Chapter 1

I had just finished warming up at my adoptive father's boxing gym when I was brought back to my wealthy biological family.

When my tanned, heavily muscled self walked into the living room, my biological parents, who had been ready to humiliate me, fell completely silent.

They had brought me back because they wanted me to marry the heir of the Lamberts.

He was rumored to have a violent temper and had already scared away ten fiancées.

The fake heiress was still pretending to cry at first. But the moment she saw my massive biceps, she stopped crying.

She nervously hid behind my older brother. "Jack, are you sure Mr. Andrew is abusing Rachel and not the other way around? What if Rachel is the one beating Mr. Andrew to a pulp?"

My brother looked down at his skinny wrists. Then he looked at my palm, which could crush a brick with one hand. He silently took a step backward.

I jumped up and threw a couple of punches. "I heard this guy has a terrible temper and is unpredictable?"

My biological father awkwardly cleared his throat. "Yes. He's pretty violent."

I excitedly slapped my thigh. "Whoa, why didn't you tell me sooner? What a coincidence. I was just looking for a decent sparring partner."

Chapter 1

I had lived for 20 years without ever knowing that I was the biological daughter of a wealthy family.

But what shocked me even more was why my rich biological parents had brought me back. They wanted me to marry into another wealthy family.

I wore a tight tank top soaked with sweat. I lifted a 200-pound weight plate and slammed it onto the Somervilles' marble floor, which was worth more than 100,000 dollars.

A loud crack echoed through the room. The entire living room fell silent.

My biological parents had prepared a long list of family rules to pressure me with. But now, they could only stare at my bulging biceps, pumped from the workout.

My biological mother, Amelia Sommerville, was the first to recover. She covered her nose and mouth in disgust and took a step back. "Rachel, is this how your adoptive parents raised you? You stink of sweat, you have no manners, and you don't act like a proper young woman at all!"

My biological father, Gordon Sommerville, looked grim. He didn't bother arguing with me. Instead, he slammed a marriage agreement onto the table. "Okay, let's keep this simple. Our family is facing a financial crisis and desperately need an investment from the Lamberts. Their eldest son, Andrew Lambert, is looking for a wife. Since you're back, you'll take your sister's place and marry him."

I raised an eyebrow.

On the way here, the butler had already given me the details about Andrew.

Apparently, he had severe anger issues and violent tendencies. His temper was extremely unstable. So far, he had scared away ten fiancées. Two of them were even said to be lying in the ICU.

Whoever married him would basically become his punching bag.

The fake heiress, Natalie Sommerville, was sitting in the corner of the couch and wiping away her tears. But the moment she heard this, she suddenly stopped crying.

She looked at my thick thighs. Then she looked at the veins bulging on my arm as I carried the weight plate with one hand.She immediately hid behind Gordon. "Dad, forget it. No matter how violent Mr. Andrew is, he's still just a normal man."

Her voice trembled as she continued, "If Rachel marries him, Mr. Andrew might get beaten to death. Shouldn't we at least give Mr. Andrew a chance to survive?"

My older brother, Jack Sommerville, laughed in disbelief. "Natalie, you're overthinking this."

He pointed at me and sneered. "What can a country girl like her do besides use brute strength? Andrew has top bodyguards around him. What do you think she can possibly do?"

He turned to me. "Rachel, I'm warning you. Don't think you're so tough just because you can fight. Once you marry Andrew, you'd better stop acting so vulgar. Even if Mr. Andrew tortures you, you have to endure it. Otherwise, our entire family will go down with you!"

I stared coldly at Jack. My knuckles cracked as I slowly clenched my fists.

Jack's neck shrank in fear. His face turned pale as he took several steps backward.

"Enough!" Gordon slammed his hand against the table.

Then he pulled something from behind him and threw it onto the floor.

It was an old pair of red boxing gloves.

I froze when I saw them.

Gordon looked down at me with a threatening smile. "Rachel, don't think I don't know what you're planning. Your adoptive father used to fight underground, right? He now runs some rundown boxing gym in Southville. The deed to that property just happens to be in my hands."

He stepped on the boxing gloves and ground his shoe against them.

"If you don't want your useless adoptive father to end up homeless, then you will put on a dress tonight and attend the family-arranged dinner!"

I gritted my teeth and stared at the crushed gloves.

They were the prize my adoptive father had earned when he became the underground boxing champion years ago.

"Ra... Rachel..." Natalie timidly held out a towel to me.

Her eyes were red as she pleaded, "Don't argue with Dad anymore. I'm sorry. I was too scared to marry Andrew. It's all my fault..."

I took a deep breath and forced down the urge to snap Gordon's neck.

Then I yanked the towel from Natalie's hand. "Fine."

I lifted my head and looked at Gordon coldly. "I'll go."

For my adoptive father, I could endure this.

But Gordon didn't know that the very first rule my adoptive father, Jasper Leighton, taught me was this.

Once you step into the ring, it's a fight to the death.

Chapter 2

That afternoon, Amelia brought Southville's strictest etiquette coach to the house.

"Ms. Somerville, a proper young lady must always keep her head up and her shoulders back!" The etiquette coach frowned at my relaxed posture.

She walked behind me with a long needle and jabbed it toward my back, trying to force me to straighten up.

But the needle snapped with a sharp crack.

My traps and thick back muscles, built from years of workout, were obviously too tough for a little needle to pierce.

The etiquette coach stared at the broken needle in horror.

She swallowed hard before changing tactics. She made me balance a glass of water on my head and walk back and forth like a model. She kept telling me to take smaller, gentler steps.

I finally lost my patience.

I placed one hand on the solid wooden dining table beside me. "Will you knock it off already?"

The moment I finished speaking, my fingers dug into the corner of the table. A large chunk of wood broke off in my hand.

Amelia looked like she was about to faint from anger. But because of the marriage meeting that night, she forced herself not to yell at me. She quickly sent the etiquette coach away.

I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes to rest.

A moment later, the living room door slowly opened. Natalie slipped inside.

Her eyes were red. She quietly stuffed a small bottle of pain-relief balm into my hand. "Rachel, I'm sorry. I'm really scared of pain, so I made you go in my place..."

She took a deep breath and clenched her fists as if she had made a huge decision. "But don't worry! I'll secretly save my allowance. If Mr. Andrew ever hits you, I'll pay for your medical bills! I promise I won't let you get beaten up for nothing!"

I looked at her silly expression and couldn't help reaching out to pinch her soft cheek.

It was surprisingly nice to touch.

She was useless and timid, but at least she wasn't a bad person. She was much better than those cunning Somervilles.

Before I could say anything, loud laughter suddenly came from outside the living room.

Jack walked in with several wealthy friends.

The moment they saw me, they started making fun of me.

"Oh, Jack, so this is your biological sister who was just brought back? She's so dark and unfashionable. She'd be perfect for working construction!"

Jack sneered. "What good could come from a country bumpkin who was raised by some underground fighter? She's poor and wild. The only thing she's good for is becoming Mr. Andrew's punching bag."

The moment I heard him insult Jasper, I shot to my feet.

The arrogant look on Jack's face instantly disappeared. His face turned pale. His legs went weak, and he stumbled backward several steps before dropping onto the couch.

Even his voice went high with fear. "What are you trying to do?"

"Rachel!" Gordon walked out of his study on the second floor.

He was holding the property deed in his hand. "You'd better not hurt Jack. Otherwise, I'll have someone tear down that pathetic boxing gym right now!"

I stared at the deed. My fists clenched so tightly that my palms began to bleed.

I took a deep breath and forced the rage inside me back down.

"You don't need to remind me." My voice was ice-cold.

That evening, Amelia brought me an expensive strapless dress covered in tiny diamonds. I threw it straight into the trash.

Instead, I pulled a perfectly tailored black designer suit from the closet.

Once I put on the suit and tied my tie, I slicked my messy hair back into a neat ponytail. I no longer looked like a sitting duck.

My broad shoulders filled out the suit perfectly. My slim waist showed the strength hidden beneath it. My long legs looked straight and powerful.

I stared at myself in the mirror and gave a cold laugh.

The Lamberts, Andrew, I hope you can survive three rounds.

Chapter 3

The Lamberts' luxury yacht was docked along the river that evening.

The party had been loud and lively, but the moment I walked into the ballroom in a custom-made black suit and three-inch pointed heels, the entire room fell silent.

Then the whispers started.

"Is that the biological daughter the Somervilles brought back from the countryside? Why is she dressed like a bodyguard?"

"Her shoulders are so broad. If she walked up to me, I'd be scared she'd knock me across the room with one punch."

"How funny. Even a suit can't hide how much of a tomboy she is. No wonder the Somervilles are so eager to send her to Mr. Andrew as his punching bag. Maybe she's just tough enough to take a beating."

I didn't care about the wealthy young women staring at me with disgust or making fun of me.

Gordon and Amelia, however, were completely embarrassed. They deliberately kept their distance from me.

A loud, mocking laugh suddenly broke the silence. "Oh, so you're the Somervilles' fake heiress?"

A young man in a loud Hawaiian shirt staggered over. The strong smell of alcohol followed him. "You look pretty good. Come on, have a drink with me on the deck!"

He grabbed Natalie's wrist and looked her up and down with a disgusting smile.

Natalie was terrified. She desperately tried to pull her hand free. "What are you doing? Let me go! Dad! Mom! Help me!"

She looked at Gordon and Amelia in desperation.

But Gordon didn't step forward to stop him. Instead, he grabbed Jack, who was about to rush over.

Then he spoke respectfully to the man. "Natalie, consider yourself lucky Mr. Benjamin chose you. You need to behave yourself. Go have a few drinks with Mr. Benjamin."

I frowned.

So, this rude man was Benjamin Lambert, a distant cousin of Andrew's from a branch of the Lambert family. He often used the Lamberts' power to do whatever he wanted in Southville.

Natalie cried out in despair as she desperately searched the crowd for someone who could save her. In the end, her eyes landed on me.

I was just about to step forward when Benjamin released her. Then he swaggered toward me.

His eyes traveled up and down my body. "I know who you are. You're the girl the Somervilles brought back to marry Andrew in your sister's place, right?"

He grinned. "You're pretty strong-looking. Andrew's gonna have himself a long night."

As he spoke, he drunkenly reached out and tried to pat my cheek. "I heard you're tough. Since you're going to be our family's punching bag sooner or later, why don't I test you out first?"

The people around us burst into laughter. Not a single person stepped forward to stop him.

Gordon lowered his voice and hissed a vicious warning into my ear. "Rachel, stand still. Don't you dare offend anyone from the Lamberts. Even if he slaps you tonight, you have to take it. Before you do anything, think about your adoptive father's boxing gym!"

Benjamin's alcohol-soaked hand was already inches from my face.

I lowered my eyes and glanced at my sharp, three-inch heels.

Then I suddenly remembered something Jasper had told me at his boxing gym years ago. "Rachel, as martial artists, we have to live by a code. Don't start trouble and never bully the weak."

Right. A code.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let out the heaviness inside me.

I would endure him for just three more seconds.

Chapter 4

Benjamin's hand was only an inch away from my face.

"Pops, sorry, but I've gotta set the code aside tonight."

A sharp cracking sound suddenly rang through the ballroom.

My pointed heel smashed through the yacht's expensive hardwood floor and sank straight into it.

Benjamin froze.

I snapped my eyes open. They were filled with excitement and adrenaline.

I grabbed his wrist and twisted it downward.

"Ouch!" He let out a huge scream.

I shoved him away in disgust, quickly shrugged off the black suit jacket that was getting in my way, and kicked off my heels.

Underneath, my hands and legs were wrapped in boxing bandages. I had trained with them for years to build up the power behind my kicks.

Before Benjamin could react, I lowered my shoulder, drove my hips forward, and grabbed his collar and belt. Then I threw him over my shoulder.

The roughly 160-pound man went flying through the air. He landed perfectly on the seven-tier champagne tower in the center of the ballroom.

The glass shattered. Champagne sprayed everywhere.

Benjamin twitched a few times before passing out cold among the broken glass.

The entire ballroom went silent for several seconds. Then the wealthy women erupted into terrified screams.

"Rachel! Are you crazy?" Gordon looked like he was about to drop dead.

He pointed at me with a trembling hand. "This is the Lamberts' territory! Are you trying to get our entire family killed?"

Natalie stood frozen in the corner with both hands over her mouth. She was completely stunned. There was even a flash of disbelief in her eyes.

I casually rolled my shoulders. The joints in my neck cracked loudly.

I gave Gordon a cold smile. "What are you all yelling about? Didn't you say the Lamberts like violence? I'm just adapting ahead of time and showing them my competitive advantage."

"Is that so?" A deep, hoarse voice suddenly came from the entrance.

The heavy ballroom doors were thrown open by two lines of men in black suits.

The crowd immediately scattered to both sides.

The rumored violent and unstable heir of the Lamberts, Andrew, walked in.

He was nearly six feet three inches tall. His dark expression was intimidating enough to make the entire room feel colder. As he walked forward, he took off his expensive suit jacket and casually tossed it to a bodyguard. Then he slowly undid his shirt cuffs.

Even through the fabric, I could clearly see the terrifying muscles underneath. His body was packed with explosive power.

The dangerous aura around him was so intense that everyone in the room seemed to stop breathing.

Gordon's legs gave out. He dropped to his knees with a look of pure despair.

Natalie closed her eyes in terror. She couldn't even bring herself to watch what was about to happen.

Andrew stopped just a few steps away from me.

His eyes locked onto mine.

Everyone in the room knew I was finished.

But instead of backing away, I became even more excited.

I licked my lips and pulled the tie from around my neck right in front of Andrew. Then I tore off a strip from the bottom of my shirt and skillfully wrapped the cloth around my knuckles, turning it into a makeshift pair of hand wraps.

I quickly looked him over, paying close attention to his stance and core. "Your base is incredibly stable. You're definitely a martial artist."

I raised my wrapped fists and bumped them together.

Then I gave Andrew an extremely arrogant grin. "Mr. Lambert, are we fighting under UFC rules tonight, or are we going full no-rules MMA?"

I paused. "I also want to make one thing clear. If I accidentally kill you, your family isn't going to come after mine, right?"