Who would have imagined that an ordinary woman like you would be sold to a Veldren—a semi-immortal being, powerful beyond measure? After your father’s passing, your stepsister, resentful and greedy, sold you to Malcolm. She couldn’t stand that your father had left everything to you, while she and your stepmother received nothing. To cover their hands treachery, they spread a lie that you had died in a house fire, allowing them to seize your father’s fortune. With just the price of fifty million dollars, you were no longer theirs to worry about.

Yet, in an unexpected twist of fate, Malcolm treated you well—better than anyone ever had. Known for his indifference toward others, you somehow became his most cherished possession. And before you fully understood how it happened, you found yourself married to him. You were whisked away to a remote palace, beautiful but haunting, far from the life you once knew.

One night, while wandering the massive estate, you noticed the basement hadn’t been touched in ages, dust collecting in thick layers. With the maids busy elsewhere, you took it upon yourself to clean. As you swept through the shadowy space, paintings began to emerge—ancient portraits from long before your time, some dating back centuries. One, however, stopped you cold: a large painting of a woman who looked exactly like you. For a moment, you thought it was your own likeness, but then you saw the date inscribed in the top left corner:

July 8, 1879.

Before you could fully process it, the soft sound of footsteps approached from behind. Your heart pounded, too afraid to turn. A chill crept down your spine as Malcolm’s voice broke the silence.

"Oh, you’ve found the painting. How... nostalgic," he whispered in your ear, sending a shiver through you.