Upon nightfall, a black car pulled up at the entryway of the Wlop mansion—one of the most opulent mansions throughout the city.

Yet, for several months, the hosts had suffered misfortune. Consequently, they were compelled to sell one of the girls from the family.

To prevent his legitimate daughter from being auctioned and sold like an item, Mateo volunteered his niece Diana to a remarkably influential man, in hopes he would assist in saving his failing businesses.

Edwin required a wife, young and beautiful, to bear him children at the earliest opportunity.

His family was exerting immense pressure. At 35, he had never been involved in any serious relationship with a woman.

His parents, like his grandparents, were staunch conservatives who frowned upon a man of his age still unwed and without a family of his own.

Yet, they did not want just any woman for Edwin's spouse—given that he was exceedingly wealthy and powerful. Edwin's relatives sought a docile and sweet girl from a family of equal stature as his...

Edwin cared least about the girl; he simply longed for his family to cease nagging him about the marriage.

He was ready to purchase any girl and deceive his family into believing she was of his economic echelon.

One afternoon, as negotiations were proceeding, Mateo became privy to Edwin's scheming.

And he, with great cunning and ambition, offered his niece Diana. The girl, orphaned since childhood, was very young and stunning and notably, was silent and would never refuse any act that might anger Edwin.

Diana was a mute girl who had not spoken a word since witnessing her mother's murder.

Diana was just eighteen, having spent fifteen years with her uncle's family. Yet, prior to being accepted as one, Diana was shunned by her uncle and relegated to living with the servants.

However, as she grew, her beauty blossomed, and her resemblance to her mother only amplified her aunt's hatred and the lashes of her cruelty.

To her uncle's family, Diana was merely another servant. Although now, they were exploiting her to prevent their family from demise.

Mateo was a senior man who had conducted business that led to devastation, and because of which, his wife and daughter could no longer indulge in their accustomed lavish spending...

Edwin, through his car's window, observed the mansion's lights. Everything appeared so radiant, it seemed the Wlop family was far from ruin.

"Mr. Shop, will you be waiting any longer?" Edwin's driver inquired.

"No,"

"I want to conclude this promptly. Last night, my grandfather called to inform me he's found the suitable woman to be my wife," Edwin said through clenched teeth.

"Why not accept the woman your grandparents have chosen for you? It would save you future troubles with this family," suggested the driver.

Edwin remained silent, contemplating his next move. Wedding Violeta, the city mayor's only daughter, was a viable proposition for a strategic alliance between the two families.

Yet marrying Violeta would mean being bound to a demanding woman who would always strive to dominate him, which is what Edwin sought to avoid.

"Violet is quite beautiful, but she's just like the other women I've consistently rejected," Edwin replied.

"Sir, perhaps you should reflect on this more... You don't know the girl, plus, the old man is quite greedy," the driver's advice was cut short by Edwin raising his hand for silence.

"The decision is made. I appreciate your frankness," Edwin stated, his tone solemn.

The driver stepped out of the vehicle and promptly opened the rear door. Edwin alighted and proceeded to the main entrance.

Inside, all was prepared; Mateo's daughter, Susana, and Fatima, were eager to meet the man Diana was to wed.

Susana hoped he would be an old and cruel man so that Diana would endure true misery by his side.

"They have arrived, sir," informed the maid to Mateo and Fatima.

Mateo was on edge, hoping Diana would not spoil the moment.

"Why not choose our daughter for his wife?" Fatima rebuked.

The woman remained infuriated at her husband. Fatima had discovered minimal information about Edwin Shop online, yet had managed to find a photograph.

"Woman, cease your harping!... I am aware of the decisions I make," an irritated Mateo snapped back under his wife's pressure.

Fatima turned livid but quickly masked it with a sweet smile, clasped her husband's arm, and escorted him to the entrance.

With a nod, they signaled the maid to open the door. Edwin entered the mansion and fixed his gaze on the two figures before him...

"Good evening, welcome..." Mateo released his wife's hand and reached out to shake Edwin's.

Edwin remained taciturn, observing Mateo's transparently insincere smile and Fatima's feigned one.

Fatima stepped forward, extended her hand, and kissed both of Edwin's cheeks. The young man was far too handsome to be coupled with a mute wife like Diana.

"It's a pleasure to meet such a handsome man as yourself, Mr. Shop," Fatima commented enviously.

Edwin's eyes searched for the girl soon to be his bride; however, he only saw a blond young woman descending the staircase.

Susan hurried down the stairs, unable to resist racing to the side of the handsome man standing before her mother.

The girl was taken aback to see that Edwin was nothing like she had imagined him.

Far from being some hideous ogre, Edwin was more akin to a prince from a fairy tale—one she had no intention of relinquishing to a girl like Diana.

Had he been the cruel, heartless old man she had conjured in her mind, instead, he was a young and very attractive man, with a distinctly impressive physique.

Edwin was a tall guy, standing at six feet three inches. He had large, black eyes, thin lips, black hair, a finely sculpted beard, and an athletic build that was noticeable even under the suit he wore.

Edwin always maintained a flawless appearance—straight backed, head held high, shoulders properly aligned. He possessed the aura of a king.

The perfect man for any woman. Immediately, Susan's heart swelled with jealousy, despising Diana even further.

She could not fathom the fortune her cousin Diana had. Yet, as long as she was unmarried to Edwin, there was a chance for Susan to woo him, to become his bride instead of the silent girl.

Susan paused before Edwin, extending her hand almost instantly, expecting him to be like all the other men, her lips curved into a broad smile...

"My name is Susan Wlop, the sole daughter of Mateo Wlop and Fatima Slod!"... The girl introduced herself excitedly, looking forward to Edwin being like most men.

For a moment, Edwin reached out, fully intending to take Susan's hand, but before he could, he withdrew it discourteously.

"What's the matter?"... Susan asked, incredulously.

"No..." Edwin replied coldly.

Once again, Susan offered her hand to Edwin, hoping this time, he'd show a little more interest in her.

As if she were the woman Edwin had visited the elders for. But Edwin avoided looking at Susan and continued to search for the girl he was to marry.

"Where is she?"... Edwin's voice was as cold as ice.

Slowly, Susan retracted her hand after being blatantly ignored by Edwin, her smile wiped in an instant.

She had earnestly hoped that Edwin, upon seeing a woman as beautiful as her, would fall at her feet, as so many men did.

The atmosphere within the drawing-room turned icy cold. Fatima struggled to maintain composure, for Susan's snub was infuriating to her as a beloved mother.

Noticing his wife's face, Mateo nudged her gently on the arm, encouraging her to keep smiling. Confronting Edwin was out of the question.

"Mr. Shop, Diana has been summoned. It won't be long before she descends."

Edwin turned to the elder, time was something he could not afford to waste. It was disrespectful to wait for a woman he was about to court.

"Mr. Wlop, I expected you to take this more seriously. And not to waste my time, for I am a very busy man, not one to await a woman..." Edwin emphasized sternly.

Mateo was incredibly nervous, eying the maid descending without Diana.

"Just one more second, my niece is making herself beautiful for you..." Mateo commented, anxiously.

"Wait?"... It seemed to Edwin as if it was a distasteful joke by Mateo.

"Is this some kind of jest?"... Edwin muttered under his breath.

Mateo hung his head, unable to stifle his fear. Edwin's gaze sent shivers of panic through him.

"There are thousands of women out there who would give anything to be in that girl's place at this moment, and you ask me to wait for her! Is she some kind of queen?!"

Edwin's patience was waning. Never before had he been made to wait for a woman.

With a large step forward, Edwin was about to leave, when he heard the sound of heels descending the stairs.

It was the first time Diana had ever worn heels, hence the clamorous sound.

Immediately, Edwin turned to see if Diana was as beautiful as he anticipated, or if her appearance would doom the Wlop family entirely.

Diana remained motionless on the stairs upon seeing the man beside her uncle. Edwin stirred an indescribable feeling in Diana's heart.

For the first time, the girl was truly excited at the sight of a man so handsome and masculine.

The same happened to Edwin, who was struck by the beauty of the girl who was to become his wife.

Diana continued down until she reached the bottom of the stairs. Gracefully, she approached the four people before her and modestly lowered her head.

Noticing Diana's humble gesture, Edwin extended his hand, placing two fingers under the girl's chin, lifting her head to look into her eyes.

Never before having been so close to a man, Diana's cheeks blazed as red as tomatoes. Edwin didn't miss the endearing blush.

The girl tried to lower her head again to hide her embarrassment, but Edwin prevented her from doing so.

"You must be Diana Wlop?"... He asked in a hushed tone.

Unable to speak, Diana merely nodded in response to Edwin's question. He turned to Mateo and his wife, immediately noticing Diana's issue.

"Are you mute?" Edwin asked in a sweet tone when he inquired of Diana.

The girl shook her head to answer the young man's question. Immediately, Edwin felt his blood boil with fury.

"How dare you try to make a fool of me..." Edwin clenched his teeth tightly.

Realizing the expression on Edwin's face upon learning Diana was mute, Mateo took a step back, his nerves fraying since he never told Edwin about the girl's condition.

Meanwhile, Susana couldn't help her heart from leaping with joy; the moment she had been waiting for was materializing.

With cunning, Susana sidled up to Edwin and began to speak in a mocking tone.

"She's been mute since she was three, never able to utter a word!"

"Diana can't speak, and she never will," Susana revealed to Edwin with the full intention of disheartening him about Diana.

The young man withdrew his fingers from Diana's chin; and without a word, turned to leave as swiftly from there... leaving the entire Wlop family stunned.

Mateo thought all was lost; he couldn't allow Edwin to leave the mansion in such a manner. His family stood to lose everything that had taken years to accumulate.

"It's all your fault..." Mateo murmured as he passed by Diana.

Diana felt awful, her tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. She hadn't expected to be rejected like this, yet she needed to be realistic - what man would want to marry a mute?

Susana watched with amusement at the humiliation Edwin inflicted on Diana. She approached her cousin, flipping her hair back over her shoulder with a gesture of disdain.

"I've told you your whole life, you're hideous, and now you see it's true. No man can stand to be with a 'Mute' woman..." Susana whispered near Diana's ear.

Diana's heart shattered completely; every word from Susana's lips was like daggers slowly slicing through Diana’s heart.

It wasn’t just Susana making her feel worthless, but everyone there made her feel lower than a cockroach.

Diana couldn't help it, her legs quivering, her breathing turned shallow, her tears consistently falling, utterly ruining the makeup on her beautiful face.

Before Edwin could open the door to leave, Mateo caught up to him, almost grabbing his arm to stop him from leaving his home...

Yet, he hesitated, his hand hovering mid-air; regretting what would be a grave mistake, not only risking the total loss of his businesses but potential imprisonment.

Mateo quickened his pace, getting very close to Edwin... The young man couldn't leave without becoming engaged to one of the Wlop family daughters...

Thus, Mateo swiftly devised a plan to offer Edwin his only daughter, making Diana the servant of the mansion until they could marry her off to a wealthy man.

"Mr. Shop!" Mateo called out forcefully.

Edwin stopped for a second and turned to look at Mateo, his brow furrowed, his annoyance plainly visible.

The elder stopped short of reaching Edwin, instantly bowing his head, willing to kneel if Edwin so demanded...

"What is it you want? Is my response not clear enough?" Edwin inquired.

"If Diana being mute does not appeal to you, you may marry my daughter Susana. She is very beautiful, speaks several languages, and was educated at one of the finest schools for young ladies abroad. She surpasses Diana in beauty, and her voice is like that of an angel; your family would be delighted with such a wife..."

Edwin's demeanor changed entirely, repulsed by the sort of man Mateo was.

Given a choice between the two women, he would undoubtedly choose Diana. She was mute, but not like Susana, who clearly revealed the sort of woman she was.

"Arrange everything, tomorrow at noon, I shall marry your niece Diana."

Susana's face transformed completely, expecting a different response from Edwin, at least considering her a far more serious option, not preferring Diana over her...

Edwin left the mansion, leaving the family astounded by his decision. Though not entirely in agreement, a smile appeared on Mateo's lips.

Susana, utterly furious, turned around, unable to control the raging hatred inside her, her heart pounding as if it might burst forth from her chest.

Diana remained rooted to the spot, her feet seemingly nailed to the floor, overcome with joy at hearing Edwin choose her over her cousin.

Susana approached Diana, delivering two hard slaps. Diana couldn't stop herself from falling to the ground, swiftly bringing her hands to her cheeks, which burned fiercely.

"Don't lie, and pretend those slaps didn't hurt!" Susana pointed at Diana accusingly.

Susana, not content with just striking her, grasped Diana by the shoulders, shaking her violently; Susana was indeed a malicious woman.

At Diana's first lapse in attention, Susana took the chance to crush Diana's fingers against the floor...

The pain was so intense that, unable to scream, Diana bit hard on her lower lip, and quickly, blood flowed from the wound.

"Curse you mute! How dare you presume to be above me?" Susana spat out, pressing her shoe's heel even harder onto Diana's hand.