His Regret, Her Reign

"No anesthesia," came Aiden Coleman's voice through the phone, cold as ice. "This is her punishment for being unclean."

Keira Lynn lay on the cold operating table, her legs spread and strapped down, watching in despair as the doctor picked up the gleaming scalpel.

To prove she was "clean," to win back her husband's love, she had to endure this hellish torture.

"Alright, stop acting like you're dying. It's just a simple procedure." Keira's mother, Martha Lynn, looked at Keira emerging from the operating room, pale as a ghost, with nothing but disgust in her eyes. "Dry those tears. Zoey lands in an hour, and if your pathetic face ruins this party, Aiden won't forgive you."

Aiden.

At the mention of that name, Keira's freshly sutured wound sent phantom waves of tearing pain through her body.

He was her husband. Because of a misunderstanding on their wedding night, he decided she was a slut. Every time he was displeased, he'd force her to the hospital for this humiliating hymen "restoration" surgery.

Keira leaned heavily against the cold wall, her face white as paper. Her legs trembled so badly she could barely stand.

Calling a hymen repair surgery performed without anesthesia a "simple procedure" was truly ironic.

Keira bit her lip, tasting blood. "I'm ready."

"Good," Martha sneered, handing her a coat to cover her shaking body.

Keira followed Martha to the car, each step torture. To them, she was just a vessel. A punching bag for Aiden's rage, and a bargaining chip for Martha's greed.

The atmosphere in the car back to the Lynn Mansion was suffocating. Martha spent the entire ride on the phone, making sure the media was ready to welcome Zoey Lynn's return, completely ignoring Keira's pale face beside her.

When they arrived, the mansion was already buzzing with activity.

"Zoey! My angel!"

The moment the front door opened, the atmosphere shifted from cold indifference to wild joy. Martha rushed forward, embracing the young woman stepping out of the luxury sedan.

Zoey. Keira's sister, the Lynn family's treasure, the woman Aiden had originally wanted to marry.

Zoey wore limited edition Chanel, her gaze passing over Martha to land on Keira, who was barely standing while leaning against the wall.

"Keira," Zoey smiled, the sweetness not reaching her eyes. "You look terrible. Which man were you fooling around with last night?"

Martha's face instantly darkened. "See? Even Zoey, just back in the country, knows about your filthy reputation. Now go take her luggage upstairs!"

Keira clenched her teeth, enduring the pain below. She picked up the heavy bags and climbed the stairs step by step.

Behind her, the laughter of a happy family echoed—a family she'd never been part of.

But the real humiliation was just beginning at the dinner party.

To welcome Zoey, Aiden had spared no expense in booking the entire banquet hall.

Keira stood in a corner of the hall, trying to blend into the shadows. She wore a high-necked, long-sleeved gown to hide the bruises on her body and the cold sweat on her skin.

"How did the surgery go?"

A low, cruel voice exploded in her ear.

Aiden stood behind her, swirling champagne in his hand. His looks were breathtakingly handsome, yet chillingly cold.

"Aiden," her voice trembled, "why do you hate me so much? I've never betrayed you."

"Shut up, you filthy liar," his cruel whisper was loud enough for nearby guests to hear. "Your presence here is the greatest insult to me. The only reason you're standing here is because of Zoey. Don't think you're my wife."

Snickers erupted around them. Keira's face flushed with shame, as if being whipped naked.

"Aiden! Don't let trash like her ruin your mood."

Zoey appeared, wearing a sparkling silver gown, looking stunning. She took Aiden's arm, giving Keira a challenging look.

Aiden, who moments ago had been ice-cold, instantly melted. "You're right, she's not worth it."

He swept Zoey onto the dance floor, leaving Keira with his resolute back.

Keira felt her heart being stabbed, ten thousand times more painful than the surgery. She stumbled toward the terrace, desperate for air.

She collapsed onto a bench in the shadows, tears finally streaming down her face.

Why? She'd asked herself a thousand times. Why couldn't he see the truth?

Hearing footsteps approaching, Keira held her breath, wiped her tears, and prepared to leave.

Familiar voices came from the other side of the balcony.

"Aiden, I've missed you so much." It was Zoey.

Keira looked through the gaps in the plants—Zoey was hugging Aiden tightly, and Aiden was tenderly stroking Zoey's hair.

"I've missed you too," Aiden's voice held a tenderness Keira had never heard. "These three years living with Keira have been hell. Every time I touch her, I feel sick."

"I know." Zoey cooed. "If I hadn't gotten sick back then, you wouldn't have been forced to marry that bastard child Keira."

"It's fine, it's almost over." Aiden lifted Zoey's chin, his tone turning cold. "Keira is just a placeholder, a temporary, filthy vessel. Once the Lynn family merger is complete, I'll destroy her immediately, make her divorce me, and leave the Coleman family like a beggar."

Keira's world completely shattered in that moment.

So it wasn't about her virginity, or the misunderstanding.

Even if she tore out her heart, even if she endured countless surgeries to prove her innocence, he would still find her disgusting—simply because she wasn't Zoey.

He wanted to destroy her?

Keira stood in the shadows, her flowing tears instantly drying up, replaced by an unprecedented coldness.

Watching the two kissing in the moonlight, Keira's lips curved into a bitter, resolute smile.

"Want me to leave the Coleman family like a beggar? Aiden, since you won't give me a way to live, then let's all go to hell together."

She turned and walked away. This time, she didn't look back.