On the Eve of the Wedding, First Love Returns

Seeing Sabrina’s desperate tears, Damien felt a twisted satisfaction.

He raised his hand and pinched her chin, forcing her to tilt her head and look at him, asking, “What do you think I take you for?”

Sabrina was stunned. The pain felt her heart crumble into pieces, making her tremble all over.

Damien's smile grew increasingly cold and they asked again, "You wanted to marry and leave the Steele Family that simple? I won't give you what you want!”

He added, “You're now the lowest palace maid, vulnerable to anyone who wishes to trample on you or torture you. Until you're driven to despair and forced to end your own life!”

Sabrina cried so intensely that she struggled to catch her breath. Glaring at Damien with anger, she declared, “I won't give up! I promised my mother that I would live my life to the fullest and never commit suicide! It never crossed my mind!”

As soon as the time came, she would clear her mother's name from the sin she never committed, escape Damien's trap and find true happiness elsewhere.

Sabrina couldn’t believe her mother had indeed poisoned Martha Steele, Damien's late mother.

Her mother had been gentle, wanting to raise her well and marry her into a good family.

It was hard to believe that her mother had murdered Martha out of jealousy.

In one blink, Damien laughed out loud and said, “This is not something you can decide.”

Outside the window, the cold snow drifted again, slowly covering the gloomy and oppressive palace.

The vermilion walls and blue tiles stood stark against the white snow, creating a bleak and hopeless scene.

Meanwhile, Sabrina had a long dream.

Back then, it was on her fourteenth birthday.

Martha didn’t like her mother but wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for her.

She even asked the butler to allocate funds for her birthday banquet and invited many close friends as guests.

Steele’s mansion was filled with laughter and joy before.

He tenderly combed her hair, teasing that he’d kiss her in two years.

Sabrina’s cheeks flushed, though his thoughts were on Damien, who was thousands of miles away.

Years ago, Sabrina had always thought that it would only be Damien if she ever wanted to marry. She had no one in mind that could level him.

The birthday banquet started on a joyous occasion, laughter echoing in the four corners of the wall.

When Sabrina was about to speak with her best friend, Astrid Smith, a tragedy destroyed everyone's night.

The Steele Family’s secret guards burst in that moment, seizing her amid the crowd’s screams. They dragged her roughly to the main hall and threw her to the ground.

“Murder!”

“Poison! Jealousy!”

“That wretched person committed suicide out of guilt! This is her suicide note!”

"Yes, this is her handwriting! It's really similar to how she writes and no one can replicate it. Only her! Such a despicable person; she actually dared to poison and murder Martha!”

“And this wretched Sabrina! Which lady in the capital would let a concubine bring in a proper lady to befriend the wealthy? The lady was so kind, hosting her birthday banquet and inviting guests. How could her mother do this? It’s madness!”

Mockery, curses and contempt filled the air.

Bound to a stool and beaten mercilessly, Sabrina cried out, "My mother didn’t... please! Don’t accuse her falsely! My mother didn’t do it!”

With no evidence to clear her name, Sabrina was helpless. No one supported her mother, only her.

Damien, whom she had admired so deeply, tortured her to death as soon as he returned home, turning all her admiration into endless fear and hatred.

Sabrina sobbed uncontrollably and tried desperately to escape. Still, when Damien caught her, he was like a cold, ruthless devil, inflicting unimaginable cruelty.

“Sabrina, this is what you owe me. You will never escape from my grasp, not in this lifetime!” Damien roared.

Once again, Sabrina was lost in despair in her dream. She struggled but couldn’t move. She wanted to sob in pain but couldn’t shed a tear. All she could do was curl up in a ball.

The warm pavilion felt as comforting as spring. A nurse replaced the wet cloth on Sabrina’s forehead, but she stayed unconscious, crying and mumbling, “Don’t let me go.”

With that, Damien's face darkened. Sabrina’s body burned hot in his hands, making his eyes heavy with worry.

He felt a surge of irritation and angrily demanded of the imperial physician, “Why isn’t she awake yet? How did you prepare the medicine? I want answers!”