate of the Fu family.

“Jiao, today I’m making this official right here. Ru is with me. That means she represents my reputation from now on. If anyone dares to lay a finger on her, I’ll cut off both their hands. If anyone tries to play games with me, I’ll rip their heart out. Say it. Do it.”

Then, the final, lethal move.

“I know you’re not convinced. How about this? Let’s make a bet. What are we betting on? A month ago, Empire Group put out a $10 billion partnership bid. Seven days. Let’s bet on who can land Empire Group’s partnership first. Whoever loses gets out of East Shore City and bows three times to the winner. Deal.”

The game was on, and the stakes were everything. The Fu Group was about to be dismantled, piece by piece, starting with a $10 billion challenge I was determined to win.

💥 The Vultures Circle

My task was clear: win the Empire Group deal. Jiao and Cece, now desperate, tried every low-blow they knew. They tried seduction, corruption, and frame-ups, believing a woman like me could only win through dirty means.

“President Wong, if you want to talk business, talk to me. I can give you anything you want. As long as you please me. Business. No problem. But you better keep your word. I will. I will,” Jiao’s voice was heard, a vile attempt to bribe the Vice President of Empire Group into a sexual compromise—but not with me. He used a woman he’d brought, all while slandering my name.

My confrontation with Vice President Wong was swift and brutal. The man, believing I was nothing but “a woman who sleeps her way up,” tried to proposition me.

“If I sleep with you, you should count yourself lucky.”

“Vice President Wong, think carefully about what it means to go against Chin Group,” I warned.

Just as he threatened to blacklist me, the Empire Group’s secretary, Mr. Sue, walked in. The truth was revealed. The Chin Group—Fong—was deeply tied to Dihao Group (which controls Empire Group). The deal was mine, not through seduction, but through the massive, unseen influence of the Chin family.

“Miss Chin, this is the $10 billion contract the CEO asked me to give you. Please keep it safe for me. If you think it’s not enough, we can raise it to $50 billion.”

The humiliation of Jiao and Cece, who were also there trying to secure the deal, was complete. The contract was mine, and their final defense was crumbling.

Jiao, in a blind rage, broke into the Chin Corp office, demanding to see me.

“Chin Ruayu, how dare you bully Cece? I swear I’ll make you pay.”

“Fujiao, you’ve got guts. I thought you were here because you didn’t get the order from Dihao Group and came to beg me on your knees. Using seduction to get an order, and you still have the nerve to show off.”

I forced him to look at the security footage of Cece shamelessly flirting with powerful men. “But you should take a good look at your precious Cece and see just how trashy she looks when she flirts with men. As long as you serve me well and give in to me, I’ll let it slide.”

Before their fight could escalate, Fong walked in, his presence immediately subduing the chaos.

“I remember seven days ago you and Ru made a bet. Whoever landed the Dihao Group deal first, the loser leaves East Sea City and bows three times to the winner. You lost. What’s wrong? There just happened to be reporters here today. Are you trying to back out, Mr. Fu?”

Jiao, trapped, had no choice.

“In 3 minutes, Fu Corp will be bankrupt. Are you going to kneel or not? What’s your choice, Mr. Fu?”

Fujiao knelt, bowing three times, the final, public crushing of his once-proud empire.

“Miss Jean, I’m sorry. Remember, this is the price you have to pay. Now, get out.”

🌪️ The Whirlwind of Deception

The victory was mine, but the war raged on. Cece, now desperate, convinced Jiao to continue the fight by attacking Fong’s greatest weakness: his search for his birth parents.

Meanwhile, she targeted my career, stealing my design drafts to frame me for plagiarism at the biggest fashion show of the year.

“Shin Ruayou, you stole Fu Group’s trade secrets!” Jiao shouted, holding up the ‘Starlight’ patent statement.

But I was ready. I had turned my revenge into a calculated business strategy. The woman who stole the drafts, a low-level former Chin employee, was brought forward by Fong, who had anticipated the move. She confessed, revealing Cece’s blackmail plot.

“A week ago, Jang Cece came to me and used a video of me to threaten me into stealing your design drafts… The more I thought about it, the more scared I got. So, I went to Chin Sha for help.”

The tables turned completely. Jiao was not only exposed as a corporate thief, but multiple designers came forward, accusing him of stealing their designs to keep the failing Fu Group afloat.

The event, meant to be my downfall, became the night of Jiao’s final, public execution. The Fu Group was blacklisted.

Later that night, the enemy made their dirtiest move. At a celebratory dinner, I was drugged with the world’s strongest aphrodisiac, a plot orchestrated by Jiao to compromise me and shame Fong.

I fought the drug, the room swirling with heat and confusion. Jiao walked in, his eyes full of sick anticipation.

“Ruyu, are you feeling hot and uncomfortable all over right now? Fujiao, if you dare touch me, the Chin family won’t let you get away with it.”

“Stop pretending. You’re just a pet kept by Young Master Chen. After tonight, I want to see if Young Master Sheen will still want you now that you’re used goods.”

Fong arrived just in time. The medical team confirmed the drug was lethal if not quickly countered. Jiao was stripped and tied, covered in honey, and left for the ants—a fate worse than death.

“I promised Ruyu I’d leave you for her. This is Honey. It’s what ants love the most… Tie him up in the ant pile. Let him really enjoy it.”

💖 The Truth and the Proposal

During my recovery, I discovered the full extent of Fong’s sacrifice. Liu, his loyal aide, confessed.

“All these years, Young Master has done so much for you in secret. He gave you that $10 billion order from Empire Group without a second thought… Empire Group belongs to him. Otherwise, how could that billion-dollar order be handed to you without even looking at your proposal? Young Master just doesn’t want you to lose.”

I realized that my biggest win was not the wealth, but his unwavering love. The bond I thought was a sibling one was a passionate, silent devotion.

“Last time you said you’d keep looking after me as my brother until I accepted you. Does that still count?” I asked.

“Of course it does. I swear to God, I would never lie to you.”

“All right, then. I have something I want to say to you, too… Honestly, lately I’ve been thinking a lot, Chin Fong. I do have feelings for you. But all these years, we’ve been like brother and sister. I can’t just suddenly get used to our new relationship. Please give me a little more time. Let me slowly fall for you.”

Fong’s journey to find his birth parents became Jiao’s final, desperate weapon. He hired two actors, armed them with a fake DNA test, and had them confront Fong, threatening to kill them if Fong didn’t surrender.

I arrived on the scene, my heart breaking for the man who had lost everything because of me.

“I want $10 billion. Chin Ruayu, you’ve been an executive at Chin Corp for years. Don’t tell me you can’t come up with that kind of cash.” Jiao demanded.

“Fine, I’ll do it. In my name. Wire $10 billion to Fu Corp right now.”

Jiao, shocked by my wealth, released Fong, who immediately fainted from the stress and injuries. At the hospital, holding his hand, I vowed my loyalty.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I promise I won’t lose my temper with you ever again. Please, I’m begging you. Get better soon.”

Later, the truth about Fong’s parentage was revealed: the ‘parents’ were imposters, and Fong, the adopted son, had been the sole, real heir all along. The whole charade was Jiao’s last bid for power.

I used my influence to find Fong’s real parents, and on the same day, I made my move. I used a fake elder sister, Chin Ling, to take advantage of Jiao’s greed, convincing him to invest a total of $13 billion in a fake scheme to take down Fong.

“I gave her $13 billion. Stop bragging. Where would you get that kind of money? Do you even know how much the entire Chin Group is worth? Hundreds of billions. A mere 13 billion. Even if I had to sell my blood, take out lone sharks, I’d still scrape together that $13 billion. This deal is worth it.”

When Jiao arrived to take over the Chin Group, he was met by me and the real Chin Ling (who was actually Chin Ying, my employee). The elaborate scam was complete. The $13 billion was gone, and the Fu Group—the entire corporation—had been secretly purchased by me with the initial $100 million he’d tried to pay me off with.

“No, no, I haven’t lost. I still have the Fu Group. I can still fight you.”

“The Fu Group? Sorry, that’s mine, too. Now, what? Did you really think getting that $100 million would be so easy? Before you accept the money, could you at least check the transfer notes? That wasn’t any profit sharing at all. It was a special payment to buy the Fu Group. That’s right, Fu Jiao. Now you’re not only broke, you’re $30 billion in debt. Congratulations, you’re bankrupt again.”

Jiao was utterly ruined. My final punishment was not death, but a life worse than death: stripped of his organs and forced to live without anesthesia, a constant agony reflecting the pain he inflicted in prison.

Cece, the last enemy, was handled with an even more calculated cruelty. She was entrapped by a hired model playing a Korean billionaire and made to publicly break up with the man who truly loved her, the humble Wu Sha. She was exposed and shamed, losing everything to her own greed. Her final, most profound punishment was the realization that she had thrown away the only man who had ever genuinely loved her, for nothing.

❤️ A New Beginning

Free from the shadows of revenge, my final decision was the proposal Fong had always dreamed of.

I presented him with a financial report, a secret stash of investments, properties, and companies—assets worth far more than the Chin family’s fortune.

“This is the financial report from Dihao Corp. And all the properties under my name over the years, investments, companies, all of this will be yours from now on. Handing over my secret stash, huh? Are you really willing to give it all up?”

“What’s there to hesitate about? You promised, remember, that you’d take care of me for life. Don’t I still have you? I’m planning to let you take care of me for life.”

“Chin Fong, will you marry me? Chin Fong, you’ve done so much for me. At the very least, the proposal should be my job this time. Let me come to you.”

Tears in his eyes, he knelt, pulling a simple, classic diamond ring from his pocket, a ring he had carried every day since he first bought it.

“I will. I’d be happy to be stuck with you for the rest of my life. Ru, I’ve already prepared myself every day to marry you. Loving you is the most important decision of my life. Will you marry me and stay with me forever?”

“I will.”

The princess, finally free of her rage, had found her true kingdom, not in wealth or power, but in the unconditional love of her protective ‘older brother.’ Together, we had conquered betrayal and built an empire of trust. The past was burned to ashes, and the future was a dazzling, shared sunrise.