CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: FRAMED AND FORCED TO BREAK OFF THE ENGAGEMENT

EDITOR: HENYEE TRANSLATIONS

In the early summer, Ye Ningwan was sitting in the car sent by the Ye Family, heading from the countryside to Jiangcheng.

When she was six, she lost both parents and was abandoned by the Ye Family in the countryside. The reason she was brought back today was to fulfill the marriage contract with the Lin Family.

Her mother and Mrs. Lin were as close as sisters and had arranged the engagement even before she was born.

No matter how dissatisfied the Ye Family was with her, Mrs. Lin only acknowledged her as her daughter-in-law, so the Ye Family could only bring her back.

"Screech."

The car suddenly stopped.

Sitting in the car, Ye Ningwan swayed slightly, her delicate brows furrowing lightly. Her voice was clear and ethereal as she slowly asked, "What happened?"

The driver stopped the car and said, "Third Miss, the car broke down."

Ye Ningwan’s face was covered with a thin veil, making her appearance unclear. However, her delicate brows were as lush as distant mountains, and below them were a pair of eyes like autumn water, their gaze flowing, mesmerizing like clear water waves.

"Can it be repaired?"

This was the wilderness, and it was already dark. The car breaking down at this moment was... alarming.

"Third Miss, I’m afraid it can’t be fixed." The driver turned around, looking at her with an unsettling and malicious intent.

Ye Ningwan’s lush brows furrowed slightly, her clear eyes becoming deep and dark.

Sure enough, the driver unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned his entire body toward her, a lewd look gradually surfacing in his gaze...

"Do you know why the Ye Family sent me away thirteen years ago?" Ye Ningwan asked in a cold voice.

The driver grinned sinisterly and said, "I don’t know, but Third Miss, I have no choice either."

Ye Ningwan’s eyes grew colder as she slowly unveiled her veil...

*****

The Ye Family gathered together, inviting Mrs. Lin and Mr. Lin to join them.

Mrs. Lin was astonished to see the girl standing in the center of the living room, veiled, and asked, "Is this Ningwan?"

Mr. Ye, seated in the most important position, said with a troubled expression, "It’s her."

"The wedding is tomorrow; why were we called here today?" Mrs. Lin asked, puzzled.

"Aunt, you may not know, Third Sister was supposed to return home last night, but she only arrived this morning because..." Second Miss Ye, Ye Xuan, stood up with an utmost difficult expression, "Better let the driver speak!" She subtly signaled to the driver standing next to Ye Ningwan.

The driver immediately exclaimed, "Mrs. Lin, last night the car with Third Miss broke down, and we spent the night outdoors. Alone, we couldn’t resist... and did something we shouldn’t have. I’m willing to be responsible for Third Miss."

"What? Mother, I want to call off the wedding!" Mr. Lin, Lin Yuyang, flushed with anger and fury, "I will never marry such a woman!"

Mrs. Lin’s expression also changed drastically, and she immediately looked at Ye Ningwan.

Ye Ningwan stood upright, her figure graceful and slender. Although her appearance was obscured by the veil, the mere glimpse of her beautiful watery eyes reminded people strongly of her deceased mother.

Her mother, who was once the first beauty of Jiangcheng.

"Ningwan, what he said—is it true?" Mrs. Lin asked heartbroken.

Ye Ningwan said softly, "I don’t need him to be responsible."

This statement essentially admitted it.

Mrs. Lin closed her eyes in anguish.

Even though she wanted to keep her promise to her late best friend, unbothered by the scars on Ye Ningwan’s face, she couldn’t force her son to marry an unchaste woman.

But the wedding was scheduled for tomorrow, and the whole town knew of the Ye and Lin Families’ wedding. How could they suddenly cancel and explain to everyone?

Mr. Ye seemed to notice her concern and suggested in a deep voice, "To save face for both the Ye and Lin Families, let Xuan’er replace Ningwan in marrying, if Mrs. Lin agrees?"

Mrs. Lin frowned unhappily, yet before she could respond, her son Lin Yuyang agreed repeatedly, "This couldn’t be better; I grew up with Xuan’er, making us more suitable than with Third Miss."

"I’m afraid it’s not appropriate!" Mrs. Lin stopped her son, "I’ve heard Second Miss Ye is already promised to the Zhan Family, and we Lin Family cannot afford to offend the Zhan Family."

Mr. Ye waved his hand dismissively, "This matter can be resolved. When the Zhan Family proposed, they only said they’d marry a Lin Family daughter without specifying names. If Ningwan dispenses with Chen’s responsibility, why not swap with Xuan’er and let her marry into the Zhan Family instead?"

"Mr. Ye, but Zhan Hanjue is..."

"Unmarried and lost, our Ye Family can’t afford such disgrace." Mr. Ye interrupted Mrs. Lin, "Besides the Zhan Family, who else would be willing to marry such a woman?"