After He Ruined Me for His Disabled Muse, I Bought His Whole Empire

Right after my father died, his illegitimate daughter, Chloe, rushed back to the country to steal my family's estate.

As the only child of his legal wife, I had the inheritance laws and a solid will on my side. Yet, I still lost the Vance Manor.

Because my fiancé, the incredibly powerful Julian Sterling, insisted on helping that bastard child ruin me.

Shielding Chloe in her wheelchair, he looked at me with cold impatience. "The money I gave you is enough to buy several estates like this. Do you have any compassion left?

Why are you fighting a disabled girl for a house?" My voice cracked as I screamed in betrayal: "Fighting?

That manor is the only thing my mother left me!" Eventually, Julian’s lawyers helped Chloe win the lawsuit.

He looked at my tearstained eyes with a fleeting trace of guilt. "Valerie, I’ll make it up to you in the future." But in my heart, I knew there was no "us" anymore. "I’ll add another five million dollars to your compensation.

Just sign the manor over to Chloe." "Chloe had a terrible car accident abroad, and she’s confined to that wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Just look at her as a charity case." Julian’s casual tone was driving me insane. "No way! That manor belongs to my mother!" "Her mother was nothing but our housekeeper.

She crawled into my father’s bed while my mother was pregnant with me, and then had the audacity to flaunt her swollen belly.

It caused my mother to go into premature labor, and she died of severe complications right after giving birth to me!" "If I show her mercy, who is going to show mercy to my dead mother and me?" Facing my hysterical breakdown, Julian took off his goldrimmed glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked at me with sheer annoyance. "Valerie, stop making a scene.

I will give you another twenty million. That’s more than enough to buy several luxury mansions. You should be satisfied now." "Come on.

Sign the transfer agreement." I stared at the man in front of me, tears escaping the corners of my eyes. "Julian, I am your fiancée!

Instead of standing by me, you’re helping my mother’s murderer’s daughter?" "Is this the 'unconditional love' you swore to me when you proposed?" Aware that he was in the wrong, Julian remained silent for a long moment before softening his voice. "I just pity her, Valerie." "Just sign the papers.

I promise you, from this day on, I will only protect you." He slid the contract toward me again.

Without a second thought, I grabbed the papers, tore them into shreds, and threw them right in his face. "Give up, Julian. I will never sign." "The court hearing is tomorrow.

If you still want to side with Chloe, I’ll see you in court!" I grabbed my purse and turned to leave.

Julian’s icy warning echoed from behind: "Valerie, don’t push me!" My footsteps paused. Then, I marched forward with even more determination.

Suddenly, the sound of a heavy struggle came from behind. A familiar whimpering yip pierced the air. My heart sank.

I spun around, my mind fracturing at the sight. "You're insane!" I screamed. "You're threatening me with Buddy?!" Buddy was our tenyearold Golden Retriever.

We had raised him together for five years; he was like a child to me. But right now, Buddy’s paws were bound with heavy metal chains.

Two burly security guards pinned him mercilessly to the floor. A veterinarian stood next to them, holding a gleaming, sharp syringe.

One word from Julian, and the lethal injection would end Buddy's life.

Julian let out a heavy sigh, looking at me with forced helplessness. "Valerie, you forced my hand." "I had my secretary print a backup agreement.

Sign it." "You have exactly three minutes. Buddy's life depends entirely on your choice." Seeing Buddy held hostage, my sanity shattered.

I rushed forward, grabbing Julian’s sleeve, sobbing hysterically. "Julian, please! That's Buddy! We adopted him together! How can you do this to him?

He’s ten years old, he’s so old and frail. He can’t take this. He will die!" My tears didn't spark a single ounce of sympathy in Julian.

He checked his Rolex, his voice utterly flat. "You have two minutes left. The estate, or the dog?" Buddy was already weak.

He struggled desperately against the guards, panting heavily with his tongue out, letting out sharp, agonizing whines.

But the guards only pinned him down harder, cutting off his cries. He couldn't speak. He could only whimper, begging me to save him.

His tail, which used to wag happily, now lay limp on the floor. His eyes were halfclosed, tearing up in pain.

Looking at him felt like someone was ripping my heart out with a rusty knife. But Vance Manor was the only piece of my mother I had left.

How could I willingly hand it over to the bastard daughter who killed her? "Valerie, one minute." Thud. My knees buckled.

Forgetting all my pride and dignity, I fell to the floor in front of Julian, begging. "Julian, I beg you. Please let Buddy go!" "This is between us!

Why do you have to drag Buddy into this? Remember when he got parvo when he was a puppy? You were crying, too! You cared about him!

How can you be so cruel now?" "Give him back to me. He can barely breathe. Can't you see that? Please!" Julian didn't answer.

He just stared at his watch, cold and robotic. "Last ten seconds." "Five." "Doc, administer the—" The syringe was raised high.

Buddy lay motionless on the floor, clinging to his last breath. In that moment, I finally realized how black Julian’s heart was.

Slumped on the floor in absolute defeat, I screamed at the top of my lungs: "I’ll sign! I’ll sign!"

My hand shook violently as I put my signature on the contract. Julian finally smiled, satisfied. He took the papers and handed them to Chloe, who was waiting behind him.

She smirked, waving the signed agreement in front of my face. "Thank you, Valerie." "Once I bring my mother back to live here legally, she is going to be so thrilled." I was too disgusted to look at her.

I turned my face to Julian. "Now, let Buddy go." Julian nodded and gestured to the guards. But just as he bent down to help me up, Chloe shrieked in terror. "Ah!

Help!" "Something's wrong with my wheelchair!" As she screamed, her electric wheelchair suddenly malfunctioned, surging backward at full speed.

In a split second, the heavy wheels rolled directly over Buddy's fragile body, only stopping when it slammed into the wall. "Ow! My legs hurt so much!" Chloe wailed.

At least she could still scream. But my poor Buddy, with his paws chained, couldn't even dodge. He took the entire weight of the heavy electric wheelchair.

After one sharp, agonizing yelp, he went completely silent. Julian didn't even look at the dog. He stepped right over Buddy's limp body.

He scooped the palefaced Chloe into his arms, comforting her gently. "It’s okay, I’ve got you. I’m taking you to the hospital right now." They left in a hurry.

I practically crawled over to Buddy. Blood was leaking from his snout. I grabbed the vet's hand, sobbing. "Save him! Please!" "He’s not breathing.

You're a doctor, save him!" The vet checked Buddy’s pulse and shook his head pityingly. "I’m sorry, Ms. Vance. He’s gone." Buzz. A loud, deafening ringing filled my head.

I don’t even remember how I carried Buddy's lifeless body to the pet crematorium that afternoon. I walked like a hollow shell. I had no family left.

My mother died young, and my father was a cheating bastard. Over the years, the only souls I had truly loved were one man and one dog.

Now, Buddy was dead, and Julian had betrayed me. Standing next to the roaring incinerator, I felt an icy chill seep deep into my bones, a cold that could never be warmed.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from Julian. “It was just a bump, and I heard Buddy cry out. He should be fine, right?” “Chloe was terrified, though.

I have to stay at the hospital with her tonight, so I won’t be coming home. Now that the agreement is signed, make sure you drop the lawsuit tomorrow.” “Don't be sad anymore.

I will love you twice as much from now on.” I didn’t reply. Clutching the heavy urn containing Buddy's ashes, my eyes fell on the diamond ring on my middle finger.

It felt like a sick joke. Love? To hell with his love. Julian knew exactly how much this would hurt me, yet he chose to do it anyway. That wasn't a mistake. That was a choice.

Faced with the choice to protect me or hurt me, he chose to hurt me. Deliberately. He was entirely unforgivable. That afternoon, I didn't drop the lawsuit.

Instead, I spent the whole night packing my bags and moving out of our penthouse. I slipped off the ring that once symbolized our love and tossed it onto the coffee table.

The ring was trash. Julian’s love was even worse. My phone buzzed again. It was a notification from the airline: “Dear Ms.

Valerie Vance, your flight UA8785 from New York to San Francisco has been successfully booked. The flight will depart at 10:15 AM the day after tomorrow.

Have a nice trip!” Then, another text came from an unknown number: “Ms. Vance, we’ve run the check. Chloe was never involved in any car accident abroad.”

I didn't drop the lawsuit, so the court hearing proceeded as scheduled. However, with that signed transfer agreement, Julian easily secured the victory for Chloe.

As we walked out of the courtroom, Julian blocked my path. Seeing my icy expression, he asked tentatively, "I told you to drop the case.

Are you still mad at me?" "I’m not playing favorites, Valerie. Chloe was my junior in high school when I was studying abroad, and we were very close.

Seeing her end up in a wheelchair... I just couldn't help but pity her. That's why..." "Look, I found a gorgeous estate by the beach.

The view and location are way better than Vance Manor. I’ll buy two villas there under your name. I can take you to see them later. Think of it as compensation.

I promised you, in the future—" Before Julian could finish, Chloe rolled up in her electric wheelchair, interrupting us. "Valerie!

I was just looking for you!" "Julian was worried that people in our social circle would look down on me since I just got back to the country.

So, he’s throwing a huge housewarming party at the manor tomorrow to introduce me." "Since you're moving out tomorrow anyway, why don’t you join us?" The moment Chloe spoke, Julian immediately chimed in. "Yeah, Valerie.

Chloe’s status is a bit awkward right now. If you’re there to introduce her, it’ll legitimize her place in high society." I frowned, letting out a mocking laugh. "Legitimize her?

How?" "Her age and family history are right there on public record. She was born while my parents were still legally married.

If she’s not the daughter of a homewrecking maid, what else could she be?" With that, I turned on my heel and walked away. Chloe’s face flushed red with rage.

She swallowed the curses bubbling up her throat and turned her eyes to Julian, immediately putting on her best damselindistress act. "Julian, is Valerie still mad at me?" "It’s all my fault.

I should have just stayed abroad as a useless cripple and died there.

I shouldn’t have come back to annoy everyone." Julian patted her shoulder, comforting her. "She has no right to be mad.

The compensation I gave her is more than enough." "Don’t overthink it. I’ll handle everything tomorrow." The "handling" Julian meant was, of course, blackmail.

While I was supervising the movers in the backyard the next day, the party in the front yard was in full swing.

Julian pushed Chloe through the crowd, introducing her to the city's elites. They even wore matching outfits. From afar, they looked like the actual engaged couple.

I let out a bitter laugh and looked away. I didn't step into the front yard once, focusing entirely on getting my things packed as quickly as possible.

Unbeknownst to me, Julian had walked up behind me. His voice carried a heavy tone of displeasure. "I sent you so many texts last night. Why didn't you reply?

She already lost her legs, Valerie.

Do you really have to be so malicious and freeze her out of high society?" Seeing that I refused to even look at him, Julian stepped in front of me and shoved an iPad into my hands.

The screen showed a live security feed. A group of men with shovels and excavators were surrounding my mother’s private mausoleum.

It was obvious what they were about to do. "Valerie, if you would just cooperate, I wouldn't have to resort to this." I stared at Julian.

My heart was so broken that it had gone entirely numb. Desecrating my mother’s grave. To think Julian would actually stoop this low just to force my hand.

Indeed, only the person who knows you best knows exactly where to drive the knife to cause the most excruciating pain. I couldn't even bring myself to be angry anymore.

It was absolute, crushing disappointment. My heart felt completely hollow. And I hated my own powerlessness. "You don't have to go to such extremes, Mr.

Sterling." "It's just a speech. Leave my mother in peace." I handed the iPad back to him.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist, his grip tight as he questioned, "Why aren't you wearing the engagement ring I gave you?"

"Forget it. Once this is over, I'll buy you a better one." Julian answered his own question, effectively cutting off the breakup speech I was about to deliver.

I let out a cold laugh, pulled my hand back, and walked toward the party in the front yard.

I stood beside Chloe, grabbed the microphone, and delivered the fake, pretty speech they wanted to hear. "Chloe is my sister." "Her mother was not a mistress, but my father's second wife." "I am gifting this manor to Chloe of my own free will as a welcomehome present." ...

Below the stage, Julian led the applause, successfully helping Chloe secure her standing in the high society circle.

As I turned to leave, Chloe grabbed the hem of my dress. "Thank you for clearing my mother's name, Valerie. We haven't had a proper chat since I got back.

Do you have a minute?" With everyone watching, I couldn't make a scene. I followed her to a secluded corner of the estate's garden, near the deep pond.

The moment we were alone, her innocent facade crumbled.

She sneered, "You really thought forcing Dad to send me abroad back then would work?" "The moment I come back, everything belongs to me anyway. So what if I'm illegitimate?

With Julian backing me, nobody in this city dares to even look at me wrong." "Valerie, very soon, you’ll end up just like that dead dog of yours—crushed under my feet!" My eyes wandered over to the hidden security camera nestled in the eaves of the garden gazebo.

I chuckled and baited her. "The Sterling family will never allow a cripple to become the mistress of their household." As expected, Chloe wasn't angered by my words.

Instead, she slowly, triumphantly stood up from her wheelchair right in front of me. "Surprised? I faked it all," she bragged. "Just watch.

The best is yet to come!" "I took your manor, and very soon, your man will be mine too!" The moment the words left her mouth, Chloe climbed over the stone railing and jumped straight into the deep pond, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Help!

Help me!" Hearing her cries, Julian rushed over like a madman. Without a second thought, he dove into the water and dragged Chloe out.

Her face was pale as she clung to Julian, sobbing. "Valerie, why did you push me?!" "I know you hate me, but pushing a disabled girl into a pond is practically murder!" Julian hugged Chloe tightly, his eyes shooting daggers at me. "Valerie!

I thought you were just coldhearted, but I didn't expect you to be this evil! If I had been a second later, Chloe would have drowned!

How could you do this to a disabled person?!" "Apologize!" I frowned.

I didn't expect Julian to condemn me without even asking for my side of the story. "She jumped in herself!" Julian’s rage flared even hotter.

He roared, "Shut up!" "Chloe can't even walk!

How could she jump in herself?!" I pointed at the security camera on the gazebo, my voice steady. "There's a security camera right there.

If you think I'm lying, we can just check the footage." I was about to call the security team to pull up the video.

But Julian, blinded by fury, suddenly lunged forward and shoved me hard. Splash! I tumbled straight into the freezing pond. "There's nothing to check!

Since you dared to do it, you must have wiped the footage already." "Instead of forcing a fake apology out of you, I'll let you experience what it feels like to drown!

Let's see if you ever dare to touch Chloe again!" The pond wasn't incredibly deep, but as I struggled to stand up to catch my breath, Julian proved he was determined to punish me.

The moment my head broke the surface, his large hand came down, brutally shoving my head back underwater. Water rushed into my nose and throat.

My lungs burned, and my chest felt like it was going to explode. Then, he pulled me up by my hair, but before I could gulp in air for even two seconds, he shoved me under again.

He repeated this torture until my body went completely limp. Eventually, I lost the strength to struggle, and my consciousness began to drift into a pitchblack void.

Finally, Julian showed some twisted mercy.

He hauled me out of the water and threw me onto the grass like a wet rag, leaving me there gasping and coughing violently. "I hope this teaches you a lesson.

Go home and reflect on what you did!" "I want to see you apologize to Chloe tomorrow morning at nine." With that, Julian picked up Chloe and strode away.

The crowd of guests watched me with a mix of pity, mockery, and amusement before slowly dispersing.

I lay on the cold ground, unable to even find the strength to stand up. "Cough... hack..." I choked up a large mouthful of pond water.

I wiped the tears mixed with dirty water off my face. I laughed dryly for a second, and then the laughter turned into uncontrollable, heavy sobbing. But honestly?

I was glad Julian had been this ruthless. His quickness to doubt me, abandon me, and torture me had successfully killed every last bit of love I had left for him.

I ended up laughing out loud under the night sky. I toasted to my completely dead heart. I toasted to my newfound freedom.

The next morning at nine o'clock, I was standing at the boarding gate of the airport. My phone was blowing up with texts from Julian: “Apologize to Chloe now!

Don't think you can run away from this.” “Where the hell are you?!” “Valerie, pick up the phone!” I didn't reply to a single one.

Instead, I blocked and deleted his contact info across all platforms. Then, a text popped up from my private investigator: “Ms.

Vance, as per your instructions, the security footage of Chloe jumping into the pond has been uploaded online.

Within twenty minutes, it will hit the top trending topics on Twitter and TikTok.” “Perfect,” I replied. The plane took off, carrying me away from this toxic city.

I made a silent vow in my heart. The next time I returned, I would take back everything that belonged to me.

Meanwhile, back at the office, Julian stared at the red exclamation mark next to his sent message. He frowned, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum.

But just as he was about to call my phone again, his assistant burst through the door, holding up his tablet. "Mr. Sterling! Look at the trending topics!

Yesterday's incident... something is seriously wrong!"