Soft Smile, Sharp Claws

Katie had played the fool to catch the wise, deliberately appearing weak while harboring an air of mystery. She had originally lived a simple life with her mother in a small village. However, when Nadine forcibly took over the village land, an unexpected disaster struck. The village was engulfed in flames and destroyed, and Katie's mother lost her life saving her. To avoid becoming a young girl raised to be a bride, Katie disfigured herself. Despite these hardships, she did not lose her will to live and maintained a positive outlook amidst all the challenges. She ventured into the city and began working at the company owned by Nadine. Seizing the opportunity, she grew close to Ryland. Initially, she used him to uncover the truth and expose the wrongdoings of Nadine’s family. By strategically involving herself, she took this chance to learn various skills and strove to climb higher, aiming to gain a more advantageous position. At first, both Katie and Ryland approached each other with t