The Imposter Falls

My name is Alice Cooper, the only daughter of Jonathan Cooper, Hall Leader of The Ghost Swallow Clan in J City, and the gang's sole heir. The alliance wedding in three days was my father's plan to reveal my identity publicly and officially usher me into the gang's inner circle. My older brother, Reed Cooper, is my father's adopted son. He's always used protecting me as an excuse, constantly saying gang affairs are too dangerous. The day before the wedding, Reed Cooper suddenly came to me and said that for my safety, the family's little nanny, Mia Sue, would temporarily take my place at the wedding. At first, I disagreed, but Reed Cooper kept insisting it was only temporary, and after the wedding, they'd switch back. I couldn't resist his persistent nagging and finally gave in. On the day of the wedding, I secretly hid backstage at the church, wanting to see how the ceremony was unfolding. Through the crack in the door, I saw my fiancé, Anthony Deer, personally fitting the wedding dress that was supposed to be mine onto Mia Sue. Mia Sue wore a pristine white wedding dress, a smug smile on her face, her eyes sneaking glances at me as if she'd known all along I was watching. What angered me even more was Finlay Quentin, my father's most trusted bodyguard, who pulled out the Ghost Swallow Clan's token — a jade pendant engraved with a dragon — from his pocket and shoved it into Mia Sue's hand. That pendant had been entrusted to me by Father himself; just yesterday, Reed Cooper said he needed it for the ceremony, so I gave it to him. I couldn't hold back any longer; I pushed open the door and rushed in, ready to confront them about what the hell they were doing. But Reed Cooper, Anthony Deer, and Finlay Quentin stood in front of Mia Sue, blocking me. Anthony Deer frowned, his tone icy: "Alice Cooper, stop causing trouble. Mia is the one who deserves me." Reed Cooper chimed in, "Alice, I'm doing this for your own good. You don't belong in this world." I trembled with rage, pointing at the Jade Pendant in Mia Sue's hand: "That's mine! How dare you give it to her!" Finlay stepped forward, grabbing my wrist with a force that nearly crushed my bones: "Ms. Cooper, face reality. From now on, the heir to The Ghost Swallow Clan is Ms. Sue." I struggled to break free, but Finlay held me down firmly. Mia Sue strode up to me, looking down with disdain: "Alice Cooper, do you really think you deserve to be the heir? Reed, Anthony, and Finlay have all chosen me." I never imagined they had already conspired, treating me like a fool. During the argument, Reed Cooper suddenly slapped me. My head jerked to the side, and blood instantly welled at the corner of my mouth. "Take her away. Don't let her ruin the view here." Reed Cooper said coldly to Finlay Quentin. Finlay dragged me to the lounge behind the church. I thought they only meant to lock me up, but before long, I heard the lounge door pushed open. The ones who came in were Reed Cooper, Anthony Deer, Finlay Quentin, and Mia Sue, dressed in the wedding dress. The four of them headed straight for the large bed in the lounge and committed despicable acts. My eyes burned with rage as I lunged forward to pull them apart, but Anthony Deer kicked me hard, knocking me to the ground. "Alice Cooper, you still have the nerve to come here?" Anthony Deer's gaze was savage. "Since you're so clueless, don't blame us for being merciless." Finlay Quentin pulled a dagger from his waist, stepped up to me, and crouched down. "What do you think you're doing?" Terrified, I tried to back away, but Reed Cooper held me tightly, making it impossible to move. "I'm going to cut the tendons in your hands and feet so you'll never interfere with us again." There wasn't an ounce of warmth in Finlay Quentin's voice. The moment the dagger cut through my skin, searing pain exploded through my body. I cried out in agony, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. Reed Cooper looked at me with a blank expression, as if I weren't the sister he'd grown up with. Mia Sue stood aside, smiling as she said, "Alice Cooper, this is what you brought on yourself. Who told you to stand in my way?" After the tendons in my hands and feet were severed, I lost all ability to move, lying on the ground like a puddle of decay. They didn't kill me—they dragged me onto a truck instead. The truck had been driving for a long time before it finally stopped in a desolate wilderness. They threw me off, and the jolt when I hit the ground hurt so badly I nearly passed out. I looked up and saw a pack of massive wild dogs nearby, eyeing me hungrily. They wanted those wild dogs to tear me apart alive. As the wild dogs closed in step by step, I shut my eyes in despair, my consciousness fading away.