CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: A TWIST OF FATE

The Veridia Grand Hotel.

In a pitch-black room, Eleanor Sterling felt as if her whole body was on fire, an unbearable and painful sensation spreading from her limbs to every bone.

The man pressing down on her was like a mountain, tightly confining her.

Eleanor Sterling’s mind was foggy, able only to rise and fall with the man’s movements.

Finally, everything returned to calm.

Exhausted, Eleanor Sterling recalled what Faye Sterling had whispered in her ear before she was pushed into the room.

"Sister, I’ve given you to President Warren. Once you satisfy him, I’ll have the media come and expose your enticing demeanor in bed."

Eleanor was startled, ignoring the pain in her body, she picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and threw them on haphazardly, stumbling as she ran out.

After she took the elevator to leave, two women stepped out from a corner.

Rosalie Ray wore a smile, "Faye, it’s done. Go into the room quickly."

Faye Sterling’s red lips curled into a disdainful smirk, "That bitch was only useful this much. If I weren’t no longer a virgin, I wouldn’t have needed her."

She opened the door to the hotel room.

Inside, a man lay with his eyes closed, his nose high and features defined, his handsome face a perfect work of art carved by God, mesmerizing all who saw it.

He was Alaric Faulkner, the current head of the Faulkner Family.

The Faulkner Group was Veridia City’s top-tier commercial empire, controlling the entire city’s economic lifeline.

As the head of the Faulkner Family, he was naturally the object of desire for all women looking to marry, and Faye Sterling was no exception.

A trace of viciousness flickered in Faye’s eyes, twisting her expression, for she believed the position of Mrs. Faulkner would be hers soon.

Nine months later.

Eleanor Sterling lay covered in sweat on the delivery bed. With one final push, the cry of a newborn echoed in the delivery room.

"Very good, keep breathing, continue, there’s another child." The obstetrics chief guided Eleanor Sterling.

She exhaled deeply, and then continued again.

Finally, Eleanor managed to deliver both children.

She mustered a weak smile, her eyes filled with motherly tenderness, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

At this moment, Faye Sterling walked in from the doorway, and the obstetrics chief presented the still-connected baby to her, saying, "Miss Faye, the child is born."

Faye looked at the weak Eleanor on the delivery bed and grinned wickedly, "Congratulations on giving birth, sister, not a bit like that disgusting President Warren."

"What a pity..." She then grabbed the baby’s foot, lifting him, and the child immediately wailed.

"Faye Sterling, what are you going to do? Let him go!" Eleanor Sterling struggled to rise.

After her debasement, Eleanor ran home only to meet her father, George Sterling’s slap. He rebuked her for being shameless, having slept with an old man in his seventies, disgracing The Sterling Family.

She was locked up, eating and drinking confined within a room.

A month later, Eleanor discovered she was pregnant. George was furious, wanting to take her for an abortion. Who knows what Rosalie said to him that they allowed her to give birth!

Eleanor had no choice but to give birth to the unexpected child.

"My dear sister," Faye Sterling laughed loudly, "do you know why I let you give birth to this bastard?"

She approached Eleanor, her eyes glistening with malevolence, her whole face appearing grim and sinister.

"Being with President Warren alone couldn’t bring about your complete ruin. Now all of Veridia City knows you bore a stillborn for that old man, and you deserve everyone’s scorn!"

"It’s not a stillborn, the child is still alive!" Eleanor Sterling shook her head, denying Faye’s words.

Faye gleefully chuckled more, "This little bastard is useless kept alive, I want you to endure the pain of separation from your flesh and blood, heart-wrenching agony, hahaha..."

"Let him go!" Eleanor struggled violently, but she was too weak, unable to move.

Faye handed the baby back to the obstetrics chief, speaking coldly, "Get rid of these little things, make sure it’s clean."

"Faye Sterling! You dare! I will never let you go!" Eleanor’s eyes were bloodshot, glaring at Faye with overwhelming hatred.

A few dog barks were heard, and the baby’s cries abruptly stopped.

Eleanor was overwhelmed with grief, tears streamed down her face.

She watched helplessly as Faye killed her child, powerless to stop it.

She hated it!

Faye Sterling was a demon!

Hatred boiled in her chest, Eleanor wished she could kill Faye with her gaze.

Seeing Eleanor in such a miserable state, Faye laughed heartily, relishing in Eleanor’s suffering, it brought her immense pleasure.

She intended to completely destroy Eleanor Sterling.

Not long after, the obstetrics chief returned with a tray of shredded meat, "Miss Faye, it’s all been taken care of."

Seeing the bloody, mangled mess on the tray, Eleanor felt her blood surge, a metallic taste rising in her throat.

Those were her children, conceived over ten months, just born, not yet able to see this world. Innocent children, how could Faye be so cruel?

Eleanor stared at Faye, eyes crimson, tears flowing like blood. She gritted her teeth and said slowly, "Faye Sterling, I will never spare you!"

This deep-seated blood feud, she would make Faye pay with her life, a hundredfold in retribution!

Faye smiled coldly, disdainfully glancing at the tray, clicking her tongue, "Sister, your child is too dirty. I’ll leave the rest to you."

She threw the tray back onto Eleanor, the bloody scent hitting her, and enveloped in hatred, Eleanor’s frail body finally gave out, darkness engulfing her as she fainted completely.

Outside the delivery room, the obstetrics chief handed the baby to Faye, whispering, "Miss Faye, the child has been dealt with."

Faye looked at the swaddled baby, smiling strangely, "My son is indeed handsome."

The obstetrics chief paused, quickly correcting, "Congratulations Miss Faye on your noble son."

Faye’s expression turned icy, "Who did you just say had a noble son?"

"Mrs. Faulkner?" The chief replied uncertainly.

"Wise of you, keep your mouth shut, you’ll be rewarded well." Faye laughed heartily, her face full of arrogant pride.

The obstetrics chief asked, "What about Eldest Miss Sterling’s other child?"

A trace of harshness flickered in Faye’s eyes, "Do I have to tell you? Just kill it and throw it in the trash, as if I’d raise two bastards for her?"

"Yes." The chief lowered her head, a flicker of an undecipherable look in her eyes.

"Handle this well, and I’ll reward you double, ensuring you live comfortably for the rest of your life."

Faye walked out of the hospital with her child, her face full of self-satisfied glee.