Twisted Cynthia Green

"Hmph, what's so great about that Jade Evans!" Jasper Cheng slammed the table, his anger barely contained. "That Jade Evans is always getting in my way—it's infuriating!"

Just the mention of Jade Evans's name sent Jasper Cheng into a rage. He paced the room with hands clasped behind his back, fuming. "Hmph! At home, I get anything I want—wind or rain, it's all mine. Who does Jade Evans think he is? I'm giving him face by even considering his academy. He really thinks he's some big shot!"

Cheng Matron said, "Young Master, maybe we should just let it go and return to our own town. There's an academy there too, isn't there? You could study there!"

Jasper Cheng glared, "What do you know! That town academy? Please, that's no real academy. The teachers there are just failed scholars who couldn't make it as officials. Studying with them is pointless. Someone as talented as me deserves the very best! Just wait—when I become the top scholar, we'll see if Jade Evans can keep acting all high and mighty!"

Cheng Matron looked troubled. "But last time, Young Master, you and Cynthia Green barged into Jade Evans's academy. They'll surely tighten security now. We might not even get through the gate. What should we do?"

The mention of that incident made Jasper Cheng's fury boil over. He shot Cynthia Green a murderous glare, making her shudder and shrink back, head lowered in terror.

"Why are you cowering? You filthy wretch, what are you so scared of? Feeling guilty, aren’t you!" Jasper Cheng grabbed Cynthia Green by the hair and slapped her so hard her head spun. "If you hadn’t bungled things like a stupid pig, we’d have caught Jade Evans’s weakness and forced him to let me in! It’s all your fault, you jinx, you cursed harpy!"

Seething with rage, Jasper Cheng shoved Cynthia Green to the ground and unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches, venting all his frustration on her.

Cynthia Green sobbed, clutching her head and begging for mercy, but Jasper Cheng was merciless. He kept beating her until his rage was spent, then finally stopped and glared at her with venom. "You eyesore! Crawl out to the courtyard—don’t let me see your stupid face again!"

Sobbing uncontrollably, Cynthia Green ran out to the courtyard, covering her bruised face.

The Cheng Matron followed her out, shot Cynthia Green a cold look, and spat in her face. "Foolish girl, get out of my sight! Stop blocking me. Go, squat by the latrine!"

With a sneer, the Cheng Matron yanked Cynthia Green and shoved her roughly. Cynthia staggered to the latrine, crouched amid the stench, hugging her head and sobbing, eyes burning with hatred.

Cynthia Green scrubbed at her tears, her heart a tangled snarl of envy and venom. She spat out her curses, voice trembling with hate: "Jade Evans, you wretched bitch, look at the hell you've dragged me into! If it wasn't for you, would I be living like a beaten stray, groveling in filth? You married Alexander Hayes, basking in luxury and affection, while I'm stuck with Jasper Cheng—starved, slapped, lower than a dog! I hate you, Jade Evans! I wish you were dead!" Cynthia's mind writhed with twisted resentment, obsessively replaying the life she believed she'd lost, blaming Jade Evans for every scrap of misery.

Crouched in the muck, Cynthia muttered feverishly, "The Young Master only beats me because that damned academy won't let him in. He's furious, that's all—he doesn't really want to hurt me. If I can help him get accepted, maybe he'll finally smile at me, maybe he'll treat me like someone who matters." Her mind spun wild fantasies, twisting every slight into hope, every bruise into a chance for favor.

The longer Cynthia brooded, the more her thoughts curdled. In her eyes, every slap and insult from Jasper Cheng was Jade Evans's fault—if Jade Evans hadn't blocked his way, none of this would have happened. Cynthia saw herself as blameless, her resentment festering into a poisonous vow: "Just wait, Jade Evans. Someday, I'll make you suffer for every tear I've shed! I'll watch you beg for mercy!"

Cynthia ground her teeth, eyes blazing with hatred. In her warped heart, Jasper Cheng was the cleverest, most outstanding man alive—rich, powerful, deserving of every honor. Only a blind fool like Jade Evans would dare stand in his way, deliberately humiliating him out of spite. Cynthia's obsession with Jasper Cheng and her venom for Jade Evans twisted ever deeper, fueling dark, feverish ambitions.