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After being framed by her half–sister Selene Wynn, Thalia Wynn was imprisoned by her beloved brother and her devoted fiancé, Cassian Moreau. Inside the private prison, she endured endless humiliation.
Upon her release, she tried explaining herself numerous times, but her brother Callum met her with icy indifference. “Selene has a pure heart. How could she frame you?”
Cassian, her fiancé, declared resolutely, “Thalia, no matter how you’ve changed, I’ll still marry you, but Selene is innocent.“”
They allowed Selene to take over her house, seize everything she had, and even destroy her mother’s photograph.
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Heartbroken and disillusioned, Thalia bought a plane ticket and vanished abroad.
Not long after, Cassian and Callum nearly lost their minds searching for her.
“Your sentence
is complete. You’re free
to go. Given your background, try to live decently from now on and stop harming others.”
At the private prison’s exit, a guard escorted Thalia to the door, shaking his head in disappointment.
Thalia was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Wynn Family in the capital. Raised with love and privilege, she was rumored to be cruel and ruthless, even attempting to drive her sister to death. What
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a waste of such beauty.
Thalia stood on the steps, a shadow of sorrow crossing her eyes at his words.
A year ago, her father brought Selene, who had been living abroad, back to the family. That was when Thalia learned her father, who always appeared deeply devoted to her mother, had long been unfaithful. He had a child with another woman and brought her mother, Rowena, into the Wynn Family
Rowena took her mother’s place, claimed her father’s love, and Selene not only took everything Thalia had but also falsely accused her of attempting murder.
Her father exploded in anger. “Even if you can’t accept Selene, she’s still your sister, Rowena’s only child! How could you treat her like this?”
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Thalia hadn’t done anything, but her father’s anger was implacable. “Look for yourself,” he demanded, throwing a phone at her. The video showed a man accusing her under duress, pointing directly at her. “Miss Thalia told me to do it,” the man said, fear etched in his face.
There were transfer screenshots implicating her, but Thalia was innocent. Despite her intentions to investigate, her father sent her to the private prison without delay. She still remembered his disgusted look. “I’ve spoiled you too much. Go reflect on yourself!”
Lost in thought, her heart ached. Outside, reporters swarmed her. “Miss Wynn, rumors suggest you’re insanely jealous and tried to murder your sister. Is it true?”
Staggering under their questions, her mind
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foggy, she shook her head. “No, I didn’t do anything. This isn’t true.”
The barrage of questions continued. “If you did nothing, why were you imprisoned? Why has no one come to pick you up?”
Her lips trembled. “Miss Wynn, your mother is an award–winning actress. Aren’t you worried your actions will tarnish her reputation?”
The questions cut into Thalia like knives. She struggled to breathe, overwhelmed. Just as she felt she could no longer endure, a hand pulled her away from the crowd.
She looked up, seeing Cassian, her childhood friend and fiancé. He cast a cold gaze over the reporters. “This isn’t over,” he said with chilling authority.
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Bodyguards in black suits seized the reporters‘ cameras, silencing them. Furious, yet subdued by the presence of the powerful Moreau family, they stepped back.
Cassian hurried Thalia to the car. The atmosphere inside was electric with tension. Thalia’s heart ached with irony. On her release day, the only one to pick her up was Cassian.
Cassian adjusted his collar, his expression cold. “Were you standing there on purpose? Trying to frame Selene?”
Thalia’s heartbreak deepened. “I didn’t say anything!”
He snorted, disbelief evident. “If I’d come later, who knows what you’d have said?”
She looked at him, her heart sinking. How did
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it come to this?
Before Selene’s arrival, Thalia and Cassian were inseparable, their bond forged through years of childhood friendship. His presence comforted her after her mother passed away. They walked under sunsets together, with him carrying her when she was tired. Engaged shortly after graduation, they couldn’t bear to be apart.
But everything changed when Selene came into their lives. Manipulating perceptions, she drove a wedge between Thalia and Cassian.
Cassian’s verdict on the matter stung. “Selene is kind–hearted. How could you do something so crue!?”
Despite Thalia’s pleas, no one believed her Begging Cassian, she had implored him
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not to imprison her, but he stood by Selene, his eyes cold. “When you hired someone to harm Selene, did you consider the consequences? It should’ve been a life for a life. You’ve only been locked up for seven months. What’s the difference?”
Thalia’s voice trembled with conviction. “I didn’t do it…I swear.”
Cassian’s expression darkened. “Even after seven months, you’ve learned nothing,” he said, accelerating the car.
Thalia sensed they weren’t heading home. “Where are we going?” she asked, her voice small.
Cassian’s face softened slightly. “Today is Mr. Wynn’s birthday. Selene has been waiting for you.”
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Thalia’s heart constricted at the name: She clenched her hands, staying silent as tension filled the air.
Initially, she treated Selene warmly,
sharing clothes and jewelry. But Selene’s hostility was relentless. When Thalia learned Selene was her father’s illegitimate daughter, everything made sense. Yet, following her father’s advice, she tried to be understanding.
Despite her efforts, Selene’s animosity never waned. Then, seven months ago, Selene’s false accusations led to Thalia’s imprisonment. Her father’s recent call still echoed in her mind. “Be thankful for Selene’s kindness. She’s been through hardships you can’t imagine.”
Now, after her release from the hard months in prison, Thalia’s only wish was to escape
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their world.
Her silence spoke volumes. Cassian, misunderstanding her pain, stiffened. “Selene truly wants to see you,” he insisted.
“I understand,” Thalia replied flatly, cutting him off.
Cassian fell silent. Thalia stared out the window, her face blank, her mind whirling. Years of their relationship counted for nothing now. Selene’s lies had torn apart the bond with Cassian and her father’s abandonment added to her pain. But she forced herself to suppress the tears, a bitter smile etched on her face.
It didn’t matter anymore. Soon, on Selene’s birthday, she would vanish from their lives forever.
