Blurb：
At the engagement banquet, Cassidy watches as her sister Ophelia Hansen provocatively drops the last rib into Kendrick Beckham's bowl. The tension escalates when Kendrick flips the table, defending Cassidy against her family's cruel whispers. But Ophelia's shocking revelation—that Kendrick's tattoo is a permanent mark of their past love—throws everything into doubt. Is Kendrick's devotion to Cassidy genuine, or is he using her to get back at Ophelia for rejecting him years ago? Dive into this emotional rollercoaster of family drama, betrayal, and a love that defies all odds. Will Cassidy and Kendrick's bond survive Ophelia's schemes, or will the ghosts of the past tear them apart?
Content：
At the engagement banquet, my mother placed my favorite sweet and sour ribs in front of my younger sister. Smiling at her with meaning, she said, “You girl, since childhood, you’ve always snatched everything from your sister. But when it comes to marriage, how come you’re willing to fall behind?”Ophelia Hansen picked up the last rib and, with deliberate provocation, dropped it into my fiancé’s bowl. “Isn’t it true we haven’t married yet? Who’s first and who’s second is still uncertain.”
On the side, several uncles and aunts whispered to my father, saying Kendrick Beckham was originally introduced for Ophelia, that I was shameless, scheming to steal my sister’s boyfriend.
I was about to flare up when the man beside me suddenly pressed my hand down.
——
And in the next instant, the entire table flipped over, soup and dishes splashing everywhere.
The private room froze in silence, every eye turning toward Kendrick, too stunned to utter a word.
Only Ophelia slammed down her chopsticks, glaring in fury. “Kendrick, what do you mean by this?”
Kendrick stayed calm, shielding me behind him.
“Nothing much. I’m just standing up for the one I love. I’ve seen clearly how Cassidy has been treated in this family. I never cared about people like you, but today I came here for her. If you dare bully my fiancée, don’t blame me for being rude.”
The Beckham family was large and powerful, and Kendrick himself was wealthy. They dared to call me shameless, yet none of them had the courage to offend him or the power behind him.
My mother quickly calmed Ophelia, then forced a smile and rushed over.
“We didn’t mean it like that. We’re family, just eating together and joking around. Don’t take it seriously…”
But just as the air began to ease, Ophelia suddenly stood and strode straight toward Kendrick.
She sneered and splashed red wine across Kendrick’s face. With a sharp tug, she tore open his shirt, her red nails tracing the blurred tattoo as her eyes gleamed with scorn.
“Fine words. But being with Cassidy, isn’t it just revenge on me for rejecting you back then? Ten years ago, I didn’t want you. Ten years later, I still don’t! You think finding someone like this can scare me? Dream on!”
With that, Ophelia slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out without a glance back.
When the echo of her heels faded, only Kendrick’s ragged breathing filled the silence. Everyone else sat frozen, too afraid to move.
I didn’t wait any longer. I pulled Kendrick away.
When we reached the parking lot, Kendrick suddenly lifted his head. In the dim light, his eyes were dark and unreadable.
“Cassidy, do you also think I’m with you just to spite Ophelia?”
“How could I?” I answered without hesitation.
Ten years, countless days and nights together, countless moments of sharing hardships. How could I doubt Kendrick’s sincerity because of a few words from Ophelia that provoked me?
Yet when I saw him absentmindedly stroking his wound, my heart still trembled.
Ten years had taught me to grow used to the silent, restrained Kendrick. But I had forgotten, at eighteen, he too had once burned with reckless passion.
Uncle had been right. Kendrick was first introduced to Ophelia by the family. The explanation back then was careful, almost gentle: Kendrick had been withdrawn since childhood, just returned from overseas, and might struggle to adapt, so they wanted to find him a friend to keep him company.
No one knew his true identity. But Ophelia, captivated by his striking face, still chose to step closer.
Back then, she was the proud and dazzling eldest daughter of the Hansen family, the radiant star who outshone everyone.
She was like a blazing flame, wrapping herself around Kendrick, melting that cold, unyielding block of ice.
Their love was wild and inseparable. At the height of it, Kendrick, ignoring his family’s objections, carved her name into his chest with ink that would never fade. They had promised, right after graduation, that they would marry.
Kendrick, brimming with hope, had carefully planned a proposal.
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