In the darkness, a strong masculine scent wafted toward him. The man pressed Kim Taehyung forcefully against the bed. With tears in his eyes, Taehyung tried to push the man away, but there was no strength left in his body. The sound of tearing fabric echoed sharply. Taehyung’s tears fell uncontrollably.

His lust-filled breath lingered near Taehyung’s ear.

An intense pain pierced through Taehyung’s entire body. His breathing hitched, and his eyes flew open. He stared straight ahead. Only then did he realize he was inside a car. So it was just a dream! Once again, he had dreamed about what happened five years ago. Taehyung sat up and breathed heavily, his pale face etched with unease. That night from five years ago haunted him endlessly. After that night, he got pregnant. He didn’t know who the father of the child was, but after ten months, he suffered a stillbirth. After his stepmother and younger sister seized his shares in the Kim Corporation, they sent him to a mental hospital. The Kim family butler, seated in the front passenger seat, sensed movement behind him. Seeing that Taehyung had awakened, he said indifferently,

Taehyung ignored him. He turned his head and looked out the window at the dim city lights. An City had become far more prosperous since he last saw it. He had been locked in the mental hospital for more than four years. The Kim family suddenly sent someone to pick him up tonight— and he knew exactly why. His younger sister, Kim Eun-bi, was about to marry the Second Young Master of the Jeon family — Jeon Jungkook. A man rumored to be ugly beyond belief, cold-hearted, and short-lived, said to have no more than twenty years to live. How could his “good” stepmother bear to let Eun-bi marry such a man? Thus, the Kim family planned to let Kim Taehyung marry into the Jeon family in Eun-bi’s place. Taehyung’s eyes turned icy. There was no warmth in them at all. The car stopped at the entrance of the Kim family villa. Taehyung walked in alone, surrounded by a grim aura. The moment he entered the living room, he saw Han Soo-yeon sitting on the sofa, gently combing Eun-bi’s hair.

Have you forgotten what Kim Taehyung did five years ago?! No self-restraint, pregnant before marriage, even lost the child! He should be grateful the Jeon family is willing to take him! What right does he have to be picky?!”

A cold voice rang out from the doorway. The three people on the sofa froze and turned to look. Taehyung stood there, still wearing his hospital gown and slippers. He stood half-hidden in the shadows— like a devil crawling out of hell.

Taehyung stepped further inside.

Taehyung walked over and sat lazily on the sofa. Under Han Soo-yeon and Eun-bi’s shocked gazes, he leaned back casually. When Kim Seong-ho took off his slipper to strike him, Taehyung said indifferently,

The slipper stopped just one centimeter from Taehyung’s face. It had been more than four years. This once-obedient son had grown sharp—and fearless. Furious, Kim Seong-ho tightened his grip.

Kim Eun-bi rushed forward, shaking her head desperately. She glanced at Taehyung uneasily. For some reason… she believed him. And that terrified her. If Taehyung didn’t marry into the Jeon family— she would have to. She was the precious daughter of the Kim family. How could she marry a short-lived man? Kim Seong-ho threw the slipper aside and sat down angrily.

Panic flashed across Eun-bi’s face. She lowered her head in silence.

The living room fell into dead silence.

Kim Eun-bi staggered back. If it weren’t for Han Soo-yeon, she would have fallen. She had known that Kim Taehyung would not be obediently married off. He was about to be sent to the Jeon family; there wasn’t enough time. At the thought, Eun-bi trembled in fear. She could not marry a short-lived man—absolutely not! Looking at Eun-bi’s frustrated expression,

Those shares had been left to him by his grandmother; he would never give them to an outsider.

he known how despicable this son would become, he would have thrown him away back then to avoid this vexation.

The back of Eun-bi’s tender hand turned red, and she held back her tears.

“Pa!” The crisp sound of the slap resounded throughout the room. On Eun-bi’s face, a clear palm print appeared. It was so painful that tears welled up in her eyes. She covered her face, not understanding what she had done wrong.

All these years, she couldn’t bear to let Eun-bi suffer even a little. Now, she couldn’t believe that Taehyung had gone so far as to slap Eun-bi.

“Pa!” Without hesitation, Taehyung slapped the other half of Eun-bi’s face. Now there were two palm prints, extraordinarily symmetrical.

Seeing Taehyung acting so brazenly, he slammed the table and stood up. He stepped in front of Taehyung, livid, hand shaking, ready to hit him.

Taehyung received the confirmation text and immediately clicked ‘Agree.’ He smiled at Kim Seong-ho and nodded in satisfaction. Then his gaze fell on Eun-bi.

Taehyung walked up to Eun-bi. The corner of his eye twitched; coldness flashed in his gaze. He met Eun-bi’s guilty gaze and asked meaningfully,

That pendant was a token given to him by the man. It was the only clue to find him. Eun-bi looked at Taehyung in shock, tears still streaming. The jade pendant was high-quality, rare, even better than the million-yuan one she had bought. The owner had to be wealthy.

Taehyung gave two more crisp slaps. Seeing the corner of Eun-bi’s mouth bleeding, he raised his eyebrow.

Eun-bi trembled, lowered her gaze, and pretended to faint. Taehyung didn’t respond. He walked upstairs. The door to his original bedroom had already disappeared. His room was now Eun-bi’s walk-in wardrobe. He opened the door and saw the dazzling array of jewelry and accessories. The light in his eyes dimmed. Stepping out, he saw Han Soo-yeon running over anxiously.

Again, Taehyung didn’t reply. He walked downstairs after changing out of the hospital gown.

Taehyung complied silently. After makeup, he was ready. When the Jeon family wedding car arrived, Taehyung stepped on the red carpet. Suddenly, a child in the crowd fainted, face pale.

But Taehyung noticed the child’s clothes: fine fabric, well-tailored, custom-made. He walked over in his wedding dress. At that moment, no one dared to approach the child.

Kim Taehyung walked over to the little boy, squatted down, and felt his pulse.

Taehyung could tell that there was nothing wrong with the little boy’s pulse. Seeing that his face was pale and that he was still covered in cold sweat, he had an idea. Han Soo-yeon saw that Taehyung was refusing to leave. Thinking that Taehyung wanted to run away from the marriage, she immediately walked up to him and said in a low voice,

Soo-yeon glared daggers at Taehyung, then turned her head to signal the servant next to her. Soon, the maid brought over the sugar solution. Taehyung made the little boy drink it, then got someone to call the ambulance. Soo-yeon gritted her teeth in anger, but she had no choice but to call an ambulance. She even asked the servant to bring out a chair for the little boy to sit on. When she was done, she walked over to Taehyung.

Soo-yeon was really worried that Taehyung would use this opportunity to escape. She didn’t want her darling Eun-bi to marry a short-lived wretch. Taehyung gave Soo-yeon one last cold glance, before getting into the Jeon family’s car. The Jeon family’s castle was in the forest nearby. Along the borders of the city, one could already see the castle’s tall spires reaching up towards the sky. It was a spectacular sight to behold. There was even an appealing air of mystery surrounding the castle. However, it was said that no one was willing to come to this place. Once they stepped into the Jeon family’s territory, the Jeon family’s bodyguards would convince them to leave. In his wedding dress, Taehyung walked alone into the Jeon residence. The Jeon family servants were momentarily surprised to see him wearing that, but still politely brought him to the drawing room. The Jeon family’s drawing room was lavishly furnished, in a style that resembled European architecture. Sunlight filtered through the glass, bathing the entire living room in golden light.

Taehyung nodded. After the servant left, he sat on the sofa and leaned back elegantly, his chin resting on his left hand. Why would the Jeon family want a marriage with the Kim family? Was it really to get rid of bad luck, as others had said? Taehyung thought to himself. If Eun-bi knew that he came to the Jeon family in a wedding dress, but it turned out that the Jeon family had no intention of holding a wedding, she might just burst into tears. Taehyung was the only one in the Kim family who could remain calm and composed in any situation. At this moment, Taehyung suddenly sensed something strange behind him. Instinctively, he moved aside, and almost immediately after, he glimpsed a blue creature flying past him. It was a blue-green python. Although it was small, it was extremely fast. The python flicked out its bright red tongue and stared coldly at Taehyung. Its body swayed continually, as if it was considering how it should attack and devour him. In a flash, the python shot towards Taehyung like an arrow leaving its bow. Taehyung sat there calmly. His right hand reached out and casually took hold of the seven-inch python. His lips curved up slightly.

Taehyung turned his head to glance at the man. He was wearing a spotlessly white shirt that accentuated his tall figure. The top two buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, and right above it was a handsome face—so handsome it was nearly suffocating to look at. His facial features were well-defined, with a pair of sharp eyebrows. His eyes were like stars, but they were cold.

He could just about guess his identity. To be able to play with snakes so brazenly in the Jeon residence, this man had to be the ugly and short-lived Second Young Master, Jeon Jungkook! Jungkook looked at Taehyung and raised his eyebrow as well, exuding a strong sense of oppressiveness.

As Taehyung spoke, he let go of the snake in his hand. The blue-green python seemed to nurse a grievance as it silently slithered onto Jungkook’s shoulder. It lowered its little head, looking pitiful. Jungkook sized Taehyung up. He wasn’t tall, but he had rather exquisite features and a good figure. His gaze finally landed on Taehyung’s hands. His hands weren’t big, and his slender fingers looked like they could be broken just by the wind. He would never have expected such a pair of delicate hands to be able to grab his python.