Chapter 1 : Almost Died

Early summer, Yincheng.

“Miss, hurry, hurry…” Uncle Ming was supporting the pregnant woman in her late term, frantically escaping from the back door of the Lin family, looking back every few steps.

Lin Banxia had been sleeping just now, and someone had secretly placed a basin of charcoal in her room. The doors and windows were closed, and she almost died from lack of oxygen.

Her whole head was dizzy now, and her stomach churned with nausea. She was the only daughter of the Lin family, but she was being plotted against by her biological father and stepmother.

“Miss, once you get to your grandparents’ house, don’t come back. Be sure to tell your grandparents that your father is untrustworthy!” Uncle Ming said with anger and pain.

He supported her, walking faster and faster, adding, “Your mother’s death may also be related to him!”

These words were like a bolt from the blue. Lin Banxia’s face turned pale, and she was deeply shaken.

Uncle Ming helped her escape quickly, “Be careful.” She was like a walking corpse, almost tripping several times. All she could think about was Uncle Ming’s warning.

Soon, she, with her big belly, was stuffed into a taxi.

Uncle Ming bent down, his eyes filled with tears, and instructed the driver, “Brother, I entrust the young lady to you. Drive her away quickly!”

The driver nodded solemnly. He was Uncle Ming’s younger brother and the person Uncle Ming trusted most. As soon as the driver stepped on the gas pedal—

“There! Stop! Don’t let her escape!”

The girl in the car heard the sound and leaned out the window to look. She saw a group of men charging towards them with sticks!

Lin Banxia’s brain, which had almost been damaged by lack of oxygen, suddenly became clear. Her heart jumped to her throat, and her pupils dilated—

“Looking for death! You dare let her go!”

Those men punched and kicked Uncle Ming, their attacks were ruthless. They knocked him to the ground in just a few moves!

“Uncle Ming!” Lin Banxia anxiously pounded on the car window, shouting loudly, filled with anger!

Several others ran towards the taxi—

“Stop! Stop!” They raised the wooden sticks in their hands. Their eyes and expressions showed that they only wanted her dead.

The driver gripped the steering wheel tightly, suppressing his worry for his brother, and sped up!

“Uncle Ming! Uncle Ming—” The girl pounded on the car window, tears falling in despair. She didn’t even think about her own situation.

From a distance, she saw Uncle Ming, who had been kicked to the ground, spitting blood, groaning in pain, but still being beaten. He didn’t forget to smile and wave at her, his eyes were both desolate and determined, urging her to leave.

Lin Banxia’s heart broke, “Uncle Ming—” It felt like a knife cutting through her. She knew that Uncle Ming was repaying her grandfather’s kindness.

The driver saw his brother’s tragic situation through the rearview mirror, and could only hold back tears, grit his teeth, and step on the gas pedal!

Saving his brother was already impossible, outnumbered.

The most important thing now was—

To escort the young lady to a safe place! To fulfill his brother’s instructions.

Soon, the taxi successfully shook off the pursuers and sped away like it was running for its life!

Lin Banxia gritted her teeth and held back tears, the words of Uncle Ming echoing in her ears:

“Miss, once you reach your grandparents’ house, don’t come back. Tell your grandparents that your father is not trustworthy!”

Suddenly—

A blinding flash of fire, through the car window, shone in! Lin Banxia squinted, instinctively reaching out to shield her eyes, then abruptly turned her head—

She saw a raging inferno engulfing the familiar house! A vast sea of flames was before her!

“Ah…!”

“Ah!!”

Screams like those from hell rang out!

She saw servants engulfed in flames, crawling and stumbling out, one after another, quickly falling to the ground, letting out a few whimpers before being burned alive.

Lin Banxia’s pupils dilated! Her eyes were filled with terror and disbelief!

The image of her elderly grandparents, kind and gentle, flashed through her mind—

“Grandfather! Grandmother!!”

She snapped out of her shock, shouting as she tried to open the car door! This time, her reaction was even more intense, like an ant on a hot pan.

The sensible driver, however, had already locked the car door.

No matter what she did, she couldn’t open the door, “Let me out! I need to get out!” She screamed frantically, her emotions spiraling out of control.

The driver knew this was no place to stay, so he slammed his foot on the gas pedal, taking her further away.

“Grandfather!!! Grandmother—” Lin Banxia leaned to the side, desperately pounding on the car window, her voice hoarse, tears streaming down her face, “Grandmother—”

The flames, like demons, shot straight into the sky!

Her throat was hoarse from shouting, her face already soaked in tears—

“Stop!! Stop the car! My grandparents are still inside! I need to save them!”

“Miss Lin! You’re not a superhero! Going in will only get you killed! There are still people chasing you! Do you want to die with your baby?!” The driver yelled at her, hoping she would come to her senses, “There might be traps waiting for you! Your father has gone insane and won’t let you live!”

Lin Banxia suddenly froze, her face pale, holding back the breakdown within her, the image of her father, Yang Yiming, with his hypocritical facade, flashing through her mind.

The car sped up! He had to complete the task his brother had entrusted him with, he couldn’t let his brother die in vain!

The scorching heat, like a liberated demon, the fire burned the house, warping it, cracking the brick walls.

Finally, with a deafening boom! Lin Banxia saw the flames shoot into the sky! Everything was crumbling in the inferno!

The massive wave of fire almost tossed the car around, if they had been ten seconds slower, everyone would have died!

Deep fear and sorrow enveloped Lin Banxia, her soul felt like it was blown away, her face pale, her pupils dilated!

Only the trembling shell of her body remained, her hair disheveled, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness as she gazed at the receding car.

“No…” She couldn’t accept it. Her hands slowly clenched into fists, an endless wave of hatred washing over her.

Her stepfather and stepmother, not only had they tried to kill her and her child, but they had also brutally murdered her grandparents in this way!

They were monsters!

The sudden turn of events was too much for Lin Banxia to bear.

Her abdomen began to contract, the pain growing more intense with each passing moment…

Six years later, Yincheng.

Sunday, the opulent Yuzhu Villa, sprawling across 1000 acres, was the home of Yincheng’s richest man, Zhan Jingting.

At a young age, he controlled the Junsheng Group, becoming an industry leader, a mythical figure in Yincheng.

Today, he was not at the company. After lunch, he sat alone on the second-floor balcony, taking a nap in a rattan chair.

Clad in white loungewear, the warm sun bathed him in its glow. Unconsciously, he drifted into a dream, his handsome brows slightly furrowed, his noble appearance captivating.

In a hotel room, at a banquet seven years ago, he was tricked, unknowingly drinking a spiked drink…

In the hazy light, a girl, barely twenty, with delicate features and stunning beauty, stood frozen.

The moment she froze, he knew he had entered the wrong room.

The effects of the drug kicked in, forcing him to entwine with the girl, their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace… No matter how hard she struggled, it was futile.

In reality, a gentle breeze blew, ruffling the man’s hair, waking him from his dream.

He saw a cup of warm milk before him. The man was slightly taken aback, pulling himself back from his thoughts. He lifted his gaze along his arm, seeing Butler Shen standing beside him, “Master Zhan, your milk.”

Zhan Jingting reached out and took the cup, taking a small sip. He turned his gaze towards the courtyard, “Have you found any trace of that girl?”

“Not yet.”

He sighed softly, “Then continue searching.”

“Yes.”

Over the years, the man felt a deep sense of guilt. He, who never touched women, was strangely captivated by the feeling that night, and the faint scent of herbs on the girl.