Chapter 1

I used to be a top-tier deep-sea explorer, but now I just sell fish in a filthy market.

Eight years ago, I was sentenced to life imprisonment for cutting off my companion's oxygen tube.

After enduring eight agonizing years in prison, I was released early due to good behavior.

Today, my family barged into my stall like maniacs, my parents dropped to their knees and wailed.

"Chloe, your sister went diving two hours ago and hasn't surfaced. Something's wrong!"

"You're the best diver in the world, get in the water and save her!"

My ex-husband Liam pushed forward next, forcibly shoving our old wedding ring onto my finger, his voice cracking.

"I promise you, Chloe, bring Mia back alive, and I'll remarry you."

I didn't say a word. My fingers drifted up to the hearing aid tucked behind my ear.

Had they forgotten?

Eight years ago, their precious adopted daughter Mia killed a teammate underwater over gold bars from a sunken wreck.

Liam made me sign the confession to protect her. My own father slapped me so hard he ruptured my eardrum permanently.

If I dove now, the water pressure would burst a blood vessel in my brain. I'd die on the spot.

"Chloe, don't push your luck!"

Mr. Davis, the market manager, stormed over when I stayed silent.

He'd been bowing and scraping to Liam and my parents, but the look he threw me was pure contempt.

"The Liam Group and Grant Famliy pay more taxes than this whole district earns in a year! You think this shitty fish stall makes you somebody? Why are you playing hard to get?"

The onlookers started jeering.

"What a cold-blooded bitch! That's her sister."

"Probably holding out for more money. Scum."

"Looks decent, heart black as coal."

Each word stabbed me. I was the victim. I was the one whose life they destroyed. Why was I still the villain?

I pulled the ring off and pushed it back into Liam's hand. Then I pointed to the hearing aid and shook my head.

"It's not that I won't. My ear is destroyed. I'll die down there."

My mother Susan let out a shriek and threw herself into the bloody muck, pounding the ground.

"Chloe! Eight years and you're still this heartless? Faking a disability to dodge responsibility? That's your little sister!"

My father Arthur's finger trembled an inch from my nose.

"How did the Lu family spawn something like you? Letting her die and lying about it—you're not human!"

Liam's eyes burned red. He yanked a bank card from his wallet and forced it into my palm.

"Chloe, I'm begging you. Five million. Enough to live on forever. Save Mia and name your price—anything."

His hot tears hit the back of my hand and burned like acid. Eight years in prison, and he never visited once.

Now he crawled back—for her. For the woman who framed me. Using money to humiliate what was left of my dignity.

I couldn't take another second of it. Hands shaking, I pulled a folded medical certificate from my pocket—proof of severe eardrum perforation.

Liam didn't even glance at it. He slapped my hand away, the paper fluttering into the fish slime.

"You want more money? Is that it? I GAVE it to you! Mia doesn't have time!"

Then Mr. Davis flipped my entire stall over, fish and ice crashing across the concrete.

"Chloe, you murdering bitch! Get out! Don't contaminate my market! Refuse to save her, and you're done here forever!"

The crowd spat on me. Literally spat.

"Get out, murderer!"

"Scum like her doesn't deserve to breathe!"

I stared at the crumpled medical certificate soaking in fish blood, and something inside me cracked.

All I wanted was to live quietly in a corner of the world. Was even that too much to ask? Were they really going to hound me until I was dead?