Chapter 1

"Creak…" The scraping of the opening door was loud in the silent basement. Mildred Ginger forced her head up as the iron collar dug into her neck and broke her blisters. Blood mixed with pus seeped from the wound on her forehead and slipped into her eyes, turning her world a smear of red. She saw a few figures approach—her brothers, whose warmth and approval she'd once wanted so badly. But now, they were the executioners sending her on her way to hell. "Talk! Where have you sold Tamara off to?" Her second brother, Kieran Ginger, slammed his custom leather shoe into the side of her head like a hammer. The blow rang through her skull until her veins threatened to erupt. Mildred curled up tighter on the floor as blood frothed from her lips. Her clothes were in tatters while bruises and scars mapped every inch of her skin. Every breath she took was like a mouthful of needles. "It wasn't me… I never took Tamara or sold her off…" she croaked. "Still lying?" Her eldest brother, Gavin Ginger, crouched down and yanked her head back, forcing her to look up at him. Then, he continued, "The security cameras caught you meeting Tamara, and you were the last person she saw! "She kindly took care of you ever since you came back, yet you were jealous of her taking your place, so you sold her out!" Mildred couldn't hold back a laugh as the twitch of her lips tore the split at the corners wider. Kind? Tamara Ginger, the foster daughter of the Gingers, who'd grown up taking everything that should have been Mildred's. The same Tamara, who'd framed her over and over again since her return to the Ginger family. And Tamara, who'd feigned pity and run crying to the brothers every time Mildred tried to warn her off. It was true that Mildred hated Tamara, but a kidnapping had never crossed her mind. Her third brother, Nox Ginger, twirled an electric baton with an icy, merciless expression. "Enough talk. Just hand over the passcodes to the lab." So, that was it. They'd spent half a month torturing her for access to her newly developed pharmaceutical formula, not just for Tamara. Over the past six months, she'd poured her heart into refining the core pharmaceutical technology of Ginger Corporation, and that was what her hypocrite brothers were truly after. "If I give it to you… You'll kill me anyway…" she said with great difficulty. Her fourth brother, Adrian Ginger, let out a short laugh. "You're not gonna survive anyway. Give us the passcode, and maybe we'll make it quick for Al." Mildred's eyes widened. "What does he have to do with this?" Immediately after, her little brother, Alphonse Ginger, was kicked toward her and hit her so hard she felt her ribs shift. Kieran coldly said, "That idiot ran to Dad and babbled that Tamara staged her own kidnapping, even saying he had proof. He's born mentally retarded, and no one would believe his crazy talk. "The Gingers have always been dignified and respectable, yet you two turned out to be a pair of disgraceful twins!" Mildred grabbed Alphonse's hands and could feel them trembling from the drugs. "Al… Look, it's me, Milly…" He squeezed her fingers back, stumbling through his words yet determinedly forcing them out. "Don't be afraid, Milly… I have… proof. I'll save you…" Alphonse was born with an intellectual impairment and could never tell the many Ginger siblings apart. He never knew Mildred as his older sister and stubbornly stuck to "Milly." Tracing Alphonse's gaunt face, the ache in Mildred's chest hurt sharper than any wound on her body. Then, she finally gave in. "Fine… I'll tell you…" Kieran immediately leaned in. "What's the passcode?" Trembling, Mildred pushed herself up and suddenly sank her teeth into his ear with every last ounce of her strength. "Ah! Grab her! Kill her!" "Bitch!" Nox's electric baton smashed into her side and drowned her in waves of agonizing pain. Just before her world slipped away, she saw the basement door swing open, and a slender figure stepped in. Her brothers gasped in unison, "Tamara! "The show's not over yet, so why are you back? You must be bored hiding out in the suburban villa all week, huh?" In a pure-white dress that reminded Mildred of an innocent lily, she watched as Tamara knelt in front of her with feigned pity and triumph brimming in her eyes. "How could you be so naive, Mildred? I've lived with the brothers for over 20 years, and they raised me to be exactly how they want. I know what their goals are better than anyone, so did you really think they'd choose you just because you share their blood? "And you were always so ambitious and starting to look like a threat to their place in the Ginger family. They'd never let you stay. "As for Alphonse, he could've stayed blissfully dumb, but he had to play hero for you. Did he think a half-wit like him could outsmart us? He's better off snuffed out, meaning one less stain on the Ginger family name." Mildred tried to speak, but all she could manage were gurgles. Her insides felt like they were gushing blood as her life was rapidly slipping away. "Stop the nonsense. Burn the place and make sure there are no loose ends." Kieran barked a cold order. Laughing, Tamara got up and clapped her hands. "Finally! No more dealing with these two! "One's a slum stray, and the other's a half-wit… Trash like them don't deserve to carry the Ginger family name at all." The brothers burst out laughing. Kieran wrapped around Tamara's shoulders and dotingly booped her nose. "You're the best, Tamara. "I'll take over as CEO of Ginger Corporation tomorrow, and to make up for all you've suffered, I'll transfer Mildred and Alphonse's shares to you. From now on, you're our one and only princess." "Thank you, Kieran!" They left amidst the billowing smoke in the basement. When Mildred was devoured by the raging flames, Alphonse clung to her. "Don't be scared, Milly… I'll protect you…" Tears mixed with blood streamed down her cheeks and steamed away in the heat. Memories flickered through her mind like a film reel—the first giddy joy when the Gingers found her, confusion from countless times she'd exposed Tamara's schemes only to be punished, and those naive nights she'd believed they'd love her back if she just gave enough… Well, she did find love; the only family she'd ever had was right here in her arms. It was absurd that her initial moment of mercy toward the Gingers could result in endless regret. Mildred clenched the scorching string of rosary beads around her wrist and silently vowed. "Hear me, heavens! If this death goes unavenged, my soul will never rest! I'd pay any price for vengeance!" … Torrential rain in Riverdale put out the fire and revealed two charred bodies locked in one last embrace. Mildred's soul drifted above the skies, just to see the Ginger siblings in a downtown villa, raising glasses to toast her death. Through the dazzling lights, a figure in black appeared. She couldn't see his face but could feel an extraordinary nobility in the cold, lonely way he moved. Holding a black umbrella, he stopped in the storm and sighed. "So, you're Mildred Ginger. If only I'd found you sooner." He laid a single white rose on her body, and in that moment, a surge of force crashed through her… … "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break it! How much is it? I'll pay double for it, alright?" A soft, sickly sweet voice rang in Mildred's ears. Her eyes flew open as she scanned her surroundings in clear vision. Not a single part of her body ached. She was reborn! Her gaze swept past the expensive furniture, white leather couch, shattered flowerpot on the polished marble tiles, scattered soil, and the seedling crushed underfoot… The familiar scene hit Mildred like a lightning strike, and she knew exactly when it was—seven years ago on her first day back with the Gingers! Right now, she was still a stranger to the family and kept her powers hidden. So, the Gingers had yet to break into new markets and secure their place as the top family, while Ginger Corporation's research lab hadn't cracked that pharmaceutical breakthrough. As for Kieran, who'd kicked and beaten her half to death in her previous life, and inherited Ginger Corporation… He was still stuck in that wheelchair and was a helpless cripple who could only run his mouth. "It's just a flowerpot, Mildred. Tamara didn't mean it," she heard him say. She'd brought a pot of ambrosia yarrow the day she returned to the Gingers. In six months, that pot would bear fruit that healed his legs. In her previous life, that had been her first step down the path that saved this family of ingrates.