D City, Mental Institution.
This was Lin Yu's fifth year since being sent here. From the moment she opened her eyes this morning, Lin Yu had been waiting. She knew Zhou Quan would come today.
Every year on this day, he would come. Not to visit her, nor to take her out, but to force her to reveal the password to her bank safe deposit box, to squeeze out the last drop of benefit she could bring him.
That was why, five years ago, when all the truth was laid bare before her, she was merely sent to a mental institution instead of being killed in a car accident or forced to overdose on sleeping pills.
July 7th was her and Zhou Quan's wedding anniversary. She remembered it clearly, and Zhou Quan had never forgotten either. He knew she loved him, so he deliberately chose this day to pry open her mouth.
However, to Zhou Quan's disappointment, for five years she had never loosened her tongue, never compromised.
Silently surveying this hellish place, Lin Yu's lips curved into a barely perceptible cold smile.
Zhou Quan thought she still had feelings for him, but he didn't know that the moment she witnessed Zhou Quan and Lin Yiqian rolling around in bed together, she had completely given up on him.
Lin Yiqian was her sister—not her biological sister, but her cousin.
However, from childhood to adulthood, everyone around her had consistently told Lin Yu that Lin Yiqian was her real sister.
That's right, Lin Yu had been deceived—deceived by her beloved grandfather, deceived by the people she thought were her "father" and "mother"!
The difference was that her grandfather deceived her hoping to give her a complete family and a happy childhood. Her so-called "father" and "mother" deceived her for the family property and shares she had inherited.
Lin Yu's grandfather was named Lin Anyan, the founder of Boyang Enterprise. Lin Anyan built his empire from nothing, relying on years of hard work to create the renowned Boyang Enterprise. Later, he passed the company to his eldest son, Lin Hongxuan.
Lin Anyan originally thought he could retire behind the scenes and peacefully enjoy his golden years at home. But unexpectedly, just two years later, disaster struck—Lin Hongxuan and his family of three died in a car accident. Except for baby Lin Yu, both Lin Hongxuan and his wife Sun Qingwei perished.
Overnight, the old man buried his son. The grief Lin Anyan endured was unimaginable. However, he couldn't collapse. Boyang Enterprise still needed him to take charge, and his granddaughter Lin Yu still needed him to raise her!
That period was the darkest time in Lin Anyan's life. During the day, he had to suppress his grief over losing his son and manage the company with all his might. At night, he had to force a smile and gently coax the constantly crying Lin Yu to sleep.
What worried him even more was that Lin Yu was still so young, with such a long life ahead of her. Before she grew old enough to withstand such tremendous shock and pain, how could she face the cruel reality of losing both parents?
It was then that his second son Lin Hongxin and daughter-in-law Sun Wanting voluntarily offered to help raise Lin Yu.
Lin Anyan carefully deliberated for half a month, then tested Lin Hongxin and Sun Wanting for nearly a year before agreeing. His eldest son was gone; he hoped to arrange the best life possible for Lin Yu. Although his second son wasn't as capable as his eldest, he had a good nature and shouldn't mistreat Lin Yu, his own niece.
Moreover, Sun Qingwei and Sun Wanting were not only sisters-in-law but also twin sisters. The two sisters had always been close, so he believed Sun Wanting would surely take good care of her twin sister's daughter!
For the next twenty years, until Lin Anyan's death from illness, he never regretted that decision. Lin Hongxin and Sun Wanting truly treated Lin Yu as their own daughter, even better than they treated their own biological daughter Lin Yiqian!
Lin Anyan was very comforted, finally able to go face his eldest son in peace. Therefore, before his death, apart from leaving Lin Yu a large inheritance, he never said a word about Lin Yu's true background.
Lin Yu remained in the dark until she married Zhou Quan, until she discovered the affair between Zhou Quan and Lin Yiqian, until her family property and shares were stolen by the Lin Hongxin couple, until... she was sent to the mental institution!
Thinking about the sudden changes five years ago, about her helplessness and panic at that time, Lin Yu secretly clenched her fists. Her long, untrimmed nails dug into her palms, starkly reminding her that everything was not a nightmare—it was reality!
Zhou Quan didn't come alone. Following behind him was Lin Yiqian, holding a small wooden box.
"Sister, guess what good thing Brother Quan and I brought you?" Lin Yiqian smiled sweetly, presenting the small wooden box in her hands to Lin Yu like offering a treasure. "Mom told me this is Aunt's relic!"
Lin Yu moved, reaching out to take the small wooden box.
Just as Lin Yu's hand was about to touch the small box, a flash of malice crossed Lin Yiqian's eyes, and she quickly pulled the box back.
"Sister, I can't just give this to you for free! You have to tell Brother Quan and me the password to the safe deposit box first." Lin Yiqian tilted her head playfully with a charming smile.
Lin Yu raised her head, her cold eyes devoid of any emotion, staring unblinkingly at Lin Yiqian.
Because their mothers were twins, Lin Yu and Lin Yiqian looked extremely similar, almost seventy percent alike. However, Lin Yiqian always preferred heavy makeup while Lin Yu disliked cosmetics, so the two were never mistaken for each other.
Lin Yiqian felt her back go cold under Lin Yu's stare and unconsciously stepped back two paces. They all knew Lin Yu wasn't crazy. But Lin Yu became more frightening each year, as if... she was truly about to be driven insane...
"Xiao Yu, don't be like this. Yiqian and I came here with sincere intentions to reconcile with you. To show our sincerity, we specially brought Aunt's relic. Moreover, if you tell us the password to the safe deposit box, we'll consider taking you out of here." Zhou Quan's tone was as gentle as ever, speaking in a coaxing manner.
Lin Yu's gaze shifted to Zhou Quan's face. This handsome face before her was more mature and charming than it had been five years ago, but it also filled Lin Yu with even more disgust.
Suddenly, without warning, Lin Yu leaped from the bed and lunged at Zhou Quan, clawing at his face.
Caught off guard, Zhou Quan was scratched by Lin Yu. His face stung with pain, and before he could dodge, he was scratched again.
"Lin Yu! Are you crazy?" Not expecting Lin Yu to suddenly attack, Lin Yiqian hurried forward to pull Lin Yu away.
With a "bang," the small wooden box fell to the ground, its contents scattering everywhere.
Yes, Lin Yu admitted, she was going crazy—driven insane by these people! Having suffered the joint betrayal of her closest family and beloved husband, how could she not go mad?
Zhou Quan was a grown man. After Lin Yu's surprise attack succeeded, she naturally couldn't gain any advantage. With Lin Yiqian's help, Lin Yu was completely outmatched by the two of them. However, in the chaos, she still managed to scratch both their faces several times.
When she was roughly pushed to the ground, Lin Yu felt no surprise. Only her palm was cut by something sharp, causing a stabbing pain.
"You dare to scratch my face? I won't let you get away with this!" Her face scratched and bleeding, Lin Yiqian could no longer maintain her sweet and lovely act. She rushed over, grabbed Lin Yu's hair, and violently slammed Lin Yu's head against the ground.
Zhou Quan didn't step forward to stop her. He had also been scratched several times and was furious, wishing Lin Yu would learn her lesson.
Her forehead struck the ground heavily, but Lin Yu didn't struggle.
For five years, she had tried everything to escape this hell. Death might be her only release.
Moreover, only if she died would Zhou Quan and Lin Yiqian never be able to get the password to the safe deposit box! She wanted these two to see it but never obtain it, to think about her grandfather's safe deposit box day and night but never reach it! She wanted them to suffer endless torment from their greed, unable to eat or sleep peacefully, lying awake night after night!
As the hatred in her heart reached its peak, Lin Yu's entire body suddenly radiated brilliant light. The next moment, she vanished from the room without a trace.