Chapter 1: Betrayal
The sea breeze swept across the parched land, with temperatures hitting forty degrees. The unique smell of cow dung hung in the air. In front of a crudely built wooden platform, a crowd of black-skinned people, adorned with colorful face paint and messy braids, conversed in the Khoisan language.
Bereft of her clothing, Su NianNian was forced to kneel on the platform; a placard hung over her chest, inscribed with the words 'five US dollars'. This was a slave market within an primitive African tribe.
“Fresh merchandise from China, capable of laboring and willing to submit to your every whim – even more obedient than a dog. You won’t regret parting with five US dollars to own her,” the slave master was barking aloud to sell his product.
As people started inspecting the 'merchandise', Su NianNian attempted to shy away from their offensive intrusion. Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. A spark of life appeared in Su NianNian's dull eyes as she managed to spit out the worn-out cloth gagging her, and called out hoarsely, "CaiJun! Is that you? Save me..."
"Brother CaiJun, your sister is calling for you, are you going to buy her back?" A lavishly dressed woman, clinging to the named man, giggled.
Su NianNian froze, noticing her fiancé, Zhan CaiJun's, intimate demeanor with her stepmother, Liu HaiPing's daughter, Su XinXin...
"Buy her back? I went to great pains to get her to this hellhole, why would I want her back?" Zhan CaiJun scoffed.
Su NianNian stared disbelievingly at her fiancé. Just three days ago, they had embarked on a pre-wedding trip to this tribal land, when a sudden riot left them separated. Abducted by the slavers and subjected to relentless abuse, she had spent every moment worrying about his safety, but never in her wildest thoughts...
"Was... Was it you? Did you sell me?" Su NianNian's voice trembled.
"Yes, it was me! These slave traders are experts, aren't they? The whole world now believes that the Su family's young mistress died in the riots," Zhan CaiJun declared with a hint of triumph in his eyes. "Su NianNian, don’t tell me you actually believed that I would marry you? Just look at yourself, fat, black, and ugly. Even when you're naked, no man would want you. You're no better than a squirming maggot. If you weren't the Su family's heiress, I wouldn’t even give you the time of day."
"Zhan CaiJun, I did everything for you, gave you everything. Why? Why?" Su NianNian quivered all over.
"Heh..." Zhan CaiJun replied indifferently with a disdainful smile.
Su XinXin picked up the conversation, "Sister, don't blame Brother CaiJun, he didn't have a choice! It's all because of love. We are truly in love, and I'm pregnant with his child. We need to give our child a legitimate status." She caressed her stomach with a smug smile.
Upon hearing her words, Su Nian Nian began to unravel completely; they had sold her out for their own self-interest.
"You pair of despicable lovers!" Su Nian Nian mustered the last bit of her strength and stood up, albeit stumbling, despite being bound like a sack. She charged headfirst towards them.
Caught off guard, Su Xin Xin stumbled, a bout of sharp pain shooting through her stomach. Her rage allowed her to discard the frail facade she'd maintained for years. She lashed out at Su Nian Nian's chest, "Beggar, how dare you touch me, even at your death's door!"
"Is this your way of disciplining slaves?" Su Xin Xin glanced at the slave master nearby enjoying the messy scene.
The slave master took the money from the wealthy man and took away Su Nian Nian. Whether the wealthy man wanted to toy with her for amusement or needed her merely to alleviate his boredom—either way, it had nothing to do with him. He then muttered a few words in the native tongue to his henchmen.
Soon, several hyenas, fierce enough to rip apart a lion, were brought forward. They surrounded Su Nian Nian, their foul, stinking saliva dripping onto her face as they eagerly anticipated tearing into her.
Watching Su Nian Nian in this pathetic state satisfied Su Xin Xin tremendously. She crouched down next to Su Nian Nian, whispering softly, "Darling sister, your body grows fatter by the day. Don't you ever wonder how you've turned into such a pig?"
Su Nian Nian stared at her with wide eyes, having always been beautiful and slender, she hadn't thought her escalating weight was anything abnormal.
"It was me. I made mother add pig feed to your food—day after day, year after year," Su Xin Xin's smile grew even sweeter, "I'm sure you're wondering why, right? You're so naive. Considering how exceptional my man is, how could I let you marry him and become the lady of the house? You only belong with the swine."
Su Nian Nian looked at Su Xin Xin, who seemed more demonic than the hyenas beside her, "Why? I treated you so well, like a younger sister. I gave you everything you wanted…”
“Real sister? Treated me well? Bah, what I hate the most is your high and mighty attitude. Parading around as if you’re doing me a favor. All you ever gave me was your unwanted rubbish!"
Su Xin Xin's rage grew more intense. She grabbed Su Nian Nian's face, "I was supposed to grow up pampered, enjoying the wealth and prestige of the Su family! It was your blasted mother who stole my father! My mother had to beg for bread, serve your family as a housekeeper just to stay by his side—become your servant, your mother’s servant! And I had to be your inferior!"
"Hmph... Well, things are different now..." Su Xin Xin’s face turned colder, "Your mother is dead. Now, my mother is Mrs. Su, and my lover adores me to the point of obsession. The prestige and wealth of the Su family have finally returned to me!"
"Su Xin Xin, you're insane!" Watching her frenzy, Su Nian Nian found it incredulous. What kind of person could possibly utter such outrageous, unfair allegations?
"The dignity and wealth you speak of the 'Su home' has always been an illusion! Everything in the Su Family was left by my grandfather!" Su Nian Nian cut through the lies, "If it wasn't for my father's four-year pursuit of my mother and my grandfather's promotion, he would have nothing! He was only a 'parasite'. And you—you're less than nothing! The so-called Su Family was built by my grandfather!"
"You're full of it! The property belongs to the Su family, earned by my father!" Su XinXin grinds her teeth as she speaks, suddenly something springs to her mind, she chuckles flirtatiously, "You don't know how your mother died, right? Correct, it was father and my mother. They allowed her to live all these years for this very moment. Now that everything is ours, she is without value, and so are you. You should all go meet your maker.”
"Shameless! How dare you?" Su NianNian trembles again, burning with resentment for them slaying her gentle and dear mother.
"Why wouldn't we dare? Is there anyone going to avenge you? Who are you depending on? Your 'elder brother' Su WenJie? You can't possibly think Su WenJie is your biological elder brother, right? Haha, you're mistaken. He is my biological brother! Thirty years ago, when your mom gave birth, father switched his child with mine to ensure my 'real' brother would inherit the company. Your biological brother has been long gone. Hahahaha…" Su XinXin laughs even more hysterically: "Su NianNian, let me tell you, from the beginning to the end, dad, my mom, my brother, and myself are the only family. You and your mom, are nothing but stepping stones to us."
It all makes sense now! She should have seen through it all along, she was nothing more than a pawn on their chessboard.
"Hahahaha…" Su NianNian suddenly starts laughing. She coldly eyes Su XinXin and suddenly lunges at her, sinking her teeth into arm.
"Ah!" Su XinXin lets out a shriek, trying desperately to shake off Su NianNian, but to no avail.
Blows rain down on Su NianNian like a hailstorm, yet she endured the pain, tearing a piece of flesh off Su XinXin and swallowed it. The taste of blood lingered in her mouth, she has to remember her taste... even as a ghost, she won't let her go.
"Kill her! Kill her!" Su XinXin covered her wound in panic, stomping her feet.
The slave owner released the hyena's leash. Unable to hold back their eagerness, the hyenas lunged. In no time, Su NianNian was reduced to a bloody mess, and yet, she did not let out a scream, only coldly looking at the people in front of her...
Should there be a next life, she will make sure all those who harmed her won't die a peaceful death...
