"The Blake family has taken care of you and your mom for so many years—what's the big deal about doing something small in return? We’re sending you over to marry into a rich family. You’re about to live the good life, and you're still acting like we’re doing you wrong?"
"Seriously, what decent girl your age runs around telling fortunes on the street like some scam artist? We’ve never brought up how you embarrass the Blake and Harper families, and you’ve got the nerve to act all high and mighty now?"
"Just pack up and go with us. You’re heading to the Sullivan house tomorrow! We’ll get your mom into a care center and the Sullivans already agreed to cover your sister’s surgery fees! You just need to marry into that family and everything’s settled!"
"Exactly," Marjorie Clark added with a sneer. "You three have been nothing but a burden on the Harper family for years. Your uncle lined up such a great match for you, and you're still being ungrateful? What a rotten child!"
"Come on, Iris," Victoria Blake chimed in, forcing a sweet tone. "There’s no point getting all worked up. The Sullivans are super loaded! Can’t you just appreciate your luck?"
Iris Thompson glanced around at them, her sharp eyes quietly taking them in. Sure, their words sounded caring, but the schemes in their eyes said it all.
Victoria was getting impatient. She and her parents had been standing here nearly an hour, and this dead-faced girl still hadn’t said a word, just kept fiddling with those creepy coins! Was her brain fried?
I'd better not have backed the wrong horse, Victoria thought angrily. I need her to marry that half-dead Sullivan guy in my place!
Still playing with her copper coins, Iris suddenly gave them a bright, innocent smile. "Since it’s such a perfect marriage and all, why isn’t my dear cousin going instead? What, were your brains replaced with mud that you think I’d believe this nonsense?"
"Or do you plan to pull the same trick on me you used on my mother back in the day?”
Andrew Blake froze for a second, then snapped, "You ungrateful brat, what kind of garbage are you spewing? Your mother was the one messing around and ended up pregnant with you! We swallowed our pride and even arranged a proper match for her. Don’t you dare act like you’re the one suffering! You should be thanking the Harpers they didn’t turn you two away when your mom remarried into their house. And now you’ve got the nerve to talk back?!"
Despite his anger, Andrew took a breath and softened his voice, knowing they still needed her on board. "Iris, come on. We’re doing this for your sake too. The Sullivans are filthy rich—you won’t lose anything marrying in. Your cousin’s pregnant; she can’t marry over, and what, you want them to take both of you? You marrying in helps us all out. Why make it so hard?"
Wow, Iris thought, how shameless can they get? Making up a pregnancy now just to push me into marrying that ‘walking corpse’? Classic.
Everyone in Longcheng knew the eldest Sullivan son had been in a car accident two years ago—he was basically a vegetable now. The Sullivans had been hunting high and low for a girl born on a yin date to “bring good luck.” Victoria and I were born the same exact day. She’s perfect for it.
And yet, here we are.Of course she didn’t want to marry into that mess. Being a "lucky bride" for a guy in a coma? What if he never woke up and she had to take the fall? Worst case, the Sullivans could just blame her and do something crazy—like throw her into a freaking river with a stone tied to her! No way they'd let one of their own kids do it.
So naturally, they looked to Iris Thompson—who just happened to be born at the exact same time.
Her mom was missing a soul, mentally unstable now. Her little sister Luna was suffering from both a deadly curse and leukemia, hanging on by a thread. As for Iris herself, the backlash from absorbing the curse almost wrecked her body. She was on the verge and needed some serious positive energy to heal—specifically, golden dragon energy. And guess what? That Sullivan guy had it.
Iris waved her hand dismissively, a bored look in her eyes. “Cut the crap. We both know what's really going on here. No need to pretend you’re doing this for my sake. I’ll play along, sure. But you better keep your end of the deal.”
The moment she agreed, everyone in the room visibly relaxed. "Of course!"
Not long after, Andrew Blake arranged for Martha and Luna to be taken away for care. Iris packed a few things quickly and climbed into the luxury car with him.
They arrived at the Blake family estate in no time, and the Sullivan family’s driver, William Clark, was already there waiting.
As soon as she stepped out of the car, William hurried over. “Miss Thompson, let me carry your bags.”
“No need,” she replied coolly, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard to the Blake family members gathered there.
Blood relatives—yet the moment their eyes landed on her, it was like they were staring at a pile of trash.
And it was this servant from the Sullivans, a total stranger, who actually looked at her with something like compassion.
She held William’s gaze for a second before saying, “Avoid construction sites for a while. Keep this charm close, alright?”
He blinked, totally lost, holding the small yellow charm folded into a triangle.
"Now she's off talking nonsense again. Just got back and already acting weird—so unlucky!" someone muttered.
“Typical,” Stephen Blake sneered, “Didn’t even finish middle school. No class at all!”
Iris rolled her eyes. “Abusing your own blood? Karma's real, uncle. You might want to cool it before the universe decides to collect. Or I’ll be sending another bill your way.” Her eyes glinted with disdain as she looked him over.
They had the nerve to talk about class? These people had profited off her mom, and now they were trying to cash her in too. Real classy.
Stephen’s face twisted in rage, his eyes bloodshot. “You ungrateful brat! How dare you curse me!”
Losing it completely, he grabbed a teapot from nearby and hurled it straight at her head.
Iris, weak as she was, didn’t even flinch. Smiling, she reached up and caught it—one hand, clean catch, not a single drop spilled.
Everyone froze, staring in shock. A chill spread through the room. Was she secretly some demon?
How the hell did she catch that with her back turned?
