Where does love turn into sorrow

Chapter 1

It was Sarah’s birthday party, and there I was, someone’s mistress, when my first love, Ethan Carter, proposed to me in front of everyone.

Everyone thought I, the lovesick puppy, would say yes.

But they all forgot.

When we were supposed to get married before, Ethan’s false testimony drove my dad to jump off a building, and my mom had a mental breakdown.

My whole family’s business, Williams Corp, was ruined by his lies, and I was left with millions in debt, a social pariah.

All because he thought my dad, by acknowledging me as his biological daughter, caused his childhood sweetheart, Olivia Williams, to attempt suicide.

So, since Olivia couldn’t inherit Williams Corp, he made sure I couldn’t either.

And now, after all the suffering I endured, his best friend had the nerve to tell me:

“Ethan has forgiven you for everything. He even bought back the entire Williams Corp, just waiting for you to come back.”

“You should just say yes. After all, he still loves you.”

“Sarah, are you even listening to me?”

“You know how close Olivia was to us growing up. The fact that Ethan is willing to give you Williams Corp back after avenging Olivia is more than generous!”

I stared at Ethan’s best friend, John’s, impatient expression, my mind a blank canvas.

I hadn’t expected that accompanying my… benefactor back home, and attending a friend’s birthday party, would lead to this interrogation.

“You chased Ethan relentlessly back then. Are you saying you’ve moved on after just four years?”

Hearing Ethan’s name snapped me back to reality.

It had only been four years since I was forced to leave the country, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

I knew John wouldn’t be pressuring me like this unless Ethan had put him up to it.

But what was the point?

I set down my wine glass and looked directly into John’s fiery eyes.

“Whatever was between Ethan and me ended when he took his revenge for Olivia.”

“Sarah, putting on airs now, are you? You had no shame chasing after Ethan back then!”

The moment those words left John’s mouth, everyone’s eyes turned to me, filled with open mockery.

After all, the story of how I, a newly discovered heiress, had shamelessly pursued Ethan Carter, the illegitimate son of the Carter family, was well-known in our circle.

When he was sick, I’d stay up all night taking care of him.

When he wanted to show off, I’d use my money to win people over, making sure everyone praised him.

Even when he’d publicly leave a party with a model on his arm, I’d chase after them, offering to be his designated driver.

Everyone said I was shameless.

But only I knew that when I was bullied in school, before I was even recognized by the Williams family, he was the one who saved me.

After relentless pursuit, he finally responded to my feelings.

He’d shield me from the sneers and ridicule of others.

He’d learn to open up to me late at night, saying he was willing to face the future with me.

Back then, nestled in Ethan’s arms, gazing at the night sky through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I truly believed we could be together forever.

Until Olivia Williams, the girl who’d been raised as a Williams, returned from her studies abroad.

At her welcome-home party, I was completely isolated.

She was held tightly in Ethan’s embrace, her eyes filled with triumph as she looked at me.

Surrounded by childhood friends, the familiar atmosphere made it impossible for me to join in.

My feelings of inadequacy and resentment churned within me.

I could only suppress the bitter tears after being forced to drink glass after glass of wine, watching Ethan shield Olivia from having to drink.

Finally, before the family dinner the next day, I asked the question that had been weighing on my mind all night.

“Ethan, if you have feelings for Olivia, there’s still time to back out before the dinner.”

My voice was remarkably calm, having already accepted the worst possible outcome after a sleepless night.

But Ethan, after glancing at Olivia who was chatting and laughing nearby, snapped at me.

“Why are you being so jealous?”

“Olivia and I are just childhood friends. If we really had feelings for each other, would I have let you chase after me so relentlessly?”

My words caught in my throat.

I could only stare blankly at Ethan’s self-righteous face.

The person who had been in my arms just yesterday was now a stranger.

Seeing my stunned silence, a flicker of panic crossed Ethan’s impatient face.

He grabbed my hand, eager to explain.

“I misspoke, Sarah. I meant Olivia and I are just friends.”

As Ethan held me captive, I stared into his eyes, a bitter smile forming on my lips.

“I was the one who chased after you, so it’s understandable that you look down on me.”

“Sarah, you promised me you wouldn’t debase yourself!”

Ethan immediately pulled me into a hug, trying to soothe me.

“Don’t be angry. I really only see Olivia as a sister.”

“Our families are meeting to discuss our wedding today. What do you mean, ‘back out’? You’re just overthinking things!”

Soothed by Ethan’s affectionate tone, I nodded absently.

I was about to tell him to keep his distance from Olivia in the future, when Olivia herself walked over, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Sarah, I overheard everything. It’s my fault for not being careful enough and causing a misunderstanding between you and Ethan.”

She then raised her glass, wanting to offer a toast of apology.

I genuinely thought I had misjudged her and was about to apologize profusely when, while Ethan was turned away talking to someone else, a glass of red wine was splashed in my face.

Followed by Olivia’s panicked scream.

“Sarah, if you’re upset with me, take it out on me! Why do you have to resort to these tricks to frame me?”

Wine dripped from my meticulously styled hair, staining my expensive dress a deep red, leaving me sticky and uncomfortable.

But what truly devastated me was the arrival of our parents at that very moment.

They only heard Olivia’s accusation.

Seeing that I hadn’t made a good first impression on Ethan’s parents and had caused a scene on such an important day, my image-conscious father immediately lashed out.

“You deserved to be abandoned at the orphanage! You’re petty and jealous, not at all as gracious as Olivia!”

“You’ve ruined such an important day! Apologize to Olivia at once!”

His words drew stares from everyone around us.

My mother tugged at my father’s sleeve, frowning in disagreement, blindly defending me, yet not entirely believing my innocence.

“Olivia did usurp Sarah’s place. It’s understandable that Sarah would want to retaliate. It was just bad timing. How can you say such things to your own daughter?”

I looked up, my eyes welling with tears, at my father’s darkened face and the disdain in Ethan’s parents’ eyes.

I wanted to defend myself, to explain that I hadn’t tried to frame Olivia, that it wasn’t my fault.

“Of course it wasn’t Sarah’s fault!”

Ethan stepped in front of me, and my eyes lit up.

I thought he truly believed I wasn’t the kind of person to resort to such underhanded tactics.

But then he turned to me, his gaze fixed on my soaked figure, his tone condescending.

“Sarah, regardless of whose fault it was, you should be more tolerant of Olivia.”

“Be good. Don’t be stubborn. Olivia lived as the real heiress for twenty years. It must be hard for her to suddenly adjust to this change.”

“Just apologize. What’s the big deal?”

The light in my eyes died.

Under the pressure of everyone’s gaze, I finally mumbled an apology.

“It was all my fault. Please excuse me, I need to go change.”

I quickly retreated upstairs, ignoring the trail of water I left behind.

But Olivia stopped me in the dressing room.

In the empty room, I clutched my phone nervously.

Olivia, oblivious to my fear, looked at me with a haughty expression.

“So what if you’re the real heiress? Even in designer clothes, you still look like a clown.”

“Let me tell you, anything I can’t have, I destroy!”

I stared sadly at the ruined designer dress.

A million-dollar gown was a dream I wouldn’t have dared to imagine back in the orphanage, where I treasured even my school uniform.

Tears streamed down my face as I sent the recording I’d secretly made to Ethan.

His messages popped up one after another on my phone screen, each one a fresh sting.

“Sarah, what’s the point of constantly targeting Olivia?”

“I already defended you when you pulled that stunt in public. Why are you still trying to frame her?”

“Frame her?”

I typed back frantically.

“I’m the real Williams heiress! I’m the one who’s supposed to marry you! You’re saying I’m jealous of her? That I framed her?”

“What do I gain from doing that?”

Silence. Then, a belated and weak defense.

“Olivia grew up spoiled, while you’ve always had it tough. Just be more understanding, can’t you?”

He stopped replying. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach.

For the first time, I seriously doubted marrying Ethan.

But the business arrangements between our families had already been finalized. I had no choice.

We remained in a cold war until, right before the wedding, Olivia suddenly attempted suicide.

I was trying on my wedding dress with Ethan when my father confronted me, his voice full of accusation. My eyes widened in disbelief.

“Dad, I’ve been at home this whole time. I haven’t even seen anyone. How could I have harmed Olivia?”

My father, his eyes red, threw Olivia’s suicide notes in my face.

“Then how do you explain the fact that Olivia’s suicide notes are filled with your threats and accusations?”

“It wasn’t her fault that she was raised as a Williams. Why couldn’t you just let her be?”

My mother stepped in front of me, shielding me from my father’s impending kick.

“Stop blaming her! Help Sarah! She’s your daughter! She can’t go to jail!”

But I hadn’t done anything wrong. Why were they all ready to accept my guilt?

I looked at Ethan, who stood there stunned, desperately seeking support in his eyes.

As I watched him remain silent, my heart sank further and further.

Just as I was about to abandon all hope, Ethan finally spoke.

“Of course I believe you, Sarah.”

“The wedding will go on as planned. I won’t abandon you, no matter what.”

On our wedding day, I wore my wedding dress and looked at Ethan, radiating confidence, beside me.

I clung to him like a lifeline.

Even if everyone else doubted me, with Ethan’s trust, everything would be alright.

But in the next moment, I realized how wrong I was.

Creditors swarmed outside the venue. Panicked, I tried to find my father, who had been absent all day.

When I finally located him, I watched in horror as he jumped from the hotel roof.

My mother collapsed, frantically trying to piece his broken body back together.

As I rushed towards her, I was stopped by the police and handcuffed.

“Ms. Williams, you’re under arrest for suspected homicide and tax evasion. Please come with us.”

“That’s impossible! I’m innocent! Williams Corp is innocent!”

My dream wedding had turned into a funeral. My mind was a blank slate, but I instinctively looked at Ethan, the person I trusted most.

I searched his eyes for any sign of support.

But Ethan just sneered at me, mouthing the words:

“This is what you get for hurting Olivia.”

“This is my gift to you. Do you like it?”

If you wanted revenge, take it out on me! Why involve innocent people?

I looked at my father’s broken body on the ground, at the utter devastation in my mother’s eyes, at the hateful stares directed at me.

Suddenly, it all clicked. I burst out laughing, a chilling sound that echoed through the chaos.

“Ethan Carter, are you satisfied seeing me like this?”

…

“Sarah, it was all my fault. I’ll do anything to make it up to you!”

The echoes of his past pleas rang in my ears as I looked at Ethan, who, having received no response from me, had finally resorted to this grand, public gesture.

He knelt before me, a picture of sincerity, as if he’d forgotten the pain he’d inflicted.

He begged me to marry him.

As the diamond on the ring glittered under the lights, amidst the gasps of the onlookers, I backhanded the ring, sending it flying towards Ethan.

“I’m already someone else’s mistress. What right do you have to ask for my hand?”