The former top heiress of Crestwood was getting married.

Her reputation lay in ruins, tarnished by rumors of debauchery.

High society erupted in scandal when the news broke.

Elise Scott stood before the mirror, adorned in a Franconia designer wedding dress.

Her reflection showed a dazzling, beautiful face.

After three years with Samuel Mitchell, they were finally tying the knot.

He still loved her despite everyone's attempts to destroy her.

Tears welled in her eyes as she smiled with expectation.

She lifted her chin slightly, gathering her skirt to head toward the door.

Wisps of smoke seeped through the door slit, creeping into the washroom.

The smoke moved impatiently, searching for an outlet.

A fire?!

Elise's face fell instantly.

Pinching her nose, she stepped outside.

The banquet hall, once lively moments ago, now stood empty.

Only thick smoke and consuming flames remained.

She moved toward the exit from memory, fighting fear.

The rolling smoke and blinding flames terrified her.

Suddenly, a man charged into the hall.

It was her fiancé, Samuel Mitchell.

Seeing salvation, she cried out between coughs. "Samuel, I'm here..."

He ignored her completely, scanning the room anxiously.

Pausing momentarily, he found his target.

Without hesitation, he ran in the opposite direction from Elise.

Every second counted, yet he chose another path.

Before her eyes, he lifted another woman trapped in the hall.

He hurried outside with the woman in his arms.

"I knew you'd come for me, Samuel..." The woman's weak voice reached Elise.

The voice sounded both tender and aggrieved. "I was so scared..."

Elise felt as if bludgeoned, her vision darkening.

A dull pain spread through her chest.

The voice belonged to her stepsister, Sophia Mitchell.

Samuel would risk everything for Sophia, but not for her!

Her heart shattered as if sliced by razor blades.

The suffocation felt more lethal than the surrounding smoke.

Before she could speak, the glass chandelier overhead crashed down.

Clang!

It landed directly in front of her, blocking her escape.

She dropped to the floor, her soul seemingly displaced.

Samuel turned and saw Elise falling behind him.

But he never stopped running.

When Elise looked up again, he had already dashed out.

He carried the other woman without a backward glance.

On the verge of death, she clearly heard his tender assurance to Sophia.

"It's alright. I'm here now."

'I'm here now...'

Elise blinked as violent heat surrounded her.

Yet she felt utterly cold inside.

She watched the familiar figure disappear from sight.

Elise managed to survive.

Amid her despair, firefighters arrived just in time.

They rescued her from the inferno.

She had inhaled too much smoke.

Her right leg suffered blunt trauma.

Unconscious when rescued, they rushed her to the hospital.

She didn't wake until the next morning.

A gentle breeze filled the air.

It was a beautiful early summer day in Crestwood.

Sunshine rays touched her pale, frail cheeks.

Her long, thick eyelashes cast shadows.

She gazed coolly at the blue sky and clouds above.

Her calm visage showed no emotion.

She remained so still she might still be unconscious.

The ward door opened suddenly.

She turned to find her father, stepmother, and Sophia already inside.

"Are you alright, Elise?" Sophia asked tearfully.

Elise could only recall Samuel saving Sophia.

She averted her eyes from them.

"You're always so rude! Your sister cares about you!" Her father, Benjamin Scott, snapped.

Her stepmother, Victoria Scott, noticed Elise's reluctance to speak.

"Benjamin, Elise is just a child. We have more important matters anyway."

Benjamin didn't want to waste breath on Elise.

"You probably know by now. Sophia's the one Samuel truly loves."

"The wedding disruption was fortunate coincidence."

"Give them your blessing. Announce the annulment of your engagement."

Elise laughed despite her fury.

"Why?" she demanded.

"Because they love each other," Benjamin stated with conviction.

"You dragged our family's name through the mud! A child out of wedlock!"

"All of Crestwood knows. Did you think the Mitchells would accept such a past?"

"They're giving you a way out. Take it!"

Elise's questionable past began at eighteen.

Sophia had tricked her into going to a bar.

She was drugged and woke in a stranger's bed.

Distraught, she ran without looking at the man.

Too young for contraceptives, she realized too late.

Five months pregnant before understanding what happened.

Sophia sent paparazzi when she tried to abort despite the pain.

Elise became Crestwood's biggest laughing stock.

Things worsened when doctors said abortion risked her health.

She kept the child, eventually accepting it.

The baby came out stillborn.

In her anguish, needing comfort most, Benjamin sent her abroad.

He left her to her own devices for seven years without concern.

He never asked after her near-death experience.

Yet he demanded she give up Samuel for his precious Sophia?!

How cold could a father be?

Telling her something so cruel, ripping open old scars until they bled?

"I guess being a mistress runs in the family," Elise sneered.

"Drag the family's name through the mud? You already did!"

"You married your mistress while my mother's body was still warm."

"Your child with her is half a year younger than me."

"No one else dares claim the throne of infamy in this city with you around!"

"Elise..." Benjamin growled, infuriated.

Sophia and Victoria flushed with humiliation.

Not in the mood to argue with her so-called family, Elise snapped.

"If the Mitchells refuse me, have Samuel tell me himself!"

"You have no reason to be here. Leave before I call the cops!"

"What more do I have to get embarrassed about, right?"

Benjamin knew Elise appeared delicate like her mother.

But stubbornness and unreasonable nature were ingrained in her bones.

If they really upset her, nothing would stop her!

"Don't make me send you abroad again, Elise Scott!" he barked.

He turned to leave, Sophia and Victoria hurrying after him.

Elise scoffed at Benjamin's threat.

Did he think she was still her old self from seven years ago?

Would she allow him to control her life anymore?

Never again would she let anyone walk over her!

"Mommy?" A small, crisp voice brought Elise back to reality.