Chapter 1

To make sure his childhood sweetheart won the campus singing competition, my boyfriend had me locked in a dark basement.

He looked at me with a fake sense of guilt. "Seraphina, you come from a wealthy family. You can get into any school you want."

"But Jasmine is different. She only has a chance to keep studying music if she wins this championship."

That day, I was disqualified for failing to show up, and Jasmine got exactly what she wanted.

Afterward, he knelt on the floor, crying and begging for my forgiveness.

I was soft-hearted enough to give him one more chance.

I never imagined he would only get worse.

To secure Jasmine's spot in a prestigious conservatory abroad, he went to extremes.

On the night of my birthday, he forced a bottle of vocal-destroying chemicals down my throat, making me lose my voice forever!

1

"I was wrong, I was wrong... Xander, please just let me go..."

"I already missed my chance once. I can't lose it again..."

The big music competition was scheduled for tomorrow.

Winning would mean a direct ticket to a Master's program at the New York Academy of Music.

I had spent months practicing and preparing for this single moment.

I wanted to fulfill my dreams and the expectations my parents had for me since I was a little girl.

But when I was just one step away from success, my boyfriend decided to destroy my path for the sake of his precious Jasmine.

He tied me up again, just to make sure I couldn't compete so she could take the crown.

I knew Xander Sterling was biased, but I never realized his favoritism could be this cruel.

I threw my dignity away and begged him for mercy.

However, the only thing that came out of his mouth were cold, heartless words.

"This competition is everything to Jasmine. Why can't you just give her this one chance? When are you going to stop being so selfish?"

Hearing those words, I suddenly felt that our years together were nothing but a sick joke.

I couldn't even laugh. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

"I won't let you become a stumbling block for her," Xander said coldly, his eyes showing no sign of regret.

I grit my teeth, my eyes blurring with tears. "You know singing is my biggest dream. You know how hard I've worked, and you know I'm carrying the hopes of my late parents..."

Xander's body stiffened for a moment. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

"Getting into that conservatory has been my life's goal... my only dream..."

Seeing his resolve soften, I quickly pressed on.

"Xander, I swear, if you let me go this time, I'll never get angry about you and Jasmine again. I'll forgive everything you've ever done wrong..."

"I can even walk out of your lives completely. I'll just leave..."

Perhaps I sounded sincere enough because Xander actually looked wavered.

But right then, Jasmine Reed called.

"Xander, the competition is tomorrow and I'm so scared. Seraphina is so much better than me... I have no hope. Maybe I should just give up."

"Do people like me even deserve happiness? I finally have a shot at my dream school, and now it's all going to be ruined..."

Her voice cracked over the speaker, sounding like she was the victim of a great tragedy.

A flash of pity crossed Xander's eyes. He spoke into the phone with a gentle, soothing tone.

"It's okay. As long as I'm here, nobody will stand in your way. Just relax and focus on the stage. I'll handle everything else..."

He hung up and turned back to me. His gaze had turned icy once again.

Fear began to fill the air. A heavy sense of dread weighed on my chest.

I started to shiver, my voice trembling with terror.

"Xander, please. You can't do this to me."

My hands and feet were bound tightly. I could only keep pleading.

If my throat was ruined, I would never be able to sing again.

Seeing me sob until I could barely breathe, Xander avoided my gaze. His voice was shaky.

"I'm sorry, but I can't leave Jasmine hanging."

"Don't worry. I'll love you and take care of you for the rest of your life..."

"You don't need to sing as long as you have me. But Jasmine is different. You can't get in her way."