Leah had been taught from a young age: The family comes first.
She had a younger brother.
Graham—the only son of The Evans Family.
For as long as she could remember, Leah had been cleaning up Graham’s messes.
All the family’s wealth belonged to Graham.
All the suffering belonged to Leah.
Their parents adored their son, doted on him, and gave him everything good in life. Even when Leah got married two years ago, the hefty dowry from The Carter Family went straight into Graham’s hands—squandered away in no time.
Perhaps it was because she had lived under this belief for twenty-four years that Leah’s soul had long since gone numb.
It wasn’t until she received her own terminal cancer diagnosis—until she stood at the brink of death—that she suddenly realized…
She was a person.
A living, breathing person.
She could feel pain.
She could feel exhaustion.
She could cry.
She could laugh.
She was alive.
---
A black Mercedes-Benz pulled up outside K.L Club.
Leah stepped out of the car.
Inside, the nightclub had already suspended business. The VIP booths were a complete mess—shattered liquor bottles scattered everywhere. The crowd inside was divided into three groups.
On the left—Graham and his people.
On the right—the opposing side in the brawl.
In the middle—the club’s manager, the staff, and about a dozen security guards.
Both fighting parties had some level of influence, and the manager didn’t dare to make a call, fearing he’d offend the wrong people.
As soon as Leah walked in, Graham kicked over a chair and staggered toward her, reeking of alcohol. He arrogantly ordered, “I slapped that guy twice. Just give him two grand—it’s more than enough charity for him.”
“Who the hell wants your money? I want an apology!”
The beaten man shouted.
Unfortunately, his face was so swollen that his words were barely intelligible. Blood still dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Graham burst into laughter, spitting on the floor with disdain. “There’s nothing in this world money can’t solve! And lucky for me, my family has plenty of it! Hell, just my ugly, stupid sister marrying Frederick brought in two hundred million from The Carter Family.”
“If I ever run out of money, I’ll just ask Frederick for more. He’s the CEO of Carter Enterprises Group—he’s loaded. Right, Leah?”
Graham grinned wildly.
The moment Frederick’s name was mentioned, the young man slumped among his friends suddenly lurched up.
He clutched his swollen face, stumbled forward a few steps, and ran straight toward Leah.
Up close—
She recognized him.
Quinlan’s youngest son.
Seventeen or eighteen years old, a bit slow-witted, not very smart.
Graham crossed his arms, growing impatient. He turned to Leah and snapped, “Are you giving the money or not? Just hand over two grand, settle the club bill, and be done with it—I treated my friends last night—”
SLAP!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the nightclub.
Graham hadn’t been prepared. His entire body twisted to the side, half his face smacked out of alignment.
Even Orson, who had been rushing over, froze in place, too stunned to move.
The entire venue fell silent.
No one dared to make a sound.
It took Graham several seconds to process what had just happened. He clutched the right side of his face, slowly straightening his posture, eyes wide with rage as he glared at the woman before him.
“You… you dare hit me?”
SLAP!
Another slap—this time to his left cheek.
This one sent Graham’s underlings stumbling back. Even Orson shrank away, wary of the woman before him—so utterly different from the Los Angeles’ First Socialite they had all heard about.
Graham hunched over.
His humiliation burned like fire.
Leah had hit him.
Not once—but twice.
Their parents had never laid a hand on him his entire life.
Leah had always been an obedient sister—doing whatever he ordered her to.
Yet now—she dared to strike him.
In front of everyone.
Graham straightened up, raising his arm to strike back. But before his hand could even reach Leah’s face, she swiftly kicked him in the stomach, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
His back slammed against the floor.
A sharp pain shot through his body.
Graham couldn't get up. He could only stare in shock as Leah approached him, step by step.
Panicked, he scrambled backward on all fours, trying to escape.
But before he could—
Leah’s high heel stepped firmly on his foot.
“Leah!”
His scream burst out.
It was unclear whether it was from pain—or pure rage.
Leah gazed down at him, expressionless. “Drank all night, and you still think you can fight?”
“Our parents won’t forgive you!”
Parents?
Did she have parents?
She didn’t remember.
It felt like she didn’t—otherwise, why had she gone twenty-four years without ever feeling a shred of parental love?
Leah tilted her head slightly, her gaze landing on Orson a few steps away.
The moment their eyes met, Orson visibly flinched. He instinctively tried to shrink away, but before he could—
She called out, “Orson.”
Hearing his name, Orson shuddered.
Slowly, he lifted his head, forcing an awkward, swollen-faced smile.
“Le... Leah.”
“Come here.”
Orson hesitated.
But he obeyed, inching closer while keeping a safe distance of a few inches.
Leah asked, “Did Graham do this to your face?”
Orson nodded.
Then, as if worried he’d get in trouble, he quickly added, “It was my fault too! My friends didn’t know any better and got into an argument with Graham. They started fighting, and I tried to break it up—but I got slapped instead.”
“Hit him back.”
“...Huh?” Orson’s eyes widened.
“You’re my sister, Leah!” Graham roared from the ground.
Leah stomped on his foot again.
His scream cut off.
She looked at Orson again, smiling warmly. “Slap him back.”
Her expression was friendly.
But in Orson’s eyes, she looked terrifying—like a beautiful yet deadly carnivorous flower.
Tears welled up in his eyes. “Leah, I know students shouldn’t be in nightclubs. I was wrong. You’ve already punished Graham—please don’t make me hit him…”
Leah: “...”
She wasn’t trying to stand up for Orson.
She didn’t care about The Carter Family enough for that.
She just wanted to hit Graham again.
Her hands hurt from slapping him earlier—she had used full force, and now her palms were stinging.
She simply wanted someone else to take over.
Never mind.
Leah removed her foot.
Then, under everyone’s stunned gaze—she pulled out her phone and called the police.
“Hello, this is K.L Club. There’s been a brawl.”
Upon hearing that—
Graham, still lying on the floor, lost it.
“Leah, are you insane?!”
She was calling the cops on her own brother!
---
Half an hour later, when she calmly told the officers that she refused to post bail—and even suggested they detain Graham for two weeks for correctional reform—Graham finally broke down completely.
Restrained in a chair, he yelled as Leah stood up to leave.
“Leah! If I get detained, I’ll have a record! And as my sister, your reputation will be affected too!”
Leah paused.
She turned her head slightly.
“You do know you’re a stain, then?”
Graham was speechless.
And for once—he actually shut up.