I let out a carefully crafted sigh, letting disappointment cloud my features.

"It's just... with your leg like this, we'll have to postpone the wedding..."

Brent's expression darkened.

Not because he mourned our delayed union. No—he was furious that he couldn't swindle my money in time for the holidays.

I laughed inside, cold and sharp. But outwardly, I remained the picture of devotion:

"Don't worry. I'll make sure every single one of those men ends up behind bars. They'll pay for what they did to you."

The moment I left, I sent Claude a red envelope—sixty-six hundred dollars.

"Treat the boys to something nice."

Then I turned to Brent and said:

"Let me tell you something that'll cheer you up. My parents have prepared a million dollars in cash as my dowry. As soon as you're better, we'll get married right away."

Brent's pained expression froze instantly. His eyes lit up with sudden intensity as he pressed eagerly:

"Really? Mira, are you serious? A million dollars in cash as a dowry?"

"Of course. You showed your sincerity with that gold jewelry—how could I possibly lie to you?"

My voice grew even softer, though my eyes remained ice-cold beneath the warmth:

"And that's not all. My father said he's giving you thirty percent of our family company's shares."

"As long as you treat me well, everything my family owns will be yours someday."

Brent couldn't hide his excitement. He grabbed my hand again, his tone eager and fawning:

"Baby, my leg is fine—really, it's nothing! The wedding can go ahead tomorrow as planned!"

I paused for a moment, then reached out to gently stroke his badly swollen cheek, my voice dripping with "concern":

"I know you want to marry me right away, and I want nothing more than to be your wife. But I can't ignore your condition."

"Tomorrow, when my parents come to visit, I'll coax them into handing over the million-dollar dowry to you first."

"As for the shares—we'll present those at the wedding, in front of all the guests. Think how impressive that will be."

Only then did Brent relax:

"Mira, you're so good to me! I swear I'll never let you down!"

Early the next morning, Marilyn Fleming was already hovering by the hospital room door, her eyes fixed on the entrance with naked anticipation.

In my previous life, when my entire family was being torn apart online, she had been right there fanning the flames and directing the mob.

I would settle every last debt with her.